towing CADILLAC ESCALADE 2017 4.G Owner's Guide

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293077) -
2017 - crc - 8/24/16
246 DRIVING AND OPERATING
itself. Get acquainted with the
handling and braking of the rig before
setting out for the open road.
The structure, tires, and brakes of the
trailer must be rated to carry the load.
Inadequate trailer equipment can
cause the combination to operate in
an unexpected or unsafe manner.
Before starting, check all trailer hitch
parts and attachments, safety chains,
electrical connectors, lamps, tires, and
mirrors. Get familiar with the
handling and braking of the rig. If the
trailer has electric brakes, start the
combination moving and then apply
the trailer brake controller by hand to
be sure the brakes work.
During the trip, check occasionally to
be sure that the load is secure and the
lamps and any trailer brakes
still work.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the
vehicle ahead as you would when
driving the vehicle without a trailer.
This can help to avoid heavy braking
and sudden turns.
Passing
More passing distance is needed when
towing a trailer. The combination will
not accelerate as quickly and is longer
so it is necessary to go much farther
beyond the passed vehicle before
returning to the lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel
with one hand. To move the trailer to
the left, move that hand to the left. To
move the trailer to the right, move
your hand to the right. Always back
up slowly and, if possible, have
someone guide you.
Making TurnsCaution
Making very sharp turns while
trailering could cause the trailer to
come in contact with the vehicle.
The vehicle could be damaged.
Avoid making very sharp turns
while trailering. When turning with a trailer, make
wider turns than normal. Do this so
the trailer will not strike soft
shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees,
or other objects. Avoid jerky or sudden
maneuvers. Signal well in advance.
If the trailer turn signal bulbs burn
out, the arrows on the instrument
cluster will still flash for turns. It is
important to check occasionally to be
sure the trailer bulbs are still working.
Driving on Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear
before
starting down a long or steep
downgrade. If the transmission is not
shifted down, the brakes might get hot
and no longer work well.
Vehicles can tow in D (Drive). Shift
the transmission to a lower gear if the
transmission shifts too often under
heavy loads and/or hilly conditions.
When towing, use the Tow/Haul Mode
to prevent damage to the engine or
transmission. See Tow/Haul
Mode 0208.
When towing at high altitude on steep
uphill grades, consider the following:
Engine coolant will boil at a lower

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293077) -
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 247
temperature than at normal altitudes.
If the engine is turned off immediately
after towing at high altitude on steep
uphill grades, the vehicle may show
signs similar to engine overheating. To
avoid this, let the engine run while
parked, preferably on level ground,
with the transmission in P (Park) for a
few minutes before turning the engine
off. If the overheat warning comes on,
seeEngine Overheating 0266.
Parking on Hills
{Warning
Parking the vehicle on a hill with
the trailer attached can be
dangerous. If something goes
wrong, the rig could start to move.
People can be injured, and both the
vehicle and the trailer can be
damaged. When possible, always
park the rig on a flat surface.
If parking the rig on a hill: 1. Press the brake pedal, but do not
shift into P (Park) yet. Turn the
wheels into the curb if facing
downhill or into traffic if facing
uphill.
2. Have someone place chocks under 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.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 is clear 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
Maintenance Schedule 0329. 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
Do not tow a trailer during break-in.
See New Vehicle Break-In 0196.
Before towing a trailer, see
"Hands-Free Operation" under
Liftgate 037.
{Warning
The driver can lose control when
pulling a trailer if the correct
equipment is not used or the
(Continued)

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293077) -
2017 - crc - 8/24/16
248 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Warning (Continued)
vehicle is not driven properly. For
example, if the trailer is too heavy
or the trailer brakes are inadequate
for the load, the vehicle may not
stop as expected. The driver and
passengers could be seriously
injured. The vehicle may also be
damaged; the resulting repairs
would not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Pull a trailer only if all the
steps in this section have been
followed. Ask your dealer for advice
and information about towing a
trailer with the vehicle.
Caution
Pulling a trailer improperly can
damage the vehicle and result in
costly repairs not covered by the
vehicle warranty. To pull a trailer
correctly, follow the advice in this
section and see your dealer for
important information about
towing a trailer with the vehicle.To identify the trailering capacity of
the vehicle, see
“Weight of the Trailer”
following.
Trailering is different than just driving
the 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.
The following information has many
time-tested, important trailering tips
and safety rules. Many of these are
important for your safety and that of
your passengers. Read this section
carefully before pulling a trailer.
Weight of the Trailer
Safe trailering requires monitoring the
weight, speed, altitude, road grades,
outside temperature, and how
frequently the vehicle is used to pull a
trailer. Take into consideration any
special equipment on the vehicle, and
the amount of tongue weight the
vehicle can carry. See “Weight of the
Trailer Tongue ”later in this section
for more information. Trailer Weight Rating (TWR) is
calculated assuming the tow vehicle
has not only the driver, but all
required trailering equipment. Weight
of additional optional equipment,
passengers, and cargo in the tow
vehicle must be subtracted from
the TWR.
Ask your dealer for trailering
information or advice.
Weight of the Trailer Tongue
The tongue load of any trailer is very
important because it is also part of
the vehicle weight. The Gross Vehicle
Weight (GVW) includes the curb
weight of the vehicle, any cargo
carried in it, and the people who will
be riding in the vehicle as well as
trailer tongue weight. Vehicle options,
equipment, passengers, and cargo in
the vehicle reduce the amount of
tongue weight the vehicle can carry,
which will also reduce the trailer
weight the vehicle can tow. See
Vehicle
Load Limits 0192 for more
information about the vehicle's
maximum load capacity.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293077) -
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 249
Hitch TypeMaximum Tongue Weight
Weight Carrying 124 kg
Do not exceed the maximum
allowable tongue weight for the
vehicle. Choose the shortest hitch
extension that will position the hitch
ball closest to the vehicle. This will
help reduce the effect of trailer tongue
weight on the rear axle.
Trailer rating may be limited by the
vehicle's ability to carry tongue
weight. Tongue or kingpin weight
cannot cause the vehicle to exceed the
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating)
or the RGAWR (Rear Gross Axle
Weight Rating). See “Total Weight on
the Vehicle's Tires ”following.
After loading the trailer, weigh the
trailer and then the tongue,
separately, to see if the weights are
proper. If they are not, adjustments
might be made by moving some items
around in the trailer.
If a cargo carrier is used in the trailer
hitch receiver, choose a carrier that
positions the load as close to the vehicle as possible. Make sure the
total weight, including the carrier, is
no more than half of the maximum
allowable tongue weight for the
vehicle or 227 kg (500 lb), whichever
is less.
Total Weight on the Vehicle's
Tires
Be sure the vehicle's tires are inflated
to the inflation pressures found on
the Certification label on the driver
side rear door or see
Vehicle Load
Limits 0192. Make sure not to exceed
the GVWR limit for the vehicle, or the
RGAWR, with the tow vehicle and
trailer fully loaded for the trip
including the weight of the trailer
tongue.
Weight of the Trailering
Combination
It is important that the combination
of the tow vehicle and trailer does not
exceed any of its weight ratings —GCWR, GVWR, RGAWR, Trailer
Weight Rating, or Tongue Weight. The
only way to be sure it is not exceeding
any of these ratings is to weigh the
tow vehicle and trailer combination,
fully loaded for the trip, getting
individual weights for each of these
items.
Towing Equipment
Hitches
The correct hitch equipment helps
maintain combination control. Most
small-to-medium trailers can be towed
with a weight-carrying hitch which
simply features a coupler latched to
the hitch ball. Larger trailers may
require a weight-distributing hitch
that uses spring bars to distribute the
trailer tongue weight among the two
vehicle and trailer axles. See
“Weight
of the Trailer Tongue ”in Trailer
Towing 0247 for rating limits with
various hitch types.
Consider using sway controls with any
trailer. Ask a trailering professional
about sway controls or refer to the
trailer manufacturer's
recommendations and instructions.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293077) -
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 251
To help charge a remote (non-vehicle)
battery, press the Tow/Haul Mode
button at the end of the shift lever.
If the trailer is too light for Tow/Haul
Mode, turn on the headlamps to help
charge the battery.
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 harness should be installed by
your dealer or a qualified service
center.
Tow/Haul Mode
Pressing this button at the end of the
shift lever turns on and off the Tow/
Haul Mode.
This indicator light on the instrument
cluster comes on when the Tow/Haul
Mode is on.Tow/Haul is a feature that assists
when pulling a heavy trailer or a large
or heavy load. See
Tow/Haul
Mode 0208.
Tow/Haul is designed to be most
effective when the vehicle and trailer
combined weight is at least 75% of
the vehicle's Gross Combined Weight
Rating (GCWR). See “Weight of the
Trailer” underTrailer Towing 0247.
Tow/Haul is most useful under the
following driving conditions:
. When pulling a heavy trailer or a
large or heavy load through rolling
terrain.
. When pulling a heavy trailer or a
large or heavy load in stop-and-go
traffic.
. When pulling a heavy trailer or a
large or heavy load in busy
parking lots where improved low
speed control of the vehicle is
desired.
Operating the vehicle in Tow/Haul
when lightly loaded or with no trailer
at all will not cause damage. However,
there is no benefit to the selection of
Tow/Haul when the vehicle is

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293077) -
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252 DRIVING AND OPERATING
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.
Trailer Sway Control (TSC)
Vehicles with StabiliTrak have a
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) feature.
Trailer sway is unintended side-to-side
motion of a trailer while being towed.
If the vehicle is towing a trailer and
the TSC detects that sway is
increasing, the vehicle brakes are
selectively applied at each wheel, to
help reduce excessive trailer sway.
If TSC is enabled, the Traction Control
System (TCS)/StabiliTrak warning
light will flash on the instrument
cluster. Vehicle speed must be
reduced. If trailer sway continues,
StabiliTrak can reduce engine torque
to help slow the vehicle. SeeTraction
Control/Electronic Stability
Control 0216.
{Warning
Even if the vehicle is equipped with
TSC, trailer sway could result in
loss of control and the vehicle could
crash. If excessive trailer sway is
detected, slow down to a safe speed.
Check the trailer and vehicle to help
correct possible causes. These could
include an improperly or overloaded
trailer, unrestrained cargo, improper
trailer hitch configuration, excessive
vehicle-trailer speed, or improperly
inflated or incorrect vehicle or
trailer tires. See Towing Equipment
0 249 for trailer ratings and hitch
setup recommendations.
Adding non-dealer accessories can
affect the vehicle performance. See
Accessories and Modifications 0255.
Conversions and
Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical
Equipment
{Warning
The Data Link Connector (DLC) is
used for vehicle service and
Emission Inspection/Maintenance
testing. See Malfunction Indicator
Lamp (Check Engine Light) 0130.
A device connected to the DLC —
such as an aftermarket fleet or
driver-behavior tracking device —
may interfere with vehicle systems.
This could affect vehicle operation
and cause a crash. Such devices
may also access information stored
in the vehicle’s systems.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293077) -
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254 VEHICLE CARE
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Accessories andModifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . 262
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273 Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . 274
Glass Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . 275Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . 278
Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Instrument Panel Fuse Block (Left) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Instrument Panel Fuse Block (Right) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289 All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
All-Terrain Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Tire Pressure for High-Speed
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . 293
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303
Full-Size Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
Jump Starting
Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
Towing the Vehicle
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . 316

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293077) -
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VEHICLE CARE 267
If Steam is Coming from the
Engine Compartment
{Warning
Steam from an overheated engine
can burn you badly, even if you just
open the hood. Stay away from the
engine if you see or hear steam
coming from it. Just turn it off and
get everyone away from the vehicle
until it cools down. Wait until there
is no sign of steam or coolant
before you open the hood.
If you keep driving when the engine
is overheated, the liquids in it can
catch fire. You or others could be
badly burned. Stop the engine if it
overheats, and get out of the
vehicle until the engine is cool.
If No Steam is Coming from the
Engine Compartment
The ENGINE OVERHEATED STOP
ENGINE or the ENGINE
OVERHEATED IDLE ENGINE message,
along with a low coolant condition,
can indicate a serious problem.If there is an engine overheat warning,
but no steam is seen or heard, the
problem may not be too serious.
Sometimes the engine can get a little
too hot when the vehicle:
.
Climbs a long hill on a hot day.
. Stops after high-speed driving.
. Idles for long periods in traffic.
. Tows a trailer; see Trailer
Towing 0247.
If the ENGINE OVERHEATED STOP
ENGINE or the ENGINE
OVERHEATED IDLE ENGINE message
appears with no sign of steam, try this
for a minute or so: 1. Turn the air conditioning off.
2. Turn the heater on to the highest temperature and to the highest
fan speed. Open the windows as
necessary.
3. When it is safe to do so, pull off the road, shift to P (Park) or
N (Neutral), and let the
engine idle.
If the engine coolant temperature
gauge is no longer in the overheat
zone or an overheat warning no longer displays, the vehicle can be driven.
Continue to drive the vehicle slowly
for about 10 minutes. Keep a safe
vehicle distance from the vehicle in
front. If the warning does not come
back on, continue to drive normally
and have the cooling system checked
for proper fill and function.
If the warning continues, pull over,
stop, and park the vehicle right away.
If there is still no sign of steam and
the vehicle is equipped with an engine
driven cooling fan, push down the
accelerator until the engine speed is
about twice as fast as normal idle
speed for at least five minutes while
the vehicle is parked. If the warning is
still there, turn off the engine and get
everyone out of the vehicle until it
cools down.
If there is no sign of steam, idle the
engine for five minutes while parked.
If the warning is still displayed, turn
off the engine until it cools down.Engine Fan
If the vehicle has electric cooling fans,
the fans may be heard spinning at low
speed during most everyday driving.

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268 VEHICLE CARE
The fans may turn off if no cooling is
required. Under heavy vehicle loading,
trailer towing, high outside
temperatures, or operation of the air
conditioning system, the fans may
change to high speed and an increase
in fan noise may be heard. This is
normal and indicates that the cooling
system is functioning properly. The
fans will change to low speed when
additional cooling is no longer
required.
The electric engine cooling fans may
run after the engine has been turned.
off. This is normal and no service is
required.
Washer Fluid
What to Use
When windshield washer fluid needs
to be added, be sure to read the
manufacturer's instructions before
use. Use a fluid that has sufficient
protection against freezing in an area
where the temperature may fall below
freezing.
Adding Washer Fluid
The vehicle has a low washer fluid
message on the DIC that comes on
when the washer fluid is low. The
message is displayed for 15 seconds at
the start of each ignition cycle. When
the WASHER FLUID LOW ADD FLUID
message displays, washer fluid will
need to be added to the windshield
washer fluid reservoir.
Open the cap with the washer symbol
on it. Add washer fluid until the tank
is full. SeeEngine Compartment
Overview 0257 for reservoir location.
Caution
.
Do not use washer fluid that
contains any type of water
repellent coating. This can
cause the wiper blades to
chatter or skip.
. Do not use engine coolant
(antifreeze) in the windshield
washer. It can damage the
windshield washer system
and paint.
. 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.
. When using concentrated
washer fluid, follow the
manufacturer instructions for
adding water.
. Fill the washer fluid tank only
three-quarters full when it is
very cold. This allows for
fluid expansion if freezing
(Continued)

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293077) -
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VEHICLE CARE 315
engine and supports the
resonator, on the vehicle with
the dead battery.
11. Start the vehicle with the good battery and run the engine for a
while.
12. Try to start the vehicle that had the dead battery. If it will not
start after a few tries, it probably
needs service.
Caution
If the jumper cables are connected
or removed in the wrong order,
electrical shorting may occur and
damage the vehicle. The repairs
would not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Always connect and
remove the jumper cables in the
correct order, making sure that the
cables do not touch each other or
other metal. Jumper Cable Removal
Reverse the sequence exactly when
removing the jumper cables.
After starting the disabled vehicle and
removing the jumper cables, allow it
to idle for several minutes.
Towing the Vehicle
Caution
Incorrectly towing a disabled
vehicle may cause damage. The
damage would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty.
Do not lash or hook to suspension
components. Use the proper straps
around the tires to secure the
vehicle.
Have the vehicle towed on a flatbed
car carrier or a wheel lift tow truck. If
a wheel lift tow truck is used, the
drive wheels cannot contact the road
while the vehicle is being towed.
A wheel dolly must be used to lift all
drive wheels off the ground.
Consult your dealer or a professional
towing service if the disabled vehicle
must be towed.
Use the tow eye for towing a disabled
vehicle. The tow eye should not be
used to recover a vehicle from an off
road situation.