brake CADILLAC ELR 2015 Owner's Manual
[x] Cancel search | Manufacturer: CADILLAC, Model Year: 2015, Model line: ELR, Model: CADILLAC ELR 2015Pages: 407, PDF Size: 41.85 MB
Page 163 of 407

Black plate (54,1)Cadillac ELR Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-7695154) -
2015 - CRC - 4/25/14
5-54 Instruments and Controls
Auto Defog
When set to On, the front defog will
automatically come on when the
vehicle is started.
Select Off or On.
Engine Assisted Heating
Plugged-In
During remote start, this feature
turns on or off the ability for the
engine to run to help heat the
vehicle when it is plugged in.
A change in setting will not take
effect until after the vehicle is first
powered down.
Select Off or On.
Collision/Detection Systems
Select and the following may
display:
.Alert Type
.Auto Collision Preparation
.Go Notifier
.Side Blind Zone Alert
.Rear Cross Traffic AlertAlert Type
This feature will set crash alerts to
beeps or seat vibrations. This
setting affects all crash alerts
including Forward Collision, Lane
Departure Warning, and Parking
Assist alerts.
Select Beeps or Safety Alert Seat.
Auto Collision Preparation
This feature will turn on or off the
Forward Collision Alert feature as
well as the Automatic Braking
capability of the Auto Collision
Preparation feature. With the Alert &
Brake setting, both Forward
Collision Alert as well as the
Automatic Braking capability of the
Auto Collision Preparation feature
are available. The Alert setting
disables most automatic braking
functions of the Auto Collision
Preparation feature. Some
last-second automatic braking
capability is still provided with the
Alert setting, but it is much less
likely to be triggered by most driving
conditions. Off disables all Forward Collision Alert and Automatic
Braking capabilities of the Auto
Collision Preparation feature. See
Active Emergency Braking System
on page 9-53.
Press Auto Collision Preparation.
Press to select Off, Alert & Brake,
or Alert.
Go Notifier
This feature will give a reminder that
Adaptive Cruise Control provides
when it has brought the vehicle to a
complete stop behind another
stopping vehicle, and then that
vehicle drives on.
Press Go Notifier. Press to select
Off or On. See
Adaptive Cruise
Control on page 9-39.
Side Blind Zone Alert
This allows the Side Blind Zone
Alert feature to be turned on or off.
Press Side Blind Zone Alert. Press
to select Off or On. See Side Blind
Zone Alert (SBZA) on page 9-55.
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Page 175 of 407

Black plate (4,1)Cadillac ELR Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-7695154) -
2015 - CRC - 4/25/14
6-4 Lighting
Flash-to-Pass
To flash the high beams, pull the
turn signal lever toward you, and
release.
Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL)
DRL can make it easier for others to
see the front of your vehicle during
the day. Fully functional DRL are
required on all vehicles first sold in
Canada.
The DRL will come on when all of
the following conditions are met:
.The ignition is on.
.The exterior lamp control is
in AUTO.
.The light sensor determines it is
daytime.
.The parking brake is released or
the vehicle is not in P (Park).
When the DRL are on, the taillamps,
instrument panel lights, and other
lamps will not be on. The DRL turn off when the
headlamps are turned to
Oor the
ignition is off.
Automatic Headlamp
System
When the exterior lamp control is
set to AUTO and it is dark enough
outside, the headlamps come on
automatically.
There is a light sensor on top of the
instrument panel. Do not cover the
sensor. The system may also turn on the
headlamps when driving through a
parking garage or tunnel.
When it is bright enough outside,
the headlamps will turn off or may
change to Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL).
The automatic headlamp system
turns off when the exterior lamp
control is turned to
Oor the ignition
is off.
For vehicles sold in Canada, this
control only works when the electric
drive unit is in P (Park).
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Page 190 of 407

Black plate (1,1)Cadillac ELR Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-7695154) -
2015 - CRC - 4/25/14
Driving and Operating 9-1
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Driving for Better EnergyEfficiency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-7
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-8
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . 9-8
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . 9-9
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-10
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 9-12
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . 9-12
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . 9-16
Power Button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-16
Starting and Stopping the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-18
Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-19
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-19
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . 9-20
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-21
Electric Vehicle Operating
Modes
System Operation . . . . . . . . . . . 9-21
Electric Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-21
Extended Range Mode . . . . . . 9-22
Driver Selected OperatingModes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-22
Out of Fuel/Engine Unavailable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-24
Maintenance Modes . . . . . . . . . 9-25
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-27
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-27
Electric Drive Unit
Electric Drive Unit . . . . . . . . . . . 9-28
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-29
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . 9-30
Regenerative Braking . . . . . . . . 9-32
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-33
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . 9-35
Competitive Driving Mode . . . 9-36
Continuous Damping Control (CDC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-36
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-37
Adaptive Cruise Control . . . . . 9-39
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Page 192 of 407

Black plate (3,1)Cadillac ELR Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-7695154) -
2015 - CRC - 4/25/14
Driving and Operating 9-3
Aggressive braking is indicated
when the ring turns yellow or the
leaf turns yellow and travels below
the center of the gauge.
Acceleration/Braking/Coasting
Avoid unnecessary rapid
accelerations and decelerations.
Electric range is maximized at
80 km/h (50 mph) and below. Higher
speeds use more energy and can
significantly reduce electric range.
Use cruise control when
appropriate.
Plan ahead for decelerations and
coast whenever possible. For
example, do not rush to traffic
signals.
Do not shift to N (Neutral) to coast.
The vehicle recovers energy while
coasting and braking in D (Drive)
or L (Low).Drive Mode and PRNDL Selection
Use Tour Mode when possible.
Sport Mode provides more
responsive acceleration than Tour
Mode, but can reduce efficiency.
Use Mountain Mode prior to
climbing long, steep grades in
mountainous areas. Be sure to
engage Mountain Mode before
starting to climb. Mountain Mode
reduces electric range and power,
but may be needed to maintain
speeds above 96 km/h (60 mph)
when climbing grades of 5% or
greater.
Use Hold Mode on a trip where all
or most of the electric charge will be
depleted. Use Hold Mode mainly
during highway or high-speed
driving to maximize both electric
vehicle miles and fuel efficiency.
Use L (Low) in heavy stop-and-go
traffic or when traveling downhill.
L (Low) requires less brake pedalapplication and provides a
controlled, efficient way to slow the
vehicle down.
Climate Setting
Using the heat and air conditioning
systems decreases the energy
available for electric driving.
Optimal energy efficiency is
achieved with the heat, air
conditioning, and fan turned off.
Less energy is used at low fan
speeds. When using the fan:
.MIN is the most energy efficient
climate setting as long as
0is
not selected.
.ECO is for moderate air
conditioning and heater
operation and is the next most
energy efficient setting as long
as
0is not selected.
.MAX mode provides the most
comfort but is the least energy
efficient.
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Page 195 of 407

Black plate (6,1)Cadillac ELR Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-7695154) -
2015 - CRC - 4/25/14
9-6 Driving and Operating
{Warning
Drinking and then driving is very
dangerous. Your reflexes,
perceptions, attentiveness, and
judgment can be affected by even
a small amount of alcohol. You
can have a serious—or even
fatal —collision if you drive after
drinking.
Do not drink and drive or ride with
a driver who has been drinking.
Ride home in a cab; or if you are
with a group, designate a driver
who will not drink.
Control of a Vehicle
Braking, steering, and accelerating
are important factors in helping to
control a vehicle while driving.
Braking
Braking action involves perception
time and reaction time. Deciding to
push the brake pedal is perception
time. Actually doing it is
reaction time.
Average driver reaction time is
about three-quarters of a second. In
that time, a vehicle moving at
100 km/h (60 mph) travels 20 m
(66 ft), which could be a lot of
distance in an emergency.
Helpful braking tips to keep in mind
include:
.Keep enough distance between
you and the vehicle in front
of you.
.Avoid needless heavy braking.
.Keep pace with traffic.
If propulsion is disabled while the
vehicle is being driven, brake
normally but do not pump the
brakes. If the brakes are pumped,
the pedal could get harder to push
down. If propulsion stops, there will still be some power brake assist but
it will be used when the brake is
applied. Once the power assist is
used up, it can take longer to stop
and the brake pedal will be harder
to push.
Steering
Electric Power Steering
The vehicle has electric power
steering. It does not have power
steering fluid. Regular maintenance
is not required.
If power steering assist is lost due
to a system malfunction, the vehicle
can be steered, but may require
increased effort.
See your dealer if there is a
problem.
If the steering wheel is turned until it
reaches the end of its travel and is
held against that position for an
extended period of time, power
steering assist may be reduced.
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Page 196 of 407

Black plate (7,1)Cadillac ELR Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-7695154) -
2015 - CRC - 4/25/14
Driving and Operating 9-7
If the steering assist is used for an
extended period of time, power
assist may be reduced.
Normal use of the power steering
assist should return when the
system cools down.
See specific vehicle steering
messages underService Vehicle
Messages on page 5-50. See your
dealer if there is a problem.
Curve Tips
.Take curves at a reasonable
speed.
.Reduce speed before entering a
curve.
.Maintain a reasonable steady
speed through the curve.
.Wait until the vehicle is out of
the curve before accelerating
gently into the straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
.There are some situations when
steering around a problem may
be more effective than braking.
.Holding both sides of the
steering wheel allows you to turn
180 degrees without removing
a hand.
.The Antilock Brake System
(ABS) allows steering while
braking.
Off-Road Recovery
The vehicle's right wheels can drop
off the edge of a road onto the
shoulder while driving. Follow
these tips:
1. Ease off the accelerator and
then, if there is nothing in the
way, steer the vehicle so that it
straddles the edge of the
pavement.
2. Turn the steering wheel about one-eighth of a turn, until the
right front tire contacts the
pavement edge.
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Page 197 of 407

Black plate (8,1)Cadillac ELR Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-7695154) -
2015 - CRC - 4/25/14
9-8 Driving and Operating
3. Turn the steering wheel to gostraight down the roadway.
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.
Driving on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can reduce
vehicle traction and affect your
ability to stop and accelerate.
Always drive slower in these types
of driving conditions and avoid
driving through large puddles and
deep‐standing or flowing water.
{Warning
Wet brakes can cause crashes.
They might not work as well in a
quick stop and could cause
pulling to one side. You could
lose control of the vehicle.
After driving through a large
puddle of water or a car/vehicle
wash, lightly apply the brake
pedal until the brakes work
normally.
(Continued)
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Page 198 of 407

Black plate (9,1)Cadillac ELR Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-7695154) -
2015 - CRC - 4/25/14
Driving and Operating 9-9
Warning (Continued)
Flowing or rushing water creates
strong forces. Driving through
flowing water could cause the
vehicle to be carried away. If this
happens, you and other vehicle
occupants could drown. Do not
ignore police warnings and be
very cautious about trying to drive
through flowing water.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. Water
can build up under the vehicle's
tires so they actually ride on the
water. This can happen if the road is
wet enough and you are going fast
enough. When the vehicle is
hydroplaning, it has little or no
contact with the road.There is no hard and fast rule about
hydroplaning. The best advice is to
slow down when the road is wet.
Other Rainy Weather Tips
Besides slowing down, other wet
weather driving tips include:
.Allow extra following distance.
.Pass with caution.
.Keep windshield wiping
equipment in good shape.
.Keep the windshield washer fluid
reservoir filled.
.Have good tires with proper
tread depth. See
Tires on
page 10-41.
.Turn off cruise control.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or through
mountains is different than driving
on flat or rolling terrain. See
“Mountain Mode” underDriver
Selected Operating Modes on
page 9-22. Tips for driving in these
conditions include:
.Keep the vehicle serviced and in
good shape.
.Check all fluid levels and brakes,
tires, cooling system, and
electric drive unit.
.Keep the vehicle in gear when
going down steep or long hills.
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Page 199 of 407

Black plate (10,1)Cadillac ELR Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-7695154) -
2015 - CRC - 4/25/14
9-10 Driving and Operating
{Warning
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral)
or with the vehicle turned off is
dangerous. The brakes will have
to do all the work of slowing down
the vehicle and could become too
hot. Hot brakes may not be able
to slow the vehicle enough to
maintain speed and control. You
could crash. Always have the
vehicle running and in gear
(preferably LOW range) when
going downhill. This will allow the
electric drive unit to assist in
slowing and maintaining speed.
.Stay in your own lane. Do not
swing wide or cut across the
center of the road. Drive at
speeds that let you stay in your
own lane.
.Top of hills: Be alert—
something could be in your lane
(stalled car, accident).
.Pay attention to special road
signs (falling rocks area, winding
roads, long grades, passing or
no-passing zones) and take
appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Drive carefully when there is snow
or ice between the tires and the
road, creating less traction or grip.
Wet ice can occur at about 0°C (32°
F) when freezing rain begins to fall,
resulting in even less traction. Avoid
driving on wet ice or in freezing rain
until roads can be treated with salt
or sand.
Drive with caution, whatever the
condition. Accelerate gently so
traction is not lost. Accelerating too
quickly causes the wheels to spin
and makes the surface under the
tires slick, so there is even less
traction. See
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control on page 9-33.
The Antilock Brake System (ABS)
improves vehicle stability during
hard stops on slippery roads, but
apply the brakes sooner than when
on dry pavement.
Allow greater following distance on
any slippery road 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 on slippery
surfaces.
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Page 206 of 407

Black plate (17,1)Cadillac ELR Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-7695154) -
2015 - CRC - 4/25/14
Driving and Operating 9-17
ON/RUN power mode. When the
vehicle is turned off, the POWER
O
button light will turn off.
The Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter must be in the vehicle for
the system to operate. If the vehicle
will not start, place the RKE
transmitter in the transmitter slot.
SeeRemote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation on page 2-2.
ON/RUN: This position is for
starting and driving. With the vehicle
off, and the brake pedal applied,
pressing the POWER
Obutton once
will place the vehicle in ON/RUN.
When the READY light is on in the
instrument cluster, the vehicle is
ready to be driven. This could take
up to 15 seconds at extremely cold
temperatures. See Vehicle Ready
Light on page 5-26. The engine will
only start if needed. If the vehicle
did not start, the instrument cluster
will display a screen with inactive
fuel and battery gauges. See
Starting and Stopping the Vehicle
on page 9-18. Service Only Mode
This power mode is available for
service and diagnostics, and to
verify the proper operation of the
malfunction indicator lamp as may
be required for emission inspection
purposes. With the vehicle off, and
the brake pedal not applied,
pressing and holding the POWER
O
button for more than five seconds
will place the vehicle in Service
Only Mode. The instruments and
audio systems will operate as they
do in ON/RUN, but the vehicle will
not be able to be driven. The
propulsion system will not start in
Service Only Mode. Press the
button again to turn the vehicle off.
{Caution
Service Only Mode will discharge
the 12-volt battery. Do not use
Service Only Mode for an
extended period, or the vehicle
may not start.
STOPPING THE VEHICLE/OFF:
To turn the vehicle off, press the
POWER
Obutton with the vehicle
in P (Park). Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) will remain active until
the driver door is opened. See
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
on page 9-19. When turning off the
vehicle, if the vehicle is not in
P (Park), the vehicle will go to ACC/
ACCESSORY and display the
message SHIFT TO PARK in the
Driver Information Center (DIC).
See Electric Drive Unit Messages
on page 5-44.
If the vehicle must be shut off in an
emergency:
1. Brake using a firm and steady pressure. Do not pump the
brakes repeatedly. This may
deplete power assist, requiring
increased brake pedal force.
2. Shift the vehicle to N (Neutral). This can be done while the
vehicle is moving. After shifting
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