Black plate (55,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-55As 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 10 ‑ 56 for
additional information.
Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) and
Industry Canada See Radio Frequency Statement on
page 13 ‑ 19 for information
regarding Part 15 of the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC)
rules and Industry Canada
Standards RSS-210/220/310.
Black plate (56,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
10-56 Vehicle Care
Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation If the vehicle is a hybrid, see
the hybrid supplement 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 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 cluster.
If the warning light comes on, stop
as soon as possible and inflate
the tires to the recommended
pressure shown on the tire loading
information label. See Vehicle Load
Limits on page 9 ‑ 24 .
A message to check the pressure in
a specific tire displays in the Driver
Information Center (DIC). 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.
For additional information and
details about the DIC operation
and displays see Driver Information
Center (DIC) on page 5 ‑ 26 and Tire
Messages on page 5 ‑ 39 .
The low tire pressure warning light
may come on in cool weather when
the vehicle is first started, and then
turn off as the vehicle is driven. This
could be an early indicator that the air pressure is getting low and
needs to be inflated to the proper
pressure.
A Tire and Loading Information
label shows the size of the original
equipment tires and the correct
inflation pressure for the tires when
they are cold. See Vehicle Load
Limits on page 9 ‑ 24 , for an example
of the Tire and Loading Information
label and its location. Also see Tire
Pressure on page 10 ‑ 52 .
The TPMS can warn about a
low tire pressure condition but
it does not replace normal tire
maintenance. See Tire Inspection
on page 10 ‑ 58 , Tire Rotation on
page 10 ‑ 59 and Tires on
page 10 ‑ 46 .
Notice: Tire sealant materials are
not all the same. A non-approved
tire sealant could damage the
TPMS sensors. TPMS sensor
damage caused by using an
incorrect tire sealant is not
Black plate (59,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-59Replace the tire if: .
The indicators at three or
more places around the tire
can be seen. .
There is cord or fabric
showing through the tire's
rubber. .
The tread or sidewall is
cracked, cut, or snagged
deep enough to show cord
or fabric. .
The tire has a bump, bulge,
or split. .
The tire has a puncture, cut,
or other damage that cannot
be repaired well because of
the size or location of the
damage. Tire Rotation Tires should be rotated every
12 000 km (7,500 miles). See
Scheduled Maintenance on
page 11 ‑ 2 .
The purpose of a regular tire
rotation is to achieve a uniform
wear for all tires on the vehicle.
This will ensure that the vehicle
continues to perform most like it
did when the tires were new.
Any time you notice unusual
wear, rotate the tires as soon
as possible and check wheel
alignment. Also check for
damaged tires or wheels. See
When It Is Time for New Tires
on page 10 ‑ 60 and Wheel
Replacement on page 10 ‑ 65 . When rotating the vehicle's tires,
always use the correct rotation
pattern shown here.
Do not include the spare tire in
the tire rotation.
After the tires have been
rotated, adjust the front and
rear inflation pressures as
shown on the Tire and Loading
Information label. See Tire
Pressure on page 10 ‑ 52 and
Vehicle Load Limits on
page 9 ‑ 24 .
Black plate (60,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
10-60 Vehicle Care Reset the Tire Pressure Monitor
System. See Tire Pressure
Monitor Operation on
page 10 ‑ 56 .
Make certain that all wheel nuts
are properly tightened. See
“ Wheel Nut Torque ” under
Capacities and Specifications on
page 12 ‑ 2 .
{ WARNINGRust or dirt on a wheel, or on the
parts to which it is fastened, can
make wheel nuts become loose
after time. The wheel could come
off and cause an accident. When
changing a wheel, remove any
rust or dirt from places where the
wheel attaches to the vehicle. In
an emergency, use a cloth or a
paper towel to do this; but be sure
to use a scraper or wire brush
later, if needed, to get all the rust
or dirt off. See If a Tire Goes Flat
on page 10 ‑ 66 . Lightly coat the center of the
wheel hub with wheel bearing
grease after a wheel change or
tire rotation to prevent corrosion
or rust build-up. Do not get
grease on the flat wheel
mounting surface or on the
wheel nuts or bolts.
When It Is Time for New
Tires Various factors, such as
maintenance, temperatures,
driving speeds, vehicle loading,
and road conditions influence
when you need new tires. One way to tell when it is time for
new tires is to check the treadwear
indicators, which appear when the
tires have only 1.6 mm (1/16 in)
or less of tread remaining. Some
commercial truck tires may not have
treadwear indicators. See Tire
Inspection on page 10 ‑ 58 and
Tire Rotation on page 10 ‑ 59 for
additional information.
The rubber in tires ages over time.
This is also true for the spare tire,
if the vehicle has one, even if it is
not being used. Multiple conditions
affect how fast this aging takes
place, including temperatures,
Black plate (61,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-61loading conditions, and inflation
pressure maintenance. Tires will
typically need to be replaced due to
wear before they may need to be
replaced due to age. Consult the tire
manufacturer for more information
on when tires should be replaced.
Vehicle Storage Tires age when stored normally
mounted on a parked vehicle. Park
a vehicle that will be stored for at
least a month in a cool, dry, clean
area away from direct sunlight to
slow aging. This area should be
free of grease, gasoline or other
substances that can deteriorate
rubber.
Parking for an extended period can
cause flat spots on the tires that
may result in vibrations while
driving. When storing a vehicle for
at least a month, remove the tires
or raise the vehicle to reduce the
weight from the tires. Buying New Tires GM has developed and matched
specific tires for the vehicle. The
original equipment tires installed
on the vehicle, when it was new,
were designed to meet General
Motors Tire Performance Criteria
Specification (TPC Spec) system
rating. If you need replacement
tires, GM strongly recommends that
you get tires with the same TPC
Spec rating. This way, the vehicle
will continue to have tires that
are designed to give the same
performance and vehicle safety,
during normal use, as the original
tires.
GM's exclusive TPC Spec system
considers over a dozen critical
specifications that impact the
overall performance of the
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 10 ‑ 48 for
additional information.
GM recommends replacing tires in
sets of four. This is because uniform
tread depth on all tires will help
keep the 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 the vehicle. See
Tire Inspection on page 10 ‑ 58 and
Tire Rotation on page 10 ‑ 59 for
information on proper tire rotation.
{ WARNING
Tires could explode during
improper service. Attempting to
mount or dismount a tire could
cause injury or death. Only your
dealer or authorized tire service
center should mount or dismount
the tires.
Black plate (67,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-67
{ WARNINGLifting 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 the vehicle is a hybrid, see the
hybrid supplement for more
information.
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire
and wheel damage by driving slowly
to a level place, well off the road,
if possible. Turn on the hazard
warning flashers. See Hazard
Warning Flashers on page 6 ‑ 8 .{ WARNINGChanging a tire can be
dangerous. The vehicle can
slip off the jack and roll over or
fall on you or other people. You
and they could be badly injured or
even killed. Find a level place to
change your tire. To help prevent
the vehicle from moving:
1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put an automatic
transmission shift lever in
P (Park), or shift a manual
transmission to 1 (First) or
R (Reverse).
3. Turn off the engine and do
not restart while the vehicle
is raised.
4. Do not allow passengers to
remain in the vehicle.
To be even more certain the
vehicle will not move, you should
put blocks at the front and rear of
(Continued) WARNING (Continued) the tire farthest away from the
one being changed. That would
be the tire on the other side, at
the opposite end of the vehicle.
When the vehicle has a flat tire (B),
use the following example as a
guide to assist you in the placement
of wheel blocks (A).
A. Wheel Block
B. Flat Tire
The following information explains
how to use the jack and change
a tire.
Black plate (93,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-93Notice: Driving the vehicle
through an automatic car wash
that has silicone carbide tire
cleaning brushes, could damage
the aluminum or chrome-plated
wheels. The repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Never drive a vehicle that has
aluminum or chrome-plated
wheels through an automatic car
wash that uses silicone carbide
tire cleaning brushes.
Tires To clean the tires, use a stiff brush
with tire cleaner.
Notice: Using petroleum-based
tire dressing products on the
vehicle may damage the paint
finish and/or tires. When applying
a tire dressing, always wipe off
any overspray from all painted
surfaces on the vehicle. Sheet Metal Damage If the vehicle is damaged and
requires sheet metal repair or
replacement, make sure the body
repair shop applies anti-corrosion
material to parts repaired or
replaced to restore corrosion
protection.
Original manufacturer replacement
parts will provide the corrosion
protection while maintaining the
vehicle warranty.
Finish Damage Any stone chips, fractures or deep
scratches in the finish should be
repaired right away. Bare metal will
corrode quickly and may develop
into major repair expense.
Minor chips and scratches can be
repaired with touch-up materials
available from your dealer. Larger
areas of finish damage can be
corrected in your dealer's body and
paint shop. Chemicals used for ice and snow
removal and dust control can collect
on the underbody. If these are not
removed, corrosion and rust can
develop on the underbody parts
such as fuel lines, frame, floor pan,
and exhaust system even though
they have corrosion protection.
At least every spring, flush these
materials from the underbody
with plain water. Clean any areas
where mud and debris can collect.
Dirt packed in close areas of the
frame should be loosened before
being flushed. Your dealer or an
underbody car washing system can
do this.
Underbody Maintenance Chemicals used for ice and snow
removal and dust control can collect
on the underbody. If these are not
removed, corrosion and rust can
develop on the underbody parts
such as fuel lines, frame, floor pan,
and exhaust system even though
they have corrosion protection.
Black plate (1,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
Service and Maintenance 11-1
Service and
Maintenance General Information General Information . . . . . . . . . . 11-1
Scheduled Maintenance Scheduled Maintenance . . . . . 11-2
Recommended Fluids,
Lubricants, and Parts Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-7
Maintenance Replacement
Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-9
Maintenance Records Maintenance Records . . . . . . 11-10 General Information Notice: Maintenance
intervals, checks, inspections,
recommended fluids, and
lubricants are necessary to
keep this vehicle in good working
condition. Damage caused by
failure to follow scheduled
maintenance might not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
As the vehicle owner, you are
responsible for the scheduled
maintenance in this section. We
recommend having your dealer
perform these services. Proper
vehicle maintenance helps to
keep the vehicle in good working
condition, improves fuel economy,
and reduces vehicle emissions for
better air quality. Because of all the different ways
people use vehicles, maintenance
needs vary. The vehicle might need
more frequent checks and services.
Please read the information under
Scheduled Maintenance. To keep
the vehicle in good condition, see
your dealer.
The maintenance schedule is for
vehicles that: .
Carry passengers and cargo
within recommended limits on
the Tire and Loading Information
label. See Vehicle Load Limits
on page 9 ‑ 24 . .
Are driven on reasonable road
surfaces within legal driving
limits. .
Are driven off-road in the
recommended manner. See
Off-Road Driving on page 9 ‑ 7 . .
Use the recommended fuel. See
Recommended Fuel on
page 9 ‑ 64 .