2007 CADILLAC ESCALADE wiper blades

Windshield Wipers
Be sure to clear ice and snow from the wiper
blades before using them. If they are frozen to the
windshield, gently loosen or thaw them. Damaged
wiper blades may not clear the windshield well,
making it harder to see and drive safely. If
the blades do become damaged, install new
blades or blade inserts. For more information,
seeWindshield Wiper Blade Replacement
on page 452.
Heavy snow or ice can overload the wiper motor.
A circuit breaker will stop the motor until it
cools down. Clear away snow or ice to prevent an
overload.
You control the windshield wipers by turning the
band with the wiper symbol on it.
8(Mist):For a single wiping cycle, turn the
band to mist. Hold it there until the wipers start.
Then let go. The wipers will stop after one wipe.
If you want more wipe cycles, hold the band
on mist longer.
6(Delay):You can set the wiper speed for a long
or short delay between wiping cycles. This can
be very useful in light rain or snow. Turn the band
to choose the delay time. The closer to the top
of the lever, the shorter the delay.
6(Low Speed):For steady wiping at low
speed, turn the band away from you to the
rst solid band past the delay settings.
1(High Speed):For high-speed wiping, turn
the band further, to the second solid band past the
delay settings.
9(Off):To stop the wipers, move the band to off.
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The heavier the rain, the harder it is to see. Even
if your windshield wiper blades are in good
shape, a heavy rain can make it harder to see
road signs and traffic signals, pavement markings,
the edge of the road, and even people walking.
It is wise to keep your wiping equipment in
good shape and keep your windshield washer uid
reservoir lled with washer uid. Replace your
windshield wiper inserts when they show signs of
streaking or missing areas on the windshield,
or when strips of rubber start to separate from the
inserts.
{CAUTION:
Wet brakes can cause accidents. They may
not work as well in a quick stop and may
cause pulling to one side. You could lose
control of the vehicle.
After driving through a large puddle of
water or a car wash, apply your brake pedal
lightly until your brakes work normally.Driving too fast through large water puddles or
even going through some car washes can cause
problems, too. The water may affect your
brakes. Try to avoid puddles. But if you cannot,
try to slow down before you hit them.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. So much water can
build up under your tires that they can actually ride
on the water. This can happen if the road is wet
enough and you are going fast enough. When your
vehicle is hydroplaning, it has little or no contact
with the road.
Hydroplaning does not happen often. But it can
if your tires do not have much tread or if the
pressure in one or more is low. It can happen if
a lot of water is standing on the road. If you
can see reections from trees, telephone poles,
or other vehicles, and raindrops dimple the water’s
surface, there could be hydroplaning.
Hydroplaning usually happens at higher speeds.
There just is not a hard and fast rule about
hydroplaning. The best advice is to slow down
when it is raining.
356

When you want to leave the freeway, move to the
proper lane well in advance. If you miss your
exit, do not, under any circumstances, stop and
back up. Drive on to the next exit.
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite
sharply. The exit speed is usually posted.
Reduce your speed according to your
speedometer, not to your sense of motion.
After driving for any distance at higher speeds,
you may tend to think you are going slower
than you actually are.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you are ready. Try to be well rested.
If you must start when you are not fresh — such
as after a day’s work — do not plan to make
too many miles that rst part of the journey.
Wear comfortable clothing and shoes you can
easily drive in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it
serviced and maintained, it is ready to go. If it
needs service, have it done before starting out.Of course, you will nd experienced and able
service experts in GM dealerships all across North
America. They will be ready and willing to help
if you need it.
Here are some things you can check before a trip:
Windshield Washer Fluid:Is the reservoir
full? Are all windows clean inside and outside?
Wiper Blades:Are they in good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids:Have you
checked all levels?
Lamps:Are they all working? Are the lenses
clean?
Tires:They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free trip. Is the tread good enough
for long-distance driving? Are the tires
all inated to the recommended pressure?
Weather Forecasts:What is the weather
outlook along your route? Should you
delay your trip a short time to avoid a major
storm system?
Maps:Do you have up-to-date maps?
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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

Windshield Wiper Blade
Replacement
Windshield wiper blades should be inspected for
wear or cracking. SeeScheduled Maintenance
on page 521.
Replacement blades come in different types and
are removed in different ways. To replace the
wiper blade assembly, do the following:
1. Pull the windshield wiper arm connector away
from the windshield.
2. Squeeze the grooved areas on each side of
the blade, and rotate the blade assembly
away from the arm connector.3. Install the new blade onto the arm connector
and make sure the grooved areas are fully set
in the locked position.
For the proper type and size, seeNormal
Maintenance Replacement Parts on page 533.
452

Windshield, Backglass, and Wiper
Blades
If the windshield is not clear after using the
windshield washer, or if the wiper blade chatters
when running, wax, sap or other material may
be on the blade or windshield.
Clean the outside of the windshield with a
full-strength glass cleaning liquid. The windshield
is clean if beads do not form when you rinse it
with water.
Grime from the windshield will stick to the wiper
blades and affect their performance. Clean
the blade by wiping vigorously with a cloth soaked
in full-strength windshield washer solvent. Then
rinse the blade with water.
Check the wiper blades and clean them as
necessary; replace blades that look worn.
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels
Your vehicle may be equipped with either
aluminum or chrome-plated wheels.
Keep the wheels clean using a soft clean cloth
with mild soap and water. Rinse with clean water.
After rinsing thoroughly, dry with a soft clean
towel. A wax may then be applied.
Notice:If you use strong soaps, chemicals,
abrasive polishes, cleaners, brushes, or
cleaners that contain acid on aluminum or
chrome-plated wheels, you could damage the
surface of the wheel(s). The repairs would
not be covered by your warranty. Use
only GM-approved cleaners on aluminum or
chrome-plated wheels.
The surface of these wheels is similar to the
painted surface of your vehicle. Do not use strong
soaps, chemicals, abrasive polishes, abrasive
cleaners, cleaners with acid, or abrasive cleaning
brushes on them because you could damage
the surface. Do not use chrome polish on
aluminum wheels.
502

Scheduled Maintenance (cont’d)
Service MaintenanceIMaintenanceII
Inspect brake system.See footnote (a).••
Check engine coolant and windshield washer uid levels and add uid as
needed.••
Perform any needed additional services. SeeAdditional Required Services on
page 524.••
Inspect suspension and steering components.See footnote (b).•
Inspect engine cooling system.See footnote (c).•
Inspect wiper blades.See footnote (d).•
Inspect restraint system components.See footnote (e).•
Lubricate body components.See footnote (f).•
Check transmission uid level and add uid as needed.•
Check transfer case uid level and add uid as needed.•
523

(b)Visually inspect front and rear suspension and
steering system for damaged, loose, or missing
parts, signs of wear or lack of lubrication. Inspect
power steering lines and hoses for proper
hook-up, binding, leaks, cracks, chang, etc.
Visually check constant velocity joints, rubber
boots, and axle seals for leaks.
(c)Visually inspect hoses and have them replaced
if they are cracked, swollen, or deteriorated.
Inspect all pipes, ttings, and clamps; replace with
genuine GM parts as needed. To help ensure
proper operation, a pressure test of the cooling
system and pressure cap and cleaning the outside
of the radiator and air conditioning condenser is
recommended at least once a year.
(d)Visually inspect wiper blades for wear or
cracking. Replace wiper blades that appear worn
or damaged or that streak or miss areas of
the windshield.(e)Make sure the safety belt reminder light and all
your belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors, and
anchorages are working properly. Look for
any other loose or damaged safety belt system
parts. If you see anything that might keep a safety
belt system from doing its job, have it repaired.
Have any torn or frayed safety belts replaced. Also
look for any opened or broken airbag coverings,
and have them repaired or replaced. The
airbag system does not need regular maintenance.
(f)Lubricate all key lock cylinders, hood latch
assembly, secondary latch, pivots, spring anchor,
release pawl, rear compartment hinges, outer
tailgate handle pivot points, latch bolt, fuel door
hinge, and folding seat hardware. More frequent
lubrication may be required when exposed to
a corrosive environment. Applying silicone grease
on weatherstrips with a clean cloth will make
them last longer, seal better, and not stick
or squeak.
(g)Inspect system. Check all fuel and vapor lines
and hoses for proper hook-up, routing, and
condition. Check that the purge valve works
properly, if equipped. Replace as needed.
526