Black plate (26,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707476) - 2015 - crc - 4/8/14
9-26 Driving and Operating
.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.
SeeCompact Spare Tire on
page 10-78.
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. See Antilock
Brake System (ABS) Warning Light
on page 5-19.
Black plate (27,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707476) - 2015 - crc - 4/8/14
Driving and Operating 9-27
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 vehiclesuddenly 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.
Parking Brake
The Electric Parking Brake (EPB)
switch is on the center console. The
EPB can always be activated, even
if the ignition is off. To prevent
draining the battery, avoid repeated
cycles of the EPB when the engine
is not running.
The system has a red parking brake
status light and an amber parking
brake warning light. See
Electric
Parking Brake Light on page 5-18
and Service Electric Parking Brake
Light on page 5-19. There are also
Black plate (28,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707476) - 2015 - crc - 4/8/14
9-28 Driving and Operating
parking brake-related Driver
Information Center (DIC) messages.
SeeBrake System Messages on
page 5-28. In case of insufficient
electrical power, the EPB cannot be
applied or released.
Before leaving the vehicle, check
the red parking brake status light to
ensure that the parking brake is
applied.
EPB Apply
To apply the EPB:
1. Be sure the vehicle is at a complete stop.
2. Lift up the EPB switch momentarily.
The red parking brake status light
will flash and then stay on once the
EPB is fully applied. If the red
parking brake status light flashes
continuously, then the EPB is only
partially applied or there is a
problem with the EPB. A DIC
message will display. Release the
EPB and try to apply it again. If the
light does not come on, or keeps flashing, have the vehicle serviced.
Do not drive the vehicle if the red
parking brake status light is flashing.
See your dealer. See
Electric
Parking Brake Light on page 5-18.
If the amber parking brake warning
light is on, lift up on the EPB switch
and hold it up. Continue to hold the
switch until the red parking brake
status light remains on. If the amber
parking brake warning light remains
on, see your dealer.
If the EPB is applied while the
vehicle is moving, the vehicle will
decelerate as long as the switch is
held up. If the switch is held up until
the vehicle comes to a stop, the
EPB will remain applied.
The vehicle may automatically apply
the EPB in some situations when
the vehicle is not moving. This is
normal, and is done to periodically
check the correct operation of the
EPB system.
If the EPB fails to apply, the rear
wheels should be blocked to
prevent vehicle movement.
EPB Release
To release the EPB:
1. Place the ignition in the ACC/ ACCESSORY or ON/RUN
position.
2. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
3. Push down momentarily on the EPB switch.
The EPB is released when the red
parking brake status light is off.
If the amber parking brake warning
light is on, release the EPB by
pushing down on the EPB switch
and holding it down. Continue to
hold the switch until the red parking
brake status light is off. If either light
stays on after release is attempted,
see your dealer.
{Caution
Driving with the parking brake on
can overheat the brake system
and cause premature wear or (Continued)
Black plate (29,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707476) - 2015 - crc - 4/8/14
Driving and Operating 9-29
Caution (Continued)
damage to brake system parts.
Make sure that the parking brake
is fully released and the brake
warning light is off before driving.
Automatic EPB Release
The EPB will automatically release if
the vehicle is running, placed into
gear, and an attempt is made to
drive away. Avoid rapid acceleration
when the EPB is applied, to
preserve parking brake lining life.
If parking on a hill, or if the vehicle
is pulling a trailer, seeDriving
Characteristics and Towing Tips on
page 9-60.
Brake Assist
The Brake Assist feature is
designed to assist the driver in
stopping or decreasing vehicle
speed in emergency driving
conditions. This feature uses the
stability system hydraulic brake control module to supplement the
power brake system under
conditions where the driver has
quickly and forcefully applied the
brake pedal in an attempt to quickly
stop or slow down the vehicle. 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
sufficient enough to activate HSA.
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).
Black plate (30,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707476) - 2015 - crc - 4/8/14
9-30 Driving and Operating
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 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. See
Trailer
Sway Control (TSC) on page 9-66.
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
Black plate (31,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707476) - 2015 - crc - 4/8/14
Driving and Operating 9-31
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.
{Caution
Do not repeatedly brake or
accelerate heavily when TCS is
off. The vehicle driveline could be
damaged.
To turn off only TCS, press and
release the
gbutton. The traction
off light
idisplays in the instrument
cluster. The appropriate message is
displayed in the DIC. See Ride
Control System Messages on
page 5-35.
To turn TCS on again, press and
release the
gbutton. The traction
off light
idisplayed in the
instrument cluster will turn off. The
appropriate message is displayed in
the DIC. See Ride Control System
Messages on page 5-35.
If TCS is limiting wheel spin when
the
gbutton is pressed, the system
will not turn off until the wheels stop
spinning. To turn off both TCS and StabiliTrak,
press and hold the
gbutton until
the traction off light
iand the
StabiliTrak OFF light
gcome on
and stay on in the instrument
cluster. The appropriate message is
displayed in the DIC. See Ride
Control System Messages on
page 5-35.
To turn TCS and StabiliTrak on
again, press and release the
g
button. The traction off lightiand
the StabiliTrak OFF light
gin the
instrument cluster turn off. The
appropriate message is displayed in
the DIC. See Ride Control System
Messages on page 5-35.
Adding accessories can affect the
vehicle performance. See
Accessories and Modifications on
page 10-3.
Black plate (35,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707476) - 2015 - crc - 4/8/14
Driving and Operating 9-35
override cruise control, briefly
pressing SET−will result in cruise
set to the current vehicle 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 your
speed. When going downhill, you
might have to brake or shift to a
lower gear to keep your speed
down. If the brake pedal is applied,
the cruise control will disengage.
Ending Cruise Control
There are four ways to end cruise
control:
.Step lightly on the brake pedal.
.Press*.
.Shift the transmission to
N (Neutral).
.To turn off the cruise control,
press
J. 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
If equipped 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 following
time between your vehicle and a
vehicle detected directly ahead in
your path moving in the same
direction. 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 13-12.
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) or electronic stabilty
control system activates, the ACC
may automatically disengage. See
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control on page 9-30. When road
conditions allow ACC to be safely
used, the ACC can be turned
back on.
ACC will not engage if the TCS or
StabiliTrak electronic stability control
system is disabled.
{Warning
ACC has limited braking ability
and may not have time to slow
the vehicle down enough to avoid
a collision with another vehicle
you are following. This can occur
when vehicles suddenly slow or
stop ahead, or enter your lane.
Also see
“Alerting the Driver” in
this section. Complete attention is
always required while driving and
(Continued)
Black plate (39,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707476) - 2015 - crc - 4/8/14
Driving and Operating 9-39
Alerting the Driver
If ACC is engaged, driver action
may be required when ACC cannot
apply sufficient braking because of
approaching a vehicle too rapidly.
When this condition occurs, six red
lights will flash on the windshield
and either eight beeps will sound
from the front, or both sides of the
Safety Alert Seat will pulse five
times. See“Collision/Detection
Systems” underVehicle
Personalization on page 5-38.
See Defensive Driving on page 9-3. Approaching and Following a
Vehicle
The vehicle ahead symbol is in the
instrument cluster.
The vehicle ahead symbol only
displays when a vehicle is detected
in your vehicle’s path moving in the
same direction.
If this symbol is not displaying, ACC
will not respond to or brake to
vehicles ahead.
ACC automatically slows the vehicle
down and adjusts vehicle speed to
follow the vehicle in front at the
selected follow gap. The vehicle
speed increases or decreases to
follow the vehicle in front of you, but
will not exceed the set speed. It may
apply limited braking, if necessary.
When braking is active, the brake lights will come on. The automatic
braking may feel or sound different
than if the brakes were applied
manually. This is normal.
Stationary or Very Slow-Moving
Objects
{Warning
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
may not detect and react to
stopped or slow-moving vehicles
ahead of you. For example, the
system may not brake for a
vehicle it has never detected
moving. This can occur in
stop-and-go traffic or when a
vehicle suddenly appears due to
a vehicle ahead changing lanes.
Your vehicle may not stop and
could cause a crash. Use caution
when using ACC. Your complete
attention is always required while
driving and you should be ready
to take action and apply the
brakes.