2008 CADILLAC STS heater

What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean, drinkable water and
one-half DEX-COOL®coolant which will not damage
aluminum parts. If you use this coolant mixture, you do
not need to add anything else.
{CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling
system can be dangerous. Plain water, or
some other liquid such as alcohol, can boil
before the proper coolant mixture will. Your
vehicle’s coolant warning system is set for the
proper coolant mixture. With plain water or the
wrong mixture, your engine could get too hot
but you would not get the overheat warning.
Your engine could catch re and you or others
could be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
®coolant.Notice:If you use an improper coolant mixture, your
engine could overheat and be badly damaged. The
repair cost would not be covered by your warranty.
Too much water in the mixture can freeze and crack
the engine, radiator, heater core, and other parts.
If you have to add coolant more than once or twice a
year, have your dealer check your cooling system.
Notice:If you use extra inhibitors and/or additives
in your vehicle’s cooling system, you could
damage your vehicle. Use only the proper mixture
of the engine coolant listed in this manual for
the cooling system. SeeRecommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 6-13for more information.
5-26

Cooling System
When you decide it is safe to lift the hood, this is what
you will see:
A. Engine Cooling Fans
B. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure CapSome vehicles may have an engine driven fan, as well
as the electric pusher fans which are located behind
the vehicle’s grille.
{CAUTION:
An electric engine cooling fan under the hood
can start up even when the engine is not
running and can injure you. Keep hands,
clothing, and tools away from any underhood
electric fan.
If the coolant inside the coolant surge tank is boiling,
do not do anything else until it cools down. The vehicle
should be parked on a level surface.
When the engine is cold, the coolant level should be at
or slightly above the FULL COLD/FROID line on the
side of the coolant surge tank. If it is not, you may have
a leak at the pressure cap or in the radiator hoses,
heater hoses, radiator, water pump, or somewhere else
in the cooling system. 3.6L V6 Engine shown, 4.6L V8 and 4.4L V8 STS-V
Engines similar
5-32

{CAUTION:
Heater and radiator hoses, and other engine
parts, can be very hot. Do not touch them.
If you do, you can be burned.
Do not run the engine if there is a leak.
If you run the engine, it could lose all coolant.
That could cause an engine re, and you
could be burned. Get any leak xed before
you drive the vehicle.
If there seems to be no leak, with the engine on,
check to see if the electric engine cooling fans are
running. If the engine is overheating, both fans should
be running. If they are not, your vehicle needs service.Notice:Engine damage from running your engine
without coolant is not covered by your warranty. See
Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode on
page 5-31for information on driving to a safe place
in an emergency.
Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOL®may
cause premature engine, heater core, or radiator
corrosion. In addition, the engine coolant could
require changing sooner, at 30,000 miles (50 000 km)
or 24 months, whichever occurs rst. Any repairs
would not be covered by the warranty. Always
use DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free) coolant in the vehicle.
5-33

How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Surge Tank
If you have not found a problem yet, check to see if
coolant is visible in the surge tank. If coolant is visible
but the coolant level is not at the FULL COLD/FROID
line on the side of the coolant surge tank, add a
50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and DEX-COOL
®
coolant at the coolant surge tank, but be sure the
cooling system, including the coolant surge tank
pressure cap, is cool before you do it. SeeEngine
Coolant on page 5-25for more information.
{CAUTION:
Steam and scalding liquids from a hot cooling
system can blow out and burn you badly. They
are under pressure, and if you turn the coolant
surge tank pressure cap — even a little — they
can come out at high speed. Never turn the
cap when the cooling system, including the
coolant surge tank pressure cap, is hot. Wait
for the cooling system and coolant surge tank
pressure cap to cool if you ever have to turn
the pressure cap.
{CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to the cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water, or some other
liquid such as alcohol, can boil before the
proper coolant mixture will. The vehicle’s
coolant warning system is set for the proper
coolant mixture. With plain water or the wrong
mixture, the engine could get too hot but you
would not get the overheat warning. The
engine could catch re and you or others
could be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
®coolant.
Notice:In cold weather, water can freeze and crack
the engine, radiator, heater core and other parts.
Use the recommended coolant and the proper
coolant mixture.
5-34

{CAUTION:
Turning the Intercooler System pressure cap
when the engine and intercooler are hot can
allow steam and scalding liquids to blow out
and burn you badly. Never turn the Intercooler
System pressure cap, even a little, when the
engine and intercooler are hot.
{CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to the cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water, or some other
liquid such as alcohol, can boil before the
proper coolant mixture will. The vehicle’s
coolant warning system is set for the proper
coolant mixture. With plain water or the wrong
mixture, the engine could get too hot but you
would not get the overheat warning. The
engine could catch re and you or others
could be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
®coolant.Notice:In cold weather, water can freeze and crack
the engine, radiator, heater core and other parts.
Use the recommended coolant and the proper
coolant mixture.
{CAUTION:
You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol
and it will burn if the engine parts are hot
enough. Do not spill coolant on a hot engine.
5-37

Child Restraints (cont.)
Securing a Child Restraint in a
Rear Seat Position...................................1-44
Securing a Child Restraint in the
Right Front Seat Position..........................1-47
Where to Put the Restraint...........................1-36
Cigarette Lighter.............................................3-47
Cleaning
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels.............5-112
Exterior Lamps/Lenses................................5-111
Fabric/Carpet............................................5-108
Finish Care...............................................5-111
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces.....................................5-109
Interior.....................................................5-107
Leather....................................................5-109
Speaker Covers.........................................5-110
Tires........................................................5-113
Underbody Maintenance.............................5-114
Washing Your Vehicle.................................5-110
Weatherstrips............................................5-110
Windshield and Wiper Blades......................5-112
Wood Panels............................................5-110
Climate Control System
Air Filter, Passenger Compartment.................3-55
Dual..........................................................3-48
Outlet Adjustment........................................3-54
Rear..........................................................3-54
Clock............................................................3-99
Collision Damage Repair..................................7-11Compact Spare Tire......................................5-106
Compass.................................................1-7, 2-41
Competitive Driving.........................................4-18
Competitive Driving Mode.................................. 4-7
Compressor Kit, Tire Sealant............................5-87
Control of a Vehicle.......................................... 4-3
Convenience Net............................................2-58
Coolant
Engine Temperature Gage............................3-67
Engine Temperature Warning Light.................3-66
Heater, Engine............................................2-31
Surge Tank Pressure Cap.............................5-29
Cooling System..............................................5-32
Cruise Control................................................3-17
Cruise Control, Forward Collision
Alert (FAC) System......................................3-10
Cruise Control Light........................................3-72
Cupholder(s)..................................................2-58
Customer Assistance Information
Courtesy Transportation.................................. 7-9
Customer Assistance for Text
Telephone (TTY) Users............................... 7-5
Customer Assistance Offices........................... 7-5
Customer Satisfaction Procedure..................... 7-2
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program............... 7-6
Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors.......7-14
Reporting Safety Defects to the
Canadian Government..............................7-14
Reporting Safety Defects to the
United States Government.........................7-14
3

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

HHazard Warning Flashers................................... 3-6
Head Restraints............................................... 1-6
Headlamp
Aiming.......................................................5-53
Headlamp Wiring...........................................5-117
Headlamps....................................................3-33
Bulb Replacement.......................................5-54
Daytime Running Lamps...............................3-37
Flash-to-Pass..............................................3-13
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-54
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting...........5-54
High/Low Beam Changer................................ 3-9
On Reminder..............................................3-37
Washer......................................................3-16
Wiper Activated...........................................3-37
Head-Up Display (HUD)...................................3-43
Heated Seats................................................... 1-3
Heated Steering Wheel..................................... 3-7
Heater...........................................................3-48
Highbeam On Light.........................................3-72
High-Speed Operation, Tires.............................5-68
Highway Hypnosis...........................................4-20
Hill and Mountain Roads..................................4-21
Hood
Checking Things Under................................5-10
Release.....................................................5-10
Horn............................................................... 3-6
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly...................1-13I
Ignition Positions.............................................2-28
Immobilizer....................................................2-26
Immobilizer Operation......................................2-26
Inadvertent Power Battery Saver.......................3-43
Infants and Young Children, Restraints...............1-30
Ination - Tire Pressure...................................5-66
Inator Kit, Tire...............................................5-87
Instrument Panel
Overview..................................................... 3-4
Instrument Panel (I/P)
Brightness..................................................3-41
Cluster.......................................................3-58
J
Jump Starting.................................................5-45
K
Keyless Access System..................................... 2-5
Keyless Access System, Operation...................... 2-6
Keys............................................................... 2-3
6