2013 CADILLAC XTS brake light

Black plate (19,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual - 2013 - 1st - 4/13/12
Vehicle Care 10-19
Brake Fluid
The brake master cylinder reservoir
is filled with DOT 3 brake fluid as
indicated on the reservoir cap. See
Engine Compartment Overview on
page 10‑5for the location of the
reservoir.
There are only two reasons why the
brake fluid level in the reservoir
might go down:
.The brake fluid level goes down
because of normal brake lining
wear. When new linings are
installed, the fluid level goes
back up.
.A fluid leak in the brake
hydraulic system can also cause
a low fluid level. Have the brake hydraulic system fixed, since a
leak means that sooner or later
the brakes will not work well.
Do not top off the brake fluid.
Adding fluid does not correct a leak.
If fluid is added when the linings are
worn, there will be too much fluid
when new brake linings are
installed. Add or remove brake fluid,
as necessary, only when work is
done on the brake hydraulic system.
{WARNING
If too much brake fluid is added, it
can spill on the engine and burn,
if the engine is hot enough. You
or others could be burned, and
the vehicle could be damaged.
Add brake fluid only when work is
done on the brake hydraulic
system.
When the brake fluid falls to a low
level, the brake warning light comes
on. See Brake System Warning
Light on page 5‑20. What to Add
Use only new DOT 3 brake fluid
from a sealed container. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11‑13.
Always clean the brake fluid
reservoir cap and the area around
the cap before removing it. This
helps keep dirt from entering the
reservoir.
{WARNING
With the wrong kind of fluid in the
brake hydraulic system, the
brakes might not work well. This
could cause a crash. Always use
the proper brake fluid.
Notice
.Using the wrong fluid can
badly damage brake
hydraulic system parts. For
example, just a few drops of
mineral-based oil, such as
engine oil, in the brake

Black plate (39,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual - 2013 - 1st - 4/13/12
Vehicle Care 10-39
steering, power brakes, power
windows, power seats, and air
conditioning.
Aspect Ratio
:The relationship
of a tire's height to its width.
Belt
:A rubber coated layer of
cords between the plies and the
tread. Cords may be made from
steel or other reinforcing
materials.
Bead
:The tire bead contains
steel wires wrapped by steel
cords that hold the tire onto
the rim.
Bias Ply Tire
:A pneumatic tire
in which the plies are laid at
alternate angles less than
90 degrees to the centerline of
the tread.
Cold Tire Pressure
:The
amount of air pressure in a tire,
measured in kPa (kilopascal)
or psi (pounds per square inch) before a tire has built up heat
from driving. See
Tire Pressure
on page 10‑41.
Curb Weight
:The weight of a
motor vehicle with standard and
optional equipment including the
maximum capacity of fuel, oil,
and coolant, but without
passengers and cargo.
DOT Markings
:A code molded
into the sidewall of a tire
signifying that the tire is in
compliance with the U.S.
Department of Transportation
(DOT) Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards. The DOT code
includes the Tire Identification
Number (TIN), an alphanumeric
designator which can also
identify the tire manufacturer,
production plant, brand, and
date of production.
GVWR
:Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating. See Vehicle Load Limits
on page 9‑10. GAWR FRT
:Gross Axle Weight
Rating for the front axle. See
Vehicle Load Limits on
page 9‑10.
GAWR RR
:Gross Axle Weight
Rating for the rear axle. See
Vehicle Load Limits on
page 9‑10.
Intended Outboard Sidewall
:
The side of an asymmetrical tire,
that must always face outward
when mounted on a vehicle.
Kilopascal (kPa)
:The metric
unit for air pressure.
Light Truck (LT-Metric) Tire
:A
tire used on light duty trucks and
some multipurpose passenger
vehicles.
Load Index
:An assigned
number ranging from 1 to 279
that corresponds to the load
carrying capacity of a tire.

Black plate (50,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual - 2013 - 1st - 4/13/12
10-50 Vehicle Care
Treadwear indicators are one way to
tell when it is time for new tires.
Treadwear indicators appear when
the tires have only 1.6 mm (1/16 in)
or less of tread remaining. SeeTire
Inspection on page 10‑48 andTire
Rotation on page 10‑48.
The rubber in tires ages over time.
This also applies to the spare tire,
if the vehicle has one, even if it is
never used. Multiple factors
including temperatures, loading
conditions, and inflation pressure
maintenance affect how fast aging
takes place. GM recommends that
tires, including the spare if equipped, be replaced after six
years, regardless of tread wear. The
tire manufacturer date is the last
four digits of the DOT Tire
Identification Number (TIN) which is
molded into one side of the tire
sidewall. The first two digits
represent the week (01–52) and the
last two digits, the year. For
example, the third week of the year
2010 would have a four-digit DOT
date of 0310.Vehicle Storage
Tires age when stored normally
mounted on a parked vehicle. Park
a vehicle that will be stored for at
least a month in a cool, dry, clean
area away from direct sunlight to
slow aging. This area should be free
of grease, gasoline, or other
substances that can deteriorate
rubber.
Parking for an extended period can
cause flat spots on the tires that
may result in vibrations while
driving. When storing a vehicle for
at least a month, remove the tires or
raise the vehicle to reduce the
weight from the tires.
Buying New Tires
GM has developed and matched
specific tires for the vehicle. The
original equipment tires installed
were designed to meet General
Motors Tire Performance Criteria
Specification (TPC Spec)
system rating. When
replacement tires are needed,
GM strongly recommends
buying tires with the same TPC
Spec rating.
GM's exclusive TPC Spec
system considers over a dozen
critical specifications that impact
the overall performance of the
vehicle, including brake system
performance, ride and handling,
traction control, and tire
pressure monitoring
performance. GM's TPC Spec

Black plate (10,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual - 2013 - 1st - 4/13/12
11-10 Service and Maintenance
Additional
Maintenance and Care
Your vehicle is an important
investment and caring for it properly
may help to avoid future costly
repairs. To maintain vehicle
performance, additional
maintenance services may be
required. It is recommended
that your dealer perform these
services—their trained dealer
technicians know your vehicle best.
Your dealer can also perform a
thorough assessment with a multi‐
point inspection to recommend
when your vehicle may need
attention. The following list is
intended to explain the services and
conditions to look for that may
indicate services are required. Battery
The battery supplies power to start
the engine and operate any
additional electrical accessories.
.To avoid break‐down or failure to
start the vehicle, maintain a
battery with full cranking power.
.Trained dealer technicians have
the diagnostic equipment to test
the battery and ensure that the
connections and cables are
corrosion‐free.
Belts
.Belts may need replacing if they
squeak or show signs of
cracking or splitting.
.Trained dealer technicians can
inspect the belts and
recommend replacement when
necessary. Brakes
Brakes stop the vehicle and are
crucial to safe driving.
.Signs of brake wear may include
chirping, grinding, or squealing
noises, or difficulty stopping.
.Trained dealer technicians have
access to tools and equipment
to inspect the brakes and
recommend quality parts
engineered for the vehicle.
Fluids
Proper fluid levels and approved
fluids protect the vehicle’s systems
and components. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11‑13 for GM
approved fluids.
.Engine oil and windshield
washer fluid levels should be
checked at every fuel fill.
.Instrument cluster lights may
come on to indicate that fluids
may be low and need to be
filled.

Black plate (11,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual - 2013 - 1st - 4/13/12
Service and Maintenance 11-11
Hoses
Hoses transport fluids and should
be regularly inspected to ensure
that there are no cracks or leaks.
With a multi‐point inspection, your
dealer can inspect the hoses and
advise if replacement is needed.
Lamps
Properly working headlamps,
taillamps, and brake lamps are
important to see and be seen on
the road.
.Signs that the headlamps need
attention include dimming, failure
to light, cracking, or damage.
The brake lamps need to be
checked periodically to ensure
that they light when braking.
.With a multi‐point inspection,
your dealer can check the lamps
and note any concerns.Shocks and Struts
Shocks and struts help aid in control
for a smoother ride.
.Signs of wear may include
steering wheel vibration, bounce/
sway while braking, longer
stopping distance, or uneven
tire wear.
.As part of the multi‐point
inspection, trained dealer
technicians can visually inspect
the shocks and struts for signs
of leaking, blown seals,
or damage, and can advise
when service is needed.
Tires
Tires need to be properly inflated,
rotated, and balanced. Maintaining
the tires can save money, fuel, and
can reduce the risk of tire failure.
.Signs that the tires need to be
replaced include three or more
visible treadwear indicators; cord
or fabric showing through the rubber; cracks or cuts in the
tread or sidewall; or a bulge or
split in the tire.
.Trained dealer technicians can
inspect and recommend the right
tires. Your dealer can also
provide tire/wheel balancing
services to ensure smooth
vehicle operation at all speeds.
Your dealer sells and services
name brand tires.
Vehicle Care
To help keep the vehicle looking like
new, vehicle care products are
available from your dealer. For
information on how to clean and
protect the vehicle’s interior and
exterior, see Interior Care on
page 10‑79 andExterior Care on
page 10‑76.

Black plate (1,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual - 2013 - 1st - 4/13/12
INDEX i-1
A
Accessories andModifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
Accessory Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-19
Active Emergency Braking System . . . . . . . . 1-20, 9-49
Adaptive Cruise Control . . . . . . . 9-34
Adaptive Forward
Lighting (AFL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Adaptive Forward Lighting (AFL) Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-26
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-65
Additional Information OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-5
Adjustments
Lumbar, Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5
Thigh Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine . . . . . 10-10
Air Filter, Passenger Compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-12
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-11 Airbag System
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-40
How Does an Airbag
Restrain? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-32
Passenger Sensing System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-34
What Makes an Airbag
Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-32
What Will You See after an Airbag Inflates? . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-32
When Should an
Airbag Inflate? . . . . . . . . 3-30, 3-31
Where Are the Airbags? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-26, 3-28
Airbags Adding Equipment to the
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-39
Passenger Status Indicator . . . 5-17
Readiness Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-16
Servicing Airbag-Equipped Vehicles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-38
System Check . . . . . . . . . . 3-22, 3-24
Alarm Vehicle Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-16
Alert
Side Blind Zone (SBZA) . . . . . . 9-51 All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . 10-20, 9-24
AM-FM Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-7
Antenna
Multi-band . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-11
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-25
Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-22
Appearance Care Exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-76
Interior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-79
Armrest Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
Assistance Systems for
Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-46
Assistance Systems for Parking and Backing . . . . . . . . . 9-43
Audio Players . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-11
CD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-11
Audio System Backglass Antenna . . . . . . . . . . . 7-11
Radio Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-10
Theft-Deterrent Feature . . . . . . . . 7-2

Black plate (2,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual - 2013 - 1st - 4/13/12
i-2 INDEX
AutomaticDoor Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
Headlamp System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
Level Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-31
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-22
Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . 10-10
Automatic Transmission
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-24
Shift Lock ControlFunction Check . . . . . . . . . . . 10-21
Auxiliary Jack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-17
B
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-20
Exterior Lighting BatterySaver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8
Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-71
Power Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8
Voltage and Charging Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-34
Blade Replacement, Wiper . . . 10-22
Bluetooth . . . . . . . . . . 7-18, 7-20, 7-24 Brake
Parking, Electric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-26
System Warning Light . . . . . . . . 5-20
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-18 Antilock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-25
Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-27
Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-19
System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-35
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Braking System Active Emergency . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-20
Break-In, New Vehicle . . . . . . . . . 9-14
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-25 Back-up Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-23
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . 10-23
Headlamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-23
High Intensity Discharge(HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-23
License Plate Lamps . . . . . . . 10-24
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-50
C
Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5
California Fuel Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . 9-56
Perchlorate MaterialsRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
Canadian Vehicle Owners . . . . . . . . iii
Capacities and Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-2
Carbon Monoxide
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-21
Trunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-7
Card Reader SD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-17
Cargo Management System . . . . . . . . . . 4-4
Tie-Downs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4
Cautions, Danger, and
Warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
CD Player . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-11
Center Console Storage . . . . . . . . 4-3
Chains, Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-55
Charging System Light . . . . . . . . 5-18

Black plate (4,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual - 2013 - 1st - 4/13/12
i-4 INDEX
DoorAjar Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-36
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10
Power Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
Rear Seat Pass-Through . . . . . 3-13
Drive Belt Routing, Engine . . . . . 12-3
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . 10-20, 9-24
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . 9-42
Driver Information Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-27
Driving Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . 9-46
Characteristics andTowing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-60
Defensive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Drunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
For Better Fuel Economy . . . . . 1-24
Highway Hypnosis . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . 9-7
If the Vehicle is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . 9-9
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5 Driving (cont'd)
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 9-10
Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-7
Dual Automatic Climate Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1, 8-6
E
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . 9-26
Electric Parking Brake Light . . . 5-21
Electrical Equipment,Add-On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-65
Electrical System Engine CompartmentFuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-26
Fuses and Circuit
Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-26
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-30
Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-25
Rear Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-32
Emergency OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-2 Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . 10-10
Check and Service Engine
Soon Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-18
Compartment Overview . . . . . . . 10-5
Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-12
Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-15
Coolant Temperature Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-24
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10-11
Cooling System Messages . . . 5-36
Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-6
Drive Belt Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-3
Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-21
Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-18
Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-9
Oil Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-37
Overheated Protection
Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . 10-16
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-14
Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-37
Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-25
Running While Parked . . . . . . . . 9-22
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-17
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7