2008 CADILLAC STS brake

Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants
Fluids and lubricants identied below by name, part
number, or specication can be obtained from your
dealer/retailer.
Usage Fluid/Lubricant
Engine OilThe engine requires a special
engine oil meeting GM Standard
GM4718M. Oils meeting this
standard can be identied as
synthetic, and should also be
identied with the American
Petroleum Institute (API) Certied
for Gasoline Engines starburst
symbol. However, not all synthetic
API oils with the starburst symbol
will meet this GM standard.
Look for and use only oil that meets
GM Standard GM4718M. For the
proper viscosity, seeEngine Oil
on page 5-18.
Usage Fluid/Lubricant
Engine Cooling
System50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and use only DEX-COOL
®
Coolant. SeeEngine Coolant on
page 5-25.
Intercooler
System
(4.4L V8
Supercharged
engine)50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and use only
DEX-COOL
®Coolant.
Hydraulic Brake
SystemDelco
®Supreme 11 Brake Fluid or
equivalent DOT-3 brake uid.
Windshield
WasherOptikleen
®Washer Solvent.
Parking Brake
Cable GuidesChassis Lubricant
(GM Part No. U.S. 12377985,
in Canada 88901242) or lubricant
meeting requirements of NLGI #2,
Category LB or GC-LB.
Power Steering
SystemGM Power Steering Fluid
(GM Part No. U.S. 89021184,
in Canada 89021186).
6-13

Service Publications Ordering
Information
Service Manuals
Service Manuals have the diagnosis and repair
information on engines, transmission, axle suspension,
brakes, electrical, steering, body, etc.
Service Bulletins
Service Bulletins’ give additional technical service
information needed to knowledgeably service General
Motors cars and trucks. Each bulletin contains
instructions to assist in the diagnosis and service of
your vehicle.
Owner Information
Owner publications are written specically for owners
and intended to provide basic operational information
about the vehicle. The owner manual includes the
Maintenance Schedule for all models.
In-Portfolio: Includes a Portfolio, Owner Manual, and
Warranty Booklet.
RETAIL SELL PRICE: $35.00 (U.S.) plus processing fee
Without Portfolio: Owner Manual only.
RETAIL SELL PRICE: $25.00 (U.S.) plus processing fee
Current and Past Model Order Forms
Technical Service Bulletins and Manuals are available
for current and past model GM vehicles. To request
an order form, specify year and model name of
the vehicle.
ORDER TOLL FREE: 1-800-551-4123
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Eastern Time
For Credit Card Orders Only
(VISA-MasterCard-Discover), visit Helm, Inc. on the
World Wide Web at: www.helminc.com
Or you can write to:
Helm, Incorporated
P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207
Prices are subject to change without notice and without
incurring obligation. Allow ample time for delivery.
Note to Canadian Customers: All listed prices are
quoted in U.S. funds. Canadian residents are to make
checks payable in U.S. funds.
7-15

Vehicle Data Recording and
Privacy
Your GM vehicle has a number of sophisticated
computers that record information about the vehicle’s
performance and how it is driven. For example,
your vehicle uses computer modules to monitor and
control engine and transmission performance, to monitor
the conditions for airbag deployment and deploy
airbags in a crash and, if so equipped, to provide
antilock braking to help the driver control the vehicle.
These modules may store data to help your
dealer/retailer technician service your vehicle.
Some modules may also store data about how you
operate the vehicle, such as rate of fuel consumption or
average speed. These modules may also retain the
owner’s personal preferences, such as radio pre-sets,
seat positions, and temperature settings.
Event Data Recorders
This vehicle has an Event Data Recorder (EDR).
The main purpose of an EDR is to record, in certain
crash or near crash-like situations, such as an air bag
deployment or hitting a road obstacle, data that will
assist in understanding how a vehicle’s systems
performed. The EDR is designed to record data related
to vehicle dynamics and safety systems for a short
period of time, typically 30 seconds or less. The EDR in
this vehicle is designed to record such data as:
How various systems in your vehicle were operating
Whether or not the driver and passenger safety
belts were buckled/fastened
How far, if at all, the driver was pressing the
accelerator and/or brake pedal
How fast the vehicle was traveling
This data can help provide a better understanding of the
circumstances in which crashes and injuries occur.
Important:EDR data is recorded by your vehicle only
if a non-trivial crash situation occurs; no data is
recorded by the EDR under normal driving conditions
and no personal data (e.g., name, gender, age, and
crash location) is recorded. However, other parties,
such as law enforcement, could combine the EDR data
with the type of personally identifying data routinely
acquired during a crash investigation.
7-16

A
Accessories and Modications............................ 5-3
Adaptive Cruise Control...................................3-20
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle.......................................................1-65
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-6
Add-On Electrical Equipment...........................5-116
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-23
Air Conditioning..............................................3-48
Airbag
Passenger Status Indicator...........................3-61
Readiness Light..........................................3-60
Airbag System................................................1-51
What Will You See After an Airbag Inates?....1-58
When Should an Airbag Inate?....................1-56
Where Are the Airbags?...............................1-53
Airbag Systems
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle...................................................1-65
How Does an Airbag Restrain?......................1-58
Passenger Sensing System...........................1-60
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle..........1-64
What Makes an Airbag Inate?......................1-57
All-Wheel Drive...............................................5-50
All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) System.........................4-13
Antenna, Backglass.......................................3-124
Antenna, XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System . . . 3-124
Antilock Brake System (ABS)............................. 4-5
Antilock Brake, System Warning Light................3-65Appearance Care
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels.............5-112
Care of Safety Belts...................................5-110
Chemical Paint Spotting..............................5-114
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses..................5-111
Fabric/Carpet............................................5-108
Finish Care...............................................5-111
Finish Damage..........................................5-114
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces.....................................5-109
Interior Cleaning........................................5-107
Leather....................................................
5-109
Sheet Metal Damage..................................5-113
Speaker Covers.........................................5-110
Tires........................................................5-113
Underbody Maintenance.............................5-114
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials...............5-115
Washing Your Vehicle.................................5-110
Weatherstrips............................................5-110
Windshield and Wiper Blades......................5-112
Wood Panels............................................5-110
Appointments, Scheduling Service....................... 7-9
Ashtray.........................................................3-47
Audio System.................................................3-98
Audio Steering Wheel Controls....................3-121
Backglass Antenna.....................................3-124
Navigation/Radio System, see
Navigation Manual..................................3-117
Radio Personalization.................................3-117
Radio Reception........................................3-123
1

Audio System (cont.)
Setting the Time..........................................3-99
Theft-Deterrent Feature...............................3-121
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System...........3-124
Audio System(s)............................................3-100
Automatic Transmission
Fluid..........................................................5-25
Operation...................................................2-32
B
Backglass Antenna........................................3-124
Battery..........................................................5-44
Electric Power Management..........................3-42
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver......................3-40
Inadvertent Power Saver..............................3-43
Load Management.......................................3-42
Brake
Emergencies................................................ 4-6
Brakes..........................................................5-41
Panic Assist................................................4-12
System Warning Light..................................3-64
Braking........................................................... 4-4
Braking in Emergencies..................................... 4-6
Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................2-27
Bulb Replacement...........................................5-54
Back-Up Lamps...........................................5-54
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-54
Headlamp Aiming........................................5-53Bulb Replacement (cont.)
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting...........5-54
Replacement Bulbs......................................5-55
Buying New Tires...........................................5-76
C
Calibration...............................................1-7, 2-41
California Fuel.................................................. 5-6
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements....... 5-4
California Proposition 65 Warning....................... 5-3
Canadian Owners................................................ ii
Capacities and Specications..........................5-128
Carbon Monoxide...........2-16, 2-38, 4-22, 4-34, 4-40
Care of
Safety Belts..............................................5-110
CD, MP3 .....................................................3-112
Center Console Storage Area...........................2-58
Chains, Tire...................................................5-82
Charging System Light....................................3-63
Check
Engine Light...............................................3-68
Checking Things Under the Hood......................5-10
Chemical Paint Spotting.................................5-114
Child Restraints
Child Restraint Systems...............................1-34
Infants and Young Children...........................1-30
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children..........1-37
Older Children.............................................1-28
2

L
Labeling, Tire Sidewall.....................................5-59
Lamps
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver......................3-40
Inadvertent Power Battery Saver....................3-43
Reading.....................................................3-42
Twilight Sentinel
®........................................3-39
Lane Departure Warning..................................2-47
Lane Departure Warning Light..........................3-66
Lap-Shoulder Belt...........................................1-21
LATCH System
Child Restraints...........................................1-37
Lifting Your Vehicle, Tires.................................5-83
Light
Airbag Readiness........................................3-60
Antilock Brake System Warning.....................3-65
Brake System Warning.................................3-64
Charging System.........................................3-63
Cruise Control.............................................3-72
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning.............3-66
Fog Lamp..................................................3-72
Highbeam On.............................................3-72
Lane Departure Warning...............................3-66
Lights On Reminder.....................................3-72
Malfunction Indicator....................................3-68
Oil Pressure...............................................3-70Light (cont.)
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator..................3-61
Safety Belt Reminders..................................3-59
Security.....................................................3-71
TCS Warning Light......................................3-65
Tire Pressure..............................................3-67
Traction Control System (TCS) Warning..........3-65
Lighting
Entry.........................................................3-41
Parade Dimming..........................................3-41
Lights............................................................3-33
Flash-to-Pass..............................................3-13
High/Low Beam Changer................................ 3-9
On Reminder..............................................3-37
Limited-Slip Rear Axle....................................... 4-8
Loading Your Vehicle.......................................4-26
Lockout Protection..........................................2-16
Locks
Door..........................................................2-14
Lockout Protection.......................................2-16
Power Door................................................2-14
Programmable Automatic Door Locks.............2-15
Rear Door Security Locks.............................2-15
Loss of Control...............................................4-16
Lumbar
Power Controls............................................. 1-2
7

Oil, Engine Oil Life System..............................5-21
Older Children, Restraints................................1-28
Online Owner Center........................................ 7-4
OnStar, Privacy..............................................7-17
OnStar
®System, see OnStar®Manual...............2-48
Operation, Universal Home Remote System........2-52
Other Warning Devices...................................... 3-6
Outlet Adjustment............................................3-54
Outlets
Accessory Power.........................................3-46
Outside
Automatic Dimming Mirror.............................2-44
Convex Mirror.............................................2-44
Parallel Park Assist Mirror.............................2-44
Power Heated Mirrors..................................2-43
Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode.....5-31
Owner Checks and Services.............................. 6-9
Owners, Canadian............................................... ii
P
Paint, Damage..............................................5-114
Panic Brake Assist..........................................4-12
Parade Dimming.............................................3-41
Park Aid........................................................2-45
Park Brake....................................................2-35Park (P)
Shifting Into................................................2-36
Shifting Out of............................................2-37
Parking
Assist........................................................2-45
Over Things That Burn.................................2-38
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator.....................3-61
Passenger Compartment Air Filter.....................3-55
Passenger Sensing System..............................1-60
Passing.........................................................4-16
Perchlorate Materials Requirements, California....... 5-4
Power
Door Locks.................................................2-14
Electrical System.......................................5-117
Inadvertent Battery Saver.............................3-43
Lumbar Controls........................................... 1-2
Reclining Seatbacks...................................... 1-4
Retained Accessory (RAP)............................2-29
Seat............................................................ 1-2
Steering Fluid.............................................5-39
Tilt Wheel and Telescopic Steering Column......... 3-7
Windows....................................................2-20
Privacy..........................................................7-16
Event Data Recorders..................................7-16
Navigation System.......................................7-17
OnStar.......................................................7-17
Radio Frequency Identication.......................7-17
Programmable Automatic Door Locks.................2-15
9