
Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10260744) - 2017 -
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202 Driving and Operating
3. To exit, pull back on the shiftlever a second time. The D in
the shift pattern will illuminate
in red, and the M will switch to
white.
With the transmission in D (Drive)
and not in Permanent Tap Shift
Mode, the Tap Shift controls will
activate a temporary tap manual
shift mode, allowing the
transmission to be manually shifted.
Automatic shifts return after no
manual shifts have been done for
seven to 10 seconds. The
Temporary Tap Shift Mode can also
be deactivated by holding the right
upshift control briefly.
While using Tap Shift, the vehicle
will have firmer, quicker shifting.
This can be used 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
shifting 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, a SHIFT DENIED message
will be displayed in the instrument
cluster. See
Transmission
Messages 0150.
When accelerating the vehicle from
a stop in snowy and icy conditions,
it is suggested to shift into second
gear. A higher gear allows the
vehicle to gain more traction on
slippery surfaces.Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive
Vehicles with this feature can
operate in All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
Mode. See Driver Mode
Control 0208.
Press MODE to activate AWD. AWD
is active in both AWD and Sport
Modes.
The AWD system delivers power to
all four wheels and the system
adjusts as needed to improve
traction.

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Driving and Operating 205
The EPB applies automatically
when shifting to P (Park) on a steep
incline. The EPB releases as soon
as the vehicle is shifted out of
P (Park) and the vehicle
accelerates.
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 ACC/ ACCESSORY or ON/RUN.
2. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
3. Press the EPB switch momentarily.
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
pressing and holding the EPB
switch. 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
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
Avoid rapid acceleration when the
EPB is applied, to preserve parking
brake lining life.
The EPB will automatically release
when the engine is running, the
transmission is placed into gear,
and an attempt is made to drive
away by pressing the accelerator
pedal.
If parking on a hill, or if the vehicle
is pulling a trailer, see Driving
Characteristics and Towing
Tips 0239.
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.

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206 Driving and Operating
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).
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 spin
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. On an
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) vehicle in
AWD or Sport Mode, the system will
operate if it senses that any of the
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
system senses a discrepancy
between the intended path and the direction the vehicle is actually
traveling. StabiliTrak selectively
applies braking pressure at any one
of the vehicle's brakes to help steer
the vehicle in the direction which
you are steering.
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. TCS and
StabiliTrak will automatically turn on
when cruise control is set.
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.

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212 Driving and Operating
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
may automatically disengage. See
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control0206. 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 0182.
{Warning
ACC will not detect or brake for
children, pedestrians, animals,
or other objects.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
Do not use ACC when:
. On winding and hilly roads
or when the sensors are
blocked by snow, ice, or dirt.
The system may not detect
a vehicle ahead. Keep the
entire front of the vehicle
clean.
. Visibility is low, such as in
fog, rain, or snow
conditions. ACC
performance is limited under
these conditions.
. On slippery roads where
fast changes in tire traction
can cause excessive
wheel slip.

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216 Driving and Operating
Approaching and Following a
Vehicle
The vehicle ahead indicator is in the
instrument cluster and HUD display.
The vehicle ahead indicator 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 for
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 automaticbraking 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.
ACC Automatically Disengages
ACC may automatically disengage
and the driver will need to manually
apply the brakes to slow the
vehicle when:
.
The sensors are blocked.
. The Traction Control System
(TCS) or electronic stability
control system has activated or
been disabled.
. No traffic or other objects are
being detected.
. There is a fault in the system.
The ACC active symbol will not be
displayed when ACC is no longer
active.
Notification to Resume ACC
ACC will maintain a follow gap
behind a detected vehicle and slow
your vehicle to a stop behind that
vehicle.
If the stopped vehicle ahead has
driven away and ACC has not
resumed, the vehicle ahead
indicator will flash as a reminder to
check traffic ahead before
proceeding. In addition, the left and

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Driving and Operating 217
right sides of the Safety Alert Seat
will pulse three times, or three
beeps will sound. See”Alert Type”
and “Adaptive Cruise Go Notifier” in
“Collision/Detection Systems” under
Vehicle Personalization 0151.
When the vehicle ahead drives
away, press RES+ or the
accelerator pedal to resume cruise
control. If stopped for more than
two minutes or if the driver door is
opened and the driver safety belt is
unbuckled, the ACC automatically
applies the Electric Parking Brake
(EPB) to hold the vehicle. The
Electric Parking Brake status light
will turn on. See Electric Parking
Brake 0204. To resume ACC and
release the EPB, press the
accelerator pedal.
A DIC warning message may
display indicating to shift to P (Park)
before exiting the vehicle. See
Vehicle Messages 0140.{Warning
If ACC has stopped the vehicle,
and if ACC is disengaged, turned
off, or canceled, the vehicle will
no longer be held at a stop. The
vehicle can move. When ACC is
holding the vehicle at a stop,
always be prepared to manually
apply the brakes.
{Warning
Leaving the vehicle without
placing it in P (Park) can be
dangerous. Do not leave the
vehicle while it is being held at a
stop by ACC. Always place the
vehicle in P (Park) and turn off
the ignition before leaving the
vehicle.
ACC Override
If using the accelerator pedal while
ACC is active, a DIC warning
message will indicate that automatic
braking will not occur. See
Vehicle Messages 0140. ACC
will resume operation when the
accelerator pedal is not being
pressed.
{Warning
The ACC will not automatically
apply the brakes if your foot is
resting on the accelerator pedal.
You could crash into a vehicle
ahead of you.
Curves in the Road
{Warning
On curves, ACC may not detect a
vehicle ahead in your lane. You
could be startled if the vehicle
accelerates up to the set speed,
especially when following a
vehicle exiting or entering exit
ramps. You could lose control of
the vehicle or crash. Do not use
ACC while driving on an entrance
or exit ramp. Always be ready to
use the brakes if necessary.

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Driving and Operating 223
interval between the beeps
becomes shorter as the vehicle gets
closer to the obstacle.
When an object is first detected in
the rear, both sides of the Safety
Alert Seat will pulse two times.
When an object is very close
(<0.6 m (2 ft) in the vehicle rear,
or <0.3 m (1 ft) in the vehicle front),
a continuous tone will sound from
the front or rear depending on
object location, or both sides of the
Safety Alert Seat will pulse five
times. Beeps for FPA are higher
pitched than for RPA.
Backing Warning and Reverse
Automatic Braking (RAB)
Vehicles with Adaptive Cruise
Control (ACC) have the Backing
Warning System and Reverse
Automatic Braking (RAB) system.
When in R (Reverse), Backing
Warning alerts of rear objects at
vehicle speeds greater than 8 km/h
(5 mph), and RAB may
automatically brake hard at speeds
between 1–32 km/h (0.5–20 mph).The Backing Warning System will
beep once from the rear when an
object is first detected, or pulse
twice on both sides of the Safety
Alert Seat. When the system
detects a potential 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.
When the vehicle is in R (Reverse),
if the system detects the vehicle is
backing too fast to avoid a crash
with a detected object behind your
vehicle in your path, it may
automatically brake hard to a stop to
help avoid or reduce the harm
caused by a backing crash.
{Warning
RAB 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 and only
works in R (Reverse) when an
object is detected directly behind
the vehicle. It may not brake or
stop in time to avoid a crash.
It will not brake for objects when (Continued)

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224 Driving and Operating
Warning (Continued)
the vehicle is moving at very low
speeds. 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 RAB, always
check the area around the vehicle
before and while backing.
Pressing the brake pedal after the
vehicle comes to a stop will release
RAB. If the brake pedal is not
pressed soon after the stop, the
Electric Parking Brake (EPB) may
be set. When it is safe, press the
accelerator pedal firmly at any time
to override RAB.
{Warning
There may be instances where
unexpected or undesired
automatic braking occurs. If this (Continued)
Warning (Continued)
happens, either press the brake
pedal or firmly press the
accelerator pedal to release the
brakes from the RAB system.
Before releasing the brakes,
check the RVC screen and check
the area around the vehicle to
make sure it is safe to proceed.
Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
If equipped, RCTA displays a red
warning triangle with a left or right
pointing arrow on the RVC screen to
warn of traffic coming from the left
or right. This system detects objects
coming from up to 20 m (65 ft) from
the left or right side of the vehicle.
When an object is detected, either
three beeps sound from the left or
right or three Safety Alert Seat
pulses occur on the left or right side,
depending on the direction of the
detected vehicle.
Use caution while backing up when
towing a trailer, as the RCTA
detection zones that extend out from the back of the vehicle do not
move further back when a trailer is
towed.
Turning the Features On or Off
TouchXon the center stack to
turn on or off the Front and Rear
Parking Assist, Reverse Automatic
Braking (RAB), Rear Cross Traffic
Alert (RCTA), and the Backing
Warning System at the same time.
The indicator light next to the button
comes on when the features are on
and turns off when the features
have been disabled.
Turn off parking assist, RCTA, and
RAB when towing a trailer.
To turn the RPA symbols or
guidance lines (on some models) on
or off, see “Rear Camera” under
Vehicle Personalization 0151.
RCTA can also be turned on or off
through vehicle personalization. See
“Collision/Detection Systems” under
Vehicle Personalization 0151.