2006 CADILLAC XLR V wiper blades

Windshield Wipers
Use the lever located on the right side of the steering
column to operate the windshield wipers.
1(High Speed):Move the lever to this position for
steady wiping at high speed.
6(Low Speed):Move the lever to this position for
steady wiping at low speed.
&(Delay):Move the lever to this position to set a
delay between wipes.
x(Delay Adjustment):Move the lever to this
position to choose a delayed wiping cycle. Turn the
intermittent adjust band down for a longer delay or up
for a shorter delay. The wiper speed can only be
manually adjusted when the lever is in this position.
9(Off):Move the lever to this position to turn off the
windshield wipers.
8(Mist):Move the lever all the way down to mist
and release for a single wiping cycle. The windshield
wipers will stop after one wipe. If you want more wipes,
hold the band on mist longer.
Heavy snow or ice can overload the wipers. If this occurs,
a circuit breaker will stop the wipers until the motor cools.
So, be sure to clear any ice and snow from the windshield
wiper blades before using them. If the wiper blades are
frozen to the windshield, carefully loosen them or warm
the windshield before turning the wipers on. If your blades
do become worn or damaged, get new blades or blade
inserts.
3-9

Driving in Rain and on Wet RoadsRain and wet roads can mean driving trouble. On a
wet road, you cannot stop, accelerate, or turn as well
because your tire-to-road traction is not as good as
on dry roads. And, if your tires do not have much tread
left, you will get even less traction. It is always wise
to go slower and be cautious if rain starts to fall while
you are driving. The surface may get wet suddenly when
your reexes are tuned for driving on dry pavement.
The heavier the rain, the harder it is to see. Even if your
windshield wiper blades are in good shape, a heavy rain
can make it harder to see road signs and traffic signals,
pavement markings, the edge of the road, and even
people walking.
It is wise to keep your windshield wiping equipment
in good shape and keep your windshield washer uid
reservoir lled with washer uid. Replace your
windshield wiper inserts when they show signs of
streaking or missing areas on the windshield, or when
strips of rubber start to separate from the inserts.
5-20

Here are some things you can check before a trip:
Windshield Washer Fluid:Is the reservoir full?
Are all windows clean inside and outside?
Wiper Blades:Are they in good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids:Have you checked
all levels?
Lamps:Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
Tires:They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free trip. Is the tread good enough for
long-distance driving? Are the tires all inated
to the recommended pressure?
Weather Forecasts:What is the weather outlook
along your route? Should you delay your trip a
short time to avoid a major storm system?
Maps:Do you have up-to-date maps?
Highway Hypnosis
Is there actually such a condition as highway hypnosis?
Or is it just plain falling asleep at the wheel? Call it
highway hypnosis, lack of awareness, or whatever.
There is something about an easy stretch of road with
the same scenery, along with the hum of the tires on
the road, the drone of the engine, and the rush of
the wind against the vehicle that can make you sleepy.
Do not let it happen to you! If it does, your vehicle
can leave the road in less than a second, and you
could crash and be injured.
What can you do about highway hypnosis? First, be
aware that it can happen.
Then here are some tips:
Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated, with a
comfortably cool interior.
Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead and
to the sides. Check your rearview mirrors and your
instruments frequently.
If you get sleepy, pull off the road into a rest,
service, or parking area and take a nap, get some
exercise, or both. For safety, treat drowsiness
on the highway as an emergency.
5-25

Tire Chains..................................................6-70
Lifting Your Vehicle.......................................6-70
If a Tire Goes Flat........................................6-75
Appearance Care............................................6-76
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle.................6-76
Fabric/Carpet...............................................6-78
Leather.......................................................6-79
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces........................................6-79
Wood Panels...............................................6-79
Speaker Covers............................................6-79
Care of Safety Belts......................................6-80
Weatherstrips...............................................6-80
Washing Your Vehicle...................................6-80
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses.....................6-81
Finish Care..................................................6-81
Windshield and Wiper Blades.........................6-81
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels................6-82Tires...........................................................6-83
Sheet Metal Damage.....................................6-83
Finish Damage.............................................6-83
Underbody Maintenance................................6-83
Chemical Paint Spotting.................................6-83
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials..................6-84
Vehicle Identication......................................6-85
Vehicle Identication Number (VIN).................6-85
Service Parts Identication Label.....................6-85
Electrical System............................................6-86
Add-On Electrical Equipment..........................6-86
Windshield Wiper Fuses................................6-86
Power Windows and Other Power Options.......6-86
Fuses and Circuit Breakers............................6-86
Instrument Panel Fuse Block..........................6-87
Underhood Fuse Block..................................6-89
Capacities and Specications..........................6-92
Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
6-2

Windshield Replacement
Keep in mind that your windshield is part of the Head-Up
Display (HUD) system. If you ever have to get your
windshield replaced, be sure to get one that is designed
for HUD or your HUD image may look blurred or out
of focus.
Windshield Wiper Blade
Replacement
Windshield wiper blades should be inspected for wear
or cracking. SeeScheduled Maintenance on page 7-4.
It is a good idea to clean or replace the wiper blade
assembly on a regular basis or when worn. For proper
windshield wiper blade length and type, seeNormal
Maintenance Replacement Parts on page 7-13.To replace the wiper blade assembly, do the following:
1. Place the vehicle in accessory mode and turn
the wipers on. Position the wipers on the
windshield in the mid-wipe position. Then with
a door open, turn the vehicle off.
2. Tip the blade up and pull up on the tab to release
the wiper blade assembly.
3. To install, align the wiper blade with the loop on the
wiper blade assembly, and push up to snap it
into place.
6-49

Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses
Use only lukewarm or cold water, a soft cloth and a
car washing soap to clean exterior lamps and lenses.
Follow instructions underWashing Your Vehicle
on page 6-80.
Finish Care
Occasional waxing or mild polishing of the vehicle by
hand may be necessary to remove residue from the paint
nish. GM-approved cleaning products can be obtained
from your dealer. SeeVehicle Care/Appearance
Materials on page 6-84.
Notice:Machine compounding or aggressive
polishing on a basecoat/clearcoat paint nish may
damage it. Use only non-abrasive waxes and
polishes that are made for a basecoat/clearcoat
paint nish on your vehicle.
The vehicle has a “basecoat/clearcoat” paint nish.
The clearcoat gives more depth and gloss to the colored
basecoat. Always use waxes and polishes that are
non-abrasive and made for a basecoat/clearcoat
paint nish.
Foreign materials such as calcium chloride and other
salts, ice melting agents, road oil and tar, tree sap,
bird droppings, chemicals from industrial chimneys,etc., can damage the vehicle’s nish if they remain on
painted surfaces. Wash the vehicle as soon as possible.
If necessary, use non-abrasive cleaners that are marked
safe for painted surfaces to remove foreign matter.
Exterior painted surfaces are subject to aging, weather,
and chemical fallout that can take their toll over a period
of years. To help keep the paint nish looking new, keep
the vehicle in a garage or covered whenever possible.Windshield and Wiper Blades
If the windshield is not clear after using the windshield
washer, or if the wiper blade chatters when running,
wax, sap, or other material may be on the blade
or windshield.
Clean the outside of the windshield with a glass
cleaning liquid or powder and water solution.
The windshield is clean if beads do not form when
it is rinsed with water.
Grime from the windshield will stick to the wiper blades
and affect their performance. Clean the blade by
wiping vigorously with a cloth soaked in full-strength
windshield washer solvent. Then rinse the blade
with water.
Check the wiper blades and clean them as necessary;
replace blades that look worn.
6-81

Scheduled Maintenance
Service MaintenanceIMaintenanceII
Change engine oil and lter. SeeEngine Oil on page 6-15. Reset oil
life system. SeeEngine Oil Life System on page 6-18.An Emission
Control Service.••
Visually check for any leaks or damage.See footnote (a).••
Inspect engine air cleaner lter. If necessary, replace lter.
SeeEngine Air Cleaner/Filter on page 6-20.See footnote (h).•
Check engine coolant and windshield washer uid levels. If you have
the 4.4L V8 supercharged engine, check intercooler uid level.
Add uid as needed.••
Perform any needed additional services. See “Additional Required
Services” in this section.••
Inspect wiper blades.See footnote (b).•
Inspect restraint system components.See footnote (c).•
Lubricate body components.See footnote (d).•
Replace passenger compartment air lter.See footnote (e).•
7-5

Maintenance Footnotes
(a)A uid loss in any vehicle system could indicate a
problem. Have the system inspected and repaired
and the uid level checked. Add uid if needed.
(b)Visually inspect wiper blades for wear or cracking.
Replace wiper blades that appear worn or damaged
or that streak or miss areas of the windshield.
(c)Make sure the safety belt reminder light and all your
belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors, and anchorages
are working properly. Look for any other loose or
damaged safety belt system parts. If you see anything
that might keep a safety belt system from doing its
job, have it repaired. Have any torn or frayed safety belts
replaced. Also look for any opened or broken airbag
coverings, and have them repaired or replaced.
The airbag system does not need regular maintenance.
(d)Lubricate the trunk key lock cylinder. Lubricate all
body door hinges. Lubricate all hinges and latches,
including those for the hood, trunk, console door, and
any folding seat hardware. More frequent lubrication
may be required when exposed to a corrosive
environment. Applying silicone grease on weatherstrips
with a clean cloth will make them last longer, seal
better, and not stick or squeak.(e)If you drive regularly under dusty conditions, the
lter may require replacement more often.
(f)Change automatic transmission uid and lter if the
vehicle is mainly driven under one or more of these
conditions:
In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
regularly reaches 90°F (32°C) or higher.
In hilly or mountainous terrain.
Uses such as high performance operation.
(g)Drain, ush, and rell cooling system. This service
can be complex; you should have your dealer perform
this service. See Engine Coolant on page 6-22 for
what to use. Inspect hoses. Clean radiator, condenser,
pressure cap, and ller neck. Pressure test the
cooling system and pressure cap.
(h)If you drive regularly under dusty conditions, inspect
the lter at each engine oil change.
(j)Visually inspect belt for fraying, excessive cracks, or
obvious damage. Replace belt if necessary.
7-7