2006 CADILLAC CTS V warning light

Steering Wheel Climate
Controls (CTS)
Your vehicle may have four controls that can be
programmed for use with the climate control system.
The controls are located
on the left side of the
steering wheel.
SeeRecongurable Steering Wheel Controls (SWC)
(CTS) on page 3-7for more information on programming
these controls.
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
the 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 are 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 is a problem with your vehicle.
When one of the warning lights comes on and stays on
while 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. Waiting to do repairs can be
costly – and even dangerous. So please get to know your
warning lights and gages. They are 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 3-53for
more information.
3-30

If the airbag readiness light stays on after you start the
vehicle or comes on while you are driving, your
airbag system may not work properly. Have your vehicle
serviced right away.
{CAUTION:
If the airbag readiness light stays on after you
start your vehicle, it means the airbag system
may not be working properly. The airbags in
your vehicle may not inate in a crash, or they
could even inate without a crash. To help avoid
injury to yourself or others, have your vehicle
serviced right away if the airbag readiness light
stays on after you start your vehicle.
If there is a problem with the airbag system in your
vehicle, the Service Air Bag message will appear on the
Driver Information Center (DIC) display. SeeDIC
Warnings and Messages on page 3-61for more
information.
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator
Your rearview mirror has a passenger airbag status
indicator.
When the ignition key is turned to ON or START, the
passenger airbag status indicator will light ON and OFF,
or the symbol for on and off, for several seconds as a
system check. Then, after several more seconds,
the status indicator will light either ON or OFF, or either
the on or off symbol to let you know the status of the
right front passenger’s frontal airbag.United States
Canada
3-35

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 3-34.
Charging System Light
When you turn the key to
ON or START, this light
will come on briey
to show that the generator
and battery charging
systems are working
properly.
If this light stays on, your vehicle needs service. You
should take your vehicle to the dealer at once. To save
your battery until you get there, turn off all accessories.
For more information seeDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 3-61.
3-37

Brake System Warning Light
Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided into
two parts. If one part is not working, the other part can
still work and stop you. For good braking, though,
you need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there is a brake problem.
Have your brake system inspected right away.
This light should come on briey when you turn the
ignition key to ON. If it does not come on then, have it
xed so it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
will also come on when you set your parking brake.
The light will stay on if your parking brake does
not release fully. If it stays on after your parking brake is
fully released, it means you have a brake problem.
If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off the
road and stop carefully. You may notice that the pedal
is harder to push, or the pedal may go closer to the
oor. It may take longer to stop. If the light is still
on, have the vehicle towed for service. SeeTowing
Your Vehicle on page 4-37.
{CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working
properly if the brake system warning light is
on. Driving with the brake system warning
light on can lead to an accident. If the light
is still on after you have pulled off the road
and stopped carefully, have the vehicle towed
for service. United StatesCanada
3-38

Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light
With the Anti-Lock Brake
System (ABS), the light will
come on when your
engine is started and stay
on for several seconds.
This is normal.
If the ABS warning light comes on and stays on, there
may be a problem with the anti-lock portion of the brake
system. If the brake system warning light is not on,
you still have brakes, but you do not have anti-lock
brakes. SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 3-38
for more information.
If the light stays on, turn the ignition to OFF. If the light
comes on when you are driving, stop as soon as possible
and turn the ignition off. Then start the engine again to
reset the system. If the light still stays on, or comes on
again while you are driving, your vehicle needs service. If
the regular brake system warning light is not on, you still
have brakes, but you do not have anti-lock brakes. If the
regular brake system warning light is also on, you do not
have anti-lock brakes and there is a problem with your
regular brakes. SeeBrake System Warning Light on
page 3-38for more information.The ABS warning light should come on briey when you
turn the ignition key to ON. If the light does not come
on then, have it xed so it will be ready to warn you
if there is a problem.
Traction Control System (TCS)
Warning Light
If the TC (traction control)
warning light comes on
and stays on, there may be
a problem with the
traction control system.
The TC warning light will come on briey when you turn
the ignition to ON. If it does not come on then, have it
xed so it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
The light will also come on if you turn the traction
control system off using the TC on/off button located in
the glove box for the CTS and on the steering wheel
for the CTS-V.
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If the TC warning light stays on or comes on while you
are driving, pull off the road as soon as possible
and stop carefully. Try resetting the system by turning
the ignition off then back on. If the light still stays
on or comes back on again while you are driving, your
vehicle needs service. Have the Traction Control
System (TCS) inspected as soon as possible. See
Traction Control System (TCS) (CTS) on page 4-9or
Traction Control System (TCS) (CTS-V) on page 4-10
for more information.
Engine Coolant Temperature
Warning Light (CTS)
This light will come on
when you rst start the
vehicle as a check
to let you know that the
light is working.
It will go out after a few seconds. If the light does not
come on, see your dealer.If the light does not go out or if the light comes on and
stays on while you are driving, your vehicle may
have a problem with the cooling system. You should
stop the vehicle and turn off the engine as soon
as possible to avoid damage to the engine. A warning
chime will also sound when this light is on.
SeeEngine Overheating on page 5-28for more
information.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
This gage shows the
engine coolant
temperature. If the gage
pointer moves into
the shaded area, the
engine is too hot.
That reading means the same thing as the warning
light – the engine coolant is very hot. SeeEngine
Overheating on page 5-28.
3-40

Cruise Control Light
This light comes on
whenever you set your
cruise control.
The light will go out when the cruise control is turned
off. SeeCruise Control on page 3-13for more
information.
Highbeam On Light
This light comes on
whenever the high-beam
headlamps are on.
SeeHeadlamp High/Low-Beam Changer on page 3-10
for more information.
Fuel Gage
The fuel gage shows
approximately how much
fuel is in the fuel tank.
It works only when
the ignition is in the
ON position.
If the fuel supply gets low, the Fuel Level Low message
will appear on the Driver Information Center (DIC)
and a single chime will sound. SeeDIC Warnings and
Messages on page 3-61for more information.
Here are a few concerns some owners have had about
the fuel gage. All of these situations are normal and
do not indicate that anything is wrong with the fuel gage:
At the gas station the gas pump shuts off before
the gage reads full.
The gage may change when you turn, stop quickly
or accelerate quickly.
It takes a little more or less fuel to ll the tank than
the gage indicated. For example, the gage may
have indicated that the tank was half full, but
it actually took a little more or less than half the
tank’s capacity to ll the tank.
3-46

Transmission Fluid Hot Message
When you see this ashing
symbol, the transmission
uid temperature is
high (290°F (143°C)).
To acknowledge this warning, press either button on
the outboard switch on the left spoke of the steering
wheel. After you press this button, the warning will
redisplay every 10 minutes until the temperature
returns to the normal operating range. If this message
appears, you may continue to drive at a slower speed
while monitoring the transmission uid temperature.
Ideally, the transmission oil temperature should not rise
above 265°F (129°C). If you regularly experience
temperatures above this limit due to high performance
operation, it is recommended to use an auxiliary uid
cooler for the transmission and differential. See your
dealer for details. If this warning is displayed during
normal vehicle operation on at roads, your vehicle may
need service. See your dealer for an inspection. SeeDIC
Warnings and Messages on page 3-61andManual
Transmission Fluid on page 5-24for more information.
Hot Coolant Temperature
Warning Message
When you see this ashing
symbol, the engine coolant
temperature is high
(257°F (125°C)).
To acknowledge this warning, press either button on
the outboard switch on the left spoke of the steering
wheel. After you press a button, this warning will come
on every 10 minutes until the temperature returns to
the normal operating range. Driving aggressively
or driving on long hills can cause the engine coolant
temperature to be higher than normal. The Engine
Coolant Temperature Warning Light should also come
on. SeeEngine Coolant Temperature Warning Light
(CTS) on page 3-40for more information. If this warning
is displayed during normal vehicle operation on at
roads, your vehicle may need service. See your dealer
for an inspection.
3-50