trailer CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT 2007 3.G Owners Manual

Starting and Operating Your
Vehicle
New Vehicle Break-In
Notice:Your vehicle does not need an
elaborate break-in. But it will perform better in
the long run if you follow these guidelines:
Keep your speed at 55 mph (88 km/h)
or less for the rst 500 miles (805 km).
Do not drive at any one constant speed,
fast or slow, for the rst 500 miles
(805 km). Do not make full-throttle starts.
Avoid downshifting to brake, or slow,
the vehicle.
Avoid making hard stops for the rst
200 miles (322 km) or so. During this time
your new brake linings are not yet
broken in. Hard stops with new linings can
mean premature wear and earlier
replacement. Follow this breaking-in
guideline every time you get new brake
linings.
Do not tow a trailer during break-in. See
Towing a Trailer on page 380for the
trailer towing capabilities of your vehicle
and more information.
Following break-in, engine speed and load can
be gradually increased.
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There are several different positions for the shift
lever.
PARK (P):This position locks your rear wheels.
It is the best position to use when you start your
engine because your vehicle cannot move easily.
When parked on a hill, especially when the vehicle
has a heavy load, you may notice an increase in the
effort to shift out of PARK (P). See Torque
Lock (Automatic Transmission) underShifting Into
Park (P) on page 138for more information.
{CAUTION:
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle
if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P)
with the parking brake rmly set. Your
vehicle can roll.
Do not leave your vehicle when the engine
is running unless you have to. If you have
left the engine running, the vehicle can
move suddenly. You or others could be
injured. To be sure your vehicle will not
move, even when you are on fairly level
ground, always set your parking brake
and move the shift lever to PARK (P). See
Shifting Into Park (P) on page 138.Ifyou
are pulling a trailer, seeTowing a Trailer
on page 380.
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DRIVE (D):This position is for normal driving.
It provides the best fuel economy for your vehicle.
If you need more power for passing, and you are:
Going less than about 35 mph (55 km/h), push
your accelerator pedal about halfway down.
Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push
the accelerator all the way down.
By doing this, the vehicle shifts down to the next
gear and has more power.
DRIVE (D) can be used when towing a trailer,
carrying a heavy load, driving on steep hills, or for
off-road driving. You may want to shift the
transmission to a lower gear selection if the
transmission shifts too often.
Downshifting the transmission in slippery road
conditions could result in skidding, see Skidding
underLoss of Control on page 338MANUAL MODE (M):This position lets drivers
select the range of gears appropriate for current
driving conditions. If your vehicle has this feature,
see Driver Shift Control (DSC) later in this
section.
Notice:Spinning the tires or holding the
vehicle in one place on a hill using only the
accelerator pedal may damage the
transmission. If you are stuck, do not spin the
tires. When stopping on a hill, use the
brakes to hold the vehicle in place.
Your vehicle has a shift stabilization feature that
adjusts the transmission shifting to the current
driving conditions in order to reduce rapid upshifts
and downshifts. This shift stabilization feature is
designed to determine, before making an upshift, if
the engine will be able to maintain vehicle
speed by analyzing things such as vehicle speed,
throttle position and vehicle load. If the shift
stabilization feature determines that a current
vehicle speed cannot be maintained, the
transmission does not upshift and instead holds
the current gear. In some cases, this may appear
to be a delayed shift, however the transmission
is operating normally.
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Your vehicle’s transmission uses adaptive shift
controls that compares key shift parameters
to pre-programmed ideal shifts stored in the
transmissions computer. The transmission
constantly makes adjustments to improve vehicle
performance according to how the vehicle is
being used, such as with a heavy load or when
temperature changes. During this adaptive
shift controls process, shifting may feel different as
the transmission determines the best settings.
When temperatures are very cold, the
Hydra-Matic
®6L80 automatic transmission’s gear
shifting may be delayed providing more stable
shifts until the engine warms up. Shifts may
be more noticeable with a cold transmission. This
difference in shifting is normal.
Driver Shift Control (DSC)
Your vehicle has a Driver Shift Control (DSC). The
DSC controls the vehicle’s transmission and
vehicle speed while driving down hill or towing a
trailer by allowing you to select a desired range of
gears.
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Tow/Haul Mode
Your vehicle has a tow/haul mode. The tow/haul
mode adjusts the transmission shift pattern to
reduce shift cycling, providing increased
performance, vehicle control, and transmission
cooling when towing or hauling heavy loads.Press the button located on the end of the shift
lever to turn the tow/haul on or off. When the
tow/haul is on, a light on the instrument panel
cluster will come on.
SeeTow/Haul Mode Light on page 242for more
information.
Also see “Tow Haul Mode” underTowing a Trailer
on page 380for more information.
The tow/haul mode works with the Autoride
®
feature, if the vehicle has this, to enhance the ride
when trailering or with a loaded vehicle. See
Autoride
®on page 379.
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A chime will activate and the warning light will
ash when the parking brake is applied and
the vehicle is moving at least 3 mph (5 km/h) for
at least three seconds.
To release the parking brake, hold the regular
brake pedal down. Pull the bottom edge of
the lever, located above the parking brake pedal,
with the parking brake symbol, to release the
parking brake.If the ignition is on when the parking brake is
released, the brake system warning light will
go off.
Notice:Driving with the parking brake on can
overheat the brake system and cause
premature wear or damage to brake system
parts. Verify that the parking brake is fully
released and the brake warning light is
off before driving.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on any
hill, seeTowing a Trailer on page 380.
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Shifting Into Park (P)
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the parking brake rmly set.
Your vehicle can roll. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be injured.
To be sure your vehicle will not move, even
when you are on fairly level ground, use
the steps that follow. If you are pulling a
trailer, seeTowing a Trailer on page 380.1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot
and set the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever into the PARK (P)
position by pulling the shift lever toward
you and moving it up as far as it will go.
3. Turn the ignition key to LOCK.
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you
can leave your vehicle with the ignition key in
your hand, your vehicle is in PARK (P).
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Running the Engine While Parked
It is better not to park with the engine running. But if
you ever have to, here are some things to know.
{CAUTION:
Idling the engine with the climate control
system off could allow dangerous exhaust
into your vehicle. See the earlier caution
underEngine Exhaust on page 141.
Also, idling in a closed-in place can let
deadly carbon monoxide (CO) into your
vehicle even if the climate control fan is at
the highest setting. One place this can
happen is a garage. Exhaust — with
CO — can come in easily. NEVER park in
a garage with the engine running.
Another closed-in place can be a blizzard.
SeeWinter Driving on page 366.
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the parking brake rmly
set. Your vehicle can roll. Do not leave
your vehicle when the engine is running
unless you have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be injured.
To be sure your vehicle will not move,
even when you are on fairly level ground,
always set your parking brake and move
the shift lever to PARK (P).
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle
will not move. SeeShifting Into Park (P) on
page 138.
If you are pulling a trailer, seeTowing a Trailer on
page 380.
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How the System Works when Backing
If the shift lever is in REVERSE (R), URPA detects
objects close to the rear bumper. The rst time an
object is detected a single beep will sound. If an
object is detected at a REVERSE (R) speed
between 0 mph (0 km/h) and 5 mph (8 km/h), the
following describes what will occur based on your
distance to a detected object located behind the
vehicle:
At distances between 40 inches (1 m) and
8 ft (2.5 m), a single amber light will come on.
At distances between 23 inches (0.6 m) and
40 inches (1 m), both amber lights will be on.
At distances between 12 inches (0.3 m)
and 23 inches (0.6 m), all three lights
(amber/amber/red) will be on.
At distances less than 12 inches (0.3 m),
a beeping sound will repeat for a short time and
all three lights (amber/amber/red) will ash.
When the System Does Not Seem to
Work Properly
If the URPA system will not activate due to a
temporary condition, the message PARKING
ASSIST OFF will be displayed on the DIC screen
and a red light will come on the URPA display
when the shift lever is moved into REVERSE (R).
This occurs under the following conditions:
The driver disables the system.
The parking brake pedal is depressed.
A trailer was attached to your vehicle, or a
bicycle or an object was hanging out of
your trunk during your last drive when you
turned off the vehicle. If the attached objects
are removed from your vehicle before the start
of your next drive, the system will return to
normal operation unless an object is detected
when the vehicle is shifted into REVERSE (R).
If this occurs, URPA assumes the object is still
attached, so you will have to wait until the
vehicle is driven forward above 15 mph
(25 km/h) before URPA will return to normal
operation.
215

If the Light is Flashing
The following may prevent more serious damage
to your vehicle:
Reducing vehicle speed
Avoiding hard accelerations
Avoiding steep uphill grades
If you are towing a trailer, reduce the
amount of cargo being hauled as soon as
it is possible
If the light stops ashing and remains on steady,
see “If the Light Is On Steady” following.
If the light continues to ash, when it is safe to
do so, stop the vehicle. Find a safe place to
park your vehicle. Turn the key off, wait at least
10 seconds and restart the engine. If the light
remains on steady, see “If the Light Is On Steady”
following. If the light is still ashing, follow the
previous steps, and see your dealer for service
as soon as possible.
If the Light Is On Steady
You may be able to correct the emission system
malfunction by considering the following:
Did you recently put fuel into your vehicle?
If so, reinstall the fuel cap, making sure to fully
install the cap. SeeFilling the Tank on page 402.
The diagnostic system can determine if the
fuel cap has been left off or improperly installed.
A loose or missing fuel cap will allow fuel to
evaporate into the atmosphere. A few driving
trips with the cap properly installed should turn
the light off.
Did you just drive through a deep puddle of
water?
If so, your electrical system may be wet. The
condition will usually be corrected when the
electrical system dries out. A few driving trips
should turn the light off.
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