Cadillac XT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14584367) - 2021 - CRC - 10/14/20
DRIVING AND OPERATING 203
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Driver Behavior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Driving Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Vehicle Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Driving for Better FuelEconomy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Impaired Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . 213
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Stop/Start System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221 Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Active Fuel Management . . . . . . . . 225
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . 226
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Brakes
Electric Brake Boost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . 232
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/ElectronicStability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235 Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Adaptive Cruise Control
(Advanced) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . . . 248
Assistance Systems for Parkingor Backing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Rear Pedestrian Alert . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . 263
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . . . . 263
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . . . . . 265
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . . . . . 268
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Cadillac XT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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206 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Defensive Driving
Defensive driving means“always
expect the unexpected.” The first step
in driving defensively is to wear the
seat belt. See Seat Belts047.
.Assume that other road users
(pedestrians, bicyclists, and other
drivers) are going to be careless and
make mistakes. Anticipate what
they may do and be ready.
.Allow enough following distance
between you and the driver in front
of you.
.Focus on the task of driving.
Impaired Driving
Death and injury associated with
impaired driving is a global tragedy.
{Warning
Drinking alcohol or taking drugs
and then driving is very dangerous.
Your reflexes, perceptions,
attentiveness, and judgment can be
affected by even a small amount of
alcohol or drugs. You can have a
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
serious—or even fatal —collision
if you drive after drinking or taking
drugs.
Do not drive while under the
influence of alcohol or drugs,
or ride with a driver who has been
drinking or is impaired by drugs.
Find alternate transportation home;
or if you are with a group, designate
a driver who will remain sober.
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
Caution
To avoid damage to the steering
system, do not drive over curbs,
parking barriers, or similar objects (Continued)
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210 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Before driving on a hill, assess the
steepness, traction, and obstructions.
If the terrain ahead cannot be seen,
get out of the vehicle and walk the hill
before driving further.
When driving on hills:
.Use a low gear and keep a firm grip
on the steering wheel.
.Maintain a slow speed.
.When possible, drive straight up or
down the hill.
.Slow down when approaching the
top of the hill.
.Use headlamps even during the day
to make the vehicle more visible.
{Warning
Driving to the top of a hill at high
speed can cause a crash. There
could be a drop-off, embankment,
cliff, or even another vehicle. You
could be seriously injured or killed.
As you near the top of a hill, slow
down and stay alert.
.Never go downhill forward or
backward with the transmission in
N (Neutral). The brakes could
overheat and you could lose control.
.When driving down a hill, keep the
vehicle headed straight down. Use a
low gear because the engine will
work with the brakes to slow the
vehicle and help keep the vehicle
under control.
{Warning
Heavy braking when going down a
hill can cause your brakes to
overheat and fade. This could cause
loss of control and you or others
could be injured or killed. Apply the
brakes lightly when descending a
hill and use a low gear to keep
vehicle speed under control.
If the vehicle stalls on a hill: 1. Apply the brakes to stop the vehicle, and then apply the parking
brake. 2. Shift into P (Park) and then restart
the engine.
.If driving uphill when the
vehicle stalls, shift to
R (Reverse), release the parking
brake, and back straight down.
.Never try to turn the vehicle
around. If the hill is steep
enough to stall the vehicle, it is
steep enough to cause it to
roll over.
.If you cannot make it up the
hill, back straight down the hill.
.Never back down a hill in
N (Neutral) using only the
brake.
.The vehicle can roll backward
quickly and you could lose
control.
.If driving downhill when the
vehicle stalls, shift to a lower
gear, release the parking brake,
and drive straight down the hill.
3. If the vehicle cannot be restarted after stalling, set the parking brake,
shift the transmission into P (Park),
and turn the vehicle off.
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220 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Warning (Continued)
systems and disable the airbags.
While driving, only shut the vehicle
off in an emergency.
If the vehicle must be shut off in an
emergency: 1. Brake using a firm and steady pressure. Do not pump the brakes
repeatedly. This may deplete power
assist, requiring increased brake
pedal force.
2. Shift the vehicle to N (Neutral). This can be done while the vehicle
is moving. After shifting to
N (Neutral), firmly apply the brakes
and steer the vehicle to a safe
location.
3. Come to a complete stop and shift to P (Park).
4. Set the parking brake. See Electric
Parking Brake 0233. Press ENGINE
START/STOP to turn the
vehicle off. If the vehicle cannot be pulled over
and must be shut off while driving,
press and hold ENGINE START/STOP
for longer than two seconds, or press
twice in five seconds.
ACC/ACCESSORY (Amber Indicator
Light) :
This mode allows you to use
some electrical accessories when the
engine is off.
With the ignition off, pressing
ENGINE START/STOP once without
the brake pedal applied will place the
ignition system in ACC/ACCESSORY.
The ignition will switch from ACC/
ACCESSORY to OFF after 10 minutes
to prevent battery rundown.
ON/RUN/START (Green Indicator
Light) : This mode is for driving and
starting. With the ignition off and the
brake pedal applied, pressing ENGINE
START/STOP once will place the
ignition system in ON/RUN/START.
Once engine cranking begins, release
the button. Engine cranking will
continue until the engine starts. The
ignition will then remain on. See
Starting the Engine 0220. Service Mode
This mode is available to verify the
proper operation of the malfunction
indicator lamp as may be required for
emissions inspection purposes and for
service and diagnostics. See
Automatic
Transmission 0226.
With the vehicle off, and the brake
pedal not applied, pressing and
holding ENGINE START/STOP for
more than five seconds will place the
vehicle in Service Mode. The
instruments and audio systems will
operate as they do in ON/RUN, but
the vehicle will not be able to be
driven. The engine will not start in
Service Mode. Press ENGINE START/
STOP again to turn the vehicle off.
Starting the Engine
Place the transmission in the proper
gear, P (Park) or N (Neutral). To restart
the engine when the vehicle is already
moving, use N (Neutral).
Cadillac XT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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224 DRIVING AND OPERATING
The length of time the heater should
remain plugged in depends on several
factors. Ask a dealer in the area where
you will be parking the vehicle for the
best advice on this.
Retained Accessory
Power (RAP)
When the ignition is turned from on
to off, the following features (if
equipped) will continue to function
for up to 10 minutes, or until the
driver door is opened. These features
will also work when the ignition is in
RUN or ACC/ACCESSORY:
.Infotainment System
.Power Windows (during RAP this
functionality will be lost when any
door is opened)
.Sunroof (during RAP this
functionality will be lost when any
door is opened)
.Auxiliary Power Outlet
.Audio System
.OnStar System
Shifting Into Park
To shift into P (Park):1. Hold the brake pedal down and set the parking brake. See Electric
Parking Brake 0233.
2. Press the button on top of the shift lever to shift into P (Park). See
Automatic Transmission 0226.
3. The P indicator on the shift lever will turn red when the vehicle is in
P (Park).
Leaving the Vehicle with the
Engine Running
{Warning
It can be dangerous to leave the
vehicle with the engine running.
It could overheat and catch fire.
It is dangerous to get out of the
vehicle if the vehicle is not in
P (Park) with the parking brake set.
The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the
engine is running. If you have left
the engine running, the vehicle can
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
move suddenly. You or others could
be injured. To be sure the vehicle
will not move, even when you are
on fairly level ground, always set
the parking brake and shift to
P (Park). SeeShifting Into Park 0224
. If you are towing a trailer, see
Driving Characteristics and Towing
Tips 0271.
If you have to leave the vehicle with
the engine running, be sure the
vehicle is in P (Park) and the parking
brake is set before you leave it. See
Electric Parking Brake 0233.
If you are towing a trailer and parking
on a hill, see Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips 0271.
Shifting out of Park
This vehicle is equipped with an
electronic transmission. The shift lock
release button is designed to prevent
inadvertent shifting out of P (Park).
To shift out of P (Park):
1. Ensure the engine is running.
Cadillac XT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 225
2. Apply the brake pedal.
3. Press and hold the shift lockrelease button.
4. Move the shift lever to the desired position.
5. The P indicator will turn white and the gear indicator on the shift lever
will turn red when the vehicle is no
longer in P (Park).
6. After releasing the shift lever, it will return to the center position.
If the vehicle cannot shift from
P (Park), a Driver Information Center
(DIC) message may be displayed.
Check that the ignition is on, the
engine is running, the brake pedal is
applied, and the shift lock release
button is pressed when you are
attempting to shift out of P (Park).
If all of these are met but the vehicle
will not shift out of P (Park), see your
dealer for service.Parking over Things
That Burn
{Warning
Things that can burn could touch
hot exhaust parts under the vehicle
and ignite. Do not park over papers,
leaves, dry grass, or other things
that can burn.
Active Fuel Management
This vehicle's engine may be equipped
with Active Fuel Management, which
allows the engine to operate on either
all of its cylinders, or in reduced
cylinder operation mode, depending
on the driving conditions.
When less power is required, such as
cruising at a constant vehicle speed,
the system will operate in reduced
cylinder operation mode, allowing the
vehicle to achieve better fuel economy.
When greater power demands are
required, such as accelerating from a
stop, passing, or merging onto a
freeway, the system will maintain
full-cylinder operation. If the vehicle has an Active Fuel
Management indicator, see Driver
Information Center (DIC) for more
information on using this display.
Extended Parking
It is best not to park with the vehicle
running. If the vehicle is left running,
be sure it will not move and there is
adequate ventilation.
See
Shifting Into Park 0224 and
Engine Exhaust 0226.
If the vehicle is left parked and
running with the RKE transmitter
outside the vehicle, it will continue to
run for up to half an hour.
If the vehicle is left parked and
running with the RKE transmitter
inside the vehicle, it will continue to
run for up to an hour.
The vehicle could turn off sooner if it
is parked on a hill, due to lack of
available fuel.
The timer will reset if the vehicle is
taken out of P (Park) while it is
running.
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 227
If the vehicle is in ACC/ACCESSORY,
the transmission can be shifted into
P (Park).
If the vehicle is turned off while at a
relatively high vehicle speed, the
transmission will automatically shift
to N (Neutral). Once the vehicle is
stopped, P (Park) is automatically
selected.
P :This position locks the drive
wheels. Use P (Park) when starting the
engine to prevent the vehicle from
moving easily.
{Warning
It is dangerous to get out of the
vehicle if the transmission is not in
P (Park) with the parking brake set.
The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the
engine is running. If the engine has
been left running, the vehicle can
move suddenly. You or others could
be injured. To be sure the vehicle
will not move, even when on fairly
level ground, always set the parking
brake and place the transmission
into P (Park). See Shifting Into Park
0 224 and
Electric Parking Brake 0233.
This vehicle is equipped with an
electronically controlled transmission.
The shift lock release button is
designed to prevent inadvertent
shifting out of P (Park) unless the
ignition is on, the brake pedal is
applied, and the shift lock release
button is pressed.
When the vehicle is stopped, press
ENGINE START/STOP to turn off the
vehicle. The transmission will shift to
P (Park) automatically unless the
vehicle is in N (Neutral), See “Car
Wash Mode ”following.
The vehicle will not shift into P (Park)
if it is moving too fast. Stop the
vehicle and shift into P (Park).
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 233
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the
brake pedal down firmly. Hearing and
feeling ABS operate is normal.
Braking in Emergencies
ABS allows steering and braking at the
same time. In many emergencies,
steering can help even more than
braking.
Electric Parking Brake
The Electric Parking Brake (EPB) can
always be applied, even if the vehicle
is off. In case of insufficient electrical
power, the EPB cannot be applied orreleased. To prevent draining the
battery, avoid unnecessary repeated
cycles of the EPB.
The system has a red parking brake
status light and an amber service
parking brake warning light. See
Electric Parking Brake Light
0107 and
Service Electric Parking Brake Light
0 108. There are also parking
brake-related Driver Information
Center (DIC) messages.
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. Press the EPB switch momentarily.
The red parking brake status light will
flash and then stay on once the EPB is
fully applied. If the red parking brake
status light flashes continuously, then
the EPB is only partially applied or
there is a problem with the EPB.
A DIC message will display. Release the EPB and try to apply it again.
If the light does not come on, or keeps
flashing, have the vehicle serviced. Do
not drive the vehicle if the red parking
brake status light is flashing. See your
dealer.
If the amber service parking brake
warning light is on, press the EPB
switch. Continue to hold the switch
until the red parking brake status light
remains on. If the amber service
parking brake warning light is on, see
your dealer.
If the EPB is applied while the vehicle
is moving, the vehicle will decelerate
as long as the switch is pressed. If the
switch is pressed until the vehicle
comes to a stop, the EPB will remain
applied.
The vehicle may automatically apply
the EPB in some situations when the
vehicle is not moving. This is normal,
and is done to periodically check the
correct operation of the EPB system,
or at the request of other safety
functions that utilize the EPB.
If the EPB fails to apply, block the rear
wheels to prevent vehicle movement.