2009 CADILLAC XLR Owners Manual

When following a vehicle and entering a curve, Adaptive
Cruise Control could lose track of the vehicle in your
lane and accelerate your vehicle. When this happens,
the vehicle ahead symbol will not appear on the HUD.Adaptive Cruise Control might detect a vehicle that is
not in your lane and apply the brakes.
Adaptive Cruise Control might occasionally provide
a driver alert and/or braking that you consider
unnecessary. It could respond to signs, guardrails,
and other stationary objects when entering or exiting
a curve. This is normal operation. Your vehicle does not
need service.
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Highway Exit Ramps
{CAUTION:
Adaptive Cruise Control may lose track of the
vehicle ahead and accelerate up to your set speed
while entering or on highway exit ramps. You could
be startled by this acceleration and even lose
control of the vehicle. Disengage Adaptive Cruise
Control before entering a highway exit ramp. Do not
use Adaptive Cruise Control while entering or on
exit ramps.
Other Vehicle Lane Changes
If another vehicle enters the same lane as you, Adaptive
Cruise Control will not detect the vehicle until it is
completely in the lane. Be ready to take action and apply
the brakes yourself.
Using Adaptive Cruise Controls on Hills
How well Adaptive Cruise Control works on hills
depends on your speed, vehicle load, traffic conditions,
and the steepness of the hills. It might not detect a
vehicle in your lane while driving on hills. While going
up steep hills, you might want to use the accelerator
pedal to maintain your vehicle speed. While going
downhill, you might have to brake to keep your vehicle
speed down. Applying the brake disengages the
system. You may choose not to use Adaptive Cruise
Control on steep hills.
Disengaging Adaptive Cruise Control
Apply the brake pedal or move the Adaptive Cruise
Control switch to off, to disengage the system. Adaptive
Cruise Control information does not appear on the
HUD while the system is not engaged.
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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 3-60for more information.
You may also see CRUISE SPEED LIMITED displayed
in the HUD. SeeHead-Up Display (HUD) on page 3-31
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 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.
3-25

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 to operate
the exterior lamps.
There are four positions:
O(Off):Turns off all lamps.
AUTO (Automatic):Sets the exterior lamps to
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 3-28.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 3-29.
;(Parking Lamp):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/ACCESSORY.
5(Headlamps):Turns on the headlamps, together
with the previously listed lamps and lights.
3-26

Wiper Activated Headlamps
This feature activates the headlamps and parking lamps
after the windshield wipers have been in use for
approximately six seconds and the multifunction lever is
in the AUTO position. SeeExterior Lamps on page 3-26.
When the exterior lamp control has been turned off or is
in the parking lamp position and the wiper control is
on delay, low speed or high speed, the HEADLAMPS
SUGGESTED message will appear on the Driver
Information Center (DIC).
When the ignition is turned off, the wiper-activated
headlamps will immediately turn off.
Headlamps on Reminder
A warning chime will sound if the exterior lamp control
is left on in either the headlamp or parking lamp position
and the driver’s door is opened with the ignition off.
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to see the front of your vehicle during the
day. Fully functional DRL are required on all vehicles
rst sold in Canada.The DRL system comes on when the following
conditions are met:
It is still daylight and the ignition is on.
The exterior lamp control is in the off position.
The transmission is not in P (Park).
When DRL are on, only the front turn signal lamps are
on. No other exterior lamps such as the parking
lamps, taillamps, etc. are on when the DRL are used.
The instrument panel is not be lit up either.
When it is dark enough outside, the front turn signal
lamps turn off and normal low-beam headlamps turn on.
When it is bright enough outside, the regular lamps
go off, and the front turn signal lamps take over. If the
vehicle is started in a dark garage, the automatic
headlamp system comes on immediately. Once the
vehicle leaves the garage, it takes about one minute for
the automatic headlamp system to change to DRL if
it is light outside. During that delay, the instrument panel
cluster might not be as bright as usual. Make sure the
instrument panel brightness knob is in the full bright
position. SeeInstrument Panel Brightness on page 3-30
for more information.
3-27

If it is dark enough outside and the exterior lamp control
is off, a HEADLAMPS SUGGESTED message displays
on the Driver’s Information Center (DIC). This message
informs the driver that turning on the exterior lamps is
recommended. SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on
page 3-60.
Turn the exterior lamp control off a second time,
or turn on the headlamps to turn off the HEADLAMPS
SUGGESTED message in the DIC. If the parking
lamps or the fog lamps were turned on instead, the
HEADLAMPS SUGGESTED message continues to
display.
The regular headlamp system should be turned on
when needed.
Adaptive Forward Lighting System
The Adaptive Forward Lighting System (AFS) swivels
the headlamps horizontally to provide greater road
illumination while turning. AFS will operate when the
vehicle speed is greater than 2 mph (3 km/h). AFS will
not operate when the transmission is in R (Reverse).
AFS is not immediately operable after starting the
vehicle; driving a short distance is required to calibratethe AFS. To enable AFS, set the exterior lamp switch
on the multifunction lever to the AUTO position.
Moving the switch out of the AUTO position will
deactivate the system. SeeExterior Lamps on
page 3-26.
Fog Lamps
Use fog lamps for better vision in foggy or misty
conditions.
The fog lamps control is located on the multifunction
lever next to the exterior lamp control.
#(Fog Lamps):Turn the band to turn the fog lamps on.
The fog lamp light appears on the instrument panel
cluster to indicate that the fog lamps and the parking
lamps are on.
If you turn the high-beam headlamps on, the fog lamps
will turn off. They will turn on again when you switch
to low-beam headlamps.
The ignition must be on for the fog lamps to operate.
The fog lamps will turn off when the ignition is turned off.
Some localities have laws that require the headlamps
to be on along with the fog lamps.
3-28

Twilight Sentinel®
This feature can turn the lamps on and off for you.
A light sensor on top of the instrument panel makes the
Twilight Sentinel
®work, so be sure it is not covered.
With Twilight Sentinel
®you will see the following happen:
When it is dark enough outside, the front turn signal
lamps (DRL) will go off, and the headlamps and
parking lamps will come on. The other lamps that
come on with headlamps will also come on.
When it is bright enough outside, the headlamps will
go off, and the front turn signal lamps (DRL) will
come on, as long as the exterior lamp switch is in the
AUTO position.
If the vehicle is started in a dark garage, the automatic
headlamp system will come on immediately. Once the
vehicle leaves the garage, it takes about one minute for
the automatic headlamp system to change to DRL if
it is light outside. During that delay, the instrument panel
cluster may not be as bright as usual. Make sure the
instrument panel brightness control is in full bright
position. SeeInstrument Panel Brightness on page 3-30
for more information.You can idle the vehicle with the lamps off, even when
it is dark outside. After starting the vehicle, turn the
exterior lamp control band to off, then release it.
The lamps will remain off until you turn the control
band to off again.
Twilight Sentinel
®also provides exterior illumination as
you leave the vehicle. If Twilight Sentinel®has turned
on the lamps when you turn off the ignition, the
lamps will remain on until:
The exterior lamp switch is moved from OFF to the
parking lamp position, or
the delay time selected has elapsed.
SeeDriver Information Center (DIC) on page 3-57to
select the delay time. You can also select no delay time.
If the ignition is turned off with the exterior lamp switch
in the parking lamp or headlamp position, the Twilight
Sentinel
®delay will not occur. The lamps will turn off as
soon as the switch is turned off.
The regular headlamp system should be turned on
when needed.
3-29

Exterior Lighting Battery Saver
If the manual parking lamps or headlamps have been
left on, the exterior lamps will turn off as soon as
the ignition is turned off or Retained Accessory Power
(RAP) is active. This protects against draining the
battery in case you have accidentally left the headlamps
or parking lamps on. The battery saver does not work
if the headlamps are turned on after the ignition switch is
turned to off.
If you need to leave the lamps on, use the exterior lamp
control to turn the lamps back on.
Instrument Panel Brightness
The button for this feature is located on the instrument
panel to the left of the steering column.
+
!- (Brightness):Press to change the brightness of
the instrument panel lights.
Press the DIMMER button until PANEL DIMMING
appears on the Driver Information Center (DIC). Then
use the brightness button to adjust the instrument panel
brightness. Press the top or bottom of the button to
brighten or dim the lights. SeeHead-Up Display (HUD)
on page 3-31for more information.Be sure not to have the brightness turned all the way
down with the lamps on during the day. The DIC
may not be visible.
Courtesy Lamps
When any door or the trunk lid is opened, the interior
lamps will go on unless it is bright outside.
Press the interior lamp button on the right side of the
instrument panel, to turn the courtesy lamps on or off.
Entry/Exit Lighting
With entry lighting, the interior lamps will come on when
entering the vehicle. The interior lamps will come on
for about 20 seconds when the engine is turned off.
You can turn exit and entry lighting off by quickly turning
the courtesy lamps on and off.
Reading Lamps
The inside rearview mirror includes two reading lamps.
The lamps will go on when a door is opened. When
the doors are closed, each lamp can be turned on
individually by pressing the button for that lamp.
3-30