2023 CADILLAC XT5 brakes

Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16406251) - 2023 - CRC - 3/25/22
322 Driving and Operating
Trailer Towing
General Towing
Information
Only use towing equipment
that has been designed for the
vehicle. Contact your dealer or
trailering dealer for assistance
with preparing the vehicle to
tow a trailer. Read the entire
section before towing a trailer.
To tow a disabled vehicle, see
Transporting a Disabled
Vehicle0412. To tow the
vehicle behind another vehicle
such as a motor home, see
Recreational Vehicle Towing
0 414.
Driving
Characteristics and
Towing Tips
{Warning
You can lose control when
towing a trailer if the correct
equipment is not used or the
vehicle is not driven
properly. For example, if the
trailer is too heavy or the
trailer brakes are
inadequate for the load, the
vehicle may not stop as
expected. You and others
could be seriously injured.
The vehicle may also be
damaged, and the repairs
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. Pull a
trailer only if all the steps in
this section have been
followed. Ask your dealer for
advice and information
about towing a trailer with
the vehicle.
Driving with a Trailer
Trailering is different than just
driving the vehicle by itself.
Trailering means changes in
handling, acceleration, braking,
durability, and fuel economy.
Successful, safe trailering
takes correct equipment, and
it has to be used properly.
The following information has
many time-tested, important
trailering tips and safety rules.
Many of these are important
for your safety and that of
your passengers. Read this
section carefully before pulling
a trailer.
When towing a trailer:
.Become familiar with and
follow all state and local laws
that apply to trailer towing.
These requirements vary
from state to state.
.State laws may require the
use of extended side view
mirrors. If your visibility is
limited or restricted while

Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16406251) - 2023 - CRC - 3/25/22
324 Driving and Operating
Towing a trailer requires
experience. The combination
of the vehicle and trailer is
longer and not as responsive
as the vehicle itself. Get used
to the handling and braking of
the combination by driving on
a level road surface before
driving on public roads.
The trailer structure, the tires,
and the brakes must be all be
rated to carry the intended
cargo. Inadequate trailer
equipment can cause the
combination to operate in an
unexpected or unsafe manner.
Before driving, inspect all
trailer hitch parts and
attachments, safety chains,
electrical connectors, lamps,
tires, and mirrors. See Towing
Equipment0331. If the trailer
has electric brakes, start the
combination moving and then
manually apply the trailer
brake controller to check the
trailer brakes work. During the
trip, occasionally check that the cargo and trailer are
secure and that the lamps and
any trailer brakes are working.
Towing with a Stability
Control System
When towing, the stability
control system might be
heard. The system reacts to
vehicle movement caused by
the trailer, which mainly occurs
during cornering. This is
normal when towing heavier
trailers.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far
behind the vehicle ahead as
you would when driving
without a trailer. This can help
to avoid heavy braking and
sudden turns.
Passing
More passing distance is
needed when towing a trailer.
The combination of the vehicle
and trailer will not accelerate
as quickly and is much longer
than the vehicle alone. It is
necessary to go much farther
beyond the passed vehicle
before returning to the lane.
Pass on level roadways. Avoid
passing on hills if possible.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the
steering wheel with one hand.
To move the trailer to the left,
move that hand to the left. To
move the trailer to the right,
move that hand to the right.
Always back up slowly and,
if possible, have someone
guide you.

Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16406251) - 2023 - CRC - 3/25/22
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).

Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16406251) - 2023 - CRC - 3/25/22
Driving and Operating 327
.Maximum Trailer Weight
Rating
.Maximum Trailer Tongue
Weight Rating
.Gross Axle Weight
Rating-Rear (GAWR-RR)
See “Weight-Distributing Hitch
Adjustment” under Towing
Equipment 0331 to determine
if equalizer bars are required
to obtain the maximum trailer
weight rating.
See “Trailer Brakes” under
Towing Equipment 0331 to
determine if brakes are
required based on the trailer
weight.
The only way to be sure the
weight is not exceeding any of
these ratings is to weigh the
tow vehicle and trailer
combination, fully loaded for
the trip, getting individual
weights for each of these
items.
{Warning
You and others could be
seriously injured or killed if
the trailer is too heavy or
the trailer brakes are
inadequate for the load. The
vehicle may be damaged,
and the repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle
warranty.
Only tow a trailer if all the
steps in this section have
been followed. Ask your
dealer for advice and
information about towing a
trailer.
Gross Combined Weight
Rating (GCWR)
GCWR is the total allowable
weight of the completely
loaded vehicle and trailer
including any fuel, passengers,
cargo, equipment, and
accessories. Do not exceed
the GCWR for your vehicle.
The GCWR for the vehicle is
on the tow rating chart later in
this section.
To check that the weight of
the vehicle and trailer are
within the GCWR for the
vehicle:
1. Start with the curb weight from the Trailering
Information Label.
2. Add the weight of the trailer loaded with cargo
and ready for the trip.
3. Add the weight of all passengers.

Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16406251) - 2023 - CRC - 3/25/22
332 Driving and Operating
1. Front of Vehicle
2. Body to Ground Distance
When using a
weight-distributing hitch,
measure the front fender
height above the front axle
distance (2) before and after
connecting the trailer. Adjust
the spring bars until the front
fender height distance (2) is
approximately halfway
between the first and second
measurements.
Tires
.Do not tow a trailer while
using a compact spare tire
on the vehicle.
.Tires must be properly
inflated to support loads
while towing a trailer. See
Tires0376 for instructions
on proper tire inflation.
Safety Chains
Always attach chains between
the vehicle and the trailer, and
attach the chains to the holes
on the trailer hitch platform.
Instructions about safety
chains may be provided by the
hitch manufacturer or by the
trailer manufacturer.
Cross the safety chains under
the tongue of the trailer to
help prevent the tongue from
contacting the road if it
becomes separated from the
hitch. Always leave just
enough slack so the
combination can turn. Never
allow safety chains to drag on
the ground.
Trailer Brakes
Loaded trailers over 450 kg
(1,000 lb) must be equipped
with brake systems and with
brakes for each axle. Trailer
braking equipment conforming
to Canadian Standards
Association (CSA) requirement
CAN3-D313, or its equivalent,
is recommended.
State or local regulations may
require trailers to have their
own braking system if the
loaded weight of the trailer
exceeds certain minimums
that can vary from state to
state.
Read and follow the
instructions for the trailer
brakes so they are installed,
adjusted, and maintained
properly.
{Warning
Never attempt to tamper
with the hydraulic brake
system for your trailer
(Continued)

Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16406251) - 2023 - CRC - 3/25/22
Driving and Operating 333
Warning (Continued)
brakes. Do not connect a
trailer's hydraulic brake
system directly to your
vehicle's hydraulic brake
system. If you do, both the
vehicle antilock brakes and
the trailer brakes may not
function, which could result
in a crash.
Trailer Wiring
The trailer wiring harness (if
equipped), with a seven-pin
connector is located at the
rear of the vehicle, and it is
tied to the vehicle's frame.
If the vehicle is not equipped
with a seven-pin trailer
connector, the body harness
has provisions to connect a
trailer harness and a seven-pin
trailer connector which is
available through your dealer.
Use only a round, seven-wire
connector with flat blade
terminals meeting SAE J2863
specifications for proper
electrical connectivity.
The seven-wire harness
contains the following trailer
circuits:Stop/Turn
Signal Left
Yellow/Blue
Stop/Turn
Signal Right Green/Brown
Tail/Parking
Lamps Gray/Brown
or Brown
Reverse
Lamps White/Green
or Gray
Battery Feed Red/Green or
Orange
Ground Black or
White
Electric
Trailer Brake* Blue
* Circuit powered by electric
trailer brake control wiring
provisions.
Electric Trailer Brake
Control Wiring Provisions
Wiring provisions for an
aftermarket electric trailer
brake controller are included
with the vehicle as part of the

Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16406251) - 2023 - CRC - 3/25/22
334 Driving and Operating
trailer wiring package. The
harness contains the following
circuits:Electric
Trailer Brakes Blue
Battery Feed Red/Green or
Red/Blue
Brake Apply
Signal White/Blue
Ground Black or
White
Refer to the aftermarket
electric trailer brake controller
owner's manual to determine
wire color coding of the
electric trailer brake controller.
The wire colors on the brake
controller may be different
from the vehicle. The electric
trailer brake controller should
be installed by your dealer or a
qualified service center.
If equipped, there are four
blunt cut wires inside the front
driver side instrument panel.
It will be necessary to have a technician connect the 12-volt
power to the engine
compartment fuse block.
Trailer Lamps
Always check that all trailer
lamps are working at the
beginning of each trip, and
periodically on longer trips.
Turn Signals When
Towing a Trailer
When properly connected, the
trailer turn signals will
illuminate to indicate the
vehicle is turning, changing
lanes, or stopping. When
towing a trailer, the arrows on
the instrument cluster will
illuminate even if the trailer is
not properly connected or the
bulbs are burned out.
Trailer Sway
Control (TSC)
Vehicles with StabiliTrak/
Electronic Stability Control
(ESC) have a Trailer Sway
Control (TSC) feature. Trailersway is unintended
side-to-side motion of a trailer
while towing. If the vehicle is
towing a trailer and the TSC
detects that sway is
increasing, the vehicle brakes
are selectively applied at each
wheel, to help reduce
excessive trailer sway.
If equipped with the
Integrated Trailer Brake
Control (ITBC) system, and the
trailer has an electric brake
system, StabiliTrak/ESC may
also apply the trailer brakes.
If TSC is enabled, the Traction
Control System (TCS)/
StabiliTrak/ESC warning light
will flash on the instrument
cluster. Reduce vehicle speed
by gradually removing your
foot from the accelerator.
If trailer sway continues,

Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16406251) - 2023 - CRC - 3/28/22
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