2004 CADILLAC ESCALADE seats

In addition, your vehicle may have the passenger
sensing system. The passenger sensing system is
designed to turn off the right front passenger’s frontal air
bag when an infant in a rear-facing infant seat or a
small child in a forward-facing child restraint or booster
seat is detected. SeePassenger Sensing System
on page 1-88andPassenger Air Bag Status Indicator
on page 3-38for more information on this including
important safety information.
A label on your sun visor says, “Never put a rear-facing
child seat in the front.” This is because the risk to the
rear-facing child is so great, if the air bag deploys.
{CAUTION:
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be
seriously injured or killed if the right front
passenger’s air bag inates. This is because
the back of the rear-facing child restraint
would be very close to the inating air bag.
Even though the passenger sensing system is
designed to turn off the passenger’s frontal air
bag if the system detects a rear-facing child
restraint, no system is fail-safe, and no one
can guarantee that an air bag will not deploy
under some unusual circumstance, even
though it is turned off. General Motors
recommends that rear-facing child restraints
be secured in the rear seat, even if the air bag
is off.
If you need to secure a forward-facing child restraint in
the right front seat position, move the seat as far
back as it will go before securing the forward-facing
child restraint. SeePower Seats on page 1-3.
If your child restraint is equipped with the LATCH
system, seeLower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System) on page 1-68.
1-76

There is no top strap anchor in the right front
passenger’s position. Do not secure a child seat in this
position if a national or local law requires that the
top strap be anchored, or if the instructions that come
with the child restraint say that the top strap must
be anchored. SeeTop Strap on page 1-63if your child
restraint has one.
You will be using the lap-shoulder belt to secure the
child restraint in this position. Be sure to follow the
instructions that came with the child restraint. Secure
the child in the child restraint when and as the
instructions say.
1. Your vehicle has a right front passenger’s frontal air
bag. SeePassenger Sensing System on page 1-88.
General Motors recommends that rear-facing
child restraints be secured in a rear seat, even if
the air bag is off. If your child restraint is
forward-facing, move the seat as far back as it will
go before securing the child restraint in this
seat. SeePower Seats on page 1-3.
When the passenger sensing system has turned off
the right front passenger’s frontal air bag, the off
indicator in the passenger air bag status indicator
should light and stay lit when you turn the ignition to
RUN or START. SeePassenger Air Bag Status
Indicator on page 3-38.2. Put the child restraint on the seat.
3. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulder
portions of the vehicle’s safety belt through or
around the restraint. The child restraint instructions
will show you how.
4. Buckle the belt. Make sure the release button is
positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the
safety belt quickly if you ever had to.
1-77

Seat Position Sensors
Vehicle’s with dual stage air bags are also equipped
with special sensors which enable the sensing system to
monitor the position of both the driver and passenger
front seats. The seat position sensor provides
information which is used to determine if the air bags
should deploy at a reduced level or at full depoyment.
What Makes an Air Bag Inate?
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 inator, which inates
the air bag. The inator, 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.
1-86

Q:Because I have a disability, I have to get my
vehicle modied. How can I nd out whether
this will affect my advanced air bag system?
A:Changing or moving any parts of the front seats,
safety belts, the air bag sensing and diagnostic
module (located under the driver’s seat), or
the inside rearview mirror can affect the operation
of the advanced air bag system. If you have
questions, call Customer Assistance. The phone
numbers and addresses for Customer Assistance
are in Step Two of the Customer Satisfaction
Procedure in this manual. SeeCustomer
Satisfaction Procedure on page 7-2.
Restraint System Check
Checking Your Restraint Systems
Now and then, make sure the safety belt reminder light
and all your belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors
and anchorages are working properly. Look for any other
loose or damaged safety belt system parts. If you see
anything that might keep a safety belt system from doing
its job, have it repaired.
Torn or frayed safety belts may not protect you in a
crash. They can rip apart under impact forces. If a belt
is torn or frayed, get a new one right away.
Also look for any opened or broken air bag covers, and
have them repaired or replaced. (The air bag system
does not need regular maintenance.)
1-95

Compass Calibration
The compass may need calibration if one of the
following occurs:
After approximately ve seconds, the display does
not show a compass heading (N for North, for
example), there may be a strong magnetic eld
interfering with the compass. Such interference may
be caused by a magnetic antenna mount, magnetic
note pad holder or a similar magnetic item.
The compass does not display the correct heading
and the compass zone variance is set correctly.
In order to calibrate, CAL must be displayed in the
mirror compass windows. If CAL is not displayed, push
the on/off button for approximately 12 seconds or
until CAL is displayed.
The compass can be calibrated by driving the vehicle in
circles at 5 mph (8 km/h) or less until the display
reads a direction.
Passenger Air Bag Indicator
Your vehicle may be equipped with a passenger air bag
indicator, on the mirror glass, just above the buttons.
For more information, seePassenger Sensing System
on page 1-88.
Cleaning the Mirror
When cleaning the mirror, use a paper towel or similar
material dampened with glass cleaner. Do not spray
glass cleaner directly on the mirror as that may cause
the liquid cleaner to enter the mirror housing.
Outside Power Mirrors
The controls are located
on the driver’s door
armrest.
Move the upper selector switch to the left or right to
choose the mirror you want to adjust; then press
the dots located on the four-way control pad to adjust
the mirror.
The mirrors may also include a memory function which
works in conjunction with the memory seats. See
Memory Seat on page 2-48for more information.
2-34

Storage Areas
Glove Box
To open your glove box, lift up the latch and pull the
door open.
Cupholder(s)
Your vehicle is equipped with cupholders for the front
and rear passengers.
The cupholders are located in the center console for the
front passengers and on the rear of the center console
for the rear passengers.
To use the front cupholders, press down on the access
door and release. The door will open. Push the door
back down to close it.
To use the rear cupholders, pull down on the door
located on the back of the console.
Heated and Cooled Front Cupholders
If your vehicle is equipped with this feature, both front
cupholders will be capable of heating or cooling a
beverage.The heated and cooled cupholders work best when
maintaining the temperature of a beverage that is
already warm or cold. To use the cupholders, turn the
ignition to ACCESSORY or RUN and do the following:
v(Warm):Press this part of the switch to warm
the cupholder.
u(Cool):Press this part of the switch to cool the
cupholder.
Place the beverage container in the cupholder. Be sure
to use a non-insulated beverage container. Press the
switch again if you want to turn the cupholder off.
The cupholders will turn off when the vehicle is shut off.
Center Console Storage Area
Your vehicle has a console compartment between the
bucket seats.
To open it, press the button on the side of the console
and swing the console lid open.
The console may be equipped with an accessory power
outlet inside. SeeAccessory Power Outlets on
page 3-22.
The rear of the console also has a cupholder that
swings down for the rear seat passengers to use.
2-43

Outlet Adjustment
Your vehicle has air outlets located in the center and on
the side of your instrument panel that allow you to
adjust the direction and amount of airow inside the
vehicle. Move the louvers up or down. Use the
thumbwheel next to or underneath the outlet to close
the louvers. For the most efficient airow and
temperature control, keep the outlet in the fully opened
position.
Operation Tips

Keep the hood and front air inlets free of ice, snow,
or any other obstruction (such as leaves). The
heater and defroster will work far better, reducing
the chance of fogging the inside of your windows.
Keep the air path under the front seats clear
of objects. This helps air to circulate throughout your
vehicle.
Adding outside equipment to the front of your
vehicle, such as hood-air deectors, etc., may affect
the performance of the heating and air conditioning
system. Check with your dealer before adding
equipment to the outside of your vehicle.
Rear Climate Control System
With this system the front or rear passengers can
control the air temperature, air ow and fan speed for
the rear seat passengers. The climate control has
an overhead control near the driver and a control on the
back of the center console.
Driver Overhead Control
To control the rear climate control from the front seat
position, use the driver overhead control. The rear
console control must be on.Front Controls
3-30

{CAUTION:
Things you put inside your vehicle can strike
and injure people in a sudden stop or turn, or
in a crash.
Put things in the cargo area of your
vehicle. Try to spread the weight evenly.
Never stack heavier things, like suitcases,
inside the vehicle so that some of them
are above the tops of the seats.
Do not leave an unsecured child restraint
in your vehicle.
When you carry something inside the
vehicle, secure it whenever you can.
Do not leave a seat folded down unless
you need to.
There’s also important loading information for off-road
driving in this manual. See “Loading Your Vehicle
for Off-Road Driving” underOperating Your
All-Wheel-Drive Vehicle Off Paved Roads on page 4-18.
Add-On Equipment
When you carry removable items, you may need to
put a limit on how many people you can carry inside
your vehicle. Be sure to weigh your vehicle before
you buy and install the new equipment.
Notice:Overloading your vehicle may cause
damage. Repairs would not be covered by your
warranty. Do not overload your vehicle.
Remember not to exceed the Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR) of the front or rear axle. SeeLoading
Your Vehicle on page 4-50.
The Cargo Weight Rating (CWR) is the maximum
weight of the load your vehicle can carry. It doesn’t
include the weight of the people inside. But you
can gure about 150 lbs. (68 kg) for each seat.
The total cargo load must not be more than your
vehicle’s CWR.
4-55