2005 CADILLAC STS Electrical system

To reduce the charging overload, use the vehicle’s
accessories. Turn on the exterior lamps and radio, set
the climate control on AUTO and the fan speed on the
highest setting, and turn the rear window defogger on.
The normal battery voltage range is 11.5 to 15.5 volts
when the engine is running. You can monitor battery
voltage on the DIC by pressing the information button
until you nd BATTERY VOLTS.
BATTERY VOLTAGE LOW
This symbol appears with
the BATTERY VOLTAGE
LOW message.
When this message displays, the electrical system is
charging less than 10 volts or the battery has been
drained.
If this message appears immediately after starting
the engine, it is possible that the generator can still
recharge the battery. The battery should recharge
while driving but may take a few hours to do so.Consider using an auxiliary charger (be sure to follow
the manufacturer’s instructions) to boost the battery after
returning home or to a nal destination.
If this message appears while driving or after starting
your vehicle and stays on, have it checked immediately
to determine the cause of this problem.
To help the generator recharge the battery quickly, you
can reduce the load on the electrical system by
turning off the accessories.
The normal battery voltage range is 11.5 to 15.5 volts.
You can monitor battery voltage on the DIC by pressing
the information button until you nd BATTERY VOLTS.
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
When this message displays, it means that service is
required for your vehicle. See your GM dealer. See
Engine Oil on page 5-15andScheduled Maintenance
on page 6-4for more information.
When you reset the CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message by clearing it from the display, you still must
reset the engine oil life system separately. For more
information on resetting the engine oil life system, see
Engine Oil Life System on page 5-18.
3-80

Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................5-65
When It Is Time for New Tires.......................5-67
Buying New Tires.........................................5-68
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..........................5-70
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance..................5-71
Wheel Replacement......................................5-71
Tire Chains..................................................5-73
If a Tire Goes Flat........................................5-74
Changing a Flat Tire.....................................5-74
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools................5-76
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing
the Spare Tire..........................................5-77
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools............5-83
Compact Spare Tire......................................5-84
Appearance Care............................................5-85
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle.................5-85
Fabric/Carpet...............................................5-87
Leather.......................................................5-87
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces........................................5-88
Wood Panels...............................................5-88
Speaker Covers............................................5-88
Care of Safety Belts......................................5-88
Weatherstrips...............................................5-88Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-89
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses.....................5-89
Finish Care..................................................5-89
Windshield and Wiper Blades.........................5-90
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels................5-91
Tires...........................................................5-91
Sheet Metal Damage.....................................5-92
Finish Damage.............................................5-92
Underbody Maintenance................................5-92
Chemical Paint Spotting.................................5-92
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials..................5-93
Vehicle Identication......................................5-94
Vehicle Identication Number (VIN).................5-94
Service Parts Identication Label.....................5-94
Electrical System............................................5-95
Add-On Electrical Equipment..........................5-95
Headlamp Wiring..........................................5-95
Windshield Wiper Fuses................................5-95
Power Windows and Other Power Options.......5-95
Fuses and Circuit Breakers............................5-95
Underhood Fuse Block..................................5-96
Rear Underseat Fuse Block...........................5-99
Capacities and Specications........................5-106
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-2

Jump Starting
If your battery has run down, you may want to use
another vehicle and some jumper cables to start your
vehicle. Be sure to use the following steps to do it safely.
{CAUTION:
Batteries can hurt you. They can be dangerous
because:
They contain acid that can burn you.
They contain gas that can explode or
ignite.
They contain enough electricity to
burn you.
If you do not follow these steps exactly, some
or all of these things can hurt you.
Notice:Ignoring these steps could result in costly
damage to your vehicle that would not be covered
by your warranty.
Trying to start your vehicle by pushing or pulling it
will not work, and it could damage your vehicle.
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt
battery with a negative ground system.Notice:If the other vehicle’s system is not a 12-volt
system with a negative ground, both vehicles can
be damaged. Only use vehicles with 12-volt systems
with negative grounds to jump start your vehicle.
2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables
can reach, but be sure the vehicles are not touching
each other. If they are, it could cause a ground
connection you do not want. You would not be able
to start your vehicle and the bad grounding could
damage the electrical systems.
To avoid the possibility of the vehicles rolling, set
the parking brake rmly on both vehicles involved in
the jump start procedure. Put an automatic
transmission in PARK (P) or a manual transmission
in NEUTRAL before setting the parking brake.
Notice:If you leave your radio or other accessories
on during the jump starting procedure, they could
be damaged. The repairs would not be covered
by your warranty. Always turn off your radio and
other accessories when jump starting your vehicle.
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug
unnecessary accessories plugged into the cigarette
lighter or the accessory power outlets. Turn off
the radio and all lamps that are not needed. This
will avoid sparks and help save both batteries. And
it could save the radio!
5-38

Notice:If the jumper cables are connected or
removed in the wrong order, electrical shorting may
occur and damage the vehicle. The repairs would
not be covered by your warranty. Always connect
and remove the jumper cables in the correct
order, making sure that the cables do not touch
each other or other metal.
A. Heavy, Unpainted Metal Engine Part or Remote
Negative (−) Terminal
B. Good Battery or Remote Positive (+) Terminal
C. Dead Battery or Remote Positive (+) TerminalTo disconnect the jumper cables from both vehicles,
do the following:
1. Disconnect the black negative (−) cable from the
vehicle that had the dead battery.
2. Disconnect the black negative (−) cable from the
vehicle with the good battery.
3. Disconnect the red positive (+) cable from the
vehicle with the good battery.
4. Disconnect the red positive (+) cable from the other
vehicle.
All-Wheel Drive
All of the lubricant checks in this section apply to your
vehicle. If you have an all-wheel-drive vehicle, there
is an additional system that need lubrication.
Jumper Cable Removal
5-42

Electrical System
Add-On Electrical Equipment
Notice:Don’t add anything electrical to your vehicle
unless you check with your dealer rst. Some
electrical equipment can damage your vehicle and
the damage wouldn’t be covered by your warranty.
Some add-on electrical equipment can keep other
components from working as they should.
Your vehicle has an airbag system. Before attempting to
add anything electrical to your vehicle, seeServicing
Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on page 1-56.
Headlamp Wiring
The headlamp wiring has an individual fuse. An electrical
overload will cause the lamps to go on and off, or in some
cases to remain off. If this happens, have the headlamp
wiring checked right away.
Windshield Wiper Fuses
The windshield wiper motor is protected by an internal
circuit breaker. If the wiper motor overheats due to
heavy snow, the wipers will stop until the motor cools
and will then restart.
Power Windows and Other Power
Options
Circuit breakers protect the power windows and power
seats. When the current load is too heavy, the circuit
breaker opens and closes, protecting the circuit until the
problem is xed or goes away.
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
The wiring circuits in your vehicle are protected from
short circuits by a combination of fuses, circuit breakers
and fusible thermal links. This greatly reduces the
chance of res caused by electrical problems.
Look at the silver-colored band inside the fuse. If the
band is broken or melted, replace the fuse. Be sure you
replace a bad fuse with a new one of the identical
size and rating. If a fuse should blow, see your dealer
for service immediately.
If you ever have a problem on the road and don’t have
a spare fuse, you can borrow one that has the same
amperage. Just pick some feature of your vehicle
that you can get along without — like the radio or
cigarette lighter — and use its fuse, if it is the correct
amperage. Replace it as soon as you can.
The fuses are located in three fuse blocks. One is
located in the engine compartment, on the passenger’s
side of the vehicle, and the other two are located
under the rear seat on both the driver’s and passenger’s
side of the vehicle.
5-95

A
Accessory Power Outlets.................................3-49
Adaptive Cruise Control...................................3-20
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-6
Add-On Electrical Equipment............................5-95
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-20
Air Conditioning..............................................3-50
Airbag
Readiness Light..........................................3-63
Airbag Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM)...... 7-8
Airbag System................................................1-45
How Does an Airbag Restrain?......................1-53
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle..........1-56
What Makes an Airbag Inate?......................1-53
What Will You See After an Airbag Inates?....1-54
When Should an Airbag Inate?....................1-52
Where Are the Airbags?...............................1-48
All-Wheel Drive...............................................5-42
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) System.........................2-29
Antenna, Diversity Antenna System..................3-118
Antenna, XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna
System.....................................................3-118
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)........................... 4-6
Anti-Lock Brake, System Warning Light..............3-65
Appearance Care............................................5-85
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels..............5-91
Care of Safety Belts....................................5-88
Chemical Paint Spotting...............................5-92
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses....................5-89Appearance Care (cont.)
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle................5-85
Fabric/Carpet..............................................5-87
Finish Care.................................................5-89
Finish Damage............................................5-92
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Surfaces.................................................5-88
Leather......................................................5-87
Sheet Metal Damage...................................5-92
Speaker Covers..........................................5-88
Tires..........................................................5-91
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-92
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials................5-93
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-89
Weatherstrips..............................................5-88
Windshield and Wiper Blades........................5-90
Wood Panels..............................................5-88
Ashtrays........................................................3-49
Audio System(s).............................................3-92
Audio Steering Wheel Controls....................3-116
Care of Your CD Player..............................3-118
Care of Your CDs......................................3-118
Diversity Antenna System............................3-118
Navigation/Radio System, see Navigation
Manual.................................................3-111
Audio Systems
Radio Personalization.................................3-112
Audio System(s)
Radio with CD............................................3-94
Setting the Time..........................................3-93
1

Customer Assistance Information (cont.)
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program............... 7-5
Reporting Safety Defects to
General Motors........................................7-10
Reporting Safety Defects to the
Canadian Government..............................7-10
Reporting Safety Defects to the
United States Government.........................7-10
Roadside Service.......................................... 7-5
Service Publications Ordering Information........7-11
D
Daytime Running Lamps..................................3-38
Defensive Driving............................................. 4-2
Diversity Antenna System...............................3-118
Doing Your Own Service Work........................... 5-4
Door
Locks........................................................2-11
Power Door Locks.......................................2-11
Programmable Automatic Door Locks.............2-12
Rear Door Security Locks.............................2-12
Driver
Position, Safety Belt.....................................1-13
Driver Information Center (DIC).........................3-73
DIC Controls and Displays............................3-74
DIC Warnings and Messages........................3-78
Other Messages..........................................3-91Driving
At Night.....................................................4-16
City...........................................................4-20
Defensive..................................................... 4-2
Drunken....................................................... 4-2
Freeway.....................................................4-21
Hill and Mountain Roads..............................4-23
In Rain and on Wet Roads...........................4-17
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get it Out.................4-30
Winter........................................................4-25
Dual Climate Control System............................3-50E
Electrical System
Add-On Equipment......................................5-95
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...........................5-95
Headlamp Wiring.........................................5-95
Power Windows and Other Power Options......5-95
Rear Underseat Fuse Block..........................5-99
Underhood Fuse Block.................................5-96
Windshield Wiper Fuses...............................5-95
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter.........................................5-20
Battery.......................................................5-37
Check and Service Engine Soon Light............3-68
Coolant......................................................5-22
Coolant Heater............................................2-25
4

OnStar®System, see OnStar®Manual...............2-39
Other Warning Devices...................................... 3-6
Outlet Adjustment............................................3-56
Outside
Automatic Dimming Mirror.............................2-38
Convex Mirror.............................................2-38
Parallel Park Assist Mirror.............................2-38
Power Heated Mirrors..................................2-37
Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode.....5-26
Owner Checks and Services.............................. 6-9
Owners, Canadian............................................... ii
P
Panic Brake Assist..........................................4-10
Parade Dimming.............................................3-42
Park Aid........................................................3-47
Park (P)
Shifting Into................................................2-30
Shifting Out of............................................2-31
Parking
Assist........................................................3-47
Brake........................................................2-29
Over Things That Burn.................................2-32Passenger Compartment Air Filter.....................3-58
Passing.........................................................4-13
Power
Accessory Outlets........................................3-49
Door Locks.................................................2-11
Electrical System.........................................5-95
Inadvertent Battery Saver.............................3-43
Lumbar Controls........................................... 1-3
Reclining Seatback........................................ 1-5
Retained Accessory (RAP)............................2-23
Seat............................................................ 1-2
Steering Fluid.............................................5-31
Tilt Wheel and Telescopic Steering Column....... 3-6
Windows....................................................2-17
Pretensioners, Safety Belt................................1-25
Programmable Automatic Door Locks.................2-12
Q
Questions and Answers About Safety Belts.........1-12
9