2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT tailgate

Safety Belts
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone
This part of the manual tells you how to use safety
belts properly. It also tells you some things you should
not do with safety belts.
{CAUTION:
Do not let anyone ride where he or she cannot
wear a safety belt properly. If you are in a
crash and you are not wearing a safety belt,
your injuries can be much worse. You can hit
things inside the vehicle harder or be ejected
from it and be seriously injured or killed.
In the same crash, you might not be, if you
are buckled up. Always fasten your safety
belt, and check that your passenger(s) are
restrained properly too.
{CAUTION:
People riding on the tailgate (if equipped) can
easily lose their balance and fall even when
the vehicle is operated at low speeds. Falling
from a moving vehicle may result in serious
injuries or death.
{CAUTION:
It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo
area, inside or outside of a vehicle. In a
collision, people riding in these areas are more
likely to be seriously injured or killed. Do not
allow people to ride in any area of your vehicle
that is not equipped with seats and safety
belts. Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in
a seat and using a safety belt properly.
Your vehicle has indicators as a reminder to buckle your
safety belts. SeeSafety Belt Reminders on page 3-31.
1-12

Keys...............................................................2-3
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System................2-4
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation.......................................2-5
Remote Vehicle Start......................................2-8
Doors and Locks............................................2-10
Door Locks..................................................2-10
Power Door Locks........................................2-11
Delayed Locking...........................................2-11
Programmable Automatic Door Locks..............2-11
Rear Door Security Locks..............................2-12
Lockout Protection........................................2-12
Midgate
®.....................................................2-13
Tailgate.......................................................2-23
Power Running Boards..................................2-23
Windows........................................................2-24
Power Windows............................................2-25
Sun Visors...................................................2-26Theft-Deterrent Systems..................................2-26
Content Theft-Deterrent.................................2-26
PASS-Key
®III+............................................2-28
PASS-Key®III+ Operation..............................2-29
Starting and Operating
Your Vehicle...............................................2-30
New Vehicle Break-In....................................2-30
Ignition Positions..........................................2-31
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)...................2-32
Starting the Engine.......................................2-32
Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal................2-34
Engine Coolant Heater..................................2-35
Automatic Transmission Operation...................2-36
Tow/Haul Mode............................................2-40
Parking Brake..............................................2-41
Shifting Into PARK (P)...................................2-42
Shifting Out of PARK (P)...............................2-43
Parking Over Things That Burn.......................2-44
Engine Exhaust............................................2-44
Running the Engine While Parked...................2-45
Section 2 Features and Controls
2-1

Keys
{CAUTION:
Leaving children in a vehicle with the ignition
key is dangerous for many reasons, children
or others could be badly injured or even killed.
They could operate the power windows or
other controls or even make the vehicle move.
The windows will function with the keys in the
ignition and they could be seriously injured
or killed if caught in the path of a closing
window. Do not leave the keys in a vehicle
with children.
The key can be used for the ignition, door locks,
tailgate, and side storage boxes.
See your dealer/retailer if a replacement key or
additional key is needed.
Notice:If you ever lock your keys in your vehicle,
you may have to damage the vehicle to get in.
Be sure you have spare keys.
If you are locked out of your vehicle, contact Roadside
Service. SeeRoadside Service on page 7-7for more
information.
2-3

Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation
The vehicle’s doors can be locked and unlocked
from about 3 feet (1 m) up to 65 feet (20 m) away
with the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter.
If your vehicle has the remote start feature you can
also start your vehicle with the RKE transmitter.
The RKE transmitter, with the remote start button,
provides an increased operating range of 195 feet
(60 m) away. However, the operating range may
be less while the vehicle is running. As a result,
you may need to be closer to your vehicle to turn
it off than you were to start it.
There are other conditions which can affect the
performance of the transmitter. SeeRemote
Keyless Entry (RKE) System on page 2-4.
/(Remote Vehicle Start):If your vehicle has this
feature, press
/to start the engine from outside
the vehicle using the RKE transmitter. SeeRemote
Vehicle Start on page 2-8for additional information.
Q(Lock):PressQto lock all the doors, including
the tailgate.With Remote Start
(Without Remote
Start Similar)
2-5

If enabled through the Driver Information Center (DIC),
the turn signal lamps will ash once to indicate
locking has occurred. If enabled through the DIC,
the horn will chirp when
Qis pressed again within
three seconds of the previous press of the lock button.
SeeDIC Vehicle Customization on page 3-57for
additional information.
Pressing
Qwill arm the content theft-deterrent system.
SeeContent Theft-Deterrent on page 2-26.
"(Unlock):Press"to unlock the driver’s door.
If
"is pressed again within three seconds, all
remaining doors, including the tailgate will unlock.
If it is dark enough outside, your interior lamps will
come on and stay on for 20 seconds or until the ignition
is turned on. If enabled through the DIC, the turn
signal lamps will ash twice to indicate unlocking has
occurred. SeeDIC Vehicle Customization on page 3-57.If enabled through the DIC, the exterior lights will
turn on briey if it is dark enough outside. See
“APPROACH LIGHTING” underDIC Vehicle
Customization on page 3-57.
Pressing
"on the RKE transmitter will disarm
the content theft-deterrent system. SeeContent
Theft-Deterrent on page 2-26.
L(Vehicle Locator/Panic Alarm):Press and
release
Lto locate your vehicle. The turn signal lamps
will ash and the horn will sound three times.
Press and hold
Lfor more than two seconds to
activate the panic alarm. The turn signal lamps will ash
and the horn will sound repeatedly for 30 seconds.
The alarm will turn off when the ignition is moved
to ON/RUN or
Lis pressed again. The ignition
must be in LOCK/OFF for the panic alarm to work.
2-6

There are several ways to lock and unlock the doors.
To lock or unlock the door from the outside, use
the remote keyless entry (RKE) transmitter or the key.
To lock or unlock the door from the inside, slide the
manual lever up or down, or use the power door locks
switch.
Power Door Locks
The power door lock switches are located on the
armrest on the front doors.
K(Unlock):Press the side of the switch with the
unlock symbol to unlock the doors and tailgate.
Q(Lock):Press the side of the switch with the lock
symbol to lock the doors and tailgate.
Delayed Locking
When locking the doors with the power lock switch or
the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter and a door
is open, the doors will lock ve seconds after the last
door is closed. You will hear three chimes to signal
that the delayed locking feature is in use.Pressing the power lock switch or the lock button on the
RKE transmitter twice will override the delayed locking
feature and immediately lock all the doors.
You can turn the delayed locking feature off or back
on again by doing the following:
1. Press and hold the power door lock switch in the
lock position.
2. Press unlock twice on the RKE transmitter.
This feature will not operate if the key is in the ignition.
You can also program this feature using the Driver
Information Center (DIC). See “Door Lock Delay” under
DIC Vehicle Customization on page 3-57.
Programmable Automatic
Door Locks
Vehicles with an automatic lock/unlock feature enable
you to program the vehicle’s power door locks. You can
program this feature through the Driver Information
Center (DIC). SeeDIC Vehicle Customization on
page 3-57for more information on DIC programming.
2-11

Midgate®
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to drive with the cargo area
covered and the tailgate and the Midgate®open
because carbon monoxide (CO) gas can come
into your vehicle. You can not see or smell CO.
It can cause unconsciousness and even death.
If you must drive with the cargo covers on and
the tailgate and Midgate
®open or if electrical
wiring or other cable connections must pass
through the seal between the body and the
Midgate
®:
Make sure all windows are shut.
Turn the fan on your heating or cooling
system to its highest speed on the
setting that brings in outside air.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
This will force outside air into your
vehicle. SeeDual Automatic Climate
Control System on page 3-24.
If you have air outlets on or under the
instrument panel, open them all the way.
SeeEngine Exhaust on page 2-44.
Midgate®Operation
Your vehicle is equipped with a Midgate®and a
removable rear glass panel. The Midgate®allows
you to extend the length of your vehicle’s cargo area.
2-13

If the rear glass is removed and you would like
to put it back, do so using the instructions given
previously.
Tailgate
{CAUTION:
It is extremely dangerous to ride on the
tailgate, even when the vehicle is operated at
low speeds. People riding on the tailgate can
easily lose their balance and fall in response
to vehicle maneuvers. Falling from a moving
vehicle may result in serious injuries or death.
Do not allow people to ride on the tailgate.
Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a seat
and using a safety belt properly.
Use the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter or
power door lock switch to lock and unlock the tailgate.
Open the tailgate by lifting up on its handle while
pulling the tailgate toward you.
To shut the tailgate, push it rmly upward until it
latches. Push and pull on the tailgate to be sure
it is latched securely.
Tailgate Removal
The tailgate is not to be removed. This may cause
damage to electrical connector resulting in loss
of lock/unlock and rear vision camera function.
Power Running Boards
Your vehicle may have power running boards.
The power running boards automatically extend from
beneath the vehicle on the side in which the door
has been opened. Once the door is closed, the running
boards will automatically move back under the vehicle
after a brief delay. The vehicle must not be moving
for the running boards to extend or retract.
The switch used to
disable the power
running boards is
located on the center
console below the
climate control system.
The running boards cannot be disabled in the
extended position.
2-23