
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine GM vehicles is between 9 and 14 mph. However, this velocity threshold 
depends  on  the  vehicle design and may  be  several  miles-per-hour  faster 
or  slower.  In  addition,  this  threshold  velocity 
will be considerably  higher if 
the  vehicle  strikes  an  object  such  as  a  parked  car  which  will  move and 
deform 
on impact.  The air bag  is also  not  designed  to inflate in rollovers, 
side  impacts,  or  rear impacts  where  the  inflation  would provide 
no 
occupant  protection  benefit. 
In any  particular  crash,  the  determination 
of whether  the  air  bag  should 
have  inflated  cannot  be  based  solely on  the  level 
of damage  on  the 
vehicle(s).  Inflation  is determined  by the  angle 
of the  impact  and  the 
vehicle’s  deceleration, 
of which vehicle  damage  is only  one indication. 
Repair  cost  is not  a  good  indicator 
of whether  an air  bag  should  have 
deployed. 
What  makes  an air bag inflate? 
In a frontal  or  near-frontal  impact of sufficient  severity, sensors 
strategically  located 
on the  vehicle  detect  that  the  vehicle is suddenly 
stopping  as  a  result 
of a  crash.  These  sensors  complete an electrical 
circuit,  triggering  a  chemical reaction 
of the  sodium  azide  sealed in the 
inflator.  The  reaction  produces  nitrogen  gas, which inflates  a  cloth  bag. 
The  inflator,  cloth  bag, and  related  hardware  are  all part 
of the  air  bag 
inflator  modules  packed  inside  the  steering  wheel  and  in the  instrument 
panel  in front  of the  passenger 
if there  is a  passenger  air  bag. 
How does an  air bag  restrain? 
In  moderate  to  severe  frontal or near-frontal  collisions, even belted 
occupants  can  contact  the  steering  wheel  or  the  instrument  pane\
l.  The  air 
bag  supplements  the  protection  provided  by safety  belts.  Air  bags 
distribute  the  force  of the  impact  more evenly  over the occupant’s  upper 
body,  stopping  the  occupant  more  gradually.  But air bags  would  not 
provide  protection 
in many  types of collisions,  including  rollovers  and 
rear  and  side  impacts,  primarily  because  an  occupant’s  motion  is not 
toward  the air  bag.  Air  bags should  never  be  regarded  as anything  more 
than  a  supplement  to  safety  belt  protection  in moderate  to  severe  frontal 
and  near-frontal  collisions. 
What will you see after an  air bag  inflation? 
After  the  air  bag has  inflated,  it will  then  quickly  deflate. This occurs so 
quickly that  some  people  may not even  realize  that the air bag  inflated. 
The  air bag 
will not impede  the  driver’s vision or ability  to  steer  the 
30   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Light Sensor 
The light  sensor for 
the twilight  sentinel  is 
located  in the  center  of 
- 
the  front  defogger tfi 
grille. If you cover the 
sensor,  it will  read 
"dark"  and  your  lights 
will 
come on. D 
Interior Lights 
Turn  the headlight  switch passed HI to  turn  on  the  interior  lights. 
Fog Lights (Eldorado Touring Coupe) 
Use your fog  lights for better  vision in foggy  or misty  conditions.  When 
you  press  the  upper  fog light  switch,  a  small  indicator  light will  glow  to 
tell  you  the fog  lights  are  on. 
To turn  them  off, press  the switch  again. 
108 
L   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Your DRL work with a light sensor  on  top of the  instrument  panel. 
Don’t  cover 
it up. 
The low beam  headlights  will come  on  at  reduced  brightness  in daylight 
when: 
The  ignition  is on 
The  headlight  switch  is  off,  and 
The transaxle is not in “P”  (Park). 
.At  dusk, 
if the  Twilight  Sentinel  feature  is turned  on,  the  exterior  lights 
will  come  on  automatically  and  the 
low beams will change  to full 
brightness.  At dawn,  the  exterior  lights will go  out  and  the  low beams  will 
change  to  the  reduced  brightness 
of DRL (if the  headlight  switch is off). 
Of course, you may still turn  on  the  headlights any time  you need  to. 
To idle  your  vehicle with the  DRL off, shift the transaxle  into “P” (Park). 
The 
DRL will  stay off until you shift  out of “P” (Park). 
Reading Lights 
You have  reading  lights located in the roof.  These  lights and the  interior 
courtesy lights 
will come on when you open the door. 
Push  the button 
to 
turn them on. Push it 
again to turn them off. 
110   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine SERVICE  A/C  SYSTEM  A/C COMPRESSdR OFF 
This message  appears when the  electronic  sensors  that  control  the  A/C 
and  heating  system are no  longer  working. 
You mav notice a drop in 
heating  and  A/C  efficiency when this message  appkars. Have your 
Climate  Control  system serviced 
if this message appears. 
STARTING  DISABLED  DUE TO THEFT  SYSTEM  REMOVE 
IGNITION 
KEY 
This  message will appear  when the Personalized  Automotive Security 
System  (PASS  Key 
I1 rM ) senses  that an improper  ignition key is being 
used  to try  to  start  the  vehicle. Check the ignition  key 
for damage. If it is 
damaged, it may need  to  be  replaced.  If you see no damage, clean the 
pellet  contacts 
with a soft  cloth  or napkin.  Remove the ignition key and 
wait  for  the  Driver  Information  Center  to  display “WAIT 
3 MINUTES”. 
The  Instrument  Panel Cluster 
will then run a  timer  and  change the 
messages  to  “WAIT 2 MINUTES”,  “WAIT 1 MINUTE”,  and  then 
“START  CAR”.  When  the  “START CAR” message 
is displayed, try again 
to  start  the  engine. 
SERVICE NOW - REFER TO OWNERS MANUAL 
This  message  appears if you have  a  problem with the  Electronic  Control 
Module  (ECM). 
To correct  this problem  have your vehicle serviced  at 
your  Cadillac  dealership. 
SERVICE  RIDE  CONTROL 
This message is displayed  to indicate  that the Suspension  System is not 
operating  properly. To correct  this problem  have 
your vehicle serviced  at 
your  Cadillac  dealership  at  your  earliest  convenience. 
STOP  ENGINE  ENGINE  OVERHEATING 
This message will appear  when your engine has overheated.  Stop  and 
turn  your  engine 
off immediately  to avoid  severe  engine  damage.  See 
“Engine  Overheating”  in the  Index. 
SERVICE  VEHICLE SOON 
This  message will appear if there is a  problem  with your  Emission 
Control  System. 
If the  “SERVICE  ENGINE  SOON”  light on  the 
instrument  panel  and  this message appear  and  then  turns  off, it 
is an 
indication  that 
a temporary  problem  has  cleared  itself. Have  your  vehicle 
checked 
at your earliest  convenience. 
137   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine TURN  SIGNAL  ON 
This  message is a reminder,  after  driving about a mile that you have your 
turn 
signal on. 
TRUNK OPEN 
This  message  indicates  that your  trunk is opcn  when the Ignition  is ON. 
VERY LOW REFRIGERANT 
This message  means  that  the  Air  Conditioning  system detects a 
refrigerant level that is low enough to cause  damage to the  A/C 
compressor. 
To avoid  damage,  the A/C compressor  automatically  turns 
off and the  Electronic  Climate  Control  will automatically  switch from 
“AUTO”  to  “ECON”  and  remain there. Have your 
A/C system  serviced if 
this message  appears. 
Speed  Sensitive  Steering (SSS) 
This system varies the  amount of steering  effort  proportionate  to  your 
vehicle  speed.  Steering  is easier  at 
a lower  speed  for  increased 
maneuverability  and  parking  ease. 
As your  vehicle  speed  increases,  the 
steering  effort 
is also  increased  proportionately.  At highway  speeds  the 
amount 
of steering  effort is greatly  increased  to provide  a manual  like 
steering  feel  for  maximum control 
an enhanced vehicle stability. 
Road  Sensing Suspension (Northstar Only) 
The  Road  Sensing  Suspension  automatically  controls the ride of your 
vehicle. 
The system  controls  damping  forces in the shock  absorbers  and 
struts  in response  to various  road  and  driving conditions.  The system  is 
capable 
of making  these  changes  within milli-seconds. 
The 
Road Sensing  Suspension  controller is a computer  used to control 
and  monitor  the  system. The  computer  receives inputs  from  vertical 
acceleration  sensors,  wheel 
to body position  sensors, vehicle speed 
sensor,  lift and  dive  signals,  and  determines  optimum  strut  valving or 
(suspension  stiffness) for  your  current  operating  conditions. 
The 
computer  also receives  feedback  from  the  various  components  to 
determine  proper  system operation.  If the  computer  receives an incorrect 
feedback  from  the  system, an  error  code  will be 
set in memory  and a 
“SERVICE RIDE CONTROC’ message  will display on the Driver 
139   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine corrected. If this message  should  appear,  have your vehicle serviced  at 
your  Cadillac  dealer  at your  earliest  convenience. 
Electronic Level Control 
This  keeps  your  car  level. 
The  ignition  has  to  be 
“ON” for  the level control  to  work. When  you turn 
the ignition  off, you may hear  the  level control  exhausting.  The system 
consists  of an  electronic  height sensor, 
a small electric  air compressor, 
and  air  adjustable  shock absorbers  mounted 
on the  rear of the  vehicle. 
If the system has a slight  leak,  the  air  compressor will run frequently  for  a 
few seconds  each  time. 
For  a massive  air  leak,  the  air  compressor 
will stay on for  approximately 7 
minutes. You should  see  your dealer  for service,  but you can keep  driving 
your  Cadillac,  though. 
142   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Electronic Climate Control (ECC) 
Your  vehicle  has strategicaly  placed clectronic  sensors,  that  feed 
information  to  the  vehicle’s computer  systems.  Your  vehicle  can control 
the  ventilation,  heating, and  air  conditioning  automatically year round. 
The  outside  temperature,  inside temperature  setting, fan speeds,  and  the 
ECC selection are displayed  on a digital  screen. 
OFF: Nothing  is on,  but  air will flow  through  your vehicle if you’re 
moving.  The system 
will try to  keep  the  air at  the  selected  temperature, 
but  it 
might not be able  to  maintain  it if it’s hot,  or cold,  outside. 
“OUTSIDE’’  Temperature:  The outside  temperature  is  always  displayed 
when  your  vehicle is running.  You can change 
it from  Celsius  to 
Fahrenheit  by pushing  the  ENG/MET(English/Metric)  button. 
144   

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine REAR DEFOGGER 
Push this  button to turn 
on the  rear  defogger. 
With  it, your  rear 
window  and  both 
outside  rearview 
mirrors  are  heated. 
The system  will 
automatically  shut off 
after 
10 minutes. If 
further  defrosting  is 
desired,  simply push 
the  button  again. 
“‘OTICE: 
Scraping  the  inside of your  rear  window  could  cut  and damage 
the  heating grids. 
Your warranty  would  not  cover  this damage. 
And  don’t  put  decals there; 
you might ha1  ocrap hem off. 
L 
Electronic  Solar Sensor 
The Electronic Solar Sensor  is part of the Electronic  Climate  Control 
System. 
148