steering CADILLAC SRX 2015 2.G Owner's Guide

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 (14,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707476) - 2015 - crc - 4/8/14
9-14 Driving and Operating
Starting and
Operating
New Vehicle Break-In
{Caution
The vehicle does not need an
elaborate break-in. But it will
perform better in the long run if
you follow these guidelines:
.Do not drive at any one
constant speed, fast or slow,
for the first 805 km (500 mi).
Do not make full-throttle
starts. Avoid downshifting to
brake or slow the vehicle.
.Avoid making hard stops for
the first 322 km (200 mi) or
so. During this time the new
brake linings are not yet
broken in. Hard stops with
new linings can mean
premature wear and earlier
replacement. Follow this(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
breaking-in guideline every
time you get new brake
linings.
Following break-in, engine speed
and load can be gradually
increased.
Adjustable Throttle and
Brake Pedal
If the vehicle has this feature, the
position of the throttle and brake
pedals can be adjusted.
The switch used to adjust the
pedals is located on the right side of
the steering column, below the
wiper stalk. Pull the switch toward
you to move the pedals further from
the floor, or push the switch away
from you to move the pedals closer
to the floor.
Adjust the throttle and brake pedals
while the vehicle is in P (Park)
without pressing on the pedals. The
pedals cannot be adjusted while the
vehicle is in R (Reverse) or when
cruise control is engaged. The
throttle and brake pedals can also
be adjusted while driving.

Black plate (15,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707476) - 2015 - crc - 4/8/14
Driving and Operating 9-15
Ignition Positions
The vehicle has an electronic
keyless ignition with pushbutton
start.
Pressing the button cycles it through
three modes: ACC/ACCESSORY,
ON/RUN/START, and STOPPING
THE ENGINE/OFF.
If the pushbutton start is not
working, the vehicle may be near a
strong radio antenna signal causing
interference to the keyless entry
system. SeeKey and Lock
Messages on page 5-31. To shift out of P (Park), the vehicle
must be in ON/RUN mode and the
brake pedal must be applied.
STOPPING THE ENGINE/OFF (No
Indicator Light):
When the vehicle
is stopped, press the ENGINE
START/STOP button 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) on page 9-19.
If the vehicle is not in P (Park), the
ignition will return to ACC/
ACCESSORY and display the
message SHIFT TO PARK in the
Driver Information Center (DIC).
See Driver Information Center (DIC)
on page 5-25. When the vehicle is
shifted into P (Park), the ignition
system will switch to OFF.
Do not turn the engine off when the
vehicle is moving. This will cause a
loss of power assist in the brake
and steering systems and disable
the airbags. If the vehicle must be shut off in an
emergency:
1. Brake using a firm and steady
pressure. Do not pump the
brakes repeatedly. This may
deplete power assist, requiring
increased brake pedal force.
2. Shift the vehicle to N (Neutral). This can be done while the
vehicle is moving. After shifting
to N (Neutral), firmly apply the
brakes and steer the vehicle to a
safe location.
3. Come to a complete stop, shift to P (Park), and turn the ignition
to OFF. On vehicles with an
automatic transmission, the shift
lever must be in P (Park) to turn
the ignition switch to the OFF
position.
4. Set the parking brake. See Parking Brake on page 9-27.

Black plate (16,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707476) - 2015 - crc - 4/8/14
9-16 Driving and Operating
{Warning
Turning off the vehicle while
moving may cause loss of power
assist in the brake and steering
systems and disable the airbags.
While driving, only shut the
vehicle off in an emergency.
If the vehicle cannot be pulled over
and must be shut off while driving,
press and hold the ENGINE START/
STOP button for longer than
two seconds, or press twice in
five seconds.
ACC/ACCESSORY (Amber
Indicator Light): This mode allows
you to use some electrical
accessories when the engine is off.
With the ignition off, pressing the
button one time without the brake
pedal applied will place the ignition
system in ACC/ACCESSORY. The ignition will switch from ACC/
ACCESSORY to OFF after
10 minutes to prevent battery
rundown.
ON/RUN/START (Green Indicator
Light):
This mode is for driving and
starting. With the ignition off and the
brake pedal applied, pressing the
button once will place the ignition
system in ON/RUN/START. Once
engine cranking begins, release the
button. Engine cranking will
continue until the engine starts. See
Starting the Gasoline Engine on
page 9-16. The ignition will then
remain in ON/RUN.
Service Only Mode
This power mode is available for
service and diagnostics, and to
verify the proper operation of the
malfunction indicator lamp as may
be required for emission inspection
purposes. With the vehicle off, and
the brake pedal not applied,
pressing and holding the button for
more than five seconds will place
the vehicle in Service Only Mode. The instruments and audio systems
will operate as they do in ON/RUN,
but the vehicle will not be able to be
driven. The engine will not start in
Service Only Mode. Press the
button again to turn the vehicle off.
Starting the Gasoline
Engine
Place the transmission in the proper
gear by moving the shift lever to
P (Park) or N (Neutral). To restart
the engine when the vehicle is
already moving, use N (Neutral).
{Caution
Do not try to shift to P (Park) if the
vehicle is moving. If you do, you
could damage the transmission.
Shift to P (Park) only when the
vehicle is stopped.

Black plate (17,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707476) - 2015 - crc - 4/8/14
Driving and Operating 9-17
{Caution
If the steering wheel is turned
until it reaches the end of its
travel, and is held in that position
while starting the vehicle, damage
may occur to the hydraulic power
steering system and there may be
loss of power steering assist.
{Caution
If you add electrical parts or
accessories, you could change
the way the engine operates. Any
resulting damage would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
SeeAdd-On Electrical Equipment
on page 9-67. To start the vehicle:
Starting Procedure
1. With the Keyless Access
System, the RKE transmitter
must be in the vehicle. Press the
ENGINE START/STOP button
with the brake pedal applied.
When the engine begins
cranking, let go of the button.
The idle speed will go down as
the engine warms up. Do not
race the engine immediately
after starting it.
If the RKE transmitter is not in
the vehicle, if there is
interference, or the RKE battery
is low, a Driver Information
Center (DIC) will display. See
Driver Information Center (DIC)
on page 5-25 andRemote
Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation on page 2-3.
{Caution
Cranking the engine for long
periods of time, by pressing the
ENGINE START/STOP button
immediately after cranking has
ended, can overheat and damage
the cranking motor, and drain the
battery. Wait at least 15 seconds
between each try, to let the
cranking motor cool down.
2. If the engine does not start after five to 10 seconds, especially in
very cold weather (below −18°
C or 0°F), it could be flooded
with too much gasoline. Try
pushing the accelerator pedal all
the way to the floor and holding
it there as you press the
ENGINE START/STOP button,
for up to a maximum of
15 seconds. Wait at least
15 seconds between each try, to
allow the cranking motor to cool
down. When the engine starts,
let go of the button and the

Black plate (27,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707476) - 2015 - crc - 4/8/14
Driving and Operating 9-27
If driving safely on a wet road and it
becomes necessary to slam on the
brakes and continue braking to
avoid a sudden obstacle, a
computer senses the wheels are
slowing down. If one of the wheels
is about to stop rolling, the computer
will separately work the brakes at
each wheel.
ABS can change the brake pressure
to each wheel, as required, faster
than any driver could. This can help
you steer around the obstacle while
braking hard.
As the brakes are applied, the
computer keeps receiving updates
on wheel speed and controls
braking pressure accordingly.
Remember: ABS does not change
the time needed to get a foot up to
the brake pedal or always decrease
stopping distance. If you get too
close to the vehicle in front of you,
there will not be enough time to
apply the brakes if that vehiclesuddenly slows or stops. Always
leave enough room up ahead to
stop, even with ABS.
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold
the brake pedal down firmly and let
ABS work. You may hear the ABS
pump or motor operating and feel
the brake pedal pulsate. This is
normal.
Braking in Emergencies
ABS allows you to steer and brake
at the same time. In many
emergencies, steering can help
more than even the very best
braking.
Parking Brake
The Electric Parking Brake (EPB)
switch is on the center console. The
EPB can always be activated, even
if the ignition is off. To prevent
draining the battery, avoid repeated
cycles of the EPB when the engine
is not running.
The system has a red parking brake
status light and an amber parking
brake warning light. See
Electric
Parking Brake Light on page 5-18
and Service Electric Parking Brake
Light on page 5-19. There are also

Black plate (32,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707476) - 2015 - crc - 4/8/14
9-32 Driving and Operating
Limited-Slip Rear Axle
Vehicles with a limited-slip rear axle
can give more traction on snow,
mud, ice, sand, or gravel. When
traction is low, this feature allows
the drive wheel with the most
traction to move the vehicle. The
limited-slip rear axle also gives the
driver enhanced control when
cornering hard or completing a
maneuver, such as a lane change.
Selective Ride Control
The vehicle may have a ride control
system called Selective Ride
Control. The setting can be changed
at any time. Based on road
conditions, steering wheel angle,
and the vehicle speed, the system
automatically adjusts to provide the
best handling while providing a
smooth ride. The Tour and Sport
modes will feel similar on a
smooth road.
Tour:Use for normal city and
highway driving. This setting
provides a smooth, soft ride. Sport:
Use where road conditions
or personal preference demand
more control. This setting provides
more “feel,” or response to road
conditions through increased
steering effort and suspension
control. Transmission shift points
and shift firmness are also
enhanced.
The vehicle is normally in the Tour
Mode. To switch from Tour Mode to
Sport Mode, move the shift lever to
the left while the transmission is in
D (Drive). Sport Mode is
automatically engaged when the
shift lever is moved to the left.
Moving the shift lever forward or
rearward will put the transmission in
the M (Manual) Mode.
The Driver Information Center (DIC)
will display SPORT MODE ON
when the Sport Mode has been
activated. When the shift lever is
moved to the right in D (Drive), the
system will revert back to Tour
Mode. See Manual Mode on
page 9-24 under Automatic
Transmission. If there is a problem detected with
Selective Ride Control, SERVICE
SUSPENSION SYSTEM displays
on the DIC. See
Ride Control
System Messages on page 5-35.
Driving should be adjusted
accordingly.

Black plate (38,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707476) - 2015 - crc - 4/8/14
9-38 Driving and Operating
When it is determined that there is
no vehicle ahead or the vehicle
ahead is beyond the selected
following gap, then the vehicle
speed will increase to the set speed.
The speedometer reading can be
displayed in either English or metric
units. SeeInstrument Cluster on
page 5-9. The increment value used
depends on the units displayed.
Reducing Speed While ACC is at a
Set Speed
If ACC is already activated, do one
of the following:
.Use the brake to get to the
desired lower speed. Press
SET– down and release the
accelerator pedal. The vehicle
will now cruise at the lower
speed.
.Press and hold SET− down until
the desired lower speed is
reached, then release it.
.To decrease the vehicle speed in
smaller increments, press SET−
down briefly. For each press, the vehicle goes to the next 1 km/h
(1 mph) slower mark on the
speedometer.
The speedometer reading can be
displayed in either English or metric
units. See Instrument Cluster on
page 5-9. The increment value used
depends on the units displayed.
Selecting the Follow Distance
When a slower moving vehicle is
detected ahead within the selected
following gap, ACC will adjust the
vehicle's speed and attempt to
maintain the follow distance gap
selected.
Press
[on the steering wheel to
adjust the following gap. When
pressed, the current gap setting
displays briefly on the instrument
cluster. Subsequent presses cycle
the gap button through three
settings: Far, Medium, or Near. When pressed, the current gap
setting displays briefly on the
instrument cluster. The gap setting
will be maintained until it is
changed.
Since each gap setting corresponds
to a following time (Far, Medium,
or Near), the following distance will
vary based on vehicle speed. The
faster the vehicle speed, the further
back your vehicle will follow a
vehicle detected ahead. Consider
traffic and weather conditions when
selecting the following gap. The
range of selectable gaps may not be
appropriate for all drivers and
driving conditions.
Changing the gap setting
automatically changes the alert
timing sensitivity (Far, Medium,
or Near) for the Forward Collision
Alert (FCA) feature. See
Forward
Collision Alert (FCA) System on
page 9-48.

Black plate (49,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707476) - 2015 - crc - 4/8/14
Driving and Operating 9-49
FCA can be disabled with the FCA
steering wheel control, or if your
vehicle is equipped with Adaptive
Cruise Control (ACC), through
vehicle personalization. See the
“Auto Collision Preparation”portion
of “Collision/Detection Systems”
under Vehicle Personalization on
page 5-38.
Detecting the Vehicle Ahead
FCA warnings will not occur unless
the FCA system detects a vehicle
ahead. When a vehicle is detected,
the vehicle-ahead indicator will
display green. Vehicles may not be
detected on curves, highway exit
ramps, or hills; or due to poor
visibility. FCA will not detect another
vehicle ahead until it is completely
in the driving lane.
{Warning
FCA does not provide a warning
to help avoid a crash, unless it
detects a vehicle. FCA may not
detect a vehicle ahead if the FCA
sensor is blocked by dirt, snow,
or ice, or if the windshield is
damaged. It may also not detect a
vehicle on winding or hilly roads,
or in conditions that can limit
visibility such as fog, rain,
or snow, or if the headlamps or
windshield are not cleaned or in
proper condition. Keep the
windshield, headlamps, and FCA
sensors clean and in good repair.
Collision Alert
When your vehicle approaches
another detected vehicle too rapidly,
the red FCA display will flash on the
windshield. Also, eight rapid
high-pitched beeps will sound from
the front, or both sides of the Safety
Alert Seat will pulse five times.
When this Collision Alert occurs, the
brake system may prepare for driver
braking to occur more rapidly which
can cause a brief, mild deceleration.
Continue to apply the brake pedal
as needed. Cruise control may be
disengaged when the Collision Alert
occurs.
Tailgating Alert
The vehicle-ahead indicator will
display amber when you are
following a detected vehicle ahead
much too closely.

Black plate (50,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7707476) - 2015 - crc - 4/8/14
9-50 Driving and Operating
Selecting the Alert Timing
The Collision Alert control is on the
steering wheel. Press
[on the
steering wheel to set the FCA timing
to far, medium, near, or on some
vehicles, off. The first button press
shows the current setting on the
DIC. Additional button presses will
change this setting. The chosen
setting will remain until it is changed
and will affect the timing of both the
Collision Alert and the Tailgating
Alert features. The timing of both
alerts will vary based on vehicle
speed. The faster the vehicle speed, the farther away the alert will occur.
Consider traffic and weather
conditions when selecting the alert
timing. The range of selectable alert
timing may not be appropriate for all
drivers and driving conditions.
If your vehicle is equipped with
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC),
changing the FCA timing setting
automatically changes the following
gap setting (Far, Medium, or Near).
Unnecessary Alerts
FCA may provide unnecessary
alerts for turning vehicles, vehicles
in other lanes, objects that are not
vehicles, or shadows. These alerts
are normal operation and the
vehicle does not need service.
Cleaning the System
If the FCA system does not seem to
operate properly, cleaning the
outside of the windshield in front of
the camera sensor on the back of
the rearview mirror, and cleaning the
front of the vehicle where radar
sensors are located, may correct
the issue.
Active Emergency
Braking System
If the vehicle has Adaptive Cruise
Control (ACC) it also has the Active
Emergency Braking System, which
includes Intelligent Brake
Assist (IBA) and the Automatic
Collision Preparation (ACP) System.
These systems can provide a boost
to braking or automatically brake the
vehicle to help avoid or lessen the
severity of crashes when driving in a
forward gear.
Intelligent Brake Assist (IBA)
IBA may activate when the brake
pedal is applied quickly by providing
a boost to braking based on the
speed of approach and distance to
a vehicle ahead.
Minor brake pedal pulsations or
pedal movement during this time is
normal and the brake pedal should