Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15283641) -
2022 - CRC - 10/12/21
212 DRIVING AND OPERATING
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.
.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.
Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15283641) -
2022 - CRC - 10/12/21
DRIVING AND OPERATING 213
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.
Track Events and
Competitive Driving
(V-Series and V-Series
Blackwing)
Before any track event, there are three
features that should be turned off:
.Automatic Emergency Braking
(AEB). See Automatic Emergency
Braking (AEB) 0303.
.Lane Keep Assist. See Lane Keep
Assist (LKA) 0309.
.Adaptive Cruise Control. See
Adaptive Cruise Control (Advanced)
0269.
{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
(CONTINUED)
Danger (Continued)
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
Some of the adjustments and
procedures specified in this section
may require specialized skill,
training, and equipment. Failure to
perform these procedures properly
could cause malfunction,
potentially resulting in death,
personal injury, or damage to the
vehicle or property. Do not attempt
to perform these adjustments or
procedures unless properly
qualified.
Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15283641) -
2022 - CRC - 10/12/21
214 DRIVING AND OPERATING
{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. SeeCapacities and
Specifications 0424 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
0 258.
Seat Belts
Lap-Shoulder Belt
If equipped, the driver seat belt has an
Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR).
This feature is useful in performance
driving scenarios where the driver
wants to be held in the seat more
tightly to take advantage of the
aggressive bolstering of the seat.
1. Move the seat 8-10 cm (3-4 in) rearward from the normal driving
position.
2. Pull the driver shoulder belt out as far as it will go, until it stops, to set
the lock. While holding the
shoulder belt in this position,
buckle the belt.
When the shoulder belt is released,
the retractor will make a ratchet
sound when it retracts. When the
retractor lock is set, the belt can be
tightened but not pulled out of the
retractor.
3. Adjust the belt, and then move the seat forward 8-10 cm (3-4 in) to
the desired driving position. This will secure the belt. The belt fit
should be tight, but not
uncomfortable.
To unlatch the belt, press the
button on the buckle. The belt
should return to its stowed
position.
Axle Fluid
Axles must have 2 400 km (1,500 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 your dealer
for the correct fluid.
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
(Continued)
Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15283641) -
2022 - CRC - 10/12/21
216 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Brake Cooling (V-Series Blackwing)
Prior to any track event, high speed
driving event, or competitive driving,
complete the following:1. Ensure all the brake cooling parts are correctly secured and installed.
2. Inspect and replace any deflectors that have damage.
3. Inspect for blockage in the front brake cooling duct prior to every
event.
If improved brake cooling is desired,
install the ball joint protector front
shields, remove both upper and lower
rear rotor shields, and install the rear
lower control arm cooling deflectors,
per the instructions included with the
brake cooling kit. These parts are for
track use only. After track events
reinstall original front and rear rotor
shields, and remove rear lower control
arm cooling deflectors.
Right Side Front Shown, Left Side Front Similar
1. Front Lower Control Arm Deflector
2. Front Brake Cooling Duct Brake Pad Wear Sensors
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. Refer to
Brake
Pad Life System (If Equipped) 0346.
If the sensors are not reinstalled after
the track event, install brake pad wear
sensor plugs. See your dealer.
The V-Series Blackwing is equipped
with brake pad wear sensors which are
track capable and should not be
disabled for track and racing.
A message will display in the Driver
Information Center (DIC) when the
brake pads show excessive wear.
Brake Fluid
Replace existing brake fluid with a
qualified DOT 4 high performance
brake fluid from a sealed container.
Brake fluid with a dry boiling point
>310 °C (590 °F) is qualified. If high
performance brake fluid is used,
replace it with GM approved brake
fluid before driving on public roads.
If high performance brake fluid is in
the vehicle and the age of the brake
Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15283641) -
2022 - CRC - 10/12/21
DRIVING AND OPERATING 223
5. Set Slip Target to custom desiredsetting.
.Manual Trans: Apply full
throttle to activate Launch
Control and quickly release the
clutch pedal to launch the
vehicle.
Automatic Transmission
.Auto Trans: Firmly press and
hold the brake pedal to activate
Launch Control.
6. Auto Trans Only - Quickly applyfull throttle. Release the brake
pedal to launch the vehicle.
Line Lock (If Equipped)
{Warning
The vehicle may move unexpectedly
when using Line Lock, which could
cause injury to persons or property
located nearby. Only use Line Lock
on a closed track where there is a
large clear area around all sides of
the vehicle. Be ready to apply the
brakes immediately if the vehicle
begins to move. Do not use Line
Lock in an area that is accessible to
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
the public or where people or
property are located near the
vehicle.
Caution
Attempting to shift when the drive
wheels are spinning and do not
have traction may cause damage to
the transmission. Damage caused
by misuse of the vehicle is not
covered by the vehicle warranty. Do
not attempt to shift when the drive
wheels do not have traction.
Line Lock allows for locking the front
brakes independently of the rear
brakes. This allows the rear tires to
spin when the throttle is applied.
To enter Line Lock, all of these
conditions must be met:
.The vehicle must be in Track Mode.
.Performance Traction Management
(PTM) Mode must be enabled.
.The steering wheel must be straight.
.The driver door must be closed.
Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15283641) -
2022 - CRC - 10/12/21
224 DRIVING AND OPERATING
.The vehicle must be in D (Drive) for
an automatic transmission or
1 (First) gear for a manual
transmission.
.The parking brake must not be
engaged.
.The vehicle must be stopped on
level ground. The accelerator pedal
must not be applied.
1. Using the Driver InformationCenter (DIC) buttons on the right
side of the steering wheel, navigate
to the Line Lock menu within
Launch Control. See Driver
Information Center (DIC) (Base Level)
0 109 or
Driver Information Center (DIC)
(Uplevel) 0112.
2. Press the brake pedal firmly to
move the bar graph to 100%.
3. Release the brake pedal.
4. There are 15 seconds to complete the burnout and exit.
5. To release the brakes and roll out,
press
*and SEL at the same time.
If the burnout is not completed in
15 seconds, torque will be reduced to
idle, the parking brake will be applied,
Line Lock releases, and Custom
Launch Control will be disabled.
Ensure the parking brake is
disengaged to re-enter Launch
Control.
Driving on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can reduce vehicle
traction and affect your ability to stop
and accelerate. Always drive slower in
these types of driving conditions and
avoid driving through large puddles
and deep-standing or flowing water.
Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15283641) -
2022 - CRC - 10/12/21
226 DRIVING AND OPERATING
{Warning
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral) or
with the ignition off is dangerous.
This can cause overheating of the
brakes and loss of steering assist.
Always have the engine running
and the vehicle in gear.
.Drive at speeds that keep the
vehicle in its own lane. Do not
swing wide or cross the center line.
.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 IceCaution
To avoid damage to the wheels and
brake components, always clear
snow and ice from inside the
wheels and underneath the vehicle
before driving.
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
Control 0257.
.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) 0253.
See Driver Mode Control 0258.
.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 0432. To get help and keep
everyone in the vehicle safe:
.Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
.Tie a red cloth to an outside mirror.
Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-15283641) -
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 227
{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 0241. To save fuel, run the engine for short
periods to warm the vehicle and then
shut the engine off and partially close
the window. Moving about to keep
warm also helps.
If it takes time for help to arrive,
when running the engine, push the
accelerator pedal slightly so the
engine runs faster than the idle speed.
This keeps the battery charged to
restart the vehicle and to signal for
help with the headlamps. Do this as
little as possible, to save fuel.
If the Vehicle Is Stuck
Slowly and cautiously spin the wheels
to free the vehicle when stuck in sand,
mud, ice, or snow.
If stuck too severely for the traction
system to free the vehicle, turn the
traction system off and use the
rocking method. See
Traction Control/
Electronic Stability Control 0257.
{Warning
If the vehicle's tires spin at high
speed, they can explode, and you or
others could be injured. The vehicle
can overheat, causing an engine
compartment fire or other damage.
Spin the wheels as little as possible
and avoid going above 56 km/h
(35 mph).
Rocking the Vehicle to Get it Out
Turn the steering wheel left and right
to clear the area around the front
wheels. Turn off any traction system.
Shift back and forth between
R (Reverse) and a low forward gear,
spinning the wheels as little as
possible. To prevent transmission
wear, wait until the wheels stop
spinning before shifting gears. Release
the accelerator pedal while shifting,
and press lightly on the accelerator
pedal when the transmission is in
gear. Slowly spinning the wheels in
the forward and reverse directions
causes a rocking motion that could
free the vehicle. If that does not get
the vehicle out after a few tries, it