
Cadillac CT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13060105) -
2020 - CRC - 2/14/20
108 INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS
If the light stays on, or comes on
while driving, there may be a problem
with the electrical charging system.
Have it checked by your dealer.
Driving while this light is on could
drain the battery.
When this light comes on, or is
flashing, the Driver Information
Center (DIC) also displays a message.
If a short distance must be driven
with the light on, be sure to turn off
all accessories, such as the radio and
air conditioner.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Check Engine Light)
This light is part of the vehicle’s
emission control on-board diagnostic
system. If this light is on while the
engine is running, a malfunction has
been detected and the vehicle may
require service. The light should come
on to show that it is working when
the ignition is in Service Mode. See
Ignition Positions0164.
Malfunctions are often indicated by
the system before any problem is
noticeable. Being aware of the light
and seeking service promptly when it
comes on may prevent damage.
Caution
If the vehicle is driven continually
with this light on, the emission
control system may not work as
well, the fuel economy may be
lower, and the vehicle may not run
smoothly. This could lead to costly
repairs that might not be covered
by the vehicle warranty.
Caution
Modifications to the engine,
transmission, exhaust, intake,
or fuel system, or the use of
replacement tires that do not meet
the original tire specifications, can
cause this light to come on. This
could lead to costly repairs not
covered by the vehicle warranty.
This could also affect the vehicle’s
ability to pass an Emissions
Inspection/Maintenance test. See
Accessories and Modifications 0240.
If the light is f lashing : A
malfunction has been detected that
could damage the emission control
system and increase vehicle
emissions. Diagnosis and service may
be required.
To help prevent damage, reduce
vehicle speed and avoid hard
accelerations and uphill grades.
If towing a trailer, reduce the amount
of cargo being hauled as soon as
possible.

Cadillac CT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13060105) -
2020 - CRC - 2/14/20
DRIVING AND OPERATING 149
Recommended Fuel (LSY 2.0L L4Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Recommended Fuel (LGY 3.0L V6 Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . . . . . 227
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Filling a Portable Fuel
Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Trailer Towing
General Towing Information . . . . 230
Driving Characteristics andTowing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . 236
Driving Information
Driving for Better Fuel
Economy
Driving habits can affect fuel mileage.
Here are some driving tips to get the
best fuel economy possible:
. Set the climate controls to the
desired temperature after the
engine is started, or turn them off
when not required.
. Avoid fast starts and accelerate
smoothly.
. Brake gradually and avoid abrupt
stops.
. Avoid idling the engine for long
periods of time.
. When road and weather
conditions are appropriate, use
cruise control.
. Always follow posted speed limits
or drive more slowly when
conditions require.
. Keep vehicle tires properly
inflated. .
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.

Cadillac CT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13060105) -
2020 - CRC - 2/14/20
DRIVING AND OPERATING 161
never exceed XXX kg or
XXX lbs." on your vehicle’s
placard.
2.Determine the combined
weight of the driver and
passengers that will be riding
in your vehicle.
3.Subtract the combined weight
of the driver and passengers
from XXX kg or XXX lbs.
4.The resulting figure equals
the available amount of cargo
and luggage load capacity. For
example, if the "XXX" amount
equals 1400 lbs. and there
will be five 150 lb passengers
in your vehicle, the amount
of available cargo and luggage
load capacity is 650 lbs.
(1400-750 (5 x 150) =
650 lbs.)
5.Determine the combined
weight of luggage and cargo
being loaded on the vehicle.
That weight may not safely
exceed the available cargo
and luggage load capacity
calculated in Step 4.
6.If your vehicle will be towing
a trailer, load from your
trailer will be transferred to
your vehicle. Consult this
manual to determine how
this reduces the available
cargo and luggage load
capacity of your vehicle.”
See Trailer Towing 0234 for
important information on towing
a trailer, towing safety rules, and
trailering tips.
Example 1
1.Vehicle Capacity Weight
for Example 1 = 453 kg
(1,000 lbs).
2.Subtract Occupant Weight
@ 68 kg (150 lbs) × 2 =
136 kg (300 lbs).
3.Available Occupant and
Cargo Weight = 317 kg
(700 lbs).

Cadillac CT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13060105) -
2020 - CRC - 2/14/20
170 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Warning (Continued)
the parking brake and shift
to P (Park). SeeShifting Into Park
0 169. If you are towing a trailer,
see Driving Characteristics and
Towing Tips 0230.
If you have to leave the vehicle with
the engine running, be sure the
vehicle is in P (Park) and the parking
brake is set before you leave it.
If you are towing a trailer and parking
on a hill, see Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips 0230.
Shifting out of Park
This vehicle is equipped with an
electronic transmission. The shift lock
release button is designed to prevent
inadvertent shifting out of P (Park)
unless the ignition is on, the brake
pedal is applied, and the shift lock
release button is pressed. The shift lock control is always
functional except in the case of an
uncharged or low voltage (less than
9-volt) battery.
If the vehicle has an uncharged
battery or a battery with low voltage,
try charging or jump starting the
battery. See
Jump Starting - North
America 0292.
To shift out of P (Park): 1. Ensure the engine is running.
2. Apply the brake pedal.
3. Press the shift lock release button.
4. Move the shift lever to the desired position.
5. The P indicator will turn white and the gear indicator on the
shift lever will turn red when the
vehicle is no longer in P (Park).
6. After releasing the shift lever, it will return to the center position.
If the vehicle cannot be shifted from
P (Park), a Driver Information Center
(DIC) message, such as CONDITIONS
NOT CORRECT FOR SHIFT, will be displayed. Ensure the ignition is on,
the engine is running, and the brake
pedal is applied. If the vehicle still will
not shift out of P (Park), see your
dealer for service.
Manual Park Release
{Warning
The transmission will be placed in
N (Neutral) when the manual park
release is pulled. The vehicle can
roll and you or others could be
injured. Ensure the vehicle is on
level ground.
Caution
The manual park release is not
intended to be used for towing.
Damage may result from using the
manual park release in this way.
The repairs would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty.

Cadillac CT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13060105) -
2020 - CRC - 2/14/20
DRIVING AND OPERATING 173
Warning (Continued)
.There are holes or openings
in the vehicle body from
damage or aftermarket
modifications that are not
completely sealed.
If unusual fumes are detected or if
it is suspected that exhaust is
coming into the vehicle: . Drive it only with the
windows completely down.
. Have the vehicle repaired
immediately.
Never park the vehicle with the
engine running in an enclosed area
such as a garage or a building that
has no fresh air ventilation.
Running the Vehicle While
Parked
The vehicle should not be left running
while parked.
If the vehicle is left with the engine
running, follow the proper steps to be
sure the vehicle will not move. See
Shifting Into Park 0169 and
Engine Exhaust 0172.
If parking on a hill and pulling a
trailer, see Driving Characteristics and
Towing Tips 0230.
Automatic Transmission
The shift pattern is displayed in the
top of the shift lever. The selected
gear position will illuminate red on
the shift lever, while all others will be
displayed in white. If the shift is not
immediate, as in very cold conditions,
the indicator on the shift lever may
flash until it is fully engaged.
The shift lever always starts from a
center position, represented by an up/
down arrow on the shift pattern. After
releasing the shift lever, it will return
to the center position.

Cadillac CT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13060105) -
2020 - CRC - 2/14/20
182 DRIVING AND OPERATING
If you are towing a trailer and parking
on a hill, seeDriving Characteristics
and Towing Tips 0230.
Automatic EPB Release
The EPB will automatically release if
the vehicle is running, placed into
gear, and an attempt is made to drive
away. Avoid rapid acceleration when
the EPB is applied, to preserve parking
brake lining life.
Brake Assist
Brake Assist detects rapid brake pedal
applications due to emergency braking
situations and provides additional
braking to activate the Antilock Brake
System (ABS) if the brake pedal is not
pushed hard enough to activate ABS
normally. Minor noise, brake pedal
pulsation, and/or pedal movement
during this time may occur. Continue
to apply the brake pedal as the driving
situation dictates. Brake Assist
disengages when the brake pedal is
released.
Hill Start Assist (HSA)
{Warning
Do not rely on the HSA feature.
HSA does not replace the need to
pay attention and drive safely. You
may not hear or feel alerts or
warnings provided by this system.
Failure to use proper care when
driving may result in injury, death,
or vehicle damage. See Defensive
Driving 0150.
When the vehicle is stopped on a
grade, Hill Start Assist (HSA)
temporarily prevents the vehicle from
rolling in an unintended direction
during the transition from brake pedal
release to accelerator pedal apply. The
brakes release when the accelerator
pedal is applied or automatically
release after a few seconds. The brakes
may also release under other
conditions. Do not rely on HSA to
hold the vehicle. HSA is available when the vehicle is
facing uphill in a forward gear,
or when facing downhill in
R (Reverse). The vehicle must come to
a complete stop on a grade for HSA to
activate.
Automatic Vehicle
Hold (AVH)
{Warning
Do not rely on this feature. It does
not replace the need to pay
attention and drive safely. You may
(Continued)

Cadillac CT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13060105) -
2020 - CRC - 2/14/20
DRIVING AND OPERATING 203
vehicles in different lanes, signs,
guardrails, and other stationary
objects when entering or exiting a
curve. This is normal operation. The
vehicle does not need service.
Other Vehicle Lane Changes
ACC will not detect a vehicle ahead
until it is completely in the lane. The
brakes may need to be manually
applied.
Objects Not Directly in Front of Your
Vehicle
The detection of objects in front of
the vehicle may not be possible if:
.The vehicle or object ahead is not
within your lane. .
The vehicle ahead is shifted, not
centered, or is shifted to one side
of the lane.
Driving in Narrow Lanes
Vehicles in adjacent traffic lanes or
roadside objects may be incorrectly
detected when located along the
roadway.
Do Not Use ACC on Hills and When
Towing a Trailer
Do not use ACC when driving on steep
hills or when towing a trailer. ACC will
not detect a vehicle in the lane while
driving on steep hills. If the brakes are
applied, ACC disengages. Disengaging ACC
There are three ways to
disengage ACC:
.
Step lightly on the brake pedal.
. Press
*.
. Press
J.
Erasing Speed Memory
The ACC set speed is erased from
memory if
Jis pressed or if the
ignition is turned off.
Cleaning the Sensing System
The camera sensor on the windshield
behind the rearview mirror and the
radar sensors on the front of the
vehicle can become blocked by snow,
ice, dirt, or mud. These areas need to
be cleaned for ACC to operate
properly.

Cadillac CT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13060105) -
2020 - CRC - 2/14/20
DRIVING AND OPERATING 211
{Warning
There may be instances where
unexpected or undesired automatic
braking occurs. If this happens,
either press the brake pedal or
firmly press the accelerator pedal to
release the brakes from the RAB
system. Before releasing the brakes,
check the RVC and check the area
around the vehicle to make sure it
is safe to proceed.
Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
If equipped, RCTA displays a red
warning triangle with a left or right
pointing arrow to warn of traffic
coming from the left or right. This
system detects objects coming from
up to 20 m (65 ft) from the left or
right side of the vehicle. When an
object is detected, either three beeps
sound from the left or right or three
Safety Alert Seat pulses occur on the
left or right side, depending on the
direction of the detected vehicle. Use caution while backing up when
towing a trailer, as the RCTA
detection zones that extend out from
the back of the vehicle do not move
further back when a trailer is towed.
See
Radio Frequency Statement 0334.
Turning the Features On or Off
TouchXon the center stack to turn
on or off the Front and Rear Park
Assist, Reverse Automatic Braking
(RAB), and the Backing Warning
System at the same time. The
indicator light next to the button
comes on when the features are on
and turns off when the features have
been disabled.
Turn off Park Assist, RCTA, and RAB
when towing a trailer.
To turn the RPA symbols or guidance
lines (on some models) on or off, see
“Rear Camera Park Assist Symbols”
under Vehicle Personalization 0124.
RCTA can also be turned on or off
through vehicle personalization. See
“Collision/Detection Systems” under
Vehicle Personalization 0124.
Automatic Parking Assist (APA)
with Braking
If equipped, APA searches for and
steers the vehicle into parallel and
perpendicular parking spots. When
using APA, you must still shift gears
while the system applies the brakes
and accelerator. A display and audible
beeps help to guide parking
maneuvers.
Do not use APA when towing a trailer.
{Warning
APA may not detect objects in the
parking space, objects that are soft
or narrow, objects high off the
ground such as flatbed trucks,
objects below ground level such as
large potholes, or moving objects
(e.g. pedestrians). Always verify that
the parking space is appropriate for
parking a vehicle. APA does not
respond to changes in the parking
space, such as movement of an
adjacent vehicle, or a person or
object entering the parking space.
(Continued)