2009 CADILLAC XLR automatic transmission

Keys...............................................................2-3
Keyless Access System...................................2-4
Keyless Access System Operation....................2-5
Doors and Locks............................................2-10
Door Locks..................................................2-10
Power Door Locks........................................2-13
Automatic Door Lock.....................................2-13
Programmable Automatic Door Unlock.............2-13
Lockout Protection........................................2-13
Trunk..........................................................2-14
Windows........................................................2-17
Power Windows............................................2-18
Sun Visors...................................................2-20
Theft-Deterrent Systems..................................2-20
Theft-Deterrent System..................................2-20
Valet Lockout Switch.....................................2-22
Immobilizer..................................................2-22
Immobilizer Operation....................................2-23Starting and Operating Your Vehicle................2-24
New Vehicle Break-In....................................2-24
Ignition Positions..........................................2-24
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)...................2-25
Starting the Engine.......................................2-26
Automatic Transmission Operation...................2-28
Parking Brake..............................................2-32
Shifting Into Park..........................................2-33
Shifting Out of Park......................................2-35
Parking Over Things That Burn.......................2-35
Engine Exhaust............................................2-36
Running the Vehicle While Parked..................2-37
Mirrors...........................................................2-38
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror................2-38
Outside Power Mirrors...................................2-38
Outside Automatic Dimming Mirror.................
.2-39
Park Assist Mirror.........................................2-39
Outside Convex Mirror...................................2-39
Outside Heated Mirrors..................................2-39
Section 2 Features and Controls
2-1

Starting the Engine
To place the transmission in the proper gear:
Move the shift lever to P (Park) or N (Neutral). To restart
the engine when the vehicle is already moving, use
N (Neutral).
Notice:Do not try to shift to P (Park) if the
vehicle is moving. If you do, you could damage
the transmission. Shift to P (Park) only when
the vehicle is stopped.
The keyless access transmitter must be inside the
vehicle for the ignition to work.
Cell phone chargers can interfere with the operation of
the Keyless Access System. Battery chargers should
not be plugged in when starting or turning off the engine.
To start the vehicle, do the following:
Starting Procedure
1. With your foot on the brake pedal, press the
START button located on the instrument panel.
If there is not a keyless access transmitter in
the vehicle or if there is something causing
interference with it, the DIC will display NO FOBS
DETECTED. SeeDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 3-60for more information.2. When the engine begins cranking, let go of the
button and the engine cranks automatically until
it starts. If the battery in the keyless access
transmitter is weak, the DIC displays KEY FOB
BATTERY LOW. You can still drive the vehicle.
See “Battery Replacement” underKeyless Access
System Operation on page 2-5for more information.
If the fob battery is dead, you need to insert the
fob into the fob slot to enable engine starting.
See “No Fobs Detected” underDIC Warnings and
Messages on page 3-60.
3. Do not race the engine immediately after starting it.
Operate the engine and transmission gently until
the oil warms up and lubricates all moving parts.
4. If the engine does not start and no DIC message is
displayed, wait 15 seconds before trying again to let
the cranking motor cool down.
If the engine does not start after 5-10 seconds,
especially in very cold weather (below
0°F or−18°C), it could be ooded with too much
gasoline. Try pushing the accelerator pedal all the
way to the oor while cranking for up to 15 seconds
maximum.
2-26

Automatic Transmission Operation
There are several different positions for the shift lever.
P (Park):This position locks the rear wheels. It is
the best position to use when starting the engine
because the vehicle cannot move easily.
{CAUTION:
It is dangerous to get out of the vehicle if the shift
lever is not fully in P (Park) with the parking brake
rmly set. The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the engine is running
unless you have to. If you have left the engine
running, the vehicle can move suddenly. You or
others could be injured. To be sure the vehicle will
not move, even when you are on fairly level ground,
always set the parking brake and move the shift
lever to P (Park). SeeShifting Into Park on
page 2-33.
Be sure the shift lever is fully in P (Park) before starting
the engine.
The vehicle has an automatic transmission shift lock
control system. You have to fully apply the regular brakes
rst and then press the shift lever button before you can
shift from P (Park) when the vehicle is running. If you
cannot shift out of P (Park), ease pressure on the shift
lever and push the shift lever all the way into P (Park)
as you maintain brake application. Then press the shift
lever button and move the shift lever into another gear.
SeeShifting Out of Park on page 2-35.
2-28

Driver Shift Control (DSC)
The Driver Shift Control (DSC) feature lets you manually
control the operation of the transmission.
To use this feature, move
the shift lever from the
D (Drive) position to the left
and into the driver shift
control gate.
The Sport Automatic Mode is selected by moving the
shift lever into the DSC area without shifting towards
the + (plus) or−(minus) symbols. While in the Sport
Automatic Mode, the transmission computer determines
when the vehicle is being driven in a competitive manner.It then selects and holds the transmission in lower gears
giving more noticeable upshifts for sportier vehicle
performance. Once you shift to the + (plus) or−(minus)
controls, the driver manual gear selection is activated.
A + (plus) symbol appears on the shift console above the
D (Drive) indicator and minus symbol appears below the
indicator. The Head-Up Display (HUD) also displays the
requested gear, though the actual upshift or downshift
could be delayed until the engine speed is correct for
that gear.
The requested gear displays on the HUD until the next
time you upshift or downshift. The gear selected
and shown in the HUD is one of a number of gears
available. The vehicle does not upshift beyond the
chosen gear. The actual gear that the vehicle shifts
to depends on a combination of the driver-requested
gear range, vehicle speed and throttle position.
Notice:If you drive the vehicle at high RPMs
without upshifting while using Driver Shift Control
(DSC), you could damage the vehicle. Always upshift
when necessary while using DSC.
If you do not upshift as the engine approaches the red
line on the engine RPM (Revolutions Per Minute) gage,
the engine speed is controlled to limit the engine RPM.
2-30

Not all manual downshift requests will be allowed by
the transmission. To prevent excessive engine RPMs,
each gear has a maximum vehicle speed associated
with it. Any downshift request above this speed is
not allowed by the transmission.
If shifting is prevented for any reason, the current
gear ashes multiple times in the Driver Information
Center (DIC), indicating that the transmission has
not shifted gears.
Some automatic downshifts can occur to maintain
minimum engine speed. This only happens if the vehicle
is left in too high of a gear for the vehicle’s speed.
For example, if you have been driving in sixth gear range
and come to a stop without manually downshifting, the
transmission automatically downshifts to rst gear and
displays rst gear on the HUD. As you begin to drive and
accelerate, the transmission remains in rst gear until the
driver selects an upshift.DSC can be used while using cruise control, but
transmission shifting is different while the cruise control
is on. This is not a malfunction and is necessary to
let proper operation of the cruise control.
To return to fully automatic operation, move the shift
lever to the right and back into D (Drive).
When accelerating the vehicle from a stop in snowy and
icy conditions, you may want to shift into second gear.
A higher gear allows you to gain more traction on slippery
surfaces.
In higher gears, on the XLR only, an automatic downshift
occurs if you press the accelerator pedal to the oor.
This feature provides adequate acceleration capabilities
if you forget to downshift manually. Tap the shifter
forward and the vehicle upshifts.
2-31

Running the Vehicle While Parked
It is better not to park with the engine running. But if you
ever have to, here are some things to know.
{CAUTION:
Idling a vehicle in an enclosed area with poor
ventilation is dangerous. Engine exhaust may
enter the vehicle. Engine exhaust contains Carbon
Monoxide (CO) which cannot be seen or smelled.
It can cause unconsciousness and even death.
Never run the engine in an enclosed area that has
no fresh air ventilation. For more information, see
Engine ExhaustEngine Exhaust on page 2-36.
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of the vehicle if
the automatic transmission shift lever is not fully
in P (Park) with the parking brake rmly set.
The vehicle can roll. Do not leave the vehicle when
the engine is running unless you have to. If you
have left the engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be injured. To be
sure the vehicle will not move, even when you are
on fairly level ground, always set the parking brake
and move the shift lever to P (Park).
Follow the proper steps to be sure the vehicle will not
move. SeeShifting Into Park on page 2-33.
2-37

Lowering the Retractable Hardtop
Notice:Leaving the retractable hardtop down and
exposing the interior of the vehicle to outdoor
conditions may cause damage. Always close the
retractable hardtop if leaving the vehicle outdoors.
1. Park on a level surface and shift the transmission
into P (Park).
2. The vehicle’s engine must be on or in Acc.
3. Lower both sun visors.
Notice:Raising or lowering the top while the vehicle
is in motion can cause damage to the top or top
mechanism. Make sure the vehicle is in P (Park) to
lower or raise the top.
Notice:Lowering the top if it is damp, wet, or dirty
can cause stains, mildew, and damage to the inside
of your vehicle. Dry off the top before lowering it.
4. Make sure that nothing or no one is on or around
the top. Make sure the trunk cargo cover is in
place with nothing on top or in front of the cargo
cover. SeeRear Storage Area on page 2-54
for more information. Also, make sure the valet
lockout switch is off.5. Push and hold the
bottom of this button
located on the console
behind the shifter lever.
The windows will automatically lower and the top will
automatically lower into the storage area. A chime
will sound when the top has lowered completely.
If the radio is on, the sound may be muted briey while
the retractable top is lowered. This occurs because
a new audio system equalization is being loaded.
Under certain conditions, the Driver Information Center
(DIC) may display messages regarding the retractable
hardtop. SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-60
for more information.
If the retractable hardtop does not operate, and there
are no messages displayed on the Driver Information
Center (DIC), then perform the “Power Window Initialize”
steps underPower Windows on page 2-18.
2-55

Raising the Retractable Hardtop
1. Park on a level surface. Shift the transmission into
P (Park).
2. The vehicle’s engine must be on or in Acc.
3. Lower both sun visors.
Notice:Raising or lowering the top while the vehicle
is in motion can cause damage to the top or top
mechanism. Make sure the vehicle is in P (Park) to
lower or raise the top.
4. Make sure nothing or no one is on or around the
top. Make sure the trunk cargo cover is in place
with no cargo on top of or in front of the cargo
cover. SeeRear Storage Area on page 2-54for
more information. Also, be sure the valet lockout
switch is off.5. Push and hold the top
of this button located
behind the shift lever.
The windows will automatically lower and the top will
raise. A chime will sound when the top has raised
completely.
After the top is fully raised, release the retractable
hardtop button.
If the radio is on, you may notice a brief mute in sound.
This is normal and due to a new audio system
equalization being loaded for the vehicle with the top
raised.
Under certain conditions, the Driver Information
Center (DIC) may display messages regarding the
retractable hardtop. SeeDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 3-60for more information.
2-56