traction control CADILLAC ESCALADE 2020 Owner's Guide

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13566588) - 2020 - CRC - 4/24/19
206 DRIVING AND OPERATING
Tour Mode
Use for normal city and highway
driving to provide a smooth, soft ride.
When selected, there will be no
indication in the DIC.
8Sport Mode
Use where road conditions or personal
preference demand a more controlled
response.
The steering will change to provide
more precise control. The Magnetic
Ride Control will change to provide
better cornering performance.
When selected, the Sport Mode
indicator will display in the DIC.
6Snow/Ice Mode
Use when more traction is needed
during slippery conditions.
The vehicle will upshift normally
when the vehicle is moving. The
acceleration will adjust to help provide
a smoother launch.
When selected, the Snow/Ice Mode
indicator will display in the DIC.
_Tow/Haul Mode
Tow/Haul is a feature that assists
when pulling a heavy trailer or a large
or heavy load. See Tow/Haul Mode
0 195.
Tow/Haul is designed to be most
effective when the vehicle and trailer
combined weight is at least 75 percent
of the vehicle’s Gross Combined
Weight Rating (GCWR). See “Weight
of the Trailer” underTrailer Towing
0 242.
Tow/Haul is most useful under the
following conditions:
. When pulling a heavy trailer or a
large or heavy load through rolling
terrain
. When pulling a heavy trailer or a
large or heavy load in stop-and-go
traffic
. When pulling a heavy trailer or a
large or heavy load in busy
parking lots where improved low
speed control of the vehicle is
desired Operating the vehicle in Tow/Haul
when lightly loaded or with no trailer
at all will not cause damage. However,
there is no benefit to the selection of
Tow/Haul when the vehicle is
unloaded. Such a selection when
unloaded may result in unpleasant
engine and transmission driving
characteristics and reduced fuel
economy. Tow/Haul is recommended
only when pulling a heavy trailer or a
large or heavy load.
When selected, the Tow/Haul
indicator will display in the
instrument cluster.
Magnetic Ride Control
This vehicle may have a semi-active
damping system called Magnetic Ride
Control. With this feature, improved
vehicle ride and handling is provided
under a variety of passenger and
loading conditions.
Locking Rear Axle
Vehicles with a locking rear axle can
give more traction on snow, mud, ice,
sand, or gravel. It works like a

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13566588) - 2020 - CRC - 4/24/19
DRIVING AND OPERATING 207
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
better handling under a variety of
passenger and loading conditions. An
air compressor connected to the rear
shocks will raise or lower the rear ofthe vehicle to maintain proper vehicle
height. The system is activated when
the ignition is on and will
automatically adjust vehicle height
thereafter. The system may exhaust
(lower vehicle height) for up to
10 minutes after the ignition 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, 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. Do not use 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.
If equipped 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).

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-
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 211
Warning (Continued)
.On slippery roads where fast
changes in tire traction can
cause excessive wheel slip.
J:Press to turn the system on or
off. The indicator turns white on the
instrument cluster when ACC is
turned on.
+RES : Press the control up briefly to
resume the previous set speed or hold
upwards to accelerate. If ACC is
already engaged, use to increase
vehicle speed. SET–
:Press the control down briefly
to set the speed and activate ACC.
If ACC is already engaged, use to
decrease vehicle speed.
*: Press to disengage ACC without
erasing the selected set speed.
[: Press to select a following gap
time (or distance) setting for ACC of
Far, Medium, or Near.
The speedometer reading can be
displayed in either English or metric
units. See Instrument Cluster 0115.
The increment value used depends on
the units displayed.
Switching Between ACC and
Regular Cruise Control
If equipped, to switch between ACC
and regular cruise control, press and
hold
*. A Driver Information Center
(DIC) message displays. See Vehicle
Messages 0135.
ACC IndicatorRegular Cruise
Control Indicator
When ACC is engaged, a green
\
indicator will be lit on the instrument
cluster and the following gap will be
displayed. When the regular cruise
control is engaged, a green
J
indicator will be lit on the instrument
cluster; the following gap will not
display.
When the vehicle is turned on, the
cruise control mode will be set to the
last mode used before the vehicle was
turned off.
{Warning
Always check the cruise control
indicator on the instrument cluster
to determine which mode cruise (Continued)

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13566588) - 2020 - CRC - 4/24/19
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.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 251
Turn Signals When Towing a
Trailer
When properly connected, the trailer
turn signals should will illuminate to
indicate the vehicle is turning,
changing lanes, or stopping. When
towing a trailer, the arrows on the
instrument cluster will illuminate
even if the trailer is not properly
connected or the bulbs are
burned out.
Tow/Haul Mode
For instructions on how to enter Tow/
Haul mode, seeTow/Haul Mode0195.
Tow/Haul assists when pulling a
heavy trailer or a large or heavy load.
Tow/Haul Mode is designed to be
most effective when the vehicle and
trailer combined weight is at least
75% of the vehicle's Gross Combined
Weight Rating (GCWR). See
“Maximum Trailer Weight ”under
Trailer Towing 0242.
Tow/Haul Mode is most useful when
towing a heavy trailer or carrying a
large or heavy load:
. through rolling terrain .
in stop-and-go traffic
. in busy parking lots
Operating the vehicle in Tow/Haul
Mode when lightly loaded or not
towing will not cause damage;
however, it is not recommended and
may result in unpleasant engine and
transmission driving characteristics
and reduced fuel economy.
Trailer Sway Control (TSC)
Vehicles with StabiliTrak have a
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) feature.
Trailer sway is unintended side-to-side
motion of a trailer while towing. If the
vehicle is towing a trailer and the TSC
detects that sway is increasing, the
vehicle brakes are selectively applied
at each wheel, to help reduce
excessive trailer sway. If equipped with
the Integrated Trailer Brake Control
(ITBC) system, and the trailer has an
electric brake system, StabiliTrak may
also apply the trailer brakes.If TSC is enabled, the Traction Control
System (TCS)/StabiliTrak warning
light will flash on the instrument
cluster. Reduce vehicle speed by
gradually removing your foot from the
accelerator. If trailer sway continues,
StabiliTrak can reduce engine torque
to help slow the vehicle. TSC will not
function if StabiliTrak is turned off.
See Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control 0203.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13566588) - 2020 - CRC - 4/24/19
VEHICLE CARE 257
California Perchlorate
Materials Requirements
Certain types of automotive
applications, such as airbag initiators,
seat belt pretensioners, and lithium
batteries contained in electronic keys,
may contain perchlorate materials.
Perchlorate Material–special
handling may apply. See
www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/
perchlorate.
Accessories and
Modifications
Adding non-dealer accessories or
making modifications to the vehicle
can affect vehicle performance and
safety, including such things as
airbags, braking, stability, ride and
handling, emissions systems,
aerodynamics, durability, and
electronic systems like antilock
brakes, traction control, and stability
control. These accessories or
modifications could even cause
malfunction or damage not covered by
the vehicle warranty. Damage to suspension components
caused by modifying vehicle height
outside of factory settings will not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Damage to vehicle components
resulting from modifications or the
installation or use of non-GM certified
parts, including control module or
software modifications, is not covered
under the terms of the vehicle
warranty and may affect remaining
warranty coverage for affected parts.
GM Accessories are designed to
complement and function with other
systems on the vehicle. See your
dealer to accessorize the vehicle using
genuine GM Accessories installed by a
dealer technician.
Also, see
Adding Equipment to the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle 077.
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own
Service Work
{Warning
It can be dangerous to work on
your vehicle if you do not have the
proper knowledge, service manual,
tools, or parts. Always follow
owner’s manual procedures and
consult the service manual for your
vehicle before doing any
service work.
If doing some of your own service
work, use the proper service manual.
It tells you much more about how to
service the vehicle than this manual
can. To order the proper service
manual, see Publication Ordering
Information 0365.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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306 VEHICLE CARE
Vehicle Storage
Tires age when stored normally
mounted on a parked vehicle. Park a
vehicle that will be stored for at least
a month in a cool, dry, clean area
away from direct sunlight to slow
aging. This area should be free of
grease, gasoline, or other substances
that can deteriorate rubber.
Parking for an extended period can
cause flat spots on the tires that may
result in vibrations while driving.
When storing a vehicle for at least a
month, remove the tires or raise the
vehicle to reduce the weight from the
tires.
Buying New Tires
GM has developed and matched
specific tires for the vehicle. The
original equipment tires installed
were designed to meet General
Motors Tire Performance Criteria
Specification (TPC Spec) system
rating. When replacement tires areneeded, GM strongly recommends
buying tires with the same TPC
Spec rating.
GM's exclusive TPC Spec system
considers over a dozen critical
specifications that impact the
overall performance of the vehicle,
including brake system
performance, ride and handling,
traction control, and tire pressure
monitoring performance. GM's
TPC Spec number is molded onto
the tire's sidewall near the tire
size. If the tires have an all-season
tread design, the TPC Spec
number will be followed by MS for
mud and snow. See
Tire Sidewall
Labeling 0293 for additional
information.
GM recommends replacing worn
tires in complete sets of four.
Uniform tread depth on all tires
will help to maintain the
performance of the vehicle.
Braking and handling performance
may be adversely affected if all the tires are not replaced at the same
time. If proper rotation and
maintenance have been done, all
four tires should wear out at
about the same time. See
Tire
Rotation 0304 for information on
proper tire rotation. However, if it
is necessary to replace only one
axle set of worn tires, place the
new tires on the rear axle.
{Warning
Tires could explode during
improper service. Attempting to
mount or dismount a tire could
cause injury or death. Only your
dealer or authorized tire service
center should mount or
dismount the tires.

Cadillac Escalade Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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VEHICLE CARE 307
{Warning
Mixing tires of different sizes,
tread patterns, or types on the
same axle may cause loss of
control of the vehicle, resulting
in a crash or other vehicle
damage. Use the same size, load
range, and type of tires as the
original tires.
This vehicle may have a
different size spare than the
road tires originally installed on
the vehicle. When new, the
vehicle included a spare tire and
wheel assembly with a similar
overall diameter as the road
tires and wheels, so it is all
right to drive on it. The spare
tire was developed for use on
this vehicle and will not affect
vehicle handling.{Warning
Using bias-ply tires on the
vehicle may cause the wheel rim
flanges to develop cracks after
many miles of driving. A tire
and/or wheel could fail suddenly
and cause a crash. Use only
radial-ply tires with the wheels
on the vehicle.
Winter tires with the same speed
rating as the original equipment
tires may not be available for H, V,
W, Y and ZR speed rated tires.
Never exceed the winter tires’
maximum speed capability when
using winter tires with a lower
speed rating.
If the vehicle tires must be
replaced with a tire that does not
have a TPC Spec number, make
sure they are the same size, load
range, speed rating, and
construction (radial) as the
original tires. Vehicles that have a tire pressure
monitoring system could give an
inaccurate low-pressure warning if
non-TPC Spec rated tires are
installed. See
Tire Pressure Monitor
System 0299.
The Tire and Loading Information
label indicates the original
equipment tires on the vehicle.
See Vehicle Load Limits 0178 for
the label location and more
information about the Tire and
Loading Information label.
Different Size Tires and
Wheels
If wheels or tires are installed that are
a different size than the original
equipment wheels and tires, vehicle
performance, including its braking,
ride and handling characteristics,
stability, and resistance to rollover
may be affected. If the vehicle has
electronic systems such as antilock
brakes, rollover airbags, traction