Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293089) -
2017 - crc - 6/22/16
INTRODUCTION 3
M:Shown when the owner manual
has additional instructions or
information.
*: Shown when the service manual
has additional instructions or
information.
0: Shown when there is more
information on another page —
“see page.”
Vehicle Symbol Chart
Here are some additional symbols that
may be found on the vehicle and what
they mean.
9: Airbag Readiness Light
#:Air Conditioning
!:Antilock Brake System (ABS)
g: Audio Steering Wheel Controls
$:Brake System Warning Light
":Charging System
I: Cruise Control
`:Do Not Puncture
^:Do Not Service
B:Engine Coolant Temperature
O:Exterior Lamps
_:Flame/Fire Prohibited
.:Fuel Gauge
+: Fuses
3:Headlamp High/Low-Beam
Changer
(: Heated Steering Wheel
j:LATCH System Child Restraints
*:Malfunction Indicator Lamp
::Oil Pressure
O:Power
/:Remote Vehicle Start
>:Safety Belt Reminders
7: Tire Pressure Monitor
d:Traction Control/StabiliTrak®
a:Under Pressure
M: Windshield Washer Fluid
Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293089) -
2017 - crc - 6/22/16
138 INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS
Vehicle Messages
Messages displayed on the DIC
indicate the status of the vehicle or
some action that may be needed to
correct a condition. Multiple messages
may display one after the other.
The messages that do not require
immediate action can be
acknowledged and cleared by pressing
SEL. The messages that require
immediate action cannot be cleared
until that action is performed. All
messages should be taken seriously
and clearing the messages does not
correct the problem.
The following are some of the vehicle
messages that may be displayed
depending on the vehicle content.
Battery Voltage and
Charging Messages
BATTERY SAVER ACTIVE
This message displays when the
vehicle has detected that the battery
voltage is dropping beyond a
reasonable point. The battery saver
system starts reducing features of thevehicle that may be noticed. At the
point that features are disabled, this
message displays. Turn off
unnecessary accessories to allow the
battery to recharge.
LOW BATTERY
This message is displayed when the
battery voltage is low. See
Battery
0271.
SERVICE BATTERY CHARGING
SYSTEM
This message is displayed when there
is a fault in the battery charging
system. Take the vehicle to your
dealer for service.
TRANSPORT MODE ON
This message is displayed when the
vehicle is in transport mode. Some
features can be disabled while in this
mode, including Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE), remote start, and the
vehicle alarm system. Take the vehicle
to your dealer for service to turn
transport mode off.
Brake System Messages
BRAKE FLUID LOW
This message displays when the brake
fluid level is low. See Brake
Fluid 0270.
RELEASE PARKING BRAKE
This message displays if the Electric
Parking Brake is on while the vehicle
is in motion. Release it before
attempting to drive. See Electric
Parking Brake 0207.
SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST
This message displays when there is a
problem with the brake boost system.
When this message displays, the brake
pedal may be harder to push and the
stopping distance may be longer. See
your dealer for service.
SERVICE PARKING BRAKE
This message displays when there is a
problem with the Electric Parking
Brake. See your dealer for service.
Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293089) -
2017 - crc - 6/22/16
DRIVING AND OPERATING 183
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
Some vehicles have 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 0138.
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 CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293089) -
2017 - crc - 6/22/16
DRIVING AND OPERATING 185
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 0257.
Engine Oil
2.0L (LTG) Engine
This is not available with a track
package option and is not
recommended for track use.
3.6L Twin Turbo (LF3) Engine
This requires premium fuel, and
comes standard with a 6.63 L (7 qt)
sump, integrated oil cooler, and other
powertrain and powertrain cooling
components in preparation for
track use.
3.6L (LGX) Engine
.
With Oil Cooler: Confirm the oil
level is at the upper mark that
shows the proper operating range
on the engine oil dipstick.
. Without Oil Cooler: Do not use for
track events and competitive
driving.
6.2L Supercharged (LT4) Engine
Change the engine oil to 0W-40 or
5W-40 that meets the dexos2™
specification. If this oil is not
available, the following oils can be
used as an alternative: Valvoline
®
SYNPOWER MST 5W-40, Mobil®1
ESP Formula M 5W-40. See Capacities
and Specifications 0336.
This requires premium fuel, and
comes standard with a 10 qt sump,
air/oil separator, integrated oil cooler,
and other powertrain and powertrain
cooling components in preparation for
track use.
Check the oil level often during track
events and competitive driving and
keep the oil level at or near the
upper mark.
Automatic Transmission Fluid
Have the transmission fluid set to the
track specific oil level prior to track
usage. Transmission fluid should be
changed after 30 hours of track usage.
Any transmission level set or change
should be performed at your dealer.
Axle Fluid
Axles must have 805 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
Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293089) -
2017 - crc - 6/22/16
186 DRIVING AND OPERATING
fluid after the first racing or
competitive driving event, and then
after every 24 hours of racing or
competitive driving. SeeRecommended
Fluids and Lubricants 0331.
Caution
During a first time track or racing
event, high axle temperatures can
occur. Damage could be caused to
the axle and would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty. Do not
drive as long or as fast the first
time the vehicle is driven on the
track or raced.
Brake Fluid
For track events and competitive
driving, it is recommended that the
brake fluid be replaced with a high
performance brake fluid that has a dry
boiling point greater than 279 °C
(534 °F). After conversion to the high
performance brake fluid, follow the
brake fluid service recommendations
outlined by the fluid manufacturer. Do
not use silicone or DOT-5 brake fluids.
Caution
Removing the splash shield can
degrade wet braking performance,
as well as introduce brake pedal
pulsation, due to brake disc
exposure to road debris. Only
remove the front brake disc splash
shield and front tire deflector when
driving in track events.
Brake cooling can be improved if the
front brake disc splash shield and
front tire deflector are removed.
Removing the shield will require that
the suspension bushings visible to the
brake disc be protected with insulated
thermal wrapping.
Brake Burnishing
To prepare the V-Sport and V-Series
brake systems for track events and
racing, complete the appropriate high
performance brake burnishing
procedure described below. V-Sport and V-Series Brake
Burnishing
New brake pads must be burnished
before racing or other competitive
driving.
Caution
These procedures are specific to the
V-Sport and V-Series brake package.
This procedure should not be run
on other models as damage may
result.
Caution
The new vehicle break-in period
should be completed before
performing the brake burnishing
procedure or damage may occur to
the powertrain/engine. See
New
Vehicle Break-In 0195.
When performed as instructed, this
procedure will not damage the brakes.
During the burnishing procedure, the
brake pads will smoke and produce an
Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293089) -
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 189
Tire Inflation Pressure for Road/
Street Courses
(e.g., Virginia International Raceway,
Road Atlanta, or similar)
Inflate tires to a minimum of 240 kPa
(35 psi) cold.
For continuous road/street course use,
hot tire inflation pressure may be
adjusted to a minimum of 270 kPa
(39 psi).
Return the tires to the recommended
cold tire inflation pressure when
high-speed driving has ended. See
Vehicle Load Limits0192 and Tire
Pressure 0290.
Driving on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can reduce vehicle
traction and affect your ability to stop
and accelerate. Always drive slower in
these types of driving conditions and
avoid driving through large puddles
and deep-standing or flowing water.
{Warning
Wet brakes can cause crashes. They
might not work as well in a quick
stop and could cause pulling to one
side. You could lose control of the
vehicle.
After driving through a large puddle
of water or a car/vehicle wash,
lightly apply the brake pedal until
the brakes work normally.
Flowing or rushing water creates
strong forces. Driving through
flowing water could cause the
vehicle to be carried away. If this
happens, you and other vehicle
occupants could drown. Do not
ignore police warnings and be very
cautious about trying to drive
through flowing water.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. Water can
build up under the vehicle's tires so
they actually ride on the water. This
can happen if the road is wet enough and you are going fast enough. When
the vehicle is hydroplaning, it has
little or no contact with the road.
There is no hard and fast rule about
hydroplaning. The best advice is to
slow down when the road is wet.
Other Rainy Weather Tips
Besides slowing down, other wet
weather driving tips include:
.
Allow extra following distance.
. Pass with caution.
. Keep windshield wiping equipment
in good shape.
. Keep the windshield washer fluid
reservoir filled.
. Have good tires with proper tread
depth. See Tires0287.
. Turn off cruise control.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or through
mountains is different than driving on
flat or rolling terrain. Tips include:
.Keep the vehicle serviced and in
good shape.
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) -
2017 - crc - 6/22/16
DRIVING AND OPERATING 217
The Launch Control feature will
initially limit engine speed as the
driver rapidly applies the accelerator
pedal to wide open throttle. Allow the
engine rpm to stabilize. A smooth,
quick release of the brake pedal, while
maintaining the fully pressed
accelerator pedal, will manage
wheel slip.
After the vehicle is launched, the
system continues in Competitive
Driving Mode or Performance Traction
Management (V-Series).
Competitive Driving Mode, PTM, and
Launch Control are systems designed
for a closed course race track and not
intended for use on public roads. The
systems are not intended to
compensate for lack of driver
experience or familiarity with the race
track.Limited-Slip Differential
(Except V-Series)
If equipped, the mechanical
limited-slip differential can give more
traction on snow, mud, ice, sand,
or gravel. It works like a standard axle
most of the time, but when traction is
low, this feature allows the drive
wheel with the most traction to move
the vehicle. For vehicles with
limited-slip differential, driven under
severe conditions, the rear axle fluid
should be changed. SeeCompetitive
Driving Mode 0214 and Maintenance
Schedule 0324.
Limited-Slip Differential
(V-Series Only)
If equipped, the Electronic
Limited-Slip Differential (eLSD) is
automatically activated. eLSD actively
monitors vehicle sensors and driver
inputs to determine the amount of
change for the conditions. With eLSD,
the vehicle has:
.
Enhanced high-speed control. .
Improved traction through
corners, allowing more
acceleration.
. More precise steering.
. Increased vehicle agility.
. Integration with StabiliTrak.
For vehicles with eLSD, driven under
severe conditions, the rear axle fluid
should be changed. See Competitive
Driving Mode 0214 and Maintenance
Schedule 0324.