Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349344) - 2018 - crc - 11/7/17
INTRODUCTION 3
Danger, Warning, and
Caution
Warning messages found on vehicle
labels and in this manual describe
hazards and what to do to avoid or
reduce them.
{Danger
Danger indicates a hazard with a
high level of risk which will result
in serious injury or death.
{Warning
Warning indicates a hazard that
could result in injury or death.
Caution
Caution indicates a hazard that
could result in property or vehicle
damage.
A circle with a slash through it is a
safety symbol which means“Do Not,”
“Do not do this,” or“Do not let this
happen.”
Symbols
The vehicle has components and
labels that use symbols instead of
text. Symbols are shown along with
the text describing the operation or
information relating to a specific
component, control, message, gauge,
or indicator.
M: Shown when the owner’s manual
has additional instructions or
information.
*: Shown when the service manual
has additional instructions or
information.
0: Shown when there is more
information on another page —
“see page.” Vehicle Symbol Chart
Here are some additional symbols that
may be found on the vehicle and what
they mean. See the features in this
manual for information.
9:
Airbag Readiness Light
#:Air Conditioning
!:Antilock Brake System (ABS)
$:Brake System Warning Light
":Charging System
I: Cruise Control
`:Do Not Puncture
^:Do Not Service
B:Engine Coolant Temperature
O:Exterior Lamps
_:Flame/Fire Prohibited
.:Fuel Gauge
+: Fuses
3:Headlamp High/Low-Beam
Changer
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349344) - 2018 - crc - 11/7/17
36 KEYS, DOORS, AND WINDOWS
3. Remove the old battery. Do notuse a metal object.
4. Insert the new battery on the back housing, positive side facing
down. Replace with a CR2032 or
equivalent battery.
5. Align the front and back housing then snap the transmitter
together.
Remote Vehicle Start
The climate control system will come
on when the vehicle is started
remotely depending on the outside
temperature. The rear defog and heated and cooled
seats, if equipped, may also come on.
See
Heated and Cooled Front Seats 067
and Vehicle Personalization 0152.
Laws in some communities may
restrict the use of remote starters.
Check local regulations for any
requirements on remote starting of
vehicles.
Do not use remote start if the vehicle
is low on fuel.
The vehicle cannot be remote
started if:
. The transmitter is in the vehicle.
. The hood is not closed.
. There is an emission control
system malfunction and the
malfunction indicator lamp is on.
The engine will turn off during a
remote vehicle start if:
. The coolant temperature gets
too high.
. The oil pressure gets low.
The RKE transmitter range may be
less while the vehicle is running. Other conditions can affect the
performance of the transmitter.
See
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System
0 29 orVehicle Personalization 0152.
Starting the Engine Using Remote
Start
1. Press and release
Q.
2. Immediately press and hold
/
until the turn signal lamps flash
or for at least four seconds.
When the vehicle starts, the
parking lamps will turn on. The
doors will be locked and the
climate control system may
come on.
The engine will continue to run
for 10 minutes. Repeat
Steps 1 and 2 for one 10-minute
time extension.
Turn the ignition on to operate the
vehicle.
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349344) - 2018 - crc - 11/7/17
120 INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS
Instruments and
Controls
Controls
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . . . 121
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . . . . . 121
Heated Steering Wheel . . . . . . . . . . 121
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . . . . 121
Rear Window Wiper/Washer . . . . 123
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Wireless Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Cigarette Lighter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Ashtrays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Warning Lights, Gauges, and
Indicators
Warning Lights, Gauges, andIndicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Fuel Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133 Engine Coolant Temperature
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Seat Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Airbag Readiness Light . . . . . . . . . . 135
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Charging System Light . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Check Engine Light) . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Brake System Warning Light . . . . 138
Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . 139
Service Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Sport Mode Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Tow/Haul Mode Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Winter Driving Mode Light . . . . . . 140
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) Light . . . 140
Vehicle Ahead Indicator . . . . . . . . . 141
Traction Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
StabiliTrak OFF Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Traction Control System (TCS)/ StabiliTrak Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Tire Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Engine Oil Pressure Light . . . . . . . . 143
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . . . 143
Security Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143 High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Lamps On Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Cruise Control Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Door Ajar Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Information Displays
Driver Information
Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Head-Up Display (HUD) . . . . . . . . . 147
Vehicle Messages
Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Engine Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . 151
Vehicle Speed Messages . . . . . . . . . 152
Vehicle Personalization
Vehicle Personalization . . . . . . . . . . 152
Universal Remote System
Universal Remote System . . . . . . . . 160
Universal Remote System Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Universal Remote System Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349344) - 2018 - crc - 11/7/17
134 INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS
Engine Coolant
Temperature Gauge
Metric Balanced Configuration
English Balanced Configuration
This gauge measures the temperature
of the vehicle's engine.
While driving under normal operating
conditions, if the needle moves into
the red area, the engine is too hot.
Pull off the road, stop the vehicle, and
turn off the engine as soon as
possible.
Seat Belt Reminders
Driver Seat Belt Reminder Light
There is a driver seat belt reminder
light on the instrument cluster.
When the vehicle is started, this light
flashes and a chime may come on to
remind the driver to fasten their seat
belt. Then the light stays on solid
until the belt is buckled. This cycle
may continue several times if the
driver remains or becomes unbuckled
while the vehicle is moving.
If the driver seat belt is buckled,
neither the light nor the chime
comes on.
Passenger Seat Belt Reminder
Light
There is a passenger seat belt
reminder light near the passenger
airbag status indicator. See Passenger
Sensing System 090.
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349344) - 2018 - crc - 11/7/17
142 INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS
Traction Control System
(TCS)/StabiliTrak Light
This light comes on briefly when the
engine is started.
If the light does not come on, have
the vehicle serviced by your dealer.
If the system is working normally, the
indicator light turns off.
If the light is on and not flashing, the
TCS and potentially the StabiliTrak
system have been disabled. A Driver
Information Center (DIC) message
may display. Check the DIC messages
to determine which feature(s) is no
longer functioning and whether the
vehicle requires service.
If the light is on and flashing, the TCS
and/or the StabiliTrak system is
actively working.See
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control 0218.
Engine Coolant
Temperature Warning Light
This light comes on briefly while
starting the vehicle.
If it does not, have the vehicle
serviced by your dealer. If the system
is working normally the indicator light
goes off.
Caution
The engine coolant temperature
warning light indicates that the
vehicle has overheated. Driving with
this light on can damage the engine
and it may not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. See Engine
Overheating 0276. The engine coolant temperature
warning light comes on when the
engine has overheated.
If this happens, pull over and turn off
the engine as soon as possible. See
Engine Overheating
0276.
Tire Pressure Light
For vehicles with the Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS), this light
comes on briefly when the engine is
started. It provides information about
tire pressures and the TPMS.
When the Light Is On Steady
This indicates that one or more of the
tires are significantly underinflated.
A Driver Information Center (DIC) tire
pressure message may also display.
Stop as soon as possible, and inflate
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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254 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Driving on Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear
beforestarting 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
0 210.
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 0276.
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.
4. Reapply the brake pedal. Then apply 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 0347. 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.
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349344) - 2018 - crc - 11/7/17
268 VEHICLE CARE
1. Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump
Starting - North America 0329.
2. Battery - North America 0280.
3. Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See Cooling System 0273.
4. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0272.
5. Remote Negative (–) Location (Out of View). See Jump Starting -
North America 0329.
6. Engine Cooling Fans (Out of View). See Cooling System 0273.
7. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to
Add Engine Oil” underEngine Oil
0 268.
8. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil 0268.
9. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding Washer
Fluid ”under Washer Fluid 0278.
10. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake
Fluid 0279.
11. Engine Compartment Fuse Block
0289.Engine Oil
To ensure proper engine performance
and long life, careful attention must
be paid to engine oil. Following these
simple, but important steps will help
protect your investment:
.
Use engine oil approved to the
proper specification and of the
proper viscosity grade. See
“Selecting the Right Engine Oil” in
this section.
. Check the engine oil level regularly
and maintain the proper oil level.
See “Checking Engine Oil” and
“When to Add Engine Oil” in this
section.
. Change the engine oil at the
appropriate time. See Engine Oil
Life System 0270.
. Always dispose of engine oil
properly. See “What to Do with
Used Oil” in this section.
Checking Engine Oil
Check the engine oil level regularly,
every 650 km (400 mi), especially prior
to a long trip. The engine oil dipstick handle is a loop. See
Engine
Compartment Overview 0267 for the
location.
{Warning
The engine oil dipstick handle may
be hot; it could burn you. Use a
towel or glove to touch the dipstick
handle.
If a low oil Driver Information Center
(DIC) message displays, check the oil
level.
Follow these guidelines:
. To get an accurate reading, park
the vehicle on level ground. Check
the engine oil level after the
engine has been off for at least
two hours. Checking the engine oil
level on steep grades or too soon
after engine shutoff can result in
incorrect readings. Accuracy
improves when checking a cold
engine prior to starting. Remove
the dipstick and check the level.
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349344) - 2018 - crc - 11/7/17
VEHICLE CARE 273
4. Remove the four screws (1) ontop of the cover of the housing
and lift up the cover.
5. Remove the engine air cleaner/ filter from the housing. Take care
to dislodge as little dirt as
possible.
6. Clean the engine air cleaner/filter sealing surfaces and the housing.
7. Inspect or replace the engine air cleaner/filter.
8. Reverse Steps 2-4 to reinstall the filter cover housing.
{Warning
Operating the engine with the air
cleaner/filter off can cause you or
others to be burned. The air cleaner
not only cleans the air; it helps to
stop flames if the engine backfires.
Use caution when working on the
engine and do not drive with the air
cleaner/filter off.
Caution
If the air cleaner/filter is off, dirt
can easily get into the engine,
which could damage it. Always have
the air cleaner/filter in place when
driving.
Cooling System
The cooling system allows the engine
to maintain the correct working
temperature.
1. Coolant Surge Tank 2. Coolant Surge Tank
Pressure Cap
3. Engine Cooling Fan
{Warning
An underhood electric fan can start
up even when the engine is not
running and can cause injury. Keep
hands, clothing, and tools away
from any underhood electric fan.
{Warning
Do not touch heater or radiator
hoses, or other engine parts. They
can be very hot and can burn you.
Do not run the engine if there is a
leak; all coolant could leak out.
That could cause an engine fire and
can burn you. Fix any leak before
driving the vehicle.