
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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350 DRIVING AND OPERATING
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.
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, seeDriver Mode
Control 0267.
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 0340.
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.
Integrated Trailer Brake Control
System
The vehicle may have an Integrated
Trailer Brake Control (ITBC) system
for use with electric trailer brakes or
most electric over hydraulic trailer brake systems. These instructions
apply to both types of electric trailer
brakes.
This symbol is on the Trailer Brake
Control Panel on vehicles with an
ITBC system. The power output to the
trailer brakes is proportional to the
amount of vehicle braking. This
available power output to the trailer
brakes can be adjusted to a wide
range of trailering situations.
The ITBC system is integrated with
the vehicle’s brake, anti-lock brake,
and StabiliTrak/Electronic Stability
Control (ESC) systems. In trailering
conditions that cause the vehicle’s
anti-lock brake or StabiliTrak/ESC
systems to activate, power sent to the
trailer's brakes will be automatically
adjusted to minimize trailer wheel
lock-up. This does not imply that the
trailer has StabiliTrak/ESC.

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DRIVING AND OPERATING 351
If the vehicle’s brake, anti-lock brake,
or StabiliTrak systems are not
functioning properly, the ITBC system
may not function fully or at all. Make
sure all of these systems are fully
operational to allow the ITBC system
to function properly.
The ITBC system is powered through
the vehicle's electrical system. Turning
the ignition off will also turn off the
ITBC system. The ITBC system is fully
functional only when the ignition is in
ON/RUN.
{Warning
Connecting a trailer that has an air
brake system may result in reduced
or complete loss of trailer braking,
including increased stopping
distance or trailer instability which
could result in serious injury, death,
or property damage. Only use the
ITBC system with electric or electric
over hydraulic trailer brake systems.Trailer Brake Control Panel
1. Manual Trailer Brake Apply Lever
2. Trailer Symbol
3. Trailer Gain Adjustment Buttons
The ITBC control panel is on the
instrument panel to the left of the
steering column. The control panel
allows adjustment to the amount of
output, referred to as Trailer Gain,
available to the trailer brakes and
allows manual application of the
trailer brakes. Use the ITBC control
panel and the DIC trailer brake display
page to adjust and display power
output to the trailer brakes. Trailer Brake DIC Display Page
The ITBC display page indicates:
.Trailer Gain setting
.Output to the trailer brakes
.Trailer connection
.System operational status.
To display:
.Scroll through the DIC menu pages
.Press a Trailer Gain (+) or (−) button
.Activate the Manual Trailer Brake
Apply Lever
TRAILER GAIN:
Press a Trailer Gain button to recall
the current Trailer Gain setting. Each
press and release of the gain buttons
will then change the Trailer Gain
setting. Press the Trailer Gain (+) or
(−) to adjust. Press and hold to
continuously adjust the Trailer Gain.
To turn the output to the trailer off,
adjust the Trailer Gain setting to 0.0.
This setting can be adjusted from 0.0
to 10.0 with a trailer connected or
disconnected.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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352 DRIVING AND OPERATING
TRAILER OUTPUT: This displays
anytime a trailer with electric brakes
is connected. Output to the trailer
brakes is based on the amount of
vehicle braking present and relative to
the Trailer Gain setting. Output is
displayed from 0 to 100% for each
gain setting.
The Trailer Output will indicate
“- - - - - -”on the Trailer Brake Display
Page whenever the following occur:
.No trailer is connected.
.A trailer without electric brakes is
connected, no DIC message will
display
.A trailer with electric brakes has
become disconnected, a CHECK
TRAILER WIRING message displays
on the DIC
.There is a fault present in the
wiring to the trailer brakes, a
CHECK TRAILER WIRING message
displays on the DIC
.The ITBC system is not working due
to a fault, a SERVICE TRAILER
BRAKE SYSTEM message displays
in the DIC Manual Trailer Brake Apply Lever
Slide this lever right to apply the
trailer’s electric brakes independent of
the vehicle’s brakes. Use this lever to
adjust Trailer Gain to achieve the
proper power output to the trailer
brakes. The trailer's and the vehicle's
brake lamps will come on when either
vehicle brakes or manual trailer brakes
are applied and properly connected.
Trailer Gain Adjustment Procedure
Trailer Gain should be set for a
specific trailering condition and it
must be readjusted anytime vehicle
loading, trailer loading, or road surface
conditions change.
{Warning
Trailer brakes that are over-gained
or under-gained may not stop the
vehicle and the trailer as intended
and can result in a crash. Always
follow the instructions to set the
Trailer Gain for the proper trailer
stopping performance.
To adjust Trailer Gain for each towing
condition:
1. Drive the vehicle with the trailer attached on a level road surface
representative of the towing
condition and free of traffic at
about 32 to 40 km/h (20 to 25 mph)
and fully apply the Manual Trailer
Brake apply lever.
Note
Adjusting Trailer Gain at speeds lower
than 32 to 40 km/h (20 to 25 mph)
may result in an incorrect gain
setting. 2. Adjust the Trailer Gain, using the Trailer Gain adjustment buttons, to
just below the point of trailer
wheel lock-up, indicated by trailer
wheel squeal or tire smoke when a
trailer wheel locks.
Note
Trailer wheel lock-up may not occur if
towing a heavily loaded trailer. In this
case, adjust the Trailer Gain to the
highest allowable setting for the
towing condition.

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DRIVING AND OPERATING 353
3. Readjust Trailer Gain any timevehicle loading, trailer loading,
or road surface conditions change
or if trailer wheel lock-up is
noticed at any time while towing.
Other ITBC-Related DIC Messages
TRAILER BRAKES CONNECTED: This
message will briefly display when a
trailer with electric brakes is first
connected to the vehicle. This
message will automatically turn off in
about 10 seconds. This message can
be acknowledged before it
automatically turns off.
CHECK TRAILER WIRING: This
message will display if:
.The ITBC system first determines
connection to a trailer with electric
brakes and then the trailer harness
becomes disconnected the vehicle.
If the disconnect occurs while the
vehicle is stationary, this message
will automatically turn off in about
30 seconds. This message will also
turn off if it is acknowledged or if
the trailer harness is reconnected. If the disconnect occurs while the
vehicle is moving, this message will
continue until the ignition is turned
off. This message will also turn off if
it is acknowledged or if the trailer
harness is reconnected.
.There is an electrical fault in the
wiring to the trailer brakes. This
message will continue as long as
there is an electrical fault in the
trailer wiring. This message will also
turn off if it is acknowledged.
To determine whether the electrical
fault is on the vehicle side or trailer
side of the trailer wiring harness
connection: 1. Disconnect the trailer wiring harness from the vehicle.
2. Turn the ignition off.
3. Wait 10 seconds, then turn the ignition back to RUN.
4. If the CHECK TRAILER WIRING message reappears, the electrical
fault is on the vehicle side. If the CHECK TRAILER WIRING
message only reappears when
connecting the trailer wiring
harness to the vehicle, the
electrical fault is on the trailer side.
SERVICE TRAILER BRAKE SYSTEM:
This message will display when there
is a problem with the ITBC system.
If this message continues over
multiple ignition cycles, there is a
problem with the ITBC system. Have
the vehicle serviced.
If either the CHECK TRAILER WIRING
or SERVICE TRAILER BRAKE SYSTEM
message displays while driving, the
ITBC system may not be fully
functional or may not function at all.
When traffic conditions allow,
carefully pull the vehicle over to the
side of the road and turn the ignition
off. Check the wiring connection to
the trailer and turn the ignition back
on. If either of these messages
continues, either the vehicle or trailer
needs service.
A GM dealer may be able to diagnose
and repair problems with the trailer.
However, any diagnosis and repair of
the trailer is not covered under the

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368 VEHICLE CARE
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 369
California Perchlorate MaterialsRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 369
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 369
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 370
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 371
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 372
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 373
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . 375
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 376
Engine Air Filter Life System . . . . 377
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . 377
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 378
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 381
Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 382
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 383
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 383
Brake Pad Life System . . . . . . . . . . . 384
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 385
Battery - North America . . . . . . . . . 386 Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 386
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 387
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 387
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 387
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . 388
Glass Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 389
Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . 389
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 389Headlamp Aiming
Front Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . 390
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 390
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 390
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . 390
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . 392
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 393
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . 397
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 400
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 402
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403 Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . 404
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 405
Tire Terminology and
Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 406
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 409
Tire Pressure for High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 410
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . 411
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 412
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 416
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 417
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 418
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 419
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 420
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . 420
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 422
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 422
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 422
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 423
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 424
Full-Size Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 435

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VEHICLE CARE 369
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - NorthAmerica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 436
Towing the Vehicle
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 439
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . 440
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 444
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 449
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 452
General Information
For service and parts needs, visit your
dealer. You will receive genuine GM
parts and GM-trained and supported
service people.
Genuine GM parts have one of these
marks:
California Perchlorate
Materials Requirements
Certain types of automotive
applications, such as airbag initiators,
seat belt pretensioners, and lithium
batteries contained in electronic keys,
may contain perchlorate materials.
Perchlorate Material –special
handling may apply. See
www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/
perchlorate.
Accessories and
Modifications
Adding non-dealer accessories or
making modifications to the vehicle
can affect vehicle performance and
safety, including such things as
airbags, braking, stability, ride and
handling, emissions systems,
aerodynamics, durability, and
electronic systems like antilock
brakes, traction control, and stability
control. These accessories or
modifications could even cause
malfunction or damage not covered by
the vehicle warranty.

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VEHICLE CARE 371
Hood
{Warning
For vehicles with auto engine stop/
start, turn the vehicle off before
opening the hood. If the vehicle is
on, the engine will start when the
hood is opened. You or others could
be injured.
{Warning
Components under the hood can
get hot from running the engine. To
help avoid the risk of burning
unprotected skin, never touch these
components until they have cooled,
and always use a glove or towel to
avoid direct skin contact.
Clear any snow from the hood before
opening. To open the hood:
1. Pull the hood release lever with the
isymbol. It is on the lower left
side of the instrument panel.
2. Go to the front of the vehicle and locate the secondary release lever
under the front center of the hood.
Push the secondary hood release
lever to the right to release.
3. After you have partially lifted the hood, the gas strut system will
automatically lift the hood and
hold it in the fully open position. To close the hood:
1. Before closing the hood, be sure all filler caps are on properly, and all
tools are removed.
2. Pull the hood down until the strut system is no longer holding up
the hood.
3. Allow the hood to fall. Check to make sure the hood is latched
completely. Repeat this process
with additional force if necessary.
{Warning
Do not drive the vehicle if the hood
is not latched completely. The hood
could open fully, block your vision,
and cause a crash. You or others
could be injured. Always close the
hood completely before driving.
The Driver Information Center (DIC)
will display a message if the hood is
not fully closed, and the vehicle is
moving. Stop and turn off the vehicle,
check the hood for obstructions, and
close the hood again. Check to see if
the message still appears on the DIC.

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VEHICLE CARE 373
1. Remote Negative (–) Location. SeeJump Starting - North America
0436.
2. Positive (+) Terminal (Under Cover). See Jump Starting - North America
0 436.
3. Battery - North America 0386.
4. Engine Compartment Fuse Block
0393.
5. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking
Engine Oil” underEngine Oil 0373.
6. Engine Cooling Fans (Out of View). See Cooling System 0378.
7. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to
Add Engine Oil” underEngine Oil
0 373.
8. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Cooling System 0378.
9. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0377.
10. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake
Fluid 0385.
11. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding Washer Fluid” under
Washer Fluid 0383.Engine Oil
For diesel engine vehicles, see “Engine
Oil” in the Duramax diesel
supplement.
To ensure proper engine performance
and long life, careful attention must
be paid to engine oil. Following these
simple, but important steps will help
protect your investment:
.Use engine oil approved to the
proper specification and of the
proper viscosity grade. See
“Selecting the Right Engine Oil” in
this section.
.Check the engine oil level regularly
and maintain the proper oil level.
See “Checking Engine Oil” and
“When to Add Engine Oil” in this
section.
.Change the engine oil at the
appropriate time. See Engine Oil Life
System 0375.
.Always dispose of engine oil
properly. See “What to Do with Used
Oil” in this section.
Checking Engine Oil
Check the engine oil level regularly,
every 650 km (400 mi), especially prior
to a long trip. The engine oil dipstick
handle is a loop. See Engine
Compartment Overview 0372 for the
location.
{Warning
The engine oil dipstick handle may
be hot; it could burn you. Use a
towel or glove to touch the dipstick
handle.
If a low oil Driver Information Center
(DIC) message displays, check the oil
level.
Follow these guidelines:
.To get an accurate reading, park the
vehicle on level ground. Check the
engine oil level after the engine has
been off for at least two hours.
Checking the engine oil level on
steep grades or too soon after
engine shutoff can result in
incorrect readings. Accuracy