2005 CADILLAC XLR Owners Manual

Item Description Total
AVehicle Capacity Weight
for Example 2=400 lbs (181 kg)
BSubtract Occupant
Weight @ 150 lbs
(68kg)x2=300 lbs (136 kg)
CAvailable Cargo
Weight =100 lbs (45 kg)Item Description Total
AVehicle Capacity Weight
for Example 3=400 lbs (181 kg)
BSubtract Occupant
Weight @ 200 lbs
(91kg)x2=400 lbs (181 kg)
CAvailable Cargo
Weight =0 lbs (0 kg)
Refer to your vehicle’s tire and loading information label
for specic information about your vehicle’s capacity
weight and seating positions. The combined weight of
the driver, passengers and cargo should never
exceed your vehicle’s capacity weight. Example 2
Example 3
5-33

Certication Label
A vehicle specic Certication label is attached to the
rear edge of the driver’s door. It tells you the gross
weight capacity of your vehicle, called the Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR). The GVWR includes the
weight of the vehicle, all occupants, fuel and cargo.
Never exceed the GVWR for your vehicle, or the Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) for either the front or
rear axle.
And, if you do have a heavy load, you should spread it
out. Do not carry more than 100 lbs (45 kg) in the
rear area of your vehicle.
{CAUTION:
Do not load your vehicle any heavier than the
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), or either
the maximum front or rear Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR). If you do, parts on your
vehicle can break, and it can change the way
your vehicle handles. These could cause you
to lose control and crash. Also, overloading
can shorten the life of your vehicle.
Notice:Overloading your vehicle may cause
damage. Repairs would not be covered by your
warranty. Do not overload your vehicle.
If you put things inside your vehicle — like suitcases,
tools, packages or anything else — they will go as fast
as the vehicle goes. If you have to stop or turn
quickly, or if there is a crash, they will keep going.
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{CAUTION:
Things you put inside your vehicle can strike
and injure people in a sudden stop or turn, or
in a crash.
Put things in the rear area of your vehicle.
Try to spread the weight evenly.
Never stack heavier things, like suitcases,
inside the vehicle so that some of them
are above the tops of the seats.
Do not leave an unsecured child restraint
in your vehicle.
When you carry something inside the
vehicle, secure it whenever you can.
Towing
Towing Your Vehicle
Consult your dealer or a professional towing service if
you need to have your disabled vehicle towed. See
Roadside Service on page 8-6.
Recreational Vehicle Towing
Recreational vehicle towing means towing your vehicle
behind another vehicle — such as behind a motorhome.
The two most common types of recreational vehicle
towing are known as “dinghy towing” (towing your vehicle
with all four wheels on the ground) and “dolly towing”
(towing your vehicle with two wheels on the ground and
two wheels up on a device known as a “dolly”).
Your vehicle was not designed to be towed with any of
its wheels on the ground. If your vehicle must be
towed, see “Towing Your Vehicle” earlier in this section.
Towing a Trailer
Your XLR is neither designed nor intended to tow
a trailer.
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✍NOTES
5-36

Service............................................................6-3
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................6-4
Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your
Vehicle......................................................6-5
Fuel................................................................6-5
Gasoline Octane............................................6-5
Gasoline Specications....................................6-5
California Fuel...............................................6-5
Additives.......................................................6-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................6-6
Filling Your Tank............................................6-7
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.....................6-10
Checking Things Under the Hood....................6-10
Hood Release..............................................6-11
Engine Compartment Overview.......................6-12
Engine Oil...................................................6-13
Engine Oil Life System..................................6-16
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................6-18
Automatic Transmission Fluid.........................6-20
Engine Coolant.............................................6-20
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap..................6-23
Engine Overheating.......................................6-23
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode........................................6-25
Cooling System............................................6-26
Power Steering Fluid.....................................6-31Windshield Washer Fluid................................6-32
Brakes........................................................6-33
Battery........................................................6-36
Jump Starting...............................................6-37
Rear Axle.......................................................6-41
Headlamp Aiming...........................................6-42
Headlamp Vertical Aiming..............................6-43
Bulb Replacement..........................................6-44
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............6-45
Tires..............................................................6-46
Tire Sidewall Labelling...................................6-47
Tire Terminology and Denitions.....................6-49
Run-Flat Tires..............................................6-52
Ination - Tire Pressure.................................6-53
Tire Pressure Monitor System.........................6-55
Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................6-57
When It Is Time for New Tires.......................6-58
Buying New Tires.........................................6-58
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..........................6-59
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance..................6-61
Wheel Replacement......................................6-61
Tire Chains..................................................6-63
Lifting Your Vehicle.......................................6-64
If a Tire Goes Flat........................................6-68
Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
6-1

Appearance Care............................................6-70
Fabric/Carpet...............................................6-70
Vinyl...........................................................6-72
Leather.......................................................6-72
Instrument Panel..........................................6-72
Interior Plastic Components............................6-72
Wood Panels...............................................6-72
Speaker Covers............................................6-73
Glass Surfaces.............................................6-73
Care of Safety Belts......................................6-73
Weatherstrips...............................................6-73
Washing Your Vehicle...................................6-74
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses.....................6-74
Finish Care..................................................6-74
Windshield and Wiper Blades.........................6-75
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels................6-76
Tires...........................................................6-76Sheet Metal Damage.....................................6-77
Finish Damage.............................................6-77
Underbody Maintenance................................6-77
Chemical Paint Spotting.................................6-77
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials..................6-78
Vehicle Identication......................................6-79
Vehicle Identication Number (VIN).................6-79
Service Parts Identication Label.....................6-79
Electrical System............................................6-80
Add-On Electrical Equipment..........................6-80
Windshield Wiper Fuses................................6-80
Power Windows and Other Power Options.......6-80
Fuses and Circuit Breakers............................6-80
Instrument Panel Fuse Block..........................6-81
Underhood Fuse Block..................................6-83
Capacities and Specications..........................6-85
Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
6-2

Service
Your dealer knows your vehicle best and wants you to
be happy with it. We hope you will go to your dealer
for all your service needs. You will get genuine GM parts
and GM-trained and supported service people.
We hope you will want to keep your GM vehicle all GM.
Genuine GM parts have one of these marks:
California Proposition 65 Warning
Most motor vehicles, including this one, contain and/or
emit chemicals known to the State of California to
cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive
harm. Engine exhaust, many parts and systems
(including some inside the vehicle), many uids, and
some component wear by-products contain and/or emit
these chemicals.
6-3

Doing Your Own Service Work
If you want to do some of your own service work, you
will want to use the proper service manual. It tells
you much more about how to service your vehicle than
this manual can. To order the proper service manual,
seeService Publications Ordering Information on
page 8-12.
Your vehicle has an airbag system. Before attempting to
do your own service work, seeServicing Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on page 1-47.
You should keep a record with all parts receipts and list
the mileage and the date of any service work you
perform. SeeMaintenance Record on page 7-14.{CAUTION:
You can be injured and your vehicle could be
damaged if you try to do service work on a
vehicle without knowing enough about it.
Be sure you have sufficient knowledge,
experience, the proper replacement parts
and tools before you attempt any vehicle
maintenance task.
Be sure to use the proper nuts, bolts and
other fasteners. English and metric
fasteners can be easily confused. If you
use the wrong fasteners, parts can later
break or fall off. You could be hurt.
6-4