traction control CADILLAC DTS 2008 1.G Owner's Manual

Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out
First, turn the steering wheel left and right to clear
the area around the front wheels. Turn off any traction
or stability system. SeeTraction Control System
(TCS) on page 4-5andStabiliTrak
®System on
page 4-7. Then shift back and forth between
REVERSE (R) and a forward gear, spinning the wheels
as little as possible. To prevent transmission wear,
wait until the wheels stop spinning before shifting gears.
Release the accelerator pedal while you shift, and
press lightly on the accelerator pedal when the
transmission is in gear. By slowly spinning the wheels in
the forward and reverse directions, you will cause a
rocking motion that could free your vehicle. If that does
not get your vehicle out after a few tries, it might
need to be towed out. If your vehicle does need to be
towed out, seeTowing Your Vehicle on page 4-26.
Loading the Vehicle
It is very important to know how much weight your
vehicle can carry. This weight is called the vehicle
capacity weight and includes the weight of all
occupants, cargo, and all nonfactory-installed
options. Two labels on your vehicle show how much
weight it may properly carry, the Tire and Loading
Information label and the Certication label.
{CAUTION:
Do not load the vehicle any heavier than
the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR),
or either the maximum front or rear Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR). If you do,
parts on the vehicle can break, and it can
change the way your vehicle handles.
These could cause you to lose control
and crash. Also, overloading can shorten
the life of the vehicle.
4-20

Service
For service and parts needs, visit your dealer/retailer.
You will receive genuine GM parts and GM-trained and
supported service people.
Genuine GM parts have one of these marks:
Accessories and Modications
When non-dealer/non-retailer accessories are added to
your vehicle they can affect your vehicle’s performance
and safety, including such things as, airbags, braking,
stability, ride and handling, emissions systems,
aerodynamics, durability, and electronic systems like
antilock brakes, traction control and stability control.
Some of these accessories could even cause
malfunction or damage not covered by warranty.
GM Accessories are designed to complement and
function with other systems on your vehicle. Your GM
dealer/retailer can accessorize your vehicle using
genuine GM Accessories. When you go to your GM
dealer/retailer and ask for GM Accessories, you
will know that GM-trained and supported service
technicians will perform the work using genuine
GM Accessories.
Also, seeAdding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle on page 1-69.
5-3

You need new tires if any of the following statements
are true:
You can see the indicators at three or more places
around the tire.
You can see cord or fabric showing through the
tire’s rubber.
The tread or sidewall is cracked, cut, or snagged
deep enough to show cord or fabric.
The tire has a bump, bulge, or split.
The tire has a puncture, cut, or other damage that
cannot be repaired well because of the size or
location of the damage.
The rubber in tires degrades over time, even if they are
not being used. This is also true for the spare tire, if your
vehicle has one. Multiple conditions affect how fast this
aging takes place, including temperatures, loading
conditions, and ination pressure maintenance. With
proper care and maintenance tires will typically wear out
before they degrade due to age. If you are unsure about
the need to replace your tires as they get older, consult
the tire manufacturer for more information.
Buying New Tires
GM has developed and matched specic tires for
your vehicle. The original equipment tires installed
on your vehicle, when it was new, were designed
to meet General Motors Tire Performance Criteria
Specication (TPC Spec) system rating. If you need
replacement tires, GM strongly recommends that you
get tires with the same TPC Spec rating. This way,
your vehicle will continue to have tires that are designed
to give the same performance and vehicle safety,
during normal use, as the original tires.
GM’s exclusive TPC Spec system considers over a
dozen critical specications that impact the overall
performance of your vehicle, including brake system
performance, ride and handling, traction control, and
tire pressure monitoring performance. GM’s TPC Spec
number is molded onto the tire’s sidewall near the tire
size. If the tires have an all-season tread design, the TPC
Spec number will be followed by an MS for mud and
snow. SeeTire Sidewall Labeling on page 5-53for
additional information.
5-71

{CAUTION:
If you use bias-ply tires on your vehicle,
the wheel rim anges could develop
cracks after many miles of driving. A tire
and/or wheel could fail suddenly, causing
a crash. Use only radial-ply tires with the
wheels on your vehicle.
If you must replace your vehicle’s tires with those that
do not have a TPC Spec number, make sure they
are the same size, load range, speed rating, and
construction type (radial and bias-belted tires) as
your vehicle’s original tires.
Vehicles that have a tire pressure monitoring system
could give an inaccurate low-pressure warning if
non-TPC Spec rated tires are installed on your vehicle.
Non-TPC Spec rated tires may give a low-pressure
warning that is higher or lower than the proper warning
level you would get with TPC Spec rated tires.
SeeTire Pressure Monitor System on page 5-63.
Your vehicle’s original equipment tires are listed on
the Tire and Loading Information Label. SeeLoading
the Vehicle on page 4-20, for more information about the
Tire and Loading Information Label and its location on
your vehicle.
Different Size Tires and Wheels
If you add wheels or tires that are a different size than
your original equipment wheels and tires, this may affect
the way your vehicle performs, including its braking, ride
and handling characteristics, stability, and resistance
to rollover. Additionally, if your vehicle has electronic
systems such as, antilock brakes, traction control, and
electronic stability control, the performance of these
systems can be affected.
{CAUTION:
If you add different sized wheels, your
vehicle may not provide an acceptable
level of performance and safety if tires not
recommended for those wheels are selected.
You may increase the chance that you will crash
and suffer serious injury. Only use GM specic
wheel and tire systems developed for your
vehicle, and have them properly installed by
a GM certied technician.
SeeBuying New Tires on page 5-71andAccessories
and Modifications on page 5-3for additional information.
5-73

Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable on
the tire sidewall between tread shoulder and
maximum section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA
Temperature A
The following information relates to the system
developed by the United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which
grades tires by treadwear, traction, and
temperature performance. This applies only to
vehicles sold in the United States. The grades are
molded on the sidewalls of most passenger car
tires. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG)
system does not apply to deep tread, winter-type
snow tires, space-saver, or temporary use
spare tires, tires with nominal rim diameters of
10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm), or to some
limited-production tires.
While the tires available on General Motors
passenger cars and light trucks may vary with
respect to these grades, they must also conform
to federal safety requirements and additional
General Motors Tire Performance Criteria (TPC)
standards.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating
based on the wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a specied
government test course. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one and a half (1.5) times
as well on the government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative performance of tires
depends upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart signicantly from
the norm due to variations in driving habits, service
practices, and differences in road characteristics
and climate.
Traction – AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are
AA, A, B, and C. Those grades represent the tire’s
ability to stop on wet pavement as measured under
controlled conditions on specied government test
surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C
may have poor traction performance.
Warning
:The traction grade assigned to this
tire is based on straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction
characteristics.
5-74

Used Replacement Wheels
{CAUTION:
Putting a used wheel on the vehicle is
dangerous. You cannot know how it has been
used or how far it has been driven. It could fail
suddenly and cause a crash. If you have to
replace a wheel, use a new GM original
equipment wheel.
Tire Chains
{CAUTION:
Do not use tire chains. There is not enough
clearance. Tire chains used on a vehicle
without the proper amount of clearance can
cause damage to the brakes, suspension or
other vehicle parts. The area damaged by the
tire chains could cause you to lose control of
the vehicle and you or others may be injured
in a crash.
Use another type of traction device only if its
manufacturer recommends it for use on the
vehicle and tire size combination and road
conditions. Follow that manufacturer’s
instructions. To help avoid damage to the
vehicle, drive slowly, readjust or remove the
device if it is contacting the vehicle, and do
not spin the vehicle’s wheels. If you do nd
traction devices that will t, install them on
the front tires.
5-77

I
Ignition Positions.............................................2-23
Inadvertent Power Battery Saver.......................3-40
Infants and Young Children, Restraints...............1-34
Ination - Tire Pressure...................................5-60
Instrument Panel
Brightness..................................................3-37
Cluster.......................................................3-54
Overview..................................................... 3-4
J
Jump Starting.................................................5-42
K
Keyless Entry System....................................... 2-4
Keys............................................................... 2-3
L
Labeling, Tire Sidewall.....................................5-53
Lamps
Cornering...................................................3-37
Courtesy....................................................3-37
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver......................3-37
Footwell.....................................................3-38Lamps (cont.)
Inadvertent Power Battery Saver....................3-40
Reading.....................................................3-38
Lane Departure Warning..................................2-46
Lane Departure Warning Light..........................3-63
Lap Belt........................................................1-29
Lap-Shoulder Belt...........................................1-24
LATCH System
Child Restraints...........................................1-41
Light
Airbag Readiness........................................3-57
Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) Warning...........3-61
Brake System Warning.................................3-60
Charging System.........................................3-60
Cruise Control.............................................3-68
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning.............3-63
Fog Lamp ..................................................3-68
Highbeam On.............................................3-69
Lane Departure Warning...............................3-63
Lights On Reminder.....................................3-68
Malfunction Indicator....................................3-65
Oil Pressure...............................................3-67
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator..................3-58
Safety Belt Reminders..................................3-56
Security.....................................................3-68
StabiliTrak
®Indicator....................................3-62
TCS Warning Light......................................3-62
Tire Pressure..............................................3-64
Traction Control System (TCS) Warning..........3-62
7

T
Tachometer....................................................3-55
TCS Warning Light..........................................3-62
Telescopic Steering Column, Power Tilt Wheel...... 3-7
Theft-Deterrent, Radio....................................3-118
Theft-Deterrent Systems...................................2-18
Content Theft-Deterrent................................2-19
PASS-Key
®III+ Electronic Immobilizer............2-20
PASS-Key®III+ Electronic Immobilizer
Operation................................................2-21
Tilt Wheel........................................................ 3-6
Time, Setting..................................................3-97
Tire
Pressure Light.............................................3-64
Tires.............................................................5-52
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels,
Cleaning.................................................5-96
Buying New Tires........................................5-71
Chains.......................................................5-77
Changing a Flat Tire....................................5-79
Cleaning....................................................5-97
Different Size..............................................5-73
High-Speed Operation..................................5-62
If a Tire Goes Flat.......................................5-78
Ination - Tire Pressure................................5-60
Inspection and Rotation................................5-68
Installing the Spare Tire................................5-81Tires (cont.)
Pressure Monitor Operation...........................5-64
Pressure Monitor System..............................5-63
Removing the Flat Tire.................................5-81
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools...............5-80
Spare Tire..................................................5-89
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools............5-87
Tire Sidewall Labeling..................................5-53
Tire Terminology and Denitions....................5-57
Uniform Tire Quality Grading.........................5-74
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance.................5-75
Wheel Replacement.....................................5-75
When It Is Time for New Tires......................5-70
Towing
Recreational Vehicle.....................................4-26
Towing a Trailer..........................................4-27
Your Vehicle...............................................4-26
Traction
Control System (TCS).................................... 4-5
Control System Warning Light.......................3-62
Magnetic Ride Control................................... 4-6
Stabilitrak
®System........................................ 4-7
Transmission
Fluid, Automatic...........................................5-21
Transmission Operation, Automatic....................2-27
Trunk............................................................2-12
Turn and Lane-Change Signals.......................... 3-9
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever........................... 3-8
13