Black plate (4,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-6081529) - 2014 - CRC 1st Edition - 4/23/13
2-4 Keys, Doors, and Windows
when the ignition is moved to
ON/RUN or
Lis pressed again.
The ignition must be in LOCK/OFF
for the panic alarm to work.
The vehicle comes with
two transmitters. Each transmitter
will have a number on top of it,
“1” or“2”. These numbers
correspond to the driver of the
vehicle. For example, the memory
seat position for driver 1 will be
recalled when using the transmitter
labeled “1”, if enabled through the
DIC. See Memory Seats on
page 3-5 for more information.
Programming Transmitters to
the Vehicle
Only RKE transmitters programmed
to this vehicle will work. If a
transmitter is lost or stolen, a
replacement can be purchased and
programmed through your dealer.
When the replacement transmitter is
programmed to this vehicle, all
remaining transmitters must also be
reprogrammed. Any lost or stolen
transmitters will no longer work once the new transmitter is
programmed. Each vehicle can
have up to eight transmitters
programmed to it. See your dealer
to have transmitters programmed to
the vehicle.
Battery Replacement
Replace the battery if the REPLACE
BATTERY IN REMOTE KEY
message displays in the DIC. See
“REPLACE BATTERY IN REMOTE
KEY”
under Key and Lock
Messages on page 5-30 for
additional information.
Notice: When replacing the
battery, do not touch any of the
circuitry on the transmitter. Static
from your body could damage the
transmitter.
To replace the battery:
1. Separate the transmitter with a flat, thin object inserted into the
notch, located above the
metal base.
2. Remove the old battery. Do not use a metal object.
3. Insert the new battery, positive side facing up. Replace with a
CR2032 or equivalent battery.
4. Snap the transmitter back together.
Black plate (14,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-6081529) - 2014 - CRC 1st Edition - 4/23/13
5-14 Instruments and Controls
United States
Canada and Mexico
When the vehicle is started, the
passenger airbag status indicator
will light ON and OFF, or the
symbols for on and off, for several
seconds as a system check. If you
are using remote start, if equipped,
to start the vehicle from a distance,
you may not see the system check.
Then, after several more seconds,
the status indicator will light either
ON or OFF, or either the on or off symbol to let you know the status of
the front outboard passenger frontal
airbag.
If the word ON or the on symbol is
lit on the passenger airbag status
indicator, it means that the front
outboard passenger frontal airbag is
allowed to inflate.
If the word OFF or the off symbol is
lit on the airbag status indicator, it
means that the passenger sensing
system has turned off the front
outboard passenger frontal airbag.
If, after several seconds, both status
indicator lights remain on, or if there
are no lights at all, there may be a
problem with the lights or the
passenger sensing system. See
your dealer for service.
{Warning
If the airbag readiness light ever
comes on and stays on, it means
that something may be wrong
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
with the airbag system. To help
avoid injury to yourself or others,
have the vehicle serviced right
away. SeeAirbag Readiness
Light on page 5-13 for more
information, including important
safety information.
Charging System Light
This light comes on briefly when the
ignition key is turned to START, but
the engine is not running, as a
check to show it is working.
If it does not, have the vehicle
serviced by your dealer.
Black plate (20,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-6081529) - 2014 - CRC 1st Edition - 4/23/13
9-20 Driving and Operating
to LOCK. You may hear the air
compressor operating when the
height is being adjusted.
If a weight-distributing hitch is
being used, it is recommended
to allow the shocks to inflate,
thereby leveling the vehicle prior
to adjusting the height. See
“Weight distributing Hitches and
Weight Carrying Hitches”under
Towing Equipment on
page 9-60.Starting and
Operating
New Vehicle Break-In
Notice: The vehicle does not
need an elaborate break-in. But it
will perform better in the long run
if you follow these guidelines:
.Keep the vehicle speed at
88 km/h (55 mph) or less for
the first 805 km (500 miles).
.Do not drive at any one
constant speed, fast or slow,
for the first 805 km
(500 miles). Do not make
full-throttle starts. Avoid
downshifting to brake or
slow the vehicle.
.Avoid making hard stops for
the first 322 km (200 miles) or
so. During this time the new
brake linings are not yet
broken in. Hard stops with
new linings can mean
premature wear and earlier
replacement. Follow this
breaking-in guideline every
time you get new brake
linings.
.Do not tow a trailer during
break-in. See Trailer Towing
on page 9-56 for the trailer
towing capabilities of the
vehicle and more
information.
Following break‐in, engine speed
and load can be gradually
increased.
Black plate (39,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-6081529) - 2014 - CRC 1st Edition - 4/23/13
Driving and Operating 9-39
Continuous Damping
Control (CDC)
This vehicle may have a continuous
damping control system called
Autoride
®or MagneRide™. With
this feature, improved vehicle ride
and handling is provided under a
variety of passenger and loading
conditions.
Autoride and MagneRide are fully
automatic and use a computer
controller to continuously monitor
vehicle speed, wheel to body
position, lift/dive and steering
position of the vehicle. The
controller then sends signals to
each shock absorber to
independently adjust the damping
level to provide the optimum
vehicle ride. Autoride and MagneRide also
interact with the tow/haul mode that,
when activated, will provide
additional control of the shock
absorbers. This additional control
results in better ride and handling
characteristics when the vehicle is
loaded or towing a trailer. See
“Tow/
Haul Mode” underTrailer Towing on
page 9-56.
Automatic Level Control
The automatic level control rear
suspension is available on light‐duty
vehicles and comes as a part of the
Continuous Damping Control (CDC)
suspension, if equipped. This type of level control is fully
automatic and will provide a better
leveled riding position as well as
better handling under a variety of
passenger and loading conditions.
An air compressor connected to the
rear shocks will raise or lower the
rear of the vehicle to maintain
proper vehicle height. The system is
activated when the ignition key is
turned to ON/RUN and will
automatically adjust vehicle height
thereafter. The system may exhaust
(lower vehicle height) for up to
ten minutes after the ignition key
has been turned off. You may hear
the air compressor operating when
the height is being adjusted.
If a weight‐distributing hitch is being
used, it is recommended to allow
the shocks to inflate, thereby
leveling the vehicle prior to adjusting
the hitch.
Black plate (55,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-6081529) - 2014 - CRC 1st Edition - 4/23/13
Driving and Operating 9-55
the left. To move the trailer to the
right, move your hand to the right.
Always back up slowly and,
if possible, have someone
guide you.
Making Turns
Notice:Making very sharp turns
while trailering could cause the
trailer to come in contact with the
vehicle. The vehicle could be
damaged. Avoid making very
sharp turns while trailering.
When turning with a trailer, make
wider turns than normal. Do this so
the trailer will not strike soft
shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees,
or other objects. Avoid jerky or
sudden maneuvers. Signal well in
advance.
If the trailer turn signal bulbs burn
out, the arrows on the instrument
cluster will still flash for turns. It is
important to check occasionally to
be sure the trailer bulbs are still
working.
Driving on Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower
gear before starting down a long or
steep downgrade. If the
transmission is not shifted down, the
brakes might get hot and no longer
work well.
Vehicles can tow in D (Drive). Shift
the transmission to a lower gear if
the transmission shifts too often
under heavy loads and/or hilly
conditions.
The Tow/Haul Mode may be used if
the transmission shifts too often.
See Tow/Haul Mode on page 9-32.
When towing at high altitude on
steep uphill grades, consider the
following: Engine coolant will boil at
a lower temperature than at normal
altitudes. If the engine is turned off
immediately after towing at high
altitude on steep uphill grades, the
vehicle may show signs similar to
engine overheating. To avoid this,
let the engine run while parked,
preferably on level ground, with the
automatic transmission in P (Park) for a few minutes before turning the
engine off. If the overheat warning
comes on, see
Engine Overheating
on page 10-17.
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.
Black plate (61,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-6081529) - 2014 - CRC 1st Edition - 4/23/13
Vehicle Care 10-61
Warning (Continued)
1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put an automatictransmission in P (Park) or a
manual transmission in
1 (First) or R (Reverse).
3. Turn off the engine and do not restart while the vehicle
is raised.
4. Do not allow passengers to remain in the vehicle.
5. Place wheel blocks on both sides of the tire at the
opposite corner of the tire
being changed.
This vehicle may come with a jack
and spare tire or a tire sealant and
compressor kit. To use the jacking
equipment to change a spare tire
safely, follow the instructions below.
Then see Tire Changing on
page 10-69. To use the tire sealant and compressor kit, see
Tire
Sealant and Compressor Kit on
page 10-61.
When the vehicle has a flat tire (B),
use the following example as a
guide to assist you in the placement
of wheel blocks (A).
A. Wheel Block
B. Flat Tire
The following information explains
how to repair or change a tire.
Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit
{Warning
Idling a vehicle in an enclosed
area with poor ventilation is
dangerous. Engine exhaust may
enter the vehicle. Engine exhaust
contains carbon monoxide (CO)
which cannot be seen or smelled.
It can cause unconsciousness
and even death. Never run the
engine in an enclosed area that
has no fresh air ventilation. For
more information, see Engine
Exhaust on page 9-27.
{Warning
Overinflating a tire could cause
the tire to rupture and you or
others could be injured. Be sure
to read and follow the tire sealant
(Continued)
Black plate (64,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-6081529) - 2014 - CRC 1st Edition - 4/23/13
10-64 Vehicle Care
6. Plug the power plug (C) into theaccessory power outlet in the
vehicle. Unplug all items from
other accessory power outlets.
See Power Outlets on page 5-6
in the owner manual.
If the vehicle has an accessory
power outlet, do not use the
cigarette lighter.
If the vehicle only has a cigarette
lighter, use the cigarette lighter.
Do not pinch the power plug
cord in the door or window.
7. Start the vehicle. The vehicle must be running while using the
air compressor.
8. Press the on/off (D) button to turn the tire sealant and
compressor kit on.
The compressor will inject
sealant and air into the tire.
The pressure gauge (E) will
initially show a high pressure
while the compressor pushes the
sealant into the tire. Once the
sealant is completely dispersed into the tire, the pressure will
quickly drop and start to rise
again as the tire inflates with
air only.
9. Inflate the tire to the recommended inflation pressure
using the pressure gauge (E).
The recommended inflation
pressure can be found on the
Tire and Loading Information
label. See Tire Pressure on
page 10-46.
The pressure gauge (E) may
read higher than the actual tire
pressure while the compressor is
on. Turn the compressor off to
get an accurate pressure
reading. The compressor may
be turned on/off until the correct
pressure is reached.
Notice: If the recommended
pressure cannot be reached after
approximately 25 minutes, the
vehicle should not be driven
farther. The tire is too severely
damaged and the tire sealant and
compressor kit cannot inflate the tire. Remove the power plug from
the accessory power outlet and
unscrew the inflating hose from
the tire valve. See
Roadside
Service on page 13-5.
10. Press the on/off button (D) to turn the tire sealant and
compressor kit off.
The tire is not sealed and will
continue to leak air until the
vehicle is driven and the
sealant is distributed in the tire,
therefore, Steps 11 through
17 must be done immediately
after Step 10.
Be careful while handling the
tire sealant and compressor kit
as it could be warm after
usage.
11. Unplug the power plug (C) from the accessory power outlet in
the vehicle.
12. Turn the sealant/air hose (G) counterclockwise to remove it
from the tire valve stem.
Black plate (66,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-6081529) - 2014 - CRC 1st Edition - 4/23/13
10-66 Vehicle Care
Using the Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit without
Sealant to Inflate a Tire (Not
Punctured)
To use the air compressor to inflate
a tire with air only and not sealant:
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire
and wheel damage by driving slowly
to a level place. Turn on the hazard
warning flashers.
SeeIf a Tire Goes Flat on
page 10-60 for other important
safety warnings. 1. Remove the tire sealant and
compressor kit from its storage
location. See Storing the Tire
Sealant and Compressor Kit on
page 10-68.
2. Unlock the air only hose (F) from the tire sealant canister (B) by
pulling up on the lever.
3. Pull the air only hose (F) from the tire sealant canister (B).
4. Remove the power plug (C) from the air compressor (A).
5. Place the kit on the ground.
Make sure the tire valve stem is
positioned close to the ground
so the hose will reach it.
6. Remove the tire valve stem cap by turning it counterclockwise.
7. Attach the air only hose (F) onto the tire valve stem and press the
lever down to secure it. 8. Plug the power plug (C) into the
accessory power outlet in the
vehicle. Unplug all items from
other accessory power outlets.
See Power Outlets on page 5-6
in the owner manual.
If the vehicle has an accessory
power outlet, do not use the
cigarette lighter.
If the vehicle only has a cigarette
lighter, use the cigarette lighter.
Do not pinch the power plug
cord in the door or window.
9. Start the vehicle. The vehicle must be running while using the
air compressor.
10. Press the on/off (D) button to turn the compressor on.
The compressor will inflate the
tire with air only.