Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-9369806) - 2016 -
crc - 6/24/15
Driving and Operating 175
There is no hard and fast rule about
hydroplaning. The best advice is to
slow down when the road is wet.
Other Rainy Weather Tips
Besides slowing down, other wet
weather driving tips include:
.Allow extra following distance.
. Pass with caution.
. Keep windshield wiping
equipment in good shape.
. Keep the windshield washer fluid
reservoir filled.
. Have good tires with proper
tread depth. See Tires0261.
. Turn off cruise control.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or through
mountains is different than driving
on flat or rolling terrain. Tips include:
.
Keep the vehicle serviced and in
good shape.
. Check all fluid levels and brakes,
tires, cooling system, and
transmission. .
Shift to a lower gear when going
down steep or long hills.
{Warning
Using the brakes to slow the
vehicle on a long downhill slope
can cause brake overheating, can
reduce brake performance, and
could result in a loss of braking.
Shift the transmission to a lower
gear to let the engine assist the
brakes on a steep downhill slope.
{Warning
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral)
or with the ignition off is
dangerous. This can cause
overheating of the brakes and
loss of steering. Always have the
engine running and the vehicle
in gear.
. Drive at speeds that keep the
vehicle in its own lane. Do not
swing wide or cross the
center line. .
Be alert on top of hills;
something could be in your lane
(e.g., stalled car, accident).
. Pay attention to special road
signs (e.g., falling rocks area,
winding roads, long grades,
passing or no-passing zones)
and take appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Snow or ice between the tires and
the road creates less traction or
grip, so drive carefully. Wet ice can
occur at about 0 °C (32 °F) when
freezing rain begins to fall. Avoid
driving on wet ice or in freezing rain
until roads can be treated.
For Slippery Road Driving:
.Accelerate gently. Accelerating
too quickly causes the wheels to
spin and makes the surface
under the tires slick.
. Turn on Traction Control. See
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0192.
Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-9369806) - 2016 -
crc - 6/24/15
Driving and Operating 195
driver enhanced control when
cornering hard or completing a
maneuver, such as a lane change.
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 air springs 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 air springs 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. Do not use
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 Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control system begins to
limit wheel spin while using cruise
control, the cruise control
Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-9369806) - 2016 -
crc - 6/24/15
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
Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-9369806) - 2016 -
crc - 6/24/15
Vehicle Care 275
Warning (Continued)
causing injury or death. Find a
level place to change the tire. To
help prevent the vehicle from
moving:1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put an automatictransmission in P (Park) or a
manual transmission in
1 (First) or R (Reverse).
3. Turn off the engine and do not restart while the vehicle
is raised.
4. Do not allow passengers to remain in the vehicle.
5. Place wheel blocks, if equipped, on both sides of
the tire at the opposite
corner of the tire being
changed.
When the vehicle has a flat tire (2),
use the following example as a
guide to assist in the placement of
the wheel blocks (1), if equipped.
1. Wheel Block (If Equipped)
2. Flat Tire
The following information explains
how to repair or change a tire.
Tire Changing
Removing the Spare Tire and
Tools
1. Jack
2. Wrench
3. Tow Hook (If Equipped)
4. Fastener Rod
To access the spare tire and tools: 1. Open the trunk.
2. Remove the spare tire cover.
Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-9369806) - 2016 -
crc - 6/24/15
Index 313
Engine (cont'd)Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Drive Belt Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Oil Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Oil Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Overheated Protection
Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Running While Parked . . . . . . . . 186
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Equipment, Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Event Data Recorders . . . . . . . . . . 308
Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . . 152
Exterior Lamps Off Reminder . . . 154
Exterior Lighting Battery
Saver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
F
FeaturesMemory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Filter, Engine Air Cleaner . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Flashers, Hazard Warning . . . . . . 156 Flat Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
Fluid Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 237
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Power Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Folding Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Front Automatic Braking (FAB) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Front Seats Heated and Ventilated . . . . . . . . . . 57
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Economy Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Filling a Portable FuelContainer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . 126
System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Fuses
Engine Compartment FuseBlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 254 Fuses (cont'd)
Instrument Panel Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
Rear Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
G
GaugesEngine CoolantTemperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115
Warning Lights and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110
General Information Service and Maintenance . . . . . 296
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Vehicle Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
H
Hazard Warning Flashers . . . . . . . 156
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Head-up Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131