Black plate (28,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2010
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 0°C (32°F) 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 6 ‑ 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 6 ‑ 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.
Blizzard Conditions Being stuck in snow can be in a serious situation. Stay
with the vehicle unless there is help nearby. If possible,
use the Roadside Service
on page 9 ‑ 8 . To get help
and keep everyone in the vehicle safe: .
Turn on the Hazard Warning Flashers on
page 4 ‑ 3
. .
Tie a red cloth to an outside mirror.
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Black plate (42,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2010
If a weight ‐ distributing hitch is being used, it is
recommended to allow the shocks to inflate, thereby
leveling the vehicle prior to adjusting the hitch.
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 6 ‑ 42 for more information.
Towing a Trailer If the vehicle has a two – mode hybrid engine, see the
Two – mode Hybrid manual for more information.
Do not tow a trailer during break ‐ in. See New Vehicle
Break-In on page 3 ‑ 26 for more information. { WARNING: 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 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
for important information about towing a trailer with
the vehicle.
To identify the trailering capacity of the vehicle, read the
information in “ Weight of the Trailer ” that appears later
in this section.
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Black plate (47,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2010
Weight ‐ Distributing Hitch Adjustment
A: Body to Ground Distance
B: Front of Vehicle
When using a weight-distributing hitch, the spring bars
should be adjusted so the distance (A) is the same after
coupling the trailer to the tow vehicle and adjusting the
hitch. 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.
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Black plate (48,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2010
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. Safety Chains Always attach chains between the vehicle and the
trailer. Cross the safety chains under the tongue of the
trailer to help prevent the tongue from contacting the
road if it becomes separated from the hitch. Instructions
about safety chains may be provided by the hitch
manufacturer or by the trailer manufacturer. If the trailer
being towed weighs up to 5,000 lbs (2 271 kg) with a
factory-installed step bumper, safety chains may be
attached to the attaching points on the bumper,
otherwise, safety chains should be attached to holes on
the trailer hitch platform. Always leave just enough
slack so the combination can turn. Never allow safety
chains to drag on the ground.
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Black plate (52,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2010
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 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 on page 3 ‑ 36 .
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
automatic transmission in P (Park) for a few minutes
before turning the engine off. If the overheat warning
comes on, see Engine Overheating on page 7 ‑ 34 .Parking on Hills
{ WARNING: 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 flat 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.
6-52
Black plate (100,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2010 .
Laundry detergents or dishwashing soaps with
degreasers can leave residue that streaks and
attracts dirt. For liquid cleaners, about 20 drops per
gallon (3.78 L) of water is a good guide. Use only
mild, neutral-pH soaps. .
Too much cleaner that saturates the upholstery. .
Organic solvents such as naptha, alcohol, etc. that
can damage the vehicle's interior.
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 floor carpet and carpeted floor mats. For any
soil, always try to remove it first 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 first. 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.
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Black plate (1,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2010
AAccessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-4
Accessory Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-28
Accessory Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-19
Active Fuel Management ™ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-32
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-109
Additives, Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-9
Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-30
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-22
Airbag
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-90
Airbag System
How Does an Airbag Restrain? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-81
Passenger Sensing System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-84
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . 2-89
What Makes an Airbag Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-81
What Will You See After an Airbag Inflates? . . . . . . 2-82
When Should an Airbag Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-80
Where Are the Airbags? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-77
Airbags
Passenger Status Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-31
Readiness Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-30
System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-74 All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-49
All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-9
Analog Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-20
Antenna
Rear Side Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-109
Antenna, XM ™ Satellite Radio Antenna
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-109
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-5
Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-34
Appearance Care
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . .7-106
Care of Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-103
Chemical Paint Spotting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-108
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-104
Fabric/Carpet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-100
Finish Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-104
Finish Damage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-107
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Surfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-102
Interior Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-99
Leather . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-101
Sheet Metal Damage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-107
Speaker Covers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-102
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-107
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Black plate (8,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2010
IIgnition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-27
Infants and Young Children, Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-52
Inflation - Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-65
Instrument Panel
Brightness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-16
Instrument Panel Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-28
Integrated Trailer Brake Control System (ITBC) . . . . 6-42
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8-2
JJump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-44
KKeyless Entry
Remote (RKE) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
Keyless Entry System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-4
Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-3
LLabeling, Tire Sidewall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-60
Lamps
Back-Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-55
Daytime Running (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-15
Dome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-17
Dome Lamp Override . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-17 Lamps (cont.)
License Plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-56
Malfunction Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-36
Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-17
Lap Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-47
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-39
LATCH System for Child Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-59
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-55
Level Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-41
Liftgate, Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-14
Liftgate/Liftglass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-12
Liftglass/Liftgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-12
Lighting
Entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-17
Exit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-17
LED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-55
Lights
Airbag Readiness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-30
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-34
Brake System Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-33
Charging System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-32
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-40
Exterior Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-11
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-6
Front Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-39
High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5
Highbeam On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-40
Lights On Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-40
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