2007 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT towing

Shifting Into Park (P)
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the parking brake rmly set.
Your vehicle can roll. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be injured.
To be sure your vehicle will not move, even
when you are on fairly level ground, use
the steps that follow. If you are pulling a
trailer, seeTowing a Trailer on page 380.1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot
and set the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever into the PARK (P)
position by pulling the shift lever toward
you and moving it up as far as it will go.
3. Turn the ignition key to LOCK.
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you
can leave your vehicle with the ignition key in
your hand, your vehicle is in PARK (P).
138

Running the Engine While Parked
It is better not to park with the engine running. But if
you ever have to, here are some things to know.
{CAUTION:
Idling the engine with the climate control
system off could allow dangerous exhaust
into your vehicle. See the earlier caution
underEngine Exhaust on page 141.
Also, idling in a closed-in place can let
deadly carbon monoxide (CO) into your
vehicle even if the climate control fan is at
the highest setting. One place this can
happen is a garage. Exhaust — with
CO — can come in easily. NEVER park in
a garage with the engine running.
Another closed-in place can be a blizzard.
SeeWinter Driving on page 366.
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the parking brake rmly
set. Your vehicle can roll. Do not leave
your vehicle when the engine is running
unless you have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be injured.
To be sure your vehicle will not move,
even when you are on fairly level ground,
always set your parking brake and move
the shift lever to PARK (P).
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle
will not move. SeeShifting Into Park (P) on
page 138.
If you are pulling a trailer, seeTowing a Trailer on
page 380.
142

If the warning light comes on and a chime sounds
there could be a brake problem.
Have your brake system inspected right away.
This light may also come on due to low brake uid.
SeeBrakes on page 433for more information.
This light should come on briey when you turn
the ignition key to RUN. If it does not come
on then, have it xed so it will be ready to warn
you if there is a problem.If the light comes on while you are driving, pull
off the road and stop carefully. You may notice
that the pedal is harder to push or may go closer
to the oor. It may take longer to stop. If the
light is still on, have the vehicle towed for service.
SeeTowing Your Vehicle on page 378.
{CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working
properly if the brake system warning light
is on. Driving with the brake system
warning light on can lead to an accident.
If the light is still on after you have pulled
off the road and stopped carefully, have
the vehicle towed for service.
United StatesCanada
233

If the Light is Flashing
The following may prevent more serious damage
to your vehicle:
Reducing vehicle speed
Avoiding hard accelerations
Avoiding steep uphill grades
If you are towing a trailer, reduce the
amount of cargo being hauled as soon as
it is possible
If the light stops ashing and remains on steady,
see “If the Light Is On Steady” following.
If the light continues to ash, when it is safe to
do so, stop the vehicle. Find a safe place to
park your vehicle. Turn the key off, wait at least
10 seconds and restart the engine. If the light
remains on steady, see “If the Light Is On Steady”
following. If the light is still ashing, follow the
previous steps, and see your dealer for service
as soon as possible.
If the Light Is On Steady
You may be able to correct the emission system
malfunction by considering the following:
Did you recently put fuel into your vehicle?
If so, reinstall the fuel cap, making sure to fully
install the cap. SeeFilling the Tank on page 402.
The diagnostic system can determine if the
fuel cap has been left off or improperly installed.
A loose or missing fuel cap will allow fuel to
evaporate into the atmosphere. A few driving
trips with the cap properly installed should turn
the light off.
Did you just drive through a deep puddle of
water?
If so, your electrical system may be wet. The
condition will usually be corrected when the
electrical system dries out. A few driving trips
should turn the light off.
238

Tow/Haul Mode Light
This light is displayed
when the Tow/Haul
mode has been
activated.
For more information, seeTowing a Trailer on
page 380andTow/Haul Mode on page 135.
Fuel Gage
When the ignition
is on, the fuel gage
tells you about
how much fuel you
have left in your tank.The gage will rst indicate empty before you are
out of fuel, and you should get more fuel as
soon as possible.
Here are some situations you may experience with
your fuel gage. None of these indicate a problem
with the fuel gage.
At the gas station, the fuel pump shuts off
before the gage reads full.
It takes a little more or less fuel to ll up than
the fuel gage indicated. For example, the
gage may have indicated the tank was half full,
but it actually took a little more or less than
half the tank’s capacity to ll the tank.
The gage goes back to empty when you turn
off the ignition.
242

Your Driving, the Road, and
Your Vehicle............................................ 322
Defensive Driving...................................... 322
Drunken Driving........................................ 323
Control of a Vehicle.................................. 326
Braking...................................................... 326
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS).................. 327
Braking in Emergencies............................. 329
Locking Differential.................................... 329
Road Sensing Suspension......................... 329
StabiliTrak
®System................................... 330
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) System.................. 333
Steering.................................................... 333
Off-Road Recovery.................................... 335
Passing..................................................... 336
Loss of Control.......................................... 338
Off-Road Driving........................................ 339
Driving at Night......................................... 355
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads............ 356City Driving............................................... 360
Freeway Driving........................................ 361
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.................. 362
Highway Hypnosis..................................... 363
Hill and Mountain Roads........................... 364
Winter Driving........................................... 366
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud,
Ice, or Snow.......................................... 370
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out........... 370
Recovery Hooks........................................ 371
Loading Your Vehicle................................ 372
Truck-Camper Loading Information............ 378
Towing........................................................ 378
Towing Your Vehicle ................................. 378
Recreational Vehicle Towing...................... 379
Autoride
®................................................... 379
Towing a Trailer........................................ 380
Trailer Recommendations.......................... 392
Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
321

RSS also interacts with the tow/haul mode that,
when engaged, will provide additional control
of the shock absorbers. This additional control
results in better ride and handling characteristics
when the vehicle is loaded or towing a trailer. See
“Tow/Haul Mode” underTowing a Trailer on
page 380.
StabiliTrak®System
Your vehicle may be equipped with the
StabiliTrak®system which combines antilock
brake, traction and stability control systems and
helps the driver maintain directional control of the
vehicle in most driving conditions.
When you rst start your vehicle and begin to
drive away, the system performs several diagnostic
checks to ensure there are no problems. You
may hear or feel the system working. This
is normal and does not mean there is a problem
with your vehicle. The system should initialize
before the vehicle reaches 20 mph (32 km/h).
In some cases, it may take approximately
two miles of driving before the system initializes.If the system fails to turn on or activate, the
StabiliTrak
®light along with one of the following
messages will be displayed on the Driver
Information Center (DIC): TRACTION CONTROL
OFF, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL,
STABILITRAK OFF, SERVICE STABILITRAK. If
these DIC messages appear, make sure the
StabiliTrak
®system has not been turned off using
the StabiliTrak®on/off button. Then turn the
steering wheel clockwise from the nine o’clock
position to the three o’clock position. If this clears
the message(s), your vehicle does not need
servicing. If this does not clear the message(s),
then turn the vehicle off, wait 15 seconds, and then
turn it back on again to reset the system. If any
of these messages still appear on the Driver
Information Center (DIC), your vehicle should be
taken in for service. For more information on
the DIC messages, seeDriver Information Center
(DIC) on page 243.
330

By slowly spinning the wheels in the forward and
reverse directions, you will cause a rocking
motion that may free your vehicle. If that does not
get your vehicle out after a few tries, it may
need to be towed out. Or, you can use the
recovery hooks. If your vehicle does need to be
towed out, seeTowing Your Vehicle on page 378.
Recovery Hooks
{CAUTION:
These hooks, when used, are under a lot
of force. Always pull the vehicle straight
out. Never pull on the hooks at a
sideways angle. The hooks could break
off and you or others could be injured
from the chain or cable snapping back.Notice:Never use recovery hooks to tow the
vehicle. Your vehicle could be damaged
and it would not be covered by warranty.
Your vehicle has recovery hooks at the front of the
vehicle. You may need to use them if you are
stuck off-road and need to be pulled to some place
where you can continue driving.
371