
Black plate (25,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6081464) - 2014 - CRC - 10/4/13
Driving and Operating 9-25
SPORT MODE ON will be
displayed in the DIC. SeeRide
Control System Messages on
page 5-37. The word “sport”will
display below the odometer. The
gear position will also be
indicated in the tachometer.
Within Sport Mode there is a
further performance feature
called Performance Mode Lift
Foot (PMLF) Mode. The feature
is activated automatically when
sports oriented driving is
detected, based on cornering
and on/off throttle application.
PMLF allows the transmission to
hold the current gear instead of
upshifting when the throttle is
lifted.
2. To enter M (Manual Mode), press the shift lever forward to upshift
or rearward to downshift.
An M will be displayed in
the DIC. 3. To return to Sport Mode from
M (Manual Mode), press and
briefly hold the shift lever
forward.
Gear position is indicated in the
bottom right corner of the display
area in the instrument cluster. The
number indicates the requested
gear range when moving the shift
lever forward or rearward.
While using the DSC feature, the
vehicle will have firmer, quicker
shifting. You can use this for sport
driving or when climbing or
descending hills, to stay in gear
longer, or to downshift for more
power or engine braking.
The transmission will only allow you
to shift into gears appropriate for the
vehicle speed and engine
revolutions per minute (rpm). The
transmission will not automatically
shift to the next lower gear if the
engine rpm is too high, nor to the
next higher gear when the maximum
engine rpm is reached. If shifting is prevented for any
reason, the currently selected gear
will flash multiple times, indicating
that the transmission has not shifted
gears.
While in the DSC mode, the
transmission will automatically
downshift when the vehicle comes
to a stop. This will allow for more
power during take-off.
When accelerating the vehicle from
a stop in snowy and icy conditions,
you may want to shift into second
gear. A higher gear ratio allows you
to gain more traction on slippery
surfaces.
Fuel Economy Mode
Driving habits can affect fuel
mileage. For driving tips to get the
best fuel economy possible, see
Driving for Better Fuel Economy on
page 1-21.
The vehicle may have a fuel
economy mode. When engaged,
fuel economy mode can improve the
vehicle's fuel economy.

Black plate (26,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6081464) - 2014 - CRC - 10/4/13
9-26 Driving and Operating
Pressing the eco button by the shift
lever will engage fuel economy
mode. When activated, the eco light
in the instrument cluster will come
on. SeeFuel Economy Light on
page 5-24. Pressing the button a
second time will turn fuel economy
mode off. When fuel economy mode is on:
.The transmission will upshift
sooner, and downshift later.
.The torque converter will lock up
sooner, and stay on longer.
.The gas pedal will be less
sensitive.
.The vehicle's computers will
more aggressively shut off fuel
to the engine under deceleration.
.The engine operates at lower
rpm's in fuel economy mode,
which can increase noise and
vibration. This is normal.
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive
Vehicles with this feature transfer
torque as required to the rear
wheels. It is fully automatic, and
adjusts itself as needed for road
conditions.
AWD system performance will be
automatically reduced when you use
the compact spare. To restore full
AWD operation and prevent
excessive wear on the system,
replace the compact spare with a
full-size tire as soon as possible.
See
Compact Spare Tire on
page 10-79.

Black plate (27,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6081464) - 2014 - CRC - 10/4/13
Driving and Operating 9-27
Brakes
Antilock Brake
System (ABS)
This vehicle has ABS, an advanced
electronic braking system that helps
prevent a braking skid.
When the vehicle begins to drive
away, ABS checks itself.
A momentary motor or clicking noise
might be heard while this test is
going on, and it might even be
noticed that the brake pedal moves
a little. This is normal.
If there is a problem with ABS, this
warning light stays on. SeeAntilock
Brake System (ABS) Warning Light
on page 5-20. If driving safely on a wet road and it
becomes necessary to slam on the
brakes and continue braking to
avoid a sudden obstacle, a
computer senses the wheels are
slowing down. If one of the wheels
is about to stop rolling, the computer
will separately work the brakes at
each wheel.
ABS can change the brake pressure
to each wheel, as required, faster
than any driver could. This can help
you steer around the obstacle while
braking hard.
As the brakes are applied, the
computer keeps receiving updates
on wheel speed and controls
braking pressure accordingly.
Remember: ABS does not change
the time needed to get a foot up to
the brake pedal or always decrease
stopping distance. If you get too
close to the vehicle in front of you,
there will not be enough time to
apply the brakes if that vehicle
suddenly slows or stops. Always
leave enough room up ahead to
stop, even with ABS.
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold
the brake pedal down firmly and let
ABS work. You may hear the ABS
pump or motor operating and feel
the brake pedal pulsate. This is
normal.
Braking in Emergencies
ABS allows you to steer and brake
at the same time. In many
emergencies, steering can help
more than even the very best
braking.

Black plate (30,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6081464) - 2014 - CRC - 10/4/13
9-30 Driving and Operating
The stability system hydraulic brake
control module increases brake
pressure at each corner of the
vehicle until the ABS activates.
Minor brake pedal pulsation or
pedal movement during this time is
normal and the driver should
continue to apply the brake pedal as
the driving situation dictates The
Brake Assist feature will
automatically disengage when the
brake pedal is released or brake
pedal pressure is quickly
decreased.
Hill Start Assist (HSA)
This vehicle has an HSA feature,
which may be useful when the
vehicle is stopped on a grade. This
feature is designed to prevent the
vehicle from rolling, either forward or
rearward, during vehicle drive off.After the driver completely stops
and holds the vehicle in a complete
standstill on a grade, HSA will be
automatically activated. During the
transition period between when the
driver releases the brake pedal and
starts to accelerate to drive off on a
grade, HSA holds the braking
pressure for a maximum of
two seconds to ensure that there is
no rolling. The brakes will
automatically release when the
accelerator pedal is applied within
the two-second window. It will not
activate if the vehicle is in a drive
gear and facing downhill, or if the
vehicle is facing uphill and in
R (Reverse).
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/
Electronic Stability
Control
System Operation
The vehicle has a Traction Control
System (TCS) and StabiliTrak®, an
electronic stability control system.
These systems help limit wheel slip
and assist the driver in maintaining
control, especially on slippery road
conditions.
TCS activates if it senses that any
of the drive wheels are spinning or
beginning to lose traction. When this
happens, TCS applies the brakes to
the spinning wheels and reduces
engine power to limit wheel spin.
StabiliTrak activates when the
vehicle senses a difference between
the intended path and the direction
the vehicle is actually traveling.
StabiliTrak selectively applies
braking pressure to any one of the

Black plate (31,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6081464) - 2014 - CRC - 10/4/13
Driving and Operating 9-31
vehicle wheel brakes to assist the
driver in keeping the vehicle on the
intended path. Trailer Sway Control
(TSC) is also on automatically when
the vehicle is started. SeeTrailer
Sway Control (TSC) on page 9-68.
If cruise control is being used and
traction control or StabiliTrak begins
to limit wheel spin, cruise control will
disengage. Cruise control may be
turned back on when road
conditions allow.
Both systems come on
automatically when the vehicle is
started and begins to move. The
systems may be heard or felt while
they are operating or while
performing diagnostic checks. This
is normal and does not mean there
is a problem with the vehicle.
It is recommended to leave both
systems on for normal driving
conditions, but it may be necessary
to turn TCS off if the vehicle gets
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow. See
If the Vehicle Is Stuck on
page 9-9 and“Turning the Systems
Off and On” later in this section.
The indicator light for both systems
is in the instrument cluster. This
light will:
.Flash when TCS is limiting
wheel spin.
.Flash when StabiliTrak is
activated.
.Turn on and stay on when either
system is not working.
If either system fails to turn on or to
activate, a message displays in the
Driver Information Center (DIC),
and
dcomes on and stays on to
indicate that the system is inactive
and is not assisting the driver in maintaining control. The vehicle is
safe to drive, but driving should be
adjusted accordingly.
If
dcomes on and stays on:
1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Turn the engine off and wait 15 seconds.
3. Start the engine.
Drive the vehicle. If
dcomes on
and stays on, the vehicle may need
more time to diagnose the problem.
If the condition persists, see your
dealer.
Turning the Systems Off
and On
The button for TCS and StabiliTrak
is on the center stack.

Black plate (37,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6081464) - 2014 - CRC - 10/4/13
Driving and Operating 9-37
Warning (Continued)
.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. A white cruise
control indicator comes on.
+RES (Resume/Accelerate):
Press the control up briefly to
resume to the previous set speed or
hold upwards to accelerate. If cruise
control is already active, use to
increase vehicle speed.
SET– (Set/Coast): Press the
control down briefly to set the speed
and activate ACC. If cruise control is
already active, use to decrease
vehicle speed.
*(Cancel): Press to disengage
ACC without erasing the set speed
from memory.
3(Follow Distance Gap): Press
to select a following gap time (or
distance) setting for ACC of Far,
Medium, or Near.
Setting Adaptive Cruise Control
If cruise control is on when not in
use, the cruise control on/off control
could get pressed and cruise control could become active when not
desired. Keep the cruise control 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 slower than the set speed.
ACC will not set at a speed less
than 25 km/h (16 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 detected closer than the selected
following gap.

Black plate (43,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6081464) - 2014 - CRC - 10/4/13
Driving and Operating 9-43
Other Vehicle Lane Changes
ACC will not detect a vehicle ahead
until it is completely in the lane. The
brake may need to be manually
applied.Do Not Use ACC on Hills and
When Towing a TrailerDo not use ACC when driving on
steep hills or when towing a trailer.
ACC will not detect a vehicle in the
lane while driving on steep hills. The
driver will often need to take over
acceleration and braking on steep
hills, especially when towing a
trailer. If the brakes are applied, the
ACC disengages.
Ending ACC
There are three ways to end ACC:
.Step lightly on the brake pedal.
.Press*.
.Press].Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed is
erased from memory if
]is
pressed or if the ignition is
turned off.
Cleaning the Sensing System
The camera sensor on the back of
the rearview mirror and the radar
sensors on the front of the vehicle
can become blocked by snow, ice,
dirt, or mud. These areas need to
be cleaned for ACC to operate
properly.
For cleaning instructions, see
“Washing the Vehicle” under
Exterior Care on page 10-87.
System operation may also be
limited under snow, heavy rain or
road spray conditions.

Black plate (47,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
6081464) - 2014 - CRC - 10/4/13
Driving and Operating 9-47
detected, or pulse twice on both
sides of the Safety Alert Seat. When
the system detects a potential
imminent 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(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
System, always check the area
around the vehicle and check all
mirrors before backing.
Vehicles with Adaptive Cruise
Control (ACC) 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. (Continued)
Warning (Continued)
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.
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. See
Parking Brake on page 9-28 to
release the electric parking brake.
When it is safe, pressing the
accelerator pedal firmly at any time
will override the Rear Automatic
Braking.