Cadillac CTS 2008 User manual

Seats and Restraint Systems ........................... 1-1
Head Restraints ......................................... 1-2
Front Seats ............................................... 1-4
Rear Seats .............................................. 1-11
Safety Belts ............................................. 1-12
Child Restraints ....................................... 1-32
Airbag System ......................................... 1-55
Restraint System Check ............................ 1-70
Features and Controls ..................................... 2-1
Keys ........................................................ 2-3
Doors and Locks ...................................... 2-17
Windows ................................................. 2-23
Theft-Deterrent Systems ............................ 2-27
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle ........... 2-31
Mirrors .................................................... 2-49
Object Detection Systems .......................... 2-51
OnStar
®
System ...................................... 2-53
Universal Home Remote System ................ 2-56
Storage Areas ......................................... 2-61
Sunroof .................................................. 2-62
Instrument Panel ............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview .......................... 3-4
Climate Controls ...................................... 3-23
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators ........ 3-29
Driver Information Center (DIC) .................. 3-47
Audio System(s) ....................................... 3-79
Driving Your Vehicle ....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle ..... 4-2
Towing ................................................... 4-27
Service and Appearance Care .......................... 5-1
Service ..................................................... 5-3
Fuel ......................................................... 5-5
Checking Things Under the Hood ............... 5-12
All-Wheel Drive ........................................ 5-49
Rear Axle ............................................... 5-50
Headlamp Aiming ..................................... 5-51
Bulb Replacement .................................... 5-55
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement ......... 5-57
Tires ...................................................... 5-59
Appearance Care ................................... 5-111
Vehicle Identification ............................... 5-120
Electrical System .................................... 5-121
Capacities and Specifications ................... 5-128
Maintenance Schedule ..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule ................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance Information .................... 7-1
Customer Assistance and Information ........... 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects ........................... 7-14
Vehicle Data Recording and Privacy ........... 7-16
Index ................................................................ 1
2008 Cadillac CTS Owner Manual M

GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem, CADILLAC,
the CADILLAC Crest & Wreath, and the name CTS
are registered trademarks of General Motors
Corporation.
Music recognition technology and related data are
provided by Gracenote
®
. Gracenote is the industry
standard in music recognition technology and related
content delivery. For more information, visit
www.gracenote.com.
DTS AND DTS Digital Surround are registered
trademarks of Digital Theater Systems, Inc.
Dolby
®
is manufactured under license from Dolby
®
Laboratories. Dolby
®
and the double-D symbol
are trademarks of Dolby
®
Laboratories.
Litho in U.S.A.
Part No. 15864564 A First Printing
©
2007 General Motors Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
ii

This manual includes the latest information at the time it
was printed. We reserve the right to make changes
after that time without notice. For vehicles first sold in
Canada, substitute the name “General Motors of Canada
Limited” for Cadillac Motor Car Division whenever it
appears in this manual.
This manual describes features that may be available in
this model, but your vehicle may not have all of them.
For example, more than one entertainment system may
be offered or your vehicle may have been ordered
without a front passenger or rear seats.
Keep this manual in the vehicle for quick reference.
Canadian Owners
A French language copy of this manual can be obtained
from your dealer/retailer or from:
Helm, Incorporated
P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207
1-800-551-4123
www.helminc.com
Propriétaires Canadiens
On peut obtenir un exemplaire de ce guide en français
auprès de concessionnaire ou à l’adresse suivante:
Helm Incorporated
P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207
1-800-551-4123
www.helminc.com
Using this Manual
Many people read the owner manual from beginning to
end when they first receive their new vehicle to learn
about the vehicle’s features and controls. Pictures
and words work together to explain things.
Index
A good place to quickly locate information about the
vehicle is the Index in the back of the manual. It is an
alphabetical list of what is in the manual and the
page number where it can be found.
iii

Safety Warnings and Symbols
There are a number of safety cautions in this book. A
box with the word CAUTION is used to tell about things
that could hurt you or others if you were to ignore the
warning.
{CAUTION:
These mean there is something that could hurt
you or other people.
We tell you what the hazard is and what to do to help
avoid or reduce the hazard. Please read these cautions.
If you do not, you or others could be hurt.
A circle with a slash
through it is a safety
symbol which means “Do
Not,” “Do Not do this”
or “Do Not let this happen.”
Vehicle Damage Warnings
You will also find notices in this manual.
Notice: These mean there is something that could
damage your vehicle.
A notice tells about something that can damage the
vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be covered
by your vehicle’s warranty, and it could be costly.
The notice tells what to do to help avoid the damage.
When you read other manuals, you might see
CAUTION and NOTICE warnings in different colors
or in different words.
There are also warning labels on the vehicle which use
the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE.
Vehicle Symbols
The vehicle has components and labels that use
symbols instead of text. Symbols are shown along with
the text describing the operation or information
relating to a specific component, control, message,
gage, or indicator.
iv

Head Restraints ...............................................1-2
Front Seats ......................................................1-4
Manual Seats ................................................1-4
Power Seats ..................................................1-5
Power Lumbar ...............................................1-5
Heated and Ventilated Seats ............................1-6
Memory Seat and Mirrors ................................1-6
Reclining Seatbacks ........................................1-8
Rear Seats .....................................................1-11
Split Folding Rear Seat .................................1-11
Safety Belts ...................................................1-12
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone ................1-12
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly .................1-17
Lap-Shoulder Belt .........................................1-25
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy ..................1-30
Safety Belt Extender .....................................1-31
Child Restraints .............................................1-32
Older Children ..............................................1-32
Infants and Young Children ............................1-35
Child Restraint Systems .................................1-39
Where to Put the Restraint .............................1-42
Lower Anchors and Tethers for
Children (LATCH) ......................................1-43
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat
Position ...................................................1-49
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front
Seat Position ............................................1-51
Airbag System ...............................................1-55
Where Are the Airbags? ................................1-58
When Should an Airbag Inflate? .....................1-60
What Makes an Airbag Inflate? .......................1-62
How Does an Airbag Restrain? .......................1-62
What Will You See After an Airbag Inflates? .....1-62
Passenger Sensing System ............................1-64
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle ...........1-68
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle ....................................................1-69
Restraint System Check ..................................1-70
Checking the Restraint Systems ......................1-70
Replacing Restraint System Parts After
a Crash ...................................................1-71
Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems
1-1

Head Restraints
The vehicle’s front seats have adjustable head restraints
in the outboard seating positions.
The vehicle’s rear seats have head restraints in the
outboard seating positions, but they are not adjustable.
{CAUTION:
With head restraints that are not installed and
adjusted properly, there is a greater chance
that occupants will suffer a neck/spinal injury
in a crash. Do not drive until the head
restraints for all occupants are installed and
adjusted properly.
Adjust the head restraint so that the top of the restraint
is at the same height as the top of the occupant’s
head. This position reduces the chance of a neck injury
in a crash.
1-2

Pull the head restraint up to
raise it. To lower the head
restraint, press the button,
located on the top of the
seatback, and push the
restraint down.
Push down on the head restraint after the button is
released to make sure that it is locked in place.
The vehicle’s head restraints are not designed to
be removed.
Active Head Restraint System
On vehicles with an active head restraint system in the
front outboard seating positions. These automatically
tilt forward to reduce the risk of neck injury if the vehicle
is hit from behind.
1-3

Front Seats
Manual Seats
{CAUTION:
You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to
adjust a manual driver’s seat while the vehicle
is moving. The sudden movement could startle
and confuse you, or make you push a pedal
when you do not want to. Adjust the driver’s
seat only when the vehicle is not moving.
To move a manual seat forward or rearward:
1. Lift the bar to unlock
the seat.
2. Slide the seat to the
desired position and
release the bar.
Try to move the seat with your body to be sure the seat
is locked in place.
1-4

Power Seats
If the vehicle has power seats, the controls used to
operate them are located on the outboard side of
the seats.
•Move the seat forward or rearward by sliding the
horizontal control forward or rearward.
•Raise or lower the front part of the seat cushion by
moving the front of the horizontal control up or down.
•Raise or lower the rear part of the seat cushion by
moving the rear of the horizontal control up or down.
•Raise or lower the entire seat by moving the entire
horizontal control up or down.
The vertical control is used for reclining your seatback.
See “Power Reclining Seatbacks” under Reclining
Seatbacks on page 1-8 for more information.
Power Lumbar
Your vehicle may have this
feature. The driver’s and
passenger’s seatback
lumbar support can
be adjusted by moving the
control located on the
outboard side of the seat
cushions.
To increase or decrease support, hold the control
forward or rearward. Keep in mind that as your seating
position changes, as it may during long trips, so
should the position of your lumbar support. Adjust the
seat as needed.
1-5

Heated and Ventilated Seats
On vehicles with this feature, the buttons are located on
the climate control panel.
z(Heated Seat and Seatback): Press for the heated
seat and seatback.
{(Ventilated Seat): Press for the ventilated seat.
A light bar in the climate control display shows the
setting; high, medium or low.
Press either button to start that feature at the highest
setting. Each press of the button, decreases the setting.
To turn the feature off, press the button until the light
turns off.
The heated or ventilated seats shut off when the vehicle
is turned off.
Memory Seat and Mirrors
The buttons for this feature are located on the
driver’s door.
1: Saves the seating position for driver 1.
2: Saves the seating position for driver 2.
S:Recalls the easy exit position.
To program the buttons:
1. Adjust the driver’s seat including the seatback
recliner and both outside mirrors.
2. Press and hold button 1 for at least three seconds.
Two beeps sound to confirm that the seat and
mirror positions have been saved.
3. Repeat the procedure for a second driver using
button 2.
1-6

With an automatic transmission, the vehicle must be in
PARK (P) to recall the stored driving positions.
With a manual transmission and the engine is running,
the parking brake must be set to recall the memory
seat driving positions. The stored driving positions can
be recalled without setting the parking brake if the
vehicle is off.
Press one of the numbered memory buttons to recall
the stored setting. Each time a memory button is
pressed, a single beep will sound.
Three chimes sound and the setting is not recalled if
you press button 1 or 2 when the vehicle is not in
PARK (P) on an automatic transmission or the parking
brake is not set on a manual transmission.
To recall the stored driving positions when unlocking the
vehicle with the transmitter or after the key is placed
in the ignition, see DIC Vehicle Customization on
page 3-68.
To stop recall movement of the memory feature at any
time, press one of the power seat or mirror controls.
Two personalized exit positions can also be
programmed. Use the following steps to program exit
positions:
1. Press memory seat button 1, or the unlock button
on the transmitter, to recall the driving position.
2. Adjust the driver’s seat to the desired exit position.
3. Press and hold the exit button located above
buttons 1 and 2 on the driver’s door armrest
for at least three seconds.
Two beeps sound to confirm that the exit position
has been saved.
4. Repeat the procedure for a second driver using
memory seat button 2 or the transmitter.
To recall the stored exit positions, press and release the
exit button. One beep sounds, and the seat moves to
the stored exit position for that driver. If an exit position
has not been stored for this driver, the seat moves
all the way back. The position of the outside mirrors
does not change for the exit position.
If your vehicle has an automatic transmission, the
vehicle must be in PARK (P) to recall the exit positions.
If your vehicle has a manual transmission and the
engine is running, the parking brake must be set to recall
the stored exit positions.
Three chimes sound and the exit setting is not recalled
if the exit button is pressed when the vehicle is not
in PARK (P) on an automatic transmission or the parking
brake is not set on a manual transmission.
To recall your stored exit positions when unlocking the
vehicle with the transmitter, or when the ignition is
turned off and the driver’s door is opened, see DIC
Vehicle Customization on page 3-68.
1-7

Reclining Seatbacks
Manual Reclining Seatbacks
{CAUTION:
You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to
adjust a manual driver’s seat while the vehicle
is moving. The sudden movement could startle
and confuse you, or make you push a pedal
when you do not want to. Adjust the driver’s
seat only when the vehicle is not moving.
{CAUTION:
If the seatback is not locked, it could move
forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could
cause injury to the person sitting there. Always
push and pull on the seatback to be sure it is
locked.
If the front passenger’s seat has a manual reclining
seatback, the lever used to operate it is located on the
outboard side of the seat.
To recline the seatback, do the following:
1. Lift the recline lever.
2. Move the seatback to the desired position, then
release the lever to lock the seatback in place.
3. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it
is locked.
1-8

To return the seatback to an upright position, do the
following:
1. Lift the lever fully without applying pressure to the
seatback and the seatback will return to the upright
position.
2. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is
locked.
Power Reclining Seatbacks
If your seats have power reclining seatbacks, use the
vertical power seat control located on the outboard side
of each seat.
•To recline the seatback, press the control toward
the rear of the vehicle.
•To raise the seatback, press the control toward the
front of the vehicle.
1-9

{CAUTION:
Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle
is in motion can be dangerous. Even if you
buckle up, your safety belts cannot do their
job when you are reclined like this.
The shoulder belt cannot do its job. In a crash,
you could go into it, receiving neck or other
injuries.
The lap belt cannot do its job either. In a crash
the belt could go up over your abdomen. The
belt forces would be there, not at your pelvic
bones. This could cause serious internal
injuries.
For proper protection when the vehicle is in
motion, have the seatback upright. Then sit
well back in the seat and wear your safety belt
properly.
Do not have a seatback reclined if your vehicle is
moving.
1-10

Rear Seats
Split Folding Rear Seat
Your vehicle may have a split folding rear seat.
To lower one or both of the rear seatbacks:
1. Pull forward on the tab,
located on the outboard
side of the seatback,
to unlock the seatback.
Notice: Folding a rear seat with the safety belts
still fastened may cause damage to the seat or the
safety belts. Always unbuckle the safety belts
and return them to their normal stowed position
before folding a rear seat.
2. Fold the seatback down. This allows direct access
to the trunk.
See Trunk on page 2-20 for more information.
To return the seatback to the upright position:
{CAUTION:
If the seatback is not locked, it could move
forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could
cause injury to the person sitting there. Always
push and pull on the seatback to be sure it is
locked.
1. Lift the seatback up and push it back into place.
2. Make sure the seatback is locked into place
by pushing and pulling on it.
3. Repeat Steps 1 and 3 for the other seatback.
When the seatback is not in use, it should be kept in
the upright, locked position.
1-11

Safety Belts
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone
This part of the manual tells you how to use safety
belts properly. It also tells you some things you should
not do with safety belts.
{CAUTION:
Do not let anyone ride where he or she cannot
wear a safety belt properly. If you are in a
crash and you are not wearing a safety belt,
your injuries can be much worse. You can hit
things inside the vehicle harder or be ejected
from it and be seriously injured or killed. In the
same crash, you might not be, if you are
buckled up. Always fasten your safety belt,
and check that your passenger(s) are
restrained properly too.
{CAUTION:
It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo
area, inside or outside of a vehicle. In a
collision, people riding in these areas are more
likely to be seriously injured or killed. Do not
allow people to ride in any area of your vehicle
that is not equipped with seats and safety
belts. Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a
seat and using a safety belt properly.
Your vehicle has indicators as a reminder to buckle your
safety belts. See Safety Belt Reminders on page 3-32.
In most states and in all Canadian provinces, the
law requires wearing safety belts. Here is why:
You never know if you will be in a crash. If you do have
a crash, you do not know if it will be a serious one.
A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be so
serious that even buckled up, a person would not
survive. But most crashes are in between. In many of
them, people who buckle up can survive and sometimes
walk away. Without belts they could have been badly
hurt or killed.
After more than 40 years of safety belts in vehicles, the
facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up does
matter... a lot!
1-12

Why Safety Belts Work
When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as
it goes.
Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose it is just a seat on
wheels.
Put someone on it.
1-13

Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle. The rider
does not stop. The person keeps going until stopped by something. In a real vehicle, it could be the windshield...
1-14

or the instrument panel... or the safety belts!
With safety belts, you slow down as the vehicle does.
You get more time to stop. You stop over more distance,
and your strongest bones take the forces. That is why
safety belts make such good sense.
1-15

Questions and Answers About
Safety Belts
Q: Will I be trapped in the vehicle after a crash if I
am wearing a safety belt?
A: You could be — whether you are wearing a safety
belt or not. But your chance of being conscious
during and after an accident, so you can unbuckle
and get out, is much greater if you are belted.
And you can unbuckle a safety belt, even if you are
upside down.
Q: If my vehicle has airbags, why should I have to
wear safety belts?
A: Airbags are supplemental systems only; so they
work with safety belts — not instead of them.
Whether or not an airbag is provided, all occupants
still have to buckle up to get the most protection.
That is true not only in frontal collisions, but
especially in side and other collisions.
Q: If I am a good driver, and I never drive far from
home, why should I wear safety belts?
A: You may be an excellent driver, but if you are in a
crash — even one that is not your fault — you and
your passenger(s) can be hurt. Being a good
driver does not protect you from things beyond your
control, such as bad drivers.
Most accidents occur within 25 miles (40 km) of
home. And the greatest number of serious injuries
and deaths occur at speeds of less than 40 mph
(65 km/h).
Safety belts are for everyone.
1-16