Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-16500442) -
2023 - CRC - 5/10/22
232 Driving and Operating
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Driving for Better FuelEconomy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . 234
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . 235
Impaired Driving . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . 235
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . 237
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Track Events and Competitive Driving
(V-Series and V-Series
Blackwing) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . 251
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . 255
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . 255
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . 259
Composite Materials . . . . . 260
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . 261 Starting the Engine . . . . . . . 263
Stop/Start System . . . . . . . . 264
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Shifting Into Park (Mechanical Shifter) . . . . . 267
Shifting Into Park (Electronic Shifter) . . . . . . 268
Shifting out of Park (Mechanical Shifter) . . . . . 269
Shifting out of Park (Electronic Shifter) . . . . . . 270
Parking (Manual Transmission) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . 271
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission(Mechanical Shifter) . . . . . 272
Automatic Transmission (Electronic Shifter) . . . . . . 275
Manual Mode (Mechanical Shifter) . . . . . 280 Manual Mode (Electronic
Shifter) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Manual Transmission
Manual Transmission . . . . . 283
Active Rev Match . . . . . . . . . 285
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Brakes
Electric Brake Boost . . . . . 286
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Electric Parking Brake . . . 287
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . 289
Automatic Vehicle Hold (AVH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . 292
Competitive Driving Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298
Limited-Slip Differential . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-16500442) -
2023 - CRC - 5/10/22
234 Driving and Operating
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.
.Become familiar with vehicle
features before driving, such
as programming favorite
radio stations and adjusting
climate control and seat
settings. Program all trip
information into any
navigation device prior to
driving.
.Wait until the vehicle is
parked to retrieve items that
have fallen to the floor.
.Stop or park the vehicle to
tend to children.
.Keep pets in an appropriate
carrier or restraint.
Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-16500442) -
2023 - CRC - 5/10/22
236 Driving and Operating
Average driver reaction time is
about three-quarters of a
second. In that time, a vehicle
moving at 100 km/h (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 is equipped with
an electric power steering
system, which reduces the
amount of effort needed to
steer the vehicle. It does not
have power steering fluid.
Regular maintenance is not
required.
If the vehicle experiences a
system malfunction and loses
power steering, greater
steering effort may be
required. Power steering
assist also may be reduced if
you turn the steering wheel as
far as it can turn and hold it
there with force for an
extended period of time.
See your dealer if there is a
problem.
Curve Tips
.Take curves at a reasonable
speed.
.Reduce speed before
entering a curve.
Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-16500442) -
2023 - CRC - 5/10/22
Driving and Operating 237
.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-16500442) -
2023 - CRC - 5/10/22
Driving and Operating 239
Warning (Continued)
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.
{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 Specifications0480 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 0292.
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.
Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-16500442) -
2023 - CRC - 5/10/22
Driving and Operating 247
7. With the car on theground, reinstall the strut
rebound stop and torque it
to 25 Y(212 lb in).
8. With the car on the ground, reinstall the Upper
Radiator Baffle and both
front shock tower braces.
Torque the fasteners as
follows:
A. Front tower bracemounting bolts to 22 Y
(194 lb in).
B. Front strut top mount nuts to 22 Y(194 lb in). 9. Complete setting the track
alignment per the following
track alignment
specifications.
Wheel Alignment
Wheel alignment suggested
specs for track use:
Road Course (V-Series)
.Front: -2.0 deg camber, 0.2
deg total toe
.Rear: -1.7 deg camber, 0.2
deg total toe
Road Course (V-Series
Blackwing)
.Front: -2.4 deg camber, 0.1
deg total toe
.Rear: -1.8 deg camber, 0.1
deg total toe
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.
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 High
Speed
See Tire Pressure for
High-Speed Operation
0423.
Tire Inflation Pressure for
Track Driving
For driving on a race course,
if your vehicle is equipped with
255/35ZR18 (94Y) and
275/35ZR18 (99Y) tires, set
cold (stationary) tire pressures
to 30 psi. During track
sessions, set the pressures at
35 to 38 psi for hot tire
pressures. If pressures exceed
38 psi, bleed pressures down
Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-16500442) -
2023 - CRC - 5/10/22
248 Driving and Operating
to 35 to 38 psi. Return the
tires to the recommended cold
tire inflation pressure when
track driving has ended.
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 can
cause a sudden failure. Make
sure the tires are in
excellent condition, and use
the correct cold tire inflation
pressure for the vehicle load
and track/course.
{Warning
Tracks/courses put high
loads on tires operating at
high speed, which can lead
to tire failure if not inflated
properly. Always limit vehicle(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
cargo to the driver plus one
passenger with no additional
cargo.
{Warning
Track/course loads wear
tires both on the tread and
internal to the tire. When
driven in track/course
conditions, even if tread is
not worn down to the
treadwear indicator, tires
must be replaced after the
equivalent of two tanks of
fuel or approximately 160 km
(100 mi).
Custom Launch Control (If
Equipped)
Custom Launch Control allows
the following parameters for
Launch Control to be modified:
.Launch RPM
.Slip Target (5%–15%)
.Surface Type To adjust the Launch RPM, all
of these conditions must
be met:
.The vehicle must be in Track
Mode. See
“Track Mode”
under Driver Mode Control
0 292.
.Performance Traction
Management (PTM) Mode
must be enabled. See Driver
Mode Control 0292.
.The steering wheel must be
straight.
.The driver door must be
closed.
.The transmission must be in
D (Drive) or forward gear.
.The parking brake must not
be engaged.
For more information on
Competitive Driving Mode, see
Competitive Driving Mode
0 298.
Cadillac CT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-16500442) -
2023 - CRC - 5/10/22
Driving and Operating 249
1. Using the DriverInformation Center (DIC)
buttons on the right side
of the steering wheel,
navigate to the Launch
Control menu. See Driver
Information Center (DIC)
(Base Level) 0129 or
Driver Information Center
(DIC) (Uplevel) 0132.
2. Press SEL to select Custom.3. Scroll down toLaunch RPM.
4. Adjust the desired RPM: 1200–2400 for automatic
transmissions and 2400–
4000 RPM for manual
transmissions.
Manual Transmission 5. Set Slip Target to custom
desired setting.
.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.