2003 CADILLAC CTS brake light

2-
2-1
Section 2 Features and Controls
Here you can learn about the many standard and optional features on your vehicle, and information on starting,
shifting and braking. Also explained are the instrument panel and the warning systems that tell you if everything is
working properly
-- and what to do if you have a problem.
2
-2 Windows
2
-5 Keys
2
-7 Door Locks
2
-10 Remote Keyless Entry System
2
-16 Trunk Lid
2
-19 Theft
2
-21 Immobilizer
2
-24 New Vehicle ªBreak-Inº
2
-24 Ignition Positions
2
-27 Starting Your Engine
2
-28 Engine Coolant Heater (If Equipped)
2
-30 Automatic Transmission Operation
2
-37 Manual Transmission Operation
2
-38 Parking Brake
2
-40 Shifting Into PARK (P)
(Automatic Transmission Only)
2
-42 Shifting Out of PARK (P)
(Automatic Transmission Only)
2
-42 Parking Your Vehicle
(Manual Transmission Only)2
-43 Parking Over Things That Burn
2
-44 Engine Exhaust
2
-44 Running Your Engine While You're Parked
(Automatic Transmission)
2
-46 Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
2
-56 Exterior Lamps
2
-59 Interior Lamps
2
-60 Mirrors
2
-70 OnStar
System (If Equipped)
2
-74 Sunroof (Option)
2
-75 HomeLink
Transmitter (If Equipped)
2
-80 The Instrument Panel -- Your
Information System
2
-85 Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
2
-99 Driver Information Center (DIC)
2
-130 Vehicle Programming and
Personalization Features
2
-153 Navigation (Option)

2-16
Trunk Lid
CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to drive with the trunk lid
open because carbon monoxide (CO) gas can
come into your vehicle. You can't see or smell
CO. It can cause unconsciousness and even death.
If you must drive with the trunk lid open or if
electrical wiring or other cable connections must
pass through the seal between the body and the
trunk lid:

Make sure all other windows are shut.

Turn the fan on your heating or cooling
system to its highest speed and select the
control setting that will force outside air
into your vehicle. See ªComfort Controlsº
in the Index.

If you have air outlets on or under the
instrument panel, open them all the way.
See ªEngine Exhaustº in the Index.
Remote Trunk Release Button
The remote trunk release
button is located on the
lower portion of the
driver's door.
To use this feature, an automatic transmission must
be in PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) and your manual
transmission must be in NEUTRAL with the parking
brake set.
Press the button to open the trunk. You can also press
the button with the trunk symbol on the remote keyless
entry transmitter to open the trunk.
When the trunk lid opens, a light inside the trunk
will come on. The light will go out when the trunk
lid is closed.

2-39
To release the parking brake, pull the release lever
located to the left of the steering wheel on the
instrument panel.
If the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
on the instrument panel cluster should come on. If it
doesn't, you need to have your vehicle serviced. See
ªBrake System Warning Lightº in the Index for more
information.
NOTICE:
Do not drive your vehicle with the parking brake
on. Driving with the parking brake engaged can
cause your vehicle's rear brakes to overheat. You
may have to replace them, and you could also
damage other parts of your vehicle.
A warning chime will sound if the parking brake is set,
the ignition is on and the vehicle begins to move. To
stop the chime, fully release the parking brake.
If you are towing a trailer and parking on a hill, see
ªTowing a Trailerº in the Index for more information.

2-54
Setting Cruise Control
CAUTION:
If you leave your cruise control switch on when
you're not using cruise, you might hit a button
and go into cruise when you don't want to. You
could be startled and even lose control. Keep the
cruise control switch off until you want to use
cruise control.
1. Press the cruise control on/off button to turn cruise
control on. An indicator light will come on to show
that the cruise control is on.
2. Accelerate to the speed you want.
3. Press either the plus or minus button and release it.
This will set the cruise control.
4. Remove your foot from the accelerator pedal.
This light on the instrument
panel cluster will come on
when cruise control is on.
It will go out when cruise
control is turned off.
Resuming a Set Speed
Suppose you set your cruise control at a desired speed
and then you apply the brake. This shuts off the cruise
control. But you don't need to reset it.
Once the vehicle is traveling approximately 25 mph
(40 km/h) or more, you can press the resume/accelerate
button to return to your desired preset speed. The cruise
control light will be displayed again.
The vehicle will return to and stay at your preset speed.
If you press and hold the resume/accelerate button, the
vehicle speed will increase until you release the button
or apply the brake. Unless you want to go faster, do not
press and hold the resume/accelerate button.

2-56
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. Applying the brake or shifting
into a lower gear will take you out of cruise control. If
you need to apply the brake or shift to a lower gear due
to the grade of the downhill slope, you may not want to
attempt to use your cruise control feature.Ending Cruise Control
To turn off the cruise control, step lightly on the brake
pedal, or press the cruise control on/off button on the
steering wheel.
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition,
your cruise control set speed memory is erased.
Exterior Lamps
Headlamps
See ªTurn Signal/Multifunction Leverº listed previously
in this section for more information on the headlamps.

2-57
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. Fully
functional daytime running lamps are required on all
vehicles first sold in Canada.
The DRL system will make the turn signal lamps come
on when the following conditions are met:

It is still daylight and the ignition is in ON
or START,

the exterior lamp control is in OFF or AUTO with
the headlamps off, and

an automatic transmission is not in PARK (P) or the
parking brake is not set on a manual transmission.
When DRL are on, only your turn signal lamps will be on.
No other exterior lamps will be on when the DRL are
being used. Your instrument panel won't be lit up either.
When the exterior lamp control is in AUTO and it's dark
enough outside, the DRL will turn off and the low
-beam
headlamps will turn on. When it's bright enough
outside, the low
-beam headlamps will go off, and the
DRL will turn back on.If it's dark enough outside and the exterior lamp control
is in OFF, a Headlamps Suggested message will appear
on the Driver's Information Center (DIC) display. This
message informs the driver that turning on the exterior
lamps is recommended even though the DRL are still
illuminated. Turning the exterior lamp control to AUTO
or to the low
-beam headlamp position will turn off the
DRL and cancel the Headlamps Suggested message.
If the parking lamps or the fog lamps were turned on
instead, the DRL will still turn off and the Headlamps
Suggested message will be displayed. You can turn it off
by pressing the OK button if you have the Navigation
audio system or the CLR button if you have the base
audio system.
To operate your vehicle with the DRL off, turn the
exterior lamp control to OFF. Then turn on the fog
lamps or parking lamps, and the DRL will turn off.
The Headlamps Suggested message will appear on the
DIC display. This will work regardless of gear position
and whether or not the parking brake is set.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.

2-88
Brake System Warning Light
Your vehicle's hydraulic brake system is divided into
two parts. If one part isn't working, the other part can
still work and stop you. For good braking, though, you
need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there is a brake problem.
Have your brake system inspected right away.
United States Canada
This light should come on briefly when you turn
the ignition key to ON. If it doesn't come on then,
have it fixed so it will be ready to warn you if there's
a problem.When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
will also come on when you set your parking brake. The
light will stay on if your parking brake doesn't release
fully. If it stays on after your parking brake is fully
released, it means you have a brake problem.
If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off the
road and stop carefully. You may notice that the pedal is
harder to push. Or, the pedal may go closer to the floor.
It may take longer to stop. If the light is still on, have the
vehicle towed for service. See ªTowing Your Vehicleº in
the Index.
CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working properly
if the brake system warning light is on. Driving
with the brake system warning light on can lead
to an accident. If the light is still on after you've
pulled off the road and stopped carefully, have
the vehicle towed for service.

2-89
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
With the anti-lock brake
system, the light(s) will
come on when your engine
is started and may stay
on for several seconds.
That's normal.
If the ABS warning light comes on and stays on, there
may be a problem with the antilock portion of the brake
system. If the red BRAKE light is not on, you still have
brakes, but you don't have antilock brakes. See ªBrake
System Warning Lightº earlier in this section.If the light stays on, turn the ignition to OFF. Or, if the
light comes on when you're driving, stop as soon as
possible and turn the ignition off. Then start the engine
again to reset the system. If the light still stays on, or
comes on again while you're driving, your vehicle needs
service. If the regular brake system warning light isn't
on, you still have brakes, but you don't have anti
-lock
brakes. If the regular brake system warning light is also
on, you don't have anti
-lock brakes and there's a
problem with your regular brakes. See ªBrake System
Warning Lightº earlier in this section.
The anti
-lock brake system warning light will come on
briefly when you turn the ignition key to ON. This is
normal. If the light doesn't come on then, have it fixed
so it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
If the ABS light stays on or comes on while you are
driving, pull off the road as soon as possible and stop
carefully. Try resetting the system by turning the
ignition off then back on. If the ABS light still stays on
or comes back on again while you are driving, your
vehicle needs service. Have the anti
-lock brake system
inspected as soon as possible.