traction control CADILLAC CT6 2020 User Guide

Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13566829) -
2020 - CRC - 6/14/19
178 DRIVING AND OPERATING
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 0203.
. 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) 0199.
See Driver Mode Control 0204. .
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 0380. To get help and keep
everyone in the vehicle safe:
. Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
. Tie a red cloth to an outside
mirror.
{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)

Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13566829) -
2020 - CRC - 6/14/19
DRIVING AND OPERATING 179
Warning (Continued)
fan speed to the highest
setting. See“Climate Control
Systems.”
For more information about CO, see
Engine Exhaust 0192.
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 0203.
{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
0346.
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 CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13566829) -
2020 - CRC - 6/14/19
DRIVING AND OPERATING 203
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.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. See
If the
Vehicle Is Stuck 0179 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.

Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13566829) -
2020 - CRC - 6/14/19
204 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Ifdcomes on and stays on, the
vehicle may need more time to
diagnose the problem. If the condition
persists, see your dealer.
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 0272.
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-13566829) -
2020 - CRC - 6/14/19
DRIVING AND OPERATING 205
The Driver Mode Control has multiple
modes: Tour, Sport, Snow/Ice, and
Track. The Track Mode is available for
V-Series models only. All modes have
preset vehicle settings for use in
different driving conditions. For
further detail see“Mode Description ”.
To activate a mode, press
yorzon
the MODE switch to make a mode
selection in the instrument cluster.
Every press will scroll to the next
available mode.
Mode Description
The following describes the modes
that can be selected in further detail.
Tour Mode
Use for normal city and highway
driving to provide a smooth, soft ride.
This setting provides a balanced
setting between comfort and handling.
This is the standard mode. For further
details on Tour Mode, see “Driver
Mode Selector Attributes Affected ”.
Sport Mode
Use where road conditions or personal
preference demand a more controlled
response.
When selected, the Sport Mode
indicator light will display in the
instrument cluster.
In this mode, the vehicle monitors
driving behaviors and automatically
enables Performance Shift Features
when spirited driving is detected.
These features maintain lower
transmission gears to increase
available engine braking and improve
acceleration response. The vehicle will exit these features and return to
normal operation after a short period
when no spirited driving is detected.
The steering including Active Rear
Steer (if equipped), will change to
provide more precise control. If the
vehicle has Magnetic Ride Control, the
suspension will change to provide
better cornering performance. If the
vehicle is equipped with AWD, Sport
Mode sends more torque to the rear
wheels.
For further details on Sport Mode, see
“Driver Mode Selector Attributes
Affected”.
Snow/Ice Mode
Snow/Ice Mode is used for slippery
surfaces to help control wheel speed.
This can compromise the acceleration
on dry asphalt. 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.

Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13566829) -
2020 - CRC - 6/14/19
DRIVING AND OPERATING 207
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 0126.

Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13566829) -
2020 - CRC - 6/14/19
208 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Engine Sound
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 0140. 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
0359.

Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13566829) -
2020 - CRC - 6/14/19
DRIVING AND OPERATING 209
Cruise Control
{Warning
Cruise control can be dangerous
where you cannot drive safely at a
steady speed. Do not use cruise
control on winding roads or in
heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous on
slippery roads. On such roads, fast
changes in tire traction can cause
excessive wheel slip, and you could
lose control. Do not use cruise
control on slippery roads.
With cruise control, a speed of about
40 km/h (25 mph) or more can be
maintained without keeping your foot
on the accelerator pedal. Cruise
control cannot be set below 40 km/h
(25 mph).
If the Traction Control/StabiliTrak/
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
system begins to limit wheel spin
while using cruise control, the cruise control automatically disengages. See
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control
0203. If a collision alert
occurs when cruise control is
activated, cruise control is disengaged.
See Forward Collision Alert (FCA)
System 0244. When road conditions
allow cruise control to be safely used,
it can be turned back on.
Cruise control will disengage if either
TCS or StabiliTrak/ESC is turned off.
If the brakes are applied, cruise
control disengages.
J: Press to turn the system on and
off. A white indicator appears in the
instrument cluster when cruise is
turned on.
RES+ : If there is a set speed in
memory, press briefly to resume to
that speed or press and hold to
accelerate. If the cruise control is
already active, use to increase vehicle
speed. To increase speed by 1 km/h
(1 mph), press RES+ to the first detent.
To increase speed to the next 5 km/h
(5 mph) mark on the speedometer,
press RES+ to the second detent.
SET− :Press briefly to set the speed
and activate cruise control. If the
cruise control is already active, use to
decrease vehicle speed. To decrease
speed by 1 km/h (1 mph), press SET−
to the first detent. To decrease speed
to the next 5 km/h (5 mph) mark on
the speedometer, press SET− to the
second detent.
*: Press to disengage cruise control
without erasing the set speed from
memory.

Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13566829) -
2020 - CRC - 6/14/19
DRIVING AND OPERATING 211
The speedometer reading can be
displayed in either English or
metric units. SeeInstrument Cluster
(Base Level) 0110 or
Instrument Cluster (Uplevel) 0113. The
increment value used depends on the
units displayed.
Passing Another Vehicle While
Using Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase
the vehicle speed. When you take your
foot off the pedal, the vehicle will slow
down to the previous set cruise speed.
While pressing the accelerator pedal
or shortly following the release to
override cruise, briefly applying SET−
will result in cruise set to the current
vehicle speed.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well the cruise control will work
on hills depends upon the vehicle
speed, load, and the steepness of the
hills. When going up steep hills, you
might have to step on the accelerator
pedal to maintain your speed. When
going downhill, the cruise control
system may automatically brake to
slow the vehicle down. Also, you may have to brake or shift to a lower gear
to keep your speed down. If the brake
pedal is applied, cruise control
disengages.
Ending Cruise Control
There are four ways to end cruise
control:
.
Step lightly on the brake pedal.
. Press
*.
. Shift the transmission to
N (Neutral).
. Press
J.
Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed is erased
from memory if
Jis pressed or if
the ignition is turned off.
Adaptive Cruise Control
If equipped with Adaptive Cruise
Control (ACC), it allows for selecting
the cruise control set speed and
following gap. Read this entire section
before using this system. ACC uses a
camera and radar sensors to detect other vehicles. See
Radio Frequency
Statement 0386. The following gap is
the following time (or distance)
between your vehicle and a vehicle
detected directly ahead in your path,
moving in the same direction. If no
vehicle is detected in your path, ACC
works like regular cruise control.
If a vehicle is detected in your path,
ACC can speed up the vehicle or apply
limited, moderate braking to maintain
the selected following gap. To
disengage ACC, apply the brake. If the
Traction Control System (TCS) or
StabiliTrak/Electronic Stability Control
(ESC) system activates while ACC is
engaged, ACC may automatically
disengage. See Traction Control/
Electronic Stability Control 0203. When
road conditions allow ACC to be safely
used, ACC can be turned back on. ACC
will not engage if the TCS or
StabiliTrak/ESC is disabled.

Cadillac CT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13566829) -
2020 - CRC - 6/14/19
216 DRIVING AND OPERATING
If ACC is engaged, driver action may
be required when ACC cannot apply
sufficient braking because of
approaching a vehicle too rapidly.
When this condition occurs, the
collision alert symbol on the HUD will
flash on the windshield. Either eight
beeps will sound from the front,
or both sides of the Safety Alert Seat
will pulse five times. See“Collision/
Detection Systems” underVehicle
Personalization 0140.
See Defensive Driving 0173.
Approaching and Following a
Vehicle
The vehicle ahead indicator is on the
instrument cluster and HUD display.
This indicator only displays when a
vehicle is detected in your vehicle’s
path moving in the same direction. If this indicator is not displaying, ACC
will not respond to or brake for
vehicles ahead.
ACC automatically slows the vehicle
down and adjusts vehicle speed to
follow the vehicle in front at the
selected follow gap. The vehicle speed
increases or decreases to follow the
vehicle in front of you, but will not
exceed the set speed. It may apply
limited braking, if necessary. When
braking is active, the brake lamps will
come on. The automatic braking may
feel or sound different than if the
brakes were applied manually. This is
normal.
Stationary or Very Slow-Moving
Objects
{Warning
ACC may not detect and react to
stopped or slow-moving vehicles
ahead of you. For example, the
system may not brake for a vehicle
it has never detected moving. This
can occur in stop-and-go traffic or
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
when a vehicle suddenly appears
due to a vehicle ahead changing
lanes. Your vehicle may not stop
and could cause a crash. Use
caution when using ACC. Your
complete attention is always
required while driving and you
should be ready to take action and
apply the brakes.
ACC Automatically Disengages
ACC may automatically disengage and
you will need to manually apply the
brakes to slow the vehicle if:
. The sensors are blocked.
. The Traction Control System (TCS)
or StabiliTrak/ESC system has
activated or been disabled.
. There is a fault in the system.
. The radar falsely reports blockage
when driving in a desert or remote
area with no other vehicles or