2007 CADILLAC CTS traction control

Remember: ABS does not change the time you
need to get your foot up to the brake pedal
or always decrease stopping distance. If you get
too close to the vehicle in front of you, you will not
have time to apply the brakes if that vehicle
suddenly slows or stops. Always leave enough
room up ahead to stop, even though you
have ABS.
Using ABS
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 ABS, 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 is
a problem with your
traction control system.
SeeTraction Control System (TCS) Warning Light
on page 206. When this warning light is on, the
system will not limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving
accordingly.
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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. Additionally,
turning the traction control system off on some
surfaces, such as deep snow and loose gravel,
will assist vehicle motion at lower speeds.
SeeRocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out on
page 321for more information. See alsoWinter
Driving on page 316for 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 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 297.
You can program your steering wheel controls
and/or the buttons on the Base audio system to
turn the TCS on or off. SeeRecongurable
Steering Wheel Controls (SWC) (CTS) on
page 169and/or “Congurable Radio Display
Keys” underRadio with CD on page 260for
programming instructions.
Adding non-GM accessories can affect your
vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories and
Modications on page 332for more information.
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Traction Control System (TCS)
(CTS-V)
Your vehicle has a Traction Control System (TCS)
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 206. 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. Additionally, turning the
traction control system off on some surfaces, such
as deep snow and loose gravel, will assist vehicle
motion at lower speeds. SeeRocking Your Vehicle
to Get It Out on page 321andIf Your Vehicle is
Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow on page 320for
more information. See alsoWinter Driving on
page 316for 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.
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If you press the TC button once, the traction
control system will turn off and the TCS 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). See
Competitive Driving Mode (CTS-V) on page 296
and “Driver Information Center (DIC)” in the
Navigation Supplement for 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 297.
Adding non-GM accessories can affect your
vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories and
Modications on page 332for more information.
Competitive Driving Mode (CTS-V)
The driver can select this optional handling
mode by pressing the Traction Control (TC) 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 traction control warning light is on,
the Traction Control System will not be operating.
Adjust your driving accordingly.
When you press the TC button again, or turn
the ignition to ACCESSORY, the TCS will
be on. The traction engaged symbol will be
displayed temporarily in the DIC and a chime
will be heard.
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Limited-Slip Rear Axle
If your vehicle has this feature, your limited-slip
rear axle can give you additional traction on snow,
mud, ice, sand or gravel. It works like a standard
axle most of the time, but when one of the
rear wheels has no traction and the other does,
this feature will allow the wheel with traction
to move the vehicle.
StabiliTrak®System
Your vehicle may have an electronic stability
control system called StabiliTrak®.Itisan
advanced computer controlled system that assists
you with directional control of the vehicle in
difficult driving conditions.
StabiliTrak
®activates when the computer senses
a discrepancy between your intended path
and the direction the vehicle is actually traveling.
StabiliTrak
®selectively applies braking pressure
at any one of the vehicle’s brakes to help steer the
vehicle in the direction which you are steering.
When the system activates, a Stability System
Engaged message will be displayed on the
Driver Information Center. SeeDIC Warningsand Messages on page 232. You may also hear
a noise or feel vibration in the brake pedal.
This is normal. Continue to steer the vehicle in the
direction you want it to go.
If there is a problem detected with StabiliTrak
®,
a Service Stability System message will be
displayed on the Driver Information Center.
SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 232.
When this message is displayed, the system is not
operational. Driving should be adjusted accordingly.
StabiliTrak
®comes on automatically whenever
you start your vehicle. To help assist you with
directional control of the vehicle, you should always
leave the system on. You can turn StabiliTrak
®off if
you ever need to through the TC (traction control)
on/off button. SeeTraction Control System (TCS)
(CTS) on page 293orTraction Control System
(TCS) (CTS-V) on page 295.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the
StabiliTrak
®activates, the cruise control will
automatically disengage. When road conditions
allow you to safely use it again, you may reengage
the cruise control. SeeCruise Control on
page 176for more information.
297

Steering Tips
It is important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents
mentioned on the news happen on curves.
Here is why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is
subject to the same laws of physics when driving
on curves. The traction of the tires against the
road surface makes it possible for the vehicle to
change its path when you turn the front wheels.
If there is no traction, inertia will keep the vehicle
going in the same direction. If you have ever
tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you will
understand this.
The traction you can get in a curve depends on
the condition of your tires and the road surface,
the angle at which the curve is banked, and
your speed. While you are in a curve, speed is the
one factor you can control.
Suppose you are steering through a sharp curve.
Then you suddenly accelerate. Both control
systems — steering and acceleration — have to
do their work where the tires meet the road.Adding the sudden acceleration can demand too
much of those places. You can lose control.
SeeTraction Control System (TCS) (CTS) on
page 293orTraction Control System (TCS)
(CTS-V) on page 295.
What should you do if this ever happens? Ease up
on the accelerator pedal, steer the vehicle the
way you want it to go, and slow down.
Speed limit signs near curves warn that you should
adjust your speed. Of course, the posted speeds
are based on good weather and road conditions.
Under less favorable conditions you will want to
go slower.
If you need to reduce your speed as you approach
a curve, do it before you enter the curve, while
your front wheels are straight ahead.
Try to adjust your speed so you can “drive” through
the curve. Maintain a reasonable, steady speed.
Wait to accelerate until you are out of the curve,
and then accelerate gently into the straightaway.
Adding non-GM accessories can affect your
vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories and
Modications on page 332.
299

A cornering skid is best handled by easing your
foot off the accelerator pedal.
Remember: Any traction control system helps
avoid only the acceleration skid. If your traction
control system is off, then an acceleration skid is
also best handled by easing your foot off the
accelerator pedal.
If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off
the accelerator pedal and quickly steer the
way you want the vehicle to go. If you start
steering quickly enough, your vehicle may
straighten out. Always be ready for a second skid
if it occurs.
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow,
ice, gravel, or other material is on the road.
For safety, you will want to slow down and adjust
your driving to these conditions. It is important
to slow down on slippery surfaces because
stopping distance will be longer and vehicle control
more limited.
While driving on a surface with reduced traction,
try your best to avoid sudden steering,
acceleration, or braking, including reducing
vehicle speed by shifting to a lower gear.Any sudden changes could cause the tires to
slide. You may not realize the surface is slippery
until your vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize
warning clues — such as enough water, ice,
or packed snow on the road to make a mirrored
surface — and slow down when you have
any doubt.
Remember: Any Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
helps avoid only the braking skid.
Competitive Driving
See your warranty book before using your vehicle
for competitive driving.
Notice:If you use your vehicle for competitive
driving, the engine may use more oil than it
would with normal use. Low oil levels can
damage the engine. Be sure to check the oil
level often during competitive driving and keep
the level at or near the upper mark that
shows the proper operating range on the
engine oil dipstick. For information on how to
add oil, seeEngine Oil on page 346.
304

Driving on Snow or Ice
Most of the time, those places where the tires
meet the road probably have good traction.
However, if there is snow or ice between the tires
and the road, you can have a very slippery
situation. You will have a lot less traction, or grip,
and will need to be very careful.What is the worst time for this? Wet ice. Very cold
snow or ice can be slick and hard to drive on.
But wet ice can be even more trouble because it
may offer the least traction of all. You can get
wet ice when it is about freezing, 32°F (0°C), and
freezing rain begins to fall. Try to avoid driving
on wet ice until salt and sand crews can get there.
Whatever the condition — smooth ice, packed,
blowing, or loose snow — drive with caution.
Traction control improves your ability to accelerate
when driving on a slippery road. Even though
your vehicle has the Traction Control System
(TCS), you will want to slow down and adjust your
driving to the road conditions. Under certain
conditions, you may want to turn the TCS off,
such as when driving through deep snow
and loose gravel, to help maintain vehicle motion
at lower speeds. SeeTraction Control System
(TCS) (CTS) on page 293orTraction Control
System (TCS) (CTS-V) on page 295. Also see
StabiliTrak
®System on page 297,If Your Vehicle
is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow on page 320
and “Winter Tires” underTires on page 392.
317