2002 CADILLAC ESCALADE instrument panel

2-83
Here are some situations you may experience with your
fuel gage. None of these indicate a problem with the
fuel gage.

At the gas station, the fuel pump shuts off before
the gage reads full.

It takes a little more or less fuel to fill up than the
fuel gage indicated. For example, the gage may have
indicated the tank was half full, but it actually took a
little more or less than half the tank's capacity to fill
the tank.

The gage goes back to empty when you turn off
the ignition.
Message Center
The message center is located on the left side of the
instrument panel cluster. It gives you important safety
and maintenance facts. When you turn the ignition on,
the entire center lights up for just a few seconds.
As needed, the message center will display one of the
following messages. The message center is capable
of alternating among different messages if needed.
It gives you important safety and maintenance facts.
Battery Message
If this message is displayed
when the engine is running,
you may have a problem
with your charging system.
The battery display will also stay on while the key is in
RUN until the engine is started.
If the message stays on after starting the engine it could
indicate a problem with the generator drive belt, or some
other charging system problem. Have it checked right
away. Driving with this message displayed could drain
your battery.
If you must drive a short distance with this message
displayed, it helps to turn off all your accessories, such
as the radio and the air conditioner.

2-90 STABILITY SYSTEM ACTIVE Message
You may see the
STABILITY SYSTEM
ACTIVE message on
the message center.
It means that an advanced computer
-controlled system
has come on to help your vehicle continue to go in
the direction in which you're steering. This stability
enhancement system activates when the computer senses
that your vehicle is just starting to spin, as it might if
you hit a patch of ice or other slippery spot on the road.
It also activates when it senses that your wheels are
spinning, as they might when accelerating on a road
surface that provides inadequate traction. When the
system is on, you may hear a noise or feel a vibration in
the brake pedal. This is normal. When the STABILITY
SYSTEM ACTIVE message is on, you should continue
to steer in the direction you want to go. The system is
designed to help you in bad weather or other difficult
driving situations by making the most of whatever road
conditions will permit.
STABILITY SYSTEM LIMITED Message
The STABILITY SYSTEM
LIMITED message will
turn on when you press
the Stabilitrak button;
see ªInstrument Panelº
in the Index.
While in ªLIMITEDº mode, traction control is disabled
and the stability system is less likely to activate. To limit
wheel spin and realize the full benefits of the stability
enhancement system, you should normally leave
Stabilitrak in its normal operating mode (not the
LIMITED mode). However, you should put Stabilitrak
in LIMITED mode if your vehicle gets stuck in sand,
mud, ice or snow and you want to ªrockº your vehicle to
attempt to free it. See ªRocking Your Vehicleº in the
Index. To exit the LIMITED mode, press the Stabilitrak
button again. The STABILITY SYSTEM LIMITED
message will be displayed whenever the transmission is
in FIRST (1). Traction control will not operate in this
gear. This is normal.

3-3
Mode Knob - Automatic Operation
The right knob on the control panel allows you to
choose the direction of air delivery. When the system is
set in AUTO mode, sensors will control the air delivery
mode. Air will come primarily from the floor or
instrument panel outlets, with some air directed to the
windshield to prevent fogging.
When the system is in AUTO mode, the air conditioning
light will turn on, and the recirculation and outside air
lights turn off. With the system in full auto control
(both the fan and mode knobs in AUTO), you still
have the ability to override any function. However,
continually overriding the outside air or the A/C
compressor will limit the ability of the system to cool
the vehicle quickly.
If you push a button for a function which is not
available, the light next to that button will flash
three times to alert you that it's not available.
To find your comfort zone, start with the 74 setting
and allow about 20 minutes for the system to adjust
the temperature if necessary.With the automatic setting, the air conditioning
compressor automatically cycles when needed to cool
the air. In cold weather, when the system senses the need
for heat, the airflow will be directed out of the floor
outlets. As the interior temperature approaches a desired
setting, the fan speed will decrease. To maintain interior
comfort, the airflow will adjust between the instrument
panel air outlets and floor outlets. On bright sunny days
in cool weather, the airflow may come out of the air
conditioning and floor outlets (bi
-level mode) to
maintain comfort and prevent stuffiness.
To avoid blowing cold air in cold weather, the system
will delay turning on the fan until warm air is available.
The length of delay depends on the outside air
temperature, engine coolant temperature or the time
since the engine was last started. As the coolant
warms up, the fan speed will gradually increase and
air will flow from the floor outlets, with some airflow
to the windshield to prevent fogging under most
normal conditions.
Be careful not to put anything over the solar sensor
located near the center of the instrument panel.
This sensor is used by the automatic system to
regulate temperature.

3-4
Mode Knob - Manual Operation
The right knob on the control panel allows you to
choose the direction of air delivery.
You can choose to set the climate control system
operations yourself, or let the system work for you
by placing the system in AUTO mode. See ªMode
Knob
- Automatic Operationº earlier in this section.
(Vent): This setting directs most of the air through
the instrument panel outlets and a small amount through
the floor outlets.
(Bi-level): This setting delivers air through
the floor outlets as well as the instrument
panel outlets.
(Floor): This setting directs most of the warmed
air through the floor outlets and some air through the
windshield defroster outlets.
(Blend): This setting divides airflow equally
between the floor outlets and the windshield defroster
outlets. The air conditioning compressor may run to
dehumidify the air to prevent window fogging.
(Defrost): This setting directs most air through
the windshield defroster outlets and some through the
floor outlets. The air conditioning compressor may run
to dehumidify the air to prevent window fogging. When
using the defrost mode with auto fan speed selected, the
fan speed may be higher than normal.
(Outside air): Press this button, located under
the fan knob, to use outside air. Using outside air will
limit stale air odors and help to prevent excessively
humid interior air (from wet boots or clothing or
maximum passenger loads) from being redirected onto
windows.
Pressing the outside air button will cancel the
recirculation button and AUTO mode of the airflow.
Pressing outside air will return the system to auto mode.
(Recirculation): Press this button to limit the
amount of outside air entering the vehicle to a very
small amount. This will be helpful to limit odors
entering the vehicle and will assist in reaching comfort
in very hot temperature conditions. Pressing
recirculation will cause the system to recirculate interior
air continuously and may cause the vehicle windows
to fog if the passenger compartment floor is
excessively wet.

3-9 Ventilation System
For mild outside temperatures when little heating or
cooling is needed, use outside air to direct outside air
through your vehicle. Air will flow through the
instrument panel outlets.
Your vehicle's ventilation system supplies outside air to
the inside of your vehicle when it is moving. With the
side windows closed, air will flow into the front air
inlet grilles, through the vehicle, and out of the air
exhaust valves.
Outside air will also enter the vehicle when the heater or
the air conditioning fan is running, unless you have the
recirculation button pressed in. For more information on
the recirculation button, see ªAir Conditioningº earlier
in this section.
Your vehicle has air
outlets in the center and
on the sides of the
instrument panel.
You can move the outlets from side
-to-side or up and
down to direct the flow of air. The driver's and
passenger's side outlets have shut
-off thumbwheels.
Turn the thumbwheels to the left to shut off air flow or
to the right to allow air flow. When you close an outlet,
it will increase the flow of air coming out of any outlets
that are open. The center outlet does not completely shut
off airflow.
Your vehicle also has outlets located on the headliner for
the rear seat passengers.
To use these vents, press on the individual slats to
open the vent. Turn the entire vent in the direction you
want to direct airflow. Push the slats to close them and
block airflow.

4-10
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the TCS begins
to limit wheel spin, the cruise control will automatically
disengage. When road conditions allow you to safely
use it again, you may re
-engage the cruise control.
See ªCruise Controlº in the Index.
When the TRAC OFF
light is on, the TCS is
off and will not limit
wheel spin. Adjust your
driving accordingly.
The TRAC OFF light will come on under the
following conditions:

The Traction Control System is turned off, either by
pressing the TCS on/off button or turning off the
automatic engagement feature of the TCS.

The transmission is in FIRST (1); TCS will not
operate in this gear. This is normal.
The vehicle is driven on an extremely rough road.
When the vehicle leaves the rough surface, slows
down or stops, the light will go off and TCS will be
on again. This is normal.

A Traction Control System, Anti
-Lock Brake
System or engine
-related problem has been detected
and the vehicle needs service.
See ªTraction Off Lightº in the Index.
The Traction Control System, as delivered from the
factory, will automatically come on whenever you start
your vehicle. To limit wheel spin, especially in slippery
road conditions, you should always leave the system on.
But you can turn the TCS off if you ever need to.
You should turn the TCS off if your vehicle ever gets
stuck in sand, mud or snow and rocking the vehicle is
required. See ªRocking Your Vehicleº in the Index.
To turn the system on or
off press the TCS on/off
button located to the right
of the steering wheel,
on the instrument panel.

4-12
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the STABILITY
SYSTEM ACTIVE message appears, the cruise control
will automatically disengage. When road conditions
allow you to safely use it again, you may reengage the
cruise control. See ªCruise Controlº in the Index.
The Stabilitrak button,
located to the right
steering wheel, on the
instrument panel can
be pressed to put the
Stabilitrak system in
LIMITED mode.
The Stabilitrak system automatically comes on
whenever you start your vehicle. When the switch is
pressed, the STABILITY SYSTEM LIMITED message
is displayed in the message center. While in LIMITED
mode, traction control is disabled and the stabilitysystem is less likely to activate. The stability system can
still activate in LIMITED mode if the vehicle starts to
spin, but it will not activate as quickly as when the
system is not in LIMITED mode. You should put
Stabilitrak in the LIMITED mode if your vehicle is
stuck in sand, mud, ice or snow and you want to ªrockº
your vehicle to attempt to free it. See ªRocking Your
Vehicleº in the Index.
Steering
Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist because the engine
stops or the system is not functioning, you can steer
but it will take much more effort.
Speed
-Sensitive Steering
This system varies the amount of steering effort
proportionate to your vehicle speed. Steering is easier
at lower speeds for maneuvering and parking ease.
As your vehicle speed increases, the steering effort also
increases. At highway speeds, the amount of steering
effort is increased.

4-46 Dinghy Towing (Two-Wheel Drive
Vehicles Only)
Tw o-wheel-drive vehicles, should not be towed with
all four wheels on the ground. Two
-wheel-drive
transmissions have no provisions for internal lubrication
while being towed. To properly tow these vehicles,
they should be placed on a platform trailer with all
four wheels off the ground.
In rare cases when it's unavoidable that a
two
-wheel-drive vehicle is to be towed with all four
wheels on the ground, the propeller shaft to axle yoke
orientation should be marked and the propeller shaft
removed following the applicable service manual
removal/installation procedure.
Dust or dirt can enter the back of the transmission
through the opening created by removing the propeller
shaft if proper protection is not provided. Also, check
the transmission fluid level before driving the truck.When the vehicle is properly attached to the tow vehicle
and is ready to be towed, turn the ignition to OFF.
The OFF position unlocks the steering column and will
allow the proper movement of the front wheels and tires
during towing. To prevent the battery from draining,
remove the IGN 0 fuse from the instrument panel fuse
block. See ªFusesº in the Index for more information
about removing the IGN 0 fuse.NOTICE:
Towing an all-wheel-drive vehicle with all four
wheels on the ground, or even with only two of
its wheels on the ground, will damage drivetrain
components. Don't tow an all
-wheel drive vehicle
if any of its wheels will be on the ground.