Cadillac Escalade Climate Control Problems [5 Common Issues & Fixes]

In this article, we’ll discuss the common climate control problems that occur in Cadillac Escalade cars and how to fix them.

You’ll also know whether you can resolve the issues yourself or if you need to consult an expert.

Table of Contents

Common Problems with Cadillac Escalade Climate Control

1. Climate Control Blowing Extremely Hot Air

If your climate control system blows extremely hot air when you turn on the heat, the system is problematic. In this case, the heat doesn’t go down even when you lower the temperature. It only cools down when you turn on recirculation mode.

Usually, this problem occurs because of a bug in the CUE (Cadillac User Experience) system’s firmware. The bug might be causing the CUE system to misinterpret your commands.

To fix this issue, you’ll need to ask your dealer to reboot your CUE system. You can also request the service manager at the dealership to update the CUE system firmware.

2. A/C Blowing Hot and Cold on Different Sides

One common indicator of a climate control problem across all Cadillac Escalade models is if the A/C is blowing hot air on the driver’s side and cold air on the passenger’s side.

This issue points to a faulty A/C blend door actuator. Depending on the temperature you’ve set, your A/C actuator blocks or allows air to pass through the heater core. This ensures that either hot or cold air enters your car’s seating area at a time.

But when the actuator develops a fault, it may fail to close the heater core properly. As a result, hot air may escape through the climate control system, alongside cold air.

You can eliminate this issue by changing your A/C blend door actuator on the side that isn’t blowing the correct temperature.

For instance, if the driver’s side is blowing hot when you’ve set the temperature to cool, you’ll need to replace the driver’s side blend door actuator. This actuator is located under the dashboard area on the driver’s side. You’ll find it when you remove the black panel on the dashboard.

The passenger’s side actuator is located far into the dashboard. You’ll have to pull the whole dashboard to remove the actuator.

3. A/C Only Blowing Air Through Defrost Vent

If your A/C only blows air through the defrost vent, it’s a sign that the climate control system in your Cadillac Escalade is problematic. The blend door actuator, which controls the flow of air through the vent, is the usual culprit for this issue.

Try these steps to resolve the problem:

Open the hood of your car and look for the fuse box.
Then, pull out the HVAC fuse. Look through your vehicle’s user manual to identify the HVAC fuse.
Wait for 2 minutes before re-inserting the HVAC fuse into the fuse box.
Rotate your ignition key to the RUN position.
Leave the key in that position for 2 minutes.
Turn the key off for another 2 minutes.
Finally, start the truck and drive it around for 30 minutes.

If the air only blows through the defrost vent after 30 minutes, change your actuator.

4. AC Compressor Keeps Cycling on and off

A faulty Cadillac Escalade climate control problem may manifest itself in the continuous cycling of the AC compressor during extremely hot temperatures.

There are several reasons your AC compressor may keep cycling off and on. The most common cause for this problem is an overcharged AC.

You can tell that your car’s AC is overcharged if it takes more effort than usual to increase your driving speed. If you suspect that your AC is overcharged, ask your mechanic to remove the excess refrigerant.

However, if your AC compressor keeps cycling after you’ve fixed the overcharged system, you might need to clean your condenser. This is because a blocked condenser can also cause the AC compressor to cycle constantly.

You’ll find your AC condenser in front of your radiator. Detach the condenser from the engine and wash off all the sand in it.

If the short-cycling issue persists after you’ve cleaned your condenser, you might need to switch to the es12a refrigerant. Although the Cadillac Escalade was originally designed with the r134a refrigerant, the oil rarely withstands extreme heat.

In contrast, the e12a is highly resistant to heat. It also protects the climate control system from corrosion.

Another reason your AC compressor may cycle continuously is a problematic compressor relay. A bad AC compressor relay might not deliver sufficient power to the compressor, thus causing the component to malfunction.

Consider changing your AC compressor relays to resolve the rapid cycling problem.

A weak AC pressure switch may also cause your AC compressor to keep cycling. You can try replacing your pressure switches to see if that fixes the problem. The pressure switches in your Cadillac Escalade truck are located on each side of the AC compressor.

5. Climate Control Doesn’t Respond to Commands

A sure way to tell if your Cadillac Escalade climate control is problematic is if it doesn’t respond to your commands.

For instance, the climate control system may not release cool air when you set it to cool. It may only start blowing cool air several minutes after you’ve turned on the AC.

The reason your climate control may stop responding to your commands is a faulty blower motor control processor. The blower motor is the component that blows air from the climate control system into the seating area in your vehicle.

When you enable a temperature setting on your vehicle’s controls, the A/C computer receives the data and sends it to the blower motor control processor. The processor activates the blower motor, which then blows air into your car.

But if the blower motor processor is bad, it may take a while to process the command. This might delay the flow of air into your truck.

You can resolve this issue by changing your blower motor control module. Since it requires expertise to find a suitable control processor for your Cadillac Escalade, it’s best to hire a mechanic to replace it.

Cadillac Escalade Models with the Most Climate Control Problems

The Cadillac Escalade model years with the highest number of climate control problems are:

2008 Cadillac Escalade
2016 Cadillac Escalade

According to carcomplaints.com, the Cadillac Escalade model rarely received reports about climate control problems. Nevertheless, the 2008 and 2016 model years got one complaint each about AC/heater problems from their users.

Cadillac Escalade Models with the Least Climate Control Problems

Carcomplaints.com stated that no Cadillac Escalade model, apart from the 2008 and 2016 years, got any reports about climate control problems.

How Much Does It Cost to Fix Cadillac Escalade Climate Control Problems?

It costs between $190 – $967 to fix a Cadillac Escalade climate control problem.

Tips to Prevent Cadillac Escalade Climate Control Problems

Turn your AC off when you’re not driving.
Always park your truck in a shaded area.
Wash your truck daily.
Switch to the es12a refrigerant.
Don’t overcharge your climate control system.
Service your air conditioner twice a year.

Related: Chevy Avalanche Climate Control Problems.

Wrapping Up

If you notice any of the above signs in your Cadillac Escalade, fix the issue as soon as possible. Also, remember to follow all the precautions we’ve provided to prevent future climate control problems in your truck.