
Black plate (19,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 11/9/12
Instruments and Controls 5-19
or stumbling on acceleration.
These conditions might go away
once the engine is warmed up.
If one or more of these conditions
occurs, change the fuel brand used.
It may require at least one full tank
of the proper fuel to turn the light off.
See Recommended Fuel on
page 9‑59.
If none of the above have made
the light turn off, your dealer can
check the vehicle. The dealer has
the proper test equipment and
diagnostic tools to fix any
mechanical or electrical problems
that might have developed.
Emissions Inspection and
Maintenance Programs
Depending on where you live,
your vehicle may be required to
participate in an emission control
system inspection and maintenance
program. For the inspection, the
emission system test equipment will
likely connect to the vehicle's Data
Link Connector (DLC).
The DLC is under the instrument
panel to the left of the steering
wheel. See your dealer if assistance
is needed.
The vehicle may not pass
inspection if:
.The malfunction indicator lamp is
on with the engine running, or if
the vehicle is placed in Service
Only Mode and the malfunction
indicator lamp does not come
on. See your dealer for
assistance in verifying proper
operation of the malfunction
indicator lamp.
.The OBD II (On-Board
Diagnostics) system determines
that critical emission control
systems have not been
completely diagnosed. The
vehicle would be considered not
ready for inspection. This can
happen if the 12-volt battery has
recently been replaced or run
down. The diagnostic system is
designed to evaluate critical
emission control systems during
normal driving. This can take
several days of routine driving.
If this has been done and the
vehicle still does not pass the
inspection for lack of OBD II
system readiness, your dealer
can prepare the vehicle for
inspection.

Black plate (27,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 11/9/12
Instruments and Controls 5-27
Information Displays
Driver Information
Center (DIC)
The DIC displays are shown in the
left and right interactive display
zones on the instrument cluster. The
displays show the status of many
vehicle systems. The controls for
the DIC are on the right steering
wheel control.
yorz:Press the five-way
control to move up or down in a list.
SorT: Press the five-way control
to move between the interactive
display zones in the cluster.
Press
Sto go back to the
previous menu.
SEL (Select): Press the center to
open a menu or select a menu item.
Press and hold to reset values on
certain screens.
DIC Information Display
Options
The information displays on the DIC
can be turned on or off through the
Settings menu.
1. Press SEL while viewing the
Settings page in the center
display zone on the cluster.
2. Scroll to Info Pages and press SEL.
3. Press
yorzto move through
the list of possible information
displays. 4. Press SEL while an item is
highlighted to select or deselect
that item. When an item is
selected, a checkmark will
appear next to it.
DIC Information Displays
The following is the list of all
possible DIC information displays.
Some of the information displays
may not be available for your
particular vehicle.
Speed: The digital speedometer
shows the vehicle speed in either
kilometers per hour (km/h) or miles
per hour (mph).
Trip 1 and Trip 2: The Trip display
shows the current distance traveled,
in either kilometers (km) or
miles (mi), since the trip odometer
was last reset. The trip odometer
can be reset by pressing and
holding SEL while this display is
active.

Black plate (3,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 11/9/12
Lighting 6-3
The DRL system makes the
low-beam headlamps come on at a
reduced brightness or for vehicles
with High Intensity Discharge (HID)
headlamps, the DRL lights will come
on when the following conditions
are met:
.The ignition is in the ON/
RUN mode.
.The exterior lamp control is
in AUTO.
.The engine is running.
When the DRL are on, only the
low-beam headlamps, at a reduced
level of brightness, will be on. The
high-beam headlamps, taillamps,
sidemarker, instrument panel lamps,
and other lamps will not be on.
The headlamps automatically
change from DRL to the regular
headlamps depending on the
darkness of the surroundings. The
other lamps that come on with the
headlamps will also come on. When it is bright enough outside,
the headlamps go off and the DRL
come on.
To turn the DRL lamps off or on
again, turn the exterior lamp control
to the off position and then release.
For vehicles first sold in Canada,
the DRL cannot be turned off.
This vehicle may have a DRL
disabling function. When the DRL
are on and a turn signal is activated,
the DRL on that side will be off until
the turn signal goes off.
Adaptive Forward
Lighting (AFL)
For vehicles with uplevel
headlamps, the AFL system adjusts
the headlamps to provide greater
road illumination in various driving
conditions.
To enable AFL, set the exterior
lamp control to the AUTO position.
Moving the control out of the AUTO
position will deactivate the system.
AFL will operate when the vehicle
speed is greater than 3 km/h
(2 mph). AFL will not operate when
the transmission is in R (Reverse).
AFL is not immediately operable
after starting the vehicle; driving
a short distance is required to
calibrate the AFL. See
Exterior
Lamp Controls on page 6‑1.
Curve Lighting
The light beam pivots based on the
steering wheel position and vehicle
speed of at least 10 km/h (6 mph).
The headlamps shine at an angle of
up to 15 degrees to the right or left
of the direction of travel.

Black plate (6,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 11/9/12
6-6 Lighting
If after signaling a turn or lane
change the arrow flashes rapidly or
does not come on, a signal bulb
may be burned out.
Replace any burned out bulbs. If a
bulb is not burned out, check the
fuse. SeeFuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 10‑34.
Front Fog Lamps
The front fog lamp button is on
the exterior lamp control on the
outboard side of the steering wheel. The ignition must be on to turn on
the fog lamps.
#(Front Fog Lamps):
Press to
turn the fog lamps on or off. An
indicator light on the instrument
cluster comes on when the fog
lamps are on.
The fog lamps come on together
with the parking lamps.
Some localities have laws that
require the headlamps to be on
along with the fog lamps.
Interior Lighting
Instrument Panel
Illumination Control
The brightness of the instrument
panel lights and steering wheel
controls can be adjusted.
D(Instrument Panel
Brightness): Move and hold the
thumbwheel up or down to brighten
or dim the lights.

Black plate (1,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 11/9/12
Driving and Operating 9-1
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Highway Hypnosis . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-7
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . 9-7
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-8
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . . 9-9
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . 9-10
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . 9-14
Adjustable Throttle and BrakePedal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-15
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-16 Starting the Gasoline
Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-17
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-19
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-19
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-20
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . 9-21
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-21
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-22
Running the Vehicle WhileParked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-22
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . 9-23
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-24
Fuel Economy Mode . . . . . . . . . 9-26
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-27
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-27
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-28
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-30
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . 9-31
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control System (TCS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-31
StabiliTrak
®System . . . . . . . . . 9-33
Limited-Slip Rear Axle . . . . . . . 9-34
Selective Ride Control . . . . . . . 9-34
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-35
Adaptive Cruise Control . . . . . 9-37
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-46
Assistance Systems for Parking or Backing . . . . . . . . . 9-46
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-50
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-50
Active Emergency Braking System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-53
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-55
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-57

Black plate (4,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 11/9/12
9-4 Driving and Operating
If the engine ever stops while the
vehicle is being driven, brake
normally but do not pump the
brakes. Doing so could make the
pedal harder to push down. If the
engine stops, there will be some
power brake assist but it will be
used when the brake is applied.
Once the power assist is used up, it
can take longer to stop and the
brake pedal will be harder to push.
Steering
Hydraulic Power Steering
Your vehicle has hydraulic power
steering. It may require
maintenance. SeePower Steering
Fluid on page 10‑19.
If power steering assist is lost
because the engine stops or
because of a system malfunction,
the vehicle can be steered but may
require increased effort. See your
dealer if there is a problem.
Curve Tips
.Take curves at a reasonable
speed.
.Reduce speed before entering a
curve.
.Maintain a reasonable steady
speed through the curve.
.Wait until the vehicle is out of
the curve before accelerating
gently into the straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
.There are some situations when
steering around a problem may
be more effective than braking.
.Holding both sides of the
steering wheel allows you to turn
180 degrees without removing
a hand.
.Antilock Brake System (ABS)
allows steering while braking.
Off-Road Recovery
The vehicle's right wheels can drop
off the edge of a road onto the
shoulder while driving. Follow
these tips:
1. Ease off the accelerator and then, if there is nothing in the
way, steer the vehicle so that it
straddles the edge of the
pavement.

Black plate (5,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 11/9/12
Driving and Operating 9-5
2. Turn the steering wheel aboutone-eighth of a turn, until the
right front tire contacts the
pavement edge.
3. Turn the steering wheel to go straight down the roadway.
Loss of Control
Skidding
There are three types of skids that
correspond to the vehicle's three
control systems:
.Braking Skid —wheels are not
rolling.
.Steering or Cornering
Skid —too much speed or
steering in a curve causes tires
to slip and lose cornering force.
.Acceleration Skid —too much
throttle causes the driving
wheels to spin. Defensive drivers avoid most skids
by taking reasonable care suited to
existing conditions, and by not
overdriving those conditions. But
skids are always possible.
If the vehicle starts to slide, follow
these suggestions:
.Ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and steer the
way you want the vehicle to go.
The vehicle may straighten out.
Be ready for a second skid if it
occurs.
.Slow down and adjust your
driving according to weather
conditions. Stopping distance
can be longer and vehicle
control can be affected when
traction is reduced by water,
snow, ice, gravel, or other
material on the road. Learn to
recognize warning clues
—such
as enough water, ice, or packed
snow on the road to make a
mirrored surface —and slow
down when you have any doubt.
.Try to avoid sudden steering,
acceleration, or braking,
including reducing vehicle speed
by shifting to a lower gear. Any
sudden changes could cause
the tires to slide.
Remember: Antilock brakes help
avoid only the braking skid.

Black plate (8,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 11/9/12
9-8 Driving and Operating
.Pay attention to special road
signs (falling rocks area, winding
roads, long grades, passing or
no-passing zones) and take
appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Drive carefully when there is snow
or ice between the tires and the
road, creating less traction or grip.
Wet ice can occur at about 0°C
(32°F) when freezing rain begins to
fall, resulting in even less traction.
Avoid driving on wet ice or in
freezing rain until roads can be
treated with salt or sand.
Drive with caution, whatever the
condition. Accelerate gently so
traction is not lost. Accelerating too
quickly causes the wheels to spin
and makes the surface under the
tires slick, so there is even less
traction.Try not to break the fragile traction.
If you accelerate too fast, the drive
wheels will spin and polish the
surface under the tires even more.
The Antilock Brake System (ABS)
improves vehicle stability during
hard stops on slippery roads, but
apply the brakes sooner than when
on dry pavement.
Allow greater following distance on
any slippery road and watch for
slippery spots. Icy patches can
occur on otherwise clear roads in
shaded areas. The surface of a
curve or an overpass can remain icy
when the surrounding roads are
clear. Avoid sudden steering
maneuvers and braking while
on ice.
See
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
on page 9‑27.
Turn off cruise control, on slippery
surfaces.
Blizzard Conditions
Being stuck in snow can be a
serious situation. Stay with the
vehicle unless there is help nearby.
If possible, use Roadside Service.
See Roadside Service (Mexico) on
page 13‑7 orRoadside Service
(U.S. and Canada) on page 13‑11.
To get help and keep everyone in
the vehicle safe:
.Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
.Tie a red cloth to an outside
mirror.
{WARNING
Snow can trap engine exhaust
under the vehicle. This may
cause exhaust gases to get
inside. Engine exhaust contains
carbon monoxide (CO) which
cannot be seen or smelled. It can
cause unconsciousness and even
death.
(Continued)