2017 CADILLAC ESCALADE steering

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293077) -
2017 - crc - 8/24/16
DRIVING AND OPERATING 191
surface of a curve or an overpass
can remain icy when the
surrounding roads are clear. Avoid
sudden steering maneuvers and
braking while on ice.
. Turn off cruise control.
Blizzard Conditions
Stop the vehicle in a safe place and
signal for help. Stay with the vehicle
unless there is help nearby. To get
help and keep everyone in the
vehicle safe:
.Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
. Tie a red cloth to an outside
mirror.
{Warning
Snow can trap engine exhaust
under the vehicle. This may cause
exhaust gases to get inside. Engine
exhaust contains carbon monoxide
(CO), which cannot be seen or
smelled. It can cause
unconsciousness and even death.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
If the vehicle is stuck in snow:
. Clear snow from the base of
the vehicle, especially any
blocking the exhaust pipe.
. Open a window about 5 cm
(2 in) on the vehicle side that
is away from the wind, to
bring in fresh air.
. Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
. Adjust the climate control
system to circulate the air
inside the vehicle and set the
fan speed to the highest
setting. See “Climate Control
Systems.”
For more information about CO, see
Engine Exhaust 0203.
To save fuel, run the engine for short
periods to warm the vehicle and then
shut the engine off and partially close
the window. Moving about to keep
warm also helps. If it takes time for help to arrive,
when running the engine, push the
accelerator pedal slightly so the
engine runs faster than the idle speed.
This keeps the battery charged to
restart the vehicle and to signal for
help with the headlamps. Do this as
little as possible, to save fuel.
If the Vehicle Is Stuck
Slowly and cautiously spin the wheels
to free the vehicle when stuck in sand,
mud, ice, or snow. See
“Rocking the
Vehicle to Get It Out ”later in this
section.
The Traction Control System (TCS)
can often help to free a stuck vehicle.
See Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control 0216. If TCS cannot free the
vehicle, see “Rocking the Vehicle to
Get it Out ”following.
{Warning
If the vehicle's tires spin at high
speed, they can explode, and you or
others could be injured. The vehicle
can overheat, causing an engine
(Continued)

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293077) -
2017 - crc - 8/24/16
192 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Warning (Continued)
compartment fire or other damage.
Spin the wheels as little as possible
and avoid going above 56 km/h
(35 mph).
For information about using tire
chains on the vehicle, see Tire
Chains 0301.
Rocking the Vehicle to Get It Out
Turn the steering wheel left and right
to clear the area around the front
wheels. For four-wheel-drive vehicles,
shift into Four-Wheel Drive High.
Turn the TCS off. Shift back and forth
between R (Reverse) and a forward
gear, spinning the wheels as little as
possible. To prevent transmission
wear, wait until the wheels stop
spinning before shifting gears. Slowly
spinning the wheels in the forward
and reverse directions causes a
rocking motion that could free the
vehicle. If that does not get the
vehicle out after a few tries, it might
need to be towed out. See Towing the
Vehicle 0315.
Vehicle Load Limits
It is very important to know how
much weight the vehicle can carry.
This weight is called the vehicle
capacity weight and includes the
weight of all occupants, cargo, and
all nonfactory-installed options.
Two labels on the vehicle may
show how much weight it was
designed to carry, the Tire and
Loading Information label and the
Certification/Tire label.
{Warning
Do not load the vehicle any
heavier than the Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR),
or either the maximum front or
rear Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GAWR). This can cause
systems to break and change
the way the vehicle handles.
This could cause loss of control
and a crash. Overloading can
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
also reduce stopping distance,
damage the tires, and shorten
the life of the vehicle.
Tire and Loading Information Label
Label Example
A vehicle specific Tire and
Loading Information label is
attached to the center pillar
(B-pillar). The tire and loading
information label shows the
number of occupant seating

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293077) -
2017 - crc - 8/24/16
198 DRIVING AND OPERATING
To shift out of P (Park), the vehicle
must be in ACC/ACCESSORY or ON/
RUN and the brake pedal must be
applied.
Stopping the Engine/LOCK/OFF (No
Indicator Lights) :When the vehicle
is stopped, press the ENGINE START/
STOP button once to turn the
engine off.
If the vehicle is in P (Park), the
ignition will turn off, and Retained
Accessory Power (RAP) will remain
active. See Retained Accessory Power
(RAP) 0200.
If the vehicle is not in P (Park), the
ignition will return to ACC/
ACCESSORY and display the message
SHIFT TO PARK in the Driver
Information Center (DIC). See
Transmission Messages 0152. When
the vehicle is shifted into P (Park), the
ignition system will switch to OFF.
Do not turn the engine off when the
vehicle is moving. This will cause a
loss of power assist in the brake and
steering systems and disable the
airbags. The vehicle may have an electric
steering column lock. The lock is
activated when the vehicle is switched
to OFF and either front door is
opened. A sound may be heard as the
lock actuates or releases. The steering
column lock may not release with the
wheels turned off center. If this
happens, the vehicle may not start.
Move the steering wheel from left to
right while attempting to start the
vehicle. If this does not work, the
vehicle needs service.
If the vehicle must be shut off in an
emergency:
1. Brake using a firm and steady pressure. 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 0213.
{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.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293077) -
2017 - crc - 8/24/16
DRIVING AND OPERATING 209
Drive Systems
Four-Wheel Drive
If equipped, four-wheel drive engages
the front axle for extra traction.
Caution
Do not drive on clean, dry
pavement in 4
mand 4n(if
equipped) for an extended period of
time. These conditions may cause
premature wear on the vehicle’s
powertrain.
Driving on clean, dry pavement in 4HI
or 4LO may:
. Cause a vibration to be felt in the
steering system.
. Cause tires to wear faster.
. Make the transfer case harder to
shift, and cause it to run noisier.
{Warning
Shifting the transfer case to
N (Neutral) can cause the vehicle to
roll even if the transmission is in
P (Park). You or someone else could
be seriously injured. Be sure to set
the parking brake before placing the
transfer case in N (Neutral). See
Parking Brake 0213.
Caution
Extended high-speed operation in 4
nmay damage or shorten the life of
the drivetrain.
Engagement noise and bump when
shifting between 4
nand 4mor from
N (Neutral), with the engine running,
is normal.
Shifting into 4
nwill turn Traction
Control and StabiliTrak®off. See
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control 0216.
Automatic Transfer Case
If equipped, use the transfer case knob
next to the steering wheel to shift into
and out of four-wheel drive.
All of the lights will blink on then off
momentarily when the ignition is
moved to the ON/RUN position. The
light that remains on will indicate the
state of the Transfer Case.
If the indicator mark on the switch
does not match up with the light then
that likely means the switch was
moved when the ignition was off.
The indicator mark on the switch
must line up with the indicator light
before a shift can be commanded. To

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293077) -
2017 - crc - 8/24/16
DRIVING AND OPERATING 213
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the
brake pedal down firmly and let ABS
work. You may hear the ABS pump or
motor operating and feel the brake
pedal pulsate. 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 0132.
Caution
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, a DIC message will appear
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 0245.
Electric Parking Brake
If equipped with an Electric Parking
Brake (EPB), the switch is to the left
of the steering wheel on the
instrument panel, below the exterior
lamp controls. The EPB can always be
activated, even if the ignition is off. To
prevent draining the battery, avoid
repeated cycles of the EPB when the
engine is not running.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293077) -
2017 - crc - 8/24/16
DRIVING AND OPERATING 217
Ifdcomes 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
g. The traction off lighti
displays in the instrument cluster. The
appropriate message will display in
the DIC. See
Ride Control System
Messages 0150. To turn TCS on again,
press and release
g. The traction off
light
idisplayed in the instrument
cluster will turn off.
If TCS is limiting wheel spin when
g
is pressed, the system will not turn off
until the wheels stop spinning.
To turn off both TCS and StabiliTrak,
press and hold
guntil the traction off
light
iand the StabiliTrak OFF
light
gcome on and stay on in the
instrument cluster, then release. The
appropriate message will display in
the DIC. See Ride Control System
Messages 0150.
To turn TCS and StabiliTrak on again,
press and release
g. The traction off
light
iand 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) 0252 orHill Start Assist
(HSA) 0215.
Adding accessories can affect the
vehicle performance. See Accessories
and Modifications 0255.
Driver Mode Control
Driver Mode Control attempts to add
a sportier feel, provide a more
comfortable ride, or assist in different
weather conditions or terrain. This
system simultaneously changes the
software settings of various
sub-systems. Depending on the option
package, available features, and mode
selected, the suspension, steering, and
powertrain will change settings to
achieve the desired mode
characteristics. If the vehicle is
equipped with Magnetic Ride Control,
selecting the various Driver Modes
adjusts the ride of the vehicle to

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293077) -
2017 - crc - 8/24/16
218 DRIVING AND OPERATING
enhance the ride performance for the
road conditions and the
selected mode.
The Driver Mode Control has four
modes: Tour, Sport, Snow/Ice, and
Tow/Haul.
Press the TOW/HAUL switch to
activate and deactivate the Tow/
Haul Mode.
Press the MODE switch on the center
console to select Tour, Sport, or Snow/
Ice. Pressing the switch will display a
graphic of all available ride modes and
change to the next mode. The Tour
and Sport Modes will feel similar on a
smooth road. Select a new setting
whenever driving conditions change.
Tour Mode
Use for normal city and highway
driving to provide a smooth, soft ride.
When selected, there will be no
indication in the DIC.
Sport Mode
Use where road conditions or personal
preference demand a more controlled
response.The steering will change to provide
more precise control. The Magnetic
Ride Control will change to provide
better cornering performance.
When selected, the Sport Mode
indicator will display in the DIC.
Snow/Ice Mode
Use when more traction is needed
during slippery conditions.
The vehicle will upshift normally
when the vehicle is moving. The
acceleration will adjust to help provide
a smoother launch.
When selected, the Snow/Ice Mode
indicator will display in the DIC.
Tow/Haul Mode
Tow/Haul is a feature that assists
when pulling a heavy trailer or a large
or heavy load. See .Tow/Haul
Mode
0208
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)l See “Weight
of the Trailer” underTrailer
Towing 0247. Tow/Haul is most useful under the
following 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.
When selected, the Tow/Haul
indicator will display in the
instrument cluster.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293077) -
2017 - crc - 8/24/16
DRIVING AND OPERATING 219
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.
8Sport : Use where road conditions
or personal preference demand more
control. This setting provides more
“feel,” or response to road conditions.
6Snow/Ice : Use when more
traction is needed during slippery
conditions.
The vehicle is normally in Tour Mode.
Sport Mode and Snow/Ice Mode are
engaged when the Magnetic Ride
Control MODE button on the center
stack is pressed. Press the button to
select the desired 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 0150.
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
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.