2010 CADILLAC DTS towing

Running the Vehicle While Parked
It is better not to park with the engine running. But if youever have to, here are some things to know.
{WARNING:
Idling a vehicle in an enclosed area with poor
ventilation is dangerous. Engine exhaust may
enter the vehicle. Engine exhaust contains Carbon
Monoxide (CO) which cannot be seen or smelled.
It can cause unconsciousness and even death.
Never run the engine in an enclosed area that has
no fresh air ventilation. For more information, see
Engine Exhaust on page 3-34.
{WARNING:
It can be dangerous to get out of the vehicle if the
automatic transmission shift lever is not fully in
P (Park) with the parking brake firmly set. The
vehicle can roll. Do not leave the vehicle when the
engine is running unless you have to. If you have
left the engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be injured. To be
sure the vehicle will not move, even when you are
on fairly level ground, always set the parking
brake after you move the shift lever to P (Park).
Follow the proper steps to be sure the vehicle will notmove. SeeShifting Into Park on page 3-31.
If parking on a hill and pulling a trailer, seeTowing aTrailer on page 5-26.
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SBZA Detection Zones
The SBZA sensor covers a zone of approximately onelane over from both sides of the vehicle, 3.5 m (11 ft).This zone starts at each side mirror and goes backapproximately 5 m (16 ft). The height of the zone isapproximately between 0.5 m (1.5 ft) and 2.0 m (6 ft) offthe ground.
The SBZA detection zones do not change if the vehicleis towing a trailer. So be extra careful when changinglanes while towing a trailer.
How the System Works
When the vehicle is started, both outside mirror displayswill briefly come on to indicate that the system isoperating. While driving forward, the left or right sidemirror SBZA display will light up if a vehicle is detected inthat blind zone. If you activate a turn signal and a vehiclehas been detected on the same side, the SBZA displaywill flash to give you extra warning not to change lanes.
SBZA displays do not come on while the vehicle isapproaching or passing other vehicles. At speedsgreater then 20 mph (32 km/h), SBZA displays maycome on when a vehicle you have passed remains in ordrops back into the detection zone.
SBZA can be disabled through the Driver InformationCenter (DIC). SeeDriver Information Center (DIC)on page 4-61for more information. If the SBZAis disabled by the driver, the SBZA mirror displays willnot light up during normal driving.
Left Side Mirror DisplayRight Side MirrorDisplay
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Highway Exit Ramps
{WARNING:
Adaptive Cruise Control may lose track of the
vehicle ahead and accelerate up to your set speed
while entering or on highway exit ramps. You
could be startled by this acceleration and even
lose control of the vehicle. Disengage Adaptive
Cruise Control before entering a highway exit
ramp. Do not use Adaptive Cruise Control while
entering or on exit ramps.
Other Vehicle Lane Changes
If another vehicle enters the same lane as you, ACC willnot detect the vehicle until it is completely in the lane.Be ready to take action and apply the brakes yourself.
Using ACC on Hills and When Towing a
Trailer
How well ACC will work on hills and when towing atrailer depends on your vehicle’s speed, vehicle load,traffic conditions and the steepness of the hills. Itmay not detect a vehicle in your lane while driving onhills. When going up steep hills, you may want touse the accelerator pedal to maintain your vehicle’sspeed. When going downhill, especially when towing atrailer, you may want to brake to keep your speeddown. Applying the brake disengages the system. Youmay choose not to use ACC on steep hills, especiallywhen towing a trailer.
Disengaging ACC
To turn off the system, apply the brake pedal, press thecancel button, or press the ACC button.
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If the light comes on while driving, pull off the road andstop carefully.The pedal may be harder to push, orthe pedal may go closer to the floor. It may take longerto stop. If the light is still on, have the vehicle towedfor service. SeeTowing Your Vehicle on page 5-24.
{WARNING:
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.
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
Warning Light
For vehicles with theAntilock Brake System(ABS), this light comes onbriefly when the engineis started.
If it does not, have the vehicle serviced by yourdealer/retailer. If the system is working normally theindicator light then goes off.
If the ABS light stays on, turn the ignition off. If the lightcomes on while driving, stop as soon as it is safelypossible and turn the ignition off. Then start the engineagain to reset the system. If the ABS light stays on,or comes on again while driving, the vehicle needsservice. If the regular brake system warning light is noton, the vehicle still has brakes, but not antilockbrakes. If the regular brake system warning light is alsoon, the vehicle does not have antilock brakes andthere is a problem with the regular brakes. SeeBrakeSystem Warning Light on page 4-52.
For vehicles with a Driver Information Center (DIC), seeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 4-67for allbrake related DIC messages.
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This light comes on during a malfunction in one oftwo ways:
Light Flashing:A misfire condition has been detected.A misfire increases vehicle emissions and coulddamage the emission control system on the vehicle.Diagnosis and service might be required.
To prevent more serious damage to the vehicle:
•Reduce vehicle speed.
•Avoid hard accelerations.
•Avoid steep uphill grades.
•If towing a trailer, reduce the amount of cargo being
hauled as soon as it is possible.
If the light continues to flash, when it is safe to do so, stopthe vehicle. Find a safe place to park the vehicle. Turn thekey off, wait at least 10 seconds, and restart the engine. Ifthe light is still flashing, follow the previous steps and seeyour dealer/retailer for service as soon as possible.
Light On Steady:An emission control systemmalfunction has been detected on the vehicle. Diagnosisand service might be required.
An emission system malfunction might be corrected bydoing the following:
•Make sure the fuel cap is fully installed. SeeFilling
the Tank on page 6-8. The diagnostic system candetermine if the fuel cap has been left off or
improperly installed. A loose or missing fuel capallows fuel to evaporate into the atmosphere. A fewdriving trips with the cap properly installed shouldturn the light off.
•If the vehicle has been driven through a deep
puddle of water, the vehicle’s electrical systemmight be wet. The condition is usually correctedwhen the electrical system dries out. A few drivingtrips should turn the light off.
•Make sure to fuel the vehicle with quality fuel.
Poor fuel quality causes the engine not to runas efficiently as designed and can cause: stallingafter start-up, stalling when the vehicle is changedinto gear, misfiring, hesitation on acceleration,or stumbling on acceleration. These conditionsmight go away once the engine is warmed up.
If one or more of these conditions occurs, changethe fuel brand used. It will require at least onefull tank of the proper fuel to turn the light off.
SeeGasoline Octane on page 6-5.
If none of the above have made the light turn off, yourdealer/retailer can check the vehicle. The dealer/retailerhas the proper test equipment and diagnostic tools tofix any mechanical or electrical problems that mighthave developed.
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Your Driving, the Road, and the Vehicle. . . . . . . . . . . .5-2Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-2Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-2Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-3Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-3Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-4Braking in Emergencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-5StabiliTrak®System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-5Traction Control System (TCS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-6Magnetic Ride Control™ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-7Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-8Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-9Passing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-10Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-10
Driving at Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-11Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-12Before Leaving on a Long Trip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-13Highway Hypnosis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-13Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-14Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-15If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud,Ice, or Snow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-17Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-17Loading the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-18
Towing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-24Towing Your Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-24Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-24Towing a Trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-26
Section 5 Driving Your Vehicle
5-1

Repeat this until help arrives but only when you feelreally uncomfortable from the cold. Moving aboutto keep warm also helps.
If it takes some time for help to arrive, now and thenwhen you run the engine, push the acceleratorpedal slightly so the engine runs faster than the idlespeed. This keeps the battery charged to restartthe vehicle and to signal for help with the headlamps.Do this as little as possible to save fuel.
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand,
Mud, Ice, or Snow
Slowly and cautiously spin the wheels to free thevehicle when stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow. SeeRocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out on page 5-17.
If the vehicle has a traction system, it can often help tofree a stuck vehicle. Refer to the vehicle’s tractionsystem in the Index. If stuck too severely for the tractionsystem to free the vehicle, turn the traction system offand use the rocking method.
{WARNING:
If the vehicle’s tires spin at high speed, they can
explode, and you or others could be injured.
The vehicle can overheat, causing an engine
compartment fire or other damage. Spin the
wheels as little as possible and avoid going above
55 km/h (35 mph) as shown on the speedometer.
For information about using tire chains on the vehicle,seeTire Chains on page 6-70.
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out
Turn the steering wheel left and right to clear the areaaround the front wheels. Turn off any traction or stabilitysystem. Shift back and forth between R (Reverse) and aforward gear, spinning the wheels as little as possible.To prevent transmission wear, wait until the wheels stopspinning before shifting gears. Release the acceleratorpedal while shifting, and press lightly on the acceleratorpedal when the transmission is in gear. Slowly spinningthe wheels in the forward and reverse directions causes arocking motion that could free the vehicle. If that does notget the vehicle out after a few tries, it might need to betowed out. If the vehicle does need to be towed out, seeTowing Your Vehicle on page 5-24.
5-17

The Tire and Loading Information label also showsthe tire size of the original equipment tires (C)and the recommended cold tire inflationpressures (D). For more information on tires andinflation seeTires on page 6-46andInflation - TirePressure on page 6-54.
There is also important loading information on theCertification label. It tells you the Gross VehicleWeight Rating (GVWR) and the Gross Axle WeightRating (GAWR) for the front and rear axle; see“Certification Label” later in this section.
If you have a Professional Vehicle, a Tire andLoading Information label specific to your vehiclewill be provided and installed by the final bodymanufacturer. The Tire and Loading Informationlabel, should be attached to the B-pillar of yourvehicle. See the final stage manufacturer’s manualor contact them directly. The label shows theoriginal tires installed on your professional vehicleand the recommended cold tire inflation pressuresfor those tires. The label also tells you theprofessional vehicle’s capacity weight.
Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit
1.Locate the statement “The combined weight ofoccupants and cargo should never exceedXXX kg or XXX lbs” on your vehicle’s placard.
2.Determine the combined weight of the driverand passengers that will be riding in yourvehicle.
3.Subtract the combined weight of the driverand passengers from XXX kg or XXX lbs.
4.The resulting figure equals the availableamount of cargo and luggage load capacity.For example, if the “XXX” amount equals1400 lbs and there will be five 150 lbpassengers in your vehicle, the amount ofavailable cargo and luggage load capacity is650 lbs (1400!750 (5 x 150) = 650 lbs).
5.Determine the combined weight of luggage andcargo being loaded on the vehicle. That weightmay not safely exceed the available cargo andluggage load capacity calculated in Step 4.
6.If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, the loadfrom your trailer will be transferred to yourvehicle. Consult this manual to determine howthis reduces the available cargo and luggageload capacity of your vehicle.
If your vehicle can tow a trailer, see “Towing aTrailer” for important information on towinga trailer, towing safety rules, and trailering tips.
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