2012 CADILLAC CTS overheating

Black plate (9,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-9
3. Push and release either buttonto adjust the time by one minute
increments.
Power Outlets
Accessory power outlets can be
used to plug in electrical equipment,
such as a cell phone or MP3 player.
There are three accessory power
outlets. The power outlets located
below the climate control system,
inside the center console storage
bin, and on the rear of the center
console are powered while the
vehicle is in ON/RUN, START or
ACC/ACCESSORY mode, or until
the driver door is opened within
10 minutes of turning off the vehicle.
On the CTS Wagon there is an
additional accessory power outlet
located near the rear cargo net that
is powered at all times. Remove the cover to access and
replace when not in use.
Notice:
Leaving electrical
equipment plugged in for an
extended period of time while
the vehicle is off will drain the
battery. Always unplug electrical
equipment when not in use and
do not plug in equipment that
exceeds the maximum 20 ampere
rating.
Certain electrical accessories
may not be compatible with the
accessory power outlet and could
overload vehicle or adapter fuses.
If a problem is experienced, see
your dealer.
When adding electrical equipment,
be sure to follow the proper
installation instructions included
with the equipment. See Add-On
Electrical Equipment on page 9‑61. Notice:
Hanging heavy
equipment from the power outlet
can cause damage not covered
by the vehicle warranty. The
power outlets are designed for
accessory power plugs only, such
as cell phone charge cords.
Cigarette Lighter
The vehicle may have a cigarette
lighter. To use the lighter, push it in
all the way and let go. When it is
ready, it will pop back out by itself.
Notice: Holding a cigarette lighter
in while it is heating does not let
the lighter back away from the
heating element when it is hot.
Damage from overheating can
occur to the lighter or heating
element, or a fuse could be
blown. Do not hold a cigarette
lighter in while it is heating.

Black plate (16,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
5-16 Instruments and Controls
Engine Coolant
Temperature Gauge
Metric
English
This gauge shows the engine
coolant temperature. If the engine
coolant overheats, the engine
coolant temperature warning light
comes on. See Engine Coolant
Temperature Warning Light on
page 5‑24 andEngine Overheating
on page 10‑23 for more information.
Safety Belt Reminders
Driver Safety Belt Reminder
Light
There is a driver safety belt
reminder light on the instrument
panel cluster.
When the vehicle is started, this
light flashes and a chime may come
on to remind the driver to fasten
their safety belt. Then the light stays
on solid until the belt is buckled.
This cycle may continue several
times if the driver remains or
becomes unbuckled while the
vehicle is moving.
If the driver safety belt is buckled,
neither the light nor the chime
comes on.

Black plate (24,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
5-24 Instruments and Controls
This light comes on when the
StabiliTrak system is turned off.
If StabiliTrak is off, the Traction
Control System (TCS) is also off.
If the TCS is off, the system does
not assist in controlling the vehicle.
Turn on the TCS and the StabiliTrak
systems and the warning light
turns off.
SeeTraction Control System (TCS)
on page 9‑38 andStabiliTrak
®
System on page 9‑39 for more
information
Traction Control System
(TCS)/StabiliTrak®Light
The StabiliTrak system or the
Traction Control System (TCS)
indicator/warning light comes on
briefly when the engine is started. If the light does not come on, have
the vehicle serviced by the dealer.
If the system is working normally,
the indicator light turns off.
If the light is on and not flashing, the
TCS, and potentially the StabiliTrak
system have been disabled. A DIC
message may display. Check the
DIC messages to determine which
feature(s) is no longer functioning
and whether the vehicle requires
service.
If the indicator/warning light is on
and flashing, the TCS and/or the
StabiliTrak system is actively
working.
See
StabiliTrak
®System on
page 9‑39 andTraction Control
System (TCS) on page 9‑38 for
more information.
Engine Coolant
Temperature Warning
Light
The engine coolant temperature
warning light comes on briefly when
the vehicle is started.
If it does not, have the vehicle
serviced by your dealer. If the
system is working normally, the
indicator light then goes off.
If the light comes on and stays on
while driving, the vehicle may have
a problem with the cooling system.
Stop and turn off the vehicle to
avoid damage to the engine.
A warning chime sounds when this
light is on.
See Engine Overheating on
page 10‑23 for more information.

Black plate (35,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-35
Engine Cooling System
Messages
ENGINE HOT A/C (AIR
CONDITIONING) OFF
This message displays when the
engine coolant becomes hotter than
the normal operating temperature.
SeeEngine Coolant Temperature
Gauge on page 5‑16. To avoid
added strain on a hot engine,
the air conditioning compressor
automatically turns off. When the
coolant temperature returns to
normal, the air conditioning
compressor turns back on. You
can continue to drive the vehicle.
If this message continues to appear,
have the system repaired by your
dealer as soon as possible to avoid
damage to the engine.
ENGINE OVERHEATED IDLE
ENGINE
Notice: If you drive the vehicle
while the engine is overheating,
severe engine damage may
occur. If an overheat warning
appears on the instrument panel
cluster and/or DIC, stop the
vehicle as soon as possible. Do
not increase the engine speed
above normal idling speed.
See Engine Overheating on
page 10‑23 for more information.
This message displays when the
engine coolant temperature is too
hot. Stop and allow the vehicle
to idle until it cools down. If the
message does not clear in a
few minutes or if the overheat light
stays on, shut the vehicle off and
have it serviced before driving
again. See Engine Coolant
Temperature Warning Light on
page 5‑24. See
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode on page 10‑24 for
information on driving to a safe
place in an emergency.
Engine Oil Messages
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
When this message displays, it
means that service is required
for the vehicle. See your dealer.
See Maintenance Schedule on
page 11‑3 andEngine Oil on
page 10‑10 for more information.
When you reset the CHANGE
ENGINE OIL SOON message by
clearing it from the display, you still
must reset the engine oil life system
separately. For more information on
resetting the engine oil life system,
see Engine Oil Life System on
page 10‑12.
ENGINE OIL LOW ADD OIL
If the vehicle has an oil level sensor,
this message displays if the oil level
in the vehicle is low. Check the oil
level and correct it as necessary.

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 (58,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
9-58 Driving and Operating
shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees,
or other objects. Avoid jerky or
sudden maneuvers. Signal well in
advance.
Turn Signals When Towing a
Trailer
The arrows on the instrument panel
flash whenever signaling a turn or
lane change. Properly hooked up,
the trailer lamps also flash, telling
other drivers the vehicle is turning,
changing lanes, or stopping.
When towing a trailer, the arrows on
the instrument panel flash for turns
even if the bulbs on the trailer are
burned out. For this reason you may
think other drivers are seeing the
signal when they are not. It is
important to check occasionally to
be sure the trailer bulbs are still
working.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a
lower gear before starting down a
long or steep downgrade. If the
transmission is not shifted down, thebrakes might have to be used so
much that they would get hot and no
longer work well.
Vehicles with an automatic
transmission can tow in D (Drive)
but M (Manual Mode) is
recommended. Shift the
transmission to a lower gear if the
transmission shifts too often under
heavy loads and/or hilly conditions.
For vehicles with a manual
transmission, it is better not to use
the highest gear.
When towing at high altitude on
steep uphill grades, consider the
following: Engine coolant will boil at
a lower temperature than at normal
altitudes. If the engine is turned off
immediately after towing at high
altitude on steep uphill grades, the
vehicle may show signs similar to
engine overheating. To avoid this,
let the engine run while parked,
preferably on level ground, with the
automatic transmission in P (Park)
for a few minutes before turning the
engine off. For vehicles with manual
transmissions, let the engine runwhile parked, preferably on level
ground, with the transmission out of
gear and the parking brake applied,
for a few minutes before turning the
engine off. If the overheat warning
comes on, see
Engine Overheating
on page 10‑23.
Parking on Hills
{WARNING
Parking the vehicle on a hill with
the trailer attached can be
dangerous. If something goes
wrong, the rig could start to move.
People can be injured, and both
the vehicle and the trailer can be
damaged. When possible, always
park the rig on a flat surface.
If parking the rig on a hill:
1. Press the brake pedal, but do not shift into P (Park) yet for
vehicles with an automatic
transmission, or into gear for
vehicles with a manual

Black plate (59,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
Driving and Operating 9-59
transmission. Turn the wheels
into the curb if facing downhill or
into traffic if facing uphill.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the brake pedal
until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the brake pedal. Then apply the parking brake and shift
into P (Park) for vehicles with an
automatic transmission or into
gear for vehicles with a manual
transmission.
5. Release the brake pedal.
Leaving After Parking on a Hill
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal while you:
1.1. Start the engine.
1.2. Shift into a gear.
1.3. Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal. 3. Drive slowly until the trailer is
clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer
Towing
The vehicle needs service more
often when pulling a trailer. See this
manual's Maintenance Schedule or
Index for more information. Things
that are especially important in
trailer operation are automatic
transmission fluid, engine oil, axle
lubricant, belts, cooling system, and
brake system. It is a good idea to
inspect these before and during
the trip.
Check periodically to see that all
hitch nuts and bolts are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer
Towing
The cooling system may temporarily
overheat during severe operating
conditions. See Engine Overheating
on page 10‑23.
Trailer Towing (CTS-V and
Coupe)
The vehicle is neither designed nor
intended to tow a trailer.
Trailer Towing (Except
CTS-V and Coupe)
Before pulling a trailer, there are
three important considerations that
have to do with weight:
.The weight of the trailer.
.The weight of the trailer tongue.
.The total weight on the vehicle's
tires.
Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be?
It should never weigh more than
450 kg (1,000 lbs). But even that
can be too heavy.
Speed, altitude, road grades,
outside temperature, special
equipment, and the amount of
tongue weight the vehicle can carry

Black plate (1,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-1
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
California Proposition 65Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . 10-3
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-4
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-5
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-6
Engine Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-9
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-10
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . 10-12
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-14
Manual Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-14 Hydraulic Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-14
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . 10-15
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-18
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-18
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . 10-23
Overheated Engine
Protection
Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . 10-24
Power Steering Fluid . . . . . . . 10-24
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-25
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-26
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-27
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-29
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-30
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . 10-30
Automatic Transmission Shift Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-31
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-31
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . 10-32
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-32
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . 10-34
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-37
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-37
High Intensity Discharge(HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-37
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-37
License Plate Lamp (Coupe and Sedan) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-38
License Plate Lamp (Wagon) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-38
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . 10-39
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-39
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-40
Engine Compartment Fuse Block (CTS Coupe and
Sedan) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-40
Engine Compartment Fuse Block (CTS V Coupe and
Sedan) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-44