2021 CADILLAC ESCALADE air conditioning

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13690472) - 2021 - CRC - 8/11/21
2 INTRODUCTION
Helm, Incorporated
Attention: Customer Service
47911 Halyard Drive
Plymouth, MI 48170
USA
Using this Manual
To quickly locate information about
the vehicle, use the Index in the back
of the manual. It is an alphabetical
list of what is in the manual and the
page number where it can be found.
Danger, Warning, and
Caution
Warning messages found on vehicle
labels and in this manual describe
hazards and what to do to avoid or
reduce them.
{Danger
Danger indicates a hazard with a
high level of risk which will result
in serious injury or death.
{Warning
Warning indicates a hazard that
could result in injury or death.
Caution
Caution indicates a hazard that
could result in property or vehicle
damage.
A circle with a slash through it is a
safety symbol which means“Do not,”
“Do not do this,” or“Do not let this
happen.”
Symbols
The vehicle has components and
labels that use symbols instead of
text. Symbols are shown along with
the text describing the operation or information relating to a specific
component, control, message, gauge,
or indicator.
M:
Shown when the owner’s manual
has additional instructions or
information.
*: Shown when the service manual
has additional instructions or
information.
0: Shown when there is more
information on another page —
“see page.”
Vehicle Symbol Chart
Here are some additional symbols that
may be found on the vehicle and what
they mean. See the features in this
manual for information.
u: Air Conditioning System
G:Air Conditioning Refrigerant Oil
9:Airbag Readiness Light
!:Antilock Brake System (ABS)
$:Brake System Warning Light
9:Dispose of Used Components
Properly

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13690472) - 2021 - CRC - 8/10/21
220 CLIMATE CONTROLS
Climate Controls
Climate Control Systems
Dual Automatic Climate ControlSystem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Rear Climate Control System . . . . 224
Air Vents
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Maintenance
Passenger Compartment Air Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Climate Control Systems
Dual Automatic Climate Control System
The climate control buttons on the center stack and on the climate control
display are used to adjust the heating, cooling, and ventilation.
Center Stack Climate Controls
1. ON/OFF
2. AUTO (Automatic Operation)
3. Air distribution
4. Driver temperature
5. Fan Control
6. Passenger Temperature
7. Max Defrost 8. Rear Window Defogger
9. Air Conditioning
10. Recirculation
11. Sync

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13690472) - 2021 - CRC - 8/10/21
CLIMATE CONTROLS 221
Automatic Operation
The system automatically controls the
fan speed, air delivery, air
conditioning, and recirculation in
order to heat or cool the vehicle to the
desired temperature.
When AUTO is underlined, the system
is in full automatic operation. If the
air delivery mode or fan setting is
manually adjusted, the auto indicator
turns off and the display will show the
selected settings. Auto operation can
be turned off individually for climate
settings.
For automatic operation:1. Press AUTO.
2. Set the temperature. Allow the system time to stabilize. Then
adjust the temperature as needed
for best comfort.
To improve fuel efficiency and to cool
the vehicle faster, recirculation may be
automatically selected in warm
weather. The recirculation light will
not come on. Press
@to select
recirculation; press it again to select
outside air. English units can be changed to
metric units through the instrument
cluster. See
“Cluster Options Menu ”
under Instrument Cluster 0114.
OFF : Press OFF to turn the fan on or
off. When off is selected, the system
will stop air from flowing into the
cabin. If on is selected or any other
buttons are pressed, the climate
control system will turn on and
operate at the current setting.
y/z: The temperature can be
adjusted separately for the driver and
the passenger. Press to decrease or lift
to increase the temperature. Press or
lift and hold to rapidly increase or
decrease the temperature.
SYNC : Touch SYNC on the climate
control display to link all climate zone
settings to the driver settings. Adjust
the driver side temperature control to
change the linked temperature. When
the passenger setting is adjusted, the
SYNC underline turns off.
Rear : Touch Rear on the
infotainment screen to open the rear
climate control screen. The rear climate control settings can now be
adjusted from the front
passenger area.
Manual Operation
z 9 y:
Press to decrease or lift to
increase the fan speed. Press or lift
and hold the fan controls to adjust
speed more quickly. The fan speed
setting displays. Any adjustment of
the fan speed cancels automatic fan
control and the fan can be controlled
manually. Press AUTO to return to
automatic operation.
To turn off the fan and climate
control system, press OFF on the
center stack climate controls. The
airf low will be blocked from entering
in all air delivery modes, except
defrost.
The maximum automatic fan speed
can be set to low, medium, or high. To
adjust Auto Fan Speed, see “Climate
and Air Quality” underVehicle
Personalization 0138.
Air Delivery Mode Control : When
the climate information is displayed,
press the desired air delivery mode on
the climate control display to change

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13690472) - 2021 - CRC - 8/10/21
222 CLIMATE CONTROLS
the direction of the airf low. The
selected air delivery mode button is
lit. Pressing any of the air delivery
buttons cancels automatic air delivery
control and the direction of the
airf low can be controlled manually.
Press AUTO to return to automatic
operation.
To change the current mode, select
one of the following:
z:Air is directed to the windshield,
outboard a/c outlets, and side window
outlets.
Y: Air is directed to the instrument
panel outlets.
[: Air is directed to the floor
outlets.
d: Clears the windshield of fog or
frost more quickly. Air is directed to
the windshield. Press
dto turn on or
off. Changing the air delivery mode
also turns the defrost off.
A/C : Touch AC on the climate control
display to turn the automatic air
conditioning on or off. If the fan is turned off or the outside temperature
falls below freezing, the air
conditioner will not run.
Press AUTO to return to automatic
operation and the air conditioner runs
as needed.
Automatic Air Recirculation :
When
the AUTO indicator light is on, the air
is automatically recirculated as
needed to help quickly cool the inside
of the vehicle.
@: Press to alternate between
recirculating air inside the vehicle or
pulling in outside air. The indicator
light on the button is lit when
recirculation mode is active. This
helps to quickly cool the air inside the
vehicle and reduce the entry of
outside air and odors.
Pressing this button cancels automatic
recirculation. Press AUTO to return to
automatic operation; recirculation
runs automatically as needed.
Manual recirculation mode is not
available when in Defrost or some air
distribution modes with air to the
windshield. Auto Defog :
The climate control
system uses a sensor to automatically
detect high humidity inside the
vehicle. When high humidity is
detected, the climate control system
may adjust to outside air supply, turn
on the air conditioner, and direct
more air to the windshield. If the
climate control system does not
detect possible window fogging, it
returns to normal operation. To turn
Auto Defog off or on, see “Climate and
Air Quality” underVehicle
Personalization 0138.
Rear Window Defogger
K:Press to turn the rear window
defogger on or off. An indicator light
on the button comes on to show that
the rear window defogger is on.
The rear window defogger only works
when the ignition is on. The defogger
turns off if the ignition is turned off
or to ACC/ACCESSORY.
The rear window defogger can be set
to automatic operation. When Auto
Rear Defog is selected, the rear
window defogger turns on
automatically when the vehicle is first

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13690472) - 2021 - CRC - 8/10/21
228 CLIMATE CONTROLS
certified technicians. The air
conditioning evaporator should never
be repaired or replaced by one from a
salvage vehicle. It should only be
replaced by a new evaporator to
ensure proper and safe operation.
During service, all refrigerants should
be reclaimed with proper equipment.
Venting refrigerants directly to the
atmosphere is harmful to the
environment and may also create
unsafe conditions based on inhalation,
combustion, frostbite, or other
health-based concerns.
The air conditioning system requires
periodic maintenance. See
Maintenance Schedule0442.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13690472) - 2021 - CRC - 8/10/21
376 VEHICLE CARE
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
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
0 334.
If the ENGINE OVERHEATED STOP
ENGINE or the ENGINE
OVERHEATED IDLE ENGINE message
appears with no sign of steam, try this
for a minute or so: 1. Turn the air conditioning off.
2. Turn the heater on to the highest temperature and to the highest fan
speed. Open the windows as
necessary.
3. When it is safe to do so, pull off the road, shift to P (Park) or
N (Neutral), and let the engine idle.
If the engine coolant temperature
gauge is no longer in the overheat
zone or an overheat warning no longer
displays, the vehicle can be driven.
Continue to drive the vehicle slowly for about 10 minutes. Keep a safe
vehicle distance from the vehicle in
front. If the warning does not come
back on, continue to drive normally
and have the cooling system checked
for proper fill and function.
If the warning continues, pull over,
stop, and park the vehicle right away.
If there is still no sign of steam and
the vehicle is equipped with an engine
driven cooling fan, push down the
accelerator until the engine speed is
about twice as fast as normal idle
speed for at least five minutes while
the vehicle is parked. If the warning is
still there, turn off the engine and get
everyone out of the vehicle until it
cools down.
If there is no sign of steam, idle the
engine for five minutes while parked.
If the warning is still displayed, turn
off the engine until it cools down.
Engine Fan
If the vehicle has a diesel engine, see
the Duramax diesel supplement.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13690472) - 2021 - CRC - 8/10/21
VEHICLE CARE 377
If the vehicle has electric cooling fans,
the fans may be heard spinning at low
speed during most everyday driving.
The fans may turn off if no cooling is
required. Under heavy vehicle loading,
trailer towing, high outside
temperatures, or operation of the air
conditioning system, the fans may
change to high speed and an increase
in fan noise may be heard. This is
normal and indicates that the cooling
system is functioning properly. The
fans will change to low speed when
additional cooling is no longer
required.
The electric engine cooling fans may
run after the engine has been turned.
off. This is normal and no service is
required.
Washer Fluid
What to Use
When windshield washer fluid needs
to be added, be sure to read the
manufacturer's instructions before
use. Use a fluid that has sufficient
protection against freezing in an area
where the temperature may fall below
freezing.
Adding Washer Fluid
The vehicle has a low washer fluid
message on the DIC that comes on
when the washer fluid is low. The
message is displayed for 15 seconds at
the start of each ignition cycle. When
the WASHER FLUID LOW ADD FLUID
message displays, washer fluid will
need to be added to the windshield
washer fluid reservoir.
Open the cap with the washer symbol
on it. Add washer fluid until the tank
is full. SeeEngine Compartment
Overview 0366 for reservoir location.
Caution
.Do not use washer fluid that
contains any type of water
repellent coating. This can cause
the wiper blades to chatter
or skip.
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
.Do not use engine coolant
(antifreeze) in the windshield
washer. It can damage the
windshield washer system and
paint.
.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 can be

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13690472) - 2021 - CRC - 8/10/21
VEHICLE CARE 397
Tire Designations
Tire Size
The example shows a typical
passenger vehicle tire size.
Passenger (P-Metric) Tire
(1) Passenger (P-Metric) Tire:
The United States version of a
metric tire sizing system. The
letter "P" as the first character in
the tire size means a passenger
vehicle tire engineered to
standards set by the U.S. Tire and
Rim Association.
(2) Tire Width
:The 3-digit
number indicates the tire section
width in millimeters from sidewall
to sidewall. (3) Aspect Ratio
:A 2-digit
number that indicates the tire
height-to-width measurements.
For example, if the tire size aspect
ratio is 75, as shown in item (3) of
the illustration, it would mean
that the tire's sidewall is
75 percent as high as it is wide.
(4) Construction Code
:A letter
code is used to indicate the type
of ply construction in the tire. The
letter "R" means radial ply
construction; the letter "D" means
diagonal or bias ply construction.
(5) Rim Diameter
:Diameter of
the wheel in inches.
(6) Service Description
:These
characters represent the load
index and speed rating of the tire.
The load index represents the load
carrying capacity a tire is certified
to carry. The speed rating is the
maximum speed a tire is certified
to carry a load.
Tire Terminology and
Definitions
Air Pressure:The amount of air
inside the tire pressing outward
on each square inch of the tire.
Air pressure is expressed in kPa
(kilopascal) or psi (pounds per
square inch).
Accessory Weight
:The combined
weight of optional accessories.
Some examples of optional
accessories are automatic
transmission, power windows,
power seats, and air conditioning.
Aspect Ratio
:The relationship of
a tire's height to its width.
Belt
:A rubber coated layer of
cords between the plies and the
tread. Cords may be made from
steel or other reinforcing
materials.