2007 CADILLAC XLR 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.
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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.
{CAUTION:
Wet brakes can cause accidents. They
may not work as well in a quick stop and
may cause pulling to one side. You could
lose control of the vehicle.
After driving through a large puddle of
water or a car wash, apply your brake
pedal lightly until your brakes work
normally.Driving too fast through large water puddles or
even going through some car washes can cause
problems, too. The water may affect your
brakes. Try to avoid puddles. But if you cannot, try
to slow down before you hit them.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. So much water can
build up under your tires that they can actually ride
on the water. This can happen if the road is wet
enough and you are going fast enough. When your
vehicle is hydroplaning, it has little or no contact
with the road.
Hydroplaning does not happen often. But it can if
your tires do not have much tread or if the
pressure in one or more is low. It can happen if a
lot of water is standing on the road. If you can
see reections from trees, telephone poles,
or other vehicles, and raindrops dimple the water’s
surface, there could be hydroplaning.
Hydroplaning usually happens at higher speeds.
There just is not a hard and fast rule about
hydroplaning. The best advice is to slow down
when it is raining.
341

Once you are moving on the freeway, make
certain you allow a reasonable following distance.
Expect to move slightly slower at night.
When you want to leave the freeway, move to the
proper lane well in advance. If you miss your
exit, do not, under any circumstances, stop and
back up. Drive on to the next exit.
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite
sharply. The exit speed is usually posted. Reduce
your speed according to your speedometer, not
to your sense of motion. After driving for any
distance at higher speeds, you may tend to think
you are going slower than you actually are.Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you are ready. Try to be well rested. If
you must start when you are not fresh — such
as after a day’s work — do not plan to make too
many miles that rst part of the journey. Wear
comfortable clothing and shoes you can easily
drive in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it
serviced and maintained, it is ready to go. If it
needs service, have it done before starting out. Of
course, you will nd experienced and able
service experts in GM dealerships all across North
America. They will be ready and willing to help
if you need it.
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?
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When It Is Time for New Tires.................. 428
Buying New Tires...................................... 428
Different Size Tires and Wheels................ 430
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..................... 431
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance............ 432
Wheel Replacement.................................. 432
Tire Chains............................................... 435
Lifting Your Vehicle................................... 435
If a Tire Goes Flat.................................... 440
Appearance Care........................................ 441
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle.......... 441
Fabric/Carpet............................................. 443
Leather...................................................... 444
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces..................................... 444
Wood Panels............................................. 445
Speaker Covers........................................ 445
Care of Safety Belts.................................. 445
Weatherstrips............................................ 445
Washing Your Vehicle............................... 446
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses................ 446
Finish Care............................................... 447Windshield and Wiper Blades.................... 447
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels......... 448
Tires......................................................... 449
Sheet Metal Damage................................. 449
Finish Damage.......................................... 449
Underbody Maintenance............................ 449
Chemical Paint Spotting............................ 450
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials............ 450
Vehicle Identication.................................. 451
Vehicle Identication Number (VIN)........... 451
Service Parts Identication Label............... 451
Electrical System........................................ 452
Add-On Electrical Equipment..................... 452
Windshield Wiper Fuses............................ 452
Power Windows and Other Power
Options.................................................. 452
Fuses and Circuit Breakers....................... 453
Instrument Panel Fuse Block..................... 453
Underhood Fuse Block.............................. 455
Capacities and Specications.................... 458
Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
362

Bulb Replacement
It is recommended that all bulbs be replaced by
your dealer.
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 465.
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 475.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.
412

Finish Care
Occasional waxing or mild polishing of the vehicle
by hand may be necessary to remove residue
from the paint nish. Approved cleaning products
can be obtained from your dealer. SeeVehicle
Care/Appearance Materials on page 450.
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.
447

MaintenanceI— Use MaintenanceIif the
CHANGE OIL NOW message comes on within
10 months since the vehicle was purchased
or MaintenanceIIwas performed.MaintenanceII— Use MaintenanceIIif the
previous service performed was MaintenanceI.
Always use MaintenanceIIwhenever the message
comes on 10 months or more since the last
service or if the message has not come on at all
for one year.
Scheduled Maintenance
Service MaintenanceIMaintenanceII
Change engine oil and lter. SeeEngine Oil on page 377. Reset oil life system.
SeeEngine Oil Life System on page 380.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 382.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).•
466

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. Applyingsilicone 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 385 for what to use. Inspect
hoses. Clean radiator, condenser, pressure cap,
and ller neck. Pressure test the cooling
system and pressure cap.
469