Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293390) - 2017 -
CRC - 6/21/16
184 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . 188
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Retained AccessoryPower (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . 201
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Brakes
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . 205
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Automatic VehicleHold (AVH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/ElectronicStability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Adaptive Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . 213
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . . . 221
Assistance Systems for Parking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222 Assistance Systems for
Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Forward Automatic
Braking (FAB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Night Vision 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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Trailer Towing
General Towing Information . . . . 243
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . 243
Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293390) - 2017 -
CRC - 6/21/16
186 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Braking
Braking action involves perception
time and reaction time. Deciding to
push the brake pedal is perception
time. Actually doing it is
reaction time.
Average driver reaction time is about
three-quarters of a second. In that
time, a vehicle moving at 100 km/h
(60 mph) travels 20 m (66 ft), which
could be a lot of distance in an
emergency.
Helpful braking tips to keep in mind
include:
.Keep enough distance between
you and the vehicle in front
of you.
. Avoid needless heavy braking.
. Keep pace with traffic.
If the engine ever stops while the
vehicle is being driven, brake normally
but do not pump the brakes. Doing so
could make the pedal harder to push
down. If the engine stops, there will
be some power brake assist but it will
be used when the brake is applied. Once the power assist is used up, it
can take longer to stop and the brake
pedal will be harder to push.
Steering
Variable Effort Steering
The vehicle has a steering system that
varies the amount of effort required to
steer the vehicle in relation to the
speed of the vehicle.
The amount of steering effort required
is less at slower speeds to make the
vehicle more maneuverable and easier
to park. At faster speeds, the steering
effort increases to provide a sport-like
feel to the steering. This provides
maximum control and stability.
Electric Power Steering
The vehicle has electric power
steering. It does not have power
steering fluid. Regular maintenance is
not required.
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
under
Vehicle Messages 0141.
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.
Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293390) - 2017 -
CRC - 6/21/16
DRIVING AND OPERATING 189
{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. 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 0208.
. 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) 0205.
See Driver Mode Control 0209
. 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. Get help
and keep everyone in the vehicle safe:
.Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
. Tie a red cloth to an outside
mirror.
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
194 DRIVING AND OPERATING
{Warning
Things inside the vehicle can
strike and injure people in a
sudden stop or turn, or in a
crash.
.Put things in the cargo
area of the vehicle. In the
cargo area, put them as far
forward as possible. Try to
spread the weight evenly.
.Never stack heavier things,
like suitcases, inside the
vehicle so that some of
them are above the tops of
the seats.
.Do not leave an unsecured
child restraint in the
vehicle.
.Secure loose items in the
vehicle.
.Do not leave a seat folded
down unless needed.
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In
Follow these recommended guidelines
during the first 2 400 km (1,500 mi) of
driving this vehicle. Parts have a
break-in period and performance will
be better in the long run.
For the first 2 400 km (1,500 mi):
. Avoid full throttle starts and
abrupt stops.
. Do not exceed 4000 engine rpm.
. Avoid driving at any one constant
speed, fast or slow.
. Avoid downshifting to brake or
slow the vehicle when the engine
speed will exceed 4000 rpm.
. Do not let the engine labor. Never
lug the engine in high gear at low
speeds.
. Do not participate in track events,
sport driving schools, or similar
activities during this break-in
period. .
Check engine oil with every
refueling and add if necessary. Oil
and fuel consumption may be
higher than normal during the
first 2 400 km (1,500 mi).
. To break in new tires, drive at
moderate speeds and avoid hard
cornering for the first
300 km (200 mi). New tires do not
have maximum traction and may
tend to slip.
. New brake linings also need a
break–in period. Avoid making
hard stops during the first
300 km (200 mi). This is
recommended every time brake
linings are replaced.
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.