2003 CADILLAC CTS Owners Manual

2-29
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord. The
cord is located on the driver's side of the engine
compartment near the engine oil dipstick. See
ªEngine Compartment Overviewº in the Index for
more information on location.
You must remove the plastic cap to access the plug.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110
-volt AC outlet.
CAUTION:
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet
could cause an electrical shock. Also, the wrong
kind of extension cord could overheat and cause
a fire. You could be seriously injured. Plug the
cord into a properly grounded three
-prong
11 0
-volt AC outlet. If the cord won't reach, use a
heavy
-duty three-prong extension cord rated for
at least 15 amps.
4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug
and store the cord as it was before to keep it away
from moving engine parts. If you don't, it could
be damaged.
How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged
in? The answer depends on the outside temperature, the
kind of oil you have, and some other things. Instead of
trying to list everything here, we ask that you contact
your dealer in the area where you'll be parking your
vehicle. The dealer can give you the best advice for that
particular area.

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Automatic Transmission Operation
The automatic transmission shift lever is located on the
center console between the front seats.
There are several different positions for the shift lever.PARK (P): This position locks the rear wheels. It's the
best position to use when you start the engine because
your vehicle can't move easily.
CAUTION:
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the
shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Don't leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured. To be sure your
vehicle won't move, even when you're on fairly
level ground, always set your parking brake and
move the shift lever to PARK (P).
See ªShifting Into PARK (P)º in the Index.
If you're pulling a trailer, see ªTowing a Trailerº
in the Index.

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Ensure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) before
starting the engine. Your vehicle has an automatic
transmission shift lock control system. You must fully
apply your regular brakes before you can shift from
PARK (P) when the ignition key is in ON. If you cannot
shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on the shift lever.
Push the shift lever all the way into PARK (P) while
pressing the button on the shift lever as you maintain
brake application. Then move the shift lever into the
gear you wish. See ªShifting Out of PARK (P)º in
the Index.
NOTICE:
Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle is
moving forward could damage your
transmission. Shift to REVERSE (R) only after
your vehicle has stopped.
REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back up.
At low vehicle speeds, you can also use REVERSE (R)
to rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow,
ice or sand without damaging your transmission. See
ªStuck in Sand, Mud, Ice or Snowº in the Index for
additional information.NEUTRAL (N): In this position, the engine doesn't
connect with the wheels. To restart when you're already
moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only. You can also use
NEUTRAL (N) when your vehicle is being towed.
CAUTION:
Shifting into a drive gear while your engine is
ªracingº (running at high speed) is dangerous.
Unless your foot is firmly on the brake pedal,
your vehicle could move very rapidly. You could
lose control and hit people or objects. Don't shift
into a drive gear while your engine is racing.
NOTICE:
Damage to your transmission caused by shifting
out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) with the
engine racing isn't covered by your warranty.

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AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D): This position is
for normal driving. If you need more power for passing,
and you're:

Going less than 35 mph (55 km/h), push the
accelerator pedal about halfway down.

Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push the
accelerator all the way down.
The transmission will shift down to a lower gear and
have more power.
NOTICE:
If your vehicle seems to start up rather slowly, or
if it doesn't seem to shift gears as you accelerate,
something may be wrong with a transmission
system sensor. If you drive very far that way,
your vehicle can be damaged. So if this happens,
have your vehicle serviced right away. Until then,
you can use FOURTH (4) when you are driving
less than 35 mph (55 km/h) and AUTOMATIC
OVERDRIVE (D) for higher speeds.
FOURTH (4): This position is also used for normal
driving, however, it offers more power and lower fuel
economy than AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D).
Here are examples for using FOURTH (4) instead of
AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D).

When driving on hilly, winding roads.

When going down a steep hill.
THIRD (3): This position gives you more power. You
can use THIRD (3) on hills. It can help control your
speed as you go down steep mountain roads, but then
you would also want to use your brakes off and on.
If the shift lever is put into THIRD (3), the transmission
won't shift into THIRD (3) until the vehicle is moving
slowly enough.

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SECOND (2): This position gives you even more
power than THIRD (3). You can use it on very steep
hills, or in deep snow or mud. (If the shift lever is put
in SECOND (2), the transmission won't shift into
SECOND (2) until the vehicle is going slowly enough).
NOTICE:
If the vehicle's wheels can't turn, don't try to
drive. This might happen if you were stuck in
very deep sand or mud or were up against a solid
object. You could damage your transmission.
Also, if you stop when going uphill, don't hold
your vehicle there with only the accelerator
pedal. This could cause overheating and damage
the transmission. Use your brakes to hold your
vehicle in position on a hill.
Shift Lock Release
(Automatic Transmission Only)
If your vehicle has a dead battery or a battery with low
voltage, you can still shift the vehicle into PARK (P) and
remove the ignition key. Use the following procedure to
release the shift lever:
1. Pull up on the rear part of the leather boot that
surrounds the shift lever.
2. Fold the boot upward to expose the mechanism
beneath the shift lever.

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3. Locate and remove the small oval cap near the
forward, right side of the shifter mechanism.4. Using a narrow, pointed tool, press down on the
mechanism under the cap so that you can move the
shift lever.

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Sport Mode Button
(Automatic Transmission Only)
This button allows you to change the driving mode of
the vehicle from the normal driving mode to a sportier
driving mode. In sport mode the vehicle will have firmer
shifting and increased performance.
The sport mode button is
located on the center
console near the
transmission shift lever.
Press the button once to turn on the sport mode.
Press the button again to return to normal driving mode.
This light located on the
instrument panel cluster
will come on when the sport
mode is active.
When you turn off the ignition while driving in sport
mode, the vehicle will remain in sport mode. Press the
sport mode button again to turn off the feature and
return to normal driving mode.

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Winter Driving Mode Button
(Automatic Transmission Only)
This feature provides more traction during slippery
conditions by using THIRD (3) gear instead of
SECOND (2) when you begin to accelerate from a
stopped position.
The winter driving mode
button is located on the
center console near the
transmission shift lever.
Press this button once to turn on the winter driving
mode feature. Press it again to turn the feature off.
The winter driving mode feature works when the vehicle
is in any gear except SECOND (2).
This light on the instrument
panel cluster will come on
when the winter driving
mode is active.
When you turn off the ignition while using this feature,
winter mode is automatically turned off. The vehicle
will return to normal driving mode. You must reselect
the winter driving mode feature each time you restart the
vehicle if you wish to use the feature.
The transmission will be in THIRD (3) gear when the
vehicle begins to move. Once the vehicle is moving, the
vehicle will upshift normally.
The transmission will downshift when the accelerator
pedal is pressed and held for more than two seconds.
This feature is not intended for continuous use or for
use when the vehicle is stuck in sand, mud, ice, snow or
gravel. If your vehicle becomes stuck, see ªRocking
Your Vehicleº in the Index for more information on
how to free it.