
Cadillac ATS/ATS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-9369639) -
2016 - crc - 12/9/15
144 Instruments and Controls
Climate and Air Quality
Select the Climate and Air Quality
menu and the following may display:
.Auto Fan Max Speed
. Auto Heated Seats
. Auto Defog
. Auto Rear Defog
Auto Fan Max Speed
This feature will set the maximum
auto fan speed.
Select Low, Medium, or High.
Auto Heated Seats
When enabled, this feature will
automatically activate heated seats
at the level required by the interior
temperature. The auto heated seats
can be turned off by using the
heated seat buttons on the center
stack.
Select Off or On.
Auto Defog
This will turn auto defog on or off.
Only vehicles with the uplevel dual
automatic climate control system will
have this option. Select Off or On.
Auto Rear Defog
If equipped, this allows the auto rear
defog to be turned on or off. This
feature will automatically turn on the
rear defog.
Select Off or On.
Collision/Detection Systems
Select the Collision/Detection
Systems menu and the following
may display (if equipped):
.
Alert Type
. Auto Collision Preparation
. Go Notifier
. Lane Change Alert
Alert Type
This feature will set crash alerts to
beeps or seat vibrations. This
setting affects all crash alerts
including Forward Collision, Lane
Departure Warning, Adaptive Cruise
Control, Parking Assist, and
Backing Warning alerts.
Select Beeps or Safety Alert Seat. Auto Collision Preparation
This feature will turn on or off the
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) and
Front Automatic Braking (FAB). The
Off setting disables all FCA and
FAB functions. With the Alert and
Brake setting, both FCA and FAB
are available. The Alert setting
disables FAB, but some last-second
automatic braking capability is still
provided, though less likely to occur.
See
Front Automatic Braking (FAB)
System 0229.
Select Off, Alert and Brake, or Alert.
Go Notifier
This feature will give a reminder that
Adaptive Cruise Control provides
when it has brought the vehicle to a
complete stop behind another
stopping vehicle, and then that
vehicle drives on.
Select Off or On.
Lane Change Alert
This allows the Lane Change Alert
feature to be turned on or off. See
Lane Change Alert (LCA) 0230.
Select Off or On.

Cadillac ATS/ATS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-9369639) -
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Driving and Operating 175
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Track Events and CompetitiveDriving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 184
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 184
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 186
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . 190
Carbon Fiber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . 196 Parking over Things
That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Running the Vehicle WhileParked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 198
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Parking Brake (Manual) . . . . . . 202
Parking Brake (Electric) . . . . . . 203
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . 204
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . 207
Competitive Driving Mode (LF4 and V-Series Only) . . . . 208
Limited-Slip Rear Axle (Except LF4 and V-Series) . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Limited-Slip Rear Axle (LF4 and V-Series Only) . . . . . 211
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Adaptive Cruise Control . . . . . . 214
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . 221
Assistance Systems forParking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . 222
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Front Automatic Braking (FAB) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . 230
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . 232
Fuel
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238

Cadillac ATS/ATS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-9369639) -
2016 - crc - 12/9/15
184 Driving and Operating
Driving on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can reduce
vehicle traction and affect your
ability to stop and accelerate.
Always drive slower in these types
of driving conditions and avoid
driving through large puddles and
deep-standing or flowing water.
{Warning
Wet brakes can cause crashes.
They might not work as well in a
quick stop and could cause
pulling to one side. You could
lose control of the vehicle.
After driving through a large
puddle of water or a car/vehicle
wash, lightly apply the brake
pedal until the brakes work
normally.
Flowing or rushing water creates
strong forces. Driving through
flowing water could cause the
vehicle to be carried away. If this
happens, you and other vehicle(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
occupants could drown. Do not
ignore police warnings and be
very cautious about trying to drive
through flowing water.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. Water
can build up under the vehicle's
tires so they actually ride on the
water. This can happen if the road is
wet enough and you are going fast
enough. When the vehicle is
hydroplaning, it has little or no
contact with the road.
There is no hard and fast rule about
hydroplaning. The best advice is to
slow down when the road is wet.
Other Rainy Weather Tips
Besides slowing down, other wet
weather driving tips include:
.Allow extra following distance.
. Pass with caution.
. Keep windshield wiping
equipment in good shape. .
Keep the windshield washer fluid
reservoir filled.
. Have good tires with proper
tread depth. See Tires0283.
. Turn off cruise control.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or through
mountains is different than driving
on flat or rolling terrain. Tips include:
.Keep the vehicle serviced and in
good shape.
. Check all fluid levels and brakes,
tires, cooling system, and
transmission.
. Shift to a lower gear when going
down steep or long hills.
{Warning
Using the brakes to slow the
vehicle on a long downhill slope
can cause brake overheating, can
reduce brake performance, and
could result in a loss of braking.
(Continued)

Cadillac ATS/ATS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-9369639) -
2016 - crc - 12/9/15
Driving and Operating 185
Warning (Continued)
Shift the transmission to a lower
gear to let the engine assist the
brakes on a steep downhill slope.
{Warning
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral)
or with the ignition off is
dangerous. This can cause
overheating of the brakes and
loss of steering. Always have the
engine running and the vehicle
in gear.
. Drive at speeds that keep the
vehicle in its own lane. Do not
swing wide or cross the
center line.
. Be alert on top of hills;
something could be in your lane
(e.g., stalled car, accident). .
Pay attention to special road
signs (e.g., falling rocks area,
winding roads, long grades,
passing or no-passing zones)
and take appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Snow or ice between the tires and
the road creates less traction or
grip, so drive carefully. Wet ice can
occur at about 0 °C (32 °F) when
freezing rain begins to fall. Avoid
driving on wet ice or in freezing rain
until roads can be treated.
For Slippery Road Driving:
.Accelerate gently. Accelerating
too quickly causes the wheels to
spin and makes the surface
under the tires slick.
. Turn on Traction Control. See
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0205.
. Antilock Brake System (ABS)
improves vehicle stability during
hard stops, but the brakes
should be applied sooner than when on dry pavement. See
Antilock Brake System
(ABS)
0201.
. Allow greater following distance
and watch for slippery spots. Icy
patches can occur on otherwise
clear roads in shaded areas.
The surface of a curve or an
overpass can remain icy when
the surrounding roads are clear.
Avoid sudden steering
maneuvers and braking while
on ice.
. Turn off cruise control.
Blizzard Conditions
Stop the vehicle in a safe place and
signal for help. Stay with the vehicle
unless there is help nearby. To get
help and keep everyone in the
vehicle safe:
.Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
. Tie a red cloth to an outside
mirror.

Cadillac ATS/ATS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-9369639) -
2016 - crc - 12/9/15
Driving and Operating 205
drive off. After the driver completely
stops and holds the vehicle in a
complete standstill on a grade, HSA
will be automatically activated.
During the transition period between
when the driver releases the brake
pedal and starts to accelerate to
drive off on a grade, HSA holds the
braking pressure for a maximum of
two seconds to ensure that there is
no rolling. The brakes will
automatically release when the
accelerator pedal is applied within
the two-second window. It will not
activate if the vehicle is in a drive
gear and facing downhill, or if the
vehicle is facing uphill and in
R (Reverse).Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/
Electronic Stability
Control
System Operation
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, TCS applies the brakes to
the spinning wheels and reduces
engine power to limit wheel spin.
StabiliTrak activates when the
vehicle senses a difference between
the intended path and the direction
the vehicle is actually traveling.
StabiliTrak selectively applies
braking pressure to any one of the vehicle wheel brakes to assist the
driver in keeping the vehicle on the
intended path.
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 0186
and “Turning the Systems Off and
On” later in this section.

Cadillac ATS/ATS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-9369639) -
2016 - crc - 12/9/15
Driving and Operating 211
Limited-Slip Rear Axle
(Except LF4 and V-Series)
If equipped, the mechanical
limited-slip differential can give more
traction on snow, mud, ice, sand,
or gravel. It works like a standard
axle most of the time, but when
traction is low, this feature allows
the drive wheel with the most
traction to move the vehicle. For
vehicles with limited slip differential,
driven under severe conditions, the
rear axle fluid should be changed.
SeeCompetitive Driving Mode
(LF4 and V-Series Only) 0208 and
Maintenance Schedule 0323.
Limited-Slip Rear Axle
(LF4 and V-Series Only)
If equipped, the Electronic
Limited-Slip Differential (ELSD) is
automatically activated. ELSD
actively monitors vehicle sensors
and driver inputs to determine the
amount of change for the
conditions. With ELSD, the
vehicle has:
.
Enhanced high-speed control.
. Improved traction through
corners, allowing more
acceleration.
. More precise steering.
. Increased vehicle agility.
. Integration with StabiliTrak.
For vehicles with ELSD, driven
under severe conditions, the rear
axle fluid should be changed. See
Competitive Driving Mode (LF4 and
V-Series Only) 0208 and
Maintenance Schedule 0323.
Cruise Control
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).
{Warning
Cruise control can be dangerous
where you cannot drive safely at
a steady speed. Do not use
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.
If the StabiliTrak
®system begins to
limit wheel spin while using cruise
control, the cruise control
automatically disengages. See
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control 0205. If a collision alert

Cadillac ATS/ATS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-9369639) -
2016 - crc - 12/9/15
212 Driving and Operating
occurs when cruise control is
activated, cruise control is
disengaged. SeeForward Collision
Alert (FCA) System 0226. When
road conditions allow you to safely
use it again, cruise control can be
turned back on.
If the brakes are applied, cruise
control disengages.
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. +RES (Resume/Accelerate) :
If
there is a set speed in memory,
press the control up briefly to
resume to that speed or hold to
accelerate. If cruise control is
already active, use to increase
vehicle speed. To increase speed by
1 km/h or (1 mph), press +RES up to
the first detent. To increase speed to
the next 5 km/h or (5 mph) mark on
the speedometer, press +RES up to
the second detent.
SET− (Set/Coast) : Press the
control down briefly to set the speed
and activate cruise control. If cruise
control is already active, use to
decrease vehicle speed. To
decrease speed by 1 km/h (1 mph),
press SET− down to the first detent.
To decrease speed to the next
5 km/h (5 mph) mark on the
speedometer, press SET− down to
the second detent.*(Cancel) : Press to disengage
cruise control without erasing the
set speed from memory. Setting Cruise Control
If
Jis on when not in use, SET−
or
+RES could get bumped and go into
cruise when not desired. Keep
J
off when cruise is not being used.
1. Press
J.
2. Get up to the desired speed.
3. Press and release SET− .
4. Remove your foot from the accelerator.
When the cruise control has been
set to the desired speed, the cruise
control indicator appears green on
the instrument cluster and a cruise
set speed message appears on the
Head-Up Display (HUD),
if equipped.
Resuming a Set Speed
If the cruise control is set at a
desired speed and then the brakes
or
*is applied, the cruise control is
disengaged without erasing the set
speed from memory.

Cadillac ATS/ATS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-9369639) -
2016 - crc - 12/9/15
Driving and Operating 213
Once the vehicle speed reaches
about 40 km/h (25 mph) or more,
briefly press +RES up to the first
detent. The vehicle returns to the
previous set speed.
Increasing Speed While Cruise
Control is at a Set Speed
If the cruise control system is
already activated:
.Press and hold +RES up until
the desired speed is reached,
then release it.
. To increase vehicle speed in
small increments, briefly press
+RES up to the first detent. For
each press, the vehicle goes
about 1 km/h (1 mph) faster.
. To increase vehicle speed in
larger increments, briefly press
+RES up to the second detent.
For each press, the vehicle
speed increases to the next
5 km/h (5 mph) mark on the
speedometer. The speedometer reading can be
displayed in either English or metric
units. See
Instrument Cluster 0111.
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, briefly 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, briefly 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 (ATS model only). The speedometer reading can be
displayed in either English or metric
units. See
Instrument Cluster 0111.
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
previously set cruise speed. While
pressing the accelerator pedal or
shortly following the release to
override cruise control, briefly
applying the SET– switch will result
in cruise control 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 (ATS model only).