Cadillac 2010 Escalade Hybrid Installation and operating instructions

2010 Cadillac Escalade Two-mode Hybrid M
In Brief ............................................ 1-1
Initial Drive Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Hybrid Features .................................. 1-4
Performance and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Seats and Restraint System ...................... 2-1
Restraint System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Features and Controls ............................ 3-1
Storage Areas .................................... 3-2
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Instrument Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Climate Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
Driver Information Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7
Audio System(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-9
Driving Your Vehicle .............................. 5-1
Your Driving, the Road, and the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Towing ........................................... 5-2
Service and Appearance Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Service ........................................... 6-2
Checking Things Under the Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-23
Electrical System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-24
Tires ............................................ 6-26
Appearance Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-54
Capacities and Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-55
Maintenance Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Maintenance Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-2
Index .................................... i-1

GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem,
CADILLAC, the CADILLAC Crest & Wreath, and the
name Escalade are registered trademarks of General
Motors.
This manual describes features that may or may not be
on your specific vehicle either because they are options
that you did not purchase or due to changes
subsequent to the printing of this owner manual. Please
refer to the purchase documentation relating to your
specific vehicle to confirm each of the features found on
your vehicle. For vehicles first sold in Canada,
substitute the name “General Motors of Canada
Limited”for Cadillac Motor Division wherever it appears
in this manual.
Keep this manual in the vehicle for quick reference.
Canadian Owners
Propriétaires Canadiens
A French language copy of this manual can be obtained
from your dealer/retailer or from:
On peut obtenir un exemplaire de ce guide en français
auprès du concessionnaire ou à l'adresse suivante:
Helm, Incorporated
P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207
1-800-551-4123
Numéro de poste 6438 de langue française
www.helminc.com
ii
Litho in U.S.A.
Part No. 25855013 A First Printing ©2009 General Motors. All Rights Reserved.

Introduction
Your hybrid SUV is designed to be more fuel efficient
than the standard SUV, which results in reduced carbon
dioxide emissions.
Using this Supplement
This supplement contains information specific to the
hybrid components of the vehicle. It does not explain
everything you need to know about the vehicle. Read
this supplement along with the owner manual to learn
about the vehicle's features and controls.
Index
A good place to look for what you need is the Index in
back of this supplement. It is an alphabetical list of what
is in the supplement, and the page number where you
will find it.
iii

2NOTES
iv

Section 1 In Brief
Initial Drive Information ........................... 1-2
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Four-Wheel Drive ............................... 1-2
Hybrid Features .................................... 1-4
Hybrid Safety Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Fuel Economy Gage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Automatic Engine Start/Stop Feature . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Regenerative Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Service ......................................... 1-6
Performance and Maintenance .................... 1-6
Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
1-1

Initial Drive Information
Transmission
Range Selection Mode
The Range Selection Mode switch is located on the
shift lever. To enable the Range Selection feature, move
the column shift lever to the M (Manual) position. The
current range will appear next to the M. This is the
highest attainable range with all lower gears accessible.
As an example, when 3 (Third) gear is selected, 1 (First)
through 3 (Third) gears are available.
Press the plus/minus buttons, located on the steering
column shift lever, to select the desired range of gears
for current driving conditions. See Automatic
Transmission Operation in the owner manual.
Cruise control can be used while the vehicle is in Range
Selection Mode.
Four-Wheel Drive
If the vehicle has four-wheel drive, you can send the
engine's driving power to all four wheels for extra
traction. Read the following before using four-wheel
drive.
1-2

Automatic Transfer Case
The transfer case knob is located to the left of the
instrument panel cluster. You can choose among
five driving settings:
2m(Two-Wheel Drive High): This setting is used for
driving in most street and highway situations.
AUTO (Automatic Four-Wheel Drive) : This setting is
ideal for use when road surface traction conditions are
variable.
4m(Four-Wheel Drive High): Use the four-wheel high
position when you need extra traction, such as on
snowy or icy roads or in most off-road situations.
4n(Four-Wheel Drive Low) : This setting delivers
extra torque. You might choose Four-Wheel Drive Low if
you are driving off-road in deep sand, deep mud, deep
snow, and while climbing or descending steep hills.
N (Neutral) : Shift the vehicle's transfer case to
N (Neutral) only when towing the vehicle. See
Recreational Vehicle Towing or Towing Your Vehicle in
the index of the Owner Manual.
See Four-Wheel Drive on page 3‑9.
1-3

Hybrid Features
Hybrid Safety Information
This vehicle has a standard 12-volt battery and a
high-voltage hybrid battery. Only a trained service
technician with the proper knowledge and tools should
inspect, test, or replace the hybrid battery. See your
dealer/retailer if the hybrid battery needs service.
The 12-volt battery cables, in the engine compartment,
are clearly labeled. In emergency situations, first
responders can cut those cables to disable the
high-voltage hybrid battery system.
Fuel Economy Gage
United States Canada
This gage shows when the vehicle is operating at a fuel
efficient point.
Driving behavior that improves fuel efficiency makes the
fuel indicator move to the high efficiency band on the
fuel gage.
See Fuel Economy Gage
on page 4‑5 for more
information.
1-4

Automatic Engine Start/Stop Feature
Start the engine as you would any other engine. See
“Starting the Engine”in the owner manual for more
information on starting. The hybrid system provides very
quiet engine starting. If pulling a trailer with trailer
brakes, see Towing a Trailer
on page 5‑8 for more
information.
Auto Stop
The vehicle has an Auto Stop feature. After a
successful engine start, the engine may turn off and
operate in the Auto Stop mode.
Keep your foot firmly on the brake pedal until you are
ready for the vehicle to move.
Engine OFF and AUTO STOP modes are indicated on
the tachometer display. When the tachometer needle
indicates OFF, the engine is not running and will remain
off until the ignition key is placed in the START position
or a remote vehicle start is performed. When the
tachometer needle indicates AUTO STOP, the hybrid
system is on, the engine is not running, but may Auto
Start at any time without notice. See Tachometer
on
page 4‑4
for more information.
A chime will sound if the driver door is opened while in
Auto Stop as a reminder that the ignition switch is not in
the LOCK/OFF position. Always turn the ignition switch
to LOCK/OFF and remove the key from the ignition
switch when exiting the vehicle.
Auto Start
The vehicle also has an Auto Start feature. The engine
will remain off while in Auto Stop mode until vehicle
conditions require the engine to run. The near-instant
starting of the engine from Auto Stop mode is called
Auto Start.
EV Mode
The vehicle also has an EV mode which uses only the
electric motor to move the vehicle. With light
acceleration, the vehicle will drive in EV mode.
EV mode is unavailable when the vehicle is out of fuel.
See Starting the Vehicle in the Two‐Mode Hybrid
supplement to the owner manual.
Regenerative Braking
Regenerative braking enables the electric drive motor to
operate as a generator when coasting or braking.
Energy from the moving vehicle recharges the hybrid
battery.
The hydraulic disc brakes work with the regenerative
braking to insure effective braking.
1-5

The braking system is computer controlled and blends
the regenerative braking with the conventional hydraulic
disc brakes to meet any requirements for deceleration.
Because the controller applies the hydraulic brakes
through its high pressure accumulator, you may
occasionally hear the motor driven pump when it
recharges the system. This is normal. In the event of a
controller problem, the brake pedal may be harder to
push and the stopping distance may be longer.
See Regenerative Braking, Warning Lights, Gages, and
Indicators and Driver Information Center (DIC) in the
owner manual.
Battery
This vehicle has a standard 12-volt battery and a
high-voltage hybrid battery. When a new standard
12-volt battery is needed, see your dealer/retailer for
one that has the replacement number shown on the
original battery's label.
Only a trained service technician with the proper
knowledge and tools should inspect, test, or replace the
hybrid battery. See your dealer/retailer if the hybrid
battery needs service. See Battery on page 6‑17.
Service
Never try to do your own service on hybrid components.
You can be injured and the vehicle can be damaged if
you try to do your own service work. Service and repair
of these hybrid components should only be performed
by a trained service technician with the proper
knowledge and tools. See Doing Your Own Service
Work on page 6‑2.
Performance and Maintenance
Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit
This vehicle has a tire sealant and compressor kit which
can be used to seal small punctures in the tread area of
the tire.
See “Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit”for complete
operating information.
1-6

Section 2 Seats and Restraint System
Restraint System Check ........................... 2-2
Replacing Restraint System Parts After a
Crash ......................................... 2-2
2-1

Restraint System Check
Replacing Restraint System Parts
After a Crash
If an airbag inflates or the vehicle has been in a crash,
the vehicle's sensing system may command the
automatic hybrid battery disconnect to open. When the
battery disconnect is open, the hybrid battery will be off
and the vehicle will not start. The airbag readiness light
and/or SERVICE HYBRID SYSTEM warning message
may come on in the Driver Information Center (DIC).
See “Airbag Readiness Light”in the owner manual and
Driver Information Center (DIC)
on page 4‑7 for more
information.
To operate the vehicle, the automatic hybrid battery
disconnect must be reconnected by a qualified service
technician and sensing system parts will need to be
replaced. Have the vehicle serviced right away.
2-2

Section 3 Features and Controls
Storage Areas ...................................... 3-2
Power Outlet Alternating Current . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Starting the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Automatic Transmission Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5
Four-Wheel Drive ............................... 3-9
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-14
Engine Coolant Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-16
Regenerative Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-17
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-17
3-1

Storage Areas
Power Outlet Alternating Current
The vehicle may have a power outlet that can be used
to plug in electrical equipment that uses a maximum
limit of 150 watts.
The power outlet is
located in the rear cargo
area on the driver side.
An indicator light on the outlet turns on to show it is in
use. The light comes on when the ignition is in ON/RUN
and equipment requiring less than 150 watts is plugged
into the outlet, and no system fault is detected.
The indicator light does not come on when the ignition
is in LOCK/OFF or if no equipment is plugged into the
outlet.
If equipment is connected using more than 150 watts,
or a system fault is detected, a protection circuit shuts
off the power supply and the indicator light turns off. To
reset the circuit, unplug the item and plug it back in or
turn the Retained Accessory Power (RAP) off and then
back on. The power restarts when equipment using
150 watts or less is plugged into the outlet and a
system fault is not detected.
The power outlet is not designed for the following
electrical equipment and may not work properly if these
items are plugged into the power outlet:
.Equipment with high initial peak wattage such as:
compressor-driven refrigerators and electric power
tools.
.Other equipment requiring an extremely stable
power supply such as: microcomputer-controlled
electric blankets, touch sensor lamps, etc.
See High Voltage Devices and Wiring on page 6‑3.
3-2

Starting and Operating Your
Vehicle
Starting the Vehicle
{WARNING:
Exiting the vehicle, without first shifting into
P (Park), may cause the vehicle to move, and you
or others can be seriously injured. Because the
vehicle has the Automatic Engine Start/Stop
feature, the vehicle’s engine might seem to be
shut off when you come to a complete stop.
However, once the brake pedal is released, the
vehicle can move. The vehicle’s engine can also
restart at any time.
Shift to P (Park) and turn the ignition to
LOCK/OFF, before exiting the vehicle.
Start the engine as you would any other engine. See
“Starting the Engine”in the owner manual for more
information on starting. If pulling a trailer with trailer
brakes, see Towing a Trailer
on page 5‑8 for more
information.
Auto Stop
The vehicle has an Auto Stop feature. After a
successful engine start, the engine may turn off and
operate in the Auto Stop mode. Some of the vehicle
conditions that allow the engine to stop running and
enter the Auto Stop mode are:
.Ignition switch is in the ON/RUN position.
.The hood is closed.
.The gear selector is in P (Park), R (Reverse),
N (Neutral) or D (Drive).
.The hybrid battery is at an acceptable state of
charge.
.The hybrid battery voltage, temperature or power
limits are not exceeded. In very hot conditions,
Auto Stop may be unavailable until the hybrid
battery has cooled.
.The engine is at operating temperature.
.The vehicle may enter Auto Stop after a remote
vehicle start.
3-3

If you are on an incline, the hybrid drive motor can help
keep the vehicle from rolling backwards, even if the
engine is in Auto Stop.
With your foot off the brake and the vehicle on level
ground, the hybrid drive motor may cause the vehicle to
roll slowly forward, even when the engine is in
Auto Stop.
Keep your foot firmly on the brake pedal until you are
ready for the vehicle to move.
Engine OFF and AUTO STOP modes are indicated on
the tachometer display. When the tachometer needle
indicates OFF, the engine is not running and will remain
off until the ignition key is placed in the START position
or a remote vehicle start is performed. When the
tachometer needle indicates AUTO STOP, the hybrid
system is on, the engine is not running, but may Auto
Start at any time without notice. See Tachometer
on
page 4‑4
for more information.
A chime will sound if the driver door is opened while in
Auto Stop as a reminder that the ignition switch is not in
the LOCK/OFF position. Always turn the ignition switch
to LOCK/OFF and remove the key from the ignition
switch when exiting the vehicle.
Auto Start
The vehicle also has an Auto Start feature. The engine
will remain off while in Auto Stop mode until vehicle
conditions require the engine to run. The near-instant
starting of the engine from Auto Stop mode is called
Auto Start. Some of the vehicle conditions that may
cause the engine to Auto Start are:
.The hood is opened.
.The gear selector is in M (Manual Mode).
.The hybrid battery state of charge is too low.
.The hybrid battery voltage, temperature or power
limits are exceeded.
.A remote vehicle start has been requested.
.The engine is not at operating temperature.
.Acceleration demands require the use of the
engine.
3-4

EV Mode
The vehicle also has an Electric Vehicle (EV) mode
which uses only the electric motor to move the vehicle.
With light acceleration, the vehicle will drive in
EV mode. EV mode is unavailable when the vehicle is
out of fuel.
If increased acceleration is required, or the vehicle
reaches approximately 40 km/h (30 mph), the engine will
start automatically. The engine shuts off at speeds
below 40 km/h (25 mph) unless the transmission is in
M (Manual Mode) or Auto Stop is disabled.
During heavy acceleration, both the engine and
hybrid electric motors supply power. A sensation similar
to a transmission gear change can be felt as the
transmission changes modes. Engine RPM may remain
above 4,000 RPM for a longer period during hard
acceleration.
Automatic Transmission Operation
The vehicle has an electronic shift position indicator
within the instrument panel cluster.
There are several different positions for the shift lever.
See “Range Selection Mode”later in this section.
P (Park) : This position locks the rear wheels. It is the
best position to use when you start the engine because
the vehicle cannot move easily.
3-5

When parked on a hill, especially when the vehicle has
a heavy load, you may notice an increase in the effort to
shift out of P (Park). See “Shifting Into P (Park)”in the
Index of vehicle's owner manual for more information.
{WARNING:
It is dangerous to get out of the vehicle if the shift
lever is not fully in P (Park) with the parking brake
firmly 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). See Shifting Into
Park in the Owner Manual. If you are pulling a
trailer, see Towing a Trailer on page 5‑8.
{WARNING:
If you have Four-Wheel Drive, the vehicle will be
free to roll —even if the shift lever is in
P (Park) —if the transfer case is in Neutral. So, be
sure the transfer case is in a drive gear,
Two-Wheel Drive High or Four-Wheel Drive High
or Four-Wheel Drive Low —not in Neutral. See
“Shifting Into Park”in the Owner Manual.
R (Reverse) : Use this gear to back up.
Notice: Shifting to R (Reverse) while the vehicle is
moving forward could damage the transmission.
The repairs would not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Shift to R (Reverse) only after the vehicle
is stopped.
To rock the vehicle back and forth to get out of snow,
ice, or sand without damaging the transmission, see “If
Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow”in the
Index of the vehicle's owner manual.
N (Neutral) : In this position, the engine and
transmission are not connected with the wheels. To
restart the engine when the vehicle is already moving,
use N (Neutral) only.
3-6

{WARNING:
Shifting into a drive gear while the engine is
running at high speed is dangerous. Unless your
foot is firmly on the brake pedal, the vehicle could
move very rapidly. You could lose control and hit
people or objects. Do not shift into a drive gear
while the engine is running at high speed.
Notice: Shifting out of P (Park) or N (Neutral) with
the engine running at high speed may damage the
transmission. The repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Be sure the engine is not
running at high speed when shifting the vehicle.
D (Drive) : This position is for normal driving. It provides
the best fuel economy. If you need more power for
passing, and you are:
.Going less than about 35 mph (55 km/h), push the
accelerator pedal about halfway down.
.Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push the
accelerator all the way down.
D (Drive) or M (Manual Mode) can be used when towing
a trailer, carrying a heavy load, driving on steep hills,
or for off-road driving. You may want to 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”
under “Loss of Control”in the owner manual for more
information.
When temperatures are very cold, the transmission's
gear shifting may be delayed, providing more stable
shifts until the engine warms up. Shifts may be more
noticeable with a cold transmission. This difference in
shifting is normal.
M (Manual Mode) : This position lets drivers select the
range of gears appropriate for current driving
conditions. If the vehicle has this feature, see “Range
Selection Mode”later in this section.
Notice: 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 you are stuck, do
not spin the tires. When stopping on a hill, use the
brakes to hold the vehicle in place.
The vehicle has a shift stabilization feature that adjusts
the transmission shifting to the current driving
conditions to reduce rapid upshifts and downshifts.
If the shift stabilization feature determines that a current
vehicle speed cannot be maintained, the transmission
does not upshift. In some cases, this may appear to be
a delayed shift, however the transmission is operating
normally.
3-7

Range Selection Mode
The Range Selection Mode controls the vehicle's
transmission.
To use this feature:
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.
A number displays next to the M, indicating the current
gear that has been selected. The number displayed in
the gear indicator is the highest gear that can be used.
The vehicle can automatically shift to lower gears as it
adjusts to driving conditions. When 3 (Third) is selected,
1 (First) through 3 (Third) gears are automatically shifted
by the vehicle, but 4 (Fourth) cannot be used until it is
selected.
The Range Selection Mode controls the vehicle and
engine speed while driving down a hill or towing a
trailer, by allowing you to select a desired range of
gears.
When you move the shift lever into M, the transmission
will default to M4. In this gear range, effective engine
braking occurs at speeds above 45 mph (72 km/h).
Pushing the minus (−) button on the shift lever reduces
the gear range.
In the M3 gear range, effective engine braking occurs at
speeds above 35 mph (56 km/h).
In the M2 gear range, effective engine braking occurs at
speeds above 25 mph (40 km/h).
In the M1 gear range, effective engine braking occurs at
speeds above 10 mph (16 km/h).
When operating in M (Manual Mode), Auto Stop is
disabled. For better vehicle efficiency, operate the
vehicle in D (Drive) not M (Manual Mode).
Cruise control can be used while using the Range
Selection Mode.
3-8