2012 CADILLAC CTS open hood

Black plate (34,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
5-34 Instruments and Controls
Compass Messages
CALIBRATING DRIVE IN
CIRCLES
This message displays when
calibrating the compass. Drive the
vehicle in circles at less than 8 km/h
(5 mph) to complete the calibration.
SeeCompass on page 5‑7 for more
information.
CALIBRATION COMPLETE
This message displays when the
compass calibration is complete.
See Compass on page 5‑7 for more
information.
Cruise Control Messages
CRUISE SET TO XXX MPH
(KM/H)
This message displays whenever
the cruise control is set. See Cruise
Control on page 9‑41 for more
information.
Door Ajar Messages
DRIVER DOOR OPEN
This message displays when the
driver door is not closed completely.
Close the door completely.
HOOD OPEN
This message displays when the
hood is not closed completely. Make
sure that the hood is closed
completely.
LEFT REAR DOOR OPEN
This message displays when the
driver side rear door is not closed
completely. Make sure that the door
is closed completely.
PASSENGER DOOR OPEN
This message displays when the
passenger side front door is not
closed completely. Make sure that
the door is closed completely.
REAR ACCESS OPEN (Wagon)
This message displays when the
liftgate is not closed completely.
Make sure that the liftgate is closed
completely.
RIGHT REAR DOOR OPEN
This message displays when the
passenger side rear door is not
closed completely. Make sure that
the door is closed completely.
TRUNK OPEN (Sedan and
Coupe)
This message displays when the
trunk is not closed completely. Make
sure that the trunk is closed
completely.

Black plate (6,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
8-6 Climate Controls
Air Vents
Use the air outlets located in the
center and on the side of the
instrument panel to direct the
airflow. Use the thumbwheels near
the air outlets to open or close off
the airflow.
Operation Tips
.Clear away any ice, snow,
or leaves from air inlets at the
base of the windshield that could
block the flow of air into the
vehicle.
.Keep the path under the front
seats clear of objects to help
circulate the air inside of the
vehicle more effectively.
.Use of non‐GM approved hood
deflectors can adversely affect
the performance of the system.
Check with your dealer before
adding equipment to the outside
of the vehicle.
Maintenance
Passenger Compartment
Air Filter
The passenger compartment air
filter traps most of the dust and
pollen from the air entering the
vehicle. The filter will need to
be changed periodically. See
Maintenance Schedule on
page 11‑3.
Using the climate control system
without the passenger air filter
installed could let water or other
debris enter the system. This could
cause a water leak or noises. Make
sure a new air filter is installed after
removing the old one.
The passenger compartment air
filter is located under the hood
below the windshield wiper arm
and the screen on the passenger
side of the vehicle. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview on
page 10‑6 for more information on
location.

Black plate (7,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
Climate Controls 8-7
To replace the passenger
compartment air filter:
1. Turn the ignition to ON/RUN withthe engine off.
2. Turn on the windshield wipers and turn the ignition off again
when the wipers are straight up
on the windshield.
This allows access to the leaf
screen. The passenger
compartment air filter is located
under the screen. 3. Open the hood to access the
engine compartment. See Hood
on page 10‑5 for more
information.
4. Remove the three screws that hold the screen in place and lift
off the screen by lifting and
sliding it toward the center of the
vehicle.
5. Pull out on the two tabs located on each end of the filter cover. 6. Lift the filter cover off by pulling
it straight up.
7. Remove the old filter and insert a new one.
See Maintenance Replacement
Parts on page 11‑15 for the
correct part number for the filter.
8. Reverse Steps 1 through 6 to reinstall the cover.

Black plate (22,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
9-22 Driving and Operating
as you hold the key in START
for up to a maximum of
15 seconds. Wait at least
15 seconds between each try, to
allow the cranking motor to cool
down. When the engine starts,
let go of the key and accelerator.
If the vehicle starts briefly but
then stops again, do the same
thing. This clears the extra
gasoline from the engine. Do not
race the engine immediately
after starting it. Operate the
engine and transmission gently
until the oil warms up and
lubricates all moving parts.
Notice: The engine is designed to
work with the electronics in the
vehicle. If you add electrical parts
or accessories, you could change
the way the engine operates.
Before adding electrical
equipment, check with your
dealer. If you do not, the engine
might not perform properly. Any
resulting damage would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.Retained Accessory
Power (RAP)
These vehicle accessories can be
used for up to 10 minutes after the
engine is turned off:
.Audio System
.Power Windows
.Sunroof (if equipped)
Power to the audio system will work
up to 10 minutes or until the driver
door is opened. Power to the
windows or sunroof will work up to
10 minutes or until any door is
opened. For an additional
10 minutes of operation, close all
the doors and turn the key to ON/
RUN and then back to LOCK/OFF.
Engine Coolant Heater
Vehicles with the engine coolant
heater can use this option in cold
weather conditions at or below
−18°C (0°F) for easier starting and
better fuel economy during engine
warm-up. Plug in the coolant heater at least four hours before starting
your vehicle. An internal thermostat
in the plug-end of the cord may exist
which will prevent engine coolant
heater operation at temperatures
above
−18°C (0°F).
To Use the Engine Coolant
Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the
electrical cord. The cord is
located near the driver side strut
tower.
Remove the plastic cap to
access the plug.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt AC outlet.
{WARNING
Plugging the cord into an
ungrounded outlet could cause an
electrical shock. Also, the wrong
kind of extension cord could
(Continued)

Black plate (51,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
Driving and Operating 9-51
Recommended Fuel
If the vehicle has a V6 engine, use
regular unleaded gasoline with a
posted octane rating of 87 or higher.
If the octane rating is less than 87,
an audible knocking noise,
commonly referred to as spark
knock, might be heard when driving.
If this occurs, use a gasoline rated
at 87 octane or higher as soon as
possible. If heavy knocking is heard
when using gasoline rated at
87 octane or higher, the engine
needs service.
If the vehicle has the 6.2L V8 engine
(VIN Code P), use premium
unleaded gasoline with a posted
octane rating of 91 or higher. For
best performance, use premium
unleaded gasoline with a posted
octane rating of 93. In an
emergency, you can use regular
unleaded gasoline with an octane
rating of 87 or higher. If 87 octane
fuel is used, do not perform any
aggressive driving maneuvers such
as wide open throttle applications.You might also hear audible spark
knock during acceleration. Refill the
tank with premium fuel as soon as
possible to avoid damaging the
engine. If heavy knocking is heard
when using gasoline rated at
91 octane or higher, the engine
needs service.
Gasoline Specifications
(U.S. and Canada Only)
At a minimum, gasoline should meet
ASTM specification D 4814 in the
United States or CAN/CGSB‐3.5
or 3.511 in Canada. Some
gasolines contain an
octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT). We recommend
against the use of gasolines
containing MMT. See
Fuel Additives
on page 9‑52 for additional
information.
California Fuel
Requirements
If the vehicle is certified to meet
California Emissions Standards, it is
designed to operate on fuels that
meet California specifications. See
the underhood emission control
label. If this fuel is not available in
states adopting California Emissions
Standards, the vehicle will operate
satisfactorily on fuels meeting
federal specifications, but emission
control system performance might
be affected. The malfunction
indicator lamp could turn on and the
vehicle might fail a smog‐check test.
See Malfunction Indicator Lamp on
page 5‑19. If this occurs, return to
your authorized dealer for diagnosis.
If it is determined that the condition
is caused by the type of fuel used,
repairs might not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.

Black plate (5,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-5
Hood
To open the hood:
1. Pull the hood release lever withthis symbol on it. It is located
inside the vehicle on the lower
side of the instrument panel.
2. Go to the front of the vehicle andfind the secondary hood release
lever. The lever is located under
the front edge of the grille near
the center. Lift the release lever
up and raise the hood.
Before closing the hood, be sure all
the filler caps are on properly. Then
pull the hood down and close it
firmly.

Black plate (23,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-23
If the coolant is not at the proper
level when the system cools down
again, see your dealer.
Engine Overheating
The vehicle has several indicators
to warn of engine overheating.
There are two engine hot messages
that may be displayed in the Driver
Information Center (DIC). See
Engine Cooling System Messages
on page 5‑35for more information.
You may decide not to lift the hood
when one of these warnings appear,
but get service help right away.
See Roadside Service (U.S. and
Canada) on page 13‑7 orRoadside
Service (Mexico) on page 13‑9. If you do decide to lift the hood,
make sure the vehicle is parked
on a level surface.
Then check to see if the engine
cooling fans are running. If the
engine is overheating, the fan(s)
should be running. If they are not,
do not continue to run the engine
and have the vehicle serviced.
Notice:
Engine damage from
running the engine without
coolant is not covered by the
warranty.
Notice: If the engine catches fire
because of being driven with no
coolant, the vehicle can be badly
damaged. The costly repairs
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
If Steam Is Coming from the
Engine Compartment
{WARNING
Steam from an overheated engine
can burn you badly, even if you
just open the hood. Stay away
from the engine if you see or hear
steam coming from it. Just turn it
off and get everyone away from
the vehicle until it cools down.
Wait until there is no sign of
steam or coolant before you
open the hood.
If you keep driving when the
engine is overheated, the liquids
in it can catch fire. You or others
could be badly burned. Stop the
engine if it overheats, and get out
of the vehicle until the engine
is cool.

Black plate (35,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-35
The vehicle should:
.Be placed so the headlamps
are 7.6 m (25 ft) from a light
colored wall.
.Have all four tires on a level
surface which is level all the
way to the wall.
.Be placed so it is perpendicular
to the wall.
.Not have any snow, ice, or mud
on it.
.Be fully assembled and have all
other work stopped while
headlamp aiming is being
performed.
.Be loaded with a full tank of fuel
and one person or 75 kg
(160 lbs) sitting on the
driver seat.
.Have all tires properly inflated.
.Have the spare tire (if equipped)
in its original location in the
vehicle.Headlamp aiming is done with the
vehicle's low-beam headlamps. The
high-beam headlamps will be
correctly aimed if the low-beam
headlamps are aimed properly.
To adjust the vertical aim:
1. Open the hood. See
Hood on
page 10‑5 for more information.
Halogen Headlamps
High Intensity Discharge
Headlamps
2. Locate the aim dot on the lens of the low‐beam headlamp.
3. Record the distance from the ground to the aim dot on the
low‐beam headlamp.