
Black plate (5,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
Introduction v
Vehicle Symbol Chart
Here are some additional symbols
that may be found on the vehicle
and what they mean. For more
information on the symbol, refer to
the Index.
9:Airbag Readiness Light
#:Air Conditioning
!:Antilock Brake System (ABS)
%:Audio Steering Wheel Controls
or OnStar®
$: Brake System Warning Light
":Charging System
I:Cruise Control
B: Engine Coolant Temperature
O:Exterior Lamps
#:Fog Lamps
.: Fuel Gauge
+:Fuses
3: Headlamp High/Low-Beam
Changer
(: Heated Steering Wheel
j:LATCH System Child
Restraints
*: Malfunction Indicator Lamp
::Oil Pressure
}:Power
/:Remote Vehicle Start
>:Safety Belt Reminders
7:Tire Pressure Monitor
d:Traction Control/Stabilitrak®
M:Windshield Washer Fluid

Black plate (2,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
5-2 Instruments and Controls
Anti-theft Alarm SystemMessages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-43
Service Vehicle Messages . . . 5-43
Tire Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-43
Transmission Messages . . . . . 5-44
Vehicle Speed Messages . . . . 5-45
Washer Fluid Messages . . . . . 5-45
Vehicle Personalization
Vehicle Personalization . . . . . . 5-46
Universal Remote System
Universal Remote System . . . 5-53
Universal Remote System Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-53
Universal Remote System Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-57
Controls
Steering Wheel
Adjustment
To adjust the steering wheel:
1. Pull the lever down.
2. Move the steering wheel up
or down.
3. Pull or push the steering wheel closer or away from you.
4. Pull the lever up to lock the steering wheel in place. Power Tilt Wheel
For vehicles with the power tilt
wheel, the control is on the left side
of the steering column.
.Push the control up or down to
tilt the steering wheel up
or down.
.Push the control forward or
rearward to move the steering
wheel toward the front or rear of
the vehicle.
Do not adjust the steering wheel
while driving.

Black plate (4,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
9-4 Driving and Operating
Control of a Vehicle
Braking, steering, and accelerating
are important factors in helping to
control a vehicle while driving.
Braking
Braking action involves perception
time and reaction time. Deciding to
push the brake pedal is perception
time. Actually doing it is
reaction time.
Average driver reaction time is
about three‐fourths of a second.
In that time, a vehicle moving at
100 km/h (60 mph) travels 20 m
(66 ft), which could be a lot of
distance in an emergency.Helpful braking tips to keep in mind
include:
.Keep enough distance between
you and the vehicle in front
of you.
.Avoid needless heavy braking.
.Keep pace with traffic.
If the engine ever stops while the
vehicle is being driven, brake
normally but do not pump the
brakes. Doing so could make the
pedal harder to push down. If the
engine stops, there will be some
power brake assist but it will be
used when the brake is applied.
Once the power assist is used up,
it can take longer to stop and the
brake pedal will be harder to push.
Steering
Hydraulic Power Steering
Your vehicle has hydraulic
power steering. It may require
maintenance. See Power Steering
Fluid on page 10‑24.
If power steering assist is lost due
to a system malfunction, the vehicle
can be steered, but may require
increased effort.
See your dealer if there is a
problem.

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

Black plate (7,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-7
A. Windshield Washer FluidReservoir. See Washer Fluid on
page 10‑25.
B. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block (CTS Coupe and Sedan)
on page 10‑40 orEngine
Compartment Fuse Block
(CTS V Coupe and Sedan) on
page 10‑44 orEngine
Compartment Fuse Block
(CTS Wagon) on page 10‑47 or
Engine Compartment Fuse
Block (CTS V Wagon) on
page 10‑51.
C. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. See Jump Starting on
page 10‑104. D. Remote Negative (−) Terminal.
See Jump Starting on
page 10‑104.
E. Passenger Compartment Air Filter. See Passenger
Compartment Air Filter on
page 8‑6.
F. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System on
page 10‑18.
G. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. See Power Steering Fluid on
page 10‑24.
H. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine
Oil on page 10‑10. I. Engine Oil Dipstick (Out of
View). See Engine Oil on
page 10‑10.
J. Hydraulic Clutch Reservoir (If Equipped) (Not Shown). See
Hydraulic Clutch on page 10‑14.
K. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir (Out of View).
See Brakes on page 10‑26.
L. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Engine
Coolant on page 10‑18.
M. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on
page 10‑15.

Black plate (9,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-9
A. Windshield Washer FluidReservoir. See Washer Fluid on
page 10‑25.
B. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block (CTS Coupe and Sedan)
on page 10‑40 orEngine
Compartment Fuse Block
(CTS V Coupe and Sedan) on
page 10‑44 orEngine
Compartment Fuse Block
(CTS Wagon) on page 10‑47 or
Engine Compartment Fuse
Block (CTS V Wagon) on
page 10‑51.
C. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. See Jump Starting on
page 10‑104.
D. Remote Negative (−) Terminal. See Jump Starting on
page 10‑104.
E. Engine Oil Fill Cap (Out of View). See Engine Oil on
page 10‑10.
F. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine
Oil on page 10‑10. G. Passenger Compartment Air
Filter. See Passenger
Compartment Air Filter on
page 8‑6.
H. Intercooler System Pressure Cap. See Cooling System on
page 10‑18.
I. Engine Cooling Fans (Out of View). See Cooling System on
page 10‑18.
J. Hydraulic Clutch Reservoir (If Equipped) (Not Shown). See
Hydraulic Clutch on page 10‑14.
K. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See Brakes on
page 10‑26.
L. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Engine
Coolant on page 10‑18.
M. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir (Under Engine Cover). See
Power Steering Fluid on
page 10‑24.
N. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on
page 10‑15.Engine Cover
Engine Cover (CTS)
To remove:
1. Remove the oil fill cap (A).
2. Raise the right front corner of
the engine cover (B) to release it
from the ball stud.
3. Pull the engine cover (B) forward to slide the rear tabs (C) out from
under the retainers.

Black plate (24,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
10-24 Vehicle Care
If No Steam Is Coming from
the Engine Compartment
If an engine overheat warning is
displayed but no steam can be seen
or heard, the problem may not be
too serious. Sometimes the engine
can get a little too hot when the
vehicle:
.Climbs a long hill on a hot day.
.Stops after high-speed driving.
.Idles for long periods in traffic.
.Tows a trailer.
If the overheat warning is displayed
with no sign of steam:
1. Turn the air conditioning off.
2. Turn the heater on to the highest temperature and to the highest
fan speed. Open the windows as
necessary. 3. In heavy traffic, let the engine
idle in N (Neutral) while stopped.
If it is safe to do so, pull off the
road, shift to P (Park) or
N (Neutral) and let the
engine idle.
If the temperature overheat gauge
is no longer in the overheat zone
or an overheat warning no longer
displays, the vehicle can be driven.
Continue to drive the vehicle slow
for about 10 minutes. Keep a safe
vehicle distance from the car in front
of you. If the warning does not come
back on, continue to drive normally.
If the warning continues, pull over,
stop, and park the vehicle
right away.
If there is no sign of steam, idle
the engine for three minutes while
parked. If the warning is still
displayed, turn off the engine until it
cools down. Also, see “Overheated
Engine Protection Operating Mode”
next in this section.
Overheated Engine
Protection
Operating Mode
This operating mode allows the
vehicle to be driven to a safe place
in an emergency. Should a hot
engine condition exist, an overheat
protection mode which alternates
firing groups of cylinders helps
prevent engine damage. In this
mode, there is a loss in power
and engine performance. Driving
extended distances and/or towing a
trailer in the overheat protection
mode should be avoided.
Power Steering Fluid
See Engine Compartment Overview
on page 10‑6 for the location of the
power steering fluid reservoir.

Black plate (25,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-25
When to Check Power Steering
Fluid
It is not necessary to regularly
check power steering fluid unless
you suspect there is a leak in the
system or you hear an unusual
noise. A fluid loss in this system
could indicate a problem. Have the
system inspected and repaired.
How to Check Power Steering
Fluid
Notice:Extremely small amounts
of contamination can cause
steering system damage and
cause it to not work properly. Do
not allow contaminants to contact
the fluid side of the reservoir cap/
dipstick or from entering the
reservoir. To check the power steering fluid:
1. Turn the key off and let the
engine compartment cool down.
2. Wipe the cap and the top of the reservoir clean.
3. Unscrew the cap and wipe the dipstick with a clean rag.
4. Replace the cap and completely tighten it.
5. Remove the cap again and look at the fluid level on the dipstick.
The level should be between the
HOT and COLD marks. If necessary,
add only enough fluid to bring the
level between the marks.
What to Use
To determine what kind of fluid to
use, see Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11‑13. Always
use the proper fluid.
Washer Fluid
What to Use
When adding windshield washer
fluid to the vehicle, be sure to read
the manufacturer's instructions
before use. If you will be operating
your vehicle in an area where the
temperature may fall below freezing,
use a fluid that has sufficient
protection against freezing.