
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
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
202 DRIVING AND OPERATING
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 0198.
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) when the ignition is in ON/
RUN. 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 0199.
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 : 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 0190.
N : 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.
{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.

Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293390) - 2017 -
CRC - 6/21/16
DRIVING AND OPERATING 203
D :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”underLoss
of Control 0187.
M : This mode can be entered by
moving the shift lever from D (Drive)
to M (Manual Mode). M (Manual
Mode) allows the driver to select gears
appropriate for current driving
conditions. M (Manual Mode) can be
exited by returning the shift lever to
D (Drive). See Manual Mode0203.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 0209.
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.

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
208 DRIVING AND OPERATING
accelerator pedal has been pressed,
AVH uses braking pressure to hold the
vehicle stationary. In addition, the
ABS pump motor may activate to
build brake pressure to maintain the
vehicle at a standstill if necessary.
If AVH is holding the vehicle, the AVH
indicator will change to green. Once
AVH is active it will hold the vehicle
for a defined time period then engage
the parking brake. While AVH is
holding the vehicle, the parking brake
will engage if the driver door is
opened or the driver safety belt is
unfastened.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 spin
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 0190 and “Turning
the Systems Off and On ”later in this
section.

Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293390) - 2017 -
CRC - 6/21/16
DRIVING AND OPERATING 211
Cruise Control
{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.
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).
If the Traction Control/electronic
stability control system begins to limit
wheel spin while using cruise control,
the cruise control automatically
disengages. See Traction Control/
Electronic Stability Control 0208. If a collision alert occurs when cruise
control is activated, cruise control is
disengaged. See
Forward Collision Alert
(FCA) System 0228. When road
conditions allow cruise control to be
safely used, it can be turned back on.
If the brakes are applied, cruise
control disengages.
J: Press to turn the system on and
off. A white indicator appears in the
instrument cluster when cruise is
turned on.
RES+ : If there is a set speed in
memory, press briefly to resume to
that speed or press and hold to accelerate. If the cruise control is
already engaged, use to increase
vehicle speed. To increase speed by
1 km/h (1 mph), press RES+ to the first
detent. To increase speed to the next
5 km/h (5 mph) mark on the
speedometer, press RES+ to the
second detent.
SET−
:Press briefly to set the speed
and activate cruise control. If the
cruise control is already engaged, use
to decrease vehicle speed. To decrease
speed by 1 km/h (1 mph), press SET−
to the first detent. To decrease speed
to the next 5 km/h (5 mph) mark on
the speedometer, press SET− to the
second detent.
*: Press to disengage cruise control
without erasing the set speed from
memory.
The speedometer reading can be
displayed in either English or metric
units. See Instrument Cluster (Base
Level) 0115 orInstrument Cluster
(Uplevel) 0118. The increment value
used depends on the units displayed.

Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293390) - 2017 -
CRC - 6/21/16
212 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Setting Cruise Control
If
Jis on when not in use, SET−or
RES+ could get pressed and go into
cruise when not desired. Keep
Joff
when cruise is not being used.
1. Press
J.
2. Get up to the desired speed.
3. Press and release SET−. The desired set speed briefly appears
in the instrument cluster.
4. Remove your foot from the accelerator.
When the cruise control has been set
to the desired speed, a green cruise
control indicator appears 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 are applied
or
*is pressed, the cruise control is
disengaged without erasing the set
speed from memory. Once the vehicle speed reaches about
40 km/h (25 mph) or more, press RES+
briefly. The vehicle returns to the
previous set speed.
Increasing Speed While Using
Cruise Control
Do one of the following:
.
Press and hold RES+ until the
desired speed is reached, then
release it.
. To increase vehicle speed in small
increments, briefly press RES+ 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+ to
the second detent. For each press,
the vehicle speed increases to the
next 5 km/h (5 mph) mark on the
speedometer.
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
Do one of the following:
. Press and hold SET− until the
desired lower speed is reached,
then release it. .
To decrease the vehicle speed in
small increments, briefly press
SET− 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− 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.
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 previous set cruise speed.
While pressing the accelerator pedal
or shortly following the release to
override cruise, briefly applying SET−
will result in cruise set to the current
vehicle speed.