
Black plate (39,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual - 2013 - 1st - 4/13/12
Seats and Restraints 3-39
{WARNING
For up to 10 seconds after the
vehicle is turned off and the
battery is disconnected, an airbag
can still inflate during improper
service. You can be injured if you
are close to an airbag when it
inflates. Avoid yellow connectors.
They are probably part of the
airbag system. Be sure to follow
proper service procedures, and
make sure the person performing
work for you is qualified to do so.
Adding Equipment to the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Adding accessories that change the
vehicle's frame, bumper system,
height, front end, or side sheet
metal, may keep the airbag system
from working properly. The
operation of the airbag system can
also be affected by changing or
moving any parts of the front seats,
safety belts, the airbag sensing anddiagnostic module, steering wheel,
instrument panel, roof-rail airbag
modules, ceiling headliner or pillar
garnish trim, front sensors, side
impact sensors, or airbag wiring.
Your dealer and the service manual
have information about the location
of the airbag sensors, sensing and
diagnostic module, and airbag
wiring.
In addition, the vehicle has a
passenger sensing system for the
front outboard passenger position,
which includes sensors that are part
of the passenger seat. The
passenger sensing system may not
operate properly if the original seat
trim is replaced with non-GM
covers, upholstery, or trim; or with
GM covers, upholstery, or trim
designed for a different vehicle. Any
object, such as an aftermarket seat
heater or a comfort-enhancing pad
or device, installed under or on top
of the seat fabric, could also
interfere with the operation of the
passenger sensing system. This
could either prevent properdeployment of the passenger
airbag(s) or prevent the passenger
sensing system from properly
turning off the passenger airbag(s).
See
Passenger Sensing System on
page 3‑34.
If the vehicle has rollover roof-rail
airbags, see Different Size Tires
and Wheels on page 10‑52 for
additional important information.
If you have to modify your vehicle
because you have a disability and
you have questions about whether
the modifications will affect the
vehicle's airbag system, or if you
have questions about whether the
airbag system will be affected if the
vehicle is modified for any other
reason, call Customer Assistance.
See Customer Assistance Offices
on page 13‑3.

Black plate (1,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual - 2013 - 1st - 4/13/12
Storage 4-1
Storage
Storage Compartments
Instrument Panel Storage . . . . . 4-1
Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
Cupholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
Armrest Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
Center Console Storage . . . . . . 4-3
Additional Storage Features
Cargo Tie-Downs . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4
Cargo ManagementSystem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4
Convenience Net . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4
Storage
Compartments
Instrument Panel Storage
To access, push on the cover and
release.
If equipped with storage behind the
climate control system, touch the
bottom of the climate control system
panel to automatically open. There
is a USB port inside. See Portable
Audio Devices on page 1‑16.
Keep the storage area closed when
not in use.
Touch the bottom of the climate
control system panel again to close.

Black plate (20,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual - 2013 - 1st - 4/13/12
5-20 Instruments and Controls
stalling when the vehicle is
changed into gear, misfiring,
hesitation on acceleration,
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 9‑55.
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.
Brake System Warning
Light
The vehicle brake system consists
of two hydraulic circuits. If one
circuit is not working, the remaining
circuit can still work to stop the

Black plate (30,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual - 2013 - 1st - 4/13/12
5-30 Instruments and Controls
Follow Distance:The Follow
Distance display shows the current
following distance to the vehicle
ahead.
Battery Voltage: The Battery
Voltage display shows the current
battery voltage.
Oil Life: The Oil Life display shows
an estimate of the oil's remaining
useful life. If REMAINING OIL LIFE
99% is displayed, that means 99%
of the current oil life remains.
When the remaining oil life is low,
the CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message will appear on the display.
See Engine Oil Messages on
page 5‑37. The oil should be
changed as soon as possible. See
Engine Oil on page 10‑6. In addition
to the engine oil life system
monitoring the oil life, additional
maintenance is recommended. See
Maintenance Schedule on
page 11‑3.
Remember, the Oil Life display must
be reset after each oil change. It will
not reset itself. Also, be careful not to reset the Oil Life display
accidentally at any time other than
when the oil has just been changed.
It cannot be reset accurately until
the next oil change. To reset the
engine oil life system, press and
hold SEL for several seconds while
the Oil Life display is active. See
Engine Oil Life System on
page 10‑9.
Oil Pressure:
Available on some
vehicles, this display shows the oil
pressure in either kilopascals (kPa)
or pounds per square inch (psi).
Tire Pressure: The Tire Pressure
display shows the approximate
pressures of all four tires. Tire
pressure is displayed in either
kilopascal (kPa) or in pounds per
square inch (psi). If the pressure is
low, the value for that tire is shown
in amber. See Tire Pressure Monitor
System on page 10‑43 andTire
Pressure Monitor Operation on
page 10‑44. Maintenance Required:
This
display shows how many kilometers
(miles) until the next maintenance is
needed.
Blank Page: The Blank Page
display allows for no information to
be displayed in the cluster info
display areas.
Head-Up Display (HUD)
{WARNING
If the HUD image is too bright or
too high in your field of view, it
may take you more time to see
things you need to see when it is
dark outside. Be sure to keep the
HUD image dim and placed low in
your field of view.
For vehicles with HUD, some
information concerning the
operation of the vehicle is projected
onto the windshield. The images are
projected through the HUD lens on
the instrument panel.

Black plate (1,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual - 2013 - 1st - 4/13/12
Lighting 6-1
Lighting
Exterior Lighting
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . 6-1
Exterior Lamps OffReminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
Automatic Headlamp System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
Adaptive Forward Lighting (AFL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Headlamp Leveling Control . . . 6-5
Hazard Warning Flashers . . . . . 6-5
Turn and Lane-Change Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Interior Lighting
Instrument Panel IlluminationControl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Courtesy Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Dome Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Reading Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7
Lighting Features
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7
Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8
Battery Power Protection . . . . . . 6-8
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8Exterior Lighting
Exterior Lamp Controls
The exterior lamp control is on the
turn signal/lane change lever.
Turn the control to the following
positions:
O(Off): Turns off the exterior
lamps. The knob returns to the
AUTO position after it is released.
Turn to
Oagain to reactivate the
AUTO mode.
In Canada, the headlamps will
automatically reactivate when the
vehicle is shifted out of P (Park).

Black plate (2,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual - 2013 - 1st - 4/13/12
6-2 Lighting
AUTO (Automatic):Automatically
turns the exterior lamps on and off,
depending on outside lighting.
;(Parking Lamps): Turns on the
parking lamps together with the
following:
.Sidemarker Lamps
.Taillamps
.License Plate Lamps
.Instrument Panel Lights
2(Headlamps): Turns on the
headlamps together with the
following:
.Sidemarker Lamps
.Taillamps
.License Plate Lamps
.Instrument Panel Lights
.Parking Lamps
Automatic High-Beam System
This system turns the vehicle's
high-beam headlamps on and off
according to surrounding traffic
conditions. The system turns the high-beam
headlamps on when it is dark
enough and there is no other traffic
present.
This light comes on in the
instrument cluster when the
automatic high-beam system is
enabled.
Turning On and Enabling
Automatic High Beams
To enable the automatic high-beam
system, with the turn signal/lane
change lever in the neutral position,
turn the exterior lamp control to
AUTO. The blue high-beam on light
appears on the instrument cluster
when the high beams are on.
Driving with Automatic High
Beams
The system only activates the high
beams when driving over 40 km/h
(25 mph).
There is a sensor near the top
center of the windshield that
automatically controls the system.
Keep this area of the windshield
clear of debris to allow for best
system performance.
The high-beam headlamps remain
on, under the automatic control,
until one of the following situations
occur:
.The system detects an
approaching vehicle's
headlamps.
.The system detects a preceding
vehicle's taillamps.
.The outside light is bright
enough that high-beam
headlamps are not required.
.The vehicle's speed drops below
20 km/h (12 mph).

Black plate (4,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual - 2013 - 1st - 4/13/12
6-4 Lighting
Flash-to-Pass
To flash the high beams, pull the
turn and lane-change lever toward
you, and release.
Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL)
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can
make it easier for others to see the
front of your vehicle during the day.
Fully functional daytime running
lamps are required on all vehicles
first sold in Canada.
For vehicles with High Intensity
Discharge (HID) headlamps, the
dedicated DRL will come on when
all of the following conditions
are met:
.The ignition is on.
.The exterior lamp control is
in AUTO.
.The light sensor determines it is
daytime.
.The parking brake is released or
the vehicle is not in P (Park).When the DRL are on, the taillamps,
sidemarker lamps, instrument panel
lights, and other lamps will not
be on.
The DRL turn off when the
headlamps are turned to
Oor the
ignition is off.
Automatic Headlamp
System
When the exterior lamp control is
set to AUTO and it is dark enough
outside, the headlamps come on
automatically.
There is a light sensor located on
top of the instrument panel. Do not
cover the sensor. The system may also turn on the
headlamps when driving through a
parking garage or tunnel.
When it is bright enough outside,
the headlamps will turn off or may
change to Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL).
The automatic headlamp system
turns off when the exterior lamp
control is turned to
Oor the ignition
is off.
For vehicles sold in Canada, this
control only works when the
transmission is in P (Park).
Lights On with Wipers
If the windshield wipers are
activated in daylight with the engine
on, and the exterior lamp control is
in AUTO, the headlamps, parking
lamps, and other exterior lamps
come on. The transition time for the
lamps coming on varies based on
wiper speed. When the wipers are
not operating, these lamps turn off.
Move the exterior lamp control to
P

Black plate (6,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual - 2013 - 1st - 4/13/12
6-6 Lighting
Raise or lower the lever until the
arrow starts to flash to signal a lane
change. Hold it there until the lane
change is completed. If the lever is
briefly pressed and released, the
turn signal flashes three times.
The turn and lane-change signal
can be turned off manually by
moving the lever back to its original
position.
If after signaling a turn or lane
change, the arrow flashes rapidly or
does not come on, a signal bulb
might be burned out.
Replace any burned out bulbs. If a
bulb is not burned out, check the
fuse. SeeFuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 10‑26.Interior Lighting
Instrument Panel
Illumination Control
The brightness of the instrument
panel lighting and steering wheel
controls can be adjusted.
D(Instrument Panel
Illumination): Move the
thumbwheel up or down to brighten
or dim the lights.
The brightness of the displays
automatically adjusts based on
outdoor lighting. The instrument panel illumination control will set the
lowest level that the displays will
automatically be adjusted.
Courtesy Lamps
The courtesy lamps come on when
any door is opened and the dome
lamp is in the DOOR position.
Dome Lamps
The dome lamp is in the overhead
console.