Page 354 of 498

Black plate (16,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual - 2011
10-16 Vehicle Care
Change the fluid and filter at
the intervals listed inScheduled
Maintenance on page 11‑2, and
be sure to use the fluid listed in
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11‑7.
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
See Engine Compartment Overview
on page 10‑6 for the location of the
engine air cleaner/filter.
When to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
Inspect the air cleaner/filter at
the scheduled maintenance
intervals and replace it at the first
oil change after each 80 000 km
(50,000 mi) interval. See Scheduled
Maintenance on page 11‑2 for more
information. If driving in dusty/dirty
conditions, inspect the filter at
each engine oil change.
How to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
To inspect the air cleaner/filter,
remove the filter from the vehicle
and lightly shake the filter to release
loose dust and dirt. If the filter
remains caked with dirt, a new filter
is required. Never use compressed
air to clean the filter.
To inspect or replace the engine air
cleaner/filter:
1. Open the hood. See Hood on
page 10‑5.
2. Locate the air filter housing on the front of the passenger side
of the engine compartment.
See Engine Compartment
Overview on page 10‑6. 3.0 L V6 Shown, 2.8 L V6 Similar
A. Air Duct Clamp
B. Electrical Connectors
C. Retaining Clips
3. Disconnect the outlet duct by loosening the air duct clamp (A).
4. Disconnect the electrical connectors (B).
5. Lift the retaining clips (C) on the air filter housing.
Page 355 of 498

Black plate (17,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-17
6. Turn and tilt cover slightlyupwards and slide cover away
from outside edge of vehicle.
Remove the air filter.
A. Cover Cut Outs
B. Air Filter Tabs 7. To install the air filter, place filter
inside box where the pleats fit in
between the tabs located inside
the lower box. Ensure that the
cover cut outs (A) on both sides
match the air filter tabs (B) on
both sides.
8. Replace air cleaner cover by inserting tabs appropriately
into slots. Lower cover to meet
bottom of box. Place clips on
retention features and clip
closed.
9. Retighten the air duct clamp.
10. Reconnect the electrical connectors.
{WARNING
Operating the engine with the air
cleaner/filter off can cause you
or others to be burned. The air
cleaner not only cleans the air; it
helps to stop flames if the engine
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
backfires. Use caution when
working on the engine and do not
drive with the air cleaner/filter off.
Notice: If the air cleaner/filter is
off, dirt can easily get into the
engine, which could damage it.
Always have the air cleaner/filter
in place when you are driving.
Notice: Installing an air
cleaner different than the one
recommended in Maintenance
Replacement Parts may cause
engine damage not covered by
the vehicle warranty.
Page 360 of 498

Black plate (22,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual - 2011
10-22 Vehicle Care
2. Then keep turning the pressurecap slowly and remove it.
3. Fill the coolant surge tank with the proper DEX-COOL
coolant mixture to the indicated
level mark.
4. With the coolant surge tank pressure cap off, start the
engine and let it run until you
can feel the upper radiator hose
getting hot. Watch out for the
engine cooling fan.
By this time, the coolant level
inside the coolant surge tank
may be lower. If the level is
lower, add more of the proper
DEX-COOL
®coolant mixture
to the coolant surge tank until
the level reaches the indicated
level mark.
5. Then replace the pressure cap. Be sure the pressure cap is
hand-tight. Check the level in the coolant surge
tank when the cooling system has
cooled down. If the coolant is not
at the proper level, repeat Steps 1
through 3 and reinstall the pressure
cap. If the coolant still is not at the
proper level when the system cools
down again, see your dealer.
Engine Overheating
The vehicle has an indicator to warn
of engine overheating.
There is an engine coolant
temperature warning light on
the vehicle's instrument panel.
See
Engine Coolant Temperature
Gauge on page 5‑15.
If the decision is made not to lift the
hood when this warning appears,
but instead get service help right
away. See Roadside Service (U.S.
and Canada) on page 13‑8 or
Roadside Service (Mexico) on
page 13‑10. If the decision is made to lift the
hood, make sure the vehicle is
parked on a level surface.
Then check to see if the engine
cooling fans are running. If the
engine is overheating, both fans
should be running. If they are not,
do not continue to run the engine
and have the vehicle serviced.
Notice:
Engine damage from
running the engine without
coolant is not covered by the
warranty.
Notice: If the engine catches
fire because of being driven
with no coolant, your vehicle can
be badly damaged. The costly
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty.
Page 363 of 498

Black plate (25,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-25
Adding Washer Fluid
The WASHER FLUID LOW ADD
FLUID message appears on the
Driver Information Center (DIC)
when the fluid level is low.
Open the cap with the washer
symbol on it. Add washer fluid
up to the fill mark. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview on
page 10‑6 for reservoir location.
Notice:
.When using concentrated
washer fluid, follow the
manufacturer's instructions
for adding water.
.Do not mix water with
ready-to-use washer fluid.
Water can cause the solution
to freeze and damage the
washer fluid tank and other
parts of the washer system.
Also, water does not clean
as well as washer fluid.
.Fill the washer fluid tank
only three-quarters full
when it is very cold. This
allows for fluid expansion
if freezing occurs, which
could damage the tank if
it is completely full.
.Do not use engine coolant
(antifreeze) in the windshield
washer. It can damage the
windshield washer system
and paint.
Brakes
This vehicle has disc brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear
indicators that make a high-pitched
warning sound when the brake pads
are worn and new pads are needed. The sound can come and go or
be heard all the time the vehicle is
moving, except when applying the
brake pedal firmly.
{WARNING
The brake wear warning sound
means that soon the brakes will
not work well. That could lead to
a crash. When the brake wear
warning sound is heard, have the
vehicle serviced.
Notice: Continuing to drive with
worn-out brake pads could result
in costly brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates
can cause a brake squeal when the
brakes are first applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean
something is wrong with the brakes.
Page 365 of 498

Black plate (27,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-27
.A fluid leak in the brake
hydraulic system can also
cause a low fluid level. Have
the brake hydraulic system
fixed, since a leak means that
sooner or later the brakes will
not work well.
Do not top off the brake fluid.
Adding fluid does not correct a
leak. If fluid is added when the
linings are worn, there will be too
much fluid when new brake linings
are installed. Add or remove brake
fluid, as necessary, only when work
is done on the brake hydraulic
system.
{WARNING
If too much brake fluid is added,
it can spill on the engine and
burn, if the engine is hot enough.
You or others could be burned,
and the vehicle could be
damaged. Add brake fluid only
when work is done on the brake
hydraulic system. When the brake fluid falls to a low
level, the brake warning light comes
on. See
Brake System Warning
Light on page 5‑22.
What to Add
Use only new DOT 3 brake
fluid from a sealed container.
See Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11‑7.
Always clean the brake fluid
reservoir cap and the area
around the cap before removing it.
This helps keep dirt from entering
the reservoir.
{WARNING
With the wrong kind of fluid in
the brake hydraulic system,
the brakes might not work well.
This could cause a crash. Always
use the proper brake fluid. Notice:
.Using the wrong fluid
can badly damage brake
hydraulic system parts.
For example, just a few
drops of mineral-based oil,
such as engine oil, in the
brake hydraulic system can
damage brake hydraulic
system parts so badly that
they will have to be replaced.
Do not let someone put in
the wrong kind of fluid.
.If brake fluid is spilled on the
vehicle's painted surfaces,
the paint finish can be
damaged. Be careful not
to spill brake fluid on the
vehicle. If you do, wash it
off immediately.
Page 371 of 498

Black plate (33,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-33
The vehicle should be properly
prepared as follows:
.The vehicle should be placed so
the headlamps are 7.6 m (25 ft)
from a light‐colored wall.
.The vehicle must have all four
tires on a level surface which is
level all the way to the wall.
.The vehicle should be placed so
it is perpendicular to the wall.
.The vehicle should not have any
snow, ice, or mud on it.
.The vehicle should be fully
assembled and all other work
stopped while headlamp aiming
is being performed.
.The vehicle should be normally
loaded with a full tank of fuel and
one person or 75 kg (160 lbs)
sitting on the driver seat.
.Tires should be properly inflated.Headlamp aiming is done with the
vehicle's low-beam headlamps.
The high-beam headlamps will be
correctly aimed if the low-beam
headlamps are aimed properly.
To adjust the vertical aim:
1. Open the hood. See
Hood on
page 10‑5 for more information.
Base Vehicle
Up-level Vehicle
2. Locate the aim point at the center inner projector
condensing lens of the low-beam
headlamp, not the outer lens.
3. Measure the distance from the ground to the aim dot on the
low‐beam headlamp. Record
the distance.
Page 372 of 498
Black plate (34,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual - 2011
10-34 Vehicle Care
4. At the wall, measure fromthe ground upward (A) to
the recorded distance from
Step 3 and mark it. 5. Draw or tape a horizontal line (B)
on the wall the width of the
vehicle at the height of the
mark in Step 4.
Notice: Do not cover a headlamp
to improve beam cut-off when
aiming. Covering a headlamp may
cause excessive heat build-up
which may cause damage to the
headlamp.
6. Turn on the low-beam
headlamps and place a piece
of cardboard or equivalent in
front of the headlamp not being
adjusted. This allows only the
beam of light from the headlamp
being adjusted to be seen on the
flat surface.7. Locate the vertical headlampadjusters, which are under the
hood near each headlamp
assembly.
For the vehicle equipped with a
base level lamp (halogen bulb),
there will be one vertical
headlamp adjuster (V1).
Page 373 of 498

Black plate (35,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-35
For the vehicle equipped with an
up-level headlamp (HID), there
will be two vertical headlamp
adjusters (V1 and V2).
Some vehicles have
funnel‐shaped caps on the
adjusters for easier access of
a Number 2 Phillips screwdriver
to turn the adjusters.8. For the base vehicle, turn the
vertical adjuster (V1) until the
headlamp beam is aimed to
the horizontal tape line. Turn it
clockwise or counterclockwise
to raise or lower the angle of
the beam.
For the up-level vehicle, turn the
vertical adjusters (V1 and V2)
simultaneously until the
headlamp beam is aimed to the
horizontal tape line. Turn them
clockwise or counterclockwise
to raise or lower the angle of
the beam.9. Make sure that the light from the
headlamp is positioned at the
bottom edge of the horizontal
tape line. The lamp on the
left (A) shows the correct
headlamp aim. The lamp on
the right (B) shows the incorrect
headlamp aim.
10. Repeat Steps 7 through 9 for the opposite headlamp.