Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11354412) -
2018 - crc - 11/16/17
174 DRIVING AND OPERATING
{Warning
Wet brakes can cause crashes. They
might not work as well in a quick
stop and could cause pulling to one
side. You could lose control of the
vehicle.
After driving through a large puddle
of water or a car/vehicle wash,
lightly apply the brake pedal until
the brakes work normally.
Flowing or rushing water creates
strong forces. Driving through
flowing water could cause the
vehicle to be carried away. If this
happens, you and other vehicle
occupants could drown. Do not
ignore police warnings and be very
cautious about trying to drive
through flowing water.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. Water can
build up under the vehicle's tires so
they actually ride on the water. This
can happen if the road is wet enoughand you are going fast enough. When
the vehicle is hydroplaning, it has
little or no contact with the road.
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 Tires0267.
. 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 assist.
Always have the engine running
and the vehicle in gear.
Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11354412) -
2018 - crc - 11/16/17
DRIVING AND OPERATING 175
.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 0193.
. Antilock Brake System (ABS)
improves vehicle stability during
hard stops, but the brakes should
be applied sooner than when on
dry pavement. See Antilock Brake
System (ABS) 0191.
. Allow greater following distance
and watch for slippery spots. Icy
patches can occur on otherwise
clear roads in shaded areas. The
surface of a curve or an overpass
can remain icy when the
surrounding roads are clear. Avoid
sudden steering maneuvers and
braking while on ice.
. Turn off cruise control.
Blizzard Conditions
Stay with the vehicle unless there is
help nearby. If possible, use Roadside
Assistance. See Roadside Service 0338.
To get help and keep everyone in the
vehicle safe:
. Turn on the hazard warning
flashers. .
Tie a red cloth to an outside
mirror.
{Warning
Snow can trap engine exhaust
under the vehicle. This may cause
exhaust gases to get inside. Engine
exhaust contains carbon monoxide
(CO), which cannot be seen or
smelled. It can cause
unconsciousness and even death.
If the vehicle is stuck in snow:
. Clear snow from the base of
the vehicle, especially any
blocking the exhaust pipe.
. Open a window about 5 cm
(2 in) on the vehicle side that
is away from the wind, to
bring in fresh air.
. Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
. Adjust the climate control
system to circulate the air
inside the vehicle and set the
(Continued)
Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11354412) -
2018 - crc - 11/16/17
194 DRIVING AND OPERATING
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.
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. SeeIf the
Vehicle Is Stuck 0176 and “Turning
the Systems Off and On ”later in this
section.
The indicator light for both systems is
in the instrument cluster. This
light will:
. Flash when TCS is limiting
wheel spin.
. Flash when StabiliTrak is
activated.
. Turn on and stay on when either
system is not working.
If either system fails to turn on or to
activate, a message may display in the
Driver Information Center (DIC), and
dcomes on and stays on to indicate
that the system is inactive and is not
assisting the driver in maintaining
control. The vehicle is safe to drive,
but driving should be adjusted
accordingly.
If
dcomes on and stays on:
1. Stop the vehicle. 2. Turn the engine off and wait
15 seconds.
3. Start the engine.
Drive the vehicle. If
dcomes on and
stays on, the vehicle may need more
time to diagnose the problem. If the
condition persists, see your dealer.
Turning the Systems Off and On
The button for TCS and StabiliTrak is
on the center stack.
Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11354412) -
2018 - crc - 11/16/17
196 DRIVING AND OPERATING
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 automatically disengages. See
Traction
Control/Electronic Stability Control
0 193. If a collision alert occurs when
cruise control is activated, cruise
control is disengaged. See Forward
Collision Alert (FCA) System 0213.
When road conditions allow the cruise
control to be safely used, cruise
control can be turned back on.
If the brakes are applied, cruise
control disengages.
J: Press to turn the system on and
off. A white indicator appears in the
instrument cluster when cruise is
turned on.
Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11354412) -
2018 - crc - 11/16/17
DRIVING AND OPERATING 197
+RES :If there is a set speed in
memory, press the control up briefly
to resume to that speed or press and
hold to accelerate. If the cruise control
is already engaged, use to increase
vehicle speed. To increase speed by
1 km/h (1 mph), press +RES up to the
first detent. To increase speed to the
next 5 km/h (5 mph) mark on the
speedometer, press +RES up to the
second detent.
SET− :Press the control down briefly
to set the speed and activate cruise
control. If the cruise control is already
engaged, use to decrease vehicle
speed. To decrease speed by 1 km/h
(1 mph), press SET− down to the first
detent. To decrease speed to the next
5 km/h (5 mph) mark on the
speedometer, press SET− down to the
second detent.
*: Press to disengage cruise control
without erasing the set speed from
memory.
The speedometer reading can be
displayed in either English or metric
units. See Instrument Cluster 0118.
The increment value used depends on
the units displayed. Setting Cruise Control
If
Jis on when not in use, SET−
or
+RES could get pressed and go into
cruise when not desired. Keep
Joff
when cruise is not being used.
1. Press
J.
2. Get up to the desired speed.
3. Press and release SET− . The
desired set speed briefly appears
in the instrument cluster.
4. Remove your foot from the accelerator.
When the cruise control has been set
to the desired speed, a green cruise
control indicator appears on the
instrument cluster and a cruise set
speed message appears on the
Head-Up Display (HUD), if equipped.
Resuming a Set Speed
If the cruise control is set at a desired
speed and then the brakes are applied
or
*is pressed, the cruise control is
disengaged without erasing the set
speed from memory. Once the vehicle speed reaches about
40 km/h (25 mph) or more, press +RES
up to the first detent briefly. The
vehicle returns to the previous set
speed.
Increasing Speed While Using
Cruise Control
Do one of the following:
.
Press and hold +RES up until the
desired speed is reached, then
release it.
. To increase vehicle speed in small
increments, briefly press +RES up
to the first detent. For each press,
the vehicle goes about 1 km/h
(1 mph) faster.
. To increase vehicle speed in larger
increments, briefly press +RES up
to the second detent. For each
press, the vehicle speed increases
to the next 5 km/h (5 mph) mark
on the speedometer.
Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11354412) -
2018 - crc - 11/16/17
198 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
Do one of the following:
.Press and hold SET− down until
the desired lower speed is reached,
then release it.
. To decrease the vehicle speed in
small increments, briefly press
SET− down to the first detent. For
each press, the vehicle goes about
1 km/h (1 mph) slower.
. To decrease the vehicle speed in
larger increments, briefly press
SET− down to the second detent.
For each press, the vehicle speed
decreases to the next 5 km/h
(5 mph) mark on the speedometer.
The cruise control system may
automatically brake to slow the
vehicle down.
Passing Another Vehicle While
Using Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase
the vehicle speed. When you take your
foot off the pedal, the vehicle will slow
down to the previous set cruise speed. While pressing the accelerator pedal
or shortly following the release to
override cruise, briefly applying the
SET−
switch will result in cruise set to
the current vehicle speed.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well the cruise control will work
on hills depends upon the vehicle
speed, load, and the steepness of the
hills. When going up steep hills, you
might have to step on the accelerator
pedal to maintain your speed. When
going downhill, the 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 for selecting
the cruise control set speed and
following gap. Read this entire section
before using this system. ACC uses a
camera and radar sensors to detect
other vehicles. See Radio Frequency
Statement 0344. The following gap is
the following time (or distance)
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.
If a vehicle is detected in your path,
ACC can speed up the vehicle or apply
limited, moderate braking to maintain
the selected following gap. To
disengage ACC, apply the brake. If the
Traction Control System (TCS) or
Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11354412) -
2018 - crc - 11/16/17
200 DRIVING AND OPERATING
already engaged. To decrease speed by
1 km/h (1 mph), press SET−down to
the first detent. To decrease speed to
the next 5 km/h (5 mph) mark on the
speedometer, press SET− down to the
second detent.
*: Press to disengage ACC without
erasing the selected set speed.
[: Press to select a following gap
time (or distance) setting for ACC of
Far, Medium, or Near.
The speedometer reading can be
displayed in either English or metric
units. See Instrument Cluster 0118.
The increment value used depends on
the units displayed.
Switching Between ACC and
Regular Cruise Control
To switch between ACC and regular
cruise control, press and hold
*.
A Driver Information Display (DIC)
message displays. See Vehicle Messages
0 142.
ACC IndicatorRegular Cruise
Control Indicator
When ACC is engaged, a green
o
indicator will be lit on the instrument
cluster. When the regular cruise
control is engaged, a green
J
indicator will be lit on the instrument
cluster.
When the vehicle is turned on, the
cruise control mode will be set to the
last mode used before the vehicle was
turned off.
Setting Adaptive Cruise Control
If
Jis on when not in use, it could
get pressed and go into cruise when
not desired. Keep
Joff when cruise
is not being used.
Select the set speed desired for cruise.
This is the vehicle speed when no
vehicle is detected in its path. ACC will not set at a speed less than
25 km/h (15 mph), although it can be
resumed when driving at lower
speeds.
To set ACC:
1. Press
J.
2. Get up to the desired speed.
3. Press and release SET–.
4. Remove foot from the accelerator.
After ACC is set, it may immediately
apply the brakes if a vehicle ahead is
detected closer than the selected
following gap.
The ACC indicator displays on the
instrument cluster and Head-Up
Display (HUD). When ACC is active,
the indicator will be lit green.
Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11354412) -
2018 - crc - 11/16/17
DRIVING AND OPERATING 201
Be mindful of speed limits,
surrounding traffic speeds, and
weather conditions when selecting the
set speed.
Resuming a Set Speed
If the ACC is set at a desired speed
and then the brakes are applied, ACC
is disengaged without erasing the set
speed from memory.
To begin using ACC again, press +RES
up briefly. The vehicle returns to the
previous set speed.
Increasing Speed While ACC is at a
Set Speed
Do one of the following:
.Use the accelerator to get to the
higher speed. Press SET– down.
Release the control and the
accelerator pedal. The vehicle will
now cruise at the higher speed.
When the accelerator pedal is
pressed, ACC will not brake
because it is overridden. The ACC
indicator will turn blue on the
instrument panel and HUD,
if equipped. .
Press and hold +RES up until the
desired set speed appears on the
display, then release it.
. To increase vehicle speed in small
increments, press +RES up to the
first detent. For each press, the
vehicle goes 1 km/h (1 mph) faster.
. To increase vehicle speed in larger
increments, press +RES up to the
second detent. For each press, the
vehicle speed increases to the next
5 km/h (5 mph) mark on the
speedometer.
When it is determined that there is no
vehicle ahead or the vehicle ahead is
beyond the selected following gap,
then the vehicle speed will increase to
the set speed.
Reducing Speed While ACC is at a
Set Speed
Do one of the following:
. Use the brake to get to the desired
lower speed. Press SET– down and
release the accelerator pedal. The
vehicle will now cruise at the
lower speed. .
Press and hold SET– down until
the desired lower speed is reached,
then release it.
. To decrease the vehicle speed in
smaller increments, press SET–
down to the first detent. For each
press, the vehicle goes about
1 km/h (1 mph) slower.
. To decrease the vehicle speed in
larger increments, press SET–
down to the second detent. For
each press, the vehicle speed
decreases to the next 5 km/h
(5 mph) mark on the speedometer.
Selecting the Follow Distance Gap
When a slower moving vehicle is
detected ahead within the selected
following gap, ACC will adjust the
vehicle's speed and attempt to
maintain the follow distance gap
selected.
Press
[on the steering wheel to
adjust the following gap. Each press
cycles the gap button through three
settings: Far, Medium, or Near.