
Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-9369309) -
2016 - crc - 7/30/15
Instruments and Controls 145
Safety Belt Messages
AUTOMATIC SEATBELT
TIGHTENING UNAVAILABLE
This message displays when the
Automatic Safety Belt Tightening
System, if equipped, becomes
unavailable. This could be caused
by a temporary condition. If the
message continues to display, see
your dealer.
SERVICE AUTOMATIC
SEATBELT TIGHTENING
SYSTEM
If this message displays, take the
vehicle to your dealer to repair the
Automatic Safety Belt Tightening
System, if equipped.
Security Messages
THEFT ATTEMPTED
This message displays if the vehicle
detects a tamper condition.
Service Vehicle Messages
SERVICE AC SYSTEM
This message displays if there is a
problem with the air conditioning
system. Take the vehicle to your
dealer for service.
SERVICE POWER STEERING
This message displays and a chime
may sound when there may be a
problem with the power steering
system. If this message displays
and a reduction in steering
performance or loss of power
steering assistance is noticed, see
your dealer.
SERVICE STEERING
COLUMN LOCK
This message displays if there is a
problem with the steering column
lock. Take the vehicle to your dealer
for service.
SERVICE VEHICLE SOON
This message displays if there is a
problem with the vehicle. Take the
vehicle to your dealer for service.
Starting the Vehicle
Messages
PRESS BRAKE TO START
This message is displayed when
attempting to start the vehicle
without first pressing the brake
pedal.
SERVICE KEYLESS START
SYSTEM
This message is displayed if there is
a problem with the pushbutton start
system. Take the vehicle to your
dealer for service.
TURN STEERING WHEEL
START VEHICLE AGAIN
This message may display when
you try to start the vehicle, but the
column remains locked. Try turning
the steering wheel while starting the
vehicle to unlock the steering
column. If the vehicle still does not
start, turn the steering wheel the
other way, and try starting the
vehicle again.

Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-9369309) -
2016 - crc - 7/30/15
148 Instruments and Controls
Language (Language)
Select Language, then select from
the available language(s).
The selected language will display
on the system, and voice
recognition, if equipped will reflect
the selected language.
Valet Mode (If Equipped)
This will lock the infotainment
system and steering wheel controls.
It may also limit access to vehicle
storage locations (if equipped).
To enable valet mode:1. Enter a four-digit code on the keypad.
2. Select Enter to go to the confirmation screen.
3. Re-enter the four-digit code.
Press LOCK or UNLOCK to lock or
unlock the system. Press Back to go
back to the previous menu.
Radio
Press to display the Radio menu
and the following may display:
. Manage Favorites .
Number of Favorites Shown
. Auto Volume
. Audible Touch Feedback
. Bose AudioPilot
. Maximum Start Up Volume
Manage Favorites
This allows favorites to be edited.
See “Manage Favorites” in
“Settings” under“Radio” in the
infotainment manual.
Number of Favorites Shown
Press to set the number of favorites
to display.
Select the desired number or select
Auto and the infotainment system
will automatically adjust the number
of favorites shown.
Auto Volume
This feature adjusts the volume
based on the vehicle speed.
Select Off, Low, Medium-Low,
Medium, Medium-High, or High. Audible Touch Feedback
This allows Audible Touch
Feedback to be turned on or off.
Select Off or On.
Bose AudioPilot
This feature adjusts the volume
based on the noise in the vehicle
and speed. See
“Bose AudioPilot
®
Noise Compensation Technology”
under“Infotainment System
Settings” in the infotainment
manual.
Select Off or On.
Maximum Startup Volume
This feature sets the maximum
startup volume. If the vehicle is
started and the volume is greater
than this level, the volume is
adjusted to this level. To set the
maximum startup volume, press +
or −to increase or decrease.
Vehicle
Select and the following may
display:
.
Climate and Air Quality

Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-9369309) -
2016 - crc - 7/30/15
160 Lighting
If after signaling a turn or lane
change, the arrow flashes rapidly or
does not come on, a signal bulb
might be burned out.
Replace any burned out bulbs. If a
bulb is not burned out, check the
fuse. SeeFuses and Circuit
Breakers 0280.Interior Lighting
Instrument Panel
Illumination Control
The brightness of the instrument
panel lighting and steering wheel
controls can be adjusted.
D(Instrument Panel
Illumination) : Move the
thumbwheel up or down to brighten
or dim the lights.
The brightness of the displays
automatically adjusts based on
outdoor lighting. The instrument
panel illumination control will set the
lowest level to which the displays
will automatically be adjusted.
Dome Lamps
To change the dome lamp settings,
press the following:
OFF : Turns the lamp off, even
when a door is open.
DOOR : The lamp comes on when
a door is opened.
ON : Turns the lamp on.
Reading Lamps
There are front and rear reading
lamps on the overhead console and
over the rear passenger doors.
These lamps come on when any
door is opened.

Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-9369309) -
2016 - crc - 7/30/15
178 Driving and Operating
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Track Events and CompetitiveDriving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 186
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 187
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 189
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . 193
Carbon Fiber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . 198 Parking over Things
That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Running the Vehicle WhileParked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 200
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . 204
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . 208
Competitive Driving Mode (V-Series Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Limited-Slip Differential (Except V-Series) . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Limited-Slip Differential (V-Series Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Adaptive Cruise Control . . . . . . 217
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . 224
Assistance Systems forParking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . 225
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Front Automatic Braking (FAB) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . 236
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . 238
Fuel
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Trailer Towing
General TowingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243

Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-9369309) -
2016 - crc - 7/30/15
Driving and Operating 181
If power steering assist is lost due
to a system malfunction, the vehicle
can be steered, but may require
increased effort. See your dealer if
there is a problem.
If the steering wheel is turned until it
reaches the end of its travel and is
held against that position for an
extended period of time, power
steering assist may be reduced.
If steering assist is used for an
extended period of time, power
assist may be reduced.
Normal use of the power steering
assist should return when the
system cools down.
See specific vehicle steering
messages underVehicle Messages
0 135.
See your dealer if there is a
problem.
Curve Tips
. Take curves at a reasonable
speed.
. Reduce speed before entering a
curve. .
Maintain a reasonable steady
speed through the curve.
. Wait until the vehicle is out of
the curve before accelerating
gently into the straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
.There are some situations when
steering around a problem may
be more effective than braking.
. Holding both sides of the
steering wheel allows you to turn
180 degrees without removing
a hand.
. Antilock Brake System (ABS)
allows steering while braking.
Off-Road Recovery
The vehicle's right wheels can drop
off the edge of a road onto the
shoulder while driving. Follow
these tips:
1. Ease off the accelerator and then, if there is nothing in the
way, steer the vehicle so that it
straddles the edge of the
pavement.
2. Turn the steering wheel about one-eighth of a turn, until the
right front tire contacts the
pavement edge.

Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-9369309) -
2016 - crc - 7/30/15
182 Driving and Operating
3. Turn the steering wheel to gostraight down the roadway.
Loss of Control
Skidding
There are three types of skids that
correspond to the vehicle's three
control systems:
.Braking Skid —wheels are not
rolling.
. Steering or Cornering Skid —
too much speed or steering in a
curve causes tires to slip and
lose cornering force.
. Acceleration Skid —too much
throttle causes the driving
wheels to spin.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids
by taking reasonable care suited to
existing conditions, and by not
overdriving those conditions. But
skids are always possible.
If the vehicle starts to slide, follow
these suggestions:
. Ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and steer the
way you want the vehicle to go. The vehicle may straighten out.
Be ready for a second skid if it
occurs.
. Slow down and adjust your
driving according to weather
conditions. Stopping distance
can be longer and vehicle
control can be affected when
traction is reduced by water,
snow, ice, gravel, or other
material on the road. Learn to
recognize warning clues —such
as enough water, ice, or packed
snow on the road to make a
mirrored surface —and slow
down when you have any doubt.
. Try to avoid sudden steering,
acceleration, or braking,
including reducing vehicle speed
by shifting to a lower gear. Any
sudden changes could cause
the tires to slide.
Remember: Antilock brakes help
avoid only the braking skid.
Track Events and
Competitive Driving
Track events and competitive
driving may affect the vehicle
warranty. See the warranty manual
before using the vehicle for
competitive driving.
Caution
If the vehicle is used for track
events and competitive driving,
the engine may use more oil than
it would with normal use. Low oil
levels can damage the engine.
Check the oil level often and
maintain the proper level. See
Engine Oil 0259.
Axle Fluid
Axles must have 885 km (500 mi)
before being used in track driving.
The front, if equipped with AWD,
and rear axle fluid temperatures
may be higher than when driving in
severe conditions. Drain and refill
with new fluid after the first racing or
competitive driving event, and then

Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-9369309) -
2016 - crc - 7/30/15
188 Driving and Operating
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 0206.
. 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)
0203.
See Driver Mode Control 0208
. 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
Stay with the vehicle unless there is
help nearby. Get help and keep
everyone in the vehicle safe:
.Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
. 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 snow:
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.Clear snow from the base of
the vehicle, especially any
blocking the exhaust pipe.
. Open a window about 5 cm
(2 in) on the vehicle side
that is away from the wind,
to bring in fresh air.
. Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
. Adjust the climate control
system to circulate the air
inside the vehicle and set
the fan speed to the highest
setting. See “Climate
Control Systems.”
For more information about CO,
see Engine Exhaust 0199.
To save fuel, run the engine for
short periods to warm the vehicle
and then shut the engine off and
partially close the window. Moving
about to keep warm also helps.

Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-9369309) -
2016 - crc - 7/30/15
Driving and Operating 189
If it takes time for help to arrive,
when running the engine, push the
accelerator pedal slightly so the
engine runs faster than the idle
speed. This keeps the battery
charged to restart the vehicle and to
signal for help with the headlamps.
Do this as little as possible, to
save fuel.
If the Vehicle Is Stuck
Slowly and cautiously spin the
wheels to free the vehicle when
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow.
If stuck too severely for the traction
system to free the vehicle, turn the
traction system off and use the
rocking method. SeeTraction
Control/Electronic Stability Control
0 206.
{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)
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. Turn off any traction
system. Shift back and forth
between R (Reverse) and a low
forward gear, spinning the wheels
as little as possible. To prevent
transmission 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 transmission 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, it
might need to be towed out. If the
vehicle does need to be towed out,
seeTowing the Vehicle 0315.
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 may
show how much weight it may
properly 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
(Continued)