traction control CADILLAC CT6 2019 User Guide

Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12533370) -
2019 - crc - 1/23/19
190 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Recommended Fuel (3.0L TwinTurbo V6 and 4.2L Twin Turbo
V8 Engines) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Recommended Fuel (3.6L V6 Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . . . . . 278
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Trailer Towing
General Towing Information . . . . 280
Driving Characteristics andTowing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . 287
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.

Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12533370) -
2019 - crc - 1/23/19
DRIVING AND OPERATING 193
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 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
{Danger
High-performance features are
intended for use only on closed
tracks by experienced and qualified
drivers and should not be used on
public roads. High-speed driving,
aggressive cornering, hard braking,
and other high-performance driving
can be dangerous. Improper driver
inputs for the conditions may result
in loss of control of the vehicle,
which could injure or kill you or
others. Always drive safely.
Track events and competitive driving
may affect the vehicle warranty. See
the warranty manual before using the
vehicle for 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

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DRIVING AND OPERATING 195
{Warning
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral) or
with the ignition off is dangerous.
This can cause overheating of the
brakes and loss of 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
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 0220.
. Antilock Brake System (ABS)
improves vehicle stability during
hard stops, but the brakes should
be applied sooner than when on
dry pavement. See Antilock Brake
System (ABS) 0217.
See Driver Mode Control 0222. .
Allow greater following distance
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.
. Turn off cruise control.
Blizzard Conditions
Stop the vehicle in a safe place and
signal for help. Stay with the vehicle
unless there is help nearby. If possible,
use Roadside Service. See Roadside
Service 0405. To get help and keep
everyone in the vehicle safe:
. Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
. Tie a red cloth to an outside
mirror.

Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12533370) -
2019 - crc - 1/23/19
196 DRIVING AND OPERATING
{Warning
Snow can trap engine exhaust
under the vehicle. This may cause
exhaust gases to get inside. Engine
exhaust contains carbon monoxide
(CO), which cannot be seen or
smelled. It can cause
unconsciousness and even death.
If the vehicle is stuck in snow:. Clear snow from the base of
the vehicle, especially any
blocking the exhaust pipe.
. Open a window about 5 cm
(2 in) on the vehicle side that
is away from the wind, to
bring in fresh air.
. Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
. Adjust the climate control
system to circulate the air
inside the vehicle and set the
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
fan speed to the highest
setting. See“Climate Control
Systems.”
For more information about CO, see
Engine Exhaust 0209.
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 0220.
{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

Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12533370) -
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220 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Automatic Vehicle
Hold (AVH)
Automatic Vehicle Hold (AVH),
if equipped, can be turned on by
pressing AUTO HOLD with the driver
seat belt fastened, the driver door
closed, and the engine running. The
AVH indicator will come on.This feature will activate when the
vehicle is stopped to prevent it from
moving. After the brake pedal has
been released and before the
accelerator pedal has been pressed,
AVH uses braking pressure to hold the
vehicle stationary. In addition, the
ABS pump motor may activate to
build brake pressure to maintain the
vehicle at a standstill if necessary.
If AVH is holding the vehicle, the AVH
indicator will change to green. Once
AVH is active it will hold the vehicle
for a defined time period then engage
the parking brake. While AVH is
holding the vehicle, the parking brake
will engage if the driver door is
opened or the driver seat belt is
unfastened. See
Automatic Vehicle Hold
(AVH) Light 0144.
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control
System Operation
The vehicle has a Traction Control
System (TCS) and StabiliTrak/
Electronic Stability Control (ESC).
These systems help limit wheel spin
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/ESC activates when the
vehicle senses a difference between
the intended path and the direction
the vehicle is actually traveling.
StabiliTrak/ESC selectively applies
braking pressure to any one of the
vehicle wheel brakes to assist the
driver in keeping the vehicle on the
intended path.

Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12533370) -
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 221
If cruise control is being used and
traction control 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. SeeIf the
Vehicle Is Stuck 0196 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.
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.
4. 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.

Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12533370) -
2019 - crc - 1/23/19
222 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Turning the Systems Off and On
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
Y. The Traction Off lighti
displays in the instrument cluster and
the appropriate DIC message displays.
To turn TCS on again, press and
release
Y. The Traction Off lighti
displayed in the instrument cluster
will turn off.
To turn off both TCS and StabiliTrak/
ESC, press and hold
Yuntil the
Traction Off light
iand StabiliTrak/
ESC OFF light
gcome on and stay on
in the instrument cluster. The
appropriate DIC message displays.
To turn TCS and StabiliTrak/ESC on
again, press and release
Y. The
Traction Off light
iand StabiliTrak/
ESC OFF light
gin the instrument
cluster turn off.
Adding accessories can affect vehicle
performance. See Accessories and
Modifications 0290.
Driver Mode Control
Driver Mode Control attempts to add
a sportier feel, provide a more
comfortable ride, or assists in different
weather conditions or terrain. This
system simultaneously changes the
software settings of various
sub-systems to optimize driving
performance. Depending on the option
package, available features, and mode
selection; the Exhaust, Suspension,
Steering, Brakes, and Powertrain will
change settings to achieve the desired
mode characteristics. If the vehicle is
equipped with Magnetic Ride Control,
selecting the various Driver Modes
adjusts the ride of the vehicle to
enhance the ride performance for the
road conditions and the
selected mode.

Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12533370) -
2019 - crc - 1/23/19
224 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Snow/Ice Mode
Snow/Ice Mode is used for slippery
surfaces to help control wheel speed.
This can compromise the acceleration
on dry asphalt. Use when maximum
vehicle handling is desired. Snow/Ice
Mode will use a different accelerator
pedal map to optimize traction on a
slippery surface. The accelerator pedal
will reduce engine torque at small
pedal inputs.
When selected, the Snow/Ice Mode
indicator light will display in the
instrument cluster.This feature is not intended for use
when the vehicle is stuck in sand,
mud, ice, snow, or gravel. If the
vehicle becomes stuck, see
If the
Vehicle Is Stuck 0196.
If the vehicle is equipped with AWD,
Snow/Ice Mode will provide more
torque to the front wheels.
For further details on Snow/Ice Mode,
see “Driver Mode Selector Attributes
Affected”.
Track Mode (V-Series Only)
Use when maximum vehicle handling
is desired.
When selected, the Track Mode
indicator will display in the
instrument cluster.
When in Track Mode, the automatic
transmission and the accelerator pedal
is adjusted to give maximum control
during the highest level of spirited
driving. The Magnetic Ride Control
and steering will be set to the
optimum level for vehicle
responsiveness.

Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12533370) -
2019 - crc - 1/23/19
DRIVING AND OPERATING 225
Driver Mode Selector Attributes Affected
The different modes features are shown below. Not all vehicles have all features, depending on the vehicle options.Modes: TOUR DefaultSPORT TRACK SNOW/ICE
Throttle Progression Tour Tour Track Snow/Ice
Transmission Shift Mode Tour Sport Track Tour
Engine Sound Tour Sport Track Tour
Steering Tour Sport Track Tour
Suspension (if equipped with Magnetic Ride) Tour Sport Track Tour
Traction and Stability Control Tour Tour Track Tour
Throttle Progression
Adjusts throttle sensitivity by
selecting how quick or slow the
throttle reacts to input.
. Snow/Ice - The accelerator pedal
will reduce engine torque at small
pedal inputs. This allows better
wheel control on slippery surfaces.
. Track - The accelerator pedal is
adjusted to give maximum control
during the highest level of spirited
driving. Transmission Shift Mode
Sport or Track
–Performance Shift
Features are enabled in Sport and
Track. Performance Shift Features
include Performance Algorithm
Liftfoot and Performance Algorithm
Shift. Performance Algorithm Liftfoot
(PAL) allows the transmission to hold
the current gear after a quick release
of a heavily applied accelerator pedal.
This provides greater engine braking
and enhanced vehicle control without
using the paddles. Performance Algorithm Shift (PAS) recognizes
aggressive cornering, heavy braking,
and high acceleration to select and
hold lower gears when not using
paddles.
When PAL/PAS is activated, there is
an additional green gear symbol which
appears in the instrument cluster
display. See
Gear Shifting Light 0144.

Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12533370) -
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226 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Engine Sound
Adjusts the volume of engine noise.
Adjusts the volume of engine noise
from quietest in Tour mode to most
robust in Track mode.
Steering
Adjusts from a lighter steering feel in
Tour Mode to reduced assist in Sport
and Track Mode for more
steering feel.
Suspension (if equipped with
Magnetic Ride)
Adjusts the shock dampening
firmness from a comfort tune in Tour
Mode to an optimized responsiveness
tune in Sport and Track.
Traction and Stability Control
StabiliTrak/Electronic Stability Control
(ESC) can be turned off by pressing
and holding the button for
five seconds.Driver Mode Customization
The Engine Sound Management,
steering, and suspension drive modes
can be set to the driver’s preference.
See
“Driving Mode ”under Vehicle
Personalization 0157.
When in the Track main vehicle mode,
you cannot overwrite the Steering or
Suspension settings. These settings
are designed to interact with the
advanced functions in the Track Mode
and cannot be overwritten.
The selections made in the Driving
Mode menu overwrite the main
vehicle mode selection via the buttons
or switch on the center console. In
order to customize and overwrite,
select one of the three settings by
touching the infotainment display.
When in the customization screen for
each system, select one of the
available options:
• Auto (Follows the MODE switch)
• Tour
• Sport
• Track (V-Series only) The default will be to follow the
vehicle MODE switch settings, but the
main vehicle mode selection for the
currently selected system can be
overwritten using this menu. The
settings selected in this menu will set
the vehicle behavior in all selected
vehicle modes, and will be retained
over each ignition cycle. They do not
have to be reset each time the vehicle
is started.
Locking Rear Axle
Vehicles with a limited-slip rear axle
can give more traction on snow, mud,
ice, sand, or gravel. When traction is
low, this feature allows the drive
wheel with the most traction to move
the vehicle. The limited-slip rear axle
also gives the driver enhanced control
when cornering hard or completing a
maneuver, such as a lane change. For
vehicles with limited-slip rear axle, the
rear axle fluid should be changed. See
Maintenance Schedule
0383.