2021 CADILLAC ESCALADE ignition

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13690472) - 2021 - CRC - 8/10/21
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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248 DRIVING AND OPERATING
To maintain vehicle performance,
other conditions may cause the engine
to automatically restart before the
brake pedal is released.
Auto Stops may not occur and/or Auto
Starts may occur because:
.The climate control settings require
the engine to be running to cool or
heat the vehicle interior.
.The vehicle battery charge is low.
.The vehicle battery has recently
been disconnected.
.Minimum vehicle speed has not
been reached since the last
Auto Stop.
.The accelerator pedal is pressed.
.The engine or transmission is not at
the required operating temperature.
.The outside temperature is not in
the required operating range.
.The vehicle is shifted out of D
(Drive) to any gear other than
P (Park).
.Certain driver modes have been
selected. SeeDriver Mode Control
0 266 and
Four-Wheel Drive 0256.
.The vehicle is on a steep hill or
grade.
.The driver door has been opened or
the driver seat belt has been
unbuckled.
.The hood has been opened.
.The Auto Stop has reached the
maximum allowed time.
Auto Stop Disable Switch
Uplevel Shown, Others Similar
The automatic engine Stop/Start
feature can be disabled and enabled
by pressing
h. Auto Stop is enabled
each time you start the vehicle. When
his illuminated, the system is
enabled.
Retained Accessory
Power (RAP)
When the ignition is turned from on
to off, the following features (if
equipped) will continue to function
for up to 10 minutes, or until the
driver door is opened. These features
will also work when the ignition is in
RUN or ACC/ACCESSORY:
.Infotainment System
.Power Windows (during RAP this
functionality will be lost when any
door is opened)
.Sunroof (during RAP this
functionality will be lost when any
door is opened)
.Auxiliary Power Outlet
.Audio System
.OnStar System
Shifting Into Park
To shift into P (Park):
1. Hold the brake pedal down and set the parking brake. See Electric
Parking Brake 0261.

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.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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252 DRIVING AND OPERATING
{Warning
It is dangerous to get out of the
vehicle if the transmission 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 the engine has
been left running, the vehicle can
move suddenly. You or others could
be injured. To be sure the vehicle
will not move, even when on fairly
level ground, always set the parking
brake and place the transmission
into P (Park). SeeShifting Into Park
0 248 and
Electric Parking Brake 0261.
This vehicle is equipped with an
electronic controlled 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.
When the vehicle is stopped, press
ENGINE START/STOP to turn off the
vehicle. The transmission will shift to
P (Park) automatically, unless the
vehicle is in N (Neutral). See “Car
Wash Mode ”later in this section.
The vehicle will not shift into P (Park)
if it is moving too fast. Stop the
vehicle and shift into P (Park). To shift in and out of P (Park), see
Shifting Into Park
0248 and
Shifting out of Park 0249.
Service Shift Lever Message
If the message SERVICE SHIFTER SEE
OWNER’S MANUAL appears in the
Driver Information Center (DIC), the
shift lever needs service. Have the
vehicle serviced as soon as possible.
If the vehicle is automatically shifting
into P (Park), check to see if the
P (Park) button on top of the shift
lever is stuck. To operate the vehicle,
hold the shift lever in the desired gear,
R (Reverse) or D (Drive), until vehicle
speed exceeds 15 km/h (10 mph), then
release the shift lever.
R : Use this gear to back up.
If the vehicle is shifted from either
R (Reverse) to D (Drive) or L (Low),
or L (Low) or D (Drive) to R (Reverse)
while the speed is too high, the
vehicle will shift to N (Neutral).
Reduce the vehicle speed and try the
shift again.
To shift into R (Reverse): 1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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258 DRIVING AND OPERATING
4m(Four-Wheel Drive High) :Use
this position when extra traction is
needed, such as when driving on
snowy or icy roads, when off-roading,
or when plowing snow.
4
n(Four-Wheel Drive Low) : This
setting engages the front axle and
delivers extra torque. Choose 4
nwhen
driving off-road in deep sand, deep
mud, or deep snow, and while
climbing or descending steep hills.
While driving in 4
n, keep vehicle
speed below 72 km/h (45 mph).
Shifting into 4
nwill turn Traction
Control and StabiliTrak/ESC off. See
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control 0264.
Shifts between 2
m, 4m, and AUTO
Any of these shifts can be made at
normal driving speed.
The actual 4x4 shift request is only
made after the button is released. The
4x4 graphic will remain flashing until
the shift request has completed. A DIC
message displays to indicate that the
4x4 transfer case has been requested
to shift to the new desired state. Once the 4x4 shift has completed, the
DIC message disappears, the 4x4
graphic stops flashing, and the current
setting is indicated.
When a shift to 2
mis completed
successfully while in P (Park), the
parking brake will engage. To resume
driving, shift the transmission to the
desired gear and manually release the
parking bake or press the accelerator
pedal to begin driving. See Electric
Parking Brake 0261.
If equipped, use 4
n, AUTO, or 4mto
provide additional traction when
parking on a steep grade with poor
traction such as ice, snow, mud,
or gravel.
Shifting Into 4
n
1. The ignition must be on and the vehicle must be stopped or moving
less than 5 km/h (3 mph) with the
transmission in N (Neutral). It is
best for the vehicle to be moving
1.6 to 3.2 km/h (1 to 2 mph).
2. Press 4
n. The actual 4x4 shift
request is only made after the
button is released. The 4x4 graphic
will remain flashing until the shift request has completed. A DIC
message displays to indicate that
the 4x4 transfer case has been
requested to shift to the new
desired state.
Once the 4x4 shift has completed,
the DIC message disappears, the
4x4 graphic stops flashing and the
current setting is indicated.
If vehicle speed is higher when shift
request occurs, a DIC message
displays. Reduce vehicle speed.
If the transmission is not in
N (Neutral) when shift request occurs,
a DIC message displays. The vehicle
will allow 20 seconds for the shift to
occur. After this time, a graphic in the
instrument cluster will indicate that
the transfer case is in 4
n.
Caution
Shifting the transmission into gear
before the requested mode indicator
light has stopped flashing could
damage the transfer case.
If the transmission is not shifted into
N (Neutral) or the vehicle has not
slowed to 5 km/h (3 mph) within

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 259
20 seconds, the transfer case will
remain in its original state. This will
be indicated in the instrument cluster.
With the vehicle moving less than
5 km/h (3 mph) and the transmission
in N (Neutral), attempt the shift again.
Shifting Out of 4
n
1. The vehicle must be stopped ormoving less than 5 km/h (3 mph)
with the transmission in
N (Neutral) and the ignition on.
It is best for the vehicle to be
moving 1.6 to 3.2 km/h (1 to 2 mph).
2. Press 4
m, AUTO, or 2m. The actual
4x4 shift request is only made after
the button is released. The 4x4
graphic will remain flashing until
the shift request has completed.
A DIC message displays to indicate
the state of the request.
Once the 4x4 shift has completed,
the DIC message disappears, the
4x4 graphic stops flashing, and the
current setting is indicated.
If vehicle speed is higher when
shift request occurs, a DIC message
displays. Reduce vehicle speed. If the transmission is not in
N (Neutral) when the shift request
occurs, DIC messages will display. The
vehicle will allow 20 seconds for this
shift to occur. After this time, a
graphic in the instrument cluster will
indicate that the transfer case is in 4
n.
Caution
Shifting the transmission into gear
before the requested mode indicator
light has stopped flashing could
damage the transfer case.
If the transmission is not shifted into
N (Neutral) or the vehicle has not
slowed to 5 km/h (3 mph) within
20 seconds, the transfer case will
remain in its original state. This will
be indicated in the instrument cluster.
With the vehicle moving less than
5 km/h (3 mph), and the transmission
in N (Neutral), attempt the shift again.
Shifting Into N (Neutral)
To shift into N (Neutral): 1. Start the vehicle.
2. Shift the transmission to N (Neutral). 3. Shift the transfer case to 2
m.
4. Apply the parking brake and/or brake pedal.
5. Press 2
mfive times in 10 seconds
until the N (Neutral) symbol starts
flashing in the instrument cluster.
When the shift is complete, the
graphic stops flashing. If the
parking brake and/or brake pedal is
not applied within 20 seconds, the
transfer case will remain in the
original state.
6. If the transmission is not shifted into N (Neutral) or the vehicle has
not slowed to 5 km/h (3 mph)
within 20 seconds, the transfer case
will remain in its original state.
This will be indicated in the
instrument cluster.
Shifting Out of N (Neutral)
To shift out of N (Neutral): 1. Turn the ignition on with the engine off. See Ignition Positions
0 245.
2. Set the parking brake. See Electric
Parking Brake 0261.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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262 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Before leaving the vehicle, check the
red parking brake status light to
ensure that the parking brake is
applied.
EPB Apply
To apply the EPB:1. Be sure the vehicle is at a complete stop.
2. Press the EPB switch momentarily.
The red parking brake status light will
flash and then stay on once the EPB is
fully applied. If the red parking brake
status light flashes continuously, then
the EPB is only partially applied or
there is a problem with the EPB.
A DIC message will display. Release
the EPB and try to apply it again.
If the light does not come on, or keeps
flashing, have the vehicle serviced. Do
not drive the vehicle if the red parking
brake status light is flashing. See your
dealer.
If the amber service parking brake
warning light is on, press the EPB
switch. Continue to hold the switch
until the red parking brake status light remains on. If the amber service
parking brake warning light is on, see
your dealer.
If the EPB is applied while the vehicle
is moving, the vehicle will decelerate
as long as the switch is pressed. If the
switch is pressed until the vehicle
comes to a stop, the EPB will remain
applied.
The vehicle may automatically apply
the EPB in some situations when the
vehicle is not moving. This is normal,
and is done to periodically check the
correct operation of the EPB system,
or at the request of other safety
functions that utilize the EPB.
If the EPB fails to apply, block the rear
wheels to prevent vehicle movement.
EPB Release
To release the EPB:
1. Turn the ignition on or to ACC/ ACCESSORY.
2. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
3. Press the EPB switch momentarily.
The EPB is released when the red
parking brake status light is off. If the amber service parking brake
warning light is on, release the EPB by
pressing and holding the EPB switch.
Continue to hold the switch until the
red parking brake status light is off.
If either light stays on after release is
attempted, see your dealer.
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.
If you are towing a trailer and parking
on a hill, see Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips 0330.
Automatic EPB Release
The EPB will automatically release if
the vehicle is running, placed into
gear, and an attempt is made to drive
away. Avoid rapid acceleration when
the EPB is applied, to preserve parking
brake lining life.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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266 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Traction and Stability Menu
To turn off TCS, select or touch the
Traction virtual button on the screen.
The traction off light
idisplays in
the instrument cluster. See Traction
Off Light 0127.
If TCS is limiting wheel spin when
disabled, the system will not turn off
until the wheels stop spinning.
To turn TCS back on, select or touch
the Traction virtual button on the
screen. The traction off light
i
displayed in the instrument cluster
will turn off. To turn StabiliTrak/ESC off, first turn
off TCS to enable the Stability virtual
button on the screen, then select or
touch the Stability virtual button. The
StabiliTrak/ESC off light
gwill display
in the instrument cluster. See
StabiliTrak OFF Light 0127.
To turn StabiliTrak/ESC back on,
select or touch the Stability virtual
button on the screen. StabiliTrak/ESC
will turn on, but TCS will remain off.
TCS cannot be on when StabiliTrak/
ESC is off. If both systems are turned
off, selecting or touching the Traction
virtual button will turn both systems
back on.
StabiliTrak/ESC will automatically
turn on if the vehicle exceeds 56 km/h
(35 mph) and cannot be turned off
again until speed is reduced. Traction
control will remain off. Vehicles
equipped with the four corner air
suspension re-enable StabiliTrak/ESC
at 32 km/h (20 mph). The vehicle has a Trailer Sway Control
(TSC) feature and a Hill Start Assist
(HSA) feature. See
Trailer Sway Control
(TSC) 0347 or
Hill Start Assist (HSA) 0263.
Adding accessories can affect the
vehicle performance. See Accessories
and Modifications 0364.
Driver Mode Control
Driver Mode Control (DMC) allows the
driver to adjust the overall driving
experience to better suit preference by
adjusting multiple sub-system
simultaneously. Drive mode
availability and affected vehicle
subsystems are dependent upon
vehicle trim level, region, and optional
features.
Tour will be the default mode at every
ignition cycle. A unique and persistent
indicator will be displayed in the
instrument cluster for each mode.
Depending on trim level, Tour, Sport,
Snow/Ice, Off-Road, Tow/Haul, and
Terrain modes may be available.