2011 CADILLAC STS service

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 (63,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
This light should come on
when the ignition is on,
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.
If the check engine light comes on and stays on, while
the engine is running, this indicates that there is an
OBD II problem and service is required.
Malfunctions often are indicated by the system before
any problem is apparent. Being aware of the light can
prevent more serious damage to the vehicle. This
system assists the service technician in correctly
diagnosing any malfunction.
Notice: If the vehicle is continually driven with this
light on, after a while, the emission controls might
not work as well, the vehicle fuel economy might
not be as good, and the engine might not run as
smoothly. This could lead to costly repairs that
might not be covered by the vehicle warranty. Notice:
Modifications made to the engine,
transmission, exhaust, intake, or fuel system of the
vehicle or the replacement of the original tires with
other than those of the same Tire Performance
Criteria (TPC) can affect the vehicle's emission
controls and can cause this light to come on.
Modifications to these systems could lead to costly
repairs not covered by the vehicle warranty. This
could also result in a failure to pass a required
Emission Inspection/Maintenance test. See
Accessories and Modifications on page 6‑4.
This light comes on during a malfunction in one of
two ways:
Light Flashing: A misfire condition has been detected.
A misfire increases vehicle emissions and could
damage the emission control system on the vehicle.
Diagnosis and service might be required.
To prevent more serious damage to the vehicle:
.Reduce vehicle speed.
.Avoid hard accelerations.
.Avoid steep uphill grades.
.If towing a trailer, reduce the amount of cargo
being hauled as soon as it is possible.
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Black plate (64,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
If the light continues to flash, when it is safe to do so,
stop the vehicle. Find a safe place to park the vehicle.
Turn the vehicle off, wait at least 10 seconds, and
restart the engine. If the light is still flashing, follow
the previous steps and see your dealer for service
as soon as possible.
Light On Steady:An emission control system
malfunction has been detected on the vehicle.
Diagnosis and service might be required.
An emission system malfunction might be corrected by
doing the following:
.Make sure the fuel cap is fully installed. See Filling
the Tankon page 6‑9. The diagnostic system
can determine if the fuel cap has been left off or
improperly installed. A loose or missing fuel cap
allows fuel to evaporate into the atmosphere. A few
driving trips with the cap properly installed should
turn the light off.
.If the vehicle has been driven through a deep
puddle of water, the vehicle's electrical system
might be wet. The condition is usually corrected
when the electrical system dries out. A few driving
trips should turn the light off.
.Make sure to fuel the vehicle with quality fuel.
Poor fuel quality causes the engine not to run as
efficiently as designed and can cause: stalling
after start-up, stalling when the vehicle is changed
into gear, misfiring, hesitation on acceleration,
or stumbling on acceleration. These conditions
might go away once the engine is warmed up.
If one or more of these conditions occurs, change
the fuel brand used. It will require at least one full
tank of the proper fuel to turn the light off.
See Gasoline Octane on page 6‑7.
If none of the above have made the light turn off,
your dealer can check the vehicle. The dealer has the
proper test equipment and diagnostic tools to fix any
mechanical or electrical problems that might have
developed.
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Black plate (66,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
Oil Pressure Light
For vehicles with an oil
pressure light, if there is a
problem with the oil, the
light may stay on after
the engine is started,
or comes on while driving.
This light indicates that oil is not going through the
engine quickly enough to keep it lubricated. The engine
could be low on oil or could have some other oil
problem. Have the vehicle serviced by your dealer.
The oil light could also come on in the following
situations:
.The light comes on briefly when the ignition is
turned on to show that it is working properly. If it
does not come on with the ignition on, there may
be a problem with the fuse or bulb. Have the
vehicle serviced by your dealer.
.Sometimes when the engine is idling at a stop, a
chime sounds and the light may blink on and off.
This is normal.
{WARNING:
Do not keep driving if the oil pressure is low. The
engine can become so hot that it catches fire.
Someone could be burned. Check the oil as soon
as possible and have the vehicle serviced.
Notice: Lack of proper engine oil maintenance can
damage the engine. The repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty. Always follow the
maintenance schedule for changing engine oil.
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Black plate (74,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
BATTERY VOLTS
This display shows the current battery voltage. If the
voltage is in the normal range, the value will display.
For example, the display may read 13.2 BATTERY
VOLTS. If the voltage is low, the display will have
LOW after it. If the voltage is high, the display will have
HIGH after it. Your vehicle's charging system regulates
voltage based on the state of the battery. The battery
voltage may fluctuate when viewing this information
on the DIC. This is normal. SeeCharging System Light
on page 4‑57for more information.
If there is a problem with the battery charging system,
the DIC may display a message. See DIC Warnings
and Messages
on page 4‑76and Electric Power
Managementon page 4‑37for more information.
Tire Pressure
This display shows the pressure for each tire in either
pounds per square inch (psi) or kilopascals (kPa). If the
tire pressure is normal, the value will display. If the tire
pressure is low, LOW will appear on the display with the
value. See Inflation - Tire Pressure
on page 6‑58and
DIC Warnings and Messageson page 4‑76for more
information. Press the information button to scroll
through the following displays:
LF TIRE: This display shows the pressure in the driver
side front tire. RF TIRE:
This display shows the pressure in the
passenger side front tire.
LR TIRE: This display shows the pressure in the driver
side rear tire.
RR TIRE: This display shows the pressure in the
passenger side rear tire.
If the tire pressure display shows dashes instead of a
value, there may be a problem with your vehicle. If this
consistently occurs, see your dealer for service.
ENGINE OIL LIFE
If your vehicle has this display, it shows the estimated
oil life remaining. If you see 99% ENGINE OIL LIFE on
the display, that means that 99% of the current oil life
remains.
When the oil life is depleted, the CHANGE ENGINE OIL
SOON message will appear on the display. Change the
oil as soon as possible. In addition to the engine oil life
system monitoring the oil life, additional maintenance is
recommended in the Maintenance Schedule in this
manual. See Scheduled Maintenance
on page 7‑3andEngine Oil on page 6‑16.
After an oil change, reset the ENGINE OIL LIFE display.
To reset, see Engine Oil Life System
on page 6‑20.
The display will show 100% ENGINE OIL LIFE after it
has been reset. Also clear the CHANGE ENGINE OIL
SOON message from the display.
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Black plate (77,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
BATTERY NOT CHARGING SERVICE
CHARGING SYS (System)
This symbol appears
with this message.
This message displays when a problem with the
charging system has been detected. Have your vehicle
serviced by your dealer.
BATTERY SAVER ACTIVE
This message displays when the system detects that
the battery voltage is dropping beyond a reasonable
level. The battery saver system starts reducing certain
features of the vehicle that may be noticeable. At the
point that the features are disabled, this message is
displayed. It means that the vehicle is trying to save the
charge in the battery.
Turn off all unnecessary accessories to allow the
battery to recharge.
The normal battery voltage range is 11.5 to 15.5 volts.
To monitor battery voltage on the DIC, press the
information button until BATTERY VOLTS displays.
BATTERY VOLTAGE HIGH
This symbol appears
with this message.
This message displays when the electrical charging
system is overcharging the battery. When the system
detects that the battery voltage is above an estimated
16 volts, this message displays.
To reduce the charging overload, use the vehicle's
accessories:
.Turn on the exterior lamps and radio.
.Set the climate control on AUTO and the fan speed
on the highest setting.
.Turn the rear window defogger on.
The normal battery voltage range is 11.5 to 15.5 volts
when the engine is running. To monitor battery voltage
on the DIC, press the information button until BATTERY
VOLTS displays.
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Black plate (78,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
BATTERY VOLTAGE LOW
This symbol appears
with this message.
This message displays when the electrical system is
charging less than 10 volts or the battery has been
drained.
If this message appears immediately after starting
the engine, it is possible that the generator can still
recharge the battery. The battery should recharge while
driving, but may take a few hours to do so. Consider
using an auxiliary charger to boost the battery after
returning home or to a final destination. Follow the
manufacturer's instructions.
If this message appears while driving or after starting
your vehicle and stays on, have it checked immediately
to determine the cause of this problem.
To help the generator recharge the battery quickly,
reduce the load on the electrical system by turning
off the accessories. The normal battery voltage range is 11.5 to 15.5 volts.
To monitor battery voltage on the DIC, press the
information button until BATTERY VOLTS displays.
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
This message displays when the engine oil needs
to be changed. See your dealer. See
Engine Oilon
page 6‑16and Scheduled Maintenanceon page 7‑3for more information.
After resetting the CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message by clearing it from the display, reset the
engine oil life system separately. For more information
on resetting the engine oil life system, see Engine Oil
Life System on page 6‑20.
CHECK BRAKE FLUID
This message displays if the ignition is on to inform the
driver that the brake fluid level is low. Have the brake
system serviced by your dealer as soon as possible.
See Brake System Warning Light
on page 4‑58for
more information.
CHECK GAS CAP
This message displays when the fuel cap has not been
fully tightened. Recheck the fuel cap to ensure that it is
on and tightened properly.
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