Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293390) - 2017 -
CRC - 6/21/16
190 DRIVING AND OPERATING
{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:. 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.”
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
For more information about CO, see
Engine Exhaust0200.
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.
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. See Traction Control/
Electronic Stability Control 0208.
{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 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
Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293390) - 2017 -
CRC - 6/21/16
DRIVING AND OPERATING 195
Ignition Positions
The vehicle has an electronic keyless
ignition with pushbutton start.
Pressing the button cycles it through
three modes: ACC/ACCESSORY, ON/
RUN/START, and Stopping the
Engine/OFF.
The Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter must be in the vehicle for
the system to operate. If the
pushbutton start is not working, the
vehicle may be near a strong radio
antenna signal causing interference to
the Keyless Access system. SeeRemote
Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation 029. To shift out of P (Park), the vehicle
must be in ACC/ACCESSORY or ON/
RUN, and the brake pedal must be
applied.
Stopping the Engine/OFF (No
Indicator Lights) :
When the vehicle
is stopped, press ENGINE START/
STOP once to turn the engine off.
If the vehicle is in P (Park), the
ignition will turn off, and Retained
Accessory Power (RAP) will remain
active. See Retained Accessory Power
(RAP) 0198.
If the vehicle is not in P (Park), the
ignition will return to ACC/
ACCESSORY and display a message in
the Driver Information Center (DIC).
See Transmission Messages 0151.
When the vehicle is shifted into
P (Park), the ignition system will
switch to OFF.
Do not turn the engine off when the
vehicle is moving. This will cause a
loss of power assist in the brake and
steering systems and disable the
airbags. 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
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 off the
ignition.
4. Set the parking brake. See Electric Parking Brake 0205.
{Warning
Turning off the vehicle while
moving may cause loss of power
assist in the brake and steering
systems and disable the airbags.
While driving, only shut the vehicle
off in an emergency.
Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293390) - 2017 -
CRC - 6/21/16
196 DRIVING AND OPERATING
If the vehicle cannot be pulled over,
and must be shut off while driving,
press and hold ENGINE START/STOP
for longer than two seconds, or press
twice in five seconds.
ACC/ACCESSORY (Amber Indicator
Light) :This mode allows you to use
some electrical accessories when the
engine is off.
With the ignition off, pressing the
button one time without the brake
pedal applied will place the ignition
system in ACC/ACCESSORY.
The ignition will switch from ACC/
ACCESSORY to OFF after five minutes
to prevent battery rundown.
ON/RUN/START (Green Indicator
Light) : This mode is for driving and
starting. With the ignition off, and the
brake pedal applied, pressing the
button once will place the ignition
system in ON/RUN/START. Once
engine cranking begins, release the
button. Engine cranking will continue
until the engine starts. See Starting the
Engine 0196. The ignition will then
remain in ON/RUN. 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 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 engine
will not start in Service Only Mode.
Press the button again to turn the
vehicle off.
Starting the Engine
Move the shift lever to P (Park) or
N (Neutral). To restart the engine
when the vehicle is already moving,
use N (Neutral) only.
Caution
Do not try to shift to P (Park) if the
vehicle is moving. If you do, you
could damage the transmission.
Shift to P (Park) only when the
vehicle is stopped.
Caution
If you add electrical parts or
accessories, you could change the
way the engine operates. Any
resulting damage would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty. See
Add-On Electrical Equipment
0243.
Starting Procedure 1. With the Keyless Access system, the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter must be in the
vehicle. Press ENGINE START/
STOP with the brake pedal
applied. When the engine begins
cranking, let go of the button.
Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293390) - 2017 -
CRC - 6/21/16
DRIVING AND OPERATING 197
The idle speed will go down as
the engine gets warm. Do not
race the engine immediately
after starting it.
If the RKE transmitter is not in
the vehicle, if there is
interference, or if the RKE
battery is low, a Driver
Information Center (DIC)
message will display. SeeKey and
Lock Messages 0145 and Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation 029.
Caution
Cranking the engine for long
periods of time, by returning the
ignition to the START position
immediately after cranking has
ended, can overheat and damage
the cranking motor, and drain the
battery. Wait at least 15 seconds
between each try, to let the
cranking motor cool down.
2. If the engine does not start after five to 10 seconds, especially in
very cold weather (below −18 °Cor 0 °F), it could be flooded with
too much gasoline. Try pushing
the accelerator pedal all the way
to the floor and holding it there
as you press ENGINE START/
STOP. Wait at least 15 seconds
between each try, to allow the
cranking motor to cool down.
When the engine starts, release
the accelerator. If the vehicle
starts briefly but then stops
again, do the same thing. This
clears the extra gasoline from the
engine. Do not race the engine
immediately after starting it.
Operate the engine and
transmission gently until the oil
warms up and lubricates all
moving parts.
Stop/Start System
{Warning
Exiting the vehicle without first
shifting into P (Park) may cause the
vehicle to move. You or others may
be injured. Because the vehicle has
the auto engine stop/start feature,
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
the vehicle's engine might seem to
be shut off; however, once the brake
pedal is released, the engine will
start up again.
Shift to P (Park) and turn the
ignition to LOCK/OFF, before exiting
the vehicle.
The vehicle has a fuel saving stop/
start system to shut off the engine
and help conserve fuel.
Auto Engine Stop/Start
When the brakes are applied and the
vehicle is at a complete stop, the
engine may turn off. When stopped,
the tachometer may point to AUTO
STOP, or the Auto Stop light may
come on in the instrument cluster. See
Tachometer 0121 and Auto Stop Mode
(Uplevel Cluster) 0134. When the
brake pedal is released or the
accelerator pedal is pressed, the
engine may restart.
Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293390) - 2017 -
CRC - 6/21/16
204 DRIVING AND OPERATING
To enter Permanent Tap Shift Mode:1. Move the shift lever from D (Drive) to M (Manual Mode).
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 toward the driver to downshift, and the right
control toward the driver to
upshift. To shift to the lowest
available gear, press and hold the
left control.
3. To exit, move the shift lever back to D (Drive).
With the shift lever in D (Drive) and
not in Permanent Tap Shift Mode, the
Tap Shift controls will activate a
temporary manual Tap Shift mode,
allowing the transmission to be
manually shifted. The vehicle exits
Temporary Tap Shift Mode after the
accelerator pedal is steady for
six seconds. Temporary Tap Shift
Mode holds a gear longer without
exiting when coasting, to provide
powertrain braking. 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 downshift if the engine rpm is
too high in the next lower gear,
or upshift 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 0151.
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.
Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293390) - 2017 -
CRC - 6/21/16
DRIVING AND OPERATING 205
Brakes
Antilock Brake
System (ABS)
This vehicle has an Antilock Brake
System (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 may be heard
while this test is going on, and it may
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. SeeAntilock
Brake System (ABS) Warning
Light 0130.
If driving safely on a wet road and it
becomes necessary to slam on the
brakes and continue braking to avoid a sudden obstacle, a computer senses
the wheels are slowing down. If one of
the wheels is about to stop rolling, the
computer will separately work the
brakes at each wheel.
ABS can change the brake pressure to
each wheel, as required, faster than
any driver could. This can help you
steer around the obstacle while
braking hard.
As the brakes are applied, the
computer keeps receiving updates on
wheel speed and controls braking
pressure accordingly.
Remember: ABS does not change the
time needed to get a foot up to the
brake pedal or always decrease
stopping distance. If you get too close
to the vehicle in front of you, there
will not be enough time to apply the
brakes if that vehicle suddenly slows
or stops. Always leave enough room
up ahead to stop, even with ABS.
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the
brake pedal down firmly and let ABS
work. You may hear the ABS pump or
motor operating and feel the brake
pedal pulsate. This is normal.
Braking in Emergencies
ABS allows you to steer and brake at
the same time. In many emergencies,
steering can help more than even the
very best braking.
Electric Parking Brake
Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293390) - 2017 -
CRC - 6/21/16
206 DRIVING AND OPERATING
The vehicle has an Electric Parking
Brake (EPB). 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. SeeElectric
Parking Brake Light 0130 and Service
Electric Parking Brake Light 0130.
There are also parking brake-related
Driver Information Center (DIC)
messages. See Brake System Messages
0 142. 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. Press 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
Electric Parking Brake
Light 0130.
If the amber parking brake warning
light is on, press the EPB switch and
hold it. 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 pressed. If the
switch is pressed 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 normal,
and is done to periodically check the
correct operation of the EPB system.
If the EPB fails to apply, block the rear
wheels to prevent vehicle movement.
EPB Release
To release the EPB:
1. Place the ignition in the ACC/ ACCESSORY or ON/RUN mode.
2. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
3. Push down momentarily on the EPB switch.
The EPB is released when the red
parking brake status light is off.
If the amber parking brake warning
light is on, release the EPB by pushing
down on the EPB switch and holding
it down. Continue to hold the switch
until the red parking brake status light
is off. If either light stays on after
release is attempted, see your dealer.
Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293390) - 2017 -
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 207
Caution
Driving with the parking brake on
can overheat the brake system and
cause premature wear or damage to
brake system parts. Make sure that
the parking brake is fully released
and the brake warning light is off
before driving.
Automatic EPB Release
The EPB will automatically release if
the vehicle is running, placed into
gear, and an attempt is made to drive
away. Avoid rapid acceleration when
the EPB is applied, to preserve parking
brake lining life.
Brake Assist
This vehicle has a brake assist feature
designed to assist the driver in
stopping or decreasing vehicle speed
in emergency driving conditions. This
feature uses the stability system
hydraulic brake control module to
supplement the power brake system
under conditions where the driver has
quickly and forcefully applied thebrake pedal in an attempt to quickly
stop or slow down the vehicle. The
stability system hydraulic brake
control module increases brake
pressure at each corner of the vehicle
until the ABS activates. Minor brake
pedal pulsation or pedal movement
during this time is normal and the
driver should continue to apply the
brake pedal as the driving situation
dictates. The brake assist feature will
automatically disengage when the
brake pedal is released or brake pedal
pressure is quickly decreased.
Hill Start Assist (HSA)
Hill Start Assist (HSA) may
automatically activate when the
vehicle is stopped on a hill and
Automatic Vehicle Hold (AVH) is not
enabled. This feature is designed to
prevent the vehicle from rolling, either
forward or rearward, during vehicle
drive off. During the transition from
releasing the brake pedal to
accelerating to drive off on a hill, HSA
holds the braking pressure to prevent
rolling. HSA 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).
Automatic Vehicle
Hold (AVH)
Automatic Vehicle Hold (AVH) can be
turned on by pressing AUTO HOLD
with the driver safety belt fastened,
the driver door closed, and the engine
running. The AVH indicator will
come on.
This feature will activate when the
vehicle is stopped to prevent it from
moving. After the brake pedal has
been released and before the