tow CADILLAC STS 2006 1.G Owner's Manual

Unnecessary Warnings
FCA may occasionally provide an unnecessary warning
to guard rails, signs, and other stationary objects.
This is normal operation, your vehicle does not need
service.
Other Messages
There are three messages that may appear on the
Driver Information Center (DIC). They are CLEAN
RADAR, RADAR CRUISE NOT READY and SERVICE
RADAR CRUISE. SeeDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 3-79.
Cleaning the System
The radar can become blocked by snow, ice, or dirt.
If so, you may need to turn off the engine and clean the
lens. See “Cleaning the System” underAdaptive
Cruise Control on page 3-19.
Flash-to-Pass
This feature allows you to use the high-beam
headlamps to signal the driver in front of you that you
want to pass.
Pull and hold the turn signal/multifunction lever toward
you to use this feature. When you do, the following
will occur:
If the headlamps are off, in low-beam or in Daytime
Running Lamps (DRL) mode, the high-beam
headlamps will turn on. They’ll stay on as long as
you hold the lever there. Release the lever to
turn them off.
If the headlamps are in high-beam mode, they will
switch to low beam. To return to high-beam, push
the lever away from you.
3-12

Windshield Wipers
The lever on the right side of the steering column
operates the windshield wipers.
7(Mist):Pull the lever down and release it for a
single wiping cycle. The lever will return to its original
position. For more cycles, hold the lever down
before releasing it.
9(Off):Put the lever in this position to turn off
the wipers.
&(Delay):Put the lever in this position to set a delay
between wipes. Turn the delay adjustment band to
set the length of the delay.
x(Delay Adjustment):Use this band to set the
length of the delay between wipes when using the delay
feature. The closer you move the band toward mist,
the longer the delay. The windshield wiper lever must be
in delay for this feature to work.
6(Low Speed):Put the lever in this position for
slow, steady wiping cycles.
1(High Speed):Put the lever in this position for
rapid wiping cycles.
If the windshield wipers are in use for about six seconds
while you are driving, the exterior lamps will come on
automatically if the exterior lamp control is in AUTO.
SeeWiper Activated Headlamps on page 3-35for
more information.
Be sure to clear ice and snow from the wiper blades
before using them. If they’re frozen to the windshield,
gently loosen or thaw them. If the blades do become
damaged, install new blades. For more information, see
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement on page 5-55.
Heavy snow or ice can overload the wiper motor.
A circuit breaker will stop the motor until it cools down.
Clear away snow or ice to prevent an overload.
Your vehicle (STS-V only) is equipped with a feature
that disables the wiper system when the hood is
open and your vehicle is stopped. Opening the hood will
automatically park the wipers if they are not parked.
This prevents the wipers from interfering with hood
operation. Be sure the hood is not opened when you
require the vehicle’s wipers out of the park position,
such as when changing the wiper blades.
3-13

{CAUTION:
Adaptive Cruise Control may not detect and
react to stationary or slow-moving vehicles or
other objects ahead of you. Your vehicle may
accelerate toward objects, such as a stopped
vehicle that suddenly appears after the lead
vehicle changes lanes. Your complete attention
is always required while driving and you should
be ready to take action and apply the brakes.
Low-Speed Deactivation
If your speed falls below 20 mph (32 km/h) while
following a vehicle ahead, Adaptive Cruise Control will
begin to disengage. The driver alert symbol on the HUD
will ash and the warning beep will sound. The driver
must take action since Adaptive Cruise Control will not
slow the vehicle to a stop.
Deactivation When Head-Up Display is
Turned Off
If you turn the HUD off when Adaptive Cruise Control is
engaged, it will begin to disengage. A warning beep will
sound and the message RADAR CRUISE NOT READY
will appear on the Driver Information Center (DIC).SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-79for
additional information. If Adaptive Cruise Control was
braking when the HUD is turned off, the braking will
continue briey.
Passing a Vehicle/Adaptive Cruise
Control Override
If you need to increase speed to pass a vehicle, use
the accelerator pedal. While you are doing this,
the system will not automatically apply the brakes.
A PEDAL APPLIED ACC OVERRIDE message
will appear on the HUD. SeeHead-Up Display (HUD)
on page 3-40for additional information. Once you
pass the vehicle and remove your foot from the
accelerator pedal, Adaptive Cruise Control will return
to normal operation and be able to apply the brakes,
if needed.
{CAUTION:
If you rest your foot on the accelerator pedal,
the system will not automatically apply the
brakes. You could crash into a vehicle ahead
of you. Do not rest your foot on the accelerator
pedal when using Adaptive Cruise Control.
3-27

Using Adaptive Cruise Controls on Hills
and When Towing a Trailer
How well Adaptive Cruise Control will work on hills and
when towing a trailer depends on your speed, vehicle
load, traffic conditions and the steepness of the hills.
It may not detect a vehicle in your lane while driving on
hills. When going up steep hills, you may want to
use the accelerator pedal to maintain your speed. When
going downhill when towing a trailer, you may want to
brake to keep your speed down. Applying the brake
disengages the system. You may choose not to
use Adaptive Cruise Control on steep hills when towing
a trailer.
Disengaging Adaptive Cruise Control
To disengage the system, apply the brake pedal or
move the Adaptive Cruise Control switch to off. Adaptive
Cruise Control information will not appear on the HUD
when the system is not engaged.
Erasing Set Speed Memory
When you turn the Adaptive Cruise Control switch or
the ignition off, the set speed memory is erased.
Other Messages
There are three messages that may appear on the DIC.
They are SERVICE RADAR CRUISE, RADAR
CRUISE NOT READY and CLEAN RADAR. These
messages will appear to indicate a problem with
the Adaptive Cruise Control. SeeDIC Warnings and
Messages on page 3-79for more information.
Cleaning the System
The radar can become blocked by snow, ice or dirt.
If so, you may need to turn off the engine and clean the
lens. Remember, do not use Adaptive Cruise Control
in icy conditions, or when visibility is low, such as in fog,
rain or snow.
The emblem/lens is located in the center of the grille.
To clean the emblem/lens, wipe the surface with a
soft cloth. After cleaning the emblem/lens, engage the
Adaptive Cruise Control. If you are unable to do so, see
your dealer.
3-30

The information may be displayed in English or metric
units and appears as an image focused out toward
the front of your vehicle. To change from English
to metric units, seeDIC Controls and Displays on
page 3-74.
The HUD consists of the following information:
Speedometer
Turn Signal Indicators
High-Beam Indicator Symbol
Driver Shift Control Transmission Feature, see
Automatic Transmission Operation (5-Speed
Automatic) on page 2-28orAutomatic Transmission
Operation (6-Speed Automatic) on page 2-32
Check Gages Icon
Adaptive Cruise Control Features and Indicators
(If Equipped), seeAdaptive Cruise Control on
page 3-19
Forward Collision Alert Features and Indicators
(If Equipped), seeForward Collision Alert (FCA)
System on page 3-9
Radio FeaturesBe sure to continue scanning your displays, controls
and driving environment just as you would in a vehicle
without HUD. If you never look at your instrument
panel cluster, you may not see something important,
such as a warning light. Under important warning
conditions, the CHECK GAGES message will display in
the HUD. View your Driver Information Center (DIC)
for more information.United States version shown, Canada similar
3-41

The access panel for the passenger compartment air
lter is located under the hood near the windshield,
on the passenger’s side of the vehicle. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview on page 5-12for more
information on location. SeeDoing Your Own Service
Work on page 5-4for information on doing your
own service work.
To access the passenger compartment air lter, do the
following:
1. Pull back the rubber hood seal from the edge of the
leaf screen vent cover.
2. Remove the three fasteners that hold the lter
access cover in place and slide the cover off.
3. To access the lter, remove the black plastic water
deector by lifting the outboard edge of the deector
to release the retention tab.4. Lift the inboard edge of the deector to release the
retention tab.
5. Lift and slide the water deector toward the inboard
side and remove it.
6. The top edge of the lter should be visible. Reach
in and lift the lter out, pulling upward and toward
the front of the vehicle.
7. Insert the new air lter by sliding it back into place.
Make sure the arrow on the lter is pointing toward
the passenger compartment.
Reverse steps 1 through 3 to reinstall the water
deector, lter cover and the hood seal.
3-56

Brake System Warning Light
Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided into
two parts. If one part isn’t working, the other part can still
work and stop you. For good braking, though, you
need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there is a brake problem.
Have your brake system inspected right away.
This light should come on briey when you turn the
engine on. If it does not come on then, have it xed so
it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
will also come on when you set your parking brake. The
light will stay on if your parking brake does not release
fully. If it stays on after your parking brake is fully
released, it means you have a brake problem.
If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off the
road and stop carefully. You may notice that the pedal is
harder to push, or the pedal may go closer to the
oor. It may take longer to stop. If the light is still on,
have the vehicle towed for service. SeeTowing
Your Vehicle on page 4-37.
{CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working properly
if the brake system warning light is on. Driving
with the brake system warning light on can lead
to an accident. If the light is still on after you
have pulled off the road and stopped carefully,
have the vehicle towed for service. United StatesCanada
3-64

Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle..........4-2
Defensive Driving...........................................4-2
Drunken Driving.............................................4-3
Control of a Vehicle........................................4-6
Braking.........................................................4-6
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS).........................4-7
Braking in Emergencies...................................4-9
Traction Control System (TCS).........................4-9
Competitive Driving Mode (STS-V)..................4-10
Magnetic Ride Control...................................4-11
Limited-Slip Rear Axle...................................4-11
StabiliTrak
®System......................................4-11
Panic Brake Assist........................................4-12
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) System.......................4-12
Steering......................................................4-12
Off-Road Recovery.......................................4-15
Passing.......................................................4-15
Loss of Control.............................................4-17Competitive Driving.......................................4-18
Driving at Night............................................4-18
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads..................4-20
City Driving..................................................4-22
Freeway Driving...........................................4-23
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.......................4-24
Highway Hypnosis........................................4-25
Hill and Mountain Roads................................4-25
Winter Driving..............................................4-27
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud,
Ice, or Snow.............................................4-31
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out.................4-32
Loading Your Vehicle....................................4-32
Towing..........................................................4-37
Towing Your Vehicle.....................................4-37
Recreational Vehicle Towing...........................4-38
Towing a Trailer (STS Only)...........................4-40
Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
4-1

Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out
First, turn your steering wheel left and right. That
will clear the area around your front wheels. You should
turn your traction control system off. SeeTraction
Control System (TCS) on page 4-9. Then shift back
and forth between REVERSE (R) and a forward gear,
spinning the wheels as little as possible. Release
the accelerator pedal while you shift, and press lightly
on the accelerator pedal when the transmission is
in gear. By slowly spinning your wheels in the forward
and reverse directions, you will cause a rocking
motion that may free your vehicle. If that does not get
you out after a few tries, you may need to be towed
out. If you do need to be towed out, seeTowing Your
Vehicle on page 4-37.
Loading Your Vehicle
It is very important to know how much weight your
vehicle can carry. This weight is called the vehicle
capacity weight and includes the weight of all occupants,
cargo, and all nonfactory-installed options. Two labels
on your vehicle show how much weight it may properly
carry, the Tire and Loading Information label and the
Certication label.
{CAUTION:
Do not load your vehicle any heavier than the
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), or either
the maximum front or rear Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR). If you do, parts on your
vehicle can break, and it can change the way
your vehicle handles. These could cause you
to lose control and crash. Also, overloading
can shorten the life of your vehicle.
4-32

4. The resulting gure equals the available amount of
cargo and luggage load capacity. For example, if
the “XXX” amount equals 1400 lbs and there will be
ve 150 lb passengers in your vehicle, the amount
of available cargo and luggage load capacity is
650 lbs (1400−750 (5 x 150) = 650 lbs).
5. Determine the combined weight of luggage and
cargo being loaded on the vehicle. That weight
may not safely exceed the available cargo
and luggage load capacity calculated in Step 4.
6. If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, the load
from your trailer will be transferred to your
vehicle. Consult this manual to determine how
this reduces the available cargo and luggage load
capacity of your vehicle.
If your vehicle can tow a trailer, seeTowing a
Trailer (STS Only) on page 4-40for important
information on towing a trailer, towing safety rules,
and trailering tips.
Item Description Total
AVehicle Capacity Weight
for Example 1 =1,000 lbs (453 kg)
BSubtract Occupant
Weight 150 lbs
(68 kg)×2=300 lbs (136 kg)
CAvailable Occupant and
Cargo Weight =700 lbs (317 kg) Example 1
4-34