tow CADILLAC ESCALADE 2009 3.G Manual Online

Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels
and Trim
The vehicle may have either aluminum or chrome-plated
wheels.
Keep the wheels clean using a soft clean cloth with mild
soap and water. Rinse with clean water. After rinsing
thoroughly, dry with a soft clean towel. A wax may then
be applied.
Notice:Chrome wheels and other chrome trim may
be damaged if the vehicle is not washed after
driving on roads that have been sprayed with
magnesium, calcium or sodium chloride. These
chlorides are used on roads for conditions such as
ice and dust. Always wash the vehicle’s chrome
with soap and water after exposure.
Notice:Using strong soaps, chemicals, abrasive
polishes, cleaners, brushes, or cleaners that contain
acid on aluminum or chrome-plated wheels, could
damage the surface of the wheel(s). The repairs
would not be covered by the warranty. Use
only approved cleaners on aluminum or
chrome-plated wheels.The surface of these wheels is similar to the painted
surface of the vehicle. Do not use strong soaps,
chemicals, abrasive polishes, abrasive cleaners,
cleaners with acid, or abrasive cleaning brushes on
them because they could damage the surface. Do not
use chrome polish on aluminum wheels.
Notice:Using chrome polish on aluminum wheels
could damage the wheels. The repairs would not
be covered by the warranty. Use chrome polish on
chrome wheels only.
Use chrome polish only on chrome-plated wheels, but
avoid any painted surface of the wheel, and buff off
immediately after application.
Notice:Driving the vehicle through an automatic
car wash that has silicone carbide tire cleaning
brushes, could damage the aluminum or
chrome-plated wheels. The repairs would not be
covered by the warranty. Never drive a vehicle
equipped with aluminum or chrome-plated wheels
through an automatic car wash that uses silicone
carbide tire cleaning brushes.
6-100

(b)Visually inspect front and rear suspension and
steering system for damaged, loose, or missing parts,
signs of wear or lack of lubrication. Inspect power
steering lines and hoses for proper hook-up, binding,
leaks, cracks, chafing, etc. Visually check constant
velocity joints, rubber boots, and axle seals for leaks.
(c)Visually inspect hoses and have them replaced
if they are cracked, swollen, or deteriorated. Inspect
all pipes, fittings, and clamps; replace with genuine
parts as needed. To help ensure proper operation,
a pressure test of the cooling system and pressure
cap and cleaning the outside of the radiator and
air conditioning condenser is recommended at
least once a year.
(d)Inspect wiper blades for wear, cracking, or
contamination. Clean the windshield and wiper blades,
if contaminated. Replace wiper blades that are worn
or damaged. See Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
on page 6-54 and Windshield, Backglass, and Wiper
Blades on page 6-99 for more information.
(e)Make sure the safety belt reminder light and safety
belt assemblies are working properly. Look for any
other loose or damaged safety belt system parts. If you
see anything that might keep a safety belt system
from doing its job, have it repaired. Have any torn or
frayed safety belts replaced. Also see Checking
the Restraint Systems on page 1-93.(f)Lubricate all key lock cylinders, hood latch assembly,
secondary latch, pivots, spring anchor, release pawl, rear
compartment hinges, outer tailgate handle pivot points,
latch bolt, fuel door hinge, and folding seat hardware.
More frequent lubrication may be required when exposed
to a corrosive environment. Applying silicone grease on
weatherstrips with a clean cloth will make them last
longer, seal better, and not stick or squeak.
(g)Inspect system. Check all fuel and vapor lines and
hoses for proper hook-up, routing, and condition.
Check that the purge valve works properly, if equipped.
Replace as needed.
(h)Change automatic transmission fluid and filter if the
vehicle is mainly driven under one or more of these
conditions:
In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
regularly reaches 90°F (32°C) or higher.
In hilly or mountainous terrain.
When doing frequent trailer towing.
Uses such as found in taxi, police, or delivery
service.
(i)Drain, flush, and refill cooling system. This service
can be complex; you should have your dealer/retailer
perform this service. See Engine Coolant on page 6-26
for what to use. Inspect hoses. Clean radiator,
condenser, pressure cap, and filler neck. Pressure
test the cooling system and pressure cap.
7-8

(j)A fluid loss in any vehicle system could indicate a
problem. Have the system inspected and repaired and
the fluid level checked. Add fluid if needed.
(k)If driving regularly under dusty conditions, inspect
the filter at each engine oil change.
(l)Visually inspect belt for fraying, excessive cracks, or
obvious damage. Replace belt if necessary.
(m)Check vent hose at transfer case for kinks and
proper installation. Check to be sure vent hose is
unobstructed, clear, and free of debris. During any
maintenance, if a power washer is used to clean mud
and dirt from the underbody, care should be taken to not
directly spray the transfer case output seals. High
pressure water can overcome the seals and contaminate
the transfer case fluid. Contaminated fluid will decrease
the life of the transfer case and should be replaced.
(n)Severe Service: Change transfer case fluid if
the vehicle is mainly used for trailer towing or driven
in city traffic, wet environment, or high ambient
temperatures.
Owner Checks and Services
These owner checks and services should be performed
at the intervals specied to help ensure vehicle
safety, dependability, and emission control performance.
Your dealer/retailer can assist with these checks and
services.Be sure any necessary repairs are completed at once.
Whenever any uids or lubricants are added to the
vehicle, make sure they are the proper ones, as shown
inRecommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 7-13.
At Each Fuel Fill
It is important to perform these underhood checks at
each fuel fill.
Engine Oil Level Check
Notice:It is important to check the engine oil
regularly and keep it at the proper level. Failure to
keep the engine oil at the proper level can cause
damage to the engine not covered by the vehicle
warranty.
Check the engine oil level and add the proper oil if
necessary. SeeEngine Oil on page 6-16.
Engine Coolant Level Check
Check the engine coolant level and add DEX-COOL®
coolant mixture if necessary. SeeEngine Coolant
on page 6-26.
Windshield Washer Fluid Level Check
Check the windshield washer uid level in the windshield
washer uid reservoir and add the proper uid if
necessary.
7-9

Cadillac Owner Privileges™
Emergency Fuel Delivery:Delivery of enough fuel
for the vehicle to get to the nearest service station.
Lock-Out Service:Service is provided to unlock the
vehicle if you are locked out. A remote unlock may
be available if you have OnStar
®. For security
reasons, the driver must present identication
before this service is given.
Emergency Tow From a Public Road or
Highway:Tow to the nearest Cadillac dealer for
warranty service, or if the vehicle was in a crash and
cannot be driven. Assistance is also given when
the vehicle is stuck in the sand, mud, or snow.
Flat Tire Change:Service is provided to change a
at tire with spare tire. The spare tire, if equipped,
must be in good condition and properly inated.
It is your responsibility for the repair or replacement
of the tire if it is not covered by the warranty.
Battery Jump Start:Service is provided to jump
start a dead battery.
Trip Routing Service:Detailed maps of North
America are provided when requested either
with the most direct route or the most scenic route.
Additional travel information is also available.
Allow three weeks for delivery.
Trip Interruption Benets and Assistance:If your
trip is interrupted due to a warranty failure, incidental
expenses may be reimbursed during the
5 year/100,000 miles (160 000 km) Powertrain
warranty period. Items considered are hotel, meals,
and rental car.
Cadillac Technician Roadside Service
(U.S. only)
Cadillac’s exceptional Roadside Service is more than an
auto club or towing service. It provides every Cadillac
owner in the United States with the advantage of
contacting a Cadillac advisor and, where available, a
Cadillac trained dealer technician who can provide
on-site service.
A dealer technician will travel to your location within a
30 mile radius of a participating Cadillac dealership.
If beyond this radius, we will arrange to have your car
towed to the nearest Cadillac dealership. Each
technician travels with a specially equipped service
vehicle complete with the necessary Cadillac parts
and tools required to handle most roadside repairs.
8-8

Services Not Included in Roadside
Assistance
Impound towing caused by violation of any laws.
Legal nes.
Mounting, dismounting or changing of snow tires,
chains, or other traction devices.
Towing or services for vehicles driven on a
non-public road or highway.
Services Specic to Canadian
Purchased Vehicles
Fuel delivery:Reimbursement is approximately
$5 Canadian. Diesel fuel delivery may be
restricted. Propane and other fuels are not
provided through this service.
Lock-Out Service:Vehicle registration is required.
Trip Routing Service:Limit of six requests
per year.
Trip Interruption Benets and Assistance:
Pre-authorization, original detailed receipts, and
a copy of the repair orders are required. Once
authorization has been received, the Roadside
Assistance advisor will help you make arrangements
and explain how to receive payment.
Alternative Service:If assistance cannot be
provided right away, the Roadside Assistance
advisor may give you permission to get local
emergency road service. You will receive payment,
up to $100, after sending the original receipt to
Roadside Assistance. Mechanical failures may be
covered, however any cost for parts and labor
for repairs not covered by the warranty are
the owner responsibility.
Scheduling Service Appointments
When your vehicle requires warranty service, contact
your dealer/retailer and request an appointment.
By scheduling a service appointment and advising your
service consultant of your transportation needs, your
dealer/retailer can help minimize your inconvenience.
If your vehicle cannot be scheduled into the service
department immediately, keep driving it until it can be
scheduled for service, unless, of course, the problem is
safety-related. If it is, please call your dealership/retailer,
let them know this, and ask for instructions.
If the dealer/retailer requests you to bring the vehicle for
service, you are urged to do so as early in the work
day as possible to allow for the same day repair.
8-9

If a Crash Occurs
Here is what to do if you are involved in a crash.
Try to relax and then check to make sure you are all
right. If you are uninjured, make sure that no one else
in your vehicle, or the other vehicle, is injured.
If there has been an injury, call emergency services
for help. Do not leave the scene of a crash until all
matters have been taken care of. Move your vehicle
only if its position puts you in danger or you are
instructed to move it by a police officer.
Give only the necessary and requested information
to police and other parties involved in the crash. Do
not discuss your personal condition, mental frame of
mind, or anything unrelated to the crash. This will
help guard against post-crash legal action.
If you need roadside assistance, call GM Roadside
Assistance. SeeRoadside Service on page 8-7for
more information.
If your vehicle cannot be driven, know where the
towing service will be taking it. Get a card from the
tow truck operator or write down the driver’s name,
the service’s name, and the phone number.
Remove any valuables from your vehicle before it is
towed away. Make sure this includes your insurance
information and registration if you keep these items
in your vehicle.
Gather the important information you will need from
the other driver. Things like name, address, phone
number, driver’s license number, vehicle license
plate, vehicle make, model and model year, Vehicle
Identication Number (VIN), insurance company and
policy number, and a general description of the
damage to the other vehicle.
If possible, call your insurance company from the
scene of the crash. They will walk you through the
information they will need. If they ask for a police
report, phone or go to the police department
headquarters the next day and you can get a copy of
the report for a nominal fee. In some states/provinces
with “no fault” insurance laws, a report may not be
necessary. This is especially true if there are no
injuries and both vehicles are driveable.
Choose a reputable collision repair facility for your
vehicle. Whether you select a GM dealer/retailer or a
private collision repair facility to x the damage,
make sure you are comfortable with them.
Remember, you will have to feel comfortable with
their work for a long time.
Once you have an estimate, read it carefully and
make sure you understand what work will be
performed on your vehicle. If you have a question,
ask for an explanation. Reputable shops welcome
this opportunity.
8-13

Managing the Vehicle Damage Repair
Process
In the event that your vehicle requires damage repairs,
GM recommends that you take an active role in its repair.
If you have a pre-determined repair facility of choice, take
your vehicle there, or have it towed there. Specify to the
facility that any required replacement collision parts be
original equipment parts, either new Genuine GM parts or
recycled original GM parts. Remember, recycled parts
will not be covered by your GM vehicle warranty.
Insurance pays the bill for the repair, but you must live
with the repair. Depending on your policy limits, your
insurance company may initially value the repair
using aftermarket parts. Discuss this with your repair
professional, and insist on Genuine GM parts. Remember
if your vehicle is leased you may be obligated to have the
vehicle repaired with Genuine GM parts, even if your
insurance coverage does not pay the full cost.
If another party’s insurance company is paying for the
repairs, you are not obligated to accept a repair
valuation based on that insurance company’s collision
policy repair limits, as you have no contractual limits with
that company. In such cases, you can have control of
the repair and parts choices as long as cost stays within
reasonable limits.
Reporting Safety Defects
Reporting Safety Defects to the
United States Government
If you believe that your vehicle has a defect which
could cause a crash or could cause injury or death,
you should immediately inform the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
in addition to notifying General Motors.
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may
open an investigation, and if it nds that a safety
defect exists in a group of vehicles, it may
order a recall and remedy campaign. However,
NHTSA cannot become involved in individual
problems between you, your dealer/retailer,
or General Motors.
To contact NHTSA, you may call the Vehicle
Safety Hotline toll-free at 1-888-327-4236
(TTY: 1-800-424-9153); go to safercar.gov;
or write to:
Administrator, NHTSA
1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington D.C., 20590
You can also obtain other information about
motor vehicle safety from safercar.gov.
8-14

I
Ignition Positions.............................................2-25
Infants and Young Children, Restraints...............1-54
Ination - Tire Pressure...................................6-61
Instrument Panel
Brightness..................................................3-21
Cluster.......................................................3-32
Overview..................................................... 3-4
J
Jump Starting.................................................6-40
K
Keyless Entry System....................................... 2-4
Keys............................................................... 2-3
L
Labeling, Tire Sidewall.....................................6-57
Lamp
Malfunction Indicator....................................3-40
Lamps
Dome ........................................................3-21
Dome Lamp Override...................................3-21
Reading.....................................................3-22Lap Belt........................................................1-48
Lap-Shoulder Belt...........................................1-40
LATCH System for Child Restraints...................1-61
LED Lighting..................................................6-51
Level Control..................................................5-41
License Plate Lamps.......................................6-53
Liftgate, Power...............................................2-14
Liftgate/Liftglass..............................................2-12
Liftglass/Liftgate..............................................2-12
Light
Airbag Readiness........................................3-34
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning............3-38
Brake System Warning.................................3-37
Charging System.........................................3-36
Cruise Control.............................................3-44
Fog Lamp ..................................................3-44
Highbeam On.............................................3-45
Lights On Reminder.....................................3-44
Oil Pressure...............................................3-43
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator..................3-35
Safety Belt Reminders..................................3-33
Security.....................................................3-44
StabiliTrak®Indicator....................................3-38
Tire Pressure..............................................3-39
Tow/Haul Mode...........................................3-45
Lighting
Entry.........................................................3-21
Exit...........................................................3-21
LED ..........................................................6-51
7

Phone
Bluetooth®..................................................3-73
Power
Door Locks.................................................2-10
Electrical System.......................................6-103
Liftgate......................................................2-14
Lumbar Controls........................................... 1-4
Reclining Seatbacks...................................... 1-8
Retained Accessory.....................................2-26
Seat ............................................................ 1-3
Steering Fluid.............................................6-34
Windows....................................................2-18
Power Assist Steps.........................................2-16
Privacy..........................................................8-17
Event Data Recorders..................................8-17
Navigation System.......................................8-18
OnStar .......................................................8-18
Radio Frequency Identication.......................8-18
Problems with Route Guidance.........................4-58
Programmable Automatic Door Locks.................2-11
R
Radio............................................................4-59
Radio Frequency Identication (RFID), Privacy....8-18
Radios
Rear Seat Audio........................................3-111
Reception.................................................3-114
Theft-Deterrent..........................................3-113Rainsense™ II Wipers....................................... 3-9
Reading Lamps..............................................3-22
Rear Air Conditioning and Heating System
and Electronic Climate Controls.....................3-30
Rear Axle......................................................6-46
Locking........................................................ 5-9
Rear Door Security Locks................................2-11
Rear Heated Seats.........................................1-10
Rear Seat Armrest..........................................2-65
Rear Seat Audio (RSA)..................................3-111
Rear Seat Entertainment System..............3-85, 3-95
Rear Side Window Antenna............................3-115
Rear Storage Area..........................................2-65
Rear Vision Camera........................................2-48
Rear Windshield Washer/Wiper.........................3-11
Rearview Mirror, Automatic Dimming..................2-40
Rearview Mirrors.............................................2-40
Reclining Seatbacks, Power............................... 1-8
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants.................7-13
Recovery Hooks.............................................5-31
Recreational Vehicle Towing.............................5-38
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System.................. 2-4
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System, Operation..... 2-5
Remote Vehicle Start........................................ 2-8
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing
the Spare Tire.............................................6-82
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools...................6-78
Replacement Bulbs.........................................6-53
Replacement Parts, Maintenance......................7-15
10

Tires (cont.)
High-Speed Operation..................................6-63
If a Tire Goes Flat.......................................6-76
Ination - Tire Pressure................................6-61
Inspection and Rotation................................6-68
Installing the Spare Tire................................6-82
Pressure Monitor Operation...........................6-65
Pressure Monitor System..............................6-63
Removing the Flat Tire.................................6-82
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools...............6-78
Secondary Latch System..............................6-86
Spare Tire..................................................6-93
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools............6-89
Tire Sidewall Labeling..................................6-57
Tire Terminology and Denitions....................6-59
Uniform Tire Quality Grading.........................6-72
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance.................6-74
Wheel Replacement.....................................6-74
When It Is Time for New Tires......................6-69
Tow/Haul Mode ...............................................2-33
Tow/Haul Mode Light.......................................3-45
Towing
Recreational Vehicle.....................................5-38
Towing a Trailer..........................................5-42
Your Vehicle...............................................5-38Traction
Magnetic Ride Control................................... 5-9
Road Sensing Suspension.............................. 5-9
StabiliTrak
®System....................................... 5-6
Trailer
Recommendations.......................................5-55
Transmission
Fluid, Automatic...........................................6-21
Transmission Operation, Automatic....................2-29
Trip Odometer................................................3-33
Turn and Lane-Change Signals.......................... 3-7
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever........................... 3-7
U
Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist (URPA)...............2-42
Uniform Tire Quality Grading............................6-72
Universal Home Remote System.......................2-55
Operation...................................................2-55
13