brakes CADILLAC ESCALADE 2020 User Guide

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13566588) - 2020 - CRC - 4/24/19
DRIVING AND OPERATING 177
.Pay attention to special road signs
(e.g., falling rocks area, winding
roads, long grades, passing or
no-passing zones) and take
appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Snow or ice between the tires and the
road creates less traction or grip, so
drive carefully. Wet ice can occur at
about 0 °C (32 °F) when freezing rain
begins to fall. Avoid driving on wet ice
or in freezing rain until roads can be
treated.
For Slippery Road Driving:
.Accelerate gently. Accelerating too
quickly causes the wheels to spin
and makes the surface under the
tires slick.
. Turn on Traction Control. See
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control 0203.
. Antilock Brake System (ABS)
improves vehicle stability during
hard stops, but the brakes should be applied sooner than when on
dry pavement. See
Antilock Brake
System (ABS) 0200.
. Allow greater following distance
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.
Blizzard Conditions
Stay with the vehicle unless there is
help nearby. If possible, use Roadside
Assistance. See Roadside Service 0360.
To get help and keep everyone in the
vehicle safe:
. Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
. 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.
If the vehicle is stuck in snow:
. Clear snow from the base of
the vehicle, especially any
blocking the exhaust pipe.
. Open a window about 5 cm
(2 in) on the vehicle side 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 circulate the air
inside the vehicle and set the
(Continued)

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13566588) - 2020 - CRC - 4/24/19
184 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Ignition Positions
The vehicle is equipped with Keyless
Access and has pushbutton start.
The Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter must be in the vehicle for
the system to operate. If the
pushbutton start is not working, the
vehicle may be near a strong radio
antenna signal causing interference to
the Keyless Access system. SeeRemote
Keyless Entry (RKE) System Operation
0 8.
To shift out of P (Park), the vehicle
must be on or in service mode, and
the brake pedal must be applied. Stopping the Engine/LOCK/OFF (No
Indicator Lights) :
When the vehicle
is stopped, press ENGINE START/
STOP once to turn the engine off.
If the vehicle is in P (Park), the
ignition will turn off, and Retained
Accessory Power (RAP) will remain
active. See Retained Accessory Power
(RAP) 0188.
If the vehicle is not in P (Park), the
ignition will return to ACC/
ACCESSORY and display the message
SHIFT TO PARK in the Driver
Information Center (DIC). When the
vehicle is shifted into P (Park), the
ignition will turn 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 vehicle may have an electric
steering column lock. The lock is
activated when the ignition is turned
off and either front door is opened.
A sound may be heard as the lock
actuates or releases. The steering
column lock may not release with the wheels turned off center. If this
happens, the vehicle may not start.
Move the steering wheel from left to
right while attempting to start the
vehicle. If this does not work, the
vehicle needs service.
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
off. On vehicles with an
automatic transmission, the shift
lever must be in P (Park) to turn
the ignition off.
4. Set the parking brake. See Parking Brake 0200 or
Electric Parking Brake 0201.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13566588) - 2020 - CRC - 4/24/19
DRIVING AND OPERATING 193
Caution
A transmission hot message may
display if the automatic
transmission fluid is too hot.
Driving under this condition can
damage the vehicle. Stop and idle
the engine to cool the automatic
transmission fluid. This message
clears when the transmission fluid
has cooled sufficiently.
D : This position is for normal driving.
If more power is needed for passing,
press the accelerator pedal down.
Use D (Drive) and Tow/Haul Mode
when towing a trailer, carrying a
heavy load, driving on steep hills,
or driving off-road. 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”underLoss
of Control 0170. 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 is 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 could appear to be
a delayed shift, however the
transmission is operating normally.
The transmission uses adaptive shift
controls. The adaptive shift control
process continually compares key shift
parameters to pre-programmed ideal
shifts stored in the transmission’s
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 the temperature changes.
During this adaptive shift control process, shifting might feel different
as the transmission determines the
best settings.
When temperatures are very cold, the
transmission's gear shifting could be
delayed providing more stable shifts
until the engine warms up. Shifts
could be more noticeable with a cold
transmission. This difference in
shifting is normal.
L :
This position allows selection of a
range of gears appropriate for current
driving conditions. If equipped, see
“Range Selection Mode ”under Manual
Mode 0194.
Caution
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 the vehicle is
stuck, do not spin the tires. When
stopping on a hill, use the brakes to
hold the vehicle in place.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13566588) - 2020 - CRC - 4/24/19
DRIVING AND OPERATING 195
Gear before shifting from D (Drive) to
L (Manual Mode)10th 9th 8th 7th 6th 5th 4th 3rd 2nd 1st
Range after shifting from D (Drive) to L (Manual
Mode) - Tow/Haul not engaged L7 L7 L7 L6 L5 L4 L3 L3 L2 L1
Range after shifting from D (Drive) to L (Manual
Mode) - Tow/Haul engaged L7 L7 L6 L5 L4 L3 L3 L3 L2 L1
Grade Braking is not available when
Range Selection Mode is active. See
Tow/Haul Mode 0195.
While using Range Selection Mode,
cruise control and the Tow/Haul Mode
can be used.
Caution
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 the vehicle is
stuck, do not spin the tires. When
stopping on a hill, use the brakes to
hold the vehicle in place.
Tow/Haul Mode
The Tow/Haul Mode adjusts the
transmission shift pattern to reduce
shift cycling. This provides increased performance, vehicle control, and
enhanced transmission and engine
cooling when driving down steep hills
or mountain grades, towing,
or hauling heavy loads.
Turn the Tow/Haul Mode on and off
by pressing the button. When the
Tow/Haul Mode is enabled, a light on
the instrument cluster will come on.
See
Tow/Haul Mode Light 0125 and
Hill and Mountain Roads 0176.
Also see “Tow/Haul Mode ”under
Driver Mode Control 0205.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13566588) - 2020 - CRC - 4/24/19
200 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Brakes
Antilock Brake
System (ABS)
The Antilock Brake System (ABS)
helps prevent a braking skid and
maintain steering while braking hard.
ABS performs a system check when
the vehicle is first driven.
A momentary motor or clicking noise
may be heard while this test is going
on, and the brake pedal may move
slightly. This is normal.
If there is a problem with ABS, this
warning light stays on. SeeAntilock
Brake System (ABS) Warning Light
0 124. ABS does not change the time needed
to get a foot on the brake pedal and
does not always decrease stopping
distance. If you get too close to the
vehicle ahead, there will not be
enough time to apply the brakes if
that vehicle suddenly slows or stops.
Always leave enough room ahead to
stop, even with ABS.
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the
brake pedal down firmly. Hearing or
feeling ABS operate is normal.
Braking in Emergencies
ABS allows steering and braking at the
same time. In many emergencies,
steering can help even more than
braking.
Parking Brake
Set the parking brake by holding the
regular brake pedal down, then
pushing down the parking brake
pedal.
If the ignition is on, the brake system
warning light will come on. See
Brake
System Warning Light 0123.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 203
When the vehicle is stopped on a
grade, Hill Start Assist (HSA)
temporarily prevents the vehicle from
rolling in an unintended direction
during the transition from brake pedal
release to accelerator pedal apply. The
brakes release when the accelerator
pedal is applied or automatically
release after a few seconds. The brakes
may also release under other
conditions. Do not rely on HSA to
hold the vehicle.
HSA is available when the vehicle is
facing uphill in a forward gear,
or when facing downhill in
R (Reverse). The vehicle must come to
a complete stop on a grade for HSA to
activate.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) 0251.
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 0178 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
disabled,
gcomes on, and the

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13566588) - 2020 - CRC - 4/24/19
208 DRIVING AND OPERATING
If the Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control system begins to
limit wheel spin while using cruise
control, the cruise control
automatically disengages. SeeTraction
Control/Electronic Stability Control
0 203. If a collision alert occurs when
cruise control is activated, cruise
control is disengaged. See Forward
Collision Alert (FCA) System 0226.
When road conditions allow you to
safely use it again, the cruise control
can be turned back on.
If the brakes are applied, cruise
control disengages.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.
*: Press to disengage cruise control
without erasing the set speed from
memory.
Setting Cruise Control
If
Jis on when not in use, SET− or
+RES could get pressed and go into
cruise when not desired. Keep
Joff
when cruise is not being used.
To set cruise control:
1. Press
J.
2. Get up to the desired speed. 3. Press and release SET−.
4. Remove your foot from the
accelerator.
When the cruise control has been set
to the desired speed, a green cruise
control indicator appears on the
instrument cluster and a cruise set
speed message appears on the Driver
Information Center (DIC) and
Head-Up Display (HUD), if equipped.
Resuming a Set Speed
If the cruise control is set at a desired
speed and then the brakes are applied
or
*is pressed, 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 +RES
up briefly. The vehicle returns to the
previous set speed.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13566588) - 2020 - CRC - 4/24/19
210 DRIVING AND OPERATING
.Shift the transmission to
N (Neutral).
. To turn off cruise control,
press
J.
Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed is erased
from memory if
Jis pressed or if
the ignition is turned off.
Adaptive Cruise Control
If equipped with Adaptive Cruise
Control (ACC), it allows for selecting
the cruise control set speed and
following gap. Read this entire section
before using this system. ACC uses a
camera and radar sensors to detect
other vehicles. See Radio Frequency
Statement 0366.
The following gap is the following
time (or distance) between your
vehicle and a vehicle detected directly
ahead in your path, moving in the
same direction. If no vehicle is
detected in your path, ACC works like
regular cruise control. If a vehicle is detected in your path,
ACC can speed up the vehicle or apply
limited, moderate braking to maintain
the selected following gap. To
disengage ACC, apply the brake. If the
Traction Control System (TCS) or
electronic stability control system
activates while ACC is engaged, ACC
may automatically disengage. See
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control
0203. When road conditions
allow ACC to be safely used, the ACC
can be turned back on.
ACC will not engage if the TCS or
StabiliTrak electronic stability control
system is disabled.
{Warning
ACC has limited braking ability and
may not have time to slow the
vehicle down enough to avoid a
collision with another vehicle you
are following. This can occur when
vehicles suddenly slow or stop
ahead, or enter your lane. Also see
“Alerting the Driver” in this section.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
Complete attention is always
required while driving and you
should be ready to take action and
apply the brakes. See Defensive
Driving 0168.
{Warning
ACC will not detect or brake for
children, pedestrians, animals,
or other objects.
Do not use ACC when:
. On winding and hilly roads or
when the sensors are blocked
by snow, ice, or dirt. The
system may not detect a
vehicle ahead. Keep the entire
front of the vehicle clean.
. Visibility is low, such as in
fog, rain, or snow conditions.
ACC performance is limited
under these conditions.
(Continued)

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13566588) - 2020 - CRC - 4/24/19
212 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Warning (Continued)
control is in before using the
feature. If ACC is not active, the
vehicle will not automatically brake
for other vehicles, which could
cause a crash if the brakes are not
applied manually. You and others
could be seriously injured or killed.
Setting Adaptive Cruise Control
If
Jis on when not in use, it could
get pressed and go into ACC when not
desired. Keep
Joff when cruise is
not being used.
Select the set speed desired for ACC.
This is the vehicle speed when no
vehicle is detected in its path.
While the vehicle is moving, ACC will
not set at a speed less than 25 km/h
(15 mph), although it can be resumed
when driving at lower speeds.
To set ACC while moving:
1. Press
J.
2. Get up to the desired speed. 3. Press and release SET–.
4. Remove your foot from the
accelerator.
After ACC is set, it may immediately
apply the brakes if a vehicle ahead is
detected closer than the selected
following gap.
ACC can also be set while the vehicle
is stopped if ACC is on and the brake
pedal is applied.
The ACC indicator displays on the
instrument cluster and Head-Up
Display (HUD). When ACC is active,
the indicator will be lit green.
Be mindful of speed limits,
surrounding traffic speeds, and
weather conditions when selecting the
set speed. Resuming a Set Speed
If ACC is set at a desired speed and
then the brakes are applied, ACC is
disengaged without erasing the set
speed from memory.
To begin using ACC again, press RES+
up briefly.
.
If the vehicle is moving, it returns
to the previous set speed.
. If the vehicle is stopped with the
brake pedal applied, press RES+
and release the brake pedal. ACC
will hold the vehicle until RES+ or
the accelerator pedal is pressed.
A green ACC indicator and the set
speed display on the instrument
cluster. The vehicle ahead indicator
may be flashing if a vehicle ahead was
present and moved. See “Approaching
and Following a Vehicle ”later in this
section.
Once ACC has resumed, if there is no
vehicle ahead, if the vehicle ahead is
beyond the selected following gap,
or if the vehicle has exited a sharp
curve, then the vehicle speed will
increase to the set speed.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 215
feel or sound different than if the
brakes were applied manually. This is
normal.
Stationary or Very Slow-Moving
Objects
{Warning
ACC may not detect and react to
stopped or slow-moving vehicles
ahead of you. For example, the
system may not brake for a vehicle
it has never detected moving. This
can occur in stop-and-go traffic or
when a vehicle suddenly appears
due to a vehicle ahead changing
lanes. Your vehicle may not stop
and could cause a crash. Use
caution when using ACC. Your
complete attention is always
required while driving and you
should be ready to take action and
apply the brakes.
ACC Automatically Disengages
ACC may automatically disengage and
the driver will need to manually apply
the brakes to slow the vehicle if: .
The sensors are blocked.
. The Traction Control System (TCS)
or electronic stability control
system has activated or been
disabled.
. There is a fault in the system.
. The radar falsely reports blockage
when driving in a desert or remote
area with no other vehicles or
roadside objects. A DIC message
may display to indicate that ACC
is temporarily unavailable.
The ACC active indicator will turn
white when ACC is no longer active.
In some cases, when ACC will not
activate, regular Cruise Control may
be used. See “Switching Between ACC
and Regular Cruise Control ”previously
in this section. Always consider
driving conditions before using either
cruise control system.
Notification to Resume ACC
ACC will maintain a following gap
behind a detected vehicle and slow
your vehicle to a stop behind the
detected vehicle. If the stopped vehicle ahead has
driven away and ACC has not
resumed, the vehicle ahead indicator
will flash as a reminder to check
traffic ahead before proceeding. In
addition, the left and right sides of the
Safety Alert Seat will pulse three
times, or three beeps will sound. See
”Alert Type
”and “Adaptive Cruise Go
Notifier” in“Collision/Detection
Systems” underVehicle Personalization
0 136.
When the vehicle ahead drives away,
press +RES or the accelerator pedal to
resume cruise control. If stopped for
more than two minutes or if the driver
door is opened and the driver seat belt
is unbuckled, the ACC automatically
applies the Electric Parking Brake
(EPB) to hold the vehicle. The EPB
status light will turn on. See Electric
Parking Brake 0201. To resume ACC
and release the EPB, press the
accelerator pedal.
A DIC warning message may display
indicating to shift to P (Park) before
exiting the vehicle. See Vehicle
Messages 0135.