tow CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV 2008 Owner's Manual

Parking Brake To set the parking brake, hold the regular brake pedal
down with your right foot. Push down the parking
brake pedal with your left foot.
A chime sounds and the warning light ashes when the
parking brake is applied and the vehicle is moving at
least 5 mph (8 km/h).
To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down. Then pull the bottom edge of the lever, with
the parking brake symbol and located above the
parking brake pedal. If the ignition is on when the parking brake is released,
the brake system warning light goes off.
Notice: 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.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on any hill,
see Towing a Trailer on page 4-44 .
2-35

Shifting Into PARK (P)
{ CAUTION: It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle
if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with
the parking brake rmly set. Your vehicle can
roll. If you have left the engine running, the
vehicle can move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure your vehicle will
not move, even when you are on fairly level
ground, use the steps that follow. If you are
pulling a trailer, see Towing a Trailer on
page 4-44 .
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
set the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever into the PARK (P) 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 your vehicle with the ignition key in your
hand, your vehicle is in PARK (P). Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine
Running
{ CAUTION: It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with
the engine running. Your vehicle could move
suddenly if the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the parking brake rmly set.
And, if you leave the vehicle with the engine
running, it could overheat and even catch re.
You or others could be injured. Do not leave
your vehicle with the engine running.
If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine
running, be sure your vehicle is in PARK (P) and the
parking brake is rmly set. After the shift lever is moved
into PARK (P), hold the regular brake pedal down.
Then, see if you can move the shift lever away from
PARK (P) without rst pulling it toward you. If you can, it
means that the shift lever was not fully locked into
PARK (P).
2-36

Running the Engine While Parked It is better not to park with the engine running. But if you
ever have to, here are some things to know.
{ CAUTION: Idling the engine with the climate control
system off could allow dangerous exhaust into
your vehicle. See the earlier caution under
Engine Exhaust on page 2-39 .
Also, idling in a closed-in place can let deadly
carbon monoxide (CO) into your vehicle even if
the climate control fan is at the highest setting.
One place this can happen is a garage.
Exhaust — with CO — can come in easily.
NEVER park in a garage with the engine
running.
Another closed-in place can be a blizzard. See
Winter Driving on page 4-30 . { CAUTION: It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle
if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with
the parking brake rmly set. Your vehicle can
roll. Do not leave your vehicle when the engine
is running unless you have to. If you have left
the engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be injured. To
be sure your vehicle will not move, even when
you are on fairly level ground, always set the
parking brake and move the shift lever to
PARK (P).
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle will not
move. See Shifting Into PARK (P) on page 2-36 .
If you are pulling a trailer, see Towing a Trailer on
page 4-44 .
2-40

Outside Temperature Outside temperature is shown in the mirror display.
Temperature will be displayed in Fahrenheit or Celsius
based on the choice of English or metric in the
vehicle’s conguration menu.
If an abnormal temperature reading is displayed for an
extended period of time, please consult your
dealer/retailer. Under certain circumstances, a delay in
updating the temperature is normal.
Cleaning the Mirror When cleaning the mirror, use a paper towel or similar
material dampened with glass cleaner. Do not spray
glass cleaner directly on the mirror as that may cause
the liquid cleaner to enter the mirror housing.
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror
with OnStar ®
, Compass and
Temperature Display Your vehicle has this feature. When on, the automatic
dimming mirror dims to the proper level to minimize
glare from lights behind you after dark.
The mirror has a dual display in the upper right corner
of the mirror face that shows the compass reading
and the outside temperature. Control buttons for the OnStar ®
system are at the
bottom of the mirror. See OnStar ®
System on page 2-50
for more information about the services OnStar ®
provides.
P (On/Off): This is the on/off button.
Temperature and Compass Display Press the on/off button, located to the far left, briey to
turn the compass/temperature display on or off.
If the display reads CAL, the compass needs to be
calibrated. For more information, see “Compass
Calibration” following.
To adjust between Fahrenheit and Celsius, do the
following:
1. Press and hold the on/off button for approximately
four seconds until either a ashing F or C appears.
2. Press the button again to change the display to the
desired unit of measurement. After approximately
four seconds of inactivity, the new unit will be locked
in and the compass/temperature display will return.
If an abnormal temperature reading is displayed for an
extended period of time, please see your GM dealer.
Under certain circumstances, a delay in updating
the temperature is normal.
2-43

Compass Calibration The compass may need calibration if one of the
following occurs:
After approximately ve seconds, the display does
not show a compass heading, N for North, for
example, there may be a strong magnetic eld
interfering with the compass. Such interference may
be caused by a magnetic antenna mount, magnetic
note pad holder, or a similar magnetic item.
The compass does not display the correct heading
and the compass zone variance is set correctly.
In order to calibrate, CAL must be displayed in the
mirror compass windows. If CAL is not displayed, push
the on/off button for approximately 12 seconds or
until CAL is displayed.
The compass can be calibrated by driving the vehicle in
circles at 5 mph (8 km/h) or less until the display
reads a direction.
Cleaning the Mirror When cleaning the mirror, use a paper towel or similar
material dampened with glass cleaner. Do not spray
glass cleaner directly on the mirror as that may cause
the liquid cleaner to enter the mirror housing. Outside Power Foldaway Mirrors If your vehicle is equipped
with outside power
foldaway mirrors, the
controls are located on the
driver’s door armrest.
Press (A) to select the driver’s side mirror. Then
press the arrows located on the four-way control
pad to adjust the mirror. Press (A) again to deselect
the mirror.
Press (B) to select the passenger’s side mirror.
Then press the arrows located on the four-way
control pad to adjust the mirror. Press (B) again to
deselect the mirror.
2-45

When the System Does Not Seem to
Work Properly The driver disables the system.
The parking brake pedal is depressed.
The ultrasonic sensors are not clean. Keep your
vehicle’s rear bumper free of mud, dirt, snow,
ice and slush. For cleaning instructions, see
Washing Your Vehicle on page 5-102 .
A trailer was attached to your vehicle, or a bicycle
or an object was hanging out of your liftgate/liftglass
during your last drive cycle, the red light may
illuminate in the rear display. Once the attached
object is removed, URPA will return to normal
operation.
A tow bar is attached to your vehicle.
The vehicle’s bumper is damaged. Take the vehicle
to your dealer/retailer to repair the system.
Other conditions may affect system performance,
such as vibrations from a jackhammer or the
compression of air brakes on a very large truck.
If the system is still disabled, after driving forward at
least 15 mph (25 km/h), take your vehicle to your
dealer/retailer. OnStar ®
System OnStar uses several innovative technologies and live
advisors to provide you with a wide range of safety,
security, information, and convenience services. If your
airbags deploy, the system is designed to make an
automatic call to OnStar Emergency advisors who can
request emergency services be sent to your location.
If you lock your keys in the vehicle, call OnStar at
1-888-4-ONSTAR and they can send a signal to unlock
your doors. If you need roadside assistance, press
the OnStar button and they can contact Roadside
Service for you.
2-50

Convenience Net Your vehicle may have a convenience net in the rear of
the vehicle. Store small loads as far forward as possible.
The net should not be used to store heavy loads.
Cargo Cover
{ CAUTION: An improperly stored cargo cover could be
thrown about the vehicle during a collision or
sudden maneuver. You or others could be
injured. If you remove the cover, always store
it in the proper storage location. When you put
it back, always be sure that it is securely
reattached.
If your vehicle has a cargo cover, you can use it to
cover items in the cargo area of your vehicle.
To use the cover, do the following:
1. Pull the cover handle toward the rear of the vehicle.
2. Latch the cover posts into the retaining sockets
on the cargo area trim panels. To return the cover to the retracted position, do the
following:
1. Pull up on the cover handle to release the cover
posts from the retaining sockets.
2. Let the cover move forward to the full retracted
position.
To remove the cover, from a regular wheelbase model,
do the following:
1. Let the cover go all the way into the holder.
2. Then, grasping the driver’s side cover end cap,
push the cover end cap toward the passenger’s
side of the vehicle.
3. Swing the cover rearward and take it out of the
vehicle.
To put the cover in the vehicle, do the following:
1. Make sure the cover slot in the holder faces
rearward with the round surface facing down.
2. Then, hold the cover at an angle and place the
cover end cap into the slot in the passenger’s
side trim panel.
3. Move the other end of the cover forward and hold it
next to the driver’s side trim panel slot.
2-63

Security Light .............................................. .3-46
Fog Lamp Light ........................................... .3-46
Lights On Reminder ..................................... .3-47
Cruise Control Light ..................................... .3-47
Highbeam On Light ...................................... .3-47
Tow/Haul Mode Light ................................... .3-47
Fuel Gage .................................................. .3-48
Driver Information Center (DIC) ...................... .3-48
DIC Operation and Displays .......................... .3-49
DIC Warnings and Messages ........................ .3-53
DIC Vehicle Customization ............................ .3-61 Audio System(s) ............................................ .3-70
Setting the Clock ......................................... .3-71
Radio(s) ..................................................... .3-72
Using an MP3 ............................................. .3-90
XM Radio Messages .................................... .3-94
Navigation/Radio System .............................. .3-95
Rear Seat Entertainment (RSE) System .......... .3-95
Rear Seat Audio (RSA) ............................... .3-104
Theft-Deterrent Feature ............................... .3-106
Audio Steering Wheel Controls ..................... .3-106
Radio Reception ........................................ .3-108
Rear Side Window Antenna ......................... .3-109
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System ........... .3-109Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-2

A. Air Outlets. See Outlet Adjustment on page 3-31 .
B. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever. See Turn
Signal/Multifunction Lever on page 3-7 .
C. Instrument Panel Cluster. See Instrument Panel
Cluster on page 3-34 .
D. Hazard Warning Flasher Button. See Hazard
Warning Flashers on page 3-6 .
E. Shift Lever and Range Selection Mode. See
Automatic Transmission Operation on page 2-30 .
F. Tow/Haul Selector Button. See Tow/Haul Mode
on page 2-34 .
G. Driver Information Center Controls. See Driver
Information Center (DIC) on page 3-48 .
H. Analog Clock. See Analog Clock on page 3-25 .
I. Audio System. See Audio System(s) on page 3-70 .
J. StabiliTrak ®
Button. See StabiliTrak ®
System on
page 4-6 . Rear Park Aid Disable Button. See
Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist (URPA) on
page 2-48 .
K. Tilt Wheel Lever. See Tilt Wheel on page 3-6 . L. Exterior Lamps Control. See Exterior Lamps on
page 3-16 .
M. Dome Lamp Override Button. See Dome Lamp
Override on page 3-22 . Instrument Panel Brightness
Control. See Instrument Panel Brightness on
page 3-21 . Fog Lamp Button. See Fog Lamps on
page 3-21 .
N. Cruise Control Buttons. See Cruise Control on
page 3-13 .
O. Horn. See Horn on page 3-6 .
P. Audio Steering Wheel Controls. See Audio Steering
Wheel Controls on page 3-106 .
Q. Dual Automatic Climate Controls. See Dual
Automatic Climate Control System on page 3-26 .
R. Pedal Adjust Button. See Adjustable Throttle
and Brake Pedal on page 2-28 . Heated Windshield
Washer Fluid Button. See Windshield Washer
on page 3-11 . Power Running Boards Disable Button
(If Equipped). See Power Running Boards on
page 2-17 .
S. Glove Box. See Glove Box on page 2-60 .
3-5

5 Rear Wiper Delay. See Rear Window
Wiper/Washer on page 3-12 .

Z Rear Wiper. See Rear Window Wiper/Washer
on page 3-12 .

= Rear Wiper Wash. See Rear Window
Wiper/Washer on page 3-12 .
Turn and Lane-Change Signals The turn signal has two upward (for right) and two
downward (for left) positions. These positions allow you
to signal a turn or a lane change.
To signal a turn, move the lever all the way up or down.
When the turn is nished, the lever will return
automatically.
To signal a lane change, raise or lower the lever for
less than one second until the arrow starts to ash. This
will cause the turn signals to automatically ash three
times. It will ash six times if tow-haul mode is
active. Holding the turn signal lever for more than one
second will cause the turn signals to ash until you
release the lever. The lever will return by itself when it
is released. An arrow on the instrument
panel cluster will ash in
the direction of the
turn or lane change.
As you signal a turn or a lane change, if the arrows
ash more quickly than normal, a signal bulb may
be burned out and other drivers will not see your turn
signal.
If a bulb is burned out, replace it to help avoid an
accident. If the arrows do not go on at all when you
signal a turn, check for burned-out bulbs and a blown
fuse. See Fuses and Circuit Breakers on page 5-108 .
Turn Signal On Chime If your turn signal is left on for more than 3/4 of a mile
(1.2 km), a chime will sound at each ash of the
turn signal and the message TURN SIGNAL ON will
also appear in the Driver Information Control (DIC). To
turn the chime and message off, move the turn
signal lever to the off position.
3-8