
Black plate (36,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual - 2013 - 1st - 4/13/12
9-36 Driving and Operating
ACC will not set at a speed less
than 40 km/h (25 mph), although it
can be resumed when driving at
lower speeds.
To set ACC:
1. Press
].
2. Get up to the desired speed.
3. Press and release the SET– control on the steering wheel.
4. Remove foot from the accelerator.
After ACC is set, it may immediately
apply the brakes if a vehicle ahead
is closer than the selected
following gap.
The ACC indicator displays on the
instrument cluster and Head-Up
Display (HUD). When ACC is active,
the symbol will be lit.
Be mindful of speed limits,
surrounding traffic speeds, and
weather conditions when selecting
the set speed.
Resuming a Set Speed
If the ACC is set at a desired speed
and then the brakes are applied,
ACC is disengaged without erasing
the set speed from memory.
To begin using ACC again, press
+RES up briefly on the steering
wheel. The vehicle returns to the
previous set speed. Increasing Speed While ACC is at
a Set Speed
If ACC is already activated, do one
of the following:
.Use the accelerator to get to the
higher speed. Press SET–
down.
Release the control and the
accelerator pedal. The vehicle
will now cruise at the higher
speed.
When the accelerator pedal is
pressed, ACC will not brake
because it is overridden.
A warning message will appear
on the Driver Information Center
(DIC). See Cruise Control
Messages on page 5‑35.
.Press and hold +RES up until
the desired set speed appears
on the display, then release it.
.To increase vehicle speed in
small increments, press +RES
up to the first detent. For each
press, the vehicle goes 1 km/h
(1 mph) faster.

Black plate (37,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual - 2013 - 1st - 4/13/12
Driving and Operating 9-37
.To increase vehicle speed in
larger increments, press +RES
up to the second detent. For
each press, the vehicle goes
5 km/h (5 mph) faster.
When it is determined that there is
no vehicle in front of your vehicle,
then the vehicle speed will increase
to the set speed.
The speedometer reading can be
displayed in either English or metric
units. See Instrument Cluster on
page 5‑9. The increment value used
depends on the units displayed.
Reducing Speed While ACC is at a
Set Speed
If ACC is already activated, do one
of the following:
.Use the brake to get to the
desired lower speed. Press
SET– down and release the
accelerator pedal. The vehicle
will now cruise at the lower
speed.
.Press and hold SET– down until
the desired lower speed is
reached, then release it.
.To decrease the vehicle speed in
smaller increments, press SET−
down to the first detent. For
each press, the vehicle goes
about 1 km/h (1 mph) slower.
.To decrease the vehicle speed in
larger increments, press SET−
down to the second detent. For
each press, the vehicle goes
about 5 km/h (5 mph) slower.
The speedometer reading can be
displayed in either English or metric
units. See Instrument Cluster on
page 5‑9. The increment value used
depends on the units displayed.
Selecting the Follow Distance Gap
When a slower moving vehicle is
detected ahead, ACC will adjust the
vehicle's speed and attempt to
maintain the follow distance gap
selected. Press
3on the steering wheel to
adjust the following gap. Each press
cycles the gap button through three
settings: Far, Medium, or Near.
When pressed, the current gap
setting displays briefly on the
instrument cluster and HUD (if
equipped). The gap setting will be
maintained until it is changed.
Since each gap setting corresponds
to a following time (Far, Medium,
or Near), the following distance will
vary based on vehicle speed. The
faster the vehicle speed, the further
back your vehicle will follow a
vehicle detected ahead. Consider
traffic and weather conditions when
selecting the following gap. The
range of selectable gaps may not be
appropriate for all drivers and
driving conditions.
Changing the gap setting
automatically changes the alert
timing sensitivity (Far, Medium,
or Near) for the Forward Collision
Alert (FCA) feature.

Black plate (44,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual - 2013 - 1st - 4/13/12
9-44 Driving and Operating
Displayed images may be farther or
closer than they appear. The area
displayed is limited and objects that
are close to either corner of the
bumper or under the bumper do not
display.
A warning triangle may display on
the RVC screen to show where the
Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist
(URPA) has detected an object. This
triangle changes from amber to red
and increases in size the closer the
object.
On vehicles with the Rear Cross
Traffic Alert (RCTA), this triangle
with an arrow may also display on
the RVC screen to warn of traffic
coming from either direction. This
system detects objects coming from
up to 30 m (98 ft) from the left or
right side of the vehicle. When an
object is detected, either three
beeps sound or three Safety Alert
Seat pulses occur on the left or right
side, depending on the direction of
the detected vehicle.With URPA, as the vehicle backs up
at speeds of less than 8 km/h
(5 mph), the sensors on the rear
bumper detect objects up to 2.5 m
(8 ft) behind the vehicle that are
within a zone 25 cm (10 in) high off
the ground and below bumper level.
{WARNING
The parking assist system does
not detect children, pedestrians,
bicyclists, animals, or objects
located below the bumper or that
are too close or too far from the
vehicle. It is not available at
speeds greater than 8 km/h
(5 mph). To prevent injury, death,
or vehicle damage, even with
parking assist, always check the
area around the vehicle and
check all mirrors before moving
forward or backing.The instrument cluster parking
assist display has bars that show
“distance to object”
and object
location information for URPA, and
on some vehicles, the Front Parking
Assist system. As the object gets
closer, more bars light up. When an
object is first detected in the rear,
one beep will be heard from the
rear, or both sides of the Safety
Alert Seat will pulse two times.
When an object is very close
(<0.6 m (2 ft) in the vehicle rear,
or <0.3 m (1 ft) in the vehicle front),
five beeps will sound from the front
or rear, or both sides of the Safety
Alert Seat will pulse five times.

Black plate (54,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual - 2013 - 1st - 4/13/12
9-54 Driving and Operating
WARNING (CONTINUED)
and maintain proper vehicle
position within the lane, or vehicle
damage, injury, or death could
occur. Always keep the
windshield clean and do not use
LDW in bad weather conditions.
How the System Works
The LDW camera sensor is on the
windshield ahead of the rearview
mirror.
To turn LDW on and off, press
@on
the center stack to the left of the
infotainment screen. The control
indicator will light when LDW is on.
When the vehicle is started, the
LDW indicator on the instrument
cluster will come on briefly.
If LDW is on, the LDW indicator will
appear green if the system detects
a left or right lane marking. If the
vehicle crosses a detected lane
marking without using the turn
signal, this indicator will change to
amber and flash. In addition, three
beeps will be sounded from the left
or right speaker, or the Safety Alert
Seat will pulse three times on either
the left or right side of the seat,
depending on the lane departure
direction.
When the System Does Not
Seem to Work Properly
If the LDW symbol does not appear:
.The lane markings on the road
may not be seen.
.The camera sensor may be
blocked by dirt, snow, or ice.
.The windshield may be
damaged.
.The weather may be limiting
visibility.
This is normal operation; the vehicle
does not need service. Clean the
windshield.
Lane markings may not be detected
on curves, highway exit ramps,
or hills; or due to poor visibility.
If the LDW camera system does not
seem to operate properly, cleaning
the outside of the windshield in front
of the camera sensor may correct
the issue.
{WARNING
If the LDW camera sensor is
blocked by dirt, snow, or ice, or if
the headlamps are not cleaned or
properly aimed, or if the
windshield is dirty or damaged, it
may not detect the lanes ahead.
LDW may not help avoid a crash
under these conditions. Keep the
headlamps cleaned and properly
aimed and the windshield clean.

Black plate (60,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual - 2013 - 1st - 4/13/12
9-60 Driving and Operating
Towing
General Towing
Information
Only use towing equipment that has
been designed for the vehicle.
Contact your dealer or trailering
dealer for assistance with preparing
the vehicle for towing a trailer. Read
the entire section before towing a
trailer.
For towing a disabled vehicle, see
Towing the Vehicle on page 10‑74.
For towing the vehicle behind
another vehicle such as a motor
home, seeRecreational Vehicle
Towing on page 10‑74.
Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips
Driving with a Trailer
When towing a trailer:
.Become familiar with the state
and local laws that apply
specifically to trailer towing.
.Do not tow a trailer during the
first 800 km (500 miles), to
prevent damage to the engine,
axle or other parts.
.Then, during the first 800 km
(500 miles) trailer towing, do not
drive over 80 km/h (50 mph) and
do not make starts at full throttle.
.The vehicle can tow in D (Drive)
but M (Manual Mode) is
recommended. See Manual
Mode on page 9‑24. Use a lower
gear if the transmission shifts
too often.
{WARNING
When towing a trailer, exhaust
gases may collect at the rear of
the vehicle and enter if the
liftgate, trunk/hatch, or rear-most
window is open.
(Continued)
WARNING (CONTINUED)
When towing a trailer:
.Do not drive with the liftgate,
trunk/hatch, or rear-most
window open.
.Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
.Also adjust the Climate
Control system to a setting
that brings in only outside air.
See Climate Control System
in the Index.
For more information about
Carbon Monoxide, see Engine
Exhaust on page 9‑21.
Towing a trailer requires a certain
amount of experience. The
combination you are driving is
longer and not as responsive as the
vehicle itself. Get acquainted with
the handling and braking of the rig
before setting out for the open road.

Black plate (61,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual - 2013 - 1st - 4/13/12
Driving and Operating 9-61
Before starting, check all trailer hitch
parts and attachments, safety
chains, electrical connectors, lamps,
tires and mirrors. If the trailer has
electric brakes, start the
combination moving and then apply
the trailer brake controller by hand
to be sure the brakes work.
During the trip, check occasionally
to be sure that the load is secure
and the lamps and any trailer
brakes still work.
Towing with a Stability Control
System
When towing, the sound of the
stability control system might be
heard. The system is reacting to the
vehicle movement caused by the
trailer, which mainly occurs during
cornering. This is normal when
towing heavier trailers.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the
vehicle ahead as you would when
driving the vehicle without a trailer.This can help to avoid situations
that require heavy braking and
sudden turns.
Passing
More passing distance is needed
when towing a trailer. Because the
rig is longer, it is necessary to go
farther beyond the passed vehicle
before returning to the lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering
wheel with one hand. To move the
trailer to the left, move your hand to
the left. To move the trailer to the
right, move your hand to the right.
Always back up slowly and,
if possible, have someone
guide you.
Making Turns
Notice:
Making very sharp turns
while trailering could cause the
trailer to come in contact with the
vehicle. The vehicle could be
damaged. Avoid making very
sharp turns while trailering. When turning with a trailer, make
wider turns than normal so the
trailer will not strike soft shoulders,
curbs, road signs, trees or other
objects. Use the turn signal well in
advance and avoid jerky or sudden
maneuvers.
Turn Signals When Towing a
Trailer
The turn signal indicators on the
instrument cluster flash whenever
signaling a turn or lane change.
Properly hooked up, the trailer
lamps also flash, telling other
drivers the vehicle is turning,
changing lanes or stopping.
When towing a trailer, the arrows on
the instrument cluster flash for turns
even if the bulbs on the trailer are
burned out. Check occasionally to
be sure the trailer bulbs are still
working.

Black plate (1,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual - 2013 - 1st - 4/13/12
Vehicle Care 10-1
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . 10-3
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-4
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-5
Engine Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-6
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-6
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . 10-9
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-10
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . 10-10
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-11
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-12
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . 10-14 Overheated Engine
Protection
Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . 10-16
Power Steering Fluid . . . . . . . 10-16
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-17
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-18
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-19
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-20
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-20
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . 10-20
Automatic Transmission Shift Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-21
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . 10-21
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-22
Windshield Replacement . . . 10-22
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . 10-23
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-23
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-23
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-23 Back-Up Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-23
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . 10-24
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . 10-25
Electrical System
Electrical System
Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-25
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-26
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-26
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-30
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-32
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-34
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-35
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-35
Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-35
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . 10-36
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . 10-38
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-38
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-41
Tire Pressure for High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-43

Black plate (4,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual - 2013 - 1st - 4/13/12
10-4 Vehicle Care
This vehicle has an airbag system.
Before attempting to do your own
service work, seeServicing the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on
page 3‑38.
Keep a record with all parts receipts
and list the mileage and the date of
any service work performed. See
Maintenance Records on
page 11‑15.
Notice: Even small amounts of
contamination can cause damage
to vehicle systems. Do not allow
contaminants to contact the
fluids, reservoir caps,
or dipsticks.Hood
To open the hood:
1. Pull the hood release lever with this symbol on it. It is located
inside the vehicle on the lower
side of the instrument panel.
2. Go to the front of the vehicle andlocate the secondary hood
release lever. The lever is
located under the front edge of
the grille near the center.
3. Push the secondary release lever to the right and raise
the hood.
Before closing the hood, be sure all
the filler caps are on properly. Then
bring the hood from full open to
within 152 mm (6 in) from the closed
position, pause, then push the front
center of the hood with a swift, firm
motion to fully close the hood.