2011 CADILLAC DTS trailer

Black plate (22,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
Starting and Operating Your
Vehicle
New Vehicle Break-In
Notice:The vehicle does not need an elaborate
break-in. But it will perform better in the long run if
you follow these guidelines:
.Do not drive at any one constant speed,
fast or slow, for the first 500 miles (805 km).
Do not make full-throttle starts. Avoid
downshifting to brake or slow the vehicle.
.Avoid making hard stops for the first
200 miles (322 km) or so. During this time the
new brake linings are not yet broken in. Hard
stops with new linings can mean premature
wear and earlier replacement. Follow this
breaking-in guideline every time you get new
brake linings.
.Do not tow a trailer during break-in. See
Towing a Trailer
on page 5‑26for the trailer
towing capabilities of your vehicle and more
information.
Following break‐in, engine speed and load can be
gradually increased.
Ignition Positions
The ignition switch has four different positions:
In order to shift out of P (Park), ignition must be in the
ON/RUN or ACC/ACCESSORY and the brake pedal
must be applied.
Notice: Using a tool to force the key to turn in the
ignition could cause damage to the switch or break
the key. Use the correct key, make sure it is all the
way in, and turn it only with your hand. If the key
cannot be turned by hand, see your dealer.
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Black plate (27,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
{WARNING:
It is dangerous to get out of the vehicle if the shift
lever is not fully in P (Park) with the parking brake
firmly set. The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured. To be sure the
vehicle will not move, even when you are on fairly
level ground, always set the parking brake and
move the shift lever to P (Park). SeeShifting Into
Park
on page 3‑30. If you are pulling a trailer,
see Towing a Trailer on page 5‑26. Make sure the shift lever is fully in P (Park) before
starting the engine. The vehicle has an automatic
transmission shift lock control system. You have to
fully apply the regular brakes before you can shift from
P (Park) while the ignition key is in ON/RUN. If you
cannot shift out of P (Park), ease pressure on the shift
lever. Push the shift lever all the way into P (Park) as
you maintain brake application. Then move the shift
lever into another gear. See
Shifting Out of Park
on
page 3‑32.
R (Reverse): Use this gear to back up.
Notice: Shifting to R (Reverse) while the vehicle is
moving forward could damage the transmission.
The repairs would not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Shift to R (Reverse) only after the vehicle
is stopped.
Also use this gear to rock the vehicle back and forth
to get out of snow, ice or sand without damaging the
transmission. See If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand,
Mud, Ice, or Snow
on page 5‑17for additional
information.
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Black plate (28,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
N (Neutral):In this position, the engine does not
connect with the wheels. To restart when you are
already moving, use N (Neutral) only. Also, use
N (Neutral) when the vehicle is being towed.
{WARNING:
Shifting into a drive gear while the engine is
running at high speed is dangerous. Unless your
foot is firmly on the brake pedal, the vehicle could
move very rapidly. You could lose control and hit
people or objects. Do not shift into a drive gear
while the engine is running at high speed.
Notice: Shifting out of P (Park) or N (Neutral) with
the engine running at high speed may damage the
transmission. The repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Be sure the engine is not
running at high speed when shifting the vehicle. D (Drive):
This position is for normal driving. It provides
the best fuel economy for the vehicle. If you need more
power for passing, and you are:
.Going less than 35 mph (55 km/h), push the
accelerator pedal about halfway down.
.Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push the
accelerator all the way down.
The transmission will shift down to the next gear
and have more power.
Downshifting the transmission in slippery road
conditions could result in skidding, see Skidding under
Loss of Control on page 5‑10.
Notice: Driving the vehicle if you notice that it is
moving slowly or not shifting gears as you increase
speed may damage the transmission. Have the
vehicle serviced right away. You can drive in
2 (Second) when you are driving less than 35 mph
(55 km/h) and D (Drive) for higher speeds until then.
D (Drive) can be used for towing. You may want to shift
the transmission to 3 (Third) or, if necessary, to a lower
gear if the transmission shifts too often under heavy
loads and/or hilly conditions.
See Towing a Trailer
on page 5‑26for more
information.
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Black plate (29,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
3 (Third):This position is also used for normal driving.
However, it reduces vehicle speed more than D (Drive)
without using the brakes. You might choose 3 (Third)
instead of D (Drive) when driving on hilly, winding roads,
when towing a trailer, so there is less shifting between
gears and when going down a steep hill.
2 (Second): This position reduces vehicle speed more
than 3 (Third) without using the brakes. You can use
2 (Second) on hills. It can help control vehicle speed as
you go down steep mountain roads, but then you would
also want to use the brakes off and on.
Notice: Do not shift into 2 (Second) unless you are
going slower than 65 mph (105 km/h), or you can
damage the engine and/or transmission.
1 (First): This position reduces vehicle speed even
more than 2 (Second) without using the brakes. You can
use it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud. If the
shift lever is put in 1 (First) while the vehicle is moving
forward, the transmission will not shift into first gear until
the vehicle is going slowly enough.
Notice: Spinning the tires or holding the vehicle in
one place on a hill using only the accelerator pedal
may damage the transmission. The repair will not be
covered by the vehicle warranty. If you are stuck, do
not spin the tires. When stopping on a hill, use the
brakes to hold the vehicle in place.Performance Shifting
If the vehicle has this feature, it can detect a change in
driving patterns. If you make an aggressive driving
maneuver, the vehicle's transmission automatically
shifts to the lowest possible gear to maximize vehicle
performance. The vehicle will automatically return to
normal operation when you return to normal driving
patterns.
Parking Brake
The parking brake pedal
is located to the left of the
regular brake pedal, near
the driver door.
To set the parking brake, hold the regular brake pedal
down, then push the parking brake pedal down.
If the ignition is on, the brake system warning light on
the instrument panel cluster should come on. If it does
not, you need to have the vehicle serviced.
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Black plate (30,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
A warning chime will sound if the parking brake is set,
the ignition is on, and the vehicle speed is greater than
5 mph (8 km/h). The brake light will come on and stay
on until the parking brake is released. SeeBrake
System Warning Light
on page 4‑50for more
information.
To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down, then push the parking brake pedal down.
When you lift your foot off the parking brake pedal, the
pedal will follow your foot to the released position.
Notice: Driving with the parking brake on can
overheat the brake system and cause premature
wear or damage to brake system parts. Make sure
that the parking brake is fully released and the
brake warning light is off before driving.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on any hill,
see Towing a Trailer on page 5‑26.
Shifting Into Park
{WARNING:
It can be dangerous to get out of the vehicle if the
shift lever is not fully in P (Park) with the parking
brake firmly set. The vehicle can roll. If you have
left the engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be injured. To be
sure the vehicle will not move, even when you are
on fairly level ground, use the steps that follow.
If you are pulling a trailer, see Towing a Trailer
on
page 5‑26
.
Steering Column Shift Lever
If the vehicle has a steering column shift lever, use this
procedure to shift the vehicle into P (Park):
1. Hold the brake pedal down.
2. Move the shift lever into P (Park) by pulling the shift lever toward you and moving it up as far as it
will go.
3. With your foot still holding the brake pedal down, set the parking brake. See Parking Brake
on
page 3‑29for more information.
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Black plate (34,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
Running the Vehicle While Parked
It is better not to park with the engine running. But if you
ever have to, here are some things to know.
{WARNING:
Idling a vehicle in an enclosed area with poor
ventilation is dangerous. Engine exhaust may
enter the vehicle. Engine exhaust contains
Carbon Monoxide (CO) which cannot be seen or
smelled. It can cause unconsciousness and even
death. Never run the engine in an enclosed area
that has no fresh air ventilation. For more
information, seeEngine Exhaust on page 3‑33.
{WARNING:
It can be dangerous to get out of the vehicle if the
automatic transmission shift lever is not fully in
P (Park) with the parking brake firmly set. The
vehicle can roll. Do not leave the vehicle when the
engine is running unless you have to. If you have
left the engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be injured. To be
sure the vehicle will not move, even when you are
on fairly level ground, always set the parking
brake after you move the shift lever to P (Park).
Follow the proper steps to be sure the vehicle will not
move. See Shifting Into Park on page 3‑30.
If parking on a hill and pulling a trailer, see Towing a
Trailer on page 5‑26.
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Black plate (41,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
Backing
Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist (URPA) comes on
automatically when the shift lever is moved into
R (Reverse). The rear display will then briefly illuminate
to let you know the system is working.
The following describes what will occur with the rear
display as you get closer to an object detected in the
rear of your vehicle:Description Metric English
amber light 2.5 m 8 ft.
amber/amber lights 1.0 m 40 in.
amber/amber/red lights and continuous beeping for five seconds 0.6 m 23 in.
amber/amber/red lights
flashing and continuous
beeping for five seconds 0.3 m 1 ft.
The system can be disabled through the Driver
Information Center (DIC). See
“Parking Assist”under
DIC Operation and Displays
on page 4‑60for more
information.
When the System Does Not Seem to
Work Properly
If the URPA system will not activate due to a temporary
condition, the message PARK ASSIST OFF will be
displayed on the DIC and a red light will be shown on
the rear URPA display when the shift lever is moved
into R (Reverse). This occurs under the following
conditions:
.The driver disables the system.
.The ultrasonic sensors are not clean. Keep the
vehicle's rear bumper free of mud, dirt, snow, ice
and slush. For cleaning instructions, see Washing
Your Vehicle on page 6‑98.
.A trailer was attached to the vehicle, or a bicycle or
an object was hanging out of the trunk during the
last drive cycle, the red light may illuminate in the
rear display. Once the attached object is removed,
URPA will return to normal operation.
.A tow bar is attached to the vehicle.
.The vehicle's bumper is damaged. Take the vehicle
to your dealer to repair the system.
.Other conditions may affect system performance,
such as vibrations from a jackhammer or the
compression of air brakes on a very large truck.
If the system is still disabled after driving forward at
least 25 km/h (15 mph), take the vehicle to your dealer.
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Black plate (43,1)Cadillac DTS Owner Manual - 2011
The SBZA detection zones do not change if the vehicle
is towing a trailer. So be extra careful when changing
lanes while towing a trailer.
How the System Works
Left Side Mirror DisplayRight Side Mirror Display
When the vehicle is started, both outside mirror displays
will briefly come on to indicate that the system is
operating. While driving forward, the left or right side
mirror SBZA display will light up if a vehicle is detected
in that blind zone. If you activate a turn signal and a
vehicle has been detected on the same side, the SBZA
display will flash to give you extra warning not to
change lanes.
SBZA displays do not come on while the vehicle is
approaching or passing other vehicles. At speeds
greater then 20 mph (32 km/h), SBZA displays may
come on when a vehicle you have passed remains in or
drops back into the detection zone. SBZA can be disabled through the Driver Information
Center (DIC). See
Driver Information Center (DIC)
on
page 4‑59for more information. If the SBZA is disabled
by the driver, the SBZA mirror displays will not light up
during normal driving.
When the System Does Not Seem To Work
Properly
Occasional missed alerts can occur under normal
circumstances and will increase in wet conditions.
The system does not need to be serviced due to an
occasional missed alert. The number of missed alerts
will increase with increased rainfall or road spray.
If the SBZA displays do not light up when the system is
on and vehicles are in the blind zone, the system may
need service. Take the vehicle to your dealer.
SBZA is designed to ignore stationary objects; however,
the system may occasionally light up due to guard rails,
signs, trees, shrubs, and other stationary objects. This
is normal system operation, the vehicle does not need
service.
SBZA does not operate when the left or right corners of
the rear bumper are covered with mud, dirt, snow, ice,
slush, or in heavy rainstorms. For cleaning instructions,
see Washing Your Vehicle
on page 6‑98. If the DIC
still displays the SIDE BLIND ZONE SYSTEM
UNAVAILABLE message after cleaning the bumper,
see your dealer.
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