2011 CADILLAC DTS maintenance

Black plate (5,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
This vehicle has an airbag system. Before attempting
to do your own service work, seeServicing Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on page 2‑68.
Keep a record with all parts receipts and list the mileage
and the date of any service work performed. See
Maintenance Record on page 7‑12.
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
the Vehicle
Things added to the outside of the vehicle can affect
the airflow around it. This can cause wind noise and
can affect fuel economy and windshield washer
performance. Check with your dealer before adding
equipment to the outside of the vehicle.
Fuel
Use of the recommended fuel is an important part
of the proper maintenance of this vehicle. To help
keep the engine clean and maintain optimum vehicle
performance, we recommend the use of gasoline
advertised as TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline.
Look for the TOP TIER label on the fuel pump to ensure
gasoline meets enhanced detergency standards
developed by auto companies. A list of marketers
providing TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline can be found
at www.toptiergas.com.
Gasoline Octane
Use premium unleaded gasoline with a posted
octane rating of 91 or higher. You can also use
regular unleaded gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher,
but the vehicle's acceleration could be slightly reduced,
and a slight audible knocking noise, commonly referred
to as spark knock, might be heard. If the octane is less
than 87, you might notice a heavy knocking noise
when you drive. If this occurs, use a gasoline rated
at 87 octane or higher as soon as possible.
6-5

Black plate (19,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
How to Reset the Engine Oil Life
System
Reset the system whenever the engine oil is changed
so that the system can calculate the next engine oil
change. To reset the system:1. Turn the ignition to ON/RUN, with the engine off.
2. Press the DIC INFO button until OIL LIFE REMAINING displays. See DIC Operation and
Displays on page 4‑60.
3. Press and hold the DIC INFO RESET button until 100% displays.
4. Turn the key to LOCK/OFF.
If the CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON message comes
back on when the vehicle is started, the engine oil life
system has not been reset. Repeat the procedure.
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
See Engine Compartment Overviewon page 6‑14for
the location of the engine air cleaner/filter.
When to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
Inspect the air cleaner/filter at the scheduled
maintenance intervals and replace it at the first oil
change after each 50,000 mile (80 000 km) interval.
See Scheduled Maintenance
on page 7‑3for more
information. If you are driving in dusty/dirty conditions,
inspect the filter at each engine oil change.
How to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
To inspect the air cleaner/filter, remove the filter from
the vehicle and lightly shake the filter to release loose
dust and dirt. If the filter remains caked with dirt, a new
filter is required.
6-19

Black plate (21,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
Automatic Transmission Fluid
When to Check and Change Automatic
Transmission Fluid
A good time to check the automatic transmission fluid
level is when the engine oil is changed.
Change the fluid and filter at the intervals listed in
Scheduled Maintenance
on page 7‑3, and be sure to
use the transmission fluid listed in Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants on page 7‑9.
How to Check Automatic Transmission
Fluid
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you
may choose to have this done at the dealer service
department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow all the instructions
here or you could get a false reading on the dipstick. Notice:
Too much or too little fluid can damage the
transmission. Too much can mean that some of the
fluid could come out and fall on hot engine parts
or exhaust system parts, starting a fire. Too little
fluid could cause the transmission to overheat. Be
sure to get an accurate reading if checking the
transmission fluid.
Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the
transmission fluid level if you have been driving:
.When outside temperatures are above
32°C (90°F).
.At high speed for quite a while.
.In heavy traffic —especially in hot weather.
.While pulling a trailer.
To get the right reading, the fluid should be at normal
operating temperature, which is 82°C to 93°C
(180°F to 200°F).
Get the vehicle warmed up by driving about 24 km
(15 miles) when outside temperatures are above 10°C
(50°F). If it is colder than 10°C (50°F), you may have to
drive longer.
6-21

Black plate (23,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
4. Check both sides of the dipstick and read the lowerlevel. The fluid level must be in the
cross-hatched area.
5. If the fluid level is in the acceptable range, push the dipstick back in all the way and turn the handle
clockwise.
6. Reinstall the engine air cleaner/filter assembly.
How to Add Automatic Transmission
Fluid
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of transmission fluid to use. See Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants on page 7‑9. If the fluid level is low, add only enough of the proper
fluid to bring the level into the cross-hatched area on
the dipstick.
1. Pull out the dipstick.
2. Using a long-neck funnel, add enough fluid at the dipstick hole to bring it to the proper level.
It does not take much fluid, generally less than
one pint (0.5 L). Do not overfill.
Notice: Use of the incorrect automatic transmission
fluid may damage the vehicle, and the damages may
not be covered by the vehicle's warranty. Always
use the automatic transmission fluid listed in
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 7‑9.
3. After adding fluid, recheck the fluid level as described under “How to Check Automatic
Transmission Fluid,” earlier in this section.
4. When the correct fluid level is obtained, push the dipstick back in all the way and turn the handle
clockwise.
6-23

Black plate (46,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
Bulb Replacement
It is recommended that all bulbs be replaced by your
dealer.
High Intensity Discharge (HID)
Lighting
{WARNING:
The low beam high intensity discharge lighting
system operates at a very high voltage. If you try
to service any of the system components, you
could be seriously injured. Have your dealer or a
qualified technician service them.
The vehicle may have HID headlamps. After an HID
headlamp bulb has been replaced, you may notice that
the beam is a slightly different shade than it was
originally. This is normal.
Windshield Wiper Blade
Replacement
Windshield wiper blades should be inspected for wear
or cracking. See Scheduled Maintenanceon page 7‑3for more information on wiper blade inspection.
Replacement blades come in different types and are
removed in different ways. Here is how to remove the
wiper blade:
1. Turn the engine off.
2. Lift the windshield wiper arm and blade away from the windshield.
3. Pull the clip up from the blade connecting pointand pull the blade assembly down toward the
windshield to remove it from the wiper arm.
6-46

Black plate (47,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
4. Install the new wiper blade onto the wiper armand firmly press down on the clip to snap it into
place.
To remove and replace the wiper blade element: 1. The wiper blade element has two notches at one end which are engaged by the bottom claw set of
the wiper blade. At the notched end of the wiper
blade, pull the wiper blade element from the wiper
blade assembly.
2. Replace the element by starting at the heel end of the wiper blade, which is the end nearest to the
base of the wiper arm, and slide the wiper blade
element, notched end last, into the wiper blade
claw sets.
3. Engage the last claw into the notched end of the wiper blade element by squeezing the wiper blade
element at the notched area, and push the wiper
blade element so the claw fits into the notch.
4. Be sure the two wiper blade element notches are engaged by the last claw set and all the other
claws are properly engaged in the slots of the
wiper blade element on both sides.
A. Correct Installation
B. Incorrect Installation
For the proper type and size windshield wiper blades,
see Maintenance Replacement Parts on page 7‑10.
6-47

Black plate (60,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
Tire Pressure Monitor System
The Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) uses radio
and sensor technology to check tire pressure levels.
The TPMS sensors monitor the air pressure in your
vehicle's tires and transmit tire pressure readings to a
receiver located in the vehicle.
Each tire, including the spare (if provided), should be
checked monthly when cold and inflated to the inflation
pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer
on the vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure label.
(If your vehicle has tires of a different size than the size
indicated on the vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure
label, you should determine the proper tire inflation
pressure for those tires.)
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has been
equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system
(TPMS) that illuminates a low tire pressure telltale when
one or more of your tires is significantly under‐inflated.
Accordingly, when the low tire pressure telltale
illuminates, you should stop and check your tires
as soon as possible, and inflate them to the proper
pressure. Driving on a significantly under‐inflated tire
causes the tire to overheat and can lead to tire failure.
Under‐inflation also reduces fuel efficiency and tire
tread life, and may affect the vehicle's handling and
stopping ability.Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute for proper
tire maintenance, and it is the driver's responsibility to
maintain correct tire pressure, even if under‐inflation
has not reached the level to trigger illumination of the
TPMS low tire pressure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a TPMS
malfunction indicator to indicate when the system is not
operating properly. The TPMS malfunction indicator is
combined with the low tire pressure telltale. When the
system detects a malfunction, the telltale will flash
for approximately one minute and then remain
continuously illuminated. This sequence will continue
upon subsequent vehicle start‐ups as long as the
malfunction exists.
When the malfunction indicator is illuminated, the
system may not be able to detect or signal low tire
pressure as intended. TPMS malfunctions may occur
for a variety of reasons, including the installation of
replacement or alternate tires or wheels on the vehicle
that prevent the TPMS from functioning properly.
Always check the TPMS malfunction telltale after
replacing one or more tires or wheels on your vehicle to
ensure that the replacement or alternate tires and
wheels allow the TPMS to continue to function properly.
See
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation
on page 6‑61for
additional information.
6-60

Black plate (62,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
A Tire and Loading Information label, attached to
your vehicle, shows the size of your vehicle's original
equipment tires and the correct inflation pressure for
your vehicle's tires when they are cold. SeeLoading the
Vehicle
on page 5‑18, for an example of the Tire and
Loading Information label and its location on your
vehicle. Also see Inflation - Tire Pressure on page 6‑57.
Your vehicle's TPMS can warn you about a low tire
pressure condition but it does not replace normal tire
maintenance. See Tire Inspection and Rotation
on
page 6‑65and Tires on page 6‑48.
Notice: Tire sealant materials are not all the same.
A non-approved tire sealant could damage the Tire
Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) sensors. TPMS
sensor damage caused by using an incorrect tire
sealant is not covered by the vehicle warranty.
Always use only the GM approved tire sealant
available through your dealer or included in the
vehicle.
Factory-installed Tire Inflator Kits use a GM approved
liquid tire sealant. Using non-approved tire sealants
could damage the TPMS sensors. See Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit
on page 6‑75for information regarding
the inflator kit materials and instructions.
TPMS Malfunction Light and Message
The TPMS will not function properly if one or more of
the TPMS sensors are missing or inoperable. When the
system detects a malfunction, the low tire warning light
flashes for about one minute and then stays on for the
remainder of the ignition cycle. A DIC warning message
is also displayed. The low tire warning light and DIC
warning message come on at each ignition cycle until
the problem is corrected. Some of the conditions that
can cause the malfunction light and DIC message to
come on are:
.One of the road tires has been replaced with the
spare tire. The spare tire does not have a TPMS
sensor. The TPMS malfunction light and DIC
message should go off once you re‐install the road
tire containing the TPMS sensor.
.The TPMS sensor matching process was started
but not completed or not completed successfully
after rotating the vehicle's tires. The DIC message
and TPMS malfunction light should go off once the
TPMS sensor matching process is performed
successfully. See “TPMS Sensor Matching
Process” later in this section.
6-62