Page 401 of 470

Black plate (91,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
5-Wheel Nuts8-Wheel Nuts
14. Tighten the wheel nuts firmly in a crisscross sequence as shown.
If your vehicle is equipped with wheel nut covers,
screw the nut covers on with your fingers, then
tighten one-quarter turn with the wheel wrench.
Notice: Wheel covers will not fit on your vehicle's
compact spare. If you try to put a wheel cover on
the compact spare, the cover or the spare could be
damaged.
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and
Tools
{WARNING:
Storing a jack, a tire, or other equipment in the
passenger compartment of the vehicle could
cause injury. In a sudden stop or collision, loose
equipment could strike someone. Store all these
in the proper place.
After you have put the spare tire on your vehicle, store
the flat tire in your trunk.
Store the flat tire as far forward in the trunk as possible.
Store the jack and wheel wrench in their compartment
in the trunk. For storage, the jack must be raised until
the screw end is flush with the edge of the jack.
The compact spare is for temporary use only. Replace
the compact spare tire with a full-size tire as soon as
you can.
6-91
Page 402 of 470
Black plate (92,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
A. Cover
B. Wing Nut
C. Retainer
D. Jack and Wheel Wrench E. Jack Container F. Spare Tire
G. Bolt 1. Open the trunk. See Trunk on page 3‑12.
2. Reinstall the spare tire (F), face down, making sure to line up the wheel center hole with the bolt (G)
and place it on the compartment floor.
3. Insert the jack container (E) into the spare tire (F). Then insert the jack and wheel wrench (D) into
the center of the spare tire making sure to line
up the wheel nut hole with the bolt (G) on the
compartment floor.
4. Secure the spare tire and the jack container with the retainer (C) and then the wing nut (B).
5. Reinstall the spare tire cover (A).
6-92
Page 403 of 470

Black plate (93,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
Spare Tire
Compact Spare Tire
{WARNING:
Driving with more than one compact spare tire at
a time could result in loss of braking and handling.
This could lead to a crash and you or others could
be injured. Use only one compact spare tire at
a time.
This vehicle may have a compact spare tire. Although
the compact spare tire was fully inflated when the
vehicle was new, it can lose air after a time. Check
the inflation pressure regularly. It should be 60 psi
(420 kPa). After installing the compact spare on the vehicle, stop
as soon as possible and make sure the spare tire is
correctly inflated. The compact spare is made to
perform well at speeds up to 65 mph (105 km/h) for
distances up to 3,000 miles (5 000 km), so you can
finish your trip and have the full-size tire repaired or
replaced at your convenience. Of course, it is best
to replace the spare with a full-size tire as soon as
possible. The spare tire will last longer and be in good
shape in case it is needed again.
Notice:
When the compact spare is installed, do not
take the vehicle through an automatic car wash with
guide rails. The compact spare can get caught on
the rails which can damage the tire, wheel and other
parts of the vehicle.
Do not use the compact spare on other vehicles.
And do not mix the compact spare tire or wheel with
other wheels or tires. They will not fit. Keep the spare
tire and its wheel together.
Notice: Tire chains will not fit the compact spare.
Using them can damage the vehicle and can
damage the chains too. Do not use tire chains on
the compact spare.
6-93
Page 404 of 470

Black plate (94,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
Spare Tire
This vehicle may have a spare tire, which, when new,
was fully inflated. A spare tire may lose air over time, so
check its inflation pressure regularly. SeeInflation - Tire
Pressure
on page 6‑57and Loading the Vehicleon
page 5‑18for information regarding proper tire inflation
and loading your vehicle. For instructions on how to
remove, install or store a spare tire, see Removing the
Flat Tire and Installing the Spare Tire on page 6‑86.
After installing the spare tire on your vehicle, you should
stop as soon as possible and make sure the spare is
correctly inflated. Have the damaged or flat road tire
repaired or replaced as soon as you can and installed
back onto your vehicle. This way, a spare tire will be
available in case you need it again.
Your vehicle may have a different size spare tire than
the road tire originally installed on your vehicle. This
spare tire was developed for use on your vehicle, so it
is all right to drive on it.
If your vehicle has a spare tire that does not match your
vehicle's original road tires and wheels in size and type,
do not include the spare in the tire rotation.
Appearance Care
Interior Cleaning
The vehicle's interior will continue to look its best if it is
cleaned often. Although not always visible, dust and dirt
can accumulate on the upholstery. Dirt can damage
carpet, fabric, leather, and plastic surfaces. Regular
vacuuming is recommended to remove particles from
the upholstery. It is important to keep the upholstery
from becoming and remaining heavily soiled. Soils
should be removed as quickly as possible. The
vehicle's interior may experience extremes of heat
that could cause stains to set rapidly.
Lighter colored interiors may require more frequent
cleaning. Use care because newspapers and garments
that transfer color to home furnishings may also transfer
color to the vehicle's interior.
When cleaning the vehicle's interior, only use cleaners
specifically designed for the surfaces being cleaned.
Permanent damage may result from using cleaners
on surfaces for which they were not intended. Use
glass cleaner only on glass. Remove any accidental
over-spray from other surfaces immediately. To prevent
over-spray, apply cleaner directly to the cleaning cloth.
6-94
Page 405 of 470

Black plate (95,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
Notice:Using abrasive cleaners when cleaning
glass surfaces on the vehicle, could scratch the
glass and/or cause damage to the rear window
defogger. When cleaning the glass on the vehicle,
use only a soft cloth and glass cleaner.
Many cleaners contain solvents that may become
concentrated in the vehicle's breathing space.
Before using cleaners, read and adhere to all safety
instructions on the label. While cleaning the vehicle's
interior, maintain adequate ventilation by opening the
vehicle's doors and windows.
Dust may be removed from small buttons and knobs
using a small brush with soft bristles.
Products that remove odors from the vehicle's
upholstery and clean the vehicle's glass can be
obtained from your dealer.
Do not clean the vehicle using:
.A knife or any other sharp object to remove a soil
from any interior surface.
.A stiff brush. It can cause damage to the vehicle's
interior surfaces.
.Heavy pressure or aggressive rubbing with a
cleaning cloth. Use of heavy pressure can damage
the interior and does not improve the effectiveness
of soil removal.
.Laundry detergents or dishwashing soaps with
degreasers can leave residue that streaks and
attracts dirt. For liquid cleaners, about 20 drops per
gallon (3.78 L) of water is a good guide. Use only
mild, neutral-pH soaps.
.Too much cleaner that saturates the upholstery.
.Organic solvents such as naptha, alcohol, etc. that
can damage the vehicle's interior.
Fabric/Carpet
Use a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment
frequently to remove dust and loose dirt. A canister
vacuum with a beater bar in the nozzle may only be
used on floor carpet and carpeted floor mats. For any
soil, always try to remove it first with plain water or club
soda. Before cleaning, gently remove as much of the
soil as possible using one of the following techniques:
.For liquids: gently blot the remaining soil with a
paper towel. Allow the soil to absorb into the paper
towel until no more can be removed.
.For solid dry soils: remove as much as possible
and then vacuum.
To clean: 1. Saturate a lint-free, clean white cloth with water or club soda.
2. Wring the cloth to remove excess moisture.
6-95
Page 406 of 470

Black plate (96,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
3. Start on the outside edge of the soil and gently rubtoward the center. Continue cleaning, using a clean
area of the cloth each time it becomes soiled.
4. Continue to gently rub the soiled area until the cleaning cloth remains clean.
5. If the soil is not completely removed, use a mild soap solution and repeat the cleaning process that
was used with plain water.
If any of the soil remains, a commercial fabric cleaner
or spot lifter may be necessary. When a commercial
upholstery cleaner or spot lifter is to be used, test a
small hidden area for colorfastness first. If the locally
cleaned area gives any impression that a ring formation
may result, clean the entire surface.
After the cleaning process has been completed, a paper
towel can be used to blot excess moisture from the
fabric or carpet.
Leather
A soft cloth dampened with water can be used to
remove dust. If a more thorough cleaning is necessary,
a soft cloth dampened with a mild soap solution can
be used. Allow the leather to dry naturally. Do not use
heat to dry. Never use steam to clean leather. Never
use spot lifters or spot removers on leather. Many
commercial leather cleaners and coatings that are
sold to preserve and protect leather may permanently
change the appearance and feel of the leather and are not recommended. Do not use silicone or wax-based
products, or those containing organic solvents to
clean the vehicle's interior because they can alter the
appearance by increasing the gloss in a non-uniform
manner. Never use shoe polish on leather.
TEHAMA™
Leather
The leather surface on the seat was not designed to be
aggressively cleaned using any commercial product.
Use a well wrung cloth dampened with water to remove
dust. Do not use a wet cloth or saturate the leather
surface with water. Allow the leather to dry naturally. If a
soil occurs that cannot be completely removed, allow it
to become part of the natural markings of the leather.
The leather in the vehicle was designed to have a
natural appearance and develop a more vintage
appearance with use.
Do not use heat to dry. Never use steam to clean
leather. Never use spot lifters or spot removers on
leather. It is very important to not use any commercial
leather cleaners or coatings that are sold to preserve
and protect leather. Not only are those products not
necessary, they will permanently and adversely change
the appearance and feel of the leather. Never use
silicone or wax-based products, or those containing
organic solvents to clean the vehicle's interior. Never
use shoe polish on leather.
6-96
Page 407 of 470

Black plate (97,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces
A soft cloth dampened with water may be used to
remove dust. If a more thorough cleaning is necessary,
a clean soft cloth dampened with a mild soap solution
can be used to gently remove dust and dirt. Never use
spot lifters or removers on plastic surfaces. Many
commercial cleaners and coatings that are sold to
preserve and protect soft plastic surfaces may
permanently change the appearance and feel of the
interior and are not recommended. Do not use silicone
or wax-based products, or those containing organic
solvents to clean the vehicle's interior because they
can alter the appearance by increasing the gloss in a
non-uniform manner.
Some commercial products may increase gloss on the
instrument panel. The increase in gloss may cause
annoying reflections in the windshield and even make
it difficult to see through the windshield under certain
conditions.
Wood Panels
Use a clean cloth moistened in warm, soapy water (use
mild dish washing soap). Dry the wood immediately with
a clean cloth.
Speaker Covers
Vacuum around a speaker cover gently, so that the
speaker will not be damaged. Clean spots with just
water and mild soap.
Care of Safety Belts
Keep belts clean and dry.
{WARNING:
Do not bleach or dye safety belts. It may severely
weaken them. In a crash, they might not be able
to provide adequate protection. Clean safety belts
only with mild soap and lukewarm water.
Weatherstrips
Silicone grease on weatherstrips will make them last
longer, seal better, and not stick or squeak. Apply
silicone grease with a clean cloth. During very cold,
damp weather frequent application may be required.
SeeRecommended Fluids and Lubricants
on
page 7‑9.
6-97
Page 408 of 470

Black plate (98,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
Washing Your Vehicle
The best way to preserve the vehicle's finish is to keep
it clean by washing it often.
Notice:Certain cleaners contain chemicals that can
damage the emblems or nameplates on the vehicle.
Check the cleaning product label. If it states that it
should not be used on plastic parts, do not use it on
the vehicle or damage may occur and it would not
be covered by the warranty.
Do not wash the vehicle in direct sunlight. Use a car
washing soap. Do not use cleaning agents that are
petroleum based or that contain acid or abrasives, as
they can damage the paint, metal or plastic on the
vehicle. Approved cleaning products can be obtained
from your dealer. Follow all manufacturers' directions
regarding correct product usage, necessary safety
precautions and appropriate disposal of any vehicle
care product.
Rinse the vehicle well, before washing and after to
remove all cleaning agents completely. If they are
allowed to dry on the surface, they could stain.
Dry the finish with a soft, clean chamois or an all-cotton
towel to avoid surface scratches and water spotting. High pressure car washes may cause water to enter the
vehicle. Avoid using high pressure washes closer than
12 inches (30 cm) to the surface of the vehicle. Use of
power washers exceeding 1,200 psi (8 274 kPa) can
result in damage or removal of paint and decals.
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses
Use only lukewarm or cold water, a soft cloth and a
car washing soap to clean exterior lamps and lenses.
Follow instructions under
Washing Your Vehicle
on
page 6‑98.
Finish Care
Occasional waxing or mild polishing of the vehicle by
hand may be necessary to remove residue from the
paint finish. Approved cleaning products can be
obtained from your dealer.
If the vehicle has a basecoat/clearcoat paint finish, the
clearcoat gives more depth and gloss to the colored
basecoat. Always use waxes and polishes that are
non-abrasive and made for a basecoat/clearcoat paint
finish.
6-98