
Black plate (47,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-47
This system provides a way to
replace up to three remote control
transmitters used to activate
devices such as garage door
openers, security systems, and
home automation devices.
Do not use this system with any
garage door opener that does not
have the stop and reverse feature.
This includes any garage door
opener model manufactured before
April 1, 1982.
Read the instructions completely
before attempting to program the
transmitter. Because of the steps
involved, it may be helpful to have
another person assist with
programming the transmitter.
Be sure to keep the original remote
control transmitter for use in other
vehicles, as well as for future
programming. Only the original
remote control transmitter is needed
for Fixed Code programming.
The programmed buttons should
be erased when the vehicle is soldor the lease ends. See
“Erasing
Universal Home Remote Buttons” in
this section.
Park the vehicle outside of the
garage when programming a garage
door. Be sure that people and
objects are clear of the garage door
or gate that is being programmed.
Programming Universal Home
Remote —Rolling Code
For questions or help programming
the Universal Home Remote
System, call 1-866-572-2728 or go
to www.learcar2u.com.
Most garage door openers sold
after 1996 are Rolling Code units.
Programming a garage door opener
involves time-sensitive actions, so
read the entire procedure before
starting. Otherwise, the device will
time out and the procedure will have
to be repeated.
To program up to three devices:
1. From inside the vehicle,
press the two outside buttons
at the same time for one to
two seconds, and immediately
release them.
2. In the garage, locate the
garage door opener receiver
(motor-head unit). Find the
“Learn” or“Smart” button.

Black plate (100,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012
7-100 Infotainment System
Radio help:Instructs the system to
assist with radio commands.
CD Commands
The following are CD, MP3, and
DVD commands that can be
accessed by clearly stating the
commands exactly as they are
written.
CD, DVD, Disc: Use this command
to select a CD, DVD, or disc that is
currently loaded.
CD, DVD, Disc, [select] track
(one, two, three, etc.): Instructs
the system to select a specific track
number.
CD, DVD, Disc select next
folder: Use this command to
select the next folder on the MP3 or
audio DVD. CD, DVD, Disc select previous
folder:
Use this command to select
the previous folder on the MP3 or
audio DVD.
CD help, DVD help, Disc help:
Instructs the system to assist with
CD and DVD commands.
Auxiliary Commands
The following auxiliary commands
can be accessed by clearly stating
the commands exactly as they
are written. The commands are
available when the auxiliary source
is available.
Aux, Auxiliary: Use this command
to select the auxiliary device, when
a device is connected.
Voice Help
Provides a description of help
commands that can be used.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.

Black plate (1,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012
Driving and Operating 9-1
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . 9-10
Highway Hypnosis . . . . . . . . . . . 9-11
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 9-12
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-12
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 9-14
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . 9-15
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . 9-21
Adjustable Throttle and BrakePedal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-21
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-22
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . 9-23
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-24 Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-25
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-26
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . 9-27
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-27
Active Fuel Management
®. . . 9-27
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-28
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-29
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . 9-29
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-32
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-33
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-34
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-34
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-35
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-36
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . 9-36
Ride Control Systems
StabiliTrak®System . . . . . . . . . 9-37
Locking Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . 9-39
Road Sensing Suspension . . . 9-39
Continuous Damping Control (CDC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-40
Automatic Level Control . . . . . 9-40
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-41
Object Detection Systems
Ultrasonic Parking Assist . . . . 9-43
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-45
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-47
Fuel
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-51
Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . 9-51
Gasoline Specifications (U.S.and Canada Only) . . . . . . . . . . 9-52
California Fuel Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-52
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 9-52
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-52

Black plate (22,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012
9-22 Driving and Operating
Ignition Positions
The ignition switch has four different
positions.
To shift out of P (Park), the ignition
must be in ON/RUN or ACC/
ACCESSORY and the regular brake
pedal must be applied.
A (STOPPING THE ENGINE/
LOCK/OFF):When the vehicle is
stopped, turn the ignition switch to
LOCK/OFF to turn the engine off.
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) will remain active. See
Retained
Accessory Power (RAP) on
page 9‑25.
This position locks the ignition.
It may also lock the steering wheel
and automatic transmission. The
key can be removed in LOCK/OFF.
Do not turn the engine off when the
vehicle is moving. This will cause a
loss of power assist in the brake
and steering systems and disable
the airbags.
If the vehicle must be shut off In an
emergency:
1. Brake using a firm and steady
pressure. Do not pump the
brakes repeatedly. This may
deplete power assist, requiring
increased brake pedal force.
2. Shift the vehicle to N (Neutral). This can be done while the
vehicle is moving. After shifting
to N (Neutral), firmly apply the
brakes and steer the vehicle to a
safe location. 3. Come to a complete stop, shift
to P (Park), and turn the ignition
to LOCK/OFF. On vehicles with
an automatic transmission, the
shift lever must be in P (Park) to
turn the ignition switch to the
LOCK/OFF position.
4. Set the parking brake. See Parking Brake on page 9‑35.
{WARNING
Turning off the vehicle while
moving may cause loss of power
assist in the brake and steering
systems and disable the airbags.
While driving, only shut the
vehicle off in an emergency.
If the vehicle cannot be pulled over,
and must be shut off while driving,
turn the ignition to ACC/
ACCESSORY.
The steering may bind with the
wheels turned off center. If this
happens, move the steering wheel
from right to left while turning the

Black plate (43,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012
Driving and Operating 9-43
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well the cruise control works
on hills depends on the vehicle
speed, the load, and the steepness
of the hills. When going up steep
hills, pressing the accelerator pedal
may be necessary to maintain
vehicle speed.
While going downhill, the Cruise
Grade Braking feature may
automatically shift to a lower gear to
keep the vehicle's speed down.
It may be necessary to apply
the brake or manually shift the
transmission to a lower gear. The
vehicle may shift to a higher gear
when grade braking assistance is
no longer required. Cruise Grade
Braking is not available while in
Range Selection Mode. See "Range
Selection Mode" underManual
Mode on page 9‑32.
When the brakes are manually
applied the cruise control is
disengaged. Ending Cruise Control
There are three ways to end cruise
control:
.To disengage cruise control,
step lightly on the brake pedal.
.Press[on the steering wheel.
.To turn off the cruise control,
press
Ion the steering wheel.
Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed is
erased from memory by pressing
the
Ibutton or if the ignition is
turned off.
Object Detection
Systems
Ultrasonic Parking Assist
If available, the Ultrasonic Rear
Parking Assist (URPA) system uses
sensors on the rear bumper to
assist with parking and avoiding
objects while in R (Reverse).
{WARNING
The URPA system does not
detect pedestrians, bicyclists,
animals, or any other objects
located below the bumper or that
are too close or too far from the
vehicle. To prevent injury, death,
or vehicle damage, even with
URPA, always check behind the
vehicle and check all mirrors
before backing.

Black plate (44,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012
9-44 Driving and Operating
How the System Works
URPA comes on automatically
when the shift lever is moved into
R (Reverse). A single tone sounds
to indicate the system is working.
URPA operates only at speeds less
than 8 km/h (5 mph).
An obstacle is indicated by audible
beeps. The interval between the
beeps becomes shorter as the
vehicle gets closer to the obstacle.
A continuous tone is heard when
the distance is less than
30 cm (12 in).
To be detected, objects must be at
least 25 cm (10 in) off the ground
and below liftgate level. Objects
must also be within 2.5 m (8 ft) from
the rear bumper. This distance may
be less during warmer or humid
weather.
Turning the System On and Off
Press this button, located next to
the radio, to disable URPA.
The indicator light will come on and
PARK ASSIST OFF displays on the
Driver Information Center (DIC). See
Object Detection System Messages
on page 5‑33.
When the System Does Not
Seem to Work Properly
The following messages may be
displayed on the DIC:
SERVICE PARKING ASSIST:If
this message occurs, take the
vehicle to your dealer for repair. PARKING ASSIST OFF:
This
message occurs if the driver
disables the system or if the vehicle
is driven above 8 km/h (5 mph) in
R (Reverse).
PARKING ASSIST BLOCKED
SEE OWNERS MANUAL: This
message can occur under the
following conditions:
.The ultrasonic sensors are not
clean. Keep the vehicle's rear
bumper free of mud, dirt, snow,
ice, slush, and frost. The
message may not clear until
frost or ice has melted all around
and inside the sensor.
.A trailer is attached to the
vehicle, or a bicycle or an object
was hanging out of the liftgate
during the current or last drive
cycle. URPA will return to normal
operation after it is determined
the object is removed. This
could take a few drive cycles.
.A tow bar is attached to the
vehicle.

Black plate (48,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012
9-48 Driving and Operating
Turning the RVC System On
or Off
The RVC system is designed to
help the driver when backing up by
displaying a view of the area behind
the vehicle. When the vehicle is
shifted into R (Reverse), the video
image appears on the navigation
screen. After a delay, the navigation
screen displays the last screen
after the vehicle is shifted out of
R (Reverse).
To turn the RVC system on or off:
1. Shift into P (Park).
2. Press the CONFIG hard key toenter the configure menu
options, then press the CONFIG
hard key to select Display or
touch the Display screen button.
3. Select the Rear Camera Options screen button. The Rear Camera
Options screen displays.
4. Select the Video screen button.
When the Video screen button
is highlighted the RVC
system is on.
The delay that is received after
shifting out of R (Reverse) is
approximately 10 seconds. The
delay can be canceled by
performing one of the following:
.Pressing a hard key on the
navigation system.
.Shifting in to P (Park).
.Reach a vehicle speed of
8 km/h (5 mph).
Adjusting the Brightness and
Contrast of the Screen
To adjust the brightness and
contrast of the screen, press the
CONFIG hard key while the RVC
image is on the display. Any
adjustments made will only affect
the RVC screen.
](Brightness): Touch the + (plus)
or –(minus) screen buttons to
increase or decrease the brightness
of the screen.
_(Contrast): Touch the + (plus)
or –(minus) screen buttons to
increase or decrease the contrast
of the screen.
Symbols
The navigation system may have
a feature that allows for viewing
parking assist symbols on the
navigation screen while using the
RVC. The Ultrasonic Rear Park
Assist (URPA) system must not be
disabled to use the caution symbols.
If URPA has been disabled and the
symbols have been turned on, the

Black plate (49,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012
Driving and Operating 9-49
Rear Parking Assist Symbols
Unavailable error message may
display. SeeUltrasonic Parking
Assist on page 9‑43.
The symbols appear near objects
detected by the URPA system. The
symbol may cover the object when
viewing the navigation screen.
To turn the symbols on or off:
1. Make sure that URPA has not been disabled.
2. Shift into P (Park).
3. Press the CONFIG hard key to enter the configure menu
options, then press the CONFIG
hard key to select Display or
touch the Display screen button.
4. Select the Rear Camera Options screen button. The Rear Camera
Options screen displays.
5. Touch the Symbols screen button. The screen button will be
highlighted when on.Guidelines
The RVC system has a guideline
overlay that can help the driver align
the vehicle when backing into a
parking spot.
To turn the guidelines on or off:
1. Make sure that URPA has notbeen disabled.
2. Shift into P (Park).
3. Press the CONFIG hard key to enter the configure menu
options, then press the CONFIG
hard key to select Display or
touch the Display screen button.
4. Select the Rear Camera Options screen button. The Rear Camera
Options screen displays.
5. Touch the Guidelines screen button. The screen button will be
highlighted when on.
RVC Location
The camera is located above the
license plate.