2009 CADILLAC STS Owners Manual

Reporting Safety Defects to the
Canadian Government
If you live in Canada, and you believe that your
vehicle has a safety defect, notify Transport Canada
immediately, in addition to notifying General Motors of
Canada Limited. Call them at 1-800-333-0510 or write to:
Transport Canada
Road Safety Branch
2780 Sheffield Road
Ottawa, Ontario K1B 3V9
Reporting Safety Defects to
General Motors
In addition to notifying NHTSA (or Transport Canada)
in a situation like this, please notify General Motors.
Call 1-800-458-8006, or write:
Cadillac Customer Assistance Center
Cadillac Motor Car Division
P.O. Box 33169
Detroit, MI 48232-5169
In Canada, call 1-888-446-2000, or write:
Canadian Cadillac Customer Communication Centre,
CA1-163-005
General Motors of Canada Limited
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7
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
7-15

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: 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.
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.
7-16

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 airbag
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.
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.
7-17

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 2-50in 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.
7-18

A
Accessories and Modications............................ 5-3
Accessory Power Outlets.................................3-46
Adaptive Cruise Control...................................3-20
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle.......................................................1-64
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-7
Add-On Electrical Equipment...........................5-113
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-23
Air Conditioning..............................................3-48
Airbag
Passenger Status Indicator...........................3-59
Readiness Light..........................................3-58
Airbag System................................................1-51
Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle............................1-64
How Does an Airbag Restrain?......................1-57
Passenger Sensing System...........................1-59
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle..........1-64
What Makes an Airbag Inate?......................1-57
What Will You See After an Airbag
Inates?..................................................1-58
When Should an Airbag Inate?....................1-56
Where Are the Airbags?...............................1-53
All-Wheel Drive...............................................5-47
All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) System.........................4-12
Antenna, Backglass.......................................3-134
Antenna, XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna
System.....................................................3-134Antilock Brake System (ABS)............................. 4-4
Antilock Brake, System Warning Light................3-63
Appearance Care
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels.............5-110
Care of Safety Belts...................................5-108
Chemical Paint Spotting..............................5-112
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses..................5-109
Fabric/Carpet............................................5-106
Finish Care...............................................5-109
Finish Damage..........................................5-111
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces
.....................................5-107
Interior Cleaning........................................5-105
Leather....................................................5-107
Sheet Metal Damage..................................5-111
Speaker Covers.........................................5-108
Tires........................................................5-111
Underbody Maintenance.............................5-111
Washing Your Vehicle.................................5-108
Weatherstrips............................................5-108
Windshield and Wiper Blades......................5-110
Wood Panels............................................5-107
Appointments, Scheduling Service.....................7-10
Ashtray.........................................................3-47
Audio System.................................................3-97
Audio Steering Wheel Controls....................3-131
Backglass Antenna.....................................3-134
Navigation/Radio System, see Navigation
Manual.................................................3-116
Radio Personalization.................................3-126
1

Audio System (cont.)
Radio Reception........................................3-133
Setting the Clock.........................................3-98
Theft-Deterrent Feature...............................3-130
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System...........3-134
Audio System(s).............................................3-98
Automatic Transmission
Fluid..........................................................5-25
Operation...................................................2-30
B
Backglass Antenna........................................3-134
Battery..........................................................5-42
Electric Power Management..........................3-42
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver......................3-40
Inadvertent Power Saver..............................3-42
Load Management.......................................3-41
Bluetooth
®....................................................3-116
Brake
Emergencies................................................ 4-5
Brake Fluid....................................................5-39
Brakes..........................................................5-39
System Warning Light..................................3-62
Braking........................................................... 4-3
Braking in Emergencies..................................... 4-5
Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................2-25Bulb Replacement...........................................5-51
Back-Up Lamps...........................................5-52
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-51
Headlamp Aiming........................................5-50
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting...........5-51
Replacement Bulbs......................................5-52
Buying New Tires...........................................5-74
C
Calibration...............................................1-6, 2-38
California Fuel.................................................. 5-6
California Perchlorate Materials
Requirements............................................... 5-4
California Proposition 65 Warning....................... 5-4
Canadian Owners............................................... iii
Capacities and Specications..........................5-124
Carbon Monoxide...........................2-15, 2-36, 4-21
Care of
Safety Belts..............................................5-108
CD, MP3 .....................................................3-111
Center Console Storage Area...........................2-60
Chains, Tire...................................................5-81
Charging System Light....................................3-61
Check
Engine Lamp..............................................3-66
Checking Things Under the Hood......................5-10
2

Chemical Paint Spotting.................................5-112
Child Restraints
Child Restraint Systems...............................1-35
Infants and Young Children...........................1-31
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children..........1-39
Older Children.............................................1-28
Securing a Child Restraint in a
Rear Seat Position...................................1-45
Securing a Child Restraint in the
Right Front Seat Position..........................1-47
Where to Put the Restraint...........................1-37
Cigarette Lighter.............................................3-47
Cleaning
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels.............5-110
Exterior Lamps/Lenses................................5-109
Fabric/Carpet............................................5-106
Finish Care...............................................5-109
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces.....................................5-107
Interior.....................................................5-105
Leather....................................................5-107
Speaker Covers.........................................5-108
Tires........................................................5-111
Underbody Maintenance.............................5-111
Washing Your Vehicle.................................5-108
Weatherstrips............................................5-108
Windshield and Wiper Blades......................5-110
Wood Panels............................................5-107Climate Control System
Air Filter, Passenger Compartment.................3-54
Dual ..........................................................3-48
Outlet Adjustment........................................3-52
Rear ..........................................................3-53
Clock, Setting.................................................3-98
Collision Damage Repair..................................7-11
Compact Spare Tire......................................5-104
Compass.................................................1-6, 2-38
Competitive Driving.........................................4-17
Competitive Driving Mode
................................4-11
Compressor Kit
Storing.......................................................5-94
Compressor Kit, Tire Sealant............................5-87
Control of a Vehicle.......................................... 4-3
Convenience Net............................................2-60
Coolant
Engine.......................................................5-27
Engine Temperature Gage............................3-65
Engine Temperature Warning Light.................3-64
Surge Tank Pressure Cap.............................5-34
Cooling System..............................................5-26
Cruise Control................................................3-16
Cruise Control, Forward Collision
Alert (FAC) System....................................... 3-9
Cruise Control Light........................................3-70
Cupholders....................................................2-60
3

Customer Assistance Information
Courtesy Transportation................................7-10
Customer Assistance for Text
Telephone (TTY) Users............................... 7-6
Customer Assistance Offices........................... 7-6
Customer Satisfaction Procedure..................... 7-2
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program............... 7-7
Reporting Safety Defects to
General Motors........................................7-15
Reporting Safety Defects to the
Canadian Government..............................7-15
Reporting Safety Defects to the
United States Government.........................7-14
Roadside Service.......................................... 7-7
Service Publications Ordering Information........7-15
D
Daytime Running Lamp...................................3-36
Defensive Driving............................................. 4-2
Disc, MP3....................................................3-111
Doing Your Own Service Work........................... 5-4
Door
Locks........................................................2-13
Power Door Locks.......................................2-13
Programmable Automatic Door Locks.............2-14
Rear Door Security Locks.............................2-14Driver Information Center (DIC).........................3-72
DIC Operation and Displays..........................3-72
DIC Warnings and Messages........................3-79
Other Messages..........................................3-96
Driving
At Night.....................................................4-17
Before a Long Trip......................................4-19
Defensive..................................................... 4-2
Drunken....................................................... 4-2
Highway Hypnosis.......................................4-19
Hill and Mountain Roads..............................4-20
In Rain and on Wet Roads...........................4-18
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get it Out.................4-24
Winter........................................................4-21
Dual Climate Control System............................3-48
E
EDR .............................................................7-16
Electrical System
Add-On Equipment.....................................5-113
Fuses and Circuit Breakers.........................5-113
Headlamp Wiring.......................................5-113
Power Windows and Other Power
Options.................................................5-113
Rear Underseat Fuse Block.........................5-118
Underhood Fuse Block...............................5-114
4