ECU CADILLAC STS 2008 1.G Owner's Manual

Passenger Sensing System
Your vehicle has a passenger sensing system for the
right front passenger’s position. The passenger
airbag status indicator will be visible on the overhead
console when you start your vehicle.
The words ON and OFF, or the symbol for on and off,
will be visible during the system check. If you are
using remote start to start your vehicle from a distance,
if equipped, you may not see the system check.
When the system check is complete, either the word
ON or the word OFF, or the symbol for on or the symbol
for off, will be visible. SeePassenger Airbag Status
Indicator on page 3-61.The passenger sensing system will turn off the right
front passenger’s frontal airbag under certain conditions.
The driver’s airbags are not part of the passenger
sensing system.
The passenger sensing system works with sensors that
are part of the right front passenger’s seat. The sensors
are designed to detect the presence of a properly-seated
occupant and determine if the right front passenger’s
frontal airbag should be enabled (may inate) or not.
Accident statistics show that children are safer if
they are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat.
We recommend that children be secured in a rear
seat, including: an infant or a child riding in a rear-facing
child restraint; a child riding in a forward-facing child
seat; an older child riding in a booster seat; and children,
who are large enough, using safety belts.
A label on your sun visor says, “Never put a rear-facing
child seat in the front.” This is because the risk to the
rear-facing child is so great, if the airbag deploys. United States
Canada
1-60

{CAUTION:
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be
seriously injured or killed if the right front
passenger’s airbag inates. This is because
the back of the rear-facing child restraint
would be very close to the inating airbag.
Even though the passenger sensing system is
designed to turn off the right front passenger’s
frontal airbag if the system detects a rear-facing
child restraint, no system is fail-safe, and no
one can guarantee that an airbag will not deploy
under some unusual circumstance, even
though it is turned off. We recommend that
rear-facing child restraints be secured in a rear
seat, even if the airbag is off.
If you secure a forward-facing child restraint in
the right front seat, always move the front
passenger seat as far back as it will go. It is
better to secure the child restraint in a rear seat.The passenger sensing system is designed to turn off
the right front passenger’s frontal airbag if:
The right front passenger seat is unoccupied.
The system determines that an infant is present in
a rear-facing infant seat.
The system determines that a small child is present
in a child restraint.
The system determines that a small child is present
in a booster seat.
A right front passenger takes his/her weight off of
the seat for a period of time.
The right front passenger seat is occupied by a
smaller person, such as a child who has outgrown
child restraints.
Or, if there is a critical problem with the airbag
system or the passenger sensing system.
When the passenger sensing system has turned off the
right front passenger’s frontal airbag, the off indicator
will light and stay lit to remind you that the airbag is off.
SeePassenger Airbag Status Indicator on page 3-61.
1-61

If a child restraint has been installed and the on
indicator is lit, turn the vehicle off. Remove the child
restraint from the vehicle and reinstall the child restraint
following the child restraint manufacturer’s directions
and refer toSecuring a Child Restraint in the Right Front
Seat Position on page 1-47.
If, after reinstalling the child restraint and restarting the
vehicle, the on indicator is still lit, check to make
sure that the vehicle’s seatback is not pressing the child
restraint into the seat cushion. If this happens, slightly
recline the vehicle’s seatback and adjust the seat
cushion if possible. Also make sure the child restraint is
not trapped under the vehicle head restraint. If this
happens, adjust the head restraint. SeeHead Restraints
on page 1-6.
Remove any additional material from the seat such as
blankets, cushions, seat covers, seat heaters, or
seat massagers before reinstalling or securing the child
restraint.
If the on indicator is still lit, secure the child in the child
restraint in a rear seat position in the vehicle, and
check with your dealer/retailer.The passenger sensing system is designed to enable
(may inate) the right front passenger’s frontal
airbag anytime the system senses that a person of adult
size is sitting properly in the right front passenger’s
seat. When the passenger sensing system has allowed
the airbag to be enabled, the on indicator will light
and stay lit to remind you that the airbag is active.
For some children who have outgrown child restraints
and for very small adults, the passenger sensing system
may or may not turn off the right front passenger’s
frontal airbag, depending upon the person’s seating
posture and body build. Everyone in your vehicle who
has outgrown child restraints should wear a safety
belt properly — whether or not there is an airbag for
that person.
If a person of adult-size is sitting in the right front
passenger’s seat, but the off indicator is lit, it could be
because that person is not sitting properly in the seat.
If this happens, turn the vehicle off, remove any
additional material from the seat, such as blankets,
cushions, seat covers, seat heaters or seat massagers
and ask the person to place the seatback in the fully
upright position, then sit upright in the seat, centered on
1-62

Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Q:Is there anything I might add to or change
about the vehicle that could keep the airbags
from working properly?
A:Yes. If you add things that change your vehicle’s
frame, bumper system, height, front end or side
sheet metal, they may keep the airbag system from
working properly. Changing or moving any parts
of the front seats, safety belts, the airbag sensing
and diagnostic module, steering wheel, instrument
panel, roof-rail airbag modules, ceiling headliner
or pillar garnish trim, overhead console, front
sensors, side impact sensors, or airbag wiring can
affect the operation of the airbag system.
In addition, your vehicle has a passenger sensing
system for the right front passenger’s position, which
includes sensors that are part of the passenger’s
seat. The passenger sensing system may not
operate properly if the original seat trim is replaced
with non-GM covers, upholstery or trim, or with GM
covers, upholstery or trim designed for a different
vehicle. Any object, such as an aftermarket seat
heater or a comfort enhancing pad or device,installed under or on top of the seat fabric, could also
interfere with the operation of the passenger sensing
system. This could either prevent proper deployment
of the passenger airbag(s) or prevent the passenger
sensing system from properly turning off the
passenger airbag(s). SeePassenger Sensing
System on page 1-60.
If you have any questions about this, you should
contact Customer Assistance before you modify
your vehicle. The phone numbers and addresses for
Customer Assistance are in Step Two of the
Customer Satisfaction Procedure in this manual.
SeeCustomer Satisfaction Procedure on page 7-2.
Q:Because I have a disability, I have to get
my vehicle modied. How can I nd out whether
this will affect my airbag system?
A:If you have questions, call Customer Assistance.
The phone numbers and addresses for Customer
Assistance are in Step Two of the Customer
Satisfaction Procedure in this manual. See
Customer Satisfaction Procedure on page 7-2.
In addition, your dealer/retailer and the service manual
have information about the location of the airbag sensors,
sensing and diagnostic module and airbag wiring.
1-65

Keys...............................................................2-3
Keyless Access System...................................2-5
Keyless Access System Operation....................2-6
Remote Vehicle Start....................................2-12
Doors and Locks............................................2-14
Door Locks..................................................2-14
Power Door Locks........................................2-14
Programmable Automatic Door Locks..............2-15
Rear Door Security Locks..............................2-15
Lockout Protection........................................2-16
Trunk..........................................................2-16
Windows........................................................2-19
Power Windows............................................2-20
Sun Visors...................................................2-22
Theft-Deterrent Systems..................................2-22
Theft-Deterrent System..................................2-22
Valet Lockout Switch.....................................2-25
Immobilizer..................................................2-26
Immobilizer Operation....................................2-26Starting and Operating Your Vehicle................2-27
New Vehicle Break-In....................................2-27
Ignition Positions..........................................2-28
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)...................2-29
Starting the Engine.......................................2-29
Engine Coolant Heater..................................2-31
Automatic Transmission Operation...................2-32
Parking Brake..............................................2-35
Shifting Into PARK (P)...................................2-36
Shifting Out of PARK (P)...............................2-37
Parking Over Things That Burn.......................2-38
Engine Exhaust............................................2-38
Running the Engine While Parked...................2-39
Mirrors...........................................................2-40
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror
with Intellibeam™ and OnStar
®...................2-40
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror................2-40
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror
with OnStar
®............................................2-40
Section 2 Features and Controls
2-1

Programmable Automatic
Door Locks
Your vehicle was programmed from the factory so that
when the doors are closed, the ignition is on and the shift
lever is moved out of PARK (P), all the doors will lock.
The front doors can still be opened from the inside while
the doors are locked. If a rear passenger needs to
exit the vehicle, have that person use the manual knob
or use the power door lock switch on either front
door. When the door is closed again, it will not lock
automatically. Use the manual knob or the power door
lock switch to lock the door.
The doors were also programmed from the factory to
unlock every time the shift lever is moved back into
PARK (P).
The power door locks can be programmed through the
radio display. The radio display allows you to choose
various lock and unlock settings. For more information on
programming, seeVehicle Personalization on page 2-60.
Rear Door Security Locks
Your vehicle has rear door security locks. These
prevent passengers from opening the rear doors from
the inside.
The rear door security
locks are located on the
inside edge of each
rear door. The rear doors
must be open to access
them. The label showing
lock and unlock positions is
located near the lock.
To set the locks, do the following:
1. Insert the key into the security lock slot and turn it
so the slot is in the horizontal position.
2. Close the door.Lock Label shown
2-15

When you want to open a rear door when the security
lock is on, do the following:
1. Unlock the door using the remote keyless entry
transmitter, if the vehicle has one, the power
door lock switch, or the rear door manual lock.
2. Open the door from the outside.
To cancel the rear door security lock, do the following:
1. Unlock the door and open it from the outside.
2. Insert the key into the security lock slot and turn it
so the slot is in the vertical position.
Lockout Protection
Your vehicle can be programmed to sound the horn
three times and unlock the driver’s door when all doors
are closed and there is a keyless access transmitter
inside the interior of the vehicle. When the driver’s door
is reopened, the key in reminder chime will sound
continuously. The vehicle will remain locked only when
at least one transmitter has been removed from the
vehicle and both doors are closed. SeeVehicle
Personalization on page 2-60.
Trunk
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to drive with the trunk lid
open because carbon monoxide (CO) gas can
come into your vehicle. You cannot see or
smell CO. It can cause unconsciousness and
even death. If you must drive with the trunk lid
open or if electrical wiring or other cable
connections must pass through the seal
between the body and the trunk lid:
Make sure all other windows are shut.
Turn the fan on your heating or cooling
system to its highest speed and select the
control setting that will force outside air
into your vehicle. See Climate Control
System.
If you have air outlets on or under the
instrument panel, open them all the way.
SeeEngine Exhaust on page 2-38.
2-16

Rear Seat Pass-Through Door
To open the door:
1. Pull the rear seat armrest down.
2. If the door is locked, insert the key into the lock and
turn it counterclockwise.
3. Press the button above the lock and lower the door.
To open the trunk lid, pull the emergency trunk release
handle located in the trunk on the other side of the
door opening. See “Emergency Trunk Release Handle”
following.
Emergency Trunk Release Handle
Notice:Do not use the emergency trunk release
handle as a tie-down or anchor point when securing
items in the trunk as it could damage the handle.
There is a glow-in-the-dark trunk release handle
located inside the trunk near the back of the rear
seats. This handle will glow following exposure to light.
Pull down the release handle to open the trunk from
the inside of the vehicle.
2-18

Window Lockout
o
(Window Lockout):Press to disable the rear
window controls. The light on the button illuminates,
indicating that the feature is in use. The rear windows
can still be raised or lowered using the driver’s window
switches. To restore power to the rear windows, press the
button again. The light on the button will go out.
The front passenger window can be programmed to be
disabled using the window lockout button. SeeVehicle
Personalization on page 2-60.
Secure Car Feature
The windows can be closed by pressing the lock button
on the keyless access transmitter. SeeKeyless Access
System Operation on page 2-6for more information.
If any window is unable to close completely, it reverses
and the horn chirps. See “Anti-Pinch Feature” previously.
The engine must be off to operate this feature.
Sun Visors
Swing down the visor or detach it from the center mount
and move to the side to block out glare. The visors also
have side-to-side slide capability for greater coverage.
Pull the visor down and lift the cover. Move the slide
switch up or down to brighten or dim the lamp.
Theft-Deterrent Systems
Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities.
Although your vehicle has a number of theft-deterrent
features, we know that nothing we put on it can make it
impossible to steal.
Theft-Deterrent System
Your vehicle has a theft-deterrent alarm system.
The security light is
located on the instrument
panel cluster.
If the ignition is off and a door is open, the security light
will ash, reminding you to arm the theft-deterrent
system.
2-22

To arm the system:
Press the lock button on the keyless access
transmitter. If the door is closed when the lock
button is pressed, the security light will stay
illuminated for 30 seconds. After the security light
goes off, the theft-deterrent system is armed.
Pressing the lock button twice will arm the system
immediately.
If the vehicle is locked using the keyless access
transmitter and the trunk lid, hood or a door is open
or not closed completely, the security light will ash
for 60 seconds and then turn off. At this time, the
theft-deterrent system is armed but the alarm will not
sound if the trunk lid, hood or door that was not
closed completely is tampered with or opened.
The alarm will sound for the trunk lid, hood or a door
that was completely closed at the time the vehicle
was locked using the keyless access transmitter.
Open the door. Lock the door with the power door
lock switch or lock button on the keyless access
transmitter. The security light should ash. Close the
door. The security light will stop ashing and stay on.
After 30 seconds the light should turn off, the
theft-deterrent system is armed.
Passive Arming, if activated through the vehicle
personalization feature, will arm the system
automatically after you close the door and take at
least one keyless access transmitter with you.
The security light will turn on. After 60 seconds the
light should turn off. The theft-deterrent system is
armed. SeeVehicle Personalization on page 2-60.
If a door, hood, or the trunk is opened without the
keyless access transmitter, the horn will sound for
30 seconds and the lamps will ash for two minutes.
The vehicle cannot be started without a keyless access
transmitter.
The Theft-Deterrent system will not arm if:
The key is used to turn the key cylinder to the
lock position.
The driver’s door is locked using the power door
lock switch after the doors are closed.
2-23