trailer CADILLAC ESCALADE 2008 3.G User Guide

If the Light is Flashing
The following can prevent more serious damage to
your vehicle:
Reduce vehicle speed.
Avoid hard accelerations.
Avoid 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 the vehicle.
Turn the ignition 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/retailer
for service as soon as possible.
If the Light Is On Steady
You might 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 5-7. The diagnostic
system can determine if the fuel cap has been left off orimproperly installed. A loose or missing fuel cap allows
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 vehicle’s electrical system might be wet.
The condition is usually corrected when the electrical
system dries out. A few driving trips should turn the
light off.
Have you recently changed brands of fuel?
If so, be sure to fuel your vehicle with quality fuel. See
Gasoline Octane on page 5-5. Poor fuel quality causes
the engine not to run as efficiently as designed. You
might notice this as stalling after start-up, stalling when
you put the vehicle into gear, misring, hesitation on
acceleration, or stumbling on acceleration — these
conditions might go away once the engine is warmed up.
This will be detected by the system and cause the light
to turn on.
If you experience one or more of these conditions,
change the fuel brand you use. It will require at least
one full tank of the proper fuel to turn the light off.
If none of the above steps have made the light turn off,
your dealer/retailer can check the vehicle. Your dealer/
retailer has the proper test equipment and diagnostic
tools to x any mechanical or electrical problems that
might have developed.
3-44

Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle..........4-2
Defensive Driving...........................................4-2
Drunk Driving.................................................4-2
Control of a Vehicle........................................4-3
Braking.........................................................4-3
Antilock Brake System (ABS)...........................4-4
Braking in Emergencies...................................4-5
Locking Differential.........................................4-5
Road Sensing Suspension...............................4-6
StabiliTrak
®System........................................4-6
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) System.........................4-8
Steering........................................................4-9
Off-Road Recovery.......................................4-11
Passing.......................................................4-11
Loss of Control.............................................4-11
Off-Road Driving...........................................4-12
Driving at Night............................................4-26Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads..................4-26
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.......................4-28
Highway Hypnosis........................................4-28
Hill and Mountain Roads................................4-29
Winter Driving..............................................4-30
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud,
Ice, or Snow.............................................4-33
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out.................4-34
Recovery Hooks...........................................4-34
Loading Your Vehicle....................................4-35
Towing..........................................................4-41
Towing Your Vehicle.....................................4-41
Recreational Vehicle Towing...........................4-41
Autoride
®.....................................................4-43
Towing a Trailer...........................................4-44
Trailer Recommendations...............................4-56
Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
4-1

Road Sensing Suspension
The Road Sensing Suspension (RSS) feature provides
superior vehicle ride and handling under a variety of
passenger and loading conditions.
The system is fully automatic and uses a computer
controller to continuously monitor vehicle speed, wheel
to body position, lift/dive and steering position of the
vehicle. The controller then sends signals to each shock
absorber to independently adjust the damping level to
provide the optimum vehicle ride.
RSS also interacts with the tow/haul mode that, when
engaged, will provide additional control of the shock
absorbers. This additional control results in better
ride and handling characteristics when the vehicle is
loaded or towing a trailer. See “Tow/Haul Mode” under
Towing a Trailer on page 4-44.
StabiliTrak®System
Your vehicle may have the StabiliTrak®system which
combines antilock brake, traction and stability control
systems and helps the driver maintain directional control
of the vehicle in most driving conditions.When you rst start your vehicle and begin to drive
away, the system performs several diagnostic checks
to ensure there are no problems. You may hear or
feel the system working. This is normal and does not
mean there is a problem with your vehicle. The system
should initialize before the vehicle reaches 20 mph
(32 km/h). In some cases, it may take approximately
two miles of driving before the system initializes.
If the system fails to turn on or activate, the StabiliTrak
®
light along with one of the following messages will
be displayed on the Driver Information Center (DIC):
TRACTION CONTROL OFF, SERVICE TRACTION
CONTROL, STABILITRAK OFF, SERVICE
STABILITRAK. If these DIC messages appear, make
sure the StabiliTrak
®system has not been turned
off using the StabiliTrak®on/off button. Then turn
the steering wheel clockwise from the nine o’clock
position to the three o’clock position. If this clears the
message(s), your vehicle does not need servicing.
If this does not clear the message(s), then turn
the vehicle off, wait 15 seconds, and then turn it
back on again to reset the system. If any of these
messages still appear on the Driver Information Center
(DIC), your vehicle should be taken in for service.
For more information on the DIC messages, see
Driver Information Center (DIC) on page 3-48.
4-6

4.The resulting gure equals the available
amount of cargo and luggage load capacity.
For example, if the “XXX” amount equals
1400 lbs and there will be ve 150 lb
passengers in your vehicle, the amount of
available cargo and luggage load capacity
is 650 lbs (1400−750 (5 x 150) = 650 lbs).
5.Determine the combined weight of luggage
and cargo being loaded on the vehicle. That
weight may not safely exceed the available
cargo and luggage load capacity calculated
in Step 4.
6.If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, the
load from your trailer will be transferred to
your vehicle. Consult this manual to determine
how this reduces the available cargo and
luggage load capacity of your vehicle.
SeeTowing a Trailer on page 4-44for
important information on towing a trailer,
towing safety rules and trailering tips.Item Description Total
AVehicle Capacity
Weight for
Example 1=1,000 lbs (453 kg)
BSubtract Occupant
Weight 150 lbs
(68 kg)×2=300 lbs (136 kg)
CAvailable Occupant
and Cargo Weight=700 lbs (317 kg
) Example 1
4-37

Automatic Level Control
The automatic level control rear suspension
comes as a part of the Road Sensing Suspension.
SeeRoad Sensing Suspension on page 4-6.
This type of level control is fully automatic and
will provide a better leveled riding position as well
as better handling under a variety of passenger and
loading conditions. An air compressor connected
to the rear shocks will raise or lower the rear of
the vehicle to maintain proper vehicle height.
The system is activated when the ignition key
is turned to RUN and will automatically adjust
vehicle height thereafter. The system may
exhaust (lower vehicle height) for up to 10 minutes
after the ignition key has been turned to LOCK.
You may hear the air compressor operating when
the height is being adjusted.
If a weight-distributing hitch is being used, it is
recommended to allow the shocks to inate,
thereby leveling the vehicle prior to adjusting
the height. See “Weight distributing Hitches
and Weight Carrying Hitches” underTowing
a Trailer on page 4-44
.
Towing
Towing Your Vehicle
Consult your dealer/retailer or a professional towing
service if you need to have your disabled vehicle towed.
SeeRoadside Service on page 7-6.
If you want to tow your 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 your vehicle
behind another vehicle — such as behind a motorhome.
The two most common types of recreational vehicle
towing are known as “dinghy towing” (towing your vehicle
with all four wheels on the ground) and “dolly towing”
(towing your vehicle with two wheels on the ground and
two wheels up on a device known as a “dolly”).
With the proper preparation and equipment, many
vehicles can be towed in these ways. See “Dinghy
Towing” and “Dolly Towing”, following.
4-41

Here are some important things to consider before
you do recreational vehicle towing:
What’s the towing capacity of the towing vehicle?
Be sure you read the tow vehicle manufacturer’s
recommendations.
How far will you tow? Some vehicles have
restrictions on how far and how long they
can tow.
Do you have the proper towing equipment?
See your dealer or trailering professional
for additional advice and equipment
recommendations.
Is your vehicle ready to be towed? Just as you
would prepare your vehicle for a long trip, you’ll
want to make sure your vehicle is prepared to
be towed. SeeBefore Leaving on a Long Trip
on page 4-28.
Dinghy Towing and Dolly Towing
All-Wheel-Drive Vehicles
Notice:Towing an all-wheel-drive vehicle with all
four wheels on the ground, or even with only two of
its wheels on the ground, will damage drivetrain
components. Do not tow an all-wheel-drive vehicle
if any of its wheels will be on the ground.
Your vehicle is not designed to be towed with any of the
wheels on the ground. If your vehicle must be towed,
seeTowing Your Vehicle on page 4-41.
Dinghy Towing
Two-Wheel-Drive Vehicles
Notice:If you tow a two-wheel-drive vehicle with
all four wheels on the ground, the transmission
could be damaged. The repairs would not be
covered by your warranty. Do not tow a
two-wheel-drive vehicle with all four wheels
on the ground.
Two-wheel-drive vehicles should not be towed with
all four wheels on the ground. Two-wheel-drive
transmissions have no provisions for internal
lubrication while being towed.
4-42

Dolly Towing
Two-Wheel-Drive Vehicles
(Rear Wheels Off the Ground)
Notice:If you tow a two-wheel-drive vehicle with
the rear wheels on the ground, the transmission
could be damaged. The repairs would not be
covered by your warranty. Never tow your vehicle
with the rear wheels on the ground.
Two-wheel-drive vehicles should not be towed with
the rear wheels on the ground. Two-wheel-drive
transmissions have no provisions for internal
lubrication while being towed.
Two-wheel-drive vehicles can be towed on a dolly
with the front wheels on the ground provided that
the wheels are straight.
Use the following procedure to dolly tow your vehicle:
1. Drive the vehicle up onto the tow dolly.
2. Shift the transmission to PARK (P).
3. Turn the engine off, but leave the ignition on.
4. Firmly set the parking brake.
5. Securely attach the vehicle being towed to the
tow dolly.
6. Release the parking brake only after the vehicle
being towed is rmly attached to the towing vehicle.
Autoride®
The Autoride®feature provides improved vehicle
ride and handling under a variety of passenger and
loading conditions.
The system is fully automatic and uses a computer
controller to continuously monitor vehicle speed,
wheel to body position, lift/dive and steering position
of the vehicle. The controller then sends signals to each
shock absorber to independently adjust the damping
level to provide the optimum vehicle ride.
Autoride
®also interacts with the tow/haul mode that,
when activated, will provide additional control of
the shock absorbers. This additional control results
in better ride and handling characteristics when
the vehicle is loaded or towing a trailer. See “Tow/Haul
Mode” underTowing a Trailer on page 4-44for more
information.
4-43

Towing a Trailer
Do not tow a trailer during break-in. SeeNew Vehicle
Break-In on page 2-24for more information.
{CAUTION:
If you do not use the correct equipment and
drive properly, you can lose control when
you pull a trailer. For example, if the trailer is
too heavy, the brakes may not work well — or
even at all. You and your passengers could
be seriously injured. You may also damage
your vehicle; the resulting repairs would not
be covered by your warranty. Pull a trailer
only if you have followed all the steps in this
section. Ask your dealer/retailer for advice
and information about towing a trailer with
your vehicle.Notice:Pulling a trailer improperly can damage
your vehicle and result in costly repairs not covered
by your warranty. To pull a trailer correctly, follow
the advice in this part, and see your dealer for
important information about towing a trailer with
your vehicle.
To identify the trailering capacity of your vehicle, you
should read the information in “Weight of the Trailer”
that appears later in this section.
Trailering is different than just driving your vehicle
by itself. Trailering means changes in handling,
acceleration, braking, durability and fuel economy.
Successful, safe trailering takes correct equipment,
and it has to be used properly.
That’s the reason for this part. In it are many time-tested,
important trailering tips and safety rules. Many of
these are important for your safety and that of your
passengers. So please read this section carefully
before you pull a trailer.
4-44

If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer
If you do, here are some important points:
There are many different laws, including speed limit
restrictions, having to do with trailering. Make sure
your rig will be legal, not only where you live
but also where you’ll be driving. A good source for
this information can be state or provincial police.
Consider using a sway control. See “Hitches”
later in this section.
Don’t tow a trailer at all during the rst 500 miles
(800 km) your new vehicle is driven. Your engine,
axle or other parts could be damaged.
Then, during the rst 500 miles (800 km) that you
tow a trailer, don’t drive over 50 mph (80 km/h)
and don’t make starts at full throttle. This helps
your engine and other parts of your vehicle wear
in at the heavier loads.
You can tow in DRIVE (D). If the transmission
shifts too often (e.g., under heavy loads and/or hilly
conditions) you may want to shift the transmission
to a lower gear selection or enable the Tow/Haul
mode. See “Tow/Haul Mode” later in this section.Three important considerations have to do with weight:
the weight of the trailer
the weight of the trailer tongue
and the weight on your vehicle’s tires
Tow/Haul Mode
Tow/Haul is designed to assist while your vehicle
is pulling a large or heavy load or trailer. Tow/Haul
is most useful while pulling such a load in rolling
terrain, in stop-and-go traffic, or when you need
improved low-speed control, such as when parking.
The purpose of the Tow/Haul mode is to:
Reduce the frequency and improve the
predictability of transmission shifts when pulling
a heavy trailer or a large or heavy load.
Provide the same solid shift feel when pulling
a heavy trailer or a large or heavy load as
when the vehicle is unloaded.
Improve control of vehicle speed while requiring
less throttle pedal activity when pulling a heavy
trailer or a large or heavy load.
4-45

Tow/Haul is designed to be most effective when
the vehicle and trailer combined weight is at least
75 percent of the vehicle’s Gross Combination Weight
Rating (GCWR). See “Weight of the Trailer” later
in this section.
Press this button at the end of the shift lever to
enable/disable the Tow/Haul mode.A light on the instrument
panel will illuminate to
indicate that Tow/Haul
mode has been selected.
The vehicle will automatically turn off Tow/Haul every
time it is started.
Driving with Tow/Haul activated without a heavy load
or with no trailer will cause reduced fuel economy
and unpleasant engine and transmission driving
characteristics, but will not cause damage.
Operating the vehicle in Tow/Haul when lightly loaded
or with no trailer at all will not cause damage. However,
there is no benet to the selection of Tow/Haul when
the vehicle is unloaded. Such a selection when unloaded
may result in unpleasant engine and transmission
driving characteristics and reduced fuel economy.
Tow/Haul is recommended only when pulling a heavy
trailer or a large or heavy load.
4-46