
Black plate (38,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
Leaving After Parking on a Hill
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal while you:
.Start the engine
.Shift into a gear
.Release the parking brake
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
The vehicle needs service more often when pulling a
trailer. See this manual's Maintenance Schedule or
Index for more information. Things that are especially
important in trailer operation are automatic transmission
fluid, engine oil, axle lubricant, belts, cooling system
and brake system. It is a good idea to inspect these
before and during the trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing
The cooling system may temporarily overheat during
severe operating conditions. See Engine Overheating
on page 6‑30.
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Black plate (32,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
If the engine coolant temperature gauge is no longer in
the overheat zone or an overheat warning no longer
displays, the vehicle can be driven. Continue to drive
the vehicle slow for about 10 minutes. Keep a safe
vehicle distance from the car in front of you. If the
warning does not come back on, continue to drive
normally.
If the warning continues, pull over, stop, and park the
vehicle right away.
If there is no sign of steam, idle the engine for
three minutes while parked. If the warning is still
displayed, turn off the engine until it cools down. Also,
see "Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode"
later in this section.Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode
This operating mode allows your vehicle to be driven to
a safe place in an emergency. Should an overheated
engine condition exist, an overheat protection mode
which alternates firing groups of cylinders helps prevent
engine damage. In this mode, you will notice a loss in
power and engine performance. An engine overheat
warning will indicate that an overheat condition exists.
Driving extended miles (km) and/or towing a trailer in
the overheat protection mode should be avoided.
Notice:After driving in the overheated engine
protection operating mode, to avoid engine damage,
allow the engine to cool before attempting any
repair. The engine oil will be severely degraded.
Repair the cause of coolant loss and change the oil.
See Engine Oil on page 6‑16.
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Black plate (6,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
Once Every Two Years
.Vehicles using DOT 4 brake fluid only: Brake fluid
replacement.
First Engine Oil Change After Every
40 000 km/25,000 Miles
.Passenger compartment air filter replacement
(or every 24 months, whichever occurs first).
More frequent replacement may be needed if
you drive in areas with heavy traffic, areas with
poor air quality, or areas with high dust levels.
Replacement may also be needed if you notice
reduced air flow, windows fogging up, or odors.
Your dealer can help you determine when it is the
right time to replace the filter.
First Engine Oil Change After Every
80 000 km/50,000 Miles
.Engine air cleaner filter replacement. SeeEngine
Air Cleaner/Filter on page 6‑21.
.Automatic transmission fluid and filter change
(severe service) for vehicles mainly driven in heavy
city traffic in hot weather, in hilly or mountainous
terrain, when frequently towing a trailer, or used for
taxi, police, or delivery service. See Automatic
Transmission Fluid on page 6‑23.
.All‐wheel drive only: Transfer case fluid change
(severe service) for vehicles mainly driven when
frequently towing a trailer, or used for taxi, police,
or delivery service. Check vent hose at transfer
case for kinks and proper installation. Check to be
sure vent hose is unobstructed, clear, and free of
debris.
.Evaporative control system inspection. Check all
fuel and vapor lines and hoses for proper hook‐up,
routing, and condition. Check that the purge valve,
if the vehicle has one, works properly. Replace as
needed. An Emission Control Service. The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency or the California
Air Resources Board has determined that the
failure to perform this maintenance item will not
nullify the emission warranty or limit recall liability
prior to the completion of the vehicle's useful life.
We, however, urge that all recommended
maintenance services be performed at the
indicated intervals and the maintenance be
recorded.
7-6

Black plate (10,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
Cadillac Technician Roadside Service
(U.S. only)
Cadillac's exceptional Roadside Service is more than
an auto club or towing service. It provides every
Cadillac owner in the United States with the advantage
of contacting a Cadillac advisor and, where available, a
Cadillac trained dealer technician who can provide
on-site service.
A dealer technician will travel to your location within a
30 mile radius of a participating Cadillac dealership.
If beyond this radius, we will arrange to have your
car towed to the nearest Cadillac dealership. Each
technician travels with a specially equipped service
vehicle complete with the necessary Cadillac parts and
tools required to handle most roadside repairs.
Services Not Included in Roadside
Service
.Impound towing caused by violation of any laws.
.Legal fines.
.Mounting, dismounting, or changing of snow tires,
chains, or other traction devices.
.Towing or services for vehicles driven on a
non-public road or highway.
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Black plate (15,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
Insuring Your Vehicle
Protect your investment in your GM vehicle with
comprehensive and collision insurance coverage. There
are significant differences in the quality of coverage
afforded by various insurance policy terms. Many
insurance policies provide reduced protection to your
GM vehicle by limiting compensation for damage
repairs by using aftermarket collision parts. Some
insurance companies will not specify aftermarket
collision parts. When purchasing insurance, we
recommend that you ensure that your vehicle will be
repaired with GM original equipment collision parts.
If such insurance coverage is not available from your
current insurance carrier, consider switching to another
insurance carrier.
If your vehicle is leased, the leasing company may
require you to have insurance that ensures repairs with
Genuine GM Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM)
parts or Genuine Manufacturer replacement parts. Read
your lease carefully, as you may be charged at the end
of your lease for poor quality repairs.
If a Crash Occurs
If there has been an injury, call emergency services for
help. Do not leave the scene of a crash until all matters
have been taken care of. Move the vehicle only if its
position puts you in danger, or you are instructed to
move it by a police officer.
Give only the necessary information to police and other
parties involved in the crash.
For emergency towing seeRoadside Service
on
page 8‑8.
Gather the following information:
.Driver's name, address, and telephone number
.Driver's license number
.Owner's name, address, and telephone number
.Vehicle license plate number
.Vehicle make, model, and model year
.Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
.Insurance company and policy number
.General description of the damage to the other
vehicle
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Black plate (10,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
PhoneBluetooth®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-113
Power Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-13
Electrical System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-115
Lumbar Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10
Retained Accessory (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-27
Seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Steering Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-33
Tilt Wheel and Telescopic Steering Column . . . . . . . . 4-3
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-19
Pregnancy, Using Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-33
Privacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-19 Navigation System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-20
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-20
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-20
Program Courtesy Transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-12
Programmable Automatic Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-14
Proposition 65 Warning, California . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-5
R
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-20
Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-20
Radio(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-95 Radios
Navigation/Radio System, see Navigation
Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-113
Personalization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-120
Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-125
Setting the Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-95
Theft-Deterrent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-123
Range Adjustment, Headlamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
Reading Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-36
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-44 Limited-Slip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11
Rear Climate Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-49
Rear Door Security Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-14
Rear Heated Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14
Rearview Mirror with Compass and Temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14
Rearview Mirrors Automatic Dimming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-37
Reclining Seatbacks, Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-9
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-29
Reimbursement Program, GM Mobility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8-7
Remote Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10
Remote, Keyless Access System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-4
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-97
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-96
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-48
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Black plate (13,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-50Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels,
Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-112
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-67
Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-74
Changing a Flat Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-94
Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-113
Compact Spare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-105
Different Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-70
High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-60
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-74
Inflation - Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-58
Inspection and Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-65
Installing the Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-97
Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-62
Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-62
Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-60
Removing the Flat Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-97
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-96
Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . 6-76, 6-85, 6-94
Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-52
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools . . . . . . . . . . .6-103
Terminology and Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-55
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-71
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-72
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-72
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-67
Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-51 Towing
Recreational Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-29
Towing a Trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-31
Your Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-29
Traction Control System (TCS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9
Control System Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-60
Enhanced StabiliTrak
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7
Limited-Slip Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11
StabiliTrak
®System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6
Transmission
Fluid, Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-23
Transmission Operation, Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-30
Transportation Program, Courtesy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-12
Trunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-15
Turn and Lane-Change Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-4
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-4
Twilight Sentinel
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-34
U
Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist (URPA) . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-41
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-71
Universal Home Remote System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-49 Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-49
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