2008 CADILLAC XLR cruise control

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.
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Instrument Panel Overview...............................3-4
Hazard Warning Flashers................................3-6
Other Warning Devices...................................3-6
Horn.............................................................3-6
Power Tilt Wheel and Telescopic
Steering Column.........................................3-7
Heated Steering Wheel...................................3-7
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.........................3-8
Turn and Lane-Change Signals........................3-8
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer..................3-9
Flash-to-Pass.................................................3-9
Windshield Wipers........................................3-10
Rainsense™ Wipers......................................3-11
Windshield Washer.......................................3-12
Headlamp Washer........................................3-12
Cruise Control..............................................3-12
Adaptive Cruise Control.................................3-15
Exterior Lamps.............................................3-28
Wiper Activated Headlamps............................3-29
Headlamps on Reminder................................3-29
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL).......................3-29
Adaptive Forward Lighting System...................3-30
Fog Lamps..................................................3-30Twilight Sentinel®..........................................3-31
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver........................3-32
Instrument Panel Brightness...........................3-32
Courtesy Lamps...........................................3-32
Entry/Exit Lighting.........................................3-32
Reading Lamps............................................3-32
Battery Run-Down Protection..........................3-33
Head-Up Display (HUD).................................3-33
Accessory Power Outlet(s).............................3-36
Ashtray(s) and Cigarette Lighter......................3-37
Climate Controls............................................3-38
Dual Climate Control System..........................3-38
Outlet Adjustment.........................................3-42
Passenger Compartment Air Filter...................3-42
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators............3-43
Instrument Panel Cluster................................3-44
Speedometer and Odometer...........................3-45
Trip Odometer..............................................3-45
Tachometer.................................................3-45
Safety Belt Reminders...................................3-46
Airbag Readiness Light..................................3-46
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator...................3-47
Charging System Light..................................3-49
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-1

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

Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
The lever on the left side of the steering column
includes the following:
GTurn and Lane-Change Signals. SeeTurn
and Lane-Change Signals on page 3-8.
3Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer. See
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer on page 3-9.
-Fog Lamps. SeeFog Lamps on page 3-30.
Flash-to-Pass Feature. SeeFlash-to-Pass on
page 3-9.
ICruise Control. SeeCruise Control on
page 3-12.
PExterior Lamps Control. SeeExterior Lamps
on page 3-28.
Turn and Lane-Change Signals
The turn signal has two upward (for right) and two
downward (for left) positions. These positions allow you
to signal a turn or a lane change.
To signal a turn, move the multifunction lever all the
way up or down. When the turn is nished, the lever will
return automatically.
An arrow on the instrument
panel cluster will ash in
the direction of the
turn or lane change.
To signal a lane change, just raise or lower the lever
until the arrow starts to ash. Hold it there until you
complete your lane change. The lever will return by itself
when you release it.
If you signal a turn or a lane change and the arrows
ash faster than normal, a signal bulb may be burned
out. Other drivers will not see the turn signal.
Replace burned-out bulbs to help avoid possible
accidents. If the arrows do not go on at all when you
signal a turn, check the fuses and check for burned-out
bulbs. SeeFuses and Circuit Breakers on page 6-90.
3-8

Windshield Washer
K(Washer Fluid):The lever on the right side of the
steering column also controls the windshield washer.
There is a button at the end of the lever. To spray
washer uid on the windshield, press the button and
hold it. The washer will spray until you release the
button. The wipers will continue to clear the window for
about six seconds after the button is released and
then stop or return to your preset speed.
{CAUTION:
In freezing weather, do not use your washer
until the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the
washer uid can form ice on the windshield,
blocking your vision.
If the uid in the windshield washer uid reservoir is
low, the message LOW WASHER FLUID will appear
on the Driver Information Center (DIC) display.
It will take 60 seconds after the bottle is relled for this
message to turn off. For information on the correct
washer uid mixture to use, seeWindshield Washer
Fluid on page 6-36andRecommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 7-11.
Headlamp Washer
The headlamps washer only functions every fourth time
the washer button is depressed and if the headlamps
are on.
Cruise Control
Your vehicle has cruise control.
9(Off):This position
turns the system off.
R(On):This position turns the system on.
+ (Resume/Accelerate):This position makes the
vehicle accelerate or resume to a previously set speed.
T(Set):Press this button at the end of the lever
to set the speed.
3-12

With cruise control, you can maintain a speed of about
25 mph (40 km/h) or more without keeping your foot
on the accelerator. This can really help on long
trips. Cruise control does not work at speeds below
about 25 mph (40 km/h).
Cruise control will not work if the parking brake is set,
or if the master cylinder brake uid level is low.
{CAUTION:
Cruise control can be dangerous where you
cannot drive safely at a steady speed. So, do
not use your cruise control on winding roads
or in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous on slippery
roads. On such roads, fast changes in tire
traction can cause excessive wheel slip, and
you could lose control. Do not use cruise
control on slippery roads.
If your vehicle has the traction control system and it
begins to limit wheel spin while cruise control is on,
the cruise control will automatically disengage.
SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on page 5-6.
When road conditions allow you to safely use it
again, you may turn cruise control back on.
Setting Cruise Control
{CAUTION:
If you leave your cruise control 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 cruise control switch off until you
want to use cruise control.
1. Move the cruise control switch to on.
2. Get up to the speed desired.
3. Press the set button at the end of the lever
and release it.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
The cruise symbol on the
instrument panel cluster
will be lit when the
cruise control is engaged.
3-13

Resuming a Set Speed
Suppose you set your cruise control at a desired speed
and then you apply the brake. This disengages the
cruise control. But it does not need to be reset.
Once you are going about 25 mph (40 km/h) or more,
you can move the cruise control switch briey from
on to resume/accelerate.
You will go right back up to your chosen speed and
stay there.
If you hold the switch at resume/accelerate the vehicle
will keep going faster until you release the switch or apply
the brake. Do not hold the switch at resume/accelerate,
unless you want the vehicle to go faster.
Increasing Speed While Using
Cruise Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed:
Use the accelerator pedal to get to the higher speed.
Press the set button at the end of the lever, then
release the button and the accelerator pedal. You will
now cruise at the higher speed. If the accelerator
pedal is held longer than 60 seconds, cruise control
will turn off.
Move the cruise switch from on to resume/
accelerate. Hold it there until you get up to the
desired speed, and then release the switch.
To increase your speed in very small amounts,
move the switch briey to resume/accelerate.
Each time you do this, your vehicle will go about
1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster.
Reducing Speed While Using
Cruise Control

Press and hold the set button until you reach the
lower speed desired, then release it.
To slow down in very small amounts, briey press
the set button. Each time you do this, your vehicle
will go about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While Using
Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed.
When you take your foot off the pedal, your vehicle will
slow down to the cruise control speed you set earlier.
3-14

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