2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE headlamp

When Rainsense™ II is active, the headlamps will
turn on automatically after approximately eight wipes.
The headlamps will turn off if the wiper switch is set to
a delay position, and there have been no wipes for
approximately three minutes, or if the wiper switch is
turned to the off position. If it is dark outside, the
headlamps will remain on.
Notice:Going through an automatic car wash with
the wipers on can damage them. Turn the wipers
off when going through an automatic car wash.
Windshield Washer
{CAUTION:
In freezing weather, do not use your washer
until the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the
washer uid can form ice on the windshield,
blocking your vision.
L(Washer Fluid):There is a paddle marked with the
windshield washer symbol at the top of the multifunction
lever. To spray washer uid on the windshield, push
the paddle. The wipers will clear the window and then
either stop or return to your preset speed.
Heated Windshield Washer
The heated windshield washer uid system may be
used to help clear ice, snow, tree sap, or bugs from
your windshield.
The button is located in
the switchbank under
the climate controls.
Push the heated washer uid button while the ignition
is turned on to activate the heated windshield washer
uid system. The indicator light will ash. This activation
will initiate four heated wash/wipe cycles. The rst
heated wash/wipe cycle may take up to 40 seconds
to occur, depending on outside temperature. After the
rst wash/wipe cycle, it may take up to 20 seconds
for each of the remaining cycles to begin. Press
the button again to turn off the heated windshield
washer uid system or it will automatically turn off
after four wash/wipe cycles have been completed.
When the heated windshield washer uid system is
activated under certain outside temperature conditions,
steam may ow out of the washer nozzles for a
short period of time before washer uid is sprayed.
This is a normal condition.
3-11

Exterior Lamps
The exterior lamps
control is located on
the instrument panel
to the left of the
steering wheel.
It controls the following systems:
Headlamps
Taillamps
Parking Lamps
License Plate Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights
The exterior lamps control has four positions:
9(Off):Turn the control to this position to turn
off the automatic headlamps and daytime running
lamps (DRL). Turning the headlamp control to the
off position again will turn the automatic headlamps
or DRL back on.For vehicles rst sold in Canada, the off position
will only work when the vehicle is shifted into the
PARK (P) position.
AUTO (Automatic):Turn the control to this position
to set the headlamps to automatically turn on at
normal brightness, together with the following:
Parking Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights
Taillamps
License Plate Lamps
;(Parking Lamps):Turn the control to this
position to turn on the parking lamps together
with the following:
Instrument Panel Lights
Taillamps
License Plate Lamps
3-16

2(Headlamps):Turn the control to this position
to turn on the headlamps together with the following
lamps listed below.
When the headlamps are turned on while the vehicle
is on, the headlamps will turn off automatically
10 minutes after the ignition is turned off. When the
headlamps are turned on while the vehicle is off,
the headlamps will stay on for 10 minutes before
automatically turning off to prevent the battery from
being drained. Turn the headlamp control to off and
then back to the headlamp on position to make
the headlamps stay on for an additional 10 minutes.
Parking Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights
Taillamps
License Plate Lamps
IntelliBeam®Intelligent High-Beam
Headlamp Control System
If your vehicle has this feature, be sure to read this
entire section before using it.
IntelliBeam
®is an enhancement to your vehicle’s
headlamp system. Using a digital light sensor on your
rearview mirror, this system will turn the vehicle’s
high-beam headlamps on and off according to
surrounding traffic conditions.
The IntelliBeam
®system will turn your high-beam
headlamps on when it is dark enough, there is no other
traffic present, and the IntelliBeam
®system is enabled.
Turning On and Enabling IntelliBeam®
Press and release the IntelliBeam®button on the
inside rear view mirror. The IntelliBeam®indicator
on the mirror will turn on to let you know the system
has been turned on. Once the system has been turned
on, it will remain on each time the vehicle is started.
Additionally, the IntelliBeam
®system must be enabled.
To enable the IntelliBeam
®system, turn the exterior
lamp control to AUTO, with the turn signal/multifunction
lever in its neutral position. The High-Beam On Light
will appear on the instrument panel cluster when
the high-beams are on. SeeHighbeam On Light
on page 3-47.
3-17

Driving with IntelliBeam®
IntelliBeam®will only activate your high-beams when
driving over 20 mph (32 km/h).
The high-beam headlamps will remain on, under the
automatic control of IntelliBeam
®, until any of the
following situations occur:
The system detects an approaching vehicle’s
headlamps.
The system detects a preceding vehicle’s taillamps.
The outside light is bright enough that high-beam
headlamps are not required.
The vehicle’s speed drops below 15 mph (24 km/h).
The headlamp stalk is moved forward to the
high-beam position. SeeHeadlamp High/Low-Beam
Changer on page 3-9.
When either of these conditions occur, the
IntelliBeam
®feature will be disabled and the
IntelliBeam®light in the mirror will turn off until the
high-beam stalk is returned to the neutral position.
If IntelliBeam®was using low-beams prior to this
action, the IntelliBeam®feature will be temporarily
disabled until the stalk is returned
to the neutral position.
The exterior lamp control is turned to any setting
except AUTO.
When this occurs, IntelliBeam
®will be disabled until
the control is turned back to the AUTO position.
The IntelliBeam®system is turned off at the inside
rearview mirror.
IntelliBeam
®may not turn off the high-beams if the
system cannot detect other vehicle’s lamps because of
any of the following:
The others vehicle’s lamp(s) are missing, damaged,
obstructed from view or otherwise undetected.
The other vehicle’s lamp(s) are covered with dirt,
snow and/or road spray.
The other vehicle’s lamp(s) cannot be detected due
to dense exhaust, smoke, fog, snow, road spray,
mist or other airborne obstructions.
Your vehicle’s windshield is dirty, cracked or
obstructed by something that blocks the view of
the IntelliBeam light sensor.
Your vehicle’s windshield is covered with ice, dirt,
haze or other obstructions.
3-18

Your vehicle is loaded such that the front end of
the vehicle points upward, causing the IntelliBeam
sensor to aim high and not detect headlamps
and taillamps.
You are driving on winding or hilly roads.
You may need to manually disable or cancel the
high-beam headlamps by turning the low-beam
headlamps on, if any of the above conditions exist.
Disabling and Resetting IntelliBeam®at the
Rearview Mirror
IntelliBeam®can be disabled by using the controls on
the inside rearview mirror.
AUTO
3(On/Off):To disable the system, press this
button on the inside rearview mirror. The IntelliBeam®
indicator will turn off and will not come back on until the
IntelliBeam®button is pressed again.
(Stalk Disable):When IntelliBeam
®has turned on
the high-beams, pull or push the high-beam stalk. This
will disable IntelliBeam
®. The IntelliBeam®indicator
on the mirror will turn off. To re-enable IntelliBeam®,
press the IntelliBeam®button on the mirror.A different sensitivity setting is available for dealer
diagnostics. This is done by pushing and holding this
button for 20 seconds until the IntelliBeam
®indicator
light ashes three times. If you accidentally activate this,
the vehicle’s setting will automatically be reset each
time the ignition is turned off and then on again.
Cleaning the IntelliBeam®Light Sensor
The light sensor is
located on the inside of
the vehicle in front of
the inside rearview mirror.
Clean the light sensor window, periodically, using
glass cleaner on a soft cloth. Gently wipe the sensor
window. Do not spray glass cleaner directly on the
surface of the sensor window.
3-19

Headlamps on Reminder
If a door is open, a reminder chime will sound when
your headlamps or parking lamps are manually turned
on and your key is out of the ignition. To turn off
the chime, turn the headlamp switch to off or AUTO and
then back on, or close and re-open the door. In the
AUTO mode, the headlamps turn off once the ignition is
in LOCK or may remain on until the headlamp delay
ends (if enabled in the DIC). See “Exit Lighting” under
DIC Vehicle Customization on page 3-59.
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to see the front of your vehicle during the day. DRL
can be helpful in many different driving conditions, but
they can be especially helpful in the short periods after
dawn and before sunset. Fully functional daytime running
lamps are required on all vehicles rst sold in Canada.
The DRL system will come on when the following
conditions are met:
The ignition is on.
The exterior lamps control is in AUTO.
The transmission is not in PARK (P).
The light sensor determines it is daytime.When the DRL are on, only the DRL lamps will be on.
The taillamps, sidemarker, and other lamps will not
be on. The instrument panel will not be lit up either.
When it begins to get dark, the automatic headlamp
system will switch from DRL to the headlamps.
To turn off the DRL lamps, turn the exterior lamps control
to the OFF position and then release. For vehicles
rst sold in Canada, the transmission must be in the
PARK (P) position, before the DRL lamps can be
turned off.
Automatic Headlamp System
When it is dark enough outside, the automatic
headlamp system will turn on the headlamps at the
normal brightness, along with the taillamps, sidemarker,
parking lamps, and the instrument panel lights.
The radio lights will also be dim.
To turn off the automatic headlamp system, turn the
exterior lamps switch to the off position and then release
it. For vehicles rst sold in Canada, the transmission
must be in the PARK (P) position, before the automatic
headlamp system can be turned off.
3-20

The vehicle has a light sensor located on the top of the
instrument panel in the defroster grille that regulates
when the automatic headlamps turn on. Be sure it is
not covered, or the headlamps will come on whenever
the ignition is on.
The system may also turn on the headlamps when
driving through a parking garage, heavy overcast
weather, or a tunnel. This is normal.
There is a delay in the transition between the daytime
and nighttime operation of the Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL) and the automatic headlamp systems
so that driving under bridges or bright overhead street
lights does not affect the system. The DRL and
automatic headlamp system will only be affected when
the light sensor detects a change in lighting lasting
longer than the delay.
If the vehicle is started in a dark garage, the automatic
headlamp system will come on immediately. Once
the vehicle leaves the garage, it takes approximately
one minute for the automatic headlamp system to
change to DRL if it is bright enough outside. During
that delay, the instrument panel cluster may not be
as bright as usual. Make sure the instrument panel
brightness control is in the full bright position.
SeeInstrument Panel Brightness on page 3-22.
To idle the vehicle with the automatic headlamp
system off, turn the control to the off position.The headlamps will also stay on after you exit the
vehicle. This feature can be programmed using the
Driver Information Center (DIC). SeeDIC Vehicle
Customization on page 3-59.
The regular headlamp system can be turned on
when needed.
Fog Lamps
-(Fog Lamps):If your vehicle has fog lamps, the
control is located next to the exterior lamps control
on the instrument panel to the left of the steering
column.
The ignition must be in the ON/RUN position for the
fog lamps to come on.
Press the button to turn the fog lamps on or off. A light
will come on in the instrument panel cluster.
When the fog lamps are turned on, the headlamps
automatically turn on.
When the headlamps are changed to high-beam, the
fog lamps also go off. When the high-beam headlamps
go off, the fog lamps will come on again.
Some localities have laws that require the headlamps to
be on along with the fog lamps.
3-21

Reading Lamps
If your vehicle has reading lamps, press the button
located next to the lamp to turn it on or off.
Your vehicle may also have reading lamps in other
locations. To turn each one on or off, press the button
located next to the lamp. The lamps cannot be adjusted.
Electric Power Management
The vehicle has Electric Power Management (EPM)
that estimates the battery’s temperature and state
of charge. It then adjusts the voltage for best
performance and extended life of the battery.
When the battery’s state of charge is low, the voltage is
raised slightly to quickly put the charge back in. When
the state of charge is high, the voltage is lowered slightly
to prevent overcharging. If the vehicle has a voltmeter
gage or a voltage display on the Driver Information
Center (DIC), you may see the voltage move up
or down. This is normal. If there is a problem, an alert
will be displayed.The battery can be discharged at idle if the electrical
loads are very high. This is true for all vehicles.
This is because the generator (alternator) may not be
spinning fast enough at idle to produce all the power
that is needed for very high electrical loads.
A high electrical load occurs when several of the
following loads are on: headlamps, high beams, fog
lamps, rear window defogger, climate control fan at
high speed, heated seats, engine cooling fans, trailer
loads, and loads plugged into accessory power outlets.
EPM works to prevent excessive discharge of the
battery. It does this by balancing the generator’s output
and the vehicle’s electrical needs. It can increase
engine idle speed to generate more power, whenever
needed. It can temporarily reduce the power demands
of some accessories.
Normally, these actions occur in steps or levels, without
being noticeable. In rare cases at the highest levels
of corrective action, this action may be noticeable to
the driver. If so, a Driver Information Center (DIC)
message might be displayed, such as Battery Saver
Active or Service Battery Charging System. If this
message is displayed, it is recommended that the
driver reduce the electrical loads as much as possible.
SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-52.
3-23