Cadillac XT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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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
Cadillac XT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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232 Driving and Operating
Electric Power Steering
The vehicle is equipped with
an electric power steering
system, which reduces the
amount of effort needed to
steer the vehicle. It does not
have power steering fluid.
Regular maintenance is not
required.
If the vehicle experiences a
system malfunction and loses
power steering, greater
steering effort may be
required. Power steering
assist also may be reduced if
you turn the steering wheel asfar as it can turn and hold it
there with force for an
extended period of time.
See your dealer if there is a
problem.
Curve Tips
.Take curves at a reasonable
speed.
.Reduce speed before
entering a curve.
.Maintain a reasonable
steady speed through the
curve.
.Wait until the vehicle is out
of the curve before
accelerating gently into the
straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
.There are some situations
when steering around a
problem may be more
effective than braking.
.Holding both sides of the
steering wheel allows you to
turn 180 degrees without
removing a hand.
.The Antilock Brake System
(ABS) allows steering while
braking.
Off-Road Recovery
The vehicle's right wheels can
drop off the edge of a road
onto the shoulder while
driving. Follow these tips:
1. Ease off the accelerator and then, if there is
nothing in the way, steer
the vehicle so that it
straddles the edge of the
pavement.
Cadillac XT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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234 Driving and Operating
{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.
.Fuel the vehicle, fill fluid
levels, and check inflation
pressure in all tires, including
the spare, if equipped.
.Read all the information
about AWD vehicles in this
manual.
.Make sure all underbody
shields, if equipped, are
properly attached.
.Know the local laws that
apply to off-road driving.To gain more ground
clearance if needed, it may be
necessary to remove the front
fascia lower air dam. However,
driving without the air dam
reduces fuel economy.
Caution
Operating the vehicle for
extended periods without
the front fascia lower air
dam installed can cause
improper airflow to the
engine. Reattach the front
fascia air dam after off-road
driving.
Loading the Vehicle for
Off-Road Driving
{Warning
.Unsecured cargo on the
load floor can be tossed
about when driving over
rough terrain. You or your
passengers can be struck
by flying objects. Secure
the cargo properly.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.Keep cargo in the cargo
area as far forward and as
low as possible. The
heaviest things should be
on the floor, forward of
the rear axle.
.Heavy loads on the roof
raise the vehicle's center
of gravity, making it more
likely to roll over. You can
be seriously or fatally
injured if the vehicle rolls
over. Put heavy loads
inside the cargo area, not
on the roof.
For more information about
loading the vehicle, see
Vehicle Load Limits 0242.
Environmental Concerns
.Always use established
trails, roads, and areas that
have been set aside for
public off-road recreational
driving and obey all posted
regulations.
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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.
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Driving and Operating 317
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
Overheating0342.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 the
desired 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 0425. It is especially
important to check the
automatic transmission fluid,
engine oil, axle lubricant, belts,
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Driving and Operating 325
manufacturers recommend
replacing tires more than six
years old.
Overloading is another leading
cause of trailer tire blow-outs.
Never load your trailer with
more weight than the tires are
designed to support. The load
rating is located on the trailer
tire sidewall.
Always know the maximum
speed rating for the trailer
tires before driving. This may
be significantly lower than the
vehicle tire speed rating. The
speed rating may be on the
trailer tire sidewall. If the
speed rating is not shown, the
default trailer tire speed rating
is 105 km/h (65 mph).Conversions and
Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical
Equipment
{Warning
The Data Link Connector
(DLC) is used for vehicle
service and Emission
Inspection/Maintenance
testing. See Malfunction
Indicator Lamp (Check
Engine Light)0126. A device
connected to the DLC —
such as an aftermarket fleet
or driver-behavior tracking
device —may interfere with
vehicle systems. This could
affect vehicle operation and
cause a crash. Such devices
may also access information
stored in the vehicle’s
systems.
Caution
Some electrical equipment
can damage the vehicle or
cause components to not
work and would not be
covered by the vehicle
warranty. Always check with
your dealer before adding
electrical equipment.
Add-on equipment can drain
the vehicle's 12-volt battery,
even if the vehicle is not
operating.
The vehicle has an airbag
system. Before attempting to
add anything electrical to the
vehicle, see Servicing the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle 076
and Adding Equipment to the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle 077.
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328 Vehicle Care
traction control, and stability
control. These accessories or
modifications could even
cause malfunction or damage
not covered by the vehicle
warranty.
Damage to suspension
components caused by
modifying vehicle height
outside of factory settings will
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty.
Damage to vehicle
components resulting from
modifications or the
installation or use of non-GM
certified parts, including
control module or software
modifications, is not covered
under the terms of the vehicle
warranty and may affect
remaining warranty coverage
for affected parts.
GM Accessories are designed
to complement and function
with other systems on the
vehicle. See your dealer to
accessorize the vehicle usinggenuine GM Accessories
installed by a dealer
technician.
Also, see Adding Equipment to
the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
0
77.
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own
Service Work
{Warning
It can be dangerous to work
on your vehicle if you do not
have the proper knowledge,
service manual, tools,
or parts. Always follow
owner’s manual procedures
and consult the service
manual for your vehicle
before doing any
service work. If doing some of your own
service work, use the proper
service manual. It tells you
much more about how to
service the vehicle than this
manual can. To order the
proper service manual, see
Publication Ordering
Information
0445.
This vehicle has an airbag
system. Before attempting to
do your own service work, see
Servicing the Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle 076.
If equipped with remote
vehicle start, open the hood
before performing any service
work to prevent remote
starting the vehicle
accidentally. See Remote
Vehicle Start 018.
Keep a record with all parts
receipts and list the mileage
and the date of any service
work performed. See
Maintenance Records 0431.
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336 Vehicle Care
It cannot be reset
accurately until the next oil
change.
The system is reset when the
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message is off.
If the CHANGE ENGINE OIL
SOON message comes back
on when the vehicle is started,
the engine oil life system has
not been reset. Repeat the
procedure.
Automatic
Transmission Fluid
A transmission fluid leak is the
only reason for fluid loss. If a
leak occurs, take the vehicle to
your dealer and have it
repaired as soon as possible.
Caution
Use of the incorrect
automatic transmission fluid
may damage the vehicle, and
the damage may not be
covered by the vehicle (Continued)
Caution (Continued)
warranty. Always use the
correct automatic
transmission fluid. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants0429.
See your dealer to have the
fluid and filter changed at the
intervals listed in the
Maintenance Schedule 0425.
Engine Air Filter Life
System
If equipped, this feature
provides the engine air filter's
remaining life and best timing
for a change. The timing to
change an engine air filter
depends on driving and
environmental conditions.
When to Change Engine
Air Filter
When the Driver Information
Center (DIC) displays a
message to replace the engine
air filter at the next oil change,
follow this timing.
When the DIC displays a
message to replace the engine
air filter soon, replace the
engine air filter at the earliest
convenience. The system must
be reset after the engine air
filter is changed.
If the DIC displays a message
to check the engine air filter
system, see your dealer.
How to Reset Engine Air
Filter Life System
To reset:
1. Place the vehicle in P (Park).
2. Display the Air Filter Life on the DIC. See Driver
Information Center (DIC)
0136.