2008 CADILLAC XLR ignition

Some automatic downshifts can occur to maintain
minimum engine speed. This only happens if the vehicle
is left in too high of a gear for the vehicle’s speed.
For example, if you have been driving in sixth gear
range and come to a stop without manually
downshifting, the transmission automatically downshifts
to rst gear and displays rst gear on the HUD. As
you begin to drive and accelerate, the transmission
remains in rst gear until the driver selects an upshift.
DSC can be used while using cruise control, but
transmission shifting is different while the cruise control
is on. This is not a malfunction and is necessary to
let proper operation of the cruise control.
To return to fully automatic operation, move the shift
lever to the right and back into DRIVE (D).
When accelerating your vehicle from a stop in snowy
and icy conditions, you may want to shift into second
gear. A higher gear lets you gain more traction on
slippery surfaces.
In higher gears, on the XLR only, an automatic downshift
occurs if you press the accelerator pedal to the oor.
This feature provides adequate acceleration capabilities
if you forget to downshift manually. Tap the shifter
forward and the vehicle upshifts.Parking Brake
The parking brake pedal is
located to the left of the
regular brake pedal,
near the driver’s door.
To set the parking brake, hold the regular brake pedal
down with your right foot and push the parking brake
pedal down with your left foot.
If the ignition is on, the parking brake indicator light
on the instrument panel cluster should come on.
If it does not, you need to have your vehicle serviced.
2-30

When you move out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N)
and the engine is running, the parking brake should
release. If the parking brake has not been fully released
and you try to drive off with the parking brake on, the
parking brake indicator light will come on and stay on.
If the parking brake does not fully release, you can
manually release the pedal.
{CAUTION:
Always shift to PARK (P) before pulling the
manual release lever. If your hand or arm is in
the way of the pedal you could be hurt. The
pedal springs back quickly. Keep your hand
and arm away when you use the manual
release lever.
Before releasing the manual parking brake, be sure to
put the vehicle in PARK (P) and turn the ignition off.Reach under the driver’s side of the instrument panel and
pull down on the manual release lever, which is located
behind the parking brake pedal. Pull down on the yellow
tab. If the parking brake does not release, you should
have your vehicle towed to your dealer for service.
Notice:Driving with the parking brake on can
overheat the brake system and cause premature
wear or damage to brake system parts. Make sure
that the parking brake is fully released and the
brake warning light is off before driving.
2-31

Shifting Into PARK (P)
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle
if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with
the parking brake rmly set. Your vehicle can
roll. If you have left the engine running, the
vehicle can move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure your vehicle will
not move, even when you are on fairly level
ground, use the steps that follow.
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot
and set the parking brake.
SeeParking Brake on page 2-30for more
information.
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) by pushing the
lever all the way toward the front of the vehicle.
3. Turn the ignition off.
Leaving Your Vehicle With the
Engine Running
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with
the engine running. Your vehicle could move
suddenly if the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the parking brake rmly set.
And, if you leave the vehicle with the engine
running, it could overheat and even catch re.
You or others could be injured. Do not leave
your vehicle with the engine running.
If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine
running, be sure your vehicle is in PARK (P) and your
parking brake is rmly set before you leave it. After you
have moved the shift lever into PARK (P), hold down
the regular brake pedal. See if you can move the
shift lever away from PARK (P) without rst pulling it
toward you. If you can, it means that the shift lever was
not fully locked into PARK (P).
2-32

The main components of the instrument panel are the following:
A. Head-Up Display (HUD) Controls/Instrument Panel
Brightness Controls. SeeHead-Up Display (HUD)
on page 3-33orInstrument Panel Brightness
on page 3-32.
B. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever. SeeTurn
Signal/Multifunction Lever on page 3-8.Cruise
Control. SeeCruise Control on page 3-12. Exterior
Lamps Control. SeeExterior Lamps on page 3-28.
Fog Lamps. SeeFog Lamps on page 3-30.
C. Instrument Panel Cluster. SeeInstrument Panel
Cluster on page 3-44.
D. Windshield Wiper/Washer Lever. See “Windshield
Wipers” underTurn Signal/Multifunction Lever
on page 3-8.
E. Driver Information Center (DIC) Controls/Interior
Lamps. SeeDIC Operation and Displays on
page 3-60.
F. Air Outlets. SeeOutlet Adjustment on page 3-42.
G. Hazard Warning Flasher Button. SeeHazard
Warning Flashers on page 3-6.
H. Voice Commands/Audio Controls. SeeOnStar
®
System on page 2-41orAudio Steering Wheel
Controls on page 3-82.
I. Adaptive Cruise Controls (If Equipped).
See “Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)” under
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever on page 3-8.J. Power Tilt Wheel and Telescopic Steering Button.
SeePower Tilt Wheel and Telescopic Steering
Column on page 3-7.
K. Horn. SeeHorn on page 3-6.
L. Audio Steering Wheel Controls. SeeAudio Steering
Wheel Controls on page 3-82.
M. Ignition Switch. SeeIgnition Positions on page 2-23.
N. Shift Lever. SeeAutomatic Transmission Operation
on page 2-26.
O. Traction Control Button. SeeTraction Control
System (TCS) on page 5-6.
P. Retractable Hardtop Button. SeeRetractable
Hardtop on page 2-54.
Q. Cupholders. SeeCupholder(s) on page 2-52.
R. Cigarette Lighter. SeeAshtray(s) and Cigarette
Lighter on page 3-37.
S. Climate Controls. SeeDual Climate Control System
on page 3-38.
T. Audio/Navigation System. SeeNavigation System
Overview on page 4-2.
U. Glove Box. SeeGlove Box on page 2-52.
3-5

Hazard Warning Flashers
Your hazard warning ashers let you warn others. They
also let police know you have a problem. Your front
and rear turn signal lamps will ash on and off.
The hazard warning
asher button is located
near the center of the
instrument panel.
Your hazard warning ashers work no matter what
mode the ignition is in, even if the ignition is turned off.
Press the button to make the front and rear turn
signal lamps ash on and off. Press the button again
to turn the ashers off.
When the hazard warning ashers are on, your turn
signals will not work.
Other Warning Devices
If you carry reective triangles, you can set them up at
the side of the road about 300 feet (100 m) behind
your vehicle.
Horn
Press near or on the horn symbols on the steering
wheel pad to sound the horn.
3-6

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

Erasing Set Speed Memory
The set speed memory is erased when the Adaptive
Cruise Control switch or the ignition is turned off.
Other Messages
There are three messages that may appear on the DIC.
They are SERVICE RADAR CRUISE, CRUISE NOT
READY and CLEAN RADAR CRUISE. These messages
will only appear to indicate a problem with the Adaptive
Cruise Control. SeeDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 3-63for more information.
You may also see CRUISE SPEED LIMITED displayed
in the HUD. SeeHead-Up Display (HUD) on page 3-33
for more information.
Cleaning the System
The radar can become blocked by snow, ice, or dirt.
If so, you may need to turn off the engine and clean the
lens, located on the driver’s side of the front fascia.Clean the surface with a 50/50 mixture of isopropyl
alcohol and water on a dampened cloth. After cleaning
the fascia lens, try to engage Adaptive Cruise Control.
If this does not x the problem, you may have to remove
the fascia lens and clean the inside of the fascia lens
and radar lens.
To clean the inside of the fascia lens and radar lens,
insert a tool into one of the small slots on the inboard
side of the lens and pop the lens out. Clean the surface
with a 50/50 mixture of isopropyl alcohol and water
on a dampened cloth. After cleaning the lens, set the
lens back in place and press until it snaps in place.
3-27

Exterior Lamps
The exterior lamp control is located to the left of the
steering wheel on the multifunction lever.
O(Exterior Lamp Control):Turn the band with this
symbol on it to operate the exterior lamps.
The exterior lamp band has four positions:
O(Off):Turning the band to this position turns off
all lamps.
AUTO (Automatic):Turning the band to this position
sets the exterior lamps in automatic mode. AUTO mode
will turn the exterior lamps on and off depending on how
much light is available outside the vehicle.Turning the band to AUTO mode also enables the
Adaptive Forward Lighting system. SeeAdaptive Forward
Lighting System on page 3-30.
To override AUTO mode, turn the control to off.
To reset to AUTO mode turn the control to exterior lamps
and then back to AUTO. Automatic mode will also reset
when your vehicle is turned off and then back on again
when the control is left in the AUTO position.
SeeTwilight Sentinel
®on page 3-31.
;(Parking Lamp):Turning the band to this position
turns on the parking lamps together with the following:
Sidemarker Lamps
Taillamps
License Plate Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights
The parking brake indicator light will come on and stay
on when the parking lamps are on with the engine
off and the ignition to Acc.
5(Headlamps):Turning the control to this position
turns on the headlamps, together with the previously
listed lamps and lights.
3-28