Black plate (51,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2010
ENGINE OVERHEATED IDLE ENGINE Notice: If you drive your vehicle while the engine is
overheating, severe engine damage may occur. If an
overheat warning appears on the instrument panel
cluster and/or DIC, stop the vehicle as soon as
possible. See Engine Overheating on page 7 ‑ 34 for
more information.
This message displays when the engine coolant
temperature is too hot. Stop and allow the vehicle to
idle until it cools down. See Engine Coolant
Temperature Gauge on page 4 ‑ 35 .
See Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode on
page 7 ‑ 37 for information on driving to a safe place in
an emergency.
ENGINE OVERHEATED STOP ENGINE Notice: If you drive your vehicle while the engine is
overheating, severe engine damage may occur. If an
overheat warning appears on the instrument panel
cluster and/or DIC, stop the vehicle as soon as
possible. See Engine Overheating
on page 7 ‑ 34 for
more information.
This message displays and a chime sounds if the
engine cooling system reaches unsafe temperatures for
operation. Stop and turn off the vehicle as soon as it is
safe to do so to avoid severe damage. This message
clears when the engine has cooled to a safe operating
temperature. ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED This message displays and a chime sounds when the
cooling system temperature gets too hot and the engine
further enters the engine coolant protection mode. See
Engine Overheating
on page 7 ‑ 34 for further
information.
This message also displays when the vehicle's engine
power is reduced. Reduced engine power can affect the
vehicle's ability to accelerate. If this message is on, but
there is no reduction in performance, proceed to your
destination. The performance may be reduced the next
time the vehicle is driven. The vehicle may be driven at
a reduced speed while this message is on, but
acceleration and speed may be reduced. Anytime this
message stays on, the vehicle should be taken to your
dealer for service as soon as possible.
FUEL LEVEL LOW This message displays and a chime sounds if the fuel
level is low. Refuel as soon as possible. See Fuel
Gauge
on page 4 ‑ 41 and Fuel on page 7 ‑ 7 for more
information.
HOOD OPEN This message displays and a chime sounds if the hood
is not fully closed. Stop and turn off the vehicle, check
the hood for obstructions, and close the hood again.
Check to see if the message still appears on the DIC.
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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.
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Black plate (17,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2010
A. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on page 7 ‑ 22 .
B. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See
Cooling System on page 7 ‑ 27 .
C. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. See Jump Starting
on page 7 ‑ 44 .
D. Battery on page 7 ‑ 43 .
E. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “ When to Add Engine Oil ”
under Engine Oil on page 7 ‑ 17 .
F. Automatic Transmission Dipstick (Out of View).
See “ Checking the Fluid Level ” under Automatic
Transmission Fluid on page 7 ‑ 24 .
G. Remote Negative ( − ) Terminal (GND) (Out of
View). See Jump Starting on page 7 ‑ 44 .
H. Engine Oil Dipstick (Out of View). See “ Checking
Engine Oil ” under Engine Oil on page 7 ‑ 17 .
I. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling
System on page 7 ‑ 27 .
J. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir (Out of View). See
Power Steering Fluid on page 7 ‑ 38 .
K. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “ Brake
Fluid ” under Brakes on page 7 ‑ 40 . L. Underhood Fuse Block on page 7 ‑ 113 .
M. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “ Adding
Washer Fluid ” under Windshield Washer Fluid
on
page 7 ‑ 39 .
Engine Oil Checking Engine Oil It is a good idea to check the engine oil level at each
fuel fill. In order to get an accurate reading, the oil must
be warm and the vehicle must be on level ground.
The engine oil dipstick handle is a yellow loop. See
Engine Compartment Overview on page 7 ‑ 16 for the
location of the engine oil dipstick.
1. Turn off the engine and give the oil several minutes
to drain back into the oil pan. If this is not done, the
oil dipstick might not show the actual level.
2. Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a paper towel
or cloth, then push it back in all the way. Remove it
again, keeping the tip down, and check the level.
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Black plate (31,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2010
Checking Coolant The vehicle must be on a level surface when checking
the coolant level.
Check to see if coolant is visible in the coolant surge
tank. If the coolant inside the coolant surge tank is
boiling, do not do anything else until it cools down.
If coolant is visible but the coolant level is not at or
above the FULL COLD mark, add a 50/50 mixture of
clean, drinkable water and DEX-COOL ®
coolant at the
coolant surge tank, but be sure the cooling system is
cool before this is done.
The coolant surge tank is located in the engine
compartment on the passenger side of the vehicle. See
Engine Compartment Overview
on page 7 ‑ 16 for more
information on location.
The coolant level should be at or above the FULL
COLD mark. If it is not, you may have a leak in the
cooling system.
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Black plate (34,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2010
4. With the coolant surge tank pressure cap off, start
the engine and let it run until you can feel the
upper radiator hose getting hot. Watch out for the
engine cooling fan.
By this time, the coolant level inside the coolant
surge tank may be lower. If the level is lower, add
more of the proper mixture to the coolant surge
tank until the level reaches the FULL COLD mark. 5. Replace the pressure cap. Be sure the pressure
cap is hand-tight and fully seated.
6. Verify coolant level after engine is shut off and the
coolant is cold. If necessary, repeat coolant fill
procedure Steps 1 through 6.
Notice: If the pressure cap is not tightly installed,
coolant loss and possible engine damage may
occur. Be sure the cap is properly and tightly
secured.
Engine Overheating The vehicle has several indicators to warn of engine
overheating.
There is a coolant temperature gauge on your vehicle's
instrument panel. See Engine Coolant Temperature
Gauge on page 4 ‑ 35 .
In addition, ENGINE OVERHEATED STOP ENGINE,
ENGINE OVERHEATED IDLE ENGINE, and a ENGINE
POWER IS REDUCED message comes on in the Driver
Information Center (DIC) on the instrument panel. See
DIC Warnings and Messages on page 4 ‑ 49 .
You may decide not to lift the hood when this warning
appears, but instead get service help right away. See
Roadside Service on page 9 ‑ 8 .
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Black plate (35,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2010
If you do decide to lift the hood , make sure the vehicle
is parked on a level surface.
Then check to see if the engine cooling fans are
running. If the engine is overheating, both fans should
be running. If they are not, do not continue to run the
engine and have the vehicle serviced.
Notice: Engine damage from running your engine
without coolant is not covered by the vehicle
warranty. See Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode for information on driving to
a safe place in an emergency.
Notice: If the engine catches fire while driving with
no coolant, the vehicle can be badly damaged.
The costly repairs would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. See Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode
on page 7 ‑ 37 for information on
driving to a safe place in an emergency. If Steam Is Coming From The Engine
Compartment
{ WARNING: Steam from an overheated engine can burn you
badly, even if you just open the hood. Stay away
from the engine if you see or hear steam coming
from it. Turn it off and get everyone away from the
vehicle until it cools down. Wait until there is no
sign of steam or coolant before you open
the hood.
If you keep driving when the vehicles engine is
overheated, the liquids in it can catch fire. You or
others could be badly burned. Stop the engine if it
overheats, and get out of the vehicle until the
engine is cool.
See Overheated Engine Protection Operating
Mode
on page 7 ‑ 37 for information on driving to
a safe place in an emergency.
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Black plate (4,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2010
Every Engine Oil Change .
Change engine oil and filter. See Engine Oil on
page 7 ‑ 17 . An Emission Control Service..
Engine coolant level check. See Engine Coolant
on page 7 ‑ 29 ..
Windshield washer fluid level check. See
Windshield Washer Fluid on page 7 ‑ 39 ..
Tire inflation check. See Inflation - Tire Pressure
on page 7 ‑ 65 ..
Tire wear inspection. See Tire Inspection and
Rotation on page 7 ‑ 71 ..
Rotate tires. See Tire Inspection and Rotation on
page 7 ‑ 71 ..
Fluids visual leak check (or every 12 months,
whichever occurs first). A leak in any system must
be repaired and the fluid level checked. .
Engine air cleaner filter inspection. See Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 7 ‑ 22 ..
Brake system inspection (or every 12 months,
whichever occurs first). .
Lubricate the front suspension, steering linkage,
and parking brake cable guides. Control arm ball
joints are maintenance ‐ free..
Steering and suspension inspection. Visual
inspection for damaged, loose, or missing parts or
signs of wear. .
Engine cooling system inspection. Visual
inspection of hoses, pipes, fittings, and clamps and
replacement, if needed. .
Windshield wiper blade inspection for wear,
cracking, or contamination and windshield and
wiper blade cleaning, if contaminated. See
Windshield, Backglass, and Wiper Blades
on
page 7 ‑ 105 . Worn or damaged wiper blade
replacement. See Windshield Wiper Blade
Replacement on page 7 ‑ 57 . .
Body hinges and latches, key lock cylinders, rear
compartment hinges, outer tailgate handle pivot
points, and folding seat hardware lubrication.
See Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on
page 8 ‑ 10
. More frequent lubrication may be
required when vehicle is exposed to a corrosive
environment. Applying silicone grease on
weatherstrips with a clean cloth makes them last
longer, seal better, and not stick or squeak. .
Restraint system component check. See Checking
the Restraint Systems on page 2 ‑ 91 . .
Automatic transmission fluid level check and
adding fluid, if needed. See Automatic
Transmission Fluid on page 7 ‑ 24 .
8-4
Black plate (5,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2010
Additional Required Services At Each Fuel Stop .
Engine oil level check. See Engine Oil on
page 7 ‑ 17
..
Engine coolant level check. See Engine Coolant
on page 7 ‑ 29 ..
Windshield washer fluid level check. See
Windshield Washer Fluid on page 7 ‑ 39 .
Once a Month .
Tire inflation check. See Inflation - Tire Pressure
on page 7 ‑ 65 ..
Tire wear inspection. See Tire Inspection and
Rotation on page 7 ‑ 71 .
Once a Year .
Starter switch check. See Owner Checks and
Services on page 8 ‑ 8 ..
Parking brake and automatic transmission P (Park)
mechanism check. See Owner Checks and
Services on page 8 ‑ 8 . .
Automatic transmission shiftlock control system
check. See Owner Checks and Services on
page 8 ‑ 8 . .
Ignition transmission lock check. See Owner
Checks and Services on page 8 ‑ 8 . .
Engine cooling system and pressure cap pressure
check. Radiator and air conditioning condenser
outside cleaning. See Cooling System
on
page 7 ‑ 27 . .
Exhaust system and nearby heat shields
inspection for loose or damaged components. .
Accelerator pedal check for damage, high effort,
or binding. Replace if needed. .
Hood and liftgate support gas strut inspection for
signs of wear, corrosion, cracks, loss of lubricant,
or other damage. Check the hold open ability of
the gas strut. If necessary, replace with genuine
parts from your dealer.
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