Vehicle Care

Starter Switch Check

~1min read

1. Before starting this check, be sure there is enough room around the vehicle.

2. Firmly apply both the parking brake and the regular brake.

See Parking Brake (Electric) or Parking Brake (Manual).

Do not use the accelerator pedal, and be ready to turn off the engine immediately if it starts.

3. For automatic transmission vehicles, try to start the engine in each gear. The vehicle should start only in P (Park) or N (Neutral). If the vehicle starts in any other position, contact your dealer for service.

For manual transmission vehicles, put the shift lever in Neutral, push the clutch pedal down halfway, and try to start the engine. The vehicle should start only when the clutch pedal is pushed down all the way to the floor. If the vehicle starts when the clutch pedal is not pushed all the way down, contact your dealer for service.

Test yourself

A quick Cadillac CTS quiz: every answer comes with an explanation and a link to the manual page.