Cadillac ATS/ATS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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242 VEHICLE CARE
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Manual Transmission Fluid . . . . . 255
Hydraulic Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . 256
Cooling System (Engine) . . . . . . . . . 257
Cooling System (Intercooler) . . . . 262
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264 Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Battery - North America . . . . . . . . . 266
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . 269
Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . 270
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Back-Up Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . 273
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . 274
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . 277 Rear Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Run-Flat Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Tire Pressure for High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . 291
Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . 299
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
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1. Windshield Washer FluidReservoir. See Washer Fluid
0 263.
2. Remote Positive (+) Battery Terminal. See Jump Starting -
North America 0312.
3. Remote Negative (-) Battery Terminal. See Jump Starting -
North America 0312.
4. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap.
See Cooling System (Engine) 0257
or Cooling System (Intercooler)
0 262.
5. Engine Compartment Fuse Block
0274.
6. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View).
See Cooling System (Engine) 0257
or Cooling System (Intercooler)
0 262.
7. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil
0 251.
8. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine
Oil 0251. 9. Brake/Clutch Fluid Reservoir.
See Brake Fluid 0265 and
Hydraulic Clutch 0255.
10. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0256.
Engine Oil
To ensure proper engine performance
and long life, careful attention must
be paid to engine oil. Following these
simple, but important steps will help
protect your investment:
.
Use engine oil approved to the
proper specification and of the
proper viscosity grade. See
“Selecting the Right Engine Oil” in
this section.
. Check the engine oil level regularly
and maintain the proper oil level.
See “Checking Engine Oil” and
“When to Add Engine Oil” in this
section.
. Change the engine oil at the
appropriate time. See Engine Oil
Life System 0253.
. Always dispose of engine oil
properly. See “What to Do with
Used Oil” in this section.
Checking Engine Oil
Check the engine oil level regularly,
every 650 km (400 mi), especially prior
to a long trip. The engine oil dipstick
handle is a loop. See Engine
Compartment Overview 0246 for the
location.
{Warning
The engine oil dipstick handle may
be hot; it could burn you. Use a
towel or glove to touch the dipstick
handle.
If a low oil Driver Information Center
(DIC) message displays, check the oil
level.
Follow these guidelines:
. To get an accurate reading, park
the vehicle on level ground. Check
the engine oil level after the
engine has been off for at least
two hours. Checking the engine oil
level on steep grades or too soon
after engine shutoff can result in
incorrect readings. Accuracy
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improves when checking a cold
engine prior to starting. Remove
the dipstick and check the level.
. If unable to wait two hours, the
engine must be off for at least
15 minutes if the engine is warm,
or at least 30 minutes if the
engine is not warm. Pull out the
dipstick, wipe it with a clean paper
towel or cloth, then push it back
in all the way. Remove it again,
keeping the tip down, and check
the level.
When to Add Engine Oil
2.0L L4 Engine (LTG)
3.6L V6 Engine (LGX)
3.6L V6 Twin Turbo Engine (LF4)
If the oil is below the cross-hatched
area at the tip of the dipstick and the
engine has been off for at least
15 minutes, add 1 L (1 qt) of the
recommended oil and then recheck
the level. See “Selecting the Right
Engine Oil” later in this section for an
explanation of what kind of oil to use.
For engine oil crankcase capacity, see
Capacities and Specifications 0342.
Caution
Do not add too much oil. Oil levels
above or below the acceptable
operating range shown on the
dipstick are harmful to the engine.
If the oil level is above the
operating range (i.e., the engine has
so much oil that the oil level gets
above the cross-hatched area that
shows the proper operating range),
the engine could be damaged. Drain
the excess oil or limit driving of the
vehicle, and seek a service
professional to remove the
excess oil.
See Engine Compartment Overview
0 246 for the location of the engine oil
fill cap.
Add enough oil to put the level
somewhere in the proper operating
range. Push the dipstick all the way
back in when through.
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engine revolutions, engine
temperature, and miles driven. Based
on driving conditions, the mileage at
which an oil change is indicated can
vary considerably. For the oil life
system to work properly, the system
must be reset every time the oil is
changed.
When the system has calculated that
oil life has been diminished, it
indicates that an oil change is
necessary. A CHANGE ENGINE OIL
SOON message comes on. Change the
oil as soon as possible within the next
1 000 km (600 mi). It is possible that,
if driving under the best conditions,
the oil life system might indicate that
an oil change is not necessary for up
to a year. The engine oil and filter
must be changed at least once a year
and at this time the system must be
reset. Your dealer has trained service
people who will perform this work and
reset the system. It is also important
to check the oil regularly over the
course of an oil drain interval and
keep it at the proper level.If the system is ever reset accidentally,
the oil must be changed at 5 000 km
(3,000 mi) since the last oil change.
Remember to reset the oil life system
whenever the oil is changed.
How to Reset the Engine Oil Life
System
Reset the system whenever the engine
oil is changed so that the system can
calculate the next engine oil change.
To reset the system:
1. Using the DIC controls on the right side of the steering wheel,
display REMAINING OIL LIFE on
the DIC. See Driver Information
Center (DIC) 0128. When
remaining oil life is low, the
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message will appear on the
display.
2. Press SEL on the DIC controls and hold SEL down for a few
seconds to clear the CHANGE
ENGINE OIL SOON message and
reset the oil life at 100%. Be careful not to reset the oil life
display accidentally at any time
other than after the oil is
changed. It cannot be reset
accurately until the next oil
change.
The oil life system can also be reset as
follows: 1. Display REMAINING OIL LIFE on the DIC. See Driver Information
Center (DIC) 0128.
2. Fully press and release the accelerator pedal three times
within five seconds.
If the CHANGE ENGINE OIL
SOON message is not on, the
system is reset.
The system is reset when the
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON message
is off.
If the CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message comes back on when the
vehicle is started, the engine oil life
system has not been reset. Repeat the
procedure.
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Automatic Transmission
Fluid
How to Check Automatic
Transmission Fluid
It is not necessary to check the
transmission fluid level.
A transmission fluid leak is the only
reason for fluid loss. If a leak occurs,
take the vehicle to your dealer and
have it repaired as soon as possible.
The vehicle is not equipped with a
transmission fluid level dipstick.
There is a special procedure for
checking and changing the
transmission fluid. Because this
procedure is difficult, this should be
done at the dealer. Contact your dealer
for additional information.
Caution
Use of the incorrect automatic
transmission fluid may damage the
vehicle, and the damage may not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Always use the correct automatic(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
transmission fluid. See
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
0337.
Change the fluid and filter at the
intervals listed in Maintenance
Schedule 0327, and be sure to use the
fluid listed in Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0337.
Manual Transmission Fluid
How to Check Manual
Transmission Fluid
It is not necessary to check the
manual transmission fluid level.
A transmission fluid leak is the only
reason for fluid loss. If a leak occurs,
take the vehicle to your dealer and
have it repaired as soon as possible.
See Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0337 for the proper fluid
to use.
Hydraulic Clutch
For vehicles with a manual
transmission, it is not necessary to
regularly check brake/clutch fluid
unless there is a leak suspected.
Adding fluid will not correct a leak.
A fluid loss in this system could
indicate a problem. Have the system
inspected and repaired.
When to Check and What to Use
The brake/hydraulic clutch fluid
reservoir cap has either a symbol or
text specifying the type of brake fluid.
The common brake/clutch fluid
reservoir is filled with GM approved
DOT 3 brake fluid as indicated on the
reservoir cap. See Engine Compartment
Overview 0246 for reservoir location.
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How to Check and Add Fluid
Visually check the brake/clutch fluid
reservoir to make sure the fluid level
is at the MIN (minimum) line on the
side of the reservoir. The brake/
hydraulic clutch fluid system should
be closed and sealed.
Do not remove the cap to check the
fluid level or to top off the fluid level.
Remove the cap only when necessary
to add the proper fluid until the level
reaches the MIN line.
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
The engine air cleaner/filter is in the
engine compartment on the driver
side of the vehicle. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview 0246 for
location.
When to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
For intervals on changing and
inspecting the engine air cleaner/filter,
see Maintenance Schedule 0327.
How to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
Do not start the engine or have the
engine running with the engine air
cleaner/filter housing open. Before
removing the engine air cleaner/filter,
make sure that the engine air cleaner/
filter housing and nearby components
are free of dirt and debris. Remove the
engine air cleaner/filter. Lightly tap
and shake the engine air cleaner/filter
(away from the vehicle), to release
loose dust and dirt. Inspect the engine
air cleaner/filter for damage, and
replace if damaged. Do not clean the
engine air cleaner/filter or
components with water or
compressed air. To inspect or replace the air cleaner/
filter:
2.0L L4 Engine (LTG) Shown, 3.6L
V6 Engine (LGX) Similar
1. Remove the four screws and lift the cover out of the assembly.
2. Inspect or replace the engine air cleaner/filter.
3. Lower the cover and secure with the four screws.
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3.6L V6 Engine (LGX)
1. Engine Coolant Surge Tankand Pressure Cap
2. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View)
3.6L V6 Engine (LF4)
1. Engine Coolant Surge Tank
and Pressure Cap
2. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View)
{Warning
An underhood electric fan can start
up even when the engine is not
running and can cause injury. Keep
hands, clothing, and tools away
from any underhood electric fan.
{Warning
Do not touch heater or radiator
hoses, or other engine parts. They
can be very hot and can burn you.
Do not run the engine if there is a
leak; all coolant could leak out.
That could cause an engine fire and
can burn you. Fix any leak before
driving the vehicle.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in the vehicle is
filled with DEX-COOL engine coolant.
See Maintenance Schedule 0327 and
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
0 337.
The following explains the cooling
system and how to check and add
coolant when it is low. If there is a
problem with engine overheating, see
Engine Overheating 0262.
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What to Use
{Warning
Do not touch heater or radiator
hoses, or other engine parts. They
can be very hot and can burn you.
Do not run the engine if there is a
leak; all coolant could leak out.
That could cause an engine fire and
can burn you. Fix any leak before
driving the vehicle.
Use a 50/50 mixture of clean
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
coolant. This mixture:
. Gives freezing protection down to
−37 °C (−34 °F), outside
temperature.
. Gives boiling protection up to
129 °C (265 °F), engine
temperature.
. Protects against rust and
corrosion.
. Will not damage aluminum parts.
. Helps keep the proper engine
temperature.
Caution
Do not use anything other than a
mix of DEX-COOL coolant that
meets GM Standard GMW3420 and
clean, drinkable water. Anything
else can cause damage to the
engine cooling system and the
vehicle, which would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty.
Never dispose of engine coolant by
putting it in the trash, pouring it on
the ground, or into sewers, streams,
or bodies of water. Have the coolant
changed by an authorized service
center, familiar with legal
requirements regarding used coolant
disposal. This will help protect the
environment and your health.
Checking Coolant
The vehicle must be on a level surface
when checking the coolant level. It is normal to see coolant moving in
the upper coolant hose return line
when the engine is running. It is also
normal to see bubbles entering the
surge tank through the small hose.
Check to see if coolant is visible in the
coolant surge tank. If the coolant
inside the coolant surge tank is
boiling, do not do anything else until
it cools down.If coolant is visible but the coolant
level is not at or above the cold fill
line, add a 50/50 mixture of clean
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
coolant.