2019 CADILLAC ATS Owner's Manual

Cadillac ATS/ATS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12460272) - 2019 - crc - 5/8/18
168 CLIMATE CONTROLS
During service, all refrigerants should
be reclaimed with proper equipment.
Venting refrigerants directly to the
atmosphere is harmful to the
environment and may also create
unsafe conditions based on inhalation,
combustion, frostbite, or other
health-based concerns.
The air conditioning system requires
periodic maintenance. See
Maintenance Schedule0327.

Cadillac ATS/ATS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12460272) - 2019 - crc - 5/8/18
DRIVING AND OPERATING 169
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Track Events and CompetitiveDriving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . 179
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Composite Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Stop/Start System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189 Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Shifting Into Park (Automatic Transmission) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Parking (Manual
Transmission) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . 194
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Manual Transmission
Manual Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Active Rev Match . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Brakes
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . 200
Parking Brake (Electric) . . . . . . . . . . 201
Parking Brake (Manual) . . . . . . . . . . 203
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203 Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Competitive Driving Mode (FE3 Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Limited-Slip Rear Axle (Except V-Series) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Limited-Slip Rear Axle (V-Series Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Adaptive Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . 215
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . . . 223
Assistance Systems for Parkingor Backing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Forward Automatic Braking (FAB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . 232
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . . . . 232
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234

Cadillac ATS/ATS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12460272) - 2019 - crc - 5/8/18
170 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . . . . . 234
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Recommended Fuel (LTG 2.0L L4Turbo Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Recommended Fuel (LGX 3.6L V6 Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Recommended Fuel (LF4 3.6L Twin Turbo V6 Engine) . . . . . . . . 237
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . . . . . 237
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Trailer Towing
General Towing Information . . . . 240
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . 240
Driving Information
Distracted Driving
Distraction comes in many forms and
can take your focus from the task of
driving. Exercise good judgment and
do not let other activities divert your
attention away from the road. Many
local governments have enacted laws
regarding driver distraction. Become
familiar with the local laws in
your area.
To avoid distracted driving, keep your
eyes on the road, keep your hands on
the steering wheel, and focus your
attention on driving.
. Do not use a phone in demanding
driving situations. Use a
hands-free method to place or
receive necessary phone calls.
. Watch the road. Do not read, take
notes, or look up information on
phones or other electronic devices.
. Designate a front seat passenger
to handle potential distractions. .
Become familiar with vehicle
features before driving, such as
programming favorite radio
stations and adjusting climate
control and seat settings. Program
all trip information into any
navigation device prior to driving.
. Wait until the vehicle is parked to
retrieve items that have fallen to
the floor.
. Stop or park the vehicle to tend to
children.
. Keep pets in an appropriate carrier
or restraint.
. Avoid stressful conversations
while driving, whether with a
passenger or on a cell phone.
{Warning
Taking your eyes off the road too
long or too often could cause a
crash resulting in injury or death.
Focus your attention on driving.

Cadillac ATS/ATS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12460272) - 2019 - crc - 5/8/18
DRIVING AND OPERATING 171
Refer to the infotainment manual for
more information on using that
system and the navigation system,
if equipped, including pairing and
using a cell phone.
Defensive Driving
Defensive driving means“always
expect the unexpected.” The first step
in driving defensively is to wear the
seat belt. See Seat Belts064.
. Assume that other road users
(pedestrians, bicyclists, and other
drivers) are going to be careless
and make mistakes. Anticipate
what they might do and be ready.
. Allow enough following distance
between you and the driver in
front of you.
. Focus on the task of driving.
Drunk Driving
Death and injury associated with
drinking and driving is a global
tragedy.
{Warning
Drinking and then driving is very
dangerous. Your reflexes,
perceptions, attentiveness, and
judgment can be affected by even a
small amount of alcohol. You can
have a serious —or even fatal —
collision if you drive after drinking.
Do not drink and drive or ride with
a driver who has been drinking.
Ride home in a cab; or if you are
with a group, designate a driver
who will not drink.
Control of a Vehicle
Braking, steering, and accelerating are
important factors in helping to control
a vehicle while driving.
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.

Cadillac ATS/ATS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12460272) - 2019 - crc - 5/8/18
172 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Steering
Variable Effort Steering
The vehicle has 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 the steering assist is used for an
extended period of time while the
vehicle is not moving, power assist
may be reduced.
Normal use of the power steering
assist should return when the system
cools down.
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.
Steering in Emergencies
.There are some situations when
steering around a problem may be
more effective than braking.
. Holding both sides of the steering
wheel allows you to turn
180 degrees without removing
a hand.
. Antilock Brake System (ABS)
allows steering while braking.
Off-Road Recovery
The vehicle's right wheels can drop off
the edge of a road onto the shoulder
while driving. Follow these tips:

Cadillac ATS/ATS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12460272) - 2019 - crc - 5/8/18
DRIVING AND OPERATING 173
1. Ease off the accelerator and then,if there is nothing in the way,
steer the vehicle so that it
straddles the edge of the
pavement.
2. Turn the steering wheel about one-eighth of a turn, until the
right front tire contacts the
pavement edge.
3. Turn the steering wheel to go straight down the roadway.
Loss of Control
Skidding
There are three types of skids that
correspond to the vehicle's three
control systems:
.Braking Skid —wheels are not
rolling.
. Steering or Cornering Skid —too
much speed or steering in a curve
causes tires to slip and lose
cornering force.
. Acceleration Skid —too much
throttle causes the driving wheels
to spin. Defensive drivers avoid most skids by
taking reasonable care suited to
existing conditions, and by not
overdriving those conditions. But
skids are always possible.
If the vehicle starts to slide, follow
these suggestions:
.
Ease your foot off the accelerator
pedal and steer the way you want
the vehicle to go. The vehicle may
straighten out. Be ready for a
second skid if it occurs.
. Slow down and adjust your driving
according to weather conditions.
Stopping distance can be longer
and vehicle control can be affected
when traction is reduced by water,
snow, ice, gravel, or other material
on the road. Learn to recognize
warning clues —such as enough
water, ice, or packed snow on the
road to make a mirrored surface
— and slow down when you have
any doubt.
. Try to avoid sudden steering,
acceleration, or braking, including
reducing vehicle speed by shifting 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
{Danger
High-performance features are
intended for use only on closed
tracks by experienced and qualified
drivers and should not be used on
public roads. High-speed driving,
aggressive cornering, hard braking,
and other high-performance driving
can be dangerous. Improper driver
inputs for the conditions may result
in loss of control of the vehicle,
which could injure or kill you or
others. Always drive safely.
Competitive driving may affect the
vehicle warranty. See the warranty
manual before using the vehicle for
competitive driving.

Cadillac ATS/ATS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12460272) - 2019 - crc - 5/8/18
174 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Caution
Low oil levels can damage the
engine. If using the vehicle for
competitive driving, the engine may
use more oil than it would with
normal use. Check the oil level
often during competitive driving.
Competitive Driving Mode can be
selected. See Driver Mode Control
0 205.
2.0L L4 Turbo Engine (LTG) Only:
. Use a 600 W fan in addition to the
production option V03.
3.6L V6 Non-Turbo (LGX)
Engine Only:
. 3.6L V6 Non-Turbo Engine (LGX)
with Oil Cooler: Confirm the oil
level is at the upper mark that
shows the proper operating range
on the engine oil dipstick.
. 3.6L V6 Non-Turbo Engine (LGX)
without Oil Cooler: Do not use for
track events and competitive
driving. 3.6L V6 Twin Turbo Engine
(LF4) Only:
.
The 3.6L V6 twin turbo engine
(LF4) comes standard with a 7 qt
sump, integrated oil cooler, and
other powertrain and powertrain
cooling components in preparation
for track use.
Fuel
Use premium unleaded gasoline with
a posted octane rating of 93 at a track
event. Unleaded gasoline with a
posted octane rating of 91 may be
used, but performance will be
degraded.
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.
Manual Transmission Fluid
Manual transmission fluid should be
changed after every 15 hours of track
usage.
Brake Fluid
.Before racing, replace existing
brake fluid with a qualified racing
brake fluid from a sealed
container. Brake fluid with a dry
boiling point >279 °C (534 °F) is
qualified. If racing brake fluid is
used, replace it with GM approved
brake fluid before driving on
public roads. See Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants 0337.
. Do not use silicone-based fluids.
If racing brake fluid is in the vehicle
and the age of the brake fluid is over a
month old or unknown, replace the
brake fluid between racing/closed
track driving.

Cadillac ATS/ATS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12460272) - 2019 - crc - 5/8/18
DRIVING AND OPERATING 175
Caution
Failure to change the brake fluid
and transfer case fluid after any
performance or race track driving
could result in damage not covered
by the vehicle warranty. Have the
brake fluid and transfer case fluid
changed by your dealer after any
performance or race track driving.
SeeRecommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0337.
Brake Burnishing
For vehicles equipped with front
Brembo brake systems:
Base Vehicles Only: Performance/
racing brake pads are required prior to
racing or closed track driving. Vehicles
with option code Y4Q have
performance brake pads.
New brake pads must be burnished
before racing or other competitive
driving.
Caution
Performing the brake burnish
procedure on a base brake system
can result in brake damage.
Caution
The new vehicle break-in period
should be completed before
performing the brake burnish
procedure, otherwise damage may
occur to the powertrain/engine. See
New Vehicle Break-In 0184.
Caution
Brake pedal fade will occur during
any track burnish procedure and
can cause brake pedal travel and
force to increase. This could extend
stopping distance until the brakes
are fully burnished. When this procedure is performed as
instructed, it will not damage the
brakes. The brake pads will smoke and
produce an odor. The braking force
and pedal travel may increase. After
the procedure, the brake pads may
appear white at the rotor contact.
Perform this procedure only on dry
pavement, in a safe manner, and in
compliance with all local and state
ordinances/laws regarding motor
vehicle operation.
Brake Burnish Procedure (V-Series
and Y4Q Only)
1. Apply the brakes 25 times starting at 100 km/h (60 mph) to
50 km/h (30 mph) while
decelerating at 0.4 g. This is a
medium brake application. Drive
for at least 1 km (0.6 mi)
between applying the brakes.
This first step may be skipped if
there are more than 320 km
(200 mi) on the brake pads.
2. Repeatedly apply the brakes from 100 km/h (60 mph) to 25 km/h
(15 mph) while decelerating at
0.8 g. This is a hard brake