
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-9369153) -
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Driving and Operating 221
disabled,gcomes on, and the
appropriate message will appear on
the DIC. Both traction control and
StabiliTrak are automatically
disabled in this condition.
The indicator light for both systems
is in the instrument cluster. This
light will:
. Flash when TCS is limiting
wheel spin.
. Flash when StabiliTrak is
activated.
. Turn on and stay on when either
system is not working.
If either system fails to turn on or to
activate, a message displays in the
Driver Information Center (DIC),
and
dcomes on and stays on to
indicate that the system is inactive
and is not assisting the driver in maintaining control. The vehicle is
safe to drive, but driving should be
adjusted accordingly.
If
dcomes on and stays on:
1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Turn the engine off and wait 15 seconds.
3. Start the engine.
Drive the vehicle. If
dcomes on
and stays on, the vehicle may need
more time to diagnose the problem.
If the condition persists, see your
dealer.
Turning the Systems Off
and On
The button for TCS and StabiliTrak
is on the center stack.
Caution
Do not repeatedly brake or
accelerate heavily when TCS is
off. The vehicle driveline could be
damaged.
To turn off only TCS, press and
release the
gbutton. The traction
off light
idisplays in the instrument
cluster. The appropriate message
will display in the DIC. See Ride
Control System Messages 0152. To
turn TCS on again, press and
release the
gbutton. The traction
off light
idisplayed in the
instrument cluster will turn off.
If TCS is limiting wheel spin when
the
gbutton is pressed, the system
will not turn off until the wheels stop
spinning.
To turn off both TCS and StabiliTrak,
press and hold the
gbutton until
the traction off light
iand the
StabiliTrak OFF light
gcome on
and stay on in the instrument

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222 Driving and Operating
cluster, then release. The
appropriate message will display in
the DIC. SeeRide Control System
Messages 0152.
To turn TCS and StabiliTrak on
again, press and release the
g
button. The traction off lightiand
the StabiliTrak OFF light
gin the
instrument cluster turn off.
StabiliTrak will automatically turn on
if the vehicle exceeds 56 km/h
(35 mph). Traction control will
remain off.
The vehicle has a Trailer Sway
Control (TSC) feature and a Hill
Start Assist (HSA) feature. See
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) 0256 or
Hill Start Assist (HSA) 0219.
Adding accessories can affect the
vehicle performance. See
Accessories and Modifications
0 259.
Magnetic Ride Control
The Magnetic Ride Control monitors
the suspension system. Based on road conditions, steering
wheel angle, and vehicle speed, the
system automatically adjusts to
provide the best handling while
providing a smooth ride. The Tour
and Sport Modes will feel similar on
a smooth road.
Tour :
Use for normal city and
highway driving. This setting
provides a smooth, soft ride.
Sport : Use where road conditions
or personal preference demand
more control. This setting provides
more “feel,” or response to road
conditions.
The vehicle is normally in Tour
Mode. Sport Mode is engaged when
the Magnetic Ride Control button on
the center stack is pressed. Press
the button again to return to
Tour Mode.
The Driver Information Center (DIC)
briefly displays the appropriate
message on vehicle startup or when
a new mode is selected. See Ride
Control System Messages 0152.
Locking Rear Axle
Vehicles with a locking rear axle can
give more traction on snow, mud,
ice, sand, or gravel. It works like a
standard axle most of the time, but
when traction is low, this feature will
allow the rear wheel with the most
traction to move the vehicle.
Automatic Level Control
The automatic level control rear
suspension comes as a part of the
Magnetic Ride Control system.
This type of level control is fully
automatic and will provide a better
leveled riding position as well as

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-9369153) -
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Driving and Operating 223
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 is in ON/
RUN and will automatically adjust
vehicle height thereafter. The
system may exhaust (lower vehicle
height) for up to 10 minutes after the
ignition 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, leveling the
vehicle prior to adjusting the hitch.Cruise Control
{Warning
Cruise control can be dangerous
where you cannot drive safely at
a steady speed. Do not use
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.
If equipped 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).
If the Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control system begins to
limit wheel spin while using cruise
control, the cruise control automatically disengages. See
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control
0220. If a collision alert
occurs when cruise control is
activated, cruise control is
disengaged. See Forward Collision
Alert (FCA) System 0238. When
road conditions allow you to safely
use it again, the cruise control can
be turned back on.
If the brakes are applied, cruise
control disengages.
J(On/Off) : Press to turn the
system on and off. A white indicator
appears in the instrument cluster
when cruise is turned on.

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Driving and Operating 225
Passing Another Vehicle While
Using Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to
increase the vehicle speed. When
you take your foot off the pedal, the
vehicle will slow down to the
previous set cruise speed.
While pressing the accelerator pedal
or shortly following the release to
override cruise, briefly applying the
SET−control will result in cruise set
to the current vehicle speed.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well the cruise control works
on hills depends on the vehicle
speed, the load, and the steepness
of the hills. When going up steep
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 five seconds. A Driver
Information Center (DIC) message
displays. See
Transmission
Messages 0154.
For other forms of Grade Braking,
see Automatic Transmission 0207,
and Tow/Haul Mode 0212.
Ending Cruise Control
There are four ways to end cruise
control:
. Step lightly on the brake pedal.
. Press
*.
. Shift the transmission to
N (Neutral).
. To turn off cruise control,
press
J. Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed is
erased from memory if
Jis
pressed or if the ignition is
turned off.
Adaptive Cruise Control
If equipped with Adaptive Cruise
Control (ACC), it allows the driver to
select the cruise control set speed
and following gap. Read this entire
section before using this system.
The following gap is the following
time between your vehicle and a
vehicle detected directly ahead in
your path, moving in the same
direction. If no vehicle is detected in
your path, ACC works like regular
cruise control. ACC uses camera
and radar sensors.
If a vehicle is detected in your path,
ACC can accelerate or moderately
decelerate to maintain the selected
following gap. To disengage ACC,
apply the brake. If ACC is
controlling your vehicle speed when
the traction control system (TCS) or
electronic stability control system
activates, the ACC may

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226 Driving and Operating
automatically disengage. See
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control0220. When road
conditions allow ACC to be safely
used, the ACC can be turned
back on.
ACC will not engage if the TCS or
StabiliTrak electronic stability control
system is disabled.
{Warning
ACC has limited braking ability
and may not have time to slow
the vehicle down enough to avoid
a collision with another vehicle
you are following. This can occur
when vehicles suddenly slow or
stop ahead, or enter your lane.
Also see “Alerting the Driver” in
this section. Complete attention is
always required while driving and
you should be ready to take
action and apply the brakes. See
Defensive Driving 0186.
{Warning
ACC will not detect or brake for
children, pedestrians, animals,
or other objects.
Do not use ACC when:
. On winding and hilly roads
or when the sensors are
blocked by snow, ice, or dirt.
The system may not detect
a vehicle ahead. Keep the
entire front of the vehicle
clean.
. Visibility is low, such as in
fog, rain, or snow
conditions. ACC
performance is limited under
these conditions.
. On slippery roads where
fast changes in tire traction
can cause excessive
wheel slip.
J(On/Off) : Press to turn the
system on or off. The indicator turns
white on the instrument cluster
when ACC is turned on.
+RES (Resume/Accelerate) :
Press the control up briefly to
resume the previous set speed or
hold upwards to accelerate. If ACC
is already active, use to increase
vehicle speed.
SET– (Set/Coast) : Press the
control down briefly to set the speed
and activate ACC. If ACC is already
active, use to decrease vehicle
speed.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-9369153) -
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Driving and Operating 229
When this condition occurs, the
collision alert symbol on the HUD
will flash on the windshield. Either
eight beeps will sound from the
front, or both sides of the Safety
Alert Seat will pulse five times. See
“Collision/Detection Systems”under
Vehicle Personalization 0156.
See Defensive Driving 0186.
Approaching and Following a
Vehicle
The vehicle ahead symbol is in the
instrument cluster and HUD display.
The vehicle ahead symbol only
displays when a vehicle is detected
in your vehicle’s path moving in the
same direction.
If this symbol is not displaying, ACC
will not respond to or brake to
vehicles ahead. ACC automatically slows the vehicle
down and adjusts vehicle speed to
follow the vehicle in front at the
selected following gap. The vehicle
speed increases or decreases to
follow the vehicle in front of you, but
will not exceed the set speed. It may
apply limited braking, if necessary.
When braking is active, the brake
lights will come on. The automatic
braking may feel or sound different
than if the brakes were applied
manually. This is normal.
Stationary or Very Slow-Moving
Objects
{Warning
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
may not detect and react to
stopped or slow-moving vehicles
ahead of you. For example, the
system may not brake for a
vehicle it has never detected
moving. This can occur in
stop-and-go traffic or when a
vehicle suddenly appears due to
a vehicle ahead changing lanes.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
Your vehicle may not stop and
could cause a crash. Use caution
when using ACC. Your complete
attention is always required while
driving and you should be ready
to take action and apply the
brakes.
ACC Automatically Disengages
ACC may automatically disengage
and the driver will need to manually
apply the brakes to slow the
vehicle when:
. The sensors are blocked.
. The Traction Control System
(TCS) or electronic stability
control system has activated or
been disabled.
. No traffic or other objects are
being detected.
. There is a fault in the system.
The ACC active symbol will not be
displayed when ACC is no longer
active.

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256 Driving and Operating
Tow/Haul is a feature that assists
when pulling a heavy trailer or a
large or heavy load. SeeTow/Haul
Mode 0212.
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 0251. 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.
If TSC is enabled, the Traction
Control System (TCS)/StabiliTrak
warning light will flash on the
instrument cluster. Vehicle speed
must be reduced. If trailer sway
continues, StabiliTrak can reduce
engine torque to help slow the
vehicle. See
Traction Control/
Electronic Stability Control 0220.
{Warning
Even if the vehicle is equipped
with TSC, trailer sway could result
in loss of control and the vehicle
could crash. If excessive trailer
sway is detected, slow down to a
safe speed. Check the trailer and
vehicle to help correct possible
causes. These could include an
improperly or overloaded trailer,
unrestrained cargo, improper
trailer hitch configuration,
excessive vehicle-trailer speed,
or improperly inflated or incorrect
vehicle or trailer tires. See Towing
Equipment 0254 for trailer ratings
and hitch setup
recommendations.
Adding non-dealer accessories can
affect the vehicle performance. See
Accessories and Modifications
0 259.

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Vehicle Care 259
Recreational VehicleTowing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330
General Information
For service and parts needs, visit
your dealer. You will receive
genuine parts and trained and
supported service people.
Accessories and
Modifications
Adding non-dealer accessories or
making modifications to the vehicle
can affect vehicle performance and
safety, including such things as
airbags, braking, stability, ride and
handling, emissions systems,
aerodynamics, durability, and
electronic systems like antilock
brakes, traction control, and stability
control. These accessories or
modifications could even cause
malfunction or damage not covered
by the vehicle warranty.
Damage to vehicle components
resulting from modifications or the
installation or use of non-GM
certified parts, including control
module or software modifications, is
not covered under the terms of the vehicle warranty and may affect
remaining warranty coverage for
affected parts.
GM Accessories are designed to
complement and function with other
systems on the vehicle. See your
dealer to accessorize the vehicle
using genuine GM Accessories
installed by a dealer technician.
Also, see
Adding Equipment to the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle 088.