2008 CADILLAC DTS ESP

Alerting the Driver
The FCA alert symbol will
ash and a warning beep
will sound when driver
action may be required.
The alert symbol will ash when:
Your vehicle is approaching another vehicle too
quickly.
Your vehicle is following a vehicle ahead of you
much too closely.
SeeDefensive Driving on page 4-2for more information.
Detecting the Vehicle Ahead
The vehicle ahead symbol, located next to the FCA
symbol, will only appear when a vehicle ahead of you is
detected in your path. If this symbol does not appear,
or disappears briey, FCA will not respond to vehicles
you may see ahead. The symbol may disappear on
curves, highway exit ramps, or hills. Also, when another
vehicle enters the same lane as you, the FCA system
will not detect the vehicle until it is completely in
your driving lane.
{CAUTION:
When the Adaptive Cruise Control radar is
blocked by snow, ice, or dirt, it may not detect
a vehicle ahead. FCA may not help you avoid a
collision under these conditions. Do not use
FCA when the radar is blocked by snow, ice,
or dirt. Keep your radar clean. See “Cleaning
the System” underAdaptive Cruise Control on
page 3-19.
{CAUTION:
FCA may not detect and warn soon enough to
stationary or slow-moving vehicles or other
objects ahead of you. You could crash into an
object ahead of you. Do not rely on FCA when
approaching stationary or slow-moving
vehicles or other objects.
3-12

Unnecessary Alerts
FCA may occasionally provide alerts that you consider
unnecessary. It could respond to a turning vehicle
ahead of you, guard rails, signs, and other stationary
objects. This is normal operation, your vehicle does not
need service.
Other Messages
There are three messages that may appear on the
Driver Information Center (DIC). They are CLEAN
RADAR, RADAR CRUISE NOT READY and SERVICE
RADAR CRUISE. SeeDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 3-75.
Cleaning the System
The radar can become blocked by snow, ice, or dirt.
If so, you may need to turn off the engine and clean
the lens. See “Cleaning the System” underAdaptive
Cruise Control on page 3-19.
Flash-to-Pass
This feature lets you use the high-beam headlamps to
signal the driver in front of you that you want to pass.
The ash-to-pass feature will only work with the
headlamps on. It does not work with Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL).Pull and hold the turn signal lever toward you to use.
If the headlamps are on low beam, pulling the turn signal
towards you will ash the high beams.
Windshield Wipers
You control the windshield wipers by turning the band
with the wiper symbol on it.
8(Mist):Turn the band to mist for a single wiping
cycle. Hold it there until the wipers start. Then let
go. The wipers stop after one wipe. For more wipe
cycles, hold the band longer on mist.
6(Delay):Turn the band to choose the delay time
between wipe cycles. The wiper speed can be set for
a long or short delay between wipes. The closer
the band is set to the top of the lever, the shorter the
delay.
6(Low Speed):Turn the band away from you to
the rst solid band past the delay settings for steady
wiping at low speed.
1(High Speed):For high-speed wiping, turn the
band further, to the second solid band past the
delay settings.
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Braking is limited to 0.25 g’s (2.45 m/sec2) of
deceleration, which is comparable to moderate
application of the vehicle’s brakes. To disengage
Adaptive Cruise Control, apply the brake. If no vehicle
is in your path, the vehicle will react like traditional cruise
control.
{CAUTION:
Adaptive Cruise Control will not apply hard
braking or bring the vehicle to a complete
stop. It will not respond to stopped vehicles,
pedestrians or animals. When you are
approaching a vehicle or object, Adaptive
Cruise Control may not have time to slow your
vehicle enough to avoid a collision. Your
complete attention is always required while
driving and you should be ready to take action
and apply the brakes. For more information,
seeDefensive Driving on page 4-2.
{CAUTION:
On winding roads, Adaptive Cruise Control
may not detect a vehicle ahead. You could
crash into a vehicle ahead of you. Do
not use Adaptive Cruise Control on
winding roads.
Adaptive Cruise Control may not have time
to slow your vehicle enough to avoid a
crash when you are driving in conditions
where vehicles may suddenly slow or stop
ahead of you, enter your lane, or cross
your vehicle’s path. If you are driving in
these conditions, do not use Adaptive
Cruise Control. The warning beep and alert
symbol may indicate that you are driving
in conditions where Adaptive Cruise
Control should not be used. See “Alerting
the Driver” in this section.
CAUTION: (Continued)
3-20

Approaching and Following a Vehicle
The Vehicle Ahead symbol
is located on the top of the
instrument panel to the
right of the driver.
The Vehicle Ahead symbol only appears when a vehicle
is detected in your path.
If this symbol does not appear, or disappears briey,
Adaptive Cruise Control will not respond to vehicles you
may see ahead.{CAUTION:
When the Adaptive Cruise Control radar is
blocked by snow, ice, or dirt, it may not detect
a vehicle ahead. Adaptive Cruise Control may
not have time to slow your vehicle enough to
avoid a collision. Do not use Adaptive Cruise
Control when the radar is blocked by snow,
ice, or dirt. Keep your radar clean. See
“Cleaning the System” later in this section.
Adaptive Cruise Control automatically slows your
vehicle down when approaching a slower moving
vehicle. It then adjusts your vehicle speed to follow
the vehicle in front at the selected follow distance.
Your vehicle speed increases or decreases to follow
the vehicle in front of you, but will not exceed the
set speed. It may apply limited braking, if necessary.
When braking is active, your brake lights will come on.
Braking may feel or sound different than if you were
applying the brakes yourself. This is normal.
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Passing a Vehicle/Adaptive Cruise Control
Override
If you need to increase speed to pass a vehicle,
use the accelerator pedal. While you are doing this,
the system will not automatically apply the brakes.
A message will appear on the DIC. SeeDIC Warnings
and Messages on page 3-75. Once you remove
your foot from the accelerator pedal, Adaptive Cruise
Control will return to normal operation and be able
to apply the brakes, if needed.
{CAUTION:
If you rest your foot on the accelerator pedal,
the system will not automatically apply the
brakes. You could crash into a vehicle ahead
of you. Do not rest your foot on the accelerator
pedal when using Adaptive Cruise Control.
Curves in the Road
{CAUTION:
Due to Adaptive Cruise Control limitations in
curves, it may respond to a vehicle in another
lane, or may not have time to react to a vehicle
in your lane. You could crash into a vehicle
ahead of you, or lose control of your vehicle.
Give extra attention in curves and be ready to
use the brakes if necessary. Select an
appropriate speed while driving in curves.
Adaptive Cruise Control may operate differently in a
sharp curve. It may reduce your speed if the curve is
too sharp.
3-28

When following a vehicle and entering a curve,
Adaptive Cruise Control could lose track of the vehicle
in your lane and accelerate your vehicle. When this
happens the Vehicle Ahead symbol will not appear.Adaptive Cruise Control may detect a vehicle that is
not in your lane and apply the brakes.
Adaptive Cruise Control may, occasionally, provide
a driver alert and/or braking that you consider
unnecessary. It could respond to signs, guardrails,
and other stationary objects when entering or exiting
a curve. This is normal operation. Your vehicle does
not need service.
3-29

Using Adaptive Cruise Control on Hills
and When Towing a Trailer
How well Adaptive Cruise Control will work on hills
and when towing a trailer depends on your vehicle’s
speed, vehicle load, traffic conditions and the steepness
of the hills. It may not detect a vehicle in your lane
while driving on hills. When going up steep hills, you
may want to use the accelerator pedal to maintain your
vehicle’s speed. When going downhill, especially
when towing a trailer, you may want to brake to keep
your speed down. Applying the brake disengages
the system. You may choose not to use Adaptive Cruise
Control on steep hills, especially when towing a trailer.
Disengaging Adaptive Cruise Control
To turn off the system, apply the brake pedal,
press the cancel button, or press the Adaptive
Cruise Control button.
Erasing Set Speed Memory
Press the Adaptive Cruise Control button or turn the
ignition off.
Other Messages
There are three additional messages that may appear
on the DIC. They are SERVICE RADAR CRUISE,
RADAR CRUISE NOT READY and CLEAN RADAR.
These messages will appear to indicate a problem with
the Adaptive Cruise Control. SeeDIC Warnings and
Messages on page 3-75for more information.
Cleaning the System
The radar can become blocked by snow, ice, or dirt.
If so, you may need to turn off the engine and clean the
lens. Remember, do not use Adaptive Cruise Control
in icy conditions, or when visibility is low, such as in fog,
rain or snow.
The emblem/lens is located in the center of the grille.
To clean the emblem/lens, wipe the surface with a
soft cloth. After cleaning the emblem/lens, try to engage
the Adaptive Cruise Control. If you are unable to do
so, see your dealer/retailer.
3-31

Cleaning the IntelliBeam™ Light Sensor
The light sensor is located
on the inside of the vehicle
in front of the inside
rearview mirror.
Clean the light sensor window, periodically, using glass
cleaner on a soft cloth. Gently wipe the sensor
window. Do not spray glass cleaner directly on the
surface of the sensor window.
Wiper Activated Headlamps
This feature activates the headlamps and parking lamps
after the windshield wipers are turned on and have
completed eight wipe cycles within four minutes.
When the ignition is turned to LOCK/OFF, the
wiper-activated headlamps immediately turn off.
The wiper-activated headlamps also turn off if the
windshield wipers are turned off.
Headlamps on Reminder
A warning chime will sound if the exterior lamp control
is left on in either the headlamp or parking lamp position
and the driver’s door is opened with the ignition off.
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to see the front of your vehicle during the
day. DRL can be helpful in many different driving
conditions, but they can be especially helpful in the short
periods after dawn and before sunset. Fully functional
daytime running lamps are required on all vehicles
rst sold in Canada.
The DRL system makes the turn signal lamps come on
when the following conditions are met:
It is still daylight and the ignition is on.
The exterior lamp control is in the off position.
The transmission is not in PARK (P)
(United States only).
The light sensor is covered or not detecting light.
See “Sensors” underDual Climate Control System
on page 3-42.
3-35