Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16406251) - 2023 - CRC - 3/25/22
274 Driving and Operating
If the vehicle is in Tour or
AWD, it will stay in that mode
through future ON/OFF
cycles. If the vehicle is in any
other mode, it will return to
Tour Mode when the vehicle is
restarted. When a mode is
selected, an indicator will
come on in the instrument
cluster and stay on.
Driver Mode Control Switch
Tour : Tour Mode operates in
FWD to improve fuel economy.
Use this mode during normal
driving operations. Sport :
Sport Mode improves
vehicle handling and
acceleration on dry pavement.
When active, Sport Mode
modifies steering efforts,
transmission shifting, AWD,
ESC, and suspension tuning,
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 green
gear symbol which appears in
the instrument cluster display.
See Performance Shifting
Light 0133.
AWD : AWD Mode provides
drive torque to all four wheels.
Select AWD to improve
traction and control on
slippery road surfaces, such as gravel, sand, wet pavement,
snow, and ice. When in AWD
Mode, the AWD Mode
indicator light will be on. For
more information on AWD
Mode, see All-Wheel Drive
0
267.
Snow/Ice (FWD Vehicles
Only) : Snow/Ice Mode
improves vehicle acceleration
on snow and ice covered
roads.
Off-Road (AWD Vehicles
Only) : Use this mode for
off-road recreational driving.
Off-Road Mode should be
used to improve driving at
moderate speeds, on grass,
gravel, dirt, unpaved roads,
or snow-covered roads. This
mode modifies pedal mapping,
suspension tuning, AWD, ABS,
ESC, and TCS performance.
For more information on
off-road driving, see Off-Road
Driving 0239.
Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 277
.Press and hold SET−until
the desired lower speed is
reached, then release it.
.To decrease the vehicle
speed in small increments,
briefly press SET− to the
first detent. For each press,
the vehicle goes about
1 km/h (1 mph) slower.
.To decrease the vehicle
speed in larger increments,
briefly press SET− to the
second detent. For each
press, the vehicle speed
decreases to the next
5 km/h (5 mph) mark on the
speedometer.
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 Cluster 0122. 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 applying 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, Adaptive Cruise
Control (ACC) allows the
cruise control set speed and
following gap to be selected.
Read this entire section
before using this system. The
Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 323
towing, install extended side
view mirrors, even if not
required.
.Do not tow a trailer during
the first 800 km (500 mi) of
vehicle use to prevent
damage to the engine, axle,
or other parts.
.GM recommends performing
an oil change to the vehicle
before heavy towing.
.Do not drive over 80 km/h
(50 mph) and do not make
starts at full throttle during
the first 800 km (500 mi) of
trailer towing.
.Vehicles can tow in D (Drive).
If the transmission
downshifts too often, a
lower gear may be selected
using Manual Mode. See
Manual Mode0266.
If equipped, the following
driver assistance features
should be turned off when
towing a trailer:
.Adaptive Cruise
Control (ACC)
.Super Cruise Control
.Park Assist
.Automatic Parking
Assist (APA)
.Reverse Automatic
Braking (RAB)
If equipped, the following
driver assistance features
should be turned to alert or
off when towing a trailer:
.Automatic Emergency
Braking (AEB)
.Intelligent Brake Assist (IBA)
.Front Pedestrian
Braking (FPB)
If equipped with Lane Change
Alert (LCA), the LCA detection
zones that extend back from
the side of the vehicle do not
move further back when a
trailer is towed. Use caution
while changing lanes when
towing a trailer.
If equipped with Rear Cross
Traffic Alert (RCTA), use
caution while backing up when
towing a trailer, as the RCTA
detection zones that extend out from the back of the
vehicle do not move further
back when a trailer is towed.
{Warning
To prevent serious injury or
death from carbon monoxide
(CO), when towing a trailer:
.Do not drive with the
liftgate, trunk/hatch,
or rear-most
window open.
.Fully open the air outlets
on or under the
instrument panel.
.Adjust the climate control
system to a setting that
brings in only outside air.
See
“Climate Control
Systems” in the Index.
For more information about
carbon monoxide, see
Engine Exhaust 0260.
Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 325
Making TurnsCaution
Turn more slowly and make
wider arcs when towing a
trailer to prevent damage to
your vehicle. Making very
sharp turns could cause the
trailer to contact the vehicle.
Make wider turns than normal
when towing, so the trailer will
not go over soft shoulders,
over curbs, or strike road
signs, trees, or other objects.
Always signal turns well in
advance. Do not steer or brake
suddenly.
Driving on Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a
lower gear before starting
down a long or steep downhill
grade. If the transmission is
not shifted down, the brakes
may overheat and result in
reduced braking efficiency. 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
Overheating
0356.
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).
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Vehicle Care 337
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . 338
California PerchlorateMaterials
Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . 338
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . 338
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 339
Doing Your Own Service Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 342
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345
Engine Oil Life System . . . 348
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 349
Engine Air Filter Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 349
Engine Air Cleaner/ Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . 352
Engine Overheating . . . . . . 356
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 357
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358 Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359
Battery - North
America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 361
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . 361
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 362
Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363Headlamp Aiming
Front Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 365
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . 365
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 365
Electrical System
Electrical SystemOverload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 365
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 367
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 368
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 371
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 374
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 376
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . 377
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 377
Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 378
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . 378
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . 381
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 382
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 384
Tire Pressure for High-Speed
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 386
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 387
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 388
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . 392
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 393
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 394
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . 395
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 397
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 397
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 399
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . 399
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 400
Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Vehicle Care 349
It cannot be reset
accurately until the next oil
change.
The oil life system can also be
reset as follows: 1. Display REMAINING OIL LIFE on the DIC. See Driver
Information Center (DIC)
0139.
2. Fully press and release the accelerator pedal three
times within five seconds.
If the CHANGE ENGINE
OIL SOON message is not
on, the system is reset.
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
warranty. Always use the
correct automatic
transmission fluid. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0433.
See your dealer to have the
fluid and filter changed at the
intervals listed in the
Maintenance Schedule 0429.
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 the
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.
Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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356 Vehicle Care
5. Turn off the airconditioning.
6. Set the parking brake.
7. At the same time, press the accelerator and the
brake for automatic
transmission vehicles for
two seconds, then release.
At the end of the cycle, check
the coolant level in the surge
tank and add coolant, if it is
low. Turn off the vehicle, allow
the Engine Control Module
(ECM) to go to sleep, about
two minutes, and repeat
steps 3-7.
Listen for pump activation and
movement of the control
valves while watching the level
of the tank. If the tank
empties, turn the ignition off,
carefully remove the surge
tank cap, refill to the indicated
mark and repeat steps 3-6.
The fill and air removal
process will run for
approximately 10 minutes.Engine Overheating
The vehicle has several
indicators to warn of the
engine overheating.
There is an engine coolant
temperature gauge on the
instrument cluster. See Engine
Coolant Temperature Gauge
0 126. The vehicle may also
display a message on the
Driver Information
Center (DIC).
If the decision is made not to
lift the hood when this
warning appears, get service
help right away. See Roadside
Assistance Program 0446.
If the decision is made to lift
the hood, make sure the
vehicle is parked on a level
surface. Then check to see if
the engine cooling fan is
running. If the engine is
overheating, the fan should be
running. If it is not, do not
continue to run the engine.
Have the vehicle serviced.
Caution
Do not run the engine if
there is a leak in the engine
cooling system. This can
cause a loss of all coolant
and can damage the system
and vehicle. Have any leaks
fixed right away.
If Steam Is Coming from
the Engine Compartment
{Warning
Steam and scalding liquids
from a hot cooling system
are under pressure. Turning
the pressure cap, even a
little, can cause them to
come out at high speed and
you could be burned. Never
turn the cap when the
cooling system, including the
pressure cap, is hot. Wait for
the cooling system and
pressure cap to cool.
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Vehicle Care 361
Warning (Continued)
California to cause cancer
and birth defects or other
reproductive harm. Wash
hands after handling. For
more information go to
www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
See California Proposition
65 Warning 01.
Stop/Start System
This vehicle has a Stop/Start
system to shut off the engine
to help conserve fuel. See
Stop/Start System 0255.
Vehicle Storage
{Warning
Batteries have acid that can
burn you and gas that can
explode. You can be badly
hurt if you are not careful.
Always wear eye protection.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
See Jump Starting - North
America0409 for tips on
working around a battery
without getting hurt.
Infrequent Usage: Remove the
black, negative (−) cable from
the battery to keep the
battery from running down.
Extended Storage: Remove
the black, negative (−) cable
from the battery or use a
battery trickle charger.
All-Wheel Drive
Transfer Case
Under normal driving
conditions, transfer case fluid
does not require maintenance
unless there is a fluid leak or
unusual noise. If required, have
the transfer case serviced by
your dealer.
Park Brake and
P (Park) Mechanism
Check
{Warning
When you are doing this
check, the vehicle could
begin to move. You or
others could be injured and
property could be damaged.
Make sure there is room in
front of the vehicle in case it
begins to roll. Be ready to
apply the regular brake at
once should the vehicle
begin to move.
Park on a fairly steep hill, with
the vehicle facing downhill.
Keeping your foot on the
regular brake, set the parking
brake.
.To check the parking brake's
holding ability: With the
engine running and the
transmission in N (Neutral),
slowly remove foot pressure
from the regular brake pedal.