2007 CADILLAC STS V brakes

Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or mountains is different
from driving in at or rolling terrain.If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you are
planning to visit there, here are some tips that
can make your trips safer and more enjoyable.
Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check
all uid levels and also the brakes, tires,
cooling system, and transmission. These parts
can work hard on mountain roads.
{CAUTION:
If you do not shift down, the brakes could
get so hot that they would not work well.
You would then have poor braking or
even none going down a hill. You could
crash. Shift down to let the engine assist
the brakes on a steep downhill slope.
342

{CAUTION:
Coasting downhill in NEUTRAL (N) or with
the ignition off is dangerous. The brakes
will have to do all the work of slowing
down. They could get so hot that they
would not work well. You would then have
poor braking or even none going down a
hill. You could crash. Always have the
engine running and your vehicle in gear
when you go downhill.
Know how to go down hills. The most important
thing to know is this: let the engine do some of
the slowing down. Shift to a lower gear when
you go down a steep or long hill.
Know how to go uphill. You may want to shift
down to a lower gear. The lower gears help
cool the engine and transmission, and you can
climb the hill better.
Stay in your own lane when driving on two-lane
roads in hills or mountains. Do not swing wide
or cut across the center of the road. Drive at
speeds that let you stay in your own lane.
As you go over the top of a hill, be alert. There
could be something in your lane, like a stalled
car or an accident.
You may see highway signs on mountains that
warn of special problems. Examples are long
grades, passing or no-passing zones, a falling
rocks area, or winding roads. Be alert to these
and take appropriate action.
343

Service........................................................ 362
Accessories and Modications................... 363
California Proposition 65 Warning.............. 363
Doing Your Own Service Work.................. 364
Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your
Vehicle................................................... 365
Fuel............................................................. 365
Gasoline Octane........................................ 365
Gasoline Specications.............................. 366
California Fuel........................................... 366
Additives................................................... 367
Fuels in Foreign Countries........................ 368
Filling the Tank......................................... 368
Filling a Portable Fuel Container............... 371
Checking Things Under the Hood.............. 372
Hood Release........................................... 372
Engine Compartment Overview.................. 373
Engine Oil................................................. 380
Engine Oil Life System.............................. 383
Supercharger Oil....................................... 385
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter............................ 386
Automatic Transmission Fluid.................... 388Engine Coolant.......................................... 389
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap............ 393
Engine Overheating................................... 393
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode..................................... 395
Cooling System......................................... 396
Power Steering Fluid ................................. 403
Windshield Washer Fluid........................... 404
Brakes...................................................... 405
Battery...................................................... 408
Jump Starting............................................ 408
All-Wheel Drive........................................... 414
Rear Axle.................................................... 416
Front Axle................................................... 417
Bulb Replacement....................................... 417
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting..... 418
Halogen Bulbs........................................... 418
Back-Up Lamps......................................... 418
Replacement Bulbs................................... 419
Windshield Replacement............................ 419
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement....... 419
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
359

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 can accessorize your vehicle
using genuine GM Accessories. When you go to
your GM dealer and ask for GM Accessories,
you will know that GM-trained and supported
service technicians will perform the work using
genuine GM Accessories.
California Proposition 65 Warning
Most motor vehicles, including this one, contain
and/or emit chemicals known to the State of
California to cause cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm. Engine exhaust, many parts and
systems (including some inside the vehicle), many
uids, and some component wear by-products
contain and/or emit these chemicals.
363

After you have removed the sight shields (if equipped) on the 3.6L V6 engine, here is what you will see:
A. Underhood Fuse Block. SeeUnderhood Fuse
Block on page 488.
B. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See
“Adding Washer Fluid” underWindshield
Washer Fluid on page 404.
C. Battery. SeeBattery on page 408.
D. Passenger Compartment Air Filter. See
Passenger Compartment Air Filter on page 239.
E. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. SeePower
Steering Fluid on page 403.
F. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine
Oil” underEngine Oil on page 380.G. Engine Oil Dipstick (Out of View). See
“Checking Engine Oil” underEngine Oil on
page 380.
H. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake
Fluid” underBrakes on page 405.
I. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap.
SeeCoolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap on
page 393andCooling System on page 396.
J. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 386.
375

After you have removed the sight shields (if equipped) on the 4.6L V8 engine, here is what you will see:
A. Underhood Fuse Block. SeeUnderhood Fuse
Block on page 488.
B. Battery. SeeBattery on page 408.
C. Passenger Compartment Air Filter. See
Passenger Compartment Air Filter on page 239.
D. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See
“Adding Washer Fluid” underWindshield
Washer Fluid on page 404.
E. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. SeePower
Steering Fluid on page 403.
F. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine
Oil” underEngine Oil on page 380.G. Engine Oil Dipstick (Out of View). See
“Checking Engine Oil” underEngine Oil on
page 380.
H. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake
Fluid” underBrakes on page 405.
I. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap.
SeeCoolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap on
page 393andCooling System on page 396.
J. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 386.
377

After you have removed the sight shields (if equipped) on the 4.4L V8 STS-V engine, here is what
you will see:
A. Battery. SeeBattery on page 408.
B. Underhood Fuse Block. SeeUnderhood Fuse
Block on page 488.
C. Passenger Compartment Air Filter. See
Passenger Compartment Air Filter on page 239.
D. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See
“Adding Washer Fluid” underWindshield
Washer Fluid on page 404.
E. Intercooler System Pressure Cap. SeeEngine
Coolant on page 389.
F. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. SeePower
Steering Fluid on page 403.
G. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine
Oil” underEngine Oil on page 380.
H. Engine Oil Dipstick (Out of View). See
“Checking Engine Oil” underEngine Oil on
page 380.I. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake
Fluid” underBrakes on page 405.
J. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap.
SeeCoolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap on
page 393andCooling System on page 396.
K. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 386.
If your vehicle is equipped with front compartment
underhood sight shields, before closing the
hood be sure to reinstall the sight shields. To
reinstall the shields, locate the tabs on the left and
right sides and insert them into the openings in
the tower to tower brace. Then insert the fasteners
into the top of the shield and push the fasteners
back into place.
379

Brakes
Brake Fluid
Your brake master
cylinder reservoir is
lled with DOT-3 brake
uid. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview
on page 373for
reservoir location
and access.
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 on and the brake uid is low, the
CHECK BRAKE FLUID message will be
displayed in the Driver Information Center (DIC).
SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 264.
405