2020 CADILLAC CT6 engine

Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13566829) -
2020 - CRC - 6/14/19
DRIVING AND OPERATING 193
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.The transmission does not operate
when the vehicle is off.
If the vehicle is in ACC/ACCESSORY,
the transmission can be shifted into
P (Park).
If the vehicle is turned off while at a
relatively high vehicle speed, the
transmission will automatically shift
to N (Neutral). Once the vehicle is
stopped, P (Park) is automatically
selected.
P :
This position locks the drive
wheels. Use P (Park) when starting the
vehicle to ensure the vehicle does
not move.
{Warning
It is dangerous to get out of the
vehicle if the transmission is not in
P (Park) with the parking brake set.
The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the
engine is running. If the engine has
been left running, the vehicle can
move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure the
vehicle will not move, even when
on fairly level ground, always set
the parking brake and place the
transmission into P (Park). See
Shifting Into Park 0188 and
Electric Parking Brake 0200.

Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13566829) -
2020 - CRC - 6/14/19
194 DRIVING AND OPERATING
This vehicle is equipped with an
electronic controlled 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.
When the vehicle is stopped, press
ENGINE START/STOP to turn off the
vehicle. The transmission will shift to
P (Park) automatically, unless the
vehicle is in N (Neutral). See“Car
Wash Mode ”later in this section. The vehicle will not shift into P (Park)
if it is moving too fast. Stop the
vehicle and shift into P (Park).
To shift in and out of P (Park), see
Shifting Into Park
0188 and
Shifting out of Park 0189.
Service Shift Lever Message
If the message SERVICE SHIFTER SEE
OWNER’S MANUAL appears in the
Driver Information Center (DIC), the
shift lever needs service. Have the
vehicle serviced as soon as possible.
If the vehicle is automatically shifting
into P (Park), check to see if the
P (Park) button on top of the shift
lever is stuck. To operate the vehicle,
hold the shift lever in the desired gear,
R (Reverse) or D (Drive), until vehicle
speed exceeds 15 km/h (10 mph), then
release the shift lever.
R : Use this gear to back up.
If the vehicle is shifted from either
R (Reverse) to D (Drive), or D (Drive)
or M (Manual Mode) to R (Reverse)
while the speed is too high, the
vehicle will shift to N (Neutral).
Reduce the vehicle speed and try the
shift again. To shift into R (Reverse):
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Press and hold shift lock release button on the side of the shift
lever.
3. From the center position, move the shift lever forward through
the first detent to the end of
travel. R is illuminated in red.
4. After releasing the shift lever, it will return to the center position.
To shift out of R (Reverse):
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Shift to the desired gear.
3. After releasing the shift lever, it will return to the center position.
At low vehicle speeds, R (Reverse) can
be used to rock the vehicle back and
forth to get out of snow, ice, or sand
without damaging the transmission.
See If the Vehicle Is Stuck 0179.

Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13566829) -
2020 - CRC - 6/14/19
DRIVING AND OPERATING 195
N :In this position, the engine does
not connect with the wheels. To
restart the engine when the vehicle is
already moving, use N (Neutral) only.
{Warning
Shifting into a drive gear while the
engine is running at high speed is
dangerous. Unless your foot is
firmly on the brake pedal, the
vehicle could move very rapidly.
You could lose control and hit
people or objects. Do not shift into
a drive gear while the engine is
running at high speed.
Caution
Shifting out of P (Park) or
N (Neutral) with the engine running
at high speed may damage the
transmission. The repairs would not
be covered by the vehicle warranty.
Be sure the engine is not running at
high speed when shifting the
vehicle. The vehicle is not designed to stay in
N (Neutral) for more than
five minutes. It may automatically
shift into P (Park). N (Neutral) is not
intended for towing. If the vehicle
needs to be towed, see
Towing the
Vehicle 0346.
To shift into N (Neutral): 1. Move the shift lever forward to the first detent from the center
position.
If the vehicle is in P (Park), apply
the brake pedal and press the
shift lock release button while
moving the shift lever forward. N
will illuminate in red.
2. After releasing the shift lever, it will return to the center position.
To shift out of N (Neutral): 1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Shift to the desired gear. If shifting from N (Neutral) to
R (Reverse) the shift lock release
button will need to be pressed.
3. After releasing the shift lever, it will return to the center position.
Car Wash Mode
This vehicle includes a Car Wash
Mode that allows the vehicle to
remain in N (Neutral) for use in
automatic car washes.
Car Wash Mode (Engine Off –Driver
in Vehicle)
To place the vehicle in N (Neutral)
with the engine off and the vehicle
occupied:
1. Drive to the entrance of the car wash.
2. Apply the brake pedal.
3. Shift to N (Neutral).
4. Turn off the engine and release the brake pedal.
5. The indicator should continue to show N. If it does not, repeat
Steps 2–4.
6. The vehicle is now ready for the car wash.

Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13566829) -
2020 - CRC - 6/14/19
196 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Car Wash Mode (Engine Off–Driver
out of Vehicle)
Car Wash Mode (Engine Off –Driver
out of Vehicle) is not available for
vehicles with the 4.2L engine.
To place the vehicle in N (Neutral)
with the engine off and the vehicle
unoccupied:
1. Drive to the entrance of the car wash.
2. Apply the brake pedal.
3. Open the door.
4. Shift to N (Neutral).
5. Turn off the engine and release the brake pedal.
6. The indicator should continue to show N. If it does not, repeat
Steps 2–5.
7. Exit the vehicle and close the door. The vehicle is now ready
for the car wash.
8. The vehicle may automatically shift to P (Park) upon re-entry. Car Wash Mode (Engine On
–Driver
in Vehicle)
To place the vehicle in N (Neutral)
with the engine on and the vehicle
occupied:
1. Drive to the entrance of the car wash.
2. Apply the brake pedal.
3. Shift to N (Neutral).
4. Release the brake pedal. The vehicle is now ready for the
car wash.
Car Wash Mode (Engine On –Driver
out of Vehicle)
To place the vehicle in N (Neutral)
with the engine on and the vehicle
unoccupied:
1. Drive to the entrance of the car wash.
2. Apply the brake pedal.
3. Open the door.
4. Shift to N (Neutral), then release the brake pedal. 5. The indicator should continue to
show N. If it does not, repeat
Steps 2–4.
6. Exit the vehicle and close the door. The vehicle is now ready
for the car wash.
7. The vehicle may automatically shift to P (Park) upon re-entry.
Caution
A transmission hot message may
display if the automatic
transmission fluid is too hot.
Driving under this condition can
damage the vehicle. Stop and idle
the engine to cool the automatic
transmission fluid. This message
clears when the transmission fluid
has cooled sufficiently.
D : This position is for normal driving.
If more power is needed for passing,
press the accelerator pedal down.
A clicking noise or a detent may be
felt when pressing the accelerator
pedal all the way to the end of travel.
This is normal.

Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13566829) -
2020 - CRC - 6/14/19
DRIVING AND OPERATING 197
To shift into D (Drive):1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. From the center position, move the shift lever back.
.If the vehicle is in P (Park)
press the shift lock release
button while pulling the shift
lever back.
. D will illuminate in red.
. After releasing the shift lever,
it will return to the center
position.
To shift out of D (Drive): 1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Shift to the desired gear.
3. After releasing the shift lever, it will return to the center position.
Downshifting the transmission in
slippery road conditions could result
in skidding. See “Skidding”underLoss
of Control 0175. M :
This mode can be entered from
D (Drive) by pulling back on the shift
lever. The M in the shift pattern will
illuminate red, and the D will switch
to white. After releasing the shift
lever, it will return to the center
position. M (Manual Mode) allows
gears appropriate for current driving
conditions to be selected.
To exit M (Manual Mode) and return
to D (Drive), pull back on the shift
lever. The D in the shift pattern will
illuminate in red, and the M will
switch to white. See Manual Mode
0 197.
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.
Manual Mode
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.

Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13566829) -
2020 - CRC - 6/14/19
198 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Permanent Tap Shift Mode
To enter Permanent Tap Shift Mode:1. With the vehicle in D (Drive), pull back on the shift lever to
activate M (Manual Mode). The
M in the shift pattern will
illuminate in red, and the D will
switch to white.
2. After releasing the shift lever, it will return to the center position.
3. Press the controls on the back of the steering wheel to shift. Use
the left steering wheel control to
downshift, and the right control
to upshift. To shift to the lowest
available gear, press and hold the
left control.
To exit Permanent Tap Shift Mode: 1. To exit M (Manual Mode) and return to D (Drive), pull back on
the shift lever. The D in the shift
pattern will illuminate in red,
and the M will switch to white.
2. After releasing the shift lever, it will return to the center position. M (Manual Mode) can be exited to
return to D (Drive) at any speed by
pulling the lever rearward from the
center position. It is not necessary to
stop the vehicle or shift to N (Neutral)
or P (Park) before shifting back to
D (Drive).
Temporary Tap Manual Shift Mode
To enter Temporary Tap Shift Mode:
1. With the transmission 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.
2. To shift to the lowest available gear, press and hold the left
control.
3. To deactivate, hold the right control briefly. Automatic shifts
return after no manual shifts
have been done for seven to
10 seconds. While using Tap Shift, the vehicle will
have firmer, quicker shifting. This can
be used for sport driving or when
climbing or descending hills, to stay in
gear longer, or to downshift for more
power or engine braking.
The transmission will only allow
shifting into gears appropriate for the
vehicle speed and engine revolutions
per minute (rpm). If shifting is
prevented for any reason, a SHIFT
DENIED message will be displayed in
the instrument cluster. The
transmission will not automatically
shift to the next higher gear if the
engine rpm is too high. It will only
automatically shift to the next lower
gear if the engine rpm is much
too low.

Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13566829) -
2020 - CRC - 6/14/19
DRIVING AND OPERATING 199
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive
Vehicles with this feature always send
engine power to all four wheels. It is
fully automatic, and adjusts itself as
needed for road conditions.
Brakes
Electric Brake Boost
Vehicles equipped with electric brake
boost have hydraulic brake circuits
that are electronically controlled when
the brake pedal is applied during
normal operation. The system
performs routine tests and turns off
within a few minutes after the vehicle
is shutdown. Noise may be heard
during this time. If the brake pedal is
pressed during the tests or when the
electric brake boost system is off, a
noticeable change in pedal force and
travel may be felt. This is normal.
Antilock Brake
System (ABS)
The Antilock Brake System (ABS)
helps prevent a braking skid and
maintain steering while braking hard.
ABS performs a system check when
the vehicle is first driven.
A momentary motor or clicking noisemay be heard while this test is going
on, and the brake pedal may move
slightly. This is normal.
If there is a problem with ABS, this
warning light stays on. See
Antilock
Brake System (ABS) Warning Light
0 126.
ABS does not change the time needed
to get a foot on the brake pedal and
does not always decrease stopping
distance. If you get too close to the
vehicle ahead, there will not be
enough time to apply the brakes if
that vehicle suddenly slows or stops.
Always leave enough room ahead to
stop, even with ABS.

Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13566829) -
2020 - CRC - 6/14/19
200 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the
brake pedal down firmly and let ABS
work. You may hear the ABS pump or
motor operating and feel the brake
pedal pulsate. This is normal.
When ABS is active, it may be an
indication that road surfaces are
slippery. Braking sooner may be
required for driving conditions.
If equipped with electric brake boost,
the TCS/StabiliTrak/ESC light will
flash when ABS is active.
Braking in Emergencies
ABS allows steering and braking at the
same time. In many emergencies,
steering can help even more than
braking.
Electric Parking Brake
The vehicle has an Electric Parking
Brake (EPB). The EPB can always be
activated, even if the ignition is off. To
prevent draining the battery, avoid
repeated cycles of the EPB system
when the engine is not running.
The system has a
Yor PARK
Electric Parking Brake light, and a
8
Service Parking Brake light. See
Electric Parking Brake Light 0125 and
Service Electric Parking Brake Light
0 126. Before leaving the vehicle, check for
the
Yor PARK light to ensure that
the parking brake is applied.
EPB Apply
To apply the EPB:
1. Be sure the vehicle is at a complete stop.
2. Press the EPB switch momentarily.
The
Yor PARK light will flash and
then stay on once the EPB is fully
applied. If the
Yor PARK light
flashes continuously, then the EPB is
only partially applied or there is a
problem with the EPB. A DIC message
will display. Release the EPB and try
to apply it again. If the light does not
come on, or keeps flashing, have the
vehicle serviced. Do not drive the
vehicle if the
Yor PARK light is
flashing. See your dealer. See Electric
Parking Brake Light 0125.