Owner's Manual
Table Of Contents
- 2006 Cadillac STS/STS-V BOOK TOC
- Seats and Restraint Systems
- Front Seats
- Rear Seats
- Safety Belts
- Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone
- Questions and Answers About Safety Belts
- How to Wear Safety Belts Properly
- Driver Position
- Shoulder Belt Height Adjustment
- Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy
- Right Front Passenger Position
- Rear Seat Passengers
- Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides
- Safety Belt Pretensioners
- Safety Belt Extender
- Child Restraints
- Airbag System
- Restraint System Check
- Features and Controls
- Keys
- Doors and Locks
- Windows
- Theft-Deterrent Systems
- Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
- New Vehicle Break-In
- Ignition Positions
- Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
- Starting the Engine
- Engine Coolant Heater
- Automatic Transmission Operation (STS)
- Automatic Transmission Operation (STS-V)
- Parking Brake
- Shifting Into Park (P)
- Shifting Out of Park (P)
- Parking Over Things That Burn
- Engine Exhaust
- Running the Engine While Parked
- Mirrors
- Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with Intellibeam™ and OnStar®
- Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror
- Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with OnStar®
- Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with OnStar® and Compass
- Outside Power Heated Mirrors
- Outside Automatic Dimming Mirror
- Outside Convex Mirror
- Outside Parallel Park Assist Mirror
- OnStar® System
- Universal Home Remote System
- Storage Areas
- Sunroof
- Vehicle Personalization
- Instrument Panel
- Instrument Panel Overview
- Hazard Warning Flashers
- Other Warning Devices
- Horn
- Power Tilt Wheel and Telescopic Steering Column
- Heated Steering Wheel
- Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
- Turn and Lane-Change Signals
- Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
- Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System
- Flash-to-Pass
- Windshield Wipers
- Rainsense™ II Wipers
- Windshield Washer
- Headlamp Washer
- Cruise Control
- Adaptive Cruise Control
- Headlamps
- Wiper Activated Headlamps
- Headlamps on Reminder
- Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
- Fog Lamps
- Twilight Sentinel®
- Exterior Lighting Battery Saver
- Instrument Panel Brightness
- Entry Lighting
- Parade Dimming
- Reading Lamps
- Battery Load Management
- Inadvertent Power Battery Saver
- Head-Up Display (HUD)
- Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist (URPA)
- Accessory Power Outlet(s)
- Ashtray(s) and Cigarette Lighter
- Climate Controls
- Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators
- Instrument Panel Cluster
- Speedometer and Odometer
- Tachometer
- Safety Belt Reminder Light
- Passenger Safety Belt Reminder Light
- Airbag Readiness Light
- Passenger Airbag Status Indicator
- Charging System Light
- Brake System Warning Light
- Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
- Low Tire Pressure Warning Light
- Traction Control System (TCS) Warning Light
- Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light
- Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
- Malfunction Indicator Lamp
- Oil Pressure Light
- Security Light
- Fog Lamp Light
- Lights On Reminder
- Cruise Control Light
- Highbeam On Light
- Fuel Gage
- Driver Information Center (DIC)
- Audio System(s)
- Instrument Panel Overview
- Driving Your Vehicle
- Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
- Defensive Driving
- Drunken Driving
- Control of a Vehicle
- Braking
- Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
- Braking in Emergencies
- Traction Control System (TCS)
- Competitive Driving Mode (STS-V)
- Magnetic Ride Control
- Limited-Slip Rear Axle
- StabiliTrak® System
- Panic Brake Assist
- All-Wheel Drive (AWD) System
- Steering
- Off-Road Recovery
- Passing
- Loss of Control
- Competitive Driving
- Driving at Night
- Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads
- City Driving
- Freeway Driving
- Before Leaving on a Long Trip
- Highway Hypnosis
- Hill and Mountain Roads
- Winter Driving
- If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow
- Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out
- Loading Your Vehicle
- Towing
- Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
- Service and Appearance Care
- Service
- Fuel
- Checking Things Under the Hood
- Hood Release
- Engine Compartment Overview
- Engine Oil
- Engine Oil Life System
- Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
- Automatic Transmission Fluid
- Engine Coolant
- Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap
- Engine Overheating
- Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode
- Cooling System
- Power Steering Fluid
- Windshield Washer Fluid
- Brakes
- Battery
- Jump Starting
- All-Wheel Drive
- Rear Axle
- Front Axle
- Bulb Replacement
- Windshield Replacement
- Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
- Tires
- Tire Sidewall Labeling
- Tire Terminology and Definitions
- Run-Flat Tires (STS-V)
- Inflation - Tire Pressure
- Tire Pressure Monitor System
- Tire Inspection and Rotation
- When It Is Time for New Tires
- Buying New Tires
- Different Size Tires and Wheels
- Uniform Tire Quality Grading
- Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
- Wheel Replacement
- Tire Chains
- Lifting Your Vehicle (STS-V)
- If a Tire Goes Flat
- Changing a Flat Tire (STS Only)
- Removing the Spare Tire and Tools (STS Only)
- Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the Spare Tire (STS Only)
- Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools (STS Only)
- Compact Spare Tire (STS Only)
- Appearance Care
- Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle
- Fabric/Carpet
- Leather
- Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic Surfaces
- Wood Panels
- Speaker Covers
- Care of Safety Belts
- Weatherstrips
- Washing Your Vehicle
- Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses
- Finish Care
- Windshield and Wiper Blades
- Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels
- Tires
- Sheet Metal Damage
- Finish Damage
- Underbody Maintenance
- Chemical Paint Spotting
- Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials
- Vehicle Identification
- Electrical System
- Capacities and Specifications
- Maintenance Schedule
- Maintenance Schedule
- Introduction
- Maintenance Requirements
- Your Vehicle and the Environment
- Using the Maintenance Schedule
- Scheduled Maintenance
- Additional Required Services
- Maintenance Footnotes
- Owner Checks and Services
- At Each Fuel Fill
- At Least Once a Month
- At Least Once a Year
- Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
- Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
- Engine Drive Belt Routing (STS-V)
- Maintenance Record
- Maintenance Schedule
- Customer Assistance and Information
- Index

Washing Your Vehicle
The paint finish on the vehicle provides beauty, depth of
color, gloss retention, and durability.
The best way to preserve the vehicle’s finish is to keep it
clean by washing it often with lukewarm or cold water.
Do not wash the vehicle in the direct rays of the sun.
Use a car washing soap. Do not use strong soaps
or chemical detergents. Be sure to rinse the vehicle well,
removing all soap residue completely. GM-approved
cleaning products can be obtained from your dealer. See
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials on page 5-102.
Do not use cleaning agents that are petroleum based,
or that contain acid or abrasives. All cleaning agents
should be flushed promptly and not allowed to dry on the
surface, or they could stain. Dry the finish with a soft,
clean chamois or an all-cotton towel to avoid surface
scratches and water spotting.
High pressure car washes may cause water to enter
the vehicle.
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses
Use only lukewarm or cold water, a soft cloth and a car
washing soap to clean exterior lamps and lenses.
Follow instructions under Washing Your Vehicle on
page 5-98.
Finish Care
Occasional waxing or mild polishing of the vehicle by
hand may be necessary to remove residue from
the paint finish. GM-approved cleaning products can be
obtained from your dealer. See Vehicle
Care/Appearance Materials on page 5-102.
Notice: Machine compounding or aggressive
polishing on a basecoat/clearcoat paint finish may
damage it. Use only non-abrasive waxes and
polishes that are made for a basecoat/clearcoat
paint finish on your vehicle.
The vehicle has a “basecoat/clearcoat” paint finish. The
clearcoat gives more depth and gloss to the colored
basecoat. Always use waxes and polishes that are
non-abrasive and made for a basecoat/clearcoat
paint finish.
Foreign materials such as calcium chloride and other
salts, ice melting agents, road oil and tar, tree sap, bird
droppings, chemicals from industrial chimneys, etc.,
can damage the vehicle’s finish if they remain on painted
surfaces. Wash the vehicle as soon as possible. If
necessary, use non-abrasive cleaners that are marked
safe for painted surfaces to remove foreign matter.
Exterior painted surfaces are subject to aging, weather,
and chemical fallout that can take their toll over a period
of years. To help keep the paint finish looking new, keep
the vehicle in a garage or covered whenever possible.
5-98