2004 CADILLAC CTS traction control

Check Washer Fluid
This symbol appears
with the Check Washer
Fluid message.
When this message appears on the display, it means
that your vehicle is low on windshield washer uid.
You should rell the tank as soon as possible.
SeeWindshield Washer Fluid on page 5-41
for more information.
Competitive Driving (CTS-V)
When competitive driving mode is turned on with the
traction control button, this message will be displayed on
the DIC. The TC light will be on when the competitive
driving mode is on. The traction control system will
not operate while in competitive driving mode.
You should adjust your driving accordingly. See the
CTS-Vportion ofTraction Control System (TCS) (CTS)
on page 4-8orTraction Control System (TCS)
(CTS-V) on page 4-9for more information.
Driver Door Ajar
This symbol appears
with the Driver Door
Ajar message.
When this message appears on the display, it means
that the driver’s door was not closed completely.
You should make sure that the driver’s door is
closed completely.
3-75

Stability System Off Message
This symbol appears
with the Stability System
Off message.
The Stability System Off message will be displayed any
time you turn off Stabilitrak
®(if equipped) using the TC
(traction control) on/off button. SeeTraction Control
System (TCS) (CTS) on page 4-8orTraction Control
System (TCS) (CTS-V) on page 4-9for more information.
When this message has been displayed, Stabilitrak
®is
no longer available to assist you with directional control of
the vehicle. Adjust your driving accordingly.
Stability System Ready Message
This symbol appears
with the Stability System
Ready message.
The Stability System Ready message will be displayed
any time you turn back on Stabilitrak
®(if equipped)
using the TC (traction control) on/off button. See
Traction Control System (TCS) (CTS) on page 4-8or
Traction Control System (TCS) (CTS-V) on page 4-9for
more information. When this message has been
displayed, Stabilitrak
®is ready to assist you with
directional control of the vehicle if needed.
3-83

Traction Engaged
This symbol appears
with the Traction
Engaged message.
This message will appear when the traction control
system is actively limiting wheel spin. Slippery road
conditions may exist if this message is displayed, so
adjust your driving accordingly. The message will stay on
for a few seconds after the traction control system stops
limiting wheel spin. SeeTraction Control System (TCS)
(CTS) on page 4-8orTraction Control System (TCS)
(CTS-V) on page 4-9for more information.
Trans (Transmission) Hot – Idle Engine
This symbol appears with
the Trans Hot – Idle
Engine message.
This message indicates that the transmission uid in
your vehicle is too hot. Stop the vehicle and allow it to
idle until the transmission cools down or until this
message is removed. See alsoTransmission Fluid Hot
Message on page 3-57for more information.
Trunk Open
This symbol appears with
the Trunk Open message.
When this message appears on the display, it means
that the trunk lid of your vehicle was not closed
completely. You should make sure that the trunk lid is
closed completely.
3-87

Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle..........4-2
Defensive Driving...........................................4-2
Drunken Driving.............................................4-2
Control of a Vehicle........................................4-5
Braking.........................................................4-6
Traction Control System (TCS) (CTS)................4-8
Traction Control System (TCS) (CTS-V) .............4-9
Limited-Slip Rear Axle...................................4-11
Stabilitrak
®System.......................................4-11
Panic Brake Assist........................................4-12
Steering......................................................4-12
Off-Road Recovery.......................................4-15
Passing.......................................................4-15
Loss of Control.............................................4-17
Driving at Night............................................4-18Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads..................4-19
City Driving..................................................4-22
Freeway Driving...........................................4-23
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.......................4-24
Highway Hypnosis........................................4-25
Hill and Mountain Roads................................4-25
Winter Driving..............................................4-27
If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud,
Ice or Snow..............................................4-32
Towing..........................................................4-32
Towing Your Vehicle.....................................4-32
Recreational Vehicle Towing...........................4-33
Loading Your Vehicle....................................4-34
Towing a Trailer...........................................4-39
Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
4-1

{CAUTION:
Drinking and then driving is very dangerous.
Your reexes, perceptions, attentiveness, and
judgment can be affected by even a small
amount of alcohol. You can have a serious — or
even fatal — collision if you drive after drinking.
Please do not drink and drive or ride with a
driver who has been drinking. Ride home in a
cab; or if you are with a group, designate a
driver who will not drink.
Control of a Vehicle
You have three systems that make your vehicle go
where you want it to go. They are the brakes, the steering
and the accelerator. All three systems have to do their
work at the places where the tires meet the road.Sometimes, as when you are driving on snow or ice, it
is easy to ask more of those control systems than
the tires and road can provide. That means you can lose
control of your vehicle. Also seeTraction Control
System (TCS) (CTS) on page 4-8orTraction Control
System (TCS) (CTS-V) on page 4-9.
4-5

Using Anti-Lock
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal
down rmly and let anti-lock work for you. You may hear
the anti-lock pump or motor operate, and feel the
brake pedal pulsate, but this is normal.
Braking in Emergencies
With anti-lock, you can steer and brake at the same
time. In many emergencies, steering can help you more
than even the very best braking.
Traction Control
System (TCS) (CTS)
Your vehicle has a traction control system that limits
wheel spin. This is especially useful in slippery
road conditions. The system operates only if it senses
that one or both of the rear wheels are spinning or
beginning to lose traction. When this happens,
the system brakes the spinning wheel(s) and/or reduces
engine power to limit wheel spin.
You may feel or hear the system working, but this
is normal.This warning light will
come on to let you know
if there’s a problem
with your traction
control system.
SeeTraction Control System (TCS) Warning Light on
page 3-45. When this warning light is on, the system will
not limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.
The traction control system automatically comes
on whenever you start your vehicle. To limit wheel spin,
especially in slippery road conditions, you should
always leave the system on. But you can turn the
traction control system off if you ever need to. You
should turn the system off if your vehicle ever gets stuck
in sand, mud or snow and rocking the vehicle is
required. See alsoWinter Driving on page 4-27for
information on using TCS when driving in snowy or
icy conditions.
4-8

You can turn the system
off by pressing the TC
(traction control) button
located in the glove box.
If you press the TC button once, the traction control
system will turn off and the traction control system
warning light will come on. Press the TC button again to
turn the system back on. If you press and hold the
TC button for ve seconds, the Stabilitrak
®system will
turn off. Press the TC button again to turn Stabilitrak®
back on. For more information, seeStabilitrak®System
on page 4-11.
You can program your steering wheel controls
(CTS only) and/or the buttons on the Base audio
system to turn the TCS on or off. SeeRecongureable
Steering Wheel Controls (SWC) (CTS) on page 3-8
and/or “Congurable Radio Display Keys” underRadio
with CD on page 3-108for programming instructions.
Traction Control
System (TCS) (CTS-V)
Your vehicle has a traction control system that limits
wheel spin. This is especially useful in slippery
road conditions. The system operates only if it senses
that one or both of the rear wheels are spinning or
beginning to lose traction. When this happens,
the system brakes the spinning wheel(s) and/or reduces
engine power to limit wheel spin.
You may feel or hear the system working, but this
is normal.
This warning light will
come on to let you know
if there’s a problem
with your traction
control system.
SeeTraction Control System (TCS) Warning Light on
page 3-45. When this warning light is on, the system will
not limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.
4-9

The traction control system automatically comes on
whenever you start your vehicle. To limit wheel
spin, especially in slippery road conditions, you should
always leave the system on. But you can turn the
traction control system off if you ever need to. You
should turn the system off if your vehicle ever gets stuck
in sand, mud or snow and rocking the vehicle is
required. See “Rocking Your Vehicle” underIf You Are
Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow on page 4-32for
more information. See alsoWinter Driving on page 4-27
for information on using TCS when driving in snowy
or icy conditions.
You can turn the system
off by pressing the
TC (traction control)
button located on the
steering wheel.
If you press the TC button once, the traction control
system will turn off and the traction control system
warning light will come on. If you press the TC button
again within ve seconds, the traction control system will
remain off, the warning light will stay on, and the
stability system will enter Competitive Driving Mode.Competitive Driving will be displayed on the Driver
Information Center (DIC). SeeDIC Warnings and
Messages on page 3-70for more information. Press the
TC button again to turn the system back on. If you
press and hold the TC button for ve seconds,
the Stabilitrak
®and Traction Control systems will turn
off. Press the TC button again to turn Stabilitrak®
and Traction Control back on. For more information,
seeStabilitrak®System on page 4-11.
Competitive Driving Mode
The driver can select this optional handling mode by
pressing the Traction Control button on the steering
wheel twice within ve seconds. COMPETITIVE
DRIVING will be displayed in the DIC. Competitive driving
mode allows the driver to have control of the power
applied to the rear wheels, while the Stabilitrak
®system
helps steer the vehicle by selective brake application.
In competitive mode, the levels at which Stabilitrak
®is
engaged have been modied to better suit a performance
driving environment. When the instrument cluster light is
on, the Traction Control System will not be operating.
Adjust your driving accordingly.
When you press the Traction Control button again, or
turn the ignition to ACC, the Traction Control System will
be on. The traction engaged symbol will be displayed
temporarily in the DIC and a chime will be heard.
4-10