Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14584335) -
2021 - CRC - 12/4/20
202 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Driving for Better FuelEconomy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Impaired Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Track Events and Competitive Driving (V-Series Only) . . . . . . . . . 207
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . 212
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Composite Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Stop/Start System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222 Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Shifting Into Park (Mechanical Shifter) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Shifting Into Park (Electronic
Shifter) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Shifting out of Park (Mechanical Shifter) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Shifting out of Park (Electronic Shifter) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission(Mechanical Shifter) . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Automatic Transmission (Electronic Shifter) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Manual Mode (Mechanical Shifter) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Manual Mode (Electronic Shifter) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Brakes
Electric Brake Boost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . 236
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Automatic VehicleHold (AVH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/ElectronicStability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Competitive Driving Mode . . . . . . . 246
Limited-Slip Differential . . . . . . . . . 248
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Adaptive Cruise Control (Advanced) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Super Cruise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . . . 275
Assistance Systems for Parking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Rear Pedestrian Alert . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14584335) -
2021 - CRC - 12/4/20
DRIVING AND OPERATING 203
Automatic EmergencyBraking (AEB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . 289
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . . . . 289
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . . . . . 291
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Recommended Fuel (LSY 2.0L L4
Turbo Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Recommended Fuel (L3B 2.7L L4 Turbo Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . . . . . 294
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Trailer Towing
General Towing Information . . . . 297
Driving Characteristics andTowing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
Trailer Towing (LSY 2.0L L4 Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . 303
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.
.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.
Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14584335) -
2021 - CRC - 12/4/20
DRIVING AND OPERATING 205
(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 or a brake
fault occurs, the brakes may lose
power assist. More effort will be
required to stop the vehicle and it can
take longer to stop.
Steering
Caution
To avoid damage to the steering
system, do not drive over curbs,
parking barriers, or similar objects
at speeds greater than 3 km/h
(1 mph). Use care when driving over
other objects such as lane dividers
and speed bumps. Damage caused
by misuse of the vehicle is not
covered by the vehicle warranty.
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.
Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14584335) -
2021 - CRC - 12/4/20
206 DRIVING AND OPERATING
.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.
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.
Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14584335) -
2021 - CRC - 12/4/20
DRIVING AND OPERATING 207
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.
{Warning
Prior to each track event and again
before returning to public roads,
tighten the wheel nuts with a
torque wrench to the proper torque
specification. Wheel nuts that are
improperly or incorrectly tightened
can cause the wheels to become
loose or come off, resulting in a
crash. See Capacities and
Specifications 0396 for wheel nut
torque specifications.
Caution
Low oil levels can damage the
engine. If using the vehicle for
competitive driving, the engine may
use more oil than it would with
normal use. Check the oil level
often during competitive driving.
Competitive Driving Mode can be
selected. See Driver Mode Control
0 241.
Axle Fluid
Axles must have 2400 km (1500 mi)
before being used in track driving.
The rear axle fluid temperatures may
be higher than when driving in severe
conditions. Drain and refill with new
fluid after the first racing or
competitive driving event, and then
after every 24 hours of racing or
competitive driving. See Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants 0391.
Caution
During a first time track or racing
event, high axle temperatures can
occur. Damage could be caused to
the axle and would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty. Do not
drive as long or as fast the first
time the vehicle is driven on the
track or raced.
.The axle lubricant should be
replaced with new lubricant.
.Additional cooling capacity is also
required for continuous competitive
driving.
Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14584335) -
2021 - CRC - 12/4/20
208 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Engine Oil
Check the oil level often during track
events and competitive driving and
keep the oil level at or near the
upper mark.
Fuel
Use premium unleaded gasoline with
a posted octane rating of 93 at a track
event. Unleaded gasoline with a
posted octane rating of 91 may be
used, but performance will be
degraded.
Automatic Transmission Fluid
Have the transmission fluid set to the
track specific oil level prior to track
usage. Transmission fluid should be
changed after every 15 hours of track
usage. Any transmission level set or
change should be performed at your
dealer.
Brakes
Brake cooling can be improved if the
front brake disc splash shield and
front tire deflector are removed.
Removing the shield will require that
the suspension bushings and wheelspeed wires visible to the brake disc
be protected with insulated thermal
wrapping.
Caution
Removing the splash shield can
degrade wet braking performance,
as well as introduce brake pedal
pulsation, due to brake disc
exposure to road debris. Only
remove the front brake disc splash
shield and front tire deflector when
driving in track events.
Brake Pad Wear Sensors
(V-Series Only)
If equipped, the brake pad wear
sensors need to be removed from the
brake calipers prior to any track or
racing event. The original sensors can
be reinstalled if significant brake pad
wear is not observed. The sensor
should not extend beyond the brake
pad surface at the rotor contact.
If this condition is observed, the brake
pad life system needs to be disabled
until a new set of brake pads and
sensors are installed and the system
reset. Brake Fluid
.Before racing, replace existing brake
fluid with a qualified racing brake
fluid from a sealed container. Brake
fluid with a dry boiling point
>279 °C (534 °F) is qualified.
If racing brake fluid is used, replace
it with GM approved brake fluid
before driving on public roads. See
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
0
391.
.Do not use silicone-based fluids.
If racing brake fluid is in the vehicle
and the age of the brake fluid is over a
month old or unknown, replace the
brake fluid between racing/closed
track driving.
Caution
Failure to change the brake fluid
and transfer case fluid after any
performance or race track driving
could result in damage not covered
by the vehicle warranty. Have the
brake fluid and transfer case fluid
changed by your dealer after any (Continued)
Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14584335) -
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210 DRIVING AND OPERATING
and pedal travel may increase. After
the procedure, the brake pads may
appear white at the rotor contact.
Perform this procedure only on dry
pavement, in a safe manner, and in
compliance with all local and state
ordinances/laws regarding motor
vehicle operation.
Brake Burnish Procedure1. Apply the brakes 25 times starting at 100 km/h (60 mph) to 50 km/h
(30 mph) while decelerating at
0.4 g. This is a medium brake
application. Drive for at least 1 km
(0.6 mi) between applying the
brakes. This first step may be
skipped if there are more than
320 km (200 mi) on the brake pads.
2. Apply the brakes 25 times starting at 100 km/h (60 mph) to 25 km/h
(15 mph) while decelerating at
0.8 g. This is a hard brake
application, without activating the
Antilock Brake System (ABS). Drive
for at least 1 km (0.6 mi) between
applications.
3. Cool down: Drive at 100 km/h (60 mph) for approximately 15 km
(10 mi) without using the brakes. 4. Apply the brakes 25 times from
100 km/h (60 mph) to 50 km/h
(30 mph) while decelerating at
0.4 g. This is a medium brake
application. Drive for at least 1 km
(0.6 mi) between applications.
As with all high performance brake
systems, some amount of brake squeal
is normal.
Wheel Alignment
Wheel alignment suggested specs for
track use:
.Front: -2.0 deg camber, 0.2 deg
total toe
.Rear: -1.7 deg camber, 0.2 deg
total toe
Vehicles Equipped with the
Original Equipment Tires
Follow the requirements and
recommendations for tire inflation
pressures while driving on various
types of tracks/courses. This helps to
achieve a well-balanced vehicle and
enhance tire traction performance.
Use good judgment to determine the
appropriate tire inflation pressure and
speeds for the track/course configuration and environmental
conditions. Contact the tire
manufacturer if further assistance is
needed.
To maximize tire life, drive 800 km
(500 mi) prior to racetrack 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
(Continued)
Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14584335) -
2021 - CRC - 12/4/20
DRIVING AND OPERATING 213
.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
Control0239.
.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) 0236.
See Driver Mode Control 0241.
.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
Stop the vehicle in a safe place and
signal for help. Stay with the vehicle
unless there is help nearby. If possible,
use Roadside Service. See Roadside
Service 0403. To get help and keep
everyone in the vehicle safe:
.Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
.Tie a red cloth to an outside mirror.
{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 fan speed
to the highest setting. See
“Climate Control Systems.”
For more information about CO, see
Engine Exhaust 0226.