trailer CADILLAC ESCALADE 2016 4.G User Guide

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-9369153) -
2016 - crc - 6/19/15
210 Driving and Operating
Caution (Continued)
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.
Normal Mode Grade Braking
This mode is enabled when the
vehicle is started, but is not enabled
in Range Selection Mode. It assists
in maintaining desired vehicle
speeds when driving on downhill
grades by using the engine and
transmission to slow the vehicle.
The first time the system engages
for each ignition cycle, a DIC
message will be displayed. See
Transmission Messages0154.
To disable or enable Normal Mode
Grade Braking within the current
ignition cycle, press and hold the
Tow/Haul button for five seconds.
When the button is released, the requested mode change is made.
A DIC message displays. See
Transmission Messages
0154.
For other forms of grade braking,
see Tow/Haul Mode 0212 and
Cruise Control 0223.
Kickdown Mode
The accelerator pedal provides an
additional downshift after pressing
through the kickdown feature.
It requires extra pedal pressure near
the end of its travel to engage.
Manual Mode
Range Selection Mode
If equipped, Range Selection Mode
helps control the vehicle's
transmission and vehicle speed while driving downhill or towing a
trailer by letting you select a desired
range of gears.
To use this feature:
1. Move the shift lever to M (Manual Mode).
2. Tap the plus/minus buttons on the shift lever to select the
desired range of gears for
current driving conditions. Or,
hold the plus/minus buttons to
select the highest or lowest
range available for the current
vehicle speed.
When the shift lever is moved from
D (Drive) to M (Manual Mode), a
number displays next to the M,
indicating the current transmission
range.
This number is the highest gear that
the transmission will command while
operating in M (Manual Mode). All
gears below that number are
available. As driving conditions
change, the transmission can
automatically shift to lower gears.
For example, when 5 (Fifth) is
selected, 1 (First) through 5 (Fifth)

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-9369153) -
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218 Driving and Operating
message will appear 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, seeDriving
Characteristics and Towing Tips
0 249.
Electric Parking Brake
If equipped with an Electric Parking
Brake (EPB), the switch is to the left
of the steering wheel on the
instrument panel, below the exterior
lamp controls. The EPB can always
be activated, even if the ignition is off. To prevent draining the battery,
avoid repeated cycles of the EPB
when the engine is not running.
The system has a red parking brake
status light and an amber parking
brake warning light. See
Electric
Parking Brake Light 0133 and
Service Electric Parking Brake Light
0 133. There are also parking
brake-related Driver Information
Center (DIC) messages. See Brake
System Messages 0145. In case of
insufficient electrical power, the EPB
cannot be applied or released.
Before leaving the vehicle, check
the red parking brake status light to
ensure that the parking brake is
applied.
EPB Apply
To apply the EPB:
1. Be sure the vehicle is at a complete stop.
2. Lift up the EPB switch momentarily.
The red parking brake status light
will flash and then stay on once the
EPB is fully applied. If the red parking brake status light flashes
continuously, then the EPB is only
partially applied or there is a
problem with the EPB. A DIC
message will display. Release the
EPB and try to apply it again. If the
light does not come on, or keeps
flashing, have the vehicle serviced.
Do not drive the vehicle if the red
parking brake status light is flashing.
See your dealer. See
Electric
Parking Brake Light 0133.
If the amber parking brake warning
light is on, lift up on the EPB switch
and hold it up. Continue to hold the
switch until the red parking brake
status light remains on. If the amber
parking brake warning light is on,
see your dealer.
If the EPB is applied while the
vehicle is moving, the vehicle will
decelerate as long as the switch is
held up. If the switch is held up until
the vehicle comes to a stop, the
EPB will remain applied.
The vehicle may automatically apply
the EPB in some situations when
the vehicle is not moving. This is

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-9369153) -
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Driving and Operating 219
normal, and is done to periodically
check the correct operation of the
EPB system.
If the EPB fails to apply, the rear
wheels should be blocked to
prevent vehicle movement.
EPB Release
To release the EPB:1. Place the ignition in the ACC/ ACCESSORY or ON/RUN/
START position.
2. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
3. Push down momentarily on the EPB switch.
The EPB is released when the red
parking brake status light is off.
If the amber parking brake warning
light is on, release the EPB by
pushing down on the EPB switch
and holding it down. Continue to
hold the switch until the red parking
brake status light is off. If either light
stays on after release is attempted,
see your dealer.
Caution
Driving with the parking brake on
can overheat the brake system
and cause premature wear or
damage to brake system parts.
Make sure that the parking brake
is fully released and the brake
warning light is off before driving.
Automatic EPB Release
The EPB will automatically release if
the vehicle is running, placed into
gear, and an attempt is made to
drive away. Avoid rapid acceleration
when the EPB is applied, to
preserve parking brake lining life.
If parking on a hill, or if the vehicle
is pulling a trailer, see Driving
Characteristics and Towing Tips
0 249.
Brake Assist
The Brake Assist feature is
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)
If equipped, the HSA feature 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 you
completely stop and hold the vehicle

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-9369153) -
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220 Driving and Operating
in a complete standstill on a grade,
HSA will automatically activate.
During the transition period between
when you release the brake pedal
and start 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.
If you release the brake pedal and
then reapply the brake pedal while
HSA is activated, the brake pedal
typically feels firmer with less pedal
travel.Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/
Electronic Stability
Control
System Operation
The vehicle has a Traction Control
System (TCS) and StabiliTrak®, an
electronic stability control system.
These systems help limit wheel spin
and assist the driver in maintaining
control, especially on slippery road
conditions.
TCS activates if it senses any of the
drive wheels are spinning or
beginning to lose traction. When this
happens, TCS applies the brakes to
the spinning wheels and reduces
engine power to limit wheel spin.
StabiliTrak activates when the
vehicle senses a difference between
the intended path and the direction
the vehicle is actually traveling.
StabiliTrak selectively applies
braking pressure to any one of the
vehicle wheel brakes to assist the
driver in keeping the vehicle on the intended path. Trailer Sway Control
(TSC) is also on automatically when
the vehicle is started. See
Trailer
Sway Control (TSC) 0256.
If cruise control is being used and
traction control or StabiliTrak begins
to limit wheel spin, cruise control will
disengage. Cruise control may be
turned back on when road
conditions allow.
Both systems come on
automatically when the vehicle is
started and begins to move. The
systems may be heard or felt while
they are operating or while
performing diagnostic checks. This
is normal and does not mean there
is a problem with the vehicle.
It is recommended to leave both
systems on for normal driving
conditions, but it may be necessary
to turn TCS off if the vehicle gets
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow.
See If the Vehicle Is Stuck 0195
and “Turning the Systems Off and
On” later in this section.
When the transfer case (if equipped)
is in Four-Wheel Drive Low, the
stability system is automatically

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-9369153) -
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222 Driving and Operating
cluster, then release. The
appropriate message will display in
the DIC. SeeRide Control System
Messages 0152.
To turn TCS and StabiliTrak on
again, press and release the
g
button. The traction off lightiand
the StabiliTrak OFF light
gin the
instrument cluster turn off.
StabiliTrak will automatically turn on
if the vehicle exceeds 56 km/h
(35 mph). Traction control will
remain off.
The vehicle has a Trailer Sway
Control (TSC) feature and a Hill
Start Assist (HSA) feature. See
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) 0256 or
Hill Start Assist (HSA) 0219.
Adding accessories can affect the
vehicle performance. See
Accessories and Modifications
0 259.
Magnetic Ride Control
The Magnetic Ride Control monitors
the suspension system. Based on road conditions, steering
wheel angle, and vehicle speed, the
system automatically adjusts to
provide the best handling while
providing a smooth ride. The Tour
and Sport Modes will feel similar on
a smooth road.
Tour :
Use for normal city and
highway driving. This setting
provides a smooth, soft ride.
Sport : Use where road conditions
or personal preference demand
more control. This setting provides
more “feel,” or response to road
conditions.
The vehicle is normally in Tour
Mode. Sport Mode is engaged when
the Magnetic Ride Control button on
the center stack is pressed. Press
the button again to return to
Tour Mode.
The Driver Information Center (DIC)
briefly displays the appropriate
message on vehicle startup or when
a new mode is selected. See Ride
Control System Messages 0152.
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.
Automatic Level Control
The automatic level control rear
suspension comes as a part of the
Magnetic Ride Control system.
This type of level control is fully
automatic and will provide a better
leveled riding position as well as

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-9369153) -
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232 Driving and Operating
Do Not Use ACC on Hills and
When Towing a Trailer
Do not use ACC when driving on
steep hills or when towing a trailer.
ACC will not detect a vehicle in the
lane while driving on steep hills. The
driver will often need to take over
acceleration and braking on steep
hills, especially when towing a
trailer. If the brakes are applied, the
ACC disengages.
Disengaging ACC
There are three ways to
disengage ACC:
.Step lightly on the brake pedal.
. Press
*.
. Press
J. Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed is
erased from memory if
Jis
pressed or if the ignition is
turned off.
Cleaning the Sensing System
The camera sensor on the
windshield ahead of the rearview
mirror and the radar sensors on the
front of the vehicle can become
blocked by snow, ice, dirt, or mud.
These areas need to be cleaned for
ACC to operate properly.
For cleaning instructions, see
“Washing the Vehicle” under
Exterior Care 0323.
System operation may also be
limited under snow, heavy rain,
or road spray conditions.
Driver Assistance
Systems
This vehicle may have features that
work together to help avoid crashes
or reduce crash damage while
driving, backing, and parking. Read
this entire section before using
these systems.
{Warning
Do not rely on the Driver
Assistance Systems. These
systems do not replace the need
for paying attention and driving
safely. You may not hear or feel
alerts or warnings provided by
these systems. Failure to use
proper care when driving may
result in injury, death, or vehicle
damage. See Defensive Driving
0 186.
Under many conditions, these
systems will not: (Continued)

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-9369153) -
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Driving and Operating 237
Pressing the brake pedal after the
vehicle comes to a stop will release
the Rear Automatic Braking. If the
brake pedal is not pressed soon
after the stop, the Electric Parking
Brake may be set. When it is safe,
press the accelerator pedal firmly at
any time to override the Rear
Automatic Braking.
{Warning
There may be instances where
unexpected or undesired
automatic braking occurs. If this
happens, either press the brake
pedal or firmly press the
accelerator pedal to release the
brakes from the Rear Automatic
Braking system. Before releasing
the brakes, check the RVC
screen and check the area
around the vehicle to make sure it
is safe to proceed.
Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
If equipped, when the vehicle is
shifted into R (Reverse), RCTA
displays a red warning triangle with a left or right pointing arrow on the
RVC screen to warn of traffic
coming from the left or right. This
system detects objects coming from
up to 20 m (65 ft) from the left or
right side of the vehicle. When an
object is detected, either three
beeps sound from the left or right or
three Safety Alert Seat pulses occur
on the left or right side, depending
on the direction of the detected
vehicle.
Use caution while backing up when
towing a trailer, as the RCTA
detection zones that extend out
from the back of the vehicle do not
move further back when a trailer is
towed.
Turning the Features On or Off
TheXbutton on the center stack
is used to turn on or off the Front
and Rear Parking Assist, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Rear Automatic
Braking, and Backing Warning
System at the same time. The
indicator light next to the button
comes on when the features are on
and turns off when the features
have been disabled.
Front and Rear Parking Assist can
be turned off, on, or on with towbar
through vehicle personalization. See
“Park Assist”
underVehicle
Personalization 0156. If the parking
assist is turned off through vehicle
personalization, the park assist
button will be disabled. To turn the
parking assist on again, select On in
the vehicle personalization menu.
The On with Towbar setting allows
for the parking assist to work
properly with a small item attached
to the trailer hitch.
Turn off parking assist and Rear
Automatic Braking when towing a
trailer.
To turn the RPA symbols, guidance
lines (on some models), or Rear
Cross Traffic Alert on or off, see
“Rear Camera” underVehicle
Personalization 0156.

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240 Driving and Operating
weather conditions when selecting
the alert timing. The range of
selectable alert timing may not be
appropriate for all drivers and
driving conditions.
If your vehicle is equipped with
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC),
changing the FCA timing setting
automatically changes the ACC
following gap setting (Far, Medium,
or Near).
Unnecessary Alerts
FCA may provide unnecessary
alerts for turning vehicles, vehicles
in other lanes, objects that are not
vehicles, or shadows. These alerts
are normal operation and the
vehicle does not need service.
Cleaning the System
If the FCA system does not seem to
operate properly, cleaning the
outside of the windshield in front of
the camera sensor on the
windshield behind the rearview
mirror, and cleaning the front of the
vehicle where radar sensors and
headlamps are located, may correct
the issue.For cleaning instructions, see
“Washing the Vehicle”
under
Exterior Care 0323.
System operation may also be
limited under snow, heavy rain,
or road spray conditions.
Front Automatic Braking
(FAB) System
If the vehicle has Adaptive Cruise
Control (ACC), it also has FAB,
which includes Intelligent Brake
Assist (IBA). When the system
detects a vehicle ahead in your path
that is traveling in the same
direction that you may be about to
crash into, it can provide a boost to
braking or automatically brake the
vehicle. This can help avoid or
lessen the severity of crashes when
driving in a forward gear. Depending
on the situation, the vehicle may
automatically brake moderately or
hard. This front automatic braking
can only occur if a vehicle is
detected. This is shown by the FCA
vehicle ahead indicator being lit.
See Forward Collision Alert (FCA)
System 0238. The system works when driving in a
forward gear above 4 km/h (2 mph).
It can detect vehicles up to
approximately 60 m (197 ft).
{Warning
FAB is an emergency crash
preparation feature and is not
designed to avoid crashes. Do
not rely on FAB to brake the
vehicle. FAB will not brake
outside of its operating speed
range and only responds to
detected vehicles.
FAB may not:
. Detect a vehicle ahead on
winding or hilly roads.
. Detect all vehicles,
especially vehicles with a
trailer, tractors, muddy
vehicles, etc.
. Detect a vehicle when
weather limits visibility, such
as in fog, rain, or snow.
(Continued)

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-9369153) -
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Driving and Operating 241
Warning (Continued)
.Detect a vehicle ahead if it
is partially blocked by
pedestrians or other objects.
Complete attention is always
required while driving, and you
should be ready to take action
and apply the brakes and/or steer
the vehicle to avoid crashes.
FAB may slow the vehicle to a
complete stop to try to avoid a
potential crash. If this happens, FAB
may engage the Electric Parking
Brake (EPB) to hold the vehicle at a
stop. Release the EPB or firmly
press the accelerator pedal.
{Warning
FAB may automatically brake the
vehicle suddenly in situations
where it is unexpected and
undesired. It could respond to a
turning vehicle ahead, guardrails,
signs, and other non-moving (Continued)
Warning (Continued)
objects. To override FAB, firmly
press the accelerator pedal, if it is
safe to do so.
Intelligent Brake Assist (IBA)
IBA may activate when the brake
pedal is applied quickly by providing
a boost to braking based on the
speed of approach and distance to
a vehicle ahead.
Minor brake pedal pulsations or
pedal movement during this time is
normal and the brake pedal should
continue to be applied as needed.
IBA will automatically disengage
only when the brake pedal is
released.
{Warning
IBA may increase vehicle braking
in situations when it may not be
necessary. You could block the(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
flow of traffic. If this occurs, take
your foot off the brake pedal and
then apply the brakes as needed.
FAB and IBA can be disabled
through vehicle personalization. See
“Auto Collision Preparation” in
“Collision/Detection Systems” under
Vehicle Personalization 0156.
{Warning
Using FAB or IBA while towing a
trailer could cause you to lose
control of the vehicle and crash.
Turn the system to Off when
towing a trailer.
Side Blind Zone
Alert (SBZA)
If equipped, the SBZA system is a
lane-changing aid that assists
drivers with avoiding crashes that
occur with moving vehicles in the
side blind zone (or spot) areas.

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Driving and Operating 243
Left Side MirrorDisplayRight Side Mirror Display
When the vehicle is started, both
outside mirror LCA displays will
briefly come on to indicate the
system is operating. When the
vehicle is in a forward gear, the left
or right side mirror display will light
up if a moving vehicle is detected in
the next lane over in that blind zone
or rapidly approaching that zone.
If the turn signal is activated in the
same direction of a detected
vehicle, this display will flash as an
extra warning not to change lanes.
LCA can be disabled through
vehicle personalization using the
Side Blind Zone Alert option. See
“Collision/Detection Systems” under
Vehicle Personalization 0156.
If LCA is disabled by the driver, the
LCA mirror displays will not light up.
When the System Does Not
Seem to Work Properly
The LCA system requires some
driving for the system to calibrate to
maximum performance. This
calibration may occur more quickly if
the vehicle is driven on a straight
highway road with traffic and
roadside objects (e.g., guardrails,
barriers).
LCA displays may not come on
when passing a vehicle quickly, for
a stopped vehicle, or when towing a
trailer. The LCA detection zones
that extend back from the side of
the vehicle do not move further back
when a trailer is towed. Use caution
while changing lanes when towing a
trailer. LCA may alert to objects
attached to the vehicle, such as a
trailer, bicycle, or object extending
out to either side of the vehicle.
Attached objects may also interfere
with the detection of vehicles. This
is normal system operation; the
vehicle does not need service.
LCA may not always alert the driver
to vehicles in the next lane over,
especially in wet conditions or when driving on sharp curves. The system
does not need to be serviced. The
system may light up due to
guardrails, signs, trees, shrubs, and
other non-moving objects. This is
normal system operation; the
vehicle does not need service.
LCA may not operate when the LCA
sensors in the left or right corners of
the rear bumper are covered with
mud, dirt, snow, ice, or slush, or in
heavy rainstorms. For cleaning
instructions, see "Washing the
Vehicle" under
Exterior Care0323.
If the DIC still displays the system
unavailable message after cleaning
both sides of the vehicle toward the
rear corners of the vehicle, see your
dealer.
If the LCA displays do not light up
when vehicles are in the blind zone
or rapidly approaching that zone
and the system is clean, the system
may need service. Take the vehicle
to your dealer.