2008 CADILLAC CTS window

Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
These vehicle accessories can be used for up to
10 minutes after the engine is turned off:
Audio System
Power Windows
Sunroof (if equipped)
Power to the audio system will work up to 10 minutes or
until the driver’s door is opened. Power to the windows
or sunroof will work up to 10 minutes or until any
door is opened. For an additional 10 minutes of
operation, close all the doors and turn the key to
ON/RUN and then back to LOCK/OFF.
Starting the Engine
Place the transmission in the proper gear.
Automatic Transmission
Move the shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
The engine will not start in any other position -- this
is a safety feature. To restart when you are already
moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only.If your vehicle has the keyless access system, put your
foot on the brake pedal and turn the ignition control
knob to the START position. When the engine begins
cranking, let go of the ignition control knob, it will return
to the ON/RUN position.
If the transmitter is not in the vehicle or something is
interfering with the transmitter, the Driver Information
Center (DIC) will display Electronic Key Not Detected.
SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-56for
more information.
If the battery in the keyless access transmitter needs
replacing, the DIC displays Replace Battery In Remote
Key. The vehicle can still be driven. See “Battery
Replacement” underKeyless Access System Operation
on page 2-10for more information.
Notice:Do not try to shift to P (Park) if your
vehicle is moving. If you do, you could damage
the transmission. Shift to P (Park) only when your
vehicle is stopped.
2-35

Parking Over Things That Burn
{CAUTION:
Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust
parts under your vehicle and ignite. Do not
park over papers, leaves, dry grass, or other
things that can burn.
Engine Exhaust
{CAUTION:
Engine exhaust can kill. It contains the gas
carbon monoxide (CO), which you cannot see
or smell. It can cause unconsciousness and
death.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
You might have exhaust coming in if:
The exhaust system sounds strange or
different.
Your vehicle gets rusty underneath.
Your vehicle was damaged in a collision.
Your vehicle was damaged when driving
over high points on the road or over road
debris.
Repairs were not done correctly.
Your vehicle or the exhaust system has
been modied improperly.
If you ever suspect exhaust is coming into
your vehicle:
Drive it only with all the windows down to
blow out any CO.
Have your vehicle xed immediately.
2-48

Manually fold the mirrors inward to prevent damage
when going through an automatic car wash. To fold, push
the mirror toward the vehicle. Push the mirror outward, to
return to its original position.
Park Tilt Mirrors
If the vehicle has the memory package, the passenger
and/or driver outside mirror tilts to a preselected
position when the vehicle is in REVERSE (R). This
allows the driver to view the curb when parallel parking.
When the vehicle is shifted out of REVERSE (R) and
after a ve-second delay, the mirrors return to their
original position.
The park tilt can be turned on or off through the Driver
Information Center (DIC). SeeDIC Vehicle Customization
on page 3-69for more information.
Outside Convex Mirror
{CAUTION:
A convex mirror can make things (like other
vehicles) look farther away than they really are.
If you cut too sharply into the right lane, you
could hit a vehicle on your right. Check your
inside mirror or glance over your shoulder
before changing lanes.
The passenger side mirror is convex shaped. A convex
mirror’s surface is curved so more can be seen from
the driver seat. It also makes things, like other vehicles,
look farther away than they really are.
Outside Heated Mirrors
When the rear window defogger is turned on, it also
warms both outside rearview mirrors to help clear them
of fog or ice. See “Rear Window Defogger” underDual
Climate Control System on page 3-24for more
information.
2-51

Object Detection Systems
Ultrasonic Rear Parking
Assist (URPA)
For vehicles with the Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist
(URPA) system, it operates at speeds less than 5 mph
(8 km/h), and assists the driver with parking and
avoiding objects while in REVERSE (R). The sensors
on the rear bumper are used to detect the distance to
an object up to 8 feet (2.5 m) behind the vehicle, and
at least 10 inches (25.4 cm) off the ground.
{CAUTION:
The Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist (URPA)
system does not replace driver vision.
It cannot detect:
objects that are below the bumper,
underneath the vehicle, or if they are too
close or far from the vehicle
children, pedestrians, bicyclists, or pets.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
If you do not use proper care before and while
backing; vehicle damage, injury, or death
could occur. Even with URPA, always check
behind your vehicle before backing up. While
backing, be sure to look for objects and check
your vehicle’s mirrors.
The display is located
above the rear window and
can be seen by looking
over your right shoulder.
URPA uses three color-coded lights to provide distance
and system information.
2-52

Reading Lamps
The reading lamps are located on the overhead console.
These lamps come on automatically when any door is
opened.
For manual operation, press the button next to each
lamp to turn it on or off.
If the reading lamps are left on, they automatically shut
off 10 minutes after the ignition has been turned off.
Electric Power Management
The vehicle has Electric Power Management (EPM) that
estimates the battery’s temperature and state of charge.
It then adjusts the voltage for best performance and
extended life of the battery.
When the battery’s state of charge is low, the voltage
is raised slightly to quickly put the charge back in.
When the state of charge is high, the voltage is lowered
slightly to prevent overcharging. If the vehicle has a
voltmeter gage or a voltage display on the Driver
Information Center (DIC), you may see the voltage
move up or down. This is normal. If there is a problem,
an alert will be displayed.The battery can be discharged at idle if the electrical
loads are very high. This is true for all vehicles.
This is because the generator (alternator) may not be
spinning fast enough at idle to produce all the power that
is needed for very high electrical loads.
A high electrical load occurs when several of the
following loads are on: headlamps, high beams, fog
lamps, rear window defogger, climate control fan at
high speed, heated seats, engine cooling fans, trailer
loads, and loads plugged into accessory power outlets.
EPM works to prevent excessive discharge of the
battery. It does this by balancing the generator’s output
and the vehicle’s electrical needs. It can increase
engine idle speed to generate more power, whenever
needed. It can temporarily reduce the power demands of
some accessories.
Normally, these actions occur in steps or levels, without
being noticeable. In rare cases at the highest levels
of corrective action, this action may be noticeable to
the driver. If so, a Driver Information Center (DIC)
message might be displayed, such as Battery Saver
Active or Service Battery Charging System. If this
message is displayed, it is recommended that the
driver reduce the electrical loads as much as possible.
SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-56.
3-21

DC(Fan):Press theDorCbuttons to increase or
decrease the fan speed. Pressing either button cancels
automatic operation and the system goes into manual
mode. Press AUTO to return to automatic operation.
The blower may reduce during an Onstar
®session
to limit background noise.
If the airow seems low when the fan speed is at
the highest setting, the passenger compartment air
lter might need to be replaced. For more information,
seePassenger Compartment Air Filter on page 3-29and
Scheduled Maintenance on page 6-4.
#(Air Conditioning):Press this button to override the
automatic system and turn the air conditioning system on
or off. When in AUTO, the air conditioning compressor
will come on automatically, as necessary.
The air conditioning system removes moisture from the
air, so a small amount of water might drip underneath the
vehicle while idling or after turning off the engine. This is
normal.
M/F(Recirculation/Outside Air):Press this
button to switch between recirculation and outside air.
Whenever the button is pressed, the indicator light
comes on for the mode being used. The recirculation
mode recirculates air inside the vehicle. It can be used
to prevent outside air and odors from entering the
vehicle or to help cool the air inside the vehicle more
quickly. Press the auto button to have the system select
the best air delivery mode for your temperature setting.
Recirculation is not available in the defrost mode and
automatically turns off 10 minutes after defog is selected.
This helps to limit window fogging in the vehicle.
Using recirculation for long periods of time could cause
the air inside the vehicle to become too dry or stuffy.
To prevent this from happening, after the air in the vehicle
has cooled, select outside air or press the auto button.
The outside air mode pulls fresh air from outside the
vehicle. Outside air is always selected in defrost mode to
prevent fogging.
_(Heated Windshield Washer, If Equipped):For
more information, seeWindshield Washer on page 3-12.
3-26

Defogging and Defrosting
Fog on the inside of windows is a result of high humidity
(moisture) condensing on the cool window glass.
This can be minimized if the climate control system
is used properly. There are two modes to clear fog
from the windshield. Use the defog mode to clear the
windows of fog or moisture and warm the passengers.
Use the defrost mode to remove fog or frost from
the windshield more quickly.
HG(Mode):Press the mode buttons until defog
appears on the display.
-(Defog):This mode directs the air between the
windshield, oor outlets and side windows. When this
mode is selected, the system turns off recirculation and
runs the air-conditioning compressor unless the outside
temperature is at or below freezing. If recirculation mode
is selected while in defog mode, it will be cancelled after
10 minutes.
0(Defrost):Pressing defrost directs most of the air
to the windshield, with some air directed to the side
windows. In this mode, the system automatically turns off
recirculation and runs the air-conditioning compressor,
unless the outside temperature is at or below freezing.
This mode may also cause the fan speed and air
temperature to increase.
Rear Window Defogger
The rear window defogger uses a warming grid to
remove fog or frost from the rear window.
The rear window defogger will only work when the
ignition is in ON/RUN.
=(Rear Window Defogger):Press this button to turn
the rear window defogger on or off. Be sure to clear
as much snow from the rear window as possible.
The rear window defogger turns off about 15 minutes
after the button is rst pressed if the vehicle is moving
at slower speeds. At higher speeds, the rear window
defogger may stay on continuously. With each additional
press, the defogger runs for about 10 minutes.
The defogger can also be turned off by pressing the
button again or by turning off the engine.
The heated outside rearview mirrors will heat to help
clear fog or frost from the surface of the mirror when
the rear window defogger button is on. SeeOutside
Heated Mirrors on page 2-51.
Notice:Do not try to clear frost or other material
from the inside of the front windshield and rear
window with a razor blade or anything else that is
sharp. This may damage the rear window defogger
grid and affect your radio’s ability to pick up
stations clearly. The repairs wouldn’t be covered by
your warranty.
3-27

Compass Calibration
The compass can be manually calibrated. Only calibrate
the compass in a magnetically clean and safe location,
such as an open parking lot, where driving the vehicle
in circles is not a danger. It is suggested to calibrate
away from tall buildings, utility wires, manhole covers, or
other industrial structures, if possible.
If CAL should ever appear in the DIC display, the
compass should be calibrated.
If the DIC display does not show a heading, for example,
N for North, or the heading does not change after
making turns, there may be a strong magnetic eld
interfering with the compass. Such interference may
be caused by a magnetic CB or cell phone antenna
mount, a magnetic emergency light, magnetic note
pad holder, or any other magnetic item. Turn off
the vehicle, move the magnetic item, then turn on
the vehicle and calibrate the compass.To calibrate the compass, use the following procedure:Compass Calibration Procedure
1. Before calibrating the compass, make sure the
compass zone is set to the variance zone in
which the vehicle is located. See “Compass
Variance (Zone) Procedure” earlier in this section.
Do not operate any switches such as window,
sunroof, climate controls, seats, etc. during
the calibration procedure.
2. Press the vehicle information button until
Press
VTo Calibrate Compass displays.
3. Press the set/reset button to start the compass
calibration.
4. The DIC will display Calibrating Drive In Circles.
Drive the vehicle in tight circles at less than
5 mph (8 km/h) to complete the calibration. The DIC
will display Calibration Complete for a few seconds
when the calibration is complete. The DIC display
will then return to Press
VTo Calibrate Compass.
3-55