2008 CADILLAC XLR Owners Manual

Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control works on hills depends upon
your speed, load and the steepness of the hills. When
going up steep hills, you might have to step on the
accelerator pedal to maintain your speed. When going
downhill, you might have to brake or shift to a lower gear
to keep your vehicle’s speed down. Of course, applying
the brake turns off the cruise control. Many drivers nd
this to be too much trouble and do not use cruise control
on steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
There are two ways to turn off the cruise control:
Step lightly on the brake pedal
Move the cruise control switch to off
Erasing Speed Memory
Turning off the cruise control or the ignition, will erase
your cruise control set speed memory.
Adaptive Cruise Control
If your vehicle has this feature, be sure to read this
entire section before using it.
The system operates on a radio frequency subject to
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Rules and
with Industry Canada.
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause interference.
2. This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation of the device.
This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry Canada.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause interference.
2. This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation of the device.
Changes or modications to this system by other than
an authorized service facility could void authorization to
use this equipment.
3-15

Adaptive Cruise Control is an enhancement to
traditional cruise control and is not a safety system.
It allows you to keep cruise control engaged in moderate
traffic conditions without it having to be constantly
reset. Adaptive Cruise Control uses radar to detect a
vehicle directly ahead in your path, within a distance
of 328 ft (100 m), and operates at speeds above
25 mph (40 km/h). When it is engaged by the driver,
the system can apply limited braking or acceleration
of the vehicle, automatically, to maintain a selected
following distance to the vehicle ahead. The vehicle’s
braking during Adaptive Cruise Control is comparable
to a person applying moderate pressure to the vehicle’s
brake pedal. To disengage Adaptive Cruise Control,
apply the brake. If no vehicle is in your path, your
vehicle will react like traditional cruise control.
{CAUTION:
Adaptive Cruise Control will not apply hard
braking or bring the vehicle to a complete
stop. It will not respond to stopped vehicles,
pedestrians or animals. When you are
approaching a vehicle or object, Adaptive
Cruise Control may not have time to slow your
vehicle enough to avoid a collision. Your
complete attention is always required while
driving and you should be ready to take action
and apply the brakes. For more information,
seeDefensive Driving on page 5-2.
{CAUTION:
On winding roads, Adaptive Cruise Control
may not detect a vehicle ahead. You could
crash into a vehicle ahead of you. Do not
use Adaptive Cruise Control on winding
roads.
CAUTION: (Continued)
3-16

CAUTION: (Continued)

Adaptive Cruise Control may not have
time to slow your vehicle enough to avoid
a crash when you are driving in conditions
where vehicles may suddenly slow or stop
ahead of you, enter your lane, or cross
your vehicle’s path. If you are driving in
these conditions, do not use Adaptive
Cruise Control. The warning beep and
alert symbol may indicate that you are
driving in conditions where Adaptive
Cruise Control should not be used.
See “Alerting the Driver” in this section.
On slippery roads, fast changes in tire
traction can cause needless wheel
spinning, and you could lose control.
Do not use cruise control on slippery
roads.
When weather limits visibility, such as
when in fog, rain, or snow conditions,
Adaptive Cruise Control performance
is limited. There may not be enough
distance to adapt to the changing traffic
conditions. Do not use cruise control
when visibility is low.The cruise controls are
located on the end of
the multifunction lever.
The Adaptive Cruise controls are located on the
outboard side of the steering wheel.
9(Off):This position turns the system off.
R(On):This position turns the system on.
S(Resume/Increase):Push the switch to this symbol
to make the vehicle resume the speed set previously
or to increase the set speed when Adaptive Cruise
Control is already active.
T(Set/Decrease):Press this button to set the speed
or to decrease the set speed when Adaptive Cruise
Control is already active.
[(Cancel):Press this button located on the steering
wheel to cancel Adaptive cruise control.
3-17

Engaging Adaptive Cruise Control
With the Set Button
{CAUTION:
If you leave your Adaptive Cruise Control
switch on when you are not using cruise, you
might hit a button and go into cruise when you
do not want to. You could be startled and even
lose control. Keep the Adaptive Cruise Control
switch off until you want to use cruise control.
{CAUTION:
If you operate Adaptive Cruise Control without
your Head-up Display (HUD) properly adjusted,
your Adaptive Cruise Control settings may not
be visible. You could forget your settings and
be startled by Adaptive Cruise Control
response and even lose control. Keep your
HUD on and properly adjusted when using
Adaptive Cruise Control.The set speed is selected by the driver. This is the speed
you will travel if there is no vehicle detected in your path.
To set Adaptive Cruise Control, do the following:
1. Make sure the Head-Up Display (HUD) is on and
properly adjusted. You cannot engage Adaptive
Cruise Control unless the HUD is on. SeeHead-Up
Display (HUD) on page 3-33for more information.
2. Move the switch to the on position.
3. Get up to the desired speed.
4. Press in the set button at the end of the lever and
release the button.
5. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
Once Adaptive Cruise Control is set, it might immediately
apply the brakes if it detects a vehicle ahead that is too
close or moving slower than your vehicle.
This symbol appears
on the Head-Up
Display (HUD) to indicate
that Adaptive Cruise
Control is active.
SeeHead-Up Display (HUD) on page 3-33for more
information.
3-18

Make sure the set speed is visible on the HUD so you
know the speed your vehicle will accelerate to if a vehicle
is not detected in your path. Keep in mind speed limits,
surrounding traffic speeds, and weather conditions when
adjusting your set speed.
If your vehicle is in Adaptive Cruise Control when the
traction control system begins to limit wheel spin, the
Adaptive Cruise Control automatically disengages.
SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on page 5-6and
StabiliTrak
®System on page 5-8. When road conditions
allow you to safely use it again, the Adaptive Cruise
Control can be turned back on.
Increasing Set Speed While Using
Adaptive Cruise Control
There are two ways to increase the set speed:
Use the accelerator to get to the higher speed. Press
the set button at the end of the lever, then release
the button and the accelerator pedal. Your vehicle
will now cruise at the higher speed.
Move the Adaptive Cruise Control switch from on to
resume/increase. Hold it there until the desired set
speed is displayed in the HUD, then release the
switch. To increase your set speed in very small
amounts, move the switch briey to resume/increase.
Each time this is done, your vehicle set speed
increases by about 1 mph (1.6 km/h).Your vehicle will not reach the set speed until the system
determines there is no vehicle in front of you. At that
point, your vehicle speed will increase to the set speed.
Decreasing Set Speed While Using
Adaptive Cruise Control
Press in the set/decrease button on the end of the lever
until you reach the lower desired speed, then release
the button.
To slow down in very small amounts, briey press the
set/decrease button. Each this is done, your set
speed will be 1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower.
Resuming a Set Speed
If you apply the brakes while the Adaptive Cruise Control
is at a set speed, this disengages the Adaptive Cruise
Control. But it does not need to be reset.
Once the vehicle reaches about 25 mph (40 km/h) or
more, move the Adaptive Cruise Control switch briey
from on to resume/increase. Adaptive Cruise Control will
be engaged with the speed selected previously.
3-19

Selecting the Follow Distance (GAP)
When the system detects a slower moving vehicle, it will
adjust your vehicle’s speed and maintain the following
distance (gap) selected.
Use the GAP button on
the steering wheel to
adjust the follow distance
between your vehicle
and other vehicle’s.
Press the top of the button to increase the distance or
the bottom of the button to decrease the distance.
The rst button press shows the current follow distance
setting on the HUD. The current following distance
setting is maintained until it is changed.
There are six follow distances to choose from. The follow
distance selection ranges from near to far (1 second to
2 seconds follow time). The distance maintained for a
selected follow distance varies based on vehicle speed.The faster the vehicle speed the further back you will
follow. Consider traffic and weather conditions when
selecting the follow distance. The range of selectable
distances may not be appropriate for all drivers and
driving conditions. If you prefer to travel at a following
distance farther than Adaptive Cruise Control allows,
disengage the system and drive manually.
A graphic on the HUD indicates the selected following
distance. This picture shows a maximum follow distance.
The vehicles will move closer together as you select a
smaller following distance.
3-20

Alerting the Driver
The alert symbol ashes
on the HUD and a warning
beep sounds when
driver action is required.
Driver action is required when:
Adaptive Cruise Control cannot apply sufficient
braking because you are approaching a vehicle
too rapidly.
The vehicle speed drops below about
20 mph (32 km/h).
A temporary condition prohibits Adaptive Cruise
Control from operating. SeeDIC Warnings and
Messages on page 3-63for more information.
A malfunction is detected in the system.
SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-63
for more information.
SeeDefensive Driving on page 5-2.
{CAUTION:
Adaptive Cruise Control has only limited
braking ability to slow your vehicle. In some
cases, Adaptive Cruise Control may not have
time to slow your vehicle enough to avoid a
collision. Be ready to take action and apply the
brakes yourself. SeeDefensive Driving on
page 5-2.
3-21

Approaching and Following a Vehicle
The vehicle ahead symbol
only appears on the HUD
when a vehicle ahead
is detected in your path.
If this symbol does not appear, or disappears briey,
Adaptive Cruise Control will not respond to vehicles
you may see ahead.{CAUTION:
When the Adaptive Cruise Control radar is
blocked by snow, ice, or dirt, it may not detect
a vehicle ahead. Adaptive Cruise Control may
not have time to slow your vehicle enough to
avoid a collision. Do not use Adaptive Cruise
Control when the radar is blocked by snow,
ice, or dirt. Keep your radar clean. See
“Cleaning the System” later in this section.
Adaptive Cruise Control automatically slows your
vehicle down when approaching a slower moving vehicle.
It then adjusts your speed to follow the vehicle in front at
the selected following distance. Your speed increases
or decreases to follow the vehicle in front of you, but will
not exceed the set speed. It may apply limited braking,
if necessary. When braking is active, your brake lights
come on. It may feel or sound different than if you were
applying the brakes yourself. This is normal.
3-22