2009 CADILLAC XLR tow

Battery Run-Down Protection
The vehicle has a feature to help prevent the battery
from being drained, in case the underhood lamp, vanity
mirror lamps, cargo lamps, reading lamps, console,
or glove box lamps are accidentally left on, or something
is left plugged into the accessory power outlet or
cigarette lighter. If any of the accessory lamps are
left on, they will automatically time-out after about
10 minutes. To reset the battery protection, all of the
above lamps must be turned off or the ignition must be
in the ACC/ACCESSORY position.
Head-Up Display (HUD)
{CAUTION:
If the HUD image is too bright, or too high in your
eld of view, it may take you more time to see
things you need to see when it is dark outside.
Be sure to keep the HUD image dim and placed
low in your eld of view.The Head-Up Display (HUD) allows you to see some of
the driver information that appears on the instrument
panel cluster.
The information may be displayed in English or metric
units and appears as an image focused out toward
the front of the vehicle. To change from English to metric
units, seeDriver Information Center (DIC) on page 3-57.
The HUD consists of the following information:
Speedometer
Turn Signal Indicators
High-Beam Indicator Symbol
Tap-Up/Tap-Down Transmission Feature
Check Gages Message
Adaptive Cruise Control Features and Indicators
Radio Features
3-31

Brake System Warning Light
The vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided into
two parts. If one part is not working, the other part can
still work and stop the vehicle. For good braking,
though, both parts need to be working well.
This light should come on when the engine is started.
If it does not come on then, have it xed so it will
be ready to warn if there is a problem.
If this warning light stays on after the engine is started,
the parking brake may still be set or there could be
a brake problem. Refer toParking Brake on page 2-32
to see if it is set. If the parking brake is not set, have
the brake system inspected right away.If the light comes on while driving and a LOW BRAKE
FLUID message is showing on the DIC, pull off the road
and stop carefully. The pedal may be harder to push.
Or, the pedal may go closer to the oor and it may take
longer to stop. If the light is still on, have the vehicle
towed for service. SeeTowing Your Vehicle on
page 5-26.
{CAUTION:
The brake system might not be working properly if
the brake system warning light is on. Driving with
the brake system warning light on can lead to a
crash. If the light is still on after the vehicle has
been pulled off the road and carefully stopped,
have the vehicle towed for service. United States
Canada
3-47

Easy Planning Route
With this destination entry method, a destination can be
selected by using the scroll symbol on the map
screen. SeeMaps on page 4-38.
To use this destination entry method:
1. Press the MAP key.
2. Touch the map screen twice for the scroll symbol to
appear. Touch the map or drag the scroll symbol
toward the destination.3. Touch the map screen continuously to scroll
through the map faster. The address of the location
on the map appears at the top of the screen.
If needed, use the zoom feature to locate the
destination. See “Map Scales” underMaps
on page 4-38for more information.
4. Touch ENT DEST to set this location as the
destination. Touch MARK to also store this
location as a memory point.
5. Touch Enter to plan the route.
4-28

c(Stop):Touch to stop the DVD.
j(Pause):Touch to pause the DVD.
[(Forward):Touch to advance rapidly during
playback.
L(Frame Advance):Touch to advance by chapter
during playback.
Radio Personalization with Home
and Away Feature
With this feature, the latest audio system settings can be
recalled that were adjusted the last time the vehicle was
operated. This feature allows two different drivers to store
and recall their own audio system settings. The settings
recalled by the audio system are determined by which
transmitter (1 or 2) was used to enter the vehicle.
The number on the back of the transmitter corresponds
to driver 1 or to driver 2. The audio system settings will
automatically adjust to where they were last set by the
identied driver. The settings can also be recalled by
briey pressing the MEMORY seat switches 1 or 2
located on the driver door.The audio system can store HOME and AWAY preset
stations. HOME and AWAY preset stations allow use of
one set of preset radio settings in the area where you
live, and another set when you go out of town. That way,
there is no need to reprogram the preset stations
every time you travel.
To select HOME and AWAY preset stations:
1. With the audio system on, touch the Audio hard key
and turn the audio system off.
2. Touch the HOME or AWAY button from the main
audio screen.
The next time the audio system is turned on, the
system recalls the last active preset selection.
When battery power is removed and later applied, the
home audio system preset stations do not have to
be reset because the audio system remembers them.
However, the away radio preset stations have to
be reset.
4-73

Your Driving, the Road, and the Vehicle............5-2
Defensive Driving...........................................5-2
Drunk Driving.................................................5-2
Control of a Vehicle........................................5-3
Braking.........................................................5-4
Antilock Brake System (ABS)...........................5-5
Braking in Emergencies...................................5-6
StabiliTrak
®System........................................5-6
Traction Control System (TCS).........................5-8
Magnetic Ride Control™................................5-10
Limited-Slip Rear Axle...................................5-10
Steering......................................................5-10
Off-Road Recovery.......................................5-12
Passing.......................................................5-12
Loss of Control.............................................5-12
Racing or Other Competitive Driving (XLR-V)......5-14Driving at Night............................................5-14
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads..................5-15
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.......................5-16
Highway Hypnosis........................................5-16
Hill and Mountain Roads................................5-17
Winter Driving..............................................5-18
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud,
Ice, or Snow.............................................5-20
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out.................5-20
Loading the Vehicle......................................5-21
Towing..........................................................5-26
Towing Your Vehicle.....................................5-26
Recreational Vehicle Towing...........................5-26
Towing a Trailer...........................................5-26
Section 5 Driving Your Vehicle
5-1

If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand,
Mud, Ice, or Snow
Slowly and cautiously spin the wheels to free the
vehicle when stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow.
SeeRocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out on page 5-20.
If the vehicle has a traction system, it can often help
to free a stuck vehicle. Refer to the vehicle’s traction
system in the Index. If stuck too severely for the traction
system to free the vehicle, turn the traction system off
and use the rocking method.
{CAUTION:
If you let your vehicle’s tires spin at high speed,
they can explode, and you or others could be
injured. The vehicle can overheat, causing an
engine compartment re or other damage. Spin the
wheels as little as possible and avoid going above
35 mph (55 km/h) as shown on the speedometer.
For information about using tire chains on the vehicle,
seeTire Chains on page 6-68.
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out
Turn the steering wheel left and right to clear the area
around the front wheels. Turn off any traction or stability
system. Shift back and forth between R (Reverse) and a
forward gear, spinning the wheels as little as possible.
To prevent transmission wear, wait until the wheels stop
spinning before shifting gears. Release the accelerator
pedal while shifting, and press lightly on the accelerator
pedal when the transmission is in gear. Slowly spinning
the wheels in the forward and reverse directions causes a
rocking motion that could free the vehicle. If that does not
get the vehicle out after a few tries, it might need to be
towed out. If the vehicle does need to be towed out,
seeTowing Your Vehicle on page 5-26.
5-20

For more information on tires and ination see
Tires on page 6-46andInflation - Tire Pressure
on page 6-54.
There is also important loading information on the
vehicle Certication label. It tells you the Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and the Gross Axle
Weight Rating (GAWR) for the front and rear axle.
See “Certication Label” later in this section.
Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit
1.Locate the statement “The combined weight of
occupants and cargo should never exceed
XXX kg or XXX lbs” on your vehicle’s placard.
2.Determine the combined weight of the driver
and passengers that will be riding in your
vehicle.
3.Subtract the combined weight of the driver
and passengers from XXX kg or XXX lbs.
4.The resulting gure equals the available
amount of cargo and luggage load capacity.
For example, if the “XXX” amount equals
1400 lbs and there will be ve 150 lb
passengers in your vehicle, the amount of
available cargo and luggage load capacity is
650 lbs (1400−750 (5 x 150) = 650 lbs).
5.Determine the combined weight of luggage
and cargo being loaded on the vehicle.
That weight may not safely exceed the
available cargo and luggage load capacity
calculated in Step 4.
6.If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, the load
from your trailer will be transferred to your
vehicle. Consult this manual to determine how
this reduces the available cargo and luggage
load capacity of your vehicle.
Your vehicle is neither designed nor intended
to tow a trailer.
5-22

Towing
Towing Your Vehicle
Consult your dealer/retailer or a professional towing
service if the disabled vehicle needs to be towed.
SeeRoadside Service on page 8-7.
Recreational Vehicle Towing
Notice:Dolly towing or dinghy towing the vehicle
may cause damage because of reduced ground
clearance. Always put the vehicle on a atbed truck.The vehicle was neither designed nor intended to be
towed with any of its wheels on the ground. If the vehicle
must be towed, see “Towing Your Vehicle” earlier in
this section.
Towing a Trailer
The vehicle is neither designed nor intended to tow
a trailer.
5-26