2003 CADILLAC ESCALADE 5-102

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

Tires..............................................................5-66
In¯ation -- Tire Pressure................................5-67
Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................5-68
When It Is Time for New Tires.......................5-69
Buying New Tires.........................................5-70
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..........................5-71
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance..................5-72
Wheel Replacement......................................5-73
Tire Chains..................................................5-74
If a Tire Goes Flat........................................5-75
Changing a Flat Tire.....................................5-76
Spare Tire...................................................5-93
Appearance Care............................................5-94
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle.................5-94
Care of Safety Belts......................................5-96
Weatherstrips...............................................5-96
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle..............5-97Sheet Metal Damage.....................................5-99
Finish Damage...........................................5-100
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-100
Chemical Paint Spotting...............................5-100
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials................5-100
Vehicle Identi®cation.....................................5-102
Vehicle Identi®cation Number (VIN)................5-102
Service Parts Identi®cation Label...................5-102
Electrical System..........................................5-102
Windshield Wiper Fuses...............................5-103
Power Windows and Other Power Options......5-103
Fuses and Circuit Breakers..........................5-103
Capacities and Speci®cations........................5-112
Capacities and Speci®cations........................5-112
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts.........5-114
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-2

CAUTION: (Continued)
·
Be sure to use the proper nuts, bolts and
other fasteners. ªEnglishº and ªmetricº
fasteners can be easily confused. If you
use the wrong fasteners, parts can later
break or fall off. You could be hurt.
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle
Things you might add to the outside of your vehicle can
affect the air¯ow around it. This may cause wind
noise and affect windshield washer performance. Check
with your dealer before adding equipment to the
outside of your vehicle.
Fuel
The 8th digit of your vehicle identi®cation number (VIN)
shows the code letter or number that identi®es your
engine. You will ®nd the VIN at the top left of the
instrument panel. See
Vehicle Identi®cation
Number (VIN) on page 5-102.
Gasoline Octane
If your vehicle has the 5.3L engine (VIN Code T), use
regular unleaded gasoline with a posted octane of 87 or
higher. If the octane is less than 87, you may get a heavy
knocking noise when you drive. If this occurs, use a
gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher as soon as possible.
Otherwise, you might damage your engine. A little pinging
noise when you accelerate or drive uphill is considered
normal. This does not indicate a problem exists or that a
higher-octane fuel is necessary. If you are using 87
octane or higher-octane fuel and you hear heavy
knocking, your engine needs service.
If your vehicle has the 6.0L HO engine (VIN Code N), use
premium unleaded gasoline with a posted octane of 91 or
higher for best performance. You may also use middle
grade or regular unleaded gasoline rated at 87 octane or
higher, but your vehicle's acceleration may be slightly
reduced. If the octane is less than 87, you may get a
heavy knocking noise when you drive. If this occurs, use
a gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher as soon as
possible. Otherwise, you might damage your engine.
5-4

Vehicle Identi®cation
Vehicle Identi®cation Number (VIN)
This is the legal identi®er for your vehicle. It appears on
a plate in the front corner of the instrument panel, on
the driver's side. You can see it if you look through the
windshield from outside your vehicle. The VIN also
appears on the Vehicle Certi®cation and Service Parts
labels and the certi®cates of title and registration.
Engine Identi®cation
The 8th character in your VIN is the engine code. This
code will help you identify your engine, speci®cations
and replacement parts.
Service Parts Identi®cation Label
You'll ®nd this label located in the glove box. It's very
helpful if you ever need to order parts. On this label is:
·your VIN,
·the model designation,
·paint information and
·a list of all production options and special
equipment.
Be sure that this label is not removed from the vehicle.
Electrical System
Notice:Don't add anything electrical to your
vehicle unless you check with your dealer ®rst.
Some electrical equipment can damage your vehicle
and the damage wouldn't be covered by your
warranty. Some add-on electrical equipment can
keep other components from working as they
should.
Your vehicle has an air bag system. Before attempting
to add anything to your vehicle, see
Supplemental
Restraint System (SRS) on page 1-76.
5-102

D
Daytime Running Lamps..................................3-17
Defensive Driving............................................. 4-2
Defogging and Defrosting.................................3-30
Delayed Locking.............................................2-10
Diversity Antenna System...............................3-105
Doing Your Own Service Work........................... 5-3
Dome Lamps.................................................3-18
Door.............................................................2-10
Delayed Locking..........................................2-10
Locks.......................................................... 2-8
Power Door Locks......................................... 2-9
Programmable Automatic Door Locks.............2-11
Rear Door Security Locks.............................2-13
DRIVER DOOR AJAR.....................................3-66
Driver Information Center (DIC).........................3-51
DIC Operation and Displays..........................3-51
DIC Warnings and Messages........................3-62
Driver............................................................1-34
Position, Safety Belt.....................................1-34
Driving Across an Incline..................................4-28
Driving Downhill..............................................4-27
Driving in Mud, Sand, Snow or Ice....................4-30
Driving in Water..............................................4-31
Driving On Grades..........................................4-62
Driving on Off-Road Hills.................................4-23
Driving on Snow or Ice....................................4-44
Driving Through Deep Standing Water...............4-36
Driving Through Flowing Water.........................4-36Driving Uphill..................................................4-24
Driving with a Trailer.......................................4-60
Driving..........................................................4-32
At Night.....................................................4-32
City...........................................................4-37
Defensive..................................................... 4-2
Drunken....................................................... 4-2
Freeway.....................................................4-38
Hill and Mountain Roads..............................4-42
In Rain and on Wet Roads...........................4-34
Winter........................................................4-43
DVD Player....................................................3-85
DVD ............................................................3-105
Cleaning the Video Screen..........................3-105
Distortion..................................................3-102
Rear Seat Entertainment System...................3-85
E
Easy Exit Seat...............................................2-51
Electrical System...........................................5-102
Fuses and Circuit Breakers.........................5-103
Power Windows and Other Power Options....5-103
Windshield Wiper Fuses.............................5-103
Emissions Inspection and Maintenance
Programs...................................................3-47
ENGINE COOLANT HOT.................................3-63
Engine Coolant Level Check.............................6-11
Engine Oil Additives........................................5-17
5

Transmission..................................................5-21
Fluid, Automatic...........................................5-21
Temperature Gage.......................................3-43
Transportation Options...................................... 7-8
Traveling to Remote Areas...............................4-21
Trip Information Button....................................3-52
Turn and Lane Change Signals.......................... 3-8
TURN SIGNAL ON.........................................3-65
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever........................... 3-8
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer..................4-61
U
Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist (URPA)...............3-20
Underbody Flushing Service.............................6-15
Underhood Fuse Block...................................5-107
Understanding Radio Reception.......................3-103
Unfolding the Seatback....................................1-20
Unfolding the Seatbacks..................................1-14
Uniform Tire Quality Grading............................5-71
United States ± Customer Assistance.................. 7-4
Using HomeLink
ž...........................................2-43
Using the Recovery Hooks...............................4-49
V
Vehicle Identi®cation......................................5-102
Number (VIN)............................................5-102
Service Parts Identi®cation Label..................5-102
Vehicle Personalization....................................2-50
Memory Seat..............................................2-50
Vehicle Storage..............................................5-43
Vehicle............................................................ 4-5
Control........................................................ 4-5
Damage Warnings........................................... iv
Loading......................................................4-51
Symbols......................................................... iv
Ventilation Adjustment......................................3-31
Video Screen.................................................3-88
Visors...........................................................2-17
Voltmeter Gage..............................................3-40
W
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators................3-34
Warnings.......................................................3-62
DIC Warnings and Messages........................3-62
Hazard Warning Flashers............................... 3-6
17