Cadillac CT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-16500419) -
2023 - CRC - 5/10/22
Driving and Operating 371
Ask your dealer for trailering
information or assistance.
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. See Engine
Exhaust0276.
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
0418 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
Cadillac CT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-16500419) -
2023 - CRC - 5/10/22
372 Driving and Operating
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.
Conversions and
Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical
Equipment
{Warning
The Data Link Connector
(DLC) is used for vehicle
service and Emission
Inspection/Maintenance
testing. See Malfunction
Indicator Lamp (Check
Engine Light)0125. A device
connected to the DLC —
such as an aftermarket fleet
or driver-behavior tracking
device —may interfere with
vehicle systems. This could
affect vehicle operation and
cause a crash. Such devices
may also access information
stored in the vehicle’s
systems.
Caution
Some electrical equipment
can damage the vehicle or
cause components to not
work and would not be
covered by the vehicle
warranty. Always check with
your dealer before adding
electrical equipment.
Add-on equipment can drain
the vehicle's 12-volt battery,
even if the vehicle is not
operating.
The vehicle has an airbag
system. Before attempting to
add anything electrical to the
vehicle, see Servicing the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle 077
and
Adding Equipment to the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle 077.
Cadillac CT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-16500419) -
2023 - CRC - 5/6/22
Vehicle Care 373
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . 374
California PerchlorateMaterials
Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . 374
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 374
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 375
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 376
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 378
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 383
Engine Oil Life System . . . 386
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 388
Manual Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 388
Hydraulic Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . 388
Engine Air Filter Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 389
Engine Air Cleaner/ Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 389
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . 392
Engine Overheating . . . . . . 398
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 399 Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 400
Brake Pad Life System (If
Equipped) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 404
Battery - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 405
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . 406
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . 406
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 407
Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 408
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 408
Headlamp Aiming
Front Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 409
Bulb Replacement
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 409
Electrical System
Electrical SystemOverload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 409
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 411
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 412
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 414 Rear Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 416
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 418
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . 419
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 419
Run-Flat Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 420
Self-Sealing Tires . . . . . . . . . 420
Noise Reducing Tires(V-Series
Blackwing Only) . . . . . . . . . . . 421
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . 421
Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 422
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . 422
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . 423
Tire Terminology and Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 424
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 427
Tire Pressure for High-Speed
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 429
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 430
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 431
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . 435
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 435
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 437
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . 437
Cadillac CT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-16500419) -
2023 - CRC - 5/6/22
374 Vehicle Care
Different Size Tires andWheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 439
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 439
Wheel Alignment and Tire
Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 441
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . 441
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 442
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . 443
Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . 444
Storing the Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . 451
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - NorthAmerica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 452
Towing the Vehicle
Transporting a Disabled
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 455
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 457
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 457
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 463
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 467
General
Information
For service and parts needs,
visit your dealer. You will
receive genuine GM parts and
GM-trained and supported
service people.
Genuine GM parts have one of
these marks:
California Perchlorate
Materials
Requirements
Certain types of automotive
applications, such as airbag
initiators, seat belt
pretensioners, and lithium
batteries contained in
electronic keys, 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, Driver Assistance
Systems, and electronic
systems like antilock brakes,
Cadillac CT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-16500419) -
2023 - CRC - 5/6/22
400 Vehicle Care
Caution (Continued)
.Do not mix water with
ready-to-use washer fluid.
Water can cause the
solution to freeze and
damage the washer fluid
tank and other parts of
the washer system.
.When using concentrated
washer fluid, follow the
manufacturer instructions
for adding water.
.Fill the washer fluid tank
only three-quarters full
when it is very cold. This
allows for fluid expansion
if freezing occurs, which
could damage the tank if it
is completely full.
Brakes
Disc brake linings, except J57
V-Series Blackwing with
carbon ceramic brakes, have
built-in wear indicators that
make a high-pitched warning
sound when the brake linings
are worn and new linings areneeded. The sound can come
and go or can be heard all the
time when the vehicle is
moving, except when applying
the brake pedal firmly. The
V-Series Blackwing has
electronic pad wear sensors.
See Brake Pad Life System (If
Equipped)
0403
{Warning
The brake wear warning
sound means that soon the
brakes will not work well.
That could lead to a crash.
When the brake wear
warning sound is heard,
have the vehicle serviced.
Caution
Continuing to drive with
worn-out brake linings could
result in costly brake repairs.
Properly torqued wheel nuts
are necessary to help prevent
brake pulsation. When tires
are rotated, inspect brake linings for wear and evenly
tighten wheel nuts in the
proper sequence to torque
specifications. See Capacities
and Specifications
0482.
Brake linings should be
replaced as complete
axle sets.
Brake Squeal and
Brake Dust
Some driving conditions or
climates can cause a brake
squeal when the brakes are
first applied, clearing up
following several applies. This
does not mean something is
wrong with the brakes.
Vehicles equipped with high
performance brake systems
provide superior fade
resistance, but will produce
increased brake squeal and
brake dust on the wheels and
calipers as compared to
standard brake linings. This is
normal.
Cadillac CT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-16500419) -
2023 - CRC - 5/6/22
Vehicle Care 401
To help reduce squeal, high
performance brake pads are
treated with an anti-squeal
paste that may need to be
reapplied periodically as part
of normal vehicle maintenance.
The anti-squeal paste will
dissipate over time. Also, the
use of wheel cleaners or
power washers directly on the
brake calipers may remove the
anti-squeal paste from the
brake pads. It may be
necessary to reapply the
anti-squeal paste if it is
removed during cleaning.
If brake squeal is excessive,
the anti-squeal paste should
be reapplied. The anti-squeal
paste should always be
reapplied whenever the brake
pads are removed or replaced.
See your dealer for service.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake
pedal does not return to
normal height, or if there is arapid increase in pedal travel.
This could be a sign that brake
service may be required.
Replacing Brake System
Parts
Always replace brake system
parts with new, approved
replacement parts. If this is
not done, the brakes may not
work properly. The braking
performance can change in
many ways if the wrong brake
parts are installed or if parts
are improperly installed.
The Brake Fade Warning
Assist system is designed for
use with the factory-installed
brake pads or GM approved
replacement pads. If the brake
pads on the vehicle need to be
replaced, use GM-approved
brake pads. If this is not done,
the brake fade warning
system may not function
properly.
High Performance Brake
Lining Car Wash and
Extended Parking Care
If equipped with high
performance brake
components, binding or
clunking may be noticeable
after extended parking or in
cold weather when the brakes
have been wet, such as when
driving in the rain or after a
car wash. The clunking is
normal for brakes with high
performance brake linings and
does not affect the operation
of the brakes. When driving,
normal braking will allow for
the brakes to feel smooth and
the clunking to go away. If the
vehicle is washed before
overnight parking or long term
storage, drive it and apply the
brakes several times to
thoroughly dry the brakes.
Cadillac CT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-16500419) -
2023 - CRC - 5/6/22
402 Vehicle Care
Brake Rotor Wear
(V-Series Blackwing With
J57 Carbon Ceramic
Rotors)
The V-Series Blackwing with
J57 has carbon ceramic brake
rotors. The rotors should be
visually inspected whenever
the brake pads are replaced.
Carbon ceramic brake rotors
also need to be weighed
before brake pads are
replaced to confirm that the
rotor mass is greater than the
wear-out mass printed on the
rotor. The rotor can be reused
if the weight of the rotor is
above the mass limit. Carbon
ceramic brake rotors
inspection and weighing
methods can be found in the
service manual.
V-Series Blackwing Brake
Burnish Procedure for
Corrosion Cleanup
Corrosion spotting and
grooving on the brake rotor
surface may appear after the
vehicle sits for an extended
period of time, especially in
high humidity. This corrosion
may result in brake pulsation
and noise. To help restore
optimal braking performance
and reduce noise, complete
the following procedure:
Caution
Performing the brake
burnish procedure on a base
brake system can result in
brake damage.
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.
Caution
The new vehicle break-in
period should be completed
before performing the brake
burnishing procedure or
damage may occur to the
powertrain/engine. See New
Vehicle Break-In 0265.
Caution
Brake fade can occur during
this burnish procedure and
can cause brake pedal travel
and force to increase. This
could extend stopping
distance until the brakes are
fully burnished.
Completing the following
procedure as instructed will
not damage the brakes. The
brake pads may smoke and
produce an odor. The braking
force and pedal travel may
increase. After the procedure,
the brake pads may appear
white at the rotor contact.
Cadillac CT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-16500419) -
2023 - CRC - 5/6/22
Vehicle Care 403
1. Using the G-Force Gaugein the HUD display, apply
the brakes 10 times
starting at 100 km/h
(60 mph) to 50 km/h
(30 mph) while
decelerating at 0.4g.
SeeHead-Up Display (HUD)
0143. This is a medium
brake application. Drive for
at least 0.5 km (0.3 mi)
between applying the
brakes.
2. If further cleanup of the brake discs is needed,
repeat this procedure with
0.7g applications.
As with all high performance
brake systems, some amount
of brake squeal is normal.
Brake Pad Life
System (If Equipped)
When to Change
Brake Pads
If equipped, this system
estimates the remaining life of
the front and rear brake pads. Brake Pad Life is displayed in
the Driver Information Center
(DIC), along with a percentage
for each axle. The system
must be reset every time the
brake pads are changed.
When the system has
determined that the brake
pads need to be replaced, a
message displays, which may
include mileage remaining.
Brake pads should always be
replaced as complete
axle sets.
How to Reset the Brake
Pad Life System
The system will automatically
detect when significantly worn
brake pads are replaced.
When the ignition is turned on
after new pads and wear
sensors are installed, a
message will display. Follow
the prompts to reset the
system.
The brake pad life system can
also be manually reset:
1. Display Brake Pad Life on
the DIC. See Driver
Information Center (DIC)
(Base Level) 0136 or
Driver Information Center
(DIC) (Uplevel) 0139.
2. Select the Brake Pad Life menu.
3. Select front or rear pads as appropriate.
4. Select YES on the confirmation message.
Repeat for the pads on the
other axle if they were also
replaced.
How to Disable the Brake
Pad Life System
The brake pad life system can
be turned off. This may be
necessary if aftermarket brake
pads without wear sensors
are installed. When the system
is turned off, the front and
rear brake pad
life percentages will not
display. However, the built-in
wear indicators that make a
high-pitched warning sound