2009 CADILLAC STS Owners Manual

4. Lift the inboard edge of the deector to release the
retention tab.
5. Lift and slide the water deector toward the inboard
side and remove it.
6. The top edge of the lter should be visible. Reach
in and lift the lter out, pulling upward and toward
the front of the vehicle.
7. Insert the new air lter by sliding it back into place.
Make sure the arrow on the lter is pointing toward
the passenger compartment.
Reverse steps 1 through 3 to reinstall the water
deector, lter cover and the hood seal.Warning Lights, Gages, and
Indicators
Warning lights and gages can signal that something is
wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause an
expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to
the warning lights and gages could prevent injury.
Warning lights come on when there may be or is a
problem with one of the vehicle’s functions. Some
warning lights come on briey when the engine is
started to indicate they are working.
Gages can indicate when there may be or is a problem
with one of the vehicle’s functions. Often gages and
warning lights work together to indicate a problem with
the vehicle.
When one of the warning lights comes on and stays on
while driving, or when one of the gages shows there may
be a problem, check the section that explains what to do.
Follow this manual’s advice. Waiting to do repairs can be
costly and even dangerous.
3-55

Instrument Panel Cluster
The instrument panel cluster is designed to show how the vehicle is running. It shows how fast the vehicle is going,
how much fuel is being used and many of the other things needed to drive safely and economically.
United States Base version shown, Canada and Uplevel similar
3-56

Speedometer and Odometer
The speedometer shows the speed in both miles
per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour (km/h).
See “MPH (km)” underDIC Operation and Displays
on page 3-72for more information.
The odometer mileage can be checked without the
vehicle running. The vehicle’s odometer works together
with the driver information center. The odometer can
be set for a Trip A and a Trip B. See “Trip Information”
underDIC Operation and Displays on page 3-72for
more information.
If the vehicle ever needs a new odometer installed,
the new one will be set to the correct mileage total
of the old odometer.
Tachometer
This gage indicates the engine speed in revolutions
per minute (rpm).
Safety Belt Reminders
Driver Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the engine is started, a chime sounds for
several seconds to remind the driver to fasten the safety
belt, unless the driver’s safety belt is already buckled.
The driver safety belt light
comes on and stays on
for several seconds,
then ashes for
several more.
This chime and light are repeated if the driver remains
unbuckled and the vehicle is in motion. If the driver’s
safety belt is already buckled, neither the chime nor
the light comes on.
3-57

Passenger Safety Belt Reminder Light
Several seconds after the engine is started,
a chime sounds for several seconds to remind
the front passenger to buckle their safety belt.
This only occurs if the passenger airbag is enabled.
SeePassenger Sensing System on page 1-59for more
information. The passenger safety belt light, located
on the instrument panel, comes on and stays on for
several seconds and then ashes for several more.
This chime and light are
repeated if the passenger
remains unbuckled and
the vehicle is in motion.
If the passenger safety belt is buckled, neither the
chime nor the light comes on.
Airbag Readiness Light
The system checks the airbag’s electrical system for
possible malfunctions. If the light stays on it indicates
there is an electrical problem. The system check includes
the airbag sensor, the pretensioners, the airbag modules,
the wiring and the crash sensing and diagnostic module.
For more information on the airbag system, seeAirbag
System on page 1-51.
The airbag readiness light
ashes for a few seconds
when the engine is
started. If the light does
not come on then, have
it xed immediately.
3-58

{CAUTION:
If the airbag readiness light stays on after the
vehicle is started or comes on while driving, it
means the airbag system might not be working
properly. The airbags in the vehicle might not
inate in a crash, or they could even inate
without a crash. To help avoid injury, have the
vehicle serviced right away.
If there is a problem with the airbag system, an airbag
Driver Information Center (DIC) message can also come
on. SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-79
for more information.
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator
Your vehicle has the passenger sensing system.
Your overhead console has a passenger airbag status
indicator.
When you start the vehicle, the passenger airbag status
indicator will light ON and OFF, or the symbol for on
and off, for several seconds as a system check. If you
use remote start to start your vehicle from a distance,
if your vehicle has this feature, you may not see
the system check.United States
Canada
3-59

Then, after several more seconds, the status indicator
will light either ON or OFF, or either the on or off symbol
to let you know the status of the right front passenger’s
frontal airbag.
If the word ON or the on symbol is lit on the passenger
airbag status indicator, it means that the right front
passenger’s frontal airbag is enabled (may inate).
{CAUTION:
If the on indicator comes on when you have a
rear-facing child restraint installed in the right front
passenger’s seat, it means that the passenger
sensing system has not turned off the passenger’s
frontal airbag. 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. Do not use a
rear-facing child restraint in the right front
passenger’s seat if the airbag is turned on.
{CAUTION:
Even though the passenger sensing system is
designed to turn off the right front passenger’s
frontal 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 the rear seat, even if the
airbag is off.
If the word OFF or the off symbol is lit on the airbag
status indicator, it means that the passenger sensing
system has turned off the right front passenger’s frontal
airbag. SeePassenger Sensing System on page 1-59
for more on this, including important safety information.
If, after several seconds, both status indicator lights
remain on, or if there are no lights at all, there may
be a problem with the lights or the passenger sensing
system. See your dealer/retailer for service.
3-60

{CAUTION:
If the airbag readiness light in the instrument panel
cluster ever comes on and stays on, it means that
something may be wrong with the airbag system.
If this ever happens, have the vehicle serviced
promptly, because an adult-size person sitting in
the right front passenger’s seat may not have the
protection of the airbag(s). SeeAirbag Readiness
Light on page 3-58for more on this, including
important safety information.
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 3-79for 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.
3-61

Brake System Warning Light
The vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided into
two parts. If one part is not working, the other part
can still work and stop the vehicle. For good braking
both parts need to be working.
If the warning light comes on, there is a brake problem.
Have the brake system inspected right away.
This light comes on briey when the engine is turned
on. If it does not come on then, have it xed so it will
be ready to warn if there is a problem.When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
also comes on when the parking brake is set. The light
will stay on if the parking brake does not release fully. If it
stays on after the parking brake is fully released, it means
there is a brake problem.
If the light comes on while driving, pull off the road and
stop carefully. The pedal may be harder to push, or
the pedal may go closer to the oor. It may take longer
to stop. If the light is still on, have the vehicle towed
for service. SeeTowing Your Vehicle on page 4-29.
{CAUTION:
The brake system might not be working properly if
the brake system warning light is on. Driving with
the brake system warning light on can lead to a
crash. If the light is still on after the vehicle has
been pulled off the road and carefully stopped,
have the vehicle towed for service. United States
Canada
3-62