2021 CADILLAC XT4 traction control

Cadillac XT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14584367) - 2021 - CRC - 10/14/20
INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM 187
Data is only recorded when a
registered Teen Driver key is used to
operate the vehicle.
The Report Card data is collected from
the time Teen Driver is activated or
the last time the Report Card was
reset. The following items may be
recorded:
.Distance Driven–the total distance
driven.
.Maximum Speed –the maximum
vehicle speed detected.
.Overspeed Warnings –the number
of times the speed warning setting
was exceeded.
.Wide Open Throttle –the number
of times the accelerator pedal was
pressed nearly all the way down.
.Forward Collision Alerts –the
number of times the driver was
notified when approaching a vehicle
ahead too quickly and at potential
risk for a crash.
.Forward Automatic Braking, also
called Automatic Emergency
Braking (if equipped) –the number
of times the vehicle detected that a
forward collision was imminent and
applied the brakes.
.Reverse Automatic Braking (if
equipped) –the number of times
the vehicle detected that a rearward
collision was imminent and applied
the brakes.
.Traction Control –the number of
times the Traction Control System
activated to reduce wheel spin or
loss of traction.
.Stability Control –the number of
events which required the use of
electronic stability control.
.Antilock Braking System Active –
The number of Antilock Brake
System activations.
.Tailgating Alerts –the number of
times the driver was alerted for
following a vehicle ahead too
closely.
Report Card Data
Cumulative Data is saved for all trips
until the Report Card is reset or until
the maximum count is exceeded.
If the maximum count is exceeded for
a Report Card line item, that item will
no longer be updated in the Report
Card until it is reset. Each item will report a maximum of 1,000 counts.
The distance driven will report a
maximum of 64 374 km (40,000 mi).
To delete Report Card data, do one of
the following:
.From the Report Card display, touch
Reset.
.Touch Clear All Teen Keys and PIN
from the Teen Driver menu. This
will also unregister any Teen Driver
keys and delete the PIN.
Forgotten PIN
See your dealer to reset the PIN.
Trademarks and License
Agreements
FCC Information
See Radio Frequency Statement 0383.

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-
14584367) - 2021 - CRC - 10/14/20
204 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Filling a Portable FuelContainer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Trailer Towing
General Towing Information . . . . 270
Driving Characteristics andTowing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) . . . . . . 279
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . 280
Driving Information
Driver Behavior
Driving is an important responsibility.
Driver behavior, the driving
environment, and the vehicle's design
all affect how well a vehicle performs.
Being aware of these factors can help
in understanding how the vehicle
handles and what can be done to
avoid many types of crashes, including
a rollover crash.
Most serious injuries and fatalities to
unbelted occupants can be reduced or
prevented by the use of seat belts. In a
rollover crash, an unbelted person is
significantly more likely to die than a
person wearing a seat belt. In
addition, avoiding excessive speed,
sudden or abrupt turns, and drunken
or aggressive driving can help make
trips safer and avoid the possibility of
a crash.
Driving Environment
Be prepared for driving in inclement
weather, at night, or during other
times where visibility or traction may be limited, such as on curves, slippery
roads, or hilly terrain. Unfamiliar
surroundings can also have hidden
hazards.
Vehicle Design
Utility vehicles have a significantly
higher rollover rate than other types
of vehicles. This is because they have
a higher ground clearance and a
narrower track or shorter wheelbase
than passenger cars, which makes
them more capable for off-road
driving. While these design
characteristics provide the driver with
a better view of the road, these
vehicles do have a higher center of
gravity than other types of vehicles.
A utility vehicle does not handle the
same as a vehicle with a lower center
of gravity, like a car, in similar
situations.
Safe driver behavior and
understanding of the environment can
help avoid a rollover crash in any type
of vehicle, including utility vehicles.

Cadillac XT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14584367) - 2021 - CRC - 10/14/20
DRIVING AND OPERATING 205
Driving for Better Fuel
Economy
Driving habits can affect fuel mileage.
Here are some driving tips to get the
best fuel economy possible.
.Set the climate controls to the
desired temperature after the engine
is started, or turn them off when
not required.
.On AWD vehicles, use Tour Mode
when conditions permit.
.Avoid fast starts and accelerate
smoothly.
.Brake gradually and avoid abrupt
stops.
.Avoid idling the engine for long
periods of time.
.When road and weather conditions
are appropriate, use cruise control.
.Always follow posted speed limits or
drive more slowly when conditions
require.
.Keep vehicle tires properly inflated.
.Combine several trips into a
single trip.
.Replace the vehicle's tires with the
same TPC Spec number molded into
the tire's sidewall near the size.
.Follow recommended scheduled
maintenance.
Distracted Driving
Distraction comes in many forms and
can take your focus from the task of
driving. Exercise good judgment and
do not let other activities divert your
attention away from the road. Many
local governments have enacted laws
regarding driver distraction. Become
familiar with the local laws in
your area.
To avoid distracted driving, keep your
eyes on the road, keep your hands on
the steering wheel, and focus your
attention on driving.
.Do not use a phone in demanding
driving situations. Use a hands-free
method to place or receive
necessary phone calls.
.Watch the road. Do not read, take
notes, or look up information on
phones or other electronic devices.
.Designate a front seat passenger to
handle potential distractions.
.Become familiar with vehicle
features before driving, such as
programming favorite radio stations
and adjusting climate control and
seat settings. Program all trip
information into any navigation
device prior to driving.
.Wait until the vehicle is parked to
retrieve items that have fallen to
the floor.
.Stop or park the vehicle to tend to
children.
.Keep pets in an appropriate carrier
or restraint.
.Avoid stressful conversations while
driving, whether with a passenger or
on a cell phone.
{Warning
Taking your eyes off the road too
long or too often could cause a
crash resulting in injury or death.
Focus your attention on driving.
Refer to the infotainment section for
more information on using that
system and the navigation system,
if equipped, including pairing and
using a cell phone.

Cadillac XT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14584367) - 2021 - CRC - 10/14/20
208 DRIVING AND OPERATING
2. Turn the steering wheel aboutone-eighth of a turn, until the right
front tire contacts the
pavement edge.
3. Turn the steering wheel to go straight down the roadway.
Loss of Control
Skidding
There are three types of skids that
correspond to the vehicle's three
control systems:
.Braking Skid —wheels are not
rolling.
.Steering or Cornering Skid —too
much speed or steering in a curve
causes tires to slip and lose
cornering force.
.Acceleration Skid —too much
throttle causes the driving wheels
to spin.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids by
taking reasonable care suited to
existing conditions, and by not
overdriving those conditions. But
skids are always possible. If the vehicle starts to slide, follow
these suggestions:
.Ease your foot off the accelerator
pedal and steer the way you want
the vehicle to go. The vehicle may
straighten out. Be ready for a
second skid if it occurs.
.Slow down and adjust your driving
according to weather conditions.
Stopping distance can be longer and
vehicle control can be affected when
traction is reduced by water, snow,
ice, gravel, or other material on the
road. Learn to recognize warning
clues
—such as enough water, ice,
or packed snow on the road to
make a mirrored surface —and
slow down when you have any
doubt.
.Try to avoid sudden steering,
acceleration, or braking, including
reducing vehicle speed by shifting
to a lower gear. Any sudden changes
could cause the tires to slide.
Remember: Antilock brakes help avoid
only the braking skid.
Off-Road Driving
All-wheel-drive vehicles can be used
for off-road driving. Vehicles without
all-wheel drive and vehicles not
equipped with All Terrain (AT) or
On-Off Road (OOR) tires must not be
driven off-road except on a level, solid
surface. To contact the tire
manufacturer for more information
about the original equipment tires, see
the warranty manual.
Controlling the vehicle is the key to
successful off-road driving. One of the
best ways to control the vehicle is to
control the speed.
{Warning
When driving off-road, bouncing
and quick changes in direction can
easily throw you out of position.
This could cause you to lose control
and crash. You and your passengers
should always wear seat belts.
Before Driving Off-Road
.Have all necessary maintenance and
service work completed.

Cadillac XT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14584367) - 2021 - CRC - 10/14/20
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.

Cadillac XT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14584367) - 2021 - CRC - 10/14/20
DRIVING AND OPERATING 211
3.1. Leave the vehicle andseek help.
3.2. Stay clear of the path the vehicle would take if it rolled
downhill.
.Avoid turns that take the vehicle
across the incline of the hill. A hill
that can be driven straight up or
down might be too steep to drive
across. Driving across an incline
puts more weight on the downhill
wheels which could cause a
downhill slide or a rollover.
.Surface conditions can be a
problem. Loose gravel, muddy spots,
or even wet grass can cause the
tires to slip sideways, downhill.
If the vehicle slips sideways, it can
hit something that will trip it –a
rock, a rut, etc. –and roll over.
.Hidden obstacles can make the
steepness of the incline more
severe. If a rock is driven across
with the uphill wheels, or if the
downhill wheels drop into a rut or
depression, the vehicle can tilt
even more.
.If an incline must be driven across,
and the vehicle starts to slide, turn
downhill. This should help
straighten out the vehicle and
prevent the side slipping.
{Warning
Getting out of the vehicle on the
downhill side when stopped across
an incline is dangerous. If the
vehicle rolls over, you could be
crushed or killed. Always get out on
the uphill side of the vehicle and
stay well clear of the rollover path.
Driving in Mud, Sand, Snow,
or Ice
Use a low gear when driving in mud –
the deeper the mud, the lower the
gear. Keep the vehicle moving to avoid
getting stuck.
Traction changes when driving on
sand. On loose sand, such as on
beaches or sand dunes, the tires tend
to sink into the sand. This affects
steering, accelerating, and braking.
Drive at a reduced speed and avoid
sharp turns or abrupt maneuvers. Traction is reduced on hard packed
snow and ice and it is easy to lose
control. Reduce vehicle speed when
driving on hard packed snow and ice.
{Warning
Driving on frozen lakes, ponds,
or rivers can be dangerous. Ice
conditions vary greatly and the
vehicle could fall through the ice;
you and your passengers could
drown. Drive your vehicle on safe
surfaces only.
Driving in Water
{Warning
Driving through rushing water can
be dangerous. Deep water can
sweep your vehicle downstream and
you and your passengers could
drown. If it is only shallow water, it
can still wash away the ground
from under your tires. Traction
could be lost, and the vehicle could
roll over. Do not drive through
rushing water.

Cadillac XT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14584367) - 2021 - CRC - 10/14/20
212 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Caution
Do not drive through standing
water if it is deep enough to cover
the wheel hubs, axles, or exhaust
pipe. Deep water can damage the
axle and other vehicle parts.
If the standing water is not too deep,
drive through it slowly. At faster
speeds, water can get into the engine
and cause it to stall. Stalling can
occur if the exhaust pipe is under
water. Do not turn off the ignition
when driving through water. If the
exhaust pipe is under water, the
engine will not start. When going
through water, the brakes get wet and
it may take longer to stop. See Driving
on Wet Roads 0212.
After Off-Road Driving
Remove any brush or debris that has
collected on the underbody or chassis,
or under the hood. These
accumulations can be a fire hazard.
After operation in mud or sand, have
the brake linings cleaned and checked.
These substances can cause glazing
and uneven braking. Check the body structure, steering, suspension,
wheels, tires, and exhaust system for
damage and check the fuel lines and
cooling system for any leakage.
More frequent maintenance service is
required. See
Maintenance Schedule
0 358.
Driving on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can reduce vehicle
traction and affect your ability to stop
and accelerate. Always drive slower in
these types of driving conditions and
avoid driving through large puddles
and deep-standing or flowing water.
{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.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
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 enough
and 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.