trailer CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV 2010 User Guide

Black plate (50,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2010
SBZA is designed to ignore stationary objects; however,
the system may occasionally light up due to guard rails,
signs, trees, shrubs, and other stationary objects. This
is normal system operation, the vehicle does not need
service.
SBZA does not operate when the left or right corners of
the rear bumper are covered with mud, dirt, snow, ice,
slush, or in heavy rainstorms. For cleaning instructions,
see Washing Your Vehicle on page 7 ‑ 103 . If the
DIC still displays the SIDE BLIND ZONE SYSTEM
UNAVAILABLE message after cleaning the bumper, see
your dealer.
The SBZA displays may remain on if a trailer is
attached to the vehicle, or a bicycle or object is
extending out to either side of the vehicle.
When SBZA is disabled for any reason other than the
driver turning it off, the driver will not be able to turn
SBZA back on using the DIC. The SIDE BLIND ZONE
ALERT ON option will not be selectable if the conditions
for normal system operation are not met. Until normal
operating conditions for SBZA are met, you should not
rely upon SBZA while driving. SBZA Error Messages The following messages may appear in the DIC:
SIDE BLIND ZONE ALERT SYSTEM OFF: This
message indicates that the driver has turned the
system off.
SIDE BLIND ZONE SYSTEM UNAVAILABLE: This
message indicates that the SBZA system is disabled
either because the sensor is blocked and cannot detect
vehicles in your blind zone, or the vehicle is passing
through an open field of view area, such as the desert,
where there is insufficient data for operation. The
sensor may be blocked by mud, dirt, snow, ice, slush,
or even heavy rainstorms. This message may also
activate during heavy rain or due to road spray. The
vehicle does not need service. For cleaning, see
Washing Your Vehicle on page 7 ‑ 103 .
SERVICE SIDE BLIND ZONE ALERT SYSTEM: If this
message appears, both SBZA displays will remain on
indicating there is a problem with the SBZA system.
If these displays remain on after continued driving, the
system needs service. Take the vehicle to your dealer.
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Black plate (18,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2010
Electric Power Management The vehicle has Electric Power Management (EPM) that
estimates the battery's temperature and state of charge.
It then adjusts the voltage for best performance and
extended life of the battery.
When the battery's state of charge is low, the voltage is
raised slightly to quickly bring the charge back up.
When the state of charge is high, the voltage is lowered
slightly to prevent overcharging. If the vehicle has a
voltmeter gauge or a voltage display on the Driver
Information Center (DIC), you may see the voltage
move up or down. This is normal. If there is a problem,
an alert will be displayed.
The battery can be discharged at idle if the electrical
loads are very high. This is true for all vehicles. This is
because the generator (alternator) may not be spinning
fast enough at idle to produce all the power that is
needed for very high electrical loads.
A high electrical load occurs when several of the
following are on, such as: headlamps, high beams, fog
lamps, rear window defogger, climate control fan at high
speed, heated seats, engine cooling fans, trailer loads,
and loads plugged into accessory power outlets. EPM works to prevent excessive discharge of the
battery. It does this by balancing the generator's output
and the vehicle's electrical needs. It can increase
engine idle speed to generate more power, whenever
needed. It can temporarily reduce the power demands
of some accessories.
Normally, these actions occur in steps or levels, without
being noticeable. In rare cases at the highest levels of
corrective action, this action may be noticeable to the
driver. If so, a Driver Information Center (DIC) message
might be displayed, such as BATTERY SAVER
ACTIVE, BATTERY VOLTAGE LOW, or LOW
BATTERY. If this message is displayed, it is
recommended that the driver reduce the electrical loads
as much as possible. See DIC Warnings and Messages
on page 4 ‑ 49 .
Battery Run-Down Protection This feature shuts off the dome lamps if they are
left on for more than 10 minutes when the ignition is in
LOCK/OFF. This helps to prevent the battery from
running down.
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Black plate (37,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2010
This light comes on during a malfunction in one of
two ways:
Light Flashing: A misfire condition has been detected.
A misfire increases vehicle emissions and could
damage 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 cargo
being 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 vehicle off, wait at least 10 seconds, and
restart the engine. If the light is still flashing, follow the
previous steps and see your dealer for service as soon
as possible.
Light On Steady: An emission control system
malfunction has been detected on the vehicle.
Diagnosis and service might be required.
An emission system malfunction might be corrected by
doing the following: .
Make sure the fuel cap is fully installed. See Filling
the Tank on page 7 ‑ 11 . The diagnostic system
can determine if the fuel cap has been left off or improperly installed. A loose or missing fuel cap
allows fuel to evaporate into the atmosphere. A few
driving trips with the cap properly installed should
turn the light off. .
If the vehicle has been driven through a deep
puddle of water, the vehicle's electrical system
might be wet. The condition is usually corrected
when the electrical system dries out. A few driving
trips should turn the light off. .
Make sure to fuel the vehicle with quality fuel. Poor
fuel quality causes the engine not to run as
efficiently as designed and can cause: stalling after
start-up, stalling when the vehicle is changed into
gear, misfiring, hesitation on acceleration,
or stumbling on acceleration. These conditions
might go away once the engine is warmed up.
If one or more of these conditions occurs, change
the fuel brand used. It will require at least one full
tank of the proper fuel to turn the light off.
See Gasoline Octane on page 7 ‑ 8 .
If none of the above have made the light turn off, your
dealer can check the vehicle. The dealer has the proper
test equipment and diagnostic tools to fix any
mechanical or electrical problems that might have
developed.
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Black plate (1,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2010
Section 6 Driving Your VehicleYour Driving, the Road, and the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . 6-2
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Braking in Emergencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
StabiliTrak ®
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Magnetic Ride Control ™ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-9
Road Sensing Suspension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-9
Locking Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-9
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-9
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-10
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-11
Passing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-12
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-12
Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-13 Driving at Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-24
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-25
Before Leaving on a Long Trip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-26
Highway Hypnosis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-26
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-27
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-28
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice,
or Snow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-30
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-30
Recovery Hooks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-31
Loading the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-32
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-38
Towing Your Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-38
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-38
Level Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-41
Autoride ®
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-42
Towing a Trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-42
Trailer Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-55
6-1

Black plate (9,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2010
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 force
for each shock absorber and adjustment level is chosen
for the best ride and handling.
MagneRide also works with the tow/haul switch that,
when engaged, will provide more firmness from the
shock absorbers. This added control gives better ride
and handling when carrying heavy loads or towing a
trailer. See Tow/Haul Mode
on page 3 ‑ 36 for more
information.
Road Sensing Suspension The Road Sensing Suspension (RSS) feature provides
superior vehicle ride and handling under a variety of
passenger and loading conditions.
The system is fully automatic and uses a computer
controller to continuously monitor vehicle speed, wheel
to body position, lift/dive and steering position of the
vehicle. The controller then sends signals to each shock
absorber to independently adjust the damping level to
provide the optimum vehicle ride. RSS also interacts with the tow/haul mode that, when
engaged, will provide additional control of the shock
absorbers. This additional control results in better ride
and handling characteristics when the vehicle is loaded
or towing a trailer. See “ Tow/Haul Mode ” under Towing a
Trailer on page 6 ‑ 42 .
Locking Rear Axle Vehicles with a locking rear axle can give more traction
on snow, mud, ice, sand or gravel. It works like a
standard axle most of the time, but when traction is low,
this feature will allow the rear wheel with the most
traction to move the vehicle.
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) System If the vehicle has this feature, engine power is sent to
all four wheels when extra traction is needed. This is
like four-wheel drive, but there is no separate lever or
switch to engage or disengage the front axle. It is fully
automatic, and adjusts itself as needed for road
conditions.
If the vehicle is a Two-mode Hybrid, see “ Four-Wheel
Drive ” in the Two-mode Hybrid Supplement.
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Black plate (33,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2010
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 see Tires
on page 7 ‑ 58 and Inflation - Tire
Pressure
on 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. See
Towing a Trailer
on page 6 ‑ 42 for important
information on towing a trailer, towing safety
rules and trailering tips.
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Black plate (38,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2010
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 ” under Towing a Trailer
on page 6 ‑ 42 .
Towing Towing Your Vehicle To avoid damage, the disabled vehicle should be towed
with all four wheels off the ground. Consult your dealer
or a professional towing service if the disabled vehicle
must be towed. See Roadside Service on page 9 ‑ 8 .
To tow the vehicle behind another vehicle for
recreational purposes (such as behind a motorhome),
see “ Recreational Vehicle Towing ” following. Recreational Vehicle Towing If the vehicle has a two – mode hybrid engine, see the
Two – mode Hybrid manual for more information.
Recreational vehicle towing means towing the vehicle
behind another vehicle – such as behind a motorhome.
The two most common types of recreational vehicle
towing are known as “ dinghy towing ” (towing the vehicle
with all four wheels on the ground) and “ dolly towing ”
(towing the vehicle with two wheels on the ground and
two wheels up on a device known as a “ dolly ” ).
Here are some important things to consider before
recreational vehicle towing: .
What is the towing capacity of the towing vehicle?
Be sure to read the tow vehicle manufacturer's
recommendations. .
What is the distance that will be travelled? Some
vehicles have restrictions on how far and how long
they can tow. .
Is the proper towing equipment going to be used?
See your dealer or trailering professional for
additional advice and equipment
recommendations. .
Is the vehicle ready to be towed? Just as preparing
the vehicle for a long trip, make sure the vehicle is
prepared to be towed. See Before Leaving on a
Long Trip on page 6 ‑ 26 .
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Black plate (42,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2010
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 hitch.
Autoride ®
With this feature, improved vehicle ride and handling is
provided under a variety of passenger and loading
conditions.
The system is fully automatic and uses a computer
controller to continuously monitor vehicle speed, wheel
to body position, lift/dive and steering position of the
vehicle. The controller then sends signals to each shock
absorber to independently adjust the damping level to
provide the optimum vehicle ride.
Autoride also interacts with the tow/haul mode that,
when activated, will provide additional control of the
shock absorbers. This additional control results in better
ride and handling characteristics when the vehicle is
loaded or towing a trailer. See “ Tow/Haul Mode ” under
Towing a Trailer
on page 6 ‑ 42 for more information.
Towing a Trailer If the vehicle has a two – mode hybrid engine, see the
Two – mode Hybrid manual for more information.
Do not tow a trailer during break ‐ in. See New Vehicle
Break-In on page 3 ‑ 26 for more information. { 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, the brakes may not work well — or
even at all. 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.
Notice: 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, read the
information in “ Weight of the Trailer ” that appears later
in this section.
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Black plate (43,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2010
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. So please read this section carefully before
pulling a trailer.
Pulling A Trailer Here are some important points: .
There are many different laws, including speed
limit restrictions, having to do with trailering. Make
sure the rig will be legal, not only where you live
but also where you will be driving. A good source
for this information can be state or provincial
police. .
Consider using a sway control. See “ Hitches ” later
in this section. .
Do not tow a trailer at all during the first 500 miles
(800 km) the new vehicle is driven. The engine,
axle or other parts could be damaged. .
Then, during the first 500 miles (800 km) that a
trailer is towed, do not drive over 50 mph (80 km/h)
and do not make starts at full throttle. This helps
the engine and other parts of the vehicle wear in at
the heavier loads. .
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. .
If the vehicle has the Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA)
system and it doesn't seem to be working properly
while pulling a trailer, turn the system off. See Side
Blind Zone Alert (SBZA)
on page 3 ‑ 48 for more
information.
Important considerations that have to do with weight: .
The weight of the trailer .
The weight of the trailer tongue .
The weight on the vehicle's tires .
And the weight of the trailering combination
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Black plate (44,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2010
Weight of the Trailer How heavy can a trailer safely be?
It depends on how the rig is used. Speed, altitude, road
grades, outside temperature and how much the vehicle
is used to pull a trailer are all important. It can depend
on 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 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 trailer weight rating.
Use the following chart to determine how much the
vehicle can weigh, based upon the vehicle model and
options.
Vehicle Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR*
Escalade 2WD 6.2L V8 3.42 8,300 lbs (3 765 kg) 14,000 lbs (6 350 kg)
Escalade AWD 6.2L V8 3.42 8,100 lbs (3 674 kg) 14,000 lbs (6 350 kg)
Escalade ESV 2WD 6.2L V8 3.42 7,600 lbs (3 447 kg) 14,000 lbs (6 350 kg)
Escalade ESV AWD 6.2L V8 3.42 7,800 lbs (3 538 kg) 14,000 lbs (6 350 kg)
*The Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) is the total allowable weight of the completely loaded vehicle and
trailer including any passengers, cargo, equipment and conversions. The GCWR for the vehicle should not be
exceeded.
Ask your dealer for trailering information or advice,
or write us at our Customer Assistance Offices. See
Customer Assistance Offices
on page 9 ‑ 6 for more
information.
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