2006 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV Owners Manual

Recycled original equipment parts may also be used for
repair. These parts are typically removed from vehicles
that were total losses in prior accidents. In most
cases, the parts being recycled are from undamaged
sections of the vehicle. A recycled original equipment
GM part, may be an acceptable choice to maintain your
vehicle’s originally designed appearance and safety
performance, however, the history of these parts is not
known. Such parts are not covered by your GM New
Vehicle Limited Warranty, and any related failures
are not covered by that warranty.
Aftermarket collision parts are also available. These are
made by companies other than GM and may not
have been tested for your vehicle. As a result, these
parts may t poorly, exhibit premature durability/
corrosion problems, and may not perform properly in
subsequent collisions. Aftermarket parts are not covered
by your GM New Vehicle Limited Warranty, and any
vehicle failure related to such parts are not covered by
that warranty.
Repair Facility
GM also recommends that you choose a collision repair
facility that meets your needs before you ever need
collision repairs. Your GM dealer may have a collision
repair center with GM-trained technicians and state
of the art equipment, or be able to recommend a
collision repair center that has GM-trained technicians
and comparable equipment.
Insuring Your Vehicle
Protect your investment in your GM vehicle with
comprehensive and collision insurance coverage. There
are signicant differences in the quality of coverage
afforded by various insurance policy terms. Many
insurance policies provide reduced protection to your
GM vehicle by limiting compensation for damage repairs
by using aftermarket collision parts. Some insurance
companies will not specify aftermarket collision
parts. When purchasing insurance, we recommend that
you assure your vehicle will be repaired with GM
original equipment collision parts. If such insurance
coverage is not available from your current insurance
carrier, consider switching to another insurance carrier.
If your vehicle is leased, the leasing company may
require you to have insurance that assures repairs with
Genuine GM Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM)
parts or Genuine Manufacturer replacement parts. Read
your lease carefully, as you may be charged at the
end of your lease for poor quality repairs.
7-11

If an Accident Occurs
Here is what to do if you are involved in an accident.
Try to relax and then check to make sure you
are all right. If you are uninjured, make sure that no
one else in your vehicle, or the other vehicle, is
injured.
If there has been an injury, call 911 for help. Do not
leave the scene of an accident until all matters have
been taken care of. Move your vehicle only if its
position puts you in danger or you are instructed to
move it by a police officer.
Give only the necessary and requested information
to police and other parties involved in the accident.
Do not discuss your personal condition, mental frame
of mind, or anything unrelated to the accident. This
will help guard against post-accident legal action.
If you need roadside assistance, call GM Roadside
Assistance. SeeRoadside Service on page 7-6for
more information.
If your vehicle cannot be driven, know where the
towing service will be taking it. Get a card from the
tow truck operator or write down the driver’s name,
the service’s name, and the phone number.
Remove any valuables from your vehicle before it is
towed away. Make sure this includes your insurance
information and registration if you keep these items
in your vehicle.
Gather the important information you will need from
the other driver. Things like name, address, phone
number, driver’s license number, vehicle license
plate, vehicle make, model and model year, Vehicle
Identication Number (VIN), insurance company and
policy number, and a general description of the
damage to the other vehicle.
If possible, call your insurance company from the
scene of the accident. They will walk you through
the information they will need. If they ask for a
police report, phone or go to the police department
headquarters the next day and you can get a copy
of the report for a nominal fee. In some states with
“no fault” insurance laws, a report may not be
necessary. This is especially true if there are no
injuries and both vehicles are driveable.
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Choose a reputable collision repair facility for your
vehicle. Whether you select a GM dealer or a private
collision repair facility to x the damage, make sure
you are comfortable with them. Remember, you will
have to feel comfortable with their work for a
long time.
Once you have an estimate, read it carefully and
make sure you understand what work will be
performed on your vehicle. If you have a question,
ask for an explanation. Reputable shops welcome
this opportunity.
Managing the Vehicle Damage
Repair Process
In the event that your vehicle requires damage repairs,
GM recommends that you take an active role in its
repair. If you have a pre-determined repair facility of
choice, take your vehicle there, or have it towed there.
Specify to the facility that any required replacement
collision parts be original equipment parts, either new
Genuine GM parts or recycled original GM parts.
Remember, recycled parts will not be covered by your
GM vehicle warranty.Insurance pays the bill for the repair, but you must live
with the repair. Depending on your policy limits, your
insurance company may initially value the repair using
aftermarket parts. Discuss this with your repair
professional, and insist on Genuine GM parts. Remember
if your vehicle is leased you may be obligated to have the
vehicle repaired with Genuine GM parts, even if your
insurance coverage does not pay the full cost.
If another party’s insurance company is paying for the
repairs, you are not obligated to accept a repair
valuation based on that insurance company’s collision
policy repair limits, as you have no contractual limits with
that company. In such cases, you can have control of
the repair and parts choices as long as cost stays within
reasonable limits.
7-13

Reporting Safety Defects
Reporting Safety Defects to the
United States Government
If you believe that your vehicle has a defect which could
cause a crash or could cause injury or death, you
should immediately inform the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA), in addition to notifying
General Motors.
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open an
investigation, and if it nds that a safety defect exists in
a group of vehicles, it may order a recall and remedy
campaign. However, NHTSA cannot become involved
in individual problems between you, your dealer,
or General Motors.To contact NHTSA, you may call the Vehicle
Safety Hotline toll-free at 1-888-327-4236
(TTY: 1-800-424-9153); go to http://www.safercar.gov;
or write to:
Administrator, NHTSA
400 Seventh Street, SW.
Washington, D.C. 20590
You can also obtain other information about motor
vehicle safety from http://www.safercar.gov.
Reporting Safety Defects to the
Canadian Government
If you live in Canada, and you believe that your
vehicle has a safety defect, you should immediately
notify Transport Canada, in addition to notifying
General Motors of Canada Limited. You may call
them at 1-800-333-0510 or write to:
Transport Canada
Place de Ville Tower C
330 Sparks Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N5
7-14

Reporting Safety Defects to
General Motors
In addition to notifying NHTSA (or Transport Canada)
in a situation like this, we certainly hope you will
notify us. Please call us at 1-800-458-8006, or write:
Cadillac Customer Assistance Center
Cadillac Motor Car Division
P.O. Box 33169
Detroit, MI 48232-5169
In Canada, please call us at 1-888-446-2000.
Or, write:
Canadian Cadillac Customer Communication
Centre, 163-005
General Motors of Canada Limited
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7
Service Publications Ordering
Information
Service Manuals
Service Manuals have the diagnosis and repair
information on engines, transmission, axle suspension,
brakes, electrical, steering, body, etc.
Transmission, Transaxle, Transfer
Case Unit Repair Manual
This manual provides information on unit repair
service procedures, adjustments, and specications
for GM transmissions, transaxles, and transfer cases.
Service Bulletins
Service Bulletins give technical service information
needed to knowledgeably service General Motors cars
and trucks. Each bulletin contains instructions to
assist in the diagnosis and service of your vehicle.
In Canada, information pertaining to Product Service
Bulletins can be obtained by contacting your General
Motors dealer or by calling 1-800-GM-DRIVE
(1-800-463-7483).
7-15

Owner’s Information
Owner publications are written specically for owners
and intended to provide basic operational information
about the vehicle. The owner’s manual will include
the Maintenance Schedule for all models.
In-Portfolio: Includes a Portfolio, Owner’s Manual,
and Warranty Booklet.
RETAIL SELL PRICE: $35.00
Without Portfolio: Owner’s Manual only.
RETAIL SELL PRICE: $25.00
Current and Past Model Order Forms
Service Publications are available for current and
past model GM vehicles. To request an order form,
please specify year and model name of the vehicle.
ORDER TOLL FREE: 1-800-551-4123
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Eastern Time
For Credit Card Orders Only
(VISA-MasterCard-Discover), visit Helm, Inc.
on the World Wide Web at: www.helminc.com
Or you can write to:
Helm, Incorporated
P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207
Prices are subject to change without notice and without
incurring obligation. Allow ample time for delivery.
Note to Canadian Customers: All listed prices are
quoted in U.S. funds. Canadian residents are to make
checks payable in U.S. funds.
7-16

A
Accessories and Modications............................ 5-3
Accessory Power Outlet(s)...............................3-22
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle.......................................................1-88
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-5
Add-On Electrical Equipment...........................5-106
Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal..................2-19
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-16
Air Conditioning..............................................3-24
Airbag
Passenger Status Indicator...........................3-36
Readiness Light..........................................3-35
Airbag Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM)...... 7-9
Airbag System................................................1-76
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle...................................................1-88
How Does an Airbag Restrain?......................1-82
Passenger Sensing System...........................1-84
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle..........1-88
What Makes an Airbag Inate?......................1-81
What Will You See After an Airbag Inates?....1-82
When Should an Airbag Inate?....................1-80
Where Are the Airbags?...............................1-78
All-Wheel Drive...............................................5-43
All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) System.........................4-12
Analog Clock..................................................3-23
Antenna, Diversity Antenna System..................3-106
Antenna, XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System . . . 3-106Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)........................... 4-7
Anti-Lock Brake, System Warning Light..............3-40
Appearance Care
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels.............5-102
Care of Safety Belts...................................5-100
Chemical Paint Spotting..............................5-104
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses..................5-101
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle................5-97
Fabric/Carpet..............................................5-99
Finish Care...............................................5-101
Finish Damage..........................................5-103
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Surfaces...............................................5-100
Leather......................................................5-99
Sheet Metal Damage..................................5-103
Speaker Covers.........................................5-100
Tires........................................................5-103
Underbody Maintenance.............................5-104
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials...............5-104
Washing Your Vehicle.................................5-101
Weatherstrips............................................5-100
Windshield, Backglass, and Wiper Blades......5-102
Wood Panels............................................5-100
Ashtray(s)......................................................3-23
Audio System(s).............................................3-69
Audio Steering Wheel Controls....................3-103
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player...............3-104
Care of Your CD and DVD Player................3-105
Care of Your CDs and DVDs .......................3-105
CD Changer...............................................3-99
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Audio System(s) (cont.)
Chime Level Adjustment.............................3-106
Diversity Antenna System............................3-106
Navigation/Radio System, see Navigation
Manual...................................................3-86
Radio with Cassette and CD.........................3-71
Rear Seat Audio (RSA)................................3-97
Setting the Time..........................................3-70
Theft-Deterrent Feature...............................3-102
Understanding Radio Reception...................3-103
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System...........3-106
Automatic Headlamp System............................3-17
Automatic Transmission
Fluid..........................................................5-19
Operation...................................................2-20
B
Battery..........................................................5-37
Run-Down Protection...................................3-19
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.........................4-38
Bench Seat....................................................1-20
Bench Seat Split (50/50)..................................1-15
Bench Seat, Split (60/40).................................1-12Brake
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)........................ 4-7
Emergencies................................................ 4-8
Parking......................................................2-23
System Warning Light..................................3-39
Brake Pedal, Throttle.......................................2-19
Brakes..........................................................5-34
Braking........................................................... 4-6
Braking in Emergencies..................................... 4-8
Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................2-16
Bucket Seats, Rear.........................................1-25
Bulb Replacement...........................................5-49
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker and Daytime
Running Lamps........................................5-54
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-50
Headlamp Aiming........................................5-46
Headlamps.................................................5-50
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting...........5-49
Replacement Bulbs......................................5-56
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Sidemarker, Stoplamps,
and Back-Up Lamps.................................5-55
Buying New Tires...........................................5-72
2