2007 CADILLAC DTS ABS

Rear Seat Armrest
Your vehicle may be equipped with a rear seat
center console and armrest. To open the console,
push the button and lift the lid. Inside the
console are two cupholders that can be pulled out
when in use.
Convenience Net
Your vehicle may be equipped with a convenience
net. The convenience net attaches to the oor
of the trunk. Put small loads, like grocery
bags, behind the net.
The net is not for larger, heavier loads. Store them
in the trunk as far forward as you can. When
not using the net, hook the net to the tabs securing
it to the sill plate.
Sunroof
The vehicle may have a power sunroof.
The switches that
operate the sunroof are
located on the
overhead console.
To open or close the sunroof, the ignition must be
turned to RUN or Retained Accessory Power
(RAP) must be active. SeeRetained Accessory
Power (RAP) on page 119.
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Passenger Compartment Air Filter
The passenger compartment air lter traps most
of the pollen from the air entering your vehicle.
Like your vehicle’s engine air cleaner/lter, it may
need to be changed periodically. For how often
to change the passenger compartment air
lter, seeScheduled Maintenance on page 465.
The access panel for the passenger compartment
air lter is located under the hood near the
windshield, on the passenger’s side of the vehicle.To access the passenger compartment air lter,
do the following:
1. Use a tool to gently pry the cover up. If your
vehicle has tabs that allow you to unlatch the
cover with your ngers, you will not need a
tool for this step.
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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 340.
{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.
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
Light
With the anti-lock brake
system, the light will
come on when your
engine is started
and may stay on for
several seconds.
That is normal.
If the ABS warning light comes on and stays on,
there may be a problem with the antilock portion
of the brake system. If the red BRAKE light is
not on, you still have brakes, but you do not have
antilock brakes. SeeBrake System Warning
Light on page 229.
If the light stays on, turn the ignition to OFF or
ACCESSORY. 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.
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Your Driving, the Road, and
Your Vehicle............................................ 302
Defensive Driving...................................... 302
Drunken Driving........................................ 303
Control of a Vehicle.................................. 306
Braking...................................................... 306
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS).................. 307
Braking in Emergencies............................. 309
Traction Control System (TCS).................. 309
Magnetic Ride Control............................... 310
StabiliTrak
®System................................... 311
Panic Brake Assist.................................... 312
Steering.................................................... 312
Off-Road Recovery.................................... 315
Passing..................................................... 315
Loss of Control.......................................... 317Driving at Night......................................... 318
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads............ 320
City Driving............................................... 322
Freeway Driving........................................ 323
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.................. 324
Highway Hypnosis..................................... 325
Hill and Mountain Roads........................... 326
Winter Driving........................................... 328
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand,
Mud, Ice, or Snow................................. 332
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out........... 333
Loading Your Vehicle................................ 333
Towing........................................................ 340
Towing Your Vehicle................................. 340
Recreational Vehicle Towing...................... 340
Towing a Trailer........................................ 342
Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
301

Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive
in spurts — heavy acceleration followed by
heavy braking — rather than keeping pace with
traffic. This is a mistake. The brakes may not have
time to cool between hard stops. The brakes
will wear out much faster if you do a lot of heavy
braking. If you keep pace with the traffic and
allow realistic following distances, you will
eliminate a lot of unnecessary braking. That means
better braking and longer brake life.
If your vehicle’s engine ever stops while you are
driving, brake normally but do not pump the
brakes. If you do, the pedal may get harder to
push down. If the engine stops, you will still have
some power brake assist. But you will use it
when you brake. Once the power assist is used
up, it may take longer to stop and the brake pedal
will be harder to push.
Adding non-GM accessories can affect your
vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories and
Modications on page 353.Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
Your vehicle has the Anti-Lock Brake System
(ABS), an advanced electronic braking system that
will help prevent a braking skid.
When you start the engine and begin to drive
away, ABS will check itself. You might hear
a momentary motor or clicking noise while this test
is going on, and you might even notice that the
brake pedal moves a little. This is normal.
If there is a problem
with ABS, this warning
light will stay on.
SeeAnti-Lock Brake
System Warning
Light on page 230.
307

Let us say the road is wet and you are driving
safely. Suddenly, an animal jumps out in front of
you. You slam on the brakes and continue braking.
Here is what happens with ABS:
A computer senses that wheels are slowing down.
If one of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the
computer will separately work the brakes at each
front wheel and at both rear wheels.ABS can change the brake pressure faster than
any driver could. The computer is programmed to
make the most of available tire and road
conditions. This can help you steer around the
obstacle while braking hard.
As you brake, the computer keeps receiving
updates on wheel speed and controls braking
pressure accordingly.
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Remember: ABS does not change the time you
need to get your foot up to the brake pedal
or always decrease stopping distance. If you get
too close to the vehicle in front of you, you will not
have time to apply the brakes if that vehicle
suddenly slows or stops. Always leave enough
room up ahead to stop, even though you
have ABS.
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the brake
pedal down rmly and let anti-lock work for you.
You might hear the anti-lock pump or motor
operate, and feel the brake pedal pulsate, but this
is normal.
Braking in Emergencies
With ABS, you can steer and brake at the same
time. In many emergencies, steering can help you
more than even the very best braking.
Traction Control System (TCS)
Your vehicle has a traction control system that limits
wheel spin. This is especially useful in slippery road
conditions. The system operates only if it senses
that the front wheels are spinning too much or
beginning to lose traction. When this happens, the
system works the front brakes and reduces engine
power (by closing the throttle and managing engine
spark) to limit wheel spin.
The traction control system and StabiliTrak
®
warning light will ash when the traction control
system is limiting wheel spin. SeeTraction Control
System (TCS) Warning Light on page 232and
StabiliTrak
®Indicator Light on page 232for more
information. You may feel or hear the system
working, but this is normal.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the
traction control system begins to limit wheel spin,
the cruise control will automatically disengage.
When road conditions allow you to safely
use it again, you may re-engage the cruise control.
SeeCruise Control on page 176orAdaptive
Cruise Control on page 179for more information.
309

If you have StabiliTrak®, the system may be
active. SeeStabiliTrak®System on page 311.
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.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, 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.
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