traction control CADILLAC STS 2007 1.G Owner's Manual

Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out
First, turn the steering wheel left and right.
That will clear the area around the front wheels.
You should turn the traction control system
off. SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on
page 323. 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 the wheels in
the forward and reverse directions, you will cause
a rocking motion that may free your vehicle. If
that does not get your vehicle out after a few tries,
it may need to be towed out. If your vehicle
does need to be towed out, seeTowing Your
Vehicle on page 355.
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.
349

Accessories and Modications
When you add non-GM accessories to your vehicle
they can affect your vehicle’s performance and
safety, including such things as, airbags, braking,
stability, ride and handling, emissions systems,
aerodynamics, durability, and electronic systems
like anti-lock brakes, traction control and stability
control. Some of these accessories may even
cause malfunction or damage not covered by
warranty.
GM Accessories are designed to complement and
function with other systems on your vehicle.
Your GM dealer can accessorize your vehicle
using genuine GM Accessories. When you go to
your GM dealer and ask for GM Accessories,
you will know that GM-trained and supported
service technicians will perform the work using
genuine GM Accessories.
California Proposition 65 Warning
Most motor vehicles, including this one, contain
and/or emit chemicals known to the State of
California to cause cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm. Engine exhaust, many parts and
systems (including some inside the vehicle), many
uids, and some component wear by-products
contain and/or emit these chemicals.
363

Treadwear Indicators:Narrow bands, sometimes
called wear bars, that show across the tread of a
tire when only 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) of tread remains.
SeeWhen It Is Time for New Tires on page 440.
UTQGS (Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards):A tire information system that
provides consumers with ratings for a tire’s
traction, temperature, and treadwear. Ratings are
determined by tire manufacturers using
government testing procedures. The ratings are
molded into the sidewall of the tire. SeeUniform
Tire Quality Grading on page 444.
Vehicle Capacity Weight:The number of
designated seating positions multiplied by 150 lbs
(68 kg) plus the rated cargo load. SeeLoading
Your Vehicle on page 349.
Vehicle Maximum Load on the Tire:Load on an
individual tire due to curb weight, accessory
weight, occupant weight, and cargo weight.
Vehicle Placard:A label permanently attached to
a vehicle showing the vehicle’s capacity weight
and the original equipment tire size and
recommended ination pressure. See “Tire and
Loading Information Label” underLoading
Your Vehicle on page 349.Run-Flat Tires (STS-V)
If your vehicle has run-at tires, there is no spare
tire and no tire changing equipment. Your
vehicle also has a Tire Pressure Monitor
System (TPMS) which will alert you if there is a
loss of tire pressure in any of the tires. See
Tire Pressure Monitor System on page 433.
{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.
429

Buying New Tires
GM has developed and matched specic tires for
your vehicle. The original equipment tires
installed on your vehicle, when it was new, were
designed to meet General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria Specication (TPC Spec)
system rating. If you need replacement tires, GM
strongly recommends that you get tires with
the same TPC Spec rating. This way, your vehicle
will continue to have tires that are designed to
give the same performance and vehicle safety,
during normal use, as the original tires.
GM’s exclusive TPC Spec system considers over
a dozen critical specications that impact the
overall performance of your vehicle, including
brake system performance, ride and handling,
traction control, and tire pressure monitoring
performance. GM’s TPC Spec number is moldedonto the tire’s sidewall by the tire manufacturer. If
the tires have an all-season tread design, the
TPC Spec number will be followed by an MS for
mud and snow. SeeTire Sidewall Labeling on
page 423for additional information.
The optional 18-inch performance tires, size
255/45ZR18 99Y, used on some vehicles, meet
the General Motors Tire Performance Criteria
Specication (TPC Spec) rating but the TPC Spec
code has not been molded onto the tire’s
sidewall. If your vehicle has these tires, and you
need to replace them, you can still get these TPC
Spec rated tires by asking your GM dealer.
Your GM dealer can order these tires by part
number. This way, your vehicle will continue to
give the proper endurance, handling, traction, and
ride as the original tires.
441

Your vehicle’s original equipment tires are listed
on the Tire and Loading Information label.
This label is attached to the vehicle’s center pillar
(B-pillar). SeeLoading Your Vehicle on page 349,
for more information about the Tire and Loading
Information label and its location on your vehicle.
Vehicles that have performance tires
P235/50R17 95V (front axle) and P255/45R17 98V
(rear axle) are mounted on wheels with different
rim widths. The front axle tires are mounted
on rims 7.5 inches (19.05 cm) wide and the rear
axle tires require wheels with a minimum rim width
of 8 inches (20.32 cm). The original equipment
wheels designed for P255/45R17 98V size
tires are etched with the words REAR ONLY.
When replacing P255/45R17 98V size tires have
them mounted on wheels with a minimum width of
8 inches (20.32 cm) and marked REAR ONLY.
SeeWheel Replacement on page 445.
Different Size Tires and Wheels
If you add wheels or tires that are a different size
than your original equipment wheels and tires,
this may affect the way your vehicle performs,
including its braking, ride and handling
characteristics, stability, and resistance to rollover.Additionally, if your vehicle has electronic systems
such as, anti-lock brakes, traction control, and
electronic stability control, the performance
of these systems can be affected.
{CAUTION:
If you add different sized wheels, your
vehicle may not provide an acceptable
level of performance and safety if tires not
recommended for those wheels are
selected. You may increase the chance
that you will crash and suffer serious
injury. Only use GM specic wheel and
tire systems developed for your vehicle,
and have them properly installed by a GM
certied technician.
SeeBuying New Tires on page 441and
Accessories and Modications on page 363for
additional information.
443

Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable on
the tire sidewall between tread shoulder and
maximum section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
The following information relates to the system
developed by the United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which
grades tires by treadwear, traction, and
temperature performance. This applies only to
vehicles sold in the United States. The grades are
molded on the sidewalls of most passenger car
tires. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG)
system does not apply to deep tread, winter-type
snow tires, space-saver, or temporary use
spare tires, tires with nominal rim diameters of
10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm), or to some
limited-production tires.
While the tires available on General Motors
passenger cars and light trucks may vary with
respect to these grades, they must also conform to
federal safety requirements and additional General
Motors Tire Performance Criteria (TPC) standards.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based
on the wear rate of the tire when tested under
controlled conditions on a specied government
test course. For example, a tire graded 150 would
wear one and a half (1.5) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded 100. The
relative performance of tires depends upon the
actual conditions of their use, however, and may
depart signicantly from the norm due to variations
in driving habits, service practices, and differences
in road characteristics and climate.
Traction – AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are
AA, A, B, and C. Those grades represent the tire’s
ability to stop on wet pavement as measured under
controlled conditions on specied government test
surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked
C may have poor traction performance.
Warning:The traction grade assigned to this tire
is based on straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include acceleration, cornering,
hydroplaning, or peak traction characteristics.
444

Tire Chains
{CAUTION:
If your vehicle has P255/45R17,
P255/45R18, P275/40R19, or 255/45ZR18
size tires, do not use tire chains, as there
is not enough clearance.
Tire chains used on a vehicle without the
proper amount of clearance can cause
damage to the brakes, suspension, or
other vehicle parts. The area damaged by
the tire chains could cause you to lose
control of your vehicle and you or others
may be injured in a crash.
Use another type of traction device only if
its manufacturer recommends it for use
on your vehicle and tire size combination
and road conditions. Follow that
manufacturer’s instructions.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
To help avoid damage to your vehicle,
drive slowly, readjust, or remove the
device if it is contacting your vehicle, and
do not spin your vehicle’s wheels.
If you do nd traction devices that will t,
install them on the rear tires only.
Notice:If your vehicle has P235/50R17 95S
size tires, use tire chains only where legal and
only when you must. Use only SAE Class
S-type chains that are the proper size for your
tires. Install them on the rear tires and
tighten them as tightly as possible with the
ends securely fastened. Drive slowly and follow
the chain manufacturer’s instructions. If you
can hear the chains contacting your vehicle,
stop and retighten them. If the contact
continues, slow down until it stops. Driving
too fast or spinning the wheels with chains on
will damage your vehicle.
447

L
Labeling, Tire Sidewall................................. 423
Lamps
Battery Load Management....................... 221
Electric Power Management..................... 221
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver................. 219
Fog .......................................................... 217
Inadvertent Power Battery Saver.............. 222
Reading................................................... 221
Twilight Sentinel
®..................................... 218
LATCH System
Child Restraints......................................... 50
Lifting Your Vehicle, Tires............................ 448
Light
Airbag Readiness..................................... 244
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning............. 249
Brake System Warning............................. 248
Charging System..................................... 247
Cruise Control.......................................... 256
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning....... 251
Fog Lamp................................................ 256
Highbeam On.......................................... 257
Lights On Reminder................................. 256
Low Tire Pressure Warning Light............. 249Light (cont.)
Malfunction Indicator................................ 252
Oil Pressure............................................. 255
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator............ 245
Passenger Safety Belt Reminder.............. 244
Safety Belt Reminder............................... 243
Security................................................... 256
TCS Warning Light.................................. 250
Traction Control System (TCS) Warning ... 250
Lighting
Entry........................................................ 220
Parade Dimming...................................... 220
Limited-Slip Rear Axle................................. 325
Loading Your Vehicle................................... 349
Lockout Protection....................................... 101
Locks
Door.......................................................... 98
Lockout Protection................................... 101
Power Door............................................... 99
Programmable Automatic Door Locks......... 99
Rear Door Security Locks........................ 100
Loss of Control........................................... 332
Lumbar
Power Controls............................................ 9
552

Theft-Deterrent Systems.............................. 107
Time, Setting............................................... 281
Tires........................................................... 421
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels,
Cleaning............................................... 482
Buying New Tires..................................... 441
Chains..................................................... 447
Changing a Flat Tire................................ 464
Cleaning.................................................. 483
Compact Spare Tire................................. 475
Different Size........................................... 443
High-Speed Operation.............................. 432
If a Tire Goes Flat................................... 451
Ination - Tire Pressure............................ 431
Inspection and Rotation............................ 438
Installing the Spare Tire........................... 466
Lifting Your Vehicle.................................. 448
Pressure Monitor System......................... 433
Removing the Flat Tire............................. 466
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools......... 465
Run-Flat................................................... 429
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools..... 473
Tire Inator Kit......................................... 452
Tire Sidewall Labeling.............................. 423Tires (cont.)
Tire Terminology and Denitions............... 426
Uniform Tire Quality Grading.................... 444
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance........... 445
Wheel Replacement................................. 445
When It Is Time for New Tires................. 440
Winter Tires............................................. 422
Towing
Recreational Vehicle................................. 355
Towing a Trailer....................................... 357
Your Vehicle............................................. 355
Traction
Control System (TCS).............................. 323
Control System Warning Light.................. 250
Limited-Slip Rear Axle.............................. 325
Magnetic Ride Control.............................. 325
StabiliTrak
®System................................. 326
Transmission
Fluid, Automatic....................................... 388
Transmission Operation, Automatic.............. 116
Trunk.......................................................... 101
Turn and Lane-Change Signals................... 182
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.................... 182
Twilight Sentinel
®........................................ 218
558