2010 CADILLAC DTS service indicator

In Brief. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
Instrument Panel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Initial Drive Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Vehicle Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
Performance and Maintenance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-21
Seats and Restraint System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
Head Restraints. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Front Seats. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
Rear Seats. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10
Safety Belts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
Child Restraints. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-33
Airbag System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-58
Restraint System Check. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-74
Features and Controls. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1
Keys. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Doors and Locks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9
Windows. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-14
Theft-Deterrent Systems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-18
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle. . . . . . . . . . . 3-22
Mirrors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-36
Object Detection Systems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-40
Universal Home Remote System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-48
Storage Areas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-55
Sunroof. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-57
Instrument Panel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Instrument Panel Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
Climate Controls. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-36
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators. . . . . . . . 4-46
Driver Information Center (DIC). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-61
Audio System(s). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-88
Driving Your Vehicle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1
Your Driving, the Road, and the Vehicle. . . . . . . 5-2
Towing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-24
Service and Appearance Care. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3
Fuel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Checking Things Under the Hood. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-10
Headlamp Aiming. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-40
2010 Cadillac DTS Owner ManualM

Safety Warnings and Symbols
Warning Messages found on vehicle labels and in thismanual describe hazards and what to do to avoidor reduce them.
Dangerindicates a hazard with a high level of riskwhich will result in serious injury or death.
WarningorCautionindicates a hazard that could resultin injury or death.
{WARNING:
These mean there is something that could hurt
you or other people.
Notice:This means there is something that couldresult in property or vehicle damage. This would notbe covered by the vehicle’s warranty.
A circle with a slashthrough it is a safetysymbol which means “DoNot,” “Do not do this,”or “Do not let this happen.”
Vehicle Symbols
The vehicle has components and labels that usesymbols instead of text. Symbols are shown along withthe text describing the operation or informationrelating to a specific component, control, message,gage, or indicator.
M:This symbol is shown when you need to see your
owner manual for additional instructions or information.
*:This symbol is shown when you need to see a
service manual for additional instructions or information.
Vehicle Symbol Chart
Here are some additional symbols that may be found onthe vehicle and what they mean. For more informationon the symbol, refer to the index.
9:Airbag Readiness Light
#:Air Conditioning
!:Antilock Brake System (ABS)
g:Audio Steering Wheel Controls or OnStar®
$:Brake System Warning Light
":Charging System
iv

{WARNING:
A crash severe enough to inflate the airbags may
have also damaged important functions in the
vehicle, such as the fuel system, brake and
steering systems, etc. Even if the vehicle appears
to be drivable after a moderate crash, there may
be concealed damage that could make it difficult
to safely operate the vehicle.
Use caution if you should attempt to restart the
engine after a crash has occurred.
In many crashes severe enough to inflate the airbag,windshields are broken by vehicle deformation.Additional windshield breakage may also occur from theright front passenger airbag.
•Airbags are designed to inflate only once. After an
airbag inflates, you will need some new parts forthe airbag system. If you do not get them, the airbagsystem will not be there to help protect you inanother crash. A new system will include airbagmodules and possibly other parts. The servicemanual for your vehicle covers the need to replaceother parts.
•The vehicle has a crash sensing and diagnostic
module which records information after a crash.SeeVehicle Data Recording and Privacy onpage 8-18andEvent Data Recorders on page 8-19.
•Let only qualified technicians work on the airbag
systems. Improper service can mean that anairbag system will not work properly. See yourdealer/retailer for service.
Passenger Sensing System
The vehicle has a passenger sensing system for theright front passenger position. The passenger airbagstatus indicator will be visible on the overhead consolewhen the vehicle is started.
The words ON and OFF, or the symbol for on and off,are visible during the system check. If you are usingremote start, if equipped, to start the vehicle froma distance, you may not see the system check.
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The passenger sensing system is designed to turn offthe right front passenger airbag and seat-mountedside impact airbag if:
•The right front passenger seat is unoccupied.
•The system determines that an infant is present in
a rear-facing infant seat.
•The system determines that a small child is present
in a child restraint.
•The system determines that a small child is present
in a booster seat.
•A right front passenger takes his/her weight off of
the seat for a period of time.
•The right front passenger seat is occupied by a
smaller person, such as a child who has outgrownchild restraints.
•Or, if there is a critical problem with the airbag
system or the passenger sensing system.
When the passenger sensing system has turned off theright front passenger frontal airbag and seat-mountedside impact airbag, the off indicator will light and stay litto remind you that the airbags are off. SeePassengerAirbag Status Indicator on page 4-51.
The passenger sensing system is designed to turn on(may inflate) the right front passenger frontal airbag andseat-mounted side impact airbag anytime the systemsenses that a person of adult size is sitting properly inthe right front passenger seat.
When the passenger sensing system has allowed theairbags to be enabled, the on indicator will light and staylit to remind you that the airbags are active.
For some children who have outgrown child restraintsand for very small adults, the passenger sensing systemmay or may not turn off the right front passenger frontalairbag and seat-mounted side impact airbag, dependingupon the person’s seating posture and body build.Everyone in the vehicle who has outgrown child restraintsshould wear a safety belt properly — whether or not thereis an airbag for that person.
{WARNING:
If the airbag readiness light ever comes on and
stays on, it means that something may be wrong
with the airbag system. To help avoid injury to
yourself or others, have the vehicle serviced right
away. SeeAirbag Readiness Light on page 4-50
for more information, including important safety
information.
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Passenger Airbag Status Indicator
The vehicle has the passenger sensing system.SeePassenger Sensing System on page 2-67forimportant safety information. The overhead console hasa passenger airbag status indicator.
When the vehicle is started, the passenger airbag statusindicator will light ON and OFF, or the symbol for onand off, for several seconds as a system check.
If you are using remote start to start the vehicle from adistance, if equipped, you may not see the system check.
Then, after several more seconds, the status indicatorwill light either ON or OFF, or either the on or off symbol,to let you know the status of the right front passengerfrontal and seat-mounted side impact airbags.
If the word ON or the on symbol is lit on the passengerairbag status indicator, it means that the right frontpassenger frontal airbag and seat-mounted side impactairbag are enabled (may inflate).
If the word OFF or the off symbol is lit on the passengerairbag status indicator, it means that the passengersensing system has turned off the right front passengerfrontal and seat-mounted side impact airbag.
If, after several seconds, both status indicator lightsremain on, or if there are no lights at all, there may be aproblem with the lights or the passenger sensingsystem. See your dealer/retailer for service.
{WARNING:
If the airbag readiness light ever comes on and
stays on, it means that something may be wrong
with the airbag system. To help avoid injury to
yourself or others, have the vehicle serviced right
away. SeeAirbag Readiness Light on page 4-50
for more information, including important safety
information.
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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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Traction Control System (TCS)
Warning Light
This warning light comeson briefly while startingthe engine.
If it does not, have the vehicle serviced by yourdealer/retailer. If the system is working normally theindicator light will then go off.
If it stays on, or comes on while driving, there may be aproblem with the traction control system and thevehicle needs service. When this warning light is on, thesystem will not limit wheel spin.
If the traction control system warning light comes onand stays on when the system is turned on, the vehicleneeds service. SeeTraction Control System (TCS)on page 5-6for more information.
StabiliTrak®Indicator Light
For vehicles with theStabiliTrak®system, thislight comes on briefly whilestarting the engine.
If it does not, have the vehicle serviced by yourdealer/retailer. If the system is working normally theindicator light then goes off.
If the light comes on and stays on while driving, therecould be a problem with the StabiliTrak®system and thevehicle might need service. When this warning light ison, the StabiliTrak®system is off and does not limitwheel spin.
The light flashes if the system is active and is workingto assist the driver with directional control of thevehicle in difficult driving conditions.
SeeStabiliTrak®System on page 5-5for moreinformation.
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Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
Light
For vehicles with the lanedeparture warning system,this light briefly comeson green, while starting thevehicle, to indicate that itis working.
If it does not, have the vehicle serviced by yourdealer/retailer. If the system is working normally theindicator light will then go off.
This light also comes on green if the system detects aleft or right lane marking. It flashes, changes toamber and three beeps sound if a detected lane markingis crossed without using a turn signal. For moreinformation, see the Index in the Navigation Manual.
Engine Coolant Temperature
Warning Light
The engine coolanttemperature warning lightcomes on when theengine is very hot.
This light also comes on briefly when the vehicle isstarted.
If the light does not go out or comes on and stays onwhile driving, there may be a problem with the coolingsystem. Driving with engine coolant temperature light oncould cause the vehicle to overheat, seeOverheatedEngine Protection Operating Mode on page 6-29.SeeEngine Overheating on page 6-27andDICWarnings and Messages on page 4-67for moreinformation.
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