2006 CADILLAC DTS mirror

A cornering skid is best handled by easing your foot off
the accelerator pedal.
Remember: Any traction control system helps avoid only
the acceleration skid. If your traction control system is
off, then an acceleration skid is also best handled
by easing your foot off the accelerator pedal.
If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want
the vehicle to go. If you start steering quickly enough,
your vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready
for a second skid if it occurs.
If you have StabiliTrak
®, the system may be active.
SeeStabiliTrak®System on page 4-10.Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice,
gravel, or other material is on the road. For safety, you
will want to slow down and adjust your driving to
these conditions. It is important to slow down on slippery
surfaces because stopping distance will be longer and
vehicle control more limited.
While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try
your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration,
or braking, including reducing vehicle speed by shifting to
a lower gear. Any sudden changes could cause the tires
to slide. You may not realize the surface is slippery until
your vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warning
clues — such as enough water, ice, or packed snow on
the road to make a mirrored surface — and slow down
when you have any doubt.
Remember: Any Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) helps
avoid only the braking skid.
4-16

Driving at Night
Night driving is more dangerous than day driving.
One reason is that some drivers are likely to be
impaired — by alcohol or drugs, with night vision
problems, or by fatigue.
Here are some tips on night driving.
Drive defensively.
Do not drink and drive.
Adjust the inside rearview mirror to reduce the glare
from headlamps behind you.
Since you cannot see as well, you may need to
slow down and keep more space between you
and other vehicles.
Slow down, especially on higher speed roads.
Your vehicle’s headlamps can light up only so much
road ahead.
In remote areas, watch for animals.
If you are tired, pull off the road in a safe place
and rest.No one can see as well at night as in the daytime.
But as we get older these differences increase.
A 50-year-old driver may require at least twice as much
light to see the same thing at night as a 20-year-old.
What you do in the daytime can also affect your
night vision. For example, if you spend the day in bright
sunshine you are wise to wear sunglasses. Your
eyes will have less trouble adjusting to night. But if you
are driving, do not wear sunglasses at night. They
may cut down on glare from headlamps, but they also
make a lot of things invisible.
You can be temporarily blinded by approaching
headlamps. It can take a second or two, or even several
seconds, for your eyes to re-adjust to the dark. When
you are faced with severe glare, as from a driver
who does not lower the high beams, or a vehicle with
misaimed headlamps, slow down a little. Avoid
staring directly into the approaching headlamps.
4-17

Freeway Driving
Mile for mile, freeways — also called thruways, parkways,
expressways, turnpikes, or superhighways — are the
safest of all roads. But they have their own special rules.The most important advice on freeway driving is: Keep
up with traffic and keep to the right. Drive at the
same speed most of the other drivers are driving.
Too-fast or too-slow driving breaks a smooth traffic ow.
Treat the left lane on a freeway as a passing lane.
At the entrance, there is usually a ramp that leads to
the freeway. If you have a clear view of the freeway as
you drive along the entrance ramp, you should begin
to check traffic. Try to determine where you expect
to blend with the ow. Try to merge into the gap at close
to the prevailing speed. Switch on your turn signal,
check your mirrors, and glance over your shoulder as
often as necessary. Try to blend smoothly with the
traffic ow.
Once you are on the freeway, adjust your speed to the
posted limit or to the prevailing rate if it is slower.
Stay in the right lane unless you want to pass.
Before changing lanes, check your mirrors. Then use
your turn signal.
Just before you leave the lane, glance quickly over your
shoulder to make sure there is not another vehicle in
your blind spot.
4-22

Highway Hypnosis
Is there actually such a condition as highway hypnosis?
Or is it just plain falling asleep at the wheel? Call it
highway hypnosis, lack of awareness, or whatever.
There is something about an easy stretch of road with
the same scenery, along with the hum of the tires on the
road, the drone of the engine, and the rush of the wind
against the vehicle that can make you sleepy. Do not let
it happen to you! If it does, your vehicle can leave the
road in less than a second, and you could crash and
be injured.
What can you do about highway hypnosis? First, be
aware that it can happen.
Then here are some tips:
Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated, with a
comfortably cool interior.
Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead and
to the sides. Check your rearview mirrors and your
instruments frequently.
If you get sleepy, pull off the road into a rest,
service, or parking area and take a nap, get some
exercise, or both. For safety, treat drowsiness
on the highway as an emergency.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or mountains is different from
driving in at or rolling terrain.
If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you are
planning to visit there, here are some tips that can make
your trips safer and more enjoyable.
Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all uid
levels and also the brakes, tires, cooling system,
and transaxle. These parts can work hard on
mountain roads.
4-24

Trailer Brakes
Because your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, do not try to
tap into your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system. If you
do, both brake systems will not work well, or at all.
Be sure to read and follow the instructions for the trailer
brakes so you will be able to maintain them properly.
Driving with a Trailer
Towing a trailer requires a certain amount of experience.
Before setting out for the open road, you will want to
get to know your rig. Acquaint yourself with the feel of
handling and braking with the added weight of the trailer.
And always keep in mind that the vehicle you are
driving is now a good deal longer and not nearly as
responsive as your vehicle is by itself.
Before you start, check the trailer hitch and platform,
parts and attachments, safety chains, electrical
connector, lamps, tires and mirror adjustment. If the
trailer has electric brakes, start your vehicle and trailer
moving and then apply the trailer brake controller
by hand to be sure the brakes are working. This lets
you check your electrical connection at the same time.
During your trip, check occasionally to be sure that
the load is secure, and that the lamps and any trailer
brakes are still working.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead as
you would when driving your vehicle without a trailer.
This can help you avoid situations that require
heavy braking and sudden turns.
Passing
You will need more passing distance up ahead when
you are towing a trailer. And, because the vehicle
is a good deal longer, you will need to go much farther
beyond the passed vehicle before you can return to
your lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand.
Then, to move the trailer to the left, just move that hand
to the left. To move the trailer to the right, move your
hand to the right. Always back up slowly and, if possible,
have someone guide you.
4-42

Light (cont.)
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator..................3-59
Passenger Safety Belt Reminder....................3-58
Safety Belt Reminder...................................3-57
Security.....................................................3-69
StabiliTrak
®Indicator....................................3-64
TCS Warning Light......................................3-64
Traction Control System (TCS) Warning..........3-64
Lighting
Entry.........................................................3-36
Parade Dimming..........................................3-36
Loading Your Vehicle.......................................4-31
Lockout Protection..........................................2-12
Locks
Central Door Unlocking System.....................2-11
Door..........................................................2-10
Lockout Protection.......................................2-12
Power Door................................................2-11
Programmable Automatic Door Locks.............2-11
Rear Door Security Locks.............................2-12
Loss of Control...............................................4-15
Lumbar
Massaging Controls....................................... 1-3
Power Controls............................................. 1-2
Lumbar Controls, Rear Power............................ 1-8
M
Magnetic Ride Control.....................................4-10
Maintenance Schedule
Additional Required Services........................... 6-6
At Each Fuel Fill........................................... 6-9
At Least Once a Month.................................. 6-9
At Least Once a Year..................................6-10
Introduction.................................................. 6-2
Maintenance Footnotes.................................. 6-7
Maintenance Record....................................6-14
Maintenance Requirements............................. 6-2
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts.........6-13
Owner Checks and Services........................... 6-9
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants.............6-12
Scheduled Maintenance................................. 6-4
Using.......................................................... 6-2
Your Vehicle and the Environment................... 6-2
Malfunction Indicator Light................................3-66
Massaging Lumbar Controls............................... 1-3
Memory Mirrors..............................................2-52
Memory Seat.................................................2-52
Memory Steering Wheel Controls......................2-52
Message
DIC Warnings and Messages........................3-76
8

Mirrors
Automatic Dimming Mirror with Intellibeam™,
OnStar
®, and Compass.............................2-35
Automatic Dimming Rearview with Compass....2-39
Automatic Dimming Rearview with OnStar
®
and Compass..........................................2-37
Manual Rearview Mirror with Compass
and Temperature........................................ 1-8
Memory.....................................................2-52
Outside Automatic Dimming Mirror.................2-42
Outside Convex Mirror.................................2-42
Outside Curb View Assist Mirror....................2-42
Outside Heated Mirrors................................2-42
Outside Power Foldaway Mirrors....................2-41
MyGMLink.com................................................ 7-3
N
Navigation/Radio System, see
Navigation Manual.....................................3-121
New Vehicle Break-In......................................2-23
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts............6-13
O
Odometer......................................................3-57
Off-Road Recovery..........................................4-13
Oil
Engine.......................................................5-13
Pressure Light.............................................3-68
Oil, Engine Oil Life System..............................5-16
Older Children, Restraints................................1-30
Online Owner Center........................................ 7-3
OnStar
®System, see OnStar®Manual...............2-43
Other Warning Devices...................................... 3-6
Outlet Adjustment............................................3-50
Outlet(s), Accessory Power...............................3-42
Outside
Automatic Dimming Mirror.............................2-42
Convex Mirror.............................................2-42
Curb View Assist Mirror................................2-42
Heated Mirrors............................................2-42
Power Foldaway Mirrors...............................2-41
Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode.....5-27
Owner Checks and Services.............................. 6-9
Owners, Canadian............................................... ii
9

Rear Seat Armrest..........................................2-50
Rear Seat Passengers, Safety Belts..................1-24
Rearview Mirror, Automatic Dimming
with Compass.............................................2-39
Rearview Mirror, Automatic Dimming with
OnStar
®and Compass.................................2-37
Rearview Mirror with Compass and Temperature..... 1-8
Reclining Seatbacks, Power............................... 1-4
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants.................6-12
Recreational Vehicle Towing.............................4-37
Remote Keyless Entry System............................ 2-4
Remote Keyless Entry System, Operation............ 2-5
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing
the Spare Tire.............................................5-75
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools...................5-73
Reporting Safety Defects
Canadian Government..................................7-14
General Motors...........................................7-14
United States Government............................7-13
Restraint System Check
Checking the Restraint Systems....................1-71
Replacing Restraint System Parts
After a Crash..........................................1-72
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)......................2-24
Right Front Passenger Position, Safety Belts.........1-22
Roadside
Service........................................................ 7-6
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get it Out....................4-31
Running the Engine While Parked.....................2-34
S
Safety Belt
Passenger Reminder Light............................3-58
Pretensioners..............................................1-29
Reminder Light............................................3-57
Safety Belts
Care of......................................................5-86
Center Front Passenger Position....................1-23
Driver Position............................................1-15
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly................1-14
Questions and Answers About Safety Belts........1-13
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides...................1-27
Rear Seat Passengers.................................1-24
Right Front Passenger Position......................1-22
Safety Belt Extender....................................1-29
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy.................1-22
Safety Belts Are for Everyone......................... 1-9
Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster........................1-21
Safety Warnings and Symbols.............................. iii
Scheduled Maintenance..................................... 6-4
Seats
Center Seat.................................................. 1-7
Head Restraints............................................ 1-6
Heated and Cooled Seats.............................. 1-3
Heated Seats - Rear..................................... 1-7
Massaging Lumbar........................................ 1-3
Memory.....................................................2-52
Power Lumbar.............................................. 1-2
11