2010 CADILLAC ESCALADE Owners Manual

An emergency like this requires close attention and aquick decision. If holding the steering wheel at therecommended 9 and 3 o'clock positions, it can beturned a full 180 degrees very quickly without removingeither hand. But you have to act fast, steer quickly, andjust as quickly straighten the wheel once you haveavoided the object.
The fact that such emergency situations are alwayspossible is a good reason to practice defensive drivingat all times and wear safety belts properly.
Off-Road Recovery
The vehicle's right wheels can drop off the edge of aroad onto the shoulder while driving.
If the level of the shoulder is only slightly below thepavement, recovery should be fairly easy. Ease off theaccelerator and then, if there is nothing in the way, steerso that the vehicle straddles the edge of the pavement.Turn the steering wheel 8 to 13 cm (3 to 5 inches),about one-eighth turn, until the right front tire contactsthe pavement edge. Then turn the steering wheel to gostraight down the roadway.
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Passing
Passing another vehicle on a two-lane road can bedangerous. To reduce the risk of danger while passing:
.Look down the road, to the sides, and tocrossroads for situations that might affect asuccessful pass. If in doubt, wait.
.Watch for traffic signs, pavement markings, andlines that could indicate a turn or an intersection.Never cross a solid or double!solid line on yourside of the lane.
.Do not get too close to the vehicle you wantto 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 whathappens when the three control systems—brakes,steering, and acceleration—do not have enoughfriction where the tires meet the road to do what thedriver has asked.
In any emergency, do not give up. Keep trying tosteer and constantly seek an escape route or areaof less danger.
Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle.Defensive drivers avoid most skids by takingreasonable care suited to existing conditions, andby not overdriving those conditions. But skids arealways possible.
The three types of skids correspond to the vehicle'sthree control systems. In the braking skid, the wheelsare not rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, toomuch speed or steering in a curve causes tires to slipand lose cornering force. And in the acceleration skid,too much throttle causes the driving wheels to spin.
Remember: Any traction control system helps avoidonly the acceleration skid. If the traction control systemis off, then an acceleration skid is best handled byeasing your foot off the accelerator pedal.
If the vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off theaccelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you wantthe vehicle to go. If you start steering quickly enough,the vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready for asecond skid if it occurs.
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice,gravel, or other material is on the road. For safety, slowdown and adjust your driving to these conditions. It isimportant to slow down on slippery surfaces becausestopping distance will be longer and vehicle controlmore limited.
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While driving on a surface with reduced traction, tryyour best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration,or braking, including reducing vehicle speed by shiftingto a lower gear. Any sudden changes could cause thetires to slide. You may not realize the surface is slipperyuntil the vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warningclues—such as enough water, ice, or packed snow onthe road to make a mirrored surface—and slow downwhen you have any doubt.
Remember: Antilock brakes help avoid only thebraking skid.
Off-Road Driving
Vehicles with all!wheel drive can be used for off!roaddriving. Vehicles without all!wheel drive and vehicleswith 22!inch tire/wheel assemblies should not be drivenoff-road except on a level, solid surface.
Many of the vehicle design features that help make thevehicle more responsive on paved roads during poorweather conditions also help make it better suited foroff!road use than conventional passenger vehicles.The vehicle does not have features usually thought tobe necessary for extended or severe off!road use suchas special underbody shielding and transfer case lowgear range.
The airbag system is designed to work properly under awide range of conditions, including off!road usage.Always wear your safety belt and observe safe drivingspeeds, especially on rough terrain.
Drinking and driving can be very dangerous on anyroad and this is certainly true for off-road driving.At the very time you need special alertness and drivingskills, your reflexes, perceptions, and judgment can beaffected by even a small amount of alcohol. You couldhave a serious—or even fatal—accident if you drinkand drive or ride with a driver who has been drinking.
Off-roading can be great fun but has some definitehazards. The greatest of these is the terrain itself. Whenoff-road driving, traffic lanes are not marked, curves arenot banked, and there are no road signs. Surfaces canbe slippery, rough, uphill, or downhill.
Avoid sharp turns and abrupt maneuvers. Failure tooperate the vehicle correctly off!road could result in lossof vehicle control or vehicle rollover.
Off-roading involves some new skills. That is why it isvery important that you read these driving tips andsuggestions to help make off-road driving safer andmore enjoyable.
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Before You Go Off-Roading
.Have all necessary maintenance and servicework done.
.Make sure there is enough fuel, that fluid levels arewhere they should be, and that the spare tire, if thevehicle has one, is fully inflated.
.Be sure to read all the information aboutall-wheel-drive vehicles in this manual.
.Make sure all underbody shields, if the vehicle hasthem, are properly attached.
.Know the local laws that apply to off-roading whereyou will be driving or check with law enforcementpeople in the area.
.Be sure to get the necessary permission if you willbe on private land.
If you think you will need some more ground clearanceat the front of your vehicle, you can remove the frontfascia lower air dam. The air dam is held in place bytwo bolts and 10 snaps accessible from underneaththe front fascia.
To remove the air dam:
1. Remove the two outboard air dam bolts.
2. With a flat!blade tool, disengage the snaps.
3. After the bolts are removed and the snaps aredisengaged, push forward on the air dam untilit is free.
Notice:Operating your vehicle for extended periodswithout the front fascia lower air dam installed cancause improper air flow to the engine. Always besure to replace the front fascia air dam when youare finished off-road driving.
After off-roading, be sure to reinstall the air dam:
1. Line up the snaps and push the air dam rearwardto engage the snaps.
2. Install the two outboard bolts.
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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 abouthow to load your vehicle.
.The heaviest things should be on the floor, forwardof the rear axle. Put heavier items as far forwardas you can.
.Be sure the load is properly secured, so things arenot tossed around.
You will find other important information underLoadingthe Vehicleon page 6!32andTires on page 7!58.
Environmental Concerns
Off-road driving can provide wholesome and satisfyingrecreation. However, it also raises environmentalconcerns. We recognize these concerns and urgeevery off-roader to follow these basic rules forprotecting the environment:
.Always use established trails, roads, and areasthat have been specially set aside for publicoff-road recreational driving and obey allposted regulations.
.Avoid any driving practice that could damageshrubs, flowers, trees, or grasses or disturbwildlife. This includes wheel-spinning, breakingdown trees, or unnecessary driving throughstreams or over soft ground.
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.Always carry a litter bag and make sure all refuseis removed from any campsite before leaving.
.Take extreme care with open fires (wherepermitted), camp stoves, and lanterns.
.Never park your vehicle over dry grass or othercombustible materials that could catch fire from theheat of the vehicle's exhaust system.
Traveling to Remote Areas
It makes sense to plan your trip, especially when goingto a remote area. Know the terrain and plan your route.Get accurate maps of trails and terrain. Check to see ifthere are any blocked or closed roads.
It is also a good idea to travel with at least one othervehicle in case something happens to one of them.
For vehicles with a winch, be sure to read the winchinstructions. In a remote area, a winch can be handyif you get stuck but you will want to know how to useit properly.
Getting Familiar with Off-Road Driving
It is a good idea to practice in an area that is safe andclose to home before you go into the wilderness.Off-roading requires some new and different skills.
Tune your senses to different kinds of signals.Your eyes need to constantly sweep the terrain forunexpected obstacles. Your ears need to listen forunusual tire or engine sounds. Use your arms, hands,feet, and body to respond to vibrations and vehiclebounce.
Controlling the vehicle is the key to successful off-roaddriving. One of the best ways to control the vehicle is tocontrol the speed. At higher speeds:
.You approach things faster and have less timeto react.
.There is less time to scan the terrain for obstacles.
.The vehicle has more bounce when driving overobstacles.
.More braking distance is needed, especially on anunpaved surface.
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{WARNING:
When you are driving off-road, bouncing and
quick changes in direction can easily throw you
out of position. This could cause you to lose
control and crash. So, whether you are driving on
or off the road, you and your passengers should
wear safety belts.
Scanning the Terrain
Off-road driving can take you over many different kindsof terrain. Be familiar with the terrain and its manydifferent features.
Surface Conditions :Off-roading surfaces can behard-packed dirt, gravel, rocks, grass, sand, mud, snow,or ice. Each of these surfaces affects the vehicle'ssteering, acceleration, and braking in different ways.Depending on the surface, slipping, sliding, wheelspinning, delayed acceleration, poor traction, andlonger braking distances can occur.
Surface Obstacles :Unseen or hidden obstacles canbe hazardous. A rock, log, hole, rut, or bump can startleyou if you are not prepared for them. Often theseobstacles are hidden by grass, bushes, snow, or eventhe rise and fall of the terrain itself.
Some things to consider:
.Is the path ahead clear?
.Will the surface texture change abruptly up ahead?
.Does the travel take you uphill or downhill?
.Will you have to stop suddenly or change directionquickly?
When driving over obstacles or rough terrain, keep afirm grip on the steering wheel. Ruts, troughs, or othersurface features can jerk the wheel out of your hands.
When driving over bumps, rocks, or other obstacles, thewheels can leave the ground. If this happens, even withone or two wheels, you cannot control the vehicle aswell or at all.
Because you will be on an unpaved surface, it isespecially important to avoid sudden acceleration,sudden turns, or sudden braking.
Off-roading requires a different kind of alertness fromdriving on paved roads and highways. There are noroad signs, posted speed limits, or signal lights. Usegood judgment about what is safe and what is not.
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Driving on Hills
Off-road driving often takes you up, down, or across ahill. Driving safely on hills requires good judgment andan understanding of what the vehicle can and cannotdo. There are some hills that simply cannot be driven,no matter how well built the vehicle.
{WARNING:
Many hills are simply too steep for any vehicle.
If you drive up them, you will stall. If you drive
down them, you cannot control your speed. If you
drive across them, you will roll over. You could be
seriously injured or killed. If you have any doubt
about the steepness, do not drive the hill.
Approaching a Hill
When you approach a hill, decide if it is too steep toclimb, descend, or cross. Steepness can be hard tojudge. On a very small hill, for example, there may be asmooth, constant incline with only a small change in
elevation where you can easily see all the way to thetop. On a large hill, the incline may get steeper as younear the top, but you might not see this because thecrest of the hill is hidden by bushes, grass, or shrubs.
Consider this as you approach a hill:
.Is there a constant incline, or does the hill getsharply steeper in places?
.Is there good traction on the hillside, or will thesurface cause tire slipping?
.Is there a straight path up or down the hill so youwill not have to make turning maneuvers?
.Are there obstructions on the hill that can blockyour path, such as boulders, trees, logs, or ruts?
.What is beyond the hill? Is there a cliff, anembankment, a drop-off, a fence? Get out andwalk the hill if you do not know. It is the smart wayto find out.
.Is the hill simply too rough? Steep hills often haveruts, gullies, troughs, and exposed rocks becausethey are more susceptible to the effects of erosion.
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