key CADILLAC ESCALADE 2011 3.G Repair Manual

Black plate (32,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
9-32 Driving and Operating
Ignition Positions
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)
will remain active. See Retained
Accessory Power (RAP) on
page 9‑35
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. 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 neutral. This can be done while the
vehicle is moving. After shifting
to 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 9‑46

Black plate (33,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-33
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. 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.Starting the Engine
If the vehicle is a hybrid, see
the hybrid supplement for more
information.
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 go
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.

Black plate (34,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
9-34 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 inthe 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 5‐10 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.

Black plate (35,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-35
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.
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.

Black plate (36,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
9-36 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, seeDriving Characteristics
and Towing Tips on page 9‑71.
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).

Black plate (37,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-37
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, seeShifting
Into Park on page 9‑36.
When you are ready to drive, move
the shift lever out of P (Park) before
releasing the parking brake.
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 10‑89 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.
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.

Black plate (42,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
9-42 Driving and Operating
Downshifting the transmission in
slippery road conditions could result
in skidding, see“Skidding”under
Loss of Control on page 9‑6.
M (Manual Mode): This position
lets drivers select the range of
gears appropriate for current driving
conditions. See “Driver Shift Control
(DSC)” underManual Mode on
page 9‑43.
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.
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.

Black plate (51,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-51
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.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). When the brakes are applied, cruise
control is turned off.
This vehicle has a Hydra‐Matic
6‐speed automatic transmission,
see Grade Braking and Cruise
Grade Braking under
Tow/Haul
Mode on page 9‑43 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 9‑47.
When road conditions allow the
cruise control to be safely used
again, it can be turned back on.

Black plate (59,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-59
Rear Vision
Camera (RVC)
This vehicle may have a Rear
Vision Camera system. Read this
entire section before using it.
The rear vision camera system is
designed to help the driver when
backing up by displaying a view
of the area behind the vehicle.
When the driver shifts the vehicle
into R (Reverse), the video image
automatically appears on the
navigation screen. Once the driver
shifts out of R (Reverse), the
navigation screen will go back to
the last screen that had been
displayed, after a delay.
Turning the Rear Vision
Camera System On or Off
To turn the rear vision camera
system on or off:
1. Shift into P (Park).
2. Press the CONFIG hard keyto 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 will display.
4. Select the Video screenbutton. When the Video screen
button is highlighted the RVC
system is on.

Black plate (60,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
9-60 Driving and Operating
The delay that is received after
shifting out of R (Reverse) is
approximately 10 seconds.
The delay can be cancelled by
performing one of the following:
.Pressing a hard key on the
navigation system.
.Shifting in to P (Park).
.Reach a vehicle speed of
11 km/h 7 mph.
There is a message on the rear
vision camera screen that states
“Check Surroundings for Safety.”
Adjusting the Brightness and
Contrast of the Screen
To adjust the brightness and
contrast of the screen, press the
CONFIG hard key while the rear
vision camera image is on the
display. Any adjustments made
will only affect the rear vision
camera screen.
](Brightness) : Touch the
+ (plus) or –(minus) screen buttons
to increase or decrease the
brightness of the screen.
_(Contrast) : 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 lets the driver view
symbols on the navigation screen
while using the rear vision camera.
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 9‑54. The symbols appear when an object
has been 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 repeatedly until Display
is selected or touch the Display
screen button.
4. Select the Rear Camera Options screen button. The Rear Camera
Options screen will display.
5. Touch the Symbols screen button. The screen button will
be highlighted when on.