instrument panel CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV 2009 Owner's Guide

Speedometer and Odometer The speedometer shows the vehicle’s speed in both
miles per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour (km/h).
The vehicle’s odometer works together with the
Driver Information Center (DIC). The Trip odometer
can be set. See “Trip Odometer” under DIC Operation
and Displays on page 3-48 for more information.
The odometer mileage can be checked while the
vehicle is not running. Simply press the trip stem
on the instrument panel cluster.
If the vehicle ever needs a new odometer installed,
the new one will be set to the correct mileage total
of the old odometer.
Trip Odometer The trip odometer can show how far the vehicle has
been driven since the trip odometer was last set to zero.
For more information see “Trip Odometer” under DIC
Operation and Displays on page 3-48 .
Tachometer The tachometer displays the engine speed in revolutions
per minute (rpm). Safety Belt Reminders Safety Belt Reminder Light When the engine is started, a chime sounds for
several seconds to remind a driver to fasten the safety
belt, unless the driver safety belt is already buckled.
The safety belt light
comes on and stays on
for several seconds, then
ashes for several more.
This chime and light are repeated if the driver remains
unbuckled and the vehicle is in motion. If the driver
safety belt is already buckled, neither the chime nor
the light comes on.
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Passenger Safety Belt Reminder Light Several seconds after the engine is started,
a chime sounds for several seconds to remind
the front passenger to buckle their safety belt.
This only occurs if the passenger airbag is enabled.
See Passenger Sensing System on page 1-87 for more
information. The passenger safety belt light, located
on the instrument panel, comes on and stays on for
several seconds and then ashes for several more.
This chime and light are
repeated if the passenger
remains unbuckled and
the vehicle is in motion.
If the passenger safety belt is buckled, neither the
chime nor the light comes on.
The front passenger safety belt warning 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 warning light and
or chime, remove the object from the seat or buckle
the safety belt. Airbag Readiness Light The system checks the airbag’s electrical system for
possible malfunctions. If the light stays on it indicates
there is an electrical problem. The system check includes
the airbag sensor, the pretensioners, the airbag modules,
the wiring and the crash sensing and diagnostic module.
For more information on the airbag system, see Airbag
System on page 1-79 .
The airbag readiness light
ashes for a few seconds
when the engine is started.
If the light does not come
on then, have it xed
immediately.
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The gage will rst indicate empty before the vehicle
is out of fuel, but the vehicle’s fuel tank should be
lled soon.
Here are some situations owners may experience
with the fuel gage. None of these indicate a problem
with the fuel gage.
At the gas station, the fuel pump shuts off before
the gage reads full.
It takes a little more or less fuel to ll up than the
fuel gage indicated. For example, the gage may
have indicated the tank was half full, but it actually
took a little more or less than half the tank’s
capacity to ll the tank.
The gage goes back to empty when the ignition is
turned off. Driver Information Center (DIC) Your vehicle has a Driver Information Center (DIC).
The DIC displays information about your vehicle.
It also displays warning messages if a system problem
is detected. The DIC also allows some features to be
customized. See DIC Vehicle Customization on
page 3-65 for more information.
All messages will appear in the DIC display located in
the center of the instrument panel cluster.
The DIC comes on when the ignition is on. After a short
delay, the DIC will display the information that was last
displayed before the engine was turned off.
See DIC Operation and Displays on page 3-48 and DIC
Vehicle Customization on page 3-65 for the displays
available.
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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

DIC Warnings and Messages Messages are displayed on the DIC to notify the driver
that the status of the vehicle has changed and that
some action may be needed by the driver to correct
the condition. Multiple messages may appear one
after another.
Some messages may not require immediate action, but
you can press any of the DIC buttons on the instrument
panel to acknowledge that you received the messages
and to clear them from the display.
Some messages cannot be cleared from the DIC display
because they are more urgent. These messages require
action before they can be cleared. You should take any
messages that appear on the display seriously and
remember that clearing the messages will only make
the messages disappear, not correct the problem.
The following are the possible messages that can be
displayed and some information about them.
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 CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON message.
See Engine Oil Life System on page 6-18 for information
on how to reset the message. See Engine Oil on
page 6-15 and Scheduled Maintenance on page 7-4
for more information. CHECK TIRE PRESSURE On vehicles with the Tire Pressure Monitor
System (TPMS), this message displays when the
pressure in one or more of the vehicle’s tires needs to
be checked. This message also displays LEFT FRONT,
RIGHT FRONT, LEFT REAR, or RIGHT REAR to
indicate which tire needs to be checked. You can
receive more than one tire pressure message at a time.
To read the other messages that may have been sent
at the same time, press the set/reset button. If a tire
pressure message appears on the DIC, stop as soon
as you can. Have the tire pressures checked and set
to those shown on the Tire Loading Information label.
See Tires on page 6-56 , Loading the Vehicle on
page 5-33 , and Inflation - Tire Pressure on page 6-62 .
The DIC also shows the tire pressure values. See DIC
Operation and Displays on page 3-48 . If the tire pressure
is low, the low tire pressure warning light comes on.
See Tire Pressure Light on page 3-41 .
DRIVER DOOR OPEN This message displays and a chime sounds if the driver
door is not fully closed and the vehicle is shifted out
of P (Park). Stop and turn off the vehicle, check the door
for obstructions, and close the door again. Check to
see if the message still appears on the DIC.
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ENGINE HOT A/C (Air Conditioning)
TURNED OFF This message displays when the engine coolant
becomes hotter than the normal operating temperature.
See Engine Coolant Temperature Gage on page 3-41 .
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/retailer as soon as possible
to avoid damage to the engine.
ENGINE OIL HOT IDLE ENGINE This message displays when the engine oil becomes
hotter than the normal operating temperature. Stop
and allow the vehicle to idle until it cools down.
See Engine Coolant Temperature Gage on page 3-41 .
ENGINE OVERHEATED IDLE ENGINE Notice: If you drive your vehicle while the engine
is overheating, severe engine damage may occur.
If an overheat warning appears on the instrument
panel cluster and/or DIC, stop the vehicle as soon
as possible. See Engine Overheating on page 6-30
for more information. 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 Gage on page 3-41 .
See Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode
on page 6-33 for information on driving to a safe place
in an emergency.
ENGINE OVERHEATED STOP ENGINE Notice: If you drive your vehicle while the engine
is overheating, severe engine damage may occur.
If an overheat warning appears on the instrument
panel cluster and/or DIC, stop the vehicle as soon
as possible. See Engine Overheating on page 6-30
for more information.
This message displays and a chime sounds 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.
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REPLACE BATTERY IN REMOTE KEY This message displays if a Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter battery is low. The battery needs to be
replaced in the transmitter. See “Battery Replacement”
under Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System Operation
on page 2-5 .
RIGHT REAR DOOR OPEN This message displays and a chime sounds if the
passenger side rear door is not fully closed and the
vehicle is shifted out of P (Park). Stop and turn off the
vehicle, check the door for obstructions, and close
the door again. Check to see if the message still
appears on the DIC.
SERVICE AIR BAG This message displays if there is a problem with the
airbag system. Have your dealer/retailer inspect the
system for problems. See Airbag Readiness Light on
page 3-36 and Airbag System on page 1-79 for more
information. SERVICE BATTERY CHARGING
SYSTEM On some vehicles, this message displays if there is a
problem with the battery charging system. Under certain
conditions, the charging system light may also turn on in
the instrument panel cluster. See Charging System Light
on page 3-38 . Driving with this problem could drain the
battery. Turn off all unnecessary accessories. Have the
electrical system checked as soon as possible. See your
dealer/retailer.
SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM This message displays along with the brake system
warning light if there is a problem with the brake system.
See Brake System Warning Light on page 3-39 . If this
message appears, stop as soon as possible and turn
off the vehicle. 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 brake system needs service as soon as possible.
See your dealer/retailer.
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STABILITRAK OFF If your vehicle has StabiliTrak, this message displays
when you turn off StabiliTrak, or when the stability control
has been automatically disabled. To limit wheel spin and
realize the full benets of the stability enhancement
system, you should normally leave StabiliTrak on.
However, you should turn StabiliTrak off if your vehicle
gets stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow and you want to
rock your vehicle to attempt to free it, or if you are driving
in extreme off-road conditions and require more wheel
spin. See If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or
Snow on page 5-31 . To turn the StabiliTrak system on
or off, see StabiliTrak ®
System on page 5-6 .
There are several conditions that can cause this
message to appear.
One condition is overheating, which could occur if
StabiliTrak activates continuously for an extended
period of time.
The message also displays if the brake system
warning light is on. See Brake System Warning
Light on page 3-39 . The message could display if the stability system
takes longer than usual to complete its diagnostic
checks due to driving conditions.
The message displays if an engine or vehicle
related problem has been detected and the vehicle
needs service. See your dealer/retailer.
The message turns off as soon as the conditions that
caused the message to be displayed are no longer
present.
TIGHTEN GAS CAP This message may display along with the check engine
light on the instrument panel cluster if the vehicle’s
fuel cap is not tightened properly. See Malfunction
Indicator Lamp on page 3-42 . Reinstall the fuel cap
fully. See Filling the Tank on page 6-9 . The diagnostic
system can determine if the fuel cap has been left off
or improperly installed. A loose or missing fuel cap
allows fuel to evaporate into the atmosphere.
A few driving trips with the cap properly installed
should turn this light and message off.
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TIRE LEARNING ACTIVE On vehicles with the Tire Pressure Monitor
System (TPMS), this message displays when
the TPMS is re-learning the tire positions on your
vehicle. The tire positions must be re-learned after
rotating the tires or after replacing a tire or sensor.
See Tire Inspection and Rotation on page 6-69 ,
Tire Pressure Monitor System on page 6-64 , and
Inflation - Tire Pressure on page 6-62 for more
information.
TRACTION CONTROL OFF If your vehicle has StabiliTrak, this message displays
when the Traction Control System (TCS) is turned
off. Adjust your driving accordingly. See StabiliTrak ®
System on page 5-6 for more information.
TRANSMISSION HOT IDLE ENGINE Notice: If you drive your vehicle while the
transmission uid is overheating and the
transmission temperature warning is displayed
on the instrument panel cluster and/or DIC, you
can damage the transmission. This could lead
to costly repairs that would not be covered by your warranty. Do not drive your vehicle with
overheated transmission uid or while the
transmission temperature warning is displayed.
This message displays along with four chimes if
the transmission uid in the vehicle gets hot. Driving
with the transmission uid 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 uid temperature
reaches a safe level.
TURN SIGNAL ON This message displays and a chime sounds if a turn
signal is left on for 3/4 of a mile (1.2 km). Move the turn
signal/multifunction lever to the off position.
WASHER FLUID LOW ADD FLUID This message displays when the windshield washer
uid is low. Fill the windshield washer uid reservoir as
soon as possible. See Engine Compartment Overview
on page 6-14 for the location of the windshield washer
uid reservoir. Also, see Windshield Washer Fluid on
page 6-34 for more information.
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If the system fails to turn on or activate, the StabiliTrak
light along with one of the following messages will be
displayed on the Driver Information Center (DIC):
TRACTION CONTROL OFF, SERVICE TRACTION
CONTROL, STABILITRAK OFF, SERVICE
STABILITRAK. If these DIC messages appear, make
sure the StabiliTrak system has not been turned off
using the StabiliTrak on/off button. Then turn the steering
wheel clockwise from the nine o’clock position to the
three o’clock position. If this clears the message(s), the
vehicle does not need servicing. If this does not clear the
message(s), then turn the vehicle off, wait 15 seconds,
and then turn it back on again to reset the system. If any
of these messages still appear on the Driver Information
Center (DIC), the vehicle should be taken in for service.
For more information on the DIC messages, see Driver
Information Center (DIC) on page 3-47 .
The StabiliTrak light will
ash on the instrument
panel cluster when the
system is both on and
activated.
The system may be heard or felt while it is working; this
is normal. The traction control disable
button is located on the
instrument panel below the
climate controls.
The traction control part of StabiliTrak can be turned off
by pressing and releasing the StabiliTrak button if both
systems (traction control and StabiliTrak) were previously
on. To disable both traction control and StabiliTrak, press
and hold the button for ve seconds.
Traction control and StabiliTrak can be turned on by
pressing and releasing the StabiliTrak button if not
automatically shut off for any other reason.
When the TCS or StabiliTrak system is turned off,
the StabiliTrak light and the appropriate TCS off or
StabiliTrak off message will be displayed on the DIC to
warn the driver. The vehicle will still have brake-traction
control when traction control is off, but will not be able
to use the engine speed management system. See
“Traction Control Operation” next for more information.
When the traction control system has been turned off,
system noises may still be heard as a result of the
brake-traction control coming on.
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