
Black plate (106,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
Appearance Care
Interior Cleaning
The vehicle's interior will continue to look its best if it is
cleaned often. Although not always visible, dust and dirt
can accumulate on the upholstery. Dirt can damage
carpet, fabric, leather, and plastic surfaces. Regular
vacuuming is recommended to remove particles from
the upholstery. It is important to keep the upholstery
from becoming and remaining heavily soiled. Soils
should be removed as quickly as possible. The
vehicle's interior may experience extremes of heat that
could cause stains to set rapidly.
Lighter colored interiors may require more frequent
cleaning. Use care because newspapers and garments
that transfer color to home furnishings may also transfer
color to the vehicle's interior.
When cleaning the vehicle's interior, only use cleaners
specifically designed for the surfaces being cleaned.
Permanent damage may result from using cleaners on
surfaces for which they were not intended. Use glasscleaner only on glass. Remove any accidental
over-spray from other surfaces immediately. To prevent
over-spray, apply cleaner directly to the cleaning cloth.
Notice:
Using abrasive cleaners when cleaning
glass surfaces on the vehicle, could scratch the
glass and/or cause damage to the rear window
defogger. When cleaning the glass on the vehicle,
use only a soft cloth and glass cleaner.
Many cleaners contain solvents that may become
concentrated in the vehicle's breathing space.
Before using cleaners, read and adhere to all safety
instructions on the label. While cleaning the vehicle's
interior, maintain adequate ventilation by opening the
vehicle's doors and windows.
Dust may be removed from small buttons and knobs
using a small brush with soft bristles.
Products that remove odors from the vehicle's
upholstery and clean the vehicle's glass can be
obtained from your dealer.
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Black plate (115,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
The vehicle has an airbag system. Before attempting to
add anything electrical to the vehicle, seeServicing
Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
on page 2‑70and
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicleon
page 2‑71.
Headlamp Wiring
The headlamp wiring is protected by fuses in the fuse
block. An electrical overload will cause the lamps to turn
off. If this happens, have the headlamp wiring checked
right away.
Windshield Wiper Fuses
The windshield wiper motor is protected by an internal
circuit breaker. If the wiper motor overheats due to
heavy snow, the wipers will stop until the motor cools
and will then restart.
Power Windows and Other Power
Options
Circuit breakers in the fuse block protect the power
windows and other power accessories. When the
current load is too heavy, the circuit breaker opens and
closes, protecting the circuit until the problem is fixed or
goes away.
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
The wiring circuits in the vehicle are protected from
short circuits by a combination of fuses, circuit breakers
and fusible thermal links. This greatly reduces the
chance of fires caused by electrical problems.
Look at the silver-colored band inside the fuse. If the
band is broken or melted, replace the fuse. Be sure you
replace a bad fuse with a new one of the identical size
and rating.
Fuses of the same amperage can be temporarily
borrowed from another fuse location, if a fuse goes out.
Replace the fuse as soon as you can.
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Black plate (127,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
RelaysUsage
SPARE Spare
FUEL PUMP Fuel Pump
INT LAMP Interior Lamps
REAR DEFOG Rear Defogger REAR/FOG Rear Fog Lamps (Option)
RUN/CRNK Ignition 1 SPARE Spare
STOP LAMP Stop Lamp
Circuit
Breakers Usage
WINDOW MTRS Power Window Motors Circuit Breaker
Diodes
Usage
TRUNK DIODE Trunk Release
Joint
Connector Usage
J/C Splice Pack (Blue)
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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.
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Black plate (5,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
E
EDR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-19
Electrical Equipment, Add-On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-114
Electrical SystemFuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-115
Headlamp Wiring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-115
Power Windows and Other Power Options . . . . . . 6-115
Rear Underseat Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-120
Underhood Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-116
Windshield Wiper Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-115
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-21
Check and Service Engine Soon Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-62
Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-13
Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-25
Coolant Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-29
Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-61
Coolant Temperature Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-61
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-24
Drive Belt Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-12
Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-36
Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-16
Overheated Protection Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . 6-32
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-30
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-27
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-20 Enhanced StabiliTrak
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-7
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-36
Event Data Recorders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-19
Extender, Safety Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-34
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-35
F
Filter Engine Air Cleaner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-21
Finish Damage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-113
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-9
Flashers, Hazard Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-3
Flat Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-74
Flat Tire, Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-94
Flat Tire, Storing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-103
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-56
Fluid Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-23
Power Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-33
Windshield Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-34
Fog Lamps Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-33
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-6
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-45
Front Fog Lamps
Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-67
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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 (14,1)Cadillac STS Owner Manual - 2011
V
Valet Lockout Switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-24
VehicleControl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3
Loading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-23
Personalization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-59
Remote Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10
Running While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-36
Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
Vehicle Data Recording and Privacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-19
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-114
Service Parts Identification Label . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-114
Vehicle Personalization Memory Seat, Mirrors and Steering Wheel . . . . . . . . 3-75
Ventilated Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-5
Ventilation Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-48
Visors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-21
W
Warning Lights, Gauges, and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . 4-51
Warnings DIC Warnings and Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-76
Hazard Flashers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
Safety and Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
Washer, Headlamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-11 Wheels
Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-72
Different Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-70
Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-72
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-67
Where to Put the Child Restraint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-43
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-18 Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-19
Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-48
Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-11
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-34
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-49
Wiper Blades, Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-111
Wiper Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-115
Wipers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-10
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-20
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-51
Wiper Activated Headlamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-31X
XM Radio Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-112
XM™ Satellite Radio
Antenna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-126
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