2008 CADILLAC CTS instrument panel

Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle
Airbags affect how your vehicle should be serviced.
There are parts of the airbag system in several places
around your vehicle. Your dealer/retailer and the service
manual have information about servicing your vehicle
and the airbag system. To purchase a service manual,
seeService Publications Ordering Information on
page 7-17.
{CAUTION:
For up to 10 seconds after the ignition is
turned off and the battery is disconnected, an
airbag can still inate during improper service.
You can be injured if you are close to an airbag
when it inates. Avoid yellow connectors. They
are probably part of the airbag system. Be sure
to follow proper service procedures, and make
sure the person performing work for you is
qualied to do so.
Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Q:Is there anything I might add to or change
about the vehicle that could keep the airbags
from working properly?
A:Yes. If you add things that change the vehicle’s
frame, bumper system, height, front end or side
sheet metal, they may keep the airbag system from
working properly. Changing or moving any parts
of the front seats, safety belts, the airbag sensing
and diagnostic module, steering wheel, instrument
panel, roof-rail airbag modules, ceiling headliner
or pillar garnish trim, front sensors, or airbag wiring
can affect the operation of the airbag system.
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Object Detection Systems...............................2-52
Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist (URPA)............2-52
OnStar
®System.............................................2-55
Universal Home Remote System......................2-58
Universal Home Remote System Operation
(With One Triangular LED)...........................2-58Storage Areas................................................2-62
Glove Box...................................................2-62
Cupholders..................................................2-62
Instrument Panel Storage...............................2-63
Center Console Storage.................................2-63
Convenience Net..........................................2-63
Sunroof.........................................................2-63
Section 2 Features and Controls
2-2

When you want to open a rear door when the security
lock is on, do the following:
1. Unlock the door using the Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE) or Keyless Access System transmitter, if
the vehicle has one, the power door lock switch,
or the rear door manual lock.
2. Open the door from the outside.
To cancel the rear door security lock, do the following:
1. Unlock the door and open it from the outside.
2. Insert the key into the security lock slot and turn it
so the slot is in the vertical position.
Lockout Protection
If the power door lock switch is pressed when the key
is in the ignition and a door is open, all the doors will lock
and only the driver’s door will unlock. If you close the
doors, they can be locked by using the Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) transmitter. Be sure to remove the key from
the ignition when locking your vehicle.
This feature can be overridden by pressing the lock
button on the RKE transmitter or by pressing the power
lock switch a second time.
On vehicles with a Keyless Access System, the system
can be programmed to alert you when all the doors
are closed and a transmitter has been left inside of the
vehicle. SeeDIC Vehicle Customization on page 3-69
for more information.
Trunk
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to drive with the trunk lid
open because carbon monoxide (CO) gas can
come into your vehicle. You cannot see or
smell CO. It can cause unconsciousness and
even death. If you must drive with the trunk
lid open or if electrical wiring or other cable
connections must pass through the seal
between the body and the trunk lid:
Make sure all other windows are shut.
Turn the fan on your heating or cooling
system to its highest speed and select the
control setting that will force outside air
into your vehicle. See Climate Control
System.
If you have air outlets on or under the
instrument panel, open them all the way.
SeeEngine Exhaust on page 2-48.
2-21

Theft-Deterrent Systems
Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities.
This vehicle has theft-deterrent features, however,
they do not make it impossible to steal.
Theft-Deterrent System
If your vehicle has this
feature, the security light is
located on the instrument
panel cluster.
To activate the theft-deterrent system:
1. Open the door.
2. Lock the door with the transmitter. The security light
should come on and stay on.
3. Close all doors. The security light should go off
after about 30 seconds. The alarm is not armed
until the security light goes off.If a locked door or trunk is opened without using the
key in the driver’s door key cylinder or the transmitter, a
ten second pre-alarm will occur. The horn will chirp and
the lights will ash. If the key is not placed in the ignition
and turned to START or the door is not unlocked by
pressing the unlock button on the transmitter during the
ten second pre-alarm, the alarm will go off. Your vehicle’s
headlamps will ash and the horn will sound for about
30 seconds, then will turn off to save the battery power.
The theft-deterrent system will not activate if the doors
are locked with the vehicle’s key or the manual door
lock. It activates only if the power door lock switch
is used while the door is open or with the transmitter.
You should also remember that you can start your
vehicle with the correct ignition key if the alarm has
been set off.
To avoid setting off the alarm by accident:
Lock the vehicle with the door key after the doors
are closed.
Always unlock a door with the transmitter. Unlocking
a door any other way will set off the alarm.
If you set off the alarm by accident, turn off the alarm by
pressing the unlock button on the transmitter. The alarm
will not stop if you try to unlock a door any other way.
2-28

The tachometer display on
the instrument panel cluster
will show which gear the
vehicle is in and a number
indicating the requested
gear range when moving
the shift lever forward
or rearward. See
Speedometer and
Odometer on page 3-32
for more information on
the odometer.
While using the DSC feature, the vehicle will have
rmer shifting and increased performance. You can use
this for sport driving or when climbing or descending
hills, to stay in gear longer, or to down shift for
more power or engine braking.The transmission will only allow you to shift into
gears appropriate for the vehicle speed and engine
Revolutions Per Minute (RPM). The transmission will
not automatically shift to the next lower gear if the
engine RPM is too high.
If shifting is prevented for any reason, the currently
selected gear will ash multiple times, indicating that
the transmission has not shifted gears.
While in the DSC mode, the transmission will
automatically downshift when the vehicle comes
to a stop and while quickly applying the accelerator to
increase speed. This will allow for more power during
take-off.
When accelerating your vehicle from a stop in snowy
and icy conditions, you may want to shift into second
gear. A higher gear ratio allows you to gain more traction
on slippery surfaces.
2-41

Shift Speeds (Manual Transmission)
{CAUTION:
If you skip a gear when you downshift, you
could lose control of your vehicle. You could
injure yourself or others. Do not shift down
more than one gear at a time when you
downshift.
Notice:If you skip more than one gear when you
downshift, or if you race the engine when you
release the clutch pedal while downshifting, you
could damage the engine, clutch, driveshaft or
the transmission. Do not skip gears or race
the engine when downshifting.
If the vehicle speed drops below 20 mph (32 km/h),
or if the engine is not running smoothly, you should
downshift to the next lower gear. You may have
to downshift two or more gears to keep the engine
running smoothly or for good performance.
Up-Shift Light
Vehicles with a manual
transmission may have
an up-shift light on the
instrument panel. This light
will show you when to shift
to the next higher gear for
the best fuel economy.
When this light comes on, you can shift to the next
higher gear if weather, road, and traffic conditions allow.
For the best fuel economy, accelerate slowly and
shift when the light comes on.
While you accelerate, it is normal for the light to go
on and off if you quickly change the position of
the accelerator. Ignore the light when you downshift.
2-43

Parking Brake
The parking brake pedal is
located on the lower portion
of the instrument panel to
the left of the steering
wheel.
To set the parking brake, hold the regular brake pedal
down, then push the parking brake pedal down.
If the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
on the instrument panel cluster should come on. If it
does not, you need to have your vehicle serviced.
SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 3-38for
more information.To release the parking brake, pull the release lever
located to the left of the steering wheel on the instrument
panel.
Notice:Driving with the parking brake on can
overheat the brake system and cause premature
wear or damage to brake system parts. Make sure
that the parking brake is fully released and the brake
warning light is off before driving.
2-44

Instrument Panel Storage
Your vehicle has a storage area located below the
climate control systems. To access, push on the lid.
Center Console Storage
Your vehicle has a center console with an upper and
lower storage area. To access the upper storage area,
lift the driver side lever on the front of the console
and lift the cover. To access the lower storage area,
lift the passenger side lever on the center console.
There is an additional storage area behind the center
console. To access, push the cover.
Convenience Net
Your vehicle may have a convenience net in the rear of
the vehicle. Put small loads behind the net. It can also be
positioned into an envelope style to hold smaller items.
The net is not for heavier loads. Store them as far forward
as you can.
Sunroof
If your vehicle has a power sunroof it will only operate
when the ignition is turned on, or in ACC/ACCESSORY,
or when Retained Accessory Power (RAP) is active.
SeeRetained Accessory Power (RAP) on page 2-35.
The sunroof switches are located on the overhead
console.
The driver side switch
operates the sunshade.
Press and hold the rear of the switch to open the
sunshade. Press and hold the front of the switch to
close the sunshade.
2-63