towing CADILLAC ESCALADE 2010 3.G User Guide

Running the Vehicle While Parked
It is better not to park with the engine running. But if youever have to, here are some things to know.
{WARNING:
Idling a vehicle in an enclosed area with poor
ventilation is dangerous. Engine exhaust may
enter the vehicle. Engine exhaust contains
Carbon Monoxide (CO) which cannot be seen or
smelled. It can cause unconsciousness and even
death. Never run the engine in an enclosed area
that has no fresh air ventilation. For more
information, seeEngine Exhaust on page 3!41.
{WARNING:
It can be dangerous to get out of the vehicle if the
automatic transmission shift lever is not fully in
P (Park) with the parking brake firmly set. The
vehicle can roll. Do not leave the 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 the vehicle will not move, even when you are
on fairly level ground, always set the parking
brake and move the shift lever to P (Park).
Follow the proper steps to be sure the vehicle will notmove. SeeShifting Into Park on page 3!39.
If parking on a hill and pulling a trailer, seeTowing aTrailer on page 6!42.
3-42

SBZA Detection Zones
The SBZA sensor covers a zone of approximatelyone lane over from both sides of the vehicle,3.5 m (11 ft). This zone starts at each side mirror andgoes back approximately 16 ft. (5.0 m). The height ofthe zone is approximately between 0.5 m (1.5 ft) and2.0 m (6 ft) off the ground.
Use caution while changing lanes when towing a trailer,as the SBZA detection zones do not change when atrailer is towed.
How the System Works
Left Side Mirror DisplayRight Side Mirror Display
When the vehicle is started, both outside mirrordisplays will briefly come on to indicate that the systemis operating. When the vehicle is moving forward, theleft or right side mirror SBZA display will light up if avehicle is detected in that blind zone.
If the turn signal is activated and a vehicle is alsodetected on the same side, the SBZA display will flashto give you extra warning not to change lanes.
SBZA displays do not come on while the vehicle isapproaching or passing other vehicles. At speedsgreater then 32 km/h (20 mph), SBZA displays maycome on when a vehicle you have passed remains in ordrops back into the detection zone.
SBZA can be disabled through the Driver InformationCenter (DIC). SeeDriver Information Center (DIC)onpage 4!41for more information. If the SBZA is disabledby the driver, the SBZA mirror displays will not light upduring normal driving.
When the System Does Not Seem To Work
Properly
Occasional missed alerts can occur under normalcircumstances and will increase in wet conditions.The system does not need to be serviced due to anoccasional missed alert. The number of missed alertswill increase with increased rainfall or road spray.
If the SBZA displays do not light up when the system ison and vehicles are in the blind zone, the system mayneed service. Take the vehicle to your dealer/retailer.
3-49

Brake System Warning Light
With the ignition on, the brake system warning lightcomes on when the parking brake is set. If the vehicleis driven with the parking brake engaged, a chimesounds when the vehicle speed is greater than3 mph (5 km/h).
The vehicle's hydraulic brake system is divided intotwo parts. If one part is not working, the other part canstill work and stop the vehicle. For good braking bothparts need to be working well.
If the warning light comes on and a chime sounds therecould be a brake problem. Have the brake systeminspected by your dealer/retailer.
This light can also come on due to low brake fluid.SeeBrakeson page 7!40for more information.
United StatesCanada
This light comes on briefly when the ignition is turned toON/RUN. If it does not, have it fixed so it will be readyto warn if there is a problem.
If the light comes on while driving, pull off the road andstop carefully. The pedal could be harder to push orcould go closer to the floor. It can take longer to stop.If the light is still on, have the vehicle towed for service.SeeTowing Your Vehicle on page 6!38.
{WARNING:
The brake system might not be working properly if
the brake system warning light is on. Driving with
the brake system warning light on can lead to a
crash. If the light is still on after the vehicle has
been pulled off the road and carefully stopped,
have the vehicle towed for service.
4-33

This light comes on during a malfunction in one oftwo ways:
Light Flashing :A misfire condition has been detected.A misfire increases vehicle emissions and coulddamage the emission control system on the vehicle.Diagnosis and service might be required.
To prevent more serious damage to the vehicle:
.Reduce vehicle speed.
.Avoid hard accelerations.
.Avoid steep uphill grades.
.If towing a trailer, reduce the amount of cargobeing hauled as soon as it is possible.
If the light continues to flash, when it is safe to do so,stop the vehicle. Find a safe place to park the vehicle.Turn the key off, wait at least 10 seconds, and restartthe engine. If the light is still flashing, follow theprevious steps and see your dealer/retailer for serviceas soon as possible.
Light On Steady :An emission control systemmalfunction has been detected on the vehicle.Diagnosis and service might be required.
An emission system malfunction might be corrected bydoing the following:
.Make sure the fuel cap is fully installed. SeeFillingthe Tankon page 7!11. The diagnostic systemcan determine if the fuel cap has been left off or
improperly installed. A loose or missing fuel capallows fuel to evaporate into the atmosphere. A fewdriving trips with the cap properly installed shouldturn the light off.
.If the vehicle has been driven through a deeppuddle of water, the vehicle's electrical systemmight be wet. The condition is usually correctedwhen the electrical system dries out. A few drivingtrips should turn the light off.
.Make sure to fuel the vehicle with quality fuel.Poor fuel quality causes the engine not to run asefficiently as designed and can cause: stalling afterstart-up, stalling when the vehicle is changed intogear, misfiring, hesitation on acceleration,or stumbling on acceleration. These conditionsmight go away once the engine is warmed up.
If one or more of these conditions occurs, changethe fuel brand used. It will require at least one fulltank of the proper fuel to turn the light off.
SeeGasoline Octane on page 7!8.
If none of the above have made the light turn off, yourdealer/retailer can check the vehicle. The dealer/retailerhas the proper test equipment and diagnostic tools to fixany mechanical or electrical problems that might havedeveloped.
4-37

Section 6 Driving Your Vehicle
Your Driving, the Road, and the Vehicle. . . . . . . . . . 6-2Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5Braking in Emergencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6StabiliTrak®System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6Magnetic Ride Control™. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-9Road Sensing Suspension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-9Locking Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-9All-Wheel Drive (AWD) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-9Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-10Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-11Passing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-12Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-12Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-13
Driving at Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-24Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-25Before Leaving on a Long Trip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-26Highway Hypnosis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-26Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-27Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-28If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice,or Snow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-30Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-30Recovery Hooks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-31Loading the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-32
Towing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-38Towing Your Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-38Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-38Level Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-41Autoride®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-42Towing a Trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-42Trailer Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-55
6-1

Magnetic Ride Control™
The vehicle may have the MagneRide control system.MagneRide constantly checks speed, wheel position,lift/dive and steering of the vehicle. The damping forcefor each shock absorber and adjustment level is chosenfor the best ride and handling.
MagneRide also works with the tow/haul switch that,when engaged, will provide more firmness from theshock absorbers. This added control gives better rideand handling when carrying heavy loads or towinga trailer. SeeTow/Haul Modeon page 3!36formore information.
Road Sensing Suspension
The Road Sensing Suspension (RSS) feature providessuperior vehicle ride and handling under a variety ofpassenger and loading conditions.
The system is fully automatic and uses a computercontroller to continuously monitor vehicle speed, wheelto body position, lift/dive and steering position of thevehicle. The controller then sends signals to each shockabsorber to independently adjust the damping level toprovide the optimum vehicle ride.
RSS also interacts with the tow/haul mode that, whenengaged, will provide additional control of the shockabsorbers. This additional control results in better rideand handling characteristics when the vehicle is loadedor towing a trailer. See“Tow/Haul Mode”underTowing aTrailer on page 6!42.
Locking Rear Axle
Vehicles with a locking rear axle can give more tractionon snow, mud, ice, sand or gravel. It works like astandard axle most of the time, but when traction is low,this feature will allow the rear wheel with the mosttraction to move the vehicle.
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) System
If the vehicle has this feature, engine power is sent toall four wheels when extra traction is needed. This islike four-wheel drive, but there is no separate lever orswitch to engage or disengage the front axle. It is fullyautomatic, and adjusts itself as needed for roadconditions.
If the vehicle is a Two-mode Hybrid, see“Four-WheelDrive”in the Two-mode Hybrid Supplement.
6-9

If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand,
Mud, Ice, or Snow
Slowly and cautiously spin the wheels to free thevehicle when stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow. SeeRocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out on page 6!30.
If the vehicle has a traction system, it can often helpto free a stuck vehicle. Refer to the vehicle's tractionsystem in the Index. If stuck too severely for the tractionsystem to free the vehicle, turn the traction system offand use the rocking method.
{WARNING:
If the vehicle's tires spin at high speed, they
can explode, and you or others could be injured.
The vehicle can overheat, causing an engine
compartment fire or other damage. Spin the
wheels as little as possible and avoid going above
55 km/h (35 mph) as shown on the speedometer.
For information about using tire chains on the vehicle,seeTire Chains on page 7!78.
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out
Turn the steering wheel left and right to clear the areaaround the front wheels. Turn off any traction or stabilitysystem. Shift back and forth between R (Reverse) and aforward gear, spinning the wheels as little as possible.To prevent transmission wear, wait until the wheels stopspinning before shifting gears. Release the acceleratorpedal while shifting, and press lightly on the acceleratorpedal when the transmission is in gear. Slowly spinningthe wheels in the forward and reverse directions causesa rocking motion that could free the vehicle. If that doesnot get the vehicle out after a few tries, it might needto be towed out. Recovery hooks can be used, if thevehicle has them. If the vehicle does need to betowed out, seeTowing Your Vehicle on page 6!38.
6-30

The Tire and Loading Information label also
shows the size of the original equipment
tires (C) and the recommended cold tire inflation
pressures (D). For more information on tires and
inflation seeTireson page 7!58andInflation - Tire
Pressureon page 7!65.
There is also important loading information on
the vehicle Certification/Tire label. It tells you the
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and the
Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) for the front
and rear axles. See“Certification/Tire Label”later
in this section.
Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit
1.Locate the statement“The combined weight
of occupants and cargo should never exceed
XXX kg or XXX lbs”on your vehicle's placard.
2.Determine the combined weight of the
driver and passengers that will be riding in
your vehicle.
3.Subtract the combined weight of the driver
and passengers from XXX kg or XXX lbs.
4.The resulting figure equals the available
amount of cargo and luggage load capacity.
For example, if the“XXX”amount equals
1400 lbs and there will be five 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 Traileron page 6!42for
important information on towing a trailer,
towing safety rules and trailering tips.
6-33

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 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.
Towing
Towing Your Vehicle
To avoid damage, the disabled vehicle should betowed with all four wheels off the ground. Consult yourdealer/retailer or a professional towing service if thedisabled vehicle must be towed. SeeRoadside Serviceo n p a g e 9!8.
To tow the vehicle behind another vehicle forrecreational purposes (such as behind a motorhome),see“Recreational Vehicle Towing”following.
Recreational Vehicle Towing
If the vehicle has a two–mode hybrid engine, see theTwo–mode Hybrid manual for more information.
Recreational vehicle towing means towing the vehiclebehind another vehicle–such as behind a motorhome.The two most common types of recreational vehicletowing are known as“dinghy towing”(towing the vehiclewith all four wheels on the ground) and“dolly towing”(towing the vehicle with two wheels on the ground andtwo wheels up on a device known as a“dolly”).
Here are some important things to consider beforerecreational vehicle towing:
.What is the towing capacity of the towing vehicle?Be sure to read the tow vehicle manufacturer'srecommendations.
.What is the distance that will be travelled? Somevehicles have restrictions on how far and how longthey can tow.
.Is the proper towing equipment going to be used?See your dealer/retailer or trailering professionalfor additional advice and equipmentrecommendations.
.Is the vehicle ready to be towed? Just as preparingthe vehicle for a long trip, make sure the vehicle isprepared to be towed. SeeBefore Leaving on aLong Trip on page 6!26.
6-38

All-Wheel-Drive Vehicles
Dinghy and Dolly Towing
Notice:Towing an all-wheel-drive vehicle with allfour wheels on the ground, or even with only two ofits wheels on the ground, will damage drivetraincomponents. Do not tow an all-wheel-drive vehiclewith any of its wheels on the ground.
All-wheel-drive vehicles are not designed to be towedwith any wheels on the ground. If the vehicle must betowed, see Towing Your Vehicle previously.
6-39