Black plate (31,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
Driving and Operating 9-31
apply the brakes if that vehicle
suddenly slows or stops. Always
leave enough room up ahead to
stop, even with ABS.
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold
the brake pedal down firmly and let
ABS work. You might hear the ABS
pump or motor operating and feel
the brake pedal pulsate, but this is
normal.
Braking in Emergencies
ABS allows the driver to steer and
brake at the same time. In many
emergencies, steering can help
more than even the very best
braking.
Parking Brake
The vehicle has an Electric Parking
Brake (EPB). The switch for the
EPB is in the center console.
The EPB can always be activated,
even if the ignition is off. To avoid
draining the battery, do not cycle the
EPB too often without the engine
running. The EPB can be left
applied while the vehicle is parked.The system has a parking brake
status light and a parking brake
warning light. See
Brake System
Warning Light on page 5‑21.
There are also three Driver
Information Center (DIC) messages.
See Driver Information Center (DIC)
on page 5‑28 for more information.
In case of insufficient electrical
power, the EPB cannot be applied
or released.
Before leaving the vehicle, check
the parking brake status light to
ensure the parking brake is applied.
Black plate (60,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
9-60 Driving and Operating
Safety Chains
Always attach chains between the
vehicle and the trailer. Cross the
safety chains under the tongue of
the trailer to help prevent the tongue
from contacting the road if it
becomes separated from the hitch.
Always leave just enough slack so
the rig can turn. Never allow safety
chains to drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
A loaded trailer that weighs more
than 450 kg (1,000 lbs) needs to
have its own brake system that is
adequate for the weight of the
trailer. Be sure to read and follow
the instructions for the trailer brakes
so they are installed, adjusted and
maintained properly.
Because the vehicle has anti-lock
brakes, do not tap into the vehicle's
brake system. If you do, both brake
systems will not work well, or at all.
Trailer Sway
Control (TSC)
The vehicle has a Trailer Sway
Control (TSC) feature as part of the
StabiliTrak system. If TSC detects
that the trailer is swaying, the
vehicle's brakes are automatically
applied.
When TSC is applying the brakes,
the TCS/StabiliTrak indicator light
flashes to notify the driver to reduce
speed. If the trailer continues to
sway, StabiliTrak will reduce engine
torque to help slow the vehicle.
TSC will not function if StabiliTrak is
turned off. SeeStabiliTrak
®System
on page 9‑35 for more information.
Conversions and
Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical
Equipment
Notice:Do not add anything
electrical to the vehicle unless
you check with your dealer first.
Some electrical equipment can
damage the vehicle and the
damage would not be covered by
the vehicle's warranty. Some
add-on electrical equipment can
keep other components from
working as they should.
Add-on equipment can drain the
vehicle's 12‐volt battery, even if the
vehicle is not operating.
The vehicle has an airbag system.
Before attempting to add anything
electrical to the vehicle, see
Servicing the Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle on page 3‑34 andAdding
Equipment to the Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle on page 3‑34.
Black plate (1,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-1
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . 10-3
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-4
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-5
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-6
Engine Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-8
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-8
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . 10-10
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-12 Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . 10-12
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-14
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-15
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . 10-18
Power Steering Fluid . . . . . . . 10-20
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-20
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-21
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-22
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-24
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-24
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . 10-25
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-25
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . 10-26
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-26
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . 10-28
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-31
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-31
High Intensity Discharge(HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-31
Headlamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-32
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-37
Turn Signal Lamps . . . . . . . . . 10-37
Back-Up Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-38
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . 10-40
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . 10-40
Electrical System
Electrical System
Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-41
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-41
Engine Compartment
Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-42
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-44
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-46
Black plate (12,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
10-12 Vehicle Care
Automatic Transmission
Fluid
How to Check Automatic
Transmission Fluid
It is not necessary to check
the transmission fluid level.
A transmission fluid leak is the
only reason for fluid loss. If a leak
occurs, take the vehicle to your
dealer and have it repaired as soon
as possible.
There is a special procedure for
checking and changing the
transmission fluid. Because this
procedure is difficult, you should
have this done at your dealer.
Contact your dealer for additional
information or the procedure can
be found in the service manual.
To purchase a service manual,
seeService Publications Ordering
Information on page 13‑17. Change the fluid and filter at the
intervals listed in
Maintenance
Schedule on page 11‑4, and
be sure to use the fluid listed in
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11‑13.
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 Maintenance Schedule
on page 11‑4 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 covered 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.
Black plate (18,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
10-18 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 5‑14.
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 13‑7 or
Roadside Service (Mexico) on
page 13‑9. 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, the vehicle can be badly
damaged. The costly repairs
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
Black plate (11,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
Service and Maintenance 11-11
Fluids
Proper fluid levels and approved
fluids protect the vehicle’s
systems and components.
SeeRecommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11‑13 for
GM approved fluids.
.Engine oil and windshield
washer fluid levels should be
checked at every fuel fill.
.Instrument cluster lights may
come on to indicate that fluids
may be low and need to be
filled.
Hoses
Hoses transport fluids and should
be regularly inspected to ensure
that there are no cracks or leaks.
With a multi‐point inspection, your
dealer can inspect the hoses and
advise if replacement is needed. Lamps
Properly working headlamps,
taillamps, and brake lamps are
important to see and be seen on
the road.
.Signs that the headlamps need
attention include dimming, failure
to light, cracking, or damage.
The brake lamps need to be
checked periodically to ensure
that they light when braking.
.With a multi‐point inspection,
your dealer can check the lamps
and note any concerns.
Shocks and Struts
Shocks and struts help aid in
control for a smoother ride.
.Signs of wear may include
steering wheel vibration,
bounce/sway while braking,
longer stopping distance,
or uneven tire wear.
.As part of the multi‐point
inspection, trained dealer
technicians can visually inspect
the shocks and struts for signs
of leaking, blown seals,
or damage, and can advise
when service is needed.
Black plate (1,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
INDEX i-1
A
Accessories andModifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
Accessory Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-22
Adaptive Forward Lighting (AFL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3
Adaptive Forward Lighting
(AFL) Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-27
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-60
Additional Information,
OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-5
Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-17
Adjustments Lumbar, Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5
Thigh Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine . . . . . 10-12
Air Filter, Passenger Compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-7
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-6
Airbag Adding Equipment to theVehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-34 Airbag System
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-35
How Does an Airbag
Restrain? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-28
Passenger Sensing System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-30
What Makes an Airbag
Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-27
What Will You See after an Airbag Inflates? . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-28
When Should an Airbag
Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-26
Where Are the Airbags? . . . . . . 3-25
Airbags Passenger Status Indicator . . . 5-17
Readiness Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-16
Servicing Airbag-EquippedVehicles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-34
System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-23
Alarm System Anti-theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-18
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . 10-24, 9-30
AM-FM Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-11
Antenna Multi-band . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-18 Anti-theft
Alarm System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-18
Alarm System Messages . . . . . 5-38
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-30
Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-22
Appearance Care
Exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-96
Interior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-99
Armrest Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
Ashtrays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-10
Audio Players . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-19 CD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-19
CD/DVD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-21
Audio System Radio Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-18
Rear Seat (RSA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-45
Theft-Deterrent Feature . . . . . . . . 7-2
Automatic Dimming Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-21
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . 9-26
Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-12
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-28
Shift Lock ControlFunction Check . . . . . . . . . . . 10-25
Auxiliary Devices . . . . . . . . 7-28, 7-33
Black plate (2,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
i-2 INDEX
B
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-24Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-88
Load Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8
Voltage and ChargingMessages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-33
Blade Replacement, Wiper . . . 10-26
Bluetooth . . . . . . . . . . 7-47, 7-49, 7-53, 7-59
Brake
Pedal and AdjustableThrottle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-17
Brake System Warning Light . . . 5-21
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-21
Antilock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-30
Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-33
Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-22
Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-31
System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-33
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Break-In, New Vehicle . . . . . . . . . 9-16
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-40 Back-up Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-38
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-37
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-31
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . 10-28 Bulb Replacement (cont.)
Headlamps . . . . . . . . . . 10-31, 10-32
High Intensity Discharge
(HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-31
License Plate Lamps . . . . . . . 10-40
Turn Signal Lamps . . . . . . . . . 10-37
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-65
C
Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7
California Fuel Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . 9-48
Perchlorate MaterialsRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
Camera, Rear Vision . . . . . . . . . . 9-43
Canadian Vehicle Owners . . . . . . . . iii
Capacities and
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-2
Carbon Monoxide
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-24
Liftgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-9 Cargo
Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
Management System . . . . . . . . . . 4-4
Tie-Downs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4
Cargo Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7
Cargo Net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-9
Cautions, Danger, and Warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
CD Player . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-19
CD/DVD Player . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-21
Center Console Storage . . . . . . . . 4-2
Chains, Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-70
Charging System Light . . . . . . . . 5-18
Check Engine Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-18
Child Restraints
Infants and YoungChildren . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-38
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children . . . . . . . . . 3-45
Older Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-36
Securing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-54, 3-56
Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-41
Cigarette Lighter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9
Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-41