Black plate (8,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
9-8 Driving and Operating Off-roading involves some new
skills. That is why it is very
important that you read these
driving tips and suggestions to
help make off-road driving safer
and more enjoyable.
Before You Go Off-Roading .
Have all necessary maintenance
and service work done. .
Make sure there is enough fuel,
that fluid levels are where they
should be, and that the spare
tire, if the vehicle has one, is
fully inflated. .
Be sure to read all the
information about all-wheel-drive
vehicles in this manual. .
Make sure all underbody
shields, if the vehicle has
them, are properly attached. .
Know the local laws that apply
to off-roading where you will
be driving or check with law
enforcement people in the area. .
Be sure to get the necessary
permission if you will be on
private land.
If you think you will need some
more ground clearance at the front
of your vehicle, you can remove the
front fascia lower air dam. The air
dam is held in place by two bolts
and 10 snaps accessible from
underneath the 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 are disengaged, push
forward on the air dam until it
is free.
Notice: Operating your vehicle
for extended periods without
the front fascia lower air dam
installed can cause improper air
flow to the engine. Always be
sure to replace the front fascia air
dam when you are finished
off-road driving.
After off-roading, be sure to reinstall
the air dam:
1. Line up the snaps and push the
air dam rearward to engage the
snaps.
2. Install the two outboard bolts.
Black plate (2,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
10-2 Vehicle Care When It Is Time for New
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-60
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . 10-61
Different Size Tires and
Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-62
Uniform Tire Quality
Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-63
Wheel Alignment and Tire
Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-65
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . 10-65
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-66
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . 10-66
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-68
Secondary Latch System . . . 10-79
Full-Size Spare Tire . . . . . . . . 10-81
Jump Starting Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-82
Towing Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . 10-87
Recreational Vehicle
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-87
Appearance Care Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-90
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-94
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-98 General Information For service and parts needs, visit
your dealer. You will receive
genuine GM parts and GM-trained
and supported service people.
Genuine GM parts have one of
these marks:
California
Proposition 65 Warning Most motor vehicles, including this
one, contain and/or emit chemicals
known to the State of California to
cause cancer and birth defects or
other reproductive harm. Engine
exhaust, many parts and systems,
many fluids, and some component
wear by-products contain and/or
emit these chemicals.
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 (57,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-57covered by the vehicle
warranty. Always use only
the GM-approved tire sealant
available through your dealer
or included in the vehicle.
TPMS Malfunction Light and
Message The TPMS will not function properly
if one or more of the TPMS sensors
are missing or inoperable. When the
system detects a malfunction, the
low tire warning light flashes for
about one minute and then stays
on for the remainder of the ignition
cycle. A DIC warning message also
displays. The malfunction light and
DIC warning message come on at
each ignition cycle until the problem
is corrected. Some of the conditions
that can cause these to come
on are: .
One of the road tires has been
replaced with the spare tire.
The spare tire does not have a
TPMS sensor. The malfunction
light and DIC message should
go off after the road tire is replaced and the sensor
matching process is performed
successfully. See "TPMS Sensor
Matching Process" later in this
section. .
The TPMS sensor matching
process was not done or
not completed successfully
after rotating the tires. The
malfunction light and the DIC
message should go off after
successfully completing the
sensor matching process.
See "TPMS Sensor Matching
Process" later in this section. .
One or more TPMS sensors
are missing or damaged. The
malfunction light and the DIC
message should go off when the
TPMS sensors are installed and
the sensor matching process is
performed successfully. See
your dealer for service. .
Replacement tires or wheels do
not match the original equipment
tires or wheels. Tires and wheels
other than those recommended could prevent the TPMS from
functioning properly. See Buying
New Tires on page 10 ‑ 61 . .
Operating electronic devices or
being near facilities using radio
wave frequencies similar to the
TPMS could cause the TPMS
sensors to malfunction.
If the TPMS is not functioning
properly, it cannot detect or signal a
low tire condition. See your dealer
for service if the TPMS malfunction
light and DIC message comes on
and stays on.
TPMS Sensor Matching
Process Each TPMS sensor has a unique
identification code. The identification
code needs to be matched to a new
tire/wheel position after rotating the
vehicle ’ s tires or replacing one or
more of the TPMS sensors. The
TPMS sensor matching process
should also be performed after
replacing a spare tire with a road
tire containing the TPMS sensor.
Black plate (58,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
10-58 Vehicle Care The malfunction light and the DIC
message should go off at the next
ignition cycle. The sensors are
matched to the tire/wheel positions,
using a TPMS relearn tool, in the
following order: driver side front tire,
passenger side front tire, passenger
side rear tire, and driver side rear.
See your dealer for service or to
purchase a relearn tool.
There are two minutes to match
the first tire/wheel position, and
five minutes overall to match all
four tire/wheel positions. If it takes
longer, the matching process stops
and must be restarted.
The TPMS sensor matching process
is outlined below:
1. Set the parking brake.
2. Turn the ignition to ON/RUN with
the engine off. 3. Press
Q and
K on the
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter at the same time for
approximately five seconds. The
horn sounds twice to signal the
receiver is in relearn mode and
TIRE LEARNING ACTIVE
message displays on the DIC
screen.
4. Start with the driver side
front tire.
5. Place the relearn tool against
the tire sidewall, near the valve
stem. Then press the button
to activate the TPMS sensor.
A horn chirp confirms that the
sensor identification code has
been matched to this tire and
wheel position.
6. Proceed to the passenger
side front tire, and repeat the
procedure in Step 5.
7. Proceed to the passenger
side rear tire, and repeat the
procedure in Step 5. 8. Proceed to the driver side rear
tire, and repeat the procedure
in Step 5. The horn sounds
two times to indicate the sensor
identification code has been
matched to the driver side rear
tire, and the TPMS sensor
matching process is no longer
active. The TIRE LEARNING
ACTIVE message on the DIC
display screen goes off.
9. Turn the ignition to LOCK/OFF.
10. Set all four tires to the
recommended air pressure
level as indicated on the Tire
and Loading Information label.
Tire Inspection GM recommends that the tires,
including the spare tire, if the
vehicle has one, be inspected
for signs of wear or damage at
least once a month.
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 (62,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
10-62 Vehicle Care
{ WARNINGMixing tires could cause you to
lose control while driving. If you
mix tires of different sizes,
brands, or types (radial and
bias-belted tires), the vehicle
might not handle properly, and
you could have a crash. Using
tires of different sizes, brands,
or types could also cause
damage to the vehicle. Be sure
to use the same size, brand,
and type of tires on all wheels.
This vehicle may have a different
size spare than the road tires
(those originally installed on the
vehicle). When new, the vehicle
included a spare tire and wheel
assembly with a similar overall
diameter as the vehicle's road
tires and wheels, so it is all right
to drive on it. Because this spare
was developed for use on the
vehicle, it will not affect vehicle
handling. { WARNING
Using bias-ply tires on the
vehicle may cause the wheel
rim flanges to develop cracks
after many miles of driving.
A tire and/or wheel could fail
suddenly and cause a crash.
Use only radial-ply tires with
the wheels on the vehicle.
If you must replace the vehicle's
tires with those that do not have
a TPC Spec number, make sure
they are the same size, load range,
speed rating, and construction type
(radial and bias ‐ belted tires) as the
vehicle's original tires.
Vehicles that have a tire pressure
monitoring system may give an
inaccurate low ‐ pressure warning
if non ‐ TPC Spec-rated tires are
installed on the vehicle. Non ‐ TPC
Spec-rated tires may give a
low ‐ pressure warning that is higher
or lower than the proper warning level you would get with TPC
Spec-rated tires. See Tire Pressure
Monitor System on page 10 ‑ 54 .
The vehicle's original equipment
tires are listed on the Tire and
Loading Information label. See
Vehicle Load Limits on page 9 ‑ 24
for more information about the Tire
and Loading Information label and
its location on the vehicle.
Different Size Tires and
Wheels If wheels or tires are installed that
are a different size than the original
equipment wheels and tires, vehicle
performance, including its braking,
ride and handling characteristics,
stability, and resistance to rollover
may be affected. If the vehicle has
electronic systems such as antilock
brakes, rollover airbags, traction
control, and electronic stability
control, the performance of these
systems can also be affected.