traction control CADILLAC DTS PROFESSIONAL 2007 1.G User Guide

Navigation/Radio System
Your vehicle may have a navigation radio system.
The navigation system has built-in features
intended to minimize driver distraction. Technology
alone, no matter how advanced, can never replace
your own judgment. See the Navigation System
manual for some tips to help you reduce
distractions while driving.
Theft-Deterrent Feature
THEFTLOCK®is designed to discourage
theft of your vehicle’s radio. The feature works
automatically by learning a portion of the Vehicle
Identication Number (VIN). If the radio is moved to
a different vehicle, it does not operate. If the radio is
removed from your vehicle, the original VIN in the
radio can be used to trace the radio back to your
vehicle.
With THEFTLOCK
®activated, the radio does not
operate if stolen.
Audio Steering Wheel Controls
The audio steering
wheel controls could
be different depending
on your vehicles
options. Some audio
controls can be adjusted
at the steering wheel.
They include the
following:
xw(Next/Previous):Press the down or up
arrow to go to the next or to the previous preset
radio station.
When a CD is playing, press the down or up
arrow to go to the next or previous track.
296

Your Driving, the Road, and
Your Vehicle............................................ 302
Defensive Driving...................................... 302
Drunken Driving........................................ 303
Control of a Vehicle.................................. 306
Braking...................................................... 306
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS).................. 307
Braking in Emergencies............................. 309
Traction Control System (TCS).................. 309
Magnetic Ride Control............................... 310
StabiliTrak
®System................................... 311
Panic Brake Assist.................................... 312
Steering.................................................... 312
Off-Road Recovery.................................... 315
Passing..................................................... 315
Loss of Control.......................................... 317Driving at Night......................................... 318
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads............ 320
City Driving............................................... 322
Freeway Driving........................................ 323
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.................. 324
Highway Hypnosis..................................... 325
Hill and Mountain Roads........................... 326
Winter Driving........................................... 328
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand,
Mud, Ice, or Snow................................. 332
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out........... 333
Loading Your Vehicle................................ 333
Towing........................................................ 340
Towing Your Vehicle................................. 340
Recreational Vehicle Towing...................... 340
Towing a Trailer........................................ 342
Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
301

Control of a Vehicle
The following three systems help to control your
vehicle while driving — brakes, steering, and
accelerator. At times, as when driving on snow or
ice, it is easy to ask more of those control
systems than the tires and road can provide.
Meaning, you can lose control of your vehicle. See
Traction Control System (TCS) on page 309.
Adding non-dealer/non-retailer accessories can
affect your vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories
and Modications on page 353.
Braking
SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 229.
Braking action involves perception time and
reaction time.First, you have to decide to push on the brake
pedal. That is perception time. Then you have to
bring up your foot and do it. That is reaction time.
Average reaction time is about three-fourths of a
second. But that is only an average. It might
be less with one driver and as long as two or
three seconds or more with another. Age, physical
condition, alertness, coordination, and eyesight
all play a part. So do alcohol, drugs, and
frustration. But even in three-fourths of a second,
a vehicle moving at 60 mph (100 km/h) travels
66 feet (20 m). That could be a lot of distance in an
emergency, so keeping enough space between
your vehicle and others is important.
And, of course, actual stopping distances vary
greatly with the surface of the road, whether it is
pavement or gravel; the condition of the road,
whether it is wet, dry, or icy; tire tread; the
condition of the brakes; the weight of the vehicle;
and the amount of brake force applied.
306

Remember: ABS does not change the time you
need to get your foot up to the brake pedal
or always decrease stopping distance. If you get
too close to the vehicle in front of you, you will not
have time to apply the brakes if that vehicle
suddenly slows or stops. Always leave enough
room up ahead to stop, even though you
have ABS.
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the brake
pedal down rmly and let anti-lock work for you.
You might hear the anti-lock pump or motor
operate, and feel the brake pedal pulsate, but this
is normal.
Braking in Emergencies
With ABS, you can steer and brake at the same
time. In many emergencies, steering can help you
more than even the very best braking.
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 the front wheels are spinning too much or
beginning to lose traction. When this happens, the
system works the front brakes and reduces engine
power (by closing the throttle and managing engine
spark) to limit wheel spin.
The traction control system and StabiliTrak
®
warning light will ash when the traction control
system is limiting wheel spin. SeeTraction Control
System (TCS) Warning Light on page 232and
StabiliTrak
®Indicator Light on page 232for more
information. 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 re-engage the cruise control.
SeeCruise Control on page 176orAdaptive
Cruise Control on page 179for more information.
309

The SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL message,
the traction control system warning light and
the StabiliTrak
®warning light will come on to let
you know if there is a problem with the traction
control system. SeeDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 246.
When this light and the SERVICE TRACTION
CONTROL message are 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 can turn the system on or off at any time by
pressing the traction control system button located
on the console or on the end of the column
shifter. The DIC will display TRACTION CONTROL
OFF when you press the button.
Adding non-dealer/non-retailer accessories can
affect your vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories
and Modications on page 353for more
information.
Magnetic Ride Control
Your vehicle may have a feature called Magnetic
Ride Control that 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. SeeDIC Warnings
and Messages on page 246for more information. If
this message appears, have your vehicle serviced
at your dealership.
Electronically Controlled Air Ride
Suspension
If you have a Cadillac Professional Vehicle, you
may have a feature called Electronically Controlled
Air Suspension. Air ride control is achieved through
a computer used to control and monitor the system.
310

The controller receives input from two height
sensors to determine the proper system response.
If the controller detects a problem with the system,
the Driver Information Center (DIC) will display a
SERVICE SUSPENSION SYS message. If this
message appears, have your vehicle serviced at
your dealership.
StabiliTrak®System
Your vehicle may have this feature. The
StabiliTrak®system is an advanced computer
controlled system that helps the driver maintain
directional control of the vehicle in difficult driving
conditions. This is accomplished by selectively
applying any one of the vehicle’s brakes and
reducing engine power.
The StabiliTrak
®system comes on automatically
whenever you start your vehicle. The system
cannot be turned off.The STABILITRAK NOT READY message may be
displayed in the DIC and the traction control
system and StabiliTrak
®warning light on the
instrument panel cluster will be on after rst driving
the vehicle and exceeding 19 mph (30 km/h) for
30 seconds. The StabiliTrak
®system is off until the
light has turned off. This could take up to
15 minutes.
The traction control system and StabiliTrak
®
warning light on the instrument panel cluster will
ash when the system is operating. SeeTraction
Control System (TCS) Warning Light on
page 232andStabiliTrak
®Indicator Light on
page 232for more information. You may also feel
or hear the system working. This is normal.
The SERVICE STABILITRAK message will be
displayed and the traction control system
and StabiliTrak
®warning light on the instrument
panel cluster will come on if there is a problem with
the system. When this light and the SERVICE
STABILITRAK message are on, the system is not
operational. Adjust your driving accordingly.
311

Panic Brake Assist
Your vehicle may have a panic brake assist
system that monitors the intention of the driver
while braking. If the system senses that the driver
has applied hard/fast pressure to the brake
pedal, the system will generate additional
pressure, making it easier for the driver to maintain
brake application. When this happens the brake
pedal will feel easier to push. Just hold the
brake pedal down rmly and let the system work
for you. You may feel the brakes vibrate, or
you may notice some noise but this is normal. The
brakes will return to normal operation after the
brake pedal has been released.
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
It is important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents mentioned
on the news happen on curves. Here is 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 is
no traction, inertia will keep the vehicle going in the
same direction. If you have ever tried to steer a
vehicle on wet ice, you will understand this.
The traction you can get in a curve depends on
the condition of the tires and the road surface, the
angle at which the curve is banked, and your
speed. While you are in a curve, speed is the
one factor you can control.
312

Suppose you are steering through a sharp curve.
Then you suddenly accelerate. Both control
systems — steering and acceleration — 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.
SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on page 309.
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
®, the system may be
active. SeeStabiliTrak®System on page 311.
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 will want to
go slower.If you need to reduce your speed as you approach
a curve, do it before you enter the curve, while
the front wheels are straight ahead.
Try to adjust your speed so you can “drive”
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.
Adding non-dealer/non-retailer accessories can
affect your vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories
and Modications on page 353.
313

Remember that an outside convex mirror
makes the vehicle you just passed seem farther
away from you than it really is.
Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a time
on two-lane roads. Reconsider before passing
the next vehicle.
Do not overtake a slowly moving vehicle too
rapidly. Even though the brake lamps are not
ashing, it might be slowing down or starting
to turn.
If you are being passed, make it easy for the
following driver to get ahead of you. Perhaps
you can ease a little to the right.
Loss of Control
Let us review what driving experts say about what
happens when the three control systems — brakes,
steering, and acceleration — do not have enough
friction where the tires meet the road to do what the
driver has asked.
In any emergency, do not give up. Keep trying to
steer and constantly seek an escape route or
area of less danger.
Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking
reasonable care suited to existing conditions, and
by not overdriving those conditions. But skids
are always possible.
The three types of skids correspond to your
vehicle’s three control systems. In the braking skid,
the wheels are not rolling. In the steering or
cornering skid, too much speed or steering in a
curve causes tires to slip and lose cornering force.
And in the acceleration skid, too much throttle
causes the driving wheels to spin.
A cornering skid is best handled by easing your
foot off the accelerator pedal.
Remember: Any traction control system helps
avoid only the acceleration skid. If your traction
control system is off, then an acceleration
skid is also best handled by easing your foot off
the accelerator pedal.
If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off
the accelerator pedal and quickly steer the
way you want the vehicle to go. If you start
steering quickly enough, your vehicle may
straighten out. Always be ready for a second
skid if it occurs.
317

If you have StabiliTrak®, the system may be
active. SeeStabiliTrak®System on page 311.
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow,
ice, gravel, or other material is on the road.
For safety, you will want to slow down and adjust
your driving to these conditions. It is important
to slow down on slippery surfaces because
stopping distance will be longer and vehicle control
more limited.
While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try
your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration, or
braking, including reducing vehicle speed by
shifting to a lower gear. Any sudden changes could
cause the tires to slide. You may not realize the
surface is slippery until your vehicle is skidding.
Learn to recognize warning clues — such as
enough water, ice, or packed snow on the road to
make a mirrored surface — and slow down when
you have any doubt.
Remember: Any Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
helps avoid only the braking skid.Driving at Night
Night driving is more dangerous than day driving.
One reason is that some drivers are likely to
be impaired — by alcohol or drugs, with night
vision problems, or by fatigue.
Here are some tips on night driving.
Drive defensively.
Do not drink and drive.
Adjust the inside rearview mirror to reduce the
glare from headlamps behind you.
Since you cannot see as well, slow down and
keep more space between you and other
vehicles.
Slow down, especially on higher speed roads.
Your vehicle’s headlamps can light up only so
much road ahead.
In remote areas, watch for animals.
If you are tired, pull off the road in a safe
place and rest.
318