2010 CADILLAC ESCALADE traction control

Magnetic Ride Control™
The vehicle may have the MagneRide control system.MagneRide constantly checks speed, wheel position,lift/dive and steering of the vehicle. The damping forcefor each shock absorber and adjustment level is chosenfor the best ride and handling.
MagneRide also works with the tow/haul switch that,when engaged, will provide more firmness from theshock absorbers. This added control gives better rideand handling when carrying heavy loads or towinga trailer. SeeTow/Haul Modeon page 3!36formore information.
Road Sensing Suspension
The Road Sensing Suspension (RSS) feature providessuperior vehicle ride and handling under a variety ofpassenger and loading conditions.
The system is fully automatic and uses a computercontroller to continuously monitor vehicle speed, wheelto body position, lift/dive and steering position of thevehicle. The controller then sends signals to each shockabsorber to independently adjust the damping level toprovide the optimum vehicle ride.
RSS also interacts with the tow/haul mode that, whenengaged, will provide additional control of the shockabsorbers. This additional control results in better rideand handling characteristics when the vehicle is loadedor towing a trailer. See“Tow/Haul Mode”underTowing aTrailer on page 6!42.
Locking Rear Axle
Vehicles with a locking rear axle can give more tractionon snow, mud, ice, sand or gravel. It works like astandard axle most of the time, but when traction is low,this feature will allow the rear wheel with the mosttraction to move the vehicle.
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) System
If the vehicle has this feature, engine power is sent toall four wheels when extra traction is needed. This islike four-wheel drive, but there is no separate lever orswitch to engage or disengage the front axle. It is fullyautomatic, and adjusts itself as needed for roadconditions.
If the vehicle is a Two-mode Hybrid, see“Four-WheelDrive”in the Two-mode Hybrid Supplement.
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Steering
Power Steering
If the vehicle is a Two!mode Hybrid, see the Two!modeHybrid manual for more information.
If power steering assist is lost because the engine stopsor the system is not functioning, the vehicle can besteered but it will take more effort.
Steering Tips
It is important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
Traction in a curve depends on the condition of the tiresand the road surface, the angle at which the curve isbanked, and vehicle speed. While in a curve, speed isthe one factor that can be controlled.
If there is a need to reduce speed, do it before enteringthe curve, while the front wheels are straight.
Try to adjust the speed so you can drive through thecurve. Maintain a reasonable, steady speed. Wait toaccelerate until out of the curve, and then accelerategently into the straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
There are times when steering can be more effectivethan braking. For example, you come over a hill andfind a truck stopped in your lane, or a car suddenly pullsout from nowhere, or a child darts out from betweenparked cars and stops right in front of you. Theseproblems can be avoided by braking—if you can stopin time. But sometimes you cannot stop in time becausethere is no room. That is the time for evasiveaction—steering around the problem.
The vehicle can perform very well in emergencieslike these. First, apply the brakes. SeeBrakingonp a g e 6!4. It is better to remove as much speed aspossible from a collision. Then steer around theproblem, to the left or right depending on thespace available.
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Passing
Passing another vehicle on a two-lane road can bedangerous. To reduce the risk of danger while passing:
.Look down the road, to the sides, and tocrossroads for situations that might affect asuccessful pass. If in doubt, wait.
.Watch for traffic signs, pavement markings, andlines that could indicate a turn or an intersection.Never cross a solid or double!solid line on yourside of the lane.
.Do not get too close to the vehicle you wantto pass. Doing so can reduce your visibility.
.Wait your turn to pass a slow vehicle.
.When you are being passed, ease to the right.
Loss of Control
Let us review what driving experts say about whathappens when the three control systems—brakes,steering, and acceleration—do not have enoughfriction where the tires meet the road to do what thedriver has asked.
In any emergency, do not give up. Keep trying tosteer and constantly seek an escape route or areaof less danger.
Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle.Defensive drivers avoid most skids by takingreasonable care suited to existing conditions, andby not overdriving those conditions. But skids arealways possible.
The three types of skids correspond to the vehicle'sthree control systems. In the braking skid, the wheelsare not rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, toomuch speed or steering in a curve causes tires to slipand lose cornering force. And in the acceleration skid,too much throttle causes the driving wheels to spin.
Remember: Any traction control system helps avoidonly the acceleration skid. If the traction control systemis off, then an acceleration skid is best handled byeasing your foot off the accelerator pedal.
If the vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off theaccelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you wantthe vehicle to go. If you start steering quickly enough,the vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready for asecond skid if it occurs.
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice,gravel, or other material is on the road. For safety, slowdown and adjust your driving to these conditions. It isimportant to slow down on slippery surfaces becausestopping distance will be longer and vehicle controlmore limited.
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While driving on a surface with reduced traction, tryyour best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration,or braking, including reducing vehicle speed by shiftingto a lower gear. Any sudden changes could cause thetires to slide. You may not realize the surface is slipperyuntil the vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warningclues—such as enough water, ice, or packed snow onthe road to make a mirrored surface—and slow downwhen you have any doubt.
Remember: Antilock brakes help avoid only thebraking skid.
Off-Road Driving
Vehicles with all!wheel drive can be used for off!roaddriving. Vehicles without all!wheel drive and vehicleswith 22!inch tire/wheel assemblies should not be drivenoff-road except on a level, solid surface.
Many of the vehicle design features that help make thevehicle more responsive on paved roads during poorweather conditions also help make it better suited foroff!road use than conventional passenger vehicles.The vehicle does not have features usually thought tobe necessary for extended or severe off!road use suchas special underbody shielding and transfer case lowgear range.
The airbag system is designed to work properly under awide range of conditions, including off!road usage.Always wear your safety belt and observe safe drivingspeeds, especially on rough terrain.
Drinking and driving can be very dangerous on anyroad and this is certainly true for off-road driving.At the very time you need special alertness and drivingskills, your reflexes, perceptions, and judgment can beaffected by even a small amount of alcohol. You couldhave a serious—or even fatal—accident if you drinkand drive or ride with a driver who has been drinking.
Off-roading can be great fun but has some definitehazards. The greatest of these is the terrain itself. Whenoff-road driving, traffic lanes are not marked, curves arenot banked, and there are no road signs. Surfaces canbe slippery, rough, uphill, or downhill.
Avoid sharp turns and abrupt maneuvers. Failure tooperate the vehicle correctly off!road could result in lossof vehicle control or vehicle rollover.
Off-roading involves some new skills. That is why it isvery important that you read these driving tips andsuggestions to help make off-road driving safer andmore enjoyable.
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{WARNING:
When you are driving off-road, bouncing and
quick changes in direction can easily throw you
out of position. This could cause you to lose
control and crash. So, whether you are driving on
or off the road, you and your passengers should
wear safety belts.
Scanning the Terrain
Off-road driving can take you over many different kindsof terrain. Be familiar with the terrain and its manydifferent features.
Surface Conditions :Off-roading surfaces can behard-packed dirt, gravel, rocks, grass, sand, mud, snow,or ice. Each of these surfaces affects the vehicle'ssteering, acceleration, and braking in different ways.Depending on the surface, slipping, sliding, wheelspinning, delayed acceleration, poor traction, andlonger braking distances can occur.
Surface Obstacles :Unseen or hidden obstacles canbe hazardous. A rock, log, hole, rut, or bump can startleyou if you are not prepared for them. Often theseobstacles are hidden by grass, bushes, snow, or eventhe rise and fall of the terrain itself.
Some things to consider:
.Is the path ahead clear?
.Will the surface texture change abruptly up ahead?
.Does the travel take you uphill or downhill?
.Will you have to stop suddenly or change directionquickly?
When driving over obstacles or rough terrain, keep afirm grip on the steering wheel. Ruts, troughs, or othersurface features can jerk the wheel out of your hands.
When driving over bumps, rocks, or other obstacles, thewheels can leave the ground. If this happens, even withone or two wheels, you cannot control the vehicle aswell or at all.
Because you will be on an unpaved surface, it isespecially important to avoid sudden acceleration,sudden turns, or sudden braking.
Off-roading requires a different kind of alertness fromdriving on paved roads and highways. There are noroad signs, posted speed limits, or signal lights. Usegood judgment about what is safe and what is not.
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Driving on Hills
Off-road driving often takes you up, down, or across ahill. Driving safely on hills requires good judgment andan understanding of what the vehicle can and cannotdo. There are some hills that simply cannot be driven,no matter how well built the vehicle.
{WARNING:
Many hills are simply too steep for any vehicle.
If you drive up them, you will stall. If you drive
down them, you cannot control your speed. If you
drive across them, you will roll over. You could be
seriously injured or killed. If you have any doubt
about the steepness, do not drive the hill.
Approaching a Hill
When you approach a hill, decide if it is too steep toclimb, descend, or cross. Steepness can be hard tojudge. On a very small hill, for example, there may be asmooth, constant incline with only a small change in
elevation where you can easily see all the way to thetop. On a large hill, the incline may get steeper as younear the top, but you might not see this because thecrest of the hill is hidden by bushes, grass, or shrubs.
Consider this as you approach a hill:
.Is there a constant incline, or does the hill getsharply steeper in places?
.Is there good traction on the hillside, or will thesurface cause tire slipping?
.Is there a straight path up or down the hill so youwill not have to make turning maneuvers?
.Are there obstructions on the hill that can blockyour path, such as boulders, trees, logs, or ruts?
.What is beyond the hill? Is there a cliff, anembankment, a drop-off, a fence? Get out andwalk the hill if you do not know. It is the smart wayto find out.
.Is the hill simply too rough? Steep hills often haveruts, gullies, troughs, and exposed rocks becausethey are more susceptible to the effects of erosion.
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Stalling on an Incline
{WARNING:
Getting out on the downhill (low) side of a vehicle
stopped across an incline is dangerous. If the
vehicle rolls over, you could be crushed or killed.
Always get out on the uphill (high) side of the
vehicle and stay well clear of the rollover path.
If the vehicle stalls when crossing an incline, be sureyou, and any passengers, get out on the uphill side,even if the door there is harder to open. If you get outon the downhill side and the vehicle starts to roll over,you will be right in its path.
If you have to walk down the slope, stay out of the paththe vehicle will take if it does roll over.
Driving in Mud, Sand, Snow, or Ice
When you drive in mud, snow, or sand, the wheelsdo not get good traction. Acceleration is not asquick, turning is more difficult, and braking distancesare longer.
It is best to use a low gear when in mud—thedeeper the mud, the lower the gear. In really deep mud,keep the vehicle moving so it does not get stuck.
When driving on sand, wheel traction changes.On loosely packed sand, such as on beaches orsand dunes, the tires will tend to sink into the sand.This affects steering, accelerating, and braking.Drive at a reduced speed and avoid sharp turns orabrupt maneuvers.
Hard packed snow and ice offer the worst tire traction.On these surfaces, it is very easy to lose control. Onwet ice, for example, the traction is so poor that you willhave difficulty accelerating. And, if the vehicle does getmoving, poor steering and difficult braking can cause itto slide out of control.
{WARNING:
Driving on frozen lakes, ponds, or rivers can be
dangerous. Underwater springs, currents under
the ice, or sudden thaws can weaken the ice. Your
vehicle could fall through the ice and you and your
passengers could drown. Drive your vehicle on
safe surfaces only.
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.Slow down and keep more space between you andother vehicles because headlamps can only lightup so much road ahead.
.Watch for animals.
.When tired, pull off the road.
.Do not wear sunglasses.
.Avoid staring directly into approaching headlamps.
.Keep the windshield and all glass on your vehicleclean—inside and out.
.Keep your eyes moving, especially during turnsor curves.
No one can see as well at night as in the daytime.But, as we get older, these differences increase.A 50-year-old driver might need at least twice as muchlight to see the same thing at night as a 20-year-old.
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can reduce vehicle traction andaffect your ability to stop and accelerate. Always driveslower in these types of driving conditions and avoiddriving through large puddles and deep!standing orflowing water.
{WARNING:
Wet brakes can cause crashes. They might not
work as well in a quick stop and could cause
pulling to one side. You could lose control of
the vehicle.
After driving through a large puddle of water or a
car/vehicle wash, lightly apply the brake pedal
until the brakes work normally.
Flowing or rushing water creates strong forces.
Driving through flowing water could cause your
vehicle to be carried away. If this happens, you
and other vehicle occupants could drown. Do not
ignore police warnings and be very cautious about
trying to drive through flowing water.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. Water can build up underyour vehicle's tires so they actually ride on the water.This can happen if the road is wet enough and youare going fast enough. When your vehicle ishydroplaning, it has little or no contact with the road.
There is no hard and fast rule about hydroplaning.The best advice is to slow down when the road is wet.
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