Black plate (90,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2010
Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle Q: Is there anything I might add to or change about
the vehicle that could keep the airbags from
working properly?
A: Yes. If you add things that change the vehicle's
frame, bumper system, height, front end or side
sheet metal, they may keep the airbag system from
working properly. Changing or moving any parts of
the front seats, safety belts, the airbag sensing and
diagnostic module, steering wheel, instrument panel,
roof-rail airbag modules, ceiling headliner or pillar
garnish trim, overhead console, front sensors, side
impact sensors, rollover sensor module, or airbag
wiring can affect the operation of the airbag system.
In addition, the vehicle may have a passenger
sensing system for the right front passenger
position, which includes sensors that are part of the
passenger seat. The passenger sensing system
may not operate properly if the original seat trim is
replaced with non-GM covers, upholstery or trim,
or with GM covers, upholstery or trim designed for a
different vehicle. Any object, such as an aftermarket
seat heater or a comfort enhancing pad or device,
installed under or on top of the seat fabric, could
also interfere with the operation of the passenger
sensing system. This could either prevent proper deployment of the
passenger airbag(s) or prevent the passenger
sensing system from properly turning off the
passenger airbag(s). See Passenger Sensing
System on page 2 ‑ 84 .
If you have any questions, call Customer
Assistance. The phone numbers and addresses for
Customer Assistance are in Step Two of the
Customer Satisfaction Procedure in this manual.
See Customer Satisfaction Procedure on page 9 ‑ 2 .
If the vehicle has rollover roof-rail airbags, see
Different Size Tires and Wheels on page 7 ‑ 75 for
additional important information.
Q: Because I have a disability, I have to get my
vehicle modified. How can I find out whether this
will affect my airbag system?
A: If you have questions, call Customer Assistance.
The phone numbers and addresses for Customer
Assistance are in Step Two of the Customer
Satisfaction Procedure in this manual. See
Customer Satisfaction Procedure on page 9 ‑ 2 .
In addition, your dealer and the service manual have
information about the location of the airbag sensors,
sensing and diagnostic module and airbag wiring.
2-90
Black plate (2,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2010
Section 7 Service and Appearance CareWindshield Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . 7-57
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-58
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-60
Tire Terminology and Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-62
Inflation - Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-65
High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-66
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-67
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-68
Tire Inspection and Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-71
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-73
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-73
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-75
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-76
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-77
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-77
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-78
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-79
Changing a Flat Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-80
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-81
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the
Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-86
Secondary Latch System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-91
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools . . . . . . . . . 7-94
Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-98 Appearance Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-99
Interior Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-99
Fabric/Carpet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-100
Leather . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-101
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Surfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-102
Wood Panels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-102
Speaker Covers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-102
Care of Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-103
Weatherstrips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-103
Washing Your Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-103
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-104
Finish Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-104
Windshield, Backglass, and Wiper Blades . . . . 7-105
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels
and Trim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-106
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-107
Sheet Metal Damage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-107
Finish Damage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-107
Underbody Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-107
Chemical Paint Spotting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-108
Vehicle Identification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-108
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) . . . . . . . . . . . 7-108
Service Parts Identification Label . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-109
7-2
Black plate (61,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2010
(G) Maximum Cold Inflation Load Limit :
Maximum load that can be carried and the
maximum pressure needed to support that load.
For information on recommended tire pressure
see Inflation - Tire Pressure
on page 7 ‑ 65 and
Loading the Vehicle
on page 6 ‑ 32 .
Tire Size The following examples show the different parts of
a tire size.
Passenger (P ‐ Metric) Tire
(A) Passenger (P ‐ Metric) Tire :
The United States
version of a metric tire sizing system. The letter P
as the first character in the tire size means a
passenger vehicle tire engineered to standards
set by the U.S. Tire and Rim Association. (B) Tire Width :
The three ‐ digit number indicates
the tire section width in millimeters from sidewall
to sidewall.
(C) Aspect Ratio :
A two ‐ digit number that
indicates the tire height ‐ to ‐ width measurements.
For example, if the tire size aspect ratio is 75, as
shown in item C of the light truck (LT ‐ Metric) tire
illustration, it would mean that the tire's sidewall is
75% as high as it is wide.
(D) Construction Code :
A letter code is used to
indicate the type of ply construction in the tire.
The letter R means radial ply construction; the
letter D means diagonal or bias ply construction;
and the letter B means belted ‐ bias ply
construction.
(E) Rim Diameter :
Diameter of the wheel in
inches.
(F) Service Description :
These characters
represent the load index and speed rating of the
tire. The load index represents the load carry
capacity a tire is certified to carry. The speed
rating is the maximum speed a tire is certified to
carry a load.
7-61
Black plate (67,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2010
Tire Pressure Monitor System The Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) uses radio
and sensor technology to check tire pressure levels.
The TPMS sensors monitor the air pressure in your
vehicle's tires and transmit tire pressure readings to a
receiver located in the vehicle.
Each tire, including the spare (if provided), should be
checked monthly when cold and inflated to the inflation
pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer
on the vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure label.
(If your vehicle has tires of a different size than the size
indicated on the vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure
label, you should determine the proper tire inflation
pressure for those tires.)
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has been
equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system
(TPMS) that illuminates a low tire pressure telltale when
one or more of your tires is significantly under ‐ inflated.
Accordingly, when the low tire pressure telltale
illuminates, you should stop and check your tires as
soon as possible, and inflate them to the proper
pressure. Driving on a significantly under ‐ inflated tire
causes the tire to overheat and can lead to tire failure.
Under ‐ inflation also reduces fuel efficiency and tire
tread life, and may affect the vehicle's handling and
stopping ability. Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute for proper
tire maintenance, and it is the driver's responsibility to
maintain correct tire pressure, even if under ‐ inflation
has not reached the level to trigger illumination of the
TPMS low tire pressure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a TPMS
malfunction indicator to indicate when the system is not
operating properly. The TPMS malfunction indicator is
combined with the low tire pressure telltale. When the
system detects a malfunction, the telltale will flash for
approximately one minute and then remain continuously
illuminated. This sequence will continue upon
subsequent vehicle start ‐ ups as long as the malfunction
exists.
When the malfunction indicator is illuminated, the
system may not be able to detect or signal low tire
pressure as intended. TPMS malfunctions may occur
for a variety of reasons, including the installation of
replacement or alternate tires or wheels on the vehicle
that prevent the TPMS from functioning properly.
Always check the TPMS malfunction telltale after
replacing one or more tires or wheels on your vehicle to
ensure that the replacement or alternate tires and
wheels allow the TPMS to continue to function properly.
See Tire Pressure Monitor Operation on page 7 ‑ 68 for
additional information.
7-67
Black plate (68,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2010
Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) and Industry Canada See Radio Frequency Statement on page 9 ‑ 21 for
information regarding Part 15 of the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) rules and Industry
Canada Standards RSS-210/220/310.
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation If your vehicle is a Two ‐ mode Hybrid, see the
Two ‐ mode Hybrid manual for more information.
This vehicle may have a Tire Pressure Monitor System
(TPMS). The TPMS is designed to warn the driver when
a low tire pressure condition exists. TPMS sensors are
mounted onto each tire and wheel assembly, excluding
the spare tire and wheel assembly. The TPMS sensors
monitor the air pressure in the vehicle's tires and
transmit the tire pressure readings to a receiver located
in the vehicle.
When a low tire pressure
condition is detected, the
TPMS illuminates the low
tire pressure warning light
located on the instrument
panel cluster. At the same time a message to check the pressure in a
specific tire appears on the Driver Information Center
(DIC) display. The low tire pressure warning light and
the DIC warning message come on at each ignition
cycle until the tires are inflated to the correct inflation
pressure. Using the DIC, tire pressure levels can be
viewed by the driver. For additional information and
details about the DIC operation and displays see DIC
Operation and Displays
on page 4 ‑ 42 and DIC
Warnings and Messages on page 4 ‑ 49 .
The low tire pressure warning light may come on in cool
weather when the vehicle is first started, and then turn
off as you start to drive. This could be an early indicator
that the air pressure in the tire(s) are getting low and
need to be inflated to the proper pressure.
A Tire and Loading Information label, attached to your
vehicle, shows the size of your vehicle's original
equipment tires and the correct inflation pressure for
your vehicle's tires when they are cold. See Loading the
Vehicle
on page 6 ‑ 32 , for an example of the Tire and
Loading Information label and its location on your
vehicle. Also see Inflation - Tire Pressure on page 7 ‑ 65 .
Your vehicle's TPMS can warn you about a low tire
pressure condition but it does not replace normal tire
maintenance. See Tire Inspection and Rotation
on
page 7 ‑ 71 and Tires on page 7 ‑ 58 .
7-68
Black plate (74,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2010
GM's exclusive TPC Spec system considers over a
dozen critical specifications that impact the overall
performance of your vehicle, including brake system
performance, ride and handling, traction control, and tire
pressure monitoring performance. GM's TPC Spec
number is molded onto the tire's sidewall near the tire
size. If the tires have an all ‐ season tread design, the
TPC spec number will be followed by an MS for mud
and snow. See Tire Sidewall Labeling
on page 7 ‑ 60 for
additional information.
GM recommends replacing tires in sets of four. This is
because uniform tread depth on all tires will help keep
your vehicle performing most like it did when the tires
were new. Replacing less than a full set of tires can
affect the braking and handling performance of your
vehicle. See Tire Inspection and Rotation on page 7 ‑ 71
for information on proper tire rotation.
{ WARNING: Mixing tires could cause you to lose control while
driving. If you mix tires of different sizes, brands,
or types (radial and bias-belted tires), the vehicle
might not handle properly, and you could have a
crash. Using tires of different sizes, brands,
or types could also cause damage to your vehicle.
Be sure to use the same size, brand, and type of
tires on all wheels.
Your vehicle may have a different size spare than
the road tires (those originally installed on your
vehicle). When new, your vehicle included a spare
tire and wheel assembly with a similar overall
diameter as your vehicle's road tires and wheels,
so it is all right to drive on it. Because this spare
was developed for use on your vehicle, it will not
affect vehicle handling.
7-74
Black plate (75,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2010
{ WARNING: If you use bias-ply tires on the vehicle, the
wheel rim flanges could develop cracks after
many miles of driving. A tire and/or wheel
could fail suddenly, causing a crash. Use
only radial-ply tires with the wheels on the
vehicle.If you must replace your vehicle's tires with those
that do not have a TPC Spec number, make sure
they are the same size, load range, speed rating,
and construction type (radial and bias ‐ belted tires) as
your vehicle's original tires.
Vehicles that have a tire pressure monitoring system
may give an inaccurate low ‐ pressure warning if
non ‐ TPC spec rated tires are installed on your vehicle.
Non ‐ TPC Spec rated tires may give a low ‐ pressure
warning that is higher or lower than the proper warning
level you would get with TPC Spec rated tires. See Tire
Pressure Monitor System on page 7 ‑ 67 .
Your vehicle's original equipment tires are listed on the
Tire and Loading Information Label. See Loading the
Vehicle on page 6 ‑ 32 , for more information about the
Tire and Loading Information Label and its location on
your vehicle. Different Size Tires and Wheels If you add wheels or tires that are a different size than
your original equipment wheels and tires, this could
affect the way your vehicle performs, including its
braking, ride and handling characteristics, stability, and
resistance to rollover. Additionally, if your vehicle has
electronic systems such as anti ‐ lock brakes, rollover
airbags, traction control, and electronic stability control,
the performance of these systems can be affected.
{ WARNING: If you add different sized wheels, your vehicle
may not provide an acceptable level of
performance and safety if tires not recommended
for those wheels are selected. You may increase
the chance that you will crash and suffer serious
injury. Only use GM specific wheel and tire
systems developed for your vehicle, and have
them properly installed by a GM certified
technician.
See Buying New Tires
on page 7 ‑ 73 and Accessories
and Modifications on page 7 ‑ 4 for additional
information.
7-75
Black plate (79,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2010
WARNING: (Continued) vehicle and tire size combination and road
conditions. Follow that manufacturer's
instructions. To help avoid damage to the vehicle,
drive slowly, re ‐ adjust or remove the device if it is
contacting the vehicle, and do not spin the
wheels. If you do find traction devices that will fit,
install them on the rear tires.
If a Tire Goes Flat It is unusual for a tire to blowout while you are driving,
especially if you maintain your vehicle's tires properly.
If air goes out of a tire, it is much more likely to leak out
slowly. But if you should ever have a blowout, here are
a few tips about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire creates a drag that pulls
the vehicle toward that side. Take your foot off the
accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel firmly.
Steer to maintain lane position, and then gently brake to
a stop well out of the traffic lane. A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a
skid and may require the same correction you would
use in a skid. In any rear blowout remove your foot from
the accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control by
steering the way you want the vehicle to go. It may be
very bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently
brake to a stop, well off the road if possible.
{ WARNING: Lifting a vehicle and getting under it to do
maintenance or repairs is dangerous without the
appropriate safety equipment and training. If a
jack is provided with the vehicle, it is designed
only for changing a flat tire. If it is used for
anything else, you or others could be badly
injured or killed if the vehicle slips off the jack. If a
jack is provided with the vehicle, only use it for
changing a flat tire.
If a tire goes flat, the next part shows how to use the
jacking equipment to change a flat tire safely.
7-79