2009 CADILLAC CTS lights

Charging System Light
This light comes on briey
when the ignition key is
turned to START, but
the engine is not running,
as a check to show it
is working.
If it does not, have the vehicle serviced by your
dealer/retailer.
The light should go out once the engine starts. If it
stays on, or comes on while driving, there could be a
problem with the charging system. A charging system
message in the Driver Information Center (DIC) can also
appear. SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-58
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 the vehicle must be driven a short distance with
the light on, turn off accessories, such as the radio
and air conditioner.
Up-Shift Light
The vehicle may have an
up-shift light, it shows
when to shift to the next
higher gear for best
fuel economy.
SeeManual Transmission Operation on page 2-40
for more information.
For the CTS-V, the tracer lights function as a
performance up-shift light.
These tracers ash to indicate when to shift to the
next higher gear to avoid the engine speed limit.
SeeAutomatic Transmission Operation on page 2-36
orManual Transmission Operation on page 2-40
for more information.
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Security Light
For information regarding
this light and the vehicle’s
security system, see
Theft-Deterrent System
on page 2-26.
Fog Lamp Light
The fog lamp light comes
on when the fog lamps are
in use.
The light goes out when the fog lamps are turned off.
SeeFog Lamps on page 3-19for more information.
Lights On Reminder
This light comes on
whenever the parking
lamps are on.
SeeHeadlamps on Reminder on page 3-17for more
information.
Cruise Control Light
The cruise control light
comes on whenever the
cruise control is set.
The light goes out when the cruise control is turned off.
SeeCruise Control on page 3-14for more information.
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All In Park (default on Automatic Transmission)
(Automatic Transmission Only):All of the doors will
unlock when the vehicle is shifted into P (Park).
No Change:No change will be made to this feature.
The current setting will remain.
To select a setting, press the set/reset button while the
desired setting is displayed on the DIC.
Remote Door Lock
This feature allows you to select the type of feedback
you will receive when locking the vehicle with the
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) or keyless access
transmitter, or when the vehicle is automatically locked
using the Keyless Locking feature. You will not
receive feedback when locking the vehicle with the
transmitter if the doors are open. SeeRemote Keyless
Entry (RKE) System Operation on page 2-6,Keyless
Access System Operation on page 2-8, or “Keyless
Locking” later in this section for more information.Press the customization button until Remote Door Lock
appears on the DIC display. Press the set/reset button
once to access the settings for this feature. Then
press the menu up/down button to scroll through the
following settings:
Off:There will be no feedback when you press the lock
button on the transmitter.
Lights Only:The exterior lamps will ash when you
press the lock button on the transmitter.
Horn Only:The horn will sound on the second press of
the lock button on the transmitter.
Horn & Lights (default):The exterior lamps will ash
when you press the lock button on the transmitter,
and the horn will sound when the lock button is pressed
again within ve seconds of the previous command.
No Change:No change will be made to this feature.
The current setting will remain.
To select a setting, press the set/reset button while the
desired setting is displayed on the DIC.
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Remote Door Unlock
This feature allows you to select the type of feedback
you will receive when unlocking the vehicle with the
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) or keyless access
transmitter, or when the vehicle is automatically
unlocked using the Keyless Unlock feature. You will not
receive feedback when unlocking the vehicle with the
transmitter if the doors are open. SeeRemote Keyless
Entry (RKE) System Operation on page 2-6,Keyless
Access System Operation on page 2-8, or “Keyless
Unlock” later in this section for more information.
Press the customization button until Remote Door
Unlock appears on the DIC display. Press the set/reset
button once to access the settings for this feature.
Then press the menu up/down button to scroll through
the following settings:
Lights Off:The exterior lamps will not ash when you
press the unlock button on the transmitter.
Lights On (default):The exterior lamps will ash when
you press the unlock button on the transmitter.
No Change:No change will be made to this feature.
The current setting will remain.
To select a setting, press the set/reset button while the
desired setting is displayed on the DIC.
Delay Door Lock
This feature allows you to select whether or not the
locking of the vehicle’s doors will be delayed. When
locking the doors with the power door lock switch and a
door is open, this feature will delay locking the doors until
ve seconds after the last door is closed. You will hear
three chimes to signal that the delayed locking feature is
in use. On vehicles with the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
system, the key must be out of the ignition for this feature
to work. On vehicles with the Keyless Access System, the
vehicle must be off and the keyless access transmitter
must be removed from the vehicle for this feature to work.
You can temporarily override delayed locking by pressing
the power door lock switch twice or the lock button on the
transmitter twice. SeeDelayed Locking on page 2-17for
more information.
Press the customization button until Delay Door Lock
appears on the DIC display. Press the set/reset
button once to access the settings for this feature.
Then press the menu up/down button to scroll through
the following settings:
Off:There will be no delayed locking of the
vehicle’s doors.
On (default):The doors will not lock until ve seconds
after the last door is closed.
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No Change:No change will be made to this feature.
The current setting will remain.
To select a setting, press the set/reset button while the
desired setting is displayed on the DIC.
Exit Lighting
This feature allows you to select the amount of time you
want the exterior lamps to remain on when it is dark
enough outside. This happens after the key is turned
from ON/RUN to LOCK/OFF.
Press the customization button until Exit Lighting appears
on the DIC display. Press the set/reset button once to
access the settings for this feature. Then press the menu
up/down button to scroll through the following settings:
Off:The exterior lamps will not turn on.
10 Seconds (default):The exterior lamps will stay on
for 10 seconds.
30 Seconds:The exterior lamps will stay on for
30 seconds.
2 Minutes:The exterior lamps will stay on for
two minutes.
No Change:No change will be made to this feature.
The current setting will remain.
To select a setting, press the set/reset button while the
desired setting is displayed on the DIC.
Approach Lighting
This feature allows you to select whether or not to
have the exterior lights turn on briey during low light
periods after unlocking the vehicle using the Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) or keyless access transmitter.
Press the customization button until Approach Lighting
appears on the DIC display. Press the set/reset button
once to access the settings for this feature. Then press
the menu up/down button to scroll through the following
settings:
Off:The exterior lights will not turn on when you unlock
the vehicle with the transmitter.
On (default):If it is dark enough outside, the exterior
lights will turn on briey when you unlock the vehicle
with the transmitter.
The lights will remain on for 20 seconds or until the lock
button on the transmitter is pressed, or the vehicle is
no longer off. SeeRemote Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation on page 2-6andKeyless Access System
Operation on page 2-8for more information.
No Change:No change will be made to this feature.
The current setting will remain.
To select a setting, press the set/reset button while the
desired setting is displayed on the DIC.
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A person approaching the outside of the locked vehicle
without an authorized keyless access transmitter,
however, will not be able to open the door, even
with a transmitter in the vehicle. SeeKeyless Access
System Operation on page 2-8for more information.
You may temporarily disable the keyless locking feature
by pressing the door unlock switch for three seconds
on an open door. Keyless locking will then remain
disabled until a door lock switch is pressed or until the
power mode transitions from the off power mode.
To select whether the horn sounds or the lights ash
when the vehicle is locked, see “Remote Door Lock”
earlier in this section.
Press the customization button until Keyless Locking
appears on the DIC display. Press the set/reset button
once to access the settings for this feature. Then press
the menu up/down button to scroll through the following
settings:
Off (default):The keyless locking feature will be
disabled.
On:The keyless locking feature will be enabled.
The doors will automatically lock several seconds after
you turn the ignition off, remove a keyless access
transmitter from the interior of the vehicle, and close all
of the doors.No Change:No change will be made to this feature.
The current setting will remain.
To select a setting, press the set/reset button while the
desired setting is displayed on the DIC.
Keyless Unlock
If the vehicle has the keyless access system, this feature
allows you to select which doors will automatically unlock
when you approach the vehicle with the keyless access
transmitter and open the driver’s door. SeeKeyless
Access System Operation on page 2-8for more
information.
To select whether the lights ash when the vehicle is
unlocked, see “Remote Door Unlock” earlier in this
section.
Press the customization button until Keyless Unlock
appears on the DIC display. Press the set/reset button
once to access the settings for this feature. Then press
the menu up/down button to scroll through the following
settings:
Off:None of the doors will automatically unlock.
Entry Door Only (default):Only the driver’s door will
automatically unlock when you approach the vehicle with
the keyless access transmitter and open the driver’s
door. The rest of the doors will unlock if the driver’s door
handle is pulled a second time.
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StabiliTrak®System
The vehicle has an electronic stability control system
called StabiliTrak. It is an advanced computer controlled
system that assists with directional control of the vehicle
in difficult driving conditions.
StabiliTrak activates when the computer senses a
discrepancy between your intended path and the
direction the vehicle is actually traveling. StabiliTrak
selectively applies braking pressure at any one of the
vehicle’s brakes to help steer the vehicle in the direction
which you are steering.
When the system activates, the Traction Control System
(TCS)/StabiliTrak warning light on the instrument panel
cluster ashes. You may also hear a noise or feel
vibration in the brake pedal. This is normal. Continue
to steer the vehicle in the direction you want it to go.
If there is a problem detected with StabiliTrak, a Service
Stability System message displays on the Driver
Information Center (DIC) and the TCS/StabiliTrak
warning light on the instrument panel cluster comes on.
When this message and warning light displays, the
system is not operational. Driving should be adjusted
accordingly. SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on
page 3-58andWarning Lights, Gages, and Indicators
on page 3-30for more information.StabiliTrak comes on automatically whenever the vehicle
is started. The system should be left on to help assist with
directional control of the vehicle. If StabiliTrak needs to
be turned off, press the TC (traction control) on/off button.
SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on page 4-6.
If cruise control is being used when the StabiliTrak
activates, the cruise control will automatically disengage.
When road conditions allow, reengage the cruise control.
SeeCruise Control on page 3-14for more information.
Traction Control System (TCS)
The vehicle has a Traction Control System (TCS) that
limits wheel spin. This is especially useful in slippery
road conditions. On a rear-wheel-drive vehicle, the
system operates if it senses that one or both of the rear
wheels are spinning or beginning to lose traction. On an
All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) vehicle, the system will operate if
it senses that any of the wheels are spinning or beginning
to lose traction. When this happens, the system brakes
the spinning wheel(s) and/or reduces engine power to
limit wheel spin.
The system may be heard or felt while it is working, but
this is normal.
The TCS/StabiliTrak
®warning light will ash when the
traction control system is limiting wheel spin.
4-6

Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
The arrows on the instrument panel ash whenever
signaling a turn or lane change. Properly hooked up, the
trailer lamps also ash, telling other drivers the vehicle
is turning, changing lanes or stopping.
When towing a trailer, the arrows on the instrument
panel ash for turns even if the bulbs on the trailer are
burned out. For this reason you may think other
drivers are seeing the signal when they are not. It is
important to check occasionally to be sure the
trailer bulbs are still working.
The vehicle has bulb warning lights. When a trailer
lighting system is plugged into the vehicle’s lighting
system, its bulb warning lights may not let the driver
know if one of the lamps goes out. So, when the a trailer
lighting system plugged in, be sure to check the
vehicle and trailer lamps from time to time to be sure
they are all working. Once the trailer lamps are
disconnected, the bulb warning lights can again let the
driver know that one of the vehicle lamps is out.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gearbeforestarting
down a long or steep downgrade. If the transmission is
not shifted down, the brakes might have to be used so
much that they would get hot and no longer work well.
On a long uphill grade, shift down and reduce the
vehicle’s speed to around 45 mph (70 km/h) to reduce
the possibility of the engine and the transmission
overheating.
Vehicles can tow in D (Drive). Shift the transmission to
a lower gear if the transmission shifts too often under
heavy loads and/or hilly conditions. For vehicles with a
manual transmission, it is better not to use the
highest gear.
When towing at high altitude on steep uphill grades,
consider the following: Engine coolant will boil at a lower
temperature than at normal altitudes. If the engine is
turned off immediately after towing at high altitude
on steep uphill grades, the vehicle may show signs
similar to engine overheating. To avoid this, let
the engine run while parked, preferably on level ground,
with the automatic transmission in P (Park) or the
manual transmission in N (Neutral) for a few minutes
before turning the engine off. If the overheat warning
comes on, seeEngine Overheating on page 5-37.
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