2011 CADILLAC STS Owners Manual

Black plate (55,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
{WARNING:
If the airbag readiness light stays on after the
vehicle is started or comes on while driving, it
means the airbag system might not be working
properly. The airbags in the vehicle might not
inflate in a crash, or they could even inflate
without a crash. To help avoid injury, have the
vehicle serviced right away.
If there is a problem with the airbag system, an airbag
Driver Information Center (DIC) message can also
come on. See DIC Warnings and Messages
on
page 4‑76for more information.
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator
Your vehicle has the passenger sensing system. Your
overhead console has a passenger airbag status
indicator.
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When you start the vehicle, the passenger airbag status
indicator will light ON and OFF, or the symbol for on and
off, for several seconds as a system check. If you use
remote start to start your vehicle from a distance, if your
vehicle has this feature, you may not see the system
check.
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Black plate (56,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
Then, after several more seconds, the status indicator
will light either ON or OFF, or either the on or off symbol
to let you know the status of the right front passenger's
frontal airbag.
If the word ON or the on symbol is lit on the passenger
airbag status indicator, it means that the right front
passenger's frontal airbag is enabled (may inflate).
{WARNING:
If the on indicator comes on when you have a
rear-facing child restraint installed in the right
front passenger's seat, it means that the
passenger sensing system has not turned off the
passenger's frontal airbag. A child in a rear-facing
child restraint can be seriously injured or killed if
the right front passenger's airbag inflates. This is
because the back of the rear-facing child restraint
would be very close to the inflating airbag. Do not
use a rear-facing child restraint in the right front
passenger's seat if the airbag is turned on.
{WARNING:
Even though the passenger sensing system is
designed to turn off the right front passenger's
frontal airbag if the system detects a rear-facing
child restraint, no system is fail-safe, and no one
can guarantee that an airbag will not deploy under
some unusual circumstance, even though it is
turned off. We recommend that rear-facing child
restraints be secured in the rear seat, even if the
airbag is off.
If the word OFF or the off symbol is lit on the airbag
status indicator, it means that the passenger sensing
system has turned off the right front passenger's frontal
airbag. See Passenger Sensing System
on page 2‑66for more on this, including important safety information.
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Black plate (57,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
If, after several seconds, both status indicator lights
remain on, or if there are no lights at all, there may
be a problem with the lights or the passenger sensing
system. See your dealer for service.
{WARNING:
If the airbag readiness light in the instrument
panel cluster ever comes on and stays on, it
means that something may be wrong with the
airbag system. If this ever happens, have the
vehicle serviced promptly, because an adult-size
person sitting in the right front passenger's seat
may not have the protection of the airbag(s). See
Airbag Readiness Light
on page 4‑54for more
on this, including important safety information.
Charging System Light
This light comes on briefly
when the ignition key is
turned to START, but the
engine is not running, as
a check to show it is
working.
If it does not, have the vehicle serviced by your dealer.
The light should go out once the engine starts. If it stays
on, or comes on while driving, there could be a problem
with the charging system. A charging system message
in the Driver Information Center (DIC) can also appear.
See DIC Warnings and Messages
on page 4‑76for
more information. This light could indicate that there are
problems with a generator drive belt, or that there is an
electrical problem. Have it checked right away. If the
vehicle must be driven a short distance with the light
on, turn off accessories, such as the radio and air
conditioner.
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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 (60,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
Traction Control System (TCS)
Warning Light
The TCS warning light
comes on briefly when
the engine is started.
If it does not, have the vehicle serviced by your dealer.
If the Traction Control System (TCS) warning light
comes on and stays on, there may be a problem with
the TCS.
The light also comes on if the TCS is turned off using
the traction control on/off button located on the console.
If this light stays on or comes on while driving, pull off
the road as soon as possible and stop carefully. Turn
the engine off and then restart it. If the light still stays on
or comes back on again while driving, the vehicle needs
service. Have the TCS inspected as soon as possible.
See Traction Control System (TCS)
on page 5‑9andStabiliTrak®Systemon page 5‑6for more
information.
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) Light
For vehicles with the
lane departure warning
system, this light briefly
comes on green while
starting the vehicle.
If it does not, have the vehicle serviced by your dealer.
If the system is working normally the indicator light then
goes off.
This light also comes on green if the system detects
a left or right lane marking. It flashes, changes to
amber, and three beeps sound, if a detected lane
marking is crossed without using a turn signal. For
more information, see the Index in the Navigation
Manual.
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Black plate (61,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
Engine Coolant Temperature
Warning Light
The engine coolant
temperature warning light
comes on when the
engine is very hot.
This light also comes on briefly when the vehicle is
started.
If the light does not go out or comes on and stays on
while driving, there may be a problem with the cooling
system. Driving with engine coolant temperature light on
could cause the vehicle to overheat, see Overheated
Engine Protection Operating Mode
on page 6‑32. See
Engine Overheatingon page 6‑30and DIC Warnings
and Messageson page 4‑76for more information.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge
This gauge shows
the engine coolant
temperature.
It can be used to see when the engine has warmed
up and to make sure the cooling system is operating
properly. If the gauge pointer moves into the shaded
area, the engine coolant is too hot and the engine
coolant temperature warning light comes on. See
Engine Overheating
on page 6‑30for more
information.
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Black plate (62,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
Tire Pressure Light
For vehicles with a tire
pressure monitoring
system, this light comes
on briefly when the engine
is started. It provides
information about tire
pressures and the Tire
Pressure Monitoring
System.
When the Light is On Steady
This indicates that one or more of the tires is
significantly underinflated.
A tire pressure message in the Driver Information
Center (DIC), can accompany the light. SeeDriver
Information Center (DIC)
on page 4‑69for more
information. Stop and check the tires as soon as it is
safe to do so. If underinflated, inflate to the proper
pressure. See Inflation - Tire Pressure
on page 6‑58for more information.
When the Light Flashes First and Then is
On Steady
This indicates that there may be a problem with the Tire
Pressure Monitor System. The light flashes for about a
minute and stays on steady for the remainder of the
ignition cycle. This sequence repeats with every ignition
cycle. SeeTire Pressure Monitor Operation
on
page 6‑62for more information.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
A computer system called OBD II (On-Board
Diagnostics-Second Generation) monitors operation
of the fuel, ignition, and emission control systems.
It ensures that emissions are at acceptable levels for
the life of the vehicle, helping to produce a cleaner
environment.
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