2008 CADILLAC CTS warning

Seats and Restraint Systems........................... 1-1
Head Restraints
......................................... 1-2
Front Seats
............................................... 1-4
Rear Seats
..............................................1-11
Safety Belts
.............................................1-12
Child Restraints
.......................................1-32
Airbag System
.........................................1-56
Restraint System Check
............................1-72
Features and Controls..................................... 2-1
Keys
........................................................ 2-4
Doors and Locks
......................................2-18
Windows
.................................................2-24
Theft-Deterrent Systems
............................2-28
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
...........2-32
Mirrors
....................................................2-50
Object Detection Systems
..........................2-52
OnStar
®System
......................................2-55
Universal Home Remote System
................2-58
Storage Areas
.........................................2-62
Sunroof
..................................................2-63
Instrument Panel............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview
.......................... 3-4
Climate Controls
......................................3-24
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators
........3-30
Driver Information Center (DIC)
..................3-48
Audio System(s)
.......................................3-82Driving Your Vehicle....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and the Vehicle
....... 4-2
Towing
...................................................4-28
Service and Appearance Care.......................... 5-1
Service
..................................................... 5-4
Fuel
......................................................... 5-6
Checking Things Under the Hood
...............5-12
All-Wheel Drive
........................................5-50
Rear Axle
...............................................5-51
Headlamp Aiming
.....................................5-52
Bulb Replacement
....................................5-55
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.........5-57
Tires
......................................................5-58
Appearance Care
...................................5-112
Vehicle Identication
...............................5-121
Electrical System
....................................5-122
Capacities and Specications
...................5-129
Maintenance Schedule..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule
................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance Information.................... 7-1
Customer Assistance and Information
........... 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects
...........................7-16
Vehicle Data Recording and Privacy
...........7-18
Index................................................................ 1
2008 Cadillac CTS Owner ManualM

Safety Warnings and Symbols
There are a number of safety cautions in this book.
A box with the word CAUTION is used to tell about
things that could hurt you or others if you were to
ignore the warning.
{CAUTION:
These mean there is something that could hurt
you or other people.
Cautions tell what the hazard is and what to do to avoid
or reduce the hazard. Read these cautions.
A circle with a slash
through it is a safety
symbol which means
“Do Not,” “Do Not do this”
or “Do Not let this happen.”
Vehicle Damage Warnings
Notices are also used in this manual.
Notice:These mean there is something that could
damage your vehicle.
A notice tells about something that can damage the
vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be covered
by the vehicle’s warranty, and it could be costly.
The notice tells what to do to help avoid the damage.
When you read other manuals, you might see CAUTION
and NOTICE warnings in different colors or in different
words.
There are also warning labels on the vehicle which use
the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE.
Vehicle Symbols
The vehicle has components and labels that use
symbols instead of text. Symbols are shown along
with the text describing the operation or information
relating to a specic component, control, message,
gage, or indicator.
iv

What Will You See After an Airbag
Inates?
After the frontal airbags and seat-mounted side impact
airbags inate, they quickly deate, so quickly that
some people may not even realize an airbag inated.
Roof-rail airbags may still be at least partially inated
for some time after they deploy. Some components
of the airbag module may be hot for several minutes.
For location of the airbag modules, seeWhat Makes
an Airbag Inflate? on page 1-63.
The parts of the airbag that come into contact with you
may be warm, but not too hot to touch. There may be
some smoke and dust coming from the vents in the
deated airbags. Airbag ination does not prevent the
driver from seeing out of the windshield or being able to
steer the vehicle, nor does it prevent people from leaving
the vehicle.
{CAUTION:
When an airbag inates, there may be dust
in the air. This dust could cause breathing
problems for people with a history of asthma or
other breathing trouble. To avoid this, everyone
in the vehicle should get out as soon as it is
safe to do so. If you have breathing problems
but cannot get out of the vehicle after an airbag
inates, then get fresh air by opening a window
or a door. If you experience breathing problems
following an airbag deployment, you should
seek medical attention.
The vehicle has a feature that may automatically unlock
the doors, turn the interior lamps on, and turn the hazard
warning ashers on when the airbags inate. You can
lock the doors, turn the interior lamps off, and turn the
hazard warning ashers off by using the controls for
those features.
1-64

"(Unlock):Press to unlock the driver’s door. If"is
pressed again within ve seconds, all remaining doors
unlock. The interior lamps come on and stay on for
20 seconds or until the ignition is turned on. If enabled
through the DIC, the parking lamps ash twice to indicate
unlocking has occurred. SeeDIC Vehicle Customization
on page 3-69.
V(Remote Trunk Release):Press and hold
for about one second to release the trunk lid.
The transmission must be in PARK (P).
L(Vehicle Locator/Panic Alarm):Press and release
to locate the vehicle. The turn signal lamps ash and
the horn sounds three times.
Press and hold
Lfor more than two seconds to
activate the panic alarm. The turn signal lamps ash
and the horn sounds for 30 seconds. The alarm turns off
when the ignition is moved to START or
Lis pressed
again. The ignition must be in LOCK/OFF for the
panic alarm to work.
Matching Transmitter(s) to Your
Vehicle
Each RKE transmitter is coded to prevent another
transmitter from unlocking the vehicle. If a transmitter is
lost or stolen, a replacement can be purchased through
your dealer/retailer. All transmitters need to be re-coded
to match the new transmitter.
The lost transmitter no longer works after the new
transmitters are re-coded. The vehicle can have a
maximum of eight transmitters matched to it. See
“Relearn Remote Key” underDIC Operation and
Displays on page 3-48.
Battery Replacement
Replace the battery if the Replace Battery In Remote
Key message displays in the DIC. See “Replace Battery
In Remote Key” underDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 3-56for additional information.
Notice:When replacing the battery, do not touch
any of the circuitry on the transmitter. Static
from your body could damage the transmitter.
2-8

Battery Replacement
Replace the battery if the Replace Battery In Remote
Key message displays in the DIC. See “Replace Battery
In Remote Key” underDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 3-56for additional information.
A weak battery may also cause the DIC to display
Electronic Key Not Detected when you try to start the
vehicle. If this happens, place the transmitter in the
center console storage area transmitter pocket with the
buttons facing to the front of the vehicle. Then, with
the vehicle in PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N), press
the brake pedal and the ignition control knob. See
Starting the Engine on page 2-35, for additional
information about your vehicle’s electronic keyless
ignition with push start. Although this will start the
vehicle, it is recommended that you replace the
transmitter battery as soon as possible.
Notice:When replacing the battery, do not touch
any of the circuitry on the transmitter. Static
from your body could damage the transmitter.To replace the battery:
1. Separate the halves of the transmitter with a at,
thin object inserted into the slot on the side or
back of the transmitter.
2. Remove the old battery. Do not use a metal object.
3. Insert the new battery, positive side facing down.
Replace with a CR2032 or equivalent battery.
4. Put the transmitter back together tightly.
2-15

If the vehicle is left running it automatically shuts off
after 10 minutes unless a time extension has been done.
To manually shut off a remote start:
Aim the transmitter at the vehicle and press
the remote start button until the parking lamps
turn off.
Turn on the hazard warning ashers.
Turn the ignition switch on and then off.
The remote vehicle start feature provides two separate
starts, each with 10 minutes of engine running, or it
provides one start with 10 minutes of engine running
that may be extended 10 more minutes. If the transmitter
lock button is pressed and released and then the remote
start button is pressed and held again before the rst
10 minutes of engine running time has expired,
10 minutes are added to the remaining minutes.
For example, if the lock button and then the remote
start buttons are pressed again after ve minutes of
the engine run time, 10 minutes are added and you
now have 15 minutes of engine running. The added
ten minutes are considered a second remote vehicle
start.
Once two remote starts or a single start with a time
extension have been used, the vehicle must be started
with the keyless access ignition control knob before
the remote start feature can be used again.The remote start feature does not operate if any of the
following occur:
The ignition is in any position other than LOCK/OFF.
A keyless access transmitter is inside the vehicle.
The hood is open.
There is an emission control system malfunction.
The remote start feature is not enabled.
See “Remote Start” underDIC Vehicle
Customization on page 3-69.
The engine turns off during a remote vehicle start if the
coolant temperature gets too high, or the oil pressure
is too low.
This vehicle was shipped from the factory with the
remote vehicle start system enabled. The system may
be disabled through the Driver Information Center (DIC).
See “Remote Start” underDIC Vehicle Customization
on page 3-69for additional information.
SeeEngine Exhaust on page 2-48for important safety
information when using remote start in a closed garage.
2-17

Immobilizer Operation
(Keyless Access)
Your vehicle has a passive theft-deterrent system.
The system is automatically armed when the ignition
control knob is turned to LOCK/OFF.
The immobilization system is disarmed when the ignition
control knob is pushed in and a valid transmitter is
found in the vehicle.
You do not have to manually arm or disarm the system.
The security light will come on if there is a problem
with arming or disarming the theft-deterrent system.
The system has one or more keyless access
transmitters that are matched to an immobilizer control
unit in your vehicle. Only a correctly matched keyless
access transmitter will start the vehicle. If the keyless
access transmitter is ever damaged, you may not
be able to start your vehicle.
When trying to start the vehicle, if the engine does not
start and the security light comes on, there may be
a problem with your immobilizer system. Turn the
ignition control knob off and try again.If the ignition control knob does not rotate, and the
keyless access transmitter appears to be undamaged,
try another keyless access transmitter. Or, you may try
placing the transmitter in the transmitter pocket located in
the center console. See “Electronic Key Not Detected”
underDIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-56. At this
time, you may also want to check the fuse. SeeFuses
and Circuit Breakers on page 5-123. If the ignition control
knob still does not rotate with the other transmitter, your
vehicle needs service. If the ignition control knob does
rotate, the rst transmitter may be faulty. See your
dealer/retailer who can service the theft-deterrent system
and have a new keyless access transmitter programmed
to the vehicle.
It is possible for the immobilizer system to learn new or
replacement keyless access transmitters. Up to 4 keyless
access transmitters can be programmed for the vehicle.
To program additional transmitters, see “Matching
transmitter(s) to Your Vehicle” underKeyless Access
System Operation on page 2-10.
Do not leave the key or device that disarms or
deactivates the theft deterrent system in the vehicle.
2-31

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