2008 CADILLAC STS ABS

Antilock Brake System
Warning Light
For vehicles with the
Antilock Brake System
(ABS), this light will come
on briey when you
start the engine.
That is normal. If the light does not come on then, have it
xed so it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
If the ABS light stays on, turn the ignition off, if the light
comes on when you are driving, stop as soon as it
is safely possible and turn the ignition off. Then start
the engine again to reset the system. If the ABS light still
stays on, or comes on again while you are driving,
your vehicle needs service. If the regular brake system
warning light is not on, you still have brakes, but
you do not have antilock brakes. If the regular brake
system warning light is also on, you do not have antilock
brakes and there is a problem with your regular
brakes. SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 3-64
For vehicles with a Driver Information Center (DIC),
seeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-80for
all brake related DIC messages.
Traction Control System (TCS)
Warning Light
If the Traction Control
System (TCS) warning
light comes on and stays
on, there may be a
problem with the TCS.
The TCS warning light will come on briey when the
engine is started. If it does not come on then, have it
xed so it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
The light will also come on if you turn the TCS off using
the traction control on/off button located on the console.
If this light stays on or comes on while you are driving,
pull off the road as soon as possible and stop carefully.
Turn your engine off and then restart it. If the light still
stays on or comes back on again while you are driving,
your vehicle needs service. Have the TCS inspected as
soon as possible. SeeTraction Control System (TCS)
on page 4-6andStabiliTrak
®System on page 4-8for
more information.
Also seeCompetitive Driving Mode (STS-V) on
page 4-7for more information.
3-65

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

Antilock Brake System (ABS)
Your vehicle has the Antilock Brake System (ABS), an
advanced electronic braking system that will help
prevent a braking skid.
When you start the engine and begin to drive away,
ABS will check itself. You might hear a momentary
motor or clicking noise while this test is going on, and
you might even notice that the brake pedal moves
a little. This is normal.
If there is a problem with
ABS, this warning light will
stay on. SeeAntilock
Brake System Warning
Light on page 3-65.
Let us say the road is wet and you are driving safely.
Suddenly, an animal jumps out in front of you. You slam
on the brakes and continue braking. Here is what
happens with ABS:
A computer senses that wheels are slowing down. If
one of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the computer
will separately work the brakes at each wheel.ABS can change the brake pressure faster than any
driver could. The computer is programmed to make the
most of available tire and road conditions. This can
help you steer around the obstacle while braking hard.
As you brake, the computer keeps receiving updates
on wheel speed and controls braking pressure
accordingly.
Remember: ABS does not change the time you need to
get your foot up to the brake pedal or always decrease
stopping distance. If you get too close to the vehicle in
front of you, you will not have time to apply the brakes if
that vehicle suddenly slows or stops. Always leave
enough room up ahead to stop, even though you
have ABS.
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal
down rmly and let antilock work for you. You might hear
the antilock pump or motor operate, and feel the
brake pedal pulsate, but this is normal.
4-5

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

Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking reasonable
care suited to existing conditions, and by not overdriving
those conditions. But skids are always possible.
The three types of skids correspond to your vehicle’s
three control systems. In the braking skid, the wheels are
not rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, too much
speed or steering in a curve causes tires to slip and lose
cornering force. And in the acceleration skid, too much
throttle causes the driving wheels to spin.
A cornering skid is best handled by easing your foot off
the accelerator pedal.
Remember: Any traction control system helps avoid only
the acceleration skid. If your traction control system is
off, then an acceleration skid is also best handled
by easing your foot off the accelerator pedal.
If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want
the vehicle to go. If you start steering quickly enough,
your vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready
for a second skid if it occurs.You might see the STABILITY SYS ACTIVE message
on the Driver Information Center. SeeDIC Warnings and
Messages on page 3-80andStabiliTrak®System on
page 4-8orEnhanced StabiliTrak®on page 4-9.
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice,
gravel, or other material is on the road. For safety, you
will want to slow down and adjust your driving to
these conditions. It is important to slow down on slippery
surfaces because stopping distance will be longer and
vehicle control more limited.
While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try your
best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration, or braking,
including reducing vehicle speed by shifting to a lower
gear. Any sudden changes could cause the tires to slide.
You may not realize the surface is slippery until your
vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warning
clues — such as enough water, ice, or packed snow on
the road to make a mirrored surface — and slow down
when you have any doubt.
Remember: Any Antilock Brake System (ABS) helps
avoid only the braking skid.
4-17

The Traction Control System (TCS) improves your
ability to accelerate when driving on a slippery road.
Even though you have TCS, slow down and adjust your
driving to the road conditions. Under certain conditions,
you might want to turn the TCS off, such as when
driving through deep snow and loose gravel, to help
maintain vehicle motion at lower speeds. SeeTraction
Control System (TCS) on page 4-6,StabiliTrak
®System
on page 4-8orEnhanced StabiliTrak®on page 4-9,
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out on page 4-26, and
“Winter Tires” underTires on page 5-57.
The Antilock Brake System (ABS) improves your
vehicle’s stability when you make a hard stop on a
slippery road. Even though you have ABS, begin
stopping sooner than you would on dry pavement. See
Antilock Brake System (ABS) on page 4-5.
Allow greater following distance on any
slippery road.
Watch for slippery spots. The road might be ne until
you hit a spot that is covered with ice. On an
otherwise clear road, ice patches can appear in
shaded areas where the sun cannot reach, such as
around clumps of trees, behind buildings, or under
bridges. Sometimes the surface of a curve or an
overpass can remain icy when the surrounding roads
are clear. If you see a patch of ice ahead of you,
brake before you are on it. Try not to brake while you
are actually on the ice, and avoid sudden steering
maneuvers.
If You Are Caught in a Blizzard
If you are stopped by heavy snow, you could be in a
serious situation. You should probably stay with
your vehicle unless you know for sure that you are near
help and you can hike through the snow. Here are
some things to do to summon help and keep yourself
and your passengers safe:
Turn on the hazard warning ashers.
Tie a red cloth to your vehicle to alert police that
you have been stopped by the snow.
Put on extra clothing or wrap a blanket around you.
If you do not have blankets or extra clothing, make
body insulators from newspapers, burlap bags,
rags, oor mats — anything you can wrap around
yourself or tuck under your clothing to keep warm.
4-23

3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your
parking brake, and then shift to PARK (P).
5. Release the regular brakes.
When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you:
Start your engine.
Shift into a gear.
Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the
chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re
pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for more
on this. Things that are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transmission uid (don’t overll),
engine oil, drive belt, cooling system and brake
system. Each of these is covered in this manual, and
the Index will help you nd them quickly. If you’re
trailering, it’s a good idea to review this information
before you start your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing
Your cooling system may temporarily overheat during
severe operating conditions. SeeEngine Overheating on
page 5-29.
Towing a Trailer (Vehicles Without
Heavy Duty Cooling)
Vehicles without heavy duty cooling are neither designed
nor intended to tow a trailer.
4-40

After you have removed the sight shields (if equipped) on the 4.4L V8 STS-V engine, here is what you will see:
A. Underhood Fuse Block. SeeUnderhood Fuse Block
on page 5-118.
B. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump Starting on
page 5-45.
C. Remote Negative (-) Terminal. SeeJump Starting on
page 5-45.
D. Battery. SeeBattery on page 5-44.
E. Passenger Compartment Air Filter. SeePassenger
Compartment Air Filter on page 3-55.
F. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding
Washer Fluid” underWindshield Washer Fluid
on page 5-40.
G. Intercooler System Pressure Cap. SeeEngine
Coolant on page 5-25.
H. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. SeePower Steering
Fluid on page 5-39.
I. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-18.J. Engine Oil Dipstick (Out of View). See “Checking
Engine Oil” underEngine Oil on page 5-18.
K. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid”
underBrakes on page 5-41.
L. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap on page 5-29
andCooling System on page 5-32.
M. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-23.
If your vehicle is equipped with front compartment
underhood sight shields, before closing the hood be sure
to reinstall the sight shields. To reinstall the shields,
locate the tabs on the left and right sides and insert
them into the openings in the tower to tower brace. Then
insert the fasteners into the top of the shield and push
the fasteners back into place.
5-17