Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12032610) -
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236 VEHICLE CARE
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Engine Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . 248
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Power Steering Fluid (LF3 and LFX with AWD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255 Power Steering Fluid (LFX
with FWD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
Battery - North America . . . . . . . . . 258
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Automatic Transmission Shift Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . 260
Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . 261
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Back-Up Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . 264
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . 265
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265 Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . 268
Rear Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Tire Pressure for High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . 281
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . 289
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
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Caution
Continuing to drive with worn-out
brake pads could result in costly
brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates
can cause a brake squeal when the
brakes are first applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean
something is wrong with the brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are
necessary to help prevent brake
pulsation. When tires are rotated,
inspect brake pads for wear and
evenly tighten wheel nuts in the
proper sequence to torque
specifications. See Capacities and
Specifications 0337.
Brake pads should be replaced as
complete sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal does
not return to normal height, or if
there is a rapid increase in pedal
travel. This could be a sign that brake
service may be required.
Replacing Brake System Parts
Always replace brake system parts
with new, approved replacement parts.
If this is not done, the brakes may not
work properly. The braking
performance expected can change in
many other ways if the wrong
replacement brake parts are installed
or if parts are improperly installed.
Brake Fluid
The brake master cylinder reservoir is
filled with GM approved DOT 3 brake
fluid as indicated on the reservoir cap.
See Engine Compartment Overview
0 240 for the location of the reservoir.
Checking Brake Fluid
With the vehicle in P (Park) on a level
surface, the brake fluid level should be
between the minimum and maximum
marks on the brake fluid reservoir. There are only two reasons why the
brake fluid level in the reservoir may
go down:
.
Normal brake lining wear. When
new linings are installed, the fluid
level goes back up.
. A fluid leak in the brake hydraulic
system. Have the brake hydraulic
system fixed. With a leak, the
brakes will not work well.
Always clean the brake fluid reservoir
cap and the area around the cap
before removing it.
Do not top off the brake fluid. Adding
fluid does not correct a leak. If fluid is
added when the linings are worn,
there will be too much fluid when
new brake linings are installed. Add or
remove fluid, as necessary, only when
work is done on the brake hydraulic
system.
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Wheels and Tires
Tires
Every new GM vehicle has
high-quality tires made by a
leading tire manufacturer. See the
warranty manual for information
regarding the tire warranty and
where to get service. For
additional information refer to the
tire manufacturer.
{Warning
.Poorly maintained and
improperly used tires are
dangerous.
.Overloading the tires can
cause overheating as a
result of too much flexing.
There could be a blowout
and a serious crash. See
Vehicle Load Limits0179.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.Underinflated tires pose
the same danger as
overloaded tires. The
resulting crash could cause
serious injury. Check all
tires frequently to
maintain the
recommended pressure.
Tire pressure should be
checked when the tires
are cold.
.Overinflated tires are more
likely to be cut, punctured,
or broken by a sudden
impact —such as when
hitting a pothole. Keep
tires at the recommended
pressure.
.Worn or old tires can
cause a crash. If the tread
is badly worn,
replace them.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.Replace any tires that have
been damaged by impacts
with potholes, curbs, etc.
.Improperly repaired tires
can cause a crash. Only
the dealer or an authorized
tire service center should
repair, replace, dismount,
and mount the tires.
.Do not spin the tires in
excess of 56 km/h
(35 mph) on slippery
surfaces such as snow,
mud, ice, etc. Excessive
spinning may cause the
tires to explode.
See Tire Pressure for High-Speed
Operation 0281 for inflation
pressure adjustment for
high-speed driving.
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All-Season Tires
This vehicle may come with all-season
tires. These tires are designed to
provide good overall performance on
most road surfaces and weather
conditions. Original equipment tires
designed to GM's specific tire
performance criteria have a TPC
specification code molded onto the
sidewall. Original equipment
all-season tires can be identified by
the last two characters of this TPC
code, which will be“MS.”
Consider installing winter tires on the
vehicle if frequent driving on snow or
ice-covered roads is expected.
All-season tires provide adequate
performance for most winter driving
conditions, but they may not offer the
same level of traction or performance
as winter tires on snow or ice-covered
roads. See Winter Tires 0273.
Winter Tires
This vehicle was not originally
equipped with winter tires. Winter
tires are designed for increased
traction on snow and ice-covered roads. Consider installing winter tires
on the vehicle if frequent driving on
ice or snow covered roads is expected.
See your dealer for details regarding
winter tire availability and proper tire
selection. Also, see
Buying New Tires
0 287.
With winter tires, there may be
decreased dry road traction, increased
road noise, and shorter tread life.
After changing to winter tires, be alert
for changes in vehicle handling and
braking.
If using winter tires:
. Use tires of the same brand and
tread type on all four wheel
positions.
. Use only radial ply tires of the
same size, load range, and speed
rating as the original equipment
tires.
Winter tires with the same speed
rating as the original equipment tires
may not be available for H, V, W, Y,
and ZR speed rated tires. If winter
tires with a lower speed rating are
chosen, never exceed the tire's
maximum speed capability.
Low-Profile Tires
If the vehicle has P245/40R20 or
P245/45R19 size tires, they are
classified as low-profile tires.
Caution
Low-profile tires are more
susceptible to damage from road
hazards or curb impact than
standard profile tires. Tire and/or
wheel assembly damage can occur
when coming into contact with
road hazards like potholes, or sharp
edged objects, or when sliding into
a curb. The warranty does not cover
this type of damage. Keep tires set
to the correct inflation pressure and
when possible, avoid contact with
curbs, potholes, and other road
hazards.
Summer Tires
This vehicle may come with high
performance summer tires. These tires
have a special tread and compound
that are optimized for maximum dry
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and wet road performance. This
special tread and compound will have
decreased performance in cold
climates, and on ice and snow. It is
recommended that winter tires be
installed on the vehicle if frequent
driving at temperatures below
approximately 5 °C (40 °F) or on ice or
snow covered roads is expected. See
Winter Tires0273.
Caution
High performance summer tires
have rubber compounds that lose
flexibility and may develop surface
cracks in the tread area at
temperatures below −7 °C (20 °F).
Always store high performance
summer tires indoors and at
temperatures above −7 °C (20 °F)
when not in use. If the tires have
been subjected to −7 °C (20 °F) or
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
less, let them warm up in a heated
space to at least 5 °C (40 °F) for
24 hours or more before being
installed or driving a vehicle on
which they are installed. Do not
apply heat or blow heated air
directly on the tires. Always inspect
tires before use. See Tire Inspection
0 285.
Tire Sidewall Labeling
Useful information about a tire is
molded into its sidewall. The
examples show a typical passenger
vehicle tire and a compact spare
tire sidewall.
Passenger (P-Metric) Tire Example
(1) Tire Size:The tire size is a
combination of letters and
numbers used to define a
particular tire's width, height,
aspect ratio, construction type,
and service description. See the
“Tire Size ”illustration later in this
section.
(2) TPC Spec (Tire Performance
Criteria Specification)
:Original
equipment tires designed to GM's
specific tire performance criteria
have a TPC specification code
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molded onto the sidewall. GM's
TPC specifications meet or exceed
all federal safety guidelines.
(3) DOT (Department of
Transportation)
:The
Department of Transportation
(DOT) code indicates that the tire
is in compliance with the U.S.
Department of Transportation
Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
DOT Tire Date of Manufacture
:
The last four digits of the TIN
indicate the tire manufactured
date. The first two digits represent
the week (01–52) and the last two
digits, the year. For example, the
third week of the year 2010 would
have a four-digit DOT date
of 0310.
(4) Tire Identification Number
(TIN)
:The letters and numbers
following the DOT (Department of
Transportation) code are the Tire
Identification Number (TIN). The
TIN shows the manufacturer and
plant code, tire size, and date the tire was manufactured. The TIN is
molded onto both sides of the tire,
although only one side may have
the date of manufacture.
(5) Tire Ply Material
:The type
of cord and number of plies in the
sidewall and under the tread.
(6) Uniform Tire Quality
Grading (UTQG)
:Tire
manufacturers are required to
grade tires based on three
performance factors: treadwear,
traction, and temperature
resistance. For more information
see Uniform Tire Quality Grading
0 289.
(7) Maximum Cold Inf lation
Load Limit
:Maximum load that
can be carried and the maximum
pressure needed to support
that load.
Compact Spare Tire Example
(1) Tire Ply Material:The type
of cord and number of plies in the
sidewall and under the tread.
(2) Temporary Use Only
:The
compact spare tire or temporary
use tire should not be driven at
speeds over 80 km/h (50 mph).
The compact spare tire is for
emergency use when a regular
road tire has lost air and gone flat.
If the vehicle has a compact spare
tire, see Compact Spare Tire 0305
and If a Tire Goes Flat 0291.
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(3) Tire Identification Number
(TIN)
:The letters and numbers
following the DOT (Department of
Transportation) code are the Tire
Identification Number (TIN). The
TIN shows the manufacturer and
plant code, tire size, and date the
tire was manufactured. The TIN is
molded onto both sides of the tire,
although only one side may have
the date of manufacture.
(4) Maximum Cold Inf lation
Load Limit
:Maximum load that
can be carried and the maximum
pressure needed to support
that load.
(5) Tire Inf lation
:The temporary
use tire or compact spare tire
should be inflated to 420 kPa
(60 psi). For more information on
tire pressure and inflation see Tire
Pressure 0279.
(6) Tire Size
:A combination of
letters and numbers define a tire's
width, height, aspect ratio,
construction type, and service description. The letter T as the
first character in the tire size
means the tire is for temporary
use only.
(7) TPC Spec (Tire Performance
Criteria Specification)
:Original
equipment tires designed to GM's
specific tire performance criteria
have a TPC specification code
molded onto the sidewall. GM's
TPC specifications meet or exceed
all federal safety guidelines.
Tire Designations
Tire Size
The following is an example of a
typical passenger vehicle tire size.
(1) Passenger (P-Metric) Tire:
The United States version of a
metric tire sizing system. The
letter P as the first character in
the tire size means a passenger
vehicle tire engineered to
standards set by the U.S. Tire and
Rim Association.
(2) Tire Width
:The three-digit
number indicates the tire section
width in millimeters from sidewall
to sidewall.
(3) Aspect Ratio
:A two-digit
number that indicates the tire
height-to-width measurements.
For example, if the tire size aspect
ratio is 60, as shown in item 3 of
the illustration, it would mean
that the tire's sidewall is
60 percent as high as it is wide.
(4) Construction Code
:A letter
code is used to indicate the type
of ply construction in the tire. The
letter R means radial ply
construction; the letter D means
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Speed Rating:An alphanumeric
code assigned to a tire indicating
the maximum speed at which a
tire can operate.
Traction
:The friction between
the tire and the road surface. The
amount of grip provided.
Tread
:The portion of a tire that
comes into contact with the road.
Treadwear Indicators
:Narrow
bands, sometimes called wear
bars, that show across the tread of
a tire when only 1.6 mm (1/16 in)
of tread remains. See When It Is
Time for New Tires 0286.
UTQGS (Uniform Tire Quality
Grading Standards)
:A tire
information system that provides
consumers with ratings for a tire's
traction, temperature, and
treadwear. Ratings are determined
by tire manufacturers using
government testing procedures.
The ratings are molded into the
sidewall of the tire. See Uniform
Tire Quality Grading 0289. Vehicle Capacity Weight
:The
number of designated seating
positions multiplied by
68 kg (150 lb) plus the rated cargo
load. See Vehicle Load Limits 0179.
Vehicle Maximum Load on the
Tire
:Load on an individual tire
due to curb weight, accessory
weight, occupant weight, and
cargo weight.
Vehicle Placard
:A label
permanently attached to a vehicle
showing the vehicle capacity
weight and the original equipment
tire size and recommended
inflation pressure. See “Tire and
Loading Information Label” under
Vehicle Load Limits 0179.
Tire Pressure
Tires need the correct amount of
air pressure to operate effectively.
{Warning
Neither tire underinflation nor
overinflation is good.
Underinflated tires, or tires that
do not have enough air, can
result in:
.Tire overloading and
overheating which could
lead to a blowout.
.Premature or
irregular wear.
.Poor handling.
.Reduced fuel economy.
Overinflated tires, or tires that
have too much air, can result in:
.Unusual wear.
.Poor handling.
.Rough ride.
.Needless damage from
road hazards.