
Black plate (9,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
Keys, Doors and Windows 2-9
Doors
Liftgate (Manual)
{WARNING
It can be dangerous to drive
with the liftglass or liftgate open
because carbon monoxide (CO)
gas can come into your vehicle.
You cannot see or smell CO.
It can cause unconsciousness
and even death.
If you must drive with the liftglass
or liftgate open, or if electrical
wiring or other cable connections
must pass through the seal
between the body and the
liftglass or liftgate:
.Make sure all other windows
are shut.
.Turn the fan on your heating
or cooling system to its
highest speed with the(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
recirculation mode off.
That will force outside air
into your vehicle. See Dual
Automatic Climate Control
System on page 8‑1.
.If you have air outlets on or
under the instrument panel,
open them all the way.
.If your vehicle is equipped
with a power liftgate, disable
the power liftgate function.
See Engine Exhaust on
page 9‑38.
To unlock the liftgate, use the power
door lock switch or press
Kon
the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter twice. See Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation on page 2‑3.
On vehicles with a liftglass, press
the button on the underside of the
license pocket applique (A) to open
it. The liftglass can also be opened
by pressing
mon the RKE.
To open the entire liftgate, press
&on the RKE or in the vehicle.
See “Power Liftgate Operation” in
this section. You can also press
the touchpad on the underside of
the liftgate handle (B). The liftgate
will open after a slight delay. The
vehicle must be in P (Park) to open
the liftgate. To close the liftgate, use
the pull cup or pull strap as an aid.

Black plate (12,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
2-12 Keys, Doors and Windows
Obstacle Detection Features
If the liftgate encounters an obstacle
during a power open or close
cycle, a warning chime will sound
and the liftgate will automatically
reverse direction to the full closed
or open position. After removing
the obstruction, the power liftgate
operation can be used again.
If the liftgate encounters multiple
obstacles on the same power
cycle, the power function will
deactivate, and you must manually
open or close the liftgate. The
REAR ACCESS OPEN warning
message in the Driver Information
Center (DIC) will indicate that the
liftgate is open. After removing the
obstructions, manually open the
liftgate to the full open position or
close the liftgate to the fully closed
and latched position. The liftgate
will now resume normal power
operation.
Pinch sensors are located on the
sides of the liftgate. If an object is
caught between the liftgate and thebody and presses against this
sensor, the liftgate will reverse
direction and open fully. The liftgate
will remain open until it is activated
again or closed manually. Do not
force the liftgate open or closed
during a power cycle.
Manual Operation of Power
Liftgate
To change the liftgate to manual
operation, press the switch on
the overhead console to the OFF
position.
With the power liftgate disabled
and all of the doors unlocked, the
liftgate can be manually opened
and closed.
To open the liftgate, press the
touchpad on the handle on the
outside of the liftgate, and lift the
gate open. To close the liftgate, use
the pull cup to lower the liftgate and
close. The liftgate latch will power
close. Always close the liftgate
before driving.
If the RKE button or the power close
button on the liftgate is pressed
while power operation is disabled,
the lamps will flash three times, but
the liftgate will not move.
It is not recommended that
you drive with the liftgate open,
however, if you must drive with the
liftgate open, the liftgate should be
set to manual operation by pressing
the OFF switch on the center
console.
The liftgate has an electric latch.
If the battery is disconnected or
has low voltage, the liftgate will
not open. The liftgate will resume
operation when the battery is
reconnected and charged.
If the battery is properly connected
with adequate voltage, the switch is
not disabled, and the liftgate still will
not function, your vehicle should be
taken to a dealer for service.

Black plate (13,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
Keys, Doors and Windows 2-13
Power Assist Steps
The vehicle may have power assist
steps.
The switch used to disable the
power assist steps is located on the
center console below the climate
control system.
The power assist steps
automatically extend from
beneath the vehicle on the side in
which the door has been opened.
Once the door is closed, the assist
steps automatically move back
under the vehicle after a brief delay.
The vehicle must not be moving for
the assist steps to extend or retract.
The assist steps cannot be disabled
in the extended position.
Vehicle Security
This vehicle has theft-deterrent
features; however, they do not make
it impossible to steal.
Anti-Theft Alarm System
Your vehicle has a content
theft-deterrent alarm system.
This is the security light.
To arm the theft-deterrent system:
1. Open the door.
2. Lock the door with the RemoteKeyless Entry (RKE) transmitter
or the power door lock switch.
The security light will come on to
inform the driver the system is arming. If a door is open when
the doors are locked, the
security light will flash.
If the delayed locking feature is
turned on, the theft‐deterrent
system will not start the arming
process until the last door is
closed and the delay timer has
expired. See
Delayed Locking
on page 2‑8.
3. Close all doors. The security light should go off after about
30 seconds. The alarm is not
armed until the security light
goes off.
If a locked driver door is opened
without using the RKE transmitter,
a 10-second pre-alarm will occur.
The horn will chirp and the lights
will flash. If the key is not placed
in the ignition and turned to
START or the door is not unlocked
by pressing the unlock button
on the RKE transmitter during
the 10-second pre-alarm,
the alarm will go off.

Black plate (14,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
2-14 Keys, Doors and Windows
Your vehicle's headlamps will flash
and the horn will sound for about
30 seconds, then will turn off to save
the battery power.
The theft-deterrent system will not
activate if the doors are locked with
the vehicle's key or the manual
door lock. It activates only if you use
the power door lock switch with the
door open or the RKE transmitter.
You should also remember that
you can start your vehicle with the
correct ignition key if the alarm has
been set off.
To avoid setting off the alarm by
accident:
.If you do not want to activate
the theft-deterrent system, the
vehicle should be locked with
the door key after the doors are
closed.
.Always unlock the doors with the
RKE transmitter. Unlocking a
door any other way will set off
the alarm if it is armed.If you set off the alarm by accident,
press unlock on the RKE transmitter
or place the key in the ignition and
turn it to START to turn off the
alarm. The alarm will not stop if you
try to unlock a door any other way.
Testing the Alarm
To test the alarm:
1. From inside the vehicle, lower
the driver window and open the
driver door.
2. Activate the system by locking the doors with the power door
lock switch while the door
is open, or with the RKE
transmitter.
3. Get out of the vehicle, close the door and wait for the security
light to go out.
4. Then reach in through the window, unlock the door with
the manual door lock and open
the door. This should set off the
alarm. While the alarm is set, the power
door unlock switch will not work.
If the alarm does not sound when
it should but the headlamps flash,
check to see if the horn works.
The horn fuse may be blown.
To replace the fuse, see
Fuses and
Circuit Breakers on page 10‑42.
If the alarm does not sound or the
headlamps do not flash, the vehicle
should be serviced by your dealer.
Immobilizer
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.

Black plate (15,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
Keys, Doors and Windows 2-15
Immobilizer Operation
This vehicle has PASS-Key®III+
(Personalized Automotive Security
System) theft-deterrent system.
PASS-Key III+ is a passive
theft-deterrent system.
The system is automatically armed
when the key is removed from the
ignition.
The system is automatically
disarmed when the key is turned
to ON/RUN, ACC/ACCESSORY,
or START from the LOCK/OFF
position.
You do not have to manually arm or
disarm the system.
The security light will come on if
there is a problem with arming or
disarming the theft-deterrent
system.
When the PASS-Key III+ system
senses that someone is using the
wrong key, it prevents the vehicle
from starting. Anyone using a
trial-and-error method to start the vehicle will be discouraged because
of the high number of electrical key
codes.
If the engine does not start and the
security light on the instrument
panel cluster comes on when trying
to start the vehicle, there may be
a problem with the theft-deterrent
system. Turn the ignition off and
try again.
If the engine still does not start, and
the key appears to be undamaged,
try another ignition key. At this time,
you may also want to check the
fuse. See
Fuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 10‑42. If the
engine still does not start with the
other key, the vehicle needs service.
If the vehicle does start, the first key
may be faulty. See your dealer who
can service the PASS-Key III+ to
have a new key made.
It is possible for the PASS-Key III+
decoder to learn the transponder
value of a new or replacement key.
Up to 10 keys may be programmed for the vehicle. The following
procedure is for programming
additional keys only. If all the
currently programmed keys are
lost or do not operate, you must
see your dealer or a locksmith who
can service PASS-Key III+ to have
keys made and programmed to the
system.
See your dealer or a locksmith who
can service PASS-Key III+ to get a
new key blank cut exactly as the
ignition key that operates the
system.
To program the new additional key:
1. Verify that the new key has
a
1stamped on it.
2. Insert the original, already programmed key in the ignition
and start the engine. If the
engine will not start, see your
dealer for service.
3. After the engine has started, turn the key to LOCK/OFF, and
remove the key.

Black plate (16,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
2-16 Keys, Doors and Windows
4. Insert the new key to beprogrammed and turn it to
the ON/RUN position within
five seconds of turning the
ignition to the LOCK/OFF
position in Step 3.
The security light will turn
off once the key has been
programmed.
5. Repeat Steps 1 through 4 if additional keys are to be
programmed.
If you lose or damage your
PASS-Key III+ key, see your dealer
or a locksmith who can service
PASS-Key III+ to have a new
key made.
Do not leave the key or device
that disarms or deactivates the
theft-deterrent system in the vehicle.Exterior Mirrors
Convex Mirrors
{WARNING
A convex mirror can make things,
like other vehicles, look farther
away than they really are. If you
cut too sharply into the right lane,
you could hit a vehicle on the
right. Check the inside mirror or
glance over your shoulder before
changing lanes.
The passenger side mirror is convex
shaped. A convex mirror's surface is
curved so more can be seen from
the driver seat.
Power Mirrors
Controls for the outside power
foldaway mirrors are on the driver
door armrest.

Black plate (18,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
2-18 Keys, Doors and Windows
Automatic Dimming
Mirror
The vehicle has an automatic
dimming mirror. The driver outside
mirror automatically adjusts for the
glare of headlamps behind you.
This feature is controlled by the
on and off setting on the inside
rearview mirror. SeeAutomatic
Dimming Rearview Mirror on
page 2‑18 for more information.
Park Tilt Mirrors
If the vehicle has the memory
package, the passenger and/or
driver mirror tilts to a preselected
position when the vehicle is in
R (Reverse). This feature lets the
driver view the curb when parallel
parking. The mirror(s) return to the
original position when the vehicle
is shifted out of R (Reverse), or
the ignition is turned off or to
OFF/LOCK.
Turn this feature on or off through
the Driver Information Center (DIC).
SeeDriver Information Center (DIC)
on page 5‑26 for more information.
Interior Mirrors
Automatic Dimming
Rearview Mirror
Automatic dimming reduces the
glare of lights from behind the
vehicle. The dimming feature comes
on and the indicator light illuminates
each time the vehicle is started.
O(On/Off):Press to turn the
dimming feature on or off.
The vehicle may have IntelliBeam
®.
For more information on
IntelliBeam, see “IntelliBeam
Intelligent High‐Beam Headlamp
Control System” underExterior
Lamp Controls on page 6‑1.

Black plate (20,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
2-20 Keys, Doors and Windows
Power Windows
{WARNING
Leaving children in a vehicle with
the keys is dangerous for many
reasons. Children or others could
be badly injured or even killed.
They could operate the power
windows or other controls or
even make the vehicle move.
The windows will function and
they could be seriously injured or
killed if caught in the path of a
closing window. Do not leave
keys in a vehicle with children.
When there are children in the
rear seat use the window lockout
button to prevent unintentional
operation of the windows.
The power window switches are on
the driver door.
In addition, each door has a switch
for its own window. The front power
window switch operates with two
positions for both up and down
movement and the rear power
window switch operates with one
position for up and two positions
for down movement. Press the
switch to the first position to lower
the window to the desired level.
Pull the switch up to raise the
window.The vehicle has Retained
Accessory Power (RAP) that allows
you to use the power windows once
the ignition has been turned off.
For more information, see
Retained
Accessory Power (RAP) on
page 9‑35.
Express-Down/Up Windows
Windows with the express feature
allow the windows to be raised and
lowered all the way without holding
the switch.
Press or pull the switch fully and
release it to activate the express
feature.
The express mode can be canceled
at any time by briefly pressing or
pulling the switch.