2011 CADILLAC ESCALADE steering wheel

Black plate (27,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
Infotainment System 7-27
Using the Navigation Audio
System to Control a USB
Storage Device or iPod
®
The navigation audio system can
control a USB storage device or
an iPod by using the radio touch
screens and steering wheel
controls.
1. Press the AUX button and thenthe USB button.
2. Press center screen button toenter the music navigator main
screen. 3. Press or tap the left or right
arrow to select desired Category
such as: Artist, Album, Genre,
etc. A list of that category will
display.
4. Select an Artist, Album, or Track
from that list.
5. Press the up or down arrows located on the side of the screen
to select one item at a time,
or press the top or bottom arrow
to jump 10 percent up or down
the list. 6. Press the Back button to go
back to the previous screen.
7. Press the Exit button to go back to the main audio screen.8. Press the left or right arrow toselect desired Category such
as: Artist, Album, Genre, etc.
A list of that category will
display.
The iPod or USB storage device
should not be pulled out from the
USB dock. To safely remove it,
press Eject.

Black plate (99,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
Infotainment System 7-99
Voice Recognition
The navigation system's
voice recognition allows for
hands-free operation of the
navigation system, audio system,
and OnStar (if equipped) features.
The DVD map disc must be
installed in the navigation system
for voice recognition to work.
SeeMaps on page 7‑62 for
more information.
Voice recognition can be used when
the ignition is on or when Retained
Accessory Power (RAP) is active.
See Retained Accessory Power
(RAP) on page 9‑35 for more
information. To use voice recognition:
1. Press and hold the SRCE button
on the steering wheel until you
hear a beep. The audio system
mutes.
2. Clearly state one of the commands listed on the
following pages. Helpful Hints for Stating
Commands
.When a multiple command is
available, choose the command
that works best.
.Words that are in brackets are
optional. For example, for the
command Radio [band] [select]
FM, stating Radio FM or Radio
select FM are both valid
commands.
.When the system recognizes the
command the system does one
of the following:
‐
Perform the function.
‐ Ask you to confirm your
choice.
‐ Issue an error message
“Did not recognize. Voice
Recognition Canceled.”
.If you experience difficulty
with the system recognizing a
command, try saying it more
softly, and wait for a few
seconds after the beep,
or repeat the command.

Black plate (102,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
7-102 Infotainment System
Phone
Bluetooth
Vehicles with a Bluetooth system
can use a Bluetooth‐capable cell
phone with a Hands‐Free Profile
to make and receive phone calls.
The system can be used while
the key is in the ON/RUN or
ACC/ACCESSORY position.
The range of the Bluetooth system
can be up to 9.1 m (30 ft). Not all
phones support all functions, and
not all phones are guaranteed to
work with the in-vehicle Bluetooth
system. See www.gm.com/bluetooth
for more information on compatible
phones.
Voice Recognition
The Bluetooth system uses voice
recognition to interpret voice
commands to dial phone numbers
and name tags.
For additional information, say
“Help”while you are in a voice
recognition menu. Noise:
Keep interior noise levels to
a minimum. The system may not
recognize voice commands if there
is too much background noise.
When to Speak: A short tone
sounds after the system responds
indicating when it is waiting for a
voice command. Wait until the
tone and then speak.
How to Speak: Speak clearly in a
calm and natural voice.
Audio System
When using the in‐vehicle Bluetooth
system, sound comes through
the vehicle's front audio system
speakers and overrides the
audio system. Use the audio
system volume knob, during a
call, to change the volume level.
The adjusted volume level remains
in memory for later calls. To prevent
missed calls, a minimum volume
level is used if the volume is turned
down too low.
Bluetooth Controls
Use the buttons located on the
steering wheel to operate the
in‐vehicle Bluetooth system.
See Steering Wheel Controls on
page 5‑3 for more information.
bg(Push To Talk): Press to
answer incoming calls, confirm
system information, and start
speech recognition.
c x(Phone On Hook): Press to
end a call, reject a call, or cancel an
operation.
Pairing
A Bluetooth cell phone must be
paired to the Bluetooth system
and then connected to the vehicle
before it can be used. See your cell
phone manufacturer's user guide for
Bluetooth functions before pairing
the cell phone. If a Bluetooth phone
is not connected, calls will be made
using OnStar Hands‐Free Calling,
if equipped. Refer to the OnStar
Owner's Guide for more information.

Black plate (1,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-1
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-7
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . 9-18
Highway Hypnosis . . . . . . . . . . . 9-20
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 9-20
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-21
If the Vehicle is Stuck . . . . . . . . 9-23
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . 9-24
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . 9-30
Adjustable Throttle and BrakePedal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-31
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-32
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . 9-33
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-35 Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-35
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-36
Shifting Out of Park . . . . . . . . . . 9-37
Parking Over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-38
Active Fuel Management™ . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-38
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-38
Running the Vehicle While
Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-39
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . 9-40
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-43
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-43
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-45
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-45
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-46
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-47
Ride Control Systems
StabiliTrak®System . . . . . . . . . 9-47
Locking Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . 9-49
Road Sensing Suspension . . . 9-50
Continuous Damping Control (CDC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-50
Automatic Level Control . . . . . 9-50
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-51
Object Detection Systems
Ultrasonic Parking Assist . . . . 9-54
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-56
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-59
Fuel
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-63
Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . 9-64
Gasoline Specifications . . . . . . 9-64
California FuelRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-64
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 9-65
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-65
Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol) . . . . . 9-66
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-68
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-70

Black plate (5,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-5
Steering
Power Steering
If the vehicle is a hybrid, see the
hybrid supplement for more
information.
If power steering assist is lost
because the engine stops or the
power steering system is not
functioning, the vehicle can be
steered 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 tires and the
road surface, the angle at which the
curve is banked, and vehicle speed.
While in a curve, speed is the one
factor that can be controlled.
If there is a need to reduce speed,
do it before entering the curve, while
the front wheels are straight.Try to adjust the speed so you can
drive through the curve. Maintain a
reasonable, steady speed. Wait to
accelerate until out of the curve,
and then accelerate gently into the
straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
There are times when steering
can be more effective than braking.
For example, you come over a hill
and find a truck stopped in your
lane, or a car suddenly pulls out
from nowhere, or a child darts out
from between parked cars and stops
right in front of you. These problems
can be avoided by braking
—if you
can stop in time. But sometimes
you cannot stop in time because
there is no room. That is the time
for evasive action —steering around
the problem.
The vehicle can perform very well
in emergencies like these. First,
apply the brakes. See Braking on
page 9‑4. It is better to remove as
much speed as possible from a collision. Then steer around
the problem, to the left or right
depending on the space available.
An emergency like this requires
close attention and a quick decision.
If holding the steering wheel at
the recommended 9 and 3 o'clock
positions, it can be turned a full
180 degrees very quickly without
removing either hand. But you have
to act fast, steer quickly, and just as
quickly straighten the wheel once
you have avoided the object.

Black plate (6,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
9-6 Driving and Operating
The fact that such emergency
situations are always possible is a
good reason to practice defensive
driving at all times and wear safety
belts properly.
Off-Road Recovery
The vehicle's right wheels can drop
off the edge of a road onto the
shoulder while driving.
If the level of the shoulder is
only slightly below the pavement,
recovery should be fairly easy.Ease off the accelerator and then,
if there is nothing in the way, steer
so that the vehicle straddles the
edge of the pavement. Turn the
steering wheel 8 to 13 cm (3 to
5 inches), about one-eighth turn,
until the right front tire contacts
the pavement edge. Then turn the
steering wheel to go straight down
the roadway.
Loss of Control
Let us review what driving experts
say about what happens when the
three control systems
—brakes,
steering, and acceleration —do not
have enough friction where the tires
meet the road to do what the driver
has asked.
In any emergency, do not give up.
Keep trying to steer and constantly
seek an escape route or area of
less danger.
Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of
the vehicle. Defensive drivers avoid
most skids by taking reasonable
care suited to existing conditions,
and by not overdriving those
conditions. But skids are always
possible.
The three types of skids correspond
to the vehicle's three control
systems. In the braking skid,
the wheels are not rolling. In the
steering or cornering skid, too much
speed or steering in a curve causes
tires to slip and lose cornering force.
And in the acceleration skid, too
much throttle causes the driving
wheels to spin.
If the vehicle starts to slide,
ease your foot off the accelerator
pedal and quickly steer the way you
want the vehicle to go. If you start
steering quickly enough, the vehicle
may straighten out. Always be ready
for a second skid if it occurs.

Black plate (7,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-7
Of course, traction is reduced when
water, snow, ice, gravel, or other
material is on the road. For safety,
slow down and adjust your driving
to these conditions. It is important
to slow down on slippery surfaces
because stopping distance is longer
and vehicle control more limited.
While driving on a surface with
reduced traction, try to avoid
sudden steering, acceleration,
or braking, including reducing
vehicle speed by shifting to a lower
gear. Any sudden changes could
cause the tires to slide. You might
not realize the surface is slippery
until the vehicle is skidding. Learn
to recognize warning clues—such
as enough water, ice, or packed
snow on the road to make a
mirrored surface —and slow down
when you have any doubt.
Remember: Antilock brakes help
avoid only the braking skid.Off-Road Driving
Vehicles with all‐wheel drive can be
used for off‐road driving. Vehicles
without all‐wheel drive and vehicles
with 22‐inch tire/wheel assemblies
should not be driven off-road except
on a level, solid surface.
Many of the vehicle design features
that help make the vehicle more
responsive on paved roads during
poor weather conditions also help
make it better suited for off‐road
use than conventional passenger
vehicles. The vehicle does not
have features usually thought to
be necessary for extended or
severe off‐road use such as special
underbody shielding and transfer
case low gear range.
The airbag system is designed to
work properly under a wide range
of conditions, including off‐road
usage. Always wear your safety belt
and observe safe driving speeds,
especially on rough terrain. Drinking and driving can be very
dangerous on any road and this is
certainly true for off-road driving.
At the very time you need special
alertness and driving skills, your
reflexes, perceptions, and judgment
can be affected by even a small
amount of alcohol. You could have a
serious
—or even fatal —accident
if you drink and drive or ride with a
driver who has been drinking.
Off-roading can be great fun but has
some definite hazards. The greatest
of these is the terrain itself. When
off-road driving, traffic lanes are not
marked, curves are not banked, and
there are no road signs. Surfaces
can be slippery, rough, uphill,
or downhill.
Avoid sharp turns and abrupt
maneuvers. Failure to operate the
vehicle correctly off‐road could
result in loss of vehicle control
or vehicle rollover.

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.
{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 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?