2007 CADILLAC DTS PROFESSIONAL brake

Charging System Light
When you turn the
engine on, 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/retailer
at once. To save the battery until you get there,
turn off all accessories. SeeDIC Controls and
Displays on page 240for more information.
Brake System Warning Light
Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided
into two parts. If one part isn’t 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 engine on. If it does not come on then, have it
xed so it will be ready to warn you if there is a
problem.
United StatesCanada
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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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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 229.
The anti-lock brake system warning light should
come on briey when you turn the ignition key to
RUN. If the light does not come on then, have it
xed so it will be ready to warn you if there is a
problem.
Low Tire Pressure Warning Light
This light will come on
briey when you turn
the ignition to RUN.This light will also come on when one or more of
your tires are signicantly underinated.
A CHECK TIRE PRESSURE DIC message will
accompany the light, seeDIC Warnings and
Messages on page 246
Stop and check your tires as soon as it is safe
to do so. If underinated, inate to the proper
pressure. SeeTires on page 402for more
information.
This light will ash for approximately 60 seconds
and then turn on solid if a problem is detected with
the Tire Pressure Monitor system.
SeeTire Pressure Monitor System on page 414
for more information.
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SERVICE A/C SYSTEM
This message displays when the air delivery mode
door or the electronic sensors that control the air
conditioning and heating systems are no longer
working. Have the climate control system serviced
by your dealer if you notice a drop in heating and air
conditioning efficiency.
SERVICE BATTERY CHARGING
SYSTEM
This message displays when a problem with the
charging system has been detected. The charging
system light also displays on the instrument
panel cluster. SeeCharging System Light on
page 229for more information. Have your vehicle
serviced by your dealer.
SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST
This message displays if there is a problem with the
brake system. The brake system warning light and
the anti-lock brake system warning light may also
be displayed on the instrument panel cluster.
SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 229andAnti-Lock Brake System Warning Light on page 230
for more information. If this happens, stop as soon
as possible and turn off the vehicle. Restart the
vehicle and check for the message on the DIC
display. If the message is displayed or appears
again when you begin driving, the brake system
needs service. See your dealer as soon as
possible. SeeBrakes on page 387for more
information.
SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM
This message displays if the ignition is on to
inform the driver that the brake uid level is low.
Have the brake system serviced by your dealer as
soon as possible.
SERVICE PARKING ASSIST
If your vehicle has the Ultrasonic Front and Rear
Parking Assist (UFRPA) system, this message
displays if there is a problem with the UFRPA
system. Do not use this system to help you park.
SeeUltrasonic Front and Rear Parking Assist
(UFRPA) on page 202for more information.
See your dealer for service.
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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

Control of a Vehicle
The following three systems help to control your
vehicle while driving — brakes, steering, and
accelerator. At times, as when driving on snow or
ice, it is easy to ask more of those control
systems than the tires and road can provide.
Meaning, you can lose control of your vehicle. See
Traction Control System (TCS) on page 309.
Adding non-dealer/non-retailer accessories can
affect your vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories
and Modications on page 353.
Braking
SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 229.
Braking action involves perception time and
reaction time.First, you have to decide to push on the brake
pedal. That is perception time. Then you have to
bring up your foot and do it. That is reaction time.
Average reaction time is about three-fourths of a
second. But that is only an average. It might
be less with one driver and as long as two or
three seconds or more with another. Age, physical
condition, alertness, coordination, and eyesight
all play a part. So do alcohol, drugs, and
frustration. But even in three-fourths of a second,
a vehicle moving at 60 mph (100 km/h) travels
66 feet (20 m). That could be a lot of distance in an
emergency, so keeping enough space between
your vehicle and others is important.
And, of course, actual stopping distances vary
greatly with the surface of the road, whether it is
pavement or gravel; the condition of the road,
whether it is wet, dry, or icy; tire tread; the
condition of the brakes; the weight of the vehicle;
and the amount of brake force applied.
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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.
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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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