2011 CADILLAC CTS tow

Black plate (39,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-39
3. Remove the electrical connectorfrom the bulb by lifting the two
plastic clips.
4. Remove the bulb socket from the lamp housing by turning the
bulb socket one-quarter turn
counterclockwise.
5. Pull the old bulb from the lamp housing keeping the bulb
straight as you pull it out.
6. Install a new bulb.
7. Reinstall the electrical connector by pushing in the two plastic
clips.
8. Push the bulb socket into the lamp housing and turn the
socket one‐quarter turn
clockwise.License Plate Lamp
(Coupe and Sedan)
To replace one of these bulbs:
1. Push the tab to remove thelicense plate lamp.
2. Turn the license plate lamp assembly down to remove it.
3. Turn the socket counterclockwise and remove it.
4. Pull the bulb straight out to remove it.
5. Push the new bulb straight into the socket.
6. Reverse Steps 1 through 3 to reinstall the license plate lamp
assembly.
License Plate Lamp
(Wagon)
To replace one of these bulbs:
1. Open the liftgate. See Liftgate
(Wagon)
on page 2‑20for more
information.
Passenger Side Shown, Driver
Side Similar
2. Push the left end of the lamp assembly towards the right.
3. Turn the lamp assembly down to remove it from the liftgate.

Black plate (82,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual - 2011
10-82 Vehicle Care
After the tires have been
rotated, adjust the front and rear
inflation pressures as shown on
the Tire and Loading Information
label. SeeTire Pressure
on
page 10‑74
and Vehicle Load
Limits
on page 9‑11.
Reset the Tire Pressure Monitor
System. See Tire Pressure
Monitor Operation
on page 10‑77.
Make certain that all wheel nuts
are properly tightened. See
“Wheel Nut Torque” under
Capacities and Specifications
on
page 12‑2
.
{WARNING
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the
parts to which it is fastened, can
make wheel nuts become loose
after time. The wheel could come
off and cause an accident. When
changing a wheel, remove any
rust or dirt from places where the
wheel attaches to the vehicle. In
an emergency, use a cloth or a
paper towel to do this; but be sure
to use a scraper or wire brush
later, if needed, to get all the rust
or dirt off. See If a Tire Goes Flat
on page 10‑90.
Lightly coat the center of the wheel
hub with bearing grease after a
wheel change or tire rotation to
prevent corrosion or rust build-up.
Do not get grease on the flat wheel
surface or on the wheel nuts or
bolts.
When It Is Time for New
Tires
Various factors, such as
maintenance, temperatures, driving
speeds, vehicle loading, and road
conditions influence when you need
new tires.
One way to tell when it is time for
new tires is to check the treadwear
indicators, which appear when the
tires have only 1.6 mm (1/16 in) or
less of tread remaining. See Tire

Black plate (90,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual - 2011
10-90 Vehicle Care
If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blowout
while you are driving, especially if
you maintain your vehicle's tires
properly. If air goes out of a tire, it is
much more likely to leak out slowly.
But if you should ever have a
blowout, here are a few tips about
what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire
creates a drag that pulls the vehicle
toward that side. Take your foot off
the accelerator pedal and grip the
steering wheel firmly. Steer to
maintain lane position, and then
gently brake to a stop well out of the
traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a
curve, acts much like a skid and
may require the same correction
you would use in a skid. In any rear
blowout remove your foot from the
accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle
under control by steering the way
you want the vehicle to go. It maybe very bumpy and noisy, but you
can still steer. Gently brake to a
stop, well off the road if possible.
{WARNING
Driving on a flat tire will cause
permanent damage to the tire.
Re-inflating a tire after it has been
driven on while severely
under-inflated or flat may cause a
blowout and a serious crash.
Never attempt to re-inflate a tire
that has been driven on while
severely under-inflated or flat.
Have your dealer or an authorized
tire service center repair or
replace the flat tire as soon as
possible.
{WARNING
Lifting a vehicle and getting under
it to do maintenance or repairs is
dangerous without the
appropriate safety equipment and
training. If a jack is provided with
the vehicle, it is designed only for
changing a flat tire. If it is used for
anything else, you or others could
be badly injured or killed if the
vehicle slips off the jack. If a jack
is provided with the vehicle, only
use it for changing a flat tire.
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire
and wheel damage by driving slowly
to a level place. Turn on the hazard
warning flashers. See Hazard
Warning Flashers on page 6‑4.

Black plate (103,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-103
To access the spare tire and jacking
equipment:
1. Remove the spare tire cover.
2. Remove the stow rod cap bypulling it straight up off of
the rod.
3. Turn the wing nut (A) on the compact spare tire (B)
counterclockwise to remove.
4. Remove the spare tire and place it next to the flat tire.
5. The tools you will be using next include the jack (C), wheel
wrench (D), and extension (E).Removing the Spare Tire and
Tools (Wagon)
A. Wing Nut
B. Spare Tire
C. Jack
D. Subwoofer
E. Wheel Wrench
F. Extension
G. Cable

Black plate (104,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual - 2011
10-104 Vehicle Care
To access the spare tire and jacking
equipment:
1. Remove the spare tire cover.
2. Remove the subwoofer (D),if the vehicle has one.
To remove the subwoofer:
2.1. Turn the nut (A) counterclockwise to
remove.
2.2. Disconnect the connector wire.
2.3. Pull the subwoofer (D) up to remove it from the stow rod.
3. Remove the spare tire (B) and place it next to the flat tire.
4. Remove the jack (C), wheel wrench (E), and extension (F). To remove the jack:
1. Remove the retainer nut (A).
2. Remove the jack stowage
bracket (B).
3. Slide the jack (C) forward to remove it from the floor storage
bracket.
Removing the Flat Tire and
Installing the Spare Tire
1. Do a safety check beforeproceeding. See If a Tire Goes
Flat on page 10‑90
2. Loosen the wheel nuts, but do not remove them yet, using the
wheel wrench. Turn the handle
about 180 degrees, then return
the handle back to the starting
position. This avoids taking the
wrench off the lug nut for
each turn.

Black plate (107,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-107
WARNING (Continued)
paper towel to do this; but be sure
to use a scraper or wire brush
later, if needed, to get all the rust
or dirt off. SeeIf a Tire Goes Flat
on page 10‑90.
{WARNING
Never use oil or grease on bolts
or nuts because the nuts might
come loose. The vehicle's wheel
could fall off, causing a crash.10. Remove any rust or dirt from
the wheel bolts, mounting
surfaces, and spare wheel.
11. Install the spare tire.
12. Put the wheel nuts back on with the rounded end of the
nuts toward the wheel.
13. Tighten each wheel nut by turning it clockwise with your
hand until the wheel is held
against the hub.
14. Lower the vehicle by turning the wheel wrench
counterclockwise. Lower the
jack completely.
{WARNING
Wheel nuts that are improperly or
incorrectly tightened can cause
the wheels to become loose or
come off. The wheel nuts should
be tightened with a torque wrench
to the proper torque specification
after replacing. Follow the torque
specification supplied by the
aftermarket manufacturer when
using accessory locking wheel
nuts. See Capacities and
Specifications
on page 12‑2for
original equipment wheel nut
torque specifications.
Notice: Improperly tightened
wheel nuts can lead to brake
pulsation and rotor damage. To
avoid expensive brake repairs,
evenly tighten the wheel nuts in
the proper sequence and to the
proper torque specification. See
Capacities and Specifications
on
page 12‑2for the wheel nut
torque specification.

Black plate (117,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-117
Towing
Towing the Vehicle
Notice:To avoid damage, the
disabled vehicle should be towed
with all four wheels off the
ground. Care must be taken with
vehicles that have low ground
clearance and/or special
equipment.
Consult your dealer or a
professional towing service if the
disabled vehicle must be towed.
See Roadside Service
on
page 13‑7.
To tow the vehicle behind another
vehicle for recreational purposes,
such as behind a motor home, see
“Recreational Vehicle Towing” in this
section.
Recreational Vehicle
Towing
Recreational vehicle towing means
towing the vehicle behind another
vehicle –such as behind a
motorhome. The two most common
types of recreational vehicle towing
are known as dinghy towing and
dolly towing. Dingy towing is towing
the vehicle with all four wheels on
the ground. Dolly towing is towing
the vehicle with two wheels on the
ground and two wheels up on a
device known as a dolly.
Here are some important things to
consider before recreational vehicle
towing:
.What is the towing capacity of
the towing vehicle? Be sure to
read the tow vehicle
manufacturer's
recommendations.
.What is the distance that will be
travelled? Some vehicles have
restrictions on how far and how
long they can tow.
.Is the proper towing equipment
going to be used? See your
dealer or trailering professional
for additional advice and
equipment recommendations.
.Is the vehicle ready to be
towed? Just as preparing the
vehicle for a long trip, make sure
the vehicle is prepared to be
towed.

Black plate (118,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual - 2011
10-118 Vehicle Care
Dinghy Towing
Notice:If the vehicle is towed
with all four wheels on the
ground, the drivetrain
components could be damaged.
The repairs would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty. Do not
tow the vehicle with all four
wheels on the ground.
The vehicle was not designed to be
towed with all four wheels on the
ground. If a rear-wheel-drive vehicle
must be towed, a dolly or a trailer
should be used. If an all-wheel-drive
vehicle must be towed, a trailer
should be used. See “Dolly Towing”
following for more information.
Dolly Towing
(Rear-Wheel-Drive Vehicles)
Use the following procedure to dolly
tow a rear-wheel-drive vehicle from
the rear:
1. Attach the dolly to the tow vehicle following the dolly
manufacturer's instructions.
2. Put the rear wheels on the dolly.
3. Firmly set the parking brake. See Parking Brake (Manual)
on
page 9‑33or Parking Brake
(Electric) on page 9‑34.