steering CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT 2003 2.G Owners Manual

Where Are the Air Bags?
The driver's frontal air bag is in the middle of the
steering wheel.The right front passernger's frontal air bag is in the
instrument panel on the passenger's side.
1-53

{CAUTION:
If something is between an occupant and an
air bag, the bag might not in¯ate properly or it
might force the object into that person causing
severe injury or even death. The path of an
in¯ating air bag must be kept clear. Don't put
anything between an occupant and an air bag,
and don't attach or put anything on the
steering wheel hub or on or near any other air
bag covering. Don't let seat covers block the
in¯ation path of a side impact air bag.
When Should an Air Bag In¯ate?
The driver's and right front passenger's frontal air bags
are designed to in¯ate in moderate to severe frontal
or near-frontal crashes. But they are designed to in¯ate
only if the impact speed is above the system's
designed ªthreshold level.º
In addition, your vehicle has ªdual stageº frontal air
bags, which adjust the amount of restraint according to
crash severity. For moderate frontal impacts, these
air bags in¯ate at a level less than full deployment.
For more severe frontal impacts, full deployment occurs.
If the front of your vehicle goes straight into a wall
that doesn't move or deform, the threshold level
for the reduced deployment is about 10 to 16 mph
(16 to 25 km/h), and the threshold level for a full
deployment is about 20 to 25 mph (32 to 40 km/h).
The threshold level can vary, however, with speci®c
vehicle design, so that it can be somewhat above
or below this range.
If your vehicle strikes something that will move or
deform, such as a parked car, the threshold level will be
higher. The driver's and right front passenger's frontal
air bags are not designed to in¯ate in rollovers, rear
impacts, or in many side impacts because in¯ation
would not help the occupant.
1-55

What Makes an Air Bag In¯ate?
In an impact of sufficient severity, the air bag
sensing system detects that the vehicle is in a crash.
For both frontal and side impact air bags, the sensing
system triggers a release of gas from the in¯ator,
which in¯ates the air bag. The in¯ator, the air bag and
related hardware are all part of the air bag modules.
Frontal air bag modules are located inside the
steering wheel and instrument panel. For side impact
air bags, the air bag modules are located in the
seatback closest to the driver's and/or right front
passenger's door.
How Does an Air Bag Restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal collisions,
even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel
or the instrument panel. In moderate to severe side
collisions, even belted occupants can contact the inside
of the vehicle. The air bag supplements the protection
provided by safety belts. Air bags distribute the force of
the impact more evenly over the occupant's upper
body, stopping the occupant more gradually. But the
frontal air bags would not help you in many types
of collisions, including rollovers, rear impacts, and many
side impacts, primarily because an occupant's motion
is not toward the air bag. Side impact air bags would not
help you in many types of collisions, including frontal
or near frontal collisions, rollovers, and rear impacts,
primarily because an occupant's motion is not toward
those air bags. Air bags should never be regarded
as anything more than a supplement to safety belts, and
then only in moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal
collisions for the driver's and right front passenger's
frontal air bags, and only in moderate to severe
side collisions for vehicles with a driver's and right front
passenger's side impact air bag.
1-57

What Will You See After an Air Bag
In¯ates?
After the air bag in¯ates, it quickly de¯ates, so quickly
that some people may not even realize the air bag
in¯ated. Some components of the air bag module will be
hot for a short time. These components include the
steering wheel hub for the driver's frontal air bag and the
instrument panel for the right front passenger's frontal
air bag. For side impact air bags, the side of the
seatback closest to the driver's and/or right front
passenger's door will be hot. The parts of the bag that
come into contact with you may be warm, but not
too hot to touch. There will be some smoke and dust
coming from the vents in the de¯ated air bags. Air bag
in¯ation doesn't prevent the driver from seeing or
being able to steer the vehicle, nor does it stop people
from leaving the vehicle.
{CAUTION:
When an air bag in¯ates, there is dust in the
air. This dust could cause breathing problems
for people with a history of asthma or other
breathing trouble. To avoid this, everyone in
the vehicle should get out as soon as it is safe
to do so. If you have breathing problems but
can't get out of the vehicle after an air bag
in¯ates, then get fresh air by opening a
window or a door. If you experience breathing
problems following an air bag deployment,
you should seek medical attention.
1-58

In many crashes severe enough to in¯ate an air bag,
windshields are broken by vehicle deformation.
Additional windshield breakage may also occur from
the right front passenger air bag.
·Air bags are designed to in¯ate only once. After an
air bag in¯ates, you'll need some new parts for
your air bag system. If you don't get them, the air
bag system won't be there to help protect you
in another crash. A new system will include air bag
modules and possibly other parts. The service
manual for your vehicle covers the need to replace
other parts.
·Your vehicle is equipped with electronic frontal
sensors which help the sensing system distinguish
between a moderate and a more severe frontal
impact. Your vehicle is also equipped with a crash
sensing and diagnostic module, which records
information about the frontal air bag system.
The module records information about the readiness
of the system and when the system commands
air bag in¯ation. It records the status of the driver's
safety belt usage in a crash in which the air bag
deploys or a crash in which the air bag nearly
deploys. The module also records speed, engine
rpm, brake and throttle data.
·Let only quali®ed technicians work on your air bag
systems. Improper service can mean that an air
bag system won't work properly. See your dealer
for service.
Notice:If you damage the covering for the driver's
or the right front passenger's air bag, or the air
bag covering on the driver's and right front
passenger's seatback, the bag may not work
properly. You may have to replace the air bag
module in the steering wheel, both the air bag
module and the instrument panel for the right front
passenger's air bag, or both the air bag module
and seatback for the driver's and right front
passenger's side impact air bag. Do not open or
break the air bag coverings.
1-59

Engine Coolant Heater
Your vehicle may be equipped with an engine coolant
heater.
In very cold weather,
0ÉF (-18ÉC) or colder,
the engine coolant heater
can help. You'll get
easier starting and better
fuel economy during
engine warm-up.
Usually, the coolant heater should be plugged in a
minimum of four hours prior to starting your vehicle.
At temperatures above 32ÉF (0ÉC), use of the coolant
heater is not required.
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord.
The cord is located on the driver's side of the engine
compartment, near the power steering ¯uid reservoir.3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt AC outlet.
{CAUTION:
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet
could cause an electrical shock. Also, the
wrong kind of extension cord could overheat
and cause a ®re. You could be seriously
injured. Plug the cord into a properly grounded
three-prong 110-volt AC outlet. If the cord
won't reach, use a heavy-duty three-prong
extension cord rated for at least 15 amps.
4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and
store the cord as it was before to keep it away
from moving engine parts. If you don't, it could be
damaged.
How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged
in? The answer depends on the outside temperature,
the kind of oil you have, and some other things.
Instead of trying to list everything here, we ask that you
contact your dealer in the area where you'll be parking
your vehicle. The dealer can give you the best advice for
that particular area.
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Luxury and Leisure Plan
·
All Directions and Connections Plan services
·Personal Concierge
OnStaržPersonal Calling
With OnStaržPersonal Calling, you have a safer way to
stay connected while driving. It's a hands-free wireless
phone that's integrated into your vehicle. You can place
calls nationwide using voice-activated dialing with no
contracts and no additional roaming charges. To ®nd out
more about OnStar
žPersonal Calling, refer to the
OnStaržowner's guide in your vehicle's glove box, or
call OnStaržat 1-888-4-ONSTAR (1-888-466-7827).
OnStaržVirtual Advisor
With OnStaržVirtual Advisor you can listen to your
favorite news, entertainment and information topics,
such as traffic and weather reports, stock quotes
and sports scores. You listen to your e-mail through
your vehicle's speakers, and reply with your hands on
the wheel and your eyes on the road.
OnStaržSteering Wheel Controls
g
: If your vehicle is
equipped with the steering
wheel control buttons
you can use them
to interact with the
OnStar
žsystem.
See the OnStar
žmanual provided with your vehicle for
more information.
2-47

Audio System(s).............................................3-66
Setting the Time...........................................3-66
Radio with Cassette and CD..........................3-67
Rear Seat Entertainment System....................3-82
Navigation/Radio System...............................3-93
Rear Seat Audio (RSA).................................3-93
CD Changer................................................3-95
Theft-Deterrent Feature..................................3-98
Audio Steering Wheel Controls.......................3-98
DVD Distortion.............................................3-99Understanding Radio Reception......................3-99
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player.................3-99
Care of Your CDs and DVDs........................3-101
Care of Your CD Changer............................3-101
Care of Your CD and DVD Player.................3-101
Cleaning the Video Screen...........................3-101
Fixed Mast Antenna....................................3-101
XMŸ Satellite Radio Antenna System
(United States Only).................................3-101
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-2

The main components of your instrument panel are the following:
A. Air Outlets. See
Outlet Adjustment on page 3-30.
B. Exterior Lamps Control. See
Exterior Lamps
on page 3-14.
C. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever. See
Turn
Signal/Multifunction Lever on page 3-7.
D. OnStaržand Radio Steering Wheel Buttons.
SeeOnStaržSystem on page 2-46andAudio
Steering Wheel Controls on page 3-98.
E. Instrument Panel Cluster. See
Instrument Panel
Cluster on page 3-32.
F. Shift Lever/Tow/Haul Selector Button. See
Automatic
Transmission Operation on page 2-32.
G. Audio System. See
Audio System(s) on page 3-66.
H. Dome Override Button. See
Interior Lamps on
page 3-18.
I. Cargo/Top-Box Lamps Button. See
Exterior Lamps
on page 3-14.
J. Fog Lamps Button. See
Exterior Lamps on
page 3-14.K. Driver Information Center (DIC) Buttons.
See
Driver Information Center (DIC) on page 3-47.
L. Parking Brake Release. See
Parking Brake on
page 2-35.
M. Tilt Lever. See
Tilt Wheel on page 3-7.
N. Comfort Control System. See
Automatic Climate
Control System on page 3-24.
O. Compact Disc Changer. See
CD Changer on
page 3-95.
P. Storage Area
Q. Clock. See
Analog Clock on page 3-23.
R. Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist Button. See
Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist (URPA) on
page 3-20.
S. StabiliTrakžButton. SeeStabilitrakžSystem
on page 4-10.
T. Glove Box. See
Glove Box on page 2-52.
3-5

Hazard Warning Flashers
Your hazard warning ¯ashers let you warn others. They
also let police know you have a problem. Your front
and rear turn signal lamps will ¯ash on and off.
But they won't ¯ash if you're braking.The hazard warning
¯asher button is located
at the top of the steering
column.
Press the button to make your front and rear turn signal
lamps ¯ash on and off. To turn off the ¯ashers, press
the button until the ®rst click and release.
Your hazard warning ¯ashers work no matter what
position your key is in, and even if the key isn't in.
When the hazard warning ¯ashers are on, your turn
signals won't work.Other Warning Devices
If you carry re¯ective triangles, you can use them to
warn others. Set one up at the side of the road about
300 feet (100 m) behind your vehicle.
3-6