2008 CADILLAC STS service

Insuring Your Vehicle
Protect your investment in your GM vehicle with
comprehensive and collision insurance coverage.
There are signicant differences in the quality of
coverage afforded by various insurance policy terms.
Many insurance policies provide reduced protection
to your GM vehicle by limiting compensation for damage
repairs by using aftermarket collision parts. Some
insurance companies will not specify aftermarket
collision parts. When purchasing insurance, we
recommend that you assure your vehicle will be repaired
with GM original equipment collision parts. If such
insurance coverage is not available from your current
insurance carrier, consider switching to another
insurance carrier.
If your vehicle is leased, the leasing company may
require you to have insurance that assures repairs with
Genuine GM Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM)
parts or Genuine Manufacturer replacement parts.
Read your lease carefully, as you may be charged at
the end of your lease for poor quality repairs.
If a Crash Occurs
Here is what to do if you are involved in a crash.
Try to relax and then check to make sure you are all
right. If you are uninjured, make sure that no one else
in your vehicle, or the other vehicle, is injured.
If there has been an injury, call emergency services
for help. Do not leave the scene of a crash until all
matters have been taken care of. Move your vehicle
only if its position puts you in danger or you are
instructed to move it by a police officer.
Give only the necessary and requested information
to police and other parties involved in the crash.
Do not discuss your personal condition, mental frame
of mind, or anything unrelated to the crash. This will
help guard against post-crash legal action.
If you need roadside assistance, call GM Roadside
Assistance. SeeRoadside Service on page 7-6
for more information.
If your vehicle cannot be driven, know where the
towing service will be taking it. Get a card from the
tow truck operator or write down the driver’s name,
the service’s name, and the phone number.
Remove any valuables from your vehicle before it is
towed away. Make sure this includes your insurance
information and registration if you keep these items
in your vehicle.
7-12

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

To read data recorded by an EDR, special equipment is
required, and access to the vehicle or the EDR is
needed. In addition to the vehicle manufacturer, other
parties, such as law enforcement, that have the special
equipment, can read the information if they have
access to the vehicle or the EDR.
GM will not access this data or share it with others
except: with the consent of the vehicle owner or, if the
vehicle is leased, with the consent of the lessee; in
response to an official request of police or similar
government office; as part of GM’s defense of litigation
through the discovery process; or, as required by law.
Data that GM collects or receives may also be used for
GM research needs or may be made available to others
for research purposes, where a need is shown and the
data is not tied to a specic vehicle or vehicle owner.
OnStar®
If your vehicle has OnStar®and you subscribe to the
OnStar®services, please refer to the OnStar®Terms
and Conditions for information on data collection
and use. See alsoOnStar
®System on page 2-48in
this manual for more information.
Navigation System
If your vehicle has a navigation system, use of the
system may result in the storage of destinations,
addresses, telephone numbers, and other trip
information. Refer to the navigation system operating
manual for information on stored data and for deletion
instructions.
Radio Frequency
Identication (RFID)
RFID technology is used in some vehicles for functions
such as tire pressure monitoring and ignition system
security, as well as in connection with conveniences
such as key fobs for remote door locking/unlocking and
starting, and in-vehicle transmitters for garage door
openers. RFID technology in GM vehicles does not use
or record personal information or link with any other
GM system containing personal information.
7-17

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

Customer Assistance Information (cont.)
Roadside Service.......................................... 7-6
Service Publications Ordering Information........7-15
DDaytime Running Lamps..................................3-37
Defensive Driving............................................. 4-2
Disc, MP3....................................................3-112
Doing Your Own Service Work........................... 5-4
Door
Locks........................................................2-14
Power Door Locks.......................................2-14
Programmable Automatic Door Locks.............2-15
Rear Door Security Locks.............................2-15
Driver Information Center (DIC).........................3-74
DIC Operation and Displays..........................3-74
DIC Warnings and Messages........................3-80
Other Messages..........................................3-97
Driving
At Night.....................................................4-18
Before a Long Trip......................................4-20
Defensive..................................................... 4-2
Drunken....................................................... 4-2
Highway Hypnosis.......................................4-20
Hill and Mountain Roads..............................4-21
In Rain and on Wet Roads...........................4-19
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get it Out.................4-26
Winter........................................................4-22
Dual Climate Control System............................3-48
E
EDR .............................................................7-16
Electrical System
Add-On Equipment.....................................5-116
Fuses and Circuit Breakers.........................5-117
Headlamp Wiring.......................................5-117
Power Windows and Other Power Options....5-117
Rear Underseat Fuse Block.........................5-121
Underhood Fuse Block...............................5-118
Windshield Wiper Fuses.............................5-117
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter.........................................5-23
Check and Service Engine Soon Light............3-68
Coolant......................................................5-25
Coolant Heater............................................2-31
Coolant Temperature Gage...........................3-67
Coolant Temperature Warning Light................3-66
Drive Belt Routing.......................................6-16
Engine Compartment Overview......................5-11
Exhaust.....................................................2-38
Oil .............................................................5-18
Oil Life System...........................................5-21
Overheated Protection Operating Mode...........5-31
Overheating................................................5-29
Running While Parked..................................2-39
Starting......................................................2-29
4

M
Magnetic Ride Control....................................... 4-8
Maintenance Schedule
Additional Required Services........................... 6-6
At Each Fuel Fill........................................... 6-9
At Least Once a Month................................6-10
At Least Once a Year..................................6-11
Introduction.................................................. 6-2
Maintenance Footnotes.................................. 6-8
Maintenance Record....................................6-18
Maintenance Requirements............................. 6-2
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts.........6-15
Owner Checks and Services........................... 6-9
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants.............6-13
Scheduled Maintenance................................. 6-4
Using.......................................................... 6-3
Your Vehicle and the Environment................... 6-2
Malfunction Indicator Light................................3-68
Manual, Using.................................................... iii
Memory Mirrors..............................................2-77
Memory Seat.................................................2-77
Memory Steering Wheel Controls......................2-77
Message
DIC Warnings and Messages........................3-80
Mirrors
Automatic Dimming Rearview........................2-40
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with
Intellibeam™ and OnStar
®.........................2-40
Automatic Dimming Rearview with OnStar®.....2-40Mirrors (cont.)
Automatic Dimming Rearview with
OnStar
®and Compass..............................2-41
Manual Rearview Mirror with Compass
and Temperature........................................ 1-7
Memory.....................................................2-77
Outside Automatic Dimming Mirror.................2-44
Outside Convex Mirror.................................2-44
Outside Parallel Park Assist Mirror.................2-44
Outside Power Heated Mirrors.......................2-43
MP3 ............................................................3-112
MyGMLink.com................................................ 7-4
N
Navigation System, Privacy..............................7-17
Navigation/Radio System, see
Navigation Manual.....................................3-117
New Vehicle Break-In......................................2-27
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts............6-15
O
Odometer......................................................3-59
Off-Road Recovery..........................................4-16
Oil
Engine.......................................................5-18
Pressure Light.............................................3-70
8

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