2007 CADILLAC CTS Owners Manual

Insuring Your Vehicle
Protect your investment in your GM vehicle with
comprehensive and collision insurance coverage.
There are signicant differences in the quality
of coverage afforded by various insurance policy
terms. Many insurance policies provide reduced
protection to your GM vehicle by limiting
compensation for damage repairs by using
aftermarket collision parts. Some insurance
companies will not specify aftermarket collision
parts. When purchasing insurance, we recommend
that you assure your vehicle will be repaired
with GM original equipment collision parts. If such
insurance coverage is not available from your
current insurance carrier, consider switching
to another insurance carrier.
If your vehicle is leased, the leasing company may
require you to have insurance that assures
repairs with Genuine GM Original Equipment
Manufacturer (OEM) parts or Genuine
Manufacturer replacement parts. Read your lease
carefully, as you may be charged at the end of
your lease for poor quality repairs.
If an Accident Occurs
Here is what to do if you are involved in an
accident.
Try to relax and then check to make sure you
are all right. If you are uninjured, make sure
that no one else in your vehicle, or the
other vehicle, is injured.
If there has been an injury, call 911 for help.
Do not leave the scene of an accident until
all matters have been taken care of. Move
your vehicle only if its position puts you
in danger or you are instructed to move it by a
police officer.
Give only the necessary and requested
information to police and other parties involved
in the accident. Do not discuss your personal
condition, mental frame of mind, or anything
unrelated to the accident. This will help guard
against post-accident legal action.
If you need roadside assistance, call GM
Roadside Assistance. SeeRoadside Service
on page 488for more information.
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If your vehicle cannot be driven, know where
the towing service will be taking it. Get a
card from the tow truck operator or write down
the driver’s name, the service’s name, and
the phone number.
Remove any valuables from your vehicle
before it is towed away. Make sure this
includes your insurance information and
registration if you keep these items in your
vehicle.
Gather the important information you will need
from the other driver. Things like name,
address, phone number, driver’s license
number, vehicle license plate, vehicle make,
model and model year, Vehicle Identication
Number (VIN), insurance company and
policy number, and a general description of
the damage to the other vehicle.
If possible, call your insurance company from
the scene of the accident. They will walk you
through the information they will need.
If they ask for a police report, phone or go to
the police department headquarters the
next day and you can get a copy of the report
for a nominal fee. In some states/provinces
with “no fault” insurance laws, a report may not
be necessary. This is especially true if there
are no injuries and both vehicles are driveable.
Choose a reputable collision repair facility
for your vehicle. Whether you select a
GM dealer/retailer or a private collision repair
facility to x the damage, make sure you are
comfortable with them. Remember, you will
have to feel comfortable with their work for a
long time.
Once you have an estimate, read it carefully
and make sure you understand what work
will be performed on your vehicle. If you have
a question, ask for an explanation. Reputable
shops welcome this opportunity.
498

Managing the Vehicle Damage Repair
Process
In the event that your vehicle requires damage
repairs, GM recommends that you take an active
role in its repair. If you have a pre-determined
repair facility of choice, take your vehicle there, or
have it towed there. Specify to the facility that
any required replacement collision parts be original
equipment parts, either new Genuine GM parts
or recycled original GM parts. Remember, recycled
parts will not be covered by your GM vehicle
warranty.
Insurance pays the bill for the repair, but you must
live with the repair. Depending on your policy
limits, your insurance company may initially
value the repair using aftermarket parts.Discuss this with your repair professional, and
insist on Genuine GM parts. Remember if
your vehicle is leased you may be obligated to
have the vehicle repaired with Genuine GM parts,
even if your insurance coverage does not pay
the full cost.
If another party’s insurance company is paying for
the repairs, you are not obligated to accept a
repair valuation based on that insurance
company’s collision policy repair limits, as you
have no contractual limits with that company.
In such cases, you can have control of the repair
and parts choices as long as cost stays within
reasonable limits.
499

Reporting Safety Defects
Reporting Safety Defects to the
United States Government
If you believe that your vehicle has a defect which
could cause a crash or could cause injury or
death, you should immediately inform the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA),
in addition to notifying General Motors.
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open
an investigation, and if it nds that a safety
defect exists in a group of vehicles, it may
order a recall and remedy campaign. However,
NHTSA cannot become involved in individual
problems between you, your dealer/retailer,
or General Motors.To contact NHTSA, you may call the Vehicle
Safety Hotline toll-free at 1-888-327-4236
(TTY: 1-800-424-9153); go to
http://www.safercar.gov; or write to:
Administrator, NHTSA
400 Seventh Street, SW.
Washington, D.C. 20590
You can also obtain other information about motor
vehicle safety from http://www.safercar.gov.
Reporting Safety Defects to
the Canadian Government
If you live in Canada, and you believe that your
vehicle has a safety defect, you should
immediately notify Transport Canada, in addition
to notifying General Motors of Canada Limited.
You may call them at 1-800-333-0510 or write to:
Transport Canada
Road Safety Branch
2780 Sheffield Road
Ottawa, Ontario K1B 3V9
500

Reporting Safety Defects to
General Motors
In addition to notifying NHTSA (or Transport
Canada) in a situation like this, we certainly hope
you will notify us. Please call us at
1-800-458-8006, or write:
Cadillac Customer Assistance Center
Cadillac Motor Car Division
P.O. Box 33169
Detroit, MI 48232-5169
In Canada, please call us at 1-888-446-2000.
Or, write:
Canadian Cadillac Customer Communication
Centre, CA1-163-005
General Motors of Canada Limited
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7
Service Publications Ordering
Information
Service Manuals
Service Manuals have the diagnosis and repair
information on engines, transmission, axle
suspension, brakes, electrical, steering, body, etc.
Transmission, Transaxle, Transfer
Case Unit Repair Manual
This manual provides information on unit repair
service procedures, adjustments, and
specications for GM transmissions, transaxles,
and transfer cases.
Service Bulletins
Service Bulletins give technical service information
needed to knowledgeably service General
Motors cars and trucks. Each bulletin contains
instructions to assist in the diagnosis and service
of your vehicle.
501

In Canada, the service bulletin reference number
can be obtained by contacting your GM dealer
or by calling 1-800-GMDRIVE (1-800-463-7483).
This reference number is needed to order the
service bulletin from Helm, Inc.
RETAIL SELL PRICE: $6.00 US + Processing Fee
Owner Information
Owner publications are written specically for
owners and intended to provide basic operational
information about the vehicle. The owner manual
includes the Maintenance Schedule for all models.
In-Portfolio: Includes a Portfolio, Owner Manual,
and Warranty Booklet.
RETAIL SELL PRICE: $35.00 US +
Processing Fee
Without Portfolio: Owner Manual only.
RETAIL SELL PRICE: $25.00 US +
Processing Fee
Current and Past Model Order Forms
Technical Service Bulletins and Manuals are
available for current and past model GM vehicles.
To request an order form, specify year and
model name of the vehicle.
ORDER TOLL FREE: 1-800-551-4123
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Eastern Time
For Credit Card Orders Only
(VISA-MasterCard-Discover), visit Helm, Inc. on
the World Wide Web at: www.helminc.com
Or you can write to:
Helm, Incorporated
P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207
Prices are subject to change without notice and
without incurring obligation. Allow ample time
for delivery.
Note to Canadian Customers: All listed prices are
quoted in U.S. funds. Canadian residents are
to make checks payable in U.S. funds.
502

A
Accessories and Modications..................... 332
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle....................................................... 89
Additives, Fuel............................................ 336
Add-On Electrical Equipment....................... 446
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine............................. 351
Air Conditioning........................................... 189
Airbag
Passenger Status Indicator....................... 202
Readiness Light....................................... 201
Airbag Sensing and Diagnostic
Module (SDM).......................................... 494
Airbag System............................................... 70
What Will You See After an
Airbag Inates?...................................... 80
When Should an Airbag Inate?................. 77
Where Are the Airbags?............................. 73
Airbag Systems
Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle......................... 89
How Does an Airbag Restrain?.................. 79
Passenger Sensing System....................... 82
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle..... 88
What Makes an Airbag Inate?.................. 79
Antenna, Diversity Antenna System............. 284Antenna, XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna
System.................................................... 284
Anti-Lock Brake System.............................. 291
Anti-Lock Brake, System Warning Light....... 206
Appearance Care
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels........ 441
Care of Safety Belts................................ 439
Chemical Paint Spotting........................... 443
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses.............. 440
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle.......... 435
Fabric/Carpet........................................... 437
Finish Care.............................................. 440
Finish Damage......................................... 442
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces.................................... 438
Leather.................................................... 438
Sheet Metal Damage............................... 442
Speaker Covers....................................... 439
Tires........................................................ 442
Underbody Maintenance........................... 443
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials.......... 444
Washing Your Vehicle.............................. 439
Weatherstrips........................................... 439
Windshield and Wiper Blades................... 441
Wood Panels........................................... 439
Ashtray....................................................... 188
Audio System.............................................. 258
503

Audio Steering Wheel Controls........279, 280
Care of Your CD Player........................... 283
Care of Your CDs.................................... 283
Diversity Antenna System......................... 284
Navigation/Radio System, see
Navigation Manual................................ 279
Radio with CD......................................... 260
Setting the Time...................................... 259
Theft-Deterrent Feature............................ 279
Understanding Radio Reception............... 282
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System...... 284
Automatic Transmission
Fluid........................................................ 353
Operation................................................. 122
B
Battery........................................................ 375
Electric Power Management..................... 185
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver................. 183
Run-Down Protection............................... 186
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.................... 312
Brake
Emergencies............................................ 293
Parking.................................................... 128Brakes........................................................ 371
Panic Assist............................................. 298
System Warning Light.............................. 205
Braking....................................................... 290
Braking in Emergencies............................... 293
Break-In, New Vehicle................................. 116
Bulb Replacement....................................... 386
Back-Up and License Plate Lamps.......... 389
Front Turn Signal and Fog Lamps............ 387
Halogen Bulbs......................................... 386
Headlamp Aiming..................................... 383
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting.... 386
Replacement Bulbs.................................. 389
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Sidemarker Lamps................................ 387
Buying New Tires........................................ 411C
Calibration................................................... 137
California Fuel............................................. 335
California Proposition 65 Warning................ 333
Canadian Owners........................................... 3
Capacities and Specications...................... 457
Carbon Monoxide..............104, 134, 316, 328
504