2009 CADILLAC SRX tow

If Steam Is Coming From The Engine
Compartment
{CAUTION:
Steam from an overheated engine can burn you
badly, even if you just open the hood. Stay away
from the engine if you see or hear steam coming
from it. Turn it off and get everyone away from the
vehicle until it cools down. Wait until there is no sign
of steam or coolant before you open the hood.
If you keep driving when the vehicles engine is
overheated, the liquids in it can catch re. You or
others could be badly burned. Stop the engine if it
overheats, and get out of the vehicle until the
engine is cool.
SeeOverheated Engine Protection Operating Mode
on page 5-31for information on driving to a safe
place in an emergency.
If No Steam Is Coming From The
Engine Compartment
An overheat warning, can indicate a serious problem.
If an engine overheat warning is displayed but no steam
can be seen or heard, the problem may not be too
serious. Sometimes the engine can get a little too hot
when the vehicle:
Climbs a long hill on a hot day.
Stops after high-speed driving.
Idles for long periods in traffic.
Tows a trailer.
If the overheat warning is displayed with no sign of
steam:
1. Turn the air off.
2. Turn the heater on to the highest temperature and
to the highest fan speed. Open the windows as
necessary.
3. In heavy traffic, let the engine idle in N (Neutral)
while stopped. If it is safe to do so, pull off the
road, shift to P (Park) or N (Neutral) and let
the engine idle.
5-30

If the engine coolant temperature gage is no longer in
the overheat zone or an overheat warning no longer
displays, the vehicle can be driven. Continue to drive the
vehicle slow for about 10 minutes. Keep a safe vehicle
distance from the car in front of you. If the warning
does not come back on, continue to drive normally.
If the warning continues, pull over, stop, and park the
vehicle right away.
If there is no sign of steam, idle the engine for
three minutes while parked. If the warning is still
displayed, turn off the engine until it cools down. Also,
see″Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode″
later in this section.
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode
This operating mode allows your vehicle to be driven
to a safe place in an emergency. Should a hot engine
condition exist, an overheat protection mode which
alternates ring groups of cylinders helps prevent engine
damage. In this mode, there is a loss in power and
engine performance. Driving extended miles (km) and/or
towing a trailer in the overheat protection mode should
be avoided.Notice:After driving in the overheated engine
protection operating mode, to avoid engine damage,
allow the engine to cool before attempting any
repair. The engine oil will be severely degraded.
Repair the cause of coolant loss and change the oil.
SeeEngine Oil on page 5-16.
Power Steering Fluid
SeeEngine Compartment
Overview on page 5-12for
reservoir location.
When to Check Power Steering Fluid
It is not necessary to regularly check power steering uid
unless you suspect there is a leak in the system or you
hear an unusual noise. A uid loss in this system could
indicate a problem. Have the system inspected and
repaired.
5-31

4. Open the hoods and locate the positive (+) and
negative (−) terminal locations or the remote
positive (+) and remote negative (−) terminals of the
other vehicle. Then locate the remote positive (+)
location on your vehicle. SeeEngine Compartment
Overview on page 5-12for more information on
locations the terminals.
Your vehicle has a remote negative (−) ground
location, as shown in the illustration. It is located on
the passenger side front shock tower. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview on page 5-12. You should
always use this remote ground location, instead of
the terminal on the battery.Notice:If you connect a negative cable to the
Engine Control Module (ECM), ECM mounting
bracket, or any cables that attach to the ECM
bracket, you may damage the ECM. Always attach
the negative cable to your vehicle’s remote negative
ground location, instead of the ECM, ECM bracket,
or any cables attached to the ECM bracket.
{CAUTION:
An electric fan can start up even when the engine
is not running and can injure you. Keep hands,
clothing and tools away from any underhood
electric fan.
5-39

Reset the Tire Pressure Monitor System. SeeTire
Pressure Monitor Operation on page 5-60.
Make certain that all wheel nuts are properly
tightened. See “Wheel Nut Torque” under
Capacities and Specifications on page 5-109.
{CAUTION:
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts to
which it is fastened, can make wheel nuts
become loose after time. The wheel could
come off and cause an accident. When you
change a wheel, remove any rust or dirt from
places where the wheel attaches to the
vehicle. In an emergency, you can use a
cloth or a paper towel to do this; but be
sure to use a scraper or wire brush later,
if needed, to get all the rust or dirt off.
SeeChanging a Flat Tire on page 5-74.
When It Is Time for New Tires
Various factors, such as maintenance, temperatures,
driving speeds, vehicle loading, and road conditions,
inuence when you need new tires.
One way to tell when it is
time for new tires is to
check the treadwear
indicators, which appear
when your tires have
only 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) or
less of tread remaining.
Some commercial
truck tires may not have
treadwear indicators.
5-65

If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blowout while you are driving,
especially if you maintain your vehicle’s tires properly.
If air goes out of a tire, it is much more likely to leak out
slowly. But if you should ever have a blowout, here
are a few tips about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the at tire creates a drag that pulls
the vehicle toward that side. Take your foot off the
accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel rmly.
Steer to maintain lane position, and then gently brake to
a stop well out of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a
skid and may require the same correction you would
use in a skid. In any rear blowout remove your foot from
the accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control
by steering the way you want the vehicle to go. It may
be very bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently
brake to a stop, well off the road if possible.{CAUTION:
Lifting a vehicle and getting under it to do
maintenance or repairs is dangerous without the
appropriate safety equipment and training. If a jack
is provided with the vehicle, it is designed only for
changing a at tire. If it is used for anything else,
you or others could be badly injured or killed if the
vehicle slips off the jack. If a jack is provided with
the vehicle, only use it for changing a at tire.
If a tire goes at, the next part shows how to use the
jacking equipment to change a at tire safely.
5-73

{CAUTION:
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts to which it
is fastened, can make wheel nuts become loose
after time. The wheel could come off and cause
an accident. When changing a wheel, remove any
rust or dirt from places where the wheel attaches
to the vehicle. In an emergency, use a cloth or
a paper towel to do this; but be sure to use a
scraper or wire brush later, if needed, to get all
the rust or dirt off. SeeChanging a Flat Tire on
page 5-74.
{CAUTION:
Never use oil or grease on bolts or nuts because
the nuts might come loose. The vehicle’s wheel
could fall off, causing a crash.
11. Install the spare tire.
12. Put the wheel nuts back on with the rounded end of
the nuts toward the wheel.
13. Tighten each nut by hand until the wheel is held
against the hub.
14. Lower the vehicle by attaching the wheel wrench to
the jack and turning the wrench counterclockwise.
Lower the jack completely.
5-81

15. Tighten the wheel nuts
rmly in a crisscross
sequence, as shown.
{CAUTION:
Incorrect or improperly tightened wheel nuts can
cause the wheel to come loose and even come
off. This could lead to a crash. If you have to
replace them, be sure to get new original
equipment wheel nuts. Stop somewhere as soon
as you can and have the nuts tightened with a
torque wrench to the proper torque specication.
SeeCapacities and Specifications on page 5-109
for wheel nut torque specication.Notice:Improperly tightened wheel nuts can lead
to brake pulsation and rotor damage. To avoid
expensive brake repairs, evenly tighten the wheel
nuts in the proper sequence and to the proper
torque specication.
16. Do not try to put a wheel cover on the compact
spare tire. It will not t. Store the wheel cover
securely in the rear of the vehicle until you have
the at tire repaired or replaced.
Secondary Latch System
Your vehicle has an underbody mounted tire hoist
assembly that has a secondary latch system. It is
designed to stop the compact spare tire from suddenly
falling off your vehicle if the cable holding the spare
tire is damaged. For the secondary latch to work, the
tire must be stowed with the valve stem pointing down.
SeeStoring a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools on
page 5-85for instructions on storing the spare tire
correctly.
5-82

Storing the Spare Tire and Tools
{CAUTION:
The underbody-mounted spare tire needs to be
stored with the valve stem pointing down. If the
spare tire is stored with the valve stem pointing
upwards, the secondary latch will not work properly
and the spare tire could loosen and suddenly fall
from the vehicle. If this happened when the vehicle
was being driven, the tire might contact a person or
another vehicle, causing injury and damage to itself.
Be sure the underbody-mounted spare tire is stored
with the valve stem pointing down.
To store the spare tire and tools, do the following:
1. Lay the compact spare tire on the ground at the
rear of the vehicle. Position the compact spare
tire so that the valve stem is pointed down facing
the rear of the vehicle.
2. Lower the cable to the ground. SeeRemoving the
Spare Tire and Tools on page 5-75.3. Tilt the retainer downward and slip it through the
center hole of the spare tire.
Make sure the retainer is fully seated across the
underside of the wheel.
4. Attach the wheel wrench to the hoist shaft.
5. Turn the wheel wrench clockwise to lift the
spare tire.
6. When the tire is almost in the stored position, turn
the tire so that the valve stem is towards the rear of
the vehicle.
This will help when you check and maintain tire
pressure in the spare.
5-87