Hello everyone, its getting very old that evertime i drive down the long dark street that leads to my neighborhood, i get at least 2 people flashing their brights at me. i mean its everyday. i brought it to cadillac and they say the lights are operating perfectly. i understand that they are bright lights but this is getting very old. please help or is this just normal. thanks -Dan

Dan,

It is NOT normal.

In almost 4 years, and having 2 different 2006 Performance Sedans, with well over 110,000 miles between the two of them....I have been flashed very, very few times.

One time was just the other night, as I went over a speed bump.
As the front of the car came up...over the BIG speed bump...the car I was meeting, flashed his lights at me.

I really have not had any kind of problem with the HIDs.

Try this...in your garage...with the low beams on...look at the light pattern on the garage wall.

There should be a REAL SHARP LINE about waist high on the garage wall.
LOTS OF LIGHT below the line...almost ZERO light above the line.

If this is not the way that yours is....It is possible that one of the "EYEBROWS" in one of your bulbs is not working properly.

There is actually a mechanical thingy that covers the top half of the bulb when you are on LOW BEAM.

When you go to HIGH BEAM...it moves up and exposes the rest of the bulb.
THAT is what will cause the sharp light cutoff line against your garage wall.

Texas Jim

Texas Jim,

I thank you very much for your detailed post of what to look for and what to try. I did just that and they are working just as you and the Cadillac service dept say they should. So im not sure what the problem is, so now i just turn my brights on when they do. I know thats not very kind, but im sick of being blinded when i cant do anything about it unless drive in the dark without lights on that road. thanks again. -Dan

Texas Jim,

I thank you very much for your detailed post of what to look for and what to try. I did just that and they are working just as you and the Cadillac service dept say they should. So im not sure what the problem is, so now i just turn my brights on when they do. I know thats not very kind, but im sick of being blinded when i cant do anything about it unless drive in the dark without lights on that road. thanks again. -Dan


No matter what your dealer says...they may be aimed JUST A TAD high...and JUST A LITTLE HIGH...will be enough to get in oncoming drivers eyes.

If you know a trustworthy shop that has a headlight machine... might not hurt to put it on the machine.

Texas Jim

That was going to be my suggestion as well. My wife's SLK350 has very bright lights, even the DRLs, and I noticed when she was following me one day that one of her lights was blinding in my rearview mirror.

She took it to the dealership and they confirmed that the lights were working fine but that the alignment was too high. It's a simple fix: on many cars you can do it yourself with a screwdriver. There are two adjustments: one for side-to-side and the other for up-and-down.

If you draw a line on a wall where the lights come up to, and then adjust the lights down about a couple of inches from that, it will likely not affect your pool of light too much when you drive with the headlights dimmed, yet it will stop you from unintentionally blinding other cars.

HIDs are considerably brighter than conventional headlights. While it is possible that you have an aiming problem, it is more likely that older drivers are simply not used to the new HID headlights. Those people flashing their lights at you are probably the same people in each case. I am one of the older drivers who has made the adjustment to the new brighter headlamps.

UPDATE:

well my normal cadillac dealer where i always go, and where i always serviced my 2001 DTS is losing the franchise, so i brought it to a chevy dealer, big mistake, not their fault, they just dont know these cars in and out like im used to. but the next closest caddy store is 30min from my house. but ive found my new service dept. i called and told them about the light issue, brought it in. they told me the lights are lined up and working perfectly. its the rear air ride that wasnt leveling the car correctly, replaced the sensor and problem gone :) i would have never thought of that in a million years. the cars stanse looked normal to me so i never thought i had a problem with that. all fixed and once again a happy cadillac DTS owner. thanks again everyone. -Dan

It is nice when something goes RIGHT for a change.

Glad you got the problem resolved.

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Texas Jim

I thought that Lux had air shocks.......for leveling.......and Preformance had Magnetic Shocks........

I see no answer to my question.
Let me try again.


The OP says that he has a 2006 Performance model.
He says the problem was the sensor for the rear air ride.
I was under the impression that the Air Ride Shocks were installed on the LUX and not the Performance.
In fact I know that the LUX has leveling.
So, is the OP incorrect in the model of car he has?
Or is the Dealer blowing smoke?
Or does the Performance have leveling shocks and not magnetic shocks?
Or............?

Anybody know what the story is here?

I see no answer to my question.
Let me try again.


The OP says that he has a 2006 Performance model.
He says the problem was the sensor for the rear air ride.
I was under the impression that the Air Ride Shocks were installed on the LUX and not the Performance.
In fact I know that the LUX has leveling.
So, is the OP incorrect in the model of car he has?
Or is the Dealer blowing smoke?
Or does the Performance have leveling shocks and not magnetic shocks?
Or............?

Anybody know what the story is here?


Southern,

To the best of my knowledge, it works this way...

The shocks on the rear of the Performance are "MAGNETIC" for "RIDE CONTROL" but they are also "AIR" for "HEIGHT CONTROL"

Supposedly the best of both worlds...except for the high price if they ever need replacement.

I know mine has an air compressor for the rear shocks.
I hear it...very, very, rarely...when I start my car in the garage.

Texas Jim

Really? Well, I had never considered that. I guess I got hung up on the "Performance" description. I shouldn't have. My bad.
Cadillac has not oriented the DTS Performance model as a Performance car, but rather, a performance improvement over the LUX.
That makes sense.

"Magnetic" shocks and "air shocks" serve two completely different and separate purposes. Although it is possible to combine these functions in a single shock it probably doesn't happen. "Magnetic ride control," as Cadillac calls it, is provided on certain models for the purpose of stability control (ususally on the front). The "magnetic" aspect refers to the presence of magnetic particles in the shock fluid that can be oriented in different ways to change the viscosity of the fluid. Air shocks are used primarily on the back and are for leveling control. A sensor that detects small changes in the height of the rear end of the vehicle due to luggage, passengers, etc. causes raising (with an air pump) or lowering (letting air out of the shocks) as needed to maintain a level ride. The Performance version of the DTS has both.

"Although it is possible to combine these functions in a single shock it probably doesn't happen. "Magnetic ride control," as Cadillac calls it, is provided on certain models for the purpose of stability control (ususally on the front). "

Actually Cadillac Magnetic ride control is done only on the rear. The front shocks on the Performance and the LUX are identical.

"Although it is possible to combine these functions in a single shock it probably doesn't happen. "Magnetic ride control," as Cadillac calls it, is provided on certain models for the purpose of stability control (ususally on the front). "

Actually Cadillac Magnetic ride control is done only on the rear. The front shocks on the Performance and the LUX are identical.




Not trying to start an argument...but I think you are wrong on this one.
The Performance and Lux versions "DO NOT" have the same front struts or the same rear shocks.

The Performance model has Magnetic ride control on all four corners...the Lux version does not have mag ride at all.

Very different ride and control characteristics between the two models if driven fairly hard.

Also very different pricing for the front struts and the rear shocks.


This is from Rockauto.com...for the REAR

ACDELCO Part # 504116 More Info {replaces 15786901 #15786901, 15873314}
ABSORBER KIT,RR LVLG SHK RIGHT HAND; w/SOFT RIDE SUSP(FE1)
* Non-stock item--shipping delayed up to 5 business days

$185.79 $0.00 $185.79

ACDELCO Part # 504105 More Info {pkg of 2 #15211376}
ABSORBER KIT,RR LVLG SHK RIGHT HAND; w/SPORT SUSP(FE3) or VARIABLE TIME DAMPING CHASSIS(F55)
* Non-stock item--shipping delayed up to 5 business days

$450.79 $0.00 $450.79


This is for the FRONT....

ACDELCO Part # 505554 More Info {#15220434}
STRUT KIT,FRT SUSP w/SOFT RIDE SUSP(FE1)
* Non-stock item--shipping delayed up to 5 business days

$117.79 $0.00 $117.79
Add to Cart
ACDELCO Part # 506293 More Info {#19149151, 22400280, 505543, 505545}
ACDELCO Part # 505553 More Info {#15211374}
STRUT KIT,FRT SUSP w/SPORT SUSP(FE3)
* Non-stock item--shipping delayed up to 5 business days

$488.79 $0.00 $488.79

Dealer prices are way more than that.
Just talked to my parts guy at Cadillac....

performance shocks for the rear...
Left side...$747.00
Right Side...$758.00

Performance struts for the front...
Left and right...
$800.00 EACH.

Lux lll Rear shocks...
Left side...$301.00
Right Side...$312.00

Lux lll Front Struts...
$198 EACH.


Texas Jim

Mea Culpa.
The fronts are different.
I never realized that. And I never realized that there was a mag ride on the front.



as to "or the same rear shocks."

and

"the Lux version does not have mag ride at all"

I never said that the rear shocks were the same and I never said that the Lux had mag ride.

Mea Culpa.
The fronts are different.
I never realized that. And I never realized that there was a mag ride on the front.



as to "or the same rear shocks."

and

"the Lux version does not have mag ride at all"

I never said that the rear shocks were the same and I never said that the Lux had mag ride.


Agreed...you never made the statements.
I apologize for insinuating that you did.

I had your post and tedcmiller's post run together in my mind when I posted the response to you.

I was just pointing out that the Performance model has Mag Ride on all four corners...AND...also has automatic load leveling.
I guess that the rear shocks "DO" incorporate both the Auto Load Leveling and Mag Ride in the same shock.

Please excuse my getting the two posts all mixed up.

Texas Jim

OK. An examination of the factory service manual seems to verify what the the previous poster says. That is, I was wrong on two counts. First, if your car has magnetic ride control, it works on all four wheels - not just the front. Second, the shocks on the rear incorporate both magnetic ride control and automatic load leveling (air chambers).

It should be noted that not all models have magnetic ride control (called magneto-rheological real time damping or MRRTD in the factory service manual under the heading of Electronic Suspension Control). Magnetic ride control is an extra no-cost option on the performance version. Apparently, automatic load leveling (rear only) is standard on the performance version and is provided by replacing the standard steel springs with air springs which can be pumped up or deflated as necessary to contol the vehicle height if magnetic ride control is not present. If magnetic ride control is ordered, the steel springs remain and height control is achieved by pumping up or deflating the shocks. The previous infomation applies to the 2008 DTS. I don't know about other year models.

OK. An examination of the factory service manual seems to verify what the the previous poster says. That is, I was wrong on two counts. First, if your car has magnetic ride control, it works on all four wheels - not just the front. Second, the shocks on the rear incorporate both magnetic ride control and automatic load leveling (air chambers).

It should be noted that not all models have magnetic ride control (called magneto-rheological real time damping or MRRTD in the factory service manual under the heading of Electronic Suspension Control). Magnetic ride control is an extra no-cost option on the performance version. Apparently, automatic load leveling (rear only) is standard on the performance version and is provided by replacing the standard steel springs with air springs which can be pumped up or deflated as necessary to contol the vehicle height if magnetic ride control is not present. If magnetic ride control is ordered, the steel springs remain and height control is achieved by pumping up or deflating the shocks. The previous infomation applies to the 2008 DTS. I don't know about other year models.


Ted,

Thanks for the info. That confirms what I have read in other sources.
As far as I can determine, it is the same setup for the 2006 Performance version also.

I really like the way the Mag Ride works.
It really improves the handling characteristics of the car when combined with the 245x50x18 inch tires and 8.5 inch wide wheels.

Again...Thanks for the info.

Texas Jim

Interesting stuff.
It would seem that some Perf models do not have mag ride. (According to how I read Ted's post)
Now THAT would P me off.
The Mag Ride is the part about the Perf model that I like.
It doesn't change the Caddy into a BMW M........it still plows into hard corners.......4000 pounds with most of it on the front will do that.......Understeer is understeer.........but it is much improved over the Lux on the twisties where you are moving the wheel back and forth.
And now that I find you don't give up the leveling.......It is the way togo.
God bless the person who buys a Perf thinking that Mag Ride is standard........

According to the order sheet I received with my wife's 2008 DTS, the magnetic ride feature is a no-cost option on the Performance model. To put it another way, the magnetic ride feature showed up under "Options and Pricing" as opposed to "Standard Equipment" but there was no additional charge for it since she had already ordered the Performance model. So it might be that all Performance models come with the magnetic ride feature.

I could be wrong...wouldn't be the first time...but...

My understanding is that "ALL" Performance Sedans come with the Mag Ride.
It is a "NO COST OPTION" because it is part of the extra cost you pay, over and above the Lux lll price for the Performance Package.
Same for the 18 inch wheels.
They are also a "NO COST" option, because they are part of the package.

At least that is the way I read the spec sheets. :cool2: :cool2:
Any time you look at the "INCLUDED EQUIPMENT" in the Performance Package... the Mag Ride is "ALWAYS" included.

There may be some out there, but I, personally, have never seen (nor heard of) a Performance Sedan that did not have the Mag ride.

Texas Jim

I dont know about all performance sedans. On the built sheet for my vechicle the option, 1SE-DTS performance sedan includes, magnetic ride control.
Bob

USUALLY......."Option" means just that. And a "No Cost" option USUALLY denotes a choice.
I Haven't ordered too many cars......two actually.......and my CTS did not have a no cost option......but my Duster 340 did.
It came standard with a 4 speed manual transmission and you could get a 4 speed automatic transmission as a No Cost Option. (this was back in the old days....today the two transmissions would be reversed I'm sure)
But I have no doubt that Jim is right.
One thing I KNOW........ from experience.......Cadillac has never, in the recorded history of mankind, made ordering a car simple...or even logical. The difficulties of ordering a 2008, 2009 or 2010 CTS is evidenced multiple times on the CTS board.

It would appear that the concensus is that magnetic ride is always on the DTS if you get a Performance model. Superjim suggests that this is because the magnetic ride is already paid for in the premium paid for a Performance model. I think he is correct and, therefore, there is no such thing as a Performance model without magnetic ride.

How this thread changed from a question about HID headlights to one about magnetic ride, is, well, interesting.