tow CADILLAC CTS 2007 1.G Owner's Guide

With the proper preparation and equipment, many
vehicles can be towed in these ways. See “Dinghy
Towing” and “Dolly Towing,” following.
Here are some important things to consider before
you do recreational vehicle towing:
What is the towing capacity of the towing
vehicle? Be sure you read the tow vehicle
manufacturer’s recommendations.
How far will you tow? Some vehicles have
restrictions on how far and how long they
can tow.
Do you have the proper towing equipment?
See your dealer or trailering professional
for additional advice and equipment
recommendations.
Is your vehicle ready to be towed? Just as
you would prepare your vehicle for a long
trip, you’ll want to make sure your vehicle is
prepared to be towed. SeeBefore Leaving on
a Long Trip on page 312.
Dinghy Towing
Notice:If you tow your vehicle with all
four wheels on the ground, the drivetrain
components could be damaged. The repairs
would not be covered by your warranty.
Do not tow your vehicle with all four wheels
on the ground.
Your vehicle was not designed to be towed with
all four wheels on the ground. If your vehicle
must be towed, you should use a dolly.
See “Dolly Towing” following for more information.
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Dolly Towing
Your vehicle can be towed using a dolly. To tow
your vehicle using a dolly, follow these steps:
1. Put the rear wheels on the dolly.
2. Securely attach the vehicle being towed to the
tow vehicle.3. Put the vehicle in PARK (P) for an automatic
transmission or in NEUTRAL for a manual
transmission.
4. Set the parking brake and then remove
the key.
5. Clamp the steering wheel in a straight-ahead
position with a clamping device designed for
towing.
6. Release the parking brake.
Towing a Trailer
Your vehicle is neither designed nor intended to
tow any trailer.
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Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle
Things you might add to the outside of your
vehicle can affect the airow around it. This may
cause wind noise and affect windshield washer
performance. Check with your dealer before
adding equipment to the outside of your vehicle.
Fuel
Use of the recommended fuel is an important part
of the proper maintenance of your vehicle. To
help keep the engine clean and maintain optimum
vehicle performance, GM recommends the use
of gasoline advertised as TOP TIER Detergent
Gasoline.
The 8th digit of the Vehicle Identication Number
(VIN) shows the code letter or number that
identies your vehicle’s engine. The VIN is at the
top left of the instrument panel. SeeVehicle
Identication Number (VIN) on page 445.
Gasoline Octane
If your vehicle has the 2.8L V6 engine (VIN
Code T), use regular unleaded gasoline with a
posted octane rating of 87 or higher. If the octane
rating is less than 87, you may notice an audible
knocking noise when you drive, commonly referred
to as spark knock. If this occurs, use a gasoline
rated at 87 octane or higher as soon as possible.
If you are using gasoline rated at 87 octane or
higher and you hear heavy knocking, your engine
needs service.
If your vehicle has the 3.6L V6 engine (VIN
Code 7), use regular unleaded gasoline with a
posted octane rating of 87 or higher. For best
performance or trailer towing, you may choose to
use middle grade 89 octane unleaded gasoline.
If the octane rating is less than 87, you may notice
an audible knocking noise when you drive,
commonly referred to as spark knock. If this occurs,
use a gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher as soon
as possible. If you are using gasoline rated at
87 octane or higher and you hear heavy knocking,
your engine needs service.
334

Engine Oil
There is an oil pressure
light in the instrument
cluster and an Oil
Pressure Low - Stop
Engine message on the
Driver Information
Center (DIC).
If the light and/or message appear, check the
engine oil level right away. For more information,
see “Oil Pressure Low - Stop Engine” under
DIC Warnings and Messages on page 232andOil
Pressure Light on page 212. You should check
the engine oil level regularly; this is an added
reminder.
Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check the engine oil every time
you get fuel. In order to get an accurate reading,
the oil must be warm and the vehicle must be
on level ground.
The engine oil dipstick handle is a yellow loop.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 342
for the location of the engine oil dipstick.
1. Turn off the engine and give the oil
several minutes to drain back into the oil
pan. If you do not do this, the oil dipstick might
not show the actual level.
2. Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a paper
towel or cloth, then push it back in all the
way. Remove it again, keeping the tip down,
and check the level.
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If you have to add coolant more than once or
twice a year, have your dealer check your cooling
system.
Notice:If you use extra inhibitors and/or
additives in your vehicle’s cooling system, you
could damage your vehicle. Use only the
proper mixture of the engine coolant listed in
this manual for the cooling system. See
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on
page 473for more information.Checking Coolant
The coolant surge tank and pressure cap are
located on the driver’s side of the vehicle, toward
the rear of the engine compartment. See
Engine Compartment Overview on page 342for
more information on location.
358

CAUTION: (Continued)
If you keep driving when the vehicles
engine is overheated, the liquids in it can
catch re. You or others could be badly
burned. Stop your engine if it overheats,
and get out of the vehicle until the engine
is cool.
SeeOverheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode on page 362for
information on driving to a safe place in
an emergency.
Notice:If your engine catches re because
you keep driving with no coolant, your vehicle
can be badly damaged. The costly repairs
would not be covered by your warranty. See
Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode
on page 362for information on driving to a
safe place in an emergency.
If No Steam Is Coming From Your
Engine
An Engine Coolant Hot - Idle Engine warning,
along with low coolant, can indicate a serious
problem.
If you get an Engine Coolant Hot - Idle Engine
warning, but see or hear no steam, the problem
may not be too serious. Sometimes the engine can
get a little too hot when you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
Stop after high-speed driving.
Idle for long periods in traffic.
Tow a trailer.
361

If you get the Engine Coolant Hot - Idle Engine
warning with no sign of steam, try this for a minute
or so:
1. In heavy traffic, let the engine idle in
NEUTRAL (N) while stopped. If it is safe to do
so, pull off the road, shift to PARK (P) or
NEUTRAL (N) and let the engine idle.
2. Set the climate controls to the highest heat
setting and fan speed and open the windows,
as necessary.
If you no longer have the Engine Coolant
Hot - Idle Engine warning, you can drive. Just to
be safe, drive slower for about 10 minutes. If
the warning does not come back on, you can
drive normally.
If the warning continues and you have not
stopped, pull over, stop, and park your vehicle
right away.
If there is still no sign of steam, you can idle the
engine for three minutes while you are parked.
If you still have the warning,turn off the engine
and get everyone out of the vehicleuntil it
cools down.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get
service help right away.Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode
This operating mode allows your vehicle to be
driven to a safe place in an emergency. Should an
hot engine condition exist, an overheat protection
mode which alternates ring groups of cylinders
helps prevent engine damage. In this mode, there
is a loss in power and engine performance.
Driving extended miles (km) and/or towing a trailer
in the overheat protection mode should be
avoided.
Notice:After driving in the overheated engine
protection operating mode, to avoid engine
damage, allow the engine to cool before
attempting any repair. The engine oil will be
severely degraded. Repair the cause of coolant
loss and change the oil. SeeEngine Oil on
page 346.
362

When rotating your vehicle’s tires, always use the
correct rotation pattern shown here.
If your vehicle has a compact spare tire, do not
include it in the tire rotation.
After the tires have been rotated, adjust the front
and rear ination pressures as shown on the Tire
and Loading Information label. SeeLoading Your
Vehicle on page 321, for an example of the tire and
loading information label and its location on your
vehicle.
If your vehicle has the Tire Pressure Monitor
System (TPMS) the TPMS sensors will need to be
reset and matched to the tire/wheel position. A
special TPMS diagnostic tool is used to reset the
sensor identication codes. See your dealer for
service.Make certain that all wheel nuts are properly
tightened. See “Wheel Nut Torque” under
Capacities and Specications on page 457.
{CAUTION:
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts to
which it is fastened, can make wheel nuts
become loose after time. The wheel could
come off and cause an accident. When
you change a wheel, remove any rust or
dirt from places where the wheel attaches
to the vehicle. In an emergency, you can
use a cloth or a paper towel to do this;
but be sure to use a scraper or wire brush
later, if needed, to get all the rust or dirt
off. SeeChanging a Flat Tire (CTS Only)
on page 424.
410

If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to “blowout” while you are
driving, especially if you maintain your tires
properly. SeeTires on page 392. If air goes out of a
tire, it is much more likely to leak out slowly. But if
you should ever have a “blowout”, here are a few
tips about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the at tire will create a drag
that pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your
foot off the accelerator pedal and grip the
steering wheel rmly. Steer to maintain lane
position, and then gently brake to a stop well out
of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much
like a skid and may require the same correction
you’d use in a skid. In any rear blowout, remove
your foot from the accelerator pedal. Get the
vehicle under control by steering the way you want
the vehicle to go. It may be very bumpy and
noisy, but you can still steer. Gently brake to a
stop — well off the road if possible.If a tire goes at, and your vehicle has a spare
tire, seeChanging a Flat Tire (CTS Only) on
page 424. This information shows you how to use
your vehicle’s tire changing equipment and
how to change a at tire safely.
{CAUTION:
Lifting a vehicle and getting under it to do
maintenance or repairs is dangerous
without the appropriate safety equipment
and training. The jack provided with your
vehicle is designed only for changing a
at tire. If it is used for anything else, you
or others could be badly injured or killed
if the vehicle slips off the jack. Use the
jack provided with your vehicle only for
changing a at tire.
422

CAUTION: (Continued)
In an emergency, you can use a cloth or a
paper towel to do this; but be sure to use
a scraper or wire brush later, if needed, to
get all the rust or dirt off.
{CAUTION:
Never use oil or grease on studs or nuts.
If you do, the nuts might come loose.
Your wheel could fall off, causing a
serious accident.9. Remove any rust or
dirt from the wheel
bolts, mounting
surfaces, and spare
wheel.
10. Install the spare tire.
11. Put the wheel nuts back on with the rounded
end of the nuts toward the wheel.
12. Tighten each wheel nut by turning it clockwise
with your hand until the wheel is held against
the hub.
431