2010 CADILLAC ESCALADE Owners Manual

Starting the Engine
If the vehicle is a Two-mode Hybrid, see the Two-modeHybrid manual for more information.
Move the shift lever to P (Park) or N (Neutral). Theengine will not start in any other position. To restart theengine when the vehicle is are already moving, useN (Neutral) only.
Notice:Do not try to shift to P (Park) if thevehicle is moving. If you do, you could damagethe transmission. Shift to P (Park) only when thevehicle is stopped.
Starting Procedure
1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn theignition key to START. When the engine starts,let go of the key. The idle speed will go down asthe engine gets warm. Do not race the engineimmediately after starting it. Operate the engineand transmission gently to allow the oil to warm upand lubricate all moving parts.
The vehicle has a Computer-Controlled CrankingSystem. This feature assists in starting the engineand protects components. If the ignition key isturned to the START position, and then releasedwhen the engine begins cranking, the engine willcontinue cranking for a few seconds or until thevehicle starts. If the engine does not start and thekey is held in START for many seconds, crankingwill be stopped after 15 seconds to preventcranking motor damage. To prevent gear damage,this system also prevents cranking if the engineis already running. Engine cranking can bestopped by turning the ignition switch to theACC/ACCESSORY or LOCK/OFF position.
Notice:Cranking the engine for long periods oftime, by returning the key to the START positionimmediately after cranking has ended, can overheatand damage the cranking motor, and drain thebattery. Wait at least 15 seconds between each try,to let the cranking motor cool down.
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2. If the engine does not start after 5!10 seconds,especially in very cold weather (below 0°F or!18°C), it could be flooded with too much gasoline.Try pushing the accelerator pedal all the way to thefloor and holding it there as you hold the key inSTART for up to a maximum of 15 seconds. Wait atleast 15 seconds between each try, to allow thecranking motor to cool down. When the enginestarts, let go of the key and accelerator. If thevehicle starts briefly but then stops again, do thesame thing. This clears the extra gasoline from theengine. Do not race the engine immediately afterstarting it. Operate the engine and transmissiongently until the oil warms up and lubricates allmoving parts.
Notice:The engine is designed to work with theelectronics in the vehicle. If you add electricalparts or accessories, you could change the waythe engine operates. Before adding electricalequipment, check with your dealer/retailer. If youdo not, the engine might not perform properly.Any resulting damage would not be covered bythe vehicle warranty.
Adjustable Throttle and Brake Pedal
The vehicle has adjustable throttle and brake pedalsthat allow you change their positions.
The feature will not operate when the vehicle is inR (Reverse) or while using the cruise control.
The switch used to adjust the pedals is located on thecenter console below the climate control system.
Press the right and left arrows to move the pedals eithercloser or further from your body.
Before you start driving, fully press the brake pedal toconfirm the adjustment is right for you. While driving,make only small adjustments.
The vehicle has a memory function which allows thepedal positions to be saved and recalled. SeeMemoryFeatureso n p a g e 2!6for more information.
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Engine Coolant Heater
The engine coolant heater can provide easier startingand better fuel economy during engine warm-up in coldweather conditions at or below!18°C (0°F). Vehicleswith an engine heater should be plugged in at leastfour hours before starting. An internal thermostat inthe plug-end of the cord may exist which will preventengine coolant heater operation at temperaturesabove!18°C (0°F).
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord.The cord is secured to the Engine CompartmentFuse Block with a clip. Carefully remove the wiretie which secures the electrical cord. Do not cut theelectrical cord.
3. Plug the cord into a normal, grounded 110-voltAC outlet.
{WARNING:
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet could
cause an electrical shock. Also, the wrong kind of
extension cord could overheat and cause a fire.
You could be seriously injured. Plug the cord into
a properly grounded three-prong 110-volt AC
outlet. If the cord will not reach, use a heavy-duty
three-prong extension cord rated for at least
15 amps.
4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug andstore the cord as it was before to keep it away frommoving engine parts. If you do not, it could bedamaged.
The length of time the heater should remain plugged independs on several factors. Ask a dealer/retailer in thearea where you will be parking the vehicle for the bestadvice on this.
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Active Fuel Management™
Vehicles with V8 engines may have Active FuelManagement™. This system allows the engine tooperate on either all or half of its cylinders, dependingon the driving conditions.
When less power is required, such as cruising at aconstant vehicle speed, the system will operate in thehalf cylinder mode, allowing the vehicle to achievebetter fuel economy. When greater power demands arerequired, such as accelerating from a stop, passing,or merging onto a freeway, the system will maintainfull-cylinder operation.
If the vehicle has an Active Fuel Management™indicator, seeDIC Operation and Displaysonpage 4!41for more information on using this display.
Automatic Transmission Operation
If the vehicle is a Two-mode Hybrid, see the Two-modeHybrid manual for more information.
The vehicle has a Hydra-Matic®6L80 automatictransmission, and has an electronic shift positionindicator within the instrument panel cluster.The electronic shift position indicator displays whenthe shift lever is moved out of P (Park).
There are several different positions for the shift lever.
P (Park) :This position locks the rear wheels. It is thebest position to use when you start the engine becausethe vehicle cannot move easily.
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When parked on a hill, especially when the vehicle hasa heavy load, you may notice an increase in the effortto shift out of P (Park). See Torque Lock (AutomaticTransmission) underShifting Into Parkon page 3!39for more information.
{WARNING:
It is dangerous to get out of the vehicle if the shift
lever is not fully in P (Park) with the parking brake
firmly set. The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured. To be sure the
vehicle will not move, even when you are on fairly
level ground, always set the parking brake and
move the shift lever to P (Park). SeeShifting Into
Parkon page 3!39. If you are pulling a trailer,
seeTowing a Trailer on page 6!42.
R (Reverse) :Use this gear to back up.
Notice:Shifting to R (Reverse) while the vehicle ismoving forward could damage the transmission.The repairs would not be covered by the vehiclewarranty. Shift to R (Reverse) only after the vehicleis stopped.
To rock the vehicle back and forth to get out of snow,ice, or sand without damaging the transmission, seeIfYour Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snowonpage 6!30.
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N (Neutral) :In this position, the engine does notconnect with the wheels. To restart when you arealready moving, use N (Neutral) only. Also, useN (Neutral) when the vehicle is being towed.
{WARNING:
Shifting into a drive gear while the engine is
running at high speed is dangerous. Unless your
foot is firmly on the brake pedal, the vehicle could
move very rapidly. You could lose control and hit
people or objects. Do not shift into a drive gear
while the engine is running at high speed.
Notice:Shifting out of P (Park) or N (Neutral) withthe engine running at high speed may damage thetransmission. The repairs would not be covered bythe vehicle warranty. Be sure the engine is notrunning at high speed when shifting the vehicle.
D (Drive) :This position is for normal driving. It providesthe best fuel economy. If you need more power forpassing, and you are:
.Going less than about 35 mph (55 km/h), push theaccelerator pedal about halfway down.
.Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push theaccelerator all the way down.
By doing this, the vehicle shifts down to the next gearand has more power.
D (Drive) can be used when towing a trailer, carrying aheavy load, driving on steep hills, or for off-road driving.You may want to shift the transmission to a lower gearselection if the transmission shifts too often.
Downshifting the transmission in slippery roadconditions could result in skidding, see Skidding underLoss of Control on page 6!12.
M (Manual Mode) :This position lets drivers selectthe range of gears appropriate for current drivingconditions. See Driver Shift Control (DSC) later inthis section.
Notice:Spinning the tires or holding the vehicle inone place on a hill using only the accelerator pedalmay damage the transmission. The repair will not becovered by the vehicle warranty. If you are stuck, donot spin the tires. When stopping on a hill, use thebrakes to hold the vehicle in place.
The vehicle has a shift stabilization feature thatadjusts the transmission shifting to the currentdriving conditions in order to reduce rapid upshiftsand downshifts. This shift stabilization feature isdesigned to determine, before making an upshift, ifthe engine will be able to maintain vehicle speed by
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analyzing things such as vehicle speed, throttle positionand vehicle load. If the shift stabilization featuredetermines that a current vehicle speed cannot bemaintained, the transmission does not upshift andinstead holds the current gear. In some cases, this mayappear to be a delayed shift, however the transmissionis operating normally.
The vehicle's transmission uses adaptive shift controlsthat compares key shift parameters to pre-programmedideal shifts stored in the transmissions computer. Thetransmission constantly makes adjustments to improvevehicle performance according to how the vehicle isbeing used, such as with a heavy load or whentemperature changes. During this adaptive shift controlsprocess, shifting may feel different as the transmissiondetermines the best settings.
When temperatures are very cold, the Hydra-Matic®
6L80 automatic transmission's gear shifting may bedelayed providing more stable shifts until the enginewarms up. Shifts may be more noticeable with a coldtransmission. This difference in shifting is normal.
Driver Shift Control (DSC)
The vehicle has Driver Shift Control (DSC). DSCcontrols the vehicle's transmission and vehicle speedwhile driving down hill or towing a trailer by allowing youto select a desired range of gears.
To use this feature, do the following:
1. Move the shift lever to the M (Manual Mode).
2. Press the plus/minus button, to upshift or downshiftselecting the desired range of gears for currentdriving conditions.
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The DIC display will show the message MANUALSHIFT on the first line and the current gear will bedisplayed on the second line. SeeDriver InformationCenter (DIC)on page 4!41andDIC Operation andDisplayson page 4!41for more information. Thenumber displayed in the DIC is the highest gear thatcan be used. However, the vehicle can automaticallyshift to lower gears as it adjusts to driving conditions.This means that all gears below that number areavailable. When 5 (Fifth) is selected, 1 (First) through5 (Fifth) gears are automatically shifted by the vehicle,but 6 (Sixth) cannot be used until the plus/minus buttonlocated on the steering column lever is used to changeto the gear.
Grade Braking is not available when the Driver ShiftControl is active. SeeTow/Haul Modeon page 3!36formore information.
While using the DSC, cruise control and the tow/haulmode can be used.
Tow/Haul Mode
The vehicle has a tow/haul mode. The tow/haul modeadjusts the transmission shift pattern to reduce shiftcycling, providing increased performance, vehiclecontrol, and transmission cooling when towing orhauling heavy loads.
Press the button located on the end of the shift lever toturn the tow/haul on or off. When the tow/haul is on, alight on the instrument panel cluster will come on.
SeeTow/Haul Mode Lighton page 4!40for moreinformation.
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