Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 223
{Warning
RAB may not avoid many types of
backing crashes. Do not wait for the
automatic braking to apply. This
system is not designed to replace
driver braking and only works in
R (Reverse) when an object is
detected directly behind the vehicle.
It may not brake or stop in time to
avoid a crash. It will not brake for
objects when the vehicle is moving
at very low speeds. It does not
detect children, pedestrians,
bicyclists, animals, or objects below
the bumper or that are too close or
too far from the vehicle. To prevent
injury, death, or vehicle damage,
even with RAB, always check the
area around the vehicle before and
while backing.
Pressing the brake pedal after the
vehicle comes to a stop will release
RAB. If the brake pedal is not pressed
soon after the stop, the Electric Parking Brake may be set. When it is
safe, press the accelerator pedal firmly
at any time to override RAB.
{Warning
There may be instances where
unexpected or undesired automatic
braking occurs. If this happens,
either press the brake pedal or
firmly press the accelerator pedal to
release the brakes from the RAB
system. Before releasing the brakes,
check the RVC and check the area
around the vehicle to make sure it
is safe to proceed.
Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
If equipped, when the vehicle is
shifted into R (Reverse), RCTA shows a
red warning triangle with a left or
right pointing arrow on the
infotainment display to warn of traffic
coming from the left or right. This
system detects objects coming from
up to 20 m (65 ft) from the left or
right side of the vehicle. When an
object is detected, either three beeps
sound from the left or right or three Safety Alert Seat pulses occur on the
left or right side, depending on the
direction of the detected vehicle.
Use caution while backing up when
towing a trailer, as the RCTA
detection zones that extend out from
the back of the vehicle do not move
further back when a trailer is towed.
Turning the Features On or Off
PressXon the center stack to turn
on or off the Front and Rear Park
Assist, Rear Cross Traffic Alert,
Reverse Automatic Braking, and
Backing Warning System at the same
time. The indicator light next to the
button comes on when the features
are on and turns off when the features
have been disabled.
Front and Rear Park Assist can be set
to Off, On, or On with Towbar through
vehicle personalization. See “Park
Assist ”under Vehicle Personalization
0 136. If Park Assist is turned off
through vehicle personalization, the
Park Assist button will be disabled. To
turn Park Assist on again, select On in
the vehicle personalization menu. The
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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226 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Alert (LCA), and/or Automatic
Emergency Braking (AEB) can help to
avoid a crash or reduce crash damage.
Forward Collision Alert
(FCA) System
If equipped, the FCA system may help
to avoid or reduce the harm caused by
front-end crashes. When approaching
a vehicle ahead too quickly, FCA
provides a red flashing alert on the
windshield and rapidly beeps or pulses
the driver seat. FCA also lights an
amber visual alert if following another
vehicle much too closely.
FCA detects vehicles within a distance
of approximately 60 m (197 ft) and
operates at speeds above 8 km/h
(5 mph). If the vehicle has Adaptive
Cruise Control (ACC), it can detect
vehicles to distances of approximately
110 m (360 ft) and operates at all
speeds. SeeAdaptive Cruise Control
0 210.
{Warning
FCA is a warning system and does
not apply the brakes. When
approaching a slower-moving or
stopped vehicle ahead too rapidly,
or when following a vehicle too
closely, FCA may not provide a
warning with enough time to help
avoid a crash. It also may not
provide any warning at all. FCA
does not warn of pedestrians,
animals, signs, guardrails, bridges,
construction barrels, or other
objects. Be ready to take action and
apply the brakes. See Defensive
Driving 0168.
FCA can be disabled with either the
FCA steering wheel control or,
if equipped, through vehicle
personalization. See “Collision/
Detection Systems” underVehicle
Personalization 0136.
Detecting the Vehicle Ahead
FCA warnings will not occur unless
the FCA system detects a vehicle
ahead. When a vehicle is detected, the
vehicle ahead indicator will display
green. Vehicles may not be detected
on curves, highway exit ramps,
or hills, due to poor visibility; or if a
vehicle ahead is partially blocked by
pedestrians or other objects. FCA will
not detect another vehicle ahead until
it is completely in the driving lane.
{Warning
FCA does not provide a warning to
help avoid a crash, unless it detects
a vehicle. FCA may not detect a
vehicle ahead if the FCA sensor is
blocked by dirt, snow, or ice, or if
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Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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250 DRIVING AND OPERATING
chains may be provided by the hitch
manufacturer or by the trailer
manufacturer.
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.
Always leave just enough slack so the
combination can turn. Never allow
safety chains to drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
Loaded trailers over 900 kg (2,000 lb)
must be equipped with brake systems
and with brakes for each axle. Trailer
braking equipment conforming to
Canadian Standards Association (CSA)
requirement CAN3-D313, or its
equivalent, is recommended.
State or local regulations may require
trailers to have their own braking
system if the loaded weight of the
trailer exceeds certain minimums that
can vary from state to state. Read and
follow the instructions for the trailer
brakes so they are installed, adjusted,
and maintained properly. Never
attempt to tap into your vehicle's
hydraulic brake system. If you do,both the vehicle anti-lock brakes and
the trailer brakes may not function,
which could result in a crash.
Trailer Wiring Harness
The seven-pin trailer connector is
mounted in the bumper. This
connector can be plugged into a
seven-pin universal heavy-duty trailer
connector available through your
dealer.
Use only a round, seven-wire
connector with flat blade terminals
meeting SAE J2863 specifications for
proper electrical connectivity.
The seven-wire harness contains the
following trailer circuits:
.
Yellow/Grey: Left Stop/Turn Signal
. Green/Violet: Right Stop/Turn
Signal
. Grey/Brown: Taillamps
. White: Ground
. White/Green: Back-up Lamps
. Red/Green: Battery Feed
. Dark Blue: Trailer Brake To help charge a remote (non-vehicle)
battery, press the Tow/Haul Mode
button at the end of the shift lever.
If the trailer is too light for Tow/Haul
Mode, turn on the headlamps to help
charge the battery.
Electric Brake Control Wiring
Provisions
These wiring provisions are included
with the vehicle as part of the trailer
wiring package. These provisions are
for an electric brake controller.
The harness should be installed by
your dealer or a qualified service
center.
Refer to the aftermarket electric trailer
brake controller owner's manual to
determine wire color coding of the
electric trailer brake controller. The
wire colors on the brake controller
may be different from the vehicle.
Trailer Lamps
Always check all trailer lamps are
working at the beginning of each trip,
and periodically on longer trips.
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 251
Turn Signals When Towing a
Trailer
When properly connected, the trailer
turn signals should will illuminate to
indicate the vehicle is turning,
changing lanes, or stopping. When
towing a trailer, the arrows on the
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 Mode0195.
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 0242.
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.
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.
See Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control 0203.
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VEHICLE CARE 255
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . 265
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Battery - North America . . . . . . . . . 273 Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . 276
Glass Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . 277
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . 280
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . 280
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Instrument Panel Fuse Block (Right) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Instrument Panel Fuse Block (Left) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287 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 Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
Tire Pressure for High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . 299
Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . 308
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
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272 VEHICLE CARE
{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 0353.
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 if parts are improperly installed.
Brake Fluid
The brake master cylinder reservoir is
filled with GM approved DOT 3 brake
fluid as indicated on the reservoir cap.
See Engine Compartment Overview
0 260 for the location of the reservoir.
Checking Brake Fluid
With the vehicle in P (Park) on a level
surface, the brake fluid level should be
between the minimum and maximum
marks on the brake fluid reservoir.
There are only two reasons why the
brake fluid level in the reservoir may
go down:
. Normal brake lining wear. When
new linings are installed, the fluid
level goes back up.
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VEHICLE CARE 273
.A fluid leak in the brake hydraulic
system. Have the brake hydraulic
system fixed. With a leak, the
brakes will not work well.
Always clean the brake fluid reservoir
cap and the area around the cap
before removing it.
Do not top off the brake fluid. Adding
fluid does not correct a leak. If fluid is
added when the linings are worn,
there will be too much fluid when
new brake linings are installed. Add or
remove fluid, as necessary, only when
work is done on the brake hydraulic
system.
{Warning
If too much brake fluid is added, it
can spill on the engine and burn,
if the engine is hot enough. You or
others could be burned, and the
vehicle could be damaged. Add
brake fluid only when work is done
on the brake hydraulic system. When the brake fluid falls to a low
level, the brake warning light comes
on. See
Brake System Warning Light
0 123.
Brake fluid absorbs water over time
which degrades the effectiveness of
the brake fluid. Replace brake fluid at
the specified intervals to prevent
increased stopping distance. See
Maintenance Schedule 0339.
What to Add
Use only GM approved DOT 3 brake
fluid from a clean, sealed container.
See Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0349.
{Warning
The wrong or contaminated brake
fluid could result in damage to the
brake system. This could result in
the loss of braking leading to a
possible injury. Always use the
proper GM approved brake fluid.
Caution
If brake fluid is spilled on the
vehicle's painted surfaces, the paint
finish can be damaged. Immediately
wash off any painted surface.
Battery - North America
The original equipment battery is
maintenance free. Do not remove the
cap and do not add fluid.
Refer to the replacement number
shown on the original battery label
when a new battery is needed. See
Engine Compartment Overview 0260
for battery location.
{Warning
WARNING: Battery posts,
terminals, and related accessories
contain lead and lead compounds,
chemicals known to the State of
California to cause cancer and birth
defects or other reproductive harm.
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302 VEHICLE CARE
If the TPMS is not functioning
properly, it cannot detect or signal a
low tire pressure condition. See your
dealer for service if the TPMS
malfunction light and DIC message
come on and stay on.
Tire Fill Alert (If Equipped)
This feature provides visual and
audible alerts outside the vehicle to
help when inflating an underinflated
tire to the recommended cold tire
pressure.
When the low tire pressure warning
light comes on:1. Park the vehicle in a safe, level place.
2. Set the parking brake firmly.
3. Place the vehicle in P (Park).
4. Add air to the tire that is underinflated. The turn signal
lamp will flash.
When the recommended
pressure is reached, the horn
sounds once and the turn signal
lamp will stop flashing and
briefly turn solid. Repeat these steps for all
underinflated tires that have
illuminated the low tire pressure
warning light.
{Warning
Overinflating a tire could cause the
tire to rupture and you or others
could be injured. Do not exceed the
maximum pressure listed on the
tire sidewall. See
Tire Sidewall
Labeling 0293 and
Vehicle Load Limits 0178.
If the tire is overinflated by more than
35 kPa (5 psi), the horn will sound
multiple times and the turn signal
lamp will continue to flash for several
seconds after filling stops. To release
and correct the pressure, while the
turn signal lamp is still flashing,
briefly press the center of the valve
stem. When the recommended
pressure is reached, the horn
sounds once. If the turn signal lamp does not flash
within 15 seconds after starting to
inflate the tire, the tire fill alert has
not been activated or is not working.
If the hazard warning flashers are on,
the tire fill alert visual feedback will
not work properly.
The TPMS will not activate the tire fill
alert properly under the following
conditions:
.
There is interference from an
external device or transmitter.
. The air pressure from the inflation
device is not sufficient to inflate
the tire.
. There is a malfunction in
the TPMS.
. There is a malfunction in the horn
or turn signal lamps.
. The identification code of the
TPMS sensor is not registered to
the system.
. The battery of the TPMS sensor
is low.