2007 CADILLAC STS Owners Manual

Front Axle
When to Check and Change Lubricant
It is not necessary to regularly check the front axle
uid unless you suspect there is a leak or you
hear an unusual noise. A uid loss could indicate
a problem. Have it inspected and repaired.
How to Check Lubricant
A. Drain Plug
B. Filler PlugTo get an accurate reading, the vehicle should be
on a level surface.
If the level is below the bottom of the ller plug
hole, located on the front axle, you may need
to add some lubricant.
What to Use
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine
what kind of lubricant to use. SeeRecommended
Fluids and Lubricants on page 516.
Bulb Replacement
For the proper type of replacement bulbs, see
Replacement Bulbs on page 419.
For any bulb changing procedure not listed in this
section, contact your dealer.
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High Intensity Discharge (HID)
Lighting
{CAUTION:
The low beam high intensity discharge
lighting system operates at a very high
voltage. If you try to service any of the
system components, you could be
seriously injured. Have your dealer or a
qualied technician service them.
Your vehicle has HID headlamps. After your
vehicle’s HID headlamp bulb has been replaced,
you may notice that the beam is a slightly different
shade than it was originally. This is normal.
Halogen Bulbs
{CAUTION:
Halogen bulbs have pressurized gas
inside and can burst if you drop or
scratch the bulb. You or others could be
injured. Be sure to read and follow the
instructions on the bulb package.
Back-Up Lamps
To replace a back-up lamp bulb, do the following:
1. Open the trunk. SeeTrunk on page 101
for more information.
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2. Pull out the push pins holding down the top
portion of the cloth cover.
3. Fold the cover down slightly and locate the
lamp assembly.
4. Turn the socket counterclockwise and pull it
straight out to remove it from the lamp
assembly.
5. Pull the old bulb straight out and reinstall the
new bulb.
6. Reverse the steps to reinstall.
Replacement Bulbs
Exterior Lamp Bulb Number
Back-up 3157K
For replacement bulbs not listed here, contact
your dealer.
Windshield Replacement
Keep in mind that your windshield is part of the
Head-Up Display (HUD) system. If you ever have
to get your windshield replaced, be sure to get
one that is designed for HUD or your HUD image
may look blurred or out of focus.
Windshield Wiper Blade
Replacement
Windshield wiper blades should be inspected for
wear or cracking. SeeScheduled Maintenance
on page 505.
It’s a good idea to clean or replace the wiper
blade assembly on a regular basis or when worn.
For proper windshield wiper blade length and
type, seeNormal Maintenance Replacement Parts
on page 518.
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STS-V models will automatically move the
windshield wipers to the park position if the hood
is open. Make sure the hood is closed before
replacing your windshield wiper blades.
To replace the wiper blade assembly, do the
following:
1. Pull the windshield wiper assembly away from
the windshield.
2. Squeeze the tabs on each side of the wiper
blade assembly and slide the assembly off
the end of the wiper arm.3. Replace the blade assembly with a new one.
Allowing the wiper blade arm to touch the
windshield when no wiper blade is installed
could damage the windshield. Any damage
that occurs would not be covered by your
warranty. Do not allow the wiper blade arm to
touch the windshield.
4. Repeat the steps for the other wiper.
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Tires
Your new vehicle comes with high-quality tires
made by a leading tire manufacturer. If you ever
have questions about your tire warranty and where
to obtain service, see your GM Warranty booklet for
details. For additional information refer to the tire
manufacturer’s booklet included with your vehicle.
{CAUTION:
Poorly maintained and improperly
used tires are dangerous.
Overloading your tires can cause
overheating as a result of too much
friction. You could have an air-out and
a serious accident. SeeLoading Your
Vehicle on page 349.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)

Underinated tires pose the same
danger as overloaded tires. The
resulting accident could cause serious
injury. Check all tires frequently to
maintain the recommended pressure.
Tire pressure should be checked when
your tires are cold. SeeInflation - Tire
Pressure on page 431.
Overinated tires are more likely to be
cut, punctured, or broken by a sudden
impact — such as when you hit a
pothole. Keep tires at the
recommended pressure.
Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If
your tread is badly worn, or if your tires
have been damaged, replace them.
SeeHigh-Speed Operation on page 432for
ination pressure adjustment for high
speed driving.
421

Low-Prole Performance Tires
If your vehicle has 255/45ZR18, P255/45R18 or
P275/40R19 100Y size tires, they are classied as
low-prole performance tires. These tires are
designed for very responsive driving on wet or dry
pavement. You may also notice more road noise
with low-prole performance tires and that they tend
to wear faster. These performance tires are not
rated as all-season tires. Winter tires are
recommended for snow or ice covered roads.
Notice:If your vehicle has low-prole tires,
they are more susceptible to damage from road
hazards or curb impact than standard prole
tires. Tire and/or wheel assembly damage
can occur when coming into contact with road
hazards like, potholes, or sharp edged
objects, or when sliding into a curb. Your GM
warranty does not cover this type of damage.
Keep tires set to the correct ination pressure
and, when possible avoid contact with
curbs, potholes, and other road hazards.
Winter Tires
If you expect to drive on snow or ice covered
roads often, you may want to get winter tires for
your vehicle. All season tires provide good overallperformance on most surfaces but they may not
offer the traction you would like or the same
level of performance as winter tires on snow or ice
covered roads.
Winter tires, in general, are designed for increased
traction on snow and ice covered roads. With
winter tires, there may be decreased dry
road traction, increased road noise, and shorter
tread life. After switching to winter tires, be alert for
changes in vehicle handling and braking.
See your dealer for details regarding winter tire
availability and proper tire selection. Also,
seeBuying New Tires on page 441.
If you choose to use winter tires:
Use tires of the same brand and tread type on
all four wheel positions.
Use only radial ply tires of the same size, load
range, and speed rating as the original
equipment tires.
Winter tires with the same speed rating as your
original equipment tires may not be available for H,
V, W, Y, and ZR speed rated tires. If you choose
winter tires with a lower speed rating, never
exceed the tire’s maximum speed capability.
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Tire Sidewall Labeling
Useful information about a tire is molded into its
sidewall. The examples below show a typical
passenger vehicle tire and a compact spare tire
sidewall.(A) Tire Size:The tire size is a combination of
letters and numbers used to dene a particular
tire’s width, height, aspect ratio, construction type,
and service description. See the “Tire Size”
illustration later in this section for more detail.
(B) TPC Spec (Tire Performance Criteria
Specication):Original equipment tires designed
to GM’s specic tire performance criteria have
a TPC specication code molded onto the sidewall.
GM’s TPC specications meet or exceed all
federal safety guidelines.
(C) DOT (Department of Transportation):The
Department of Transportation (DOT) code
indicates that the tire is in compliance with the
U.S. Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards.
(D) Tire Identication Number (TIN):The letters
and numbers following DOT (Department of
Transportation) code is the Tire Identication
Number (TIN). The TIN shows the manufacturer
and plant code, tire size, and date the tire
was manufactured. The TIN is molded onto both
sides of the tire, although only one side may have
the date of manufacture.
Passenger (P-Metric) Tire Example
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(E) Tire Ply Material:The type of cord and
number of plies in the sidewall and under the tread.
(F) Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG):Tire
manufacturers are required to grade tires
based on three performance factors: treadwear,
traction, and temperature resistance. For more
information seeUniform Tire Quality Grading on
page 444.
(G) Maximum Cold Ination Load Limit:
Maximum load that can be carried and the
maximum pressure needed to support that load.
(A) Temporary Use Only:The compact spare
tire or temporary use tire has a tread life of
approximately 3,000 miles (5 000 km) and should
not be driven at speeds over 65 mph (105 km/h).
The compact spare tire is for emergency use when
a regular road tire has lost air and gone at. If
your vehicle has a compact spare tire, see
Compact Spare Tire on page 475andIf a Tire
Goes Flat on page 451.
Compact Spare Tire Example
424