traction control CADILLAC CTS 2018 Owner's Manual

Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349156) - 2018 - CRC - 9/29/17
4 INTRODUCTION
Vehicle Symbol Chart
Here are some additional symbols that
may be found on the vehicle and what
they mean. See the features in this
manual for information.
9:Airbag Readiness Light
#:Air Conditioning
!:Antilock Brake System (ABS)
$:Brake System Warning Light
":Charging System
I: Cruise Control
`:Do Not Puncture
^:Do Not Service
B:Engine Coolant Temperature
O:Exterior Lamps
_:Flame/Fire Prohibited
.:Fuel Gauge
+: Fuses
3:Headlamp High/Low-Beam
Changer
j: ISOFIX/LATCH System Child
Restraints
*: Malfunction Indicator Lamp
::Oil Pressure
O:Power
/:Remote Vehicle Start
>:Seat Belt Reminders
7: Tire Pressure Monitor
d:Traction Control/StabiliTrak
a:Under Pressure
M: Windshield Washer Fluid

Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349156) - 2018 - CRC - 9/29/17
IN BRIEF 5
In Brief
Instrument Panel
Instrument Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Initial Drive Information
Initial Drive Information . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Stop/Start System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Remote Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Trunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Memory Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Heated and Ventilated Seats . . . . . . 14
Head Restraint Adjustment . . . . . . . 14
Seat Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Passenger Sensing System . . . . . . . . 15
Mirror Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . . . . . 16
Interior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Exterior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . . . . . 18
Climate Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Vehicle Features
Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . . . . . . 20
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Driver Information Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Forward Automatic Braking (FAB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . . . . . . 22
Surround Vision (CTS Only) . . . . . . 22
Curb View Camera (CTS-V Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . . . . . 23
Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Parking Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Automatic Parking Assist (APA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Reverse Automatic Braking (RAB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Vehicle-to-Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Universal Remote System . . . . . . . . . 24
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Performance and Maintenance
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Tire Pressure Monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Fuel (LGX 3.6L V6 Engine) . . . . . . . . 26
Fuel (LTG 2.0L L4 Engine) . . . . . . . . 26
Fuel (LF3 3.6L V6 Twin Turbo and LT4 6.2L V8 Engines) . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
E85 or FlexFuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Car Wash Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Driving for Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Roadside Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349156) - 2018 - CRC - 9/29/17
IN BRIEF 7
1.Air Vents 0174.
2. Turn Signal Lever. See Turn and
Lane-Change Signals 0157.
3. Manual Mode 0202 (If
Equipped).
4. Instrument Cluster 0118.
5. Windshield Wiper/Washer 0111.
6. Hazard Warning Flashers 0157.
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) 0239 (If
Equipped).
Stop/Start Disable Switch (If
Equipped). See Starting the
Engine 0194.
7. Light Sensor (If Equipped). See Automatic Headlamp System
0156.
Solar Sensor. See Dual Automatic
Climate Control System 0167.
8. Infotainment 0161.
9. Glove Box Button. See Glove Box
0 106.
Automatic Parking Assist Button
(If Equipped). See Assistance
Systems for Parking or Backing
0 226. Parking Assist Button. See
Assistance Systems for Parking or
Backing
0226.
10. Heated and Ventilated Front Seats
064 (If Equipped).
11. Dual Automatic Climate Control
System 0167.
12. Instrument Panel Storage 0106.
Wireless Charging Pad (If
Equipped) (Out of View). See
Wireless Charging 0115.
13. Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0206.
14. MODE Switch. See Driver Mode
Control 0208.
15. Shift Lever. See Automatic
Transmission 0200.
Manual Mode Button. See
Automatic Transmission 0200.
16. ENGINE START/STOP Button. SeeIgnition Positions 0192.
17. Steering Wheel Controls 0110.
Driver Information Center (DIC)
Controls. See Driver Information
Center (DIC) 0137. 18.
Horn 0111.
19. Steering Wheel Adjustment 0110.
20. Cruise Control 0214 (If
Equipped).
Adaptive Cruise Control 0217 (If
Equipped).
Forward Collision Alert (FCA)
System 0232 (If Equipped).
Heated Steering Wheel 0110 (If
Equipped).
21. Instrument Panel Illumination
Control 0158.
22. Head-Up Display (HUD) 0140 (If
Equipped).
23. Data Link Connector (DLC) (Out of View). See Malfunction
Indicator Lamp (Check Engine
Light) 0128.
24. Hood Release. See Hood0255.
25. Electric Parking Brake (EPB) Switch. See Electric Parking Brake
0 204.

Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349156) - 2018 - CRC - 9/29/17
IN BRIEF 25
Sunroof
If equipped, the sunroof will only
operate when the ignition is on or in
ACC/ACCESSORY, or when Retained
Accessory Power (RAP) is active. See
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)0197.
The driver side switch (1) operates the
sunroof. Vent :
Press and release
~(1) to
vent the sunroof. The sunshade will
automatically open approximately
38 cm (15 in). Press and hold
g(1)
to close the sunroof vent.
Express-Open/Express-Close : With
the sunroof in the vent position, press
~(1) a second time to express-open
the sunroof. Press
g(1) to
express-close the sunroof. To stop the
sunroof partway, press the switch
again.
The passenger side switch
Q(2)
operates the sunshade. Press and
release
Q(2) to express-open or
express-close the sunshade. To stop
the sunshade partway, press the
switch again.
See Sunroof 053.
Performance and
Maintenance
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control
The Traction Control System (TCS)
limits wheel spin. The system turns
on automatically every time the
vehicle is started.
StabiliTrak assists with directional
control of the vehicle in difficult
driving conditions. The system turns
on automatically every time the
vehicle is started.
.
To turn off TCS, press and release
Yon the center console.iilluminates in the instrument
cluster. A DIC message may
display.
. Press
Yagain to turn traction
control back on.
. To turn off both TCS and
StabiliTrak, press and hold
Yon
the center console until
gandi

Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349156) - 2018 - CRC - 9/29/17
26 IN BRIEF
illuminate in the instrument
cluster. A DIC message may
display.
. Press
Yagain to turn on both
systems.
See Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control 0206.
The vehicle has Driver Mode Control
and may have Competitive Driving
Mode. See Driver Mode Control 0208
and Competitive Driving Mode (V-Sport
Only) 0211.
Tire Pressure Monitor
This vehicle may have a Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS).
The low tire pressure warning light
alerts to a significant loss in pressure
of one of the vehicle's tires. If the warning light comes on, stop as soon
as possible and inflate the tires to the
recommended pressure shown on the
Tire and Loading Information label.
See
Vehicle Load Limits 0188. The
warning light will remain on until the
tire pressure is corrected.
The low tire pressure warning light
may come on in cool weather when
the vehicle is first started, and then
turn off as the vehicle is driven. This
may be an early indicator that the tire
pressures are getting low and the tires
need to be inflated to the proper
pressure.
The TPMS does not replace normal
monthly tire maintenance. Maintain
the correct tire pressures.
See Tire Pressure Monitor System
0 303.
Fuel (LGX 3.6L V6 Engine)
Regular Fuel
Use only unleaded gasoline rated
87 octane or higher in your vehicle.
Do not use gasoline with an octane
rating lower as it may result in vehicle
damage and lower fuel economy. See
Fuel 0242.
Fuel (LTG 2.0L L4 Engine)
Premium Recommended Fuel
Use premium 93 octane unleaded
gasoline in your vehicle. Unleaded
gasoline with an octane rating as low

Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349156) - 2018 - CRC - 9/29/17
74 SEATS AND RESTRAINTS
Each time the vehicle is started with
the front seat belts buckled, the
system activates once to tighten the
seat belts when the forward vehicle
speed exceeds the threshold for
activation.
The system also activates during
emergency braking and/or sudden
driving maneuvers and releases when
driving conditions return to normal.
The system turns off whenever
Competitive Driving Mode is activated,
and will turn back on when
Competitive Driving Mode is
deactivated. SeeCompetitive Driving
Mode (V-Sport Only) 0211.
The system will not activate if the
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control system is not functioning
properly. See Traction Control/
Electronic Stability Control 0206.
If there is a problem with the
Automatic Seat Belt Tightening
System, a message displays on the
Driver Information Center (DIC). If a
system unavailable message displays
repeatedly or a service message
displays, see your dealer. Other seat belt functions are not affected by the
Automatic Seat Belt Tightening
System.
Seat Belt Pretensioners
This vehicle has seat belt
pretensioners for front outboard
occupants. Although the seat belt
pretensioners cannot be seen, they are
part of the seat belt assembly. They
can help tighten the seat belts during
the early stages of a moderate to
severe frontal, near frontal, or rear
crash if the threshold conditions for
pretensioner activation are met. Seat
belt pretensioners can also help
tighten the seat belts in a side crash
or a rollover event.
Pretensioners work only once. If the
pretensioners activate in a crash, the
pretensioners and probably other
parts of the vehicle's seat belt system
will need to be replaced. See
Replacing
Seat Belt System Parts after a Crash
0 76. Do not sit on the outboard seat belt
while entering or exiting the vehicle or
at any time while sitting in the seat.
Sitting on the seat belt can damage
the webbing and hardware.Rear Seat Belt Comfort Guides
Rear seat belt comfort guides may
provide added seat belt comfort for
older children who have outgrown
booster seats and for some adults.
When installed on a shoulder belt, the
comfort guide positions the shoulder
belt away from the neck and head.
Comfort guides are available through
your dealer for the rear outboard
seating positions. Instructions are
included with the guide.
Seat Belt Use During
Pregnancy
Seat belts work for everyone,
including pregnant women. Like all
occupants, they are more likely to be
seriously injured if they do not wear
seat belts.

Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349156) - 2018 - CRC - 9/29/17
INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS 109
Instruments and
Controls
Controls
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . . . 110
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . . . . . 110
Heated Steering Wheel . . . . . . . . . . 110
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . . . . 111
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Wireless Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Warning Lights, Gauges, and
Indicators
Warning Lights, Gauges, andIndicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Fuel Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Boost Gauge (Performance Configuration Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 Engine Oil Temperature Gauge
(Performance
Configuration Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Seat Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Airbag Readiness Light . . . . . . . . . . 126
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Charging System Light . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Check Engine Light) . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Brake System Warning Light . . . . 129
Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . 130
Service Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) Light . . . 131
Vehicle Ahead Indicator . . . . . . . . . 131
Traction Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
StabiliTrak OFF Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Traction Control System (TCS)/ StabiliTrak Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Driver Mode Control Light (Uplevel) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Tire Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Engine Oil Pressure Light . . . . . . . . 134 Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . . . 134
Auto Stop Mode (Uplevel
Cluster Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Security Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Adaptive Forward Lighting (AFL) Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Lamps On Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Cruise Control Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Door Ajar Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Information Displays
Driver Information Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Head-Up Display (HUD) . . . . . . . . . 140
Vehicle Messages
Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Engine Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . 143
Vehicle Speed Messages . . . . . . . . . 144
Vehicle Personalization
Vehicle Personalization . . . . . . . . . . 144
Universal Remote System
Universal Remote System . . . . . . . . 149
Universal Remote System Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Universal Remote System Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152

Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349156) - 2018 - CRC - 9/29/17
132 INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS
Traction Off Light
This light comes on briefly while
starting the engine. If it does not,
have the vehicle serviced by your
dealer. If the system is working
normally, the indicator light then
turns off. For vehicles with a
reconfigurable cluster, this light is in
the display area and it may not come
on when the ignition is turned on.
The traction off light comes on when
the Traction Control System (TCS) has
been turned off by pressing and
releasing the TCS/StabiliTrak button.
This light and the StabiliTrak OFF
light come on when StabiliTrak is
turned off.
If the TCS is off, wheel spin is not
limited. Adjust driving accordingly.
SeeTraction Control/Electronic Stability
Control 0206.
StabiliTrak OFF Light
This light comes on briefly while
starting the engine. If it does not,
have the vehicle serviced by your
dealer.
This light comes on when the
StabiliTrak system is turned off.
If StabiliTrak is off, the Traction
Control System (TCS) is also off.
If StabiliTrak and TCS are off, the
system does not assist in controlling
the vehicle. Turn on the TCS and the
StabiliTrak systems, and the warning
light turns off.
See Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control 0206.
Traction Control System
(TCS)/StabiliTrak Light
This light comes on briefly when the
engine is started.
If the light does not come on, have
the vehicle serviced by your dealer.
If the system is working normally, the
indicator light turns off.
If the light is on and not flashing, the
TCS and potentially the StabiliTrak
system have been disabled. A Driver
Information Center (DIC) message
may display. Check the DIC messages
to determine which feature(s) is no
longer functioning and whether the
vehicle requires service.
If the light is on and flashing, the TCS
and/or the StabiliTrak system is
actively working.

Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349156) - 2018 - CRC - 9/29/17
INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS 133
SeeTraction Control/Electronic Stability
Control 0206.
Engine Coolant
Temperature Warning Light
On some vehicles this light comes on
briefly while starting the vehicle. If it
does not, have the vehicle serviced by
the dealer. If the system is working
normally the indicator light goes off.
For vehicles with the reconfigurable
cluster, this light may not come on
when starting the vehicle.
Caution
The engine coolant temperature
warning light indicates that the
vehicle has overheated. Driving with
this light on can damage the engine
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
and it may not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. SeeEngine
Overheating 0274.
The engine coolant temperature
warning light comes on when the
engine has overheated.
If this happens pull over and turn off
the engine as soon as possible. See
Engine Overheating 0274.
Driver Mode Control Light
(Uplevel)
This light comes on when Sport Mode
is selected.
This light comes on when Snow/Ice
Mode is selected.
This light comes on when Track Mode
is selected. See Driver Mode Control
0 208.
Tire Pressure Light

Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349156) - 2018 - CRC - 9/29/17
176 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Track Events and CompetitiveDriving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . 185
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Composite Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197 Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Parking over Things
That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Running the Vehicle While
Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . 200
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Brakes
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . 204
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/ElectronicStability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Competitive Driving Mode (V-Sport Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Limited-Slip Differential . . . . . . . . . 214
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Adaptive Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . 217
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . . . 225
Assistance Systems for Parking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Forward Automatic Braking (FAB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . 236
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . . . . 236
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . . . . . 239
Vehicle-to-Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Fuel
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
California Fuel Requirements . . . . 243
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . . . . . 244
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246