Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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234 Driving and Operating
Forward Collision Alert(FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Front Pedestrian Braking
(FPB) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
Night Vision System . . . . . . 310
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Recommended Fuel (2.0LL4 Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
Recommended Fuel (3.6L V6 Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 321
Trailer Towing
General TowingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322 Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . 322
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . 331
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 334
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On ElectricalEquipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336
Driving
Information
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.
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Driving and Operating 239
reducing vehicle speed by
shifting to a lower gear. Any
sudden changes could cause
the tires to slide.
Remember: Antilock brakes
help avoid only the
braking skid.
Off-Road Driving
All-Wheel Drive vehicles can
be used for off-road driving.
Vehicles without All-Wheel
Drive and vehicles not
equipped with All Terrain (AT)
or On-Off Road (OOR) tires
must not be driven off-road
except on a level, solid
surface. To contact the tire
manufacturer for more
information about the original
equipment tires, see the
Limited Warranty and Owner
Assistance Information
manual.
Controlling the vehicle is the
key to successful off-road
driving. One of the best ways
to control the vehicle is to
control the speed.
{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 All-Wheel Drive
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)
Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 243
Caution
Do not drive through
standing water if it is deep
enough to cover the wheel
hubs, axles, or exhaust pipe.
Deep water can damage the
axle and other vehicle parts.
If the standing water is not
too deep, drive slowly through
it. At faster speeds, water
splashes on the ignition
system and the vehicle can
stall. Stalling can also occur if
you get the exhaust pipe
under water. While the
exhaust pipe is under water,
you will not be able to start
the engine. When going
through water, the brakes get
wet, and it might take longer
to stop. See Driving on Wet
Roads 0243.
After Off-Road Driving
Remove any brush or debris
that has collected on the
underbody or chassis, 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 Schedule
0429.
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.
Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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246 Driving and Operating
{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.
.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(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
the fan speed to the
highest setting. See
“Climate Control Systems.”
For more information about
CO, see Engine Exhaust
0 260.
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
0 271.
{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
wheels as little as possible
and avoid going above
56 km/h (35 mph).
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250 Driving and Operating
Example 3
1.Vehicle Capacity
Weight for Example 3 =
453 kg (1,000 lbs).
2.Subtract Occupant
Weight @ 91 kg
(200 lbs) × 5 = 453 kg
(1,000 lbs).
3.Available Cargo Weight
= 0 kg (0 lbs).
Refer to the vehicle's tire
and loading information
label for specific
information about the
vehicle's capacity weight and seating positions. The
combined weight of the
driver, passengers, and
cargo should never exceed
the vehicle's capacity
weight.
Certification/Tire Label
Label Example
A vehicle-specific
Certification/Tire label is
attached to the center
pillar (B-pillar).
The label may show the
size of the vehicle's original
tires and the inflationpressures needed to obtain
the gross weight capacity
of the vehicle. The label
shows the gross weight
capacity of the vehicle. This
is called the Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR). The
GVWR includes the weight
of the vehicle, all
occupants, fuel, and cargo.
The Certification/Tire label
may also show the
maximum weights for the
front and rear axles, called
the Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR). To find out
the actual loads on the
front and rear axles, weigh
the vehicle at a weigh
station. Your dealer can
help with this. Be sure to
spread the load equally on
both sides of the
centerline.
Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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252 Driving and Operating
“break-in”period during the
first 6 400 km (4,000 mi) of
routine driving. As the vehicle
is driven, the mechanical
systems adjust to provide
optimal fuel economy and
transmission shift
performance.
Electrical systems will adapt
and calibrate during the
break-in period. A one-time
occurrence of clicks and
similar vehicle noises is normal
during this process.
Normal driving charges the
vehicle’s battery to achieve
the best operation of the
vehicle, including fuel economy
and the Stop/Start System.
See Stop/Start System 0255.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) 0258.
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 Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) will remain active.
See Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) 0258.
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.
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Driving and Operating 255
the cranking motor to cool
down. When the engine
starts, let go of the button
and the accelerator. If the
vehicle starts briefly but
then stops again, do the
same thing. This clears the
extra gasoline from the
engine. Do not race the
engine immediately after
starting it. Operate the
engine and transmission
gently until the oil warms
up and lubricates all
moving parts.
Stop/Start System
The Stop/Start system will
shut off the engine to help
conserve fuel. It has
components designed for the
increased number of starts.
{Warning
The automatic engine Stop/
Start feature causes the
engine to shut off while the
vehicle is still on. Do not exit(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
the vehicle before shifting to
P (Park). The vehicle may
restart and move
unexpectedly. Always shift
to P (Park), and then turn
the ignition off before
exiting the vehicle.
Auto Engine Stop/Start
When the brakes are applied
and the vehicle is at a
complete stop, the engine may
turn off. When stopped, the
tachometer displays AUTO
STOP. See Tachometer 0125.
When the brake pedal is
released or the accelerator
pedal is pressed, the engine
will restart.
To maintain vehicle
performance, other conditions
may cause the engine to
automatically restart before
the brake pedal is released.
Auto Stops may not occur
and/or Auto Starts may occur
because:
.The climate control settings
require the engine to be
running to cool or heat the
vehicle interior.
.The vehicle battery needs to
charge.
.The vehicle battery has
recently been disconnected.
.Minimum vehicle speed has
not been reached since the
last Auto Stop.
.The accelerator pedal is
pressed.
.The engine or transmission
is not at the required
operating temperature.
.The outside temperature is
not in the required operating
range.
.The vehicle transmission is
shifted out of D (Drive) to
any gear other than P (Park).
.Certain driver modes have
been selected. See Driver
Mode Control 0273.
.The vehicle is on a steep hill
or grade.
Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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256 Driving and Operating
.The driver door has been
opened or the driver seat
belt has been unbuckled.
.The hood has been opened.
.The Auto Stop has reached
the maximum allowed time.
Auto Stop Disable Switch
The automatic engine Stop/
Start feature can be disabled
and enabled by touching the
hsymbol on the center stack.
Auto Stop is enabled each
time you start the vehicle. When the light next to the
h
is illuminated, the system is
enabled.
Engine Heater
The engine heater can provide
easier starting and better fuel
economy during engine
warm-up in cold weather
conditions at or below
−18 °C (0 °F). Vehicles with an
engine heater should be
plugged in at least four hours
before starting. An internal
thermostat in the plug-end of
the cord may exist, which will
prevent engine heater
operation at temperatures
above
−18 °C (0 °F).
{Warning
Do not plug in the engine
block heater while the
vehicle is parked in a garage
or under a carport. Property
damage or personal injury
may result. Always park the
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
vehicle in a clear open area
away from buildings or
structures.
To Use the Engine Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Check the heater cord fordamage. If it is damaged,
do not use it. See your
dealer for a replacement.
Inspect the cord for
damage yearly.