2011 CADILLAC CTS steering wheel

Black plate (28,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual - 2011
9-28 Driving and Operating
Manual Mode
Driver Shift Control (DSC) or
Tap Shift
Notice:If you drive the vehicle at
high RPMs without upshifting
while using Driver Shift Control
(DSC), you could damage the
vehicle. Always upshift when
necessary while using DSC.
Driver Shift Control (DSC) allows
shifting an automatic transmission
similar to a manual transmission.
Use DSC through the shift lever or
the Tap Shift controls on the back of
the steering wheel (if equipped).
To use the DSC feature using the
shift lever:
1. Move the shift lever to the right from D (Drive) to
M (Manual Mode).
Once in M (Manual Mode)
position, if you do not move the
shift lever forward or rearward,
the vehicle will be in sport mode.
When you are in sport mode the vehicle will still shift
automatically. 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.
SPORT MODE will be displayed
in the DIC momentarily. The
vehicle will remain in sport mode
if the shift lever is not moved.
Sport mode will shift
automatically but remain in a
gear longer then it would in
normal driving mode based on
braking and acceleration.
2. To go from sport mode to DSC, move the shift lever forward to
upshift or rearward to downshift.
3. To exit DSC mode and enter sport mode, hold the shift lever
in the upshift/forward position
briefly. To use the DSC feature with the Tap
Shift controls (if equipped):
1. Move the shift lever to the right
from D (Drive) to
M (Manual Mode).
2. The Tap Shift controls are on the back of the steering wheel. Tap
the left control to downshift, and
the right control to upshift.
3. To return to sport mode, hold the upshift/right control briefly.

Black plate (33,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-33
Remember: ABS does not change
the time needed to get a foot up to
the brake pedal or always decrease
stopping distance. If you get too
close to the vehicle in front of you,
there will not be enough time to
apply the brakes if that vehicle
suddenly slows or stops. Always
leave enough room up ahead to
stop, even with ABS.
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold
the brake pedal down firmly and let
ABS work. You might hear the ABS
pump or motor operating and feel
the brake pedal pulsate, but this is
normal.
Braking in Emergencies
ABS allows the driver to steer and
brake at the same time. In many
emergencies, steering can help
more than even the very best
braking.
Parking Brake (Manual)
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
brake pedal down, then push the
parking brake pedal down.
If the ignition is on, the brake
system warning light on the
instrument panel cluster should
come on. If it does not, you need tohave the vehicle serviced. See
Brake System Warning Light
on
page 5‑22for 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. Make sure that the parking
brake is fully released and the
brake warning light is off before
driving.

Black plate (37,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-37
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control
System (TCS)
The vehicle has a Traction Control
System (TCS) that limits wheel
spin. This is especially useful in
slippery road conditions. On a
rear-wheel-drive vehicle, the system
operates if it senses that one or
both of the rear wheels are spinning
or beginning to lose traction. On an
All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) vehicle, the
system will operate if it senses that
any of the 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.
The system may be heard or felt
while it is working, but this is
normal.The TCS/StabiliTrak warning light
flashes when the traction control
system is limiting wheel spin.
The TCS/StabiliTrak warning light
comes on if there is a problem with
the traction control system. When
the TCS/StabiliTrak warning light is
on, the system will not limit wheel
spin. Adjust your driving
accordingly. SeeTraction Control
System (TCS)/StabiliTrak
®Lighton
page 5‑24for more information.
TCS automatically comes on
whenever the vehicle is started. To
limit wheel spin, especially in
slippery road conditions, the system
should always be left on, but it may
be necessary to turn the system off
if the vehicle is stuck in sand, mud
or snow and rocking the vehicle is
required. See If the Vehicle is Stuck
on page 9‑11for more information. See
Winter Driving
on page 9‑9for information on using TCS when
driving in snowy or icy conditions.
This button is located on the
instrument panel (CTS) or the
steering wheel (CTS-V).
Press and release the TCS/
StabiliTrak button and the traction
control system will turn off and the
TCS/StabiliTrak warning light will
come on. Press the button again to
turn the system back on. For
information on turning StabiliTrak off
and on, see StabiliTrak System
following.
Adding non‐dealer accessories can
affect your vehicle's performance.
SeeAccessories and Modifications
on page 10‑4for more information.

Black plate (38,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual - 2011
9-38 Driving and Operating
StabiliTrak System
The vehicle has an electronic
stability control system called
StabiliTrak. It is an advanced
computer controlled system that
assists with directional control of the
vehicle in difficult driving conditions.
StabiliTrak activates when the
system senses a discrepancy
between the 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, this
warning light flashes on the
instrument panel. A noise may be
heard or a vibration may be felt inthe brake pedal. This is normal.
Continue to steer the vehicle in the
intended direction.
If there is a problem detected
with StabiliTrak, SERVICE
STABILITRAK displays on the
Driver Information Center (DIC) and
the TCS/StabiliTrak warning light
comes on the instrument panel
cluster. When this message and
warning light displays, the system is
not operational. Driving should be
adjusted accordingly. See
Driver
Information Center (DIC)
on
page 5‑27and Messages and
Traction Control System (TCS)/
StabiliTrak
®Lighton page 5‑24for
more information.
This button is located on the
instrument panel (CTS) or the
steering wheel (CTS-V).
StabiliTrak comes on automatically
whenever the vehicle is started. The
system should be left on to help
assist with directional control of the
vehicle. If StabiliTrak needs to be
turned off, press and hold the TCS/
StabiliTrak button until the TCS/
StabiliTrak warning light comes on
and STABILITRAK OFF comes on
the DIC. More steering effort is
required when the system is
turned off.

Black plate (39,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-39
If cruise control is being used when
the StabiliTrak activates, the cruise
control will automatically disengage.
When road conditions allow,
reengage the cruise control. See
Cruise Control
on page 9‑40for
more information.
Competitive Driving Mode
To select this optional handling
mode, press the TCS/
StabiliTrak button quickly two times
and STABILITRAK COMPETITIVE
MODE displays in the Driver
Information Center (DIC). While in
the StabiliTrak Competitive Mode,
the TCS/StabiliTrak warning light
comes on, TCS does not limit wheel
spin, and more effort is required to
turn the steering wheel. Adjust your
driving accordingly.
Press the TCS/StabiliTrak button
again, or turn the ignition to ACC/
ACCESSORY and restart the
vehicle, to turn TCS back on and
turn the TCS/StabiliTrak warning
light off. Notice:
When traction control is
turned off, or Competitive Driving
Mode is active, it is possible to
lose traction. If you attempt to
shift with the drive wheels
spinning with a loss of traction, it
is possible to cause damage to
the transmission. Do not attempt
to shift when the drive wheels do
not have traction. Damage caused
by misuse of the vehicle is not
covered. See the warranty book
for additional information.
Magnetic Ride Control
With this feature on the CTS-V, the
Magnetic Ride Control system
adjusts the ride of the vehicle to
Tour or Sport modes. Magnetic Ride
Control monitors the suspension
system to determine the proper
system response. TOUR:
Use for normal city and
highway driving. This setting
provides a smooth, soft ride.
SPORT: Use where road conditions
or personal preference demand
more control. This setting provides
more “feel,” or response to road
conditions.
The setting can be changed at any
time. Based on road conditions,
steering wheel angle, and the
vehicle speed, the system
automatically adjusts to provide the
best handling while providing a
smooth ride. The Tour and Sport
modes will feel similar on a smooth
road. Select a new setting whenever
driving conditions change.

Black plate (40,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual - 2011
9-40 Driving and Operating
The Driver Information Center (DIC)
briefly displays SUSPENSION
MODE TOUR or SUSPENSION
MODE SPORT on vehicle startup or
when a new mode is selected.
Press and release this button,
located in the center of the
instrument panel, to change modes.
Limited-Slip Rear Axle
Vehicles with a limited-slip rear axle
can give more traction on snow,
mud, ice, sand, or gravel. When
traction is low, this feature allows
the drive wheel with the most
traction to move the vehicle. The
limited-slip rear axle also gives the
driver enhanced control when
cornering hard or completing a
maneuver, such as a lane change.
Cruise Control
{WARNING
Cruise control can be dangerous
where you cannot drive safely at
a steady speed. So, do not use
the cruise control on winding
roads or in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous
on slippery roads. On such roads,
fast changes in tire traction can
cause excessive wheel slip, and
you could lose control. Do not use
cruise control on slippery roads.
With cruise control, a speed of
about 40 km/h (25 mph) or more can
be maintained without keeping your
foot on the accelerator. Cruise
control does not work at speeds
below about 40 km/h (25 mph).
When the brakes are applied, the
cruise control turns off. If the vehicle has the Stabilitrak
®
system and begins to limit wheel
spin while you are using cruise
control, the cruise control will
automatically disengage. See
StabiliTrak System
on page 9‑38.
When road conditions allow you to
safely use it again, the cruise
control can be turned back on.
CTS Shown, CTS‐V Similar
The cruise control buttons are
located on the left side of the
steering wheel.

Black plate (41,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-41
I(On/Off):Turns the system on
or off. The indicator light on the
button turns on when cruise control
is on.
+RES (Resume/Accelerate):
Press briefly to make the vehicle
resume to a previously set speed,
or press and hold to accelerate.
−SET (Set/Coast): Press to set the
speed and activate cruise control or
make the vehicle decelerate.
[(Cancel): Press to disengage
cruise control without erasing the
set speed from memory.
Setting Cruise Control
If the cruise button is on when not in
use, it could get bumped and go into
cruise when not desired. Keep the
cruise control switch off when cruise
is not being used. The cruise control light on the
instrument panel cluster comes on
after the cruise control has been set
to the desired speed.
1. Press the
Ibutton.
2. Get up to the desired speed.
3. Press the −SET button and
release it.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator.
Resuming a Set Speed
If the cruise control is set at a
desired speed and then the brakes
are applied, the cruise control is
disengaged without erasing the set
speed from memory.
Once the vehicle is driving at about
40 km/h (25 mph) or more, press the
+RES button on the steering wheel.
The vehicle returns to the previous
set speed and stays there. Increasing Speed While Using
Cruise Control
If the cruise control system is
already activated,.Press and hold the +RES button
on the steering wheel until the
desired speed is reached, then
release it.
.To increase vehicle speed in
small amounts, press the +RES
button. Each time this is done,
the vehicle goes about 1.6 km/h
(1 mph) faster.
Reducing Speed While Using
Cruise Control
If the cruise control system is
already activated,
.Press and hold the −SET button
on the steering wheel until the
desired speed is reached, then
release it.

Black plate (42,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual - 2011
9-42 Driving and Operating
.To slow down in small amounts,
press the−SET button on the
steering wheel briefly. Each time
this is done, the vehicle goes
about 1.6 km/h (1 mph) slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While
Using Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to
increase the vehicle's speed. When
you take your foot off the pedal, the
vehicle will slow down to the
previous set cruise speed.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well the cruise control works
on hills depends upon the vehicle
speed, load, and the steepness of
the hills. When going up steep hills,
you might have to step on the
accelerator pedal to maintain the
vehicle speed. When going
downhill, you might have to brake or
shift to a lower gear to keep the
vehicle's speed down. When the
brakes are applied the cruise control
is disengaged. Ending Cruise Control
There are four ways to end cruise
control:
.Step lightly on the brake pedal
(manual and automatic
transmissions).
.Press the clutch pedal to the
floor (manual transmissions).
.Press[on the steering wheel.
.To turn off the cruise control,
press
Ion the steering wheel.
Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed is
erased from memory by pressing
the
Ibutton or if the ignition is
turned off.
Object Detection
Systems
Ultrasonic Parking Assist
For vehicles with the Ultrasonic
Rear Parking Assist (URPA) system,
it assists the driver with parking and
avoiding objects while in
R (Reverse). URPA operates at
speeds less than 8 km/h (5 mph),
and the sensors on the rear bumper
detect objects up to 2.4m (8 ft)
behind the vehicle, and at least
25.4 cm (10 in) off the ground.