2007 CADILLAC XLR V 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 your 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 when 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. Please follow this manual’s advice. 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 has a Driver Information Center that
works along with the warning lights and gages.
SeeDriver Information Center (DIC) on page 203
for more information.
185

Instrument Panel Cluster
Your instrument panel cluster and Driver Information Center (DIC) are designed to let you know at a
glance how the vehicle is running. You will know how fast you are going, about how much fuel you have
left and many other things you will need to know to drive safely and economically. The instrument
panel cluster indicator warning lights, gages and DIC messages are explained on the following pages.
United States Base Cluster shown, Canada and Uplevel similar
186

Speedometer and Odometer
Your speedometer lets you see your speed in
either miles per hour (mph) or kilometers per
hour (km/h).
There is only one scale for mph and km/h. Use
the Driver Information Center (DIC) controls
to switch between mph and km/h. SeeDIC
Controls and Displays on page 204for more
information. The cluster will calculate the proper
speed and move the needle to the correct position.
Either the MPH or the km/h telltale will illuminate,
depending on which measurement you choose.
The odometer is part of the Driver Information
Center (DIC). SeeDIC Controls and Displays on
page 204for more information.
Trip Odometer
The trip odometer is part of the Driver Information
Center (DIC). SeeDIC Controls and Displays
on page 204for more information.
Tachometer
The tachometer displays the engine speed in
thousands of revolutions per minute (rpm).
Fuel will shut off at about 6700 rpm.If you continue to drive your vehicle at the fuel
shut off rpm, you could damage your engine. Be
sure to operate your vehicle below the fuel
shut off rpm or reduce your rpm quickly when the
fuel shuts off.
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.
187

Airbag Readiness Light
There is an airbag readiness light on the
instrument panel cluster, which shows a deployed
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 modules,
the wiring and the diagnostic module. For more
information on the airbag system, seeAirbag
System on page 44.
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.{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.
The airbag readiness light should ash for a few
seconds when you turn the vehicle on. If the
light does not come on then, have it xed so it will
be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
188

Passenger Airbag Status Indicator
Your rearview mirror has a passenger airbag
status indicator.When the vehicle is started, 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 passenger’s frontal airbag and
side impact airbag.
Your vehicle has a label on the sun visor that
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.
United States
Canada
189

Never put a child in a rear-facing child restraint in
the passenger’s seat unless the passenger
airbag status indicator shows off and the airbags
are off. Here is why:
{CAUTION:
Even though the passenger sensing
system is designed to turn off the
passenger’s frontal airbag and side
impact airbag (if equipped) 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
transported in vehicles with a rear seat
that will accommodate a rear-facing child
restraint, whenever possible.If the word ON or the on symbol is lit on the
passenger airbag status indicator, it means that
the passenger’s frontal airbag and side impact
airbag are enabled (may inate).
{CAUTION:
If the on indicator comes on when you have
a rear-facing child restraint installed in the
passenger’s seat, it means that the
passenger sensing system has not turned
off the passenger’s frontal airbag and side
impact airbag (if equipped). A child in a
rear-facing child restraint can be seriously
injured or killed if the 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
passenger’s seat if the airbag is turned on.
190

If the word OFF or the off symbol is lit on the
passenger airbag status indicator, it means that
the passenger sensing system has turned off
the passenger’s airbags. SeePassenger Sensing
System on page 53for 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 airbag 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 airbag. SeeAirbag
Readiness Light on page 188.
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 204for more information.
191

Voltmeter Gage
When the vehicle is in
accessory mode, the
voltmeter shows
the voltage output of
your battery. When the
engine is running, it
shows the voltage
output of the charging
system.
The reading will change as the rate of charge
changes (with engine speed, for example), but if
the voltmeter reads at 9 volts or below, your
instrument panel cluster and other systems may
shut down. The Driver Information Center (DIC) will
read LOW VOLTAGE when your vehicle is at
10 volts or below. Have it checked right away.
Driving with the voltmeter reading at 10 volts
or below could drain your battery and disable your
vehicle.
Brake System Warning Light
Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided
into two parts. If one part is not working, the other
part can still work and stop you. For good
braking, though, you need both parts working well.
This light should come on when you start the
engine. If it does not come on then, have it xed
so it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
If this warning light stays on after you start the
engine, the parking brake may still be set or there
could be a brake problem. Refer toParking
Brake on page 97to see if it is set. If the parking
brake is not set, have your brake system
inspected right away.
United StatesCanada
192