2013 CADILLAC XTS Owners Manual

Black plate (29,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual - 2013 - 1st - 4/13/12
Driving and Operating 9-29
required. SeeIf the Vehicle Is Stuck
on page 9‑9. See Winter Driving on
page 9‑7 for information on using
TCS when driving in snowy or icy
conditions.
The TCS/StabiliTrak button is
located on the center stack.
Press and release the TCS/
StabiliTrak button; the traction
control system will turn off and the
appropriate message will be
displayed in the DIC. Press the
button again to turn the system back on. For information on turning
StabiliTrak off and on, see
StabiliTrak
®System on page 9‑29.
Adding non-dealer accessories can
affect your vehicle's performance.
See Accessories and Modifications
on page 10‑3.
StabiliTrak®System
The vehicle has an electronic
stability control system called
StabiliTrak. It is an advanced
computer controlled system that
assists with directional control of the
vehicle in difficult driving conditions.
StabiliTrak activates when the
system senses a discrepancy
between the intended path and the
direction the vehicle is actually
traveling. StabiliTrak selectively
applies braking pressure at any one
of the vehicle's brakes to help steer
the vehicle in the direction which
you are steering.
When the system activates, this
warning light flashes on the
instrument panel. A noise may be
heard or a vibration may be felt in
the brake pedal. This is normal.
Continue to steer the vehicle in the
intended direction.
If there is a problem detected with
StabiliTrak, the appropriate
message displays on the Driver
Information Center (DIC) and the
TCS/StabiliTrak warning light comes
on in the instrument panel cluster.
When this message and light
display, the system is not
operational. Driving should be
adjusted accordingly. See Driver
Information Center (DIC) on
page 5‑27 andTraction Control
System (TCS)/StabiliTrak
®Light on
page 5‑24.

Black plate (30,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual - 2013 - 1st - 4/13/12
9-30 Driving and Operating
The TCS/StabiliTrak button is
located on the center stack.
StabiliTrak comes on automatically
whenever the vehicle is started. The
system should be left on to help
assist with directional control of the
vehicle.
If StabiliTrak needs to be turned off,
press and hold the TCS/StabiliTrak
button until the StabiliTrak OFF light
comes on. The StabiliTrak OFF light
comes on and a DIC message
displays. Press the TCS/StabiliTrak
button again to turn both systems
back on.
If cruise control is being used when
StabiliTrak activates, the cruise
control will automatically disengage.
When road conditions allow,
reengage the cruise control. See
Cruise Control on page 9‑31.
Magnetic Ride Control
The Magnetic Ride Control monitors
the suspension system.
Based on road conditions, steering
wheel angle, and vehicle speed, the
system automatically adjusts to
provide the best handling while
providing a smooth ride. The Tour
and Sport Modes will feel similar on
a smooth road.Tour:
Use for normal city and
highway driving. This setting
provides a smooth, soft ride.
Sport: Use where road conditions
or personal preference demand
more control. This setting provides
more “feel,” or response to road
conditions.
The vehicle is normally in Tour
Mode. Sport Mode is engaged when
the shift lever is placed in M
(Manual). When the shift lever is
placed in D (Drive) the system will
revert back to Tour Mode.
The Driver Information Center (DIC)
briefly displays the appropriate
message on vehicle startup or when
a new mode is selected. See Ride
Control System Messages on
page 5‑41.

Black plate (31,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual - 2013 - 1st - 4/13/12
Driving and Operating 9-31
Automatic Level Control
The automatic level control rear
suspension is available on some
vehicles.
This type of level control is fully
automatic and will provide a better
leveled riding position as well as
better handling under a variety of
passenger and loading conditions.
An air compressor connected to the
rear shocks will raise or lower the
rear of the vehicle to maintain
proper vehicle height. The system is
activated when the engine is
running and will automatically adjust
vehicle height thereafter. The
system may exhaust (lower vehicle
height) for up to 10 minutes after the
engine has been turned off. You
may hear the air compressor
operating when the height is being
adjusted; this is normal.
If the compressor runs often for
longer than one minute within the
same trip and the vehicle remains
low in the rear, see your dealer for
service.If the vehicle is not used for several
weeks, the rear of the vehicle may
look low. When the engine is
started, the vehicle will return to the
proper height.
If a weight-distributing hitch is being
used, it is recommended to allow
the shocks to inflate, thereby
leveling the vehicle prior to adjusting
the hitch.
Cruise Control
{WARNING
Cruise control can be dangerous
where you cannot drive safely at
a steady speed. So, do not use
the cruise control on winding
roads or in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous
on slippery roads. On such roads,
fast changes in tire traction can
cause excessive wheel slip, and
you could lose control. Do not use
cruise control on slippery roads.
With cruise control, a speed of
about 40 km/h (25 mph) or more can
be maintained without keeping your
foot on the accelerator. Cruise
control does not work at speeds
below about 40 km/h (25 mph).
If the brakes are applied, the cruise
control disengages.

Black plate (32,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual - 2013 - 1st - 4/13/12
9-32 Driving and Operating
If the StabiliTrak® system begins to
limit wheel spin while using cruise
control, the cruise control
automatically disengages. See
StabiliTrak
®System on page 9‑29or
Traction Control System (TCS) on
page 9‑28. When road conditions
allow the cruise control to be safely
used, you can apply the cruise
control again.
J(On/Off): Press to turn the
system on and off. An indicator
appears in the instrument cluster
when cruise is turned on. +RES (Resume/Accelerate):
Press the control up briefly to
resume to a previously set speed or
to increase vehicle speed if the
cruise control is already activated.
To increase speed by 1 km/h
(1 mph), press +RES up to the first
detent. To increase speed by 5 km/h
(5 mph) increments, press +RES up
to the second detent.
SET−
(Set/Coast): Press the
control down briefly to set the speed
and activate cruise control or to
decrease vehicle speed if the cruise
control is already activated. To
decrease speed by 1 km/h (1 mph),
press SET− down to the first detent.
To decrease speed by 5 km/h
(5 mph) increments, press SET−
down to the second detent.
*(Cancel): Press to disengage
cruise control without erasing the
set speed from memory. Setting Cruise Control
If the cruise button is on when not in
use, it could get pressed and go into
cruise when not desired. Keep the
cruise control button off when cruise
is not being used.
1. Press
J.
2. Get up to the desired speed.
3. Press and release the SET− control on the steering wheel.
4. Remove foot from the accelerator.
When the cruise control has been
set to the desired speed, a cruise
control indicator appears on the
instrument cluster and a cruise set
speed message appears on the
Head-Up Display (HUD),
if equipped.
Resuming a Set Speed
If the cruise control is set at a
desired speed and then the brakes
are applied, the cruise control is
disengaged without erasing the set
speed from memory.

Black plate (33,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual - 2013 - 1st - 4/13/12
Driving and Operating 9-33
Once the vehicle speed reaches
about 40 km/h (25 mph) or more,
press the +RES control to the first
detent briefly on the steering wheel.
The vehicle returns to the previous
set speed.
Increasing Speed While Cruise
Control is at a Set Speed
If the cruise control system is
already activated:
.Press and hold +RES up until
the desired speed is reached,
then release it.
.To increase vehicle speed in
small increments, press +RES
up to the first detent. For each
press, the vehicle goes about
1 km/h (1 mph) faster.
.To increase vehicle speed in
larger increments, press +RES
up to the second detent. For
each press, the vehicle goes
about 5 km/h (5 mph) faster.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 Cruise
Control is at a Set Speed
If the cruise control system is
already activated:
.Press and hold SET− down until
the desired lower speed is
reached, then release it.
.To decrease the vehicle speed in
small 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 cruise control system may
automatically brake to slow the
vehicle down. 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.
Passing Another Vehicle While
Using Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to
increase the vehicle speed. When
you take your foot off the pedal, the
vehicle will slow down to the
previous set cruise speed.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well the cruise control will work
on hills depends upon the vehicle
speed, load, and the steepness of
the hills. When going up steep hills,
you might have to step on the
accelerator pedal to maintain the
vehicle speed. When going
downhill, you might have to brake or
shift to a lower gear to keep the
vehicle speed down. If the brake is
applied, the cruise control
disengages.

Black plate (34,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual - 2013 - 1st - 4/13/12
9-34 Driving and Operating
Ending Cruise Control
There are three ways to end cruise
control:
.Step lightly on the brake pedal.
.Press*.
.PressJ.
Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed is
erased from memory if
Jis
pressed or if the ignition is
turned off.
Adaptive Cruise Control
For vehicles with Adaptive Cruise
Control (ACC), it allows the driver to
select the cruise control set speed
and following gap. Read this entire
section before using this system.
The following gap is the distance
between your vehicle and a
vehicle-detected directly ahead in
your path. If no vehicle is detected
in your path, ACC works like regular
cruise control. ACC uses camera and radar sensors. See
Radio
Frequency Statement on
page 13‑15 for information
regarding Part 15 of the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC)
rules and Industry Canada
Standards RSS-GEN/210/220/310.
If a vehicle is detected in your path,
ACC can apply acceleration or
limited, moderate braking to
maintain the selected following gap.
To disengage ACC, apply the brake.
If ACC is controlling your vehicle
speed when the traction control
system (TCS) activates, the ACC
will automatically disengage. See
Traction Control System (TCS) on
page 9‑28. When road conditions
allow ACC to be safely used, the
ACC can be turned back on.
{WARNING
ACC has limited braking ability
and may not have time to slow
the vehicle down enough to avoid
(Continued)
WARNING (CONTINUED)
a collision with another vehicle
you are following. This can occur
when vehicles suddenly slow or
stop ahead, enter your lane,
or cross the vehicle’s path. Also
see“Alerting the Driver” in this
section. Complete attention is
always required while driving and
you should be ready to take
action and apply the brakes. See
Defensive Driving on page 9‑3.
{WARNING
Adaptive Cruise Control will not
detect or brake for children,
pedestrians, animals, or other
objects.
(Continued)

Black plate (35,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual - 2013 - 1st - 4/13/12
Driving and Operating 9-35
WARNING (CONTINUED)
Do not use Adaptive Cruise
Control when:
.On winding and hilly roads or
when the sensors are
blocked by snow, ice, or dirt.
The system may not detect a
vehicle ahead. Keep the
entire front of the vehicle
clean.
.Visibility is low, such as in
fog, rain, or snow conditions.
Adaptive Cruise Control
performance is limited under
these conditions.
.On slippery roads where fast
changes in tire traction can
cause excessive wheel slip.
](On/Off):Press to turn the
system on or off.
+RES (Resume/Accelerate):
Press the control up briefly to
resume the previous set speed or to
increase vehicle speed if ACC is
already activated. To increase
speed by 1 km/h (1 mph), press
+RES up to the first detent. To
increase speed by 5 km/h (5 mph)
increments, press +RES up to the
second detent. SET–
(Set/Coast): Press the
control down briefly to set the speed
and activate ACC or to decrease
vehicle speed if ACC is already
activated. To decrease speed by
1 km/h (1 mph), press SET− down to
the first detent. To decrease speed
by 5 km/h (5 mph) increments, press
SET− down to the second detent.
*(Cancel): Press to disengage
ACC without erasing the selected
set speed.
3(Follow Distance Gap): Press
to select a following gap time (or
distance) setting for ACC. Select a
gap setting: Far, Medium, or Near.
Setting Adaptive Cruise Control
If the cruise button is on when not in
use, it could get pressed and go into
cruise when not desired. Keep the
cruise control button off when cruise
is not being used.
Select the set speed desired for
cruise. This is the vehicle speed
when no vehicle is detected in
its path.

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.