2003 CADILLAC CTS transmission

2-37
Manual Transmission Operation
The following explains how to operate your vehicle's
manual transmission.
This is the shift pattern
for your vehicle.
FIRST (1): Press the clutch and shift into FIRST (1).
Then, slowly let up on the clutch pedal as you press the
accelerator pedal.
You can shift into FIRST (1) when you're going less
than 20 mph (32 km/h). If you've come to a complete
stop and it's hard to shift into FIRST (1), put the shift
lever in NEUTRAL and let up on the clutch. Press the
clutch pedal back down. Then try shifting into
FIRST (1) again.SECOND (2): Press the clutch pedal to the floor
as you let up on the accelerator pedal and shift into
SECOND (2). Then, slowly let up on the clutch pedal
as you press the accelerator pedal.
THIRD (3), FOURTH (4), and FIFTH (5): Shift into
THIRD (3), FOURTH (4) and FIFTH (5) the same way
you do for SECOND (2). Slowly let up on the clutch
pedal as you press the accelerator pedal.
To stop, let up on the accelerator pedal and press the
brake pedal. Before the vehicle comes to a complete
stop, press the clutch pedal and brake pedal, and shift
into NEUTRAL.
NEUTRAL: Use this position when you idle the engine.
REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back up. Press the
clutch pedal and shift into REVERSE (R). Slowly let up
on the clutch pedal as you press the accelerator pedal.
Use REVERSE (R), along with the parking brake, when
you park your vehicle. See ªParking Your Vehicle
(Manual Transmission Only)º later in this section for
more information.
If your vehicle has a manual transmission, in order for
you to remove the key from the ignition, you must press
the key release button on the ignition switch. See ªKey
Release Buttonº in the Index for more information.

2-38
Shift Speeds
CAUTION:
If you skip a gear when you downshift, you could
lose control of your vehicle. You could injure
yourself or others. Don't shift down more than
one gear at a time when you downshift.
NOTICE:
If you skip more than one gear when you
downshift, or if you race the engine when you
release the clutch pedal while downshifting, you
could damage the clutch or the transmission.
If the vehicle speed drops below 20 mph (32 km/h), or
if the engine is not running smoothly, you should
downshift to the next lower gear. You may have to
downshift two or more gears to keep the engine running
smoothly or for good performance.
Parking Brake
The parking brake pedal
is located on the lower
portion of the instrument
panel to the left of the
steering wheel.
To set the parking brake, hold the regular brake pedal
down with your right foot and push the parking brake
pedal down with your left foot.

2-40
Shifting Into PARK (P)
(Automatic Transmission Only)
CAUTION:
It can be 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. 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, use the steps that
follow. If you're pulling a trailer, see ªTowing a
Trailerº in the Index.
To shift into PARK (P), use the following steps:
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot.2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) like this:

Press the button on the front of the shift lever as you
push the shift lever all the way toward the front of
your vehicle into PARK (P). Release the button.

With your right foot still holding the brake pedal
down, set the parking brake with your left foot. See
ªParking Brakeº in the Index for more information.
3. Turn the key to OFF.
4. Remove the key from the ignition switch and take it
with you. If you can leave your vehicle with the key
in your hand, the vehicle is in PARK (P).

2-41
Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine
Running (Automatic Transmission Only)
CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with the
engine running. Your vehicle could move
suddenly if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P)
with the parking brake firmly set. And, if you
leave the vehicle with the engine running, it could
overheat and even catch fire. You or others could
be injured. Don't leave your vehicle with the
engine running unless you have to.
If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine
running, be sure your vehicle is in PARK (P) and your
parking brake is firmly set before you leave it. After
you've moved the shift lever into PARK (P), hold the
regular brake pedal down. Then, see if you can move the
shift lever away from PARK (P) without first pushing
the button on the shift lever. If you can, it means that the
shift lever wasn't fully locked into PARK (P).
Torque Lock (Automatic Transmission)
If you are parking on a hill and you don't shift your
transmission into PARK (P) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl in
the transmission. You may find it difficult to pull the
shift lever out of PARK (P). This is called ªtorque lock.º
To prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and then
shift into PARK (P) properly before you leave the
driver's seat. To find out how, see ªShifting Into
PARK (P)º in the Index.
If torque lock does occur, you may need to have another
vehicle push yours a little uphill to take some of the
pressure from the parking pawl in the transmission, so
you can pull the shift lever out of PARK (P).

2-42
Shifting Out of PARK (P)
(Automatic Transmission Only)
Your vehicle has an automatic transmission shift lock
control system. You have to fully apply your regular
brakes before you can shift from PARK (P) when the
ignition is in ON. See ªAutomatic Transmissionº in
the Index.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease the pressure
on the shift lever. Push the shift lever all the way into
PARK (P) while pushing the button on the shift lever as
you maintain brake application. Then move the shift
lever into the gear you want. If you ever hold the pedal
down but still can't shift out of PARK (P), try the
following:
1. Turn the ignition key to ACCESSORY. Open and
close the driver's door to turn off the RAP feature.
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 4.
3. Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Start the vehicle and then shift to the drive gear
you want.
5. Have the vehicle fixed as soon as you can.
Parking Your Vehicle
(Manual Transmission Only)
Before you get out of your vehicle firmly apply the
parking brake. Turn the ignition key to OFF, press the
release button and remove the key. See ªManual
Transmission Key Release Buttonº in the Index for
more information.
If you are towing a trailer, see ªTowing a Trailerº in
the Index.

2-44
Engine Exhaust
CAUTION:
Engine exhaust can kill. It contains the gas
carbon monoxide (CO), which you can't see or
smell. It can cause unconsciousness and death.
You might have exhaust coming in if:

Your exhaust system sounds strange
or different.

Your vehicle gets rusty underneath.

Your vehicle was damaged in a collision.

Your vehicle was damaged when driving over
high points on the road or over road debris.

Repairs weren't done correctly.

Your vehicle or exhaust system had been
modified improperly.
If you ever suspect exhaust is coming into
your vehicle:

Drive it only with all the windows down to
blow out any CO; and

Have your vehicle fixed immediately.
Running Your Engine While You're
Parked (Automatic Transmission)
It's better not to park with the engine running. But if you
ever have to, here are some things to know.
CAUTION:
Idling the engine with the climate control system
off could allow dangerous exhaust into your
vehicle. See the earlier Caution under ªEngine
Exhaust.º
Also, idling in a closed-in place can let deadly
carbon monoxide (CO) into your vehicle even
if the fan is at the highest setting. One place
this can happen is a garage. Exhaust
-- with
CO
-- can come in easily. NEVER park in a
garage with the engine running.
Another closed-in place can be a blizzard.
See ªBlizzardº in the Index.

2-57
Daytime Running Lamps
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to see the front of your vehicle during the day.
DRL can be helpful in many different driving
conditions, but they can be especially helpful in the
short periods after dawn and before sunset. Fully
functional daytime running lamps are required on all
vehicles first sold in Canada.
The DRL system will make the turn signal lamps come
on when the following conditions are met:

It is still daylight and the ignition is in ON
or START,

the exterior lamp control is in OFF or AUTO with
the headlamps off, and

an automatic transmission is not in PARK (P) or the
parking brake is not set on a manual transmission.
When DRL are on, only your turn signal lamps will be on.
No other exterior lamps will be on when the DRL are
being used. Your instrument panel won't be lit up either.
When the exterior lamp control is in AUTO and it's dark
enough outside, the DRL will turn off and the low
-beam
headlamps will turn on. When it's bright enough
outside, the low
-beam headlamps will go off, and the
DRL will turn back on.If it's dark enough outside and the exterior lamp control
is in OFF, a Headlamps Suggested message will appear
on the Driver's Information Center (DIC) display. This
message informs the driver that turning on the exterior
lamps is recommended even though the DRL are still
illuminated. Turning the exterior lamp control to AUTO
or to the low
-beam headlamp position will turn off the
DRL and cancel the Headlamps Suggested message.
If the parking lamps or the fog lamps were turned on
instead, the DRL will still turn off and the Headlamps
Suggested message will be displayed. You can turn it off
by pressing the OK button if you have the Navigation
audio system or the CLR button if you have the base
audio system.
To operate your vehicle with the DRL off, turn the
exterior lamp control to OFF. Then turn on the fog
lamps or parking lamps, and the DRL will turn off.
The Headlamps Suggested message will appear on the
DIC display. This will work regardless of gear position
and whether or not the parking brake is set.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.

2-75
HomeLink
Transmitter
(If Equipped)
A. HomeLink
Transmitter
Buttons
B. Travel Note
Recorder Buttons
(If Equipped)
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation.
This device complies with RSS
-210 of Industry Canada.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) this device may not cause interference, and (2) this
device must accept any interference, including interference
that may cause undesired operation of the device.Changes and modifications to this system by other than
an authorized service facility could void authorization to
use this equipment.
Programming the HomeLink Transmitter
Do not use the HomeLink Transmitter with any garage
door opener that does not have the ªstop and reverseº
feature. This includes any garage door opener model
manufactured before April 1, 1982.
Be sure that people and objects are clear of the garage
door you are programming.
It is recommended that a new battery be installed in
your hand
-held transmitter for quicker and more
accurate transmission of the radio frequency.
Your vehicle's engine should be turned off while
programming the transmitter. Follow these steps to
program up to three channels:
1. Decide which one of the three channels (one of the
HomeLink buttons) you want to program.
2. Press and hold the desired button on HomeLink
through Step 3.