Black plate (16,1)Cadillac CTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6081492) - 2014 - CRC 2nd Edition - 11/18/13
9-16 Driving and Operating
Ignition Positions
The vehicle has an electronic
keyless ignition with pushbutton
start.
Pressing the button cycles it through
three modes: ACC/ACCESSORY,
ON/RUN/START, and Stopping the
Engine/OFF.
The Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter must be in the vehicle for
the system to operate. If the
pushbutton start is not working, the
vehicle may be near a strong radio
antenna signal causing interferenceto the Keyless Access system. See
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation on page 2-3.
To shift out of P (Park), the vehicle
must be in ACC/ACCESSORY or
ON/RUN, and the brake pedal must
be applied.
Stopping the Engine/OFF (No
Indicator Lights):
When the
vehicle is stopped, press the
ENGINE START/STOP button once
to turn the engine off.
If the vehicle is in P (Park), the
ignition will turn off, and Retained
Accessory Power (RAP) will remain
active. See Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) on page 9-19.
If the vehicle is not in P (Park), the
ignition will return to ACC/
ACCESSORY and display a
message in the Driver Information
Center (DIC). See Transmission
Messages on page 5-47. When the
vehicle is shifted into P (Park), the
ignition system will switch to OFF. The vehicle may have an electric
steering column lock. The lock is
activated when the vehicle is
switched to OFF and the driver door
is opened. A sound may be heard
as the lock actuates or releases.
The steering column lock may not
release with the wheels turned off
center. If this happens, the vehicle
may not start. Move the steering
wheel from left to right while
attempting to start the vehicle. If this
does not work, the vehicle needs
service.
Do not turn the engine off when the
vehicle is moving. This will cause a
loss of power assist in the brake
and steering systems and disable
the airbags.
If the vehicle must be shut off in an
emergency:
1. Brake using a firm and steady
pressure. Do not pump the
brakes repeatedly. This may
deplete power assist, requiring
increased brake pedal force.
Black plate (18,1)Cadillac CTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6081492) - 2014 - CRC 2nd Edition - 11/18/13
9-18 Driving and Operating
{Caution
Do not try to shift to P (Park) if the
vehicle is moving. If you do, you
could damage the transmission.
Shift to P (Park) only when the
vehicle is stopped.
{Caution
If you add electrical parts or
accessories, you could change
the way the engine operates. Any
resulting damage would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
SeeAdd-On Electrical Equipment
on page 9-70. Starting Procedure
1. If equipped with the Keyless
Access system, the Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter
must be in the vehicle. Put your
foot on the brake pedal and
press the ENGINE START/
STOP button. When the engine
begins cranking, let go of the
button.
The idle speed will go down as
the engine gets warm. Do not
race the engine immediately
after starting it. Operate the
engine and transmission gently
to allow the oil to warm up and
lubricate all moving parts.
If the RKE transmitter is not in
the vehicle or something is
interfering with the transmitter,
the Driver Information Center
(DIC) will display a message.
See Key and Lock Messages on
page 5-40.
If the battery in the RKE
transmitter needs replacing, the
DIC will display a message. The vehicle can still be driven. See
“Starting the Vehicle with a Low
Transmitter Battery”
inRemote
Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation on page 2-3.
The vehicle has a
Computer-Controlled Cranking
System. This feature assists in
starting the engine and protects
components. If the ENGINE
START/STOP button is pressed,
and then released when the
engine begins cranking, the
engine will continue cranking for
a few seconds or until the
vehicle starts. If the engine does
not start and the button is
pressed for many seconds,
cranking will be stopped after
15 seconds to prevent cranking
motor damage. To prevent gear
damage, this system also
prevents cranking if the engine
is already running. Engine
cranking can be stopped by
pressing the ENGINE START/
STOP button a second time.
Black plate (20,1)Cadillac CTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6081492) - 2014 - CRC 2nd Edition - 11/18/13
9-20 Driving and Operating
{Warning
Plugging the cord into an
ungrounded outlet could cause an
electrical shock. Also, the wrong
kind of extension cord could
overheat and cause a fire. You
could be seriously injured. Plug
the cord into a properly grounded
three-prong 110-volt AC outlet.
If the cord will not reach, use a
heavy-duty three-prong extension
cord rated for at least 15 amps.
4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and store the
cord as it was before to keep it
away from moving engine parts.
If you do not, it could be
damaged.
Contact your dealer for information
on how long to use the heater in
your particular area.
Shifting Into Park
Use this procedure to shift into
P (Park):
1. Hold the brake pedal down and set the parking brake.
See Electric Parking Brake on
page 9-28.
2. Move the shift lever into P (Park) by holding in the button on the
shift lever and pushing the lever
all the way toward the front of
the vehicle.
3. Turn the ignition off.
4. Take the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter with you.
Leaving the Vehicle with the
Engine Running
{Warning
It can be dangerous to leave the
vehicle with the engine running.
It could overheat and catch fire.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
It is dangerous to get out of the
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully
in P (Park) with the parking brake
firmly set. The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the
engine is running. If you have left
the engine running, the vehicle
can move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure the
vehicle will not move, even when
you are on fairly level ground,
always set the parking brake and
move the shift lever to P (Park).
SeeShifting Into Park on
page 9-20. If you are towing a
trailer, see Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips on page 9-65.
If you have to leave the vehicle with
the engine running, the vehicle must
be in P (Park) and the parking brake
set. After shifting into P (Park), try to
move the shift lever out without first
pushing the button on the shift lever.
Black plate (2,1)Cadillac CTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6081492) - 2014 - CRC 2nd Edition - 11/18/13
10-2 Vehicle Care
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . 10-57
Different Size Tires andWheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-59
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-59
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-61
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . 10-61
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-62
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . 10-63
Jump Starting
Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-64
Towing the Vehicle
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . 10-66
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-67
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-69
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-74
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-77
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:
California Proposition
65 Warning
Most motor vehicles, including this
one, contain and/or emit chemicals
known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or
other reproductive harm. Engine
exhaust, many parts and systems,
many fluids, and some component
wear by-products contain and/or
emit these chemicals.
California Perchlorate
Materials Requirements
Certain types of automotive
applications, such as airbag
initiators, safety belt pretensioners,
and lithium batteries contained in
Remote Keyless Entry transmitters,
may contain perchlorate materials.
Special handling may be necessary.
For additional information, see
www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/
perchlorate.
Accessories and
Modifications
Adding non‐dealer accessories or
making modifications to the vehicle
can affect vehicle performance and
safety, including such things as
airbags, braking, stability, ride and
Black plate (15,1)Cadillac CTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6081492) - 2014 - CRC 2nd Edition - 11/18/13
Customer Information 13-15
Infotainment System
If the vehicle is equipped with a
navigation system as part of the
infotainment system, use of the
system may result in the storage of
destinations, addresses, telephone
numbers, and other trip information.
See the infotainment manual for
information on stored data and for
deletion instructions.
Radio Frequency
Identification (RFID)
RFID technology is used in some
vehicles for functions such as tire
pressure monitoring and ignition
system security, as well as in
connection with conveniences such
as Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitters for remote door locking/
unlocking and starting, and
in-vehicle transmitters for garagedoor openers. RFID technology in
GM vehicles does not use or record
personal information or link with any
other GM system containing
personal information.
Radio Frequency
Statement
This vehicle has systems that
operate on a radio frequency that
comply with Part 15 of the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC)
rules and with Industry Canada
Standards RSS‐GEN/210/220/310.
Operation is subject to the following
two conditions:
1. The device may not cause
harmful interference.
2. The device must accept any interference received, including
interference that may cause
undesired operation of the
device.
Changes or modifications to any of
these systems by other than an
authorized service facility could void
authorization to use this equipment.
Black plate (6,1)Cadillac CTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6081492) - 2014 - CRC 2nd Edition - 11/18/13
i-6 INDEX
HeaterEngine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-19
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . . 5-28
High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . 10-50
Highway Hypnosis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-8
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . 9-8
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-4
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-14
I
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-16
Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-18
IndicatorVehicle Ahead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-24
Infants and Young Children, Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-37
Infotainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . . 13-15
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-10
Instrument Panel Storage Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Interior Rearview Mirrors . . . . . . . 2-21
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii
J
Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-64
K
Key and Lock Messages . . . . . . . 5-40
Keyless Entry Remote (RKE) System . . . . . . . . 2-3
Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
L
Labeling, Tire Sidewall . . . . . . . . 10-44
Lamps Daytime Running (DRL) . . . . . . . 6-4
Dome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Exterior Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Exterior Lamps OffReminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-9
License Plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-30
Malfunction Indicator . . . . . . . . . 5-19 Lamps (cont'd)
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-41
On Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-29
Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-58
Lane Departure Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-24
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-15
LATCH System
Replacing Parts after aCrash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-48
LATCH, Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children . . . . . . . . . . 3-42
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-30
Light Adaptive Forward Lighting(AFL) Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-28
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-23
Lighting Adaptive Forward . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7
Exit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7
Illumination Control . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
LED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-30
Black plate (9,1)Cadillac CTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6081492) - 2014 - CRC 2nd Edition - 11/18/13
INDEX i-9
Power (cont'd)Retained Accessory (RAP) . . . 9-19
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-21
Pregnancy, Using Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-20
Privacy Radio FrequencyIdentification (RFID) . . . . . . . 13-15
Program Courtesy Transportation . . . . . . 13-7
Proposition 65 Warning, California . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
R
Radio FrequencyIdentification (RFID) . . . . . . . . 13-15
Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-15
Reading Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7
Rear Climate Control System . . . 8-6
Rear Seat Pass-Through Door . . . . . . . . . . 3-12
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10 Heated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-12
Rearview Mirrors
Automatic Dimming . . . . . . . . . . . 2-21 Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-13
Records Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-16
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-67
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2, 2-3
Remote Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . 10-31
Replacement Parts Airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-34
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-14
Replacing Airbag System . . . . . . 3-34
Replacing LATCH System Parts after a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . 3-48
Replacing Safety Belt System Parts after a Crash . . . 3-21
Reporting Safety Defects Canadian Government . . . . . . 13-12
General Motors . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-12
U.S. Government . . . . . . . . . . . 13-12
Restraints Where to Put . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-41 Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-19
Reverse Tilt Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-20
Ride Control Systems Enhanced TractionSystem (ETS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-34
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-44
Roads Driving, Wet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-7
Roadside Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-5
Roof Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-25
Rotation, Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-55
Routing, Engine Drive Belt . . . . . 12-4
Run-Flat Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-42
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-22
S
Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-13Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-21
Extender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-20
How to Wear Safety BeltsProperly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-14
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-15
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-45