2004 Cadillac XLR Owners Manual

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a brake problem. Refer to ParkingBrakeonpage2-26 to see if it is set. If the parking brake is not set, have your brake system inspected right away. 3-47 Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light Traction Control System (TCS) 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’s normal. This light should come on brieﬂy as you start the engine. If the light doesn’t come on then, have it ﬁxed so it will be ready to warn you if there’s a problem. If the light stays on, turn the ignition off. Or, if the light comes on when you’re 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’re driving, your vehicle needs service. If the regular brake system warning light isn’t on, you still have brakes, but you don’t have anti-lock brakes. If the regular brake system warning light is also on, you don’t have anti-lock brakes and there’s a problem with your regular brakes. See “Service ABS” under DICWarningsandMessagesonpage3-59. The anti-lock brake system warning light will come on brieﬂy when you turn the ignition on. This is normal. If the light doesn’t come on then, have it ﬁxed so it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem. 3-48 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’re driving, there’s 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. You can acknowledge this message by pressing the RESET button. When the SERVICE STABILITRAK message is displayed, the Stabilitrak® system will not assist you in controlling the vehicle. You should have the system serviced as soon as possible. Adjust your driving accordingly. When the system is working, you will see the STABILITRAK ACTIVE message displayed in the DIC. You may also feel of hear the system working. This is normal. If you turn off the Stabilitrak® system by pressing the button on the console, the traction control system light will come on, a chime will sound and the TRAC/STABILITRAK OFF message will be displayed in the DIC. The Traction Control System will also be turned off. See DIC Warnings and Messages on page3-59 for more information. If the Stabilitrak® system and Traction Control System are turned off, pressing the console button momentarily will turn both systems on. The DIC will display the TRAC/STABILITRAK ON message, the instrument cluster light will be off and a chime will sound. See DIC WarningsandMessagesonpage3-59 for more information. Engine Coolant Temperature Gage United States Canada This gage shows the engine coolant temperature. As the pointer nears 260°F (125°C), your engine coolant temperature is high. A message may display on the Driver Information Center (DIC) depending on how high the temperature is. See DICWarningsandMessages on page3-59 for more information. See EngineOverheatingonpage5-23 for more information. 3-49 Tire Pressure Light This light should come on brieﬂy as you start the engine. It will then come on only when a low tire pressure condition exists. See TirePressureMonitorSystemonpage5-58 for more information. Malfunction Indicator Lamp Check Engine Light Your vehicle is equipped with a computer which monitors operation of the fuel, ignition and emission control systems. This system is called OBD II (On-Board Diagnostics-Second Generation) and is intended to assure that emissions are at acceptable levels for the life of the vehicle, helping to produce a cleaner environment. The CHECK ENGINE light comes on to indicate that there is a problem and service is required. Malfunctions often will be indicated by the system before any problem is apparent. This may prevent more serious damage to your vehicle. This system is also designed to assist your service technician in correctly diagnosing any malfunction. 3-50 Notice: If you keep driving your vehicle with this light on, after a while, your emission controls may not work as well, your fuel economy may not be as good and your engine may not run as smoothly. This could lead to costly repairs that may not be covered by your warranty. Notice: Modiﬁcations made to the engine, transmission, exhaust, intake or fuel system of your vehicle or the replacement of the original tires with other than those of the same Tire Performance Criteria (TPC) can affect your vehicle’s emission controls and may cause this light to come on. Modiﬁcations to these systems could lead to costly repairs not covered by your warranty. This may also result in a failure to pass a required Emission Inspection/Maintenance test. This light should come on, as a check to show you it is working, when the ignition is on and the engine is not running. If the light does not come on, have it repaired. This light will also come on during a malfunction in one of two ways: • Light Flashing — A misﬁre condition has been detected. A misﬁre increases vehicle emissions and may damage the emission control system on your vehicle. Diagnosis and service may be required. • Light On Steady — An emission control system malfunction has been detected on your vehicle. Diagnosis and service may be required. If the Light Is Flashing The following may prevent more serious damage to your vehicle: • Reducing vehicle speed. • Avoiding hard accelerations. • Avoiding steep uphill grades. If the light stops ﬂashing and remains on steady, see “If the Light Is On Steady” following. If the light continues to ﬂash, when it is safe to do so, stopthevehicle. Find a safe place to park your vehicle. Turn the key off, wait at least 10 seconds and restart the engine. If the light remains on steady, see “If the Light Is On Steady” following. If the light is still ﬂashing, follow the previous steps, and see your dealer for service as soon as possible. 3-51 If the Light Is On Steady You also may be able to correct the emission system malfunction by considering the following: Did you recently put fuel into your vehicle? If so, reinstall the fuel cap, making sure to fully install the cap. See FillingYourTankonpage5-7. The diagnostic system can determine if the fuel cap has been left off or improperly installed. A loose or missing fuel cap will allow fuel to evaporate into the atmosphere. A few driving trips with the cap properly installed should turn the light off. Did you just drive through a deep puddle of water? If so, your electrical system may be wet. The condition will usually be corrected when the electrical system dries out. A few driving trips should turn the light off. Have you recently changed brands of fuel? If so, be sure to fuel your vehicle with quality fuel. See GasolineOctaneonpage5-4. Poor fuel quality will cause your engine not to run as efficiently as designed. You may notice this as stalling after start-up, stalling when you put the vehicle into gear, misﬁring, hesitation on acceleration or stumbling on acceleration. (These conditions may go away once the engine is warmed up.) This will be detected by the system and cause the light to turn on. If you experience one or more of these conditions, change the fuel brand you use. It will require at least one full tank of the proper fuel to turn the light off. If none of the above steps have made the light turn off, your dealer can check the vehicle. Your dealer has the proper test equipment and diagnostic tools to ﬁx any mechanical or electrical problems that may have developed. 3-52 Emissions Inspection and Maintenance Programs Some state/provincial and local governments have or may begin programs to inspect the emission control equipment on your vehicle. Failure to pass this inspection could prevent you from getting a vehicle registration. Here are some things you need to know to help your vehicle pass an inspection: Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if the CHECK ENGINE light is on or not working properly. Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if the OBD (on-board diagnostic) system determines that critical emission control systems have not been completely diagnosed by the system. The vehicle would be considered not ready for inspection. This can happen if you have recently replaced your battery or if your battery has run down. The diagnostic system is designed to evaluate critical emission control systems during normal driving. This may take several days of routine driving. If you have done this and your vehicle still does not pass the inspection for lack of OBD system readiness, your GM dealer can prepare the vehicle for inspection. 3-53 Engine Oil Pressure Gage United States Canada The engine oil pressure gage shows the engine oil pressure in psi (pounds per square inch) or kPa (kilopascals) when the engine is running. Oil pressure should be 20 to 80 psi (140 to 550 kPa). In certain situations such as long, extended idles on hot days, it could read as low as 6 psi (40 kPa) and still be considered normal. It may vary with engine speed, outside temperature and oil viscosity. The Driver Information Center (DIC) may display messages regarding the oil condition. See DICWarningsand Messagesonpage3-59 and EngineOilonpage5-13. 3-54 {CAUTION: Do not keep driving if the oil pressure is low. If you do, your engine can become so hot that it catches ﬁre. You or others could be burned. Check your oil as soon as possible and have your vehicle serviced. Notice: Lack of proper engine oil maintenance may damage the engine. The repairs would not be covered by your warranty. Always follow the maintenance schedule in this manual for changing engine oil. Security Light For information regarding this light, see Theft-Deterrent Systemsonpage2-17. Fog Lamp Light Lights On Reminder This light will come on when the fog lamps are in use. It will go out when the fog lamps are turned off. This light comes on whenever the headlamps are on. For more information about the fog lamps, see “Fog Lamps” under Exterior Lamps on page3-24. United States Only 3-55 Fuel Gage Your fuel gage tells you about how much fuel you have left when the ignition is on. When the needle approaches the low fuel symbol, LOW FUEL will appear on the Driver Information Center (DIC) display. At this time, you still have a little fuel left, but you should get more soon. Press RESET to acknowledge a DIC message(s). Pressing RESET will also turn off a DIC message but the LOW FUEL message will come on again in 10 minutes if you have not added fuel to the vehicle. Here are ﬁve things that some owners ask about. All these things are normal and do not indicate that anything is wrong with the fuel gage. • At the gas station, the gas pump shuts off before the gage reads the full symbol. • It takes more (or less) fuel to ﬁll up than the gage reads. For example, the gage reads half full, but it took more (or less) than half of the tank’s capacity to ﬁt it. • The gage pointer may move while cornering, braking or speeding up. • The gage may not indicate the tank is empty when the ignition is turned off. • The gage reading may change slightly within the ﬁrst several minutes after starting the vehicle. 3-56 You can use the Driver Information Center (DIC) to display more detailed fuel information. While scrolling through the DIC, you will also ﬁnd: • AVERAGE XX.X MPG (Average Miles Per Gallon): The fuel economy calculated for the last 20 gallons (76 L) of fuel used, or since you last reset the display. • INST XX.X MPG (Instantaneous Miles Per Gallon): The fuel economy calculated for your current driving conditions. • RANGE XXX MI: The approximate distance you can drive before refueling. See DICControlsandDisplaysonpage3-57 for more information. You should reset the fuel information display every time you refuel. To reset AVERAGE, use the information up or down button to scroll to AVE FUEL ECON and hold the reset button. RANGE will automatically reset. Driver Information Center (DIC) This display gives you the status of many of your vehicle’s systems. The DIC is also used to display driver personalization features and warning/status messages. All messages will appear in the DIC display, located at the bottom of the instrument panel cluster. DIC Controls and Displays The Driver Information Center (DIC) buttons are located to the right of the steering wheel on the instrument panel, near the air outlets. «4“ (Information): Press the top or bottom of this button to scroll through the available features which include the odometer, trip odometers, fuel range, miles per gallon, average speed, timer, tire pressure and remaining oil life. + (Interior Lamps): Press this button to turn the interior lamps on and off. OPTION: Press this button to choose personal options that are available on you vehicle. 3-57 RESET: Press this button to reset a feature. It is also used to switch between English and Metric options. Use the information button to scroll through the following options: ODOMETER: This feature shows how far the vehicle has been driven in either miles or kilometers. Use the ENG/METRIC feature to switch between English and Metric units. TRIP A: This feature will record the distance traveled since the last time it was reset. Press and hold the RESET button to return to zero. If your vehicle is ﬁrst sold in the United States, the trip odometer will return to zero after 999.9 miles (1 609 km). If your vehicle is ﬁrst sold in Canada, the trip odometer will return to zero after 1,242 miles (1 999 km). TRIP B: This feature allows you to record the distance traveled during a second trip and functions the same as TRIP A. RANGE xxx MI: This feature shows about how many miles you can drive without reﬁlling your fuel tank. Once the range drops below 40 miles (64 km) remaining, the display will show LOW. AVERAGE xx.x MPG (Average Miles Per Gallon): This feature shows the approximate fuel economy you have averaged since the last time you reset the value. To reset the average miles per gallon, press the information button to display AVERAGE xx.x MPG then press and hold the RESET button until AVERAGE 0.00 MPG is displayed. INST xx.x MPG (Instantaneous Miles Per Gallon): This feature shows the instantaneous fuel economy which varies with your driving conditions, such as acceleration, braking and the grade of the road being traveled. The RESET button does not function in this mode. AVERAGE SPEED: This feature shows the average speed you have traveled at since the last time you reset the value. To reset the value, press the information button to display AVERAGE SPEED then press and hold the RESET button until AVERAGE SPEED 00.0 is displayed. ELAPSED TIME: This feature is like a stopwatch, in that you can clock the time it takes to get from one point to another. To operate, press the information button to display ELAPSED TIME. Each of the ﬁelds for the hours, minutes and seconds are two numeric digits. 3-58 Once ELAPSED TIME 00:00:00 is displayed, press the RESET button to start the timing feature. Press the RESET button again to stop it. If you will be starting and stopping your vehicle, during a trip for instance, the ELAPSED TIME feature will automatically start timing where it left off when you last stopped. To reset it, press and hold the RESET button until the display reads ELAPSED TIME 00:00:00. Press the information button to exit from the ELAPSED TIME display. FRONT Lxx Rxx PSI: This feature shows the tire pressure for the front left and right tires. REAR Lxx Rxx PSI: This feature shows the tire pressure for the rear left and right tires. OIL LIFE: This feature shows the estimated oil life remaining. Press the information button to display OIL LIFE, then press and hold the RESET button until 100% OIL LIFE is displayed. This only needs to be reset after you have had the oil changed. ENG/METRIC (English/Metric): This feature allows you to switch the DIC displays between English and Metric. Press the RESET button to switch the display between English and Metric. There will be an arrow next to the option that is selected. 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. 3-59 CHANGE OIL NOW: This means that the life of the engine oil has expired and it should be changed within 200 miles. After an oil change, the Oil Life Indicator must be reset. See OilLifeIndicatoronpage3-72. See Engine Oil on page5-13. CHARGE SYSTEM FAULT: This message will display when a problem with the charging system has been detected. Have your vehicle serviced at your dealership. 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’s on properly. CLEAN RADAR CRUISE: On vehicles with Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), 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)” under TurnSignal/MultifunctionLeveronpage3-7. CLOSE CARGO COVER: This message indicates that the cargo cover is not in place. Open the trunk and make sure the cargo cover is secure and no objects are on the cover. See RearStorageAreaonpage2-43 for more information. COOLANT OVER TEMP: This message will appear when the engine coolant temperature is too hot. Stop and allow your vehicle to idle in PARK (P) until it cools down and the message is removed. Do not increase engine speed above a normal idle. If it does not cool down, turn off the engine and have it serviced before driving it again. Severe engine damage can result from an overheated engine. See Engine Overheating on page5-23. CRUISE NOT READY: On vehicles with Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), this message indicates that ACC will not activate due to a temporary condition. Your vehicle does not require service. If this message appears when you attempt to activate the system, continue driving for several minutes then try again to activate the system. DRIVER NO. X (1 OR 2): This message will be displayed when the vehicle is started or when there is a change of driver. The message will show which driver is activating the personalization feature. It will only stay on for ﬁve seconds. ENGINE HOT, STOP ENGINE: This message will appear when the engine has overheated. Stop and turn the engine off immediately to avoid severe engine damage. See EngineOverheatingonpage5-23. A multiple chime will also sound when this message is displayed. 3-60 ENGINE PROTECTION REDUCE ENGINE RPM: If this message appears, the control system has determined that continued operation at the existing engine speed may lead to engine overheating. Therefore, you should lower the engine speed by upshifting the transmission or drive at a lower speed. HEADLAMPS SUGGESTED: If it’s dark enough outside and the headlamps and Twilight Sentinel® controls are off, this message will display on the DIC. This message informs the driver that turning on the exterior lamps is recommended even though the DRL are still illuminated. It has become dark enough outside to require the headlamps and/or other exterior lamps. This message will also appear if the optional Rainsense™ wiping feature is on and the Twilight Sentinel® is off. HIGH TRANS TEMP: This message indicates that the transaxle ﬂuid in your vehicle is too hot. Stop and allow your vehicle to idle until it cools down or until this message is removed. HIGH VOLTAGE: This message shows that the electrical charging system is overcharging. To avoid being stranded, have the electrical system checked by your dealership. You can reduce the charging overload by using the accessories. Turn on the lamps and radio, set the climate control on AUTO and the fan speed on HI, and turn the rear window defogger on. You can monitor battery voltage on the DIC by pressing the INFO button. The normal range is 11.5 to 15.5 volts when the engine is running. HOT ENGINE–A/C OFF: This message displays when the engine coolant becomes hotter than the normal operating temperature. To avoid added strain on a hot engine, the air conditioning compressor is automatically turned off. When the coolant temperature returns to normal, the A/C operation will automatically resume. You can continue to drive your vehicle. If this message continues to appear, have the system repaired as soon as possible to avoid compressor damage. ICE POSSIBLE: This message appears when the outside air temperature is cold enough to create icy road conditions. LEFT DOOR AJAR: This message will display anytime the vehicle engine is running, the transmission is not in PARK (P) and the driver’s door is open or ajar. A chime will sound when the vehicle’s speed is greater than 3 mph (4.8 km/h). LOW BRAKE FLUID: This message will display if the vehicle is running to inform the driver that the brake ﬂuid level is low. Have the brake system serviced by a technician as soon as possible. See “Brake Fluid” under Brakes on page5-35. 3-61 LOW COOLANT: This message will appear when there is a low level of engine coolant. Have the cooling system serviced by a technician as soon as possible. See Engine Coolant on page5-20. LOW FUEL: This message will appear when the fuel supply is less than 5 gallons (18.9 L) and the display is turned off. A single chime will also sound when this message is displayed. LOW OIL LEVEL: For correct operation of the low oil sensing system, your vehicle should be on a level surface. A false LOW OIL LEVEL message may appear if the vehicle is parked on a grade. The oil level sensing system does not check for actual oil level if the engine has been off for a short period of time, and the oil level is never checked while the engine is running. If the LOW OIL LEVEL message appears, and your vehicle has been parked on level ground with the engine off for at least 30 minutes, the oil level should be checked by observing the oil dipstick. Prior to checking the oil level, be sure the engine has been off for a few minutes and your vehicle is on a level surface. Then check the dipstick and add oil if necessary. See Engine Oil on page5-13. LOW OIL PRESSURE: If this message appears while the engine is running, stop the engine and do not operate it until the cause of low oil pressure is corrected. Severe damage to the engine can result. A multiple chime will sound when this message is displayed. LOW VOLTAGE: This message will appear when the electrical system is charging less than 10 volts or if the battery has been drained. If this message appears immediately after starting, it is possible that the generator can still recharge the battery. The battery should recharge while driving but may take a few hours to do so. Consider using an auxiliary charger (be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions) to boost the battery after returning home or to a ﬁnal destination. If this message appears while driving or after starting your vehicle and stays on, have it checked immediately to determine the cause of this problem. To help the generator recharge the battery quickly, you can reduce the load on the electrical system by turning off the accessories. You can monitor battery voltage on the DIC by pressing the INFO button. The normal range is 11.5 to 15.5 volts. LOW WASHER FLUID: This message means that your vehicle is low on windshield washer ﬂuid. See Windshield Washer Fluid on page5-33. 3-62 MAX SPEED XX MPH (XX KM/H): A failure in the magnetic ride control system has occurred when this message appears. The Powertrain Control Module (PCM) determines the speed to which your vehicle is limited. Have your vehicle serviced if this message appears. NO FOB DETECTED: This message is displayed if the vehicle does not detect the presence of a keyless access transmitter when you have attempted to start the vehicle or a vehicle door has just closed. The following conditions may cause this message to appear: • Driver-added equipment, such as two-way radios or power inverters, is causing interference. Try moving the keyless access transmitter away from these devices when starting the vehicle. • The vehicle is experiencing Electro-Magnetic Interference (EMI). Some locations, such as airports, have EMI ﬁelds which may interfere with your keyless access transmitter. If moving the transmitter to different locations within the vehicle does not help, place the transmitter in the glove box transmitter pocket with the buttons facing to the right while pressing the START button. 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 until OFF or START has been pressed or 10 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 transaxle is being placed in gear under conditions that may cause damage to the vehicle’s engine, transaxle 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). 3-63 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 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. 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 traction control warning light on the instrument panel cluster will be illuminated. 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 as soon as possible. Adjust your driving accordingly. SERVICE ELECT SYSTEM: This message will display if an electrical problem has occurred within the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) or the ignition switch. Have your vehicle serviced by your dealership. 3-64 SERVICE FUEL SYSTEM: The Powertrain Control Module (PCM) has detected a problem within the fuel system when this message appears. Have your vehicle serviced by your dealership. This message will also be displayed when the cluster is not getting fuel information from the PCM. SERVICE RADAR CRUISE: This message indicates that the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) system is disabled and needs service. SERVICE RIDE CONTROL: This message indicates there is a problem with the Magnetic Ride Control System. Have your vehicle serviced by your dealership. SERVICE TRACTION SYS: This message indicates there is a problem with the Traction Control System (TCS). Have your vehicle serviced by your dealership. SERVICE STABILITRAK: If this message appears it means there may be a problem with your stability enhancement system. If you see this message, try to reset the system (stop, turn off the engine, then start the engine again). If the SERVICE STABILITRAK message still comes on, it means there is a problem. You should see your dealer for service. Reduce your speed and drive accordingly. A single chime will also sound when this message is displayed. SERVICE TRANSMISSION: This message indicates that there is a problem with the transmission. Have your vehicle serviced by your dealership. SERVICE VEHICLE SOON: This message is displayed when a non-emissions related powertrain malfunction occurs. Have your vehicle serviced by a technician as soon as possible. SHIFT TO PARK: This message indicates that the vehicle is not in PARK (P) when the engine is being turned off. The vehicle will be in ACCESSORY. Once the shifter is moved to PARK (P), the vehicle will turn off. STABILITRAK ACTIVE: You may see the STABILITRAK ACTIVE message on the Driver Information Center. It means that an advanced, computer-controlled system has come on to help your vehicle continue to go in the direction in which you’re steering. This stability enhancement system activates when the computer senses that your vehicle is just starting to spin, as it might if you hit a patch of ice or other slippery spot on the road. When the system is on, you may hear a noise or feel a vibration in the brake pedal. This is normal. When the STABILITRAK ACTIVE message is on, you should continue to steer in the direction you want to go. The system is designed to help you in bad weather or other difficult driving situations by making the most of whatever road conditions will permit. If the STABILITRAK ACTIVE message comes on, you’ll know that something has caused your vehicle to start to spin, so you should consider slowing down. A single chime will also sound when this message is displayed. STABILITRAK READY: If you receive this message and hear a chime, the system has completed the functional check of the Stabilitrak® System. STABILITRAK WARMING: When you ﬁrst start your vehicle and drive away, especially during cold winter weather, the STABILITRAK WARMING message may be displayed in the DIC along with a chime and the traction control warning light. This is normal. You can acknowledge this message by pressing the RESET button. The Stabilitrak® performance is affected until the STABILITRAK READY message is displayed in the DIC. SVC TIRE MONITOR: If this message comes on, a part on the Tire Pressure Monitor (TPM) is not working properly. If you drive your vehicle while any of the four sensors are missing or inoperable, the warning will come on in approximately 10 minutes. If all four sensors are missing, the warning will come on in approximately 15 to 20 minutes. (All the sensors would be missing, for example, if you put different wheels on your vehicle without transferring the sensors.) If the warning comes on and stays on, there may be a problem with the TPM. See your dealer. 3-65 TOO COLD TO MOVE TOP: This message will display when the retractable hardtop button is pressed and the hardtop pump motor temperature is below -4°F (-20°C). Wait for the hardtop pump motor to warm up before using the retractable hardtop. TOP INOP – VALET ON: This message will display when the retractable hardtop button is pressed and the valet switch is on. Turn off the valet switch before using the retractable hardtop. TOP INOP OUT OF PARK: This message will display if the retractable hardtop button is pressed while the vehicle is not in PARK (P). TOP MOTOR OVER TEMP: This message will display when the retractable hardtop button is pressed and the hardtop pump motor temperature is over 185°F (85°C). Wait for the hardtop pump motor to cool down before using the retractable hardtop. TOP NOT SECURE: This message will display when the retractable hardtop button is released before the top open or close operation is complete. Press and hold the retractable hardtop button to fully open or close the top. TRAC SYSTEM ACTIVE: When your traction control system is limiting wheel spin, the TRACTION SYSTEM ACTIVE message will be displayed. Slippery road conditions may exist if this message is displayed, so 3-66 adjust your driving accordingly. This message will stay on for a few seconds after the traction control system stops limited wheel spin. TRAC/STABILITRAK OFF: This message indicates that both the Traction Control System (TCS) and Stabilitrak® are off. The message will remain until RESET is pressed or the systems are turned on again. TRAC/STABILITRAK ON: This message indicates that both the Traction Control System (TCS) and the Stabilitrak® are on. TRACTION SYSTEM OFF: This message indicates that the Traction Control System (TCS) is off but Stabilitrak® remains on. TRACTION SYSTEM ON: This message indicates that the Traction Control System (TCS) is on, but Stabilitrak® is off. TRUNK AJAR: This message indicates that the trunk is open while the vehicle is running and not in PARK (P). WAIT FOR STABILITRAK: This message will be displayed after driving 19 mph (30 km/h) for 10 seconds if the steering is not centered. Stabilitrak® is not available until the steering centers itself and the STABILITRAK READY message is displayed in the DIC. Other Messages Here are more messages that you can receive on your Driver Information Center (DIC). To acknowledge a message and read another message that may have come on at the same time, press the RESET button. • 1st GEAR • 2nd GEAR • 3rd GEAR • 4th GEAR • 5th GEAR • ACCESSORY MODE ACTIVE • CHANGE OIL SOON (See “GM Oil Life System™” under EngineOil on page5-13.) • FOB BATTERY LOW • HIGH TIRE PRESS LF • HIGH TIRE PRESS RF • HIGH TIRE PRESS LR • HIGH TIRE PRESS RR • INTRUSION SENSOR OFF • INTRUSION SENSOR ON • KNOWN FOB • LEFT FRONT TIRE FLAT MAX SPD 55, REDUCED HNDLG • LEFT REAR TIRE FLAT MAX SPD 55, REDUCED HNDLG • LOW TIRE PRESS LF • LOW TIRE PRESS RF • LOW TIRE PRESS LR • LOW TIRE PRESS RR • MAX # FOBS LEARNED • NO FOB, OFF OR RUN? • NO FOBS DETECTED • OFF-ACC TO LEARN • READY FOR FOB #X • RIGHT FRT TIRE FLAT MAX SPD 55, REDUCED HNDLG • RIGHT REAR TIRE FLAT MAX SPD 55, REDUCED HNDLG • WAIT XX MINUTES 3-67 DIC Vehicle Personalization Your vehicle is equipped with personalization capabilities that allows you to program certain features to a preferred setting for up to two drivers. The current driver’s preferences are recalled when one of the following occurs: • The lock or unlock button on the keyless access transmitter is pressed. • The appropriate memory button, 1 or 2, located on the driver s seat is pressed. • A valid keyless access transmitter is detected upon opening the driver door. Feature Programming To change feature preferences, make sure the vehicle is running and in PARK (P). Press the OPTIONS button and the DIC will display the current driver for a few seconds, then display the ﬁrst personalization menu item. You can now use the OPTIONS button to change the setting of the displayed feature. Press the top or bottom of the information button to scroll up or down the list of features. When you get to a feature you want to change, press the OPTIONS button again. When you are ﬁnished, press the RESET button to exit the personalization menu. If no button is pressed within 45 seconds, the DIC will exit the personalization menu. The following are DIC options that will be available in the personalization menu. 3-68 Auto Recall This feature allows the steering column, outside mirrors and the driver’s seat to automatically move to the current driver’s set position when the engine starts. The DIC will display AUTO RECALL OFF or AUTO RECALL ON. Press the OPTIONS button to change the setting. Auto Exit Recall This feature allows the steering column and driver’s seat to automatically move to the current driver’s exit position when one of the following occurs: • The vehicle is turned off or in RAP or ACCESSORY mode and the driver’s door is opened. • The vehicle is turned off or in RAP and the unlock button on the Keyless Access transmitter is pressed. The DIC will display AUTO EXIT RECALL OFF or AUTO EXIT RECALL ON. Press the OPTIONS button to change the setting. Approach Lights This feature activates the parking lamps, front fog lamps and back-up lamps during low light periods when the unlock button on the keyless access transmitter is pressed, both doors are closed and the vehicle is off or in RAP. The lamps remain on for 20 seconds or until a door is opened, the lock button on the keyless access transmitter is pressed or the vehicle is no longer off or in RAP. The DIC will display APPROACH LIGHTS OFF or APPROACH LIGHTS ON. Press the OPTIONS button to change the setting. Exit Lights This feature activates the parking lamps and front fog lamps for 15, 30 or 90 seconds. This will occur when the vehicle is off or in RAP and the headlamps are on due to the automatic headlamp system. The parking lamps and front fog lamps will remain on until the driver selected time period expires, the exterior lamp control is activated or the vehicle is no longer off or in RAP. The DIC will display EXIT LIGHTS OFF, EXIT LIGHTS - 15 SEC, EXIT LIGHTS - 30 SEC or EXIT LIGHTS - 90 SEC. Press the OPTIONS button to change the setting. 3-69 Flash at Unlock This feature activates the front and rear turn signals for two short ﬂashes when the unlock or trunk button on the keyless access transmitter is pressed or when OnStar® unlocks the doors. This will only occur when the vehicle is off. The DIC will display NO FLASH AT UNLOCK or FLASH AT UNLOCK. Press the OPTIONS button to change the setting. Flash at Lock This feature activates the front and rear turn signals for one long ﬂash when the lock button on the keyless access transmitter is pressed or when OnStar® locks the doors. This will only occur when the vehicle is off. If the lock button is pressed again within ﬁve seconds, the horn will sound regardless of which setting you have selected. The DIC will display NO FLASH AT LOCK or FLASH AT LOCK. Press the OPTIONS button to change the setting. 3-70 FOB Reminder This feature sounds the horn three times when the driver door is closed and there is a keyless access transmitter inside the interior of the vehicle. This will only occur when the vehicle is off. The DIC will display FOB REMINDER OFF or FOB REMINDER HORN. Press the OPTIONS button to change the setting. Passive Locking This feature automatically locks the doors when: • no keyless access transmitter is in the vehicle while closing either door, resulting in both doors being closed, • the vehicle is off, and • both doors have been closed for ﬁve seconds. This feature may be temporarily disabled by pressing the unlock button on the door while the door is open. Passive locking will then remain disabled until the lock button on the door is pressed or the vehicle is no longer off. You can also select to have the horn sound once when the passive lock occurs. The DIC will display PASSIVE LOCKING OFF, SILENT PASSIVE LOCK or HORN AT PASSIVE LOCK. Press the OPTIONS button to change the setting. Auto Lock This feature automatically locks the doors when the one of the following occurs: • The shift lever is moved from PARK (P) while both doors are closed and the engine is running. • The shift lever is not in PARK (P), the brake pedal is pressed and either door is closed, resulting in both doors being closed, then the brake pedal is released. • The shift lever is not in PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) and the brake pedal is not pressed, either door is closed resulting in both doors being closed and the vehicle speed reaches or exceeds about 3 mph (5 km/h). The DIC will display AUTO LOCK OFF or AUTO LOCK ON. Press the OPTIONS button to change the setting. Auto Unlock This feature automatically unlocks either the driver’s door or both doors, depending on the setting, when the shift lever is moved to PARK (P). This feature is only available when the auto lock feature is set to AUTO LOCK ON. The DIC will display AUTO UNLOCK OFF, AUTO UNLOCK DRIVER or AUTO UNLOCK BOTH. Press the OPTIONS button to change the setting. Park Assist This feature tilts the passenger’s side mirror downward when the shifter is moved to REVERSE (R). This can help you to see the curb while backing up. If you adjust the mirror while in REVERSE (R), the new position will be saved as the park assist position. The DIC will display PARK ASSIST OFF or PARK ASSIST ON. Language This feature allows you to select the language the DIC, and Head-Up Display (HUD) if equipped, uses to display messages. The DIC will display ENGLISH, FRENCH, GERMAN, ITALIAN, JAPANESE or SPANISH. Press the OPTIONS button to change the setting. If you become stuck in a language that you don’t understand, hold the OPTIONS and RESET button for ﬁve seconds. The DIC will scroll through all available languages for as long as the buttons are held. Each language option will display in its own language. For example, English will be displayed as ENGLISH, Spanish as ESPANOL, etc. When the desired language is available, release the buttons and the DIC will set to this language. 3-71 Trip Computer Oil Life Indicator This feature lets you know when to change the engine oil. It’s based on the engine oil temperatures and your driving patterns. To see the display, press the information button several times until OIL LIFE appears. If you see 99% OIL LIFE, 99 percent of your current oil life remains. The DIC may display a CHANGE OIL NOW message. For more information, see ScheduledMaintenance onpage6-4. If you see CHANGE OIL NOW, it means the oil life is gone and you should change the oil right away. The system doesn’t check how much oil you have, so you’ll still have to check for that. To see how, see Engine Oil on page5-13. When the oil is changed, you’ll need to reset the system. See EngineOilonpage5-13. Always keep a written record of the mileage and date when you changed your oil. Audio System(s) Notice: Before you add any sound equipment to your vehicle – like a tape player, CB radio, mobile telephone or two-way radio – be sure you can add what you want. If you can, it’s very important to do it properly. Added sound equipment may interfere with the operation of your vehicle’s engine, radio or other systems, and even damage them. Your vehicle’s systems may interfere with the operation of sound equipment that has been added improperly. So, before adding sound equipment, check with your dealer and be sure to check federal rules covering mobile radio and telephone units. Your audio system has been designed to operate easily and to give years of listening pleasure. You will get the most enjoyment out of it if you acquaint yourself with it ﬁrst. Figure out which radio you have in your vehicle, ﬁnd out what your audio system can do and how to operate all of its controls to be sure you’re getting the most out of the advanced engineering that went into it. Your vehicle has a feature called Retained Accessory Power (RAP). With RAP, you can play your audio system even after the ignition is turned off. See “Retained Accessory Power (RAP)” under Ignition Positions on page2-19. 3-72 Navigation/Radio System Navigation/Radio Display and Controls The display screen is located in the center of the instrument panel. There are “hard” buttons and a touch sensitive screen. Your vehicle is equipped with an AM-FM radio navigation system that includes digital signal processing (DSP), radio data system (RDS) with program type selections (PTY) that will seek out the kind of music you want to listen to. The radio system can also communicate with your navigation system to broadcast announcements on traffic, weather, and emergency alert communications. For information on how to use this system, see the “Navigation System” manual. Radio Personalization with Home and Away Feature If DRIVER 1 (HOME or AWAY) PRESETS or DRIVER 2 (HOME or AWAY) PRESETS appears in the display when the radio is ﬁrst turned on, your vehicle is equipped with this feature. This feature allows the driver to return to the last used audio source (radio, cassette, or CD) using the remote keyless entry transmitter. This feature can also store and recall AM and FM presets, volume, tone, and the last selected radio station. The number on the back of each transmitter (1 or 2) corresponds to driver 1 or 2. If transmitter 1 is used to enter the vehicle, the last used audio source and/or settings set by driver 1 will be recalled. If transmitter 2 is used to enter the vehicle, the last used audio source and/or settings set by driver 2 will be recalled. The settings can also be recalled by pressing the MEMORY seat buttons 1 or 2 located on the driver’s door. Your radio can store home and away presets. Home and away presets allow you to use one set of preset radio settings in the area where you live, and another set when you go out of town. You will not need to reprogram your presets every time you travel. With the radio off and the time displayed, use fast forward and reverse to select home or away presets. 3-73 To select the away presets, press and hold FF for ﬁve seconds until you hear a beep. The next time the radio comes on, the away presets will be active. To select the home presets, press and hold RW for ﬁve seconds until you hear a beep. The next time the radio comes on, the home presets will be active. When battery power is removed and later applied, you will not have to reset your home radio presets because the radio remembers them. However, you will have to reset your away radio presets. Theft-Deterrent Feature THEFTLOCK® is designed to discourage theft of your radio. Your vehicle has a “built in” theft-deterrent feature on each radio that is automatic – there is no programming required. The radio in your vehicle cannot be used in any other vehicle. When the radio was originally installed in your vehicle at the factory, it stored the Vehicle Identiﬁcation Number (VIN). Each time the ignition is turned on, the VIN is veriﬁed. If the vehicle’s VIN does not match the VIN stored in the radio, THEFTLOCK® will be activated and the audio system will not play. If the radio is removed from your vehicle, the original VIN in the radio can be used to trace the radio back to your vehicle. 3-74 Audio Steering Wheel Controls Some audio controls can be adjusted at the steering wheel. They include the following: g (Voice Recognition): See “OnStar® Steering Wheel Controls” under OnStar® Systemonpage2-35 for more information. SRCE (Source): Press this button to switch between FM1, FM2, and AM, and XM1 and XM2 (48 contiguous US states, if equipped), and to switch between radio, CD, and DVD. Understanding Radio Reception AM The range for most AM stations is greater than for FM, especially at night. The longer range, however, can cause stations to interfere with each other. AM can pick up noise from things like storms and power lines. Try reducing the treble to reduce this noise. FM Stereo FM stereo will give you the best sound, but FM signals will reach only about 10 to 40 miles (16 to 65 km). Tall buildings or hills can interfere with FM signals, causing the sound to come and go. XM™ Satellite Radio Service (48 Contiguous US States) XM™ Satellite Radio Service gives you digital radio reception from coast to coast. Just as with FM, tall buildings or hills can interfere with satellite radio signals, causing the sound to come and go. Your radio may display NO XM SIGNAL to indicate interference. Cellular Phone Usage Cellular phone usage may cause interference with your vehicle’s radio. This interference may occur when making or receiving phone calls, charging the phone’s battery, or simply having the phone on. This interference is described as an increased level of static while listening to the radio. If you notice static while listening to the radio, unplug the cellular phone and turn it off. Care of Your CDs Handle CDs carefully. Store them in their original cases or other protective cases and away from direct sunlight and dust. If the surface of a CD is soiled, dampen a clean, soft cloth in a mild, neutral detergent solution and clean it, wiping from the center to the edge. Be sure never to touch the side without writing when handling CDs. Pick up CDs by grasping the outer edges or the edge of the hole and the outer edge. Care of Your CD Player The use of CD lens cleaners for CDs is not advised, due to the risk of contaminating the lens of the CD optics with lubricants internal to the CD mechanism. 3-75 Diversity Antenna System Your AM-FM antennas are located in the windshield and rear window. Be sure that the inside surfaces of the windshield and rear window are not scratched and that the lines on the glass are not damaged. If the inside surfaces are damaged, they could interfere with radio reception. Also, for proper radio reception, the antenna connector located on the passenger’s side top corner of the windshield and the antenna connector located on the driver’s side top corner of the rear window need to be properly attached to the buttons on the glass. Notice: Do not apply aftermarket glass tinting with metallic ﬁlm. The metallic ﬁlm in some tinting materials will interfere with or distort the incoming radio reception. Any damage caused to your backglass antenna due to metallic tinting materials will not be covered by your warranty. Notice: Do not try to clear frost or other material from the inside of the front windshield and rear window with a razor blade or anything else that is sharp. This may damage the rear window defogger grid and affect your radio’s ability to pickup stations clearly. The repairs wouldn’t be covered by your warranty. If, when you turn on your rear window defogger, you hear static on your radio station, it could mean that a defogger grid line has been damaged. If this is true, the grid line must be repaired. If you choose to add an aftermarket cellular telephone to your vehicle, and the antenna needs to be attached to the glass, be sure that you do not damage the grid lines for the AM-FM antennas or place the cellular telephone antenna over the grid lines. XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System Your XM™ Satellite Radio antenna is located on the trunk of your vehicle. Keep this antenna clear of snow and ice build up for clear radio reception. 3-76 Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle ..........4-2 Defensive Driving ...........................................4-2 Drunken Driving .............................................4-2 Control of a Vehicle ........................................4-5 Braking .........................................................4-6 Traction Control System (TCS) .........................4-9 Magnetic Ride Control ...................................4-10 Limited-Slip Rear Axle ...................................4-10 Stabilitrak® System .......................................4-11 Steering ......................................................4-12 Off-Road Recovery .......................................4-15 Passing .......................................................4-15 Loss of Control .............................................4-16 Driving at Night ............................................4-18 Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads ..................4-20 City Driving ..................................................4-23 Freeway Driving ...........................................4-24 Before Leaving on a Long Trip .......................4-25 Highway Hypnosis ........................................4-26 Hill and Mountain Roads ................................4-26 Winter Driving ..............................................4-28 If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow ...................................................4-31 Towing ..........................................................4-32 Towing Your Vehicle .....................................4-32 Recreational Vehicle Towing ...........................4-32 Loading Your Vehicle ....................................4-32 Loading Your Vehicle ....................................4-35 Loading Your Vehicle ....................................4-36 Towing a Trailer ...........................................4-37 4-1 Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle Defensive Driving The best advice anyone can give about driving is: Drive defensively. Please start with a very important safety device in your vehicle: Buckle up. See SafetyBelts:TheyArefor Everyone on page1-4. Defensive driving really means “be ready for anything.” On city streets, rural roads or freeways, it means “always expect the unexpected.” Assume that pedestrians or other drivers are going to be careless and make mistakes. Anticipate what they might do. Be ready for their mistakes. Rear-end collisions are about the most preventable of accidents. Yet they are common. Allow enough following distance. It is the best defensive driving maneuver, in both city and rural driving. You never know when the vehicle in front of you is going to brake or turn suddenly. Defensive driving requires that a driver concentrate on the driving task. Anything that distracts from the driving task — such as concentrating on a cellular telephone call, reading, or reaching for something on the ﬂoor — makes proper defensive driving more difficult and can even cause a collision, with resulting injury. Ask a passenger to help do things like this, or pull off the road in a safe place to do them yourself. These simple defensive driving techniques could save your life. Drunken Driving Death and injury associated with drinking and driving is a national tragedy. It is the number one contributor to the highway death toll, claiming thousands of victims every year. Alcohol affects four things that anyone needs to drive a vehicle: • Judgment • Muscular Coordination • Vision • Attentiveness. Police records show that almost half of all motor vehicle-related deaths involve alcohol. In most cases, these deaths are the result of someone who was drinking and driving. In recent years, more than 16,000 annual motor vehicle-related deaths have been associated with the use of alcohol, with more than 300,000 people injured. 4-2 Many adults — by some estimates, nearly half the adult population — choose never to drink alcohol, so they never drive after drinking. For persons under 21, it is against the law in every U.S. state to drink alcohol. There are good medical, psychological and developmental reasons for these laws. The obvious way to eliminate the leading highway safety problem is for people never to drink alcohol and then drive. But what if people do? How much is “too much” if someone plans to drive? It is a lot less than many might think. Although it depends on each person and situation, here is some general information on the problem. The Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of someone who is drinking depends upon four things: • The amount of alcohol consumed • The drinker’s body weight • The amount of food that is consumed before and during drinking • The length of time it has taken the drinker to consume the alcohol. According to the American Medical Association, a 180 lb (82 kg) person who drinks three 12 ounce (355 ml) bottles of beer in an hour will end up with a BAC of about 0.06 percent. The person would reach the same BAC by drinking three 4 ounce (120 ml) glasses of wine or three mixed drinks if each had 1-1/2 ounces (45 ml) of liquors like whiskey, gin or vodka. It is the amount of alcohol that counts. For example, if the same person drank three double martinis (3 ounces or 90 ml of liquor each) within an hour, the person’s BAC would be close to 0.12 percent. A person who consumes food just before or during drinking will have a somewhat lower BAC level. 4-3 There is a gender difference, too. Women generally have a lower relative percentage of body water than men. Since alcohol is carried in body water, this means that a woman generally will reach a higher BAC level than a man of her same body weight will when each has the same number of drinks. The law in an increasing number of U.S. states, and throughout Canada, sets the legal limit at 0.08 percent. In some other countries, the limit is even lower. For example, it is 0.05 percent in both France and Germany. The BAC limit for all commercial drivers in the United States is 0.04 percent. The BAC will be over 0.10 percent after three to six drinks (in one hour). Of course, as we have seen, it depends on how much alcohol is in the drinks, and how quickly the person drinks them. But the ability to drive is affected well below a BAC of 0.10 percent. Research shows that the driving skills of many people are impaired at a BAC approaching 0.05 percent, and that the effects are worse at night. All drivers are impaired at BAC levels above 0.05 percent. Statistics show that the chance of being in a collision increases sharply for drivers who have a BAC of 0.05 percent or above. A driver with a BAC level of 0.06 percent has doubled his or her chance of having a collision. At a BAC level of 0.10 percent, the chance of this driver having a collision is 12 times greater; at a level of 0.15 percent, the chance is 25 times greater! The body takes about an hour to rid itself of the alcohol in one drink. No amount of coffee or number of cold showers will speed that up. “I will be careful” is not the right answer. What if there is an emergency, a need to take sudden action, as when a child darts into the street? A person with even a moderate BAC might not be able to react quickly enough to avoid the collision. 4-4 Control of a Vehicle You have three systems that make your vehicle go where you want it to go. They are the brakes, the steering and the accelerator. All three systems have to do their work at the places where the tires meet the road. Sometimes, as when you are driving on snow or ice, it is easy to ask more of those control systems than the tires and road can provide. That means you can lose control of your vehicle. Also see TractionControl System(TCS)onpage4-9 and Stabilitrak® Systemon page4-11. There is something else about drinking and driving that many people do not know. Medical research shows that alcohol in a person’s system can make crash injuries worse, especially injuries to the brain, spinal cord or heart. This means that when anyone who has been drinking — driver or passenger — is in a crash, that person’s chance of being killed or permanently disabled is higher than if the person had not been drinking. {CAUTION: Drinking and then driving is very dangerous. Your reﬂexes, perceptions, attentiveness and judgment can be affected by even a small amount of alcohol. You can have a serious — or even fatal — collision if you drive after drinking. Please do not drink and drive or ride with a driver who has been drinking. Ride home in a cab; or if you are with a group, designate a driver who will not drink. 4-5 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. Braking Braking action involves perceptiontime and reactiontime. First, you have to decide to push on the brake pedal. That is perceptiontime. Then you have to bring up your foot and do it. That is reactiontime. Average reactiontime is about 3/4 of a second. But that is only an average. It might be less with one driver and as long as two or three seconds or more with another. Age, physical condition, alertness, coordination and eyesight all play a part. So do alcohol, drugs and frustration. But even in 3/4 of a second, a vehicle moving at 60 mph (100 km/h) travels 66 feet (20 m). That could be a lot of distance in an emergency, so keeping enough space between your vehicle and others is important. And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly with the surface of the road (whether it is pavement or gravel); the condition of the road (wet, dry, icy); tire tread; the condition of your brakes; the weight of the vehicle and the amount of brake force applied. 4-6 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. See Anti-Lock BrakeSystemWarning Lightonpage3-48. 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. 4-7 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. 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. Using Anti-Lock Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal down ﬁrmly and let anti-lock work for you. You may hear a motor or clicking noise and feel the brake pedal move a little during a stop, but this is normal. Braking in Emergencies With anti-lock, you can steer and brake at the same time. In many emergencies, steering can help you more than even the very best braking. As you brake, your computer keeps receiving updates on wheel speed and controls braking pressure accordingly. 4-8 Traction Control System (TCS) Your vehicle has a traction control system that limits wheel spin. This is especially useful in slippery road conditions. The system operates only if it senses that one or both of the rear wheels are spinning or beginning to lose traction. When this happens, the system works the rear brakes and reduces engine power to limit wheel spin. The TRAC SYSTEM ACTIVE message will display on the Driver Information Center (DIC) when the traction control system is limiting wheel spin. See DICWarnings andMessagesonpage3-59. You may feel or hear the system working, but this is normal. If your vehicle is in cruise control when the traction control system begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise control will automatically disengage. When road conditions allow you to safely use it again, you may reengage the cruise control. See “Cruise Control” under Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever on page3-7. This warning light will come on to let you know if there’s a problem with your traction control system. See TractionControlSystem(TCS)WarningLighton page3-48. When this warning light is on, the system will not limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly. The traction control system automatically comes on whenever you start your vehicle. To limit wheel spin, especially in slippery road conditions, you should always leave the system on. But you can turn the traction control system off if you ever need to. You should turn the system off if your vehicle ever gets stuck in sand, mud or snow and rocking the vehicle is required. See “Rocking Your Vehicle To Get It Out” under IfYouAreStuck:InSand,Mud,IceorSnowon page4-31. 4-9 Magnetic Ride Control Magnetic Ride Control automatically adjusts the ride of your vehicle. Automatic ride control is achieved through a computer used to control and monitor the suspension system. The controller receives input from various sensors to determine the proper system response. If the controller detects a problem within the system, the DIC will display a SERVICE RIDE CONTROL message. See DICWarningsandMessages onpage3-59 for more information. See your dealer for service. Limited-Slip Rear Axle Your limited-slip rear axle can give you additional traction on snow, mud, ice, sand or gravel. It works like a standard axle most of the time, but when one of the rear wheels has no traction and the other does, this feature will allow the wheel with traction to move the vehicle. To turn the system off, press the traction control button located on the center console. The TRACTION SYSTEM-OFF message will display on the DIC and the traction control system warning light will come on. If the system is limiting wheel spin when you press the button, the TRACTION SYSTEM-OFF message will display – but the system won’t turn off right away. It will wait until there’s no longer a current need to limit wheel spin. You can turn the system back on at any time by pressing the button again. The TRACTION SYSTEM-ON message should display brieﬂy on the Driver Information Center. 4-10 Stabilitrak® System The Stabilitrak® System is a computer controlled system that helps the driver maintain directional control of the vehicle in difficult driving conditions. This is accomplished by selectively applying any one of the vehicle’s brakes. When you ﬁrst start your vehicle and begin to drive away (6 mph (10 km/h)), especially during cold weather, the message STABILITRAK WARMING may be displayed in the Driver Information Center (DIC), the instrument cluster light will be on, and a chime will sound. This is normal. You can acknowledge this message by pressing the RESET button. The Stabilitrak® System performance is affected until the message, STABILITRAK READY, is displayed in the DIC. The WAIT FOR STABILITRAK message may be displayed in the DIC after exceeding 19 mph (30 km/h) for 10 seconds if the steering is not centered. The system is off until the STABILITRAK ACTIVE message is displayed. The STABILITRAK ACTIVE message will come on when the system is operating. See DICWarningsand Messagesonpage3-59 for more information. You may also feel or hear the system working. This is normal. The instrument cluster light will come on and a chime will sound to let you know if there is a problem with the system. The SERVICE STABILITRAK message will also be displayed. See DICWarningsandMessageson page3-59 for more information. When this light and the SERVICE STABILITRAK message are on, the system is not operational. Adjust your driving accordingly. The system comes on automatically whenever you start your vehicle. To help maintain directional control of the vehicle, you should always leave the system on. You can turn the system off if you ever need to. If you turn the STABILITRAK® System off, the Traction Control System will also be turned off. Adjust your driving accordingly. 4-11 To turn the system off, press and hold the traction control button on the console for ﬁve seconds with the vehicle stopped. You can turn the system back on at any time by pressing the button. The DIC will display the appropriate message when you push the button, either TRAC/STABILITRAK ON or TRAC/STABILITRAK OFF. Steering Power Steering If you lose power steering assist because the engine stops or the system is not functioning, you can steer but it will take much more effort. Magnetic Speed Variable Assist Steering Your vehicle is equipped with a steering system that continuously adjusts the effort you feel when steering at all vehicle speeds. It provides ease when parking, yet a ﬁrm, solid feel at highway speeds. 4-12 Steering Tips Driving on Curves It is important to take curves at a reasonable speed. A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents mentioned on the news happen on curves. Here is why: Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is subject to the same laws of physics when driving on curves. The traction of the tires against the road surface makes it possible for the vehicle to change its path when you turn the front wheels. If there is no traction, inertia will keep the vehicle going in the same direction. If you have ever tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you will understand this. The traction you can get in a curve depends on the condition of your tires and the road surface, the angle at which the curve is banked, and your speed. While you are in a curve, speed is the one factor you can control. Suppose you are steering through a sharp curve. Then you suddenly accelerate. Both control systems — steering and acceleration — have to do their work where the tires meet the road. Adding the sudden acceleration can demand too much of those places. You can lose control. See TractionControl System (TCS) on page4-9. What should you do if this ever happens? Ease up on the accelerator pedal, steer the vehicle the way you want it to go, and slow down. Speed limit signs near curves warn that you should adjust your speed. Of course, the posted speeds are based on good weather and road conditions. Under less favorable conditions you will want to go slower. If you need to reduce your speed as you approach a curve, do it before you enter the curve, while your front wheels are straight ahead. Try to adjust your speed so you can “drive” through the curve. Maintain a reasonable, steady speed. Wait to accelerate until you are out of the curve, and then accelerate gently into the straightaway. 4-13 Steering in Emergencies There are times when steering can be more effective than braking. For example, you come over a hill and ﬁnd a truck stopped in your lane, or a car suddenly pulls out from nowhere, or a child darts out from between parked cars and stops right in front of you. You can avoid these problems by braking — if you can stop in time. But sometimes you can not; there is not room. That is the time for evasive action — steering around the problem. Your vehicle can perform very well in emergencies like these. First apply your brakes. See Brakingonpage4-6. It is better to remove as much speed as you can from a possible collision. Then steer around the problem, to the left or right depending on the space available. 4-14 An emergency like this requires close attention and a quick decision. If you are holding the steering wheel at the recommended 9 and 3 o’clock positions, you can turn it a full 180 degrees very quickly without removing either hand. But you have to act fast, steer quickly, and just as quickly straighten the wheel once you have avoided the object. The fact that such emergency situations are always possible is a good reason to practice defensive driving at all times and wear safety belts properly. Off-Road Recovery You may ﬁnd that your right wheels have dropped off the edge of a road onto the shoulder while you’re driving. If the level of the shoulder is only slightly below the pavement, recovery should be fairly easy. Ease off the accelerator and then, if there is nothing in the way, steer so that your vehicle straddles the edge of the pavement. You can turn the steering wheel up to one-quarter turn until the right front tire contacts the pavement edge. Then turn your steering wheel to go straight down the roadway. Passing The driver of a vehicle about to pass another on a two-lane highway waits for just the right moment, accelerates, moves around the vehicle ahead, then goes back into the right lane again. A simple maneuver? Not necessarily! Passing another vehicle on a two-lane highway is a potentially dangerous move, since the passing vehicle occupies the same lane as oncoming traffic for several seconds. A miscalculation, an error in judgment, or a brief surrender to frustration or anger can suddenly put the passing driver face to face with the worst of all traffic accidents — the head-on collision. So here are some tips for passing: • “Drive ahead.” Look down the road, to the sides and to crossroads for situations that might affect your passing patterns. If you have any doubt whatsoever about making a successful pass, wait for a better time. • Watch for traffic signs, pavement markings and lines. If you can see a sign up ahead that might indicate a turn or an intersection, delay your pass. A broken center line usually indicates it is all right to pass (providing the road ahead is clear). Never cross a solid line on your side of the lane or a double solid line, even if the road seems empty of approaching traffic. 4-15 • Do not get too close to the vehicle you want to pass while you are awaiting an opportunity. For one thing, following too closely reduces your area of vision, especially if you are following a larger vehicle. Also, you will not have adequate space if the vehicle ahead suddenly slows or stops. Keep back a reasonable distance. • When it looks like a chance to pass is coming up, start to accelerate but stay in the right lane and do not get too close. Time your move so you will be increasing speed as the time comes to move into the other lane. If the way is clear to pass, you will have a “running start” that more than makes up for the distance you would lose by dropping back. And if something happens to cause you to cancel your pass, you need only slow down and drop back again and wait for another opportunity. • If other vehicles are lined up to pass a slow vehicle, wait your turn. But take care that someone is not trying to pass you as you pull out to pass the slow vehicle. Remember to glance over your shoulder and check the blind spot. • Check your mirrors, glance over your shoulder, and start your left lane change signal before moving out of the right lane to pass. When you are far enough ahead of the passed vehicle to see its front in your inside mirror, activate your right lane change signal and move back into the right lane. (Remember that your right outside mirror is convex. The vehicle you just passed may seem to be farther away from you than it really is.) • Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a time on two-lane roads. Reconsider before passing the next vehicle. • Do not overtake a slowly moving vehicle too rapidly. Even though the brake lamps are not ﬂashing, it may be slowing down or starting to turn. • If you are being passed, make it easy for the following driver to get ahead of you. Perhaps you can ease a little to the right. Loss of Control Let us review what driving experts say about what happens when the three control systems (brakes, steering and acceleration) do not have enough friction where the tires meet the road to do what the driver has asked. In any emergency, do not give up. Keep trying to steer and constantly seek an escape route or area of less danger. 4-16 Skidding In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle. Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking reasonable care suited to existing conditions, and by not “overdriving” those conditions. But skids are always possible. The three types of skids correspond to your vehicle’s three control systems. In the braking skid, your wheels are not rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, too much speed or steering in a curve causes tires to slip and lose cornering force. And in the acceleration skid, too much throttle causes the driving wheels to spin. A cornering skid is best handled by easing your foot off the accelerator pedal. Remember: Any traction control system helps avoid only the acceleration skid. If your TCS 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. 4-17 Here are some tips on night driving. • Drive defensively. • Do not drink and drive. • Adjust your inside rearview mirror to reduce the glare from headlamps behind you. • Since you can not see as well, you may need to slow down and keep more space between you and other vehicles. • Slow down, especially on higher speed roads. Your headlamps can light up only so much road ahead. • In remote areas, watch for animals. • If you are tired, pull off the road in a safe place and rest. 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. 4-18 No one can see as well at night as in the daytime. But as we get older these differences increase. A 50-year-old driver may require at least twice as much light to see the same thing at night as a 20-year-old. What you do in the daytime can also affect your night vision. For example, if you spend the day in bright sunshine you are wise to wear sunglasses. Your eyes will have less trouble adjusting to night. But if you are driving, do not wear sunglasses at night. They may cut down on glare from headlamps, but they also make a lot of things invisible. You can be temporarily blinded by approaching headlamps. It can take a second or two, or even several seconds, for your eyes to readjust to the dark. When you are faced with severe glare (as from a driver who does not lower the high beams, or a vehicle with misaimed headlamps), slow down a little. Avoid staring directly into the approaching headlamps. Keep your windshield and all the glass on your vehicle clean — inside and out. Glare at night is made much worse by dirt on the glass. Even the inside of the glass can build up a ﬁlm caused by dust. Dirty glass makes lights dazzle and ﬂash more than clean glass would, making the pupils of your eyes contract repeatedly. Remember that your headlamps light up far less of a roadway when you are in a turn or curve. Keep your eyes moving; that way, it is easier to pick out dimly lighted objects. Just as your headlamps should be checked regularly for proper aim, so should your eyes be examined regularly. Some drivers suffer from night blindness — the inability to see in dim light — and are not even aware of it. 4-19 Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads The heavier the rain, the harder it is to see. Even if your windshield wiper blades are in good shape, a heavy rain can make it harder to see road signs and traffic signals, pavement markings, the edge of the road and even people walking. It is wise to keep your windshield wiping equipment in good shape and keep your windshield washer tank ﬁlled with washer ﬂuid. Replace your windshield wiper inserts when they show signs of streaking or missing areas on the windshield, or when strips of rubber start to separate from the inserts. Rain and wet roads can mean driving trouble. On a wet road, you can not stop, accelerate or turn as well because your tire-to-road traction is not as good as on dry roads. And, if your tires do not have much tread left, you will get even less traction. It is always wise to go slower and be cautious if rain starts to fall while you are driving. The surface may get wet suddenly when your reﬂexes are tuned for driving on dry pavement. 4-20 Driving too fast through large water puddles or even going through some car washes can cause problems, too. The water may affect your brakes. Try to avoid puddles. But if you can not, try to slow down before you hit them. {CAUTION: Wet brakes can cause accidents. They will not work as well in a quick stop and may cause pulling to one side. You could lose control of the vehicle. After driving through a large puddle of water or a car wash, apply your brake pedal lightly until your brakes work normally. Hydroplaning Hydroplaning is dangerous. So much water can build up under your tires that they can actually ride on the water. This can happen if the road is wet enough and you are going fast enough. When your vehicle is hydroplaning, it has little or no contact with the road. Hydroplaning does not happen often. But it can if your tires do not have much tread or if the pressure is one or more is low. It can happen if a lot of water is standing on the road. If you can see reﬂections from trees, telephone poles, or other vehicles, and raindrops “dimple” the water’s surface, there could be hydroplaning. Hydroplaning usually happens at higher speeds. There just is not a hard and fast rule about hydroplaning. The best advice is to slow down when it is raining. 4-21 Driving Through Deep Standing Water Notice: If you drive too quickly through deep puddles or standing water, water can come in through your engine’s air intake and badly damage your engine. Never drive through water that is slightly lower than the underbody of your vehicle. If you can not avoid deep puddles or standing water, drive through them very slowly. Driving Through Flowing Water {CAUTION: Flowing or rushing water creates strong forces. If you try to drive through ﬂowing water, as you might at a low water crossing, your vehicle can be carried away. As little as six inches of ﬂowing water can carry away a CAUTION: (Continued) CAUTION: (Continued) smaller vehicle. If this happens, you and other vehicle occupants could drown. Do not ignore police warning signs, and otherwise be very cautious about trying to drive through ﬂowing water. Some Other Rainy Weather Tips • Besides slowing down, allow some extra following distance. And be especially careful when you pass another vehicle. Allow yourself more clear room ahead, and be prepared to have your view restricted by road spray. • Have good tires with proper tread depth. See Tires on page5-50. 4-22 City Driving One of the biggest problems with city streets is the amount of traffic on them. You will want to watch out for what the other drivers are doing and pay attention to traffic signals. Here are ways to increase your safety in city driving: • Know the best way to get to where you are going. Get a city map and plan your trip into an unknown part of the city just as you would for a cross-country trip. • Try to use the freeways that rim and crisscross most large cities. You will save time and energy. See Freeway Driving on page4-24. • Treat a green light as a warning signal. A traffic light is there because the corner is busy enough to need it. When a light turns green, and just before you start to move, check both ways for vehicles that have not cleared the intersection or may be running the red light. 4-23 Freeway Driving Mile for mile, freeways (also called thruways, parkways, expressways, turnpikes or superhighways) are the safest of all roads. But they have their own special rules. The most important advice on freeway driving is: Keep up with traffic and keep to the right. Drive at the same speed most of the other drivers are driving. Too-fast or too-slow driving breaks a smooth traffic ﬂow. Treat the left lane on a freeway as a passing lane. 4-24 At the entrance, there is usually a ramp that leads to the freeway. If you have a clear view of the freeway as you drive along the entrance ramp, you should begin to check traffic. Try to determine where you expect to blend with the ﬂow. Try to merge into the gap at close to the prevailing speed. Switch on your turn signal, check your mirrors and glance over your shoulder as often as necessary. Try to blend smoothly with the traffic ﬂow. Once you are on the freeway, adjust your speed to the posted limit or to the prevailing rate if it is slower. Stay in the right lane unless you want to pass. Before changing lanes, check your mirrors. Then use your turn signal. Just before you leave the lane, glance quickly over your shoulder to make sure there is not another vehicle in your “blind” spot. Once you are moving on the freeway, make certain you allow a reasonable following distance. Expect to move slightly slower at night. When you want to leave the freeway, move to the proper lane well in advance. If you miss your exit, do not, under any circumstances, stop and back up. Drive on to the next exit. The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply. The exit speed is usually posted. Reduce your speed according to your speedometer, not to your sense of motion. After driving for any distance at higher speeds, you may tend to think you are going slower than you actually are. Before Leaving on a Long Trip Make sure you are ready. Try to be well rested. If you must start when you are not fresh — such as after a day’s work — do not plan to make too many miles that ﬁrst part of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes you can easily drive in. Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it serviced and maintained, it is ready to go. If it needs service, have it done before starting out. Of course, you will ﬁnd experienced and able service experts in GM dealerships all across North America. They will be ready and willing to help if you need it. Here are some things you can check before a trip: • WindshieldWasherFluid: Is the reservoir full? Are all windows clean inside and outside? • WiperBlades: Are they in good shape? • Fuel,EngineOil,OtherFluids: Have you checked all levels? • Lamps: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean? • Tires: They are vitally important to a safe, trouble-free trip. Is the tread good enough for long-distance driving? Are the tires all inﬂated to the recommended pressure? • WeatherForecasts: What is the weather outlook along your route? Should you delay your trip a short time to avoid a major storm system? • Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps? 4-25 Highway Hypnosis Is there actually such a condition as “highway hypnosis”? Or is it just plain falling asleep at the wheel? Call it highway hypnosis, lack of awareness, or whatever. There is something about an easy stretch of road with the same scenery, along with the hum of the tires on the road, the drone of the engine, and the rush of the wind against the vehicle that can make you sleepy. Do not let it happen to you! If it does, your vehicle can leave the road in lessthanasecond, and you could crash and be injured. What can you do about highway hypnosis? First, be aware that it can happen. Then here are some tips: • Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated, with a comfortably cool interior. • Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead and to the sides. Check your rearview mirrors and your instruments frequently. • If you get sleepy, pull off the road into a rest, service or parking area and take a nap, get some exercise, or both. For safety, treat drowsiness on the highway as an emergency. 4-26 Hill and Mountain Roads Driving on steep hills or mountains is different from driving in ﬂat or rolling terrain. If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you are planning to visit there, here are some tips that can make your trips safer and more enjoyable. • Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all ﬂuid levels and also the brakes, tires, cooling system and transmission. These parts can work hard on mountain roads. • Know how to go down hills. The most important thing to know is this: let your engine do some of the slowing down. Shift to a lower gear when you go down a steep or long hill. {CAUTION: If you do not shift down, your brakes could get so hot that they would not work well. You would then have poor braking or even none going down a hill. You could crash. Shift down to let your engine assist your brakes on a steep downhill slope. {CAUTION: Coasting downhill in NEUTRAL (N) or with the ignition off is dangerous. Your brakes will have to do all the work of slowing down. They could get so hot that they would not work well. CAUTION: (Continued) CAUTION: (Continued) You would then have poor braking or even none going down a hill. You could crash. Always have your engine running and your vehicle in gear when you go downhill. • Know how to go uphill. You may want to shift down to a lower gear. The lower gears help cool your engine and transmission, and you can climb the hill better. • Stay in your own lane when driving on two-lane roads in hills or mountains. Do not swing wide or cut across the center of the road. Drive at speeds that let you stay in your own lane. • As you go over the top of a hill, be alert. There

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2004 Cadillac XLR Owners Manual