2008 CADILLAC DTS brake light

Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control works on hills depends
upon the vehicle speed, load, and the steepness of the
hills. When going up steep hills, you might have to
step on the accelerator pedal to maintain the vehicle’s
speed. When going downhill, you might have to brake or
shift to a lower gear to keep the vehicle’s speed
down. Applying the brake or shifting into a lower gear
ends cruise control. If you need to apply the brake
or shift to a lower gear due to the grade of the downhill
slope, you might not want to attempt to use the
cruise control feature.
Ending Cruise Control
To turn off the cruise control, step lightly on the brake
pedal, or press the cancel button on the steering wheel.
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition, your
cruise control set speed memory is erased.
Adaptive Cruise Control
If your vehicle has this feature, be sure to read this
entire section before using it.
The system operates on a radio frequency subject to
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Rules and
with Industry Canada.This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause interference.
2. This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation of the device.
This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry Canada.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause interference.
2. This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation of the device.
Changes or modications to this system by other than
an authorized service facility could void authorization to
use this equipment.
Adaptive Cruise Control is an enhancement to traditional
cruise control. It allows you to keep cruise control
engaged in moderate traffic conditions without having to
constantly reset your cruise control. Adaptive Cruise
Control uses radar to detect a vehicle directly ahead in
your path, within a distance of 330 ft (100 m), and
operates at speeds above 25 mph (40 km/h). When it is
engaged by the driver, the system can apply limited
braking or acceleration of the vehicle automatically to
maintain a selected follow distance to the vehicle ahead.
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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.
3-26

Exterior Lamps
The exterior lamps
control is located on
the instrument panel
to the left of the
steering wheel.
It controls the following systems:
Headlamps
Taillamps
Parking Lamps
License Plate Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights
Fog Lamps
The exterior lamps control has four positions:
O(Off):Turns off the exterior lamps except for
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL).AUTO (Automatic):Automatically turns on the
headlamps at normal brightness, together with the
following:
Parking Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights
IntelliBeam™
;(Parking Lamps):Turns on the parking lamps
together with the following:
Instrument Panel Lights
License Plate Lamps
Taillamps
Side Marker Lamps
The parking brake indicator light comes on and stays on
while the parking lamps are on with the engine off
and the ignition in ACC/ACCESSORY or ON/RUN.
2(Headlamps):Turns on the headlamps together
with the previously listed lamps. A warning chime
sounds if the driver’s door is opened while the ignition
switch is off and the headlamps are on.
-(Fog Lamps):Press the exterior lamps control to
turn on the fog lamps. SeeFog Lamps on page 3-36.
3-32

Charging System Light
This light will come on
briey when you turn on
the ignition key, but
the engine is not running,
as a check to show
you it is working.
It should go out once the engine is running. If it stays
on, or comes on while driving, there could be a problem
with the charging system. A charging system Driver
Information Center (DIC) message may also appear.
SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-75
for more information. This light could indicate that
there are problems with a generator drive belt, or that
there is an electrical problem. Have it checked right
away. If you must drive a short distance with the light on,
be certain to turn off all the accessories, such as the
radio and air conditioner.
Brake System Warning Light
Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided into
two parts. If one part isn’t working, the other part can
still work and stop you. For good braking, though,
you need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there is a brake problem.
Have your brake system inspected right away.
This light should come on briey when you turn the
engine on. If it does not come on then, have it xed so
it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
will also come on when you set your parking brake.
The light will stay on if your parking brake does
not release fully. If it stays on after your parking brake
is fully released, it means you have a brake problem.
United StatesCanada
3-60

If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off the
road and stop carefully. You may notice that the pedal is
harder to push, or the pedal may go closer to the
oor. It may take longer to stop. If the light is still on,
have the vehicle towed for service. SeeTowing
Your Vehicle on page 4-26.
{CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working
properly if the brake system warning light is
on. Driving with the brake system warning
light on can lead to an accident. If the light
is still on after you have pulled off the road
and stopped carefully, have the vehicle towed
for service.
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
Warning Light
For vehicles with the
Antilock Brake System
(ABS), this light comes
on briey when the
engine is started.
That is normal. If the light does not come on then, have it
xed so it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
If the ABS light stays on, turn the ignition off. If the light
comes on when you are driving, stop as soon as it is
safely possible and turn the ignition off. Then start the
engine again to reset the system. If the ABS light still
stays on, or comes on again while you are driving, your
vehicle needs service. If the regular brake system
warning light is not on, your vehicle still has brakes, but
not antilock brakes. If the regular brake system warning
light is also on, your vehicle does not have antilock
brakes and there is a problem with the regular brakes.
SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 3-60.
For vehicles with a Driver Information Center (DIC),
seeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-75for all
brake related DIC messages.
3-61

SERVICE A/C SYSTEM
This message displays when the air delivery mode door
or the electronic sensors that control the air conditioning
and heating systems are no longer working. Have
the climate control system serviced by your dealer/
retailer if you notice a drop in heating and air
conditioning efficiency.
SERVICE BATTERY CHARGING
SYSTEM
This message displays when a problem with the
charging system has been detected. The charging
system light also displays on the instrument panel
cluster. SeeCharging System Light on page 3-60for
more information. Have your vehicle serviced by
your dealer/retailer.
SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST
This message displays if there is a problem with the
brake system. The brake system warning light and the
antilock brake system warning light may also be
displayed on the instrument panel cluster. SeeBrake
System Warning Light on page 3-60andAntilock Brake
System (ABS) Warning Light on page 3-61for more
information. If this happens, stop as soon as possible
and turn off the vehicle. Restart the vehicle and
check for the message on the DIC display.If the message is displayed or appears again when you
begin driving, the brake system needs service. See
your dealer/retailer as soon as possible. SeeBrakes
on page 5-37for more information.
SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM
This message displays if the ignition is on to inform the
driver that the brake uid level is low. Have the brake
system serviced by your dealer/retailer as soon as
possible.
SERVICE LANE DEPARTURE SYSTEM
If your vehicle has the Lane Departure Warning
(LDW) system, this message may display to indicate
that the LDW system is not working properly.
If this message remains on after continued driving,
the system needs service. See your dealer/retailer.
SeeLane Departure Warning (LDW) on page 2-46for
more information.
SERVICE PARKING ASSIST
If your vehicle has the Ultrasonic Front and Rear
Parking Assist (UFRPA) system, this message displays
if there is a problem with the UFRPA system. Do not
use this system to help you park. SeeUltrasonic Front
and Rear Parking Assist (UFRPA) on page 2-40for
more information. See your dealer/retailer for service.
3-82

For persons under 21, it is against the law in every
U.S. state to drink alcohol. There are good medical,
psychological, and developmental reasons for
these laws.
The obvious way to eliminate the leading highway
safety problem is for people never to drink alcohol and
then drive.
Medical research shows that alcohol in a person’s
system can make crash injuries worse, especially
injuries to the brain, spinal cord, or heart. This means
that when anyone who has been drinking — driver
or passenger — is in a crash, that person’s chance of
being killed or permanently disabled is higher than if the
person had not been drinking.
Control of a Vehicle
The following three systems help to control your vehicle
while driving — brakes, steering, and accelerator. At
times, as when driving on snow or ice, it is easy to ask
more of those control systems than the tires and road can
provide. Meaning, you can lose control of your vehicle.
SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on page 4-5.
Adding non-dealer/non-retailer accessories can affect
your vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories and
Modifications on page 5-3.
Braking
SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 3-60.
Braking action involves perception time and reaction
time. First, you have to decide to push on the brake
pedal. That is perception time. Then you have to bring
up your foot and do it. That is reaction time.
Average reaction time is about three-fourths of a
second. But that is only an average. It might be less
with one driver and as long as two or three seconds or
more with another. Age, physical condition, alertness,
coordination, and eyesight all play a part. So do alcohol,
drugs, and frustration. But even in three-fourths of a
second, a vehicle moving at 60 mph (100 km/h) travels
66 feet (20 m). That could be a lot of distance in an
emergency, so keeping enough space between
your vehicle and others is important.
And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly
with the surface of the road, whether it is pavement or
gravel; the condition of the road, whether it is wet, dry, or
icy; tire tread; the condition of the brakes; the weight of
the vehicle; and the amount of brake force applied.
4-3

Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive
in spurts — heavy acceleration followed by heavy
braking — rather than keeping pace with traffic.
This is a mistake. The brakes might not have time to cool
between hard stops. The brakes will wear out much faster
if you do a lot of heavy braking. If you keep pace with the
traffic and allow realistic following distances, you will
eliminate a lot of unnecessary braking. That means better
braking and longer brake life.
If your vehicle’s engine ever stops while you are driving,
brake normally but do not pump the brakes. If you do,
the pedal could get harder to push down. If the
engine stops, you will still have some power brake
assist. But you will use it when you brake. Once the
power assist is used up, it can take longer to stop and
the brake pedal will be harder to push.
Adding non-dealer/non-retailer accessories can affect
your vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories and
Modifications on page 5-3.Antilock Brake System (ABS)
Your vehicle has the Antilock Brake System (ABS), an
advanced electronic braking system that will help
prevent a braking skid.
When you start the engine and begin to drive away,
ABS will check itself. You might hear a momentary
motor or clicking noise while this test is going on, and
you might even notice that the brake pedal moves
a little. This is normal.
If there is a problem with
ABS, this warning light will
stay on. SeeAntilock
Brake System (ABS)
Warning Light on
page 3-61.
Let us say the road is wet and you are driving safely.
Suddenly, an animal jumps out in front of you. You slam
on the brakes and continue braking. Here is what
happens with ABS:
A computer senses that wheels are slowing down. If
one of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the computer
will separately work the brakes at each front wheel
and at both rear wheels.
4-4