2015 CADILLAC ESCALADE parking brake

Black plate (40,1)Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7063683) - 2015 - crc - 2/24/14
5-40 Instruments and Controls
This message could be due to the
camera being blocked. Cleaning the
outside of the windshield behind the
rearview mirror may correct the
issue.
REAR AUTO BRAKE/PARK
ASSIST OFF
This message displays when the
Parking Assist system has been
turned off or when there is a
temporary condition causing the
system to be disabled.
REAR AUTO BRAKE AND
PARK ASSIST UNAVAILABLE
This message displays when
attempting to activate the parking
and backing features of the Driver
Assistance System when they are
temporarily unavailable. The system
does not need service.
This can occur under the following
conditions:
.The radar is not clean. Keep the
radar sensors free of mud, dirt,
snow, ice, and slush. Clean theentire front and/or rear of the
vehicle. For cleaning
instructions, see
Exterior Care
on page 10-81.
.Heavy rain or snow is interfering
with the radar object detection or
camera performance.
See Driver Assistance Systems on
page 9-52.
SERVICE AUTOMATIC
COLLISION PREP
If this message displays, take the
vehicle to your dealer to repair the
system.
SERVICE DRIVER ASSIST
SYSTEM
If this message displays, take the
vehicle to your dealer to repair the
system.
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC),
Forward Collision Alert (FCA),
Active Emergency Braking System,
Assistance Systems for Parking or
Backing, and/or Lane Departure Warning (LDW) system may not
work. Do not use these systems
until the vehicle has been repaired.
SERVICE FRONT CAMERA
If this message remains on after
continued driving, the vehicle needs
service. Do not use the Lane
Departure Warning (LDW) and
Forward Collision Alert (FCA)
features. Take the vehicle to your
dealer.
SERVICE PARK ASSIST
This message displays if there is a
problem with the Parking Assist
system. Do not use this system to
help you park. See your dealer for
service.
SERVICE REAR AUTO BRAKE
AND PARK ASSIST
This message displays if there is a
problem with the parking and
backing features of the Driver
Assistance System. Do not use this
system to help park or back the
vehicle. See your dealer for service.

Black plate (48,1)Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7063683) - 2015 - crc - 2/24/14
5-48 Instruments and Controls
Select Off or On.
Auto Rear Defog
If equipped, this feature will
automatically turn on the rear
window defogger when it is cold
outside.
Select Off or On.
Collision/Detection Systems
Select the Collision/Detection
Systems menu and the following
may display:
.Alert Type
.Auto Collision Preparation
.Go Notifier
.Park Assist
.Side Blind Zone Alert
.Rear Cross Traffic Alert
Alert Type
This feature will set crash alerts to
beeps or seat vibrations. This
setting affects all crash alerts
including Forward Collision Alert, Lane Departure Warning, and Park
Assist alerts. See
Driver Assistance
Systems on page 9-52.
Select Beeps or Safety Alert Seat.
Auto Collision Preparation
This feature will turn on or off the
Forward Collision Alert feature as
well as the automatic braking
capability of the Auto Collision
Preparation feature. With the Alert
and Brake setting, both Forward
Collision Alert as well as the
automatic braking capability of the
Auto Collision Preparation feature
are available. The Alert setting
disables most automatic braking
functions of the Auto Collision
Preparation feature. Some
last-second automatic braking
capability is still provided with the
Alert setting, but it is much less
likely to be triggered by most driving
conditions. Off disables all Forward
Collision Alert and automatic
braking capabilities of the Auto
Collision Preparation feature. Select Off, Alert and Brake, or Alert.
See
”Automatic Collision
Preparation (ACP) System” inActive
Emergency Braking System on
page 9-59.
Go Notifier
This feature will give a reminder that
Adaptive Cruise Control provides
when it has brought the vehicle to a
complete stop behind another
stopping vehicle, and then that
vehicle drives on.
Select Off or On.
Park Assist
If equipped, this allows the feature
to be turned on or off. See
Assistance Systems for Parking or
Backing on page 9-52.
Select Off, On, or On with Towbar
Attached.
Side Blind Zone Alert
This allows the feature to be turned
on or off. See Side Blind Zone Alert
(SBZA) on page 9-61.

Black plate (1,1)Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7063683) - 2015 - crc - 2/24/14
Driving and Operating 9-1
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . 9-10
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 9-10
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-11
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 9-13
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . 9-13
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . 9-19
Adjustable Throttle and BrakePedal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-19
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-20
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . 9-22
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-23 Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-23
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-24
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . 9-25
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-25
Active Fuel Management
®. . . 9-26
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-26
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-27
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . 9-27
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-30
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-31
Drive Systems
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-32
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-34
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-35
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . 9-36
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-37
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . 9-38
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-38
Magnetic Ride Control . . . . . . . 9-40
Locking Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . 9-40
Automatic Level Control . . . . . 9-40
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-41
Adaptive Cruise Control . . . . . 9-44
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-52
Assistance Systems for Parking or Backing . . . . . . . . . 9-52
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-56
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-57
Active Emergency Braking System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-59
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-61
Lane Change Alert . . . . . . . . . . . 9-61
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-63

Black plate (7,1)Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7063683) - 2015 - crc - 2/24/14
Driving and Operating 9-7
.Do not damage shrubs, flowers,
trees, or grasses or disturb
wildlife.
.Do not park over things that
burn. SeeParking over Things
That Burn on page 9-25.
Driving on Hills
Driving safely on hills requires good
judgment and an understanding of
what the vehicle can and cannot do.
{Warning
Many hills are simply too steep
for any vehicle. Driving up hills
can cause the vehicle to stall.
Driving down hills can cause loss
of control. Driving across hills can
cause a rollover. You could be
injured or killed. Do not drive on
steep hills.
Before driving on a hill, assess the
steepness, traction, and
obstructions. If the terrain ahead cannot be seen, get out of the
vehicle and walk the hill before
driving further.
When driving on hills:
.Use a low gear and keep a firm
grip on the steering wheel.
.Maintain a slow speed.
.When possible, drive straight up
or down the hill.
.Slow down when approaching
the top of the hill.
.Use headlamps even during the
day to make the vehicle more
visible.
{Warning
Driving to the top of a hill at high
speed can cause an accident.
There could be a drop-off,
embankment, cliff, or even
another vehicle. You could be
seriously injured or killed. As you
near the top of a hill, slow down
and stay alert.
.Never go downhill forward or
backward with the transmission
in N (Neutral). The brakes could
overheat and you could lose
control.
.When driving down a hill, keep
the vehicle headed straight
down. Use a low gear because
the engine will work with the
brakes to slow the vehicle and
help keep the vehicle under
control.
{Warning
Heavy braking when going down
a hill can cause your brakes to
overheat and fade. This could
cause loss of control and you or
others could be injured or killed.
Apply the brakes lightly when
descending a hill and use a low
gear to keep vehicle speed under
control.

Black plate (8,1)Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7063683) - 2015 - crc - 2/24/14
9-8 Driving and Operating
If the vehicle stalls on a hill:
1. Apply the brakes to stop thevehicle, and then apply the
parking brake.
2. Shift into P (Park) and then restart the engine.
.If driving uphill when the
vehicle stalls, shift to
R (Reverse), release the
parking brake, and back
straight down.
.Never try to turn the vehicle
around. If the hill is steep
enough to stall the vehicle,
it is steep enough to cause
it to roll over.
.If you cannot make it up the
hill, back straight down
the hill.
.Never back down a hill in
N (Neutral) using only the
brake.
The vehicle can roll
backward quickly and you
could lose control.
.If driving downhill when the
vehicle stalls, shift to a
lower gear, release the
parking brake, and drive
straight down the hill.
3. If the vehicle cannot be restarted after stalling, set the parking
brake, shift into P (Park), and
turn the vehicle off.
3.1. Leave the vehicle and seek help.
3.2. Stay clear of the path the vehicle would take if it
rolled downhill.
.Avoid turns that take the vehicle
across the incline of the hill.
A hill that can be driven straight
up or down might be too steep to
drive across. Driving across an
incline puts more weight on the
downhill wheels, which could
cause a downhill slide or a
rollover.
.Surface conditions can be a
problem. Loose gravel, muddy
spots, or even wet grass can
cause the tires to slip sideways, downhill. If the vehicle slips
sideways, it can hit something
that will trip it
—a rock, a rut,
etc. —and roll over.
.Hidden obstacles can make the
steepness of the incline more
severe. If a rock is driven across
with the uphill wheels, or if the
downhill wheels drop into a rut
or depression, the vehicle can tilt
even more.
.If an incline must be driven
across, and the vehicle starts to
slide, turn downhill. This should
help straighten out the vehicle
and prevent the side slipping.
{Warning
Getting out of the vehicle on the
downhill side when stopped
across an incline is dangerous.
If the vehicle rolls over, you could
be crushed or killed. Always get
out on the uphill side of the
vehicle and stay well clear of the
rollover path.

Black plate (21,1)Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7063683) - 2015 - crc - 2/24/14
Driving and Operating 9-21
If the vehicle must be shut off in an
emergency:
1. Brake using a firm and steadypressure. Do not pump the
brakes repeatedly. This may
deplete power assist, requiring
increased brake pedal force.
2. Shift the vehicle to N (Neutral). This can be done while the
vehicle is moving. After shifting
to N (Neutral), firmly apply the
brakes and steer the vehicle to a
safe location.
3. Come to a complete stop, shift to P (Park), and turn the ignition
to OFF. On vehicles with an
automatic transmission, the shift
lever must be in P (Park) to turn
the ignition switch to the OFF
position.
4. Set the parking brake. See Parking Brake on page 9-35.{Warning
Turning off the vehicle while
moving may cause loss of power
assist in the brake and steering
systems and disable the airbags.
While driving, only shut the
vehicle off in an emergency.
If the vehicle cannot be pulled over,
and must be shut off while driving,
press and hold the ENGINE START/
STOP button for longer than
two seconds, or press twice in
five seconds.
ACC/ACCESSORY (Amber
Indicator Light): This mode allows
some electrical accessories to be
used when the engine is off.
With the ignition off, pressing the
button one time without the brake
pedal applied will place the ignition
system in ACC/ACCESSORY. The ignition will switch from ACC/
ACCESSORY to OFF after
five minutes to prevent battery
rundown.
ON/RUN/START (Green Indicator
Light):
This mode is for driving and
starting. With the ignition off, and
the brake pedal applied, pressing
the button once will place the
ignition system in ON/RUN/START.
Once engine cranking begins,
release the button. Engine cranking
will continue until the engine starts.
See Starting the Engine on
page 9-22. The ignition will then
remain in ON/RUN.
Service Only Mode
This power mode is available for
service and diagnostics, and to
verify the proper operation of the
malfunction indicator lamp as may
be required for emission inspection
purposes. With the vehicle off, and
the brake pedal not applied,
pressing and holding the button for
more than five seconds will place
the vehicle in Service Only Mode.

Black plate (24,1)Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7063683) - 2015 - crc - 2/24/14
9-24 Driving and Operating
These features work when the
ignition is in ON/RUN or ACC/
ACCESSORY. Once the ignition is
turned from ON/RUN to LOCK/OFF,
the windows and sunroof continue
to work up to 10 minutes until any
door is opened. The radio continues
to work for up to 10 minutes or until
the driver door is opened.
Shifting Into Park
{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 you have left the engine
running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be
injured. To be sure the vehicle will
not move, even when you are on
fairly level ground, use the steps
that follow. If the vehicle has a
four-wheel drive transfer case(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
with a N (Neutral) position, and
the transfer case is in N (Neutral),
the vehicle will be free to roll,
even if the shift lever is in
P (Park). Be sure the transfer
case is in a drive gear. If towing a
trailer, seeDriving Characteristics
and Towing Tips on page 9-70.
1. Hold the brake pedal down, then set the parking brake.
See Parking Brake on
page 9-35.
2. Move the shift lever into the P (Park) position by pulling the
shift lever toward you and
moving it up as far as it will go.
3. Be sure the transfer case is in a drive gear —not in N (Neutral).
4. Turn the ignition to LOCK/OFF.
Leaving the Vehicle with the
Engine Running
{Warning
It can be dangerous to leave the
vehicle with the engine running.
The vehicle could move suddenly
if the shift lever is not fully in
P (Park) with the parking brake
firmly set.
And, if you leave the vehicle with
the engine running, it could
overheat and even catch fire. You
or others could be injured. Do not
leave the vehicle with the engine
running unless you have to.
If you have to leave the vehicle with
the engine running, be sure the
vehicle is in P (Park) and the
parking brake is firmly set before
you leave it. After you move the shift
lever into P (Park), hold the regular
brake pedal down. Then, see if you
can move the shift lever away from
P (Park) without first pulling it toward

Black plate (25,1)Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
7063683) - 2015 - crc - 2/24/14
Driving and Operating 9-25
you. If you can, it means that the
shift lever was not fully locked into
P (Park).
Torque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and you
do not shift the transmission into
P (Park) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put too much force on
the parking pawl in the
transmission. You may find it difficult
to pull the shift lever out of P (Park).
This is called torque lock. To
prevent torque lock, set the parking
brake and then shift into P (Park)
properly before you leave the driver
seat. To find out how, seeShifting
Into Park on page 9-24.
When you are ready to drive, move
the shift lever out of P (Park) before
you release the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may
need to have another vehicle push
yours a little uphill to take some of
the pressure from the parking pawl
in the transmission. You will then be
able to pull the shift lever out of
P (Park).
Shifting out of Park
This vehicle is equipped with an
electronic shift lock release system.
The shift lock release is designed to
prevent movement of the shift lever
out of P (Park), unless the ignition is
in ON/RUN and the regular brake
pedal is applied.
The shift lock release is always
functional except in the case of an
uncharged or low voltage (less than
9 volt) battery.
If the vehicle has an uncharged
battery or a battery with low voltage,
try charging or jump starting the
battery. See Jump Starting on
page 10-73.
To shift out of P (Park):
1. Apply the brake pedal.
2. Move the shift lever to the desired position. If you still are unable to shift out of
P (Park):
1. Ease the pressure on the shift
lever.
2. While holding down the brake pedal, push the shift lever all the
way into P (Park).
3. Move the shift lever to the desired position.
If you are still having a problem
shifting, then have the vehicle
serviced soon.
Parking over Things
That Burn
{Warning
Things that can burn could touch
hot exhaust parts under the
vehicle and ignite. Do not park
over papers, leaves, dry grass,
or other things that can burn.