tow CADILLAC XLR 2007 1.G Owner's Manual

Your Driving, the Road, and
Your Vehicle............................................ 322
Defensive Driving...................................... 322
Drunken Driving........................................ 323
Control of a Vehicle.................................. 326
Braking...................................................... 326
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS).................. 327
Braking in Emergencies............................. 329
Traction Control System (TCS).................. 329
Magnetic Ride Control............................... 331
Limited-Slip Rear Axle............................... 331
StabiliTrak
®System................................... 331
Steering.................................................... 333
Off-Road Recovery.................................... 335
Passing..................................................... 335
Loss of Control.......................................... 337
Racing or Other Competitive
Driving (XLR-V)...................................... 338Driving at Night......................................... 339
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads............ 340
City Driving............................................... 343
Freeway Driving........................................ 344
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.................. 345
Highway Hypnosis..................................... 346
Hill and Mountain Roads........................... 347
Winter Driving........................................... 349
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud,
Ice, or Snow.......................................... 353
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out........... 354
Loading Your Vehicle................................ 354
Towing........................................................ 359
Towing Your Vehicle ................................. 359
Recreational Vehicle Towing...................... 359
Towing a Trailer........................................ 359
Section 5 Driving Your Vehicle
321

Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out
First, turn the steering wheel left and right.
That will clear the area around the front wheels.
You should turn the traction control system
off. SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on
page 329. Then shift back and forth between
REVERSE (R) and a forward gear, spinning the
wheels as little as possible. Release the
accelerator pedal while you shift, and press lightly
on the accelerator pedal when the transmission
is in gear. By slowly spinning the wheels in
the forward and reverse directions, you will cause
a rocking motion that may free your vehicle. If
that does not get your vehicle out after a few tries,
it may need to be towed out. If your vehicle
does need to be towed out, seeTowing Your
Vehicle on page 359.
Loading Your Vehicle
It is very important to know how much weight your
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 your vehicle show how much
weight it may properly carry, the Tire and Loading
Information label and the Certication label.
{CAUTION:
Do not load your vehicle any heavier than
the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR),
or either the maximum front or rear Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR). If you do,
parts on your vehicle can break, and it
can change the way your vehicle handles.
These could cause you to lose control
and crash. Also, overloading can shorten
the life of your vehicle.
354

4. The resulting gure equals the available
amount of cargo and luggage load capacity.
For example, if the “XXX” amount equals
1400 lbs and there will be ve 150 lb
passengers in your vehicle, the amount of
available cargo and luggage load capacity is
650 lbs (1400−750 (5 x 150) = 650 lbs).
5. Determine the combined weight of luggage
and cargo being loaded on the vehicle. That
weight may not safely exceed the available
cargo and luggage load capacity calculated in
Step 4.
6. If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, the load
from your trailer will be transferred to your
vehicle. Consult this manual to determine how
this reduces the available cargo and luggage
load capacity of your vehicle.
Your vehicle is neither designed nor intended
to tow a trailer.
Item Description Total
AVehicle Capacity Weight
for Example 1=400 lbs (181 kg)
BSubtract Occupant
Weight @ 150 lbs
(68 kg) x 1 =150 lbs (68 kg)
CAvailable Occupant and
Cargo Weight =250 lbs (113 kg) Example 1
356

{CAUTION:
Things you put inside your vehicle can
strike and injure people in a sudden stop
or turn, or in a crash.
Put things in the rear area of your
vehicle. Try to spread the weight
evenly.
Never stack heavier things, like
suitcases, inside the vehicle so that
some of them are above the tops of
the seats.
Do not leave an unsecured child
restraint in your vehicle.
When you carry something inside the
vehicle, secure it whenever you can.
Towing
Towing Your Vehicle
Consult your dealer or a professional towing
service if you need to have your disabled vehicle
towed. SeeRoadside Service on page 487.
Recreational Vehicle Towing
Recreational vehicle towing means towing your
vehicle behind another vehicle — such as behind
a motorhome. The two most common types of
recreational vehicle towing are known as “dinghy
towing”, towing your vehicle with all four wheels
on the ground, and “dolly towing”, towing your
vehicle with two wheels on the ground and
two wheels up on a device known as a “dolly”.
Your vehicle was not designed to be towed
with any of its wheels on the ground. If your
vehicle must be towed, see “Towing Your Vehicle”
earlier in this section.
Towing a Trailer
Your XLR is neither designed nor intended to tow
a trailer.
359

A. Battery. SeeBattery on page 402.
B. Passenger Compartment Air Filter. See
Passenger Compartment Air Filter on page 184.
C. Underhood Fuse Block. SeeUnderhood
Fuse Block on page 455.
D. Power Steering Fluid. SeePower Steering
Fluid on page 396.
E. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 382.
F. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine
Oil” underEngine Oil on page 377.
G. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 377.
H. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake
Fluid” underBrakes on page 399.
I. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap.
SeeCoolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap on
page 388.
J. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See
“Adding Washer Fluid” underWindshield
Washer Fluid on page 397.Engine Oil
If the LOW OIL LEVEL or LOW OIL PRESSURE
message on the Driver Information Center
(DIC) appears, it means you need to check the
engine oil level right away. For more information,
see LOW OIL LEVEL and LOW OIL PRESSURE
underDIC Warnings and Messages on page 206.
You should check the engine oil level regularly;
this is an added reminder.
Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check the engine oil every time
you get fuel. In order to get an accurate reading,
the oil must be warm and the vehicle must be
on level ground.
The engine oil dipstick handle is a yellow loop.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 374
for the location of the engine oil dipstick.
1. Turn off the engine and give the oil several
minutes to drain back into the oil pan. If you
do not do this, the oil dipstick might not
show the actual level.
2. Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a paper
towel or cloth, then push it back in all the
way. Remove it again, keeping the tip down,
and check the level.
377

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. Some XLR-V vehicles, have a single piece
black cover that snaps over the entire air
cleaner assembly. For vehicles with this cover,
simply pull it’s left/right sides toward the
outside of the vehicle and lift up to remove
cover. Reinstall the cover when you are
nished inspecting/replacing the lters.2. Move the clasps on the top of the engine air
cleaner/lter cover forward to unlatch the
cover.
3. 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.
4. Remove the engine air cleaner/lter element
and any loose debris that might be found in
the air cleaner base.
383

Checking Coolant
The engine coolant surge tank is located toward
the rear of the engine compartment on the driver’s
side of the vehicle. For more information on
location, seeEngine Compartment Overview on
page 374.
{CAUTION:
Turning the surge tank pressure cap when
the engine and radiator are hot can allow
steam and scalding liquids to blow out
and burn you badly. Never turn the surge
tank pressure cap — even a little — when
the engine and radiator are hot.
The vehicle must be on a level surface. When
your engine is cold, the coolant level should be at
the FULL COLD mark, located on the side of
the surge tank that faces the front.
If the LOW COOLANT message on the Driver
Information Center (DIC) comes on and stays on,
it means you are low on engine coolant. See
DIC Warnings and Messages on page 206
for more information.
387

If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
{CAUTION:
Steam from an overheated engine can
burn you badly, even if you just open the
hood. Stay away from the engine if you
see or hear steam coming from it. Turn it
off and get everyone away from the
vehicle until it cools down. Wait until
there is no sign of steam or coolant
before you open the hood.
If you keep driving when the vehicles
engine is overheated, the liquids in it can
catch re. You or others could be badly
burned. Stop your engine if it overheats,
and get out of the vehicle until the engine
is cool.
SeeOverheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode on page 390for
information on driving to a safe place in
an emergency.Notice:If your engine catches re because
you keep driving with no coolant, your vehicle
can be badly damaged. The costly repairs
would not be covered by your warranty. See
Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode
on page 390for information on driving to a
safe place in an emergency.
If No Steam Is Coming From Your
Engine
An overheat warning, along with a low coolant
message, can indicate a serious problem.
If you get an engine overheat warning with no low
coolant message, but see or hear no steam,
the problem may not be too serious. Sometimes
the engine can get a little too hot when you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
Stop after high-speed driving.
Idle for long periods in traffic.
Tow a trailer.
389

When rotating P235/50R18 size tires, always use
the correct rotation pattern shown here.
After the tires have been rotated, adjust the front
and rear ination pressures as shown on the Tire
and Loading Information label, seeInation - Tire
Pressure on page 422andLoading Your Vehicle on
page 354. Vehicles that have the Tire Pressure
Monitor (TPM) system will need to have the sensors
reset after a tire rotation is performed. A special tool
is needed to reset the sensor identication codes.
See your dealer for service. Make certain that all
wheel nuts are properly tightened. SeeWheel
Replacement on page 432and “Wheel Nut Torque”
underCapacities and Specications on page 458.
{CAUTION:
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts to
which it is fastened, can make wheel nuts
become loose after a time. The wheel
could come off and cause a crash. When
you change a wheel, remove any rust or
dirt from places where the wheel attaches
to the vehicle. In an emergency, you can
use a cloth or a paper towel to do this;
but be sure to use a scraper or wire brush
later, if you need to, to get all the rust or
dirt off.
XLR-V Tires
Tire rotation is not recommended if your vehicle
has P235/45R19 size tires on the front axle
and P255/40R19 size tires on the rear axle.
Different tire sizes front to rear should not
be rotated.
427

If you need to replace any of your wheels, wheel
bolts or wheel nuts, replace them only with
new GM original equipment parts. This way, you
will be sure to have the right wheel, wheel
bolts, and wheel nuts for your vehicle.
{CAUTION:
Using the wrong replacement wheels,
wheel bolts, or wheel nuts on your vehicle
can be dangerous. It could affect the
braking and handling of your vehicle,
make your tires lose air and make you
lose control. You could have a collision in
which you or others could be injured.
Always use the correct wheel, wheel bolts,
and wheel nuts for replacement.
Notice:The wrong wheel can also cause
problems with bearing life, brake cooling,
speedometer or odometer calibration,
headlamp aim, bumper height, vehicle ground
clearance, and tire clearance to the body
and chassis.
{CAUTION:
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts to
which it is fastened, can make wheel nuts
become loose after a time. The wheel
could come off and cause a crash. When
you change a wheel, remove any rust or
dirt from places where the wheel attaches
to the vehicle. In an emergency, you can
use a cloth or a paper towel to do this;
but be sure to use a scraper or wire brush
later, if you need to, to get all the rust or
dirt off.
{CAUTION:
Never use oil or grease on studs or the
threads of the wheel nuts. If you do, the
wheel nuts might come loose and the
wheel could fall off, causing a crash.
433