2023 CADILLAC XT4 steering

Cadillac XT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16412876) - 2023 - CRC - 3/25/22
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.

Cadillac XT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16412876) - 2023 - CRC - 3/25/22
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)

Cadillac XT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16412876) - 2023 - CRC - 3/25/22
Driving and Operating 241
Warning (Continued)
.Open a window about
5 cm (2 in) on the vehicle
side that is away from the
wind, to bring in fresh air.
.Fully open the air outlets
on or under the
instrument panel.
.Adjust the climate control
system to circulate the air
inside the vehicle and set
the fan speed to the
highest setting. See
“Climate Control Systems.”
For more information about
CO, see Engine Exhaust
0 256.
To save fuel, run the engine
for short periods to warm the
vehicle and then shut the
engine off and partially close
the window. Moving about to
keep warm also helps.
If it takes time for help to
arrive, when running the
engine, push the accelerator
pedal slightly so the engine runs faster than the idle
speed. This keeps the battery
charged to restart the vehicle
and to signal for help with the
headlamps. Do this as little as
possible, to save fuel.
If the Vehicle Is Stuck
Slowly and cautiously spin the
wheels to free the vehicle
when stuck in sand, mud, ice,
or snow.
If stuck too severely for the
traction system to free the
vehicle, turn the traction
system off and use the rocking
method. See Traction Control/
Electronic Stability Control
0
267.
{Warning
If the vehicle's tires spin at
high speed, they can
explode, and you or others
could be injured. The vehicle
can overheat, causing an
engine compartment fire or
other damage. Spin the
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
wheels as little as possible
and avoid going above
56 km/h (35 mph).
For All-Wheel Drive (AWD),
select Off-Road or AWD mode.
See Driver Mode Control
0 269 and
All-Wheel Drive 0263.
Rocking the Vehicle to Get
it Out
Turn the steering wheel left
and right to clear the area
around the front wheels. Turn
off any traction system. Shift
back and forth between
R (Reverse) and a low forward
gear, spinning the wheels as
little as possible. To prevent
transmission wear, wait until
the wheels stop spinning
before shifting gears. Release
the accelerator pedal while
shifting, and press lightly on
the accelerator pedal when
the transmission is in gear.
Slowly spinning the wheels in

Cadillac XT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16412876) - 2023 - CRC - 3/25/22
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).

Cadillac XT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16412876) - 2023 - CRC - 3/25/22
262 Driving and Operating
Caution (Continued)
When stopping on a hill, use
the brakes to hold the
vehicle in place.
Engine speeds may be
increased while driving at
highway speeds while the
engine is still warming up.
Manual Mode
Tap Shift Caution
Driving with the engine at a
high rpm without upshifting
while using Tap Shift, could
damage the vehicle. Always
upshift when necessary
while using Tap Shift.
If equipped, vehicles with Tap
Shift have controls on the
back of the steering wheel to
manually shift the automatic
transmission.
Permanent Tap Shift Mode
To enter Permanent Tap
Shift Mode: 1. With the vehicle in D (Drive), pull back on the
shift lever to activate
M (Manual Mode). The M in
the shift pattern will
illuminate in red, and the D
will switch to white. 2. After releasing the shift
lever, it will return to the
center position.
3. Pull the control toward you to shift. Pull the left
control to downshift, and
the right control to upshift.
To shift to the lowest
available gear, pull and hold
the left control.
To exit Permanent Tap
Shift Mode: 1. To exit M (Manual Mode) and return to D (Drive), pull
back on the shift lever. The
D in the shift pattern will
illuminate in red, and the M
will switch to white.
2. After releasing the shift lever, it will return to the
center position.
M (Manual Mode) can be exited
to return to D (Drive) at any
speed by pulling the lever
rearward from the center
position. It is not necessary to
stop the vehicle or shift to
N (Neutral) or P (Park) prior to
shifting back to D (Drive).

Cadillac XT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16412876) - 2023 - CRC - 3/25/22
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-
16412876) - 2023 - CRC - 3/25/22
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.

Cadillac XT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16412876) - 2023 - CRC - 3/25/22
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).