2008 CADILLAC XLR maintenance

If the driver remains unbuckled when the ignition is
on and the vehicle is in motion, the reminder will
be repeated. If the driver’s safety belt is already buckled,
this message and chime will not come on.
This message is an additional reminder to the Safety
Belt Reminder Light in the instrument panel cluster.
SeeSafety Belt Reminders on page 3-46for more
information.
CHANGE OIL NOW
This message displays when the life of the engine oil
has expired. SeeScheduled Maintenance on page 7-4.
After an oil change, the Oil Life Indicator must be
reset. SeeOil Life Indicator on page 3-80andEngine
Oil Life System on page 6-20.
CHARGE SYSTEM FAULT
This message displays when a problem with the
charging system has been detected. Have your vehicle
serviced by your dealer/retailer.
CHECK GAS CAP
This message displays if the fuel cap has not been
fully tightened. Check the fuel cap to make sure that
it is on properly.
CLEAN RADAR CRUISE
If your vehicle has this feature, this message displays
when the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) system is
disabled because the radar is blocked and cannot
detect vehicles in your path. It may also activate during
heavy rain or due to road spray. To clean the system,
seeAdaptive Cruise Control on page 3-15.
CLOSE CARGO DIVIDER
This message displays if the cargo divider is not in
place. Open the trunk and make sure the cargo divider
is secure and no objects are on the divider. See
Rear Storage Area on page 2-53for more information.
COOLANT OVER TEMP (Temperature)
This message displays when the engine coolant
temperature is too hot. Stop and allow your vehicle to
idle in PARK (P) until it cools down and the message
is removed. Do not increase engine speed above
a normal idle. If it does not cool down, turn off the
engine and have your vehicle serviced by your
dealer/retailer before driving it again. Severe engine
damage can result from an overheated engine.
SeeEngine Overheating on page 6-27.
3-64

Language
This feature allows you to select the language the
DIC and Head-Up Display (HUD), uses to display
messages.
The DIC will display ENGLISH, FRENCH, GERMAN,
ITALIAN, JAPANESE, or SPANISH. Press the
OPTIONS button to change the setting.
If you become stuck in a language that you do not
understand, hold the OPTIONS and RESET buttons
for ve seconds. The DIC will scroll through all
available languages for as long as the buttons are held.
Each language option will display in its own language.
For example, English will be displayed as ENGLISH,
Spanish as ESPANOL, etc. When the desired language
is available, release the buttons and the DIC will
set to this language.
Trip Computer
Oil Life Indicator
This feature lets you know when to change the engine
oil. It is based on the engine oil temperatures and
your driving patterns.
To see the display, press the information button several
times until OIL LIFE appears. If you see 99% OIL
LIFE, 99 percent of your current oil life remains.
The DIC may display a CHANGE OIL NOW message.
If you see CHANGE OIL NOW, it means the oil life
is gone. For more information, seeScheduled
Maintenance on page 7-4andEngine Oil on page 6-16.
When the oil is changed, you will need to reset the
system. SeeEngine Oil Life System on page 6-20.
Always keep a written record of the mileage and date
when you changed your oil.
3-80

Automobile Club, Triple A:These commands will
cause the system to display auto club POI icons.
Auto Service And Maintenance, Auto Service,
Maintenance:These commands will cause the system
to display auto service POI icons.
Hotel:This command will cause the system to display
hotel POI icons.
Golf Course:This command will cause the system to
display golf course POI icons.
Ski Resort, Skiing:These commands will cause the
system to display ski resort POI icons.
Amusement Park:This command will cause the
system to display amusement park POI icons.
Sport Complex, Stadium:These commands will cause
the system to display sports complex POI icons.
Casino:This command will cause the system to display
casino POI icons.
Marina:This command will cause the system to display
marina POI icons.
Tourist Attraction:This command will cause the
system to display tourist attraction POI icons.Winery:This command will cause the system to
display winery POI icons.
City Hall:This command will cause the system to
display city hall POI icons.
Police Station:This command will cause the system
to display police station POI icons.
Library:This command will cause the system to
display library POI icons.
Hospital:This command will cause the system to
display hospital POI icons.
Park & Recreation, Parks & Recreation:These
commands will cause the system to display parks and
recreation POI icons.
Civic Center, Community Center:These commands
will cause the system to display community center
POI icons.
Convention Center, Exhibition Center:These
commands will cause the system to display convention
center POI icons.
Court House:This command will cause the system to
display court house POI icons.
4-82

Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................6-65
When It Is Time for New Tires.......................6-66
Buying New Tires.........................................6-67
Different Size Tires and Wheels......................6-68
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..........................6-69
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance..................6-70
Wheel Replacement......................................6-70
Tire Chains..................................................6-73
Lifting Your Vehicle.......................................6-74
If a Tire Goes Flat........................................6-78
Appearance Care............................................6-80
Interior Cleaning...........................................6-80
Fabric/Carpet...............................................6-81
Leather.......................................................6-82
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces........................................6-82
Wood Panels...............................................6-82
Speaker Covers............................................6-82
Care of Safety Belts......................................6-83
Weatherstrips...............................................6-83
Washing Your Vehicle...................................6-83
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses.....................6-84Finish Care..................................................6-84
Windshield and Wiper Blades.........................6-85
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels
and Trim..................................................6-85
Tires...........................................................6-86
Sheet Metal Damage.....................................6-86
Finish Damage.............................................6-87
Underbody Maintenance................................6-87
Fiberglass Springs (Composite Springs)...........6-87
Chemical Paint Spotting.................................6-87
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials..................6-88
Vehicle Identication......................................6-89
Vehicle Identication Number (VIN).................6-89
Service Parts Identication Label.....................6-89
Electrical System............................................6-89
Add-On Electrical Equipment..........................6-89
Windshield Wiper Fuses................................6-90
Power Windows and Other Power Options.......6-90
Fuses and Circuit Breakers............................6-90
Instrument Panel Fuse Block..........................6-90
Underhood Fuse Block..................................6-94
Capacities and Specications..........................6-97
Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
6-2

California Perchlorate Materials
Requirements
Certain types of automotive applications, such as airbag
initiators, seat belt pretensioners, and lithium batteries
contained in remote keyless entry transmitters, may
contain perchlorate materials. Special handling
may be necessary. For additional information, see
www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate.
Doing Your Own Service Work
{CAUTION:
You can be injured and your vehicle could be
damaged if you try to do service work on a
vehicle without knowing enough about it.
Be sure you have sufficient knowledge,
experience, the proper replacement parts,
and tools before you attempt any vehicle
maintenance task.
Be sure to use the proper nuts, bolts, and
other fasteners. English and metric
fasteners can be easily confused. If you
use the wrong fasteners, parts can later
break or fall off. You could be hurt.If you want to do some of your own service work, you
should use the proper service manual. It tells you much
more about how to service your vehicle than this manual
can. To order the proper service manual, seeService
Publications Ordering Information on page 8-16.
Your vehicle has an airbag system. Before attempting
to do your own service work, seeServicing Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on page 1-50.
You should keep a record with all parts receipts and list
the mileage and the date of any service work you
perform. SeeMaintenance Record on page 7-15.
Adding Equipment to the Outside
of Your Vehicle
Things you might add to the outside of your vehicle can
affect the airow around it. This can cause wind noise
and can affect fuel economy and windshield washer
performance. Check with your dealer/retailer before
adding equipment to the outside of your vehicle.
6-4

Fuel
Use of the recommended fuel is an important part of the
proper maintenance of your vehicle. To help keep the
engine clean and maintain optimum vehicle performance,
we recommend the use of gasoline advertised as TOP
TIER Detergent Gasoline.
The 8th digit of the Vehicle Identication Number (VIN)
shows the code letter or number that identies your
vehicle’s engine. The VIN is at the top left of the
instrument panel. SeeVehicle Identification Number
(VIN) on page 6-89.
Gasoline Octane
If your vehicle has the 4.6L V8 engine (VIN Code A),
use premium unleaded gasoline with a posted octane
rating of 91 or higher. You can also use regular
unleaded gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher, but
your vehicle’s acceleration could be slightly reduced,
and you might notice a slight audible knocking noise,
commonly referred to as spark knock. If the octane
is less than 87, you might notice a heavy knocking noise
when you drive. If this occurs, use a gasoline rated at
87 octane or higher as soon as possible. Otherwise, you
could damage the engine. If you are using gasoline
rated at 87 octane or higher and you hear heavy
knocking, the engine needs service.If your vehicle has the 4.4L V8 engine (VIN Code D),
use premium unleaded gasoline with a posted
octane rating of 91 or higher. For best performance,
use premium unleaded gasoline with a posted octane
rating of 93. In an emergency, you can use regular
unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 87 or higher.
If 87 octane fuel is used, do not perform any aggressive
driving maneuvers such as wide open throttle
applications. You might also hear audible spark knock
during acceleration. Rell the tank with premium fuel
as soon as possible to avoid damaging the engine.
If you are using gasoline rated at 91 octane or higher
and you hear heavy knocking, the engine needs service.Gasoline Specications
At a minimum, gasoline should meet ASTM specication
D 4814 in the United States or CAN/CGSB-3.5 or
3.511 in Canada. Some gasolines contain an
octane-enhancing additive called methylcyclopentadienyl
manganese tricarbonyl (MMT). We recommend
against the use of gasolines containing MMT.
SeeAdditives on page 6-6for additional information.
6-5

Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 6-12for
the location of the engine air cleaner/lters.
When to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filters
Inspect the air cleaner/lters at the MaintenanceII
intervals and replace them at the rst oil change after
each 50,000 mile (80 000 km) interval. SeeScheduled
Maintenance on page 7-4for more information.
If you are driving in dusty/dirty conditions, inspect the
lters at each engine oil change.
How to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filters
To inspect the air cleaner/lters, remove the lters from
the vehicle and lightly shake the lters to release
loose dust and dirt. If the lters remain caked with dirt,
new lters are required.To inspect or replace the lters, do the following:
1. Some XLR-V vehicles, have a single piece black
cover that snaps over the entire air cleaner
assembly. For vehicles with this cover, simply pull it’s
left/right sides toward the outside of the vehicle and
lift up to remove cover. Reinstall the cover when you
are nished inspecting/replacing the lters.
2. Move the clasps on the top of the engine air
cleaner/lter cover forward to unlatch the cover.
6-22

Automatic Transmission Fluid
How to Check Automatic Transmission
Fluid
It is not necessary to check the transmission uid level.
A transmission uid leak is the only reason for uid
loss. If a leak occurs, take the vehicle to the
dealer/retailer service department and have it repaired
as soon as possible.
There is a special procedure for checking and changing
the transmission uid. Because this procedure is difficult,
you should have this done at the dealer/retailer service
department. Contact your dealer/retailer for additional
information or the procedure can be found in the service
manual. To purchase a service manual, seeService
Publications Ordering Information on page 8-16.
Notice:Use of the incorrect automatic transmission
uid may damage your vehicle, and the damages
may not be covered by your warranty. Always
use the automatic transmission uid listed in
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 7-11.
Change the uid and lter at the intervals listed in
Additional Required Services on page 7-5, and be sure
to use the uid listed inRecommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 7-11.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is lled with
DEX-COOL®engine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain in your vehicle for ve years or 150,000 miles
(240 000 km), whichever occurs rst, if you add only
DEX-COOL
®extended life coolant.
The following explains your cooling system and how to
add coolant when it is low. If you have a problem with
engine overheating, seeEngine Overheating on
page 6-27.
A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL
®coolant will:
Giving freezing protection down to−34°F (−37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages work as they
should.
Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOL
®may
cause premature engine, heater core, or radiator
corrosion. In addition, the engine coolant may
require changing sooner, at the rst maintenance
service after each 30,000 miles (50 000 km) or
24 months, whichever occurs rst. Any repairs
would not be covered by your warranty. Always use
DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free) coolant in your vehicle.
6-24