2007 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV maintenance

Before You Go Off-Roading
There are some things to do before you go out.
For example, be sure to have all necessary
maintenance and service work done. Check to
make sure all underbody shields, if the vehicle has
them, are properly attached. Is there enough
fuel? Is the spare tire fully inated? Are the uid
levels up where they should be? What are
the local laws that apply to off-roading where you
will be driving? If you do not know, you should
check with law enforcement people in the
area. Will you be on someone’s private land?
If so, be sure to get the necessary permission.
Loading Your Vehicle for Off-Road
Driving
{CAUTION:
Cargo on the load oor piled higher
than the seatbacks can be thrown
forward during a sudden stop. You or
your passengers could be injured.
Keep cargo below the top of the
seatbacks.
Unsecured cargo on the load oor can
be tossed about when driving over
rough terrain. You or your passengers
can be struck by ying objects.
Secure the cargo properly.
Heavy loads on the roof raise the
vehicle’s center of gravity, making it
more likely to roll over. You can be
seriously or fatally injured if the
vehicle rolls over. Put heavy loads
inside the cargo area, not on the roof.
Keep cargo in the cargo area as far
forward and low as possible.
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If the water is not too deep, drive slowly through it.
At faster speeds, water splashes on the ignition
system and your vehicle can stall. Stalling can
also occur if you get the tailpipe under water.
And, as long as the tailpipe is under water, you
will never be able to start the engine. When you
go through water, remember that when the brakes
get wet, it may take you longer to stop.
{CAUTION:
Driving through rushing water can be
dangerous. Deep water can sweep your
vehicle downstream and you and your
passengers could drown. If it is only
shallow water, it can still wash away the
ground from under your tires, and you
could lose traction and roll the vehicle
over. Do not drive through rushing water.
SeeDriving in Rain and on Wet Roads on
page 355for more information on driving
through water.
After Off-Road Driving
Remove any brush or debris that has collected on
the underbody, chassis, or under the hood.
These accumulations can be a re hazard.
After operation in mud or sand, have the brake
linings cleaned and checked. These substances
can cause glazing and uneven braking. Check
the body structure, steering, suspension, wheels,
tires, and exhaust system for damage. Also,
check the fuel lines and cooling system for any
leakage.
Your vehicle will require more frequent service
due to off-road use. Refer to the Maintenance
Schedule for additional information.
353

Parking on Hills
{CAUTION:
You really should not park your
vehicle, with a trailer attached, on a hill.
If something goes wrong, your rig could
start to move. People can be injured,
and both your vehicle and the trailer can
be damaged.
But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill,
here’s how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into
PARK (P) yet.
2. Have someone place chocks under the
trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release
the regular brakes until the chocks absorb
the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your
parking brake and shift into PARK (P).
5. Release the regular brakes.
When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal
down while you:
start your engine,
shift into a gear, and
release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of
the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store
the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when
you’re pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance
Schedule for more on this. Things that are
especially important in trailer operation are
automatic transmission uid (don’t overll), engine
oil, axle lubricant, belts, cooling system and brake
system. Each of these is covered in this manual,
and the Index will help you nd them quickly.
If you’re trailering, it’s a good idea to review these
sections before you start your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and
bolts are tight.
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Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement....... 452
Tires............................................................ 454
Tire Sidewall Labeling............................... 455
Tire Terminology and Denitions............... 457
Ination - Tire Pressure............................. 460
High-Speed Operation............................... 462
Tire Pressure Monitor System................... 462
Tire Inspection and Rotation...................... 467
When It Is Time for New Tires.................. 469
Buying New Tires...................................... 470
Different Size Tires and Wheels................ 472
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..................... 472
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance............ 474
Wheel Replacement.................................. 474
Tire Chains............................................... 475
If a Tire Goes Flat.................................... 476
Changing a Flat Tire................................. 476
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools.......... 478
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing
the Spare Tire....................................... 482
Secondary Latch System........................... 488
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools...... 492
Spare Tire................................................. 495Appearance Care........................................ 496
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle.......... 496
Fabric/Carpet............................................. 497
Leather...................................................... 498
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces..................................... 499
Wood Panels............................................. 499
Speaker Covers........................................ 499
Care of Safety Belts.................................. 499
Weatherstrips............................................ 500
Washing Your Vehicle............................... 500
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses................ 500
Finish Care............................................... 501
Windshield, Backglass, and
Wiper Blades......................................... 502
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels......... 502
Tires......................................................... 503
Sheet Metal Damage................................. 503
Finish Damage.......................................... 504
Underbody Maintenance............................ 504
Chemical Paint Spotting............................ 504
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials............ 505
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
394

California Proposition 65 Warning
Most motor vehicles, including this one, contain
and/or emit chemicals known to the State of
California to cause cancer and birth defects or
other reproductive harm. Engine exhaust,
many parts and systems (including some inside
the vehicle), many uids, and some component
wear by-products contain and/or emit these
chemicals.
Doing Your Own Service Work
{CAUTION:
You can be injured and your vehicle could
be damaged if you try to do service work
on a vehicle without knowing enough
about it.
Be sure you have sufficient knowledge,
experience, the proper replacement
parts, and tools before you attempt any
vehicle maintenance task.
Be sure to use the proper nuts, bolts,
and other fasteners. English and metric
fasteners can be easily confused. If you
use the wrong fasteners, parts can later
break or fall off. You could be hurt.
If you want to do some of your own service work,
you will want to use the proper service manual.
It tells you much more about how to service your
vehicle than this manual can. To order the
proper service manual, seeService Publications
Ordering Information on page 557.
397

Your vehicle has an airbag system. Before
attempting to do your own service work, see
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on
page 106.
You should keep a record with all parts receipts
and list the mileage and the date of any service
work you perform. SeeMaintenance Record
on page 535.
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle
Things you might add to the outside of your
vehicle can affect the airow 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
Use of the recommended fuel is an important part
of the proper maintenance of your vehicle. To
help keep your engine clean and maintain optimum
vehicle performance, GM recommends the use
of gasoline advertised as TOP TIER Detergent
Gasoline.
Gasoline Octane
Use premium unleaded gasoline with a posted
octane rating of 91 or higher. You may also
use regular unleaded gasoline rated at 87 octane
or higher, but your vehicle’s acceleration may
be slightly reduced, and you may notice a slight
audible knocking noise, commonly referred to
as spark knock. If the octane is less than 87, you
may notice 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. If you
are using gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher
and you hear heavy knocking, your engine needs
service.
Gasoline Specications
At a minimum, gasoline should meet ASTM
specication D 4814 in the United States or
CAN/CGSB-3.5 in Canada. Some gasolines may
contain an octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl
(MMT). General Motors recommends against the
use of gasolines containing MMT. SeeAdditives
on page 399for additional information.
398

Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
SeeEngine
Compartment Overview
on page 406for the
location of the engine air
cleaner/lter and the
air lter restriction
indicator, if the vehicle
has one.
When to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
If your vehicle has an air lter restriction indicator,
it lets you know when the engine air cleaner/lter
needs to be replaced. On vehicles with a restriction
indicator, you should inspect the air lter
restriction indicator at every oil change and
replace the engine air cleaner/lter when the
indicator tells you to.
On vehicles without an air lter restriction indicator,
inspect the air cleaner/lter at the MaintenanceII
intervals and replace it at the rst oil change
after each 50,000 mile (83 000 km) interval. See
Scheduled Maintenance on page 521for more
information. If you are driving in dusty/dirty
conditions, inspect the lter at each engine oil
change.
412

Automatic Transmission Fluid
When to Check and Change Automatic
Transmission Fluid
It is usually not necessary to check the
transmission uid level. A transmission uid leak is
the only reason for uid loss. If you suspect a
small leak, then use the following checking
procedures to check the uid level. However, if
there is a large leak, then it may be necessary to
have the vehicle towed to a dealership service
department and have it repaired before driving the
vehicle further.
Notice:Use of the incorrect automatic
transmission uid may damage your vehicle,
and the damages may not be covered by
your warranty. Always use the automatic
transmission uid listed inRecommended
Fluids and Lubricants on page 531.
Change the uid and lter at the intervals listed in
the Maintenance Schedule. SeeScheduled
Maintenance on page 521. Be sure to use the
transmission uid listed inRecommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 531.
How to Check Automatic Transmission
Fluid
Notice:Too much or too little uid can
damage your transmission. Too much can
mean that some of the uid could come out
and fall on hot engine parts or exhaust system
parts, starting a re. Too little uid could
cause the transmission to overheat. Be sure to
get an accurate reading if you check your
transmission uid.
Before checking the uid level, prepare your
vehicle as follows:
1. Start the engine and park your vehicle on a
level surface. Keep the engine running.
2. Apply the parking brake and place the shift
lever in PARK (P).
3. With your foot on the brake pedal, move the
shift lever through each gear range, pausing
for about three seconds in each range.
Then, move the shift lever back to PARK (P).
415