Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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234 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Steering in Emergencies
.There are some situations when
steering around a problem may be
more effective than braking.
.Holding both sides of the steering
wheel allows you to turn
180 degrees without removing
a hand.
.Antilock Brake System (ABS) allows
steering while braking.
Off-Road Recovery
The vehicle's right wheels can drop off
the edge of a road onto the shoulder
while driving. Follow these tips:1. Ease off the accelerator and then,
if there is nothing in the way, steer
the vehicle so that it straddles the
edge of the pavement.
2. Turn the steering wheel about one-eighth of a turn, until the right
front tire contacts the
pavement edge.
3. Turn the steering wheel to go straight down the roadway.
Loss of Control
Skidding
There are three types of skids that
correspond to the vehicle's three
control systems:
.Braking Skid —wheels are not
rolling.
.Steering or Cornering Skid —too
much speed or steering in a curve
causes tires to slip and lose
cornering force.
.Acceleration Skid —too much
throttle causes the driving wheels
to spin. Defensive drivers avoid most skids by
taking reasonable care suited to
existing conditions, and by not
overdriving those conditions. But
skids are always possible.
If the vehicle starts to slide, follow
these suggestions:
.Ease your foot off the accelerator
pedal and steer the way you want
the vehicle to go. The vehicle may
straighten out. Be ready for a
second skid if it occurs.
.Slow down and adjust your driving
according to weather conditions.
Stopping distance can be longer and
vehicle control can be affected when
traction is reduced by water, snow,
ice, gravel, or other material on the
road. Learn to recognize warning
clues
—such as enough water, ice,
or packed snow on the road to
make a mirrored surface —and
slow down when you have any
doubt.
.Try to avoid sudden steering,
acceleration, or braking, including
reducing vehicle speed by shifting
to a lower gear. Any sudden changes
could cause the tires to slide.
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240 DRIVING AND OPERATING
.Pay attention to special road signs
(e.g., falling rocks area, winding
roads, long grades, passing or
no-passing zones) and take
appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or IceCaution
To avoid damage to the wheels and
brake components, always clear
snow and ice from inside the
wheels and underneath the vehicle
before driving.
Snow or ice between the tires and the
road creates less traction or grip, so
drive carefully. Wet ice can occur at
about 0 °C (32 °F) when freezing rain
begins to fall. Avoid driving on wet ice
or in freezing rain until roads can be
treated.
For Slippery Road Driving:
.Accelerate gently. Accelerating too
quickly causes the wheels to spin
and makes the surface under the
tires slick.
.Turn on Traction Control. See
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control 0265.
.The Antilock Brake System (ABS)
improves vehicle stability during
hard stops, but the brakes should be
applied sooner than when on dry
pavement. See Antilock Brake System
(ABS) 0262.
.Allow greater following distance and
watch for slippery spots. Icy patches
can occur on otherwise clear roads
in shaded areas. The 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.
Cold Weather Mode
In very low temperatures, a cold
weather message may display on the
Driver Information Center (DIC). The
engine speed, transmission shift
patterns, and cabin fan speed may
operate differently to enable the
vehicle to warm up quicker. You can
manually override the cabin fan speed
in cold weather mode.
Blizzard Conditions
Stop the vehicle in a safe place and
signal for help. Stay with the vehicle
unless there is help nearby. If possible,
use Roadside Service. See Roadside
Service 0475. 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.
If the vehicle is stuck in snow:
.Clear snow from the base of the
vehicle, especially any blocking
the exhaust pipe.
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Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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248 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Starting the Engine
If the vehicle has a diesel engine, see
the Duramax diesel supplement.
Caution
If you add electrical parts or
accessories, you could change the
way the engine operates. Any
resulting damage would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty. See
Add-On Electrical Equipment0367.
Shift the vehicle into P (Park) or
N (Neutral). To restart the engine
when the vehicle is already moving,
use N (Neutral) only.
Caution
Do not try to shift to P (Park) if the
vehicle is moving. If you do, you
could damage the transmission.
Shift to P (Park) only when the
vehicle is stopped.
Starting Procedure
1. The remote key must be in the vehicle. 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.
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 265
When Automatic Vehicle Hold (AVH)
is turned on and the vehicle is braked
to a stop, AVH prevents the vehicle
from moving during the transition
from brake pedal release to accelerator
pedal apply. The brakes release when
the accelerator pedal is applied. The
brakes may also release under other
conditions. Do not rely on AVH to
hold the vehicle.
If the accelerator pedal is not applied
within a few minutes, the Electric
Parking Brake will apply. The parking
brake will also apply if the driver door
is opened or the driver seat belt is
unfastened while AVH is holding the
vehicle.
AVH can be turned on by pressing
AUTO HOLD. The indicator light on
the switch will come on. The AVH
light on the instrument panel will
come on while AVH is actively holding
the vehicle. SeeAutomatic Vehicle Hold
(AVH) Light 0126.Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control
System Operation
The vehicle has a Traction Control
System (TCS) and StabiliTrak/
Electronic Stability Control (ESC).
These systems help limit wheel spin
and assist the driver in maintaining
control, especially on slippery road
conditions.
TCS activates if it senses any of the
drive wheels are spinning or beginning
to lose traction. When this happens,
TCS applies the brakes to the spinning
wheels and reduces engine power to
limit wheel spin.
StabiliTrak/ESC activates when the
vehicle senses a difference between
the intended path and the direction
the vehicle is actually traveling.
StabiliTrak/ESC selectively applies
braking pressure to one or more of the
vehicle wheel brakes to assist the
driver in keeping the vehicle on the
intended path. Trailer Sway Control (TSC) is also on automatically when
the vehicle is started. See
Trailer Sway
Control (TSC) 0354.
If cruise control is being used and
traction control or StabiliTrak/ESC
begins to limit wheel spin, cruise
control will disengage. Cruise control
may be turned back on when road
conditions allow.
Both systems come on automatically
when the vehicle is started and begins
to move. The systems may be heard or
felt while they are operating or while
performing diagnostic checks. This is
normal and does not mean there is a
problem with the vehicle.
It is recommended to leave both
systems on for normal driving
conditions, but it may be necessary to
turn TCS off if the vehicle gets stuck
in sand, mud, ice, or snow. See If the
Vehicle Is Stuck 0241 and “Turning
the Systems Off and On ”later in this
section.
When the transfer case (if equipped)
is in Four-Wheel Drive Low, the TCS
and StabiliTrak/ESC are automatically
Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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268 DRIVING AND OPERATING
To activate each mode, press the
MODE button on the instrument
panel to the left of the steering wheel.
To activate Terrain Mode, press
g
button located next to the MODE
button.
Tour Mode :Use this mode for
normal city and highway driving to
provide a smooth ride. This setting
provides balance between comfort and
handling. This is the standard/default
mode. There is no persistent indicator
in the instrument cluster for
this mode.
8Sport Mode : Use this mode where
road conditions or personal preference
demand a more controlled response.
When in Sport mode the vehicle
automatically down shifts. In this
mode, the vehicle also monitors
driving behaviors and automatically
enables Performance Shift Features
when spirited driving is detected.
These features maintain lower
transmission gears to increase
available engine braking and improve
acceleration response. The vehicle
resumes normal operation after a
short period when no spirited driving
is detected. The steering changes to
provide more precise control. If the
vehicle has Magnetic Ride Control, the
suspension changes to provide better
cornering performance.
6Snow/Ice Mode : Use this mode to
improve vehicle acceleration on snow
and ice covered roads. When active,
Snow/Ice Mode adjusts acceleration to
optimize traction on slippery surfaces.
This can compromise the acceleration
on dry asphalt. This feature is not
intended for use when the vehicle is stuck in sand, mud, ice, snow,
or gravel. If the vehicle becomes stuck,
see
If the Vehicle Is Stuck 0241.
7Off-Road Mode : Use this mode
for off-road recreational driving.
Off-Road mode should be used to
improve driving at moderate speeds,
on grass, gravel, dirt, unpaved roads,
or snow-covered roads. The
accelerator pedal is tuned for off-road
use. If equipped with the following
features, Off-Road mode modifies
pedal mapping, ride height, and
Traction Control System (TCS)
performance. For more information on
off-road driving, see Off-Road Driving
0 235.
_Tow/Haul Mode : Use this mode
when hauling heavy loads for
increased performance and vehicle
control. Tow/Haul Mode adjusts the
transmission shift pattern, steering,
and Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
performance.
If the vehicle is turned off while in
Tow/Haul mode and then restarted
within four hours or less, it will
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270 DRIVING AND OPERATING
The following settings may be
available depending on region, trim
level, and optional features.
Engine Sound :Engine sound settings
adjusts the volume of engine noise.
Engine sound is quieter at lower
settings and louder at higher settings.
Steering : Steering setting adjusts the
effort required to turn the steering
wheel. Steering feel is less responsive
at lower settings and more responsive
at higher settings.
Suspension : Suspension adjusts the
stiffness of the shocks and / or
springs. The ride is more comfortable
at lower settings and stiffer at higher
settings for better control.
Visualization
This feature shows handling and
performance settings on the
infotainment display when changing
drive modes.Magnetic Ride Control
This vehicle may have a semi-active
damping system called Magnetic Ride
Control. With this feature, improved
vehicle ride and handling is provided
under a variety of passenger and
loading conditions.
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.
Four Corner Air Suspension
System
The Four Corner Air Suspension
feature provides full time load leveling
capability along with the benefit of
adjusting ride height for increased
convenience and capability.
{Warning
To help avoid personal injury or
death, make sure the area
underneath the vehicle and inside
the wheel wells is clear when
lowering the vehicle.
{Warning
To help avoid personal injury or
death, always select the lowest ride
height for the current driving
conditions. Higher ride heights raise
the vehicle's center of gravity,
increasing the chance of a rollover
during extreme maneuvers.
{Warning
Heavy loads on the roof rack will
make the vehicle's center of gravity
higher, increasing the possibility of
a rollover. To avoid losing control of
the vehicle, always select the
normal height setting and avoid
high speeds, sudden starts, sharp
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Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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276 DRIVING AND OPERATING
ACC works like regular cruise control.
ACC uses camera and radar sensors.
SeeRadio Frequency Statement 0481.
If a vehicle is detected in your path,
ACC can speed up the vehicle or apply
limited, moderate braking to maintain
the selected following gap. To
disengage ACC, apply the brake. If the
Traction Control System (TCS) or
StabiliTrak/Electronic Stability Control
(ESC) activates while ACC is engaged,
ACC may automatically disengage. See
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control 0265. When road conditions
allow ACC to be safely used, ACC can
be turned back on.
Disabling the TCS or StabiliTrak/ESC
system will disengage and prevent
engagement of ACC.
ACC can reduce the need for you to
frequently brake and accelerate,
especially when used on expressways,
freeways, and interstate highways.
When used on other roads, you may
need to take over the control of
braking or acceleration more often.{Warning
ACC has limited braking ability and
may not have time to slow the
vehicle down enough to avoid a
collision with another vehicle you
are following. This can occur when
vehicles suddenly slow or stop
ahead, or enter your lane. Also see
“Alerting the Driver” later in this
section. Complete attention is
always required while driving and
you should be ready to take action
and apply the brakes. See Defensive
Driving 0232.
{Warning
ACC will not detect or brake for
children, pedestrians, animals,
or other objects.
Do not use ACC when:
.On winding and hilly roads or
when the sensors are blocked by
snow, ice, or dirt. The system
may not detect a vehicle ahead.
Keep the entire front of the
vehicle clean.
.Visibility is poor due to rain,
snow, fog, dirt, insect residue,
or dust; when other foreign
objects obscure the camera and/
or radar; or when the vehicle in
front or oncoming traffic causes
additional environmental
obstructions, such as road spray.
ACC performance is limited
under these conditions.
.On slippery roads where fast
changes in tire traction can
cause excessive wheel slip.
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Near Gap Setting with Trailer
Since each gap setting corresponds to
a following time (Far, Medium,
or Near), the following distance will
vary based on vehicle speed. The
faster the vehicle speed, the further
back your vehicle will follow a vehicle
detected ahead. Consider traffic and
weather conditions when selecting the
following gap. The range of selectable
gaps may not be appropriate for all
drivers and driving conditions.
The gap setting used by ACC is
independent to the alert timing
sensitivity (Far, Medium, or Near)
used by the Forward Collision Alert
(FCA) feature. Pressing
[while ACC
is active will only modify the gap
setting used by ACC without changing
the alert timing sensitivity used by FCA. Pressing
[while ACC is not
active will only modify the alert
timing sensitivity used by FCA
without modifying the gap setting
used by ACC. See Forward Collision
Alert (FCA) System 0319.
Courtesy Gap
Press and hold
[on the steering
wheel when vehicle is moving to
temporarily increase the gap with the
vehicle ahead to allow for merging
traffic.
Press and hold
[when stopped to
cancel ACC from resuming
automatically (if the stop is brief) and
remain stationary. This can be used to
allow traffic to merge between you
and the vehicle ahead. Press RES+ or
the accelerator pedal to resume ACC.
Following distance gap will return to
the original selection after hold. Alerting the Driver
If ACC is engaged, driver action may
be required when ACC cannot apply
sufficient braking because of
approaching a vehicle too rapidly.
When this condition occurs, the
collision alert symbol will flash on the
windshield. Either eight beeps will
sound from the front, or both sides of
the Safety Alert Seat will pulse five
times. See
“Collision/Detection
Systems” underVehicle Personalization
0 140.
See Defensive Driving 0232.