2012 CADILLAC CTS instrument cluster

Black plate (42,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
5-42 Instruments and Controls
STABILITRAK
COMPETITIVE MODE
This message displays when the
Competitive Driving Mode is
selected. When in this mode, the
Traction Control System (TCS) will
not be operating and the TCS/
StabiliTrak warning light will turn on.
Adjust your driving accordingly. See
Competitive Driving Mode on
page 9‑40for more information.
STABILITRAK NOT READY
This message may display after first
driving the vehicle and exceeding
30 km/h (19 mph) for 30 seconds.
The TCS/StabiliTrak warning light
on the instrument panel cluster also
comes on. The StabiliTrak system is
not functional until the message has
turned off. See StabiliTrak
®System
on page 9‑39 for more information.
STABILITRAK OFF
This message displays when you
turn off StabiliTrak, or when the
stability control system has been
automatically disabled. The TCS/ StabiliTrak warning light on the
instrument panel cluster also
comes on.
To realize the full benefits of the
stability enhancement system, you
should normally leave StabiliTrak
on. To turn StabiliTrak on or off, see
StabiliTrak
®System on page 9‑39.
There are several conditions that
can cause this message to appear:
.If there is overheating, which
could occur if StabiliTrak
activates continuously for an
extended period of time.
.If the brake system warning light
is on. See Brake System
Warning Light on page 5‑22.
.If the stability system takes
longer than usual to complete its
diagnostic checks due to driving
conditions.
.If an engine or vehicle-related
problem has been detected and
the vehicle needs service. See
your dealer. The message turns off as soon
as the conditions that caused the
message to be displayed are no
longer present.
SUSPENSION MODE SPORT
(CTS-V ONLY)
This message will be displayed
when sport mode is selected using
the Magnetic Ride Control button in
the center of the instrument panel.
See
Magnetic Ride Control on
page 9‑40 for more information.
SUSPENSION MODE TOUR
(CTS-V ONLY)
This message will be displayed
when touring mode is selected
using the Magnetic Ride Control
button in the center of the
instrument panel. See Magnetic
Ride Control on page 9‑40 for more
information.
TRACTION CONTROL OFF
This message displays when the
traction control system has been
turned off.

Black plate (2,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
6-2 Lighting
;(Parking Lamps):Turns on the
parking lamps together with the
following:
.Sidemarker Lamps
.Taillamps
.License Plate Lamps
.Instrument Panel Lights
5(Headlamps): Turns on the
headlamps, together with the
previously listed lamps and lights.
Exterior Lamps Off
Reminder
A warning chime will sound if the
exterior lamp control is left on in
either the headlamp or parking lamp
position and the driver door is
opened with the ignition off.
Headlamp High/
Low-Beam Changer
Push the turn signal/lane change
lever away from you to turn the high
beams on. Pull the lever toward you
and then release it to return to low
beams.
If the vehicle is turned off while the
high beams are on, they will come
on the next time the vehicle is
started.
This indicator light turns on in the
instrument panel cluster when the
high‐beam headlamps are on.
Flash-to-Pass
This feature allows the high-beam
headlamps to be used to signal the
driver in front of you that you want
to pass.
Pull and hold the turn signal/lane
change lever toward you to use this
feature. When this is done the
following will occur:
.If the headlamps are off or in
low-beam mode, the high-beam
headlamps will turn on. They will
stay on as long as the lever is
held there. Release the lever to
turn them off.
.If the headlamps are already in
high-beam mode, they will
remain on high beam.

Black plate (3,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
Lighting 6-3
Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL)
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can
make it easier for others to see the
front of your vehicle during the day.
Fully functional daytime running
lamps are required on all vehicles
first sold in Canada.
The DRL system will make either
the reduced intensity low‐beam
headlamps or dedicated DRLs come
on when the following conditions
are met:
.It is still daylight and the ignition
is in ON/RUN or START.
.The exterior lamp control is inPor AUTO and the headlamps
are off.
.The automatic transmission is
not in P (Park). When DRLs are on, only the
reduced intensity low‐beam
headlamps or dedicated DRLs will
be on. The other exterior lamps and
the instrument panel cluster will not
be on.
When the exterior lamp control is in
AUTO and it is dark enough outside,
the DRL turn off and the low-beam
headlamps will turn on. When it is
bright enough outside, the low-beam
headlamps will go off, and the DRL
will turn back on. If the vehicle is
started in a dark garage, the
automatic headlamp system comes
on immediately. Once the vehicle
leaves the garage, it takes about
one minute for the automatic
headlamp system to change to DRL
if it is light outside. During that
delay, the instrument panel cluster
may not be as bright as usual. Make
sure the instrument panel brightness
lever is in the full bright position.
See
Instrument Panel Illumination
Control on page 6‑7.
Turning the exterior lamp control to
off or to the low-beam headlamp
position will turn off the DRL. If the
parking lamps or the fog lamps were
turned on instead, the DRL will still
turn off.
This will work regardless of gear
position and whether or not the
parking brake is set.

Black plate (4,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
6-4 Lighting
Automatic Headlamp
System
When it is dark enough outside, the
automatic headlamp system turns
on the headlamps at the normal
brightness, along with the taillamps,
sidemarker, parking lamps, and the
instrument panel lights. The radio
lights will also be dim.
To turn off the automatic headlamp
system, turn the exterior lamps
switch to the off position and then
release it.
The vehicle has a light sensor
located on the top of the instrument
panel in the defroster grille which
regulates when the automatic
headlamps turn on. Do not cover
the sensor, otherwise the
headlamps will come on whenever
the ignition is on.
The system may also turn on the
headlamps when driving through a
parking garage, heavy overcast
weather, or a tunnel. This is normal.If the vehicle is started in a dark
garage, the automatic headlamp
system will come on immediately.
Once the vehicle leaves the garage,
it takes approximately one minute
for the automatic headlamp system
to change if it is bright enough
outside. During that delay, the
instrument panel cluster may not be
as bright as usual. Make sure the
instrument panel brightness control
is in the full bright position. See
Instrument Panel Illumination
Control on page 6‑7.
To idle the vehicle with the
automatic headlamp system off,
turn the control to the off position.
The headlamps will also stay on
after you exit the vehicle. This
feature can be programmed using
the Driver Information Center (DIC).
See
Vehicle Personalization on
page 5‑46.
The regular headlamp system can
be turned on when needed.

Black plate (5,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
Lighting 6-5
Adaptive Forward
Lighting (AFL)
The Adaptive Forward Lighting
System (AFL) pivots the headlamps
horizontally to provide greater road
illumination while turning. To enable
AFL, set the exterior lamp switch on
the multifunction lever to the AUTO
position. Moving the switch out of
the AUTO position will deactivate
the system. AFL will operate when
the vehicle speed is greater than
3 km/h (2 mph). AFL will not operate
when the transmission is in
R (Reverse). AFL is not immediately
operable after starting the vehicle;
driving a short distance is required
to calibrate the AFL. SeeExterior
Lamp Controls on page 6‑1.
Hazard Warning Flashers
|(Hazard Warning Flasher):
Press this button located on the
instrument panel near the audio
system, to make the front and rear
turn signal lamps flash on and off.
This warns others that you are
having trouble. Press again to turn
the flashers off.
Turn and Lane-Change
Signals
An arrow on the instrument panel
cluster flashes in the direction of
the turn or lane change.
Move the lever all the way up or
down to signal a turn.
Raise or lower the lever until the
arrow starts to flash to signal a lane
change. Hold it briefly until the lane
change is complete. The arrow will
automatically flash three times.
The lever returns to its starting
position when it is released.

Black plate (34,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
9-34 Driving and Operating
If driving safely on a wet road and it
becomes necessary to slam on the
brakes and continue braking to
avoid a sudden obstacle, a
computer senses that the wheels
are slowing down. If one of the
wheels is about to stop rolling, the
computer will separately work the
brakes at each wheel.
ABS can change the brake pressure
to each wheel, as required, faster
than any driver could. This can help
the driver steer around the obstacle
while braking hard.
As the brakes are applied, the
computer keeps receiving updates
on wheel speed and controls
braking pressure accordingly.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 to

Black plate (39,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
Driving and Operating 9-39
Adding non‐dealer accessories can
affect your vehicle's performance.
SeeAccessories and Modifications
on page 10‑3 for more information.
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 in
the 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
light displays, the system is not
operational. Driving should be adjusted accordingly. See
Driver
Information Center (DIC) on
page 5‑27 and Messages and
Traction Control System (TCS)/
StabiliTrak
®Light on page 5‑24 for
more information.
The TCS/StabiliTrak 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.

Black plate (42,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
9-42 Driving and Operating
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.