Cadillac CT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14584312) -
2021 - CRC - 11/23/20
306 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Towing Equipment
Hitches
Always use the correct hitch
equipment for your vehicle.
Crosswinds, large trucks going by, and
rough roads can affect the trailer and
the hitch.
Never attach rental hitches or other
bumper-type hitches. Only use
frame-mounted hitches that do not
attach to the bumper.
Always seal any holes in your vehicle
if the trailer hitch removed. If not
sealed, dirt, water, and carbon
monoxide (CO) from the exhaust may
enter your vehicle. SeeEngine Exhaust
0 231.
Consider using mechanical sway
controls with any trailer. Ask a
trailering professional about sway
controls or refer to the trailer
manufacturer's recommendations and
instructions.
Tires
.Do not tow a trailer while using a
compact spare tire on the vehicle.
.Tires must be properly inflated to
support loads while towing a trailer.
See Tires 0342 for instructions on
proper tire inflation.
Safety Chains
Always attach chains between the
vehicle and the trailer, and attach the
chains to the holes on the trailer hitch
platform. Instructions about safety
chains may be provided by the hitch
manufacturer or by the trailer
manufacturer.
Cross the safety chains under the
tongue of the trailer to help prevent
the tongue from contacting the road if
it becomes separated from the hitch.
Always leave just enough slack so the
combination can turn. Never allow
safety chains to drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
Loaded trailers over 450 kg (1,000 lb)
must be equipped with brake systems
and with brakes for each axle. Trailer
braking equipment conforming to
Canadian Standards Association (CSA)
requirement CAN3-D313, or its
equivalent, is recommended. State or local regulations may require
trailers to have their own braking
system if the loaded weight of the
trailer exceeds certain minimums that
can vary from state to state. Read and
follow the instructions for the trailer
brakes so they are installed, adjusted,
and maintained properly. Never
attempt to tap into your vehicle's
hydraulic brake system. If you do,
both the vehicle anti-lock brakes and
the trailer brakes may not function,
which could result in a crash.
Turn Signals When Towing a
Trailer
When properly connected, the trailer
turn signals will illuminate to indicate
the vehicle is turning, changing lanes,
or stopping. When towing a trailer,
the arrows on the instrument cluster
will illuminate even if the trailer is not
properly connected or the bulbs are
burned out.
Cadillac CT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14584312) -
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308 VEHICLE CARE
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . 318
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
Engine Air Filter Life System . . . . 319
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . 320
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328
Brake Pad Life System (If Equipped) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329 Battery - North America . . . . . . . . . 330
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . 331
Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . 332
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332
Headlamp Aiming
Front Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . 333
Bulb Replacement
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 334
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . 334
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . 334
Engine Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 335
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . 337
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 342
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 342
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 343
Run-Flat Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 343
Self-Sealing Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 344
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 344
Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 344
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . 345 Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346
Tire Terminology and
Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 347
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 349
Tire Pressure for High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . 351
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 352
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 355
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 355
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 356
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 357
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . 359
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 361
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 361
Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 362
Storing the Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 368
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - NorthAmerica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 368
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310 VEHICLE CARE
may contain perchlorate materials.
Perchlorate Material–special
handling may apply. See
www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/
perchlorate.
Accessories and
Modifications
Adding non-dealer accessories or
making modifications to the vehicle
can affect vehicle performance and
safety, including such things as
airbags, braking, stability, ride and
handling, emissions systems,
aerodynamics, durability, and
electronic systems like antilock
brakes, traction control, and stability
control. These accessories or
modifications could even cause
malfunction or damage not covered by
the vehicle warranty. Damage to suspension components
caused by modifying vehicle height
outside of factory settings will not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Damage to vehicle components
resulting from modifications or the
installation or use of non-GM certified
parts, including control module or
software modifications, is not covered
under the terms of the vehicle
warranty and may affect remaining
warranty coverage for affected parts.
GM Accessories are designed to
complement and function with other
systems on the vehicle. See your
dealer to accessorize the vehicle using
genuine GM Accessories installed by a
dealer technician.
Also, see
Adding Equipment to the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle 064.
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own
Service Work
{Warning
It can be dangerous to work on
your vehicle if you do not have the
proper knowledge, service manual,
tools, or parts. Always follow
owner’s manual procedures and
consult the service manual for your
vehicle before doing any
service work.
If doing some of your own service
work, use the proper service manual.
It tells you much more about how to
service the vehicle than this manual
can. To order the proper service
manual, see Publication Ordering
Information 0410.
Cadillac CT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14584312) -
2021 - CRC - 11/23/20
312 VEHICLE CARE
2. Go to the front of the vehicle andlocate the secondary release lever
under the front center of the hood.
Push the secondary hood release
lever to the right to release. 3. After you have partially lifted the
hood, the gas strut system will
automatically lift the hood and
hold it in the fully open position.
To close the hood: 1. Before closing the hood, be sure all filler caps are on properly, and all
tools are removed.
2. Pull the hood down until the strut system is no longer holding up
the hood.
3. Allow the hood to fall. Check to make sure the hood is latched
completely. Repeat this process
with additional force if necessary.
{Warning
Do not drive the vehicle if the hood
is not latched completely. The hood
could open fully, block your vision,
and cause a crash. You or others
could be injured. Always close the
hood completely before driving.
Cadillac CT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14584312) -
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314 VEHICLE CARE
1. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir.See Washer Fluid 0327.
2. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Cooling System
0 322.
3. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0320.
4. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System 0322.
5. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil
0 316.
6. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine Oil
0 316.
7. Remote Positive (+) Battery Terminal. See Jump Starting - North
America 0368.
8. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake
Fluid 0329.
9. Remote Negative (-) Battery Terminal. See Jump Starting - North
America 0368.
10. Engine Compartment Fuse Block
0335.
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316 VEHICLE CARE
8. Brake Fluid Reservoir. SeeBrake
Fluid 0329.
9. Remote Negative (-) Battery Terminal. See Jump Starting - North
America 0368.
10. Engine Compartment Fuse Block
0335.
Engine Oil
To ensure proper engine performance
and long life, careful attention must
be paid to engine oil. Following these
simple, but important steps will help
protect your investment:
.Use engine oil approved to the
proper specification and of the
proper viscosity grade. See
“Selecting the Right Engine Oil” in
this section.
.Check the engine oil level regularly
and maintain the proper oil level.
See “Checking Engine Oil” and
“When to Add Engine Oil” in this
section.
.Change the engine oil at the
appropriate time. See Engine Oil Life
System 0318.
.Always dispose of engine oil
properly. See “What to Do with Used
Oil” in this section.
Checking Engine Oil
Check the engine oil level regularly,
every 650 km (400 mi), especially prior
to a long trip. The engine oil dipstick
handle is a loop. See Engine
Compartment Overview 0313 for the
location.
{Warning
The engine oil dipstick handle may
be hot; it could burn you. Use a
towel or glove to touch the dipstick
handle.
If a low oil Driver Information Center
(DIC) message displays, check the oil
level.
Follow these guidelines:
.To get an accurate reading, park the
vehicle on level ground. Check the
engine oil level after the engine has
been off for at least two hours.
Checking the engine oil level on
steep grades or too soon after
engine shutoff can result in incorrect readings. Accuracy
improves when checking a cold
engine prior to starting. Remove the
dipstick and check the level.
.If unable to wait two hours, the
engine must be off for at least
15 minutes if the engine is warm,
or at least 30 minutes if the engine
is not warm. Pull out the dipstick,
wipe it with a clean paper towel or
cloth, then push it back in all the
way. Remove it again, keeping the
tip down, and check the level.
When to Add Engine Oil
2.0L L4 Turbo (LSY) Engine
3.0L V6 Twin Turbo (LGY) Engine
Cadillac CT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-14584312) -
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VEHICLE CARE 325
2.0L L4 Engine
Automatic Coolant Service Fill
Instructions
The vehicle is equipped with a service
feature that assists with filling and
removing air from the cooling system
after service of components or when
coolant is added after being too low.
To use the service feature:
1. With a cold system, add coolant tothe indicated line on the
surge tank.
2. Replace the pressure cap on the surge tank. To activate the service feature:
1. Connect the vehicle to a battery charger.
2. Turn the ignition on. See Ignition
Positions 0224.
3. Turn off the air conditioning.
4. Set the parking brake.
5. At the same time, press the accelerator and the brake pedal for
two seconds, then release.
6. At the end of the cycle, check the coolant level in the surge tank and
add coolant if it is below the
indicated line. Turn the ignition
off, allow the Electronic Control
Module (ECM) to go to sleep, about
two minutes, and repeat Steps 2–6.
Listen for pump activation and
movement of the control valves while
watching the level of the coolant in
the surge tank. If the tank empties,
turn the ignition off, carefully remove
the pressure cap, refill to the indicated
line, replace the pressure cap, and
repeat Steps 2–6.
The fill and air removal process will
run for approximately 15 minutes.
Caution
If the pressure cap is not tightly
installed, coolant loss and engine
damage may occur. Be sure the cap
is properly and tightly secured.
3.0L V6 Engine
1. Remove the coolant surge tank pressure cap when the cooling
system, including the coolant surge
tank pressure cap and upper
radiator hose, is no longer hot.
Turn the pressure cap slowly
counterclockwise. If you hear a
hiss, wait for that to stop. This will
allow any pressure still left to be
vented out the discharge hose.
2. Keep turning the pressure cap slowly and remove it.
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VEHICLE CARE 335
{Danger
Fuses and circuit breakers are
marked with their ampere rating.
Do not exceed the
specified amperage rating when
replacing fuses and circuit breakers.
Use of an oversized fuse or circuit
breaker can result in a vehicle fire.
You and others could be seriously
injured or killed.
{Warning
Installation or use of fuses that do
not meet GM’s original fuse
specifications is dangerous. The
fuses could fail, and result in a fire.
You or others could be injured or
killed, and the vehicle could be
damaged.See
Accessories and Modifications
0 310 and
General Information 0309.
To check a fuse, look at the
silver-colored band inside the fuse.
If the band is broken or melted,
replace the fuse. Be sure to replace a
bad fuse with a new one of the
identical size and rating.
Fuses of the same amperage can be
temporarily borrowed from another
fuse location, if a fuse goes out.
Replace the fuse as soon as possible.
Engine Compartment Fuse
Block
The engine compartment fuse block is
on the driver side of the engine
compartment.
Lift the fuse block cover to access the
fuses.
The vehicle may not be equipped with
all of the fuses and relays shown.
Caution
Spilling liquid on any electrical
component on the vehicle may
damage it. Always keep the covers
on any electrical component.