Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 285
trailer brake controller to check the
trailer brakes work. During the trip,
occasionally check that the cargo and
trailer are secure and that the lamps
and any trailer brakes are working.
Towing with a Stability Control
System
When towing, the stability control
system might be heard. The system
reacts to vehicle movement caused by
the trailer, which mainly occurs
during cornering. This is normal when
towing heavier trailers.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the
vehicle ahead as you would when
driving without a trailer. This can help
to avoid heavy braking and sudden
turns.
Passing
More passing distance is needed when
towing a trailer. The combination will
not accelerate as quickly and is much
longer so it is necessary to go much
farther beyond the passed vehiclebefore returning to the lane. Pass on
level roadways. Avoid passing on hills
if possible.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel
with one hand. To move the trailer to
the left, move that hand to the left. To
move the trailer to the right, move
that hand to the right. Always back up
slowly and, if possible, have someone
guide you.
Making Turns
Caution
Turn more slowly and make wider
arcs when towing a trailer to
prevent damage to your vehicle.
Making very sharp turns could
cause the trailer to contact the
vehicle.
Make wider turns than normal when
towing, so trailer will not go over soft
shoulders, over curbs, or strike road
signs, trees, or other objects. Always
signal turns well in advance. Do not
steer or brake suddenly.
Driving on Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear
before starting down a long or steep
downhill grade. If the transmission is
not shifted down, the brakes may
overheat and result in reduced braking
efficiency.
The vehicle can tow in D (Drive). Shift
the transmission to a lower gear if the
transmission shifts too often under
heavy loads and/or hilly conditions.
When towing at higher altitudes,
engine coolant will boil at a lower
temperature than at lower altitudes.
If the engine is turned off immediately
after towing at high altitude on steep
uphill grades, the vehicle could show
signs similar to engine overheating. To
avoid this, let the engine run,
preferably on level ground, with the
transmission in P (Park) for a few
minutes before turning the engine off.
If the overheat warning comes on, see
Engine Overheating 0312.
Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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286 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Parking on Hills
{Warning
To prevent serious injury or death,
always park your vehicle and trailer
on a level surface when possible.
When parking your vehicle and your
trailer on a hill: 1. Press the brake pedal, but do not shift into P (Park) yet. Turn the
wheels into the curb if facing
downhill or into traffic if facing
uphill.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, gradually release the brake
pedal to allow the chocks to absorb
the load of the trailer.
4. Reapply the brake pedal. Then apply the parking brake and shift
into P (Park).
5. Release the brake pedal.
Leaving After Parking on a Hill
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
.Start the engine.
.Shift into a gear.
.Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer
Towing
The vehicle needs service more often
when used to tow trailers. See
Maintenance Schedule 0380. It is
especially important to check the
engine oil, axle lubricant, belts,
cooling system, and brake system
before and during each trip.
Check periodically that all nuts and
bolts on the trailer hitch are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer
Towing
The cooling system may temporarily
overheat during severe operating
conditions. See Engine Overheating
0 312.
Trailer Towing
Caution
Towing a trailer improperly can
damage the vehicle and result in
costly repairs not covered by the
vehicle warranty. To tow a trailer
correctly, follow the directions in
this section and see your dealer for
important information about
towing a trailer with the vehicle.
Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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296 VEHICLE CARE
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
California Perchlorate MaterialsRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Engine Air Filter Life System . . . . 306
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . 307
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Battery - North America . . . . . . . . . 316
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316 Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . 317
Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . 318
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
Headlamp Aiming
Front Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . 319
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . 319
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . 321
Engine Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . 325
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331
Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . 332
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 334
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 334
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337
Tire Pressure for High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 338 Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . 339
Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 343
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 344
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 347
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . 347
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 349
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 349
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 349
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350
Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 352
Storing the Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 357
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 364
Towing the Vehicle
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 366
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . 368
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VEHICLE CARE 309
3.6L V6 Engine
1. Electric Engine Cooling Fan (Outof View)
2. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap
{Warning
An underhood electric fan can start
up even when the engine is not
running and can cause injury. Keep
hands, clothing, and tools away
from any underhood electric fan.
{Warning
Do not touch heater or radiator
hoses, or other engine parts. They
can be very hot and can burn you.
Do not run the engine if there is a
leak; all coolant could leak out.
That could cause an engine fire and
can burn you. Fix any leak before
driving the vehicle.
Engine Coolant
The engine cooling system in the
vehicle is filled with DEX-COOL engine
coolant mixture. This coolant needs to
be checked and changed at
appropriate levels. See Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants 0389 and
Maintenance Schedule 0380.
The following explains the cooling
system and how to check and add
coolant when it is low. If there is a
problem with engine overheating, see
Engine Overheating 0312.
What to Use
{Warning
Do not touch heater or radiator
hoses, or other engine parts. They
can be very hot and can burn you.
Do not run the engine if there is a
leak; all coolant could leak out.
That could cause an engine fire and
can burn you. Fix any leak before
driving the vehicle.
Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
coolant. This mixture:
.Gives freezing protection down to
−37 °C (−34 °F), outside temperature.
.Gives boiling protection up to
129 °C (265 °F), engine temperature.
.Protects against rust and corrosion.
.Will not damage aluminum parts.
.Helps keep the proper engine
temperature.
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310 VEHICLE CARE
Caution
Do not use anything other than a
mix of DEX-COOL coolant that
meets GM Standard GMW3420 and
clean, drinkable water. Anything
else can cause damage to the
engine cooling system and the
vehicle, which would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty.
Never dispose of engine coolant by
putting it in the trash, pouring it on
the ground, or pouring into sewers,
streams, or bodies of water. Have the
coolant changed by an authorized
service center, familiar with legal
requirements regarding used coolant
disposal. This will help protect the
environment and your health.
Checking Coolant
The vehicle must be on a level surface
when checking the coolant level.
Check to see if coolant is visible in the
coolant surge tank. If the coolant
inside the coolant surge tank is
boiling, do not do anything else until
it cools down. If coolant is visible but
the coolant level mark is not at or
above the indicated mark, add a
50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and DEX-COOL coolant. Be sure
the cooling system is cool before this
is done. See Engine Overheating 0312.
The coolant surge tank is in the
engine compartment on the driver
side of the vehicle. See Engine
Compartment Overview 0300.
How to Add Coolant to the
Surge Tank
{Warning
Spilling coolant on hot engine parts
can burn you. Coolant contains
ethylene glycol and it will burn if
the engine parts are hot enough.
{Warning
Steam and scalding liquids from a
hot cooling system are under
pressure. Turning the pressure cap,
even a little, can cause them to
come out at high speed and you
could be burned. Never turn the cap
when the cooling system, including
the pressure cap, is hot. Wait for
the cooling system and pressure
cap to cool.
Caution
Failure to follow the specific
coolant fill procedure could cause
the engine to overheat and could
(Continued)
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312 VEHICLE CARE
1. With a cold system, disconnect thevent line from the port near the
cap on the surge tank. Add coolant
to the indicated mark on the
surge tank.
2. Reconnect the vent line to the surge tank and replace the cap on
the surge tank.
3. Connect the vehicle to a battery charger.
4. Put the vehicle in Service Mode. See Ignition Positions 0225.
5. Turn off the air conditioning.
6. Set the parking brake. 7. At the same time, press the
accelerator and the brake for
automatic transmission vehicles for
two seconds, then release.
At the end of the cycle, check the
coolant level in the surge tank and
add coolant, if it is low. Turn off the
vehicle, allow the Engine Control
Module (ECM) to go to sleep, about
two minutes, and repeat steps 3-7.
Listen for pump activation and
movement of the control valves while
watching the level of the tank. If the
tank empties, turn the ignition off,
carefully remove the surge tank cap,
refill to the indicated mark and repeat
steps 3-6. The fill and air removal
process will run for approximately
10 minutes.
Engine Overheating
The vehicle has several indicators to
warn of the engine overheating.
There is an engine coolant
temperature gauge on the instrument
cluster. See Engine Coolant Temperature
Gauge 0108. The vehicle may also
display a message on the Driver
Information Center (DIC). If the decision is made not to lift the
hood when this warning appears, get
service help right away. See
Roadside
Service 0401.
If the decision is made to lift the
hood, make sure the vehicle is parked
on a level surface. Then check to see if
the engine cooling fan is running.
If the engine is overheating, the fan
should be running. If it is not, do not
continue to run the engine. Have the
vehicle serviced.
Caution
Do not run the engine if there is a
leak in the engine cooling system.
This can cause a loss of all coolant
and can damage the system and
vehicle. Have any leaks fixed
right away.
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VEHICLE CARE 313
If Steam Is Coming from the
Engine Compartment
{Warning
Steam and scalding liquids from a
hot cooling system are under
pressure. Turning the pressure cap,
even a little, can cause them to
come out at high speed and you
could be burned. Never turn the cap
when the cooling system, including
the pressure cap, is hot. Wait for
the cooling system and pressure
cap to cool.
If No Steam Is Coming from the
Engine Compartment
If an engine overheat warning is
displayed but no steam can be seen or
heard, the problem may not be too
serious. Sometimes the engine can get
a little too hot when the vehicle:
.Climbs a long hill on a hot day.
.Stops after high-speed driving.
.Idles for long periods in traffic.
If the overheat warning is displayed
with no sign of steam: 1. Turn the air conditioning off.
2. Turn the heater on to the highest
temperature and to the highest fan
speed. Open the windows as
necessary.
3. When it is safe to do so, pull off the road, shift to P (Park) or
N (Neutral), and let the engine idle.
If the engine coolant temperature
gauge is no longer in the overheated
area or the engine coolant
temperature warning light no longer
displays, the vehicle can be driven.
Continue to drive the vehicle slowly
for about 10 minutes. Keep a safe
distance from the vehicle in front.
If the warning does not come back on,
continue to drive normally and have
the cooling system checked for proper
fill and function.
If the warning continues, pull over,
stop, and park the vehicle right away.
If there is no sign of steam, idle the
engine for three minutes while parked.
If the warning is still displayed, turn
off the engine until it cools down.
Washer Fluid
What to Use
When windshield washer fluid is
needed, be sure to read the
manufacturer's instructions before
use. If operating the vehicle in an area
where the temperature may fall below
freezing, use a fluid that has sufficient
protection against freezing.
Adding Washer Fluid
The appropriate message will appear
in the Driver Information Center (DIC)
when the fluid level is low.
Open the cap with the washer symbol
on it. Add washer fluid until the tank
is full. See Engine Compartment
Overview 0300 for reservoir location.
Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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422 INDEX
DiagnosticsConnected Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 418
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Dome Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Door Ajar Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Power Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Drive Belt Routing, Engine . . . . . . . . . 396
Drive Systems All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238, 316
Driver Teen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . 256
Driver Information Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Driver Mode Control Light . . . . . . . . . 116
Driving Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Characteristics and
Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Defensive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . 218
If the Vehicle is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Impaired . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211 Driving (cont'd)
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Off-Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Dual Automatic Climate Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
E
Electric Brake Boost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . . . 113
Electrical Equipment, Add-On . . . . . 294
Electrical SystemEngine Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . 321
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . 325
Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328
Emergency OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 411
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307 Engine (cont'd)
Check Light (Malfunction
Indicator) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . 300
Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . . 108
Coolant Temperature Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Drive Belt Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 396
Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Oil Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Running While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Engine Air Filter Life System . . . . . . 306
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Equipment, Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Event Data Recorders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 408
Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Extender, Seat Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Exterior Lamps Off Reminder . . . . . . 136
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver . . . . 140