Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13690472) - 2021 - CRC - 8/10/21
CLIMATE CONTROLS 221
Automatic Operation
The system automatically controls the
fan speed, air delivery, air
conditioning, and recirculation in
order to heat or cool the vehicle to the
desired temperature.
When AUTO is underlined, the system
is in full automatic operation. If the
air delivery mode or fan setting is
manually adjusted, the auto indicator
turns off and the display will show the
selected settings. Auto operation can
be turned off individually for climate
settings.
For automatic operation:1. Press AUTO.
2. Set the temperature. Allow the system time to stabilize. Then
adjust the temperature as needed
for best comfort.
To improve fuel efficiency and to cool
the vehicle faster, recirculation may be
automatically selected in warm
weather. The recirculation light will
not come on. Press
@to select
recirculation; press it again to select
outside air. English units can be changed to
metric units through the instrument
cluster. See
“Cluster Options Menu ”
under Instrument Cluster 0114.
OFF : Press OFF to turn the fan on or
off. When off is selected, the system
will stop air from flowing into the
cabin. If on is selected or any other
buttons are pressed, the climate
control system will turn on and
operate at the current setting.
y/z: The temperature can be
adjusted separately for the driver and
the passenger. Press to decrease or lift
to increase the temperature. Press or
lift and hold to rapidly increase or
decrease the temperature.
SYNC : Touch SYNC on the climate
control display to link all climate zone
settings to the driver settings. Adjust
the driver side temperature control to
change the linked temperature. When
the passenger setting is adjusted, the
SYNC underline turns off.
Rear : Touch Rear on the
infotainment screen to open the rear
climate control screen. The rear climate control settings can now be
adjusted from the front
passenger area.
Manual Operation
z 9 y:
Press to decrease or lift to
increase the fan speed. Press or lift
and hold the fan controls to adjust
speed more quickly. The fan speed
setting displays. Any adjustment of
the fan speed cancels automatic fan
control and the fan can be controlled
manually. Press AUTO to return to
automatic operation.
To turn off the fan and climate
control system, press OFF on the
center stack climate controls. The
airf low will be blocked from entering
in all air delivery modes, except
defrost.
The maximum automatic fan speed
can be set to low, medium, or high. To
adjust Auto Fan Speed, see “Climate
and Air Quality” underVehicle
Personalization 0138.
Air Delivery Mode Control : When
the climate information is displayed,
press the desired air delivery mode on
the climate control display to change
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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222 CLIMATE CONTROLS
the direction of the airf low. The
selected air delivery mode button is
lit. Pressing any of the air delivery
buttons cancels automatic air delivery
control and the direction of the
airf low can be controlled manually.
Press AUTO to return to automatic
operation.
To change the current mode, select
one of the following:
z:Air is directed to the windshield,
outboard a/c outlets, and side window
outlets.
Y: Air is directed to the instrument
panel outlets.
[: Air is directed to the floor
outlets.
d: Clears the windshield of fog or
frost more quickly. Air is directed to
the windshield. Press
dto turn on or
off. Changing the air delivery mode
also turns the defrost off.
A/C : Touch AC on the climate control
display to turn the automatic air
conditioning on or off. If the fan is turned off or the outside temperature
falls below freezing, the air
conditioner will not run.
Press AUTO to return to automatic
operation and the air conditioner runs
as needed.
Automatic Air Recirculation :
When
the AUTO indicator light is on, the air
is automatically recirculated as
needed to help quickly cool the inside
of the vehicle.
@: Press to alternate between
recirculating air inside the vehicle or
pulling in outside air. The indicator
light on the button is lit when
recirculation mode is active. This
helps to quickly cool the air inside the
vehicle and reduce the entry of
outside air and odors.
Pressing this button cancels automatic
recirculation. Press AUTO to return to
automatic operation; recirculation
runs automatically as needed.
Manual recirculation mode is not
available when in Defrost or some air
distribution modes with air to the
windshield. Auto Defog :
The climate control
system uses a sensor to automatically
detect high humidity inside the
vehicle. When high humidity is
detected, the climate control system
may adjust to outside air supply, turn
on the air conditioner, and direct
more air to the windshield. If the
climate control system does not
detect possible window fogging, it
returns to normal operation. To turn
Auto Defog off or on, see “Climate and
Air Quality” underVehicle
Personalization 0138.
Rear Window Defogger
K:Press to turn the rear window
defogger on or off. An indicator light
on the button comes on to show that
the rear window defogger is on.
The rear window defogger only works
when the ignition is on. The defogger
turns off if the ignition is turned off
or to ACC/ACCESSORY.
The rear window defogger can be set
to automatic operation. When Auto
Rear Defog is selected, the rear
window defogger turns on
automatically when the vehicle is first
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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224 CLIMATE CONTROLS
Rear Climate Control System
The rear climate control system is on the rear of the center console. The settings
can be adjusted with the rear climate controls and the rear climate display.
Rear Climate Controls
1. Heated Rear Seats
2. Air Delivery Mode Control
3. Fan Control 4. Temperature Control
5. AUTO (Automatic Operation)
O
(On/Off)
Rear Climate Display
1. Temperature Setting
2. Air Delivery Mode Control
3. Fan Control
4. SYNC (Synchronized Temperatures)
5. Rear Control Lockout
6. Rear AUTO (Automatic Operation)
7. REAR
O(On/Off)
8. Temperature Control
Rear : Touch to open the rear climate
control screen. The rear climate
control settings can now be adjusted
from the front passenger area.
O: PressOor REAROto turn the
rear climate control system on or off.
If the rear climate control system is
turned off using REAR
Oon the rear
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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CLIMATE CONTROLS 225
climate display, theObutton and the
temperature or air delivery mode
buttons on the rear climate controls
must be pressed within five seconds
to turn it back on.
SYNC : Touch SYNC on the rear
climate display to match the rear
climate control temperature to the
front climate control driver
temperature. The SYNC button will be
lit. Press the temperature, MODE,
or AUTO button to unlink the set
driver and rear temperatures. The
SYNC button turns off.
Rear Control Lockout : Touch Rear
Control Lockout on the rear climate
display to lock or unlock control of
the rear climate control system from
the front climate control display.
When locked the rear climate control
system cannot be adjusted from the
rear climate controls on the rear of
the center console.
Automatic Operation
Rear AUTO : Touch to turn on or off.
The air delivery and fan speed are
controlled automatically. The AUTO
indicator appears on the display on the rear of the center console. If the
Mode or fan control buttons are
manually adjusted, this cancels the
automatic operation.
Manual Operation
A«/ªAª:
Touch or press the
fan controls on the rear climate
display or on the rear of the center
console to increase or decrease the
airf low. Pressing
A «when the
system is off will turn the system on.
The air delivery mode remains in its
previous setting.
«/ª: Touch or press and hold the
rear temperature controls on the rear
climate display or on the rear of the
center console to adjust the rear
passenger temperature. Press
«for
warmer air and press
ªfor cooler air.
Y/\/Y: Touch the desired mode
on the rear climate display or the
MODE button on the rear of the
center console to change the direction
of the airflow in the rear seating area.
MorL: PressMorLto heat the left
or right outboard seat cushion. See
Heated Rear Seats 050.
Air Vents
Adjustable air vents are in the center
and on the side of the instrument
panel.
1. Slider Knob
Move the slider knobs (1) to change
the direction of the airf low and to
shut off the air flow. The horizontal
vanes can rotate up and down.
A metallic click sound will be heard
every time they pass through the
horizontal position.
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 245
Caution (Continued)
.Do not tow a trailer during
break-in. SeeTrailer Towing 0334
for the trailer towing capabilities
of the vehicle and more
information.
Following break-in, engine speed
and load can be gradually
increased.
Ignition Positions
Vehicles equipped with Keyless Access
have pushbutton starting. The Remote Key must be in the
vehicle for the system to operate.
If the pushbutton start is not working,
the vehicle may be near a strong radio
antenna signal causing interference to
the Keyless Access system. See
Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) System Operation
0 7.
To shift out of P (Park), the ignition
must be on or in Service Mode, and
the brake pedal must be applied.
{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.
Stopping the Engine/LOCK/OFF (No
Indicator Lights) : When the vehicle
is stopped, press ENGINE START/
STOP 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) 0248. 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). When the
vehicle is shifted into P (Park), the
ignition system will turn off.
The vehicle may have an electric
steering column lock. The lock is
activated when the ignition is turned
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.
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 247
Starting Procedure
1. The remote key must be in thevehicle. Press ENGINE START/
STOP with the brake pedal applied.
When the engine begins cranking,
let go of the button.
The idle speed will go down as the
engine gets warm. Do not race the
engine immediately after starting
it. Operate the engine and
transmission gently to allow the oil
to warm up and lubricate all
moving parts.
When the low fuel warning light is
on and the FUEL LEVEL LOW
message is displayed in the Driver
Information Center (DIC), press the
ENGINE START/STOP position to
continue engine cranking.
Caution
Cranking the engine for long
periods of time, by trying to start
the engine immediately after
cranking has ended, can overheat
and damage the cranking motor,
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
and drain the battery. Wait at least
15 seconds between each try, to let
the cranking motor cool down.
2. If the engine does not start after five to 10 seconds, especially in
very cold weather (below −18 °C or
0 °F), it could be flooded with too
much gasoline. Try pushing the
accelerator pedal all the way to the
floor and holding it there while
pressing ENGINE START/STOP for
up to a maximum of 15 seconds.
Wait at least 15 seconds between
each try, to allow the cranking
motor to cool down. When the
engine starts, let go of the button
and accelerator. If the vehicle starts
briefly but then stops again, do the
same thing. This clears the extra
gasoline from the engine. Do not
race the engine immediately after
starting it. Operate the engine and
transmission gently until the oil
warms up and lubricates all
moving parts.
Stop/Start System
If equipped and enabled, the Stop/
Start system will shut off the engine
to help conserve fuel. It has
components designed for the
increased number of starts.
{Warning
The automatic engine Stop/Start
feature causes the engine to shut
off while the vehicle is still on. Do
not exit the vehicle before shifting
to P (Park). The vehicle may restart
and move unexpectedly. Always
shift to P (Park), and then turn the
ignition off before exiting the
vehicle.
Auto Engine Stop/Start
When the brakes are applied and the
vehicle is at a complete stop, the
engine may turn off. When stopped,
the tachometer displays AUTO STOP.
See Tachometer 0116. When the brake
pedal is released or the accelerator
pedal is pressed, the engine will
restart.
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 249
2. Press the button on top of the shiftlever to shift into P (Park). See
Automatic Transmission 0251.
3. The P indicator on the shift lever will turn red when the vehicle is in
P (Park).
Leaving the Vehicle with the
Engine Running
{Warning
It can be dangerous to leave the
vehicle with the engine running.
It could overheat and catch fire.
It is dangerous to get out of the
vehicle if the vehicle is not in
P (Park) with the parking brake set.
The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when
the engine is running. 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,
always set the parking brake and
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
shift to P (Park). SeeShifting Into
Park 0248. If you are towing a
trailer, see Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips 0330.
If you have to leave the vehicle with
the engine running, be sure the
vehicle is in P (Park) and the parking
brake is set before you leave it.
Shifting out of Park
This vehicle is equipped with an
electronic transmission. The shift lock
release button is designed to prevent
inadvertent shifting out of P (Park)
unless the ignition is on, the brake
pedal is applied, and the shift lock
release button is pressed.
The shift lock control 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 - North
America 0425. To shift out of P (Park):
1. Ensure the engine is running.
2. Apply the brake pedal.
3. Press and hold the shift lock release button.
4. Move the shift lever to the desired position.
5. The P indicator will turn white and the gear indicator on the shift lever
will turn red when the vehicle is no
longer in P (Park).
6. After releasing the shift lever, it will return to the center position.
If the vehicle cannot be shifted from
P (Park), a Driver Information
Center (DIC) message, such as
CONDITIONS NOT CORRECT FOR
SHIFT, will be displayed. Ensure the
ignition is on, the engine is running,
and the brake pedal is applied. If the
vehicle still will not shift out of
P (Park), see your dealer for service.
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 251
Warning (Continued)
If unusual fumes are detected or if
it is suspected that exhaust is
coming into the vehicle:
.Drive it only with the windows
completely down.
.Have the vehicle repaired
immediately.
Never park the vehicle with the
engine running in an enclosed area
such as a garage or a building that
has no fresh air ventilation.
Running the Vehicle While
Parked
It is better not to park with the engine
running.
If the vehicle is left with the engine
running, follow the proper steps to be
sure the vehicle will not move. See
Shifting Into Park 0248 and
Engine Exhaust 0250.
If parking on a hill and pulling a
trailer, see Driving Characteristics and
Towing Tips 0330.
Automatic Transmission
The shift pattern is displayed in the
top of the shift lever. The selected
gear position will illuminate red on
the shift lever, while all others will be
displayed in white. If the shift is not
immediate, as in very cold conditions,
the indicator on the shift lever may
flash until it is fully engaged.
The shift lever always starts from a
center position, represented by an up/
down arrow on the shift pattern. After
releasing the shift lever, it will return
to the center position.
The transmission does not operate
when the vehicle is off. If the vehicle is in ACC/ACCESSORY,
the transmission can be shifted into
P (Park).
If the vehicle is turned off while at a
relatively high vehicle speed, the
transmission will automatically shift
to N (Neutral). Once the vehicle is
stopped, P (Park) is automatically
selected.
P :
This position locks the drive
wheels. Use P (Park) when starting the
engine to prevent the vehicle from
moving easily.