2007 CADILLAC ESCALADE belt

Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to RUN or START, a chime
will be provided for several seconds to remind
people to buckle their safety belts. The driver safety
belt light will also be provided and stay on for
several seconds, then it will ash for several more.
You should buckle your seat belt.
This chime and light
will be repeated if
the driver remains
unbuckled and
the vehicle is in motion.
If the driver’s belt is buckled, neither the chime nor
the light will come on.
SeePassenger Sensing System on page 101for
more information.
Passenger Safety Belt
Reminder Light
Several seconds after the key is turned to RUN or
START, a chime will sound for several seconds to
remind the front passenger to buckle their safety
belt. This would only occur if the passenger airbag
is enabled. SeePassenger Sensing System on
page 101for more information. The passenger
safety belt light will also come on and stay on for
several seconds, then it will ash for several more.
This chime and light
will be repeated if the
passenger remains
unbuckled and
the vehicle is in motion.
If the passenger’s safety belt is buckled, neither
the chime nor the light will come on.
231

Charging System Light
The charging system
light will come on briey
when you turn on the
ignition, but the
engine is not running,
as a check to show you
it is working.
It should go out once the engine is running. If it
stays on, or comes on while you are driving,
you may have a problem with the charging system.
It could indicate that you have problems with the
generator, the generator drive belt, or another
electrical problem. Have it checked right away.
Driving while this light is on could drain your
battery.
When this light comes on, the DIC will also display
the SERVICE BATTERY NOT CHARGING
SYSTEM message. SeeDIC Warnings and
Messages on page 250for more information.If you must drive a short distance with the light on,
be certain to turn off all your accessories, such
as the radio and air conditioner, to reduce
the drain on your battery.
Brake System Warning Light
With the ignition on, the brake system warning
light will come on when you set the parking brake.
If you try to drive with the parking brake engaged,
a chime will sound when the vehicle speed is
greater than 3 mph (5 km/h).
Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided
into two parts. If one part is not working, the
other part can still work and stop you. For good
braking, though, you need both parts working well.
235

Here are some ways in which you can help avoid
distraction while driving.
While your vehicle is parked:
Familiarize yourself with all of its controls.
Familiarize yourself with its operation.
Set up your audio system by presetting your
favorite radio stations, setting the tone, and
adjusting the speakers. Then, when driving
conditions permit, you can tune to your favorite
radio stations using the presets and steering
wheel controls if the vehicle has them.
Notice:Before adding any sound equipment
to your vehicle, such as an audio system,
CD player, CB radio, mobile telephone,
or two-way radio, make sure that it can be
added by checking with your dealer. Also,
check federal rules covering mobile radio and
telephone units. If sound equipment can be
added, it is very important to do it properly.
Added sound equipment may interfere with the
operation of your vehicle’s engine, radio, or
other systems, and even damage them.
Your vehicle’s systems may interfere with the
operation of sound equipment that has
been added.Notice:The chime signals related to safety
belts, parking brake, and other functions
of your vehicle operate through the
radio/entertainment system. If that equipment
is replaced or additional equipment is added
to your vehicle, the chimes may not work. Make
sure that replacement or additional equipment
is compatible with your vehicle before
installing it. SeeAccessories and Modifications
on page 396.
Your vehicle has a feature called Retained
Accessory Power (RAP). With RAP, the audio
system can be played even after the ignition
is turned off. SeeRetained Accessory Power
(RAP) on page 141for more information.
271

Your Driving, the Road, and
Your Vehicle
Defensive Driving
The best advice anyone can give about driving is:
Drive defensively.
Please start with a very important safety device in
your vehicle: Buckle up. SeeSafety Belts: They
Are for Everyone on page 38.
{CAUTION:
Defensive driving really means “Be ready
for anything.” On city streets, rural roads,
or expressways, it means “Always expect
the unexpected.” Assume that pedestrians
or other drivers are going to be careless
and make mistakes. Anticipate what they
might do and be ready. Rear-end
collisions are about the most preventable
of accidents. Yet they are common. Allow
enough following distance. Defensive
driving requires that a driver concentrate
on the driving task. Anything that
distracts from the driving task makes
proper defensive driving more difficult
and can even cause a collision, with
resulting injury. Ask a passenger to help
do these things, or pull off the road in a
safe place to do them. These simple
defensive driving techniques could save
your life.
322

The fact that such emergency situations are
always possible is a good reason to practice
defensive driving at all times and wear safety
belts properly.
Off-Road Recovery
You may nd that your right wheels have dropped
off the edge of a road onto the shoulder while
you are driving.If the level of the shoulder is only slightly below
the pavement, recovery should be fairly easy.
Ease off the accelerator and then, if there
is nothing in the way, steer so that your vehicle
straddles the edge of the pavement. You can turn
the steering wheel up to one-quarter turn until
the right front tire contacts the pavement edge.
Then turn your steering wheel to go straight down
the roadway.
Passing
The driver of a vehicle about to pass another on a
two-lane highway waits for just the right moment,
accelerates, moves around the vehicle ahead, then
goes back into the right lane again. A simple
maneuver?
Not necessarily! Passing another vehicle on a
two-lane highway is a potentially dangerous move,
since the passing vehicle occupies the same
lane as oncoming traffic for several seconds.
A miscalculation, an error in judgment, or a brief
surrender to frustration or anger can suddenly
put the passing driver face to face with the worst
of all traffic accidents — the head-on collision.
335

Getting Familiar with Off-Road Driving
It is a good idea to practice in an area that is
safe and close to home before you go into the
wilderness. Off-road driving does require some new
and different driving skills. Here is what we mean.
Tune your senses to different kinds of signals. Your
eyes, for example, need to constantly sweep the
terrain for unexpected obstacles. Your ears need to
listen for unusual tire or engine sounds. With your
arms, hands, feet, and body, you will need to
respond to vibrations and vehicle bounce.
Controlling your vehicle is the key to successful
off-road driving. One of the best ways to control
your vehicle is to control your speed. Here are
some things to keep in mind. At higher speeds:
You approach things faster and you have less
time to scan the terrain for obstacles.
You have less time to react.
You have more vehicle bounce when you
drive over obstacles.
You will need more distance for braking,
especially since you are on an unpaved
surface.
{CAUTION:
When you are driving off-road, bouncing
and quick changes in direction can easily
throw you out of position. This could cause
you to lose control and crash. So, whether
you are driving on or off the road, you and
your passengers should wear safety belts.
Scanning the Terrain
Off-road driving can take you over many different
kinds of terrain. You need to be familiar with
the terrain and its many different features. Here
are some things to consider.
Surface Conditions:Off-roading can take you
over hard-packed dirt, gravel, rocks, grass, sand,
mud, snow, or ice. Each of these surfaces affects
the steering, acceleration, and braking of your
vehicle in different ways. Depending upon the kind
of surface you are on, you may experience slipping,
sliding, wheel spinning, delayed acceleration, poor
traction, and longer braking distances.
342

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.
390

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