Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12460268) - 2019 - crc - 9/14/18
DRIVING AND OPERATING 259
3. When the wheel chocks are inplace, gradually release the brake
pedal to allow the chocks to
absorb the load of the trailer.
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. .Start the engine.
. Shift into a gear.
. Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Launching and Retrieving a Boat
Backing the Trailer into the Water
{Warning
.Have all passengers get out of
the vehicle before backing
onto the sloped part of the
ramp. Lower the driver and
passenger side windows
before backing onto the ramp.
This will provide a means of
escape in the unlikely event
the vehicle slides into the
water.
. If the boat launch surface is
slippery, have the driver
remain in the vehicle with the
brake pedal applied while the
boat is being launched. The
boat launch can be especially
slippery at low tide when part
of the ramp was previously
submerged at high tide. Do
not back onto the ramp to
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
launch the boat if you are not
sure the vehicle can maintain
traction.
. Do not move the vehicle if
someone is in the path of the
trailer. Some parts of the
trailer might be underwater
and not visible to people who
are assisting in launching
the boat.
Disconnect the wiring to the trailer
before backing the trailer into the
water to prevent damage to the
electrical circuits on the trailer.
Reconnect the wiring to the trailer
after removing the trailer from the
water. If the trailer has electric brakes
that can function when the trailer is
submerged, it might help to leave the
electrical trailer connector attached to
maintain trailer brake functionality
while on the boat ramp.
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12460268) - 2019 - crc - 9/14/18
260 DRIVING AND OPERATING
To back the trailer into the water:1. If equipped, place the vehicle in four-wheel-drive high.
2. Slowly back down the boat ramp until the boat is floating, but no
further than necessary.
3. Press and hold the brake pedal, but do not shift into P (Park) yet.
4. Have someone place chocks under the front wheels of the
vehicle.
5. Gradually release the brake pedal to allow the chocks to absorb the
load of the trailer.
6. Reapply the brake pedal. Then apply the parking brake and shift
into P (Park). If equipped with a
manual transmission, turn off
the engine and move the shift
lever into 1 (First) gear.
7. Release the brake pedal.
Pulling the Trailer from the Water 1. Press and hold the brake pedal.
2. Start the engine and shift into a gear. 3. Release the parking brake.
4. Let up on the brake pedal.
5. Drive slowly until the tires are
clear of the chocks.
6. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
7. Slowly pull the trailer from the water.
8. Once the vehicle and trailer have been driven from the sloped part
of the boat ramp, the vehicle can
be shifted from four-wheel-drive
high. Shift into the drive mode
that is appropriate for the road
conditions.
Caution
If the vehicle tires begin to spin and
the vehicle begins to slide toward
the water, remove your foot from
the accelerator pedal and apply the
brake pedal. Seek help to have the
vehicle towed up the ramp.
Maintenance when Trailer
Towing
The vehicle needs service more often
when used to tow trailers. See
Maintenance Schedule 0360. It is
especially important to check the
automatic transmission fluid, engine
oil, axle lubricant, belts, cooling
system, and brake system before and
during each trip.
Check periodically that all nuts and
bolts on the trailer hitch are tight.
Engine Cooling when Trailer
Towing
The cooling system may temporarily
overheat during severe operating
conditions. See Engine Overheating
0 289.
Trailer Towing
Caution
Towing a trailer improperly can
damage the vehicle and result in
costly repairs not covered by the
(Continued)
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12460268) - 2019 - crc - 9/14/18
DRIVING AND OPERATING 269
instrument cluster will illuminate
even if the trailer is not properly
connected or the bulbs are
burned out.
Tow/Haul Mode
For instructions on how to enter Tow/
Haul mode, seeTow/Haul Mode0213.
Tow/Haul assists when pulling a
heavy trailer or a large or heavy load.
Tow/Haul Mode is designed to be
most effective when the vehicle and
trailer combined weight is at least
75% of the vehicle's Gross Combined
Weight Rating (GCWR). See
“Maximum Trailer Weight ”under
Trailer Towing 0260.
Tow/Haul Mode is most useful when
towing a heavy trailer or carrying a
large or heavy load:
. through rolling terrain
. in stop-and-go traffic
. in busy parking lots
Operating the vehicle in Tow/Haul
Mode when lightly loaded or not
towing will not cause damage;
however, it is not recommended and may result in unpleasant engine and
transmission driving characteristics
and reduced fuel economy.
Integrated Trailer Brake Control
System
The vehicle may have an Integrated
Trailer Brake Control (ITBC) system
for use with electric trailer brakes or
most electric over hydraulic trailer
brake systems. These instructions
apply to both types of electric trailer
brakes.
This symbol is on the Trailer Brake
Control Panel on vehicles with an
ITBC system. The power output to the
trailer brakes is proportional to the
amount of vehicle braking. This
available power output to the trailer
brakes can be adjusted to a wide
range of trailering situations.
The ITBC system is integrated with
the vehicle’s brake, anti-lock brake,
and StabiliTrak systems. In trailering
conditions that cause the vehicle’s
anti-lock brake or StabiliTrak systems
to activate, power sent to the trailer's
brakes will be automatically adjusted
to minimize trailer wheel lock-up.
This does not imply that the trailer
has StabiliTrak.
If the vehicle’s brake, anti-lock brake,
or StabiliTrak systems are not
functioning properly, the ITBC system
may not function fully or at all. Make
sure all of these systems are fully
operational to allow the ITBC system
to function properly.
The ITBC system is powered through
the vehicle's electrical system. Turning
the ignition off will also turn off the
ITBC system. The ITBC system is fully
functional only when the ignition is in
ON/RUN.
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12460268) - 2019 - crc - 9/14/18
DRIVING AND OPERATING 273
Trailer Sway Control (TSC)
Vehicles with StabiliTrak have a
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) feature.
Trailer sway is unintended side-to-side
motion of a trailer while towing. 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 equipped with
the Integrated Trailer Brake Control
(ITBC) system, and the trailer has an
electric brake system, StabiliTrak may
also apply the trailer brakes.
If TSC is enabled, the Traction Control
System (TCS)/StabiliTrak warning
light will flash on the instrument
cluster. Reduce vehicle speed by
gradually removing your foot from the
accelerator. If trailer sway continues,
StabiliTrak can reduce engine torque
to help slow the vehicle. TSC will not
function if StabiliTrak is turned off.
SeeTraction Control/Electronic Stability
Control 0221.
{Warning
Trailer sway can result in a crash
and in serious injury or death, even
if the vehicle is equipped with TSC.
If the trailer begins to sway, reduce
vehicle speed by gradually removing
your foot from the accelerator. Then
pull over to check the trailer and
vehicle to help correct possible
causes, including an improperly or
overloaded trailer, unrestrained
cargo, improper trailer hitch
configuration, or improperly
inflated or incorrect vehicle or
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
trailer tires. SeeTowing Equipment
0 265 for trailer ratings and hitch
setup recommendations.
Aftermarket Electronic Trailer
Sway Control Devices
Some trailers may come equipped
with an electronic device designed to
reduce or control trailer sway.
Aftermarket equipment manufacturers
also offer similar devices that connect
to the wiring between the trailer and
the vehicle. These devices may
interfere with the vehicle’s trailer
brake systems or other systems,
including integrated anti-sway
systems, if equipped. Messages related
to trailer connections or trailer brakes
could appear on the DIC. The effects
of these aftermarket devices on
vehicle handling or trailer brake
performance is not known.
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12460268) - 2019 - crc - 9/14/18
DRIVING AND OPERATING 275
Conversions and
Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical
Equipment
{Warning
The Data Link Connector (DLC) is
used for vehicle service and
Emission Inspection/Maintenance
testing. SeeMalfunction Indicator
Lamp (Check Engine Light) 0140.
A device connected to the DLC —
such as an aftermarket fleet or
driver-behavior tracking device —
may interfere with vehicle systems.
This could affect vehicle operation
and cause a crash. Such devices
may also access information stored
in the vehicle’s systems.
Caution
Some electrical equipment can
damage the vehicle or cause
components to not work and would
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Always check with your
dealer before adding electrical
equipment.
Add-on equipment can drain the
vehicle's 12-volt battery, even if the
vehicle is not operating.
The vehicle has an airbag system.
Before attempting to add anything
electrical to the vehicle, see Servicing
the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle 097 and
Adding Equipment to the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle 097.
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12460268) - 2019 - crc - 9/14/18
276 VEHICLE CARE
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . 285
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Battery - North America . . . . . . . . . 293 Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . 297
Glass Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298
Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . 298
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . 300
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . 301
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Instrument Panel Fuse Block (Right) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Instrument Panel Fuse Block (Left) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307 Rear Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
All-Terrain Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Tire Pressure for High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . 319
Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . 328
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12460268) - 2019 - crc - 9/14/18
VEHICLE CARE 277
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332
Full-Size Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - NorthAmerica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 342
Towing the Vehicle
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . 346
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 355
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 357
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
{Warning
Most motor vehicles, including this
one, as well as many of its service
parts and fluids, 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. For more information go
to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/
passenger-vehicle.
See Battery - North America 0293 and
Jump Starting - North America 0342
and the back cover.
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12460268) - 2019 - crc - 9/14/18
280 VEHICLE CARE
Engine Compartment Overview