Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13690472) - 2021 - CRC - 8/10/21
LIGHTING 151
Exterior Lamps Off
Reminder
If a door is open, a reminder chime
sounds when the headlamps or
parking lamps are manually turned on
and the ignition is off. To turn off the
chime, turn the exterior lamp control
to off or AUTO and then back on,
or close and re-open the door. In the
AUTO mode, the headlamps turn off
once the ignition is off or remain on
until the headlamp delay ends (if
enabled in the DIC). See“Exit
Lighting” underVehicle Personalization
0 138.
Headlamp High/Low-Beam
Changer
Push the turn signal lever away from
you and release to turn the high
beams on.
To return to low beams, push the
lever again or pull it toward you and
release.
When the high-beam headlamps are
on, this indicator light on the
instrument cluster will also be on.
Flash-to-Pass
This feature lets you use the
high-beam headlamps to signal a
driver in front of you that you want to
pass. It works even if the headlamps
are in the automatic position.
To use it, pull the turn signal lever
toward you, then release it.
The high beam headlamps will stay on
as long as you hold the lever toward
you. The high-beam indicator on the
instrument cluster will come on.
Release the lever to return to normal
operation.
Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL)
DRL can make it easier for others to
see the front of the vehicle during the
day. Fully functional DRL are required
on all vehicles first sold in Canada.
The DRL system comes on when the
following conditions are met:
.The ignition is on.
.The exterior lamp control is
in AUTO.
.The light sensor determines it is
daytime.
When the DRL system is on, only the
DRL are on. The taillamps, sidemarker
lamps, instrument panel lights, and
other lamps will not be on.
When it begins to get dark, the
automatic headlamp system switches
from DRL to the headlamps.
To turn off the DRL, turn the exterior
lamp control to
Oand then release.
For vehicles first sold in Canada, off
will only work when the vehicle is
parked.
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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152 LIGHTING
Automatic Headlamp
System
When it is dark enough outside, the
automatic headlamp system turns on
the headlamps at the normal
brightness, along with the taillamps,
sidemarker, parking lamps, and the
instrument panel lights. The radio
lights will also be dim.
To turn off the automatic headlamp
system, turn the exterior lamp control
to
Pand then release it.
The vehicle has a light sensor on the
top of the instrument panel that
controls the automatic headlampsystem. Do not cover the sensor,
otherwise the headlamps may come
on when they are not needed.
The system may also turn on the
headlamps when driving through a
parking garage, heavy overcast
weather, or a tunnel. This is normal.
There is a delay in the transition
between the daytime and nighttime
operation of the automatic headlamp
system so that driving under bridges
or bright overhead street lights does
not affect the system. The automatic
headlamp system is only affected
when the light sensor detects a
change in lighting lasting longer than
the delay.
If the vehicle is started in a dark
garage, the automatic headlamp
system will come on immediately.
Once the vehicle leaves the garage,
there is a slight delay for the
automatic headlamp system to change
if it is bright enough outside. During
that delay, the instrument cluster may
not be as bright as usual. Make sure
the instrument panel brightness
control is in the full bright position.
See
Instrument Panel Illumination
Control 0154.
To idle the vehicle with the automatic
headlamp system off, turn the control
to the off position.
The headlamps will also stay on after
you exit the vehicle.
The regular headlamp system can be
turned on when needed.
Lights On with Wipers
If the windshield wipers are activated
in daylight with the engine on, and
the exterior lamp control is in AUTO,
the headlamps, parking lamps, and
other exterior lamps come on. The
transition time for the lamps coming
on varies based on wiper speed. When
the wipers are not operating, these
lamps turn off. Move the exterior
lamp control to
Por;to disable
this feature.
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13690472) - 2021 - CRC - 8/10/21
LIGHTING 153
Hazard Warning Flashers
|:Press to make the front and rear
turn signal lamps flash on and off.
Press again to turn the flashers off.
When the hazard warning flashers are
on, the vehicle's turn signals will
not work.
Turn and Lane-Change
Signals
An arrow on the instrument cluster
flashes in the direction of the turn or
lane change.
Move the turn signal lever all the way
up or down to signal a turn.
Raise or lower the lever for less than
one second until the arrow starts to
flash to signal a lane change. This
causes the turn signals to
automatically flash three times. It will
flash six times if Tow/Haul Mode is
active. Holding the turn signal lever
for more than one second will cause
the turn signals to flash until the
lever is released.
The lever returns to its starting
position whenever it is released. If after signaling a turn or a lane
change the arrows flash rapidly or do
not come on, a signal bulb could be
burned out.
Replace any burned out bulbs. If a
bulb is not burned out, check the fuse.
See
Fuses and Circuit Breakers 0385.
Turn Signal On Chime
If the turn signal is left on for more
than 1.2 km (0.75 mi), a chime sounds
at each flash of the turn signal. The
message TURN SIGNAL ON will also
appear in the Driver Information
Center (DIC). To turn the chime and
message off, move the turn signal
lever to the off position.
Cornering Lamps
If equipped with cornering lamps, they
automatically come on when all of the
following occur:
.The low-beam headlamps are on.
.The turn signals are activated or the
steering wheel is at a turning angle.
.The vehicle speed is below 40 km/h
(25 mph) .
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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154 LIGHTING
Interior Lighting
Instrument Panel
Illumination Control
This feature adjusts the brightness of
all illuminated controls.
D:Move the thumbwheel up or
down to set the lowest level of
automatic brightness control.
The thumbwheel is functional at
night, or when the headlamps or
parking lamps are ON.
The brightness of the displays
automatically adjusts based on
outdoor lighting. The instrument
panel illumination control will set the
lowest level to which the displays will
be automatically adjusted.
Interior Lamps
Interior Ambient Lighting
If equipped, this feature allows the
color of the interior lighting in the
vehicle to be chosen.
To access, press
{on the
infotainment controls, then touch
AMBIENT LIGHTING to display the
settings screen.
Touch to select from the following:
OFF : Turns the feature off.
ON : Turns the feature on. Ambient
lighting provides the ability to
customize the color and intensity of
the interior accent lighting. Chose the
color on the display screen to make
change to interior lighting color.
DEMO MODE : When the shift lever
is in P (Park), touch to turn the
feature on in colors chosen by the
vehicle. When the shift lever is not in
P (Park) , the interior color will default
to the last active color selected.
LINK TO DRIVE MODE : The light
color is matched to the color being
used for the drive mode.
Dome Lamps
There are dome lamps in the overhead
console and the headliner.
To change the dome lamp settings,
press the following:
Press and hold any of the overhead
console lens to turn all dome lamps
on. Press and hold any of the
overhead consoles lens again to turn
all dome lamps off.
Press OFF
jto turn off the dome
lamps when any door is opened,
Kon
the remote key is pressed, or when the
ignition is switched off. An indicator
light on the button will turn on when
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13690472) - 2021 - CRC - 8/10/21
156 LIGHTING
charge. It then adjusts the voltage for
best performance and extended life of
the battery.
When the battery's state of charge is
low, the voltage is raised slightly to
quickly bring the charge back up.
When the state of charge is high, the
voltage is lowered slightly to prevent
overcharging. The voltmeter gauge or
the voltage display on the Driver
Information Center (DIC), if equipped,
may show the voltage moving up or
down. This is normal. If there is a
problem, an alert will be displayed.
The battery can be discharged at idle
if the electrical loads are very high.
This is true for all vehicles. This is
because the generator (alternator)
may not be spinning fast enough at
idle to produce all the power that is
needed for very high electrical loads.
A high electrical load occurs when
several of the following are on, such
as: headlamps, high beams, fog lamps,
rear window defogger, climate control
fan at high speed, heated seats, engine
cooling fans, trailer loads, and loads
plugged into accessory power outlets.EPM works to prevent excessive
discharge of the battery. It does this
by balancing the generator's output
and the vehicle's electrical needs.
It can increase engine idle speed to
generate more power, whenever
needed. It can temporarily reduce the
power demands of some accessories.
Normally, these actions occur in steps
or levels, without being noticeable. In
rare cases at the highest levels of
corrective action, this action may be
noticeable to the driver. If so, a DIC
message might be displayed and it is
recommended that the driver reduce
the electrical loads as much as
possible.
Battery Power Protection
This feature shuts off any interior
lamps if they are left on for more than
10 minutes when the ignition is off.
This will keep the battery from
running down.
Exterior Lighting Battery
Saver
The exterior lamps turn off about
10 minutes after the ignition is turned
off, if the parking lamps or headlamps
have been manually left on. This
protects against draining the battery.
To restart the 10-minute timer, turn
the exterior lamp control to the
O
position and then back to the;or
2position.
To keep the lamps on for more than
10 minutes, the ignition must be on
or in ACC/ACCESSORY.
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 235
{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 a crash. 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 either the
transmission or transfer case in
N (Neutral). The brakes could
overheat and you could lose control.
{Warning
If the vehicle has the two-speed
automatic or electronic transfer
case, shifting the transfer case to
N (Neutral) can cause your vehicle
to roll even if the transmission is in
P (Park). This is because the
N (Neutral) position on the transfer
case overrides the transmission.
You or someone else could be
injured. If leaving the vehicle, set
the parking brake and shift the (Continued)
Warning (Continued)
transmission to P (Park). Shift the
transfer case to any position but
N (Neutral).
.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.
If the vehicle stalls on a hill: 1. Apply the brakes to stop the vehicle, and then apply the parking
brake.
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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240 DRIVING AND OPERATING
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.
If stuck too severely for the traction
system to free the vehicle, turn the
traction system off and use the
rocking method. SeeTraction Control/
Electronic Stability Control 0264.
{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
compartment fire or other damage.
Spin the wheels as little as possible
and avoid going above 56 km/h
(35 mph).
Rocking the Vehicle to Get it Out
Turn the steering wheel left and right
to clear the area around the front
wheels. Turn off any traction system.
Shift back and forth between
R (Reverse) and a low forward gear,
spinning the wheels as little as
possible. To prevent transmission
wear, wait until the wheels stop
spinning before shifting gears. Release
the accelerator pedal while shifting,
and press lightly on the accelerator
pedal when the transmission is in
gear. 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. If the
vehicle does need to be towed out, see
Towing the Vehicle
0428.
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.
(Continued)
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 283
Do not modify the hood, headlamps,
or fog lamps, as this may limit the
camera’s ability to detect an object.
Cleaning the Sensing System
The camera sensor on the windshield
behind the rearview mirror and the
radar sensors on the front of the
vehicle can become blocked by snow,
ice, dirt, mud, or debris. These areas
need to be cleaned for ACC to operate
properly.
If ACC will not operate, regular cruise
control may be available. See
“Switching Between ACC and Regular
Cruise Control”previously in this
section. Always consider driving
conditions before using either cruise
control system.
For cleaning instructions, see
“Washing the Vehicle ”under Exterior
Care 0432.
System operation may also be limited
under snow, heavy rain, or road spray
conditions.Super Cruise
If equipped, Super Cruise can steer to
maintain lane position under certain
conditions on Super Cruise-enabled
roads that are separated from
opposing traffic.
Super Cruise can also steer to perform
a lane change under certain
conditions on Super Cruise-enabled
roads when a lane change is initiated
by the driver using the turn signal
lever. See “Super Cruise Lane Change ”
later in this section and Turn and
Lane-Change Signals 0153.
{Warning
Super Cruise can only assist to
maintain lane position, or steer to
change lanes, when driving on
compatible roads. You must
supervise the driving task and
monitor the road conditions. You
may need to respond to traffic
events by steering, braking,
or accelerating. See Defensive
Driving.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
Super Cruise is:
.Not a self-driving system
.Not a crash avoidance or warning
system
.Not a substitute for proper
supervision of the driving task.
Super Cruise uses the following to
detect the current lane position and
lane markings ahead on compatible
roads under certain conditions:
.Cameras
.Global Positioning System (GPS)
sensing
.A high-precision map
.GPS-enhancement data downloaded
through Connected Services
Super Cruise works with Adaptive
Cruise Control (ACC), which controls
acceleration and braking while Super
Cruise is enabled and operating.
Review and understand both this
section and the ACC section before
using Super Cruise. See Adaptive
Cruise Control (Advanced) 0274.