2012 CADILLAC ESCALADE ignition

Black plate (5,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012
Lighting 6-5
Exterior Lamps Off
Reminder
If a door is open, a reminder chime
sounds when the headlamps or
parking lamps are manually turned
on and the key is out of the ignition.
To turn off the chime, turn the
headlamp switch to off or AUTO and
then back on, or close and re-open
the door. In the AUTO mode, the
headlamps turn off once the ignition
is in LOCK/OFF or remains on until
the headlamp delay ends (if enabled
in the DIC). See“Exit Lighting”
under Vehicle Personalization on
page 5‑38.
Headlamp High/
Low-Beam Changer
5 3
(Headlamp High/Low
Beam Changer): To change the
headlamps from low to high beam,
push the lever toward the instrument
panel. To return to low-beam
headlamps, pull the multifunction
lever toward you. Then release it.
When the high beams are on, this
indicator light on the instrument
panel cluster will also be on.
Flash-to-Pass
Use your high-beam headlamps to
signal to a driver in front that you
want to pass. It works even if the
headlamps are in the automatic
position.
To use it, pull the turn signal lever
toward you, then release it.
If the headlamps are in the
automatic position or on low beam,
the high-beam headlamps turn on.
They stay on as long as the lever is
held. The high-beam indicator on
the instrument panel cluster comes
on. Release the lever to return to
normal operation.
Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL)
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can
make it easier for others to see the
front of your vehicle during the day.
Fully functional daytime running
lamps are required on all vehicles
first sold in Canada.
The DRL system comes on when
the following conditions are met:
.The ignition is on.
.The exterior lamps control is
in AUTO.
.The transmission is not in Park.
.The light sensor determines it is
daytime.
When the DRL system is on,
only the DRL lamps are on. The
taillamps, sidemarker, instrument
panel lights, and other lamps will not
be on.
When it begins to get dark, the
automatic headlamp system
switches from DRL to the
headlamps.

Black plate (6,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012
6-6 Lighting
To turn off the DRL lamps, turn the
exterior lamps control to the OFF
position and then release. For
vehicles first sold in Canada, the
transmission must be in the P (Park)
position before the DRL lamps can
be turned off.
Automatic Headlamp
System
When it is dark enough outside, the
automatic headlamp system turns
on the headlamps at the normal
brightness, along with the taillamps,
sidemarker, parking lamps, and the
instrument panel lights. The radio
lights will also be dim.
To turn off the automatic headlamp
system, turn the exterior lamps
switch to the off position and then
release it.
The vehicle has a light sensor
located on the top of the instrument
panel which regulates when the
automatic headlamps turn on. Do
not cover the sensor, otherwise the
headlamps will come on whenever
the ignition is on.
The system may also turn on the
headlamps when driving through a
parking garage, heavy overcast
weather, or a tunnel. This is normal.
There is a delay in the transition
between the daytime and nighttime
operation of the automatic
headlamp system so that drivingunder bridges or bright overhead
street lights does not affect the
system. The automatic headlamp
system is only affected when the
light sensor detects a change in
lighting lasting longer than the
delay.
If the vehicle is started in a dark
garage, the automatic headlamp
system will come on immediately.
Once the vehicle leaves the garage,
it takes approximately one minute
for the automatic headlamp system
to change if it is bright enough
outside. During that delay, the
instrument panel cluster may not be
as bright as usual. Make sure the
instrument panel brightness control
is in the full bright position. See
Instrument Panel Illumination
Control on page 6‑8.
To idle the vehicle with the
automatic headlamp system off, turn
the control to the off position.

Black plate (8,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012
6-8 Lighting
Fog Lamps
For vehicles with fog lamps, they
can be used for better vision in
foggy or misty conditions. The
parking lamps and/or low-beam
headlamps must be on for the fog
lamps to work.
The fog lamp button is located on
the left side of the instrument panel.
#(Fog Lamps):Press to turn the
fog lamps on or off. An indicator
light comes on in the instrument
panel cluster to show that the fog
lamps are on. Remember, fog lamps alone will
not give off as much light as the
headlamps. Never use the fog
lamps in the dark without turning on
the headlamps.
The fog lamps will go off whenever
the high-beam headlamps come on.
When the high beams go off, the fog
lamps will come on again.
The fog lamps will be cancelled
after the ignition is turned off. To use
the fog lamps after restarting the
vehicle, press the fog lamp button
again.
Some localities have laws that
require the headlamps to be on
along with the fog lamps.
Interior Lighting
Instrument Panel
Illumination Control
D(Instrument Panel
Brightness): This feature controls
the brightness of the instrument
panel lights and is located next to
the exterior lamps control.
Push the knob to extend out and
then it can be turned.
Turn the knob clockwise or
counterclockwise to brighten or dim
the instrument panel lights. Turning
the knob to the farthest clockwise
position turns on the dome lamps.

Black plate (9,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012
Lighting 6-9
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.
Dome Lamp Override
The dome lamp override button is
located next to the exterior lamps
control.
k(Dome Off):Press the button
in and the dome lamps remain off
when a door is opened. Press the
button again to return it to the
extended position so that the dome
lamps come on when a door is
opened.
Reading Lamps
For vehicles with front reading
lamps in the overhead console,
press the button located next to the
lamp to turn it on or off.
The vehicle may also have reading
lamps in other locations. The lamps
cannot be adjusted.
Lighting Features
Entry Lighting
The vehicle has an illuminated entry
feature.
When the doors are opened, the
dome lamps will come on if the
dome override button is in the
extended position. If the dome
override button is pressed in, the
lamps will not come on.
Exit Lighting
The interior lamps come on when
the key is removed from the ignition.
They turn off automatically in
20 seconds. The lights do not come
on if the dome override button is
pressed in.

Black plate (10,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012
6-10 Lighting
Battery Load
Management
The vehicle has Electric Power
Management (EPM) that estimates
the battery's temperature and state
of charge. It then adjusts the voltage
for best performance and extended
life of the battery.
When the battery's state of charge
is low, the voltage is raised slightly
to quickly bring the charge back up.
When the state of charge is high,
the voltage is lowered slightly to
prevent overcharging. If the vehicle
has a voltmeter gauge or a voltage
display on the Driver Information
Center (DIC), you may see the
voltage move up or down. This is
normal. If there is a problem, an
alert will be displayed.The battery can be discharged at
idle if the electrical loads are very
high. This is true for all vehicles.
This is because the generator
(alternator) may not be spinning fast
enough at idle to produce all the
power that is needed for very high
electrical loads.
A high electrical load occurs when
several of the following are on, such
as: headlamps, high beams, fog
lamps, rear window defogger,
climate control fan at high speed,
heated seats, engine cooling fans,
trailer loads, and loads plugged into
accessory power outlets.
EPM works to prevent excessive
discharge of the battery. It does this
by balancing the generator's output
and the vehicle's electrical needs.
It can increase engine idle speed to
generate more power, whenever
needed. It can temporarily reduce
the power demands of some
accessories.Normally, these actions occur in
steps or levels, without being
noticeable. In rare cases at the
highest levels of corrective action,
this action may be noticeable to the
driver. If so, a Driver Information
Center (DIC) message might be
displayed, such as BATTERY LOW
START VEHICLE. If this message
displays, it is recommended that the
driver reduce the electrical loads as
much as possible and restart the
vehicle. See
Battery Voltage and
Charging Messages on page 5‑29.
Battery Power Protection
This feature shuts off the dome
lamps if they are left on for more
than 10 minutes when the ignition is
in LOCK/OFF. This helps to prevent
the battery from running down.

Black plate (18,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012
7-18 Infotainment System
If a cellular telephone antenna
needs to be attached to the glass,
make sure that the grid lines for the
AM-FM antenna are not damaged.
There is enough space between
the grid lines to attach a cellular
telephone antenna without
interfering with radio reception.
Notice:Using a razor blade or
sharp object to clear the inside of
the rear side windows may affect
radio reception or damage the
rear side window antenna.
Repairs would not be covered by
the warranty. Do not clear the
inside of the rear side windows
with sharp objects. Notice:
Do not apply aftermarket
glass tinting with metallic film.
The metallic film in some tinting
materials will interfere with or
distort the incoming radio
reception. Any damage caused to
the antenna due to metallic tinting
materials will not be covered by
the warranty.
Satellite Radio Antenna
The XM Satellite Radio antenna is
located on the roof of the vehicle.
Keep the antenna clear of
obstructions for clear radio
reception.
If the vehicle has a sunroof, the
performance of the XM system
(if equipped) may be affected if the
sunroof is open.
Audio Players
CD/DVD Player
The player can be used for CD,
MP3, and as a DVD video player.
Read this section for more
information about DVD video.
When playing an audio CD the rear
seat operator can power on the
RSE video screen and use the
remote control to navigate through
the tracks on the CD.
CD Player
While playing a CD, the navigation
system is available.
When you insert a CD, the CD
tab displays. If a DSP setting is
selected for the CD, it activates
each time you play a CD.
If the ignition or radio is turned off
with a CD in the player, it stays in
the player. When the ignition or
radio is turned on, the CD starts
playing where it stopped, if it was
the last selected audio source.

Black plate (29,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012
Infotainment System 7-29
Order of Play
Play begins from the first track
under the root directory. When all
tracks from the root directory have
been played, play continues from
files according to their numerical
listing. After playing the last track
from the last folder, play begins
again at the first track of the first
folder or root directory.
When play enters a new folder, the
display does not automatically show
the new folder name. The new track
name appears on the display.
File System and Naming
The song name that displays is the
song name that is contained in the
ID3 tag. If the song name is not
present in the ID3 tag, then the
radio displays the file name without
the extension (such as .mp3) as the
track name.
Track names longer than
32 characters or four pages are
shortened. The display does notshow parts of words on the last
page of text and the extension of
the filename does not display.
Playing an MP3
While playing a CD, the navigation
system is available.
When you insert a CD, the CD
tab displays. If a DSP setting is
selected for the CD, it will be
activated each time you play a CD.
If you turn off the ignition or radio
with a CD in the player, it stays in
the player. When you turn on the
ignition or radio, the CD starts
playing where it stopped, if it was
the last selected audio source.
As each new track starts to play,
the track number appears on the
display.
If an error appears on the display,
see
“CD/DVD Messages” in this
section. If viewing a map screen, press the
CD screen button. The display splits
between the audio screen and the
map screen. If you do not want to
view a split screen or you are not on
a map screen, press AUDIO, then
press AUDIO again, repeatedly until
CD is selected or press the CD
screen button.
j/r(Pause/Play):
Press to pause
the CD. This button will then change
to the play button. Press the play
button to play the CD.

Black plate (32,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012
7-32 Infotainment System
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. SeeCD/DVD Player
on page 7‑18 for more information
on the vehicle's DVD system.
Before Driving
The RSE is designed for rear seat
passengers only. The driver cannot
safely view the video screen while
driving and should not try to do so.
In severe or extreme weather
conditions, the RSE system might
not work until the temperature is
within the operating range. The
operating range for the RSE system
is above −20°C (−4°F) or below
60°C (140°F). If the temperature of
the vehicle is outside this range,
heat or cool the vehicle until the
temperature is within the operating
range of the RSE system.
Parental Control
The RSE system may have a
Parental Control feature, depending
on which radio the vehicle has. To
start Parental Control, press and
hold the radio power button for more than two seconds to stop all system
features such as: radio, video
screen, Rear Seat Audio (RSA),
DVD, and/or CD. While Parental
Control is on, a padlock icon
displays.
The radio can be turned back on
with a single press of the power
button, but the RSE system will
remain under Parental Control.
To turn Parental Control off, press
and hold the radio power button for
more than two seconds. The RSE
returns from where it was previously
left and the padlock icon disappears
from the radio display.
Parental Control can also be turned
off by inserting or ejecting any disc,
pressing the play icon on the radio
DVD display menu, or changing an
ignition position.