2010 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESP

Steering
Power Steering
If the vehicle is a Two!mode Hybrid, see the Two!modeHybrid manual for more information.
If power steering assist is lost because the engine stopsor the system is not functioning, the vehicle can besteered but it will take more effort.
Steering Tips
It is important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
Traction in a curve depends on the condition of the tiresand the road surface, the angle at which the curve isbanked, and vehicle speed. While in a curve, speed isthe one factor that can be controlled.
If there is a need to reduce speed, do it before enteringthe curve, while the front wheels are straight.
Try to adjust the speed so you can drive through thecurve. Maintain a reasonable, steady speed. Wait toaccelerate until out of the curve, and then accelerategently into the straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
There are times when steering can be more effectivethan braking. For example, you come over a hill andfind a truck stopped in your lane, or a car suddenly pullsout from nowhere, or a child darts out from betweenparked cars and stops right in front of you. Theseproblems can be avoided by braking—if you can stopin time. But sometimes you cannot stop in time becausethere is no room. That is the time for evasiveaction—steering around the problem.
The vehicle can perform very well in emergencieslike these. First, apply the brakes. SeeBrakingonp a g e 6!4. It is better to remove as much speed aspossible from a collision. Then steer around theproblem, to the left or right depending on thespace available.
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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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.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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.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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{WARNING:
Snow can trap engine exhaust under the vehicle.
This may cause exhaust gases to get inside.
Engine exhaust contains carbon monoxide (CO)
which cannot be seen or smelled. It can cause
unconsciousness and even death.
If the vehicle is stuck in the snow:
.Clear away snow from around the base of
your vehicle, especially any that is blocking
the exhaust pipe.
.Check again from time to time to be sure
snow does not collect there.
.Open a window about 5 cm (two inches) on
the side of the vehicle that is away from the
wind to bring in fresh air.
.Fully open the air outlets on or under the
instrument panel.
.Adjust the Climate Control system to a setting
that circulates the air inside the vehicle and
set the fan speed to the highest setting.
See Climate Control System in the Index.
(Continued)
WARNING: (Continued)
For more information about carbon monoxide, see
Engine Exhaust on page 3!41.
Snow can trap exhaust gases under your vehicle.
This can cause deadly CO (carbon monoxide) gas
to get inside. CO could overcome you and kill you.
You cannot see it or smell it, so you might not
know it is in your vehicle. Clear away snow from
around the base of your vehicle, especially any
that is blocking the exhaust.
Run the engine for short periods only as needed tokeep warm, but be careful.
To save fuel, run the engine for only short periods asneeded to warm the vehicle and then shut the engineoff and close the window most of the way to save heat.Repeat this until help arrives but only when you feelreally uncomfortable from the cold. Moving about tokeep warm also helps.
If it takes some time for help to arrive, now and thenwhen you run the engine, push the accelerator pedalslightly so the engine runs faster than the idle speed.This keeps the battery charged to restart the vehicleand to signal for help with the headlamps. Do this aslittle as possible to save fuel.
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Trailer Brakes
A loaded trailer that weighs more than 2,000 lbs(900 kg) needs to have its own brake system that isadequate for the weight of the trailer. Be sure to readand follow the instructions for the trailer brakes so theyare installed, adjusted and maintained properly.
Since the vehicle is equipped with StabiliTrak®, thetrailer brakes cannot tap into the vehicle's hydraulicsystem.
Driving with a Trailer
{WARNING:
When towing a trailer, exhaust gases may collect
at the rear of the vehicle and enter if the liftgate,
trunk/hatch, or rear-most window is open.
Engine exhaust contains carbon monoxide (CO)
which cannot be seen or smelled. It can cause
unconsciousness and even death.
To maximize safety when towing a trailer:
.Have the exhaust system inspected for
leaks and make necessary repairs before
starting a trip.
(Continued)
WARNING: (Continued)
.Never drive with the liftgate, trunk/hatch,
or rear-most window open.
.Fully open the air outlets on or under the
instrument panel.
.Adjust the Climate Control system to a setting
that brings in only outside air and set the fan
speed to the highest setting. See Climate
Control System in the Index.
For more information about carbon monoxide, see
Engine Exhaust on page 3!41.
Towing a trailer requires a certain amount ofexperience. The combination you are driving is longerand not as responsive as the vehicle itself. Getacquainted with the handling and braking of the rigbefore setting out for the open road.
Before starting, check all trailer hitch parts andattachments, safety chains, electrical connectors,lamps, tires and mirrors. If the trailer has electricbrakes, start the combination moving and then applythe trailer brake controller by hand to be sure thebrakes work.
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