2006 CADILLAC STS service

Seats and Restraint Systems........................... 1-1
Front Seats
............................................... 1-2
Rear Seats
............................................... 1-7
Safety Belts
.............................................. 1-8
Child Restraints
.......................................1-26
Airbag System
.........................................1-49
Restraint System Check
............................1-64
Features and Controls..................................... 2-1
Keys
........................................................ 2-3
Doors and Locks
......................................2-12
Windows
.................................................2-17
Theft-Deterrent Systems
............................2-20
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
...........2-24
Mirrors
....................................................2-41
OnStar
®System
......................................2-45
Universal Home Remote System
................2-47
Storage Areas
.........................................2-51
Sunroof
..................................................2-52
Vehicle Personalization
.............................2-53
Instrument Panel............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview
.......................... 3-4
Climate Controls
......................................3-48
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators
........3-57
Driver Information Center (DIC)
..................3-73
Audio System(s)
.......................................3-94Driving Your Vehicle....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
..... 4-2
Towing
...................................................4-37
Service and Appearance Care.......................... 5-1
Service
..................................................... 5-3
Fuel
......................................................... 5-5
Checking Things Under the Hood
...............5-10
All-Wheel Drive
........................................5-50
Rear Axle
...............................................5-51
Front Axle
...............................................5-52
Bulb Replacement
....................................5-53
Windshield Replacement
...........................5-55
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.........5-55
Tires
......................................................5-56
Appearance Care
.....................................5-94
Vehicle Identication
...............................5-103
Electrical System
....................................5-104
Capacities and Specications
...................5-116
Maintenance Schedule..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule
................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance and Information.............. 7-1
Customer Assistance and Information
........... 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects
...........................7-13
Index.............................................................. 71
2006 Cadillac STS/STS-V Owner ManualM

There will be some smoke and dust coming from the
vents in the deated airbags. Airbag ination does
not prevent the driver from seeing out of the windshield
or being able to steer the vehicle, nor does it stop people
from leaving the vehicle.
{CAUTION:
When an airbag inates, there is 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 inates,
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.
Your vehicle has a feature that may automatically unlock
the doors, turn the interior lamps on, turn the hazard
warning ashers on, and turn off the climate control
system when the airbags inate.You can lock the doors, turn the interior lamps off, turn
the hazard warning ashers off, and turn the climate
control system on by using the controls for those
features.
In many crashes severe enough to inate the airbag,
windshields are broken by vehicle deformation.
Additional windshield breakage may also occur from
the right front passenger airbag.Airbags are designed to inate only once. After
an airbag inates, you will need some new parts
for your 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.
Your vehicle has a crash sensing and diagnostic
module which records information after a crash.
SeeVehicle Data Collection and Event Data
Recorders on page 7-8.
Let only qualied technicians work on your airbag
system. Improper service can mean that an
airbag system will not work properly. See your
dealer for service.
1-58

If a person of adult-size is sitting in the right front
passenger’s seat, but the off indicator is lit, it could be
because that person is not sitting properly in the seat. If
this happens, turn the vehicle off and ask the person to
place the seatback in the fully upright position, then sit
upright in the seat, centered on the seat cushion, with the
person’s legs comfortably extended. Restart the vehicle
and have the person remain in this position for about
two minutes. This will allow the system to detect that
person and then enable the passenger’s airbag.
{CAUTION:
If the airbag readiness light in the instrument
panel cluster ever comes on and stays on,
it means that something may be wrong with
the airbag system. If this ever happens, have
the vehicle serviced promptly, because an
adult-size person sitting in the right front
passenger’s seat may not have the protection
of the frontal airbag. SeeAirbag Readiness
Light on page 3-60for more on this, including
important safety information.
A thick layer of additional material such as a blanket,
or aftermarket equipment such as seat covers, seat
heaters and seat massagers can affect how well
the passenger sensing system operates. Remove
any additional material from the seat cushion before
reinstalling or securing the child restraint or small
occupant. You may want to consider not using seat
covers or other aftermarket equipment if your vehicle
has the passenger sensing system. SeeAdding
Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on
page 1-63for more information about modications
that can affect how the system operates.
1-62

Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle
Airbags affect how your vehicle should be serviced.
There are parts of the airbag system in several places
around your vehicle. You do not want the system to
inate while someone is working on your vehicle. Your
dealer and the service manual have information about
servicing your vehicle and the airbag system. To
purchase a service manual, seeService Publications
Ordering Information on page 7-14.
{CAUTION:
For up to 10 seconds after the ignition key is
turned off and the battery is disconnected, an
airbag can still inate during improper service.
You can be injured if you are close to an airbag
when it inates. Avoid yellow connectors. They
are probably part of the airbag system. Be sure
to follow proper service procedures, and make
sure the person performing work for you is
qualied to do so.
The airbag system does not need regular maintenance.
Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Q:Is there anything I might add to the front
or sides of the vehicle that could keep the
airbags from working properly?
A:Yes. If you add things that change your vehicle’s
frame, bumper system, height, front end or side
sheet metal, they may keep the airbag system from
working properly. Also, the airbag system may not
work properly if you relocate any of the airbag
sensors. If you have any questions about this, you
should contact Customer Assistance before you
modify your vehicle. The phone numbers and
addresses for Customer Assistance are in Step Two
of the Customer Satisfaction Procedure in this
manual. SeeCustomer Satisfaction Procedure
on page 7-2.
1-63

There is one key for the
driver’s door, glove box
and rear seat pass-through
door. See “Rear Seat
Pass-Through Door” under
Trunk on page 2-14for
more information.
Your vehicle has a Keyless Access System with
pushbutton start. SeeIgnition Positions on page 2-24
for information on starting the vehicle.
Notice:If you ever lose your transmitter(s) and/or
key, it could be difficult to get into your vehicle. You
may even have to damage your vehicle to get in.
Be sure you have a spare transmitter and/or key.
In an emergency, contact Cadillac Roadside Assistance.
SeeRoadside Service on page 7-5.
If your vehicle is equipped with the OnStar
®system,
OnStar®may be able to send a command to unlock
your vehicle if needed. If the vehicle battery is dead,
OnStar
®will be unable to unlock the vehicle. See
OnStar®System on page 2-45for more information.
Keyless Access System
Your vehicle has a Keyless Access System that
operates on a radio frequency subject to Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) Rules and with
Industry Canada.
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause harmful interference.
2. This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation.
This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry Canada.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause interference.
2. This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation of the device.
Changes or modications to this system by other than
an authorized service facility could void authorization to
use this equipment.
2-4

If you ever notice a decrease in the keyless access
transmitter range, try doing one of the following:
Check the distance. You may be too far from your
vehicle. You may need to stand closer during rainy
or snowy weather.
Check the location. Other vehicles or objects may
be blocking the signal. Take a few steps to the left
or right, hold the transmitter higher, and try again.
Check to determine if battery replacement is
necessary. See “Battery Replacement” under
Keyless Access System Operation on page 2-5.
Check to make sure that an electronic device such
as a cellular phone or lap top computer is not causing
interference.
If you are still having trouble, see your dealer or a
qualied technician for service.
Keyless Access System Operation
Your vehicle has a Keyless Access System that lets
you lock and unlock your vehicle’s doors, open the trunk
lid, remotely start the engine, and locate your vehicle,
or sound your vehicle’s alarm from a distance as
much as much as 30 feet (10 m) away.The Keyless Access System also lets you lock and
unlock the vehicle’s doors and access the trunk without
removing the remote transmitter from your pocket,
purse, briefcase, etc. The system operates when the
transmitter is located within 3 feet (1 m) of the door
or trunk of your vehicle. See “Keyless Doors Unlock”
and “Keyless Ft (Front) Door Unlock” underVehicle
Personalization on page 2-53.
Your vehicle comes with
two transmitters.
Q(Lock):Press this button to lock the doors. The lock
status light on the front doors will turn on for ve seconds
and the turn signal indicators will ash. If this button is
pressed twice, the doors will lock, the status light on
the door will turn on for ve seconds, the turn signal
indicators will ash twice, and the horn will sound once.
2-5

If the alarm does not sound when it should, check to
see if the horn works. The horn fuse may be blown.
To replace the fuse, seeFuses and Circuit Breakers
on page 5-105. If the fuse does not need to be replaced,
you may need to have your vehicle serviced.
To reduce the possibility of theft, always arm the
Theft-Deterrent system when leaving your vehicle.
Valet Lockout Switch
The valet lockout switch
is located inside the
glove box.
9(Off):Press the left side of the valet lockout switch
to turn the lockout feature off. When the lockout feature
is off, you can open the trunk using either the keyless
access transmitter or the trunk release button located on
the driver’s door.
R(On):Press the right side of the valet lockout
switch to turn the lockout feature on. When the lockout
feature is turned on, the trunk cannot be unlocked with
the keyless access transmitter or the trunk release button
located on the driver’s door. If the valet lockout feature is
on it will also disable the remote start feature and the
Universal Home Remote transmitter, if equipped.
Locking the glove box with your key will also help to
secure your vehicle.
SeeKeyless Access System Operation on page 2-5and
Trunk on page 2-14for additional information.
2-23

The transmission will only allow you to shift into
gears appropriate for the vehicle speed and engine
Revolutions Per Minute (RPM). The transmission will
not automatically shift to the next higher gear if the
engine rpm is too high.
If shifting is prevented for any reason, the currently
selected gear will ash multiple times, indicating that
the transmission has not shifted gears.
The transmission will allow you to shift to the gear
selected and will automatically downshift when the
vehicle comes to a stop. This will allow for more power
during take-off and passing.
When accelerating your vehicle from a stop in snowy
and icy conditions, you may want to shift into second
gear. A higher gear ratio allows you to gain more traction
on slippery surfaces.Parking Brake
The parking brake pedal
is located on the lower
portion of the instrument
panel to the left of the
steering wheel.
This vehicle has a push-to-release parking brake pedal.
To set the parking brake, hold the regular brake pedal
down with your right foot and push the parking brake
pedal down with your left foot.
If the ignition is on, the brake system warning light on the
instrument panel cluster should come on. If it does not,
you need to have your vehicle serviced. SeeBrake
System Warning Light on page 3-64for more information.
2-35