2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV ABS

While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try
your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration, or
braking, including reducing vehicle speed by shifting to
a lower gear. Any sudden changes could cause the tires
to slide. You may not realize the surface is slippery until
the vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warning
clues — such as enough water, ice, or packed snow on
the road to make a mirrored surface — and slow down
when you have any doubt.
Remember: Any Antilock Brake System (ABS) helps
avoid only the braking skid.
Off-Road Driving Vehicles with all-wheel drive can be used for off-road
driving. Vehicles without all-wheel drive and vehicles
with 22-inch tire/wheel assemblies should not be driven
off-road except on a level, solid surface.
Many of the vehicle design features that help make the
vehicle more responsive on paved roads during poor
weather conditions also help make it better suited for
off-road use than conventional passenger vehicles.
The vehicle does not have features usually thought to
be necessary for extended or severe off-road use such
as special underbody shielding and transfer case low
gear range. The airbag system is designed to work properly under
a wide range of conditions, including off-road usage.
Always wear your safety belt and observe safe driving
speeds, especially on rough terrain.
Drinking and driving can be very dangerous on any road
and this is certainly true for off-road driving. At the very
time you need special alertness and driving skills, your
reexes, perceptions, and judgment can be affected
by even a small amount of alcohol. You could have a
serious — or even fatal — accident if you drink and drive
or ride with a driver who has been drinking.
Off-roading can be great fun but has some denite
hazards. The greatest of these is the terrain itself. When
off-road driving, traffic lanes are not marked, curves are
not banked, and there are no road signs. Surfaces can be
slippery, rough, uphill, or downhill.
Avoid sharp turns and abrupt maneuvers. Failure to
operate the vehicle correctly off-road could result in loss
of vehicle control or vehicle rollover.
Off-roading involves some new skills. That is why it is
very important that you read these driving tips and
suggestions to help make off-road driving safer
and more enjoyable.
5-13

Winter Driving Driving on Snow or Ice Drive carefully when there is snow or ice between the
tires and the road, creating less traction or grip. Wet ice
can occur at about 32°F (0°C) when freezing rain begins
to fall, resulting in even less traction. Avoid driving on wet
ice or in freezing rain until roads can be treated with salt
or sand.
Drive with caution, whatever the condition. Accelerate
gently so traction is not lost. Accelerating too quickly
causes the wheels to spin and makes the surface under
the tires slick, so there is even less traction.
Try not to break the fragile traction. If you accelerate too
fast, the drive wheels will spin and polish the surface
under the tires even more. The StabiliTrak ®
System on page 5-6 improves the ability
to accelerate on slippery roads, but slow down and adjust
your driving to the road conditions. When driving through
deep snow, turn off the traction control part of the
StabiliTrak ®
System to help maintain vehicle motion at
lower speeds.
The Antilock Brake System (ABS) on page 5-5 improves
vehicle stability during hard stops on a slippery roads,
but apply the brakes sooner than when on dry
pavement.
Allow greater following distance on any slippery road
and watch for slippery spots. Icy patches can occur on
otherwise clear roads in shaded areas. The surface
of a curve or an overpass can remain icy when the
surrounding roads are clear. Avoid sudden steering
maneuvers and braking while on ice.
Turn off cruise control, if equipped, on slippery surfaces.
5-29

Autoride ®
With this feature, improved vehicle ride and handling is
provided under a variety of passenger and loading
conditions.
The system is fully automatic and uses a computer
controller to continuously monitor vehicle speed, wheel
to body position, lift/dive and steering position of the
vehicle. The controller then sends signals to each shock
absorber to independently adjust the damping level to
provide the optimum vehicle ride.
Autoride also interacts with the tow/haul mode that, when
activated, 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” under Towing a
Trailer on page 5-44 for more information. Towing a Trailer Do not tow a trailer during break-in. See New Vehicle
Break-In on page 2-24 for more information.
{ CAUTION: The driver can lose control when pulling a trailer if
the correct equipment is not used or the vehicle is
not driven properly. For example, if the trailer is
too heavy, the brakes may not work well — or
even at all. The driver and passengers could be
seriously injured. The vehicle may also be
damaged; the resulting repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty. Pull a trailer only
if all the steps in this section have been followed.
Ask your dealer/retailer for advice and information
about towing a trailer with the vehicle.
Notice: Pulling a trailer improperly can damage the
vehicle and result in costly repairs not covered by the
vehicle warranty. To pull a trailer correctly, follow the
advice in this section and see your dealer/retailer for
important information about towing a trailer with the
vehicle.
5-44

When pulling a trailer that, when loaded, will weigh
more than 5,000 lbs (2 270 kg) be sure to use a properly
mounted weight-distributing hitch and sway control of
the proper size. This equipment is very important
for proper vehicle loading and good handling when
driving. Always use sway control if the trailer will weigh
more than these limits. Ask a hitch dealer about
sway controls.
Hitch Cover The vehicle may have a hitch cover. To remove the
hitch cover:
1. Turn the fasteners on the lower tabs 90 degrees
counterclockwise.
2. Lift the lower edge of the cover about 45 degrees.
3. Pull the cover downward to disengage the upper
attachments. To reinstall the hitch cover:
1. Hold the cover at a 45 degree angle to the vehicle
and push the upper tabs in the hitch cover into the
chrome slots in the fascia.
2. Move the bottom of the cover forward until the
lower tabs line up with the lower fascia slots.
3. Snap the hitch cover into place by pushing the
upper corners forward.
4. Turn the fasteners on the lower tabs 90 degrees
clockwise to lock the cover in place.
5-50

Driving On Grades Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before starting
down a long or steep downgrade. If the transmission is
not shifted down, the brakes might have to be used so
much that they would get hot and no longer work well.
Vehicles can tow in D (Drive). Shift the transmission to
a lower gear if the transmission shifts too often under
heavy loads and/or hilly conditions.
The tow/haul mode may be used if the transmission
shifts too often. See Tow/Haul Mode Light on page 3-46 .
When towing at high altitude on steep uphill grades,
consider the following: Engine coolant will boil at a lower
temperature than at normal altitudes. If the engine is
turned off immediately after towing at high altitude on
steep uphill grades, the vehicle may show signs similar to
engine overheating. To avoid this, let the engine run while
parked, preferably on level ground, with the transmission
in P (Park) for a few minutes before turning the engine
off. If the overheat warning comes on, see Engine
Overheating on page 6-30 . Parking on Hills
{ CAUTION: Parking the vehicle on a hill with the trailer
attached can be dangerous. If something goes
wrong, the rig could start to move. People can be
injured, and both the vehicle and the trailer can be
damaged. When possible, always park the rig on a
at surface.
If parking the rig on a hill:
1. Press the brake pedal, but do not shift into P (Park)
yet. Turn the wheels into the curb if facing downhill
or into traffic if facing uphill.
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 brake pedal. Then apply the parking
brake and shift into P (Park).
5. Release the brake pedal.
5-54

Fabric/Carpet Use a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment
frequently to remove dust and loose dirt. A canister
vacuum with a beater bar in the nozzle may only be used
on oor carpet and carpeted oor mats. For any soil,
always try to remove it rst with plain water or club soda.
Before cleaning, gently remove as much of the soil as
possible using one of the following techniques:
For liquids: gently blot the remaining soil with a paper
towel. Allow the soil to absorb into the paper towel
until no more can be removed.
For solid dry soils: remove as much as possible and
then vacuum.
To clean:
1. Saturate a lint-free, clean white cloth with water or
club soda.
2. Wring the cloth to remove excess moisture.
3. Start on the outside edge of the soil and gently rub
toward the center. Continue cleaning, using a clean
area of the cloth each time it becomes soiled.
4. Continue to gently rub the soiled area until the
cleaning cloth remains clean.
5. If the soil is not completely removed, use a mild
soap solution and repeat the cleaning process
that was used with plain water. If any of the soil remains, a commercial fabric cleaner or
spot lifter may be necessary. When a commercial
upholstery cleaner or spot lifter is to be used, test a
small hidden area for colorfastness rst. If the locally
cleaned area gives any impression that a ring formation
may result, clean the entire surface.
After the cleaning process has been completed, a paper
towel can be used to blot excess moisture from the
fabric or carpet.
Leather A soft cloth dampened with water can be used to
remove dust. If a more thorough cleaning is necessary,
a soft cloth dampened with a mild soap solution can
be used. Allow the leather to dry naturally. Do not use
heat to dry. Never use steam to clean leather. Never
use spot lifters or spot removers on leather. Many
commercial leather cleaners and coatings that are
sold to preserve and protect leather may permanently
change the appearance and feel of the leather and
are not recommended. Do not use silicone or wax-based
products, or those containing organic solvents to
clean the vehicle’s interior because they can alter the
appearance by increasing the gloss in a non-uniform
manner. Never use shoe polish on leather.
6-98

AAccessories and Modications ............................ 6-3
Accessory Power ............................................ 2-26
Accessory Power Outlets ................................. 3-25
Additional Required Services, Scheduled
Maintenance ................................................. 7-6
Additives, Fuel ................................................. 6-6
Add-On Electrical Equipment ........................... 6-105
Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal .................. 2-27
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine ................................. 6-19
Airbag
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle ................................................... 1-94
Airbag System
How Does an Airbag Restrain? ...................... 1-85
Passenger Sensing System ........................... 1-87
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle .......... 1-93
What Makes an Airbag Inate? ...................... 1-85
What Will You See After an Airbag Inates? .... 1-86
When Should an Airbag Inate? .................... 1-84
Where Are the Airbags? ............................... 1-81
Airbags
Passenger Status Indicator ........................... 3-37
Readiness Light .......................................... 3-36
System Check ............................................. 1-79 All-Wheel Drive ............................................... 6-45
All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) System ........................... 5-9
Analog Clock .................................................. 3-26
Antenna
Rear Side Window ..................................... 3-117
Antenna, XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna
System ..................................................... 3-117
Antilock Brake System (ABS) ............................. 5-5
Warning Light ............................................. 3-40
Appearance Care
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels ............. 6-102
Care of Safety Belts ................................... 6-100
Chemical Paint Spotting .............................. 6-104
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses .................. 6-101
Fabric/Carpet .............................................. 6-98
Finish Care ............................................... 6-101
Finish Damage .......................................... 6-103
Instrument
Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Surfaces ................................................. 6-99
Interior Cleaning .......................................... 6-96
Leather ...................................................... 6-98
Sheet Metal Damage .................................. 6-103
Speaker Covers ......................................... 6-100
Tires ........................................................ 6-103
Underbody Maintenance ............................. 6-104
Washing Your Vehicle ................................. 6-100
1

Hood
Checking Things Under ................................ 6-12
Release ..................................................... 6-13
Horn ............................................................... 3-6
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly ................... 1-35
IIgnition Positions ............................................. 2-25
Infants and Young Children, Restraints ............... 1-55
Ination - Tire Pressure ................................... 6-62
Instrument Panel
Brightness .................................................. 3-23
Cluster ....................................................... 3-34
Overview ..................................................... 3-4
Introduction ...................................................... 7-2
JJump Starting ................................................. 6-40
KKeyless Entry System ....................................... 2-4
Keys ............................................................... 2-3 L Labeling, Tire Sidewall ..................................... 6-57
Lamps
Back-Up ..................................................... 6-51
Daytime Running (DRL) ................................ 3-21
Dome ........................................................ 3-23
Dome Lamp Override ................................... 3-23
License Plate .............................................. 6-53
Malfunction Indicator .................................... 3-42
Reading ..................................................... 3-24
Lap Belt ........................................................ 1-50
Lap-Shoulder Belt ........................................... 1-43
LATCH System for Child Restraints ................... 1-63
LED Lighting .................................................. 6-51
Level Control .................................................. 5-43
Liftgate, Power ............................................... 2-14
Liftgate/Liftglass .............................................. 2-12
Liftglass/Liftgate .............................................. 2-12
Lighting
Entry ......................................................... 3-23
Exit ........................................................... 3-23
LED .......................................................... 6-51
Lights
Airbag Readiness ........................................ 3-36
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning ............ 3-40
Brake System Warning ................................. 3-39
Charging System ......................................... 3-38
Cruise Control ............................................. 3-46
Exterior Lamps ............................................ 3-16
8