Page 1 of 486

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
Page 14 of 486
Rear Seats
Rear Seat Operation
Entering or Exiting the Third Row
Seats
Escalade:To enter or exit the third row seat you must
fold the second row seat down following the instructions
later in this section. See ªFolding the Seatbackº
under
60/40 Split Bench Seat on page 1-10.If you are exiting the third row seat with no assistance
do the following:
1. Reach over the second
row seat and pull up on
the strap loop. Then
pull the seat cushion up
and push it forward.
2. Next, push the seatback forward until it is ¯at with
the ¯oor.
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.
Escalade ESV:The passenger's side of the second
row 60/40 or rear bucket seat has an easy entry/exit
feature. This makes it easy to get in and out of the third
row seat.
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Page 15 of 486
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
Page 18 of 486
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.
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Page 20 of 486
Unfolding the Seatbacks
{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.To return the seatbacks to the passenger position, do
the following:
1. Pull up on the release
lever labeled 1 and
then pull up on
the seatback or the
assist strap located on
the outboard side of
the seat until the
seatback locks into the
upright position.
2. Push forward on the seatback to make sure it is
locked into position.
1-14
Page 21 of 486
Tilting the 50/50 Split Bench Seat
1. Fold the seatbacks forward using the instructions
listed previously.
2. Unlatch the seat from
the ¯oor by pulling up
on the lever labeled 2,
located on the rear
of the seat.
3. Lift the rear of the seat up from the ¯oor and push it
forward until it locks into place. You will not be able
to unlatch the seat from the ¯oor unless the
seatback is folded down.
The seat will now remain locked in the upright position.
Returning the Seat(s) 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.
To return the seatback to an upright position, do the
following:
1. Pull the lever labeled 3 toward you.
1-15
Page 22 of 486
2. While still holding the lever 3 toward you, grasp the
top of the seat and pull it toward you slightly.
3. Let go of lever 3 and pull the seat completely down.
4. Push down on the seat ®rmly. Try pulling it up to
be sure it is locked into place.
5. Pull up on the release
lever labeled 1 and
then pull up on
the seatback or the
assist strap located on
the outboard side of
the seat until the
seatback locks into the
upright position.Removing the 50/50 Split Bench Seats
To remove the 50/50 split bench seat, do the following:
1. Open the liftgate.
2. Fold the seatback
forward onto the seat
cushion by using
the lever labeled 1.
The seat cannot
be removed unless the
seatback is folded.
1-16
Page 24 of 486
Replacing the 50/50 Split 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.
1-18