2009 CADILLAC STS transmission

Keys...............................................................2-3
Keyless Access System...................................2-4
Keyless Access System Operation....................2-5
Remote Vehicle Start....................................2-11
Doors and Locks............................................2-13
Door Locks..................................................2-13
Power Door Locks........................................2-13
Programmable Automatic Door Locks..............2-14
Rear Door Security Locks..............................2-14
Lockout Protection........................................2-15
Trunk..........................................................2-15
Windows........................................................2-18
Power Windows............................................2-19
Sun Visors...................................................2-21
Theft-Deterrent Systems..................................2-21
Theft-Deterrent System..................................2-21
Valet Lockout Switch.....................................2-23
Immobilizer..................................................2-24
Immobilizer Operation....................................2-24Starting and Operating Your Vehicle................2-25
New Vehicle Break-In....................................2-25
Ignition Positions..........................................2-26
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)...................2-27
Starting the Engine.......................................2-27
Engine Coolant Heater..................................2-29
Automatic Transmission Operation...................2-30
Parking Brake..............................................2-33
Shifting Into Park..........................................2-34
Shifting Out of Park......................................2-35
Parking Over Things That Burn.......................2-35
Engine Exhaust............................................2-36
Running the Vehicle While Parked..................2-37
Mirrors...........................................................2-38
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror...............
.2-38
Compass.....................................................2-38
Outside Power Mirrors...................................2-40
Outside Automatic Dimming Mirror..................2-40
Park Tilt Mirrors............................................2-41
Outside Convex Mirror...................................2-41
Outside Heated Mirrors..................................2-41
Section 2 Features and Controls
2-1

Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
These vehicle accessories can be used for up to
20 minutes after the engine is turned off:
Audio System
Audio Steering Wheel Controls
Power Windows
Power to these accessories will work up to 20 minutes
or until one of the front doors is opened. For an additional
20 minutes of operation, close all the doors and press
Acc. to place the vehicle in accessory mode. Press the
button again to return to RAP.
Starting the Engine
To place the transmission in the proper gear:
Move the shift lever to P (Park) or N (Neutral).
To restart the engine when the vehicle is already
moving, use N (Neutral).
Notice:Do not try to shift to P (Park) if the
vehicle is moving. If you do, you could damage
the transmission. Shift to P (Park) only when the
vehicle is stopped.The keyless access transmitter must be inside the
vehicle for the ignition to work.
Cell phone chargers can interfere with the operation of
the Keyless Access System. Battery chargers should
not be plugged in when starting or turning off the engine.
To start the vehicle, do the following:
Starting Procedure
1. With your foot on the brake pedal, press the
START button located on the instrument panel.
If there is not a keyless access transmitter in
the vehicle or if there is something causing
interference with it, the DIC will display NO FOBS
DETECTED. SeeDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 3-79for more information.
2. When the engine begins cranking, let go of the
button and the engine cranks automatically until
it starts. If the battery in the keyless access
transmitter is weak, the DIC displays KEY FOB
BATTERY LOW. You can still drive the vehicle.
See “Battery Replacement” underKeyless Access
System Operation on page 2-5for more information.
If the fob battery is dead, you need to insert the
fob into the fob slot to enable engine starting.
See “No Fobs Detected” underDIC Warnings
and Messages on page 3-79.
2-27

3. Do not race the engine immediately after starting it.
Operate the engine and transmission gently until
the oil warms up and lubricates all moving parts.
4. If the engine does not start and no DIC message is
displayed, wait 15 seconds before trying again to let
the cranking motor cool down.
If the engine does not start after 5-10 seconds,
especially in very cold weather (below 0°F or−18°C),
it could be ooded with too much gasoline. Try
pushing the accelerator pedal all the way to the oor
while cranking for up to 15 seconds maximum.
Notice:Cranking the engine for long periods of
time, by pressing the START button immediately
after cranking has ended, can overheat and damage
the cranking motor, and drain the battery. Wait at
least 15 seconds between each try, to allow the
cranking motor to cool down.When the engine starts, let go of the accelerator.
If the vehicle starts briey but then stops again,
do the same thing. This clears the extra gasoline
from the engine.
The vehicle has a Computer-Controlled Cranking
System. This feature assists in starting the engine and
protects components. Once cranking has been initiated,
the engine continues cranking for a few seconds or until
the vehicle starts. If the engine does not start, cranking
automatically stops after 15 seconds to prevent cranking
motor damage. To prevent gear damage, this system
also prevents cranking if the engine is already running.
Notice:The engine is designed to work with the
electronics in the vehicle. If you add electrical parts
or accessories, you could change the way the engine
operates. Before adding electrical equipment, check
with your dealer/retailer. If you do not, the engine
might not perform properly. Any resulting damage
would not be covered by the vehicle warranty.
2-28

5. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and
store the cord as it was before to keep it away
from moving engine parts. If you do not, it could
be damaged.
The length of time the heater should remain plugged
in depends on several factors. Ask a dealer/retailer
in the area where you will be parking the vehicle for
the best advice on this.
Automatic Transmission Operation
There are several different
positions for the shift lever.
P (Park):This position locks the rear wheels. It is the
best position to use when you start the engine because
the vehicle cannot move easily.
{CAUTION:
It is dangerous to get out of the vehicle if the shift
lever is not fully in P (Park) with the parking brake
rmly set. The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured. To be sure the
vehicle will not move, even when you are on fairly
level ground, always set the parking brake and
move the shift lever to P (Park). SeeShifting Into
Park on page 2-34. If you are pulling a trailer,
seeTowing a Trailer (Vehicles Without Heavy
Duty Cooling) on page 4-31orTowing a Trailer
(Vehicles With Heavy Duty Cooling) on page 4-32.
Make sure the shift lever is fully in P (Park)
before starting the engine. The vehicle has an
automatic transmission shift lock control system.
You must fully apply your regular brakes rst and
then press the shift lever button before you can
shift from P (Park) when the vehicle is running.
2-30

If you cannot shift out of P (Park), ease pressure on
the shift lever and push the shift lever all the way into
P (Park) as you maintain brake application. Then press
the shift lever button and move the shift lever into another
gear. SeeShifting Out of Park on page 2-35.
Notice:Shifting to R (Reverse) while the vehicle is
moving forward could damage the transmission.
The repairs would not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Shift to R (Reverse) only after the vehicle
is stopped.
R (Reverse):Use this gear to back up.
At low vehicle speeds, you can also use R (Reverse)
to rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of
snow, ice, or sand without damaging the transmission.
SeeIf Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or
Snow on page 4-23for additional information.
N (Neutral):In this position, the engine does not
connect with the wheels. To restart the engine when
the vehicle is already moving, use N (Neutral) only.
You can also use N (Neutral) when the vehicle is
being towed.
{CAUTION:
Shifting into a drive gear while the engine is
running at high speed is dangerous. Unless your
foot is rmly on the brake pedal, the vehicle could
move very rapidly. You could lose control and hit
people or objects. Do not shift into a drive gear
while the engine is running at high speed.
Notice:Shifting out of P (Park) or N (Neutral) with
the engine running at high speed may damage the
transmission. The repairs would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty. Be sure the engine is not
running at high speed when shifting the vehicle.
D (Drive):This position is for normal driving. It provides
the best fuel economy. If you need more power for
passing, and you are:
Going less than 35 mph (55 km/h), push the
accelerator pedal about halfway down.
Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push the
accelerator all the way down.
The transmission will shift down to a lower gear
and have more power.
Downshifting the transmission in slippery road conditions
could result in skidding, see “Skidding” underLoss of
Control on page 4-15.
2-31

Driver Shift Control (DSC)
Notice:If you drive the vehicle at high RPMs
without upshifting while using Driver Shift
Control (DSC), you could damage the vehicle.
Always upshift when necessary while using DSC.
Driver Shift Control (DSC) allows you shift an automatic
transmission similar to a manual transmission.
To use the DSC feature:
1. Move the shift lever to the right from D (Drive) into
the DSC area.
When in DSC mode, the
sport symbol will appear
in the Driver Information
Center (DIC).
The vehicle will remain in sport mode if the
shift lever is not moved. Sport mode will shift
automatically but remain in a gear longer then it
would in normal driving mode based on braking
and acceleration.2. Press the shift lever forward to upshift or rearward
to downshift.
When using the DSC
mode, the number
displayed on the Driver
Information Center (DIC)
indicates the gear that
the transmission is in.
SeeDriver Information
Center (DIC) on page 3-72
for more information on
the DIC.
When starting the vehicle from a stopped condition,
only 1 (First) and 2 (Second) gear may be used.
While using the DSC feature the vehicle will have rmer
shifting and increased performance. You can use this for
sport driving or when climbing/descending hills to stay in
gear longer or to down shift for more power or engine
braking.
The transmission will only allow you to shift into
gears appropriate for the vehicle speed and engine
Revolutions Per Minute (RPM). The transmission will
not automatically shift to the next higher gear if the
engine RPM is too high.
2-32

If shifting is prevented for any reason, the selected gear
will ash multiple times, indicating that the transmission
has not shifted gears.
The transmission will allow you to shift to the gear
selected and will automatically downshift when the
vehicle comes to a stop. This will allow for more
power during take-off and passing.
Parking Brake
The parking brake pedal is
located on the lower portion
of the instrument panel to
the left of the steering
wheel.
The vehicle has a push-to-release parking brake pedal.
To set the parking brake, hold the brake pedal down,
then push the parking brake pedal down.If the ignition is on, the brake system warning light on
the instrument panel cluster should come on. If it does
not, you need to have the vehicle serviced. SeeBrake
System Warning Light on page 3-62for more information.
To release the parking brake, hold the brake pedal
down, then push the parking brake pedal. When you
release the park brake pedal, the parking brake
releases.
Notice:Driving with the parking brake on can
overheat the brake system and cause premature
wear or damage to brake system parts. Make sure
that the parking brake is fully released and the brake
warning light is off before driving.
A warning chime will sound if the parking brake is set,
the ignition is on and the vehicle begins to move.
To stop the chime, fully release the parking brake.
If you are towing a trailer and parking on a hill,
seeTowing a Trailer (Vehicles Without Heavy Duty
Cooling) on page 4-31orTowing a Trailer (Vehicles
With Heavy Duty Cooling) on page 4-32for more
information.
2-33

Torque Lock
Torque lock is when the weight of the vehicle puts
too much force on the parking pawl in the transmission.
This happens when parking on a hill and shifting the
transmission into P (Park) is not done properly and then it
is difficult to shift out of P (Park). To prevent torque lock,
set the parking brake and then shift into P (Park). To nd
out how, see “Shifting Into P (Park)” listed previously.
If torque lock does occur, your vehicle may need to be
pushed uphill by another vehicle to relieve the parking
pawl pressure, so you can shift out of P (Park).
Shifting Out of Park
Shift lock release prevents shifting out of P (Park)
unless the vehicle is running or in Accessory mode
and the brake pedal is applied.
The shift lock release is always functional except
in the case of an uncharged or low voltage (less than
9-volt) battery. SeeJump Starting on page 5-42for
more information.To shift out of P (Park) use the following:
1. Apply the brake pedal.
2. Press the shift lever button.
3. Move the shift lever to the desired position.
If you still are unable to shift out of P (Park):
1. Fully release the shift lever button.
2. While holding down the brake pedal, press the shift
lever button again.
3. Move the shift lever to the desired position.
If you still cannot move the shift lever from P (Park),
consult your dealer/retailer or a professional towing
service.
Parking Over Things That Burn
{CAUTION:
Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust
parts under the vehicle and ignite. Do not park
over papers, leaves, dry grass, or other things
that can burn.
2-35