Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349156) - 2018 - CRC - 9/29/17
164 INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM
Delete Recording :Touch to delete
the video. A confirmation screen
displays. Touch Yes to delete or No to
cancel.
Pause/Play : Touch to play or pause
the video. The button will change
when pressed.
/: Touch to display the previous
screen.
Exit : Touch to exit the current
display.
Choose Video Overlay
Touch the Choose Video Overlay
screen button to display the menu
screen.
Select one:
. No Overlay .
Sport
. Track
. Performance Timing
No Overlay:
No vehicle data displays on top of the
recorded video. Vehicle data is still
available with the video when
accessed in the toolbox software.
Sport:
Displays these vehicle metrics:
. Vehicle Speed: Up to three digits
are displayed in km/h or MPH
depending on vehicle settings.
. Engine Rotations Per Minute
(RPMs): The curved line shows
current RPMs. As the RPMs
increase, the backfill follows. .
Transmission State (Current Gear):
Automatic transmissions display 1,
2, etc.
. Lateral G-Force Graphic: Left and
Right G-Forces are displayed. The
graphic fills to the left or the right
depending on the measure value.
The measured G-Force displays as
a number at the top of the
graphic.
. Event Odometer: This displays the
mileage driven since the recording
began.
Track:
Displays these vehicle metrics:
. Vehicle Speed: Same as Sport.
Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349156) - 2018 - CRC - 9/29/17
176 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Track Events and CompetitiveDriving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . 185
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Composite Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197 Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Parking over Things
That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Running the Vehicle While
Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . 200
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Brakes
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . 204
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/ElectronicStability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Competitive Driving Mode (V-Sport Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Limited-Slip Differential . . . . . . . . . 214
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Adaptive Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . 217
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . . . 225
Assistance Systems for Parking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Forward Automatic Braking (FAB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . 236
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . . . . 236
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . . . . . 239
Vehicle-to-Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Fuel
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
California Fuel Requirements . . . . 243
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . . . . . 244
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349156) - 2018 - CRC - 9/29/17
182 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Automatic Transmission Fluid
Have the transmission fluid set to the
track specific oil level prior to track
usage. Transmission fluid should be
changed after every 15 hours of track
usage. Any transmission level set or
change should be performed at your
dealer.
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(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
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 0191.
When performed as instructed, this
procedure will not damage the brakes.
During the burnishing procedure, the
brake pads will smoke and produce an
odor. The braking force and pedal
travel may increase. After the
procedure is complete, the brake pads
may appear white at the rotor contact.
Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 193
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) 0197.
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).
When the vehicle is shifted into
P (Park), the ignition system will
switch to OFF.
The vehicle may have an electric
steering column lock. The lock is
activated when the vehicle is switched
to OFF and the driver door is opened.
A sound may be heard as the lock
actuates or releases. The steering
column lock may not release with the
wheels turned off center. If this happens, the vehicle may not start.
Move the steering wheel from left to
right while attempting to start the
vehicle. If this does not work, the
vehicle needs service.
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 0204.
{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.
Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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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-
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200 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Warning (Continued)
.There are holes or openings
in the vehicle body from
damage or aftermarket
modifications that are not
completely sealed.
If unusual fumes are detected or if
it is suspected that exhaust is
coming into the vehicle: . Drive it only with the
windows completely down.
. Have the vehicle repaired
immediately.
Never park the vehicle with the
engine running in an enclosed area
such as a garage or a building that
has no fresh air ventilation.
Running the Vehicle While
Parked
It is better not to park with the engine
running.
If the vehicle is left with the engine
running, follow the proper steps to be
sure the vehicle will not move.
See Shifting Into Park 0197 and Engine
Exhaust 0199.
If parking on a hill and pulling a
trailer, see Driving Characteristics and
Towing Tips 0246.
Automatic Transmission
There are several different positions
for the shift lever.
P : This position locks the drive
wheels. Use P (Park) when starting the
engine because the vehicle cannot
move easily.
Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349156) - 2018 - CRC - 9/29/17
202 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Caution
A transmission hot message may
display if the automatic
transmission fluid is too hot.
Driving under this condition can
damage the vehicle. Stop and idle
the engine to cool the automatic
transmission fluid. This message
clears when the transmission fluid
has cooled sufficiently.
D : This position is for normal driving.
If more power is needed for passing,
press the accelerator pedal down.
Downshifting the transmission in
slippery road conditions could result
in skidding. See “Skidding”underLoss
of Control 0180.
M : This mode can be entered with
the shift lever in the D (Drive) position
by pressing the M (Manual Mode)
button on the top of the shift lever.
M (Manual Mode) allows the driver to
select gears appropriate for current
driving conditions. M (Manual Mode) can be exited with a second press of
the M (Manual Mode) button. See
Manual Mode
0202.
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 the vehicle is
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 Sport
or Track Mode normal operation after
a short period when no spirited
driving is detected. See Driver Mode
Control 0208.
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 CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 203
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.
To shift to the lowest available
gear, press and hold the left
control.
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
climbing or descending hills, to stay in
gear longer, or to downshift for more
power or engine braking.
The transmission will only allow you
to shift into gears appropriate for the
vehicle speed and engine revolutions
per minute (rpm). The transmission
will not automatically shift to the next
lower gear if the engine rpm is too
high, nor to the next higher gear when
the maximum engine rpm is reached.
If shifting is prevented for any reason,
a SHIFT DENIED message will be
displayed in the instrument cluster.
When accelerating the vehicle from a
stop in snowy and icy conditions, it is
suggested to shift into second gear.
A higher gear allows the vehicle to
gain more traction on slippery
surfaces.Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive
Vehicles with this feature always send
engine power to all four wheels. It is
fully automatic, and adjusts itself as
needed for road conditions.