2009 CADILLAC XLR brakes

{CAUTION:
When the Adaptive Cruise Control radar is blocked
by snow, ice, or dirt, it may not detect a vehicle
ahead. Adaptive Cruise Control may not have time
to slow your vehicle enough to avoid a collision.
Do not use Adaptive Cruise Control when the
radar is blocked by snow, ice, or dirt. Keep your
radar clean. See “Cleaning the System” later in
this section.
Adaptive Cruise Control automatically slows the vehicle
down when approaching a slower moving vehicle.
It then adjusts your speed to follow the vehicle in front
at the selected following distance. Your speed increases
or decreases to follow the vehicle in front of you, but
will not exceed the set speed. It may apply limited
braking, if necessary. When braking is active, the brake
lights come on. It may feel or sound different than if
you were applying the brakes yourself. This is normal.
Stationary or Very Slow-Moving Objects
{CAUTION:
Adaptive Cruise Control may not detect and react
to stationary or slow-moving vehicles or other
objects ahead of you. You could crash into an
object ahead of you. Do not use Adaptive Cruise
Control when approaching stationary or
slow-moving vehicles or other objects.
{CAUTION:
Adaptive Cruise Control may not detect and react
to stationary or slow-moving vehicles or other
objects ahead of you. Your vehicle may accelerate
toward objects, such as a stopped vehicle that
suddenly appears after the lead vehicle changes
lanes. Your complete attention is always required
while driving and you should be ready to take
action and apply the brakes.
3-21

Low-Speed Deactivation
If your speed falls below 20 mph (32 km/h) while
following a vehicle ahead, Adaptive Cruise Control
begins to disengage. The driver alert symbol on
the HUD ashes and the warning beep sounds.
The driver must take action since Adaptive Cruise
Control will not slow the vehicle to a stop.
Passing a Vehicle
To increase speed to pass a vehicle, use the accelerator
pedal. While your foot is on the accelerator pedal, the
system will not automatically apply the brakes. Once
you pass the vehicle and remove your foot from
the accelerator pedal, Adaptive Cruise Control returns
to normal operation and the brakes can be applied,
if needed.
{CAUTION:
If you rest your foot on the accelerator pedal, the
system will not automatically apply the brakes.
You could crash into a vehicle ahead of you.
Do not rest your foot on the accelerator pedal
when using Adaptive Cruise Control.
Curves in the Road
{CAUTION:
Due to Adaptive Cruise Control limitations in
curves, it may respond to a vehicle in another
lane, or may not have time to react to a vehicle in
your lane. You could crash into a vehicle ahead of
you, or lose control of your vehicle. Give extra
attention in curves and be ready to use the brakes
if necessary. Select an appropriate speed while
driving in curves.
Adaptive Cruise Control might operate differently in a
sharp curve. It might reduce your speed if the curve is
too sharp. The TIGHT CURVE message will also display
on the HUD. SeeHead-Up Display (HUD) on page 3-31
for more information.
3-22

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.
3-23

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.
3-24

Antilock Brake System (ABS)
Warning Light
For vehicles with the
Antilock Brake System
(ABS), this light comes on
briey when the engine
is started.
If it does not, have the vehicle serviced by your
dealer/retailer. If the system is working normally the
indicator light then goes off.
If the ABS light stays on, turn the ignition off. If the light
comes on while driving, stop as soon as it is safely
possible and turn the ignition off. Then start the engine
again to reset the system. If the ABS light stays on,
or comes on again while driving, the vehicle needs
service. If the regular brake system warning light is not
on, the vehicle still has brakes, but not antilock brakes.
If the regular brake system warning light is also on,
the vehicle does not have antilock brakes and there is a
problem with the regular brakes. SeeBrake System
Warning Light on page 3-47.
For vehicles with a Driver Information Center (DIC),
seeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-60for all
brake related DIC messages.
StabiliTrak®/Traction Control
System (TCS) Warning Light
The Traction Control
System (TCS)/StabiliTrak
system warning light
comes on briey as the
engine is started.
If it does not, have the vehicle serviced by your
dealer/retailer. If the system is working normally the
indicator lights go off.
If the light stays on, or comes on while driving and
the DIC shows a SERVICE TRACTION SYS or
a SERVICE STABILITRAK message, there is a
problem with the Traction Control System (TCS)
or the StabiliTrak
®system and the vehicle needs
service.
3-48

HOT ENGINE–A/C OFF
This message displays when the engine coolant
becomes hotter than the normal operating temperature.
You can continue to drive the vehicle. If this message
continues to display, have the system repaired by
your dealer/retailer as soon as possible to avoid
compressor damage.
ICE POSSIBLE
This message displays when the outside air temperature
is cold enough to create icy road conditions. Adjust your
driving accordingly.
LEFT DOOR AJAR
This message displays anytime the engine is running,
the transmission is not in P (Park), and the driver door
is open or ajar. A chime sounds when the vehicle’s
speed is greater than 3 mph (5 km/h).
LOW BRAKE FLUID
This message displays if the engine is running to inform
the driver that the brake uid level is low. Have the
brake system serviced by your dealer/retailer as soon
as possible. See “Brake Fluid” underBrakes on
page 6-32.
LOW COOLANT
This message displays when there is a low level of
engine coolant. Have the cooling system serviced by
your dealer/retailer as soon as possible. SeeEngine
Coolant on page 6-23.
LOW FUEL
This message displays when the fuel supply is less
than 5 gallons (18.9 L) and the display is turned off.
A single chime also sounds when this message is
displayed.
LOW OIL LEVEL
For correct operation of the low oil sensing system,
the vehicle should be on a level surface. A false LOW
OIL LEVEL message may display if the vehicle is parked
on a grade. The oil level sensing system does not
check for actual oil level if the engine has been off for a
short period of time, and the oil level is never checked
while the engine is running. If the LOW OIL LEVEL
message displays, and the vehicle has been parked on
level ground with the engine off for at least 30 minutes,
the oil level should be checked by observing the oil
dipstick. Prior to checking the oil level, make sure the
engine has been off for a few minutes and the vehicle is
on a level surface. Then check the dipstick and add
oil if necessary. SeeEngine Oil on page 6-15.
3-63

Police records show that almost 40 percent of all motor
vehicle-related deaths involve alcohol. In most cases,
these deaths are the result of someone who was
drinking and driving. In recent years, more than
17,000 annual motor vehicle-related deaths have been
associated with the use of alcohol, with about
250,000 people injured.
For persons under 21, it is against the law in every
U.S. state to drink alcohol. There are good medical,
psychological, and developmental reasons for
these laws.
The obvious way to eliminate the leading highway
safety problem is for people never to drink alcohol
and then drive.
Medical research shows that alcohol in a person’s
system can make crash injuries worse, especially
injuries to the brain, spinal cord, or heart. This meansthat when anyone who has been drinking — driver
or passenger — is in a crash, that person’s chance of
being killed or permanently disabled is higher than if the
person had not been drinking.
Control of a Vehicle
The following three systems help to control your vehicle
while driving — brakes, steering, and accelerator.
At times, as when driving on snow or ice, it is easy to
ask more of those control systems than the tires
and road can provide. Meaning, you can lose control of
your vehicle. SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on
page 5-8andStabiliTrak
®System on page 5-6.
Adding non-dealer/non-retailer accessories can affect
your vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories and
Modifications on page 6-3.
5-3

Braking
SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 3-47.
Braking action involves perception time and reaction
time. First, you have to decide to push on the brake
pedal. That is perception time. Then you have to bring
up your foot and do it. That is reaction time.
Average reaction time is about three-fourths of a
second. But that is only an average. It might be less
with one driver and as long as two or three seconds or
more with another. Age, physical condition, alertness,
coordination, and eyesight all play a part. So do alcohol,
drugs, and frustration. But even in three-fourths of a
second, a vehicle moving at 60 mph (100 km/h) travels
66 feet (20 m). That could be a lot of distance in an
emergency, so keeping enough space between
your vehicle and others is important.
And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly
with the surface of the road, whether it is pavement or
gravel; the condition of the road, whether it is wet, dry, or
icy; tire tread; the condition of the brakes; the weight of
the vehicle; and the amount of brake force applied.Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive
in spurts — heavy acceleration followed by heavy
braking — rather than keeping pace with traffic. This is
a mistake. The brakes might not have time to cool
between hard stops. The brakes will wear out much
faster if you do a lot of heavy braking. If you keep pace
with the traffic and allow realistic following distances,
you will eliminate a lot of unnecessary braking.
That means better braking and longer brake life.
If your vehicle’s engine ever stops while you are driving,
brake normally but do not pump the brakes. If you do,
the pedal could get harder to push down. If the
engine stops, you will still have some power brake
assist. But you will use it when you brake. Once the
power assist is used up, it can take longer to stop and
the brake pedal will be harder to push.
Adding non-dealer/non-retailer accessories can affect
your vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories and
Modifications on page 6-3.
5-4