Black plate (45,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual - 2013 - 1st - 4/13/12
Driving and Operating 9-45
Beeps for Front Parking Assist are
higher pitched than for Rear Parking
Assist.
Vehicles with Adaptive Cruise
Control (ACC) have the Backing
Warning System, which is designed
to help avoid backing crashes. The
system can warn of rear objects
when backing up at speeds greater
than 8 km/h (5 mph).
The Backing Warning System will
beep once from the rear when an
object is first detected, or pulse
twice on both sides of the Safety
Alert Seat. When the system
detects a potential crash, beeps will
be heard from the rear, or five
pulses will be felt on both sides of
the Safety Alert Seat. There may
also be a brief, sharp application of
the brakes.{WARNING
The Backing Warning System
only operates at speeds greater
than 8 km/h (5 mph). It does not
detect children, pedestrians,
bicyclists, animals, or objects
below the bumper or that are too
close or too far from the vehicle.
In some situations, such as at
higher backing speeds, there may
not be enough time for the short,
sharp application of the vehicle
brake system to occur. To prevent
injury, death, or vehicle damage,
even with the Backing Warning
System, always check the area
around the vehicle and check all
mirrors before backing.
Vehicles with Adaptive Cruise
Control (ACC) also have the Rear
Automatic Braking system, which is
designed to help avoid or reduce
the harm caused by backing
crashes. If the system detects the vehicle is backing too fast to avoid a
crash with a detected object, it may
automatically brake hard to a stop.
{WARNING
Rear Automatic Braking may not
avoid many types of backing
crashes. Do not wait for the
automatic braking to apply. This
system is not designed to replace
driver braking, but only acts when
the vehicle may not stop in time.
The system, in some situations or
environments, may not brake or
may not brake in time to avoid a
crash. It does not detect children,
pedestrians, bicyclists, animals,
or objects below the bumper or
that are too close or too far from
the vehicle. To prevent injury,
death, or vehicle damage, even
with Rear Automatic Braking,
always check the area around the
vehicle before and while backing.
Black plate (46,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual - 2013 - 1st - 4/13/12
9-46 Driving and Operating
Pressing the brake pedal after the
vehicle comes to a stop will release
the Rear Automatic Braking. If the
brake pedal is not pressed within
two seconds after the stop, the
electric parking brake is set. When it
is safe, pressing the accelerator
pedal firmly at any time will override
the Rear Automatic Braking.
{WARNING
There may be instances where
unexpected or undesired
automatic braking occurs. If this
happens, either press the brake
pedal or firmly press the
accelerator pedal to release the
brakes from the Rear Automatic
Braking system. Check the RVC
screen and check the area
around the vehicle before
proceeding.
Turning the Features On or Off
TheXbutton on the center stack
is used to turn on or off the Front
and Rear Parking Assist, Rear
Automatic Braking, and Backing
Warning System at the same time.
The indicator light next to the button
comes on when the features are on
and turns off when the features
have been disabled. The Rear Vision Camera (RVC) can
be turned on or off through the
Settings menu on the infotainment
system. The parking assist symbols,
guidance lines, and Rear Cross
Traffic Alert (RCTA) can also be
turned off. To turn the RVC system,
symbols, guidance lines, or RCTA
on or off:
1. On the infotainment system,
press the Settings screen
button, or turn the MENU knob
to highlight Settings and
press MENU.
2. Select Rear Camera.
3. Press Rear Camera Display, Park Assist Symbols, Guidance
Lines, or Rear Cross Traffic Alert
and then select OFF or ON.
Assistance Systems for
Driving
If equipped, when driving the
vehicle, Forward Collision Alert
(FCA), Lane Departure Warning
(LDW), Side Blind Zone Alert
Black plate (52,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual - 2013 - 1st - 4/13/12
9-52 Driving and Operating
SBZA Detection Zones
The SBZA sensor covers a zone of
approximately one lane over from
both sides of the vehicle, or 3.5 m
(11 ft). This zone starts at each side
mirror and goes back approximately
5 m (16 ft). The height of the zone is
approximately between 0.5 m (1.5 ft)
and 2 m (6 ft) off the ground.
Use caution while changing lanes
when towing a trailer, as the SBZA
detection zones do not change to
become longer when a trailer is
towed.
How the System Works
The SBZA symbol lights up in the
side mirrors when the system
detects a vehicle in the side blind
zone, indicating it may be unsafe to
change lanes. Before making a lane
change, check the SBZA display,
check mirrors, glance over your
shoulder, and use the turn signals.
Left Side MirrorDisplayRight Side Mirror Display
When the vehicle is started, both
outside mirror SBZA displays will
briefly come on to indicate the
system is operating. When the
vehicle is moving forward, the left-
or right-side mirror display will light
up if a vehicle is detected in that
blind zone. If the turn signal is
activated and a vehicle is also
detected on the same side, the
display will flash as an extra
warning not to change lanes.
SBZA displays may come on when
a passed vehicle remains in or
drops back into the detection zone.
SBZA can be disabled through
vehicle personalization. See
“Collision/Detection Systems” under
Vehicle Personalization on page 5‑44. If SBZA is disabled by
the driver, the SBZA mirror displays
will not light up.
When the System Does Not
Seem to Work Properly
SBZA may not always alert the
driver to vehicles in the blind zone,
especially in wet conditions. The
system does not need to be
serviced. The system may light up
due to guardrails, signs, trees,
shrubs, and other non-moving
objects. This is normal system
operation; the vehicle does not need
service.
SBZA may not operate when the
SBZA sensors in the left or right
corners of the rear bumper are
covered with mud, dirt, snow, ice,
or slush, or in heavy rainstorms. For
cleaning instructions, see "Washing
the Vehicle" under
Exterior Care on
page 10‑76. If the DIC still displays
the SIDE DETECTION SYSTEM
UNAVAILABLE message after
cleaning the rear bumper corners,
see your dealer.
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 (58,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual - 2013 - 1st - 4/13/12
9-58 Driving and Operating
WARNING (CONTINUED)
.Fuel can spray out if the
refueling nozzle is inserted
too quickly. This spray can
happen if the tank is nearly
full, and is more likely in hot
weather. Insert the refueling
nozzle slowly and wait for
any hiss noise to stop prior to
beginning to flow fuel
Locate the fuel door. The fuel gauge
has an arrow to indicate the side of
the vehicle the fuel door is on. To
open the fuel door, push the
rearward center edge in and release
and it will open.
The vehicle has a capless refueling
system and does not have a fuel
cap. The filling nozzle must be fully
inserted and latched prior to startng
fuel flow.
Be careful not to spill fuel. Do not
top off or overfill the tank and wait a
few seconds before removing the
nozzle. After initial shutoff, do not
partially remove the nozzle to add
more fuel as this will result in fuel
spillage. Clean fuel from painted
surfaces as soon as possible. See
Exterior Care on page 10‑76.{WARNING
If a fire starts while you are
refueling, do not remove the
nozzle. Shut off the flow of fuel by
shutting off the pump or by
notifying the station attendant.
Leave the area immediately.
Filling the Tank With a Portable
Gas Can
If the vehicle runs out of fuel and
must be filled from a portable
gas can:
1. Locate the capless funnel adapter from under the carpet in
the trunk.
2. Insert and latch the funnel into the capless fuel system.
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 (64,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual - 2013 - 1st - 4/13/12
9-64 Driving and Operating
The trailer tongue (1) should weigh
10 to 15 percent of the total loaded
trailer weight (2).
After loading the trailer, weigh the
trailer and then the tongue,
separately, to see if the weights are
proper. If they are not, adjustments
might be made by moving some
items around in the trailer.
Total Weight on Your Vehicle's
Tires
Be sure the vehicle's tires are
inflated to the upper limit for cold
tires. These numbers can be foundon the Tire and Loading Information
label. See
Vehicle Load Limits on
page 9‑10. Make sure not to go over
the GVW limit for the vehicle,
including the weight of the trailer
tongue.
Towing Equipment
Hitches
Use the correct hitch equipment.
See your dealer or a hitch dealer for
assistance.
.The rear bumper on the vehicle
is not intended for hitches. Do
not attach rental hitches or other
bumper-type hitches to it. Use
only a frame-mounted hitch that
does not attach to the bumper.
.Will any holes be made in the
body of the vehicle when the
trailer hitch is installed? If so,
seal the holes when the hitch is
removed. If the holes are not
sealed, dirt, water, and deadly
carbon monoxide (CO) from the exhaust can get into the vehicle.
See
Engine Exhaust on
page 9‑21.
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.
Leave enough slack so the rig can
turn. Never allow safety chains to
drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
Does the trailer have its own
brakes? Be sure to read and follow
the instructions for the trailer brakes
so they are installed, adjusted, and
maintained properly.
Because the vehicle has antilock
brakes, do not tap into the vehicle's
brake system. If this is done, both
brake systems will not work well,
or at all.
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