2018 CADILLAC CTS traction control

Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349156) - 2018 - CRC - 9/29/17
206 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Automatic EPB Release
The EPB will automatically release if
the vehicle is running, placed into
gear, and an attempt is made to drive
away. Avoid rapid acceleration when
the EPB is applied, to preserve parking
brake lining life.
Brake Assist
This vehicle has a brake assist feature
designed to assist the driver in
stopping or decreasing vehicle speed
in emergency driving conditions. This
feature uses the stability system
hydraulic brake control module to
supplement the power brake system
under conditions where the driver has
quickly and forcefully applied the
brake pedal in an attempt to quickly
stop or slow down the vehicle. The
stability system hydraulic brake
control module increases brake
pressure at each corner of the vehicle
until the ABS activates. Minor brake
pedal pulsation or pedal movement
during this time is normal and the
driver should continue to apply the
brake pedal as the driving situation
dictates. The brake assist feature willautomatically disengage when the
brake pedal is released or brake pedal
pressure is quickly decreased.
Hill Start Assist (HSA)
Hill Start Assist (HSA) will activate
when the vehicle is stopped on a
moderate to steep grade to help
prevent it from rolling in the
unintended direction.
After the brake pedal has been
released and before the accelerator
pedal has been pressed, HSA uses
braking pressure to hold the vehicle
stationary.
If HSA is holding the vehicle, a DIC
message displays.
The vehicle will roll if in a drive gear
and facing downhill, or in R (Reverse)
and facing uphill.
Once HSA is active it will hold the
vehicle, unless the driver door is
opened or the driver seat belt is
unbuckled prior to releasing the brake
pedal.
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control
The vehicle has a Traction Control
System (TCS) and StabiliTrak, an
electronic stability control system.
These systems help limit wheel slip
and assist the driver in maintaining
control, especially on slippery road
conditions.
TCS activates if it senses that any of
the drive wheels are spinning or
beginning to lose traction. When this
happens, the system brakes the
spinning wheel(s) and/or reduces
engine power to limit wheel spin.
StabiliTrak activates when the
computer senses a difference between
the intended path and the direction
the vehicle is actually traveling.
StabiliTrak selectively applies braking
pressure at any one of the vehicle's
brakes to help steer the vehicle in the
intended direction.

Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349156) - 2018 - CRC - 9/29/17
208 DRIVING AND OPERATING
To turn off only TCS, press and
release
Y. The traction off lighti
displays in the instrument cluster.
A DIC message may display.
To turn TCS on again, press and
release
Y. The traction off lighti
displayed in the instrument cluster
will turn off.
If TCS is limiting wheel spin when
Y
is pressed, the system will not turn off
until the wheels stop spinning.
To turn off both TCS and StabiliTrak,
press and hold
Yuntil the traction
off light
iand StabiliTrak OFF light
gcome on and stay on in the
instrument cluster. A DIC message
may display.
To turn TCS and StabiliTrak on again,
press and release
Y. The traction off
light
iand StabiliTrak OFF lightg
in the instrument cluster turn off.
Adding accessories can affect the
vehicle's performance. See Accessories
and Modifications 0254.
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.
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
yorzon 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.

Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349156) - 2018 - CRC - 9/29/17
DRIVING AND OPERATING 209
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.
When in Sport or Track Mode, the
vehicle will shift automatically but
may hold a lower gear longer than it
would in the normal driving mode
based on braking, throttle input, and
vehicle lateral acceleration. See
Automatic Transmission0200. The
steering will change to provide more
precise control. If the vehicle has
Magnetic Ride Control, the suspension
will change to provide better
cornering performance.
Competitive Driving Mode (V-Sport
only) can be accessed through this
mode. See Competitive Driving Mode
(V-Sport Only) 0211.
Snow/Ice Mode
Use when more traction is needed
during slippery conditions.
Snow/Ice Mode will use a different
accelerator pedal map to optimize
traction on a slippery surface. The
accelerator pedal will reduce engine
torque at small pedal inputs.
When selected, the Snow/Ice Mode
indicator will display.
This feature is not intended for use
when the vehicle is stuck in sand,
mud, ice, snow, or gravel. If the
vehicle becomes stuck, see If the
Vehicle Is Stuck 0187.
Track Mode (V-Sport and
V-Series Only)
Use when maximum vehicle handling
is desired. For use when driving on a
closed race course or drag strip.
When selected, the Track Mode
indicator will display. 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 (V-Sport only) or Performance
Traction Management (PTM) (V-Series
only) can be accessed through this
mode. See
Competitive Driving Mode
(V-Sport Only) 0211.
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-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349156) - 2018 - CRC - 9/29/17
210 DRIVING AND OPERATING
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

Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349156) - 2018 - CRC - 9/29/17
DRIVING AND OPERATING 211
hold lower gears when not using
paddles. The shifts are also firmer to
increase the quickness of shifting.
Steering (Assist Effort)
Adjusts from a lighter steering feel in
Tour Mode to reduced assist in Sport
and Track Mode for more
steering feel.
Magnetic Ride Control (if equipped)
Adjusts the shock dampening
firmness from a comfort tune in Tour
Mode to an optimized responsiveness
tune in Sport and Track.
Launch Control (V-Series Only)
Available only in Track Mode for
maximum“off–the–line ”acceleration
when in Competitive or PTM Modes.
Stability Control
. Competitive Mode allows less
computer control to permit some
slide and drift and is selected with
the button –only available in
Track Mode.
. StabiliTrak can be turned off by
pressing and holding the button
for five seconds.Driver Mode Customization
The Engine Sound Management,
steering, and suspension drive modes
can be set to the driver’s preference.
See “Driving Mode ”under Vehicle
Personalization 0144.
When in the Track main vehicle mode,
you cannot overwrite the Steering or
Suspension settings. These settings
are designed to interact with the
advanced functions in the Track Mode
and cannot be overwritten.
The selections made in the Driving
Mode menu overwrite the main
vehicle mode selection via the buttons
or switch on the center console. In
order to customize and overwrite,
select one of the three settings by
touching the infotainment display.
When in the customization screen for
each system, select one of the
available options:
. Auto (Follows the MODE switch)
. Tour
. Sport
. Track The default will be to follow the
vehicle MODE switch settings, but the
main vehicle mode selection for the
currently selected system can be
overwritten using this menu. The
settings selected in this menu will set
the vehicle behavior in all selected
vehicle modes, and will be retained
over each ignition cycle. They do not
have to be reset each time the vehicle
is started.
Competitive Driving Mode
(V-Sport Only)
To select this optional handling mode,
press
Yquickly two times and the
DIC will display COMPETITIVE MODE
ON. While in the Competitive Driving
Mode, the traction off light
iand
StabiliTrak OFF light
gwill come on
in the instrument cluster. TCS does
not limit wheel spin, the Electronic
Limited-Slip Differential (eLSD) allows
increased vehicle agility, and more
effort is required to turn the steering
wheel. See “Limited-Slip Differential

Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349156) - 2018 - CRC - 9/29/17
212 DRIVING AND OPERATING
(V-Sport and V-Series Only)”later in
this section. Adjust your driving
accordingly.
Press
Yagain, or turn the ignition to
ACC/ACCESSORY and restart the
vehicle, to turn TCS back on. The
traction off light
iand StabiliTrak
OFF light
gwill go out in the
instrument cluster.
Caution
When traction control is turned off,
or Competitive Driving Mode is
active, it is possible to lose traction.
Performance Traction
Management (V-Series Only)
Performance Traction Management
(PTM) integrates the Traction Control,
StabiliTrak, and Selective Ride Control
systems to provide improved and
consistent performance when
cornering. The amount of available
engine power is based on the mode
selected, track conditions, driver skill,
and the radius of each corner.
This light is on when the vehicle is in
the PTM mode.
To select this optional handling mode,
the vehicle mode must be Track. Then
quickly press
Yon the center
console two times. PERFORMANCE
TRACTION 1 - WET ACTIVE
HANDLING ON displays in the DIC.
When PTM is active, the up and down
buttons will no longer change Drive
Modes, but instead change PTM
modes.
To select a mode while in PTM, press
the Driver Mode Control/PTM buttons
on the center console.
To experience the performance benefit
of this system, after entering a curve
and at the point where normal
acceleration occurs, fully push the
accelerator pedal. The PTM system will modify the level of engine power
for a smooth and consistent
corner exit.
The PTM system contains five modes.
These modes are selected by pressing
the Driver Mode Control/PTM buttons
on the center console. Scroll up or
down through modes 1–5 by pressing
the MODE up and down buttons. The
following is a DIC display description
and the recommended usage of
each mode:
PERFORMANCE TRACTION 1
–
WET ACTIVE HANDLING ON
. Intended for all driver skill levels.
. Wet or damp conditions only —
not intended for use in heavy rain
or standing water.
. StabiliTrak is on and engine power
is reduced based on conditions.
PERFORMANCE TRACTION 2 –
DRY ACTIVE HANDLING ON
. For use by less experienced drivers
or while learning a new track.
. Dry conditions only.

Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 213
.StabiliTrak is on and engine power
is slightly reduced.
PERFORMANCE TRACTION 3 –
SPORT ACTIVE HANDLING ON
. For use by drivers who are familiar
with the track.
. Dry conditions only.
. Requires more driving skill than
mode 2.
. StabiliTrak is on and more engine
power is available than in mode 2.
PERFORMANCE TRACTION 4 –
SPORT ACTIVE HANDLING OFF
. For use by drivers who are familiar
with the track.
. Dry conditions only.
. Requires more driving skill than
modes 2 or 3.
. StabiliTrak is off and available
engine power is the same as
mode 3.
PERFORMANCE TRACTION 5 –
RACE ACTIVE HANDLING OFF
. For use by experienced drivers
who are familiar with the track.
. Dry conditions only.
. Requires more driving skill than in
other modes.
. StabiliTrak is off and engine power
is available for maximum
cornering speed.
Press and release
Yto turn off PTM
and return to the traction control and
StabiliTrak systems. The traction off
light
iand StabiliTrak OFF lightg
will go out.
Launch Control (V-Series Only)
A Launch Control feature is available,
within Performance Traction
Management, to allow the driver to
achieve high levels of vehicle
acceleration in a straight line. Launch
Control is a form of traction control
that manages tire spin while
launching the vehicle. This feature is intended for use during closed course
race events where consistent zero to
60 and quarter mile times are
desirable.
Launch Control is only available when
the following criteria are met:
.
Performance Traction
Management modes are selected.
The TCS light comes on in the
instrument cluster and the
appropriate DIC message displays.
. The vehicle is not moving.
. The steering wheel is pointing
straight.
. The brake pedal must be firmly
pressed to the floor, equivalent to
a panic brake event.
. The accelerator pedal is rapidly
applied to wide open throttle. (If
the vehicle rolls due to wide open
throttle, release the throttle, press
the brake pedal more firmly, and
re-apply the accelerator to wide
open throttle.)

Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349156) - 2018 - CRC - 9/29/17
214 DRIVING AND OPERATING
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 Performance
Traction Management.
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
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 (V-Sport Only) 0211 and
Maintenance Schedule 0339.
Cruise Control
{Warning
Cruise control can be dangerous
where you cannot drive safely at a
steady speed. Do not use cruise
control on winding roads or in
heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous on
slippery roads. On such roads, fast
changes in tire traction can cause
excessive wheel slip, and you could
lose control. Do not use cruise
control on slippery roads.
With cruise control, a speed of about
40 km/h (25 mph) or more can be
maintained without keeping your foot
on the accelerator. Cruise control does
not work at speeds below about
40 km/h (25 mph).
If the StabiliTrak
®system begins to
limit wheel spin while using cruise
control, the cruise control
automatically disengages. See Traction
Control/Electronic Stability Control
0 206. If a collision alert occurs when