Cadillac CTS 2003 Owner's Manual

The 2003 Cadillac CTS Owner’s Manual

1-1 Seats and Restraint Systems

This section tells you how to use your seats and safety belts properly. It also explains the air bag system.

2-1 Features and Controls

This section explains how to start and operate your vehicle.

3-1 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems

This section tells you how to adjust the ventilation and comfort controls and how to operate your audio system.

4-1 Your Driving and the Road

Here you’ll find helpful information and tips about the road and how to drive under different conditions.

5-1 Problems on the Road

This section tells you what to do if you have a problem while driving, such as a flat tire or overheated engine, etc.

6-1 Service and Appearance Care

Here the manual tells you how to keep your vehicle running properly and looking good.

7-1 Maintenance Schedule

This section tells you when to perform vehicle maintenance and what fluids and lubricants to use.

8-1 Customer Assistance Information

This section tells you how to contact Cadillac for assistance and how to get service and owner publications. It also gives you information on “Reporting Safety Defects” on page 8

-9.

GENERAL MOTORS, GM and the GM Emblem, CADILLAC, the CADILLAC Crest & Wreath are registered trademarks and the name CTS is a trademark of General Motors Corporation.

This manual includes the latest information at the time it was printed. We reserve the right to make changes after that time without further 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.

Please keep this manual in your vehicle, so it will be there if you ever need it when you’re on the road. If you sell the vehicle, please leave this manual in it so the new owner can use it.

We support voluntary technician certification.

How to Use this Manual

Many people read their owner’s manual from beginning to end when they first receive their new vehicle. If you do this, it will help you learn about the features and controls for your vehicle. In this manual, you’ll find that pictures and words work together to explain things quickly.

Safety Warnings and Symbols

You will find a number of safety cautions in this book. We use a box and the word CAUTION to tell you about things that could hurt you if you were to ignore the warning.

CAUTION:

These mean there is something that could hurt you or other people.

In the caution area, we tell you what the hazard is. Then we tell you what to do to help avoid or reduce the hazard. Please read these cautions. If you don’t, you or others could be hurt.

You will also find a circle with a slash through it in this book. This safety symbol means “Don’t,” “Don’t do this” or “Don’t let this happen.”

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Vehicle Damage Warnings

Also, in this book you will find these notices:

NOTICE:

These mean there is something that could damage your vehicle.

In the notice area, we tell you about something that can damage your vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be covered by your warranty, and it could be costly. But the notice will tell you 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.

You’ll also see warning labels on your vehicle. They use the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE.

Vehicle Symbols

Your vehicle may be equipped with components and labels that use symbols instead of text. Symbols, used on your vehicle, are shown along with the text describing the operation or information relating to a specific component, control, message, gage or indicator.

If you need help figuring out a specific name of a component, gage or indicator reference the following topics in the Index:

“Engine Compartment Overview”

“Instrument Panel”

“Comfort Controls”

“Audio Systems”

Also see “Warning Lights and Gages” in the Index.

These are some examples of vehicle symbols you may find on your vehicle:

Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems

Here you’ll find information about the seats in your vehicle and how to use your safety belts properly. You can also learn about some things you should not do with air bags and safety belts.

-2 Seats and Seat Controls

-10 Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone

-15 Here Are Questions Many People Ask About

Safety Belts

-16 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly

1 1

-16 Driver Position

-22 Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy

-23 Right Front Passenger Position

1 1

-24 Air Bag Systems

-35 Safety Belt Pretensioners

-- and the Answers

-36 Rear Seat Passengers

1 1

-39 Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children

and Small Adults

1-41 Children

-45 Restraint Systems for Children

1 1

-58 Older Children

-61 Safety Belt Extender

-61 Checking Your Restraint Systems

1 1

-62 Replacing Restraint System Parts After

a Crash

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Seats and Seat Controls

This section tells you about the power seats -- how to adjust them, and also about the reclining front seatbacks, memory seats, lumbar adjustments and heated seats.

Two-Way Manual Passenger Seat

Lift the bar under the front of the seat to unlock it. Slide the seat to where you want it and release the bar. Try to move the seat back and forth with your body to be sure the seat is locked in place.

Six-Way Power Seats (If Equipped)

If your vehicle is equipped with power seats, the controls are located on the outboard sides of the front seat cushions.

Move the front of the horizontal control up or down to adjust the front portion of the cushion.

Move the rear of the horizontal control up or down to adjust the rear portion of the cushion.

Lift up or push down on the center of the horizontal control to move the entire seat up or down.

T o move the seat forward or rearward, slide the horizontal control forward or rearward.

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Memory Seat and Mirrors (If Equipped)

This feature allows you to program and recall memory settings for the driver’s seating and outside rearview mirror driving positions for up to two drivers.

The buttons for this feature are located on the driver’s door armrest.

Use the following steps 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. T wo beeps will sound to confirm that the seat and

mirror positions have been saved.

3. Repeat the procedure for a second driver using button 2.

If your vehicle has an automatic transmission, the vehicle must be in PARK (P) to recall the stored driving positions. If your vehicle has 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 will sound and the setting will not be recalled if you press button 1 or 2 while the engine is running and the vehicle is not in PARK (P) on an automatic transmission or the parking brake is not set on a manual transmission.

If you would like the stored driving positions to be recalled when unlocking your vehicle with the remote keyless entry transmitter or when you place the key in the ignition, see “Vehicle Programming and Personalization Features” in the Index.

T o stop recall movement of the memory feature at any time, press one of the power seat or mirror controls.

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T wo personalized exit positions can also be programmed. Use the following steps to program exit positions:

1. Press memory seat button 1 or the button with the unlock symbol on the remote keyless entry transmitter with the number 1 on the back to recall the drive 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.

T wo beeps will 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 remote keyless entry transmitter with the number 2 on the back.

T o recall the stored exit positions, press and release the exit button. One beep will sound, and the seat will move to the previously stored exit position for the currently identified driver. If an exit position has not been stored for this driver, the seat will move all the way back. The position of the outside mirrors is not stored or recalled for the exit position.

If your vehicle has an automatic transmission, the vehicle must be in PARK (P) to recall the exit positions. For a manual transmission, the parking brake must be set if the engine is running to recall the stored exit positions.

Three chimes will sound and the exit setting will not be recalled if you press the exit button while the engine is running and the vehicle is not in PARK (P) on an automatic transmission or the parking brake is not set on a manual transmission.

If you would like your stored exit position to be recalled when unlocking the vehicle with the remote keyless entry transmitter or when the ignition is turned off and the driver’s door is opened, see “Vehicle Programming and Personalization Features” in the Index.

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Heated Front Seats (If Equipped)

If your vehicle is equipped with heated front seats, the buttons are located on the climate control panel.

There is a button for the driver and one for the front passenger . Each button has the following three settings: LO, HI and off. The active setting appears on the climate control panel display. The LO setting warms the seatback and cushion until the seat approximates normal body temperature. The HI setting has a slightly higher temperature.

T o turn on the heated seats, press the button once. The seat will heat to the HI setting. Press the button again to switch to the LO setting. Pressing the button a third time turns the system off.

The heated seats can only be used when the ignition is turned on. When the vehicle is turned off, the heated seats automatically turn off. If you wish to have the heated seats on once the vehicle is restarted, press the button again.

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Reclining Front Seatbacks

Manual Recliner

If your vehicle has manual reclining front seatbacks, the levers are located on the outboard sides of the front seats.

Lift the lever to release the seatback, then move the seatback to where you want it. Release the lever to lock the seatback in place. T o return the seatback to the upright position, pull up on the lever without pushing on the seatback.

Power Recliner

If your vehicle has power reclining front seatbacks, the controls are located on the outboard sides of the front seats.

Press the top of the vertical control forward or rearward to adjust the seatback angle.

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But don’t have a seatback reclined if your vehicle is moving.

CAUTION:

Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle is in motion can be dangerous. Even if you buckle up, your safety belts can’t do their job when you’re reclined like this.

The shoulder belt can’t do its job. In a crash you could go into it, receiving neck or other injuries.

The lap belt can’t 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.

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Head Restraints

Adjust your head restraint so that the top of the restraint is closest to the top of your head. This position reduces the chance of a neck injury in a crash.

The front seat head restraints move up and down. Press the button located at the bottom of the head restraint to raise or lower the head restraint. The head restraints tilt forward and rearward, also.

The rear seat head restraints tilt forward and rearward, but do not move up and down.

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Split Folding Rear Seat (If Equipped)

The split folding rear seat allows you to carry long cargo by folding down part or all of the rear seat. Before you can fold the rear seatback, you need to unlatch the center seatbelt buckle.

Use the following steps to lower one or both of the rear seatbacks:

1. Insert a tool with a small tip into the slot as shown to unlatch the seatbelt buckle. Then move the belt to the side so it is not in your way.

2. There is a tab located on the outboard sides of the seatback. Pull forward on the tab to unlock the seatback.

CAUTION:

If the seatback isn’t locked, it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always press rearward on the seatback to be sure it is locked.

3. Fold the seatback down. This will allow you direct access to the trunk.

4. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 to fold down the other seatback.

CAUTION:

A safety belt that is improperly routed, not properly attached, or twisted won’t provide the protection needed in a crash. The person wearing the belt could be seriously injured. After raising the rear seatback, always check to be sure that the safety belts are properly routed and attached, and are not twisted.

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T o return the seatback to the upright position, do the following:

1. Lift the seatback up and push it back into place.

2. Reconnect the center safety belt latch plate to the buckle as shown.

3. Make sure the seatback is locked into place by pushing and pulling on it.

4. 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.

Safety Belts: They’re 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.

And it explains the air bag system.

CAUTION:

Don’t let anyone ride where he or she can’t wear a safety belt properly. If you are in a crash and you’re not wearing a safety belt, your injuries can be much worse. You can hit things inside the vehicle or be ejected from it. You can 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 passengers’ belts are fastened properly too.

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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 a light that comes on as a reminder to buckle up. See “Safety Belt Reminder Light” in the Index.

In most states and Canadian provinces, the law says to wear safety belts. Here’s why: They work.

You never know if you’ll be in a crash. If you do have a crash, you don’t know if it will be a bad one.

A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be so serious that even buckled up a person wouldn’t 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 30 years of safety belts in vehicles, the facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up does matter ... a lot!

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Why Safety Belts Work

When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as it goes.

T ake the simplest vehicle. Suppose it’s just a seat on wheels.

Put someone on it.

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Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle. The rider doesn’t stop.

The person keeps going until stopped by something. In a real vehicle, it could be the windshield ...

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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’s why safety belts make such good sense.

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Here Are Questions Many People Ask About Safety Belts

Won’t I be trapped in the vehicle after an

accident if I’m wearing a safety belt?

-- and the Answers

A: You could be -- whether you’re wearing a safety

belt or not. But you can unbuckle a safety belt, even if you’re upside down. And your chance of being conscious during and after an accident, so you can unbuckle and get out, is much greater if you are belted.

Q: If my vehicle has air bags, why should I have to

wear safety belts?

A: Air bags are in many vehicles today and will be in

most of them in the future. But they are supplemental systems only; so they work with safety belts system ever offered for sale has required the use of safety belts. Even if you’re in a vehicle that has air bags, you still have to buckle up to get the most protection. That’s true not only in frontal collisions, but especially in side and other collisions.

-- not instead of them. Every air bag

Q: If I’m 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’re in an

accident and your passengers can be hurt. Being a good driver doesn’t 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.

-- even one that isn’t your fault -- you

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How to Wear Safety Belts Properly

Adults

This part is only for people of adult size. Be aware that there are special things to know about

safety belts and children. And there are different rules for smaller children and babies. If a child will be riding in your vehicle, see the part of this manual called “Children.” Follow those rules for everyone’s protection.

First, you’ll want to know which restraint systems your vehicle has.

We’ll start with the driver position.

Driver Position

This part describes the driver’s restraint system.

Lap-Shoulder Belt

The driver has a lap-shoulder belt. Here’s how to wear it properly.

1. Close and lock the door.

2. Adjust the seat so you can sit up straight. T o see how , see “Seats” in the Index.

3. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you. Don’t let it get twisted.

The shoulder belt may lock if you pull the belt across you very quickly. If this happens, let the belt go back slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt across you more slowly.

1-16

4. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks. Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure.

If the belt isn’t long enough, see “Safety Belt Extender” at the end of this section.

Make sure the release button on the buckle is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to.

5. T o make the lap part tight, pull down on the buckle end of the belt as you pull up on the shoulder belt.

The lap part of the belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the thighs. In a crash, this applies force to the strong pelvic bones. And you’d be less likely to slide under the lap belt. If you slid under it, the belt would apply force at your abdomen. This could cause serious or even fatal injuries. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest. These parts of the body are best able to take belt restraining forces.

The safety belt locks if there’s a sudden stop or crash, or if you pull the belt very quickly out of the retractor.

1-17

Q: What’s wrong with this?

A: The shoulder belt is too loose. It won’t give nearly

as much protection this way.

CAUTION:

You can be seriously hurt if your shoulder belt is too loose. In a crash, you would move forward too much, which could increase injury. The shoulder belt should fit against your body.

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Q: What’s wrong with this?

A: The belt is buckled in the wrong place.

CAUTION:

You can be seriously injured if your belt is buckled in the wrong place like this. In a crash, the belt would go up over your abdomen. The belt forces would be there, not at the pelvic bones. This could cause serious internal injuries. Always buckle your belt into the buckle nearest you.

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Q: What’s wrong with this?

A: The shoulder belt is worn under the arm. It should

be worn over the shoulder at all times.

CAUTION:

You can be seriously injured if you wear the shoulder belt under your arm. In a crash, your body would move too far forward, which would increase the chance of head and neck injury. Also, the belt would apply too much force to the ribs, which aren’t as strong as shoulder bones. You could also severely injure internal organs like your liver or spleen.

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Q: What’s wrong with this?

A: The belt is twisted across the body.

CAUTION:

You can be seriously injured by a twisted belt. In a crash, you wouldn’t have the full width of the belt to spread impact forces. If a belt is twisted, make it straight so it can work properly, or ask your dealer to fix it.

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T o unlatch the belt, just push the button on the buckle. The belt should go back out of the way.

Before you close the door, be sure the belt is out of the way . If you slam the door on it, you can damage both the belt and your vehicle.

Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy

Safety belts work for everyone, including pregnant women. Like all occupants, they are more likely to be seriously injured if they don’t wear safety belts.

A pregnant woman should wear a lap-shoulder belt, and the lap portion should be worn as low as possible, below the rounding, throughout the pregnancy.

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The best way to protect the fetus is to protect the mother. When a safety belt is worn properly, it’s more likely that the fetus won’t be hurt in a crash. For pregnant women, as for anyone, the key to making safety belts effective is wearing them properly.

Right Front Passenger Position

T o learn how to wear the right front passenger’s safety belt properly, see “Driver Position” earlier in this section.

The right front passenger’s safety belt works the same way as the driver’s safety belt If the belt stops before it reaches the buckle, tilt the latch plate and keep pulling until you can buckle the belt.

-- except for one thing.

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Air Bag Systems

This part explains the frontal and side impact air bag systems.

Your vehicle has six air bags:

A frontal air bag for the driver and another frontal air bag for the right front passenger,

Frontal air bags are designed to help reduce the risk of injury from the force of an inflating frontal air bag. But these air bags must inflate very quickly to do their job and comply with federal regulations.

-mounted side impact air bag for the driver and

a seat another for the right front passenger,

a roof

-mounted side impact air bag for the driver and

passenger directly behind the driver, and

-mounted side impact air bag for the right front

a roof passenger and the person seated directly behind that passenger .

Here are the most important things to know about the air bag systems:

CAUTION:

You can be severely injured or killed in a crash if you aren’t wearing your safety belt have air bags. Wearing your safety belt during a crash helps reduce your chance of hitting things inside the vehicle or being ejected from it. Air bags are “supplemental restraints” to the safety belts. All air bags are designed to work with safety belts but don’t replace them.

CAUTION: (Continued)

-- even if you

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