Black plate (56,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
.If the vehicle has been driven through a deep
puddle of water, the vehicle's electrical system
might be wet. The condition is usually corrected
when the electrical system dries out. A few driving
trips should turn the light off.
.Make sure to fuel the vehicle with quality fuel.
Poor fuel quality causes the engine not to run as
efficiently as designed and can cause: stalling
after start-up, stalling when the vehicle is changed
into gear, misfiring, hesitation on acceleration,
or stumbling on acceleration. These conditions
might go away once the engine is warmed up.
If one or more of these conditions occurs, change
the fuel brand used. It will require at least one full
tank of the proper fuel to turn the light off.See Gasoline Octane on page 6‑5.
If none of the above have made the light turn off,
your dealer can check the vehicle. The dealer has the
proper test equipment and diagnostic tools to fix any
mechanical or electrical problems that might have
developed.
Emissions Inspection and Maintenance
Programs
Some state/provincial and local governments may have
programs to inspect the on-vehicle emission control
equipment For the inspection, the emission system
test equipment is connected to the vehicle’s Data Link
Connector (DLC).
The DLC is under the instrument panel to the left
of the steering wheel. See your dealer if assistance is
needed.
The vehicle may not pass inspection if:
.the Malfunction Indicator Lamp is on with the
engine running, or if the light does not come on
when the ignition is turned to ON/RUN while the
engine is off.
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Black plate (59,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
Fuel Gauge
The fuel gauge shows
approximately how much
fuel is in the tank. It works
only when the engine
is on.
An arrow on the fuel gauge indicates the side of the
vehicle the fuel door is on.
If the fuel supply gets low, the FUEL LEVEL LOW
message appears in the Driver Information Center
and a single chime sounds. See DIC Warnings and
Messages
on page 4‑65for more information.
Here are a few situations that may occur with the fuel
gauge. All of these situations are normal and do not
indicate that anything is wrong with the fuel gauge:
.At the gas station the gas pump shuts off before
the gauge reads full.
.The gauge may change when the vehicle is
turning, stops quickly or accelerates quickly.
.It takes a little more or less fuel to fill the tank than
the gauge indicated. For example, the gauge may
have indicated that the tank was half full, but it
actually took a little more or less than half the
tank's capacity to fill the tank.
Driver Information Center (DIC)
The Driver Information Center (DIC) gives you the
status of many of your vehicle's systems. The DIC is
also used to display warning/status messages. All
messages will appear in the DIC display located at
the bottom of the instrument panel cluster, below the
tachometer and speedometer. The DIC buttons are
located on the instrument panel, to the left of the
steering wheel.
The DIC comes on when the ignition is on. After a short
delay, the DIC will display the information that was last
displayed before the engine was turned off.
The top line of the DIC display shows the vehicle
system information and the warning/status messages.
The bottom line of the DIC display shows the odometer
on the left side. The bottom line of the DIC display also
shows a digital speedometer on the right side.
If a problem is detected, a warning message will appear
on the display. Be sure to take any message that
appears on the display seriously and remember that
clearing the message will only make the message
disappear, not correct the problem.
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Black plate (60,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
DIC Operation and Displays
The Driver Information
Center (DIC) has different
displays which can be
accessed by pressing the
DIC buttons located on
the instrument panel, to
the left of the steering
wheel.
3Trip/Fuel:Press this button to scroll through the
trip and fuel displays. See “Trip/Fuel Display Menu
Items” following for more information on these displays.
TVehicle Information: Press this button to scroll
through the vehicle information displays. See “Vehicle
Information Display Menu Items” following for more
information on these displays.
UCustomization: Press this button to scroll through
each of the customization features. See DIC Vehicle
Customization
on page 4‑77for more information on
the customization features.
VSet/Reset: Press this button to reset certain DIC
features and to acknowledge DIC warning messages
and clear them from the DIC display.
y zMenu Up/Down: Press this button to scroll up
and down the menu items.
Trip/Fuel Display Menu Items
3
(Trip/Fuel): The following display menu items can
be displayed by pressing the trip/fuel button:
TRIP A or TRIP B
These displays show the current distance traveled
since the last reset for each trip odometer in either
kilometers (km) or miles (mi). Both odometers can be
used at the same time. Each trip odometer can be reset
to zero separately by pressing and holding the set/reset
button for a few seconds while the desired trip odometer
is displayed.
FUEL RANGE
This display shows the approximate number of
remaining kilometers (km) or miles (mi) you can drive
without refilling the fuel tank. This estimate is based on
the current driving conditions and will change if the
driving conditions change. For example, if you are
driving in traffic and making frequent stops, the display
may read one number, but if you enter the freeway, the
number may change even though you still have the
same amount of fuel in the fuel tank. This is because
different driving conditions produce different fuel
economies. Generally, freeway driving produces better
fuel economy than city driving.
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Black plate (84,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
EASY EXIT RECALL
If your vehicle has this feature, it allows you to select
your preference for the automatic easy exit seat feature.
SeeMemory Seat, Mirrors and Steering Wheel
on
page 2‑6for more information.
Press the customization button until EASY EXIT
RECALL appears on the DIC display. Press the set/
reset button once to access the settings for this feature.
Then press the menu up/down button to scroll through
the following settings:
DOOR BUTTON ONLY: No automatic seat exit recall
will occur. The recall will only occur after pressing the
easy exit seat button.
BUTTON AND KEY OUT (default): If the features are
enabled through the EASY EXIT SETUP menu, the
driver's seat will move back, and if the vehicle has the
power tilt wheel and telescopic steering feature, the
power steering column will move up and forward when
the key is removed from the ignition or after pressing
the easy exit seat button.
The automatic easy exit seat movement will only occur
one time after the key is removed from the ignition.
If the automatic movement has already occurred, and
you put the key back in the ignition and remove it again,
the seat and steering column will stay in the original exit
position, unless a memory recall took place prior to
removing the key again. NO CHANGE:
No change will be made to this feature.
The current setting will remain.
To select a setting, press the set/reset button while the
desired setting is displayed on the DIC.EASY EXIT SETUP
If your vehicle has this feature, it allows you to select
which areas will recall with the automatic easy exit seat
feature. It also allows you to turn off the automatic easy
exit feature. See Memory Seat, Mirrors and Steering
Wheel
on page 2‑6and “EASY EXIT RECALL” earlier
for more information.
Press the customization button until EASY EXIT SETUP
appears on the DIC display. Press the set/reset button
once to access the settings for this feature. Then press
the menu up/down button to scroll through the following
settings:
OFF: No automatic seat exit will recall.
SEAT ONLY: The driver's seat will recall.
TILT ONLY: The steering wheel tilt feature will recall.
TELESCOPE ONLY: The steering column telescope
feature will recall.
SEAT/TILT: The driver's seat and the steering wheel tilt
feature will recall.
SEAT/TELESCOPE: The driver's seat and the steering
column telescope feature will recall.
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Black plate (85,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
TILT/TELESCOPE:The steering wheel tilt and steering
column telescope features will recall.
ALL (default): The driver's seat and the steering wheel
tilt and steering column telescope features will recall,
if your vehicle has this option.
NO CHANGE: No change will be made to this feature.
The current setting will remain.
To select a setting, press the set/reset button while the
desired setting is displayed on the DIC.
MEMORY SEAT RECALL
If your vehicle has this feature, it allows you to select
your preference for the remote memory seat recall
feature. See Memory Seat, Mirrors and Steering Wheel
on page 2‑6for more information.
Press the customization button until MEMORY SEAT
RECALL appears on the DIC display. Press the set/
reset button once to access the settings for this feature.
Then press the menu up/down button to scroll through
the following settings:
OFF (default): No remote memory seat recall will
occur.
ON: The driver's seat and outside mirrors will
automatically move to the stored driving position when
the unlock button on the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter is pressed. The steering column will also
move on vehicles with the power tilt and telescopic steering feature. See
Power Tilt Wheel and Telescopic
Steering Column
on page 4‑4for more information.
See “RELEARN REMOTE KEY” underDIC Operation
and Displays
on page 4‑60for more information on
matching transmitters to driver ID numbers.
NO CHANGE: No change will be made to this feature.
The current setting will remain.
To select a setting, press the set/reset button while the
desired setting is displayed on the DIC.
REMOTE START
If the vehicle has remote start, this feature allows it to
be turned on or off. When REMOTE START displays,
press and hold the reset button, the select ON or OFF.
OFF disables the remote start feature. See Remote
Vehicle Start
on page 3‑7for more information.
FACTORY SETTINGS
This feature allows you to set all of the customization
features back to their factory default settings.
Press the customization button until FACTORY
SETTINGS appears on the DIC display. Press the
set/reset button once to access the settings for this
feature. Then press the menu up/down button to scroll
through the following settings:
RESTORE ALL (default): The customization features
will be set to their factory default settings.
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Black plate (107,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
Bluetooth®
Vehicles with a Bluetooth system can use a Bluetooth
capable cell phone with a Hands Free Profile to make
and receive phone calls. The system can be used while
the key is in ON/RUN or ACC/ACCESSORY position.
The range of the Bluetooth system can be up to 9.1 m
(30 ft). Not all phones support all functions, and not all
phones are guaranteed to work with the in-vehicle
Bluetooth system. See www.gm.com/bluetooth for more
information on compatible phones.
Voice Recognition
The Bluetooth system uses voice recognition to
interpret voice commands to dial phone numbers and
name tags.
For additional information say“Help”while you are in a
voice recognition menu.
Noise: Keep interior noise levels to a minimum. The
system may not recognize voice commands if there is
too much background noise.
When to Speak: A short tone sounds after the system
responds indicating when it is waiting for a voice
command. Wait until the tone and then speak.
How to Speak: Speak clearly in a calm and natural
voice.
Audio System
When using the in‐vehicle Bluetooth system, sound
comes through the vehicle's front audio system
speakers and overrides the audio system. Use the
audio system volume knob, during a call, to change the
volume level. The adjusted volume level remains in
memory for later calls. To prevent missed calls, a
minimum volume level is used if the volume is turned
down too low.
Bluetooth Controls
Use the buttons located on the steering wheel to
operate the in‐vehicle Bluetooth system. See Audio
Steering Wheel Controls
on page 4‑114for more
information.
b g(Push To Talk): Press to answer incoming calls, to
confirm system information, and to start speech
recognition.
c x(Phone On Hook): Press to end a call, reject a
call, or to cancel an operation.
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Black plate (5,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
ABS can change the brake pressure to each wheel, as
required, faster than any driver could. This can help the
driver steer around the obstacle while braking hard.
As the brakes are applied, the computer keeps
receiving updates on wheel speed and controls braking
pressure accordingly.
Remember: ABS does not change the time needed to
get a foot up to the brake pedal or always decrease
stopping distance. If you get too close to the vehicle in
front of you, there will not be enough time to apply the
brakes if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops. Always
leave enough room up ahead to stop, even with ABS.
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal
down firmly and let antilock work. The antilock pump or
motor operating might be heard and the brake pedal
might be felt to pulsate, but this is normal.
Braking in Emergencies
ABS allows the driver to steer and brake at the same
time. In many emergencies, steering can help more
than even the very best braking.
Brake Assist
This vehicle has a Brake Assist feature designed to
assist the driver in stopping or decreasing vehicle
speed in emergency driving conditions. This feature
uses the stability system hydraulic brake control module
to supplement the power brake system under conditions
where the driver has quickly and forcefully applied the
brake pedal in an attempt to quickly stop or slow down
the vehicle. The stability system hydraulic brake control
module increases brake pressure at each corner of
the vehicle until the ABS activates. Minor brake pedal
pulsations or pedal movement during this time is normal
and the driver should continue to apply the brake pedal
as the driving situation dictates The Brake Assist
feature will automatically disengage when the brake
pedal is released or brake pedal pressure is quickly
decreased.
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Black plate (11,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking
reasonable care suited to existing conditions, and by
not overdriving those conditions. But skids are always
possible.
The three types of skids correspond to the vehicle's
three control systems. In the braking skid, the wheels
are not rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, too
much speed or steering in a curve causes tires to slip
and lose cornering force. And in the acceleration skid,
too much throttle causes the driving wheels to spin.
Remember: Any traction control system helps avoid
only the acceleration skid. If the traction control system
is off, then an acceleration skid is best handled by
easing your foot off the accelerator pedal.
If the vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want
the vehicle to go. If you start steering quickly enough,
the vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready for a
second skid if it occurs.If the vehicle has StabiliTrak
®, the system may be
active. See StabiliTrak®System on page 5‑6.
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice,
gravel, or other material is on the road. For safety, slow
down and adjust your driving to these conditions. It is
important to slow down on slippery surfaces because
stopping distance will be longer and vehicle control
more limited.
While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try
your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration,
or braking, including reducing vehicle speed by shifting
to a lower gear. Any sudden changes could cause the
tires to slide. You may not realize the surface is slippery
until the vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warning
clues —such as enough water, ice, or packed snow on
the road to make a mirrored surface —and slow down
when you have any doubt.
Remember: Antilock brakes help avoid only the
braking skid.
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