Cadillac CT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-16500419) -
2023 - CRC - 5/10/22
Driving and Operating 259
.Check all fluid levels and
brakes, tires, cooling system,
and transmission.
.Shift to a lower gear when
going down steep or long
hills.
{Warning
Using the brakes to slow the
vehicle on a long downhill
slope can cause brake
overheating, can reduce
brake performance, and
could result in a loss of
braking. Shift the
transmission to a lower gear
to let the engine assist the
brakes on a steep downhill
slope.
{Warning
Coasting downhill in
N (Neutral) or with the
ignition off is dangerous.
This can cause overheating
of the brakes and loss of(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
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 Ice
Caution
To avoid damage to the
wheels and brake
components, always clear (Continued)
Caution (Continued)
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
0 291.
.The Antilock Brake System
(ABS) improves vehicle
stability during hard stops,
but the brakes should be
Cadillac CT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-16500419) -
2023 - CRC - 5/10/22
268 Driving and Operating
The vehicle may have an
electric steering column lock.
The lock is activated when the
vehicle is switched to OFF and
the driver door is opened.
A sound may be heard as the
lock actuates or releases. The
steering column lock may not
release with the wheels
turned off center. If this
happens, the vehicle may not
start. Move the steering wheel
from left to right while
attempting to start the
vehicle. If this does not work,
the vehicle needs service.
Do not turn the engine off
when the vehicle is moving.
This will cause a loss of power
assist in the brake and
steering systems and disable
the airbags.
If the vehicle must be shut off
in an emergency:1. Brake using a firm and steady pressure. Do not
pump the brakes
repeatedly. This may deplete power assist,
requiring increased brake
pedal force.
2. Shift the vehicle to N (Neutral). This can be
done while the vehicle is
moving. After shifting to
N (Neutral), firmly apply the
brakes and steer the
vehicle to a safe location.
3. Come to a complete stop. Shift to P (Park) with an
automatic transmission,
or Neutral with a manual
transmission. Turn the
ignition off.
4. Set the parking brake. See Electric Parking Brake
0288.
{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
ENGINE START/STOP for
longer than two seconds,
or press twice within
five seconds.
Accessory Mode (Amber
Indicator Light) :
This mode
allows the use of some
electrical accessories when
the engine is off.
With the ignition off, pressing
the button once without the
brake pedal applied will place
the ignition system in
accessory mode.
The ignition will switch from
accessory mode 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
Cadillac CT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-16500419) -
2023 - CRC - 5/10/22
Driving and Operating 271
{Warning
The automatic engine Stop/
Start feature causes the
engine to shut off while the
vehicle is still on. Do not exit
the vehicle before shifting to
P (Park). The vehicle may
restart and move
unexpectedly. Always shift
to P (Park), and then turn
the ignition off before
exiting the vehicle.
Auto Engine Stop/Start
When the brakes are applied
and the vehicle is at a
complete stop, the engine may
turn off. When stopped, the
tachometer displays AUTO
STOP. See Tachometer 0120.
When the brake pedal is
released or the accelerator
pedal is pressed, the engine
will restart. To maintain vehicle
performance, other conditions
may cause the engine to
automatically restart before
the brake pedal is released.
Auto Stops may not occur
and/or Auto Starts may occur
because:
.The climate control settings
require the engine to be
running to cool or heat the
vehicle interior.
.The vehicle battery needs to
charge.
.The vehicle battery has
recently been disconnected.
.Minimum vehicle speed has
not been reached since the
last Auto Stop.
.The accelerator pedal is
pressed.
.The engine or transmission
is not at the required
operating temperature.
.The outside temperature is
not in the required operating
range.
.The vehicle is shifted out of
D (Drive) to any gear other
than P (Park).
.Certain driver modes have
been selected. See Driver
Mode Control
0293.
.The vehicle is on a steep hill
or grade.
.The driver door has been
opened or the driver seat
belt has been unbuckled.
.The hood has been opened.
.The Auto Stop has reached
the maximum allowed time.
Auto Stop Disable Switch
Cadillac CT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-16500419) -
2023 - CRC - 5/10/22
282 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.
If equipped with the 2.0L L4
engine, engine speeds may be
increased while driving at
highway speeds while the
engine is still warming up.
Manual Mode
Tap Shift Caution
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.
Cadillac CT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-16500419) -
2023 - CRC - 5/10/22
Driving and Operating 287
.Be disabled when the
coolant temperature is
below 0 °C (32 °F).
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 heard during
this time. If the brake pedal is
pressed during the tests orwhen 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
0128.
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 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.
Cadillac CT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-16500419) -
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290 Driving and Operating
Warning (Continued)
use proper care when
driving may result in injury,
death, or vehicle damage.
See Defensive Driving0242.
When the vehicle is stopped
on a grade, Hill Start Assist
(HSA) temporarily prevents
the vehicle from rolling in an
unintended direction during
the transition from brake
pedal release to accelerator
pedal apply. The brakes
release when the accelerator
pedal is applied or
automatically release after a
few seconds. The brakes may
also release under other
conditions. Do not rely on HSA
to hold the vehicle.
HSA is available when the
vehicle is facing uphill in a
forward gear, or when facing
downhill in R (Reverse). The
vehicle must come to a
complete stop on a grade for
HSA to activate.
Automatic Vehicle
Hold (AVH)
{Warning
Do not rely on this feature.
It does not replace the need
to pay attention and drive
safely. You may not hear or
feel alerts or warnings
provided by this system.
Failure to use proper care
when driving may result in
injury, death, or vehicle
damage. When Automatic Vehicle Hold
(AVH) is turned on and the
vehicle is braked to a stop,
AVH prevents the vehicle from
moving during the transition
from brake pedal release to
accelerator pedal apply. The
brakes release when the
accelerator pedal is applied.
The brakes may also release
under other conditions. Do not
rely on AVH to hold the
vehicle.
If the accelerator pedal is not
applied within a few minutes,
the Electric Parking Brake will
apply. The parking brake will
also apply if the driver door is
opened or the driver seat belt
is unfastened while AVH is
holding the vehicle.
AVH can be turned on by
pressing AUTO HOLD. The
indicator light on the switch
will come on. The AVH light on
the instrument panel will come
on while AVH is actively
Cadillac CT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-16500419) -
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Driving and Operating 291
holding the vehicle. See
Automatic Vehicle Hold (AVH)
Light0129.
Ride Control
Systems
Traction Control/
Electronic Stability
Control
The vehicle has a Traction
Control System (TCS) and
StabiliTrak/Electronic Stability
Control (ESC). These systems
help limit wheel slip and assist
the driver in maintaining
control, especially on slippery
road conditions.
TCS activates if it senses that
any of the drive wheels are
spinning or beginning to lose
traction. When this happens,
the system brakes the
spinning wheel(s) and/or
reduces engine power to limit
wheel spin. StabiliTrak/ESC activates
when the computer senses a
difference between the
intended path and the
direction the vehicle is actually
traveling. StabiliTrak/ESC
selectively applies braking
pressure at any one of the
vehicle's brakes to help steer
the vehicle in the intended
direction.
If cruise control is being used
and TCS or StabiliTrak/ESC
begins to limit wheel spin,
cruise control will disengage.
Cruise control may be turned
back on when road conditions
allow.
Both systems come on
automatically when the vehicle
is started and begins to move.
The systems may be heard or
felt while they are operating
or while performing diagnostic
checks. This is normal and
does not mean there is a
problem with the vehicle.
It is recommended to leave
both systems on for normal
driving conditions, but it may
be necessary to turn TCS off
if the vehicle gets stuck in
sand, mud, ice, or snow. See If
the Vehicle Is Stuck
0261 and
“Turning the Systems Off and
On” later in this section.
The indicator light for both
systems is in the instrument
cluster. This light will:
.Flash when TCS is limiting
wheel spin.
.Flash when StabiliTrak/ESC
is activated.
.Turn on and stay on when
either system is not working.
Cadillac CT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-16500419) -
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298 Driving and Operating
shifts are also firmer to
increase the quickness of
shifting.
Engine Sound
Adjusts the volume of engine
noise.
The sound level changes when
the variable exhaust
valves open.
Steering (Assist Effort)
Adjusts from a lighter steering
feel in Tour Mode to reduced
assist in Sport and Track
Mode for more steering feel.
Magnetic Ride Control (If
Equipped)
Adjusts the shock dampening
firmness from a comfort in
Tour Mode to an optimized
responsiveness tune in Sport
and Track.
Stability Control
.Competitive Mode allows
less computer control to
permit some slide and driftand is selected with the
TCS/StabiliTrak button
–
only available in Sport Mode.
.StabiliTrak/Electronic
Stability Control (ESC) can
be turned off by pressing
and holding the TCS/
StabiliTrak button for
five seconds.
Brake Feel
Adjusts brake pedal sensitivity
by selecting how quick or slow
the brakes respond to input.
Drive Mode Customization
The following settings can be
changed using the Drive Mode
Customization Menu. See
Settings > Vehicle > Drive
Mode Customization in the
center display to customize
My Mode or V-Mode.
Steering
Steering adjusts the effort
required to turn the steering
wheel. The steering wheel
offers better feedback in the Tour setting, but requires
more effort in the Sport and
Track settings.
–Tour, Sport, Track
Suspension
Suspension adjusts the
firmness of the suspension in
the vehicle. Suspension
adjusts the stiffness of the
shocks and/or springs. The
ride is more comfortable at
lower settings and is stiffer at
higher settings for better
control.
–Tour, Sport, Track
Brake Feel
Brake Feel adjusts the brake
pedal response. Settings
range from a slower response
for more comfortable driving
to the quickest response for
quicker deceleration. Brake
pedal travel decreases and
caliper pressure increases in
the Sport and Track settings.
–Tour, Sport, Track