Black plate (1,1)Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
2012 Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner ManualM
In Brief. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
Instrument Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Initial Drive Information . . . . . . . . 1-4
Vehicle Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
Performance and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-19
Keys, Doors, and Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
Keys and Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
Vehicle Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-16
Exterior Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-19
Interior Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-21
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-22
Roof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-25
Seats and Restraints . . . . . . . . . 3-1
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8
Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10
Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-19
Child Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-33 Storage
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Storage Compartments . . . . . . . . 4-1
Luggage/Load Locations . . . . . . . 4-2
Additional Storage Features . . . 4-5
Roof Rack System . . . . . . . . . . . 4-12
Instruments and Controls . . . . 5-1
Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Warning Lights, Gauges, and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9
Information Displays . . . . . . . . . . 5-23
Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-28
Vehicle Personalization . . . . . . . 5-36
Universal Remote System . . . . 5-44
Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Exterior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Interior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-9
Lighting Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-10
Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-9
Audio Players . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-18 Rear Seat Infotainment . . . . . . . 7-31
Navigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-42
Voice Recognition . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-79
Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-81
Climate Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1
Climate Control Systems . . . . . . 8-1
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-6
Driving and Operating . . . . . . . . 9-1
Driving Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Starting and Operating . . . . . . . 9-23
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-30
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 9-31
Drive Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-36
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-36
Ride Control Systems . . . . . . . . 9-39
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-43
Object Detection Systems . . . . 9-45
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-50
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-57
Conversions and Add-Ons . . . 9-67
Black plate (5,1)Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Introduction v
Vehicle 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
}: 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 EXT Owner Manual - 2012
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
Midgate
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Tailgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Memory Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8
Second Row Seats . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9
Heated and Ventilated Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9
Head Restraint Adjustment . . . . 1-9 Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9
Passenger Sensing
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Mirror Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11
Throttle and Brake Pedal Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11
Interior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12
Exterior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . 1-13
Climate Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14
Vehicle Features
Satellite Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
Portable Audio Devices . . . . . . 1-15
Bluetooth
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
Mobile Apps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . 1-16
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
Navigation System . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17 Driver Information
Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-18
Ultrasonic Parking Assist . . . . 1-18
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-19
Universal Remote System . . . 1-19
Performance and Maintenance
StabiliTrak®System . . . . . . . . . 1-19
Tire Pressure Monitor . . . . . . . . 1-20
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . 1-20
Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol) . . . . . 1-20
Driving for Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-21
Roadside Service . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-21
OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-21
Black plate (15,1)Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
In Brief 1-15
This is the highest attainable
range with all lower gears
accessible. As an example,
when 5 (Fifth) gear is selected,
1 (First) through 5 (Fifth) gears
are available.
2. Press the plus/minus buttons, located on the steering column
shift lever, to select the desired
range of gears for current driving
conditions. See Manual Mode on
page 9‑34.
While using DSC, cruise control and
the tow/haul mode can be used.
Grade Braking is not available when
DSC is active. See Tow/Haul Mode
on page 9‑35.Vehicle Features
Satellite Radio
XM is a satellite radio service that is
based in the 48 contiguous United
States and 10 Canadian provinces.
XM satellite radio has a wide
variety of programming and
commercial-free music, coast to
coast, and in digital-quality sound.
A fee is required to receive the XM
service.
For more information, refer to:
.www.xmradio.com or call
1-800-929-2100 (U.S.)
.www.xmradio.ca or call
1-877-438-9677 (Canada)
Also, see Satellite Radio on
page 7‑16.
Portable Audio Devices
This vehicle has an auxiliary input,
located on the audio faceplate,
and a USB port located on the
instrument panel or in the center console. External devices such
as iPod
®, laptop computers,
MP3 players, CD changers, USB
storage device, etc. can be
connected to the auxiliary port using
a 3.5 mm (1/8 in) input jack or the
USB port depending on the audio
system.
See Auxiliary Devices on page 7‑30
or CD/DVD Player on page 7‑18 for
further information.
Bluetooth®
For vehicles with a Bluetooth
system, it allows users with a
Bluetooth‐enabled cell phone to
make and receive hands-free calls
using the vehicle’ s audio system
and controls.
The Bluetooth‐enabled cell phone
must be paired with the Bluetooth
system before it can be used in the
vehicle. Not all phones will support
all functions. For more information,
visit www.gm.com/bluetooth.
For more information, see Bluetooth
on page 7‑81.
Black plate (16,1)Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
1-16 In Brief
Mobile Apps
Mobile apps are available for
download through iTunes®to then
access the iPhone®App Store and
Google™ Marketplace for
Android™. Search for the apps to
download. The apps are free of
charge; however, the myCadillac
app requires the user to link their
own vehicle and OnStar MyLink
requires an active OnStar
subscription.
Steering Wheel Controls
If available, some audio controls
can be adjusted at the steering
wheel.
w: Press to go to the next favorite
radio station, track on a CD,
or folder on an iPod
®or USB
device.
c/x: Press to go to the
previous favorite radio station, track
on a CD, or folder on an iPod
®or
USB device. Press to reject an
incoming call, or to end a call.
b/g: Press to silence the vehicle
speakers only. Press again to turn
the sound on. Press and hold longer
than two seconds to interact with
OnStar
®or Bluetooth systems,
if equipped.
+
e: Press to increase volume.
−
e: Press to decrease volume.
SRCE: Press to switch between
the radio and CD, and for equipped
vehicles, the DVD, front auxiliary,
and rear auxiliary.
¨: Press to seek the next radio
station, the next track or chapter
while sourced to the CD or DVD
slot, or to select tracks and folders
on an iPod or USB device.
For more information, see Steering
Wheel Controls on page 5‑2.
Black plate (2,1)Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
5-2 Instruments and Controls
Airbag System Messages . . . . 5-34
Anti-theft Alarm SystemMessages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-34
Tire Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-34
Transmission Messages . . . . . 5-35
Vehicle Reminder Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-35
Washer Fluid Messages . . . . . 5-35
Vehicle Personalization
Vehicle Personalization . . . . . . 5-36
Universal Remote System
Universal Remote System . . . 5-44
Universal Remote System Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-44
Universal Remote System Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-49
Controls
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 5‑36.
Steering Wheel Controls
If equipped, some audio controls
can be adjusted at the steering
wheel.
w(Next) : Press to go to the next
favorite radio station, track on a CD,
or folder on an iPod
®or USB
device.
c/x(Previous/End): Press to
go to the previous favorite radio
station, track on a CD, or folder on
an iPod
®or USB device. Press to
reject an incoming call, or end a
current call.
Black plate (3,1)Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-3
Radio
To select preset or favorite radio
stations:
Press and release
worc/xto
go to the next or previous radio
station stored as a preset or
favorite.
CD/DVD
To select tracks on a CD/DVD:
Press and release
worc/xto
go to the next or previous track.
Navigating an iPod or USB Device
on the Main Audio Screen
1. Press and release
worc/x
to select the next or previous
track within the selected
category.
2. Press and hold
worc/xto
move quickly through the tracks.
3. Press and release
¨to move up
one track within the selected
category. Navigating an iPod or USB Device
on the Music Navigator Screen
1. Press and release
worc/x
to select the next or previous
track within the selected
category.
2. Press and hold
worc/xto
move quickly through the tracks
within the selected category.
3. Press and release
¨to move up
one track within the selected
category.
b/g(Mute/Push to Talk): Press
to silence the vehicle speakers only.
Press again to turn the sound on.
For vehicles with Bluetooth or
OnStar systems, press and hold for
longer than two seconds to interact
with those systems. See Bluetooth
on page 7‑81 andOnStar Overview
on page 14‑1 for more information. SRCE (Source/Voice
Recognition):
Press to switch
between the radio and CD, and for
equipped vehicles, the DVD, front
auxiliary, and rear auxiliary.
Press and hold this button for longer
than one second to initiate voice
recognition. See Voice Recognition
on page 7‑79 for more information.
¨(Seek):Press to go to the next
radio station while in AM,
FM, or XM™.
Press
¨to go to the next track or
chapter while sourced to the CD or
DVD slot.
Press
¨to select a track or a folder
when navigating folders on an iPod
or USB device.
Black plate (28,1)Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
5-28 Instruments and Controls
Vehicle Messages
Messages displayed on the DIC
indicate the status of the vehicle or
some action may be needed to
correct a condition. Multiple
messages may appear one after
another.
The messages that do not require
immediate action can be
acknowledge and cleared by
pressing any DIC button.
The messages that require
immediate action cannot be cleared
until that action is performed.
All messages should be taken
seriously and clearing the message
does not correct the problem.
The following are the possible
messages and some information
about them.
Battery Voltage and
Charging Messages
BATTERY LOW START
VEHICLE
When the vehicle’s battery is
severely discharged, this message
will display and four chimes
will sound. Start the vehicle
immediately. If the vehicle is not
started and the battery continues to
discharge, the climate controls,
heated seats, and audio systems
will shut off and the vehicle may
require a jump start. These systems
will function again after the vehicle
is started.
SERVICE BATTERY
CHARGING SYSTEM
On some vehicles, this message
displays if there is a problem with
the battery charging system. Under
certain conditions, the charging
system light may also turn on in the
instrument panel cluster. See
Charging System Light on
page 5‑15. Driving with this problem could drain the battery.
Turn off all unnecessary
accessories. Have the electrical
system checked as soon as
possible. See your dealer.
Brake System Messages
SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM
This message displays along with
the brake system warning light if
there is a problem with the brake
system. See
Brake System Warning
Light on page 5‑18. If this message
appears, stop as soon as possible
and turn off the vehicle. Restart the
vehicle and check for the message
on the DIC display. If the message
is still displayed or appears again
when you begin driving, the brake
system needs service as soon as
possible. See your dealer.
SERVICE BRAKES SOON
This message displays if there is a
problem with the brake system.
If this message appears, stop as
soon as possible and turn off the