Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11354412) -
2018 - crc - 11/16/17
DRIVING AND OPERATING 171
Defensive Driving
Defensive driving means“always
expect the unexpected.” The first step
in driving defensively is to wear the
seat belt. See Seat Belts068.
. Assume that other road users
(pedestrians, bicyclists, and other
drivers) are going to be careless
and make mistakes. Anticipate
what they might do and be ready.
. Allow enough following distance
between you and the driver in
front of you.
. Focus on the task of driving.
Drunk Driving
Death and injury associated with
drinking and driving is a global
tragedy.
{Warning
Drinking and then driving is very
dangerous. Your reflexes,
perceptions, attentiveness, and
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
judgment can be affected by even a
small amount of alcohol. You can
have a serious—or even fatal —
collision if you drive after drinking.
Do not drink and drive or ride with
a driver who has been drinking.
Ride home in a cab; or if you are
with a group, designate a driver
who will not drink.
Control of a Vehicle
Braking, steering, and accelerating are
important factors in helping to control
a vehicle while driving.
Braking
Braking action involves perception
time and reaction time. Deciding to
push the brake pedal is perception
time. Actually doing it is
reaction time.
Average driver reaction time is about
three-quarters of a second. In that
time, a vehicle moving at 100 km/h (60 mph) travels 20 m (66 ft), which
could be a lot of distance in an
emergency.
Helpful braking tips to keep in mind
include:
.
Keep enough distance between
you and the vehicle in front
of you.
. Avoid needless heavy braking.
. Keep pace with traffic.
If the engine ever stops while the
vehicle is being driven, brake normally
but do not pump the brakes. Doing so
could make the pedal harder to push
down. If the engine stops, there will
be some power brake assist but it will
be used when the brake is applied.
Once the power assist is used up, it
can take longer to stop and the brake
pedal will be harder to push.
Steering
Electric Power Steering
If the vehicle has electric power
steering it does not have power
steering fluid. Regular maintenance is
not required.
Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11354412) -
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172 DRIVING AND OPERATING
If power steering assist is lost due to a
system malfunction, the vehicle can
be steered, but may require increased
effort.
If the steering wheel is turned until it
reaches the end of its travel and is
held against that position for an
extended period of time, power
steering assist may be reduced.
If the steering assist is used for an
extended period of time while the
vehicle is not moving, power assist
may be reduced.
Normal use of the power steering
assist should return when the system
cools down.
See your dealer if there is a problem.
Variable Effort Steering
Some vehicles have a steering system
that varies the amount of effort
required to steer the vehicle in
relation to the speed of the vehicle.
The amount of steering effort required
is less at slower speeds to make the
vehicle more maneuverable and easier
to park. At faster speeds, the steeringeffort increases to provide a sport-like
feel to the steering. This provides
maximum control and stability.
Hydraulic Power Steering
If the vehicle has hydraulic power
steering, it may require maintenance.
See
Power Steering Fluid (LFX with
FWD) 0250 orPower Steering Fluid
(LF3 and LFX with AWD) 0250.
If power steering assist is lost because
the engine stops or there is a system
malfunction, the vehicle can be
steered but may require increased
effort. See your dealer if there is a
problem.
Caution
If the steering wheel is turned until
it reaches the end of its travel, and
is held in that position for more
than 15 seconds, damage may occur
to the power steering system and
there may be loss of power steering
assist.
Curve Tips
. Take curves at a reasonable speed.
. Reduce speed before entering a
curve.
. Maintain a reasonable, steady
speed through the curve.
. Wait until the vehicle is out of the
curve before accelerating gently
into the straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
.There are some situations when
steering around a problem may be
more effective than braking.
. Holding both sides of the steering
wheel allows you to turn
180 degrees without removing
a hand.
. Antilock Brake System (ABS)
allows steering while braking.
Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11354412) -
2018 - crc - 11/16/17
232 VEHICLE CARE
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Engine Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . 243
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Power Steering Fluid (LFX with FWD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250 Power Steering Fluid (LF3 and
LFX with AWD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Battery - North America . . . . . . . . . 254
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Automatic Transmission Shift Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . 255
Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . 256
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Back-Up Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . 259
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . 260
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260 Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . 263
Rear Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Tire Pressure for High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . 276
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . 284
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11354412) -
2018 - crc - 11/16/17
VEHICLE CARE 237
1.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0243.
2. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir (Under Engine Cover) (If
Equipped).
See Power Steering Fluid (LFX with
FWD) 0250 orPower Steering
Fluid (LF3 and LFX with AWD)
0 250.
3. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil
0 240.
4. Engine Oil Dipstick (Out of View). See Engine Oil0240.
5. Engine Cover 0239.
6. Engine Cooling Fans (Out of View). See Cooling System 0245.
7. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake
Fluid 0253.
8. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Cooling System
0 245.
9. Battery - North America 0254
(Battery Cover not Shown).
10. Remote Positive (+) Terminal (Battery Cover not Shown). See
Jump Starting - North America
0301. 11.
Engine Compartment Fuse Block
0260.
12. Remote Negative (−) Terminal (Out of View). See Jump Starting -
North America 0301.
13. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Washer Fluid
0 251.
Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11354412) -
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VEHICLE CARE 239
1.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0243.
2. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir (Under Engine Cover).
See Power Steering Fluid (LFX with
FWD) 0250 orPower Steering
Fluid (LF3 and LFX with AWD)
0 250.
3. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil
0 240.
4. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine
Oil 0240.
5. Engine Cover 0239.
6. Engine Cooling Fans (Out of View). See Cooling System 0245.
7. Charged Air Coolant Bottle and Pressure Cap. See Cooling System
0 245.
8. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake
Fluid 0253.
9. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Cooling System
0 245.
10. Battery - North America 0254
(Battery Cover not Shown). 11. Remote Positive (+) Terminal
(Battery Cover not Shown). See
Jump Starting - North America
0301.
12. Engine Compartment Fuse Block
0260.
13. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Washer Fluid
0 251.
14. Remote Negative (−) Terminal (Out of View). See Jump Starting -
North America 0301.Engine Cover
3.6L V6 Engine
1. Engine Oil Fill Cap
2. Engine Cover Bolt
3. Engine Cover
To remove:
1. Remove the oil fill cap (1).
2. Remove the engine cover bolt (2).
3. Raise the engine cover (3) to release it from the retainers.
4. Lift and remove the engine cover.
5. Reverse Steps 1–4 to reinstall the engine cover.
Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11354412) -
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250 VEHICLE CARE
If No Steam Is Coming from the
Engine Compartment
If an engine overheat warning is
displayed but no steam can be seen or
heard, the problem may not be too
serious. Sometimes the engine can get
a little too hot when the vehicle:
.Climbs a long hill on a hot day.
. Stops after high-speed driving.
. Idles for long periods in traffic.
. Tows a trailer.
If the overheat warning is displayed
with no sign of steam: 1. Turn the air conditioning off.
2. Turn the heater on to the highest temperature and to the highest
fan speed. Open the windows as
necessary.
3. When it is safe to do so, pull off the road, shift to P (Park) or
N (Neutral), and let the
engine idle.
If the temperature overheat gauge is
no longer in the overheat zone or an
overheat warning no longer displays,
the vehicle can be driven. Continue to drive the vehicle slow for about
10 minutes. Keep a safe vehicle
distance from the car in front of you.
If the warning does not come back on,
continue to drive normally and have
the cooling system checked for proper
fill and function.
If the warning continues, pull over,
stop, and park the vehicle right away.
If there is no sign of steam, idle the
engine for three minutes while parked.
If the warning is still displayed, turn
off the engine until it cools down.
Also, see
“Overheated Engine
Protection Operating Mode ”next in
this section.
Overheated Engine
Protection Operating Mode
This emergency operating mode
allows the vehicle to be driven to a
safe place in an emergency situation.
If an overheated engine condition
exists, an overheat protection mode,
which alternates firing groups of
cylinders, helps prevent engine damage. In this mode, there is
significant loss in power and engine
performance.
The engine coolant temperature
warning light comes on in the
instrument cluster, to indicate the
vehicle has entered overheated engine
protection operating mode. The
temperature gauge also indicates an
overheat condition exists. Driving
extended distances and/or towing a
trailer in the overheat protection
mode should be avoided.
Power Steering Fluid (LFX
with FWD)
The vehicle has electric power steering
and does not use power steering fluid.
Power Steering Fluid
(LF3 and LFX with AWD)
Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11354412) -
2018 - crc - 11/16/17
VEHICLE CARE 251
The power steering fluid reservoir is
under the engine cover on the
passenger side toward the rear of the
engine compartment. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview 0236.
When to Check Power Steering
Fluid
It is not necessary to regularly check
power steering fluid unless you
suspect there is a leak in the system
or an unusual noise is heard. A fluid
loss in this system could indicate a
problem. Have the system inspected
and repaired.
How to Check Power Steering
Fluid
Check the level when the engine
is cool.
To check the power steering fluid:
1. Remove the engine cover. Refer toEngine Cover 0239.
2. Wipe the cap and the top of the reservoir clean.
3. Turn the cap counterclockwise and pull it straight up. 4. Wipe the dipstick with a
clean rag.
5. Replace the cap and completely tighten it.
6. Remove the cap again and look at the fluid level on the dipstick.
The fluid level should be
between MIN and MAX on the
dipstick.
What to Use
To determine what kind of fluid to
use, see Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0326. Always use the
proper fluid.
Washer Fluid
What to Use
When windshield washer fluid is
needed, be sure to read the
manufacturer's instructions before use. If operating the vehicle in an area
where the temperature may fall below
freezing, use a fluid that has sufficient
protection against freezing.
Adding Washer Fluid
The appropriate message will appear
in the Driver Information Center (DIC)
when the fluid level is low.
Open the cap with the washer symbol
on it. Add washer fluid until the tank
is full. See
Engine Compartment
Overview 0236 for reservoir location.
Caution
.
Do not use washer fluid that
contains any type of water
repellent coating. This can
cause the wiper blades to
chatter or skip.
(Continued)
Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11354412) -
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310 VEHICLE CARE
Caution (Continued)
that have been sprayed with
magnesium, calcium, or sodium
chloride. These chlorides are used
on roads for conditions such as ice
and dust. Always wash the chrome
with soap and water after exposure.
Caution
To avoid surface damage, do not
use strong soaps, chemicals,
abrasive polishes, cleaners, brushes,
or cleaners that contain acid on
aluminum or chrome-plated wheels.
Use only approved cleaners. Also,
never drive a vehicle with
aluminum or chrome-plated wheels
through an automatic car wash that
uses silicone carbide tire cleaning
brushes. Damage could occur and
the repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty.
Brake System
Visually inspect brake lines and hoses
for proper hook-up, binding, leaks,
cracks, chafing, etc. Inspect disc brake
pads for wear and rotors for surface
condition. Inspect drum brake linings/
shoes for wear or cracks. Inspect all
other brake parts.
Steering, Suspension, and
Chassis Components
Visually inspect steering, suspension,
and chassis components for damaged,
loose, or missing parts or signs of
wear at least once a year.
Inspect power steering for proper
attachment, connections, binding,
leaks, cracks, chafing, etc.
Visually check constant velocity joint
boots and axle seals for leaks.
Body Component Lubrication
Lubricate all key lock cylinders, hood
hinges, liftgate hinges, and the steel
fuel door hinges, unless the
components are plastic. Applying
silicone grease on weatherstrips with aclean cloth will make them last
longer, seal better, and not stick or
squeak.
Underbody Maintenance
At least twice a year, spring and fall,
use plain water to flush any corrosive
materials from the underbody. Take
care to thoroughly clean any areas
where mud and other debris can
collect.
Do not directly power wash the
transfer case and/or front/rear axle
output seals. High pressure water can
overcome the seals and contaminate
the fluid. Contaminated fluid will
decrease the life of the transfer case
and/or axles and should be replaced.
Sheet Metal Damage
If the vehicle is damaged and requires
sheet metal repair or replacement,
make sure the body repair shop
applies anti-corrosion material to
parts repaired or replaced to restore
corrosion protection.