2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV warning light

Brakes Brake Fluid The brake master cylinder
reservoir is lled with
DOT-3 brake uid. See
Engine Compartment
Overview on page 5-12
for the location of the
reservoir.
There are only two reasons why the brake uid level
in the reservoir might go down. The rst is that the brake
uid goes down to an acceptable level during normal
brake lining wear. When new linings are put in, the uid
level goes back up. The other reason is that uid is
leaking out of the brake hydraulic system. If it is, you
should have the brake hydraulic system xed, since
a leak means that sooner or later the brakes will
not work well. It is not a good idea to top off the brake uid. Adding
brake uid will not correct a leak. If uid is added when
the linings are worn, there will be too much uid
when new brake linings are installed. Add or remove
brake uid, as necessary, only when work is done on the
brake hydraulic system.
{ CAUTION: If you have too much brake uid, it can spill on
the engine. The uid will burn if the engine is
hot enough. You or others could be burned,
and your vehicle could be damaged. Add brake
uid only when work is done on the brake
hydraulic system. See “Checking Brake Fluid”
in this section.
When the brake uid falls to a low level, the brake
warning light will come on. See Brake System Warning
Light on page 3-40 .
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine when
to check the brake uid. See Scheduled Maintenance
on page 6-4 .
5-36

Brake Wear Your vehicle has disc brakes. Disc brake pads have
built-in wear indicators that make a high-pitched warning
sound when the brake pads are worn and new pads
are needed. The sound can come and go or be heard all
the time your vehicle is moving, except when you are
pushing on the brake pedal rmly.
{ CAUTION: The brake wear warning sound means that soon
the brakes will not work well. That could lead to
an accident. When you hear the brake wear
warning sound, have your vehicle serviced.
Notice: Continuing to drive with worn-out brake
pads could result in costly brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates can cause a brake
squeal when the brakes are rst applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean something is wrong with
the brakes. Properly torqued wheel nuts are necessary to help
prevent brake pulsation. When tires are rotated, inspect
brake pads for wear and evenly tighten wheel nuts in
the proper sequence to torque specications in
Capacities and Specifications on page 5-115 .
Brake linings should always be replaced as complete
axle sets.
Brake Pedal Travel See your dealer/retailer if the brake pedal does not
return to normal height, or if there is a rapid increase in
pedal travel. This could be a sign that brake service
might be required.
Brake Adjustment Every time you make a brake stop, the disc brakes
adjust for wear.
Replacing Brake System Parts The braking system on a vehicle is complex. Its many
parts have to be of top quality and work well together if
the vehicle is to have really good braking. Your vehicle
was designed and tested with top-quality brake parts.
5-38

Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) and Industry and Science
Canada The Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) operates on
a radio frequency and complies with Part 15 of the
FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following
two conditions:
1. This device may not cause harmful interference.
2. This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation.
The Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) operates
on a radio frequency and complies with RSS-210
of Industry and Science Canada. Operation is subject to
the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause interference.
2. This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation of the device.
Changes or modications to this system by other than
an authorized service facility could void authorization to
use this equipment. Tire Pressure Monitor Operation The Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) is designed
to warn the driver when a low tire pressure condition
exists. TPMS sensors are mounted onto each tire
and wheel assembly, excluding the spare tire and wheel
assembly. The TPMS sensors monitor the air pressure
in the vehicle’s tires and transmits the tire pressure
readings to a receiver located in the vehicle.
When a low tire pressure
condition is detected, the
TPMS illuminates the
low tire pressure warning
light located on the
instrument panel cluster.
5-65

At the same time a message to check the pressure
in a specic tire appears on the Driver Information
Center (DIC) display. The low tire pressure warning
light and the DIC warning message come on at
each ignition cycle until the tires are inated to
the correct ination pressure. Using the DIC, tire
pressure levels can be viewed by the driver.
For additional information and details about the
DIC operation and displays see DIC Operation and
Displays on page 3-49 and DIC Warnings and
Messages on page 3-53 .
The low tire pressure warning light may come on in
cool weather when the vehicle is rst started, and then
turn off as you start to drive. This could be an early
indicator that the air pressure in the tire(s) are getting
low and need to be inated to the proper pressure.
A Tire and Loading Information label, attached to
your vehicle, shows the size of your vehicle’s
original equipment tires and the correct ination
pressure for your vehicle’s tires when they are cold. See Loading Your Vehicle on page 4-35 , for an example
of the Tire and Loading Information label and its
location on your vehicle. Also see Inflation - Tire
Pressure on page 5-62 .
Your vehicle’s TPMS can warn you about a low tire
pressure condition but it does not replace normal
tire maintenance. See Tire Inspection and Rotation on
page 5-69 and Tires on page 5-56 .
Notice: Liquid tire sealants could damage the
Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) sensors.
Sensor damage caused by using a tire sealant is
not covered by your warranty. Do not use liquid
tire sealants.
5-66

TPMS Malfunction Light and Message The TPMS will not function properly if one or more of the
TPMS sensors are missing or inoperable. When the
system detects a malfunction, the low tire warning light
ashes for about one minute and then stays on for
the remainder of the ignition cycle. A DIC warning
message is also displayed. The low tire warning light
and DIC warning message come on at each ignition
cycle until the problem is corrected. Some of the
conditions that can cause the malfunction light and
DIC message to come on are:
One of the road tires has been replaced with the
spare tire. The spare tire does not have a TPMS
sensor. The TPMS malfunction light and DIC
message should go off once you re-install the road
tire containing the TPMS sensor.
The TPMS sensor matching process was started
but not completed or not completed successfully
after rotating the vehicle’s tires. The DIC message
and TPMS malfunction light should go off once
the TPMS sensor matching process is performed
successfully. See “TPMS Sensor Matching Process”
later in this section. One or more TPMS sensors are missing or
damaged. The DIC message and the TPMS
malfunction light should go off when the TPMS
sensors are installed and the sensor matching
process is performed successfully. See your
dealer/retailer for service.
Replacement tires or wheels do not match your
vehicle’s original equipment tires or wheels.
Tires and wheels other than those recommended
for your vehicle could prevent the TPMS from
functioning properly. See Buying New Tires on
page 5-72 .
Operating electronic devices or being near facilities
using radio wave frequencies similar to the TPMS
could cause the TPMS sensors to malfunction.
If the TPMS is not functioning it cannot detect or
signal a low tire condition. See your dealer/retailer for
service if the TPMS malfunction light and DIC message
comes on and stays on.
5-67

Uniform Tire Quality Grading Quality grades can be found where applicable on
the tire sidewall between tread shoulder and
maximum section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A The following information relates to the system
developed by the United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which
grades tires by treadwear, traction, and
temperature performance. This applies only to
vehicles sold in the United States. The grades are
molded on the sidewalls of most passenger car
tires. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG)
system does not apply to deep tread, winter-type
snow tires, space-saver, or temporary use
spare tires, tires with nominal rim diameters of
10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm), or to some
limited-production tires.
While the tires available on General Motors
passenger cars and light trucks may vary with
respect to these grades, they must also conform
to federal safety requirements and additional
General Motors Tire Performance Criteria (TPC)
standards. Treadwear The treadwear grade is a comparative rating
based on the wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a specied
government test course. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one and a half (1.5) times
as well on the government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative performance of tires
depends upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart signicantly from
the norm due to variations in driving habits, service
practices, and differences in road characteristics
and climate.
Traction – AA, A, B, C The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA,
A, B, and C. Those grades represent the tire’s
ability to stop on wet pavement as measured under
controlled conditions on specied government test
surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C
may have poor traction performance.
Warning :
The traction grade assigned to this
tire is based on straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction
characteristics.
5-74

AAccessories and Modications ............................ 5-3
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle ....................................................... 1-90
Additives, Fuel ................................................. 5-6
Add-On Electrical Equipment ........................... 5-108
Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal .................. 2-28
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine ................................. 5-17
Air Conditioning .............................................. 3-26
Airbag
Passenger Status Indicator ........................... 3-37
Readiness Light .......................................... 3-36
Airbag System ................................................ 1-76
What Will You See After an Airbag Inates? .... 1-84
When Should an Airbag Inate? .................... 1-81
Where Are the Airbags? ............................... 1-78
Airbag Systems
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle ................................................... 1-90
How Does an Airbag Restrain? ...................... 1-83
Passenger Sensing System ........................... 1-85
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle .......... 1-90
What Makes an Airbag Inate? ...................... 1-83
All-Wheel Drive ............................................... 5-45
All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) System ........................... 4-8
Analog Clock .................................................. 3-25
Antenna, Rear Side Window ........................... 3-109 Antenna, XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna
System ..................................................... 3-109
Antilock Brake System (ABS) ............................. 4-4
Antilock Brake, System Warning Light ................ 3-41
Appearance Care
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels ............. 5-104
Care of Safety Belts ................................... 5-101
Chemical Paint Spotting .............................. 5-105
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses .................. 5-102
Fabric/Carpet ............................................ 5-100
Finish Care ............................................... 5-102
Finish Damage .......................................... 5-105
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Surfaces ............................................... 5-101
Interior
Cleaning .......................................... 5-98
Leather .................................................... 5-100
Sheet Metal Damage .................................. 5-105
Speaker Covers ......................................... 5-101
Tires ........................................................ 5-105
Underbody Maintenance ............................. 5-105
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials ............... 5-106
Washing Your Vehicle ................................. 5-102
Weatherstrips ............................................ 5-101
Windshield, Backglass, and Wiper Blades ...... 5-103
Wood Panels ............................................ 5-101
Appointments, Scheduling Service ....................... 7-8
Ashtray ......................................................... 3-25
Assist Handles ............................................... 2-61
1

Audio System ................................................. 3-70
Audio Steering Wheel Controls .................... 3-106
Navigation/Radio System, see Navigation
Manual ................................................... 3-95
Radio Reception ........................................ 3-108
Rear Seat Audio (RSA) ............................... 3-104
Setting the Clock ......................................... 3-71
Theft-Deterrent Feature ............................... 3-106
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System ........... 3-109
Audio System(s) ............................................. 3-72
Rear Side Window Antenna ......................... 3-109
Automatic Headlamp System ............................ 3-20
Automatic Transmission
Fluid .......................................................... 5-20
Operation ................................................... 2-30
Autoride ®
....................................................... 4-43
BBattery .......................................................... 5-39
Electric Power Management .......................... 3-23
Run-Down Protection ................................... 3-23
Bench Seat, Split (60/40) ................................. 1-11
Brake
Emergencies ................................................ 4-5
Brakes .......................................................... 5-36
System Warning Light .................................. 3-40
Braking ........................................................... 4-3
Braking in Emergencies ..................................... 4-5 Break-In, New Vehicle ..................................... 2-24
Bucket Seats, Rear ......................................... 1-17
Bulb Replacement ........................................... 5-51
Back-Up Lamps ........................................... 5-51
Headlamp Aiming ........................................ 5-48
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting ........... 5-51
License Plate Lamps .................................... 5-53
Replacement Bulbs ...................................... 5-53
Buying New Tires ........................................... 5-72
C Calibration ............................................. 2-41, 2-43
California Fuel .................................................. 5-5
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements ....... 5-4
California Proposition 65 Warning ....................... 5-3
Canadian Owners ................................................ ii
Capacities and Specications .......................... 5-115
Carbon Monoxide ........... 2-13, 2-14, 2-39, 4-30, 4-44
Care of
Safety Belts .............................................. 5-101
Cargo Cover .................................................. 2-63
CD, MP3 ....................................................... 3-90
Center Console Storage Area ........................... 2-61
Center Seat ................................................... 1-10
Chains, Tire ................................................... 5-77
Charging System Light .................................... 3-39
Check
Engine Light ............................................... 3-43
Checking Things Under the Hood ...................... 5-10
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