Black plate (12,1)Cadillac Escalade Hybrid - 2012
9-12 Driving and Operating If the lights do not come on, you
should take the vehicle to your
dealer for service. An indicator light
will flash while shifting. It will stay on
when the shift is completed. If for
some reason the transfer case
cannot make a requested shift, it will
return to the last chosen setting.
2
m (Two-Wheel Drive High): This
setting is used for driving in most
street and highway situations.
The front axle is not engaged in
two-wheel drive. This setting also
provides the best fuel economy.
AUTO (Automatic Four-Wheel
Drive): This setting is ideal for
use when road surface traction
conditions are variable. When
driving your vehicle in AUTO, the
front axle is engaged, but the
vehicle's power is primarily sent to
the rear wheels. When the vehicle's
software determines a need for
more traction, the system will
transfer more power to the front wheels. Driving in this mode results
in slightly lower fuel economy than
Two-Wheel Drive High.
4
m (Four-Wheel Drive High): Use
the four-wheel high position when
you need extra traction, such as
on snowy or icy roads or in most
off-road situations. This setting also
engages the front axle to help drive
the vehicle. This is the best setting
to use when plowing snow.
4
n (Four-Wheel Drive Low): This
setting also engages the front axle
and delivers extra torque. You may
never need this setting. It sends
maximum power to all four wheels.
You might choose Four-Wheel Drive
Low if you are driving off-road in
deep sand, deep mud, deep snow,
and while climbing or descending
steep hills.
The vehicle has StabiliTrak. Shifting
into Four-Wheel-Drive Low will turn
Traction Control and StabiliTrak off.
See “ StabiliTrak System ” in the
owner manual. { WARNINGShifting the transfer case to
N (Neutral) can cause the vehicle
to roll even if the transmission is
in P (Park). You or someone else
could be seriously injured. Be
sure to set the parking brake
before placing the transfer case in
N (Neutral). See “ Parking Brake ”
in the owner manual for more
information.
N (Neutral): Shift the vehicle's
transfer case to N (Neutral) only
when towing the vehicle. See
“ Recreational Vehicle Towing ” or
“ Towing Your Vehicle ” in the owner
manual.
If the SERVICE 4 WHEEL DRIVE
message stays on, you should
take the vehicle to your dealer
for service. See Transmission
Messages on page 5 ‑ 7 .
Black plate (14,1)Cadillac Escalade Hybrid - 2012
9-14 Driving and Operating The preferred method for shifting
out of Four-Wheel Drive Low is to
have your vehicle moving 1.6 to
3.2 km/h (1 to 2 mph). Turn the knob
to the Four-Wheel Drive High,
AUTO, or Two-Wheel Drive High
position. You must wait for the
Four-Wheel Drive High, AUTO,
or Two-Wheel Drive High indicator
light to stop flashing and remain on
before shifting the transmission
into gear.
Notice: Shifting the transmission
into gear before the requested
mode indicator light has stopped
flashing could damage the
transfer case. To help avoid
damaging the vehicle, always wait
for the mode indicator lights to
stop flashing before shifting the
transmission into gear.
The vehicle may have significant
engagement noise and bump when
shifting between Four-Wheel Drive
Low and Four-Wheel Drive High
ranges or from N (Neutral) while the
engine is running. If the knob is turned to the
Four-Wheel Drive High, AUTO,
or Two-Wheel Drive High switch
position when the vehicle is in gear
and/or moving more than 5 km/h
(3 mph), the Four-Wheel Drive
High, AUTO or Two-Wheel Drive
High indicator light will flash for
30 seconds but will not complete the
shift.
Shifting into Neutral
To shift the transfer case into
N (Neutral):
1. Make sure the vehicle is parked
so that it will not roll.
2. Set the parking brake and apply
the regular brake pedal. See
“ Parking Brake ” in the owner
manual.
3. Start the vehicle or turn the
ignition to ON/RUN.
4. Put the transmission in
N (Neutral).
5. Shift the transfer case to
Two-Wheel Drive High. 6. Turn the transfer case dial
clockwise to N (Neutral) until
it stops and hold it there until
the N (Neutral) light starts
blinking. This will take at least
10 seconds. Then slowly release
the dial to the Four ‐ Wheel Drive
Low position. The N (Neutral)
light will come on when the
transfer case shift to N (Neutral)
is complete.
7. If the engine is running, verify
that the transfer case is in
N (Neutral) by shifting the
transmission to R (Reverse)
for one second, then shift the
transmission to D (Drive) for
one second.
8. Turn the ignition to ACC/
ACCESSORY, which will turn
the engine off.
9. Place the transmission shift
lever in P (Park).
10. Release the parking brake prior
to moving the vehicle.
11. Turn the ignition to LOCK/OFF.
Black plate (5,1)Cadillac Escalade Hybrid - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-5A. See “ Engine Air Cleaner/Filter ”
in the owner manual.
B. Drive Motor/Generator Control
Module (DMCM). See Drive
Motor/Generator Control
Module (DMCM) Cooling
System on page 10 ‑ 8 .
C. Engine Oil Dipstick (Out of
View). See “ Engine Oil ” in the
owner manual.
D. Automatic Transmission Fluid
Dipstick. See Automatic
Transmission Fluid on
page 10 ‑ 5 .
E. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See
“ Brakes ” in the owner manual.
F. See “ Engine Compartment Fuse
Block ” under Electrical System
in the owner manual.
G. Windshield Washer Fluid
Reservoir. See “ Washer Fluid ”
in the owner manual.
H. Hybrid Auxiliary Fuse Block
(Out of View). See Engine
Compartment Fuse Block on
page 10 ‑ 14 . I. DMCM Coolant Surge Tank
Pressure Cap. See Drive Motor/
Generator Control Module
(DMCM) Coolant Surge Tank
Pressure Cap on page 10 ‑ 8 .
J. Engine Coolant Surge Tank
Pressure Cap. See “ Engine
Coolant ” in the owner manual.
K. Engine Oil Fill Cap (Out of
View). See “ Engine Oil ” in the
owner manual.
Automatic Transmission
Fluid When to Check and Change
Automatic Transmission Fluid It is usually not necessary to
check the transmission fluid level.
The only reason for fluid loss is a
transmission leak or overheating
the transmission. If a small leak is
suspected, then use the following checking procedures to check the
fluid level. However, if there is a
large leak, then it may be necessary
to have the vehicle towed to a
dealer and have it repaired before
driving the vehicle further.
Notice: Use of the incorrect
automatic transmission fluid
may damage the vehicle, and the
damages may not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Always use
the automatic transmission fluid
listed in Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 11 ‑ 2 .
Change the fluid and filter at the
scheduled maintenance intervals.
See “ Scheduled Maintenance ” in
the owner manual. Be sure to use
the transmission fluid listed in
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11 ‑ 2 .
Black plate (30,1)Cadillac Escalade Hybrid - 2012
10-30 Vehicle Care If the vehicle's 12 ‐ volt battery has
run down, you may want to use
another vehicle and some jumper
cables to start your vehicle. Use the
following steps to do it safely.
{ WARNINGBatteries can hurt you. They can
be dangerous because: .
They contain acid that can
burn you. .
They contain gas that can
explode or ignite. .
They contain enough
electricity to burn you.
If you do not follow these steps
exactly, some or all of these
things can hurt you.
Notice: Ignoring these steps
could result in costly damage to
the vehicle that would not be
covered by the warranty. Trying to start the vehicle by
pushing or pulling it will not
work, and it could damage the
vehicle.
1. Check the other vehicle. It must
have a 12 ‐ volt battery with a
negative ground system.
Notice: Only use a vehicle that
has a 12-volt system with a
negative ground for jump
starting. If the other vehicle does
not have a 12-volt system with a
negative ground, both vehicles
can be damaged.
2. Get the vehicles close enough
so the jumper cables can reach,
but be sure the vehicles are not
touching each other. It could
cause a ground connection you
do not want. You would not be
able to start your vehicle, and
the bad grounding could damage
the electrical systems.
To avoid the possibility of the
vehicles rolling, set the parking
brake firmly on both vehicles
involved in the jump start procedure. Put the automatic
transmission in P (Park) or
a manual transmission in
N (Neutral) before setting the
parking brake. If you have a
four-wheel-drive vehicle, be sure
the transfer case is in a drive
gear, not in N (Neutral).
Notice: If any accessories are left
on or plugged in during the jump
starting procedure, they could be
damaged. The repairs would
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Whenever possible,
turn off or unplug all accessories
on either vehicle when jump
starting the vehicle.
3. Turn off the ignition on both
vehicles. Unplug unnecessary
accessories plugged into the
cigarette lighter or the accessory
power outlets. Turn off the radio
and all the lamps that are not
needed.
This avoids sparks and helps
save both batteries. It could
save the radio!
Black plate (35,1)Cadillac Escalade Hybrid - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-35Two-wheel drive vehicles should
not be towed with the rear wheels
on the ground. Two-wheel drive
transmissions have no provisions
for internal lubrication while being
towed.
To dolly tow a two ‐ wheel ‐ drive
vehicle, the vehicle must be towed
with the rear wheels on the dolly.
See “ Rear Towing (Rear Wheels Off
the Ground) ” later in this section for
more information. Four-Wheel Drive Vehicles
Use the following procedure to dolly
tow a four-wheel drive vehicle from
the front:
1. Attach the dolly to the tow
vehicle following the dolly
manufacturer's instructions.
2. Drive the front wheels onto the
dolly.
3. Shift the transmission to
P (Park).
4. Firmly set the parking brake.
See “ Parking Brake ” in the
owner manual.{ WARNINGShifting a four-wheel-drive
vehicle's transfer case into
N (Neutral) can cause the vehicle
to roll even if the transmission is
in P (Park). The driver or others
could be injured. Make sure the
parking brake is firmly set before
the transfer case is shifted to
N (Neutral).
5. Shift the transfer case to
N (Neutral). See “ Shifting into
N (Neutral) ” under Four-Wheel
Drive on page 9 ‑ 11 .
6. Secure the vehicle to the dolly
following the manufacturer's
instructions.
7. Release the parking brake only
after the vehicle being towed is
firmly attached to the towing
vehicle.
8. Turn the ignition to LOCK/OFF.
Black plate (36,1)Cadillac Escalade Hybrid - 2012
10-36 Vehicle Care After towing, see “ Shifting Out of
N (Neutral) ” under Four-Wheel Drive
on page 9 ‑ 11 .
Dolly Towing – Rear Towing
(Rear Wheels Off the Ground)
Two ‐ Wheel Drive Vehicles
Use the following procedure to dolly
tow a two-wheel drive vehicle from
the rear:
1. Attach the dolly to the tow
vehicle following the dolly
manufacturer's instructions. 2. Drive the rear wheels onto the
dolly.
3. Firmly set the parking brake.
See “ Parking Brake ” in the
owner manual.
4. Put the transmission in P (Park).
5. Secure the vehicle to the dolly
following the manufacturer's
instructions.
6. Use an adequate clamping
device designed for towing to
ensure that the front wheels are
locked into the straight position.
7. Turn the ignition to LOCK/OFF. Four ‐ Wheel ‐ Drive Vehicles
Use the following procedure to dolly
tow a four-wheel-drive vehicle from
the rear:
1. Attach the dolly to the tow
vehicle following the dolly
manufacturer's instructions.
2. Drive the rear wheels onto the
dolly.
3. Firmly set the parking brake.
See “ Parking Brake ” in the
owner manual.
4. Put the transmission in P (Park).
5. Secure the vehicle to the dolly
following the manufacturer's
instructions.
6. Use an adequate clamping
device designed for towing to
ensure that the front wheels are
locked into the straight position.
Black plate (1,1)Cadillac Escalade Hybrid - 2012
INDEX i-1
AAppearance Care
Exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-37
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . 9-7
Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-5
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-10
BBattery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-11
Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-29
Voltage and Charging
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6
Brakes
Regenerative Braking . . . . . . . . . 9-15
System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6 C Canadian Vehicle Owners . . . . . . . . . ii
Capacities and
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-2
Charging System Light . . . . . . . . . 5-4
Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-13
Cleaning
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-37
Climate Control Systems . . . . . . . 8-1
Air Conditioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1
Heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1
Cluster, Instrument . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Compressor Kit, Tire
Sealant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-22
Coolant Surge Tank
Pressure Cap, (DMCM) . . . . . . 10-8
Cooling System, (DMCM) . . . . . . 10-8 D Door
Ajar Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6
Drive Belt Routing, Engine . . . . . 12-3
Drive Motor/Generator
Control Module (DMCM)
Coolant Surge Tank
Pressure Cap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-8
Drive Motor/Generator
Control Module (DMCM)
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-8
Driver Information
Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5
Black plate (3,1)Cadillac Escalade Hybrid - 2012
INDEX i-3
MMaintenance Schedule
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-2
Transfer Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-11
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-10
Messages
Battery Voltage and
Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6
Brake System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6
Door Ajar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7
Service Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5
OOil
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7
Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4 P Park
Shifting into . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
R Rear Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-2
Recreational Vehicle
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-33
Regenerative Braking . . . . . . . . . . 9-15
Replacement Parts
Airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1
Replacing Airbag System . . . . . . . 3-1
Rotation, Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-20
Routing, Engine Drive Belt . . . . . 12-3
Running the Vehicle While
Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-7 S Sealant Kit, Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-22
Service
Doing Your Own Work . . . . . . . . 10-2
Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7
Shifting
Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Specifications and
Capacities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-2
Starting the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-1
Storage
Rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Storing the Tire Sealant
and Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . 10-29
Supplement
Using . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii
System
Infotainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1