2001 CADILLAC DEVILLE battery

2-17
Parking at Night
Park in a lighted spot, close all windows and lock your
vehicle. Remember to keep your valuables out of sight.
Put them in a storage area, or take them with you.
Parking Lots
Even if you park in a lot where someone will be
watching your vehicle, it's still best to lock it up and
take your keys. But what if you have to leave your
ignition key?

If possible, park in a busy, well
-lit area.

Put your valuables in a storage area, like your
trunk or glove box. Be sure to close and lock the
storage area.

Close all windows.

Move the valet lockout switch to ON.

Leave only the valet key.

Take all other keys and the Remote Keyless Entry
transmitter with you.
Theft-Deterrent System
If the ignition is off and
any door is open, the
SECURITY light will flash,
reminding you to activate
the system.
The light will also flash if the battery has been
disconnected and reconnected.
To arm the system, do the following:
1. Open the door.
2. Lock the door using the power door lock or the
remote keyless entry transmitter. The SECURITY
light should come on and stay on.
3. Close all the doors. The SECURITY light should go
off within about 30 seconds.
When the theft
-deterrent system activates, the horn will
sound and the lamps will flash for about 30 seconds
when the door or trunk is opened without the key or the
remote keyless entry transmitter.

2-24
Starting Your Engine
Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
Your engine won't start in any other position
-- that's a
safety feature. To restart when you're already moving,
use NEUTRAL (N) only.
NOTICE:
Don't try to shift to PARK (P) if your vehicle is
moving. If you do, you could damage the
transaxle. Shift to PARK (P) only when your
vehicle is stopped.
1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn your
ignition key to START. When the engine starts, let
go of the key. The idle speed will go down as your
engine gets warm.
NOTICE:
Holding your key in START for longer than
15 seconds at a time will cause your battery to
be drained much sooner. And the excessive heat
can damage your starter motor. Wait about
15 seconds between each try to help avoid
draining your battery or damaging your starter.
2. If it doesn't start within 10 seconds, hold your key
in START for about 10 seconds at a time until your
engine starts. Wait about 15 seconds between
each try.

2-36
Shifting Out of PARK (P)
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 key is in ON. See ªAutomatic Transaxle
Operationº in the Index.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever
-- 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 the following:
1. Turn the ignition to ACCESSORY.
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. Have the vehicle fixed as soon as you can.
Shift Lock Release
This vehicle is equipped with an electric shift lock
release system. The shift lock release is designed to do
the following:

Prevent the ignition key from being removed unless
the shift lever is in PARK (P), and

Prevent movement of the console shift lever (DTS
only) out of PARK (P) unless the ignition is in a
position other than OFF. The shift lock release is
always functional except in the case of a dead battery
or low voltage (less than 9 V) battery.
If your vehicle has a dead battery or a battery with low
voltage, there is a procedure that will allow you to
override the shift lock release.

2-37
The following procedure allows the ignition to be turned
to OFF and for key removal in case of a dead or low
voltage battery.
1. Verify that the shift lever
is in PARK (P).
2. Locate the override
access slot underneath
the steering column
below the lock cylinder.
3. Remove the override access slot cap.
4. Insert a screwdriver into the access slot, press in
and hold.
5. Turn the ignition to OFF.
6. Remove the screwdriver from the slot.
7. Remove the key from the ignition.
8. Replace the override access slot cap.The following procedure applies only to vehicles with
the console shift lever and is used to shift the transaxle
out of PARK (P) (if the vehicle needs to be towed,
for example) in case of a dead or low voltage battery.
The console shift lock
release is located on the
front of the center console.
To access the shift lock release, do the following:
1. Verify that the shift lever is in PARK (P).
2. Pull up the rubber mat located on the front of the
center console.
3. Remove the shift lock release hole cover by prying it
open with a coin or small diameter screwdriver.

2-54
Light Sensor
The light sensor for the 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 or the HEADLAMPS SUGGESTED message
will be on whenever the ignition is on.
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver
If the headlamp or manual parking lamp control
has been left on, the exterior lamps will turn off
approximately 10 minutes after the ignition is turned
to OFF. 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 OFF or
ACCESSORY, turn the manual control knob off and
then back on. To delay the lamps from turning off,
see ªTwilight Sentinelº in the Index.
If the headlamp switch is turned on after the ignition key
is moved to either OFF or ACCESSORY, the lamps will
not time out.

2-56
Parade Dimming
This feature prohibits dimming of the digital displays
and backlighting during daylight hours when the key is
in the ignition and the headlamps are on. This feature
operates with the light sensor for the Twilight Sentinel
and is fully automatic. When the light sensor reads
darkness outside and the parking lamps are active,
the digital displays can be adjusted by turning the lamp
control knob counterclockwise to dim and clockwise to
brighten lighting.
Reading Lamps
The reading lamps are located on the overhead console
on the headliner and in the rear door opening. These
lamps come on automatically when any door is opened
and it is dark outside. For manual operation, press the
button to turn them on. Press it again to turn them off.
If the reading lamps are left on, they automatically shut
off 10 minutes after the ignition has been turned off.
Battery Load Management
The battery load management feature is designed to
monitor the vehicle electrical load and determine when
the battery is in a heavy discharge condition. During
times of high electrical loading, the engine may idle at
a higher RPM (revolutions per minute) setting than
normal to make sure the battery charges. High electrical
loads may occur when several of the following are
on: headlamps, high beams, fog lamps, rear window
defogger, high blower fan, heated seats and engine
cooling fans.

2-57
If the battery continues to discharge, even with the
engine idling at a higher RPM setting, some electrical
loads will automatically be reduced. When this occurs,
the rear window defogger may take slightly longer to
clear the glass, the heated seats may not get as warm as
they usually do and the fan blower may cut back to a
lower speed. For more battery saving information,
see ªBattery Saver Active Messageº in the Index.
Inadvertent Power Battery Saver
This feature is designed to protect your vehicle's battery
against drainage from the interior lamps, trunk lamp,
glove box lamp, cigarette lighters or the garage door
opener. When the ignition is turned off, the power to
these features will automatically turn off after
10 minutes (three minutes if a new car has 15 miles
(24 km) or less). Power will be restored for an additional
10 minutes if any door is opened, the trunk is opened or
the courtesy lamp switch is turned on.
Mirrors
Electrochromic Day/Night Rearview Mirror
with Compass
Your vehicle has an electrochromic inside rearview
mirror with a compass. Your vehicle's mirror also
contains OnStar

controls. For more information
about OnStar, see ªOnStarº in the Index.

2-66
Cellular Telephone (Option)
With this option, your vehicle is equipped with a
portable cellular telephone system. The system has
steering wheel telephone controls and information
output through the Driver Information Center (DIC).
Voice activation with remote record and hands
-free
operation are standard features. For more information,
see the ªCellular Phone System Supplement.º A user's
guide is provided with the telephone.
Accessory Power Outlets
Your vehicle may be equipped with accessory power
outlets. If you have the rear storage door trim armrest,
the power outlet is located under the storage lid. If you
have a vehicle with a center storage compartment
located on the instrument panel, you may also have
an accessory power outlet in the storage drawer.
The outlets can be used to plug in electrical equipment
such as a cellular telephone, CB radio, etc. Follow the
proper installation instructions that are included with
any electrical equipment you install.Certain power accessory plugs may not be compatible
to the power accessory outlet and could result in blown
vehicle or adapter fuses. If you experience a problem
see your dealer for additional information on the power
accessory plugs.
The accessory power outlet will only operate when the
ignition is in ON and for 10 minutes after turning the
ignition OFF. If you would like the accessory power
outlet to operate regardless of ignition position, and
for unlimited periods of time, see ªEngine Compartment
Bussed Electrical Centerº in the Index or see
your dealer.
Leaving an accessory on for a long period of time, or a
fuse in the wrong place, can drain the vehicle's battery.
NOTICE:
When using the accessory power outlet, the
maximum load of any electrical equipment
should not exceed 15 amps.