2000 CADILLAC ELDORADO ignition

2-27
Your vehicle has an automatic transaxle shift lock
control system. You have to fully apply your regular
brakes before you can shift from PARK (P) when the
ignition is in RUN. See ªAutomatic Transaxleº in
the Index.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), try applying
pressure to the brakes and push the shift lever all the
way into PARK (P) as you maintain brake application.
Then move the shift lever into the gear you want. If you
ever hold the brake pedal down but still can't shift out of
PARK (P), try this:
1. Turn the ignition key to OFF. Open and close the
driver's door to turn off the Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) feature.
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 4.
3. Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Start the vehicle and then shift to the drive gear
you want.
5. Take your vehicle to an authorized service center as
soon as you can.Parking Over Things That Burn
CAUTION:
Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust
parts under your vehicle and ignite. Don't park
over papers, leaves, dry grass or other things that
can burn.

2-29
CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Don't leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you've left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured. To be sure your
vehicle won't move, even when you're on fairly
level ground, always set your parking brake after
you move the shift lever to PARK (P).
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle won't
move. See ªShifting Into PARK (P)º in the Index.
If you are parking on a hill and if you're pulling a
trailer, also see ªTowing a Trailerº in the Index.
Windows
Power Windows
The controls are located
near each window. Press the
control forward to raise the
window and press rearward
to lower the window.
The second rearward position on the driver's control
operates the express
-down window feature.
Your vehicle has Retained Accessory Power (RAP).
When you stop your vehicle and turn the ignition key
to OFF, you can still use your power windows.
See ªRetained Accessory Powerº in the Index for
more information.

2-33
The Rainsense system can be activated by turning the
wiper stalk to one of the five sensitivity levels within the
AUTO DELAY area. The AUTO DELAY position
closest to OFF is the lowest sensitivity setting. This
allows more water to collect on the windshield between
wipes. Turning the stalk away from you to the other
AUTO DELAY settings increases the sensitivity of the
system and frequency of wipes. A single wipe will
occur each time you turn the wiper stalk to a higher
sensitivity level. An initial wipe occurs when you turn
the ignition on as a reminder that Rainsense is active.
The windshield wipers also remain in a ªhigh parkº
position (when the wipers are stopped on the windshield
and are not in the normal park position), even when the
ignition is turned off.
The Rainsense wipers operate in a delay mode as well
as a continuous low or high speed depending on the
amount of moisture and the sensitivity level. The MIST
and ªwashº cycles operate as normal and are not
affected by the Rainsense function.
NOTICE:
The wipers must be turned off when going
through a car wash to avoid damage.
It is important to note that the Rainsense wiping feature
(AUTO DELAY) can be overridden at any time by
manually changing the wiper control to LO or HI speed.
If you ever need to replace the windshield, make sure it
is Rainsense compatible.
Windshield Washer
CAUTION:
In freezing weather, don't use your washer until
the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the washer
fluid can form ice on the windshield, blocking
your vision.
At the top of the turn signal/multifunction lever there is
a paddle with the word PUSH on it. To spray washer
fluid on the windshield, press and release this paddle.
The wipers will clear the windshield and either stop or
return to your preset speed. For more washer cycles,
press and hold the paddle.
LOW WASHER FLUID will be displayed on the Driver
Information Center (DIC) when the washer fluid reaches
a low level.

2-36
Increasing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed:

Use the accelerator pedal to get to the higher speed.
Push the button at the end of the lever and then
release the button and the accelerator pedal. You'll
now cruise at the higher speed.

Move the cruise switch from ON to R/A. Hold it there
until you reach a desired speed and then release the
switch. (To increase your speed in very small amounts,
move the switch to R/A. Each time you do this, your
vehicle will go about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster.)
The accelerate feature will only work after you have set the
cruise control speed by pushing the SET CRUISE button.
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to reduce your speed while using
cruise control:

Push in the button at the end of the lever until you
reach a desired lower speed, then release it. A
CRUISE ENGAGED message will then display in
the Driver Information Center (DIC).

To slow down in very small amounts, push the
button for less than half a second. Each time you do
this, you'll go 1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower.Passing Another Vehicle While Using Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed. When
you take your foot off the pedal, your vehicle will slow
down to the cruise control speed you set earlier.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load and the steepness of the hills.
When going up steep hills, you may have to step on the
accelerator pedal to maintain your speed. When going
downhill, you may have to brake or shift to a lower gear
to keep your speed down. Of course, applying the brakes
or downshifting into FIRST (1) takes you out of cruise
control. Many drivers find this to be too much trouble
and don't use cruise control on steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
There are two ways to end cruise control:

Step lightly on the brake pedal.

Move the CRUISE switch to OFF.
Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed memory is erased when you
turn off the cruise control or the ignition.

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Exterior Lamps
The control located on the
left side of the instrument
panel controls these
lamp systems:

Headlamps

Taillamps

Parking Lamps

Sidemarker Lamps

License Plate Lamp

Underhood Lamp

Fog Lamps

Instrument Panel Lights

Interior Courtesy Lamps
Instrument panel backlighting will activate whenever
the lamps or lights are turned on.
Parking Lamps
Pull the exterior lamp control knob out to the first stop to
turn on the parking as well as the taillamps, sidemarker
lamps and instrument panel lights. Push the control knob
all the way back in to turn the lamps and lights off.
Headlamps
Pull the exterior lamp control knob out all the way to
turn on the headlamps. Push the control knob all the way
back in to turn the headlamps off.
Wiper
-Activated Headlamps
This feature activates the headlamps and parking lamps
after the windshield wipers have been in use for
approximately 20 seconds.
In order to operate the wiper
-activated headlamps,
the Twilight Sentinel must be turned on. This
feature lights the way in poor weather and it also makes
your vehicle more visible to other drivers. If the
wiper
-activated headlamps are on, and the ignition
switch is turned off, the wiper
-activated headlamps will
immediately turn off.
The wiper
-activated headlamps will deactivate if you
turn off the Twilight Sentinel or if the windshield wipers
have been turned off for a period of one or two seconds.

2-38 Lamps On Reminder
If the manual headlamp control is activated, you will
hear a warning chime if you open either door while
leaving the lamps on. An exception to this is when
you're using Twilight Sentinel.
Daytime Running Lamps
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to see the front of your vehicle during the day.
DRL can be helpful in many different driving
conditions, but they can be especially helpful in the
short periods after dawn and before sunset.
The DRL system will make the high
-beam headlamps
come on at reduced brightness when:

The ignition is on,

the headlamp switch is off and

the transaxle is not in PARK (P).
When DRL are on, only your high
-beam headlamps
(at reduced brightness) will be on. No other exterior
lamps such as the parking lamps, taillamps, etc. will be
on when the DRL are being used. Your instrument
panel won't be lit up either.When the Twilight Sentinel switch is on and it's dark
enough outside, the high
-beam headlamps (at reduced
intensity) will turn off and normal low
-beam headlamp
operation will occur. When the Twilight Sentinel switch
is on and it's bright enough outside, the regular lamps
will go off, and the high
-beam headlamps at reduced
brightness will take over for the DRL.
If it's dark enough outside and the Twilight Sentinel
control is off, a HEADLAMPS SUGGESTED message
will display on the Driver Information Center (DIC).
This message informs the driver that turning on the
exterior lamps is recommended even though the DRL
are still illuminated (it's become dark enough outside to
require the headlamps and/or other exterior lamps).
Turning on the Twilight Sentinel, the headlamp switch
or the fog lamp switch will remove the HEADLAMPS
SUGGESTED message.
To idle your vehicle with the DRL off, turn off the
Twilight Sentinel switch and shift the transaxle into
PARK (P). Placing your vehicle in PARK (P) disables
the DRL. The DRL will stay off until you shift out
of PARK (P).
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.

2-39 Fog Lamps
Use the fog lamps for better
vision in foggy or misty
conditions. When you press
the fog lamp button, a small
indicator light will tell you
that the fog lamps and the
parking lamps are on. Press
the button again to turn
them off.
If you turn on the high
-beam headlamps, the fog lamps
will turn off. They'll turn back on again when you
switch to low
-beam headlamps.
When the Twilight Sentinel is on and the fog lamp
switch is activated, the fog lamps will remain on as well
as the headlamps and parking lamps.
Cornering Lamps
The cornering lamps come on when the headlamps or
parking lamps are on and you signal a turn. They
provide more light for cornering.
Twilight Sentinel

This control is located next
to the exterior lamp control
knob. It automatically
turns the lamps on and
off by sensing how dark
it is outside.
To operate the Twilight Sentinel, leave the exterior lamp
control knob off and move the TWILIGHT control to
any position but OFF.
If you move the control all the way to the right, the
lamps will remain on for approximately three minutes
after the ignition has been turned to OFF or LOCK.
If you move the control so it is just on, the lamps will
go off quickly when you turn the ignition out of RUN.
You can adjust the delay time from only a few seconds
to three minutes.

2-40
If it's dark enough outside and the Twilight Sentinel
control is off, a HEADLAMPS SUGGESTED message
will display on the Driver Information Center (DIC).
This message informs the driver that turning on the
exterior lamps is recommended (it's become dark
enough outside to require the headlamps and/or other
exterior lamps). Turning on the Twilight Sentinel,
the headlamps or the fog lamps will remove the
HEADLAMPS SUGGESTED message.
Light SensorThe light sensor for the Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
and the Twilight Sentinel is located in the center of the
front defogger grille. If you cover the sensor, it will read
ªdarkº and the lamps will come on.
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver
If the manual parking lamp control has been left on, the
exterior lamps will turn off approximately 10 minutes
after the ignition is turned to LOCK or ACCESSORY.
This protects draining the battery in case you have
accidentally left the headlamps or parking lamps on.
If you need to purposely leave the lamps on for more
than 10 minutes with the ignition in LOCK or
ACCESSORY, turn the exterior lamps control knob
off and then back on. To delay the lamps from turning
off, see ªTwilight Sentinelº in the Index.