
Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10292881) - 2017 -
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186 DRIVING AND OPERATING
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.
Electric Parking Brake
The EPB switch is on the left side of
the instrument panel. 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. SeeElectric
Parking Brake Light 0122 and Service
Electric Parking Brake Light 0123.
There are also parking brake-related
Driver Information Center (DIC)
messages. See Brake System Messages
0 135. 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.

Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10292881) - 2017 -
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216 DRIVING AND OPERATING
.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 Forward Automatic Braking
System should be set to Off when
towing. See Forward Automatic
Braking (FAB) 0208.
. 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 0182.
Towing a trailer requires a certain
amount of experience. The
combination you are driving is longer
and not as responsive as the vehicle itself. Get acquainted with the
handling and braking of the rig before
setting out for the open road.
Before starting, check all trailer hitch
parts and attachments, safety chains,
electrical connectors, lamps, tires, and
mirrors. If the trailer has electric
brakes, start the combination moving
and then apply the trailer brake
controller by hand to be sure the
brakes work.
During the trip, check occasionally to
be sure that the load is secure and the
lamps and any trailer brakes
still work.
Towing with a Stability Control
System
When towing, the sound of the
stability control system might be
heard. The system is reacting to the
vehicle movement caused by the
trailer, which mainly occurs during
cornering. This is normal when towing
heavier trailers.

Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10292881) - 2017 -
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VEHICLE CARE 221
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Accessories andModifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Engine Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . 231
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Power Steering Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242 Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . 244
Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . 244Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Back-Up Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . 247
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . 248
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . 251
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254 All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Tire Pressure for High-Speed
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . 258
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Jump Starting
Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Towing the Vehicle
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . 276

Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10292881) - 2017 -
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VEHICLE CARE 223
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own
Service Work
{Warning
It can be dangerous to work on
your vehicle if you do not have the
proper knowledge, service manual,
tools, or parts. Always follow
owner’s manual procedures and
consult the service manual for your
vehicle before doing any
service work.
If doing some of your own service
work, use the proper service manual.
It tells you much more about how to
service the vehicle than this
manual can.
This vehicle has an airbag system.
Before attempting to do your own
service work, see Airbag System
Check 080.
Keep a record with all parts receipts
and list the mileage and the date of
any service work performed.
Caution
Even small amounts of
contamination can cause damage to
vehicle systems. Do not allow
contaminants to contact the fluids,
reservoir caps, or dipsticks.
Hood
To open the hood:
1. Pull the hood release lever with this symbol on it. It is inside the
vehicle on the lower side of the
instrument panel.
2. Go to the front of the vehicle tofind the secondary hood release
handle. The handle is under the
front edge of the hood near the
center. Push the handle to the
right and at the same time raise
the hood.
Before closing the hood, be sure all
the filler caps are on properly. Then
bring the hood from full open to
within 15 cm (6 in) from the closed
position, pause, then push the front
center of the hood with a swift, firm
motion to fully close the hood.

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248 VEHICLE CARE
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
The wiring circuits in the vehicle are
protected from short circuits by a
combination of fuses and circuit
breakers. This greatly reduces the
chance of damage caused by electrical
problems.
To check a fuse, look at the
silver-colored band inside the fuse.
If the band is broken or melted,
replace the fuse. Be sure to replace a
bad fuse with a new one of the
identical size and rating.
Fuses of the same amperage can be
temporarily borrowed from another
fuse location, if a fuse goes out.
Replace the fuse as soon as possible.
To identify and check fuses, circuit
breakers, and relays, seeEngine
Compartment Fuse Block 0248,
Instrument Panel Fuse Block 0251, and
Rear Compartment Fuse Block 0252.
Engine Compartment Fuse
Block
To remove the fuse block cover,
squeeze the three retaining clips on
the cover and lift it straight up.
Caution
Spilling liquid on any electrical
component on the vehicle may
damage it. Always keep the covers
on any electrical component.

Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10292881) - 2017 -
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VEHICLE CARE 251
RelaysUsage
10 Cooling fan
11 Headlamp washer
13 Cooling fan
14 Low-beam headlamps
15 Run/Crank
17 Rear window defogger
Instrument Panel Fuse
Block
The instrument panel fuse block is in
the instrument panel, on the driver
side of the vehicle. To access the
fuses, open the fuse panel door by
pulling down at the top.
Press in on the sides of the door to
release it from the instrument panel.
Pull the door toward you to release it
from the hinge.
The vehicle may not be equipped with
all of the fuses, relays, and features
shown. Fuses Usage
1 Wireless charger module Fuses Usage
2 Body control module 7
3 Body control module 5
4 Radio
5 Infotainment center stack displays/
Head-up display/
Instrument cluster/
Rear seat
entertainment
6 Power outlet 1
7 Power outlet 2
8 Body control module 1
9 Body control module 4
10 Body control module 8
11 Front HVAC blower
12 Passenger Seat
13 Driver seat

Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10292881) - 2017 -
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284 VEHICLE CARE
To clean:1. Saturate a clean, lint-free colorfast cloth with water.
Microfiber cloth is recommended
to prevent lint transfer to the
fabric or carpet.
2. Remove excess moisture by gently wringing until water does
not drip from the cleaning cloth.
3. Start on the outside edge of the soil and gently rub toward the
center. Fold the cleaning cloth to
a clean area frequently to
prevent forcing the soil in to the
fabric.
4. Continue gently rubbing the soiled area until there is no
longer any color transfer from
the soil to the cleaning cloth.
5. If the soil is not completely removed, use a mild soap
solution followed only by plain
water.
If the soil is not completely removed,
it may be necessary to use a
commercial upholstery cleaner or spot
lifter. Test a small hidden area for
colorfastness before using a commercial upholstery cleaner or spot
lifter. If ring formation occurs, clean
the entire fabric or carpet.
After cleaning, use a paper towel to
blot excess moisture.
Cleaning High Gloss Surfaces
and Vehicle Information and
Radio Displays
Use a microfiber cloth on high gloss
surfaces or vehicle displays. First, use
a soft bristle brush to remove dirt that
can scratch the surface. Then gently
clean by rubbing with a microfiber
cloth. Never use window cleaners or
solvents. Periodically hand wash the
microfiber cloth separately, using mild
soap. Do not use bleach or fabric
softener. Rinse thoroughly and air dry
before next use.
Caution
Do not attach a device with a
suction cup to the display. This may
cause damage and would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Instrument Panel, Leather, Vinyl,
Other Plastic Surfaces, Low
Gloss Paint Surfaces, and
Natural Open Pore Wood
Surfaces
Use a soft microfiber cloth dampened
with water to remove dust and loose
dirt. For a more thorough cleaning,
use a soft microfiber cloth dampened
with a mild soap solution.
Caution
Soaking or saturating leather,
especially perforated leather, as well
as other interior surfaces, may
cause permanent damage. Wipe
excess moisture from these surfaces
after cleaning and allow them to
dry naturally. Never use heat,
steam, or spot removers. Do not use
cleaners that contain silicone or
wax-based products. Cleaners
containing these solvents can
permanently change the appearance
and feel of leather or soft trim, and
are not recommended.

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VEHICLE CARE 285
Do not use cleaners that increase
gloss, especially on the instrument
panel. Reflected glare can decrease
visibility through the windshield
under certain conditions.
Caution
Use of air fresheners may cause
permanent damage to plastics and
painted surfaces. If an air freshener
comes in contact with any plastic
or painted surface in the vehicle,
blot immediately and clean with a
soft cloth dampened with a mild
soap solution. Damage caused by
air fresheners would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty.
Cargo Cover and
Convenience Net
Wash with warm water and mild
detergent. Do not use chlorine bleach.
Rinse with cold water, and then dry
completely.
Care of Safety Belts
Keep belts clean and dry.
{Warning
Do not bleach or dye safety belt
webbing. It may severely weaken
the webbing. In a crash, they might
not be able to provide adequate
protection. Clean and rinse safety
belt webbing only with mild soap
and lukewarm water. Allow the
webbing to dry.
Floor Mats
{Warning
If a floor mat is the wrong size or is
not properly installed, it can
interfere with the pedals.
Interference with the pedals can
cause unintended acceleration and/
or increased stopping distance
which can cause a crash and injury.
Make sure the floor mat does not
interfere with the pedals.
Use the following guidelines for
proper floor mat usage. .
The original equipment floor mats
were designed for your vehicle.
If the floor mats need replacing, it
is recommended that GM certified
floor mats be purchased. Non-GM
floor mats may not fit properly
and may interfere with the pedals.
Always check that the floor mats
do not interfere with the pedals.
. Do not use a floor mat if the
vehicle is not equipped with a
floor mat retainer on the driver
side floor.
. Use the floor mat with the correct
side up. Do not turn it over.
. Do not place anything on top of
the driver side floor mat.
. Use only a single floor mat on the
driver side.
. Do not place one floor mat on top
of another.
The floor mats are held in place by
button-type retainers.