2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT warning light

A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL®coolant will:
Give freezing protection down to−34°F (−37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages work as they
should.
Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOL
®may
cause premature engine, heater core, or radiator
corrosion. In addition, the engine coolant may
require changing sooner, at the rst maintenance
service after each 30,000 miles (50 000 km) or
24 months, whichever occurs rst. Any repairs
would not be covered by your warranty. Always use
DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free) coolant in your vehicle.
What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean, drinkable water and
one-half DEX-COOL®coolant which will not damage
aluminum parts. If you use this coolant mixture,
you do not need to add anything else.
{CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling
system can be dangerous. Plain water, or
some other liquid such as alcohol, can boil
before the proper coolant mixture will. Your
vehicle’s coolant warning system is set for the
proper coolant mixture. With plain water or the
wrong mixture, your engine could get too hot
but you would not get the overheat warning.
Your engine could catch re and you or others
could be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
®coolant.
Notice:If you use an improper coolant mixture, your
engine could overheat and be badly damaged. The
repair cost would not be covered by your warranty.
Too much water in the mixture can freeze and crack
the engine, radiator, heater core, and other parts.
5-24

Brakes
Brake Fluid
The brake master cylinder
reservoir is lled with
DOT-3 brake uid. See
Engine Compartment
Overview on page 5-12for
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. SeeBrake System Warning
Light on page 3-36.
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine when
to check the brake uid. SeeScheduled 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 Specications 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.
5-38

When a low tire pressure
condition is detected, the
TPMS illuminates the
low tire pressure warning
light located on the
instrument panel cluster.
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 seeDIC Operation and Displays on page 3-45
andDIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-50.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. SeeLoading
Your Vehicle on page 4-35, for an example of the Tire
and Loading Information label and its location on
your vehicle. Also seeInation - Tire Pressure on
page 5-61.
Your vehicle’s TPMS can warn you about a low tire
pressure condition but it does not replace normal
tire maintenance. SeeTire Inspection and Rotation on
page 5-68andTires on page 5-54.
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.
5-65

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. SeeBuying New Tires on
page 5-71.
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.
5-66

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.
5-73

A
Accessories and Modications............................ 5-3
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle.......................................................1-70
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-6
Add-On Electrical Equipment...........................5-107
Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal..................2-34
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-17
Air Conditioning..............................................3-24
Airbag
Passenger Status Indicator...........................3-33
Readiness Light..........................................3-32
Airbag System................................................1-56
What Will You See After an Airbag Inates?........1-64
When Should an Airbag Inate?....................1-61
Where Are the Airbags?...............................1-59
Airbag Systems
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle...................................................1-70
How Does an Airbag Restrain?......................1-63
Passenger Sensing System...........................1-65
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle..........1-70
What Makes an Airbag Inate?......................1-63
All-Wheel Drive...............................................5-45
All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) System........................... 4-8
Analog Clock..................................................3-23
Antenna, Fixed Mast......................................3-105Antenna, XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna
System.....................................................3-105
Antilock Brake System (ABS)............................. 4-4
Antilock Brake, System Warning Light................3-37
Appearance Care
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels.............5-103
Care of Safety Belts...................................5-100
Chemical Paint Spotting..............................5-104
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses..................5-101
Fabric/Carpet..............................................5-99
Finish Care...............................................5-101
Finish Damage..........................................5-104
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces.....................................
5-100
Interior Cleaning..........................................5-97
Leather......................................................5-99
Sheet Metal Damage..................................5-104
Speaker Covers.........................................5-100
Tires........................................................5-104
Underbody Maintenance.............................5-104
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials...............5-105
Washing Your Vehicle.................................5-101
Weatherstrips............................................5-100
Windshield and Wiper Blades......................5-102
Wood Panels............................................5-100
Appointments, Scheduling Service....................... 7-9
Ashtray.........................................................3-23
1

Audio System.................................................3-66
Audio Steering Wheel Controls....................3-103
Fixed Mast Antenna...................................3-105
Navigation/Radio System,
see Navigation Manual..............................3-91
Radio Reception........................................3-104
Rear Seat Audio (RSA)...............................3-101
Setting the Clock.........................................3-67
Theft-Deterrent Feature...............................3-102
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System...........3-105
Audio System(s).............................................3-68
Automatic Headlamp System............................3-18
Automatic Transmission
Fluid..........................................................5-20
Operation...................................................2-36
Autoride
®.......................................................4-42
B
Battery..........................................................5-39
Electric Power Management..........................3-21
Run-Down Protection...................................3-21
Brake
Emergencies................................................ 4-5
Brakes..........................................................5-36
System Warning Light..................................3-36Braking........................................................... 4-3
Braking in Emergencies..................................... 4-5
Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................2-30
Bulb Replacement...........................................5-51
Headlamp Aiming........................................5-48
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting...........5-51
License Plate Lamps....................................5-52
Replacement Bulbs......................................5-53
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Sidemarker,
Stoplamps, and Back-Up Lamps.................5-51
Buying New Tires...........................................5-71
C
Calibration.............................................2-46, 2-48
California Fuel.................................................. 5-6
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements....... 5-4
California Proposition 65 Warning....................... 5-4
Canadian Owners................................................ ii
Capacities and Specications..........................5-115
Carbon Monoxide...........2-13, 2-23, 2-44, 4-30, 4-43
Care of
Safety Belts..............................................5-100
Cargo Area, All-Weather..................................2-82
Cargo Cover Panels........................................2-69
CD, MP3 .......................................................3-86
2