Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13566588) - 2020 - CRC - 4/24/19
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.
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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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
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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264 VEHICLE CARE
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)
0130. When remaining oil life is
low, the CHANGE ENGINE OIL
SOON message will appear on
the display.
2. Press and hold SEL on the DIC controls 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. Display OIL LIFE on the DIC. See Driver Information Center (DIC)
0130.
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 or the procedure can be
found in the service manual. See
Publication Ordering Information 0365.
Caution
Use of the incorrect automatic
transmission fluid may damage the
vehicle, and the damage may not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
(Continued)
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13566588) - 2020 - CRC - 4/24/19
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.
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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274 VEHICLE CARE
Warning (Continued)
Batteries also contain other
chemicals known to the State of
California to cause cancer.WASH
HANDS AFTER HANDLING. For
more information go to
www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/
passenger-vehicle.
See California Proposition 65 Warning
0 256 and the back cover.
Vehicle Storage
{Warning
Batteries have acid that can burn
you and gas that can explode. You
can be badly hurt if you are not
careful. See Jump Starting - North
America 0322 for tips on working
around a battery without
getting hurt. 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 to
Maintenance Schedule 0339
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 0349 to determine what
kind of lubricant to use.
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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286 VEHICLE CARE
There are relays on the back of the
fuse block. To access, press the tabs
and remove the fuse block.The vehicle may not be equipped with
all of the fuses, relays, and features
shown. Fuses Usage
1 –
2 –
3 –
4 Accessory power outlet 4
5 –
6 –
7 –
8 Glove box
9 –
10 –
11 –
12 Steering wheel controls
13 Body control module 8
14 –
15 –
16 –
17 –
18 –
19 Body control module 4
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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288 VEHICLE CARE
There are relays on the back of the
fuse block. To access, press the tabs
and remove the fuse block.The vehicle may not be equipped with
all of the fuses, relays, and features
shown. Fuses Usage
1 –
2 –
3 –
4 Accessory power outlet 1
5 Accessory power outlet from retained accessory
power
6 Accessory power outlet from battery power
7 Universal remote system/Interior
rearview mirror
8 SEO/Retained accessory power
9 –
10 Body control module 3
11 Body control module 5
12 Steering wheel control backlighting
13 –
14 –
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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VEHICLE CARE 289
FusesUsage
15 –
16 Discrete logic ignition sensor
17 Video processing module/Virtual key
module
18 Mirror window module
19 Body control module 1
20 Front bolster
21 –
22 –
23 –
24 HVAC ignition/AUX HVAC ignition
25 Instrument cluster/ Ignition sensing
diagnostic module
ignition
26 Tilt column/Tilt column lock 1/SEO 1/
SEO 2
27 Data link connector/ Driver seat module Fuses
Usage
28 Passive locking, Passive theft-deterrent/HVAC
battery
29 Content theft deterrent
30 –
31 –
32 –
33 SEO/Left heated seat
34 Park enable/Electric adjustable pedal
35 –
36 Miscellaneous run crank loads
37 Heated steering wheel
38 Steering column lock 2
39 Instrument cluster battery
40 –
41 –
42 Euro trailer
43 Left door Fuses
Usage
44 Driver power seat
45 –
46 Right heated, cooled, or ventilated seat
47 Left heated, cooled, or ventilated seat
48 –
49 –
Relays Usage
50 Accessory power outlet 2
51 –
52 Retained accessory power
53 Miscellaneous run crank
54 –
55 –
56 –