CADILLAC STS V 2007 1.G Owners Manual

If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blowout while you are
driving, especially if you maintain your tires
properly. SeeTires on page 421. If air goes out of
a tire, It is much more likely to leak out slowly.
But if you should ever have a blowout, here are a
few tips about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the at tire will create a drag that
pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your
foot off the accelerator pedal and grip the steering
wheel rmly. Steer to maintain lane position,
and then gently brake to a stop well out of the
traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much
like a skid and may require the same correction
you would use in a skid. In any rear blowout,
remove your foot from the accelerator pedal. Get
the vehicle under control by steering the way
you want the vehicle to go. It may be very bumpy
and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently brake
to a stop, well off the road if possible.If a tire goes at, and your vehicle has a compact
spare tire, seeChanging a Flat Tire on page 464.
This information shows you how to use your
vehicle’s tire changing equipment and how
to change a at tire safely.
{CAUTION:
Lifting a vehicle and getting under it to do
maintenance or repairs is dangerous
without the appropriate safety equipment
and training. The jack provided with your
vehicle is designed only for changing a
at tire. If it is used for anything else, you
or others could be badly injured or killed
if the vehicle slips off the jack. Use the
jack provided with your vehicle only for
changing a at tire.
If your vehicle has 255/45ZR18 size tires, there is
no spare tire, jack, or tire changing equipment.
A tire inator kit, included with your vehicle, may
be used to seal small punctures in the tread
area of the tire. SeeTire Inator Kit on page 452.
451

Run-Flat Tires (STS-V)
If your vehicle has run-at tires, there is no spare
tire and no tire changing equipment. Run-at
tires can operate effectively with no air pressure
for a limited distance and speed. These tires
perform so well without any air pressure that a Tire
Pressure Monitor (TPM) is used to alert you
when there is a low tire condition.
{CAUTION:
When the low tire warning light is
displayed on the instrument panel cluster,
your vehicle’s handling capabilities will be
reduced during severe maneuvers. If you
drive too fast, you could lose control of
your vehicle. You or others could be
injured. Do not drive over 55 mph
(90 km/h) when the low tire warning light
is displayed. Drive cautiously and check
your tire pressures as soon as you can.SeeRun-Flat Tires (STS-V) on page 429andTire
Pressure Monitor System on page 433, for
additional information.
{CAUTION:
Special tools and procedures are required
to service a run-at tire. If these special
tools and procedures are not used you or
others could be injured and your vehicle
could be damaged. Always be sure the
proper tools and procedures, as described
in the service manual, are used.
To order a service manual seeService
Publications Ordering Information on page 543.
Tire Inator Kit
Your vehicle has a tire inator kit. There is no jack
or spare tire. The kit uses a liquid tire sealant
and air at the same time to seal small punctures
in the tread area of the tire. Be sure to read
and follow all of the tire inator kit instructions.
452

The kit includes the following:
A. Air Compressor
B. Tire Sealant Canister
C. Air Compressor
Accessory Plug
D. On/Off SwitchE. Air Pressure Gage
F. Air Compressor
Inator Hose
G. Sealant
Filling HoseIf the at tire is due to a slow leak caused by a nail
or other similar road hazard, the tire inator kit may
be used to temporarily repair the damaged tire.
After temporarily repairing the tire inator kit,
it is recommended to take your vehicle to
an authorized GM dealer within 100 miles
(161 kilometers) of driving to have the tire
inspected and repaired. If the sealant is
not removed from the tire within 100 miles
(161 kilometers) of driving, it is more likely that the
tire may get damaged and have to be replaced.
453

Accessing the Tire Inator Kit
To access the tire inator kit, do the following:
1. Open the trunk. SeeTrunk on page 101
for more information.
2. Locate the tire inator kit on the driver’s side of
the vehicle, near the back corner of the trunk.3. Remove the tire
inator kit strap
by squeezing the
two tabs of the quick
release buckle.
4. Remove the inator kit from its foam container.
454

Tire Sealant
The kit contains a liquid sealant that when injected
into a at tire, may temporarily repair nail holes
or cuts in the tread area of the tire. The tire sealant
cannot repair tire damage caused while driving
on a at tire or a tire that has had a “blow out” or
a tire that has punctures in the sidewall areas.
The tire sealant solution is to be used for a single
tire and can only be used once.
Check the tire sealant expiration date on the
sealant canister. The sealant may not be
as effective beyond the expiration date. If needed,
see your GM dealer for a replacement canister.
Using the Tire Inator Kit
To use the tire inator kit, do the following:
1. Place the inator kit on the ground and unwrap
the sealant lling hose from the compressor.
2. Remove the air compressor accessory plug
from the unit. To do this, pull the top portion
of the wrapped cord out rst, then the bottom,
and then unsnap the plug. Do not insert the
plug into an accessory outlet yet.
3. Remove the valve stem cap from the at tire
by turning it counterclockwise.
If an object, such as a nail, has penetrated
the tire, do not remove it.
455

4. Attach the sealant lling hose (A) onto the tire
valve stem. Turn it clockwise until it is tight.
Make sure the inator kit on/off switch (B) is in
the O (off) position.5. Plug the air compressor accessory plug (C)
into an accessory power outlet in the vehicle.
SeeAccessory Power Outlet(s) on page 228
for more information.
{CAUTION:
Idling the engine in a closed-in place or
with the climate control system off can
cause deadly carbon monoxide (CO). See
Engine Exhaust on page 125.
6. Start the vehicle. SeeStarting the Engine on
page 113for more information. The vehicle
must be running while using the air
compressor.
456

{CAUTION:
Inating something too much can make it
explode, and you or others could be
injured. Be sure to read the inator
instructions, and inate the tire to its
recommended pressure. Do not exceed
36 psi (248 kPa).
7. Move the inator kit switch to the I (on)
position.
The inator kit will force sealant and air into
the tire. Sealant may leak from the puncture
hole until the vehicle is driven and the
hole has sealed.8. Make sure there is a proper connection
between the tire valve stem and the
sealant lling hose by looking at the air
pressure gage. If there is not a pressure
reading while the compressor is running, the
connection between the inator kit and
the tire is bad.
Check the attachment between the sealant
lling hose and the tire valve stem.
457

9. Inate the tire up to the recommended
ination pressure, found on the Tire and
Loading Information label located on
the vehicle’s center pillar (B-pillar) below the
vehicle’s door latch, using the air pressure
gage on the top of the unit.
The pressure gage reading is slightly high
while the compressor is on. Turn the
compressor off to get an accurate pressure
reading.
Notice:If the recommended pressure cannot
be reached after 15 minutes, the vehicle
should not be driven farther. Damage to the
tire is severe and the sealant will not be
effective. Remove the air compressor plug
from the accessory power outlet and unscrew
the inating hose from the tire valve. See
Roadside Service on page 531.
10. Move the inator kit switch to the O (off)
position once the correct tire pressure is
obtained.11. Turn off the engine.
12. Unplug the air compressor accessory plug
from the accessory power outlet in the
vehicle.
13. Disconnect the sealant lling hose from the
tire valve stem, by turning it counterclockwise,
and replace the tire valve stem cap.
Be careful when handling the tire inator
components as they may be hot after usage.
14. Wrap the sealant lling hose around the air
compressor channel to stow it in its original
location.
15. Stow the air compressor accessory plug back
in the air compressor. To do this, wrap the air
compressor accessory plug, snap in the
plug, and then push in the bottom and then
the top of the wrapped air compressor
accessory plug.
458

16. If the at tire was
able to inate to the
recommended
ination pressure,
remove the
maximum speed
label from the
sealant canister.
Place it in a highly visible location such as the
inside of the upper left corner of the
windshield or to the face of the radio/clock.
The maximum speed label reminds you
to drive cautiously and not to exceed 55 mph
(90 km/h) until you have the damaged tire
inspected and repaired.
{CAUTION:
Storing the tire inator kit or other
equipment in the passenger compartment
of the vehicle could cause injury. In a
sudden stop or collision, loose equipment
could strike someone. Store the tire
inator kit in the proper place.
17. Return the equipment to the proper storage
location in the trunk of your vehicle. You may
need to loosen the retention strap to wrap
it around the inator kit and foam container. To
do this, pull apart the strap and loosen the
strap at the quick release buckle. Then snap
the buckle together, pull the strap tight,
and secure the loose end of the strap by
mating the ends.
459

18. Immediately drive the vehicle 5 miles (8 km)
to distribute the sealant evenly in the tire.
Stop at a safe location and check the
tire pressure, refer to Steps 1 through 8 under
“Using the Air Compressor without Sealant”
next in this section. If the tire pressure
has fallen more then 10 psi (68 kPa), below
the recommended ination pressure, stop
driving the vehicle. The tire is too damaged for
the sealant to work. SeeRoadside Service
on page 531.
If the tire pressure has not dropped more than
10 psi (68 kPa) from the recommended
ination pressure, you can inate the tire back
up to the recommended ination pressure.
19. Dispose of the sealant canister at a local GM
dealer or in accordance with your local state
codes and practices.
After using the sealant canister, replace it with
a new canister from a GM dealer.
20. After temporarily repairing a tire with the
emergency at tire repair kit, take your
vehicle to an authorized GM dealer to have
the tire inspected and repaired.Using the Air Compressor without
Sealant
To use the air compressor by itself to inate a tire,
do the following:
1. Remove the air compressor accessory plug
from the air compressor.
2. Unlock the air compressor hose from the
sealant canister by pulling up on the lever.
3. Pull the air compressor inator hose from the
sealant canister.
460