2007 CADILLAC STS V steering wheel

Off-Road Recovery
You may nd that your vehicle’s right wheels have
dropped off the edge of a road onto the shoulder
while you are driving.
If the level of the shoulder is only slightly below the
pavement, recovery should be fairly easy. Ease off
the accelerator and then, if there is nothing in the
way, steer so that your vehicle straddles the edge
of the pavement. You can turn the steering wheel
up to one-quarter turn until the right front tire
contacts the pavement edge. Then turn your
steering wheel to go straight down the roadway.
Passing
The driver of a vehicle about to pass another on a
two-lane highway waits for just the right moment,
accelerates, moves around the vehicle ahead, then
goes back into the right lane again. A simple
maneuver?
Not necessarily! Passing another vehicle on a
two-lane highway is a potentially dangerous move,
since the passing vehicle occupies the same
lane as oncoming traffic for several seconds.
A miscalculation, an error in judgment, or a brief
surrender to frustration or anger can suddenly
put the passing driver face to face with the worst
of all traffic accidents — the head-on collision.
So here are some tips for passing:
Drive ahead. Look down the road, to the
sides, and to crossroads for situations
that might affect your passing patterns. If you
have any doubt whatsoever about making
a successful pass, wait for a better time.
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Loss of Control
Let us review what driving experts say about what
happens when the three control systems — brakes,
steering, and acceleration — do not have enough
friction where the tires meet the road to do what the
driver has asked.
In any emergency, do not give up. Keep trying to
steer and constantly seek an escape route or
area of less danger.
Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking
reasonable care suited to existing conditions, and
by not overdriving those conditions. But skids
are always possible.
The three types of skids correspond to your
vehicle’s three control systems. In the braking skid,
your wheels are not rolling. In the steering or
cornering skid, too much speed or steering in a
curve causes tires to slip and lose cornering force.
And in the acceleration skid, too much throttle
causes the driving wheels to spin.A cornering skid is best handled by easing your
foot off the accelerator pedal.
Remember: Any traction control system helps
avoid only the acceleration skid. If your traction
control system is off, then an acceleration
skid is also best handled by easing your foot off
the accelerator pedal.
If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off
the accelerator pedal and quickly steer the
way you want the vehicle to go. If you start
steering quickly enough, your vehicle may
straighten out. Always be ready for a second skid
if it occurs.
With StabiliTrak
®, you may see the STABILITY
SYS ACTIVE message on the Driver Information
Center. SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on
page 264.
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow,
ice, gravel, or other material is on the road.
For safety, you will want to slow down and adjust
your driving to these conditions. It is important
to slow down on slippery surfaces because
stopping distance will be longer and vehicle control
more limited.
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Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out
First, turn the steering wheel left and right.
That will clear the area around the front wheels.
You should turn the traction control system
off. SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on
page 323. Then shift back and forth between
REVERSE (R) and a forward gear, spinning the
wheels as little as possible. Release the
accelerator pedal while you shift, and press lightly
on the accelerator pedal when the transmission
is in gear. By slowly spinning the wheels in
the forward and reverse directions, you will cause
a rocking motion that may free your vehicle. If
that does not get your vehicle out after a few tries,
it may need to be towed out. If your vehicle
does need to be towed out, seeTowing Your
Vehicle on page 355.
Loading Your Vehicle
It is very important to know how much weight your
vehicle can carry. This weight is called the vehicle
capacity weight and includes the weight of all
occupants, cargo, and all nonfactory-installed
options. Two labels on your vehicle show how much
weight it may properly carry, the Tire and Loading
Information label, and the Certication label.
{CAUTION:
Do not load your vehicle any heavier than
the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR),
or either the maximum front or rear Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR). If you do,
parts on your vehicle can break, and it
can change the way your vehicle handles.
These could cause you to lose control
and crash. Also, overloading can shorten
the life of your vehicle.
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3. Set the parking brake and then remove the key.
4. Clamp the steering wheel in a straight-ahead
position with a clamping device designed for
towing.
5. Release the parking brake.
Dolly Towing (STS-V)
Notice:Dolly towing or dinghy towing your
vehicle may cause damage because of reduced
ground clearance. Always put your vehicle
on a atbed truck.
If you have an STS-V, it can only be towed on a
at-bed trailer.
Dolly Towing (All-Wheel-Drive Vehicles)
Notice:Towing an all-wheel-drive vehicle
with all four wheels on the ground, or even
with only two of its wheels on the ground, will
damage drivetrain components. Do not tow
an all-wheel-drive vehicle if any of its wheels
will be on the ground.
If you have an All-Wheel Drive (AWD) vehicle, it
can only be towed on a at-bed trailer.
Towing a Trailer
Your vehicle is neither designed nor intended to
tow a trailer.
357

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

(C) Aspect Ratio:A two-digit number that
indicates the tire height-to-width measurements.
For example, if the tire size aspect ratio is
60, as shown in item C of the illustration, it would
mean that the tire’s sidewall is 60 percent as
high as it is wide.
(D) Construction Code:A letter code is used to
indicate the type of ply construction in the tire.
The letter R means radial ply construction;
the letter D means diagonal or bias ply
construction; and the letter B means belted-bias
ply construction.
(E) Rim Diameter:Diameter of the wheel
in inches.
(F) Service Description:These characters
represent the load range and speed rating of the
tire. The load index represents the load carry
capacity a tire is certied to carry. The load index
can range from 1 to 279. The speed rating is
the maximum speed a tire is certied to carry a
load. Speed ratings range from A to Z.Tire Terminology and Denitions
Air Pressure:The amount of air inside the tire
pressing outward on each square inch of the
tire. Air pressure is expressed in pounds
per square inch (psi) or kilopascal (kPa).
Accessory Weight:This means the combined
weight of optional accessories. Some examples of
optional accessories are, automatic
transmission/transaxle, power steering, power
brakes, power windows, power seats, and
air conditioning.
Aspect Ratio:The relationship of a tire’s height
to its width.
Belt:A rubber coated layer of cords that is
located between the plies and the tread. Cords
may be made from steel or other reinforcing
materials.
Bead:The tire bead contains steel wires wrapped
by steel cords that hold the tire onto the rim.
Bias Ply Tire:A pneumatic tire in which the plies
are laid at alternate angles less than 90 degrees
to the centerline of the tread.
426

If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blowout while you are
driving, especially if you maintain your tires
properly. SeeTires on page 421. 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.If a tire goes at, and your vehicle has a compact
spare tire, seeChanging a Flat Tire on page 464.
This information shows you how to use your
vehicle’s tire changing equipment and how
to change a at tire safely.
{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 your vehicle has 255/45ZR18 size tires, there is
no spare tire, jack, or tire changing equipment.
A tire inator kit, included with your vehicle, may
be used to seal small punctures in the tread
area of the tire. SeeTire Inator Kit on page 452.
451

Passenger’s Side
Fuses Usage
SPARE Spare
CANISTER
VENTCanister Vent Solenoid
RT TURN-RIM Right Turn Signal
SUNROOF
(OPT)Sunroof Module (Option)
STOP LAMPS Stoplamps
FUEL PUMP Fuel Pump
RF HTD
ST/S-BANDFront Passenger Heated Seat,
S-Band™ Antenna
RADIO/
ONSTARRadio/OnStar
®
AIR BAG Airbags
Fuses Usage
RIM Battery to Rear Integration Module
RUN/CRANKIgnition 1, Fog Lamps, Compressor
Clutch, Engine Run/Crank Relays
HTD STG/CLMHeated Steering Wheel, Column
Lock Module
REAR DEFOG Rear Defogger
INTERIOR
LAMPInterior Lamps
PSG DR MOD Front Passenger Door Module
LT TURN-RIM Left Turn Signal
REAR FOG
LAMP (OPT)Rear Fog Lamps (Option)
496