2008 CADILLAC DTS low beam

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

When DRL are on, no other exterior lamps such as the
parking lamps, taillamps, etc. will be on when the DRL
are being used. The instrument panel will not be lit up
either.
When automatic lighting is on and it is dark enough
outside, the turn signal lamps turn off and normal
low-beam headlamp operation occurs.
When automatic lighting is on and it is bright enough
outside, the regular lamps go off, and the DRL takes over.
If the vehicle is started in a dark garage, the automatic
headlamp system comes on immediately. Once you
leave the garage, it will take approximately one minute for
the automatic headlamp system to change to DRL if there
is light outside. During that delay, the instrument panel
cluster may not be as bright as usual. Make sure the
instrument panel brightness knob is in the full bright
position. SeeInstrument Panel Brightness on page 3-37.
Turning on automatic lighting or the headlamps will
deactivate the DRL. If the parking lamps or the
fog lamps were turned on instead, the DRL will still
deactivate.
To idle the vehicle with the DRL off at night, turn off
automatic lighting and shift the transmission into
PARK (P). Placing the vehicle in PARK (P) disables the
DRL. The DRL will stay off until the vehicle is shifted
out of PARK (P).To drive the vehicle with the DRL off, turn off automatic
lighting and manually turn on the parking lamps or
fog lamps, if the vehicle has them.
As with any vehicle, the regular headlamp system
should be turned on when needed.
Fog Lamps
Use the fog lamps for better vision in foggy or misty
conditions.
-(Fog Lamps):The fog lamps button is located on
the exterior lamps control. The exterior lamps control
is located on the instrument panel to the left of the
steering column.
The ignition must be on for the fog lamps to work.
Press the exterior lamps button to turn the fog lamps
on or off. A light will come on in the instrument
panel cluster when the fog lamps are in use.
When the headlamps are changed to high-beam,
the fog lamps will turn off. The fog lamps come back
on again when the high-beam headlamps are turned off.
Some localities have laws that require the headlamps
to be on along with the fog lamps.
3-36

Parade Dimming
This feature prohibits dimming of the digital displays and
backlighting during daylight hours when the key is in
the ignition and the headlamps are on. This feature is
fully automatic. When the light sensor reads darkness
outside and the parking lamps are active, the digital
displays can be adjusted by turning the instrument panel
brightness knob counterclockwise to dim and clockwise
to brighten lighting.
Reading Lamps
The reading lamps are located on the overhead console
on the headliner and in the rear door opening. These
lamps come on automatically when any door is opened
and it is dark outside.
For manual operation, press the button to turn them on.
Press it again to turn them off.
If the reading lamps are left on, they automatically shut
off 10 minutes after the ignition has been turned off.
Footwell Lamps
If your vehicle has footwell lamps, they are located
under the instrument panel and at the rear of the front
seats. These lamps provide soft light to the front
and rear oor areas. They dim with the instrument panel
cluster lights, before going out completely.
Footwell lighting brightness can be adjusted with the
instrument panel brightness control located below
the exterior lamps control. SeeInstrument Panel
Brightness on page 3-37. The footwell lights will turn off
before the instrument panel lights are at their lowest
level of brightness.
Battery Load Management
The battery load management feature is designed to
monitor the vehicle’s electrical load and determine when
the battery is in a heavy discharge condition. During
times of high electrical loading, the engine may idle
at a higher revolutions per minute (rpm) setting
than normal to make sure the battery charges. High
electrical loads may occur when several of the following
are on: headlamps, high beams, fog lamps, rear
window defogger, the climate control fan at high speeds,
heated seats and engine cooling fans.
3-38

If the battery continues to discharge, even with the
engine idling at a higher rpm setting, some electrical
loads will automatically be reduced. When this occurs,
the rear window defogger may take slightly longer
to clear the glass, the heated seats may not get as warm
as they usually do and the climate control fan may cut
back to a lower speed. For more battery saving
information, see “Battery Saver Active Message” under
DIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-75.
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 3-75.
3-39

Highbeam On Light
This light comes on when
the high-beam headlamps
are in use.
SeeHeadlamp High/Low-Beam Changer on page 3-9
for more information.
Fuel Gage
The fuel gage shows
approximately how
much fuel is in the tank.
It works only when
the engine is on.If the fuel supply gets low, the FUEL LEVEL LOW
message will appear in the Driver Information Center
and a single chime will sound. SeeDIC Warnings
and Messages on page 3-75for more information.
Here are a few concerns some owners have had about
the fuel gage. All of these situations are normal and
do not indicate that anything is wrong with the fuel gage:
At the gas station the gas pump shuts off before
the gage reads full.
The gage may change when you turn, stop quickly
or accelerate quickly.
It takes a little more or less fuel to ll the tank than
the gage indicated. For example, the gage may
have indicated that the tank was half full, but
it actually took a little more or less than half the
tank’s capacity to ll the tank.
3-69

Headlamp Aiming
The vehicle has a visual optical headlamp aiming
system. The aim has been preset at the factory and
should need no further adjustment.
However, if the vehicle is damaged in a crash, the
headlamp aim may be affected and adjustment may
be necessary.
If oncoming vehicles ash their high beams at you, this
may also mean the vertical aim needs to be adjusted.
It is recommended that the vehicle is taken to your
dealer/retailer for service if the headlamps need to
be re-aimed. It is possible however, to re-aim the
headlamps as described.
Notice:To make sure your headlamps are aimed
properly, read all the instructions before beginning.
Failure to follow these instructions could cause
damage to headlamp parts.The vehicle should:Be placed so the headlamps are 25 ft. (7.6 m) from
a light colored wall.
Have all four tires on a level surface which is level
all the way to the wall.
Be placed so it is perpendicular to the wall.
Not have any snow, ice, or mud on it.
Be fully assembled and all other work stopped while
headlamp aiming is being performed.
Be normally loaded with a full tank of fuel and one
person or 160 lbs (75 kg) sitting on the driver seat.
Have all tires properly inated.
Have the spare tire is in its original location in the
vehicle.
Headlamp aiming is done with the vehicle’s low-beam
headlamps. The high-beam headlamps will be correctly
aimed if the low-beam headlamps are aimed properly.
5-47

To adjust the vertical aim:
1. Open the hood. SeeHood Release on page 5-12
for more information.
2. Find the center line running through the lens of the
headlamp.
3. Record the distance from the ground to the center
line running through the lens of the headlamp.4. At a wall, measure from the ground upward (A) to
the recorded distance from Step 3 and mark it.
5. Draw or tape a horizontal line (B) the width of the
vehicle at the wall where it was marked in Step 4.
Notice:Do not cover a headlamp to improve beam
cut-off when aiming. Covering a headlamp may
cause excessive heat build-up which may cause
damage to the headlamp.
6. Turn on the low-beam headlamps and place a
piece of cardboard or equivalent in front of the
headlamp not being aimed. This should allow
only the beam of light from the headlamp being
aimed to be seen on the at surface.
5-48

7. Locate the vertical headlamp aiming screws. They
are located under the hood near each headlamp
assembly. First lift the ap to access either of them.
Each one is the top outboard screw by the “ V” on
the cover panel next to the aiming ap.
The adjustment screw can be turned with a
6 mm hex wrench.
8. Turn the vertical aiming screw until the headlamp
beam is aimed to the horizontal tape line. Turn it
clockwise or counterclockwise to raise or lower the
angle of the beam.
The top edge of the cut-off should be positioned at
the bottom edge of the horizontal tape line.9. Make sure that the light from the headlamp is
positioned at the bottom edge of the horizontal tape
line. The lamp on the left (A) shows the correct
headlamp aim. The lamp on the right (B) shows the
incorrect headlamp aim.
10. Repeat Steps 7 through 9 for the opposite
headlamp.
5-49