
Black plate (66,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012
9-66 Driving and Operating
3. Turn the fasteners on the lowertabs 90 degrees clockwise to
lock the cover in place.
Safety Chains
Always attach chains between the
vehicle and the trailer. Cross the
safety chains under the tongue of
the trailer to help prevent the tongue
from contacting the road if it
becomes separated from the hitch.
Instructions about safety chains
may be provided by the hitch
manufacturer or by the trailer
manufacturer. Safety chains should
be attached to holes on the trailer
hitch platform. Always leave just
enough slack so the combination
can turn. Never allow safety chains
to drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
A loaded trailer that weighs more
than 900 kg (2,000 lbs) needs to
have its own brake system that is
adequate for the weight of the
trailer. Be sure to read and follow the instructions for the trailer brakes
so they are installed, adjusted and
maintained properly.
Do not tap into the vehicle's
hydraulic system.
Trailer Wiring Harness
Heavy-Duty Trailer Wiring Harness
Package
The vehicle has a seven-pin
universal heavy-duty trailer
connector attached to the rear
bumper beam next to the integrated
trailer hitch.The seven-wire harness contains
the following trailer circuits:
.Yellow: Left Stop/Turn Signal
.Dark Green: Right Stop/Turn
Signal
.Brown: Taillamps
.White: Ground
.Light Green: Back-up Lamps
.Red: Battery Feed*
.Dark Blue: Trailer Brake*
*The fuses for these two circuits
are installed in the underhood
electrical center, but the wires are
not connected. They should be
connected by your dealer or a
qualified service center.
If charging a remote (non-vehicle)
battery, press the tow/haul mode
button located at the end of the shift
lever. This will boost the vehicle
system voltage and properly charge
the battery. If the trailer is too light
for tow/haul mode, turn on the

Black plate (18,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012
10-18 Vehicle Care
{WARNING
Steam and scalding liquids from a
hot cooling system can blow out
and burn you badly. They are
under pressure, and if you turn
the surge tank pressure
cap—even a little —they can
come out at high speed. Never
turn the cap when the cooling
system, including the surge tank
pressure cap, is hot. Wait for the
cooling system and surge tank
pressure cap to cool if you ever
have to turn the pressure cap. If no coolant is visible in the surge
tank, add coolant as follows:
1. Remove the coolant surge tank
pressure cap when the cooling
system, including the coolant
surge tank pressure cap and
upper radiator hose, is no
longer hot.
Turn the pressure cap slowly
counterclockwise about one full
turn. If a hiss is heard, wait for
that to stop. A hiss means there
is still some pressure left.
2. Keep turning the pressure cap slowly and remove it.
3. Fill the coolant surge tank with
the proper mixture to the FULL
COLD mark.

Black plate (34,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012
10-34 Vehicle Care
3. Record the distance from theground to the center of the
projector lens of the low‐beam
headlamp.
4. At a wall, measure from the
ground upward (A) to the
recorded distance from
Step 3 and mark it. 5. Draw or tape a horizontal line (B)
on the wall the width of the
vehicle at the height of the mark
in Step 4.
Notice: Do not cover a headlamp
to improve beam cut-off when
aiming. Covering a headlamp may
cause excessive heat build-up
which may cause damage to the
headlamp.
6. Turn on the low-beam
headlamps and place a piece
of cardboard or equivalent in
front of the headlamp not being
adjusted. This allows only the
beam of light from the headlamp
being adjusted to be seen on the
flat surface.
7. Locate the vertical headlampaiming screws, which are under
the hood near each headlamp
assembly.
8. Turn the vertical aiming screw until the headlamp beam is
aimed to the horizontal tape
line. Turn it clockwise or
counterclockwise to raise or
lower the angle of the beam.

Black plate (36,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012
10-36 Vehicle Care
Back-Up Lamps
To replace this bulb:
1. Open the liftgate. SeeLiftgate
(Power) on page 2‑9 orLiftgate
(Manual) on page 2‑12 for more
information.
2. Remove the two screws from the
taillamp assembly.
3. Pull the taillamp assembly rearward until the inner pins on
the taillamp assembly disengage
from the vehicle.
4. Press the release tab, if the bulb socket has one, and turn the
socket counterclockwise to
remove it from the taillamp
assembly. 5. Pull the old bulb straight out
from the socket.
6. Press a new bulb into the socket, insert the socket into the
taillamp assembly and turn the
socket clockwise into the
taillamp assembly until it clicks.
7. Reinstall the taillamp assembly. When reinstalling, make sure to
line up the pins on the taillamp
assembly with the vehicle. If the
pins do not line up correctly, the
taillamp assembly will not be
able to be installed properly.
If the taillamp, stoplamp, or turn
signal need to be replaced, see your
dealer for service.

Black plate (37,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-37
License Plate Lamp
1. Remove the two screws holdingeach of the license plate lamps
to the molding that is part of the
liftgate.
2. Twist and pull the license plate lamp assembly forward through
the molding opening. 3. Remove the bulb socket from
the lamp assembly by turning it
counterclockwise.
4. Pull the bulb straight out of the socket and install the new bulb.
5. Reverse Steps 1 through 3 to reinstall the license plate lamp.
Replacement Bulbs
Exterior Lamp Bulb
Number
Back-up Lamp 7441
License
Plate Lamp 168LL
(W5WLL)
For replacement bulbs not listed
here, contact your dealer.
Electrical System
Electrical System
Overload
The vehicle has fuses and circuit
breakers to protect against an
electrical system overload.
When the current electrical load is
too heavy, the circuit breaker opens
and closes, protecting the circuit
until the current load returns to
normal or the problem is fixed.
This greatly reduces the chance of
circuit overload and fire caused by
electrical problems.
Fuses and circuit breakers protect
power devices in the vehicle.

Black plate (69,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-69
Using the Tire Sealant
and Compressor Kit to
Temporarily Seal and Inflate
a Punctured Tire
Follow the directions closely for
correct sealant usage.
When using the tire sealant
and compressor kit during cold
temperatures, warm the kit in a
heated environment for five minutes.
This will help to inflate the tire
faster.If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire
and wheel damage by driving slowly
to a level place. Turn on the hazard
warning flashers.
See
If a Tire Goes Flat on
page 10‑65 for other important
safety warnings.
Do not remove any objects that
have penetrated the tire.
1. Remove the tire sealant and compressor kit from its storage
location. See Storing the Tire
Sealant and Compressor Kit on
page 10‑74.
Make sure the on/off button (D)
is in the off (O) position.
2. Unwrap the sealant/air hose (G) and the power plug (C).
3. Place the kit on the ground. Make sure the tire valve stem is
positioned close to the ground
so the hose will reach it.
4. Remove the valve stem cap from the flat tire by turning it
counterclockwise. 5. Attach the sealant/air hose (G)
onto the tire valve stem. Turn it
clockwise until it is tight.
6. Plug the power plug (C) into the accessory power outlet in the
vehicle. Unplug all items from
other accessory power outlets.
See Power Outlets on page 5‑8
in the owner manual.
If the vehicle has an accessory
power outlet, do not use the
cigarette lighter.
If the vehicle only has a cigarette
lighter, use the cigarette lighter.
Do not pinch the power plug
cord in the door or window.
7. Start the vehicle. The vehicle must be running while using the
air compressor.
8. Press the on/off (D) button to turn the tire sealant and
compressor kit on.
The compressor will inject
sealant and air into the tire.

Black plate (70,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012
10-70 Vehicle Care
The pressure gauge (E) will
initially show a high pressure
while the compressor pushes the
sealant into the tire. Once the
sealant is completely dispersed
into the tire, the pressure will
quickly drop and start to rise
again as the tire inflates with
air only.
9. Inflate the tire to the recommended inflation pressure
using the pressure gauge (E).
The recommended inflation
pressure can be found on the
Tire and Loading Information
label. See Tire Pressure on
page 10‑52.
The pressure gauge (E) may
read higher than the actual tire
pressure while the compressor
is on. Turn the compressor
off to get an accurate pressure
reading. The compressor may
be turned on/off until the correct
pressure is reached. Notice:
If the recommended
pressure cannot be reached after
approximately 25 minutes, the
vehicle should not be driven
farther. The tire is too severely
damaged and the tire sealant and
compressor kit cannot inflate the
tire. Remove the power plug from
the accessory power outlet and
unscrew the inflating hose from
the tire valve. See Roadside
Service (U.S. and Canada) on
page 13‑8 orRoadside Service
(Mexico) on page 13‑10.
10. Press the on/off button (D) to turn the tire sealant and
compressor kit off.
The tire is not sealed and will
continue to leak air until the
vehicle is driven and the
sealant is distributed in the tire,
therefore, Steps 11 through
17 must be done immediately
after Step 10. Be careful while handling the
tire sealant and compressor
kit as it could be warm after
usage.
11. Unplug the power plug (C) from the accessory power outlet in
the vehicle.
12. Turn the sealant/air hose (G) counterclockwise to remove it
from the tire valve stem.
13. Replace the tire valve stem cap.
14. Replace the sealant/air hose (G), and the power plug (C)
back in their original location.
15. If the flat tire was able toinflate to the recommended
inflation pressure, remove the
maximum speed label from the

Black plate (72,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012
10-72 Vehicle Care
SeeIf a Tire Goes Flat on
page 10‑65 for other important
safety warnings.
1. Remove the tire sealant and compressor kit from its storage
location. See Storing the Tire
Sealant and Compressor Kit on
page 10‑74.
2. Unlock the air only hose (F) from the tire sealant canister (B) by
pulling up on the lever.
3. Pull the air only hose (F) from the tire sealant canister (B).
4. Remove the power plug (C) from the air compressor (A).
5. Place the kit on the ground. Make sure the tire valve stem is
positioned close to the ground
so the hose will reach it.
6. Remove the tire valve stem cap by turning it counterclockwise.
7. Attach the air only hose (F) onto the tire valve stem and press the
lever down to secure it. 8. Plug the power plug (C) into the
accessory power outlet in the
vehicle. Unplug all items from
other accessory power outlets.
See Power Outlets on page 5‑8
in the owner manual.
If the vehicle has an accessory
power outlet, do not use the
cigarette lighter.
If the vehicle only has a cigarette
lighter, use the cigarette lighter.
Do not pinch the power plug
cord in the door or window.
9. Start the vehicle. The vehicle must be running while using the
air compressor.
10. Press the on/off (D) button to turn the compressor on.
The compressor will inflate the
tire with air only.
11. Inflate the tire to the recommended inflation
pressure using the pressure
gauge (E). The recommended
inflation pressure can be found on the Tire and Loading
Information label. See
Tire
Pressure on page 10‑52.
The pressure gauge (E) may
read higher than the actual tire
pressure while the compressor
is on. Turn the compressor off
to get an accurate reading. The
compressor may be turned on/
off until the correct pressure is
reached.
12. Press the on/off button (D) to turn the tire sealant and
compressor kit off.
Be careful while handling the
tire sealant and compressor
kit as it could be warm after
usage.
13. Unplug the power plug (C) from the accessory power outlet in
the vehicle.
14. Disconnect the air only hose (F) from the tire
valve stem, by turning it
counterclockwise, and replace
the tire valve stem cap.