2009 CADILLAC XLR windshield wipers

9Acc. (OFF/ACCESSORY):When this button is
pressed, the engine will turn off even if the shifter is not
in P (Park). If the shifter is in P (Park), the ignition
mode will change to Retained Accessory Power (RAP),
if all doors are closed. The ignition mode will change
to off, if a front door is opened. SeeRetained Accessory
Power (RAP) on page 2-25for more information.
If the shifter is not in P (Park), the ignition mode will
change to Acc. SeeShifting Into Park on page 2-33.
When the engine is off, press this button to place the
vehicle in accessory mode. ACCESSORY MODE ON will
display on the Driver Information Center (DIC). This mode
allows you to use things like the radio and the windshield
wipers while the engine is off. Use accessory mode if you
must have the vehicle in motion while the engine is off, for
example, if the vehicle is being towed. If the door is open
while in accessory mode, the key in reminder chime will
sound continuously.If the push-button start is not working, the vehicle may be
near a strong radio antenna signal causing interference to
the keyless access system. SeeDIC Warnings and
Messages on page 3-60for more information.
After being in ACCESSORY mode for about 20 minutes,
the vehicle will automatically enter RAP or will turn off,
depending on if the doors are opened or closed.
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
Power to the following accessories continues to work for
up to 10 minutes after the engine is turned off or until
a door is opened:
Audio System
Audio Steering Wheel Controls
Power Windows
For an additional 10 minutes of operation, close all the
doors and press the Acc. button to place the vehicle in
accessory mode. Press the button again to return to RAP.
2-25

Instrument Panel Overview...............................3-4
Hazard Warning Flashers................................3-6
Horn .............................................................3-6
Power Tilt Wheel and Telescopic Steering
Column......................................................3-6
Heated Steering Wheel...................................3-7
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.........................3-7
Turn and Lane-Change Signals........................3-7
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer..................3-8
Flash-to-Pass.................................................3-8
Windshield Wipers..........................................3-8
Rainsense™ Wipers.......................................3-9
Windshield Washer.......................................3-10
Headlamp Washer........................................3-11
Cruise Control..............................................3-11
Adaptive Cruise Control.................................3-14
Exterior Lamps.............................................3-26
Wiper Activated Headlamps............................3-27Headlamps on Reminder................................3-27
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL).......................3-27
Adaptive Forward Lighting System...................3-28
Fog Lamps ..................................................3-28
Twilight Sentinel
®..........................................3-29
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver........................3-30
Instrument Panel Brightness...........................3-30
Courtesy Lamps...........................................3-30
Entry/Exit Lighting.........................................3-30
Reading Lamps............................................3-30
Battery Run-Down Protection..........................3-31
Head-Up Display (HUD).................................3-31
Accessory Power Outlet(s).............................3-34
Ashtray(s) and Cigarette Lighter......................3-35
Climate Controls............................................3-36
Dual Climate Control System..........................3-36
Outlet Adjustment.........................................3-40
Passenger Compartment Air Filter...................3-41
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-1

The main components of the instrument panel are the following:
A.Head-Up Display (HUD) on page 3-31orInstrument
Panel Brightness on page 3-30.
B.Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever on page 3-7.Cruise
Control on page 3-11.Exterior Lamps on page 3-26.
Fog Lamps on page 3-28.
C.Instrument Panel Cluster on page 3-42.
D.Windshield Wipers on page 3-8andWindshield
Washer on page 3-10.
E. Driver Information Center (DIC) Controls/Interior
Lamps. SeeDIC Operation and Displays on
page 3-57.
F.Outlet Adjustment on page 3-40.
G.Hazard Warning Flashers on page 3-6.
H.Audio Steering Wheel Controls on page 3-88.
Adaptive Cruise Control on page 3-14(If Equipped).
Heated Steering Wheel on page 3-7. Voice
Commands. SeeOnStar
®System on page 2-42.I.Power Tilt Wheel and Telescopic Steering Column
on page 3-6.
J.Horn on page 3-6.
K.Ignition Positions on page 2-24.
L. Shift Lever. SeeAutomatic Transmission Operation
on page 2-28.
M.Traction Control System (TCS) on page 5-8.
N.Retractable Hardtop on page 2-54.
O.Cupholders on page 2-53.
P. Cigarette Lighter. SeeAshtray(s) and Cigarette
Lighter on page 3-35.
Q.Dual Climate Control System on page 3-36.
R. Audio/Navigation System. SeeNavigation System
Overview on page 4-2.
S.Glove Box on page 2-53.
3-5

If after signaling a turn or a lane change the arrows
ash rapidly or do not come on, a signal bulb could be
burned out.
Have the bulbs replaced. If the bulb is not burned out,
check the fuses. SeeFuses and Circuit Breakers
on page 6-83.
Turn Signal on Chime
A chime will remind you if the turn signal is left on for
more than 3/4 mile (1.2 km) of driving.
If you need to leave the turn signal on for more than
3/4 mile (1.2 km), turn off the signal and then turn it
back on.
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
Push the turn signal lever all the way forward to
change the headlamps from low beam to high beam.
When the high beams are on, this light
$appears on
the instrument panel cluster.
Pull the lever rearward to change the headlamps back
to low beam.
Flash-to-Pass
This feature lets you use the high-beam headlamps to
signal the driver in front of you that you want to pass.
Pull and hold the turn signal lever toward you to use.
When you do, the following will occur:
If the low-beam headlamps are on, the high-beam
headlamps will turn on. They will stay on as long as
you hold the lever there. Release the lever to turn
them off.
If the headlamps are on high-beam, they will switch
to low-beam. To return to high beam, push the lever
away from you.
Windshield Wipers
The windshield wiper lever is located on the right side of
the steering column.
3-8

Move the lever to the following positions:
1(High Speed):For steady wiping at high speed.
6(Low Speed):For steady wiping at low speed.
&(Delay):Use to set a delay between wipes.
x(Delay Adjustment):Use for a delayed wiping
cycle. Turn the intermittent adjust band down for
a longer delay or up for a shorter delay. The wiper
speed can only be manually adjusted when the lever
is in this position.
9(Off):Turns off the windshield wipers.
8(Mist):Move all the way down to mist and release
for a single wiping cycle. The windshield wipers will
stop after one wipe. Hold the band on mist longer for
more wipes.
Heavy snow or ice can overload the wipers. If this occurs,
a circuit breaker will stop the wipers until the motor cools.
Clear all ice and snow from the windshield wiper blades
before using them. If the wiper blades are frozen to the
windshield, carefully loosen them or warm the windshield
before turning the wipers on. If they become worn or
damaged, get new blades or blade inserts.
Rainsense™ Wipers
With Rainsense wipers, there is a moisture sensor
mounted on the interior side of the windshield below
the rearview mirror, and it automatically operates the
wipers by monitoring the amount of moisture build-up
on the windshield. Wipes occur as needed to clear the
windshield depending on driving conditions and the
sensitivity setting. In light rain or snow, fewer wipes will
occur. In heavy rain or snow, wipes will occur more
frequently. The Rainsense wipers operate in a delay
mode as well as a continuous low or high speed as
needed. If the system is left on for long periods of time,
occasional wipes may occur without any moisture on
the windshield. This is normal and indicates that the
Rainsense system is activated.
The Rainsense system is also sensitive to vibration.
The system may activate if something hits the
windshield or if the vehicle hits a bump.
The Rainsense system can be activated by moving the
wiper lever up to the delay position and turning the
delay adjust band to one of the ve sensitivity levels.
The bottom delay adjust position is the lowest sensitivity
setting, level one. This allows more rain or snow to
collect on the windshield between wipes. Turning the
delay adjust band away from you to the higher sensitivity
levels allows less rain or snow to collect on the
windshield between wipes.
3-9

The top position is the highest sensitivity setting, level
ve. A single wipe will occur each time the delay adjust
band is turned to a higher sensitivity level to indicate
that the sensitivity level has been increased.
Notice:Going through an automatic car wash with
the wipers on can damage them. Turn the wipers
off when going through an automatic car wash.
The mist and wash cycles operate as normal and are
not affected by the Rainsense function. The Rainsense
system can be overridden at any time by manually
changing the wiper control to low or high speed.
When Rainsense is active, the headlamps will turn
on automatically. If it is dark, they will remain on.
See “Wiper-Activated Headlamps” underExterior
Lamps on page 3-26for more information.
Notice:Do not place stickers or other items on
the exterior glass surface directly in front of
the moisture sensor. Doing this could cause the
moisture sensor to malfunction.Windshield Washer
K(Washer Fluid):The lever on the right side of the
steering column also controls the windshield washer.
There is a button at the end of the lever. To spray
washer uid on the windshield, press the button and
hold it. The washer will spray until you release the
button. The wipers will continue to clear the window
for about six seconds after the button is released and
then stop or return to your preset speed.
{CAUTION:
In freezing weather, do not use your washer until
the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the washer
uid can form ice on the windshield, blocking your
vision.
If the uid in the windshield washer uid reservoir is
low, the message LOW WASHER FLUID will appear
on the Driver Information Center (DIC) display. It
will take 60 seconds after the bottle is relled for this
message to turn off. For information on the correct
washer uid mixture to use, seeWindshield Washer
Fluid on page 6-31andRecommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 7-11.
3-10

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

Finish Care
Occasional waxing or mild polishing of your vehicle by
hand may be necessary to remove residue from the
paint nish. You can get approved cleaning products
from your dealer/retailer.
If your vehicle has a basecoat/clearcoat paint nish, the
clearcoat gives more depth and gloss to the colored
basecoat. Always use waxes and polishes that are
non-abrasive and made for a basecoat/clearcoat paint
nish.
Notice:Machine compounding or aggressive
polishing on a basecoat/clearcoat paint nish may
damage it. Use only non-abrasive waxes and
polishes that are made for a basecoat/clearcoat
paint nish on your vehicle.
Foreign materials such as calcium chloride and other
salts, ice melting agents, road oil and tar, tree sap, bird
droppings, chemicals from industrial chimneys, etc., can
damage your vehicle’s nish if they remain on painted
surfaces. Wash the vehicle as soon as possible. If
necessary, use non-abrasive cleaners that are marked
safe for painted surfaces to remove foreign matter.
Exterior painted surfaces are subject to aging, weather
and chemical fallout that can take their toll over a
period of years. You can help to keep the paint nish
looking new by keeping your vehicle garaged or covered
whenever possible.
Protecting Exterior Bright Metal Parts
Bright metal parts should be cleaned regularly to keep
their luster. Washing with water is all that is usually
needed. However, you may use chrome polish on
chrome or stainless steel trim, if necessary.
Use special care with aluminum trim. To avoid damaging
protective trim, never use auto or chrome polish, steam or
caustic soap to clean aluminum. A coating of wax, rubbed
to high polish, is recommended for all bright metal parts.
Windshield and Wiper Blades
Clean the outside of the windshield with glass cleaner.
Clean the rubber blades using a lint free cloth or paper
towel soaked with windshield washer uid or a mild
detergent. Wash the windshield thoroughly when
cleaning the blades. Bugs, road grime, sap, and a buildup
of vehicle wash/wax treatments may cause wiper
streaking. Replace the wiper blades if they are worn or
damaged.
Wipers can be damaged by:
Extreme dusty conditions
Sand and salt
Heat and sun
Snow and ice, without proper removal
6-78