2012 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV brake

Black plate (2,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
2012 Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual MDriving and Operating . . . . . . . . 9-1
Driving Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Starting and Operating . . . . . . . 9-21
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-29
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 9-30
Drive Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-34
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-35
Ride Control Systems . . . . . . . . 9-37
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-41
Object Detection Systems . . . . 9-44
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-51
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-57
Conversions and Add-Ons . . . 9-69
Vehicle Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-1
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
Vehicle Checks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-4
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . 10-33 Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-35
Electrical System . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-38
Wheels and Tires . . . . . . . . . . . 10-46
Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-88
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-93
Appearance Care . . . . . . . . . . . 10-96
Service and Maintenance . . . 11-1
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 11-1
Cadillac Premium Care
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-3
Maintenance Schedule . . . . . . . 11-3
Special Application
Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-9
Additional Maintenance
and Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-9
Recommended Fluids,
Lubricants, and Parts . . . . . . 11-13
Maintenance Records . . . . . . . 11-16 Technical Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-1
Vehicle Identification . . . . . . . . . 12-1
Vehicle Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-2
Customer Information . . . . . . . 13-1
Customer Information . . . . . . . . 13-1
Reporting Safety Defects . . . . 13-18
Vehicle Data Recording and
Privacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-19
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-1
OnStar Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-1
OnStar Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-2
OnStar Additional
Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-5
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i-1

Black plate (5,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
Introduction vVehicle Symbol Chart
Here are some additional symbols
that may be found on the vehicle
and what they mean. For more
information on the symbol, refer to
the Index.
0 : Adjustable Pedals
9 : Airbag Readiness Light
# : Air Conditioning
! : Antilock Brake System (ABS)
% : Audio Steering Wheel Controls
or OnStar®
$ : Brake System Warning Light
" : Charging System I : Cruise Control
B : Engine Coolant Temperature
O : Exterior Lamps
# : Fog Lamps
. : Fuel Gauge
+ : Fuses
3 : Headlamp High/Low-Beam
Changer
( : Heated Steering Wheel
j : LATCH System Child
Restraints
* : Malfunction Indicator Lamp
: : Oil Pressure g : Outside Power Foldaway
Mirrors
O : Power
/ : Remote Vehicle Start
> : Safety Belt Reminders
7 : Tire Pressure Monitor
_ : Tow/Haul Mode
d : Traction Control/StabiliTrak®
M : Windshield Washer Fluid

Black plate (1,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
In Brief 1-1
In Brief Instrument Panel Instrument Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Initial Drive Information Initial Drive Information . . . . . . . . 1-4
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Remote Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Liftgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8
Memory Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9
Second Row Seats . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Third Row Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Heated and Ventilated
Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Head Restraint
Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11
Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11
Passenger Sensing
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12
Mirror Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12
Steering Wheel
Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14 Throttle and Brake Pedal
Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14
Interior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14
Exterior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . 1-16
Climate Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
Vehicle Features Radio(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-18
Satellite Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-18
Portable Audio Devices . . . . . . 1-18
Bluetooth ®
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-18
Mobile Apps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-19
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . 1-19
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-20
Navigation System . . . . . . . . . . . 1-20
Driver Information
Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-20
Side Blind Zone
Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-21
Rear Vision
Camera (RVC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-22
Ultrasonic Parking Assist . . . . 1-22
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-22
Universal Remote System . . . 1-22
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-23 Performance and Maintenance StabiliTrak ®
System . . . . . . . . . 1-24
Tire Pressure Monitor . . . . . . . . 1-24
Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-24
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . 1-25
Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol) . . . . . 1-25
Driving for Better Fuel
Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-25
Roadside Service . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-26
OnStar ®
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-26

Black plate (3,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
In Brief 1-3A. Air Vents on page 8 ‑ 7 .
B. Turn and Lane ‐ Change Lever.
See Turn and Lane-Change
Signals on page 6 ‑ 7 .
Windshield Wiper/Washer on
page 5 ‑ 4 .
C. Instrument Cluster on
page 5 ‑ 11 .
D. Hazard Warning Flashers on
page 6 ‑ 7 .
E. Shift Lever. See Automatic
Transmission on page 9 ‑ 30 .
Driver Shift Control (DSC).
See Manual Mode on
page 9 ‑ 33 .
F. Tow/Haul Mode on page 9 ‑ 33 .
G. Driver Information Center (DIC)
Buttons. See Driver Information
Center (DIC) on page 5 ‑ 23 .
H. Clock on page 5 ‑ 7 . I. Infotainment on page 7 ‑ 2 .
J. StabiliTrak ®
System on
page 9 ‑ 37 .
Rear Park Aid Disable Button.
See Ultrasonic Parking Assist
on page 9 ‑ 44 .
K. Steering Wheel Adjustment on
page 5 ‑ 2 .
L. Exterior Lamp Controls on
page 6 ‑ 1 .
M. Dome Lamp Override.
See Dome Lamps on page 6 ‑ 9 .
Instrument Panel Illumination
Control on page 6 ‑ 8 .
Fog Lamps on page 6 ‑ 8 .
N. Data Link Connector (DLC)
(Out of View). See Malfunction
Indicator Lamp on page 5 ‑ 16 .
O. Automatic Transfer Case
Control (Hybrid only). See the
hybrid supplement for more
information. P. Cruise Control on page 9 ‑ 41 .
Heated Steering Wheel on
page 5 ‑ 4 (If Equipped).
Q. Horn on page 5 ‑ 4 .
R. Steering Wheel Controls on
page 5 ‑ 2 .
S. Dual Automatic Climate Control
System on page 8 ‑ 1 .
T. Pedal Adjust Button. See
Adjustable Throttle and Brake
Pedal on page 9 ‑ 22 .
Power Assist Steps on
page 2 ‑ 12 (If Equipped).

Black plate (9,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
In Brief 1-9
Memory Features
The controls on the driver door are
used to program and recall memory
settings for the driver seat, outside
mirrors, power steering column, and
the adjustable throttle and brake
pedals. Storing Memory Positions
To save into memory:
1. Adjust the driver seat, including
the seatback recliner and
lumbar, both outside mirrors,
power steering column, and the
throttle and brake pedals.
See Power Mirrors on
page 2 ‑ 16 , Steering Wheel
Adjustment on page 5 ‑ 2 , and
Adjustable Throttle and Brake
Pedal on page 9 ‑ 22 .
Not all mirrors and adjustable
throttles and brake pedals will
have the ability to save and
recall their positions.
2. Press and hold “ 1 ” until
two beeps sound.
3. Repeat for a second driver
position using “ 2. ” To recall, press and release “ 1 ”
or “ 2. ” The vehicle must be in
P (Park). A single beep will sound.
The seat, outside mirrors, steering
column, and adjustable throttle and
brake pedals will move to the
positions previously stored for the
identified driver.
See Memory Seats on page 3 ‑ 5
and Vehicle Personalization on
page 5 ‑ 38 .
Easy Exit Positions
This feature can move the driver
seat rearward and the power
steering column up and forward to
allow extra room to exit the vehicle.
B : Press to recall the easy exit
positions. The vehicle must be
in P (Park).
See Memory Seats on page 3 ‑ 5
and Vehicle Personalization on
page 5 ‑ 38 .

Black plate (14,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
1-14 In Brief
Steering Wheel
Adjustment
Push the control up or down to tilt
the steering wheel up or down.
To set the memory position,
see Vehicle Personalization on
page 5 ‑ 38 . Throttle and Brake Pedal
Adjustment The vehicle has adjustable throttle
and brake pedals that allow you to
change their positions.
The switch used to adjust the
pedals is located on the center
console below the climate control
system.
Press the right and left arrows to
move the pedals either closer or
further from your body.
See Adjustable Throttle and Brake
Pedal on page 9 ‑ 22 .Interior Lighting Dome Lamps
The dome lamps are located in the
overhead console.
They come on when any door is
opened and turn off after all the
doors are closed.
Turn the instrument panel
brightness knob located below
the dome lamp override button,
clockwise to the farthest position to
manually turn on the dome lamps.
The dome lamps remain on until the
knob is turned counterclockwise.

Black plate (25,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
In Brief 1-25
Engine Oil Life System The engine oil life system calculates
engine oil life based on vehicle use
and displays a DIC message when
it is necessary to change the engine
oil and filter. The oil life system
should be reset to 100% only
following an oil change.
Resetting the Oil Life System
1. Display OIL LIFE REMAINING
on the DIC.
2. Press and hold the SET/RESET
button on the DIC for more than
five seconds. The oil life will
change to 100%.
See Engine Oil Life System on
page 10 ‑ 9 . Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol) Vehicles that have a FlexFuel badge
and a yellow fuel cap can use either
unleaded gasoline or ethanol fuel
containing up to 85% ethanol (E85).
See Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol) on
page 9 ‑ 54 . For all other vehicles,
use only the unleaded gasoline
described under Recommended
Fuel on page 9 ‑ 52 .
Driving for Better Fuel
Economy Driving habits can affect fuel
mileage. Here are some driving tips
to get the best fuel economy
possible. .
Avoid fast starts and accelerate
smoothly. .
Brake gradually and avoid
abrupt stops. .
Avoid idling the engine for long
periods of time. .
When road and weather
conditions are appropriate,
use cruise control. .
Always follow posted speed
limits or drive more slowly when
conditions require. .
Keep vehicle tires properly
inflated. .
Combine several trips into a
single trip. .
Replace the vehicle's tires with
the same TPC Spec number
molded into the tire's sidewall
near the size. .
Follow recommended scheduled
maintenance.

Black plate (5,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
Seats and Restraints 3-5
Memory Seats
The controls on the driver door are
used to program and recall memory
settings for the driver seat, outside
mirrors, power steering column, and
the adjustable throttle and brake
pedals. Storing Memory Positions
To save into memory:
1. Adjust the driver seat, including
the seatback recliner and
lumbar, both outside mirrors,
power steering column, and the
throttle and brake pedals.
See Power Mirrors on
page 2 ‑ 16 , Steering Wheel
Adjustment on page 5 ‑ 2 , and
Adjustable Throttle and Brake
Pedal on page 9 ‑ 22 .
Not all mirrors and adjustable
throttles and brake pedals will
have the ability to save and
recall their positions.
2. Press and hold “ 1 ” until
two beeps sound.
3. Repeat for a second driver
position using “ 2. ” To recall, press and release “ 1 ” or
“ 2. ” The vehicle must be in P (Park).
A single beep will sound. The seat,
outside mirrors, power steering
column, and adjustable throttle and
brake pedals will move to the
positions previously stored for the
identified driver.
Memory Remote Recall
The memory feature can recall the
driver seat, outside mirrors, power
steering column, and pedals to
stored positions when entering the
vehicle.
To activate, unlock the driver
door with the Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) transmitter. The driver
seat, outside mirrors, power steering
column, and adjustable pedals will
move to the memory positions
associated with the transmitter used
to unlock the vehicle.