Black plate (5,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Symbol Chart
Here are some additional symbols that may be found on
the vehicle and what they mean. For more information
on 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
I:Cruise Control
B: Engine Coolant Temperature
O:Exterior Lamps
#:Fog Lamps
.: Fuel Gauge
+:Fuses
3: Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
j:LATCH System Child Restraints
*: Malfunction Indicator Lamp
::Oil Pressure
g:Outside Power Foldaway Mirrors
}:Power
/:Remote Vehicle Start
>:Safety Belt Reminders
7:Tire Pressure Monitor
F:Traction Control
M:Windshield Washer Fluid
v
Black plate (23,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
A (STOPPING THE ENGINE/LOCK/OFF):When the
vehicle is stopped, turn the ignition switch to LOCK/OFF
to turn the engine off. Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
will remain active. See Retained Accessory Power
(RAP) on page 3‑24.
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.
Do not turn the engine off when the vehicle is moving.
This will cause a loss of power assist in the brake and
steering systems and disable the airbags.
In an emergency:
1. Brake using a firm and steady pressure. Do not pump the brakes repeatedly. This may deplete
power assist, requiring increased brake pedal
force.
2. Shift the vehicle to neutral. This can be done while the vehicle is moving. After shifting to neutral,
firmly apply the brakes and steer the vehicle to a
safe location.
3. Come to a complete stop, shift to P (Park), and turn the ignition to LOCK/OFF. On vehicles with
an automatic transmission, the shift lever must
be in P (Park) to turn the ignition switch to the
LOCK/OFF position.
4. Set the parking brake. See Parking Brake
on
page 3‑29. 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. See
DIC Warnings and Messages
on page 4‑65for more
information.
3-23
Black plate (29,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
3 (Third):This position is also used for normal driving.
However, it reduces vehicle speed more than D (Drive)
without using the brakes. You might choose 3 (Third)
instead of D (Drive) when driving on hilly, winding roads,
when towing a trailer, so there is less shifting between
gears and when going down a steep hill.
2 (Second): This position reduces vehicle speed more
than 3 (Third) without using the brakes. You can use
2 (Second) on hills. It can help control vehicle speed as
you go down steep mountain roads, but then you would
also want to use the brakes off and on.
Notice: Do not shift into 2 (Second) unless you are
going slower than 65 mph (105 km/h), or you can
damage the engine and/or transmission.
1 (First): This position reduces vehicle speed even
more than 2 (Second) without using the brakes. You can
use it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud. If the
shift lever is put in 1 (First) while the vehicle is moving
forward, the transmission will not shift into first gear until
the vehicle is going slowly enough.
Notice: Spinning the tires or holding the vehicle in
one place on a hill using only the accelerator pedal
may damage the transmission. The repair will not be
covered by the vehicle warranty. If you are stuck, do
not spin the tires. When stopping on a hill, use the
brakes to hold the vehicle in place.Performance Shifting
If the vehicle has this feature, it can detect a change in
driving patterns. If you make an aggressive driving
maneuver, the vehicle's transmission automatically
shifts to the lowest possible gear to maximize vehicle
performance. The vehicle will automatically return to
normal operation when you return to normal driving
patterns.
Parking Brake
The parking brake pedal
is located to the left of the
regular brake pedal, near
the driver door.
To set the parking brake, hold the regular brake pedal
down, then push the parking brake pedal down.
If the ignition is on, the brake system warning light on
the instrument panel cluster should come on. If it does
not, you need to have the vehicle serviced.
3-29
Black plate (30,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
A warning chime will sound if the parking brake is set,
the ignition is on, and the vehicle speed is greater than
5 mph (8 km/h). The brake light will come on and stay
on until the parking brake is released. SeeBrake
System Warning Light
on page 4‑50for more
information.
To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down, then push the parking brake pedal down.
When you lift your foot off the parking brake pedal, the
pedal will follow your foot to the released position.
Notice: Driving with the parking brake on can
overheat the brake system and cause premature
wear or damage to brake system parts. Make sure
that the parking brake is fully released and the
brake warning light is off before driving.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on any hill,
see Towing a Trailer on page 5‑26.
Shifting Into Park
{WARNING:
It can be dangerous to get out of the vehicle if the
shift lever is not fully in P (Park) with the parking
brake firmly set. The vehicle can roll. 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, use the steps that follow.
If you are pulling a trailer, see Towing a Trailer
on
page 5‑26
.
Steering Column Shift Lever
If the vehicle has a steering column shift lever, use this
procedure to shift the vehicle into P (Park):
1. Hold the brake pedal down.
2. Move the shift lever into P (Park) by pulling the shift lever toward you and moving it up as far as it
will go.
3. With your foot still holding the brake pedal down, set the parking brake. See Parking Brake
on
page 3‑29for more information.
3-30
Black plate (41,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
Backing
Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist (URPA) comes on
automatically when the shift lever is moved into
R (Reverse). The rear display will then briefly illuminate
to let you know the system is working.
The following describes what will occur with the rear
display as you get closer to an object detected in the
rear of your vehicle:Description Metric English
amber light 2.5 m 8 ft.
amber/amber lights 1.0 m 40 in.
amber/amber/red lights and continuous beeping for five seconds 0.6 m 23 in.
amber/amber/red lights
flashing and continuous
beeping for five seconds 0.3 m 1 ft.
The system can be disabled through the Driver
Information Center (DIC). See
“Parking Assist”under
DIC Operation and Displays
on page 4‑60for more
information.
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 6‑98.
.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 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 25 km/h (15 mph), take the vehicle to your dealer.
3-41
Black plate (1,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
Section 4 Instrument Panel
Instrument Panel Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-3
Hazard Warning Flashers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
Tilt Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
Power Tilt Wheel and Telescopic Steering Column . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4
Heated Steering Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5
Turn and Lane-Change Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-6
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . 4-6
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-10
Windshield Wipers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-10
Windshield Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-11
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-12
Adaptive Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-14
Exterior Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-25
Wiper Activated Headlamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-28
Headlamps on Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-28
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-28
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-29
Cornering Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-29
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-30
Instrument Panel Brightness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-30
Courtesy Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-30 Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-30
Parade Dimming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-31
Reading Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-31
Footwell Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-31
Battery Load Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-31
Electric Power Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-32
Inadvertent Power Battery Saver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-32
Battery Run-Down Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-33
Accessory Power Outlet(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-33
Analog Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-34
Climate Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-34
Dual Climate Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-34
Outlet Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-40
Rear Climate Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-40
Passenger Compartment Air Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-42
Warning Lights, Gauges, and Indicators . . . . . . . .4-44
Instrument Panel Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-45
Speedometer and Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-46
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-46
Safety Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-47
Airbag Readiness Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-48
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-48
Charging System Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-49
Brake System Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-50
4-1
Black plate (2,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
Section 4 Instrument Panel
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning Light . . . 4-51
Traction Control System (TCS) WarningLight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-51
StabiliTrak
®Indicator Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-52
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) Light . . . . . . . . . . 4-52
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light . . . . 4-53
Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . 4-53
Tire Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-54
Malfunction Indicator Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-54
Oil Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-57
Security Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-57
Front Fog Lamp Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-58
Lights On Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-58
Cruise Control Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-58
Highbeam On Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-58
Fuel Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-59 Driver Information Center (DIC)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-59
DIC Operation and Displays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-60
DIC Warnings and Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-65
DIC Vehicle Customization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-77
Audio System(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-86
Setting the Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-87
Radio(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-90
Using an MP3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-100
XM Radio Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-105
Navigation/Radio System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-106
Bluetooth
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-107
Theft-Deterrent Feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-114
Audio Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-114
Radio Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-115
Backglass Antenna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-116
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System . . . . . . . . 4-116
4-2
Black plate (12,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
Cruise Control
With cruise control, a speed of approximately 40 km/h
(25 mph) or more can be maintained without keeping
your foot on the accelerator. Cruise control does not
work at speeds below about 40 km/h (25 mph). A cruise
control light appears in the instrument panel cluster
when the cruise control is on.
When the brakes are applied, the cruise control
shuts off.
{WARNING:
Cruise control can be dangerous where you
cannot drive safely at a steady speed. So, do not
use the cruise control on winding roads or in
heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous on slippery
roads. On such roads, fast changes in tire traction
can cause excessive wheel slip, and you could
lose control. Do not use cruise control on slippery
roads.If your vehicle is in cruise control when the Traction
Control System (TCS) begins to limit wheel spin, the
cruise control automatically turns off. See
Traction
Control System (TCS)
on page 5‑6. When road
conditions let you safely use it again, the cruise control
can be turned back on.
The cruise control buttons
are located on left side of
the steering wheel.
I(On/Off): Press to turn the cruise control system on
or off.
+ RES (Resume/Accelerate): Press briefly to make the
vehicle resume to a previously set speed or press and
hold to accelerate.
4-12