2005 CADILLAC STS sensor

When Should an Airbag Inate?
The driver’s and right front passenger’s frontal airbags
are designed to inate in moderate to severe frontal
or near-frontal crashes. But they are designed to inate
only if the impact exceeds a predetermined deployment
threshold. Deployment thresholds take into account
a variety of desired deployment and non-deployment
events and are used to predict how severe a crash
is likely to be in time for the airbags to inate and help
restrain the occupants. Whether your frontal airbags
will or should deploy is not based on how fast your
vehicle is traveling. It depends largely on what you hit,
the direction of the impact and how quickly your
vehicle slows down.
In addition, your vehicle has “dual stage” frontal airbags,
which adjust the restraint according to crash severity.
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. For moderate frontal impacts, these airbags
inate 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 does not
move or deform, the threshold level for the reduced
deployment is about 11 to 15 mph (18 to 24 km/h),and the threshold level for a full deployment is about
20 to 24 mph (32 to 38.5 km/h). (The threshold level can
vary, however, with specic vehicle design, so that it can
be somewhat above or below this range.)
Airbags may inate at different crash speeds. For
example:
If the vehicle hits a stationary object, the airbag
could inate at a different crash speed than if
the object were moving.
If the object deforms, the airbag could inate at
a different crash speed than if the object does
not deform.
If the vehicle hits a narrow object (like a pole) the
airbag could inate at a different crash speed
than if the vehicle hits a wide object (like a wall).
If the vehicle goes into an object at an angle the
airbag could inate at a different crash speed
than if the vehicle goes straight into the object.
The frontal airbags (driver and right front passenger)
are not intended to inate during vehicle rollovers, rear
impacts, or in many side impacts because ination
would not likely help the occupants.
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x(Delay Adjustment):Use this band to set the
length of the delay between wipes when using the delay
feature. The closer you move the band toward mist,
the longer the delay. The windshield wiper lever must be
in delay for this feature to work.
6(Low Speed):Put the lever in this position for
slow, steady wiping cycles.
1(High Speed):Put the lever in this position for
rapid wiping cycles.
If the windshield wipers are in use for about six seconds
while you are driving, the exterior lamps will come on
automatically if the exterior lamp control is in AUTO.
SeeWiper Activated Headlamps on page 3-37for more
information.
Be sure to clear ice and snow from the wiper blades
before using them. If they’re frozen to the windshield,
gently loosen or thaw them. If the blades do become
damaged, install new blades. For more information, see
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement on page 5-51.
Heavy snow or ice can overload the wiper motor.
A circuit breaker will stop the motor until it cools down.
Clear away snow or ice to prevent an overload.
Rainsense™ II Wipers
If your vehicle has this feature, the moisture sensor is
mounted on the interior side of the windshield behind the
rearview mirror. It is used to automatically operate the
wipers by monitoring the amount of moisture build-up on
the windshield. Wipes occur as needed to clear the
windshield depending on driving conditions and
the sensitivity setting. In light rain or snow, fewer wipes
will occur. In heavy rain or snow, wipes will occur
more frequently. The Rainsense™ wipers operate in a
delay mode as well as a continuous low or high
speed as needed. If the system is left on for long periods
of time, occasional wipes may occur without any
moisture on the windshield. This is normal and indicates
that the Rainsense™ system is activated.
To activate the Rainsense™ system, turn the wiper
band to delay mode and select one of the four sensitivity
levels indicated on the wiper stalk. The position
closest to off is the lowest sensitivity setting, level one.
This allows more rain or snow to collect on the
windshield between wipes. Turning the wiper band away
from you to higher sensitivity levels increases the
sensitivity of the system and frequency of wipes. The
highest sensitivity setting, level four is closest to low.
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A single wipe will occur each time you turn the wiper
stalk to a higher sensitivity level to indicate that the
sensitivity level has been increased.
Notice:Going through an automatic car wash with
the wipers on can damage them. Turn the wipers
off when going through an automatic car wash.
The mist and wash cycles operate as normal and are
not affected by the Rainsense™ function. The
Rainsense™ system can be overridden at any time by
manually turning the wiper band to low or high speed.
When Rainsense™ is active, the headlamps will turn on
automatically. The headlamps will turn off again once
the wipers turn off if it is light enough outside. If it
is dark, they will remain on. SeeWiper Activated
Headlamps on page 3-37.
Notice:Do not place stickers or other items on
the exterior glass surface directly in front of
the moisture sensor. Doing this could cause the
moisture sensor to malfunction.Windshield Washer
K(Washer Fluid):The lever on the right side of the
steering column also controls the windshield washer.
There is a button at the end of the lever. To spray
washer uid on the windshield, press the button and
hold it. The washer will spray until you release the
button. The wipers will continue to clear the window for
about six seconds after the button is released and
then stop or return to your preset speed.
{CAUTION:
In freezing weather, do not use your washer
until the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the
washer uid can form ice on the windshield,
blocking your vision.
If the uid in the windshield washer uid reservoir is
low, the message CHECK WASHER FLUID will appear
on the Driver Information Center (DIC) display. It will
take 60 seconds after the bottle is relled for this
message to turn off. For information on the correct
washer uid mixture to use, seeWindshield Washer
Fluid on page 5-32andRecommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 6-12.
3-15

To disable automatic lighting do any of the following:
Turn the headlamp control from AUTO to off
and release the switch. It will return back to
the AUTO position by itself.
Turn the headlamp control from AUTO to the
parking lamp position.
Turn the headlamp control from AUTO to the
headlamp position.
Disabling automatic lighting will disable the automatic
headlamp operation, DRL, and Intellibeam™
High-Beams (if equipped).
;(Parking Lamps):Turn the control to this position
to turn on the parking lamps together with the
following:
Sidemarker Lamps
Taillamps
License Plate Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights
5(Headlamps):Turn the control to this position to
turn on the headlamps, together with the previously
listed lamps and lights.
Intellibeam™ Intelligent High-Beam
Headlamp Control System
If your vehicle has this feature, be sure to read this
entire section before using it.
Intellibeam™ is an enhancement to your vehicle’s
headlamp system. Using a digital light sensor on your
rearview mirror, this system will turn the vehicle’s
high-beam headlamps on and off according to
surrounding traffic conditions.
The Intellibeam™ system will turn your high-beam
headlamps on when it is dark enough, there is no other
traffic present, and the Intellibeam™ system is
enabled.
Turning On and Enabling Intellibeam™
O(On/Off):Quickly press and release the on/off
button on the inside rear view mirror. The indicator on
the mirror will ash once to let you know the system has
been turned on. Once the system has been turned
on, it will remain on each time the vehicle is started.
Additionally, the Intellibeam™ system must be enabled.
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The other vehicle’s lamp(s) cannot be detected due
to dense exhaust, smoke, fog, snow, road spray,
mist or other airborne obstructions.
Your vehicle’s windshield is dirty, cracked or
obstructed by something that blocks the view of the
Intellibeam™ light sensor.
Your vehicle’s windshield is covered with ice, dirt,
haze or other obstructions.
Your vehicle is loaded such that the front end of the
vehicle points upward, causing the Intellibeam™
sensor to aim high and not detect headlamps
and taillamps.
You are driving on winding or hilly roads.
You may need to manually disable or cancel the
high-beam headlamps by turning the low-beam
headlamps on, if any of the above conditions exist.
Disabling and Resetting Intellibeam™
at the Rearview Mirror
Intellibeam™ can be disabled and reset to the original
factory setting by using the controls on the inside
rearview mirror.
O(On/Off):To disable the system, press and hold
this button on the inside rearview mirror for three
seconds and release it after the indicator on the inside
rearview mirror ashes two times. This lets you
know that Intellibeam™ has been turned off and will not
come back on until the system has been reset.
To reset the system, quickly press and release this
button on the inside rearview mirror. The indicator on the
inside rearview mirror will ash one time to indicate
that Intellibeam™ has been reset.
A different sensitivity setting is available for dealer
diagnostics. This is done by pushing and holding this
button for 20 seconds until the light ashes three times.
If you accidentally activate this, the vehicle’s setting
will automatically be reset each time the ignition
is turned off and then on again; otherwise, refer to the
text above for resetting the system.
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Cleaning the Intellibeam™ Light Sensor
The light sensor is located
on the inside of the vehicle
in front of the inside
rearview mirror.
Clean the light sensor window, periodically, using glass
cleaner on a soft cloth. Gently wipe the sensor
window. Do not spray glass cleaner directly on the
surface of the sensor window.
Wiper Activated Headlamps
This feature activates the headlamps and parking lamps
after the windshield wipers have been in use for
about six seconds. For this feature to work, automatic
lighting must be enabled. SeeHeadlamps on page 3-33
for additional information.
When the ignition is turned off, the wiper-activated
headlamps will immediately turn off. They will also turn
off if the windshield wiper control is turned off.
Headlamps 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.
SeeLights On Reminder on page 3-71for additional
information.
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Light Sensor
The light sensor for the DRL is located on top of the
instrument panel. If you cover the sensor, it will
read dark, and the exterior lamps may come on when
you do not need them.
Fog Lamps
Use the fog lamps for better vision in foggy or misty
conditions.
The fog lamp controls are located on the turn
signal/multifunction lever.
-:The band with this symbol is used to turn the
front fog lamps on and off.
The parking lamps must be on for the fog lamps
to work.
To turn the fog lamps on, turn the fog lamp band on the
lever up to the dot and release it. The band will return
to its original position.
To turn the fog lamps off, turn the fog lamp band up to
the dot and release it. The band will return to its
original position, and the fog lamps will turn off. If you
turn on the high-beam headlamps, the fog lamps
will also turn off. They’ll turn back on again when you
switch back to low-beam headlamps.
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Twilight Sentinel®
Twilight Sentinel®can turn your lamps on and off for you.
A light sensor on top of the instrument panel makes the
Twilight Sentinel
®work, so be sure it is not covered.
With Twilight Sentinel
®you will see the following
happen:
When it is dark enough outside, the front turn signal
lamps (DRL) will go off, and the headlamps and
parking lamps will come on. The other lamps
that come on with headlamps will also come on.
When it is bright enough outside, the headlamps
will go off, and the front turn signal lamps (DRL)
will come on, as long as the exterior lamp switch is
in the off position.
If you start your vehicle in a dark garage, the automatic
headlamp system will come on immediately. Once
you leave the garage, it will take approximately
one minute for the automatic headlamp system to
change to DRL if it is light outside. During that delay,
your instrument panel cluster may not be as bright
as usual. Make sure your instrument panel brightness
control is in full bright position. SeeInstrument Panel
Brightness on page 3-41for more information.
You can idle the vehicle with the lamps off, even when
it is dark outside. First set the parking brake while
the ignition is in OFF/ACC. Then start the vehicle. The
lamps will stay off until you release the parking
brake.
Twilight Sentinel
®also provides exterior illumination as
you leave the vehicle. If Twilight Sentinel®has turned
on the lamps when you turn off the ignition, your lamps
will remain on until:
The exterior lamp switch is moved from off to the
parking lamp position, or
a delay time that you select has elapsed.
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