warning light CADILLAC DTS 2010 1.G Owner's Manual

Wiper Activated Headlamps
This feature activates the headlamps and parking lampsafter the windshield wipers are turned on and havecompleted eight wipe cycles within four minutes.
When the ignition is turned to LOCK/OFF, thewiper-activated headlamps immediately turn off. Thewiper-activated headlamps also turn off if the windshieldwipers are turned off.
Headlamps on Reminder
A warning chime will sound if the exterior lamp controlis left on in either the headlamp or parking lamp positionand the driver’s door is opened with the ignition off.
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier forothers to see the front of your vehicle during theday. Fully functional daytime running lamps are requiredon all vehicles first sold in Canada.
The DRL system makes the turn signal lamps come onwhen the following conditions are met:
•It is still daylight and the ignition is on.
•The exterior lamp control is in the off position.
•The transmission is not in P (Park)
(United States only).
•The light sensor is covered or not detecting light.
See “Sensors” underDual Climate Control Systemon page 4-36.
When DRL are on, no other exterior lamps such as theparking lamps, taillamps, etc. will be on when theDRL are being used. The instrument panel will not be litup either.
When automatic lighting is on and it is dark enoughoutside, the turn signal lamps turn off and normallow-beam headlamp operation occurs.
When automatic lighting is on and it is bright enoughoutside, the regular lamps go off, and the DRLtakes over. If the vehicle is started in a dark garage, theautomatic headlamp system comes on immediately.Once you leave the garage, it will take approximatelyone minute for the automatic headlamp system tochange to DRL if there is light outside. During that delay,the instrument panel cluster may not be as bright asusual. Make sure the instrument panel brightness knobis in the full bright position. SeeInstrument PanelBrightness on page 4-31.
Turning on automatic lighting or the headlamps willdeactivate the DRL. If the parking lamps or thefog lamps were turned on instead, the DRL will stilldeactivate.
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Reading Lamps
The reading lamps are located on the overhead consoleon the headliner and in the rear door opening. Theselamps come on automatically when any door is openedand it is dark outside.
For manual operation, press the button to turn them on.Press it again to turn them off.
If the reading lamps are left on, they automatically shutoff 10 minutes after the ignition has been turned off.
Footwell Lamps
For vehicles with footwell lamps, they are located underthe instrument panel and at the rear of the frontseats. These lamps provide soft light to the front andrear floor areas. They dim with the instrument panelcluster lights.
Footwell lighting brightness can be adjusted with theinstrument panel brightness control located belowthe exterior lamps control. SeeInstrument PanelBrightness on page 4-31. The footwell lights will turn offbefore the instrument panel lights are at their lowestlevel of brightness.
Battery Load Management
This feature monitors the vehicle’s electrical load anddetermines when the battery is in a heavy dischargecondition. During times of high electrical loading,the engine may idle at a higher revolutions per minute(rpm) setting than normal to make sure the batterycharges. High electrical loads may occur when severalof the following are on: headlamps, high beams, foglamps, rear window defogger, the climate control fan athigh speeds, heated seats and engine cooling fans.
If the battery continues to discharge, even withthe engine idling at a higher rpm setting, some electricalloads will automatically be reduced. When this occurs,the rear window defogger may take slightly longerto clear the glass, the heated seats may not get as warmas they usually do and the climate control fan may cutback to a lower speed. For more battery savinginformation, see “Battery Saver Active Message” underDIC Warnings and Messages on page 4-67.
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Electric Power Management
The vehicle has Electric Power Management (EPM) thatestimates the battery’s temperature and state ofcharge. It then adjusts the voltage for best performanceand extended life of the battery.
When the battery’s state of charge is low, the voltage israised slightly to quickly bring the charge back up.When the state of charge is high, the voltage is loweredslightly to prevent overcharging. If the vehicle has avoltmeter gage or a voltage display on the DriverInformation Center (DIC), you may see the voltage moveup or down. This is normal. If there is a problem, analert will be displayed.
The battery can be discharged at idle if the electricalloads are very high. This is true for all vehicles. This isbecause the generator (alternator) may not bespinning fast enough at idle to produce all the powerthat is needed for very high electrical loads.
A high electrical load occurs when several of thefollowing are on, such as: headlamps, high beams, foglamps, rear window defogger, climate control fan athigh speed, heated seats, engine cooling fans, trailerloads, and loads plugged into accessory power outlets.
EPM works to prevent excessive discharge of thebattery. It does this by balancing the generator’s outputand the vehicle’s electrical needs. It can increase
engine idle speed to generate more power, wheneverneeded. It can temporarily reduce the power demands ofsome accessories.
Normally, these actions occur in steps or levels, withoutbeing noticeable. In rare cases at the highest levelsof corrective action, this action may be noticeable to thedriver. If so, a Driver Information Center (DIC)message might be displayed, such as BATTERYSAVER ACTIVE, BATTERY VOLTAGE LOW, orLOW BATTERY. If this message is displayed, it isrecommended that the driver reduce the electrical loadsas much as possible. SeeDIC Warnings and Messageson page 4-67.
Inadvertent Power Battery Saver
This feature is designed to protect your vehicle’s batteryagainst drainage from the interior lamps, trunk lamp,glove box lamp, or the garage door opener. When theignition is turned off, the power to these features willautomatically turn off after 10 minutes. Power willbe restored for an additional 10 minutes if any door ortrunk is opened, or the courtesy lamp switch isturned on.
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Warning Lights, Gages, and
Indicators
Warning lights and gages can signal that something iswrong before it becomes serious enough to causean expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention tothe warning lights and gages could prevent injury.
Warning lights come on when there might be or there isa problem with one of the vehicle’s functions. Somewarning lights come on briefly when the engine is startedto indicate they are working.
Gages can indicate when there might be or there is aproblem with one of the vehicle’s functions. Often gagesand warning lights work together to indicate a problemwith the vehicle.
When one of the warning lights comes on and stays onwhile driving, or when one of the gages shows therecould be a problem, check the section that explains whatto do. Follow this manual’s advice. Waiting to dorepairs can be costly and even dangerous.
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Safety Belt Reminders
Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the engine is started, a chime sounds for severalseconds to remind a driver to fasten the safety belt,unless the driver safety belt is already buckled.
The safety belt light comeson and stays on forseveral seconds, thenflashes for several more.
This chime and light are repeated if the driver remainsunbuckled and the vehicle is in motion. If the driversafety belt is already buckled, neither the chime nor thelight comes on.
Passenger Safety Belt Reminder Light
Several seconds after the engine is started, a chimesounds for several seconds to remind the frontpassenger to buckle their safety belt. The passengersafety belt light, located on the instrument panel, comeson and stays on for several seconds and then flashesfor several more.
This chime and light arerepeated if the passengerremains unbuckled andthe vehicle is in motion.
If the passenger safety belt is buckled, neither thechime nor the light comes on.
The front passenger safety belt warning light and chimemay turn on if an object is put on the seat such as abriefcase, handbag, grocery bag, laptop or otherelectronic device. To turn off the warning light and orchime, remove the object from the seat or bucklethe safety belt.
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Airbag Readiness Light
The system checks the airbag’s electrical system forpossible malfunctions. If the light stays on it indicatesthere is an electrical problem. The system checkincludes the airbag sensor, the pretensioners, the airbagmodules, the wiring and the crash sensing anddiagnostic module. For more information on the airbagsystem, seeAirbag System on page 2-58.
The airbag readiness lightflashes for a few secondswhen the engine isstarted. If the light doesnot come on then, have itfixed immediately.
{WARNING:
If the airbag readiness light stays on after the
vehicle is started or comes on while driving, it
means the airbag system might not be working
properly. The airbags in the vehicle might not
inflate in a crash, or they could even inflate
without a crash. To help avoid injury, have the
vehicle serviced right away.
If there is a problem with the airbag system, an airbagDriver Information Center (DIC) message can also comeon. SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 4-67for more information.
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Passenger Airbag Status Indicator
The vehicle has the passenger sensing system.SeePassenger Sensing System on page 2-67forimportant safety information. The overhead console hasa passenger airbag status indicator.
When the vehicle is started, the passenger airbag statusindicator will light ON and OFF, or the symbol for onand off, for several seconds as a system check.
If you are using remote start to start the vehicle from adistance, if equipped, you may not see the system check.
Then, after several more seconds, the status indicatorwill light either ON or OFF, or either the on or off symbol,to let you know the status of the right front passengerfrontal and seat-mounted side impact airbags.
If the word ON or the on symbol is lit on the passengerairbag status indicator, it means that the right frontpassenger frontal airbag and seat-mounted side impactairbag are enabled (may inflate).
If the word OFF or the off symbol is lit on the passengerairbag status indicator, it means that the passengersensing system has turned off the right front passengerfrontal and seat-mounted side impact airbag.
If, after several seconds, both status indicator lightsremain on, or if there are no lights at all, there may be aproblem with the lights or the passenger sensingsystem. See your dealer/retailer for service.
{WARNING:
If the airbag readiness light ever comes on and
stays on, it means that something may be wrong
with the airbag system. To help avoid injury to
yourself or others, have the vehicle serviced right
away. SeeAirbag Readiness Light on page 4-50
for more information, including important safety
information.
United StatesCanada
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Charging System Light
This light comes on brieflywhen the ignition key isturned to START, butthe engine is not running,as a check to show itis working.
If it does not, have the vehicle serviced by yourdealer/retailer.
The light should go out once the engine starts. If it stayson, or comes on while driving, there could be aproblem with the charging system. A charging systemmessage in the Driver Information Center (DIC) can alsoappear. SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 4-67for more information. This light could indicate thatthere are problems with a generator drive belt, or thatthere is an electrical problem. Have it checked rightaway. If the vehicle must be driven a short distance withthe light on, turn off accessories, such as the radioand air conditioner.
Brake System Warning Light
The vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided intotwo parts. If one part is not working, the other part canstill work and stop the vehicle. For good brakingboth parts need to be working.
If the warning light comes on, there is a brake problem.Have the brake system inspected right away.
This light comes on briefly when the engine is turnedon. If it does not come on then, have it fixed so it will beready to warn if there is a problem.
When the ignition is on, the brake system warning lightalso comes on when the parking brake is set. Thelight will stay on if the parking brake does not releasefully. If it stays on after the parking brake is fullyreleased, it means there is a brake problem.
United StatesCanada
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If the light comes on while driving, pull off the road andstop carefully.The pedal may be harder to push, orthe pedal may go closer to the floor. It may take longerto stop. If the light is still on, have the vehicle towedfor service. SeeTowing Your Vehicle on page 5-24.
{WARNING:
The brake system might not be working properly if
the brake system warning light is on. Driving with
the brake system warning light on can lead to a
crash. If the light is still on after the vehicle has
been pulled off the road and carefully stopped,
have the vehicle towed for service.
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
Warning Light
For vehicles with theAntilock Brake System(ABS), this light comes onbriefly when the engineis started.
If it does not, have the vehicle serviced by yourdealer/retailer. If the system is working normally theindicator light then goes off.
If the ABS light stays on, turn the ignition off. If the lightcomes on while driving, stop as soon as it is safelypossible and turn the ignition off. Then start the engineagain to reset the system. If the ABS light stays on,or comes on again while driving, the vehicle needsservice. If the regular brake system warning light is noton, the vehicle still has brakes, but not antilockbrakes. If the regular brake system warning light is alsoon, the vehicle does not have antilock brakes andthere is a problem with the regular brakes. SeeBrakeSystem Warning Light on page 4-52.
For vehicles with a Driver Information Center (DIC), seeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 4-67for allbrake related DIC messages.
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Traction Control System (TCS)
Warning Light
This warning light comeson briefly while startingthe engine.
If it does not, have the vehicle serviced by yourdealer/retailer. If the system is working normally theindicator light will then go off.
If it stays on, or comes on while driving, there may be aproblem with the traction control system and thevehicle needs service. When this warning light is on, thesystem will not limit wheel spin.
If the traction control system warning light comes onand stays on when the system is turned on, the vehicleneeds service. SeeTraction Control System (TCS)on page 5-6for more information.
StabiliTrak®Indicator Light
For vehicles with theStabiliTrak®system, thislight comes on briefly whilestarting the engine.
If it does not, have the vehicle serviced by yourdealer/retailer. If the system is working normally theindicator light then goes off.
If the light comes on and stays on while driving, therecould be a problem with the StabiliTrak®system and thevehicle might need service. When this warning light ison, the StabiliTrak®system is off and does not limitwheel spin.
The light flashes if the system is active and is workingto assist the driver with directional control of thevehicle in difficult driving conditions.
SeeStabiliTrak®System on page 5-5for moreinformation.
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