2009 CADILLAC XLR Owners Manual

{WARNING:
The traction grade assigned to this tire is
based on straight-ahead braking traction tests,
and does not include acceleration, cornering,
hydroplaning, or peak traction characteristics.
Temperature – A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B,
and C, representing the tire’s resistance to
the generation of heat and its ability to dissipate
heat when tested under controlled conditions on a
specied indoor laboratory test wheel. Sustained
high temperature can cause the material of the tire
to degenerate and reduce tire life, and excessive
temperature can lead to sudden tire failure.
The grade C corresponds to a level of performance
which all passenger car tires must meet under
the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
No. 109. Grades B and A represent higher levels
of performance on the laboratory test wheel
than the minimum required by law.
{WARNING:
The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly inated
and not overloaded. Excessive speed,
underination, or excessive loading, either
separately or in combination, can cause heat
buildup and possible tire failure.
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
The tires and wheels on your vehicle were aligned
and balanced carefully at the factory to give you the
longest tire life and best overall performance.
Adjustments to wheel alignment and tire balancing will
not be necessary on a regular basis. However, if
you notice unusual tire wear or your vehicle pulling to
one side or the other, the alignment might need to
be checked. If you notice your vehicle vibrating when
driving on a smooth road, the tires and wheels
might need to be rebalanced. See your dealer/retailer
for proper diagnosis.
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Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel that is bent, cracked, or badly rusted
or corroded. If wheel nuts keep coming loose, the wheel,
wheel bolts, and wheel nuts should be replaced. If the
wheel leaks air, replace it (except some aluminum
wheels, which can sometimes be repaired). See your
dealer/retailer if any of these conditions exist.
Your dealer/retailer will know the kind of wheel you need.
Each new wheel should have the same load-carrying
capacity, diameter, width, offset, and be mounted
the same way as the one it replaces.
If you need to replace any of your wheels, wheel bolts or
wheel nuts, replace them only with new GM original
equipment parts. This way, you will be sure to have the
right wheel, wheel bolts, and wheel nuts for your vehicle.
{CAUTION:
Using the wrong replacement wheels, wheel bolts,
or wheel nuts on your vehicle can be dangerous.
It could affect the braking and handling of your
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
vehicle, make your tires lose air and make you
lose control. You could have a collision in which
you or others could be injured. Always use the
correct wheel, wheel bolts, and wheel nuts for
replacement.
{CAUTION:
Putting a used wheel on the vehicle is dangerous.
You cannot know how it has been used or how far
it has been driven. It could fail suddenly and
cause a crash. If you have to replace a wheel, use
a new GM original equipment wheel.
Notice:The wrong wheel can also cause problems
with bearing life, brake cooling, speedometer or
odometer calibration, headlamp aim, bumper height,
vehicle ground clearance, and tire clearance to
the body and chassis.
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{CAUTION:
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts to
which it is fastened, can make wheel nuts
become loose after a time. The wheel could
come off and cause a crash. 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 you
need to, to get all the rust or dirt off.
Tightening Wheel Lug Nuts
{CAUTION:
Never use oil or grease on studs or the threads of
the wheel nuts. If you do, the wheel nuts might
come loose and the wheel could fall off, causing
a crash.
{CAUTION:
Incorrect wheel nuts or improperly tightened wheel
nuts can cause the wheel to become loose and
even come off. This could lead to a crash. Be sure
to use the correct wheel nuts. If you have to
replace them, be sure to get new GM original
equipment wheel nuts.
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.
Tighten the wheel lug nuts
rmly in a crisscross
sequence as shown.
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Tire Chains
{CAUTION:
Do not use tire chains. There is not enough
clearance. Tire chains used on a vehicle without the
proper amount of clearance can cause damage to
the brakes, suspension, or other vehicle parts. The
area damaged by the tire chains could cause you to
lose control of the vehicle and you or others may be
injured in a crash. Use another type of traction
device only if its manufacturer recommends it for
use on the vehicle and tire size combination and
road conditions. Follow that manufacturer’s
instructions. To help avoid damage to the vehicle,
drive slowly, re-adjust or remove the device if it is
contacting the vehicle, and do not spin the wheels.
If you do nd traction devices that will t, install
them on the rear tires.
Lifting the Vehicle
{CAUTION:
Lifting a vehicle can cause an injury. The vehicle
can slip off the jack and roll over you or others.
You and they could be badly injured. Find a level
place to lift the vehicle. To help prevent the
vehicle from moving:
1. Firmly set the parking brake.
2. Put an automatic transmission shift lever in
P (Park).
3. Turn the engine off.
4. Put blocks in front of and behind the wheels.
{CAUTION:
Getting under a vehicle when it is jacked up is
dangerous. If the vehicle slips off the jack, you
could be badly injured or killed. Never get under a
vehicle when it is supported only by a jack.
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{CAUTION:
Raising the vehicle with the jack improperly
positioned can damage the vehicle or the vehicle
may fall and cause your or others injury.
If you ever use a jack to lift the vehicle, follow the
instructions that came with the jack, and be sure to use
the correct lifting points to avoid damaging the vehicle.
Notice:Lifting the vehicle improperly can damage
the vehicle and result in costly repairs not covered
by the vehicle’s warranty. To lift the vehicle
properly, follow the advice in this part.
To help prevent vehicle damage:
Be sure to place a block or pad between the
jack and the vehicle.
Make sure the jack you are using spans at least
two crossmember ribs.
Lift only in the areas shown in the following
pictures.
For additional information, see your GM dealer and
the Cadillac XLR service manual.
Lifting From the Front
The front lifting points can be accessed from either side
of the vehicle, behind the front tires.
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1. Locate the front lifting points (A), according to the
illustration shown.
2. Be sure to place a block or pad between the jack
and the vehicle.3. Lift the vehicle with the jack, making sure the jack
spans at least two of the crossmember ribs (B).
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Lifting From the Rear
The rear lifting points can be accessed from the rear of
the vehicle, on either the driver or passenger side.1. Locate the rear lifting points (A), according to the
illustration shown.
2. Be sure to place a block or pad between the jack
and the vehicle.
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3. Lift the vehicle with the jack, making sure the jack
spans at least two of the crossmember ribs (B).
For more information, seeDoing Your Own Service
Work on page 6-4.
If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blow out while you are driving,
especially if you maintain the tires properly. If air
goes out of a tire, it is much more likely to leak out
slowly. SeeTires on page 6-46for additional
information.
This vehicle, when new, had run-at tires. This type of tire
can operate effectively with no air pressure, so you will
not need to stop on the side of the road to change a at
tire. You can just keep on driving. The shorter the
distance you drive and the slower the speed, the greater
the chance that the run-at tire will not have to be
replaced. Run-at tires perform so well without any air
that a Tire Pressure Monitor (TPM) is used to alert you if
a tire has lost pressure. SeeRun-Flat Tires on page 6-52
andTire Pressure Monitor System on page 6-55.
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