brake fluid CADILLAC ESCALADE 2011 3.G Owners Manual

Black plate (5,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
Introduction v
Vehicle Symbol Chart
Here are some additional symbols
that may be found on the vehicle
and what they mean. For more
information on the symbol, refer to
the Index.
0:Adjustable Pedals
9:Airbag Readiness Light
#:Air Conditioning
!:Antilock Brake System (ABS)
g:Audio Steering Wheel Controls
or OnStar®
$: Brake System Warning Light
":Charging System
I:Cruise Control
B: Engine Coolant Temperature
O:Exterior Lamps
#:Fog Lamps
.: Fuel Gauge
+:Fuses
3: Headlamp High/Low-Beam
Changer
(: Heated Steering Wheel
j:LATCH System Child
Restraints
*: Malfunction Indicator Lamp
::Oil Pressure
g:Outside Power Foldaway
Mirrors
}: Power
/:Remote Vehicle Start
>:Safety Belt Reminders
7:Tire Pressure Monitor
_: Tow/Haul Mode
F:Traction Control
M:Windshield Washer Fluid

Black plate (2,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
5-2 Instruments and Controls
Vehicle Messages
Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . 5-31
Battery Voltage and ChargingMessages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-31
Brake System Messages . . . . 5-31
Door Ajar Messages . . . . . . . . . 5-32
Engine Cooling System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-33
Engine Oil Messages . . . . . . . . 5-34
Engine Power Messages . . . . 5-34
Fuel System Messages . . . . . . 5-35
Key and Lock Messages . . . . . 5-35
Lamp Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-35
Object Detection System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-36
Ride Control System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-37
Airbag System Messages . . . . 5-38 Anti-Theft Alarm System
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-38
Tire Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-39
Transmission Messages . . . . . 5-40
Vehicle Reminder Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-40
Washer Fluid Messages . . . . . 5-40
Vehicle Personalization
Vehicle Personalization . . . . . . 5-40
Universal Remote System
Universal Remote System . . . 5-50
Universal Remote System Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-50
Universal Remote System Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-55
Controls
Steering Wheel
Adjustment
The power tilt wheel control is
located on the left side of the
steering column.
Push the control up or down to tilt
the steering wheel up or down.
To set the memory position, see
“Memory Features” inPower Seat
Adjustment on page 3‑3.

Black plate (21,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-21
The vehicle may not pass
inspection if:
.The malfunction indicator lamp is
on with the engine running, or if
the light does not come on when
the ignition is turned to ON/RUN
while the engine is off.
.The critical emission control
systems have not been
completely diagnosed by
the system. This can happen
if the battery has recently
been replaced or if the battery
has run down. The diagnostic
system evaluates critical
emission control systems during
normal driving. This can take
several days of routine driving.
If this has been done and the
vehicle still does not pass the
inspection, your dealer can
prepare the vehicle for
inspection.
Brake System Warning
Light
With the ignition on, the brake
system warning light comes on
when the parking brake is set. If the
vehicle is driven with the parking
brake engaged, a chime sounds
when the vehicle speed is greater
than 5 km/h (3 mph).
The vehicle brake system
consists of two hydraulic circuits.
If one circuit is not working, the
remaining circuit can still work to
stop the vehicle. For normal braking
performance, both circuits need to
be working.
If the warning light comes on and
a chime sounds there could be a
brake problem. Have the brake
system inspected by your dealer.This light can also come on due to
low brake fluid. See
Brake Fluid on
page 10‑28 for more information.
MetricEnglish
This light comes on briefly when the
ignition is turned to ON/RUN. If it
does not, have it fixed so it will be
ready to warn if there is a problem.
If the light comes on while driving,
pull off the road and stop carefully.
The pedal could be harder to push
or could go closer to the floor.

Black plate (19,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-19
WARNING (Continued)
After driving through a large
puddle of water or a car/vehicle
wash, lightly apply the brake
pedal until the brakes work
normally.
Flowing or rushing water creates
strong forces. Driving through
flowing water could cause your
vehicle to be carried away. If this
happens, you and other vehicle
occupants could drown. Do not
ignore police warnings and be
very cautious about trying to
drive through flowing water.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. Water
can build up under your vehicle's
tires so they actually ride on the
water. This can happen if the road
is wet enough and you are going
fast enough. When your vehicle
is hydroplaning, it has little or no
contact with the road.
There is no hard and fast rule about
hydroplaning. The best advice is to
slow down when the road is wet.
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 10‑50.
.Turn off cruise control.

Black plate (20,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
9-20 Driving and Operating
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.
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.
.Shift to a lower gear when going
down steep or long hills.
{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.

Black plate (74,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
9-74 Driving and Operating
2. Have someone place chocksunder the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the regular brakes
until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the brake pedal. Then apply the parking brake and shift
into P (Park).
5. Release the brake pedal.
{WARNING
It can be dangerous to get out of
the vehicle if the shift lever is not
fully in P (Park) with the parking
brake firmly set. The vehicle
can roll. (Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
If the engine has been left
running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could
be injured. To be sure the vehicle
will not move, even when on fairly
level ground, always put the shift
lever fully in P (Park) with the
parking brake firmly set.
Leaving After Parking on a Hill
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
2. Start the engine.
3. Shift into a gear.
4. Release the parking brake.
5. Let up on the brake pedal.
6. Drive slowly until the trailer isclear of the chocks.
7. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer
Towing
The vehicle needs service
more often when pulling a trailer.
See the Maintenance Schedule
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 Towing
If the vehicle is a hybrid, see
the hybrid supplement for more
information.
Do not tow a trailer during break‐in.
See New Vehicle Break-In on
page 9‑30 for more information.

Black plate (1,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-1
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . 10-3
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-4
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-5
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-6
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-7
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . 10-11
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-12
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . 10-16
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-18
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-18
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . 10-22
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . 10-25 Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-25
Power Steering Fluid . . . . . . . 10-25
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-26
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-27
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-28
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-30
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-30
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-31
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-32
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . 10-33
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-34
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-34
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . 10-35
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-35
Glass Replacement . . . . . . . . 10-36
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . 10-37
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-39
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-39
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-39 Back-Up Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-40
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . 10-41
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . 10-41
Electrical System
Electrical System
Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-41
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-42
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-43
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-47
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-50
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . 10-52
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . 10-53
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-54
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-57
Tire Pressure for High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-58
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-59
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-60
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-64
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-64

Black plate (7,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-7
A.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on
page 10‑16.
B. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Cooling
System on page 10‑18.
C. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. See Jump Starting on
page 10‑89.
D. Battery on page 10‑30.
E. Remote Negative (−) Terminal (Out of View). See Jump
Starting on page 10‑89.
F. Automatic Transmission Dipstick (Out of View). See
“Checking the Fluid Level”
under Automatic Transmission
Fluid on page 10‑12.
G. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When
to Add Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil on page 10‑7.
H. Engine Oil Dipstick (Out of View). See “Checking Engine
Oil” under Engine Oil on
page 10‑7. I. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of
View). See Cooling System on
page 10‑18.
J. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. See Power Steering Fluid on
page 10‑25.
K. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid”
under Brake Fluid on
page 10‑28.
L. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block on page 10‑43.
M. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding Washer
Fluid” under Washer Fluid on
page 10‑26.
If the vehicle is a hybrid, see
the hybrid supplement for more
information.Engine Oil
To ensure proper engine
performance and long life,
careful attention must be paid
to engine oil. Following these
simple, but important steps will
help protect your investment:
.Always use engine oil approved
to the proper specification and
of the proper viscosity grade.
See “Selecting the Right
Engine Oil.”
.Check the engine oil level
regularly and maintain the
proper oil level. See “Checking
Engine Oil” and“When to Add
Engine Oil.”

Black plate (13,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-13
Change the fluid and filter at the
scheduled maintenance intervals
listed inScheduled Maintenance on
page 11‑2. Be sure to use the
transmission fluid listed in
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11‑7.
How to Check Automatic
Transmission Fluid
Notice: Too much or too
little fluid can damage the
transmission. Too much can
mean that some of the fluid could
come out and fall on hot engine
parts or exhaust system parts,
starting a fire. Too little fluid
could cause the transmission
to overheat. Be sure to get an
accurate reading if checking
the transmission fluid. Before checking the fluid level,
prepare the vehicle as follows:
1. Start the engine and park the
vehicle on a level surface.
Keep the engine running.
2. Apply the parking brake and place the shift lever in P (Park).
3. With your foot on the brake pedal, move the shift lever
through each gear range,
pausing for about three seconds
in each range. Then, move the
shift lever back to P (Park).
4. Allow the engine to idle (500 –800 rpm) for at least
one minute. Slowly release
the brake pedal. 5. Keep the engine running and
press the Trip/Fuel button or
trip odometer reset stem until
TRANS TEMP (Transmission
Temperature) displays on the
Driver Information Center (DIC).
6. Using the TRANS TEMP reading, determine and
perform the appropriate check
procedure. If the TRANS TEMP
reading is not within the required
temperature ranges, allow the
vehicle to cool, or operate the
vehicle until the appropriate
transmission fluid temperature
is reached.

Black plate (27,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-27
Notice:
.When using concentrated
washer fluid, follow the
manufacturer's instructions
for adding water.
.Do not mix water with
ready-to-use washer fluid.
Water can cause the solution
to freeze and damage the
washer fluid tank and other
parts of the washer system.
Also, water does not clean as
well as washer fluid.
.Fill the washer fluid tank
only three-quarters full
when it is very cold. This
allows for fluid expansion
if freezing occurs, which
could damage the tank if
it is completely full.
.Do not use engine coolant
(antifreeze) in the windshield
washer. It can damage the
windshield washer system
and paint.
Brakes
This vehicle has disc brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear
indicators that make a high-pitched
warning sound when the brake pads
are worn and new pads are needed.
The sound can come and go or be
heard all the time the vehicle is
moving, except when applying
the brake pedal firmly.
{WARNING
The brake wear warning sound
means that soon the brakes will
not work well. That could lead to
a crash. When the brake wear
warning sound is heard, have the
vehicle serviced.
Notice: Continuing to drive with
worn-out brake pads could result
in costly brake repair. Some driving conditions or climates
can cause a brake squeal when
the brakes are first applied or
lightly applied. This does not mean
something is wrong with the brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are
necessary to help prevent brake
pulsation. When tires are rotated,
inspect brake pads for wear and
evenly tighten wheel nuts in
the proper sequence to torque
specifications in
Capacities and
Specifications on page 12‑2.
Brake linings should always be
replaced as complete axle sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal
does not return to normal height,
or if there is a rapid increase in
pedal travel. This could be a
sign that brake service might
be required.