2005 CADILLAC XLR service

When It Is Time for New Tires
One way to tell when it’s
time for new tires is to
check the treadwear
indicators, which will
appear when your tires
have only 1/16 inch
(1.6 mm) or less of tread
remaining.
You need a new tire if any of the following statements
are true:
You can see the indicators at three or more places
around the tire.
You can see cord or fabric showing through the
tire’s rubber.
The tread or sidewall is cracked, cut or snagged
deep enough to show cord or fabric.
The tire has a bump, bulge or split.
The tire has a puncture, cut or other damage that
can’t be repaired well because of the size or
location of the damage.
Buying New Tires
To nd out what kind and size of tires you need, look at
the Tire and Loading Information label. For information
about this label and where to nd it, seeLoading
Your Vehicle on page 5-30.
The tires installed on your vehicle when it was new had a
Tire Performance Criteria Specication (TPC Spec)
number on each tire’s sidewall. When you get new tires,
GM recommends that you get tires with that same TPC
Spec number. That way your vehicle will continue to have
tires that are designed to give proper endurance,
handling, speed rating, load range, traction, ride, tire
pressure monitoring system performance and other
things during normal service on your vehicle. If your tires
have an all-season tread design, the TPC number will be
followed by an “MS” (for mud and snow).
Whenever you replace your tires with those not having
a TPC Spec number, make sure they are the same
size, load range, speed rating and construction
type (bias, bias-belted or radial) as your original tires.
If you replace your vehicle’s tires with those not having a
TPC Spec number, the tire pressure monitoring
system may give an inaccurate low-pressure warning.
Non-TPC Spec tires may give a low-pressure warning
that is higher or lower than the proper warning level you
would get with TPC Spec numbered tires.
6-58

Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on
the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specied government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and
a half (1.5) times as well on the government course as
a tire graded 100. The relative performance of tires
depends upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart signicantly from the norm
due to variations in driving habits, service practices and
differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction – AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A,
B, and C. Those grades represent the tire’s ability
to stop on wet pavement as measured under controlled
conditions on specied government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor
traction performance. Warning: The traction grade
assigned to this tire is based on straight-ahead braking
traction tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction characteristics.
Temperature – A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C,
representing the tire’s resistance to the generation
of heat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested
under controlled conditions on a specied indoor
laboratory test wheel. Sustained high temperature can
cause the material of the tire to degenerate and
reduce tire life, and excessive temperature can lead to
sudden tire failure. The grade C corresponds to a
level of performance which all passenger car tires must
meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
No. 109. Grades B and A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test wheel than the
minimum required by law.
Warning: The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly inated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed, underination, or
excessive loading, either separately or in combination,
can cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.
6-60

If you ever use a jack to lift your vehicle, follow the
instructions that came with the jack, and be sure to use
the correct lifting points to avoid damaging your vehicle.
Notice:Lifting your vehicle improperly can damage
your vehicle and result in costly repairs not
covered by your warranty. To lift your vehicle
properly, follow the advice in this part.
To help prevent vehicle damage:
Be sure to place a block or pad between the
jack and the vehicle.
Make sure the jack you’re using spans at least
two crossmember ribs.
Lift only in the areas shown in the following
pictures.
For additional information, see your dealer and the
Cadillac XLR service manual.
Lifting From the Front
The front lifting points can be accessed from either side
of your vehicle, behind the front tires.
6-65

3. Lift the vehicle with the jack, making sure the jack
spans at least two of the crossmember ribs (B).
For more information, seeDoing Your Own Service
Work on page 6-4.
If a Tire Goes Flat
It’s unusual for a tire to “blow out” while you’re driving,
especially if you maintain your tires properly. If air goes
out of a tire, it’s much more likely to leak out slowly. See
Tires on page 6-46for additional information.
Your vehicle, when new, had run-at tires. This type of
tire can operate effectively with no air pressure, so
you won’t need to stop on the side of the road to change
a at tire. You can just keep on driving. The shorter
the distance you drive and the slower the speed,
the greater the chance that the run-at tire will not have
to be replaced. Run-at tires perform so well without
any air that a Tire Pressure Monitor (TPM) is used
to alert you if a tire has lost pressure. SeeRun-Flat Tires
on page 6-52andTire Pressure Monitor System on
page 6-55.
6-68

{CAUTION:
When the TIRE FLAT MAX SPD 55, REDUCED
HNDLG message is displayed on the Driver
Information Center, your vehicle’s handling
capabilities will be reduced during severe
maneuvers. If you drive too fast, you could
lose control of your vehicle. You or others
could be injured. Don’t drive over 55 mph
(90 km/h) when the TIRE FLAT MAX SPD 55,
REDUCED HNDLG message is displayed. Drive
cautiously and check your tire pressures as
soon as you can.
If the TPM system detects a tire pressure below
5 psi (34 kPa), the TIRE FLAT MAX SPD 55, REDUCED
HNDLG warning message is displayed on the Driver
Information Center (DIC). SeeDIC Controls and
Displays on page 3-61andDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 3-64for information and details about the
DIC operation and displays.
{CAUTION:
Special tools and procedures are required to
service a run-at tire. If these special tools and
procedures aren’t used you or others could be
injured and your vehicle could be damaged.
Always be sure the proper tools and
procedures, as described in the service
manual, are used.
Notice:Using liquid sealants can damage the tire
valves and tire pressure monitor sensors in your
run-at tires. This damage would not be covered
by warranty. Don’t use liquid sealants in your
run-at tires.
To order a service manual, seeService Publications
Ordering Information on page 8-12.
If a tire goes at, the stability control system will turn on
automatically even if it was disabled by the driver.
When a at tire condition exists the StabiliTrak
®system
cannot be turned off. SeeStabiliTrak®System on
page 5-10.
6-69

Sheet Metal Damage
If the vehicle is damaged and requires sheet metal
repair or replacement, make sure the body repair shop
applies anti-corrosion material to parts repaired or
replaced to restore corrosion protection.
Original manufacturer replacement parts will provide the
corrosion protection while maintaining the warranty.
Finish Damage
Any stone chips, fractures or deep scratches in the
nish should be repaired right away.
Minor chips and scratches can be repaired with touch-up
materials avaliable from your dealer or other service
outlets. Larger areas of nish damage can be corrected
in your dealer’s body and paint shop.
Underbody Maintenance
Chemicals used for ice and snow removal and dust
control can collect on the underbody. If these are not
removed, corrosion and rust can develop on the
underbody parts such as fuel lines, frame, oor pan,
and exhaust system even though they have corrosion
protection.
At least every spring, ush these materials from the
underbody with plain water. Clean any areas where mud
and debris can collect. Dirt packed in close areas of
the frame should be loosened before being ushed.
Your GM dealer or an underbody car washing system
can do this for you.
Chemical Paint Spotting
Some weather and atmospheric conditions can create a
chemical fallout. Airborne pollutants can fall upon and
attack painted surfaces on the vehicle. This damage can
take two forms: blotchy, ring-shaped discolorations, and
small, irregular dark spots etched into the paint surface.
Although no defect in the paint job causes this, GM will
repair, at no charge to the owner, the surfaces of
new vehicles damaged by this fallout condition within
12 months or 12,000 miles (20 000 km) of purchase,
whichever occurs rst.
6-77

Vehicle Identication
Vehicle Identication Number (VIN)
This is the legal identier for your vehicle. It appears on
a plate in the front corner of the instrument panel, on
the driver’s side. You can see it if you look through the
windshield from outside your vehicle. The VIN also
appears on the Vehicle Certication and Service Parts
labels and the certicates of title and registration.
Engine Identication
The eighth character in your VIN is the engine code.
This code will help you identify your engine,
specications and replacement parts.
Service Parts Identication Label
You will nd this label on your spare tire cover. It is very
helpful if you ever need to order parts. On this label,
you will nd the following:
VIN
Model designation
Paint information
Production options and special equipment
Be sure that this label is not removed from the vehicle.
6-79

Electrical System
Add-On Electrical Equipment
Notice:Don’t add anything electrical to your vehicle
unless you check with your dealer rst. Some
electrical equipment can damage your vehicle and
the damage wouldn’t be covered by your warranty.
Some add-on electrical equipment can keep other
components from working as they should.
Your vehicle has an airbag system. Before attempting to
add anything electrical to your vehicle, seeServicing
Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on page 1-47.
Windshield Wiper Fuses
The windshield wiper motor is protected by an internal
circuit breaker. If the wiper motor overheats due to
heavy snow, the wipers will stop until the motor cools
and will then restart.
A fuse powers the wiper motor. If the fuse blows, there
is an electrical problem. Be sure to have it xed.
Power Windows and Other Power
Options
Circuit breakers protect the power windows and power
seats. When the current load is too heavy, the circuit
breaker opens and closes, protecting the circuit until the
problem is xed or goes away.
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
The wiring circuits in your vehicle are protected from
short circuits by a combination of fuses and circuit
breakers. This greatly reduces the chance of res
caused by electrical problems.
Look at the silver-colored band inside the fuse. If the
band is broken or melted, replace the fuse. Be sure you
replace a bad fuse with a new one of the identical
size and rating. If a fuse should blow, see your dealer
for service immediately.
If you ever have a problem on the road and do not have
a spare fuse, you can “borrow” one that has the same
amperage. Pick some feature of your vehicle that
you can get along without – like the radio or cigarette
lighter – and use its fuse, if it is the correct amperage.
Replace it as soon as you can.
6-80