2007 CADILLAC CTS brakes

Service........................................................ 332
Accessories and Modications................... 332
California Proposition 65 Warning.............. 333
Doing Your Own Service Work.................. 333
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle.......................................... 334
Fuel............................................................. 334
Gasoline Octane........................................ 334
Gasoline Specications.............................. 335
California Fuel........................................... 335
Additives................................................... 336
Fuels in Foreign Countries........................ 336
Filling the Tank......................................... 337
Filling a Portable Fuel Container............... 339
Checking Things Under the Hood.............. 340
Hood Release........................................... 341
Engine Compartment Overview.................. 342
Engine Oil................................................. 346
Engine Oil Life System.............................. 349
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter............................ 351
Automatic Transmission Fluid.................... 353
Manual Transmission Fluid........................ 354Hydraulic Clutch........................................ 356
Engine Coolant.......................................... 356
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap............ 360
Engine Overheating................................... 360
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode..................................... 362
Cooling System......................................... 363
Power Steering Fluid................................. 368
Windshield Washer Fluid........................... 369
Brakes...................................................... 371
Battery...................................................... 375
Jump Starting............................................ 376
Rear Axle.................................................... 382
Headlamp Aiming........................................ 383
Bulb Replacement....................................... 386
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting..... 386
Halogen Bulbs........................................... 386
Front Turn Signal and Fog Lamps............. 387
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Sidemarker Lamps................................. 388
Back-Up and License Plate Lamps............ 389
Replacement Bulbs................................... 389
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
329

Service
Your dealer knows your vehicle best and wants
you to be happy with it. We hope you will go
to your dealer for all your service needs. You will
get genuine GM parts and GM-trained and
supported service people.
We hope you will want to keep your GM vehicle
all GM. Genuine GM parts have one of these
marks:
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/retailer can accessorize your
vehicle using genuine GM Accessories. When you
go to your GM dealer/retailer and ask for GM
Accessories, you will know that GM-trained and
supported service technicians will perform the work
using genuine GM Accessories.
332

A. Underhood Fuse Block. SeeUnderhood Fuse
Block on page 447.
B. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See
“Adding Washer Fluid” underWindshield
Washer Fluid on page 369.
C. Battery. SeeBattery on page 375.
D. Passenger Compartment Air Filter. See
Passenger Compartment Air Filter on page 195.
E. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir (Under
Engine Cover). SeePower Steering Fluid on
page 368.
F. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine
Oil” underEngine Oil on page 346.G. Engine Oil Dipstick (Out of View). See
“Checking Engine Oil” underEngine Oil on
page 346.
H. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake
Fluid” underBrakes on page 371.
I. Hydraulic Clutch Reservoir (If Equipped) (Not
Shown). See “When to Check and What to Use”
underHydraulic Clutch on page 356.
J. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap.
SeeCoolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap on
page 360andCooling System on page 363.
K. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 351.
343

A. Underhood Fuse Block. SeeUnderhood Fuse
Block on page 447.
B. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See
“Adding Washer Fluid” underWindshield
Washer Fluid on page 369.
C. Battery. SeeBattery on page 375.
D. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 346.
E. Passenger Compartment Air Filter. See
Passenger Compartment Air Filter on page 195.
F. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add
Engine Oil” underEngine Oil on page 346.G. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. SeePower
Steering Fluid on page 368.
H. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake
Fluid” underBrakes on page 371.
I. Hydraulic Clutch Reservoir. See “When to
Check and What to Use” underHydraulic
Clutch on page 356.
J. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap.
SeeCoolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap on
page 360andCooling System on page 363.
K. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 351.
345

Brakes
Brake Fluid
Your brake master
cylinder reservoir is
lled with DOT-3 brake
uid. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview
on page 342for the
location of the reservoir.
There are only two reasons why the brake uid
level in the reservoir might go down. The rst
is that the brake uid goes down to an acceptable
level during normal brake lining wear. When
new linings are put in, the uid level goes back
up. The other reason is that uid is leaking out of
the brake system. If it is, you should have your
brake system xed, since a leak means that
sooner or later your brakes will not work well, or
will not work at all.So, it is not a good idea to top off your brake uid.
Adding brake uid will not correct a leak. If you add
uid when your linings are worn, then you will have
too much uid when you get new brake linings. You
should add or remove brake uid, as necessary,
only when work is done on the brake hydraulic
system.
{CAUTION:
If your vehicle has too much brake uid, it
can spill on the engine. The uid will burn if
the engine is hot enough. You or others
could be burned, and your vehicle could be
damaged. Add brake uid only when work
is done on the brake hydraulic system.
If the ignition is in ON and the brake uid is low, the
“Check Brake Fluid” message will be displayed in
the DIC. See “Check Brake Fluid Message” under
DIC Warnings and Messages on page 232.
When your brake uid falls to a low level, your
brake warning light will come on. SeeBrake
System Warning Light on page 205.
371

What to Add
When you do need brake uid, DOT-3 brake uid
is recommended for use. DOT-4 brake uid is
also compatible with your vehicle’s brake system
parts. However, if you choose to use DOT-4
uid, it is recommended that you ush your brake
hydraulic system and rell it with new DOT-4
uid at a regular maintenance service every
two years. SeeAdditional Required Services on
page 465. Use new brake uid from a sealed
container only. SeeRecommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 473.
Always clean the brake uid reservoir cap and the
area around the cap before removing it. This
will help keep dirt from entering the reservoir.{CAUTION:
With the wrong kind of uid in the brake
system, the brakes may not work well.
This could cause a crash. Always use the
proper brake uid.
Notice:
Using the wrong uid can badly damage
brake system parts. For example, just a
few drops of mineral-based oil, such
as engine oil, in the brake system can
damage brake system parts so badly that
they will have to be replaced. Do not
let someone put in the wrong kind of uid.
If you spill brake uid on your vehicle’s
painted surfaces, the paint nish can
be damaged. Be careful not to spill brake
uid on your vehicle. If you do, wash it
off immediately. SeeWashing Your Vehicle
on page 439.
372

Brake Wear
Your vehicle has four-wheel disc brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that
make a high-pitched warning sound when the
brake pads are worn and new pads are needed.
The sound may come and go or be heard all
the time your vehicle is moving, except when you
are pushing on the brake pedal rmly.
{CAUTION:
The brake wear warning sound means that
soon the brakes will not work well. That
could lead to an accident. When you hear
the brake wear warning sound, have your
vehicle serviced.Notice:Continuing to drive with worn-out
brake pads could result in costly brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates may cause
a brake squeal when the brakes are rst applied or
lightly applied. This does not mean something is
wrong with your brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are necessary to help
prevent brake pulsation. When tires are rotated,
inspect brake pads for wear and evenly tighten
wheel nuts in the proper sequence to GM torque
specications.
Brake linings should always be replaced as
complete axle sets.
373

Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal does not return
to normal height, or if there is a rapid increase
in pedal travel. This could be a sign of brake
trouble.
Brake Adjustment
Every time you apply the brakes, with or without
the vehicle moving, your brakes adjust for wear.
Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a vehicle is complex. Its
many parts have to be of top quality and work well
together if the vehicle is to have really good
braking. Your vehicle was designed and tested with
top-quality GM brake parts. When you replace parts
of your braking system — for example, when your
brake linings wear down and you need new ones
put in — be sure you get new approved GM
replacement parts. If you do not, your brakes may
no longer work properly. For example, if someone
puts in brake linings that are wrong for your vehicle,
the balance between your front and rear brakes can
change — for the worse. The braking performance
you have come to expect can change in many other
ways if someone puts in the wrong replacement
brake parts.
374