2007 CADILLAC STS Owners Manual

Warning Lights, Gages, and
Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages
that may be on your vehicle. The pictures will
help you locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that something
is wrong before it becomes serious enough to
cause an expensive repair or replacement. Paying
attention to the warning lights and gages could also
save you or others from injury.
Warning lights come on when there may be or is a
problem with one of your vehicle’s functions. As
you will see in the details on the next few
pages, some warning lights come on briey when
you start the engine just to let you know they
are working. If you are familiar with this section,
you should not be alarmed when this happens.Gages can indicate when there may be or is a
problem with one of your vehicle’s functions. Often
gages and warning lights work together to let you
know when there is a problem with your vehicle.
When one of the warning lights comes on and
stays on while you are driving, or when one of the
gages shows there may be a problem, check
the section that tells you what to do about
it. Waiting to do repairs can be costly – and even
dangerous. So please get to know your warning
lights and gages. They are a big help.
Your vehicle also has a Driver Information
Center (DIC) that works along with the
warning lights and gages. SeeDriver Information
Center (DIC) on page 258for more information.
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Instrument Panel Cluster
The instrument panel cluster is designed to let you know at a glance how your vehicle is running. You will
know how fast you are going, how much fuel you are using and many of the other things you will need
to know to drive safely and economically.
United States Base version shown, Canada and Uplevel similar
242

Speedometer and Odometer
Your speedometer lets you see your speed in
both miles per hour (mph) and kilometers per
hour (km/h). See “MPH (km)” underDIC Controls
and Displays on page 258for more information.
The odometer mileage can be checked without the
vehicle running. Your vehicle’s odometer works
together with the driver information center.
You can set a Trip A and a Trip B odometer. See
“Trip Information” underDIC Controls and
Displays on page 258for more information.
If your vehicle ever needs a new odometer
installed, the new one will be set to the correct
mileage total of the old odometer.
Tachometer
This gage indicates
the engine speed
in revolutions
per minute (rpm).
Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the ignition button is pressed to START, a
chime will be provided for several seconds to
remind people to buckle their safety belts. The
driver safety belt light will also be provided and stay
on for several seconds, then it will ash for several
more. You should buckle your seat belt.
This chime and light will
be repeated if the driver
remains unbuckled
and the vehicle
is in motion.
If the driver’s belt is buckled, neither the chime nor
the light will be provided.
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Passenger Safety Belt
Reminder Light
Several seconds after the ignition button is
pressed to START, a chime will sound for several
seconds to remind the front passenger to
buckle their safety belt. This would only occur if
the passenger airbag is enabled. SeePassenger
Sensing System on page 74for more information.
The passenger safety belt light will also come
on and stay on for several seconds, then it
will ash for several more.
This chime and light will
be repeated if the
passenger remains
unbuckled and
the vehicle is in motion.
If the passenger’s safety belt is buckled, neither
the chime nor the light will come on.
Airbag Readiness Light
There is an airbag readiness light on the
instrument panel, which shows the airbag symbol.
The system checks the airbag’s electrical
system for malfunctions. The light tells you if there
is an electrical problem. The system check
includes the airbag sensors, the airbag modules,
the wiring and the diagnostic module. For
more information on the airbag system, seeAirbag
System on page 64.
This light will come on
when you start your
vehicle, and it will ash
for a few seconds.
Then the light should go
out. This means the
system is ready.
If the airbag readiness light stays on after you
start the vehicle or comes on when you are driving,
your airbag system may not work properly.
Have your vehicle serviced right away.
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{CAUTION:
If the airbag readiness light stays on after
you start your vehicle, it means the airbag
system may not be working properly. The
airbags in your vehicle may not inate in
a crash, or they could even inate without
a crash. To help avoid injury to yourself
or others, have your vehicle serviced right
away if the airbag readiness light stays on
after you start your vehicle.
If there is a problem with the airbag system in
your vehicle, the SERVICE AIR BAG message will
appear on the DIC display. SeeDIC Warnings
and Messages on page 264for more information.
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator
Your vehicle has the passenger sensing system.
Your overhead console has a passenger airbag
status indicator.
The indicator next to the passenger airbag status
indicator lights is the passenger safety belt
reminder light. SeePassenger Safety Belt
Reminder Light on page 244for more information
on that indicator.
When the vehicle is running, the passenger airbag
status indicator will light ON and OFF, or the
symbol for on and off, for several seconds as a
system check. Then, after several more seconds,
the status indicator will light either ON or OFF, or
either the on or off symbol, to let you know the
status of the right front passenger’s frontal airbag.
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If the word ON or the on symbol is lit on the
passenger airbag status indicator, it means that
the right front passenger’s frontal airbag is enabled
(may inate).
{CAUTION:
If the on indicator comes on when you have
a rear-facing child restraint installed in the
right front passenger’s seat, it means that
the passenger sensing system has not
turned off the passenger’s frontal airbag.
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can
be seriously injured or killed if the right
front passenger’s airbag inates. This is
because the back of the rear-facing child
restraint would be very close to the
inating airbag. Do not use a rear-facing
child restraint in the right front passenger’s
seat if the airbag is turned on.Your vehicle has a rear seat that will accommodate
a rear-facing child restraint. A label on your sun
visor says, “Never put a rear-facing child seat
in the front.” This is because the risk to the
rear-facing child is so great, if the airbag deploys.
{CAUTION:
Even though the passenger sensing
system is designed to turn off the
passenger’s frontal airbag if the system
detects a rear-facing child restraint, no
system is fail-safe, and no one can
guarantee that an airbag will not deploy
under some unusual circumstance, even
though it is turned off. We recommend
that rear-facing child restraints be secured
in the rear seat, even if the airbag is off.
246

If the word OFF or the off symbol is lit on the
airbag status indicator, it means that the
passenger sensing system has turned off the right
front passenger’s frontal airbag. SeePassenger
Sensing System on page 74for more on this,
including important safety information.
If, after several seconds, all status indicator lights
remain on, or if there are no lights at all, there
may be a problem with the lights or the passenger
sensing system. See your dealer for service.
{CAUTION:
If the off indicator and the airbag
readiness light ever come on together, it
means that something may be wrong with
the airbag system. If this ever happens,
have the vehicle serviced promptly,
because an adult-size person sitting in the
right front passenger seat may not have
the protection of the frontal airbag. See
Airbag Readiness Light on page 244.
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 at once.
To save your battery until you get there, turn off
all accessories. SeeDIC Controls and Displays on
page 258for more information.
247

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.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 355.
{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.
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248