2007 CADILLAC XLR V brakes

Remember: ABS does not change the time you
need to get your foot up to the brake pedal
or always decrease stopping distance. If you get
too close to the vehicle in front of you, you will not
have time to apply your brakes if that vehicle
suddenly slows or stops. Always leave enough
room up ahead to stop, even though you
have ABS.
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the brake
pedal down rmly and let anti-lock work for you.
You may hear a motor or clicking noise and
feel the brake pedal move a little during a stop,
but this is normal.
Braking in Emergencies
With ABS, you can steer and brake at the same
time. In many emergencies, steering can help you
more than even the very best braking.
Traction Control System (TCS)
Your vehicle has a traction control system that
limits wheel spin. This is especially useful in
slippery road conditions. The system operates only
if it senses that one or both of the rear wheels
are spinning or beginning to lose traction. When
this happens, the system works the rear brakes
and reduces engine power to limit wheel spin.
The TRAC SYSTEM ACTIVE message will display
on the Driver Information Center (DIC) when the
traction control system is limiting wheel spin.
SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 206.
You may feel or hear the system working, but this
is normal.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the
traction control system begins to limit wheel spin,
the cruise control will automatically disengage.
When road conditions allow you to safely
use it again, you may reengage the cruise control.
SeeAdaptive Cruise Control on page 150or
Cruise Control on page 147for more information.
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Magnetic Ride Control
Magnetic Ride Control automatically adjusts the
ride of your vehicle. Automatic ride control is
achieved through a computer used to control and
monitor the suspension system. The controller
receives input from various sensors to determine
the proper system response. If the controller
detects a problem within the system, the DIC will
display a SERVICE RIDE CONTROL message.
SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 206for
more information. See your dealer for service.
Limited-Slip Rear Axle
Your limited-slip rear axle can give you additional
traction on snow, mud, ice, sand or gravel. It
works like a standard axle most of the time, but
when one of the rear wheels has no traction
and the other does, this feature will allow
the wheel with traction to move the vehicle.
StabiliTrak®System
The StabiliTrak®System is a computer controlled
system that helps the driver maintain directional
control of the vehicle in difficult driving conditions.
This is accomplished by selectively applying
any one of the vehicle’s brakes.
When you rst start your vehicle and begin to
drive away (6 mph (10 km/h)), especially during
cold weather, the message STABILITRAK
WARMING may be displayed in the Driver
Information Center (DIC), the instrument panel
cluster light will be on, and a chime will sound.
This is normal. You can acknowledge this
message by pressing the RESET button. The
StabiliTrak
®System performance is affected until
the message, STABILITRAK READY, is
displayed in the DIC. This can take up to
15 minutes.
The WAIT FOR STABILITRAK message may be
displayed in the DIC after exceeding 19 mph
(30 km/h) for 10 seconds if the steering is
not centered. The system is off until the
STABILITRAK ACTIVE message is displayed.
331

If you need to reduce your speed as you approach
a curve, do it before you enter the curve, while
the front wheels are straight ahead.
Try to adjust your speed so you can “drive”
through the curve. Maintain a reasonable, steady
speed. Wait to accelerate until you are out of
the curve, and then accelerate gently into
the straightaway.
Adding non-GM accessories can affect your
vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories and
Modications on page 363.
Steering in Emergencies
There are times when steering can be more
effective than braking. For example, you come
over a hill and nd a truck stopped in your lane, or
a car suddenly pulls out from nowhere, or a
child darts out from between parked cars and
stops right in front of you. You can avoid these
problems by braking — if you can stop in time. But
sometimes you cannot; there is not room. That
is the time for evasive action — steering around
the problem.
Your vehicle can perform very well in emergencies
like these. First apply your brakes.SeeBraking on page 326. It is better to remove as
much speed as you can from a possible collision.
Then steer around the problem, to the left or
right depending on the space available.
An emergency like this requires close attention
and a quick decision. If you are holding the
steering wheel at the recommended 9 and
3 o’clock positions, you can turn it a full
180 degrees very quickly without removing either
hand. But you have to act fast, steer quickly,
and just as quickly straighten the wheel once you
have avoided the object.
334

Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a
time on two-lane roads. Reconsider before
passing the next vehicle.
Do not overtake a slowly moving vehicle too
rapidly. Even though the brake lamps are
not ashing, it may be slowing down or starting
to turn.
If you are being passed, make it easy for the
following driver to get ahead of you. Perhaps
you can ease a little to the right.
Loss of Control
Let us review what driving experts say about what
happens when the three control systems — brakes,
steering, and acceleration — do not have enough
friction where the tires meet the road to do what the
driver has asked.
In any emergency, do not give up. Keep trying to
steer and constantly seek an escape route or
area of less danger.
Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking
reasonable care suited to existing conditions, and
by not overdriving those conditions. But skids
are always possible.
The three types of skids correspond to your
vehicle’s three control systems. In the braking skid,
your wheels are not rolling. In the steering or
cornering skid, too much speed or steering in a
curve causes tires to slip and lose cornering force.
And in the acceleration skid, too much throttle
causes the driving wheels to spin.
A cornering skid is best handled by easing your
foot off the accelerator pedal.
Remember: Any traction control system helps
avoid only the acceleration skid. If your traction
control system is off, then an acceleration
skid is also best handled by easing your foot off
the accelerator pedal.
337

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

Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or mountains is different
from driving in at or rolling terrain.If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you are
planning to visit there, here are some tips that
can make your trips safer and more enjoyable.
Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check
all uid levels and also the brakes, tires,
cooling system, and transmission. These parts
can work hard on mountain roads.
{CAUTION:
If you do not shift down, your brakes
could get so hot that they would not work
well. You would then have poor braking or
even none going down a hill. You could
crash. Shift down to let your engine assist
your brakes on a steep downhill slope.
347

{CAUTION:
Coasting downhill in NEUTRAL (N) or with
the ignition off is dangerous. Your brakes
will have to do all the work of slowing
down. They could get so hot that they
would not work well. You would then have
poor braking or even none going down a
hill. You could crash. Always have your
engine running and your vehicle in gear
when you go downhill.
Know how to go down hills. The most important
thing to know is this: let your engine do some of
the slowing down. Shift to a lower gear when
you go down a steep or long hill.
Know how to go uphill. You may want to shift
down to a lower gear. The lower gears help
cool your engine and transmission, and you can
climb the hill better.
Stay in your own lane when driving on two-lane
roads in hills or mountains. Do not swing wide
or cut across the center of the road. Drive at
speeds that let you stay in your own lane.
As you go over the top of a hill, be alert. There
could be something in your lane, like a stalled
car or an accident.
You may see highway signs on mountains that
warn of special problems. Examples are long
grades, passing or no-passing zones, a falling
rocks area, or winding roads. Be alert to these
and take appropriate action.
348

Service........................................................ 363
Accessories and Modications................... 363
California Proposition 65 Warning.............. 364
Doing Your Own Service Work.................. 364
Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your
Vehicle................................................... 365
Fuel............................................................. 365
Gasoline Octane........................................ 366
Gasoline Specications.............................. 366
California Fuel........................................... 367
Additives................................................... 367
Fuels in Foreign Countries........................ 368
Filling the Tank......................................... 369
Filling a Portable Fuel Container............... 371
Checking Things Under the Hood.............. 372
Hood Release........................................... 373
Engine Compartment Overview.................. 374
Engine Oil................................................. 377
Engine Oil Life System.............................. 380
Supercharger Oil....................................... 382
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter............................ 382
Automatic Transmission Fluid.................... 384
Engine Coolant.......................................... 385
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap.............. 388Engine Overheating................................... 388
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode..................................... 390
Cooling System......................................... 391
Power Steering Fluid ................................. 396
Windshield Washer Fluid........................... 397
Brakes...................................................... 399
Battery...................................................... 402
Jump Starting............................................ 403
Rear Axle.................................................... 407
Headlamp Aiming........................................ 408
Headlamp Vertical Aiming.......................... 410
Bulb Replacement....................................... 412
Windshield Replacement............................ 412
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement....... 412
Tires............................................................ 413
Winter Tires (XLR-V) ................................. 414
Tire Sidewall Labeling............................... 415
Tire Terminology and Denitions............... 417
Run-Flat Tires........................................... 420
Ination - Tire Pressure............................. 422
Tire Pressure Monitor System................... 423
Tire Inspection and Rotation...................... 426
Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
361