CADILLAC ATS 2014 Owner's Manual

Black plate (9,1)Cadillac ATS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6014430) - 2014 - 2nd Edition - 8/23/13
Climate Controls 8-9
previous settings to heat or cool the
inside of the vehicle. SeeRemote
Vehicle Start on page 2-8.
The rear window defogger turns on
if it is cold outside.
Sensors
The solar sensor monitors the
solar heat. The climate control system uses the
sensor information to adjust the
temperature, fan speed,
recirculation, and air delivery mode
for best comfort.
If the sensor is covered, the
automatic climate control system
may not work properly.
Air Vents
Adjustable air vents are in the
center and on the side of the
instrument panel.
Use the thumbwheels (1) near the
air vents to open or close off the
airflow.

Black plate (10,1)Cadillac ATS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6014430) - 2014 - 2nd Edition - 8/23/13
8-10 Climate Controls
Move the slats (2) to change the
direction of the airflow.
Additional air vents are beneath the
windshield and the driver side and
passenger side door windows.
These are fixed and cannot be
adjusted.Operation Tips
.Clear away any ice, snow,
or leaves from air inlets at the
base of the windshield that could
block the flow of air into the
vehicle.
.Keep the path under the front
seats clear of objects to help
circulate the air inside the
vehicle more effectively.
.Use of non-GM approved hood
deflectors can adversely affect
the performance of the system.
Check with your dealer before
adding equipment to the outside
of the vehicle.
.Do not attach any devices to the
air vent slats. This restricts
airflow and may cause damage
to the air vents.
Maintenance
Passenger Compartment
Air Filter
The filter removes dust, pollen, and
other airborne irritants from outside
air that is pulled into the vehicle.
The filter should be replaced as part
of routine scheduled maintenance.
See
Maintenance Schedule on
page 11-3.
See your dealer regarding
replacement of the filter.
Service
All vehicles have a label underhood
that identifies the refrigerant used in
the vehicle. The refrigerant system
should only be serviced by trained
and certified technicians. The air
conditioning evaporator should
never be repaired or replaced by
one from a salvage vehicle.
It should only be replaced by a new
evaporator to ensure proper and
safe operation.

Black plate (11,1)Cadillac ATS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6014430) - 2014 - 2nd Edition - 8/23/13
Climate Controls 8-11
During service, all refrigerants
should be reclaimed with proper
equipment. Venting refrigerants
directly to the atmosphere is harmful
to the environment and may also
create unsafe conditions based on
inhalation, combustion, frostbite,
or other health-based concerns.

Black plate (12,1)Cadillac ATS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6014430) - 2014 - 2nd Edition - 8/23/13
8-12 Climate Controls
2NOTES

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 (3,1)Cadillac ATS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6014430) - 2014 - 2nd Edition - 8/23/13
Driving and Operating 9-3
{Warning
Taking your eyes off the road too
long or too often could cause a
crash resulting in injury or death.
Focus your attention on driving.
Refer to the Infotainment manual
and Infotainment section for more
information on using that system,
including pairing and using a cell
phone
Defensive Driving
Defensive driving means “always
expect the unexpected.” The first
step in driving defensively is to wear
the safety belt. See Safety Belts on
page 3-11.
.Assume that other road users
(pedestrians, bicyclists, and
other drivers) are going to be
careless and make mistakes.
Anticipate what they might do
and be ready.
.Allow enough following distance
between you and the driver in
front of you.
.Focus on the task of driving.
Drunk Driving
Death and injury associated with
drinking and driving is a global
tragedy.
{Warning
Drinking and then driving is very
dangerous. Your reflexes,
perceptions, attentiveness, and
judgment can be affected by even
a small amount of alcohol. You
can have a serious —or even
fatal —collision if you drive after
drinking.
Do not drink and drive or ride with
a driver who has been drinking.
Ride home in a cab; or if you are
with a group, designate a driver
who will not drink.
Control of a Vehicle
Braking, steering, and accelerating
are important factors in helping to
control a vehicle while driving.
Braking
Braking action involves perception
time and reaction time. Deciding to
push the brake pedal is perception
time. Actually doing it is
reaction time.
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.

Black plate (4,1)Cadillac ATS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6014430) - 2014 - 2nd Edition - 8/23/13
9-4 Driving and Operating
If the engine ever stops while the
vehicle is being driven, brake
normally but do not pump the
brakes. Doing so could make the
pedal harder to push down. If the
engine stops, there will be some
power brake assist but it will be
used when the brake is applied.
Once the power assist is used up, it
can take longer to stop and the
brake pedal will be harder to push.
Steering
Variable Effort Steering
Some vehicles have a steering
system that varies the amount of
effort required to steer the vehicle in
relation to the speed of the vehicle.
The amount of steering effort
required is less at slower speeds to
make the vehicle more
maneuverable and easier to park. At
faster speeds, the steering effort
increases to provide a sport-like feel
to the steering. This provides
maximum control and stability.If the vehicle seems harder to steer
than normal when parking or driving
slowly, there may be a problem with
the system. You will still have power
steering, but steering will be stiffer
than normal at slow speeds. See
your dealer for service.
Electric Power Steering
The vehicle has electric power
steering. It does not have power
steering fluid. Regular maintenance
is not required.
If power steering assist is lost due
to a system malfunction, the vehicle
can be steered, but may require
increased effort. See your dealer if
there is a problem.
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.
If steering assist is used for an
extended period of time, power
assist may be reduced.
Normal use of the power steering
assist should return when the
system cools down.
See specific vehicle steering
messages under
Vehicle Messages
on page 5-32.
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.

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 (6,1)Cadillac ATS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6014430) - 2014 - 2nd Edition - 8/23/13
9-6 Driving and Operating
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
Competitive driving may affect the
vehicle warranty. See the warranty
manual before using the vehicle for
competitive driving.
{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.
Because the fluid temperature may
be higher, it is necessary to change
the rear axle fluid after first time
track or competitive driving event.
After first time event, the rear axle
fluid should be changed every
24 hours of racing or competitive
driving. See Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 11-13.
{Caution
During a first time track or racing
event, high rear axle
temperatures can occur. Damage
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
could be caused to the rear axle
and would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
Do not drive as long or as fast the
first time the vehicle is driven on
the track or raced.
For 2.0L Engine Only:
.Keep the level at or near 1 L
(1 qt) above the upper mark that
shows the proper operating
range on the engine oil dipstick.
.Use a 600 W fan in addition to
the production option V03.
.Gasolines with a Pump Octane
((R+M)/2) of 99 or greater and
ethanol content below 15%
volume must be used for
competitive driving to protect
against engine damage. Colder
spark plug ratings should also
be used. Consult your dealer.