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Driving and Operating 229
and 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.
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
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Driving and Operating 239
.Turn off cruise control.
.Activate All-Wheel Drive
(AWD) mode. See Driver
Mode Control0269.
Hill and Mountain
Roads
Driving on steep hills or
through mountains is different
than driving on flat or rolling
terrain. Tips include:
.Keep the vehicle serviced
and in good shape.
.Check all fluid levels and
brakes, tires, cooling system,
and transmission.
.Shift to a lower gear when
going down steep or long
hills.
{Warning
Using the brakes to slow the
vehicle on a long downhill
slope can cause brake
overheating, can reduce
brake performance, and
could result in a loss of
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
braking. Shift the
transmission to a lower gear
to let the engine assist the
brakes on a steep downhill
slope.
{Warning
Coasting downhill in
N (Neutral) or with the
ignition off is dangerous.
This can cause overheating
of the brakes and loss of
steering assist. Always have
the engine running and the
vehicle in gear.
.Drive at speeds that keep
the vehicle in its own lane.
Do not swing wide or cross
the center line.
.Be alert on top of hills;
something could be in your
lane (e.g., stalled car, crash).
.Pay attention to special road
signs (e.g., falling rocks area,
winding roads, long grades,
passing or no-passing zones)
and take appropriate action.
.Select All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
Mode. See Driver Mode
Control0269 and
All-Wheel Drive 0263.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Caution
To avoid damage to the
wheels and brake
components, always clear
snow and ice from inside the
wheels and underneath the
vehicle before driving.
Snow or ice between the tires
and the road creates less
traction or grip, so drive
carefully. Wet ice can occur at
about 0 °C (32 °F) when
freezing rain begins to fall.
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240 Driving and Operating
Avoid driving on wet ice or in
freezing rain until roads can be
treated.
For Slippery Road Driving:
.Accelerate gently.
Accelerating too quickly
causes the wheels to spin
and makes the surface under
the tires slick.
.Turn on Traction Control.
See Traction Control/
Electronic Stability Control
0267.
.The Antilock Brake System
(ABS) improves vehicle
stability during hard stops,
but the brakes should be
applied sooner than when on
dry pavement. See Antilock
Brake System (ABS) 0264.
.Allow greater following
distance and watch for
slippery spots. Icy patches
can occur on otherwise clear
roads in shaded areas. The
surface of a curve or an
overpass can remain icy
when the surrounding roads are clear. Avoid sudden
steering maneuvers and
braking while on ice.
.Turn off cruise control.
.Select All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
Mode for vehicles equipped
with AWD. Select Snow/Ice
Mode for FWD only vehicles.
See Driver Mode Control
0
269 and
All-Wheel Drive 0263.
Cold Weather Mode
In very low temperatures, a
cold weather message may
display on the Driver
Information Center (DIC). The
engine speed, transmission
shift patterns, and cabin fan
speed may operate differently
to enable the vehicle to warm
up quicker. You can manually
override the cabin fan speed in
cold weather mode.
Blizzard Conditions
Stop the vehicle in a safe
place and signal for help. Stay
with the vehicle unless there is
help nearby. If possible, use Roadside Assistance. See
Roadside Assistance Program
0
439. To get help and keep
everyone in the vehicle safe:
.Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
.Tie a red cloth to an outside
mirror.
{Warning
Snow can trap engine
exhaust under the vehicle.
This may cause exhaust
gases to get inside. Engine
exhaust contains carbon
monoxide (CO), which cannot
be seen or smelled. It can
cause unconsciousness and
even death.
If the vehicle is stuck
in snow:
.Clear snow from the base
of the vehicle, especially
any blocking the
exhaust pipe.
(Continued)
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Driving and Operating 267
release under other
conditions. Do not rely on HSA
to hold the vehicle.
HSA is available when the
vehicle is facing uphill in a
forward gear, or when facing
downhill in R (Reverse). The
vehicle must come to a
complete stop on a grade for
HSA to activate.
Ride Control
Systems
Traction Control/
Electronic Stability
Control
System Operation
The vehicle has a Traction
Control System (TCS) and
StabiliTrak/Electronic Stability
Control (ESC). These systems
help limit wheel spin and assist
the driver in maintaining
control, especially on slippery
road conditions.TCS activates if it senses that
any of the drive wheels are
spinning or beginning to lose
traction. On an All-Wheel Drive
(AWD) vehicle in AWD or Sport
Mode, the system will operate
if it senses that any of the
wheels are spinning or
beginning to lose traction.
When this happens, TCS
applies the brakes to the
spinning wheels and reduces
engine power to limit
wheel spin.
StabiliTrak/ESC activates
when the system senses a
discrepancy between the
intended path and the
direction the vehicle is actually
traveling. StabiliTrak/ESC
selectively applies braking
pressure at any one of the
vehicle's brakes to help steer
the vehicle in the direction
which you are steering.
If cruise control is being used
and traction control or
StabiliTrak/ESC begins to limit
wheel spin, cruise control willdisengage. Cruise control may
be turned back on when road
conditions allow. TCS and
StabiliTrak/ESC will
automatically turn on when
cruise control is set.
Both systems come on
automatically when the vehicle
is started and begins to move.
The systems may be heard or
felt while they are operating
or while performing diagnostic
checks. This is normal and
does not mean there is a
problem with the vehicle.
It is recommended to leave
both systems on for normal
driving conditions, but it may
be necessary to turn TCS off
if the vehicle gets stuck in
sand, mud, ice, or snow. See If
the Vehicle Is Stuck
0241 and
“Turning the Systems Off and
On” later in this section.
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270 Driving and Operating
Sport Mode modifies steering
efforts, transmission shifting,
and AWD torque, if equipped.
The Performance Algorithm
Liftfoot (PAL) feature is
enabled in Sport Mode. PAL
allows the transmission to
hold the current gear after a
quick release of a heavily
applied accelerator pedal. This
provides greater engine
braking and enhanced vehicle
control.
When PAL is activated, there
may be an additional gear
symbol that appears in the
instrument cluster display. See
Performance Shifting Light
0130.
Off-Road Mode : Use this
mode for off-road recreational
driving. When active, Off–Road
Mode should be used to
improve driving at moderate
speeds, on grass, gravel, dirt,
unpaved roads,
or snow-covered roads. The
accelerator pedal is tuned for off-road use. This mode
modifies pedal mapping, AWD,
ESC, and TCS Performance.
Snow/Ice Mode :
Snow/Ice
Mode improves vehicle
acceleration on snow and ice
covered roads. When active,
Snow/Ice Mode will adjust
acceleration to optimize
traction on slippery surfaces.
This can compromise the
acceleration on dry asphalt.
This feature is not intended
for use when the vehicle is
stuck in sand, mud, ice, snow,
or gravel. If the vehicle
becomes stuck, see If the
Vehicle Is Stuck 0241.
Cruise Control
{
Warning
Cruise control can be
dangerous where you
cannot drive safely at a (Continued)
Warning (Continued)
steady speed. Do not use
cruise control on winding
roads or in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be
dangerous on slippery roads.
On such roads, fast changes
in tire traction can cause
excessive wheel slip, and
you could lose control. Do
not use cruise control on
slippery roads.
With cruise control, a speed of
about 40 km/h (25 mph) or
more can be maintained
without keeping your foot on
the accelerator. Cruise control
does not work at speeds
below about 40 km/h (25 mph).
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Driving and Operating 271
If the Traction Control System
(TCS) or StabiliTrak/Electronic
Stability Control (ESC) begins
to limit wheel spin while using
cruise control, the cruise
control automatically
disengages. See Traction
Control/Electronic Stability
Control0267. If a collision
alert occurs when cruise
control is activated, cruise
control is disengaged. See
Forward Collision Alert (FCA)
System 0297. When road
conditions allow cruise control
to be safely used, it can be
turned back on.
Cruise control will disengage if
either TCS or StabiliTrak/ESC
is turned off.
If the brakes are applied,
cruise control disengages.
J: Press to turn the system
on and off. A white indicator
appears in the instrument
cluster when cruise is
turned on.
RES+ : If there is a set speed
in memory, move the
thumbwheel up briefly to
resume that speed or press
and hold to accelerate. If the
cruise control is already active,
use to increase vehicle speed.
To increase speed by 1 km/h
(1 mph), press the thumbwheel
up to the first detent toward
RES+. To increase speed to
the next 5 km/h (5 mph) mark on the speedometer, press the
thumbwheel up to the second
detent.
SET−
:Move the thumbwheel
down briefly to set the speed
and activate cruise control.
If the cruise control is already
active, use to decrease vehicle
speed. To decrease speed by
1 km/h (1 mph), move the
thumbwheel down toward
SET−. To decrease speed to
the next 5 km/h (5 mph) mark
on the speedometer, move the
thumbwheel down toward
SET− to the second detent.
*:Press to disengage cruise
control without erasing the
set speed from memory.
Setting Cruise Control
If
Jis on when not in use,
SET− or RES+ could get
pressed and go into cruise
when not desired. Keep
Joff
when cruise is not being used.
1. Press
J.
Cadillac XT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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272 Driving and Operating
2. Get up to the desiredspeed.
3. Move the thumbwheel down to SET−. The desired
set speed briefly appears
in the instrument cluster.
4. Remove your foot from the accelerator.
When the cruise control has
been set to the desired speed,
a green cruise control
indicator appears on the
instrument cluster and a
cruise set speed message
appears on the Head-Up
Display (HUD), if equipped.
Resuming a Set Speed
If the cruise control is set at a
desired speed and then the
brakes are applied or
*is
pressed, the cruise control is
disengaged without erasing
the set speed from memory.
Once the vehicle speed
reaches about 40 km/h
(25 mph) or more, move the thumbwheel up toward RES+
briefly. The vehicle returns to
the previous set speed.
Increasing Speed While Using
Cruise Control
If the cruise control system is
already activated:
.Move the thumbwheel up
toward RES+ until the
desired speed is reached,
then release it.
.To increase vehicle speed in
small increments, move the
thumbwheel up toward
RES+ briefly. For each press,
the vehicle goes about
1 km/h (1 mph) faster.
.To increase vehicle speed in
larger increments, move the
thumbwheel up toward
RES+ to the second detent.
For each press, the vehicle
speed increases to the next
5 km/h (5 mph) mark on the
speedometer.
The speedometer reading can
be displayed in either English
or metric units. See
Instrument Cluster
0119. The
increment value used depends
on the units displayed.
Reducing Speed While Using
Cruise Control
If the cruise control system is
already activated:
.Move the thumbwheel down
toward SET− until the
desired lower speed is
reached, then release it.
.To decrease the vehicle
speed in small increments,
move the thumbwheel down
toward SET− briefly. For
each press, the vehicle goes
about 1 km/h (1 mph) slower.
.To decrease the vehicle
speed in larger increments,
move the thumbwheel down
toward SET− to the second
detent. For each press, the
vehicle speed decreases to
the next 5 km/h (5 mph) mark
on the speedometer.
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The cruise control system may
automatically brake to slow
the vehicle down.
The speedometer reading can
be displayed in either English
or metric units. See
Instrument Cluster0119. The
increment value used depends
on the units displayed.
Passing Another Vehicle
While Using Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to
increase the vehicle speed.
When you take your foot off
the pedal, the vehicle will slow
down to the previous set
cruise speed.
While pressing the accelerator
pedal or shortly following the
release to override cruise,
briefly moving the thumbwheel
down toward SET− will result
in cruise set to the current
vehicle speed.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well the cruise control will
work on hills depends upon
the vehicle speed, load, and the steepness of the hills.
When going up steep hills, you
might have to step on the
accelerator pedal to maintain
your speed. When going
downhill, the cruise control
system may automatically
brake to slow the vehicle
down. Also, you may have to
brake or shift to a lower gear
to keep your speed down.
If the brake pedal is applied,
cruise control disengages.
Ending Cruise Control
There are four ways to end
cruise control:
.Step lightly on the brake
pedal.
.Press*.
.Shift the transmission to
N (Neutral).
.PressJ.
Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed is
erased from memory if
Jis
pressed or if the ignition is
turned off.
Adaptive Cruise
Control (Advanced)
If equipped with Adaptive
Cruise Control (ACC), it allows
the driver to select the cruise
control set speed and
following gap. Read this entire
section before using this
system. The following gap is
the following time between
your vehicle and a vehicle
detected directly ahead in
your path, moving in the same
direction. If no vehicle is
detected in your path, ACC
works like regular cruise
control. ACC uses camera and
radar sensors. See Radio
Frequency Statement 0446.
If a vehicle is detected in your
path, ACC can apply
acceleration or limited,
moderate braking to maintain
the selected following gap. To
disengage ACC, apply the
brake. If ACC is controlling
your vehicle speed when the
Traction Control System (TCS)
or StabiliTrak/Electronic