Black plate (21,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012
In Brief 1-21
Universal Remote System
Vehicles with the Universal Remote
System will have these buttons
located in the headliner.
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.
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.
SeeUniversal Remote System on
page 5‑46.
Performance and
Maintenance
StabiliTrak®System
The vehicle has a traction control
system that limits wheel spin and
the StabiliTrak system that assists
with directional control of the vehicle
in difficult driving conditions. Both
systems turn on automatically every
time the vehicle is started.
.To turn off traction control, press
and release
gon the instrument
panel. The appropriate DIC
message displays. See Ride
Control System Messages on
page 5‑34.
.To turn off both traction control
and StabiliTrak, press and hold
guntilgilluminates and the
appropriate DIC message
displays. See Ride Control
System Messages on page 5‑34.
.Press and releasegagain to
turn on both systems. For more information, see
StabiliTrak
®System on page 9‑37.
Tire Pressure Monitor
This vehicle may have a Tire
Pressure Monitor System (TPMS).
The TPMS warning light alerts you
to a significant loss in pressure of
one of the vehicle's tires. If the
warning light comes on, stop as
soon as possible and inflate the
tires to the recommended pressure
shown on the Tire and Loading
Information label. See
Vehicle Load
Limits on page 9‑15. The warning
light will remain on until the tire
pressure is corrected.
Black plate (22,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012
1-22 In Brief
During cooler conditions, the low tire
pressure warning light may appear
when the vehicle is first started and
then turn off. This may be an early
indicator that the tire pressures are
getting low and the tires need to be
inflated to the proper pressure.
The TPMS does not replace normal
monthly tire maintenance. It is the
driver’s responsibility to maintain
correct tire pressures.
See Tire Pressure Monitor System
on page 10‑54.
Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit
This vehicle may come with a spare
tire and tire changing equipment or
a tire sealant and compressor kit.
The kit can be used to temporarily
seal small punctures in the tread
area of the tire.
See Tire Sealant and Compressor
Kit on page 10‑67 for complete
operating information. If the vehicle came with a spare tire
and tire changing equipment, see
If
a Tire Goes Flat on page 10‑65.
Engine Oil Life System
The engine oil life system calculates
engine oil life based on vehicle use
and displays a DIC message when
it is necessary to change the engine
oil and filter. The oil life system
should be reset to 100% only
following an oil change.
Resetting the Oil Life System
1. Display OIL LIFE REMAINING on the DIC.
2. Press and hold the SET/RESET button on the DIC for more than
five seconds. The oil life will
change to 100%.
See Engine Oil Life System on
page 10‑10.
Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol)
Vehicles that have a FlexFuel badge
and a yellow fuel cap can use either
unleaded gasoline or ethanol fuel
containing up to 85% ethanol (E85).
See Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol) on
page 9‑53. For all other vehicles,
use only the unleaded gasoline
described under Recommended
Fuel on page 9‑51.
Driving for Better Fuel
Economy
Driving habits can affect fuel
mileage. Here are some driving tips
to get the best fuel economy
possible.
.Avoid fast starts and accelerate
smoothly.
.Brake gradually and avoid
abrupt stops.
Black plate (6,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012
2-6 Keys, Doors, and Windows
/(Remote Start):This button will
be on the RKE transmitter if you
have remote start.
To start the vehicle using the remote
start feature:
1. Aim the transmitter at the vehicle.
2. Press and release
Q.
3. Immediately press and hold
/
until the turn signal lamps flash.
If you cannot see the vehicle's
lamps, press and hold
/for
two to four seconds.
When the vehicle starts, the
parking lamps will turn on and
remain on while the vehicle is
running. The doors will be
locked and the climate control
system may come on.
The engine will continue to run
for 10 minutes. Repeat the steps
for a 10-minute time extension.
Remote start can be extended
only once. After entering the vehicle during a
remote start, insert and turn the key
to ON/RUN to drive the vehicle.
To cancel a remote start, do any of
the following:
.Aim the RKE transmitter at the
vehicle and press and hold
/
until the parking lamps turn off.
.Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
.Turn the ignition on and then
back off.
The vehicle can be remote started
two separate times between driving
sequences. The engine will run for
10 minutes after each remote start.
Or, you can extend the engine run
time by another 10 minutes within
the first 10 minute remote start time
frame, and before the engine stops.
For example, if
Qand then/are
pressed again after the vehicle
has been running for five minutes,
10 minutes are added, allowing the
engine to run for 15 minutes. The additional 10 minutes are
considered a second remote vehicle
start.
After the vehicle's engine has been
started two times using
/, or a
single remote start with one time
extension, the vehicle must be
started with the key.
After the key is removed from the
ignition, the vehicle can be remote
started again.
The vehicle cannot be remote
started if the key is in the ignition,
the hood is not closed, or if there
is an emission control system
malfunction and the malfunction
indicator lamp is on.
Also, the engine will turn off during a
remote vehicle start if the coolant
temperature gets too high or if the
oil pressure gets low.
Black plate (14,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012
2-14 Keys, Doors, and Windows
The security light will come on to
inform the driver the system is
arming. If a door is open when
the doors are locked, the
security light will flash.
If the delayed locking feature is
turned on, the theft‐deterrent
system will not start the arming
process until the last door is
closed and the delay timer has
expired. SeeDelayed Locking
on page 2‑7.
3. Close all doors. The security light should go off after about
30 seconds. The alarm is not
armed until the security light
goes off.
If a locked driver door is opened
without using the RKE transmitter, a
10-second pre-alarm will occur. The
horn will chirp and the lights will
flash. If the key is not placed in the
ignition and turned to START or the
door is not unlocked by pressing
the unlock button on the RKE
transmitter during the 10-second
pre-alarm, the alarm will go off. Your vehicle's headlamps will flash
and the horn will sound for about
30 seconds, then will turn off to save
the battery power.
The theft-deterrent system will not
activate if the doors are locked with
the vehicle's key or the manual door
lock. It activates only if you use the
power door lock switch with the door
open or the RKE transmitter. You
should also remember that you can
start your vehicle with the correct
ignition key if the alarm has been
set off.
To avoid setting off the alarm by
accident:
.If you do not want to activate
the theft-deterrent system, the
vehicle should be locked with
the door key after the doors are
closed.
.Always unlock the doors with the
RKE transmitter. Unlocking a
door any other way will set off
the alarm if it is armed.
If you set off the alarm by accident,
press unlock on the RKE transmitter
or place the key in the ignition and
turn it to START to turn off the
alarm. The alarm will not stop if you
try to unlock a door any other way.
Testing the Alarm
To test the alarm:
1. From inside the vehicle, lower
the driver window and open the
driver door.
2. Activate the system by locking the doors with the power door
lock switch while the door
is open, or with the RKE
transmitter.
3. Get out of the vehicle, close the door and wait for the security
light to go out.
4. Then reach in through the window, unlock the door with the
manual door lock and open the
door. This should set off the
alarm.
Black plate (9,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012
Seats and Restraints 3-9
Press the button once for the
highest setting. With each press of
the button, the heated seat changes
to the next lower setting, and then
the off setting. Indicator bars next to
the symbol show the setting: three
for high, two for medium, and one
for low.
The heated seats are canceled
ten seconds after the ignition is
turned off. To use this feature after
the vehicle is restarted, press the
desired button.
Second Row Seats
The second row seats can be folded
for additional cargo space or folded
and tumbled for easy entry and exit
to the third row seat, if equipped.
The seat has either the manual fold
and tumble feature or the automatic
seat release fold and tumble
feature.
Reclining Seatbacks (Bucket
Seats Only)
On vehicles with second row bucket
seats, the seatbacks can be
reclined.
To recline the seatback:
1. Lift the lever on the outboardside of the seat.
2. Move the seatback to the desired position, and then
release the lever to lock the
seatback in place. 3. Push and pull on the seatback to
make sure it is locked.
To return the seatback to the upright
position:
1. Lift the lever fully without applying pressure to the
seatback, and the seatback will
return to the upright position.
{WARNING
If either seatback is not locked, it
could move forward in a sudden
stop or crash. That could cause
injury to the person sitting there.
Always push and pull on the
seatbacks to be sure they are
locked.
2. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is locked.
Black plate (4,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012
4-4 Storage
Avoid high speeds, sudden starts,
sharp turns, sudden braking or
abrupt maneuvers, otherwise it may
result in loss of control. If driving for
a long distance, on rough roads,
or at high speeds, occasionally stop
the vehicle to make sure the cargo
remains in its place.
Do not exceed the maximum vehicle
capacity when loading the vehicle.
For more information on vehicle
capacity and loading, seeVehicle
Load Limits on page 9‑15.
To prevent damage or loss of cargo,
check now and then to make sure
the luggage and cargo are still
securely fastened. Be sure the cargo is properly
loaded.
.If small heavy objects are placed
on the roof, place the load in
the area over the rear wheels
(behind the rear side door on
extended models). If needed,
cut a piece of 3/8 inch plywood
to fit inside the crossrails and
siderails to spread the load.
If plywood is used, tie it to the
siderail supports.
.Tie the load to the crossrails or
the siderail supports. Use the
crossrails only to keep the
load from sliding. To move the
crossrails, pull out on the latch
release handle at each end.
Slide the crossrail to the desired
position balancing the force side
to side. Push the release handle
back into the latched position
and slide the crossrail back and
forth slightly to be sure the latch
snaps securely into place.
.If needed to carry long items,
move the crossrails as far apart
as they will go. Tie the load to
the crossrails and the siderails
or siderail supports. Also tie the
load to the bumpers. Do not
tie the load so tightly that the
crossrails or siderails are
damaged.
.After moving a crossrail, be sure
it is securely locked into the
siderail.
A Center High-Mounted Stoplamp
(CHMSL) is located above the glass
or above the rear load doors.
If items are loaded on the roof of the
vehicle, care should be taken not to
block or damage the CHMSL unit.
Black plate (4,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012
5-4 Instruments and Controls
To scan radio stations:
1. Press and hold
¨until a beep is
heard, to place the radio into
SCAN mode. A station will play
for five seconds before moving
to the next station.
2. To stop the SCAN function, press
¨again.
While listening to a CD/DVD, press
and hold
¨to quickly move forward
through the tracks. Release to stop
on the desired track.
+
e: Press to increase volume.
−
e: Press to decrease volume.
Heated Steering Wheel
For vehicles with a heated steering
wheel, the button for this feature is
located on the steering wheel.
(:Press to turn the heated
steering wheel on or off. A light on
the button displays when the feature
is turned on.
The steering wheel takes about
three minutes to start heating.
Horn
To sound the horn, press the center
pad on the steering wheel.
Windshield Wiper/Washer
The front wiper control is located on
the turn and lane‐change lever. Turn
the band with the wiper symbol to
control the windshield wipers.
8(Mist): For a single wipe,
turn to
8, then release. For several
wipes, hold the band on
8longer.
9(Off): Turns the windshield
wipers off.
6(Adjustable Interval Wipes):
Turn the band up for more frequent
wipes or down for less frequent
wipes.
Black plate (13,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-13
Engine Coolant
Temperature Gauge
This gauge shows the engine
coolant temperature.
If the indicator on the gauge moves
towards the shaded area on the
thermostat, it means that the engine
coolant has overheated. If the
vehicle has been operating under
normal driving conditions, pull off
the road, stop the vehicle and turn
off the engine as soon as possible.See
Engine Overheating on
page 10‑19.
Safety Belt Reminders
Driver Safety Belt Reminder
Light
There is a driver safety belt
reminder light on the instrument
panel cluster.
When the vehicle is started, this
light flashes and a chime may come
on to remind the driver to fasten
their safety belt. Then the light stays
on solid until the belt is buckled.
This cycle may continue several
times if the driver remains or
becomes unbuckled while the
vehicle is moving. If the driver safety belt is buckled,
neither the light nor the chime
comes on.
Passenger Safety Belt
Reminder Light
When the vehicle is started, this
light flashes and a chime may come
on to remind front passengers to
fasten their safety belt. Then the
light stays on solid until the belt is
buckled.
For more information see
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator
on page 5‑14.
This cycle continues several times
if the front passenger remains or
becomes unbuckled while the
vehicle is moving.