tow CADILLAC XT5 2023 Workshop Manual

Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16406251) - 2023 - CRC - 3/25/22
334 Driving and Operating
trailer wiring package. The
harness contains the following
circuits:Electric
Trailer Brakes Blue
Battery Feed Red/Green or
Red/Blue
Brake Apply
Signal White/Blue
Ground Black or
White
Refer to the aftermarket
electric trailer brake controller
owner's manual to determine
wire color coding of the
electric trailer brake controller.
The wire colors on the brake
controller may be different
from the vehicle. The electric
trailer brake controller should
be installed by your dealer or a
qualified service center.
If equipped, there are four
blunt cut wires inside the front
driver side instrument panel.
It will be necessary to have a technician connect the 12-volt
power to the engine
compartment fuse block.
Trailer Lamps
Always check that all trailer
lamps are working at the
beginning of each trip, and
periodically on longer trips.
Turn Signals When
Towing a Trailer
When properly connected, the
trailer turn signals will
illuminate to indicate the
vehicle is turning, changing
lanes, or stopping. When
towing a trailer, the arrows on
the instrument cluster will
illuminate even if the trailer is
not properly connected or the
bulbs are burned out.
Trailer Sway
Control (TSC)
Vehicles with StabiliTrak/
Electronic Stability Control
(ESC) have a Trailer Sway
Control (TSC) feature. Trailersway is unintended
side-to-side motion of a trailer
while towing. If the vehicle is
towing a trailer and the TSC
detects that sway is
increasing, the vehicle brakes
are selectively applied at each
wheel, to help reduce
excessive trailer sway.
If equipped with the
Integrated Trailer Brake
Control (ITBC) system, and the
trailer has an electric brake
system, StabiliTrak/ESC may
also apply the trailer brakes.
If TSC is enabled, the Traction
Control System (TCS)/
StabiliTrak/ESC warning light
will flash on the instrument
cluster. Reduce vehicle speed
by gradually removing your
foot from the accelerator.
If trailer sway continues,

Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 335
StabiliTrak/ESC can reduce
engine torque to help slow the
vehicle. TSC will not function if
StabiliTrak/ESC is turned off.
See Traction Control/
Electronic Stability Control
0271.
{Warning
Trailer sway can result in a
crash and in serious injury or
death, even if the vehicle is
equipped with TSC.
If the trailer begins to sway,
reduce vehicle speed by
gradually removing your foot
from the accelerator. Then
pull over to check the trailer
and vehicle to help correct
possible causes, including an
improperly or overloaded
trailer, unrestrained cargo,
improper trailer hitch
configuration, or improperly
inflated or incorrect vehicle
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
or trailer tires. See Towing
Equipment0331 for trailer
ratings and hitch setup
recommendations.
Trailer Tires
Special Trailer (ST) tires differ
from vehicle tires. Trailer tires
are designed with stiff
sidewalls to help prevent sway
and to support heavy loads.
These features can make it
difficult to determine if the
trailer tire pressures are low
only based on a visual
inspection.
Always check all trailer tire
pressures before each trip
when the tires are cool. Low
trailer tire pressure is a
leading cause of trailer tire
blow-outs.
Trailer tires deteriorate over
time. The trailer tire sidewall
will show the week and year
the tire was manufactured.
Many trailer tire manufacturers recommend
replacing tires more than six
years old.
Overloading is another leading
cause of trailer tire blow-outs.
Never load your trailer with
more weight than the tires are
designed to support. The load
rating is located on the trailer
tire sidewall.
Always know the maximum
speed rating for the trailer
tires before driving. This may
be significantly lower than the
vehicle tire speed rating. The
speed rating may be on the
trailer tire sidewall. If the
speed rating is not shown, the
default trailer tire speed rating
is 105 km/h (65 mph).

Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16406251) - 2023 - CRC - 3/28/22
338 Vehicle Care
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . 401
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 402
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . 408
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - NorthAmerica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 409
Towing the Vehicle
Transporting a DisabledVehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 412
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 414
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 416
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 421
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 425
General
Information
For service and parts needs,
visit your dealer. You will
receive genuine GM parts and
GM-trained and supported
service people.
Genuine GM parts have one of
these marks:
California Perchlorate
Materials
Requirements
Certain types of automotive
applications, such as airbag
initiators, seat belt
pretensioners, and lithium
batteries contained in
electronic keys, may contain
perchlorate materials.
Perchlorate Material –special
handling may apply. See
www.dtsc.ca.gov/
hazardouswaste/perchlorate.
Accessories and
Modifications
Adding non-dealer accessories
or making modifications to the
vehicle can affect vehicle
performance and safety,
including such things as
airbags, braking, stability, ride
and handling, emissions
systems, aerodynamics,
durability, Driver Assistance
Systems, and electronic
systems like antilock brakes,

Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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340 Vehicle Care
Caution (Continued)
Do not allow contaminants
to contact the fluids,
reservoir caps, or dipsticks.
Doing Your Own
Service Work
{Warning
It can be dangerous to work
on your vehicle if you do not
have the proper knowledge,
service manual, tools,
or parts. Always follow
owner’s manual procedures
and consult the service
manual for your vehicle
before doing any
service work.
If doing some of your own
service work, use the proper
service manual. It tells you
much more about how to
service the vehicle than this
manual can. This vehicle has an airbag
system. Before attempting to
do your own service work, see
Servicing the Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle
079.
If equipped with remote
vehicle start, open the hood
before performing any service
work to prevent remote
starting the vehicle
accidentally. See Remote
Vehicle Start 019.
Keep a record with all parts
receipts and list the mileage
and the date of any service
work performed.
Caution
Even small amounts of
contamination can cause
damage to vehicle systems.
Do not allow contaminants
to contact the fluids,
reservoir caps, or dipsticks.
Hood
{Warning
For vehicles with auto
engine stop/start, turn the
vehicle off before opening
the hood. If the vehicle is on,
the engine will start when
the hood is opened. You or
others could be injured.
{Warning
Components under the hood
can get hot from running the
engine. To help avoid the
risk of burning unprotected
skin, never touch these
components until they have
cooled, and always use a
glove or towel to avoid
direct skin contact.
Clear any snow from the hood
before opening.

Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Vehicle Care 345
8. Positive (+) BatteryTerminal (Under Cover).
See Jump Starting - North
America 0409.
9. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Washer
Fluid 0357.
10. Engine Compartment Fuse Block 0368.
11. Remote Negative (-) Battery Terminal. See
Jump Starting - North
America 0409.
Engine Oil
To ensure proper engine
performance and long life,
careful attention must be paid
to engine oil. Following these
simple, but important steps
will help protect your
investment:
.Use engine oil approved to
the proper specification and
of the proper viscosity
grade. See “Selecting the
Right Engine Oil” in this
section.
.Check the engine oil level
regularly and maintain the
proper oil level. See
“Checking Engine Oil” and
“When to Add Engine Oil” in
this section.
.Change the engine oil at the
appropriate time. See Engine
Oil Life System 0348.
.Always dispose of engine oil
properly. See “What to Do
with Used Oil” in this section.
Checking Engine Oil
Check the engine oil level
regularly, every 650 km
(400 mi), especially prior to a
long trip. The engine oil
dipstick handle is a loop. See
Engine Compartment
Overview0342 for the
location.
{Warning
The engine oil dipstick
handle may be hot; it could
burn you. Use a towel or
glove to touch the dipstick
handle.
If a low oil Driver Information
Center (DIC) message displays,
check the oil level.
Follow these guidelines:
.To get an accurate reading,
park the vehicle on level
ground. Check the engine oil
level after the engine has
been off for at least two
hours. Checking the engine
oil level on steep grades or
too soon after engine
shutoff can result in
incorrect readings. Accuracy
improves when checking a
cold engine prior to starting.
Remove the dipstick and
check the level.
.If unable to wait two hours,
the engine must be off for at
least 15 minutes if the

Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
16406251) - 2023 - CRC - 3/28/22
346 Vehicle Care
engine is warm, or at least
30 minutes if the engine is
not warm. Pull out the
dipstick, wipe it with a clean
paper towel or cloth, then
push it back in all the way.
Remove it again, keeping the
tip down, and check the
level.
When to Add Engine Oil
2.0L L4 Engine
3.6L V6 Engine
If the oil is below the
cross-hatched area at the tip
of the dipstick and the engine has been off for at least
15 minutes, add 1 L (1 qt) of the
recommended oil and then
recheck the level. See
“Selecting the Right Engine
Oil”
later in this section for an
explanation of what kind of oil
to use. For engine oil
crankcase capacity, see
Capacities and Specifications
0 438.
Caution
Do not add too much oil. Oil
levels above or below the
acceptable operating range
shown on the dipstick are
harmful to the engine. If the
oil level is above the
operating range (i.e., the
engine has so much oil that
the oil level gets above the
cross-hatched area that
shows the proper operating
range), the engine could be
damaged. Drain the excess
oil or limit driving of the
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
vehicle, and seek a service
professional to remove the
excess oil.
See Engine Compartment
Overview 0342 for the
location of the engine oil
fill cap.
Add enough oil to put the level
somewhere in the proper
operating range. Push the
dipstick all the way back in
when finished.
Selecting the Right
Engine Oil
Selecting the right engine oil
depends on both the proper
oil specification and viscosity
grade. See Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants 0433.
Specification
Use full synthetic engine oils
that meet the dexos1
specification. Engine oils that
have been approved by GM as
meeting the dexos1

Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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362 Vehicle Care
Do this until the vehicle is
held by the parking
brake only.
.To check the P (Park)
mechanism's holding ability:
With the engine running,
shift to P (Park). Then
release the parking brake
followed by the regular
brake.
Contact your dealer if service
is required.
Wiper Blade
Replacement
Windshield wiper blades
should be inspected for wear
or cracking.
It is a good idea to clean or
replace the wiper blade
assembly on a regular basis or
when worn. For proper
windshield wiper blade length
and type, see Maintenance
Replacement Parts 0434.
Caution
Allowing the wiper arm to
touch the windshield when
no wiper blade is installed
could damage the
windshield. Any damage that
occurs would not be
covered by the vehicle
warranty. Do not allow the
wiper arm to touch the
windshield.
Front Wiper Blade
Replacement
To replace the wiper blade
assembly:
1. Pull the windshield wiper assembly away from the
windshield.
2. Lift up on the latch in themiddle of the wiper blade
where the wiper arm
attaches.
3. With the latch open, pull the wiper blade down
toward the windshield far
enough to release it from
the J-hooked end of the
wiper arm.
4. Remove the wiper blade.
5. Reverse Steps 1–3 for wiper blade replacement.

Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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394 Vehicle Care
{Warning
Rust or dirt on a wheel,
or on the parts to which it
is fastened, can cause
wheel nuts to become
loose over time. The
wheel could come off and
cause a crash. When
changing a wheel, remove
any rust or dirt from
places where the wheel
attaches to the vehicle. In
an emergency, a cloth or
paper towel can be used;
however, use a scraper
or wire brush later to
remove all rust or dirt.
Lightly coat the inner
diameter of the wheel hub
opening with wheel bearing
grease after a wheel
change or tire rotation to
prevent corrosion or rust
buildup.{Warning
Do not apply grease to
the wheel mounting
surface, wheel conical
seats, or the wheel nuts
or bolts. Grease applied
to these areas could
cause a wheel to become
loose or come off,
resulting in a crash.
When It Is Time for
New Tires
Factors, such as maintenance,
temperatures, driving speeds,
vehicle loading, and road
conditions affect the wear
rate of the tires.
Treadwear indicators are one
way to tell when it is time for
new tires. Treadwear
indicators appear when the
tires have only 1.6 mm (1/16 in)
or less of tread remaining. See
Tire Inspection 0392 and
Tire Rotation 0393.
The rubber in tires ages over
time. This also applies to the
spare tire, if the vehicle has
one, even if it is never used.
Multiple factors including
temperatures, loading
conditions, and inflation
pressure maintenance affect
how fast aging takes place.

Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Vehicle Care 401
If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blow
out while driving, especially if
the tires are maintained
properly. See Tires0376. If air
goes out of a tire, it is much
more likely to leak out slowly.
But if there is ever a blowout,
here are a few tips about what
to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire
creates a drag that pulls the
vehicle toward that side. Take
your foot off the accelerator
pedal and grip the steering
wheel firmly. Steer to maintain
lane position, and then gently
brake to a stop, well off the
road, if possible.
A rear blowout, particularly on
a curve, acts much like a skid
and may require the same
correction as used in a skid.
Stop pressing the accelerator
pedal and steer to straighten
the vehicle. It may be very
bumpy and noisy. Gently brake
to a stop, well off the road,
if possible.{Warning
Driving on a flat tire will
cause permanent damage to
the tire. Re-inflating a tire
after it has been driven on
while severely underinflated
or flat may cause a blowout
and a serious crash. Never
attempt to re-inflate a tire
that has been driven on
while severely underinflated
or flat. Have your dealer or
an authorized tire service
center repair or replace the
flat tire as soon as possible.
{Warning
Lifting a vehicle and getting
under it to do maintenance
or repairs is dangerous
without the appropriate
safety equipment and
training. If a jack is provided
with the vehicle, it is
designed only for changing a
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
flat tire. If it is used for
anything else, you or others
could be badly injured or
killed if the vehicle slips off
the jack. If a jack is provided
with the vehicle, only use it
for changing a flat tire.
If a tire goes flat, avoid further
tire and wheel damage by
driving slowly to a level place,
well off the road, if possible.
Turn on the hazard warning
flashers. See Hazard Warning
Flashers 0155.
If your vehicle is loaded at or
near maximum cargo capacity,
it may be difficult to fit the jack
under the vehicle due to the
environment (shoulder slope,
road debris, etc.). Removal of
some weight may improve the
ability to fit the jack under the
vehicle at the correct jacking
location.

Cadillac XT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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406 Vehicle Care
8. Remove all of thewheel nuts.
9. Remove the tire being changed.
{Warning
Rust or dirt on a wheel,
or on the parts to which it
is fastened, can cause
wheel nuts to become
loose over time. The
wheel could come off and
cause a crash. When
changing a wheel, remove
any rust or dirt from
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
places where the wheel
attaches to the vehicle. In
an emergency, a cloth or
paper towel can be used;
however, use a scraper
or wire brush later to
remove all rust or dirt.
10. Remove any rust or dirt from the wheel bolts,
mounting surfaces, and
spare wheel.
11. Place the spare tire on the wheel-mounting surface.
{Warning
Never use oil or grease on
bolts or nuts because the
nuts might come loose. The
vehicle's wheel could fall off,
causing a crash.
12. Reinstall the wheel nuts. Tighten each nut by hand
until the wheel is held
against the hub.
13. Lower the vehicle by turning the jack handle
counterclockwise.
{Warning
Wheel nuts that are
improperly or incorrectly
tightened can cause the
wheels to become loose or
come off. The wheel nuts
should be tightened with a
torque wrench to the proper
torque specification after
replacing. Follow the torque
specification supplied by the
(Continued)