2011 CADILLAC STS check engine

Black plate (17,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
When to Add Engine Oil
If the oil is below the cross-hatched area at the tip of
the dipstick, add one liter/quart of the recommended oil
and then recheck the level. See“Selecting the Right
Engine Oil” for an explanation of what kind of oil to use.
For engine oil crankcase capacity, see Capacities and
Specifications on page 6‑128. Notice:
Do not add too much oil. Oil levels above or
below the acceptable operating range shown on the
dipstick are harmful to the engine. If you find that
you have an oil level above the operating range, i.e.
the engine has so much oil that the oil level gets
above the cross-hatched area that shows the proper
operating range, the engine could be damaged. You
should drain out the excess oil or limit your driving
of the vehicle and seek a service professional to
remove the excess amount of oil.
See Engine Compartment Overviewon page 6‑13for
the location of the engine oil fill cap.
Add enough oil to put the level somewhere in the proper
operating range. Push the dipstick all the way back in
when through.
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Black plate (20,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
What to Do with Used Oil
Used engine oil contains certain elements that can be
unhealthy for your skin and could even cause cancer.
Do not let used oil stay on your skin for very long. Clean
your skin and nails with soap and water, or a good hand
cleaner. Wash or properly dispose of clothing or rags
containing used engine oil. See the manufacturer's
warnings about the use and disposal of oil products.
Used oil can be a threat to the environment. If you
change your own oil, be sure to drain all the oil from
the filter before disposal. Never dispose of oil by putting
it in the trash or pouring it on the ground, into sewers,
or into streams or bodies of water. Recycle it by taking it
to a place that collects used oil.
Engine Oil Life System
When to Change Engine Oil
This vehicle has a computer system that indicates when
to change the engine oil and filter. This is based on
engine revolutions and engine temperature, and not on
mileage. Based on driving conditions, the mileage at
which an oil change is indicated can vary considerably.
For the oil life system to work properly, the system must
be reset every time the oil is changed.When the system has calculated that oil life has been
diminished, it indicates that an oil change is necessary.
A CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON message in the DIC
comes on. See
DIC Warnings and Messages
on
page 4‑76. Change the oil as soon as possible within
the next 600 miles (1 000 km). It is possible that,
if driving under the best conditions, the oil life system
might indicate that an oil change is not necessary for up
to a year. The engine oil and filter must be changed at
least once a year and, at this time, the system must be
reset. Your dealer has trained service people who will
perform this work and reset the system. It is also
important to check the oil regularly over the course of
an oil drain interval and keep it at the proper level.
If the system is ever reset accidentally, the oil must be
changed at 3,000 miles (5 000 km) since the last oil
change. Remember to reset the oil life system
whenever the oil is changed.
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Black plate (25,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
{WARNING:
Heater and radiator hoses, and other engine
parts, can be very hot. Do not touch them. If you
do, you can be burned.
Do not run the engine if there is a leak. If you run
the engine, it could lose all coolant. That could
cause an engine fire, and you could be burned.
Get any leak fixed before you drive the vehicle.
Notice: Using coolant other than DEX-COOL
®can
cause premature engine, heater core, or radiator
corrosion. In addition, the engine coolant could
require changing sooner, at 50 000 km (30,000 miles)
or 24 months, whichever occurs first. Any repairs
would not be covered by the vehicle warranty.
Always use DEX-COOL (silicate-free) coolant in the
vehicle.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in the vehicle is filled with
DEX-COOL®engine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain in the vehicle for five years or 240 000 km
(150,000 miles), whichever occurs first.
The following explains the cooling system and how to
check and add coolant when it is low. If there is a
problem with engine overheating, see Engine
Overheating on page 6‑30
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Black plate (27,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
Checking Coolant
The vehicle must be on a level surface when checking
the coolant level.
The coolant surge tank and pressure cap are located on
the driver's side of the vehicle, toward the rear of the
engine compartment. SeeEngine Compartment
Overview
on page 6‑13for more information on
location. Check to see if coolant is visible in the coolant surge
tank. If the coolant inside the coolant surge tank is
boiling, do not do anything else until it cools down.
If coolant is visible but the coolant level is not at or
above the FULL COLD/FROID line, add a 50/50 mixture
of clean, drinkable water and DEX-COOL
®coolant at
the coolant surge tank, but be sure the cooling system
is cool before this is done.
When the engine is cold, the coolant level should be at
or above the FULL COLD/FROID line on the side of the
coolant surge tank. Follow the arrow from the top of the
tank down the side to the horizontal mark. If it is not,
there could be a leak in the cooling system.
If the coolant is low, add the coolant or take the vehicle
to a dealer for service
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Black plate (30,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
4. With the coolant surge tank pressure cap off, startthe engine and let it run until you can feel the
upper radiator hose getting hot. The upper radiator
hose is the largest of the hoses which comes out
of the radiator, on the passenger side of the
vehicle. Watch out for the engine cooling fans.
By this time, the coolant level inside the coolant
surge tank may be lower. If the level is lower, add
more of the proper mixture to the coolant surge
tank until the level reaches the FULL COLD/FROID
line on the side of the coolant surge tank.
5. Then replace the pressure cap. Be sure the pressure cap is hand-tight and fully seated.
Start the engine and allow it to warm up.
Engine Overheating
The vehicle has several indicators to warn of engine
overheating.
There are two engine hot messages that could be
displayed in the Driver Information Center (DIC). See
DIC Warnings and Messages
on page 4‑76DIC
Warnings and Messages for more information. If the engine is overheating, then you will find a coolant
temperature gauge and a coolant warning light on the
instrument panel. See
Engine Coolant Temperature
Gauge
on page 4‑61and Engine Coolant Temperature
Warning Lighton page 4‑61for more information.
You may decide not to lift the hood when this warning
appears, but instead get service help right away. See
Roadside Service on page 8‑8.
If you do decide to lift the hood , make sure the vehicle
is parked on a level surface.
Then check to see if the engine cooling fans are
running. If the engine is overheating, both fans should
be running. If they are not, do not continue to run the
engine and have the vehicle serviced.
Notice: Engine damage from running your engine
without coolant is not covered by the vehicle
warranty. See Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode for information on driving to a safe
place in an emergency.
Notice: If the engine catches fire while driving with
no coolant, the vehicle can be badly damaged. The
costly repairs would not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. See Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode
on page 6‑32for information on
driving to a safe place in an emergency.
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Black plate (33,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
Power Steering Fluid
SeeEngine Compartment
Overviewon page 6‑13for reservoir location.
When to Check Power Steering Fluid
It is not necessary to regularly check power steering
fluid unless you suspect there is a leak in the system or
you hear an unusual noise. A fluid loss in this system
could indicate a problem. Have the system inspected
and repaired.
How to Check Power Steering Fluid
To check the power steering fluid, do the following:
1. Turn the ignition off and let the engine compartment cool down.
2. Wipe the cap and the top of the reservoir clean.
3. Unscrew the cap and wipe the dipstick with a clean rag.
4. Replace the cap and completely tighten it.
5. Remove the cap again and look at the fluid level on the dipstick.
The level should be within the HOT mark. If necessary,
add only enough fluid to bring the level within the mark.
What to Use
To determine what kind of fluid to use, see
Recommended Fluids and Lubricantson page 7‑9.
Always use the proper fluid.
Notice: Use of the incorrect fluid may damage the
vehicle and the damages may not be covered by the
vehicle's warranty. Always use the correct fluid
listed in Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
on
page 7‑9.
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Black plate (34,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
Windshield Washer Fluid
What to Use
When you need windshield washer fluid, be sure to
read the manufacturer's instructions before use. If you
will be operating your vehicle in an area where the
temperature may fall below freezing, use a fluid that has
sufficient protection against freezing.
Adding Washer Fluid
The CHECK WASHER FLUID message will appear on
the Driver Information Center (DIC) when the fluid level
is low. SeeDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 4‑76for more information.
Open the cap with the
washer symbol on it.
Add washer fluid until the
tank is full. See Engine
Compartment Overview
on page 6‑13for
reservoir location.
Notice:
.When using concentrated washer fluid,
follow the manufacturer's instructions for
adding water.
.Do not mix water with ready-to-use washer
fluid. Water can cause the solution to freeze
and damage the washer fluid tank and other
parts of the washer system. Also, water does
not clean as well as washer fluid.
.Fill the washer fluid tank only three-quarters
full when it is very cold. This allows for fluid
expansion if freezing occurs, which could
damage the tank if it is completely full.
.Do not use engine coolant (antifreeze) in
the windshield washer. It can damage the
windshield washer system and paint.
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Black plate (35,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
Brakes
Brake Fluid
The brake master cylinder
reservoir is filled with DOT
3 brake fluid. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview
on page 6‑13for
reservoir location and
access.
There are only two reasons why the brake fluid level in
the reservoir might go down:
.The brake fluid level goes down because of
normal brake lining wear. When new linings are
installed, the fluid level goes back up.
.A fluid leak in the brake hydraulic system can also
cause a low fluid level. Have the brake hydraulic
system fixed, since a leak means that sooner or
later the brakes will not work well. Do not top off the brake fluid. Adding fluid does not
correct a leak. If fluid is added when the linings are
worn, there will be too much fluid when new brake
linings are installed. Add or remove brake fluid, as
necessary, only when work is done on the brake
hydraulic system.
{WARNING:
If too much brake fluid is added, it can spill on the
engine and burn, if the engine is hot enough. You
or others could be burned, and the vehicle could
be damaged. Add brake fluid only when work is
done on the brake hydraulic system.
If the ignition is on and the brake fluid is low, the
CHECK BRAKE FLUID message displays in the Driver
Information Center (DIC). See DIC Warnings and
Messages on page 4‑76.
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