2011 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV ESP

Black plate (10,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
9-10 Driving and Operating and urge every off-roader to follow
these basic rules for protecting the
environment: .
Always use established trails,
roads, and areas that have been
specially set aside for public
off-road recreational driving
and obey all posted regulations. .
Avoid any driving practice that
could damage shrubs, flowers,
trees, or grasses or disturb
wildlife. This includes
wheel-spinning, breaking
down trees, or unnecessary
driving through streams or
over soft ground. .
Always carry a litter bag and
make sure all refuse is removed
from any campsite before
leaving. .
Take extreme care with open
fires (where permitted), camp
stoves, and lanterns. .
Never park your vehicle over
dry grass or other combustible
materials that could catch fire
from the heat of the vehicle's
exhaust system.
Traveling to Remote Areas It makes sense to plan your trip,
especially when going to a remote
area. Know the terrain and plan
your route. Get accurate maps of
trails and terrain. Check to see if
there are any blocked or closed
roads.
It is also a good idea to travel with
at least one other vehicle in case
something happens to one of them.
For vehicles with a winch, be sure
to read the winch instructions. In a
remote area, a winch can be handy
if you get stuck but you will want to
know how to use it properly. Getting Familiar with Off-Road
Driving It is a good idea to practice in an
area that is safe and close to home
before you go into the wilderness.
Off-roading requires some new and
different skills.
Tune your senses to different kinds
of signals. Your eyes need to
constantly sweep the terrain for
unexpected obstacles. Your ears
need to listen for unusual tire or
engine sounds. Use your arms,
hands, feet, and body to respond
to vibrations and vehicle bounce.
Controlling the vehicle is the key to
successful off-road driving. One of
the best ways to control the vehicle
is to control the speed. At higher
speeds: .
You approach things faster and
have less time to react. .
There is less time to scan the
terrain for obstacles.

Black plate (11,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-11.
The vehicle has more bounce
when driving over obstacles. .
More braking distance is
needed, especially on an
unpaved surface.
{ WARNINGWhen 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 kinds of terrain. Be
familiar with the terrain and its many
different features.
Surface Conditions: Off-roading
surfaces can be hard-packed dirt,
gravel, rocks, grass, sand, mud,
snow, or ice. Each of these
surfaces affects the vehicle's
steering, acceleration, and braking
in different ways. Depending on the
surface, slipping, sliding, wheel
spinning, delayed acceleration,
poor traction, and longer braking
distances can occur. Surface Obstacles: Unseen or
hidden obstacles can be hazardous.
A rock, log, hole, rut, or bump can
startle you if you are not prepared
for them. Often these obstacles are
hidden by grass, bushes, snow,
or even the 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 direction quickly?

Black plate (12,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
9-12 Driving and Operating When driving over obstacles or
rough terrain, keep a firm grip on
the steering wheel. Ruts, troughs,
or other surface features can jerk
the wheel out of your hands.
When driving over bumps, rocks,
or other obstacles, the wheels can
leave the ground. If this happens,
even with one or two wheels, you
cannot control the vehicle as well or
at all.
Because you will be on an unpaved
surface, it is especially important to
avoid sudden acceleration, sudden
turns, or sudden braking.
Off-roading requires a different kind
of alertness from driving on paved
roads and highways. There are
no road signs, posted speed limits,
or signal lights. Use good judgment
about what is safe and what is not. Driving on Hills Off-road driving often takes you up,
down, or across a hill. Driving safely
on hills requires good judgment
and an understanding of what the
vehicle can and cannot do. There
are some hills that simply cannot be
driven, no matter how well built the
vehicle.
{ WARNINGMany 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 to climb, descend,
or cross. Steepness can be hard
to judge. On a very small hill, for
example, there may be a smooth,
constant incline with only a small
change in elevation where you can
easily see all the way to the top.
On a large hill, the incline may get
steeper as you near the top, but you
might not see this because the crest
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 get sharply
steeper in places? .
Is there good traction on the
hillside, or will the surface cause
tire slipping? .
Is there a straight path up or
down the hill so you will not
have to make turning
maneuvers?

Black plate (22,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
9-22 Driving and Operating Blizzard Conditions Being stuck in snow can be a
serious situation. Stay with the
vehicle unless there is help nearby.
If possible, use the Roadside
Service (U.S. and Canada) on
page 13 ‑ 7 or Roadside Service
(Mexico) on page 13 ‑ 10 . To get
help and keep everyone in the
vehicle safe: .
Turn on the hazard warning
flashers. .
Tie a red cloth to an outside
mirror.
{ WARNING
Snow can trap engine exhaust
under the vehicle. This may
cause exhaust gases to get
inside. Engine exhaust contains
Carbon Monoxide (CO) which
cannot be seen or smelled. It can
cause unconsciousness and even
death.
(Continued) WARNING (Continued) If the vehicle is stuck in the snow: .
Clear away snow from around
the base of your vehicle,
especially any that is blocking
the exhaust pipe. .
Check again from time to
time to be sure snow does
not collect there. .
Open a window about 5 cm
(2 in) on the side of the
vehicle that is away from the
wind to bring in fresh air. .
Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel. .
Adjust the climate control
system to a setting that
circulates the air inside the
vehicle and set the fan speed
to the highest setting. See
Climate Control System in the
Index.
(Continued) WARNING (Continued) For more information about
carbon monoxide, see Engine
Exhaust on page 9 ‑ 38 .
Snow can trap exhaust gases
under your vehicle. This can
cause deadly CO (Carbon
Monoxide) gas to get inside. CO
could overcome you and kill you.
You cannot see it or smell it, so
you might not know it is in your
vehicle. Clear away snow from
around the base of your vehicle,
especially any that is blocking the
exhaust.
Run the engine for short periods
only as needed to keep warm, but
be careful.

Black plate (34,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
9-34 Driving and Operating The vehicle has a
Computer-Controlled Cranking
System. This feature assists in
starting the engine and protects
components. If the ignition key
is turned to the START position,
and then released when the
engine begins cranking, the
engine will continue cranking
for a few seconds or until the
vehicle starts. If the engine does
not start and the key is held in
START, cranking will be stopped
after 15 seconds to prevent
cranking motor damage. To
prevent gear damage, this
system also prevents cranking if
the engine is already running.
Engine cranking can be stopped
by turning the ignition switch to
the ACC/ACCESSORY or
LOCK/OFF position.
When the Low Fuel warning
lamp is on and the FUEL LEVEL
LOW message is displayed in the Driver Information Center
(DIC), the Computer ‐ Controlled
Cranking System is disabled
to prevent possible vehicle
component damage. When
this happens, hold the ignition
switch in the START position to
continue engine cranking.
Notice: Cranking the engine for
long periods of time, by returning
the key to the START position
immediately after cranking has
ended, can overheat and damage
the cranking motor, and drain the
battery. Wait at least 15 seconds
between each try, to let the
cranking motor cool down.
2. If the engine does not start
after 5 ‐ 10 seconds, especially in
very cold weather (below − 18°C
or 0°F), it could be flooded with
too much gasoline. Try pushing
the accelerator pedal all the
way to the floor and holding it
there as you hold the key in
START for up to a maximum of 15 seconds. Wait at least
15 seconds between each try, to
allow the cranking motor to cool
down. When the engine starts,
let go of the key and accelerator.
If the vehicle starts briefly but
then stops again, repeat these
steps. This clears the extra
gasoline from the engine. Do
not race the engine immediately
after starting it. Operate the
engine and transmission gently
until the oil warms up and
lubricates all moving parts.
Notice: The engine is designed
to work with the electronics in
the vehicle. If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could
change the way the engine
operates. Before adding electrical
equipment, check with your
dealer. If you do not, the engine
might not perform properly. Any
resulting damage would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.

Black plate (40,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
9-40 Driving and Operating
Automatic
Transmission If the vehicle is a hybrid, see
the hybrid supplement for more
information.
The vehicle has a
Hydra-Matic ®
6L80 automatic
transmission, and has an electronic
shift position indicator within the
instrument panel cluster. The
electronic shift position indicator
displays when the 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 the best position
to use when you start the engine
because the vehicle cannot move
easily.
When parked on a hill, especially
when the vehicle has a heavy load,
you may notice an increase in the
effort to shift out of P (Park). See
“ Torque Lock ” under Shifting Into
Park on page 9 ‑ 36 for more
information. { WARNINGIt 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).
See Shifting Into Park on
page 9 ‑ 36 . If you are pulling a
trailer, see Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips on page 9 ‑ 71 .

Black plate (58,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
9-58 Driving and Operating The SBZA displays may remain on
if a trailer is attached to the vehicle,
or a bicycle or object is extending
out to either side of the vehicle.
When SBZA is disabled for any
reason other than the driver turning
it off, the driver will not be able to
turn SBZA back on using the DIC.
The SIDE BLIND ZONE ALERT
ON option will not be selectable if
the conditions for normal system
operation are not met. Until normal
operating conditions for SBZA are
met, you should not rely upon SBZA
while driving.
SBZA Error Messages
The following messages may
appear in the DIC:
SIDE BLIND ZONE ALERT
SYSTEM OFF: This message
indicates that the driver has turned
the system off. SIDE BLIND ZONE SYS.
UNAVAILABLE: This message
indicates that the SBZA system is
disabled either because the sensor
is blocked and cannot detect
vehicles in your blind zone, or the
vehicle is passing through an open
field of view area, such as the
desert, where there is insufficient
data for operation. The sensor may
be blocked by mud, dirt, snow, ice,
slush, or even heavy rainstorms.
This message may also activate
during heavy rain or due to road
spray. The vehicle does not need
service. For cleaning, see “ Washing
the Vehicle ” under Exterior Care on
page 10 ‑ 90 .
SERVICE SIDE BLIND ZONE
ALERT SYSTEM: If this message
appears, both SBZA displays will
remain on indicating there is a
problem with the SBZA system.
If these displays remain on after
continued driving, the system needs
service. Take the vehicle to your
dealer. FCC Information See Radio Frequency Statement on
page 13 ‑ 19 for information
regarding Part 15 of the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC)
rules and Industry Canada
Standards RSS-210/220/310.
Frequency of operation:
24.05GHz – 24.25GHz
Field Strength: Not greater than
2.5V/m peak (0.25V/m average)
at a distance of 3m
The manufacturer is not
responsible for any radio or
TV interference caused by
unauthorized modifications to this
equipment. Such modifications
could void the user's authority to
operate the equipment.

Black plate (72,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
9-72 Driving and Operating Driving with a Trailer
{ WARNINGWhen towing a trailer, exhaust
gases may collect at the rear
of the vehicle and enter if the
liftgate, trunk/hatch, or rear-most
window is open.
Engine exhaust contains Carbon
Monoxide (CO) which cannot be
seen or smelled. It can cause
unconsciousness and even death.
To maximize safety when towing
a trailer: .
Have the exhaust system
inspected for leaks and make
necessary repairs before
starting a trip. .
Never drive with the liftgate,
trunk/hatch, or rear-most
window open.
(Continued) WARNING (Continued) .
Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel. .
Adjust the Climate Control
system to a setting that
brings in only outside air
and set the fan speed to the
highest setting. See Climate
Control System in the Index.
For more information about
Carbon Monoxide, see Engine
Exhaust on page 9 ‑ 38 .
Towing a trailer requires a
certain amount of experience.
The combination you are driving is
longer and not as responsive as the
vehicle itself. Get acquainted with
the handling and braking of the rig
before setting out for the open road. Before starting, check all trailer
hitch parts and attachments,
safety chains, electrical connectors,
lamps, tires and mirrors. If the
trailer has electric brakes, start the
combination moving and then apply
the trailer brake controller by hand
to be sure the brakes work.
During the trip, check occasionally
to be sure that the load is secure
and the lamps and any trailer
brakes still work.
Following Distance Stay at least twice as far behind the
vehicle ahead as you would when
driving the vehicle without a trailer.
This can help to avoid heavy
braking and sudden turns.
Passing
More passing distance is
needed when towing a trailer.
The combination will not accelerate
as quickly and is longer so it is
necessary to go much farther
beyond the passed vehicle before
returning to the lane.