2021 CADILLAC CT4 steering

Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14584335) -
2021 - CRC - 12/4/20
220 DRIVING AND OPERATING
{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 0220. 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
purposes. With the vehicle off, and the
brake pedal not applied, pressing and
holding the button for more than
five seconds will place the vehicle in
Service Mode. The instruments and
audio systems will operate as they do
in ON/RUN, but the vehicle will not be
able to be driven. The engine will not
start in Service Mode. Press the
button again to turn the vehicle off.
Starting the Engine
Place the transmission in the
proper gear
Caution
If you add electrical parts or
accessories, you could change the
way the engine operates. Any
resulting damage would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty. See
Add-On Electrical Equipment 0303.
Move the shift lever to P (Park) or
N (Neutral). To restart the vehicle
when it is already moving, use
N (Neutral) only.
Caution
Do not try to shift to P (Park) if the
vehicle is moving. If you do, you
could damage the transmission.
Shift to P (Park) only when the
vehicle is stopped.
Starting the Vehicle 1. Press the brake pedal, then press ENGINE START/STOP on the
instrument panel.

Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14584335) -
2021 - CRC - 12/4/20
234 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.
Manual Mode (Mechanical
Shifter)
Tap ShiftCaution
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. While in Temporary
Tap Shift Mode, the D on the
instrument cluster will be highlighted
and the current gear shown.
Automatic shifts return after no
manual shifts have been done for
seven to 10 seconds. The Temporary
Tap Shift Mode can also be
deactivated by holding the right
upshift control briefly.
While using Tap Shift, the vehicle will
have firmer, quicker shifting. You can
use this 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 you
to shift into gears appropriate for the
vehicle speed and engine revolutions
per minute (rpm). The transmission
will not automatically shift to the next

Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14584335) -
2021 - CRC - 12/4/20
DRIVING AND OPERATING 235
lower gear if the engine rpm is too
high, nor to the next higher gear when
the maximum engine rpm is reached.
If shifting is prevented for any reason,
a SHIFT DENIED message will be
displayed in the instrument cluster.
When accelerating the vehicle from a
stop in snowy and icy conditions, it is
suggested to shift into second gear.
A higher gear allows the vehicle to
gain more traction on slippery
surfaces.
Manual Mode (Electronic
Shifter)
Tap ShiftCaution
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.
If equipped, vehicles with Tap Shift
have controls on the back of the
steering wheel to manually shift the
automatic transmission.
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.
While in Permanent Tap Shift
Mode, the M on the instrument
cluster will be highlighted and the
current gear shown. 2. After releasing the shift lever, it
will return to the center position.
3. Pull the control toward you to shift. Pull the left control to
downshift, and the right control to
upshift. To shift to the lowest
available gear, pull 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) prior to shifting back to
D (Drive).

Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14584335) -
2021 - CRC - 12/4/20
236 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Temporary Tap 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 Shift
Mode, allowing the transmission to
be manually shifted. While in
Temporary Tap Shift Mode, the D
on the instrument cluster will be
highlighted and the current gear
shown.
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, the M or D
will flash 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.
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 turned off. Noise may be heardduring 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.
If there is a problem with ABS, this
warning light stays on. See
Antilock
Brake System (ABS) Warning Light
0 100.
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

Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14584335) -
2021 - CRC - 12/4/20
DRIVING AND OPERATING 237
that vehicle suddenly slows or stops.
Always leave enough room ahead to
stop, even with ABS.
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the
brake pedal down firmly. Hearing and
feeling ABS operate is normal.
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 Electric Parking Brake (EPB) can
always be applied, even if the vehicle
is off. In case of insufficient electrical
power, the EPB cannot be applied or
released. To prevent draining the
battery, avoid unnecessary repeated
cycles of the EPB.
The system has a red parking brake
status light and an amber service
parking brake warning light. See
Electric Parking Brake Light0100 and
Service Electric Parking Brake Light
0 100. There are also parking
brake-related Driver Information
Center (DIC) messages.
Before leaving the vehicle, check the
red parking brake status 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 red parking brake status light will
flash and then stay on once the EPB is
fully applied. If the red parking brake status 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 red parking
brake status light is flashing. See your
dealer.
If the amber service parking brake
warning light is on, press the EPB
switch. Continue to hold the switch
until the red parking brake status light
remains on. If the amber service
parking brake warning light is on, see
your dealer.
If the EPB is applied while the vehicle
is moving, the vehicle will decelerate
as long as the switch is pressed. If the
switch is pressed until the vehicle
comes to a stop, the EPB will remain
applied.
The vehicle may automatically apply
the EPB in some situations when the
vehicle is not moving. This is normal,
and is done to periodically check the

Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14584335) -
2021 - CRC - 12/4/20
242 DRIVING AND OPERATING
V-Mode Button
To activate V-Mode, press the V-Mode
button on the steering wheel. To
deactivate, select a different mode
using the DMC switch, or press the
V-Mode button on the steering wheel.
When V-Mode is deactivated by the
V-Mode button, DMC returns to
Tour Mode.
Mode Description
Tour Mode
Use for normal city and highway
driving to provide a smooth, soft ride.
This mode provides a balance between
comfort and handling. This is the
standard mode. See “Mode Selection Attributes”
later in this section. When
Tour Mode is selected, no indicator
will display.
Sport Mode
Use this mode where road conditions
or personal preference demand a more
controlled response. When this mode
is selected, the vehicle immediately
downshifts. The vehicle also monitors
driving behaviors and automatically
enables Performance Shift Features
when spirited driving is detected.
These features maintain lower
transmission gears to increase
available engine braking and improve
acceleration response. The vehicle will
exit this feature and return to normal
operation after a short period when
spirited driving is no longer detected.
The steering changes to provide more
precise control. If the vehicle has
Magnetic Ride Control, the suspension
changes to provide better cornering
performance.
See “Mode Selection Attributes ”later
in this section. Snow/Ice Mode
Use this mode for slippery surfaces to
help control wheel speed. This mode
can compromise the acceleration on
dry asphalt.
This feature is not intended for use
when the vehicle is stuck in sand,
mud, or gravel. If the vehicle is stuck,
see
If the Vehicle Is Stuck 0214.
See “Mode Selection Attributes ”later
in this section.
Track Mode (V-Series Only)
When in Track Mode, the automatic
transmission and steering function
similar to Sport Mode. The accelerator
pedal is adjusted to give maximum
control during the highest level of
spirited driving. The Magnetic Ride
Control will be set to the optimum
level for vehicle responsiveness.
Performance Traction Management
(PTM) can be accessed through this
mode. See “Performance Traction
Management ”in Competitive Driving
Mode 0246.
See “Mode Selection Attributes ”later
in this section.

Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14584335) -
2021 - CRC - 12/4/20
DRIVING AND OPERATING 243
My Mode
My Mode is used to personalize
everyday driving. This mode is
designed to allow the driver to
configure vehicle systems to their own
preference for city or normal driving.
Through the center stack, the
following vehicle systems may be
available for customization in
this mode.
.Engine Sound: Stealth, Tour
(Default), Sport, Track
.Steering: Tour (default), Sport,
Track
.Suspension: Tour (default), Sport,
Track
.Brake Response: Tour (default),
Sport, Track
For information on the range of
settings, see “Driver Mode
Customization ”. V-Mode (V-Series Only)
V-Mode is used to personalize
dynamic driving. This mode is
designed to allow the driver to
configure vehicle sub-systems to their
own preference for maximum
handling. V-Mode further enhances
the drivers experience by adding a
powertrain customization. Through
the center stack, the following vehicle
systems may be available for
customization in this mode.
.Engine Sound: Stealth, Tour, Sport
(default), Track
.Steering: Tour, Sport (default),
Track
.Suspension: Tour, Sport, (default),
Track
.Powertrain: Tour, Sport, (default),
Track, Snow/Ice
.PTM: OFF, WET, DRY, SPORT, RACE
1, RACE 2
.Brake Response: Tour, Sport, Track
For information on the range of
settings, see “Driver Mode
Customization ”.

Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14584335) -
2021 - CRC - 12/4/20
244 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Mode Selection Attributes
Modes:TOUR
Default SPORT TRACK SNOW/ICE
Powertrain TourTourTrack Snow/Ice
Throttle Progression TourTourTrack Snow/Ice
Transmission Shift Mode TourSport Track Tour
Engine Sound TourSport Track Tour
Steering TourSport Track Tour
Suspension (if equipped with Magnetic Ride
Control) Tour
Sport Track Tour
Traction and Stability Control TourTourTrack Tour
Competitive Driving Mode (if equipped) Not Available Available Not Available Not Available
Performance Traction Mode (if equipped) Not Available Not Available Available Not Available
Brake Response TourSport Track Tour
Throttle Progression
Adjusts throttle sensitivity by
selecting how quick or slow the
throttle reacts to input.
.Snow/Ice - The accelerator pedal
reduces engine torque at small
pedal inputs. This allows better
wheel control on slippery surfaces.
.Track - The accelerator pedal
adjusts to give maximum control
during the highest level of spirited
driving.
Transmission Shift Mode
Sport or Track –Dynamic
Performance Mode (DPM) allows the
transmission to hold the current gear after a quick release of a heavily
applied accelerator pedal. This
provides greater engine braking and
enhanced vehicle control without
using the paddles. DPM recognizes
aggressive cornering, heavy braking,
and high acceleration to select and