How to Reset the Ride Control on a Cadillac Escalade
by Harvey BirdmanThe Ride Control warning signals when the Escalade computer system detects something is wrong with the suspension. On the Cadillac Escalade, this warning can be reset two ways depending on whether the Ride Control warning is showing due to electrical problems or due to a mechanical problem. If the fault is in the electrical system, then it can be reset by the owner; however, if the wiring is going bad, the Ride Control will activate again. If the problem is mechanical, such as a broken pump, then a trip to the mechanic will be necessary to fix the pump before the Ride Control warning can be reset.
Step 1
Turn you car on with all of the secondary systems off---no air conditioning, no radio, nothing making noise other than the actual car. After 5 to 10 minutes you may hear the air pump that supplies pressure to the pneumatic shocks come on. It will be a soft hum, like a vacuum cleaner you are hearing in the distance. If you hear this sound, then the pump is shot and you need to take the car to the mechanic to replace it. The ride control will not reset until this is done.
Step 2
Plug the code reader into the diagnostic port in the engine bay with the car on. The position varies depending upon the model year and drivetrain of the Escalade but it will be positioned for easy access. The port will look like a controller port on a game module but trapezoidal in shape. Press the read button after the reader is finished with it's start up. The reader will stop flashing its logo or say ready on the screen. When the Ride Control error code comes up---you will need the codes for your model year--- press erase. The position varies on different readers but it will be prominent and red. Pushing the erase button will reset the module.
Step 3
Unplug the reader and turn the car on. If there it was just a glitch, then the light will stay off. However, if the light comes back on there might be a mechanical problem with the suspension that keeps triggering the warning. You will need to take your Cadillac Escalade to a mechanic for repairs.
References
Things You'll Need
- Code Reader
Writer Bio
Harvey Birdman has been writing since 2000 for academic assignments. He has trained in the use of LexisNexus, Westlaw and Psychnotes. He holds a Juris Doctor and a Master of Business Administration from the Chicago Kent School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in both political science and psychology from the University of Missouri at Columbia.
