2007 CADILLAC DTS service

Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOL®
may cause premature engine, heater core,
or radiator corrosion. In addition, the engine
coolant may require changing sooner, at the rst
maintenance service after each 30,000 miles
(50 000 km) or 24 months, whichever occurs
rst. Any repairs would not be covered by your
warranty. Always use DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free)
coolant in your vehicle.
What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean, drinkable water
and one-half DEX-COOL®coolant which will
not damage aluminum parts. If you use this coolant
mixture, you do not need to add anything else.
{CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling
system can be dangerous. Plain water, or
some other liquid such as alcohol, can
boil before the proper coolant mixture will.
Your vehicle’s coolant warning system is
set for the proper coolant mixture.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
With plain water or the wrong mixture, your
engine could get too hot but you would not
get the overheat warning. Your engine
could catch re and you or others could be
burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
®coolant.
Notice:If you use an improper coolant
mixture, your engine could overheat and be
badly damaged. The repair cost would not be
covered by your warranty. Too much water
in the mixture can freeze and crack the engine,
radiator, heater core, and other parts.
If you have to add coolant more than two times a
year, have your dealer check your cooling system.
Notice:If you use extra inhibitors and/or
additives in your vehicle’s cooling system, you
could damage your vehicle. Use only the
proper mixture of the engine coolant listed in
this manual for the cooling system. See
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on
page 475for more information.
375

If you get the overheat warning with no sign of
steam, try this for a minute or so:
1. In heavy traffic, let the engine idle in
NEUTRAL (N) while stopped. If it safe to do
so, pull off the road, shift to PARK (P) or
NEUTRAL (N) and let the engine idle.
2. Set the climate controls to the highest heat
setting and fan speed and open the windows
as necessary.
If you no longer have the overheat warning, you
can drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for
about 10 minutes. If the warning does not come
back on, you can drive normally.
If the warning continues, pull over, stop, and park
your vehicle right away.
If there is still no sign of steam, idle the engine for
three minutes while you are parked. If you still
have the warning, turn off the engine and
get everyone out of the vehicle until it cools down.
Also, see “Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode” later in this section.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get
service help right away.Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode
If an overheated engine condition exists and the
message ENGINE OVERHEATED STOP ENGINE
is displayed, an overheat protection mode which
alternates ring groups of cylinders helps
prevent engine damage. In this mode, you will
notice a loss in power and engine performance.
This operating mode allows your vehicle to
be driven to a safe place in an emergency. Driving
extended miles (km) and/or towing a trailer in
the overheat protection mode should be avoided.
Notice:After driving in the overheated
engine protection operating mode, to avoid
engine damage, allow the engine to cool before
attempting any repair. The engine oil will be
severely degraded. Repair the cause of coolant
loss, change the oil and reset the oil life
system. SeeEngine Oil on page 365.
379

{CAUTION:
An electric engine cooling fan under the
hood can start up even when the engine
is not running and can injure you. Keep
hands, clothing, and tools away from any
underhood electric fan.
If the coolant inside the coolant surge tank is
boiling, do not do anything else until it cools down.
The vehicle should be parked on a level surface.
{CAUTION:
Heater and radiator hoses, and other
engine parts, can be very hot. Do not
touch them. If you do, you can be burned.
Do not run the engine if there is a leak. If
you run the engine, it could lose all
coolant. That could cause an engine re,
and you could be burned. Get any leak
xed before you drive the vehicle.If there seems to be no leak, with the engine on,
check to see if the electric engine cooling fans
are running. If the engine is overheating, both fans
should be running. If they are not, your vehicle
needs service.
Notice:Engine damage from running your
engine without coolant is not covered by your
warranty. SeeOverheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode on page 379for information on
driving to a safe place in an emergency.
Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOL
®
may cause premature engine, heater core, or
radiator corrosion. In addition, the engine
coolant could require changing sooner, at
30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs rst. Any repairs would not
be covered by your warranty. Always use
DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free) coolant in your
vehicle.
381

Brakes
Brake Fluid
The brake master
cylinder reservoir is
lled with DOT-3 brake
uid. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview
on page 364for
reservoir location and
access.
There are only two reasons why the brake uid
level in the reservoir might go down. The rst
is that the brake uid goes down to an acceptable
level during normal brake lining wear. When
new linings are put in, the uid level goes back
up. The other reason is that uid is leaking out of
the brake system. If it is, you should have the
brake system xed, since a leak means that
sooner or later the brakes will not work well.So, it is not a good idea to top off the brake uid.
Adding brake uid will not correct a leak. If
you add uid when the linings are worn, then you
will have too much uid when you get new
brake linings. You should add or remove brake
uid, as necessary, only when work is done on the
brake hydraulic system.
{CAUTION:
If your vehicle has too much brake uid, it
can spill on the engine. The uid will burn if
the engine is hot enough. You or others
could be burned, and your vehicle could be
damaged. Add brake uid only when work
is done on the brake hydraulic system.
If the ignition is on and the brake uid is low, the
SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM message will be
displayed in the Driver Information Center (DIC).
SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 246.
387

{CAUTION:
The brake wear warning sound means that
soon the brakes will not work well. That
could lead to an accident. When you hear
the brake wear warning sound, have your
vehicle serviced.
Notice:Continuing to drive with worn-out
brake pads could result in costly brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates can cause
a brake squeal when the brakes are rst applied or
lightly applied. This does not mean something is
wrong with the brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are necessary to help
prevent brake pulsation. When tires are rotated,
inspect brake pads for wear and evenly tighten
wheel nuts in the proper sequence to torque
specications inCapacities and Specications on
page 460.
Brake linings should always be replaced as
complete axle sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer/retailer if the brake pedal does
not return to normal height, or if there is a
rapid increase in pedal travel. This could be a sign
that brake service might be required.
Brake Adjustment
Every time you apply the brakes, with or without
the vehicle moving, the brakes adjust for wear.
Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a vehicle is complex. Its
many parts have to be of top quality and work well
together if the vehicle is to have really good
braking. Your vehicle was designed and tested with
top-quality brake parts. When you replace parts of
the braking system — for example, when the brake
linings wear down and you need new ones put
in — be sure you get new approved replacement
parts. If you do not, the brakes might not work
properly. For example, if someone puts in brake
linings that are wrong for your vehicle, the
balance between the front and rear brakes can
change — for the worse. The braking performance
you have come to expect can change in many other
ways if someone puts in the wrong replacement
brake parts.
389

9. Connect the other end of the negative (−)
cable to the negative (−) terminal location
on the vehicle with the dead battery.
Your vehicle has a remote negative (−)
terminal marked GND (−).
10. Now start the vehicle with the good battery
and run the engine for a while.
11. Try to start the vehicle that had the dead
battery. If it will not start after a few tries, it
probably needs service.
Notice:If the jumper cables are connected or
removed in the wrong order, electrical
shorting may occur and damage the vehicle.
The repairs would not be covered by your
warranty. Always connect and remove
the jumper cables in the correct order, making
sure that the cables do not touch each other
or other metal.A. Heavy, Unpainted Metal Engine Part or
Remote Negative (−) Terminal (GND)
B. Good Battery or Remote Positive (+) and
Remote Negative (−) Terminals
C. Dead Battery or Remote Positive (+) Terminal
To disconnect the jumper cables from both
vehicles, do the following:
1. Disconnect the black negative (−) cable from
the vehicle that had the dead battery.
2. Disconnect the black negative (−) cable from
the vehicle with the good battery.
Jumper Cable Removal
396

3. Disconnect the red positive (+) cable from the
vehicle with the good battery.
4. Disconnect the red positive (+) cable from the
other vehicle.
5. Return the remote positive (+) terminal cover
to its original position.
Headlamp Aiming
The vehicle has a visual optical headlamp aiming
system. The aim has been preset at the factory
and should need no further adjustment.
However, if the vehicle is damaged in an accident,
the headlamp aim may be affected and adjustment
may be necessary.
If oncoming vehicles ash their high beams at
you, this may also mean the vertical aim needs to
be adjusted.
It is recommended that the vehicle is taken to your
dealer/retailer for service if the headlamps need
to be re-aimed. It is possible however, to
re-aim the headlamps as described.Notice:To make sure your headlamps are
aimed properly, read all the instructions before
beginning. Failure to follow these instructions
could cause damage to headlamp parts.
The vehicle should:
Be placed so the headlamps are 25 ft. (7.6 m)
from a light colored wall.
Have all four tires on a level surface which is
level all the way to the wall.
Be placed so it is perpendicular to the wall.
Not have any snow, ice, or mud on it.
Be fully assembled and all other work stopped
while headlamp aiming is being performed.
Be normally loaded with a full tank of fuel and
one person or 160 lbs (75 kg) sitting on the
driver’s seat.
Have all tires properly inated.
Have the spare tire is in its original location in
the vehicle.
397

Bulb Replacement
It is recommended that all bulbs be replaced by
your dealer.
High Intensity Discharge (HID)
Lighting
{CAUTION:
The low beam high intensity discharge
lighting system operates at a very high
voltage. If you try to service any of the
system components, you could be
seriously injured. Have your dealer or a
qualied technician service them.
Your vehicle has HID headlamps. After your
vehicle’s HID headlamp bulb has been replaced,
you may notice that the beam is a slightly different
shade than it was originally. This is normal.
Windshield Wiper Blade
Replacement
Windshield wiper blades should be inspected for
wear or cracking. SeeScheduled Maintenance
on page 465for more information on wiper blade
inspection.
Replacement blades come in different types and
are removed in different ways. Here’s how to
remove the wiper blade:
1. Turn the engine off.
2. Lift the windshield wiper arm and blade away
from the windshield.
3. Pull the clip up from the blade connecting point,
and pull the blade assembly down toward the
windshield to remove it from the wiper arm.
400