Black plate (1,1)Cadillac ATS Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 10/5/12
Vehicle Care 10-1
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 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 Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-11
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . 10-13
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-15
Manual Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-15
Hydraulic Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-15
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . 10-16
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-17
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-18
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . 10-22 Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-23
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-24
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-25
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-26
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-27
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . 10-28
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-29
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-29
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . 10-29
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-30
Windshield Replacement . . . 10-30
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . 10-31
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-31
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-31
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-31
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-31
Back-Up Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-32
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . 10-32
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . 10-33
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-33
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-34
Engine Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-34
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-37
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-40
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-42
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-43
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-44
Run-Flat Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-44
Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-45
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . 10-45
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . 10-47
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-47
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-50
Tire Pressure for High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-51
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-52
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-53
Black plate (2,1)Cadillac ATS Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 10/5/12
10-2 Vehicle Care
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-56
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-57
When It Is Time for NewTires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-59
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . 10-59
Different Size Tires and
Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-61
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-62
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-63
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . 10-63
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-65
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . 10-66
Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . 10-67
Storing the Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . 10-75Jump Starting
Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-75
Towing
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . 10-78
Recreational VehicleTowing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-78
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-81
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-84
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-88
General Information
For service and parts needs, visit
your dealer. You will receive
genuine GM parts and GM-trained
and supported service people.
Genuine GM parts have one of
these marks:
Black plate (42,1)Cadillac ATS Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 10/5/12
10-42 Vehicle Care
Number Usage42 Memory Seat Module
43 Body Control Module 3
44 Not Used
45 Battery Regulated Voltage Control
46 Engine Control Module Battery
47 Not Used
48 Not Used
49 Trailer ModuleWheels and Tires
Tires
Every new GM vehicle has
high-quality tires made by a
leading tire manufacturer. See
the warranty manual for
information regarding the tire
warranty and where to get
service. For additional
information refer to the tire
manufacturer.
{WARNING
.Poorly maintained and
improperly used tires are
dangerous.
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
.Overloading the tires can
cause overheating as a
result of too much flexing.
There could be a blowout
and a serious crash. See
Vehicle Load Limits on
page 9‑11.
.Underinflated tires pose
the same danger as
overloaded tires. The
resulting crash could
cause serious injury.
Check all tires frequently
to maintain the
recommended pressure.
Tire pressure should be
checked when the tires
are cold.
(Continued)
Black plate (43,1)Cadillac ATS Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 10/5/12
Vehicle Care 10-43
WARNING (Continued)
.Overinflated tires are more
likely to be cut, punctured,
or broken by a sudden
impact—such as when
hitting a pothole. Keep
tires at the recommended
pressure.
.Worn or old tires can
cause a crash. If the tread
is badly worn,
replace them.
.Replace any tires that
have been damaged by
impacts with potholes,
curbs, etc.
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
.Improperly repaired tires
can cause a crash. Only
the dealer or an
authorized tire service
center should repair,
replace, dismount, and
mount the tires.
.Do not spin the tires in
excess of 56 km/h
(35 mph) on slippery
surfaces such as snow,
mud, ice, etc. Excessive
spinning may cause the
tires to explode.
See Tire Pressure for
High-Speed Operation on
page 10‑51 for inflation pressure
adjustment for high-speed
driving.
All-Season Tires
This vehicle may come with
all-season tires. These tires are
designed to provide good overall
performance on most road surfaces
and weather conditions. Original
equipment tires designed to GM's
specific tire performance criteria
have a TPC specification code
molded onto the sidewall. Original
equipment all-season tires can be
identified by the last two characters
of this TPC code, which will
be “MS.”
Consider installing winter tires on
the vehicle if frequent driving on
snow or ice-covered roads is
expected. All-season tires provide
adequate performance for most
winter driving conditions, but they
may not offer the same level of
traction or performance as winter
tires on snow or ice-covered roads.
See Winter Tires on page 10‑44.
Black plate (44,1)Cadillac ATS Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 10/5/12
10-44 Vehicle Care
Winter Tires
This vehicle was not, originally,
equipped with winter tires. Winter
tires are designed for increased
traction on snow and ice-covered
roads. Consider installing winter
tires on the vehicle if frequent
driving on snow or ice-covered
roads is expected. See your dealer
for details regarding winter tire
availability and proper tire selection.
Also, seeBuying New Tires on
page 10‑59.
With winter tires, there may be
decreased dry road traction,
increased road noise, and shorter
tread life. After changing to winter
tires, be alert for changes in vehicle
handling and braking.
If using winter tires:
.Use tires of the same brand and
tread type on all four wheel
positions.
.Use only radial ply tires of the
same size, load range, and
speed rating as the original
equipment tires.
Winter tires with the same speed
rating as the original equipment tires
may not be available for H, V, W, Y,
and ZR speed rated tires. If winter
tires with a lower speed rating are
chosen, never exceed the tire's
maximum speed capability.
Run-Flat Tires
This vehicle, when new, may have
had run-flat tires. There is no spare
tire, no tire changing equipment,
and no place to store a tire in the
vehicle.
The vehicle also has a Tire
Pressure Monitor System (TPMS)
that indicates a loss of tire pressure
in any of the tires.
{WARNING
If the low tire warning light
displays on the instrument
cluster, the handling capabilities
will be reduced during severe
maneuvers. Driving too fast could
cause loss of control and you or
others could be injured. Do not
drive over 90 km/h (55 mph) when
the low tire warning light is
displayed. Drive cautiously and
check the tire pressures as soon
as possible.
Run-flat tires can be driven on with
no air pressure. There is no need to
stop on the side of the road to
change the tire. Continue driving;
however, do not drive too far or too
fast. Driving on the tire may not be
possible if there is permanent
damage. To prevent permanent
damage, keep speed below 80 km/h
(50 mph). With a light load the
vehicle can be driven up to 100 km
(60 mi); with a moderate load 80 km
Black plate (45,1)Cadillac ATS Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 10/5/12
Vehicle Care 10-45
(50 mi); and a heavy load 45 km
(25 mi). As soon as possible,
contact the nearest authorized GM
or run-flat servicing facility for
inspection and repair or
replacement.
When driving on a deflated run-flat
tire, avoid potholes and other road
hazards that could damage the tire
and/or wheel beyond repair. When a
tire has been damaged, or driven
any distance while deflated, check
with an authorized run-flat tire
service center to determine whether
the tire can be repaired or should be
replaced. To maintain the run-flat
feature, all replacement tires must
be run-flat tires.
To locate the nearest GM or run-flat
servicing facility, call Customer
Assistance.
The valve stems on run-flat tires
have sensors that are part of the
TPMS. SeeTire Pressure Monitor
System on page 10‑52. These
sensors contain batteries that are
designed to last for 10 years under normal driving conditions. See
your dealer for wheel or sensor
replacement.
Notice:
Using liquid sealants can
damage the tire valves and tire
pressure monitor sensors in the
run-flat tires. This damage is not
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Do not use liquid sealants in
run-flat tires.
Summer Tires
This vehicle may come with high
performance summer tires. These
tires have a special tread and
compound that are optimized for
maximum dry and wet road
performance. This special tread
and compound will decrease
performance in cold climates, and
on ice and snow. We recommend
installing winter tires on the
vehicle if frequent driving in cold
temperatures or on snow or ice
covered roads is expected. See
Winter Tires on page 10‑44.
Tire Sidewall Labeling
Useful information about a tire is
molded into its sidewall. The
examples show a typical
passenger tire sidewall.
Passenger (P-Metric) Tire Example
(1) Tire Size:The tire size is a
combination of letters and
numbers used to define a
particular tire's width, height,
aspect ratio, construction type,
and service description. See the
“Tire Size” illustration later in this
section for more detail.
Black plate (46,1)Cadillac ATS Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 10/5/12
10-46 Vehicle Care
(2) TPC Spec (Tire
Performance Criteria
Specification)
:Original
equipment tires designed to
GM's specific tire performance
criteria have a TPC specification
code molded onto the sidewall.
GM's TPC specifications meet
or exceed all federal safety
guidelines.
(3) DOT (Department of
Transportation)
:The
Department of Transportation
(DOT) code indicates that
the tire is in compliance with
the U.S. Department of
Transportation Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards. DOT Tire Date of
Manufacture
:The last four
digits of the TIN indicate the
tire manufactured date. The first
two digits represent the week
(01-52) and the last two digits,
the year. For example, the third
week of the year 2010 would
have a four-digit DOT date
of 0310.
(4) Tire Identification Number
(TIN)
:The letters and numbers
following the DOT code are
the Tire Identification Number
(TIN). The TIN shows the
manufacturer and plant code,
tire size, and date the tire was
manufactured. The TIN is
molded onto both sides of the
tire, although only one side may
have the date of manufacture. (5) Tire Ply Material
:The type
of cord and number of plies in
the sidewall and under the tread.
(6) Uniform Tire Quality
Grading (UTQG)
:Tire
manufacturers are required to
grade tires based on three
performance factors: treadwear,
traction, and temperature
resistance. For more information
see Uniform Tire Quality
Grading on page 10‑62.
(7) Maximum Cold Inflation
Load Limit
:Maximum load
that can be carried and the
maximum pressure needed to
support that load.
Black plate (48,1)Cadillac ATS Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 10/5/12
10-48 Vehicle Care
Belt:A rubber coated layer of
cords between the plies and the
tread. Cords may be made from
steel or other reinforcing
materials.
Bead
:The tire bead contains
steel wires wrapped by steel
cords that hold the tire onto
the rim.
Bias Ply Tire
:A pneumatic tire
in which the plies are laid at
alternate angles less than
90 degrees to the centerline of
the tread.
Cold Tire Pressure
:The
amount of air pressure in a tire,
measured in kPa (kilopascal)
or psi (pounds per square inch)
before a tire has built up heat
from driving. See Tire Pressure
on page 10‑50.
Curb Weight
:The weight of a
motor vehicle with standard and
optional equipment including the maximum capacity of fuel, oil,
and coolant, but without
passengers and cargo.
DOT Markings
:A code molded
into the sidewall of a tire
signifying that the tire is in
compliance with the U.S.
Department of Transportation
(DOT) Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards. The DOT code
includes the Tire Identification
Number (TIN), an alphanumeric
designator which can also
identify the tire manufacturer,
production plant, brand, and
date of production.
GVWR
:Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating. See Vehicle Load Limits
on page 9‑11.
GAWR FRT
:Gross Axle Weight
Rating for the front axle. See
Vehicle Load Limits on
page 9‑11. GAWR RR
:Gross Axle Weight
Rating for the rear axle. See
Vehicle Load Limits on
page 9‑11.
Intended Outboard Sidewall
:
The side of an asymmetrical tire,
that must always face outward
when mounted on a vehicle.
Kilopascal (kPa)
:The metric
unit for air pressure.
Light Truck (LT-Metric) Tire
:A
tire used on light duty trucks and
some multipurpose passenger
vehicles.
Load Index
:An assigned
number ranging from 1 to 279
that corresponds to the load
carrying capacity of a tire.
Maximum Inflation Pressure
:
The maximum air pressure to
which a cold tire can be inflated.
The maximum air pressure is
molded onto the sidewall.