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Here May Be Why Your Cadillac Escalade Has A Low Or Dead Battery

If your 2021 through 2023 Cadillac Escalade is difficult to start, or refuses to start at all (no engine crank) after being parked and turned off for approximately a day, this may result from a known issue causing low or dead batteries in several GM SUV models. Now GM TechLink has determined the likely cause and provided a fix technicians can apply to correct the battery drain problem.

Side view of the 2023 Cadillac Escalade (Escalade-V).

The identified issue that is likely to cause low battery charge or a dead battery in a parked Cadillac Escalade is related to the third-row power-folding seat switches. If the switch connectors to the wiring harness are loose or unplugged, causing a loss of power connection, the Escalade’s body control module (BCM) will remain switched on in standby mode when the engine is turned off.

If the body control module remains in standby mode, it draws power to operate, but with the engine inactive, it drains this electricity directly from the battery. The draw is approximately 200 to 300 milliamps and continues until the BCM has completely drained the battery charge, resulting in a dead battery after roughly a day or slightly more.

In diagnosing the problem, the GM technician will first check for a battery draw of the known level in your Cadillac Escalade. If the draw is present, the technician will move on to further diagnosis and the fix.

Rear three quarters view of the 2023 Escalade-V.

The next stage of testing is to see if the power-folding seat switches for the third seating row operate. These switches are located in the cargo area on the right-side rear quarter panel. Failure of the seats to operate indicates an internal connector between the switches and the wiring harness is unplugged or otherwise failing to make contact.

Checking the switch connections inside the interior panels enables the service worker to determine if one or more switches are disconnected from the harness connector. Ensuring the switches are securely plugged in and functional will cause the BCM to stop remaining in standby mode, eliminating the excess power draw when your Cadillac Escalade is parked and switched off.

The Cadillac badge on the 2021 Escalade grille.

The same issue also applies to 2021 through 2023 model year GMC Yukon, Chevy Suburban and Chevy Tahoe SUVs. The same fix can be applied to these vehicles to resolve the problem.

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Comments

  1. My 2023 Suburban has gone through 2 new Batteries since I bought it in March. The Dealer can’t find the problem, but the 3rd row seats work fine, so that probably isn’t it? It goes dead after about 4 days without being driven. Any Ideas???
    Thank You, Gary

    Reply
    1. lemon law

      Reply
  2. My 2021 Yukon Denali had the same problem and the dealership told me it was the Glass break sensor was causing the problem.( wasn’t aware there was such a sensor) however they said the disconnected it. Not have had the problem since. However the is has never been totally corrected and this sensor repaired

    Reply
    1. I didn’t believe it myself a glass break sensor. I did a google search and sure enough. cadillac.com/support/vehicle/security/advanced-theft-deterrent

      Reply
  3. It seems many dealer mechanics do not how to trace down a parasitic draw. Granted the new vehicle data bus design can make it more difficult.

    Reply
  4. I believe that the BCM should monitor the battery voltage and if it drops below 10.5 volts, it must shut itself down. So the BCM programming is faulty. Finding a parasitic current draw is simple. Just open the negative circuit at the battery, and connect an ammeter in series. If you see a currect flowing, then begin removing fuses one by one until the current drops. Then check the equipment on that circuit. Having a helper will make this job easier.

    Reply
  5. The very last thing that you want to do is to open the battery circuit to insert an ammeter. If the draw is high enough, the 250 mA fuse will blow. Secondly, any module will turn off and your parasitic draw may disappear. Either use an amp clamp or do a voltage drop across the fuse. A very good comparator chart is provided by Power Probe and a variety of other companies

    Reply
  6. I love have to a new luxury Cadillac motor home small like size of Amazon delivery van. Hybrid and star net too . Beautiful interior quality interior too. I pray they produce them soon in four colors,

    Reply
  7. Ai player, we usually use a wire to bridge the gap as the terminal is disconnected. Then add the ammeter and remove the wire if that makes sense

    Reply
    1. Not sure I understand but my initial thought is that the ammeter is still in series and therefore may not be fused high enough to prevent meter damage. Most meters have both a 250mA fuse and a 10 A fuse. If the current draw exceeds either of these amounts, good bye fuse. An amp clamp is the preferable way and before anyone replies that the clamp does not measure low enough, it is accurate enough to detect a draw that is draining the battery.
      If the amperage is high enough, a thermal imaging camera can also prove useful.

      Reply
  8. I have a 2023 Cadillac Escalade I purchased in August. Starting Oct the battery has died 5 times and been replaced once. Usual if the car sits over night. The shortest time span was 5 hours. The third row seats work fine and I’ve had the center console (where onstar button is located) replaced. No solution has been found. Any ideas?

    Reply
  9. Did you find the reason? I have 2021 Escalade, and battery died 3 times in 1 month. Trunk opening and closing few times and leave it overnight makes it comoletely dead. Battery is more than 3 years old though.

    Reply

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