traction control CADILLAC ESCALADE 2002 2.G Owners Manual

2-30 Autoride

The Autoride
feature provides superior vehicle
ride and handling under a variety of passenger and
loading conditions.
The system is fully automatic and uses 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 also interacts with the tow/haul mode that,
when engaged, 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 ªTow/Haul Modeº in
the Index for more information.
Locking Rear Axle
Your locking rear axle can give you additional traction
on snow, mud, ice, sand or gravel. It works like a
standard axle most of the time, but when one of the
rear wheels has no traction and the other does, this
feature will allow the wheel with traction to move
the vehicle.
Horn
To sound the horn, press the center pad on the
steering wheel.
Tilt Wheel
The tilt steering wheel
allows you to adjust the
steering wheel before
you drive.
You can also raise it to the highest level to give your
legs more room when you enter and exit the vehicle.
To tilt the wheel, hold the steering wheel and pull the
lever located on the lower left of the column. Move the
steering wheel to a comfortable level, then release the
lever to lock the wheel in place.

2-34 Cruise Control
With cruise control, you can
maintain a speed of about
25 mph (40 km/h) or more
without keeping your foot
on the accelerator. This can
really help on long trips.
Cruise control does not
work at speeds below
about 25 mph (40 km/h).
If you apply your brakes, the cruise control
will disengage.CAUTION:

Cruise control can be dangerous where
you can't drive safely at a steady speed.
So, don't use your 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 needless wheel
spinning, and you could lose control.
Don't use cruise control on slippery roads.

2-67
The main components of your instrument panel are the following:
A. Dome Lamp Override Button
B. Headlamp and Parking Lamp Controls
C. Air Outlets
D. Folding Mirrors Button
E. Rear Wiper/Washer
F. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
G. Instrument Panel Cluster
H. Shift Lever
I. Tow/Haul Mode Selector Button
J. Audio System
K. Comfort Control System
L. Instrument Panel Fuse Block
M. Hood Release
N. Fog Lamps ButtonO. Audio Steering Wheel Controls
P. Center Instrument Panel Utility Block
Q. Tilt Lever
R. Parking Brake Release
S. Secondary Information Center (SIC)
T. Rear Window Defogger Button
U. Compact Disc Changer
V. Ashtray
W. Clock
X. Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist Button
Y. StabiliTrak

Button (AWD)/Traction
Control Button (2WD)
Z. OnStar Buttons

2-76 Low Traction Light (If Equipped)
If you have the Traction
Control System, this light
will come on when the
system is limiting wheel
spin. See ªTraction Control
Systemº in the Index.
You may feel or hear the system working or notice a
lack of accelerator response, but this is normal.
The LOW TRAC light also comes on briefly when you
turn your ignition to RUN. If the light doesn't come on
then, the system may require service; have it fixed so
it will be there to tell you when the Traction Control
System is active. Slippery road conditions may exist if
this light comes on, so adjust your driving accordingly.
Traction Off Light (If Equipped)
If you have the Traction
Control System, this light
should come on briefly
when you turn the ignition
to RUN.
If the light doesn't come on then, the system may
require service; have it fixed so it will be there to warn
you if the system is turned off.
If the light stays on, or comes on when you're driving,
there may be a problem with your Traction Control
System and your vehicle may need service. When this
light is on, the system will not limit wheel spin. Adjust
your driving accordingly.

2-77
The TRAC OFF light may come on for the
following reasons:

If you turn the system off by pressing the TCS on/off
button located to the right of the steering wheel, the
light will come on and stay on. To turn the system
back on, press the button again; the light should
go off.

If you move the shift lever to FIRST (1), the light
will come on and stay on to indicate that the Traction
Control System is off. This is normal operation.
To turn the system back on, move the shift lever
back to a position other than FIRST (1); the light
should go off. See ªTraction Control Systemº in
the Index.

The light will come on and stay on if the TCS
automatic engagement feature has been turned off.
To turn the system on, press the TCS off/on button;
the light should go off. To turn the automatic
engagement feature back on, see ªTraction Control
Systemº in the Index.

If the Traction Control System is affected by an
anti
-lock brake system, Traction Control System or
engine
-related problem, the system will turn off and
the light will come on. Have your vehicle serviced.
If the vehicle is driven over an extremely rough road,
the system will turn off and the light will come on.
The light will go off a few seconds after the rough
road conditions go away or when the vehicle comes
to a complete stop. This is normal operation.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Service
Engine Soon Light in the United States
or Check Engine Light in Canada)
United States Canada
Your vehicle is equipped with a computer which
monitors operation of the fuel, ignition and emission
control systems.

2-90 STABILITY SYSTEM ACTIVE Message
You may see the
STABILITY SYSTEM
ACTIVE message on
the message center.
It means that an advanced computer
-controlled system
has come on to help your vehicle continue to go in
the direction in which you're steering. This stability
enhancement system activates when the computer senses
that your vehicle is just starting to spin, as it might if
you hit a patch of ice or other slippery spot on the road.
It also activates when it senses that your wheels are
spinning, as they might when accelerating on a road
surface that provides inadequate traction. When the
system is on, you may hear a noise or feel a vibration in
the brake pedal. This is normal. When the STABILITY
SYSTEM ACTIVE message is on, you should continue
to steer in the direction you want to go. The system is
designed to help you in bad weather or other difficult
driving situations by making the most of whatever road
conditions will permit.
STABILITY SYSTEM LIMITED Message
The STABILITY SYSTEM
LIMITED message will
turn on when you press
the Stabilitrak button;
see ªInstrument Panelº
in the Index.
While in ªLIMITEDº mode, traction control is disabled
and the stability system is less likely to activate. To limit
wheel spin and realize the full benefits of the stability
enhancement system, you should normally leave
Stabilitrak in its normal operating mode (not the
LIMITED mode). However, you should put Stabilitrak
in LIMITED mode if your vehicle gets stuck in sand,
mud, ice or snow and you want to ªrockº your vehicle to
attempt to free it. See ªRocking Your Vehicleº in the
Index. To exit the LIMITED mode, press the Stabilitrak
button again. The STABILITY SYSTEM LIMITED
message will be displayed whenever the transmission is
in FIRST (1). Traction control will not operate in this
gear. This is normal.

4-
4-1
Section 4 Your Driving and the Road
Here you'll find information about driving on different kinds of roads and in varying weather conditions.
We've also included many other useful tips on driving.
4
-2 Defensive Driving
4
-3 Drunken Driving
4
-6 Control of a Vehicle
4
-6 Braking
4
-9 Traction Control System (TCS)
(2
-Wheel Drive)
4
-11 Stabilitrak
System (All-Wheel Drive)
4
-12 Steering
4
-15 Off-Road Recovery
4
-15 Passing
4
-17 Loss of Control
4
-18 Operating Your All-Wheel Drive Vehicle
Off Paved Roads4
-31 Driving at Night
4
-32 Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads
4
-36 City Driving
4
-37 Freeway Driving
4
-38 Before Leaving on a Long Trip
4
-39 Highway Hypnosis
4
-39 Hill and Mountain Roads
4
-41 Winter Driving
4
-45 Recreational Vehicle Towing
4
-48 Loading Your Vehicle
4
-50 Level Control
4
-50 Towing a Trailer

4-9
Remember: Anti-lock doesn't change the time you need
to get your foot up to the brake pedal or always decrease
stopping distance. If you get too close to the vehicle in
front of you, you won't have time to apply your brakes
if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops. Always leave
enough room up ahead to stop, even though you have
anti
-lock brakes.
Using Anti
-Lock
Don't pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal down
firmly and let anti
-lock work for you. You may feel the
brakes vibrate, or you may notice some noise, but this
is normal.
Braking in Emergencies
With anti-lock, you can steer and brake at the same
time. In many emergencies, steering can help you more
than even the very best braking.
Traction Control System (TCS)
(2
-Wheel Drive)
Your vehicle may have a Traction Control System (TCS)
that limits wheel spin. This is especially useful in
slippery road conditions. The system operates only if it
senses that one or both of the rear wheels are spinning or
beginning to lose traction. When this happens, the
system reduces engine power to limit wheel spin.
This light will come on
when the TCS is limiting
wheel spin. See ªLow
Traction Lightº in the
Index. You may hear or
feel the system working or
notice a lack of accelerator
response, but this is normal.
The Traction Control System may operate on dry roads
under some conditions. When this happens, you may
notice a reduction in acceleration. This is normal and
doesn't mean there's a problem with your vehicle.
Examples of these conditions include a hard acceleration
in a turn, an abrupt upshift or downshift of the
transmission or driving on rough roads.

4-10
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the TCS begins
to limit wheel spin, the cruise control will automatically
disengage. When road conditions allow you to safely
use it again, you may re
-engage the cruise control.
See ªCruise Controlº in the Index.
When the TRAC OFF
light is on, the TCS is
off and will not limit
wheel spin. Adjust your
driving accordingly.
The TRAC OFF light will come on under the
following conditions:

The Traction Control System is turned off, either by
pressing the TCS on/off button or turning off the
automatic engagement feature of the TCS.

The transmission is in FIRST (1); TCS will not
operate in this gear. This is normal.
The vehicle is driven on an extremely rough road.
When the vehicle leaves the rough surface, slows
down or stops, the light will go off and TCS will be
on again. This is normal.

A Traction Control System, Anti
-Lock Brake
System or engine
-related problem has been detected
and the vehicle needs service.
See ªTraction Off Lightº in the Index.
The Traction Control System, as delivered from the
factory, will automatically come on whenever you start
your vehicle. To limit wheel spin, especially in slippery
road conditions, you should always leave the system on.
But you can turn the TCS off if you ever need to.
You should turn the TCS off if your vehicle ever gets
stuck in sand, mud or snow and rocking the vehicle is
required. See ªRocking Your Vehicleº in the Index.
To turn the system on or
off press the TCS on/off
button located to the right
of the steering wheel,
on the instrument panel.

4-12
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the STABILITY
SYSTEM ACTIVE message appears, the cruise control
will automatically disengage. When road conditions
allow you to safely use it again, you may reengage the
cruise control. See ªCruise Controlº in the Index.
The Stabilitrak button,
located to the right
steering wheel, on the
instrument panel can
be pressed to put the
Stabilitrak system in
LIMITED mode.
The Stabilitrak system automatically comes on
whenever you start your vehicle. When the switch is
pressed, the STABILITY SYSTEM LIMITED message
is displayed in the message center. While in LIMITED
mode, traction control is disabled and the stabilitysystem is less likely to activate. The stability system can
still activate in LIMITED mode if the vehicle starts to
spin, but it will not activate as quickly as when the
system is not in LIMITED mode. You should put
Stabilitrak in the LIMITED mode if your vehicle is
stuck in sand, mud, ice or snow and you want to ªrockº
your vehicle to attempt to free it. See ªRocking Your
Vehicleº in the Index.
Steering
Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist because the engine
stops or the system is not functioning, you can steer
but it will take much more effort.
Speed
-Sensitive Steering
This system varies the amount of steering effort
proportionate to your vehicle speed. Steering is easier
at lower speeds for maneuvering and parking ease.
As your vehicle speed increases, the steering effort also
increases. At highway speeds, the amount of steering
effort is increased.