2001 Cadillac Catera Owners Manual - Files

Charging System Indicator LightWhen you turn the keyto START, this light willcome on briefly to showthat the generator andbattery charging systemsare working.If this light stays on, you need service and you shouldtake your vehicle to the dealer at once. To save thebattery until you get there, turn off all accessories.VoltmeterYou can read batteryvoltage on the voltmeter. Ifit reads less than 12 volts ormore than 16 volts while theengine is running, and itstays there, you may have aproblem with the electricalcharging system.Have it checked right away. Driving with the voltmeterreading in the lower warning zone could drain ordamage the battery. Driving with the voltmeter readingin the upper warning zone could cause bulbs to burn out(especially headlamp bulbs), various vehicle modules toshut down (due to overload protection) and thepossibility of a battery acid leak.If you idle the engine for a while, the voltmeter readingmight move into the red zone. If the reading stays in thered zone while you are driving, you may have a problemwith the electrical charging system. Have it checked.While the voltmeter reads in the red zone, the batterymay not be able to power certain electrical accessories,like ABS. (If this happens, the ABS light will come on.See “Anti-Lock Brakes System Warning Light” inthis section.)If you must drive a short distance with the voltmeterreading in a warning zone, turn off all the accessories,including the comfort controls and the audio system.2-74