Black plate (34,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-6081529) - 2014 - CRC 1st Edition - 4/23/13
9-34 Driving and Operating
suddenly slows or stops. Always
leave enough room up ahead to
stop, even with ABS.
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold
the brake pedal down firmly and let
ABS work. You might hear the ABS
pump or motor operating and feel
the brake pedal pulsate, but this is
normal.
Braking in Emergencies
ABS allows you to steer and brake
at the same time. In many
emergencies, steering can help
more than even the very best
braking.
Parking Brake
Set the parking brake by holding the
regular brake pedal down, then
pushing down the parking brake
pedal.
If the ignition is on, the brake
system warning light will come on.
SeeBrake System Warning Light on
page 5-17.
Notice: Driving with the parking
brake on can overheat the brake
system and cause premature
wear or damage to brake system
parts. Make sure that the parking brake is fully released and the
brake warning light is off before
driving.
To release the parking brake, hold
the regular brake pedal down, then
push down momentarily on the
parking brake pedal until you feel
the pedal release. Slowly pull your
foot up off the parking brake pedal.
If the parking brake is not released
when you begin to drive, the brake
system warning light will flash and a
chime will sound warning you that
the parking brake is still on.
If you are towing a trailer and are
parking on a hill, see
Driving
Characteristics and Towing Tips on
page 9-53.
Brake Assist
This vehicle has a brake assist
feature designed to assist the driver
in stopping or decreasing vehicle
speed in emergency driving
conditions. This feature
automatically uses the stability
system hydraulic brake control
Black plate (37,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-6081529) - 2014 - CRC 1st Edition - 4/23/13
Driving and Operating 9-37
the appropriate DIC message
displays. This will also disable the
TSC feature.
Traction control and StabiliTrak can
be turned on by pressing and
releasing the TCS/StabiliTrak button
if they are not automatically shut off
for any other reason. This will also
enable the TSC feature.
When the TCS or StabiliTrak system
is turned off, the StabiliTrak light
and the appropriate TCS off or
StabiliTrak off message will be
displayed on the DIC to warn the
driver. The vehicle will still have
brake-traction control when traction
control is off, but will not be able to
use the engine speed management
system. See“Traction Control
Operation” next for more
information.
When TCS has been turned off,
system noises may still be heard as
a result of the brake-traction control
coming on. It is recommended to leave the
system on for normal driving
conditions, but it may be necessary
to turn the system off if the vehicle
is stuck in sand, mud, ice or snow,
and you want to
“rock”the vehicle to
attempt to free it. It may also be
necessary to turn off the system
when driving in extreme off-road
conditions where high wheel spin is
required. See If the Vehicle Is Stuck
on page 9-13.
When the transfer case is in 4LO,
the stability system is automatically
disabled, the StabiliTrak light comes
on, and the appropriate message
will appear on the DIC. Both traction
control and StabiliTrak are
automatically disabled in this
condition.
Traction Control Operation
TCS is part of the StabiliTrak
system. Traction control limits wheel
spin by reducing engine power to
the wheels (engine speed
management) and by applying brakes to each individual wheel
(brake-traction control) as
necessary.
TCS is enabled automatically when
the vehicle is started. It will activate
and the StabiliTrak light will flash if it
senses that any of the wheels are
spinning or beginning to lose
traction while driving. If traction
control is turned off, only the
brake-traction control portion of
traction control will work. The
engine speed management will be
disabled. In this mode, engine
power is not reduced automatically
and the driven wheels can spin
more freely. This can cause the
brake-traction control to activate
constantly.
Notice:
If the wheel(s) of one axle
is allowed to spin excessively
while the StabiliTrak
®, ABS, brake
warning lights, and any relevant
DIC messages are displayed, the
transfer case could be damaged.
The repairs would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty. Reduce
engine power and do not spin the
Black plate (40,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-6081529) - 2014 - CRC 1st Edition - 4/23/13
9-40 Driving and Operating
Cruise Control
{Warning
Cruise control can be dangerous
where you cannot drive safely at
a steady speed. Do not use the
cruise control on winding roads or
in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous
on slippery roads. On such roads,
fast changes in tire traction can
cause excessive wheel slip, and
you could lose control. Do not use
cruise control on slippery roads.
With cruise control, a speed of
about 40 km/h (25 mph) or more can
be maintained without keeping your
foot on the accelerator. Cruise
control does not work at speeds
below about 40 km/h (25 mph).
When the brakes are applied, cruise
control is turned off. This vehicle has a Hydra-Matic
6-speed automatic transmission,
see Grade Braking under
Tow/Haul
Mode on page 9-32 for an
explanation of how cruise control
interacts with the Range Selection
Mode, tow/haul and grade braking
systems.
This vehicle has StabiliTrak and
when the system begins to limit
wheel spin, the cruise control will
automatically disengage. See
StabiliTrak
®System on page 9-35.
When road conditions allow the
cruise control to be safely used
again, it can be turned back on.I(On/Off): Press to turn the
system on or off. A white cruise
control indicator comes on when
cruise control is on and turns off
when cruise control is off.
+ RES (Resume/Accelerate):
Press briefly to make the vehicle
resume to a previously set speed,
or press and hold to accelerate.
SET −(Set/Coast): Press to set
the speed and activate cruise
control or make the vehicle
decelerate.
Black plate (42,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-6081529) - 2014 - CRC 1st Edition - 4/23/13
9-42 Driving and Operating
hills, pressing the accelerator pedal
may be necessary to maintain
vehicle speed. When going
downhill, Cruise Grade Braking
helps maintain the driver selected
speed.
Cruise Grade Braking is enabled
when the vehicle is started and
Cruise Control is active. It is not
enabled in Range Selection Mode.
It assists in maintaining driver
selected speed when driving on
downhill grades by using the engine
and transmission to slow the
vehicle.
To disable and enable Cruise Grade
Braking for the current ignition key
cycle, press and hold the Tow/Haul
button for three seconds. A DIC
message displays. See
Transmission Messages on
page 5-34.
For other forms of Grade Braking,
seeAutomatic Transmission on
page 9-28 andTow/Haul Mode on
page 9-32. 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 children, pedestrians,
bicyclists, animals, or objects
below the bumper or that are too
close or too far from the vehicle.
It is not available at speeds
greater than 8 km/h (5 mph). To
prevent injury, death, or vehicle
damage, even with URPA, always
check the area around the vehicle
and check all mirrors before
backing.
Black plate (44,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-6081529) - 2014 - CRC 1st Edition - 4/23/13
9-44 Driving and Operating
Other conditions may affect system
performance, such as vibrations
from a jackhammer or the
compression of air brakes on a very
large truck.
Side Blind Zone
Alert (SBZA)
If equipped, the Side Blind Zone
Alert system is a lane-changing aid
that assists drivers with avoiding
crashes that occur with vehicles in
the side blind zone (or spot) areas.
The SBZA warning display will light
up in the corresponding outside side
mirror and will flash if the turn signal
is on.
{Warning
SBZA does not alert the driver to
vehicles rapidly approaching
outside of the side blind zones,
pedestrians, bicyclists,
or animals. It may not provide
alerts when changing lanes under(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
all driving conditions. Failure to
use proper care when changing
lanes may result in injury, death,
or vehicle damage. Before
making a lane change, always
check mirrors, glance over your
shoulder, and use the turn
signals.
SBZA Detection Zones
The SBZA sensor covers a zone of
approximately one lane over from
both sides of the vehicle, or 3.5 m
(11 ft). The height of the zone is
approximately between 0.5 m (1.5 ft)
and 2 m (6 ft) off the ground. This
zone starts at approximately the
middle of the vehicle and goes back
5 m (16 ft).
How the System Works
The SBZA symbol lights up in the
side mirrors when the system
detects a vehicle in the next lane
over that is in the side blind zone.
This indicates it may be unsafe to
change lanes. Before making a lane
change, check the SBZA display,
check mirrors, glance over your
shoulder, and use the turn signals.
Left Side Mirror DisplayRight Side Mirror Display
Black plate (45,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-6081529) - 2014 - CRC 1st Edition - 4/23/13
Driving and Operating 9-45
When the vehicle is started, both
outside mirror SBZA displays will
briefly come on to indicate the
system is operating. When the
vehicle is moving forward, the left-
or right-side mirror display will light
up if a vehicle is detected in that
blind zone. If the turn signal is
activated in the same direction of a
detected vehicle, this display will
flash as an extra warning not to
change lanes.
SBZA can be disabled through the
Driver Information Center (DIC). See
Driver Information Center (DIC) on
page 5-22. If SBZA is disabled by
the driver, the SBZA mirror displays
will not light up.
When the System Does Not
Seem to Work Properly
SBZA displays may not come on
when passing a vehicle quickly or
when towing a trailer. Keep in mind
the SBZA detection zones that
extend back from the side of the
vehicle do not move further back
when a trailer is towed. Use extracaution while changing lanes when
towing a trailer. SBZA may alert you
to objects attached to the vehicle,
such as a trailer, bicycle, or object
extending out to either side of the
vehicle. This is normal system
operation; the vehicle does not need
service.
SBZA may not always alert the
driver to vehicles in the side blind
zone, especially in wet conditions.
The system does not need to be
serviced. The system may light up
due to guardrails, signs, trees,
shrubs, and other non-moving
objects. This is normal system
operation; the vehicle does not need
service.
SBZA may not operate when the
SBZA sensors in the left or right
corners of the rear bumper are
covered with mud, dirt, snow, ice,
or slush, or in heavy rainstorms. For
cleaning instructions, see "Washing
the Vehicle" under
Exterior Care on
page 10-89. If the DIC still displays
the SIDE BLIND ZONE SYSTEM
UNAVAILABLE message after cleaning both sides of the vehicle
toward the rear corners of the
vehicle, see your dealer.
If the SBZA displays do not light up
when vehicles are in the blind zone
and the system is clean, the system
may need service. Take the vehicle
to your dealer.
When SBZA is disabled for any
reason other than the driver turning
it off, the Side Blind Zone Alert ON
option will not be available on the
DIC menu.
FCC Information
See
Radio Frequency Statement on
page 13-15.
Rear Vision
Camera (RVC)
If available, the Rear Vision Camera
(RVC) system displays part of the
scene behind the vehicle.
Black plate (46,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-6081529) - 2014 - CRC 1st Edition - 4/23/13
9-46 Driving and Operating
{Warning
The RVC system does not display
children, pedestrians, bicyclists,
animals, or any other object
located outside the camera's field
of view, below the bumper,
or under the vehicle. Perceived
distances may be different from
actual distances. Do not back the
vehicle using only the RVC
screen, during longer, higher
speed backing maneuvers,
or where there could be cross
traffic. Failure to use proper care
before backing may result in
injury, death, or vehicle damage.
Always check behind and around
the vehicle before backing.
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 isshifted 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 to
enter 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).
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
Rear Parking Assist Symbols
Unavailable error message may
display. See
Ultrasonic Parking
Assist on page 9-42.
Black plate (51,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-6081529) - 2014 - CRC 1st Edition - 4/23/13
Driving and Operating 9-51
The use of E85 or FlexFuel is
encouraged when the vehicle is
designed to use it. E85 or FlexFuel
is made from renewable sources.
To help locate fuel stations that
carry E85 or FlexFuel, the U.S.
Department of Energy has an
alternative fuels website. See
www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/locator/
stations.
E85 or FlexFuel should meet ASTM
Specification D 5798 or CAN/
CGSB–3.512 in Canada. Do not use
the fuel if the ethanol content is
greater than 85%. Fuel mixtures that
do not meet ASTM or CGSB
specifications can affect driveability
and could cause the malfunction
indicator lamp to come on.
After refueling, the vehicle
calculates the composition of the
fuel. It is not recommended to
repeatedly switch between fuels.
If fuels are switched frequently, add
as much fuel as possible and do not
add less than 11 L (3 gal) when
refueling. Drive at least 11 km (7 mi)immediately after refueling to allow
the vehicle to adapt to the change in
ethanol concentration.
Because E85 or FlexFuel has less
energy per liter (gallon) than
gasoline, the vehicle will need to be
refilled more often. See
Filling the
Tank on page 9-51.
Notice: Some additives are not
compatible with E85 fuel and can
harm the vehicle's fuel system.
Do not add anything to E85.
Damage caused by additives
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
Notice: This vehicle was not
designed for fuel that contains
methanol. Do not use fuel
containing methanol. It can
corrode metal parts in the fuel
system and also damage plastic
and rubber parts. That damage
would not be covered under the
vehicle warranty.Filling the Tank
{Warning
Fuel vapors and fuel fires burn
violently and can cause injury or
death.
.To help avoid injuries to you
and others, read and follow
all the instructions on the fuel
pump island.
.Turn off the engine when
refueling.
.Keep sparks, flames, and
smoking materials away
from fuel.
.Do not leave the fuel pump
unattended.
.Do not reenter the vehicle
while pumping fuel.
.Keep children away from the
fuel pump and never let
children pump fuel.
(Continued)