2008 CADILLAC STS ECO mode

F5 MODE:Press to select from NORMAL, RPT TRCK
(Repeat Track), RPT DISC (Repeat CD), RDM TRCK
(Random Track), and RDM ALL (Random All CDs).
NORMAL:Sets the system for normal play of
the CD(s). NORMAL does not display while in
this mode.
RPT TRCK (Repeat Track):Repeats the track
over again. RPT TRCK displays. Press the
MODE pushbutton again to turn off repeat play.
RPT TRCK disappears from the display.
RPT DISC (Repeat CD):Repeats the CD over
again. RPT DISC displays. Press the MODE
pushbutton again to turn off repeat play.
RPT DISC disappears from the display.
RDM TRCK (Random Track):Plays the tracks on
the current CD in random, rather than sequential,
order. RDM TRCK displays. Press the MODE
pushbutton again to turn off random play.
RDM TRCK disappears from the display.
RDM ALL (Random All CDs):Plays all of the CDs
loaded in random, rather than sequential, order.
RDM ALL displays. Press the MODE pushbutton
again to turn off random play. RDM ALL disappears
from the display.F6 DISP (Display):Press to display the time of the
track. Press again to display CD PLAY MODE.
©¨(Seek):Press the left arrow to go to the previous
or press the right arrow button to go to the next track
on the CD.
©¨(Scan):Press the arrows to listen to each track
for 10 seconds. The CD goes to a track, plays for
10 seconds, then goes to the next track. Press the
arrows again to stop scanning.
Z(Eject):Press to eject the CD that is currently
playing, or press and hold to eject all of the CDs loaded.
A beep sounds. Eject can be activated with the
ignition or radio off.
Playing an MP3 CD-R Disc
The vehicle’s radio system could have the MP3 feature.
If it has this feature, it is capable of playing an MP3
CD-R disc. For more information on how to play an MP3
CD-R disc, seeUsing an MP3 on page 3-112later in
this section.
3-110

g(Mute/Voice Recognition):Press and release
this button to silence the vehicle speakers only.
The audio of the wireless and wired headphones, if your
vehicle has these features, does not mute. Press and
release this button again, to turn the sound on.
If your vehicle has the navigation system, press and
hold this button for longer than one second to initiate
voice recognition. See “Voice Recognition” in the
Navigation System manual for more information.
If your vehicle has OnStar
®, press and hold this
button for longer than one second to interact with the
OnStar
®system. If your vehicle also has the navigation
system, press and hold this button for longer than
one second to initiate voice recognition and say “OnStar”
to enter OnStar
®mode. See theOnStar®System on
page 2-48in this manual for more information.
Radio Reception
Frequency interference and static can occur during
normal radio reception if items such as cell phone
chargers, vehicle convenience accessories, and external
electronic devices are plugged into the accessory
power outlet. If there is interference or static, unplug
the item from the accessory power outlet.
AM
The range for most AM stations is greater than for FM,
especially at night. The longer range can cause station
frequencies to interfere with each other. For better radio
reception, most AM radio stations boost the power levels
during the day, and then reduce these levels during the
night. Static can also occur when things like storms and
power lines interfere with radio reception. When this
happens, try reducing the treble on your radio.
FM Stereo
FM stereo gives the best sound, but FM signals only
reach about 10 to 40 miles (16 to 65 km). Tall buildings
or hills can interfere with FM signals, causing the
sound to fade in and out.
XM™ Satellite Radio Service
XM™ Satellite Radio Service gives digital radio
reception from coast-to-coast in the 48 contiguous
United States, and in Canada. Just as with FM,
tall buildings or hills can interfere with satellite radio
signals, causing the sound to fade in and out. In
addition, traveling or standing under heavy foliage,
bridges, garages, or through tunnels could cause loss
of the XM™ signal for a period of time. The radio
may display NO XM SIGNAL to indicate interference.
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Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle..........4-2
Defensive Driving...........................................4-2
Drunk Driving.................................................4-2
Control of a Vehicle........................................4-3
Braking.........................................................4-4
Antilock Brake System (ABS)...........................4-5
Braking in Emergencies...................................4-6
Traction Control System (TCS).........................4-6
Competitive Driving Mode (STS-V)....................4-7
Magnetic Ride Control.....................................4-8
Limited-Slip Rear Axle.....................................4-8
StabiliTrak
®System........................................4-8
Enhanced StabiliTrak®.....................................4-9
Panic Brake Assist........................................4-12
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) System.......................4-13
Steering......................................................4-13
Off-Road Recovery.......................................4-16
Passing.......................................................4-16
Loss of Control.............................................4-16Competitive Driving.......................................4-18
Driving at Night............................................4-18
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads..................4-19
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.......................4-20
Highway Hypnosis........................................4-20
Hill and Mountain Roads................................4-21
Winter Driving..............................................4-22
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud,
Ice, or Snow.............................................4-25
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out.................4-26
Loading Your Vehicle....................................4-26
Towing..........................................................4-31
Towing Your Vehicle.....................................4-31
Recreational Vehicle Towing...........................4-31
Towing a Trailer (Vehicles With
Heavy Duty Cooling)..................................4-34
Towing a Trailer (Vehicles Without
Heavy Duty Cooling)..................................4-40
Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
4-1

To turn the system off,
press the TC (traction
control) button located
near the shift lever.
If your All Wheel Drive vehicle has the optional
enhanced vehicle stability control system called Active
Steering with Enhanced StabiliTrak
®, the Traction
Control button is used to turn traction control on and off
and to select between three stability control modes:
Touring, Competitive and Off. SeeEnhanced
StabiliTrak
®on page 4-9for Traction Control button
operating instructions.
If you press the TC button once, the Traction Control
System will turn off and the Traction Control System
Warning Light will come on. Press the TC button again
to turn the system back on. If you press and hold
the TC button for ve seconds, the StabiliTrak
®system
and the Traction Control System will turn off. Press
the TC button again to turn StabiliTrak
®back on. For
more information, seeStabiliTrak®System on page 4-8.
Adding non-GM accessories can affect your vehicle’s
performance. SeeAccessories and Modifications
on page 5-3for more information.
Competitive Driving Mode (STS-V)
The driver can select this optional handling mode
by pressing the Traction Control button, located near
the shift lever, twice within ve seconds. Competitive
driving mode allows the driver to have control of
the power applied to the rear wheels, while the
StabiliTrak
®system helps steer the vehicle by selective
brake application. In competitive mode, the levels at
which StabiliTrak
®is engaged have been modied
to better suit a performance driving environment. When
the traction control warning light is on, the Traction
Control System will not be operating. Adjust your driving
accordingly.
When you press the Traction Control button again, the
Traction Control System will be on. The traction
engaged symbol will be displayed temporarily in the DIC
and a chime will be heard. SeeDIC Warnings and
Messages on page 3-80for more information.
4-7

If the vehicle is in cruise control when Enhanced
StabiliTrak®activates, the cruise control will automatically
disengage. When road conditions allow you to safely use
it again, you may re-engage the cruise control. See
Cruise Control on page 3-17,orAdaptive Cruise Control
on page 3-20for more information.
Enhanced StabiliTrak
®comes on automatically in the
Stability Touring Mode, when the vehicle is started. The
Stability Touring Mode is recommended for normal
driving. Enhanced StabiliTrak
®also has Stability
Competitive Mode that is turned on by pressing the
Traction Control (TC) Button. SeeTraction Control
System (TCS) on page 4-6. This mode is designed to be
used by the performance conscious driver who desires
less stabilty control intervention. SeeCompetitive Driving
Mode (STS-V) on page 4-7. When the Stability Control
Competitive Mode has been activated, traction control
operates in competitive mode and cannot be turned off.
The STABILITY COMPETITIVE MODE message will be
displayed on the DIC. SeeDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 3-80.
When operating your vehicle in the Stability Competitive
Mode, the system provides less stability control
intervention. Driving should be adjusted accordingly.When the stability control Stability Competitive Mode
has been selected, the Active Steering and Magnetic
Ride Control Touring Mode is not available. These
systems are automatically changed to the Performance
Mode, providing more response to road conditions
and quicker steering response. For more information,
see “Active Steering and Magnetic Ride Control
Mode” in the Index of the vehicle’s Navigation Manual.
To assist you with directional control of the vehicle,
always leave the system on. Stability control can
be turned off however, by using the traction control
button. SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on page 4-6.
The STABILITY SYS OFF message will be displayed
on the DIC. SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on
page 3-80.
If there is a problem detected with Enhanced
StabiliTrak
®, the SERVICE STABILITY SYS message
will be displayed on the DIC. SeeDIC Warnings
and Messages on page 3-80. When this message is
displayed, the system is not operating. Driving should be
adjusted accordingly.
4-10

When certain faults or vehicle conditions are detected,
the Stability control will automatically go into a secure
mode and the STABILITY SECURE MODE message will
be displayed on the DIC. When the Stability Secure Mode
is activated, the stability control system will not respond
to driver requests to change the stability mode until the
next ignition cycle or until the vehicle condition or fault is
returned to normal. When the Stability Secure Mode is
activated, you may see other messages, such as
SERVICE STEERING SYS, SERVICE SUSPENSION
SYS or CHECK TIRE PRESSURE on the DIC. When the
Stability Secure Mode is activated, a larger degree of
steering wheel input at low vehicle speeds and a smaller
degree of steering wheel input at high vehicle speeds
may be required. Stability Secure Mode will be activated
if you are using a compact spare tire. SeeDIC Warnings
and Messages on page 3-80andCompact Spare Tire on
page 5-106.
Persistent operation of your vehicle in the STABILITY
SECURE MODE may be an indication that your vehicle
needs to be serviced by the dealer/retailer.
When certain faults are present, the vehicle’s speed may
be limited and the SPEED LIMITED TO XXX message
will be displayed on the DIC. SeeDIC Warnings and
Messages on page 3-80. When the vehicle’s speed is
limited, you may see other messages, such as SERVICE
STABILITY SYS, SERVICE STEERING SYS or
SERVICE SUSPENSION SYS on the DIC. Have your
vehicle serviced by your dealer/retailer.Enhanced StabiliTrak®and Traction
Control Mode Selection
Enhanced StabiliTrak®can be operated in Touring Mode
or Competitive Mode. It can also be turned off. The
traction control button is used to change stability control
modes (Touring, Competitive or Off) as well as to turn
traction control on or off. SeeTraction Control System
(TCS) on page 4-6. The following information describes
the operation of the traction control button for changing
Traction Control and Stability Control Modes.
When you start your vehicle, Stability control comes on
automatically in the Stability Touring Mode.
To change from Stability Touring Mode to Stability
Competitive Mode, press and hold the traction
control button for about three seconds until
the STABILITY COMPETITIVE MODE message is
displayed on the DIC.
To change from Stability Touring Mode to Stability
Off Mode, press and hold the traction control
button for about ve seconds until the STABILITY
SYS OFF message is displayed on the DIC.
The DIC will temporarily display the STABILITY
COMPETITIVE MODE message prior to displaying
the STABILITY SYS OFF message.
4-11

To change from Stability Competitive Mode to
Stability Touring Mode, press the traction control
button briey and the STABILITY TOURING MODE
message will be displayed on the DIC.
To change from Stability Competitive Mode to
Stability Off Mode, press and hold the traction
control button for approximately ve seconds until
the STABILITY SYS OFF message is displayed
on the DIC. The DIC will temporarily display
the STABILITY TOURING MODE message and
then the STABILITY COMPETITIVE MODE
message prior to displaying the STABILITY SYS
OFF message.
To change from Stability Off Mode to Stability
Touring Mode, press the traction control button
briey and the STABILITY TOURING MODE
message will be displayed on the DIC.
To change from Stability Off Mode to Stability
Competitive Mode, press and hold the traction
control button for about three seconds until
the STABILITY COMPETITIVE MODE message is
displayed on the DIC. The DIC will temporarily
display the STABILITY TOURING MODE message
prior to displaying the STABILITY COMPETITIVE
MODE message.
To turn traction control off while in the Stability
Touring Mode, press the traction control button
briey and the traction control system warning light
will come on. SeeTraction Control System (TCS)
on page 4-6.
To turn traction control on while in the Stability
Touring Mode, press the traction control button
briey and the traction control system warning light
will turn off.
Panic Brake Assist
Your vehicle has a panic brake assist system that
monitors the intention of the driver while braking. If the
system senses that the driver has applied hard/fast
pressure to the brake pedal, the system will generate
additional pressure, making it easier for the driver
to maintain brake application. When this happens the
brake pedal will feel easier to push. Just hold the brake
pedal down rmly and let the system work for you.
You may feel the brakes vibrate, or you may notice
some noise but this is normal. The brakes will return to
normal operation after the brake pedal has been
released.
4-12

Your vehicle’s engine is lled at the factory with a
Mobil 1®synthetic oil, which meets all requirements for
your vehicle.
Substitute Engine Oil: When adding oil to maintain
engine oil level, oil meeting GM Standard GM4718M
may not be available. You can add substitute oil
designated SAE 5W-30 with the starburst symbol at all
temperatures. Substitute oil not meeting GM Standard
GM4718M should not be used for an oil change.
Engine Oil Additives
Do not add anything to the oil. The recommended oils
with the starburst symbol that meet GM standards are all
you need for good performance and engine protection.
Engine Oil Life System
When to Change Engine Oil
Your vehicle has a computer system that lets you know
when to change the engine oil and lter. This is based on
engine revolutions and engine temperature, and not on
mileage. Based on driving conditions, the mileage at
which an oil change will be indicated can vary
considerably. For the oil life system to work properly, you
must reset the system every time the oil is changed.Notice:If your vehicle is an STS-V model, the
engine uses a special oil lter. The use of any other
engine oil lter could lead to lter failure and
result in severe engine damage. Damage caused by
use of the wrong engine oil lter would not be
covered by your new vehicle warranty.
When the system has calculated that oil life has been
diminished, it will indicate that an oil change is
necessary. A CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON message in
the DIC will come on. SeeDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 3-80. Change the oil as soon as possible
within the next 600 miles (1 000 km). It is possible that,
if you are driving under the best conditions, the oil
life system might not indicate that an oil change
is necessary for over a year. However, the engine oil
and lter must be changed at least once a year and at
this time the system must be reset. Your dealer/retailer
has trained service people who will perform this
work using genuine parts and reset the system. It is
also important to check the oil regularly and keep it at
the proper level.
If the system is ever reset accidentally, you must
change the oil at 3,000 miles (5 000 km) since your last
oil change. Remember to reset the oil life system
whenever the oil is changed.
5-21