ESP CADILLAC XT4 2021 Owner's Guide

Cadillac XT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14584367) - 2021 - CRC - 10/14/20
204 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Filling a Portable FuelContainer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Trailer Towing
General Towing Information . . . . 270
Driving Characteristics andTowing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) . . . . . . 279
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . 280
Driving Information
Driver Behavior
Driving is an important responsibility.
Driver behavior, the driving
environment, and the vehicle's design
all affect how well a vehicle performs.
Being aware of these factors can help
in understanding how the vehicle
handles and what can be done to
avoid many types of crashes, including
a rollover crash.
Most serious injuries and fatalities to
unbelted occupants can be reduced or
prevented by the use of seat belts. In a
rollover crash, an unbelted person is
significantly more likely to die than a
person wearing a seat belt. In
addition, avoiding excessive speed,
sudden or abrupt turns, and drunken
or aggressive driving can help make
trips safer and avoid the possibility of
a crash.
Driving Environment
Be prepared for driving in inclement
weather, at night, or during other
times where visibility or traction may be limited, such as on curves, slippery
roads, or hilly terrain. Unfamiliar
surroundings can also have hidden
hazards.
Vehicle Design
Utility vehicles have a significantly
higher rollover rate than other types
of vehicles. This is because they have
a higher ground clearance and a
narrower track or shorter wheelbase
than passenger cars, which makes
them more capable for off-road
driving. While these design
characteristics provide the driver with
a better view of the road, these
vehicles do have a higher center of
gravity than other types of vehicles.
A utility vehicle does not handle the
same as a vehicle with a lower center
of gravity, like a car, in similar
situations.
Safe driver behavior and
understanding of the environment can
help avoid a rollover crash in any type
of vehicle, including utility vehicles.

Cadillac XT4 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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208 DRIVING AND OPERATING
2. Turn the steering wheel aboutone-eighth of a turn, until the right
front tire contacts the
pavement edge.
3. Turn the steering wheel to go straight down the roadway.
Loss of Control
Skidding
There are three types of skids that
correspond to the vehicle's three
control systems:
.Braking Skid —wheels are not
rolling.
.Steering or Cornering Skid —too
much speed or steering in a curve
causes tires to slip and lose
cornering force.
.Acceleration Skid —too much
throttle causes the driving wheels
to spin.
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 warranty 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.

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214 DRIVING AND OPERATING
.Antilock Brake System (ABS)
improves vehicle stability during
hard stops, but the brakes should be
applied sooner than when on dry
pavement. SeeAntilock Brake System
(ABS) 0232.
.Allow greater following distance 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.
.Turn off cruise control.
.Select All-Wheel Drive (AWD) Mode
for vehicles equipped with AWD.
Select Snow/Ice Mode for FWD only
vehicles. See Driver Mode Control
0 236 and
All-Wheel Drive 0232.
Blizzard Conditions
Stop the vehicle in a safe place and
signal for help. Stay with the vehicle
unless there is help nearby. If possible,
use Roadside Service. See Roadside
Service 0378. To get help and keep
everyone in the vehicle safe:
.Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
.Tie a red cloth to an outside mirror.
{Warning
Snow can trap engine exhaust
under the vehicle. This may cause
exhaust gases to get inside. Engine
exhaust contains carbon monoxide
(CO), which cannot be seen or
smelled. It can cause
unconsciousness and even death.
If the vehicle is stuck in snow:
.Clear snow from the base of the
vehicle, especially any blocking
the exhaust pipe.
.Open a window about 5 cm (2 in)
on the vehicle side that is away
from the wind, to bring in
fresh air.
.Fully open the air outlets on or
under the instrument panel.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.Adjust the climate control
system to circulate the air inside
the vehicle and set the fan speed
to the highest setting. See
“Climate Control Systems.”
For more information about CO, see
Engine Exhaust 0226.
To save fuel, run the engine for short
periods to warm the vehicle and then
shut the engine off and partially close
the window. Moving about to keep
warm also helps.
If it takes time for help to arrive,
when running the engine, push the
accelerator pedal slightly so the
engine runs faster than the idle speed.
This 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.

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DRIVING AND OPERATING 221
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.
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. See
Add-On Electrical Equipment0280.
To start the vehicle: 1. With the Keyless Access system, the RKE transmitter must be in the
vehicle. Press ENGINE START/
STOP 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 if
the RKE battery is low, a Driver
Information Center (DIC) message
will display. See
Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) System Operation 07.
Caution
Cranking the engine for long
periods of time, by pressing
ENGINE START/STOP 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 hold it there, then press
ENGINE START/STOP 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
accelerator. If the vehicle starts
briefly but then stops again, do the
same thing. This clears the extra
gasoline from the engine. Do not
race the engine immediately after
starting it. Operate the engine and
transmission gently until the oil
warms up and lubricates all
moving parts.
Stop/Start System
The Stop/Start system will shut off
the engine to help conserve fuel.
It has components designed for the
increased number of starts.
{Warning
The automatic engine Stop/Start
feature causes the engine to shut
off while the vehicle is still on. Do
not exit the vehicle before shifting
to P (Park). The vehicle may restart
and move unexpectedly. Always
shift to P (Park), and then turn the
ignition off before exiting the
vehicle.

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DRIVING AND OPERATING 235
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).
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
the vehicle is actually traveling.
StabiliTrak/ESC selectively applies
braking pressure at any one of the
vehicle's brakes to help steer the
vehicle in the direction which you are
steering.
If cruise control is being used and
traction control or StabiliTrak/ESC
begins to limit wheel spin, cruise
control will disengage. Cruise control
may be turned back on when road
conditions allow. TCS and StabiliTrak/
ESC will automatically turn on when
cruise control is set.
Both systems come on automatically
when the vehicle is started and begins
to move. The systems may be heard or
felt while they are operating or while
performing diagnostic checks. This is
normal and does not mean there is a
problem with the vehicle.
It is recommended to leave both
systems on for normal driving
conditions, but it may be necessary to
turn TCS off if the vehicle gets stuckin sand, mud, ice, or snow. See
If the
Vehicle Is Stuck 0214 and “Turning
the Systems Off and On ”later in this
section.The indicator light for both systems is
in the instrument cluster. This
light will:
.Flash when TCS is limiting
wheel spin.
.Flash when StabiliTrak/ESC is
activated.
.Turn on and stay on when either
system is not working.
If either system fails to turn on or to
activate, a message may display in the
Driver Information Center (DIC), and
dcomes on and stays on to indicate
that the system is inactive and is not
assisting the driver in maintaining
control. The vehicle is safe to drive,
but driving should be adjusted
accordingly.

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DRIVING AND OPERATING 237
Driver Mode Control Switch
To activate each mode, press the
MODE button on the center console.
Tour Mode : Use for normal city and
highway driving to provide a smooth
ride. This setting provides balance
between comfort and handling. This is
the standard/default mode. There is
no persistent indicator in the
instrument cluster for this mode.
AWD Mode : AWD Mode provides
torque to all four wheels. Select AWD
to improve traction and control on
slippery road surfaces, such as gravel, sand, wet pavement, snow, and ice.
For more information on AWD Mode,
see
All-Wheel Drive 0232.
Sport Mode : Use where road
conditions or personal preference
demand a more controlled response.
Sport Mode improves vehicle handling
and acceleration on dry pavement.
When active, Sport Mode modifies
steering efforts, transmission shifting,
and AWD torque, if equipped.
The Performance Algorithm Liftfoot
(PAL) feature is enabled in Sport
Mode. PAL allows the transmission to
hold the current gear after a quick
release of a heavily applied accelerator
pedal. This provides greater engine
braking and enhanced vehicle control.
When PAL is activated, there may be
an additional gear symbol that
appears in the instrument cluster
display. See Performance Shifting Light
0 109.
Off-Road Mode : Use this mode for
off-road recreational driving. When
active, Off–Road Mode should be used
to improve driving at moderate
speeds, on grass, gravel, dirt, unpaved
roads, or snow-covered roads. The accelerator pedal is tuned for off-road
use. This mode modifies pedal
mapping, AWD, ESC, and TCS
Performance.
Snow/Ice Mode :
Snow/Ice Mode
improves vehicle acceleration on snow
and ice covered roads. When active,
Snow/Ice Mode will adjust
acceleration to optimize traction on
slippery surfaces. This can
compromise the acceleration on dry
asphalt. This feature is not intended
for use when the vehicle is stuck in
sand, mud, ice, snow, or gravel. If the
vehicle becomes stuck, see If the
Vehicle Is Stuck 0214.
Cruise Control
{
Warning
Cruise control can be dangerous
where you cannot drive safely at a
steady speed. Do not use cruise
control on winding roads or in
heavy traffic. (Continued)

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240 DRIVING AND OPERATING
While pressing the accelerator pedal
or shortly following the release to
override cruise, briefly moving the
thumbwheel down toward SET−will
result in cruise set to the current
vehicle speed.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well the cruise control will work
on hills depends upon the vehicle
speed, load, and the steepness of the
hills. When going up steep hills, you
might have to step on the accelerator
pedal to maintain your speed. When
going downhill, the cruise control
system may automatically brake to
slow the vehicle down. Also, you may
have to brake or shift to a lower gear
to keep your speed down. If the brake
pedal is applied, cruise control
disengages.
Ending Cruise Control
There are four ways to end cruise
control:
.Step lightly on the brake pedal.
.Press*.
.Shift the transmission to
N (Neutral).
.PressJ.
Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed is erased
from memory if
Jis pressed or if the
ignition is turned off.
Adaptive Cruise Control
(Advanced)
If equipped with Adaptive Cruise
Control (ACC), it allows the driver to
select the cruise control set speed and
following gap. Read this entire section
before using this system. The
following gap is the following time
between your vehicle and a vehicle
detected directly ahead in your path,
moving in the same direction. If no
vehicle is detected in your path, ACC
works like regular cruise control. ACC
uses camera and radar sensors. See
Radio Frequency Statement 0383.
If a vehicle is detected in your path,
ACC can apply acceleration or limited,
moderate braking to maintain the
selected following gap. To disengage
ACC, apply the brake. If ACC is
controlling your vehicle speed when
the Traction Control System (TCS) or StabiliTrak/Electronic Stability Control
(ESC) system activates, the ACC may
automatically disengage. See
Traction
Control/Electronic Stability Control
0 235. When road conditions allow
ACC to be safely used, the ACC can be
turned back on.
Disabling the TCS or StabiliTrak/ESC
system will disengage and prevent
engagement of ACC.
ACC can reduce the need for you to
frequently brake and accelerate,
especially when used on expressways,
freeways, and interstate highways.
When used on other roads, you may
need to take over the control of
braking or acceleration more often.
{Warning
ACC has limited braking ability and
may not have time to slow the
vehicle down enough to avoid a
collision with another vehicle you
are following. This can occur when
vehicles suddenly slow or stop
ahead, or enter your lane. Also see
“Alerting the Driver” in this section.
(Continued)

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244 DRIVING AND OPERATING
.If stopped with the brake applied,
press or hold SET−until the desired
set speed is displayed.
The speedometer reading can be
displayed in either English or metric
units. See Instrument Cluster 099. The
increment value used depends on the
units displayed.
Selecting the Follow Distance Gap
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. Each press
cycles the gap button through three
settings: Far, Medium, or Near.
When pressed, the current gap setting
displays briefly on the instrument
cluster and HUD, if equipped. 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 0258.
Alerting the Driver
With Head-Up Display
Without Head-Up Display If ACC is engaged, driver action may
be required when ACC cannot apply
sufficient braking because of
approaching a vehicle too rapidly.
When this condition occurs, six red
lights or the collision alert symbol on
the HUD, if equipped, will flash on the
windshield. Either eight beeps will
sound from the front, or both sides of
the Safety Alert Seat will pulse five
times. See
“Collision/Detection
Systems” underVehicle Personalization
0 120.
See Defensive Driving 0206.
Approaching and Following a
Vehicle
The vehicle ahead indicator is in the
instrument cluster and HUD display,
if equipped.

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DRIVING AND OPERATING 245
The vehicle ahead indicator only
displays when a vehicle is detected in
your vehicle’s path moving in the
same direction.
If this symbol is not displaying, ACC
will not respond to or brake for
vehicles ahead.
ACC automatically slows the vehicle
down and adjusts vehicle speed to
follow the vehicle in front at the
selected follow gap. The vehicle speed
increases or decreases to follow the
vehicle in front of you, but will not
exceed the set speed. It may apply
limited braking, if necessary. When
braking is active, the brake lamps will
come on. The automatic braking may
feel or sound different than if the
brakes were applied manually. This is
normal.
Passing a Vehicle While Using ACC
If the set speed is high enough, and
the left turn signal is used to pass a
vehicle ahead in the selected following
gap, ACC may assist by gradually
accelerating the vehicle prior to the
lane change.{Warning
When using ACC to pass a vehicle
or perform a lane change, the
following distance to the vehicle
being passed may be reduced. ACC
may not apply sufficient
acceleration or braking when
passing a vehicle or performing a
lane change. Always be ready to
manually accelerate or brake to
complete the pass or lane change.
Stationary or Very Slow-Moving
Objects
{Warning
ACC may not detect and react to
stopped or slow-moving vehicles
ahead of you. For example, the
system may not brake for a vehicle
it has never detected moving. This
can occur in stop-and-go traffic or
when a vehicle suddenly appears
due to a vehicle ahead changing
lanes. Your vehicle may not stop
and could cause a crash. Use (Continued)
Warning (Continued)
caution when using ACC. Your
complete attention is always
required while driving and you
should be ready to take action and
apply the brakes.
ACC Automatically Disengages
ACC may automatically disengage and
the driver will need to manually apply
the brakes to slow the vehicle when:
.The sensors are blocked.
.The Traction Control System (TCS)
or StabiliTrak/ESC system has
activated or been disabled.
.There is a fault in the system.
.The radar falsely reports blockage
when driving in a desert or remote
area with no other vehicles or
roadside objects. A DIC message
may display to indicate that ACC is
temporarily unavailable.
The ACC indicator will turn white
when ACC is no longer active.
In some cases, when ACC is
temporarily unavailable, regular cruise
control may be used. See “Switching

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246 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Between ACC and Regular Cruise
Control”in this section. Always
consider driving conditions before
using either cruise control system.
Notification to Resume ACC
ACC will maintain a follow gap behind
a detected vehicle and slow your
vehicle to a stop behind that vehicle.
If the stopped vehicle ahead has
driven away and ACC has not
resumed, the vehicle ahead indicator
will flash as a reminder to check
traffic ahead before proceeding. In
addition, the left and right sides of the
Safety Alert Seat will pulse three
times, or three beeps will sound. See
”Alert Type ”and “Adaptive Cruise Go
Notifier” in“Collision/Detection
Systems” underVehicle Personalization
0 120.
When the vehicle ahead drives away,
ACC resumes automatically if the stop
was brief. If necessary, press RES+ or
the accelerator pedal to resume ACC.
If stopped for more than two minutes
or if the driver door is opened and the
driver seat belt is unbuckled, the ACC
automatically applies the Electric
Parking Brake (EPB) to hold the vehicle. The EPB status light will turn
on. See
Electric Parking Brake 0233.
To release the EPB, press the
accelerator pedal.
A DIC warning message may display
indicating to shift to P (Park) before
exiting the vehicle. See Vehicle
Messages 0119.
{Warning
If ACC has stopped the vehicle, and
if ACC is disengaged, turned off,
or canceled, the vehicle will no
longer be held at a stop. The vehicle
can move. When ACC is holding the
vehicle at a stop, always be
prepared to manually apply the
brakes.
{Warning
Leaving the vehicle without placing
it in P (Park) can be dangerous. Do
not leave the vehicle while it is
being held at a stop by ACC. Always
place the vehicle in P (Park) and
turn off the ignition before leaving
the vehicle. ACC Override
If using the accelerator pedal while
ACC is active, the ACC indicator turns
blue on the instrument cluster and in
the HUD (if equipped) to indicate that
automatic braking will not occur. ACC
will resume operation when the
accelerator pedal is not being pressed.
{Warning
The ACC will not automatically
apply the brakes if your foot is
resting on the accelerator pedal.
You could crash into a vehicle
ahead of you.
Curves in the Road
{Warning
On curves, ACC may not detect a
vehicle ahead in your lane. You
could be startled if the vehicle
accelerates up to the set speed,
especially when following a vehicle
exiting or entering exit ramps. You
could lose control of the vehicle or
crash. Do not use ACC while driving (Continued)