2009 CADILLAC CTS sensor

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.
In addition, the vehicle has dual-stage frontal airbags.
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.The vehicle has seat-mounted side impact and
roof-rail airbags. SeeAirbag System on page 1-58.
Seat-mounted side impact and roof-rail airbags
are intended to inate in moderate to severe side
crashes. In addition, these roof-rail airbags are intended
to inate in a severe frontal impact. 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 airbags are not intended to
inate in frontal impacts, near-frontal impacts, rollovers,
or rear impacts. Roof-rail airbags are not intended to
inate in 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 or in a severe
frontal impact.
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 turns off the right front
passenger frontal airbag under certain conditions.
The driver airbag, seat-mounted side impact airbags
and the roof-rail airbags are not affected by the
passenger sensing system.
The passenger sensing system works with sensors that
are part of the right front passenger seat. The sensors
are designed to detect the presence of a properly-seated
occupant and determine if the right front passenger
frontal airbag should be enabled (may inate) or not.
According to accident statistics, children are safer when
properly secured in a rear seat in the correct child
restraint for their weight and size.
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 the 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
airbag inates. This is because the back of the
rear-facing child restraint would be very close to the
inating airbag. A child in a forward-facing child
restraint can be seriously injured or killed if the right
front passenger airbag inates and the passenger
seat is in a forward position.
Even if the passenger sensing system has turned
off the right front passenger frontal airbag, no
system is fail-safe. No one can guarantee that
an airbag will not deploy under some unusual
circumstance, even though the airbag is turned off.
Secure rear-facing child restraints in a rear
seat, even if the airbag is 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 the 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, front sensors, or airbag wiring
can affect the operation of the airbag system.
In addition, the vehicle has a passenger sensing
system for the right front passenger 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 1-67.
If you have any questions, call Customer
Assistance. 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 Rear Parking
Assist (URPA)
For vehicles with the URPA system, it operates at speeds
less than 5mph (8 km/h), and assists the driver with
parking and avoiding objects while in R (Reverse).
The sensors on the rear bumper are used to detect the
distance to an object up to 8 feet (2.5 m) behind the
vehicle, and at least 10 inches (25.4 cm) off the ground.
{CAUTION:
The Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist (URPA) 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.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
If you do not use proper care before and while
backing; vehicle damage, injury, or death could
occur. Even with URPA, always check behind the
vehicle before backing up. While backing, be sure
to look for objects and check the vehicle’s mirrors.
The display is located
above the rear window and
can be seen by looking
over your right shoulder.
URPA uses three color-coded lights to provide distance
and system information.
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When the System Does Not Seem to
Work Properly
If the URPA system will not activate due to a temporary
condition, the message PARK ASSIST OFF will be
displayed on the DIC and a red light will be shown on
the rear URPA display when the shift lever is moved into
R (Reverse). This occurs under the following conditions:
The driver disables the system.
The ultrasonic sensors are not clean. Keep the
vehicle’s rear bumper free of mud, dirt, snow,
ice and slush. For cleaning instructions, see
Washing Your Vehicle on page 5-110.
A trailer was attached to the vehicle, or a bicycle or
an object was hanging out of the trunk during the
last drive cycle, the red light may illuminate in
the rear display. Once the attached object is
removed, URPA will return to normal operation.
A tow bar is attached to the 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 the vehicle to your dealer/retailer.
OnStar®System
OnStar uses several innovative technologies and live
advisors to provide a wide range of safety, security,
information, and convenience services. If the airbags
deploy, the system is designed to make an automatic
call to OnStar Emergency advisors who can request
emergency services be sent to your location. If the keys
are locked in the vehicle, call OnStar at 1-888-4-ONSTAR
to have a signal sent to unlock the doors. OnStar
Hands-Free Calling, including 30 trial minutes good
for 60 days, is available on most vehicles. OnStar
Turn-by-Turn Navigation service, with one trial route, is
available on most vehicles. Press the OnStar button to
have an OnStar advisor contact Roadside Service.
OnStar service is provided subject to the OnStar Terms
and Conditions included in the OnStar Subscriber glove
box literature.
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1 (Low Speed):For slow, steady wiping cycles.
2 (High Speed):For rapid wiping cycles.
If the windshield wipers are in use for about six seconds
while you are driving, the exterior lamps come on
automatically if the exterior lamp control is in AUTO.
SeeWiper Activated Headlamps on page 3-17for more
information.
Clear snow and ice from the wiper blades before
using them. If the blades are frozen to the windshield,
gently loosen or thaw them. If they become damaged,
install new blades. For more information, seeWindshield
Wiper Blade Replacement on page 5-59.
Heavy snow or ice can overload the wiper motor.
A circuit breaker will stop the motor until it cools down.Rainsense™ Wipers
Vehicles with Rainsense windshield wipers, have a
moisture sensor for this feature mounted on the interior
side of the windshield behind the rearview mirror.
This sensor automatically operates the wipers by
monitoring the amount of moisture build-up on the
windshield. Wipes occur as needed to clear the
windshield depending on driving conditions and the
sensitivity setting. In light rain or snow, fewer wipes
will occur. In heavy rain or snow, wipes occur more
frequently. If the system is left on for long periods of
time, occasional wipes may occur without any moisture
on the windshield. This is normal and indicates that
the Rainsense system is activated.
The wiper control should be left in the off position,
unless the wiper is needed.
The Rainsense system is sensitive to vibration and can
activate if something hits the windshield or if the
vehicle hits a bump.
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Rainsense windshield wipers operate in a delay mode,
as well as a continuous low or high speed as needed.
Move the wiper lever up to the delay position and
turn the band to one of ve settings.
The level one or lowest setting is at the bottom of the
band. This setting lets more rain or snow collect on
the windshield between wipes. Turn the delay band
forward to a higher setting to let less rain or snow collect
on the windshield between wipes.
The top position is the highest setting. A single wipe
occurs each time the delay band is turned to a higher
setting to indicate that the Rainsense level has
been increased.
Notice:Going through an automatic car wash with
the wipers on can damage them. Turn the wipers
off when going through an automatic car wash.The mist and wash cycles operate as normal and are
not affected by the Rainsense function. The Rainsense
system can be overridden at any time by manually
changing the wiper control to low or high speed.
The system will default to normal time delay operation
if the Rainsensor detects something that would
affect Rainsense operation.
When Rainsense is active, the headlamps turn on
automatically. If it is dark, they remain on. See
“Wiper-Activated Headlamps” underWiper Activated
Headlamps on page 3-17for more information.
Notice:Do not place stickers or other items on
the exterior glass surface directly in front of
the moisture sensor. Doing this could cause the
moisture sensor to malfunction.
3-11

Light Sensor
The light sensor for the
DRL and AUTO headlamp
feature is located on
top of the instrument panel.
If the sensor is covered, it will prevent it from sensing
light, and the exterior lamps or the Headlamps Suggested
message will appear on the DIC whenever the ignition
is on.
Adaptive Forward Lighting System
The Adaptive Forward Lighting System (AFL) pivots
the headlamps horizontally to provide greater road
illumination while turning. To enable AFL, set the
exterior lamp switch on the multifunction lever to the
AUTO position. Moving the switch out of the AUTOposition will deactivate the system. AFL will operate
when the vehicle speed is greater than 2 mph (3 km/h).
AFL will not operate when the transmission is in
R (Reverse). AFL is not immediately operable after
starting the vehicle; driving a short distance is required
to calibrate the AFL. SeeHeadlamps on page 3-17.
Fog Lamps
Use the fog lamps for better vision in foggy or misty
conditions. The fog lamp control is located on the turn
signal/multifunction lever.
#(Fog Lamps):Turn the fog lamp band on the
lever up to
#and release it, to turn the fog lamps on
or off. The band will return to its original position.
The parking lamps must be on for the fog lamps to work.
If the high-beam headlamps are turned on, the fog
lamps will also turn off. They will turn back on again
when you change back to low-beam headlamps.
Some localities have laws that require the headlamps to
be on along with the fog lamps.
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