2015 CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV parking brake

Black plate (59,1)Cadillac 2015i Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-8431501) - 2015 - CRC - 2/10/15
Driving and Operating 9-59
clean of mud, dirt, snow, ice, and
slush; and clean sensors after a car
wash in freezing temperatures.
{Warning
The parking assist system does
not detect children, pedestrians,
bicyclists, animals, or objects
located 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
parking assist, always check the
area around the vehicle and
check all mirrors before moving
forward or backing.
The instrument cluster may have a
parking assist display with bars that
show“distance to object” and object
location information for the Front
and Rear Parking Assist system. As
the object gets closer, more bars
light up and the bars change color
from yellow to amber to red.
When an object is first detected in
the rear, one beep will be heard
from the rear, or both sides of the
Safety Alert Seat will pulse two
times. When an object is very close
(<0.6 m (2 ft) in the vehicle rear,
or <0.3 m (1 ft) in the vehicle front),
a continuous beep will sound from
the front or rear depending on
object location, or both sides of the Safety Alert Seat will pulse five
times. Beeps for FPA are higher
pitched than for RPA.
Backing Warning and Rear
Automatic Braking
Vehicles with Adaptive Cruise
Control (ACC) have the Backing
Warning and Rear Automatic
Braking (RAB) system. The Backing
Warning part of this system can
warn of rear objects when backing
up at speeds greater than
8 km/h (5 mph).
The Backing Warning System will
beep once from the rear when an
object is first detected, or pulse
twice on both sides of the Safety
Alert Seat. When the system
detects a potential crash, beeps will
be heard from the rear, or five
pulses will be felt on both sides of
the Safety Alert Seat. There may
also be a brief, sharp application of
the brakes.

Black plate (60,1)Cadillac 2015i Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-8431501) - 2015 - CRC - 2/10/15
9-60 Driving and Operating
{Warning
The Backing Warning System
only operates at speeds greater
than 8 km/h (5 mph). It does not
detect children, pedestrians,
bicyclists, animals, or objects
below the bumper or that are too
close or too far from the vehicle.
In some situations, such as at
higher backing speeds, there may
not be enough time for the short,
sharp application of the vehicle
brake system to occur. To prevent
injury, death, or vehicle damage,
even with the Backing Warning
System, always check the area
around the vehicle and check all
mirrors before backing.
When the vehicle is in R (Reverse)
and if it is backing too fast to avoid
a crash with a detected object
directly behind the vehicle, the Rear
Automatic Braking (RAB) system may automatically brake hard to a
stop to help avoid or reduce the
harm caused by a backing crash.
{Warning
Rear Automatic Braking may not
avoid many types of backing
crashes. Do not wait for the
automatic braking to apply. This
system is not designed to replace
driver braking and only works in
R (Reverse) when an object is
detected directly behind the
vehicle. It may not brake or stop
in time to avoid a crash. It will not
brake for objects when the
vehicle is moving at very low
speeds. It does not detect
children, pedestrians, bicyclists,
animals, or objects below the
bumper or that are too close or
too far from the vehicle. To
prevent injury, death, or vehicle
damage, even with Rear
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
Automatic Braking, always check
the area around the vehicle
before and while backing.
Pressing the brake pedal after the
vehicle comes to a stop will release
the Rear Automatic Braking. If the
brake pedal is not pressed soon
after the stop, the electric parking
brake may be set. When it is safe,
press the accelerator pedal firmly at
any time to override the Rear
Automatic Braking.
{Warning
There may be instances where
unexpected or undesired
automatic braking occurs. If this
happens, either press the brake
pedal or firmly press the
accelerator pedal to release the
brakes from the Rear Automatic (Continued)

Black plate (61,1)Cadillac 2015i Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-8431501) - 2015 - CRC - 2/10/15
Driving and Operating 9-61
Warning (Continued)
Braking system. Before releasing
the brakes, check the RVC
screen and check the area
around the vehicle to make sure it
is safe to proceed.
Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
If equipped, when the vehicle is
shifted into R (Reverse), RCTA
displays a red warning triangle with
a left or right pointing arrow on the
RVC screen to warn of traffic
coming from the left or right. This
system detects objects coming from
up to 20 m (65 ft) from the left or
right side of the vehicle. When an
object is detected, either three
beeps sound from the left or right or
three Safety Alert Seat pulses occur
on the left or right side, depending
on the direction of the detected
vehicle. Use caution while backing up when
towing a trailer, as the RCTA
detection zones that extend out
from the back of the vehicle do not
move further back when a trailer is
towed.
Turning the Features On or Off
TheXbutton on the center stack
is used to turn on or off the Front
and Rear Parking Assist, Rear
Cross Traffic Alert, Rear Automatic
Braking, and Backing Warning
System at the same time. The
indicator light next to the button
comes on when the features are on
and turns off when the features
have been disabled.
Front and Rear Parking Assist can
be turned off, on, or on with towbar
through vehicle personalization. See
“Park Assist” underVehicle
Personalization on page 5-46. If the
parking assist is turned off through
vehicle personalization, the park
assist button will be disabled. To
turn the parking assist on again,
select On in the vehicle
personalization menu. The On with
Towbar setting allows for the
parking assist to work properly with
a small item attached to the trailer
hitch.
Turn off parking assist and Rear
Automatic Braking when towing a
trailer.
To turn the RPA symbols, guidance
lines, or Rear Cross Traffic Alert on
or off, see “Rear Camera” under
Vehicle Personalization on
page 5-46.
On some vehicles RCTA setting can
be turned off through “Collision/
Detection Systems” underVehicle
Personalization on page 5-46

Black plate (65,1)Cadillac 2015i Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-8431501) - 2015 - CRC - 2/10/15
Driving and Operating 9-65
Automatic Collision
Preparation (ACP) System
When driving in a forward gear
above 4 km/h (2.5 mph), ACP may
help reduce crash damage by
applying the brakes. It has a
detection range of approximately
60 m (197 ft). This front automatic
braking can only occur if a vehicle is
detected. This is shown by the FCA
vehicle ahead indicator being lit.
SeeForward Collision Alert (FCA)
System on page 9-62.
{Warning
ACP is an emergency crash
preparation feature and is not
designed to avoid crashes. Do
not rely on ACP to brake the
vehicle.
ACP may not:
.Respond to stopped vehicles,
pedestrians, or animals.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.Detect a vehicle ahead on
winding or hilly roads.
.Detect a stopped or
slow-moving vehicle or other
object ahead.
.Detect a vehicle when
weather limits visibility, such
as in fog, rain, or snow. In
these situations, ACP sensor
performance is limited.
Complete attention is always
required while driving, and you
should be ready to take action
and apply the brakes and/or steer
the vehicle to avoid crashes.
Brake Preparation
When quickly approaching a vehicle
ahead, Brake Preparation reduces
brake response time by having the
brake system prepared for driver
braking to occur more rapidly. Automatic Braking
If ACP detects it is about to crash
with the vehicle you are following
that is moving or has come to a
stop, and the brakes have not been
applied, it may automatically brake
hard. This can help to reduce crash
damage and it may even help to
avoid some very low speed crashes.
Automatic Braking may slow the
vehicle to a complete stop to try to
avoid a potential crash. If this
happens, Automatic Braking may
engage the Electric Parking Brake
(EPB) to hold the vehicle at a stop.
To release the EPB, press the EPB
button. A firm press of the
accelerator pedal will also release
Automatic Braking and the EPB.
{Warning
Automatic Braking may
automatically brake the vehicle
suddenly in situations where it is
unexpected and undesired.
(Continued)

Black plate (76,1)Cadillac 2015i Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-8431501) - 2015 - CRC - 2/10/15
9-76 Driving and Operating
Caution (Continued)
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.
When towing, use the Tow/Haul
Mode to prevent damage to the
engine or transmission. See
Tow/
Haul Mode on page 9-33.
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
transmission in P (Park) for a few
minutes before turning the engine
off. If the overheat warning comes
on, see Engine Overheating on
page 10-15.
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.

Black plate (77,1)Cadillac 2015i Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-8431501) - 2015 - CRC - 2/10/15
Driving and Operating 9-77
4. Reapply the brake pedal. Thenapply the parking brake and shift
into P (Park).
5. Release the brake pedal.
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
Maintenance Schedule on
page 11-4. 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.
Trailer Towing
Do not tow a trailer during break-in.
See
New Vehicle Break-In on
page 9-19.
{Warning
The driver can lose control when
pulling a trailer if the correct
equipment is not used or the
vehicle is not driven properly. For
example, if the trailer is too
heavy, the brakes may not work
well —or even at all. The driver
and passengers could be
seriously injured. The vehicle may
also be damaged; the resulting
repairs would not be covered by
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
the vehicle warranty. Pull a trailer
only if all the steps in this section
have been followed. Ask your
dealer for advice and information
about towing a trailer with the
vehicle.
{Caution
Pulling a trailer improperly can
damage the vehicle and result in
costly repairs not covered by the
vehicle warranty. To pull a trailer
correctly, follow the advice in this
section and see your dealer for
important information about
towing a trailer with the vehicle.
To identify the trailering capacity of
the vehicle, read the information in
“Weight of the Trailer” later in this
section.

Black plate (83,1)Cadillac 2015i Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-8431501) - 2015 - CRC - 2/10/15
Driving and Operating 9-83
Tow/Haul Mode
Pressing this button at the end of
the shift lever turns on and off the
Tow/Haul Mode.
This indicator light on the instrument
cluster comes on when the Tow/
Haul Mode is on.Tow/Haul is a feature that assists
when pulling a heavy trailer or a
large or heavy load. See
Tow/Haul
Mode on page 9-33.
Tow/Haul is designed to be most
effective when the vehicle and
trailer combined weight is at least
75 percent of the vehicle's Gross
Combined Weight Rating (GCWR).
See “Weight of the Trailer” under
Trailer Towing on page 9-77. Tow/
Haul is most useful under the
following driving conditions:
.When pulling a heavy trailer or a
large or heavy load through
rolling terrain.
.When pulling a heavy trailer or a
large or heavy load in
stop-and-go traffic.
.When pulling a heavy trailer or a
large or heavy load in busy
parking lots where improved low
speed control of the vehicle is
desired. Operating the vehicle in Tow/Haul
when lightly loaded or with no trailer
at all will not cause damage.
However, there is no benefit to the
selection of Tow/Haul when the
vehicle is unloaded. Such a
selection when unloaded may result
in unpleasant engine and
transmission driving characteristics
and reduced fuel economy. Tow/
Haul is recommended only when
pulling a heavy trailer or a large or
heavy load.
Trailer Sway
Control (TSC)
Vehicles with StabiliTrak have a
TSC feature. Trailer sway is
unintended side-to-side motion of a
trailer while being towed. If the
vehicle is towing a trailer and the
TSC detects that sway is increasing,
the vehicle brakes are selectively
applied at each wheel, to help
reduce excessive trailer sway.

Black plate (23,1)Cadillac 2015i Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-8431501) - 2015 - CRC - 2/10/15
Vehicle Care 10-23
heard. A fluid loss could indicate a
problem. Have it inspected and
repaired.
All axle assemblies are filled by
volume of fluid during production.
They are not filled to reach a certain
level. When checking the fluid level
on any axle, variations in the
readings can be caused by factory
fill differences between the minimum
and the maximum fluid volume.
Also, if a vehicle has just been
driven before checking the fluid
level, it may appear lower than
normal because fluid has traveled
out along the axle tubes and has
not drained back to the sump area.
Therefore, a reading taken
five minutes after the vehicle has
been driven will appear to have a
lower fluid level than a vehicle that
has been stationary for an hour or
two. The rear axle assembly must
be supported on a flat, level surface
to get a true reading.How to Check Lubricant
To get an accurate reading, the
vehicle should be on a level
surface.
The proper level is 1.0 mm to
19.0 mm (0.04 in to 0.7 in) below
the bottom of the fill hole, located on
the rear axle. Add only enough fluid
to reach the proper level.
What to Use
Refer toRecommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11-13 to
determine what kind of lubricant
to use.
Starter Switch Check
{Warning
When you are doing this
inspection, the vehicle could
move suddenly. If the vehicle
moves, you or others could be
injured.
1. Before starting this check, be sure there is enough room
around the vehicle.
2. Apply both the parking brake and the regular brake.
Do not use the accelerator
pedal, and be ready to turn off
the engine immediately if it
starts.
3. Try to start the engine in each gear. The vehicle should start
only in P (Park) or N (Neutral).
If the vehicle starts in any other
position, contact your dealer for
service.