2010 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT tires

2010 Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner ManualM
Service and Appearance Care. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-4
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-6
Checking Things Under the Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-12
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-47
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-48
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-49
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-50
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-53
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . 7-56
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-57
Appearance Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-96 Vehicle Identification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-104
Electrical System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-104
Capacities and Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-112
Maintenance Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1
Maintenance Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-2
Customer Assistance Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-1
Customer Assistance and Information . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Reporting Safety Defects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-16
Vehicle Data Recording and Privacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-18
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i-1

Performance and Maintenance
StabiliTrak®
The vehicle may have a traction control system that
limits wheel spin and the StabiliTrak system that assists
with directional control of the vehicle in difficult driving
conditions. Both systems turn on automatically every
time the vehicle is started.
.To turn off traction control, press and release5on
the instrument panel.
Filluminates and the
appropriate DIC message displays. See DIC
Warnings and Messages on page 4‑48.
.To turn off both traction control and Electronic
Stability Control, press and hold
5untilF
illuminates and the appropriate DIC message
displays. See DIC Warnings and Messageson
page 4‑48.
.Press and release the button again to turn on both
systems.
For more information, see StabiliTrak
®Systemon
page 6‑6.
Tire Pressure Monitor
This vehicle may have a Tire Pressure Monitor
System (TPMS).
The Tire Pressure Monitor
alerts you when a
significant reduction in
pressure occurs in one or
more of the vehicle’s tires
by illuminating the low tire
pressure warning light on
the instrument cluster.
The warning light will remain on until the tire pressure is
corrected. The proper tire pressures for your vehicle are
listed on the Tire and Loading Information label located
on the driver side center pillar (B pillar). See Loading
the Vehicle
on page 6‑32.
1-23

You may notice during cooler conditions that the low tire
pressure warning light will appear when the vehicle is
first started and then turn off as you drive. This may be
an early indicator that your tire pressures are getting
low and the tires need to be inflated to the proper
pressure.
Note:The Tire Pressure Monitor can alert you about
low tire pressure, but it does not replace normal monthly
tire maintenance. It is the driver ’s responsibility to
maintain correct tire pressures.
See Tire Pressure Monitor System
on page 7‑66and
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation on page 7‑67.
Engine Oil Life System
The engine oil life system calculates engine oil life
based on vehicle use and displays a DIC message
when it is necessary to change the engine oil and filter.
The oil life system should be reset to 100% only
following an oil change.
Resetting the Oil Life System
1. Display the OIL LIFE REMAINING on the DIC.
2. Press and hold the SET/RESET button on the DIC for more than five seconds. The oil life will change
to 100%.
See Engine Oil Life System on page 7‑18.
Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol)
This vehicle has a yellow fuel cap and can use either
unleaded gasoline or ethanol fuel containing up to 85%
ethanol (E85). See Gasoline Octane
on page 7‑7and
Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol) on page 7‑8.
Driving for Better Fuel Economy
Driving habits can affect fuel mileage. Here are some
driving tips to get the best fuel economy possible.
.Avoid fast starts and accelerate smoothly.
.Brake gradually and avoid abrupt stops.
.Avoid idling the engine for long periods of time.
.When road and weather conditions are
appropriate, use cruise control, if equipped.
.Always follow posted speed limits or drive more
slowly when conditions require.
.Keep vehicle tires properly inflated.
.Combine several trips into a single trip.
.Replace the vehicle's tires with the same TPC
Spec number molded into the tire's sidewall near
the size.
.Follow recommended scheduled maintenance.
1-24

Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Q: Is there anything I might add to or change aboutthe 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 2‑60.
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 7‑74for
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/retailer and the service manual
have information about the location of the airbag
sensors, sensing and diagnostic module and airbag
wiring.
2-65

D (Drive) :This position is for normal driving. It provides
the best fuel economy. If you need more power for
passing, and you are:
.Going less than about 35 mph (55 km/h), push the
accelerator pedal about halfway down.
.Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push the
accelerator all the way down.
By doing this, the vehicle shifts down to the next gear
and has more power.
D (Drive) can be used when towing a trailer, carrying a
heavy load, driving on steep hills, or for off-road driving.
You may want to shift the transmission to a lower gear
selection if the transmission shifts too often.
Downshifting the transmission in slippery road
conditions could result in skidding, see Skidding under
Loss of Control on page 6‑12.
M (Manual Mode) : This position lets drivers select
the range of gears appropriate for current driving
conditions. See Driver Shift Control (DSC) later in this
section.
Notice: Spinning the tires or holding the vehicle in
one place on a hill using only the accelerator pedal
may damage the transmission. The repair will not be
covered by the vehicle warranty. If you are stuck, do
not spin the tires. When stopping on a hill, use the
brakes to hold the vehicle in place. The vehicle has a shift stabilization feature that
adjusts the transmission shifting to the current driving
conditions in order to reduce rapid upshifts and
downshifts. This shift stabilization feature is designed to
determine, before making an upshift, if the engine will
be able to maintain vehicle speed by analyzing things
such as vehicle speed, throttle position and vehicle
load. If the shift stabilization feature determines that a
current vehicle speed cannot be maintained, the
transmission does not upshift and instead holds the
current gear. In some cases, this may appear to be a
delayed shift, however the transmission is operating
normally.
The vehicle's transmission uses adaptive shift controls
that compares key shift parameters to pre-programmed
ideal shifts stored in the transmissions computer. The
transmission constantly makes adjustments to improve
vehicle performance according to how the vehicle is
being used, such as with a heavy load or when
temperature changes. During this adaptive shift controls
process, shifting may feel different as the transmission
determines the best settings.
When temperatures are very cold, the Hydra-Matic
®
6L80 automatic transmission's gear shifting may be
delayed providing more stable shifts until the engine
warms up. Shifts may be more noticeable with a cold
transmission. This difference in shifting is normal.
3-37

Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
This gage shows the
engine coolant
temperature.
If the indicator on the gage moves towards the shaded
area on the thermostat, it means that the engine coolant
has overheated. If the vehicle has been operating under
normal driving conditions, pull off the road, stop the
vehicle and turn off the engine as soon as possible.
See Engine Overheating on page 7‑33.
Tire Pressure Light
For vehicles with a tire
pressure monitoring
system, this light comes
on briefly when the engine
is started. It provides
information about tire
pressures and the Tire
Pressure Monitoring
System.
When the Light is On Steady
This indicates that one or more of the tires is
significantly underinflated.
A tire pressure message in the Driver Information
Center (DIC), can accompany the light. See Driver
Information Center (DIC)
on page 4‑39for more
information. Stop and check the tires as soon as it is
safe to do so. If underinflated, inflate to the proper
pressure. See Inflation - Tire Pressure
on page 7‑64for more information.
4-33

When the Light Flashes First and Then is
On Steady
This indicates that there may be a problem with the Tire
Pressure Monitor System. The light flashes for about a
minute and stays on steady for the remainder of the
ignition cycle. This sequence repeats with every ignition
cycle. SeeTire Pressure Monitor Operation
on
page 7‑67for more information.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
Check Engine Light
A computer system called OBD II (On-Board
Diagnostics-Second Generation) monitors operation of
the fuel, ignition, and emission control systems.
It ensures that emissions are at acceptable levels for
the life of the vehicle, helping to produce a cleaner
environment.
This light should come
on when the ignition is
on, but the engine is not
running, as a check to
show it is working. If it
does not, have the vehicle
serviced by your dealer/
retailer. If the check engine light comes on and stays on, while
the engine is running, this indicates that there is an
OBD II problem and service is required.
Malfunctions often are indicated by the system before
any problem is apparent. Being aware of the light can
prevent more serious damage to the vehicle. This
system assists the service technician in correctly
diagnosing any malfunction.
Notice:
If the vehicle is continually driven with this
light on, after a while, the emission controls might
not work as well, the vehicle's fuel economy might
not be as good, and the engine might not run as
smoothly. This could lead to costly repairs that
might not be covered by the vehicle warranty.
Notice: Modifications made to the engine,
transmission, exhaust, intake, or fuel system of
the vehicle or the replacement of the original tires
with other than those of the same Tire Performance
Criteria (TPC) can affect the vehicle's emission
controls and can cause this light to come on.
Modifications to these systems could lead to costly
repairs not covered by the vehicle warranty. This
could also result in a failure to pass a required
Emission Inspection/Maintenance test. See
Accessories and Modifications on page 7‑4.
4-34

Tire Pressure
On vehicles with the Tire Pressure Monitor System
(TPMS), the pressure for each tire can be viewed in the
DIC. The tire pressure will be shown in either pounds
per square inch (psi) or kilopascals (kPa). Press the
vehicle information button until the DIC displays FRONT
TIRES PSI (kPa) LEFT ## RIGHT ##. Press the vehicle
information button again until the DIC displays REAR
TIRES PSI (kPa) LEFT ## RIGHT ##.
If a low tire pressure condition is detected by the
system while driving, a message advising you to add
air in a specific tire will appear in the display. See
Inflation - Tire Pressure
on page 7‑64andDIC
Warnings and Messageson page 4‑48for more
information.
If the tire pressure display shows dashes instead of a
value, there may be a problem with your vehicle. If this
consistently occurs, see your dealer/retailer for service.
Battery Voltage
This display shows the current battery voltage. If the
voltage is in the normal range, the value will display.
For example, the display may read BATTERY
VOLTAGE 13.2 VOLTS. If the voltage is low, the display
will show LOW. If the voltage is high, the display will
show HIGH. Your vehicle's charging system regulates
voltage based on the state of the battery. The battery
voltage may fluctuate when viewing this information on
the DIC. This is normal. See Charging System Light
on
page 4‑30for more information. If there is a problem
with the battery charging system, the DIC will display a
message. See DIC Warnings and Messages
on
page 4‑48.
Oil Pressure
This display will show the oil pressure in either pounds
per square inch (psi) or kilopascals (kPa)
4-44