2009 CADILLAC DTS windshield wipers

Ignition Positions
The ignition switch has four different positions:
In order to shift out of P (Park), ignition must be in the
ON/RUN or ACC/ACCESSORY and the brake pedal
must be applied.
Notice:Using a tool to force the key to turn in
the ignition could cause damage to the switch or
break the key. Use the correct key, make sure it is all
the way in, and turn it only with your hand. If the key
cannot be turned by hand, see your dealer/retailer.A (LOCK/OFF):This is the only position in which the
ignition key can be inserted or removed. This position
locks the ignition and transmission and steering column.
The steering can bind with the wheels turned off
center. If this happens, move the steering wheel from
right to left while turning the key to ACC/ACCESSORY.
If this doesn’t work, the vehicle needs service.
B (ACC/ACCESSORY):This position lets the radio
and windshield wipers operate while the engine is off.
To use ACC/ACCESSORY, turn the key clockwise.
C (ON/RUN):This position is where the key returns to
after the vehicle is started. This position displays some
of the warning and indicator lights.
The battery could be drained if you leave the key in
the ACC/ACCESSORY or ON/RUN position with the
engine off. You may not be able to start the vehicle if the
battery is allowed to drain for an extended period of time.
D (START):This position starts the engine.
A warning chime will sound and the Driver Information
Center (DIC) will display DRIVER DOOR OPEN
when the driver door is opened if the ignition is in
LOCK/OFF, ACC/ACCESSORY and the key is in the
ignition. SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-73
for more information.
2-25

Instrument Panel Overview...............................3-4
Hazard Warning Flashers................................3-6
Horn .............................................................3-6
Tilt Wheel.....................................................3-6
Power Tilt Wheel and Telescopic
Steering Column.........................................3-7
Heated Steering Wheel...................................3-7
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.........................3-8
Turn and Lane-Change Signals........................3-8
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer..................3-9
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System................3-9
Flash-to-Pass...............................................3-13
Windshield Wipers........................................3-13
Rainsense™ II Wipers...................................3-14
Windshield Washer.......................................3-15
Cruise Control..............................................3-16
Adaptive Cruise Control.................................3-19
Exterior Lamps.............................................3-29
Wiper Activated Headlamps............................3-32
Headlamps on Reminder................................3-33
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL).......................3-33
Fog Lamps ..................................................3-34
Cornering Lamps..........................................3-34
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver........................3-34
Instrument Panel Brightness...........................3-34Courtesy Lamps...........................................3-35
Entry Lighting...............................................3-35
Parade Dimming...........................................3-35
Reading Lamps............................................3-35
Footwell Lamps............................................3-36
Battery Load Management.............................3-36
Electric Power Management...........................3-36
Inadvertent Power Battery Saver.....................3-37
Battery Run-Down Protection..........................3-37
Accessory Power Outlet(s).............................3-38
Ashtray(s)....................................................3-39
Analog Clock...............................................3-39
Climate Controls............................................3-40
Dual Climate Control System..........................3-40
Outlet Adjustment.........................................3-46
Rear Climate Control System.........................3-46
Passenger Compartment Air Filter...................3-48
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators............3-50
Instrument Panel Cluster................................3-51
Speedometer and Odometer...........................3-52
Tachometer.................................................3-52
Safety Belt Reminders...................................3-53
Airbag Readiness Light..................................3-54
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator...................3-55
Charging System Light..................................3-56
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-1

Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
The lever on the left side of the steering column
includes the following:
G:Turn and Lane-Change Signals
23:Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
N:Windshield Wipers
L:Windshield Washer
_:Heated Washer Fluid
Flash-To-Pass Feature.
Information for these features is on the pages following.
Turn and Lane-Change Signals
An arrow on the instrument
panel cluster and in the
outside rearview mirror
ashes in the direction of
the turn or lane change.
Move the lever all the way up or down to signal a
turn. The lever returns automatically when the turn is
complete. If you momentarily press and release the lever,
the turn signal will ash 3 times.
Raise or lower the lever until the arrow starts to ash to
signal a lane change. Hold it there until the lane change is
complete.
The lever returns to its starting position when it is
released.
If after signaling a turn or lane change the arrow
ashes rapidly or does not come on, a signal bulb
may be burned out.
Have the bulbs replaced. If the bulb is not burned out,
check the fuse. SeeRear Underseat Fuse Block on
page 5-98.
3-8

Other Messages
There are three messages that may appear on the
Driver Information Center (DIC). They are CLEAN
RADAR, RADAR CRUISE NOT READY and SERVICE
RADAR CRUISE. SeeDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 3-73.
Cleaning the System
The radar can become blocked by snow, ice, or dirt.
If so, you may need to turn off the engine and clean
the lens. See “Cleaning the System” underAdaptive
Cruise Control on page 3-19.
Flash-to-Pass
This feature lets you use the high-beam headlamps to
signal the driver in front of you that you want to pass.
The ash-to-pass feature will only work with the
headlamps on. It does not work with Daytime
Running Lamps (DRL).
Pull and hold the turn signal lever toward you to use.
If the headlamps are on low beam, pulling the turn signal
towards you will ash the high beams.
Windshield Wipers
Turn the band with the wiper symbol on it to control the
windshield wipers.
8(Mist):For a single wiping cycle, hold it on mist
until the wipers start, then release. The wipers stop after
one wipe. For more wipe cycles, hold the band longer.
6(Delay):Use to set the delay time between wipe
cycles. The wiper speed can be set for a long or short
delay between wipes. The closer the band is set to
the top of the lever, the shorter the delay.
6(Low Speed):For steady wiping at low speed.
1(High Speed):For high-speed wiping.
9(Off):Turns the wipers off.
Clear ice and snow from the wiper blades before
using them. If the wipers are frozen to the windshield,
carefully loosen or thaw them. If they become worn
or damaged, replace with new blades or blade inserts.
Heavy snow or ice can overload the wiper motor.
A circuit breaker will stop the motor until it cools.
The vehicle has wiper-activated headlamps. After the
windshield wipers have completed eight wipe cycles
within four minutes, the headlamps automatically turn on.
SeeWiper Activated Headlamps on page 3-32for more
information.
3-13

Rainsense™ II Wipers
For vehicles with this feature, the moisture sensor is
mounted on the interior side of the windshield behind the
rearview mirror. It is used to automatically operate 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 will occur more
frequently. The Rainsense II wipers operate in a delay
mode as well as a continuous low or high speed as
needed. 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 II system is activated.
The Rainsense II system can be activated by turning the
wiper band to one of the ve sensitivity levels indicated
on the wiper stalk. The position closest to off is the lowest
sensitivity setting, level one. This setting lets more rain or
snow to collect on the windshield between wipes. Turning
the wiper band away from you to higher sensitivity levels
increases the sensitivity of the system and frequency ofwipes. The highest sensitivity setting, level ve is closest
to low. A single wipe occurs each time the wiper stalk is
turned to a higher sensitivity level to indicate that the
sensitivity 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 II function. The Rainsense
II system can be overridden at any time by manually
turning the wiper band to low or high speed.
When Rainsense II is active, the headlamps turn on
automatically. The headlamps will turn off again once the
wipers turn off if it is light enough outside. If it is dark,
they remain on. SeeWiper Activated Headlamps
on page 3-32for 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.
3-14

Windshield Washer
{CAUTION:
In freezing weather, do not use your washer until
the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the washer
uid can form ice on the windshield, blocking your
vision.
J(Washer Fluid):Press and release this paddle,
located at the top of the turn signal/multifunction lever,
to spray washer uid on the windshield. The wipers
will clear the windshield and either stop or return to the
preset speed. For more washer cycles, press and hold
the paddle.
_(Heated Washer Fluid):The heated windshield
washer uid system, if the vehicle has this feature,
may be used to help clear ice, snow, tree sap, or bugs
from the windshield. Slide the control on the turn signal/
multifunction lever to this position and then release, to
activate the heated windshield washer uid system.
This activation initiates four heated wash/wipe cycles.
The rst heated wash/wipe cycle may take up to
40 seconds to occur, depending on outside temperature.
After the rst wash/wipe cycle, it may take up to
20 seconds for each of the remaining cycles. The heated
windshield washer uid system may be turned off at any
time by sliding the control on the turn signal/multifunction
lever to this position again.
When the heated windshield washer uid system is
activated under certain outside temperature conditions,
steam may ow out of the washer nozzles for a short
period of time before washer uid is sprayed. This is a
normal condition.
WASHER FLUID LOW ADD FLUID will be displayed on
the Driver Information Center (DIC) when the washer
uid is low. SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on
page 3-73.
3-15

You might need to manually disable or cancel the
high-beam headlamps by turning the low-beam
headlamps on, if any of the above conditions exist.
Disabling and Resetting IntelliBeam™ at
the Rearview Mirror
IntelliBeam can be disabled by using the controls on the
inside rearview mirror.
AUTO
3(On/Off):Press this button on the inside
rearview mirror to disable the system. The IntelliBeam
indicator turns off and does not come back on until
the IntelliBeam button is pressed again.
When IntelliBeam has turned on the high-beams, pull or
push the high-beam stalk. This will disable IntelliBeam.
The IntelliBeam indicator on the mirror turns off. To turn
IntelliBeam back on, press the IntelliBeam button on the
mirror.
A different sensitivity setting is available for dealer/
retailer diagnostics. This is done by pushing and holding
this button for 20 seconds until the IntelliBeam indicator
light ashes three times. If you accidentally activate this,
the vehicle’s setting automatically is reset when the
ignition is turned off and then on again.
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.
3-32

Foreign materials such as calcium chloride and other
salts, ice melting agents, road oil and tar, tree sap, bird
droppings, chemicals from industrial chimneys, etc.,
can damage the vehicle’s nish if they remain on
painted surfaces. Wash the vehicle as soon as possible.
If necessary, use non-abrasive cleaners that are marked
safe for painted surfaces to remove foreign matter.
Exterior painted surfaces are subject to aging, weather
and chemical fallout that can take their toll over a period
of years. To help keep the paint nish looking new, keep
the vehicle garaged or covered whenever possible.
Protecting Exterior Bright Metal Parts
Bright metal parts should be cleaned regularly to keep
their luster. Washing with water is all that is usually
needed. However, chrome polish may be used on
chrome or stainless steel trim, if necessary.
Use special care with aluminum trim. To avoid damaging
protective trim, never use auto or chrome polish, steam or
caustic soap to clean aluminum. A coating of wax, rubbed
to high polish, is recommended for all bright metal parts.
Windshield and Wiper Blades
Clean the outside of the windshield with glass cleaner.
Clean the rubber blades using a lint free cloth or paper
towel soaked with windshield washer uid or a mild
detergent. Wash the windshield thoroughly when
cleaning the blades. Bugs, road grime, sap, and a
buildup of vehicle wash/wax treatments may cause wiper
streaking. Replace the wiper blades if they are worn or
damaged.
Wipers can be damaged by:
Extreme dusty conditions
Sand and salt
Heat and sun
Snow and ice, without proper removal
5-91