towing CADILLAC ESCALADE 2017 4.G Owners Manual

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293077) -
2017 - crc - 8/24/16
20 IN BRIEF
mode only the rear wheels will hold
the vehicle from sliding when parked.
If parking on a steep grade, use 4
mto
keep all four wheels engaged.
4
m(Four-Wheel Drive High) : Use
this setting when extra traction is
needed, such as on snowy or icy roads
or in most off-road situations.
4
n(Four-Wheel Drive Low) : This
setting sends maximum power to all
four wheels. Choose 4
nwhen driving
in deep sand, mud, or snow, and while
climbing or descending steep hills.
N (Neutral) : Shift to this setting only
when towing the vehicle. See
Recreational Vehicle Towing 0316 or
Trailer Towing 0247.
See Four-Wheel Drive 0209.
Vehicle Features
Infotainment System
See the infotainment manual for
information on the radio, audio
players, phone, and navigation system.
It also includes information on
settings.
Steering Wheel Controls
The infotainment system can be
operated by using the steering wheel
controls. See "Steering Wheel
Controls" in the infotainment manual.
Cruise Control
J:Press to turn the system on and
off. A white indicator appears in the
instrument cluster when cruise is
turned on.
+RES : If there is a set speed in
memory, press the control up briefly
to resume that speed or press and
hold to accelerate. If the cruise control
is already active, use to increase
vehicle speed.
SET− :Press the control down briefly
to set the speed and activate cruise
control. If the cruise control is already
active, use to decrease vehicle speed.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293077) -
2017 - crc - 8/24/16
SEATS AND RESTRAINTS 87
2. Remove any additional materialfrom 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. 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-sized occupants. If this
happens, unbuckle the belt, let
the belt go back all the way, and
then buckle the belt again
without pulling the belt out all
the way.
6. Restart the vehicle and have the person remain in this position
for two to three minutes after the
on indicator is lit.{Warning
If the front outboard passenger
airbag is turned off for an
adult-sized occupant, the airbag will
not be able to inflate and help
protect that person in a crash,
resulting in an increased risk of
serious injury or even death. An
adult-sized occupant should not
ride in the front outboard passenger
seat, if the passenger airbag off
indicator is lit.
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.
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 088 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.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293077) -
2017 - crc - 8/24/16
128 INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS
.Stop and go driving in heavy
traffic.
. High speed operation in warm
weather.
. Uphill driving.
. Trailer towing or hauling a
heavy load.
It is normal for the reading to
fluctuate.
If the gauge pointer reaches the
warning area or the shaded
thermostat symbol at the far end of
the gauge and remains there for more
than 30 seconds, the engine coolant
has overheated.
If the engine coolant has overheated,
pull over and stop the vehicle as soon
as it is safe to do so. Then, turn the
engine off immediately.
See Engine Overheating 0266.
Safety Belt Reminders
Driver Safety Belt Reminder
Light
There is a driver safety belt reminder
light on the instrument cluster.
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. 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
There is a passenger safety belt
reminder light near the passenger
airbag status indicator. See Passenger
Sensing System 084.
When the vehicle is started, this light
flashes and a chime may come on to
remind passengers to fasten their
safety belt. Then the light stays on
solid until the belt is buckled. This
cycle continues several times if the
passenger remains or becomes
unbuckled while the vehicle is moving.
If the 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.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293077) -
2017 - crc - 8/24/16
INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS 131
Caution
Modifications to the engine,
transmission, exhaust, intake,
or fuel system, or the use of
replacement tires that do not meet
the original tire specifications, can
cause this light to come on. This
could lead to costly repairs not
covered by the vehicle warranty.
This could also affect the vehicle’s
ability to pass an Emissions
Inspection/Maintenance test. See
Accessories and Modifications0255.
If the light is f lashing : A
malfunction has been detected that
could damage the emission control
system and increase vehicle
emissions. Diagnosis and service may
be required.
To help prevent damage, reduce
vehicle speed and avoid hard
accelerations and uphill grades.
If towing a trailer, reduce the amount
of cargo being hauled as soon as
possible. If the light continues to flash, find a
safe place to park. Turn the vehicle off
and wait at least 10 seconds before
restarting the engine. If the light is
still flashing, follow the previous
guidelines and see your dealer for
service as soon as possible.
If the light is on steady :
A
malfunction has been detected.
Diagnosis and service may be
required.
Check the following:
. If fuel has been added to the
vehicle using the capless fuel
funnel adapter, make sure that it
has been removed. See “Filling the
Tank with a Portable Gas Can ”
under Filling the Tank 0242. The
diagnostic system can detect if the
adapter has been left installed in
the vehicle, allowing fuel to
evaporate into the atmosphere.
A few driving trips with the
adapter removed may turn off the
light.
. Poor fuel quality can cause
inefficient engine operation and
poor driveability, which may go
away once the engine is warmed up. If this occurs, change the fuel
brand. It may require at least one
full tank of the proper fuel to turn
the light off. See
Fuel0242.
If the light remains on, see your
dealer.
Emissions Inspection and
Maintenance Programs
If the vehicle requires an Emissions
Inspection/Maintenance test, the test
equipment will likely connect to the
vehicle's Data Link Connector (DLC).
The DLC is under the instrument
panel to the left of the steering wheel.
Connecting devices that are not used
to perform an Emissions Inspection/
Maintenance test or to service the
vehicle may affect vehicle operation.
See Add-On Electrical Equipment 0252.
See your dealer if assistance is needed.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293077) -
2017 - crc - 8/24/16
132 INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS
The vehicle may not pass
inspection if:
.The light is on when the engine is
running.
. The light does not come on when
the ignition is in Service
Only Mode.
. Critical emission control systems
have not been completely
diagnosed. If this happens, the
vehicle would not be ready for
inspection and might require
several days of routine driving
before the system is ready for
inspection. This can happen if the
12-volt battery has recently been
replaced or run down, or if the
vehicle has been recently serviced.
See your dealer if the vehicle will not
pass or cannot be made ready for
the test.
Brake System Warning
Light
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, there is
a brake problem. Have the brake
system inspected right away.
This light should come on briefly
when the engine is started. If it does
not come on then, have it fixed so it
will be ready to warn you if there is a
problem.
When the ignition is on, the brake
system warning light also comes on
when the parking brake is set. The
light stays on if the parking brake
does not fully release. If it stays on
after the parking brake is fully
released, it means the vehicle has a
brake problem.
If the light comes on while driving,
pull off the road and stop carefully.
The pedal might be harder to push,or the pedal can go closer to the floor.
It may take longer to stop. If the light
is still on, have the vehicle towed for
service. See
Towing the Vehicle 0315.
{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.
Electric Parking Brake
Light
The parking brake status light comes
on when the parking brake is applied.
If the light continues flashing after

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293077) -
2017 - crc - 8/24/16
146 INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS
message will also be displayed. The
DOOR OPEN message may also be
displayed if the vehicle starts to move.
Close the door completely.
HOOD OPEN
This message will display along with a
hood open symbol when the hood is
open. A chime may also sound. Close
the hood completely.
TRUNK OPEN
This message will display along with a
symbol when the trunk is open. Close
the trunk completely.
Engine Cooling System
Messages
A/C OFF DUE TO HIGH
ENGINE TEMP
This message displays when the
engine coolant becomes hotter than
the normal operating temperature. See
Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge
0127. 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.
ENGINE OVERHEATED IDLE
ENGINE
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 0127.
When towing, use Tow/Haul Mode to
prevent damage to the engine or
transmission. See Tow/Haul
Mode 0208.
ENGINE OVERHEATED STOP
ENGINE
This message displays and a chime
may sound 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.
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 oil life system. See
Engine Oil
Life System 0260, Driver Information
Center (DIC) 0138, Engine Oil 0258,
and Maintenance Schedule 0329.
ENGINE OIL HOT, IDLE ENGINE
This message displays when the
engine oil temperature is too hot. Stop
and allow the vehicle to idle until it
cools down.
ENGINE OIL LOW —ADD OIL
On some vehicles, this message
displays when the engine oil level may
be too low. Check the oil level before
filling to the recommended level.
If the oil is not low and this message
remains on, take the vehicle to your
dealer for service. See Engine
Oil 0258.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293077) -
2017 - crc - 8/24/16
INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS 153
system. If this message appears, stop
as soon as possible and turn off the
vehicle. Turn the vehicle off for at
least one minute, then 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 four-wheel-drive
system needs service. See your dealer.
SHIFT DENIED
This message displays when the shift
lever is in the L (Manual Mode)
position and a transmission range has
been selected that is unavailable at
the current vehicle speed.
TRANSMISSION HOT IDLE ENGINE
This message displays and a chime
may sound 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.When towing, use Tow/Haul Mode to
prevent damage to the engine or
transmission. See
Tow/Haul
Mode 0208.
Vehicle Reminder
Messages
ICE POSSIBLE DRIVE WITH CARE
This message displays when ice
conditions are possible.
Vehicle Speed Messages
VEHICLE OVERSPEED
This message displays when the
vehicle speed exceeds 120 km/h
(75 mph).
Washer Fluid Messages
WASHER FLUID LOW ADD FLUID
This message may display when the
washer fluid level is low. Fill the
windshield washer reservoir as soon
as possible. See Engine Compartment
Overview 0257 for the location of the
windshield washer reservoir. Also, see
Washer Fluid 0268.
Window Messages
OPEN, THEN CLOSE DRIVER/
PASSENGER WINDOW
This message is displayed when the
window needs to be reprogrammed.
If the vehicle's battery has been
discharged or disconnected, you may
need to program each front window
for the express-up feature to work. See
Power Windows 050.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293077) -
2017 - crc - 8/24/16
DRIVING AND OPERATING 181
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . 190
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Adjustable Throttle and BrakePedal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201 Parking over Things
That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Active Fuel Management
®. . . . . . . 202
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . 204
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Drive Systems
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Brakes
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . 212
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/ElectronicStability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Magnetic Ride Control . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Locking Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Automatic Level Control . . . . . . . . . 219
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Adaptive Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . 222
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . . . 229
Assistance Systems for Parking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Forward Automatic Braking (FAB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . 238
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . . . . 238
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . . . . . 240
Fuel
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Trailer Towing
General Towing Information . . . . 245
Driving Characteristics andTowing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293077) -
2017 - crc - 8/24/16
182 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) . . . . . . 252
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . 252
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, keep your
eyes on the road, keep your hands on
the steering wheel, and focus your
attention on driving.
.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.
{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.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-MidEast-10293077) -
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192 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Warning (Continued)
compartment fire or other damage.
Spin the wheels as little as possible
and avoid going above 56 km/h
(35 mph).
For information about using tire
chains on the vehicle, see Tire
Chains 0301.
Rocking the Vehicle to Get It Out
Turn the steering wheel left and right
to clear the area around the front
wheels. For four-wheel-drive vehicles,
shift into Four-Wheel Drive High.
Turn the TCS off. 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. 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. See Towing the
Vehicle 0315.
Vehicle Load Limits
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 may
show how much weight it was
designed to carry, the Tire and
Loading Information label and the
Certification/Tire label.
{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
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
also reduce stopping distance,
damage the tires, and shorten
the life of the vehicle.
Tire and Loading Information Label
Label Example
A vehicle specific Tire and
Loading Information label is
attached to the center pillar
(B-pillar). The tire and loading
information label shows the
number of occupant seating