2008 CADILLAC DTS sensor

When Should an Airbag Inate?
Frontal airbags are designed to inate in moderate to
severe frontal or near-frontal crashes to help reduce the
potential for severe injuries mainly to the driver’s or
right front passenger’s head and chest. However, they
are only designed to inate if the impact exceeds a
predetermined deployment threshold. Deployment
thresholds are used to predict how severe a crash is
likely to be in time for the airbags to inate and
help restrain the occupants.
Whether your frontal airbags will or should deploy is not
based on how fast your vehicle is traveling. It depends
largely on what you hit, the direction of the impact,
and how quickly your vehicle slows down.
Frontal airbags may inate at different crash speeds.
For example:
If the vehicle hits a stationary object, the airbags
could inate at a different crash speed than if the
vehicle hits a moving object.
If the vehicle hits an object that deforms, the
airbags could inate at a different crash speed than
if the vehicle hits an object that does not deform.
If the vehicle hits a narrow object (like a pole), the
airbags could inate at a different crash speed
than if the vehicle hits a wide object (like a wall).
If the vehicle goes into an object at an angle, the
airbags could inate at a different crash speed
than if the vehicle goes straight into the object.
Thresholds can also vary with specic vehicle design.
Frontal airbags are not intended to inate during vehicle
rollovers, rear impacts, or in many side impacts.
Your vehicle has a seat position sensor which enables
the sensing system to monitor the position of the right
front passenger’s seat. The passenger seat position
sensor and passenger safety belt buckle switch provide
information that is used to determine if the airbags should
deploy at a reduced level or at full deployment.
In addition, your vehicle has a dual-stage driver airbag.
Dual-stage airbags adjust the restraint according to
crash severity. Your vehicle has electronic frontal
sensors, which help the sensing system distinguish
between a moderate frontal impact and a more severe
frontal impact. For moderate frontal impacts, dual-stage
airbags inate at a level less than full deployment.
For more severe frontal impacts, full deployment occurs.
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Your vehicle also has a dual-depth passenger airbag
that adjusts the restraint according to crash severity,
seat location, and safety belt status using electronic
frontal sensor(s) and other special sensors which enable
the sensing system to monitor the position of the front
passenger seat. The passenger airbag inates to a
reduced depth when the passenger seat is in a forward
position. For more rearward front seating positions,
the passenger airbag may inate to an increased depth
(a full deployment), based on safety belt status and
the crash severity measured early in the event. (Always
wear your safety belt, even with frontal airbags.)
Your vehicle has seat-mounted side impact airbags.
Your vehicle may have roof-rail airbags. SeeAirbag
System on page 1-53. Seat-mounted side impact and
roof-rail airbags are intended to inate in moderate
to severe side crashes. Seat-mounted side impact and
roof-rail airbags will inate if the crash severity is
above the system’s designed threshold level. The
threshold level can vary with specic vehicle design.Seat-mounted side impact and roof-rail airbags are not
intended to inate in frontal impacts, near-frontal
impacts, rollovers, or rear impacts. A seat-mounted side
impact airbag is intended to deploy on the side of the
vehicle that is struck. Both roof-rail airbags will
deploy when either side of the vehicle is struck.
In any particular crash, no one can say whether an
airbag should have inated simply because of the
damage to a vehicle or because of what the repair costs
were. For frontal airbags, ination is determined by
what the vehicle hits, the angle of the impact, and how
quickly the vehicle slows down. For seat-mounted
side impact and roof-rail airbags, deployment is
determined by the location and severity of the side
impact.
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The passenger sensing system works with sensors that
are part of the right front passenger’s seat and safety belt.
The sensors are designed to detect the presence of a
properly-seated occupant and determine if the right front
passenger’s frontal airbag and seat-mounted side impact
airbag should be enabled (may inate) or not.
Accident statistics show that children are safer if they
are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat.
We recommend that children be secured in a rear seat,
including: an infant or a child riding in a rear-facing
child restraint; a child riding in a forward-facing child
seat; an older child riding in a booster seat; and children,
who are large enough, using safety belts.
A label on your sun visor says, “Never put a rear-facing
child seat in the front.” This is because the risk to the
rear-facing child is so great, if the airbag deploys.
{CAUTION:
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be
seriously injured or killed if the right front
passenger’s airbag inates. This is because
the back of the rear-facing child restraint
would be very close to the inating airbag.
Even though the passenger sensing system is
designed to turn off the right front passenger’s
frontal and seat-mounted side impact airbag if
the system detects a rear-facing child restraint,
no system is fail-safe, and no one can guarantee
that an airbag will not deploy under some
unusual circumstance, even though it is turned
off. We recommend that rear-facing child
restraints be secured in a rear seat, even if the
airbags are off.
If you secure a forward-facing child restraint in
the right front seat, always move the front
passenger seat as far back as it will go. It is
better to secure the child restraint in a rear seat.
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Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Q:Is there anything I might add to or change
about the vehicle that could keep the airbags
from working properly?
A:Yes. If you add things that change your vehicle’s
frame, bumper system, height, front end or side
sheet metal, they may keep the airbag system from
working properly. Changing or moving any parts
of the front seats, safety belts, the airbag sensing
and diagnostic module, steering wheel, instrument
panel, roof-rail airbag modules, ceiling headliner
or pillar garnish trim, overhead console, front
sensors, side impact sensors, or airbag wiring can
affect the operation of the airbag system.
In addition, your vehicle has a passenger sensing
system for the right front passenger’s position, which
includes sensors that are part of the passenger’s
seat. The passenger sensing system may not
operate properly if the original seat trim is replaced
with non-GM covers, upholstery or trim, or with GM
covers, upholstery or trim designed for a different
vehicle. Any object, such as an aftermarket seat
heater or a comfort enhancing pad or device,
installed under or on top of the seat fabric, could alsointerfere with the operation of the passenger sensing
system. This could either prevent proper deployment
of the passenger airbag(s) or prevent the passenger
sensing system from properly turning off the
passenger airbag(s). SeePassenger Sensing
System on page 1-63.
If you have any questions about this, you should
contact Customer Assistance before you modify
your vehicle. The phone numbers and addresses for
Customer Assistance are in Step Two of the
Customer Satisfaction Procedure in this manual.
SeeCustomer Satisfaction Procedure on page 7-2.
Q:Because I have a disability, I have to get
my vehicle modied. How can I nd out whether
this will affect my airbag system?
A:If you have questions, call Customer Assistance.
The phone numbers and addresses for Customer
Assistance are in Step Two of the Customer
Satisfaction Procedure in this manual. See
Customer Satisfaction Procedure on page 7-2.
In addition, your dealer/retailer and the service manual
have information about the location of the airbag
sensors, sensing and diagnostic module and airbag
wiring.
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Object Detection Systems
Ultrasonic Front and Rear Parking
Assist (UFRPA)
If your vehicle has the Ultrasonic Front and Rear
Parking Assist (UFRPA) system, it helps you park easier
and helps you avoid colliding with objects such as
parked vehicles. It operates at speeds less than 5 mph
(8 km/h). It can determine how close objects are to
the front bumper, up to 4 feet (1.2 m) in front of your
vehicle and the rear bumper, up to 8 feet (2.5 m) behind
your vehicle. The distance sensors are located on the
front and rear bumper.
{CAUTION:
The Ultrasonic Front and Rear Park Assist
(UFRPA) 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.
If you do not use proper care before moving
forward and while backing; vehicle damage,
injury, or death could occur. Even with UFRPA,
always check in front of your vehicle before
moving forward and behind your vehicle
before backing up. While moving forward and
backing, be sure to look for objects and check
your vehicle’s mirrors.
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When the System Does Not Seem to
Work Properly
The driver disables the system.
The parking brake pedal is depressed.
The ultrasonic sensors are not kept clean. So be
sure to keep your vehicle’s front and rear bumpers
free of mud, dirt, snow, ice and slush. For cleaning
instructions, seeWashing Your Vehicle on
page 5-94.
A trailer was attached to your vehicle, or a bicycle or
an object was hanging out of your trunk during your
last drive cycle, the red light may illuminate in the
rear display. Once the attached object is removed,
UFRPA will return to normal operation.
A tow bar is attached to your vehicle.
The vehicle’s bumper is damaged. Take the vehicle
to your dealer/retailer to repair the system.
Other conditions may affect system performance,
such as vibrations from a jackhammer or the
compression of air brakes on a very large truck.
If the system is still disabled after driving forward at
least 15 mph (25 km/h), take your vehicle to your
dealer/retailer.
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA)
Your vehicle may have a Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA)
system. Read this entire section before using the system.
The SBZA 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 harmful interference.
2. This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation.
This device complies with RSS-310 of Industry Canada.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause harmful interference.
2. This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation.
Frequency of operation: 24.05GHz – 24.25GHz
Field Strength: Not greater than 2.5V/m peak (0.25V/m
average) at a distance of 3m
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The manufacturer is not responsible for any radio or TV
interference caused by unauthorized modications to
this equipment. Such modications could void the user’s
authority to operate the equipment.
{CAUTION:
SBZA is only a lane changing aid and does not
replace driver vision. SBZA does not detect:
Vehicles outside the side blind zones
which may be rapidly approaching.
Pedestrians, bicyclists, or animals.
Failure to use proper care when changing
lanes may result in damage to the vehicle,
injury, or death. Always check the outside and
rearview mirrors, glance over your shoulder,
and use the turn signal before changing lanes.
When the system detects a vehicle in the side blind zone,
amber SBZA displays will light up in your side mirrors.
This indicates that it may be unsafe for you to change
lanes. Before making a lane change, always check the
SBZA display, check the outside and rearview mirrors,
look over your shoulder for vehicles and hazards, and
use the turn signal.
SBZA Detection Zones
The SBZA sensor covers a zone of approximately one
lane over from both sides of the vehicle, 11 ft. or 3.5 m.
This zone starts at each side mirror and goes back
approximately 16 ft. (5.0 m). The height of the zone is
approximately between 1.5 ft. (0.5 m) and 6 ft. (2.0 m) off
the ground.
The SBZA detection zones do not change if your
vehicle is towing a trailer. So be extra careful when
changing lanes while towing a trailer.
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When SBZA is disabled for any reason other than the
driver turning it off, the driver will not be able to turn SBZA
back on using the DIC. The SIDE BLIND ZONE ALERT
ON option will not be selectable if the conditions for
normal system operation are not met. Until normal
operating conditions for SBZA are met, you should not
rely upon SBZA while driving.
SBZA Error Messages
The following messages may appear in the DIC:
SIDE BLIND ZONE ALERT SYSTEM OFF:This
message indicates that the driver has turned the
system off.
CLEAN SIDE BLIND ZONE ALERT SYSTEM:This
message indicates that the SBZA system is disabled
because the sensor is blocked and cannot detect
vehicles in your blind zone. The sensor may be blocked
by mud, dirt, snow, ice, slush, or even heavy rainstorms.
This message may also activate during heavy rain or
due to road spray. Your vehicle does not need service.
For cleaning, seeWashing Your Vehicle on page 5-94.
SERVICE SIDE BLIND ZONE ALERT SYSTEM:If
this message appears, both SBZA displays will remain
on indicating there is a problem with the SBZA
system. If these displays remain on after continued
driving, the system needs service. Take your vehicle to
your dealer/retailer.
Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
Your vehicle may have a Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
system. Read this entire section before using the system.
{CAUTION:
The Lane Departure Warning (LDW) system
does not steer the vehicle and is only an aid to
help you stay in your driving lane. The LDW
system may not:
Provide you with enough time to avoid a
lane change collision.
Be loud enough for you to hear the
warning beeps.
Work properly under bad weather
conditions or if the windshield is not kept
clean.
Detect lane markings and will not detect
road edges.
Warn you that your vehicle is crossing a
lane marking if the system does not detect
the lane marking.
CAUTION: (Continued)
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