Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (1,1)
2012 Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual M
In Brief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
Instrument Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Initial Drive Information . . . . . . . . 1-4
Vehicle Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
Performance and
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-19
Keys, Doors, and
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
Keys and Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
Vehicle Security. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-16
Exterior Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-19
Interior Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-21
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-22
Roof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-25
Seats and Restraints . . . . . . . . . 3-1
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8
Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10
Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-19
Child Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-33
Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Storage Compartments . . . . . . . . 4-1
Luggage/Load Locations . . . . . . . 4-2
Additional Storage Features . . . 4-5
Roof Rack System . . . . . . . . . . . 4-12
Instruments and Controls . . . . 5-1
Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Warning Lights, Gauges, and
Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9
Information Displays . . . . . . . . . . 5-23
Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-28
Vehicle Personalization . . . . . . . 5-36
Universal Remote System . . . . 5-44
Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Exterior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Interior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-9
Lighting Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-10
Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-9
Audio Players . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-18
Rear Seat Infotainment . . . . . . . 7-31
Navigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-42
Voice Recognition . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-79
Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-81
Climate Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1
Climate Control Systems . . . . . . 8-1
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-6
Driving and Operating . . . . . . . . 9-1
Driving Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Starting and Operating . . . . . . . 9-23
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-30
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 9-31
Drive Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-36
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-36
Ride Control Systems . . . . . . . . 9-39
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-43
Object Detection Systems . . . . 9-45
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-50
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-57
Conversions and Add-Ons . . . 9-67
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (2,1)
2012 Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual M
Vehicle Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-1
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
Vehicle Checks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . 10-32
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-34
Electrical System . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-35
Wheels and Tires . . . . . . . . . . . 10-44
Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-76
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-80
Appearance Care . . . . . . . . . . . 10-82
Service and Maintenance . . . 11-1
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 11-1
Cadillac Premium Care
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-3
Maintenance Schedule . . . . . . . 11-3
Special Application
Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-9
Additional Maintenance
and Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-9
Recommended Fluids,
Lubricants, and Parts . . . . . . 11-12
Maintenance Records . . . . . . . 11-15
Technical Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-1
Vehicle Identification . . . . . . . . . 12-1
Vehicle Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-2
Customer Information . . . . . . . 13-1
Customer Information . . . . . . . . 13-1
Reporting Safety Defects . . . . 13-18
Vehicle Data Recording and
Privacy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-19
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-1
OnStar Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-1
OnStar Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-2
OnStar Additional
Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-5
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i-1
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (3,1)
Introduction
The names, logos, emblems,
slogans, vehicle model names,
and vehicle body designs appearing
in this manual including, but not
limited to, GM, the GM logo,
CADILLAC, the CADILLAC Crest
and Wreath, ESCALADE, and EXT
are trademarks and/or service
marks of General Motors LLC, its
subsidiaries, affiliates, or licensors.
Please refer to the purchase
documentation relating to your
specific vehicle to confirm each of
the features found on your vehicle.
For vehicles first sold in Canada,
substitute the name “General
Motors of Canada Limited” for
Cadillac Motor Division wherever it
appears in this manual.
Keep this manual in the vehicle for
quick reference.
Canadian Vehicle Owners
Propriétaires Canadiens
A French language copy of this
manual can be obtained from your
dealer or from:
On peut obtenir un exemplaire de
ce guide en français auprès du
concessionnaire ou à l'adresse
suivante:
Helm, Incorporated
P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207
1-800-551-4123
Numéro de poste 6438 de langue
française
www.helminc.com
This manual describes features that
may or may not be on your specific
vehicle either because they are
options that you did not purchase or
due to changes subsequent to the
printing of this owner manual.
Litho in U.S.A.
Part No. 20902921 A First Printing
iii
©
2011 General Motors LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
iv
Black plate (4,1)
Introduction
Using this Manual
To quickly locate information about
the vehicle, use the Index in the
back of the manual. It is an
alphabetical list of what is in the
manual and the page number
where it can be found.
Danger, Warnings, and
Cautions
Warning messages found on vehicle
labels and in this manual describe
hazards and what to do to avoid or
reduce them.
{ WARNING
These mean there is something
that could hurt you or other
people.
Notice: This means there is
something that could result in
property or vehicle damage. This
would not be covered by the
vehicle's warranty.
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 : This symbol is shown when
you need to see your owner manual
for additional instructions or
information.
* : This symbol is shown when
you need to see a service manual
for additional instructions or
information.
Danger indicates a hazard with a
high level of risk which will result in
serious injury or death.
Warning or Caution indicates a
hazard that could result in injury or
death.
Symbols
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.”
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (5,1)
Introduction
Vehicle Symbol Chart
Here are some additional symbols
that may be found on the vehicle
and what they mean. For more
information on the symbol, refer to
the Index.
0 : Adjustable Pedals
9 : Airbag Readiness Light
# : Air Conditioning
! : Antilock Brake System (ABS)
% : Audio Steering Wheel Controls
or OnStar®
$:
Brake System Warning Light
" : Charging System
I : Cruise Control
B : Engine Coolant Temperature
O : Exterior Lamps
# : Fog Lamps
. : Fuel Gauge
+ : Fuses
3 : Headlamp High/Low-Beam
Changer
(:
j:
Heated Steering Wheel
LATCH System Child
Restraints
* : Malfunction Indicator Lamp
: : Oil Pressure
g : Outside Power Foldaway
Mirrors
} : Power
/ : Remote Vehicle Start
> : Safety Belt Reminders
7 : Tire Pressure Monitor
_ : Tow/Haul Mode
d : Traction Control/StabiliTrak®
M : Windshield Washer Fluid
v
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
vi
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Introduction
2 NOTES
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (1,1)
In Brief
In Brief
Instrument Panel
Instrument Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Initial Drive Information
Initial Drive Information . . . . . . . .
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Remote Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . .
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Midgate® . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tailgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Memory Features . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Second Row Seats . . . . . . . . . . .
Heated and Ventilated
Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Head Restraint Adjustment . . . .
1-4
1-4
1-4
1-5
1-5
1-5
1-6
1-6
1-8
1-9
1-9
1-9
Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9
Passenger Sensing
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Mirror Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Steering Wheel
Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11
Throttle and Brake Pedal
Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11
Interior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12
Exterior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . 1-13
Climate Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14
Vehicle Features
Satellite Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Portable Audio Devices . . . . . .
Bluetooth® . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Mobile Apps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . .
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Navigation System . . . . . . . . . . .
1-15
1-15
1-15
1-16
1-16
1-17
1-17
Driver Information
Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rear Vision
Camera (RVC) . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ultrasonic Parking Assist . . . .
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Universal Remote System . . .
1-1
1-17
1-18
1-18
1-19
1-19
Performance and Maintenance
StabiliTrak® System . . . . . . . . .
Tire Pressure Monitor . . . . . . . .
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . .
Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol) . . . . .
Driving for Better Fuel
Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Roadside Service . . . . . . . . . . . .
OnStar® . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1-19
1-20
1-20
1-20
1-21
1-21
1-21
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
1-2
In Brief
Instrument Panel
Black plate (2,1)
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
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In Brief
A. Air Vents on page 8‑6.
B. Turn and Lane-Change Signals
on page 6‑7.
Windshield Wiper/Washer on
page 5‑4.
H. Exterior Lamp Controls on
page 6‑1.
I.
J.
C. Hazard Warning Flashers on
page 6‑7.
D. Instrument Cluster on
page 5‑10.
E. Shift Lever/Tow/Haul Selector
Button. See Automatic
Transmission on page 9‑31 and
Tow/Haul Mode on page 9‑35.
F.
Clock on page 5‑7.
G. Infotainment on page 7‑1.
Dome Lamp Override. See
Dome Lamps on page 6‑9.
Data Link Connector (DLC)
(Out of View). See Malfunction
Indicator Lamp on page 5‑15.
K. Cruise Control on page 9‑43.
L.
Steering Wheel Adjustment on
page 5‑2.
M. Horn on page 5‑4.
N. Steering Wheel Controls on
page 5‑2.
O. Driver Information Center (DIC)
Buttons. See Driver Information
Center (DIC) on page 5‑23.
P.
1-3
Pedal Adjust Button. See
Adjustable Throttle and Brake
Pedal on page 9‑23.
Power Running Boards Disable
Button (If Equipped). See
Power Assist Steps on
page 2‑15.
Q. Dual Automatic Climate Control
System on page 8‑1.
Heated and Ventilated Front
Seats on page 3‑7
(If Equipped).
R. StabiliTrak® System on
page 9‑39.
Ultrasonic Parking Assist on
page 9‑45.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
1-4
Black plate (4,1)
In Brief
Initial Drive
Information
Press L and hold for
three seconds to sound the panic
alarm.
This section provides a brief
overview about some of the
important features that may or may
not be on your specific vehicle.
Press L again to cancel the panic
alarm.
See Keys on page 2‑2 and Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation on page 2‑3.
For more detailed information, refer
to each of the features which can be
found later in this owner manual.
Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE) System
The RKE transmitter is used to
remotely lock and unlock the doors
from up to 60 m (195 ft) away from
the vehicle.
Remote Vehicle Start
Press K to unlock the driver door.
Press K again within three seconds
to unlock all remaining doors,
including the tailgate.
Press Q to lock all doors, including
the tailgate.
Lock and unlock feedback can be
personalized. See Vehicle
Personalization on page 5‑36.
Press L and release to locate the
vehicle.
With this feature the engine can be
started from outside of the vehicle.
Starting the Vehicle
1. Aim the RKE transmitter at the
vehicle.
2. Press and release
Q.
3. Immediately after completing
Step 2, press and hold / until
the turn signal lamps flash.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (5,1)
In Brief
When the vehicle starts, the parking
lamps will turn on and remain on as
long as the engine is running. The
doors will be locked and the climate
control system may come on.
The engine will continue to run for
10 minutes. Repeat the steps for a
10-minute time extension. Remote
start can be extended only once.
Canceling a Remote Start
To cancel a remote start:
Door Locks
There are several ways to lock and
unlock the vehicle.
From outside, use the Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter or
the key in the driver door.
From inside, use the power door
locks or the manual door locks. To
lock or unlock the door with the
manual locks, push down or pull up
on the manual lock knob.
Aim the RKE transmitter at the
vehicle and press and hold /
until the parking lamps turn off.
Power Door Locks
.
Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
.
Turn the ignition on and then
back off.
K:
Q:
.
See Remote Vehicle Start on
page 2‑5.
If available, the switches are on the
front doors.
1-5
For more information see Midgate®
on page 2‑9.
Tailgate
Use the Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) transmitter or power
door lock switch to lock and unlock
the tailgate.
Open the tailgate by lifting up on its
handle while pulling the tailgate
toward you.
To close the tailgate, push it firmly
upward until it latches. Push and
pull on the tailgate to be sure it is
latched securely.
Press to unlock the doors.
Tailgate Removal
Press to lock the doors.
The tailgate is not to be removed.
Removing the tailgate may cause
damage to the electrical connector
resulting in a loss of lock/unlock and
rear vision camera function.
See Door Locks on page 2‑7.
Midgate®
This vehicle is equipped with a
Midgate and a removable rear glass
panel. The Midgate allows you to
extend the length of the vehicle's
cargo area.
See Tailgate on page 2‑15.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
1-6
Black plate (6,1)
In Brief
Windows
The driver door also has switches
that control the front passenger and
rear windows. The power windows
work when the ignition is in ON/
RUN or ACC/ACCESSORY, or in
Retained Accessory Power (RAP).
See Retained Accessory Power
(RAP) on page 9‑27.
Seat Adjustment
Press the switch to lower the
window. Pull the switch up to
raise it.
For more information, see:
The power window controls are
located on each of the side doors.
.
Windows on page 2‑22.
.
Power Windows on page 2‑22.
To adjust the seat:
.
Move the seat forward or
rearward by sliding the control
forward or rearward.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (7,1)
In Brief
.
Raise or lower the front or rear
part of the seat cushion by
moving the front or rear of the
control up or down.
.
Raise or lower the entire seat by
moving the entire control up
or down.
Lumbar Adjustment
Reclining Seatbacks
To adjust the lumbar support:
To adjust the seatback:
1-7
See Power Seat Adjustment on
page 3‑3 for more information.
.
Press and hold the front or rear
of the control to increase or
decrease lumbar support.
.
Press and hold the top or bottom
of the control to raise or lower
the height of the support.
See Lumbar Adjustment on
page 3‑3 for more information.
.
Tilt the top of the control
rearward to recline.
.
Tilt the top of the control forward
to raise.
See Reclining Seatbacks on
page 3‑4 for more information.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
1-8
Black plate (8,1)
In Brief
Memory Features
Storing Memory Positions
To save into memory:
1. Adjust the driver seat, including
the seatback recliner and
lumbar, both outside mirrors,
power steering column, and the
throttle and brake pedals.
See Power Mirrors on
page 2‑19, Steering Wheel
Adjustment on page 5‑2, and
Adjustable Throttle and Brake
Pedal on page 9‑23 for more
information.
The controls on the driver door are
used to program and recall memory
settings for the driver seat, outside
mirrors, power steering column, and
the adjustable throttle and brake
pedals.
Not all mirrors and adjustable
throttles and brake pedals will
have the ability to save and
recall their positions.
2. Press and hold “1” until
two beeps sound.
3. Repeat for a second driver
position using “2.”
To recall, press and release “1” or
“2.” The vehicle must be in P (Park).
A single beep will sound. The seat,
outside mirrors, steering column,
and adjustable throttle and brake
pedals will move to the positions
previously stored for the identified
driver.
See Memory Seats on page 3‑5 and
Vehicle Personalization on
page 5‑36 for more information.
Easy Exit Positions
This feature can move the driver
seat rearward and the power
steering column up and forward to
allow extra room to exit the vehicle.
B : Press to recall the easy exit
positions. The vehicle must be in
P (Park).
See Memory Seats on page 3‑5 and
Vehicle Personalization on
page 5‑36 for more information.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
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In Brief
Second Row Seats
The rear seatbacks can be folded to
provide more cargo space and
access to the midgate.
For detailed instructions see Rear
Seats on page 3‑8.
Heated and Ventilated
Seats
z : Press to heat the seat and
seatback.
{:
+:
Press to cool the entire seat.
Press to heat the
seatback only.
Safety Belts
Repeatedly press and release the
desired button to cycle through the
temperature settings.
See Heated and Ventilated Seats on
page 1‑9.
Head Restraint
Adjustment
Do not drive until the head restraints
for all occupants are installed and
adjusted properly.
The buttons are on the climate
control panel.
1-9
To achieve a comfortable seating
position, change the seatback
recline angle as little as necessary
while keeping the seat and the head
restraint height in the proper
position.
For more information see Head
Restraints on page 3‑2 and Power
Seat Adjustment on page 3‑3.
Refer to the following sections for
important information on how to use
safety belts properly.
.
Safety Belts on page 3‑10.
.
How to Wear Safety Belts
Properly on page 3‑11.
.
Lap-Shoulder Belt on page 3‑12.
.
Lower Anchors and Tethers for
Children (LATCH System) on
page 3‑41.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
1-10
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In Brief
Passenger Sensing
System
The passenger sensing system,
if equipped, turns off the front
outboard passenger frontal airbag
under certain conditions. No other
airbag is affected by the passenger
sensing system.
If the vehicle has one of the
indicators pictured in the following
illustrations, then the vehicle has a
passenger sensing system for the
right front passenger position.
The passenger airbag status
indicator, if equipped, will be visible
on the overhead console when the
vehicle is started.
Mirror Adjustment
Exterior Mirrors
United States
Canada and Mexico
See Passenger Sensing System on
page 3‑26 for important information.
Vehicles with outside power mirrors
and foldaway mirrors have controls
on the driver door.
1. Press (A) or (B) to select the
driver or passenger side mirror.
2. Press the arrows on the control
pad to move the mirror up,
down, right, or left.
3. Press the opposite side to get
the control pad to a neutral
position.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
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In Brief
Power Foldaway Mirrors
To fold the mirrors:
Steering Wheel
Adjustment
1. Press (C) to fold the mirrors out
to the driving position.
1-11
Throttle and Brake Pedal
Adjustment
The vehicle has adjustable throttle
and brake pedals that allow you to
change their positions.
2. Press (D) to fold the mirrors in to
the folded position.
See Power Mirrors on page 2‑19.
Interior Mirror
The automatic dimming rearview
mirror reduces the glare of lights
from behind the vehicle. The
dimming feature comes on and the
indicator light illuminates each time
the vehicle is started.
O:
Press to turn the dimming
feature on or off.
See Automatic Dimming Rearview
Mirror on page 2‑21 for more
information.
Push the control up or down to tilt
the steering wheel up or down.
To set the memory position, see
Vehicle Personalization on
page 5‑36.
The switch used to adjust the
pedals is located on the center
console below the climate control
system.
Press the right and left arrows to
move the pedals either closer or
further from your body.
See Adjustable Throttle and Brake
Pedal on page 9‑23.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
1-12
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In Brief
Interior Lighting
For more information about interior
lamps, see:
Dome Lamps
The dome lamps are located in the
overhead console.
They come on when any door is
opened and turn off after all the
doors are closed.
.
Dome Lamps on page 6‑9.
.
Reading Lamps on page 6‑9.
.
Instrument Panel Illumination
Control on page 6‑9.
Exterior Lighting
Turn the instrument panel
brightness knob located below
the dome lamp override button,
clockwise to the farthest position to
manually turn on the dome lamps.
The dome lamps remain on until the
knob is turned counterclockwise.
k : Press the button in and the
dome lamps remain off when a door
is opened. Press the button again to
return it to the extended position so
that the dome lamps come on when
a door is opened.
Dome Lamp Override
Reading Lamps
The dome lamp override button is
located next to the exterior lamps
control.
For vehicles with reading lamps in
the overhead console, press the
button located next to the lamp to
turn it on or off.
The vehicle may also have reading
lamps in other locations. To turn the
lamps on or off, press the button
located next to the lamp.
The exterior lamps control is located
on the instrument panel to the left of
the steering wheel.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (13,1)
In Brief
P : Turns off the automatic
headlamps and Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL). Turning the headlamp
control to the off position again will
turn the automatic headlamps and
DRL back on.
For vehicles first sold in Canada,
the off position only works when the
vehicle is shifted into the P (Park)
position.
For more information, see:
5 : Turns on the headlamps,
parking lamps, instrument panel
lights, license plate lamps, and
taillamps.
The windshield wipers are controlled
by turning the band with z on it.
.
Exterior Lamp Controls on
page 6‑1.
.
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
on page 6‑5.
8 : For a single wipe, turn to 8,
then release. For several wipes,
hold the band on 8 longer.
.
Fog Lamps on page 6‑8.
6:
Windshield Wiper/Washer
Turn the band up for more
frequent wipes or down for less
frequent wipes.
6 : Slow wipes.
1 : Fast wipes.
9 : Turns the windshield
AUTO: Automatically turns on the
headlamps at normal brightness,
along with the parking lamps,
instrument panel lights, license plate
lamps, and taillamps.
; : Turns on the parking lamps,
along with the instrument panel
lights, license plate lamps, and
taillamps.
1-13
wipers off.
L:
The front wiper control is located on
the turn and lane‐change lever.
Push the paddle at the top of
the lever, to spray washer fluid on
the windshield.
See Windshield Wiper/Washer on
page 5‑4.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
1-14
Black plate (14,1)
In Brief
Climate Controls
Transmission
The heating, cooling, and ventilation in the vehicle can be controlled with
this system.
Driver Shift Control (DSC)
The DSC switch is located on the
shift lever.
To enable the DSC feature:
Climate Control with Heated and Cooled Seats shown
A. Driver and Passenger
Temperature Controls
F.
B. AUTO (Auto Operation)
H. Rear Window Defogger
C. Air Recirculation
I.
D. Air Conditioning
See Dual Automatic Climate Control
System on page 8‑1.
E. Heated and Cooled Seats
Fan Control
G. Defrost
Air Delivery Mode Control
1. Move the column shift lever to
the M (Manual) position. The
Driver Information Center (DIC)
display will show the message
MANUAL SHIFT on the first line
and the current gear will be
displayed on the second line.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (15,1)
In Brief
This is the highest attainable
range with all lower gears
accessible. As an example,
when 5 (Fifth) gear is selected,
1 (First) through 5 (Fifth) gears
are available.
2. Press the plus/minus buttons,
located on the steering column
shift lever, to select the desired
range of gears for current driving
conditions. See Manual Mode on
page 9‑34.
While using DSC, cruise control and
the tow/haul mode can be used.
Grade Braking is not available when
DSC is active. See Tow/Haul Mode
on page 9‑35.
Vehicle Features
Satellite Radio
XM is a satellite radio service that is
based in the 48 contiguous United
States and 10 Canadian provinces.
XM satellite radio has a wide
variety of programming and
commercial-free music, coast to
coast, and in digital-quality sound.
A fee is required to receive the XM
service.
For more information, refer to:
.
www.xmradio.com or call
1-800-929-2100 (U.S.)
.
www.xmradio.ca or call
1-877-438-9677 (Canada)
Also, see Satellite Radio on
page 7‑16.
Portable Audio Devices
This vehicle has an auxiliary input,
located on the audio faceplate,
and a USB port located on the
instrument panel or in the center
1-15
console. External devices such
as iPod®, laptop computers,
MP3 players, CD changers, USB
storage device, etc. can be
connected to the auxiliary port using
a 3.5 mm (1/8 in) input jack or the
USB port depending on the audio
system.
See Auxiliary Devices on page 7‑30
or CD/DVD Player on page 7‑18 for
further information.
Bluetooth®
For vehicles with a Bluetooth
system, it allows users with a
Bluetooth‐enabled cell phone to
make and receive hands-free calls
using the vehicle’s audio system
and controls.
The Bluetooth‐enabled cell phone
must be paired with the Bluetooth
system before it can be used in the
vehicle. Not all phones will support
all functions. For more information,
visit www.gm.com/bluetooth.
For more information, see Bluetooth
on page 7‑81.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
1-16
Black plate (16,1)
In Brief
Mobile Apps
Steering Wheel Controls
Mobile apps are available for
download through iTunes® to then
access the iPhone® App Store and
Google™ Marketplace for
Android™. Search for the apps to
download. The apps are free of
charge; however, the myCadillac
app requires the user to link their
own vehicle and OnStar MyLink
requires an active OnStar
subscription.
c / x : Press to go to the
previous favorite radio station, track
on a CD, or folder on an iPod® or
USB device. Press to reject an
incoming call, or to end a call.
b / g : Press to silence the vehicle
speakers only. Press again to turn
the sound on. Press and hold longer
than two seconds to interact with
OnStar® or Bluetooth systems,
if equipped.
e:
−e:
+
If available, some audio controls
can be adjusted at the steering
wheel.
w : Press to go to the next favorite
radio station, track on a CD,
or folder on an iPod® or USB
device.
Press to increase volume.
Press to decrease volume.
SRCE: Press to switch between
the radio and CD, and for equipped
vehicles, the DVD, front auxiliary,
and rear auxiliary.
¨ : Press to seek the next radio
station, the next track or chapter
while sourced to the CD or DVD
slot, or to select tracks and folders
on an iPod or USB device.
For more information, see Steering
Wheel Controls on page 5‑2.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (17,1)
In Brief
Cruise Control
[ : Press to disengage cruise
control without erasing the set
speed from memory.
See Cruise Control on page 9‑43.
Navigation System
I:
Press to turn the system on
and off.
+RES: Press briefly to make the
vehicle resume to a previously set
speed, or press and hold to
accelerate.
SET− : Press to set the speed and
activate cruise control or make the
vehicle decelerate.
The navigation system provides
detailed maps of most major
freeways and roads throughout the
United States and Canada. After a
destination has been set, the
system provides turn-by-turn
instructions for reaching the
destination. In addition, the system
can help locate a variety of POIs
(Points of Interest), such as banks,
airports, restaurants, and more.
1-17
Driver Information
Center (DIC)
The DIC display is located at the
bottom of the instrument panel
cluster. It shows the status of many
vehicle systems and enables
access to the personalization menu.
See Using the Navigation System
on page 7‑42 for more information.
The DIC buttons are located on the
instrument panel, next to the
steering wheel.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
1-18
Black plate (18,1)
In Brief
3 : Press to display the
odometer, trip odometer, fuel range,
average economy, fuel used,
timer, transmission temperature,
instantaneous economy, and
average vehicle speed. The
compass and outside air
temperature will also be shown
in the display. The temperature will
be shown in °C or °F depending on
the units selected.
Vehicle Customization
T:
Press to display the oil life,
units, tire pressure readings for
vehicles with the Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS), compass
zone setting, and compass
recalibration.
U:
Press to customize the feature
settings on the vehicle. See Vehicle
Personalization on page 5‑36 for
more information.
V:
Press to set or reset certain
functions and to turn off or
acknowledge messages on the DIC.
For more information, see Driver
Information Center (DIC) on
page 5‑23.
Some vehicle features can be
programmed by using the DIC
buttons next to the steering wheel.
These features include:
.
Language
.
Door Lock and Unlock Settings
.
RKE Lock and Unlock Feedback
.
Lighting
.
Chime Volume
.
Memory Features
.
Digital Speedometer Display
See Vehicle Personalization on
page 5‑36.
Rear Vision
Camera (RVC)
If available, the RVC displays a view
of the area behind the vehicle on
the navigation screen when the
vehicle is shifted into R (Reverse).
Once shifted out of R (Reverse), the
navigation screen will go back to the
last screen that had been displayed,
after a delay.
To clean the camera lens, located
under the tailgate handle, rinse it
with water and wipe it with a soft
cloth.
See Rear Vision Camera (RVC) on
page 9‑47.
Ultrasonic Parking Assist
If available, Ultrasonic Rear Parking
Assist (URPA) system uses sensors
on the rear bumper to assist with
parking and avoiding objects while
in R (Reverse). It operates at
speeds less than 8 km/h (5 mph).
URPA uses audible beeps to
provide distance and system
information.
Keep the sensors on the vehicle's
rear bumper clean to ensure proper
operation.
See Ultrasonic Parking Assist on
page 9‑45 for more information.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (19,1)
In Brief
Power Outlets
Universal Remote System
Accessory power outlets can be
used to plug in electrical equipment,
such as a cell phone or MP3 player.
One accessory power outlet is
located inside the center floor
console. Lift up on the lower latch
located at the front of the console lid
to access the accessory power
outlet.
There may also be an accessory
power outlet located on the rear of
the center floor console above the
cupholder.
The accessory power outlets are
powered, even when the ignition is
in LOCK/OFF. Continuing to use
power outlets while the ignition is in
LOCK/OFF may cause the vehicle's
battery to run down.
See Power Outlets on page 5‑7.
1-19
Performance and
Maintenance
StabiliTrak® System
Vehicles with the Universal Remote
System will have these buttons
located in the headliner.
This system provides a way to
replace up to three remote control
transmitters used to activate
devices such as garage door
openers, security systems, and
home automation devices.
Read the instructions completely
before attempting to program the
transmitter. Because of the steps
involved, it may be helpful to have
another person assist with
programming the transmitter.
See Universal Remote System on
page 5‑44.
The vehicle has a traction control
system that limits wheel spin and
the StabiliTrak system that assists
with directional control of the vehicle
in difficult driving conditions. Both
systems turn on automatically every
time the vehicle is started.
.
To turn off traction control, press
and release g on the instrument
panel. The appropriate DIC
message displays. See Ride
Control System Messages on
page 5‑32.
.
To turn off both traction control
and StabiliTrak, press and hold
g until g illuminates and the
appropriate DIC message
displays. See Ride Control
System Messages on page 5‑32.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
1-20
.
Black plate (20,1)
In Brief
Press and release g again to
turn on both systems.
For more information, see
StabiliTrak® System on page 9‑39.
Tire Pressure Monitor
This vehicle may have a Tire
Pressure Monitor System (TPMS).
During cooler conditions, the low tire
pressure warning light may appear
when the vehicle is first started and
then turn off. This may be an early
indicator that the tire pressures are
getting low and the tires need to be
inflated to the proper pressure.
The TPMS does not replace normal
monthly tire maintenance. It is the
driver’s responsibility to maintain
correct tire pressures.
See Tire Pressure Monitor System
on page 10‑51.
Engine Oil Life System
The TPMS warning light alerts you
to a significant loss in pressure of
one of the vehicle's tires. If the
warning light comes on, stop as
soon as possible and inflate the
tires to the recommended pressure
shown on the Tire and Loading
Information label. See Vehicle Load
Limits on page 9‑16. The warning
light will remain on until the tire
pressure is corrected.
The engine oil life system calculates
engine oil life based on vehicle use
and displays a DIC message when
it is necessary to change the engine
oil and filter. The oil life system
should be reset to 100% only
following an oil change.
Resetting the Oil Life System
1. Display OIL LIFE REMAINING
on the DIC.
2. Press and hold the SET/RESET
button on the DIC for more than
five seconds. The oil life will
change to 100%.
See Engine Oil Life System on
page 10‑10.
Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol)
Vehicles that have a FlexFuel badge
and a yellow fuel cap can use either
unleaded gasoline or ethanol fuel
containing up to 85% ethanol (E85).
See Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol) on
page 9‑53. For all other vehicles,
use only the unleaded gasoline
described under Recommended
Fuel on page 9‑51.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (21,1)
In Brief
Driving for Better Fuel
Economy
Driving habits can affect fuel
mileage. Here are some driving tips
to get the best fuel economy
possible.
.
Replace the vehicle's tires with
the same TPC Spec number
molded into the tire's sidewall
near the size.
.
Follow recommended scheduled
maintenance.
1-21
sent to an OnStar advisor who will
assess your problem, contact
Roadside Service, and relay your
exact location to get the help
you need.
Online Owner Center
(U.S. and Canada)
Avoid fast starts and accelerate
smoothly.
Roadside Service
.
Brake gradually and avoid
abrupt stops.
TTY Users (U.S. or Canada):
1-888-889-2438
.
Avoid idling the engine for long
periods of time.
Mexico: 01-800-466-0805
The Online Owner Center is a
complimentary service that includes
online service reminders, vehicle
maintenance tips, online owner
manual, special privileges,
and more.
.
When road and weather
conditions are appropriate, use
cruise control.
As the owner of a new Cadillac, you
are automatically enrolled in the
Roadside Service program.
Sign up today at:
www.cadillacownercenter.com
(U.S.) or www.gm.ca (Canada).
.
Always follow posted speed
limits or drive more slowly when
conditions require.
.
.
Keep vehicle tires properly
inflated.
.
Combine several trips into a
single trip.
U.S. or Canada: 1-800-882-1112
See Roadside Service (U.S. and
Canada) on page 13‑7 or Roadside
Service (Mexico) on page 13‑9 for
more information.
Roadside Service and OnStar
(U.S. and Canada)
If you have an active OnStar
subscription, press the Q button
and the current GPS location will be
OnStar®
If equipped, this vehicle has a
comprehensive, in-vehicle system
that can connect to a live Advisor
for Emergency, Security, Navigation,
Connection, and Diagnostic
Services. See OnStar Overview on
page 14‑1 for more information.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
1-22
Black plate (22,1)
In Brief
2 NOTES
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (1,1)
Keys, Doors, and Windows
Keys, Doors, and
Windows
Doors
Midgate® . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
Tailgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-15
Power Assist Steps . . . . . . . . . . 2-15
Vehicle Security
Keys and Locks
Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation . . . . . . . . . . .
Remote Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . .
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Power Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . .
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Automatic Door Locks . . . . . . . . .
Lockout Protection . . . . . . . . . . . .
Safety Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2-2
2-2
2-3
2-5
2-7
2-7
2-8
2-8
2-8
2-8
Vehicle Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Anti-theft Alarm System . . . . . .
Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Immobilizer Operation . . . . . . .
2-16
2-16
2-17
2-17
Exterior Mirrors
Convex Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Power Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Heated Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Automatic Dimming Mirror . . .
Park Tilt Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2-19
2-19
2-20
2-20
2-21
2-1
Interior Mirrors
Automatic Dimming Rearview
Mirror . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-21
Windows
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-22
Power Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-22
Sun Visors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-25
Roof
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-25
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
2-2
Black plate (2,1)
Keys, Doors, and Windows
Keys and Locks
If locked out of your vehicle, contact
Roadside Service. See Roadside
Service (U.S. and Canada) on
page 13‑7 or Roadside Service
(Mexico) on page 13‑9 for more
information.
Keys
{ WARNING
Leaving children in a vehicle with
the ignition key is dangerous for
many reasons. Children or others
could be badly injured or even
killed. They could operate the
power windows or other controls
or even make the vehicle move.
The windows will function with the
keys in the ignition and children
could be seriously injured or killed
if caught in the path of a closing
window. Do not leave the keys in
a vehicle with children.
With an active OnStar subscription,
an OnStar Advisor may remotely
unlock the vehicle. See OnStar
Overview on page 14‑1.
The key can be used for the ignition,
door locks, tailgate, and side
storage boxes.
See your dealer if a replacement
key or additional key is needed.
Notice: If the keys get locked in
the vehicle, it may have to be
damaged to get them out. Always
carry a spare key.
Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE) System
See Radio Frequency Statement on
page 13‑21 for information
regarding Part 15 of the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC)
rules and Industry Canada
Standards RSS-GEN/210/220/310.
If there is a decrease in the RKE
operating range:
.
Check the distance. The
transmitter may be too far from
the vehicle.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (3,1)
Keys, Doors, and Windows
.
Check the location. Other
vehicles or objects may be
blocking the signal.
.
Check the transmitter's battery.
See “Battery Replacement” later
in this section.
.
when Q is pressed again within
three seconds. See Vehicle
Personalization on page 5‑36 for
additional information.
Pressing Q arms the content
theft‐deterrent system. See
Anti-theft Alarm System on
page 2‑16.
If the transmitter is still not
working correctly, see your
dealer or a qualified technician
for service.
Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE) System Operation
The Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter functions work up to
60 m (195 ft) away from the vehicle.
There are other conditions which
can affect the performance of the
transmitter. See Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) System on page 2‑2.
2-3
/ (Remote Vehicle Start):
Press
to start the engine from outside the
vehicle using the RKE transmitter.
See Remote Vehicle Start on
page 2‑5 for additional information.
Q (Lock):
Press to lock all the
doors, including the tailgate.
If enabled through the Driver
Information Center (DIC), the turn
signal lamps flash once to indicate
locking has occurred. If enabled
through the DIC, the horn chirps
K (Unlock): Press once to unlock
only the driver door. If K is pressed
again within three seconds, all
remaining doors, including the
tailgate unlock.
The interior lamps come on and
stay on for 20 seconds or until the
ignition is turned on. If enabled
through the DIC, the turn signal
lamps flash twice to indicate
unlocking has occurred. See Vehicle
Personalization on page 5‑36.
If enabled through the DIC, the
exterior lamps turn on briefly if it is
dark enough outside. See
“Approach Lighting” under Vehicle
Personalization on page 5‑36.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
2-4
Black plate (4,1)
Keys, Doors, and Windows
Pressing K on the RKE transmitter
disarms the content theft‐deterrent
system. See Anti-theft Alarm
System on page 2‑16.
L (Vehicle Locator/Panic
Alarm): Press and release to
locate the vehicle. The turn signal
lamps flash and the horn sounds
three times.
Press and hold L for
three seconds to activate the panic
alarm. The turn signal lamps flash
and the horn sounds repeatedly for
30 seconds. The alarm turns off
when the ignition is moved to ON/
RUN or L is pressed again. The
ignition must be in LOCK/OFF for
the panic alarm to work.
The vehicle comes with
two transmitters. Each transmitter
will have a number on top of it,
“1” or “2”. These numbers
correspond to the driver of the
vehicle. For example, the memory
seat position for driver 1 will be
recalled when using the transmitter
labeled “1”, if enabled through the
DIC. See Memory Seats on
page 3‑5 for more information.
Programming Transmitters to
the Vehicle
Only RKE transmitters programmed
to this vehicle will work. If a
transmitter is lost or stolen, a
replacement can be purchased and
programmed through your dealer.
When the replacement transmitter is
programmed to this vehicle, all
remaining transmitters must also be
reprogrammed. Any lost or stolen
transmitters will no longer work
once the new transmitter is
programmed. Each vehicle can
have up to eight transmitters
programmed to it. See your dealer
to have transmitters programmed to
your vehicle.
Battery Replacement
Replace the battery if the REPLACE
BATTERY IN REMOTE KEY
message displays in the DIC. See
“REPLACE BATTERY IN REMOTE
KEY” under Key and Lock
Messages on page 5‑32 for
additional information.
Notice: When replacing the
battery, do not touch any of the
circuitry on the transmitter. Static
from your body could damage the
transmitter.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (5,1)
Keys, Doors, and Windows
Remote Vehicle Start
This feature allows you to start the
engine from outside of the vehicle.
It may also start up the vehicle's
heating or air conditioning systems
and rear window defogger. Normal
operation of the system will return
after the key is turned to the ON/
RUN position.
To replace the battery:
1. Separate the transmitter with a
flat, thin object inserted into the
notch, located above the
metal base.
2. Remove the old battery. Do not
use a metal object.
3. Insert the new battery, positive
side facing up. Replace with a
CR2032 or equivalent battery.
4. Snap the transmitter back
together.
During a remote start, the climate
control system will default to a
heating or cooling mode depending
on the outside temperatures.
During a remote start, if the vehicle
has an automatic climate control
system and heated seats, the
heated seats will turn on during
colder outside temperatures and will
shut off when the key is turned to
ON/RUN. If the vehicle does not
have an automatic climate control
system, during remote start, you will
need to manually turn the heated
seats on and off. See Heated and
Ventilated Front Seats on page 3‑7
for additional information.
2-5
Laws in some communities may
restrict the use of remote starters.
For example, some laws may
require a person using the remote
start to have the vehicle in view
when doing so. Check local
regulations for any requirements on
remote starting of vehicles.
Do not use the remote start feature
if the vehicle is low on fuel. The
vehicle may run out of fuel.
If the vehicle has the remote start
feature, the RKE transmitter
functions will have an increased
range of operation. However, the
range may be less while the vehicle
is running.
There are other conditions which
can affect the performance of the
transmitter, see Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) System on page 2‑2 for
additional information.
/ (Remote Start):
This button will
be on the RKE transmitter if you
have remote start.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
2-6
Black plate (6,1)
Keys, Doors, and Windows
To start the vehicle using the remote
start feature:
To cancel a remote start, do any of
the following:
1. Aim the transmitter at the
vehicle.
.
2. Press and release
Q.
3. Immediately press and hold /
until the turn signal lamps flash.
If you cannot see the vehicle's
lamps, press and hold / for
two to four seconds.
When the vehicle starts, the
parking lamps will turn on and
remain on while the vehicle is
running. The doors will be
locked and the climate control
system may come on.
The engine will continue to run
for 10 minutes. Repeat the steps
for a 10-minute time extension.
Remote start can be extended
only once.
After entering the vehicle during a
remote start, insert and turn the key
to ON/RUN to drive the vehicle.
Aim the RKE transmitter at the
vehicle and / until the parking
lamps turn off.
.
Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
.
Turn the ignition on and then
back off.
The vehicle can be remote started
two separate times between driving
sequences. The engine will run for
10 minutes after each remote start.
Or, you can extend the engine run
time by another 10 minutes within
the first 10 minute remote start time
frame, and before the engine stops.
For example, if Q and then / are
pressed again after the vehicle has
been running for five minutes,
10 minutes are added, allowing the
engine to run for 15 minutes.
The additional 10 minutes are
considered a second remote vehicle
start.
After the vehicle's engine has been
started two times using /, or a
single remote start with one time
extension, the vehicle must be
started with the key.
After the key is removed from the
ignition, the vehicle can be remote
started again.
The vehicle cannot be remote
started if the key is in the ignition,
the hood is not closed, or if there is
an emission control system
malfunction and the malfunction
indicator lamp is on.
Also, the engine will turn off during a
remote vehicle start if the coolant
temperature gets too high or if the
oil pressure gets low.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (7,1)
Keys, Doors, and Windows
Door Locks
{ WARNING
WARNING (Continued)
.
Unlocked doors can be
dangerous.
.
Passengers, especially
children, can easily open the
doors and fall out of a moving
vehicle. When a door is
locked, the handle will not
open it. The chance of being
thrown out of the vehicle in a
crash is increased if the
doors are not locked. So, all
passengers should wear
safety belts properly and the
doors should be locked
whenever the vehicle is
driven.
(Continued)
.
Young children who get into
unlocked vehicles may be
unable to get out. A child can
be overcome by extreme heat
and can suffer permanent
injuries or even death from
heat stroke. Always lock the
vehicle whenever leaving it.
Outsiders can easily enter
through an unlocked door
when you slow down or stop
the vehicle. Locking the doors
can help prevent this from
happening.
There are several ways to lock and
unlock the vehicle.
From outside, use the Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter or
the key in the driver door.
2-7
From inside, use the power door
locks or manual door locks. To lock
or unlock the door with the manual
locks, push down or pull up on the
manual lock knob.
Power Door Locks
With power door locks, the switches
on the front doors can be used to
lock and unlock the vehicle.
If available, the switches are on the
front doors.
K (Unlock): Press to unlock the
doors.
Q (Lock):
Press to lock the doors.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
2-8
Black plate (8,1)
Keys, Doors, and Windows
Delayed Locking
When locking the doors with
the power lock switch and a
door is open, the doors will lock
five seconds after the last door is
closed. You will hear three chimes to
signal that the delayed locking
feature is in use.
Pressing the power lock switch will
override the delayed locking feature
and immediately lock all the doors.
This feature will not operate if the
key is in the ignition.
You can also program this feature
using the Driver Information
Center (DIC). See “Delay Door
Lock” under Vehicle Personalization
on page 5‑36.
Automatic Door Locks
The vehicle may have an automatic
lock/unlock feature. This feature can
be programmed using the Driver
Information Center (DIC).
See Vehicle Personalization on
page 5‑36 for more information on
DIC programming.
Lockout Protection
If the driver side power door lock
switch is pressed when the driver
door is open and the key is in the
ignition, all of the doors will lock and
then the driver door will unlock.
If the passenger side power door
lock switch is pressed when the
front passenger door is open and
the key is in the ignition, all of the
doors will lock and then the front
passenger door will unlock.
Safety Locks
The vehicle has rear door security
locks to prevent passengers from
opening the rear doors from the
inside.
Open the rear doors to access the
security locks on the inside edge of
each door.
To set the locks, insert a key into
the slot and turn it to the horizontal
position. The door can only be
opened from the outside with the
door unlocked. To return the door to
normal operation, turn the slot to the
vertical position.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (9,1)
Keys, Doors, and Windows
Doors
WARNING (Continued)
Midgate®
that brings in outside air. This
will force outside air into your
vehicle. See Dual Automatic
Climate Control System on
page 8‑1.
{ WARNING
It can be dangerous to drive with
the cargo area covered and the
tailgate and the Midgate® open
because carbon monoxide (CO)
gas can come into your vehicle.
You can not see or smell CO.
It can cause unconsciousness
and even death. If you must drive
with the cargo covers on and the
tailgate and Midgate open or if
electrical wiring or other cable
connections must pass through
the seal between the body and
the Midgate:
.
.
2-9
Make sure all windows
are shut.
Turn the fan on your heating
or cooling system to its
highest speed on the setting
(Continued)
.
If you have air outlets on or
under the instrument panel,
open them all the way. See
Engine Exhaust on
page 9‑30.
Midgate Operation
This vehicle is equipped with a
Midgate and a removable rear glass
panel. The Midgate allows you to
extend the length of the vehicle's
cargo area.
The following are the main
components of the Midgate system:
A. Latch Levers
B. Grab Handles
C. Glass-Catch Release Button
D. Glass Lock Knobs
E. Glass Retaining Tabs
F.
Midgate Release Handle
G. Glass Alignment Arrows
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
2-10
Black plate (10,1)
Keys, Doors, and Windows
Rear Glass Removal and
Storage
{ WARNING
If the removable rear glass is not
stored properly, it could be thrown
about the vehicle in a crash or
sudden maneuver. People in the
vehicle could be injured.
Whenever you store the rear
glass in the vehicle, always be
sure that it is stored securely in
the Midgate® storage pocket.
Do not remove the rear glass when
the rear defroster is on. If you do,
you may see a discharge spark
coming from the latch area.
To remove the rear glass do the
following:
1. Fold the rear seats. See Rear
Seats on page 3‑8. The front
seats may have to be moved
forward slightly to allow the rear
seats to fold completely.
Although the rear glass can be
removed without folding the rear
seats, you will not be able to
access the rear glass storage
pocket. Be sure to fold the seats
before removing the rear glass.
3. While holding the rear glass in
place, press the glass-catch
release button (C) and pull the
top of the rear glass toward you
using the grab handles (B)
located at the top of the rear
glass.
2. Squeeze and pull down the latch
levers (A), located near the
upper corners of the rear glass,
to unlatch. Once unlatched, the
glass-catch release button (C)
will catch the rear glass and
prevent it from falling forward.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (11,1)
Keys, Doors, and Windows
4. With the rear glass tilted toward
you, lift it out from the lower
window frame channel. Use the
grab handles (B) to assist you in
removing the rear glass.
5. Load the rear glass into the
storage pocket in the Midgate,
guiding the lower edge of the
rear glass behind the three rear
glass retaining tabs (E).
Hold the rear glass flat against
the storage pocket, with grab
handles facing you, until the
next step.
2-11
6. Turn both glass lock knobs (D),
located at both top corners of
the storage pocket, to the locked
position. Push in on the corner
of the rear glass to allow the
lock knob to engage more easily.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
2-12
Black plate (12,1)
Keys, Doors, and Windows
Reinstalling the Rear Glass
To reinstall the rear glass, do the
following:
3. Pull the rear glass out from the
storage pocket using the grab
handles (B).
1. Squeeze and pull down the latch
levers (A), located near the
upper corners of the rear glass,
to unlatch.
Once both glass lock knobs are
in the locked position, the rear
glass is securely stored.
7. Push both latch levers up to the
locked position. You should hear
a click when each latch lever
locks correctly.
The rear seats can be returned
to the normal position when the
rear glass is out and stored
properly in the storage pocket.
4. With the rear glass tilted at an
angle, place the bottom edge in
the lower channel of the window
frame.
2. Hold the rear glass in place with
one hand and turn the glass lock
knobs, located at both top
corners of the glass storage
pocket, to the unlocked position.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (13,1)
Keys, Doors, and Windows
2-13
Lowering the Midgate with the
Rear Glass in Place
The Midgate can be lowered to
allow the cargo area of your vehicle
to extend into the cab. The rear
glass can be either installed in its
normal position, or it can be
removed and stored in the rear
glass storage pocket.
To lower the Midgate:
Be sure to align the rear glass
side-to-side using the glass
alignment arrows (G).
5. Apply a firm downward pressure
and then push the rear glass flat
against the window frame. Use
the grab handles (B) at the top of
the rear glass to assist you.
6. Push the rear glass flat against
the window frame and push
each latch lever (A) up until it
locks. You should hear a click
when each latch lever locks
correctly.
1. Fold the rear seats. The front
seats might have to be moved
forward slightly to allow the rear
seats to fold. See Rear Seats on
page 3‑8.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
2-14
Black plate (14,1)
Keys, Doors, and Windows
Lowering the Midgate with the
Rear Glass in the Storage
Pocket
Rear Glass in Normal Position
2. Standing outside of the vehicle,
hold the Midgate securely so it
does not fall forward. Turn the
Midgate handle clockwise and
pull the Midgate toward you.
Midgate Lowered with Crossbar
Attached
Rear Glass Stored in Glass
Storage Pocket
3. Lower the Midgate until it is flat.
This procedure works the same as
the procedure described previously,
but when you lower the Midgate
with the rear glass in the stored
position, you will notice that the
entire crossbar will lower with the
Midgate. This is completely normal;
however, since the crossbar lowers
with the Midgate, it will be heavier.
As you lower the Midgate be ready
for the extra weight and do not let
the Midgate fall as you lower it.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (15,1)
Keys, Doors, and Windows
Raising the Midgate
To return the Midgate to its normal
position, raise the Midgate up with a
firm swinging motion until it latches
into place securely. This will help to
ensure that the Midgate closes with
enough force to engage the latches.
If the rear glass is removed and you
would like to put it back, do so using
the instructions given previously.
Tailgate
{ WARNING
It is extremely dangerous to ride
on the tailgate, even when the
vehicle is operated at low speeds.
People riding on the tailgate
can easily lose their balance
and fall in response to vehicle
maneuvers. Falling from a moving
vehicle may result in serious
injuries or death. Do not allow
people to ride on the tailgate.
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
Be sure everyone in your vehicle
is in a seat and using a safety
belt properly.
Use the Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) transmitter or power
door lock switch to lock and unlock
the tailgate.
Open the tailgate by lifting up on its
handle while pulling the tailgate
toward you.
To close the tailgate, push it firmly
upward until it latches. Push and
pull on the tailgate to be sure it is
latched securely.
Tailgate Removal
The tailgate is not to be removed.
Removing the tailgate may cause
damage to electrical connector
resulting in loss of lock/unlock and
rear vision camera function.
2-15
Power Assist Steps
The vehicle may have power assist
steps.
The switch used to disable the
power assist steps is located on the
center console below the climate
control system.
The power assist steps
automatically extend from beneath
the vehicle on the side in which the
door has been opened. Once the
door is closed, the assist steps
automatically move back under the
vehicle after a brief delay. The
vehicle must not be moving for the
assist steps to extend or retract.
The assist steps cannot be disabled
in the extended position.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
2-16
Black plate (16,1)
Keys, Doors, and Windows
Vehicle Security
This vehicle has theft-deterrent
features; however, they do not make
it impossible to steal.
Anti-theft Alarm System
Your vehicle has a content
theft-deterrent alarm system.
This is the security light.
To arm the theft-deterrent system:
1. Open the door.
2. Lock the door with the Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter
or the power door lock switch.
The security light will come on to
inform the driver the system is
arming. If a door is open when
the doors are locked, the
security light will flash.
If the delayed locking feature is
turned on, the theft‐deterrent
system will not start the arming
process until the last door is
closed and the delay timer has
expired. See Delayed Locking
on page 2‑8.
3. Close all doors. The security
light should go off after about
30 seconds. The alarm is not
armed until the security light
goes off.
The content theft deterrent
system does not sense if the
midgate or tailgate are open or
ajar, therefore, vehicle contents
may not be protected if the
midgate is left open or ajar.
If a locked driver door is opened
without using the RKE transmitter,
a ten second pre-alarm will occur.
The horn will chirp and the lights will
flash. If the key is not placed in the
ignition and turned to START or the
door is not unlocked by pressing
the unlock button on the RKE
transmitter during the ten second
pre-alarm, the alarm will go off.
Your vehicle's headlamps will flash
and the horn will sound for about
30 seconds, then will turn off to save
the battery power.
The theft-deterrent system will not
activate if the doors are locked with
the vehicle's key or the manual door
lock. It activates only if you use the
power door lock switch with the door
open or the RKE transmitter. You
should also remember that you can
start your vehicle with the correct
ignition key if the alarm has been
set off.
To avoid setting off the alarm by
accident:
.
If you do not want to activate the
theft-deterrent system, the
vehicle should be locked with
the door key after the doors are
closed.
.
Always unlock the doors with the
RKE transmitter. Unlocking a
door any other way will set off
the alarm if it is armed.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (17,1)
Keys, Doors, and Windows
If you set off the alarm by accident,
press unlock on the RKE transmitter
or place the key in the ignition and
turn it to START to turn off the
alarm. The alarm will not stop if you
try to unlock a door any other way.
Testing the Alarm
To test the alarm:
1. From inside the vehicle, lower
the driver window and open the
driver door.
2. Activate the system by locking
the doors with the power door
lock switch while the door is
open, or with the RKE
transmitter.
3. Get out of the vehicle, close the
door and wait for the security
light to go out.
4. Then reach in through the
window, unlock the door with the
manual door lock and open the
door. This should set off the
alarm.
While the alarm is set, the power
door unlock switch will not work.
If the alarm does not sound when it
should but the headlamps flash,
check to see if the horn works. The
horn fuse may be blown. To replace
the fuse, see Instrument Panel Fuse
Block on page 10‑41 and Engine
Compartment Fuse Block on
page 10‑36.
If the alarm does not sound or the
headlamps do not flash, the vehicle
should be serviced by your dealer.
Immobilizer
See Radio Frequency Statement on
page 13‑21 for information
regarding Part 15 of the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC)
rules and Industry Canada
Standards RSS-GEN/210/220/310.
2-17
Immobilizer Operation
This vehicle has PASS-Key® III+
(Personalized Automotive Security
System) theft-deterrent system.
PASS-Key III+ is a passive
theft-deterrent system.
The system is automatically armed
when the key is removed from the
ignition.
The system is automatically
disarmed when the key is turned to
ON/RUN, ACC/ACCESSORY,
or START from the LOCK/OFF
position.
You do not have to manually arm or
disarm the system.
The security light will come on if
there is a problem with arming or
disarming the theft-deterrent
system.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
2-18
Black plate (18,1)
Keys, Doors, and Windows
When the PASS-Key III+ system
senses that someone is using the
wrong key, it prevents the vehicle
from starting. Anyone using a
trial-and-error method to start the
vehicle will be discouraged because
of the high number of electrical key
codes.
If the engine does not start and the
security light on the instrument
panel cluster comes on when trying
to start the vehicle, there may be a
problem with the theft-deterrent
system. Turn the ignition off and try
again.
If the engine still does not start, and
the key appears to be undamaged,
try another ignition key. At this time,
you may also want to check the
fuse. See Fuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 10‑36. If the
engine still does not start with the
other key, the vehicle needs service.
If the vehicle does start, the first key
may be faulty. See your dealer who
can service the PASS-Key III+ to
have a new key made.
It is possible for the PASS-Key III+
decoder to learn the transponder
value of a new or replacement key.
Up to 10 keys may be programmed
for the vehicle. The following
procedure is for programming
additional keys only. If all the
currently programmed keys are lost
or do not operate, you must see
your dealer or a locksmith who can
service PASS-Key III+ to have keys
made and programmed to the
system.
3. After the engine has started, turn
the key to LOCK/OFF, and
remove the key.
See your dealer or a locksmith who
can service PASS-Key III+ to get a
new key blank cut exactly as the
ignition key that operates the
system.
5. Repeat Steps 1 through 4 if
additional keys are to be
programmed.
To program the new additional key:
1. Verify that the new key has
a 1 stamped on it.
2. Insert the original, already
programmed key in the ignition
and start the engine. If the
engine will not start, see your
dealer for service.
4. Insert the new key to be
programmed and turn it to the
ON/RUN position within
five seconds of turning the
ignition to the LOCK/OFF
position in Step 3.
The security light will turn off
once the key has been
programmed.
If you lose or damage your
PASS-Key III+ key, see your dealer
or a locksmith who can service
PASS-Key III+ to have a new
key made.
Do not leave the key or device
that disarms or deactivates the
theft-deterrent system in the vehicle.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (19,1)
Keys, Doors, and Windows
Exterior Mirrors
Power Mirrors
2. Press the arrows on the control
pad to move the mirror up,
down, right, or left.
{ WARNING
The passenger side mirror is convex
shaped. A convex mirror's surface is
curved so more can be seen from
the driver seat.
Mirror Adjustment
1. Press (A) or (B) to select the
driver or passenger side mirror.
Convex Mirrors
A convex mirror can make things,
like other vehicles, look farther
away than they really are. If you
cut too sharply into the right lane,
you could hit a vehicle on the
right. Check the inside mirror or
glance over your shoulder before
changing lanes.
2-19
3. Press the opposite side to get
the control pad to a neutral
position.
Power Foldaway Mirrors
1. Press (C) to fold the mirrors out
to the driving position.
Controls for the outside power
foldaway mirrors are on the driver
door armrest.
2. Press (D) to fold the mirrors into
the folded position.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
2-20
Black plate (20,1)
Keys, Doors, and Windows
Resetting the Power Foldaway
Mirrors
Reset the power foldaway mirrors if:
.
The mirrors are accidentally
obstructed while folding.
.
They are accidentally manually
folded/unfolded.
.
The mirrors will not stay in the
unfolded position.
.
The mirrors vibrate at normal
driving speeds.
Fold and unfold the mirrors one time
using the mirror controls to reset
them to their normal position.
A popping noise may be heard
during the resetting of the power
foldaway mirrors. This sound is
normal after a manual folding
operation.
See Power Mirrors on page 2‑19.
Turn Signal Indicator
The vehicle has a turn signal
indicator on the mirror. An arrow on
the mirror flashes in the direction of
the turn or lane change.
Heated Mirrors
The heated outside rearview mirrors
turn on when the rear window
defogger is on and helps to clear
fog or frost from the surface of the
mirrors.
1 (Rear Window Defogger): This
button is on the climate control
panel.
See “Rear Window Defogger” under
Dual Automatic Climate Control
System on page 8‑1.
Automatic Dimming
Mirror
The vehicle has an automatic
dimming mirror. The driver outside
mirror automatically adjusts for the
glare of headlamps behind you. This
feature is controlled by the on and
off setting on the inside rearview
mirror. See Automatic Dimming
Rearview Mirror on page 2‑21 for
more information.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (21,1)
Keys, Doors, and Windows
Park Tilt Mirrors
If the vehicle has the memory
package, the passenger and/or
driver mirror tilts to a preselected
position when the vehicle is in
R (Reverse). This feature lets the
driver view the curb when parallel
parking. The mirror(s) return to the
original position when the vehicle is
shifted out of R (Reverse), or the
ignition is turned off or to
OFF/LOCK.
Turn this feature on or off through
the Driver Information Center (DIC).
See Driver Information Center (DIC)
on page 5‑23 for more information.
Interior Mirrors
Automatic Dimming
Rearview Mirror
Automatic dimming reduces the
glare of lights from behind the
vehicle. The dimming feature comes
on and the indicator light illuminates
each time the vehicle is started.
O (On/Off):
Press to turn the
dimming feature on or off.
The vehicle may have IntelliBeam®.
For more information on IntelliBeam,
see “IntelliBeam Intelligent High‐
Beam Headlamp Control System”
under Exterior Lamp Controls on
page 6‑1.
Vehicles with OnStar® have three
additional control buttons located at
the bottom of the mirror. See your
dealer for more information about
OnStar and how to subscribe to it.
See OnStar Overview on page 14‑1.
2-21
Cleaning the Mirror
Do not spray glass cleaner directly
on the mirror. Use a soft towel
dampened with water.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
2-22
Black plate (22,1)
Keys, Doors, and Windows
Power Windows
Windows
{ WARNING
{ WARNING
Leaving children, helpless adults,
or pets in a vehicle with the
windows closed is dangerous.
They can be overcome by the
extreme heat and suffer
permanent injuries or even death
from heat stroke. Never leave a
child, a helpless adult, or a pet
alone in a vehicle, especially with
the windows closed in warm or
hot weather.
Leaving children in a vehicle with
the keys is dangerous for many
reasons. Children or others could
be badly injured or even killed.
They could operate the power
windows or other controls or even
make the vehicle move. The
windows will function and they
could be seriously injured or killed
if caught in the path of a closing
window. Do not leave keys in a
vehicle with children.
The vehicle aerodynamics are
designed to improve fuel economy
performance. This may result in a
pulsing sound when either rear
window is down and the front
windows are up. To reduce the
sound, open either a front window
or the sunroof (if equipped).
When there are children in the
rear seat use the window lockout
button to prevent unintentional
operation of the windows.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (23,1)
Keys, Doors, and Windows
The vehicle has Retained
Accessory Power (RAP) that allows
you to use the power windows once
the ignition has been turned off. For
more information, see Retained
Accessory Power (RAP) on
page 9‑27.
Express-Down/Up Windows
The front power window switch
operates with two positions for both
up and down movement and the
rear power window switch operates
with one position for up and two
positions for down movement. Press
the switch to the first position to
lower the window to the desired
level. Pull the switch up to raise the
window.
Windows with the express feature
allow the windows to be raised and
lowered all the way without holding
the switch.
Press or pull the switch fully and
release it to activate the express
feature.
The express mode can be canceled
at any time by briefly pressing or
pulling the switch.
2-23
Express Window Anti-Pinch
Feature
If any object is in the path of the
window when the express‐up is
active, the window will stop at the
obstruction and auto‐reverse to a
preset factory position. Weather
conditions such as severe icing
may also cause the window to
auto‐reverse. The window will
return to normal operation once the
obstruction or condition is removed.
Express Window Anti‐Pinch
Override
{ WARNING
If express override is activated,
the window will not reverse
automatically. You or others could
be injured and the window could
be damaged. Before you use
express override, make sure that
all people and obstructions are
clear of the window path.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
2-24
Black plate (24,1)
Keys, Doors, and Windows
In an emergency, the anti‐pinch
feature can be overridden in a
supervised mode. Hold the window
switch all the way up to the second
position. The window will rise for as
long as the switch is held. Once the
switch is released, the express
mode is re‐activated.
In this mode, the window can still
close on an object in its path. Use
care when using the override mode.
Programming the Power
Windows
If the battery on the vehicle has
been recharged, disconnected, or is
not working, you will need to
reprogram each front power window
for the express-up feature to work.
Before reprogramming, replace or
recharge the vehicle's battery.
To program each front window,
follow these steps:
1. With the ignition in ACC/
ACCESSORY, ON/RUN,
or when Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) is active, close all
doors.
2. Press and hold the power
window switch until the window
is fully open.
3. Pull the power window switch up
until the window is fully closed.
4. Continue holding the switch up
for approximately two seconds
after the window is completely
closed.
The window is now reprogrammed.
Repeat the process for the other
windows.
Window Lockout
o (Window Lockout):
This button
is on the driver door near the
window switches.
Press the right side of the button to
disable the rear window controls.
The light on the button will
illuminate, indicating the feature is in
use. The rear windows still can be
raised or lowered using the driver
window switches when the lockout
feature is active.
To restore power to the rear
windows, press the button again.
The light on the button will go out.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (25,1)
Keys, Doors, and Windows
Sun Visors
Roof
Sunroof
2-25
Accessory Power (RAP). See
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
on page 9‑27 for more information.
To open or close the sunroof, press
the open or close switch (A) to the
first detent position.
To express open or close the
sunroof, press the open or close
switch (A) to the second detent
position and release. To stop the
movement, press the switch again.
Pull the sun visor down to block
glare. Detach the sun visor from the
center mount to pivot to the side
window, or to extend along the rod,
if available.
A. Open or Close Sunroof
B. Vent
On vehicles with a sunroof, there
are two sunroof switches on the
overhead console above the
rearview mirror.
The sunroof only operates when the
ignition is in ON/RUN or ACC/
ACCESSORY, or in Retained
The sunroof has a comfort stop
feature which stops the sunroof from
opening to the full-open position.
From the comfort stop position,
press the open or close switch (A) a
second time to open the sunroof to
the full-open position.
To automatically vent or close the
sunroof, press the vent open or
close switch (B).
When the sunroof is opened, an air
deflector will automatically raise.
The air deflector will retract when
the sunroof is closed.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
2-26
Black plate (26,1)
Keys, Doors, and Windows
The sunroof also has a sunshade
which can be pulled forward to block
sun rays. The sunshade must be
opened and closed manually.
If an object is in the path of the
sunroof while it is closing, the
anti-pinch feature will detect the
object and stop the sunroof.
Dirt and debris may collect on the
sunroof seal or in the track. This
could cause an issue with sunroof
operation or noise. It could also plug
the water drainage system.
Periodically open the sunroof and
remove any obstacles or loose
debris. Wipe the sunroof seal and
roof sealing area using a clean
cloth, mild soap, and water. Do not
remove grease from the sunroof.
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Seats and Restraints
Seats and
Restraints
Head Restraints
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Front Seats
Power Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . 3-3
Lumbar Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
Memory Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5
Heated and Ventilated Front
Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7
Rear Seats
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8
Safety Belts
Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10
How to Wear Safety Belts
Properly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-11
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . 3-12
Safety Belt Use During
Pregnancy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-17
Safety Belt Extender . . . . . . . . . 3-17
Safety System Check . . . . . . . . 3-17
Safety Belt Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-18
Replacing Safety Belt System
Parts after a Crash . . . . . . . . . 3-18
Airbag System
Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-19
Where Are the Airbags? . . . . . 3-21
When Should an Airbag
Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-22
What Makes an Airbag
Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-24
How Does an Airbag
Restrain? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-24
What Will You See after an
Airbag Inflates? . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-25
Passenger Sensing
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-26
Servicing the Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-30
Adding Equipment to the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle . . . 3-30
Airbag System Check . . . . . . . . 3-32
Replacing Airbag System
Parts after a Crash . . . . . . . . . 3-32
3-1
Child Restraints
Older Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Infants and Young
Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Child Restraint Systems . . . . .
Where to Put the Restraint . . .
Lower Anchors and Tethers
for Children (LATCH
System) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Replacing LATCH System
Parts After a Crash . . . . . . . . .
Securing Child Restraints
(Rear Seat Position) . . . . . . . .
Securing Child Restraints
(Right Front Seat
Position) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3-33
3-35
3-37
3-39
3-41
3-47
3-47
3-49
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3-2
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Seats and Restraints
Head Restraints
Front Seats
The front seats have adjustable
head restraints in the outboard
seating positions.
{ WARNING
With head restraints that are not
installed and adjusted properly,
there is a greater chance that
occupants will suffer a neck/
spinal injury in a crash. Do not
drive until the head restraints for
all occupants are installed and
adjusted properly.
Adjust the head restraint so that the
top of the restraint is at the same
height as the top of the occupant's
head. This position reduces the
chance of a neck injury in a crash.
The height of the head restraint can
be adjusted. Pull the head restraint
up to raise it. Try to move the head
restraint to make sure that it is
locked in place.
To lower the head restraint, press
the button, located on the top of the
seatback, and push the restraint
down. Try to move the head
restraint after the button is released
to make sure that it is locked in
place.
The front seat outboard head
restraints are not designed to be
removed.
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Seats and Restraints
Rear Seats
Front Seats
The rear seat has adjustable
headrests in the outboard seating
positions.
Power Seat Adjustment
The height of the headrest can be
adjusted. Pull the headrest up to
raise it. To lower the headrest, push
down on the headrest.
.
3-3
Raise or lower the entire seat by
moving the entire control up
or down.
To adjust the seatback, see
Reclining Seatbacks on page 3‑4.
Lumbar Adjustment
Rear outboard headrests are not
designed to be removed.
To adjust a power seat:
.
Move the seat forward or
rearward by sliding the control
forward or rearward.
.
Raise or lower the front or rear
part of the seat cushion by
moving the front or rear of the
control up or down.
To adjust the lumbar support:
.
Press and hold the front or rear
of the control to increase or
decrease lumbar support.
.
Press and hold the top or bottom
of the control to raise or lower
the height of the lumbar support.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
3-4
Black plate (4,1)
Seats and Restraints
Reclining Seatbacks
{ WARNING
Power Reclining Seatbacks
Sitting in a reclined position when
the vehicle is in motion can be
dangerous. Even when buckled
up, the safety belts cannot do
their job when reclined like this.
{ WARNING
You can lose control of the
vehicle if you try to adjust the
seat while the vehicle is moving.
The sudden movement could
startle and confuse you, or make
you push a pedal when you do
not want to. Adjust the driver seat
only when the vehicle is not
moving.
To adjust the seatback:
.
Tilt the top of the control
rearward to recline.
.
Tilt the top of the control forward
to raise.
The shoulder belt cannot do its
job because it will not be against
your body. Instead, it will be in
front of you. In a crash, you could
go into it, receiving neck or other
injuries.
The lap belt cannot do its job
either. In a crash, the belt could
go up over your abdomen. The
belt forces would be there, not at
your pelvic bones. This could
cause serious internal injuries.
For proper protection when the
vehicle is in motion, have the
seatback upright. Then sit well
back in the seat and wear the
safety belt properly.
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Seats and Restraints
Memory Seats
3-5
Storing Memory Positions
To save into memory:
1. Adjust the driver seat, including
the seatback recliner and
lumbar, both outside mirrors,
power steering column, and the
throttle and brake pedals.
See Power Mirrors on
page 2‑19, Steering Wheel
Adjustment on page 5‑2, and
Adjustable Throttle and Brake
Pedal on page 9‑23 for more
information.
Do not have a seatback reclined if
the vehicle is moving.
The controls on the driver door are
used to program and recall memory
settings for the driver seat, outside
mirrors, power steering column, and
the adjustable throttle and brake
pedals.
Not all mirrors and adjustable
throttles and brake pedals will
have the ability to save and
recall their positions.
2. Press and hold “1” until
two beeps sound.
3. Repeat for a second driver
position using “2.”
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3-6
Black plate (6,1)
Seats and Restraints
To recall, press and release “1” or
“2.” The vehicle must be in P (Park).
A single beep will sound. The seat,
outside mirrors, power steering
column, and adjustable throttle and
brake pedals will move to the
positions previously stored for the
identified driver.
Memory Remote Recall
The memory feature can recall the
driver seat, outside mirrors, power
steering column, and pedals to
stored positions when entering the
vehicle.
To activate, unlock the driver
door with the Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) transmitter. The driver
seat, outside mirrors, power steering
column, and adjustable pedals will
move to the memory positions
associated with the transmitter
used to unlock the vehicle.
This feature can be turned on or off
using the vehicle personalization
menu. See Vehicle Personalization
on page 5‑36 for more information.
To stop recall movement, press one
of the power seat controls, memory
or power mirror buttons, power
steering column control, or the
adjustable pedal switch.
If something has blocked the driver
seat, power steering column, or the
adjustable pedals while recalling a
memory position, the recall may
stop. Remove the obstruction; then
press and hold the appropriate
manual control for the memory item
that is not recalling for two seconds.
Try recalling the memory position
again by pressing the appropriate
memory button. If the memory
position is still not recalling, see
your dealer for service.
Easy Exit Positions
This feature can move the driver
seat rearward and the power
steering column up and forward to
allow extra room to exit the vehicle.
B (Easy Exit Positions):
Press to
recall the easy exit positions. The
vehicle must be in P (Park).
If the easy exit feature is
programmed on in the vehicle
personalization menu, automatic
driver seat and power steering
column movement occur when the
ignition key is removed.
A single beep sounds. The driver
seat moves back approximately
8 cm (3 in) and the power steering
column moves up and forward. To
move the seat back farther, press
B again until the seat is all the
way back.
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Seats and Restraints
If something has blocked the driver
seat while recalling the exit position,
the recall may stop. Remove the
obstruction; then press and hold the
power seat control rearward for
two seconds. Try recalling the exit
position again. If the exit position is
still not recalling, see your dealer for
service.
See Vehicle Personalization on
page 5‑36 for more information.
3-7
Heated and Ventilated
Front Seats
{ WARNING
If you cannot feel temperature
change or pain to the skin, the
seat heater may cause burns
even at low temperatures. To
reduce the risk of burns, people
with such a condition should use
care when using the seat heater,
especially for long periods of
time. Do not place anything on
the seat that insulates against
heat, such as a blanket, cushion,
cover, or similar item. This
may cause the seat heater to
overheat. An overheated seat
heater may cause a burn or may
damage the seat.
The buttons are on the climate
control panel.
{ (Cooled Seat): Press to cool
the seat.
+ (Heated Seatback):
Press to
heat the seatback.
z (Heated Seat and Seatback):
Press to heat seat and seatback.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
3-8
Black plate (8,1)
Seats and Restraints
One of these symbols appears on
the climate control display when this
feature is on.
Press the desired button once for
the highest setting. With each press
of the button, the seat will change to
the next lower setting, and then to
the off setting.
Indicator bars next to the symbol on
the climate control display show the
selected setting: three for high, two
for medium, and one for low.
The heated and cooled seats are
canceled when the ignition is turned
off. To use this feature after
restarting the vehicle, press the
desired button again.
Rear Seats
The rear seatbacks can be folded to
provide more cargo space and
access to the midgate. See
Midgate® on page 2‑9 for more
information on operation of the
midgate.
To fold the seatback:
1. Push the rear seat headrests all
the way down.
2. Pull the loop in the crease where
the seatback and seat cushion
meet to release the seat
cushion. Tilt the seat cushion
forward toward the front of the
vehicle.
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Seats and Restraints
Notice: Folding a rear seat with
the safety belts still fastened may
cause damage to the seat or the
safety belts. Always unbuckle the
safety belts and return them to
their normal stowed position
before folding a rear seat.
4. Repeat the procedure for the
other seatback, if desired.
To return the seats to the normal
position, lift the seatback up and
fold the seat cushion down.
{ WARNING
A safety belt that is improperly
routed, not properly attached,
or twisted will not provide the
protection needed in a crash. The
person wearing the belt could be
seriously injured. After raising the
rear seatback, always check to be
sure that the safety belts are
properly routed and attached, and
are not twisted.
3. Fold the seatback forward until it
is flat. If necessary, move the
front seats forward slightly to
allow the seatback to fold
completely.
3-9
{ WARNING
If the seatback is not locked, it
could move forward in a sudden
stop or crash. That could cause
injury to the person sitting there.
Always be sure to press the rear
of the seat cushion down. This
action locks the seatback in
place.
Push and pull on the seatback to
make sure it is locked. Raise the
headrest.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
3-10
Black plate (10,1)
Seats and Restraints
Safety Belts
This section of the manual
describes how to use safety belts
properly. It also describes some
things not to do with safety belts.
{ WARNING
Do not let anyone ride where a
safety belt cannot be worn
properly. In a crash, if you or your
passenger(s) are not wearing
safety belts, injuries can be much
worse than if you are wearing
safety belts. You can be seriously
injured or killed by hitting things
inside the vehicle harder or by
being ejected from the vehicle. In
addition, anyone who is not
buckled up can strike other
passengers in the vehicle.
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
Why Safety Belts Work
It is extremely dangerous to ride
in a cargo area, inside or outside
of a vehicle. In a collision,
passengers riding in these areas
are more likely to be seriously
injured or killed. Do not allow
passengers to ride in any area of
the vehicle that is not equipped
with seats and safety belts.
Always wear a safety belt, and
check that all passenger(s) are
restrained properly too.
This vehicle has indicators as a
reminder to buckle the safety belts.
See Safety Belt Reminders on
page 5‑12 for additional information.
When riding in a vehicle, you travel
as fast as the vehicle does. If the
vehicle stops suddenly, you keep
going until something stops you.
It could be the windshield, the
instrument panel, or the safety belts!
When you wear a safety belt, you
and the vehicle slow down together.
There is more time to stop because
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Seats and Restraints
you stop over a longer distance and,
when worn properly, your strongest
bones take the forces from the
safety belts. That is why wearing
safety belts makes such good
sense.
Questions and Answers About
Safety Belts
Q: Will I be trapped in the vehicle
after a crash if I am wearing a
safety belt?
A: You could be — whether you are
wearing a safety belt or not.
Your chance of being conscious
during and after a crash, so you
can unbuckle and get out, is
much greater if you are belted.
Q: If my vehicle has airbags, why
should I have to wear safety
belts?
A: Airbags are supplemental
systems only; so they work with
safety belts — not instead of
them. Whether or not an airbag
is provided, all occupants still
have to buckle up to get the
most protection.
Also, in nearly all states and in
all Canadian provinces, the law
requires wearing safety belts.
3-11
There are important things to know
about wearing a safety belt properly.
How to Wear Safety Belts
Properly
This section is only for people of
adult size.
There are special things to know
about safety belts and children. And
there are different rules for smaller
children and infants. If a child will be
riding in the vehicle, see Older
Children on page 3‑33 or Infants
and Young Children on page 3‑35.
Follow those rules for everyone's
protection.
It is very important for all occupants
to buckle up. Statistics show that
unbelted people are hurt more often
in crashes than those who are
wearing safety belts.
.
Sit up straight and always keep
your feet on the floor in front
of you.
.
Always use the correct buckle
for your seating position.
.
Wear the lap part of the belt low
and snug on the hips, just
touching the thighs. In a crash,
this applies force to the strong
pelvic bones and you would be
less likely to slide under the lap
belt. If you slid under it, the belt
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
3-12
Seats and Restraints
would apply force on your
abdomen. This could cause
serious or even fatal injuries.
.
Black plate (12,1)
Wear the shoulder belt over the
shoulder and across the chest.
These parts of the body are best
able to take belt restraining
forces. The shoulder belt locks if
there is a sudden stop or crash.
{ WARNING
You can be seriously injured,
or even killed, by not wearing
your safety belt properly.
.
Never allow the lap or
shoulder belt to become
loose or twisted.
.
Never wear the shoulder belt
under both arms or behind
your back.
.
Never route the lap or
shoulder belt over an
armrest.
Lap-Shoulder Belt
All seating positions in the vehicle
have a lap-shoulder belt.
The following instructions explain
how to wear a lap-shoulder belt
properly.
1. Adjust the seat, if the seat is
adjustable, so you can sit up
straight. To see how, see “Seats”
in the Index.
2. Pick up the latch plate and pull
the belt across you. Do not let it
get twisted.
The lap-shoulder belt may lock if
you pull the belt across you very
quickly. If this happens, let the
belt go back slightly to unlock it.
Then pull the belt across you
more slowly.
If the shoulder portion of a
passenger belt is pulled out all
the way, the child restraint
locking feature may be engaged.
If this happens, let the belt go
back all the way and start again.
Engaging the child restraint
locking feature may affect the
passenger sensing system,
if equipped. See Passenger
Sensing System on page 3‑26
for more information.
If the belt stops before it reaches
the buckle tilt the latch plate and
keep pulling the safety belt until
it can be buckled.
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Seats and Restraints
3-13
4. If equipped with a shoulder belt
height adjuster, move it to the
height that is right for you. See
“Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster”
in this section for instructions on
use and important safety
information.
3. Push the latch plate into the
buckle until it clicks. If you find
that the latch plate will not go
fully into the buckle, see if you
are using the correct buckle.
Pull up on the latch plate to
make sure it is secure. If the belt
is not long enough, see Safety
Belt Extender on page 3‑17.
Position the release button on
the buckle so that the safety belt
could be quickly unbuckled if
necessary.
To unlatch the belt, push the button
on the buckle. The belt should
return to its stowed position.
5. To make the lap part tight, pull
up on the shoulder belt.
It may be necessary to pull
stitching on the safety belt
through the latch plate to fully
tighten the lap belt on smaller
occupants.
Before a door is closed, be sure the
safety belt is out of the way. If a
door is slammed against a safety
belt, damage can occur to both the
belt and the vehicle.
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3-14
Black plate (14,1)
Seats and Restraints
Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster
Safety Belt Pretensioners
The vehicle has a shoulder belt
height adjuster for the driver and
right front passenger positions.
This vehicle has safety belt
pretensioners for front outboard
occupants. Although the safety belt
pretensioners cannot be seen, they
are part of the safety belt assembly.
They can help tighten the safety
belts during the early stages of a
moderate to severe frontal, near
frontal, or rear crash if the threshold
conditions for pretensioner
activation are met. And, if the
vehicle has side impact airbags,
safety belt pretensioners can help
tighten the safety belts in a side
crash or a rollover event.
Adjust the height so that the
shoulder portion of the belt is
centered on the shoulder. The belt
should be away from the face and
neck, but not falling off the shoulder.
Improper shoulder belt height
adjustment could reduce the
effectiveness of the safety belt in a
crash.
Squeeze the buttons (A) on the
sides of the height adjuster and
move the height adjuster to the
desired position.
The adjuster can be moved up just
by pushing up on the shoulder belt
guide.
After the adjuster is set to the
desired position, try to move it down
without squeezing the buttons to
make sure it has locked into
position.
Pretensioners work only once. If the
pretensioners activate in a crash,
they will need to be replaced, and
probably other new parts for the
vehicle's safety belt system. See
Replacing Safety Belt System Parts
after a Crash on page 3‑18.
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Seats and Restraints
3-15
Rear Safety Belt Comfort
Guides
This vehicle may have rear shoulder
belt comfort guides. If not, they are
available through your dealer. The
guides may provide added safety
belt comfort for older children who
have outgrown booster seats and
for some adults. When installed and
properly adjusted, the comfort guide
positions the belt away from the
neck and head.
Here is how to install a comfort
guide to the safety belt:
1. Remove the guide from its
storage pocket on the side of
the seat.
2. Place the guide over the belt,
and insert the two edges of the
belt into the slots of the guide.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
3-16
Black plate (16,1)
Seats and Restraints
{ WARNING
A safety belt that is not properly
worn may not provide the
protection needed in a crash. The
person wearing the belt could be
seriously injured. The shoulder
belt should go over the shoulder
and across the chest. These parts
of the body are best able to take
belt restraining forces.
3. Be sure that the belt is not
twisted and it lies flat. The
elastic cord must be under the
belt and the guide on top.
4. Buckle, position, and release the
safety belt as described
previously in this section. Make
sure that the shoulder belt
crosses the shoulder.
To remove and store the comfort
guide, squeeze the belt edges
together so that the safety belt can
be removed from the guide. Slide
the guide into its storage clip on the
interior body or storage pocket on
the side of the seat.
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Seats and Restraints
Safety Belt Use During
Pregnancy
Safety belts work for everyone,
including pregnant women. Like all
occupants, they are more likely to
be seriously injured if they do not
wear safety belts.
The best way to protect the fetus is
to protect the mother. When a safety
belt is worn properly, it is more likely
that the fetus will not be hurt in a
crash. For pregnant women, as for
anyone, the key to making safety
belts effective is wearing them
properly.
Safety Belt Extender
If the vehicle's safety belt will fasten
around you, you should use it.
A pregnant woman should wear a
lap-shoulder belt, and the lap
portion should be worn as low as
possible, below the rounding,
throughout the pregnancy.
But if a safety belt is not long
enough, your dealer will order you
an extender. When you go in to
order it, take the heaviest coat you
will wear, so the extender will be
long enough for you. To help avoid
personal injury, do not let someone
else use it, and use it only for the
seat it is made to fit. The extender
has been designed for adults. Never
use it for securing child seats. To
wear it, attach it to the regular safety
belt. For more information, see the
instruction sheet that comes with
the extender.
3-17
Safety System Check
Now and then, check that the safety
belt reminder light, safety belts,
buckles, latch plates, retractors, and
anchorages are all working properly.
Look for any other loose or
damaged safety belt system parts
that might keep a safety belt system
from doing its job. See your dealer
to have it repaired. Torn or frayed
safety belts may not protect you in a
crash. They can rip apart under
impact forces. If a belt is torn or
frayed, get a new one right away.
Make sure the safety belt reminder
light is working. See Safety Belt
Reminders on page 5‑12 for more
information.
Keep safety belts clean and dry.
See Safety Belt Care on page 3‑18.
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3-18
Black plate (18,1)
Seats and Restraints
Safety Belt Care
Keep belts clean and dry.
{ WARNING
Do not bleach or dye safety belts.
It may severely weaken them. In
a crash, they might not be able to
provide adequate protection.
Clean safety belts only with mild
soap and lukewarm water.
Replacing Safety Belt
System Parts after a
Crash
{ WARNING
A crash can damage the safety
belt system in the vehicle.
A damaged safety belt system
may not properly protect the
person using it, resulting in
serious injury or even death in a
crash. To help make sure the
safety belt systems are working
properly after a crash, have them
inspected and any necessary
replacements made as soon as
possible.
After a minor crash, replacement of
safety belts may not be necessary.
But the safety belt assemblies that
were used during any crash may
have been stressed or damaged.
See your dealer to have the safety
belt assemblies inspected or
replaced.
New parts and repairs may be
necessary even if the safety belt
system was not being used at the
time of the crash.
Have the safety belt pretensioners
checked if the vehicle has been in a
crash, or if the airbag readiness light
stays on after you start the vehicle
or while you are driving. See Airbag
Readiness Light on page 5‑13.
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Seats and Restraints
Airbag System
The vehicle has the following
airbags:
.
A frontal airbag for the driver.
.
A frontal airbag for the right front
passenger.
.
A seat‐mounted side impact
airbag for the driver.
.
A seat‐mounted side impact
airbag for the right front
passenger.
.
A roof-rail airbag for the driver
and passenger directly behind
the driver.
.
A roof-rail airbag for the right
front passenger and passenger
seated directly behind the right
front passenger.
All of the airbags in the vehicle will
have the word AIRBAG embossed
in the trim or on an attached label
near the deployment opening.
3-19
For frontal airbags, the word
AIRBAG will appear on the middle
part of the steering wheel for the
driver and on the instrument panel
for the right front passenger.
Here are the most important things
to know about the airbag system:
With seat‐mounted side impact
airbags, the word AIRBAG will
appear on the side of the seatback
closest to the door.
You can be severely injured or
killed in a crash if you are not
wearing your safety belt — even if
you have airbags. Airbags are
designed to work with safety
belts, but do not replace them.
Also, airbags are not designed to
deploy in every crash. In some
crashes safety belts are your only
restraint. See When Should an
Airbag Inflate? on page 3‑22.
With roof-rail airbags, the word
AIRBAG will appear along the
headliner or trim.
Airbags are designed to supplement
the protection provided by safety
belts. Even though today's airbags
are also designed to help reduce
the risk of injury from the force of an
inflating bag, all airbags must inflate
very quickly to do their job.
{ WARNING
Wearing your safety belt during a
crash helps reduce your chance
of hitting things inside the vehicle
or being ejected from it. Airbags
are “supplemental restraints” to
the safety belts. Everyone in your
vehicle should wear a safety belt
properly — whether or not there is
an airbag for that person.
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{ WARNING
{ WARNING
Because airbags inflate with great
force and faster than the blink
of an eye, anyone who is up
against, or very close to any
airbag when it inflates can be
seriously injured or killed. Do not
sit unnecessarily close to any
airbag, as you would be if sitting
on the edge of the seat or leaning
forward. Safety belts help keep
you in position before and during
a crash. Always wear a safety
belt, even with airbags. The driver
should sit as far back as possible
while still maintaining control of
the vehicle.
Children who are up against,
or very close to, any airbag
when it inflates can be seriously
injured or killed. Airbags plus
lap-shoulder belts offer protection
for adults and older children, but
not for young children and infants.
Neither the vehicle safety belt
system nor its airbag system is
designed for them. Young
children and infants need the
protection that a child restraint
system can provide. Always
secure children properly in the
vehicle. To read how, see Older
Children on page 3‑33 or Infants
and Young Children on
page 3‑35.
Occupants should not lean on or
sleep against the door or side
windows in seating positions with
seat-mounted side impact airbags
and/or roof-rail airbags.
There is an airbag readiness light
on the instrument panel cluster,
which shows the airbag symbol.
The system checks the airbag
electrical system for malfunctions.
The light tells you if there is an
electrical problem. See Airbag
Readiness Light on page 5‑13 for
more information.
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3-21
Where Are the Airbags?
The driver frontal airbag is in the
middle of the steering wheel.
The right front passenger frontal
airbag is in the instrument panel on
the passenger side.
Driver Side Shown, Passenger
Side Similar
The seat‐mounted side impact
airbags for the driver and right front
passenger are in the side of the
seatbacks closest to the door.
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WARNING (Continued)
or even death. The path of an
inflating airbag must be kept
clear. Do not put anything
between an occupant and an
airbag, and do not attach or put
anything on the steering wheel
hub or on or near any other
airbag covering.
Driver Side Shown, Passenger
Side Similar
The roof-rail airbags for the driver,
right front passenger, and second
row outboard passengers are in the
ceiling above the side windows.
{ WARNING
If something is between an
occupant and an airbag, the
airbag might not inflate properly
or it might force the object into
that person causing severe injury
(Continued)
Do not use seat accessories that
block the inflation path of a
seat-mounted side impact airbag.
Never secure anything to the roof
of a vehicle with roof-rail airbags
by routing a rope or tie‐down
through any door or window
opening. If you do, the path of an
inflating roof-rail airbag will be
blocked.
When Should an Airbag
Inflate?
Frontal airbags are designed to
inflate in moderate to severe frontal
or near-frontal crashes to help
reduce the potential for severe
injuries mainly to the driver's or right
front passenger's head and chest.
However, they are only designed to
inflate if the impact exceeds a
predetermined deployment
threshold. Deployment thresholds
are used to predict how severe a
crash is likely to be in time for the
airbags to inflate and help restrain
the occupants.
Whether the frontal airbags will or
should deploy is not based on how
fast your vehicle is traveling.
It depends largely on what you hit,
the direction of the impact, and how
quickly your vehicle slows down.
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Frontal airbags may inflate at
different crash speeds. For
example:
.
If the vehicle hits a stationary
object, the airbags could inflate
at a different crash speed than if
the vehicle hits a moving object.
.
If the vehicle hits an object that
deforms, the airbags could
inflate at a different crash speed
than if the vehicle hits an object
does not deform.
.
If the vehicle hits a narrow object
(like a pole), the airbags could
inflate at a different crash speed
than if the vehicle hits a wide
object (like a wall).
.
If the vehicle goes into an object
at an angle, the airbags could
inflate at a different crash speed
than if the vehicle goes straight
into the object.
Thresholds can also vary with
specific vehicle design.
Frontal airbags are not intended to
inflate during vehicle rollovers, rear
impacts, or in many side impacts.
In addition, the vehicle has
dual-stage frontal airbags.
Dual-stage airbags adjust the
restraint according to crash severity.
The vehicle has electronic frontal
sensors, which help the sensing
system distinguish between a
moderate frontal impact and a more
severe frontal impact. For moderate
frontal impacts, dual-stage airbags
inflate at a level less than full
deployment. For more severe frontal
impacts, full deployment occurs.
The vehicle has a seat position
sensor. Vehicles with dual stage
airbags also have seat position
sensors which enable the sensing
system to monitor the position of the
driver seat and the right front
passenger seat.
The seat position sensor provides
information that is used to determine
if the airbags should deploy at a
reduced level or at full deployment.
3-23
The vehicle has seat‐mounted side
impact and roof-rail airbags. See
Airbag System on page 3‑19.
Seat‐mounted side impact and
roof-rail airbags are intended to
inflate in moderate to severe side
crashes. In addition, these roof-rail
airbags are intended to inflate
during a rollover or in a severe
frontal impact. Seat‐mounted side
impact and roof-rail airbags will
inflate if the crash severity is above
the system's designed threshold
level. The threshold level can vary
with specific vehicle design.
Roof-rail airbags are not
intended to inflate in rear impacts.
A seat‐mounted side impact airbag
is intended to deploy on the side of
the vehicle that is struck. Both
roof-rail airbags will deploy when
either side of the vehicle is struck or
if the sensing system predicts that
the vehicle is about to roll over, or in
a severe frontal impact.
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In any particular crash, no one can
say whether an airbag should have
inflated simply because of the
damage to a vehicle or because of
what the repair costs were. For
frontal airbags, inflation is
determined by what the vehicle hits,
the angle of the impact, and how
quickly the vehicle slows down.
For seat‐mounted side impact and
roof-rail airbags, deployment is
determined by the location and
severity of the side impact. In a
rollover event, roof-rail airbag
deployment is determined by the
direction of the roll.
What Makes an Airbag
Inflate?
In a deployment event, the sensing
system sends an electrical signal
triggering a release of gas from the
inflator. Gas from the inflator fills the
airbag causing the bag to break out
of the cover and deploy. The inflator,
the airbag, and related hardware are
all part of the airbag module.
Frontal airbag modules are located
inside the steering wheel and
instrument panel. For vehicles with
seat‐mounted side impact airbags,
there are airbags modules in the
side of the front seatbacks closest
to the door. For vehicles with
roof-rail airbags, there are airbag
modules in the ceiling of the vehicle,
near the side windows that have
occupant seating positions.
How Does an Airbag
Restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or
near frontal collisions, even belted
occupants can contact the steering
wheel or the instrument panel. In
moderate to severe side collisions,
even belted occupants can contact
the inside of the vehicle.
Airbags supplement the protection
provided by safety belts. Frontal
airbags distribute the force of the
impact more evenly over the
occupant's upper body, stopping
the occupant more gradually.
Seat‐mounted side impact and
roof-rail airbags distribute the force
of the impact more evenly over the
occupant's upper body.
Rollover capable roof-rail airbags
are designed to help contain the
head and chest of occupants in the
outboard seating positions in the
first and second rows. The rollover
capable roof-rail airbags are
designed to help reduce the risk of
full or partial ejection in rollover
events, although no system can
prevent all such ejections.
But airbags would not help in many
types of collisions, primarily
because the occupant's motion is
not toward those airbags. See When
Should an Airbag Inflate? on
page 3‑22 for more information.
Airbags should never be regarded
as anything more than a supplement
to safety belts.
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What Will You See after
an Airbag Inflates?
After the frontal airbags and
seat-mounted side impact airbags
inflate, they quickly deflate, so
quickly that some people may not
even realize an airbag inflated.
Roof-rail airbags may still be at least
partially inflated for some time after
they deploy. Some components of
the airbag module may be hot for
several minutes. For location of the
airbag modules, see What Makes
an Airbag Inflate? on page 3‑24.
The parts of the airbag that come
into contact with you may be warm,
but not too hot to touch. There may
be some smoke and dust coming
from the vents in the deflated
airbags. Airbag inflation does not
prevent the driver from seeing out of
the windshield or being able to steer
the vehicle, nor does it prevent
people from leaving the vehicle.
{ WARNING
When an airbag inflates, there
may be dust in the air. This dust
could cause breathing problems
for people with a history of
asthma or other breathing trouble.
To avoid this, everyone in the
vehicle should get out as soon as
it is safe to do so. If you have
breathing problems but cannot
get out of the vehicle after an
airbag inflates, then get fresh air
by opening a window or a door.
If you experience breathing
problems following an airbag
deployment, you should seek
medical attention.
The vehicle may have a feature
that may automatically unlock the
doors, turn on the interior lamps and
hazard warning flashers, and shut
off the fuel system after the airbags
inflate. You can lock the doors, turn
3-25
off the interior lamps and hazard
warning flashers by using the
controls for those features.
{ WARNING
A crash severe enough to inflate
the airbags may have also
damaged important functions in
the vehicle, such as the fuel
system, brake and steering
systems, etc. Even if the vehicle
appears to be drivable after a
moderate crash, there may be
concealed damage that could
make it difficult to safely operate
the vehicle.
Use caution if you should attempt
to restart the engine after a crash
has occurred.
In many crashes severe enough to
inflate the airbag, windshields are
broken by vehicle deformation.
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Seats and Restraints
Additional windshield breakage may
also occur from the right front
passenger airbag.
.
.
Black plate (26,1)
Airbags are designed to inflate
only once. After an airbag
inflates, you will need some new
parts for the airbag system.
If you do not get them, the
airbag system will not be there
to help protect you in another
crash. A new system will include
airbag modules and possibly
other parts. The service manual
for your vehicle covers the need
to replace other parts.
The vehicle has a crash sensing
and diagnostic module which
records information after a
crash. See Vehicle Data
Recording and Privacy on
page 13‑19 and Event Data
Recorders on page 13‑19.
.
Let only qualified technicians
work on the airbag systems.
Improper service can mean that
an airbag system will not work
properly. See your dealer for
service.
Passenger Sensing
System
If the vehicle has the passenger
airbag status indicator pictured in
the following illustration, then the
vehicle has a passenger sensing
system for the right front passenger
position. The passenger airbag
status indicator, if equipped, is
visible on the overhead console
when the vehicle is started.
In addition, if the vehicle has a
passenger sensing system for the
right front passenger position, the
label on the vehicle's sun visors
refers to “ADVANCED AIRBAGS”.
United States
Canada and Mexico
The words ON and OFF, or the
symbols for on and off, will be
visible during the system check.
If you are using remote start,
if equipped, to start the vehicle from
a distance, you may not see the
system check. When the system
check is complete, either the word
ON or OFF, or the symbol for on or
off, will be visible. See Passenger
Airbag Status Indicator on
page 5‑14.
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The passenger sensing system will
turn off the right front passenger
frontal airbag under certain
conditions. The driver airbag,
seat‐mounted side impact airbags (if
equipped) and the roof-rail airbags
are not affected by the passenger
sensing system.
The passenger sensing system
works with sensors that are part of
the right front passenger seat and
safety belt. The sensors are
designed to detect the presence
of a properly-seated occupant
and determine if the right front
passenger frontal airbag should be
enabled (may inflate) or not.
According to accident statistics,
children are safer when properly
secured in a rear seat in the correct
child restraint for their weight
and size.
We recommend that children be
secured in a rear seat, including:
an infant or a child riding in a
rear-facing child restraint; a child
riding in a forward-facing child seat;
an older child riding in a booster
seat; and children, who are large
enough, using safety belts.
WARNING (Continued)
Even if the passenger sensing
system has turned off the right
front passenger frontal airbag, no
system is fail-safe. No one can
guarantee that an airbag will not
deploy under some unusual
circumstance, even though the
airbag is turned off.
A label on the sun visor says,
“Never put a rear-facing child seat in
the front.” This is because the risk to
the rear-facing child is so great,
if the airbag deploys.
{ WARNING
A child in a rear-facing child
restraint can be seriously
injured or killed if the right front
passenger airbag inflates.
This is because the back of the
rear-facing child restraint would
be very close to the inflating
airbag. A child in a forward-facing
child restraint can be seriously
injured or killed if the right front
passenger airbag inflates and the
passenger seat is in a forward
position.
(Continued)
3-27
Secure rear-facing child
restraints in a rear seat, even if
the airbag is off. If you secure a
forward-facing child restraint in
the right front seat, always move
the front passenger seat as far
back as it will go. It is better to
secure the child restraint in a
rear seat.
The passenger sensing system is
designed to turn off the right front
passenger frontal airbag if:
.
The right front passenger seat is
unoccupied.
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.
The system determines an infant
is present in a child restraint.
.
A right front passenger takes
his/her weight off of the seat for
a period of time.
.
There is a critical problem with
the airbag system or the
passenger sensing system.
When the passenger sensing
system has turned off the right front
passenger frontal airbag, the off
indicator will light and stay lit as a
reminder that the airbag is off. See
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator
on page 5‑14.
The passenger sensing system is
designed to turn on (may inflate) the
right front passenger frontal airbag
anytime the system senses that a
person of adult size is sitting
properly in the right front
passenger seat.
When the passenger sensing
system has allowed the airbag to be
enabled, the on indicator will light
and stay lit as a reminder that the
airbag is active.
For some children, including
children in child restraints, and for
very small adults, the passenger
sensing system may or may not
turn off the right front passenger
frontal airbag, depending upon the
person's seating posture and body
build. Everyone in the vehicle
who has outgrown child restraints
should wear a safety belt
properly — whether or not there is
an airbag for that person.
{ WARNING
If the airbag readiness light ever
comes on and stays on, it means
that something may be wrong
with the airbag system. To help
avoid injury to yourself or others,
have the vehicle serviced right
away. See Airbag Readiness
Light on page 5‑13 for more
information, including important
safety information.
If the On Indicator is Lit for a
Child Restraint
If a child restraint has been installed
and the on indicator is lit:
1. Turn the vehicle off.
2. Remove the child restraint from
the vehicle.
3. Remove any additional items
from the seat such as blankets,
cushions, seat covers, seat
heaters, or seat massagers.
4. Reinstall the child restraint
following the directions provided
by the child restraint
manufacturer and refer to
Securing Child Restraints (Rear
Seat Position) on page 3‑47 or
Securing Child Restraints (Right
Front Seat Position) on
page 3‑49.
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5. If, after reinstalling the child
restraint and restarting the
vehicle, the on indicator is still lit,
turn the vehicle off. Then slightly
recline the vehicle seatback
and adjust the seat cushion,
if adjustable, to make sure that
the vehicle seatback is not
pushing the child restraint into
the seat cushion.
Also make sure the child
restraint is not trapped under the
vehicle head restraint. If this
happens, adjust the head
restraint. See Head Restraints
on page 3‑2.
6. Restart the vehicle.
The passenger sensing system
may or may not turn off the
airbag for a child in a child
restraint depending upon the
child’s seating posture and body
build. It is better to secure the
child restraint in a rear seat.
If the Off Indicator is Lit for an
Adult-Size Occupant
3-29
2. Remove any additional material
from the seat, such as blankets,
cushions, seat covers, seat
heaters, or seat massagers.
3. Place the seatback in the fully
upright position.
4. Have the person sit upright in
the seat, centered on the seat
cushion, with legs comfortably
extended.
5. Restart the vehicle and have the
person remain in this position for
two to three minutes after the on
indicator is lit.
If a person of adult size is sitting in
the right front passenger seat, but
the off indicator is lit, it could be
because that person is not sitting
properly in the seat. If this happens,
use the following steps to allow the
system to detect that person and
enable the right front passenger
frontal airbag:
1. Turn the vehicle off.
Additional Factors Affecting
System Operation
Safety belts help keep the
passenger in position on the seat
during vehicle maneuvers and
braking, which helps the passenger
sensing system maintain the
passenger airbag status. See
“Safety Belts” and “Child Restraints”
in the Index for additional
information about the importance of
proper restraint use.
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If the shoulder portion of the belt is
pulled out all the way, the child
restraint locking feature will be
engaged. This may unintentionally
cause the passenger sensing
system to turn the airbag off for
some adult‐size occupants. If this
happens, let the belt go back all the
way and start again.
A thick layer of additional material,
such as a blanket or cushion,
or aftermarket equipment such as
seat covers, seat heaters, and seat
massagers, can affect how well the
passenger sensing system
operates. We recommend that you
not use seat covers or other
aftermarket equipment except when
approved by GM for your specific
vehicle. See Adding Equipment to
the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on
page 3‑30 for more information
about modifications that can affect
how the system operates.
The on indicator may be lit if an
object, such as a briefcase,
handbag, grocery bag, laptop,
or other electronic device, is put on
an unoccupied seat. If this is not
desired, remove the object from
the seat.
{ WARNING
Stowing of articles under the
passenger seat or between the
passenger seat cushion and
seatback may interfere with the
proper operation of the passenger
sensing system.
Servicing the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Airbags affect how the vehicle
should be serviced. There are parts
of the airbag system in several
places around the vehicle. Your
dealer and the service manual have
information about servicing the
vehicle and the airbag system. To
purchase a service manual, see
Service Publications Ordering
Information on page 13‑17.
{ WARNING
For up to 10 seconds after the
vehicle is turned off and the
battery is disconnected, an airbag
can still inflate during improper
service. You can be injured if you
are close to an airbag when it
inflates. Avoid yellow connectors.
They are probably part of the
airbag system. Be sure to follow
proper service procedures, and
make sure the person performing
work for you is qualified to do so.
Adding Equipment to the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Q: Is there anything I might add
to or change about the vehicle
that could keep the airbags
from working properly?
A: Yes. If you add things that
change the vehicle's frame,
bumper system, height, front end
or side sheet metal, they may
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keep the airbag system from
working properly. Changing or
moving any parts of the front
seats, safety belts, the airbag
sensing and diagnostic module,
steering wheel, instrument
panel, roof-rail airbag modules,
ceiling headliner or pillar garnish
trim, overhead console, front
sensors, side impact sensors,
or airbag wiring can affect the
operation of the airbag system.
In addition, the vehicle may have
a passenger sensing system for
the right front passenger
position, which includes sensors
that are part of the passenger
seat. The passenger sensing
system may not operate properly
if the original seat trim is
replaced with non-GM covers,
upholstery or trim, or with GM
covers, upholstery or trim
designed for a different vehicle.
Any object, such as an
aftermarket seat heater or a
comfort enhancing pad or
device, installed under or on top
of the seat fabric, could also
interfere with the operation of
the passenger sensing system.
This could either prevent proper
deployment of the passenger
airbag(s) or prevent the
passenger sensing system
from properly turning off the
passenger airbag(s). See
Passenger Sensing System on
page 3‑26.
If you have any questions, call
Customer Assistance. The
phone numbers and addresses
for Customer Assistance are in
Step Two of the Customer
Satisfaction Procedure in this
manual. See Customer
Satisfaction Procedure (U.S. and
Canada) on page 13‑1 or
Customer Satisfaction
Procedure (Mexico) on
page 13‑3.
If the vehicle has rollover
roof-rail airbags, see Different
Size Tires and Wheels on
page 10‑59 for additional
important information.
3-31
Q: Because I have a disability,
I have to get my vehicle
modified. How can I find out
whether this will affect my
airbag system?
A: If you have questions, call
Customer Assistance. The
phone numbers and addresses
for Customer Assistance are in
Step Two of the Customer
Satisfaction Procedure in this
manual. See Customer
Satisfaction Procedure (U.S. and
Canada) on page 13‑1 or
Customer Satisfaction
Procedure (Mexico) on
page 13‑3.
In addition, your dealer and the
service manual have information
about the location of the airbag
sensors, sensing and diagnostic
module and airbag wiring.
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Airbag System Check
The airbag system does not need
regularly scheduled maintenance or
replacement. Make sure the airbag
readiness light is working. See
Airbag Readiness Light on
page 5‑13 for more information.
Notice: If an airbag covering is
damaged, opened, or broken, the
airbag may not work properly. Do
not open or break the airbag
coverings. If there are any
opened or broken airbag covers,
have the airbag covering and/or
airbag module replaced. For the
location of the airbags, see
Where Are the Airbags? on
page 3‑21. See your dealer for
service.
Replacing Airbag System
Parts after a Crash
If an airbag inflates, you will need to
replace airbag system parts. See
your dealer for service.
{ WARNING
If the airbag readiness light stays on
after the vehicle is started or comes
on when you are driving, the airbag
system may not work properly. Have
the vehicle serviced right away. See
Airbag Readiness Light on
page 5‑13 for more information.
A crash can damage the airbag
systems in the vehicle.
A damaged airbag system may
not work properly and may not
protect you and your
passenger(s) in a crash, resulting
in serious injury or even death. To
help make sure the airbag
systems are working properly
after a crash, have them
inspected and any necessary
replacements made as soon as
possible.
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Child Restraints
Older Children
The manufacturer's instructions that
come with the booster seat state the
weight and height limitations for that
booster. Use a booster seat with a
lap-shoulder belt until the child
passes the fit test below:
.
Sit all the way back on the seat.
Do the knees bend at the seat
edge? If yes, continue. If no,
return to the booster seat.
.
Buckle the lap-shoulder belt.
Does the shoulder belt rest on
the shoulder? If yes, continue.
If no, try using the rear safety
belt comfort guide. See “Rear
Safety Belt Comfort Guides”
under Lap-Shoulder Belt on
page 3‑12 for more information.
If the shoulder belt still does not
rest on the shoulder, then return
to the booster seat.
.
Does the lap belt fit low and
snug on the hips, touching the
thighs? If yes, continue. If no,
return to the booster seat.
Older children who have outgrown
booster seats should wear the
vehicle safety belts.
.
3-33
Can proper safety belt fit be
maintained for the length of the
trip? If yes, continue. If no,
return to the booster seat.
Q: What is the proper way to
wear safety belts?
A: An older child should wear a
lap-shoulder belt and get the
additional restraint a shoulder
belt can provide. The shoulder
belt should not cross the face or
neck. The lap belt should fit
snugly below the hips, just
touching the top of the thighs.
This applies belt force to the
child's pelvic bones in a crash.
It should never be worn over the
abdomen, which could cause
severe or even fatal internal
injuries in a crash.
Also see “Rear Safety Belt Comfort
Guides” under Lap-Shoulder Belt on
page 3‑12.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
3-34
Black plate (34,1)
Seats and Restraints
According to accident statistics,
children and infants are safer when
properly restrained in a child
restraint system or infant restraint
system secured in a rear seating
position.
WARNING (Continued)
In a crash, children who are not
buckled up can strike other people
who are buckled up, or can be
thrown out of the vehicle. Older
children need to use safety belts
properly.
{ WARNING
Never do this.
Never allow two children to wear
the same safety belt. The safety
belt cannot properly spread the
impact forces. In a crash, the two
children can be crushed together
and seriously injured. A safety
belt must be used by only one
person at a time.
{ WARNING
Never do this.
Never allow a child to wear the
safety belt with the shoulder belt
behind their back. A child can be
seriously injured by not wearing
the lap-shoulder belt properly. In a
crash, the child would not be
restrained by the shoulder belt.
(Continued)
The child could move too far
forward increasing the chance of
head and neck injury. The child
might also slide under the lap
belt. The belt force would then be
applied right on the abdomen.
That could cause serious or fatal
injuries. The shoulder belt should
go over the shoulder and across
the chest.
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Seats and Restraints
Infants and Young
Children
Everyone in a vehicle needs
protection! This includes infants and
all other children. Neither the
distance traveled nor the age and
size of the traveler changes the
need, for everyone, to use safety
restraints. In fact, the law in every
state in the United States and in
every Canadian province says
children up to some age must be
restrained while in a vehicle.
{ WARNING
Children can be seriously injured
or strangled if a shoulder belt is
wrapped around their neck and
the safety belt continues to
tighten. Never leave children
unattended in a vehicle and never
allow children to play with the
safety belts.
Airbags plus lap‐shoulder belts offer
protection for adults and older
children, but not for young children
and infants. Neither the vehicle's
safety belt system nor its airbag
system is designed for them. Every
time infants and young children ride
in vehicles, they should have the
protection provided by appropriate
child restraints.
Children who are not restrained
properly can strike other people,
or can be thrown out of the vehicle.
{ WARNING
Never do this.
Never hold an infant or a child
while riding in a vehicle. Due to
crash forces, an infant or a child
will become so heavy it is not
possible to hold it during a crash.
(Continued)
3-35
WARNING (Continued)
For example, in a crash at only
40 km/h (25 mph), a 5.5 kg (12 lb)
infant will suddenly become a
110 kg (240 lb) force on a person's
arms. An infant should be
secured in an appropriate
restraint.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
3-36
Black plate (36,1)
Seats and Restraints
{ WARNING
Never do this.
Children who are up against,
or very close to, any airbag when
it inflates can be seriously injured
or killed. Never put a rear-facing
child restraint in the right front
seat. Secure a rear-facing child
restraint in a rear seat. It is also
better to secure a forward-facing
child restraint in a rear seat. If you
must secure a forward-facing
child restraint in the right front
seat, always move the front
passenger seat as far back as it
will go.
Q: What are the different types of
add-on child restraints?
A: Add-on child restraints, which
are purchased by the vehicle
owner, are available in four basic
types. Selection of a particular
restraint should take into
consideration not only the child's
weight, height, and age but also
whether or not the restraint will
be compatible with the motor
vehicle in which it will be used.
For most basic types of child
restraints, there are many
different models available. When
purchasing a child restraint, be
sure it is designed to be used in
a motor vehicle. If it is, the
restraint will have a label saying
that it meets federal motor
vehicle safety standards.
The restraint manufacturer's
instructions that come with the
restraint state the weight and
height limitations for a particular
child restraint. In addition, there
are many kinds of restraints
available for children with
special needs.
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Seats and Restraints
{ WARNING
{ WARNING
To reduce the risk of neck and
head injury during a crash, infants
need complete support. This is
because an infant's neck is not
fully developed and its head
weighs so much compared with
the rest of its body. In a crash,
an infant in a rear-facing child
restraint settles into the restraint,
so the crash forces can be
distributed across the strongest
part of an infant's body, the back
and shoulders. Infants should
always be secured in rear-facing
child restraints.
A young child's hip bones are still
so small that the vehicle's regular
safety belt may not remain low on
the hip bones, as it should.
Instead, it may settle up around
the child's abdomen. In a crash,
the belt would apply force on a
body area that is unprotected by
any bony structure. This alone
could cause serious or fatal
injuries. To reduce the risk of
serious or fatal injuries during a
crash, young children should
always be secured in appropriate
child restraints.
3-37
Child Restraint Systems
(A) Rear‐Facing Infant Seat
A rear-facing infant seat (A)
provides restraint with the seating
surface against the back of the
infant.
The harness system holds the infant
in place and, in a crash, acts to
keep the infant positioned in the
restraint.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
3-38
Black plate (38,1)
Seats and Restraints
Securing an Add-On Child
Restraint in the Vehicle
{ WARNING
(B) Forward-Facing Child Seat
A forward-facing child seat (B)
provides restraint for the child's
body with the harness.
(C) Booster Seats
A booster seat (C) is a child restraint
designed to improve the fit of the
vehicle's safety belt system.
A booster seat can also help a child
to see out the window.
A child can be seriously injured or
killed in a crash if the child
restraint is not properly secured in
the vehicle. Secure the child
restraint properly in the vehicle
using the vehicle safety belt or
LATCH system, following the
instructions that came with that
child restraint and the instructions
in this manual.
To help reduce the chance of injury,
the child restraint must be secured
in the vehicle. Child restraint
systems must be secured in vehicle
seats by lap belts or the lap belt
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (39,1)
Seats and Restraints
portion of a lap-shoulder belt, or by
the LATCH system. See Lower
Anchors and Tethers for Children
(LATCH System) on page 3‑41 for
more information. Children can be
endangered in a crash if the child
restraint is not properly secured in
the vehicle.
When securing an add-on child
restraint, refer to the instructions
that come with the restraint which
may be on the restraint itself or in a
booklet, or both, and to this manual.
The child restraint instructions are
important, so if they are not
available, obtain a replacement
copy from the manufacturer.
Keep in mind that an unsecured
child restraint can move around in a
collision or sudden stop and injure
people in the vehicle. Be sure to
properly secure any child restraint in
the vehicle — even when no child
is in it.
In some areas of the United States
and Canada, Certified Child
Passenger Safety Technicians
(CPSTs) are available to inspect
and demonstrate how to correctly
use and install child restraints.
In the U.S., refer to the
National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) website to
locate the nearest child safety seat
inspection station. For CPST
availability in Canada, check with
Transport Canada or the Provincial
Ministry of Transportation office.
Securing the Child Within the
Child Restraint
{ WARNING
A child can be seriously injured or
killed in a crash if the child is not
properly secured in the child
restraint. Secure the child
properly following the instructions
that came with that child restraint.
3-39
Where to Put the
Restraint
According to accident statistics,
children and infants are safer when
properly restrained in a child
restraint system or infant restraint
system secured in a rear seating
position.
We recommend that children and
child restraints be secured in a rear
seat, including: an infant or a child
riding in a rear-facing child restraint;
a child riding in a forward-facing
child seat; an older child riding in a
booster seat; and children, who are
large enough, using safety belts.
A label on the sun visor says,
“Never put a rear-facing child
restraint in the front.” This is
because the risk to the rear-facing
child is so great, if the airbag
deploys.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
3-40
Black plate (40,1)
Seats and Restraints
{ WARNING
A child in a rear-facing child
restraint can be seriously injured
or killed if the right front
passenger airbag inflates.
This is because the back of the
rear-facing child restraint would
be very close to the inflating
airbag. A child in a forward-facing
child restraint can be seriously
injured or killed if the right front
passenger airbag inflates and the
passenger seat is in a forward
position.
The vehicle may have a
passenger sensing system which
is designed to turn off the right
front passenger frontal airbag
under certain conditions.
Even if the passenger sensing
system, if equipped, has turned
off the right front passenger
frontal airbag, no system is
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
fail-safe. No one can guarantee
that an airbag will not deploy
under some unusual
circumstance, even though
it is turned off.
Child restraints and booster seats
vary considerably in size, and some
may fit in certain seating positions
better than others. Always make
sure the child restraint is properly
secured.
Secure rear-facing child
restraints in a rear seat, even if
the airbag is off. If you secure a
forward-facing child restraint in
the right front seat, always move
the front passenger seat as far
back as it will go. It is better to
secure the child restraint in a
rear seat.
Depending on where you place the
child restraint and the size of the
child restraint, you may not be able
to access adjacent safety belt
assemblies or LATCH anchors for
additional passengers or child
restraints. Adjacent seating
positions should not be used if the
child restraint prevents access to or
interferes with the routing of the
safety belt.
See Passenger Sensing System
on page 3‑26 for additional
information.
Wherever a child restraint is
installed, be sure to secure the child
restraint properly.
When securing a child restraint in a
rear seating position, study the
instructions that came with the child
restraint to make sure it is
compatible with this vehicle.
Keep in mind that an unsecured
child restraint can move around in a
collision or sudden stop and injure
people in the vehicle. Be sure to
properly secure any child restraint in
the vehicle — even when no child
is in it.
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Seats and Restraints
Lower Anchors and
Tethers for Children
(LATCH System)
The LATCH system holds a child
restraint during driving or in a crash.
This system is designed to make
installation of a child restraint easier.
The LATCH system uses anchors in
the vehicle and attachments on the
child restraint that are made for use
with the LATCH system.
Make sure that a LATCH-compatible
child restraint is properly installed
using the anchors, or use the
vehicle's safety belts to secure the
restraint, following the instructions
that came with that restraint, and
also the instructions in this manual.
When installing a child restraint with
a top tether, you must also use
either the lower anchors or the
safety belts to properly secure the
child restraint. A child restraint must
never be installed using only the top
tether and anchor.
In order to use the LATCH system in
your vehicle, you need a child
restraint that has LATCH
attachments. The child restraint
manufacturer will provide you with
instructions on how to use the child
restraint and its attachments. The
following explains how to attach a
child restraint with these
attachments in your vehicle.
Not all vehicle seating positions or
child restraints have lower anchors
and attachments or top tether
anchors and attachments.
3-41
Lower Anchors
Lower anchors (A) are metal bars
built into the vehicle. There are
two lower anchors for each
LATCH seating position that will
accommodate a child restraint with
lower attachments (B).
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3-42
Black plate (42,1)
Seats and Restraints
Top Tether Anchor
A top tether (A, C) anchors the top
of the child restraint to the vehicle.
A top tether anchor is built into
the vehicle. The top tether
attachment (B) on the child restraint
connects to the top tether anchor in
the vehicle in order to reduce the
forward movement and rotation of
the child restraint during driving or in
a crash.
Your child restraint may have a
single tether (A) or a dual
tether (C). Either will have a single
attachment (B) to secure the top
tether to the anchor.
Some child restraints that have top
tethers are designed for use with
or without the top tether being
attached. Others require the top
tether always to be attached.
In Canada, the law requires that
forward-facing child restraints have
a top tether, and that the tether be
attached. Be sure to read and follow
the instructions for your child
restraint.
Lower Anchor and Top Tether
Anchor Locations
Rear Seat
i (Top Tether Anchor):
Seating
positions with top tether anchors.
j (Lower Anchor): Seating
positions with two lower anchors.
The right side rear passenger and
center seating positions have
exposed metal anchors located in
the crease between the seatback
and the seat cushion.
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Seats and Restraints
See Rear Seats on page 3‑8.
Be sure to use an anchor located on
the same side of the vehicle as the
seating position where the child
restraint will be placed.
To assist you in locating the top
tether anchors, the top tether anchor
symbol is located near the top tether
anchors.
Do not secure a child restraint in a
position without a top tether anchor
if a national or local law requires
that the top tether be attached, or if
the instructions that come with the
child restraint say that the top tether
must be attached.
According to accident statistics,
children and infants are safer when
properly restrained in a child
restraint system or infant restraint
system secured in a rear seating
position. See Where to Put the
Restraint on page 3‑39 for
additional information.
The top tether anchors are located
on the back of the rear seat frame
above the floor for each rear seating
position. Fold down the rear
seatback(s) to access the anchors.
3-43
Securing a Child Restraint
Designed for the LATCH
System
{ WARNING
If a LATCH-type child restraint is
not attached to anchors, the child
restraint will not be able to protect
the child correctly. In a crash, the
child could be seriously injured or
killed. Install a LATCH-type child
restraint properly using the
anchors, or use the vehicle safety
belts to secure the restraint,
following the instructions that
came with the child restraint and
the instructions in this manual.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
3-44
Black plate (44,1)
Seats and Restraints
{ WARNING
{ WARNING
Do not attach more than one child
restraint to a single anchor.
Attaching more than one child
restraint to a single anchor could
cause the anchor or attachment
to come loose or even break
during a crash. A child or others
could be injured. To reduce the
risk of serious or fatal injuries
during a crash, attach only one
child restraint per anchor.
Children can be seriously injured
or strangled if a shoulder belt is
wrapped around their neck and
the safety belt continues to
tighten. Buckle any unused safety
belts behind the child restraint so
children cannot reach them. Pull
the shoulder belt all the way out
of the retractor to set the lock,
if the vehicle has one, after the
child restraint has been installed.
Notice: Do not let the LATCH
attachments rub against the
vehicle’s safety belts. This may
damage these parts. If necessary,
move buckled safety belts to
avoid rubbing the LATCH
attachments.
Do not fold the empty rear seat
with a safety belt buckled. This
could damage the safety belt or
the seat. Unbuckle and return the
safety belt to its stowed position,
before folding the seat.
1. If the child restraint manufacturer
recommends that the top tether
be attached, attach the top
tether to the top tether anchor,
if equipped. Refer to the child
restraint instructions and the
following steps:
1.1. To access the top tether
anchors, raise the seat
cushion by pulling up on the
strap loop at the rear of the
seat cushion and fold the
seat cushion forward. Then
fold the seatback forward
until it is flat. See Rear
Seats on page 3‑8 for
additional information.
1.2. Place the child restraint in
the vehicle, near the
seating position that you
are using.
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Seats and Restraints
3-45
1.3. Route the top tether
according to your child
restraint instructions and
the following instructions:
If the position you are using
does not have a headrest
or head restraint and you
are using a single tether,
route the tether over the
seatback.
If the position you are using
does not have a headrest
or head restraint and you
are using a dual tether,
route the tether over the
seatback.
If the position you are using
has an adjustable headrest
or head restraint and you
are using a dual tether,
route the tether around the
headrest or head restraint.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
3-46
Black plate (46,1)
Seats and Restraints
{ WARNING
If the position you are using
has an adjustable headrest
or head restraint and you
are using a single tether,
raise the headrest or head
restraint and route the
tether under the headrest or
head restraint and in
between the headrest or
head restraint posts.
1.4. Attach the top tether
attachment to the top tether
anchor.
If either seatback is not locked, it
could move forward in a sudden
stop or crash. That could cause
injury to the person sitting there.
Always push and pull on the
seatbacks to be sure they are
locked.
2.1. Find the lower anchors for
the desired seating
position.
2.2. Put the child restraint on
the seat.
2.3. Attach and tighten the lower
attachments on the child
restraint to the lower
anchors.
3. Tighten the top tether.
1.5. Lift the seatback up and
push it rearward. Then
lower the seat cushion until
the seatback and the seat
cushion lock into position.
2. Attach the lower attachments to
the lower anchors. If the child
restraint does not have lower
attachments or the desired
seating position does not have
lower anchors, secure the child
restraint with the top tether and
the safety belts. Refer to your
child restraint manufacturer
instructions and the instructions
in this manual.
4. Before placing a child in the
child restraint, make sure it is
securely held in place. To check,
grasp the child restraint at the
LATCH path and attempt to
move it side‐to‐side and
back‐and‐forth. There should be
no more than 2.5 cm (1 in) of
movement for proper installation.
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Seats and Restraints
Replacing LATCH System
Parts After a Crash
Securing Child Restraints
(Rear Seat Position)
{ WARNING
When securing a child restraint in a
rear seating position, study the
instructions that came with the child
restraint to make sure it is
compatible with this vehicle.
A crash can damage the LATCH
system in the vehicle. A damaged
LATCH system may not properly
secure the child restraint,
resulting in serious injury or even
death in a crash. To help make
sure the LATCH system is
working properly after a crash,
see your dealer to have the
system inspected and any
necessary replacements made as
soon as possible.
If the vehicle has the LATCH system
and it was being used during a
crash, new LATCH system parts
may be needed.
New parts and repairs may be
necessary even if the LATCH
system was not being used at the
time of the crash.
If the child restraint has the LATCH
system, see Lower Anchors and
Tethers for Children (LATCH
System) on page 3‑41 for how and
where to install the child restraint
using LATCH. If you secure a child
restraint using a safety belt and it
uses a top tether, see Lower
Anchors and Tethers for Children
(LATCH System) on page 3‑41 for
top tether anchor locations.
3-47
Do not secure a child restraint in a
position without a top tether anchor
if a national or local law requires
that the top tether be anchored, or if
the instructions that come with the
child restraint say that the top strap
must be anchored.
In Canada, the law requires that
forward-facing child restraints have
a top tether, and that the tether be
attached.
If the child restraint does not have
the LATCH system, you will be
using the safety belt to secure the
child restraint in this position. Be
sure to follow the instructions that
came with the child restraint. Secure
the child in the child restraint when
and as the instructions say.
If more than one child restraint
needs to be installed in the rear
seat, be sure to read Where to Put
the Restraint on page 3‑39.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
3-48
Black plate (48,1)
Seats and Restraints
If the child restraint manufacturer
recommends using a top tether,
attach and tighten the top tether to
the top tether anchor. Refer to the
instructions that came with the child
restraint and see Lower Anchors
and Tethers for Children (LATCH
System) on page 3‑41.
1. Put the child restraint on
the seat.
2. Pick up the latch plate, and run
the lap and shoulder portions of
the vehicle's safety belt through
or around the restraint. The child
restraint instructions will show
you how.
3. Push the latch plate into the
buckle until it clicks.
Position the release button on
the buckle so that the safety belt
could be quickly unbuckled if
necessary.
4. Pull the shoulder belt all the way
out of the retractor to set the
lock. When the retractor lock is
set, the belt can be tightened but
not pulled out of the retractor.
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Seats and Restraints
6. If the child restraint has a top
tether, follow the child restraint
manufacturer's instructions
regarding the use of the top
tether. See Lower Anchors and
Tethers for Children (LATCH
System) on page 3‑41.
5. To tighten the belt, push down
on the child restraint, pull the
shoulder portion of the belt to
tighten the lap portion of the belt,
and feed the shoulder belt back
into the retractor. When installing
a forward-facing child restraint, it
may be helpful to use your knee
to push down on the child
restraint as you tighten the belt.
Try to pull the belt out of the
retractor to make sure the
retractor is locked. If the
retractor is not locked, repeat
Steps 4 and 5.
7. Before placing a child in the
child restraint, make sure it is
securely held in place. To check,
grasp the child restraint at the
safety belt path and attempt to
move it side‐to‐side and back‐
and‐forth. When the child
restraint is properly installed,
there should be no more than
2.5 cm (1 in) of movement.
To remove the child restraint,
unbuckle the vehicle safety belt and
let it return to the stowed position.
If the top tether is attached to a top
tether anchor, disconnect it.
3-49
Securing Child Restraints
(Right Front Seat
Position)
This vehicle has airbags. A rear
seat is a safer place to secure a
forward-facing child restraint. See
Where to Put the Restraint on
page 3‑39.
In addition, the vehicle may have a
passenger sensing system which is
designed to turn off the right front
passenger frontal airbag under
certain conditions. See Passenger
Sensing System on page 3‑26 and
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator
on page 5‑14 for more information,
including important safety
information.
A label on the sun visor says,
“Never put a rear-facing child seat in
the front.” This is because the risk to
the rear-facing child is so great if the
airbag deploys.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
3-50
Black plate (50,1)
Seats and Restraints
{ WARNING
A child in a rear-facing child
restraint can be seriously injured
or killed if the right front
passenger airbag inflates. This is
because the back of the
rear-facing child restraint would
be very close to the inflating
airbag. A child in a forward-facing
child restraint can be seriously
injured or killed if the right front
passenger airbag inflates and the
passenger seat is in a forward
position.
The vehicle may have a
passenger sensing system which
is designed to turn off the right
front passenger frontal airbag
under certain conditions.
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
Even if the passenger sensing
system, if equipped, has turned
off the right front passenger
frontal airbag, no system is
fail-safe. No one can guarantee
that an airbag will not deploy
under some unusual
circumstance, even though it is
turned off.
Secure rear-facing child restraints
in a rear seat, even if the airbag
is off. If you secure a
forward-facing child restraint in
the right front seat, always move
the front passenger seat as far
back as it will go. It is better to
secure the child restraint in a
rear seat.
See Passenger Sensing System
on page 3‑26 for additional
information.
If the child restraint has the LATCH
system, see Lower Anchors and
Tethers for Children (LATCH
System) on page 3‑41 for how and
where to install the child restraint
using LATCH. If a child restraint is
secured using a safety belt and it
uses a top tether, see Lower
Anchors and Tethers for Children
(LATCH System) on page 3‑41 for
top tether anchor locations.
Do not secure a child seat in a
position without a top tether anchor
if a national or local law requires
that the top tether be anchored, or if
the instructions that come with the
child restraint say that the top strap
must be anchored.
In Canada, the law requires that
forward-facing child restraints have
a top tether, and that the tether be
attached.
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Seats and Restraints
3-51
You will be using the lap-shoulder
belt to secure the child restraint in
this position. Follow the instructions
that came with the child restraint.
1. Move the seat as far back as it
will go before securing the
forward-facing child restraint.
2. Put the child restraint on
the seat.
3. Pick up the latch plate, and run
the lap and shoulder portions of
the vehicle's safety belt through
or around the restraint. The child
restraint instructions will show
you how.
4. Push the latch plate into the
buckle until it clicks.
Position the release button on
the buckle so that the safety belt
could be quickly unbuckled if
necessary.
5. Pull the shoulder belt all the way
out of the retractor to set the
lock. When the retractor lock is
set, the belt can be tightened but
not pulled out of the retractor.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
3-52
Black plate (52,1)
Seats and Restraints
Try to pull the belt out of the
retractor to make sure the
retractor is locked. If the
retractor is not locked, repeat
Steps 5 and 6.
6. To tighten the belt, push down
on the child restraint, pull the
shoulder portion of the belt to
tighten the lap portion of the belt,
and feed the shoulder belt back
into the retractor. When installing
a forward-facing child restraint, it
may be helpful to use your knee
to push down on the child
restraint as you tighten the belt.
7. Before placing a child in the
child restraint, make sure it is
securely held in place. To check,
grasp the child restraint at the
safety belt path and attempt to
move it side‐to‐side and
back‐and‐forth. When the child
restraint is properly installed,
there should be no more than
2.5 cm (1 in) of movement.
If the vehicle is equipped with the
passenger sensing system, and
when the passenger sensing system
has turned off the right front
passenger frontal airbag, the off
indicator in the passenger airbag
status indicator should light and stay
lit when you start the vehicle. See
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator
on page 5‑14.
If a child restraint has been installed
and the on indicator is lit, see “If the
On Indicator is Lit for a Child
Restraint” under Passenger Sensing
System on page 3‑26 for more
information.
To remove the child restraint,
unbuckle the vehicle safety belt and
let it return to the stowed position.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (1,1)
Storage
Storage
Storage Compartments
Instrument Panel Storage . . . . .
Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cupholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Armrest Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Center Console Storage . . . . . .
Top-Box Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4-1
4-1
4-1
4-1
4-1
4-2
Luggage/Load Locations
Cargo Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
Additional Storage Features
Cargo Cover Panels . . . . . . . . . . 4-5
Cargo Tie-Downs . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-12
Roof Rack System
Roof Rack System . . . . . . . . . . . 4-12
4-1
Storage
Compartments
Push down and then back to
remove the front cupholder to
remove it for cleaning.
Instrument Panel Storage
Armrest Storage
For vehicles with a storage area
above the CD changer, open by
pressing the bottom edge of the
cover.
For vehicle with an armrest/storage
compartment located by the second
row seat, pull the loop at the top of
the armrest out to lower the armrest.
Glove Box
Push the button on the front of the
armrest and pull the top up to open
the compartment.
Lift up on the glove box lever to
open it.
Cupholders
Cupholders are located in the center
console for the front passengers
and on the back of the center
console for the rear passengers.
Press down and release the access
door to use the front cupholders.
Push the door back down to close it.
Pull down on the door located on
the back of the console to use the
rear cupholders.
Center Console Storage
A console compartment is located
between the bucket seats.
The console has both an upper and
lower storage bin accessed by lifting
up on the latches located at the
front of the console lid.
The console may have an
accessory power outlet inside. See
Power Outlets on page 5‑7.
The rear of the console also has a
cupholder that swings down for the
rear seat passengers to use.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
4-2
Black plate (2,1)
Storage
Top-Box Storage
Luggage/Load
Locations
Cargo Area
All-Weather Cargo Area
There are top-box storage units on
both sides of the rear cargo area.
The passenger side contains the tire
changing tools. To lock or unlock,
use the key then press the key
cylinder to open.
The vehicle's cargo area can be
used in many different
configurations — cargo panels on or
off, Midgate up or down, rear glass
in or out. It has features that resist
the elements and protect cargo. It is
designed to quickly direct water out
of the cargo box. The top drain
grates, side rail channels, catch
cups, Midgate drain, cargo area
floor drains, and rubber cargo mat
help do this.
Even when all of these things are
working properly and the cover
system is on, there may be some
instances (heavy rains, automated
car washes, etc.) when water can
collect in the following areas:
A. Top drain grates
B. Removable front drain grate
(Midgate drain grate)
C. Side rail channels and
catch cups
D. Front drains
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (3,1)
Storage
E. Water drainage area around
both sides of the box and the
tailgate side
F.
Top Drain Grates – Removal
and Cleaning
4-3
To remove each drain grate, do the
following:
1. Remove the cargo panels. See
Cargo Cover Panels on
page 4‑5 for more information.
Rear drains
G. Cargo floor
H. Cargo mat
Maintenance and Cleaning
To ensure that the water
management system performs
properly, be sure that the Midgate,
tailgate, and cover system are fully
closed and that all parts are clean
and not blocked with debris. Follow
the instructions given next in this
section for the proper procedures on
cleaning each item.
The top drain grates are located
near the rear window on both sides
of the vehicle. Clean the grates and
drains if there is a blockage.
2. Grasp the edges of the grate
and pull it out from the vehicle.
Flush the drain with clean water.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
4-4
Black plate (4,1)
Storage
Side Rail Channels
Midgate Drain Grate Removal
and Cleaning
To replace the drain grate:
1. Line up the clips on the vehicle
with the slots in the grate and
firmly push the grate down.
2. Do not force the grate. If it does
not clip into place, realign the
clips with the holes and try
again.
The side rail channels are located
on top of both sides of the cargo
area. Flush them out with clean
water if debris collects inside
of them.
Carefully load cargo into the cargo
area, so that the rails do not get
damaged.
The removable Midgate drain grate
is located near the base of the
Midgate.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (5,1)
Storage
Cargo Area Floor Drains
4-5
Additional Storage
Features
Cargo Cover Panels
For vehicles with a three-piece
cargo cover system, the cargo
panels can be removed and stored
in the cargo area of the vehicle.
{ WARNING
After hauling dirt, wood chips,
pebbles etc. the Midgate drain
should be flushed with water. First
remove the drain grate:
1. Lower the Midgate. See
Midgate® on page 2‑9 for more
information.
2. Pull up on the rear side of the
drain grate, tilt it toward the front
of the vehicle, and pull it out.
Reverse the procedure to reinstall
the drain grate.
The cargo mat has cut outs for the
four cargo-area floor drains located
under the cargo mat near the sides
of the cargo area.
Periodically flush the drains through
the cut outs to clear debris and
allow water to drain from the cargo
area. If the cargo area is extremely
dirty, lift up the edges of the cargo
floor mat or take the whole mat out
and flush the drains with water.
Improperly stored cargo cover
panels could be thrown about the
vehicle during a collision or
sudden maneuver. Someone
could be injured. If a panel is
removed, always store it in the
proper storage location. When
putting it back, always make sure
that it is securely reattached.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
4-6
Black plate (6,1)
Storage
Notice: Exceeding the weight
limit of 113 kg (250 lbs) can
damage the cargo covers, and the
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Do not put
anything on top of the cargo
covers over the weight limit.
To remove a cargo panel(s):
1. Lower the tailgate. See Tailgate
on page 2‑15 for more
information on the tailgate.
The panels are embossed on
the upper center portion with the
numbers 1, 2 and 3. There are
also numbered labels on the
bottom of the panels. The
numbers on the top and bottom
of the panels will be used as
reference when removing,
storing and reinstalling the
panels.
2. Unlock the cargo panel 3 by
pulling forward on the driver side
and passenger side cargo panel
latches, located on the bottom of
each cargo panel.
3. Remove cargo panel 2 in the
same way and set it aside.
Remove as many cargo panels
as needed.
4. To remove cargo panel 1, unlock
the two rear latches, lift the
cover slightly and pull rearward.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (7,1)
Storage
4-7
After each cargo panel has been
removed, store them within the
cargo storage area using the cargo
panel storage system.
Cargo Panel Storage System
To store the panels:
The three cargo panels can be
stored in the cargo area using the
storage strap system. Always use
the storage strap system to store
the cargo panels while driving.
1. Secure the storage strap system
in the cargo storage area by
attaching the six clips included
on the cargo strap system to the
tie down locations on either side
of the storage area.
Before storing the cargo panels,
make sure that the latches on
the cargo panels are in the
locked position. The latches are
locked when they are parallel to
the front and back edge of the
panel.
Use the following instructions for
the proper storage sequence
and location for each panel:
1.1. Secure clip (A) on the
storage strap.
1.2. Secure clip (B) on the
storage strap.
1.3. Place the remaining primary
straps (C) on top of the lid
and tray at the top of the
cargo area.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
4-8
Black plate (8,1)
Storage
2. Starting with cargo panel 1, load
the cargo panel with the latches
facing up toward the side of the
cargo box.
Do the same for cargo panel 2
then panel 3. Make sure to store
panel 2 with the latches facing
down and panel 3 with latches
facing up toward the side of the
cargo box.
3. Place the primary straps over
the three cargo covers (A).
Fasten the four strap clips (B).
4. Tighten all straps by pulling on
the free end of each strap.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (9,1)
Storage
5. Close both cross locks at the
center of the strap system to
tightly secure.
Panels 3, 2, 1 Loaded
Reinstalling the Cargo Cover
Panels
The strap system can remain
attached to the side of the cargo
area while it is not in use, or it can
be stored inside the top box storage
compartment. See Top-Box Storage
on page 4‑2 for more information.
4-9
To reinstall a cargo panel:
1. Starting with cargo panel 1,
place the latches in the unlocked
position. Place cargo panel 1 on
the cargo area rails while
holding the back of the cargo
panel up.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
4-10
Black plate (10,1)
Storage
Then lower the rear of the cover
to engage the striker pegs (A) to
align with the striker
assembly (B).
4. Install cargo cover 2 followed
by 3 next. Place the latches in
the unlocked position. Place the
cargo cover panel on the cargo
area rails while holding the back
of the cargo panel up.
Driver Side Shown, Passenger
Side Similar
2. Place the cover on the cargo
box within 10 cm (4 in) of the
Midgate and lower the rear of
the panel within 5‐8 cm (2‐3 in)
from the top of the cargo box.
Push the cover forward making
sure that the guide block
engages the retainer bracket
opening. Continue to push
forward until the panel is fully
seated against the Midgate.
cover panels might not correctly
lock in place. Push the driver
side latch toward the front of the
vehicle to lock the cover in
position. A click sounds when
each latch locks. Lock the
remaining passenger side latch
on panel 1.
3. The driver side cargo cover
panel latch must lock in place
before the passenger side latch
can be locked. If this procedure
is not followed exactly, the cargo
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (11,1)
Storage
4-11
Folding and Storage of Straps
Driver Side Shown, Passenger
Side Similar
5. Push the panel forward until it is
snug against the other panel and
then let the back of the panel
down making sure that the
pegs (A) align with the
receivers (B).
6. Push the latches toward the
front of the vehicle, starting with
the driver side latch, to lock the
panel in place. A click sounds
when each latch locks correctly.
2. Fold the four primary strap ends
toward the center as shown.
Fold the straps for storing inside the
top-box storage compartment:
1. Extend the six strap ends on a
flat surface.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
4-12
Black plate (12,1)
Storage
Roof Rack System
{ WARNING
3. Take the short strap and wrap it
around the folded webbing,
forming a package.
4. Take the storage strap and wrap
it around the package. Finally,
attach the hooks to the webbing
and place the straps inside the
top-box storage compartment.
If something is carried on top of
the vehicle that is longer or wider
than the roof rack — like paneling,
plywood, or a mattress — the
wind can catch it while the vehicle
is being driven. The item being
carried could be violently torn off,
and this could cause a collision
and damage the vehicle. Never
carry something longer or wider
than the roof rack on top of the
vehicle unless using a GM
certified accessory carrier.
Cargo Tie-Downs
Cargo tie downs in the rear cargo
area can be used to secure cargo.
For vehicles with a roof rack, the
rack can be used to load items. For
roof racks that do not have
crossrails included, GM Certified
crossrails can be purchased as an
accessory. See your dealer for
additional information.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (13,1)
Storage
Notice: Loading cargo on the
roof rack that weighs more than
91 kg (200 lbs) or hangs over the
rear or sides of the vehicle may
damage the vehicle. Load cargo
so that it rests evenly between
the crossrails, making sure to
fasten cargo securely.
To prevent damage or loss of cargo
when driving, check to make sure
crossrails and cargo are securely
fastened. Loading cargo on the roof
rack will make the vehicle’s center
of gravity higher. Avoid high speeds,
sudden starts, sharp turns, sudden
braking or abrupt maneuvers,
otherwise it may result in loss of
control. If driving for a long distance,
on rough roads, or at high speeds,
occasionally stop the vehicle to
make sure the cargo remains in its
place.
Do not exceed the maximum vehicle
capacity when loading the vehicle.
For more information on vehicle
capacity and loading, see Vehicle
Load Limits on page 9‑16.
.
.
If small heavy objects are placed
on the roof, cut a piece of 9 mm
or 3/8 inch plywood to fit inside
the crossrails and siderails to
spread the load. Tie the plywood
to the siderail supports.
Tie the load and secure it to the
crossrails or the siderail
supports. Use the crossrails only
to keep the load from sliding. To
move a crossrail, lift the release
lever up, on both sides of the
rail. Then slide the crossrail to
the desired position balancing
the force side to side. Press the
release lever down on both
sides of the rail, down to tighten
it. Try to slide the crossrail back
and forth slightly to make sure it
is tight.
4-13
.
To carry long items, move the
crossrails as far apart as
possible. Tie the load to the
crossrails and the siderails or
siderail supports. Also tie the
load to the bumpers, but do not
tie the load so tightly that the
crossrails or siderails are
damaged.
.
After moving a crossrail, be sure
it is securely locked into the
siderail.
A Center High-Mounted Stoplamp
(CHMSL) is located above the rear
window glass.
Make sure items loaded on the roof
of the vehicle do not block or
damage the CHMSL.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
4-14
Black plate (14,1)
Storage
2 NOTES
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (1,1)
Instruments and Controls
Instruments and
Controls
Controls
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . 5-2
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . . 5-2
Heated Steering Wheel . . . . . . . 5-4
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . . 5-4
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7
Cigarette Lighter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8
Ashtrays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9
Warning Lights, Gauges, and
Indicators
Warning Lights, Gauges, and
Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . 5-10
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11
Fuel Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11
Engine Coolant Temperature
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-12
Safety Belt Reminders . . . . . . . 5-12
Airbag Readiness Light . . . . . . 5-13
Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-14
Charging System Light . . . . . . 5-15
Malfunction
Indicator Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-15
Brake System Warning
Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-18
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-19
Tow/Haul Mode Light . . . . . . . . 5-19
StabiliTrak® OFF Light . . . . . . . 5-20
Traction Control System
(TCS)/StabiliTrak® Light . . . . 5-20
Tire Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . 5-20
Engine Oil Pressure Light . . . . 5-21
Security Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-21
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . 5-22
Front Fog Lamp Light . . . . . . . . 5-22
Lamps On Reminder . . . . . . . . . 5-22
Cruise Control Light . . . . . . . . . 5-23
5-1
Information Displays
Driver Information
Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-23
Vehicle Messages
Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . .
Battery Voltage and Charging
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Brake System Messages . . . .
Door Ajar Messages . . . . . . . . .
Engine Cooling System
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Engine Oil Messages . . . . . . . .
Engine Power Messages . . . .
Fuel System Messages . . . . . .
Key and Lock Messages . . . . .
Lamp Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Object Detection System
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ride Control System
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5-28
5-28
5-28
5-29
5-29
5-30
5-31
5-31
5-32
5-32
5-32
5-32
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
5-2
Black plate (2,1)
Instruments and Controls
Airbag System Messages . . . .
Anti-theft Alarm System
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tire Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Transmission Messages . . . . .
Vehicle Reminder
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Washer Fluid Messages . . . . .
5-34
Controls
5-34
5-34
5-35
Steering Wheel
Adjustment
Steering Wheel Controls
5-35
5-35
Vehicle Personalization
Vehicle Personalization . . . . . . 5-36
Universal Remote System
Universal Remote System . . . 5-44
Universal Remote System
Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-44
Universal Remote System
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-49
If equipped, some audio controls
can be adjusted at the steering
wheel.
Push the control up or down to tilt
the steering wheel up or down.
To set the memory position, see
Vehicle Personalization on
page 5‑36.
w (Next) : Press to go to the next
favorite radio station, track on a CD,
or folder on an iPod® or USB
device.
c / x (Previous/End):
Press to
go to the previous favorite radio
station, track on a CD, or folder on
an iPod® or USB device. Press to
reject an incoming call, or end a
current call.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (3,1)
Instruments and Controls
Radio
Navigating an iPod or USB Device
on the Music Navigator Screen
To select preset or favorite radio
stations:
Press and release w or c / x to
go to the next or previous radio
station stored as a preset or
favorite.
CD/DVD
To select tracks on a CD/DVD:
1. Press and release w or c /
to select the next or previous
track within the selected
category.
x
2. Press and hold w or c / x to
move quickly through the tracks
within the selected category.
Press and release w or c / x to
go to the next or previous track.
3. Press and release ¨ to move up
one track within the selected
category.
Navigating an iPod or USB Device
on the Main Audio Screen
b / g (Mute/Push to Talk):
1. Press and release w or c /
to select the next or previous
track within the selected
category.
x
2. Press and hold w or c / x to
move quickly through the tracks.
3. Press and release ¨ to move up
one track within the selected
category.
Press
to silence the vehicle speakers only.
Press again to turn the sound on.
For vehicles with Bluetooth or
OnStar systems, press and hold for
longer than two seconds to interact
with those systems. See Bluetooth
on page 7‑81 and OnStar Overview
on page 14‑1 for more information.
5-3
SRCE (Source/Voice
Recognition): Press to switch
between the radio and CD, and for
equipped vehicles, the DVD, front
auxiliary, and rear auxiliary.
Press and hold this button for longer
than one second to initiate voice
recognition. See Voice Recognition
on page 7‑79 for more information.
¨ (Seek):
Press to go to the next
radio station while in AM,
FM, or XM™.
Press ¨ to go to the next track or
chapter while sourced to the CD or
DVD slot.
Press ¨ to select a track or a folder
when navigating folders on an iPod
or USB device.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
5-4
Black plate (4,1)
Instruments and Controls
To scan radio stations:
Heated Steering Wheel
1. Press and hold ¨ until a beep is
heard, to place the radio into
SCAN mode. A station will play
for five seconds before moving
to the next station.
Horn
To sound the horn, press the center
pad on the steering wheel.
Windshield Wiper/Washer
2. To stop the SCAN function,
press ¨ again.
While listening to a CD/DVD, press
and hold ¨ to quickly move forward
through the tracks. Release to stop
on the desired track.
e:
−e:
+
Press to increase volume.
Press to decrease volume.
For vehicles with a heated steering
wheel, the button for this feature is
located on the left side of the
steering wheel.
Press the button to turn the heated
steering wheel on or off. A light on
the button displays when the feature
is turned on.
The steering wheel takes about
three minutes to start heating.
The front wiper control is located on
the turn and lane‐change lever.
The windshield wipers are controlled
by turning the band with z on it.
8 (Mist): For a single wipe, turn
to 8, then release. For several
wipes, hold the band on 8 longer.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (5,1)
Instruments and Controls
6 (Adjustable Interval Wipes):
Windshield Washer
Turn the band up for more frequent
wipes or down for less frequent
wipes.
{ WARNING
6 (Low Speed): Slow wipes.
1 (High Speed): Fast wipes.
9 (Off): Turns the windshield
In freezing weather, do not use
the washer until the windshield is
warmed. Otherwise the washer
fluid can form ice on the
windshield, blocking your vision.
wipers off.
Clear ice and snow from the wiper
blades before using them. If frozen
to the windshield, carefully loosen or
thaw them. Damaged blades should
be replaced.
L (Washer Fluid):
Push the
paddle at the top of the lever
to spray washer fluid on the
windshield. The wipers clear the
window and then either stop or
return to the preset speed.
5-5
Compass
Your vehicle may have a compass
in the Driver Information
Center (DIC).
Compass Zone
The zone is set to zone eight upon
leaving the factory. Your dealer will
set the correct zone for your
location.
Under certain circumstances,
such as during a long distance
cross-country trip or moving to a
new state or province, it will be
necessary to compensate for
compass variance by resetting the
zone through the DIC if the zone is
not set correctly.
Compass variance is the difference
between the earth's magnetic north
and true geographic north. If the
compass is not set to the zone
where you live, the compass may
give false readings. The compass
must be set to the variance zone in
which the vehicle is traveling.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
5-6
Black plate (6,1)
Instruments and Controls
To adjust for compass variance, use
the following procedure:
5. If calibration is necessary,
calibrate the compass. See
“Compass Calibration
Procedure” following.
Compass Variance (Zone)
Procedure
Compass Calibration
1. Do not set the compass zone
when the vehicle is moving. Only
set it when the vehicle is in
P (Park).
Press the vehicle information
button until PRESS V TO
CHANGE COMPASS ZONE
displays.
2. Find the vehicle's current
location and variance zone
number on the map.
Zones 1 through 15 are
available.
3. Press the set/reset button to
scroll through and select the
appropriate variance zone.
4. Press the trip/fuel button until
the vehicle heading, for
example, N for North, is
displayed in the DIC.
The compass can be manually
calibrated. Only calibrate the
compass in a magnetically clean
and safe location, such as an open
parking lot, where driving the
vehicle in circles is not a danger.
It is suggested to calibrate away
from tall buildings, utility wires,
manhole covers, or other industrial
structures, if possible.
If CAL should ever appear in the
DIC display, the compass should be
calibrated.
If the DIC display does not show a
heading, for example, N for North,
or the heading does not change
after making turns, there may be a
strong magnetic field interfering with
the compass. Such interference
may be caused by a magnetic CB or
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (7,1)
Instruments and Controls
cell phone antenna mount, a
magnetic emergency light, magnetic
note pad holder, or any other
magnetic item. Turn off the vehicle,
move the magnetic item, then turn
on the vehicle and calibrate the
compass.
To calibrate the compass, use the
following procedure:
Compass Calibration Procedure
1. Before calibrating the compass,
make sure the compass zone is
set to the variance zone in which
the vehicle is located. See
“Compass Variance (Zone)
Procedure” earlier in this
section.
Do not operate any switches
such as window, sunroof,
climate controls, seats, etc.
during the calibration procedure.
2. Press the vehicle information
button until PRESS V TO
CALIBRATE COMPASS
displays.
3. Press the set/reset button to
start the compass calibration.
4. The DIC will display
CALIBRATING: DRIVE IN
CIRCLES. Drive the vehicle in
tight circles at less than 8 km/h
(5 mph) to complete the
calibration. The DIC will display
CALIBRATION COMPLETE for a
few seconds when the
calibration is complete. The DIC
display will then return to the
previous menu.
Clock
The analog clock is located on the
instrument panel above the radio.
The clock is not connected with any
other vehicle system and runs by
itself. To adjust the clock:
1. The adjustment button is located
in the lower left corner of the
clock.
2. Push and hold the adjustment
button to advance the clock
hands. Holding the button down
5-7
will cause the clock to advance
faster. Release the button before
reaching the desired time.
3. Push and release the button to
increase the time by one minute
increments until the desired time
is reached.
Power Outlets
Accessory power outlets can be
used to plug in electrical equipment,
such as a cell phone or MP3 player.
One accessory power outlet is
located inside the center floor
console. Lift up on the lower latch
located at the front of the console lid
to access the accessory power
outlet.
There may also be an accessory
power outlet located on the rear of
the center floor console above the
cupholder.
Remove the cover to access and
replace when not in use.
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5-8
Black plate (8,1)
Instruments and Controls
The accessory power outlets are
powered, even when the ignition is
in LOCK/OFF. Continuing to use
power outlets while the ignition is in
LOCK/OFF may cause the vehicle's
battery to run down.
Do not try to put the cigarette lighter
in any of the accessory power
outlets.
{ WARNING
Power is always supplied to the
outlets. Do not leave electrical
equipment plugged in when the
vehicle is not in use because the
vehicle could catch fire and cause
injury or death.
Notice: Leaving electrical
equipment plugged in for an
extended period of time while
the vehicle is off will drain the
battery. Always unplug electrical
equipment when not in use and
do not plug in equipment that
exceeds the maximum 20 ampere
rating.
Certain electrical accessories
may not be compatible with the
accessory power outlet and could
overload vehicle or adapter fuses.
If a problem is experienced, see
your dealer.
When adding electrical equipment,
be sure to follow the proper
installation instructions included
with the electrical equipment. See
Add-On Electrical Equipment on
page 9‑67.
Notice: Hanging heavy
equipment from the power outlet
can cause damage not covered
by the vehicle warranty. The
power outlets are designed for
accessory power plugs only, such
as cell phone charge cords.
Cigarette Lighter
The cigarette lighter is located in the
center console near the cupholders.
Press on the access door to open it
and use the lighter.
To use the cigarette lighter, push it
in all the way, and let go. When it is
ready, it will pop back out by itself.
Notice: Holding a cigarette lighter
in while it is heating does not let
the lighter back away from the
heating element when it is hot.
Damage from overheating can
occur to the lighter or heating
element, or a fuse could be
blown. Do not hold a cigarette
lighter in while it is heating.
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Ashtrays
The front ashtray is located in the
center console near the cupholders.
Press on the access door to open it
and use the ashtray.
Notice: If papers, pins, or other
flammable items are put in the
ashtray, hot cigarettes or other
smoking materials could ignite
them and possibly damage the
vehicle. Never put flammable
items in the ashtray.
To remove the ashtray, pull it from
the center console. Slide it back in
and push down to be sure it is
secure.
5-9
Warning Lights,
Gauges, and
Indicators
Gauges can indicate when there
could be a problem with a vehicle
function. Often gauges and warning
lights work together to indicate a
problem with the vehicle.
Warning lights and gauges can
signal that something is wrong
before it becomes serious enough
to cause an expensive repair or
replacement. Paying attention to the
warning lights and gauges could
prevent injury.
When one of the warning lights
comes on and stays on while
driving, or when one of the gauges
shows there may be a problem,
check the section that explains what
to do. Follow this manual's advice.
Waiting to do repairs can be costly
and even dangerous.
Warning lights come on when there
could be a problem with a vehicle
function. Some warning lights come
on briefly when the engine is started
to indicate they are working.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
5-10
Black plate (10,1)
Instruments and Controls
Instrument Cluster
English Shown, Metric Similar
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
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Instruments and Controls
Speedometer
The speedometer shows the vehicle
speed in both kilometers per hour
(km/h) and miles per hour (mph).
Odometer
The odometer works together with
the Driver Information Center (DIC).
Press the Trip/Fuel button on the
instrument panel cluster to check
the odometer mileage while the
vehicle is not running. See
“Odometer” under Driver Information
Center (DIC) on page 5‑23 for more
information.
For more information see “Trip
Odometer” under Driver Information
Center (DIC) on page 5‑23.
Tachometer
The tachometer displays the
engine speed in revolutions per
minute (rpm).
Fuel Gauge
An arrow on the fuel gauge
indicates the side of the vehicle the
fuel door is on.
The gauge will first indicate empty
before the vehicle is out of fuel, but
the vehicle's fuel tank should be
filled soon.
Here are some situations owners
may experience with the fuel gauge.
None of these indicate a problem
with the fuel gauge.
.
At the gas station, the fuel pump
shuts off before the gauge
reads full.
.
It takes a little more or less fuel
to fill up than the fuel gauge
indicated. For example, the
gauge may have indicated the
tank was half full, but it actually
took a little more or less than
half the tank's capacity to fill
the tank.
.
The gauge goes back to empty
when the ignition is turned off.
If the vehicle ever needs a new
odometer installed, the new one will
be set to the correct mileage total of
the old odometer.
Trip Odometer
The trip odometer can show how far
the vehicle has been driven since
the trip odometer was last set
to zero.
When the ignition is on, the fuel
gauge shows about how much fuel
the vehicle has left in the tank.
5-11
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
5-12
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Instruments and Controls
Engine Coolant
Temperature Gauge
If the vehicle has been operating
under normal driving conditions, pull
off the road, stop the vehicle and
turn off the engine as soon as
possible.
See Engine Overheating on
page 10‑20.
Safety Belt Reminders
This cycle may continue several
times if the driver remains or
becomes unbuckled while the
vehicle is moving.
If the driver safety belt is buckled,
neither the light nor the chime
comes on.
Passenger Safety Belt
Reminder Light
Driver Safety Belt Reminder
Light
There is a driver safety belt
reminder light on the instrument
panel cluster.
This gauge shows the engine
coolant temperature.
If the indicator on the gauge
moves towards the shaded area on
the thermostat, it means that the
engine coolant has overheated.
When the vehicle is started, this
light flashes and a chime may come
on to remind the driver to fasten
their safety belt. Then the light stays
on solid until the belt is buckled.
When the vehicle is started, this
light flashes and a chime may come
on to remind front passengers to
fasten their safety belt. Then the
light stays on solid until the belt is
buckled.
For more information see
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator
on page 5‑14.
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Instruments and Controls
This cycle continues several times if
the front passenger remains or
becomes unbuckled while the
vehicle is moving.
If the front passenger safety belt is
buckled, neither the chime nor the
light comes on.
The front passenger safety belt
reminder light and chime may turn
on if an object is put on the seat
such as a briefcase, handbag,
grocery bag, laptop, or other
electronic device. To turn off the
reminder light and/or chime, remove
the object from the seat or buckle
the safety belt.
5-13
Airbag Readiness Light
The system checks the airbag's
electrical system for possible
malfunctions. If the light stays on it
indicates there is an electrical
problem. The system check includes
the airbag sensor(s), passenger
sensing system, the pretensioners,
the airbag modules, the wiring, and
the crash sensing and diagnostic
module. For more information on the
airbag system, see Airbag System
on page 3‑19.
The airbag readiness light comes on
solid for a few seconds when the
engine is started. If the light does
not come on then, have it fixed
immediately.
{ WARNING
If the airbag readiness light stays
on after the vehicle is started or
comes on while driving, it means
the airbag system might not be
working properly. The airbags in
the vehicle might not inflate in a
crash, or they could even inflate
without a crash. To help avoid
injury, have the vehicle serviced
right away.
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5-14
Black plate (14,1)
Instruments and Controls
Then, after several more seconds,
the status indicator will light either
ON or OFF, or either the on or off
symbol to let you know the status of
the right front passenger frontal
airbag.
If there is a problem with the airbag
system, a Driver Information Center
(DIC) message can also come on.
See Airbag System Messages on
page 5‑34 for more information.
Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator
If the vehicle has the airbag status
indicator pictured in the following
illustration, then the vehicle has a
passenger sensing system for the
right front passenger position. The
passenger airbag status indicator is
on the overhead console. See
Passenger Sensing System on
page 3‑26 for important safety
information.
In addition, if the vehicle has a
passenger sensing system for the
right front passenger position, the
label on the vehicle's sun visors
refers to “ADVANCED AIRBAGS.”
United States
Canada and Mexico
When the vehicle is started, the
passenger airbag status indicator
will light ON and OFF, or the
symbols for on and off, for several
seconds as a system check. If you
are using remote start, if equipped,
to start the vehicle from a distance,
you may not see the system check.
If the word ON or the on symbol is
lit on the passenger airbag status
indicator, it means that the right
front passenger frontal airbag is
enabled (may inflate).
If the word OFF or the off symbol is
lit on the airbag status indicator, it
means that the passenger sensing
system has turned off the right front
passenger frontal airbag.
If, after several seconds, both status
indicator lights remain on, or if there
are no lights at all, there may be a
problem with the lights or the
passenger sensing system. See
your dealer for service.
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Instruments and Controls
{ WARNING
If the airbag readiness light ever
comes on and stays on, it means
that something may be wrong
with the airbag system. To help
avoid injury to yourself or others,
have the vehicle serviced right
away. See Airbag Readiness
Light on page 5‑13 for more
information, including important
safety information.
Charging System Light
This light comes on briefly when the
ignition key is turned to START, but
the engine is not running, as a
check to show it is working.
If it does not, have the vehicle
serviced by your dealer.
The light should go out once the
engine starts. If it stays on,
or comes on while driving, there
could be a problem with the
charging system. A charging system
message in the Driver Information
Center (DIC) can also appear. See
Battery Voltage and Charging
Messages on page 5‑28 for more
information. This light could indicate
that there are problems with a
generator drive belt, or that there is
an electrical problem. Have it
checked right away. If the vehicle
must be driven a short distance with
the light on, turn off accessories,
such as the radio and air
conditioner.
5-15
Malfunction
Indicator Lamp
A computer system called OBD II
(On-Board Diagnostics-Second
Generation) monitors the operation
of the vehicle to ensure emissions
are at acceptable levels, to produce
a cleaner environment. This light
comes on when the vehicle is
placed in ON/RUN, as a check to
show it is working. If it does not,
have the vehicle serviced by your
dealer. See Ignition Positions on
page 9‑24 for more information.
If the malfunction indicator lamp
comes on and stays on while the
engine is running, this indicates that
there is an OBD II problem and
service is required.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
5-16
Black plate (16,1)
Instruments and Controls
Malfunctions often are indicated by
the system before any problem is
apparent. Being aware of the light
can prevent more serious damage
to the vehicle. This system assists
the service technician in correctly
diagnosing any malfunction.
Notice: If the vehicle is
continually driven with this light
on, the emission controls might
not work as well, the vehicle fuel
economy might not be as good,
and the engine might not run as
smoothly. This could lead to
costly repairs that might not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Notice: Modifications made to the
engine, transmission, exhaust,
intake, or fuel system of the
vehicle or the replacement of the
original tires with other than
those of the same Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC) can
affect the vehicle's emission
controls and can cause this light
to come on. Modifications to
these systems could lead to
costly repairs not covered by the
vehicle warranty. This could also
result in a failure to pass a
required Emission Inspection/
Maintenance test. See
Accessories and Modifications on
page 10‑2.
This light comes on during a
malfunction in one of two ways:
Light Flashing: A misfire condition
has been detected. A misfire
increases vehicle emissions and
could damage the emission control
system on the vehicle. Diagnosis
and service might be required.
To prevent more serious damage to
the vehicle:
.
Reduce vehicle speed.
.
Avoid hard accelerations.
.
Avoid steep uphill grades.
.
If towing a trailer, reduce the
amount of cargo being hauled as
soon as it is possible.
If the light continues to flash, stop
and park the vehicle. Turn the
vehicle off, wait at least 10 seconds,
and restart the engine. If the light is
still flashing, follow the previous
steps and see your dealer for
service as soon as possible.
Light On Steady: An emission
control system malfunction has
been detected on the vehicle.
Diagnosis and service might be
required.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
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Instruments and Controls
The following may correct an
emission system malfunction:
.
.
Check that the fuel cap is fully
installed. See Filling the Tank on
page 9‑54. The diagnostic
system can determine if the fuel
cap has been left off or
improperly installed. A loose or
missing fuel cap allows fuel to
evaporate into the atmosphere.
A few driving trips with the cap
properly installed should turn the
light off.
Check that good quality fuel is
used. Poor fuel quality causes
the engine not to run as
efficiently as designed and may
cause stalling after start-up,
stalling when the vehicle is
changed into gear, misfiring,
hesitation on acceleration,
or stumbling on acceleration.
These conditions might go away
once the engine is warmed up.
5-17
If one or more of these conditions
occurs, change the fuel brand used.
It will require at least one full tank of
the proper fuel to turn the light off.
See Recommended Fuel on
page 9‑51.
If none of the above have made the
light turn off, your dealer can check
the vehicle. The dealer has the
proper test equipment and
diagnostic tools to fix any
mechanical or electrical problems
that might have developed.
Emissions Inspection and
Maintenance Programs
Some local governments may have
programs to inspect the on-vehicle
emission control equipment. For the
inspection, the emission system test
equipment is connected to the
vehicle’s Data Link
Connector (DLC).
The DLC is under the instrument
panel to the left of the steering
wheel. See your dealer if assistance
is needed.
The vehicle may not pass
inspection if:
.
The malfunction indicator lamp is
on with the engine running, or if
the light does not come on when
the ignition is turned to ON/RUN
while the engine is off. See your
dealer for assistance in verifying
proper operation of the
malfunction indicator lamp.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
5-18
.
Black plate (18,1)
Instruments and Controls
The OBD II (On-Board
Diagnostics) system determines
that critical emission control
systems have not been
completely diagnosed. The
vehicle would be considered not
ready for inspection. This can
happen if the 12-volt battery has
recently been replaced or run
down. The diagnostic system is
designed to evaluate critical
emission control systems during
normal driving. This can take
several days of routine driving.
If this has been done and the
vehicle still does not pass the
inspection for lack of OBD II
system readiness, your dealer
can prepare the vehicle for
inspection.
Brake System Warning
Light
With the ignition on, the brake
system warning light comes on
when the parking brake is set. If the
vehicle is driven with the parking
brake engaged, a chime sounds
when the vehicle speed is greater
than 5 km/h (3 mph).
The vehicle brake system consists
of two hydraulic circuits. If one
circuit is not working, the remaining
circuit can still work to stop the
vehicle. For normal braking
performance, both circuits need to
be working.
If the warning light comes on and a
chime sounds there could be a
brake problem. Have the brake
system inspected by your dealer.
This light can also come on due to
low brake fluid. See Brake Fluid on
page 10‑25 for more information.
Metric
English
This light comes on briefly when the
ignition is turned to ON/RUN. If it
does not, have it fixed so it will be
ready to warn if there is a problem.
If the light comes on while driving,
pull off the road and stop carefully.
The pedal could be harder to push
or could go closer to the floor. It can
take longer to stop. If the light is still
on, have the vehicle towed for
service. See Towing the Vehicle on
page 10‑80.
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Instruments and Controls
{ WARNING
The brake system might not be
working properly if the brake
system warning light is on.
Driving with the brake system
warning light on can lead to a
crash. If the light is still on after
the vehicle has been pulled off
the road and carefully stopped,
have the vehicle towed for
service.
Antilock Brake System
(ABS) Warning Light
For vehicles with the Antilock Brake
System (ABS), this light comes on
briefly when the engine is started.
If it does not, have the vehicle
serviced by your dealer. If the
system is working normally, the
indicator light then goes off.
If the ABS light stays on, turn the
ignition off. If the light comes on
while driving, stop as soon as it is
safely possible and turn the ignition
off. Then start the engine again to
reset the system. If the ABS light
stays on, or comes on again while
driving, the vehicle needs service.
If the regular brake system warning
light is not on, the vehicle still has
brakes, but not antilock brakes.
If the regular brake system warning
light is also on, the vehicle does not
have antilock brakes and there is a
problem with the regular brakes.
See Brake System Warning Light on
page 5‑18.
5-19
For vehicles with a Driver
Information Center (DIC), see Brake
System Messages on page 5‑28 for
all brake-related DIC messages.
Tow/Haul Mode Light
For vehicles with the Tow/Haul
Mode feature, this light comes on
when the Tow/Haul Mode has been
activated.
For more information, see Tow/Haul
Mode on page 9‑35.
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5-20
Black plate (20,1)
Instruments and Controls
StabiliTrak® OFF Light
This light comes on briefly while
starting the engine.
If it does not, have the vehicle
serviced by your dealer. If the
system is working normally, the
indicator light then goes off.
If the StabiliTrak/TCS system is off,
the system does not assist in
controlling the vehicle. Turn on the
StabiliTrak/TCS system and the
indicator light turns off.
See StabiliTrak® System on
page 9‑39, and Ride Control System
Messages on page 5‑32 for more
information.
Traction Control System
(TCS)/StabiliTrak® Light
If the light comes on and stays on
while driving, and a message
displays in the Driver Information
Center (DIC), have the vehicle
serviced by the dealer. See Ride
Control System Messages on
page 5‑32 for more information.
If the light flashes while driving, this
means that StabiliTrak or TCS is
assisting in controlling the vehicle.
See StabiliTrak® System on
page 9‑39 for more information.
Tire Pressure Light
Press and release the Traction
Control System (TCS)/StabiliTrak
button to turn off TCS, and a
message displays in the DIC.
Press and briefly hold the TCS/
StabiliTrak button to turn off the
StabiliTrak system; the StabiliTrak
Off light comes on and a message
appears in the Driver Information
Center (DIC).
The TCS/StabiliTrak light comes on
briefly when the engine is started.
If the light does not come on or
stays on, have the vehicle serviced
by the dealer. If the system is
working normally, the indicator light
turns off.
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.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (21,1)
Instruments and Controls
When the Light Is On Steady
Engine Oil Pressure Light
This indicates that one or more of
the tires are significantly
underinflated.
A Driver Information Center (DIC)
tire pressure message may also
display. See Vehicle Messages on
page 5‑28 for more information.
Stop as soon as possible, and
inflate the tires to the pressure value
shown on the Tire and Loading
Information label. See Tire Pressure
on page 10‑49 for more information.
When the Light Flashes First and
Then Is On Steady
If the light flashes for about a minute
and then stays on, there may be a
problem with the TPMS. If the
problem is not corrected, the light
will come on at every ignition cycle.
See Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation on page 10‑52 for more
information.
{ WARNING
Do not keep driving if the oil
pressure is low. The engine can
become so hot that it catches fire.
Someone could be burned. Check
the oil as soon as possible and
have the vehicle serviced.
Notice: Lack of proper engine oil
maintenance can damage the
engine. The repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Always follow the maintenance
schedule for changing engine oil.
5-21
This light comes on briefly while
starting the engine. If it does not,
have the vehicle serviced by your
dealer. If the system is working
normally, the indicator light then
goes off.
If the light comes on and stays on, it
means that oil is not flowing through
the engine properly. The vehicle
could be low on oil and it might
have some other system problem.
Security Light
The security light should come on
briefly as the engine is started. If the
system is working normally, the
indicator light turns off. If it does not
come on, have the vehicle serviced
by your dealer.
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5-22
Black plate (22,1)
Instruments and Controls
If the light stays on and the engine
does not start, there could be a
problem with the theft-deterrent
system.
This light is also used to indicate the
status of the anti-theft alarm system
when the ignition is turned off. The
light will flash rapidly if the alarm
system is arming and one or more
of the monitored entry points is not
closed. The light will stay on if the
alarm is arming and all entry points
are closed.
For information regarding this light
and the vehicle's security system,
see Anti-theft Alarm System on
page 2‑16.
High-Beam On Light
The light goes out when the fog
lamps are turned off. See Fog
Lamps on page 6‑8 for more
information.
Lamps On Reminder
This light comes on when the
high-beam headlamps are in use.
See Headlamp High/Low-Beam
Changer on page 6‑5 for more
information.
Front Fog Lamp Light
The front fog lamp light comes on
when the fog lamps are in use.
This light comes on whenever the
parking lamps are on.
See Exterior Lamp Controls on
page 6‑1 for more information.
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Instruments and Controls
Cruise Control Light
Information Displays
Operation and Displays
Driver Information
Center (DIC)
The DIC has different displays
which can be accessed by pressing
the DIC buttons located on the
instrument panel, next to the
steering wheel.
Your vehicle has a Driver
Information Center (DIC).
The cruise control light comes on
whenever the cruise control is set.
The light goes out when the cruise
control is turned off. See Cruise
Control on page 9‑43 for more
information.
5-23
The DIC displays information about
your vehicle. It also displays
warning messages if a system
problem is detected. The DIC also
allows some features to be
customized. See Vehicle
Personalization on page 5‑36 for
more information.
All messages will appear in the DIC
display located in the center of the
instrument panel cluster.
The DIC comes on when the ignition
is on. After a short delay, the DIC
will display the information that was
last displayed before the engine
was turned off.
The DIC displays trip, fuel, and
vehicle system information, and
warning messages if a system
problem is detected. A digital
speedometer also appears at the
bottom of the DIC display. The
digital speedometer can be
enabled or disabled. See “DISPLAY
DIGITAL SPEED” under Vehicle
Personalization on page 5‑36 for
more information.
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5-24
Black plate (24,1)
Instruments and Controls
DIC Buttons
3 (Trip/Fuel):
Press to display
the odometer, trip odometer, fuel
range, average economy, fuel used,
timer, transmission temperature,
instantaneous economy, and
average vehicle speed. The
compass and outside air
temperature will also be shown in
the display. The temperature will be
shown in °C or °F depending on the
units selected.
T (Vehicle Information):
The buttons are the trip/fuel, vehicle
information, customization, and set/
reset buttons. The button functions
are detailed in the following pages.
Press
to display the oil life, units, tire
pressure readings for vehicles with
the Tire Pressure Monitor System
(TPMS), compass zone setting, and
compass recalibration.
U (Customization):
Press to
customize the feature settings
on the vehicle. See Vehicle
Personalization on page 5‑36 for
more information.
V (Set/Reset): Press to set or
reset certain functions and to turn
off or acknowledge messages on
the DIC.
Trip/Fuel Menu Items
3 (Trip/Fuel):
Press to scroll
through the following menu items:
Odometer
Press the trip/fuel button until
ODOMETER displays. This display
shows the distance the vehicle has
been driven in either kilometers (km)
or miles (mi).
To switch between English and
metric measurements, see “Units”
later in this section.
Trip Odometer
Press the trip/fuel button until TRIP
displays. This display shows the
current distance traveled in either
kilometers (km) or miles (mi) since
the last reset for the trip odometer.
The trip odometer can be reset to
zero by pressing the set/reset
button while the trip odometer is
displayed.
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Fuel Range
Average Economy
Press the trip/fuel button until FUEL
RANGE displays. This display
shows the approximate number of
remaining kilometers (km) or
miles (mi) the vehicle can be driven
without refueling. The display will
show LOW if the fuel level is low.
Press the trip/fuel button until
AVERAGE ECONOMY displays.
This display shows the approximate
average liters per 100 kilometers
(L/100 km) or miles per gallon
(mpg). This number is calculated
based on the number of L/100 km
(mpg) recorded since the last time
this menu item was reset. To reset
AVERAGE ECONOMY, press and
hold the set/reset button.
The fuel range estimate is based on
an average of the vehicle's fuel
economy over recent driving history
and the amount of fuel remaining in
the fuel tank. This estimate will
change if driving conditions change.
For example, if driving in traffic and
making frequent stops, this display
may read one number, but if the
vehicle is driven on a freeway, the
number may change even though
the same amount of fuel is in the
fuel tank. This is because different
driving conditions produce different
fuel economies. Generally, freeway
driving produces better fuel
economy than city driving. Fuel
range cannot be reset.
Fuel Used
Press the trip/fuel button until
FUEL USED displays. This display
shows the number of liters (L) or
gallons (gal) of fuel used since the
last reset of this menu item. To reset
the fuel used information, press and
hold the set/reset button while FUEL
USED is displayed.
Timer
Press the trip/fuel button until
TIMER displays. This display can
be used as a timer.
5-25
To start the timer, press the set/
reset button while TIMER is
displayed. The display will show the
amount of time that has passed
since the timer was last reset, not
including time the ignition is off.
Time will continue to be counted as
long as the ignition is on, even if
another display is being shown on
the DIC. The timer will record
up to 99 hours, 59 minutes and
59 seconds (99:59:59) after which
the display will return to zero.
To stop the timer, press the set/reset
button briefly while TIMER is
displayed.
To reset the timer to zero, press and
hold the set/reset button while
TIMER is displayed.
Transmission Temperature
Press the trip/fuel button until
TRANS TEMP displays. This
display shows the temperature of
the automatic transmission fluid in
either degrees Celsius (°C) or
degrees Fahrenheit (°F).
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Instantaneous Economy
If your vehicle has this display,
press the trip/fuel button until INST
ECON displays. This display shows
the current fuel economy at a
particular moment and will change
frequently as driving conditions
change. This display shows the
instantaneous fuel economy in liters
per 100 kilometers (L/100 km) or
miles per gallon (mpg). Unlike
average economy, this screen
cannot be reset.
The display may also show if the
vehicle is currently in V4, V6 or
V8 mode. See Active Fuel
Management® on page 9‑30 for
more information.
Average Vehicle Speed
Press the trip/fuel button until
AVERAGE SPEED displays. This
display shows the average speed in
kilometers per hour (km/h) or miles
per hour (MPH).
Blank Display
This display shows no information.
Vehicle Information Menu
Items
T (Vehicle Information): Press
to scroll through the following menu
items:
Oil Life
Press the vehicle information button
until OIL LIFE REMAINING
displays. This display shows an
estimate of the oil's remaining useful
life. If you see 99% OIL LIFE
REMAINING on the display, that
means 99% of the current oil life
remains. The engine oil life system
will alert you to change the oil on a
schedule consistent with your
driving conditions.
When the remaining oil life is low,
the CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message will appear on the display.
See “CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON”
under Engine Oil Messages on
page 5‑30. You should change the
oil as soon as you can. See Engine
Oil on page 10‑8. In addition to the
engine oil life system monitoring the
oil life, additional maintenance is
recommended in the Maintenance
Schedule in this manual. See
Maintenance Schedule on
page 11‑3 for more information.
Remember, you must reset the OIL
LIFE display yourself after each oil
change. It will not reset itself. Also,
be careful not to reset the OIL LIFE
display accidentally at any time
other than when the oil has just
been changed. It cannot be reset
accurately until the next oil change.
To reset the engine oil life system,
see Engine Oil Life System on
page 10‑10.
Units
Press the vehicle information button
until UNITS displays. This display
allows you to select between metric
or English units of measurement.
Once in this display, press the set/
reset button to select between
METRIC or ENGLISH units.
All of the vehicle information will
then be displayed in the unit of
measurement selected.
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5-27
Tire Pressure
Battery Voltage
Oil Pressure
On vehicles with the Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS), the
pressure for each tire can be viewed
in the DIC. The tire pressure will be
shown in either kilopascals (kPa) or
pounds per square inch (psi). Press
the vehicle information button until
the DIC displays FRONT
TIRES kPa (PSI) LEFT ##
RIGHT ##. Press the vehicle
information button again until the
DIC displays REAR TIRES kPa
(PSI) LEFT ## RIGHT ##.
This display shows the current
battery voltage. If the voltage is in
the normal range, the value will
display. For example, the display
may read BATTERY VOLTAGE
13 VOLTS. If the voltage is low, the
display will show LOW. If the
voltage is high, the display will show
HIGH. Your vehicle's charging
system regulates voltage based on
the state of the battery. The battery
voltage may fluctuate when viewing
this information on the DIC. This is
normal. See Charging System Light
on page 5‑15 for more information.
If there is a problem with the battery
charging system, the DIC will
display a message. See Battery
Voltage and Charging Messages on
page 5‑28.
This display will show the oil
pressure in either kilopascals (kPa)
or pounds per square inch (psi).
If a low tire pressure condition is
detected by the system while
driving, a message advising you to
add air in a specific tire will appear
in the display. See Tire Pressure on
page 10‑49 and Tire Messages on
page 5‑34 for more information.
If the tire pressure display shows
dashes instead of a value, there
may be a problem with your vehicle.
If this consistently occurs, see your
dealer for service.
Compass Zone Setting
This display allows for setting the
compass zone. See Compass on
page 5‑5 for more information.
Compass Recalibration
This display allows for calibrating
the compass. See Compass on
page 5‑5 for more information.
Blank Display
This display shows no information.
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Vehicle Messages
Messages displayed on the DIC
indicate the status of the vehicle or
some action may be needed to
correct a condition. Multiple
messages may appear one after
another.
The messages that do not require
immediate action can be
acknowledge and cleared by
pressing any DIC button.
The messages that require
immediate action cannot be cleared
until that action is performed.
All messages should be taken
seriously and clearing the message
does not correct the problem.
The following are the possible
messages and some information
about them.
Battery Voltage and
Charging Messages
BATTERY LOW START
VEHICLE
When the vehicle’s battery is
severely discharged, this message
will display and four chimes
will sound. Start the vehicle
immediately. If the vehicle is not
started and the battery continues to
discharge, the climate controls,
heated seats, and audio systems
will shut off and the vehicle may
require a jump start. These systems
will function again after the vehicle
is started.
SERVICE BATTERY
CHARGING SYSTEM
On some vehicles, this message
displays if there is a problem with
the battery charging system. Under
certain conditions, the charging
system light may also turn on in the
instrument panel cluster. See
Charging System Light on
page 5‑15. Driving with this
problem could drain the battery.
Turn off all unnecessary
accessories. Have the electrical
system checked as soon as
possible. See your dealer.
Brake System Messages
SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM
This message displays along with
the brake system warning light if
there is a problem with the brake
system. See Brake System Warning
Light on page 5‑18. If this message
appears, stop as soon as possible
and turn off the vehicle. Restart the
vehicle and check for the message
on the DIC display. If the message
is still displayed or appears again
when you begin driving, the brake
system needs service as soon as
possible. See your dealer.
SERVICE BRAKES SOON
This message displays if there is a
problem with the brake system.
If this message appears, stop as
soon as possible and turn off the
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vehicle. Restart the vehicle and
check for the message on the DIC
display. If the message is still
displayed or appears again when
you begin driving, the brake system
needs service. See your dealer.
Door Ajar Messages
DRIVER DOOR OPEN
This message displays and a chime
sounds if the driver door is not fully
closed and the vehicle is shifted out
of P (Park). Stop and turn off the
vehicle, check the door for
obstructions, and close the door
again. Check to see if the message
still appears on the DIC.
HOOD OPEN
This message displays and a chime
sounds if the hood is not fully
closed. Stop and turn off the
vehicle, check the hood for
obstructions, and close the hood
again. Check to see if the message
still appears on the DIC.
LEFT REAR DOOR OPEN
This message displays and a chime
sounds if the driver side rear door is
not fully closed and the vehicle is
shifted out of P (Park). Stop and turn
off the vehicle, check the door for
obstructions, and close the door
again. Check to see if the message
still appears on the DIC.
PASSENGER DOOR OPEN
This message displays and a chime
sounds if the front passenger door
is not fully closed and the vehicle is
shifted out of P (Park). Stop and turn
off the vehicle, check the door for
obstructions, and close the door
again. Check to see if the message
still appears on the DIC.
RIGHT REAR DOOR OPEN
This message displays and a chime
sounds if the passenger side rear
door is not fully closed and the
vehicle is shifted out of P (Park).
5-29
Stop and turn off the vehicle, check
the door for obstructions, and close
the door again. Check to see if the
message still appears on the DIC.
Engine Cooling System
Messages
ENGINE HOT A/C (Air
Conditioning) TURNED OFF
This message displays when the
engine coolant becomes hotter than
the normal operating temperature.
See Engine Coolant Temperature
Gauge on page 5‑12. To avoid
added strain on a hot engine,
the air conditioning compressor
automatically turns off. When the
coolant temperature returns to
normal, the air conditioning
compressor turns back on. You can
continue to drive your vehicle.
If this message continues to appear,
have the system repaired by your
dealer as soon as possible to avoid
damage to the engine.
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ENGINE OVERHEATED IDLE
ENGINE
ENGINE OVERHEATED STOP
ENGINE
Notice: If you drive the vehicle
while the engine is overheating,
severe engine damage may
occur. If an overheat warning
appears on the instrument panel
cluster and/or DIC, stop the
vehicle as soon as possible.
See Engine Overheating on
page 10‑20 for more information.
Notice: If you drive the vehicle
while the engine is overheating,
severe engine damage may
occur. If an overheat warning
appears on the instrument panel
cluster and/or DIC, stop the
vehicle as soon as possible.
See Engine Overheating on
page 10‑20 for more information.
This message displays when the
engine coolant temperature is too
hot. Stop and allow the vehicle to
idle until it cools down. See Engine
Coolant Temperature Gauge on
page 5‑12.
This message displays and a chime
sounds if the engine cooling system
reaches unsafe temperatures for
operation. Stop and turn off the
vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so
to avoid severe damage. This
message clears when the engine
has cooled to a safe operating
temperature.
See Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode on page 10‑22 for
information on driving to a safe
place in an emergency.
Engine Oil Messages
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
This message displays when the
engine oil needs to be changed.
When you change the engine oil, be
sure to reset the CHANGE ENGINE
OIL SOON message. See Engine
Oil Life System on page 10‑10 for
information on how to reset the
message. See Engine Oil on
page 10‑8 and Maintenance
Schedule on page 11‑3 for more
information.
ENGINE OIL HOT IDLE
ENGINE
This message displays when the
engine oil becomes hotter than the
normal operating temperature. Stop
and allow the vehicle to idle until it
cools down. See Engine Coolant
Temperature Gauge on page 5‑12.
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OIL PRESSURE LOW STOP
ENGINE
Notice: If you drive the vehicle
while the engine oil pressure is
low, severe engine damage may
occur. If a low oil pressure
warning appears on the Driver
Information Center (DIC), stop the
vehicle as soon as possible. Do
not drive the vehicle until the
cause of the low oil pressure is
corrected. See Engine Oil on
page 10‑8 for more information.
This message displays if low oil
pressure levels occur. Stop the
vehicle as soon as safely possible
and do not operate it until the cause
of the low oil pressure has been
corrected. Check the oil as soon as
possible and have the vehicle
serviced by your dealer. See Engine
Oil on page 10‑8.
5-31
Engine Power Messages
Fuel System Messages
ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED
FUEL LEVEL LOW
This message displays and a chime
sounds when the cooling system
temperature gets too hot and the
engine further enters the engine
coolant protection mode. See
Engine Overheating on page 10‑20
for further information.
This message displays and a chime
sounds if the fuel level is low. Refuel
as soon as possible. See Fuel
Gauge on page 5‑11 and Fuel on
page 9‑50 for more information.
This message also displays when
the engine power is reduced.
Reduced engine power can affect
the vehicle's ability to accelerate.
If this message is on, but there
is no reduction in performance,
proceed to your destination. The
performance may be reduced the
next time the vehicle is driven. The
vehicle may be driven at a reduced
speed while this message is on, but
acceleration and speed may be
reduced. Anytime this message
stays on, the vehicle should be
taken to your dealer for service as
soon as possible.
This message may display along
with the check engine light on the
instrument panel cluster if the fuel
cap is not tightened properly. See
Malfunction Indicator Lamp on
page 5‑15. Reinstall the fuel cap
fully. See Filling the Tank on
page 9‑54. The diagnostic system
can determine if the fuel cap has
been left off or improperly installed.
A loose or missing fuel cap
allows fuel to evaporate into the
atmosphere. A few driving trips with
the cap properly installed should
turn this light and message off.
TIGHTEN GAS CAP
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Instruments and Controls
Key and Lock Messages
REPLACE BATTERY IN
REMOTE KEY
This message displays if a Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter
battery is low. The battery needs to
be replaced in the transmitter. See
“Battery Replacement” under
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation on page 2‑3.
Lamp Messages
TURN SIGNAL ON
This message displays and a chime
sounds if a turn signal is left on for
1.2 km (0.75 mile). Move the turn
signal/multifunction lever to the off
position.
Object Detection System
Messages
PARKING ASSIST BLOCKED
SEE OWNERS MANUAL
This message displays if there is
something interfering with the park
assist system. See Ultrasonic
Parking Assist on page 9‑45 for
more information.
PARKING ASSIST OFF
After the vehicle has been started,
this message displays to remind the
driver that the Ultrasonic Rear
Parking Assist (URPA) system has
been turned off. Press the set/reset
button to acknowledge this message
and clear it from the DIC display. To
turn the URPA system back on, see
Ultrasonic Parking Assist on
page 9‑45.
SERVICE PARKING ASSIST
This message displays if there is a
problem with the Ultrasonic Rear
Parking Assist (URPA) system. Do
not use this system to help you
park. See Ultrasonic Parking Assist
on page 9‑45 for more information.
See your dealer for service.
Ride Control System
Messages
SERVICE STABILITRAK
If your vehicle has StabiliTrak and
this message displays, it means
there may be a problem with the
StabiliTrak system. If you see this
message, try to reset the system.
Stop; turn off the engine for at least
15 seconds; then start the engine
again. If this message still comes
on, it means there is a problem. You
should see your dealer for service.
The vehicle is safe to drive,
however, you do not have the
benefit of StabiliTrak, so reduce
your speed and drive accordingly.
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SERVICE SUSPENSION
SYSTEM
This message displays when the
Road Sensing Suspension (RSS)
system is not operating properly.
Have your vehicle serviced by your
dealer.
SERVICE TRACTION
CONTROL
If your vehicle has StabiliTrak, this
message displays when there is a
problem with the Traction Control
System (TCS). When this message
displays, the system will not limit
wheel spin. Adjust your driving
accordingly. See your dealer for
service. See StabiliTrak® System on
page 9‑39 for more information.
STABILITRAK INITIALIZING
If the vehicle has StabiliTrak, this
message may come on if the
StabiliTrak system has not fully
initialized because of road
conditions or the incorrect tire size.
When the StabiliTrak system is fully
initialized, the message will turn off.
See StabiliTrak® System on
page 9‑39 for more information.
If this message continues to be
displayed for multiple ignition cycles
and on different road surfaces, see
your dealer for service.
STABILITRAK OFF may also
display when the stability control
has been automatically disabled.
There are several conditions that
can cause this message to appear.
.
One condition is overheating,
which could occur if StabiliTrak
activates continuously for an
extended period of time.
.
The message also displays if the
brake system warning light is on.
See Brake System Warning
Light on page 5‑18.
.
The message could display if the
stability system takes longer
than usual to complete its
diagnostic checks due to driving
conditions.
.
The message displays if an
engine or vehicle related
problem has been detected and
the vehicle needs service. See
your dealer.
TRACTION XX
STABILITRAK XX
This message displays when the
traction control and/or StabiliTrak
systems have been turned on or off.
Adjust your driving accordingly.
To limit wheel spin and realize
the full benefits of the stability
enhancement system, you should
normally leave StabiliTrak on.
However, you should turn
StabiliTrak off if the vehicle gets
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow
and you want to rock the vehicle to
attempt to free it, or if you are
driving in extreme off-road
conditions and require more wheel
spin. See If the Vehicle Is Stuck on
page 9‑15. To turn the StabiliTrak
system on or off, see StabiliTrak®
System on page 9‑39.
5-33
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Instruments and Controls
The message turns off as soon as
the conditions that caused the
message to be displayed are no
longer present.
Airbag System Messages
SERVICE AIR BAG
This message displays if there is a
problem with the airbag system.
Have your dealer inspect the
system for problems. See Airbag
Readiness Light on page 5‑13 and
Airbag System on page 3‑19 for
more information.
Anti-theft Alarm System
Messages
SERVICE THEFT DETERRENT
SYSTEM
This message displays when there
is a problem with the theft-deterrent
system. The vehicle may or may not
restart so you may want to take the
vehicle to your dealer before turning
off the engine. See Immobilizer
Operation on page 2‑17 for more
information.
Tire Messages
SERVICE TIRE MONITOR
SYSTEM
On vehicles with the Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS), this
message displays if a part on the
TPMS is not working properly. The
tire pressure light also flashes and
then remains on during the same
ignition cycle. See Tire Pressure
Light on page 5‑20. Several
conditions may cause this message
to appear. See Tire Pressure
Monitor Operation on page 10‑52 for
more information. If the warning
comes on and stays on, there may
be a problem with the TPMS. See
your dealer.
TIRE LEARNING ACTIVE
On vehicles with the Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS), this
message displays when the TPMS
is re-learning the tire positions on
your vehicle. The tire positions must
be re-learned after rotating the tires
or after replacing a tire or sensor.
See Tire Inspection on page 10‑55,
Tire Rotation on page 10‑55, Tire
Pressure Monitor System on
page 10‑51, and Tire Pressure on
page 10‑49 for more information.
TIRE LOW ADD AIR TO TIRE
On vehicles with the Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS), this
message displays when the
pressure in one or more of the
vehicle's tires needs to be checked.
This message also displays LEFT
FRT (left front), RIGHT FRT (right
front), LEFT RR (left rear),
or RIGHT RR (right rear) to indicate
the location of the low tire. The low
tire pressure warning light will also
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come on. See Tire Pressure Light
on page 5‑20. You can receive more
than one tire pressure message at a
time. To read the other messages
that may have been sent at the
same time, press the set/reset
button or the trip odometer reset
stem. If a tire pressure message
appears on the DIC, stop as soon
as you can. Have the tire pressures
checked and set to those shown on
the Tire Loading Information label.
See Tires on page 10‑44, Vehicle
Load Limits on page 9‑16, and Tire
Pressure on page 10‑49. The DIC
also shows the tire pressure values.
See “DIC Operation and Displays
(With DIC Buttons)” earlier in this
section.
Transmission Messages
MANUAL SHIFT
This message displays when the
automatic transmission is in manual
mode. See Manual Mode on
page 9‑34 for more information.
TRANSMISSION HOT IDLE
ENGINE
Notice: If you drive the vehicle
while the transmission fluid is
overheating and the transmission
temperature warning is displayed
on the instrument panel cluster
and/or DIC, you can damage the
transmission. This could lead to
costly repairs that would not be
covered by the warranty. Do not
drive the vehicle with overheated
transmission fluid or while the
transmission temperature
warning is displayed.
This message displays along with
four chimes if the transmission fluid
in the vehicle gets hot. Driving with
the transmission fluid temperature
high can cause damage to the
vehicle. Stop the vehicle and let it
idle to allow the transmission to
cool. This message clears and
the chime stops when the fluid
temperature reaches a safe level.
5-35
Vehicle Reminder
Messages
ICE POSSIBLE DRIVE
WITH CARE
This message displays when ice
conditions are possible.
Washer Fluid Messages
WASHER FLUID LOW ADD
FLUID
This message displays when the
windshield washer fluid is low. Fill
the windshield washer fluid reservoir
as soon as possible. See Engine
Compartment Overview on
page 10‑6 for the location of the
windshield washer fluid reservoir.
Also, see Washer Fluid on
page 10‑23 for more information.
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Vehicle
Personalization
Your vehicle may have
customization capabilities that allow
you to program certain features to
one preferred setting. Customization
features can only be programmed to
one setting on the vehicle and
cannot be programmed to a
preferred setting for two different
drivers.
All of the customization options may
not be available on your vehicle.
Only the options available will be
displayed on the DIC.
The default settings for the
customization features were set
when your vehicle left the factory,
but may have been changed from
their default state since then.
The customization preferences are
automatically recalled.
To change customization
preferences, use the following
procedure.
Entering the Feature
Settings Menu
1. Turn the ignition on and place
the vehicle in P (Park).
To avoid excessive drain on the
battery, it is recommended that
the headlamps are turned off.
Press the customization button until
the PRESS V TO DISPLAY IN
ENGLISH screen appears on the
DIC display. Press the set/reset
button once to display all DIC
messages in English.
DISPLAY LANGUAGE
2. Press the customization button
to scroll through the available
customizable options.
This feature allows you to select
the language in which the DIC
messages will appear.
Feature Settings Menu Items
Press the customization button until
the DISPLAY LANGUAGE screen
appears on the DIC display. Press
the set/reset button once to access
the settings for this feature. Then
press the customization button to
scroll through the following settings:
The following are customization
features that allow you to program
settings to the vehicle:
DISPLAY IN ENGLISH
This feature will only display if a
language other than English has
been set. This feature allows you to
change the language in which the
DIC messages appear to English.
ENGLISH (default): All messages
will appear in English.
DEUTSCH: All messages will
appear in German.
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Instruments and Controls
ITALIANO: All messages will
appear in Italian.
FRANCAIS: All messages will
appear in French.
ESPANOL: All messages will
appear in Spanish.
ARABIC: All messages will appear
in Arabic.
CHINESE: All messages will
appear in Chinese.
NO CHANGE: No change will be
made to this feature. The current
setting will remain.
To select a setting, press the set/
reset button while the desired
setting is displayed on the DIC.
AUTO DOOR LOCK
This feature allows you to select
when the vehicle's doors will
automatically lock. See Automatic
Door Locks on page 2‑8 for more
information.
Press the customization button until
AUTO DOOR LOCK appears on the
DIC display. Press the set/reset
button once to access the settings
for this feature. Then press the
customization button to scroll
through the following settings:
SHIFT OUT OF PARK (default):
The doors, including the tailgate, will
automatically lock when the vehicle
is shifted out of P (Park).
AT VEHICLE SPEED: The
doors, including the tailgate, will
automatically lock when the vehicle
speed is above 8 mph (13 km/h) for
three seconds.
NO CHANGE: No change will be
made to this feature. The current
setting will remain.
To select a setting, press the set/
reset button while the desired
setting is displayed on the DIC.
5-37
AUTO DOOR UNLOCK
This feature allows you to select
whether or not to turn off the
automatic door unlocking feature.
It also allows you to select which
doors and when the doors will
automatically unlock. See Automatic
Door Locks on page 2‑8 for more
information.
Press the customization button until
AUTO DOOR UNLOCK appears on
the DIC display. Press the set/reset
button once to access the settings
for this feature. Then press the
customization button to scroll
through the following settings:
OFF: None of the doors will
automatically unlock.
DRIVER AT KEY OUT: Only the
driver door will unlock when the key
is taken out of the ignition.
DRIVER IN PARK: Only the driver
door will unlock when the vehicle is
shifted into P (Park).
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
5-38
Black plate (38,1)
Instruments and Controls
ALL AT KEY OUT: All of the doors,
including the tailgate, will unlock
when the key is taken out of the
ignition.
ALL IN PARK (default): All of the
doors, including the tailgate, will
unlock when the vehicle is shifted
into P (Park).
NO CHANGE: No change will be
made to this feature. The current
setting will remain.
To select a setting, press the set/
reset button while the desired
setting is displayed on the DIC.
REMOTE DOOR LOCK
This feature allows you to select the
type of feedback you will receive
when locking the vehicle with the
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter. You will not receive
feedback when locking the vehicle
with the RKE transmitter if the doors
are open. See Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) System Operation on
page 2‑3 for more information.
Press the customization button until
REMOTE DOOR LOCK appears on
the DIC display. Press the set/reset
button once to access the settings
for this feature. Then press the
customization button to scroll
through the following settings:
OFF: There will be no feedback
when you press the lock button on
the RKE transmitter.
LIGHTS ONLY: The exterior lamps
will flash when you press the lock
button on the RKE transmitter.
HORN ONLY: The horn will sound
on the second press of the lock
button on the RKE transmitter.
HORN & LIGHTS (default): The
exterior lamps will flash when you
press the lock button on the RKE
transmitter, and the horn will sound
when the lock button is pressed
again within five seconds of the
previous command.
NO CHANGE: No change will be
made to this feature. The current
setting will remain.
To select a setting, press the set/
reset button while the desired
setting is displayed on the DIC.
REMOTE DOOR UNLOCK
This feature allows you to select the
type of feedback you will receive
when unlocking the vehicle with the
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter. You will not receive
feedback when unlocking the
vehicle with the RKE transmitter if
the doors are open. See Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation on page 2‑3 for more
information.
Press the customization button until
REMOTE DOOR UNLOCK appears
on the DIC display. Press the set/
reset button once to access the
settings for this feature. Then press
the customization button to scroll
through the following settings:
LIGHTS OFF: The exterior lamps
will not flash when you press the
unlock button on the RKE
transmitter.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (39,1)
Instruments and Controls
5-39
power door lock switch twice. See
Delayed Locking on page 2‑8 for
more information.
is dark enough outside. This
happens after the key is turned from
ON/RUN to LOCK/OFF.
To select a setting, press the set/
reset button while the desired
setting is displayed on the DIC.
Press the customization button until
DELAY DOOR LOCK appears on
the DIC display. Press the set/reset
button once to access the settings
for this feature. Then press the
customization button to scroll
through the following settings:
Press the customization button until
EXIT LIGHTING appears on the DIC
display. Press the set/reset button
once to access the settings for
this feature. Then press the
customization button to scroll
through the following settings:
DELAY DOOR LOCK
OFF: There will be no delayed
locking of the vehicle's doors.
OFF: The exterior lamps will not
turn on.
ON (default): The doors will not
lock until five seconds after the last
door or the tailgate is closed.
30 SECONDS (default): The
exterior lamps will stay on for
30 seconds.
NO CHANGE: No change will be
made to this feature. The current
setting will remain.
1 MINUTE: The exterior lamps will
stay on for 1 minute.
LIGHTS ON (default): The exterior
lamps will flash when you press
the unlock button on the RKE
transmitter.
NO CHANGE: No change will be
made to this feature. The current
setting will remain.
This feature allows you to select
whether or not the locking of the
vehicle's doors and tailgate will be
delayed. When locking the doors
and tailgate with the power door
lock switch and a door or the
tailgate is open, this feature will
delay locking the doors and tailgate
until five seconds after the last door
is closed. You will hear three chimes
to signal that the delayed locking
feature is in use. The key must be
out of the ignition for this feature to
work. You can temporarily override
delayed locking by pressing the
To select a setting, press the set/
reset button while the desired
setting is displayed on the DIC.
2 MINUTES: The exterior lamps will
stay on for 2 minutes.
EXIT LIGHTING
NO CHANGE: No change will be
made to this feature. The current
setting will remain.
This feature allows you to select
the amount of time you want the
exterior lamps to remain on when it
To select a setting, press the set/
reset button while the desired
setting is displayed on the DIC.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
5-40
Black plate (40,1)
Instruments and Controls
APPROACH LIGHTING
This feature allows you to select
whether or not to have the exterior
lamps turn on briefly during low light
periods after unlocking the vehicle
using the Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) transmitter.
Press the customization button until
APPROACH LIGHTING appears on
the DIC display. Press the set/reset
button once to access the settings
for this feature. Then press the
customization button to scroll
through the following settings:
OFF: The exterior lamps will not
turn on when you unlock the vehicle
with the RKE transmitter.
ON (default): If it is dark enough
outside, the exterior lamps will turn
on briefly when you unlock the
vehicle with the RKE transmitter.
The lamps will remain on for
20 seconds or until the lock button
on the RKE transmitter is pressed,
or the vehicle is no longer off. See
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation on page 2‑3 for
more information.
NO CHANGE: No change will be
made to this feature. The current
setting will remain.
To select a setting, press the set/
reset button while the desired
setting is displayed on the DIC.
AUTO HIGH BEAMS
If your vehicle has this feature, it
allows you to select to have the
IntelliBeam system turned off or on.
See Exterior Lamp Controls on
page 6‑1 for more information.
Press the customization button until
AUTO HIGH BEAMS appears on
the DIC display. Press the set/reset
button once to access the settings
for this feature. Then press the
customization button to scroll
through the following settings:
OFF (default): The IntelliBeam
system will be turned off.
ON: The IntelliBeam system will be
turned on.
NO CHANGE: No change will be
made to this feature. The current
setting will remain.
To select a setting, press the set/
reset button while the desired
setting is displayed on the DIC.
CHIME VOLUME
This feature allows you to select the
volume level of the chime.
Press the customization button until
CHIME VOLUME appears on the
DIC display. Press the set/reset
button once to access the settings
for this feature. Then press the
customization button to scroll
through the following settings:
NORMAL: The chime volume will
be set to a normal level.
LOUD: The chime volume will be
set to a loud level.
NO CHANGE: No change will be
made to this feature. The current
setting will remain.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (41,1)
Instruments and Controls
There is no default for chime
volume. The volume will stay at the
last known setting.
OFF (default): Neither outside
mirror will be tilted down when the
vehicle is shifted into R (Reverse).
To select a setting, press the set/
reset button while the desired
setting is displayed on the DIC.
DRIVER MIRROR: The driver
outside mirror will be tilted down
when the vehicle is shifted into
R (Reverse).
PARK TILT MIRRORS
This feature allows you to select
whether or not the outside mirror(s)
will automatically tilt down when the
vehicle is shifted into R (Reverse).
See Power Mirrors on page 2‑19 for
more information.
Press the customization button until
PARK TILT MIRRORS appears on
the DIC display. Press the set/reset
button once to access the settings
for this feature. Then press the
customization button to scroll
through the following settings:
PASSENGER MIRROR: The
passenger outside mirror will be
tilted down when the vehicle is
shifted into R (Reverse).
BOTH MIRRORS: The driver and
passenger outside mirrors will be
tilted down when the vehicle is
shifted into R (Reverse).
NO CHANGE: No change will be
made to this feature. The current
setting will remain.
To select a setting, press the set/
reset button while the desired
setting is displayed on the DIC.
5-41
EASY EXIT RECALL
If your vehicle has this feature, it
allows you to select your preference
for the automatic easy exit seat
feature. See Memory Seats on
page 3‑5 for more information.
Press the customization button until
EASY EXIT RECALL appears on
the DIC display. Press the set/reset
button once to access the settings
for this feature. Then press the
customization button to scroll
through the following settings:
DOOR BUTTON ONLY: No
automatic seat exit recall will occur.
The recall will only occur after
pressing the easy exit seat button.
BUTTON AND KEY OUT
(default): If the features are
enabled through the EASY EXIT
SETUP menu, the driver seat will
move back, and the power steering
column will move up when the key
is removed from the ignition or after
pressing the easy exit seat button.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
5-42
Black plate (42,1)
Instruments and Controls
The automatic easy exit seat
movement will only occur one time
after the key is removed from the
ignition. If the automatic movement
has already occurred, and you put
the key back in the ignition and
remove it again, the seat and
steering column will stay in the
original exit position, unless a
memory recall took place prior to
removing the key again.
NO CHANGE: No change will be
made to this feature. The current
setting will remain.
Press the customization button until
EASY EXIT SETUP appears on the
DIC display. Press the set/reset
button once to access the settings
for this feature. Then press the
menu up/down button to scroll
through the following settings:
OFF: No automatic seat exit will
recall.
SEAT ONLY: The driver seat will
recall.
TILT ONLY: The steering wheel tilt
feature will recall.
To select a setting, press the set/
reset button while the desired
setting is displayed on the DIC.
SEAT & TILT (default): The driver
seat and the steering wheel tilt will
recall.
EASY EXIT SETUP
NO CHANGE: No change will be
made to this feature. The current
setting will remain.
If your vehicle has this feature, it
allows you to select which areas will
recall with the automatic easy exit
seat feature. It also allows you to
turn off the automatic easy exit
feature. See Memory Seats on
page 3‑5 and “EASY EXIT RECALL”
earlier for more information.
To select a setting, press the set/
reset button while the desired
setting is displayed on the DIC.
MEMORY SEAT RECALL
This feature allows you to select
your preference for the remote
memory seat recall feature. See
Memory Seats on page 3‑5 for more
information.
Press the customization button until
MEMORY SEAT RECALL appears
on the DIC display. Press the set/
reset button once to access the
settings for this feature. Then press
the customization button to scroll
through the following settings:
OFF (default): No remote memory
seat recall will occur.
ON: The driver seat, and on some
vehicles, the outside mirrors will
automatically move to the stored
driving position when the unlock
button on the Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE) transmitter is pressed. On
some vehicles with the adjustable
throttle and brake pedal feature, the
pedals will also automatically move.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (43,1)
Instruments and Controls
NO CHANGE: No change will be
made to this feature. The current
setting will remain.
To select a setting, press the set/
reset button while the desired
setting is displayed on the DIC.
REMOTE START
If your vehicle has this feature, it
allows you to turn the remote start
off or on. The remote start feature
allows you to start the engine from
outside of the vehicle using the
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter. See Remote Vehicle
Start on page 2‑5 for more
information.
Press the customization button until
REMOTE START appears on the
DIC display. Press the set/reset
button once to access the settings
for this feature. Then press the
customization button to scroll
through the following settings:
OFF: The remote start feature will
be disabled.
ON (default): The remote start
feature will be enabled.
NO CHANGE: No change will be
made to this feature. The current
setting will remain.
To select a setting, press the set/
reset button while the desired
setting is displayed on the DIC.
DISPLAY DIGITAL SPEED
This feature allows you to enable or
disable the digital speedometer on
the DIC.
Press the customization button until
DISPLAY DIGITAL SPEED appears
on the DIC display. Press the set/
reset button once to access the
settings for this feature. Then press
the customization button to scroll
through the following settings:
OFF: The digital speedometer will
be disabled.
ON (default): The digital
speedometer will be enabled.
5-43
NO CHANGE: No change will be
made to this feature. The current
setting will remain.
To select a setting, press the set/
reset button while the desired
setting is displayed on the DIC.
FACTORY SETTINGS
This feature allows you to set all of
the customization features back to
their factory default settings.
Press the customization button until
FACTORY SETTINGS appears on
the DIC display. Press the set/reset
button once to access the settings
for this feature. Then press the
customization button to scroll
through the following settings:
RESTORE ALL (default): The
customization features will be set to
their factory default settings.
DO NOT RESTORE: The
customization features will not be
set to their factory default settings.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
5-44
Black plate (44,1)
Instruments and Controls
To select a setting, press the set/
reset button while the desired
setting is displayed on the DIC.
EXIT FEATURE SETTINGS
This feature allows you to exit the
feature settings menu.
Press the customization button until
PRESS V TO EXIT FEATURE
SETTINGS appears in the DIC
display. Press the set/reset button
once to exit the menu.
If you do not exit, pressing the
customization button again will
return you to the beginning of the
feature settings menu.
Exiting the Feature
Settings Menu
The feature settings menu will be
exited when any of the following
occurs:
.
The vehicle is no longer in
ON/RUN.
.
The trip/fuel or vehicle
information DIC buttons are
pressed.
.
The end of the feature settings
menu is reached and exited.
.
A 40 second time period has
elapsed with no selection made.
Universal Remote
System
See Radio Frequency Statement on
page 13‑21 for information
regarding Part 15 of the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC)
rules and Industry Canada
Standards RSS-GEN/210/220/310.
Universal Remote System
Programming
Vehicles with the Universal Remote
System will have these buttons
located in the headliner.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (45,1)
Instruments and Controls
This system provides a way to
replace up to three remote control
transmitters used to activate
devices such as garage door
openers, security systems, and
home automation devices.
Do not use this system with any
garage door opener that does not
have the stop and reverse feature.
This includes any garage door
opener model manufactured before
April 1, 1982.
Read the instructions completely
before attempting to program the
transmitter. Because of the steps
involved, it may be helpful to have
another person assist with
programming the transmitter.
Be sure to keep the original remote
control transmitter for use in other
vehicles, as well as for future
programming. Only the original
remote control transmitter is needed
for Fixed Code programming.
5-45
The programmed buttons should be
erased when the vehicle is sold or
the lease ends. See “Erasing
Universal Home Remote Buttons” in
this section.
Park the vehicle outside of the
garage when programming a garage
door. Be sure that people and
objects are clear of the garage door
or gate that is being programmed.
Programming Universal Home
Remote — Rolling Code
To program up to three devices:
1. From inside the vehicle, press
the two outside buttons at the
same time for one to
two seconds, and immediately
release them.
For questions or help programming
the Universal Home Remote
System, call 1-866-572-2728 or go
to www.learcar2u.com.
Most garage door openers sold
after 1996 are Rolling Code units.
Programming a garage door opener
involves time-sensitive actions, so
read the entire procedure before
starting. Otherwise, the device will
time out and the procedure will have
to be repeated.
2. In the garage, locate the garage
door opener receiver
(motor-head unit). Find the
“Learn” or “Smart” button.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
5-46
Black plate (46,1)
Instruments and Controls
It can usually be found where
the hanging antenna wire is
attached to the motor-head unit
and may be a colored button.
Press this button. After pressing
this button, complete the
following steps in less than
30 seconds.
3. Immediately return to the
vehicle. Press and hold the
Universal Home Remote button
that will be used to control the
garage door until the garage
door moves. The indicator light,
above the selected button,
should slowly blink. This button
may need to be held for up to
20 seconds.
4. Immediately, within one second,
release the button when the
garage door moves. The
indicator light will blink rapidly
until programming is complete.
5. Press and release the same
button again. The garage door
should move, confirming that
programming is successful and
complete.
To program another Rolling Code
device such as an additional garage
door opener, a security device,
or home automation device, repeat
Steps 1 through 5, choosing a
different function button in Step 3
than what was used for the garage
door opener.
If these instructions do not work, the
garage door opener is probably a
Fixed Code unit. Follow the
programming instructions that follow
for a Fixed Code garage door
opener.
Programming Universal Home
Remote — Fixed Code
For questions or help programming
the Universal Home Remote
System, call 1-866-572-2728 or go
to www.learcar2u.com.
Most garage door openers sold
before 1996 are Fixed Code units.
Programming a garage door opener
involves time-sensitive actions, so
read the entire procedure before
starting. Otherwise, the device will
time out and the procedure will have
to be repeated.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (47,1)
Instruments and Controls
5-47
Your hand-held transmitter can
have between 8 to 12 dip
switches depending on the
brand of transmitter.
To program up to three devices:
1. To verify that the garage door
opener is a Fixed Code unit,
remove the battery cover on the
hand-held transmitter supplied
by the manufacturer of the
garage door opener motor.
If there is a row of dip switches
similar to the graphic above, the
garage door opener is a Fixed
Code unit. If you do not see a
row of dip switches, return
to the previous section for
Programming Universal Home
Remote — Rolling Code.
The garage door opener receiver
(motor head unit) could also
have a row of dip switches that
can be used when programming
the Universal Home Remote.
If the total number of switches
on the motor head and
hand-held transmitter are
different, or if the dip switch
settings are different, use the dip
switch settings on the motor
head unit to program the
Universal Home Remote. The
motor head dip switch settings
can also be used when the
original hand-held transmitter is
not available.
Example of Eight Dip Switches
with Two Positions
Example of Eight Dip Switches
with Three Positions
The panel of switches might not
appear exactly as they do in the
examples above, but they
should be similar.
The switch positions on the
hand-held transmitter could be
labeled as follows:
.
A switch in the up position
could be labeled as Up,
+, or On.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
5-48
Black plate (48,1)
Instruments and Controls
.
A switch in the down
position could be labeled as
Down, −, or Off.
to right, into the Universal
Home Remote, when
completing Step 4.
.
A switch in the middle
position could be labeled as
Middle, 0, or Neutral.
3. From inside your vehicle, first
firmly press all three buttons at
the same time for about
three seconds. Release the
buttons to put the Universal
Home Remote into
programming mode.
2. Write down the 8 to 12 switch
settings from left to right as
follows:
.
When a switch is in the up
position, write “Left.”
.
When a switch is in the
down position, write “Right.”
.
If a switch is set between
the up and down position,
write “Middle.”
The switch settings written
down in Step 2 now
become the button strokes
to be entered into the
Universal Home Remote in
Step 4. Be sure to enter the
switch settings written down
in Step 2, in order from left
A. Left Button (Up, +, or On)
B. Middle Button (Middle, 0,
or Neutral)
C. Right Button (Down, −,
or Off)
4. The indicator lights will blink
slowly. Enter each switch setting
from Step 2 into your vehicle's
Universal Home Remote. You
will have two and one-half
minutes to complete Step 4. Now
press one button on the
Universal Home Remote for
each switch setting as follows:
.
If you wrote “Left,” press
the left button (A) in the
vehicle.
.
If you wrote “Right,” press
the right button (C) in the
vehicle.
.
If you wrote “Middle,” press
the middle button (B) in the
vehicle.
5. After entering all of the switch
positions, once again firmly
press and release all three
buttons at the same time. The
indicator lights will turn on.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (49,1)
Instruments and Controls
6. Press and hold the button that
will be used to control the
garage door until the garage
door moves. The indicator light
above the selected button
should slowly blink. This button
may need to be held for up to
55 seconds.
7. Immediately release the button
when the garage door moves.
The indicator light will blink
rapidly until programming is
complete.
8. Press and release the same
button again. The garage door
should move, confirming that
programming is successful and
complete.
To program another Fixed Code
device such as an additional garage
door opener, a security device,
or home automation device, repeat
Steps 1-8, choosing a different
button in Step 6 than what was used
for the garage door opener.
5-49
Universal Remote System
Operation
To erase either Rolling Code or
Fixed Code settings on the
Universal Home Remote device:
Press and hold the appropriate
button for at least half of a second.
The indicator light will come on
while the signal is being transmitted.
1. Press and hold the two outside
buttons at the same time for
approximately 20 seconds, until
the indicator lights, located
directly above the buttons, begin
to blink rapidly.
Reprogramming Universal
Home Remote Buttons
Any of the three buttons can be
reprogrammed by repeating the
instructions.
Erasing Universal Home
Remote Buttons
The programmed buttons should be
erased when the vehicle is sold or
the lease ends.
2. Once the indicator lights begin to
blink, release both buttons. The
codes from all buttons will be
erased.
For help or information on the
Universal Home Remote System,
call the customer assistance phone
number under Customer Assistance
Offices (U.S. and Canada) on
page 13‑4 or Customer Assistance
Offices (Mexico) on page 13‑5.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
5-50
Black plate (50,1)
Instruments and Controls
2 NOTES
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (1,1)
Lighting
Lighting
Exterior Lighting
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . 6-1
Exterior Lamps Off
Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Headlamp High/Low-Beam
Changer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Automatic Headlamp
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Hazard Warning Flashers . . . . . 6-7
Turn and Lane-Change
Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8
Exterior Cargo Lamps . . . . . . . . . 6-8
Interior Lighting
Instrument Panel Illumination
Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-9
Dome Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-9
Reading Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-9
6-1
Exterior Lighting
Exterior Lamp Controls
Lighting Features
Entry/Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . 6-10
Battery Load Management . . . 6-10
Battery Power Protection . . . . 6-10
The exterior lamps control is located
on the instrument panel to the left of
the steering wheel.
It controls the following systems:
.
Headlamps
.
Taillamps
.
Parking Lamps
.
Instrument Panel Lights
.
License Plate Lamps
.
Rear Fog Lamps
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
6-2
Black plate (2,1)
Lighting
The exterior lamps control has four
positions:
P (Off): Turns off the automatic
headlamps and Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL). Turning the headlamp
control to the off position again will
turn the automatic headlamps and
DRL back on.
AUTO (Automatic): Automatically
turns on the headlamps at normal
brightness, together with the
following:
.
Parking Lamps
.
Instrument Panel Lights
.
Taillamps
.
License Plate Lamps
; (Parking Lamps):
Turns on the
parking lamps together with the
following:
.
Instrument Panel Lights
.
Taillamps
.
License Plate Lamps
2 (Headlamps):
Turns on the
headlamps together with the
following lamps listed below.
.
Parking Lamps
.
Instrument Panel Lights
.
Taillamps
.
License Plate Lamps
When the headlamps are turned on
while the vehicle is on, the
headlamps will turn off automatically
10 minutes after the ignition is
turned off. When the headlamps are
turned on while the vehicle is off,
the headlamps will stay on for
10 minutes before automatically
turning off to prevent the battery
from being drained. Turn the
headlamp control to off and then
back to the headlamp on position to
make the headlamps stay on for an
additional 10 minutes.
IntelliBeam® Intelligent
High-Beam Headlamp Control
System
For vehicles with this feature, be
sure to read this entire section
before using it.
IntelliBeam is an enhancement to
the vehicle's headlamp system.
Using a digital light sensor on the
rearview mirror, this system will turn
the vehicle's high-beam headlamps
on and off according to surrounding
traffic conditions.
The IntelliBeam system turns the
high-beam headlamps on when it is
dark enough, there is no other traffic
present, and the IntelliBeam system
is enabled.
Turning On and Enabling
IntelliBeam
Press and release the IntelliBeam
button on the inside rear view
mirror. The IntelliBeam indicator on
the mirror will turn on to let you
know the system has been turned
on. Once the system has been
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
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Lighting
turned on, it will remain on each
time the vehicle is started.
Additionally, the IntelliBeam system
must be enabled.
To enable the IntelliBeam system,
turn the exterior lamp control to
AUTO, with the turn signal/
multifunction lever in its neutral
position. The High-Beam On Light
will appear on the instrument panel
cluster when the high-beams are on.
.
The outside light is bright
enough that high-beam
headlamps are not required.
.
The vehicle's speed drops below
24 km/h (15 mph).
.
The headlamp stalk is moved
forward to the high-beam
position.
When either of these conditions
occur, the IntelliBeam feature
will be disabled and the
IntelliBeam light in the mirror will
turn off until the high-beam stalk
is returned to the neutral
position.
Driving with IntelliBeam
IntelliBeam will only activate your
high-beams when driving over
32 km/h (20 mph).
The high-beam headlamps will
remain on, under the automatic
control of IntelliBeam, until any of
the following situations occur:
.
.
The system detects an
approaching vehicle's
headlamps.
The system detects a preceding
vehicle's taillamps.
.
.
If IntelliBeam was using
low-beams prior to this action,
the IntelliBeam feature will be
temporarily disabled until the
stalk is returned to the neutral
position.
The exterior lamp control is
turned to any setting
except AUTO.
6-3
When this occurs, IntelliBeam
will be disabled until the control
is turned back to the AUTO
position.
.
The IntelliBeam system is turned
off at the inside rearview mirror.
IntelliBeam may not turn off the
high-beams if the system cannot
detect other vehicle's lamps
because of any of the following:
.
The others vehicle's lamp(s) are
missing, damaged, obstructed
from view or otherwise
undetected.
.
The other vehicle's lamp(s) are
covered with dirt, snow and/or
road spray.
.
The other vehicle's lamp(s)
cannot be detected due to dense
exhaust, smoke, fog, snow, road
spray, mist or other airborne
obstructions.
.
Your vehicle's windshield is dirty,
cracked or obstructed by
something that blocks the view
of the IntelliBeam light sensor.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
6-4
Lighting
.
Your vehicle's windshield is
covered with ice, dirt, haze or
other obstructions.
.
Your vehicle is loaded such that
the front end of the vehicle
points upward, causing the
IntelliBeam sensor to aim high
and not detect headlamps and
taillamps.
.
Black plate (4,1)
You are driving on winding or
hilly roads.
You may need to manually disable
or cancel the high-beam headlamps
by turning the low-beam headlamps
on, if any of the above conditions
exist.
Disabling and Resetting
IntelliBeam at the Rearview Mirror
IntelliBeam can be disabled by
using the controls on the inside
rearview mirror.
AUTO 3 (On/Off): To disable the
system, press this button on the
inside rearview mirror. The
IntelliBeam indicator will turn off and
will not come back on until the
IntelliBeam button is pressed again.
Cleaning the IntelliBeam Light
Sensor
(Stalk Disable): When IntelliBeam
has turned on the high-beams, pull
or push the high-beam stalk. This
will disable IntelliBeam. The
IntelliBeam indicator on the mirror
will turn off. To re-enable
IntelliBeam, press the IntelliBeam
button on the mirror.
A different sensitivity setting is
available for dealer diagnostics.
This is done by pushing and holding
this button for 20 seconds until the
IntelliBeam indicator light flashes
three times. If you accidentally
activate this, the vehicle's setting
will automatically be reset each time
the ignition is turned off and then on
again.
The light sensor is located on the
inside of the vehicle in front of the
inside rearview mirror.
Clean the light sensor window,
periodically, using glass cleaner on
a soft cloth. Gently wipe the sensor
window. Do not spray glass cleaner
directly on the surface of the sensor
window.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
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Lighting
6-5
Exterior Lamps Off
Reminder
Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL)
If a door is open, a reminder chime
sounds when the headlamps or
parking lamps are manually turned
on and the key is out of the ignition.
To turn off the chime, turn the
headlamp switch 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 in LOCK/OFF or remains on until
the headlamp delay ends (if enabled
in the DIC). See “Exit Lighting”
under Vehicle Personalization on
page 5‑36.
When the high beams are on, this
indicator light on the instrument
panel cluster will also be on.
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can
make it easier for others to see the
front of your vehicle during the day.
Fully functional daytime running
lamps are required on all vehicles
first sold in Canada.
Flash-to-Pass
The DRL system comes on when
the following conditions are met:
Headlamp High/
Low-Beam Changer
5 3 (Headlamp High/Low
Beam Changer): To change the
headlamps from low to high beam,
push the lever toward the instrument
panel. To return to low-beam
headlamps, pull the multifunction
lever toward you. Then release it.
Use your high-beam headlamps to
signal to a driver in front that you
want to pass. It works even if the
headlamps are in the automatic
position.
.
The ignition is on.
.
The exterior lamps control is
in AUTO.
.
The transmission is not in Park.
To use it, pull the turn signal lever
toward you, then release it.
.
The light sensor determines it is
daytime.
If the headlamps are in the
automatic position or on low beam,
the high-beam headlamps turn on.
They stay on as long as the lever is
held. The high-beam indicator on
the instrument panel cluster comes
on. Release the lever to return to
normal operation.
When the DRL system is on, only
the DRL lamps are on. The
taillamps, sidemarker, 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.
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6-6
Black plate (6,1)
Lighting
To turn off the DRL lamps, turn the
exterior lamps control to the OFF
position and then release. For
vehicles first sold in Canada, the
transmission must be in the P (Park)
position before the DRL lamps can
be turned off.
in the P (Park) position, before the
automatic headlamp system can be
turned off.
Automatic Headlamp
System
When it is dark enough outside and
the headlamp switch is in AUTO,
the automatic headlamp system
turns on the headlamps along with
other lamps such as the taillamps,
sidemarker, parking lamps, roof
marker lamps, and the instrument
panel lights. The radio lights will
also be dim.
To turn off the automatic headlamp
system, turn the exterior lamps
switch to the off position and then
release. For vehicles first sold in
Canada, the transmission must be
The vehicle has a light sensor
located on the top of the instrument
panel. Do not cover this sensor or
the system will come on whenever
the ignition is on.
The system may also turn on the
headlamps when driving through a
parking garage, a tunnel, or while
driving in heavy overcast weather.
This is normal.
There is a delay in the transition
between the daytime and nighttime
operation of the Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL) and the automatic
headlamp systems so that driving
under bridges or bright overhead
street lights does not affect the
system. The DRL and automatic
headlamp system is only affected
when the light sensor sees a
change in lighting lasting longer
than the delay.
If the vehicle is started in a dark
garage, the automatic headlamp
system comes on immediately.
Once the vehicle leaves the garage,
it takes approximately one minute
for the automatic headlamp system
to change to DRL if it is light
outside. During that delay, the
instrument panel 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 on page 6‑9.
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Lighting
Hazard Warning Flashers
Turn and Lane-Change
Signals
An arrow on the instrument panel
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.
| (Hazard Warning Flashers):
Press this button located on top of
the steering column, to make the
front and rear turn signal lamps
flash on and off. This warns others
that you are having trouble. Press
again to turn the flashers off.
When the hazard warning flashers
are on, the vehicle's turn signals will
not work.
Raise or lower the lever until the
arrow starts to flash to signal a lane
change. The turn signals
automatically flash three times.
It will flash six times if the tow-haul
mode is active. Holding the turn
signal lever for more than
one second causes the turn signals
to flash until the lever is released.
6-7
The lever returns to its starting
position when it is released.
If after signaling a turn or a lane
change the arrows flash rapidly or
do not come on, a signal bulb may
be burned out.
Have the bulbs replaced. If the bulb
is not burned out, check the fuse.
See Instrument Panel Fuse Block
on page 10‑41 and Engine
Compartment Fuse Block on
page 10‑36.
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 and the message TURN
SIGNAL ON also appears in the
DIC. See Lamp Messages on
page 5‑32. To turn the chime and
message off, move the turn signal
lever to the off position.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
6-8
Black plate (8,1)
Lighting
Fog Lamps
For vehicles with fog lamps, they
can be used for better vision in
foggy or misty conditions. The
parking lamps and/or low-beam
headlamps must be on for the fog
lamps to work.
Remember, fog lamps alone will not
give off as much light as the
headlamps. Never use the fog
lamps in the dark without turning on
the headlamps.
The fog lamps will go off whenever
the high-beam headlamps come on.
When the high beams go off, the fog
lamps will come on again.
The fog lamps will be cancelled
after the ignition is turned off. To use
the fog lamps after restarting the
vehicle, press the fog lamp button
again.
The fog lamp button is located on
the left side of the instrument panel.
# (Fog Lamps): Press to turn the
fog lamps on or off. An indicator
light comes on in the instrument
panel cluster to show that the fog
lamps are on.
Some localities have laws that
require the headlamps to be on
along with the fog lamps.
Exterior Cargo Lamps
The cargo lamp can be used if more
light is needed in the cargo area of
the vehicle or in the top-box storage
units. Some vehicles will only have
a cargo lamp in the driver side
top box.
The cargo lamps come on by
turning on the interior dome lamps.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
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Lighting
Interior Lighting
Instrument Panel
Illumination Control
Dome Lamps
The dome lamps are located in the
overhead console.
They come on when any door is
opened and turn off after all the
doors are closed.
Turn the instrument panel
brightness knob located below the
dome lamp override button,
clockwise to the farthest position to
manually turn on the dome lamps.
The dome lamps remain on until the
knob is turned counterclockwise.
D (Instrument Panel
Brightness): This feature controls
the brightness of the instrument
panel lights and is located next to
the exterior lamps control.
Push the knob to extend out and
then it can be turned.
Turn the knob clockwise or
counterclockwise to brighten or dim
the instrument panel lights. Turning
the knob to the farthest clockwise
position turns on the dome lamps.
6-9
Dome Lamp Override
The dome lamp override button is
located next to the exterior lamps
control.
k (Dome Off): Press the button
in and the dome lamps remain off
when a door is opened. Press the
button again to return it to the
extended position so that the dome
lamps come on when a door is
opened.
Reading Lamps
For vehicles with front reading
lamps in the overhead console,
press the button located next to the
lamp to turn it on or off.
The vehicle may also have reading
lamps in other locations. The lamps
cannot be adjusted.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
6-10
Black plate (10,1)
Lighting
Lighting Features
Entry/Exit Lighting
The vehicle has an illuminated
entry/exit feature.
The dome lamps come on if
the E DOME OFF button is in the
extended position, when a door is
opened or the key is removed from
the ignition.
Battery Load
Management
The vehicle has Electric Power
Management (EPM) that estimates
the battery's temperature and state
of 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. If the vehicle
has a voltmeter gauge or a voltage
display on the Driver Information
Center (DIC), you may see the
voltage move 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 Driver Information
Center (DIC) message might be
displayed, such as BATTERY LOW
START VEHICLE . If this message
displays, it is recommended that the
driver reduce the electrical loads as
much as possible and restart the
vehicle. See Battery Voltage and
Charging Messages on page 5‑28.
Battery Power Protection
This feature shuts off the dome
lamps if they are left on for more
than 10 minutes when the ignition is
in LOCK/OFF. This helps to prevent
the battery from running down.
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Black plate (1,1)
Infotainment System
Infotainment
System
Introduction
Infotainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Theft-Deterrent Feature . . . . . . . 7-3
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-4
Radio
AM-FM Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-9
Satellite Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-16
Radio Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-17
Fixed Mast Antenna . . . . . . . . . 7-18
Satellite Radio Antenna . . . . . . 7-18
Audio Players
CD/DVD Player . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-18
MP3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-27
Auxiliary Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-30
Rear Seat Infotainment
Rear Seat Entertainment
(RSE) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-31
Rear Seat Audio (RSA)
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-40
Navigation
Using the Navigation
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Maps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Navigation Symbols . . . . . . . . .
Destination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Configure Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Global Positioning
System (GPS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Vehicle Positioning . . . . . . . . . .
Problems with Route
Guidance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
If the System Needs
Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Map Data Updates . . . . . . . . . . .
Database Coverage
Explanations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
7-1
Introduction
7-42
7-44
7-45
7-50
7-64
Infotainment
7-76
7-77
The navigation system includes
navigation and audio functions.
7-78
7-75
7-76
7-78
Voice Recognition
Voice Recognition . . . . . . . . . . . 7-79
Phone
Bluetooth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-81
Read this manual thoroughly to
become familiar with how the
navigation system operates.
Keeping your eyes on the road and
your mind on the drive is important
for safe driving. The navigation
system has built-in features
intended to help with this by
disabling some features when
driving. A grayed-out function is not
available when the vehicle is
moving.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
7-2
Infotainment System
All functions are available when the
vehicle is parked. Do the following
before driving:
.
.
.
Black plate (2,1)
Become familiar with the
navigation system operation,
buttons on the faceplate, and
touch-sensitive screen buttons.
Set up the audio by presetting
favorite stations, setting the
tone, and adjusting the
speakers.
Set up the navigation features,
such as entering an address or a
preset destination.
.
Set up phone numbers in
advance so they can be called
easily by pressing a single
button or a single voice
command for navigation systems
equipped with phone capability.
Use the navigation system to:
.
Plan a route.
.
Select a destination using
various methods and choices.
.
Follow turn-by-turn route and
map guidance with voice
prompts, only if permitted by
traffic laws, controls, and
conditions.
.
Receive RDS broadcast
announcements.
{ WARNING
Taking your eyes off the road too
long or too often while using the
navigation system could cause a
crash and you or others could be
injured or killed. Focus your
attention on driving and limit
glances at the moving map on the
navigation screen. Use voice
guidance whenever possible.
Always be alert and obey traffic
and roadway laws and instructions,
regardless of the guidance from the
navigation system. Because the
navigation system uses street map
information that does not include all
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (3,1)
Infotainment System
traffic restrictions or the latest road
changes, it may suggest using a
road that is now closed for
construction or a turn that is
prohibited by signs at the
intersection. Always evaluate
whether following the system's
directions is safe and legal for the
current conditions.
When the navigation system is
turned on, a screen may appear
with information that must be read
and acknowledged before accessing
some navigation features.
After acknowledging the start up
information, the NAV (Navigation)
and DEST (Destination) functions
are accessible. Information can now
be entered or deleted, and other
functions accessed. See
instructions later in this section.
Every 50 times the vehicle is started
and the navigation system is turned
on, the Caution screen appears.
After reading the caution, select OK
to load the map DVD information.
If OK is not selected, all control
buttons except for NAV (Navigation)
and DEST (Destination) can be
accessed.
7-3
When getting started, set your
preferences or delete information in
the navigation system using various
options.
Theft-Deterrent Feature
TheftLock® is designed to
discourage theft of the vehicle's
radio by learning a portion of the
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
The radio does not operate if it is
stolen or moved to a different
vehicle.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
7-4
Black plate (4,1)
Infotainment System
Overview
A.
B.
O / n (Power/Volume)
Z (Eject)
C. Mark Touch Screen Button
D.
0 (Zoom In) Touch Screen
Button
E. Map Scale
F.
North Up/Heading Up Symbol
G. No GPS Symbol
H. Full map Touch Screen Button
I.
Source (AM, FM, XM, CD, etc.)
J.
Clock Touch Screen Button
K. POI (Point of Interest) Touch
Screen Button
L.
1 (Zoom Out) Touch Screen
Button
M. Auxiliary Jack
N.
y / © or ¨ / z (Seek/Scan)
Key (Previous/Next)
O.
P.
w (Tuning) Knob
y / z (Scan Up/Down)
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Black plate (5,1)
Infotainment System
Q. AUDIO
R. FAV (Favorite)
S.
T.
5 (Phone)
e (Sound)
U. CONFIG (Configure)
V.
DEST (Destination)
W. RPT (Repeat)
X. NAV (Navigation)
Language — English/Metric
To change the language of the
navigation screens or to change the
navigation screens from English or
metric, see Driver Information
Center (DIC) on page 5‑23 for more
information.
Deleting Personal Information
This navigation system can record
and store personal information such
as names and addresses. Delete
this information when selling your
vehicle or returning a leased
vehicle. See “Edit Address
Book — Edit/View” under Configure
Menu on page 7‑64 for deleting
information from the address book.
Limit Features While Driving
The navigation system may have
this feature.
Touch the Limit Features While
Driving screen button to turn the
ability to limit functions on and off
while driving. When this screen
button is highlighted, the following
functions are limited while driving:
.
Music Navigator Scrolling
.
Radio Category Scrolling
.
Navigation Menu Scrolling and
some functions
See “Category” under AM-FM Radio
on page 7‑9 for more information.
See “From Map” under Destination
on page 7‑50 for more information.
Some functions will remain limited
regardless of the setting.
7-5
Storing Radio Station Presets
To set preset radio stations, do the
following:
1. Press
O to turn the system on.
2. Press AUDIO and select the
desired band (AM, FM, or XM (if
equipped)).
3. Use the w (tuning) knob, y /
©, or ¨ / z (Seek) arrows to
tune to the desired station.
4. Press and hold one of the five
preset screen buttons, at the
bottom of the screen, until a
beep is heard.
5. Repeat the steps for each
preset.
See “Storing Radio Station Presets”
under AM-FM Radio on page 7‑9 for
more information.
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7-6
Black plate (6,1)
Infotainment System
Setting the Clock
The navigation system time and the
analog clock operate independently.
Changing the time through the
navigation system does not change
the time on the analog clock. See
Clock on page 5‑7 to change the
analog clock time.
To set the time for the navigation
system:
1. Press CONFIG to enter the
configure menu options, then
press CONFIG again, repeatedly
until the time is selected or touch
the time screen button.
2. Press the Hours and
Minutes − and + to decrease or
to increase the time.
See “Setting the Clock” under
Configure Menu on page 7‑64 for
more information.
Entering an Address and Point
of Interest, and Storing Preset
Destinations
Entering an Address
Enter a destination by inputting the
city name first:
1. Press
O to turn the system on.
2. A caution may appear. Press OK
to proceed.
3. Press DEST.
4. Press
2 (Address Entry).
5. Select the state/province screen
button, if needed, to change the
current state or province. A list
of all of the available states and
provinces appear. Select the
state or province.
6. Once a state or province has
been selected the City name
category is automatically
selected for entry.
If five or fewer names are
available, a list displays. If
more than five are available, the
List screen button displays a
number. This number represents
the number of available cities.
Press this button to view the list
and select a city.
7. Once a city has been selected
the Street name category is
automatically selected for entry.
If five or fewer streets are
available for the selected city,
the system displays the list of
streets. If more than five streets
are available the system
displays the alpha keyboard.
Start entering the street name.
If five or fewer names are
available, a list displays. If
more than five are available, the
List screen button displays a
number. This button represents
the number of available streets.
Select this button to view the list
and select a street.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (7,1)
Infotainment System
8. Once a street has been
selected, select the House #
screen button to enter the house
number. The system displays the
house number range that is
available for the street.
9. Press GO. A map screen, with
the destination marked appears.
10. Select the route preference
for Fastest, Shortest, or Other.
The system calculates and
highlights the route.
11. Press Start Guidance. You are
now ready to start your route.
See “Address Entry” under
Destination on page 7‑50 for more
information.
Entering a Point of Interest (POI)
To set a destination by entering a
Point of Interest (POI), do the
following:
1. Press
O to turn the system on.
2. A caution may appear. Press OK
to proceed.
3. Press DEST.
4. Press
i Point of Interest.
5. Select the state/province screen
button, if needed, to change the
current state or province. A list
of all of the available states and
provinces appear. Select the
state or province.
6. Enter the specific title of the POI
in the POI name space (e.g.
Washington Monument).
If five or fewer names are
available, a list displays. If more
than five are available, the List
screen button displays a
number. This button represents
the number of available POIs.
Press this button to view the list.
7-7
9. Press Start Guidance. The route
is now ready to be started.
See “Point of Interest (POI)” under
Destination on page 7‑50 for more
information.
Storing Preset Destinations
1. Press
O to turn the system on.
2. A caution may appear. Press OK
to proceed.
3. Press DEST.
Enter a destination. See
Destination on page 7‑50 for
more information on how to
enter a destination.
7. Press GO next to the POI.
A map screen, with the
destination marked appears.
4. Press DEST, the Route screen
displays. Press Final Destination
or Stopover. The information
screen displays for that location.
Press Add to Address Book. The
address book screen appears.
8. Select the route preference for
Fastest, Shortest, or Other. The
system calculates and highlights
the route.
5. Press the Name screen button.
An alpha-keyboard displays.
Enter the name. Press the Back
screen button.
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6. Press and hold one of the
screen buttons at the bottom of
the screen until the name
appears in the screen button on
the display.
The name appears in that preset
destination screen button and is
now available to select from the
Destination Entry screen. See
“Using Your Stored Preset
Destinations” in this section to
select it as a destination.
See Destination on page 7‑50
for more information on how to
add or change preset
destinations.
Using Your Stored Preset
Destinations
These destinations are available for
selection while driving.
1. Press
O to turn the system on.
2. A caution may appear. Press OK
to proceed.
3. Press DEST.
4. Select one of the available
preset destination screen
buttons. A map screen, with the
destination marked appears.
5. Select the route preference for
Fastest, Shortest, or Other. The
system calculates and highlights
the route.
6. Press Start Guidance. The route
is now ready to be started.
See “Preset Destination” under
Destination on page 7‑50 for more
information.
Canceling Guidance
Guidance is canceled once the final
destination is reached. To cancel
guidance prior to arrival at the final
destination:
1. Press DEST.
2. Press Cancel Guidance.
3. Press OK to confirm.
Guidance Volume
Adjust the volume of voice guidance
prompts:
1. Press CONFIG to enter the
menu options, then press
CONFIG again, repeatedly until
Nav is selected or press the Nav
screen button.
2. Press Voice Prompt.
3. Press + or – screen buttons to
increase or to decrease the
volume of the voice prompts.
The system responds with the
adjusted voice level.
See “Voice Prompt ” under
Configure Menu on page 7‑64 for
more information.
Cleaning the Display Screen
Use a soft clean cotton cloth
dampened with clean water.
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Radio
AM-FM Radio
Notice: Before adding any sound
equipment to the vehicle, such
as an audio system, CD player,
CB radio, mobile telephone,
or two-way radio, make sure that
it can be added by checking with
your dealer. Also, check federal
rules covering mobile radio and
telephone units. If sound
equipment can be added, it is
very important to do it properly.
Added sound equipment can
interfere with the operation of the
vehicle's engine, radio, or other
systems, and even damage them.
The vehicle's systems can
interfere with the operation of
sound equipment that has been
added.
Notice: The chime signals related
to safety belts, parking brake, and
other functions of the vehicle
operate through the navigation
system. If that equipment is
replaced or additional equipment
is added to the vehicle, the
chimes may not work. Make sure
that replacement or additional
equipment is compatible with the
vehicle before installing it. See
“Accessories and Modifications”
in the vehicle's owner manual.
Playing the Radio
O / n (Power/Volume):
1. Press to turn the audio system
on and off.
2. Turn to increase or to decrease
the volume.
7-9
3. Press and hold for more than
two seconds to turn off the
navigation system, the Rear
Seat Entertainment (RSE) video
screen, and Rear Seat Audio
(RSA). If the vehicle has not
been turned off, press this knob
to turn RSE and RSA back on
and to continue playback of the
last active source.
w (Tuning Knob):
Turn to go to
the next or previous frequency or
disc track or chapter. See CD/DVD
Player on page 7‑18 or MP3 on
page 7‑27 for more information.
AUDIO: Press to display the audio
screen. Press to switch between
AM, FM, or XM, if equipped, Disc,
or AUX (Auxiliary), or press the
screen button. See CD/DVD Player
on page 7‑18, MP3 on page 7‑27,
and Auxiliary Devices on page 7‑30
for more information.
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Finding a Station
AM Source Shown, Other Sources
Similar
If viewing a map screen, press the
source screen (AM, FM, XM (if
equipped), CD, etc.) button. The
display splits between the audio
screen and the map screen. All
station-changing functions can be
performed from this screen.
FM Source Shown, Other Sources
Similar
FM Source Shown, Other Sources
Similar
If you do not want to view a split
screen or you are not on a map
screen, press AUDIO.
Category: Press the screen button,
located in the middle of the screen,
to get a list of all the selected band
stations in the area. Use the up
and down arrows to scroll the
frequencies. Press the desired
frequency.
AM/FM/XM: Press the source
(AM, FM, or XM, if equipped) screen
button or press AUDIO repeatedly
until the desired source is
highlighted.
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XM (if equipped) lists also contain a
category to select and the stations
or channels that have broadcasts
that relate to that category. For XM
(if equipped), press the left and right
arrow screen buttons to change
categories. The station information
appears on the display. See “Radio
Menu” in this section to add and
remove XM categories from the
category list. Removed categories
do not appear on the category list
screen or when the right and left
arrow category screen buttons
are used.
FM lists may also contain a
category to select if stations in the
broadcast area support Radio Data
Systems (RDS).
2 Refresh List:
Press to refresh
the list of AM or FM stations.
When viewing a map screen, the
name of the station or channel
displays.
y/©
or
¨ / z (Seek/Scan):
7-11
XM Tune Select (If Equipped)
1. To seek stations, press the up or
down arrows to go to the next or
previous station.
2. To scan stations, press and hold
either arrow for more than
two seconds. The radio goes to
a station, plays for a few
seconds, then goes to the next
station.
3. To stop scanning, press either
arrow again.
Press the AUDIO button on the
faceplate to display the audio
screen. Press again to switch
between the audio sources. Select
XM (if equipped).
While the XM audio screen is
displaying and a song is being
listened to, press Tune Select to
save that particular song.
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Del: Press the Del screen button to
del the song that is associated to
that button.
Popup Notifications: Once a song
or songs are stored, a notification
popup alerts the listener if a stored
song is playing. Press to turn
notification on or off.
Storing Radio Station Presets
This feature stores a mix of up to
30 AM, FM, and XM (if equipped)
preset stations. To store presets:
1. Press
O to turn the system on.
2. If viewing a map screen, press
AUDIO, FAV or press the source
screen button.
3. Select the band.
4.
The XM Tune Select menu displays
with options to store by the song
title or the artist's name. Up to
10 favorites by song title or artist
can be saved.
desired station, to select the
station.
5. Press and hold one of the preset
screen buttons for more than
two seconds or until a beep is
heard.
Add Song: Press to save the song
that is currently playing by the song
title.
Add Artist: Press to save the song
that is currently playing by the
artist's name.
Clear All: Press and Hold the
Clear All screen button to clear the
stored favorite songs.
y / ©, ¨ / z, or tune to the
6. Repeat the steps for each
preset.
While a notification popup alert
screen displays, press the screen
button showing the station or press
Ignore.
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Sound Menu
Setting the Tone
Digital Signal Processing (DSP)
TREBLE: Press + or − to increase
or decrease the treble. If a station is
weak or has static, decrease the
treble.
The system has Digital Signal
Processing (DSP). DSP provides a
choice of four different listening
experiences. DSP can be used
while listening to the audio system.
Not all DSP modes are available for
all source types. The type of DSP
selected is displayed on the
status line.
MID (Midrange): Press + or − to
increase or decrease the midrange.
BASS: Press + or − to increase or
decrease the bass.
Adjusting the Speakers
e (Sound): Press this key or press
CONFIG to access the Sound menu
to adjust the treble, midrange, bass,
fade, balance, and Digital Signal
Processing (DSP). The system
automatically stores audio
adjustment settings as changes
are made for each audio source
including AM, FM, XM (if equipped),
CD, and AUX.
7-13
L/R (Left/Right) (Balance): To
adjust the balance between the left
and the right speakers, press and
hold the L or R screen buttons.
Front/Rear (Fade): To adjust the
fade between the front and the rear
speakers, press and hold the Front
or Rear screen buttons.
Select from the following DSP
settings:
Normal: Adjusts the audio for
normal mode. This provides the best
sound quality for all seating
positions.
Surround (Centerpoint®):
Enables Bose® Centerpoint signal
processing that produces a
surround sound listening experience
from a CD or XM (if equipped)
stereo digital audio source.
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Centerpoint delivers five
independent audio channels
from conventional two channel
stereo recordings (not available
for AM or FM).
Radio Menu
Press the Limit Features While
Driving screen button to turn on and
off the ability to limit functions while
driving. When this screen button is
highlighted, the following functions
are limited while driving:
Driver: Adjusts the audio to give
the driver the best possible sound
quality.
Rear: Adjusts the audio to give the
rear seat occupants the best
possible sound quality.
2 CH. (Channel): Enhances
surround sound.
5.1 CH. (Channel): Gives a full
affect of surround sound listening.
This button is only available when
playing DVD video discs that
support 5.1 audio and if the RSA
is off.
Limit Features While Driving
.
Music Navigator Scrolling
.
Radio Category Scrolling
.
Navigation Menu Scrolling and
some functions
Number of Preset Pages
Press CONFIG to enter the
configure menu screen, then press
CONFIG repeatedly until Radio is
selected or press the Radio screen
button to make changes for radio
information displayed or to limit
features while driving, number of
preset pages, XM (if equipped)
categories, and Bose AudioPilot®.
Press the Number of Preset Pages
screen button to change the number
of preset pages, 1 through 6. Each
preset page can contain five preset
stations. Press the desired
numbered screen button.
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Bose AudioPilot
AudioPilot: The Bose AudioPilot
noise compensation technology.
To use AudioPilot®:
1. Press CONFIG to enter the
menu screen, then press
CONFIG repeatedly until Radio
is selected or press the Radio
screen button
2. Press Automatic Volume Control
to access the AudioPilot menu.
3. Press ON.
To turn it off, press OFF. When on,
AudioPilot continuously adjusts the
audio system equalization, to
compensate for background
noise, so that the music sound is
consistent at the set volume level.
This feature is most effective at
lower volume settings where
background noise can affect how
well the music being played is heard
through the vehicle's audio system.
At higher volume settings, where
the music is much louder than the
background noise, there may
be little or no adjustments by
AudioPilot. For more information on
AudioPilot, visit www.bose.com/
audiopilot.
Remove/Add XM Categories
(US and Canada)
Press the Remove/Add XM
Categories screen button to
remove or add XM categories when
selecting XM categories from the
category list screen. The list of XM
categories appear on the screen.
Use the arrow screen buttons
to scroll through the list. The
categories to remove are highlighted
and the categories to add are dark
in color. Press the category to be
added or removed. Press the
Restore All Categories screen
button to add all categories that
have been removed.
7-15
Radio Data System (RDS)
The audio system has a Radio Data
System (RDS). RDS features are
available for use only on FM
stations that broadcast RDS
information. With RDS, the radio
can do the following:
.
Receive announcements
concerning local and national
emergencies
.
Display messages from radio
stations
This system relies on receiving
specific information from these
stations and only works when the
information is available. In rare
cases, a radio station may
broadcast incorrect information that
causes the radio features to work
improperly. If this happens, contact
the radio station.
The RDS system is always on.
When information is broadcast from
the FM station that is playing, the
station name or call letters displays
on the audio screen.
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Satellite Radio
XM™ Radio Messages
XM™ Satellite Radio Service
XL (Explicit Language
Channels): XL on the radio display,
after the channel name, indicates
content with explicit language.
These channels, or any others, can
be blocked at a customer's request
by calling 1‐800‐929-2100.
XM™ is a satellite radio service that
is based in the 48 contiguous United
States and 10 Canadian provinces.
XM Satellite Radio has a wide
variety of programming and
commercial-free music,
coast-to-coast, and in digital-quality
sound. A service fee is required to
receive the XM service. If the
service needs to be reactivated, the
radio will display “No Subscription
Please Renew on channel XM1.”
For more information, contact XM at
www.xmradio.com or call
1-800-929-2100 in the U.S. and
www.xmradio.ca or call
1-877-438-9677 in Canada.
When XM is active, the channel
name and number, song title, and
artist displays on the screen.
XM Updating: The encryption code
in the receiver is being updated and
no action is required.
No XM signal: The vehicle is in a
location that is blocking the XM
signal. When the vehicle is moved
into an open area, the signal should
return.
Loading XM: The audio system is
processing audio and text data
received. No action is needed.
Channel Off Air: This channel is
not currently in service.
Channel Unauth: This channel is
blocked or cannot be received with
your XM Subscription package.
Channel Unavail: This previously
assigned channel is no longer
assigned.
No Artist Info: No artist
information is available. The system
is working properly.
No Title Info: No song title
information is available. The system
is working properly.
No CAT Info: No category
information is available. The system
is working properly.
CAT Not Found: There are no
channels available for the selected
category. The system is working
properly.
No Information: No text or
informational messages are
available. The system is working
properly.
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XM Theftlocked: The XM receiver
may have previously been in
another vehicle. For security
purposes, XM receivers cannot be
swapped between vehicles. If this
message is received after having
your vehicle serviced, check with
your dealer.
XM Radio ID: If tuned to channel 0,
this message will alternate with the
XM Radio eight digit radio ID label.
This label is needed to activate the
service.
Unknown: If this message is
received when tuned to channel 0,
there may be a receiver fault.
Consult with your dealer.
Check XM Receiver: If this
message does not clear within a
short period of time, the receiver
may have a fault. Consult with your
dealer.
No Subscription Please Renew:
The XM subscription needs to be
reactivated. Contact XM at
www.xmradio.com or call
1-800-929-2100.
7-17
Radio Reception
FM Stereo
Frequency interference and static
can occur during normal radio
reception if items such as cell phone
chargers, vehicle convenience
accessories, and external electronic
devices are plugged into the
accessory power outlet. If there is
interference or static, unplug the
item from the accessory power
outlet.
FM signals only reach about
16 to 65 km (10 to 40 mi). Although
the radio has a built-in electronic
circuit that automatically works to
reduce interference, some static
can occur, especially around tall
buildings or hills, causing the sound
to fade in and out.
AM
The range for most AM stations is
greater than for FM, especially at
night. The longer range can cause
station frequencies to interfere with
each other. For better radio
reception, most AM radio stations
boost the power levels during the
day, and then reduce these levels
during the night. Static can also
occur when things like storms and
power lines interfere with radio
reception. When this happens, try
reducing the treble on the radio.
XM™ Satellite Radio Service
XM Satellite Radio Service gives
digital radio reception from coast to
coast in the 48 contiguous United
States, and in Canada. Just as with
FM, tall buildings or hills can
interfere with satellite radio signals,
causing the sound to fade in and
out. In addition, traveling or standing
under heavy foliage, bridges,
garages, or tunnels may cause loss
of the XM signal for a period of time.
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Cellular Phone Usage
Cellular phone usage may cause
interference with the vehicle's radio.
This interference may occur when
making or receiving phone calls,
charging the phone's battery,
or simply having the phone on. This
interference causes an increased
level of static while listening to the
radio. If static is received while
listening to the radio, unplug the
cellular phone and turn it off.
Fixed Mast Antenna
The fixed mast antenna can
withstand most car washes without
being damaged as long as it is
securely attached to the base. If the
mast becomes slightly bent,
straighten it out by hand. If the mast
is badly bent, replace it.
Occasionally check to make sure
the antenna is tightened to its base.
If tightening is required, tighten by
hand until fully seated plus
one quarter turn.
Satellite Radio Antenna
The XM Satellite Radio antenna is
located on the roof of the vehicle.
Keep the antenna clear of
obstructions for clear radio
reception.
If the vehicle has a sunroof, the
performance of the XM system
(if equipped) may be affected if the
sunroof is open.
Audio Players
CD/DVD Player
The player can be used for CD,
MP3, and as a DVD video player.
Read this section for more
information about DVD video.
When playing an audio CD the rear
seat operator can power on the
RSE video screen and use the
remote control to navigate through
the tracks on the CD.
CD Player
While playing a CD, the navigation
system is available.
When you insert a CD, the CD tab
displays. If a DSP setting is
selected for the CD, it activates
each time you play a CD.
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If the ignition or radio is turned off
with a CD in the player, it stays in
the player. When the ignition or
radio is turned on, the CD starts
playing where it stopped, if it was
the last selected audio source.
Playing an Audio CD
7-19
r (Rewind):
1. Press and hold this screen
button to rewind quickly through
a track selection. You will hear
sound at a reduced volume.
2. Release this screen button to
stop rewinding. The display will
show the elapsed time of the
track.
As each new track starts to play, the
track number displays.
If an error appears on the display,
see “CD/DVD Messages” in this
section.
[ (Forward):
If viewing a map screen, press the
CD screen button. The display splits
between the audio screen and the
map screen. If you do not want to
view a split screen or you are not on
a map screen, press AUDIO then
press AUDIO again, repeatedly until
CD is selected or press the CD
screen button.
j / r (Pause/Play): Press to pause
the CD. This button will then change
to the play button. Press the play
button to play the CD.
Z (Eject): To eject a disc:
1. Press Z.
1. Press to hear the tracks in
random, rather than sequential,
order.
2. The system displays
“Ejecting Disc.”
2. Press Random again to turn off
random play.
Random:
1. Press and hold this screen
button to fast forward quickly
through a track selection. You
will hear sound at a reduced
volume.
2. Release this screen button to
stop fast forwarding. The display
will show the elapsed time of the
track.
y/©
or
¨ / z (Seek/Scan):
1. To seek tracks, press the up
arrow to go to the next track.
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2. Press the down arrow to go to
the start of the current track,
if more than eight seconds have
played.
3. If either arrow is pressed more
than once, the player continues
moving backward or forward
through the CD. The sound
mutes while seeking.
w (Tuning Knob):
1. Turn counterclockwise one notch
to go to the start of the current
track, turn it again to go to the
previous track.
2. Turn clockwise to go to the next
track.
Playing a DVD
DVD video does not display on the
navigation screen unless the vehicle
is in P (Park). It will operate on the
rear seat entertainment screens
while the vehicle is moving. The
Rear Seat Entertainment (RSE)
video screen starts play of the
DVD when a DVD video has been
inserted into the CD/DVD slot.
The DVD player can be controlled
by the buttons on the navigation
system, the Rear Seat Audio (RSA)
system, and the remote control. The
DVD player can also be used for the
rear seat passengers with the radio
off. The rear seat passengers can
power on the video screen and use
the remote control to navigate the
disc. See the Rear Seat
Infotainment user guide for more
information.
The DVD player is only compatible
with DVDs of the appropriate region
code that is printed on the jacket of
most DVDs.
The CD/DVD slot is compatible with
most audio CDs, CD-R, CD-RW,
DVD-Video, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/
RW media along with MP3 and
WMA formats.
If an error appears on the display,
see “CD/DVD Messages” in this
section.
Once a DVD starts to play, the
menu options and cursor screen
buttons will automatically appear.
To display the menu Options screen
button while a DVD is playing, touch
anywhere on the screen.
There are three ways to play
a DVD:
.
Once a DVD is inserted, the
system will automatically start
play of the DVD.
.
If you are on a map screen,
press the DVD screen button.
.
Press AUDIO, then press the
DVD screen button.
When a DVD is loaded, the rear
seat passengers can power on the
RSE video screen and use the
remote control to navigate through
the DVD.
O / 3 (Power/Volume):
1. Press to turn the system on
and off.
2. Turn the knob to increase or
decrease the volume of the
audio system.
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3. Press and hold for more than
two seconds to turn off the
navigation system, RSE video
screen, and RSA. If the vehicle
has not been tuned off, the RSE
and the RSA can be turned back
on by pressing this knob and will
continue play of the last active
source.
DVD Menu Options
Options: Press to view the menu
option screen buttons. Menu options
are available when they are
highlighted. Some menu options are
only available when the DVD is not
playing.
Cursor: Press to access the cursor
menu. The arrows and other cursor
options allow you to navigate the
DVD menu options. The cursor
menu options are only available if a
DVD has a menu. Use the cursor
menu to start a DVD video from the
disc main menu.
q, Q , r , R (Arrow Buttons):
Press the arrows to move around
the DVD menu.
Enter: Press to select the
highlighted option.
7-21
3. Press this button twice to return
to the beginning of the DVD.
Return: Press to go back to the
previous DVD menu.
Back: Press to go back to the main
DVD display screen.
Move: Press to move the cursor
buttons back and forth from the
bottom-right corner to the top-left
corner of the screen.
j / r (Pause/Play):
1. Press to pause the DVD. This
button will then change to the
play button.
2. Press the play button to play
the DVD.
3. Press this button in a DVD disc
main menu to start the movie.
c (Stop):
1. Press to stop play of the DVD.
2. Press the play button to continue
playing the DVD from where the
DVD was stopped.
Hide Options: Press to remove all
menu options from the display,
except Options and Cursor.
Top Menu: Press to display the
first menu of the DVD. This is not
available on all DVDs.
Menu: Press to display the DVD
menu of the current area of the DVD
that is playing. This button is not
available for DVD audio.
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Audio: Press to display the audio
options. Select the audio options
that best improve sound quality.
This is not available on all DVDs or
when the DVD is stopped. This
button is not available for DVD
audio.
Subtitle: Press to playback the
video with subtitles. This is not
available on all DVDs or when the
DVD is stopped. This button is not
available for DVD audio.
Angle: Press to adjust the viewing
angle of the DVD. Repeatedly press
this button to toggle through the
angles. This is not available on all
DVDs or when the DVD is stopped.
This button is not available for DVD
audio.
Search: Press to display the
search screen. Select Title or
Chapter Search for DVD video and
Group or Track for DVD audio. The
keyboard allows you to type in the
title/chapter/group/track number that
you would like to watch or listen to.
This button does not work when the
DVD is stopped.
Night: Press to make the
navigation screen background
brighten.
Setup: Press to display the DVD
Setup screen. This button is only
available when the DVD is not
playing. The DVD Setup screen
allows you to change the
brightness, contrast, and mode,
change the viewing on the monitor
and to change the initial settings;
language, parental level, and
aspect.
Day: Press to make the navigation
screen background darken.
! (Brightness):
Press the up or
down screen arrows to increase or
decrease the brightness of the
navigation screen.
_ (Contrast):
Press the up or
down screen arrows to increase or
decrease the contrast of the
navigation screen.
Auto (Automatic): Press so the
system can automatically adjust the
navigation screen background
depending on exterior lighting
conditions.
Monitor: From the DVD Setup
screen, press to adjust the viewing
angle of the DVD on the navigation
screen. This is not available on all
DVDs. This button is not available
for DVD audio
Press e to close the screen in from
the left and right sides.
Press J to fill the screen on the
left and right sides.
Press d to fill the screen on the
top and bottom.
Settings: From the DVD Setup
screen, press to change the
default audio, subtitle, and menu
languages, parental level, audio,
and to view the aspect of the DVD.
These settings are not available on
all DVDs. This button is not
available for DVD audio.
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Menu Language: Press English,
French, or Spanish to change the
default language of the DVD video
menus. The menu language must
be available on the disc. The menu
language may vary for each DVD.
Audio Language: Press English,
French, or Spanish to change the
default language that the DVD
player uses for each disc. The audio
language must be available on the
disc. The audio language may vary
for each DVD.
Subtitle Language: Press English,
French, or Spanish to change the
default language of the subtitles that
the DVD player uses for each disc.
The subtitle language must be
available on the disc. The subtitle
language may vary for each DVD.
Parental Level: Press to change
the rating level to only allow the play
of DVDs with a certain rating. The
rating selection is 1 through 8, with
1 Kids Safe being a G rating. If the
1 is selected, any DVD with a rating
above G will not be able to be
viewed without entering a password.
When the parental level is first
entered a keyboard will appear
on the display and a four-digit
password will need to be created.
Type in a password that you will
be able to remember. Once the
password is created, you can then
select a rating level.
If you would like to change the
rating level, press the Parental
Level button, then press the
7-23
Password button. Type in the
password and then change the
rating level.
If the password has been forgotten,
contact your dealer.
This may not be available on
all DVDs.
Aspect: Press to change the
aspect ratio of the DVD. This may
not be available on all DVDs.
y (Next Track/Chapter): Press to
go to the next track or chapter. This
button may not work when the DVD
is playing the copyright information
or the previews.
z (Previous Track/Chapter):
1. Press to return to the start of the
current track or chapter.
2. Press again to go to the
previous track or chapter. This
button may not work when the
DVD is playing the copyright
information or the previews.
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7-24
Black plate (24,1)
Infotainment System
w (Tuning Knob):
1. Turn counterclockwise one notch
to go to the start of the current
chapter/track, turn it again to go
to the previous chapter/track.
2. Turn clockwise to go to the next
chapter/track.
Care of Your CDs and DVDs
Sound quality can be reduced due
to disc quality, recording method,
quality of the music recorded, and
how the disc has been handled.
Handle discs carefully and store
them in their original cases or other
protective cases away from direct
sunlight and dust. If the bottom
surface of a disc is damaged, the
disc may not play properly or at all.
Do not touch the bottom surface of
a disc while handling it; this could
damage the surface. Pick up discs
by grasping the outer edges or the
edge of the hole and the outer edge.
If the bottom surface of a disc is
dirty, take a soft lint free cloth,
or dampen a clean soft cloth in a
mild neutral detergent solution
mixed with water, and clean it. Wipe
the disc from the center to the
outer edge.
Notice: If a label is added to a CD
or DVD, or more than one CD or
DVD is inserted into the slot at a
time, or an attempt is made to
play scratched or damaged CDs
or DVDs, the player could be
damaged. While using the CD or
DVD player, use only CDs or
DVDs in good condition without
any label, load one CD or DVD at
a time, and keep the player and
the loading slot free of foreign
materials, liquids, and debris.
Do not add any label to a CD or
DVD, it could get caught in the
player. If a CD or DVD is recorded
on a personal computer and a
description label is needed, try
labeling the top of the recorded CD
or DVD with a soft marker.
CD/DVD Messages
If Disc Read Error appears on the
display and/or the CD/DVD comes
out, it could be for one of the
following reasons:
.
If a CD was inserted with an
invalid or unknown format.
.
If a DVD is not from a correct
region.
.
It is very hot. When the
temperature returns to normal,
the CD should play.
.
You are driving on a very rough
road. When the road becomes
smoother, the CD/DVD
should play.
.
The CD/DVD is dirty, scratched,
wet, or upside down.
.
The air is very humid. If so, wait
about an hour and try again.
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.
There may have been a problem
while burning the CD/DVD.
.
The label may be caught in the
CD/DVD player.
If the CD/DVD is not playing
correctly, for any other reason, try a
known good CD/DVD.
If any error occurs repeatedly or if
an error cannot be corrected,
contact your dealer.
Connecting a USB Storage
Device or iPod®
The USB Port, located on the
instrument panel and in the center
console, can be used to control an
iPod or a USB storage device.
To avoid connection problems,
extension cords are not
recommended. Use only the cable
that came with the device.
To connect a USB storage device,
connect the device to the USB port
located on the instrument panel and
in the center console.
To connect an iPod, connect one
end of the USB cable that came
with the iPod to the iPod’s dock
connector and connect the other
end to the USB port. If the vehicle is
on and the USB connection works,
“OK to disconnect” and a GM logo
may appear on the iPod and iPod
appears on the radio's display. The
iPod music appears on the radio’s
display and begins playing.
The iPod charges while it is
connected to the vehicle if the
vehicle is in the ACC/ACCESSORY
or ON/RUN position. When the
vehicle is turned off, the iPod
automatically powers off and will not
charge or draw power from the
vehicle's battery.
7-25
USB Supported File and Folder
Structure
The guidelines that must be met
while using USB supported files and
folders are:
.
Up to 700 folders.
.
Up to 8 folders in depth.
.
Up to 65,535 files.
.
Folder and file names up to
64 bytes.
.
Files with an .mp3 or .wma file
extension.
.
AAC files stored on an iPod.
.
FAT16
.
FAT32
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Infotainment System
Using the Navigation Audio
System to Control a USB
Storage Device or iPod®
The navigation audio system can
control a USB storage device or an
iPod by using the radio touch
screens and steering wheel
controls.
3. Press or tap the left or right
arrow to select desired Category
such as: Artist, Album, Genre,
etc. A list of that category will
display.
6. Press the Back button to go
back to the previous screen.
7. Press the Exit button to go back
to the main audio screen.
1. Press AUX and then the USB
button.
4. Select an Artist, Album, or Track
from that list.
2. Press the center screen button
to enter the music navigator
main screen.
5. Press the up or down arrows
located on the side of the screen
to select one item at a time,
or press the top or bottom arrow
to jump 10 percent up or down
the list.
8. Press the left or right arrow to
select desired Category such as:
Artist, Album, Genre, etc. A list
of that category will display.
The iPod or USB storage device
should not be pulled out from the
USB dock. To safely remove it,
press Eject.
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Infotainment System
MP3
.
Maximum number of folders is
100 with a maximum hierarchy
of eight folders.
.
Create a folder structure that
makes it easy to find songs
while driving. Organize songs by
albums using one folder for each
album. Each folder or album
should contain 18 songs or
fewer.
.
It is recommended that there is a
maximum of 192 files on a disc.
.
The files can be recorded
on a CD-R or CD-RW with a
maximum capacity of 700MB.
.
DVD with MP3 are not playable
on this system.
Using an MP3 CD
MP3 Format
There are guidelines that must be
met, when creating an MP3 disc.
If the guidelines are not met when
recording a CD-R(W), the CD may
not play. The guidelines are:
.
Sampling rate: 16 kHz,
22.05 kHz, 24 kHz, 32 kHz, and
44.1 kHz.
.
Bit rates supported: 32, 40, 48,
56, 64, 80, 96, 112, 128, 160,
192, 224, 256, and 320 kbps.
.
ID3 tag information is displayed
by the radio if it is available.
The radio supports ID3 tag
information v1.0, v1.1, or v2.0.
The radio will display a filename,
song name, artist name, album
name, and directory name.
A warning message will display for a
few seconds.
.
A message to safely remove the
device displays.
Maximum 32 characters,
including spaces, in a file or
folder name.
7-27
Root Directory
The root directory is treated as a
folder. If the root directory has
compressed audio files, the
directory displays as No Folder
or ALL.
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Empty Directory or Folder
If a root directory or a folder exists
somewhere in the file structure that
contains only folders/subfolders and
no compressed files directly
beneath them, the player advances
to the next folder in the file structure
that contains compressed audio
files and the empty folder is not
displayed or numbered.
No Folder
When the CD contains only
compressed files, the files are
located under the root folder. The
next and previous folder functions
will have no function on a CD that
was recorded without folders or
playlists. When displaying the name
of the folder the radio will display No
Folder.
Order of Play
Play begins from the first track
under the root directory. When all
tracks from the root directory have
been played, play continues from
files according to their numerical
listing. After playing the last track
from the last folder, play begins
again at the first track of the first
folder or root directory.
When you insert a CD, the CD tab
displays. If a DSP setting is
selected for the CD, it will be
activated each time you play a CD.
When play enters a new folder, the
display does not automatically show
the new folder name. The new track
name appears on the display.
If you turn off the ignition or radio
with a CD in the player, it stays in
the player. When you turn on the
ignition or radio, the CD starts
playing where it stopped, if it was
the last selected audio source.
File System and Naming
The song name that displays is the
song name that is contained in the
ID3 tag. If the song name is not
present in the ID3 tag, then the
radio displays the file name without
the extension (such as .mp3) as the
track name.
As each new track starts to play, the
track number appears on the
display.
Track names longer than
32 characters or four pages are
shortened. The display does not
show parts of words on the last
page of text and the extension of
the filename does not display.
If viewing a map screen, press the
CD screen button. The display splits
between the audio screen and the
map screen. If you do not want to
view a split screen or you are not on
a map screen, press AUDIO, then
press AUDIO again, repeatedly until
CD is selected or press the CD
screen button.
Playing an MP3
While playing a CD, the navigation
system is available.
If an error appears on the display,
see “CD/DVD Messages” in this
section.
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r (Rewind):
1. Press and hold to rewind quickly
through a track selection. You
will hear sound at a reduced
volume.
2. Release to stop rewinding. The
display will show the elapsed
time of the track.
[ (Forward):
j / r (Pause/Play): Press to pause
the CD. This button will then change
to the play button. Press the play
button to play the CD.
Random:
1. Press to hear the tracks in
random, rather than sequential,
order.
2. Press Random again to turn off
random play.
1. Press and hold to fast forward
quickly through a track selection.
You will hear sound at a reduced
volume.
2. Release to stop fast forwarding.
The display shows the elapsed
time of the track.
q r (Folder/Artist/Album):
1. Select the left or right arrow to
go to the previous or next folder,
artist, or album on the disc.
2. Press the middle screen button,
with the folder, artist, or album
name, to sort the MP3 by folder,
7-29
artist, or album. It may take a
few minutes for the system to
sort the MP3.
y/©
or
¨ / z (Seek/Scan):
1. To seek tracks, press the up
arrow to go to the next track.
2. Press the down arrow to go to
the start of the current track,
if more than eight seconds have
played.
3. If either arrow is pressed more
than once, the player continues
moving backward or forward
through the CD. The sound
mutes while seeking.
w (Tuning Knob):
1. Turn counterclockwise one notch
to go to the start of the current
track, turn it again to go to the
previous track.
2. Turn clockwise to go to the next
track.
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7-30
Black plate (30,1)
Infotainment System
When playing an MP3 the rear seat
operator can power on the RSE
video screen and use the remote
control to navigate through the MP3.
Auxiliary Devices
Using the Auxiliary Input Jack
The navigation system has an
auxiliary input jack located on the
faceplate and in the center console.
This is not an audio output; do not
plug the headphone set into the
front auxiliary input jack. An external
audio device such as an iPod,
laptop computer, MP3 player, CD
player, or cassette tape player, etc.
can be connected to the auxiliary
input jack for use as another audio
source.
Drivers are encouraged to set up
any auxiliary device while the
vehicle is in P (Park). See Defensive
Driving on page 9‑3 for more
information on driver distraction.
To use a portable audio player,
connect a 1/8 in (3.5 mm) cable to
the radio's front auxiliary input jack.
When a device is connected, press
AUDIO, then press AUDIO again
until AUX is selected or press the
AUX screen button to begin playing
audio from the device over the
vehicle speakers.
Drivers are encouraged to set up
any auxiliary device while the
vehicle is in P (Park). See
Defensive Driving on page 9‑3 for
more information on driver
distraction.
For optimal sound quality, increase
the portable audio device's volume
to the loudest level.
It is always best to power the
portable audio device through its
own battery while playing.
The vehicle may have a rear
entertainment system (RSE) with a
second and third row screen. The
RSE has audio adapters to allow
you to connect auxiliary devices.
The audio can be heard through the
speakers or through the wireless or
wired headphones. See the Rear
Seat Infotainment user guide for
more information.
To switch the RSE system to use an
auxiliary device:
1. Connect the auxiliary device to
the RSE system, for the second
or third row.
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2. Press AUDIO then press AUDIO
again, repeatedly until AUX
(auxiliary) is selected or press
the AUX screen button. An
auxiliary device must be
connected for the AUX screen
button to appear as an option to
select.
3. For the second row display
select the Rear AUX screen
button next to Rear Display
1 and for the third row display
select the Rear AUX screen
button next to Rear Display 2.
Each screen works
independently of the other. The
second row screen can watch a
DVD while the third row screen
can use the auxiliary device.
The rear seat passengers can also
use the remote control to change
the functions of the RSE. See the
Rear Seat Infotainment user guide
for more information.
Rear Seat
Infotainment
Rear Seat Entertainment
(RSE) System
The vehicle may have an DVD Rear
Seat Entertainment (RSE) system.
The RSE system works with the
vehicle's audio system. The DVD
player is part of the front radio. The
RSE system includes a radio with a
DVD player, a video display screen,
audio/video jacks, two wireless
headphones, and a remote control.
See CD/DVD Player on page 7‑18
for more information on the vehicle's
DVD system.
7-31
Before Driving
The RSE is designed for rear seat
passengers only. The driver cannot
safely view the video screen while
driving and should not try to do so.
In severe or extreme weather
conditions, the RSE system might
not work until the temperature is
within the operating range. The
operating range for the RSE system
is above −20°C (−4°F) or below
60°C (140°F). If the temperature of
the vehicle is outside this range,
heat or cool the vehicle until the
temperature is within the operating
range of the RSE system.
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Parental Control
Headphones
The RSE system may have a
Parental Control feature, depending
on which radio the vehicle has. To
start Parental Control, press and
hold the radio power button for more
than two seconds to stop all system
features such as: radio, video
screen, Rear Seat Audio (RSA),
DVD, and/or CD. While Parental
Control is on, a padlock icon
displays.
The radio can be turned back on
with a single press of the power
button, but the RSE system will
remain under Parental Control.
To turn Parental Control off, press
and hold the radio power button for
more than two seconds. The RSE
returns from where it was previously
left and the padlock icon disappears
from the radio display.
Parental Control can also be turned
off by inserting or ejecting any disc,
pressing the play icon on the radio
DVD display menu, or changing an
ignition position.
A. Battery cover
B. Channel 1 or 2 switch
C. Power button
D. Volume control
E. Power indicator light
The RSE includes two 2-channel
wireless headphones that are
dedicated to this system. Channel 1
is dedicated to the video screen,
while Channel 2 is dedicated to
Rear Seat Audio (RSA) selections.
These headphones can be used to
listen to the radio, CDs, DVDs,
MP3s, DVD‐As, or any auxiliary
source connected to A/V jacks or
the auxiliary input jack, if the vehicle
has this feature. The wireless
headphones have a power button,
channel 1 or 2 switch, and a volume
control.
Push the power button to turn on
the headphones. An indicator light
located on the headphones comes
on. If the light comes on, but there
is intermittent sound and/or static on
the headphones, or if the indicator
light does not come on, the batteries
might need to be replaced. See
“Battery Replacement” later in this
section for more information. Switch
the headphones to Off when not
in use.
Infrared transmitters are located at
the rear of the overhead console.
The headphones shut off
automatically to save the battery
power if the RSE system and RSA
are shut off, or if the headphones
are out of range of the transmitters
for more than three minutes. If you
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move too far forward or step out of
the vehicle, the headphones lose
the audio signal.
To adjust the volume on the
headphones, use the volume control
located on the right side.
For optimal audio performance, the
headphones must be worn correctly.
Headphones should be worn with
the headband over the top of the
head for best audio reception. The
symbol L (Left) appears on the
outside bottom edge of the ear cup
and should be positioned on the left
ear. The symbol R (Right) appears
on the outside bottom edge of the
ear cup and should be positioned on
the right ear.
Notice: Do not store the
headphones in heat or direct
sunlight. This could damage the
headphones and repairs will not
be covered by the warranty.
Storage in extreme cold can
weaken the batteries. Keep the
headphones stored in a cool, dry
place.
If the foam ear pads attached to the
headphones become worn or
damaged, the pads can be replaced
separately from the headphone set.
To purchase replacement ear pads,
contact your dealer.
7-33
Audio/Video (A/V) Jacks
Battery Replacement
To change the batteries on the
headphones:
1. Turn the screw to loosen the
battery door located on the left
side of the headphones. Slide
the battery door open.
2. Replace the two batteries in the
compartment. Make sure that
they are installed correctly, using
the diagram on the inside of the
battery compartment.
3. Replace the battery door and
tighten the door screw.
If the headphones are to be stored
for a long period of time, remove the
batteries and keep them in a cool,
dry place.
A. Yellow: Video Input
B. White: Left Audio Input
C. Red: Right Audio Input
The A/V jacks are color coded to
match typical home entertainment
system equipment.
The A/V jacks, located on the rear
of the floor console, allow audio or
video signals to be connected from
an auxiliary device such as a
camcorder or a video game unit to
the RSE system. Adapter
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Infotainment System
connectors or cables (not included)
may be required to connect the
auxiliary device to the A/V jacks.
Refer to the manufacturer’s
instructions for proper usage.
The yellow jack (A) is for the video
input. The white jack (B) is for the
left audio input. The red jack (C) is
for the right audio input.
Power for auxiliary devices is not
supplied by the radio system.
To use the auxiliary inputs of the
RSE system, connect an external
auxiliary device to the color-coded
A/V jacks and turn both the auxiliary
device and the video screen power
on. If the video screen is in the DVD
player mode, pressing the AUX
(auxiliary) button on the remote
control switches the video screen
from the DVD player mode to the
auxiliary device. The audio of the
connected source can be listened to
over the speakers by sourcing the
radio to the auxiliary device or by
sourcing the RSA to the Rear Aux
and listening with the wireless
headphones on Channel 2 or with
the wired headphones. See “Using
the Auxiliary Input Jack” under
Auxiliary Devices on page 7‑30 for
more information about changing
the source.
Audio Output
.
Wireless headphones
How to Change the RSE Video
Screen Settings
.
Vehicle speakers
.
Vehicle‐wired headphone jacks
on the RSA system, if the
vehicle has this feature.
The screen display mode (normal,
full, and zoom), screen brightness,
and setup menu language can be
changed from the on screen setup
menu. To change any feature:
1. Press the z (display menu)
button on the remote control.
2. Use the remote control n, q,
p, o (navigation) arrows and
the r (enter) button to use the
setup menu.
3. Press the z button again to
remove the setup menu from the
screen.
Audio from the DVD player or
auxiliary inputs can be heard
through the following possible
sources:
The RSE system always transmits
the audio signal to the wireless
headphones, if there is audio
available. See “Headphones” earlier
in this section for more information.
The DVD player is capable of
outputting audio to the wired
headphone jacks on the RSA
system, if the vehicle has this
feature. The DVD player can be
selected as an audio source on the
RSA system. See Rear Seat Audio
(RSA) System on page 7‑40 for
more information.
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Infotainment System
When a device is connected to the
A/V jacks, or the radio's auxiliary
input jacks (front auxiliary jack or
the USB port), the rear seat
passengers are able to hear audio
from the auxiliary device through the
wireless or wired headphones as
long as the rear seat audio is turned
on. The front seat passengers are
able to listen to playback from this
device through the vehicle speakers
by selecting AUX as the source on
the radio.
Video Screen
The video screen is located in the
overhead console.
To use the video screen:
1. Push the release button located
on the overhead console.
2. Move the screen to the desired
position.
When the video screen is not in
use, push it up into its locked
position.
If a DVD is playing and the screen
is raised to its locked position, the
screen remains on. This is normal,
and the DVD continues to play
through the previous audio source.
Use the remote control power button
or eject the disc to turn off the
screen.
7-35
Remote Control
The overhead console contains the
infrared transmitters for the wireless
headphones and the infrared
receivers for the remote control.
They are located at the rear of the
console.
Notice: Avoid directly touching
the video screen, as damage may
occur. See “Cleaning the Video
Screens” later in this section for
more information.
To use the remote control, aim it at
the transmitter window at the rear of
the RSE overhead console and
press the desired button. Direct
sunlight or very bright light could
affect the ability of the RSE
transmitter to receive signals from
the remote control. If the remote
control does not seem to be
working, the batteries might need to
be replaced. See “Battery
Replacement” later in this section.
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Objects blocking the line of sight
could also affect the function of the
remote control.
If a CD or DVD is in the Radio DVD
slot, the remote control O (power)
button can be used to turn on the
video screen display and start the
disc. The radio can also turn on the
video screen display. See CD/DVD
Player on page 7‑18 for more
information.
Notice: Storing the remote
control in a hot area or in direct
sunlight can damage it, and the
repairs will not be covered by the
warranty. Storage in extreme cold
can weaken the batteries. Keep
the remote control stored in a
cool, dry place.
If the remote control becomes lost
or damaged, a new universal
remote control can be purchased.
If this happens, make sure the
universal remote control uses a
code set of Toshiba®.
Remote Control Buttons
r (Enter):
O (Power):
Press to turn the video
screen on and off.
Press to select the
choice that is highlighted in
any menu.
P (Illumination):
z (Display Menu):
Press to turn the
remote control backlight on. The
backlight automatically times out
after 7 to 10 seconds if no other
button is pressed while the backlight
is on.
v (Title):
Press to return the DVD
to the main menu of the DVD. This
function could vary for each disc.
y (Main Menu): Press to access
the DVD or MP3 menu. The DVD
menu is different on every DVD.
Use the navigation arrows to move
the cursor around the DVD menu.
After making a selection press the
enter button. This button only
operates when using a DVD or
MP3 disc.
n, q , p , o (Menu Navigation
Arrows): Use the arrow buttons to
navigate through a menu.
Press to adjust
the brightness, screen display mode
(normal, full, or zoom), and display
the language menu. This function
could vary for each disc.
q (Return): Press to exit the
current active menu and return to
the previous menu. This button
operates only when the display
menu or a DVD menu is active.
c (Stop):
Press to stop playing,
fast reversing, or fast forwarding a
DVD. Press this button twice to
return to the beginning of the DVD.
s (Play/Pause):
Press to start
playing a DVD. Press this button
while a DVD is playing to pause it.
Press it again to continue playing
the DVD.
While the DVD is playing, the DVD
can be played slowly by pressing
the play/pause button then pressing
the fast forward button. The DVD
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continues playing in a slow play
mode. Also, reverse can be played
slowly by pressing the play/pause
button and then pressing the fast
reverse button. To cancel slow play
mode, press the play/pause button.
t (Previous Track/Chapter):
Press to return to the start of the
current track or chapter. Press this
button again to go to the previous
track or chapter. This button might
not work when the DVD is playing
the copyright information or the
previews.
u (Next Track/Chapter): Press to
go to the beginning of the next
chapter or track. This button might
not work while the DVD is playing
the copyright information or the
previews.
r (Fast Reverse): Press to
quickly reverse the DVD or CD. To
stop fast reversing a DVD video,
press the play/pause button. To stop
fast reversing a DVD audio or CD,
release the fast reverse button. This
button might not work when the
DVD is playing the copyright
information or the previews.
[ (Fast Forward):
Press to fast
forward the DVD or CD. To stop fast
forwarding a DVD video, press the
play/pause button. To stop fast
forwarding a DVD audio or CD,
release the fast forward button. This
button might not work while the
DVD is playing the copyright
information or the previews.
e (Audio):
Press to change audio
tracks on DVDs that have this
feature when the DVD is playing.
The format and content of this
function vary for each disc.
{ (Subtitles):
Press to turn on or
off subtitles and to move through
subtitle options when a DVD is
playing. The format and content of
this function vary for each disc.
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AUX (Auxiliary): Press to switch
the system between the DVD player
and an auxiliary source. When the
front auxiliary or USB port is the
source, the remote control does not
control this source. The rear seat
audio controls must be used.
2 (Camera): Press to change
camera angles on DVDs that have
this feature while a DVD is playing.
The format and content of this
function vary for each disc.
1 through 0 (Numeric Keypad):
The numeric keypad provides the
capability of direct chapter or track
number selection.
\ (Clear):
Press within
three seconds after entering a
numeric selection, to clear all
numerical inputs.
} 10 (Double Digit Entries):
Press
to select chapter or track numbers
greater than nine. Press this button
before entering the number.
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Battery Replacement
To change the remote control
batteries:
1. Slide the rear cover back on the
remote control.
2. Replace the two batteries in the
compartment. Make sure they
are installed correctly using the
diagram on the inside of the
remote control.
3. Replace the battery cover.
If the remote control is to be stored
for a long period of time, remove the
batteries and keep them in a cool,
dry place.
Tips and Troubleshooting Chart
Problem
Recommended Action
There is no power.
The ignition might not be turned to
ON/RUN or ACC/ACCESSORY.
The picture does not fill the screen.
There are black borders on the top
and bottom or on both sides, or the
picture looks stretched out.
Check the display mode settings in
the setup menu by pressing the
display menu button on the remote
control.
In auxiliary mode, the picture moves Check the auxiliary input
or scrolls.
connections at both devices.
The remote control does not work.
Check to make sure there is no
obstruction between the remote
control and the transmitter window.
Check the batteries to make sure
they are not dead or installed
incorrectly.
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Tips and Troubleshooting Chart (cont'd)
DVD Display Error Messages
Problem
The DVD display error message
depends on the radio that is in the
vehicle. The video screen can
display one of the following:
Recommended Action
After stopping the player, and
pushing Play, sometimes the DVD
starts where it left off and
sometimes at the beginning.
If the stop button was pressed one
time, the DVD player resumes
playing where the DVD was
stopped. If the stop button was
pressed two times, the DVD player
begins to play from the beginning of
the DVD.
The auxiliary source is running, but
there is no picture or sound.
Check that the RSE video screen is
in the auxiliary source mode.
Check the auxiliary input
connections at both devices.
Sometimes the wireless headphone
audio cuts out or buzzes.
Check for obstructions, low
batteries, reception range, and
interference from cellular telephone
towers, or use a cellular telephone
in the vehicle.
Check that the headphones are on
correctly using the L (left) and
R (right) on the headphones.
The remote and/or the headphones
are lost.
See your dealer for assistance.
The DVD is playing, but there is no
picture or sound.
Check that the RSE video screen is
sourced to the DVD player.
Disc Load/Eject Error: Displays
when there are disc load or eject
problems.
Disc Format Error: Displays if the
disc is inserted with the disc label
wrong side up, or if the disc is
damaged.
Disc Region Error: Displays if the
disc is not from a correct region.
No Disc Inserted: Displays if no
disc is present when Z or DVD
AUX is pressed on the radio.
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DVD Distortion
Video distortion can occur when
operating cellular phones, scanners,
CB radios, Global Position Systems
(GPS)*, two-way radios, mobile fax
machines, or walkie talkies.
It might be necessary to turn off the
DVD player when operating one of
these devices in or near the vehicle.
®
*Excludes the OnStar System.
Cleaning the RSE Overhead
Console
When cleaning the RSE overhead
console surface, use only a clean
cloth dampened with clean water.
Cleaning the Video Screen
When cleaning the video screen,
use only a clean cloth dampened
with clean water. Use care when
directly touching or cleaning the
screen, as damage could result.
Rear Seat Audio (RSA)
System
The RSA functions can be used
even when the main radio is off.
Vehicles with this feature allow the
rear seat passengers to listen to
and control any of the music
sources: radio, CD, DVD, or other
auxiliary sources. The rear seat
passengers can control the same
music sources the front seat
passengers are listening to (dual
control) or a different source. For
example, rear seat passengers can
control and listen to a CD through
the headphones, while the driver
listens to the radio through the
speakers. The rear seat passengers
have control of the volume for each
set of headphones.
The front audio system allows the
rear speakers to continue playing
even when the RSA audio is active
through the headphones.
The radio functionality is controlled
by both the RSA and the front radio.
Only one band can be tuned to at
one time. Changing the band on the
RSA or the front radio will change
the band on the other system,
if they are both sourced to the radio.
Audio can be heard through wired
headphones (not included) plugged
into the jacks on the RSA. If your
vehicle has this feature, audio can
also be heard on Channel 2 of the
wireless headphones.
To listen to an iPod or portable
audio device through the RSA,
attach the iPod or portable audio
device to the auxiliary input (if
available), located below the RSA
system, USB port, or AUX jack.
Turn the iPod on, then choose the
front auxiliary input with the RSA
SRCE button. The iPod or portable
audio device can also be connected
to the front auxiliary jack or the
USB port.
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P (Power): Press this button to
turn the RSA on or off.
Volume: Turn this knob to increase
or to decrease the volume of the
wired headphones. The left knob
controls the left headphones and
the right knob controls the right
headphones.
SRCE (Source): Press this button
to switch between the radio (AM/
FM), XM™ (if equipped), CD, and if
the vehicle has these features,
DVD, front auxiliary Jack, USB port,
and rear auxiliary.
© ¨ (Seek): When listening to FM,
AM, or XM (if equipped), press the
seek arrows to go to the previous or
to the next station or channels and
stay there. This function is inactive,
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with some radios, if the front seat
passengers are listening to the
radio.
When a USB device is playing, the
right or left seek button can be used
to control the device.
Press and hold either seek arrow
until the display flashes, to tune to
an individual station. The display
stops flashing after the buttons have
not been pushed for more than
2 seconds. This function is inactive,
with some radios, if the front seat
passengers are listening to the
radio.
PROG (Program): Press this
button to go to the next preset radio
station or channel set on the main
radio. This function is inactive, with
some radios, if the front seat
passengers are listening to the
radio.
While listening to a disc, press the
right seek arrow to go to the next
track or chapter on the disc. Press
the left seek arrow to go back to the
start of the current track or chapter
(if more than 10 seconds have
played). This function is inactive,
with some radios, if the front seat
passengers are listening to the disc.
When a DVD video menu is being
displayed, press the left or right
seek arrow to perform a cursor up
or down on the menu. Hold the left
or right seek arrow to perform a
cursor left or right on the menu.
When a CD or DVD audio disc is
playing, press this button to go to
the beginning of the CD or DVD
audio. This function is inactive, with
some radios, if the front seat
passengers are listening to the disc.
When a disc is playing in the CD or
DVD changer, press this button to
select the next disc, if multiple discs
are loaded. This function is inactive,
with some radios, if the front seat
passengers are listening to the disc.
When a DVD video menu is being
displayed, press the PROG button
to perform the enter menu function.
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Navigation
Using the Navigation
System
This section presents basic
information needed to operate the
navigation system.
Use the buttons located on the
navigation system along with the
available touch-sensitive screen
buttons on the navigation screen to
operate the system. See Overview
on page 7‑4 for more information.
Once the vehicle is moving, various
functions are disabled to reduce
driver distractions.
Navigation Control Buttons
The following control buttons are
located on the navigation system:
O / n (Power/Volume):
1. Press to turn the system on
and off.
2. Turn to increase or decrease the
volume to the audio system.
3. Press and hold for more than
two seconds to turn off the
navigation system, the Rear
Seat Entertainment (RSE), and
Rear Seat Audio (RSA). If the
vehicle has not been tuned off,
the RSE and the RSA can be
turned back on by pressing this
knob and continues play of the
last active source.
FAV (Favorite): Press to access
the preset stations. See “Storing
Radio Station Presets” under,
Overview on page 7‑4.
5 (Phone): See OnStar Overview
on page 14‑1 (if equipped) and
Bluetooth on page 7‑81 (if
equipped) for more information.
Z (Eject):
e (Sound): Press to access the
Sound menu to adjust the treble,
midrange, bass, fade, balance, and
Digital Signal Processing (DSP).
w (Tuning Knob):
y / z (Scan Up/Down):
Press to eject the
CD/DVD Disc. See CD/DVD Player
on page 7‑18.
Turn to go to
the next or previous frequency or
disc track or chapter. See CD/DVD
Player on page 7‑18 or MP3 on
page 7‑27 for more information.
AUDIO: Press to display the audio
screen. Press to switch between
AM, FM, or XM, if equipped, DISC,
or AUX (Auxiliary), or press on the
screen button. See CD/DVD Player
on page 7‑18, MP3 on page 7‑27,
and Auxiliary Devices on page 7‑30
for more information.
Press to
scan the tracks/chapters up or down
on a disc.
y / © or ¨ / z (Seek/Scan)
(Previous/Next): Press the up or
down arrows to go to the next or
previous station. Press and hold
either arrow for more than
two seconds. The radio goes to a
station, plays for a few seconds,
then goes to the next station.
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NAV (Navigation): Press to view
the vehicle's current position on the
map screen. Each press of this
button cycles through Full Map
and the tab that displays the
current audio source (AM, FM, XM
(if equipped), CD, etc.). Full Map
displays the screen in full map view.
Selecting the audio tab splits the
screen between the map screen
and the current audio source
screen menu.
RPT (Repeat): Press to repeat the
last voice guidance prompt.
DEST (Destination): Press to
access the Destination Entry
screen. From this screen, you can
select from several options to plan a
route by entering destination points.
CONFIG (Configure): Press to
adjust several of the system's
features and preferences.
Touch-Sensitive Screen
Buttons
Touch-sensitive screen buttons are
located on the screen. When a
screen button has been selected, a
beep sounds. Screen buttons are
highlighted when a feature is
available.
Alpha-Numeric Keyboard
Letters of the alphabet, symbols,
punctuation, and numbers, when
available, displays on the navigation
screen as an alpha or numeric
keyboard. The alpha keyboard
displays when the system requires
entry of a city or street name.
All characters are touch-sensitive
screen buttons. Press a character to
select it.
A-Y (Accent Alphabet): Select to
enter letters with accent symbols.
This button may toggle to A-Z.
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A-Z (Alphabet): Select to enter
letters from the alphabet. This
button may toggle to A-Y.
0-9 (Numbers): Select to enter
numbers.
U (Space):
Select to enter a
space between characters or the
words of a name.
Backspace: Select if an incorrect
character has been entered.
To make name entries easier,
the system only highlights the
characters that can follow the last
one entered. For example, if a Z is
entered, a T may not be available
for selection.
If a name does not display after
entry, it may need to be entered
differently or the map DVD disc may
not contain that information. See
Maps on page 7‑44 for more
information.
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Maps
This section includes basic
information that you need to know
about the map database.
The maps are stored on a compact
flash drive that is built into the
navigation system.
Detailed Areas
Road network attributes are
contained in the map database for
detailed areas. Attributes include
information such as street names,
street address, turn restrictions, etc.
A detailed area includes all major
highways, service roads, and
residential roads. The detailed areas
include points of interest (POI) such
as: restaurants, airports, banks,
hospitals, police stations, gas
stations, tourist attractions, historical
monuments, etc. The map database
may not include data for newly
constructed areas or map database
corrections that are completed after
the production of the compact flash
drive. The navigation system
provides full route guidance in the
detailed map areas.
Limited Guidance Areas
Any area that is not classified as
detailed, is a limited guidance area.
Limited guidance streets are
displayed on the map but route
guidance may not be given on these
streets. Some POI categories, such
as the city center POI category, and
some street addresses are included
in the limited guidance areas.
The navigation system informs
through voice prompts when you are
traveling into a limited guidance
area where route guidance is not
available. The street maps and the
directional arrow displayed on the
navigation system can then be used
to determine the remaining route to
your destination.
Map Adjustments
The system lets you adjust the scale
of view on the map. Also, as you
drive, the map scrolls automatically
based on the direction of travel.
Map Scales
+ / − (Zoom In/Zoom Out): Press
the zoom in or out screen buttons or
the scale on the bar to change the
level of map detail. The scale
appears on the screen once the
zoom in or zoom out screen buttons
are selected. The system adjusts
the map accordingly. The scale of a
map can range from 1/32 mi (50 m)
to 256 mi (400 km). To change
English or metric, see Driver
Information Center (DIC) on
page 5‑23 for more information.
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Scrolling the Map
Press anywhere on the map screen
and the scroll symbol appears. Use
this feature to scroll across the map.
Move your finger in any direction
on the map screen and the map
continues to scroll in that direction
until you remove your finger from
the screen.
If scrolling while the vehicle is in
P (Park), the system scrolls initially
at a slower rate. It increases if you
continue pressing on the map
screen.
If scrolling while the vehicle is in
motion, there is one scroll speed
and a limited distance to scroll.
Keep pressing on the map screen to
scroll for a longer distance.
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Navigation Symbols
The following symbols are the most
common symbols that appear on a
map screen.
If you have used the scroll feature to
scroll the map and the vehicle icon
disappears off the screen, press
NAV to return to the current vehicle
location on the map.
The scroll feature on the map can
be used to set a destination. See
“From Map” under Destination on
page 7‑50 for more information.
While scrolling on the map, press
GO to calculate the route from the
current position to the
destination mark.
The vehicle is shown as this
symbol. It indicates the current
position and the direction the
vehicle is traveling on the map.
The destination symbol appears on
the map, after a route has been
planned, marking the final
destination.
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The stopover symbol displays on
the map after a stopover has been
added to the route.
The stopover symbols are
numbered one through three,
depending on how many stopovers
have been set.
The distance to destination symbol
indicates the distance to the final
destination.
This symbol appears when the time
to the destination is not available or
while you are scrolling on the map.
The distance and time to destination
symbol indicates the distance and
the estimated time remaining to the
final destination, depending on the
option selected.
The straight line to distance symbol
indicates the straight-line distance
to the destination.
This symbol appears before you
start driving on the route or if on a
road where navigation guidance
cannot be given.
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The north up symbol indicates the
map with North Up, known as North
Up mode.
While in North Up mode, the vehicle
icon follows the north direction on
the map regardless of which
direction the vehicle is traveling.
Press this screen symbol to switch
between North Up, Heading Up, and
3-D view modes.
The shaded triangle indicates the
North direction. While in Heading
Up mode the direction at the top of
the screen and the way the vehicle
icon is heading indicates the
direction the vehicle is traveling.
Press this screen symbol to switch
between Heading Up, North Up, and
3-D view modes.
Three-dimensional (3-D) view mode
changes the appearance of the map
display to a road level view.
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Press the Mark screen button to
store the location on the screen in
the address book.
The system automatically stores the
point in the address book. See
“Adding Destinations to the Address
Book” under Destination on
page 7‑50 for more information.
Displaying Points of Interest (POI)
on the Map Screen
The No GPS symbol appears when
the vehicle is acquiring or not
receiving a Global Positioning
System (GPS) satellite signal.
The heading up symbol indicates
that the vehicle is traveling up on
the map and is known as Heading
Up mode.
See Global Positioning System
(GPS) on page 7‑76 for more
information.
Select the POI screen button to
display or delete POI icons from
the map.
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Displaying POI icons on the map
shows where POIs (e.g. restaurants,
gas stations, etc.) are located. This
screen appears after selecting the
POI screen button.
3. Press the Show POI screen
button to add more POI icons.
More: Press to view more POI
categories.
Franchise Search:
1. Press to display a list of pre-set
franchise categories near the
vehicle's current location.
2. Press the desired franchise
category.
3. Press Search Selected
Categories. A list of franchises
with location information will
display.
POI Close to:
1. Select one of the POI categories
to display the POI icon at the top
of the map screen. Select the
POI category again to delete the
POI icon.
2. Up to five categories can display
on the map screen.
1. Once a category has been
selected, press this button to
display the list of available POIs
for the selected POI category.
The list provides the POI icon,
the name, the direction, and the
distance to the POI from the
vehicle's current position.
2. Use the scroll arrows to move up
and down the list.
3. Use the sorting screen buttons:
Dist (distance), Icon, Name, and
on Route as needed.
GO: Press this screen button, next
to the desired POI, to make this POI
a destination or a stopover.
Select a POI name to receive
information about the POI. From
this screen you can select:
Address Book, Go, Map, or Call
(if Bluetooth® or OnStar personal
calling is activated).
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Address Book: Press to add this
POI to the address book. See “Nav”
under Configure Menu on page 7‑64
for information on editing address
book entries.
GO: Press to make this POI a
destination or a stopover.
Map: Press to display the map
showing the location of the POI.
Call: Press to dial the phone
number using your Bluetooth®
phone (if “paired” with the vehicle)
or the OnStar Hands-Free Calling
system (if equipped). For more
information about Bluetooth calling,
see Bluetooth on page 7‑81.
List all Categories: Press to list all
POIs sorted alphabetically.
Delete: To delete a specific POI
category, select the category.
Clear All: Press this screen button
to clear all selected POI categories.
Driving on a Route
When driving on a routed
destination, the map screen
automatically displays the next
maneuver.
OK: Press to display the map
screen.
Show POI: Press to display or
remove the POI icons from the map
screen.
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The pop-up displays the next
maneuver direction and the distance
from it.
When approximately 400 m (1/4 mi)
from the next maneuver, the screen
displays the name and a detailed
view of it.
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3-D Lane Guidance
Dual Mode
Destination
Press DEST to access the
Destination Entry screen. From this
screen, you can select from several
options to plan a route by entering
destination points.
This dual screen symbol displays
when the screen is in dual mode.
Some major metropolitan areas may
include a 3-D lane guidance feature
for highway exits and junctions. This
feature gives you an enhanced
representation of the exits and
junctions on the route.
Dual mode displays the route on
half of the screen and a maneuver
or Interstate Exit list on the other
half. The Interstate Exit list advises
of approaching exits. Press this
screen button to switch between
dual screen and full screen which
displays the entire route.
Auto Reroute
When a destination is set but is off
the planned route, the system
automatically plans a new route and
begins to reroute. The new route is
highlighted on the screen.
To enter a destination, choose from
one of the following destination
entry methods:
Address Entry
2 Address Entry:
Enter either a
city or street to use the address
entry destination method.
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Enter the City Name or press the
Last 5 Cities screen button.
The Last 5 Cities screen
displays a list of the last five city
names that had been entered.
Select a city from the list and it
appears in the City name area.
To enter a destination by inputting
the city name first:
1. Press DEST.
2. Select
2 (Address Entry).
3. Select the state/province screen
button, if needed, to change the
current state or province. A list
of all of the available states and
provinces appear. Select the
state or province.
4. Once a state or province has
been selected the City name
category is automatically
selected for entry.
If using the alpha keyboard,
finish entering the city name.
If five or fewer names are
available, a list displays. If more
than five are available, the List
screen button displays a
number. This number represents
the number of available cities.
Press this button to view the list
and select a city.
5. Once a city has been selected
the Street name category is
automatically selected for entry.
Start entering the street name.
If five or fewer names are
available, a list displays. If more
than five are available, the List
screen button displays a
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number. This number represents
the number of available streets.
Press this button to view the list.
6. Once a street has been
selected, press House to enter
the house number. The system
displays the house number
range that is available for the
street.
7. Press GO. The map screen, with
the destination marked displays.
8. Select the route preference for
Fastest, Shortest, or Other. The
system calculates and highlights
the route.
9. Press Start Guidance. The route
is now ready to be started.
See “Getting Started on Your
Route” in this section for more
information.
To enter a destination by entering
the street name first:
1. Press DEST.
2. Select
2.
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3. Select the state/province screen
button, if needed, to change the
current state or province. A list
of all of the available states and
provinces appear. Select the
state or province.
4. Select Street and start entering
the street name or press the
Last 5 Streets screen button.
If the street name is common,
the city might need to be entered
first.
The Last 5 Streets screen
displays a list of the last five
street names that had been
entered. Select a street from the
list and it appears in the Street
name area.
If using the alpha keyboard,
finish entering the street name.
If five or fewer names are
available, a list displays. If more
than five are available, the
List screen button displays a
number. This number represents
the number of available streets.
Press this button to view the list
and select a street.
5. Once a street has been
selected, select House to enter
the house number. The system
displays the house number
range that is available for the
street.
6. Once the house number is
selected, the city name
automatically populates. If there
is more than one city available
for selection, a list of cities
display. Select the city.
7. Press GO. The map screen, with
the destination marked displays.
8. Select the route preference for
Fastest, Shortest, or Other. The
system calculates and highlights
the route.
To enter a destination by entering a
cross street:
1. Press DEST.
2. Press
2.
3. Select the state/province screen
button, if needed, to change the
current state or province. A list
of all of the available states and
provinces appear. Select the
state or province.
4. Select Street and start entering
the street name or press the
Last 5 Streets screen button.
If the street name is common,
the city might need to be entered
first.
9. Press Start Guidance. The route
is now ready to be started.
The Last 5 Streets screen
displays a list of the last five
street names that had been
entered. Select a street from the
list and it appears in the Street
name area.
See “Getting Started on Your
Route” in this section for more
information.
If using the alpha keyboard,
finish entering the street name.
If five or fewer names are
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available, a list displays. If more
than five are available, the List
screen button displays a
number. This number represents
the number of available streets.
Press this button to view the list
and select a street.
5. Once a street has been
selected, select Cross Street
and start entering the cross
street name. If five or fewer
names are available, a list
displays. If more than five are
available, the List screen button
displays a number. This number
represents the number of
available streets. Press this
button to view the list and select
a street.
See “Getting Started on Your
Route” in this section for more
information.
Point of Interest (POI)
The Point of Interest (POI)
destination entry method lets you
select a destination from the
POI list.
8. Press Start Guidance. The route
is now ready to be started.
the alpha keyboard, select a
category from the category list,
or select the Franchise Search
screen button to do a franchise
search.
To use the point of interest
destination entry method by
entering the name:
1. Press DEST.
2. Press
i.
3. Select the state/province screen
button, if needed, to change the
current state or province. A list
of all of the available states and
provinces appear. Select the
state or province.
4. Enter the POI name.
6. Press GO. The map screen, with
the destination marked displays.
7. Select the route preference for
Fastest, Shortest, or Other. The
system calculates and highlights
the route.
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i Point of Interest: Press to
access the POI (Point of Interest)
screen. From this screen you have
three options to select/enter a
destination. Enter the name using
If five or fewer names are
available, a list displays. If more
than five are available, the List
screen button displays a
number. This number represents
the number of available POIs.
Press this button to view the list.
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5. Press GO, located next to the
POI. The map screen, with the
destination marked displays.
6. Select the route preference for
Fastest, Shortest, or Other. The
system calculates and highlights
the route.
7. Press Start Guidance. The route
is now ready to be started.
See “Getting Started on Your
Route” in this section for more
information.
To use the point of interest
destination entry method by
selecting a category:
1. Press DEST.
2. Press
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i.
3. Press Browse POI Categories to
view the list of POI categories.
4. Select a category.
The system displays available
POI names in the selected
category.
5. Press GO, located next to the
POI. The map screen, with the
destination marked displays.
6. Select the route preference for
Fastest, Shortest, or Other. The
system calculates and highlights
the route.
7. Press Start Guidance. The route
is now ready to be started.
See “Getting Started on Your
Route” in this section for more
information.
To use the point of interest
destination entry method by
selecting to do a franchise search:
1. Press DEST.
2. Press
i.
3. Press Franchise Search to view
a list of franchise categories.
4. Select a category.
The system displays available
POI names in the selected
category.
5. Press GO, located next to the
POI. The map screen, with the
destination marked displays.
6. Select the route preference for
Fastest, Shortest, or Other. The
system calculates and highlights
the route.
7. Press Start Guidance. The route
is now ready to be started.
See “Getting Started on Your
Route” in this section for more
information.
Address Book
The address book entry method lets
you select a destination by selecting
an address that has been stored in
the address book.
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3. Press GO, located next to the
destination. The map screen,
with the destination marked
displays.
4. Select the route preference for
Fastest, Shortest, or Other. The
system calculates and highlights
the route.
5. Press Start Guidance. The route
is now ready to be started.
g Address Book: Press to
access the Address Book screen.
From this screen an address that
already exists can be selected as
the destination.
To use the address book entry
method:
1. Press DEST.
2. Press
g.
A list of the address book
addresses display.
See “Getting Started on Your
Route” in this section for more
information.
See “Adding Destinations to the
Address Book” in this section.
Previous Destination
The previous destination entry
method lets you select a destination
from a list of previous destination
points.
/ Previous Destination:
Press to
access the Previous Destination
screen. The system stores up to 20
points that have been previously
entered. As new destinations are
entered, the system automatically
deletes the oldest destinations and
adds the new destinations.
To use the previous destination
entry method:
1. Press DEST.
2. Press
/.
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3. Select a previous destination
from the list. Use the arrow to
the right of the destination to
view the entire destination name
as necessary. Use the scroll
arrows to the left to scroll
through the list.
Pressing/holding and dragging
your finger on the map activates
fast scrolling.
4. Press once on the area that you
would like to set as your
destination.
The map screen displays the
address information.
4. Press GO, located next to the
destination. The map screen,
with the destination marked
displays.
5. Press GO. The map screen, with
the destination marked displays.
5. Select the route preference for
Fastest, Shortest, or Other. The
system calculates and highlights
the route.
) From Map:
Press to enter the
From Map destination entry method.
6. Select the route preference for
Fastest, Shortest, or Other. The
system calculates and highlights
the route.
To use this destination entry
method:
7. Press Start Guidance. The route
is now ready to be started.
6. Press Start Guidance. The route
is now ready to be started.
See “Getting Started on Your
Route” in this section for more
information.
From Map
This destination entry method allows
you to select a destination by
scrolling on the map.
1. Press DEST.
2. Press ). A map screen displays
with the scrolling symbol.
3. Use 0 / 1 and press on the
map to find the area that you
would like to select as your
destination.
See “Getting Started on Your
Route” in this section for more
information.
Map Coordinates
The coordinates destination entry
method lets you select a destination
by entering latitude and longitude
coordinates.
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5. Press Longitude and select
either E (East) or W (West) next
to enter the direction of the
longitude coordinate. Enter the
numeric portion of the longitude
coordinate.
6. Once both coordinates are
entered, press GO. The map
screen, with the destination
marked displays.
Map Coordinates: Press to access
the Coordinates Entry screen.
To use the coordinates destination
entry method:
1. Press DEST.
2. Press From Map.
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while the vehicle is moving. If a
destination is not set for one of the
screen buttons, the button is
dimmed and not available for use.
See “Adding or Changing Preset
Destinations” in this section for
information on how to add a preset
destination.
7. Select the route preference for
Fastest, Shortest, or Other. The
system calculates and highlights
the route.
8. Press Start Guidance. The route
is now ready to be started.
See “Getting Started on Your
Route” in this section for more
information.
3. Press Map Coordinates.
Preset Destination
4. Press Latitude and select either
N (North) or S (South) to enter
the direction of the latitude
coordinate. Enter the numeric
portion of the latitude coordinate.
The preset destination entry method
lets you set a destination by
selecting from one of five previously
stored destinations. Besides voice
tagged destinations, these are the
only destinations available to set
To use the preset destination entry
method:
1. Press DEST.
2. Select the desired preset
destination screen button. The
screen buttons are labeled with
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2. Press GO next to the desired
gas station for location
information.
the name that was selected for
the destination when it was
stored. The map screen, with the
destination marked displays.
3. Press Cancel if the list of Near
Gas Station is not needed.
3. Select the route preference for
Fastest, Shortest, or Other. The
system calculates and highlights
the route.
For more information, see Driver
Information Center (DIC) on
page 5‑23.
4. Press Start Guidance. The route
is now ready to be started.
See “Getting Started on Your
Route” in this section for more
information.
OnStar® Destination Download
(US and Canada)
Destination Map Screen
Low Fuel Warning
Map Destination Screen Functions
If the map screen is used to show
destination, it will have map screen
capabilities such as GO, Mark,
Zoom, Scroll, etc. The address is
shown at the top of the screen.
OnStar Destination Download (if
equipped) is a service available for
OnStar subscribers that makes
operating your navigation system
much simpler. It allows subscribers
to request and receive navigation
assistance on-the-go.
Using OnStar® Destination
Download (US and Canada)
When the fuel in the vehicle
becomes low, a pop-up displays
“Fuel is low. Search for nearby Gas
station?”
1. Press OK to show a list of
nearby gas stations.
Press the blue OnStar button and
an Advisor can locate a
point-of-interest or an address and
download the necessary information
or coordinates to your navigation
system. Once the destination is
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downloaded, the navigation system
will search for the address in the
mapping disc's database. When the
address is found, it will be shown on
your navigation system's screen
along with the buttons described
below.
.
.
Press Call, the navigation
system initiates a call to your
destination with your Bluetooth
phone (if available) or OnStar
Hands-Free Calling (if minutes
are available).
.
Press Add to Address Book, the
navigation system copies the
downloaded destination to the
address book and displays the
new address book entry.
.
OnStar Destination Download
Screen
.
Press GO, the navigation system
calculates route(s). Select a
route (i.e. Shortest Route), and
Start Guidance.
Press Map, the navigation
system displays the Destination
Map Screen.
Press Back, the navigation
system cancels your OnStar
Destination Download and
returns to the previous screen.
The downloaded address will not
be added to the previous
destinations
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Route Guidance Not Active
If an OnStar destination is
downloaded while route guidance is
not active, the navigation system
displays an OnStar Destination
Download Screen and operations
will continue as outlined in the
Using OnStar Destination Download
section:
Route Guidance Active
If OnStar downloads a destination
while route guidance is already
active, the navigation system adds
the downloaded destination as the
next waypoint in the existing route.
All features such as Call and Add to
Address Book will be available for
the waypoint. Refer to the section
on Waypoints for more information.
Previous Destinations
Previous OnStar Destination
Downloads are saved under
Previous Destinations in the
navigation system where they can
be accessed or saved to the
address book.
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Important Notes regarding OnStar
Destination Download:
.
If the navigation system is
turned off when the destination
download is attempted, the
navigation system will
automatically turn on and display
the OnStar Destination
Download Screen. The radio will
remain on after the download
occurs.
.
If OnStar downloads a
destination and the address is
not found in the mapping disc’s
database and routing by
coordinates is not available, the
GO and Map buttons gray out
and routing will not be available.
Press the blue OnStar button for
further assistance.
.
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The Call button grays out when
there is no phone number
available for your destination
and while connected to OnStar.
Map Destination Screen Functions
If the map screen is used to show
destination, it will have map screen
capabilities such as GO, Mark,
Zoom, Scroll, etc. The address is
shown at the top of the screen.
Turn List
Destination Map Screen
Getting Started on Your Route
Once a destination has been
entered, there are several functions
that can be performed. Press DEST
to access the Route screen.
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Press to view the list of turn
maneuvers for the entire route and
to avoid turns on the route.
t (Reverse Skip): Press to go
back to the start point or previous
stopover.
the whole route if necessary. The
detour option is only available while
driving on a current planned route.
r / q (Scroll Arrows):
q / r (Reverse Scroll): Press to
scroll to the start point or previous
stopover. The t (reverse skip)
button changes to a fast reverse
screen button.
Voice Volume
Press the
arrows to scroll through the list of
maneuvers.
Avoid: Press this screen button,
next to the adjacent street name, to
avoid the maneuver.
The map screen displays. The route
recalculates without this maneuver.
j (Pause):
Press to pause the
route preview, while in reverse or
fast forward scroll.
Press this screen button from the
Route screen to turn voice guidance
on or off and to change the volume
of voice prompts. See “Nav” under
Configure Menu on page 7‑64 for
more information.
Add Stopover
r / [ (Fast Forward Scroll):
Press to scroll to the next stopover
or to the final destination. The u
(fast forward skip) button changes
to a fast speed fast forward.
u (Fast Forward Skip):
Press to
go to the next stopover or to the
final destination.
Detour
Route Preview: Press to preview
the entire route in either direction.
Press this screen button from the
Route screen, then select to detour
2 km, 5 km, 10 km (1 mile, 3 miles,
or 5 miles) around the current route.
This can also be selected to detour
Press this screen button from the
Route screen. This feature allows
up to three stopovers to be added to
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the current route between the start
point and final destination. Once a
stopover has been added, the
points can be edited or deleted.
7. Select the route preference for
Fastest, Shortest, or Other. The
system calculates and highlights
the route.
To add a stopover:
8. Press Start Guidance. The route
is now ready to be started.
Cancel Guidance
2. Press the Add Stopover screen
button. This button only appears
if a route has been calculated.
To delete a stopover from the
current route:
Press this screen button, from the
Route screen, to cancel the current
route.
3. Using the desired method of
entering a destination, enter the
stopover. See “Destination”
previously for more information.
2. Press Delete for the desired
stopover to delete.
1. Press DEST.
4. Select the route preference for
Fastest, Shortest, or Other. The
system calculates and highlights
the route.
5. Press Start Guidance. The route
is now ready to be started.
6. To add the second and third
stopovers, press DEST, then
press the Add screen button,
where the next waypoint should
appear on the route.
1. Press DEST.
3. The system displays a pop-up
confirmation message. Press
Yes to delete the stopover; press
No to cancel this operation.
4. Select the route preference for
Fastest, Shortest, or Other. The
system calculates and highlights
the route.
5. Press Start Guidance. The route
is now ready to be started.
Suspend Guidance
Press this screen button, from the
Route screen, to put the current
route on hold.
Resume Guidance
Press this screen button, from the
Route screen, to resume guidance
on the current route.
Adding Destinations to the
Address Book
There are two ways to add a
destination to the address book:
.
To add the current vehicle
position to the address book,
press the Mark screen button
from the map screen. The
system automatically saves the
current vehicle information in the
address book. When scrolling on
the map the Mark screen button
automatically adds the current
scrolled position information in
the address book.
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.
Press the Add to Address Book
screen button when available on
POI information screens,
Destination Entry screens,
or POI screens. The system
automatically saves this
information in the address book.
See “Nav” under Configure Menu on
page 7‑64 for information on editing
address book entries.
Adding or Changing Preset
Destinations
This feature allows additions or
changes one of five preset
destinations. When a destination
has been added as a preset
destination, it is available to select
from the Destination Entry screen.
See “Preset Destination” previously
for information on how to select a
preset destination as a final
destination.
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To store the current vehicle position
as a preset destination:
To store an address book entry as a
preset destination:
1. Press Mark from the map screen
to add the current vehicle
position to the address book.
The Address Book screen
appears.
1. Press CONFIG.
2. Press Name. An alpha-keyboard
displays. Enter the name. Press
OK then press Back to return to
the address book information
screen.
3. Press and hold one of the
buttons at the bottom of the
screen until the name appears in
that preset destination screen
button. It is now available to
select from the Destination Entry
screen.
2. Press the Nav screen button.
3. Press Edit/View.
4. Select the address book entry to
be stored as the preset
destination. Press Name to add
a name, if needed.
5. Press and hold one of the
buttons at the bottom of the
screen until the name appears in
that preset destination screen
button. It is now available to
select from the Destination Entry
screen.
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Configure Menu
Sound
Nav (Navigation)
Press CONFIG to enter the
configure menu options, then press
CONFIG again, repeatedly until
Sound is selected or press the
Sound screen button to make
speaker and DSP (Digital Signal
Processing) adjustments. See
“Sound Menu” under, AM-FM Radio
on page 7‑9 for more information.
Radio
Press CONFIG to adjust several
of the system's features and
preferences. The last selected
CONFIG screen is the screen that
displays: Sound, Radio, Nav
(navigation), Display, or Time.
Press CONFIG to enter the
configure menu options, then press
CONFIG again, repeatedly until
Radio is selected or press the Radio
screen button to make changes for
radio information displayed, preset
pages, XM (if equipped) categories,
and Bose AudioPilot. See “Radio
Menu” under, AM-FM Radio on
page 7‑9 for more information.
Press CONFIG to enter the
configure menu options, then press
CONFIG again, repeatedly until Nav
is selected or press the Nav screen
button.
Voice Prompt
Press the Voice Prompt screen
button to change the volume of the
voice prompts or to turn voice
guidance on and off.
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Volume: Press + or − to increase
or to decrease the volume of the
voice prompts. The system will
respond with the adjusted voice
level.
Allow Time and Seasonal
Restricted Roads: This feature
allows the system to use time
restricted and seasonal roads when
calculating a planned route.
Voice Guidance: Press On or Off
to turn voice instructions on and off
while traveling on a planned route.
Edit Address Book — How to Add
Route Preference
Press the Route Preference screen
button to change route options
when the system calculates a route.
Allow Major Roads: This feature
allows the system to use major
roads when calculating a planned
route.
Allow Toll Roads: This feature
allows the system to use toll roads
when calculating a planned route.
Allow Ferrys: This feature allows
the system to use ferries when
calculating a planned route.
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To add an address to the address
book, see “Adding Destinations to
the Address Book” under
Destination on page 7‑50.
Edit Address Book — Edit/View
To edit the name of an
address book:
1. Press CONFIG.
2. Press the Nav screen button.
3. Press Edit/View Address Book.
4. Select the Address book entry.
5. Press the Name screen button
and use the alpha keyboard to
edit or add the name.
6. Press OK to save your changes,
then press Back to return to the
Address Book information
screen.
To add or change the phone number
of an address book entry:
1. Press CONFIG.
2. Press the Nav screen button.
3. Press Edit/View Address Book.
4. Select the address book entry to
change.
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5. Press the Phone # screen button
and use the numeric keyboard to
input or change the phone
number.
6. Press OK to save your changes,
then press Back to return to the
Address Book information
screen.
5. The system will ask for you to
state the name. You will have
four seconds to state the name.
The system will respond back
with the name and prompt you to
repeat the name for
confirmation.
To delete an address book entry:
To change the map icon of an
address book entry:
1. Press CONFIG.
1. Press CONFIG.
3. Press Edit/View Address Book.
2. Press the Nav screen button.
3. Press Edit/View Address Book.
4. Select the address book entry to
delete.
4. Select the address book entry to
change.
5. Press Delete to delete the
address book entry.
5. Press the Icon screen button.
6. A confirmation pop-up will
display. Press OK to delete;
press Cancel to cancel the
operation.
6. Select an icon from the list.
To add a voice tag to an address
book entry:
1. Press CONFIG.
2. Press the Nav screen button.
3. Press Edit/View Address Book.
4. Press Add Voice Tag.
4. A list of all the address book
entries will display. Press and
hold Clear All.
5. A confirmation pop-up will
display. Press OK to delete;
press Cancel to cancel the
operation.
Map Database Information
2. Press the Nav screen button.
To delete the entire address book:
1. Press CONFIG.
2. Press the Nav screen button.
3. Press Edit/View Address Book.
Use the Map Database Information/
Remove Map Data screen button to
view the coverage areas of the map
database or to replace the map
database.
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1. Press the Map Database
Information/Remove Map Data
screen button to display the Map
Coverage Area screen.
2. Press the Remove Map Data
screen button to remove the
map data. A screen showing,
“The Map can now be safely
removed” displays.
3. Press the confirmation screen
button to safely remove the
map data.
If the map data is not removed, the
map database will not be available
for that ignition cycle. Map database
functionality can be restored by
cycling the ignition.
Off-Road Mode
To turn the Off-road mode on or off:
1. Press CONFIG.
2. Press the Nav screen button.
3. Press Off-Road mode. The
button will be highlighted when
the feature is on.
When the off-road mode is turned
on, the navigation system will show
the path being traveled by the
vehicle when not on a marked road.
This path will be a simulation since
the map database coverage will not
have these roads on the DVD. This
path will be stored in the navigation
system's memory, see “Previous
Destination” under Destination on
page 7‑50 for more information.
See Defensive Driving on page 9‑3
for more information about off-road
driving.
Traffic Options
(US and Canada)
Read the following Options
descriptions to understand how the
XM NavTraffic™ operates.
XM NavTraffic
(USA and Canada)
Vehicles with the navigation system
have an XM NavTraffic receiver. XM
NavTraffic is a subscription service
provided via XM Satellite Radio. XM
NavTraffic provides real-time traffic
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information fully integrated to the
navigation system to display current
traffic conditions for a driver’s
chosen route. XM NavTraffic allows
drivers to make the most informed,
timesaving routing decisions.
If the Traffic screen button is
pressed or if an attempt is made to
turn on the traffic display in the
Navigation Setup Menu without a
subscription, a Caution screen
displays indicating that XM traffic is
not activated.
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Three types of traffic information for
major roadways are displayed on
the navigation system:
XM NavTraffic currently broadcasts
the traffic information for many
markets nationally, and the service
may be available in more cities in
the future. Visit
www.xmnavtraffic.com for more
details on local coverage.
Selecting Alert for Approaching
Traffic Events enables the
system to show a pop-up screen
that notifies of possible traffic
issues ahead.
.
Unscheduled traffic incident
data, such as accidents and
disabled vehicles
.
Scheduled traffic incident data,
such as road construction and
road closures
.
Traffic flow information (rate of
speed data)
Turning XM NavTraffic On and Off
To turn traffic on or off:
Traffic Icon
Traffic information is delivered to the
vehicle by the XM Radio satellites.
XM NavTraffic makes it possible for
the navigation system to provide
continuously updated traffic
information personalized for a
driver’s needs.
1. Press CONFIG, then press
CONFIG repeatedly until Nav is
selected or press the Nav
screen button.
The Traffic Icon appears on the
Traffic Tab, next to the word Traffic,
when traffic is found in the
local area.
A service fee is required in order to
receive the XM NavTraffic service.
2. Press the Traffic Options button.
3. Press the Traffic button. This
button is highlighted when it is
active.
When this feature is highlighted,
while traveling on a route,
accidents located on the route
are indicated and can be
avoided.
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The Traffic Icon has three different
condition displays. These are:
Traffic
Condition
Status Icon
.
No XM
NavTraffic™
subscription.
.
No Traffic is
found in the
local area.
.
The Traffic
Feature is
turned off.
Traffic events are
in the area, but
none are on
route.
Traffic events are
on route.
Locations and Information of
Traffic Conditions
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To view the traffic condition location
and information on the map:
The system may take some time to
sort the information. The list of
traffic conditions display in the order
of distance from the vehicle, up to
approximately 125 km (75 mi). With
a route planned, the system defaults
to list traffic events on your route.
Without a route planned, if travelling
on a major interstate, the system
lists events immediately ahead on
the interstate first. Then all other
traffic events follow. Not all traffic
conditions may be listed.
1. Press NAV, then press NAV
repeatedly until Traffic is
selected, or press the Traffic
screen button. A list of traffic
conditions with distance from the
vehicle's current position
displays.
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An arrow may appear before the
distance. The arrow indicates
the distance is a straight line
distance and it shows the
direction of the event from the
current vehicle's position. If no
arrow appears, the distance
indicates how far the event is
ahead on current Interstate
highway or route. While the
vehicle is moving, the traffic list
up or down, scroll arrows are
limited to a maximum of
four pages. No more than
four pages of traffic events may
be viewed while the vehicle is
moving.
2. Select a traffic condition to get
more detailed information of the
event.
Options
Press the Options screen button.
A Traffic Options menu displays.
Select the desired traffic related
option.
Traffic Flow Status — This screen
button is used to enable or disable
the green, yellow, red and orange
arrows shown beside the roads and
used to show the traffic flow or
extent of a traffic event.
Traffic: Press to enable or disable
the traffic function.
.
Black indicates a closed road
segment
Show Traffic ICONS: Press to
display traffic icons on the map
screen. This function allows which
traffic information displays.
.
Red indicates significantly
impaired traffic flow with average
speed of fewer than 40 km/h
(25 mph).
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.
.
.
Yellow indicates slightly impaired
traffic flow with average speed
between 40 km/h (25 mph) and
72 km/h (45 mph).
Green indicates normal traffic
flow with average speed above
72 km/h (45 mph).
Orange indicates construction.
Traffic flow data arrows display on
the map when scaled up to
eight miles.
Closed Road, Traffic Delays,
Incidents, and Advisories — These
four screen buttons are used to
select the traffic event ICONS that
appear on the map screens.
Alert for Approaching Traffic
Events: When On, if an
approaching traffic event is within
the alert range, one of two traffic
alert pop-up screens display:
.
With no route planned, while on
expressways, Approaching
Traffic Event without Avoid
screen displays.
.
With route planned, Traffic Event
on Route screen displays.
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Name
If the Alert for Approaching Traffic
Events is Off, the alert pop-up
screen does not display.
Press the Name screen button to
display traffic events in the order of
distance. The closest event is
shown first.
On-Route
Refresh
Select the On Route screen button
to display all events ahead on the
current active route. If no traffic
events have been reported on route,
No Traffic Events Reported On
route displays.
Press the Refresh screen button to
update the screen with all of the
latest traffic events, miles, etc.
Traffic events update approximately
every two minutes. To update the
events immediately, press the
Refresh screen button.
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Scrolling to Traffic Events on
the Map
After pressing the INFO
(information) screen button, the type
of traffic condition, the street name,
and a description of the traffic
condition displays. See “Scrolling
the Map” under Maps on page 7‑44
for more information.
To display traffic events in another
state or a great distance away,
scroll to the desired area, and then
stop scrolling. Wait for the traffic to
update. It may take up to
two minutes before traffic in this new
area can be received and displayed.
While scrolling the map, traffic
condition icons may appear. Traffic
events may appear up to 75 mi
(125 km) from your current position.
To receive information about the
traffic condition, place the cross
hairs over the traffic condition icon.
Traffic Event Display Categories
The following are traffic condition
categories and symbols that can
appear on the display:
Category 1, Road Closure:
q (Road Closed):
ramps closed.
Road and/or
Category 2, Traffic Delayed:
o (Stopped Traffic): Traffic
stopped, stop and go traffic, delayed
and congested traffic.
Category 3, Incidents:
p (Alert): Object in the roadway,
disabled vehicle, or dangerous road
conditions.
t (Accident):
Roadway obstructed
due to accident.
s (Road Works): Delayed traffic
due to construction.
Category 4, Advisories:
j / r (Road Condition): Delayed
or stopped traffic, lane blocked or
closed due to a road condition.
k (Weather):
Heavy rain, snow,
or fog weather condition.
m (Parking): Available
parking area.
l (Information):
Special event,
general information, or warning.
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Detailed Traffic Event Screens
Back, Map, More, and Avoid
These buttons have common
functions across all three Detailed
Traffic Event screens.
Back: Press to return to the
previous screen.
Map: If available, press to display
the related traffic event on the map.
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Avoid: This button is used to avoid
the location of an event on the
route. If pressed, a new route is
calculated and the related traffic
event is avoided. After the new
route has been calculated, the
navigation system goes to the full
map screen and shows the new
route.
The Avoid button is only available if
the event is on the route ahead.
Traffic Voice Prompts
The traffic voice prompts are part of
the current navigation voice
prompts. If the navigation voice
prompts are turned off, all traffic
prompts are also turned off.
Traffic Event Screen
The detailed Traffic Event screens
are used to display additional details
of a traffic event condition. This
screen may display if:
.
Scrolling to an event on the map
and then pressing INFO.
.
Selecting a traffic event listed on
the Traffic Event List screen.
The Traffic Event screen may
display when approaching a traffic
event.
Map Traffic Event Icon with Back
Screen
More: Press to display more of the
traffic event description, if the whole
event does not fit in the given
display.
If the voice prompts are on,
whenever an Alert for Approaching
Traffic is displayed, the system
gives the related voice prompt.
The content of the voice prompt
depends on actual traffic event data.
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The RPT (Repeat) button is for
navigation traffic maneuvers only.
It is not used to repeat traffic
prompts. During a traffic voice
prompt, if RPT is pressed, the
current prompt playback cancels.
Traffic prompts are disabled during
OnStar (if equipped) or Voice
Recognition activity.
XM Weather (If Equipped)
Press the Weather screen button to
display the Current or Extended
Forecast Weather.
The Extended Forecast Weather
screen displays five days of the
forecasted weather at the vehicle’s
current position.
Press the Location button located
near the top leftside of the screen to
change the current location to a new
location from a list of 156 supported
cities. The display will then update
the extended forecast for the new
chosen location.
Press the Current Weather button
located near the bottom leftside of
the Extended Forecast Screen to
display the current weather at the
vehicle’s current position. Weather
alerts will also be displayed in the
Alerts nearby area. These alerts
include Flash Flood Warning, Flood
Warning, Special Marine Warning,
Tornado Warning, and
Thunderstorm Warning.
Alert Notification: Press the Alert
Notification button located at the
bottom rightside of the Current
Weather screen turns on or off
Weather alert pop-ups. The Weather
Alert Pop-up, when turned on, will
appear briefly in any audio source,
providing alert notification during
extreme weather warnings close to
the vehicle’s current position.
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Display
Brightness/Contrast/Mode
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Night: Press to make the map
background darker.
Day: Press to make the map
background brighter.
Rear Vision Camera (If Equipped)
Press CONFIG to enter the
configure menu options, then press
CONFIG repeatedly until Display is
selected or press the Display screen
button.
Display OFF
Press this screen button to turn the
display off. Press any control button
to view the display.
Press this screen button to change
the brightness, contrast, and mode
of the display.
] (Brightness):
Press + or − to
increase or decrease the brightness
of the screen.
_ (Contrast):
Press + or − to
increase or decrease the contrast of
the screen.
Auto (Automatic): Press so the
system can automatically adjust the
screen background depending on
exterior lighting conditions.
Rear Camera Options: Press to
display options available.
The available options are:
Video: Press to turn on or off.
Symbols: Press to turn on or off.
Guiding Lines: Press to turn on
or off.
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For more information about the Rear
Vision Camera, see Rear Vision
Camera (RVC) on page 9‑47 in the
vehicle owner manual.
Rear Display(s)
Setting the Clock
The navigation system time and the
analog clock operate independently.
Changing the time through the
navigation system does not change
the time on the analog clock. See
Clock on page 5‑7 to change the
analog clock time.
Press CONFIG to enter the
configure menu options, then press
CONFIG repeatedly until the time is
selected or press the time screen
button.
Hours: Press − or + to decrease or
increase the hours.
Minutes: Press − or + to decrease
or increase the minutes.
Press the Rear Display(s) screen
button to allow the choice of
sources for rear display between
front disc, rear aux, or usb,
if connected.
12/24 Format: Select the
12 screen button for standard time;
select the 24 screen button for
military time.
Global Positioning
System (GPS)
The navigation system determines
the position of the vehicle by using
satellite signals, various vehicle
signals, and map data.
At times, other interferences such
as the satellite condition, road
configuration, the condition of the
vehicle and/or other circumstances
can interfere with the navigation
system's ability to determine the
accurate position of the vehicle.
The GPS shows the current position
of the vehicle using signals sent by
the GPS Satellites of the United
States Department of Defense.
When the vehicle is not receiving
signals from the satellites, a symbol
appears on the map screen. Refer
to Global Positioning System (GPS)
on page 7‑76.
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This system may not be available or
interferences may occur if any of the
following are true:
.
.
Signals are obstructed by tall
buildings, trees, large trucks,
or a tunnel.
Objects are located on the front
dash of the vehicle.
.
Satellites are being repaired or
improved.
.
After-market glass tinting has
been applied to the vehicle's
windshield.
Notice: Do not apply after-market
glass tinting to the vehicle's
windows. Glass tinting interferes
with the system's ability to
receive GPS signals and causes
the system to malfunction. The
window might have to be
replaced to correct the problem.
This would not be covered by the
warranty.
For more information if the GPS is
not functioning properly, see Vehicle
Positioning on page 7‑77 and
Problems with Route Guidance on
page 7‑78.
.
Current position calibration is set
incorrectly.
.
Vehicle is traveling at high
speed.
.
Vehicle changes directions more
than once, or when the vehicle is
turning on a turn table in a
parking lot.
.
Vehicle is entering and/or exiting
a parking lot or a garage.
.
GPS signal is not received.
.
Roof carrier is installed on the
vehicle.
.
Vehicle is being driven with tire
chains.
.
Tires are replaced.
Tire pressure for the tires is
incorrect.
Vehicle Positioning
At times, the position of the vehicle
on the map may be inaccurate due
to one or more of the following
reasons:
.
.
.
Road system has changed.
Vehicle is driving on slippery
road surfaces such as in sand,
gravel, and/or snow.
Vehicle is traveling on winding
roads.
.
Vehicle is on a long
straight road.
.
.
Vehicle is approaching a tall
building or a large vehicle.
.
Tires are worn.
.
First time the map DVD is
inserted.
.
Battery is disconnected for
several days.
.
.
Surface streets run parallel to a
freeway.
Vehicle has just been transferred
by a vehicle carrier or a ferry.
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Vehicle is driving in heavy traffic
where driving is at low speeds,
and the vehicle is stopped and
started repeatedly.
.
It may take a long time to
operate automatic rerouting
during high-speed driving.
If the System Needs
Service
.
Automatic rerouting may display
a route returning to the set
stopover if you are heading for a
destination without passing
through a set stopover.
If the navigation system needs
service and the steps listed here
have been followed but there are
still problems, see your dealer for
assistance.
.
The route prohibits the entry of a
vehicle due to a regulation by
time or season or any other
regulation which may be given.
Database Coverage
Explanations
.
Some routes may not be
searched.
.
The route to the destination may
not be shown if there are new
roads, if roads have recently
changed, or if certain roads are
not listed on the map DVD. See
Database Coverage
Explanations on page 7‑78
See your dealer if other problems
occur.
Problems with Route
Guidance
Inappropriate route guidance may
occur under one or more of the
following conditions:
.
You have not turned onto the
road indicated.
.
Route guidance may not be
available when using automatic
rerouting for the next right or
left turn.
.
The route may not be changed
when using automatic rerouting.
.
There is no route guidance when
turning at an intersection.
.
Plural names of places may be
announced occasionally.
To recalibrate the vehicle's position
on the map, see your dealer.
Coverage area depends upon the
map detail available. Some areas
have greater map detail than others.
The navigation system works only
as well as the information provided
on the stored map data. See Map
Data Updates on page 7‑76 on how
to obtain updated map information.
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Voice Recognition
The navigation system's voice
recognition allows for hands-free
operation of the navigation system,
audio system, and OnStar (if
equipped) features.
Voice recognition can be used when
the ignition is on or when Retained
Accessory Power (RAP) is active.
See Retained Accessory Power
(RAP) on page 9‑27 for more
information.
To use voice recognition:
1. Press and hold SRCE located
on the steering wheel until you
hear a beep. The audio system
mutes.
‐ Issue an error message “Did
not recognize. Voice
Recognition Canceled.”
.
If you experience difficulty with
the system recognizing a
command, try saying it more
softly, and wait for a few
seconds after the beep,
or repeat the command.
.
Background noise may cause
voice commands to be
misunderstood, including airflow
noise from wind.
.
To use the voice recognition
system, the map DVD must be
loaded and the navigation
system must be on.
2. Clearly state one of the
commands listed on the
following pages.
Helpful Hints for Stating
Commands
.
When a multiple command is
available, choose the command
that works best.
.
Words that are in brackets are
optional. For example, for the
command Radio [band] [select]
FM, stating Radio FM or Radio
select FM are both valid
commands.
.
When the system recognizes the
command the system does one
of the following:
‐ Perform the function.
‐ Ask you to confirm your
choice.
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This system is able to recognize
commands in three different
languages. The system only
recognizes commands based on the
language selected from the Driver
Information Center (DIC). See
Driver Information Center (DIC) on
page 5‑23 for more information.
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Voice Recognition Commands
The following list shows all of the
voice commands available for the
navigation system with a brief
description of each. The commands
are listed with the optional words in
brackets. To use the voice
commands, refer to the instructions
listed previously.
Voice Tag Commands
The following are voice tag
commands that can be accessed by
clearly stating the commands
exactly as they are written. There
are up to 40 voice tag entries for
destinations.
Navigation go to [destination],
navigation select: These
commands instruct the system to
select a destination saved under the
voice tag you have stored. The
system prompts for a destination
name then waits for you to state
the name.
If not currently driving on a route,
the system automatically creates the
voice tag destination as the final
destination. If driving on a route, the
system automatically creates the
voice tag destination as a stopover.
Up to three stopovers can be
created.
Storing Voice Tags
From the address book entry
information page, press the Add
Voice tag screen button. The
system responds “Name Please?”
and you will have four seconds to
record a name. The system asks for
confirmation of the name before
saving it as a voice tag.
Navigation Help
This command instructs the system
to assist with navigation commands.
Display Commands
Use the following display commands
to set the display mode.
Display [set] day [mode]: Sets the
display to daytime mode.
Display [set] night [mode]: Sets
the display to night mode.
Display [set] auto [mode]: Sets
the display to automatic mode. The
system changes between day and
night mode automatically.
System help: Instructs the system
to assist with display commands.
Radio Commands
The following are radio commands
that can be accessed by clearly
stating the commands exactly as
they are written.
Radio [band] [select] AM, radio
[band] [select] FM, radio [band]
[select] XM (if equipped), radio
[band] [select] satellite (if
equipped): Instructs the system to
go to either the AM, FM, or XM (if
equipped).
Radio [select] (frequency) AM,
radio [select] (frequency) FM:
Instructs the system to go to a
specific frequency on either AM
or FM.
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Radio [select] (channel) XM
(if equipped), radio [select]
(channel) satellite (if equipped):
Instructs the system to go to a
specific channel on the XM band
(if equipped).
Radio help: Instructs the system to
assist with radio commands.
CD Commands
The following are CD, MP3, and
DVD commands that can be
accessed by clearly stating the
commands exactly as they are
written.
CD, DVD, Disc: Use this command
to select a CD, DVD, or disc that is
currently loaded.
CD, DVD, Disc, [select] track (one,
two, three, etc.): Instructs the
system to select a specific track
number.
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CD, DVD, Disc select next
folder: Use this command to select
the next folder on the MP3 or
audio DVD.
Phone
CD, DVD, Disc select previous
folder: Use this command to select
the previous folder on the MP3 or
audio DVD.
For vehicles equipped with
Bluetooth capability, the system can
interact with many cell phones,
allowing:
CD help, DVD help, Disc help:
Instructs the system to assist with
CD and DVD commands.
.
Placement and receipt of calls in
a hands-free mode.
.
Sharing of the cell phone’s
address book or contact list with
the vehicle.
Bluetooth
Auxiliary Commands
The following auxiliary commands
can be accessed by clearly stating
the commands exactly as they are
written. The commands are
available when the auxiliary source
is available.
To minimize driver distraction,
before driving, and with the vehicle
parked:
.
Become familiar with the
features of the cell phone.
Organize the phone book and
contact lists clearly and delete
duplicate or rarely used entries.
If possible, program speed dial
or other shortcuts.
.
Review the controls and
operation of the infotainment
system.
Aux, Auxiliary: Use this command
to select the auxiliary device, when
a device is connected.
Voice Help
Provides a description of help
commands that can be used.
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.
Pair cell phone(s) to the vehicle.
The system may not work with
all cell phones. See “Pairing” in
this section for more information.
.
If the cell phone has voice
dialing capability, learn to use
that feature to access the
address book or contact list. See
“Voice Pass-Thru” in this section
for more information.
.
Black plate (82,1)
See “Storing and Deleting Phone
Numbers” in this section for
more information.
{ WARNING
When using a cell phone, it can
be distracting to look too long or
too often at the screen of the
phone or the infotainment
(navigation) system. Taking your
eyes off the road too long or too
often could cause a crash
resulting in injury or death.
Focus your attention on driving.
A Bluetooth system can use a
Bluetooth‐capable cell phone with a
Hands‐Free Profile to make and
receive phone calls. The system
can be used while the key is in the
ON/RUN or ACC/ACCESSORY
position. The range of the Bluetooth
system can be up to 9.1 m (30 ft).
Not all phones support all functions,
and not all phones work with the
in-vehicle Bluetooth system. See
www.gm.com/bluetooth for more
information on compatible phones.
Voice Recognition
The Bluetooth system uses voice
recognition to interpret voice
commands to dial phone numbers
and name tags.
For additional information, say
“Help” while you are in a voice
recognition menu.
Noise: Keep interior noise levels to
a minimum. The system may not
recognize voice commands if there
is too much background noise.
When to Speak: A short tone
sounds after the system responds
indicating when it is waiting for a
voice command. Wait until the tone
and then speak.
How to Speak: Speak clearly in a
calm and natural voice.
Audio System
When using the in‐vehicle Bluetooth
system, sound comes through the
vehicle's front audio system
speakers and overrides the audio
system. Use the audio system
volume knob, during a call, to
change the volume level. The
adjusted volume level remains in
memory for later calls. To prevent
missed calls, a minimum volume
level is used if the volume is turned
down too low.
Bluetooth Controls
Use the buttons located on the
steering wheel to operate the
in‐vehicle Bluetooth system. See
Steering Wheel Controls on
page 5‑2 for more information.
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b / g (Mute/Push To Talk):
Press
to answer incoming calls, confirm
system information, and start
speech recognition.
c / x (End):
Press to end a call,
reject a call, or cancel an operation.
.
Up to five cell phones can be
paired to the Bluetooth system.
2. Say “Bluetooth.” This command
can be skipped.
.
The pairing process is disabled
when the vehicle is moving.
.
Pairing only needs to be
completed once, unless the
pairing information on the cell
phone changes or the cell phone
is deleted from the system.
3. Say “Pair.” The system responds
with instructions and a four‐digit
Personal Identification Number
(PIN). The PIN is used in Step 5.
Pairing
A Bluetooth enabled cell phone
must be paired to the Bluetooth
system and then connected to the
vehicle before it can be used. See
the cell phone manufacturer's user
guide for Bluetooth functions before
pairing the cell phone. If a Bluetooth
phone is not connected, calls will be
made using OnStar Hands‐Free
Calling, if equipped. See OnStar
Overview on page 14‑1 for more
information.
Pairing Information
.
A Bluetooth phone with MP3
capability cannot be paired to
the vehicle as a phone and an
MP3 player at the same time.
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.
Only one paired cell phone can
be connected to the Bluetooth
system at a time.
.
If multiple paired cell phones are
within range of the system, the
system connects to the first
available paired cell phone in the
order that they were first paired
to the system. To connect to a
different paired phone, see
“Connecting to a Different
Phone” later in this section.
Pairing a Phone
1. Press and hold
two seconds.
b / g for
4. Start the pairing process on the
cell phone that you want to pair.
For help with this process, see
the cell phone manufacturer's
user guide.
5. Locate the device named “Your
Vehicle” in the list on the cell
phone. Follow the instructions
on the cell phone to enter the
PIN provided in Step 3. After the
PIN is successfully entered, the
system prompts you to provide a
name for the paired cell phone.
This name will be used to
indicate which phones are
paired and connected to the
vehicle. The system responds
with “
has been
successfully paired” after the
pairing process is complete.
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6. Repeat Steps 1 through 5 to pair
additional phones.
4. Say the name of the phone you
want to delete.
Storing and Deleting Phone
Numbers
Listing All Paired and Connected
Phones
Connecting to a Different Phone
The system can store up to
30 phone numbers as name tags in
the Hands‐Free Directory that is
shared between the Bluetooth and
OnStar systems, if equipped.
The system can list all cell phones
paired to it. If a paired cell phone is
also connected to the vehicle, the
system responds with “is connected”
after that phone name.
1. Press and hold
two seconds.
b / g for
2. Say “Bluetooth.”
3. Say “List.”
1. Press and hold
two seconds.
b / g for
2. Say “Bluetooth.”
Deleting a Paired Phone
If the phone name you want to
delete is unknown, see “Listing All
Paired and Connected Phones.”
1. Press and hold
two seconds.
To connect to a different cell phone,
the Bluetooth system looks for the
next available cell phone in the
order in which all the available cell
phones were paired. Depending on
which cell phone you want to
connect to, you may have to use
this command several times.
3. Say “Change phone.”
.
b / g for
2. Say “Bluetooth.”
3. Say “Delete.” The system asks
which phone to delete.
.
If another cell phone is
found, the response will be
“ is now
connected.”
If another cell phone is not
found, the original phone
remains connected.
The following commands are used
to delete and store phone numbers.
Store: This command will store a
phone number, or a group of
numbers as a name tag.
Digit Store: This command allows
a phone number to be stored as a
name tag by entering the digits one
at a time.
Delete: This command is used to
delete individual name tags.
Delete All Name Tags: This
command deletes all stored name
tags in the Hands‐Free Calling
Directory and the OnStar
Turn‐by‐Turn Destinations
Directory, if equipped.
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Using the “Store” Command
1. Press and hold
two seconds.
b / g for
2. Say “Store.”
3. Say the phone number or group
of numbers you want to store all
at once with no pauses, then
follow the directions given by the
system to save a name tag for
this number.
Using the “Digit Store” Command
If an unwanted number is
recognized by the system, say
“Clear” at any time to clear the last
number.
To hear all of the numbers
recognized by the system, say
“Verify” at any time.
1. Press and hold
two seconds.
b / g for
2. Say “Digit Store.”
3. Say each digit, one at a time,
that you want to store. After
each digit is entered, the system
repeats back the digit it heard
followed by a tone. After the last
digit has been entered, say
“Store,” and then follow the
directions given by the system to
save a name tag for this number.
Using the “Delete” Command
1. Press and hold
two seconds.
b / g for
Listing Stored Numbers
The list command will list all stored
numbers and name tags.
Using the “List” Command
1. Press and hold
two seconds.
b / g for
2. Say “Directory.”
3. Say “Hands‐Free Calling.”
2. Say “Delete.”
4. Say “List.”
3. Say the name tag you want to
delete.
Making a Call
Using the “Delete All Name Tags”
Command
This command deletes all stored
name tags in the Hands‐Free
Calling Directory and the OnStar
Turn‐by‐Turn Destinations Directory,
if equipped.
To delete all name tags:
1. Press and hold
two seconds.
7-85
b / g for
2. Say “Delete all name tags.”
Calls can be made using the
following commands.
Dial or Call: The dial or call
command can be used
interchangeably to dial a phone
number or a stored name tag.
Digit Dial: This command allows a
phone number to be dialed by
entering the digits one at a time.
Re‐dial: This command is used to
dial the last number used on the cell
phone.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
7-86
Black plate (86,1)
Infotainment System
Using the “Dial” or “Call”
Command
1. Press and hold
two seconds.
b / g for
2. Say “Dial” or “Call.”
3. Say the entire number without
pausing, or say the name tag.
Once connected, the person called
will be heard through the audio
speakers.
Using the “Digit Dial” Command
The digit dial command allows a
phone number to be dialed by
entering the digits one at a time.
After each digit is entered, the
system repeats back the digit it
heard followed by a tone.
If an unwanted number is
recognized by the system, say
“Clear” at any time to clear the last
number.
To hear all of the numbers
recognized by the system, say
“Verify” at any time.
1. Press and hold
two seconds.
b / g for
Receiving a Call
When an incoming call is received,
the audio system mutes and a ring
tone is heard in the vehicle.
.
2. Say “Digit Dial.”
.
3. Say each digit, one at a time,
that you want to dial. After each
digit is entered, the system
repeats back the digit it heard
followed by a tone. After the last
digit has been entered,
say “Dial.”
Call Waiting
Call waiting must be supported on
the cell phone and enabled by the
wireless service carrier.
.
Press b / g to answer an
incoming call when another call
is active. The original call is
placed on hold.
.
Press b / g again to return to
the original call.
.
To ignore the incoming call, no
action is required.
.
Press c / x to disconnect the
current call and switch to the call
on hold.
Once connected, the person called
will be heard through the audio
speakers.
Using the “Re‐dial” Command
1. Press and hold
two seconds.
b / g for
2. After the tone, say “Re‐dial.”
Once connected, the person called
will be heard through the audio
speakers.
b / g to answer the call.
Press c / x to ignore a call.
Press
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (87,1)
Infotainment System
.
Three‐Way Calling
Three‐way calling must be
supported on the cell phone and
enabled by the wireless service
carrier.
1. While on a call, press
b / g.
2. Say “Three‐way call.”
3. Use the dial or call command to
dial the number of the third party
to be called.
4. Once the call is connected,
press b / g to link all callers
together.
Ending a Call
Press
c / x to end a call.
During a call, all sounds from inside
the vehicle can be muted so that the
person on the other end of the call
cannot hear them.
To mute a call, press
then say “Mute call.”
Transferring a Call
Audio can be transferred between
the Bluetooth system and the cell
phone.
The cell phone must be paired and
connected with the Bluetooth
system before a call can be
transferred. The connection process
can take up to two minutes after the
ignition is turned to ON/RUN.
Transferring Audio from the
Bluetooth System to a Cell Phone
During a call with the audio in the
vehicle:
1. Press
Muting a Call
.
To cancel mute, press b / g,
and then say “Un‐mute call.”
b / g, and
b / g.
2. Say “Transfer Call.”
Transferring Audio to the
Bluetooth System from a Cell
Phone
During a call with the audio on the
cell phone, press b / g. The audio
transfers to the vehicle. If the audio
7-87
does not transfer to the vehicle, use
the audio transfer feature on the cell
phone. See your cell phone
manufacturer's user guide for more
information.
Voice Pass-Thru
Voice pass‐thru allows access to the
voice recognition commands on the
cell phone. See your cell phone
manufacturer's user guide to see if
the cell phone supports this feature.
To access contacts stored in the cell
phone:
1. Press and hold
two seconds.
b / g for
2. Say “Bluetooth.” This command
can be skipped.
3. Say “Voice.” The system
responds “OK, accessing
.”
The cell phone's normal prompt
messages will go through their cycle
according to the phone's operating
instructions.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
7-88
Black plate (88,1)
Infotainment System
Dual Tone Multi-Frequency
(DTMF) Tones
The Bluetooth system can send
numbers and the numbers stored as
name tags during a call. You can
use this feature when calling a
menu‐driven phone system.
Account numbers can also be
stored for use.
Sending a Number or Name Tag
During a Call
1. Press b / g. The system
responds “Ready,” followed by
a tone.
2. Say “Dial.”
3. Say the number or name tag
to send.
Clearing the System
Unless information is deleted out of
the in‐vehicle Bluetooth system, it
will be retained indefinitely. This
includes all saved name tags in the
phone book and phone pairing
information. For information on how
to delete this information, see the
previous section “Deleting a Paired
Phone” and the previous sections
on deleting name tags.
Other Information
The Bluetooth® word mark and
logos are owned by the Bluetooth®
SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks
by General Motors is under license.
Other trademarks and trade names
are those of their respective owners.
See Radio Frequency Statement on
page 13‑21 for information
regarding Part 15 of the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC)
rules and Industry Canada
Standards RSS-GEN/210/220/310.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (1,1)
Climate Controls
Climate Controls
8-1
Climate Control Systems
Dual Automatic Climate Control System
Climate Control Systems
Dual Automatic Climate Control
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1
The heating, cooling, and ventilation in the vehicle can be controlled with
this system. The vehicle also has a flow-through ventilation system
described later in this section.
Air Vents
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-6
Climate Control with Heated and Cooled Seats shown
A. Driver and Passenger
Temperature Controls
E. Heated and Cooled Seats
B. AUTO (Automatic Operation)
G. Defrost
C. Recirculation
H. Rear Window Defogger
D. Air Conditioning
I.
F.
Fan Control
Air Delivery Mode Control
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
8-2
Black plate (2,1)
Climate Controls
O (Off): Press the driver side
temperature knob to turn the climate
control system off. Outside air still
enters the vehicle, and is directed to
the floor. This direction can be
changed by pressing the mode
button. The temperature can also be
adjusted using either temperature
knob. Press the up or down arrows
on the fan switch, the defrost button,
the AUTO button, driver side
temperature knob, or the air
conditioning button to turn the
system on when it is off.
Driver and Passenger Side
Temperature Knob
The driver and passenger side
temperature knobs are used to
adjust the temperature of the air
coming through the system on the
driver or passenger's side of the
vehicle. The temperature can be
adjusted even if the system is
turned off. This is possible since
outside air always flows through the
system as the vehicle is
moving forward unless it is set to
recirculation mode. See
“Recirculation” later in this section.
Turn the knob clockwise or
counterclockwise to increase or
decrease the cabin temperature.
The display will show the
temperature setting increasing
or decreasing.
Set the passenger's temperature
setting to match the driver
temperature setting by pressing the
passenger power knob.
When in defrost mode the
passenger temperature setting
cannot be changed.
Automatic Operation
AUTO (Automatic): When
automatic operation is active the
system will control the inside
temperature, the air delivery, and
the fan speed.
Use the steps below to place the
entire system in automatic mode:
1. Press the AUTO button.
When AUTO is selected, the
display will change to show the
current temperature(s) and
AUTO will appear. The current
delivery mode and fan speed
will also be displayed for
approximately five seconds.
When AUTO is selected, the air
conditioning operation and air
inlet will be automatically
controlled. The air conditioning
compressor will run when the
outside temperature is over
about 4°C (40°F). The air inlet
will normally be set to outside
air. If it is hot outside, the air
inlet may automatically switch to
recirculate inside air to help
quickly cool down the vehicle.
The light on the button comes on
in recirculation.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (3,1)
Climate Controls
2. Set the driver and passenger
temperature.
To find your comfort setting, start
with a 23°C (74°F) temperature
setting and allow about
20 minutes for the system to
regulate. Use the driver or
passenger temperature buttons
to adjust the temperature setting
as necessary. If a temperature
setting of 15°C (60°F) is chosen,
the system remains at the
maximum cooling setting. If a
temperature setting of 32°C
(90°F) is chosen, the system
remains at the maximum
heat setting. Choosing either
maximum setting will not cause
the vehicle to heat or cool any
faster.
Do not to cover the sensor located
on the top of the instrument panel
near the windshield. This sensor
regulates air temperature based on
sun load and also turns on the
headlamps.
To avoid blowing cold air in cold
weather, the system will delay
turning on the fan until warm air is
available. The length of delay
depends on the engine coolant
temperature. Pressing the fan
switch will override this delay and
change the fan to a selected speed.
8-3
y N z (Air Delivery Mode
Control): Press to change the
direction of the airflow in the vehicle.
Repeatedly press the button until
the desired mode appears on the
display.
Manual Operation
When the system is turned off, the
display goes blank after displaying
the current status of the system.
You may manually adjust the air
delivery mode or fan speed.
H (Vent): Air is directed to the
instrument panel outlets.
y 9 z (Fan Control):
) (Bi-Level):
Press the
up or down arrows to increase or
decrease the fan speed
Pressing this button when the
system is off will turn the system on.
Pressing either arrow while using
automatic operation will place the
fan in manual operation. The fan
setting will display and the AUTO
light will turn off. The air delivery will
remain in automatic operation.
Air is divided
between the instrument panel and
floor outlets. Some air is directed
towards the windshield and side
window outlets. Cooler air is
directed to the upper vents and
warmer air to the floor vents.
6 (Floor):
Air is directed to the
floor outlets, with some to the
windshield, side window outlets, and
second row floor outlets. In this
mode, the system automatically
selects outside air.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
8-4
Black plate (4,1)
Climate Controls
- (Defog): This mode clears the
windows of fog or moisture. Air is
directed to the windshield, floor
outlets, and side window vents. In
this mode, the system turns off
recirculation and runs the air
conditioning compressor unless the
outside temperature is close to
freezing. The recirculation mode
cannot be selected while in the
defog mode.
0 (Defrost):
This mode removes
fog or frost from the windshield
more quickly. Air is directed to the
windshield and side window vents,
with some directed to the floor
vents. In this mode, the system
automatically forces outside air
into the vehicle and runs the air
conditioning compressor unless the
outside temperature is close to
freezing. The recirculation mode
cannot be selected while in the
defrost mode.
The passenger temperature control
cannot be activated while in defrost
mode. If the passenger control
knob is pressed, the passenger
temperature flashes three times
and will not work. If the passenger
control knob is adjusted, the driver
temperature indicator changes. The
passenger temperature will not be
displayed.
If vent, bi-level, or floor mode is
selected again, the climate control
system displays the previous
temperature settings.
Do not drive the vehicle until all the
windows are clear.
# (Air Conditioning):
Press to
turn the air conditioning (A/C)
compressor on and off. An indicator
light comes on to show that the air
conditioning is on.
Pressing this button when the
outside temperature is too cool for
air conditioning will make the air
conditioning indicator flash three
times and then turn off indicating
the air conditioning mode is not
available. If the air conditioning is
on and the outside temperature
drops below a temperature which is
too cool for air conditioning to be
effective, the air conditioning light
turns off to show that the air
conditioning mode has been
canceled.
On hot days, open the windows long
enough to let hot inside air escape.
This helps to reduce the time it
takes for the vehicle to cool down.
It also helps the system to operate
more efficiently.
The air conditioning system
removes moisture from the air, so a
small amount of water might drip
under the vehicle while idling or
after turning off the engine. This is
normal.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (5,1)
Climate Controls
@ (Recirculation): Press to turn
the recirculation mode on or off. An
indicator light comes on to show
that the recirculation is on.
Rear Window Defogger
This mode recirculates and helps
to quickly cool the air inside the
vehicle. It can be used to help
prevent outside air and odors from
entering the vehicle.
1 (Rear Window Defogger):
Press to turn the rear window
defogger on or off. It automatically
turns off after it has been activated.
The defogger can also be turned off
by turning off the engine. Do not
drive the vehicle until all the
windows are clear.
The recirculation mode cannot be
used with floor, defog, or defrost
modes. If recirculation is selected
with one of those modes, the
indicator light flashes three times
and then turns off. The air
conditioning compressor also comes
on when this mode is activated.
While in recirculation mode the
windows may fog when the weather
is cold and damp. To clear the fog,
select either the defog or defrost
mode and increase the fan speed.
The recirculation mode can also be
turned off by turning off the ignition.
The rear window defogger uses a
warming grid to remove fog from the
rear window.
Notice: Do not use a razor blade
or sharp object to clear the inside
rear window. Do not adhere
anything to the defogger grid
lines in the rear glass. These
actions may damage the rear
defogger. Repairs would not be
covered by your warranty.
8-5
Heated Mirrors: Press 1 to help
clear fog or frost from the surface of
the outside mirror. See “Outside
Heated Mirrors” in Heated Mirrors
on page 2‑20.
Heated or Cooled Seats: For
vehicles with heated and cooled
seats, see Heated and Ventilated
Front Seats on page 3‑7.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
8-6
Black plate (6,1)
Climate Controls
Air Vents
Use the air outlets located in the
center and on the side of the
instrument panel to adjust the
direction and amount of airflow
inside the vehicle. There are also
air outlets on the rear of the center
console for rear seat
passenger use.
Move the louvers up or down.
Use the thumbwheels next to or
underneath the outlet to close the
louvers.
Operation Tips
.
Keep the hood and front air
inlets free of ice, snow, or any
other obstruction, such as
leaves. The heater and defroster
will work far better, reducing the
chance of fogging the inside of
your windows.
.
Keep the air path under the front
seats clear of objects. This helps
air to circulate throughout your
vehicle.
.
Adding outside equipment to the
front of your vehicle, such as
hood-air deflectors, etc., may
affect the performance of the
heating and air conditioning
system. Check with your dealer
before adding equipment to the
outside of your vehicle.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (1,1)
Driving and Operating
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 9-11
Highway Hypnosis . . . . . . . . . . . 9-12
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 9-12
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-13
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 9-15
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . 9-16
Truck-Camper Loading
Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-22
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . 9-23
Adjustable Throttle and Brake
Pedal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-23
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-24
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . 9-25
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-27
Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-27
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-28
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . 9-29
Parking over Things
That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-29
Active Fuel Management® . . . 9-30
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-30
Running the Vehicle While
Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-31
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . 9-31
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-34
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-35
9-1
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-36
Brakes
Antilock Brake
System (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . .
9-36
9-37
9-38
9-38
Ride Control Systems
StabiliTrak® System . . . . . . . . .
Locking Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . .
Continuous Damping
Control (CDC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Automatic Level Control . . . . .
9-39
9-41
9-42
9-42
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-43
Object Detection Systems
Ultrasonic Parking Assist . . . . 9-45
Rear Vision
Camera (RVC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-47
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
9-2
Black plate (2,1)
Driving and Operating
Fuel
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-50
Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . 9-51
Gasoline Specifications (U.S.
and Canada Only) . . . . . . . . . . 9-51
California Fuel
Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-52
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 9-52
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-52
Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol) . . . . . 9-53
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-54
Filling a Portable Fuel
Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-56
Towing
General Towing
Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Driving Characteristics and
Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . .
Trailer Sway
Control (TSC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
9-57
9-57
9-61
9-64
Driving Information
Distracted Driving
Distraction comes in many forms
and can take your focus from the
task of driving. Exercise good
judgment and do not let other
activities divert your attention
away from the road. Many local
governments have enacted laws
regarding driver distraction. Become
familiar with the local laws in
your area.
To avoid distracted driving, always
keep your eyes on the road, hands
on the wheel, and mind on the drive.
.
9-67
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical
Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-67
.
Do not use a phone in
demanding driving situations.
Use a hands-free method to
place or receive necessary
phone calls.
Watch the road. Do not read,
take notes, or look up
information on phones or
other electronic devices.
.
Designate a front seat
passenger to handle potential
distractions.
.
Become familiar with vehicle
features before driving, such as
programming favorite radio
stations and adjusting climate
control and seat settings.
Program all trip information into
any navigation device prior to
driving.
.
Wait until the vehicle is parked
to retrieve items that have fallen
to the floor.
.
Stop or park the vehicle to tend
to children.
.
Keep pets in an appropriate
carrier or restraint.
.
Avoid stressful conversations
while driving, whether with a
passenger or on a cell phone.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (3,1)
Driving and Operating
{ WARNING
Taking your eyes off the road too
long or too often could cause a
crash resulting in injury or death.
Focus your attention on driving.
Defensive Driving
Drunk Driving
Defensive driving means “always
expect the unexpected.” The first
step in driving defensively is to wear
the safety belt. See Safety Belts on
page 3‑10.
Death and injury associated with
drinking and driving is a global
tragedy.
.
Refer to the Infotainment section for
more information on using that
system, including pairing and using
a cell phone.
If equipped, refer to the navigation
manual for information on that
system, including pairing and using
a cell phone.
9-3
Assume that other road users
(pedestrians, bicyclists, and
other drivers) are going to be
careless and make mistakes.
Anticipate what they might do
and be ready.
.
Allow enough following distance
between you and the driver in
front of you.
.
Focus on the task of driving.
{ WARNING
Drinking and then driving is very
dangerous. Your reflexes,
perceptions, attentiveness, and
judgment can be affected by even
a small amount of alcohol. You
can have a serious — or even
fatal — collision if you drive after
drinking.
Do not drink and drive or ride with
a driver who has been drinking.
Ride home in a cab; or if you are
with a group, designate a driver
who will not drink.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
9-4
Black plate (4,1)
Driving and Operating
Control of a Vehicle
Braking, steering, and accelerating
are important factors in helping to
control a vehicle while driving.
Braking
Braking action involves perception
time and reaction time. Deciding to
push the brake pedal is perception
time. Actually doing it is
reaction time.
Average driver reaction time is
about three‐fourths of a second. In
that time, a vehicle moving at
100 km/h (60 mph) travels 20 m
(66 ft), which could be a lot of
distance in an emergency.
Helpful braking tips to keep in mind
include:
.
Keep enough distance between
you and the vehicle in front
of you.
.
Avoid needless heavy braking.
.
Keep pace with traffic.
If the engine ever stops while the
vehicle is being driven, brake
normally but do not pump the
brakes. Doing so could make the
pedal harder to push down. If the
engine stops, there will be some
power brake assist but it will be
used when the brake is applied.
Once the power assist is used up, it
can take longer to stop and the
brake pedal will be harder to push.
Steering
If the vehicle is a hybrid, see the
hybrid supplement for more
information.
Curve Tips
.
Take curves at a reasonable
speed.
.
Reduce speed before entering a
curve.
.
Maintain a reasonable steady
speed through the curve
.
Wait until the vehicle is out of
the curve before accelerating
gently into the straightaway.
Hydraulic Power Steering
Your vehicle has hydraulic power
steering. It may require
maintenance. See Power Steering
Fluid Power Steering Fluid on
page 10‑23.
If power steering assist is lost
because the engine stops or the
power steering system is not
functioning, the vehicle can be
steered but may required increased
effort. See your dealer if there is a
problem.
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.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (5,1)
Driving and Operating
Off-Road Recovery
3. Then turn the steering wheel to
go straight down the roadway.
Loss of Control
If the vehicle starts to slide, follow
these suggestions:
.
Ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and quickly
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.
Skidding
There are three types of skids that
correspond to the vehicle's three
control systems:
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.
.
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.
9-5
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
9-6
Black plate (6,1)
Driving and Operating
Remember: Antilock brakes help
avoid only the braking skid.
{ WARNING
When driving off-road, bouncing
and quick changes in direction
can easily throw you out of
position. This could cause you to
lose control and crash. You and
your passengers should always
wear safety belts.
Off-Road Driving
All-wheel-drive vehicles can be
used for off-road driving. Vehicles
without all-wheel drive and vehicles
not equipped with All Terrain (AT) or
On-Off Road (OOR) tires must not
be driven off-road except on a level,
solid surface. To contact the tire
manufacturer for more information
about the original equipment tires,
see the Limited Warranty and
Owner Assistance Information
manual.
Controlling the vehicle is the key to
successful off-road driving. One of
the best ways to control the vehicle
is to control the speed.
Before Driving Off-Road
.
Have all necessary maintenance
and service work completed.
.
Fuel the vehicle, fill fluid levels,
and check inflation pressure in
all tires, including the spare,
if equipped.
.
Read all the information about
all-wheel-drive vehicles in this
manual.
.
Make sure all underbody
shields, if equipped, are properly
attached.
.
Know the local laws that apply to
off-road driving.
To gain more ground clearance if
needed, it may be necessary to
remove the front fascia lower
air dam.
Notice: Operating the vehicle for
extended periods without the
front fascia lower air dam
installed can cause improper air
flow to the engine. Re‐attach the
front fascia air dam after off-road
driving.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (7,1)
Driving and Operating
Loading the Vehicle for
Off-Road Driving
{ WARNING
.
.
.
Unsecured cargo on the load
floor can be tossed about
when driving over rough
terrain. You or your
passengers can be struck by
flying objects. Secure the
cargo properly.
Keep cargo in the cargo area
as far forward and as low as
possible. The heaviest things
should be on the floor,
forward of the rear axle.
Heavy loads on the roof raise
the vehicle's center of gravity,
making it more likely to roll
over. You can be seriously or
fatally injured if the vehicle
rolls over. Put heavy loads
inside the cargo area, not on
the roof.
For more information about loading
the vehicle, see Vehicle Load Limits
on page 9‑16.
Environmental Concerns
.
Always use established trails,
roads, and areas that have been
set aside for public off-road
recreational driving and obey all
posted regulations.
.
Do not damage shrubs, flowers,
trees, or grasses or disturb
wildlife.
.
Do not park over things that
burn. See Parking over Things
That Burn on page 9‑29.
9-7
Driving on Hills
Driving safely on hills requires good
judgment and an understanding of
what the vehicle can and cannot do.
{ 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.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
9-8
Black plate (8,1)
Driving and Operating
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 an accident.
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 the transmission
in N (Neutral). The brakes could
overheat and you could lose
control.
If the vehicle stalls on a hill:
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.
2. Shift into P (Park) and then
restart the engine.
{ 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.
1. Apply the brakes to stop the
vehicle, and then apply the
parking brake.
.
If driving uphill when the
vehicle stalls, shift to
R (Reverse), release the
parking brake, and back
straight down.
.
Never try to turn the vehicle
around. If the hill is steep
enough to stall the vehicle,
it is steep enough to cause
it to roll over.
.
If you cannot make it up the
hill, back straight down
the hill.
.
Never back down a hill in
N (Neutral) using only the
brake.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (9,1)
Driving and Operating
.
The vehicle can roll
backward quickly and you
could lose control.
.
If driving downhill when the
vehicle stalls, shift to a
lower gear, release the
parking brake, and drive
straight down the hill.
drive across. Driving across an
incline puts more weight on the
downhill wheels which could
cause a downhill slide or a
rollover.
.
3. If the vehicle cannot be restarted
after stalling, set the parking
brake, shift an automatic
transmission into P (Park), and
turn the vehicle off.
3.1. Leave the vehicle and
seek help.
3.2. Stay clear of the path the
vehicle would take if it
rolled downhill.
.
Avoid turns that take the vehicle
across the incline of the hill.
A hill that can be driven straight
up or down might be too steep to
.
Surface conditions can be a
problem. Loose gravel, muddy
spots, or even wet grass can
cause the tires to slip sideways,
downhill. If the vehicle slips
sideways, it can hit something
that will trip it – a rock, a
rut, etc. – and roll over.
Hidden obstacles can make the
steepness of the incline more
severe. If a rock is driven across
with the uphill wheels, or if the
downhill wheels drop into a rut
or depression, the vehicle can tilt
even more.
.
9-9
If an incline must be driven
across, and the vehicle starts to
slide, turn downhill. This should
help straighten out the vehicle
and prevent the side slipping.
{ WARNING
Getting out of the vehicle on the
downhill side when stopped
across an incline is dangerous.
If the vehicle rolls over, you could
be crushed or killed. Always get
out on the uphill side of the
vehicle and stay well clear of the
rollover path.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
9-10
Black plate (10,1)
Driving and Operating
Driving in Mud, Sand, Snow,
or Ice
{ WARNING
Use a low gear when driving in
mud – the deeper the mud, the
lower the gear. Keep the vehicle
moving to avoid getting stuck.
Driving on frozen lakes, ponds,
or rivers can be dangerous. Ice
conditions vary greatly and the
vehicle could fall through the ice;
you and your passengers could
drown. Drive your vehicle on safe
surfaces only.
Traction changes when driving on
sand. On loose sand, such as on
beaches or sand dunes, the tires
tend to sink into the sand. This
affects steering, accelerating, and
braking. Drive at a reduced speed
and avoid sharp turns or abrupt
maneuvers.
Traction is reduced on hard packed
snow and ice and it is easy to lose
control. Reduce vehicle speed when
driving on hard packed snow
and ice.
Driving in Water
{ WARNING
Driving through rushing water can
be dangerous. Deep water can
sweep your vehicle downstream
and you and your passengers
could drown. If it is only shallow
water, it can still wash away the
ground from under your tires.
Traction could be lost, and the
vehicle could roll over. Do not
drive through rushing water.
Notice: Do not drive through
standing water if it is deep
enough to cover the wheel hubs,
axles or exhaust pipe. Deep water
can damage the axle and other
vehicle parts.
If the standing water is not too deep,
drive slowly through it. At faster
speeds, water splashes on the
ignition system and the vehicle can
stall. Stalling can also occur if you
get the exhaust pipe under water.
While the exhaust pipe is under
water, you will not be able to start
the engine. When going through
water, the brakes get wet, and it
might take longer to stop. See
Driving on Wet Roads on page 9‑11.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (11,1)
Driving and Operating
After Off-Road Driving
Driving on Wet Roads
Remove any brush or debris that
has collected on the underbody or
chassis, or under the hood. These
accumulations can be a fire hazard.
Rain and wet roads can reduce
vehicle traction and affect your
ability to stop and accelerate.
Always drive slower in these types
of driving conditions and avoid
driving through large puddles and
deep‐standing or flowing water.
After operation in mud or sand,
have the brake linings cleaned and
checked. These substances can
cause glazing and uneven braking.
Check the body structure, steering,
suspension, wheels, tires, and
exhaust system for damage and
check the fuel lines and cooling
system for any leakage.
More frequent maintenance
service is required. Refer to the
Maintenance Schedule on
page 11‑3 for more information.
{ WARNING
Wet brakes can cause crashes.
They might not work as well in a
quick stop and could cause
pulling to one side. You could
lose control of the vehicle.
After driving through a large
puddle of water or a car/vehicle
wash, lightly apply the brake
pedal until the brakes work
normally.
(Continued)
9-11
WARNING (Continued)
Flowing or rushing water creates
strong forces. Driving through
flowing water could cause the
vehicle to be carried away. If this
happens, you and other vehicle
occupants could drown. Do not
ignore police warnings and be
very cautious about trying to drive
through flowing water.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. Water
can build up under the vehicle's
tires so they actually ride on the
water. This can happen if the road is
wet enough and you are going fast
enough. When the vehicle is
hydroplaning, it has little or no
contact with the road.
There is no hard and fast rule about
hydroplaning. The best advice is to
slow down when the road is wet.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
9-12
Black plate (12,1)
Driving and Operating
Other Rainy Weather Tips
Highway Hypnosis
Hill and Mountain Roads
Besides slowing down, other wet
weather driving tips include:
Always be alert and pay attention to
your surroundings while driving.
If you become tired or sleepy, find a
safe place to park the vehicle
and rest.
Driving on steep hills or through
mountains is different than driving
on flat or rolling terrain. Tips for
driving in these conditions include:
.
Allow extra following distance.
.
Pass with caution.
.
Keep windshield wiping
equipment in good shape.
Other driving tips include:
.
.
Keep the windshield washer fluid
reservoir filled.
Keep the vehicle well ventilated.
.
Keep the interior
temperature cool.
.
Keep your eyes moving — scan
the road ahead and to the sides.
.
Check the rearview mirror and
vehicle instruments often.
.
.
Have good tires with proper
tread depth. See Tires on
page 10‑44.
Turn off cruise control.
.
Keep the vehicle serviced and in
good shape.
.
Check all fluid levels and brakes,
tires, cooling system, and
transmission.
.
Shift to a lower gear when going
down steep or long hills.
{ WARNING
If you do not shift down, the
brakes could get so hot that they
would not work well. You would
then have poor braking or even
none going down a hill. You could
crash. Shift down to let the engine
assist the brakes on a steep
downhill slope.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (13,1)
Driving and Operating
{ WARNING
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral)
or with the ignition off is
dangerous. The brakes will have
to do all the work of slowing down
and they could get so hot that
they would not work well. You
would then have poor braking or
even none going down a hill. You
could crash. Always have the
engine running and the vehicle in
gear when going downhill.
.
.
Stay in your own lane. Do not
swing wide or cut across the
center of the road. Drive at
speeds that let you stay in your
own lane.
Be alert on top of hills,
something could be in your lane
(stalled car, accident).
.
Pay attention to special road
signs (falling rocks area, winding
roads, long grades, passing or
no-passing zones) and take
appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Drive carefully when there is snow
or ice between the tires and the
road, creating less traction or grip.
Wet ice can occur at about 0°C
(32°F) when freezing rain begins to
fall, resulting in even less traction.
Avoid driving on wet ice or in
freezing rain until roads can be
treated with salt or sand.
Drive with caution, whatever the
condition. Accelerate gently so
traction is not lost. Accelerating too
quickly causes the wheels to spin
and makes the surface under the
tires slick, so there is even less
traction.
9-13
Try not to break the fragile traction.
If you accelerate too fast, the drive
wheels will spin and polish the
surface under the tires even more.
The Antilock Brake System (ABS)
on page 9‑36 improves vehicle
stability during hard stops on
slippery roads, but apply the brakes
sooner than when on dry pavement.
Allow greater following distance on
any slippery road 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, if equipped,
on slippery surfaces.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
9-14
Black plate (14,1)
Driving and Operating
Blizzard Conditions
Being stuck in snow can be a
serious situation. Stay with the
vehicle unless there is help nearby.
If possible, use the Roadside
Service (U.S. and Canada) on
page 13‑7 or Roadside Service
(Mexico) on page 13‑9. To get help
and keep everyone in the
vehicle safe:
.
.
Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
WARNING (Continued)
If the vehicle is stuck in the snow:
.
.
Check again from time to
time to be sure snow does
not collect there.
.
Open a window about 5 cm
(2 in) on the side of the
vehicle that is away from the
wind to bring in fresh air.
.
Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
.
Adjust the climate control
system to a setting that
circulates the air inside the
vehicle and set the fan speed
to the highest setting. See
“Climate Control Systems” in
the Index.
(Continued)
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.
(Continued)
Clear away snow from around
the base of your vehicle,
especially any that is blocking
the exhaust pipe.
WARNING (Continued)
For more information about
carbon monoxide, see Engine
Exhaust on page 9‑30.
Run the engine for short periods
only as needed to keep warm, but
be careful.
To save fuel, run the engine for only
short periods as needed to warm
the vehicle and then shut the engine
off and close the window most of
the way to save heat. Repeat this
until help arrives but only when you
feel really uncomfortable from the
cold. Moving about to keep warm
also helps.
If it takes some time for help to
arrive, now and then when you run
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.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (15,1)
Driving and Operating
If the Vehicle Is Stuck
Slowly and cautiously spin the
wheels to free the vehicle when
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow.
See “Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It
Out” later in this section.
If the vehicle has a traction system,
it can often help to free a stuck
vehicle. Refer to the vehicle's
traction system in the Index. If stuck
too severely for the traction system
to free the vehicle, turn the traction
system off and use the rocking
method.
{ 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 55 km/h (35 mph).
For information about using tire
chains on the vehicle, see Tire
Chains on page 10‑62.
9-15
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get
It Out
Turn the steering wheel left and
right to clear the area around the
front wheels. Turn off any traction or
stability system. Shift back and forth
between R (Reverse) and a 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. Recovery
hooks can be used, if the vehicle
has them. If the vehicle does need
to be towed out, see Towing the
Vehicle on page 10‑80.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
9-16
Black plate (16,1)
Driving and Operating
Vehicle Load Limits
Recovery Hooks
{ WARNING
Never pull on recovery hooks
from the side. The hooks could
break and you and others could
be injured. When using recovery
hooks, always pull the vehicle
straight out.
Notice: Never use recovery
hooks to tow the vehicle. Your
vehicle could be damaged and it
would not be covered by
warranty.
For vehicles with recovery hooks at
the front of the vehicle, you can use
them if you are stuck off-road and
need to be pulled to some place
where you can continue driving.
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 show
how much weight it was
designed to carry, the Tire and
Loading Information label and
the Certification/Tire label.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (17,1)
Driving and Operating
{ 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. This could
cause loss of control and a
crash. Overloading can also
shorten the life of the vehicle.
Tire and Loading Information
Label
9-17
positions (A), and the maximum
vehicle capacity weight (B) in
kilograms and pounds.
The Tire and Loading
Information label also shows the
size of the original equipment
tires (C) and the recommended
cold tire inflation pressures (D).
For more information on tires
and inflation see Tires on
page 10‑44 and Tire Pressure
on page 10‑49.
Label Example
A vehicle specific Tire and
Loading Information label is
attached to the center pillar
(B-pillar). With the driver door
open, you will find the label
attached below the door lock
post (striker). The tire and
loading information label shows
the number of occupant seating
There is also important loading
information on the vehicle
Certification/Tire label. It tells
you the Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating (GVWR) and the Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) for
the front and rear axles. See
“Certification/Tire Label” later in
this section.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
9-18
Black plate (18,1)
Driving and Operating
Steps for Determining Correct
Load Limit
1. Locate the statement “The
combined weight of
occupants and cargo should
never exceed XXX kg or
XXX lbs” on your vehicle's
placard.
2. Determine the combined
weight of the driver and
passengers that will be riding
in your vehicle.
3. Subtract the combined
weight of the driver and
passengers from XXX kg or
XXX lbs.
4. The resulting figure equals
the available amount of cargo
and luggage load capacity.
For example, if the “XXX”
amount equals 1400 lbs and
there will be five 150 lb
passengers in your vehicle,
the amount of available cargo
and luggage load capacity is
650 lbs (1400−750 (5 x 150)
= 650 lbs).
5. Determine the combined
weight of luggage and cargo
being loaded on the vehicle.
That weight may not safely
exceed the available cargo
and luggage load capacity
calculated in Step 4.
6. If your vehicle will be towing
a trailer, the load from your
trailer will be transferred to
your vehicle. Consult this
manual to determine how this
reduces the available cargo
and luggage load capacity of
your vehicle. See Trailer
Towing on page 9‑61 for
important information on
towing a trailer, towing safety
rules and trailering tips.
Example 1
A. Vehicle Capacity Weight for
Example 1 = 453 kg (1,000 lbs)
B. Subtract Occupant Weight @
68 kg (150 lbs) × 2 = 136 kg
(300 lbs)
C. Available Occupant and Cargo
Weight = 317 kg (700 lbs)
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (19,1)
Driving and Operating
9-19
Refer to your vehicle's tire and
loading information label for
specific information about your
vehicle's capacity weight and
seating positions. The combined
weight of the driver, passengers
and cargo should never exceed
your vehicle's capacity weight.
Certification/Tire Label
Example 2
Example 3
A. Vehicle Capacity Weight for
Example 2 = 453 kg (1,000 lbs)
A. Vehicle Capacity Weight for
Example 3 = 453 kg (1,000 lbs)
B. Subtract Occupant Weight @
68 kg (150 lbs) × 5 = 136 kg
(750 lbs)
B. Subtract Occupant Weight @
91 kg (200 lbs) × 5 = 453 kg
(1,000 lbs)
C. Available Cargo Weight =
113 kg (250 lbs)
C. Available Cargo Weight =
0 kg (0 lbs)
A vehicle specific Certification/
Tire label is attached to the rear
edge of the driver door. The
label shows the size of the
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
9-20
Black plate (20,1)
Driving and Operating
vehicle's original tires and the
inflation pressures needed to
obtain the gross weight capacity
of the vehicle. This is called
Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating (GVWR). The GVWR
includes the weight of the
vehicle, all occupants, fuel, and
cargo.
The Certification/Tire label also
tells you the maximum weights
for the front and rear axles,
called Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR). To find out the
actual loads on the front and
rear axles, you need to go to a
weigh station and weigh the
vehicle. Your dealer can help
you with this. Be sure to spread
out the load equally on both
sides of the center line.
Never exceed the GVWR for the
vehicle, or the GAWR for either
the front or rear axle.
And, if you do have a heavy
load, it should be spread out.
{ WARNING
In the case of a sudden stop
or collision, things carried in
the bed of your truck could
shift forward and come into
the passenger area, injuring
you and others. If you put
things in the bed of your truck,
you should make sure they
are properly secured.
{ 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. This could
cause loss of control and a
crash. Overloading can also
shorten the life of the vehicle.
The vehicle warranty does not
cover parts or components that
fail because of overloading.
The label will help you decide
how much cargo and installed
equipment the truck can carry.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (21,1)
Driving and Operating
Using heavier suspension
components to get added
durability might not change your
weight ratings. Ask your dealer
to help you load the vehicle the
right way.
If you put things inside the
vehicle — like suitcases,
tools, packages, or anything
else — they go as fast as the
vehicle goes. If you have to stop
or turn quickly, or if there is a
crash, they will keep going.
{ WARNING
Things you put inside the
vehicle can strike and injure
people in a sudden stop or
turn, or in a crash.
.
Put things in the cargo
area of the vehicle. Try to
spread the weight evenly.
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
.
Never stack heavier
things, like suitcases,
inside the vehicle so that
some of them are above
the tops of the seats.
.
Do not leave an
unsecured child restraint
in the vehicle.
.
When you carry something
inside the vehicle, secure
it whenever you can.
.
Do not leave a seat folded
down unless you need to.
There is also important loading
information for off-road driving in
this manual. See “Loading Your
Vehicle for Off-Road Driving”
under Off-Road Driving on
page 9‑6.
9-21
Add-On Equipment
When you carry removable
items, you may need to put a
limit on how many people you
can carry inside the vehicle. Be
sure to weigh the vehicle before
you buy and install the new
equipment.
Notice: Overloading the
vehicle may cause damage.
Repairs would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty. Do
not overload the vehicle.
Remember not to exceed
the Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR) of the front or
rear axle.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
9-22
Black plate (22,1)
Driving and Operating
The Cargo Weight Rating (CWR)
is the maximum weight of the
load the vehicle can carry.
It does not include the weight of
the people inside. But you can
figure about 68 kg (150 lbs) for
each seat.
The total cargo load must not be
more than the vehicle's CWR.
Automatic Level Control
The automatic level control rear
suspension comes as a part of
the Continuous Damping Control
(CDC). See Continuous
Damping Control (CDC) on
page 9‑42.
This type of level control is fully
automatic and will provide a
better leveled riding position as
well as better handling under a
variety of passenger and loading
conditions. An air compressor
connected to the rear shocks
will raise or lower the rear of the
vehicle to maintain proper
vehicle height. The system is
activated when the ignition key
is turned to ON/RUN and will
automatically adjust vehicle
height thereafter. The system
may exhaust (lower vehicle
height) for up to 10 minutes after
the ignition key has been turned
to OFF/LOCK. You may hear the
air compressor operating when
the height is being adjusted.
If a weight-distributing hitch is
being used, it is recommended
to allow the shocks to inflate,
thereby leveling the vehicle prior
to adjusting the height. See
“Weight Distributing Hitches and
Weight Carrying Hitches” under
Towing Equipment on
page 9‑64.
Truck-Camper Loading
Information
The vehicle was neither
designed nor intended to carry a
slide-in type camper.
Notice: Adding a slide-in
camper or similar equipment
to the vehicle can damage it,
and the repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle
warranty. Do not install a
slide-in camper or similar
equipment on the vehicle.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (23,1)
Driving and Operating
Hard stops with new linings
can mean premature wear
and earlier replacement.
Follow this breaking-in
guideline every time you get
new brake linings.
Starting and
Operating
New Vehicle Break-In
Notice: The vehicle does not
need an elaborate break-in. But it
will perform better in the long run
if you follow these guidelines:
.
.
.
Keep the vehicle speed at
88 km/h (55 mph) or less for
the first 805 km (500 miles).
Do not drive at any one
constant speed, fast or slow,
for the first 805 km
(500 miles). Do not make
full-throttle starts. Avoid
downshifting to brake or
slow the vehicle.
Avoid making hard stops
for the first 322 km
(200 miles) or so. During
this time the new brake
linings are not yet broken in.
9-23
.
Do not tow a trailer during
break-in. See Trailer Towing
on page 9‑61 for the trailer
towing capabilities of the
vehicle and more
information.
Following break‐in, engine speed
and load can be gradually
increased.
Adjustable Throttle and
Brake Pedal
The vehicle has adjustable throttle
and brake pedals that allow you to
change their positions.
The feature will not operate when
the vehicle is in R (Reverse) or
while using the cruise control.
The switch used to adjust the
pedals is located on the center
console below the climate control
system.
Press the right and left arrows to
move the pedals either closer or
further from your body.
Before you start driving, fully press
the brake pedal to confirm the
adjustment is right for you. While
driving, make only small
adjustments.
The vehicle has a memory function
which allows the pedal positions to
be saved and recalled. See Memory
Seats on page 3‑5.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
9-24
Black plate (24,1)
Driving and Operating
Ignition Positions
will remain active. See Retained
Accessory Power (RAP) on
page 9‑27.
This position locks the ignition.
It may also lock the steering wheel
and automatic transmission. The
key can be removed in LOCK/OFF.
Do not turn the engine off when the
vehicle is moving. This will cause a
loss of power assist in the brake
and steering systems and disable
the airbags.
The ignition switch has four different
positions.
To shift out of P (Park), the ignition
must be in ON/RUN or ACC/
ACCESSORY and the regular brake
pedal must be applied.
A (STOPPING THE ENGINE/
LOCK/OFF): When the vehicle is
stopped, turn the ignition switch to
LOCK/OFF to turn the engine off.
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
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.
2. Shift the vehicle to N (Neutral).
This can be done while the
vehicle is moving. After shifting
to N (Neutral), firmly apply the
brakes and steer the vehicle to a
safe location.
3. Come to a complete stop, shift
to P (Park), and turn the ignition
to LOCK/OFF. On vehicles with
an automatic transmission, the
shift lever must be in P (Park) to
turn the ignition switch to the
LOCK/OFF position.
4. Set the parking brake. See
Parking Brake on page 9‑37.
{ 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.
If the vehicle cannot be pulled over,
and must be shut off while driving,
turn the ignition to ACC/
ACCESSORY.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (25,1)
Driving and Operating
The steering may bind with the
wheels turned off center. If this
happens, move the steering wheel
from right to left while turning the
key to ACC/ACCESSORY. If this
doesn't work, then the vehicle needs
service.
Notice: Using a tool to force the
key to turn in the ignition could
cause damage to the switch or
break the key. Use the correct
key, make sure it is all the way in,
and turn it only with your hand.
If the key cannot be turned by
hand, see your dealer.
B (ACC/ACCESSORY): This
position lets things like the radio
and the windshield wipers operate
while the engine is off. Use this
position if the vehicle must be
pushed or towed.
C (ON/RUN): This position can be
used to operate the electrical
accessories and to display some
instrument panel cluster warning
and indicator lights. This position
can also be used for service and
diagnostics, and to verify the proper
operation of the malfunction
indicator lamp as may be required
for emission inspection purposes.
The switch stays in this position
when the engine is running. The
transmission is also unlocked in this
position on automatic transmission
vehicles.
If you leave the key in the ACC/
ACCESSORY or ON/RUN position
with the engine off, the battery could
be drained. You may not be able to
start the vehicle if the battery is
allowed to drain for an extended
period of time.
D (START): This is the position
that starts the engine. When the
engine starts, release the key. The
ignition switch returns to ON/RUN
for driving.
A warning tone will sound when the
driver door is opened, the ignition is
in ACC/ACCESSORY or LOCK/OFF
and the key is in the ignition.
9-25
Starting the Engine
Move the shift lever to P (Park) or
N (Neutral). The engine will not start
in any other position. To restart the
engine when the vehicle is already
moving, use N (Neutral) only.
Notice: 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. With your foot off the accelerator
pedal, turn the ignition to START.
When the engine starts, let go of
the key. The idle speed will slow
down as the engine warms. 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.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
9-26
Black plate (26,1)
Driving and Operating
The vehicle has a
Computer-Controlled Cranking
System. This feature assists in
starting the engine and protects
components. If the ignition key is
turned to the START position,
and then released when the
engine begins cranking, the
engine will continue cranking for
a few seconds or until the
vehicle starts. If the engine does
not start and the key is held in
START, cranking will be stopped
after 15 seconds to prevent
cranking motor damage. To
prevent gear damage, this
system also prevents cranking if
the engine is already running.
Engine cranking can be stopped
by turning the ignition switch to
the ACC/ACCESSORY or
LOCK/OFF position.
When the Low Fuel warning
lamp is on and the FUEL LEVEL
LOW message is displayed in
the Driver Information Center
(DIC), the Computer‐Controlled
Cranking System is disabled to
prevent possible vehicle
component damage. When this
happens, hold the ignition switch
in the START position to
continue engine cranking.
Notice: Cranking the engine for
long periods of time, by returning
the key to the START position
immediately after cranking has
ended, can overheat and damage
the cranking motor, 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
as you hold the key in START
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 key and accelerator.
If the vehicle starts briefly but
then stops again, repeat these
steps. 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.
Notice: The engine is designed to
work with the electronics in the
vehicle. If you add electrical parts
or accessories, you could change
the way the engine operates.
Before adding electrical
equipment, check with your
dealer. If you do not, the engine
might not perform properly. Any
resulting damage would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (27,1)
Driving and Operating
Engine Heater
The engine coolant heater can
provide easier starting and better
fuel economy during engine
warm-up in cold weather conditions
at or below −18°C (0°F). Vehicles
with an engine heater should be
plugged in at least four hours before
starting. An internal thermostat in
the plug-end of the cord may exist
which will prevent engine coolant
heater operation at temperatures
above −18°C (0°F).
To Use the Engine Coolant
Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the
electrical cord. The cord is
secured to the Engine
Compartment Fuse Block with a
clip. Carefully remove the wire
tie which secures the electrical
cord. Do not cut the
electrical cord.
3. Plug the cord into a normal,
grounded 110-volt AC outlet.
{ WARNING
Plugging the cord into an
ungrounded outlet could cause an
electrical shock. Also, the wrong
kind of extension cord could
overheat and cause a fire. You
could be seriously injured. Plug
the cord into a properly grounded
three-prong 110-volt AC outlet.
If the cord will not reach, use a
heavy-duty three-prong extension
cord rated for at least 15 amps.
4. Before starting the engine, be
sure to unplug and store the
cord as it was before to keep it
away from moving engine parts.
If you do not, it could be
damaged.
The length of time the heater should
remain plugged in depends on
several factors. Ask a dealer in the
area where you will be parking the
vehicle for the best advice on this.
9-27
Retained Accessory
Power (RAP)
The following vehicle accessories
can be used for up to 10 minutes
after the engine is turned off:
.
Audio System
.
Power Windows
.
OnStar System (if equipped)
.
Sunroof (if equipped)
These features work when the key
is in ON/RUN or ACC/
ACCESSORY. Once the key is
turned from ON/RUN to LOCK/OFF,
the windows and sunroof continue
to work up to 10 minutes until any
door is opened. The radio continues
to work for up to 10 minutes or until
the driver door is opened.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
9-28
Black plate (28,1)
Driving and Operating
Shifting Into Park
{ WARNING
It can be dangerous to get out of
the vehicle if the shift lever is not
fully in P (Park) with the parking
brake firmly set. The vehicle can
roll. 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, use the steps
that follow. If you are pulling a
trailer, see Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips on page 9‑57.
1. Hold the brake pedal down, then
set the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever into the
P (Park) position by pulling the
shift lever toward you and
moving it up as far as it will go.
3. Turn the ignition key to
LOCK/OFF.
4. Remove the key and take it with
you. If you can leave the vehicle
with the ignition key in your
hand, 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.
The vehicle could move suddenly
if the shift lever is not fully in
P (Park) with the parking brake
firmly set. And, if you leave the
vehicle with the engine running, it
could overheat and even catch
fire. You or others could be
injured. Do not leave the vehicle
with the engine running.
If you have to leave the vehicle with
the engine running, be sure the
vehicle is in P (Park) and the
parking brake is firmly set. After the
shift lever is moved into P (Park),
hold the regular brake pedal down.
Then, see if you can move the shift
lever away from P (Park) without
first pulling it toward you. If you can,
it means that the shift lever was not
fully locked into P (Park).
Torque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and you
do not shift the transmission into
P (Park) properly, the weight of
the vehicle can put too much
force on the parking pawl in the
transmission. It might be difficult to
pull the shift lever out of P (Park).
This is called torque lock. To
prevent torque lock, set the parking
brake and then shift into P (Park)
properly before you leave the driver
seat. To find out how, see Shifting
Into Park on page 9‑28.
When you are ready to drive, move
the shift lever out of P (Park) before
releasing the parking brake.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (29,1)
Driving and Operating
If torque lock does occur, you might
need to have another vehicle push
yours a little uphill to take some of
the pressure from the parking pawl
in the transmission. Then you
should be able to pull the shift lever
out of P (Park).
Shifting out of Park
This vehicle is equipped with an
electronic shift lock release system.
The shift lock release is
designed to:
.
Prevent ignition key removal
unless the shift lever is in
P (Park) with the shift lever
button fully released.
.
Prevent movement of the shift
lever out of P (Park), unless the
ignition is in ON/RUN or ACC/
ACCESSORY and the regular
brake pedal is applied.
The shift lock release 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 on
page 10‑76 for more information.
To shift out of P (Park) use the
following:
1. Apply the brake pedal.
2. Move the shift lever to the
desired position.
9-29
If you still are unable to shift out of
P (Park):
1. Ease the pressure on the shift
lever.
2. While holding down the brake
pedal, press the shift lever all
the way into P (Park).
3. Move the shift lever to the
desired position.
If you are still having a problem
shifting, then have the vehicle
serviced soon.
Parking over Things
That Burn
{ WARNING
Things that can burn could touch
hot exhaust parts under the
vehicle and ignite. Do not park
over papers, leaves, dry grass,
or other things that can burn.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
9-30
Black plate (30,1)
Driving and Operating
Active Fuel Management®
Vehicles with V8 engines may have
Active Fuel Management™. This
system allows the engine to operate
on either all or half of its cylinders,
depending on the driving conditions.
When less power is required, such
as cruising at a constant vehicle
speed, the system will operate in
the half cylinder mode, allowing the
vehicle to achieve better fuel
economy. When greater power
demands are required, such as
accelerating from a stop, passing,
or merging onto a freeway, the
system will maintain full-cylinder
operation.
If the vehicle has an Active Fuel
Management™ indicator, see Driver
Information Center (DIC) on
page 5‑23 for more information on
using this display.
Engine Exhaust
{ WARNING
Engine exhaust contains carbon
monoxide (CO) which cannot be
seen or smelled. Exposure to CO
can cause unconsciousness and
even death.
Exhaust may enter the vehicle if:
.
The vehicle idles in areas
with poor ventilation (parking
garages, tunnels, deep snow
that may block underbody
airflow or tail pipes).
.
The exhaust smells or
sounds strange or different.
.
The exhaust system leaks
due to corrosion or damage.
.
The vehicle exhaust system
has been modified, damaged
or improperly repaired.
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
.
There are holes or openings
in the vehicle body from
damage or aftermarket
modifications that are not
completely sealed.
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.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (31,1)
Driving and Operating
Running the Vehicle
While Parked
It is better not to park with the
engine running. But if you ever have
to, here are some things to know.
{ WARNING
Idling a vehicle in an enclosed
area with poor ventilation is
dangerous. Engine exhaust may
enter the vehicle. Engine exhaust
contains carbon monoxide (CO)
which cannot be seen or smelled.
It can cause unconsciousness
and even death. Never run the
engine in an enclosed area that
has no fresh air ventilation. For
more information, see Engine
Exhaust on page 9‑30.
{ WARNING
It can be dangerous to get out of
the vehicle if the automatic
transmission shift lever is not fully
in P (Park) with the parking brake
firmly set. The vehicle can roll. Do
not leave the vehicle when the
engine is running unless you
have to. 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
move the shift lever to P (Park).
Follow the proper steps to be sure
the vehicle will not move. See
Shifting Into Park on page 9‑28.
If parking on a hill and pulling a
trailer, see Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips on page 9‑57.
9-31
Automatic
Transmission
The vehicle has a
Hydra-Matic® 6L80 automatic
transmission, and has an electronic
shift position indicator within the
instrument panel cluster. The
electronic shift position indicator
displays when the shift lever is
moved out of P (Park).
There are several different positions
for the shift lever.
P (Park): This position locks the
rear wheels. It is the best position to
use when you start the engine
because the vehicle cannot move
easily.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
9-32
Black plate (32,1)
Driving and Operating
When parked on a hill, especially
when the vehicle has a heavy load,
you may notice an increase in the
effort to shift out of P (Park). See
“Torque Lock” under Shifting Into
Park on page 9‑28 for more
information.
{ WARNING
It is dangerous to get out of the
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully
in P (Park) with the parking brake
firmly set. The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the
engine is running unless you
have to. 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
move the shift lever to P (Park).
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
See Shifting Into Park on
page 9‑28. If you are pulling a
trailer, see Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips on page 9‑57.
R (Reverse): Use this gear to
back up.
Notice: Shifting to R (Reverse)
while the vehicle is moving
forward could damage the
transmission. The repairs would
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Shift to R (Reverse) only
after the vehicle is stopped.
To rock the vehicle back and forth to
get out of snow, ice, or sand without
damaging the transmission, see If
the Vehicle Is Stuck on page 9‑15.
N (Neutral): In this position, the
engine does not connect with the
wheels. To restart when you are
already moving, use N (Neutral)
only. Also, use N (Neutral) when the
vehicle is being towed.
{ WARNING
Shifting into a drive gear while the
engine is running at high speed is
dangerous. Unless your foot is
firmly on the brake pedal, the
vehicle could move very rapidly.
You could lose control and hit
people or objects. Do not shift
into a drive gear while the engine
is running at high speed.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (33,1)
Driving and Operating
Notice: Shifting out of P (Park) or
N (Neutral) with the engine
running at high speed may
damage the transmission. The
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Be sure the
engine is not running at high
speed when shifting the vehicle.
D (Drive): This position is for
normal driving. It provides the best
fuel economy. If you need more
power for passing, and you are:
.
Going less than about 55 km/h
(35 mph), push the accelerator
pedal about halfway down.
.
Going about 55 km/h (35 mph) or
more, push the accelerator all
the way down.
By doing this, the vehicle shifts
down to the next gear and has more
power.
D (Drive) can be used when towing
a trailer, carrying a heavy load,
driving on steep hills, or for off-road
driving. You may want to shift the
transmission to a lower gear
selection if the transmission shifts
too often.
Downshifting the transmission in
slippery road conditions could result
in skidding. See “Skidding” under
Loss of Control on page 9‑5.
M (Manual Mode): This position
lets drivers select the range of gears
appropriate for current driving
conditions. See “Driver Shift
Control (DSC)” under Manual Mode
on page 9‑34.
9-33
Notice: Spinning the tires or
holding the vehicle in one
place on a hill using only the
accelerator pedal may damage
the transmission. The repair will
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. If you are stuck, do not
spin the tires. When stopping on
a hill, use the brakes to hold the
vehicle in place.
The vehicle has a shift stabilization
feature that adjusts the transmission
shifting to the current driving
conditions in order to reduce rapid
upshifts and downshifts. This shift
stabilization feature is designed to
determine, before making an
upshift, if the engine will be able to
maintain vehicle speed by analyzing
things such as vehicle speed,
throttle position and vehicle load.
If the shift stabilization feature
determines that a current vehicle
speed cannot be maintained, the
transmission does not upshift and
instead holds the current gear.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
9-34
Black plate (34,1)
Driving and Operating
In some cases, this may appear to
be a delayed shift, however the
transmission is operating normally.
The vehicle's transmission uses
adaptive shift controls that
compares key shift parameters to
pre-programmed ideal shifts stored
in the transmissions computer. The
transmission constantly makes
adjustments to improve vehicle
performance according to how the
vehicle is being used, such as with
a heavy load or when temperature
changes. During this adaptive shift
controls process, shifting may feel
different as the transmission
determines the best settings.
When temperatures are very cold,
the Hydra-Matic® 6L80 automatic
transmission's gear shifting may be
delayed providing more stable shifts
until the engine warms up. Shifts
may be more noticeable with a cold
transmission. This difference in
shifting is normal.
Manual Mode
Driver Shift Control (DSC)
The vehicle has Driver Shift
Control (DSC). DSC controls the
vehicle's transmission and vehicle
speed while driving down hill or
towing a trailer by allowing you to
select a desired range of gears.
To use this feature, do the following:
1. Move the shift lever to the
M (Manual Mode).
2. Press the plus/minus button, to
upshift or downshift selecting the
desired range of gears for
current driving conditions.
The DIC display will show the
message MANUAL SHIFT on the
first line and the current gear will be
displayed on the second line. The
number displayed in the DIC is the
highest gear that can be used.
However, the vehicle can
automatically shift to lower gears as
it adjusts to driving conditions. This
means that all gears below that
number are available. When 5 (Fifth)
is selected, 1 (First) through 5 (Fifth)
gears are automatically shifted by
the vehicle, but 6 (Sixth) cannot be
used until the plus/minus button
located on the steering column lever
is used to change to the gear.
Grade Braking is not available when
the Driver Shift Control is active.
See Tow/Haul Mode on page 9‑35
for more information.
While using the DSC, Cruise
Control and the Tow/Haul Mode can
be used.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (35,1)
Driving and Operating
Tow/Haul Mode
See Tow/Haul Mode Light on
page 5‑19 and Hill and Mountain
Roads on page 9‑12 for more
information.
Also see “Tow/Haul Mode” under
Towing Equipment on page 9‑64 for
more information.
The vehicle has a Tow/Haul Mode.
The Tow/Haul Mode adjusts the
transmission shift pattern to reduce
shift cycling, providing increased
performance, vehicle control, and
transmission cooling when driving
down steep hills and mountain
grades, towing, or hauling heavy
loads.
Press the button located on the end
of the shift lever to turn the tow/haul
on or off. When the tow/haul is on, a
light on the instrument panel cluster
will come on.
The Tow/Haul Mode works with the
Autoride® feature, if the vehicle has
this, to enhance the ride when
trailering or with a loaded vehicle.
See Continuous Damping Control
(CDC) on page 9‑42.
Grade Braking
The Grade Braking shift modes can
be activated by pressing the button
on the end of the shift control lever.
While in Range Selection Mode,
Grade Braking is deactivated
allowing the driver to select a
desired range of gears.
9-35
Grade Braking is only active while
the Tow/Haul Mode is selected and
you are not in the Range Selection
Mode. See “Tow/Haul Mode” listed
previously and Manual Mode on
page 9‑34 for more information on
the Range Selection Mode. Grade
Braking assists in maintaining
desired vehicle speeds when driving
on downhill grades by automatically
implementing a shift schedule that
utilizes the engine and transmission
to slow the vehicle. This reduces
wear on the braking system and
increases control of the vehicle.
Grade Braking monitors vehicle
speed, acceleration, engine torque
and brake pedal usage. Using this
information, it detects when the
vehicle is on a downhill grade and
the driver desires to slow the vehicle
by pressing the brake.
Also see Towing Equipment on
page 9‑64 for more information.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
9-36
Black plate (36,1)
Driving and Operating
Drive Systems
Brakes
All-Wheel Drive
Antilock Brake
System (ABS)
With this feature, engine power is
sent to all four wheels at all times.
This is like four-wheel drive, but
there is no separate lever or switch
to engage or disengage the front
axle. It is fully automatic, and
adjusts itself as needed for road
conditions.
This vehicle has the Antilock Brake
System (ABS), an advanced
electronic braking system that helps
prevent a braking skid.
When the engine is started and the
vehicle begins to drive away, ABS
checks itself. A momentary motor or
clicking noise might be heard while
this test is going on, and it might
even be noticed that the brake
pedal moves a little. This is normal.
If there is a problem with ABS, this
warning light stays on. See Antilock
Brake System (ABS) Warning Light
on page 5‑19.
If driving safely on a wet road and it
becomes necessary to slam on the
brakes and continue braking to
avoid a sudden obstacle, a
computer senses that the wheels
are slowing down. If one of the
wheels is about to stop rolling, the
computer will separately work the
brakes at each wheel.
ABS can change the brake pressure
to each wheel, as required, faster
than any driver could. This can help
the driver steer around the obstacle
while braking hard.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (37,1)
Driving and Operating
As the brakes are applied, the
computer keeps receiving updates
on wheel speed and controls
braking pressure accordingly.
Remember: ABS does not change
the time needed to get a foot up to
the brake pedal or always decrease
stopping distance. If you get too
close to the vehicle in front of you,
there will not be enough time to
apply the brakes if that vehicle
suddenly slows or stops. Always
leave enough room up ahead to
stop, even with ABS.
Braking in Emergencies
ABS allows the driver to steer and
brake at the same time. In many
emergencies, steering can help
more than even the very best
braking.
Parking Brake
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold
the brake pedal down firmly and let
ABS work. You might hear the ABS
pump or motor operating and feel
the brake pedal pulsate, but this is
normal.
Set the parking brake by holding the
regular brake pedal down, then
pushing down the parking brake
pedal.
9-37
If the ignition is on, the brake
system warning light will come on.
See Brake System Warning Light on
page 5‑18.
Notice: 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.
To release the parking brake, hold
the regular brake pedal down, then
push down momentarily on the
parking brake pedal until you feel
the pedal release. Slowly pull your
foot up off the parking brake pedal.
If the parking brake is not released
when you begin to drive, the brake
system warning light will flash and a
chime will sound warning you that
the parking brake is still on.
If you are towing a trailer and are
parking on a hill, see Driving
Characteristics and Towing Tips on
page 9‑57.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
9-38
Black plate (38,1)
Driving and Operating
Brake Assist
This vehicle has a brake assist
feature designed to assist the driver
in stopping or decreasing vehicle
speed in emergency driving
conditions. This feature uses the
stability system hydraulic brake
control module to supplement the
power brake system under
conditions where the driver has
quickly and forcefully applied the
brake pedal in an attempt to quickly
stop or slow down the vehicle. The
stability system hydraulic brake
control module increases brake
pressure at each corner of the
vehicle until the ABS activates.
Minor brake pedal pulsation or
pedal movement during this time is
normal and the driver should
continue to apply the brake pedal
as the driving situation dictates.
The brake assist feature will
automatically disengage when the
brake pedal is released or brake
pedal pressure is quickly
decreased.
Hill Start Assist (HSA)
Vehicles with StabiliTrak have a Hill
Start Assist (HSA) feature, which
may be useful when the vehicle is
stopped on a grade. This feature is
designed to prevent the vehicle from
rolling, either forward or rearward,
during vehicle drive off. After the
driver completely stops and
holds the vehicle in a complete
standstill on a grade, HSA will
be automatically activated.
During the transition period between
when the driver releases the brake
pedal and starts to accelerate to
drive off on a grade, HSA holds the
braking pressure for a maximum of
two seconds to ensure that there
is no rolling. The brakes will
automatically release when the
accelerator pedal is applied within
the two‐second window. It will not
activate if the vehicle is in a drive
gear and facing downhill or if the
vehicle is facing uphill and in
R (Reverse). There may be
situations on minor hills (less than
5% grade) with a loaded vehicle or
while pulling a trailer where HSA will
not activate.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (39,1)
Driving and Operating
Ride Control Systems
StabiliTrak® System
The vehicle has a vehicle stability
enhancement system called
StabiliTrak. It is an advanced
computer-controlled system that
assists the driver with directional
control of the vehicle in difficult
driving conditions.
StabiliTrak activates when the
computer senses a discrepancy
between the intended path and the
direction the vehicle is actually
traveling. StabiliTrak selectively
applies braking pressure at any one
of the vehicle's brakes to assist the
driver with keeping the vehicle on
the intended path.
StabiliTrak is on automatically
whenever the vehicle is started. To
assist with directional control of the
vehicle, the system should always
be left on. Trailer Sway Control
(TSC) is also on automatically when
the vehicle is started. See Trailer
Sway Control (TSC) on page 9‑67
for more information.
When the vehicle is started and
begins to move, the system
performs several diagnostic checks
to insure there are no problems.
The system may be heard or felt
while it is working. This is normal
and does not mean there is a
problem with the vehicle. The
system should initialize before the
vehicle reaches 32 km/h (20 mph).
In some cases, it may take
approximately 3.2 km (2 mi) of
driving before the system initializes.
If cruise control is being used when
StabiliTrak activates, the cruise
control automatically disengages.
The cruise control can be
re-engaged when road conditions
allow. See Cruise Control on
page 9‑43.
If the system fails to turn on or
activate, the StabiliTrak light along
with a message will be displayed on
the Driver Information Center (DIC).
9-39
If a DIC message appears, make
sure the StabiliTrak system has not
been turned off using the Traction
Control System (TCS)/StabiliTrak
button. Then turn the vehicle off,
wait 15 seconds, and then turn it
back on again to reset the system.
If any of the messages still appear
on the DIC, the vehicle should be
taken in for service. For more
information on the DIC messages,
see Ride Control System Messages
on page 5‑32.
The TCS/StabiliTrak light will flash
on the instrument panel cluster
when the system or the TSC feature
is both on and activated.
The system may be heard or felt
while it is working; this is normal.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
9-40
Black plate (40,1)
Driving and Operating
and the appropriate DIC message
displays. This will also disable the
TSC feature.
The TCS/StabiliTrak button is
located on the instrument panel.
The traction control part of
StabiliTrak can be turned off by
pressing and releasing the TCS/
StabiliTrak button if both systems
(traction control and StabiliTrak)
were previously on.
To disable both TCS and
StabiliTrak, press and hold
the TCS/StabiliTrak button until
the StabiliTrak OFF light illuminates
Traction control and StabiliTrak
can be turned on by pressing and
releasing the TCS/StabiliTrak button
if they are not automatically shut off
for any other reason. This will also
enable the TSC feature.
When the TCS or StabiliTrak system
is turned off, the StabiliTrak light
and the appropriate message will be
displayed on the DIC to warn the
driver. The vehicle will still have
brake-traction control when traction
control is off, but will not be able to
use the engine speed management
system. See “Traction Control
Operation” next for more
information.
When the TCS has been turned off,
system noises may still be heard as
a result of the brake-traction control
coming on.
It is recommended to leave the
system on for normal driving
conditions, but it may be necessary
to turn the system off if the vehicle
is stuck in sand, mud, ice or snow,
and you want to “rock” the vehicle to
attempt to free it. It may also be
necessary to turn off the system
when driving in extreme off-road
conditions where high wheel spin is
required. See If the Vehicle Is Stuck
on page 9‑15.
Traction Control Operation
The TCS is part of the StabiliTrak
system. Traction control limits wheel
spin by reducing engine power to
the wheels (engine speed
management) and by applying
brakes to each individual wheel
(brake-traction control) as
necessary.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (41,1)
Driving and Operating
The TCS is enabled automatically
when the vehicle is started. It will
activate and the StabiliTrak light will
flash if it senses that any of the
wheels are spinning or beginning to
lose traction while driving. If traction
control is turned off, only the
brake-traction control portion of
traction control will work. The
engine speed management will be
disabled. In this mode, engine
power is not reduced automatically
and the driven wheels can spin
more freely. This can cause the
brake-traction control to activate
constantly.
The TCS may activate on dry or
rough roads or under conditions
such as heavy acceleration while
turning or abrupt upshifts/downshifts
of the transmission. When this
happens, a reduction in acceleration
may be noticed, or a noise or
vibration may be heard. This is
normal.
Notice: If the wheel(s) of one axle
is allowed to spin excessively
while the StabiliTrak®, ABS, brake
warning lights, and any relevant
DIC messages are displayed, the
transfer case could be damaged.
The repairs would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty. Reduce
engine power and do not spin the
wheel(s) excessively while these
lights and messages are
displayed.
StabiliTrak may also turn off
automatically if it determines that a
problem exists with the system.
If the problem does not clear itself
after restarting the vehicle, see your
dealer for service.
If cruise control is being used when
the system activates, the StabiliTrak
light will flash and cruise control will
automatically disengage. Cruise
control may be reengaged when
road conditions allow. See Cruise
Control on page 9‑43.
9-41
Vehicles with StabiliTrak have a
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) feature.
See Trailer Sway Control (TSC) on
page 9‑67.
Vehicles with StabiliTrak have a Hill
Start Assist (HSA) feature. See Hill
Start Assist (HSA) on page 9‑38.
Adding non‐dealer accessories can
affect the vehicle's performance.
See Accessories and Modifications
on page 10‑2.
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.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
9-42
Black plate (42,1)
Driving and Operating
Continuous Damping
Control (CDC)
This vehicle may have a continuous
damping control system called
Autoride® or MagneRide™. With
this feature, improved vehicle ride
and handling is provided under a
variety of passenger and loading
conditions.
Autoride and MagneRide are fully
automatic and use a computer
controller to continuously monitor
vehicle speed, wheel to body
position, lift/dive and steering
position of the vehicle. The
controller then sends signals to
each shock absorber to
independently adjust the damping
level to provide the optimum
vehicle ride.
Autoride and MagneRide also
interact with the tow/haul mode that,
when activated, will provide
additional control of the shock
absorbers. This additional control
results in better ride and handling
characteristics when the vehicle is
loaded or towing a trailer. See “Tow/
Haul Mode” under Trailer Towing on
page 9‑61 for more information.
Automatic Level Control
The automatic level control rear
suspension is available on light‐duty
vehicles and comes as a part of the
Continuous Damping Control (CDC)
suspension, if equipped.
This type of level control is fully
automatic and will provide a better
leveled riding position as well as
better handling under a variety of
passenger and loading conditions.
An air compressor connected to the
rear shocks will raise or lower the
rear of the vehicle to maintain
proper vehicle height. The system is
activated when the ignition key is
turned to ON/RUN and will
automatically adjust vehicle height
thereafter. The system may exhaust
(lower vehicle height) for up to
ten minutes after the ignition key
has been turned off. You may hear
the air compressor operating when
the height is being adjusted.
If a weight‐distributing hitch is being
used, it is recommended to allow
the shocks to inflate, thereby
leveling the vehicle prior to adjusting
the hitch.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (43,1)
Driving and Operating
Cruise Control
{ WARNING
Cruise control can be dangerous
where you cannot drive safely at
a steady speed. So, do not use
the cruise control on winding
roads or in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous
on slippery roads. On such roads,
fast changes in tire traction can
cause excessive wheel slip, and
you could lose control. Do not use
cruise control on slippery roads.
With cruise control, a speed of
about 40 km/h (25 mph) or more can
be maintained without keeping your
foot on the accelerator. Cruise
control does not work at speeds
below about 40 km/h (25 mph).
9-43
When the brakes are applied, the
cruise control turns off.
This vehicle has a Hydra‐Matic
6‐speed automatic transmission,
see “Grade Braking” under
Tow/Haul Mode on page 9‑35
for an explanation of how cruise
control interacts with the Range
Selection Mode, tow/haul and
grade braking systems.
This vehicle has StabiliTrak and
when the system begins to limit
wheel spin, the cruise control will
automatically disengage. See
StabiliTrak® System on page 9‑39.
When road conditions allow the
cruise control to be safely used
again, it can be turned back on.
I (On/Off): Turns the system on
and off. The indicator light on the
button turns on when cruise control
is on and turns off when cruise
control is off.
+ RES (Resume/Accelerate):
Press briefly to make the vehicle
resume to a previously set speed,
or press and hold to accelerate.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
9-44
Driving and Operating
SET − (Set/Coast): Press to set
the speed and activate cruise
control or make the vehicle
decelerate.
[ (Cancel):
Press to disengage
cruise control without erasing the
set speed from memory.
Setting Cruise Control
If the cruise button is on when not in
use, it could get bumped and go into
cruise when not desired. Keep the
cruise control switch off when cruise
is not being used.
The cruise control light on the
instrument panel cluster comes on
after the cruise control has been set
to the desired speed.
1. Press
Black plate (44,1)
Resuming a Set Speed
If the cruise control is set at a
desired speed and then the brakes
are applied, the cruise control is
disengaged without erasing the set
speed from memory.
Once the vehicle speed reaches
about 40 km/h (25 mph) or more,
press the +RES button on the
steering wheel. The vehicle returns
to the previous set speed and stays
there.
Increasing Speed While Using
Cruise Control
If the cruise control system is
already activated,
.
Press and hold the +RES button
on the steering wheel until the
desired speed is reached, then
release it.
.
To increase vehicle speed in
small amounts, press the +RES
button. Each time this is done,
the vehicle goes about 1.6 km/h
(1 mph) faster.
I.
2. Get up to the desired speed.
3. Press the SET− button located
on the steering wheel and
release it.
4. Take your foot off the
accelerator.
Reducing Speed While Using
Cruise Control
If the cruise control system is
already activated,
.
Press and hold the SET– button
on the steering wheel until the
desired lower speed is reached,
then release it.
.
To slow down in small amounts,
press the SET– button on the
steering wheel briefly. Each time
this is done, the vehicle goes
about 1.6 km/h (1 mph) slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While
Using Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to
increase your speed. When you
take your foot off the pedal, the
vehicle will slow down to the
previous set cruise speed.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (45,1)
Driving and Operating
Using Cruise Control on Hills
Ending Cruise Control
How well the cruise control works
on hills depends on the vehicle
speed, the load, and the steepness
of the hills. When going up steep
hills, pressing the accelerator pedal
may be necessary to maintain
vehicle speed.
There are three ways to end cruise
control:
While going downhill, the Cruise
Grade Braking feature may
automatically shift to a lower gear to
keep the vehicle's speed down.
It may be necessary to apply the
brake or manually shift the
transmission to a lower gear. The
vehicle may shift to a higher gear
when grade braking assistance is
no longer required. Cruise Grade
Braking is not available while in
Range Selection Mode. See "Range
Selection Mode" under Manual
Mode on page 9‑34.
When the brakes are manually
applied the cruise control is
disengaged.
.
To disengage cruise control,
step lightly on the brake pedal.
.
Press the [ button on the
steering wheel.
.
To turn off the cruise control,
press I on the steering wheel.
Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed is
erased from memory by pressing
the I button or if the ignition is
turned off.
9-45
Object Detection
Systems
Ultrasonic Parking Assist
If available, the Ultrasonic Rear
Parking Assist (URPA) system
operates at parking speeds and
assists with avoiding objects while
parking in R (Reverse).
{ WARNING
The URPA system does not
detect pedestrians, bicyclists,
animals, or any other objects
located below the bumper or that
are too close or too far from the
vehicle. To prevent injury, death,
or vehicle damage, even with
URPA, always check behind the
vehicle and check all mirrors
before backing.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
9-46
Black plate (46,1)
Driving and Operating
How the System Works
When the System Does Not
Seem to Work Properly
URPA comes on automatically when
the shift lever is moved into
R (Reverse). A single tone sounds
to indicate the system is working.
The following messages may be
displayed on the DIC:
URPA operates only at speeds less
than 8 km/h (5 mph).
Press this button, located next to
the radio, to disable URPA.
An obstacle is indicated by audible
beeps. The interval between the
beeps becomes shorter as the
vehicle approaches the obstacle.
A continuous tone is heard when
the distance is less than
30 cm (12 in).
The indicator light comes on and
PARK ASSIST OFF displays on the
Driver Information Center (DIC) to
indicate that URPA is off. See
Object Detection System Messages
on page 5‑32.
To be detected, objects must be at
least 25 cm (10 in) off the ground
and below tailgate level. Objects
must also be within 2.5 m (8 ft) from
the rear bumper. This distance may
be less during warmer or humid
weather.
Notice: If you use URPA while the
tailgate is lowered, it may not
detect an object behind your
vehicle, and you might back into
the object and damage your
vehicle. Always verify the tailgate
is closed when using URPA or
turn off URPA when driving with
the tailgate lowered.
SERVICE PARKING ASSIST: If
this message occurs, take the
vehicle to your dealer to repair the
system.
PARKING ASSIST OFF: This
message occurs if the driver
disables the system.
PARKING ASSIST BLOCKED SEE
OWNERS MANUAL: This
message can occur under the
following conditions:
.
The ultrasonic sensors are not
clean. Keep the vehicle's rear
bumper free of mud, dirt, snow,
ice, slush, and frost. The
message may not clear until
frost or ice has melted all around
and inside the sensor.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (47,1)
Driving and Operating
.
.
A trailer was attached to the
vehicle, or a bicycle or an object
was hanging out of the tailgate
during the current or last drive
cycle. URPA will return to normal
operation after it is determined
the object is removed. This
could take a few drive cycles.
A tow bar is attached to the
vehicle.
Other conditions may affect system
performance, such as vibrations
from a jackhammer or the
compression of air brakes on
a very large truck.
Rear Vision
Camera (RVC)
If available, the Rear Vision Camera
(RVC) system displays part of the
scene behind the vehicle.
{ WARNING
The RVC system does not display
pedestrians, bicyclists, animals,
or any other object located
outside the camera's field of view,
below the bumper, or under the
vehicle.
Do not back the vehicle using
only the RVC screen or by using
the screen during longer, higher
speed backing maneuvers,
or where there could be
cross-traffic. Perceived distances
may be different from actual
distances.
Failure to use proper care before
backing may result in injury,
death, or vehicle damage. Always
check before backing by checking
behind and around the vehicle.
9-47
Turning the Rear Vision
Camera System On or Off
The RVC system is designed to
help the driver when backing up by
displaying a view of the area behind
the vehicle. When the vehicle is
shifted into R (Reverse), the video
image appears on the navigation
screen. After a delay, the navigation
screen displays the last screen after
the vehicle is shifted out of
R (Reverse).
To turn the RVC system on or off:
1. Shift into P (Park).
2. Press the CONFIG hard key to
enter the configure menu
options, then press the CONFIG
hard key to select Display or
touch the Display screen button.
3. Select the Rear Camera Options
screen button. The Rear Camera
Options screen displays.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
9-48
Black plate (48,1)
Driving and Operating
Adjusting the Brightness and
Contrast of the Screen
To adjust the brightness and
contrast of the screen, press the
CONFIG hard key while the RVC
image is on the display. Any
adjustments made will only affect
the RVC screen.
4. Select the Video screen button.
When the Video screen button is
highlighted the RVC
system is on.
] (Brightness): Touch the + (plus)
or – (minus) screen buttons to
increase or decrease the brightness
of the screen.
The delay that is received after
shifting out of R (Reverse) is
approximately 10 seconds. The
delay can be canceled by
performing one of the following:
_ (Contrast):
.
Pressing a hard key on the
navigation system.
.
Shifting in to P (Park).
.
Reach a vehicle speed of
8 km/h (5 mph).
Touch the + (plus) or
– (minus) screen buttons to increase
or decrease the contrast of the
screen.
Symbols
The navigation system may have a
feature that allows for viewing
parking assist symbols on the
navigation screen while using the
RVC. The Ultrasonic Rear Park
Assist (URPA) system must not be
disabled to use the caution symbols.
If URPA has been disabled and the
symbols have been turned on, the
Rear Parking Assist Symbols
Unavailable error message may
display. See Ultrasonic Parking
Assist on page 9‑45.
The symbols appear near objects
detected by the URPA system. The
symbol may cover the object when
viewing the navigation screen.
To turn the symbols on or off:
1. Make sure that URPA has not
been disabled.
2. Shift into P (Park).
3. Press the CONFIG hard key to
enter the configure menu
options, then press the CONFIG
hard key to select Display or
touch the Display screen button.
4. Select the Rear Camera Options
screen button. The Rear Camera
Options screen displays.
5. Touch the Symbols screen
button. The screen button will be
highlighted when on.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (49,1)
Driving and Operating
Guidelines
9-49
RVC Location
The RVC system has a guideline
overlay that can help the driver align
the vehicle when backing into a
parking spot.
To turn the guidelines on or off:
1. Make sure that URPA has not
been disabled.
2. Shift into P (Park).
3. Press the CONFIG hard key to
enter the configure menu
options, then press the CONFIG
hard key to select Display or
touch the Display screen button.
4. Select the Rear Camera Options
screen button. The Rear Camera
Options screen displays.
A. View displayed by the camera
The camera is located under the
tailgate handle.
This shows the field of view that the
camera provides.
5. Touch the Guidelines screen
button. The screen button will be
highlighted when on.
A. View displayed by the camera
B. Corners of the rear bumper
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
9-50
Black plate (50,1)
Driving and Operating
Displayed images may be further or
closer than they appear. The area
displayed is limited and objects
which are close to either corner of
the bumper or under the bumper do
not display.
When the System Does Not
Seem To Work Properly
The RVC system might not work
properly or display a clear image if:
.
The RVC is turned off. See
“Turning the RVC System On or
Off” earlier in this section.
.
It is dark.
.
The sun or the beam of
headlamps is shining directly
into the camera lens.
.
Ice, snow, mud, or anything else
builds up on the camera lens.
Clean the lens, rinse it with
water, and wipe it with a soft
cloth.
.
The back of the vehicle is in an
accident, the position and
mounting angle of the camera
can change or the camera can
be affected. Be sure to have the
camera and its position and
mounting angle checked at your
dealer.
Fuel
Use of the recommended fuel is an
important part of the proper
maintenance of this vehicle. To help
keep the engine clean and maintain
optimum vehicle performance, we
recommend the use of gasoline
advertised as TOP TIER Detergent
Gasoline.
Look for the TOP TIER label on the
fuel pump to ensure gasoline meets
enhanced detergency standards
developed by auto companies. A list
of marketers providing TOP TIER
Detergent Gasoline can be found at
www.toptiergas.com.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (51,1)
Driving and Operating
Recommended Fuel
Vehicles that have a FlexFuel badge
and a yellow fuel cap can use either
unleaded gasoline or ethanol fuel
containing up to 85% ethanol (E85).
See Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol) on
page 9‑53. For all other vehicles,
use only the unleaded gasoline
described under Recommended
Fuel on page 9‑51.
Use premium unleaded gasoline
with a posted octane rating of 91 or
higher. You can also use regular
unleaded gasoline rated at
87 octane or higher, but the
vehicle's acceleration could be
slightly reduced, and a slight audible
knocking noise, commonly referred
to as spark knock, might be heard.
If the octane is less than 87, you
might notice a heavy knocking noise
when you drive. If this occurs, use a
gasoline rated at 87 octane or
higher as soon as possible.
Otherwise, you could damage the
engine. If heavy knocking is heard
when using gasoline rated at
91 octane or higher, the engine
needs service.
9-51
Gasoline Specifications
(U.S. and Canada Only)
At a minimum, gasoline should
meet ASTM specification
D 4814 in the United States or
CAN/CGSB‐3.5 or 3.511 in
Canada. Some gasolines contain an
octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT). We recommend
against the use of gasolines
containing MMT. See Fuel Additives
on page 9‑52 for additional
information.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
9-52
Black plate (52,1)
Driving and Operating
California Fuel
Requirements
Fuels in Foreign
Countries
If the vehicle is certified to meet
California Emissions Standards, it is
designed to operate on fuels that
meet California specifications. See
the underhood emission control
label. If this fuel is not available in
states adopting California Emissions
Standards, the vehicle will operate
satisfactorily on fuels meeting
federal specifications, but emission
control system performance might
be affected. The malfunction
indicator lamp could turn on and the
vehicle might fail a smog‐check test.
See Malfunction Indicator Lamp on
page 5‑15. If this occurs, return to
your authorized dealer for diagnosis.
If it is determined that the condition
is caused by the type of fuel used,
repairs might not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
Never use leaded gasoline or any
other fuel not recommended in the
previous text on fuel. Costly repairs
caused by use of improper fuel
would not be covered by the vehicle
warranty.
To check the fuel availability, ask an
auto club, or contact a major oil
company that does business in the
country where you will be driving.
Fuel Additives
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines
in the United States are now
required to contain additives that
help prevent engine and fuel system
deposits from forming, allowing the
emission control system to work
properly. In most cases, nothing
should have to be added to the fuel.
However, some gasolines contain
only the minimum amount of
additive required to meet U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency
regulations. To help keep fuel
injectors and intake valves clean
and avoid problems due to dirty
injectors or valves, look for gasoline
that is advertised as TOP TIER
Detergent Gasoline. Look for the
TOP TIER label on the fuel pump to
ensure gasoline meets enhanced
detergency standards developed by
the auto companies. A list of
marketers providing TOP TIER
Detergent Gasoline can be found at
www.toptiergas.com.
For customers who do not use TOP
TIER Detergent Gasoline regularly,
one bottle of GM Fuel System
Treatment PLUS, added to the fuel
tank at every engine oil change, can
help clean deposits from fuel
injectors and intake valves. GM Fuel
System Treatment PLUS is the only
gasoline additive recommended by
General Motors. It is available at
your dealer.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (53,1)
Driving and Operating
Gasolines containing oxygenates,
such as ethers and ethanol, and
reformulated gasolines might be
available in your area. We
recommend that you use these
gasolines, if they comply with the
specifications described earlier.
However, E85 (85% ethanol) and
other fuels containing more than
15% ethanol must not be used in
vehicles that were not designed for
those fuels.
Notice: This vehicle was not
designed for fuel that contains
methanol. Do not use fuel
containing methanol. It can
corrode metal parts in the fuel
system and also damage plastic
and rubber parts. That damage
would not be covered under the
vehicle warranty.
Some gasolines that are
not reformulated for low
emissions can contain an
octane-enhancing additive called
methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT); ask the attendant
where you buy gasoline whether the
fuel contains MMT. We recommend
against the use of such gasolines.
Fuels containing MMT can reduce
spark plug life and affect emission
control system performance. The
malfunction indicator lamp might
turn on. If this occurs, return to your
dealer for service.
9-53
Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol)
Vehicles that have a FlexFuel badge
and a yellow fuel cap can use either
unleaded gasoline or ethanol fuel
containing up to 85% ethanol (E85).
For all other vehicles, use only the
unleaded gasoline described under
Recommended Fuel on page 9‑51.
We encourage the use of E85 in
vehicles that are designed to use it.
The ethanol in E85 is a “renewable”
fuel, meaning it is made from
renewable sources such as corn
and other crops.
Many service stations will not have
an 85% ethanol fuel (E85) pump
available. The U.S. Department of
Energy has an alternative fuels
website (www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/
locator/stations/) that can help you
find E85 fuel. Those stations that do
have E85 should have a label
indicating ethanol content. Do not
use the fuel if the ethanol content is
greater than 85%.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
9-54
Black plate (54,1)
Driving and Operating
At a minimum, E85 should meet
ASTM Specification D 5798 or
CGSB Specification 3.512. Filling
the tank with fuel mixtures that
do not meet ASTM or CGSB
specifications can affect driveability
and could cause the malfunction
indicator lamp to come on. As the
outside temperature approaches
freezing, ethanol fuel distributors
should supply winter grade ethanol,
the same as with unleaded
gasoline. Winter grade blends
typically do not exceed
70% ethanol (E70).
The starting characteristics of
ethanol make it more difficult to start
below 0°C (32°F), which may lead
to longer start/crank times. Engine
start on ethanol fuels down to
−30°C (−20°F) is possible, provided
a winter grade ethanol blend
is used.
It is best not to alternate repeatedly
between gasoline and E85. If you
do switch fuels, it is recommended
that you add as much fuel as
possible — do not add less than
11 L (3 gal) when refueling. You
should drive the vehicle immediately
after refueling for at least 11 km
(7 mi) to allow the vehicle to adapt
to the change in ethanol
concentration.
E85 has less energy per liter
(gallon) than gasoline, so you will
need to refill the fuel tank more
often when using E85 than when
you are using gasoline. See Filling
the Tank on page 9‑54.
Notice: Some additives are not
compatible with E85 fuel and can
harm the vehicle's fuel system.
Do not add anything to E85.
Damage caused by additives
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
Notice: This vehicle was not
designed for fuel that contains
methanol. Do not use fuel
containing methanol. It can
corrode metal parts in the fuel
system and also damage plastic
and rubber parts. That damage
would not be covered under the
vehicle warranty.
Filling the Tank
{ WARNING
Fuel vapor burns violently and a
fuel fire can cause bad injuries.
To help avoid injuries to you and
others, read and follow all the
instructions on the fuel pump
island. Turn off the engine when
refueling. Do not smoke near fuel
or when refueling the vehicle. Do
not use cellular phones. Keep
sparks, flames, and smoking
materials away from fuel. Do not
leave the fuel pump unattended
when refueling the vehicle. This is
against the law in some places.
Do not re-enter the vehicle while
pumping fuel. Keep children away
from the fuel pump; never let
children pump fuel.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (55,1)
Driving and Operating
{ WARNING
The tethered fuel cap is located
behind a hinged fuel door on the
driver side of the vehicle. If the
vehicle has E85 fuel capability, the
fuel cap will be yellow and state that
E85 or gasoline can be used. See
Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol) on
page 9‑53.
To remove the fuel cap, turn it
slowly counterclockwise. It will
require more effort to turn the fuel
cap on the last turn as you loosen it.
Fuel can spray out on you if you
open the fuel cap too quickly.
If you spill fuel and then
something ignites it, you could be
badly burned. This spray can
happen if the tank is nearly full,
and is more likely in hot weather.
Open the fuel cap slowly and wait
for any hiss noise to stop. Then
unscrew the cap all the way.
Be careful not to spill fuel. Do not
top off or overfill the tank and wait a
few seconds after you have finished
pumping before removing the
nozzle. Clean fuel from painted
surfaces as soon as possible. See
Exterior Care on page 10‑82.
9-55
When replacing the fuel cap, insert
the tether in its hole before
tightening the cap. Turn the fuel cap
clockwise until it clicks. It will require
more effort to turn the fuel cap on
the last turn as you tighten it. Make
sure the cap is fully installed. The
diagnostic system can determine if
the fuel cap has been left off or
improperly installed. This would
allow fuel to evaporate into the
atmosphere. See Malfunction
Indicator Lamp on page 5‑15.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
9-56
Black plate (56,1)
Driving and Operating
The TIGHTEN GAS CAP message
displays on the Driver Information
Center (DIC) if the fuel cap is not
properly installed. See Fuel System
Messages on page 5‑31 for more
information.
{ WARNING
If a fire starts while you are
refueling, do not remove the
nozzle. Shut off the flow of fuel by
shutting off the pump or by
notifying the station attendant.
Leave the area immediately.
Notice: If a new fuel cap is
needed, be sure to get the right
type of cap from your dealer. The
wrong type of fuel cap might not
fit properly, might cause the
malfunction indicator lamp to
light, and could damage the fuel
tank and emissions system. See
Malfunction Indicator Lamp on
page 5‑15.
Filling a Portable Fuel
Container
{ WARNING
Never fill a portable fuel container
while it is in the vehicle. Static
electricity discharge from the
container can ignite the fuel
vapor. You can be badly burned
and the vehicle damaged if this
occurs. To help avoid injury to you
and others:
.
Dispense fuel only into
approved containers.
.
Do not fill a container while it
is inside a vehicle, in a
vehicle's trunk, pickup bed,
or on any surface other than
the ground.
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
.
Bring the fill nozzle in contact
with the inside of the fill
opening before operating the
nozzle. Contact should be
maintained until the filling is
complete.
.
Do not smoke while
pumping fuel.
.
Do not use a cellular phone
while pumping fuel.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (57,1)
Driving and Operating
Towing
General Towing
Information
Only use towing equipment that has
been designed for the vehicle.
Contact your dealer or trailering
dealer for assistance with preparing
the vehicle for towing a trailer.
See the following trailer towing
information in this section:
.
For information on driving while
towing a trailer, see “Driving
Characteristics and
Towing Tips.”
.
For maximum vehicle and trailer
weights, see “Trailer Towing.”
.
For information on equipment to
tow a trailer, see “Towing
Equipment.”
For information on towing a disabled
vehicle, see Towing the Vehicle on
page 10‑80. For information on
towing the vehicle behind another
vehicle such as a motor home, see
Recreational Vehicle Towing on
page 10‑81.
.
Do not tow a trailer at all during
the first 800 km (500 miles) the
new vehicle is driven. The
engine, axle or other parts could
be damaged.
.
Then, during the first 800 km
(500 miles) that a trailer is
towed, do not drive over 80 km/h
(50 mph) and do not make starts
at full throttle. This helps the
engine and other parts of the
vehicle wear in at the heavier
loads.
.
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.
Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips
Pulling a Trailer
Here are some important points:
.
.
There are many different laws,
including speed limit restrictions,
having to do with trailering.
Make sure the rig will be legal,
not only where you live but also
where you will be driving.
A good source for this
information can be state or
provincial police.
Consider using a sway control.
See “Hitches” later in this
section.
9-57
Important considerations that have
to do with weight:
.
The weight of the trailer
.
The weight of the trailer tongue
.
The weight on the vehicle's tires
.
And the weight of the trailering
combination
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
9-58
Black plate (58,1)
Driving and Operating
Driving with a Trailer
{ WARNING
When towing a trailer, exhaust
gases may collect at the rear of
the vehicle and enter if the
liftgate, trunk/hatch, or rear-most
window is open.
Engine exhaust contains Carbon
Monoxide (CO) which cannot be
seen or smelled. It can cause
unconsciousness and even death.
To maximize safety when towing
a trailer:
.
Have the exhaust system
inspected for leaks and make
necessary repairs before
starting a trip.
.
Never drive with the liftgate,
trunk/hatch, or rear-most
window open.
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
.
Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
.
Adjust the Climate Control
system to a setting that
brings in only outside air and
set the fan speed to the
highest setting. See Climate
Control System in the Index.
For more information about
Carbon Monoxide, see Engine
Exhaust on page 9‑30.
Towing a trailer requires a certain
amount of experience. The
combination you are driving is
longer and not as responsive as the
vehicle itself. Get acquainted with
the handling and braking of the rig
before setting out for the open road.
Before starting, check all trailer hitch
parts and attachments, safety
chains, electrical connectors, lamps,
tires and mirrors. If the trailer has
electric brakes, start the
combination moving and then apply
the trailer brake controller by hand
to be sure the brakes work.
During the trip, check occasionally
to be sure that the load is secure
and the lamps and any trailer
brakes still work.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the
vehicle ahead as you would when
driving the vehicle without a trailer.
This can help to avoid heavy
braking and sudden turns.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (59,1)
Driving and Operating
Passing
More passing distance is needed
when towing a trailer. The
combination will not accelerate as
quickly and is longer so it is
necessary to go much farther
beyond the passed vehicle before
returning to the lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering
wheel with one hand. Then, to move
the trailer to the left, move that hand
to the left. To move the trailer to the
right, move your hand to the right.
Always back up slowly and,
if possible, have someone
guide you.
Making Turns
Notice: Making very sharp turns
while trailering could cause the
trailer to come in contact with the
vehicle. The vehicle could be
damaged. Avoid making very
sharp turns while trailering.
When turning with a trailer, make
wider turns than normal. Do this
so the trailer will not strike soft
shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees
or other objects. Avoid jerky or
sudden maneuvers. Signal well in
advance.
If the trailer turn signal bulbs burn
out, the arrows on the instrument
panel will still flash for turns. It is
important to check occasionally to
be sure the trailer bulbs are still
working.
Driving on Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower
gear before starting down a
long or steep downgrade. If the
transmission is not shifted down, the
brakes might get hot and no longer
work well.
9-59
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.
The tow/haul mode may be used if
the transmission shifts too often.
See Tow/Haul Mode on page 9‑35.
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
automatic transmission in P (Park)
for a few minutes before turning the
engine off. If the overheat warning
comes on, see Engine Overheating
on page 10‑20.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
9-60
Black plate (60,1)
Driving and Operating
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.
{ WARNING
It can be dangerous to get out of
the vehicle if the shift lever is not
fully in P (Park) with the parking
brake firmly set. The vehicle
can roll.
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 put the shift
lever fully in P (Park) with the
parking brake firmly set.
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 this
manual's Maintenance Schedule or
Index for more information. 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 EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (61,1)
Driving and Operating
Trailer Towing
Do not tow a trailer during break‐in.
See New Vehicle Break-In on
page 9‑23 for more information.
{ WARNING
The driver can lose control when
pulling a trailer if the correct
equipment is not used or the
vehicle is not driven properly. For
example, if the trailer is too
heavy, the brakes may not work
well — or even at all. The driver
and passengers could be
seriously injured. The vehicle may
also be damaged; the resulting
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Pull a trailer
only if all the steps in this section
have been followed. Ask your
dealer for advice and information
about towing a trailer with the
vehicle.
Notice: Pulling a trailer
improperly can damage the
vehicle and result in costly
repairs not covered by the vehicle
warranty. To pull a trailer
correctly, follow the advice in this
section and see your dealer for
important information about
towing a trailer with the vehicle.
To identify the trailering capacity of
the vehicle, read the information in
“Weight of the Trailer” that appears
later in this section.
Trailering is different than just
driving the vehicle by itself.
Trailering means changes in
handling, acceleration, braking,
durability and fuel economy.
Successful, safe trailering takes
correct equipment, and it has to be
used properly.
The following information has many
time-tested, important trailering tips
and safety rules. Many of these are
important for your safety and that of
9-61
your passengers. So please read
this section carefully before pulling a
trailer.
Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be?
It depends on how the rig is used.
Speed, altitude, road grades,
outside temperature and how much
the vehicle is used to pull a trailer
are all important. It can depend on
any special equipment on the
vehicle, and the amount of tongue
weight the vehicle can carry. See
“Weight of the Trailer Tongue” later
in this section for more information.
Trailer weight rating (TWR) is
calculated assuming the tow vehicle
has only the driver but all required
trailering equipment. Weight of
additional optional equipment,
passengers and cargo in the tow
vehicle must be subtracted from the
trailer weight rating.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
9-62
Black plate (62,1)
Driving and Operating
Use the following chart to determine how much the vehicle can weigh, based upon the vehicle model and options.
Vehicle
AWD 6.2L
Axle Ratio
Maximum Trailer Weight
*GCWR
3.42
3 447 kg (7,600 lbs)
6 350 kg (14,000 lbs)
*The Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) in the total allowable weight of the completely loaded vehicle and
trailer including any passengers, cargo, equipment and conversions. The GCWR for the vehicle should not be
exceeded.
Ask your dealer for trailering
information or advice, or write us at
our Customer Assistance Offices.
See Customer Assistance Offices
(U.S. and Canada) on page 13‑4 or
Customer Assistance Offices
(Mexico) on page 13‑5 for more
information.
Weight of the Trailer Tongue
The tongue load (A) of any trailer is
very important because it is also
part of the vehicle weight. The
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)
includes the curb weight of the
vehicle, any cargo carried in it, and
the people who will be riding in the
vehicle as well as trailer tongue
weight. Vehicle options, equipment,
passengers and cargo in the vehicle
reduce the amount of tongue weight
the vehicle can carry, which will also
reduce the trailer weight the vehicle
can tow. See Vehicle Load Limits on
page 9‑16 for more information
about the vehicle's maximum load
capacity.
Trailer tongue weight (A) should be
10 percent to 15 percent and fifth
wheel or gooseneck kingpin weight
should be 15 to 25 percent of the
loaded trailer weight (B) up to the
maximums for vehicle series and
hitch type.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (63,1)
Driving and Operating
Hitch Type
Vehicle Series
Maximum Tongue
Weight
1500
Weight Carrying
272 kg (600 lbs)
1500
Weight Distributing
499 kg (1,100 lbs)
Do not exceed the maximum
allowable tongue weight for the
vehicle. Choose the shortest hitch
extension that will position the hitch
ball closest to the vehicle. This will
help reduce the effect of trailer
tongue weight on the rear axle.
Trailering may be limited by the
vehicle's ability to carry tongue
weight. Tongue or kingpin weight
cannot cause the vehicle to exceed
the GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating) or the RGAWR (Rear Gross
Axle Weight Rating). See “Total
Weight on the Vehicle's Tires” later
in this section for more information.
After loading the trailer, weigh
the trailer and then the tongue,
separately, to see if the weights are
proper. If they are not, adjustments
might be made by moving some
items around in the trailer.
Total Weight on the Vehicle's
Tires
Be sure the vehicle's tires are
inflated to the inflation pressures
found on the Certification label on
the driver door or see Vehicle Load
Limits on page 9‑16 for more
information. Make sure not to
9-63
exceed the GVWR limit for the
vehicle, or the RGAWR, with the tow
vehicle and trailer fully loaded for
the trip including the weight of the
trailer tongue. If using a weight
distributing hitch, make sure not to
exceed the RGAWR before applying
the weight distribution spring bars.
Weight of the Trailering
Combination
It is important that the combination
of the tow vehicle and trailer
does not exceed any of its weight
ratings — GCWR, GVWR, RGAWR,
Trailer Weight Rating or Tongue
Weight. The only way to be sure it is
not exceeding any of these ratings
is to weigh the tow vehicle and
trailer combination, fully loaded for
the trip, getting individual weights
for each of these items.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
9-64
Black plate (64,1)
Driving and Operating
Towing Equipment
Hitches
The correct hitch equipment helps
maintain combination control. Many
trailers can be towed with a weight
carrying hitch which simply features
a coupler latched to the hitch ball,
or a tow eye latched to a pintle
hook. Other trailers may require a
weight distributing hitch that uses
spring bars to distribute the trailer
tongue weight among the two
vehicle and trailer axles. See
“Weight of the Trailer Tongue” under
Trailer Towing on page 9‑61 for
rating limits with various hitch types.
If a step-bumper hitch will be used,
the bumper could be damaged in
sharp turns. Make sure there
is ample room when turning to avoid
contact between the trailer and the
bumper.
Consider using sway controls with
any trailer. Ask a trailering
professional about sway controls or
refer to the trailer manufacturer's
recommendations and instructions.
Weight‐Distributing Hitch
Adjustment
A. Body to Ground Distance
B. Front of Vehicle
When using a weight-distributing
hitch, the spring bars should be
adjusted so the distance (A) is the
same after coupling the trailer to the
tow vehicle and adjusting the hitch.
Safety Chains
Always attach chains between the
vehicle and the trailer. Cross the
safety chains under the tongue of
the trailer to help prevent the tongue
from contacting the road if it
becomes separated from the hitch.
Instructions about safety chains
may be provided by the hitch
manufacturer or by the trailer
manufacturer. If the trailer being
towed weighs up to 2 271 kg
(5,000 lbs) with a factory-installed
step bumper, safety chains may be
attached to the attaching points on
the bumper, otherwise, safety
chains should be attached to holes
on the trailer hitch platform. Always
leave just enough slack so the
combination can turn. Never allow
safety chains to drag on the ground.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (65,1)
Driving and Operating
Trailer Brakes
Trailer Wiring Harness
A loaded trailer that weighs more
than 900 kg (2,000 lbs) needs to
have its own brake system that is
adequate for the weight of the
trailer. Be sure to read and follow
the instructions for the trailer brakes
so they are installed, adjusted and
maintained properly.
Heavy-Duty Trailer Wiring Harness
Package
Do not tap into the vehicle's
hydraulic system.
The vehicle has a seven-pin
universal heavy-duty trailer
connector attached to the rear
bumper beam next to the integrated
trailer hitch.
9-65
The seven-wire harness contains
the following trailer circuits:
.
Yellow: Left Stop/Turn Signal
.
Dark Green: Right Stop/Turn
Signal
.
Brown: Taillamps
.
White: Ground
.
Light Green: Back-up Lamps
.
Red w/ Black Stripe:
Battery Feed
.
Dark Blue: Trailer Brake
If charging a remote (non-vehicle)
battery, press the tow/haul mode
button located at the end of the shift
lever. This will boost the vehicle
system voltage and properly charge
the battery. If the trailer is too light
for tow/haul mode, turn on the
headlamps as a second way to
boost the vehicle system and
charge the battery.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
9-66
Driving and Operating
Electric Brake Control Wiring
Provisions
These wiring provisions are
included with the vehicle as part of
the trailer wiring package. These
provisions are for an electric brake
controller. The instrument panel
contains blunt cut wires near the
data link connector for the trailer
brake controller. The harness
contains the following wires:
.
Black plate (66,1)
Tow/Haul Mode
Pressing this button at the end of
the shift lever turns on and off the
tow/haul mode.
Dark Blue: Brake Signal to
Trailer Connector
.
Red/Black: Battery
.
Light Blue/White: Brake Switch
.
White: Ground
It should be installed by your dealer
or a qualified service center.
This indicator light on the instrument
panel cluster comes on when the
tow/haul mode is on.
Tow/Haul is a feature that assists
when pulling a heavy trailer or a
large or heavy load. See Tow/Haul
Mode on page 9‑35 for more
information.
Tow/Haul is designed to be most
effective when the vehicle and
trailer combined weight is at least
75 percent of the vehicle's Gross
Combined Weight Rating (GCWR).
See “Weight of the Trailer” in Trailer
Towing on page 9‑61. Tow/Haul is
most useful under the following
driving conditions:
.
When pulling a heavy trailer or a
large or heavy load through
rolling terrain.
.
When pulling a heavy trailer or a
large or heavy load in stop and
go traffic.
.
When pulling a heavy trailer or a
large or heavy load in busy
parking lots where improved low
speed control of the vehicle is
desired.
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Driving and Operating
Operating the vehicle in Tow/Haul
when lightly loaded or with no trailer
at all will not cause damage.
However, there is no benefit to the
selection of Tow/Haul when the
vehicle is unloaded. Such a
selection when unloaded may
result in unpleasant engine and
transmission driving characteristics
and reduced fuel economy. Tow/
Haul is recommended only when
pulling a heavy trailer or a large or
heavy load.
Trailer Sway
Control (TSC)
Vehicles with StabiliTrak have a
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) feature.
If the vehicle is towing a trailer and
the system detects that the trailer is
swaying, the vehicle's brakes are
applied without the driver pressing
the brake pedal. The TCS/
StabiliTrak warning light will flash on
the instrument panel cluster to notify
the driver to reduce speed. If the
trailer continues to sway, StabiliTrak
will reduce engine torque to help
slow the vehicle. See StabiliTrak®
System on page 9‑39 for more
information.
Adding non‐dealer accessories can
affect the vehicle's performance.
See Accessories and Modifications
on page 10‑2 for more information.
9-67
Conversions and
Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical
Equipment
Notice: Do not add anything
electrical to the vehicle unless
you check with your dealer first.
Some electrical equipment can
damage the vehicle and the
damage would not be covered by
the vehicle's warranty. Some
add-on electrical equipment can
keep other components from
working as they should.
Add-on equipment can drain the
vehicle's 12‐volt battery, even if the
vehicle is not operating.
The vehicle has an airbag system.
Before attempting to add anything
electrical to the vehicle, see
Servicing the Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle on page 3‑30 and Adding
Equipment to the Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle on page 3‑30.
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Driving and Operating
2 NOTES
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Vehicle Care
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . .
California Proposition
65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
California Perchlorate
Materials Requirements . . . .
Accessories and
Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
10-2
10-2
10-2
10-2
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own
Service Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-4
Engine Compartment
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-6
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-8
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . 10-10
Automatic Transmission
Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-11
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . 10-14
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-16
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-16
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . 10-20
Overheated Engine
Protection
Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . 10-22
Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-22
Power Steering Fluid . . . . . . . 10-23
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-23
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-24
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-25
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-27
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-27
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-28
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-28
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . 10-29
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-30
Ignition Transmission Lock
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-30
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . 10-30
Wiper Blade
Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-31
Glass Replacement . . . . . . . . 10-31
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . 10-32
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-34
High Intensity Discharge
(HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-34
10-1
Taillamps, Turn Signal,
Sidemarker, Stoplamps,
and Back-Up Lamps . . . . . . 10-34
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . 10-35
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . 10-35
Electrical System
Electrical System
Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fuses and Circuit
Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Engine Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Instrument Panel Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
10-35
10-36
10-36
10-41
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-44
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . 10-45
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . 10-46
Tire Terminology and
Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-47
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-49
Tire Pressure for High-Speed
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-51
Tire Pressure Monitor
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-51
Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-52
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Vehicle Care
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-55
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-55
When It Is Time for New
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-56
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . 10-57
Different Size Tires and
Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-59
Uniform Tire Quality
Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-59
Wheel Alignment and Tire
Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-61
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . 10-61
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-62
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . 10-62
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-64
Secondary Latch System . . . 10-73
Full-Size Spare Tire . . . . . . . . 10-75
General Information
For service and parts needs, visit
your dealer. You will receive
genuine GM parts and GM-trained
and supported service people.
Genuine GM parts have one of
these marks:
Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-76
Towing
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-82
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-85
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-88
California Perchlorate
Materials Requirements
Certain types of automotive
applications, such as airbag
initiators, seat belt pretensioners,
and lithium batteries contained in
Remote Keyless Entry transmitters,
may contain perchlorate materials.
Special handling may be necessary.
For additional information, see
www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/
perchlorate.
Jump Starting
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . 10-80
Recreational Vehicle
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-81
cause cancer and birth defects or
other reproductive harm. Engine
exhaust, many parts and systems,
many fluids, and some component
wear by-products contain and/or
emit these chemicals.
California Proposition
65 Warning
Most motor vehicles, including this
one, contain and/or emit chemicals
known to the State of California to
Accessories and
Modifications
Adding non‐dealer accessories or
making modifications to the vehicle
can affect vehicle performance and
safety, including such things as
airbags, braking, stability, ride and
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
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Vehicle Care
handling, emissions systems,
aerodynamics, durability, and
electronic systems like antilock
brakes, traction control, and stability
control. These accessories or
modifications could even cause
malfunction or damage not covered
by the vehicle warranty.
Damage to vehicle components
resulting from modifications or the
installation or use of non‐GM
certified parts, including control
module or software modifications, is
not covered under the terms of the
vehicle warranty and may affect
remaining warranty coverage for
affected parts.
GM Accessories are designed to
complement and function with other
systems on the vehicle. See your
dealer to accessorize the vehicle
using genuine GM Accessories
installed by a dealer technician.
Also, see Adding Equipment to the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on
page 3‑30.
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own
Service Work
{ WARNING
You can be injured and the
vehicle could be damaged if you
try to do service work on a vehicle
without knowing enough about it.
.
.
Be sure you have sufficient
knowledge, experience, the
proper replacement parts,
and tools before attempting
any vehicle
maintenance task.
Be sure to use the proper
nuts, bolts, and other
fasteners. Metric and English
fasteners can be easily
confused. If the wrong
fasteners are used, parts can
later break or fall off. You
could be hurt.
10-3
If doing some of your own service
work, use the proper service
manual. It tells you much more
about how to service the vehicle
than this manual can. To order the
proper service manual, see Service
Publications Ordering Information
on page 13‑17.
This vehicle has an airbag system.
Before attempting to do your own
service work, see Servicing the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on
page 3‑30.
Keep a record with all parts receipts
and list the mileage and the date of
any service work performed. See
Maintenance Records on
page 11‑15.
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10-4
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Vehicle Care
Hood
4. Lift the hood.
Before closing the hood, be sure
all the filler caps are on properly.
Then bring the hood from full
open to within 152 mm (6 in)
from the closed position, pause,
then push the front center of the
hood with a swift, firm motion to
fully close the hood.
To open the hood:
1. Pull the handle with this symbol
on it. It is located inside the
vehicle to the lower left of the
steering wheel.
2. Then go to the front of the
vehicle and locate the secondary
hood release, near the center of
the grille.
3. Push the secondary hood
release to the right.
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Vehicle Care
2 NOTES
10-5
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
10-6
Vehicle Care
Engine Compartment Overview
6.2L V8 Engine
Black plate (6,1)
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Vehicle Care
A. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on
page 10‑14.
F.
B. Coolant Surge Tank and
Pressure Cap. See Cooling
System on page 10‑16.
Automatic Transmission
Dipstick (Out of View). See
“Checking the Fluid Level”
under Automatic Transmission
Fluid on page 10‑11.
C. Remote Positive (+) Terminal.
See Jump Starting on
page 10‑76.
G. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When
to Add Engine Oil” under
Engine Oil on page 10‑8.
D. Battery on page 10‑27.
H. Engine Oil Dipstick (Out of
View). See “Checking Engine
Oil” under Engine Oil on
page 10‑8.
E. Remote Negative (−) Terminal
(GND) (Out of View). See Jump
Starting on page 10‑76.
I.
Engine Cooling Fan (Out of
View). See Cooling System on
page 10‑16.
J.
10-7
Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
(Out of View). See Power
Steering Fluid on page 10‑23.
K. Brake Master Cylinder
Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid”
under Brake Fluid on
page 10‑25.
L.
Engine Compartment Fuse
Block on page 10‑36.
M. Windshield Washer Fluid
Reservoir. See “Adding Washer
Fluid” under Washer Fluid on
page 10‑23.
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10-8
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Vehicle Care
Engine Oil
Checking 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:
It is a good idea to check the engine
oil level at each fuel fill. In order to
get an accurate reading, the vehicle
must be on level ground. The
engine oil dipstick handle is a yellow
loop. See Engine Compartment
Overview on page 10‑6 for the
location of the engine oil dipstick.
.
Always 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 on page 10‑10.
.
Always dispose of engine oil
properly. See “What to Do with
Used Oil” in this section.
Obtaining an accurate oil level
reading is essential:
1. If the engine has been running
recently, turn off the engine and
allow several minutes for the oil
to drain back into the oil pan.
Checking the oil level too soon
after engine shutoff will not
provide an accurate oil level
reading.
2. Pull out the dipstick and clean it
with a paper towel or cloth, then
push it back in all the way.
Remove it again, keeping the
tip down, and check the level.
When to Add Engine Oil
If the oil is below the cross-hatched
area at the tip of the dipstick, add
1 L (1 qt) of the recommended oil
and then recheck the level. See
“Selecting the Right Engine Oil” in
this section for an explanation of
what kind of oil to use. For engine
oil crankcase capacity, see
Capacities and Specifications on
page 12‑2.
Notice: Do not add too much oil.
Oil levels above or below the
acceptable operating range
shown on the dipstick are harmful
to the engine. If you find that you
have an oil level above the
operating range, i.e., the engine
has so much oil that the oil level
gets above the cross-hatched
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Vehicle Care
area that shows the proper
operating range, the engine could
be damaged. You should drain
out the excess oil or limit driving
of the vehicle and seek a service
professional to remove the
excess amount of oil.
approved certification mark. This
certification mark indicates that the
oil has been approved to the dexos1
specification.
See Engine Compartment Overview
on page 10‑6 for the location of the
engine oil fill cap.
Add enough oil to put the level
somewhere in the proper operating
range. Push the dipstick all the way
back in when through.
Selecting the Right Engine Oil
Selecting the right engine oil
depends on both the proper oil
specification and viscosity grade.
See Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11‑12.
Specification
Use and ask for licensed engine
oils with the dexos1™ approved
certification mark. Engine oils
meeting the requirements for the
vehicle should have the dexos1
Notice: Failure to use the
recommended engine oil or
equivalent can result in engine
damage not covered by the
vehicle warranty. Check with your
dealer or service provider on
whether the oil is approved to the
dexos1 specification.
10-9
If in an area of extreme cold, where
the temperature falls below −20°F
(−29°C), an SAE 0W‐30 oil should
be used. An oil of this viscosity
grade will provide easier cold
starting for the engine at extremely
low temperatures. When selecting
an oil of the appropriate viscosity
grade, always select an oil that
meets the dexos1 specification or
equivalent. See “Specification” for
more information.
Engine Oil Additives/Engine
Oil Flushes
Viscosity Grade
Do not add anything to the oil. The
recommended oils with the dexos
specification and displaying the
dexos certification mark are all that
is needed for good performance and
engine protection.
SAE 5W‐30 is the best viscosity
grade for the vehicle. Do not use
other viscosity grade oils such as
SAE 10W‐30, 10W‐40, or 20W‐50.
Engine oil system flushes are not
recommended and could cause
engine damage not covered by the
vehicle warranty.
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10-10
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Vehicle Care
What to Do with Used Oil
Engine Oil Life System
Used engine oil contains certain
elements that can be unhealthy for
your skin and could even cause
cancer. Do not let used oil stay on
your skin for very long. Clean your
skin and nails with soap and water,
or a good hand cleaner. Wash or
properly dispose of clothing or rags
containing used engine oil. See the
manufacturer's warnings about the
use and disposal of oil products.
When to Change Engine Oil
Used oil can be a threat to the
environment. If you change your
own oil, be sure to drain all the oil
from the filter before disposal. Never
dispose of oil by putting it in the
trash or pouring it on the ground,
into sewers, or into streams or
bodies of water. Recycle it by taking
it to a place that collects used oil.
This vehicle has a computer system
that indicates when to change the
engine oil and filter. This is based
on a combination of factors which
include engine revolutions, engine
temperature, and miles driven.
Based on driving conditions, the
mileage at which an oil change is
indicated can vary considerably. For
the oil life system to work properly,
the system must be reset every time
the oil is changed.
When the system has calculated
that oil life has been diminished, it
indicates that an oil change is
necessary. A CHANGE ENGINE
OIL SOON message comes on. See
Engine Oil Messages on page 5‑30.
Change the oil as soon as possible
within the next 1 000 km (600 mi).
It is possible that, if driving under
the best conditions, the oil life
system might indicate that an oil
change is not necessary for up to a
year. The engine oil and filter must
be changed at least once a year
and, at this time, the system must
be reset. Your dealer has trained
service people who will perform this
work and reset the system. It is also
important to check the oil regularly
over the course of an oil drain
interval and keep it at the proper
level.
If the system is ever reset
accidentally, the oil must be
changed at 5 000 km (3,000 mi)
since the last oil change.
Remember to reset the oil life
system whenever the oil is changed.
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Vehicle Care
How to Reset the Engine Oil
Life System
Reset the system whenever the
engine oil is changed so that the
system can calculate the next
engine oil change. Always reset the
engine oil life to 100% after every oil
change. It will not reset itself. To
reset the system:
1. Display OIL LIFE REMAINING
on the DIC.
2. Press and hold the SET/RESET
button on the DIC for more than
five seconds. The oil life will
change to 100%.
If the CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message comes back on when the
vehicle is started, the engine oil life
system has not reset. Repeat the
procedure.
Automatic Transmission
Fluid
When to Check and Change
Automatic Transmission Fluid
It is usually not necessary to
check the transmission fluid level.
The only reason for fluid loss is a
transmission leak or overheating the
transmission. If a small leak is
suspected, then use the following
checking procedures to check the
fluid level. However, if there is a
large leak, then it may be necessary
to have the vehicle towed to a
dealer and have it repaired before
driving the vehicle further.
Notice: Use of the incorrect
automatic transmission fluid may
damage the vehicle, and the
damages may not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Always use
the automatic transmission fluid
listed in Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 11‑12.
10-11
Change the fluid and filter at the
scheduled maintenance intervals
listed in Maintenance Schedule on
page 11‑3. Be sure to use the
transmission fluid listed in
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11‑12.
How to Check Automatic
Transmission Fluid
Notice: Too much or too
little fluid can damage the
transmission. Too much can
mean that some of the fluid could
come out and fall on hot engine
parts or exhaust system parts,
starting a fire. Too little fluid
could cause the transmission to
overheat. Be sure to get an
accurate reading if checking the
transmission fluid.
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10-12
Black plate (12,1)
Vehicle Care
Before checking the fluid level,
prepare the vehicle as follows:
1. Start the engine and park the
vehicle on a level surface. Keep
the engine running.
2. Apply the parking brake and
place the shift lever in P (Park).
3. With your foot on the brake
pedal, move the shift lever
through each gear range,
pausing for about three seconds
in each range. Then, move the
shift lever back to P (Park).
4. Allow the engine to idle
(500 – 800 rpm) for at least
one minute. Slowly release the
brake pedal.
5. Keep the engine running and
press the Trip/Fuel button or trip
odometer reset stem until
TRANS TEMP (Transmission
Temperature) displays on the
Driver Information Center (DIC).
6. Using the TRANS TEMP
reading, determine and
perform the appropriate check
procedure. If the TRANS TEMP
reading is not within the required
temperature ranges, allow the
vehicle to cool, or operate the
vehicle until the appropriate
transmission fluid temperature is
reached.
Cold Check Procedure
Use this procedure only as a
reference to determine if the
transmission has enough fluid to be
operated safely until a hot check
procedure can be made. The hot
check procedure is the most
accurate method to check the fluid
level. Perform the hot check
procedure at the first opportunity.
Use this cold check procedure to
check fluid level when the
transmission temperature is
between 27°C and 32°C
(80°F and 90°F).
1. Locate the transmission dipstick
at the rear of the engine
compartment, on the passenger
side of the vehicle.
See Engine Compartment
Overview on page 10‑6 for
more information.
2. Flip the handle up and then pull
out the dipstick and wipe it with
a clean rag or paper towel.
3. Install the dipstick by pushing
it back in all the way, wait
three seconds, and then pull it
back out again.
4. Check both sides of the dipstick
and read the lower level. Repeat
the check procedure to verify the
reading.
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Vehicle Care
10-13
Hot Check Procedure
Use this procedure to check the
transmission fluid level when the
transmission fluid temperature
is between 71°C and 93°C
(160°F and 200°F).
5. If the fluid level is below the
COLD check band, add only
enough fluid as necessary to
bring the level into the COLD
band. It does not take much
fluid, generally less than 0.5 L
(1 pint). Do not overfill.
6. Perform a hot check at the first
opportunity after the
transmission reaches a normal
operating temperature between
71°C to 93°C (160°F to 200°F).
7. If the fluid level is in the
acceptable range, push the
dipstick back in all the way, then
flip the handle down to lock the
dipstick in place.
The hot check is the most accurate
method to check the fluid level. The
hot check should be performed at
the first opportunity in order to verify
the cold check. The fluid level rises
as fluid temperature increases,
so it is important to ensure the
transmission temperature is within
range.
1. Locate the transmission dipstick
at the rear of the engine
compartment, on the passenger
side of the vehicle.
See Engine Compartment
Overview on page 10‑6 for more
information.
2. Flip the handle up and then pull
out the dipstick and wipe it with
a clean rag or paper towel.
3. Install the dipstick by pushing
it back in all the way, wait
three seconds, and then pull it
back out again.
4. Check both sides of the dipstick
and read the lower level. Repeat
the check procedure to verify the
reading.
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10-14
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Vehicle Care
5. Safe operating level is within the
HOT cross hatch band on the
dipstick. If the fluid level is not
within the HOT band, and the
transmission temperature is
between 71°C and 93°C (160°F
and 200°F), add or drain fluid as
necessary to bring the level into
the HOT band. If the fluid level is
low, add only enough fluid to
bring the level into the HOT
band. It does not take much
fluid, generally less than 0.5 L
(1 pint). Do not overfill.
6. If the fluid level is in the
acceptable range, push the
dipstick back in all the way, then
flip the handle down to lock the
dipstick in place.
Consistency of Readings
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
Always check the fluid level at
least twice using the procedures
described. Consistency (repeatable
readings) is important to maintaining
proper fluid level. If fluid is added, it
may take 15 minutes or longer to
obtain an accurate reading because
of residual fluid draining down
the dipstick tube. If inconsistent
readings persist, check the
transmission breather to be sure it is
clean and not clogged. If readings
are still inconsistent, contact your
dealer.
See Engine Compartment Overview
on page 10‑6 for the location of the
engine air cleaner/filter.
Inspect the air cleaner/filter at the
scheduled maintenance intervals
and replace it at the first oil change
after each 80 000 km (50,000 mile)
interval. See Maintenance Schedule
on page 11‑3 for more information.
If driving on dusty/dirty conditions,
inspect the filter at each engine oil
change.
How to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
To inspect the air cleaner/filter,
remove the engine air cleaner/filter
from the vehicle by following
Steps 1 through 6. When the engine
air cleaner/filter is removed, lightly
shake it to release loose dust and
dirt. If the engine air cleaner/filter
remains covered with dirt, a new
filter is required. Never use
compressed air to clean the filter.
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Vehicle Care
Replacing the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
{ WARNING
3. Remove the engine air cleaner/
filter from the housing. Care
should be taken to dislodge as
little dirt as possible.
1. Locate the air cleaner/filter
assembly. See Engine
Compartment Overview on
page 10‑6.
2. Loosen the four screws on the
cover of the housing and lift up
the cover.
10-15
4. Clean the engine air cleaner/
filter sealing surfaces and the
housing.
5. Inspect or replace the engine air
cleaner/filter.
6. Reinstall the cover and tighten
the screws.
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.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
10-16
Black plate (16,1)
Vehicle Care
Cooling System
The cooling system allows the
engine to maintain the correct
working temperature.
{ WARNING
An electric engine cooling fan
under the hood 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
A. Coolant Surge Tank
B. Coolant Surge Tank
Pressure Cap
C. Engine Cooling Fan(s)
(Out of View)
Heater and radiator hoses, and
other engine parts, can be very
hot. Do not touch them. If you do,
you can be burned.
Do not run the engine if there is a
leak. If you run the engine, it
could lose all coolant. That could
cause an engine fire, and you
could be burned. Get any leak
fixed before you drive the vehicle.
Notice: Using coolant other than
DEX-COOL® can cause premature
engine, heater core, or radiator
corrosion. In addition, the engine
coolant could require changing
sooner, at 50 000 km (30,000 mi)
or 24 months, whichever occurs
first. Any repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Always use DEX-COOL
(silicate-free) coolant in the
vehicle.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in the vehicle
is filled with DEX-COOL engine
coolant. This coolant is designed to
remain in the vehicle for 5 years or
240 000 km (150,000 mi), whichever
occurs first.
The following explains the cooling
system and how to check and add
coolant when it is low. If there is a
problem with engine overheating,
see Engine Overheating on
page 10‑20.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (17,1)
Vehicle Care
What to Use
{ WARNING
Adding only plain water or some
other liquid to the cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water
and other liquids, can boil before
the proper coolant mixture will.
The coolant warning system is set
for the proper coolant mixture.
With plain water or the wrong
mixture, the engine could get too
hot but you would not get the
overheat warning. The engine
could catch fire and you or
others could be burned. Use a
50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and DEX-COOL coolant.
Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
coolant. If using this mixture,
nothing else needs to be added.
This mixture:
.
Gives freezing protection down
to −37°C (−34°F), outside
temperature.
.
Gives boiling protection up to
129°C (265°F), engine
temperature.
.
Protects against rust and
corrosion.
.
Will not damage aluminum parts.
.
Helps keep the proper engine
temperature.
Notice: If an improper coolant
mixture is used, the engine could
overheat and be badly damaged.
The repair cost would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Too much water in the mixture
can freeze and crack the engine,
radiator, heater core, and other
parts.
10-17
Notice: If extra inhibitors and/or
additives are used in the vehicle
cooling system, the vehicle could
be damaged. Use only the proper
mixture of the engine coolant
listed in this manual for the
cooling system. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11‑12 for
more information.
Never dispose of engine coolant by
putting it in the trash, pouring it on
the ground, or into sewers, streams,
or bodies of water. Have the coolant
changed by an authorized service
center, familiar with legal
requirements regarding used
coolant disposal. This will help
protect the environment and your
health.
Checking Coolant
The vehicle must be on a level
surface when checking the coolant
level.
Check to see if coolant is visible in
the coolant surge tank. If the coolant
inside the coolant surge tank is
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
10-18
Black plate (18,1)
Vehicle Care
boiling, do not do anything else until
it cools down. If coolant is visible
but the coolant level is not at or
above the FULL COLD mark, add a
50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and DEX-COOL coolant at the
coolant surge tank, but be sure the
cooling system is cool before this
is done.
The coolant level should be at or
above the FULL COLD mark. If it is
not, the vehicle may have a leak in
the cooling system.
How to Add Coolant to the
Surge Tank
{ WARNING
You can be burned if you spill
coolant on hot engine parts.
Coolant contains ethylene glycol
and it will burn if the engine parts
are hot enough. Do not spill
coolant on a hot engine.
The coolant surge tank is located in
the engine compartment on the
passenger side of the vehicle. See
Engine Compartment Overview on
page 10‑6 for more information on
location.
Notice: This vehicle has a
specific coolant fill procedure.
Failure to follow this procedure
could cause the engine to
overheat and be severely
damaged.
{ WARNING
An electric engine cooling fan
under the hood 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
Steam and scalding liquids from a
hot cooling system can blow out
and burn you badly. They are
under pressure, and if you turn
the surge tank pressure
cap — even a little — they can
come out at high speed. Never
turn the cap when the cooling
system, including the surge tank
pressure cap, is hot. Wait for the
cooling system and surge tank
pressure cap to cool if you ever
have to turn the pressure cap.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (19,1)
Vehicle Care
10-19
If no coolant is visible in the surge
tank, add coolant as follows:
1. Remove the coolant surge tank
pressure cap when the cooling
system, including the coolant
surge tank pressure cap and
upper radiator hose, is no
longer hot.
Turn the pressure cap slowly
counterclockwise about one full
turn. If a hiss is heard, wait for
that to stop. A hiss means there
is still some pressure left.
2. Keep turning the pressure cap
slowly and remove it.
3. Fill the coolant surge tank with
the proper mixture to the FULL
COLD mark.
4. With the coolant surge tank
pressure cap off, start the
engine and let it run until the
upper radiator hose can be felt
getting hot. Watch out for the
engine cooling fan.
By this time, the coolant level
inside the coolant surge tank
may be lower. If the level is
lower, add more of the proper
mixture to the coolant surge tank
until the level reaches the FULL
COLD mark.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
10-20
Black plate (20,1)
Vehicle Care
5. Replace the pressure cap. Be
sure the pressure cap is
hand-tight and fully seated.
6. Verify coolant level after engine
is shut off and the coolant is
cold. If necessary, repeat coolant
fill procedure Steps 1 through 6.
Notice: If the pressure cap is not
tightly installed, coolant loss and
possible engine damage may
occur. Be sure the cap is properly
and tightly secured.
Engine Overheating
The vehicle has several indicators
to warn of engine overheating.
There is a coolant temperature
gauge on your vehicle's instrument
panel. See Engine Coolant
Temperature Gauge on page 5‑12.
In addition, ENGINE OVERHEATED
STOP ENGINE, ENGINE
OVERHEATED IDLE ENGINE, and
a ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED
message comes on in the Driver
Information Center (DIC) on the
instrument panel. See Engine
Cooling System Messages on
page 5‑29 and Engine Power
Messages on page 5‑31.
If the decision is made not to lift the
hood when this warning appears,
but instead get service help right
away. See Roadside Service (U.S.
and Canada) on page 13‑7 or
Roadside Service (Mexico) on
page 13‑9.
If the decision is made to lift the
hood, make sure the vehicle is
parked on a level surface.
Then check to see if the engine
cooling fans are running. If the
engine is overheating, both fans
should be running. If they are not,
do not continue to run the engine
and have the vehicle serviced.
Notice: Engine damage from
running the engine without
coolant is not covered by the
vehicle warranty. See Overheated
Engine Protection Operating
Mode on page 10‑22 for
information on driving to a safe
place in an emergency.
Notice: If the engine catches fire
while driving with no coolant, the
vehicle can be badly damaged.
The costly repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
See Overheated Engine
Protection Operating Mode on
page 10‑22 for information on
driving to a safe place in an
emergency.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (21,1)
Vehicle Care
If Steam Is Coming from the
Engine Compartment
WARNING (Continued)
See Overheated Engine
Protection Operating Mode on
page 10‑22 for information on
driving to a safe place in an
emergency.
{ WARNING
Steam from an overheated engine
can burn you badly, even if you
just open the hood. Stay away
from the engine if you see or hear
steam coming from it. Turn it off
and get everyone away from the
vehicle until it cools down. Wait
until there is no sign of steam or
coolant before you open
the hood.
If No Steam Is Coming from
the Engine Compartment
If you keep driving when the
vehicles engine is overheated,
the liquids in it can catch fire. You
or others could be badly burned.
Stop the engine if it overheats,
and get out of the vehicle until the
engine is cool.
(Continued)
If there is an engine overheat
warning, but see or hear no steam,
the problem may not be too serious.
Sometimes the engine can get a
little too hot when the vehicle:
The ENGINE OVERHEATED
STOP ENGINE or the ENGINE
OVERHEATED IDLE ENGINE
message, along with a low coolant
condition, can indicate a serious
problem.
.
Climbs a long hill on a hot day.
.
Stops after high-speed driving.
10-21
.
Idles for long periods in traffic.
.
Tows a trailer. See Trailer
Towing on page 9‑61.
If the ENGINE OVERHEATED
STOP ENGINE or the ENGINE
OVERHEATED IDLE ENGINE
message appears with no sign of
steam, try this for a minute or so:
If the overheat warning is displayed
with no sign of steam:
1. Turn the air conditioning off.
2. Turn the heater on to the highest
temperature and to the highest
fan speed. Open the windows as
necessary.
3. In heavy traffic, let the engine
idle in N (Neutral) while stopped.
If it is safe to do so, pull off
the road, shift to P (Park) or
N (Neutral) and let the
engine idle.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
10-22
Black plate (22,1)
Vehicle Care
If the temperature overheat gauge
is no longer in the overheat zone or
an overheat warning no longer
displays, the vehicle can be driven.
Continue to drive the vehicle slowly
for about 10 minutes. Keep a safe
vehicle distance from the vehicle in
front. If the warning does not come
back on, continue to drive normally.
If the warning continues, pull
over, stop, and park the vehicle
right away.
If there is no sign of steam, idle
the engine for five minutes while
parked. If the warning is still
displayed, turn off the engine until it
cools down. Also, see “Overheated
Engine Protection Operating Mode”
later in this section.
Overheated Engine
Protection
Operating Mode
If an overheated engine condition
exists and the ENGINE POWER IS
REDUCED message is displayed,
an overheat protection mode which
alternates firing groups of cylinders
helps prevent engine damage. In
this mode, a loss in power and
engine performance will be noticed.
This operating mode allows the
vehicle to be driven to a safe place
in an emergency. Driving extended
distances and/or towing a trailer in
the overheat protection mode
should be avoided.
Notice: After driving in the
overheated engine protection
operating mode, to avoid engine
damage, allow the engine to cool
before attempting any repair. The
engine oil will be severely
degraded. Repair the cause of
coolant loss, change the oil and
reset the oil life system. See
Engine Oil on page 10‑8.
Engine Fan
The vehicle has electric cooling
fans. The fans spinning at low
speed during most everyday driving
might be heard. The fans can turn
off if no cooling is required. Under
heavy vehicle loading, trailer towing,
and/or high outside temperatures,
or if operating the air conditioning
system, the fans can change to high
speed and an increase in fan noise
might be heard. This is normal and
indicates that the cooling system is
functioning properly. The fans
change to low speed when
additional cooling is no longer
required.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (23,1)
Vehicle Care
Power Steering Fluid
See Engine Compartment Overview
on page 10‑6 for reservoir location.
When to Check Power Steering
Fluid
It is not necessary to regularly
check power steering fluid unless
there is a leak suspected in the
system or an unusual noise is
heard. A fluid loss in this system
could indicate a problem. Have the
system inspected and repaired.
How to Check Power Steering
Fluid
Notice: Extremely small amounts
of contamination can cause
steering system damage and
cause it to not work properly. Do
not allow contaminants to contact
the fluid side of the reservoir cap/
dipstick or from entering the
reservoir.
To check the power steering fluid:
1. Turn the key off and let the
engine compartment cool down.
2. Wipe the cap and the top of the
reservoir clean.
3. Unscrew the cap and wipe the
dipstick with a clean rag.
4. Replace the cap and completely
tighten it.
5. Remove the cap again and look
at the fluid level on the dipstick.
The level should be at the FULL
COLD mark. If necessary, add only
enough fluid to bring the level up to
the mark.
10-23
What to Use
To determine what kind of fluid to
use, see Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11‑12. Always
use the proper fluid.
Notice: Use of the incorrect fluid
may damage the vehicle and the
damages may not be covered by
the vehicle's warranty. Always
use the correct fluid listed in
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11‑12.
Washer Fluid
What to Use
When windshield washer fluid needs
to be added, be sure to read the
manufacturer's instructions before
use. Use a fluid that has sufficient
protection against freezing in an
area where the temperature may fall
below freezing.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
10-24
Black plate (24,1)
Vehicle Care
Adding Washer Fluid
The vehicle has a low washer fluid
message on the DIC that comes
on when the washer fluid is low.
The message is displayed for
15 seconds at the start of each
ignition cycle. When the WASHER
FLUID LOW ADD FLUID message
displays, washer fluid will need to
be added to the windshield washer
fluid reservoir.
Open the cap with the washer
symbol on it. Add washer fluid
until the tank is full. See Engine
Compartment Overview on
page 10‑6 for reservoir location.
Notice
.
When using concentrated
washer fluid, follow the
manufacturer's instructions
for adding water.
.
Do not mix water with
ready-to-use washer fluid.
Water can cause the solution
to freeze and damage the
washer fluid tank and other
parts of the washer system.
Also, water does not clean as
well as washer fluid.
Brakes
This vehicle has disc brakes. Disc
brake pads have built-in wear
indicators that make a high-pitched
warning sound when the brake pads
are worn and new pads are needed.
The sound can come and go or be
heard all the time the vehicle is
moving, except when applying the
brake pedal firmly.
{ WARNING
.
Fill the washer fluid tank only
three-quarters full when it is
very cold. This allows for
fluid expansion if freezing
occurs, which could damage
the tank if it is
completely full.
The brake wear warning sound
means that soon the brakes will
not work well. That could lead to
a crash. When the brake wear
warning sound is heard, have the
vehicle serviced.
.
Do not use engine coolant
(antifreeze) in the windshield
washer. It can damage the
windshield washer system
and paint.
Notice: Continuing to drive with
worn-out brake pads could result
in costly brake repair.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (25,1)
Vehicle Care
Some driving conditions or climates
can cause a brake squeal when the
brakes are first applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean
something is wrong with the brakes.
Brake Adjustment
Properly torqued wheel nuts are
necessary to help prevent brake
pulsation. When tires are rotated,
inspect brake pads for wear and
evenly tighten wheel nuts in the
proper sequence to torque
specifications in Capacities and
Specifications on page 12‑2.
Replacing Brake System Parts
Brake linings should always be
replaced as complete axle sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal
does not return to normal height,
or if there is a rapid increase in
pedal travel. This could be a sign
that brake service might be
required.
10-25
Brake Fluid
Every time the brakes are applied,
with or without the vehicle moving,
the brakes adjust for wear.
The braking system on a vehicle is
complex. Its many parts have to be
of top quality and work well together
if the vehicle is to have really good
braking. The vehicle was designed
and tested with top-quality brake
parts. When parts of the braking
system are replaced, be sure to get
new, approved replacement parts.
If this is not done, the brakes might
not work properly. For example,
installing disc brake pads that are
wrong for the vehicle, can change
the balance between the front and
rear brakes — for the worse. The
braking performance expected can
change in many other ways if the
wrong replacement brake parts are
installed.
The brake master cylinder reservoir
is filled with DOT 3 brake fluid. See
Engine Compartment Overview on
page 10‑6 for the location of the
reservoir.
There are only two reasons why the
brake fluid level in the reservoir
might go down:
.
The brake fluid level goes down
because of normal brake lining
wear. When new linings are
installed, the fluid level goes
back up.
.
A fluid leak in the brake
hydraulic system can also cause
a low fluid level. Have the brake
hydraulic system fixed, since a
leak means that sooner or later
the brakes will not work well.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
10-26
Black plate (26,1)
Vehicle Care
Do not top off the brake fluid.
Adding fluid does not correct a leak.
If fluid is added when the linings
are worn, there will be too much
fluid when new brake linings are
installed. Add or remove brake fluid,
as necessary, only when work is
done on the brake hydraulic system.
{ WARNING
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule
to determine when to check the
brake fluid. See Maintenance
Schedule on page 11‑3.
After work is done on the brake
hydraulic system, make sure the
level is above the MIN but not over
the MAX mark.
Checking Brake Fluid
What to Add
Check brake fluid by looking at the
brake fluid reservoir. See Engine
Compartment Overview on
page 10‑6.
Use only new DOT 3 brake fluid
from a sealed container. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11‑12.
Always clean the brake fluid
reservoir cap and the area around
the cap before removing it. This
helps keep dirt from entering the
reservoir.
If too much brake fluid is added, it
can spill on the engine and burn,
if the engine is hot enough. You
or others could be burned, and
the vehicle could be damaged.
Add brake fluid only when work is
done on the brake hydraulic
system. See “Checking Brake
Fluid” in this section.
When the brake fluid falls to a low
level, the brake warning light comes
on. See Brake System Warning
Light on page 5‑18.
{ WARNING
With the wrong kind of fluid in the
brake hydraulic system, the
brakes might not work well. This
could cause a crash. Always use
the proper brake fluid.
The fluid level should be above
MIN. If it is not, have the brake
hydraulic system checked to see if
there is a leak.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (27,1)
Vehicle Care
Notice
.
.
Using the wrong fluid
can badly damage brake
hydraulic system parts. For
example, just a few drops of
mineral-based oil, such as
engine oil, in the brake
hydraulic system can
damage brake hydraulic
system parts so badly that
they will have to be replaced.
Do not let someone put in
the wrong kind of fluid.
If brake fluid is spilled on the
vehicle's painted surfaces,
the paint finish can be
damaged. Be careful not to
spill brake fluid on the
vehicle. If you do, wash it off
immediately.
{ WARNING
Battery posts, terminals, and
related accessories contain lead
and lead compounds, chemicals
known to the State of California to
cause cancer and reproductive
harm. Wash hands after handling.
Vehicle Storage
{ WARNING
Batteries have acid that can burn
you and gas that can explode.
You can be badly hurt if you are
not careful. See Jump Starting on
page 10‑76 for tips on working
around a battery without
getting hurt.
Battery
Refer to the replacement number
shown on the original battery label
when a new battery is needed. See
Engine Compartment Overview on
page 10‑6 for battery location.
Infrequent Usage: Remove the
black, negative (−) cable from the
battery to keep the battery from
running down.
10-27
Extended Storage: Remove the
black, negative (−) cable from the
battery or use a battery trickle
charger.
All-Wheel Drive
Transfer Case
If the vehicle is equipped with
All-Wheel Drive, be sure to perform
the lubricant checks described in
this section.
When to Check Lubricant
Refer to Maintenance Schedule on
page 11‑3 to determine how often to
check the lubricant.
How to Check Lubricant
To get an accurate reading, the
vehicle should be on a level
surface.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
10-28
Black plate (28,1)
Vehicle Care
Front Axle
A. Fill Plug
When to Check and Change
Lubricant
B. Drain Plug
It is not necessary to regularly
check front axle fluid unless there is
a leak suspected or an unusual
noise is heard. A fluid loss could
indicate a problem. Have it
inspected and repaired.
How to Check Lubricant
A. Drain Plug
B. Fill Plug
If the level is below the bottom of
the fill plug hole, located on the
transfer case, some lubricant will
need to be added. Add enough
lubricant to raise the level to the
bottom of the fill plug hole. Use care
not to overtighten the plug.
What to Use
Refer to Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11‑12 to
determine what kind of lubricant
to use.
To get an accurate reading, the
vehicle should be on a level
surface.
.
When the differential is cold, add
enough lubricant to raise the
level from 0 mm (0 in) to 3.2 mm
(1/8 in) below the fill plug hole.
.
When the differential is at
operating temperature (warm),
add enough lubricant to raise the
level to the bottom of the fill
plug hole.
What to Use
Refer to Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11‑12 to
determine what kind of lubricant
to use.
Rear Axle
When to Check Lubricant
It is not necessary to regularly
check rear axle fluid unless there is
a leak suspected or an unusual
noise is heard. A fluid loss could
indicate a problem. Have it
inspected and repaired.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (29,1)
Vehicle Care
All axle assemblies are filled by
volume of fluid during production.
They are not filled to reach a certain
level. When checking the fluid level
on any axle, variations in the
readings can be caused by factory
fill differences between the minimum
and the maximum fluid volume.
Also, if a vehicle has just been
driven before checking the fluid
level, it may appear lower than
normal because fluid has traveled
out along the axle tubes and has
not drained back to the sump area.
Therefore, a reading taken
five minutes after the vehicle has
been driven will appear to have a
lower fluid level than a vehicle that
has been stationary for an hour or
two. Remember that the rear axle
assembly must be supported to get
a true reading.
How to Check Lubricant
10-29
What to Use
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule
to determine what kind of lubricant
to use. See Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 11‑12.
Starter Switch Check
{ WARNING
To get an accurate reading, the
vehicle should be on a level
surface.
The proper level is from 1.0 mm to
19 mm (0.04 inch to 0.75 inches)
below the bottom of the filler plug
hole, located on the rear axle. Add
only enough fluid to reach the
proper level.
When you are doing this
inspection, the vehicle could
move suddenly. If the vehicle
moves, you or others could be
injured.
1. Before starting this check, be
sure there is enough room
around the vehicle.
2. Firmly apply both the parking
brake and the regular brake.
See Parking Brake on
page 9‑37.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
10-30
Black plate (30,1)
Vehicle Care
Do not use the accelerator
pedal, and be ready to turn off
the engine immediately if it
starts.
1. Before starting this check, be
sure there is enough room
around the vehicle. It should be
parked on a level surface.
3. Try to start the engine in each
gear. The vehicle should start
only in P (Park) or N (Neutral).
If the vehicle starts in any other
position, contact your dealer for
service.
2. Firmly apply the parking brake.
See Parking Brake on
page 9‑37.
Automatic Transmission
Shift Lock Control
Function Check
3. With the engine off, turn the
ignition on, but do not start the
engine. Without applying the
regular brake, try to move the
shift lever out of P (Park) with
normal effort. If the shift lever
moves out of P (Park), contact
your dealer for service.
{ WARNING
When you are doing this
inspection, the vehicle could
move suddenly. If the vehicle
moves, you or others could be
injured.
Be ready to apply the regular
brake immediately if the vehicle
begins to move.
Ignition Transmission
Lock Check
While parked, and with the parking
brake set, try to turn the ignition to
LOCK/OFF in each shift lever
position.
.
The ignition should turn to
LOCK/OFF only when the shift
lever is in P (Park).
.
The ignition key should come
out only in LOCK/OFF.
Contact your dealer if service is
required.
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check
{ WARNING
When you are doing this check,
the vehicle could begin to move.
You or others could be injured
and property could be damaged.
Make sure there is room in front
of the vehicle in case it begins to
roll. Be ready to apply the regular
brake at once should the vehicle
begin to move.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (31,1)
Vehicle Care
Park on a fairly steep hill, with the
vehicle facing downhill. Keeping
your foot on the regular brake, set
the parking brake.
.
.
To check the parking brake's
holding ability: With the engine
running and the transmission in
N (Neutral), slowly remove foot
pressure from the regular brake
pedal. Do this until the vehicle is
held by the parking brake only.
To check the P (Park)
mechanism's holding ability:
With the engine running, shift to
P (Park). Then release the
parking brake followed by the
regular brake.
10-31
Wiper Blade Replacement
Windshield wiper blades should be
inspected for wear or cracking. See
Maintenance Schedule on
page 11‑3.
Replacement blades come in
different types and are removed in
different ways.
To replace the wiper blade
assembly:
1. Pull the windshield wiper arm
connector away from the
windshield.
3. Install the new blade onto the
arm connector and make sure
the grooved areas are fully set in
the locked position.
For the proper type and size, see
Maintenance Replacement Parts on
page 11‑14.
Glass Replacement
If the windshield or front side glass
must be replaced, see your dealer
to determine the correct
replacement glass.
Contact your dealer if service is
required.
2. Squeeze the grooved areas on
each side of the blade, and
rotate the blade assembly away
from the arm connector.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
10-32
Vehicle Care
Headlamp Aiming
The vehicle has a visual optical
headlamp aiming system. The aim
of the headlamps have been preset
at the factory and should need no
further adjustment.
However, if the vehicle is damaged
in a crash, the aim of the headlamps
may be affected and adjustment
may be necessary.
If oncoming vehicles flash their high
beams at you, this may mean the
vertical aim of the headlamps needs
to be adjusted.
It is recommended that the vehicle
is taken to your dealer for service if
the headlamps need to be adjusted.
It is possible however, to re-aim the
headlamps as described.
The vehicle should:
.
Black plate (32,1)
Be placed so the headlamps are
7.6 m (25 ft.) from a light colored
wall or other flat surface.
.
Have all four tires on a level
surface which is level all the way
to the wall or other flat surface.
.
Be placed so it is perpendicular
to the wall or other flat surface.
.
Not have any snow, ice, or mud
on it.
.
Be fully assembled and all other
work stopped while headlamp
aiming is being performed.
.
Be normally loaded with a full
tank of fuel and one person or
75 kg (160 lbs) sitting on the
driver seat.
.
Have the tires properly inflated.
.
Have the spare tire is in its
proper location in the vehicle.
Headlamp aiming is done with the
vehicle's low-beam headlamps. The
high-beam headlamps will be
correctly aimed if the low-beam
headlamps are aimed properly.
To adjust the vertical aim:
1. Open the hood. See Hood on
page 10‑4 for more information.
2. Locate the center of the
projector lens of the low‐beam
headlamp.
3. Record the distance from the
ground to the center of the
projector lens of the low‐beam
headlamp.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (33,1)
Vehicle Care
6. Turn on the low-beam
headlamps and place a piece of
cardboard or equivalent in front
of the headlamp not being
adjusted. This allows only the
beam of light from the headlamp
being adjusted to be seen on the
flat surface.
10-33
8. Turn the vertical aiming screw
until the headlamp beam is
aimed to the horizontal tape line.
Turn it clockwise or
counterclockwise to raise or
lower the angle of the beam.
4. At a wall, measure from the
ground upward (A) to the
recorded distance from
Step 3 and mark it.
5. Draw or tape a horizontal line (B)
on the wall the width of the
vehicle at the height of the mark
in Step 4.
Notice: Do not cover a headlamp
to improve beam cut-off when
aiming. Covering a headlamp may
cause excessive heat build-up
which may cause damage to the
headlamp.
7. Locate the vertical headlamp
aiming screws, which are under
the hood near each headlamp
assembly.
9. Make sure that the light from the
headlamp is positioned at the
bottom edge of the horizontal
tape line. The lamp on the
left (A) shows the correct
headlamp aim. The lamp on the
right (B) shows the incorrect
headlamp aim.
10. Repeat Steps 7 through 9 for
the opposite headlamp.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
10-34
Black plate (34,1)
Vehicle Care
Bulb Replacement
For the proper type of replacement
bulbs, see Replacement Bulbs on
page 10‑35.
For any bulb‐changing procedure
not listed in this section, contact
your dealer.
notice that the beam is a slightly
different shade than it was originally.
This is normal.
1. Open the tailgate. See Tailgate
on page 2‑15 for more
information.
Taillamps, Turn Signal,
Sidemarker, Stoplamps,
and Back-Up Lamps
To replace one of these bulbs:
High Intensity Discharge
(HID) Lighting
{ WARNING
The low beam high intensity
discharge lighting system
operates at a very high voltage.
If you try to service any of the
system components, you could be
seriously injured. Have your
dealer or a qualified technician
service them.
The vehicle may have HID
headlamps. After an HID headlamp
bulb has been replaced, you may
2. Remove the two screws from the
taillamp assembly.
A. Stoplamp/Turn Signal/Taillamp
B. Back-up Lamp
C. Sidemarker Lamp
3. Pull the taillamp assembly
rearward until disengaging the
two outer pins of the taillamp
assembly from the vehicle.
4. Turn the bulb socket
counterclockwise to remove it
from the taillamp assembly.
5. Pull the bulb straight out from
the socket.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (35,1)
Vehicle Care
6. Press a new bulb into the bulb
socket.
2. Pull the bulb straight out of the
socket.
Electrical System
7. Reinstall the socket into the
taillamp assembly by turning the
bulb socket clockwise until it
clicks.
3. Install the new bulb into the
socket.
Electrical System
Overload
8. Reinstall the taillamp assembly
making sure to line up the pins
with the vehicle and tighten the
screws.
License Plate Lamp
To replace one of these bulbs:
1. Reach under the rear bumper for
the bulb socket. Turn the bulb
socket counterclockwise and pull
the bulb socket out of the lamp
assembly.
4. Reinstall the bulb socket by
turning it clockwise into the lamp
assembly.
Replacement Bulbs
Exterior Lamp
Bulb
Number
Back-up Lamp
7441
License
Plate Lamp
168
Sidemarker Lamp
194LL
Stoplamp/Taillamp/
Turn Signal Lamp
3057K
For replacement bulbs not listed
here, contact your dealer.
10-35
The vehicle has fuses and circuit
breakers to protect against an
electrical system overload.
When the current electrical load is
too heavy, the circuit breaker opens
and closes, protecting the circuit
until the current load returns to
normal or the problem is fixed. This
greatly reduces the chance of circuit
overload and fire caused by
electrical problems.
Fuses and circuit breakers protect
power devices in the vehicle.
Replace a bad fuse with a new one
of the identical size and rating.
If there is a problem on the road and
a fuse needs to be replaced, the
same amperage fuse can be
borrowed. Choose some feature of
the vehicle that is not needed to use
and replace it as soon as possible.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
10-36
Black plate (36,1)
Vehicle Care
Headlamp Wiring
An electrical overload may cause
the lamps to go on and off, or in
some cases to remain off. Have the
headlamp wiring checked right away
if the lamps go on and off or
remain off.
Windshield Wipers
If the wiper motor overheats due to
heavy snow or ice, the windshield
wipers will stop until the motor cools
and will then restart.
Although the circuit is protected
from electrical overload, overload
due to heavy snow or ice may
cause wiper linkage damage.
Always clear ice and heavy snow
from the windshield before using the
windshield wipers.
If the overload is caused by an
electrical problem and not snow or
ice, be sure to get it fixed.
Fuses and Circuit
Breakers
Engine Compartment
Fuse Block
The wiring circuits in the vehicle are
protected from short circuits by a
combination of fuses, circuit
breakers, and fusible thermal links.
This greatly reduces the chance of
fires caused by electrical problems.
Look at the silver-colored band
inside the fuse. If the band is broken
or melted, replace the fuse. Be sure
you replace a bad fuse with a new
one of the identical size and rating.
Fuses of the same amperage can
be temporarily borrowed from
another fuse location, if a fuse goes
out. Replace the fuse as soon as
you can.
The Engine Compartment Fuse
Block is located in the engine
compartment, on the driver side of
the vehicle. Lift the cover for access
to the fuse/relay block.
Notice: Spilling liquid on any
electrical component on the
vehicle may damage it. Always
keep the covers on any electrical
component.
To remove fuses, hold the end of
the fuse between your thumb and
index finger and pull straight out.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (37,1)
Vehicle Care
10-37
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
10-38
Vehicle Care
The vehicle may not be equipped
with all of the fuses, relays, and
features shown.
Fuses
Usage
1
Black plate (38,1)
Right Trailer
Stop/Turn Lamp
2
Electronic Stability
Suspension
Control, Automatic
Level Control
Exhaust
3
Left Trailer
Stop/Turn Lamp
4
Engine Controls
5
Engine Control
Module, Throttle
Control
6
Trailer Brake
Controller
7
Front Washer
Fuses
8
Usage
Fuses
Oxygen Sensors
9
Antilock Brake
System 2
10
Trailer Back-up
Lamps
11
Driver Side
Low-Beam
Headlamp
12
Engine Control
Module (Battery)
13
Fuel Injectors,
Ignition Coils
(Right Side)
14
Transmission
Control Module
(Battery)
15
Vehicle Back-up
Lamps
Usage
16
Passenger Side
Low-Beam
Headlamp
17
Air Conditioning
Compressor
18
Oxygen Sensors
19
Transmission
Controls (Ignition)
20
Fuel Pump
21
Fuel System
Control Module
22
Headlamp Washer
23
Rear Windshield
Washer
24
Fuel Injectors,
Ignition Coils
(Left Side)
25
Trailer Park Lamps
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (39,1)
Vehicle Care
Fuses
Usage
Fuses
Usage
26
Driver Side Park
Lamps
35
27
Passenger Side
Park Lamps
Key Ignition
System, Theft‐
Deterrent System
36
Windshield Wiper
28
Fog Lamps
37
29
Horn
SEO B2 Upfitter
Usage (Battery)
38
Electric Adjustable
Pedals
30
Passenger Side
High-Beam
Headlamp
31
Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL)
(If Equipped)
32
Driver Side
High-Beam
Headlamp
33
Daytime Running
Lamps 2 (If
Equipped)
34
Sunroof
Fuses
10-39
Usage
45
Airbag System
(Battery)
46
Instrument Panel
Cluster
47
Not Used
48
Auxiliary Climate
Control (Ignition)
39
Climate Controls
(Battery)
49
Center
High-Mounted
Stoplamp (CHMSL)
40
Airbag System
(Ignition)
50
Rear Defogger
51
Heated Mirrors
41
Amplifier
42
Audio System
52
SEO B1 Upfitter
Usage (Battery)
43
Miscellaneous
(Ignition), Cruise
Control
53
Cigarette Lighter,
Auxiliary Power
Outlet
44
Liftgate Release
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
10-40
Vehicle Care
Fuses
Usage
54
Automatic Level
Control
Compressor Relay
55
Climate Controls
(Ignition)
56
Engine Control
Module, Secondary
Fuel Pump
(Ignition)
J-Case
Fuses
Black plate (40,1)
Usage
57
Cooling Fan 1
58
Automatic Level
Control
Compressor
59
J-Case
Fuses
Usage
Relays
Usage
FAN HI
Cooling Fan High
Speed
Stud 2
(Trailer Brakes)
FAN LO
Cooling Fan Low
Speed
64
Left Bussed
Electrical Center 1
FAN CNTRL
Cooling Fan
Control
65
Electric Running
Boards
HDLP
LO/HID
Low-Beam
Headlamp
66
Not Used
FOG LAMP
Front Fog Lamps
67
Transfer Case
A/C
CMPRSR
Air Conditioning
Compressor
68
Stud 1 (Trailer
Connector Battery
Power)
62
Starter
63
69
Mid-Bussed
Electrical Center 1
Heavy Duty
Antilock Brake
System
70
Climate Control
Blower
60
Cooling Fan 2
71
Power Liftgate
Module
61
Antilock Brake
System 1
72
Left Bussed
Electrical Center 2
STRTR
Starter
PWR/TRN
Powertrain
FUEL PMP
Fuel Pump
PRK LAMP
Parking Lamps
REAR
DEFOG
Rear Defogger
RUN/CRNK
Switched Power
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (41,1)
Vehicle Care
10-41
Instrument Panel Fuse
Block
The instrument panel fuse block
access door is located on the driver
side edge of the instrument panel.
Pull off the cover to access the fuse
block.
The vehicle may not be equipped
with all of the fuses, relays, and
features shown.
Fuses
Usage
1
Rear Seats
2
Rear Accessory
Power Outlet
Fuses
Usage
3
Steering Wheel
Controls Backlight
4
Driver Door Module
5
Dome Lamps, Driver
Side Turn Signal
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
10-42
Fuses
Black plate (42,1)
Vehicle Care
Usage
Fuses
Usage
6
Driver Side Turn
Signal, Stoplamp
15
Body Control
Module (BCM)
7
Instrument Panel
Back Lighting
16
Accessory Power
Outlets
8
Passenger Side Turn
Signal, Stoplamp
9
Passenger Door
Module, Driver Unlock
10
Power Door Lock 2
(Unlock Feature)
11
Power Door Lock 2
(Lock Feature)
12
Stoplamps, Center
High‐Mounted
Stoplamp
13
Rear Climate Controls
14
Power Mirror
17
Interior Lamps
18
Power Door Lock 1
(Unlock Feature)
19
Rear Seat
Entertainment
Fuses
Usage
25
Driver Seat Module,
Remote Keyless Entry
System
26
Driver Power Door
Lock (Unlock Feature)
Circuit
Breaker
Usage
LT DR
Driver Side Power
Window Circuit
Breaker
20
Ultrasonic Rear
Parking Assist, Power
Liftgate
21
Power Door Lock 1
(Lock Feature)
22
Driver Information
Center (DIC)
LT DR
Driver Door
Harness
Connection
23
Rear Wiper
BODY
Harness Connector
24
Cooled Seats
BODY
Harness Connector
Harness
Connector
Usage
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (43,1)
Vehicle Care
Center Instrument Panel Fuse
Block
The center instrument panel fuse
block is located underneath the
instrument panel, to the left of the
steering column.
Harness
Connector
Usage
BODY 2
Body Harness
Connector 2
BODY 1
Body Harness
Connector 1
Top View
BODY 3
Body Harness
Connector 3
HEADLINER Headliner Harness
3
Connector 3
HEADLINER Headliner Harness
2
Connector 2
HEADLINER Headliner Harness
1
Connector 1
SEO/
UPFITTER
Special Equipment
Option Upfitter
Harness Connector
Circuit
Breaker
10-43
Usage
CB1
Passenger Side
Power Window Circuit
Breaker
CB2
Passenger Seat
Circuit Breaker
CB3
Driver Seat Circuit
Breaker
CB4
Rear Sliding Window
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
10-44
Black plate (44,1)
Vehicle Care
Wheels and Tires
Tires
WARNING (Continued)
.
Every new GM vehicle has
high-quality tires made by a
leading tire manufacturer. See
the warranty manual for
information regarding the tire
warranty and where to get
service. For additional
information refer to the tire
manufacturer.
.
{ WARNING
.
.
Poorly maintained and
improperly used tires are
dangerous.
Overloading the tires can
cause overheating as a result
of too much flexing. There
could be a blowout and a
serious crash. See Vehicle
Load Limits on page 9‑16.
(Continued)
Underinflated tires pose the
same danger as overloaded
tires. The resulting crash
could cause serious injury.
Check all tires frequently to
maintain the recommended
pressure. Tire pressure
should be checked when the
tires are cold.
Overinflated tires are more
likely to be cut, punctured,
or broken by a sudden
impact — such as when
hitting a pothole. Keep tires at
the recommended pressure.
.
Worn or old tires can cause a
crash. If the tread is badly
worn, replace them.
.
Replace any tires that have
been damaged by impacts
with potholes, curbs, etc.
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
.
Improperly repaired tires can
cause a crash. Only the
dealer or an authorized tire
service center should repair,
replace, dismount, and mount
the tires.
.
Do not spin the tires in
excess of 55 km/h (35 mph)
on slippery surfaces such as
snow, mud, ice, etc.
Excessive spinning may
cause the tires to explode.
See Tire Pressure for
High-Speed Operation on
page 10‑51 for inflation pressure
adjustment for high speed
driving.
22‐Inch Tires
If the vehicle has 22‐inch
P285/45R22 size tires, they are
classified as touring tires and
are designed for on‐road use.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (45,1)
Vehicle Care
The low‐profile, wide tread
design is not recommended for
off‐road driving. See Off-Road
Driving on page 9‑6, for
additional information.
Notice: Low‐profile tires are
more susceptible to damage
from road hazards or curb
impact than standard profile
tires. Tire and/or wheel
assembly damage can occur
when coming into contact
with road hazards like,
potholes, or sharp edged
objects, or when sliding into a
curb. The warranty does not
cover this type of damage.
Keep tires set to the correct
inflation pressure and, when
possible, avoid contact with
curbs, potholes, and other
road hazards.
Tire Sidewall Labeling
Useful information about a tire is
molded into the sidewall. The
example shows a typical
passenger vehicle tire sidewall.
Passenger (P‐Metric) Tire
(A) Tire Size: The tire size
code is a combination of letters
and numbers used to define a
particular tire's width, height,
aspect ratio, construction type,
and service description. See the
“Tire Size” illustration later in this
section for more detail.
10-45
(B) TPC Spec (Tire
Performance Criteria
Specification): Original
equipment tires designed to
GM's specific tire performance
criteria have a TPC specification
code molded onto the sidewall.
GM's TPC specifications meet or
exceed all federal safety
guidelines.
(C) DOT (Department of
Transportation): The
Department of Transportation
(DOT) code indicates that the
tire is in compliance with the
U.S. Department of
Transportation Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards.
(D) Tire Identification Number
(TIN): The letters and numbers
following the DOT code are
the Tire Identification Number
(TIN). The TIN shows the
manufacturer and plant code,
tire size, and date the tire was
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
10-46
Black plate (46,1)
Vehicle Care
manufactured. The TIN is
molded onto both sides of the
tire, although only one side may
have the date of manufacture.
(E) Tire Ply Material : The type
of cord and number of plies in
the sidewall and under the tread.
(F) Uniform Tire Quality
Grading (UTQG): Tire
manufacturers are required to
grade tires based on three
performance factors: treadwear,
traction, and temperature
resistance. For more
information, see Uniform Tire
Quality Grading on page 10‑59.
(G) Maximum Cold Inflation
Load Limit: Maximum load
that can be carried and the
maximum pressure needed
to support that load. For
information on recommended
tire pressure see Tire Pressure
on page 10‑49 and Vehicle Load
Limits on page 9‑16.
Tire Designations
Tire Size
The example shows a typical
passenger vehicle tire size.
Passenger (P‐Metric) Tire
(A) Passenger (P‐Metric) Tire:
The United States version of a
metric tire sizing system. The
letter P as the first character in
the tire size means a passenger
vehicle tire engineered to
standards set by the U.S. Tire
and Rim Association.
(B) Tire Width: The three‐digit
number indicates the tire section
width in millimeters from
sidewall to sidewall.
(C) Aspect Ratio: A two-digit
number that indicates the tire
height-to-width measurements.
For example, if the tire size
aspect ratio is 75, as shown in
item C of the tire illustration, it
would mean that the tire's
sidewall is 75 percent as high
as it is wide.
(D) Construction Code: A
letter code is used to indicate
the type of ply construction in
the tire. The letter R means
radial ply construction; the
letter D means diagonal or
bias ply construction; and the
letter B means belted‐bias ply
construction.
(E) Rim Diameter : Diameter of
the wheel in inches.
(F) Service Description: These
characters represent the load
index and speed rating of the
tire. The load index represents
the load carrying capacity a tire
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (47,1)
Vehicle Care
is certified to carry. The speed
rating is the maximum speed a
tire is certified to carry a load.
Tire Terminology and
Definitions
Air Pressure: The amount of
air inside the tire pressing
outward on each square inch
of the tire. Air pressure is
expressed in kPa (kilopascal)
or psi (pounds per square inch).
Accessory Weight: The
combined weight of optional
accessories. Some examples of
optional accessories are
automatic transmission, power
steering, power brakes, power
windows, power seats, and air
conditioning.
Aspect Ratio: The relationship
of a tire's height to its width.
Belt: A rubber coated layer of
cords that is located between
the plies and the tread. Cords
may be made from steel or other
reinforcing materials.
Bead: The tire bead contains
steel wires wrapped by steel
cords that hold the tire onto
the rim.
Bias Ply Tire: A pneumatic tire
in which the plies are laid at
alternate angles less than
90 degrees to the centerline of
the tread.
Cold Tire Pressure: The
amount of air pressure in a tire,
measured in kPa (kilopascal)
or psi (pounds per square inch)
before a tire has built up heat
from driving. See Tire Pressure
on page 10‑49.
Curb Weight: The weight of a
motor vehicle with standard and
optional equipment including the
10-47
maximum capacity of fuel, oil,
and coolant, but without
passengers and cargo.
DOT Markings: A code molded
into the sidewall of a tire
signifying that the tire is in
compliance with the U.S.
Department of Transportation
(DOT) Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards. The DOT code
includes the Tire Identification
Number (TIN), an alphanumeric
designator which can also
identify the tire manufacturer,
production plant, brand, and
date of production.
GVWR: Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating. See Vehicle Load Limits
on page 9‑16.
GAWR FRT: Gross Axle Weight
Rating for the front axle. See
Vehicle Load Limits on
page 9‑16.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
10-48
Black plate (48,1)
Vehicle Care
GAWR RR: Gross Axle Weight
Rating for the rear axle. See
Vehicle Load Limits on
page 9‑16.
Maximum Load Rating: The
load rating for a tire at the
maximum permissible inflation
pressure for that tire.
model name molding that is
higher or deeper than the same
moldings on the other sidewall
of the tire.
Intended Outboard Sidewall :
The side of an asymmetrical tire,
that must always face outward
when mounted on a vehicle.
Maximum Loaded Vehicle
Weight: The sum of curb
weight, accessory weight,
vehicle capacity weight, and
production options weight.
Passenger (P-Metric) Tire: A
tire used on passenger cars and
some light duty trucks and
multipurpose vehicles.
Kilopascal (kPa): The metric
unit for air pressure.
Light Truck (LT‐Metric) Tire: A
tire used on light duty trucks and
some multipurpose passenger
vehicles.
Load Index: An assigned
number ranging from 1 to 279
that corresponds to the load
carrying capacity of a tire.
Maximum Inflation Pressure:
The maximum air pressure to
which a cold tire can be inflated.
The maximum air pressure is
molded onto the sidewall.
Normal Occupant Weight: The
number of occupants a vehicle
is designed to seat multiplied by
68 kg (150 lbs). See Vehicle
Load Limits on page 9‑16.
Occupant Distribution :
Designated seating positions.
Outward Facing Sidewall: The
side of an asymmetrical tire that
has a particular side that faces
outward when mounted on a
vehicle. The side of the tire that
contains a whitewall, bears
white lettering, or bears
manufacturer, brand, and/or
Recommended Inflation
Pressure: Vehicle
manufacturer's recommended
tire inflation pressure as shown
on the tire placard. See Tire
Pressure on page 10‑49
andVehicle Load Limits on
page 9‑16.
Radial Ply Tire: A pneumatic
tire in which the ply cords that
extend to the beads are laid at
90 degrees to the centerline of
the tread.
Rim: A metal support for a tire
and upon which the tire beads
are seated.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (49,1)
Vehicle Care
Sidewall: The portion of a tire
between the tread and the bead.
Speed Rating: An
alphanumeric code assigned to
a tire indicating the maximum
speed at which a tire can
operate.
Traction: The friction between
the tire and the road surface.
The amount of grip provided.
Tread: The portion of a tire that
comes into contact with
the road.
Treadwear Indicators: Narrow
bands, sometimes called wear
bars, that show across the tread
of a tire when only 1.6 mm
(1/16 in) of tread remains. See
When It Is Time for New Tires
on page 10‑56.
UTQGS (Uniform Tire Quality
Grading Standards): A tire
information system that provides
consumers with ratings for a
10-49
tire's traction, temperature,
and treadwear. Ratings are
determined by tire
manufacturers using
government testing procedures.
The ratings are molded into the
sidewall of the tire. See Uniform
Tire Quality Grading on
page 10‑59.
recommended inflation
pressure. See “Tire and Loading
Information Label” under Vehicle
Load Limits on page 9‑16.
Vehicle Capacity Weight: The
number of designated seating
positions multiplied by
68 kg (150 lbs) plus the rated
cargo load. See Vehicle Load
Limits on page 9‑16.
Notice: Neither tire
underinflation nor
overinflation is good.
Underinflated tires, or tires
that do not have enough air,
can result in:
Vehicle Maximum Load on the
Tire: Load on an individual tire
due to curb weight, accessory
weight, occupant weight, and
cargo weight.
Vehicle Placard: A label
permanently attached to a
vehicle showing the vehicle
capacity weight and the original
equipment tire size and
Tire Pressure
Tires need the correct amount of
air pressure to operate
effectively.
.
Tire overloading and
overheating which could
lead to a blowout.
.
Premature or
irregular wear.
.
Poor handling.
.
Reduced fuel economy.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
10-50
Black plate (50,1)
Vehicle Care
.
Unusual wear.
vehicle handling and ride
comfort. Never load the vehicle
with more weight than it was
designed to carry.
.
Poor handling.
When to Check
.
Rough ride.
.
Needless damage from
road hazards.
Check the tires once a month
or more.
Overinflated tires, or tires that
have too much air, can
result in:
The Tire and Loading
Information label on the vehicle
indicates the original equipment
tires and the correct cold tire
inflation pressures. The
recommended pressure is the
minimum air pressure needed to
support the vehicle's maximum
load carrying capacity.
For additional information
regarding how much weight the
vehicle can carry, and an
example of the Tire and Loading
Information label, see Vehicle
Load Limits on page 9‑16. How
the vehicle is loaded affects
Do not forget the spare tire,
if the vehicle has one.
SeeFull-Size Spare Tire on
page 10‑75 for additional
information.
How to Check
Use a good quality pocket-type
gauge to check tire pressure.
Proper tire inflation cannot be
determined by looking at the tire.
Check the tire inflation pressure
when the tires are cold, meaning
the vehicle has not been driven
for at least three hours or no
more than 1.6 km (1 mi).
Remove the valve cap from the
tire valve stem. Press the tire
gauge firmly onto the valve to
get a pressure measurement.
If the cold tire inflation pressure
matches the recommended
pressure on the Tire and
Loading Information label, no
further adjustment is necessary.
If the inflation pressure is low,
add air until the recommended
pressure is reached. If the
inflation pressure is high, press
on the metal stem in the center
of the tire valve to release air.
Re-check the tire pressure with
the tire gauge.
Return the valve caps on the
valve stems to prevent leaks
and keep out dirt and moisture.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
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Vehicle Care
Tire Pressure for
High-Speed Operation
{ WARNING
Driving at high speeds, 160 km/h
(100 mph) or higher, puts an
additional strain on tires.
Sustained high-speed driving
causes excessive heat buildup
and can cause sudden tire failure.
You could have a crash and you
or others could be killed. Some
high-speed rated tires require
inflation pressure adjustment for
high-speed operation. When
speed limits and road conditions
are such that a vehicle can be
driven at high speeds, make sure
the tires are rated for high-speed
operation, in excellent condition,
and set to the correct cold tire
inflation pressure for the
vehicle load.
Vehicles with P265/65R18 or
P285/45R22 size tires require
inflation pressure adjustment when
driving the vehicle at speeds of
160 km/h (100 mph) or higher. Set
the cold inflation pressure to 20 kPa
(3 psi) above the recommended tire
pressure shown on the Tire and
Loading Information Label. Return
the tires to the recommended cold
tire inflation pressure when
high-speed driving has ended. See
Vehicle Load Limits on page 9‑16
and Tire Pressure on page 10‑49.
Tire Pressure Monitor
System
The Tire Pressure Monitor System
(TPMS) uses radio and sensor
technology to check tire pressure
levels. The TPMS sensors monitor
the air pressure in your tires and
transmit tire pressure readings to a
receiver located in the vehicle.
Each tire, including the spare
(if provided), should be checked
monthly when cold and inflated to
10-51
the inflation pressure recommended
by the vehicle manufacturer on the
vehicle placard or tire inflation
pressure label. (If your vehicle has
tires of a different size than the size
indicated on the vehicle placard or
tire inflation pressure label, you
should determine the proper tire
inflation pressure for those tires.)
As an added safety feature, your
vehicle has been equipped with a
tire pressure monitoring system
(TPMS) that illuminates a low tire
pressure telltale when one or more
of your tires is significantly under‐
inflated.
Accordingly, when the low tire
pressure telltale illuminates, you
should stop and check your tires as
soon as possible, and inflate them
to the proper pressure. Driving on a
significantly under‐inflated tire
causes the tire to overheat and can
lead to tire failure. Under‐inflation
also reduces fuel efficiency and tire
tread life, and may affect the
vehicle's handling and stopping
ability.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
10-52
Black plate (52,1)
Vehicle Care
Please note that the TPMS is not a
substitute for proper tire
maintenance, and it is the driver's
responsibility to maintain correct tire
pressure, even if under‐inflation has
not reached the level to trigger
illumination of the TPMS low tire
pressure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been
equipped with a TPMS malfunction
indicator to indicate when the
system is not operating properly.
The TPMS malfunction indicator is
combined with the low tire pressure
telltale. When the system detects a
malfunction, the telltale will flash for
approximately one minute and then
remain continuously illuminated.
This sequence will continue upon
subsequent vehicle start‐ups as
long as the malfunction exists.
When the malfunction indicator is
illuminated, the system may not be
able to detect or signal low tire
pressure as intended. TPMS
malfunctions may occur for a variety
of reasons, including the installation
of replacement or alternate tires or
wheels on the vehicle that prevent
the TPMS from functioning properly.
Always check the TPMS malfunction
telltale after replacing one or more
tires or wheels on your vehicle to
ensure that the replacement or
alternate tires and wheels allow the
TPMS to continue to function
properly.
See Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation on page 10‑52 for
additional information.
Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation
This vehicle may have a Tire
Pressure Monitor System (TPMS).
The TPMS is designed to warn the
driver when a low tire pressure
condition exists. TPMS sensors are
mounted onto each tire and wheel
assembly, excluding the spare tire
and wheel assembly. The TPMS
sensors monitor the air pressure in
the tires and transmit the tire
pressure readings to a receiver
located in the vehicle.
Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) Rules and
with Industry Canada
Standards
See Radio Frequency Statement on
page 13‑21 for information
regarding Part 15 of the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC)
Rules and with Industry Canada
Standards RSS-GEN/210/220/310.
When a low tire pressure condition
is detected, the TPMS illuminates
the low tire pressure warning light
located on the instrument cluster.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
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Vehicle Care
If the warning light comes on, stop
as soon as possible and inflate the
tires to the recommended pressure
shown on the Tire and Loading
Information label. See Vehicle Load
Limits on page 9‑16.
A message to check the pressure in
a specific tire displays in the Driver
Information Center (DIC). The low
tire pressure warning light and the
DIC warning message come on at
each ignition cycle until the tires are
inflated to the correct inflation
pressure. Using the DIC, tire
pressure levels can be viewed. For
additional information and details
about the DIC operation and
displays, see Driver Information
Center (DIC) on page 5‑23 and Tire
Messages on page 5‑34.
The low tire pressure warning light
may come on in cool weather when
the vehicle is first started, and then
turn off as the vehicle is driven. This
could be an early indicator that the
air pressure is getting low and
needs to be inflated to the proper
pressure.
A Tire and Loading Information label
shows the size of the original
equipment tires and the correct
inflation pressure for the tires when
they are cold. See Vehicle Load
Limits on page 9‑16, for an example
of the Tire and Loading Information
label and its location. Also see Tire
Pressure on page 10‑49.
The TPMS can warn about a low
tire pressure condition but it does
not replace normal tire
maintenance. See Tire Inspection
on page 10‑55, Tire Rotation on
page 10‑55, and Tires on
page 10‑44.
Notice: Tire sealant materials are
not all the same. A non-approved
tire sealant could damage the
TPMS sensors. TPMS sensor
damage caused by using an
incorrect tire sealant is not
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Always use only the
GM-approved tire sealant
available through your dealer or
included in the vehicle.
10-53
TPMS Malfunction Light and
Message
The TPMS will not function properly
if one or more of the TPMS sensors
are missing or inoperable. When the
system detects a malfunction, the
low tire pressure warning light
flashes for about one minute and
then stays on for the remainder of
the ignition cycle. A DIC warning
message also displays. The
malfunction light and DIC warning
message come on at each ignition
cycle until the problem is corrected.
Some of the conditions that can
cause these to come on are:
.
One of the road tires has been
replaced with the spare tire. The
spare tire does not have a
TPMS sensor. The malfunction
light and the DIC message
should go off after the road tire
is replaced and the sensor
matching process is performed
successfully. See “TPMS Sensor
Matching Process” later in this
section.
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10-54
.
.
.
Black plate (54,1)
Vehicle Care
The TPMS sensor matching
process was not done or not
completed successfully after
rotating the tires. The
malfunction light and the DIC
message should go off after
successfully completing the
sensor matching process. See
“TPMS Sensor Matching
Process” later in this section.
One or more TPMS sensors are
missing or damaged. The
malfunction light and the DIC
message should go off when the
TPMS sensors are installed and
the sensor matching process is
performed successfully. See
your dealer for service.
Replacement tires or wheels do
not match the original equipment
tires or wheels. Tires and wheels
other than those recommended
could prevent the TPMS from
functioning properly. See Buying
New Tires on page 10‑57.
.
Operating electronic devices or
being near facilities using radio
wave frequencies similar to the
TPMS could cause the TPMS
sensors to malfunction.
If the TPMS is not functioning
properly, it cannot detect or signal a
low tire condition. See your dealer
for service if the TPMS malfunction
light and DIC message come on
and stay on.
TPMS Sensor Matching
Process
Each TPMS sensor has a unique
identification code. The identification
code needs to be matched to a new
tire/wheel position after rotating the
vehicle’s tires or replacing one or
more of the TPMS sensors. Also,
the TPMS sensor matching process
should be performed after replacing
a spare tire with a road tire
containing the TPMS sensor. The
malfunction light and the DIC
message should go off at the next
ignition cycle. The sensors are
matched to the tire/wheel positions,
using a TPMS relearn tool, in the
following order: driver side front tire,
passenger side front tire, passenger
side rear tire, and driver side rear.
See your dealer for service or to
purchase a relearn tool.
There are two minutes to match the
first tire/wheel position, and
five minutes overall to match all four
tire/wheel positions. If it takes
longer, the matching process stops
and must be restarted.
The TPMS sensor matching
process is:
1. Set the parking brake.
2. Turn the ignition to ON/RUN with
the engine off.
3. Press the Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE) transmitter's Q and "
buttons at the same time for
approximately five seconds. The
horn sounds twice to signal the
receiver is in relearn mode and
the TIRE LEARNING ACTIVE
message displays on the DIC
screen.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (55,1)
Vehicle Care
4. Start with the driver side
front tire.
5. Place the relearn tool against
the tire sidewall, near the valve
stem. Then press the button to
activate the TPMS sensor.
A horn chirp confirms that the
sensor identification code has
been matched to this tire and
wheel position.
6. Proceed to the passenger side
front tire, and repeat the
procedure in Step 5.
7. Proceed to the passenger side
rear tire, and repeat the
procedure in Step 5.
8. Proceed to the driver side rear
tire, and repeat the procedure in
Step 5. The horn sounds two
times to indicate the sensor
identification code has been
matched to the driver side rear
tire, and the TPMS sensor
matching process is no longer
active. The TIRE LEARNING
ACTIVE message on the DIC
display screen goes off.
9. Turn the ignition to LOCK/OFF.
10. Set all four tires to the
recommended air pressure
level as indicated on the Tire
and Loading Information label.
Tire Inspection
We recommend that the tires,
including the spare tire, if the
vehicle has one, be inspected
for signs of wear or damage at
least once a month.
Replace the tire if:
.
The indicators at three or
more places around the tire
can be seen.
.
There is cord or fabric
showing through the tire's
rubber.
.
The tread or sidewall is
cracked, cut, or snagged
deep enough to show cord or
fabric.
10-55
.
The tire has a bump, bulge,
or split.
.
The tire has a puncture, cut,
or other damage that cannot
be repaired well because of
the size or location of the
damage.
Tire Rotation
Tires should be rotated every
12 000 km (7,500 mi). See
Maintenance Schedule on
page 11‑3.
Tires are rotated to achieve a
uniform wear for all tires. The
first rotation is the most
important.
Any time unusual wear is
noticed, rotate the tires as soon
as possible and check the wheel
alignment. Also check for
damaged tires or wheels.
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10-56
Black plate (56,1)
Vehicle Care
See When It Is Time for New
Tires on page 10‑56 and Wheel
Replacement on page 10‑61.
See Tire Pressure on
page 10‑49 and Vehicle Load
Limits on page 9‑16.
Reset the Tire Pressure Monitor
System. See Tire Pressure
Monitor Operation on
page 10‑52.
Check that all wheel nuts are
properly tightened. See “Wheel
Nut Torque” under Capacities
and Specifications on
page 12‑2.
{ WARNING
Use this rotation pattern when
rotating the tires.
Do not include the spare tire in
the tire rotation.
Adjust the front and rear tires to
the recommended inflation
pressure on the Tire and
Loading Information label after
the tires have been rotated.
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the
parts to which it is fastened, can
make wheel nuts become loose
after time. The wheel could come
off and cause an accident. When
changing a wheel, remove any
rust or dirt from places where the
wheel attaches to the vehicle.
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
In an emergency, a cloth or a
paper towel can be used;
however, use a scraper or wire
brush later to remove all rust
or dirt.
Lightly coat the center of the
wheel hub with wheel bearing
grease after a wheel change or
tire rotation to prevent corrosion
or rust build-up. Do not get
grease on the flat wheel
mounting surface or on the
wheel nuts or bolts.
When It Is Time for New
Tires
Factors, such as maintenance,
temperatures, driving speeds,
vehicle loading, and road conditions
affect the wear rate of the tires.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (57,1)
Vehicle Care
including temperatures, loading
conditions, and inflation pressure
maintenance affect how fast aging
takes place. Tires will typically
need to be replaced due to wear
before they may need to be
replaced due to age. Consult the tire
manufacturer for more information
on when tires should be replaced.
Vehicle Storage
Treadwear indicators are one way to
tell when it is time for new tires.
Treadwear indicators appear when
the tires have only 1.6 mm (1/16 in)
or less of tread remaining. Some
commercial truck tires may not have
treadwear indicators. See Tire
Inspection on page 10‑55 and Tire
Rotation on page 10‑55 for
additional information.
The rubber in tires ages over time.
This also applies to the spare tire,
if the vehicle has one, even if it is
never used. Multiple conditions
Tires age when stored normally
mounted on a parked vehicle. Park
a vehicle that will be stored for at
least a month in a cool, dry, clean
area away from direct sunlight to
slow aging. This area should be
free of grease, gasoline or other
substances that can deteriorate
rubber.
Parking for an extended period can
cause flat spots on the tires that
may result in vibrations while
driving. When storing a vehicle for
at least a month, remove the tires or
raise the vehicle to reduce the
weight from the tires.
10-57
Buying New Tires
GM has developed and matched
specific tires for the vehicle. The
original equipment tires installed
were designed to meet General
Motors Tire Performance Criteria
Specification (TPC Spec) system
rating. When replacement tires are
needed, GM strongly recommends
buying tires with the same TPC
Spec rating.
GM's exclusive TPC Spec system
considers over a dozen critical
specifications that impact the overall
performance of the vehicle,
including brake system
performance, ride and handling,
traction control, and tire pressure
monitoring performance. GM's TPC
Spec number is molded onto the
tire's sidewall near the tire size.
If the tires have an all‐season tread
design, the TPC Spec number will
be followed by MS for mud and
snow. See Tire Sidewall Labeling on
page 10‑45 for additional
information.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
10-58
Black plate (58,1)
Vehicle Care
GM recommends replacing all the
tires at the same time. Uniform tread
depth on all tires will help to
maintain the performance of the
vehicle. Braking and handling
performance may be adversely
affected if all the tires are not
replaced at the same time. See Tire
Inspection on page 10‑55 and Tire
Rotation on page 10‑55 for
information on proper tire rotation.
{ WARNING
Tires could explode during
improper service. Attempting
to mount or dismount a tire
could cause injury or death.
Only your dealer or authorized
tire service center should
mount or dismount the tires.
{ WARNING
Mixing tires of different sizes,
brands, or types may cause loss
of control of the vehicle, resulting
in a crash or other vehicle
damage. Use the correct size,
brand, and type of tires on all
wheels.
This vehicle may have a different
size spare than the road tires
originally installed on the vehicle.
When new, the vehicle included a
spare tire and wheel assembly
with a similar overall diameter as
the road tires and wheels, so it is
all right to drive on it. The spare
tire was developed for use on this
vehicle and will not affect vehicle
handling.
{ WARNING
Using bias-ply tires on the
vehicle may cause the wheel
rim flanges to develop cracks
after many miles of driving.
A tire and/or wheel could fail
suddenly and cause a crash.
Use only radial-ply tires with
the wheels on the vehicle.
If the vehicle tires must be replaced
with a tire that does not have a TPC
Spec number, make sure they are
the same size, load range, speed
rating, and construction (radial) as
the original tires.
Vehicles that have a tire pressure
monitoring system could give an
inaccurate low‐pressure warning if
non‐TPC Spec rated tires are
installed. See Tire Pressure Monitor
System on page 10‑51.
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Vehicle Care
The Tire and Loading Information
label indicates the original
equipment tires on the vehicle. See
Vehicle Load Limits on page 9‑16
for the label location and more
information about the Tire and
Loading Information label.
Different Size Tires and
Wheels
If wheels or tires are installed that
are a different size than the original
equipment wheels and tires, vehicle
performance, including its braking,
ride and handling characteristics,
stability, and resistance to rollover
may be affected. If the vehicle has
electronic systems such as antilock
brakes, rollover airbags, traction
control, and electronic stability
control, the performance of these
systems can also be affected.
{ WARNING
If different sized wheels are used,
there may not be an acceptable
level of performance and safety if
tires not recommended for those
wheels are selected. This
increases the chance of a crash
and serious injury. Only use GM
specific wheel and tire systems
developed for the vehicle, and
have them properly installed by a
GM certified technician.
See Buying New Tires on
page 10‑57 and Accessories and
Modifications on page 10‑2 for
additional information.
10-59
Uniform Tire Quality
Grading
Quality grades can be found
where applicable on the tire
sidewall between tread shoulder
and maximum section width.
For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA
Temperature A
The following information relates
to the system developed by the
United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA), which grades tires by
treadwear, traction, and
temperature performance. This
applies only to vehicles sold in
the United States. The grades
are molded on the sidewalls of
most passenger car tires.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
10-60
Black plate (60,1)
Vehicle Care
The Uniform Tire Quality
Grading (UTQG) system does
not apply to deep tread,
winter-type snow tires,
space-saver, or temporary use
spare tires, tires with nominal
rim diameters of 10 to 12 inches
(25 to 30 cm), or to some
limited-production tires.
While the tires available on
General Motors passenger cars
and light trucks may vary with
respect to these grades, they
must also conform to federal
safety requirements and
additional General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC)
standards.
All Passenger Car Tires Must
Conform to Federal Safety
Requirements In Addition To
These Grades.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a
comparative rating based on the
wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a
specified government test
course. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one and
a half (1½) times as well on the
government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative
performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of
their use, however, and may
depart significantly from the
norm due to variations in driving
habits, service practices
and differences in road
characteristics and climate.
Traction – AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from
highest to lowest, are AA, A, B,
and C. Those grades represent
the tire's ability to stop on wet
pavement as measured under
controlled conditions on
specified government test
surfaces of asphalt and
concrete. A tire marked C may
have poor traction performance.
Warning: The traction grade
assigned to this tire is based on
straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include
acceleration, cornering,
hydroplaning, or peak traction
characteristics.
Temperature – A, B, C
The temperature grades are A
(the highest), B, and C,
representing the tire's resistance
to the generation of heat and its
ability to dissipate heat when
tested under controlled
conditions on a specified indoor
laboratory test wheel. Sustained
high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate
and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (61,1)
Vehicle Care
to sudden tire failure. The grade
C corresponds to a level of
performance which all
passenger car tires must meet
under the Federal Motor Safety
Standard No. 109. Grades B and
A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory
test wheel than the minimum
required by law. Warning: The
temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is
properly inflated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed,
underinflation, or excessive
loading, either separately or in
combination, can cause heat
buildup and possible tire failure.
will not be necessary on a regular
basis. However, check the
alignment if there is unusual tire
wear or if the vehicle is pulling to
one side or the other. If the vehicle
vibrates when driving on a smooth
road, the tires and wheels might
need to be rebalanced. See your
dealer for proper diagnosis.
Wheel Alignment and Tire
Balance
Your dealer will know the kind of
wheel that is needed.
The tires and wheels were aligned
and balanced at the factory to
provide the longest tire life and best
overall performance. Adjustments to
wheel alignment and tire balancing
Each new wheel should have the
same load-carrying capacity,
diameter, width, offset, and be
mounted the same way as the one it
replaces.
Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel that is bent,
cracked, or badly rusted or
corroded. If wheel nuts keep coming
loose, the wheel, wheel bolts, and
wheel nuts should be replaced.
If the wheel leaks air, replace it.
Some aluminum wheels can be
repaired. See your dealer if any of
these conditions exist.
10-61
Replace wheels, wheel bolts, wheel
nuts, or Tire Pressure Monitor
System (TPMS) sensors with new
GM original equipment parts.
{ WARNING
Using the wrong replacement
wheels, wheel bolts, or wheel
nuts can be dangerous. It could
affect the braking and handling of
the vehicle. Tires can lose air,
and cause loss of control, causing
a crash. Always use the correct
wheel, wheel bolts, and wheel
nuts for replacement.
Notice: The wrong wheel can
also cause problems with bearing
life, brake cooling, speedometer
or odometer calibration,
headlamp aim, bumper height,
vehicle ground clearance, and tire
or tire chain clearance to the
body and chassis.
See If a Tire Goes Flat on
page 10‑62 for more information.
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Black plate (62,1)
Vehicle Care
Used Replacement Wheels
{ WARNING
Replacing a wheel with a used
one is dangerous. How it has
been used or how far it has been
driven may be unknown. It could
fail suddenly and cause a crash.
When replacing wheels, use a
new GM original equipment
wheel.
Tire Chains
{ WARNING
Do not use tire chains. There is
not enough clearance. Tire chains
used on a vehicle without the
proper amount of clearance can
cause damage to the brakes,
suspension, or other vehicle
parts. The area damaged by the
tire chains could cause loss of
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
control and a crash. Use another
type of traction device only if its
manufacturer recommends it for
the vehicle's tire size combination
and road conditions. Follow that
manufacturer's instructions. To
avoid vehicle damage, drive
slowly and readjust or remove the
traction device if it contacts the
vehicle. Do not spin the wheels.
If traction devices are used, install
them on the rear tires.
If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blow out
while driving, especially if the tires
are maintained properly. If air goes
out of a tire, it is much more likely to
leak out slowly. But if there ever is a
blowout, here are a few tips about
what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire
creates a drag that pulls the vehicle
toward that side. Take your foot off
the accelerator pedal and grip the
steering wheel firmly. Steer to
maintain lane position, and then
gently brake to a stop, well off the
road, if possible.
A rear blowout, particularly on a
curve, acts much like a skid and
may require the same correction as
used in a skid. Stop pressing the
accelerator pedal and steer to
straighten the vehicle. It may be
very bumpy and noisy. Gently brake
to a stop, well off the road,
if possible.
{ WARNING
Driving on a flat tire will cause
permanent damage to the tire.
Re-inflating a tire after it has been
driven on while severely
underinflated or flat may cause a
blowout and a serious crash.
Never attempt to re-inflate a tire
that has been driven on while
severely underinflated or flat.
(Continued)
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (63,1)
Vehicle Care
WARNING (Continued)
Have your dealer or an authorized
tire service center repair or
replace the flat tire as soon as
possible.
{ WARNING
Lifting a vehicle and getting under
it to do maintenance or repairs is
dangerous without the
appropriate safety equipment and
training. If a jack is provided with
the vehicle, it is designed only for
changing a flat tire. If it is used for
anything else, you or others could
be badly injured or killed if the
vehicle slips off the jack. If a jack
is provided with the vehicle, only
use it for changing a flat tire.
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire
and wheel damage by driving slowly
to a level place, well off the road,
if possible. Turn on the hazard
warning flashers. See Hazard
Warning Flashers on page 6‑7.
{ WARNING
Changing a tire can be
dangerous. The vehicle can slip
off the jack and roll over or fall
causing injury or death. Find a
level place to change the tire. To
help prevent the vehicle from
moving:
10-63
WARNING (Continued)
5. Place wheel blocks on both
sides of the tire at the
opposite corner of the tire
being changed.
When the vehicle has a flat tire (B),
use the following example as a
guide to assist in the placement of
the wheel blocks (A).
1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put an automatic
transmission in P (Park) or a
manual transmission in
1 (First) or R (Reverse).
3. Turn off the engine and do
not restart while the vehicle
is raised.
4. Do not allow passengers to
remain in the vehicle.
(Continued)
A. Wheel Block
B. Flat Tire
The following information explains
how to repair or change a tire.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
10-64
Black plate (64,1)
Vehicle Care
Tire Changing
3. Turn the wing nut (C)
counterclockwise to remove the
wheel blocks (A) attached to the
jack (E). Place the wheel blocks
where needed as indicated in
previously in this section.
Removing the Spare Tire and
Tools
The jack and the wheel blocks are
located under a cover near the
passenger side rear seat.
The tools for changing a flat tire are
located in the passenger side
top-box storage unit.
To remove the tools:
A. Wheel Blocks
B. Jack Knob
C. Wing Nut
D. Retaining Hook
E. Jack
Rear Seat (Passenger Side) Jack
Cover
1. Remove the jack cover by
turning the two wing nuts
one-quarter turn
counterclockwise and pulling the
jack cover off.
F. Mounting Bracket
2. Turn the jack knob (B) on the
jack counterclockwise to release
the jack (E) from the mounting
bracket (F).
1. Open the top door on the
passenger side top-box storage
unit. Use the ignition/door key to
unlock it if it is locked. See
Top-Box Storage on page 4‑2 for
more information.
2. Remove the black pouch from
the storage box.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (65,1)
Vehicle Care
To access the spare tire:
10-65
H. Wheel Wrench
I.
Jack Handle Extension(s)
J.
Spare Tire Lock
1. Open the hoist shaft access
cover on the bumper to access
the spare tire lock (J).
2. To remove the spare tire lock,
insert the ignition key, turn it
clockwise and pull it straight out.
4. Insert the open end of the
extension (F) through the hole in
the rear bumper (G) (hoist shaft
access hole).
A. Spare Tire (Valve Stem
Pointed Down)
Be sure the hoist end (F) of the
extension connects to the hoist
shaft. The ribbed square end of
the extension is used to lower
the spare tire.
B. Hoist Assembly
C. Hoist Cable
D. Tire/Wheel Retainer
E. Hoist Shaft
F.
Hoist End of Extension Tool
G. Hoist Shaft Access Hole
3. Assemble the two jack handle
extensions (I) and wheel
wrench (H), as shown.
Do not use the chiseled end of
the wheel wrench.
5. Turn the wheel wrench
counterclockwise to lower the
spare tire to the ground.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
10-66
Black plate (66,1)
Vehicle Care
Continue to turn the wheel
wrench until the spare tire can
be pulled out from under the
vehicle.
If the spare tire does not lower to
the ground, the secondary latch
is engaged causing the tire not
to lower. See Secondary Latch
System on page 10‑73 for more
information.
6. Use the wheel wrench hook to
pull the hoist cable closer to
assist in reaching the spare tire.
tilt the retainer and pull it through
the center of the wheel along
with the cable and guide pin.
8. Put the spare tire near the
flat tire.
Removing the Flat Tire and
Installing the Spare Tire
7. Tilt the tire with slack in the
cable to access the tire/wheel
retainer.
Separate the retainer from the
guide pin by sliding the retainer
up the pin while pressing down
on the latch. When the retainer
is separated from the guide pin,
A. Jack
B. Wheel Blocks
C. Jack Handle
D. Jack Handle Extensions
E. Wheel Wrench
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (67,1)
Vehicle Care
10-67
1. Do a safety check before
proceeding. See If a Tire Goes
Flat on page 10‑62 for more
information.
2. To remove the center cap, place
the chiseled end of the wheel
wrench in the slot on the wheel
and gently pry the cap out.
3. Use the wheel wrench to loosen
all the wheel nuts. Turn the
wheel wrench counterclockwise
to loosen the wheel nuts. Do not
remove the wheel nuts yet.
Jacking Locations (Overall View)
A. Front Position
B. Rear Position
{ WARNING
Getting under a vehicle when it is
jacked up is dangerous. If the
vehicle slips off the jack, you
could be badly injured or killed.
Never get under a vehicle when it
is supported only by a jack.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
10-68
Black plate (68,1)
Vehicle Care
{ WARNING
Raising the vehicle with the jack
improperly positioned can
damage the vehicle and even
make the vehicle fall. To help
avoid personal injury and vehicle
damage, be sure to fit the jack lift
head into the proper location
before raising the vehicle.
4. Position the jack under the
vehicle as shown.
Front Position
Front Tire Flat: If the flat tire is
on a front tire of the vehicle, use
the jack handle and only one
jack handle extension. Attach
the wheel wrench to the jack
handle extension. Attach the
jack handle to the jack (A).
Position the jack on the frame
behind the flat tire near the front
body mount, as shown. Turn the
wheel wrench clockwise to raise
the vehicle. Raise the vehicle far
enough off the ground so there
is enough room for the spare tire
to clear the ground.
Rear Position
Rear Tire Flat: If the flat tire is
on a rear tire of the vehicle, use
the jack handle (B) and both jack
handle extensions (C). Attach
the wheel wrench (D) to the jack
handle extensions (C). Attach
the jack handle (B) to the
jack (A). Use the jacking pad (E)
provided on the rear axle. Turn
the wheel wrench (D) clockwise
to raise the vehicle. Raise the
vehicle far enough off the
ground so there is enough room
for the spare tire to clear the
ground.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (69,1)
Vehicle Care
WARNING (Continued)
In an emergency, a cloth or a
paper towel can be used;
however, use a scraper or wire
brush later to remove all rust
or dirt.
10-69
{ WARNING
Never use oil or grease on bolts
or nuts because the nuts might
come loose. The vehicle's wheel
could fall off, causing a crash.
9. Put the wheel nuts back on with
the rounded end of the nuts
toward the wheel after mounting
the spare tire.
5. Remove all the wheel nuts.
10. Tighten each wheel nut by
hand. Then use the wheel
wrench to tighten the wheel
nuts until the wheel is held
against the hub.
6. Take off the flat tire.
{ WARNING
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the
parts to which it is fastened, can
make wheel nuts become loose
after time. The wheel could come
off and cause an accident. When
changing a wheel, remove any
rust or dirt from places where the
wheel attaches to the vehicle.
(Continued)
11. Turn the wheel wrench
counterclockwise to lower the
vehicle. Lower the jack
completely.
7. Remove any rust or dirt from the
wheel bolts, mounting surfaces,
and spare wheel.
8. Install the spare tire.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
10-70
Black plate (70,1)
Vehicle Care
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire
and Tools
{ WARNING
Wheel nuts that are improperly or
incorrectly tightened can cause
the wheels to become loose or
come off. The wheel nuts should
be tightened with a torque wrench
to the proper torque specification
after replacing. Follow the torque
specification supplied by the
aftermarket manufacturer when
using accessory locking wheel
nuts. See Capacities and
Specifications on page 12‑2 for
original equipment wheel nut
torque specifications.
Notice: Improperly tightened
wheel nuts can lead to brake
pulsation and rotor damage. To
avoid expensive brake repairs,
evenly tighten the wheel nuts in
the proper sequence and to the
proper torque specification. See
Capacities and Specifications on
page 12‑2 for the wheel nut
torque specification.
{ WARNING
Storing a jack, a tire, or other
equipment in the passenger
compartment of the vehicle could
cause injury. In a sudden stop or
collision, loose equipment could
strike someone. Store all these in
the proper place.
12. Tighten the nuts firmly in a
crisscross sequence as shown
by turning the wheel wrench
clockwise.
When reinstalling the regular wheel
and tire, also reinstall the center
cap. Line the tab on the back of the
tab with the slot in the wheel. Place
the cap on the wheel and press until
it snaps into place.
Notice: Storing an aluminum
wheel with a flat tire under your
vehicle for an extended period of
time or with the valve stem
pointing up can damage the
wheel. Always stow the wheel
with the valve stem pointing
down and have the wheel/tire
repaired as soon as possible.
Store the tire under the rear of the
vehicle in the spare tire carrier.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (71,1)
Vehicle Care
10-71
H. Wheel Wrench
I.
Jack Handle Extension(s)
J.
Spare Tire Lock
1. Put the tire on the ground at the
rear of the vehicle with the valve
stem pointed down, and to
the rear.
Tilt the retainer down through
the center wheel opening.
A. Spare Tire/Flat Tire (Valve Stem
Pointed Down)
B. Hoist Assembly
C. Hoist Cable
D. Tire/Wheel Retainer
E. Hoist Shaft
F.
Hoist End of Extension Tool
G. Hoist Shaft Access Hole
2. Tilt the tire. Separate the tire/
wheel retainer from the guide
pin. Pull the pin through the
center of the wheel.
3. Assemble the two jack handle
extensions (I) and wheel
wrench (H), as shown.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
10-72
Black plate (72,1)
Vehicle Care
6. Raise the tire fully against the
underside of the vehicle by
turning the wheel wrench
clockwise until you hear two
clicks or feel it skip twice. The
cable cannot be overtighten.
9. Close the hoist shaft access
cover.
To store the tools:
1. Return the tools to the tool bag
and place it back in the top‐box
storage unit.
2. Assemble the wheel blocks and
jack together with the wing nut
by reversing Step 2 under
“Removing the Spare Tire and
Tools.”
4. Insert the open end of the
extension (F) through the hole in
the rear bumper (G) (hoist shaft
access hole).
5. Raise the tire part way upward.
Make sure the retainer is fully
seated across the underside of
the wheel and is centered in the
wheel opening.
8. Reinstall the spare tire lock.
3. Replace the jack cover and
tighten the jack-cover wing nuts.
7. Make sure the tire is stored
securely. Push, pull (A), and then
try to turn (B) the tire. If the tire
moves, use the wheel wrench to
tighten the cable.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (73,1)
Vehicle Care
Secondary Latch System
This vehicle has an
underbody-mounted tire hoist
assembly equipped with a
secondary latch system. It is
designed to stop the spare tire from
suddenly falling off your vehicle. For
the secondary latch to work, the
spare must be installed with the
valve stem pointing down. See
“Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and
Tools” under Tire Changing on
page 10‑64.
{ WARNING
Before beginning this procedure
read all the instructions. Failure to
read and follow the instructions
could damage the hoist assembly
and you and others could get
hurt. Read and follow the
instructions listed next.
To release the spare tire from the
secondary latch:
10-73
3. Loosen the cable by turning the
wrench counterclockwise three
or four turns.
4. Repeat this procedure at least
two times. If the spare tire
lowers to the ground, continue
with Step 5 under “Removing the
Spare Tire and Tools” under Tire
Changing on page 10‑64.
5. If the spare does not lower, turn
the wrench counterclockwise
until approximately 15 cm (6 in)
of cable is exposed.
1. Check under the vehicle to see if
the cable end is visible. If the
cable is not visible proceed to
Step 6.
2. If it is visible, first try to tighten
the cable by turning the wheel
wrench clockwise until you hear
two clicks or feel it skip twice.
You cannot overtighten the
cable.
6. Stand the wheel blocks on their
shortest ends, with the backs
facing each other.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
10-74
Black plate (74,1)
Vehicle Care
A. Jack
B. Wheel Blocks
7. Place the bottom edge of the
jack (A) on the wheel blocks (B),
separating them so that the jack
is balanced securely.
8. Attach the jack handle,
extension, and wheel wrench to
the jack and place it (with the
wheel blocks) under the vehicle
toward the front of the rear
bumper.
9. Position the center lift point of
the jack under the center of the
spare tire.
10. Turn the wrench clockwise to
raise the jack until it lifts the
end fitting.
11. Continue raising the jack until
the spare tire stops moving
upward and is held firmly in
place. The secondary latch has
released and the spare tire is
balancing on the jack.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (75,1)
Vehicle Care
12. Lower the jack by turning
the wheel wrench
counterclockwise. Keep
lowering the jack until the
spare tire slides off the jack or
is hanging by the cable.
{ WARNING
Someone standing too close
during the procedure could be
injured by the jack. If the spare
tire does not slide off the jack
completely, make sure no one is
behind you or on either side of
you as you pull the jack out from
under the spare.
13. Disconnect the jack handle
from the jack and carefully
remove the jack. Use one hand
to push against the spare while
firmly pulling the jack out from
under the spare tire with the
other hand.
If the spare tire is hanging from
the cable, insert the hoist end
of extension, and wheel
wrench into the hoist shaft hole
in the bumper and turn the
wheel wrench counterclockwise
to lower the spare the rest of
the way.
14. Turn the wheel wrench in the
hoist shaft hole in the bumper
clockwise to raise the cable
back up if the cable is hanging
under the vehicle.
Have the hoist assembly inspected
as soon as you can. You will not be
able to store a spare or flat tire
using the hoist assembly until it has
been inspected and/or replaced.
To continue changing the flat tire,
see “Removing the Flat Tire and
Installing the Spare Tire” under Tire
Changing on page 10‑64.
Full-Size Spare Tire
The full-size spare tire that came
with the vehicle was fully inflated
when new, however, it can lose air
10-75
over time. Check the inflation
pressure regularly. See Tire
Pressure on page 10‑49 and
Vehicle Load Limits on page 9‑16
for information regarding proper tire
inflation and loading the vehicle.
For instructions on how to remove,
install, or store a spare tire, see Tire
Changing on page 10‑64.
After installing the spare tire on the
vehicle, stop as soon as possible
and check that the spare is correctly
inflated. The spare tire is made
to perform well at speeds up to
112 km/h (70 mph) at the
recommended inflation pressure,
so you can finish your trip.
Have the damaged or flat road tire
repaired or replaced and installed
back onto the vehicle as soon as
possible so the spare tire will be
available in case it is needed again.
Do not mix tires and wheels of
different sizes, because they will not
fit. Keep the spare tire and its wheel
together.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
10-76
Black plate (76,1)
Vehicle Care
Jump Starting
For more information about the
vehicle battery, see Battery on
page 10‑27.
If the vehicle's battery (or batteries)
has run down, you may want to use
another vehicle and some jumper
cables to start your vehicle. Be sure
to use the following steps to do it
safely.
{ WARNING
Batteries can hurt you. They can
be dangerous because:
.
They contain acid that can
burn you.
.
They contain gas that can
explode or ignite.
.
They contain enough
electricity to burn you.
If you do not follow these steps
exactly, some or all of these
things can hurt you.
Notice: Ignoring these steps
could result in costly damage to
the vehicle that would not be
covered by the warranty.
Trying to start the vehicle by
pushing or pulling it will not
work, and it could damage the
vehicle.
1. Check the other vehicle. It must
have a 12-volt battery with a
negative ground system.
Notice: Only use a vehicle that
has a 12-volt system with a
negative ground for jump
starting. If the other vehicle does
not have a 12-volt system with a
negative ground, both vehicles
can be damaged.
2. Get the vehicles close enough
so the jumper cables can reach,
but be sure the vehicles are
not touching each other. If they
are, it could cause a ground
connection you do not want.
You would not be able to start
your vehicle, and the bad
grounding could damage the
electrical systems.
To avoid the possibility of the
vehicles rolling, set the parking
brake firmly on both vehicles
involved in the jump start
procedure. Put the automatic
transmission in P (Park) or a
manual transmission in Neutral
before setting the parking brake.
If either vehicle has
four-wheel-drive, be sure the
transfer case is in a drive gear,
not in Neutral.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (77,1)
Vehicle Care
Notice: If any accessories are left
on or plugged in during the jump
starting procedure, they could be
damaged. The repairs would not
be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Whenever possible,
turn off or unplug all accessories
on either vehicle when jump
starting the vehicle.
3. Turn off the ignition on both
vehicles. Unplug unnecessary
accessories plugged into the
cigarette lighter or the accessory
power outlets. Turn off the radio
and all the lamps that are not
needed. This avoids sparks and
helps save both batteries. And it
could save the radio!
10-77
4. Open the hood on the other
vehicle and locate the
positive (+) and negative (−)
terminal locations on that
vehicle.
Your vehicle has a remote
positive (+) jump starting
terminal and a remote
negative (−) jump starting
terminal. You should always use
these remote terminals instead
of the terminals on the battery.
If the vehicle has a remote
positive (+) terminal, it is located
under a red plastic cover at the
positive battery post. To uncover
the remote positive (+) terminal,
open the red plastic cover.
The remote negative (−) terminal
is a stud located on the right
front of the engine, where the
negative battery cable attaches.
See Engine Compartment
Overview on page 10‑6 for more
information on the location of the
remote positive (+) and remote
negative (−) terminals.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
10-78
Black plate (78,1)
Vehicle Care
{ WARNING
An electric fan can start up even
when the engine is not running
and can injure you. Keep hands,
clothing and tools away from any
underhood electric fan.
{ WARNING
Using an open flame near a
battery can cause battery gas to
explode. People have been hurt
doing this, and some have been
blinded. Use a flashlight if you
need more light.
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
Be sure the battery has enough
water. You do not need to add
water to the battery installed in
your new vehicle. But if a battery
has filler caps, be sure the right
amount of fluid is there. If it is low,
add water to take care of that
first. If you do not, explosive gas
could be present.
Battery fluid contains acid that
can burn you. Do not get it on
you. If you accidentally get it in
your eyes or on your skin, flush
the place with water and get
medical help immediately.
{ WARNING
Fans or other moving engine
parts can injure you badly. Keep
your hands away from moving
parts once the engine is running.
5. Check that the jumper cables do
not have loose or missing
insulation. If they do, you could
get a shock. The vehicles could
be damaged too.
Before you connect the cables,
here are some basic things you
should know. Positive (+) will go
to positive (+) or to a remote
positive (+) terminal if the vehicle
has one. Negative (−) will go to a
heavy, unpainted metal engine
part or to a remote negative (−)
terminal if the vehicle has one.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (79,1)
Vehicle Care
Do not connect positive (+) to
negative (−) or you will get a
short that would damage the
battery and maybe other parts
too. And do not connect the
negative (−) cable to the
negative (−) terminal on the dead
battery because this can cause
sparks.
7. Do not let the other end touch
metal. Connect it to the
positive (+) terminal of the
good battery. Use a remote
positive (+) terminal if the vehicle
has one.
8. Now connect the black
negative (−) cable to the
negative (−) terminal of the
good battery. Use a remote
negative (−) terminal if the
vehicle has one.
Do not let the other end touch
anything until the next step. The
other end of the negative (−)
cable does not go to the dead
battery. It goes to a heavy,
unpainted metal engine part or
to the remote negative (−)
terminal on the vehicle with the
dead battery.
6. Connect the red positive (+)
cable to the positive (+) terminal
of the vehicle with the dead
battery. Use a remote
positive (+) terminal if the
vehicle has one.
10-79
9. Connect the other end of the
negative (−) cable to the remote
negative (−) terminal, on the
vehicle with the dead battery.
10. Now start the vehicle with the
good battery and run the
engine for a while.
11. Try to start the vehicle that had
the dead battery. If it will not
start after a few tries, it
probably needs service.
Notice: If the jumper cables are
connected or removed in the
wrong order, electrical shorting
may occur and damage the
vehicle. The repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Always connect and remove the
jumper cables in the correct
order, making sure that the
cables do not touch each other or
other metal.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
10-80
Black plate (80,1)
Vehicle Care
To disconnect the jumper cables
from both vehicles do the following:
Towing
1. Disconnect the black
negative (−) cable from the
vehicle that had the bad battery.
Towing the Vehicle
2. Disconnect the black
negative (−) cable from the
vehicle with the good battery.
3. Disconnect the red positive (+)
cable from the vehicle with the
good battery.
Jumper Cable Removal
A. Heavy, Unpainted Metal Engine
Part or Remote Negative (−)
Terminal
B. Good Battery or Remote
Positive (+) and Remote
Negative (−) Terminals
C. Dead Battery or Remote
Positive (+) Terminal
4. Disconnect the red positive (+)
cable from the other vehicle.
5. Return the remote positive (+)
terminal cover, if the vehicle has
one, to its original position.
Notice: To avoid damage, the
disabled vehicle should be towed
with all four wheels off the
ground. Care must be taken with
vehicles that have low ground
clearance and/or special
equipment. Always flatbed on a
car carrier.
Consult your dealer or a
professional towing service if the
disabled vehicle must be towed.
See Roadside Service (U.S. and
Canada) on page 13‑7 or Roadside
Service (Mexico) on page 13‑9.
To tow the vehicle behind another
vehicle for recreational purposes,
such as behind a motor home, see
“Recreational Vehicle Towing” in this
section.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (81,1)
Vehicle Care
Recreational Vehicle
Towing
Dinghy Towing and Dolly
Towing
Recreational vehicle towing means
towing the vehicle behind another
vehicle – such as behind a
motorhome. The two most common
types of recreational vehicle towing
are known as dinghy towing and
dolly towing. Dinghy towing is
towing the vehicle with all four
wheels on the ground. Dolly towing
is towing the vehicle with two
wheels on the ground and two
wheels up on a device known as a
dolly.
All-Wheel Drive Vehicles
10-81
Notice: Towing an all-wheel-drive
vehicle with all four wheels on the
ground, or even with only two of
its wheels on the ground, will
damage drivetrain components.
Do not tow an all-wheel-drive
vehicle with any of its wheels on
the ground.
The vehicle is not designed to be
towed with any of the wheels on the
ground. If the vehicle must be
towed, see “Towing the Vehicle”
previously.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
10-82
Black plate (82,1)
Vehicle Care
Appearance Care
Exterior Care
Washing the Vehicle
To preserve the vehicle's finish,
wash it often and out of direct
sunlight.
Notice: Do not use petroleum
based, acidic, or abrasive
cleaning agents as they can
damage the vehicle's paint,
metal, or plastic parts. If damage
occurs, it would not be covered
by the vehicle's warranty.
Approved cleaning products can
be obtained from your dealer.
Follow all manufacturer
directions regarding correct
product usage, necessary safety
precautions, and appropriate
disposal of any vehicle care
product.
Notice: Avoid using high
pressure washes closer than
30 cm (12 in) to the surface of the
vehicle. Use of power washers
exceeding 8,274 kPa (1,200 psi)
can result in damage or removal
of paint and decals.
Rinse the vehicle well, before
washing and after, to remove all
cleaning agents completely. If they
are allowed to dry on the surface,
they could stain.
Dry the finish with a soft, clean
chamois or an all-cotton towel to
avoid surface scratches and water
spotting.
Finish Care
Application of aftermarket clearcoat
sealant/wax materials is not
recommended. If painted surfaces
are damaged, see your dealer to
have the damage assessed and
repaired. Foreign materials such as
calcium chloride and other salts, ice
melting agents, road oil and tar, tree
sap, bird droppings, chemicals from
industrial chimneys, etc., can
damage the vehicle's finish if they
remain on painted surfaces. Wash
the vehicle as soon as possible.
If necessary, use non-abrasive
cleaners that are marked safe for
painted surfaces to remove foreign
matter.
Occasional hand waxing or mild
polishing should be done to remove
residue from the paint finish. See
your dealer for approved cleaning
products.
Notice: Machine compounding or
aggressive polishing on a
basecoat/clearcoat paint finish
may damage it. Use only
non-abrasive waxes and polishes
that are made for a basecoat/
clearcoat paint finish on the
vehicle.
To keep the paint finish looking new,
keep the vehicle garaged or
covered whenever possible.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (83,1)
Vehicle Care
Protecting Exterior Bright Metal
Parts
Regularly clean bright metal parts
with water or chrome polish on
chrome or stainless steel trim,
if necessary.
For aluminum, never use auto or
chrome polish, steam, or caustic
soap to clean. A coating of
wax, rubbed to high polish, is
recommended for all bright metal
parts.
Cleaning Exterior
Lamps/Lenses
Use only lukewarm or cold water, a
soft cloth, and a car washing soap
to clean exterior lamps and lenses.
Follow instructions under "Washing
the Vehicle" later in this section.
10-83
Windshield and Wiper Blades
Tires
Clean the outside of the windshield
with glass cleaner.
Use a stiff brush with tire cleaner to
clean the tires.
Clean rubber blades using lint-free
cloth or paper towel soaked with
windshield washer fluid or a mild
detergent. Wash the windshield
thoroughly when cleaning the
blades. Bugs, road grime, sap, and
a buildup of vehicle wash/wax
treatments may cause wiper
streaking.
Notice: Using petroleum-based
tire dressing products on the
vehicle may damage the paint
finish and/or tires. When applying
a tire dressing, always wipe off
any overspray from all painted
surfaces on the vehicle.
Replace the wiper blades if they
are worn or damaged. Damage
can be caused by extreme dusty
conditions, sand, salt, heat, sun,
snow and ice.
Weatherstrips
Apply silicone grease on
weatherstrips to make them last
longer, seal better, and not stick or
squeak. See Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 11‑12.
Wheels and Trim — Aluminum
or Chrome
Use a soft, clean cloth with mild
soap and water to clean the wheels.
After rinsing thoroughly with clean
water, dry with a soft, clean towel.
A wax may then be applied.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
10-84
Black plate (84,1)
Vehicle Care
Keep the wheels clean using a soft,
clean cloth with mild soap and
water. Rinse with clean water. After
rinsing thoroughly, dry with a soft,
clean towel. A wax may then be
applied.
Notice: Chrome wheels and other
chrome trim may be damaged if
the vehicle is not washed after
driving on roads that have been
sprayed with magnesium,
calcium, or sodium chloride.
These chlorides are used on
roads for conditions such as ice
and dust. Always wash the
chrome with soap and water after
exposure.
Notice: To avoid surface damage,
do not use strong soaps,
chemicals, abrasive polishes,
cleaners, brushes, or cleaners
that contain acid on aluminum or
chrome-plated wheels. Use only
approved cleaners. Also, never
drive a vehicle with aluminum or
chrome-plated wheels through an
automatic car wash that uses
silicone carbide tire cleaning
brushes. Damage could occur
and the repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Steering, Suspension, and
Chassis Components
Visually inspect front and rear
suspension and steering system for
damaged, loose, or missing parts or
signs of wear. Inspect power
steering lines and hoses for proper
hook-up, binding, leaks, cracks,
chafing, etc. Visually check constant
velocity joints, rubber boots, and
axle seals for leaks.
Body Component Lubrication
Lubricate all key lock cylinders,
hood hinges, liftgate hinges, and
steel fuel door hinge unless the
components are plastic. Applying
silicone grease on weatherstrips
with a clean cloth will make them
last longer, seal better, and not stick
or squeak.
Underbody Maintenance
Use plain water to flush dirt and
debris from the vehicle's underbody.
Your dealer or an underbody car
washing system can do this. If not
removed, rust and corrosion can
develop.
Sheet Metal Damage
If the vehicle is damaged and
requires sheet metal repair or
replacement, make sure the body
repair shop applies anti-corrosion
material to parts repaired or
replaced to restore corrosion
protection.
Original manufacturer replacement
parts will provide the corrosion
protection while maintaining the
vehicle warranty.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (85,1)
Vehicle Care
Finish Damage
Quickly repair minor chips and
scratches with touch-up materials
available from your dealer to avoid
corrosion. Larger areas of finish
damage can be corrected in your
dealer's body and paint shop.
Chemical Paint Spotting
Airborne pollutants can fall upon
and attack painted vehicle surfaces
causing blotchy, ring-shaped
discolorations, and small, irregular
dark spots etched into the paint
surface.
Interior Care
To prevent dirt particle abrasions,
regularly clean the vehicle's interior.
Immediately remove any soils. Note
that newspapers or dark garments
that can transfer color to home
furnishings can also permanently
transfer color to the vehicle's
interior.
Use a soft bristle brush to remove
dust from knobs and crevices on the
instrument cluster. Using a mild
soap solution, immediately remove
hand lotions, sunscreen, and insect
repellant from all interior surfaces or
permanent damage may result.
Your dealer may have products for
cleaning the interior. Use cleaners
specifically designed for the
surfaces being cleaned to prevent
permanent damage. To prevent
overspray, apply all cleaners directly
to the cleaning cloth. Cleaners
should be removed quickly. Never
allow cleaners to remain on the
surface being cleaned for extended
periods of time.
Cleaners may contain solvents that
can become concentrated in the
interior. Before using cleaners, read
and adhere to all safety instructions
on the label. While cleaning the
interior, maintain adequate
ventilation by opening the doors and
windows.
10-85
To prevent damage, do not clean
the interior using the following
cleaners or techniques:
.
Never use a razor or any other
sharp object to remove a soil
from any interior surface.
.
Never use a brush with stiff
bristles.
.
Never rub any surface
aggressively or with excessive
pressure.
.
Do not use laundry detergents or
dishwashing soaps with
degreasers. For liquid cleaners,
use approximately 20 drops per
3.78L (1 gal) of water.
A concentrated soap solution will
leave a residue that creates
streaks and attracts dirt. Do not
use solutions that contain strong
or caustic soap.
.
Do not heavily saturate the
upholstery when cleaning.
.
Do not use solvents or cleaners
containing solvents.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
10-86
Vehicle Care
Interior Glass
To clean, use a terry cloth fabric
dampened with water. Wipe droplets
left behind with a clean dry cloth.
Commercial glass cleaners may be
used, if necessary, after cleaning
the interior glass with plain water.
Notice: To prevent scratching,
never use abrasive cleaners on
automotive glass. Abrasive
cleaners or aggressive cleaning
may damage the rear window
defogger.
Fabric/Carpet
Start by vacuuming the surface
using a soft brush attachment. If a
rotating brush attachment is being
used during vacuuming, only use it
on the floor carpet. Before cleaning,
gently remove as much of the soil
as possible using one of the
following techniques:
.
Black plate (86,1)
Gently blot liquids with a paper
towel. Continue blotting until no
more soil can be removed.
.
For solid soils, remove as much
as possible prior to vacuuming.
To clean:
1. Saturate a clean lint-free
colorfast cloth with water or club
soda. Microfiber cloth is
recommended to prevent lint
transfer to the fabric or carpet.
2. Remove excess moisture by
gently wringing until water does
not drip from the cleaning cloth.
3. Start on the outside edge of the
soil and gently rub toward the
center. Rotate the cleaning cloth
to a clean area frequently to
prevent forcing the soil in to the
fabric.
4. Continue gently rubbing the
soiled area until there is no
longer any color transfer from
the soil to the cleaning cloth.
5. If the soil is not completely
removed, use a mild soap
solution followed only by club
soda or plain water.
If the soil is not completely
removed, it may be necessary to
use a commercial upholstery
cleaner or spot lifter. Test a small
hidden area for colorfastness before
using a commercial upholstery
cleaner or spot lifter. If ring
formation occurs, clean the entire
fabric or carpet.
Following the cleaning process, a
paper towel can be used to blot
excess moisture.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (87,1)
Vehicle Care
Instrument Panel, Leather,
Vinyl, & Other Plastic Surfaces
Use a soft microfiber cloth
dampened with water to remove
dust and loose dirt. For a more
thorough cleaning, use a soft
microfiber cloth dampened with a
mild soap solution.
Notice: Soaking or saturating
leather, especially perforated
leather, as well as other interior
surfaces, may cause permanent
damage. Wipe excess moisture
from these surfaces after
cleaning and allow them to dry
naturally. Never use heat, steam,
spot lifters or spot removers. Do
not use cleaners that contain
silicone or wax-based products.
Cleaners containing these
solvents can permanently change
the appearance and feel of leather
or soft trim and are not
recommended.
Do not use cleaners that increase
gloss, especially on the instrument
panel. Reflected glare can decrease
visibility through the windshield
under certain conditions.
Notice: Use of air fresheners may
cause permanent damage to
plastics and painted surfaces.
If an air freshener comes in
contact with any plastic or
painted surface in the vehicle,
blot immediately and clean with a
soft cloth dampened with a mild
soap solution. Damage caused by
air fresheners would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
10-87
Wood Panels
Use a clean cloth moistened in
warm, soapy water (use mild dish
washing soap). Dry the wood
immediately with a clean cloth.
Speaker Covers
Vacuum around a speaker cover
gently, so that the speaker will not
be damaged. Clean spots with just
water and mild soap.
Care of Safety Belts
Keep belts clean and dry.
{ WARNING
Do not bleach or dye safety belts.
It may severely weaken them. In
a crash, they might not be able to
provide adequate protection.
Clean safety belts only with mild
soap and lukewarm water.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
10-88
Black plate (88,1)
Vehicle Care
Floor Mats
{ WARNING
If a floor mat is the wrong size or
is not properly installed, it can
interfere with the pedals.
Interference with the pedals can
cause unintended acceleration
and/or increased stopping
distance which can cause a crash
and injury. Make sure the floor
mat does not interfere with the
pedals.
Use the following guidelines for
proper floor mat usage.
.
The original equipment floor
mats were designed for the
vehicle. If the floor mats need
replacing, it is recommended
that GM certified floor mats be
purchased. Non-GM floor mats
may not fit properly and may
interfere with the pedals. Always
check that the floor mats do not
interfere with the pedals.
.
Use the floor mat with the
correct side up. Do not turn
it over.
.
Do not place anything on top of
the driver side floor mat.
.
Use only a single floor mat on
the driver side.
.
Do not place one floor mat on
top of another.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (1,1)
Service and Maintenance
Service and
Maintenance
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 11-1
Cadillac Premium Care
Maintenance
Cadillac Premium Care
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-3
Maintenance Schedule
Maintenance Schedule . . . . . . . 11-3
Special Application Services
Special Application
Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-9
Additional Maintenance
and Care
Additional Maintenance
and Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-9
Recommended Fluids,
Lubricants, and Parts
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-12
Maintenance Replacement
Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-14
Maintenance Records
Maintenance Records . . . . . . 11-15
11-1
General Information
Your vehicle is an important
investment. This section describes
the required maintenance for the
vehicle. Follow this schedule to
help protect against major repair
expenses resulting from neglect or
inadequate maintenance. It may
also help to maintain the value of
the vehicle if it is sold. It is the
responsibility of the owner to have
all required maintenance performed.
Your dealer has trained technicians
who can perform required
maintenance using genuine
replacement parts. They have
up‐to‐date tools and equipment
for fast and accurate diagnostics.
Many dealers have extended
evening and Saturday hours,
courtesy transportation, and online
scheduling to assist with service
needs.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
11-2
Black plate (2,1)
Service and Maintenance
Your dealer recognizes the
importance of providing
competitively priced maintenance
and repair services. With trained
technicians, the dealer is the place
for routine maintenance such as oil
changes and tire rotations and
additional maintenance items like
tires, brakes, batteries, and wiper
blades.
Notice: Damage caused by
improper maintenance can lead to
costly repairs and may not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Maintenance intervals, checks,
inspections, recommended fluids,
and lubricants are important to
keep the vehicle in good working
condition.
The Tire Rotation and Required
Services are the responsibility of the
vehicle owner. It is recommended to
have your dealer perform these
services every 12 000 km/7,500 mi.
Proper vehicle maintenance helps to
keep the vehicle in good working
condition, improves fuel economy,
and reduces vehicle emissions.
Because of the way people use
vehicles, maintenance needs vary.
There may need to be more
frequent checks and services.
The Additional Required
Services ‐ Normal are for
vehicles that:
.
Carry passengers and cargo
within recommended limits on
the Tire and Loading Information
label. See Vehicle Load Limits
on page 9‑16.
.
Are driven on reasonable road
surfaces within legal driving
limits.
.
Use the recommended fuel.
See Recommended Fuel on
page 9‑51.
Refer to the information in the
Maintenance Schedule Additional
Required Services ‐ Normal chart.
The Additional Required Services ‐
Severe are for vehicles that are:
.
Mainly driven in hilly or
mountainous terrain.
.
Frequently towing a trailer.
.
Used for high speed or
competitive driving.
.
Used for taxi, police, or delivery
service.
Refer to the information in the
Maintenance Schedule Additional
Required Services ‐ Severe chart.
{ WARNING
Performing maintenance
work can be dangerous and can
cause serious injury. Perform
maintenance work only if the
required information, proper tools,
and equipment are available.
If they are not, see your dealer to
have a trained technician do the
work. See Doing Your Own
Service Work on page 10‑3.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (3,1)
Service and Maintenance
Cadillac Premium
Care Maintenance
Your vehicle comes with the
Cadillac Premium Care
Maintenance. It is a maintenance
program that covers select
maintenance services during the
first 4 years or 80 000 km
(50,000 mi), whichever comes first.
Cadillac Premium Care
Maintenance covers routine
maintenance services, when
scheduled in accordance with the
owner manual, including:
.
Oil changes based on the
vehicle's oil life monitor system.
.
Tire rotation every 12 000 km
(7,500 mi).
.
Engine air cleaner filter
replacement.
.
Passenger compartment air filter
replacement.
.
Multi‐point vehicle inspection
(MPVI) performed by a qualified
technician.
Cadillac requires that all Cadillac
Premium Care Maintenance
services be performed by a Cadillac
authorized service dealer.
11-3
Maintenance
Schedule
Owner Checks and Services
At Each Fuel Stop
.
Check the engine oil level. See
Engine Oil on page 10‑8.
Once a Month
.
Check the tire inflation
pressures. See Tire Pressure on
page 10‑49.
.
Inspect the tires for wear. See
Tire Inspection on page 10‑55.
.
Check the windshield washer
fluid level. See Washer Fluid on
page 10‑23.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
11-4
Black plate (4,1)
Service and Maintenance
Engine Oil Change
When the CHANGE ENGINE OIL
SOON message displays, have the
engine oil and filter changed within
the next 1 000 km/600 mi. If driven
under the best conditions, the
engine oil life system might not
indicate the need for vehicle service
for more than a year. The engine oil
and filter must be changed at least
once a year and the oil life system
must be reset. Your trained dealer
technician can perform this work.
If the engine oil life system is reset
accidentally, service the vehicle
within 5 000 km/3,000 mi since the
last service. Reset the oil life
system when the oil is changed.
See Engine Oil Life System on
page 10‑10.
Tire Rotation and
Required Services
Every 12 000 km/7,500 mi
Rotate the tires, if recommended for
the vehicle, and perform the
following services. See Tire
Rotation on page 10‑55.
.
Check engine oil level and oil
life percentage. If needed,
change engine oil and filter, and
reset oil life system. See Engine
Oil on page 10‑8 and Engine Oil
Life System on page 10‑10.
.
Check engine coolant level. See
Engine Coolant on page 10‑16.
.
Check windshield washer fluid
level. See Washer Fluid on
page 10‑23.
.
Visually inspect windshield wiper
blades for wear, cracking,
or contamination. See Exterior
Care on page 10‑82. Replace
worn or damaged wiper blades.
See Wiper Blade Replacement
on page 10‑31.
.
Check tire inflation pressures.
See Tire Pressure on
page 10‑49.
.
Inspect tire wear. See Tire
Inspection on page 10‑55.
.
Visually check for fluid leaks.
.
Inspect engine air cleaner filter.
See Engine Air Cleaner/Filter on
page 10‑14.
.
Inspect brake system.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (5,1)
Service and Maintenance
.
.
Visually inspect steering,
suspension, and chassis
components for damaged, loose,
or missing parts or signs of
wear. See Exterior Care on
page 10‑82.
Check restraint system
components. See Safety System
Check on page 3‑17.
.
Visually inspect fuel system for
damage or leaks.
.
Visually inspect exhaust system
and nearby heat shields for
loose or damaged parts.
.
Lubricate body components. See
Exterior Care on page 10‑82.
.
Check starter switch. See Starter
Switch Check on page 10‑29.
.
Check automatic transmission
shift lock control function. See
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function Check on
page 10‑30.
.
.
Check ignition transmission lock.
See Ignition Transmission Lock
Check on page 10‑30.
Check parking brake and
automatic transmission park
mechanism. See Park Brake and
P (Park) Mechanism Check on
page 10‑30.
11-5
.
Check accelerator pedal for
damage, high effort, or binding.
Replace if needed.
.
Visually inspect gas strut for
signs of wear, cracks, or other
damage. Check the hold open
ability of the strut. See your
dealer if service is required.
.
Inspect sunroof track and seal,
if equipped. See Sunroof on
page 2‑25.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
11-6
Service and Maintenance
Black plate (6,1)
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (7,1)
Service and Maintenance
Footnotes — Maintenance
Schedule Additional Required
Services — Normal
a) Check all fuel and vapor lines
and hoses for proper hook‐up,
routing, and condition. Check that
the purge valve, if the vehicle has
one, works properly. Replace as
needed.
b) Or every four years, whichever
comes first.
c) Do not directly power wash the
transfer case output seals. High
pressure water can overcome the
seals and contaminate the transfer
case fluid. Contaminated fluid will
decrease the life of the transfer
case and should be replaced.
d) Or every five years, whichever
comes first. See Cooling System on
page 10‑16.
e) Or every 10 years, whichever
comes first. Inspect for fraying,
excessive cracking, or damage;
replace, if needed.
11-7
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
11-8
Service and Maintenance
Black plate (8,1)
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (9,1)
Service and Maintenance
11-9
Footnotes — Maintenance
Schedule Additional Required
Services — Severe
Special Application
Services
Additional
Maintenance and Care
a) Check all fuel and vapor lines
and hoses for proper hook‐up,
routing, and condition. Check that
the purge valve, if the vehicle has
one, works properly. Replace as
needed.
.
Severe Commercial Use
Vehicles Only: Lubricate
chassis components every
5 000 km/3,000 mi.
.
Have underbody flushing service
performed once a year.
Your vehicle is an important
investment and caring for it properly
may help to avoid future costly
repairs. To maintain vehicle
performance, additional
maintenance services may be
required. It is recommended that
your dealer perform these services
— their trained dealer technicians
know your vehicle best. Your dealer
can also perform a thorough
assessment with a multi‐point
inspection to recommend when your
vehicle may need attention. The
following list is intended to explain
the services and conditions to look
for that may indicate services are
required.
b) Or every four years, whichever
comes first.
c) Do not directly power wash the
transfer case output seals. High
pressure water can overcome the
seals and contaminate the transfer
case fluid. Contaminated fluid will
decrease the life of the transfer
case and should be replaced.
d) Or every five years, whichever
comes first. See Cooling System on
page 10‑16.
e) Or every 10 years, whichever
comes first. Inspect for fraying,
excessive cracking, or damage;
replace, if needed.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
11-10
Service and Maintenance
Battery
The battery supplies power to start
the engine and operate any
additional electrical accessories.
.
To avoid break‐down or failure to
start the vehicle, maintain a
battery with full cranking power.
.
Trained dealer technicians have
the diagnostic equipment to test
the battery and ensure that the
connections and cables are
corrosion‐free.
Belts
.
.
Black plate (10,1)
Belts may need replacing if they
squeak or show signs of
cracking or splitting.
Trained dealer technicians can
inspect the belts and
recommend replacement when
necessary.
Brakes
Brakes stop the vehicle and are
crucial to safe driving.
.
Signs of brake wear may include
chirping, grinding, or squealing
noises, or difficulty stopping.
With a multi‐point inspection, your
dealer can inspect the hoses and
advise if replacement is needed.
.
Trained dealer technicians have
access to tools and equipment
to inspect the brakes and
recommend quality parts
engineered for the vehicle.
Lamps
Fluids
Proper fluid levels and approved
fluids protect the vehicle’s systems
and components. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11‑12 for GM
approved fluids.
.
Engine oil and windshield
washer fluid levels should be
checked at every fuel fill.
.
Instrument cluster lights may
come on to indicate that fluids
may be low and need to be
filled.
Hoses
Hoses transport fluids and should
be regularly inspected to ensure
that there are no cracks or leaks.
Properly working headlamps,
taillamps, and brake lamps are
important to see and be seen on
the road.
.
Signs that the headlamps need
attention include dimming, failure
to light, cracking, or damage.
The brake lamps need to be
checked periodically to ensure
that they light when braking.
.
With a multi‐point inspection,
your dealer can check the lamps
and note any concerns.
Shocks and Struts
Shocks and struts help aid in control
for a smoother ride.
.
Signs of wear may include
steering wheel vibration, bounce/
sway while braking, longer
stopping distance, or uneven
tire wear.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (11,1)
Service and Maintenance
.
As part of the multi‐point
inspection, trained dealer
technicians can visually inspect
the shocks and struts for signs
of leaking, blown seals,
or damage, and can advise
when service is needed.
Tires
Tires need to be properly inflated,
rotated, and balanced. Maintaining
the tires can save money, fuel, and
can reduce the risk of tire failure.
.
.
Signs that the tires need to be
replaced include three or more
visible treadwear indicators; cord
or fabric showing through the
rubber; cracks or cuts in the
tread or sidewall; or a bulge or
split in the tire.
Trained dealer technicians can
inspect and recommend the right
tires. Your dealer can also
provide tire/wheel balancing
services to ensure smooth
vehicle operation at all speeds.
Your dealer sells and services
name brand tires.
11-11
Vehicle Care
Windshield
To help keep the vehicle looking like
new, vehicle care products are
available from your dealer. For
information on how to clean and
protect the vehicle’s interior and
exterior, see Interior Care on
page 10‑85 and Exterior Care on
page 10‑82.
For safety, appearance, and the
best viewing, keep the windshield
clean and clear.
.
Signs of damage include
scratches, cracks, and chips.
.
Trained dealer technicians can
inspect the windshield and
recommend proper replacement
if needed.
Wheel Alignment
Wheel alignment is critical for
ensuring that the tires deliver
optimal wear and performance.
.
.
Signs that the alignment may
need to be adjusted include
pulling, improper vehicle
handling, or unusual tire wear.
Your dealer has the required
equipment to ensure proper
wheel alignment.
Wiper Blades
Wiper blades need to be cleaned
and kept in good condition to
provide a clear view.
.
Signs of wear include streaking,
skipping across the windshield,
and worn or split rubber.
.
Trained dealer technicians can
check the wiper blades and
replace them when needed.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
11-12
Black plate (12,1)
Service and Maintenance
Recommended Fluids, Lubricants, and Parts
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
Fluids and lubricants identified below by name, part number, or specification can be obtained from your dealer.
Usage
Engine Oil
Engine Coolant
Hydraulic Brake System
Windshield Washer
Fluid/Lubricant
Use only engine oil licensed to the dexos1 specfication, or equivalent, of
the proper SAE viscosity grade. ACDelco dexos1 Synthetic Blend is
recommended. See Engine Oil on page 10‑8.
50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and use only DEX-COOL Coolant.
See Engine Coolant on page 10‑16.
DOT 3 Hydraulic Brake Fluid (GM Part No. 12377967, in
Canada 89021320).
Optikleen® Washer Solvent.
Power Steering System
GM Power Steering Fluid (GM Part No. 89021184, in Canada 89021186).
Automatic Transmission
DEXRON®-VI Automatic Transmission Fluid.
Key Lock Cylinders
Multi-Purpose Lubricant, Superlube (GM Part No. 12346241, in
Canada 10953474).
Chassis Lubrication
Chassis Lubricant (GM Part No. 12377985, in Canada 88901242) or
lubricant meeting requirements of NLGI #2, Category LB or GC-LB.
Front and Rear Axle
SAE 75W-90 Synthetic Axle Lubricant (GM Part No. 89021677, in
Canada 89021678).
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (13,1)
Service and Maintenance
Usage
Transfer Case
Fluid/Lubricant
®
DEXRON -VI Automatic Transmission Fluid.
Front Axle Propshaft Spline
Spline Lubricant, Special Lubricant (GM Part No. 12345879, in
Canada 10953511).
Hood Hinges
Multi-Purpose Lubricant, Superlube (GM Part No. 12346241, in
Canada 10953474).
Outer Tailgate Handle Pivot Points
Multi-Purpose Lubricant, Superlube (GM Part No. 12346241, in
Canada 10953474).
Weatherstrip Conditioning
Weatherstrip Squeaks
11-13
Weatherstrip Lubricant (GM Part No. 3634770, in Canada 10953518) or
Dielectric Silicone Grease (GM Part No. 12345579, in Canada 992887).
Synthetic Grease with Teflon, Superlube (GM Part No. 12371287, in
Canada 10953437).
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
11-14
Black plate (14,1)
Service and Maintenance
Maintenance Replacement Parts
Replacement parts identified below by name, part number, or specification can be obtained from your dealer.
GM Part Number
ACDelco Part Number
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
Part
15908916
A3086C
Oil Filter
89017524
PF48
Spark Plugs
12621258
41-110
25877402
—
Wiper Blades
Front – 55.0 cm (21.6 in)
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (15,1)
Service and Maintenance
11-15
Maintenance Records
After the scheduled services are performed, record the date, odometer reading, who performed the service, and the
type of services performed in the boxes provided. Retain all maintenance receipts.
Date
Odometer
Reading
Serviced By
Maintenance Stamp
Services Performed
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
11-16
Date
Black plate (16,1)
Service and Maintenance
Odometer
Reading
Serviced By
Maintenance Stamp
Services Performed
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (17,1)
Service and Maintenance
Date
Odometer
Reading
Serviced By
Maintenance Stamp
Services Performed
11-17
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
11-18
Date
Black plate (18,1)
Service and Maintenance
Odometer
Reading
Serviced By
Maintenance Stamp
Services Performed
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (1,1)
Technical Data
Technical Data
Vehicle Identification
Vehicle Identification
Vehicle Identification
Number (VIN)
Vehicle Identification
Number (VIN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-1
Service Parts Identification
Label . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-1
Vehicle Data
Capacities and
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-2
Engine Drive Belt Routing . . . 12-3
12-1
Engine Identification
The eighth character in the VIN is
the engine code. This code
identifies the vehicle's engine,
specifications, and replacement
parts. See “Engine Specifications”
under Capacities and Specifications
on page 12‑2 for the vehicle's
engine code.
Service Parts
Identification Label
This label, on the inside of the glove
box, has the following information:
This legal identifier is in the front
corner of the instrument panel, on
the left side of the vehicle. It can be
seen through the windshield from
outside. The VIN also appears on
the Vehicle Certification and Service
Parts labels and certificates of title
and registration.
.
Vehicle Identification
Number (VIN).
.
Model designation.
.
Paint information.
.
Production options and special
equipment.
Do not remove this label from the
vehicle.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
12-2
Black plate (2,1)
Technical Data
Vehicle Data
Capacities and Specifications
The following approximate capacities are given in metric and English conversions. See Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11‑12 for more information.
Application
Air Conditioning Refrigerant R134a
Capacities
Metric
English
For the Air Conditioning system refrigerant charge
amount, see the refrigerant label located under the
hood. See your dealer for more information.
Cooling System
16.0 L
16.9 qt
Engine Oil with Filter
5.7 L†
6.0 qt†
Fuel Tank
119.2 L
31.5 gal
Transmission Fluid (Pan Removal and Filter Replacement)
5.7 L
6.0 qt
Transfer Case Fluid
1.4 L
1.5 qt
190 Y
140 lb ft
Wheel Nut Torque
All capacities are approximate. When adding, be sure to fill to the approximate level, as recommended in this
manual. Re-check fluid after filling.
†Oil filter should be changed at every oil change.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (3,1)
Technical Data
Engine Specifications
Engine
6.2L V8
Engine Drive Belt Routing
VIN Code
Transmission
Spark Plug Gap
F
Automatic
1.01 mm (0.040 in)
12-3
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
12-4
Black plate (4,1)
Technical Data
2 NOTES
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (1,1)
Customer Information
Customer
Information
Customer Information
Customer Satisfaction
Procedure (U.S. and
Canada) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-1
Customer Satisfaction
Procedure (Mexico) . . . . . . . . 13-3
Customer Assistance Offices
(U.S. and Canada) . . . . . . . . . 13-4
Customer Assistance Offices
(Mexico) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-5
Customer Assistance for Text
Telephone (TTY) Users (U.S.
and Canada) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-6
Online Owner Center . . . . . . . . 13-6
GM Mobility Reimbursement
Program (U.S. and
Canada) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-7
Roadside Service (U.S. and
Canada) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-7
Roadside Service
(Mexico) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-9
Scheduling Service
Appointments (U.S. and
Canada) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-13
Courtesy Transportation
Program (U.S. and
Canada) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-13
Collision Damage Repair
(U.S. and Canada) . . . . . . . . 13-14
Service Publications
Ordering Information . . . . . . 13-17
Reporting Safety Defects
Reporting Safety Defects to
the United States
Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-18
Reporting Safety Defects to
the Canadian
Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-18
Reporting Safety Defects to
General Motors . . . . . . . . . . . 13-19
Vehicle Data Recording and
Privacy
Vehicle Data Recording and
Privacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-19
Event Data Recorders . . . . . . 13-19
OnStar® . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-20
Navigation System . . . . . . . . . 13-20
Radio Frequency
Identification (RFID) . . . . . . . 13-21
Radio Frequency
Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-21
13-1
Customer Information
Customer Satisfaction
Procedure (U.S. and
Canada)
Your satisfaction and goodwill are
important to your dealer and to
Cadillac. Normally, any concerns
with the sales transaction or the
operation of the vehicle will be
resolved by your dealer's sales or
service departments. Sometimes,
however, despite the best intentions
of all concerned, misunderstandings
can occur. If your concern has not
been resolved to your satisfaction,
the following steps should be taken:
STEP ONE: Discuss your concern
with a member of dealership
management. Normally, concerns
can be quickly resolved at that level.
If the matter has already been
reviewed with the sales, service or
parts manager, contact the owner of
your dealership or the general
manager.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
13-2
Customer Information
STEP TWO: If after contacting a
member of dealership management,
it appears your concern cannot be
resolved by your dealership without
further help, in the U.S., call the
Cadillac Customer Assistance
Center at 1‐800‐458‐8006. In
Canada, call the Canadian Cadillac
Customer Care Centre at
1-888-446-2000.
We encourage you to call the
toll-free number in order to give your
inquiry prompt attention. Have the
following information available to
give the Customer Assistance
representative:
.
Black plate (2,1)
Vehicle Identification
Number (VIN). This is available
from the vehicle registration or
title, or the plate at the top left of
the instrument panel and visible
through the windshield.
.
Dealership name and location.
.
Vehicle delivery date and
present mileage.
When contacting Cadillac,
remember that your concern will
likely be resolved at a dealer's
facility. That is why we suggest
following Step One first.
STEP THREE — U.S. Owners:
Both General Motors and your
dealer are committed to making
sure you are completely satisfied
with the new vehicle. However,
if you continue to remain unsatisfied
after following the procedure
outlined in Steps One and Two, you
can file with the Better Business
Bureau (BBB) Auto Line® Program
to enforce your rights.
The BBB Auto Line Program is an
out-of-court program administered
by the Council of Better Business
Bureaus to settle automotive
disputes regarding vehicle repairs or
the interpretation of the New Vehicle
Limited Warranty. Although you may
be required to resort to this informal
dispute resolution program prior to
filing a court action, use of the
program is free of charge and your
case will generally be heard within
40 days. If you do not agree with the
decision given in your case, you
may reject it and proceed with any
other venue for relief available
to you.
You may contact the BBB Auto
Line Program using the toll-free
telephone number or write them at
the following address:
BBB Auto Line Program
Council of Better Business
Bureaus, Inc.
4200 Wilson Boulevard
Suite 800
Arlington, VA 22203-1838
Telephone: 1-800-955-5100
www.dr.bbb.org/goauto
This program is available in all
50 states and the District of
Columbia. Eligibility is limited by
vehicle age, mileage and other
factors. General Motors reserves
the right to change eligibility
limitations and/or discontinue its
participation in this program.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (3,1)
Customer Information
STEP THREE — Canadian
Owners: In the event that you do
not feel your concerns have been
addressed after following the
procedure outlined in Steps One
and Two, General Motors of Canada
Limited wants you to be aware of its
participation in a no-charge
mediation/arbitration program.
General Motors of Canada Limited
has committed to binding arbitration
of owner disputes involving
factory-related vehicle service
claims. The program provides for
the review of the facts involved by
an impartial third party arbiter, and
may include an informal hearing
before the arbiter. The program is
designed so that the entire dispute
settlement process, from the time
you file your complaint to the final
decision, should be completed in
approximately 70 days. We believe
our impartial program offers
advantages over courts in most
jurisdictions because it is informal,
quick, and free of charge.
For further information concerning
eligibility in the Canadian Motor
Vehicle Arbitration Plan (CAMVAP),
call toll-free 1-800-207-0685, or call
the General Motors Customer Care
Centre, 1-800-263-3777 (English),
1-800-263-7854 (French),
or write to:
Mediation/Arbitration Program
c/o Customer Care Centre
General Motors of Canada Limited
Mail Code: CA1-163-005
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7
The inquiry should be accompanied
by the Vehicle Identification
Number (VIN).
13-3
Customer Satisfaction
Procedure (Mexico)
Did you get the Warranty Extension
Plan? This plan is recommended by
General Motors to supplement the
warranty included with the new
vehicle purchase.
See your dealer for details.
Customer Assistance
Procedure
Owner satisfaction and goodwill are
very important to your dealer and
General Motors.
Normally, any problem with the
transaction, sale, or usage of the
vehicle must be handled by your
dealer sales or service departments.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
13-4
Black plate (4,1)
Customer Information
However, we recognize that
despite the good intentions of all
parties involved, sometimes a
misunderstanding may occur.
If you have a problem that has not
been satisfactorily handled through
the normal means, we suggest the
following steps:
STEP ONE
Explain your case to your dealer
service agent, service manager,
dealer sales agent, or sales
manager, depending on your case.
Make sure that they have all
necessary information. They are
interested in your continual
satisfaction.
STEP TWO
If you are not satisfied, please
contact the general manager or your
dealership owner to ask for their
help. If they are not able to resolve
your case, ask them to contact the
right people at General Motors for
support, if needed.
STEP THREE
If your case is not resolved in a
reasonable amount of time by your
dealer, please call the General
Motors Customer Assistance
Center (CAC) and provide the
following information:
.
Name
.
Address
.
Phone number
.
Model year
.
Brand
.
Vehicle Identification
Number (VIN)
.
Mileage
.
Delivery date
.
Description of the problem
.
Dealership name
.
Dealership address
See Customer Assistance Offices
(U.S. and Canada) on page 13‑4 or
Customer Assistance Offices
(Mexico) on page 13‑5 for more
information.
Customer Assistance
Offices (U.S. and Canada)
Cadillac encourages customers to
call the toll-free number for
assistance. However, if a customer
wishes to write or e-mail Cadillac,
the letter should be addressed to:
United States
Cadillac Customer Assistance
Center
Cadillac Motor Car Division
P.O. Box 33169
Detroit, MI 48232-5169
www.Cadillac.com
1-800-458-8006
1-800-833-2622 (For Text
Telephone devices (TTYs))
Roadside Assistance:
1-800-882-1112
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (5,1)
Customer Information
From Puerto Rico:
1-800-496-9992 (English)
1-800-496-9993 (Spanish)
From U.S. Virgin Islands:
1-800-496-9994
Canada
General Motors of Canada Limited
Canadian Cadillac Customer Care
Centre, Mail Code: CA1-163-005
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7
www.gm.ca
1-888-446-2000
1-800-263-3830 (For Text
Telephone devices (TTYs))
Roadside Assistance:
1-800-882-1112
Overseas
Please contact the local General
Motors Business Unit.
13-5
Mexico, Central America and
Caribbean Islands/Countries
(Except Puerto Rico and U.S.
Virgin Islands)
Mexico
General Motors de Mexico, S. de
R.L. de C.V.
Customer Assistance Center
Av. Ejercito Nacional #843
Col. Granada
C.P. 11520, Mexico, D.F.
From Other Mexico Locations
01-800-466-0805
Long Distance: 011-52-53 29 0805
From Mexico City
5329-0816
01-800-466-0816
United States and Canada
1-866-466-8195
Costa Rica
00-800-052-1005
Customer Assistance
Offices (Mexico)
Guatemala
To contact the Customer Assistance
Center (CAC), use the phone
numbers listed in this section.
Customer assistance is available
Monday through Friday, 08:00 to
20:00 hours, and Saturdays from
08:00 to 15:00 hours.
Panama
All e-mail inquiries to the Customer
Assistance Center (CAC) should be
sent to: [email protected].
800-6273
1-800-999-5252
00-800-052-0001
Dominican Republic
1-888-751-5301
El Salvador
Honduras
800-0122-6101
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
13-6
Black plate (6,1)
Customer Information
Customer Assistance for
Text Telephone (TTY)
Users (U.S. and Canada)
.
Cadillac dealer locator for
service nationwide.
.
Exclusive privileges and offers.
.
Recall notices for your specific
vehicle.
.
OnStar and GM Cardmember
Services Earnings summaries.
To assist customers who are deaf,
hard of hearing, or speech-impaired
and who use Text Telephones
(TTYs), Cadillac has TTY equipment
available at its Customer Assistance
Center. Any TTY user can
communicate with Cadillac by
dialing: 1-800-833-2622. TTY users
in Canada can dial 1-800-263-3830.
Other Helpful Links:
Online Owner Center
Help Center — www.cadillac.com/
pages/mds/helpcenter/faq.do
Cadillac Merchandise —
www.cadillaccollection.com
.
FAQ (Frequently Asked
Questions)
Information and services
customized for your specific
vehicle — all in one convenient
place.
.
Contact Us
Digital owner manual, warranty
information, and more.
.
Storage for online service and
maintenance records.
.
My Showroom: Find and save
information on vehicles and
current offers in your area.
.
My Dealers: Save details such
as address and phone number
for each of your preferred GM
dealers.
.
My Driveway: Access quick links
to parts and service estimates,
check trade-in values,
or schedule a service
appointment by adding the
vehicles you own to your
driveway profile.
.
My Preferences: Manage your
profile and use tools and forms
with greater ease.
Cadillac — www.cadillac.com
Cadillac Owner Center (U.S.)
www.cadillacownercenter.com
.
Here are a few of the valuable tools
and services you will have
access to:
My GM Canada www.gm.ca
My GM Canada is a
password-protected section of
www.gm.ca where you can save
information on GM vehicles, get
personalized offers, and use handy
tools and forms with greater ease.
To sign up, visit the My GM.ca
section within www.gm.ca.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (7,1)
Customer Information
GM Mobility
Reimbursement Program
(U.S. and Canada)
This program is available to
qualified applicants for cost
reimbursement of eligible
aftermarket adaptive equipment
required for the vehicle, such as
hand controls or a wheelchair/
scooter lift for the vehicle.
For more information on the limited
offer, visit www.gmmobility.com or
call the GM Mobility Assistance
Center at 1-800-323-9935. Text
Telephone (TTY) users, call
1-800-833-9935.
13-7
General Motors of Canada also
has a Mobility Program. Call
1-800-GM-DRIVE (463-7483) for
details. TTY users call
1-800-263-3830.
.
Model, year, color, and license
plate number of the vehicle.
.
Odometer reading, Vehicle
Identification Number (VIN), and
delivery date of the vehicle.
Roadside Service
(U.S. and Canada)
.
Description of the problem.
In the United States or Canada,
call 1-800-882-1112.
Services are provided up to 5 years/
160 000 km (100,000 mi), whichever
comes first.
Text Telephone (TTY), U.S. only,
call 1-888-889-2438.
Service is available 24 hours a day,
365 days a year.
Calling for Service
When calling Roadside Service,
have the following information
ready:
.
Your name, home address, and
home telephone number.
.
Telephone number of your
location.
.
Location of the vehicle.
Coverage
In the U.S., anyone driving the
vehicle is covered. In Canada, a
person driving the vehicle without
permission from the owner is not
covered.
Roadside Service is not a part of the
New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
Cadillac and General Motors of
Canada Limited reserve the right to
make any changes or discontinue
the Roadside Service program at
any time without notification.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
13-8
Customer Information
Cadillac and General Motors of
Canada Limited reserve the right to
limit services or payment to an
owner or driver if they decide the
claims are made too often, or the
same type of claim is made many
times.
Cadillac Owner Privileges™
.
.
.
Black plate (8,1)
Emergency Fuel Delivery:
Delivery of enough fuel for the
vehicle to get to the nearest
service station.
Lock‐Out Service: Service to
unlock the vehicle if you are
locked out. A remote unlock may
be available if you have OnStar.
For security reasons, the driver
must present identification
before this service is given.
Emergency Tow From a Public
Road or Highway: Tow to the
nearest Cadillac dealer for
warranty service, or if the vehicle
was in a crash and cannot be
driven. Assistance is also given
when the vehicle is stuck in the
sand, mud, or snow.
.
Flat Tire Change: Service to
change a flat tire with spare tire.
The spare tire, if equipped, must
be in good condition and
properly inflated. It is your
responsibility for the repair or
replacement of the tire if it is not
covered by the warranty.
.
Battery Jump Start: Service to
jump start a dead battery.
.
Trip Routing Service: Detailed
maps of North America are
provided when requested either
with the most direct route or the
most scenic route. Additional
travel information is also
available. Allow three weeks for
delivery.
.
Trip Interruption Benefits
and Service: If your trip is
interrupted due to a warranty
failure, incidental expenses may
be reimbursed during the
5 years/160 000 km (100,000 mi)
Powertrain warranty period.
Items considered are hotel,
meals, and rental car.
Cadillac Technician Roadside
Service (U.S. only)
Cadillac's exceptional Roadside
Service is more than an auto club or
towing service. It provides every
Cadillac owner in the United States
with the advantage of contacting a
Cadillac advisor and, where
available, a Cadillac trained dealer
technician who can provide on-site
service.
A dealer technician will travel to
your location within a 30 mile radius
of a participating Cadillac
dealership. If beyond this radius, we
will arrange to have your car towed
to the nearest Cadillac dealership.
Each technician travels with a
specially equipped service vehicle
complete with the necessary
Cadillac parts and tools required to
handle most roadside repairs.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (9,1)
Customer Information
Services Not Included in
Roadside Service
.
Impound towing caused by
violation of any laws.
.
Legal fines.
.
Mounting, dismounting,
or changing of snow tires,
chains, or other traction devices.
.
Towing or services for vehicles
driven on a non-public road or
highway.
Services Specific to
Canadian‐Purchased Vehicles
.
Fuel delivery: Reimbursement
is approximately $5 Canadian.
Diesel fuel delivery may be
restricted. Propane and other
fuels are not provided through
this service.
.
Lock-Out Service: Vehicle
registration is required.
.
Trip Routing Service: Limit of
six requests per year.
.
Trip Interruption Benefits and
Service: Pre-authorization,
original detailed receipts, and a
copy of the repair orders are
required. Once authorization has
been received, the Roadside
Service advisor will help you
make arrangements and explain
how to receive payment.
.
Alternative Service: If
assistance cannot be provided
right away, the Roadside Service
advisor may give you permission
to get local emergency road
service. You will receive
payment, up to $100, after
sending the original receipt to
Roadside Service. Mechanical
failures may be covered,
however any cost for parts and
labor for repairs not covered by
the warranty are the owner
responsibility.
13-9
Roadside Service
(Mexico)
As a new owner, your vehicle is
automatically enrolled in the
Roadside Assistance program. The
services are available at no cost
under the terms and conditions of
the program. The Roadside
Assistance program is not part of,
or included, in the coverage
provided by the new vehicle limited
warranty.
Roadside Assistance provides
assistance to the driver and
passengers while driving the vehicle
within your city of residence or on
any passable road in Mexico, the
United States, and Canada.
Services are subject to the
limitations described in the following
pages. Program coverage varies by
country.
Roadside Assistance is available
24 hours a day, 365 days of
the year.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
13-10
Black plate (10,1)
Customer Information
This program expires two years
from the date of the invoice for the
vehicle, regardless of vehicle
mileage and changes in vehicle
ownership.
.
Lock-Out Service: Service to
unlock the vehicle if you are
locked out.
.
Battery Jump Start: Service to
jump start a dead battery.
For more information about the
renewal of this program at the end
of its term, contact the Cadillac
Customer Assistance Center at
01-800-466-0805.
.
*Emergency Messages:
Transmission of urgent phone
messages.
.
*Emergency Calls: Call for
emergency services.
.
*Dealership Location
Assistance: Information
regarding addresses and
telephone numbers for Cadillac
dealers.
Services Provided
.
.
Flat Tire Change: If unable to
change a flat tire, Roadside
Assistance will provide towing
service to the nearest authorized
Cadillac dealership. It is the
owner's responsibility for the
repair or replacement of the tire.
This service is limited to the
transfer of the vehicle to the
repair facility.
Emergency Fuel Delivery:
Delivery of enough fuel for the
vehicle to get to the nearest
service station.
.
Emergency Towing: Tow to the
nearest dealer for warranty
service if the vehicle cannot be
driven.
If the vehicle is involved in an
accident during the commission
of a crime, administrative
violation, or breach of traffic
regulations, Roadside
Assistance will not provide
service. When the vehicle is not
accessible to be towed, all
maneuvers required to access it
will be at the owner's expense.
If the vehicle is in another city
outside of your residence,
Roadside Assistance is limited
to moving the vehicle to the
nearest dealer. If you would like
the vehicle moved to a different
dealer, you will be asked to
cover the difference in cost at
the time of the move.
If the vehicle cannot be received
by the nearest Cadillac dealer
due to scheduling conflicts, the
vehicle will be taken to a safe
place where it will remain for up
to 48 hours until it can be taken
to the dealer. If the storage costs
exceed the amount authorized,
the owner is responsible to pay
the difference at the time of
service. Contact Roadside
Assistance for more information
on authorized amounts.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (11,1)
Customer Information
.
*Trip Interruption: This service
is provided if you are prevented
from further usage of your
vehicle while traveling and it is
not possible for the nearest
Cadillac dealership to repair the
vehicle the same day, requiring
the vehicle to stay at the
dealership for a night or more.
If this happens, in addition to the
previously listed services and
prior to confirmation by the
dealership, you are entitled to
choose one of the following
alternatives, within the limits of
existing Roadside Assistance
program guidelines. If the costs
exceed the amount authorized
for these services, you must pay
the difference at the time of
service.
Roadside Assistance will
coordinate hotel
accommodations for all vehicle
travelers for up to two nights.
A rental car will be provided for
up to two days and the vehicle
must be returned to its original
destination, excluding vehicles
with a carrying capacity greater
than 3.5 tons.
Complimentary Transportation: If
you prefer to continue your trip
to the intended destination or
return to your place of
residence, and the trip requires
more than eight hours driving on
the road, transportation for the
driver and passengers by first
class bus or coach commercial
airline will be provided to a
location chosen by Roadside
Assistance, depending on
availability at the chosen
destination. Restrictions apply
based on vehicle specifications.
If you are on the road, taxi
service to the nearest bus
station or airport will be
provided.
.
13-11
*Complimentary
Transportation for Vehicle Pick
Up: Transportation to pick up
your vehicle after repairs are
complete. Once the dealer has
reported that the vehicle has
been repaired, Roadside
Assistance will provide bus or
commercial airline one-way
service (subject to availability)
for the person designated by you
to collect your vehicle at the
dealership's location if you or the
designated person are not in the
same town or city as the
dealership.
*These services are not provided for
U.S. or Canada residents. All
services provided in the U.S. and
Canada are at the owner's expense
and will be reimbursed by Roadside
Assistance.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
13-12
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Customer Information
Services Not Included in Roadside
Assistance
.
Roadside Assistance does not
cover or reimburse services for the
following:
.
Events caused by fraud or bad
faith by the driver.
.
Vehicle immobilization situations
due to a major force or
unforeseen circumstances, such
as natural phenomena of an
extraordinary nature,
earthquakes, volcanic eruptions,
and other cyclonic storms.
.
.
Vehicle immobilization situations
arising from car accidents
caused by the driver of the
vehicle or third parties. This
means any occurrence that
causes physical injury to the
occupants and/or the vehicle
caused by external forces.
Acts of terrorism, riot or uproar,
armed forces or police actions
which prevent timely delivery of
assistance services.
Food service, beverages,
telephone calls, or other extra
costs. Accommodation costs
apply only to Mexico per the
terms and conditions of the
Roadside Assistance program.
.
Any damage to the vehicle
without intent, derived from the
services provided.
.
Cost of towing a trailer when
choosing a Cadillac dealer that
is nearest to the temporary
storage facility for the disabled
vehicle.
.
.
Cost of all maneuvers required
to access the vehicle when it is
not available to be towed.
Cost of fuel provided.
Routine vehicle repair costs are not
covered by the Roadside
Assistance program. For more
information, see your new vehicle
warranty.
Contacting Roadside Assistance
Roadside Assistance services are of
no cost to you and available
24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Costs are only incurred in situations
that exceed the limits of the
program, some of which are listed
previously in this section.
To contact Roadside Assistance by
phone, use the following numbers:
Mexico
01-800-466-0805
United States
1-866-466-8906
Canada
1-800-268-6800
E-mail
[email protected]
Cadillac reserves the right to make
any changes or discontinue the
Roadside Assistance program at
any time without notification.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (13,1)
Customer Information
Scheduling Service
Appointments
(U.S. and Canada)
Courtesy Transportation
Program
(U.S. and Canada)
When the vehicle requires warranty
service, contact your dealer and
request an appointment. By
scheduling a service appointment
and advising the service consultant
of your transportation needs, your
dealer can help minimize your
inconvenience.
To enhance your ownership
experience, we and our participating
dealers are proud to offer Courtesy
Transportation, a customer support
program for vehicles with the
Bumper-to-Bumper (Base Warranty
Coverage period in Canada),
extended powertrain, and/or hybrid‐
specific warranties in both the U.S.
and Canada.
If the vehicle cannot be scheduled
into the service department
immediately, keep driving it until it
can be scheduled for service,
unless, of course, the problem is
safety related. If it is, please call
your dealership, let them know this,
and ask for instructions.
If your dealer requests you to bring
the vehicle for service, you are
urged to do so as early in the work
day as possible to allow for same
day-repair.
Several Courtesy Transportation
options are available to assist in
reducing inconvenience when
warranty repairs are required.
Courtesy Transportation is not a
part of the New Vehicle Limited
Warranty. A separate booklet
entitled “Warranty and Owner
Assistance Information” furnished
with each new vehicle provides
detailed warranty coverage
information.
13-13
Transportation Options
Warranty service can generally be
completed while you wait. However,
if you are unable to wait, GM helps
to minimize inconvenience by
providing several transportation
options. Depending on the
circumstances, your dealer can
offer one of the following:
Shuttle Service
Shuttle service is the preferred
means of offering Courtesy
Transportation. Dealers may provide
shuttle service to get you to your
destination with minimal interruption
of your daily schedule. This includes
one‐way or round‐trip shuttle service
within reasonable time and distance
parameters of your dealer's area.
Public Transportation or Fuel
Reimbursement
If the vehicle requires overnight
warranty repairs, and public
transportation is used instead of
your dealer's shuttle service, the
expense must be supported by
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13-14
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Customer Information
original receipts and can only be up
to the maximum amount allowed by
GM for shuttle service. In addition,
for U.S. customers, should you
arrange transportation through a
friend or relative, limited
reimbursement for reasonable fuel
expenses may be available. Claim
amounts should reflect actual costs
and be supported by original
receipts. See your dealer for
information regarding the allowance
amounts for reimbursement of fuel
or other transportation costs.
Courtesy Rental Vehicle
Your dealer may arrange to provide
you with a courtesy rental vehicle or
reimburse you for a rental vehicle
that you obtain if the vehicle is kept
for an overnight warranty repair.
Rental reimbursement will be limited
and must be supported by original
receipts. This requires that you sign
and complete a rental agreement
and meet state/provincial, local, and
rental vehicle provider requirements.
Requirements vary and may include
minimum age requirements,
insurance coverage, credit card,
etc. You are responsible for fuel
usage charges and may also be
responsible for taxes, levies, usage
fees, excessive mileage, or rental
usage beyond the completion of the
repair.
It may not be possible to provide a
like vehicle as a courtesy rental.
Additional Program
Information
All program options, such as shuttle
service, may not be available at
every dealer. Please contact your
dealer for specific information about
availability. All Courtesy
Transportation arrangements will be
administered by appropriate dealer
personnel.
General Motors reserves the
right to unilaterally modify,
change, or discontinue Courtesy
Transportation at any time and to
resolve all questions of claim
eligibility pursuant to the terms and
conditions described herein at its
sole discretion.
Collision Damage Repair
(U.S. and Canada)
If the vehicle is involved in a
collision and it is damaged, have the
damage repaired by a qualified
technician using the proper
equipment and quality replacement
parts. Poorly performed collision
repairs diminish the vehicle resale
value, and safety performance can
be compromised in subsequent
collisions.
Collision Parts
Genuine GM Collision parts are new
parts made with the same materials
and construction methods as the
parts with which the vehicle was
originally built. Genuine GM
Collision parts are the best choice to
ensure that the vehicle's designed
appearance, durability, and safety
are preserved. The use of Genuine
GM parts can help maintain the GM
New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
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Customer Information
Recycled original equipment parts
may also be used for repair. These
parts are typically removed from
vehicles that were total losses in
prior crashes. In most cases, the
parts being recycled are from
undamaged sections of the vehicle.
A recycled original equipment GM
part may be an acceptable choice to
maintain the vehicle's originally
designed appearance and safety
performance; however, the history of
these parts is not known. Such parts
are not covered by the GM New
Vehicle Limited Warranty, and any
related failures are not covered by
that warranty.
Aftermarket collision parts are also
available. These are made by
companies other than GM and may
not have been tested for the vehicle.
As a result, these parts may fit
poorly, exhibit premature durability/
corrosion problems, and may not
perform properly in subsequent
collisions. Aftermarket parts are not
covered by the GM New Vehicle
Limited Warranty, and any vehicle
failure related to such parts is not
covered by that warranty.
Repair Facility
GM also recommends that you
choose a collision repair facility that
meets your needs before you ever
need collision repairs. Your dealer
may have a collision repair center
with GM-trained technicians and
state‐of‐the‐art equipment, or be
able to recommend a collision repair
center that has GM-trained
technicians and comparable
equipment.
Insuring the Vehicle
Protect your investment in the GM
vehicle with comprehensive and
collision insurance coverage. There
are significant differences in the
quality of coverage afforded by
various insurance policy terms.
13-15
Many insurance policies provide
reduced protection to the GM
vehicle by limiting compensation for
damage repairs by using
aftermarket collision parts. Some
insurance companies will not
specify aftermarket collision parts.
When purchasing insurance, we
recommend that you ensure that the
vehicle will be repaired with GM
original equipment collision parts.
If such insurance coverage is not
available from your current
insurance carrier, consider switching
to another insurance carrier.
If the vehicle is leased, the leasing
company may require you to have
insurance that ensures repairs with
Genuine GM Original Equipment
Manufacturer (OEM) parts or
Genuine Manufacturer replacement
parts. Read the lease carefully, as
you may be charged at the end of
the lease for poor quality repairs.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
13-16
Black plate (16,1)
Customer Information
If a Crash Occurs
If there has been an injury, call
emergency services for help. Do not
leave the scene of a crash until all
matters have been taken care of.
Move the vehicle only if its position
puts you in danger, or you are
instructed to move it by a police
officer.
Give only the necessary information
to police and other parties involved
in the crash.
For emergency towing see
Roadside Service (U.S. and
Canada) on page 13‑7 or Roadside
Service (Mexico) on page 13‑9.
Gather the following information:
.
Driver name, address, and
telephone number.
.
Driver license number.
.
Owner name, address, and
telephone number.
.
Vehicle license plate number.
.
Vehicle make, model, and
model year.
.
Vehicle Identification
Number (VIN).
.
Insurance company and policy
number.
.
General description of the
damage to the other vehicle.
Choose a reputable repair facility
that uses quality replacement parts.
See “Collision Parts” earlier in this
section.
If the airbag has inflated, see What
Will You See after an Airbag
Inflates? on page 3‑25.
Managing the Vehicle Damage
Repair Process
In the event that the vehicle requires
damage repairs, GM recommends
that you take an active role in its
repair. If you have a pre-determined
repair facility of choice, take the
vehicle there, or have it towed there.
Specify to the facility that any
required replacement collision parts
be original equipment parts, either
new Genuine GM parts or recycled
original GM parts. Remember,
recycled parts will not be covered by
the GM vehicle warranty.
Insurance pays the bill for the repair,
but you must live with the repair.
Depending on your policy limits,
your insurance company may
initially value the repair using
aftermarket parts. Discuss this with
the repair professional, and insist on
Genuine GM parts. Remember,
if the vehicle is leased, you may be
obligated to have the vehicle
repaired with Genuine GM parts,
even if your insurance coverage
does not pay the full cost.
If another party's insurance
company is paying for the repairs,
you are not obligated to accept a
repair valuation based on that
insurance company's collision policy
repair limits, as you have no
contractual limits with that company.
In such cases, you can have control
of the repair and parts choices as
long as the cost stays within
reasonable limits.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (17,1)
Customer Information
Service Publications
Ordering Information
Service Manuals
Service Manuals have the diagnosis
and repair information on the
engines, transmission, axle,
suspension, brakes, electrical,
steering, body, etc.
Service Bulletins
Service Bulletins give additional
technical service information
needed to knowledgeably service
General Motors cars and trucks.
Each bulletin contains instructions
to assist in the diagnosis and
service of the vehicle.
13-17
Owner Information
Current and Past Models
Owner publications are written
specifically for owners and intended
to provide basic operational
information about the vehicle. The
Owner Manual includes the
Maintenance Schedule for all
models.
Technical Service Bulletins and
Manuals are available for current
and past model GM vehicles.
In-Portfolio: Includes a Portfolio,
Owner Manual, and Warranty
Booklet.
RETAIL SELL PRICE:
$35.00 (U.S.) plus handling and
shipping fees.
Without Portfolio: Owner
Manual only.
RETAIL SELL PRICE:
$25.00 (U.S.) plus handling and
shipping fees.
ORDER TOLL FREE:
1-800-551-4123 Monday - Friday
8:00 AM - 6:00 PM Eastern Time
For Credit Card Orders Only
(VISA-MasterCard-Discover), visit
Helm, Inc. at: www.helminc.com.
Or write to:
Helm, Incorporated
P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207
Prices are subject to change without
notice and without incurring
obligation. Allow ample time for
delivery.
All listed prices are quoted in U.S.
funds. Make checks payable in U.S.
funds.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
13-18
Black plate (18,1)
Customer Information
Reporting Safety
Defects
Reporting Safety Defects
to the United States
Government
If you believe that your vehicle
has a defect which could cause
a crash or could cause injury or
death, you should immediately
inform the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) in addition to notifying
General Motors.
If NHTSA receives similar
complaints, it may open an
investigation, and if it finds that
a safety defect exists in a group
of vehicles, it may order a recall
and remedy campaign.
However, NHTSA cannot
become involved in individual
problems between you, your
dealer, or General Motors.
Reporting Safety Defects
to the Canadian
Government
To contact NHTSA, you may call
the Vehicle Safety Hotline
toll-free at 1-888-327-4236
(TTY: 1-800-424-9153); go to
http://www.safercar.gov; or
write to:
If you live in Canada, and you
believe that the vehicle has a safety
defect, notify Transport Canada
immediately, and notify General
Motors of Canada Limited. Call
Transport Canada at
1-800-333-0510 or write to:
Administrator, NHTSA
1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20590
Transport Canada
Road Safety Branch
80 rue Noel
Gatineau, QC J8Z 0A1
You can also obtain other
information about motor
vehicle safety from
http://www.safercar.gov.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (19,1)
Customer Information
Reporting Safety Defects
to General Motors
In addition to notifying NHTSA (or
Transport Canada) in a situation like
this, notify General Motors.
Call 1-800-458-8006, or write:
Cadillac Customer Assistance
Center
Cadillac Motor Car Division
P.O. Box 33169
Detroit, MI 48232-5169
In Canada, call 1‐888‐446‐2000,
or write:
Canadian Cadillac Customer Care
Centre, Mail Code: CA1-163-005
General Motors of Canada Limited
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7
Vehicle Data
Recording and
Privacy
This GM vehicle has a number of
sophisticated computers that record
information about the vehicle’s
performance and how it is driven.
For example, the vehicle uses
computer modules to monitor and
control engine and transmission
performance, to monitor the
conditions for airbag deployment
and deploy airbags in a crash, and,
if so equipped, to provide antilock
braking to help the driver control the
vehicle. These modules may store
data to help your dealer technician
service the vehicle. Some modules
may also store data about how you
operate the vehicle, such as rate of
fuel consumption or average speed.
These modules may also retain the
owner’s personal preferences, such
as radio presets, seat positions, and
temperature settings.
13-19
Event Data Recorders
This vehicle has an Event Data
Recorder (EDR). The main purpose
of an EDR is to record, in certain
crash or near crash-like situations,
such as an airbag deployment or
hitting a road obstacle, data that will
assist in understanding how a
vehicle's systems performed. The
EDR is designed to record data
related to vehicle dynamics and
safety systems for a short period of
time, typically 30 seconds or less.
The EDR in this vehicle is designed
to record such data as:
.
How various systems in the
vehicle were operating.
.
Whether or not the driver and
passenger safety belts were
buckled/fastened.
.
How far, if at all, the driver was
pressing the accelerator and/or
brake pedal.
.
How fast the vehicle was
traveling.
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13-20
Black plate (20,1)
Customer Information
This data can help provide a better
understanding of the circumstances
in which crashes and injuries occur.
Important: EDR data is recorded
by the vehicle only if a non-trivial
crash situation occurs; no data is
recorded by the EDR under normal
driving conditions and no personal
data (e.g., name, gender, age, and
crash location) is recorded.
However, other parties, such as law
enforcement, could combine the
EDR data with the type of
personally identifying data routinely
acquired during a crash
investigation.
To read data recorded by an EDR,
special equipment is required, and
access to the vehicle or the EDR is
needed. In addition to the vehicle
manufacturer, other parties, such as
law enforcement, that have the
special equipment, can read the
information if they have access to
the vehicle or the EDR.
GM will not access this data or
share it with others except: with the
consent of the vehicle owner or,
if the vehicle is leased, with the
consent of the lessee; in response
to an official request by police or
similar government office; as part of
GM's defense of litigation through
the discovery process; or, as
required by law. Data that GM
collects or receives may also be
used for GM research needs or may
be made available to others for
research purposes, where a need is
shown and the data is not tied to a
specific vehicle or vehicle owner.
OnStar®
If the vehicle is equipped with an
active OnStar system, that system
may also record data in crash or
near crash‐like situations. The
OnStar Terms and Conditions
provides information on data
collection and use and is available
at www.onstar.com (U.S.) or
www.onstar.ca (Canada), or by
pressing the Q button and
speaking to an advisor. See OnStar
Overview on page 14‑1 for more
information.
Navigation System
If the vehicle has a navigation
system, use of the system may
result in the storage of destinations,
addresses, telephone numbers, and
other trip information. See Using the
Navigation System on page 7‑42 for
information on stored data and for
deletion instructions.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (21,1)
Customer Information
Radio Frequency
Identification (RFID)
Radio Frequency
Statement
RFID technology is used in some
vehicles for functions such as tire
pressure monitoring and ignition
system security, as well as in
connection with conveniences such
as key fobs for remote door locking/
unlocking and starting, and
in-vehicle transmitters for garage
door openers. RFID technology in
GM vehicles does not use or record
personal information or link with any
other GM system containing
personal information.
This vehicle has systems that
operate on a radio frequency that
comply with Part 15 of the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC)
rules and with Industry Canada
Standards RSS‐GEN/210/220/310.
Operation is subject to the following
two conditions:
1. The device may not cause
harmful interference.
2. The device must accept any
interference received, including
interference that may cause
undesired operation of the
device.
Changes or modifications to any of
these systems by other than an
authorized service facility could void
authorization to use this equipment.
13-21
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
13-22
Black plate (22,1)
Customer Information
2 NOTES
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (1,1)
OnStar
OnStar
OnStar Overview
OnStar Overview
OnStar Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-1
OnStar Services
Emergency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Navigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
14-2
14-2
14-2
14-4
14-5
OnStar Additional Information
OnStar Additional
Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-5
If equipped, this vehicle has a
comprehensive, in-vehicle system
that can connect to a live Advisor
for Emergency, Security, Navigation,
Connection, and Diagnostic
Services.
The OnStar system status light is
next to the OnStar buttons. If the
status light is:
.
Solid Green: System is ready.
.
Flashing Green: On a call.
.
Red: Indicates a problem.
Push Q or call 1‐888‐4‐ONSTAR
(1‐888‐466‐7827) to speak to an
Advisor.
Push
14-1
X to:
.
Make a call, end a call,
or answer an incoming call.
.
Give OnStar Hands-Free Calling
voice commands.
.
Give OnStar Turn-by-Turn
Navigation voice commands.
Requires the available Directions
and Connections service plan.
Push Q to connect to a live
Advisor to:
.
Verify account information or
update contact information.
.
Get driving directions. Requires
the available Directions and
Connections service plan.
.
Receive On-Demand
Diagnostics for a check on the
vehicle’s key operating systems.
.
Receive Roadside Assistance.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
14-2
Black plate (2,1)
OnStar
Push ] to get a priority connection
to an Emergency Advisor available
24/7 to:
.
Get help for an emergency.
.
Be a Good Samaritan or
respond to an AMBER Alert.
.
Get crisis assistance and
evacuation routes.
OnStar Services
Navigation
Emergency
OnStar navigation requires the
Directions and Connections
service plan.
With Automatic Crash Response,
the built-in system can automatically
connect to help in a crash even if
you cannot ask for it.
Push ] to connect to an
Emergency Advisor. GPS
technology is used to identify the
vehicle location and can provide
critical information to emergency
personnel. The Advisor is also
trained to offer critical assistance in
emergency situations.
Security
OnStar provides services like Stolen
Vehicle Assistance, Remote Ignition
Block, and Roadside Assistance,
if the vehicle is equipped with these
services. OnStar can unlock the
vehicle doors remotely, if it is
equipped with automatic door locks,
and can help police locate the
vehicle if it is stolen.
Push Q to receive directions or
have them sent to the vehicle
navigation screen. Destinations can
also be forwarded to the vehicle
from Google Maps™ or
MapQuest.com. The OnStar
mapping database is continuously
updated. Visit www.onstar.com for
coverage maps.
Turn‐by‐Turn Navigation
1. Push Q to connect to a live
Advisor.
2. Request directions.
3. Directions are downloaded to the
vehicle.
4. Follow the voice-guided
commands.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (3,1)
OnStar
Using Voice Commands
During a Planned Route
Cancel Route
1. Push X. System responds:
“OnStar ready,” then a tone.
Say “Cancel route.” System
responds: “Would you like to
cancel route directions to your
destination?”
2. Say “Yes.” System responds:
“OK, route canceled.”
3. Say “Goodbye.” Exits voice
commands.
Route Preview
1. Push X. System responds:
“OnStar ready,” then a tone.
2. Say “Route Preview.” System
responds with the next three
maneuvers.
3. Say “Goodbye.” Exits voice
commands.
Repeat
1. Push X. System responds:
“OnStar ready,” then a tone.
2. Say “Repeat.” System responds
with the last direction given, then
responds with “OnStar ready,”
then a tone.
3. Say “Goodbye.” Exits voice
commands.
Get My Destination
1. Push X. System responds:
“OnStar ready,” then a tone.
2. Say “Get my destination.”
System responds with miles to
the destination, then responds
with “OnStar ready,” then a tone.
3. Say “Goodbye.” Exits voice
commands.
14-3
Other Navigation Services
Available from OnStar
OnStar eNav: Allows subscribers
to send destinations from Google
Maps™ and MapQuest.com to
their Turn-by-Turn Navigation or
screen-based navigation system.
When ready, the directions will be
downloaded to the vehicle.
Destination Download:
Push Q, then request the Advisor
to download directions to the
navigation system in the vehicle.
After the call ends, push the “Go”
button on the navigation screen to
begin driving directions.
Destinations can also be
downloaded on the go. For
information about eNav, Destination
Download, and coverage maps visit
www.onstar.com.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
14-4
Black plate (4,1)
OnStar
Connections
End a Call
OnStar Hands-Free Calling allows
calls to be made and received from
the vehicle. The vehicle can also
be controlled from a cell phone
through the OnStar mobile app. See
www.onstar.com for coverage maps.
Push X. System responds: “Call
ended.”
Hands-Free Calling
1. Push X. System responds:
“OnStar ready.”
2. Say “Dial.” System responds:
“Please say the name or number
to call.”
3. Say the entire number without
pausing, including a “1” and the
area code. System responds:
“OK calling.”
Retrieve My Number
1. Push X. System responds:
“OnStar ready.”
2. Say “My Number.” System
responds: “Your OnStar
Hands-Free Calling number is.”
Store a Name Tag for Speed
Dialing
1. Push X. System responds:
“OnStar ready.”
2. Say “Store.” System responds:
“Please say the number you
would like to store.”
3. Say the entire number without
pausing. System responds:
“Please say the name tag.”
4. Pick a name tag. “System
responds: ”About to store . Does that sound OK?”
5. Say “Yes” or “No” to try again.
System responds: “OK, storing
.”
Place a Call Using a Stored
Number
1. Push X. System responds:
“OnStar ready.”
2. Say “Call .” System
responds: “OK, calling
.”
Verify Minutes and Expiration
Push X and say “minutes” then
“verify” to check how many minutes
remain and their expiration date.
OnStar Mobile App
With an iPhone® or
Android™-based mobile device, an
OnStar mobile app can be
downloaded. The vehicle can be
remote started, if equipped, or the
doors can be unlocked from
anywhere there is cell phone
service. It can also check the fuel
level, tire pressure, and oil life.
It can connect to an OnStar Advisor
anytime. For OnStar mobile app
compatibility or further information,
see www.onstar.com.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (5,1)
OnStar
Diagnostics
OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics will
perform a vehicle check every
month. It will check the engine,
transmission, antilock brakes, and
major vehicle systems. It also
checks the tire pressures, if the
vehicle is equipped with the Tire
Pressure Monitoring System. If a
diagnostics check is needed
between e-mails, push Q, and an
Advisor can run a check.
OnStar Additional
Information
Transferring Service
Push Q to request account transfer
eligibility information. The Advisor
can assist in canceling or removing
account information. If OnStar
receives information that vehicle
ownership has changed, OnStar
may send a voice message to the
vehicle, requesting updated account
information.
Reactivation for Subsequent
Owners
Push Q and follow the prompts to
speak to an Advisor as soon as
possible after acquiring the vehicle.
The Advisor will update vehicle
records and will explain the OnStar
service offers and options available.
14-5
How OnStar Service Works
Automatic Crash Response,
Emergency Services, Crisis Assist,
Stolen Vehicle Assistance, Vehicle
Diagnostics, Remote Door Unlock,
Roadside Assistance, Turn-by-Turn
Navigation, and Hands-Free Calling
are available on most vehicles. Not
all OnStar services are available
everywhere or on all vehicles. For
more information, a full description
of OnStar services, system
limitations, and OnStar terms and
conditions, see www.onstar.com
(U.S.) or www.onstar.ca
(Canada); contact OnStar at
1-888-4-ONSTAR (1‐888‐466‐7827)
or TTY 1‐877‐248‐2080; or
push Q to speak with an Advisor.
OnStar services require a vehicle
electrical system, wireless service,
and GPS satellite technologies to be
available and operating for features
to function properly. These systems
may not operate if the battery is
discharged or disconnected.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
14-6
Black plate (6,1)
OnStar
OnStar service cannot work unless
your vehicle is in a place where
OnStar has an agreement with a
wireless service provider for service
in that area, and the wireless
service provider has coverage,
network capacity, reception, and
technology compatible with OnStar’s
service. Service involving location
information about the vehicle cannot
work unless GPS signals are
available, unobstructed, and
compatible with the OnStar
hardware. OnStar service may not
work if the OnStar equipment is not
properly installed or it has not been
properly maintained. If equipment or
software is added, connected,
or modified, OnStar service may not
work. Other problems beyond
OnStar’s control may prevent
service such as hills, tall buildings,
tunnels, weather, electrical system
design and architecture of the
vehicle, damage to the vehicle in a
crash, or wireless phone network
congestion or jamming.
See Radio Frequency Statement on
page 13‑21 for information
regarding Part 15 of the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC)
rules and Industry Canada
Standards RSS-GEN/210/220/310.
Services for People with
Disabilities
Advisors provide services to help
subscribers with physical disabilities
and medical conditions.
Push
Q for help with:
.
Locating a gas station with an
attendant to pump gas.
.
Finding a hotel, restaurant, etc.,
that meets accessibility needs.
.
Providing directions to the
closest hospital or pharmacy in
urgent situations.
TTY Users
OnStar has the ability to
communicate to the deaf,
hard‐of‐hearing, or speech‐impaired
customers while in the vehicle. The
available dealer‐installed TTY
system can provide in-vehicle
access to all of the OnStar services,
except Virtual Advisor and OnStar
Turn‐by‐Turn Navigation.
Onstar.com
The website provides access to
account information, manages the
OnStar subscription, and allows
viewing of videos of each service.
Get subscription plan pricing and
sign up for OnStar Vehicle
Diagnostics. Click on the “My
Account” tab on the home page.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (7,1)
OnStar
OnStar Personal Identification
Number (PIN)
A PIN is needed to access some of
the OnStar services, like Remote
Door Unlock and Stolen Vehicle
Assistance. You will be prompted to
change the PIN the first time when
speaking with an Advisor. To
change the OnStar PIN, call OnStar
and provide the Advisor with the
current number.
Warranty
OnStar equipment may be
warranted as part of the new-vehicle
limited warranty. The manufacturer
of the vehicle furnishes detailed
warranty information.
Languages
The vehicle can be programmed to
respond in French or Spanish.
Push Q and ask an Advisor.
Advisors can speak French or
Spanish.
Potential Issues
Some OnStar services are disabled
after five days. OnStar cannot
perform Remote Door Unlock or
Stolen Vehicle Assistance after the
vehicle has been off continuously
for five days. After five days, OnStar
can contact Roadside Assistance
and a locksmith to help gain access
to the vehicle.
Global Positioning
System (GPS)
.
Obstruction of the GPS can
occur in a large city with tall
buildings; in parking garages;
around airports; in tunnels,
underpasses, or parking
garages; or in an area with very
dense trees. If GPS signals are
not available, the OnStar system
should still operate to call
OnStar. However, OnStar could
have difficulty identifying the
exact location.
14-7
.
In emergency situations, OnStar
can use the last stored GPS
location to send to emergency
responders.
.
A temporary loss of GPS can
cause loss of the ability to send
a Turn-by-Turn Navigation route.
The Advisor may give a verbal
route or may ask for a call back
after the vehicle is driven into an
open area.
Cellular and GPS Antennas
Avoid placing items over or near the
antenna to prevent blocking cellular
and GPS signal reception. Cellular
reception is required for OnStar to
send remote signals to the vehicle.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
14-8
Black plate (8,1)
OnStar
Unable to Connect to OnStar
Message
If there is limited cellular coverage
or the cellular network has reached
maximum capacity, this message
may come on. Push Q to try the
call again or try again after driving a
few miles into another cellular area.
Vehicle and Power Issues
OnStar services require a vehicle
electrical system, wireless service,
and GPS satellite technologies to be
available and operating for features
to function properly. These systems
may not operate if the battery is
discharged or disconnected.
Add-on Electrical Equipment
The OnStar system is integrated
into the electrical architecture of the
vehicle. Do not add any electrical
equipment. See Add-On Electrical
Equipment on page 9‑67. Added
electrical equipment may interfere
with the operation of the OnStar
system and cause it to not operate.
Privacy
The complete OnStar Privacy
Statement may be found at
www.onstar.com. Privacy-sensitive
users of wireless communications
are cautioned that the privacy of any
information sent via wireless cellular
communications cannot be assured.
Third parties may unlawfully
intercept or access transmissions
and private communications without
consent.
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (1,1)
INDEX
A
Accessories and
Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
Accessory Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-27
Active Fuel Management® . . . . . 9-30
Add-On Electrical
Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-67
Additional Information,
OnStar® . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-5
Adjustable Throttle and
Brake Pedal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-23
Adjustments
Lumbar, Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine . . . . . 10-14
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-6
Airbag
Adding Equipment to the
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-30
Airbag System
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-32
How Does an Airbag
Restrain? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-24
Passenger Sensing
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-26
What Makes an Airbag
Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-24
Airbag System (cont'd)
What Will You See after an
Airbag Inflates? . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-25
When Should an Airbag
Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-22
Where Are the Airbags? . . . . . .3-21
Airbags
Passenger Status Indicator . . .5-14
Readiness Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-13
Servicing Airbag-Equipped
Vehicles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-30
System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-19
Alarm System
Anti-theft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-16
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . 10-27, 9-36
AM-FM Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-9
Antenna
Satellite Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-18
Anti-theft
Alarm System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-16
Alarm System Messages . . . . .5-34
Antilock Brake
System (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-36
Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-19
i-1
Appearance Care
Exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-82
Interior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-85
Armrest Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Ashtrays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9
Audio Players
CD/DVD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-18
MP3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-27
Audio System
Fixed Mast Antenna . . . . . . . . . .7-18
Radio Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-17
Rear Seat (RSA) . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-40
Theft-Deterrent Feature . . . . . . . . 7-3
Automatic
Dimming Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-20
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
Headlamp System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Level Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9-42
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . 9-31
Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10-11
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9-34
Shift Lock Control
Function Check . . . . . . . . . . . 10-30
Auxiliary Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-30
Axle, Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-28
Axle, Rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-28
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
i-2
Black plate (2,1)
INDEX
B
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-27
Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-76
Load Management . . . . . . . . . . . .6-10
Power Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-10
Voltage and Charging
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-28
Blade Replacement, Wiper . . . 10-31
Bluetooth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-81
Brake
Pedal and Adjustable
Throttle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9-23
Brake System Warning Light . . . 5-18
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-24
Antilock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9-36
Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9-38
Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-25
Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9-37
System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . .5-28
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Break-In, New Vehicle . . . . . . . . . 9-23
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-35
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . 10-32
Headlamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-34
Bulb Replacement (cont'd)
High Intensity Discharge
(HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-34
License Plate Lamps . . . . . . . 10-35
Taillamps, Turn Signal,
Sidemarker, Stoplamps,
and Backup Lamps . . . . . . . . 10-34
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-57
C
Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5
California
Fuel Requirements . . . . . . . . . . .9-52
Perchlorate Materials
Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10-2
Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10-2
Camera, Rear Vision . . . . . . . . . . 9-47
Canadian Vehicle Owners . . . . . . . . iii
Capacities and
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-2
Carbon Monoxide
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9-30
Midgate® . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
Tailgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-15
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9-13
Cargo
Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
Cover Panels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5
Tie-Downs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-12
Cautions, Danger, and
Warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
CD/DVD Player . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-18
Center Console Storage . . . . . . . . 4-1
Chains, Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-62
Charging System Light . . . . . . . . 5-15
Check
Engine Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-15
Ignition
Transmission Lock . . . . . . . . 10-30
Child Restraints
Infants and Young
Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-35
Lower Anchors and
Tethers for Children . . . . . . . . .3-41
Older Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-33
Securing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-47, 3-49
Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-37
Cigarette Lighter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8
Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-36
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (3,1)
INDEX
Cleaning
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-82
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-85
Climate Control Systems
Dual Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7
Cluster, Instrument . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-10
Collision Damage Repair . . . . . 13-14
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5
Configure Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-64
Connections, OnStar® . . . . . . . . . 14-4
Continuous Damping
Control (CDC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-42
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Convex Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-19
Coolant
Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-16
Engine Temperature
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-12
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-16
Engine Messages . . . . . . . . . . . .5-29
Courtesy Transportation
Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-13
Cover
Cargo Panels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-43
Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-23
Cupholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Customer Assistance . . . . . . . . . . 13-6
Offices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-4, 13-5
Text Telephone (TTY)
Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13-6
Customer Information
Service Publications
Ordering Information . . . . . . 13-17
Customer Satisfaction
Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-1, 13-3
D
Damage Repair, Collision . . . . . 13-14
Danger, Warnings, and
Cautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
Data Recorders, Event . . . . . . . 13-19
Database Coverage
Explanations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-78
Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
Destination, Navigation . . . . . . . . 7-50
Devices, Auxiliary . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-30
i-3
Diagnostics, OnStar® . . . . . . . . . . 14-5
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Dome Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-9
Door
Ajar Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-29
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7
Power Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7
Drive Belt Routing, Engine . . . . . 12-3
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . 10-27, 9-36
Driver Information
Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-23
Driving
Characteristics and
Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9-57
Defensive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Drunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
For Better Fuel Economy . . . . .1-21
Highway Hypnosis . . . . . . . . . . . .9-12
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . .9-12
If the Vehicle is Stuck . . . . . . . . .9-15
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Off-Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
i-4
Black plate (4,1)
INDEX
Driving (cont'd)
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . .9-16
Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-11
Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9-13
Dual Automatic Climate
Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1
DVD
Rear Seat Entertainment
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-31
DVD/CD Player . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-18
E
E85 Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-53
Electrical Equipment,
Add-On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-67
Electrical System
Engine Compartment
Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-36
Fuses and Circuit
Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-36
Instrument Panel Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-41
Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-35
Emergency, OnStar® . . . . . . . . . . 14-2
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . 10-14
Check and Service Engine
Soon Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-15
Compartment Overview . . . . . . .10-6
Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-16
Coolant Temperature
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-12
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-16
Cooling System Messages . . .5-29
Drive Belt Routing . . . . . . . . . . . .12-3
Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9-30
Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-22
Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9-27
Overheated Protection
Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . 10-22
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-20
Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-31
Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-21
Running While Parked . . . . . . . .9-31
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9-25
Engine Oil
Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-10
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-30
Entry/Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-10
Equipment, Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-64
Event Data Recorders . . . . . . . . 13-19
Extender, Safety Belt . . . . . . . . . . 3-17
Exterior Cargo Lamps . . . . . . . . . . 6-8
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Exterior Lamps Off Reminder . . . 6-5
F
Fan
Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-22
Features
Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8
Filter,
Engine Air Cleaner . . . . . . . . . 10-14
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Flashers, Hazard Warning . . . . . . 6-7
Flat Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-62
Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-64
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-88
Fluid
Automatic Transmission . . . . .10-11
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-25
Power Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-23
Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-23
Fog Lamps
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-28
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (5,1)
INDEX
Front Fog Lamp
Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-22
Front Seats
Heated and Ventilated . . . . . . . . . 3-7
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-50
Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9-52
E85 (85% Ethanol) . . . . . . . . . . .9-53
Filling a Portable Fuel
Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9-56
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9-54
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . .9-52
Gasoline Specifications . . . . . . .9-51
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11
Management, Active . . . . . . . . . .9-30
Recommended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9-51
Requirements, California . . . . .9-52
System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . .5-31
Fuel Economy
Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-21
Full-Size Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . 10-75
Fuses
Engine Compartment
Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-36
Fuses and Circuit
Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-36
Instrument Panel Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-41
G
Garage Door Opener . . . . . . . . . . 5-44
Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-44
Gasoline
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9-51
Gauges
Engine Coolant
Temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-12
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11
Warning Lights and
Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9
i-5
General Information
Service and Maintenance . . . . . 11-1
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9-57
Vehicle Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10-2
Glass Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . 10-31
Global Positioning
System (GPS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-76
Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
GM Mobility Reimbursement
Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-7
H
Hazard Warning Flashers . . . . . . . 6-7
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Headlamps
Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-32
Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-34
Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
High Intensity Discharge
(HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-34
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . .5-22
High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . . 6-5
Lamps On Reminder . . . . . . . . .5-22
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
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Black plate (6,1)
INDEX
Heated
Steering Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4
Heated and Ventilated Front
Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7
Heated Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-20
Heater
Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9-27
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . . 5-22
High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . 10-51
Highway Hypnosis . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-12
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . 9-12
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . 9-38
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-4
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4
How to Wear Safety Belts
Properly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-11
I
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-24
Ignition Transmission Lock
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-30
Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-17
Infants and Young Children,
Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-35
Infotainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-10
Instrument Panel
Storage Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii
J
Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-76
K
Key and Lock Messages . . . . . . . 5-32
Keyless Entry
Remote (RKE) System . . . . . . . . 2-3
Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
L
Labeling, Tire Sidewall . . . . . . . . 10-45
Lamp Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-32
Lamps
Daytime Running (DRL) . . . . . . . 6-5
Dome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-9
Exterior Cargo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8
Exterior Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Exterior Lamps Off
Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
License Plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-35
Lamps (cont'd)
Malfunction Indicator . . . . . . . . .5-15
On Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-22
Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-9
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-12
LATCH System
Replacing Parts after a
Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-47
LATCH, Lower Anchors and
Tethers for Children . . . . . . . . . . 3-41
Level Control
Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9-42
Light
StabiliTrak® OFF . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-20
Lighter, Cigarette . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8
Lighting
Entry/Exit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-10
Illumination Control . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-9
Lights
Airbag Readiness . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-13
Antilock Brake System
(ABS) Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-19
Brake System Warning . . . . . . .5-18
Charging System . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-15
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-23
Engine Oil Pressure . . . . . . . . . .5-21
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (7,1)
INDEX
Lights (cont'd)
Front Fog Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-22
High-Beam On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-22
High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . . 6-5
Safety Belt Reminders . . . . . . . .5-12
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-21
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-20
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-19
Traction Control System
(TCS)/StabiliTrak® . . . . . . . . . .5-20
Locking Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-41
Locks
Automatic Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7
Lockout Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
Power Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7
Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Lower Anchors and Tethers
for Children (LATCH
System) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-41
Lumbar Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
M
Maintenance
Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-15
Maintenance Schedule
Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-12
Malfunction Indicator Lamp . . . . 5-15
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-34
Maps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-44
Memory Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8
Memory Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5
Menu
Configure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-64
Messages
Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-34
Anti-theft Alarm System . . . . . . .5-34
Battery Voltage and
Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-28
Brake System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-28
Door Ajar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-29
Engine Cooling System . . . . . . .5-29
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-30
Engine Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-31
i-7
Messages (cont'd)
Fuel System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-31
Key and Lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-32
Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-32
Object Detection System . . . . .5-32
Ride Control System . . . . . . . . . .5-32
Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-34
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-35
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-28
Vehicle Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-35
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-35
Midgate® . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
Mirrors
Automatic Dimming . . . . . . . . . . .2-20
Automatic Dimming
Rearview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-21
Convex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-19
Heated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-20
Park Tilt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-21
Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-19
Monitor System, Tire
Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-51
MP3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-27
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
i-8
Black plate (8,1)
INDEX
N
Navigation
Destination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-50
Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-45
Using the System . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-42
Vehicle Data Recording
and Privacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-20
Navigation, OnStar® . . . . . . . . . . . 14-2
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . 9-23
O
Object Detection System
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-32
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11
Trip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11
Off-Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Oil
Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10-8
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . 10-10
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-30
Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-21
Older Children, Restraints . . . . . 3-33
Online Owner Center . . . . . . . . . . 13-6
OnStar®
Additional Information . . . . . . . .14-5
Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14-4
Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14-5
Emergency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14-2
Navigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14-2
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14-1
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14-2
OnStar® System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-21
Ordering
Service Publications . . . . . . . . 13-17
Outlets
Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7
Overheated Engine
Protection
Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-22
Overheating, Engine . . . . . . . . . . 10-20
Overview, Infotainment
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-4
Overview, OnStar® . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-1
P
Park
Shifting into . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9-28
Shifting out of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9-29
Park Tilt Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-21
Parking
Assist, Ultrasonic . . . . . . . . . . . . .9-45
Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9-37
Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . 10-30
Over Things That Burn . . . . . . .9-29
Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-14
Passenger Sensing System . . . 3-26
Perchlorate Materials
Requirements, California . . . . . 10-2
Personalization
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-36
Phone
Bluetooth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-81
Power
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7
Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-19
Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7
Protection, Battery . . . . . . . . . . . .6-10
Retained Accessory (RAP) . . .9-27
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Steering Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-23
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-22
Power Assist Steps . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-15
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (9,1)
INDEX
Pregnancy, Using Safety
Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-17
Privacy
Radio Frequency
Identification (RFID) . . . . . . . 13-21
Problems with Route
Guidance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-78
Program
Courtesy Transportation . . . . 13-13
Proposition 65 Warning,
California . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
R
Radio Frequency
Identification (RFID) . . . . . . . . 13-21
Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-21
Radios
AM-FM Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-9
CD/DVD Player . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-18
Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-17
Satellite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-16
Reading Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-9
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-28
Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9-41
Rear Seat Audio (RSA)
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-40
Rear Seat Entertainment
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-31
Rear Seat Audio (RSA) . . . . . . .7-40
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . 9-47
Rearview Mirror
Automatic Dimming . . . . . . . . . . .2-21
Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
Recommended
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9-51
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-12
Records
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-15
Recreational Vehicle
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-81
Reimbursement Program,
GM Mobility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-7
Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2, 2-3
Remote Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5
i-9
Replacement
Glass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-31
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . 10-35
Replacement Parts
Airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-32
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-14
Replacing Airbag System . . . . . . 3-32
Replacing LATCH System
Parts after a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . 3-47
Replacing Safety Belt
System Parts after a Crash . . . 3-18
Reporting Safety Defects
Canadian Government . . . . . . 13-18
General Motors . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-19
U.S. Government . . . . . . . . . . . 13-18
Restraints
Where to Put . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-39
Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-27
Ride Control Systems
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-32
Roads
Driving, Wet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-11
Roadside Service . . . . . . . . 13-7, 13-9
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
i-10
Black plate (10,1)
INDEX
Roof
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-25
Roof Rack System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-12
Rotation, Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-55
Routing, Engine Drive Belt . . . . . 12-3
Running the Vehicle While
Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-31
S
Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10
Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-18
Extender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-17
How to Wear Safety Belts
Properly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-11
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . .3-12
Reminders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-12
Replacing after a Crash . . . . . .3-18
Use During Pregnancy . . . . . . . .3-17
Safety Defects Reporting
Canadian Government . . . . . . 13-18
General Motors . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-19
U.S. Government . . . . . . . . . . . 13-18
Safety Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
Safety System Check . . . . . . . . . . 3-17
Satellite Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-16
Scheduling Appointments . . . . . 13-13
Seats
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Heated and Ventilated Front . . . 3-7
Lumbar Adjustment, Front . . . . . 3-3
Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5
Power Adjustment, Front . . . . . . 3-3
Rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8
Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
Secondary Latch System . . . . . 10-73
Securing Child
Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-47, 3-49
Security
Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-21
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-16
Security, OnStar® . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-2
Service
Accessories and
Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10-2
Doing Your Own Work . . . . . . . .10-3
Engine Soon Light . . . . . . . . . . . .5-15
Maintenance Records . . . . . . .11-15
Maintenance, General
Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-1
Service (cont'd)
Parts Identification Label . . . . .12-1
Publications Ordering
Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-17
Scheduling Appointments . . . 13-13
Servicing the Airbag . . . . . . . . . . . 3-30
Shift Lock Control Function
Check, Automatic
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-30
Shifting
Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9-28
Out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9-29
Sidemarker
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-34
Signals, Turn and
Lane-Change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7
Specifications and
Capacities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-2
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11
StabiliTrak
OFF Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-20
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9-39
Start Assist, Hills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-38
Start Vehicle, Remote . . . . . . . . . . 2-5
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 10-29
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-25
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
Black plate (11,1)
INDEX
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Fluid, Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-23
Heated Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4
Wheel Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Wheel Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Steps
Power Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-15
Stoplamps and Back-Up Lamps
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-34
Storage Areas
Armrest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Cargo Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
Center Console . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Instrument Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Roof Rack System . . . . . . . . . . . .4-12
Top-Box Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
Stuck Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-15
Sun Visors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-25
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-25
Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
Symbols, Navigation . . . . . . . . . . . 7-45
System
Infotainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Roof Rack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-12
System Needs Service, If . . . . . . 7-78
T
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11
Tailgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-15
Taillamps
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-34
Text Telephone (TTY) Users . . . 13-6
Theft-Deterrent Systems . . . . . . . 2-17
Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-17
Throttle, Adjustable . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-23
Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7
Tires
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . 10-57
Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-62
Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-64
Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-46
Different Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-59
Full-Size Spare . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-75
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . 10-62
Inflation Monitor System . . . . 10-52
Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-55
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-34
Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-51
Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-20
Pressure Monitor System . . . 10-51
Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-55
Secondary Latch System . . . 10-73
i-11
Tires (cont'd)
Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . 10-45
Terminology and
Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-47
Uniform Tire Quality
Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-59
Wheel Alignment and Tire
Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-61
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . 10-61
When It Is Time for New
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-56
Top-Box Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-35
Tow/Haul Mode Light . . . . . . . . . . 5-19
Towing
Driving Characteristics . . . . . . . .9-57
Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9-64
General Information . . . . . . . . . .9-57
Recreational Vehicle . . . . . . . . 10-81
Trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9-61
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) . . .9-67
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-80
Traction
Control System (TCS)/
StabiliTrak® Light . . . . . . . . . . . .5-20
Trailer
Sway Control (TSC) . . . . . . . . . .9-67
Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner Manual - 2012
i-12
Black plate (12,1)
INDEX
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-61
Transmission
Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9-31
Fluid, Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . .10-11
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-35
Transportation Program,
Courtesy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-13
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11
Truck-Camper Loading
Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-22
Turn and Lane-Change
Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7
Turn Signal
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-34
U
Ultrasonic Parking Assist . . . . . . 9-45
Uniform Tire Quality
Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-59
Universal Remote System . . . . . 5-44
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-49
Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-44
Using This Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
V
W
Vehicle
Canadian Owners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .iii
Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Identification
Number (VIN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-1
Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9-16
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-28
Personalization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-36
Positioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-77
Reminder Messages . . . . . . . . . .5-35
Remote Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-16
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-80
Vehicle Care
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-49
Vehicle Identification
Service Parts Identification
Label . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-1
Ventilation, Air . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-6
Visors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-25
Voice Recognition . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-79
Warning
Brake System Light . . . . . . . . . . .5-18
Warning Lights, Gauges, and
Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9
Warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
Cautions and Danger . . . . . . . . . . . .iv
Hazard Flashers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-23
Washer Fluid Messages . . . . . . . 5-35
Wheels
Alignment and Tire
Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-61
Different Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-59
Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-61
When It Is Time for New
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-56
Where to Put the Restraint . . . . 3-39
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-22
Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-22
Windshield
Wiper/Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4
Winter
Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9-13
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 10-31