flat tire CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV 2012 Owners Manual

Black plate (24,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
1-24 In Brief
Performance and
Maintenance StabiliTrak ®
SystemThe vehicle has a traction control
system that limits wheel spin and
the StabiliTrak system that assists
with directional control of the
vehicle in difficult driving conditions.
Both systems turn on automatically
every time the vehicle is started. .
To turn off traction control, press
and release
g on the instrument
panel. The appropriate DIC
message displays. See Ride
Control System Messages on
page 5 ‑ 34 ..
To turn off both traction control
and StabiliTrak, press and
hold
g until
g illuminates and
the appropriate DIC message
displays. See Ride Control
System Messages on page 5 ‑ 34 ..
Press and release
g again to
turn on both systems. For more information, see
StabiliTrak ®
System on page 9 ‑ 37 .
Tire Pressure Monitor This vehicle may have a Tire
Pressure Monitor System (TPMS).
The TPMS warning light alerts you
to a significant loss in pressure of
one of the vehicle's tires. If the
warning light comes on, stop as
soon as possible and inflate the
tires to the recommended pressure
shown on the Tire and Loading
Information label. See Vehicle Load
Limits on page 9 ‑ 16 . The warning
light will remain on until the tire
pressure is corrected.
During cooler conditions, the low tire
pressure warning light may appear
when the vehicle is first started and then turn off. This may be an early
indicator that the tire pressures are
getting low and the tires need to be
inflated to the proper pressure.
The TPMS does not replace normal
monthly tire maintenance. It is the
driver ’ s responsibility to maintain
correct tire pressures.
See Tire Pressure Monitor System
on page 10 ‑ 53 .
Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit This vehicle may come with a spare
tire and tire changing equipment or
a tire sealant and compressor kit.
The kit can be used to temporarily
seal small punctures in the tread
area of the tire. See Tire Sealant
and Compressor Kit on page 10 ‑ 67 .
If the vehicle came with a spare tire
and tire changing equipment, see
If a Tire Goes Flat on page 10 ‑ 65 .

Black plate (25,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
In Brief 1-25
Engine Oil Life System The engine oil life system calculates
engine oil life based on vehicle use
and displays a DIC message when
it is necessary to change the engine
oil and filter. The oil life system
should be reset to 100% only
following an oil change.
Resetting the Oil Life System
1. Display OIL LIFE REMAINING
on the DIC.
2. Press and hold the SET/RESET
button on the DIC for more than
five seconds. The oil life will
change to 100%.
See Engine Oil Life System on
page 10 ‑ 9 . Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol) Vehicles that have a FlexFuel badge
and a yellow fuel cap can use either
unleaded gasoline or ethanol fuel
containing up to 85% ethanol (E85).
See Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol) on
page 9 ‑ 54 . For all other vehicles,
use only the unleaded gasoline
described under Recommended
Fuel on page 9 ‑ 52 .
Driving for Better Fuel
Economy Driving habits can affect fuel
mileage. Here are some driving tips
to get the best fuel economy
possible. .
Avoid fast starts and accelerate
smoothly. .
Brake gradually and avoid
abrupt stops. .
Avoid idling the engine for long
periods of time. .
When road and weather
conditions are appropriate,
use cruise control. .
Always follow posted speed
limits or drive more slowly when
conditions require. .
Keep vehicle tires properly
inflated. .
Combine several trips into a
single trip. .
Replace the vehicle's tires with
the same TPC Spec number
molded into the tire's sidewall
near the size. .
Follow recommended scheduled
maintenance.

Black plate (21,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
Instruments and Controls 5-21If the StabiliTrak/TCS system is off,
the system does not assist in
controlling the vehicle. Turn on the
StabiliTrak/TCS system and the
indicator light turns off.
See StabiliTrak ®
System on
page 9 ‑ 37 , and Ride Control System
Messages on page 5 ‑ 34 for more
information.
Traction Control System
(TCS)/StabiliTrak ®
Light
The TCS/StabiliTrak light comes on
briefly when the engine is started.
If the light does not come on or
stays on, have the vehicle serviced
by the dealer. If the system is
working normally, the indicator light
turns off. If the light comes on and stays on
while driving, and a message
displays in the Driver Information
Center (DIC), have the vehicle
serviced by the dealer. See Ride
Control System Messages on
page 5 ‑ 34 for more information.
If the light flashes while driving, this
means that StabiliTrak or TCS is
assisting in controlling the vehicle.
See StabiliTrak ®
System on
page 9 ‑ 37 for more information.
Tire Pressure Light
For vehicles with the Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS), this light
comes on briefly when the engine is
started. It provides information
about tire pressures and the TPMS. When the Light Is On Steady
This indicates that one or more
of the tires are significantly
underinflated.
A Driver Information Center (DIC)
tire pressure message may also
display. See Tire Messages on
page 5 ‑ 36 . Stop as soon as
possible, and inflate the tires to the
pressure value shown on the Tire
and Loading Information label.
See Tire Pressure on page 10 ‑ 52 .
When the Light Flashes First and
Then Is On Steady
If the light flashes for about a minute
and then stays on, there may be a
problem with the TPMS. If the
problem is not corrected, the light
will come on at every ignition cycle.
See Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation on page 10 ‑ 55 .

Black plate (6,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
9-6 Driving and Operating Remember: Antilock brakes help
avoid only the braking skid.
Off-Road Driving All-wheel-drive vehicles can be
used for off-road driving. Vehicles
without all-wheel drive and vehicles
not equipped with All Terrain (AT) or
On-Off Road (OOR) tires must not
be driven off-road except on a level,
solid surface. To contact the tire
manufacturer for more information
about the original equipment tires,
see the Limited Warranty and
Owner Assistance Information
manual.
Controlling the vehicle is the key to
successful off-road driving. One of
the best ways to control the vehicle
is to control the speed. { WARNINGWhen driving off-road, bouncing
and quick changes in direction
can easily throw you out of
position. This could cause you to
lose control and crash. You and
your passengers should always
wear safety belts.
Before Driving Off-Road .
Have all necessary maintenance
and service work completed. .
Fuel the vehicle, fill fluid levels,
and check inflation pressure in
all tires, including the spare,
if equipped. .
Read all the information about
all-wheel-drive vehicles in this
manual. .
Make sure all underbody
shields, if equipped, are properly
attached. .
Know the local laws that apply to
off-road driving.
To gain more ground clearance if
needed, it may be necessary to
remove the front fascia lower
air dam.
Notice: Operating the vehicle for
extended periods without the
front fascia lower air dam
installed can cause improper air
flow to the engine. Re ‐ attach the
front fascia air dam after off-road
driving.

Black plate (12,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
9-12 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 the vehicle
and rest.
Other driving tips include: .
Keep the vehicle well ventilated. .
Keep the 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. { WARNINGCoasting 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. .
Stay in your own lane. Do not
swing wide or cut across the
center of the road. Drive at
speeds that let you stay in your
own lane. .
Be alert on top of hills;
something could be in your lane
(stalled car, accident).

Black plate (17,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
Driving and Operating 9-17loading information label shows
the number of occupant seating
positions (A), and the maximum
vehicle capacity weight (B) in
kilograms and pounds.
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 10 ‑ 46 and Tire Pressure
on page 10 ‑ 52 .
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 Trailer
Towing on page 9 ‑ 61 for
important information on
towing a trailer, towing safety
rules and trailering tips.

Black plate (19,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
Driving and Operating 9-19weight of the driver, passengers,
and cargo should never exceed
your vehicle's capacity weight. Certification/Tire Label
A vehicle specific Certification/
Tire label is attached to the rear
edge of the driver door. The
label shows the size of your
vehicle's original tires and the
inflation pressures needed to
obtain the gross weight capacity
of your vehicle. This is called
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). The GVWR
includes the weight of the
vehicle, all occupants, fuel, and
cargo.
The Certification/Tire label also
tells you the maximum weights
for the front and rear axles,
called Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR). To find out the
actual loads on your front and
rear axles, you need to go to a
weigh station and weigh your
vehicle. Your dealer can help
you with this. Be sure to spread
out your load equally on both
sides of the center line.
Never exceed the GVWR for
your vehicle, or the GAWR for
either the front or rear axle.
And, if you do have a heavy
load, you should spread it out. { WARNING
Do not load the vehicle any
heavier than the Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR), or either the
maximum front or rear Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR).
This can cause systems to
break and change the way the
vehicle handles. This could
cause loss of control and a
crash. Overloading can also
shorten the life of the vehicle.
Your warranty does not cover
parts or components that fail
because of overloading.
The label will help you decide
how much cargo and installed
equipment your truck can carry.
Using heavier suspension
components to get added
durability might not change your

Black plate (41,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
Driving and Operating 9-41better handling under a variety of
passenger and loading conditions.
An air compressor connected to the
rear shocks will raise or lower the
rear of the vehicle to maintain
proper vehicle height. The system is
activated when the ignition key is
turned to ON/RUN and will
automatically adjust vehicle height
thereafter. The system may exhaust
(lower vehicle height) for up to
ten minutes after the ignition key
has been turned off. 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 hitch. Cruise Control
{ WARNINGCruise control can be dangerous
where you cannot drive safely at
a steady speed. So, do not use
the cruise control on winding
roads or in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous
on slippery roads. On such roads,
fast changes in tire traction can
cause excessive wheel slip, and
you could lose control. Do not use
cruise control on slippery roads.
With cruise control, a speed of
about 40 km/h (25 mph) or more can
be maintained without keeping your
foot on the accelerator. Cruise
control does not work at speeds
below about 40 km/h (25 mph). When the brakes are applied, cruise
control is turned off.
This vehicle has a Hydra ‐ Matic
6 ‐ speed automatic transmission,
see Grade Braking under Tow/Haul
Mode on page 9 ‑ 33 for an
explanation of how cruise control
interacts with the Range Selection
Mode, tow/haul and grade braking
systems.
This vehicle has StabiliTrak and
when the system begins to limit
wheel spin, the cruise control will
automatically disengage. See
StabiliTrak ®
System on page 9 ‑ 37 .
When road conditions allow the
cruise control to be safely used
again, it can be turned back on.

Black plate (64,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
9-64 Driving and Operating Trailer tongue weight (A) should be 10 percent to 15 percent and fifth wheel
or gooseneck kingpin weight should be 15 to 25 percent of the loaded trailer
weight (B) up to the maximums for vehicle series and hitch type.
Vehicle Series Hitch Type Maximum Tongue
Weight
1500 Weight Carrying 272 kg (600 lbs)
1500 Weight Distributing 499 kg (1,100 lbs)
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.
Trailering 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 ” later
in this section for more information. 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.
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 door or see Vehicle Load
Limits on page 9 ‑ 16 for more
information. 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. If using a weight
distributing hitch, make sure not to
exceed the RGAWR before applying
the weight distribution spring bars.
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.

Black plate (2,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
10-2 Vehicle Care Wheels and Tires Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-46
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . 10-47
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . 10-48
Tire Terminology and
Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-49
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-52
Tire Pressure for High-Speed
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-53
Tire Pressure Monitor
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-53
Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-55
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-57
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-58
When It Is Time for New
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-59
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . 10-60
Different Size Tires and
Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-62
Uniform Tire Quality
Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-62
Wheel Alignment and Tire
Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-64 Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . 10-64
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-65
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . 10-65
Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . 10-67
Storing the Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . 10-73
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-74
Secondary Latch System . . . 10-85
Full-Size Spare Tire . . . . . . . . 10-87
Jump Starting Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-88
Towing Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . 10-93
Recreational Vehicle
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-93
Appearance Care Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-96
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-99
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-102 General Information For service and parts needs, visit
your dealer. You will receive
genuine GM parts and GM-trained
and supported service people.
Genuine GM parts have one of
these marks: