Cadillac XT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
15440907) - 2022 - CRC - 1/4/22
202 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Driver Behavior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Driving Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Vehicle Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Driving for Better FuelEconomy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Impaired Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . 212
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Stop/Start System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221 Winter Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Parking over Things
That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Active Fuel Management . . . . . . . . 225
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . 227
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Brakes
Electric Brake Boost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . 233
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/ElectronicStability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Adaptive Cruise Control (Advanced) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . . . 250
Assistance Systems for Parkingor Backing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . . . . 252
Surround Vision System . . . . . . . . . 253
Park Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Automatic Parking Assist (APA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Reverse Automatic Braking (RAB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Rear Pedestrian Alert . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Cadillac XT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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220 DRIVING AND OPERATING
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. SeeAutomatic
Transmission 0227.
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).
Caution
Do not try to shift to P (Park) if the
vehicle is moving. If you do, you
could damage the transmission.
Shift to P (Park) only when the
vehicle is stopped.
Caution
If you add electrical parts or
accessories, you could change the
way the engine operates. Any
resulting damage would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty. See
Add-On Electrical Equipment 0284.
To start the vehicle: 1. With the Keyless Access system, the RKE transmitter must be in the
vehicle. Press ENGINE START/
STOP with the brake pedal applied.
When the engine begins cranking,
let go of the button. The idle speed
will go down as the engine warms
up. Do not race the engine
immediately after starting it. If the RKE transmitter is not in the
vehicle, if there is interference, or if
the RKE battery is low, a Driver
Information Center (DIC) message
will display. See
Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) System Operation 07.
Caution
Cranking the engine for long
periods of time, by pressing
ENGINE START/STOP immediately
after cranking has ended, can
overheat and damage the cranking
motor, and drain the battery. Wait
at least 15 seconds between each
try, to let the cranking motor
cool down.
2. If the engine does not start after five to 10 seconds, especially in
very cold weather (below −18 °C or
0 °F), it could be flooded with too
much gasoline. Try pushing the
accelerator pedal all the way to the
floor and hold it there, then press
ENGINE START/STOP for up to a
maximum of 15 seconds. Wait at
least 15 seconds between each try,
to allow the cranking motor to cool
down. When the engine starts, let
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 221
go of the button and the
accelerator. If the vehicle starts
briefly but then stops again, do the
same thing. This clears the extra
gasoline from the engine. Do not
race the engine immediately after
starting it. Operate the engine and
transmission gently until the oil
warms up and lubricates all
moving parts.
Stop/Start System
The Stop/Start system will shut off
the engine to help conserve fuel.
It has components designed for the
increased number of starts.
{Warning
The automatic engine Stop/Start
feature causes the engine to shut
off while the vehicle is still on. Do
not exit the vehicle before shifting
to P (Park). The vehicle may restart
and move unexpectedly. Always
shift to P (Park), and then turn the
ignition off before exiting the
vehicle.Auto Engine Stop/Start
When the brakes are applied and the
vehicle is at a complete stop, the
engine may turn off. When stopped,
the tachometer displays AUTO STOP.
See
Tachometer 0103. When the brake
pedal is released or the accelerator
pedal is pressed, the engine will
restart.
To maintain vehicle performance,
other conditions may cause the engine
to automatically restart before the
brake pedal is released.
Auto Stops may not occur and/or Auto
Starts may occur because:
.The climate control settings require
the engine to be running to cool or
heat the vehicle interior.
.The vehicle battery needs to charge.
.The vehicle battery has recently
been disconnected.
.Minimum vehicle speed has not
been reached since the last
Auto Stop.
.The accelerator pedal is pressed.
.The engine or transmission is not at
the required operating temperature.
.The outside temperature is not in
the required operating range.
.The vehicle transmission is shifted
out of D (Drive) to any gear other
than P (Park).
.Certain driver modes have been
selected. See Driver Mode Control
0 237.
.The vehicle is on a steep hill or
grade.
.The driver door has been opened or
the driver seat belt has been
unbuckled.
.The hood has been opened.
.The Auto Stop has reached the
maximum allowed time.
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224 DRIVING AND OPERATING
{Warning
Improper use of the heater cord or
an extension cord can damage the
cord and may result in overheating
and fire.
.Plug the cord into a three-prong
electrical utility receptacle that is
protected by a ground fault
detection function. An
ungrounded outlet could cause
an electric shock.
.Use a weatherproof, heavy-duty,
15 amp-rated extension cord if
needed. Failure to use the
recommended extension cord in
good operating condition,
or using a damaged heater or
extension cord, could make it
overheat and cause a fire,
property damage, electric shock,
and injury.
.Do not operate the vehicle with
the heater cord permanently
attached to the vehicle. Possible
heater cord and thermostat
damage could occur.(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.While in use, do not let the
heater cord touch vehicle parts
or sharp edges. Never close the
hood on the heater cord.
.Before starting the vehicle,
unplug the cord, reattach the
cover to the plug, and securely
fasten the cord. Keep the cord
away from any moving parts.
4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and store the cord as it
was before to keep it away from
moving engine parts. If you do not
it could be damaged.
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 0227.
3. The P indicator on the shift lever will turn red when the vehicle is in
P (Park).
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 227
Running the Vehicle While
Parked
It is better not to park with the engine
running.
If the vehicle is left with the engine
running, follow the proper steps to be
sure the vehicle will not move. See
Shifting Into Park0224 and
Engine Exhaust 0226.
If parking on a hill and pulling a
trailer, see Driving Characteristics and
Towing Tips 0274.
Automatic Transmission
The shift pattern is displayed in the
top of the shift lever. The selected
gear position will illuminate red on
the shift lever, while all others will be
displayed in white. If the shift is not
immediate, as in very cold conditions,
the indicator on the shift lever may
flash until it is fully engaged.
The shift lever always starts from a
center position, represented by an up/
down arrow on the shift pattern. After
releasing the shift lever, it will return
to the center position.
The transmission does not operate
when the vehicle is off.
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
(Continued)
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228 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Warning (Continued)
will not move, even when on fairly
level ground, always set the parking
brake and place the transmission
into P (Park). SeeShifting 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).
To shift in and out of P (Park), see
Shifting Into Park 0224 and
Shifting out of Park 0225.
Service Shift Lever Message
If the message SERVICE SHIFTER SEE
OWNER’S MANUAL appears in the
Driver Information Center (DIC), the
shift lever needs service. Have the
vehicle serviced as soon as possible.
If the vehicle is automatically shifting
into P (Park), check to see if the
P (Park) button on top of the shift
lever is stuck. To operate the vehicle,
hold the shift lever in the desired gear,
R (Reverse) or D (Drive), until vehicle
speed exceeds 15 km/h (10 mph), then
release the shift lever.
R : Use this gear to back up. If the vehicle is shifted from either
R (Reverse) to D (Drive) or M (Manual
Mode), or M (Manual Mode) or
D (Drive) to R (Reverse) while the
speed is too high, the vehicle will shift
to N (Neutral). Reduce the vehicle
speed and try the shift again.
To shift into R (Reverse):
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Press and hold shift lock release button on the side of the shift
lever.
3. From the center position, move the shift lever forward through the first
detent to the end of travel. R is
illuminated in red.
4. After releasing the shift lever, it will return to the center position.
To shift out of R (Reverse): 1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Shift to the desired gear.
3. After releasing the shift lever, it will return to the center position.
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 229
At low vehicle speeds, R (Reverse) can
be used to rock the vehicle back and
forth to get out of snow, ice, or sand
without damaging the transmission.
SeeIf the Vehicle Is Stuck 0214.
N : In this position, the engine does
not connect with the wheels. To
restart the engine when the vehicle is
already moving, use N (Neutral) only.
{Warning
Shifting into a drive gear while the
engine is running at high speed is
dangerous. Unless your foot is
firmly on the brake pedal, the
vehicle could move very rapidly.
You could lose control and hit
people or objects. Do not shift into
a drive gear while the engine is
running at high speed.
Caution
Shifting out of P (Park) or
N (Neutral) with the engine running
at high speed may damage the
transmission. The repairs would not
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
be covered by the vehicle warranty.
Be sure the engine is not running at
high speed when shifting the
vehicle.
The vehicle is not designed to stay in
N (Neutral) for more than
five minutes. It may automatically
shift into P (Park). N (Neutral) is not
intended for towing. If the vehicle
needs to be towed, see Towing the
Vehicle 0353.
To shift into N (Neutral): 1. Move the shift lever forward to the first detent from the center
position.
.If the vehicle is in P (Park),
apply the brake pedal and press
the shift lock release button
while moving the shift lever
forward.
.N will illuminate in red.
2. After releasing the shift lever, it will return to the center position. To shift out of N (Neutral):
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Shift to the desired gear. If shifting from N (Neutral) to R (Reverse),
press the shift lock release button.
3. After releasing the shift lever, it will return to the center position.
Car Wash Mode
This vehicle includes a Car Wash
Mode that allows the vehicle to
remain in N (Neutral) for use in
automatic car washes.
Car Wash Mode (Engine Off –Driver
in Vehicle)
To place the vehicle in N (Neutral)
with the engine off and the vehicle
occupied:
1. Drive to the entrance of the car wash.
2. Apply the brake pedal.
3. Shift to N (Neutral).
4. Turn off the engine and release the brake pedal.
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230 DRIVING AND OPERATING
5. The indicator should continue toshow N. If it does not, repeat
Steps 2–4.
6. The vehicle is now ready for the car wash.
Car Wash Mode (Engine Off –Driver
out of Vehicle)
To place the vehicle in N (Neutral)
with the engine off and the vehicle
unoccupied:
1. Drive to the entrance of the car wash.
2. Apply the brake pedal.
3. Open the door.
4. Shift to N (Neutral).
5. Turn off the engine and release the brake pedal.
6. The indicator should continue to show N. If it does not, repeat
Steps 2–5.
7. Exit the vehicle and close the door. The vehicle is now ready for the
car wash.
8. The vehicle may automatically shift to P (Park) upon re-entry. Car Wash Mode (Engine On
–Driver
in Vehicle)
To place the vehicle in N (Neutral)
with the engine on and the vehicle
occupied:
1. Drive to the entrance of the car wash.
2. Apply the brake pedal.
3. Shift to N (Neutral).
4. Release the brake pedal. The vehicle is now ready for the
car wash.
Car Wash Mode (Engine On –Driver
out of Vehicle)
To place the vehicle in N (Neutral)
with the engine on and the vehicle
unoccupied:
1. Drive to the entrance of the car wash.
2. Apply the brake pedal.
3. Open the door.
4. Shift to N (Neutral), then release the brake pedal.
5. The indicator should continue to show N. If it does not, repeat
Steps 2–4. 6. Exit the vehicle and close the door.
The vehicle is now ready for the
car wash.
7. The vehicle may automatically shift to P (Park) upon re-entry.
Caution
A transmission hot message may
display if the automatic
transmission fluid is too hot.
Driving under this condition can
damage the vehicle. Stop and idle
the engine to cool the automatic
transmission fluid. This message
clears when the transmission fluid
has cooled sufficiently.
D : This position is for normal driving.
If more power is needed for passing,
press the accelerator pedal down.
To shift into D (Drive):
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.