
Black plate (4,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual - 2011
10-4 Vehicle Care
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own
Service Work
{WARNING
You can be injured and the
vehicle could be damaged if you
try to do service work on a vehicle
without knowing enough about it.
.Be sure you have sufficient
knowledge, experience,
the proper replacement
parts, and tools before
attempting any vehicle
maintenance task.(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
.Be sure to use the proper
nuts, bolts, and other
fasteners. English and
metric fasteners can be
easily confused. If the wrong
fasteners are used, parts
can later break or fall off.
You could be hurt.
If doing some of your own service
work, use the proper service
manual. It tells you much more
about how to service the vehicle
than this manual can. To order the
proper service manual, see Service
Publications Ordering Information
on page 13‑15. This vehicle has an airbag system.
Before attempting to do your own
service work, see
Servicing the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on
page 3‑44.
Keep a record with all parts receipts
and list the mileage and the date
of any service work performed.
See Maintenance Records on
page 11‑10.

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.

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.

Black plate (31,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-31
Wiper Blade Replacement
Windshield wiper blades should
be inspected for wear or cracking.
SeeScheduled Maintenance on
page 11‑2 for more information.
It is a good idea to clean or replace
the wiper blade assembly on a
regular basis or when worn.
For proper windshield wiper blade
length and type, see Maintenance
Replacement Parts on page 11‑9.
Notice: Allowing the wiper blade
arm to touch the windshield
when no wiper blade is installed
could damage the windshield.
Any damage that occurs would
not be covered by your warranty.
Do not allow the wiper blade arm
to touch the windshield.
Front Wiper Blade
Replacement
To replace the wiper blade
assembly:
1. Pull the windshield wiper assembly away from the
windshield.
2. Press the button in the middle
of the wiper arm connector, and
pull the wiper blade away from
the arm connector. 3. Remove the wiper blade.
4. Reverse steps 1 through 3 for
wiper blade replacement.
Rear Wiper Blade Replacement
The rear wiper blade and wiper
arm have a cover for protection.
The cover must be removed before
the wiper blade can be replaced.
To remove the cover:
1. Slide a plastic tool under coverand push upward to unsnap.
2. Slide cover towards wiper blade tip to unhook from blade
assembly.
3. Remove the cover.

Black plate (63,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-63
Vehicles with P235/65R18,
P235/55R20, or 235/55R20 size
tires require inflation pressure
adjustment when driving
your vehicle at speeds of
160 km/h (100 mph) or higher.
Set the cold inflation pressure to
the maximum inflation pressure
shown on the tire sidewall,
or 260 kPa (38 psi), whichever
is lower. When you end this
high-speed driving, return the tires
to the cold tire inflation pressure
shown on the Tire and Loading
Information label. SeeVehicle
Load Limits on page 9‑12 and
Tire Pressure on page 10‑61.
You will find the maximum load and
inflation pressure molded on the
tire's sidewall, in small letters,
near the rim flange. It will read
something like this: Maximum load
690 kg (1521 lbs) 300 kPa (44 psi)
Max. Press.Tire Pressure Monitor
System
The Tire Pressure Monitor System
(TPMS) uses radio and sensor
technology to check tire pressure
levels. The TPMS sensors monitor
the air pressure in your tires and
transmit tire pressure readings to
a receiver located in the vehicle.
Each tire, including the spare
(if provided), should be checked
monthly when cold and inflated to
the inflation pressure recommended
by the vehicle manufacturer on
the vehicle placard or tire inflation
pressure label. (If your vehicle has
tires of a different size than the size
indicated on the vehicle placard or
tire inflation pressure label, you
should determine the proper tire
inflation pressure for those tires.)
As an added safety feature, your
vehicle has been equipped with a
tire pressure monitoring system
(TPMS) that illuminates a low tire pressure telltale when one or
more of your tires is significantly
under‐inflated.
Accordingly, when the low tire
pressure telltale illuminates, you
should stop and check your tires as
soon as possible, and inflate them
to the proper pressure. Driving on
a significantly under‐inflated tire
causes the tire to overheat and can
lead to tire failure. Under‐inflation
also reduces fuel efficiency and
tire tread life, and may affect the
vehicle's handling and stopping
ability.
Please note that the TPMS is
not a substitute for proper tire
maintenance, and it is the driver's
responsibility to maintain correct
tire pressure, even if under‐inflation
has not reached the level to trigger
illumination of the TPMS low tire
pressure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been
equipped with a TPMS malfunction
indicator to indicate when the
system is not operating properly.

Black plate (65,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-65
Using the DIC, tire pressure levels
can be viewed by the driver.
For additional information and
details about the DIC operation
and displays seeDriver Information
Center (DIC) on page 5‑28.
The low tire pressure warning
light may come on in cool weather
when the vehicle is first started, and
then turn off as you start to drive.
This could be an early indicator that
the air pressure in the tire(s) are
getting low and need to be inflated
to the proper pressure.
A Tire and Loading Information
label, attached to your vehicle,
shows the size of your vehicle's
original equipment tires and the
correct inflation pressure for your
vehicle's tires when they are cold.
See Vehicle Load Limits on
page 9‑12, for an example of the
Tire and Loading Information label
and its location on your vehicle.
Also see Tire Pressure on
page 10‑61. Your vehicle's TPMS can warn you
about a low tire pressure condition
but it does not replace normal tire
maintenance. See
Tire Inspection
on page 10‑68, Tire Rotation on
page 10‑68 andTires on
page 10‑54.
Notice: Tire sealant materials are
not all the same. A non-approved
tire sealant could damage the Tire
Pressure Monitor System (TPMS)
sensors. TPMS sensor damage
caused by using an incorrect
tire sealant is not covered by
the vehicle warranty. Always use
only the GM approved tire sealant
available through your dealer or
included in the vehicle.
Factory-installed Tire Inflator Kits
use a GM approved liquid tire
sealant. Using non-approved tire
sealants could damage the TPMS
sensors. See Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit on page 10‑79 for
information regarding the inflator
kit materials and instructions.TPMS Malfunction Light and
Message
The TPMS will not function properly
if one or more of the TPMS sensors
are missing or inoperable. When the
system detects a malfunction, the
low tire warning light flashes for
about one minute and then stays
on for the remainder of the ignition
cycle. A DIC warning message is
also displayed. The low tire warning
light and DIC warning message
come on at each ignition cycle until
the problem is corrected. Some of
the conditions that can cause the
malfunction light and DIC message
to come on are:
.One of the road tires has been
replaced with the spare tire.
The spare tire does not have
a TPMS sensor. The TPMS
malfunction light and DIC
message should go off once
you re‐install the road tire
containing the TPMS sensor.

Black plate (68,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual - 2011
10-68 Vehicle Care
Tire Inspection
We recommend that you
regularly inspect your vehicle's
tires, including the spare tire,
if the vehicle has one, for signs
of wear or damage at least once
a month.
Always remove the tires if
any of the following statements
are true:
.You can see the indicators at
three or more places around
the tire.
.You can see cord or fabric
showing through the tire's
rubber.
.The tread or sidewall is
cracked, cut, or snagged
deep enough to show cord
or fabric.
.The tire has a bump, bulge,
or split.
.The tire has a puncture, cut,
or other damage that cannot
be repaired well because of
the size or location of the
damage.
Tire Rotation
Tires should be rotated
every 12 000 km (7,500 miles).
SeeScheduled Maintenance on
page 11‑2.
The purpose of a regular tire
rotation is to achieve a uniform
wear for all tires on the vehicle.
This will ensure that the vehicle
continues to perform most like it
did when the tires were new.
Any time you notice unusual
wear, rotate the tires as soon
as possible and check wheel
alignment. Also check for
damaged tires or wheels. See
When It Is Time for New
Tires on page 10‑69 andWheel
Replacement on page 10‑75.
When rotating the vehicle's tires,
always use the correct rotation
pattern shown here.
Do not include the compact
spare tire in the tire rotation.

Black plate (69,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-69
After the tires have been
rotated, adjust the front and rear
inflation pressures as shown on
the Tire and Loading Information
label. SeeTire Pressure on
page 10‑61 andVehicle Load
Limits on page 9‑12.
Reset the Tire Pressure Monitor
System. See Tire Pressure
Monitor Operation on
page 10‑64.
Make certain that all wheel
nuts are properly tightened.
See “Wheel Nut Torque” under
Capacities and Specifications on
page 12‑2.
{WARNING
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the
parts to which it is fastened, can
make wheel nuts become loose
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
after time. The wheel could come
off and cause an accident. When
changing a wheel, remove any
rust or dirt from places where the
wheel attaches to the vehicle.
In an emergency, use a cloth or a
paper towel to do this; but be sure
to use a scraper or wire brush
later, if needed, to get all the rust
or dirt off. SeeIf a Tire Goes Flat
on page 10‑77.
Lightly coat the center of the
wheel hub with wheel bearing
grease after a wheel change or
tire rotation to prevent corrosion
or rust build-up. Do not get
grease on the flat wheel
mounting surface or on
the wheel nuts or bolts.
When It Is Time for New
Tires
Various factors, such as
maintenance, temperatures,
driving speeds, vehicle loading,
and road conditions influence
when you need new tires.
One way to tell when it is time for
new tires is to check the treadwear
indicators, which appear when the
tires have only 1.6 mm (1/16 in)
or less of tread remaining.