
Black plate (16,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012
5-16 Instruments and Controls
If it does not, have the vehicle
serviced by your dealer.
The light should go out once
the engine starts. If it stays on,
or comes on while driving, there
could be a problem with the
charging system. A charging system
message in the Driver Information
Center (DIC) can also appear.
SeeBattery Voltage and Charging
Messages on page 5‑29 for more
information. This light could indicate
that there are problems with a
generator drive belt, or that there
is an electrical problem. Have it
checked right away. If the vehicle
must be driven a short distance with
the light on, turn off accessories,
such as the radio and air
conditioner.
If the vehicle is a hybrid, see the
hybrid supplement for more
information.Malfunction
Indicator Lamp
A computer system called OBD II
(On-Board Diagnostics-Second
Generation) monitors the operation
of the vehicle to ensure emissions
are at acceptable levels, to produce
a cleaner environment. This light
comes on when the vehicle is
placed in ON/RUN, as a check to
show it is working. If it does not,
have the vehicle serviced by your
dealer. See Ignition Positions on
page 9‑22 for more information.
If the malfunction indicator lamp
comes on and stays on while the
engine is running, this indicates that
there is an OBD II problem and
service is required. Malfunctions often are indicated by
the system before any problem is
apparent. Being aware of the light
can prevent more serious damage
to the vehicle. This system assists
the service technician in correctly
diagnosing any malfunction.
Notice:
If the vehicle is
continually driven with this light
on, the emission controls might
not work as well, the vehicle fuel
economy might not be as good,
and the engine might not run as
smoothly. This could lead to
costly repairs that might not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Notice: Modifications made
to the engine, transmission,
exhaust, intake, or fuel system
of the vehicle or the replacement
of the original tires with other
than those of the same Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC) can
affect the vehicle's emission
controls and can cause this light
to come on. Modifications to
these systems could lead to
costly repairs not covered by the

Black plate (9,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012
Infotainment System 7-9
Radio
AM-FM Radio
Notice:Before adding any sound
equipment to the vehicle, such
as an audio system, CD player,
CB radio, mobile telephone,
or two-way radio, make sure that
it can be added by checking with
your dealer. Also, check federal
rules covering mobile radio
and telephone units. If sound
equipment can be added, it is
very important to do it properly.
Added sound equipment can
interfere with the operation of the
vehicle's engine, radio, or other
systems, and even damage them.
The vehicle's systems can
interfere with the operation of
sound equipment that has been
added.
Notice: The chime signals related
to safety belts, parking brake, and
other functions of the vehicle
operate through the navigation
system. If that equipment is replaced or additional equipment
is added to the vehicle, the
chimes may not work. Make sure
that replacement or additional
equipment is compatible with the
vehicle before installing it. See
“Accessories and Modifications”
in the vehicle's owner manual.
Playing the Radio
O/n(Power/Volume):
1. Press to turn the audio system on and off.
2. Turn to increase or to decrease the volume.
3. Press and hold for more than two seconds to turn off the
navigation system, the Rear
Seat Entertainment (RSE) video
screen, and Rear Seat Audio
(RSA). If the vehicle has not
been turned off, press this knob
to turn RSE and RSA back on
and to continue playback of the
last active source.
w(Tuning Knob): Turn to go to
the next or previous frequency or
disc track or chapter. See CD/DVD
Player on page 7‑18 orMP3 on
page 7‑28 for more information.
AUDIO: Press to display the audio
screen. Press to switch between
AM, FM, or XM, if equipped, Disc,
or AUX (Auxiliary), or press the
screen button. See CD/DVD Player
on page 7‑18, MP3 on page 7‑28,
and Auxiliary Devices on page 7‑30
for more information.

Black plate (43,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012
Infotainment System 7-43
along with a disc indicator, and
playback starts. If the disc is
inserted incorrectly, the DVD player
ejects the disc and No Disc
displays.
Some DVDs do not allow fast
forwarding or skipping of the
copyright information or previews.
If the DVD does not begin playing at
the main title, refer to the on-screen
instructions.
The DVD player can be controlled
by using the buttons located below
the video display screen or by using
the buttons on the system’s remote
control. See “Remote Control” later
for more information.
The following discs are compatible
with the DVD player:
.DVD-Video: A DVD that has
video.
.CD-DA: A CD that has music or
sound content only.
.CD-Video: A CD that has a
movie.
.CD-R/RW: A disc that has
audio files such as CD-R with
downloaded MP3 files, MPEG,
or JPEG files.
The DVD player and discs are
coded by global region. The DVD
players are set to Region 1. Discs
with other region codes will not work
in the players.
If an error message displays on the
video screen, see “DVD Messages”
later in this section.
While the vehicle is moving,
passengers should not unfasten
their safety belts to make
adjustments to the video screen
control buttons. See Safety Belts on
page 3‑17. Use the remote control
for any necessary adjustments.
See “Remote Control” later in this
section.
POWER
O: Press to turn the
power on or off. Each video
screen can be powered on or off
independently. EJECT
X:
Press to eject a disc
from the DVD slot.
If a disc is ejected from the player,
but not removed, it will automatically
reload into the player. Another way
to reload a disc that has been
ejected, but not removed from the
DVD player, is to press the eject
button or the play button.
PLAY
r: Press this button located
below the video display screen to
start playback of a disc. On DVDs
and video CDs with playback
control (PBC), menu screens can
display automatically. It might be
necessary to press the play button
again to begin play.
There is a play position memory
feature for DVD and video CD only.
If the DVD player is turned off and
then turned back on, the DVD
player resumes playback where
the disc stopped. The play position
memory is erased if the disc is
removed.

Black plate (3,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012
Driving and Operating 9-3
{WARNING
Taking your eyes off the road too
long or too often could cause a
crash resulting in injury or death.
Focus your attention on driving.
Refer to the Infotainment section
for more information on using that
system, including pairing and using
a cell phone.
Refer to the Navigation section
for information on that system,
including pairing and using a cell
phone.
Defensive Driving
Defensive driving means “always
expect the unexpected.” The first
step in driving defensively is to wear
the safety belt. See Safety Belts on
page 3‑17.
.Assume that other road users
(pedestrians, bicyclists, and
other drivers) are going to be careless and make mistakes.
Anticipate what they might do
and be ready.
.Allow enough following distance
between you and the driver in
front of you.
.Focus on the task of driving.
Drunk Driving
Death and injury associated with
drinking and driving is a global
tragedy.
{WARNING
Drinking and then driving is
very dangerous. Your reflexes,
perceptions, attentiveness, and
judgment can be affected by even
a small amount of alcohol. You
can have a serious
—or even
fatal —collision if you drive after
drinking.
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
Do not drink and drive or ride with
a driver who has been drinking.
Ride home in a cab; or if you are
with a group, designate a driver
who will not drink.
Control of a Vehicle
Braking, steering, and accelerating
are important factors in helping to
control a vehicle while driving.
Braking
Braking action involves perception
time and reaction time. Deciding to
push the brake pedal is perception
time. Actually doing it is
reaction time.
Average driver reaction time is
about three‐fourths of a second.
In that time, a vehicle moving at
100 km/h (60 mph) travels 20 m
(66 ft), which could be a lot of
distance in an emergency.

Black plate (6,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012
9-6 Driving and Operating
.Try to avoid sudden steering,
acceleration, or braking,
including reducing vehicle
speed by shifting to a lower
gear. Any sudden changes
could cause the tires to slide.
Remember: Antilock brakes help
avoid only the braking skid.
Off-Road Driving
All-wheel-drive vehicles can be
used for off-road driving. Vehicles
without all-wheel drive and vehicles
not equipped with All Terrain (AT) or
On-Off Road (OOR) tires must not
be driven off-road except on a level,
solid surface. To contact the tire
manufacturer for more information
about the original equipment tires,
see the Limited Warranty and
Owner Assistance Information
manual.
Controlling the vehicle is the key to
successful off-road driving. One of
the best ways to control the vehicle
is to control the speed.
{WARNING
When driving off-road, bouncing
and quick changes in direction
can easily throw you out of
position. This could cause you to
lose control and crash. You and
your passengers should always
wear safety belts.
Before Driving Off-Road
.Have all necessary maintenance
and service work completed.
.Fuel the vehicle, fill fluid levels,
and check inflation pressure in
all tires, including the spare,
if equipped.
.Read all the information about
all-wheel-drive vehicles in this
manual.
.Make sure all underbody
shields, if equipped, are properly
attached.
.Know the local laws that apply to
off-road driving. To gain more ground clearance if
needed, it may be necessary to
remove the front fascia lower
air dam.
Notice:
Operating the vehicle for
extended periods without the
front fascia lower air dam
installed can cause improper air
flow to the engine. Re‐attach the
front fascia air dam after off-road
driving.
Loading the Vehicle for
Off-Road Driving
{WARNING
.Unsecured cargo on the
load floor can be tossed
about when driving over
rough terrain. You or your
passengers can be struck by
flying objects. Secure the
cargo properly.
(Continued)

Black plate (60,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012
9-60 Driving and Operating
Parking on Hills
{WARNING
Parking the vehicle on a hill
with the trailer attached can be
dangerous. If something goes
wrong, the rig could start to move.
People can be injured, and both
the vehicle and the trailer can be
damaged. When possible, always
park the rig on a flat surface.
If parking the rig on a hill:
1. Press the brake pedal, but do not shift into P (Park) yet. Turn
the wheels into the curb if facing
downhill or into traffic if facing
uphill.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the regular brakes
until the chocks absorb the load. 4. Reapply the brake pedal. Then
apply the parking brake and shift
into P (Park).
5. Release the brake pedal.
{WARNING
It can be dangerous to get out of
the vehicle if the shift lever is not
fully in P (Park) with the parking
brake firmly set. The vehicle
can roll.
If the engine has been left
running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be
injured. To be sure the vehicle will
not move, even when on fairly
level ground, always put the shift
lever fully in P (Park) with the
parking brake firmly set.
Leaving After Parking on a Hill
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
2. Start the engine.
3. Shift into a gear. 4. Release the parking brake.
5. Let up on the brake pedal.
6. Drive slowly until the trailer is
clear of the chocks.
7. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer
Towing
The vehicle needs service more
often when pulling a trailer.
See the Maintenance Schedule
for more information. Things
that are especially important in
trailer operation are automatic
transmission fluid, engine oil, axle
lubricant, belts, cooling system and
brake system. It is a good idea to
inspect these before and during
the trip.
Check periodically to see that all
hitch nuts and bolts are tight.

Black plate (3,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-3
California
Proposition 65 Warning
Most motor vehicles, including this
one, contain and/or emit chemicals
known to the State of California to
cause cancer and birth defects or
other reproductive harm. Engine
exhaust, many parts and systems,
many fluids, and some component
wear by-products contain and/or
emit these chemicals.
California Perchlorate
Materials Requirements
Certain types of automotive
applications, such as airbag
initiators, seat belt pretensioners,
and lithium batteries contained in
Remote Keyless Entry transmitters,
may contain perchlorate materials.
Special handling may be necessary.
For additional information, see
www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/
perchlorate.
Accessories and
Modifications
Adding non‐dealer accessories or
making modifications to the vehicle
can affect vehicle performance and
safety, including such things as
airbags, braking, stability, ride and
handling, emissions systems,
aerodynamics, durability, and
electronic systems like antilock
brakes, traction control, and stability
control. These accessories or
modifications could even cause
malfunction or damage not covered
by the vehicle warranty.Damage to vehicle components
resulting from modifications or the
installation or use of non‐GM
certified parts, including control
module or software modifications, is
not covered under the terms of the
vehicle warranty and may affect
remaining warranty coverage for
affected parts.
GM Accessories are designed to
complement and function with other
systems on the vehicle. See your
dealer to accessorize the vehicle
using genuine GM Accessories
installed by a dealer technician.
Also, see
Adding Equipment to the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on
page 3‑40.

Black plate (49,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-49
(B) Tire Width:The three‐digit
number indicates the tire section
width in millimeters from
sidewall to sidewall.
(C) Aspect Ratio
:A two-digit
number that indicates the tire
height-to-width measurements.
For example, if the tire size
aspect ratio is 75, as shown in
item C of the tire illustration,
it would mean that the tire's
sidewall is 75 percent as high as
it is wide.
(D) Construction Code
:A
letter code is used to indicate
the type of ply construction in
the tire. The letter R means
radial ply construction; the
letter D means diagonal or
bias ply construction; and the
letter B means belted‐bias ply
construction.
(E) Rim Diameter
:Diameter of
the wheel in inches. (F) Service Description
:These
characters represent the load
index and speed rating of the
tire. The load index represents
the load carrying capacity a tire
is certified to carry. The speed
rating is the maximum speed a
tire is certified to carry a load.
Tire Terminology and
Definitions
Air Pressure:The amount
of air inside the tire pressing
outward on each square inch
of the tire. Air pressure is
expressed in kPa (kilopascal)
or psi (pounds per square inch).
Accessory Weight
:The
combined weight of optional
accessories. Some examples
of optional accessories are
automatic transmission, power
steering, power brakes, power
windows, power seats, and air
conditioning. Aspect Ratio
:The relationship
of a tire's height to its width.
Belt
:A rubber coated layer of
cords that is located between
the plies and the tread. Cords
may be made from steel or other
reinforcing materials.
Bead
:The tire bead contains
steel wires wrapped by steel
cords that hold the tire onto
the rim.
Bias Ply Tire
:A pneumatic tire
in which the plies are laid at
alternate angles less than
90 degrees to the centerline of
the tread.
Cold Tire Pressure
:The
amount of air pressure in a tire,
measured in kPa (kilopascal)
or psi (pounds per square inch)
before a tire has built up heat
from driving. See Tire Pressure
on page 10‑52.