General STS thread

[kevm14]

And for an oil consumption update, recall that I went only 861 miles and added 3/4 qt after my switch to GC 0W-30. Well I have now gone another 1,081 miles and the oil appears to be at the top of the dipstick still. According to the oil life monitor, I am on my way to a ~10,000 mile oil change interval. Well, actually less because that would be if I let it get down to 0%, which I would not do.

Oil about halfway down the crosshatch. 2,000 miles. I went from 1,150 miles per quart to 4,000 by doing the Italian tune up. That is significant. These really do need to be wrung out occasionally.

[kevm14]

Here is some interesting GM LAN/CAN information. I took that PHAD video and applied what I learned and the network topology appears to be the same as that 2012 Lacrosse.

Looks like a token ring type network with 120-ohm resistors at the first module (ECM) and the last module (IPM, instrument panel module).

The schematic is for the high speed network. The other PDF has info about both.

[kevm14]

Low speed LAN schematics. And high speed LAN wakeup.

[kevm14]

Damn look at those headlights. I wish mine were that clear. Looks like a 1SG and probably a clone of my car. For $5k. With 28k fewer miles. It even has tints (and some questionable wheel well arch chrome). Go on...

https://providence.craigslist.org/cto/6340768979.html

2005 CADILLAC STS, LOW MILES, LOADED - $4995
looking for a cadillac that's great in all weather, this is the one! 4.6 v/8,all wheel drive, moon roof, navigation, all the options,can't tell from a new car! comes with a two year inspection and a three month warranty

[Adam]

Its got chrome wheel arches, so you know its good.

[kevm14]

Damn these cars got surprisingly fancier in the 07-08 range. Including the Platinum trim option.

https://archives.media.gm.com/us/cadill ... index.html

STS Platinum
The STS Platinum sedan extends the luxurious look and feel of the STS with elements such as 18-inch chrome-finish wheels; a brighter chrome-finish grille; a Glacier Gold exterior finish; bright chrome inserts on the exterior door handles and exclusive Platinum badging.
Inside, STS Platinum features a hand-cut, sewn and wrapped instrument panel, door trim and center console areas. The seats are fully leather, a semi-aniline variety called Tuscany . Luxury touches include chrome accents on the instrument panel and doors, a leather-wrapped and heated steering wheel, olive ash burl wood accents with a saddle-stained shade, premium floor mats and a Platinum badge of the door sill. STS Platinum comes in either a Cocoa over Cashmere or an Ebony interior color scheme.

For the first time, Cadillac’s acclaimed StabiliTrak electronic stability control system now includes the optional addition of active steering technology. In addition to controlling brakes and reducing engine power, the latest iteration of StabiliTrak combines active front steering to turn the front wheels into the skid when rear wheels lose traction. The system includes a new steering motor assembly combined with computer-driven electronic controls that measure wheel slippage at all four wheels independently during acceleration, braking and adverse road conditions.

Active steering is available exclusively on all-wheel-drive 4.6L Northstar V-8 models.

GM’s Lane Departure Warning System also debuts as an option on the 2008 STS. Controlled by a camera located in the rearview mirror that reads the lines in the road, the system will alert drivers when they have strayed into another lane. Drivers receive both an audible and visual alert cue.

When the Lane Departure Warning System is engaged, a driver traveling at 35 mph or more who crosses a detected lane marking without signaling is alerted in two ways: The system flashes an amber indicator light located in the fuel gauge of the instrument panel, and an alerting chime of three beeps is played. The system does not steer the vehicle; it is designed only to alert drivers so they can take appropriate action to move the vehicle back into the lane.

Another new optional feature, GM’s Side Blind Zone Alert System, extends and enhances driver awareness and vision. Alternating radar beams in Side Blind Zone Alert System sweep adjacent lanes of traffic, covering a zone of about one lane over from both sides of the vehicle, or 11 feet (3.5 m). The zone starts at each side mirror and goes back about 16 feet (5 m).

When the system is engaged, a driver will know that following vehicles in the adjacent lanes are entering their side blind zone when an amber symbol, located in the outside rearview mirror, is illuminated.

The system is not designed to detect vehicles outside of the side blind zone that may be rapidly approaching, or detect pedestrians, bicyclists or animals. It’s designed to ignore infrastructure such as fire hydrants or parked cars. In addition, the system displays do not come on while the vehicle is approaching or passing other vehicles.

The Lane Departure Warning and Side Blind Zone Alert systems can be manually turned off by the driver.

A new performance handling package will be available for V-8-equipped rear-wheel and all-wheel-drive models and V-6-equipped rear-drive models. The package includes 18-inch x 8.5-inch aluminum alloy, chrome-plated wheels fitted with new P255/45R18 Michelin Pilot Sport summer-only tires.

Four-piston caliper Brembo brakes, with front rotors measuring 355 mm x 32 mm and 365 mm x 28 mm rear rotors, provide enhanced stopping ability. All four rotors are vented.

I'm not saying I need all that stuff. Actually, all I'd really like is the Brembo brakes which are CTS-V1 and STS-V brakes. But active steering...wow. I assume that's non-hydraulic unless somehow a motor is in the steering shaft and it retains the hydraulic system...not sure.

It would have been cool to get one of these last ones with max features but they were not in my price range. It is interesting that GM was continuing to invest not only in a vehicle that was barely selling, but at a very tough financial time.

[kevm14]

http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/ca ... mmary.html

Here's a European checking in with his 3 year STS experience. He was happy with it. Fortunately he had the later DI V6, which was a much better engine than the first high feature, and also gives up very little performance to the Northstar.

I sold my 2009 STS V6 Sport Luxury.
Here is 3 years repairs summary for someone interesting to buy one.

I bough it with 70k miles and I sold it with 122k miles.

1. When I bought it it has broken tail light and broken seat trims (driver and passenger)
Seller made a refund for new taillight which I imported from US (my one was UK version)install it and never had a problem with it.
Same with seat trims, replaced once and no more problems with it.

2. TPMS sensors. Battery died on right rear wheel. I replaced 4 sensors.
3. Differential bushings. I was thinking that transmission going to die but reading this forum pointed me to right direction.
50 GBP for part and downshifting back to normal - smooth.
4. Front right wheel bearing
5. Radiator leakage, replaced to new one.
6. Timing chain. Fixed under warranty.
7. Moisture in headlamps after replacing parking bulbs. New sealant and problem gone.
8. Alarm comes off few times. Some guys on this forum had to replaced module which is placed in headliner. I replaced battery (was weak anyway) and problems with alarm gone.
9. Steering lock (EU version have this garbage) I removed mechanism (how to on this forum). this caused that I cannot crank the engine on cold days.
Disconnect battery fix problem for a while. I ended up with removing this.

This is it.
As you see not a big issues except timing chain.
This is really good car. Smooth fast enough and it's turn...
Here in Europe we have lot German cars but this one looks different.
And is comparable with them... A6 same age has ugly plastic interior, mine real aluminum and wood trim and much better sound system.
I was driving a lot across Europe from UK to Poland (UK->France->Belgium->Netherlands->Germany->Poland and back, 1050 miles one way) and the car never disappointed me, never get overheat even I was driving constantly 100-120 MPH on German autobahn.

All the repairs I did myself except timing.
So I paid for parts only.

My next car has to be Cadillac.
I was thinking about CTS or SRX but now I know It's going to be XTS ideally PLATINUM edition.
CT6 would be best but to expensive yet

I hope this post will help someone who considering STS V6 2008+
If someone ask me if I would buy it again then the answer is YES!

Happy motoring!

[kevm14]

Keeping track of purchases...

Advance Auto:
- 2 wiper blades ($54, minus $10 rebate)
- Cabin air ($24)
- Engine air ($21.59)
Total: $106.56 w/ tax

RockAuto:
- AC Delco fuel filter ($16)
- AC Delco trans filter ($43)
- 8 AC Delco 41-986 double platinum spark plugs ($41)
- 2 Schrader TPMS sensors ($89.58 for both)
Total w/ shipping and discount: $193.69

There isn't much here that wouldn't be needed on some other used car, at least one that has cabin air and TPMS. Which is many cars. But yeah, up to $300 just for maintenance stuff and that doesn't even include the trans fluid itself.

Adding to this.

Rockauto:
- 2 more TPMS sensors after I noticed a 3rd sensor was getting flaky ($88.09 for both)

Advance Auto:
- 6 quarts Castrol Dexron VI ($20 off from a Speedperk so it was only like $35)

I think I will add coolant and power steering to this list just for good measure. And both diffs and transfer case. Need to find time to do the spark plugs and fuel filter, as well.

Then I need to do the same to the SRX because we've had it for 2 years already and I seem to be prioritizing the STS...

I think this is a relevant data point though. 3 Sigma platform Cadillacs all between 116k and 125k, out of warranty. Two with the full boat Northstar and AWD.

I am due to add this all up again. I am tempted to categorize maintenance and repair costs but I don't know what the categories should be. On the one hand, there are literal maintenance things that I wouldn't penalize the car over, like trans fluid, plugs, wiper blades, filters or even TPMS. I guess the real question is, what is the "fancy car tax" with regard to repair expenses. I think that's the relevant figure.

I will put it in a spreadsheet.

[kevm14]

Here is my maintenance:
2 wiper blades $47
Cabin air $26
Engine air $23.10
Fuel filter $16
Trans filter $43
8 plugs $41
4 TPMS $178
6 qts Dex VI $35
6 qts Dex VI $35
Front and rear anti-roll bar bushings $TBD
Serpentine belts. $TBD
License plate bulbs $4

Total: $448 (plus TBD). There is literally nothing on here that could be attributed to the luxury car tax. Ok, the wiper blades could be cheaper. I have 8 plugs instead of 4 or 6. Everything else is in every other car made past the early 2000s in most cases, or 2008 in the case of TPMS. So, this is just a list of things that are wise to do on a 125k 12 year old used car, regardless of make/model. And the beauty of my argument is this has nothing to do with the cost of the car. There is no other, more expensive used STS I could have purchased that would have magically had all of these things done. Or it would have been by chance, not as a result of the higher price. So add $500 to the cost of any used car if you must.

If you want to pay thousands and thousands more and get something like a 5 year old car, you probably wouldn't have to do:
Fuel filter $16
Trans filter $43
6 qts Dex VI $35
6 qts Dex VI $35
8 plugs $41
4 TPMS $178
Belts

I'm sorry, that doesn't work out on your favor. Even if we lump the entire $500 group of stuff into this it still doesn't work out. These items will last 5-10 years and notionally would be done around year 10 on a new car. So as far as maintenance goes, I hardly see an advantage to a newer car.

As far as actual repairs that cost, the only thing I could come up with was:
- Ride height sensor $132.14

If something is missing let me know.

Free repairs:
- Throttle body cleaning
- Water in driver's side rear door (unclogged)
- Sunroof drains
- Air compressor (circumstantial but it did happen)
- Grease brake caliper pins and flush brake fluid (had fluid and lube on hand)

I have been spending a lot of time on the car but guess what - I am an enthusiast and I like working on cars. I could spend less time if I wanted to. But cost wise, the only thing I put in the "luxury car tax" category is the ride height sensor at $132. Of course that took all of 10 minutes to install.

[bill25]

Going forward, I would also tally "luxury tax" time. Sure the air compressor ended up free, but how long did that whole thing go on for?