Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293089) -
2017 - crc - 6/22/16
190 DRIVING AND OPERATING
.Check all fluid levels and brakes,
tires, cooling system, and
transmission.
. Shift to a lower gear when going
down steep or long hills.
{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 0209.
. 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) 0206.
See Driver Mode Control 0211
. 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.
Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293089) -
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 191
.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:
. 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
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
fan speed to the highest
setting. See“Climate Control
Systems.”
For more information about CO, see
Engine Exhaust 0202.
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 0209.
{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
Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293089) -
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 197
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 the ENGINE START/
STOP button 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) 0200.
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 0147.
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 the ignition to
OFF. On vehicles with an
automatic transmission, the shift
lever must be in P (Park) to turn
the ignition switch to the OFF
position.
4. Set the parking brake. See Electric Parking Brake 0207.{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.
If the vehicle cannot be pulled over,
and must be shut off while driving,
press and hold the ENGINE START/
STOP button 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.
Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293089) -
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 205
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 or Track 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 0211.
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.
To enter Permanent Tap Shift Mode: 1. With the shift lever in D (Drive), press the M (Manual Mode)
button on the top of the shift
lever. 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 to downshift, and the right control to upshift.
3. To exit, press the M (Manual Mode) button a second time.
With the shift lever in D (Drive) and
not in Permanent Tap Shift Mode, the
tap shift controls will activate a
temporary tap manual shift mode,
allowing the transmission to be
manually shifted. Automatic shifts
return after no manual shifts have
been done for seven to 10 seconds.
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
Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293089) -
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 207
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
The vehicle has an Electric Parking
Brake (EPB). The switch for the EPB is
on the instrument panel, to the left of
the steering wheel. 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. SeeParking Brake
Light 0125 and Service Electric Parking
Brake Light 0126. There are also
parking brake-related Driver
Information Center (DIC) messages.
See Brake System Messages 0138. 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.
Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293089) -
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 211
Adding accessories can affect the
vehicle's performance. SeeAccessories
and Modifications 0248.
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 settings of various
sub-systems. Depending on the option
package, available features, and mode
selected, the suspension, steering, and
powertrain will change settings 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. While in the Sport and/or Track
Modes, 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 Sport or
Track Mode operation after a short
period when no spirited driving is
detected.
Driver Mode Control Switch
The Driver Mode Control has three or
four modes: Tour, Sport, Snow/Ice,
and Track. The Track Mode is for
V-Sport and V-Series models only. Press
«orzon the MODE switch
on the center console to make a mode
selection. The first press of the switch
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).
Snow/Ice Mode
Use when more traction is needed
during slippery conditions.
When selected, the Snow/Ice Mode
indicator will display in the DIC.
Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293089) -
2017 - crc - 6/22/16
212 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 0191.
Track Mode (V-Sport and
V-Series Only)
Use when maximum vehicle handling
is desired.
When selected, the Track Mode
indicator will display in the DIC.
When in Track Mode, the automatic
transmission and steering will
function similar to Sport Mode. The
accelerator pedal is adjusted to give
maximum control during the highest
level of spirited driving. The Magnetic
Ride Control will be set to the
optimum level for vehicle
responsiveness. Competitive Driving
Mode or Performance Traction
Management (PTM) can be accessed
through this mode.
There are six attributes that vary by
mode shown below. Not all vehicles
have all features, depending on the
vehicle options.
Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293089) -
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 213
Modes:TOUR
Default SPORT SNOW/ICE TRACK
Throttle Progression TourTour Snow/Ice Track
Transmission Shift Mode TourSport TourTrack
Steering (Assist Effort) TourSport TourTrack
Magnetic Ride Control (if equipped) TourSport TourTrack
Launch Control (V-Series Only) NANANAAvailable
Stability Control TourTourTourTrack
Performance Traction Management (if
equipped) (V-Series Only) NA
NANAAvailable
Engine Sound Management TourSport TourTrack
Driver Mode Selector Attributes
Affected
The Gauge Cluster Display is
configured for each mode when linked
(default):
Throttle Progression
Adjusts throttle sensitivity by
selecting how quick or slow the
throttle reacts to input. .
Snow/Ice - The accelerator pedal
will reduce engine torque at small
pedal inputs. This allows better
wheel control on slippery surfaces.
. Track - The accelerator pedal is
adjusted to give maximum control
during the highest level of spirited
driving.
Transmission Shift Mode
Sport or Track –Performance Mode
Lift Foot (PMLF) allows the
transmission to hold the current gear after a quick release of a heavily
applied accelerator pedal. This
provides greater engine braking and
enhanced vehicle control without
using the paddles. Performance
Algorithm Shift (PAS) recognizes
aggressive cornering, heavy braking,
and high acceleration to select and
hold lower gears when not using
paddles. The shifts are also firmer to
increase the quickness of shifting.