Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-9369153) -
2016 - crc - 6/19/15
250 Driving and Operating
vehicle itself. Get acquainted with
the handling and braking of the rig
before setting out for the open road.
Before starting, check all trailer hitch
parts and attachments, safety
chains, electrical connectors, lamps,
tires, and mirrors. If the trailer has
electric brakes, start the
combination moving and then apply
the trailer brake controller by hand
to be sure the brakes work.
During the trip, check occasionally
to be sure that the load is secure
and the lamps and any trailer
brakes still work.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the
vehicle ahead as you would when
driving the vehicle without a trailer.
This can help to avoid heavy
braking and sudden turns.
Passing
More passing distance is needed
when towing a trailer. The
combination will not accelerate as
quickly and is longer so it isnecessary to go much farther
beyond the passed vehicle before
returning to the lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering
wheel with one hand. To move the
trailer to the left, move that hand to
the left. To move the trailer to the
right, move your hand to the right.
Always back up slowly and,
if possible, have someone
guide you.
Making Turns
Caution
Making very sharp turns while
trailering could cause the trailer to
come in contact with the vehicle.
The vehicle could be damaged.
Avoid making very sharp turns
while trailering.
When turning with a trailer, make
wider turns than normal. Do this so
the trailer will not strike soft
shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees, or other objects. Avoid jerky or
sudden maneuvers. Signal well in
advance.
If the trailer turn signal bulbs burn
out, the arrows on the instrument
cluster will still flash for turns. It is
important to check occasionally to
be sure the trailer bulbs are still
working.
Driving on Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower
gear
before starting down a long or
steep downgrade. If the
transmission is not shifted down, the
brakes might get hot and no longer
work well.
Vehicles can tow in D (Drive). Shift
the transmission to a lower gear if
the transmission shifts too often
under heavy loads and/or hilly
conditions.
When towing, use the Tow/Haul
Mode to prevent damage to the
engine or transmission. See Tow/
Haul Mode 0212.
When towing at high altitude on
steep uphill grades, consider the
following: Engine coolant will boil at
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-9369153) -
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Driving and Operating 251
a lower temperature than at normal
altitudes. If the engine is turned off
immediately after towing at high
altitude on steep uphill grades, the
vehicle may show signs similar to
engine overheating. To avoid this,
let the engine run while parked,
preferably on level ground, with the
transmission in P (Park) for a few
minutes before turning the engine
off. If the overheat warning comes
on, seeEngine Overheating 0270.
Parking on Hills
{Warning
Parking the vehicle on a hill with
the trailer attached can be
dangerous. If something goes
wrong, the rig could start to move.
People can be injured, and both
the vehicle and the trailer can be
damaged. When possible, always
park the rig on a flat surface. If parking the rig on a hill:
1. Press the brake pedal, but do not shift into P (Park) yet. Turn
the wheels into the curb if
facing downhill or into traffic if
facing uphill.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the regular
brakes until the chocks absorb
the load.
4. Reapply the brake pedal. Then apply the parking brake and
shift into P (Park).
5. Release the brake pedal.
Leaving After Parking on a Hill
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
2. Start the engine.
3. Shift into a gear.
4. Release the parking brake.
5. Let up on the brake pedal.
6. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks. 7. Stop and have someone pick
up and store the chocks.
Maintenance when Trailer
Towing
The vehicle needs service more
often when pulling a trailer. See
Maintenance Schedule 0333.
Things that are especially important
in trailer operation are automatic
transmission fluid, engine oil, axle
lubricant, belts, cooling system, and
brake system. It is a good idea to
inspect these before and during
the trip.
Check periodically to see that all
hitch nuts and bolts are tight.
Trailer Towing
Do not tow a trailer during break-in.
See New Vehicle Break-In 0200.
Before towing a trailer, see
"Hands-Free Operation" under
Liftgate 038.
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-9369153) -
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256 Driving and Operating
Tow/Haul is a feature that assists
when pulling a heavy trailer or a
large or heavy load. SeeTow/Haul
Mode 0212.
Tow/Haul is designed to be most
effective when the vehicle and
trailer combined weight is at least
75 percent of the vehicle's Gross
Combined Weight Rating (GCWR).
See “Weight of the Trailer” under
Trailer Towing 0251. Tow/Haul is
most useful under the following
driving conditions:
. When pulling a heavy trailer or a
large or heavy load through
rolling terrain.
. When pulling a heavy trailer or a
large or heavy load in
stop-and-go traffic.
. When pulling a heavy trailer or a
large or heavy load in busy
parking lots where improved low
speed control of the vehicle is
desired.
Operating the vehicle in Tow/Haul
when lightly loaded or with no trailer
at all will not cause damage.
However, there is no benefit to the selection of Tow/Haul when the
vehicle is unloaded. Such a
selection when unloaded may result
in unpleasant engine and
transmission driving characteristics
and reduced fuel economy. Tow/
Haul is recommended only when
pulling a heavy trailer or a large or
heavy load.
Trailer Sway
Control (TSC)
Vehicles with StabiliTrak have a
TSC feature. Trailer sway is
unintended side-to-side motion of a
trailer while being towed. If the
vehicle is towing a trailer and the
TSC detects that sway is increasing,
the vehicle brakes are selectively
applied at each wheel, to help
reduce excessive trailer sway.
If TSC is enabled, the Traction
Control System (TCS)/StabiliTrak
warning light will flash on the
instrument cluster. Vehicle speed
must be reduced. If trailer sway
continues, StabiliTrak can reduce
engine torque to help slow the
vehicle. See
Traction Control/
Electronic Stability Control 0220.
{Warning
Even if the vehicle is equipped
with TSC, trailer sway could result
in loss of control and the vehicle
could crash. If excessive trailer
sway is detected, slow down to a
safe speed. Check the trailer and
vehicle to help correct possible
causes. These could include an
improperly or overloaded trailer,
unrestrained cargo, improper
trailer hitch configuration,
excessive vehicle-trailer speed,
or improperly inflated or incorrect
vehicle or trailer tires. See Towing
Equipment 0254 for trailer ratings
and hitch setup
recommendations.
Adding non-dealer accessories can
affect the vehicle performance. See
Accessories and Modifications
0 259.
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258 Vehicle Care
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 259
Accessories andModifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 264
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 266
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 270
Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 277 Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 278
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 278
Glass Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 279
Windshield Replacement . . . . . 279Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . 280
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . 281
Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Instrument Panel Fuse Block (Left) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Instrument Panel Fuse Block (Right) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291 All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
All-Terrain Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Tire Pressure for High-Speed
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 303
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Full-Size Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . 314
Jump Starting
Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Towing the Vehicle
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 318
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-9369153) -
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260 Vehicle Care
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own
Service Work
{Warning
It can be dangerous to work on
your vehicle if you do not have
the proper knowledge, service
manual, tools, or parts. Always
follow owner manual procedures
and consult the service manual
for your vehicle before doing any
service work.
If doing some of your own service
work, use the proper service
manual. It tells you much more
about how to service the vehicle
than this manual can.
This vehicle has an airbag system.
Before attempting to do your own
service work, see Servicing the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle 087.
Keep a record with all parts receipts
and list the mileage and the date of
any service work performed.
Caution
Even small amounts of
contamination can cause damage
to vehicle systems. Do not allow
contaminants to contact the fluids,
reservoir caps, or dipsticks.
Hood
To open the hood:
1. Pull the handle with this symbol on it. It is inside the vehicle
under the steering wheel.
2. Go to the front of the vehicle tofind the secondary hood
release. The handle is under
the front edge of the hood near
the center. Push the handle to
the right and at the same time
raise the hood.
Before closing the hood, be sure all
the filler caps are on properly. Then
bring the hood from full open to
within 15 cm (6 in) from the closed
position, pause, and push the front
center of the hood with a swift, firm
motion to fully close the hood.
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-9369153) -
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Vehicle Care 265
reset. Your dealer has trained
service people who will perform this
work and reset the system. It is also
important to check the oil regularly
over the course of an oil drain
interval and keep it at the proper
level.
If the system is ever reset
accidentally, the oil must be
changed at 5 000 km (3,000 mi)
since the last oil change.
Remember to reset the oil life
system whenever the oil is changed.
How to Reset the Engine Oil
Life System
Reset the system whenever the
engine oil is changed so that the
system can calculate the next
engine oil change. To reset the
system:1. Using the DIC controls on the right side of the steering wheel,
display OIL LIFE on the DIC.
See Driver Information Center
(DIC) 0139. When remaining
oil life is low, the CHANGE
ENGINE OIL SOON message
will appear on the display. See
Engine Oil Messages 0148. 2. Press SEL on the DIC controls
and hold SEL down for a few
seconds to clear the CHANGE
ENGINE OIL SOON message
and reset the oil life at 100%.
Be careful not to reset the oil
life display accidentally at any
time other than after the oil is
changed. It cannot be reset
accurately until the next oil
change.
The oil life system can also be reset
as follows: 1. Turn the ignition on with the engine off.
2. Fully press and release the accelerator pedal three times
within five seconds.
If the CHANGE ENGINE OIL
SOON message is not on, the
system is reset.
The system is reset when the
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message is off. If the CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message comes back on when the
vehicle is started, the engine oil life
system has not been reset. Repeat
the procedure.
Automatic Transmission
Fluid
When to Check and Change
Automatic Transmission Fluid
It is usually not necessary to check
the transmission fluid level. The only
reason for fluid loss is a
transmission leak or overheated
transmission. This vehicle is not
equipped with a transmission fluid
level dipstick. There is a special
procedure for checking and
changing the transmission fluid in
these vehicles. Because this
procedure is difficult, this should be
done at the dealer. Contact the
dealer for additional information.
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Vehicle Care 273
Caution (Continued)
.Do not mix water with
ready-to-use washer fluid.
Water can cause the
solution to freeze and
damage the washer fluid
tank and other parts of the
washer system.
. When using concentrated
washer fluid, follow the
manufacturer instructions for
adding water.
. Fill the washer fluid tank
only three-quarters full when
it is very cold. This allows
for fluid expansion if
freezing occurs, which could
damage the tank if it is
completely full.
Brakes
Disc brake pads have built-in wear
indicators that make a high-pitched
warning sound when the brake pads
are worn and new pads are needed.
The sound can come and go or be heard all the time when the vehicle
is moving, except when applying the
brake pedal firmly.
{Warning
The brake wear warning sound
means that soon the brakes will
not work well. That could lead to
a crash. When the brake wear
warning sound is heard, have the
vehicle serviced.
Caution
Continuing to drive with worn-out
brake pads could result in costly
brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates
can cause a brake squeal when the
brakes are first applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean
something is wrong with the brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are
necessary to help prevent brake
pulsation. When tires are rotated,
inspect brake pads for wear and evenly tighten wheel nuts in the
proper sequence to torque
specifications. See
Capacities and
Specifications 0342.
Brake pads should be replaced as
complete sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal
does not return to normal height,
or if there is a rapid increase in
pedal travel. This could be a sign
that brake service may be required.
Replacing Brake System Parts
Always replace brake system parts
with new, approved replacement
parts. If this is not done, the brakes
may not work properly. The braking
performance expected can change
in many other ways if the wrong
replacement brake parts are
installed or parts are improperly
installed.
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-9369153) -
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276 Vehicle Care
Vehicle Storage
Infrequent Usage: Remove the
black, negative (−) cable from the
battery to keep the battery from
running down.
Extended Storage: Remove the
black, negative (−) cable from the
battery or use a battery trickle
charger.
Four-Wheel Drive
Transfer Case
If the vehicle is equipped with
Four-Wheel Drive, be sure to
perform the lubricant checks
described in this section.
When to Check Lubricant
Refer toMaintenance Schedule
0 333 to determine how often to
check the lubricant.
How to Check Lubricant
To get an accurate reading, the
vehicle should be on a level
surface.
1. Fill Plug
2. Drain Plug
If the level is below the bottom of
the fill plug (1) hole, located on the
transfer case, some lubricant will
need to be added. Add enough
lubricant to raise the level to the
bottom of the fill plug (1) hole. Use
care not to overtighten the plug.
What to Use
Refer to Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0338 to determine what
kind of lubricant to use.
Front Axle
When to Check and Change
Lubricant
It is not necessary to regularly
check front axle fluid unless a leak
is suspected, or an unusual noise is
heard. A fluid loss could indicate a
problem. Have it inspected and
repaired.
How to Check Lubricant
To get an accurate reading, the
vehicle should be on a level
surface.
1. Fill Plug