2012 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV traction control

Black plate (31,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
Infotainment System 7-31Drivers are encouraged to set up
any auxiliary device while the
vehicle is in P (Park). See
Defensive Driving on page 9 ‑ 3 for
more information on driver
distraction.
To switch the RSE system to use an
auxiliary device:
1. Connect the auxiliary device to
the RSE system, for the second
or third row.
2. Press AUDIO then press AUDIO
again, repeatedly until AUX
(auxiliary) is selected or press the AUX screen button. An
auxiliary device must be
connected for the AUX screen
button to appear as an option to
select.
3. For the second row display
select the Rear AUX screen
button next to Rear Display 1
and for the third row display
select the Rear AUX screen
button next to Rear Display 2.
Each screen works
independently of the other. The
second row screen can watch a
DVD while the third row screen
can use the auxiliary device.
The rear seat passengers can also
use the remote control to change
the functions of the RSE. See the
Rear Seat Infotainment user guide
for more information. Rear Seat
Infotainment Rear Seat Entertainment
(RSE) System (Overhead) The vehicle may have an Overhead
DVD Rear Seat Entertainment
(RSE) system. The RSE system
works with the vehicle's audio
system. The DVD player is part of
the front radio. The RSE system
includes a radio with a DVD player,
a video display screen, and if the
vehicle has a third row seat, it could
have a second video display screen,
audio/video jacks, two wireless
headphones, and a remote control.
See CD/DVD Player on page 7 ‑ 18
for more information on the vehicle's
DVD system.

Black plate (62,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
7-62 Infotainment System
Navigation Using the Navigation
System This section presents basic
information needed to operate the
navigation system.
Use the buttons located on the
navigation system along with the
available touch-sensitive screen
buttons on the navigation screen to
operate the system. See Overview
on page 7 ‑ 4 for more information.
Once the vehicle is moving, various
functions are disabled to reduce
driver distractions.
Navigation Control Buttons
The following control buttons are
located on the navigation system:
O /
n (Power/Volume):
1. Press to turn the system on
and off.
2. Turn to increase or decrease the
volume to the audio system. 3. Press and hold for more than
two seconds to turn off the
navigation system, the Rear
Seat Entertainment (RSE), and
Rear Seat Audio (RSA). If the
vehicle has not been tuned off,
the RSE and the RSA can be
turned back on by pressing this
knob and continues play of the
last active source.
Z (Eject): Press to eject the
CD/DVD Disc. See CD/DVD Player
on page 7 ‑ 18 .
w (Tuning Knob): Turn to go to
the next or previous frequency or
disc track or chapter. See CD/DVD
Player on page 7 ‑ 18 or MP3 on
page 7 ‑ 27 for more information.
AUDIO: Press to display the audio
screen. Press to switch between
AM, FM, or XM, if equipped, DISC,
or AUX (Auxiliary), or press on the
screen button. See CD/DVD Player
on page 7 ‑ 18 , MP3 on page 7 ‑ 27 ,
and Auxiliary Devices on page 7 ‑ 30
for more information. FAV (Favorite): Press to access
the preset stations. See “ Storing
Radio Station Presets ” under,
Overview on page 7 ‑ 4 .
5 (Phone): See OnStar Overview
on page 14 ‑ 1 (if equipped) and
Bluetooth on page 7 ‑ 103 (if
equipped) for more information.
e (Sound): Press to access the
Sound menu to adjust the treble,
midrange, bass, fade, balance, and
Digital Signal Processing (DSP).
y /
z (Scan Up/Down): Press to
scan the tracks/chapters up or down
on a disc.
y /
© or
¨ /
z (Seek/Scan)
(Previous/Next): Press the up or
down arrows to go to the next or
previous station. Press and hold
either arrow for more than
two seconds. The radio goes to a
station, plays for a few seconds,
then goes to the next station.
NAV (Navigation): Press to view
the vehicle's current position on the
map screen. Each press of this

Black plate (103,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
Infotainment System 7-103
Phone Bluetooth For vehicles equipped with
Bluetooth capability, the system can
interact with many cell phones,
allowing: .
Placement and receipt of calls in
a hands-free mode. .
Sharing of the cell phone ’ s
address book or contact list with
the vehicle.
To minimize driver distraction,
before driving, and with the vehicle
parked: .
Become familiar with the
features of the cell phone.
Organize the phone book and
contact lists clearly and delete
duplicate or rarely used entries.
If possible, program speed dial
or other shortcuts. .
Review the controls and
operation of the infotainment
system. .
Pair cell phone(s) to the vehicle.
The system may not work with
all cell phones. See “ Pairing ” in
this section for more information. .
If the cell phone has voice
dialing capability, learn to use
that feature to access the
address book or contact list. See
“ Voice Pass-Thru ” in this section
for more information. .
See “ Storing and Deleting Phone
Numbers ” in this section for
more information.
{ WARNING
When using a cell phone, it can
be distracting to look too long or
too often at the screen of the
phone or the infotainment
(navigation) system. Taking your
eyes off the road too long or too
often could cause a crash
resulting in injury or death. Focus
your attention on driving. 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 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.

Black plate (2,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
9-2 Driving and Operating Fuel Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-51
Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . 9-52
Gasoline Specifications
(U.S. and Canada Only) . . . . 9-52
California Fuel
Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-52
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 9-52
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-53
Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol) . . . . . 9-54
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-55
Filling a Portable Fuel
Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-56
Towing General Towing
Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-57
Driving Characteristics and
Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-57
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-61
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . 9-65
Trailer Sway
Control (TSC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-69
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical
Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-69 Driving Information Distracted Driving Distraction comes in many forms
and can take your focus from the
task of driving. Exercise good
judgment and do not let other
activities divert your attention away
from the road. Many local
governments have enacted laws
regarding driver distraction. Become
familiar with the local laws in
your area.
To avoid distracted driving, always
keep your eyes on the road, hands
on the wheel, and mind on the drive. .
Do not use a phone in
demanding driving situations.
Use a hands-free method to
place or receive necessary
phone calls. .
Watch the road. Do not read,
take notes, or look up
information on phones or other
electronic devices. .
Designate a front seat
passenger to handle potential
distractions. .
Become familiar with vehicle
features before driving, such as
programming favorite radio
stations and adjusting climate
control and seat settings.
Program all trip information into
any navigation device prior to
driving. .
Wait until the vehicle is parked
to retrieve items that have fallen
to the floor. .
Stop or park the vehicle to tend
to children. .
Keep pets in an appropriate
carrier or restraint. .
Avoid stressful conversations
while driving, whether with a
passenger or on a cell phone.

Black plate (5,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
Driving and Operating 9-5
Off-Road Recovery
The vehicle's right wheels can drop
off the edge of a road onto the
shoulder while driving. Follow
these tips:
1. Ease off the accelerator and
then, if there is nothing in the
way, steer the vehicle so that it
straddles the edge of the
pavement.
2. Turn the steering wheel about
one-eighth of a turn, until the
right front tire contacts the
pavement edge. 3. Then turn the steering wheel to
go straight down the roadway.
Loss of Control Skidding There are three types of skids that
correspond to the vehicle's three
control systems: .
Braking Skid — wheels are not
rolling. .
Steering or Cornering
Skid — too much speed or
steering in a curve causes tires
to slip and lose cornering force. .
Acceleration Skid — too much
throttle causes the driving
wheels to spin.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids
by taking reasonable care suited to
existing conditions, and by not
overdriving those conditions. But
skids are always possible. If the vehicle starts to slide, follow
these suggestions: .
Ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and quickly
steer the way you want the
vehicle to go. The vehicle may
straighten out. Be ready for a
second skid if it occurs. .
Slow down and adjust your
driving according to weather
conditions. Stopping distance
can be longer and vehicle
control can be affected when
traction is reduced by water,
snow, ice, gravel, or other
material on the road. 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. .
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.

Black plate (7,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
Driving and Operating 9-7Loading the Vehicle for
Off-Road Driving
{ WARNING .
Unsecured cargo on the load
floor can be tossed about
when driving over rough
terrain. You or your
passengers can be struck by
flying objects. Secure the
cargo properly. .
Keep cargo in the cargo area
as far forward and as low as
possible. The heaviest things
should be on the floor,
forward of the rear axle. .
Heavy loads on the roof raise
the vehicle's center of gravity,
making it more likely to roll
over. You can be seriously or
fatally injured if the vehicle
rolls over. Put heavy loads
inside the cargo area, not on
the roof. For more information about loading
the vehicle, see Vehicle Load Limits
on page 9 ‑ 16 .
Environmental Concerns .
Always use established trails,
roads, and areas that have been
set aside for public off-road
recreational driving and obey all
posted regulations. .
Do not damage shrubs, flowers,
trees, or grasses or disturb
wildlife. .
Do not park over things that
burn. See Parking over Things
That Burn on page 9 ‑ 28 . Driving on Hills Driving safely on hills requires good
judgment and an understanding of
what the vehicle can and cannot do.
{ WARNINGMany hills are simply too steep
for any vehicle. Driving up hills
can cause the vehicle to stall.
Driving down hills can cause loss
of control. Driving across hills can
cause a rollover. You could be
injured or killed. Do not drive on
steep hills.
Before driving on a hill, assess
the steepness, traction, and
obstructions. If the terrain ahead
cannot be seen, get out of the
vehicle and walk the hill before
driving further.

Black plate (10,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
9-10 Driving and Operating Driving in Mud, Sand, Snow,
or Ice Use a low gear when driving in
mud – the deeper the mud, the
lower the gear. Keep the vehicle
moving to avoid getting stuck.
Traction changes when driving on
sand. On loose sand, such as on
beaches or sand dunes, the tires
tend to sink into the sand. This
affects steering, accelerating, and
braking. Drive at a reduced speed
and avoid sharp turns or abrupt
maneuvers.
Traction is reduced on hard packed
snow and ice and it is easy to lose
control. Reduce vehicle speed when
driving on hard packed snow
and ice.
{ WARNING
Driving on frozen lakes, ponds,
or rivers can be dangerous. Ice
conditions vary greatly and the
(Continued) WARNING (Continued) vehicle could fall through the ice;
you and your passengers could
drown. Drive your vehicle on safe
surfaces only.
Driving in Water
{ WARNINGDriving through rushing water can
be dangerous. Deep water can
sweep your vehicle downstream
and you and your passengers
could drown. If it is only shallow
water, it can still wash away the
ground from under your tires.
Traction could be lost, and the
vehicle could roll over. Do not
drive through rushing water. Notice: Do not drive through
standing water if it is deep
enough to cover the wheel hubs,
axles or exhaust pipe. Deep water
can damage the axle and other
vehicle parts.
If the standing water is not too deep,
drive slowly through it. At faster
speeds, water splashes on the
ignition system and the vehicle can
stall. Stalling can also occur if you
get the exhaust pipe under water.
While the exhaust pipe is under
water, you will not be able to start
the engine. When going through
water, the brakes get wet, and it
might take longer to stop. See
Driving on Wet Roads on page 9 ‑ 11 .
After Off-Road Driving
Remove any brush or debris that
has collected on the underbody or
chassis, or under the hood. These
accumulations can be a fire hazard.
After operation in mud or sand,
have the brake linings cleaned and
checked. These substances can
cause glazing and uneven braking.

Black plate (11,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
Driving and Operating 9-11Check the body structure, steering,
suspension, wheels, tires, and
exhaust system for damage and
check the fuel lines and cooling
system for any leakage.
More frequent maintenance service
is required. Refer to the
Maintenance Schedule on
page 11 ‑ 3 for more information.
Driving on Wet Roads Rain and wet roads can reduce
vehicle traction and affect your
ability to stop and accelerate.
Always drive slower in these types
of driving conditions and avoid
driving through large puddles and
deep ‐ standing or flowing 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.
(Continued) WARNING (Continued) 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 the
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 under the vehicle's
tires so they actually ride on the
water. This can happen if the road is
wet enough and you are going fast
enough. When the vehicle is
hydroplaning, 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.
Other Rainy Weather Tips Besides slowing down, other wet
weather driving tips include: .
Allow extra following distance. .
Pass with caution. .
Keep windshield wiping
equipment in good shape. .
Keep the windshield washer fluid
reservoir filled. .
Have good tires with proper
tread depth. See Tires on
page 10 ‑ 46 . .
Turn off cruise control.