2010 CADILLAC ESCALADE brake light

SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM
This message displays along with the brake systemwarning light if there is a problem with the brakesystem. SeeBrake System Warning Lightonpage 4!33. If this message appears, stop as soon aspossible and turn off the vehicle. Restart the vehicleand check for the message on the DIC display. If themessage is still displayed or appears again when youbegin driving, the brake system needs service as soonas possible. See your dealer/retailer.
SERVICE BRAKES SOON
This message displays if there is a problem with thebrake system. If this message appears, stop as soon aspossible and turn off the vehicle. Restart the vehicleand check for the message on the DIC display. If themessage is still displayed or appears again when youbegin driving, the brake system needs service.See your dealer/retailer.
SERVICE LEFT HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY
On some models, this message will be displayed whenthe left headlamp is out and needs to be serviced. SeeLED Lightingon page 7!55for more information.
SERVICE PARKING ASSIST
This message displays if there is a problem with theUltrasonic Rear Parking Assist (URPA) system. Do notuse this system to help you park. SeeUltrasonic RearParking Assist (URPA)on page 3!46for moreinformation. See your dealer/retailer for service.
SERVICE RIGHT HEADLAMP
ASSEMBLY
On some models, this message will be displayed whenthe right headlamp is out and needs to be serviced.SeeLED Lightingon page 7!55for more information.
SERVICE SIDE BLIND ZONE ALERT
SYSTEM
If your vehicle has the Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA)system and this message displays, both SBZA displayswill remain on indicating there is a problem with theSBZA system. If these displays remain on aftercontinued driving, the system needs service. See yourdealer/retailer. SeeSide Blind Zone Alert (SBZA)onpage 3!48for more information.
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SIDE BLIND ZONE SYSTEM
UNAVAILABLE
If your vehicle has the Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA)system, this message displays when the SBZA systemis disabled because the sensor is blocked and cannotdetect vehicles in your blind zone. The sensor may beblocked by mud, dirt, snow, ice, or slush. This messagemay also display during heavy rain or due to road spray.It may also come on when driving in isolated areas withno guardrails, trees, or road signs and light traffic.Your vehicle does not need service. For cleaninginstructions, seeWashing Your Vehicleon page 7!102.SeeSide Blind Zone Alert (SBZA)on page 3!48formore information.
STABILITRAK OFF
If your vehicle has StabiliTrak, this message displayswhen you turn off StabiliTrak, or when the stabilitycontrol has been automatically disabled. To limit wheelspin and realize the full benefits of the stabilityenhancement system, you should normally leaveStabiliTrak on. However, you should turn StabiliTrak offif your vehicle gets stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow andyou want to rock your vehicle to attempt to free it, or if
you are driving in extreme off-road conditions andrequire more wheel spin. SeeIf Your Vehicle is Stuck inSand, Mud, Ice, or Snowon page 6!30. To turn theStabiliTrak system on or off, seeStabiliTrak®Systemo n p a g e 6!6.
There are several conditions that can cause thismessage to appear.
.One condition is overheating, which could occur ifStabiliTrak activates continuously for an extendedperiod of time.
.The message also displays if the brake systemwarning light is on. SeeBrake System WarningLight on page 4!33.
.The message could display if the stability systemtakes longer than usual to complete its diagnosticchecks due to driving conditions.
.The message displays if an engine or vehiclerelated problem has been detected and the vehicleneeds service. See your dealer/retailer.
The message turns off as soon as the conditions thatcaused the message to be displayed are no longerpresent.
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Braking
SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 4!33.
Braking action involves perception time and reactiontime. Deciding to push the brake pedal is perceptiontime. Actually doing it is reaction time.
Average reaction time is about three!fourths of asecond. But that is only an average. It might be lesswith one driver and as long as two or three seconds ormore with another. Age, physical condition, alertness,coordination, and eyesight all play a part. So do alcohol,drugs, and frustration. But even in three!fourths of asecond, a vehicle moving at 100 km/h (60 mph) travels20 m (66 feet). That could be a lot of distance in anemergency, so keeping enough space between thevehicle and others is important.
And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatlywith the surface of the road, whether it is pavement orgravel; the condition of the road, whether it is wet, dry,or icy; tire tread; the condition of the brakes; the weightof the vehicle; and the amount of brake force applied.
Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive inspurts, heavy acceleration followed by heavy braking,rather than keeping pace with traffic. This is a mistake.The brakes might not have time to cool between hardstops. The brakes will wear out much faster with a lotof heavy braking. Keeping pace with the traffic andallowing realistic following distances eliminates a lotof unnecessary braking. That means better brakingand longer brake life.
If the engine ever stops while the vehicle is beingdriven, brake normally but do not pump the brakes.If the brakes are pumped, the pedal could get harder topush down. If the engine stops, there will still be somepower brake assist but it will be used when the brake isapplied. Once the power assist is used up, it can takelonger to stop and the brake pedal will be harderto push.
Adding non!dealer/non!retailer accessories can affectvehicle performance. SeeAccessories andModifications on page 7!4.
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Antilock Brake System (ABS)
This vehicle has the Antilock Brake System (ABS), anadvanced electronic braking system that helps preventa braking skid.
When the engine is started and the vehicle begins todrive away, ABS checks itself. A momentary motor orclicking noise might be heard while this test is going on.This is normal.
If there is a problem withABS, this warning lightstays on. SeeAntilockBrake System (ABS)Warning Lightonpage 4!34.
Along with ABS, the vehicle has a Dynamic RearProportioning (DRP) system. If there is a DRP problem,both the brake and ABS warning lights come onaccompanied by a 10!second chime. The lights andchime will come on each time the ignition is turned onuntil the problem is repaired. See your dealer/retailerfor service.
Let us say the road is wet and you are driving safely.Suddenly, an animal jumps out in front of you. You slamon the brakes and continue braking. Here is whathappens with ABS:
A computer senses that the wheels are slowing down.If one of the wheels is about to stop rolling, thecomputer will separately work the brakes at each frontwheel and at both rear wheels.
ABS can change the brake pressure to each wheel, asrequired, faster than any driver could. This can help thedriver steer around the obstacle while braking hard.
As the brakes are applied, the computer keepsreceiving updates on wheel speed and controls brakingpressure accordingly.
Remember: ABS does not change the time needed toget a foot up to the brake pedal or always decreasestopping distance. If you get too close to the vehicle infront of you, there will not be enough time to apply thebrakes if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops. Alwaysleave enough room up ahead to stop, even with ABS.
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If the system fails to turn on or activate, the StabiliTraklight along with one of the following messages will bedisplayed on the Driver Information Center (DIC):TRACTION CONTROL OFF, SERVICE TRACTIONCONTROL, STABILITRAK OFF, SERVICESTABILITRAK. If these DIC messages appear, makesure the StabiliTrak system has not been turned offusing the StabiliTrak on/off button. Then turn thesteering wheel clockwise from the nine o'clock positionto the three o'clock position. If this clears themessage(s), the vehicle does not need servicing.If this does not clear the message(s), then turn thevehicle off, wait 15 seconds, and then turn it back onagain to reset the system. If any of these messagesstill appear on the Driver Information Center (DIC), thevehicle should be taken in for service. For moreinformation on the DIC messages, seeDriverInformation Center (DIC) on page 4!41.
The StabiliTrak light willflash on the instrumentpanel cluster when thesystem is both onand activated.
The system may be heard or felt while it is working; thisis normal.
The traction controldisable button is locatedon the instrument panelbelow the climatecontrols.
The traction control part of StabiliTrak can be turnedoff by pressing and releasing the StabiliTrak button ifboth systems (traction control and StabiliTrak) werepreviously on. To disable both traction control andStabiliTrak, press and hold the button for five seconds.
Traction control and StabiliTrak can be turned on bypressing and releasing the StabiliTrak button if notautomatically shut off for any other reason.
When the TCS or StabiliTrak system is turned off,the StabiliTrak light and the appropriate TCS off orStabiliTrak off message will be displayed on the DIC towarn the driver. The vehicle will still have brake-tractioncontrol when traction control is off, but will not be ableto use the engine speed management system. See“Traction Control Operation”next for more information.
When the traction control system has been turned off,system noises may still be heard as a result of thebrake-traction control coming on.
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It is recommended to leave the system on for normaldriving conditions, but it may be necessary to turn thesystem off if the vehicle is stuck in sand, mud, ice orsnow, and you want to“rock”the vehicle to attempt tofree it. It may also be necessary to turn off the systemwhen driving in extreme off-road conditions where highwheel spin is required. SeeIf Your Vehicle is Stuck inSand, Mud, Ice, or Snow on page 6!30.
Traction Control Operation
The traction control system is part of the StabiliTraksystem. Traction control limits wheel spin by reducingengine power to the wheels (engine speedmanagement) and by applying brakes to each individualwheel (brake-traction control) as necessary.
The traction control system is enabled automaticallywhen the vehicle is started. It will activate and theStabiliTrak light will flash if it senses that any of thewheels are spinning or beginning to lose tractionwhile driving. If traction control is turned off, only thebrake-traction control portion of traction control willwork. The engine speed management will be disabled.In this mode, engine power is not reduced automaticallyand the driven wheels can spin more freely. This cancause the brake-traction control to activate constantly.
Notice:If the wheel(s) of one axle is allowed to spinexcessively while the StabiliTrak, ABS and brakewarning lights and any relevant DIC messages aredisplayed, the transfer case could be damaged.The repairs would not be covered by the vehiclewarranty. Reduce engine power and do not spin thewheel(s) excessively while these lights andmessages are displayed.
The traction control system may activate on dry orrough roads or under conditions such as heavyacceleration while turning or abrupt upshifts/downshiftsof the transmission. When this happens, a reduction inacceleration may be noticed, or a noise or vibration maybe heard. This is normal.
If cruise control is being used when the systemactivates, the StabiliTrak light will flash and cruisecontrol will automatically disengage. Cruise control maybe reengaged when road conditions allow. SeeCruiseControl on page 4!8.
StabiliTrak may also turn off automatically if itdetermines that a problem exists with the system.If the problem does not clear itself after restarting thevehicle, see your dealer/retailer for service.
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{WARNING:
Heavy braking when going down a hill can cause
your brakes to overheat and fade. This could
cause loss of control and a serious accident.
Apply the brakes lightly when descending a
hill and use a low gear to keep vehicle speed
under control.
Things not to do when driving down a hill:
.When driving downhill, avoid turns that take youacross the incline of the hill. A hill that is not toosteep to drive down might be too steep to driveacross. The vehicle could roll over.
.Never go downhill with the transmission inN (Neutral), called free-wheeling. The brakes willhave to do all the work and could overheatand fade.
Vehicles are much more likely to stall when going uphill,but if it happens when going downhill:
1. Stop the vehicle by applying the regular brakesand apply the parking brake.
2. Shift to P (Park) and, while still braking, restartthe engine.
3. Shift back to a low gear, release the parking brake,and drive straight down.
4. If the engine will not start, get out and get help.
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.Slow down and keep more space between you andother vehicles because headlamps can only lightup so much road ahead.
.Watch for animals.
.When tired, pull off the road.
.Do not wear sunglasses.
.Avoid staring directly into approaching headlamps.
.Keep the windshield and all glass on your vehicleclean—inside and out.
.Keep your eyes moving, especially during turnsor curves.
No one can see as well at night as in the daytime.But, as we get older, these differences increase.A 50-year-old driver might need at least twice as muchlight to see the same thing at night as a 20-year-old.
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can reduce vehicle traction andaffect your ability to stop and accelerate. Always driveslower in these types of driving conditions and avoiddriving through large puddles and deep!standing orflowing water.
{WARNING:
Wet brakes can cause crashes. They might not
work as well in a quick stop and could cause
pulling to one side. You could lose control of
the vehicle.
After driving through a large puddle of water or a
car/vehicle wash, lightly apply the brake pedal
until the brakes work normally.
Flowing or rushing water creates strong forces.
Driving through flowing water could cause your
vehicle to be carried away. If this happens, you
and other vehicle occupants could drown. Do not
ignore police warnings and be very cautious about
trying to drive through flowing water.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. Water can build up underyour vehicle's tires so they actually ride on the water.This can happen if the road is wet enough and youare going fast enough. When your vehicle ishydroplaning, it has little or no contact with the road.
There is no hard and fast rule about hydroplaning.The best advice is to slow down when the road is wet.
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