2008 CADILLAC STS steering wheel

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

Braking in Emergencies
With ABS, you can steer and brake at the same time. In
many emergencies, steering can help you more than
even the very best braking.
Traction Control System (TCS)
Your vehicle has a traction control system that limits
wheel spin. This is especially useful in slippery
road conditions. On a rear-wheel-drive vehicle, the
system operates if it senses that one or both of the rear
wheels are spinning or beginning to lose traction. On
an All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) vehicle, the system will
operate if it senses that any of the wheels are spinning
or beginning to lose traction. When this happens,
the system brakes the spinning wheel(s) and/or reduces
engine power to limit wheel spin.
You may feel or hear the system working, but this is
normal.
This warning light will
come on to let you know if
there is a problem with
your traction control
system.SeeTraction Control System (TCS) Warning Light on
page 3-65. When this warning light is on, the system will
not limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.
The Traction Control System (TCS) automatically comes
on whenever you start your vehicle. To limit wheel
spin, especially in slippery road conditions, you should
always leave the system on. But you can turn the
TCS off if you ever need to.
Notice:Do not repeatedly brake or accelerate
heavily when the TCS is off. You could damage your
vehicle’s driveline.
When the TCS is switched off on AWD and STS-V
vehicles, you may still feel the system working. This is
normal and necessary with the hardware on your
vehicle.
You should turn the system off if your vehicle ever gets
stuck in sand, mud or snow and rocking the vehicle
is required. SeeRocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out on
page 4-26andIf Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand,
Mud, Ice, or Snow on page 4-25for more information.
See alsoWinter Driving on page 4-22for information on
using TCS when driving in snowy or icy conditions.
4-6

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

Magnetic Ride Control
Your vehicle may have Magnetic Ride Control that
automatically adjusts the ride of your vehicle. Automatic
ride control is achieved through a computer used to
control and monitor the suspension system. The
controller receives input from various sensors to
determine the proper system response. If the controller
detects a problem within the system, the DIC will
display a SERVICE SUSPENSION SYS message. See
DIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-80for more
information. See your dealer for service.
Limited-Slip Rear Axle
Your limited-slip rear axle can give you additional
traction on snow, mud, ice, sand or gravel. It works like
a standard axle most of the time, but when one of
the rear wheels has no traction and the other does, this
feature will allow the wheel with traction to move the
vehicle.
StabiliTrak®System
Your vehicle has a vehicle stability enhancement
system called StabiliTrak®. It is an advanced computer
controlled system that assists with directional control
of the vehicle in difficult driving conditions.
If your all-wheel-drive vehicle has the optional enhanced
vehicle stability control system called Active Steering
with Enhanced StabiliTrak
®, seeEnhanced StabiliTrak®
on page 4-9.
StabiliTrak
®activates when the computer senses a
discrepancy between the intended path and the direction
the vehicle is actually traveling. StabiliTrak
®selectively
applies braking pressure at any one of the vehicle’s
brakes to help steer the vehicle in the direction which
you are steering.
When the system activates, a STABILITY SYS ACTIVE
message will be displayed on the Driver Information
Center (DIC). SeeDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 3-80. You may also hear a noise or feel
vibration in the brake pedal. This is normal. Continue to
steer the vehicle in the direction you want it to go.
4-8

If there is a problem detected with StabiliTrak®,a
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 operational. Driving should be adjusted
accordingly.
StabiliTrak
®comes on automatically whenever the
vehicle is started. To help assist with directional control
of the vehicle, always leave the system on. StabiliTrak
®
can be turned off, however, by using the TC (traction
control) on/off button. SeeTraction Control System
(TCS) on page 4-6.
If the vehicle is in cruise control when the StabiliTrak
®
activates, the cruise control will automatically disengage.
When road conditions allow you to safely use it again,
you may reengage the cruise control. SeeCruise Control
on page 3-17orAdaptive Cruise Control on page 3-20for
more information.
Enhanced StabiliTrak®
All-wheel-drive (AWD) vehicles with the Active Steering
with Enhanced StabiliTrak®option have an enhanced
computer controlled vehicle stability system that assists
with directional control of the vehicle in difficult driving
conditions. This system coordinates automatic control of
the Active Steering System, the Magnetic Ride Control
Suspension System, and the Brake Control System for
better vehicle performance.During extreme cold temperature conditions, the active
steering function may be temporarily disabled which may
cause the steering wheel to be off set from the center
position while driving straight. This is normal operation
and the vehicle is safe to drive in these cases.
Stability control activates when the computer senses a
difference between the intended path and the direction
the vehicle is actually traveling. Stability control
automatically adjusts the front road wheel steering angle,
modies the suspension stiffness, and selectively applies
braking pressure at any one of the vehicle’s brakes to
help maintain directional control of the vehicle.
When the system activates, a STABILITY SYS ACTIVE
message displays on the Driver Information Center (DIC).
SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-80You may
also hear a noise or feel vibration in the brake pedal. This
is normal. Continue to steer the vehicle in the direction
you want it to go.
4-9

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

All-Wheel Drive (AWD) System
If your vehicle has this feature, engine power is sent to
all four wheels all the time. This is like four-wheel
drive, but it is fully automatic.
Steering
Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist because the engine
stops or the system is not functioning, you can steer but
it will take much more effort.
Speed Variable Assist Steering
Your vehicle has a steering system that continuously
adjusts the effort you feel when steering at all vehicle
speeds. It provides ease when parking, yet a rm, solid
feel at highway speeds.
Active Steering
All-wheel-drive vehicles with the Active Steering with
Enhanced StabiliTrak®option have an electronically
controlled active steering system. The active steering
system uses the steering actuator to automatically adjust
the front road wheel turning angle based on vehicle
speed and how much you turn the steering wheel. Thissystem reduces steering effort at low speeds, improves
steering feel at moderate speeds, and reduces
steering sensitivity at higher speeds.
During some operating conditions, the active steering
might deactivate to protect the system from damage.
You might notice that the center position of the steering
wheel is changed. Unless there is a SERVICE
STEERING SYS message, the system will return to
normal operation as soon as the condition ceases,
usually within a very short period of time.
At low speeds, the active steering system requires less
movement of the steering wheel to change vehicle
direction than the normal power steering system. Adjust
your driving accordingly.
When certain steering faults are present, the active
steering deactivates and vehicle speed might be limited.
The SERVICE STEERING SYS and SPEED LIMITED
TO XXX messages will be displayed. SeeDIC Warnings
and Messages on page 3-80. The normal power
steering system is still operational. You might notice that
the center position of the steering wheel is changed
and that more steering effort at low speeds and
less steering effort at high speeds is required. You can
continue to drive your vehicle with normal power
steering but you should have your dealer/retailer inspect
the steering system as soon as possible in order to
have the problem corrected and the steering wheel
position centered.
4-13

When stability control activates, the system
automatically adjusts the front road wheel steering
angle, modies the suspension stiffness, and selectively
applies braking pressure at any one of the vehicle’s
brakes to help maintain directional control of the vehicle.
Adjustments to the steering will not be felt in the
steering wheel. SeeEnhanced StabiliTrak
®on page 4-9.
It is recommended that the battery not be disconnected
when the steering wheel is turned from the center
position. If this occurs, the center position of the steering
wheel could be temporarily changed a small amount.
You can continue to operate your vehicle and, after
a short time, the center position of the steering wheel
will return to normal.
Steering Tips
It is important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents mentioned on
the news happen on curves. Here is why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is subject to
the same laws of physics when driving on curves.
The traction of the tires against the road surface makes
it possible for the vehicle to change its path when
you turn the front wheels. If there is no traction, inertia
will keep the vehicle going in the same direction. If
you have ever tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you
will understand this.The traction you can get in a curve depends on the
condition of the tires and the road surface, the angle at
which the curve is banked, and your speed. While
you are in a curve, speed is the one factor you
can control.
Suppose you are steering through a sharp curve.
Then you suddenly accelerate. Both control
systems — steering and acceleration — have to do
their work where the tires meet the road. Adding the
sudden acceleration can demand too much of those
places. You can lose control. SeeTraction Control
System (TCS) on page 4-6andStabiliTrak
®System on
page 4-8orEnhanced StabiliTrak®on page 4-9.
What should you do if this ever happens? Ease up on
the accelerator pedal, steer the vehicle the way you
want it to go, and slow down.
Your stability system might be active. SeeDIC Warnings
and Messages on page 3-80andStabiliTrak
®System
on page 4-8orEnhanced StabiliTrak®on page 4-9.
Speed limit signs near curves warn that you should
adjust your speed. Of course, the posted speeds are
based on good weather and road conditions. Under less
favorable conditions you will want to go slower.
If you need to reduce your speed as you approach a
curve, do it before you enter the curve, while the
front wheels are straight ahead.
4-14