2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE belt

Seats and Restraint Systems........................... 1-1
Front Seats
............................................... 1-3
Rear Seats
............................................... 1-8
Safety Belts
.............................................1-28
Child Restraints
.......................................1-51
Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)
.........1-76
Restraint System Check
............................1-90
Features and Controls..................................... 2-1
Keys
........................................................ 2-3
Doors and Locks
....................................... 2-8
Windows
.................................................2-16
Theft-Deterrent Systems
............................2-18
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
...........2-20
Mirrors
....................................................2-33
OnStar
žSystem
......................................2-38
HomeLinkžTransmitter
.............................2-40
Storage Areas
.........................................2-44
Sunroof
..................................................2-49
Vehicle Personalization
.............................2-50
Instrument Panel............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview
.......................... 3-4
Climate Controls
......................................3-24
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
.........3-34
Driver Information Center (DIC)
..................3-51
Audio System(s)
.......................................3-70Driving Your Vehicle....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
..... 4-2
Towing
...................................................4-50
Service and Appearance Care.......................... 5-1
Service
..................................................... 5-3
Fuel
......................................................... 5-4
Checking Things Under the Hood
...............5-10
All-Wheel Drive
........................................5-50
Rear Axle
...............................................5-51
Front Axle
...............................................5-52
Headlamp Aiming
.....................................5-53
Bulb Replacement
....................................5-57
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.........5-65
Tires
......................................................5-66
Appearance Care
.....................................5-94
Vehicle Identi®cation
...............................5-102
Electrical System
....................................5-102
Capacities and Speci®cations
...................5-112
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
......5-114
Maintenance Schedule..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule
................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance Information.................... 7-1
Customer Assistance Information
.................. 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects
...........................7-10
Index................................................................ 1
2003 Cadillac Escalade Owner ManualM

Front Seats......................................................1-3
Power Seats..................................................1-3
Power Lumbar...............................................1-4
Heated Seats.................................................1-5
Reclining Seatbacks........................................1-6
Head Restraints.............................................1-7
Rear Seats.......................................................1-8
Rear Seat Operation.......................................1-8
Heated Seats...............................................1-10
60/40 Split Bench Seat..................................1-10
50/50 Split Bench Seat..................................1-13
Bench Seat..................................................1-19
Bucket Seats...............................................1-25
Safety Belts...................................................1-28
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone................1-28
Questions and Answers About Safety Belts......1-32
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly.................1-33
Driver Position..............................................1-34
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy..................1-41
Right Front Passenger Position.......................1-42
Center Passenger Position.............................1-42Rear Seat Passengers..................................1-44
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children
and Small Adults.......................................1-47
Safety Belt Extender.....................................1-50
Child Restraints.............................................1-51
Older Children..............................................1-51
Infants and Young Children............................1-53
Child Restraint Systems.................................1-57
Where to Put the Restraint.............................1-60
Top Strap....................................................1-61
Top Strap Anchor Location.............................1-63
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System)...........................1-65
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the
LATCH System.........................................1-67
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Outside
Seat Position............................................1-67
Securing a Child Restraint in a Center Rear
Seat Position............................................1-70
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front
Seat Position............................................1-72
Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems
1-1

Reclining Seatbacks
Your vehicle's front seatbacks have a recline feature
which is described earlier. SeePower Seats on
page 1-3.
But don't have a seatback reclined if your vehicle is
moving.
{CAUTION:
Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle
is in motion can be dangerous. Even if you
buckle up, your safety belts can't do their job
when you're reclined like this.
The shoulder belt can't do its job. In a crash,
you could go into it, receiving neck or other
injuries.
The lap belt can't do its job either. In a crash
the belt could go up over your abdomen. The
belt forces would be there, not at your pelvic
bones. This could cause serious internal
injuries.
For proper protection when the vehicle is in
motion, have the seatback upright. Then sit
well back in the seat and wear your safety belt
properly.
1-6

To operate the easy entry seat, do the following:
1. Lift the release lever on the back of the seat,
upward.
2. Tilt the seatback toward the front of the vehicle and
the seat will release.
3. Pull (push if you are exiting the third row with no
assistance) the seat forward until it stops.
{CAUTION:
If the seatback isn't locked, it could move
forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could
cause injury to the person sitting there. Always
press rearward on the seatback to be sure it is
locked.
{CAUTION:
A safety belt that is improperly routed, not
properly attached, or twisted won't provide the
protection needed in a crash. The person
wearing the belt could be seriously injured.
After raising the rear seatback, always check
to be sure that the safety belts are properly
routed and attached, and are not twisted.
Be sure to return the seat to the passenger position
when ®nished. Pull forward and push rearward on the
seat to make sure it is locked in place.
1-9

Once the seatbacks are folded down, on Escalade ESV
models only, the rear seat footwell area will be
exposed and will have to be covered by the load ¯oor
panel(s). To create a load ¯oor, do the following:
1. Release the panels from the seatbacks by pushing
forward on the latches.
2. Then fold the panels back to cover the rear seat
footwell area.Returning the Seats to an Upright
Position
{CAUTION:
If the seatback isn't locked, it could move
forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could
cause injury to the person sitting there. Always
press rearward on the seatback to be sure it is
locked.
{CAUTION:
A safety belt that is improperly routed, not
properly attached, or twisted won't provide the
protection needed in a crash. The person
wearing the belt could be seriously injured.
After raising the rear seatback, always check
to be sure that the safety belts are properly
routed and attached, and are not twisted.
1-12

To return the seat to the upright position, do the
following:
1. On Escalade ESV models, lift the load ¯oor panels
and latch them into the seatback.
2. Lift the seatback up and push it rearward all the
way.
3. Lower the seat cushion until it latches into position.
4. Pull forward on the seatback and up on the seat
cushion to make sure the seat is securely in
place.
5. On Escalade models, return the head restraints to
the upright position.
6. Check to see that the safety belt buckles on the
driver's side seat are accessible to the outboard
and center occupants and are not under the
seat cushions.50/50 Split Bench Seat
If your vehicle has a 50/50 split bench, the seatback(s)
can be folded and the entire seat(s) tilted or removed
from the vehicle.
Folding the Seatbacks
To fold the seatbacks, do the following:
1. Pull up on the release
lever, labeled 1,
located on the rear of
the seatback, and
push the seatback
forward.
1-13

{CAUTION:
A safety belt that is improperly routed, not
properly attached, or twisted won't provide the
protection needed in a crash. The person
wearing the belt could be seriously injured.
After raising the rear seatback, always check
to be sure that the safety belts are properly
routed and attached, and are not twisted.
To replace the 50/50 split bench, do the following:
1. While holding the rear of the seat up, slide the front
wheels into the slots on the ¯oor. The front latches
should lock into place. If the latches do not lock,
try tilting the rear of the seat upwards.2. Once the latches are
engaged, let the seat
drop into place.
Release the lever
labeled 1 and pull the
seatback up using
the assist strap on the
outboard side of the
seat to return it to
its upright position.
3. Push and pull on the seat to make sure it is locked
into place. The seatback cannot be raised to the
upright position unless the seat is secured to
the ¯oor.
Bench Seat
If your vehicle has a full bench, the seatback can be
folded and the seat can be tilted or removed from
the vehicle.
1-19

Replacing the Bench Seat
{CAUTION:
If the seatback isn't locked, it could move
forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could
cause injury to the person sitting there. Always
press rearward on the seatback to be sure it is
locked.
{CAUTION:
A seat that isn't locked into place properly can
move around in a collision or sudden stop.
People in the vehicle could be injured. Be sure
to lock the seat into place properly when
installing it.
{CAUTION:
A safety belt that is improperly routed, not
properly attached, or twisted won't provide the
protection needed in a crash. The person
wearing the belt could be seriously injured.
After raising the rear seatback, always check
to be sure that the safety belts are properly
routed and attached, and are not twisted.
To replace the bench seat, do the following:
1. While holding the rear of the seat up, slide the front
wheels into the slots on the ¯oor. The front latches
should lock into place. If the latches do not lock,
try tilting the rear of the seat upwards.
2. Once the latches are engaged, let the seat drop
into place. Release the lever labeled 1 to return
the seatback to its upright position.
3. Push and pull on the seat to make sure it is locked
into place. The seatback cannot be raised to the
upright position unless the seat is secured to
the ¯oor.
1-24