2010 CADILLAC ESCALADE Owners Manual

The vehicle may or may not have seat!mounted sideimpact airbags. The vehicle has roof-rail airbags. SeeAirbag Systemon page 2!74. Seat!mounted sideimpact airbags and roof-rail airbags are intended toinflate in moderate to severe side crashes. In addition,these roof-rail airbags are intended to inflate during arollover or in a severe frontal impact. Seat!mounted sideimpact airbags and roof-rail airbags will inflate if thecrash severity is above the system's designedthreshold level. The threshold level can vary withspecific vehicle design.
Roof-rail airbags are not intended to inflate in rearimpacts. A seat!mounted side impact airbag is intendedto deploy on the side of the veicle that is struck. Bothroof-rail airbags will deploy when either side of thevehicle is struck or if the sensing system predicts thatthe vehicle is about to roll over, or in a severe frontalimpact.
In any particular crash, no one can say whether anairbag should have inflated simply because of thedamage to a vehicle or because of what the repaircosts were. For frontal airbags, inflation is determinedby what the vehicle hits, the angle of the impact, andhow quickly the vehicle slows down. For seat!mountedside impact and roof-rail airbags, deployment isdetermined by the location and severity of the sideimpact. In a rollover event, roof-rail airbag deploymentis determined by the direction of the roll.
What Makes an Airbag Inflate?
In a deployment event, the sensing system sends anelectrical signal triggering a release of gas from theinflator. Gas from the inflator fills the airbag causing thebag to break out of the cover and deploy. The inflator,the airbag, and related hardware are all part of theairbag module.
Frontal airbag modules are located inside the steeringwheel and instrument panel. For vehicles with seat!mounted side impact airbags, there are airbagsmodules in the side of the front seatbacks closest to thedoor. For vehicles with roof-rail airbags, there are airbagmodules in the ceiling of the vehicle, near the sidewindows that have occupant seating positions.
How Does an Airbag Restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal collisions,even belted occupants can contact the steering wheelor the instrument panel. In moderate to severe sidecollisions, even belted occupants can contact the insideof the vehicle.
Airbags supplement the protection provided by safetybelts. Frontal airbags distribute the force of the impactmore evenly over the occupant's upper body, stoppingthe occupant more gradually. Seat!mounted side impactand roof-rail airbags distribute the force of the impactmore evenly over the occupant's upper body.
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Rollover capable roof-rail airbags are designed to helpcontain the head and chest of occupants in theoutboard seating positions in the first, second, and thirdrows, if equipped with a third row seat. The rollovercapable roof-rail airbags are designed to help reducethe risk of full or partial ejection in rollover events,although no system can prevent all such ejections.
But airbags would not help in many types of collisions,primarily because the occupant's motion is not towardthose airbags. SeeWhen Should an Airbag Inflate?onpage 2!80for more information.
Airbags should never be regarded as anything morethan a supplement to safety belts.
What Will You See After an Airbag
Inflates?
After the frontal airbags and seat-mounted side impactairbags inflate, they quickly deflate, so quickly thatsome people may not even realize an airbag inflated.Roof-rail airbags may still be at least partially inflated forsome time after they deploy. Some components of theairbag module may be hot for several minutes. Forlocation of the airbag modules, seeWhat Makes anAirbag Inflate? on page 2!81.
The parts of the airbag that come into contact with youmay be warm, but not too hot to touch. There may besome smoke and dust coming from the vents in thedeflated airbags. Airbag inflation does not prevent thedriver from seeing out of the windshield or being able tosteer the vehicle, nor does it prevent people fromleaving the vehicle.
{WARNING:
When an airbag inflates, there may be dust in the
air. This dust could cause breathing problems for
people with a history of asthma or other breathing
trouble. To avoid this, everyone in the vehicle
should get out as soon as it is safe to do so.
If you have breathing problems but cannot get out
of the vehicle after an airbag inflates, then get
fresh air by opening a window or a door. If you
experience breathing problems following an airbag
deployment, you should seek medical attention.
The vehicle has a feature that may automatically unlockthe doors, turn on the interior lamps and hazard warningflashers, and shut off the fuel system after the airbagsinflate. You can lock the doors, turn off the interiorlamps and hazard warning flashers by using thecontrols for those features.
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{WARNING:
A crash severe enough to inflate the airbags may
have also damaged important functions in the
vehicle, such as the fuel system, brake and
steering systems, etc. Even if the vehicle appears
to be drivable after a moderate crash, there may
be concealed damage that could make it difficult
to safely operate the vehicle.
Use caution if you should attempt to restart the
engine after a crash has occurred.
In many crashes severe enough to inflate the airbag,windshields are broken by vehicle deformation.Additional windshield breakage may also occur fromthe right front passenger airbag.
.Airbags are designed to inflate only once. After anairbag inflates, you will need some new parts forthe airbag system. If you do not get them, theairbag system will not be there to help protect youin another crash. A new system will include airbagmodules and possibly other parts. The servicemanual for your vehicle covers the need to replaceother parts.
.The vehicle has a crash sensing and diagnosticmodule which records information after a crash.SeeVehicle Data Recording and Privacyonpage 9!18andEvent Data Recordersonpage 9!19.
.Let only qualified technicians work on the airbagsystems. Improper service can mean that anairbag system will not work properly. See yourdealer/retailer for service.
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Passenger Sensing System
If the vehicle has the passenger airbag status indicatorpictured in the following illustration, then the vehicle hasa passenger sensing system for the right frontpassenger position. The passenger airbag statusindicator, if equipped, is visible on the overhead consolewhen the vehicle is started.
In addition, if the vehicle has a passenger sensingsystem for the right front passenger position, thelabel on the vehicle's sun visors refers to“ADVANCED AIRBAGS”.
United StatesCanada
The words ON and OFF, or the symbol for on and off,will be visible during the system check. If you are usingremote start, if equipped, to start the vehicle from adistance, you may not see the system check. When thesystem check is complete, either the word ON or OFF,or the symbol for on or off, will be visible. SeePassenger Airbag Status Indicator on page 4!31.
The passenger sensing system will turn off the rightfront passenger frontal airbag under certain conditions.The driver airbag, seat!mounted side impact airbags (ifequipped) and the roof-rail airbags are not affected bythe passenger sensing system.
The passenger sensing system works with sensors thatare part of the right front passenger seat and safetybelt. The sensors are designed to detect the presenceof a properly-seated occupant and determine if the rightfront passenger frontal airbag should be enabled (mayinflate) or not.
According to accident statistics, children are safer whenproperly secured in a rear seat in the correct childrestraint for their weight and size.
We recommend that children be secured in a rear seat,including: an infant or a child riding in a rear-facing childrestraint; a child riding in a forward-facing child seat; anolder child riding in a booster seat; and children, whoare large enough, using safety belts.
A label on the sun visor says,“Never put a rear-facingchild seat in the front.”This is because the risk to therear-facing child is so great, if the airbag deploys.
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{WARNING:
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be
seriously injured or killed if the right front
passenger airbag inflates. This is because the
back of the rear-facing child restraint would be
very close to the inflating airbag. A child in a
forward-facing child restraint can be seriously
injured or killed if the right front passenger airbag
inflates and the passenger seat is in a forward
position.
Even if the passenger sensing system has turned
off the right front passenger frontal airbag, no
system is fail-safe. No one can guarantee that an
airbag will not deploy under some unusual
circumstance, even though the airbag is
turned off.
Secure rear-facing child restraints in a rear seat,
even if the airbag is off. If you secure a
forward-facing child restraint in the right front seat,
always move the front passenger seat as far back
as it will go. It is better to secure the child restraint
in a rear seat.
The passenger sensing system is designed to turn offthe right front passenger frontal airbag if:
.The right front passenger seat is unoccupied.
.The system determines an infant is present in achild restraint.
.A right front passenger takes his/her weight off ofthe seat for a period of time.
.Or, if there is a critical problem with the airbagsystem or the passenger sensing system.
When the passenger sensing system has turned off theright front passenger frontal airbag, the off indicator willlight and stay lit to remind you that the airbag is off. SeePassenger Airbag Status Indicator on page 4!31.
The passenger sensing system is designed to turn on(may inflate) the right front passenger frontal airbaganytime the system senses that a person of adult size issitting properly in the right front passenger seat.
When the passenger sensing system has allowed theairbag to be enabled, the on indicator will light and staylit to remind you that the airbag is active.
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For some children, including children in child restraints,and for very small adults, the passenger sensingsystem may or may not turn off the right front passengerfrontal airbag, depending upon the person's seatingposture and body build. Everyone in your vehicle whohas outgrown child restraints should wear a safety beltproperly—whether or not there is an airbag forthat person.
{WARNING:
If the airbag readiness light ever comes on and
stays on, it means that something may be wrong
with the airbag system. To help avoid injury to
yourself or others, have the vehicle serviced right
away. SeeAirbag Readiness Lighton page 4!30
for more information, including important safety
information.
If the On Indicator is Lit for a Child
Restraint
If a child restraint has been installed and the onindicator is lit:
1. Turn the vehicle off.
2. Remove the child restraint from the vehicle.
3. Remove any additional items from the seat such asblankets, cushions, seat covers, seat heaters,or seat massagers.
4. Reinstall the child restraint following the directionsprovided by the child restraint manufacturer andrefer toSecuring a Child Restraint in the RightFront Seat Position on page 2!71.
5. If, after reinstalling the child restraint and restartingthe vehicle, the on indicator is still lit, turn thevehicle off. Then slightly recline the vehicleseatback and adjust the seat cushion, if adjustable,to make sure that the vehicle seatback is notpushing the child restraint into the seat cushion.
Also make sure the child restraint is not trappedunder the vehicle head restraint. If this happens,adjust the head restraint. SeeHead Restraintsonp a g e 2!2.
6. Restart the vehicle.
The passenger sensing system may or may notturn off the airbag for a child in a child restraintdepending upon the child’s seating posture andbody build. It is better to secure the child restraintin a rear seat.
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If the Off Indicator is Lit for an
Adult-Size Occupant
If a person of adult-size is sitting in the right frontpassenger seat, but the off indicator is lit, it could bebecause that person is not sitting properly in the seat.
If this happens, use the following steps to allow thesystem to detect that person and enable the right frontpassenger frontal airbag:
1. Turn the vehicle off.
2. Remove any additional material from the seat,such as blankets, cushions, seat covers, seatheaters, or seat massagers.
3. Place the seatback in the fully upright position.
4. Have the person sit upright in the seat, centeredon the seat cushion, with legs comfortablyextended.
5. Restart the vehicle and have the person remain inthis position for two to three minutes after the onindicator is lit.
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Additional Factors Affecting System
Operation
Safety belts help keep the passenger in position on theseat during vehicle maneuvers and braking, which helpsthe passenger sensing system maintain the passengerairbag status. See“Safety Belts”and“Child Restraints”in the Index for additional information about theimportance of proper restraint use.
If the shoulder portion of the belt is pulled out all theway, the child restraint locking feature will be engaged.This may unintentionally cause the passenger sensingsystem to turn the airbag off for some adult sizeoccupants. If this happens, let the belt go back all theway and start again.
A thick layer of additional material, such as a blanket orcushion, or aftermarket equipment such as seat covers,seat heaters, and seat massagers can affect how wellthe passenger sensing system operates. We
recommend that you not use seat covers or otheraftermarket equipment except when approved byGM for your specific vehicle. SeeAdding Equipment toYour Airbag-Equipped Vehicleon page 2!89for moreinformation about modifications that can affect how thesystem operates.
The on indicator may be lit if an object, such as abriefcase, handbag, grocery bag, laptop or otherelectronic device, is put on an unoccupied seat.If this is not desired remove the object from the seat.
{WARNING:
Stowing of articles under the passenger seat or
between the passenger seat cushion and
seatback may interfere with the proper operation
of the passenger sensing system.
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