
Black plate (32,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
Driver Shift Control (DSC)
Notice:If you drive the vehicle at a high rpm
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. See
Driver Information Center
(DIC)
on page 4‑69for
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 firmer
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.
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Black plate (33,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
If shifting is prevented for any reason, the selected gear
will flash 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. See
Brake
System Warning Light
on page 4‑58for 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, see
Towing a Trailer
on page 5‑31for more information.
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Black plate (37,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
WARNING: (Continued)
death. Never run the engine in an enclosed area
that has no fresh air ventilation. For more
information, seeEngine Exhaust on page 3‑36.
{WARNING:
It can be dangerous to get out of the vehicle if the
automatic transmission shift lever is not fully in
P (Park) with the parking brake firmly 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 after you move the shift lever to P (Park).
Follow the proper steps to be sure the vehicle will not
move. See Shifting Into Park on page 3‑34.
If parking on a hill and pulling a trailer, see Towing a
Trailer on page 5‑31.
Mirrors
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror
The vehicle may have an inside rearview mirror with
automatic dimming and OnStar®controls; or it may
have OnStar®and a compass display. See the OnStar®
owner guide and/or Compasson page 3‑38for more
information.
O(On/Off): Press to turn the dimming feature on or off.
Automatic Dimming Mirror Operation
Automatic dimming reduces the glare of lights from
behind the vehicle. The dimming feature comes on and
the indicator light illuminates each time the vehicle is
started.
Cleaning the Mirror
Do not spray glass cleaner directly on the mirror. Use a
soft towel dampened with water.
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Black plate (59,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Personalization
The vehicle has personalization that allows you to
program certain features to a preferred setting for
up to two drivers. The back of the keyless access
transmitters are labelled 1 or 2. Additional keyless
access transmitters programmed to the vehicle,
as 3 and/or 4, do not have a number on the back and
are not capable of being personalized. The number of
programmable features varies depending upon which
vehicle options are purchased.
On all vehicles, features such as climate control
settings, radio and XM™preset settings, exterior
lighting at unlock and remote lock unlock confirmation,
and language have already been programmed. Your
vehicle also has an automatic door locking feature
that is always on. You cannot turn the automatic door
locking feature off. See Programmable Automatic Door
Locks on page 3‑14.
Some vehicles have additional features that can be
programmed including the seat, steering column, and
outside rearview mirror position.
If your vehicle has the base audio system, the following
information explains the vehicle personalization on your
vehicle.
If your vehicle has the Navigation system, see
“Personalization” in the Index of the Navigation System
manual for information on vehicle personalization. If your vehicle has the ability to program additional
personalization features, the driver's preferences are
recalled by pressing any button on the keyless access
transmitter, 1 or 2, by selecting Driver 1 or 2 on the radio
display, or when a valid keyless access transmitter is
detected upon opening the driver's door.
If more than one valid keyless access transmitter is
detected upon opening the driver's door, the driver
preferences for the lowest driver number will be
recalled.
Certain features can be programmed not to recall until
the ignition is turned off.
The default settings were preset but may have been
changed.
To change feature preferences, use the following
procedure.
Entering the Personal Settings Menu
To enter the feature programming mode:
1. The ignition must be either on, in ACCESSORY, or in RAP and the transmission in P (Park) or the
vehicle speed less than 6 mph (9 km/h).
To avoid excessive drain on the battery, it is
recommended that the headlamps are turned off.
2. Press any button on the appropriate keyless access transmitter to identify yourself as Driver 1 or
Driver 2.
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Black plate (70,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
DRIVER UNLOCK IN PARK
The feature allows the driver's door to automatically
unlock when the transmission is shifted into P (Park).
Programmable Modes
Mode 1:ON
Mode 2: OFF (default)
To program the vehicle to a different mode: 1. Enter the PERSONAL SETTINGS MENU by following the instructions listed previously under
“Entering the Personal Settings Menu.”
2. Turn the tune/select knob until DRIVER UNLOCK IN PARK is highlighted.
3. Press the tune/select knob to switch back and forth between on and off.
When the mode is turned on, a check mark will
appear next to the feature name.
The mode you selected is now set. You can either exit
the programming mode by following the instructions
later in this section or program the next feature
available on your vehicle.
DOORS UNLOCK IN PARK
The feature allows all of the doors to automatically
unlock when the transmission is shifted into P (Park).
Programmable Modes
Mode 1: ON (default)
Mode 2: OFF
To program the vehicle to a different mode: 1. Enter the PERSONAL SETTINGS MENU by following the instructions listed previously under
“Entering the Personal Settings Menu.”
2. Turn the tune/select knob until DOORS UNLOCK IN PARK is highlighted.
3. Press the tune/select knob to switch back and forth between on and off.
When the mode is turned on, a check mark will
appear next to the feature name.
The mode you selected is now set. You can either exit
the programming mode by following the instructions
later in this section or program the next feature
available on your vehicle.
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Black plate (78,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
STORE DRIVER SETTINGS
To store driver settings:1. Adjust your settings for the driver seat, the outside rearview mirrors, and the steering column to a
comfortable driving position.
2. Enter the memory programming mode for your driver settings by following the instructions listed
previously under “Entering the Driver Selection
Submenu.”
3. From the DRIVER SELECTION submenu, turn the tune/select knob to scroll to STORE DRIVER
SETTINGS and press in the knob. Two beeps will
sound to confirm that your driver settings are
saved.
4. Set the HUD position, if your vehicle has this feature, the climate control temperature, fan speed
and mode settings, the radio presets, tone,
volume, playback mode (AM/FM, XM™, or CD),
and compact disc position.
Your memory settings are now programmed.
Any changes that are made to the HUD, audio
system, and climate controls while driving will be
automatically stored when the ignition is turned off.
5. Repeat the procedure for a second driver by programming the other driver number.
Entering the Driver Exit Settings
Submenu
To enter the memory programming mode for your exit
settings:
1. The ignition must be either on, in ACCESSORY, or in RAP and the transmission in P (Park) or the
vehicle speed less than 6 mph (9 km/h).
2. Press any button on the appropriate keyless access transmitter to identify yourself as Driver 1 or
Driver 2.
3. Turn on the radio by pressing the power/ volume knob.
4. Press the CNFG radio button to enter the main menu of the radio.
5. Turn the tune/select knob and scroll to SETUP.
6. Press the tune/select knob to enter the SETUP menu.
7. Turn the tune/select knob and scroll to DRIVER EXIT SETTINGS.
8. Press the tune/select knob to enter the DRIVER EXIT SETTINGS submenu. The following items will
appear:
.RECALL EXIT SETTINGS
.STORE EXIT SETTINGS
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Black plate (32,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to see the front of your vehicle during the day.
Fully functional daytime running lamps are required on
all vehicles first sold in Canada.
The DRL system comes on when the following
conditions are met:
.It is still daylight and the ignition is on.
.The automatic lights are enabled.
.The transmission is not in P (Park).
When DRL are on, only the front turn signal lamps will
be on. No other exterior lamps will be on when the DRL
are being used. The instrument panel will not be lit.
When the automatic lights are enabled and it is dark
enough outside, the DRL will turn off and the low-beam
headlamps will turn on. When it is bright enough
outside, the low-beam headlamps will go off, and the
DRL will turn back on. If the vehicle is started in a dark
garage, the automatic headlamp system comes on
immediately. Once the vehicle leaves the garage,
it will take about one minute for the automatic
headlamp system to change to DRL if it is light outside. During that delay, the instrument panel cluster may not
be as bright as usual. Make sure the instrument panel
brightness lever is in the full bright position. See
Instrument Panel Brightness on page 4‑35.
To operate the vehicle with the DRL off, turn the exterior
lamp control off and then do one of the following:
.Turn the exterior lamp control to the parking lamp
position.
.Turn the exterior lamp control to the headlamp
position.
.Turn the exterior lamp control from AUTO to off
and back to AUTO.
An AUTOMATIC LIGHTS OFF message will appear on
the DIC, showing that automatic lighting has been
disabled. See DIC Warnings and Messages
on
page 4‑76.
The regular headlamp system should be turned on
when needed.
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Black plate (38,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
Head-Up Display (HUD)
{WARNING:
If the HUD image is too bright, or too high in your
field of view, it may take you more time to see
things you need to see when it is dark outside. Be
sure to keep the HUD image dim and placed low
in your field of view.
For vehicles with the Head-Up Display (HUD), some of
the driver information that appears on the instrument
panel cluster is projected onto an image on the
windshield.
The information can be displayed in English or metric
units. To change from English to metric units, see DIC
Operation and Displays on page 4‑70.
The HUD consists of the following information:
.Speedometer
.Turn Signal Indicators
.High-Beam Indicator Symbol
.Driver Shift Control Transmission Feature, see
Automatic Transmission Operation on page 3‑30
.Check Gauges Icon
.Adaptive Cruise Control Features and Indicators
(If Equipped), see Adaptive Cruise Controlon
page 4‑15
.Forward Collision Alert Features and Indicators
(If Equipped), see Forward Collision Alert (FCA)
System on page 4‑6
.Radio Features
United States version
shown, Canada similar
Always scan the instrument panel displays, controls
and driving environment just as you would in a vehicle
without HUD, so important warning lights are not
missed. Under important warning conditions, the
CHECK GAGES message will display in the HUD.
View the Driver Information Center (DIC) for more
information.
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