steering CADILLAC SRX 2005 1.G Owners Manual

Where Are the Airbags?
The driver’s frontal airbag is in the middle of the
steering wheel.The front passenger’s frontal airbag is in the instrument
panel on the passenger’s side.
1-50

{CAUTION:
If something is between an occupant and an
airbag, the airbag might not inate properly or
it might force the object into that person
causing severe injury or even death. The path
of an inating airbag must be kept clear.
Do not put anything between an occupant and
an airbag, and do not attach or put anything
on the steering wheel hub or on or near any
other airbag covering. Do not let seat covers
block the ination path of a side impact airbag.
{CAUTION:
If something is between an occupant and an
airbag, the bag might not inate properly or it
might force the object into that person causing
severe injury or even death. The path of an
inating airbag must be kept clear. Do not put
anything between an occupant and an airbag,
and do not attach or put anything on the
steering wheel hub or on or near any other
airbag covering. And, because your vehicle
has side impact airbags, never secure anything
to the roof of your vehicle by routing the rope
or tiedown through any door or window
opening. If you do, the path of an inating side
impact airbag will be blocked. The path of an
inating airbag must be kept clear.
1-53

The side impact airbags are designed to inate in
moderate to severe side crashes. A side impact airbag
will inate if the crash severity is above the system’s
designed “threshold level.” The threshold level can vary
with specic vehicle design. Side impact airbags are
not designed to inate in frontal or near-frontal impacts,
rollovers or rear impacts, because ination would not
likely help the occupant. A side impact airbag will
only deploy on the side of the vehicle that is struck.
In any particular crash, no one can say whether
an airbag should have inated simply because of the
damage to a vehicle or because of what the repair costs
were. For frontal airbags, ination is determined by
the angle of the impact and how quickly the vehicle
slows down in frontal and near-frontal impacts. For side
impact airbags, ination is determined by the location
and severity of the impact.
What Makes an Airbag Inate?
In an impact of sufficient severity, the airbag sensing
system detects that the vehicle is in a crash. For
both frontal and side impact airbags, the sensing system
triggers a release of gas from the inator, which
inates the airbag. The inator, airbag and related
hardware are all part of the airbag modules inside the
steering wheel, instrument panel, the side of the
front seatbacks closest to the door and the ceiling of the
vehicle, near the side windows.
How Does an Airbag Restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal collisions,
even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel or
the instrument panel. In moderate to severe side
collisions, even belted occupants can contact the inside
of the vehicle. The airbag supplements the protection
provided by safety belts. Airbags distribute the force of
the impact more evenly over the occupant’s upper
body, stopping the occupant more gradually. But the
frontal airbags would not help you in many types
of collisions, including rollovers, rear impacts, and many
side impacts, primarily because an occupant’s motion
is not toward the airbag. Side impact airbags would not
help you in many types of collisions, including frontal
or near frontal collisions, rollovers, and rear impacts,
primarily because an occupant’s motion is not toward
those airbags. Airbags should never be regarded
as anything more than a supplement to safety belts, and
then only in moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal
collisions for the driver’s and right front passenger’s
frontal airbags, and only in moderate to severe
side collisions for side impact airbags.
1-55

What Will You See After an Airbag
Inates?
After the airbag inates, it quickly deates, so quickly
that some people may not even realize the airbag
inated. Some components of the airbag module — the
steering wheel hub for the driver’s airbag, the
instrument panel for the right front passenger’s bag, the
side of the seatback closest to the door for the
seat-mounted side impact airbags and the area along
the ceiling of your vehicle near the side windows — will
be hot for a short time. The parts of the bag that
come into contact with you may be warm, but not too
hot to touch. There will be some smoke and dust coming
from the vents in the deated airbags. Airbag ination
does not prevent the driver from seeing or being able to
steer the vehicle, nor does it stop people from leaving
the vehicle.
{CAUTION:
When an airbag inates, there is dust in the
air. This dust could cause breathing problems
for people with a history of asthma or other
breathing trouble. To avoid this, everyone in
the vehicle should get out as soon as it is safe
to do so. If you have breathing problems but
cannot get out of the vehicle after an airbag
inates, then get fresh air by opening a
window or a door. If you experience breathing
problems following an airbag deployment, you
should seek medical attention.
Your vehicle has a feature that will automatically unlock
the doors and turn the interior lamps on when the
airbags inate (if battery power is available). You can
lock the doors again and turn the interior lamps off
by using the door lock and interior lamp controls. The
hazard warning ashers will also come on when
the airbags deploy. If you want to turn them off, press
the hazard warning asher button twice.
1-56

In many crashes severe enough to inate the airbag,
windshields are broken by vehicle deformation.
Additional windshield breakage may also occur from the
right front passenger airbag.
Airbags are designed to inate only once. After an
airbag inates, you will need some new parts for
your airbag system. If you do not get them, the air
bag system will not be there to help protect you
in another crash. A new system will include airbag
modules and possibly other parts. The service
manual for your vehicle covers the need to replace
other parts.
Your vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing and
diagnostic module which records information after
a crash. SeeVehicle Data Collection and Event
Data Recorders on page 7-10.
Let only qualied technicians work on your airbag
systems. Improper service can mean that an
airbag system will not work properly. See your
dealer for service.Notice:If you damage the covering for the driver’s
or the right front passenger’s airbag, or the airbag
covering on the driver’s and right front passenger’s
seatback, or the side impact airbag covering on
the ceiling near the side windows, the bag may not
work properly. You may have to replace the
airbag module in the steering wheel, both the airbag
module and the instrument panel for the right
front passenger’s airbag, the airbag module and
seatback for the driver’s and right front passenger’s
seat-mounted side impact airbags, or side impact
airbag module and ceiling covering for the
roof-mounted side impact airbag. Do not open or
break the airbag coverings.
1-57

One key works all of the
lock cylinders on the
vehicle.
Your vehicle has an Immobilizer Vehicle Theft-Deterrent
System. The key has a transponder in the key head
that matches a decoder in the vehicle’s steering column.If a replacement key or any additional key is needed,
you must purchase it from your dealer. The key will have
PK3+ stamped on it. Keep the bar code tag that
came with the original keys. Give this tag to your dealer
if you need a new key made.
Notice:If you ever lock your keys in your vehicle,
you may have to damage the vehicle to get in.
Be sure you have spare keys.
In an emergency, contact Cadillac Roadside Service
®.
SeeRoadside Service on page 7-6.
If your vehicle is equipped with the OnStar
®system with
an active subscription and you lock your keys inside
the vehicle, OnStar
®may be able to send a command to
unlock your vehicle. SeeOnStar®System on page 2-40
for more information.
2-4

Ignition Positions
With the key in the ignition switch, you can turn the key
to four different positions.
Notice:If your key seems stuck in OFF and you
can’t turn it, be sure you are using the correct key;
if so, is it all the way in? If it is, then turn the
steering wheel left and right while you turn the key
hard. Turn the key only with your hand. Using a
tool to force it could break the key or the ignition
switch. If none of these works, then your vehicle
needs service.A (OFF):This is the only position in which you can
insert or remove the key. This position locks the ignition,
steering wheel and transmission. It is a theft-deterrent
feature.
B (ACCESSORY):This position allows you to use
things like the radio and the windshield wipers when the
engine is off. This position will allow you to turn off
the engine, but still turn the steering wheel.
C (ON):This position is for driving. If your vehicle has
an automatic transmission and you turn off the
engine, the transmission will lock. If you need to shift
the transmission out of PARK (P), the ignition key has to
be in ON.
D (START):This position starts the engine.
2-21

Steering Column Ignition Lock Release
If your vehicle has a dead battery or a battery with
low voltage, you can still release the ignition lock and
remove the key. Use the following procedure to release
the steering column:
1. Locate the plastic screw head on the underside of
the plastic cover for the steering column.
2. Insert a at, thin object into the slot and turn it until
the plastic piece detaches from the steering
column cover.3. Insert a narrow, pointed object into the hole in the
steering column cover and press the spring.
4. Then, turn the ignition switch to OFF and remove
the key.
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
The following accessories on your vehicle may be used
for up to 10 minutes after the ignition key is turned
from ON to OFF:
Radio
Power Windows
Audio Steering Wheel Controls (if programmed)
Sunroof
Power to these accessories stops after 10 minutes or if
a door is opened. If you want power for another
10 minutes, close all the doors and turn the ignition key
to ON and then back to OFF.
2-22

Starting the Engine
Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
Your engine will not start in any other position — that is
a safety feature. To restart when you are already
moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only.
Notice:Do not try to shift to PARK (P) if your
vehicle is moving. If you do, you could damage the
transmission. Shift to PARK (P) only when your
vehicle is stopped.
1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn your
ignition key to START. Then, let go of the key; the
engine will start automatically. The idle speed
will go down as your engine gets warm.
2. If your engine will not start, or starts but then stops,
it could be ooded with too much gasoline. Try
pushing your accelerator pedal all the way to the
oor and holding it there as you turn the key
to START. If the vehicle starts briey but then stops
again, do the same thing.
Notice:Your engine is designed to work with the
electronics in your 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, your engine
might not perform properly.
Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal
If your vehicle is equipped with this feature, you can
change the position of the throttle and brake pedals.
The vehicle must be in PARK (P) for this feature
to operate.
The switch used to adjust
the pedals is located on
the side of the steering
column.
Move the switch rearward to move the pedals closer to
your body. Move the switch forward to move the
pedals away from your body.
2-23

The odometer on the instrument panel cluster will
change to show the requested gear range when moving
the shift lever forward or rearward.
While using the DSC feature the vehicle will have rmer
shifting and increased performance. You can use this
for sport driving or when climbing hills to stay in
gear longer or to down shift for more power or engine
braking.
The transmission will only allow you to shift into gears
appropriate for the vehicle speed and rpm. The
transmission will not automatically shift to the next
higher gear if the engine rpm is too high.
All-Wheel Drive
If your vehicle is equipped with this feature, engine
power is sent to all four wheels all the time.
This is like four-wheel drive, but it is fully automatic.
Parking Brake
The parking brake pedal is
located on the lower
portion of the instrument
panel to the left of the
steering wheel.
To set the parking brake, hold the regular brake pedal
down with your right foot and push the parking brake
pedal down with your left foot.
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 your vehicle serviced. See
Brake System Warning Light on page 3-38for more
information.
2-28