2004 CADILLAC XLR tow

Seats and Restraint Systems........................... 1-1
Front Seats
............................................... 1-2
Safety Belts
.............................................. 1-4
Child Restraints
.......................................1-18
Air Bag Systems
......................................1-36
Restraint System Check
............................1-48
Features and Controls..................................... 2-1
Keys
........................................................ 2-2
Doors and Locks
....................................... 2-8
Windows
.................................................2-14
Theft-Deterrent Systems
............................2-17
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
...........2-19
Mirrors
....................................................2-33
OnStar
žSystem
......................................2-35
HomeLinkžTransmitter
.............................2-37
Storage Areas
.........................................2-41
Retractable Hardtop
..................................2-44
Vehicle Personalization
.............................2-53
Instrument Panel............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview
.......................... 3-2
Climate Controls
......................................3-33
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators
........3-39
Driver Information Center (DIC)
..................3-55Trip Computer
.........................................3-70
Audio System(s)
.......................................3-70
Driving Your Vehicle....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
..... 4-2
Towing
...................................................4-32
Service and Appearance Care.......................... 5-1
Service
..................................................... 5-3
Fuel
......................................................... 5-5
Checking Things Under the Hood
...............5-10
Rear Axle
...............................................5-45
Headlamp Aiming
.....................................5-46
Bulb Replacement
....................................5-49
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.........5-49
Tires
......................................................5-50
Appearance Care
.....................................5-75
Vehicle Identi®cation
.................................5-83
Electrical System
......................................5-84
Capacities and Speci®cations
.....................5-91
Maintenance Schedule..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule
................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance and Information.............. 7-1
Customer Assistance and Information
........... 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects
...........................7-10
Index................................................................ 1
2004 Cadillac XLR Owner ManualM

Front Seats
Eight-Way Power Seats
The eight-way power seat controls are located on
the outboard sides of both the driver's and the
passenger's seats.
·Move the front of the control up or down to adjust
the front portion of the cushion up or down.
·Move the rear of the control up or down to adjust
the rear portion of the cushion up or down.
·Lift up or push down on the whole control to move
the entire seat up or down.
·Slide the control toward the front or rear of the
vehicle to move the whole seat forward or rearward.
·Push or pull the top of the control forward or
rearward to raise and recline the seatback.
1-2

{CAUTION:
Never do this.
Here two children are wearing the same belt.
The belt can not properly spread the impact
forces. In a crash, the two children can be
crushed together and seriously injured. A belt
must be used by only one person at a time.
Q:What if a child is wearing a lap-shoulder belt,
but the child is so small that the shoulder belt
is very close to the child's face or neck?
A:Move the child toward the center of the vehicle, but
be sure that the shoulder belt still is on the child's
shoulder, so that in a crash the child's upper
body would have the restraint that belts provide.
1-19

{CAUTION:
The body structure of a young child is quite
unlike that of an adult or older child, for whom
the safety belts are designed. A young child's
hip bones are still so small that the vehicle's
regular safety belt may not remain low on the
hip bones, as it should. Instead, it may settle
up around the child's abdomen. In a crash, the
belt would apply force on a body area that is
unprotected by any bony structure. This alone
could cause serious or fatal injuries. Young
children always should be secured in
appropriate child restraints.
Child Restraint Systems
An infant car bed (A), a special bed made for use in a
motor vehicle, is an infant restraint system designed
to restrain or position a child on a continuous ¯at
surface. Make sure that the infant's head rests toward
the center of the vehicle.
1-23

What Makes an Air Bag In¯ate?
In an impact of sufficient severity, the air bag sensing
system detects that the vehicle is in a crash. For
both frontal and side impact air bags, the sensing
system triggers a release of gas from the in¯ator, which
in¯ates the air bag. The in¯ator, the air bag and
related hardware are all part of the air bag modules
inside the steering wheel, the instrument panel, and the
side of the front seatbacks closest to the door.
How Does an Air Bag Restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal collisions,
even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel or
the instrument panel. In moderate to severe side
collisions, even belted occupants can contact the inside
of the vehicle. The air bag supplements the protection
provided by safety belts. Air bags distribute the force of
the impact more evenly over the occupant's upper
body, stopping the occupant more gradually. But the
frontal air bags would not help you in many types
of collisions, including rollovers, rear impacts, and many
side impacts, primarily because an occupant's motion
is not toward the air bag. Side impact air bags would not
help you in many types of collisions, including frontal
or near frontal collisions, rollovers, and rear impacts,primarily because an occupant's motion is not toward
those air bags. Air bags should never be regarded
as anything more than a supplement to safety belts, and
then only in moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal
collisions for the driver's and passenger's frontal
air bags, and only in moderate to severe side collisions
for the driver's and passenger's side impact air bag.
What Will You See After an Air Bag
In¯ates?
After the air bag in¯ates, it quickly de¯ates, so quickly
that some people may not even realize the air bag
in¯ated. Some components of the air bag module ± the
steering wheel hub for the driver's air bag, the
instrument panel for the passenger's bag, the side of
the seatback closest to the door for the driver's
and passenger's side impact air bags ± will be hot for a
short time. The parts of the bag that come into
contact with you may be warm, but not too hot to touch.
There will be some smoke and dust coming from the
vents in the de¯ated air bags. Air bag in¯ation does not
prevent the driver from seeing or being able to steer
the vehicle, nor does it stop people from leaving
the vehicle.
1-42

After a power reconnect such as battery replacement,
the express-up feature will not function until the
system is reinitialized. To reinitialize the express-up
once power is restored, do the following:
1. Close the door.
2. Raise the window by holding the up arrow on the
power window switch.
3. Hold the up arrow for three seconds after the
window is closed. Release the switch. Then hold the
up arrow again for three seconds.
If the express-up system has not been reinitialized, the
windows cannot be raised with the door open.
Express-Down Window
This feature is on both power windows. Press the down
arrow on the switch to the second position to activate
the express-down feature. If you want to stop the
window as it is lowering, press the switch again.
Express-Up Window
This feature is on both power windows. Press the up
arrow on the switch to the second position to activate the
express-up feature. If you want to stop the window as
it is raising, press the switch again.
Window Indexing
This feature automatically lowers the window a small
amount when the door is opened. Then, when the door
is closed, the window will raise to its full up position.
The windows will not index while the retractable hardtop
is stowed.
Sun Visors
Swing down the visor to block out glare. It can also be
detached from the center mount and moved to the side.
Lighted Visor Vanity Mirrors
Swing the visor down and lift the cover. The lamp will
automatically come on when the cover is opened.
2-16

When the engine is off, press this button to place the
vehicle in ACCESSORY mode. ACCESSORY
MODE ACTIVE will display on the Driver Information
Center (DIC). This mode allows you to use things
like the radio and the windshield wipers while the engine
is off. Use ACCESSORY if you must have your vehicle
in motion while the engine is off, for example, if your
vehicle is being pushed or towed. If the door is
open while in ACCESSORY, the key in reminder chime
will sound continuously.
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
The following accessories on your vehicle may be used
for up to 10 minutes after the engine is turned off:
·Radio
·Power Windows
·Audio Steering Wheel Controls
Power to these accessories stops after 10 minutes or if
a door is opened. If you want power for another
10 minutes, close all the doors and press the
OFF/ACCESSORY button to place the vehicle in
ACCESSORY mode. Press the button again and the
vehicle will return to RAP.
Starting Your Engine
Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
Your engine will not start in any other position ± that is
a safety feature. To restart when you are already
moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only.
The keyless access transmitter must be in the vehicle
for the ignition to work.
Notice:Do not try to shift to PARK (P) if your
vehicle is moving. If you do, you could damage the
transmission. Shift to PARK (P) only when your
vehicle is stopped.
1. With your foot on the brake pedal, press the
START button. When the engine begins cranking,
let go of the button. The idle speed will go down as
your engine gets warm.
If the battery in the keyless access transmitter is
weak, the DIC will display FOB BATTERY
LOW. You can still drive the vehicle. See ªBattery
Replacementº under
Keyless Access System
Operation on page 2-4for more information.
2-20

You have to fully apply your regular brakes before you
can shift from PARK (P) when the vehicle is running.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure
on the shift lever and push the shift lever all the way
into PARK (P) as you maintain brake application. Then
move the shift lever into the gear you wish. See
Shifting Out of Park (P) on page 2-30.
REVERSE (R):Use this gear to back up.
Notice:Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle
is moving forward could damage the transmission.
The repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is
stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow,
ice or sand without damaging your transmission,
see If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow on
page 4-31.
NEUTRAL (N):In this position, your engine does not
connect with the wheels. To restart when you are
already moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only. Also, use
NEUTRAL (N) when your vehicle is being towed.
{CAUTION:
Shifting into a drive gear while your engine is
running at high speed is dangerous. Unless
your foot is ®rmly on the brake pedal, your
vehicle could move very rapidly. You could
lose control and hit people or objects. Do not
shift into a drive gear while your engine is
running at high speed.
Notice:Shifting out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N)
with the engine running at high speed may damage
the transmission. The repairs would not be
covered by your warranty. Be sure the engine is not
running at high speed when shifting your vehicle.
AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D):This position is
for normal driving.
Notice:Spinning the tires or holding the vehicle in
one place on a hill using only the accelerator
pedal may damage the transmission. If you are
stuck, do not spin the tires. When stopping on a hill,
use the brakes to hold the vehicle in place.
Maximum engine speed is limited to protect driveline
components from improper operation.
2-24