maintenance schedule CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV 2009 User Guide

{ CAUTION: If too much brake uid is added, it can spill on
the engine and burn, if the engine is hot enough.
You or others could be burned, and the vehicle
could be damaged. Add brake uid only when
work is done on the brake hydraulic system.
See “Checking Brake Fluid” in this section.
When the brake uid falls to a low level, the brake
warning light comes on. See Brake System Warning
Light on page 3-39 .
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine when
to check the brake uid. See Scheduled Maintenance
on page 7-4 . Checking Brake Fluid Check brake uid by looking at the brake uid reservoir.
See Engine Compartment Overview on page 6-14 .
The uid level should be
above MIN. If it is not,
have the brake hydraulic
system checked to
see if there is a leak.
After work is done on the brake hydraulic system,
make sure the level is above the MIN but not over the
MAX mark.
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To disconnect the jumper cables from both vehicles do
the following:
1. Disconnect the black negative ( − ) cable from the
vehicle that had the bad battery.
2. Disconnect the black negative ( − ) cable from the
vehicle with the good battery.
3. Disconnect the red positive (+) cable from the
vehicle with the good battery.
4. Disconnect the red positive (+) cable from the other
vehicle.
5. Return the remote positive (+) terminal cover, if the
vehicle has one, to its original position.
All-Wheel Drive Transfer Case If your vehicle is equipped with All-Wheel Drive, be
sure to perform the lubricant checks described in this
section. There are two additional systems that need
lubrication.
When to Check Lubricant Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine
how often to check the lubricant. See Scheduled
Maintenance on page 7-4 . How to Check Lubricant
To get an accurate reading, the vehicle should be on a
level surface.
If the level is below the bottom of the ller plug hole,
located on the transfer case, you’ll need to add
some lubricant. Add enough lubricant to raise the level
to the bottom of the ller plug hole. Use care not to
overtighten the plug. (A) Drain Plug (B) Filler Plug
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What to Use Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of lubricant to use. See Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 7-13 .
Rear Axle When to Check Lubricant It is not necessary to regularly check rear axle uid
unless you suspect there is a leak or you hear an
unusual noise. A uid loss could indicate a problem.
Have it inspected and repaired.
All axle assemblies are lled by volume of uid during
production. They are not lled to reach a certain level.
When checking the uid level on any axle, variations in
the readings can be caused by factory ll differences
between the minimum and the maximum uid volume.
Also, if a vehicle has just been driven before checking
the uid level, it may appear lower than normal because
uid has traveled out along the axle tubes and has not
drained back to the sump area. Therefore, a reading
taken ve minutes after the vehicle has been driven will
appear to have a lower uid level than a vehicle that has
been stationary for an hour or two. Remember that the
rear axle assembly must be supported to get a true
reading. How to Check Lubricant
To get an accurate reading, the vehicle should be on a
level surface.
For Two-Wheel-Drive vehicles, the proper level is
from 0.6 inch to 1.6 inches (15 mm to 40 mm) below
the bottom of the ller plug hole, located on the rear
axle. Add only enough uid to reach the proper level.
For All-Wheel-Drive vehicles, the proper level is from
0.04 inch to 0.75 inch (1.0 mm to 19.0 mm) below
the bottom of the ller plug hole, located on the rear
axle. Add only enough uid to reach the proper level.
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What to Use Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of lubricant to use. See Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 7-13 .
Front Axle When to Check and Change Lubricant It is not necessary to regularly check front axle uid
unless you suspect there is a leak or you hear an
unusual noise. A uid 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.
A: Fill Plug
B: Drain Plug
When the differential is cold, add enough lubricant
to raise the level from 0 (0 mm) to 1/8 inch
(3.2 mm) below the ller plug hole.
When the differential is at operating temperature
(warm), add enough lubricant to raise the level
to the bottom of the ller plug hole.
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What to Use Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of lubricant to use. See Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 7-13 .
Headlamp Aiming The vehicle has a visual optical headlamp aiming
system. The aim of the headlamps have been preset at
the factory and should need no further adjustment.
However, if the vehicle is damaged in a crash, the aim
of the headlamps may be affected and adjustment
may be necessary.
If oncoming vehicles ash their high beams at you, this
may mean the vertical aim of your headlamps needs
to be adjusted.
It is recommended that the vehicle is taken to your
dealer/retailer for service if the headlamps need to
be adjusted. It is possible however, to re-aim the
headlamps as described. The vehicle should:
Be placed so the headlamps are 25 ft. (7.6 m) from
a light colored wall or other at surface.
Have all four tires on a level surface which is level
all the way to the wall or other at surface.
Be placed so it is perpendicular to the wall or other
at surface.
Not have any snow, ice, or mud on it.
Be fully assembled and all other work stopped while
headlamp aiming is being performed.
Be normally loaded with a full tank of fuel and one
person or 160 lbs (75 kg) sitting on the driver seat.
Have the tires properly inated.
Have the spare tire is in its proper location in the
vehicle.
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Windshield Wiper Blade
Replacement Windshield wiper blades should be inspected for
wear or cracking. See Scheduled Maintenance on
page 7-4 .
Replacement blades come in different types and are
removed in different ways. To replace the wiper
blade assembly:
1. Pull the windshield wiper arm connector away from
the windshield.
2. Squeeze the grooved areas on each side of the
blade, and turn the blade assembly away from
the arm connector. 3. Install the new blade onto the arm connector and
make sure the grooved areas are fully set in the
locked position.
For the proper type and size, see Maintenance
Replacement Parts on page 7-15 .
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Tire Inspection and Rotation We recommend that you regularly inspect your
vehicle’s tires, including the spare tire, for signs of
wear or damage. See When It Is Time for New
Tires on page 6-70 for more information.
Tires should be rotated every 5,000 to 8,000 miles
(8 000 to 13 000 km). See Scheduled Maintenance
on page 7-4 .
The purpose of a regular tire rotation is to achieve
a uniform wear for all tires on the vehicle. This
will ensure that your vehicle continues to perform
most like it did when the tires were new.
Any time you notice unusual wear, rotate your
tires as soon as possible and check wheel
alignment. Also check for damaged tires or wheels.
See When It Is Time for New Tires on page 6-70
and Wheel Replacement on page 6-75 . When rotating your vehicle’s tires, always use the
correct rotation pattern shown here.
Do not include the spare tire in the tire rotation.
After the tires have been rotated, adjust the front
and rear ination pressures as shown on the Tire
and Loading Information label. See Inflation - Tire
Pressure on page 6-62 and Loading the Vehicle on
page 5-33 .
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Maintenance Schedule ..................................... .7-2
Introduction .................................................. .7-2
Maintenance Requirements ............................. .7-2
Your Vehicle and the Environment ................... .7-2
Using the Maintenance Schedule ..................... .7-3
Scheduled Maintenance .................................. .7-4
Additional Required Services ........................... .7-6
Maintenance Footnotes .................................. .7-8 Owner Checks and Services ......................... .7-10
At Each Fuel Fill ......................................... .7-10
At Least Once a Month ................................ .7-10
At Least Once a Year .................................. .7-11
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants .............. .7-13
Maintenance Replacement Parts .................... .7-15
Engine Drive Belt Routing ............................. .7-16
Maintenance Record .................................... .7-17
Section 7 Maintenance Schedule
7-1

Maintenance Schedule Introduction Important: Keep engine oil at the proper level and
change as recommended.
Have you purchased the GM Protection Plan? The Plan
supplements the vehicle warranties. See the Warranty
and Owner Assistance booklet or your dealer/retailer
for details. Maintenance Requirements Notice: Maintenance intervals, checks, inspections,
replacement parts, and recommended uids and
lubricants as prescribed in this manual are necessary
to keep this vehicle in good working condition.
Any damage caused by failure to follow scheduled
maintenance might not be covered by the vehicle
warranty.
Your Vehicle and the Environment Proper vehicle maintenance not only helps to keep
the vehicle in good working condition, but also helps
the environment. All recommended maintenance is
important. Improper vehicle maintenance can even affect
the quality of the air we breathe. Improper uid levels or
the wrong tire ination can increase the level of emissions
from the vehicle. To help protect the environment, and to
keep the vehicle in good condition, be sure to maintain
the vehicle properly.
7-2

Using the Maintenance Schedule We want to help keep this vehicle in good working
condition. But we do not know exactly how you will drive
it. You might drive very short distances only a few times
a week. Or you might drive long distances all the time in
very hot, dusty weather. You might use the vehicle in
making deliveries. Or you might drive it to work, to do
errands, or in many other ways.
Because of all the different ways people use their
vehicles, maintenance needs vary. You might need
more frequent checks and replacements. So please read
the following and note how you drive. If you have any
questions on how to keep the vehicle in good condition,
see your dealer/retailer.
This schedule is for vehicles that:
carry passengers and cargo within recommended
limits on the Tire and Loading Information label.
See Loading the Vehicle on page 5-33 .
are driven on reasonable road surfaces within legal
driving limits.
are driven off-road in the recommended manner.
See Off-Road Driving on page 5-13 .
use the recommended fuel. See Gasoline Octane
on page 6-5 . The services in Scheduled Maintenance on page 7-4
should be performed when indicated. See Additional
Required Services on page 7-6 and Maintenance
Footnotes on page 7-8 for further information.
{ CAUTION: Performing maintenance work on a vehicle can be
dangerous. In trying to do some jobs, you can be
seriously injured. Do your own maintenance work
only if you have the required know-how and the
proper tools and equipment for the job. If you
have any doubt, see your dealer/retailer to have a
qualied technician do the work. See Doing Your
Own Service Work on page 6-4 .
Some maintenance services can be complex.
So, unless you are technically qualied and have
the necessary equipment, have your dealer/retailer
do these jobs.
When you go to your dealer/retailer for service, trained
and supported service technicians will perform the
work using genuine parts.
To purchase service information, see Service
Publications Ordering Information on page 8-15 .
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