
Black plate (61,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
Driver Side shown, Passenger Side similar
The roof-rail airbags for the driver, right front passenger,
and second row outboard passengers are in the ceiling
above the side windows.
{WARNING:
If something is between an occupant and an
airbag, the airbag might not inflate properly or it
might force the object into that person causing
severe injury or even death. The path of an
inflating airbag must be kept clear. Do not put
anything between an occupant and an airbag,
and do not attach or put anything on the steering
wheel hub or on or near any other airbag
covering.
Do not use seat accessories that block the
inflation path of a seat-mounted side impact
airbag.
Never secure anything to the roof of a vehicle
with roof-rail airbags by routing a rope or tie down
through any door or window opening. If you do,
the path of an inflating roof-rail airbag will be
blocked.
2-61

Black plate (63,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
The seat-mounted side impact and roof-rail airbags are
not intended to inflate in frontal impacts, near-frontal
impacts, rollovers, or rear impacts. A seat-mounted side
impact airbag is intended to deploy on the side of the
vehicle that is struck. A roof-rail airbag is intended to
deploy on the side of the vehicle that is struck.
In any particular crash, no one can say whether an
airbag should have inflated simply because of the
damage to a vehicle or because of what the repair costs
were. For frontal airbags, inflation is determined by
what the vehicle hits, the angle of the impact, and how
quickly the vehicle slows down. For seat-mounted side
impact and roof-rail airbags, deployment is determined
by the location and severity of the side impact.
What Makes an Airbag Inflate?
In a deployment event, the sensing system sends an
electrical signal triggering a release of gas from the
inflator. Gas from the inflator fills the airbag causing the
bag to break out of the cover and deploy. The inflator,
the airbag, and related hardware are all part of the
airbag module.Frontal airbag modules are located inside the steering
wheel and instrument panel. For vehicles with
seat-mounted side impact airbags, there are airbag
modules in the side of the front seatbacks closest to the
door. For vehicles with roof-rail airbags, there are airbag
modules in the ceiling of the vehicle, near the side
windows that have occupant seating positions.
How Does an Airbag Restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal collisions,
even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel
or the instrument panel. In moderate to severe side
collisions, even belted occupants can contact the inside
of the vehicle.
Airbags supplement the protection provided by safety
belts. Frontal airbags distribute the force of the impact
more evenly over the occupant's upper body, stopping
the occupant more gradually. Seat-mounted side impact
and roof-rail airbags distribute the force of the impact
more evenly over the occupant's upper body.
But airbags would not help in many types of collisions,
primarily because the occupant's motion is not toward
those airbags. See
When Should an Airbag Inflate?
on
page 2‑62for more information.
Airbags should never be regarded as anything more
than a supplement to safety belts.
2-63

Black plate (64,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
What Will You See After an Airbag
Inflates?
After the frontal airbags and seat-mounted side impact
airbags inflate, they quickly deflate, so quickly that
some people may not even realize an airbag inflated.
Roof-rail airbags may still be at least partially inflated for
some time after they deploy. Some components of the
airbag module may be hot for several minutes. For
location of the airbag modules, seeWhat Makes an
Airbag Inflate? on page 2‑63.
The parts of the airbag that come into contact with you
may be warm, but not too hot to touch. There may be
some smoke and dust coming from the vents in the
deflated airbags. Airbag inflation does not prevent the
driver from seeing out of the windshield or being able to
steer the vehicle, nor does it prevent people from
leaving the vehicle.
{WARNING:
When an airbag inflates, there may be dust in the
air. This dust could cause breathing problems for
people with a history of asthma or other breathing
trouble. To avoid this, everyone in the vehicle
should get out as soon as it is safe to do so.
If you have breathing problems but cannot get out
of the vehicle after an airbag inflates, then get
fresh air by opening a window or a door. If you
experience breathing problems following an airbag
deployment, you should seek medical attention.
The vehicle has a feature that may automatically unlock
the doors, turn on the interior lamps and hazard warning
flashers, and shut off the fuel system after the airbags
inflate. You can lock the doors, turn off the interior
lamps and hazard warning flashers by using the
controls for those features.
2-64

Black plate (1,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
Section 3 Features and Controls
Keys. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Keyless Access System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
Keyless Access System Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5
Remote Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10
Doors and Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-12
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-12
Power Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-13
Programmable Automatic Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . 3-14
Rear Door Security Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-14
Lockout Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-15
Trunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-15
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-18
Power Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-19
Sun Visors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-21
Theft-Deterrent Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-22
Theft-Deterrent System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-22
Valet Lockout Switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-24
Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-24
Immobilizer Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-24 Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
. . . . . . . . . . . .3-25
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-25
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-26
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-27
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-27
Engine Coolant Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-29
Automatic Transmission Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-30
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-33
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-34
Shifting Out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-35
Parking Over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-35
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-36
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-36
Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-37
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror . . . . . . . . . . . 3-37
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-38
Outside Power Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-39
Outside Automatic Dimming Mirror . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-39
Park Tilt Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-40
Outside Convex Mirror . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-40
Outside Heated Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-40
3-1

Black plate (3,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
Keys
{WARNING:
Leaving children in a vehicle with the keyless
access transmitter is dangerous for many
reasons, children or others could be badly injured
or even killed. They could operate the power
windows or other controls or even make the
vehicle move. The windows will function with the
keyless access transmitter in the vehicle and they
could be seriously injured or killed if caught in
the path of a closing window. Do not leave the
keyless access transmitter in a vehicle with
children.
3-3

Black plate (10,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
Battery Replacement
Notice:When replacing the battery, do not touch
any of the circuitry on the transmitter. Static from
your body could damage the transmitter.
1. Separate the transmitter with a flat, thin object inserted into the slot on the side of the transmitter.
2. Remove the old battery. Do not use a metal object.
3. Insert the new battery, positive side facing down. Replace with a CR2032 or equivalent battery.
4. Snap the transmitter back together.
Remote Vehicle Start
This feature allows you to start the engine from outside
the vehicle.
You can also program the remote vehicle start system
to start up the vehicle's automatic climate control
system. If this feature is turned on, the system monitors
the outside temperature and turns on the rear window
defogger, front window defogger, and heated or
ventilated seats, if your vehicle has them. See
“Personal Settings Menu” underVehicle Personalization
on page 3‑59.
/ (Remote Start): This button will be on the RKE
transmitter if you have remote start.
To start the vehicle using the remote start feature:
1. Aim the remote keyless access transmitter at the vehicle.
2. Press the transmitter's
Q, release it, and then
immediately press and hold the transmitter's
/for
at least three seconds or until the vehicle's turn
signal lamps flash. The vehicle's doors will be
locked.
When the vehicle starts, the parking lamps will turn
on and remain on while the vehicle is running.
3-10

Black plate (13,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
WARNING: (Continued)
.Outsiders can easily enter through an
unlocked door when you slow down or stop
your vehicle. Locking your doors can help
prevent this from happening.
There are several ways to lock and unlock your vehicle.
From the outside:
.Pull the front door handle. If you have the keyless
access transmitter, the vehicle recognizes the
transmitter and automatically unlocks the door.
.Another way to lock or unlock the vehicle, is to
press
QorKon the keyless access transmitter.
See Vehicle Personalization
on page 3‑59for
information on how to program the keyless access
feature. From the inside:
.Press the power door lock switch located on each
front door. See
Power Door Lockson page 3‑13for more information.
.Push down or pull up on the manual door lock
knob. The knob is located at the top of the door
panel near the window.
Power Door Locks
With power door locks, the switches on the front doors
can be used to lock and unlock the vehicle.
K(Unlock):Press to unlock the doors.
Q(Lock):Remove the key from the ignition and press
to lock the doors.
3-13

Black plate (15,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
Lockout Protection
The vehicle can be programmed to sound the horn
three times and unlock the driver's door when all doors
are closed and there is a keyless access transmitter
inside the interior of the vehicle. When the driver's door
is reopened, the key in reminder chime will sound
continuously. The vehicle will remain locked only when
at least one transmitter has been removed from the
vehicle and both doors are closed. SeeVehicle
Personalization on page 3‑59.
Trunk
{WARNING:
Exhaust gases can enter the vehicle if it is driven
with the liftgate, trunk/hatch open, or with any
objects that pass through the seal between the
body and the trunk/hatch or liftgate. Engine
exhaust contains Carbon Monoxide (CO) which
cannot be seen or smelled. It can cause
unconsciousness and even death.
(Continued)
WARNING: (Continued)
If the vehicle must be driven with the liftgate,
or trunk/hatch open:
.Close all of the windows.
.Fully open the air outlets on or under the
instrument panel.
.Adjust the Climate Control system to a setting
that brings in only outside air and set the fan
speed to the highest setting. See Climate
Control System in the Index.
.If the vehicle is equipped with a power liftgate,
disable the power liftgate function.
For more information about carbon monoxide, see
Engine Exhaust on page 3‑36.
3-15