2019 CADILLAC CTS warning

Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12460273) - 2019 - CRC - 5/8/18
156 LIGHTING
.Your vehicle's windshield is dirty,
cracked, or obstructed by
something that blocks the view of
the light sensor.
. Your vehicle is loaded such that
the front end points upward,
causing the light sensor to aim
high and not detect headlamps
and taillamps.
. Driving on winding or hilly roads.
The automatic high-beam headlamps
may need to be disabled if any of the
above conditions exist.
Exterior Lamps Off
Reminder
A warning chime will sound if the
exterior lamp control is left on in
either the headlamp or parking lamp
position and the driver door is opened
with the ignition off.
Headlamp High/Low-Beam
Changer
Push the turn signal lever away from
you and release, to turn the high
beams on. To return to low beams,
push the lever again or pull it toward
you and release.
This indicator light turns on in the
instrument cluster when the
high-beam headlamps are on.
Flash-to-Pass
This feature allows the high-beam
headlamps to be used to signal the
driver in front of you that you want
to pass.
Pull and hold the turn signal lever
toward you to use this feature. When
this is done the following will occur: .
If the headlamps are off or in
low-beam mode, the high-beam
headlamps will turn on. They will
stay on as long as the lever is held
there. Release the lever to turn
them off.
. If the headlamps are in high-beam
mode, they will go to low beam.
Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL)
DRL can make it easier for others to
see the front of your vehicle during
the day. Fully functional DRL are
required on all vehicles first sold in
Canada.
The dedicated DRL will come on when
all of the following conditions are met:
.The ignition is on.
. The exterior lamp control is
in AUTO.
. The light sensor determines it is
daytime.
. The vehicle is not parked.
The taillamps, instrument panel
lights, and other lamps will not be on.

Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12460273) - 2019 - CRC - 5/8/18
158 LIGHTING
starting the vehicle; driving a short
distance is required to calibrate the
AFL. SeeExterior Lamp Controls 0154.
Hazard Warning Flashers
|:Press and hold this button for
one second to make the front and rear
turn signal lamps flash on and off.
Release the button for at least
one second and press again to turn
the flashers off.
The hazard warning flashers turn on
automatically if the airbags deploy.
Turn and Lane-Change
Signals
Move the lever all the way up or down
to signal a turn.
An arrow on the instrument cluster
flashes in the direction of the turn or
lane change. Raise or lower the lever until the
arrow starts to flash to signal a lane
change. Hold it there until the lane
change is completed. If the lever is
briefly pressed and released, the turn
signal flashes three times.
The turn and lane-change signal can
be turned off manually by moving the
lever back to its original position.
If after signaling a turn or lane
change, the arrow flashes rapidly or
does not come on, a signal bulb might
be burned out.
Replace any burned out bulbs. If a
bulb is not burned out, check the fuse.
See
Fuses and Circuit Breakers 0291.

Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12460273) - 2019 - CRC - 5/16/18
DRIVING AND OPERATING 177
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Track Events and CompetitiveDriving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . 186
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Composite Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Stop/Start System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197 Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . 201
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Brakes
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . 205
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/ElectronicStability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Competitive Driving Mode (V-Sport Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212 Limited-Slip Differential . . . . . . . . . 215
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Adaptive Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . 218
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . . . 226
Assistance Systems for Parking
or Backing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Forward Automatic Braking (FAB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . 238
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . . . . 238
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . . . . . 240
Vehicle-to-Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Recommended Fuel (LGX 3.6L V6 Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Recommended Fuel (LTG 2.0L L4 Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245

Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12460273) - 2019 - CRC - 5/16/18
178 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Recommended Fuel (LF3 3.6L V6Twin Turbo and LT4 6.2L
V8 Engines) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . . . . . 246
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Trailer Towing
General Towing Information . . . . 248
Driving Characteristics andTowing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Trailer Towing (V6 Engine, Non Twin Turbo) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Trailer Towing (V6 Twin
Turbo) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Towing Equipment (V6 Engine, Non Twin Turbo) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Towing Equipment (V6 Twin Turbo) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . 255
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 CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12460273) - 2019 - CRC - 5/16/18
DRIVING AND OPERATING 179
Refer to the infotainment section 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 Belts068.
. 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 CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12460273) - 2019 - CRC - 5/16/18
DRIVING AND OPERATING 181
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.
Track events and competitive driving
may affect the vehicle warranty. See
the warranty manual before using the
vehicle for competitive driving.

Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12460273) - 2019 - CRC - 5/16/18
DRIVING AND OPERATING 185
To maximize tire life, drive 805 km
(500 mi) prior to race track driving or
complete the minimum track running
that will increase the tire pressures by
35 kPa (5 psi). After this, immediately
let the tires cool to cold pressures.
Tire Inflation Pressure
Guidelines
Tire inflation pressures affect vehicle
handling and tire life, and should be
adjusted for various types of tracks/
courses.
Inspect the tires prior to every track/
course session. Track/course driving
will reduce the tire tread life.
Driving and Operating
{Warning
Operating the vehicle at high speeds
can be dangerous. Improper tire
inflation pressure can put
additional strain on the tires and
can cause a sudden failure. Make
sure the tires are in excellent(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
condition, and use the correct cold
tire inflation pressure for the
vehicle load and track/course.
{Warning
Tracks/courses put high loads on
tires operating at high speed, which
can lead to tire failure if not
inflated properly. Always limit
vehicle cargo to the driver plus one
passenger with no additional cargo.
{Warning
Track/course loads wear tires both
on the tread and internal to the
tire. When driven in track/course
conditions, even if tread is not worn
down to the treadwear indicator,
tires must be replaced after the
equivalent of two tanks of fuel or
approximately 160 km (100 mi). Tire Inflation Pressure for Tracks
with Sustained High-Speed
Operation on Banked Turns
(e.g., Daytona International Speedway,
Indianapolis Motor Speedway,
or similar)
Inflate tires to a minimum of 300 kPa
(44 psi) when cold.
Do not reduce tire inflation pressure
when hot.
Tire Inflation Pressure for Tracks
with Combined High-Speed and
High-Load Corners
(e.g., Nurburgring Nordschliefe, Spa
Francorchamps, or similar)
Inflate tires to a minimum of 260 kPa
(38 psi) when cold.
Limit vehicle speed to below 230 km/h
(143 mph) until 290 kPa (42 psi) is
reached.
For continuous track use, hot tire
inflation pressure may be adjusted to
a minimum of 290 kPa (42 psi).

Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12460273) - 2019 - CRC - 5/16/18
186 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Tire Inflation Pressure for Road/
Street Courses
(e.g., Virginia International Raceway,
Road Atlanta, or similar)
Inflate tires to a minimum of 240 kPa
(35 psi) cold.
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 0189 and Tire
Pressure 0307.
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.
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 Tires0300.
. 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.