Cadillac XT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16412876) - 2023 - CRC - 3/25/22
128 Instruments and Controls
The DLC is under the
instrument panel to the left of
the steering wheel.
Connecting devices that are
not used to perform an
Emissions Inspection/
Maintenance test or to service
the vehicle may affect vehicle
operation. See Add-On
Electrical Equipment0325.
See your dealer if assistance
is needed.
The vehicle may not pass
inspection if:
.The light is on when the
engine is running.
.The light does not come on
when the ignition is in
Service Mode.
.Critical emission control
systems have not been
completely diagnosed. If this
happens, the vehicle would
not be ready for inspection
and might require
several days of routine
driving before the system is
ready for inspection. This
can happen if the 12-volt battery has recently been
replaced or run down, or if
the vehicle has been
recently serviced.
See your dealer if the vehicle
will not pass or cannot be
made ready for the test.
Brake System
Warning Light
MetricEnglish
This light comes on briefly
when the vehicle is turned on
to show that the light is
working. If it does not come on
then, have it fixed so it will be
ready to warn you if there is a
problem.
If the light comes on and stays
on, there is a brake problem.
Have the brake system
inspected right away. This light may come on if the brake
fluid is low. See Brake Fluid
0
345.
If the light comes on while
driving, pull off the road and
stop carefully. The brake
system has electric brake
boost. Vehicle speed may be
limited when the brake system
warning light comes on. The
brake pedal might be harder to
push, or the brake pedal may
go closer to the floor. It could
take longer to stop. If the light
is still on, have the vehicle
towed for service. See
Transporting a Disabled
Vehicle 0407.
{Warning
The brake system might not
be working properly if the
brake system warning light
is on. Driving with the brake
system warning light on can
lead to a crash. If the light is
still on after the vehicle has
(Continued)
Cadillac XT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16412876) - 2023 - CRC - 3/25/22
Instruments and Controls 143
HUD Troubleshooting
If you cannot see the HUD
image when the ignition is on,
check that:
.Nothing is covering the
HUD lens.
.The HUD brightness setting
is not too dim or too bright.
.The HUD is adjusted to the
proper height.
.Polarized sunglasses are
not worn.
.The windshield and HUD lens
are clean.
If the HUD image is not
correct, contact your dealer.
The windshield is part of the
HUD system. See Windshield
Replacement 0349.
Vehicle Messages
Messages displayed on the
Driver Information Center
(DIC) indicate the status of the
vehicle or some action that may be needed to correct a
condition. Multiple messages
may appear one after another.
The messages that do not
require immediate action can
be acknowledged and cleared
by pressing the thumbwheel.
The messages that require
immediate action cannot be
cleared until that action is
performed.
All messages should be taken
seriously; clearing the
message does not correct the
problem.
If a SERVICE message
appears, see your dealer.
Follow the instructions given
in the messages. The system
displays messages regarding
the following topics:
.Service Messages
.Fluid Levels
.Vehicle Security
.Brakes
.Steering
.Ride Control Systems
.Driver Assistance Systems
.Cruise Control
.Lighting and Bulb
Replacement
.Wiper/Washer Systems
.Doors and Windows
.Seat Belts
.Airbag Systems
.Engine and Transmission
.Tire Pressure
.Battery
Engine Power
Messages
ENGINE POWER IS
REDUCED
This message displays when
the vehicle's propulsion power
is reduced. A reduction in
propulsion power can affect
the vehicle's ability to
accelerate. If this message is
on, but there is no observed
reduction in performance,
proceed to your destination.
Under certain conditions the
performance may be reduced
Cadillac XT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16412876) - 2023 - CRC - 3/25/22
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-
16412876) - 2023 - CRC - 3/25/22
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 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-
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Driving and Operating 261
Car Wash Mode (Engine On–
Driver out of Vehicle)
To place the vehicle in
N (Neutral) with the engine on
and the vehicle unoccupied:
1. Drive to the entrance of the car wash.
2. Apply the brake pedal.
3. Open the door.
4. Shift to N (Neutral), then release the brake pedal.
5. The indicator should continue to show N. If it
does not, repeat
Steps 2–4.
6. Exit the vehicle and close the door. The vehicle is
now ready for the
car wash.
7. The vehicle may automatically shift to
P (Park) upon re-entry.Caution
A transmission hot message
may display if the automatic
transmission fluid is too hot.
Driving under this condition
can damage the vehicle.
Stop and idle the engine to
cool the automatic
transmission fluid. This
message clears when the
transmission fluid has cooled
sufficiently.
D : This position is for normal
driving. If more power is
needed for passing, press the
accelerator pedal down.
To shift into D (Drive):
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. From the center position, move the shift lever back.
.If the vehicle is in
P (Park), press the shift
lock release button while
pulling the shift
lever back.
.D will illuminate in red.
.After releasing the shift
lever, it will return to the
center position.
To shift out of D (Drive): 1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Shift to the desired gear.
3. After releasing the shift lever, it will return to the
center position.
Downshifting the transmission
in slippery road conditions
could result in skidding. See
“Skidding” under Loss of
Control 0233.
Caution
Spinning the tires or holding
the vehicle in one place on a
hill using only the
accelerator pedal may
damage the transmission.
The repair will not be
covered by the vehicle
warranty. If the vehicle is
stuck, do not spin the tires.
(Continued)
Cadillac XT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16412876) - 2023 - CRC - 3/25/22
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,
Cadillac XT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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326 Vehicle Care
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . 327
California PerchlorateMaterials
Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332
Engine Oil Life System . . . 335
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336
Engine Air Filter Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336
Engine Air Cleaner/ Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . 338
Engine Overheating . . . . . . 342
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 343
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 344
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345 Battery - North
America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 347
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . 347
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 347
Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 349
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 349Headlamp Aiming
Front Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . 350
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350
Front Turn SignalLamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350
Back-Up Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . 351
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 352
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 353
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 354
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 364
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . 365
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 366
Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 366
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . 367
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . 369
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 370
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 372
Tire Pressure for High-Speed
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 374
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 375
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 376
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . 380
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 381
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 382
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . 383
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 385
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 385
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 387
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . 387
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 388