
Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-9369806) - 2016 -
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Driving and Operating 185
torque lock, set the parking brake
and then shift into P (Park). To find
out how, see "Shifting Into P (Park)"
listed previously.
If torque lock does occur, your
vehicle may need to be pushed
uphill by another vehicle to relieve
the parking pawl pressure, so you
can shift out of P (Park).
If you are towing a trailer and
parking on a hill, seeDriving
Characteristics and Towing Tips
0 221.
Shifting out of Park
This vehicle is equipped with an
automatic transmission shift lock
control system. The shift lock
control is designed to prevent
movement of the shift lever out of
P (Park), unless the ignition is in
ON/RUN and the brake pedal is
applied.
The shift lock control is always
functional except in the case of an
uncharged or low voltage (less than
9-volt) battery. If the vehicle has an uncharged
battery or a battery with low voltage,
try charging or jump starting the
battery. See
Jump Starting 0281.
To shift out of P (Park): 1. Turn the ignition to ON/RUN.
2. Apply the brake pedal.
3. Press the shift lever button.
4. Move the shift lever to the desired position.
If you still are unable to shift out of
P (Park): 1. Fully release the shift lever button.
2. Hold the brake pedal down and press the shift lever button
again.
3. Move the shift lever to the desired position.
If you still cannot move the shift
lever from P (Park), consult your
dealer or a professional towing
service.
Parking over Things
That Burn
{Warning
Things that can burn could touch
hot exhaust parts under the
vehicle and ignite. Do not park
over papers, leaves, dry grass,
or other things that can burn.

Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-9369806) - 2016 -
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Driving and Operating 187
Automatic
Transmission
P :This position locks the wheels.
It is the best position to use when
starting the engine because the
vehicle cannot move easily.
{Warning
It is dangerous to get out of the
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully
in P (Park) with the parking brake
firmly set. The vehicle can roll.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
Do not leave the vehicle when the
engine is running. If you have left
the engine running, the vehicle
can move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure the
vehicle will not move, even when
you are on fairly level ground,
always set the parking brake and
move the shift lever to P (Park).
SeeShifting Into Park 0184 and
Driving Characteristics and
Towing Tips 0221.
Make sure the shift lever is fully in
P (Park) before starting the engine.
The vehicle has an automatic
transmission shift lock control
system. The regular brake must be
fully applied first and then the shift
lever button pressed before shifting
from P (Park) when the ignition is in
ON/RUN. If you cannot shift out of
P (Park), ease pressure on the shift
lever, then push the shift lever all
the way into P (Park) as you
maintain brake application. Then press the shift lever button and
move the shift lever into another
gear. See
Shifting out of Park 0185.
R : Use this gear to back up.
Caution
Shifting to R (Reverse) while the
vehicle is moving forward could
damage the transmission. The
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Shift to
R (Reverse) only after the vehicle
is stopped.
To rock the vehicle back and forth to
get out of snow, ice, or sand without
damaging the transmission, see If
the Vehicle Is Stuck 0176.
N : In this position, the engine does
not connect with the wheels. To
restart the engine when the vehicle
is already moving, use N (Neutral)
only. Also, use N (Neutral) when the
vehicle is being towed.

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188 Driving and Operating
{Warning
Shifting into a drive gear while the
engine is running at high speed is
dangerous. Unless your foot is
firmly on the brake pedal, the
vehicle could move very rapidly.
You could lose control and hit
people or objects. Do not shift
into a drive gear while the engine
is running at high speed.
Caution
Shifting out of P (Park) or
N (Neutral) with the engine
running at high speed may
damage the transmission. The
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Be sure the
engine is not running at high
speed when shifting the vehicle.D :
This position is for normal
driving. It provides the best fuel
economy. If more power is needed
for passing, and the vehicle is:
. Going less than 56 km/h
(35 mph), push the accelerator
pedal about halfway down.
. Going about 56 km/h (35 mph) or
more, push the accelerator all
the way down.
Caution
If the vehicle accelerates slowly,
or does not shift gears, the
transmission could be damaged.
Have the vehicle serviced
right away.
M : This position allows the driver to
select the range of gears
appropriate for current driving
conditions.
In M (Manual Mode) the
transmission will shift as an
automatic until the Tap Shift controls
are used. Tap Shift activates driver
manual gear selection. See
Manual Mode 0188.
Manual Mode
Tap Shift
Tap Shift allows the driver to
manually control the automatic
transmission. To use Tap Shift, the
shift lever must be in M (Manual
Mode). Vehicles with this feature
have indicators on the steering
wheel. The controls are on the back
of the steering wheel. Tap the left
control to downshift, and the right
control to upshift. A Driver
Information Center (DIC) message
indicates the gear the vehicle is in.

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198 Driving and Operating
cruise control system may
automatically brake to slow the
vehicle down. Also, you may have
to brake or shift to a lower gear to
keep your speed down. If the brake
pedal is applied, cruise control
disengages.
Ending Cruise Control
There are four ways to end cruise
control:
.Step lightly on the brake pedal.
. Press
*.
. Shift the transmission to
N (Neutral).
. 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.
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 stability
control system activates, the ACC
will automatically disengage. See
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control
0192. 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
you should be ready to take
action and apply the brakes. See
Defensive Driving 0171.
{Warning
ACC will not detect or brake for
children, pedestrians, animals,
or other objects.
Do not use ACC when:
. On winding and hilly roads
or when the sensors are
blocked by snow, ice, or dirt.
(Continued)

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Driving and Operating 221
Trailer Towing
General Towing
Information
Only use towing equipment that has
been designed for the vehicle.
Contact your dealer or trailering
dealer for assistance with preparing
the vehicle for towing a trailer. Read
the entire section before towing a
trailer.
For towing a disabled vehicle, see
Towing the Vehicle0284. For
towing the vehicle behind another
vehicle such as a motor home, see
Recreational Vehicle Towing 0284.
Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips
Driving with a Trailer
When towing a trailer:
.
Become familiar with the state
and local laws that apply
specifically to trailer towing. .
Do not tow a trailer during the
first 800 km (500 mi), to prevent
damage to the engine, axle,
or other parts.
. Then, during the first 800 km
(500 mi) of trailer towing, do not
drive over 80 km/h (50 mph) and
do not make starts at full throttle.
. The vehicle can tow in D (Drive).
Use a lower gear if the
transmission shifts too often.
. Do not use Adaptive Cruise
Control when towing.
. The Front Automatic Braking
System should be set to Off
when towing. See Front
Automatic Braking (FAB) System
0 213.
. Turn off Parking Assist when
towing.
{Warning
When towing a trailer, exhaust
gases may collect at the rear of
the vehicle and enter if the
liftgate, trunk/hatch, or rear-most
window is open.
When towing a trailer:
. Do not drive with the
liftgate, trunk/hatch,
or rear-most window open.
. Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
. Also adjust the Climate
Control system to a setting
that brings in only outside
air. See “Climate Control
Systems” in the Index.
For information about carbon
monoxide, see Engine Exhaust
0 186.
Towing a trailer requires a certain
amount of experience. The
combination you are driving is
longer and not as responsive as the

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Driving and Operating 223
When towing a trailer, the arrows on
the instrument cluster flash for turns
even if the bulbs on the trailer are
burned out. Check occasionally to
be sure the trailer bulbs are still
working.
Driving on Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower
gear before starting down a long or
steep downgrade. If the
transmission is not shifted down, the
brakes might have to be used so
much that they would get hot and no
longer work well.
The vehicle can tow in D (Drive).
Use a lower gear if the transmission
shifts too often.
When towing at high altitude on
steep uphill grades, engine coolant
boils at a lower temperature than at
normal altitudes. If the engine is
turned off immediately after towing
at high altitude on steep uphill
grades, the vehicle could show
signs similar to engine overheating.
To avoid this, let the engine run
while parked, preferably on level
ground, with the transmission in
P (Park) for a few minutes beforeturning the engine off. If the
overheat warning comes on, see
Engine Overheating
0243.
Parking on Hills
{Warning
Parking the vehicle on a hill with
the trailer attached can be
dangerous. If something goes
wrong, the rig could start to move.
People can be injured, and both
the vehicle and the trailer can be
damaged. When possible, always
park the rig on a flat surface.
If parking the rig on a hill: 1. Press the brake pedal, but do not shift into P (Park) yet. Turn
the wheels into the curb if
facing downhill or into traffic if
facing uphill.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the brake pedal
until the chocks absorb
the load. 4. Reapply the brake pedal. Then
apply the parking brake and
shift into P (Park).
5. Release the brake pedal.
Leaving After Parking on a Hill
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal while you:
.Start the engine.
. Shift into a gear.
. Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer
Towing
The vehicle needs service more
often when pulling a trailer. See the
Maintenance Schedule 0297.
Things that are especially important
in trailer operation are automatic
transmission fluid, engine oil, axle

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Vehicle Care 227
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 228
Accessories andModifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Engine Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 236
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 237
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 243
Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Power Steering Fluid (LFX with FWD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Power Steering Fluid (LF3 and LFX with AWD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246 Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 249
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 249
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 250
Windshield Replacement . . . . . 251
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Back-Up Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . 252
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . 253
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 254
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257 Rear Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Tire Pressure for High-SpeedOperation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 273
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . 280

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Vehicle Care 237
on the DIC. SeeDriver
Information Center (DIC) 0128.
When remaining oil life is low,
the CHANGE ENGINE OIL
SOON message will appear on
the display. See Engine Oil
Messages 0137.
2. Press SEL on the DIC controls and hold SEL down for a few
seconds to clear the CHANGE
ENGINE OIL SOON message
and reset the oil life at 100%.
Be careful not to reset the oil
life display accidentally at any
time other than after the oil is
changed. It cannot be reset
accurately until the next oil
change.
The oil life system can also be reset
as follows: 1. Turn the ignition on with the engine off.
2. Fully press and release the accelerator pedal three times
within five seconds.
If the CHANGE ENGINE OIL
SOON message is not on, the
system is reset. The system is reset when the
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message is off.
If the CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message comes back on when the
vehicle is started, the engine oil life
system has not been reset. Repeat
the procedure.
Automatic Transmission
Fluid
A transmission fluid leak is the only
reason for fluid loss. If a leak
occurs, take the vehicle to the
dealer and have it repaired as soon
as possible.
See your dealer to have the fluid
and filter changed at the intervals
listed in the
Maintenance Schedule
0 297.
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
The engine air cleaner/filter is in the
engine compartment on the
passenger side of the vehicle. See
Engine Compartment Overview
0230.
When to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
For intervals on changing and
inspecting the engine air cleaner/
filter, see Maintenance Schedule
0 297.
How to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
Do not start the engine or have the
engine running with the engine air
cleaner/filter housing open. Before
removing the engine air cleaner/
filter, make sure that the engine air
cleaner/filter housing and nearby
components are free of dirt and
debris. Remove the engine air
cleaner/filter. Lightly tap and shake
the engine air cleaner/filter (away
from the vehicle), to release dust
and dirt. Inspect the engine air
cleaner/filter for damage, and
replace if damaged. Do not clean
the engine air cleaner/filter or
components with water or
compressed air.