Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349156) - 2018 - CRC - 9/29/17
4 INTRODUCTION
Vehicle Symbol Chart
Here are some additional symbols that
may be found on the vehicle and what
they mean. See the features in this
manual for information.
9:Airbag Readiness Light
#:Air Conditioning
!:Antilock Brake System (ABS)
$: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
j: ISOFIX/LATCH System Child
Restraints
*: Malfunction Indicator Lamp
::Oil Pressure
O:Power
/:Remote Vehicle Start
>:Seat 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-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349156) - 2018 - CRC - 9/29/17
38 KEYS, DOORS, AND WINDOWS
Canceling a Remote Start
To cancel a remote start, do any of
the following:
.Press and hold
/until the
parking lamps turn off.
. Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
. Turn the vehicle on and then
back off.
Conditions in Which Remote Start
Will Not Work
The remote start will not operate if
any of the following occur:
. The ignition is in any mode other
than off.
. A transmitter is in the vehicle.
. The hood is not closed.
. The hazard warning flashers
are on.
. There is an emission control
system malfunction.
. The engine coolant temperature is
too high.
. The oil pressure is low. .
Two remote vehicle starts have
already been used.
. The vehicle is not in P (Park).Door Locks
{Warning
Unlocked doors can be dangerous.
. Passengers, especially
children, can easily open the
doors and fall out of a moving
vehicle. The doors can be
unlocked and opened while
the vehicle is moving. The
chance of being thrown out of
the vehicle in a crash is
increased if the doors are not
locked. So, all passengers
should wear seat belts
properly and the doors should
be locked whenever the
vehicle is driven.
. Young children who get into
unlocked vehicles may be
unable to get out. A child can
be overcome by extreme heat
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
and can suffer permanent
injuries or even death from
heat stroke. Always lock the
vehicle whenever leaving it.
. Outsiders can easily enter
through an unlocked door
when you slow down or stop
the vehicle. Locking the doors
can help prevent this from
happening.
To lock or unlock the doors from
outside the vehicle:
. Press
QorKon the Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter.
See Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation 030.
. Use the key in the driver door. The
key lock cylinder is covered with
a cap.
See “Driver Door Key Lock
Cylinder Access (In Case of Dead
Battery)” later in this section.
Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349156) - 2018 - CRC - 9/29/17
INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS 109
Instruments and
Controls
Controls
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . . . 110
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . . . . . 110
Heated Steering Wheel . . . . . . . . . . 110
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . . . . 111
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Wireless Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Warning Lights, Gauges, and
Indicators
Warning Lights, Gauges, andIndicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Fuel Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Boost Gauge (Performance Configuration Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 Engine Oil Temperature Gauge
(Performance
Configuration Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Seat Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Airbag Readiness Light . . . . . . . . . . 126
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Charging System Light . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Check Engine Light) . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Brake System Warning Light . . . . 129
Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . 130
Service Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) Light . . . 131
Vehicle Ahead Indicator . . . . . . . . . 131
Traction Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
StabiliTrak OFF Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Traction Control System (TCS)/ StabiliTrak Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Driver Mode Control Light (Uplevel) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Tire Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Engine Oil Pressure Light . . . . . . . . 134 Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . . . 134
Auto Stop Mode (Uplevel
Cluster Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Security Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Adaptive Forward Lighting (AFL) Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Lamps On Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Cruise Control Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Door Ajar Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Information Displays
Driver Information Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Head-Up Display (HUD) . . . . . . . . . 140
Vehicle Messages
Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Engine Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . 143
Vehicle Speed Messages . . . . . . . . . 144
Vehicle Personalization
Vehicle Personalization . . . . . . . . . . 144
Universal Remote System
Universal Remote System . . . . . . . . 149
Universal Remote System Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Universal Remote System Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349156) - 2018 - CRC - 9/29/17
124 INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS
Engine Oil Temperature
Gauge (Performance
Configuration Only)
Metric
English
This gauge shows the engine oil
temperature.
If the gauge pointer moves into the
high end, it means that the engine oil
has overheated. If the vehicle has been
operated under normal driving
conditions, pull off the road, stop the
vehicle, and turn off the engine as
soon as possible.
See Engine Oil 0263.
Engine Coolant
Temperature Gauge
Metric Base Level
Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349156) - 2018 - CRC - 9/29/17
INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS 139
Best Fuel Economy :Displays average
fuel economy, the best fuel economy
over the selected distance, and a bar
graph showing instantaneous fuel
economy.
Cruise Set Speed : Shows the speed
the cruise control or Adaptive Cruise
Control (ACC, if equipped) is set to.
Follow Distance : When Adaptive
Cruise Control (ACC) is not engaged,
the current follow time to the vehicle
ahead is displayed as a time value on
this page. When ACC has been
engaged, the display switches to the
gap setting page. This page shows the
current gap setting along with the
vehicle ahead indicator.
Gap Setting : When ACC has been
engaged, this page shows the current
gap setting along with the vehicle
ahead indicator.
Battery Voltage : Shows the current
battery voltage.
Engine Boost : Shows the current
amount of boost being added. G-Force (V-Series) :
Gives the driver
an indication of the vehicle
performance in cornering. The G-force
is displayed in the center of the DIC
as a numerical value.
Transmission Temperature
(V-Series) : Shows the temperature of
the transmission fluid in either
degrees Celsius (°C) or degrees
Fahrenheit (°F).
Oil Life : Shows an estimate of the
oil's remaining useful life.
If REMAINING OIL LIFE 99% is
displayed, that means 99% of the
current oil life remains.
When the remaining oil life is low, the
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON message
will appear on the display. The oil
should be changed as soon as
possible. See Engine Oil0263. In
addition to the engine oil life system
monitoring the oil life, additional
maintenance is recommended. See
Maintenance Schedule 0339.
The Oil Life display must be reset
after each oil change. It will not reset
itself. Do not to reset the Oil Life
display accidentally at any time other than when the oil has just been
changed. It cannot be reset accurately
until the next oil change. To reset the
engine oil life system, press and hold
SEL for several seconds while the Oil
Life display is active. See
Engine Oil
Life System 0265.
Tire Pressure : Shows the
approximate pressures of all four tires.
Tire pressure is displayed in either
kilopascal (kPa) or in pounds per
square inch (psi). If the pressure is
low, the value for that tire is shown in
amber. See Tire Pressure Monitor
System 0303 and Tire Pressure
Monitor Operation 0304.
Tire Temperature (V-Series) :
Displays a description of the tire air
temperature based on the readings
from the TPMS sensors. The
temperature range displayed will
change based on ambient conditions
and driving style.
Vehicle Odometer (Base Cluster) :
Shows the odometer.
Blank Page : The Blank Page display
allows for no information to be
displayed in the DIC display zone(s).
Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349156) - 2018 - CRC - 9/29/17
DRIVING AND OPERATING 181
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 Oil0263.
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
fluid after the first racing or
competitive driving event, and then
after every 24 hours of racing or
competitive driving. See Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants 0348.
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.
Engine Oil
2.0L (LTG) Engine
This is not available with a track
package option and is not
recommended for track use.
3.6L Non-Turbo (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. 3.6L Twin Turbo (LF3) Engine
This requires premium fuel, and
comes standard with a 7 qt sump,
integrated oil cooler, and other
powertrain and powertrain cooling
components in preparation for
track use.
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 0353.
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.
Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349156) - 2018 - CRC - 9/29/17
DRIVING AND OPERATING 195
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 °C
or 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
The automatic engine Stop/Start
feature causes the engine to shut
off while the vehicle is still on. Do
not exit the vehicle before shifting
to P (Park). The vehicle may restart
and move unexpectedly. Always
shift to P (Park), and then turn the
ignition off before exiting the
vehicle.
If equipped with the 2.0L L4, or 3.6L
V6 non-turbo engine, the vehicle has a
fuel saving stop/start system to shut
off the engine to help conserve fuel. Auto 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 display Auto
Stop, or the Auto Stop light may
come on in the instrument cluster.
See
Tachometer 0122 and Auto Stop
Mode (Uplevel Cluster Only) 0135.
When the brake pedal is released or
the accelerator pedal is pressed, the
engine may restart.
Auto Stop may be deactivated if:
. A minimum vehicle speed is not
reached.
. The engine or transmission is not
at the required operating
temperature.
. The outside temperature is not in
the required operating range,
typically below −10 °C (14 °F) or
above 50 °C (122 °F).
Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349156) - 2018 - CRC - 9/29/17
248 DRIVING AND OPERATING
so it is necessary to go much farther
beyond the passed vehicle before
returning to the lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel
with one hand. To move the trailer to
the left, move that hand to the left. To
move the trailer to the right, move
your hand to the right. Always back
up slowly and, if possible, have
someone guide you.
Making TurnsCaution
Making very sharp turns while
trailering could cause the trailer to
come in contact with the vehicle.
The vehicle could be damaged.
Avoid making very sharp turns
while trailering.
When turning with a trailer, make
wider turns than normal. Do this so
the trailer will not strike soft shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees,
or other objects. Avoid jerky or sudden
maneuvers. Signal well in advance.
If the trailer turn signal bulbs burn
out, the arrows on the instrument
cluster will still flash for turns. It is
important to check occasionally to be
sure the trailer bulbs are still working.
Driving on Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear
before
starting down a long or steep
downgrade. If the transmission is not
shifted down, the brakes might get hot
and no longer work well.
Vehicles can tow in D (Drive). Shift
the transmission to a lower gear if the
transmission shifts too often under
heavy loads and/or hilly conditions.
When towing at high altitude on steep
uphill grades, consider the following:
Engine coolant will boil at a lower
temperature than at normal altitudes.
If the engine is turned off immediately
after towing at high altitude on steep
uphill grades, the vehicle may show
signs similar to engine overheating. To
avoid this, let the engine run while
parked, preferably on level ground, with the automatic transmission in
P (Park) for a few minutes before
turning the engine off. If the overheat
warning comes on, see
Engine
Overheating 0274.
Parking on Hills
{Warning
Parking the vehicle on a hill with
the trailer attached can be
dangerous. If something goes
wrong, the rig could start to move.
People can be injured, and both the
vehicle and the trailer can be
damaged. When possible, always
park the rig on a flat surface.
If parking the rig on a hill: 1. Press the brake pedal, but do not shift into P (Park) yet. Turn the
wheels into the curb if facing
downhill or into traffic if facing
uphill.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.