tires CADILLAC SRX 2015 2.G User Guide

Black plate (6,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707476) - 2015 - crc - 4/8/14
9-6 Driving and Operating
{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. SeeTires on
page 10-41.
.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 for
driving in these conditions 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 braking.
Shift the transmission to a lower
gear to let the engine assist the
brakes on a steep downhill slope.

Black plate (7,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707476) - 2015 - crc - 4/8/14
Driving and Operating 9-7
{Warning
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral)
or with the ignition off is
dangerous. This can cause
overheating of the brakes and
loss of steering. Always have the
engine running and the vehicle
in gear.
.Stay in your own lane. Do not
swing wide or cut across the
center of the road. Drive at
speeds that let you stay in your
own lane.
.Be alert on top of hills;
something could be in your lane
(stalled car, accident).
.Pay attention to special road
signs (falling rocks area, winding
roads, long grades, passing or
no-passing zones) and take
appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Drive carefully when there is snow
or ice between the tires and the
road, creating less traction or grip.
Wet ice can occur at about 0°C (32°
F) when freezing rain begins to fall,
resulting in even less traction. Avoid
driving on wet ice or in freezing rain
until roads can be treated with salt
or sand.
Drive with caution, whatever the
condition. Accelerate gently so
traction is not lost. Accelerating too
quickly causes the wheels to spin
and makes the surface under the
tires slick, so there is even less
traction.
If equipped, Traction Control should
be turned on. SeeTraction Control/
Electronic Stability Control on
page 9-30. The Antilock Brake System (ABS)
improves vehicle stability during
hard stops on slippery roads, but
apply the brakes sooner than when
on dry pavement.
Allow greater following distance on
any slippery road and watch for
slippery spots. Icy patches can
occur on otherwise clear roads in
shaded areas. The surface of a
curve or an overpass can remain icy
when the surrounding roads are
clear. Avoid sudden steering
maneuvers and braking while
on ice.
See
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
on page 9-26.
Turn off cruise control on slippery
surfaces.

Black plate (9,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707476) - 2015 - crc - 4/8/14
Driving and Operating 9-9
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. SeeTraction
Control/Electronic Stability Control
on page 9-30.
{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).
Rocking the Vehicle to Get
it Out
Turn the steering wheel left and
right to clear the area around the
front wheels. Turn off any traction
system. Shift back and forth
between R (Reverse) and a low
forward gear, spinning the wheels
as little as possible. To prevent
transmission wear, wait until the
wheels stop spinning before shifting
gears. Release the accelerator
pedal while shifting, and press
lightly on the accelerator pedal
when the transmission is in gear.
Slowly spinning the wheels in the
forward and reverse directions
causes a rocking motion that could
free the vehicle. If that does not get
the vehicle out after a few tries, it
might need to be towed out. If the
vehicle does need to be towed out,
see Towing the Vehicle on
page 10-83.
Vehicle Load Limits
It is very important to know how
much weight the vehicle can
carry. This weight is called the
vehicle capacity weight and
includes the weight of all
occupants, cargo and all
nonfactory-installed options.
Two labels on the vehicle show
how much weight it may
properly carry, the Tire and
Loading Information label and
the Certification label.
{Warning
Do not load the vehicle any
heavier than the Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR), or either the
maximum front or rear Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR).
This can cause systems to
break and change the way the
(Continued)

Black plate (10,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707476) - 2015 - crc - 4/8/14
9-10 Driving and Operating
Warning (Continued)
vehicle handles. This could
cause loss of control and a
crash. Overloading can also
shorten the life of the vehicle.
Tire and Loading Information
Label
Label Example
A vehicle-specific Tire and
Loading Information label is
attached to the vehicle's center pillar (B-pillar). With the driver
door open, the label is attached
near the door lock post. The Tire
and Loading Information label
shows the number of occupant
seating positions (1), and the
maximum vehicle capacity
weight (2) in kilograms and
pounds.
The Tire and Loading
Information label also shows the
tire size of the original
equipment tires (3) and the
recommended cold tire inflation
pressures (4). For more
information on tires and inflation
see
Tires on page 10-41 and
Tire Pressure on page 10-48.
There is also important loading
information on the Certification
label. It tells you the Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)
and the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) for the front and
rear axle. See
“Certification
Label” later in this section.
“Steps for Determining Correct
Load Limit–
1.Locate the statement "The
combined weight of
occupants and cargo should
never exceed XXX kg or
XXX lbs." on your vehicle’s
placard.
2.Determine the combined
weight of the driver and
passengers that will be riding
in your vehicle.
3.Subtract the combined
weight of the driver and
passengers from XXX kg or
XXX lbs.
4.The resulting figure equals
the available amount of cargo
and luggage load capacity.
For example, if the "XXX"
amount equals 1400 lbs. and

Black plate (12,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707476) - 2015 - crc - 4/8/14
9-12 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 Label
Label Example
A vehicle-specific Certification/
Tire label is attached to the
driver side center pillar (B-pillar).
The label shows the size of the
vehicle's original tires and the
inflation pressures needed to
obtain the gross weight capacity
of the vehicle. This is calledGross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR). The GVWR includes
the weight of the vehicle, all
occupants, fuel, and cargo.
The Certification/Tire label also
tells you the maximum weights
for the front and rear axles,
called Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GAWR). To find out the actual
loads on the front and rear
axles, you need to go to a weigh
station and weigh the vehicle.
Your dealer can help you with
this. Be sure to spread out the
load equally on both sides of the
center line.
Never exceed the GVWR for the
vehicle, or the GAWR for either
the front or rear axle.
If the vehicle is carrying a heavy
load, it should be spread out.
See
“Steps for Determining
Correct Load Limit” earlier in this
section.

Black plate (24,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707476) - 2015 - crc - 4/8/14
9-24 Driving and Operating
Downshifting the transmission in
slippery road conditions could result
in skidding. See“Skidding”under
Loss of Control on page 9-5
{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 you are
stuck, do not spin the tires. When
stopping on a hill, use the brakes
to hold the vehicle in place.
Manual Mode
Driver Shift Control (DSC)
{Caution
Driving with the engine at a high
rpm without upshifting while using
Driver Shift Control (DSC), could
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
damage the vehicle. Always
upshift when necessary while
using DSC.
DSC allows you to shift an
automatic transmission similar to a
manual transmission. To use the
DSC feature:
1. Move the shift lever to the left from D (Drive) to
M (Manual Mode).
If you do not move the shift lever
forward or rearward, the vehicle
will be in Sport Mode. When you
are in Sport Mode the vehicle
will still shift automatically. The
transmission may remain in a
gear longer than it would in the
normal driving mode based on
braking, throttle input, and
vehicle lateral acceleration. SPORT MODE ON will be
displayed in the DIC. See
Ride
Control System Messages on
page 5-35. The word “sport”will
display below the odometer. The
gear position will also be
indicated in the tachometer.
Within Sport Mode there is a
further performance feature
called Performance Mode Lift
Foot (PMLF) Mode. The feature
is activated automatically when
sports oriented driving is
detected, based on cornering
and on/off throttle application.
PMLF allows the transmission to
hold the current gear instead of
upshifting when the throttle is
lifted.
2. To enter M (Manual Mode), press the shift lever forward to upshift
or rearward to downshift.
An M will be displayed in
the DIC.

Black plate (61,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707476) - 2015 - crc - 4/8/14
Driving and Operating 9-61
Towing a trailer requires a certain
amount of experience. The
combination you are driving is
longer and not as responsive as the
vehicle itself. Get acquainted with
the handling and braking of the rig
before setting out for the open road.
Before starting, check all trailer hitch
parts and attachments, safety
chains, electrical connectors, lamps,
tires, and mirrors. If the trailer has
electric brakes, start the
combination moving and then apply
the trailer brake controller by hand
to be sure the brakes work.
During the trip, check occasionally
to be sure that the load is secure
and the lamps and any trailer
brakes still work.
Towing with a Stability Control
System
When towing, the sound of the
stability control system might be
heard. The system is reacting to the
vehicle movement caused by thetrailer, 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 the vehicle without a trailer.
This can help to avoid situations
that require heavy braking and
sudden turns.
Passing
More passing distance is needed
when towing a trailer. Because the
rig is longer, it is necessary to go
farther beyond the passed vehicle
before returning to the lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering
wheel with one hand. To move the
trailer to the left, move your hand to
the left. To move the trailer to the
right, move your hand to the right.
Always back up slowly and,
if possible, have someone
guide you.
Making Turns
{Caution
Making very sharp turns while
trailering could cause the trailer to
come in contact with the vehicle.
The vehicle could be damaged.
Avoid making very sharp turns
while trailering.
When turning with a trailer, make
wider turns than normal so the
trailer will not strike soft shoulders,
curbs, road signs, trees or other
objects. Use the turn signal well in
advance and avoid jerky or sudden
maneuvers.
Turn Signals When Towing a
Trailer
The turn signal indicators on the
instrument cluster flash whenever
signaling a turn or lane change.
Properly hooked up, the trailer

Black plate (63,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707476) - 2015 - crc - 4/8/14
Driving and Operating 9-63
3. Drive slowly until the trailer isclear 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 pulling a trailer. See the
Maintenance Schedule on
page 11-3. Things that are
especially important in trailer
operation are automatic
transmission fluid, engine oil, axle
lubricant, belts, cooling system, and
brake system. Inspect these before
and during the trip.
Check periodically to see that all
hitch nuts and bolts are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer
Towing
The cooling system may temporarily
overheat during severe operating
conditions. See Engine Overheating
on page 10-16.
Trailer Towing
Before pulling a trailer, there are
three important considerations that
have to do with weight:
.The weight of the trailer.
.The weight of the trailer tongue.
.The total weight on the vehicle's
tires.
Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be?
It depends on how the rig is used.
For example, speed, altitude, road
grades, outside temperature and
how much the vehicle is used to pull
a trailer are all important. It can
depend on any special equipment
on the vehicle, and the amount of
tongue weight the vehicle can carry.
See “Weight of the Trailer Tongue”
later in this section.
Maximum trailer weight is calculated
assuming only the driver is in the
tow vehicle and it has all the
required trailering equipment. The
weight of additional optional equipment, passengers and cargo in
the tow vehicle must be subtracted
from the maximum trailer weight.
Use the following chart to determine
how much the vehicle can weigh,
based upon the vehicle model and
options.

Black plate (65,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707476) - 2015 - crc - 4/8/14
Driving and Operating 9-65
If a weight-carrying hitch or a
weight-distributing hitch is being
used, the trailer tongue (1) should
weigh 10-15 percent of the total
loaded trailer weight (2).
After loading the trailer, weigh the
trailer and then the tongue,
separately, to see if the weights are
proper. If they are not, adjustments
might be made by moving some
items around in the trailer.
Trailering may be limited by the
vehicle's ability to carry tongue
weight. Tongue weight cannot cause
the vehicle to exceed the GVWR
(Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) or
the RGAWR (Rear Gross Axle
Weight Rating). The effect of
additional weight may reduce the
trailering capacity more than the
total of the additional weight.It is important that the vehicle does
not exceed any of its ratings
—
GCWR, GVWR, RGAWR, Maximum
Trailer Rating or Tongue Weight.
The only way to be sure it is not
exceeding any of these ratings is to
weigh the vehicle and trailer.
Total Weight on the Vehicle's
Tires
Be sure the vehicle's tires are
inflated to the upper limit for cold
tires. These numbers can be found
on the Certification label or see
Vehicle Load Limits on page 9-9.
Make sure not to go over the GVW
limit for the vehicle, or the GAWR,
including the weight of the trailer
tongue. If using a weight distributing
hitch, make sure not to go over the
rear axle limit before applying the
weight distribution spring bars.
Towing Equipment
Hitches
It is important to have the correct
hitch equipment. Crosswinds, large
trucks going by, and rough roads
are a few reasons why the right
hitch is needed.
.The rear bumper on the vehicle
is not intended for hitches. Do
not attach rental hitches or other
bumper-type hitches to it. Use
only a frame-mounted hitch that
does not attach to the bumper.
.Will any holes be made in the
body of the vehicle when the
trailer hitch is installed? If there
are, then be sure to seal the
holes later when the hitch is
removed. If the holes are not
sealed, dirt, water, and deadly
carbon monoxide (CO) from the
exhaust can get into the vehicle.
See Engine Exhaust on
page 9-21.

Black plate (1,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707476) - 2015 - crc - 4/8/14
Vehicle Care 10-1
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . 10-3
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-4
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-5
Engine Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-6
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-7
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . 10-9
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-10
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . 10-10
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-12
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-13
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . 10-16
Power Steering Fluid . . . . . . . 10-18
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-18 Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-19
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-20
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-21
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-22
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . 10-22
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-23
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . 10-23
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-23Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . 10-25
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-25
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-25
High Intensity Discharge(HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-26
Headlamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-26
Turn Signal Lamps . . . . . . . . . 10-29
Back-Up Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-30
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . 10-31
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . 10-32
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-32
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-33
Engine Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-33
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-36
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-38
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-41
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-42
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-42
Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-42
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . 10-43
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . 10-45
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-45
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-48
Tire Pressure for High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-49
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-50
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-51
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-54