2006 CADILLAC CTS V Owners Manual

Driver Shift Control (DSC)
Notice:If you drive your vehicle at high RPMs
without upshifting while using Driver Shift Control
(DSC), you could damage your vehicle. Always
upshift when necessary while using DSC.
Your automatic transmission has a Driver Shift Control
(DSC) feature that allows you to change gears similar to a
manual transmission. To use the DSC feature:
1. Slide the shift lever over from AUTOMATIC
OVERDRIVE (D) to the right into the DSC area.
The sport mode light in the
instrument panel cluster
will come on.
If you do not move the shift lever forward or
rearward, the vehicle will be in sport mode. When
you are in the sport mode the vehicle will still
shift automatically. While driving in sport mode, the
transmission may remain in a gear longer than it
would in the normal driving mode based on braking,
throttle input, and vehicle lateral acceleration.
2. To enter the DSC mode, press the shift lever
forward to upshift or rearward to downshift.The odometer on the instrument panel cluster will
change from the mileage to a number indicating the
requested gear range when moving the shift lever
forward or rearward. SeeSpeedometer and Odometer
on page 3-33for more information on the odometer.
While using the DSC feature, the vehicle will have rmer
shifting and increased performance. You can use this
for sport driving or when climbing or descending hills, to
stay in gear longer, or to down shift for more power
or engine braking.
The transmission will only allow you to shift into gears
appropriate for the vehicle speed and engine
Revolutions Per Minute (RPM). The transmission will
not automatically shift to the next higher gear if the
engine RPM is too high.
If shifting is prevented for any reason, the currently
selected gear will ash multiple times, indicating that the
transmission has not shifted gears.
While in the DSC mode, the transmission will
automatically downshift when the vehicle comes to a stop
and while quickly applying the accelerator to increase
speed. This will allow for more power during take-off.
When accelerating your vehicle from a stop in snowy
and icy conditions, you may want to shift into second
gear. A higher gear ratio allows you to gain more traction
on slippery surfaces.
2-29

Manual Transmission Operation
If your vehicle has a manual transmission, the shift lever
is located on the center console between the front
seats. The following explains how to operate the manual
transmission.
These are the shift patterns for the six-speed manual
transmissions.Here is how to operate your transmission:
FIRST (1):Press the clutch pedal and shift into
FIRST (1). Then slowly let up on the clutch pedal as
you press the accelerator pedal.
For the CTS, you can shift into FIRST (1) when you are
going less than 25 mph (40 km/h). If you come to a
complete stop and it is 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 shift into FIRST (1).
For the CTS-V, you can shift into FIRST (1) when you are
going less than 40 mph (64 km/h).
SECOND (2):Press the clutch pedal 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.
CTS
CTS-V
2-30

THIRD (3), FOURTH (4), FIFTH (5) and SIXTH (6):
Shift into THIRD (3), FOURTH (4), FIFTH (5) and
SIXTH (6) 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. Just before the vehicle stops, press
the clutch pedal and the brake pedal, and shift to
NEUTRAL.
NEUTRAL:Use this position when you start or idle
your engine. Your shift lever is in NEUTRAL when it is
centered in the shift pattern, not in any gear.
REVERSE (R):To back up, press down the clutch
pedal, completely stop the vehicle, and shift into
REVERSE (R). Let up on the clutch pedal slowly while
pressing the accelerator pedal.For the CTS, pull the shift lever quickly to the left and
then forward into gear.
For the CTS-V, your six-speed manual transmission has
a safety feature that prevents you from shifting into
REVERSE (R) while the vehicle is driven at speeds
greater than 3 mph (5 km/h). You will be locked out if
you try to shift into REVERSE (R) while your vehicle
is moving faster than 3 mph (5 km/h). If you have turned
your ignition off and wish to park your vehicle in
REVERSE (R), you will have to overcome the lockout
mechanism by moving the shift lever quickly to the right,
and immediately forward into gear using more force
than a normal shift.
2-31

Shift Speeds (Manual Transmission)
{CAUTION:
If you skip a gear when you downshift, you
could lose control of your vehicle. You could
injure yourself or others. Do not 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 engine, clutch, driveshaft or the
transmission. Do not skip gears or race the
engine when downshifting.
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.
Skip Shift (CTS-V)
1r4:This may appear in the message center in the
speedometer during light throttle, low speed maneuvers
(15 to 19 mph (24 to 31 km/h)). When this message
appears, you can only shift from FIRST (1) to
FOURTH (4) instead of FIRST (1) to SECOND (2).
SeeOne-to-Four Shift Message on page 3-52for more
information.
During the shift from FIRST (1) to FOURTH (4), pull the
shift lever straight back using light force on the shift
lever. You must complete the shift into FOURTH (4) to
turn off this feature. This helps you get the best
possible fuel economy. The skip shift feature is turned
backed on when the vehicle is at a complete stop.
Notice:Forcing the shift lever into any gear except
FOURTH (4), when the One – to – Four Shift
message comes on, may damage the transmission.
Shift only from FIRST (1) to FOURTH (4) when
the One – to – Four Shift message comes on.
This light comes on when:
The engine coolant temperature is higher than
169°F (76°C) and you are going 15 to 19 mph
(24 to 31 km/h).
You are 21 percent throttle or less.
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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.
If the ignition is on, the brake system warning light on
the instrument panel cluster should come on. If it
does not, you need to have your vehicle serviced. See
Brake System Warning Light on page 3-38for more
information.To release the parking brake, pull the release lever
located to the left of the steering wheel on the
instrument panel.
Notice:Driving with the parking brake on can
overheat the brake system and cause premature
wear or damage to brake system parts. Verify that
the parking brake is fully released and the brake
warning light is off before driving.
A warning chime will sound if the parking brake is set,
the ignition is on, and the vehicle begins to move.
To stop the chime, fully release the parking brake.
If you are towing a trailer and parking on a hill,
seeTowing a Trailer on page 4-39for more information.
2-33

Shifting Into Park (P)
(Automatic Transmission)
{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 rmly 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 will
not move, even when you are on fairly level
ground, use the steps that follow. If you are
pulling a trailer, seeTowing a Trailer on
page 4-39.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) by pressing the
button on the front of the shift lever while pushing
the lever all the way toward the front of the vehicle.
Release the button.
3. With your right foot still holding the brake pedal
down, set the parking brake with your left foot.
SeeParking Brake on page 2-33for more
information.
4. Turn the key to OFF.
5. 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).
2-34

Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine
Running (Automatic Transmission)
{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 rmly set.
And, if you leave the vehicle with the engine
running, it could overheat and even catch re.
You or others could be injured. Do not leave
your vehicle with the engine running.
If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine
running, be sure your vehicle is in PARK (P) and your
parking brake is rmly set before you leave it. After you
have 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 rst pushing
the button on the shift lever. If you can, it means that
the shift lever was not fully locked into PARK (P).
Torque Lock (Automatic Transmission)
If you are parking on a hill and you do not 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 nd it difficult to pull the
shift lever out of PARK (P). This is called “torque
lock.” To prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and
then shift into PARK (P) properly before you leave
the driver’s seat. To nd out how, see “Shifting
Into PARK (P)” listed previously.
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).
2-35

Shifting Out of Park (P)
(Automatic Transmission)
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. SeeAutomatic Transmission Operation
on page 2-27for more information.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), release the button
on the shift lever and 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 desired gear.
Parking Your Vehicle
(Manual Transmission)
Before you get out of your vehicle, place the shift lever in
REVERSE (R) and rmly apply the parking brake. Turn
the ignition key to OFF, press the release button and
remove the key. See “Key Release Button” underIgnition
Positions on page 2-22for more information.
If you are towing a trailer, seeTowing a Trailer on
page 4-39.
2-36