2016 CADILLAC ATS transmission

Cadillac ATS/ATS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-9369639) -
2016 - crc - 12/9/15
198 Driving and Operating
Automatic
Transmission
P (Park) :This position locks the
rear wheels. Use this position when
starting the engine 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.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
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 0195 and
Driving Characteristics and
Towing Tips 0238.
Make sure the shift lever is fully in
P (Park) before starting the engine.
The vehicle has an electronic shift
lock release system. Fully apply the
regular brakes first and then press
the shift lever button before shifting
from P (Park) with the ignition in ON/
RUN/START. If you cannot shift out
of P (Park), ease pressure on the
shift lever and 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 0196.
Caution
Shifting to R (Reverse) while the
vehicle is moving forward could
damage the transmission. The
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Shift to
R (Reverse) only after the vehicle
is stopped.
R (Reverse) : Use this gear to
back up.
At low vehicle speeds, R (Reverse)
can be used to rock the vehicle
back and forth to get out of snow,
ice, or sand without damaging the
transmission. See If the Vehicle Is
Stuck 0186.
N (Neutral) : In this position, the
engine does not connect with the
wheels. To restart when the vehicle
is already moving, use N (Neutral)
only. You can also use N (Neutral)
when the vehicle is being towed.

Cadillac ATS/ATS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-9369639) -
2016 - crc - 12/9/15
Driving and Operating 199
{Warning
Shifting into a drive gear while the
engine is running at high speed is
dangerous. Unless your foot is
firmly on the brake pedal, the
vehicle could move very rapidly.
You could lose control and hit
people or objects. Do not shift
into a drive gear while the engine
is running at high speed.
Caution
Shifting out of P (Park) or
N (Neutral) with the engine
running at high speed may
damage the transmission. The
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Be sure the
engine is not running at high
speed when shifting the vehicle.D (Drive) :
This position is for
normal driving. It provides the best
fuel economy. If you need more
power for passing, and you are:
. Going less than 55 km/h
(35 mph), push the accelerator
pedal about halfway down.
. Going about 55 km/h (35 mph) or
more, push the accelerator all
the way down.
The transmission will shift down
to a lower gear and have more
power.
Downshifting the transmission in
slippery road conditions could result
in skidding; see “Skidding”under
Loss of Control 0179.
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
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
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 0207.

Cadillac ATS/ATS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-9369639) -
2016 - crc - 12/9/15
200 Driving and Operating
Manual Mode
Driver Shift Control (DSC)Caution
Driving with the engine at a high
rpm without upshifting while using
Driver Shift Control (DSC), could
damage the vehicle. Always
upshift when necessary while
using DSC.
Vehicles with DSC may either use
the shift lever or the tap shift
controls on the back of the steering
wheel (if equipped) to manually shift
the automatic transmission.
To use DSC using the shift lever:1. Move the shift lever to the left from D (Drive) to M (Manual
Mode). The transmission will
be in Manual Mode and will
hold the current gear.
2. Move the shift lever forward to upshift or rearward to
downshift.
3. To cancel DSC, move the shift lever back to D (Drive).Tap Shift
If equipped, the tap shift controls
are on the back of the steering
wheel.
To use DSC using the tap shift
controls:
1. Move the shift lever to the left from D (Drive) to M (Manual
Mode). The transmission will
be in Manual Mode and will
hold the current gear.
2. Pull the control toward you to shift. Pull the left control to
(−) downshift, and the right
control to (+) upshift.

Cadillac ATS/ATS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-9369639) -
2016 - crc - 12/9/15
Driving and Operating 201
3. To cancel DSC, move the shiftlever back to D (Drive).
Tap Shift Mode can also be used
temporarily while driving in
D (Drive). Pull either the (+) upshift
or (−) downshift control.
To cancel Tap Shift Mode, hold
the (+) upshift control for
two seconds. If no action is taken,
the vehicle returns to automatic
shifting after a brief period of driving
at a steady speed, or when the
vehicle comes to a stop.
While using the DSC feature, the
vehicle will have firmer, quicker
shifting. This can be used for sport
driving, climbing or descending hills,
staying in gear longer, downshifting
for more power, or engine braking. The transmission will only allow
shifting into gears appropriate for
the vehicle speed and engine
revolutions per minute (rpm). The
transmission will not automatically
shift to the next lower or higher gear
if the engine rpm is too high or
too low.
If shifting is prevented for any
reason, a DIC message will appear.
See
Transmission Messages 0141.
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. See Driver Mode
Control 0207.Brakes
Antilock Brake
System (ABS)
This vehicle has ABS, an advanced
electronic braking system that helps
prevent a braking skid.
When the vehicle begins to drive
away, ABS checks itself.
A momentary motor or clicking noise
might be heard while this test is
going on, and it might even be
noticed that the brake pedal moves
a little. This is normal.
If there is a problem with ABS, this
warning light stays on. See Antilock
Brake System (ABS) Warning
Light 0121.
If driving safely on a wet road and it
becomes necessary to slam on the
brakes and continue braking to

Cadillac ATS/ATS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-9369639) -
2016 - crc - 12/9/15
Driving and Operating 207
Adding accessories can affect the
vehicle performance. See
Accessories and
Modifications0245.
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
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 Magnetic Ride
Control, selecting the various Driver
Modes adjusts the ride of the
vehicle to enhance the ride
performance for the road conditions
and the selected mode.
The Driver Mode Control has three
or four modes: Tour, Sport, Snow/
Ice, and Track (LF4 Only). Press
and release the MODE button (ATS) or press the
yorzbutton (ATS-V)
on the center console to activate the
mode menu in the cluster. The first
press of the button 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 or Track mode, the
vehicle will shift automatically but
may 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
0198. The
steering will change to provide more
precise control. If the vehicle has
Magnetic Ride Control, the
suspension will change to provide
better cornering performance.
Competitive Driving Mode can be
accessed through this mode.
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.
For LF4 only, Snow/Ice mode will
use a different accelerator pedal
map to optimize traction on a
slippery surface. 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.

Cadillac ATS/ATS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-9369639) -
2016 - crc - 12/9/15
208 Driving and Operating
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 0186.
Track Mode (LF4 Only)
Use when maximum vehicle
handling is desired. When selected,
the Track Mode indicator will display
in the DIC.
Accelerator pedal is adjusted to give
maximum control during the highest
level of spirited driving.
The automatic transmission and
steering will function similar to
Sport Mode.
The Magnetic Ride Control will be
set to the optimum level for vehicle
responsiveness.
Competitive Driving Mode can be
accessed through this mode.
Use when driving on a closed race
course or drag strip.
Vehicle systems are optimized for
maximum track performance. This mode allows entry to
Performance Traction Management
(PTM) in the Competitive
Driving Mode.
Competitive Driving Mode
(LF4 and V-Series 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
Rear Axle (LF4 and V-Series Only)”
later in this section. 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.
Performance Traction
Management (V-Series Only)
Performance Traction Management
(PTM) integrates the Traction
Control, StabiliTrak, and Magnetic
Ride Control systems to provide
improved and consistent
performance when cornering. The
amount of available engine power is
based on the mode selected, track
conditions, driver skill, and the
radius of each corner.

Cadillac ATS/ATS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-9369639) -
2016 - crc - 12/9/15
214 Driving and Operating
Also, you may have to brake or shift
to a lower gear to keep the vehicle
speed down. If the brake pedal is
applied, cruise control will
disengage.
Ending Cruise Control
There are four ways to end cruise
control:
.Step lightly on the brake pedal.
. Shift the transmission to
N (Neutral).
. Press
*.
. Press
J.
Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed is
erased from memory if
Jis
pressed or if the ignition is
turned off.
Adaptive Cruise Control
If equipped with Adaptive Cruise
Control (ACC), it allows the driver to
select the cruise control set speed
and following gap. Read this entire
section before using this system. The following gap is the following
time between your vehicle and a
vehicle detected directly ahead in
your path moving in the same
direction. If no vehicle is detected in
your path, ACC works like regular
cruise control. ACC uses camera
and radar sensors.
If a vehicle is detected in your path,
ACC can apply acceleration or
limited, moderate braking to
maintain the selected following gap.
To disengage ACC, apply the brake.
If ACC is controlling your vehicle
speed when the Traction Control
System (TCS) or StabiliTrak System
activates, the ACC may
automatically disengage. See
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control
0205. When road
conditions allow ACC to be safely
used, the ACC can be turned
back on.
ACC will not engage if the TCS or
StabiliTrak electronic stability control
system is disabled.
{Warning
ACC has limited braking ability
and may not have time to slow
the vehicle down enough to avoid
a collision with another vehicle
you are following. This can occur
when vehicles suddenly slow or
stop ahead, or enter your lane.
Also see “Alerting the Driver” in
this section. Complete attention is
always required while driving and
you should be ready to take
action and apply the brakes. See
Defensive Driving 0177.
{Warning
ACC will not detect or brake for
children, pedestrians, animals,
or other objects.
Do not use ACC when:
. On winding and hilly roads
or when the sensors are
blocked by snow, ice, or dirt.
(Continued)

Cadillac ATS/ATS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-9369639) -
2016 - crc - 12/9/15
Driving and Operating 239
.Do not tow a trailer during the
first 2 414 km (1,500 mi) to
prevent damage to the engine,
axle, or other parts.
. Then during the first 800 km
(500 mi) of trailer towing, do not
drive over 80 km/h (50 mph) and
do not make starts at full throttle.
. Vehicles can tow in D (Drive).
Shift the transmission to a lower
gear if the transmission shifts
too often under heavy loads and/
or hilly conditions.
. Do not use Adaptive Cruise
Control when towing.
. The Front Automatic Braking
System should be set to Off
when towing. See Front
Automatic Braking (FAB)
System 0229.
. Turn off Parking Assist when
towing.{Warning
When towing a trailer, exhaust
gases may collect at the rear of
the vehicle and enter if the
liftgate, trunk/hatch, or rear-most
window is open.
When towing a trailer:
. Do not drive with the
liftgate, trunk/hatch,
or rear-most window open.
. Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
. Also adjust the climate
control system to a setting
that brings in only outside
air. See “Climate Control
Systems” in the Index.
For more information about
carbon monoxide, see Engine
Exhaust 0197.
Towing a trailer requires a certain
amount of experience. The
combination you are driving is
longer and not as responsive as the vehicle itself. Get acquainted with
the handling and braking of the rig
before setting out for the open road.
Before starting, check all trailer hitch
parts and attachments, safety
chains, electrical connectors, lamps,
tires, and mirrors. If the trailer has
electric brakes, start the
combination moving and then apply
the trailer brake controller by hand
to be sure the brakes work.
During the trip, check occasionally
to be sure that the load is secure
and the lamps and any trailer
brakes still work.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the
vehicle ahead as you would when
driving the vehicle without a trailer.
This can help to avoid heavy
braking and sudden turns.
Passing
More passing distance is needed
when towing a trailer. The
combination will not accelerate as
quickly and is longer so it is