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
18 IN BRIEF
There are four positions:
O:Turns the exterior lamps off and
deactivates the AUTO mode. Turn to
Oagain to reactivate the AUTO mode.
In Canada, the headlamps will
automatically reactivate when the
vehicle is shifted out of P (Park).
AUTO : Automatically turns the
exterior lamps on and off, depending
on outside lighting.
;: Turns on the parking lamps
including all lamps, except the
headlamps.
5: Turns on the headlamps together
with the parking lamps and
instrument panel lights.
See Exterior Lamp Controls 0153 and
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) 0155.
Windshield Wiper/Washer
With the ignition on or in ACC/
ACCESSORY, move the lever to select
the wiper speed.
HI : Use for fast wipes.
LO : Use for slow wipes.
INT : Use this setting for intermittent
wipes or Rainsense, if equipped. For
intermittent wipes, move the
windshield wiper lever to INT. Turn
the
xINT band up for more
frequent wipes or down for less
frequent wipes. If equipped with Rainsense and the
feature is enabled in vehicle
personalization, move the windshield
wiper lever to INT and turn
the
xINT band to adjust the
sensitivity to moisture.
. Turn the band up for more
sensitivity to moisture.
. Turn the band down for less
sensitivity to moisture.
. Move the windshield wiper lever
out of the INT position to
deactivate Rainsense.
To turn the Rainsense feature on or
off, see “Rain Sense Wipers ”under
Vehicle Personalization 0144.
OFF : Use to turn the wipers off.
1X : For a single wipe, briefly move
the lever down. For several wipes, hold
the lever down.
n L: Pull the lever toward you to
spray windshield washer fluid and
activate the wipers.
See Windshield Wiper/Washer 0111.
Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349156) - 2018 - CRC - 9/29/17
INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS 111
Auto Heated Steering Wheel
When enabled in vehicle
personalization, this feature will
automatically activate the heated
steering wheel and heated seats,
if equipped, at the level required by
the interior temperature. The auto
heated steering wheel can be turned
off by using the heated steering wheel
control button. SeeHeated and
Ventilated Front Seats 064
Remote Start Heated Steering
Wheel
During a remote start, the heated
steering wheel and heated seats,
if equipped, can be turned on
automatically. When it is cold outside,
the heated steering wheel turns on.
The heated steering wheel is canceled
when the ignition is turned on. Press
the heated steering wheel control
button to enable use after the vehicle
is started. The heated steering wheel
indicator light may not turn on during
a remote start. See Remote Vehicle
Start 037Horn
Pressaon the steering wheel pad to
sound the horn.
Windshield Wiper/Washer
With the ignition on or in ACC/
ACCESSORY, move the windshield
wiper lever to select the wiper speed.
HI : Use for fast wipes.
LO : Use for slow wipes.
INT : Use this setting for intermittent
wipes or for Rainsense wipes, when
Rainsense is enabled. For intermittent
wipes, move the lever up to INT, then
turn the
xINT band up for more
frequent wipes or down for less
frequent wipes. If Rainsense is
enabled, see “Rainsense”later in this
section.
If the windshield wipers are in use for
a while when driving, the exterior
lamps come on automatically if the
exterior lamp control is in AUTO. See
“Wiper-Activated Headlamps” later in
this section.
OFF : Use to turn the wipers off.
1X : For a single wipe, briefly move
the wiper lever down. For several
wipes, hold the wiper lever down.
n L: Pull the windshield wiper lever
toward you to spray windshield
washer fluid and activate the wipers.
The wipers will continue until the
lever is released or the maximum
wash time is reached. When the
windshield wiper lever is released,
additional wipes may occur depending
on how long the windshield washer
Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349156) - 2018 - CRC - 9/29/17
112 INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS
had been activated. SeeWasher Fluid
0 275 for information on filling the
windshield washer fluid reservoir.
{Warning
In freezing weather, do not use the
washer until the windshield is
warmed. Otherwise the washer fluid
can form ice on the windshield,
blocking your vision.
Clear snow and ice from the wiper
blades and windshield before using
them. If frozen to the windshield,
carefully loosen or thaw them.
Damaged blades should be replaced.
See Wiper Blade Replacement 0280.
Heavy snow or ice can overload the
wiper motor. See Electrical System
Overload 0285.
Wiper Parking
If the ignition is turned off while the
wipers are on LO, HI, or INT, they will
immediately stop. If the windshield wiper lever is then
moved to OFF before the driver door is
opened or within 10 minutes, the
wipers will restart and move to the
base of the windshield.
If the ignition is turned off while the
wipers are performing wipes due to
windshield washing or Rainsense
wipes, the wipers continue to run
until they reach the base of the
windshield.
Rainsense
If equipped, there is a sensor near the
top center of the windshield detects
the amount of water on the
windshield and controls the frequency
of the windshield wiper. To turn this
feature on or off, see
“Rain Sense
Wipers ”under Vehicle Personalization
0 144.
Keep this area of the windshield clear
of debris to allow for best system
performance.
INT : When enabled, move the
windshield wiper lever to INT. Turn
the
xINT band on the wiper lever
to adjust the sensitivity.
. Turn the band up for more
sensitivity to moisture.
. Turn the band down for less
sensitivity to moisture.
. Move the windshield wiper lever
out of the INT position to
deactivate Rainsense.
Wiper Arm Assembly Protection
If equipped with wiper arm assembly
protection, when using an automatic
car wash, move the windshield wiper
lever to OFF. This disables the
automatic Rainsense windshield
wipers.
With Rainsense, if the transmission is
in N (Neutral) and the vehicle speed is
very slow, the wipers will
automatically stop at the base of the
windshield.
Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349156) - 2018 - CRC - 9/29/17
INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS 113
The wiper operations return to normal
when the transmission is no longer in
N (Neutral) or the vehicle speed has
increased.
Wiper-Activated Headlamps
This feature activates the headlamps
and parking lamps after the
windshield wipers have been in use
for a while. The transition time for the
lamps coming on varies based on the
wiper speed. For this feature to work,
the exterior lamp control must be
in AUTO.
The wiper-activated headlamps
immediately turn off when the
ignition is turned to off, or the
windshield wiper control is turned off.
Rear Camera Mirror Washer
If equipped, push the windshield
wiper lever forward to spray washer
fluid on the Rear Camera Mirror. The
lever returns to its starting position
when released. SeeRear Camera Mirror
0 48.
Compass
The vehicle may have a compass
display on the Driver Information
Center (DIC). The compass receives its
heading and other information from
the Global Positioning System (GPS)
antenna, StabiliTrak, and vehicle
speed information.
The compass system is designed to
operate for a certain number of miles
or degrees of turn before needing a
signal from the GPS satellites. When
the compass display shows CAL, drive
the vehicle for a short distance in an
open area where it can receive a GPS
signal. The compass system will
automatically determine when a GPS
signal is restored and provide a
heading again.
Clock
The time and date for the clock can be
set using the infotainment system. See
“Time/Date ”in “System“under
“Settings ”in the infotainment manual.
Power Outlets
Power Outlets 12-Volt Direct Current
Accessory power outlets can be used
to plug in electrical equipment, such
as a cell phone or MP3 player.
The vehicle has three 12-volt
accessory power outlets:
.
Inside the center console storage
in front of the armrest cover.
. Inside the storage area under the
armrest cover.
. Inside the storage area on the rear
of the center console, if equipped.
These outlets are powered while the
vehicle is on or in ACC/ACCESSORY
mode, or until the driver door is
opened within 10 minutes of turning
off the vehicle.
Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349156) - 2018 - CRC - 9/29/17
INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS 143
Care of the HUD
Clean the inside of the windshield to
remove any dirt or film that could
reduce the sharpness or clarity of the
HUD image.
Clean the HUD lens with a soft cloth
sprayed with glass cleaner. Wipe the
lens gently, then dry it.
HUD Troubleshooting
Check that:
.Nothing is covering the HUD lens.
. HUD brightness setting is not too
dim or too bright.
. HUD is adjusted to the proper
height.
. Polarized sunglasses are not worn.
. Windshield and HUD lens are
clean.
If the HUD image is not correct,
contact your dealer.
The windshield is part of the HUD
system. If the windshield needs
replacing, see Windshield Replacement
0 281.
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 appear one after another.
The messages that do not require
immediate action can be
acknowledged and cleared by pressing
V. The messages that require
immediate action cannot be cleared
until that action is performed.
All messages should be taken
seriously; clearing the message does
not correct the problem.
If a SERVICE message appears, see
your dealer.
Follow the instructions given in the
messages. The system displays
messages regarding the following
topics:
. Service Messages
. Fluid Levels
. Vehicle Security
. Brakes .
Ride Control Systems
. Driver Assistance Systems
. Cruise Control
. Lighting and Bulb Replacement
. Wiper/Washer Systems
. Doors and Windows
. Seat Belts
. Airbag Systems
. Engine and Transmission
. Tire Pressure
. Battery
Engine Power Messages
ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED
This message displays when the
vehicle's propulsion power is reduced.
Reduced propulsion power can affect
the vehicle's ability to accelerate.
If this message is on, but there is no
observed reduction in performance,
proceed to your destination. The
performance may be reduced the next
time the vehicle is driven. The vehicle
may be driven while this message is
Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 185
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.
SeeVehicle Load Limits 0188 and Tire
Pressure 0301.
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.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
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 Tires0294.
. 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.
. Check all fluid levels and brakes,
tires, cooling system, and
transmission.
. Shift to a lower gear when going
down steep or long hills.
Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349156) - 2018 - CRC - 9/29/17
252 VEHICLE CARE
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . 267
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Battery - North America . . . . . . . . . 277
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279 Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . 280
Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . 281
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Back-Up Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . 285
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . 285
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . 289
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Run-Flat Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . 297
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Tire Pressure for High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . 303
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . 311
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314