Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13183937) -
2020 - crc - 4/28/20
DRIVING AND OPERATING 141
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Driving for Better FuelEconomy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Track Events and Competitive Driving (V-Series Only) . . . . . . . . . 146
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . 151
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Composite Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Stop/Start System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161 Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Shifting Into Park (Electronic Shifter) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Shifting Into Park (Mechanical Shifter) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Shifting out of Park (Mechanical Shifter) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Shifting out of Park (Electronic Shifter) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Active Fuel Management . . . . . . . . 167
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission(Mechanical Shifter) . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Automatic Transmission (Electronic shifter) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Manual Mode (Mechanical Shifter) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Manual Mode (Electronic
Shifter) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Brakes
Electric Brake Boost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . 179
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Automatic VehicleHold (AVH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/ElectronicStability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Competitive Driving Mode . . . . . . . 189
Limited-Slip Differential . . . . . . . . . 191
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Adaptive Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . 194
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . . . 203
Assistance Systems for Parking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Rear Pedestrian Alert . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13183937) -
2020 - crc - 4/28/20
DRIVING AND OPERATING 143
.Combine several trips into a
single trip.
. Replace the vehicle's tires with the
same TPC Spec number molded
into the tire's sidewall near
the size.
. Follow recommended scheduled
maintenance.
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.
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 Belts044.
. Assume that other road users
(pedestrians, bicyclists, and other
drivers) are going to be careless
and make mistakes. Anticipate
what they may do and be ready.
. Allow enough following distance
between you and the driver in
front of you.
. Focus on the task of driving.
Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13183937) -
2020 - crc - 4/28/20
DRIVING AND OPERATING 145
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.
If the steering assist is used for an
extended period of time while the
vehicle is not moving, power assist
may be reduced.
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.
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.
. The 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:
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.
Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13183937) -
2020 - crc - 4/28/20
146 DRIVING AND OPERATING
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
(V-Series Only)
{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 CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13183937) -
2020 - crc - 4/28/20
152 DRIVING AND OPERATING
{Warning
Using the brakes to slow the vehicle
on a long downhill slope can cause
brake overheating, can reduce brake
performance, and could result in a
loss of braking. Shift the
transmission to a lower gear to let
the engine assist the brakes on a
steep downhill slope.
{Warning
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral) or
with the ignition off is dangerous.
This can cause overheating of the
brakes and loss of steering assist.
Always have the engine running
and the vehicle in gear.
. Drive at speeds that keep the
vehicle in its own lane. Do not
swing wide or cross the
center line. .
Be alert on top of hills; something
could be in your lane (e.g., stalled
car, crash).
. Pay attention to special road signs
(e.g., falling rocks area, winding
roads, long grades, passing or
no-passing zones) and take
appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Snow or ice between the tires and the
road creates less traction or grip, so
drive carefully. Wet ice can occur at
about 0 °C (32 °F) when freezing rain
begins to fall. Avoid driving on wet ice
or in freezing rain until roads can be
treated.
For Slippery Road Driving:
.Accelerate gently. Accelerating too
quickly causes the wheels to spin
and makes the surface under the
tires slick.
. Turn on Traction Control. See
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control 0182. .
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
improves vehicle stability during
hard stops, but the brakes should
be applied sooner than when on
dry pavement. See Antilock Brake
System (ABS) 0179.
. Allow greater following distance
and watch for slippery spots. Icy
patches can occur on otherwise
clear roads in shaded areas. The
surface of a curve or an overpass
can remain icy when the
surrounding roads are clear. Avoid
sudden steering maneuvers and
braking while on ice.
. Turn off cruise control.
Blizzard Conditions
Stay with the vehicle unless there is
help nearby. If possible, use Roadside
Assistance. See Roadside Service 0325.
To get help and keep everyone in the
vehicle safe:
. Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
. Tie a red cloth to an outside
mirror.
Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13183937) -
2020 - crc - 4/28/20
DRIVING AND OPERATING 153
{Warning
Snow can trap engine exhaust
under the vehicle. This may cause
exhaust gases to get inside. Engine
exhaust contains carbon monoxide
(CO), which cannot be seen or
smelled. It can cause
unconsciousness and even death.
If the vehicle is stuck in snow:. Clear snow from the base of
the vehicle, especially any
blocking the exhaust pipe.
. Open a window about 5 cm
(2 in) on the vehicle side that
is away from the wind, to
bring in fresh air.
. Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
. Adjust the climate control
system to circulate the air
inside the vehicle and set the
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
fan speed to the highest
setting. See“Climate Control
Systems.”
For more information about CO, see
Engine Exhaust 0168.
To save fuel, run the engine for short
periods to warm the vehicle and then
shut the engine off and partially close
the window. Moving about to keep
warm also helps.
If it takes time for help to arrive,
when running the engine, push the
accelerator pedal slightly so the
engine runs faster than the idle speed.
This keeps the battery charged to
restart the vehicle and to signal for
help with the headlamps. Do this as
little as possible, to save fuel.
If the Vehicle Is Stuck
Slowly and cautiously spin the wheels
to free the vehicle when stuck in sand,
mud, ice, or snow. If stuck too severely for the traction
system to free the vehicle, turn the
traction system off and use the
rocking method. See
Traction Control/
Electronic Stability Control 0182.
{Warning
If the vehicle's tires spin at high
speed, they can explode, and you or
others could be injured. The vehicle
can overheat, causing an engine
compartment fire or other damage.
Spin the wheels as little as possible
and avoid going above 56 km/h
(35 mph).
Rocking the Vehicle to Get it Out
Turn the steering wheel left and right
to clear the area around the front
wheels. Turn off any traction system.
Shift back and forth between
R (Reverse) and a low forward gear,
spinning the wheels as little as
possible. To prevent transmission
wear, wait until the wheels stop
spinning before shifting gears. Release
the accelerator pedal while shifting,
and press lightly on the accelerator
Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13183937) -
2020 - crc - 4/28/20
DRIVING AND OPERATING 159
A sound may be heard as the lock
actuates or releases. The steering
column lock may not release with the
wheels turned off center. If this
happens, the vehicle may not start.
Move the steering wheel from left to
right while attempting to start the
vehicle. If this does not work, the
vehicle needs service.
Do not turn the engine off when the
vehicle is moving. This will cause a
loss of power assist in the brake and
steering systems and disable the
airbags.
If the vehicle must be shut off in an
emergency:1. Brake using a firm and steady pressure. Do not pump the
brakes repeatedly. This may
deplete power assist, requiring
increased brake pedal force.
2. Shift the vehicle to N (Neutral). This can be done while the
vehicle is moving. After shifting
to N (Neutral), firmly apply the
brakes and steer the vehicle to a
safe location. 3. Come to a complete stop, shift to
P (Park), and turn the ignition to
OFF. On vehicles with an
automatic transmission, the shift
lever must be in P (Park) to turn
the ignition switch to the OFF
position.
4. Set the parking brake. See Electric Parking Brake 0179.
{Warning
Turning off the vehicle while
moving may cause loss of power
assist in the brake and steering
systems and disable the airbags.
While driving, only shut the vehicle
off in an emergency.
If the vehicle cannot be pulled over,
and must be shut off while driving,
press and hold the ENGINE START/
STOP button for longer than
two seconds, or press twice in
five seconds. ACC/ACCESSORY (Amber Indicator
Light) :
This mode allows you to use
some electrical accessories when the
engine is off.
With the ignition off, pressing the
button one time without the brake
pedal applied will place the ignition
system in ACC/ACCESSORY.
The ignition will switch from ACC/
ACCESSORY to OFF after five minutes
to prevent battery rundown.
ON/RUN/START (Green Indicator
Light) : This mode is for driving and
starting. With the ignition off, and the
brake pedal applied, pressing the
button once will place the ignition
system in ON/RUN/START. Once
engine cranking begins, release the
button. Engine cranking will continue
until the engine starts. See Starting the
Engine 0160. The vehicle will then
remain on.
Service Mode
This power mode is available for
service and diagnostics, and to verify
the proper operation of the
malfunction indicator lamp as may be
required for emission inspection
Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13183937) -
2020 - crc - 4/28/20
176 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Caution
Spinning the tires or holding the
vehicle in one place on a hill using
only the accelerator pedal may
damage the transmission. The
repair will not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. If the vehicle is
stuck, do not spin the tires. When
stopping on a hill, use the brakes to
hold the vehicle in place.
Engine speeds may be increased while
driving at highway speeds while the
engine is still warming up.
Manual Mode (Mechanical
Shifter)
Tap Shift Caution
Driving with the engine at a high
rpm without upshifting while using
Tap Shift, could damage the vehicle.
Always upshift when necessary
while using Tap Shift.
Vehicles with Tap Shift have controls
on the back of the steering wheel to
manually shift the automatic
transmission.
To enter Permanent Tap Shift Mode: 1. Move the shift lever from D (Drive) to M (Manual Mode).
While in Tap Shift Mode, the M
on the instrument cluster will
become highlighted, and the
current gear is indicated.
2. Tap the left control to downshift, and the right control to upshift.
To shift to the lowest available
gear, press and hold the left
control.
3. To exit, move the shift lever back to D (Drive).
With the shift lever in D (Drive) and
not in Permanent Tap Shift Mode, the
tap shift controls will activate a
temporary tap manual shift mode,
allowing the transmission to be
manually shifted. Automatic shifts
return after no manual shifts have
been done for seven to 10 seconds.