fuel CADILLAC STS 2011 1.G Owners Manual

Black plate (1,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
2011 Cadillac STS Owner ManualM
In Brief. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
Instrument Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Initial Drive Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Vehicle Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
Performance and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-21
Seats and Restraint System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14
Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14
Child Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-34
Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-57
Restraint System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-72
Features and Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1
Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Doors and Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-12
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-18
Theft-Deterrent Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-22
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-25
Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-37
Object Detection Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-41
Universal Home Remote System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-49 Storage Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-56
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-57
Vehicle Personalization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-59
Instrument Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Instrument Panel Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
Climate Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-43
Warning Lights, Gauges, and Indicators . . . . . . . . . 4-51
Driver Information Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-69
Audio System(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-94
Driving Your Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1
Your Driving, the Road, and the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-29
Service and Appearance Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Checking Things Under the Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-12
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-43
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-44
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-45
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-46

Black plate (5,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Symbol Chart
Here are some additional symbols that may be found on
the vehicle and what they mean. For more information
on the symbol, refer to the Index.
9:Airbag Readiness Light
#:Air Conditioning
!:Antilock Brake System (ABS)
g:Audio Steering Wheel Controls or OnStar®
$: Brake System Warning Light
":Charging System
I:Cruise Control
B: Engine Coolant Temperature
O:Exterior Lamps
#:Fog Lamps
.: Fuel Gauge
+:Fuses
3: Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
j:LATCH System Child Restraints
*: Malfunction Indicator Lamp
::Oil Pressure
}:Power
/:Remote Vehicle Start
>:Safety Belt Reminders
7:Tire Pressure Monitor
F:Traction Control
M:Windshield Washer Fluid
v

Black plate (1,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
Section 1 In Brief
Instrument Panel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Initial Drive Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Remote Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Trunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
Memory Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8
Heated Seats (Front) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8
Heated Seats (Rear) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9
Heated and Ventilated Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9
Head Restraint Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9
Safety Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Sensing System for Passenger Airbag . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Mirror Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12
Interior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12
Exterior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-13
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14
Climate Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15 Vehicle Features
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
Radio(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
Satellite Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-18
Bluetooth
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-18
Navigation System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-18
Driver Information Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-19
Vehicle Personalization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-20
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-20
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-21
Performance and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-21
Traction Control System (TCS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-21
StabiliTrak
®System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-21
Tire Pressure Monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-22
Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-22
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-22
Driving for Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-23
Roadside Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-23
OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-24
1-1

Black plate (19,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
Driver Information Center (DIC)
The DIC display is located at the bottom of the
instrument panel cluster. It shows the status of many
vehicle systems.
Without Head-UpDisplay (HUD)With Head-Up
Display (HUD)
The DIC buttons are located on the instrument panel, to
the left of the steering wheel.
« 4ª:Press to scroll through the available vehicle
information displays which may include digital speed
display, fuel range, fuel economy, fuel used, average
speed, timer, battery voltage, tire pressure, engine oil
life, and display units. If you have an STS-V, the DIC also has additional
vehicle information displays which include engine boost,
engine oil temperature, oil pressure, and transmission
fluid temperature.
AB
300 or3:
Press to scroll through the
odometer, trip odometer A and trip odometer B.
4 //: Press to reset certain DIC features and to
acknowledge DIC warning messages and clear them
from the DIC display.
EM: Press this button to change the display from
English to metric.
« ~ ª:Press to change the position of the HUD
on the windshield.
For more information about HUD, see Head-Up Display
(HUD) on page 4‑38.
For information on adjusting the instrument panel
brightness, see Instrument Panel Brightness
on
page 4‑35.
For more information, see Driver Information Center
(DIC) on page 4‑69.
1-19

Black plate (23,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
Resetting the Oil Life System
1. Press the up or down arrow to scroll the DIC toshow OIL LIFE.
2. Once the XXX% ENGINE OIL LIFE menu item is highlighted, press and hold the RESET button until
the percentage shows 100%.
If the percentage does not return to 100% or if the
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON message comes
back on when the vehicle is started, the engine oil
life system has not reset. Repeat the procedure.
See Engine Oil Life System on page 6‑20.
Driving for Better Fuel Economy
Driving habits can affect fuel mileage. Here are some
driving tips to get the best fuel economy possible.
.Avoid fast starts and accelerate smoothly.
.Brake gradually and avoid abrupt stops.
.Avoid idling the engine for long periods of time.
.When road and weather conditions are
appropriate, use cruise control, if equipped.
.Always follow posted speed limits or drive more
slowly when conditions require.
.Keep vehicle tires properly inflated.
.Combine several trips into a single trip.
.Replace the vehicle's tires with the same TPC
Spec number molded into the tire's sidewall near
the size.
.Follow recommended scheduled maintenance.
Roadside Service
U.S. or Canada: 1-800-882-1112
TTY Users: 1-888-889-2438
As the owner of a new Cadillac, you are automatically
enrolled in the Roadside Service program which is
available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to give minor
repair information or make towing arrangements.
For more information see Roadside Service
on
page 1‑23.
Roadside Service and OnStar
If you have a current OnStar subscription, press
the
Qbutton and the current GPS location will be sent
to an OnStar Advisor who will assess your problem,
contact Roadside Service, and relay exact location to
get you the help you need.
1-23

Black plate (64,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
What Will You See After an Airbag
Inflates?
After the frontal airbags and seat-mounted side impact
airbags inflate, they quickly deflate, so quickly that
some people may not even realize an airbag inflated.
Roof-rail airbags may still be at least partially inflated for
some time after they deploy. Some components of the
airbag module may be hot for several minutes. For
location of the airbag modules, seeWhat Makes an
Airbag Inflate? on page 2‑63.
The parts of the airbag that come into contact with you
may be warm, but not too hot to touch. There may be
some smoke and dust coming from the vents in the
deflated airbags. Airbag inflation does not prevent the
driver from seeing out of the windshield or being able to
steer the vehicle, nor does it prevent people from
leaving the vehicle.
{WARNING:
When an airbag inflates, there may be dust in the
air. This dust could cause breathing problems for
people with a history of asthma or other breathing
trouble. To avoid this, everyone in the vehicle
should get out as soon as it is safe to do so.
If you have breathing problems but cannot get out
of the vehicle after an airbag inflates, then get
fresh air by opening a window or a door. If you
experience breathing problems following an airbag
deployment, you should seek medical attention.
The vehicle has a feature that may automatically unlock
the doors, turn on the interior lamps and hazard warning
flashers, and shut off the fuel system after the airbags
inflate. You can lock the doors, turn off the interior
lamps and hazard warning flashers by using the
controls for those features.
2-64

Black plate (65,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
{WARNING:
A crash severe enough to inflate the airbags may
have also damaged important functions in the
vehicle, such as the fuel system, brake and
steering systems, etc. Even if the vehicle appears
to be drivable after a moderate crash, there may
be concealed damage that could make it difficult
to safely operate the vehicle.
Use caution if you should attempt to restart the
engine after a crash has occurred.In many crashes severe enough to inflate the airbag,
windshields are broken by vehicle deformation.
Additional windshield breakage may also occur from
the right front passenger airbag..Airbags are designed to inflate only once. After an
airbag inflates, you will need some new parts for
the airbag system. If you do not get them, the
airbag system will not be there to help protect you
in another crash. A new system will include airbag
modules and possibly other parts. The service
manual for your vehicle covers the need to replace
other parts.
.The vehicle has a crash sensing and diagnostic
module which records information after a crash.
See
Vehicle Data Recording and Privacy
on
page 8‑19and Event Data Recorderson
page 8‑19.
.Let only qualified technicians work on the airbag
systems. Improper service can mean that an
airbag system will not work properly. See your
dealer for service.
2-65

Black plate (11,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
3. If it is the first remote start since the vehicle hasbeen driven, repeat these steps, while the engine
is still running, to extend the engine running time
by 10 minutes. Remote start can be extended
one time.
If the vehicle is left running it will automatically shut off
after 10 minutes unless a time extension has been
done. To manually shut off a remote start, do one of the
following:
.Aim the keyless access transmitter at the vehicle
and press the remote start button until the parking
lamps turn off.
.Turn on the hazard warning flashers.
.Press the Acc. button (ignition switch). See Ignition
Positions on page 3‑26.
.Turn on the valet lockout switch. See Valet Lockout
Switch on page 3‑24.
When you enter the vehicle during a remote start, press
the brake pedal and press the start button on the
keyless ignition switch to transition from remote start
operation to normal vehicle operation. Laws in some local communities may restrict the use
of remote starters. For example, laws may require a
person using remote start to have the vehicle in view
when doing so. Check local regulations for any
requirements on remote starting of vehicles.
Do not use the remote start feature if your vehicle is low
on fuel. Your vehicle may run out of fuel.
The remote start feature provides two separate starts,
each with 10 minutes of engine running. If you press
the lock button and then hold the remote start button
on the keyless access transmitter again for at least
three seconds before the first 10 minutes of engine
running time has expired, 10 minutes is added to the
remaining minutes. For example, if the remote start is
initiated again after five minutes of the engine run time,
10 minutes is added and you now have 15 minutes
with the engine running. Once two remote starts or
20 minutes of the engine running have been provided,
the vehicle must be started using the keyless access
with pushbutton start feature, if the engine needs to be
restarted. See
Starting the Engine
on page 3‑27for
more information regarding the keyless ignition.
3-11

Black plate (18,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
Windows
{WARNING:
Leaving children, helpless adults, or pets in a
vehicle with the windows closed is dangerous.
They can be overcome by the extreme heat and
suffer permanent injuries or even death from heat
stroke. Never leave a child, a helpless adult, or a
pet alone in a vehicle, especially with the windows
closed in warm or hot weather.
The vehicle aerodynamics are designed to improve fuel
economy performance. This may result in a pulsing
sound when either rear window is down and the front
windows are up. To reduce the sound, open either a
front window or the sunroof (if equipped).
3-18

Black plate (29,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
Stopping the Engine
Move the shift lever to P (Park) and press the Acc.
button located on the instrument panel. If the shifter is
not in P (Park), the engine shuts off and the vehicle
goes into the Accessory Mode. The DIC displays SHIFT
TO PARK. Once the shifter is moved to P (Park), the
vehicle turns off.
The DIC displays NO FOB, OFF OR RUN?, if the
keyless access transmitter is not detected inside the
vehicle when it is turned off.
SeeDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 4‑76for
more information.
Engine Coolant Heater
The engine coolant heater can provide easier starting
and better fuel economy during engine warm‐up in
cold weather conditions at or below −18°C (0°F).
Vehicles with an engine coolant heater should be
plugged in at least four hours before starting. Some
models have an internal thermostat in the cord which
will prevent engine coolant heater operation at
temperatures above −18°C (0°F).
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord.
The cord is located in the front of the engine
compartment, on the passenger side of the vehicle.
3. You must remove the plastic cap to access the plug.
4. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt AC outlet.
{WARNING:
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet could
cause an electrical shock. Also, the wrong kind of
extension cord could overheat and cause a fire.
You could be seriously injured. Plug the cord into
a properly grounded three-prong 110-volt AC
outlet. If the cord will not reach, use a heavy-duty
three-prong extension cord rated for at least
15 amps.
5. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and store the cord as it was before to keep it away from
moving engine parts. If you do not, it could be
damaged.
3-29