steering CADILLAC XLR 2005 1.G Owners Manual

There is an airbag
readiness light on the
instrument panel, which
shows the airbag symbol.
The system checks the airbag electrical system for
malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical
problem. SeeAirbag Readiness Light on page 3-49
for more information.Where Are the Airbags?
The driver’s frontal airbag is in the middle of the
steering wheel.
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The passenger’s side impact airbag is in the side of the
passenger’s seatback closest to the door.
{CAUTION:
If something is between an occupant and an
airbag, the airbag might not inate properly or
it might force the object into that person
causing severe injury or even death. The path
of an inating airbag must be kept clear. Do
not put anything between an occupant and an
airbag, and do not attach or put anything on
the steering wheel hub or on or near any other
airbag covering. Do not let seat covers block
the ination path of a side impact airbag.
1-40

Vehicles with dual stage airbags are also equipped with
seat position sensors which enable the sensing
system to monitor the position of the driver’s and
passenger’s seats. The seat position sensor provides
information which is used to determine if the airbags
should deploy at a reduced level or at full deployment.
In any particular crash, no one can say whether an
airbag should have inated simply because of the
damage to a vehicle or because of what the repair costs
were. For frontal airbags, ination is determined by
the angle of the impact and how quickly the vehicle
slows down in frontal and near-frontal impacts. For side
impact airbags, ination is determined by the location
and severity of the impact.
What Makes an Airbag Inate?
In an impact of sufficient severity, the airbag sensing
system detects that the vehicle is in a crash. For both
frontal and side impact airbags, the sensing system
triggers a release of gas from the inator, which inates
the airbag. The inator, the airbag and related hardware
are all part of the airbag modules inside the steering
wheel, the instrument panel, and the side of the front
seatbacks closest to the door.
How Does an Airbag Restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal collisions,
even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel or
the instrument panel. In moderate to severe side
collisions, even belted occupants can contact the inside
of the vehicle. The airbag supplements the protection
provided by safety belts. Airbags distribute the force of
the impact more evenly over the occupant’s upper body,
stopping the occupant more gradually. But the frontal
airbags would not help you in many types of collisions,
including rollovers, rear impacts, and many side impacts,
primarily because an occupant’s motion is not toward the
airbag. Side impact airbags would not help you in many
types of collisions, including frontal or near frontal
collisions, rollovers, and rear impacts, primarily because
an occupant’s motion is not toward those airbags.
Airbags should never be regarded as anything more than
a supplement to safety belts, and then only in moderate
to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions for the driver’s
and passenger’s frontal airbags, and only in moderate to
severe side collisions for the driver’s and passenger’s
side impact airbag.
1-42

What Will You See After an Airbag
Inates?
After the airbag inates, it quickly deates, so quickly that
some people may not even realize the airbag inated.
Some components of the airbag module — the steering
wheel hub for the driver’s airbag, the instrument panel for
the passenger’s bag, the side of the seatback closest to
the door for the driver’s and passenger’s side impact
airbags — will be hot for a short time. The parts of the
bag that come into contact with you may be warm, but not
too hot to touch. There will be some smoke and dust
coming from the vents in the deated airbags. Airbag
ination does not prevent the driver from seeing or being
able to steer the vehicle, nor does it stop people from
leaving the vehicle.
{CAUTION:
When an airbag inates, there is dust in the
air. This dust could cause breathing problems
for people with a history of asthma or other
breathing trouble. To avoid this, everyone in
the vehicle should get out as soon as it is safe
to do so. If you have breathing problems but
can not get out of the vehicle after an airbag
inates, then get fresh air by opening a
window or a door. If you experience breathing
problems following an airbag deployment, you
should seek medical attention.
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In many crashes severe enough to inate the airbag,
windshields are broken by vehicle deformation.
Additional windshield breakage may also occur from the
passenger airbag.
Airbags are designed to inate only once. After an
airbag inates, you will need some new parts for
your airbag system. If you do not get them,
the airbag system will not be there to help protect
you in another crash. A new system will include
airbag modules and possibly other parts. The
service manual for your vehicle covers the need to
replace other parts.
Your vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing and
diagnostic module which records information after
a crash. SeeVehicle Data Collection and Event
Data Recorders on page 8-9.
Let only qualied technicians work on your airbag
system. Improper service can mean that an
airbag system will not work properly. See your
dealer for service.
Notice:If you damage the covering for the driver’s
or the passenger’s airbags, the bags may not
work properly. You may have to replace the airbag
module in the steering wheel or both the airbag
module and the instrument panel for the
passenger’s airbags. Do not open or break the
airbag coverings.
Airbag Off Switch
Your vehicle has a switch in the glove box that you can
use to turn off the passenger’s airbags. Your vehicle
will either have the Canadian switch design (A) or
the United States switch design (B).
A. Canadian Switch
B. United States Switch
This switch should only be turned to the off position if
the person in the passenger’s position is a member of a
passenger risk group identied by the national
government as follows:
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Keys...............................................................2-2
Keyless Access System...................................2-4
Keyless Access System Operation....................2-5
Doors and Locks.............................................2-9
Door Locks....................................................2-9
Power Door Locks........................................2-11
Automatic Door Locks...................................2-12
Programmable Automatic Door Unlock.............2-12
Lockout Protection........................................2-12
Trunk..........................................................2-13
Windows........................................................2-16
Power Windows............................................2-17
Sun Visors...................................................2-18
Theft-Deterrent Systems..................................2-19
Theft-Deterrent System..................................2-19
Valet Lockout Switch.....................................2-21
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle................2-21
New Vehicle Break-In....................................2-21
Ignition Positions..........................................2-22
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)...................2-22
Starting Your Engine.....................................2-23
Engine Coolant Heater..................................2-24
Automatic Transmission Operation...................2-25
Parking Brake..............................................2-28
Shifting Into Park (P).....................................2-30
Shifting Out of Park (P).................................2-31
Parking Over Things That Burn.......................2-32Engine Exhaust............................................2-32
Running Your Engine While You Are Parked.......2-33
Mirrors...........................................................2-34
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror
with OnStar
®............................................2-34
Outside Power Heated Mirrors........................2-34
Outside Automatic Dimming Mirror..................2-35
Outside Curb View Assist Mirror.....................2-35
Outside Convex Mirror...................................2-36
OnStar
®System.............................................2-36
HomeLink®Transmitter...................................2-38
Programming the HomeLink®Transmitter.........2-39
Storage Areas................................................2-42
Glove Box...................................................2-42
Cupholder(s)................................................2-42
Center Console Storage Area.........................2-42
Map Pocket.................................................2-43
Floor Mats...................................................2-43
Rear Storage Area........................................2-44
Convenience Net..........................................2-44
Retractable Hardtop........................................2-45
Lowering the Retractable Hardtop...................2-45
Raising the Retractable Hardtop......................2-46
Vehicle Personalization...................................2-54
Memory Seat, Mirrors and Steering Wheel.......2-54
Section 2 Features and Controls
2-1

Keyless Access System Operation
Your vehicle has a Keyless Access System that allows
you to lock and unlock your doors, unlock your trunk lid
and disarm or arm your theft-deterrent system. The range
distance is as much as 100 feet (30 m) away.
Your vehicle comes
with two transmitters,
and up to four can
be matched to your
vehicle. See “Matching
Transmitter(s) to
Your Vehicle” later in
this section.
Q(Lock):Press this button to lock the doors.
The indicator light on the door will ash once. If this
button is pressed twice, the doors will lock, the light will
ash once and the horn will sound once.
K(Unlock):Press this button once to unlock the
driver’s door. The indicator light on the door will ash
twice. Press the button twice within 10 seconds to
unlock both doors. If it is dark enough outside, your
interior lamps will come on.
Your memory settings may also be recalled when
you press the unlock button on the keyless access
transmitter. SeeMemory Seat, Mirrors and Steering
Wheel on page 2-54for more information.
G(Trunk):Press this button to open the trunk
while the engine is turned off or the shift lever is
in PARK (P).
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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 in the Index.
If you have air outlets on or under the
instrument panel, open them all the way.
SeeEngine Exhaust on page 2-32.
Trunk Lock Release
{CAUTION:
Moving parts of the powered trunk lid can be
dangerous. You or others could be injured.
Keep yourself and others away from the trunk
lid and its mechanism while it is closing.
The trunk lock release
button is located to the left
of the steering wheel on
the instrument panel.
Press the button to open the trunk. To use this feature,
your vehicle must be in PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N)
and the valet lockout switch must be off.
2-13

Ignition Positions
Your vehicle has an
electronic keyless ignition
with pushbutton start.
/(START):Press this button while your foot is on the
brake to start the engine. The keyless access transmitter
must be in the vehicle for the ignition to work.
9ACC (OFF/ACCESSORY):When the engine is on
or in accessory mode, press this button to turn the
engine off and place the vehicle in RAP. SeeRetained
Accessory Power (RAP) on page 2-22for more
information.When the engine is off, press this button to place the
vehicle in accessory mode. ACCESSORY MODE
ON will display on the Driver Information Center (DIC).
This mode allows you to use things like the radio
and the windshield wipers while the engine is off.
Use ACC if you must have your vehicle in motion while
the engine is off, for example, if your vehicle is being
pushed or towed.
After being in ACC for about 20 minutes, the vehicle will
automatically enter RAP or OFF, depending on if the
doors are opened or closed.
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
The following accessories on your vehicle may be used
for up to 10 minutes after the engine is turned off:
Radio
Power Windows
Audio Steering Wheel Controls
Power to these accessories stops after 10 minutes or
if a door is opened. If you want power for another
10 minutes, close all the doors and press the ACC
button to place the vehicle in accessory mode. Press the
button again and the vehicle will return to RAP.
2-22

Both mirrors have a heated feature to rid them of snow,
ice, or condensation. They will heat when the rear
window defogger is turned on. See “Rear Window
Defogger” underDual Climate Control System on
page 3-40. If the vehicle has the memory option, the
preferred mirror position can be stored. SeeMemory
Seat, Mirrors and Steering Wheel on page 2-54.
Both mirrors can be manually folded inward by pulling
them toward the vehicle. This feature may be useful
when going through a car wash or a conned space.
Push the mirrors away from the vehicle, to the normal
position, before driving.
Outside Automatic Dimming Mirror
The driver’s side mirror will adjust for the glare of
headlamps behind you. This feature is controlled by the
on and off settings on the inside automatic dimming
rearview mirror. SeeAutomatic Dimming Rearview
Mirror with OnStar
®on page 2-34.
Outside Curb View Assist Mirror
The passenger’s side mirror is also capable of
performing the curb view assist feature. This feature will
cause the mirror to tilt to a factory programmed
position when the vehicle is in REVERSE (R). This
feature may be useful in allowing you to view the curb
when you are parallel parking.
If further adjustment is needed after the mirror is tilted,
the mirror switch may be used. The mirror will then
return to this new position when the vehicle is shifted
into REVERSE (R).
When the vehicle is shifted out of REVERSE (R) and
a ve-second delay has occurred, the passenger’s side
mirror will return to its original position.
This feature can be enabled/disabled through the
Driver Information Center (DIC). See “Park Assist” under
DIC Vehicle Personalization on page 3-73for more
information.
2-35