Vehicle care CADILLAC XT5 2020 User Guide

DRIVING AND OPERATING 161
Braking
Braking action involves perception
time and reaction time. Deciding to
push the brake pedal is perception
time. Actually doing it is
reaction time.
Average driver reaction time is about
three-quarters of a second. In that
time, a vehicle moving at 100 km/h
(60 mph) travels 20 m (66 ft), which
could be a lot of distance in an
emergency.
Helpful braking tips to keep in mind
include:
.Keep enough distance between
you and the vehicle in front
of you.
. Avoid needless heavy braking.
. Keep pace with traffic.
If the engine ever stops while the
vehicle is being driven, brake normally
but do not pump the brakes. Doing so
could make the pedal harder to push
down. If the engine stops, there will
be some power brake assist but it will
be used when the brake is applied. Once the power assist is used up, it
can take longer to stop and the brake
pedal will be harder to push.
Steering
Electric Power Steering
Caution
To avoid damage to the steering
system, do not drive over curbs,
parking barriers, or similar objects
at speeds greater than 3 km/h
(1 mph). Use care when driving over
other objects such as lane dividers
and speed bumps. Damage caused
by misuse of the vehicle is not
covered by the vehicle warranty.
The vehicle has electric power
steering. It does not have power
steering fluid. Regular maintenance is
not required.
If power steering assist is lost due to a
system malfunction, the vehicle can
be steered, but may require increased
effort.
If the steering assist is used for an
extended period of time while the
vehicle is not moving, power assist
may be reduced.

DRIVING AND OPERATING 163
Defensive drivers avoid most skids by
taking reasonable care suited to
existing conditions, and by not
overdriving those conditions. But
skids are always possible.
If the vehicle starts to slide, follow
these suggestions:
.Ease your foot off the accelerator
pedal and steer the way you want
the vehicle to go. The vehicle may
straighten out. Be ready for a
second skid if it occurs.
. Slow down and adjust your driving
according to weather conditions.
Stopping distance can be longer
and vehicle control can be affected
when traction is reduced by water,
snow, ice, gravel, or other material
on the road. Learn to recognize
warning clues —such as enough
water, ice, or packed snow on the
road to make a mirrored surface
— and slow down when you have
any doubt.
. Try to avoid sudden steering,
acceleration, or braking, including
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.

168 DRIVING AND OPERATING
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 Tires0282.
. Turn off cruise control.
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, 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 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.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
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. 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.

DRIVING AND OPERATING 193
Hill Start Assist (HSA)
{Warning
Do not rely on the HSA feature.
HSA does not replace the need to
pay attention and drive safely. You
may not hear or feel alerts or
warnings provided by this system.
Failure to use proper care when
driving may result in injury, death,
or vehicle damage. SeeDefensive
Driving 0160.
When the vehicle is stopped on a
grade, Hill Start Assist (HSA) prevents
the vehicle from rolling in an
unintended direction during the
transition from brake pedal release to
accelerator pedal apply. The brakes
release when the accelerator pedal is
applied. If the accelerator pedal is not
applied within a few minutes, the
Electric Parking Brake will apply. The
brakes may also 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), an
electronic stability control system.
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

DRIVING AND OPERATING 207
ice, dirt, or mud. These areas need to
be cleaned for ACC to operate
properly.
For cleaning instructions, see
“Washing the Vehicle”under Exterior
Care 0323.
System operation may also be limited
under snow, heavy rain, or road spray
conditions.Driver Assistance
Systems
This vehicle may have features that
work together to help avoid crashes or
reduce crash damage while driving,
backing, and parking. Read this entire
section before using these systems.
{Warning
Do not rely on the Driver
Assistance Systems. These systems
do not replace the need for paying
attention and driving safely. You
may not hear or feel alerts or
warnings provided by these
systems. Failure to use proper care
when driving may result in injury,
death, or vehicle damage. See
Defensive Driving 0160.
Under many conditions, these
systems will not: . Detect children, pedestrians,
bicyclists, or animals.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.Detect vehicles or objects
outside the area monitored by
the system.
. Work at all driving speeds.
. Warn you or provide you with
enough time to avoid a crash.
. Work under poor visibility or
bad weather conditions.
. Work if the detection sensor
is not cleaned or is covered
by ice, snow, mud, or dirt.
. Work if the detection sensor
is covered up, such as with a
sticker, magnet, or metal
plate.
. Work if the area surrounding
the detection sensor is
damaged or not properly
repaired.
Complete attention is always
required while driving, and you
should be ready to take action and
apply the brakes and/or steer the
vehicle to avoid crashes.

210 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Warning (Continued)
surround view correctly. Always
check around the vehicle when
parking or backing.
1. Views Displayed by theSurround Vision Cameras
2. Area Not Shown
1. Views Displayed by the Surround Vision Cameras
2. Area Not Shown
{Warning
The camera(s) do not display
children, pedestrians, bicyclists,
crossing traffic, animals, or any
other object outside of the cameras’
field of view, below the bumper,
or under the vehicle. Shown
distances may be different from
actual distances. Do not drive or
park the vehicle using only these
camera(s). Always check behind and
around the vehicle before driving.
Failure to use proper care may
result in injury, death, or vehicle
damage. Camera Views
Touch the camera view buttons along
the bottom of the infotainment
display.
Front/Rear Standard View :
Displays
an image of the area in front or
behind the vehicle. Touch Front/Rear
Standard View on the infotainment
display when a camera view is active.
Touching the button multiple times
will toggle between front and rear
camera views.
If equipped, the front view camera
also displays when the Park Assist
system detects an object within
30 cm (12 in).

226 DRIVING AND OPERATING
still looks blurry, use a soft wet cloth
to gently clean the sensor camera lens
and dry thoroughly. The sensor is
behind the lower front grille below the
driver side headlamp.
The camera must also be aligned to
work correctly. If the camera needs
adjustment, see your dealer. Do not
attempt to adjust the camera yourself.
Side Blind Zone
Alert (SBZA)
If equipped, the SBZA system is a
lane-changing aid that assists drivers
with avoiding crashes that occur with
moving vehicles in the side blind zone
(or spot) areas. When the vehicle is in
a forward gear, the left or right side
mirror display will light up if a moving
vehicle is detected in that blind zone.
If the turn signal is activated and a
vehicle is also detected on the same
side, the display will flash as an extra
warning not to change lanes. Since
this system is part of the Lane Change
Alert (LCA) system, read the entire
LCA section before using this feature.
Lane Change Alert (LCA)
If equipped, the LCA system is a
lane-changing aid that assists drivers
with avoiding lane change crashes
that occur with moving vehicles in the
side blind zone (or spot) areas or with
vehicles rapidly approaching these
areas from behind. The LCA warning
display will light up in the
corresponding outside side mirror and
will flash if the turn signal is on.
{Warning
LCA does not alert the driver to
vehicles outside of the system
detection zones, pedestrians,
bicyclists, or animals. It may not
provide alerts when changing lanes
under all driving conditions. Failure
to use proper care when changing
lanes may result in injury, death,
or vehicle damage. Before making a
lane change, always check mirrors,
glance over your shoulder, and use
the turn signals.LCA Detection Zones
1. SBZA Detection Zone
2. LCA Detection Zone
The LCA sensor covers a zone of
approximately one lane over from
both sides of the vehicle, or 3.5 m
(11 ft). The height of the zone is
approximately between 0.5 m (1.5 ft)
and 2 m (6 ft) off the ground. The Side
Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) warning area
starts at approximately the middle of
the vehicle and goes back 5 m (16 ft).
Drivers are also warned of vehicles
rapidly approaching from up to 70 m
(230 ft) behind the vehicle.

DRIVING AND OPERATING 227
How the System Works
The LCA symbol lights up in the side
mirrors when the system detects a
moving vehicle in the next lane over
that is in the side blind zone or
rapidly approaching that zone from
behind. A lit LCA symbol indicates it
may be unsafe to change lanes. Before
making a lane change, check the LCA
display, check mirrors, glance over
your shoulder, and use the turn
signals.
Left Side MirrorDisplayRight Side Mirror Display
When the vehicle is started, both
outside mirror LCA displays will
briefly come on to indicate the system
is operating. When the vehicle is in a
forward gear, the left or right side
mirror display will light up if a moving
vehicle is detected in the next lane
over in that blind zone or rapidly
approaching that zone. If the turn signal is activated in the same
direction as a detected vehicle, this
display will flash as an extra warning
not to change lanes.
LCA can be disabled through vehicle
personalization. See
Vehicle
Personalization 0131. If LCA is
disabled by the driver, the LCA mirror
displays will not light up.
When the System Does Not
Seem to Work Properly
The LCA system requires some driving
for the system to calibrate to
maximum performance. This
calibration may occur more quickly if
the vehicle is driving on a straight
highway road with traffic and roadside
objects (e.g., guardrails, barriers).
LCA displays may not come on when
passing a vehicle quickly, for a
stopped vehicle, or when towing a
trailer. 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. LCA may alert to objects
attached to the vehicle, such as a trailer, bicycle, or object extending out
to either side of the vehicle. Attached
objects may also interfere with the
detection of vehicles. This is normal
system operation; the vehicle does not
need service.
LCA may not always alert the driver to
vehicles in the next lane over,
especially in wet conditions or when
driving on sharp curves. The system
does not need to be serviced. The
system may light up due to guardrails,
signs, trees, shrubs, and other
non-moving objects. This is normal
system operation; the vehicle does not
need service.
LCA may not operate when the LCA
sensors in the left or right corners of
the rear bumper are covered with
mud, dirt, snow, ice, or slush, or in
heavy rainstorms. For cleaning
instructions, see "Washing the
Vehicle" under
Exterior Care0323.
If the DIC still displays the system
unavailable message after cleaning
both sides of the vehicle toward the
rear corners of the vehicle, see your
dealer.

232 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Warning (Continued)
.Do not leave the fuel pump
unattended.
. Avoid using electronic devices
while refueling.
. Do not re-enter the vehicle
while pumping fuel.
. Keep children away from the
fuel pump and never let
children pump fuel.
. Before touching the fill
nozzle, touch a metallic
object to discharge static
electricity from your body.
. Fuel can spray out if the fill
nozzle is inserted too quickly.
This spray can happen if the
tank is nearly full, and is
more likely in hot weather.
Insert the fill nozzle slowly
and wait for any hiss noise to
stop before beginning to
flow fuel. If equipped, the fuel door unlocks
when the vehicle doors are unlocked.
See
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation 010.
To open the fuel door, push and
release the rearward center edge of
the door.
The capless refueling system does not
have a fuel cap. Fully insert and latch
the fill nozzle, then begin fueling.
{Warning
Overfilling the fuel tank by more
than three clicks of a standard fill
nozzle may cause:
. Vehicle performance issues,
including engine stalling and
damage to the fuel system.
. Fuel spills.
. Under certain conditions, fuel
fires.
Be careful not to spill fuel. Wait
five seconds after you have finished
pumping before removing the fill
nozzle. Clean fuel from painted
surfaces as soon as possible. See
Exterior Care 0323. Push the fuel door
closed until it latches.
{Warning
If a fire starts while you are
refueling, do not remove the fill
nozzle. Shut off the flow of fuel by
(Continued)

234 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, seeTowing
the Vehicle 0319. To tow the vehicle
behind another vehicle such as a
motor home, see Recreational Vehicle
Towing 0320.
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
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
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. Even if
not required, you should install
extended side view mirrors if your
visibility is limited or restricted
while towing.
. 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.
. It is recommended to perform the
first oil change before heavy
towing.
. During the first 800 km (500 mi)
of trailer towing, do not drive over
80 km/h (50 mph) and do not
make starts at full throttle.
. Vehicles can tow in D (Drive).
If the transmission downshifts too
often, a lower gear may be
selected using Manual Mode See
Manual Mode 0188.