2005 CADILLAC CTS V lights

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 briey 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. 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.
SeeDriver Information Center (DIC) on page 3-57for
more information.
3-34

If the word ON or the on symbol is lit on the passenger
airbag status indicator, it means that the right front
passenger’s frontal airbag is enabled (may inate).
{CAUTION:
If the on indicator comes on when you have a
rear-facing child restraint installed in the right
front passenger’s seat, it means that the
passenger sensing system has not turned off
the passenger’s frontal airbag. A child in a
rear-facing child restraint can be seriously
injured or killed if the right front passenger’s
airbag inates. This is because the back of the
rear-facing child restraint would be very close
to the inating airbag. Do not use a rear-facing
child restraint in the right front passenger’s
seat unless the airbag has been turned off.
If the word OFF or the off symbol is lit on the airbag
status indicator, it means that the passenger sensing
system has turned off the right front passenger’s frontal
airbag. SeePassenger Sensing System on page 1-60
for more on this, including important safety information.If, after several seconds, all status indicator lights
remain on, or if there are no lights at all, there may be a
problem with the lights or the passenger sensing
system. See your dealer for service.
{CAUTION:
If the off indicator and the airbag readiness
light ever come on together, it means that
something may be wrong with the airbag
system. If this ever happens, have the vehicle
serviced promptly, because an adult-size
person sitting in the right front passenger seat
may not have the protection of the frontal
airbag. SeeAirbag Readiness Light on
page 3-38.
3-40

Sport Mode Light
(Automatic Transmission)
This light will come on
while the sport mode
is in use.
When you turn off the sport mode, the light will go out.
If it stays on, your vehicle may need service. See
your dealer. See “Sport Mode” underAutomatic
Transmission Operation on page 2-26for more
information.
Security Light
For information
regarding this light,
seeTheft-Deterrent
System on page 2-18.
Fog Lamp Light
This light will come on
when the fog lamps
are in use.
The light will go out when the fog lamps are turned off.
SeeFog Lamps on page 3-23for more information.
Lights On Reminder
This light comes on
whenever the parking
lamps are on.
SeeHeadlamps on Reminder on page 3-21for more
information.
3-49

Lights Flash at Unlock
This feature ashes the exterior lamps when the remote
keyless entry transmitter is used to unlock the vehicle.
The lamps will ash for approximately 20 seconds
unless a door is opened, the ignition is turned to
ACCESSORY, ON or START or the remote keyless
entry transmitter is used to lock the vehicle.
Programmable Modes
Mode 1:ON
Mode 2:OFF
Before your vehicle was shipped from the factory, it was
programmed to Mode 1. The mode to which the
vehicle was programmed may have been changed since
it left the factory.
To program the vehicle to a different mode, use the
following procedure:
1. Enter the personalization portion of the SETUP
menu following the instructions listed previously.
2. Scroll to LIGHTS FLASH AT UNLOCK to
highlight it.3. Press the TUNE/SEL knob to switch back and forth
between on and off.
When the mode is turned on, a check mark will
appear next to the feature name.
The mode you selected is now set. You can either exit
the programming mode by following the instructions
later in this section or program the next feature available
on your vehicle.
Lights Flash at Lock
This feature allows the exterior lamps to ash once
when the remote keyless entry transmitter is used to
lock the vehicle. All doors must be closed for this feature
to work, and the lamps will not ash if the parking
lamps or headlamps are on.
Programmable Modes
Mode 1:ON
Mode 2:OFF
Before your vehicle was shipped from the factory, it was
programmed to Mode 1. The mode to which the
vehicle was programmed may have been changed since
it left the factory.
3-80

To program the vehicle to a different mode, use the
following procedure:
1. Enter the personalization portion of the SETUP
menu following the instructions listed previously.
2. Scroll to LIGHTS FLASH AT LOCK to highlight it.
3. Press the TUNE/SEL knob to switch back and forth
between on and off.
When the mode is turned on, a check mark will
appear next to the feature name.
You can select this feature by itself, or you can combine
it with Horn Sounds At Lock so that both the lights
ash and the horn chirps when you lock your vehicle.
The mode you selected is now set. You can either
exit the programming mode by following the instructions
later in this section or program the next feature
available on your vehicle.
Horn Sounds at Lock
This feature sounds the horn once when the remote
keyless entry transmitter is used to lock the vehicle.
All doors must be closed for this feature to work.
Programmable Modes
Mode 1:ON
Mode 2:OFFBefore your vehicle was shipped from the factory, it was
programmed to Mode 2. The mode to which the
vehicle was programmed may have been changed since
it left the factory.
To program the vehicle to a different mode, use the
following procedure:
1. Enter the personalization portion of the SETUP
menu following the instructions listed previously.
2. Scroll to HORN SOUNDS AT LOCK to highlight it.
3. Press the TUNE/SEL knob to switch back and
forth between on and off.
When the mode is turned on, a check mark will
appear next to the feature name.
If you select this feature to be on, Lights Flash At Lock
will also be on. You can choose Lights Flash At Lock
by itself, but Horn Sounds At Lock will always have
Lights Flash At Lock enabled when it is selected.
The mode you selected is now set. You can either exit
the programming mode by following the instructions
later in this section or program the next feature available
on your vehicle.
3-81

Exterior Lights at Unlock
This feature turns on the exterior lamps when the
remote keyless entry transmitter is used to unlock the
vehicle. The lamps will remain on for about 20 seconds
unless a door is opened, the ignition is turned to
ACCESSORY, ON or START or the remote keyless
entry transmitter is used to lock the vehicle.
Programmable Modes
Mode 1:ON
Mode 2:OFF
Before your vehicle was shipped from the factory, it was
programmed to Mode 1. The mode to which the
vehicle was programmed may have been changed since
it left the factory.
To program the vehicle to a different mode, use the
following procedure:
1. Enter the personalization portion of the SETUP
menu following the instructions listed previously.
2. Scroll to EXT. LIGHT AT UNLOCK to highlight it.
3. Press the TUNE/SEL knob to switch back and forth
between on and off.
When the mode is turned on, a check mark will
appear next to the feature name.
The mode you selected is now set. You can either exit
the programming mode by following the instructions
later in this section or program the next feature available
on your vehicle.
Driver Unlock in Park
(Automatic Transmission)
The feature allows the driver’s door to automatically
unlock when the transmission is shifted into PARK (P).
Programmable Modes
Mode 1:ON
Mode 2:OFF
Before your vehicle was shipped from the factory, it was
programmed to Mode 2. The mode to which the
vehicle was programmed may have been changed since
it left the factory.
To program the vehicle to a different mode, use the
following procedure:
1. Enter the personalization portion of the SETUP
menu following the instructions listed previously.
2. Scroll to DRIVER UNLOCK IN PARK to highlight it.
3. Press the TUNE/SEL knob to switch back and
forth between on and off.
When the mode is turned on, a check mark will
appear next to the feature name.
3-82

Keep your windshield and all the glass on your vehicle
clean — inside and out. Glare at night is made much
worse by dirt on the glass. Even the inside of the glass
can build up a lm caused by dust. Dirty glass makes
lights dazzle and ash more than clean glass would,
making the pupils of your eyes contract repeatedly.
Remember that your headlamps light up far less of a
roadway when you are in a turn or curve. Keep
your eyes moving; that way, it is easier to pick out dimly
lighted objects. Just as your headlamps should be
checked regularly for proper aim, so should your eyes
be examined regularly. Some drivers suffer from
night blindness — the inability to see in dim light — and
are not even aware of it.Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can mean driving trouble. On a wet
road, you cannot stop, accelerate, or turn as well
because your tire-to-road traction is not as good as on
dry roads. And, if your tires do not have much tread
left, you will get even less traction. It is always wise to
go slower and be cautious if rain starts to fall while
you are driving. The surface may get wet suddenly when
your reexes are tuned for driving on dry pavement.
4-19

A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL®coolant will:
Give freezing protection down to−34°F (−37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages work as
they should.
Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOL
®may
cause premature engine, heater core or radiator
corrosion. In addition, the engine coolant may
require changing sooner, at 30,000 miles (50 000 km)
or 24 months, whichever occurs rst. Any repairs
would not be covered by your warranty. Always use
DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free) coolant in your vehicle.
What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean, drinkable water and
one-half DEX-COOL®coolant which will not damage
aluminum parts. If you use this coolant mixture, you
do not need to add anything else.
{CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling
system can be dangerous. Plain water, or
some other liquid such as alcohol, can boil
before the proper coolant mixture will. Your
vehicle’s coolant warning system is set for the
proper coolant mixture. With plain water or the
wrong mixture, your engine could get too hot
but you would not get the overheat warning.
Your engine could catch re and you or others
could be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
®coolant.
Notice:If you use an improper coolant mixture, your
engine could overheat and be badly damaged. The
repair cost would not be covered by your warranty.
Too much water in the mixture can freeze and crack
the engine, radiator, heater core and other parts.
If you have to add coolant more than once or twice a
year, have your dealer check your cooling system.
Notice:If you use the proper coolant, you do not
have to add extra inhibitors or additives which claim
to improve the system. These can be harmful.
5-26