service CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT 2010 3.G Workshop Manual

Before You Go Off-Roading
.Have all necessary maintenance and service
work done.
.Make sure there is enough fuel, that fluid levels are
where they should be, and that the spare tire is
fully inflated.
.Be sure to read all the information about
all-wheel-drive vehicles in this manual.
.Make sure all underbody shields, if the vehicle has
them, are properly attached.
.Know the local laws that apply to off-roading where
you will be driving or check with law enforcement
people in the area.
.Be sure to get the necessary permission if you will
be on private land.
If you think you will need some more ground clearance
at the front of your vehicle, you can remove the front
fascia lower air dam. The air dam is held in place by
two bolts and 10 snaps accessible from underneath the
front fascia. To remove the air dam:
1. Remove the two outboard air dam bolts.
2. With a flat‐blade tool, disengage the snaps.
3. After the bolts are removed and the snaps are disengaged, push forward on the air dam until it
is free.
Notice: Operating your vehicle for extended periods
without the front fascia lower air dam installed can
cause improper air flow to the engine. Always be
sure to replace the front fascia air dam when you
are finished off-road driving.
After off-roading, be sure to reinstall the air dam:
1. Line up the snaps and push the air dam rearward to engage the snaps.
2. Install the two outboard bolts.
6-14

Driving in Water
{WARNING:
Driving through rushing water can be dangerous.
Deep water can sweep your vehicle downstream
and you and your passengers could drown. If it is
only shallow water, it can still wash away the
ground from under your tires, and you could lose
traction and roll the vehicle over. Do not drive
through rushing water.
Heavy rain can mean flash flooding, and flood waters
demand extreme caution.
Find out how deep the water is before driving through
it. Do not try it if it is deep enough to cover the wheel
hubs, axles, or exhaust pipe —you probably will not get
through. Deep water can damage the axle and other
vehicle parts.
If the water is not too deep, drive slowly through it. At
faster speeds, water splashes on the ignition system
and the vehicle can stall. Stalling can also occur if you
get the tailpipe under water. If the tailpipe is under
water, you will never be able to start the engine.
When going through water, remember that when the
brakes get wet, it might take longer to stop. See Driving
in Rain and on Wet Roads on page 6‑25.
After Off-Road Driving
Remove any brush or debris that has collected on
the underbody, chassis, or under the hood. These
accumulations can be a fire hazard.
After operation in mud or sand, have the brake linings
cleaned and checked. These substances can cause
glazing and uneven braking. Check the body structure,
steering, suspension, wheels, tires, and exhaust system
for damage and check the fuel lines and cooling system
for any leakage.
The vehicle requires more frequent service due to
off-road use. Refer to the Maintenance Schedule for
additional information.
Driving at Night
Night driving is more dangerous than day driving
because some drivers are likely to be impaired —by
alcohol or drugs, with night vision problems, or
by fatigue.
Night driving tips include:
.Drive defensively.
.Do not drink and drive.
.Reduce headlamp glare by adjusting the inside
rearview mirror.
6-24

Other Rainy Weather Tips
Besides slowing down, other wet weather driving
tips include:
.Allow extra following distance.
.Pass with caution.
.Keep windshield wiping equipment in good shape.
.Keep the windshield washer fluid reservoir filled.
.Have good tires with proper tread depth.
SeeTires on page 7‑57.
.Turn off cruise control.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
To prepare your vehicle for a long trip, consider having
it serviced by your dealer/retailer before departing.
Things to check on your own include:
.Windshield Washer Fluid: Reservoir full? Windows
clean —inside and outside?
.Wiper Blades: In good shape?
.Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: All levels checked?
.Lamps:Do they all work and are lenses clean?
.Tires:Are treads good? Are tires inflated to
recommended pressure?
.Weather and Maps: Safe to travel? Have
up-to-date maps?
Highway Hypnosis
Always be alert and pay attention to your surroundings
while driving. If you become tired or sleepy, find a safe
place to park your vehicle and rest.
Other driving tips include:
.Keep the vehicle well ventilated.
.Keep interior temperature cool.
.Keep your eyes moving —scan the road ahead
and to the sides.
.Check the rearview mirror and vehicle
instruments often.
6-26

Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or through mountains is different
than driving on flat or rolling terrain. Tips for driving in
these conditions include:
.Keep the vehicle serviced and in good shape.
.Check all fluid levels and brakes, tires, cooling
system, and transmission.
.Going down steep or long hills, shift to a
lower gear.
{WARNING:
If you do not shift down, the brakes could get so
hot that they would not work well. You would then
have poor braking or even none going down a hill.
You could crash. Shift down to let the engine
assist the brakes on a steep downhill slope.
{WARNING:
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral) or with the
ignition off is dangerous. The brakes will have to
do all the work of slowing down and they could
get so hot that they would not work well. You
would then have poor braking or even none going
down a hill. You could crash. Always have the
engine running and the vehicle in gear when
going downhill.
.Stay in your own lane. Do not swing wide or cut
across the center of the road. Drive at speeds that
let you stay in your own lane.
.Top of hills: Be alert—something could be in your
lane (stalled car, accident).
.Pay attention to special road signs (falling rocks
area, winding roads, long grades, passing or
no-passing zones) and take appropriate action.
See Off-Road Driving
on page 6‑13for information
about driving off-road.
6-27

Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Drive carefully when there is snow or ice between
the tires and the road, creating less traction or grip.
Wet ice can occur at about 0°C (32°F) when freezing
rain begins to fall, resulting in even less traction. Avoid
driving on wet ice or in freezing rain until roads can be
treated with salt or sand.
Drive with caution, whatever the condition. Accelerate
gently so traction is not lost. Accelerating too quickly
causes the wheels to spin and makes the surface under
the tires slick, so there is even less traction.
Try not to break the fragile traction. If you accelerate too
fast, the drive wheels will spin and polish the surface
under the tires even more.
TheStabiliTrak
®Systemon page 6‑6improves the
ability to accelerate on slippery roads, but slow down
and adjust your driving to the road conditions. When
driving through deep snow, turn off the traction control
part of the StabiliTrak
®System to help maintain vehicle
motion at lower speeds. The
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
on page 6‑5improves vehicle stability during hard stops on a
slippery roads, but apply the brakes sooner than when
on dry pavement.
Allow greater following distance on any slippery road
and watch for slippery spots. Icy patches can occur
on otherwise clear roads in shaded areas. The surface
of a curve or an overpass can remain icy when the
surrounding roads are clear. Avoid sudden steering
maneuvers and braking while on ice.
Turn off cruise control, if equipped, on slippery surfaces.
Blizzard Conditions
Being stuck in snow can be in a serious situation. Stay
with the vehicle unless there is help nearby. If possible,
use the Roadside Service
on page 9‑8. To get help
and keep everyone in the vehicle safe:
.Turn on the Hazard Warning Flasherson
page 4‑3.
.Tie a red cloth to an outside mirror.
6-28

If a weight-distributing hitch is being used, it is
recommended to allow the shocks to inflate,
thereby leveling the vehicle prior to adjusting the
height. See“Weight Distributing Hitches and
Weight Carrying Hitches” underTowing a Trailer
on page 6‑42.
Truck-Camper Loading Information
The vehicle was neither designed nor intended to
carry a slide-in type camper.
Notice :Adding a slide-in camper or similar
equipment to the vehicle can damage it, and
the repairs would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. Do not install a slide-in
camper or similar equipment on the vehicle.
Towing
Towing Your Vehicle
To avoid damage, the disabled vehicle should be towed
with all four wheels off the ground. Consult your dealer/
retailer or a professional towing service if the disabled
vehicle must be towed. See Roadside Service
on
page 9‑8.
To tow the vehicle behind another vehicle for
recreational purposes (such as behind a motorhome),
see “Recreational Vehicle Towing” following.
Recreational Vehicle Towing
Recreational vehicle towing means towing the vehicle
behind another vehicle–such as behind a motorhome.
The two most common types of recreational vehicle
towing are known as dinghy towing and dolly towing.
Dinghy towing is towing the vehicle with all four wheels
on the ground. Dolly towing is towing the vehicle with
two wheels on the ground and two wheels up on a
device known as a dolly.
6-39

Maintenance When Trailer Towing
The vehicle needs service more often when pulling a
trailer. See this manual's Maintenance Schedule or
Index for more information. Things that are especially
important in trailer operation are automatic transmission
fluid, engine oil, axle lubricant, belts, cooling system
and brake system. It is a good idea to inspect these
before and during the trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
Trailer Wiring Harness
Heavy-Duty Trailer Wiring Harness Package
The vehicle has a seven-pin universal heavy-duty trailer
connector attached to the rear bumper beam next to the
integrated trailer hitch.The seven-wire harness contains the following
trailer circuits:
.Yellow: Left Stop/Turn Signal
.Dark Green: Right Stop/Turn Signal
.Brown: Taillamps
.White: Ground
.Light Green: Back-up Lamps
.Red w/ Black Stripe: Battery Feed*
.Dark Blue: Trailer Brake*
*The fuses for these two circuits are installed in the
underhood electrical center, but the wires are not
connected. They should be connected by your
dealer/retailer or a qualified service center.
If charging a remote (non-vehicle) battery, press the
tow/haul mode button located at the end of the shift
lever. This will boost the vehicle system voltage and
properly charge the battery. If the trailer is too light for
tow/haul mode, turn on the headlamps as a second way
to boost the vehicle system and charge the battery.
6-53

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 instrument panel
contains blunt cut wires near the data link connector for
the trailer brake controller. The harness contains the
following wires:
.Dark Blue: Brake Signal to Trailer Connector
.Red/Black: Battery
.Light Blue/White: Brake Switch
.White: Ground
It should be installed by your dealer/retailer or a
qualified service center.
Trailer Recommendations
Subtract the hitch loads from the Cargo Weight
Rating (CWR). CWR is the maximum weight of the load
the vehicle can carry. It does not include the weight of
the people inside, but you can figure about 150 lbs.
(68 kg) for each passenger. The total cargo load must
not be more than the vehicles CWR.
Weigh the vehicle with the trailer attached, so the
GVWR or GAWR are not exceeded. If using a
weight-distributing hitch, weigh the vehicle without the
spring bars in place.
The best performance is obtained by correctly
spreading out the weight of the load and choosing the
correct hitch and trailer brakes.
For more information see Towing a Trailer
on
page 6‑42.
6-54

Section 7 Service and Appearance Care
Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-4
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-4
California Proposition 65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-5
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-5
Doing Your Own Service Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-5
Adding Equipment to the Outside of the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-6
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-6
Gasoline Octane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-7
Gasoline Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-7
California Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-7
Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-7
Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-8
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-9
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-10
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-12
Checking Things Under the Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-12
Hood Release . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-13
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-14
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-15
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-18
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-20 Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-22
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-26
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-27
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-33
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-35
Engine Fan Noise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-35
Power Steering Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-36
Windshield Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-37
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-38
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-41
Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-42
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-47
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-48
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-49
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-50
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-53
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . 7-53
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Sidemarker, Stoplamps and Back-up Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-53
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-55
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-55
7-1

Section 7 Service and Appearance Care
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement. . . . . . . . . . .7-56
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-57
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-58
Tire Terminology and Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-61
Inflation - Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-64
High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-65
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-66
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-67
Tire Inspection and Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-70
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-71
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-72
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-74
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-74
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-76
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-76
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-77
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-78
Changing a Flat Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-79
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-80
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-84
Secondary Latch System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-89
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools . . . . . . . . . 7-92
Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-96 Appearance Care
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-96
Interior Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-96
Fabric/Carpet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-98
Leather . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-98
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic Surfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-99
Wood Panels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-99
Speaker Covers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-99
Care of Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-99
Weatherstrips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-100
Washing Your Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-100
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-100
Finish Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-101
Windshield and Wiper Blades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-101
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels and Trim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-102
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-103
Sheet Metal Damage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-103
Finish Damage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-103
Underbody Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-103
Chemical Paint Spotting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-103
Vehicle Identification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-104
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) . . . . . . . . . . . 7-104
Service Parts Identification Label . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-104
7-2