traction control CADILLAC ATS 2014 User Guide

Black plate (1,1)Cadillac ATS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6014430) - 2014 - 2nd Edition - 8/23/13
Driving and Operating 9-1
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Track Events and CompetitiveDriving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . 9-7
Highway Hypnosis . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-8
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . 9-8
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-9
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 9-11
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . 9-11
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . 9-16
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-16
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . 9-18
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-20 Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-21
Shifting Into Park (Automatic Transmission) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-21
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . 9-22
Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-22
Parking over Things
That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-23
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-23
Running the Vehicle WhileParked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-24
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . 9-24
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-26
Manual Transmission
Manual Transmission . . . . . . . . 9-28
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-29
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-29
Parking Brake (Electric) . . . . . . 9-30 Parking Brake (Manual) . . . . . . 9-32
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-33
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . 9-33
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-33
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . 9-35
Limited-Slip Rear Axle . . . . . . . 9-37
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-37
Adaptive Cruise Control . . . . . 9-40
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-48
Assistance Systems for Parking or Backing . . . . . . . . . 9-49
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-53
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-53
Active Emergency Braking System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-56
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-58
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-60

Black plate (2,1)Cadillac ATS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6014430) - 2014 - 2nd Edition - 8/23/13
9-2 Driving and Operating
Fuel
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-62
Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . 9-62
Gasoline Specifications . . . . . . 9-63
California FuelRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-63
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 9-63
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-64
E85 or FlexFuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-64
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-65
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-66
Trailer Towing
General TowingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-67
Driving Characteristics and Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-67
Trailer Towing (With V6 Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-70
Trailer Towing (With L4 Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-71
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . 9-71
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-72
Driving Information
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, always
keep your eyes on the road, hands
on the wheel, and mind on the drive.
.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.
.Avoid stressful conversations
while driving, whether with a
passenger or on a cell phone.

Black plate (5,1)Cadillac ATS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6014430) - 2014 - 2nd Edition - 8/23/13
Driving and Operating 9-5
.Holding both sides of the
steering wheel allows you to turn
180 degrees without removing
a hand.
.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 andthen, 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.
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

Black plate (7,1)Cadillac ATS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6014430) - 2014 - 2nd Edition - 8/23/13
Driving and Operating 9-7
For 3.6L Engine Only:
.Keep the level at or near 0.5 L
(0.5 qt) above the upper mark
that shows the proper operating
range on the engine oil dipstick.
.Install an engine oil cooler kit,
including engine oil cooler lines
and oil filter adapter.
.Install a heavy duty fan. This
requires electrical changes to
the vehicle. Contact your dealer.
{Caution
Failure to change the brake fluid
and transfer case fluid after any
performance or race track driving
could result in damage not
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Have the brake fluid and transfer
case fluid changed by your dealer
after any performance or race
track driving. SeeRecommended
Fluids and Lubricants on
page 11-13. For vehicles equipped with front
Brembo brake systems:
.Performance/racing brake pads
are required prior to racing or
closed track driving. Vehicles
with option code Y4Q have
performance brake pads.
.Before racing, replace existing
brake fluid with a qualified racing
brake fluid from a sealed
container. Brake fluid with a dry
boiling point >279°C (534°F) is
qualified. If racing brake fluid is
used, replace it with GM
approved brake fluid before
driving on public roads. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11-13.
.Do not use silicone-based fluids.
If racing brake fluid is in the vehicle
and the age of the brake fluid is
over a month old or unknown,
replace the brake fluid before
racing/closed track driving.
.The rear axle lubricant should be
replaced with new lubricant.
.Additional cooling capacity is
also required for continuous
competitive driving.
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.
{Warning
Wet brakes can cause crashes.
They might not work as well in a
quick stop and could cause
pulling to one side. You could
lose control of the vehicle.
After driving through a large
puddle of water or a car/vehicle
wash, lightly apply the brake
pedal until the brakes work
normally. (Continued)

Black plate (9,1)Cadillac ATS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6014430) - 2014 - 2nd Edition - 8/23/13
Driving and Operating 9-9
Warning (Continued)
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 steering. Always have the
engine running and the vehicle
in gear.
.Stay in your own lane. Do not
swing wide or cut across the
center of the road. Drive at
speeds that let you stay in your
own lane.
.Be alert on top of hills;
something could be in your lane
(stalled car, accident).
.Pay attention to special road
signs (falling rocks area, winding
roads, long grades, passing or
no-passing zones) and take
appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Drive carefully when there is snow
or ice between the tires and the
road, creating less traction or grip.
Wet ice can occur at about 0°C
(32°F) when freezing rain begins to
fall, resulting in even less traction.
Avoid driving on wet ice or in
freezing rain until roads can be
treated with salt or sand.
Drive with caution, whatever the
condition. Accelerate gently so
traction is not lost. Accelerating too
quickly causes the wheels to spin
and makes the surface under the
tires slick, so there is even less
traction.Try not to break the fragile traction.
If you accelerate too fast, the drive
wheels will spin and polish the
surface under the tires even more.
If equipped, Traction Control should
be turned on. See
Traction Control/
Electronic Stability Control on
page 9-33.
The Antilock Brake System (ABS)
improves vehicle stability during
hard stops on slippery roads, but
apply the brakes sooner than when
on dry pavement.
Allow greater following distance on
any slippery road 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.
See Antilock Brake System (ABS)
on page 9-29.

Black plate (11,1)Cadillac ATS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6014430) - 2014 - 2nd Edition - 8/23/13
Driving and Operating 9-11
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. SeeTraction
Control/Electronic Stability Control
on page 9-33.
{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
might need to be towed out. If the
vehicle does need to be towed out,
see Towing the Vehicle on
page 10-74.
Vehicle Load Limits
It is very important to know how
much weight the vehicle can
carry. This weight is called the
vehicle capacity weight and
includes the weight of all
occupants, cargo, and all
nonfactory-installed options.
Two labels on the vehicle show
how much weight it may
properly carry, the Tire and
Loading Information label and
the Certification label.
{Warning
Do not load the vehicle any
heavier than the Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR), or either the
maximum front or rear Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR).
This can cause systems to
break and change the way the
(Continued)

Black plate (27,1)Cadillac ATS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6014430) - 2014 - 2nd Edition - 8/23/13
Driving and Operating 9-27
3. To cancel DSC, move the shiftlever back to D (Drive).
Tap Shift
If equipped, the tap shift controls
are on the back of the steering
wheel.
To use DSC using the tap shift
controls:
1. Move the shift lever to the leftfrom D (Drive) to M (Manual
Mode). The transmission will be
in Manual Mode and will hold the
current gear. 2. Pull the control toward you to
shift. Pull the left control to
(−) downshift, and the right
control to (+) upshift.
3. To cancel DSC, move the shift lever back to D (Drive).
Tap Shift Mode can also be used
temporarily while driving in
D (Drive). Pull either the (+) upshift
or (−) downshift control.
To cancel Tap Shift Mode, hold
the (+) upshift control for
two seconds. If no action is taken,
the vehicle returns to automatic
shifting after a brief period of driving
at a steady speed, or when the
vehicle comes to a stop.
While using the DSC feature, the
vehicle will have firmer, quicker
shifting. This can be used for sport
driving, climbing or descending hills,
staying in gear longer, downshifting
for more power, or engine braking.
The transmission will only allow
shifting into gears appropriate for
the vehicle speed and engine revolutions per minute (rpm). The
transmission will not automatically
shift to the next lower or higher gear
if the engine rpm is too high or
too low.
If shifting is prevented for any
reason, a DIC message will appear.
See
Transmission Messages on
page 5-41.
When accelerating the vehicle from
a stop in snowy and icy conditions,
it is suggested to shift into second
gear. A higher gear allows the
vehicle to gain more traction on
slippery surfaces. See Driver Mode
Control on page 9-35.

Black plate (33,1)Cadillac ATS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6014430) - 2014 - 2nd Edition - 8/23/13
Driving and Operating 9-33
Brake Assist
This vehicle has a brake assist
feature designed to assist the driver
in stopping or decreasing vehicle
speed in emergency driving
conditions. This feature uses the
stability system hydraulic brake
control module to supplement the
power brake system under
conditions where the driver has
quickly and forcefully applied the
brake pedal in an attempt to quickly
stop or slow down the vehicle. The
stability system hydraulic brake
control module increases brake
pressure at each corner of the
vehicle until the ABS activates.
Minor brake pedal pulsation or
pedal movement during this time is
normal and the driver should
continue to apply the brake pedal as
the driving situation dictates. The
brake assist feature will
automatically disengage when the
brake pedal is released or brake
pedal pressure is quickly
decreased.
Hill Start Assist (HSA)
This vehicle has an HSA feature,
which may be useful when the
vehicle is stopped on a grade. This
feature is designed to prevent the
vehicle from rolling, either forward or
rearward, during vehicle drive off.
After the driver completely stops
and holds the vehicle in a complete
standstill on a grade, HSA will be
automatically activated. During the
transition period between when the
driver releases the brake pedal and
starts to accelerate to drive off on a
grade, HSA holds the braking
pressure for a maximum of
two seconds to ensure that there is
no rolling. The brakes will
automatically release when the
accelerator pedal is applied within
the two-second window. It will not
activate if the vehicle is in a drive
gear and facing downhill, or if the
vehicle is facing uphill and in
R (Reverse).
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/
Electronic Stability
Control
System Operation
The vehicle has a Traction Control
System (TCS) and StabiliTrak®, an
electronic stability control system.
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, TCS applies the brakes to
the spinning wheels and reduces
engine power to limit wheel spin.
StabiliTrak activates when the
vehicle senses a difference between
the intended path and the direction
the vehicle is actually traveling.
StabiliTrak selectively applies
braking pressure to any one of the

Black plate (34,1)Cadillac ATS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6014430) - 2014 - 2nd Edition - 8/23/13
9-34 Driving and Operating
vehicle wheel brakes to assist the
driver in keeping the vehicle on the
intended path.
If cruise control is being used and
traction control or StabiliTrak 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.
SeeIf the Vehicle Is Stuck on
page 9-11 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 is
activated.
.Turn on and stay on when either
system is not working.
If either system fails to turn on or to
activate, a message displays in the
Driver Information Center (DIC), and
dcomes on and stays on to
indicate that the system is inactive
and is not assisting the driver in
maintaining control. The vehicle is
safe to drive, but driving should be
adjusted accordingly. If
dcomes on and stays on:
1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Turn the engine off and wait 15 seconds.
3. Start the engine.
Drive the vehicle. If
dcomes on
and stays on, the vehicle may need
more time to diagnose the problem.
If the condition persists, see your
dealer.

Black plate (35,1)Cadillac ATS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6014430) - 2014 - 2nd Edition - 8/23/13
Driving and Operating 9-35
Turning the Systems Off
and On
Manual Transmission TCS/StabiliTrak Button Shown,
Automatic Transmission TCS/ StabiliTrak Button Similar
The button for TCS and StabiliTrak
is on the center console, behind the
shift lever.
{Caution
Do not repeatedly brake or
accelerate heavily when TCS is
off. The vehicle driveline could be
damaged.
To turn off only TCS, press and
release the
gbutton. The Traction
Off light
idisplays in the
instrument cluster and the
appropriate DIC message displays.
See Ride Control System Messages
on page 5-39.
To turn TCS on again, press and
release the
gbutton. The Traction
Off light
idisplayed in the
instrument cluster will turn off.
If TCS is limiting wheel spin when
the
gbutton is pressed, the system
will not turn off until the wheels stop
spinning. To turn off both TCS and StabiliTrak,
press and hold the
gbutton until
the Traction Off light
iand
StabiliTrak OFF Light
gcome on
and stay on in the instrument
cluster. The appropriate DIC
message displays. See Ride Control
System Messages on page 5-39.
To turn TCS and StabiliTrak on
again, press and release the
g
button. The Traction Off lightiand
StabiliTrak OFF Light
gin the
instrument cluster turn off.
Adding accessories can affect the
vehicle performance. See
Accessories and Modifications on
page 10-3.
Driver Mode Control
Driver Mode Control attempts to add
a sportier feel, provide a more
comfortable ride, or assist in
different weather conditions or
terrain. This system simultaneously
changes the software calibration of