Black plate (40,1)Cadillac CTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6081492) - 2014 - CRC 2nd Edition - 11/18/13
5-40 Instruments and Controls
message remains on, take the
vehicle to your dealer for service.
SeeEngine Oil on page 10-10.
OIL PRESSURE LOW —STOP
ENGINE
This message displays if low oil
pressure levels occur. Stop the
vehicle as soon as safely possible
and do not operate it until the cause
of the low oil pressure has been
corrected. Check the oil as soon as
possible and have the vehicle
serviced by your dealer.
Engine Power Messages
ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED
This message displays when the
vehicle's engine power is reduced.
Reduced engine power can affect
the vehicle's ability to accelerate.
If this message is on, but there is no
reduction in performance, proceed
to your destination. The
performance may be reduced the
next time the vehicle is driven. The
vehicle may be driven at a reduced speed while this message is on, but
maximum acceleration and speed
may be reduced. Anytime this
message stays on, the vehicle
should be taken to your dealer for
service as soon as possible.
Fuel System Messages
FUEL LEVEL LOW
This message displays when the
vehicle is low on fuel. Refuel as
soon as possible.
Key and Lock Messages
NO REMOTE DETECTED
This message displays when the
transmitter battery may be weak.
See
“Starting the Vehicle with a Low
Transmitter Battery” underRemote
Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation on page 2-3.
NO REMOTE KEY WAS
DETECTED PLACE KEY IN
TRANSMITTER POCKET THEN
START YOUR VEHICLE
This message displays when trying
to start the vehicle if an RKE
transmitter is not detected. The
transmitter battery may be weak.
See “Starting the Vehicle with a Low
Transmitter Battery” underRemote
Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation on page 2-3.
NO REMOTE PRESS BRAKE
TO RESTART
This message displays when
attempting to turn off the vehicle
and the remote is no longer
detected. Restarting is allowed
without the remote for five minutes.
Press the brake pedal to restart the
vehicle.
Black plate (3,1)Cadillac CTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6081492) - 2014 - CRC 2nd Edition - 11/18/13
Climate Controls 8-3
When the indicator light is on or
AUTO is displayed on the touch
screen, the system is in full
automatic operation. If the air
delivery mode or fan setting is
manually adjusted, the auto
indicator turns off and the display
will show the selected settings. Auto
operation can be turned off
individually for climate settings.
For automatic operation:
1. Press AUTO.
2. Set the temperature. Allow thesystem time to stabilize. Then
adjust the temperature as
needed for best comfort.
To improve fuel efficiency and to
cool the vehicle faster, recirculation
may be automatically selected in
warm weather. The recirculation
light will not come on. Press
@to
select recirculation; press it again to
select outside air. English units can be changed to
metric units through the instrument
cluster. See
“Cluster Settings Menu”
under Instrument Cluster on
page 5-10.
OFF (Fan): Press to turn the fan on
or off. The temperature control and
air delivery mode can still be
adjusted.
w/x(Driver and Passenger
Temperature Controls): The
temperature can be adjusted
separately for the driver and the
passenger. Press to increase or
decrease the temperature. Press
and hold to rapidly increase or
decrease the temperature.
The driver and passenger
temperatures can also be adjusted
by pressing the controls on the
touch screen.
SYNC (Synchronized
Temperature): Press SYNC on the
touch screen to link all climate zone
settings to the driver settings. Adjust
the driver side temperature control
to change the linked temperature. When the passenger settings are
adjusted, the SYNC button is
displayed when the temperatures
are unlinked.
Rear (If Equipped):
Press this
button on the front climate control
touch screen to open the rear
climate control screen. The rear
climate control settings can now be
adjusted from the front
passenger area.
Manual Operation
z 9 y(Fan Control): Press the
fan control buttons or the touch
screen fan control, to increase or
decrease the fan speed. Press and
hold the buttons or the touch screen
control to adjust speed more
quickly. The fan speed setting
displays. Pressing either button
cancels automatic fan control and
the fan can be controlled manually.
Press AUTO to return to automatic
operation. To turn off the fan and
climate control system, press and
hold the fan down button or touch
screen fan control until it is off.
Black plate (2,1)Cadillac CTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6081492) - 2014 - CRC 2nd Edition - 11/18/13
9-2 Driving and Operating
Fuel
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-60
Gasoline Specifications . . . . . . 9-62
California FuelRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-62
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 9-62
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-62
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-62
Filling a Portable Fuel
Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-64
Trailer Towing
General TowingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-65
Driving Characteristics and Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-65
Trailer Towing (With LFX Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-68
Trailer Towing (With LTG or LF3 Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-69
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . 9-69
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-70
Driving Information
Distracted Driving
Distraction comes in many forms
and can take your focus from the
task of driving. Exercise good
judgment and do not let other
activities divert your attention away
from the road. Many local
governments have enacted laws
regarding driver distraction. Become
familiar with the local laws in
your area.
To avoid distracted driving, always
keep your eyes on the road, hands
on the wheel, and mind on the drive.
.Do not use a phone in
demanding driving situations.
Use a hands-free method to
place or receive necessary
phone calls.
.Watch the road. Do not read,
take notes, or look up
information on phones or other
electronic devices.
.Designate a front seat
passenger to handle potential
distractions.
.Become familiar with vehicle
features before driving, such as
programming favorite radio
stations and adjusting climate
control and seat settings.
Program all trip information into
any navigation device prior to
driving.
.Wait until the vehicle is parked
to retrieve items that have fallen
to the floor.
.Stop or park the vehicle to tend
to children.
.Keep pets in an appropriate
carrier or restraint.
.Avoid stressful conversations
while driving, whether with a
passenger or on a cell phone.
Black plate (6,1)Cadillac CTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6081492) - 2014 - CRC 2nd Edition - 11/18/13
9-6 Driving and Operating
material on the road. Learn to
recognize warning clues—such
as enough water, ice, or packed
snow on the road to make a
mirrored surface —and slow
down when you have any doubt.
.Try to avoid sudden steering,
acceleration, or braking,
including reducing vehicle speed
by shifting to a lower gear. Any
sudden changes could cause
the tires to slide.
Remember: Antilock brakes help
avoid only the braking skid.
Track Events and
Competitive Driving
Track events and competitive
driving may affect the vehicle
warranty. See the warranty manual
before using the vehicle for
competitive driving.
{Caution
If the vehicle is used for track
events and competitive driving,
the engine may use more oil than
it would with normal use. Low oil
levels can damage the engine.
Check the oil level often and at
the proper level. See Engine Oil
on page 10-10.
Because the fluid temperatures may
be higher, it is necessary to change
the rear axle fluid after a first time
track or competitive driving event.
After a first time event, the rear axle
fluid should be changed every
24 hours of racing or competitive
driving. See Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 11-13.
{Caution
During a first time track or racing
event, high rear axle
temperatures can occur. Damage
could be caused to the rear axle
and would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
Do not drive as long or as fast the
first time the vehicle is driven on
the track or raced.
The 2.0L (LTG) and 3.6L (LFX) are
not available with a track package
option and not recommended for
track use.
The twin turbo 3.6L engine (LF3)
requires premium fuel, and comes
standard with a 7 qt sump,
integrated oil cooler, and other
powertrain and powertrain cooling
components in preparation for
track use.
For track events and competitive
driving, it is recommended that the
brake fluid be replaced with a high
Black plate (10,1)Cadillac CTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6081492) - 2014 - CRC 2nd Edition - 11/18/13
9-10 Driving and Operating
Warning (Continued)
.Clear away snow from around
the base of your vehicle,
especially any that is blocking
the exhaust pipe.
.Check again from time to
time to be sure snow does
not collect there.
.Open a window about 5 cm
(2 in) on the side of the
vehicle that is away from the
wind to bring in fresh air.
.Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
.Adjust the climate control
system to a setting that
circulates the air inside the
vehicle and set the fan speed
to the highest setting. See
“Climate Control Systems”.
For more information about
carbon monoxide, see Engine
Exhaust on page 9-22. To save fuel, run the engine for only
short periods as needed to warm
the vehicle and then shut the engine
off and close the window most of
the way to save heat. Repeat this
until help arrives but only when you
feel really uncomfortable from the
cold. Moving about to keep warm
also helps.
If it takes some time for help to
arrive, now and then when you run
the engine, push the accelerator
pedal slightly so the engine runs
faster than the idle speed. This
keeps the battery charged to restart
the vehicle and to signal for help
with the headlamps. Do this as little
as possible to save fuel.
If the Vehicle Is Stuck
Slowly and cautiously spin the
wheels to free the vehicle when
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow.
If stuck too severely for the traction
system to free the vehicle, turn the
traction system off and use the
rocking method. See
Traction
Control/Electronic Stability Control
on page 9-30.
{Warning
If the vehicle's tires spin at high
speed, they can explode, and you
or others could be injured. The
vehicle can overheat, causing an
engine compartment fire or other
damage. Spin the wheels as little
as possible and avoid going
above 56 km/h (35 mph).
Rocking the Vehicle to Get
it Out
Turn the steering wheel left and
right to clear the area around the
front wheels. Turn off any traction
system. Shift back and forth
between R (Reverse) and a low
forward gear, spinning the wheels
as little as possible. To prevent
transmission wear, wait until the
wheels stop spinning before shifting
gears. Release the accelerator
Black plate (14,1)Cadillac CTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6081492) - 2014 - CRC 2nd Edition - 11/18/13
9-14 Driving and Operating
seating positions. The combined
weight of the driver, passengers,
and cargo should never exceed
the vehicle's capacity weight.
Certification Label
Label Example
A vehicle-specific Certification
label is attached to the vehicle's
center pillar (B-pillar). The label
tells the gross weight capacity of
the vehicle, called the Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR).
The GVWR includes the weight
of the vehicle, all occupants,fuel, and cargo. Never exceed
the GVWR for the vehicle, or the
Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GAWR) for either the front or
rear axle.
And, if there is a heavy load, it
should be spread out. See
“Steps for Determining Correct
Load Limit”
earlier in this
section.
{Warning
Do not load the vehicle any
heavier than the Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR), or either the
maximum front or rear Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR).
This can cause systems to
break and change the way the
vehicle handles. This could
cause loss of control and a
crash. Overloading can also
shorten the life of the vehicle. If you put things inside the
vehicle
—like suitcases, tools,
packages, or anything
else —they will go as fast as the
vehicle goes. If you have to stop
or turn quickly, or if there is a
crash, they will keep going.
{Warning
Things inside the vehicle can
strike and injure people in a
sudden stop or turn, or in a
crash.
.Put things in the cargo
area of the vehicle. In the
cargo area, put them as
far forward as possible.
Try to spread the weight
evenly.
(Continued)
Black plate (15,1)Cadillac CTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6081492) - 2014 - CRC 2nd Edition - 11/18/13
Driving and Operating 9-15
Warning (Continued)
.Never stack heavier
things, like suitcases,
inside the vehicle so that
some of them are above
the tops of the seats.
.Do not leave an
unsecured child restraint
in the vehicle.
.Secure loose items in the
vehicle.
.Do not leave a seat folded
down unless needed.
Starting and
Operating
New Vehicle Break-In
Follow these recommended
guidelines during the first
2 414 km (1,500 mi) of driving this
vehicle. Parts have a break-in
period and performance will be
better in the long run.
For the first 2 414 km (1,500 mi):
.Avoid full throttle starts and
abrupt stops.
.Do not exceed 4000 engine rpm.
.Avoid driving at any one
constant speed, fast or slow.
.Avoid downshifting to brake or
slow the vehicle when the
engine speed will exceed
4000 rpm.
.Do not let the engine labor.
Never lug the engine in high
gear at low speeds.
.Do not participate in track
events, sport driving schools,
or similar activities during this
break-in period.
.Check engine oil with every
refueling and add if necessary.
Oil and fuel consumption may be
higher than normal during the
first 2 414 km (1,500 mi).
.To break in new tires, drive at
moderate speeds and avoid hard
cornering for the first
322 km (200 mi). New tires do
not have maximum traction and
may tend to slip.
.New brake linings also need a
break–in period. Avoid making
hard stops during the first
322 km (200 mi). This is
recommended every time brake
linings are replaced.
Black plate (19,1)Cadillac CTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6081492) - 2014 - CRC 2nd Edition - 11/18/13
Driving and Operating 9-19
{Caution
Cranking the engine for long
periods of time, by returning the
ignition to the START position
immediately after cranking has
ended, can overheat and damage
the cranking motor, and drain the
battery. Wait at least 15 seconds
between each try, to let the
cranking motor cool down.
2. If the engine does not start after five to 10 seconds, especially in
very cold weather (below −18°C
or 0°F), it could be flooded with
too much gasoline. Try pushing
the accelerator pedal all the way
to the floor and holding it there
as you press the ENGINE
START/STOP button. Wait at
least 15 seconds between each
try, to allow the cranking motor
to cool down. When the engine
starts, release the 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.
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.
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
clipped to the diagonal brace on
the passenger side of the engine
compartment.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt AC outlet.