Black plate (57,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2010
TIGHTEN GAS CAP This message may display along with the check engine
light on the instrument panel cluster if the vehicle's fuel
cap is not tightened properly. See Malfunction Indicator
Lamp
on page 4 ‑ 36 . Reinstall the fuel cap fully. See
Filling the Tank on page 7 ‑ 11 . The diagnostic system
can determine if the fuel cap has been left off or
improperly installed. A loose or missing fuel cap allows
fuel to evaporate into the atmosphere. A few driving
trips with the cap properly installed should turn this light
and message off.
TIRE LEARNING ACTIVE On vehicles with the Tire Pressure Monitor System
(TPMS), this message displays when the TPMS is
re-learning the tire positions on your vehicle. The tire
positions must be re-learned after rotating the tires or
after replacing a tire or sensor. See Tire Inspection and
Rotation on page 7 ‑ 71 , Tire Pressure Monitor System
on page 7 ‑ 67 , and Inflation - Tire Pressure on
page 7 ‑ 65
for more information. TIRE LOW ADD AIR TO TIRE On vehicles with the Tire Pressure Monitor System
(TPMS), this message displays when the pressure in
one or more of the vehicle's tires is low. This message
also displays LEFT FRONT, RIGHT FRONT, LEFT
REAR, or RIGHT REAR to indicate which tire needs to
be checked. The low tire pressure warning light will also
come on. See Tire Pressure Light
on page 4 ‑ 35 . You
can receive more than one tire pressure message at a
time. To read the other messages that may have been
sent at the same time, press the set/reset button. If a
tire pressure message appears on the DIC, stop as
soon as you can. Have the tire pressures checked and
set to those shown on the Tire Loading Information
label. See Tires
on page 7 ‑ 58 , Loading the Vehicle on
page 6 ‑ 32 , and Inflation - Tire Pressure on page 7 ‑ 65 .
The DIC also shows the tire pressure values. See DIC
Operation and Displays on page 4 ‑ 42 .
TRACTION CONTROL OFF If your vehicle has StabiliTrak, this message displays
when the Traction Control System (TCS) is turned off.
Adjust your driving accordingly. See StabiliTrak ®
System on page 6 ‑ 6 for more information.
4-57
Black plate (58,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2010 .
Vehicle is traveling at high speed. .
Vehicle changes directions more than once,
or when the vehicle is turning on a turn table in a
parking lot. .
Vehicle is entering and/or exiting a parking lot or a
garage. .
GPS signal is not received. .
Roof carrier is installed on the vehicle. .
Vehicle is being driven with tire chains. .
Tires are replaced. .
Tire pressure for the tires is incorrect. .
Tires are worn. .
First time the map DVD is inserted. .
Battery is disconnected for several days. .
Vehicle is driving in heavy traffic where driving is at
low speeds, and the vehicle is stopped and started
repeatedly.
See your dealer if other problems occur. Problems with Route Guidance Inappropriate route guidance may occur under one or
more of the following conditions: .
You have not turned onto the road indicated. .
Route guidance may not be available when using
automatic rerouting for the next right or left turn. .
The route may not be changed when using
automatic rerouting. .
There is no route guidance when turning at an
intersection. .
Plural names of places may be announced
occasionally. .
It may take a long time to operate automatic
rerouting during high-speed driving. .
Automatic rerouting may display a route returning
to the set stopover if you are heading for a
destination without passing through a set stopover. .
The route prohibits the entry of a vehicle due
to a regulation by time or season or any other
regulation which may be given. .
Some routes may not be searched. .
The route to the destination may not be shown if
there are new roads, if roads have recently
changed, or if certain roads are not listed on the
map DVD. See Ordering Map DVDs on page 5 ‑ 59 .
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Black plate (3,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2010
For persons under 21, it is against the law in every
U.S. state to drink alcohol. There are good medical,
psychological, and developmental reasons for
these laws.
The obvious way to eliminate the leading highway
safety problem is for people never to drink alcohol and
then drive.
Medical research shows that alcohol in a person's
system can make crash injuries worse, especially
injuries to the brain, spinal cord, or heart. This means
that when anyone who has been drinking — driver or
passenger — is in a crash, that person's chance of
being killed or permanently disabled is higher than if the
person had not been drinking. Control of a Vehicle The following three systems help to control the vehicle
while driving — brakes, steering, and accelerator. At
times, as when driving on snow or ice, it is easy to ask
more of those control systems than the tires and road
can provide. Meaning, you can lose control of the
vehicle. See StabiliTrak ®
System on page 6 ‑ 6 .
Adding non ‐ dealer/non ‐ retailer accessories can affect
vehicle performance. See Accessories and
Modifications on page 7 ‑ 4 .
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Black plate (10,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2010
Steering Power Steering If the vehicle is a Two ‐ mode Hybrid, see the Two ‐ mode
Hybrid manual for more information.
If power steering assist is lost because the engine stops
or the system is not functioning, the vehicle can be
steered but it will take more effort.
Steering Tips It is important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
Traction in a curve depends on the condition of the tires
and the road surface, the angle at which the curve is
banked, and vehicle speed. While in a curve, speed is
the one factor that can be controlled.
If there is a need to reduce speed, do it before entering
the curve, while the front wheels are straight.
Try to adjust the speed so you can drive through the
curve. Maintain a reasonable, steady speed. Wait to
accelerate until out of the curve, and then accelerate
gently into the straightaway. Steering in Emergencies There are times when steering can be more effective
than braking. For example, you come over a hill and
find a truck stopped in your lane, or a car suddenly pulls
out from nowhere, or a child darts out from between
parked cars and stops right in front of you. These
problems can be avoided by braking — if you can
stop in time. But sometimes you cannot stop in time
because there is no room. That is the time for evasive
action — steering around the problem.
The vehicle can perform very well in emergencies
like these. First, apply the brakes. See Braking
on
page 6 ‑ 4 . It is better to remove as much speed as
possible from a collision. Then steer around the
problem, to the left or right depending on the space
available.
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Black plate (12,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2010
Passing Passing another vehicle on a two-lane road can be
dangerous. To reduce the risk of danger while passing: .
Look down the road, to the sides, and to
crossroads for situations that might affect a
successful pass. If in doubt, wait. .
Watch for traffic signs, pavement markings, and
lines that could indicate a turn or an intersection.
Never cross a solid or double ‐ solid line on your
side of the lane. .
Do not get too close to the vehicle you want to
pass. Doing so can reduce your visibility. .
Wait your turn to pass a slow vehicle. .
When you are being passed, ease to the right.
Loss of Control Let us review what driving experts say about what
happens when the three control systems — brakes,
steering, and acceleration — do not have enough
friction where the tires meet the road to do what the
driver has asked.
In any emergency, do not give up. Keep trying to steer
and constantly seek an escape route or area of less
danger. Skidding In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking
reasonable care suited to existing conditions, and by
not overdriving those conditions. But skids are always
possible.
The three types of skids correspond to the vehicle's
three control systems. In the braking skid, the wheels
are not rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, too
much speed or steering in a curve causes tires to slip
and lose cornering force. And in the acceleration skid,
too much throttle causes the driving wheels to spin.
Remember: Any traction control system helps avoid
only the acceleration skid. If the traction control system
is off, then an acceleration skid is best handled by
easing your foot off the accelerator pedal.
If the vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want
the vehicle to go. If you start steering quickly enough,
the vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready for a
second skid if it occurs.
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice,
gravel, or other material is on the road. For safety, slow
down and adjust your driving to these conditions. It is
important to slow down on slippery surfaces because
stopping distance will be longer and vehicle control
more limited.
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Black plate (13,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2010
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: Antilock brakes help 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 reflexes, 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 definite
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.
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Black plate (15,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2010
Loading Your Vehicle for Off-Road
Driving
{ WARNING: .
Cargo on the load floor piled higher than the
seatbacks can be thrown forward during a
sudden stop. You or your passengers could
be injured. Keep cargo below the top of the
seatbacks. .
Unsecured cargo on the load floor can be
tossed about when driving over rough terrain.
You or your passengers can be struck by
flying objects. Secure the cargo properly. .
Heavy loads on the roof raise the vehicle's
center of gravity, making it more likely to roll
over. You can be seriously or fatally injured if
the vehicle rolls over. Put heavy loads inside
the cargo area, not on the roof. Keep cargo in
the cargo area as far forward and low as
possible. There are some important things to remember about
how to load your vehicle. .
The heaviest things should be on the floor, forward
of the rear axle. Put heavier items as far forward
as you can. .
Be sure the load is properly secured, so things are
not tossed around.
You will find other important information under Loading
the Vehicle
on page 6 ‑ 32 and Tires on page 7 ‑ 58 .
Environmental Concerns Off-road driving can provide wholesome and satisfying
recreation. However, it also raises environmental
concerns. We recognize these concerns and urge every
off-roader to follow these basic rules for protecting the
environment: .
Always use established trails, roads, and areas
that have been specially set aside for public
off-road recreational driving and obey all posted
regulations. .
Avoid any driving practice that could damage
shrubs, flowers, trees, or grasses or disturb
wildlife. This includes wheel-spinning, breaking
down trees, or unnecessary driving through
streams or over soft ground.
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Black plate (22,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2010
Driving Across an Incline An off-road trail will probably go across the incline of a
hill. To decide whether to try to drive across the incline,
consider the following:
{ WARNING: Driving across an incline that is too steep will
make your vehicle roll over. You could be
seriously injured or killed. If you have any doubt
about the steepness of the incline, do not drive
across it. Find another route instead. .
A hill that can be driven straight up or down
might be too steep to drive across. When going
straight up or down a hill, the length of the wheel
base — the distance from the front wheels to the
rear wheels — reduces the likelihood the vehicle
will tumble end over end. But when driving across
an incline, the narrower track width — the distance
between the left and right wheels — might not
prevent the vehicle from tilting and rolling over.
Driving across an incline puts more weight on the
downhill wheels which could cause a downhill slide
or a rollover. .
Surface conditions can be a problem. Loose
gravel, muddy spots, or even wet grass can cause
the tires to slip sideways, downhill. If the vehicle
slips sideways, it can hit something that will trip
it — a rock, a rut, etc. — and roll over. .
Hidden obstacles can make the steepness of the
incline even worse. If you drive across a rock with
the uphill wheels, or if the downhill wheels drop
into a rut or depression, the vehicle can tilt
even more.
For these reasons, carefully consider whether to try to
drive across an incline. Just because the trail goes
across the incline does not mean you have to drive it.
The last vehicle to try it might have rolled over.
If you feel the vehicle starting to slide sideways, turn
downhill. This should help straighten out the vehicle and
prevent the side slipping. The best way to prevent this
is to “ walk the course ” first, so you know what the
surface is like before driving it.
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