2014 CADILLAC ELR Drive unit

Black plate (11,1)Cadillac ELR Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-6081525) -
2014 - Second Edition - 1/22/14
Driving and Operating 9-11
.Tie a red cloth to an outside
mirror.
{Warning
Snow can trap engine exhaust
under the vehicle. This may
cause exhaust gases to get
inside. Engine exhaust contains
carbon monoxide (CO) which
cannot be seen or smelled. It can
cause unconsciousness and even
death.
If the vehicle is stuck in the snow:
.Clear away snow from around
the base of the 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.(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.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” in
the Index.
For more information about
carbon monoxide, see Engine
Exhaust on page 9-27.
To conserve energy, run the vehicle
for only short periods as needed to
warm the vehicle and then shut the
vehicle 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, start the vehicle. The engine
may start for cabin comfort and to
maintain the high voltage battery
state of charge. Turn off
unnecessary accessories to
conserve energy.
If the Vehicle Is Stuck
Slowly and cautiously spin the
wheels to free the vehicle when
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow.
The Traction Control System (TCS)
must be turned off by pressing the
TCS/ESC button. Traction control is
not completely off, but will only
engage if the maneuver can cause
damage to the electric drive unit.
{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
(Continued)

Black plate (12,1)Cadillac ELR Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-6081525) -
2014 - Second Edition - 1/22/14
9-12 Driving and Operating
Warning (Continued)
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. Shift back and forth
between R (Reverse) and a forward
gear, spinning the wheels as little as
possible. The Traction Control
System prevents the tires from
spinning at high speeds. To prevent
electric drive unit wear, wait until the
wheels stop spinning before shifting
gears. Release the accelerator
pedal while shifting, and press
lightly on the accelerator pedal
when the electric drive unit is in
gear. Slowly spinning the wheels in
the forward and reverse directions
causes a rocking motion that could
free the vehicle. If that does not get
the vehicle out after a few tries, itmight need to be towed out. If the
vehicle does need to be towed out,
see
Towing the Vehicle on
page 10-76.
Vehicle Load Limits
It is very important to know how
much weight the vehicle can
carry. This weight is called the
vehicle capacity weight and
includes the weight of all
occupants, cargo, and all
nonfactory-installed options.
Two labels on the vehicle show
how much weight it was
designed to carry, the Tire and
Loading Information label and
the Certification label.
{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.

Black plate (17,1)Cadillac ELR Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-6081525) -
2014 - Second Edition - 1/22/14
Driving and Operating 9-17
ON/RUN power mode. When the
vehicle is turned off, the POWER
O
button light will turn off.
The Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter must be in the vehicle for
the system to operate. If the vehicle
will not start, place the RKE
transmitter in the transmitter slot.
SeeRemote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation on page 2-2.
ON/RUN: This position is for
starting and driving. With the vehicle
off, and the brake pedal applied,
pressing the POWER
Obutton once
will place the vehicle in ON/RUN.
When the READY light is on in the
instrument cluster, the vehicle is
ready to be driven. This could take
up to 15 seconds at extremely cold
temperatures. See Vehicle Ready
Light on page 5-25. The engine will
only start if needed. If the vehicle
did not start, the instrument cluster
will display a screen with inactive
fuel and battery gauges. See
Starting and Stopping the Vehicle
on page 9-18. Service Only Mode
This power mode is available for
service and diagnostics, and to
verify the proper operation of the
malfunction indicator lamp as may
be required for emission inspection
purposes. With the vehicle off, and
the brake pedal not applied,
pressing and holding the POWER
O
button for more than five seconds
will place the vehicle in Service
Only Mode. The instruments and
audio systems will operate as they
do in ON/RUN, but the vehicle will
not be able to be driven. The
propulsion system will not start in
Service Only Mode. Press the
button again to turn the vehicle off.
{Caution
Service Only Mode will discharge
the 12-volt battery. Do not use
Service Only Mode for an
extended period, or the vehicle
may not start.
STOPPING THE VEHICLE/OFF:
To turn the vehicle off, press the
POWER
Obutton with the vehicle
in P (Park). Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) will remain active until
the driver door is opened. See
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
on page 9-19. When turning off the
vehicle, if the vehicle is not in
P (Park), the vehicle will go to ACC/
ACCESSORY and display the
message SHIFT TO PARK in the
Driver Information Center (DIC).
See Electric Drive Unit Messages
on page 5-44.
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.
2. Shift the vehicle to N (Neutral). This can be done while the
vehicle is moving. After shifting

Black plate (18,1)Cadillac ELR Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-6081525) -
2014 - Second Edition - 1/22/14
9-18 Driving and Operating
to N (Neutral), firmly apply the
brakes and steer the vehicle to a
safe location.
3. Come to a complete stop, shift to P (Park), and turn the vehicle
off by pressing the POWER
O
button.
4. Set the parking brake. See Electric Parking Brake on
page 9-30.
{Warning
Turning off the vehicle while
moving may disable the airbags.
While driving, only shut the
propulsion system off in an
emergency.
If the vehicle cannot be pulled over,
and must be shut off while driving,
press and hold the POWER
O
button for longer than two seconds,
or press twice in five seconds.
Starting and Stopping the
Vehicle
The engine may start, if required,
when the propulsion system is on.
{Caution
Do not try to shift to P (Park) if the
vehicle is moving or the electric
drive unit could be damaged.
Shift to P (Park) only when the
vehicle is stopped.
{Caution
If you add electrical parts or
accessories, you could change
the way the vehicle operates. Any
resulting damage would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
See Add-On Electrical Equipment
on page 9-71.
Starting Procedure
1. Move the shift lever to P (Park) or N (Neutral). The propulsion
system will not start in any other
position.
2. The Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter must be in the
vehicle.
3. Press the brake pedal and press and release the POWER
O
button.
If the RKE transmitter is not in the
vehicle or something is interfering
with the transmitter, a message
displays in the Driver Information
Center (DIC). See Key and Lock
Messages on page 5-45.
If the vehicle will not start due to a
low RKE transmitter battery, the
vehicle can still be driven. See
“Starting the Vehicle with a Low
Transmitter Battery” inRemote
Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation on page 2-2.

Black plate (20,1)Cadillac ELR Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-6081525) -
2014 - Second Edition - 1/22/14
9-20 Driving and Operating
Leaving the Vehicle with the
Propulsion System On
{Warning
It can be dangerous to leave the
vehicle with the propulsion
system running. It could overheat
and catch fire.
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
propulsion system is running.
If you have left the propulsion
system 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 9-19. If you have to leave the vehicle with
the propulsion system on, be sure
the vehicle is in P (Park) and the
parking brake is firmly set before
you leave it. After you have moved
the shift lever into P (Park), hold
down the regular brake pedal. See if
you can move the shift lever away
from P (Park) without first pulling it
toward you. If you can, it means that
the shift lever was not fully locked
into P (Park).
Torque Lock
Torque lock is when the weight of
the vehicle puts too much force on
the parking pawl in the electric drive
unit. This happens when parking on
a hill and shifting the electric drive
unit into P (Park) is not done
properly and then it is difficult to
shift out of P (Park). To prevent
torque lock, set the parking brake
and then shift into P (Park).
If torque lock does occur, your
vehicle may need to be pushed
uphill by another vehicle to relieve
the parking pawl pressure, so you
can shift out of P (Park).
Shifting out of Park
To shift out of P (Park), the vehicle
must be in ON/RUN, the brake
pedal must be applied, and the
charge cord must be unplugged.
The vehicle has an electronic shift
lock release system. The shift lock
release is designed to:
.Prevent the vehicle from turning
off unless the shift lever is in
P (Park).
.Prevent moving the shift lever
out of P (Park), unless the
vehicle is in ON/RUN, the brake
pedal is applied, and the charge
cord is unplugged.
Parking the vehicle in extreme cold
for several days without the charge
cord connected may cause the

Black plate (21,1)Cadillac ELR Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-6081525) -
2014 - Second Edition - 1/22/14
Driving and Operating 9-21
electric drive unit to be locked in
P (Park) until the propulsion system
has warmed sufficiently.
The shift lock is always functional
except in the case of an uncharged
or low charged 12-volt battery (less
than 9 volts).
If the vehicle has an uncharged
12-volt battery or a 12-volt battery
with low voltage, try charging or
jump starting the 12-volt battery.
SeeBattery on page 10-23 orJump
Starting on page 10-70.
If the console shift lever cannot be
moved out of P (Park):
1. Apply and maintain the regular brakes.
2. Turn the vehicle on using the POWER
Obutton. See Power
Button on page 9-16.
3. Let up on the shift lever and make sure the shift lever is
pushed all the way into P (Park).
4. Press the shift lever button. 5. Move the shift lever into the
desired gear.
If you still cannot move the shift
lever from P (Park), see your dealer
or a professional towing service.
Parking over Things
That Burn
{Warning
Things that can burn could touch
hot exhaust parts under the
vehicle and ignite. Do not park
over papers, leaves, dry grass,
or other things that can burn.
Electric Vehicle
Operating Modes
System Operation
This vehicle is an Extended Range
Electric Vehicle (EREV). It uses an
electric propulsion system to drive
the vehicle at all times. Electricity is
the vehicle's primary source of
energy, while gasoline is the
secondary source.
The vehicle has two modes of
operation: Electric and Extended
Range. In both modes, the vehicle
is propelled by its electric drive unit.
It converts electrical energy into
mechanical energy to drive the
wheels. See Driving for Better
Energy Efficiency on page 9-2.
Electric Mode
In Electric Mode, the vehicle does
not use fuel or produce tailpipe
emissions. During this primary
mode, the vehicle is powered by
electrical energy stored in the high

Black plate (24,1)Cadillac ELR Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-6081525) -
2014 - Second Edition - 1/22/14
9-24 Driving and Operating
Mountain Mode will not change
normal vehicle braking performance
for steep downhill grades. SeeHill
and Mountain Roads on page 9-9
and Electric Drive Unit on
page 9-28.
Press the MODE switch to select
Mountain Mode. If steep hill driving
is expected, it is recommended to
select Mountain Mode at least
20 minutes before driving on steep
grades. This will allow the vehicle
time to build a sufficient battery
charge reserve.
If Mountain Mode is not selected for
these conditions, propulsion power
may be reduced and the engine
speed may increase. See
Propulsion Power Messages on
page 5-48.
The engine may run when Mountain
Mode is selected, depending on the
high voltage battery charge, to build
reserve battery charge for uphill
climbs. The high voltage battery
charge reserved for Mountain Mode will be displayed on the battery
gauge, but will not be depleted until
it is required for uphill driving.
Press the MODE switch again to
return to Tour Mode and it becomes
active after three seconds.
Each time the vehicle is started, it
will return to Tour Mode to maintain
a smaller battery charge reserve for
normal driving.
Hold Mode
Hold Mode is only available when
the vehicle is in Electric Mode. This
mode places the remaining battery
charge into a reserve for the driver
to use as desired. Selecting thismode transitions the vehicle to
Extended Range Mode to maintain
the battery charge reserve.
Upon exiting Hold Mode, the
reserved battery charge becomes
available again and the vehicle
returns to Electric Mode. If the
transition is from Hold Mode directly
to Mountain Mode, the electric
range displayed adjusts for the
Mountain Mode charge reserve.
Press the MODE switch and scroll
to Hold Mode to select it.
Press the MODE switch again to
return to Tour Mode and it becomes
active after three seconds.
Each time the vehicle is started, it
will return to Tour Mode.
Out of Fuel/Engine
Unavailable
If the vehicle runs out of fuel, or the
engine will not start due to a
malfunction, the vehicle can
continue to be driven in Electric
Mode. The vehicle will have less

Black plate (28,1)Cadillac ELR Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-6081525) -
2014 - Second Edition - 1/22/14
9-28 Driving and Operating
Electric Drive Unit
The vehicle uses an electric
drive unit.
P (Park):This position locks the
front wheels. It is the best position
to use when starting the propulsion
system because the vehicle cannot
move easily.
{Warning
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
propulsion system is running.
If you have left the propulsion
system 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).
See Shifting Into Park on
page 9-19.
Make sure the shift lever is fully in
P (Park) before starting the
propulsion system. The vehicle has
an electric drive unit shift lock
control system. The regular brake
must be fully applied first and then
the shift lever button pressed before shifting from P (Park) when the
vehicle is in ON/RUN. If you cannot
shift out of P (Park), ease pressure
on the shift lever, then push the shift
lever all the way into P (Park) as
you maintain brake application.
Then press the shift lever button
and move the shift lever into
another gear. See
Shifting out of
Park on page 9-20.
R (Reverse): Use this gear to
back up.
{Caution
Shifting to R (Reverse) while the
vehicle is moving forward could
damage the electric drive unit.
The repairs would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty. Shift to
R (Reverse) only after the vehicle
is stopped.
To rock the vehicle back and forth to
get out of snow, ice, or sand without
damaging the electric drive unit, see
If the Vehicle Is Stuck on page 9-11.