light CADILLAC CTS 2003 1.G Owners Manual

6-7
CAUTION:
If you get fuel on yourself and then something
ignites it, you could be badly burned. Fuel can
spray out on you if you open the fuel cap too
quickly. This spray can happen if your tank is
nearly full, and is more likely in hot weather.
Open the fuel cap slowly and wait for any ªhissº
noise to stop. Then unscrew the cap all the way.
Be careful not to spill fuel. Clean fuel from painted
surfaces as soon as possible. See ªCleaning the Outside
of Your Vehicleº in the Index.
When you put the fuel cap back on, turn it to the right
(clockwise) until you hear a clicking sound. Make sure
you fully install the cap. The diagnostic system can
determine if the fuel cap has been left off or improperly
installed. This would allow fuel to evaporate into the
atmosphere. See ªMalfunction Indicator Lampº in
the Index.The Check Gas Cap message will appear on the DIC
display if the fuel cap is not reinstalled properly. See
ªCheck Message, Gas Capº in the Index for more
information.
NOTICE:
If you need a new fuel cap, be sure to get the
right type. Your dealer can get one for you. If you
get the wrong type, it may not fit properly. This
may cause your malfunction indicator lamp to
light and may damage your fuel tank and
emissions system. See ªMalfunction Indicator
Lampº in the Index.

6-11
Engine Oil
If the oil pressure light
and/or the Oil Pressure
Low
--Stop Engine message
on the DIC appears on the
instrument cluster, it means
you need to check your
engine oil level right away.
For more information, see ªOil Pressure Messageº and
ªOil Pressure Lightº in the Index.
You should check your engine oil level regularly; this is
an added reminder.
Checking Engine Oil
It's a good idea to check your engine oil every time you
get fuel. In order to get an accurate reading, the oil must
be warm and the vehicle must be on level ground.
The engine oil dipstick is
located on the driver's side
of the engine compartment,
near the front of the vehicle.
The dipstick handle is a
yellow loop. See ªEngine
Compartment Overviewº in
the Index for more
information on location.
Turn off the engine and give the oil several minutes to
drain back into the oil pan. If you don't, the oil dipstick
might not show the actual level.
Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a paper towel or
cloth, then push it back in all the way. Remove it again,
keeping the tip down, and check the level.

6-15
How to Reset the Change Engine Oil Message and
the Oil Life Indicator
The GM Oil Life System
calculates when to change
your engine oil and filter based on vehicle use. Anytime
your oil is changed, reset the system so it can calculate
when the next oil change is required. If a situation
occurs where you change your oil prior to a Change
Engine Oil message in the DIC being turned on, reset
the system.
After the oil has been changed, the Change Engine
Oil message and the oil life indicator must be reset.
To reset the message and indicator, use one of the
following procedures:Base Audio System
Press the CLR button located to the right of the DIC
display to acknowledge the CHANGE ENGINE OIL
message. This will clear the message from the display
and reset it.
To reset the oil life indicator, use the following steps:
1. Press the up or down arrow on the INFO button
located to the right of the DIC display to access the
DIC menu.
2. Once XXX% ENGINE OIL LIFE menu item is
highlighted, press and hold the CLR button.
The percentage will return to 100, and the oil life
indicator will be reset.
3. Repeat the steps if the percentage does not
return to 100.

6-16
Navigation System
Press the multi
-function button, next to the OK prompt
in the upper right of the display, to acknowledge the
Change Engine Oil message. This will clear the message
from the display and reset it.
To reset the oil life indicator, use the following steps:
1. Turn the system on by pressing the PWR/VOL knob
once. The PWR/VOL knob is located to the lower
left of the DIC display.
2. Press the INFO button located to the left
of the display to access the Vehicle Info
(Information) menu.
3. Turn the TUNE/SEL knob located to the lower right
of the display until Engine Oil Life is highlighted.
Press the knob once to select it.
4. Once XXX% Engine Oil Life is displayed, press the
multi
-function button next to the Reset prompt in the
upper right corner of the display.
The percentage will return to 100, and the oil life
indicator will be reset.
5. Repeat the steps if the percentage does not
return to 100.
What to Do with Used Oil
Used engine oil contains certain elements that may be
unhealthy for your skin and could even cause cancer.
Don't let used oil stay on your skin for very long. Clean
your skin and nails with soap and water, or a good hand
cleaner. Wash or properly throw away clothing or rags
containing used engine oil. See the manufacturer's
warnings about the use and disposal of oil products.
Used oil can be a threat to the environment. If you
change your own oil, be sure to drain all the oil from the
filter before disposal. Never dispose of oil by putting it
in the trash, pouring it on the ground, into sewers, or
into streams or bodies of water. Instead, recycle it by
taking it to a place that collects used oil. If you have
a problem properly disposing of your used oil, ask
your dealer, a service station or a local recycling center
for help.

6-22 How to Reset the Change Transmission
Fluid Message and the Transmission Fluid
Indicator (Automatic Transmission Only)
After the transmission fluid has been changed, the
Change Trans Fluid message and the transmission fluid
life indicator must be reset. To reset the message and
indicator, use one of the following procedures:
Base Audio System
Press the CLR button located to the right of the DIC
display to acknowledge the CHANGE TRANS FLUID
message. This will clear the message from the display
and reset it.
To reset the transmission fluid life indicator, use the
following steps:
1. Press the up or down arrow on the INFO button
located to the right of the DIC display to access the
DIC menu.
2. Once the XXX% TRANS FLUID LIFE menu item is
highlighted, press and hold the CLR button.
The percentage will return to 100, and the
transmission fluid life indicator will be reset.
3. Repeat the steps if the percentage does not
return to 100.Navigation System
Press the multi
-function button located to the right of
the DIC display, next to the OK prompt to acknowledge
the Change Trans Fluid message. This will clear the
message from the display and reset it.
To reset the transmission fluid life indicator, use the
following steps:
1. Turn the system on by pressing the PWR/VOL knob
once. The PWR/VOL knob is located to the lower
left of the DIC display.
2. Press the INFO button located to the left of
the DIC display to access the Vehicle Info
(Information) menu.
3. Turn the TUNE/SEL knob located to the lower right
of the DIC display until Trans Fluid Life is
highlighted. Press the knob once to select it.
4. Once XXX% Trans Fluid Life is displayed, press the
multi
-function button next to the Reset prompt in the
upper right corner of the display.
The percentage will return to 100, and the
transmission fluid life indicator will be reset.
5. Repeat the steps if the percentage does not
return to 100.

6-25
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is filled with
DEX
-COOL engine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain in your vehicle for 5 years or 150,000 miles
(240 000 km), whichever occurs first, if you add only
DEX
-COOL extended life coolant.
The following explains your cooling system and how
to add coolant when it is low. If you have a problem
with engine overheating, see ªEngine Overheatingº
in the Index.
A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX
-COOL coolant will:

Give freezing protection down to
-34F (-37C).

Give boiling protection up to 265F (129C).

Protect against rust and corrosion.

Help keep the proper engine temperature.

Let the warning lights and gages work as
they should.
NOTICE:
When adding coolant, it is important that you use
only DEX
-COOL (silicate-free) coolant.
If coolant other than DEX-COOL is added to the
system, premature engine, heater core or
radiator corrosion may result. In addition, the
engine coolant will require change sooner
-- at
30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs first. Damage caused by the
use of coolant other than DEX
-COOL is not
covered by your new vehicle warranty.

6-31
Brakes
Brake Fluid
Your brake master cylinder reservoir is on the driver's side
of the engine compartment. It is filled with DOT
-3 brake
fluid. See ªEngine Compartment Overviewº in the Index.
There are only two reasons why the brake fluid level in the
reservoir might go down. The first is that the brake fluid
goes down to an acceptable level during normal brake
lining wear. When new linings are put in, the fluid level
goes back up. The other reason is that fluid is leaking out
of the brake system. If it is, you should have your brakesystem fixed, since a leak means that sooner or later your
brakes won't work well, or won't work at all.
So, it isn't a good idea to ªtop offº your brake fluid.
Adding brake fluid won't correct a leak. If you add fluid
when your linings are worn, then you'll have too much
fluid when you get new brake linings. You should add
(or remove) brake fluid, as necessary, only when work is
done on the brake hydraulic system.
CAUTION:
If you have too much brake fluid, it can spill on the
engine. The fluid will burn if the engine is hot
enough. You or others could be burned, and your
vehicle could be damaged. Add brake fluid only
when work is done on the brake hydraulic system.
If the ignition is in ON and the brake fluid is low, the
Check Brake Fluid message will be displayed in the
DIC. See ªCheck Message, Brake Fluidº in the Index
for more information.
When your brake fluid falls to a low level, your brake
warning light will come on. See ªBrake System Warning
Lightº in the Index.

6-33 Brake Wear
Your vehicle has four-wheel disc brakes.
Disc brake pads have built
-in wear indicators that
make a high
-pitched warning sound when the brake
pads are worn and new pads are needed. The sound
may come and go or be heard all the time your vehicle
is moving (except when you are pushing on the brake
pedal firmly).
CAUTION:
The brake wear warning sound means that soon
your brakes won't work well. That could lead to
an accident. When you hear the brake wear
warning sound, have your vehicle serviced.
NOTICE:
Continuing to drive with worn-out brake pads
could result in costly brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates may cause a brake
squeal when the brakes are first applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean something is wrong with
your brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are necessary to help
prevent brake pulsation. When tires are rotated, inspect
brake pads for wear and evenly tighten wheel nuts in the
proper sequence to GM torque specifications.
Brake linings should always be replaced as complete
axle sets.
See ªBrake System Inspectionº in Section 7
of this manual under Part C ªPeriodic Maintenance
Inspections.º
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal does not return to
normal height, or if there is a rapid increase in pedal
travel. This could be a sign of brake trouble.
Brake Adjustment
Every time you apply the brakes, with or without the
vehicle moving, your brakes adjust for wear.

6-35
Bulb Replacement
For the proper type of replacement bulb, see
ªReplacement Bulbsº in the Index.
For any bulb changing procedure not listed in this
section, contact your dealer.
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting
(If Equipped)
CAUTION:
The low beam high intensity discharge lighting
system operates at a very high voltage. If you try
to service any of the system components, you
could be seriously injured. Have your dealer or a
qualified technician service them.
Halogen Bulbs
CAUTION:
Halogen bulbs have pressurized gas inside and
can burst if you drop or scratch the bulb. You or
others could be injured. Be sure to read and
follow the instructions on the bulb package.
Headlamps
It is recommended that this component be replaced as a
unit. See your dealer.

6-46 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, 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
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 specified government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and
a half (1 1/2) 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 significantly 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 specified 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.