In general, Consumer Reports loved the CTS, though it naturally
could not rate long-time ownership predictability.

The one thing that was criticized about this car was the lack
of "flash to pass" capability without having to turn on the headlights.

Excuse my ignorance, but what is "flash to pass"?

I am hoping this has nothing to do with hazard flashers (where
is that button located anyway?).

I am presuming it has something to do with headlight flashing
you may use to pass another vehicle. This is something I have
never personally done so its use may be of little value to me.

Just looking for an explanation of what Consumer Reports was
getting so uptight about in their review.

In some states if you read the driver's handbook (for state driving test) it usually says something about flashing your lights to pass a car.
It is supposed to get the driver's attention in front of you so they know they are about to be passed and are aware of your presence.
Carmakers started building a "flash to pass" feature into the cars a number of years back. On most newer ones you simply pull back on the turn signal stalk as if to turn the high beams on, this lights up the high beams until you release the lever.

With the use of HID lamps you cannot do this. Striking up the arc tubes for a momentary flash is murder on an HID lamps. Thus, the demise of this feature.
Such a small percentage of the population actually uses this feature, obviously it is not required by law.
It is amazing that it even bothers anyone to me, but some people just look for something tiny to be irritated about and just can't let it go.

I use mine from time to time on my Trailblazer for some reasons, usually to signal to an oncoming driver they are doing something retarded.
If you don't even know what it is for, you'll never miss it... because you never used it to begin with.
You and about 98% of the population.

You would pull the T/S lever towards you to momentarily activate the headlamps to flash a driver in front of you.
Its a feature with of little value to me anymore. As must drivers that are going slow in the fast lane don't pull out of the lane anyway.

Glad to get a confirmation that this is a totally
useless feature. I'm surprised CR even made
a big deal out of it.

Over the years, it seems, CR always had made a 'big deal' over something on any GM car.....

Where is the hazard flashers button located?

I'll give you a pathetic story in exchange for that information
and after I think you'll understand why I asked such a silly question....

I have had my Acura RL for 3 years now. Never had
to use the hazard flashers in all that time.

I went to a car wash last week. The attendant turned the flashers
on while he was drying the vehicle. I had no idea how to turn them
off. Usually, I am used to the hazard button being on the stem of
the steering wheel. I had to drive a short distance home with the
flashers on until I could consult the vehicle manual and find that the
button was actually clearly marked on the center console.

Yes, I am a dolt.

And exactly how do we cure the "Left Lane Bandit" syndrome anyway? Flashing the headlights doesn't necessarily sink in either..........

Don't feel bad about it. We all get a gray matter lock up at times. Last week I used another vehicle we have and after coming out of the store I could not find the release for the hand brake. After looking around I ate my Kit Kat bar and lo and behold there it was in the center console. Yes I was embarrased to all end!:thepan:

In Pennsylvania with many 4 way stop signs this is a Big Deal. It signifies an okay for the other driver to proceed.

I use the "flash to pass" when traveling in the Corvette at speeds higher than I will admit to online. In the CTS, for me, lack of "flash to pass" is no problem.

Europe has had flash to pass since the early 50's and if you don't move over you could get a ticket. Here in the USA there are too many left lane huggers that absolutely wont move over.

I use the "flash to pass" to signal another vehicle that I'm letting them go first, like at an intersection, etc. I guess I could wave too, but not having this is a bit of an annoyance. Not a huge deal though!

The flash-to-pass function works when the HID's are already on.

During the day - one could easily turn the light switch to "on" if they feel the need to signal another vehicle. I'll admit, it's not as easy as just pulling on the lever, but if you absolutely need to "flash" another vehicle there is a means to do so.

okay now that all that is established....

Where is the hazard lights button located?

It's located on the center console, to the right of the passenger air bag indicator.

I referred to the recently posted pictures by fg3.

See it! Thank you!

I referred to the recently posted pictures by fg3.

See it! Thank you!

What time do you pick her up?????????

Back in the day, there used to be a lot of communication went on between drivers using the lights. On a narrow winding road behind a truck, you'd flash your lights to pass and he'd blink his clearance lights when it was clear and safe to pass. If the truck passed you, when his back end cleared you'd flash your lights for him to pull back into his lane.

Yeah, it was called being polite.
We use to warn oncoming drivers of the Radar traps too........

Nobody expects a Cadillac or BMW driver to be polite.....and they are rarely disappointed.

flash to pass is pretty handy because it has a lot of uses;
-letting a vehicle in front of you know you want to pass
-drivng on an empty and winding road at night, flash you lights when coming around the bend; this will let a driver on the other side of the bend (if there is one) know your presence...the other driver will flash back, letting you know of his presence also. During the day, substitute the lights with your horn.
-alerting drivers of oncoming vehicle there is a cop up ahead
-letting someone know you dont appreciate something


without HIDs using your highbeams is no problem.
but with HIDs, you'll burn them out very quickly, as was already said.
For those who have HIDs, what you can do (in most cases) is turn your fogs on/off to signal you want to pass. 2-3 on/offs should convey your point..

but not all people know this, and wont necessarily cooperate.

I use the "flash to pass" to signal another vehicle that I'm letting them go first, like at an intersection, etc. I guess I could wave too, but not having this is a bit of an annoyance. Not a huge deal though!

It is a feature I definitely miss . . . not only at intersections, but regularly while driving the Pennsylvania Turnpike--if an eighteen wheeler passes me, in my '03 CTS it was a breeze to use the "flash to pass" feature on the turn signal stalk to let them know they had cleared my car and could get back over from the passing lane--99% of them would blink their lights (daytime) or trailer lights (nighttime) as a "thanks." As mentioned, drivers regularly use "flash to pass" to warn oncoming drivers if they see Police hiding in the other direction with VASCAR devices, etc. to warn them of their presence. Also, in my condominium building, often I would use "flash to pass" to let another neighbor out of the single double-door garage, rather than squeezing through at the same time--or waiting for them to decide or else "back up." In my opinion, Cadillac should have set this feature up to blink either the Daytime Running Lamps or the fog lamps--I haven't checked what other manufacturers do? My two Acuras, Audi and Saab have had the feature, too (but were not equipped with HID headlamps).

My A6 had HID's and flash-to-pass. It's not a huge deal to me, but I do miss it for reasons posted previously.

My Murano has HIDs and Flash to Pass. Not a big deal to me, but the oft repeated "burn out the HIDS" argument is probably overblown. My Murano is now 5 years old and no HID problems and yes, I DO use the FTP.

And exactly how do we cure the "Left Lane Bandit" syndrome anyway? Flashing the headlights doesn't necessarily sink in either..........

145dB Air Horns!!!!!! FTW It's only failed me once in the last 50-60 uses and I think that one was deaf, definitely dumb, and possibly blind. Unfortunately, the little old ladies in Memphis hugging the left lane get scared so dramatically they tend to run off the road. Oh well............

koz, the truck drivers down here still do that, and when I travel on the interstates I always do that light stuff.
I figure they need to be sure they are clear with a giant machine like that. They always seem to appreciate it.
Too bad most drivers are ignorant of that kind of thing.

The real issue with FTP is that no one knows what it is, just like the OP who had no idea what the feature was.
Most people take it as some gesture of aggression and just get mad and try to run you off the road or something.

Plus with all the hype and myth about gangbangers following you home and killing you, most people are afraid to flash their lights at anyone these days. :lol:

Based on what I see on the roads, if people are thinking at all when they drive the only people they are thinking about are themselves. There is no courtesy when driving anymore.

I think that no flash to pass applies only to HID headlights. My 2008, which unfortunately does not have HID lights, has flash to pass. I always use it to let trucks and rvs pulling cars that they are clear of me.

N5TC

True, I think GM cars without HID still have the FTP feature on them. Haven't tried them all, but all the ones I have tried do it... does that make sense?

The non-HID do have flash to pass; in my order printout it lists among the safety features "night time flash to pass" for my HID equipped CTS.

The fact that people do not know what it means is an indictment of our system and our supposed "drivers".
Do we not train our drivers at all anymore?
We never did a very good job.

I remember being taught how to parallel park.
I am still good at it and many people today are helpless at it.
Luckily (for them) it is not required so much anymore.
But what irritates me is that never in the recorded history of mankind has anybody ever been killed while parallel parking, but we never teach, and I mean really teach, people how to drive on slick surfaces.

How can you achieve maturity and not even know what Flash to Pass is? Is there NO Drivers Ed?

I certainly hope you are generalizing that question.

Last time I took Drivers Ed was some 30 years ago. While I still
can Parallel Park better than most, you'll have to excuse the fact
that I have never had the need of "Flash to Pass."

When I'm driving in Germany, I use FTP a lot. When I'm driving in the US, I never use it. I think it is a cultural thing -- beyond the European laws of using the passing lanes only to pass. Since it's not a consistent law in the US to "keep right except for passing" (even when the signs on the freeway say so), I think the majority of people in the US consider it rude to use FTP (yes, even the left lane huggers :mad:). Though I would like to use FTP in those cases in the US, I can't help but think that if I do, they will either purposely slow down/slam on the brakes or some other stupid thing. I have been in a car with someone else driving when they tried to use FTP and it simply had no effect -- the left lane huggers stay there and you're forced to pass on the right.

And yes, I live in Indiana where there are a ton of 4-way stops, and nothing irks me more than someone using FTP when it clearly is "their turn" to go. The problem is, you can't FTP to the person on your right or left or in front, so it creates more confusion than not when multiple cars are at a 4-way stop.

Is this another build date firmware issue?
I have HID articulated headlamps and they operate as described in the manual on pg.3-9. built 11/07.
if you want to momentarily flash the high beams during daylight when the automatic lights are off (indicated by the green lights-on symbol being off),
all you have to do is turn your headlights on and you can flash away to your heart's content.
rg

Well, as with any feature, if it's rarely used, it's rarely missed. For me, the omission of separate FTP lamps with the HID lamps is a huge mistake. I often use the feature to signal those wishing to turn or cross ahead of me, those hogging the passing lane, those who forgot to turn on their headlamps, etc. I miss not having the feature and suspect a correction, soon.

In some states if you read the driver's handbook (for state driving test) it usually says something about flashing your lights to pass a car.
It is supposed to get the driver's attention in front of you so they know they are about to be passed and are aware of your presence.
Carmakers started building a "flash to pass" feature into the cars a number of years back. On most newer ones you simply pull back on the turn signal stalk as if to turn the high beams on, this lights up the high beams until you release the lever.

With the use of HID lamps you cannot do this. Striking up the arc tubes for a momentary flash is murder on an HID lamps. Thus, the demise of this feature.
Such a small percentage of the population actually uses this feature, obviously it is not required by law.
It is amazing that it even bothers anyone to me, but some people just look for something tiny to be irritated about and just can't let it go.

I use mine from time to time on my Trailblazer for some reasons, usually to signal to an oncoming driver they are doing something retarded.
If you don't even know what it is for, you'll never miss it... because you never used it to begin with.
You and about 98% of the population.

Thanks for the helpful explanation. I wasn't aware this feature isn't compatible with HIDs. I'll have to check if it's on the GS 400 in my garage, which has HIDs. Might have separate bulbs for this purpose, I suppose.

I do use it myself in my other cars.

Just watch AMLS and see plenty of ftp
:lol: ;)

not a big deal for me as i usually turn the headlights/foglights on anyways during the day for the sake of looks....

It will be hit and miss by model and manufacturer.

I know some of our HID cars still use halogen high beams, those still have FTP I think.
I know that GM HID only lamps don't have it for the reasons I explained.
Not sure if other carmakers do it that way or not.