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
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Black plate (22,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit
This vehicle may come with a jack and spare tire or a
tire sealant and compressor kit. The kit can be used to
seal small punctures in the tread area of the tire.
SeeTire Sealant and Compressor Kit
on page 6‑75for
complete operating information.
If the vehicle came with a jack and spare tire, see
Changing a Flat Tire on page 6‑83.
Engine Oil Life System
The engine oil life system calculates engine oil life
based on vehicle use and displays a DIC message
when it is necessary to change the engine oil and filter.
The oil life system should be reset to 100% only
following an oil change.
Resetting the Oil Life System
1. Turn the ignition to ON/RUN, with the engine off.
2. Press the DIC INFO button until OIL LIFE REMAINING displays.
3. Press and hold the DIC INFO RESET button until 100% displays.
4. Turn the key to LOCK/OFF.
See Engine Oil Life System on page 6‑18.
Driving for Better Fuel Economy
Driving habits can affect fuel mileage. Here are some
driving tips to get the best fuel economy possible.
.Avoid fast starts and accelerate smoothly.
.Brake gradually and avoid abrupt stops.
.Avoid idling the engine for long periods of time.
.When road and weather conditions are
appropriate, use cruise control, if equipped.
.Always follow posted speed limits or drive more
slowly when conditions require.
.Keep vehicle tires properly inflated.
.Combine several trips into a single trip.
.Replace the vehicle's tires with the same TPC
Spec number molded into the tire's sidewall near
the size.
.Follow recommended scheduled maintenance.
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Black plate (25,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
Notice:Cranking the engine for long periods of
time, by returning the key to the START position
immediately after cranking has ended, can overheat
and damage the cranking motor, and drain the
battery. Wait at least 15 seconds between each try,
to let the cranking motor cool down.
2. If the engine does not start after 5‐10 seconds, especially in very cold weather (below 0°F or
−18°C), it could be flooded with too much gasoline.
Try pushing the accelerator pedal all the way to
the floor and holding it there as you hold the key in
START for up to a maximum of 15 seconds. Wait
at least 15 seconds between each try, to allow the
cranking motor to cool down. When the engine
starts, let go of the key and accelerator. If the
vehicle starts briefly but then stops again, repeat
these steps. This clears the extra gasoline from the
engine. Do not race the engine immediately after
starting it. Operate the engine and transmission
gently until the oil warms up and lubricates all
moving parts. Notice:
The engine is designed to work with the
electronics in the vehicle. If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could change the way
the engine operates. Before adding electrical
equipment, check with your dealer. If you do not,
the engine might not perform properly. Any
resulting damage would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
Engine Coolant Heater
The engine coolant heater can provide easier starting
and better fuel economy during engine warm‐up in cold
weather conditions at or below 0°F (−18°C). Vehicles
with an engine coolant heater should be plugged in at
least four hours before starting.
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Black plate (62,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
BATTERY VOLTAGE
This display shows the current battery voltage. If the
voltage is in the normal range, the value will display. For
example, the display may read BATTERY VOLTAGE
13.2 VOLTS. If the voltage is low, the display will show
LOW. If the voltage is high, the display will show HIGH.
Your vehicle's charging system regulates voltage based
on the state of the battery. The battery voltage may
fluctuate when viewing this information on the DIC. This
is normal. SeeCharging System Light
on page 4‑49for
more information.
If there is a problem with the battery charging system,
the DIC will display a message. See DIC Warnings
and Messages
on page 4‑65and Electric Power
Managementon page 4‑32for more information.
Blank Display
This display shows no information.
Vehicle Information Display Menu Items
T
(Vehicle Information): The following display
menu items can be displayed by pressing the vehicle
information button:
OIL LIFE REMAINING
If the vehicle has this display, it shows the estimated oil
life remaining. If you see 99% OIL LIFE REMAINING on
the display, that means that 99% of the current oil life
remains.
When the oil life is depleted, the CHANGE ENGINE OIL
SOON message will appear on the display. You should
change the oil as soon as possible. In addition to the
engine oil life system monitoring the oil life, additional
maintenance is recommended in the Maintenance
Schedule in this manual. See Scheduled Maintenance
on page 7‑3andEngine Oil on page 6‑15.
Remember, you must reset the OIL LIFE yourself after
each oil change. It will not reset itself. Also, be careful
not to reset the OIL LIFE accidentally at any time other
than when the oil has just been changed. It cannot be
reset accurately until the next oil change. To reset the
engine oil life system, See Engine Oil Life System
on
page 6‑18. The display will show 100% when the
system is reset.
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Black plate (66,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
This message displays when service is required for
your vehicle. See your dealer. SeeEngine Oilon
page 6‑15and Scheduled Maintenanceon page 7‑3for more information.
When you reset the CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message by clearing it from the display, you still must
reset the engine oil life system separately. For more
information on resetting the engine oil life system, see
Engine Oil Life System on page 6‑18.
CHECK TIRE PRESSURE or ADD AIR
TO TIRE
On vehicles with the Tire Pressure Monitor System
(TPMS), this message displays when the pressure in
one or more of the vehicle's tires is low. This message
also displays LEFT FRONT, RIGHT FRONT, LEFT
REAR, or RIGHT REAR to indicate which tire needs to
be checked. The low tire pressure warning light will also
come on. See Tire Pressure Light
on page 4‑54. If a
tire pressure message appears on the DIC, stop as
soon as you can. Have the tire pressures checked and
set to those shown on the Tire Loading Information
label. See Tires
on page 6‑48,Loading the Vehicleon
page 5‑18, and Inflation - Tire Pressureon page 6‑57.You can receive more than one tire pressure message
at a time. To read the other messages that may have
been sent at the same time, press the set/reset button.
The DIC also shows the tire pressure values. See
DIC
Operation and Displays
on page 4‑60.
CLEAN RADAR
This message displays when the Adaptive Cruise
Control (ACC) system and the Forward Collision Alert
(FCA) system are disabled because the radar is
blocked and cannot detect vehicles in your path. It may
also activate during heavy rain or due to road spray. To
clean the system, see “Cleaning the System” under
Adaptive Cruise Control on page 4‑14.
CRUISE SET TO XXX MPH (km/h)
This message displays whenever the cruise control is
set. See Cruise Controlon page 4‑12andAdaptive
Cruise Controlon page 4‑14for more information.
If your vehicle has Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), after
a few seconds, this message clears and the message
“SET SPD XX” displays at the bottom of the DIC. See
“SET SPD (Speed)” later in this section.
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Black plate (6,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
Otherwise, you could damage the engine. If heavy
knocking is heard when using gasoline rated
at 87 octane or higher, the engine needs service.
Gasoline Specifications
At a minimum, gasoline should meet ASTM
specification D 4814 in the United States or
CAN/CGSB‐3.5 or 3.511 in Canada. Some
gasolines contain an octane-enhancing additive
called methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl
(MMT). We recommend against the use of gasolines
containing MMT. SeeAdditives
on page 6‑6for
additional information.
California Fuel
If the vehicle is certified to meet California Emissions
Standards, it is designed to operate on fuels that meet
California specifications. See the underhood emission
control label. If this fuel is not available in states
adopting California emissions standards, the vehicle
will operate satisfactorily on fuels meeting federal
specifications, but emission control system performance
might be affected. The malfunction indicator lamp could
turn on and the vehicle might fail a smog‐check test. See
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
on page 4‑54. If this
occurs, return to your authorized dealer for diagnosis.
If it is determined that the condition is caused by the
type of fuel used, repairs might not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
Additives
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines in the United States
are now required to contain additives that help prevent
engine and fuel system deposits from forming, allowing
the emission control system to work properly. In most
cases, nothing should have to be added to the fuel.
However, some gasolines contain only the minimum
amount of additive required to meet U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency regulations. To help keep fuel
injectors and intake valves clean, or if the vehicle
experiences problems due to dirty injectors or valves,
look for gasoline that is advertised as TOP TIER
Detergent Gasoline.
For customers who do not use TOP TIER Detergent
Gasoline regularly, one bottle of GM Fuel System
Treatment PLUS, added to the fuel tank at every engine
oil change, can help clean deposits from fuel injectors
and intake valves. GM Fuel System Treatment PLUS is
the only gasoline additive recommended by General
Motors.
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Black plate (15,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
A.Underhood Fuse Block on page 6‑104.
B. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. See Jump Starting
on page 6‑38.
C. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding
Washer Fluid” underWindshield Washer Fluid
on
page 6‑32.
D. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Engine Coolant on page 6‑26.
E. Remote Negative (−) Terminal. See Jump Starting
on page 6‑38.
F. Power Steering Fluid on page 6‑32.
G. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
under Engine Oil on page 6‑15.
H. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
under Engine Oil on page 6‑15.
I. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake
Fluid” under Brakes on page 6‑33.
J. Automatic Transmission Fluid Cap and Dipstick (Out of View). See Automatic Transmission Fluid
on page 6‑21.
K. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on page 6‑19.
Engine Oil
To ensure proper engine performance and long life,
careful attention must be paid to engine oil. Following
these simple, but important steps will help protect your
investment:
.Always use engine oil approved to the proper
specification and of the proper viscosity grade. See
“Selecting the Right Engine Oil.”
.Check the engine oil level regularly and maintain
the proper oil level. See “Checking Engine Oil”and
“When to Add Engine Oil.”
.Change the engine oil at the appropriate time. See
Engine Oil Life System on page 6‑18.
.Always dispose of engine oil properly. See “What
to Do With Used Oil.”
Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check the engine oil level at each
fuel fill. In order to get an accurate reading, the vehicle
must be on level ground. The engine oil dipstick handle
is a yellow loop. See Engine Compartment Overview
on
page 6‑14for the location of the engine oil dipstick.
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Black plate (17,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
Your vehicle was filled at the factory with dexos™
approved engine oil.
Notice:Use only engine oil that is approved to the
dexos™ specification or an equivalent engine oil
of the appropriate viscosity grade. Engine oils
approved to the dexos™ specification will show the
dexos™ symbol on the container. Failure to use the
recommended engine oil or equivalent can result in
engine damage not covered by the vehicle warranty.
If you are unsure whether your oil is approved to
the dexos™ specification, ask your service provider.
Use of Substitute Engine Oils if dexos™ is unavailable:
In the event that dexos™ approved engine oil is not
available at an oil change or for maintaining proper oil
level, you may use substitute engine oil displaying the
API Starburst symbol and of SAE 5W-30 viscosity
grade. Use of oils that do not meet the dexos™
specification, however, may result in reduced
performance under certain circumstances.
Viscosity Grade
SAE 5W-30 is the best viscosity grade for the vehicle.
Do not use other viscosity oils such as SAE 10W‐30,
10W‐40, or 20W-50.
Cold Temperature Operation: In an area of extreme
cold, where the temperature falls below −29°C
(−20°F), an SAE 0W-30 oil should be used.
An oil of this viscosity grade will provide easier cold
starting for the engine at extremely low temperatures.
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