
Black plate (15,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
When going downhill, you might have to brake to keep
the vehicle speed down. When the brakes are applied
the cruise control is disengaged.
Ending Cruise Control
There are three ways to end cruise control.
.To disengage cruise control; step lightly on the
brake pedal.
.Press the[button on the steering wheel.
.To turn off cruise control, move the cruise control
switch to
9.
Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed is erased from memory by
moving the cruise control switch to
9or if the ignition
is turned off.
Adaptive Cruise Control
If the vehicle has adaptive cruise control, read the
Radio Frequency Statementon page 8‑20before using
this feature.
Changes or modifications to this system by other than
an authorized service facility could void authorization to
use this equipment.
Adaptive Cruise Control is an enhancement to
traditional cruise control and is not a safety system.
It allows you to keep cruise control engaged in
moderate traffic conditions without having to constantly
be reset. Adaptive Cruise Control uses radar to
detect a vehicle directly ahead in your path, within a
distance of 100 m (328 ft), and operates at speeds
above 48 km/h (30 mph). When it is engaged by
the driver, the system can apply limited braking or
acceleration of the vehicle, automatically, to maintain
a selected following distance to the vehicle ahead.
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Black plate (22,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
Approaching and Following a Vehicle
The vehicle ahead symbol only appears on the HUD
when a vehicle ahead is detected in your path.
If this symbol does not appear, or disappears briefly,
Adaptive Cruise Control will not respond to vehicles you
may see ahead.
{WARNING:
When the Adaptive Cruise Control radar is
blocked by snow, ice, or dirt, it may not detect a
vehicle ahead. Adaptive Cruise Control may not
have time to slow your vehicle enough to avoid a
collision. Do not use Adaptive Cruise Control
when the radar is blocked by snow, ice, or dirt.
Keep your radar clean. See“Cleaning the
System” later in this section.
Adaptive Cruise Control automatically slows your
vehicle down when approaching a slower moving
vehicle. It then adjusts your speed to follow the vehicle
in front at the selected following distance. Your speed
increases or decreases to follow the vehicle in front of
you but will not exceed the set speed. It may apply
limited braking, if necessary. When braking is active,
your brake lights come on. It may feel or sound different
than if you were applying the brakes yourself. This is
normal.
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Black plate (34,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
Twilight Sentinel®
Twilight Sentinel®can turn the lamps on and off for you.
A light sensor on top of the instrument panel makes the
Twilight Sentinel work, so be sure it is not covered.With Twilight Sentinel the following will happen:
.When it is dark enough outside, the front turn
signal lamps (DRL) will go off, and the headlamps
and parking lamps will come on. The other lamps
that come on with headlamps will also come on.
.When it is bright enough outside, the headlamps
will go off, and the front turn signal lamps (DRL)
will come on, as long as the exterior lamp switch is
in the off position.
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 might not be as bright as usual. Make sure the
instrument panel brightness control is in full bright
position. See Instrument Panel Brightness
on
page 4‑35for more information.
You can idle the vehicle with the lamps off, even when it
is dark outside. First set the parking brake while the
ignition is in OFF/ACCESSORY. Then start the vehicle.
The lamps will stay off until the parking brake is
released.
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Black plate (58,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
Brake System Warning Light
The vehicle brake system consists of two hydraulic
circuits. If one circuit is not working, the remaining
circuit can still work to stop the vehicle. For normal
braking performance, both circuits need to be working
If the warning light comes on, there is a brake problem.
Have the brake system inspected right away.
EnglishMetric
This light comes on briefly when the engine is turned
on. If it does not come on then, have it fixed so it will
be ready to warn if there is a problem. When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
also comes on when the parking brake is set. The light
will stay on if the parking brake does not release fully.
If it stays on after the parking brake is fully released, it
means there is a brake problem.
If the light comes on while driving, pull off the road and
stop carefully.The pedal may be harder to push, or the
pedal may go closer to the floor. It may take longer to
stop. If the light is still on, have the vehicle towed for
service. See
Towing Your Vehicle on page 5‑29.
{WARNING:
The brake system might not be working properly if
the brake system warning light is on. Driving with
the brake system warning light on can lead to a
crash. If the light is still on after the vehicle has
been pulled off the road and carefully stopped,
have the vehicle towed for service.
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Black plate (59,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
Warning Light
For vehicles with the
Antilock Brake System
(ABS), this light comes on
briefly when the engine is
started.
If it does not, have the vehicle serviced by your dealer.
If the system is working normally the indicator light then
goes off. If the ABS light stays on, turn the ignition off. If the light
comes on while 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 stays on,
or comes on again while driving, the vehicle needs
service. If the regular brake system warning light is not
on, the vehicle still has brakes, but not antilock brakes.
If the regular brake system warning light is also on, the
vehicle does not have antilock brakes and there is a
problem with the regular brakes. See
Brake System
Warning Light on page 4‑58.
For vehicles with a Driver Information Center (DIC),
see DIC Warnings and Messages
on page 4‑76for
all brake related DIC messages.
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Black plate (78,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
BATTERY VOLTAGE LOW
This symbol appears
with this message.
This message displays when the electrical system is
charging less than 10 volts or the battery has been
drained.
If this message appears immediately after starting
the engine, it is possible that the generator can still
recharge the battery. The battery should recharge while
driving, but may take a few hours to do so. Consider
using an auxiliary charger to boost the battery after
returning home or to a final destination. Follow the
manufacturer's instructions.
If this message appears while driving or after starting
your vehicle and stays on, have it checked immediately
to determine the cause of this problem.
To help the generator recharge the battery quickly,
reduce the load on the electrical system by turning
off the accessories. The normal battery voltage range is 11.5 to 15.5 volts.
To monitor battery voltage on the DIC, press the
information button until BATTERY VOLTS displays.
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
This message displays when the engine oil needs
to be changed. See your dealer. See
Engine Oilon
page 6‑16and Scheduled Maintenanceon page 7‑3for more information.
After resetting the CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message by clearing it from the display, reset the
engine oil life system separately. For more information
on resetting the engine oil life system, see Engine Oil
Life System on page 6‑20.
CHECK BRAKE FLUID
This message displays if the ignition is on to inform the
driver that the brake fluid level is low. Have the brake
system serviced by your dealer as soon as possible.
See Brake System Warning Light
on page 4‑58for
more information.
CHECK GAS CAP
This message displays when the fuel cap has not been
fully tightened. Recheck the fuel cap to ensure that it is
on and tightened properly.
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Black plate (86,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
SERVICE AIR BAG
This message displays if there is a problem with the
airbag system. Have your vehicle serviced by your
dealer immediately. SeeAirbag Readiness Light
on
page 4‑54for more information.
SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST
This message displays when a problem with the panic
brake assist system has been detected. Have your
vehicle serviced by your dealer.
SERVICE LANE DEPARTURE SYSTEM
If your vehicle has the Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
system, this message may display to indicate that the
LDW system is not working properly. If this message
remains on after continued driving, the system needs
service. See your dealer. See the Index in the
Navigation manual for more information.
SERVICE RADAR CRUISE
This message displays when the Adaptive Cruise
Control system is disabled and needs service. See
your dealer.
SERVICE SIDE BLIND ZONE ALERT
SYSTEM
If your vehicle has the Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA)
system and this message displays, both SBZA
displays will remain on indicating there is a problem
with the SBZA system. If these displays remain on after
continued driving, the system needs service. See your
dealer. See the Index in the Navigation manual for more
information.
SERVICE STABILITY SYS (System)
Your vehicle has a vehicle stability enhancement
system called StabiliTrak®. All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
vehicle with the Active Steering with Enhanced
StabiliTrak option have a stability enhancement
system called Enhanced StabiliTrak.
This message displays if there has been a problem
detected with the stability system.
If this message comes on while driving, pull off the road
as soon as possible and stop carefully. Try resetting the
system by turning the ignition off then back on. If this
message still stays on or comes back on again while
driving, your vehicle needs service. Have the stability
system inspected by your dealer as soon as possible.
See StabiliTrak
®Systemon page 5‑6orEnhanced
StabiliTrak®on page 5‑7for more information.
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Black plate (4,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
Braking
SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 4‑58.
Braking action involves perception time and reaction
time. Deciding to push the brake pedal is perception
time. Actually doing it is reaction time.
Average reaction time is about three‐fourths of a
second. But that is only an average. It might be less
with one driver and as long as two or three seconds or
more with another. Age, physical condition, alertness,
coordination, and eyesight all play a part. So do alcohol,
drugs, and frustration. But even in three‐fourths of a
second, a vehicle moving at 100 km/h (60 mph) travels
20 m (66 feet). That could be a lot of distance in an
emergency, so keeping enough space between the
vehicle and others is important.
And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly
with the surface of the road, whether it is pavement or
gravel; the condition of the road, whether it is wet, dry,
or icy; tire tread; the condition of the brakes; the weight
of the vehicle; and the amount of brake force applied. Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive in
spurts, heavy acceleration followed by heavy braking,
rather than keeping pace with traffic. This is a mistake.
The brakes might not have time to cool between hard
stops. The brakes will wear out much faster with a lot
of heavy braking. Keeping pace with the traffic and
allowing realistic following distances eliminates a lot of
unnecessary braking. That means better braking and
longer brake life.
If the engine ever stops while the vehicle is being
driven, brake normally but do not pump the brakes.
If the brakes are pumped, the pedal could get harder to
push down. If the engine stops, there will still be some
power brake assist but it will be used when the brake is
applied. Once the power assist is used up, it can take
longer to stop and the brake pedal will be harder
to push.
Adding non‐dealer/non‐retailer accessories can affect
vehicle performance. See
Accessories and
Modifications on page 6‑4.
5-4