CADILLAC ELR 2014 Owner's Manual

Black plate (23,1)Cadillac ELR Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-6081525) -
2014 - Second Edition - 1/22/14
Driving and Operating 9-23
Highlight either the Mountain, Sport,
or Hold Mode, then release the
MODE switch. After three seconds,
the new drive mode will become
active.
Pressing the MODE switch again
will return to Tour Mode, and
become active after three seconds.
At next start, the vehicle will default
to Tour Mode. Drive modes can then
be selected again as desired.
During some conditions, certain
drive modes may be unavailable.
The unavailable mode is grayed out
in the DIC menu and cannot be
selected.If in Sport, Mountain, or Hold Mode,
the mode may become unavailable
and the vehicle will return to Tour
Mode. The indicator light goes off
and a DIC message displays. See
Propulsion Power Messages on
page 5-48.
Sport Mode
Sport Mode provides more
responsive acceleration, steering,
and suspension than Tour Mode,
but can reduce efficiency. Use Tour
Mode whenever possible.
Press the MODE switch button to
select Sport Mode.
Press the MODE switch again to
return to Tour Mode and it becomes
active after three seconds.
Each time the vehicle is started, it
will return to Tour Mode.
Mountain Mode
Mountain Mode should be selected
in advance of climbing steep, uphill
grades and when expecting to drive
in very hilly or mountainous terrain.
This mode maintains a reserve
electrical charge of the high voltage
battery to provide better grade
climbing performance. While driving
in Mountain Mode, the vehicle will
have less responsive acceleration.

Black plate (24,1)Cadillac ELR Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-6081525) -
2014 - Second Edition - 1/22/14
9-24 Driving and Operating
Mountain Mode will not change
normal vehicle braking performance
for steep downhill grades. SeeHill
and Mountain Roads on page 9-9
and Electric Drive Unit on
page 9-28.
Press the MODE switch to select
Mountain Mode. If steep hill driving
is expected, it is recommended to
select Mountain Mode at least
20 minutes before driving on steep
grades. This will allow the vehicle
time to build a sufficient battery
charge reserve.
If Mountain Mode is not selected for
these conditions, propulsion power
may be reduced and the engine
speed may increase. See
Propulsion Power Messages on
page 5-48.
The engine may run when Mountain
Mode is selected, depending on the
high voltage battery charge, to build
reserve battery charge for uphill
climbs. The high voltage battery
charge reserved for Mountain Mode will be displayed on the battery
gauge, but will not be depleted until
it is required for uphill driving.
Press the MODE switch again to
return to Tour Mode and it becomes
active after three seconds.
Each time the vehicle is started, it
will return to Tour Mode to maintain
a smaller battery charge reserve for
normal driving.
Hold Mode
Hold Mode is only available when
the vehicle is in Electric Mode. This
mode places the remaining battery
charge into a reserve for the driver
to use as desired. Selecting thismode transitions the vehicle to
Extended Range Mode to maintain
the battery charge reserve.
Upon exiting Hold Mode, the
reserved battery charge becomes
available again and the vehicle
returns to Electric Mode. If the
transition is from Hold Mode directly
to Mountain Mode, the electric
range displayed adjusts for the
Mountain Mode charge reserve.
Press the MODE switch and scroll
to Hold Mode to select it.
Press the MODE switch again to
return to Tour Mode and it becomes
active after three seconds.
Each time the vehicle is started, it
will return to Tour Mode.
Out of Fuel/Engine
Unavailable
If the vehicle runs out of fuel, or the
engine will not start due to a
malfunction, the vehicle can
continue to be driven in Electric
Mode. The vehicle will have less

Black plate (25,1)Cadillac ELR Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-6081525) -
2014 - Second Edition - 1/22/14
Driving and Operating 9-25
responsive acceleration. DIC
messages indicate reduced
propulsion power, that the engine is
not available, and the need for fuel
or service.
Once the vehicle is refueled, or the
malfunction is corrected, the engine
will start the next time the vehicle is
turned on to perform a self test, and
DIC messages will not be displayed.
Once the engine starts successfully,
normal operation will continue in
either Electric or Extended Range
Mode. The engine may stop running
after the self test is completed
based on the current mode of
operation. SeeFuel System
Messages on page 5-44 and
Service Vehicle Messages on
page 5-49.
Maintenance Modes
Engine Maintenance Mode (EMM)
EMM runs the engine to keep it in
good working condition after
approximately six weeks of no or
very limited engine operation. EMM will force the engine to run, even if
there is a charge to power the
vehicle. When EMM is needed, the
EMM Request screen appears on
the center stack display at vehicle
start.
If Start Maintenance is selected,
EMM will begin. The engine will run
for a set amount of time without
turning off. During EMM, a DIC
message displays to show the
EMM percentage complete.
If Postpone is selected, the EMM
Request screen will appear when
the vehicle is next started. The
EMM request can be delayed for
only one day.
If the EMM request was delayed for
one day, EMM will automatically
start the engine at the next vehicle
start. An EMM Notification screen
will appear in the center stack
display.
If the vehicle shuts off during EMM,
it will restart the next time the
vehicle is driven. A message
displays to indicate that EMM is
active.
If EMM is required and the fuel level
is low, EMM may eventually empty
the fuel tank if fuel is not added.
This will result in reduced, or no
power. An adequate fuel level must
be maintained in the vehicle to keep
it operational. See
Propulsion Power
Messages on page 5-48.

Black plate (26,1)Cadillac ELR Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-6081525) -
2014 - Second Edition - 1/22/14
9-26 Driving and Operating
Fuel Maintenance Mode (FMM)
FMM tracks average fuel age. Old
fuel can cause engine problems.
If low engine usage causes average
fuel age to exceed approximately
one year, FMM will run the engine to
use up the old fuel. The engine will
run until enough fresh fuel is added
to bring the average fuel age into an
acceptable range. Allowing more old
fuel to be used up by FMM and
adding a larger amount of fresh fuel
will maximize the length of time
before another FMM is needed.
During FMM the engine may turn on
and off.When FMM is needed, the FMM
Request screen appears on the
center stack display at vehicle start.
If Start Maintenance is selected,
FMM will begin. FMM will
automatically continue at each
vehicle start until fresh fuel is
added.
If Postpone is selected, the FMM
Request screen will appear when
the vehicle is next started. The FMM
request can be delayed for only
one day.
If the FMM request was delayed for
one day, FMM will start at the next
vehicle start and display the FMM
Notification screen on the center
stack display.If FMM is required and the fuel level
is low, FMM may eventually empty
the fuel tank if fuel is not added.
This will result in reduced, or no
power. An adequate fuel level must
be maintained in the vehicle to keep
it operational. See
Propulsion Power
Messages on page 5-48.

Black plate (27,1)Cadillac ELR Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-6081525) -
2014 - Second Edition - 1/22/14
Driving and Operating 9-27
Engine Exhaust
{Warning
Engine exhaust contains carbon
monoxide (CO) which cannot be
seen or smelled. Exposure to CO
can cause unconsciousness and
even death.
Exhaust may enter the vehicle if:
.The engine is running in
Extended Range Mode in
areas with poor ventilation
(parking garages, tunnels,
or deep snow that may block
underbody airflow or tail
pipes).
.The exhaust smells or
sounds strange or different.
.The exhaust system leaks
due to corrosion or damage.
.The vehicle exhaust system
has been modified, damaged,
or improperly repaired.(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.There are holes or openings
in the vehicle body from
damage or aftermarket
modifications that are not
completely sealed.
If unusual fumes are detected or
if it is suspected that exhaust is
coming into the vehicle:
.Drive it only with the windows
completely down.
.Have the vehicle repaired
immediately.
Never park with the engine
running in Extended Range Mode
in an enclosed area such as a
garage or a building that has no
fresh air ventilation.
Running the Vehicle
While Parked
It is better not to park with the
propulsion system running.
If the vehicle is left with the
propulsion system running, follow
the proper steps to be sure the
vehicle will not move. See Shifting
Into Park on page 9-19 andEngine
Exhaust on page 9-27.

Black plate (28,1)Cadillac ELR Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-6081525) -
2014 - Second Edition - 1/22/14
9-28 Driving and Operating
Electric Drive Unit
The vehicle uses an electric
drive unit.
P (Park):This position locks the
front wheels. It is the best position
to use when starting the propulsion
system 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.
Do not leave the vehicle when the
propulsion system is running.
If you have left the propulsion
system 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).
See Shifting Into Park on
page 9-19.
Make sure the shift lever is fully in
P (Park) before starting the
propulsion system. The vehicle has
an electric drive unit 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
vehicle 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 lever button
and move the shift lever into
another gear. See
Shifting out of
Park on page 9-20.
R (Reverse): Use this gear to
back up.
{Caution
Shifting to R (Reverse) while the
vehicle is moving forward could
damage the electric drive unit.
The repairs would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty. Shift to
R (Reverse) only after the vehicle
is stopped.
To rock the vehicle back and forth to
get out of snow, ice, or sand without
damaging the electric drive unit, see
If the Vehicle Is Stuck on page 9-11.

Black plate (29,1)Cadillac ELR Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-6081525) -
2014 - Second Edition - 1/22/14
Driving and Operating 9-29
N (Neutral):In this position, the
propulsion system does not connect
with the wheels.
D (Drive): This position is for
normal driving. It provides the best
fuel economy. If more power is
needed for passing, and the
vehicle is:
.Going less than 56 km/h
(35 mph), push the accelerator
pedal about halfway down.
.Going about 56 km/h (35 mph) or
more, push the accelerator all
the way down.
{Caution
If the vehicle seems to accelerate
slowly or not respond when you
go faster, and you continue to
drive the vehicle that way, you
could damage the electric drive
unit. Have the vehicle serviced
right away. L (Low):
This position reduces
vehicle speed without using the
brakes. You can use L (Low) on
hills. It can help control vehicle
speed going down steep mountain
roads along with using the brakes
off and on. You can use L (Low) on
very steep hills, in deep snow,
or in mud.
The brake lamps may come on
when the vehicle is in L (Low) and
the accelerator is not pressed to
indicate the vehicle is slowing down.
{Caution
Spinning the tires or holding the
vehicle in one place on a hill
using only the accelerator pedal
may damage the electric drive
unit. The repair will not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
If you are stuck, do not spin the
tires. When stopping on a hill, use
the brakes to hold the vehicle in
place.
Brakes
Antilock Brake
System (ABS)
This vehicle has ABS, an advanced
electronic braking system that helps
prevent a braking skid.
When propulsion is active and the
vehicle begins to drive away, ABS
checks itself. A momentary motor or
clicking noise might be heard while
this test is going on, and it might
even be noticed that the brake
pedal moves a little. This is normal.
If there is a problem with ABS, this
warning light stays on. See Antilock
Brake System (ABS) Warning Light
on page 5-21.

Black plate (30,1)Cadillac ELR Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-6081525) -
2014 - Second Edition - 1/22/14
9-30 Driving and Operating
If driving safely on a wet road and it
becomes necessary to slam on the
brakes and continue braking to
avoid a sudden obstacle, a
computer senses that the wheels
are slowing down. If one of the
wheels is about to stop rolling, the
computer will separately work the
brakes at each wheel.
ABS can change the brake pressure
to each wheel, as required, faster
than any driver could. This can help
the driver steer around the obstacle
while braking hard.
As the brakes are applied, the
computer keeps receiving updates
on wheel speed and controls
braking pressure accordingly.
Remember: ABS does not change
the time needed to get a foot up to
the brake pedal or always decrease
stopping distance. If you get too
close to the vehicle in front of you,
there will not be enough time to
apply the brakes if that vehiclesuddenly slows or stops. Always
leave enough room up ahead to
stop, even with ABS.
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold
the brake pedal down firmly and let
ABS work. You might hear the ABS
pump or motor operating and feel
the brake pedal pulsate, but this is
normal.
Braking in Emergencies
ABS allows the driver to steer and
brake at the same time. In many
emergencies, steering can help
more than even the very best
braking.
Electric Parking Brake
The vehicle has an Electric Parking
Brake (EPB). The switch is to the
left of the steering wheel. The EPB
can always be activated, even if the
vehicle is off. To prevent draining
the 12-volt battery, avoid repeated
cycles of the EPB system when the
vehicle is off.
The system has a red parking brake
status light and an amber parking
brake warning light. See
Electric
Parking Brake Light on page 5-20
and Service Electric Parking Brake

Black plate (31,1)Cadillac ELR Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-6081525) -
2014 - Second Edition - 1/22/14
Driving and Operating 9-31
Light on page 5-21. There are also
parking brake-related Driver
Information Center (DIC) messages.
SeeBrake System Messages on
page 5-41. In case of insufficient
electrical power, the EPB cannot be
applied or released.
Before leaving the vehicle, check
the red parking brake status light to
ensure that the parking brake is
applied.
EPB Apply
To apply the EPB:
1. Be sure the vehicle is at a complete stop.
2. Lift up the EPB switch momentarily.
The red parking brake status light
will flash and then stay on once the
EPB is fully applied. If the red
parking brake status light flashes
continuously, then the EPB is only
partially applied or there is a
problem with the EPB. A DIC
message will display. Release the
EPB and try to apply it again. If the light does not come on, or keeps
flashing, have the vehicle serviced.
Do not drive the vehicle if the red
parking brake status light is flashing.
See your dealer. See
Electric
Parking Brake Light on page 5-20.
If the amber parking brake warning
light is on, lift up on the EPB switch
and hold it up. Continue to hold the
switch until the red parking brake
status light remains on. If the amber
parking brake warning light is on,
see your dealer.
If the EPB is applied while the
vehicle is moving, the vehicle will
decelerate as long as the switch is
held up. If the switch is held up until
the vehicle comes to a stop, the
EPB will remain applied.
The vehicle may automatically apply
the EPB in some situations when
the vehicle is not moving. This is
normal, and is done to periodically
check the correct operation of the
EPB system. If the EPB fails to apply, the rear
wheels should be blocked to
prevent vehicle movement.
EPB Release
To release the EPB:
1. Place the ignition in the ACC/
ACCESSORY or ON/RUN
position.
2. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
3. Push down momentarily on the EPB switch.
The EPB is released when the red
parking brake status light is off.
If the amber parking brake warning
light is on, release the EPB by
pushing down on the EPB switch
and holding it down. Continue to
hold the switch until the red parking
brake status light is off. If either light
stays on after release is attempted,
see your dealer.

Black plate (32,1)Cadillac ELR Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-6081525) -
2014 - Second Edition - 1/22/14
9-32 Driving and Operating
{Caution
Driving with the parking brake on
can overheat the brake system
and cause premature wear or
damage to brake system parts.
Make sure that the parking brake
is fully released and the brake
warning light is off before driving.
Automatic EPB Release
The EPB will automatically release if
the vehicle is running, placed into
gear, and an attempt is made to
drive away. Avoid rapid acceleration
when the EPB is applied, to
preserve parking brake lining life.
Regenerative Braking
Regenerative braking takes some of
the energy from the moving vehicle
and turns it back into electrical
energy. This energy is then stored
back into the high voltage battery
system, contributing to increased
energy efficiency.The hydraulic disc brakes work with
the regenerative braking to ensure
effective braking, such as when a
high braking demand is requested.
The braking system is computer
controlled and blends the
regenerative braking with the
conventional hydraulic disc brakes
to meet any requirements for
deceleration. The controller
interprets the braking request and
uses regenerative braking,
conventional hydraulic braking, or a
combination of both as necessary.
Because the controller applies the
hydraulic brakes through its high
pressure accumulator, you may
occasionally hear the motor-driven
pump when it recharges the system.
This is normal.
See
Warning Lights, Gauges, and
Indicators on page 5-7 andDriver
Information Center (DIC) on
page 5-38. In the event of a
controller problem, the brake pedal
may be harder to push and the
stopping distance may be longer.
Regen on Demand™
Regen on Demand allows increased
deceleration by pressing and
holding either of the steering wheel
paddle switches. It works in
D (Drive) and L (Low). The
accelerator pedal must be fully
released for it to work.
The brake pedal must be applied at
low speed, because it will not stop
the car.
Cruise control will turn off, and the
brake lights may come on, when
this feature is activated.