diff CADILLAC ESCALADE 2018 Owner's Guide

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349344) - 2018 - crc - 11/7/17
DRIVING AND OPERATING 255
Trailer Towing
Do not tow a trailer during break-in.
SeeNew Vehicle Break-In 0198.
Before towing a trailer, see
"Hands-Free Operation" under Liftgate
0 41.
{Warning
The driver can lose control when
pulling a trailer if the correct
equipment is not used or the
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.
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.
Use the following chart to determine
how much the trailer can weigh, based
upon the vehicle model and options.

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VEHICLE CARE 263
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . 272
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Battery - North America . . . . . . . . . 280 Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . 284
Glass Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . 285
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . 288
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . 288
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Instrument Panel Fuse Block (Left) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Instrument Panel Fuse Block (Right) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296 Rear Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
All-Terrain Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Tire Pressure for High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . 307
Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . 316
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318

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VEHICLE CARE 271
If the system is ever reset accidentally,
the oil must be changed at 5 000 km
(3,000 mi) since the last oil change.
Remember to reset the oil life system
whenever the oil is changed.
How to Reset the Engine Oil Life
System
Reset the system whenever the engine
oil is changed so that the system can
calculate the next engine oil change.
To reset the system:1. Using the DIC controls on the right side of the steering wheel,
display OIL LIFE on the DIC. See
Driver Information Center (DIC)
0145. When remaining oil life is
low, the CHANGE ENGINE OIL
SOON message will appear on
the display.
2. Press and hold SEL on the DIC controls for a few seconds to
clear the CHANGE ENGINE OIL
SOON message and reset the oil
life at 100%. Be careful not to reset the oil life
display accidentally at any time
other than after the oil is
changed. It cannot be reset
accurately until the next oil
change.
The oil life system can also be reset as
follows: 1. Display OIL LIFE on the DIC. See Driver Information Center (DIC)
0145.
2. Fully press and release the accelerator pedal three times
within five seconds.
If the CHANGE ENGINE OIL
SOON message is not on, the
system is reset.
The system is reset when the
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON message
is off.
If the CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message comes back on when the
vehicle is started, the engine oil life
system has not been reset. Repeat the
procedure.
Automatic Transmission
Fluid
When to Check and Change
Automatic Transmission Fluid
It is usually not necessary to check
the transmission fluid level. The only
reason for fluid loss is a transmission
leak or overheated transmission. This
vehicle is not equipped with a
transmission fluid level dipstick.
There is a special procedure for
checking and changing the
transmission fluid in these vehicles.
Because this procedure is difficult,
this should be done at the dealer.
Contact the dealer for additional
information or the procedure can be
found in the service manual. See
Service Publications Ordering
Information 0371.

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282 VEHICLE CARE
Front Axle
When to Check and Change
Lubricant
It is not necessary to regularly check
front axle fluid unless a leak is
suspected, or an unusual noise is
heard. A fluid loss could indicate a
problem. Have it inspected and
repaired.
How to Check Lubricant
To get an accurate reading, the vehicle
should be on a level surface.
1. Fill Plug
2. Drain Plug
.When the differential is cold, add
enough lubricant to raise the level
from 0 mm (0 in) to 3.2 mm
(1/8 in) below the fill plug (1) hole.
. When the differential is at
operating temperature (warm), add
enough lubricant to raise the level
to the bottom of the fill
plug (1) hole.
What to Use
Refer to Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0355 to determine what
kind of lubricant to use.
Rear Axle
When to Check Lubricant
It is not necessary to regularly check
rear axle fluid unless a leak is
suspected or an unusual noise is
heard. A fluid loss could indicate a
problem. Have it inspected and
repaired.
All axle assemblies are filled by
volume of fluid during production.
They are not filled to reach a certain
level. When checking the fluid level
on any axle, variations in the readings can be caused by factory fill
differences between the minimum and
the maximum fluid volume. Also, if a
vehicle has just been driven before
checking the fluid level, it may appear
lower than normal because fluid has
traveled out along the axle tubes and
has not drained back to the sump
area. Therefore, a reading taken
five minutes after the vehicle has been
driven will appear to have a lower
fluid level than a vehicle that has
been stationary for an hour or two.
The rear axle assembly must be
supported on a flat, level surface to
get a true reading.
How to Check Lubricant
To get an accurate reading, the vehicle
should be on a level surface.

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VEHICLE CARE 307
Tire Pressure for
High-Speed Operation
{Warning
Driving at high speeds, 160 km/h
(100 mph) or higher, puts additional
strain on tires. Sustained
high-speed driving causes excessive
heat buildup and can cause sudden
tire failure. This could cause a
crash, and you or others could be
killed. Some high-speed rated tires
require inflation pressure
adjustment for high-speed
operation. When speed limits and
road conditions allow the vehicle to
be driven at high speeds, make sure
the tires are rated for high-speed
operation, are in excellent
condition, and are set to the correct
cold tire inflation pressure for the
vehicle load.
When driving the vehicle at speeds of
160 km/h (100 mph) or higher, set the
cold inflation pressure to 20 kPa
(3 psi) above the recommended tire pressure shown on the Tire and
Loading Information label. Return the
tires to the recommended cold tire
inflation pressure when high-speed
driving has ended.
See
Vehicle Load Limits 0193 and Tire
Pressure 0305.
Tire Pressure Monitor
System
The Tire Pressure Monitor System
(TPMS) uses radio and sensor
technology to check tire pressure
levels. The TPMS sensors monitor the
air pressure in your tires and transmit
tire pressure readings to a receiver
located in the vehicle.
Each tire, including the spare (if
provided), should be checked monthly
when cold and inflated to the
inflation pressure recommended by
the vehicle manufacturer on the
vehicle placard or tire inflation
pressure label. (If your vehicle has
tires of a different size than the size
indicated on the vehicle placard or tire
inflation pressure label, you should
determine the proper tire inflation
pressure for those tires.) As an added safety feature, your
vehicle has been equipped with a tire
pressure monitoring system (TPMS)
that illuminates a low tire pressure
telltale when one or more of your tires
is significantly under-inflated.
Accordingly, when the low tire
pressure telltale illuminates, you
should stop and check your tires as
soon as possible, and inflate them to
the proper pressure. Driving on a
significantly under-inflated tire causes
the tire to overheat and can lead to
tire failure. Under-inflation also
reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread
life, and may affect the vehicle's
handling and stopping ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not a
substitute for proper tire maintenance,
and it is the driver's responsibility to
maintain correct tire pressure, even if
under-inflation has not reached the
level to trigger illumination of the
TPMS low tire pressure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped
with a TPMS malfunction indicator to
indicate when the system is not
operating properly. The TPMS
malfunction indicator is combined

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314 VEHICLE CARE
aging. This area should be free of
grease, gasoline, or other substances
that can deteriorate rubber.
Parking for an extended period can
cause flat spots on the tires that may
result in vibrations while driving.
When storing a vehicle for at least a
month, remove the tires or raise the
vehicle to reduce the weight from the
tires.
Buying New Tires
GM has developed and matched
specific tires for the vehicle. The
original equipment tires installed
were designed to meet General
Motors Tire Performance Criteria
Specification (TPC Spec) system
rating. When replacement tires are
needed, GM strongly recommends
buying tires with the same TPC
Spec rating.
GM's exclusive TPC Spec system
considers over a dozen critical
specifications that impact the
overall performance of the vehicle,
including brake systemperformance, ride and handling,
traction control, and tire pressure
monitoring performance. GM's
TPC Spec number is molded onto
the tire's sidewall near the tire
size. If the tires have an all-season
tread design, the TPC Spec
number will be followed by MS for
mud and snow. See
Tire Sidewall
Labeling 0301 for additional
information.
GM recommends replacing worn
tires in complete sets of four.
Uniform tread depth on all tires
will help to maintain the
performance of the vehicle.
Braking and handling performance
may be adversely affected if all the
tires are not replaced at the same
time. If proper rotation and
maintenance have been done, all
four tires should wear out at
about the same time. See Tire
Rotation 0312 for information on
proper tire rotation. However, if it is necessary to replace only one
axle set of worn tires, place the
new tires on the rear axle.
{Warning
Tires could explode during
improper service. Attempting to
mount or dismount a tire could
cause injury or death. Only your
dealer or authorized tire service
center should mount or
dismount the tires.
{Warning
Mixing tires of different sizes,
brands, or types may cause loss
of control of the vehicle,
resulting in a crash or other
vehicle damage. Use the correct
size, brand, and type of tires on
all wheels.
(Continued)

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VEHICLE CARE 315
Warning (Continued)
This vehicle may have a
different size spare than the
road tires originally installed on
the vehicle. When new, the
vehicle included a spare tire and
wheel assembly with a similar
overall diameter as the road
tires and wheels, so it is all
right to drive on it. The spare
tire was developed for use on
this vehicle and will not affect
vehicle handling.
{Warning
Using bias-ply tires on the
vehicle may cause the wheel rim
flanges to develop cracks after
many miles of driving. A tire
and/or wheel could fail suddenly
and cause a crash. Use only
radial-ply tires with the wheels
on the vehicle. Winter tires with the same speed
rating as the original equipment
tires may not be available for H, V,
W, Y and ZR speed rated tires.
Never exceed the winter tires’
maximum speed capability when
using winter tires with a lower
speed rating.
If the vehicle tires must be
replaced with a tire that does not
have a TPC Spec number, make
sure they are the same size, load
range, speed rating, and
construction (radial) as the
original tires.
Vehicles that have a tire pressure
monitoring system could give an
inaccurate low-pressure warning if
non-TPC Spec rated tires are
installed. See
Tire Pressure Monitor
System 0307.
The Tire and Loading Information
label indicates the original
equipment tires on the vehicle.
See Vehicle Load Limits 0193 for the label location and more
information about the Tire and
Loading Information label.
Different Size Tires and
Wheels
If wheels or tires are installed that are
a different size than the original
equipment wheels and tires, vehicle
performance, including its braking,
ride and handling characteristics,
stability, and resistance to rollover
may be affected. If the vehicle has
electronic systems such as antilock
brakes, rollover airbags, traction
control, electronic stability control,
or All-Wheel Drive, the performance
of these systems can also be affected.
{Warning
If different sized wheels are used,
there may not be an acceptable
level of performance and safety if
tires not recommended for those
wheels are selected. This increases
the chance of a crash and serious
(Continued)

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316 VEHICLE CARE
Warning (Continued)
injury. Only use GM specific wheel
and tire systems developed for the
vehicle, and have them properly
installed by a GM certified
technician.
See Buying New Tires 0314 and
Accessories and Modifications 0265.
Uniform Tire Quality
Grading
The following information relates
to the system developed by the
United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA), which grades tires by
treadwear, traction, and
temperature performance. This
applies only to vehicles sold in the
United States. The grades are
molded on the sidewalls of most
passenger car tires. The Uniform
Tire Quality Grading (UTQG)
system does not apply to deep tread, winter tires, compact spare
tires, tires with nominal rim
diameters of 10 to 12 inches
(25 to 30 cm), or to some
limited-production tires.
While the tires available on
General Motors passenger cars
and light trucks may vary with
respect to these grades, they must
also conform to federal safety
requirements and additional
General Motors Tire Performance
Criteria (TPC) standards.
Quality grades can be found where
applicable on the tire sidewall
between tread shoulder and
maximum section width. For
example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA
Temperature A
All Passenger Car Tires Must
Conform to Federal Safety
Requirements In Addition To
These Grades.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a
comparative rating based on the
wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a
specified government test course.
For example, a tire graded
150 would wear one and one-half
(1½) times as well on the
government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative
performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of
their use, however, and may
depart significantly from the norm
due to variations in driving habits,
service practices and differences
in road characteristics and
climate.
Traction
The traction grades, from highest
to lowest, are AA, A, B, and C.
Those grades represent the tire's
ability to stop on wet pavement as
measured under controlled
conditions on specified

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328 VEHICLE CARE
2. Assemble the wheel blocks andjack together with the wing nut.
3. Position the jack and wheel blocks in the driver side trim
panel over the wheelhouse.
4. Turn the jack knob clockwise until the jack is secured tight in
the mounting bracket. Be sure to
position the holes in the base of
the jack onto the pin in the
mounting bracket.
5. Use the retaining bracket to fasten the tool bag on the stud
and turn the wing nut clockwise
to secure.
6. Close the trim panel door.
Full-Size Spare Tire
If this vehicle came with a full-size
spare tire, it was fully inflated when
new, however, it can lose air over
time. Check the inflation pressure
regularly.
See Tire Pressure 0305 and Vehicle
Load Limits 0193. For instructions on
how to remove, install, or store a
spare tire, see Tire Changing0320. If equipped with a temporary use
full-size spare tire, it is indicated on
the tire sidewall. See
Tire Sidewall
Labeling 0301. This spare tire should
not be driven on over 112 km/h
(70 mph), or 88 km/h (55 mph) when
pulling a trailer, at the proper
inflation pressure. Repair and replace
the road tire as soon as it is
convenient, and stow the spare tire for
future use.
Caution
If the vehicle has four-wheel drive
and a different size spare tire is
installed, do not drive in four-wheel
drive until the flat tire is repaired
and/or replaced. The vehicle could
be damaged and the repairs would
not be covered by the warranty.
Never use four-wheel drive when a
different size spare tire is installed
on the vehicle.
The vehicle may have a different size
spare tire than the road tires originally
installed on the vehicle. This spare tire
was developed for use on this vehicle, so it is all right to drive on it. If the
vehicle has four-wheel drive and a
different size spare tire is installed,
drive only in two-wheel drive.
After installing the spare tire on the
vehicle, stop as soon as possible and
check that the spare tire is correctly
inflated.
Have the damaged or flat road tire
repaired or replaced and installed
back onto the vehicle as soon as
possible so the spare tire will be
available in case it is needed again.
Do not mix tires and wheels of
different sizes, because they will not
fit. Keep your spare tire and its wheel
together. If the vehicle has a spare tire
that does not match the original road
tires and wheels in size and type, do
not include the spare in the tire
rotation.

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SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE 353
.To avoid break-down or failure to
start the vehicle, maintain a
battery with full cranking power.
. Trained dealer technicians have
the diagnostic equipment to test
the battery and ensure that the
connections and cables are
corrosion-free.
Belts
. Belts may need replacing if they
squeak or show signs of cracking
or splitting.
. Trained dealer technicians have
access to tools and equipment to
inspect the belts and recommend
adjustment or replacement when
necessary.
Brakes
Brakes stop the vehicle and are crucial
to safe driving.
. Signs of brake wear may include
chirping, grinding, or squealing
noises, or difficulty stopping. .
Trained dealer technicians have
access to tools and equipment to
inspect the brakes and recommend
quality parts engineered for the
vehicle.
Fluids
Proper fluid levels and approved fluids
protect the vehicle’s systems and
components. See Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants 0355 for GM approved
fluids.
. Engine oil and windshield washer
fluid levels should be checked at
every fuel fill.
. Instrument cluster lights may
come on to indicate that fluids
may be low and need to be filled.
Hoses
Hoses transport fluids and should be
regularly inspected to ensure that
there are no cracks or leaks. With a
multi-point inspection, your dealer
can inspect the hoses and advise if
replacement is needed. Lamps
Properly working headlamps,
taillamps, and brake lamps are
important to see and be seen on
the road.
.
Signs that the headlamps need
attention include dimming, failure
to light, cracking, or damage. The
brake lamps need to be checked
periodically to ensure that they
light when braking.
. With a multi-point inspection,
your dealer can check the lamps
and note any concerns.
Shocks and Struts
Shocks and struts help aid in control
for a smoother ride.
. Signs of wear may include steering
wheel vibration, bounce/sway
while braking, longer stopping
distance, or uneven tire wear.
. As part of the multi-point
inspection, trained dealer
technicians can visually inspect
the shocks and struts for signs of