
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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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-
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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

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286 VEHICLE CARE
Caution
If the air cleaner/filter is off, dirt
can easily get into the engine,
which could damage it. Always have
the air cleaner/filter in place when
driving.
Cooling System
The cooling system allows the engine
to maintain the correct working
temperature.
1. Coolant Surge Tank2. Coolant Surge Tank
Pressure Cap
3. Engine Cooling Fan
{Warning
An underhood electric fan can start
up even when the engine is not
running and can cause injury. Keep
hands, clothing, and tools away
from any underhood electric fan.
{Warning
Do not touch heater or radiator
hoses, or other engine parts. They
can be very hot and can burn you.
Do not run the engine if there is a
leak; all coolant could leak out.
That could cause an engine fire and
can burn you. Fix any leak before
driving the vehicle.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in the vehicle is
filled with DEX-COOL engine coolant.
This coolant is designed to remain in
the vehicle for 5 years or 240 000 km
(150,000 mi), whichever occurs first.
The following explains the cooling
system and how to check and add
coolant when it is low. If there is a
problem with engine overheating, see
Engine Overheating 0289.
What to Use
{Warning
Plain water, or other liquids such as
alcohol, can boil before the proper
coolant mixture will. With plain
water or the wrong mixture, the
engine could get too hot but there
would not be an overheat warning.
The engine could catch fire and you
or others could be burned.
Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
coolant. This mixture:

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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VEHICLE CARE 289
Caution
If the pressure cap is not tightly
installed, coolant loss and engine
damage may occur. Be sure the cap
is properly and tightly secured.
Engine Overheating
Caution
Do not run the engine if there is a
leak in the engine cooling system.
This can cause a loss of all coolant
and can damage the system and
vehicle. Have any leaks fixed
right away.
The vehicle has several indicators to
warn of engine overheating.
There is a coolant temperature gauge
in the vehicle's instrument cluster. See
Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge
0 137.
In addition, there are ENGINE
OVERHEATED STOP ENGINE,
ENGINE OVERHEATED IDLE ENGINE, and ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED
messages in the Driver Information
Center (DIC).
If the decision is made not to lift the
hood when this warning appears, get
service help right away. See
Roadside
Service 0381.
If the decision is made to lift the
hood, make sure the vehicle is parked
on a level surface.
Check to see if the engine cooling
fan(s) are running. If the engine is
overheating, the fans should be
running. If they are not, do not
continue to run the engine. Have the
vehicle serviced.
If Steam is Coming from the
Engine Compartment
{Warning
Steam and scalding liquids from a
hot cooling system are under
pressure. Turning the pressure cap,
even a little, can cause them to
come out at high speed and you (Continued)
Warning (Continued)
could be burned. Never turn the cap
when the cooling system, including
the pressure cap, is hot. Wait for
the cooling system and pressure
cap to cool.
If No Steam is Coming from the
Engine Compartment
The ENGINE OVERHEATED STOP
ENGINE or the ENGINE
OVERHEATED IDLE ENGINE message,
along with a low coolant condition,
can indicate a serious problem.
If there is an engine overheat warning,
but no steam is seen or heard, the
problem may not be too serious.
Sometimes the engine can get a little
too hot when the vehicle:
.Climbs a long hill on a hot day.
. Stops after high-speed driving.
. Idles for long periods in traffic.
. Tows a trailer; see Trailer Towing
0 260.

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310 VEHICLE CARE
Rear Compartment Fuse
Block
The rear compartment fuse block is
behind the access panel on the left
side of the compartment.
Pull the panel out by grabbing the
finger access slot at the rear edge.
The vehicle may not be equipped with
all of the fuses, relays, and features
shown.Fuses Usage
2 –
3 Right heated second row seat
4 Heated mirrors
5 Liftgate
6 Glass breakage
7 Liftglass
8 Liftgate module logic
9 Rear wiper
10 Rear heating, ventilation, and air
conditioning blower
11 Second row seat
12 Liftgate module
13 Third row seat
14 Rear accessory power outlet
15 Rear window defogger
19 Rear fog lamp (if equipped)

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VEHICLE CARE 311
RelaysUsage
1 Rear window defogger
16 Liftgate
17 Liftglass
18 Rear fog lamp
20 Heated mirrorWheels and Tires
Tires
Every new GM vehicle has
high-quality tires made by a
leading tire manufacturer. See the
warranty manual for information
regarding the tire warranty and
where to get service. For
additional information refer to the
tire manufacturer.
{Warning
.Poorly maintained and
improperly used tires are
dangerous.
.Overloading the tires can
cause overheating as a
result of too much flexing.
There could be a blowout
and a serious crash. See
Vehicle Load Limits 0196.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.Underinflated tires pose
the same danger as
overloaded tires. The
resulting crash could cause
serious injury. Check all
tires frequently to
maintain the
recommended pressure.
Tire pressure should be
checked when the tires
are cold.
.Overinflated tires are more
likely to be cut, punctured,
or broken by a sudden
impact —such as when
hitting a pothole. Keep
tires at the recommended
pressure.
.Worn or old tires can
cause a crash. If the tread
is badly worn,
replace them.
(Continued)

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VEHICLE CARE 317
placard.
SeeTire Pressure 0317 and Vehicle
Load Limits 0196.
Radial Ply Tire
:A pneumatic tire
in which the ply cords that extend
to the beads are laid at 90 degrees
to the centerline of the tread.
Rim
:A metal support for a tire
and upon which the tire beads are
seated.
Sidewall
:The portion of a tire
between the tread and the bead.
Speed Rating
:An alphanumeric
code assigned to a tire indicating
the maximum speed at which a
tire can operate.
Traction
:The friction between
the tire and the road surface. The
amount of grip provided.
Tread
:The portion of a tire that
comes into contact with the road.
Treadwear Indicators
:Narrow
bands, sometimes called wear
bars, that show across the tread of a tire when only 1.6 mm (1/16 in)
of tread remains. See
When It Is
Time for New Tires 0325.
UTQGS (Uniform Tire Quality
Grading Standards)
:A tire
information system that provides
consumers with ratings for a tire's
traction, temperature, and
treadwear. Ratings are determined
by tire manufacturers using
government testing procedures.
The ratings are molded into the
sidewall of the tire. See Uniform
Tire Quality Grading 0328.
Vehicle Capacity Weight
:The
number of designated seating
positions multiplied by
68 kg (150 lb) plus the rated cargo
load. See Vehicle Load Limits 0196.
Vehicle Maximum Load on the
Tire
:Load on an individual tire
due to curb weight, accessory
weight, occupant weight, and
cargo weight. Vehicle Placard
:A label
permanently attached to a vehicle
showing the vehicle capacity
weight and the original equipment
tire size and recommended
inflation pressure. See “Tire and
Loading Information Label” under
Vehicle Load Limits 0196.
Tire Pressure
Tires need the correct amount of
air pressure to operate effectively.
{Warning
Neither tire underinflation nor
overinflation is good.
Underinflated tires, or tires that
do not have enough air, can
result in:
.Tire overloading and
overheating which could
lead to a blowout.
.Premature or
irregular wear.
(Continued)

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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406 INDEX
E
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . . . 142
Electrical Equipment, Add-On . . . . . 275
Electrical SystemEngine Compartment FuseBlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . 301
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305, 307
Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Emergency
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 392
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Check Light (MalfunctionIndicator) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . 280
Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . . 137
Coolant Temperature Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Drive Belt Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 376
Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204 Engine (cont'd)
Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Oil Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Running While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Equipment, Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Event Data Recorders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 389
Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Extender, Seat Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Exterior Lamps Off Reminder . . . . . . 169
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver . . . . 174
F
Fan Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Features Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Filter, Engine Air Cleaner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Flashers, Hazard Warning . . . . . . . . . . 171
Flat Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331 Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332 Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 357
Fluid
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . 284
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Four-Wheel DriveTransfer Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Folding Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Forward Automatic Braking . . . . . . . . 246
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . .214, 294
Frequency Statement Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 387
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
Front Seats Heated and Cooled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Economy Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Filling a Portable FuelContainer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . . . 146
Management, Active . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252