Page 208 of 470
Black plate (46,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
Speedometer and Odometer
The speedometer shows the speed in both miles
per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour (km/h). See
“MPH (km)”underDIC Operation and Displays
on
page 4‑60for more information.
The odometer mileage can be checked without the
vehicle running. The vehicle's odometer works together
with the driver information center. Trip A and Trip B can
be set on the odometer. See “Trip Fuel”underDIC
Operation and Displays
on page 4‑60for more
information.
If the vehicle ever needs a new odometer installed, the
new one is set to the correct mileage total of the old
odometer.
Tachometer
This gauge indicates
the engine speed
in revolutions per
minute (rpm).
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Black plate (47,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
Safety Belt Reminders
Driver Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the engine is started, a chime sounds for
several seconds to remind a driver to fasten the safety
belt, unless the driver safety belt is already buckled.
The safety belt light
comes on and stays on
for several seconds, then
flashes for several more.
This chime and light are repeated if the driver remains
unbuckled and the vehicle is in motion. If the driver
safety belt is already buckled, neither the chime nor the
light comes on.
Passenger Safety Belt Reminder Light
For vehicles equipped with the passenger safety belt
reminder light, several seconds after the engine is
started, a chime sounds for several seconds to remind
the front passenger to buckle their safety belt. The
passenger safety belt light, located on the instrument
panel, comes on and stays on for several seconds and
then flashes for several more.
This chime and light are
repeated if the passenger
remains unbuckled and
the vehicle is in motion.
If the passenger safety belt is buckled, neither the
chime nor the light comes on.
The front passenger safety belt warning light and chime
may turn on if an object is put on the seat such as a
briefcase, handbag, grocery bag, laptop or other
electronic device. To turn off the warning light and or
chime, remove the object from the seat or buckle the
safety belt.
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Black plate (48,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
Airbag Readiness Light
The system checks the airbag's electrical system for
possible malfunctions. If the light stays on it indicates
there is an electrical problem. The system check
includes the airbag sensor, the pretensioners, the
airbag modules, the wiring and the crash sensing and
diagnostic module. For more information on the airbag
system, seeAirbag System on page 2‑54.
The airbag readiness light
flashes for a few seconds
when the engine is
started. If the light does
not come on then, have it
fixed immediately.
{WARNING:
If the airbag readiness light stays on after the
vehicle is started or comes on while driving, it
means the airbag system might not be working
properly. The airbags in the vehicle might not
inflate in a crash, or they could even inflate
without a crash. To help avoid injury, have the
vehicle serviced right away. If there is a problem with the airbag system, an airbag
Driver Information Center (DIC) message can also
come on. See
DIC Warnings and Messages
on
page 4‑65for more information.
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator
The vehicle has the passenger sensing system. See
Passenger Sensing Systemon page 2‑64for important
safety information. The overhead console has a
passenger airbag status indicator.
United StatesCanada
When the vehicle is started, the passenger airbag
status indicator will light ON and OFF, or the symbol for
on and off, for several seconds as a system check.
If you are using remote start to start the vehicle from a
distance, if equipped, you may not see the system
check.
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Black plate (49,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
Then, after several more seconds, the status indicator
will light either ON or OFF, or either the on or off
symbol, to let you know the status of the right front
passenger frontal and seat-mounted side impact
airbags.
If the word ON or the on symbol is lit on the passenger
airbag status indicator, it means that the right front
passenger frontal airbag and seat-mounted side impact
airbag are enabled (may inflate).
If the word OFF or the off symbol is lit on the passenger
airbag status indicator, it means that the passenger
sensing system has turned off the right front passenger
frontal and seat‐mounted side impact airbag.
If, after several seconds, both status indicator lights
remain on, or if there are no lights at all, there may be
a problem with the lights or the passenger sensing
system. See your dealer 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 4‑48
for more information, including important safety
information.
Charging System Light
This light comes on briefly
when the ignition key is
turned to START, but the
engine is not running, as
a check to show it is
working.
If it does not, have the vehicle serviced by your dealer.
The light should go out once the engine starts. If it stays
on, or comes on while driving, there could be a problem
with the charging system. A charging system message
in the Driver Information Center (DIC) can also appear.
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Black plate (50,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
SeeDIC Warnings and Messageson page 4‑65for
more information. This light could indicate that there are
problems with a generator drive belt, or that there is an
electrical problem. Have it checked right away. If the
vehicle must be driven a short distance with the light
on, turn off accessories, such as the radio and air
conditioner.
Brake System Warning Light
The vehicle brake system consists of two hydraulic
circuits. If one circuit is not working, the remaining
circuit can still work to stop the vehicle. For normal
braking performance, both circuits need to be working.
If the warning light comes on, there is a brake problem.
Have the brake system inspected right away.
EnglishMetric
This light comes on briefly when the engine is turned
on. If it does not come on then, have it fixed so it will be
ready to warn if there is a problem. When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
also comes on when the parking brake is set. The light
will stay on if the parking brake does not release fully.
If it stays on after the parking brake is fully released, it
means there is a brake problem.
If the light comes on while driving, pull off the road and
stop carefully.The pedal may be harder to push, or the
pedal may go closer to the floor. It may take longer to
stop. If the light is still on, have the vehicle towed for
service. See
Towing 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.
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Black plate (51,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
Warning Light
For vehicles with the
Antilock Brake System
(ABS), this light comes on
briefly when the engine is
started.
If it does not, have the vehicle serviced by your dealer.
If the system is working normally the indicator light then
goes off.
If the ABS light stays on, turn the ignition off. If the light
comes on while driving, stop as soon as it is safely
possible and turn the ignition off. Then start the engine
again to reset the system. If the ABS light stays on,
or comes on again while driving, the vehicle needs
service. If the regular brake system warning light is not
on, the vehicle still has brakes, but not antilock brakes.
If the regular brake system warning light is also on, the
vehicle does not have antilock brakes and there is a
problem with the regular brakes. See Brake System
Warning Light on page 4‑50. For vehicles with a Driver Information Center (DIC), see
DIC Warnings and Messages
on page 4‑65for all
brake related DIC messages.
Traction Control System (TCS)
Warning Light
This warning light comes
on briefly while starting
the engine.
If it does not, have the vehicle serviced by your dealer.
If the system is working normally the indicator light will
then go off.
If it stays on, or comes on while driving, there may be a
problem with the traction control system and the vehicle
needs service. When this warning light is on, the
system will not limit wheel spin.
If the traction control system warning light comes on
and stays on when the system is turned on, the vehicle
needs service. See Traction Control System (TCS)
on
page 5‑6for more information.
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Black plate (52,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
StabiliTrak®Indicator Light
For vehicles with the
StabiliTrak®system, this
light comes on briefly
while starting the engine.
If it does not, have the vehicle serviced by your dealer.
If the system is working normally the indicator light then
goes off.
If the light comes on and stays on while driving, there
could be a problem with the StabiliTrak
®system and the
vehicle might need service. When this warning light is
on, the StabiliTrak
®system is off and does not limit
wheel spin.
The light flashes if the system is active and is working
to assist the driver with directional control of the vehicle
in difficult driving conditions.
See StabiliTrak
®Systemon page 5‑6for more
information.
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) Light
For vehicles with the
lane departure warning
system, this light briefly
comes on green while
starting the vehicle.
If it does not, have the vehicle serviced by your dealer.
If the system is working normally the indicator light then
goes off.
This light also comes on green if the system detects a
left or right lane marking. It flashes, changes to amber,
and three beeps sound, if a detected lane marking
is crossed without using a turn signal. For more
information, see the Index in the Navigation Manual.
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Page 215 of 470
Black plate (53,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
Engine Coolant Temperature
Warning Light
The engine coolant
temperature warning light
comes on when the
engine is very hot.
This light also comes on briefly when the vehicle is
started.
If the light does not go out or comes on and stays on
while driving, there may be a problem with the cooling
system. Driving with engine coolant temperature light on
could cause the vehicle to overheat, see Overheated
Engine Protection Operating Mode
on page 6‑31. See
Engine Overheatingon page 6‑29and DIC Warnings
and Messageson page 4‑65for more information.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge
This gauge shows
the engine coolant
temperature.
It indicates when the engine has warmed up and if
the cooling system is operating properly. If the gauge
pointer moves into the shaded area, the engine coolant
is too hot and the engine coolant temperature warning
light comes on. See Engine Overheating
on page 6‑29for more information.
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