2009 CADILLAC STS brake

Service............................................................5-3
Accessories and Modications..........................5-3
California Proposition 65 Warning.....................5-4
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements......5-4
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-4
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
the Vehicle.................................................5-5
Fuel................................................................5-5
Gasoline Octane............................................5-5
Gasoline Specications....................................5-6
California Fuel...............................................5-6
Additives.......................................................5-7
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-7
Filling the Tank..............................................5-8
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.....................5-10
Checking Things Under the Hood....................5-10
Hood Release..............................................5-11
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-12
Engine Oil...................................................5-18
Engine Oil Life System..................................5-21
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-23
Automatic Transmission Fluid.........................5-25
Cooling System............................................5-26
Engine Coolant.............................................5-27
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap..................5-34
Engine Overheating.......................................5-34Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode........................................5-36
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-37
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-38
Brakes........................................................5-39
Battery........................................................5-42
Jump Starting...............................................5-42
All-Wheel Drive..............................................5-47
Rear Axle.......................................................5-48
Front Axle......................................................5-49
Headlamp Aiming...........................................5-50
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-51
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting............5-51
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-51
Back-Up Lamps............................................5-52
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-52
Windshield Replacement.................................5-52
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-52
Tires..............................................................5-54
Winter Tires.................................................5-55
Tire Sidewall Labeling...................................5-56
Tire Terminology and Denitions.....................5-59
Run-Flat Tires (STS-V)..................................5-62
Ination - Tire Pressure.................................5-64
High-Speed Operation...................................5-65
Tire Pressure Monitor System.........................5-66
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation.....................5-68
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

Service
For service and parts needs, visit your dealer/retailer.
You will receive genuine GM parts and GM-trained and
supported service people.
Genuine GM parts have one of these marks:
Accessories and Modications
When non-dealer/non-retailer accessories are added
to the vehicle, they can affect vehicle performance and
safety, including such things as airbags, braking, stability,
ride and handling, emissions systems, aerodynamics,
durability, and electronic systems like antilock brakes,
traction control, and stability control. Some of these
accessories could even cause malfunction or damage
not covered by the vehicle warranty.
Damage to vehicle components resulting from the
installation or use of non-GM certied parts, including
control module modications, are not covered under the
terms of the vehicle warranty and may affect remaining
warranty coverage for affected parts.
GM Accessories are designed to complement and
function with other systems on the vehicle. Your GM
dealer/retailer can accessorize the vehicle using genuine
GM Accessories. When you go to your GM dealer/retailer
and ask for GM Accessories, you will know that
GM-trained and supported service technicians will
perform the work using genuine GM Accessories.
Also, seeAdding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle on page 1-64.
5-3

Filling a Portable Fuel Container
{CAUTION:
Never ll a portable fuel container while it is in
the vehicle. Static electricity discharge from the
container can ignite the fuel vapor. You can be
badly burned and the vehicle damaged if this
occurs. To help avoid injury to you and others:
Dispense fuel only into approved containers.
Do not ll a container while it is inside a
vehicle, in a vehicle’s trunk, pickup bed,
or on any surface other than the ground.
Bring the ll nozzle in contact with the inside
of the ll opening before operating the nozzle.
Contact should be maintained until the lling
is complete.
Do not smoke while pumping fuel.
Do not use a cellular phone while
pumping fuel.
Checking Things Under
the Hood
{CAUTION:
An electric fan under the hood can start up and
injure you even when the engine is not running.
Keep hands, clothing, and tools away from any
underhood electric fan.
{CAUTION:
Things that burn can get on hot engine parts and
start a re. These include liquids like fuel, oil,
coolant, brake uid, windshield washer and other
uids, and plastic or rubber. You or others could
be burned. Be careful not to drop or spill things
that will burn onto a hot engine.
5-10

After you have removed the sight shields (if equipped) on the 3.6L V6 engine, here is what you will see:
A. Underhood Fuse Block. SeeUnderhood Fuse Block
on page 5-124.
B. Remote Negative (-) Terminal. SeeJump Starting on
page 5-42.
C. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump Starting on
page 5-42.
D. Battery. SeeBattery on page 5-42.
E. Passenger Compartment Air Filter. SeePassenger
Compartment Air Filter on page 3-54.
F. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. SeePower Steering
Fluid on page 5-37.
G. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-18.H. Engine Oil Dipstick (Out of View). See “Checking
Engine Oil” underEngine Oil on page 5-18.
I. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid”
underBrakes on page 5-39.
J. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap.
SeeCoolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap on page 5-34
andCooling System on page 5-26.
K. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-23.
L. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding
Washer Fluid” underWindshield Washer Fluid
on page 5-38.
5-13

After you have removed the sight shields (if equipped) on the 4.6L V8 engine, here is what you will see:
A. Remote Negative (-) Terminal. SeeJump Starting on
page 5-42.
B. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump Starting on
page 5-42.
C. Battery. SeeBattery on page 5-42.
D. Passenger Compartment Air Filter. SeePassenger
Compartment Air Filter on page 3-54.
E. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. SeePower Steering
Fluid on page 5-37.
F. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-18.
G. Engine Oil Dipstick (Out of View). See “Checking
Engine Oil” underEngine Oil on page 5-18.H. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid”
underBrakes on page 5-39.
I. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap.
SeeCoolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap on page 5-34
andCooling System on page 5-26.
J. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-23.
K. Underhood Fuse Block. SeeUnderhood Fuse Block
on page 5-124.
L. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding
Washer Fluid” underWindshield Washer Fluid
on page 5-38.
5-15

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 5-124.
B. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump Starting on
page 5-42.
C. Remote Negative (-) Terminal. SeeJump Starting on
page 5-42.
D. Battery. SeeBattery on page 5-42.
E. Passenger Compartment Air Filter. SeePassenger
Compartment Air Filter on page 3-54.
F. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding
Washer Fluid” underWindshield Washer Fluid
on page 5-38.
G. Intercooler System Pressure Cap. SeeEngine
Coolant on page 5-27.
H. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. SeePower Steering
Fluid on page 5-37.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 5-39.
L. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap.
SeeCoolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap on page 5-34
andCooling System on page 5-26.
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

Brakes
Brake Fluid
The brake master
cylinder reservoir is lled
with DOT-3 brake uid.
SeeEngine Compartment
Overview on page 5-12
for reservoir location and
access.
There are only two reasons why the brake uid level in
the reservoir might go down:
The brake uid level goes down because of normal
brake lining wear. When new linings are installed,
the uid level goes back up.
A uid leak in the brake hydraulic system can also
cause a low uid level. Have the brake hydraulic
system xed, since a leak means that sooner
or later the brakes will not work well.Do not top off the brake uid. Adding uid does not
correct a leak. If uid is added when the linings are worn,
there will be too much uid when new brake linings are
installed. Add or remove brake uid, as necessary, only
when work is done on the brake hydraulic system.
{CAUTION:
If too much brake uid is added, it can spill on the
engine and burn, if the engine is hot enough. You
or others could be burned, and the vehicle could
be damaged. Add brake uid only when work is
done on the brake hydraulic system.
If the ignition is on and the brake uid is low, the
CHECK BRAKE FLUID message displays in the
Driver Information Center (DIC). SeeDIC Warnings
and Messages on page 3-79.
5-39

What to Add
DOT-3 brake uid is recommended. DOT-4 brake uid
is also compatible with the vehicle’s brake system parts.
However, if DOT-4 uid is used, it is recommended that
the brake hydraulic system be ushed and relled with
new DOT-4 uid at a regular maintenance service
every two years. SeeAdditional Required Services on
page 6-6. Use new brake uid from a sealed container
only. SeeRecommended Fluids and Lubricants on
page 6-13.
Always clean the brake uid reservoir cap and the area
around the cap before removing it. This helps keep
dirt from entering the reservoir.
{CAUTION:
With the wrong kind of uid in the brake hydraulic
system, the brakes might not work well. This could
cause a crash. Always use the proper brake uid.Notice:
Using the wrong uid can badly damage brake
hydraulic system parts. For example, just a
few drops of mineral-based oil, such as engine
oil, in the brake hydraulic system can damage
brake hydraulic system parts so badly that they
will have to be replaced. Do not let someone
put in the wrong kind of uid.
If brake uid is spilled on the vehicle’s painted
surfaces, the paint nish can be damaged.
Be careful not to spill brake uid on the vehicle.
If you do, wash it off immediately. SeeWashing
Your Vehicle on page 5-118.
Brake Wear
This vehicle has disc brakes. Disc brake pads have
built-in wear indicators that make a high-pitched warning
sound when the brake pads are worn and new pads are
needed. The sound can come and go or be heard all the
time the vehicle is moving, except when applying the
brake pedal rmly.
5-40