2015 CADILLAC CTS SEDAN engine

Black plate (25,1)Cadillac CTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707478) - 2015 - crc - 10/1/14
Driving and Operating 9-25
exited with a second press of the
M (Manual Mode) button. See
Manual Mode on page 9-25.
{Caution
Spinning the tires or holding the
vehicle in one place on a hill
using only the accelerator pedal
may damage the transmission.
The repair will not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. If you are
stuck, do not spin the tires. When
stopping on a hill, use the brakes
to hold the vehicle in place.
While in Sport Mode, the vehicle
monitors driving behavior, and
automatically enables Performance
Shift Features when spirited driving
is detected. These features maintain
lower transmission gears to
increase available engine braking
and improve acceleration response.
The vehicle will exit these features
and return to normal operation after a short period when no spirited
driving is detected. See
Driver Mode
Control on page 9-31.
Manual Mode
Tap Shift
{Caution
Driving with the engine at a high
rpm without upshifting while using
Tap Shift, could damage the
vehicle. Always upshift when
necessary while using Tap Shift.
Vehicles with Tap Shift have
controls on the back of the steering
wheel to manually shift the
automatic transmission.
To enter Permanent Tap Shift Mode:
1. With the shift lever in D (Drive), press the M (Manual Mode)
button on the top of the shift
lever. While in Tap Shift Mode,
the M of the PRNDM section of
the instrument cluster will
become highlighted, and the
current gear is indicated.
2. Tap the left control to downshift, and the right control to upshift.
3. To exit, press the M (Manual Mode) button a second time.

Black plate (26,1)Cadillac CTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707478) - 2015 - crc - 10/1/14
9-26 Driving and Operating
With the shift lever in D (Drive) and
not in Permanent Tap Shift Mode,
the tap shift controls will activate a
temporary tap manual shift mode,
allowing the transmission to be
manually shifted. Automatic shifts
return after no manual shifts have
been done for seven to 10 seconds.
The Temporary Tap Shift Mode can
also be deactivated by holding the
right upshift control briefly.
While using Tap Shift, the vehicle
will have firmer, quicker shifting. You
can use this for sport driving or
when climbing or descending hills,
to stay in gear longer, or to
downshift for more power or engine
braking.
The transmission will only allow you
to shift into gears appropriate for the
vehicle speed and engine
revolutions per minute (rpm). The
transmission will not automatically
shift to the next lower gear if the
engine rpm is too high, nor to the
next higher gear when the maximum
engine rpm is reached.If shifting is prevented for any
reason, a SHIFT DENIED message
will be displayed in the instrument
cluster. See
Transmission
Messages on page 5-46.
When accelerating the vehicle from
a stop in snowy and icy conditions,
it is suggested to shift into second
gear. A higher gear allows the
vehicle to gain more traction on
slippery surfaces.Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive
Vehicles with this feature always
send engine power to all four
wheels. It is fully automatic, and
adjusts itself as needed for road
conditions.

Black plate (28,1)Cadillac CTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707478) - 2015 - crc - 10/1/14
9-28 Driving and Operating
Electric Parking Brake
The vehicle has an Electric Parking
Brake (EPB). The switch for the
EPB is on the instrument panel, to
the left of the steering wheel. The
EPB can always be activated, even
if the ignition is off. To prevent
draining the battery, avoid repeated
cycles of the EPB system when the
engine is not running.The system has a red parking brake
status light and an amber parking
brake warning light. See
Parking
Brake Light on page 5-22 and
Service Electric Parking Brake Light
on page 5-23. There are also
parking brake-related Driver
Information Center (DIC) messages.
See Brake System Messages on
page 5-36. In case of insufficient
electrical power, the EPB cannot be
applied or released.
Before leaving the vehicle, check
the red parking brake status light to
ensure that the parking brake is
applied.
EPB Apply
To apply the EPB:
1. Be sure the vehicle is at a complete stop.
2. Lift up the EPB switch momentarily.
The red parking brake status light
will flash and then stay on once the
EPB is fully applied. If the red
parking brake status light flashes continuously, then the EPB is only
partially applied or there is a
problem with the EPB. A DIC
message will display. Release the
EPB and try to apply it again. If the
light does not come on, or keeps
flashing, have the vehicle serviced.
Do not drive the vehicle if the red
parking brake status light is flashing.
See your dealer. See
Parking Brake
Light on page 5-22.
If the amber parking brake warning
light is on, lift up on the EPB switch
and hold it up. Continue to hold the
switch until the red parking brake
status light remains on. If the amber
parking brake warning light remains
on, see your dealer.
If the EPB is applied while the
vehicle is moving, the vehicle will
decelerate as long as the switch is
held up. If the switch is held up until
the vehicle comes to a stop, the
EPB will remain applied.
The vehicle may automatically apply
the EPB in some situations when
the vehicle is not moving. This is

Black plate (30,1)Cadillac CTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707478) - 2015 - crc - 10/1/14
9-30 Driving and Operating
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/
Electronic Stability
Control
The vehicle has a Traction Control
System (TCS) and StabiliTrak®, an
electronic stability control system.
These systems help limit wheel slip
and assist the driver in maintaining
control, especially on slippery road
conditions.
TCS activates if it senses that any
of the drive wheels are spinning or
beginning to lose traction. When this
happens, the system brakes the
spinning wheel(s) and/or reduces
engine power to limit wheel spin.
StabiliTrak activates when the
computer senses a difference
between the intended path and the
direction the vehicle is actually
traveling. StabiliTrak selectively
applies braking pressure at any one
of the vehicle's brakes to help steer
the vehicle in the intended direction. If cruise control is being used and
traction control or StabiliTrak begins
to limit wheel spin, cruise control will
disengage. Cruise control may be
turned back on when road
conditions allow.
Both systems come on
automatically when the vehicle is
started and begins to move. The
systems may be heard or felt while
they are operating or while
performing diagnostic checks. This
is normal and does not mean there
is a problem with the vehicle.
It is recommended to leave both
systems on for normal driving
conditions, but It may be necessary
to turn TCS off if the vehicle gets
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow.
See
If the Vehicle Is Stuck on
page 9-10 and“Turning the
Systems Off and On” later in this
section.
The indicator light for both systems
is in the instrument cluster. This
light will:
.Flash when TCS is limiting
wheel spin.
.Flash when StabiliTrak is
activated.
.Turn on and stay on when either
system is not working.
If either system fails to turn on or to
activate, a message displays in the
Driver Information Center (DIC),
and
dcomes on and stays on to
indicate that the system is inactive
and is not assisting the driver in
maintaining control. The vehicle is
safe to drive, but driving should be
adjusted accordingly.

Black plate (31,1)Cadillac CTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707478) - 2015 - crc - 10/1/14
Driving and Operating 9-31
Ifdcomes on and stays on:
1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Turn the engine off and wait 15 seconds.
3. Start the engine.
Drive the vehicle. if
dcomes on
and stays on, the vehicle may need
more time to diagnose the problem.
If the condition persists, see your
dealer.
Turning the Systems Off
and On
{Caution
Do not repeatedly brake or
accelerate heavily when TCS is
off. The vehicle driveline could be
damaged.
To turn off only TCS, press and
release the
Ybutton. The traction
off light
idisplays in the instrument
cluster. The appropriate DIC
message is displayed. See Ride
Control System Messages on
page 5-43.
To turn TCS on again, press and
release the
Ybutton. The traction
off light
idisplayed in the
instrument cluster will turn off.
If TCS is limiting wheel spin when
the
Ybutton is pressed, the
system will not turn off until the
wheels stop spinning. To turn off both TCS and StabiliTrak,
press and hold the
Ybutton until
the traction off light
iand
StabiliTrak OFF light
gcome on
and stay on in the instrument
cluster. The appropriate DIC
message is displayed. See Ride
Control System Messages on
page 5-43.
To turn TCS and StabiliTrak on
again, press and release the
Y
button. The traction off lightiand
StabiliTrak OFF light
gin the
instrument cluster turn off.
Adding accessories can affect the
vehicle's performance. See
Accessories and Modifications on
page 10-2.
Driver Mode Control
Driver Mode Control attempts to add
a sportier feel, provide a more
comfortable ride, or assist in
different weather conditions or
terrain. This system simultaneously

Black plate (32,1)Cadillac CTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707478) - 2015 - crc - 10/1/14
9-32 Driving and Operating
changes the software calibration of
various sub-systems. Depending on
the option package, available
features, and mode selected, the
suspension, steering, and
powertrain will change calibrations
to achieve the desired mode
characteristics. If the vehicle is
equipped with MagneRide™,
selecting the various Driver Modes
adjusts the ride of the vehicle to
enhance the ride performance for
the road conditions and the
selected mode.
While in the Sport and/or Track
Modes, the vehicle monitors driving
behavior and automatically enables
Performance Shift Features when
spirited driving is detected. These
features maintain lower
transmission gears to increase
available engine braking and
improve acceleration response. The
vehicle will exit these features and
return to normal operation after a
short period when no spirited driving
is detected.
Driver Mode Control Switch
The Driver Mode Control has three
or four modes: Tour, Sport, Snow/
Ice, and Track. The Track Mode is
for LF3 models only. Press
«orz
on the MODE switch on the center
console to make a mode selection.
The first press of the switch 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
shift automatically but hold a lower
gear longer than it would in the
normal driving mode based on
braking, throttle input, and vehicle
lateral acceleration. See Automatic
Transmission on page 9-23. The
steering will change to provide more
precise control. If the vehicle has
MagneRide, the suspension will
change to provide better cornering
performance. Competitive Driving
Mode can be accessed through
this mode.

Black plate (33,1)Cadillac CTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707478) - 2015 - crc - 10/1/14
Driving and Operating 9-33
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. The
LF3 models will use a different
accelerator pedal map instead of
using 2 (Second) gear from stop.
The accelerator pedal will reduce
engine torque at small pedal inputs.
The transmission will also shift
differently to assist in maintaining
traction.
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, seeIf the
Vehicle Is Stuck on page 9-10.
Track Mode (LF3 Only)
Use when maximum vehicle
handling is desired. When selected, the Track Mode
indicator will display in the DIC.
When in Track Mode, the automatic
transmission and steering will
function similar to Sport Mode. The
accelerator pedal is adjusted to give
maximum control during the highest
level of spirited driving. The
MagneRide will be set to the
optimum level for vehicle
responsiveness. Competitive Driving
Mode can be accessed through
this mode.
Competitive Driving Mode
(LF3 Only)
To select this optional handling
mode, press the
Ybutton quickly
two times and the DIC will display
the appropriate message. While in
the Competitive Driving Mode, the
traction off light
iand StabiliTrak
OFF light
gwill come on in the
instrument cluster. TCS does not
limit wheel spin, the Electronic
Limited-Slip Differential (ELSD) allows increased vehicle agility, and
more effort is required to turn the
steering wheel. See
“Limited–Slip
Differential (LF3 Only)” following.
Adjust your driving accordingly.
Press the
Ybutton again, or turn
the ignition to ACC/ACCESSORY
and restart the vehicle, to turn TCS
back on. The traction off light
iand
StabiliTrak OFF light
gwill go out in
the instrument cluster.
{Caution
When traction control is turned
off, or Competitive Driving Mode
is active, it is possible to lose
traction.

Black plate (61,1)Cadillac CTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707478) - 2015 - crc - 10/1/14
Driving and Operating 9-61
Fuel
Use of the recommended fuel is an
important part of the proper
maintenance of this vehicle. When
driving in the U.S. and Canada, to
help keep the engine clean and
maintain optimum vehicle
performance, we recommend using
TOP TIER Detergent Gasolines.
See www.toptiergas.com for a list of
TOP TIER Detergent Gasolines.
If the vehicle has the 2.0L L4 LTG
turbo engine (VIN Code X), use
premium unleaded gasoline meetingASTM specification D4814 with a
posted octane rating of 91 or higher.
Regular unleaded gasoline rated at
87 octane or higher can be used,
but acceleration and fuel economy
will be reduced, and an audible
knocking noise may be heard. If this
occurs, use a gasoline rated at
91 octane or higher as soon as
possible. Otherwise, the engine
could be damaged. If heavy
knocking is heard when using
gasoline with a 91 octane rating or
higher, the engine needs service.
If the vehicle has the 3.6L V6 LFX
engine (VIN Code 3), use regular
unleaded gasoline meeting ASTM
specification D4814 with a posted
octane rating of 87 or higher. Do not
use gasoline with an octane rating
below 87, as it may cause engine
damage and will lower fuel
economy.
If the vehicle has the 3.6L V6 LF3
twin turbo engine (VIN Code 8), use
premium unleaded gasoline meeting
ASTM specification D4814 with a
posted octane rating of 91 or higher.If the octane is less than 91,
damage to the engine may occur
and may void the vehicle warranty.
If heavy knocking is heard when
using gasoline rated at 91 octane or
higher, the engine needs service.
Use of Seasonal Fuels
Use summer and winter fuels in the
appropriate season. The fuels
industry automatically modifies the
fuel for the appropriate season.
If fuel is left in the vehicle tank for
long periods of time, driving or
starting could be affected. Drive the
vehicle until the fuel is at one-half
tank or less, then refuel with the
current seasonal fuel.
Prohibited Fuels
Gasolines containing oxygenates
such as ethers and ethanol, as well
as reformulated gasolines, are
available in some cities. If these
gasolines comply with the
previously described specification,
then they are acceptable to use.
However, E85 (85% ethanol) and