Black plate (51,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-51
No Change:No change will be
made to this feature. The current
setting will remain.
To select a setting, press the set/
reset button while the desired
setting is displayed on the DIC.
Keyless Unlock
If the vehicle has the keyless
access system, this feature allows
you to select which doors will
automatically unlock when you
approach the vehicle with the
keyless access transmitter and
open the driver door. See the
keyless access information for
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation (Key Access) on
page 2‑5 orRemote Keyless Entry
(RKE) System Operation (Keyless
Access) on page 2‑6 for more
information.
To select whether the lights flash
when the vehicle is unlocked, see
“Remote Door Unlock” earlier in this
section. Press the customization button until
Keyless Unlock appears on the DIC
display. Press the set/reset button
once to access the settings for this
feature. Then press the menu up/
down button to scroll through the
following settings.
Entry Door Only:
Only the driver
door will automatically unlock when
you approach the vehicle with the
keyless access transmitter and
open the driver door.
All Doors (default): All doors will
automatically unlock when you
approach the vehicle with the
keyless access transmitter and
open the driver door.
No Change: No change will be
made to this feature. The current
setting will remain.
To select a setting, press the set/
reset button while the desired
setting is displayed on the DIC. Chime Volume
This feature allows you to select the
volume level of the chime.
Press the customization button until
Chime Volume appears on the DIC
display. Press the set/reset button
once to access the settings for this
feature. Then press the menu up/
down button to scroll through the
following settings.
Normal:
The chime volume will be
set to a normal level.
Loud: The chime volume will be
set to a loud level.
No Change: No change will be
made to this feature. The current
setting will remain.
There is no default for chime
volume. The volume will stay at the
last known setting.
To select a setting, press the set/
reset button while the desired
setting is displayed on the DIC.
Black plate (52,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
5-52 Instruments and Controls
Entry/Exit Recall
If the vehicle has this feature, it
allows you to select your preferred
automatic recall of stored memory
and exit positions. SeeMemory
Seats on page 3‑8 for more
information.
Press the customization button until
Entry/Exit Recall appears on the
DIC display. Press the set/reset
button once to access the settings
for this feature. Then press the
menu up/down button to scroll
through the following settings.
To select a setting, press the set/
reset button while the desired
setting is displayed on the DIC.
Entry/Exit Recall Off (default): No
automatic Entry/Exit Recall will
occur when entering or leaving the
vehicle. The Exit Recall will only
occur after pressing the door
mounted exit button. This button
will cause the driver seat to move rearward a certain distance, and the
steering column to move full up and
full forward, if equipped. Entry
Recall will only occur by pressing
the door mounted
“1”or“2” button.
Entry/Exit Recall On (Vehicles
without Power Tilt Steering
Wheel): If this setting is selected
the following option will be available:
Easy Exit will automatically move
the driver seat rearward a certain
distance when the key is removed
from the ignition on key access
vehicles, or when the ignition is
turned off and the driver door is
opened on keyless access vehicles.
This movement will also occur when
the door mounted exit button is
pressed.
Easy Entry will automatically recall
the driver seat and outside mirror
memory positions of the current
driver (1 or 2) when the ignition is
turned on. Entry/Exit Recall On (Vehicles
with Power Tilt Steering Wheel):
If this setting is selected the
following two options will be
available:
.Entry/Exit Steering and Seat:
Easy Exit will automatically
move the steering column to a
full up and full forward position
and move the driver seat
rearward a certain distance
when the key is removed from
the ignition on key access
vehicles, or when the ignition is
turned off and the driver door is
opened on keyless access
vehicles. These movements will
also occur when the door
mounted exit button is pressed.
Easy Entry will automatically
recall the driver seat, outside
mirrors, and steering column
memory positions of the current
driver (1 or 2) when the ignition
is turned on.
Black plate (53,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-53
.Entry/Exit Steering Only:Easy
Exit will automatically move the
steering column to a full up and
full forward position when the
key is removed from the ignition
on key access vehicles, or when
the ignition is turned off and the
driver door is opened on keyless
access vehicles. This movement
will also occur when the door
mounted exit button is pressed.
Easy Entry will automatically
recall the driver seat, outside
mirrors, and steering column
memory positions of the current
driver (1 or 2) when the ignition
is turned on.
No Change: No change will be
made to this feature. The current
setting will remain.Exiting the Feature
Settings Menu
The feature settings menu will be
exited when any of the following
occurs:
.The vehicle is no longer in
ON/RUN.
.The trip/fuel or vehicle
information DIC buttons are
pressed.
.The end of the feature settings
menu is reached and exited.
.A 40-second time period has
elapsed with no selection made.
Universal Remote
System
See Radio Frequency Statement on
page 13‑21 for information
regarding Part 15 of the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC)
rules and Industry Canada
Standards RSS-GEN/210/220/310.
Universal Remote System
Programming
This system provides a way to
replace up to three remote control
transmitters used to activate
devices such as garage door
openers, security systems, and
home automation devices.
Black plate (7,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
Lighting 6-7
Interior Lighting
Instrument Panel
Illumination Control
The instrument panel brightness
knob is located on the instrument
panel next to the steering column.
D(Instrument Panel
Brightness): Turn the knob
clockwise or counterclockwise to
brighten or dim the lights. Turn the
knob completely clockwise to turn
on the interior lamps.
Reading Lamps
The reading lamps are located on
the overhead console. These lamps
come on automatically when any
door is opened.
For manual operation, press the
button next to each lamp to turn it
on or off.
If the reading lamps are left on, they
automatically shut off 10 minutes
after the ignition has been
turned off.
Lighting Features
Entry Lighting
The headlamps, taillamps, license
plate lamps, back‐up lamps, dome
lamps, and most of the interior lights
turn on briefly when the Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE)
Kis pressed,
or when the door handle is pulled on
a keyless access vehicle. See
Ignition Positions (Key Access) on
page 9‑16 orIgnition Positions
(Keyless Access) on page 9‑18.
After about 30 seconds the exterior
lamps turn off, then the dome and
remaining interior lights dim to off.
Entry lighting can be disabled
manually by changing the ignition
out of the OFF position, or by
pressing the Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE)
Qbutton.
This feature can be changed. See
Vehicle Personalization on
page 5‑46.
Black plate (8,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
6-8 Lighting
Exit Lighting
The headlamps, taillamps, parking
lamps, back‐up lamps, and license
plate lamps come on at night, or in
areas with limited lighting, when the
key is removed from the ignition.
The dome lamps also come on
when the key is removed from the
ignition. The exterior lights and
dome lamps remain on after the
door is closed for a set amount of
time, then automatically turn off.
For vehicles with keyless access,
the exterior lights and dome lamps
automatically turn on when a door is
opened after the ignition is turned
off. SeeIgnition Positions (Key
Access) on page 9‑16 orIgnition
Positions (Keyless Access) on
page 9‑18.
The exterior lights turn off
immediately by turning the
exterior lamps control off.
This feature can be changed.
See Vehicle Personalization on
page 5‑46.
Parade Dimming
This feature does not let the
instrument panel backlight dim
during daylight hours while the key
is in the ignition and the headlamps
are on. Parade dimming
automatically works with the light
sensor, located on top of the
dashboard. If it is dark enough
outside and the parking lamps are
on, the backlight on the instrument
panel can be adjusted by turning the
instrument panel brightness knob
clockwise or counterclockwise to
brighten or dim the lighting. See
Instrument Panel Illumination
Control on page 6‑7.
Battery Load
Management
The vehicle has Electric Power
Management (EPM) that estimates
the battery's temperature and state
of charge. It then adjusts the voltage
for best performance and extended
life of the battery. When the battery's state of charge
is low, the voltage is raised slightly
to quickly bring the charge back up.
When the state of charge is high,
the voltage is lowered slightly to
prevent overcharging. If the vehicle
has a voltmeter gauge or a voltage
display on the Driver Information
Center (DIC), you may see the
voltage move up or down. This is
normal. If there is a problem, an
alert will be displayed.
The battery can be discharged at
idle if the electrical loads are very
high. This is true for all vehicles.
This is because the generator
(alternator) may not be spinning fast
enough at idle to produce all the
power that is needed for very high
electrical loads.
A high electrical load occurs when
several of the following are on, such
as: headlamps, high beams, fog
lamps, rear window defogger,
climate control fan at high speed,
heated seats, engine cooling fans,
trailer loads, and loads plugged into
accessory power outlets.
Black plate (1,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
Driving and Operating 9-1
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Competitive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . 9-7
Highway Hypnosis . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-8
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . 9-8
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-9
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 9-11
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . 9-11
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . 9-16
Ignition Positions (KeyAccess) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-16
Ignition Positions (Keyless Access) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-18 Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . 9-20
Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-22
Engine Coolant Heater . . . . . . . 9-22
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-23
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . 9-24
Parking (Manual Transmission) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-25
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-25
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-26
Running the Vehicle WhileParked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-26
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . 9-27
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-29
Manual Transmission
Manual Transmission . . . . . . . . 9-31
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-33
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-33
Parking Brake (Manual) . . . . . . 9-34
Parking Brake (Electric) . . . . . . 9-35
Brake Assist (Except CTS-V) . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-37
Ride Control Systems
Traction ControlSystem (TCS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-38
StabiliTrak
®System . . . . . . . . . 9-39
Competitive Driving Mode . . . 9-40
Magnetic Ride Control . . . . . . . 9-40
Limited-Slip Rear Axle . . . . . . . 9-41
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-41
Object Detection Systems
Ultrasonic Parking Assist . . . . 9-44
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-45
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-48
Black plate (18,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
9-18 Driving and Operating
C (ON/RUN):This position is for
driving. It is the position the ignition
switch returns to after the engine
starts, and the key is released. This
position can also be used for
service and diagnostics, and to
verify the proper operation of the
malfunction indicator lamp as may
be required for emission inspection
purposes.
To shift the transmission out of
P (Park), the ignition key has to be
in ACC/ACCESSORY or ON/RUN.
The battery could be drained if the
key is left in the ACC/ACCESSORY
or ON/RUN position with the engine
off. The vehicle might not start if the
battery is allowed to drain for an
extended period of time.
D (START): This position starts the
engine. When the engine starts,
release the key. The ignition switch
returns to ON/RUN for driving.
A warning tone will sound when the
driver door is opened, the ignition is
in ACC/ACCESSORY or LOCK/
OFF, and the key is in the ignition.Key Lock Release
Vehicles with an automatic
transmission are equipped with an
electronic key lock release system.
The key lock release is designed to
prevent ignition key removal unless
the shift lever is in P (Park).
The key lock release is always
functional except in the case of an
uncharged or low voltage (less than
9‐volt) battery. If the vehicle has an
uncharged battery or a battery with low voltage, try charging or jump
starting the battery. See
Jump
Starting on page 10‑104.
If charging or jump starting the
battery does not work, locate the
hole below the ignition lock. Insert a
flat bladed tool or another key from
the key chain into the opening.
When the lever can be felt, actuate
the lever away from the driver, and
remove the key from the ignition.
Ignition Positions
(Keyless Access)
The ignition control knob can be
turned to four different positions.
To shift out of P (Park), the ignition
must be in ON/RUN or ACC/
ACCESSORY and the regular brake
pedal must be applied.
Black plate (19,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
Driving and Operating 9-19
Using a tool to force the ignition
control knob from its cylinder could
damage it.
Make sure the keyless access
transmitter is inside the vehicle
when trying to turn the ignition
control knob.
A (STOPPING THE ENGINE/
LOCK/OFF):When the vehicle is
stopped, turn the ignition switch to
LOCK/OFF to turn the engine off.
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
will remain active. See Retained
Accessory Power (RAP) on
page 9‑22. The ignition control knob cannot be
removed from the vehicle. The
keyless access transmitter must be
inside the vehicle to start the
engine. This position locks the
ignition and shift lever on automatic
transmission vehicles, and the
ignition and steering wheel on
manual transmission vehicles.
Do not turn the engine off when the
vehicle is moving. This will cause a
loss of power assist in the brake
and steering systems and disable
the airbags.
If the vehicle must be shut off in an
emergency:
1. Brake using a firm and steady
pressure. Do not pump the
brakes repeatedly. This may
deplete power assist, requiring
increased brake pedal force.
2. Shift the vehicle to neutral. This can be done while the vehicle is
moving. After shifting to neutral,
firmly apply the brakes and steer
the vehicle to a safe location. 3. Come to a complete stop. Shift
to P (Park) with an automatic
transmission, or Neutral with a
manual transmission. Turn the
ignition to LOCK/OFF.
4. Set the parking brake. See Parking Brake (Manual) on
page 9‑34 orParking Brake
(Electric) on page 9‑35.
{WARNING
Turning off the vehicle while
moving may cause loss of power
assist in the brake and steering
systems and disable the airbags.
While driving, only shut the
vehicle off in an emergency.
If the vehicle cannot be pulled over,
and must be shut off while driving,
switch the ignition to ACC/
ACCESSORY.
B (ACC/ACCESSORY): This
position allows you to use things
like the radio and the windshield