2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE brake fluid

Vehicle Symbol Chart
Here are some additional symbols that may be found on
the vehicle and what they mean. For more information
on the symbol, refer to the index.
0:Adjustable Pedals
9:Airbag Readiness Light
#:Air Conditioning
!:Antilock Brake System (ABS)
g:Audio Steering Wheel Controls or OnStar®
$:Brake System Warning Light
":Charging System
I:Cruise Control
B:Engine Coolant Temperature
O:Exterior Lamps
#:Fog Lamps
.:Fuel Gage
+:Fuses
i:Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
j:LATCH System Child Restraints
*:Malfunction Indicator Lamp
::Oil Pressure
g:Outside Power Foldaway Mirrors
}:Power
/:Remote Vehicle Start
>:Safety Belt Reminders
7:Tire Pressure Monitor
_:Tow/Haul Mode
F:Traction Control
M:Windshield Washer Fluid
v

The main components of the instrument panel are the
following:
A.Outlet Adjustment on page 3-29.
B.Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever on page 3-7.
C.Instrument Panel Cluster on page 3-32.
D.Hazard Warning Flashers on page 3-5.
E. Shift Lever and Range Selection Mode. See
Automatic Transmission Operation on page 2-29.
F.Tow/Haul Mode on page 2-33.
G.Driver Information Center (DIC) on page 3-46.
H.Analog Clock on page 3-24.
I.Audio System(s) on page 3-72.
J.StabiliTrak
®System on page 5-6. Rear Park Aid
Disable Button. SeeUltrasonic Rear Parking Assist
(URPA) on page 2-42.
K.Tilt Wheel on page 3-6.
L.Exterior Lamps on page 3-15.
M.Dome Lamp Override on page 3-21.Instrument
Panel Brightness on page 3-21.Fog Lamps
on page 3-20.
N. Automatic Transfer Case Control. See Escalade
Two-Mode Hybrid Supplement for more information.O.Cruise Control on page 3-11.
P.Horn on page 3-5.
Q.Audio Steering Wheel Controls on page 3-113.
R.Dual Automatic Climate Control System on
page 3-24.
S. Pedal Adjust Button. SeeAdjustable Throttle and
Brake Pedal on page 2-27. Heated Windshield
Washer Fluid Button. SeeWindshield Washer on
page 3-10.Power Assist Steps on page 2-16
(If Equipped).
T.Glove Box on page 2-62.
Hazard Warning Flashers
|(Hazard Warning Flasher):Press this button
located on top of the steering column, to make the front
and rear turn signal lamps ash on and off. This
warns others that you are having trouble. Press again to
turn the ashers off.
When the hazard warning ashers are on, the vehicle’s
turn signals will not work.
Horn
To sound the horn, press the center pad on the steering
wheel.
3-5

Service............................................................6-3
Accessories and Modications..........................6-3
California Proposition 65 Warning.....................6-4
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements.....6-4
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................6-4
Adding Equipment to the Outside
of the Vehicle.............................................6-5
Fuel................................................................6-5
Gasoline Octane............................................6-5
Gasoline Specications....................................6-6
California Fuel...............................................6-6
Additives.......................................................6-6
Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol)..................................6-7
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................6-8
Filling the Tank..............................................6-9
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.....................6-11
Checking Things Under
the Hood....................................................6-12
Hood Release..............................................6-12
Engine Compartment Overview.......................6-14
Engine Oil...................................................6-16
Engine Oil Life System..................................6-18
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................6-19
Automatic Transmission Fluid.........................6-21
Cooling System............................................6-24
Engine Coolant.............................................6-26Engine Overheating.......................................6-30
Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode . . .6-33
Engine Fan Noise.........................................6-33
Power Steering Fluid.....................................6-34
Windshield Washer Fluid................................6-35
Brakes........................................................6-36
Battery........................................................6-39
Jump Starting...............................................6-40
All-Wheel Drive..............................................6-45
Rear Axle.......................................................6-46
Front Axle......................................................6-47
Headlamp Aiming...........................................6-48
Bulb Replacement..........................................6-50
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting............6-51
LED Lighting................................................6-51
Back-Up Lamps............................................6-51
License Plate Lamp......................................6-53
Replacement Bulbs.......................................6-53
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............6-54
Tires..............................................................6-56
Tire Sidewall Labeling...................................6-57
Tire Terminology and Denitions.....................6-59
Ination - Tire Pressure.................................6-61
High-Speed Operation...................................6-63
Tire Pressure Monitor System.........................6-63
Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
6-1

A.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on page 6-19.
B. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. SeeCooling
System on page 6-24.
C. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump Starting on
page 6-40.
D.Battery on page 6-39.
E. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 6-16.
F. Automatic Transmission Dipstick (Out of View).
See “Checking the Fluid Level” underAutomatic
Transmission Fluid on page 6-21.
G. Remote Negative (−) Terminal (GND) (Out of View).
SeeJump Starting on page 6-40.H. Engine Oil Dipstick (Out of View). See “Checking
Engine Oil” underEngine Oil on page 6-16.
I. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). SeeCooling
System on page 6-24.
J. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir (Out of View).
SeePower Steering Fluid on page 6-34.
K. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid”
underBrakes on page 6-36.
L.Underhood Fuse Block on page 6-106.
M. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding
Washer Fluid” underWindshield Washer Fluid
on page 6-35.
6-15

{CAUTION:
Operating the engine with the air cleaner/lter off
can cause you or others to be burned. The air
cleaner not only cleans the air; it helps to stop
ames if the engine backres. If it is not there and
the engine backres, you could be burned. Do not
drive with it off, and be careful working on the
engine with the air cleaner/lter off.
Automatic Transmission Fluid
When to Check and Change Automatic
Transmission Fluid
It is usually not necessary to check the transmission uid
level. The only reason for uid loss is a transmission leak
or overheating the transmission. If you suspect a small
leak, then use the following checking procedures to check
the uid level. However, if there is a large leak, then it
may be necessary to have the vehicle towed to a dealer/
retailer service department and have it repaired before
driving the vehicle further.Notice:Use of the incorrect automatic transmission
uid may damage the vehicle, and the damages
may not be covered by the vehicle’s warranty.
Always use the automatic transmission uid listed
inRecommended Fluids and Lubricants on
page 7-13.
Change the uid and lter at the intervals listed in the
Maintenance Schedule. SeeScheduled Maintenance on
page 7-4. Be sure to use the transmission uid listed
inRecommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 7-13.
How to Check Automatic Transmission
Fluid
Notice:Too much or too little uid can damage
your transmission. Too much can mean that some
of the uid could come out and fall on hot engine
parts or exhaust system parts, starting a re.
Too little uid could cause the transmission to
overheat. Be sure to get an accurate reading if you
check your transmission uid.
Before checking the uid level, prepare the vehicle as
follows:
1. Start the engine and park the vehicle on a level
surface. Keep the engine running.
2. Apply the parking brake and place the shift lever
in P (Park).
6-21

Brakes
Brake Fluid
The brake master cylinder
reservoir is lled with
DOT-3 brake uid. See
Engine Compartment
Overview on page 6-14for
the location of the
reservoir.
There are only two reasons why the brake uid level in
the reservoir might go down:
The brake uid level goes down because of normal
brake lining wear. When new linings are installed,
the uid level goes back up.
A uid leak in the brake hydraulic system can also
cause a low uid level. Have the brake hydraulic
system xed, since a leak means that sooner
or later the brakes will not work well.Do not top off the brake uid. Adding uid does 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 too much brake uid is added, it can spill on the
engine and burn, if the engine is hot enough. You
or others could be burned, and the 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 comes on. SeeBrake System Warning
Light on page 3-37.
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine when
to check the brake uid. SeeScheduled Maintenance
on page 7-4.
6-36

Checking Brake Fluid
Check brake uid by looking at the brake uid reservoir.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 6-14.
The uid level should be
above MIN. If it is not,
have the brake hydraulic
system checked to
see if there is a leak.
After work is done on the brake hydraulic system,
make sure the level is above the MIN but not over the
MAX mark.
What to Add
Use only new DOT-3 brake uid from a sealed
container. SeeRecommended Fluids and Lubricants
on page 7-13.Always clean the brake uid reservoir cap and the area
around the cap before removing it. This helps keep
dirt from entering the reservoir.
{CAUTION:
With the wrong kind of uid in the brake hydraulic
system, the brakes might not work well. This could
cause a crash. Always use the proper brake uid.
Notice:
Using the wrong uid can badly damage brake
hydraulic system parts. For example, just a
few drops of mineral-based oil, such as engine
oil, in the brake hydraulic system can damage
brake hydraulic system parts so badly that they
will have to be replaced. Do not let someone
put in the wrong kind of uid.
If brake uid is spilled on the vehicle’s painted
surfaces, the paint nish can be damaged. Be
careful not to spill brake uid on the vehicle.
If you do, wash it off immediately. SeeWashing
Your Vehicle on page 6-98.
6-37

Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants
Fluids and lubricants identied below by name, part
number, or specication can be obtained from your
dealer/retailer.
Usage Fluid/Lubricant
Engine OilThe engine requires a special
engine oil meeting GM Standard
GM4718M. Oils meeting this
standard can be identied as
synthetic, and should also be
identied with the American
Petroleum Institute (API) Certied
for Gasoline Engines starburst
symbol. However, not all synthetic
API oils with the starburst symbol
will meet this GM standard. Look for
and use only oil that meets GM
Standard GM4718M. For the proper
viscosity, seeEngine Oil on
page 6-16.
Usage Fluid/Lubricant
Engine Coolant50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and use only DEX-COOL
®
Coolant. SeeEngine Coolant on
page 6-26.
Hydraulic Brake
SystemDelco
®Supreme 11 Brake Fluid or
equivalent DOT-3 brake uid.
Windshield
WasherOptikleen
®Washer Solvent.
Power Steering
SystemGM Power Steering Fluid
(GM Part No. U.S. 89021184,
in Canada 89021186).
Automatic
TransmissionDEXRON
®-VI Automatic
Transmission Fluid.
Key Lock
CylindersMulti-Purpose Lubricant, Superlube
(GM Part No. U.S. 12346241, in
Canada 10953474).
Chassis
LubricationChassis Lubricant (GM Part No.
U.S. 12377985, in Canada
88901242) or lubricant meeting
requirements of NLGI #2, Category
LB or GC-LB.
7-13