towing CADILLAC ATS 2018 Owner's Manual

Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12032610) -
2019 - crc - 8/22/18
86 SEATS AND RESTRAINTS
Warning (Continued)
not be able to inflate and help
protect that person in a crash,
resulting in an increased risk of
serious injury or even death. An
adult-sized occupant should not
ride in the front outboard passenger
seat, if the passenger airbag OFF
indicator is lit.
Additional Factors Affecting
System Operation
Seat belts help keep the passenger in
position on the seat during vehicle
maneuvers and braking, which helps
the passenger sensing system
maintain the passenger airbag status.
See“Seat Belts” and“Child Restraints”
in the Index for additional
information about the importance of
proper restraint use.
A thick layer of additional material,
such as a blanket or cushion,
or aftermarket equipment such as seat
covers, seat heaters, and seat
massagers can affect how well the passenger sensing system operates.
We recommend that you not use seat
covers or other aftermarket equipment
except when approved by GM for your
specific vehicle. See
Adding Equipment
to the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle 087 for
more information about modifications
that can affect how the system
operates.
A wet seat can affect the performance
of the passenger sensing system. Here
is how:
. The passenger sensing system may
turn off the airbag(s) when liquid
is soaked into the seat. If this
happens, the OFF indicator will be
lit, and the airbag readiness light
on the instrument panel will also
be lit.
. Liquid pooled on the seat that has
not soaked in may make it more
likely that the passenger sensing
system will turn on the front
passenger airbag(s) while a child
restraint or child occupant is on
the seat. If the outboard passenger
airbag(s) are turned on, the ON
indicator will be lit. If the front passenger seat gets wet,
dry the seat immediately. If the airbag
readiness light is lit, do not install a
child restraint or allow anyone to
occupy the seat. See
Airbag Readiness
Light 0129 for important safety
information.
The ON indicator may be lit if an
object, such as a briefcase, handbag,
grocery bag, laptop, or other electronic
device, is put on an unoccupied seat.
If this is not desired, remove the
object from the seat.{Warning
Stowing articles under the
passenger seat or between the
passenger seat cushion and
seatback may interfere with the
proper operation of the passenger
sensing system.

Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12032610) -
2019 - crc - 8/22/18
132 INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS
Caution
Modifications to the engine,
transmission, exhaust, intake,
or fuel system, or the use of
replacement tires that do not meet
the original tire specifications, can
cause this light to come on. This
could lead to costly repairs not
covered by the vehicle warranty.
This could also affect the vehicle’s
ability to pass an Emissions
Inspection/Maintenance test. See
Accessories and Modifications0238.
If the light is f lashing : A
malfunction has been detected that
could damage the emission control
system and increase vehicle
emissions. Diagnosis and service may
be required.
To help prevent damage, reduce
vehicle speed and avoid hard
accelerations and uphill grades.
If towing a trailer, reduce the amount
of cargo being hauled as soon as
possible. If the light continues to flash, find a
safe place to park. Turn the vehicle off
and wait at least 10 seconds before
restarting the engine. If the light is
still flashing, follow the previous
guidelines and see your dealer for
service as soon as possible.
If the light is on steady :
A
malfunction has been detected.
Diagnosis and service may be
required.
Check the following:
. If fuel has been added to the
vehicle using the capless fuel
funnel adapter, make sure that it
has been removed. See “Filling the
Tank with a Portable Gas Can ”
under Filling the Tank 0227. The
diagnostic system can detect if the
adapter has been left installed in
the vehicle, allowing fuel to
evaporate into the atmosphere.
A few driving trips with the
adapter removed may turn off the
light.
. Poor fuel quality can cause
inefficient engine operation and
poor driveability, which may go away once the engine is warmed
up. If this occurs, change the fuel
brand. It may require at least one
full tank of the proper fuel to turn
the light off.
See
Recommended Fuel (LFX 3.6L
V6 Engine) 0226 orRecommended
Fuel (LF3 3.6L Twin Turbo
V6 Engine) 0226.
If the light remains on, see your
dealer.
Emissions Inspection and
Maintenance Programs
If the vehicle requires an Emissions
Inspection/Maintenance test, the test
equipment will likely connect to the
vehicle's Data Link Connector (DLC).
The DLC is under the instrument
panel to the left of the steering wheel.
Connecting devices that are not used
to perform an Emissions Inspection/

Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12032610) -
2019 - crc - 8/22/18
172 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . 177
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Retained AccessoryPower (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189 Parking over Things
That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . 191
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Brakes
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . 194
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/ElectronicStability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Magnetic Ride Control . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Limited-Slip Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Automatic Level Control . . . . . . . . . 199
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Adaptive Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . 202
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . . . 209
Assistance Systems for Parking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Forward Automatic Braking (FAB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . 221
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . . . . 221
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . . . . . 224
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Recommended Fuel (LFX 3.6L V6 Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Recommended Fuel (LF3 3.6L Twin Turbo V6 Engine) . . . . . . . . 226
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . . . . . 227
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Trailer Towing
General Towing Information . . . . 230

Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12032610) -
2019 - crc - 8/22/18
DRIVING AND OPERATING 173
Driving Characteristics andTowing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . 235
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, 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.
. Avoid stressful conversations
while driving, whether with a
passenger or on a cell phone.
{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 CUE manual for more
information on using the CUE system,
if equipped.

Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12032610) -
2019 - crc - 8/22/18
DRIVING AND OPERATING 179
Warning (Continued)
fan speed to the highest
setting. See“Climate Control
Systems.”
For more information about CO, see
Engine Exhaust 0190.
To save fuel, run the engine for short
periods to warm the vehicle and then
shut the engine off and partially close
the window. Moving about to keep
warm also helps.
If it takes time for help to arrive,
when running the engine, push the
accelerator pedal slightly so the
engine runs faster than the idle speed.
This keeps the battery charged to
restart the vehicle and to signal for
help with the headlamps. Do this as
little as possible, to save fuel.
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. See
Traction Control/
Electronic Stability Control 0196.
{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
0309.
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 may
show how much weight it may
properly carry: the Tire and
Loading Information label and the
Certification label.

Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12032610) -
2019 - crc - 8/22/18
DRIVING AND OPERATING 181
recommended cold tire inflation
pressures for those tires, and the
vehicle's capacity weight.
“Steps for Determining Correct
Load Limit–
1.Locate the statement "The
combined weight of
occupants and cargo should
never exceed XXX kg or
XXX lbs." on your vehicle’s
placard.
2.Determine the combined
weight of the driver and
passengers that will be riding
in your vehicle.
3.Subtract the combined weight
of the driver and passengers
from XXX kg or XXX lbs.
4.The resulting figure equals
the available amount of cargo
and luggage load capacity. For
example, if the "XXX" amount
equals 1400 lbs. and there
will be five 150 lb passengers
in your vehicle, the amountof available cargo and luggage
load capacity is 650 lbs.
(1400-750 (5 x 150) =
650 lbs.)
5.Determine the combined
weight of luggage and cargo
being loaded on the vehicle.
That weight may not safely
exceed the available cargo
and luggage load capacity
calculated in Step 4.
6.If your vehicle will be towing
a trailer, load from your
trailer will be transferred to
your vehicle. Consult this
manual to determine how
this reduces the available
cargo and luggage load
capacity of your vehicle.”
See Trailer Towing 0232 for
important information on towing
a trailer, towing safety rules, and
trailering tips.Example 1
1.Vehicle Capacity Weight
for Example 1 = 453 kg
(1,000 lbs).
2.Subtract Occupant Weight
@ 68 kg (150 lbs) × 2 =
136 kg (300 lbs).
3.Available Occupant and
Cargo Weight = 317 kg
(700 lbs).

Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12032610) -
2019 - crc - 8/22/18
188 DRIVING AND OPERATING
4. Before starting the engine, besure to unplug and store the cord
as it was before to keep it away
from moving engine parts.
The length of time the heater should
remain plugged in depends on several
factors. Ask a dealer in the area where
you will be parking the vehicle for the
best advice on this.
Retained Accessory
Power (RAP)
Some vehicle accessories may be used
after the ignition is turned off.
The power windows and sunroof,
if equipped, will continue to work for
up to 10 minutes or until any door is
opened.
The infotainment system will continue
to work for 10 minutes, until the
driver door is opened, or until the
ignition is turned on or placed in
ACC/ACCESSORY.
Shifting Into Park
1. Hold the brake pedal down and apply the parking brake. See
Electric Parking Brake 0194.
2. Move the shift lever into P (Park) by pushing the lever all the way
toward the front of the vehicle.
3. Turn the ignition off.
Leaving the Vehicle with the
Engine Running
{Warning
It can be dangerous to leave the
vehicle with the engine running.
It could overheat and catch fire.
It is dangerous to get out of the
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully
in P (Park) with the parking brake
firmly set. The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the
engine is running. If you have left
the engine running, the vehicle can
move suddenly. You or others could (Continued)
Warning (Continued)
be injured. To be sure the vehicle
will not move, even when you are
on fairly level ground, always set
the parking brake and move the
shift lever to P (Park). See Shifting
Into Park 0188. If you are towing a
trailer, see Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips 0230.
If you have to leave the vehicle with
the engine running, be sure the
vehicle is in P (Park) and the parking
brake is firmly set before you leave it.
After you have moved the shift lever
into P (Park), hold down the regular
brake pedal. See if you can move the
shift lever away from P (Park) without
first pulling it toward you. If you can,
it means that the shift lever was not
fully locked into P (Park).
Torque Lock
Torque lock is when the weight of the
vehicle puts too much force on the
parking pawl in the transmission. This
happens when parking on a hill and

Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12032610) -
2019 - crc - 8/22/18
DRIVING AND OPERATING 189
shifting the transmission into P (Park)
is not done properly and then it is
difficult to shift out of P (Park). To
prevent torque lock, set the parking
brake and then shift into P (Park). To
find out how, see "Shifting Into
P (Park)" listed previously.
If torque lock does occur, your vehicle
may need to be pushed uphill by
another vehicle to relieve the parking
pawl pressure, so you can shift out of
P (Park).
If you are towing a trailer and parking
on a hill, seeDriving Characteristics
and Towing Tips 0230.
Shifting out of Park
This vehicle is equipped with an
automatic transmission shift lock
control system. The shift lock control
is designed to prevent movement of
the shift lever out of P (Park), unless
the ignition is on and the brake pedal
is applied.
The shift lock control is always
functional except in the case of an
uncharged or low voltage (less than
9-volt) battery. If the vehicle has an uncharged
battery or a battery with low voltage,
try charging or jump starting the
battery. See
Jump Starting - North
America 0306.
To shift out of P (Park):
1. Turn the ignition on.
2. Apply the brake pedal.
3. Press the shift lever button.
4. Move the shift lever to the desired position.
If you still are unable to shift out of
P (Park): 1. Fully release the shift lever button.
2. Hold the brake pedal down and press the shift lever button
again.
3. Move the shift lever to the desired position.
If you still cannot move the shift lever
from P (Park), consult your dealer or a
professional towing service.
Parking over Things
That Burn
{Warning
Things that can burn could touch
hot exhaust parts under the vehicle
and ignite. Do not park over papers,
leaves, dry grass, or other things
that can burn.
Extended Parking
It is best not to park with the vehicle
running. If the vehicle is left running,
be sure it will not move and there is
adequate ventilation.
See Shifting Into Park 0188 and Engine
Exhaust 0190.
If the vehicle is left parked and
running with the RKE transmitter
outside the vehicle, it will continue to
run for up to half an hour.

Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12032610) -
2019 - crc - 8/22/18
DRIVING AND OPERATING 191
Running the Vehicle While
Parked
It is better not to park with the engine
running.
If the vehicle is left with the engine
running, follow the proper steps to be
sure the vehicle will not move.
SeeShifting Into Park 0188 and Engine
Exhaust 0190.
If parking on a hill and pulling a
trailer, see Driving Characteristics and
Towing Tips 0230.
Automatic Transmission
P : This position locks the drive
wheels. Use P (Park) when starting the
engine because the vehicle cannot
move easily.
{Warning
It is dangerous to get out of the
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully
in P (Park) with the parking brake
firmly set. The vehicle can roll.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
Do not leave the vehicle when the
engine is running. If you have left
the engine running, the vehicle can
move suddenly. You or others could
be injured. To be sure the vehicle
will not move, even when you are
on fairly level ground, always set
the parking brake and move the
shift lever to P (Park).
SeeShifting Into Park 0188 and
Driving Characteristics and Towing
Tips 0230.
Make sure the shift lever is fully in
P (Park) before starting the engine.
The vehicle has an automatic
transmission shift lock control system.
The regular brake must be fully
applied first and then the shift lever
button pressed before shifting from
P (Park) when the ignition is in ON/
RUN. If you cannot shift out of
P (Park), ease pressure on the shift
lever, then push the shift lever all the
way into P (Park) as you maintain
brake application. Then press the shift

Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12032610) -
2019 - crc - 8/22/18
DRIVING AND OPERATING 209
Do Not Use ACC on Hills and When
Towing a Trailer
Do not use ACC when driving on steep
hills or when towing a trailer. ACC will
not detect a vehicle in the lane while
driving on steep hills. The driver will
often need to take over acceleration
and braking on steep hills, especially
when towing a trailer. If the brakes are
applied, the ACC disengages.
Disengaging ACC
There are three ways to
disengage ACC:
.Step lightly on the brake pedal.
. Press
*.
. Press
J. Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed is erased
from memory if
Jis pressed or if
the ignition is turned off.
Cleaning the Sensing System
The camera sensor on the back of the
rearview mirror and the radar sensors
on the front of the vehicle can become
blocked by snow, ice, dirt, or mud.
These areas need to be cleaned for
ACC to operate properly.
For cleaning instructions, see
“Washing the Vehicle ”under Exterior
Care 0312.
System operation may also be limited
under snow, heavy rain, or road spray
conditions.
Driver Assistance
Systems
This vehicle may have features that
work together to help avoid crashes or
reduce crash damage while driving,
backing, and parking. Read this entire
section before using these systems.
{Warning
Do not rely on the Driver
Assistance Systems. These systems
do not replace the need for paying
attention and driving safely. You
may not hear or feel alerts or
warnings provided by these
systems. Failure to use proper care
when driving may result in injury,
death, or vehicle damage. See
Defensive Driving 0174.
Under many conditions, these
systems will not: . Detect children, pedestrians,
bicyclists, or animals.
(Continued)