traction control CADILLAC DEVILLE 2003 8.G Owners Manual

Instrument Panel Overview...............................3-4
Hazard Warning Flashers................................3-6
Other Warning Devices...................................3-7
Horn.............................................................3-7
Tilt Wheel.....................................................3-7
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.........................3-8
Exterior Lamps.............................................3-15
Interior Lamps..............................................3-19
Night Vision System......................................3-22
Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist (URPA)............3-25
Accessory Power Outlets...............................3-27
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter........................3-28
Climate Controls............................................3-29
Dual Climate Control System..........................3-29
Outlet Adjustment.........................................3-33
Rear Climate Control System.........................3-34
Passenger Compartment Air Filter...................3-36
Steering Wheel Climate Controls.....................3-38
Climate Controls Personalization.....................3-39
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators.............3-40
Instrument Panel Cluster................................3-40
Speedometer and Odometer...........................3-43
Trip Odometer..............................................3-43
Tachometer (Analog Cluster Only)...................3-44Safety Belt Reminder Light.............................3-45
Air Bag Readiness Light................................3-45
Charging System Light..................................3-46
Brake System Warning and Parking Brake
Indicator Light...........................................3-47
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light.............3-48
Traction Control System (TCS) Warning Light . . .3-48
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light......3-49
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage..................3-50
Malfunction Indicator Lamp.............................3-50
Oil Pressure Light.........................................3-53
Security Light...............................................3-54
Fog Lamp Light............................................3-54
Lights On Reminder......................................3-54
Cruise Control Light......................................3-55
Fuel Gage...................................................3-55
Fuel Data Display
(Digital Cluster Only)..................................3-56
Driver Information Center (DIC).......................3-57
DIC Controls and Displays.............................3-57
DIC Warnings and Messages.........................3-60
Climate Controls and Radio System
Personalization..........................................3-67
DIC Vehicle Personalization............................3-67
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-1

Cruise Control
With cruise control, you can maintain a speed of
approximately 25 mph (40 km/h) or more without
keeping your foot on the accelerator. This is helpful on
long trips. Cruise control does not work at speeds
below about 25 mph (40 km/h). When cruise control is
on, you will see a CRUISE light on the instrument panel
cluster.When you apply your brakes, the cruise control shuts off.
{CAUTION:
·Cruise control can be dangerous where
you can't drive safely at a steady speed.
So, don't use your cruise control on
winding roads or in heavy traffic.
·Cruise control can be dangerous on
slippery roads. On such roads, fast
changes in tire traction can cause
needless wheel spinning, and you could
lose control. Don't use cruise control on
slippery roads.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the traction
control system begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise
control will automatically disengage. See
Traction
Control System (TCS) on page 4-9. When road
conditions allow you to safely use it again, you may turn
the cruise control back on.
3-12

Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
Light
With the anti-lock brake
system, the light(s) will
come on when your engine
is started and may stay
on for several seconds.
That's normal.
If the light stays on, turn the ignition to OFF. Or, if the
light comes on when you're driving, stop as soon
as possible and turn the ignition off. Then start the
engine again to reset the system. If the light still stays
on, or comes on again while you're driving, your vehicle
needs service. If the regular brake system warning
light isn't on, you still have brakes, but you don't have
anti-lock brakes. If the regular brake system warning
light is also on, you don't have anti-lock brakes
and there's a problem with your regular brakes. See
Brake System Warning and Parking Brake Indicator
Light on page 3-47.
The anti-lock brake system warning light should come
on brie¯y when you turn the ignition key to ON. If
the light doesn't come on then, have it ®xed so it will be
ready to warn you if there is a problem.
Traction Control System (TCS)
Warning Light
This warning light should come on brie¯y when the
engine is started.
If the warning light doesn't come on then, have it ®xed
so it will be ready to warn you if there's a problem.
If it stays on, or comes on when you're driving, there
may be a problem with your traction control system and
your vehicle may need service. When this warning
light is on, the system will not limit wheel spin. Adjust
your driving accordingly.
United StatesCanada (Analog Only)
3-48

The traction control system warning light may come on
for the following reasons:
·If there's a brake system problem that is speci®cally
related to traction control, the traction control system
will turn off and the warning light will come on.
·If the traction control system is affected by an
engine-related problem, the system will turn off and
the warning light will come on.
·If the traction control system warning light comes on
and stays on for an extended period of time when the
system is turned on, your vehicle needs service.
Engine Coolant Temperature
Warning Light
This light tells you that
your engine has
overheated. As a check,
the light should come
on for a few seconds when
you start your engine.
If this light comes on and stays on, you should stop
your vehicle and turn the engine off as soon as possible.
A warning chime should also sound if this light comes on.
See
Engine Overheating on page 5-27.
3-49

THEFT ATTEMPTED ± 40:This message is displayed
if the theft system has detected a break-in attempt
while you were away from your vehicle.
TOP SPEED FUEL CUT-OFF ± 111:This message will
appear when the Powertrain Control Module (PCM)
detects that the maximum speed for your vehicle has
been reached. The speed of your vehicle will surge
as the fuel supply is cut off. Your vehicle's top speed is
based on the top speed rating of the tires. This
ensures that your vehicle stays in a safe operating
range for the tires.
TRACTION ENGAGED ± 91:When your traction
control system is limiting wheel spin, the TRACTION
ENGAGED message will be displayed. Slippery
road conditions may exist if this message is displayed,
so adjust your driving accordingly. This message
will stay on for a few seconds after the traction control
system stops limited wheel spin.
TRACTION OFF ± 89:This message will be displayed
after the traction control system has been turned off using
the TRAC ON/OFF button on the center console.
TRACTION READY ± 90:This message informs the
driver that the traction control system is available.
Pressing the TRAC ON/OFF button on the center console
once turns the traction control system off; pressing the
button again turns the system back on. This message will
automatically disappear from the display after ®ve
seconds.TRACTION SUSPENDED ± 56:This message displays
when the traction control system has been temporarily
shut off because your vehicle's brakes have overheated.
This message does not indicate a problem with your
vehicle's traction control system. After a few minutes,
the traction control system will be available again
and the TRACTION READY message will appear.
TRANS HOT IDLE ENGINE ± 112:This message
indicates that the transaxle ¯uid in your vehicle is too
hot. Stop and allow your vehicle to idle until it cools
down or until this message is removed.
TRUNK OPEN ± 24:This message indicates that the
trunk is open when the ignition is on.
TURN SIGNAL ON ± 20:If you drive your vehicle for
more than a mile with a turn signal on, this message will
appear as a reminder to turn off the turn signal. A
multiple chime will sound when this message is
displayed.
VEHICLE OVERSPEED ± 52:This message is
displayed when the vehicle speed exceeds a certain
limit as required by some export countries. A continuous
chime will sound when this message is displayed.
3-66

Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle..........4-2
Defensive Driving...........................................4-2
Drunken Driving.............................................4-2
Control of a Vehicle........................................4-5
Braking.........................................................4-6
Traction Control System (TCS).........................4-9
Continuous Variable Road Sensing
Suspension (CVRSS).................................4-10
Steering......................................................4-11
Off-Road Recovery.......................................4-13
Passing.......................................................4-13
Loss of Control.............................................4-14
Driving at Night............................................4-16Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads..................4-17
City Driving..................................................4-20
Freeway Driving...........................................4-21
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.......................4-22
Highway Hypnosis........................................4-23
Hill and Mountain Roads................................4-23
Winter Driving..............................................4-25
If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow . . .4-30
Towing..........................................................4-31
Towing Your Vehicle.....................................4-31
Recreational Vehicle Towing...........................4-31
Loading Your Vehicle....................................4-32
Towing a Trailer...........................................4-34
Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
4-1

{CAUTION:
Drinking and then driving is very dangerous.
Your re¯exes, perceptions, attentiveness and
judgment can be affected by even a small
amount of alcohol. You can have a serious Ð
or even fatal Ð collision if you drive after
drinking. Please don't drink and drive or ride
with a driver who has been drinking. Ride
home in a cab; or if you're with a group,
designate a driver who will not drink.
Control of a Vehicle
You have three systems that make your vehicle go where
you want it to go. They are the brakes, the steering and
the accelerator. All three systems have to do their work at
the places where the tires meet the road.
Sometimes, as when you're driving on snow or ice, it's
easy to ask more of those control systems than the
tires and road can provide. That means you can lose
control of your vehicle. Also see
Traction Control System
(TCS) on page 4-9.
4-5

Traction Control System (TCS)
Your vehicle has a traction control system that limits
wheel spin. This is especially useful in slippery
road conditions. The system operates only if it senses
that one or both of the front wheels are spinning or
beginning to lose traction. When this happens,
the system works the front brakes and reduces engine
power to limit wheel spin.
The TRACTION ENGAGED message will display on the
Driver Information Center when the traction control
system is limiting wheel spin. See
DIC Warnings and
Messages on page 3-60. You may feel or hear the
system working, but this is normal.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the traction
control system begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise
control will automatically disengage. When road
conditions allow you to safely use it again, you may
reengage the cruise control. See ªCruise Controlº under
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever on page 3-8.This warning light will come on to let you know if there's
a problem with your traction control system.
See
Traction Control System (TCS) Warning Light on
page 3-48. When this warning light is on, the system will
not limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.
The traction control system automatically comes
on whenever you start your vehicle. To limit wheel spin,
especially in slippery road conditions, you should
always leave the system on. But you can turn the
traction control system off if you ever need to. You
should turn the system off if your vehicle ever gets stuck
in sand, mud or snow and rocking the vehicle is
required. See ªRocking Your Vehicle To Get It Outº
under
If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow on
page 4-30later in this section. United States
Canada
4-9

To turn the system off,
press the TRAC ON/OFF
button located on the
center console. (For
vehicles with a column
shift lever, the button
is located at the end of the
shift lever.)
The TRACTION OFF message will display on the Driver
Information Center. If the system is limiting wheel
spin when you press the button, the TRACTION OFF
message will display ± but the system won't turn off right
away. It will wait until there's no longer a current need
to limit wheel spin.
You can turn the system back on at any time by pressing
the button again. The TRACTION READY message
should display brie¯y on the Driver Information Center.The traction control system monitors the front brake rotor
temperature. If the traction control system comes on
while the front brake rotors are hot due to heavy use of
braking or previous traction control, the TRACTION
SUSPENDED message will be displayed ± but the
system won't turn off right away. It will wait until there's no
longer a current need to limit wheel spin. The TRACTION
READY message should appear when the brake rotors
are no longer hot and the traction control system will
resume normal operation.
Continuous Variable Road Sensing
Suspension (CVRSS)
Your vehicle may have a Continuous Variable Road
Sensing Suspension (CVRSS). CVRSS automatically
adjusts the ride of your vehicle. Automatic ride control is
achieved through a computer used to control and
monitor the suspension system. The controller receives
input from various sensors to determine the proper
system response. If the controller detects a problem
within the system, the DIC will display a SERVICE
SUSPENSION SYS message. See
DIC Warnings and
Messages on page 3-60for more information. If this
message appears, have your vehicle serviced at
your dealership.
4-10

Steering
Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist because the engine
stops or the system is not functioning, you can steer but
it will take much more effort.
Magnetic Speed Variable Assist
Steering System
This system continuously adjusts the effort you feel
when steering at all vehicle speeds. It provides ease
when parking, yet a ®rm, solid feel at highway speeds.
Steering Tips
Driving on Curves
It's important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
A lot of the ªdriver lost controlº accidents mentioned on
the news happen on curves. Here's why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is subject to
the same laws of physics when driving on curves.
The traction of the tires against the road surface makes
it possible for the vehicle to change its path when
you turn the front wheels. If there's no traction, inertia
will keep the vehicle going in the same direction.
If you've ever tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you'll
understand this.The traction you can get in a curve depends on the
condition of your tires and the road surface, the angle at
which the curve is banked, and your speed. While you're
in a curve, speed is the one factor you can control.
Suppose you're steering through a sharp curve. Then you
suddenly accelerate. Both control systems Ð steering
and acceleration Ð have to do their work where the tires
meet the road. Adding the sudden acceleration can
demand too much of those places. You can lose control.
See
Traction Control System (TCS) on page 4-9.
What should you do if this ever happens? Ease up on
the accelerator pedal, steer the vehicle the way you
want it to go, and slow down.
If you have Stabilitrak
ž, you may see the STABILITY
SYS ENGAGED message on the Driver Information
Center. See ªStability Sys Engaged Messageº under
DIC
Warnings and Messages on page 3-60.
Speed limit signs near curves warn that you should
adjust your speed. Of course, the posted speeds
are based on good weather and road conditions. Under
less favorable conditions you'll want to go slower.
If you need to reduce your speed as you approach a
curve, do it before you enter the curve, while your front
wheels are straight ahead.
Try to adjust your speed so you can ªdriveº through the
curve. Maintain a reasonable, steady speed. Wait to
accelerate until you are out of the curve, and then
accelerate gently into the straightaway.
4-11