2008 Cadillac DTS Service and Repair Manual

The 2008 Cadillac DTS shipped with two engines and three trims, and the specifications and repair procedures here are the ones Cadillac published for a 4.6L V8 (VIN 9, L37) or 4.6L V8 (VIN Y, LD8) DTS, not a generalized figure pulled from another model year.

Engines covered

• 4.6L V8 (281 cu in) — DOHC, naturally aspirated, gasoline

Body styles covered

• 4-door hearse
• 4-door sedan
• 4-door limousine

Trims covered

• Base
• Luxury
• Platinum

Known issues on the 2008 DTS. Three recalls are on federal record for this model year, all tied to the electrical system. The first covers the ignition: weight on the key ring can jar the key out of the run position, which can disable air bag deployment in a crash and cut engine power, power steering, and power brakes. The second covers a heated washer fluid system whose circuit board can short, overheating a ground wire and creating an odor or smoke. The third is a follow-up to that same heated washer module, where an earlier fix to the circuit did not fully resolve the risk of the module igniting. Owners have filed 86 complaints for the year. The factory diagnostic and repair procedures behind each of those systems are here.

From tracing a key-position fault to inspecting the heated washer fluid circuit or handling routine service, it keeps you on the OEM procedure and the correct specification for your specific 2008 DTS.