2004 CADILLAC XLR brakes

Other Vehicle Lane Changes
If another vehicle enters the same lane as you, ACC will
not detect the vehicle until it is completely in the lane.
Be ready to take action and apply the brakes yourself.
Using ACC on Hills
How well ACC will work on hills depends on your
speed, vehicle load, traffic conditions and the steepness
of the hills. ACC may not detect a vehicle in your
lane while driving on hills. When going up steep hills,
you may want to use the accelerator pedal to maintain
your speed. When going downhill, you may have to
brake to keep your speed down. Applying the brake
disengages ACC. Many drivers ®nd this to be too much
trouble and do not use ACC on steep hills.
3-20

How the System Works
URPA comes on automatically when the shift lever is
moved into REVERSE (R) and the vehicle speed is less
than 3 mph (5 km/h). When the system comes on,
the three lights on the display will illuminate to let you
know that the system is working. URPA senses
how close your vehicle is to an object. The distance is
determined by the four ultrasonic sensors located on the
rear bumper. When you shift into REVERSE (R) and
an object is detected, the following will occur in
sequence depending on the distance from the object:
·At 5 feet (1.5 m) a chime will sound and one
amber light will be lit;
·at 40 inches (1.0 m) both amber lights will be lit;
·at 20 inches (0.5 m) a continuous chime will
sound and all three lights (amber/amber/red) will be
lit; and
·at 1 foot (0.3 m) a continuous chime will sound and
all three lights (amber/amber/red) will ¯ash.
URPA can detect objects 3 inches (7.6 cm) and wider,
and at least 10 inches (25.4 cm) tall, but it cannot detect
objects that are above trunk level. In order for the
rear sensors to recognize an object, it must be within
operating range.If the URPA system is not functioning properly, the
display will ¯ash red, indicating that there is a problem.
The light will also ¯ash red while driving if a trailer is
attached to your vehicle, or a bicycle or object is on the
back of, or hanging out of your trunk. The light will
continue to ¯ash until the trailer or the object is
removed and your vehicle is driven forward at least
15 mph (25 km/h).
It may also ¯ash red if the ultrasonic sensors are not
kept clean. So be sure to keep your rear bumper free of
mud, dirt, snow, ice and slush or materials such as
paint or the system may not work properly. If after
cleaning the rear bumper and driving forward at least
15 mph (25 km/h), the display continues to ¯ash red, see
your dealer. For cleaning instructions, see
Cleaning
the Outside of Your Vehicle on page 5-78.
It may also ¯ash red if your vehicle is moving in
REVERSE (R) at a speed greater than 3 mph (5 km/h).
Other conditions that may affect system performance
include things like the vibrations from a jackhammer or
the compression of air brakes on a very large truck.
As always, drivers should use care when backing up a
vehicle. Always look behind you, being sure to check
for other vehicles, obstructions and blind spots.
3-31

Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light
With the anti-lock brake
system, the light will come
on when your engine is
started and may stay on for
several seconds. That is
normal.
If the light stays on, turn the ignition off. Or, if the light
comes on when you are driving, stop as soon as
possible and turn the ignition off. Then start the engine
again to reset the system. If the light still stays on,
or comes on again while you are driving, your vehicle
needs service. If the regular brake system warning light
is not on, you still have brakes, but you do not have
anti-lock brakes. If the regular brake system warning
light is also on, you do not have anti-lock brakes
and there is a problem with your regular brakes. See
ªService ABSº under
DIC Warnings and Messages
on page 3-57.
The anti-lock brake system warning light will come on
brie¯y when you turn the ignition on. This is normal.
If the light does not come on then, have it ®xed so it will
be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
Traction Control System (TCS)
Warning Light
This light should come on
brie¯y as you start the
engine. If the light does not
come on then, have it
®xed so it will be ready to
warn you if there is a
problem.
The light will also come on while the Stabilitrak
žsystem
warms up and the STABILITRAK WARMING message
will be displayed in the Driver Information Center (DIC).
If it stays on, or comes on and the DIC shows a
SERVICE TRACTION SYS message when you are
driving, there is a problem with your TCS and your
vehicle needs service. When this light is on, the system
will not limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.
If the driver turns off TCS by pressing the button on
the console, the TCS system light will come on and the
TRACTION SYSTEM-OFF message will show on
the DIC.
3-46

ENGINE PROTECTION REDUCE ENGINE RPM:If this
message appears, the control system has determined
that continued operation at the existing engine
speed may lead to engine overheating. Therefore, you
should lower the engine speed by upshifting the
transmission or drive at a lower speed.
HEADLAMPS SUGGESTED:If it is dark enough
outside and the headlamps and Twilight Sentinel
ž
controls are off, this message will display on the DIC.
This message informs the driver that turning on the
exterior lamps is recommended even though the DRL
are still illuminated. It has become dark enough outside
to require the headlamps and/or other exterior lamps.
This message will also appear if the optional
RainsenseŸ wiping feature is on and the Twilight
Sentinel
žis off.
HIGH TRANS TEMP:This message indicates that the
transaxle ¯uid in your vehicle is too hot. Stop and
allow your vehicle to idle until it cools down or until this
message is removed.
HIGH VOLTAGE:This message shows that the
electrical charging system is overcharging. To avoid
being stranded, have the electrical system checked by
your dealership. You can reduce the charging
overload by using the accessories. Turn on the lamps
and radio, set the climate control on AUTO and the
fan speed on HI, and turn the rear window defogger on.You can monitor battery voltage on the DIC by pressing
the INFO button. The normal range is 11.5 to 15.5 volts
when the engine is running.
HOT ENGINE±A/C OFF:This message displays when
the engine coolant becomes hotter than the normal
operating temperature. To avoid added strain on a hot
engine, the air conditioning compressor is automatically
turned off. When the coolant temperature returns to
normal, the A/C operation will automatically resume. You
can continue to drive your vehicle. If this message
continues to appear, have the system repaired as soon
as possible to avoid compressor damage.
ICE POSSIBLE:This message appears when the
outside air temperature is cold enough to create icy road
conditions.
LEFT DOOR AJAR:This message will display anytime
the vehicle engine is running, the transmission is not
in PARK (P) and the driver's door is open or ajar.
A chime will sound when the vehicle's speed is greater
than 3 mph (4.8 km/h).
LOW BRAKE FLUID:This message will display if the
vehicle is running to inform the driver that the brake
¯uid level is low. Have the brake system serviced by a
technician as soon as possible. See ªBrake Fluidº
under
Brakes on page 5-35.
3-59

There is something else about drinking and driving that
many people do not know. Medical research shows
that alcohol in a person's system can make crash
injuries worse, especially injuries to the brain, spinal
cord or heart. This means that when anyone who has
been drinking Ð driver or passenger Ð is in a crash,
that person's chance of being killed or permanently
disabled is higher than if the person had not been
drinking.
{CAUTION:
Drinking and then driving is very dangerous.
Your re¯exes, perceptions, attentiveness and
judgment can be affected by even a small
amount of alcohol. You can have a serious Ð or
even fatal Ð collision if you drive after drinking.
Please 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
You have three systems that make your vehicle go
where you want it to go. They are the brakes, the steering
and the accelerator. All three systems have to do their
work at the places where the tires meet the road.
Sometimes, as when you are driving on snow or ice, it
is easy to ask more of those control systems than
the tires and road can provide. That means you can lose
control of your vehicle. Also see
Traction Control
System (TCS) on page 4-9andStabilitrakžSystem on
page 4-11.
4-5

Braking
Braking action involvesperception timeandreaction time.
First, you have to decide to push on the brake pedal.
That isperception time.Then you have to bring up your
foot and do it. That isreaction time.
Averagereaction timeis about 3/4 of a second. But that
is only an average. It might be less with one driver
and as long as two or three seconds or more with
another. Age, physical condition, alertness, coordination
and eyesight all play a part. So do alcohol, drugs and
frustration. But even in 3/4 of a second, a vehicle moving
at 60 mph (100 km/h) travels 66 feet (20 m). That
could be a lot of distance in an emergency, so keeping
enough space between your vehicle and others is
important.
And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly
with the surface of the road (whether it is pavement
or gravel); the condition of the road (wet, dry, icy); tire
tread; the condition of your brakes; the weight of
the vehicle and the amount of brake force applied.Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive
in spurts Ð heavy acceleration followed by heavy
braking Ð rather than keeping pace with traffic. This is a
mistake. Your brakes may not have time to cool between
hard stops. Your brakes will wear out much faster if you
do a lot of heavy braking. If you keep pace with the traffic
and allow realistic following distances, you will eliminate a
lot of unnecessary braking. That means better braking
and longer brake life.
If your engine ever stops while you are driving, brake
normally but do not pump your brakes. If you do,
the pedal may get harder to push down. If your engine
stops, you will still have some power brake assist.
But you will use it when you brake. Once the power
assist is used up, it may take longer to stop and
the brake pedal will be harder to push.
4-6

Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)
Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes. ABS is an advanced
electronic braking system that will help prevent a
braking skid.
When you start your engine and begin to drive away,
your anti-lock brake system will check itself. You
may hear a momentary motor or clicking noise while
this test is going on, and you may even notice that your
brake pedal moves a little. This is normal.
If there is a problem with
the anti-lock brake system,
this warning light will
stay on. See
Anti-Lock
Brake System Warning
Light on page 3-46
.
Let us say the road is wet and you are driving safely.
Suddenly, an animal jumps out in front of you. You slam
on the brakes and continue braking. Here is what
happens with ABS:
A computer senses that wheels are slowing down. If
one of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the computer
will separately work the brakes at each wheel.
4-7

The anti-lock system can change the brake pressure
faster than any driver could. The computer is
programmed to make the most of available tire and road
conditions. This can help you steer around the obstacle
while braking hard.
As you brake, your computer keeps receiving updates
on wheel speed and controls braking pressure
accordingly.Remember: Anti-lock does not change the time you
need to get your foot up to the brake pedal or always
decrease stopping distance. If you get too close to
the vehicle in front of you, you will not have time to apply
your brakes if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops.
Always leave enough room up ahead to stop, even
though you have anti-lock brakes.
Using Anti-Lock
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal
down ®rmly and let anti-lock work for you. You may hear
a motor or clicking noise and feel the brake pedal
move a little during a stop, but this is normal.
Braking in Emergencies
With anti-lock, you can steer and brake at the same
time. In many emergencies, steering can help you more
than even the very best braking.
4-8