2003 CADILLAC CTS warning

iv
Vehicle Damage Warnings
Also, in this book you will find these notices:
NOTICE:
These mean there is something that could damage
your vehicle.
In the notice area, we tell you about something that can
damage your vehicle. Many times, this damage would
not be covered by your warranty, and it could be costly.
But the notice will tell you what to do to help avoid
the damage.
When you read other manuals, you might see
CAUTION and NOTICE warnings in different
colors or in different words.
You'll also see warning labels on your vehicle.
They use the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE.
Vehicle Symbols
Your vehicle may be equipped with components and
labels that use symbols instead of text. Symbols,
used on your vehicle, are shown along with the text
describing the operation or information relating to a
specific component, control, message, gage or indicator.
If you need help figuring out a specific name of a
component, gage or indicator reference the following
topics in the Index:

ªEngine Compartment Overviewº

ªInstrument Panelº

ªComfort Controlsº

ªAudio Systemsº
Also see ªWarning Lights and Gagesº in the Index.

1-33
CAUTION:
When an air bag inflates, there is dust in the air.
This dust could cause breathing problems for
people with a history of asthma or other
breathing trouble. To avoid this, everyone in the
vehicle should get out as soon as it is safe to do so.
If you have breathing problems but can't get out
of the vehicle after an air bag inflates, then get
fresh air by opening a window or a door.
Your vehicle has a feature that will automatically unlock
the doors and turn the interior lamps on when the air
bags inflate (if battery power is available). You can lock
the doors again and turn the interior lamps off by using
the door lock and interior lamp controls. The hazard
warning flashers will also come on when the air bags
deploy. If you want to turn them off, press the hazard
warning flasher button twice.In many crashes severe enough to inflate an air bag,
windshields are broken by vehicle deformation.
Additional windshield breakage may also occur from the
right front passenger air bag.

Air bags are designed to inflate only once. After an
air bag inflates, you'll need some new parts for your
air bag system. If you don't get them, the air bag
system won't be there to help protect you in another
crash. A new system will include air bag modules
and possibly other parts. The service manual for your
vehicle covers the need to replace other parts.

Your vehicle is equipped with an electronic frontal
sensor, which helps the sensing system distinguish
between a moderate frontal impact and a more
severe frontal impact. Your vehicle is also equipped
with a crash sensing and diagnostic module, which
records information about the frontal air bag system.
The module records information about the readiness
of the system, when the system commands air bag
inflation and driver's safety belt usage at deployment
or in a near
-deployment crash. The module also
records speed, engine rpm, brake and throttle data.

Let only qualified technicians work on your air
bag systems. Improper service can mean that an
air bag system won't work properly. See your dealer
for service.

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)

2-39
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.

2-47
Turn Signal On Chime
If the turn signal is left on for approximately 1 mile
(1.61 km), a warning chime will sound and the
Turn Signal On message will appear on the Driver
Information Center (DIC) display. See ªTurn Signal
On Messageº later in this section for more information.
Headlamps
The exterior lamp control is located at the end of the
turn signal/multifunction lever.
: Turn the control with this symbol on it to operate
the exterior lamps.
The exterior lamp control has three positions:
: Turning the control to this position turns off all
lamps except the Daytime Running Lamps (DRL).
: Turning the control to this position turns on the
parking lamps together with the following:

Sidemarker Lamps

Taillamps

License Plate Lamps

Instrument Panel Lights
: Turning the control to this position turns on the
headlamps, together with the previously listed lamps
and lights.
AUTO (Automatic): Turning the control to this
position puts the headlamps in automatic mode. AUTO
mode will turn the exterior lamps on and off depending
upon how much light is available outside of the vehicle.
Wiper
-Activated Headlamps
This feature activates the headlamps and parking lamps
after the windshield wipers have been in use for
approximately six seconds. For this feature to work, the
exterior lamp control must be in AUTO.
When the exterior lamp control is off or in the parking
lamp position and the windshield wiper control is in any
position except off, the Headlamps Suggested message
will appear on the DIC display. See ªHeadlamps
Suggested Messageº later in this section for more
information.
When the ignition is turned to OFF, the wiper
-activated
headlamps will immediately turn off. They will also turn
off if the windshield wiper control is turned off.

2-48
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
Push forward on the turn signal/multifunction lever to
change the headlamps from low to high beam. Pull the
lever back and then release it to change from high to
low beam.
This light on the instrument
panel cluster will be on,
indicating high
-beam usage.
Lamps On Reminder
A warning chime will sound if the exterior lamp control
is left on in either the headlamp or parking lamp
position and the driver's door is opened with the
ignition off.
Flash-To-Pass Feature
This feature allows you to use the high-beam headlamps
to signal the driver in front of you that you want to pass.
Pull and hold the turn signal/multifunction lever toward
you to use. When you do, the following will occur:

If the headlamps are either off, in low
-beam or in
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) mode, the
high
-beam headlamps will turn on. They'll stay on
as long as you hold the lever there. Release the lever
to turn them off.

If the headlamps are in high
-beam mode, they will
switch to low beam. To return to high
-beam, push
the lever away from you.

2-81
The main components of the instrument panel are the following:
A. Air Outlets
B. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
C. Reconfigurable Steering Wheel Controls
D. Instrument Panel Cluster
E. Cruise Control Buttons
F. Audio Mute Button (Base Radio) or Voice
Recognition Button (Navigation System)
G. Audio Volume Knob and Source Button
H. Windshield Wiper LeverI. Storage Compartment or Ashtray (Option)
J. Hazard Warning Flasher Button
K. Transmission Shift Lever
L. Accessory Power Outlet or Cigarette
Lighter (Option)
M. Climate Control System
N. Audio/Navigation System (Option)
O. Glove Box

2-85
Warning Lights, Gages and
Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages that
may be on your vehicle. The pictures will help you
locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that something is
wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause an
expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to
your warning lights and gages could also save you or
others from injury.
Warning lights come on when there may be or is a
problem with one of your vehicle's functions. As you
will see in the details on the next few pages, some
warning lights come on briefly when you start the
engine just to let you know they're working. If you are
familiar with this section, you should not be alarmed
when this happens.Gages can indicate when there may be or is a problem
with one of your vehicle's functions. Often gages and
warning lights work together to let you know when
there's a problem with your vehicle.
When one of the warning lights comes on and stays on
when you are driving, or when one of the gages shows
there may be a problem, check the section that tells you
what to do about it. Please follow this manual's advice.
Waiting to do repairs can be costly
-- and even
dangerous. So please get to know your warning lights
and gages. They're a big help.
Your vehicle also has a Driver Information Center (DIC)
that works along with the warning lights and gages. See
ªDriver Information Center (DIC)º later in this section
for more information.