ABS CADILLAC XLR 2005 1.G Owners Manual

Rear Storage Area
There is a cargo divider located in the trunk to keep
cargo from getting in the way of the retractable hardtop.
The cargo divider must be in place for the top to move.To install the cargo divider, snap the bottom of the
divider onto the snaps (B) located on the oor of the
trunk. Then, swing the divider up and place the pins on
each side of the divider into the notches (A) on either
side of the trunk.
There is also a storage compartment located in the
trunk on the passenger’s side.
To access the storage compartment, unsnap the lid.
To reinstall the lid, line up the opening in the lid over the
snap and push down into place.
Convenience Net
Your vehicle is equipped with a convenience net.
The convenience net attaches to the oor of the trunk.
Put small loads, like grocery bags, behind the net.
The net is not for larger, heavier loads. Store them in
the trunk as far forward as you can. When not using the
net, hook the net to the tabs securing it to the sill plate.
2-44

Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
Light
With the anti-lock brake
system, the light will come
on when your engine is
started and may stay on for
several seconds. That is
normal.
If the light stays on, turn the ignition off. Or, if the light
comes on when you are driving, stop as soon as
possible and turn the ignition off. Then start the engine
again to reset the system. If the light still stays on,
or comes on again while you are driving, your vehicle
needs service. If the regular brake system warning light
is not on, you still have brakes, but you do not have
anti-lock brakes. If the regular brake system warning
light is also on, you do not have anti-lock brakes
and there is a problem with your regular brakes. See
“Service ABS” underDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 3-64.
The anti-lock brake system warning light will come on
briey when you turn the ignition on. This is normal.
If the light does not come on then, have it xed so it will
be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
Traction Control System (TCS)
Warning Light
This light should come on
briey as you start the
engine. If the light does not
come on then, have it
xed so it will be ready to
warn you if there is a
problem.
The light will also come on while the StabiliTrak
®
system warms up and the STABILITRAK WARMING
message will be displayed in the Driver Information
Center (DIC).
If it stays on, or comes on and the DIC shows a SERVICE
TRACTION SYS message when you are driving, there is
a problem with your TCS and your vehicle needs service.
When this light is on, the system will not limit wheel spin.
Adjust your driving accordingly. If the driver turns off TCS
by pressing the button on the console, the TCS system
light will come on and the TRACTION SYSTEM-OFF
message will show on the DIC.
If the light stays on or comes on while you are driving, a
chime sounds and a SERVICE STABILITRAK message
appears on the DIC, there is a problem with your
StabiliTrak
®and the vehicle needs service.
3-53

DIC Warnings and Messages
These messages will appear if there is a problem
sensed in one of your vehicle’s systems. You must then
press RESET to clear the display screen for further
use. However, be sure to take any message that
appears on the display screen seriously and remember
that pressing the RESET button will only make the
message disappear, not the problem.
DIC messages can also be displayed in English,
French, German, Italian and Spanish.
ABS ACTIVE:When your anti-lock system is adjusting
brake pressure to help avoid a braking skid, the ABS
ACTIVE message will be displayed.
Slippery road conditions may exist if this message is
displayed, so adjust your driving accordingly. The
message may stay on for a few seconds after the
system stops adjusting brake pressure.
BATTERY SAVER ACTIVE:This message is displayed
when the vehicle has detected that the battery voltage
is dropping beyond a reasonable point. The battery
saver system will start reducing certain features of the
vehicle that you may not be able to notice. At the
point that features are disabled, this message is
displayed. It means that the vehicle is trying to save the
charge in the battery. Turn off unnecessary accessories
to allow the battery to recharge.CHANGE OIL NOW:This means that the life of the
engine oil has expired. SeeScheduled Maintenance on
page 7-4. After an oil change, the Oil Life Indicator
must be reset. SeeOil Life Indicator on page 3-77and
Engine Oil Life System on page 6-16.
CHARGE SYSTEM FAULT:This message will display
when a problem with the charging system has been
detected. Have your vehicle serviced by your GM dealer.
CHECK GAS CAP:This message will appear if the
gas cap has not been fully tightened. You should
recheck your gas cap to ensure that it is on properly.
CLEAN RADAR CRUISE:This message indicates the
ACC system is disabled because the radar is blocked and
cannot detect vehicles in your path. It may also activate
during heavy rain or due to road spray. To clean the
system, see “Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)” underTurn
Signal/Multifunction Lever on page 3-7.
CLOSE CARGO DIVIDER:This message indicates that
the cargo divider is not in place. Open the trunk and
make sure the cargo divider is secure and no objects are
on the divider. SeeRear Storage Area on page 2-44
for more information.
3-64

NO FOB, OFF OR RUN?:This message is displayed
when you turn off the engine, but the vehicle does
not detect a keyless access transmitter in the vehicle.
The vehicle will remain in accessory mode until the
engine has been turned off or started, or ve minutes
has expired. If you select OFF, the vehicle cannot
be started again without a remote access transmitter in
the vehicle.
OVER SPEED WARNING:This message is displayed
when the vehicle speed exceeds a certain limit as
required by some export countries. A chime will sound
when this message is displayed.
PRESS BRAKE TO START:The brake pedal must be
applied to start the vehicle. Make sure you are
pressing the brake pedal all the way down.
REDUCED ENGINE POWER:This message informs
you that the vehicle is reducing engine power because
the transmission is being placed in gear under
conditions that may cause damage to the vehicle’s
engine, transmission or ability to accelerate.
RIGHT DOOR AJAR:The passenger’s door is open or
ajar when this message appears. The vehicle must
be running and the transmission not in PARK (P) for this
message to display. A chime will sound if the vehicle’s
speed is greater than 3 mph (5 km/h).SERVICE A/C:This message appears when the
electronic sensors that control the air conditioning and
heating systems are no longer working. Have the climate
control system serviced by your GM dealer if you
notice a drop in heating and air conditioning efficiency.
SERVICE ABS:If the SERVICE ABS message is
displayed when you are driving, stop as soon as
possible and turn the ignition off. Then start the engine
again to reset the system. If the message stays on,
or comes back on again while you are driving,
your vehicle is in need of service. See your GM dealer.
If the SERVICE ABS message is being displayed, your
Traction Control System and StabiliTrak
®System will
also be disabled. The Driver Information Center will scroll
three messages: SERVICE ABS, SERVICE TRACTION
SYS and SERVICE STABILITRAK, and the anti-lock
brake system and traction control warning lights on the
instrument panel cluster will be illuminated. SeeAnti-Lock
Brake System Warning Light on page 3-53andTraction
Control System (TCS) Warning Light on page 3-53. The
driver can acknowledge these messages by pressing the
RESET button three times. When the service message is
displayed the computer controlled systems will not assist
the driver and you should have the system repaired by
your GM dealer as soon as possible. Adjust your driving
accordingly.
3-68

Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle..........5-2
Defensive Driving...........................................5-2
Drunken Driving.............................................5-2
Control of a Vehicle........................................5-5
Braking.........................................................5-5
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS).........................5-6
Braking in Emergencies...................................5-8
Traction Control System (TCS).........................5-8
Magnetic Ride Control.....................................5-9
Limited-Slip Rear Axle.....................................5-9
StabiliTrak
®System......................................5-10
Steering......................................................5-11
Off-Road Recovery.......................................5-13
Passing.......................................................5-14
Loss of Control.............................................5-15
Driving at Night............................................5-16Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads..................5-18
City Driving..................................................5-20
Freeway Driving...........................................5-21
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.......................5-22
Highway Hypnosis........................................5-23
Hill and Mountain Roads................................5-23
Winter Driving..............................................5-25
If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow........5-29
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out.................5-30
Loading Your Vehicle....................................5-30
Towing..........................................................5-35
Towing Your Vehicle.....................................5-35
Recreational Vehicle Towing...........................5-35
Towing a Trailer...........................................5-35
Section 5 Driving Your Vehicle
5-1

Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive in
spurts — heavy acceleration followed by heavy
braking — rather than keeping pace with traffic. This is
a mistake. Your brakes may not have time to cool
between hard stops. Your brakes will wear out much
faster if you do a lot of heavy braking. If you keep pace
with the traffic and allow realistic following distances,
you will eliminate a lot of unnecessary braking.
That means better braking and longer brake life.
If your engine ever stops while you are driving, brake
normally but do not pump your brakes. If you do,
the pedal may get harder to push down. If your engine
stops, you will still have some power brake assist.
But you will use it when you brake. Once the power
assist is used up, it may take longer to stop and
the brake pedal will be harder to push.Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes. ABS is an advanced
electronic braking system that will help prevent a
braking skid.
When you start your engine and begin to drive away,
your anti-lock brake system will check itself. You
may hear a momentary motor or clicking noise while
this test is going on, and you may even notice that your
brake pedal moves a little. This is normal.
If there is a problem with
the anti-lock brake system,
this warning light will
stay on. SeeAnti-Lock
Brake System Warning
Light on page 3-53.
5-6

Let us say the road is wet and you are driving safely.
Suddenly, an animal jumps out in front of you. You slam
on the brakes and continue braking. Here is what
happens with ABS:
A computer senses that wheels are slowing down. If
one of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the computer
will separately work the brakes at each wheel.
The anti-lock system can change the brake pressure
faster than any driver could. The computer is
programmed to make the most of available tire and road
conditions. This can help you steer around the obstacle
while braking hard.As you brake, your computer keeps receiving updates on
wheel speed and controls braking pressure accordingly.
Remember: Anti-lock does not change the time you
need to get your foot up to the brake pedal or always
decrease stopping distance. If you get too close to
the vehicle in front of you, you will not have time to apply
your brakes if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops.
Always leave enough room up ahead to stop, even
though you have anti-lock brakes.
5-7

Remember: Any traction control system helps avoid only
the acceleration skid. If your traction control system is
off, then an acceleration skid is also best handled
by easing your foot off the accelerator pedal.
If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want
the vehicle to go. If you start steering quickly enough,
your vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready
for a second skid if it occurs.
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice,
gravel, or other material is on the road. For safety, you
will want to slow down and adjust your driving to
these conditions. It is important to slow down on slippery
surfaces because stopping distance will be longer and
vehicle control more limited.
While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try
your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration,
or braking, including engine braking by shifting to a
lower gear. Any sudden changes could cause the tires
to slide. You may not realize the surface is slippery
until your vehicle is skidding. 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.
Remember: Any anti-lock brake system (ABS) helps
avoid only the braking skid.Driving at Night
Night driving is more dangerous than day driving. One
reason is that some drivers are likely to be impaired — by
alcohol or drugs, with night vision problems, or by fatigue.
5-16

Your anti-lock brakes improve your vehicle’s stability
when you make a hard stop on a slippery road.
Even though you have the anti-lock braking system, you
will want to begin stopping sooner than you would on
dry pavement. SeeAnti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
on page 5-6.
Allow greater following distance on any slippery road.
Watch for slippery spots. The road might be ne until
you hit a spot that is covered with ice. On an
otherwise clear road, ice patches may appear in
shaded areas where the sun cannot reach, such as
around clumps of trees, behind buildings, or under
bridges. Sometimes the surface of a curve or an
overpass may remain icy when the surrounding
roads are clear. If you see a patch of ice ahead of
you, brake before you are on it. Try not to brake while
you are actually on the ice, and avoid sudden
steering maneuvers.
If You Are Caught in a Blizzard
If you are stopped by heavy snow, you could be in a
serious situation. You should probably stay with
your vehicle unless you know for sure that you are near
help and you can hike through the snow. Here are
some things to do to summon help and keep yourself
and your passengers safe:
Turn on your hazard ashers.
Tie a red cloth to your vehicle to alert police that
you have been stopped by the snow.
Put on extra clothing or wrap a blanket around you.
If you do not have blankets or extra clothing, make
body insulators from newspapers, burlap bags,
rags, oor mats — anything you can wrap around
yourself or tuck under your clothing to keep warm.
5-27

Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 6-12for
the location of the engine air cleaner/lters.
When to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filters
Inspect the air cleaner/lters at the MaintenanceII
intervals and replace at the rst oil change after
50,000 miles (83 000 km). SeeScheduled Maintenance
on page 7-4for more information. If you are driving
in dusty/dirty conditions, inspect the lters at each
engine oil change.
How to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filters
To inspect the air cleaner/lters, remove the lters from
the vehicle and lightly shake the lters to release
loose dust and dirt. If the lters remain caked with dirt,
new lters are required.To inspect or replace the lters, do the following:
1. Flip the clasps on the top of the engine air
cleaner/lter cover forward to unlatch the cover.
2. Lift the front of the cover at an angle and remove.
This is necessary due to the four tabs located on
the rear of the cover.
3. Remove the engine air cleaner/lter element and
any loose debris that may be found in the air
cleaner base.
6-18