2005 CADILLAC STS warning

If a low tire pressure condition is detected, the TPM
system will display the CHECK TIRE PRESSURE
warning message on the Driver Information Center (DIC)
and, at the same time, illuminate the low tire pressure
warning symbol, on the instrument panel cluster.
When the tire pressure
monitoring system warning
light is lit, one or more
of your tires is signicantly
under-inated.
You should stop and check your tires as soon as
possible, and inate them to the proper pressure as
indicated on the vehicle’s tire information placard.
Driving on a signicantly under-inated tire causes the
tire to overheat and can lead to tire failure.
Under-ination also reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread
life, and may affect the vehicle’s handling and stopping
ability. Each tire, including the spare, should be
checked monthly when cold and set to the
recommended ination pressure as specied in the
vehicle placard and owner’s manual.The Tire and Loading Information Label (your vehicle’s
tire information placard) shows the size of your vehicle’s
original tires and the recommended cold ination
pressure for your vehicle’s tire. SeeInation - Tire
Pressure on page 5-60. For the location of the tire and
loading information label, seeLoading Your Vehicle on
page 4-30.
Your vehicle’s TPM system can alert you about a low
tire pressure condition but it does not replace normal tire
maintenance. SeeTire Inspection and Rotation on
page 5-65andTires on page 5-53.
Notice:Do not use a tire sealant if your vehicle is
equipped with Tire Pressure Monitors. The liquid
sealant can damage the tire pressure monitor
sensors.
5-63

Buying New Tires
To nd out what kind and size of tires you need, look at
the Tire and Loading Information label. SeeLoading
Your Vehicle on page 4-30, for an example of the label
and where it can be found on your vehicle.
The tires installed on your vehicle when it was new had a
Tire Performance Criteria Specication (TPC Spec)
number on each tire’s sidewall. When you get new tires,
GM recommends that you get tires with that same TPC
Spec number. That way your vehicle will continue to have
tires that are designed to give proper endurance,
handling, speed rating, load range, traction, ride, tire
pressure monitoring system performance and other
things during normal service on your vehicle. If your tires
have an all-season tread design, the TPC number will be
followed by an “MS” (for mud and snow).
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.
If you replace your tires with those not having a TPC
Spec number, make sure they are the same size,
load range, speed rating and construction type (bias,
bias-belted or radial) as your original tires.
Winter tires with the same speed rating as your original
equipment tires may not be available for H, V, W
and ZR speed rated tires. If you choose snow tires with
a lower speed rating, never exceed the tire’s maximum
speed capability.
If you replace your vehicle’s tires with those not having
a TPC Spec number, the tire pressure monitoring
system may give an inaccurate low-pressure warning.
Non-TPC Spec tires may give a low-pressure warning
that is higher or lower than the proper warning level you
would get with TPC Spec numbered tires.
5-68

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, 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
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.
5-70

Temperature – A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C,
representing the tire’s resistance to the generation
of heat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested
under controlled conditions on a specied indoor
laboratory test wheel. Sustained high temperature can
cause the material of the tire to degenerate and
reduce tire life, and excessive temperature can lead to
sudden tire failure. The grade C corresponds to a
level of performance which all passenger car tires must
meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
No. 109. Grades B and A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test wheel than the
minimum required by law.
Warning: The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly inated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed, underination, or
excessive loading, either separately or in combination,
can cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
The tires and wheels on your vehicle were aligned and
balanced carefully at the factory to give you the longest
tire life and best overall performance. Adjustments to
wheel alignment and tire balancing will not be necessary
on a regular basis. However, if you notice unusual tire
wear or your vehicle pulling to one side or the other, the
alignment may need to be checked. If you notice your
vehicle vibrating when driving on a smooth road, your
tires and wheels may need to be rebalanced. See your
dealer for proper diagnosis.
Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel that is bent, cracked or badly rusted
or corroded. If wheel nuts keep coming loose, the
wheel, wheel bolts and wheel nuts should be replaced.
If the wheel leaks air, replace it (except some
aluminum wheels, which can sometimes be repaired).
See your dealer if any of these conditions exist.
Your dealer will know the kind of wheel you need.
Each new wheel should have the same load-carrying
capacity, diameter, width, offset and be mounted
the same way as the one it replaces.
5-71

If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blowout while you’re driving,
especially if you maintain your tires properly. 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.{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 a tire goes at, the next part shows how to use your
jacking equipment to change a at tire safely.
Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes at, avoid further tire and wheel damage
by driving slowly to a level place. Turn on your vehicle’s
hazard warning ashers. SeeHazard Warning Flashers
on page 3-6for more information.
5-74

Appearance Care
Cleaning products can be hazardous. Some are toxic.
Other cleaning products can burst into ames if a match
is struck near them or if they get on a hot part of the
vehicle. Some are dangerous if their fumes are inhaled
in an enclosed space. When anything from a container
is used to clean the vehicle, be sure to follow the
manufacturer’s warnings and instructions. Always open
the doors or windows of the vehicle when cleaning
the inside.
Never use these to clean the vehicle:
Benzene
Naphtha
Carbon Tetrachloride
Acetone
Paint Thinner
Turpentine
Lacquer Thinner
Nail Polish Remover
They can all be hazardous — some more than
others —and they can all damage the vehicle, too.Do not use any of these products unless this manual
says you can. In many uses, these will damage
the vehicle:
Alcohol
Laundry Soap
Bleach
Reducing Agents
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle
Your vehicle’s interior will continue to look its best if
it is cleaned often. Although not always visible, dust and
dirt can accumulate on your upholstery. Dirt can
damage carpet, fabric, leather, and plastic surfaces.
Regular vacuuming is recommended to remove particles
from your upholstery. It is important to keep your
upholstery from becoming and remaining heavily soiled.
Soils should be removed as quickly as possible. Your
vehicle’s interior may experience extremes of heat
that could cause stains to set rapidly.
Lighter colored interiors may require more frequent
cleaning. Use care because newspapers and garments
that transfer color to your home furnishings may also
transfer color to your vehicle’s interior.
5-85

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

Audio System(s) (cont.)
Theft-Deterrent Feature...............................3-115
Understanding Radio Reception...................3-117
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System...........3-118
Automatic Transmission
Fluid..........................................................5-21
Operation...................................................2-26
B
Battery..........................................................5-37
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver......................3-41
Inadvertent Power Saver..............................3-43
Load Management.......................................3-42
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.........................4-22
Brake
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)........................ 4-6
Emergencies................................................ 4-8
Panic Assist................................................4-10
Parking......................................................2-29
System Warning Light..................................3-64
Brakes..........................................................5-34
Braking........................................................... 4-5
Braking in Emergencies..................................... 4-8
Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................2-22
Bulb Replacement...........................................5-48
Back-Up Lamps...........................................5-50
Front Turn Signal Lamps..............................5-49
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-49Bulb Replacement (cont.)
Headlamp Aiming........................................5-46
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting...........5-48
Replacement Bulbs......................................5-51
Sidemarker Lamps.......................................5-50
Buying New Tires...........................................5-68
C
California Fuel.................................................. 5-6
Canadian Owners................................................ ii
Capacities and Specications..........................5-106
Carbon Monoxide...................2-14, 2-33, 4-25, 4-37
Care of
Safety Belts................................................5-88
Your CD Player.........................................3-118
Your CDs .................................................3-118
Center Console Storage Area...........................2-45
Chains, Tire...................................................5-73
Charging System Light....................................3-64
Check
Engine Light...............................................3-68
Checking Things Under the Hood......................5-10
Chemical Paint Spotting...................................5-92
Child Restraints
Child Restraint Systems...............................1-32
Infants and Young Children...........................1-28
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System)..........................1-38
2