
Black plate (97,1)Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-97
Allow the leather to dry naturally. Do
not use heat, steam, spot lifters or
spot removers, or shoe polish on
leather. Many commercial leather
cleaners and coatings that are sold
to preserve and protect leather
may permanently change the
appearance and feel of the leather
and are not recommended. Do not
use silicone or wax-based products,
or those containing organic solvents
to clean the vehicle's interior
because they can alter the
appearance by increasing the
gloss in a non-uniform manner.
Instrument Panel, Vinyl and
other Plastic Surfaces
A soft cloth dampened with water
may be used to remove dust.
If a more thorough cleaning is
necessary, a clean soft cloth
dampened with a mild soap solution
can be used to gently remove dust
and dirt. Never use spot lifters or
removers on plastic surfaces.Many commercial cleaners and
coatings that are sold to preserve
and protect soft plastic surfaces
may permanently change the
appearance and feel of the
interior and are not recommended.
Do not use silicone or wax-based
products, or those containing
organic solvents to clean the
vehicle's interior because they can
alter the appearance by increasing
the gloss in a non-uniform manner.
Some commercial products may
increase gloss on the instrument
panel. The increase in gloss may
cause annoying reflections in the
windshield and even make it difficult
to see through the windshield under
certain conditions.
Wood Panels
Use a clean cloth moistened in
warm, soapy water (use mild dish
washing soap). Dry the wood
immediately with a clean cloth.
Speaker Covers
Vacuum around a speaker cover
gently, so that the speaker will not
be damaged. Clean spots with just
water and mild soap.
Care of Safety Belts
Keep belts clean and dry.
{WARNING
Do not bleach or dye safety belts.
It may severely weaken them. In
a crash, they might not be able to
provide adequate protection.
Clean safety belts only with mild
soap and lukewarm water.

Black plate (6,1)Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2011
11-6 Service and Maintenance
.Evaporative control system
inspection. Check all fuel and
vapor lines and hoses for proper
hook‐up, routing, and condition.
Check that the purge valve,
if the vehicle has one, works
properly. Replace as needed.An
Emission Control Service. The
U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency or the California Air
Resources Board has
determined that the failure to
perform this maintenance item
will not nullify the emission
warranty or limit recall liability
prior to the completion of the
vehicle's useful life. We,
however, urge that all
recommended maintenance
services be performed at the
indicated intervals and the
maintenance be recorded. First Engine Oil Change After
Every 160 000 km/100,000 Miles
.Automatic transmission fluid and
filter change (normal service).
See
Automatic Transmission
Fluid on page 10‑13.
.All‐wheel drive only: Transfer
case fluid change (normal
service). Check vent hose at
transfer case for kinks and
proper installation. Check to be
sure vent hose is unobstructed,
clear, and free of debris. During
any maintenance, if a power
washer is used to clean mud
and dirt from the underbody,
care should be taken to not
directly spray the transfer case
output seals. High pressure
water can overcome the seals
and contaminate the transfer
case fluid. Contaminated fluid
will decrease the life of the
transfer case and should be
replaced.
.Spark plug replacement and
spark plug wires inspection. An
Emission Control Service.
First Engine Oil Change After
Every 240 000 km/150,000 Miles
.Engine cooling system drain,
flush, and refill (or every
five years, whichever
occurs first). See Engine
Coolant on page 10‑18. An
Emission Control Service.
.Engine drive belts inspection
for fraying, excessive
cracks, or obvious damage
(or every 10 years, whichever
occurs first). Replace, if needed.

Black plate (1,1)Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2011
Technical Data 12-1
Technical Data
Vehicle Identification
Vehicle IdentificationNumber (VIN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-1
Service Parts Identification Label . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-1
Vehicle Data
Capacities andSpecifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-2
Engine Drive Belt Routing . . . 12-3
Vehicle Identification
Vehicle Identification
Number (VIN)
This legal identifier is in the front
corner of the instrument panel, on
the left side of the vehicle. It can be
seen through the windshield from
outside. The VIN also appears on
the Vehicle Certification and Service
Parts labels and certificates of title
and registration.
Engine Identification
The eighth character in the VIN
is the engine code. This code
identifies the vehicle's engine,
specifications, and replacement
parts. See “Engine Specifications”
under Capacities and Specifications
on page 12‑2 for the vehicle's
engine code.
Service Parts
Identification Label
This label, on the inside of the glove
box, has the following information:
.Vehicle Identification
Number (VIN)
.Model designation
.Paint information
.Production options and special
equipment
Do not remove this label from the
vehicle.

Black plate (3,1)Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2011
Technical Data 12-3
Engine Specifications
EngineVIN CodeTransmission Spark Plug Gap
6.2L V8 FAutomatic 1.01 mm (0.040 in)
Engine Drive Belt Routing

Black plate (18,1)Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2011
13-18 Customer Information
Vehicle Data
Recording and
Privacy
Your GM vehicle has a number of
sophisticated computers that record
information about the vehicle’s
performance and how it is driven.
For example, your vehicle uses
computer modules to monitor and
control engine and transmission
performance, to monitor the
conditions for airbag deployment
and deploy airbags in a crash, and,
if so equipped, to provide antilock
braking to help the driver control the
vehicle. These modules may store
data to help your dealer technician
service your vehicle. Some modules
may also store data about how you
operate the vehicle, such as rate of
fuel consumption or average speed.
These modules may also retain the
owner’s personal preferences, such
as radio pre-sets, seat positions,
and temperature settings.
Event Data Recorders
This vehicle has an Event Data
Recorder (EDR). The main purpose
of an EDR is to record, in certain
crash or near crash-like situations,
such as an airbag deployment or
hitting a road obstacle, data that
will assist in understanding how a
vehicle's systems performed. The
EDR is designed to record data
related to vehicle dynamics and
safety systems for a short period of
time, typically 30 seconds or less.
The EDR in this vehicle is designed
to record such data as:
.How various systems in your
vehicle were operating
.Whether or not the driver and
passenger safety belts were
buckled/fastened
.How far, if at all, the driver was
pressing the accelerator and/or
brake pedal
.How fast the vehicle was
traveling This data can help provide a better
understanding of the circumstances
in which crashes and injuries occur.
Important:
EDR data is recorded
by your vehicle only if a non-trivial
crash situation occurs; no data is
recorded by the EDR under normal
driving conditions and no personal
data (e.g., name, gender, age,
and crash location) is recorded.
However, other parties, such as
law enforcement, could combine
the EDR data with the type of
personally identifying data
routinely acquired during a crash
investigation.
To read data recorded by an EDR,
special equipment is required, and
access to the vehicle or the EDR is
needed. In addition to the vehicle
manufacturer, other parties, such
as law enforcement, that have the
special equipment, can read the
information if they have access to
the vehicle or the EDR.

Black plate (4,1)Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2011
i-4 INDEX
DrivingCharacteristics and
Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-64
Defensive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Drunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Highway Hypnosis . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-19
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . 9-19
If the Vehicle is Stuck . . . . . . . . . 9-22
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Off-Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-7
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 9-23
Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-20
Driving for Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-22
Dual Automatic Climate
Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1
DVD Rear Seat EntertainmentSystem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-31
DVD/CD Player . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-17E
E85 Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-60
Electrical Equipment,
Add-On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-75
Electrical System Engine CompartmentFuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-41
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-41
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-46
Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-40
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . 10-16
Check and Service EngineSoon Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-15
Compartment Overview . . . . . . . 10-6
Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-18
Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-12
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-18
Cooling System Messages . . . 5-29 Engine (cont.)
Drive Belt Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-3
Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-37
Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-25
Overheated Protection
Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . 10-24
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-22
Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-31
Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-21
Running While Parked . . . . . . . . 9-38
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-32
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-12
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-30
Entry/Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-10
Equipment, Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-72
Event Data Recorders . . . . . . . . 13-18
Extender, Safety Belt . . . . . . . . . . 3-23
Exterior Cargo Lamps . . . . . . . . . . 6-8
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Exterior Lamps Off Reminder . . . 6-5

Black plate (6,1)Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2011
i-6 INDEX
H
Hazard Warning Flashers . . . . . . . 6-7
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
HeadlampsAiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-35
Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-37
Daytime RunningLamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-38
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . 5-21
High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . . 6-5
Lamps On Reminder . . . . . . . . . 5-22
Heated
Steering Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4
Heated and Ventilated Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7
Heated Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-20
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . . 5-21
High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . 10-56 Highway Hypnosis . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-19
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . 9-19
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-5
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4
How to Wear Safety Belts
Properly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-13
I
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-31
Ignition Transmission LockCheck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-33
Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-17
Infants and Young Children, Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-42
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-10
Instrument Panel Storage Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .iii, 7-1
J
Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-85
K
Key and Lock Messages . . . . . . . 5-31
Keyless Entry
Remote (RKE) System . . . . . . . . 2-3
Keyless Entry System . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
L
Labeling, Tire Sidewall . . . . . . . . 10-50
Lamp Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-31
Lamps Daytime Running (DRL) . . . . . . . 6-6
Dome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-9
Exterior Cargo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8
Exterior Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Exterior Lamps OffReminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
License Plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-39
Malfunction Indicator . . . . . . . . . 5-15
On Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-22
Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-9
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-19
LATCH System Replacing Parts After aCrash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-54

Black plate (7,1)Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2011
INDEX i-7
Latch, Lower Anchors andTethers for Children . . . . . . . . . . 3-48
Level Control Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-48
Lighter, Cigarette . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8
Lighting Entry/Exit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-10
Illumination Control . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8
Lights Airbag Readiness . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-13
Antilock Brake System(ABS) Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-19
Charging System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-15
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-22
Engine Oil Pressure . . . . . . . . . . 5-21
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Front Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-22
High-Beam On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-21
High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . . 6-5
Safety Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . 5-12
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-21
StabiliTrak
®Indicator . . . . . . . . . 5-20
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-20
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-19
Locking Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-48 Locks
Automatic Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7
Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7
Lockout Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
Power Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7
Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH
SYSTEM) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-48
Lumbar Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5 Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5
M
MaintenanceRecords . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-10
Maintenance Schedule
Recommended Fluids andLubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-7
Scheduled Maintenance . . . . . . 11-2
Malfunction Indicator Lamp . . . . 5-15
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-41
Map Data Updates . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-79
Maps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-44 Memory Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
Menu
Configure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-64
Messages Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-33
Anti-Theft Alarm System . . . . . . 5-33
Battery Voltage andCharging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-28
Brake System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-28
Door Ajar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-28
Engine Cooling System . . . . . . . 5-29
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-30
Engine Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-31
Fuel System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-31
Key and Lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-31
Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-31
Object Detection System . . . . . 5-32
Ride Control System . . . . . . . . . . 5-32
Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-34
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-34
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-27
Vehicle Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-35
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-35
Midgate
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9