Cadillac XT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16412876) - 2023 - CRC - 3/25/22
Lighting 151
.The exterior lamp control is
in AUTO.
.The light sensor determines
it is daytime.
.The parking brake is
released or the vehicle is not
in P (Park).
When the DRL are on, the
taillamps, sidemarker lamps,
and other lamps will not be on.
The DRL turn off when the
headlamps are turned to
Oor
the ignition is off. For vehicles
first sold in Canada, the DRL
can only be turned off when
the vehicle is parked.
Automatic Headlamp
System
When the exterior lamp
control is set to AUTO and it is
dark enough outside, the
headlamps come on
automatically.
There is a light sensor on top
of the instrument panel. Do
not cover the sensor.
The system may also turn on
the headlamps when driving
through a parking garage or
tunnel.
If the vehicle is started in a
dark garage, the automatic
headlamp system comes on
immediately. If it is light
outside when the vehicle
leaves the garage, there is a
slight delay before the
automatic headlamp system
changes to the Daytime
Running Lamps (DRL). During that delay, the instrument
cluster may not be as bright as
usual. Make sure the
instrument panel brightness
control is in the full bright
position. See Instrument Panel
Illumination Control
0153.
When it is bright enough
outside, the headlamps will
turn off or may change
to DRL.
The automatic headlamp
system turns off when the
exterior lamp control is turned
to
Oor the ignition is off.
For vehicles sold in Canada,
this control only works when
the transmission is in P (Park).
Lights On with Wipers
If the windshield wipers are
activated in daylight with the
engine on, and the exterior
lamp control is in AUTO, the
headlamps, parking lamps, and
other exterior lamps come on.
The transition time for the
lamps coming on varies based
on wiper speed. When the
Cadillac XT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 235
.Do not damage shrubs,
flowers, trees, or grasses or
disturb wildlife.
.Do not park over things that
burn. See Parking over
Things That Burn0255.
Driving on Hills
Driving safely on hills requires
good judgment and an
understanding of what the
vehicle can and cannot do.
{Warning
Many hills are simply too
steep for any vehicle. Driving
up hills can cause the vehicle
to stall. Driving down hills
can cause loss of control.
Driving across hills can
cause a rollover. You could
be injured or killed. Do not
drive on steep hills.
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.
{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.
.Use headlamps even during
the day to make the vehicle
more visible.
.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.
.Avoid turns that take the
vehicle across the incline of
the hill. Driving across an
incline puts more weight on
Cadillac XT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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238 Driving and Operating
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 Schedule0425.
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.
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.
.Pass with caution.
.Keep windshield wiping
equipment in good shape.
.Keep the windshield washer
fluid reservoir filled.
.Have good tires with proper
tread depth. See Tires 0364.
Cadillac XT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 247
Ignition Positions
The vehicle has an electronic
keyless ignition with
pushbutton start.
If the pushbutton start is not
working, the vehicle may be
near a strong radio antenna
signal causing interference to
the Keyless Access system.
See Remote Key Operation
09.
To shift out of P (Park), the
vehicle must be turned on and
the brake pedal must be
applied. Stopping the Engine/OFF
(No Indicator Light) :
When
the vehicle is stopped, press
ENGINE START/STOP once to
turn the engine off.
If the vehicle is in P (Park), the
ignition will turn off, and
Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) will remain active.
See Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) 0253.
If the vehicle is in R (Reverse),
D (Drive) or M (Manual Mode),
the vehicle will shift to
P (Park), the ignition will turn
off, and RAP will remain active.
If the vehicle is in N (Neutral),
the ignition will return to
accessory mode and display
the message SHIFT TO PARK
in the Driver Information
Center (DIC).
When the vehicle is shifted
into P (Park), the ignition will
turn off.
{Warning
Turning off the vehicle while
moving may cause loss of
power assist in the brake
and steering 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).
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248 Driving and Operating
4. Set the parking brake. SeeElectric Parking Brake
0264. 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.
Accessory Mode (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 accessory mode.
The ignition will switch from
accessory mode 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 0248.
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 0257.
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.
Cadillac XT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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264 Driving and Operating
replace the compact spare
with a full-size tire as soon as
possible. See Compact Spare
Tire0404.
Brakes
Electric Brake Boost
Vehicles equipped with
electric brake boost have
hydraulic brake circuits that
are electronically controlled
when the brake pedal is
applied during normal
operation. The system
performs routine tests and
turns off within a few minutes
after the vehicle is turned off.
Noise may be heard during
this time. If the brake pedal is
pressed during the tests or
when the electric brake boost
system is off, a noticeable
change in pedal force and
travel may be felt. This is
normal.
Antilock Brake
System (ABS)
The Antilock Brake System
(ABS) helps prevent a braking
skid and maintain steering
while braking hard.
If there is a problem with ABS,
this warning light stays on.
See Antilock Brake System
(ABS) Warning Light 0129.
ABS does not change the time
needed to get a foot on the
brake pedal and does not
always decrease stopping
distance. If you get too close
to the vehicle ahead, there will
not be enough time to apply
the brakes if that vehicle
suddenly slows or stops.
Always leave enough room
ahead to stop, even with ABS.
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
Cadillac XT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 265
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 or released. 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 Light0129 and
Service Electric Parking Brake
Light 0129. 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.
EPB Release
To release the EPB:
1. Turn the ignition on or to accessory mode.
2. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
3. Press the EPB switch momentarily.
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266 Driving and Operating
The EPB is released when the
red parking brake status light
is off.
If the amber service parking
brake warning light is on,
release the EPB by pressing
and holding the EPB switch.
Continue to hold the switch
until the red parking brake
status light is off. If either light
stays on after release is
attempted, see your dealer.
Caution
Driving with the parking
brake on can overheat the
brake system and cause
premature wear or damage
to brake system parts. Make
sure that the parking brake
is fully released and the
brake warning light is off
before driving.
If you are towing a trailer and
parking on a hill, see Driving
Characteristics and Towing
Tips 0314.
Automatic EPB Release
The EPB will automatically
release if the vehicle is
running, placed into gear, and
an attempt is made to drive
away. Avoid rapid acceleration
when the EPB is applied, to
preserve parking brake
lining life.
Brake Assist
Brake Assist detects rapid
brake pedal applications due
to emergency braking
situations and provides
additional braking to activate
the Antilock Brake System
(ABS) if the brake pedal is not
pushed hard enough to
activate ABS normally. Minor
noise, brake pedal pulsation,
and/or pedal movement during
this time may occur. Continue
to apply the brake pedal as
the driving situation dictates.
Brake Assist disengages when
the brake pedal is released.
Hill Start Assist (HSA)
{Warning
Do not rely on the HSA
feature. HSA does not
replace the need to pay
attention and drive safely.
You may not hear or feel
alerts or warnings provided
by this system. Failure to
use proper care when
driving may result in injury,
death, or vehicle damage.
See Defensive Driving 0230.
When the vehicle is stopped
on a grade, Hill Start Assist
(HSA) prevents the vehicle
from rolling in an unintended
direction during the transition
from brake pedal release to
accelerator pedal apply. The
brakes release when the
accelerator pedal is applied.
If the accelerator pedal is not
applied within a few minutes,
the Electric Parking Brake will
apply. The brakes may also