2003 CADILLAC DEVILLE steering

There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows the words AIR BAG or an air
bag symbol.
The system checks the air bag electrical system for
malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical
problem. See
Air Bag Readiness Light on page 3-45for more information.
Where Are the Air Bags?
The driver's frontal air bag is in the middle of the
steering wheel. United States
Canada
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{CAUTION:
If something is between an occupant and an
air bag, the bag might not in¯ate properly or it
might force the object into that person causing
severe injury or even death. The path of an
in¯ating air bag must be kept clear. Don't put
anything between an occupant and an air bag,
and don't attach or put anything on the
steering wheel hub or on or near any other air
bag covering. Don't let seat covers block the
in¯ation path of a side impact air bag.
When Should an Air Bag In¯ate?
The driver's and right front passenger's frontal air bags
are designed to in¯ate in moderate to severe frontal or
near-frontal crashes. But they are designed to in¯ate only
if the impact speed is above the system's designed
ªthreshold level.º
In addition, your vehicle has ªdual stageº frontal air bags,
which adjust the amount of restraint according to crash
severity. For moderate frontal impacts, these air bags
in¯ate at a level less than full deployment. For more
severe frontal impacts, full deployment occurs.If the front of your vehicle goes straight into a wall that
doesn't move or deform, the threshold level for the
reduced deployment is about 10 to 16 mph (18 to
26 km/h), and the threshold level for a full deployment is
about 18 to 24 mph (29 to 38.5 km/h). The threshold level
can vary, however, with speci®c vehicle design, so that it
can be somewhat above or below this range.
If your vehicle strikes something that will move or deform,
such as a parked car, the threshold level will be higher.
The driver's and right front passenger's frontal air bags
are not designed to in¯ate in rollovers, rear impacts, or in
many side impacts because in¯ation would not help the
occupant.
The side impact air bags are designed to in¯ate in
moderate to severe side crashes. A side impact air bag
will in¯ate if the crash severity is above the system's
designed ªthreshold level.º The threshold level can vary
with speci®c vehicle design. Side impact air bags are not
designed to in¯ate in frontal or near-frontal impacts,
rollovers or rear impacts, because in¯ation would not help
the occupant. A side impact air bag will only deploy on
the side of the vehicle that is struck.
In any particular crash, no one can say whether an air
bag should have in¯ated simply because of the damage
to a vehicle or because of what the repair costs were. For
frontal air bags, in¯ation is determined by the angle of the
impact and how quickly the vehicle slows down in frontal
and near-frontal impacts. For side impact air bags,
in¯ation is determined by the location and severity of the
impact.
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What Makes an Air Bag In¯ate?
In an impact of sufficient severity, the air bag sensing
system detects that the vehicle is in a crash. For
both the frontal and side impact air bags, the sensing
system triggers a release of gas from the in¯ator, which
in¯ates the air bag. The in¯ator, air bag and related
hardware are all part of the air bag modules inside the
steering wheel, instrument panel and the side of the
front seatbacks and behind the rear seatbacks closest to
the door.
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 panel. In moderate to severe side
collisions, even belted occupants can contact the inside
of the vehicle. 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 the
frontal air bags would not help you in many types
of collisions, including rollovers, rear impacts, and many
side impacts, primarily because an occupant's motion
is not toward the air bag.
Side impact air bags would not help you in many types of
collisions, including frontal or near frontal collisions,
rollovers, and rear impacts, primarily because an
occupant's motion is not toward those air bags. Air bags
should never be regarded as anything more than a
supplement to safety belts, and then only in moderate to
severe frontal or near-frontal collisions for the driver's and
right front passenger's frontal air bags, and only in
moderate to severe side collisions for the side impact
air bags.
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What Will You See After an Air Bag
In¯ates?
After the air bag in¯ates, it quickly de¯ates, so quickly
that some people may not even realize the air bag
in¯ated. Some components of the air bag module ± the
steering wheel hub for the driver's air bag, the
instrument panel for the right front passenger's bag, the
side of the seatback closest to the door for the side
impact air bags ± will be hot for a short time. The parts
of the bag that come into contact with you may be
warm, but not too hot to touch. There will be some
smoke and dust coming from the vents in the de¯ated
air bags. Air bag in¯ation doesn't prevent the driver from
seeing or being able to steer the vehicle, nor does it
stop people from leaving the vehicle.
{CAUTION:
When an air bag in¯ates, 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
in¯ates, then get fresh air by opening a
window or a door. If you experience breathing
problems following an air bag deployment, you
should seek medical attention.
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Your vehicle has a feature that will automatically unlock
the doors and turn the interior lamps on when the air
bags in¯ate (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.
In many crashes severe enough to in¯ate 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 in¯ate only once. After an
air bag in¯ates, 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 system records information
about the readiness of the system, when the system
commands air bag in¯ation and driver's safetybelt usage at deployment or near-deployment
crash. The module also records speed, engine rpm,
brake and throttle data.
·Let only quali®ed 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.
Notice:If you damage the covering for the driver's
or the right front passenger's air bag, or the air
bag covering on the driver's, right front passenger's
or rear seatback, the bag may not work properly.
You may have to replace the air bag module in the
steering wheel, both the air bag module and the
instrument panel for the right front passenger's air
bag, or both the air bag module and seatback
for the side impact air bag. Do not open or break
the air bag coverings.
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Storage Areas................................................2-51
Glove Box...................................................2-51
Instrument Panel Storage Area.......................2-51
Cellular Telephone........................................2-51
Front Storage Area.......................................2-51
Full Floor Console Storage Area.....................2-51
Center Console Storage Area.........................2-51
Center Flex Storage Unit...............................2-52
Map Pocket.................................................2-52
Assist Handles.............................................2-53Garment Hooks............................................2-53
Umbrella Holder...........................................2-53
Floor Mats...................................................2-53
Rear Storage Area........................................2-53
Rear Storage Door Trim Armrest.....................2-53
Convenience Net..........................................2-53
Sunroof.........................................................2-54
Vehicle Personalization...................................2-55
Memory Seat, Mirrors and Steering Wheel.......2-55
Section 2 Features and Controls
2-2

There is a master key that works all of the lock cylinders
(driver's door, trunk, ignition and glove box).
There is also a VALET key which only operates the
driver's door and the ignition.
Your vehicle has the PASS-Key
žIII vehicle theft
system. Both the master and VALET key have a
transponder in the key head that matches a decoder in
the vehicle's steering column. If a replacement key
or any additional key is needed, you must purchase this
key from your dealer. The key will have PK3 stamped
on it. Keep the bar code tag that came with the original
keys. Give this tag to your dealer if you need a new
key made.Any new PASS-Key
žIII key must be programmed
before it will start your vehicle. SeePASS-KeyžIII on
page 2-21for more information on programming
your new key.
Notice:Your vehicle has a number of features that
can help prevent theft. You can have a lot of trouble
getting into your vehicle if you ever lock your keys
inside. You may even have to damage your vehicle to
get in. So be sure you have spare keys.
In an emergency, contact Cadillac Roadside Assistance.
See
Roadside Service on page 7-6.
If your vehicle is equipped with the OnStar
žsystem with
an active subscription and you lock your keys inside
the vehicle, OnStar
žmay be able to send a command to
unlock your vehicle. SeeOnStaržSystem on page 2-45for more information.
Remote Keyless Entry System
Your keyless entry system operates on a radio
frequency subject to Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) Rules and with Industry Canada.
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause interference, and
2. This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation of the device. Master Key
Valet Key
2-4

W(Unlock):Press this symbol to unlock the driver's
door. The parking lamps on your vehicle will ¯ash twice.
The parking lamps will not ¯ash if they have been
turned on manually. Remote con®rmation is not
operational if a door is open.
Press this button again within one to ®ve seconds
to unlock the other doors. It will also disarm the
theft-deterrent system and turn on the interior lamp
at night.
You can program your vehicle so the parking lamps will
not ¯ash. For more information, see
DIC Vehicle
Personalization on page 3-67.
L(Panic Alarm):Press the horn symbol when the
ignition is turned off to use the alarm. The horn will
sound and the exterior lamps will ¯ash for up to
30 seconds. To stop the instant panic alarm, press the
symbol again or turn the ignition to ON.
V(Trunk):Press this button to open the trunk. The
valet lockout switch must be off for this feature to
work. See
Valet Lockout SwitchunderTheft-Deterrent
Systems on page 2-19for more information.
The remote keyless entry transmitter can be used to
recall the memory settings for up to two drivers.
For more information, see
DIC Vehicle Personalization
on page 3-67andMemory Seat, Mirrors and Steering
Wheel on page 2-55.
Matching Transmitter(s) to Your
Vehicle
Each remote keyless entry transmitter is coded to
prevent another transmitter from unlocking your vehicle.
If a transmitter is lost or stolen, a replacement can
be purchased through your dealer. Remember to bring
any remaining transmitters with you when you go to
your dealer. When the dealer matches the replacement
transmitter to your vehicle, any remaining transmitters
must also be matched. Once your dealer has coded the
new transmitter, the lost transmitter will not unlock
your vehicle. Each vehicle can have a maximum of four
transmitters matched to it.
Vehicles are delivered with two transmitters. See your
dealer for information on how to obtain additional
transmitters.
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