
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver
If the parking lamps or headlamps have been left on,
the exterior lamps will turn off about 10 minutes after
the ignition is turned to OFF. This protects against
draining the battery in case the headlamps or parking
lamps have been left on. The battery saver does
not work if the headlamps are turned on after the
ignition is turned to OFF.
If you need to leave the lamps on for more than
10 minutes, use the exterior lamp control to turn
the lamps back on.
Instrument Panel Brightness
The lever for this
feature is located on the
overhead console.
Slide the lever toward the symbol to brighten the lights
or away from it to dim them.
If you slide the lever all the way toward the symbol past
the resistance point, the interior lamps will come on.
To turn them off, slide the lever back toward the
minimum brightness setting.
3-20

Entry Lighting
The entry lighting system turns on the reading and dome
lamps and the backlighting to the exterior lamp control
when a door is opened or if the Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE) transmitter unlock button is pressed. If activated by
the (RKE), the lighting will remain active for about
25 seconds. The entry lighting system uses the light
sensor on the instrument panel; so it must be dark
outside in order for the lamps to turn on. The lamps turn
off about 25 seconds after the last door is closed. They
will dim to off if the ignition key is turned to ON, or
immediately turn off if the power locks are used.
Parade Dimming
This feature prohibits dimming of the instrument panel
displays and backlighting during daylight hours when
the key is in the ignition and the headlamps are on.
This feature operates with the light sensor and is fully
automatic. When the light sensor reads darkness outside
and the parking lamps are active, the instrument
panel displays can be adjusted by sliding the instrument
panel brightness lever toward the symbol to brighten
or away from the symbol to dim the lighting.
Reading Lamps
The reading lamps are located on the overhead console.
These lamps come on automatically when any door is
opened.
For manual operation, press the button next to each
lamp to turn it on or off.
If the reading lamps are left on, they automatically shut
off 10 minutes after the ignition has been turned off.
Accessory Power Outlet(s)
With accessory power outlets, you can plug in auxiliary
electrical equipment such as a cellular telephone or
CB radio.
The front accessory power outlet is located in the
ashtray on the instrument panel below the climate
control system. The outlet will have a cigarette lighter if
your vehicle has this option. Remove the cigarette
lighter to access the outlet.
The rear accessory power outlet is located on the back
of the center console.
Your vehicle may have a small cap that must be
removed to access the accessory power outlet. If it
does, when not using the outlet be sure to cover it with
the protective cap.
3-21

Notice:Leaving electrical equipment on for
extended periods will drain the battery. Always
unplug electrical equipment when not in use and do
not plug in equipment that exceeds the maximum
20 ampere rating.
Certain electrical accessories may not be compatible
with the accessory power outlet and could result
in blown vehicle or adapter fuses. If you experience a
problem see your dealer for additional information
on accessory power outlets.
Notice:Adding any electrical equipment to your
vehicle may damage it or keep other components
from working as they should. The repairs would not
be covered by your warranty. Do not use equipment
exceeding maximum amperage rating of 20 amperes.
Check with your dealer before adding electrical
equipment.
When adding electrical equipment, be sure to follow the
proper installation instructions included with the
electrical equipment you install.
Notice:Improper use of the power outlet can cause
damage not covered by your warranty. Do not
hang any type of accessory or accessory bracket
from the plug because the power outlets are
designed for accessory power plugs only.Ashtray(s) and Cigarette Lighter
Your vehicle may have an ashtray and cigarette lighter.
Notice:If you put papers, pins, or other ammable
items in the ashtray, hot cigarettes or other
smoking materials could ignite them and possibly
damage your vehicle. Never put ammable items in
the ashtray.
Ashtray
The ashtray is located under the climate control panel
on the instrument panel. Press on the door to release
the ashtray.
To empty the ashtray, remove it from the instrument
panel by gripping the edges and pulling straight out.
To reinstall, push the tray back into place.
3-22

Automatic Operation
AUTO (Automatic):When this button is pressed and
the temperature is set, the system will automatically
control the inside temperature, the air delivery mode,
the air conditioning compressor, and the fan speed.
AUTO will appear on the display.
1. Press the AUTO button.
2. Adjust the temperature to a comfortable setting
between 70°F (21°C) and 80°F (27°C).
Choosing the coldest or warmest temperature
setting will not cause the system to heat or cool
any faster. If you set the system at the warmest
temperature setting, the system will remain in
manual mode at that temperature and it will not go
into automatic mode.
In cold weather, the system will start at reduced fan
speeds to avoid blowing cold air into your vehicle
until warmer air is available. The system will
start out blowing air at the oor but may change
modes automatically as the vehicle warms up
to maintain the chosen temperature setting. The
length of time needed for warm up will depend on
the outside temperature and the length of time
that has elapsed since your vehicle was last driven.
3. Wait for the system to regulate. This may take from
10 to 30 minutes. Then adjust the temperature, if
necessary.You can switch from English to metric units through the
Driver Information Center (DIC). If you have the Base
audio system, seeDIC Main Menu on page 3-57.Ifyou
have the Navigation system, see “Setup Menu” in the
Index of the Navigation System Owner Manual.
The air-conditioning system removes moisture from the
air, so you may sometimes notice a small amount of
water dripping underneath your vehicle while idling
or after turning off the engine. This is normal.
Do not cover the solar sensor located in the center of
the instrument panel, near the windshield. For more
information on the solar sensor, see “Sensors” later in
this section.
Manual Operation
yNz(Mode):Pressing the mode switch and
changing the mode cancels automatic operation and
places the system in manual mode. Press AUTO
to return to automatic operation.
The outboard air outlets will always receive air ow
regardless of the mode selected. SeeOutlet Adjustment
on page 3-28to change this air ow from the outboard
outlets.
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To change the current mode, select one of the following:
Y(Vent):This mode directs air to the instrument
panel outlets.
\(Bi-Level):This mode directs approximately half of
the air to the instrument panel outlets, and then
directs most of the remaining air to the oor outlets. In
automatic operation, cooler air is directed to the
upper outlets and warmer air to the oor outlets.
[(Floor):This mode directs most of the air to the
oor outlets with some air directed to the outboard
outlets (for the side windows), and a little air directed to
the windshield.
The mode switch can also be used to select the defog
mode. Information on defogging and defrosting can
be found later in this section.
yAz(Fan):Press this switch to increase or
decrease the fan speed. Pressing this switch cancels
automatic operation and places the system in manual
mode. Press AUTO to return to automatic operation.
If the air ow seems low when the fan speed is at
the highest setting, the passenger compartment air lter
may need to be replaced. For more information, see
Passenger Compartment Air Filter on page 3-29
andScheduled Maintenance on page 6-4.
h(Recirculation):This mode keeps outside air
from coming in the vehicle. It can be used to prevent
outside air and odors from entering your vehicle or
to help heat or cool the air inside your vehicle more
quickly. Press this button to turn the recirculation mode
on or off. The air-conditioning compressor also comes
on. After manually selecting recirculation, the auto button
must be pressed to enable the system to select the
optimum air delivery setting for the vehicle.
Recirculation is not available in the defog or defrost
mode and will automatically turn off after 10 minutes
when defog is selected.
Using recirculation for long periods of time may cause
the air inside your vehicle to become too dry or stuffy.
To prevent this from happening, after the air in your
vehicle has cooled, turn the recirculation mode off
or press the auto button.
QPWRR(Power/Driver’s Temperature):Press
the PWR button located on the driver’s side of
the climate control panel to turn the entire climate
control system on or off. Press the up or down arrow on
the switch to increase or decrease the temperature
inside your vehicle.
3-25

QPWRR(Power/Passenger’s Temperature):Press
the PWR button located on the passenger’s side of
the climate control panel to allow the passenger’s
climate control setting to be different than the driver’s.
Press the up or down arrow on the switch to increase or
decrease the temperature for the front passenger.
A/C OFF (Air Conditioning):Press this button to
manually turn off the air conditioning compressor. Press
AUTO to return to automatic operation or press the
A/C OFF button again.
Sensors
There is a solar sensor located on the instrument panel,
near the windshield.There is also an interior
temperature sensor
located to the right of the
steering wheel on the
instrument panel.
These sensors monitor the solar radiation and the air
inside your vehicle, they use the information to maintain
the selected temperature by adjusting to the
temperature, the fan speed, and the air delivery system.
The system may also supply cooler air to the side of
the vehicle facing the sun. The recirculation mode
will also be activated, as necessary. Do not cover the
sensors or the automatic climate control system will not
work properly.
3-26

Instrument Panel Cluster
The instrument panel cluster is designed to let you know at a glance how your vehicle is running. You will know how
fast you are going, how much fuel you are using and many of the other things you will need to know to drive
safely and economically.
CTS (United States version shown, Canada similar)
3-31

Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to ON or START, a chime will
come on for several seconds to remind people to fasten
their safety belts.
The safety belt light will
also come on and stay on
for several seconds, then it
will ash for several more.
If the driver’s belt is already buckled, the chime will not
come on.
Airbag Readiness Light
There is an airbag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows the airbag symbol. The system
checks the airbag’s electrical system for malfunctions.
The light tells you if there is an electrical problem.
The system check includes the airbag sensors, the
airbag modules, the wiring and the diagnostic module.
For more information on the airbag system, see
Airbag System on page 1-54.
This light will come
on when the ignition
key is turned to ON
and it will ash for a
few seconds.
Then the light should go out. This means the system is
ready. If it does not go out, have your vehicle serviced
right away.
3-34