Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13690472) - 2021 - CRC - 8/10/21
DRIVING AND OPERATING 343
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, change drive mode to Tow
Haul. 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.
If equipped, the Trailering App will
monitor the RH turn/brake lamp
circuit, LH turn/brake lamp circuit,
running lamp circuit, and reverse
lamp circuits on the trailer. DIC
messages and Trailering App alerts
may be displayed if lighting circuit
issues are detected on the trailer. Pressing START LIGHT TEST in the
Trailering App automatically activates
trailer lamps. The Trailering App is
not a substitute for manually
inspecting your trailer lamps. See
Trailering App
0349.
Trailer Connection and Lamp
Messages
When a trailer is properly connected
and working, no trailer connection or
lamp messages appear on the Driver
Information Center (DIC). However; if
the vehicle detects an issue with a
trailer connection or lamp, you may
see the following DIC message(s):
.TRAILER DISCONNECTED CHECK
CONNECTION appears when a
connected trailer is disconnected.
It appears immediately when the
vehicle is on, or upon the next
start-up if the trailer was
disconnected while the vehicle was
off. Check the trailer connection as
appropriate.
.CHECK TRAILER XXX LAMP
appears when there is a detected
lamp or wiring fault on the trailer.
Check the trailer wiring and lamps.
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13690472) - 2021 - CRC - 8/10/21
362 VEHICLE CARE
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 364
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 364
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 365
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 366
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 367
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . 369
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 370
Engine Air Filter Life System . . . . 371
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . 371
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 372
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 375
Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 376
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 377
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 377
Brake Pad Life System . . . . . . . . . . . 378
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379 Battery - North America . . . . . . . . . 380
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 380
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 381
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 381
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 381
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . 382
Glass Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 383
Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . 383
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 383
Headlamp Aiming
Front Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . 384
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 384
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 384
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . 385
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . 385
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 386
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . 389
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 391
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 393
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 394
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 394
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 395 All-Terrain Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 395
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . 395
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 397
Tire Terminology and
Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 397
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 400
Tire Pressure for High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 401
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . 402
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 406
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 406
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 407
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 408
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 409
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . 410
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 411
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 411
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 412
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 412
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 413
Full-Size Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 424Jump Starting
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 425
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13690472) - 2021 - CRC - 8/10/21
384 VEHICLE CARE
Caution
Do not apply tape or hang any
objects from gas struts. Also do not
push down or pull on gas struts.
This may cause damage to the
vehicle.
See Maintenance Schedule 0442.
Hood
Trunk
Liftgate
Headlamp Aiming
Front Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp aim has been preset and
should need no further adjustment.
If the vehicle is damaged in a crash,
the headlamp aim may be affected.
If adjustment to the headlamps is
necessary, see your dealer.
Bulb Replacement
For the proper type of replacement
bulbs, or any bulb changing procedure
not listed in this section, contact your
dealer.
Caution
Do not replace incandescent bulbs
with aftermarket LED replacement
bulbs. This can cause damage to
the vehicle electrical system.
LED Lighting
This vehicle has several LED lamps.
For replacement of any LED lighting
assembly, contact your dealer.
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13690472) - 2021 - CRC - 8/10/21
VEHICLE CARE 385
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload
The vehicle has fuses to protect
against an electrical system overload.
Fuses also protect power devices in
the vehicle.
Replace a bad fuse with a new one of
the identical size and rating.
If there is a problem on the road and
a fuse needs to be replaced, there are
some spare fuses and a fuse puller in
the left instrument panel fuse block.
The same amperage fuse can also be
borrowed. Choose some feature of the
vehicle that is not needed to use and
replace it as soon as possible.
Headlamp Wiring
An electrical overload may cause the
lamps to go on and off, or in some
cases to remain off. Have the
headlamp wiring checked right away if
the lamps go on and off or remain off.
Windshield Wipers
If the wiper motor overheats due to
heavy snow or ice, the windshield
wipers will stop until the motor cools
and will then restart.
Although the circuit is protected from
electrical overload, overload due to
heavy snow or ice may cause wiper
linkage damage. Always clear ice and
heavy snow from the windshield
before using the windshield wipers.
If the overload is caused by an
electrical problem and not snow or
ice, be sure to get it fixed.
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
The wiring circuits in the vehicle are
protected from short circuits by a
combination of fuses and circuit
breakers. This greatly reduces the
chance of damage caused by electrical
problems.
{Danger
Fuses and circuit breakers are
marked with their ampere rating.
Do not exceed the
specified amperage rating when
replacing fuses and circuit breakers.
Use of an oversized fuse or circuit
breaker can result in a vehicle fire.
You and others could be seriously
injured or killed.
{Warning
Installation or use of fuses that do
not meet GM’s original fuse
specifications is dangerous. The
fuses could fail, and result in a fire.
You or others could be injured or
killed, and the vehicle could be
damaged.
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13690472) - 2021 - CRC - 8/10/21
388 VEHICLE CARE
FusesUsage
11 Long range radar/ Front short range
radar
12 –
13 Washer front
14 Washer rear
15 Rec 2
16 Power sounder
17 Spare
19 DC/AC inverter
20 IECR 2
21 –
22 IECL 2
24 EBCM
25 REC 1
26 Camera wash
27 Horn
28 Right headlamp
29 Left headlamp
30 ELM 3 Fuses
Usage
31 ELM 1
32 –
33 Not R/C
34 –
37 OBD body
38 MISC body
39 Upfitter
40 MISC IP
41 Trailer parking lamps
42 Right tail lamp
44 Trailer tow
45 Secondary axle motor
46 ECM ignition
47 OBD engine
48 –
49 TCM
50 A/C clutch
51 TCCM Fuses
Usage
52 Front wiper
53 –
54 Left tail lamp
55 Trailer back up lamp
56 SADS
57 Spare
58 Starter motor
60 AFM 1
61 ALC main
62 ICCM/CVS/DEF
63 Trailer brake
65 AUX UEC
66 Cool fan motor LT
67 AFM 2
68 ALC motor
69 Starter pinion
71 Cool fan motor lower
72 Cool fan motor right/lower
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13690472) - 2021 - CRC - 8/10/21
412 VEHICLE CARE
Caution
The wrong wheel can also cause
problems with bearing life, brake
cooling, speedometer or odometer
calibration, headlamp aim, bumper
height, vehicle ground clearance,
and tire or tire chain clearance to
the body and chassis.
Used Replacement Wheels
{Warning
Replacing a wheel with a used one
is dangerous. How it has been used
or how far it has been driven may
be unknown. It could fail suddenly
and cause a crash. When replacing
wheels, use a new GM original
equipment wheel.
Tire Chains
{Warning
Do not use tire chains. There is not
enough clearance. Tire chains used
on a vehicle without the proper(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
amount of clearance can cause
damage to the brakes, suspension,
or other vehicle parts. The area
damaged by the tire chains could
cause loss of control and a crash.
Use another type of traction device
only if its manufacturer
recommends it for the vehicle's tire
size combination and road
conditions. Follow that
manufacturer's instructions. To
avoid vehicle damage, drive slowly
and readjust or remove the traction
device if it contacts the vehicle. Do
not spin the wheels. If traction
devices are used, install them on
the rear tires.
If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blowout
while driving, especially if the tires are
maintained properly. If air goes out of
a tire, it is much more likely to leak
out slowly. But if there ever is a
blowout, here are a few tips about
what to expect and what to do: If a front tire fails, the flat tire creates
a drag that pulls the vehicle toward
that side. Take your foot off the
accelerator pedal and grip the steering
wheel firmly. Steer to maintain lane
position, and then gently brake to a
stop, well off the road, if possible.
A rear blowout, particularly on a
curve, acts much like a skid and may
require the same correction as used in
a skid. Stop pressing the accelerator
pedal and steer to straighten the
vehicle. It may be very bumpy and
noisy. Gently brake to a stop, well off
the road, if possible.
{Warning
Driving on a flat tire will cause
permanent damage to the tire.
Re-inflating a tire after it has been
driven on while severely
underinflated or flat may cause a
blowout and a serious crash. Never
attempt to re-inflate a tire that has
been driven on while severely
underinflated or flat. Have your
(Continued)
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13690472) - 2021 - CRC - 8/10/21
SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE 449
Battery
The 12-volt battery supplies power to
start the engine and operate any
additional electrical accessories.
.To avoid break-down or failure to
start the vehicle, maintain a battery
with full cranking power.
.Trained dealer technicians have the
diagnostic equipment to test the
battery and ensure that the
connections and cables are
corrosion-free.
Belts
.Belts may need replacing if they
squeak or show signs of cracking or
splitting.
.Trained dealer technicians have
access to tools and equipment to
inspect the belts and recommend
adjustment or replacement when
necessary.
Brakes
Brakes stop the vehicle and are crucial
to safe driving.
.Signs of brake wear may include
chirping, grinding, or squealing
noises, or difficulty stopping.
.Trained dealer technicians have
access to tools and equipment to
inspect the brakes and recommend
quality parts engineered for the
vehicle.
Fluids
Proper fluid levels and approved fluids
protect the vehicle’s systems and
components. See Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants 0451 for GM approved
fluids.
.Engine oil and windshield washer
fluid levels should be checked at
every fuel fill.
.Instrument cluster lights may come
on to indicate that fluids may be
low and need to be filled.
Hoses
Hoses transport fluids and should be
regularly inspected to ensure that
there are no cracks or leaks. With a
multi-point inspection, your dealer
can inspect the hoses and advise if
replacement is needed. Lamps
Properly working headlamps,
taillamps, and brake lamps are
important to see and be seen on
the road.
.Signs that the headlamps need
attention include dimming, failure
to light, cracking, or damage. The
brake lamps need to be checked
periodically to ensure that they light
when braking.
.With a multi-point inspection, your
dealer can check the lamps and
note any concerns.
Shocks and Struts
Shocks and struts help aid in control
for a smoother ride.
.Signs of wear may include steering
wheel vibration, bounce/sway while
braking, longer stopping distance,
or uneven tire wear.
.As part of the multi-point
inspection, trained dealer
technicians can visually inspect the
shocks and struts for signs of
leaking, blown seals, or damage, and
can advise when service is needed.
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13690472) - 2021 - CRC - 8/10/21
480 INDEX
Appearance CareExterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 432
Interior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 437
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Armrest Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . 313
Assistance Systems for Parking and Backing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
Audio Bluetooth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Auto Stop Stop/Start System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Automatic Dimming Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Emergency Braking (AEB) . . . . . . . . 315
Headlamp System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 370
Vehicle Hold Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Automatic Transmission Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Automatic Vehicle Hold (AVH) . . . . 263
Avoiding Untrusted Media Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Axle, Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 381
Axle, Rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 381B
Battery Exterior Lighting BatterySaver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Load Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Power Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Battery - North America . . . . . .380, 425
Blade Replacement, Wiper . . . . . . . . . 382
Bluetooth Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196, 197
Bluetooth Audio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Brake Electric Boost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Parking, Electric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
System Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Brake Pad Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 378
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 377 Antilock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379
Pad Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 378
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231 Automatic Emergency (AEB) . . . . . 315
Braking System
Front Pedestrian (FPB) . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Break-In, New Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Bulb Replacement Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 384 Bulb Replacement (cont'd)
Headlamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 384
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 408
C
Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
California Perchlorate Materials
Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363
California Proposition 65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . .363, 380, 425, Back Cover
Canadian Vehicle Owners . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Capacities and Specifications . . . . . . 455
Carbon Monoxide Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Liftgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Cargo Tie-Downs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Caution, Danger, and Warning . . . . . . . . 2
Center Console Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Chains, Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 412
Charging Wireless . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Charging System Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122