2013 CADILLAC ATS automatic transmission

Black plate (38,1)Cadillac ATS Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 10/5/12
9-38 Driving and Operating
Press the MODE button on the
center console to make a mode
selection. The first press of the
button will show the current mode.
Subsequent presses will scroll
though the available modes. The
Tour and Sport modes will feel
similar on a smooth road. Select a
new setting whenever driving
conditions change.
Tour Mode
Use for normal city and highway
driving to provide a smooth,
soft ride.
Sport Mode
Use where road conditions or
personal preference demand a more
controlled response.
When selected, the Sport mode
indicator will display in the Driver
Information Center (DIC).When in Sport mode, the vehicle
will still shift automatically. The
transmission may remain in gear
longer than it would in the normal
driving mode based on braking,
throttle input, and vehicle lateral
acceleration. The steering will
change to provide more precise
control. If the vehicle has
MagneRide, the suspension will
change to provide better cornering
performance.
Snow/Ice Mode
Use when more traction is needed
during slippery conditions. The
transmission will use 2 (Second)
gear instead of 1 (First) gear when
accelerating from a stop. The
vehicle will upshift normally when
the vehicle is moving.
When selected, the Snow/Ice mode
indicator will display in the DIC.
This feature is not intended for use
when the vehicle is stuck in sand,
mud, ice, snow or gravel. If the
vehicle becomes stuck, see
If the
Vehicle Is Stuck on page 9‑10.
Limited-Slip Rear Axle
Vehicles with a limited-slip rear axle
can give more traction on snow,
mud, ice, sand, or gravel. When
traction is low, this feature allows
the drive wheel with the most
traction to move the vehicle. The
limited-slip rear axle also gives the
driver enhanced control when
cornering hard or completing a
maneuver, such as a lane change.
Limited-slip rear axle fluid should
be changed at intervals listed in
Maintenance Schedule on
page 11‑3.

Black plate (39,1)Cadillac ATS Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 10/5/12
Driving and Operating 9-39
Cruise Control
{WARNING
Cruise control can be dangerous
where you cannot drive safely at
a steady speed. So, do not use
the cruise control on winding
roads or in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous
on slippery roads. On such roads,
fast changes in tire traction can
cause excessive wheel slip, and
you could lose control. Do not use
cruise control on slippery roads.
With cruise control, a speed of
about 40 km/h (25 mph) or more can
be maintained without keeping your
foot on the accelerator. Cruise
control does not work at speeds
below about 40 km/h (25 mph).
If the brakes are applied, the cruise
control disengages. For vehicles with a manual
transmission, the cruise control will
remain active when the gears are
shifted. The cruise is deactivated if
the clutch is depressed for several
seconds.
If the StabiliTrak
®system begins to
limit wheel spin while using cruise
control, the cruise control
automatically disengages. See
StabiliTrak
®System on page 9‑36 or
Traction Control System (TCS) on
page 9‑34. When road conditions
allow the cruise control to be safely
used, you can apply the cruise
control again.
J(On/Off): Press to turn the
system on and off. A white cruise
control indicator appears in the
instrument cluster when cruise is
turned on.

Black plate (41,1)Cadillac ATS Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 10/5/12
Driving and Operating 9-41
The speedometer reading can be
displayed in either English or metric
units. SeeInstrument Cluster on
page 5‑9. The increment value used
depends on the units displayed.
Reducing Speed While Cruise
Control is at a Set Speed
If the cruise control system is
already activated:
.Press and hold SET− down until
the desired lower speed is
reached, then release it.
.To decrease the vehicle speed in
small increments, press SET−
down to the first detent. For
each press, the vehicle goes
about 1 km/h (1 mph) slower.
.To decrease the vehicle speed in
larger increments, press SET−
down to the second detent. For
each press, the vehicle speed
decreases to the next 5 km/h
(5 mph) mark on the
speedometer. The cruise control system may
automatically brake to slow the
vehicle down.
The speedometer reading can be
displayed in either English or metric
units. See
Instrument Cluster on
page 5‑9. The increment value used
depends on the units displayed.
Passing Another Vehicle While
Using Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to
increase the vehicle speed. When
you take your foot off the pedal, the
vehicle will slow down to the
previous set cruise speed.
While pressing the accelerator pedal
to override cruise, briefly applying
the set switch will result in cruise set
to the current vehicle speed.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well the cruise control will work
on hills depends upon the vehicle
speed, load, and the steepness of
the hills. When going up steep hills,
you might have to step on the
accelerator pedal to maintain the vehicle speed. When going
downhill, the cruise control system
may automatically brake to slow the
vehicle down. Also, you may have
to brake or shift to a lower gear to
keep the vehicle speed down. If the
brake is applied, the cruise control
disengages.
Ending Cruise Control
There are four ways to end cruise
control:
.Step lightly on the brake pedal
(manual and automatic
transmissions).
.Depress the clutch pedal for
several seconds or shift to
Neutral (manual transmissions).
.Press*.
.PressJ.
Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed is
erased from memory if
Jis
pressed or if the ignition is
turned off.

Black plate (70,1)Cadillac ATS Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 10/5/12
9-70 Driving and Operating
Towing
General Towing
Information
Only use towing equipment that has
been designed for the vehicle.
Contact your dealer or trailering
dealer for assistance with preparing
the vehicle for towing a trailer. Read
the entire section before towing a
trailer.
For towing a disabled vehicle, see
Towing the Vehicle on page 10‑78.
For towing the vehicle behind
another vehicle such as a motor
home, seeRecreational Vehicle
Towing on page 10‑78.
Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips
Driving with a Trailer
When towing a trailer:
.Become familiar with the state
and local laws that apply to
trailer towing.
.Do not tow a trailer during the
first 2 414 km (1500 mi) to
prevent damage to the engine,
axle, or other parts.
.Then during the first 800 km
(500 mi) of trailer towing, do not
drive over 80 km/h (50 mph) and
do not make starts at full throttle.
.Vehicles can tow in D (Drive).
Shift the transmission to a lower
gear if the transmission shifts
too often under heavy loads and/
or hilly conditions.
.Do not use Adaptive Cruise
Control when towing.
.The Automatic Collision
Preparation System should be
set to Off when towing. See
Active Emergency Braking
System on page 9‑58.
{WARNING
When towing a trailer, exhaust
gases may collect at the rear of
the vehicle and enter if the
liftgate, trunk/hatch, or rear-most
window is open.
When towing a trailer:
.Do not drive with the liftgate,
trunk/hatch, or rear-most
window open.
.Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
.Also adjust the climate
control system to a setting
that brings in only outside air.
See “Climate Control System”
in the Index.
For more information about
Carbon Monoxide, see Engine
Exhaust on page 9‑24.

Black plate (72,1)Cadillac ATS Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 10/5/12
9-72 Driving and Operating
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. If the overheat warning
comes on, seeEngine Overheating
on page 10‑22.
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
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
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. 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 regular brakes
until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the brake pedal. Then apply the parking brake and shift
into P (Park).
5. Release the brake pedal.
Leaving After Parking on a Hill
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
2. Start the engine. 3. Shift into a gear.
4. Release the parking brake.
5. Let up on the brake pedal.
6. Drive slowly until the trailer is
clear of the chocks.
7. 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
Maintenance Schedule on
page 11‑3. 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.

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 (15,1)Cadillac ATS Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 10/5/12
Vehicle Care 10-15
If the CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message comes back on when the
vehicle is started, the engine oil life
system has not been reset. Repeat
the procedure.
Automatic Transmission
Fluid
How to Check Automatic
Transmission Fluid
It is not necessary to check
the transmission fluid level.
A transmission fluid leak is the
only reason for fluid loss. If a leak
occurs, take the vehicle to your
dealer and have it repaired as soon
as possible.
The vehicle is not equipped with a
transmission fluid level dipstick.
There is a special procedure for
checking and changing the
transmission fluid. Because this
procedure is difficult, this should be
done at the dealer. Contact the
dealer for additional information.Change the fluid and filter at the
intervals listed in
Maintenance
Schedule on page 11‑3, and be sure
to use the fluid listed in
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11‑13.
Manual Transmission
Fluid
How to Check Manual
Transmission Fluid
It is not necessary to check the
manual transmission fluid level.
A transmission fluid leak is the
only reason for fluid loss. If a leak
occurs, take the vehicle to your
dealer and have it repaired as soon
as possible. See Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants on page 11‑13
for the proper fluid to use.
Hydraulic Clutch
For vehicles with a manual
transmission, it is not necessary to
regularly check brake/clutch fluid
unless there is a leak suspected. Adding fluid will not correct a leak.
A fluid loss in this system could
indicate a problem. Have the
system inspected and repaired.
When to Check and What
to Use
The brake/hydraulic clutch fluid
reservoir cap has either a symbol or
text specifying the type of brake
fluid. The common brake/clutch fluid
reservoir is filled with GM approved
DOT 3 brake fluid as indicated on
the reservoir cap. See
Engine
Compartment Overview on
page 10‑6 for reservoir location.

Black plate (22,1)Cadillac ATS Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 10/5/12
10-22 Vehicle Care
Engine Overheating
The vehicle has an indicator to warn
of the engine overheating.
If the decision is made not to lift the
hood when this warning appears,
get service help right away. See
Roadside Service (Mexico) on
page 13‑7orRoadside Service
(U.S. and Canada) on page 13‑10.
If the decision is made to lift the
hood, make sure the vehicle is
parked on a level surface.
Then check to see if the engine
cooling fan is running. If the engine
is overheating, the fan should be
running. If it is not, do not continue
to run the engine. Have the vehicle
serviced.
Notice: Running the engine
without coolant may cause
damage or a fire. Vehicle damage
would not be covered by the
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.
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.
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) for an
automatic transmission or
Neutral for a manual
transmission while stopped.