Black plate (107,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
Do not clean the vehicle using:
.A knife or any other sharp object to remove a soil
from any interior surface.
.A stiff brush. It can cause damage to the vehicle's
interior surfaces.
.Heavy pressure or aggressive rubbing with a
cleaning cloth. Use of heavy pressure can damage
the interior and does not improve the effectiveness
of soil removal.
.Laundry detergents or dishwashing soaps with
degreasers can leave residue that streaks and
attracts dirt. For liquid cleaners, about 20 drops per
gallon (3.78 L) of water is a good guide. Use only
mild, neutral-pH soaps.
.Too much cleaner that saturates the upholstery.
.Organic solvents such as naptha, alcohol, etc. that
can damage the vehicle's interior.
Fabric/Carpet
Use a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment
frequently to remove dust and loose dirt. A canister
vacuum with a beater bar in the nozzle may only be
used on floor carpet and carpeted floor mats. For any
soil, always try to remove it first with plain water or club
soda. Before cleaning, gently remove as much of the
soil as possible using one of the following techniques:
.For liquids: gently blot the remaining soil with a
paper towel. Allow the soil to absorb into the paper
towel until no more can be removed.
.For solid dry soils: remove as much as possible
and then vacuum.
To clean: 1. Saturate a lint-free, clean white cloth with water or club soda.
2. Wring the cloth to remove excess moisture.
3. Start on the outside edge of the soil and gently rub toward the center. Continue cleaning, using a clean
area of the cloth each time it becomes soiled.
4. Continue to gently rub the soiled area until the cleaning cloth remains clean.
5. If the soil is not completely removed, use a mild soap solution and repeat the cleaning process that
was used with plain water.
6-107
Black plate (110,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
Rinse the vehicle well, before washing and after to
remove all cleaning agents completely. If they are
allowed to dry on the surface, they could stain.
Dry the finish with a soft, clean chamois or an all-cotton
towel to avoid surface scratches and water spotting.
High pressure car washes may cause water to enter the
vehicle. Avoid using high pressure washes closer than
12 inches (30 cm) to the surface of the vehicle. Use of
power washers exceeding 1,200 psi (8 274 kPa) can
result in damage or removal of paint and decals.
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses
Use only lukewarm or cold water, a soft cloth and a car
washing soap to clean exterior lamps and lenses.
Follow instructions underWashing Your Vehicle
on
page 6‑109.
Finish Care
Occasional waxing or mild polishing of the vehicle by
hand may be necessary to remove residue from the
paint finish. Approved cleaning products can be
obtained from your dealer.
If the vehicle has a basecoat/clearcoat paint finish, the
clearcoat gives more depth and gloss to the colored
basecoat. Always use waxes and polishes that are
non-abrasive and made for a basecoat/clearcoat paint
finish.
Notice: Machine compounding or aggressive
polishing on a basecoat/clearcoat paint finish may
damage it. Use only non-abrasive waxes and
polishes that are made for a basecoat/clearcoat
paint finish on the vehicle.
Foreign materials such as calcium chloride and other
salts, ice melting agents, road oil and tar, tree sap, bird
droppings, chemicals from industrial chimneys, etc., can
damage the vehicle's finish if they remain on painted
surfaces. Wash the vehicle as soon as possible.
6-110
Black plate (4,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
Every Engine Oil Change
.Change engine oil and filter. Reset oil life system.
SeeEngine Oilon page 6‑16andEngine Oil Life
Systemon page 6‑20. An Emission Control
Service.
.Engine coolant level check. See Engine Coolanton page 6‑25.
.Engine cooling system inspection. Visual
inspection of hoses, pipes, fittings, and clamps and
replacement, if needed.
.Windshield washer fluid level check. See
Windshield Washer Fluid on page 6‑34.
.Windshield wiper blade inspection for wear,
cracking, or contamination and windshield and
wiper blade cleaning, if contaminated. See
Windshield and Wiper Blades
on page 6‑111. Worn
or damaged wiper blade replacement. See
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
on
page 6‑49.
.Tire inflation pressures check. See Inflation - Tire
Pressure on page 6‑58.
.Tire wear inspection. See Tire Inspection and
Rotation on page 6‑65.
.If tire rotation is recommended for the vehicle,
rotate tires if necessary. See Tire Inspection and
Rotation on page 6‑65.
.Fluids visual leak check (or every 12 months,
whichever occurs first). A leak in any system must
be repaired and the fluid level checked.
.Engine air cleaner filter inspection. See Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 6‑21.
.Brake system inspection (or every 12 months,
whichever occurs first).
.Steering and suspension inspection. Visual
inspection for damaged, loose, or missing parts
or signs of wear.
.Body hinges and latches, key lock cylinders,
rear compartment hinges, console door hinges,
and glove box door hinges lubrication. See
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
on
page 7‑9. More frequent lubrication may be
required when the vehicle is exposed to a
corrosive environment. Applying silicone grease
on weatherstrips with a clean cloth makes them
last longer, seal better, and not stick or squeak.
.Restraint system component check. See Checking
the Restraint Systems on page 2‑72.
.Fuel system inspection for damage or leaks.
.Exhaust system and nearby heat shields
inspection for loose or damaged components.
7-4
Black plate (5,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
Additional Required Services
Every 12 000 km/7,500 Miles
.If tire rotation is recommended for the vehicle,
rotate tires. Tires should be rotated every
12 000 km/7,500 miles. SeeTire Inspection and
Rotation on page 6‑65.
At Each Fuel Stop
.Engine oil level check. See Engine Oilon
page 6‑16.
.Engine coolant level check. See Engine Coolanton page 6‑25.
.Windshield washer fluid level check. See
Windshield Washer Fluid on page 6‑34.
Once a Month
.Tire inflation pressures check. See Inflation - Tire
Pressure on page 6‑58.
.Tire wear inspection. See Tire Inspection and
Rotation on page 6‑65.
.Sunroof track and seal inspection, if equipped. See
Sunroof on page 3‑57.
Once a Year
.Starter switch check. See Owner Checks and
Services on page 7‑7.
.Automatic transmission shiftlock control function
check. See Owner Checks and Serviceson
page 7‑7.
.Parking brake and automatic transmission P (Park)
mechanism check. See Owner Checks and
Services on page 7‑7.
.Accelerator pedal check for damage, high effort,
or binding. Replace if needed.
.If the vehicle has a Tire Sealant and Compressor
Kit, check the sealant expiration date printed on
the instruction label of the kit. See Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit (Without Selector Switch)
on
page 6‑76or Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit
(With Selector Switch) on page 6‑85.
.Underbody flushing service.
7-5
Black plate (8,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
Lights (cont.)Engine Coolant Temperature Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-61
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-9
Front Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-67
High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5
Highbeam On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-68
Lane Departure Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-60
Lights On Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-67
Oil Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-66
On Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-31
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-55
Safety Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-53
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-67
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-62
Traction Control System (TCS) Warning . . . . . . . . . . 4-60
Limited-Slip Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11
Loading Your Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-23
Lockout Switch, Valet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-24
Locks Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-12
Lockout Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-15
Power Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-13
Programmable Automatic Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-14
Rear Door Security Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-14
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-14
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children . . . . . . . . . . . 2-45
Lumbar Power Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3M
Maintenance Schedule
Maintenance Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-13
Maintenance Replacement Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-11
Owner Checks and Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-7
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-9
Scheduled Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-3
Malfunction Indicator Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-62
Memory Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-75
Memory Seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-75
Memory Seat, Mirrors, Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-5
Memory Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-75
Message DIC Warnings and Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-76
Mirrors
Automatic Dimming Rearview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-37
Manual Rearview Mirror with Compass andTemperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14
Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-75
Outside Automatic Dimming Mirror . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-39
Outside Convex Mirror . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-40
Outside Heated Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-40
Outside Power Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-39
Park Tilt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-40
MP3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-108
i - 8
Black plate (9,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
N
Navigation System, Privacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-20
Navigation/Radio System, see NavigationManual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-113
Net, Convenience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-57
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-25
O
Object Detection, Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . 3-44
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-53
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-14
Oil
Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-16
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-20
Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-66
Older Children, Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-34
Online Owner Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8-5
OnStar, Privacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-20
OnStar
®System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-24
Operation, Universal Home Remote System . . . . . . . 3-49
Outlet Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-48
Outlets Accessory Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-42 Outside
Automatic Dimming Mirror . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-39
Convex Mirror . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-40
Heated Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-40
Power Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-39
Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode . . . . 6-32
Owner Checks and Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-7
Owners, Canadian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii
P
Paint, Damage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-113
Parade Dimming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-36
Park Shifting Into . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-34
Shifting Out of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-35
Park Aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-41
Park Tilt Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-40
Parking Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-41
Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-33
Over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-35
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-55
Passenger Compartment Air Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-50
Passenger Sensing System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-66
Passing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-14
Perchlorate Materials Requirements, California . . . . . .6-5
i - 9