transmission CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV 2009 User Guide

Driver Shift Control (DSC)
The vehicle has Driver Shift Control (DSC). DSC
controls the vehicle’s transmission and vehicle speed
while driving down hill or towing a trailer by allowing you
to select a desired range of gears. To use this feature, do the following:
1. Move the shift lever to the M (Manual Mode).
2. Press the plus/minus button, to upshift or downshift
selecting the desired range of gears for current
driving conditions.
The DIC display will show the message MANUAL SHIFT
on the rst line and the current gear will be displayed on
the second line. See Driver Information Center (DIC) on
page 3-47 and DIC Operation and Displays on page 3-48
for more information. The number displayed in the DIC is
the highest gear that can be used. However, the vehicle
can automatically shift to lower gears as it adjusts to
driving conditions. This means that all gears below
that number are available. When 5 (Fifth ) is selected,
1 (First) through 5 (Fifth) gears are automatically shifted
by the vehicle, but 6 (Sixth) cannot be used until the
plus/minus button located on the steering column lever
is used to change to the gear.
Grade Braking is not available when the Driver Shift
Control is active. See Tow/Haul Mode on page 2-33 for
more information.
While using the DSC, cruise control and the tow/haul
mode can be used.
2-32

Tow/Haul Mode
The vehicle has a tow/haul mode. The tow/haul mode
adjusts the transmission shift pattern to reduce shift
cycling, providing increased performance, vehicle control,
and transmission cooling when towing or hauling heavy
loads.
Press the button located on the end of the shift lever to
turn the tow/haul on or off. When the tow/haul is on,
a light on the instrument panel cluster will come on.
See Tow/Haul Mode Light on page 3-46 for more
information.
Also see “Tow Haul Mode” under Towing a Trailer on
page 5-44 for more information. The tow/haul mode works with the Autoride ®
feature, if
the vehicle has this, to enhance the ride when trailering or
with a loaded vehicle. See Autoride ®
on page 5-44 .
Grade Braking The Grade Braking shift modes can be activated by
pressing the button on the end of the shift control lever.
While in Range Selection Mode, Grade Braking is
deactivated allowing the driver to select a desired range
of gears.
Grade Braking is only active while the Tow/Haul Mode is
selected and you are not in the Range Selection Mode.
See “Tow/Haul Mode listed previously and Automatic
Transmission Operation on page 2-29 for more
information on the Range Selection Mode. Grade Braking
assists in maintaining desired vehicle speeds when
driving on downhill grades by automatically implementing
a shift schedule that utilizes the engine and transmission
to slow the vehicle. This reduces wear on the braking
system and increases control of the vehicle. Grade
Braking monitors vehicle speed, acceleration, engine
torque and brake pedal usage. Using this information, it
detects when the vehicle is on a downhill grade and the
driver desires to slow the vehicle by pressing the brake.
Also see Towing a Trailer on page 5-44 for more
information.
2-33

Cruise Grade Braking Cruise Grade Braking assists when driving on a downhill
grade. It maintains vehicle speed by automatically
implementing a shift schedule that uses the engine and
the transmission to slow the vehicle. Cruise Grade
Braking operates while Cruise Control is engaged in
Tow/Haul mode to assist in maintaining vehicle speed
under loaded vehicle conditions. It utilizes vehicle
acceleration and deviation from desired speed to
determine the correct gear for the operating condition.
If vehicle speed is above the desired speed the
transmission will downshift to slow the vehicle.
If vehicle speed is near or below desired speed the
trans will upshift, allowing vehicle speed to increase.
While in the Range Select Mode (RSM) mode, cruise
grade braking is not available.
See Automatic Transmission Operation on page 2-29 .Parking Brake
For vehicles with a release handle, 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 on page 3-39 .
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, located above the parking
brake pedal.
2-34

Torque Lock If you are parking on a hill and you do not shift the
transmission into P (Park) properly, the weight of the
vehicle can put too much force on the parking pawl in the
transmission. It might be difficult to pull the shift lever out
of P (Park). This is called torque lock. To prevent torque
lock, set the parking brake and then shift into P (Park)
properly before you leave the driver seat. To nd out how,
see Shifting Into Park on page 2-36 .
When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out of
P (Park) before releasing the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you might need to have another
vehicle push yours a little uphill to take some of the
pressure from the parking pawl in the transmission. Then
you should be able to pull the shift lever out of P (Park).
Shifting Out of Park This vehicle is equipped with an electronic shift lock
release system. The shift lock release is designed to:
Prevent ignition key removal unless the shift
lever is in P (Park) with the shift lever button fully
released, and
Prevent movement of the shift lever out of
P (Park), unless the ignition is in ON/RUN or ACC/
ACCESSORY and the regular brake pedal is applied. The shift lock release is always functional except in the
case of an uncharged or low voltage (less than 9 volt)
battery.
If the vehicle has an uncharged battery or a battery with
low voltage, try charging or jump starting the battery.
See Jump Starting on page 6-40 for more information.
To shift out of P (Park) use the following:
1. Apply the brake pedal.
2. Move the shift lever to the desired position.
If you still are unable to shift out of P (Park):
1. Ease the pressure on the shift lever.
2. While holding down the brake pedal, press the shift
lever all the way into P (Park).
3. Move the shift lever to the desired position.
If you are still having a problem shifting, then have the
vehicle serviced soon.
2-37

Running the Vehicle 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 a vehicle in an enclosed area with poor
ventilation is dangerous. Engine exhaust may
enter the vehicle. Engine exhaust contains Carbon
Monoxide (CO) which cannot be seen or smelled.
It can cause unconsciousness and even death.
Never run the engine in an enclosed area that has
no fresh air ventilation. For more information, see
Engine Exhaust on page 2-38 .{ CAUTION: It can be dangerous to get out of the vehicle
if the automatic transmission shift lever is not
fully in P (Park) with the parking brake rmly set.
The vehicle can roll. Do not leave the 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 the vehicle will not move, even when
you are on fairly level ground, always set the
parking brake and move the shift lever to P (Park).
Follow the proper steps to be sure the vehicle will not
move. See Shifting Into Park on page 2-36 .
If parking on a hill and pulling a trailer, see Towing a
Trailer on page 5-44 .
2-39

The main components of the instrument panel are the following:
A. Outlet Adjustment on page 3-31 .
B. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever on page 3-7 .
C. Instrument Panel Cluster on page 3-34 .
D. Hazard Warning Flashers on page 3-6 .
E. Shift Lever and Range Selection Mode.
See Automatic Transmission Operation
on page 2-29 .
F. Tow/Haul Mode on page 2-33 .
G. Driver Information Center (DIC) on page 3-47 .
H. Analog Clock on page 3-26 .
I. Audio System(s) on page 3-75 .
J. StabiliTrak ®
System on page 5-6 . Rear Park Aid
Disable Button. See Ultrasonic Rear Parking
Assist (URPA) on page 2-42 .
K. Tilt Wheel on page 3-6 .
L. Exterior Lamps on page 3-16 . M. Dome Lamp Override on page 3-23 . Instrument
Panel Brightness on page 3-23 . Fog Lamps
on page 3-22 .
N. Automatic Transfer Case Control. See Escalade
Two-Mode Hybrid Supplement for more information.
O. Cruise Control on page 3-13 . Heated Steering
Wheel on page 3-6 (If Equipped).
P. Horn on page 3-6 .
Q. Audio Steering Wheel Controls on page 3-115 .
R. Dual Automatic Climate Control System on
page 3-27 .
S. Pedal Adjust Button. See Adjustable Throttle and
Brake Pedal on page 2-27 . Heated Windshield
Washer Fluid Button. See Windshield Washer
on page 3-11 . Power Assist Steps on page 2-16
(If Equipped).
T. Glove Box on page 2-62 .
3-5

Cruise Control
{ CAUTION: Cruise control can be dangerous where you cannot
drive safely at a steady speed. So, do not use the
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.
With cruise control, a speed of about 25 mph (40 km/h)
or more can be maintained without keeping your foot
on the accelerator. Cruise control does not work
at speeds below about 25 mph (40 km/h). When the brakes are applied, cruise control is turned off.
For vehicles with an Allison ®
or Hydra-Matic 6-speed
automatic transmission, see “Grade Braking and Cruise
Grade Braking (Allison Transmission) under Tow/Haul
Mode on page 2-33 for an explanation of how cruise
control interacts with the Range Selection Mode,
tow/haul and grade braking systems.
If the vehicle has StabiliTrak ®
, and the system begins
to limit wheel spin, cruise control will automatically
disengage. See StabiliTrak ®
System on page 5-6 .
When road conditions allow the cruise control to
be safely used again, it can be turned back on.
3-13

Headlamps on Reminder If a door is open, a reminder chime will sound when
the headlamps or parking lamps are manually turned on
and the key is out of the ignition. To turn off the chime,
turn the headlamp switch to off or AUTO and then back
on, or close and re-open the door. In the AUTO mode,
the headlamps turn off once the ignition is in LOCK/OFF
or may remain on until the headlamp delay ends
(if enabled in the DIC). See “Exit Lighting” under
DIC Vehicle Customization on page 3-65 .
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier
for others to see the front of your vehicle during the day.
Fully functional daytime running lamps are required
on all vehicles rst sold in Canada.
The DRL system will come on when the following
conditions are met:
The ignition is on.
The exterior lamps control is in AUTO.
The transmission is not in P (Park).
The light sensor determines it is daytime.
When the DRL are on, only the DRL lamps will be on.
The taillamps, sidemarker, instrument panel lights,
and other lamps will not be on. When it begins to get dark, the automatic headlamp
system will switch from DRL to the headlamps.
To turn off the DRL lamps, turn the exterior
lamps control to the OFF position and then release.
For vehicles rst sold in Canada, the transmission must
be in the P (Park) position, before the DRL lamps can
be turned off.
Automatic Headlamp System When it is dark enough outside, the automatic headlamp
system turns on the headlamps at the normal brightness,
along with the taillamps, sidemarker, parking lamps,
and the instrument panel lights. The radio lights will
also be dim.
To turn off the automatic headlamp system, turn the
exterior lamps switch to the off position and then release
it. For vehicles rst sold in Canada, the transmission
must be in the P (Park) position, before the automatic
headlamp system can be turned off.
The vehicle has a light sensor located on the top of the
instrument panel in the defroster grille that regulates
when the automatic headlamps turn on. Do not cover
the sensor or the headlamps will come on whenever
the ignition is on.
The system may also turn on the headlamps when
driving through a parking garage, heavy overcast
weather, or a tunnel. This is normal.
3-21

When the Light Flashes First and Then is
On Steady This indicates that there could be a problem with the
Tire Pressure Monitor System. The light ashes for about
a minute and stays on steady for the remainder of the
ignition cycle. This sequence repeats with every ignition
cycle. See Tire Pressure Monitor System on page 6-64
for more information.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
Check Engine Light A computer system called OBD II (On-Board
Diagnostics-Second Generation) monitors operation
of the fuel, ignition, and emission control systems.
It ensures that emissions are at acceptable levels
for the life of the vehicle, helping to produce a cleaner
environment.
This light should come on
when the ignition is on, but
the engine is not running,
as a check to show it
is working. If it does not,
have the vehicle serviced
by your dealer/retailer. If the check engine light comes on and stays on, while
the engine is running, this indicates that there is an
OBD II problem and service is required.
Malfunctions often are indicated by the system before
any problem is apparent. Being aware of the light
can prevent more serious damage to the vehicle.
This system assists the service technician in correctly
diagnosing any malfunction.
Notice: If the vehicle is continually driven with
this light on, after a while, the emission controls
might not work as well, the vehicle’s fuel economy
might not be as good, and the engine might not
run as smoothly. This could lead to costly repairs
that might not be covered by the vehicle warranty.
Notice: Modications made to the engine,
transmission, exhaust, intake, or fuel system of
the vehicle or the replacement of the original tires
with other than those of the same Tire Performance
Criteria (TPC) can affect the vehicle’s emission
controls and can cause this light to come on.
Modications to these systems could lead to
costly repairs not covered by the vehicle warranty.
This could also result in a failure to pass a required
Emission Inspection/Maintenance test. See
Accessories and Modifications on page 6-3 .
3-42

DIC Operation and Displays The DIC has different displays which can be accessed
by pressing the DIC buttons located on the instrument
panel, next to the steering wheel.
The DIC displays trip, fuel, and vehicle system
information, and warning messages if a system problem
is detected. A digital speedometer also appears at the
bottom of the DIC display. The digital speedometer can
be enabled or disabled. See “DISPLAY DIGITAL SPEED”
under DIC Vehicle Customization on page 3-65 for more
information.
DIC Buttons The buttons are
the trip/fuel, vehicle
information, customization,
and set/reset buttons.
The button functions are
detailed in the following
pages. 3 (Trip/Fuel): Press this button to display
the odometer, trip odometer, fuel range, average
economy, fuel used, timer, and transmission temperature.
The compass and outside air temperature will also be
shown in the display. The temperature will be shown
in °F or °C depending on the units selected.
T (Vehicle Information): Press this button to display
the oil life, units, side blind zone system on/off, tire
pressure readings for vehicles with the Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS), Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter programming, compass zone setting, and
compass recalibration.
U (Customization): Press this button to customize
the feature settings on your vehicle. See DIC Vehicle
Customization on page 3-65 for more information.
V (Set/Reset): Press this button to set or reset certain
functions and to turn off or acknowledge messages
on the DIC.
3-48