2023 Cadillac Escalade ESV Lightning Instructions

The advanced lighting system in the 2023 Cadillac Escalade ESV is a sign of both style and safety, taking the driving experience to a whole new level. This cutting-edge lighting technology not only makes the car look better, but it’s also very important for driver safety and sight, day or night. The 2023 Escalade ESV has a lot of different ways to light up, from the beautiful LED lighting on the outside to the adaptable lighting and ambient lighting inside. This detailed guide will show you how to use and customize the lighting system in your 2023 Cadillac Escalade ESV so that you can get the most out of this state-of-the-art technology and make your trips safer, more stylish, and more clearly lit.

Lighting

Exterior Lighting

Exterior Lamp Controls

The exterior lamp control is on the turn signal lever. Turn the control to the following positions:

turns the exterior lamps off and deactivates the AUTO mode. Turn to O again to reactivate the AUTO mode.
For vehicles first sold in Canada, the headlamps will automatically reactivate when the vehicle is shifted out of P (Park).
AUTO: Automatically turns the exterior lamps on and off, depending on outside lighting.
turns on all lamps, except the headlamps.
Turn on the headlamps together with the parking lamps and instrument panel lights.

IntelliBeam System
If equipped, this system turns the vehicle’s high-beam headlamps on and off according to surrounding traffic conditions. The system turns the high-beam headlamps on when it is dark enough and there is no other traffic present. This light comes on in the instrument cluster when the IntelliBeam system is enabled.

Turning On and Enabling IntelliBeam
To enable the IntelliBeam system, press on the turn signal lever when it is dark outside and the exterior lamp control is in AUTO or .

Driving with IntelliBeam
The system only activates the high beams when driving over 40 km/h (25 mph). The blue high-beam light appears on the instrument cluster when the high beams are on.
There is a sensor near the top center of the windshield that automatically controls the system. Keep this area of the windshield clear of debris to allow for the best system performance. The high-beam headlamps remain on, under automatic control, until one of the following situations occurs:

• The system detects an approaching vehicle’s headlamps.
• The system detects a preceding vehicle’s taillamps.
• The outside light is bright enough that high-beam headlamps are not required.
• The vehicle’s speed drops below 20 km/h (12 mph).
• The IntelliBeam system is disabled by the button on the turn signal lever. If this happens, press the turn signal lever when the exterior lamp control is in the AUTO or position to reactivate the IntelliBeam system. The instrument cluster light will come on to indicate the IntelliBeam system is reactivated.

The high beams may not turn off automatically if the system cannot detect another vehicle’s lamps because of any of the following:

• The other vehicle’s lamps are missing, damaged, obstructed from view, or otherwise undetected.
• The other vehicle’s lamps are covered with dirt, snow, and/or road spray.
• The other vehicle’s lamps cannot be detected due to dense exhaust, smoke, fog, snow, road spray, mist, or other airborne obstructions.
• The vehicle’s windshield is dirty, cracked, or obstructed by something that blocks the view of the light sensor.
• The vehicle is loaded such that the front end points upward, causing the light sensor to aim high and not detect headlamps and taillamps.
• The vehicle is being driven on winding or hilly roads.

The automatic high-beam headlamps may need to be disabled if any of the above conditions exist.

Adaptive Headlight System
If equipped, the adaptive headlight system allows the high beam to function as the main driving light at night. There is a sensor near the top center of the windshield that automatically detects the lights of oncoming and preceding vehicles. Keep this area of the windshield clear of debris to allow for best system performance. The system turns on all the high-beam headlamp LED segments when it is dark enough and there is no other traffic present. This light displays on the instrument cluster when the Adaptive Headlight system is enabled.

Turning On and Enabling the Adaptive Headlight System

To enable the Adaptive Headlight system, press on the turn signal lever when it is dark outside and the exterior lamp control is in AUTO or .

Driving with an Adaptive Headlight System
The system only activates the high beams when driving over 40 km/h (25 mph). Individual segments of the headlamp high beam fade out according to the traffic situation, preventing high-beam light from glaring oncoming or preceding traffic. This gives the best light distribution without glaring at other road users. The adaptive headlight system remains on until one of the following situations occurs:

• The fog lamps are turned on.
• The outside light is bright enough that high-beam headlamps are not required.
• The vehicle speed drops below approximately 20 km/h (12 mph).
• The Adaptive headlight system is disabled by the button on the turn signal lever. To reactivate the system, press the turn signal lever when the exterior lamp control is in the AUTO or position. The instrument cluster light will appear to indicate the adaptive headlight system is reactivated.

The high beams may not turn off automatically if the system cannot detect other vehicles’ lamps because of any of the following:

• The other vehicle lamps are missing, damaged, obstructed from view, or otherwise undetected.
• The other vehicle lamps are covered with dirt, snow, and/or road spray.
• The other vehicle lamps cannot be detected due to dense exhaust, smoke, fog, snow, road spray, mist, or other airborne obstructions.
• The vehicle windshield is dirty, cracked, or obstructed by something that blocks the view of the light sensor.
• The vehicle is loaded in a way that the front end points upward, causing the light sensor to aim high and not detect headlamps and taillamps.
• The vehicle is being driven on winding or hilly roads.

The adaptive headlight system may need to be disabled if any of the above conditions exist.

Exterior Lamps Off Reminder
If a door is open, a reminder chime sounds when the headlamps or parking lamps are manually turned on and the vehicle is off. To turn off the chime, turn the exterior lamp control off or AUTO and then back on, or close and re-open the door. In the AUTO mode, the headlamps turn off once the vehicle is off or remain on until the headlamp delay ends (if enabled in the DIC). Touch the Settings icon on the infotainment home page. Select Vehicle>Lighting to display the list of available settings.

Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
Push the turn signal lever away from you and release it to turn the high beams on. To return to low beams, push the lever again or pull it toward you and release it. When the high-beam headlamps are on, this indicator light on the instrument cluster will also be on.

Flash-to-Pass
This feature lets you use the high-beam headlamps to signal a driver in front of you that you want to pass. It works even if the headlamps are in the automatic position. To use it, pull the turn signal lever toward you, then release it. The high-beam headlamps will stay on as long as you hold the lever toward you. The high-beam indicator on the instrument cluster will come on. Release the lever to return to normal operation.

Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
DRL can make it easier for others to see the front of the vehicle during the day. Fully functional DRLs are required on all vehicles first sold in Canada. The DRL system comes on when the following conditions are met:

• The ignition is on.
• The exterior lamp control is in AUTO.
• The light sensor determines if it is daytime.

When the DRL system is on, only the DRL is on. The taillamps, side marker lamps, instrument panel lights, and other lamps will not be on. When it begins to get dark, the automatic headlamp system switches from DRL to the headlamps. To turn off the DRL, turn the exterior lamp control to O and then release it. For vehicles first sold in Canada, off will only work when the vehicle is parked.

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, side markers, parking lamps, and instrument panel lights. The radio lights will also be dim. To turn off the automatic headlamp system, turn the exterior lamp control to and then release it. The vehicle has a light sensor on the top of the instrument panel that controls the automatic headlamp system. Do not cover the sensor, otherwise, the headlamps may come on when they are not needed. The system may also turn on the headlamps when driving through a parking garage, heavy overcast weather, or a tunnel. This is normal. There is a delay in the transition between the daytime and nighttime operation of the automatic headlamp system, so driving under bridges or bright overhead street lights does not affect the system. The automatic headlamp system is only affected when the light sensor detects a change in lighting lasting longer than the delay. If the vehicle is started in a dark garage, the automatic headlamp system will come on immediately. Once the vehicle leaves the garage, there is a slight delay for the automatic headlamp system to change if it is bright enough outside. During that delay, the instrument cluster may not be as bright as usual. Make sure the instrument panel brightness control is in the full bright position.
To idle the vehicle with the automatic headlamp system off, turn the control to the off position. The headlamps will also stay on after you exit the vehicle. The regular headlamp system can be turned on when needed.

Lights On with Wipers
If the windshield wipers are activated in daylight with the engine on, and the exterior lamp control is in AUTO, the headlamps, parking lamps, and other exterior lamps come on. The transition time for the lamps coming on varies based on the wiper speed. When the wipers are not operating, these lamps turn off. Move the exterior lamp control to or; disable this feature.

Adaptive Forward Lighting (AFL)
If equipped with the AFL system, the high-beam headlamps move horizontally while turning the steering wheel to provide greater road illumination around curves.

To activate AFL, set the exterior lamp control to auto or position, and the adaptive headlight system is active. To adjust the AFL setting, go to the infotainment home screen and select Settings > Vehicle > Lighting. Moving the exterior lamp controls out of the Auto or position will deactivate the system. The high-beam headlamps can move horizontally when the vehicle speed is greater than 3 km/h (2 mph). Headlamps will not move horizontally when the transmission is in R (Reverse). If equipped, the AFL system automatically modifies the low-beam lighting patterns to the situation to enable optimal light performance for the driver. Light distribution and intensity of low-beam light are controlled based on exterior lighting conditions, vehicle location, and driving situations.

Town Light
If equipped, the town light activates automatically at a speed of 30 km/h (18 mph) up to 55 km/h (34 mph). The light is wide and symmetrical. The special beam pattern is designed to prevent glare for other road users.

Country Light
If equipped, the country light activates automatically at a speed above 55 km/h (34 mph). The illumination of the current lane and the side of the road is improved, reducing glare to oncoming and preceding vehicles.

Freeway/Motorway Light
If equipped, when driving faster than 90 km/h (55 mph) on freeways, the low-beam illumination is smaller and extended.

Adverse Weather Light
If equipped, the adverse weather light activates automatically when driving in adverse weather conditions (heavy rain, snow, sleet, freezing rain, etc.). The illumination is shifted more to the side of the road to highlight road signs and reduce glare caused by the reflection of wet roads.

Maneuvering Light
If equipped, the maneuvering light activates automatically at speeds less than 7 km/h (4 mph) when the vehicle is in R (reverse). The maneuvering light illumination improves parking and maneuvering situations.

Headlamp Leveling Control
Automatic Headlamp Leveling
If equipped, to reduce the glare to other drivers, the headlamp inclination level adjusts automatically based on vehicle load.

Hazard Warning Flashers

: Press to make the front and rear turn signal lamps flash on and off. Press again to turn the flashers off.
When the hazard warning flashers are on, the vehicle’s turn signals will not work.

Turn and change signals
An arrow on the instrument cluster flashes in the direction of the turn or lane change. Move the turn signal lever all the way up or down to signal a turn. Raise or lower the lever for less than one second until the arrow starts to flash to signal a lane change. This causes the turn signals to automatically flash three times. It will flash six times if the Tow/Haul Mode is active. Holding the turn signal lever for more than one second will cause the turn signals to flash until the lever is released. The lever returns to its starting position whenever it is released. If after signaling a turn or a lane change the arrows flash rapidly or do not come on, a signal bulb could be burned out. Replace any burned-out bulbs. If a bulb is not burned out, check the fuse.

Turn the Signal On the Chime
If the turn signal is left on for more than 1.2 km (0.75 mi), a chime sounds at each flash of the turn signal. The message TURN SIGNAL ON will also appear in the Driver Information Center (DIC). To turn the chime and message off, move the turn signal lever to the off position.

Cornering Lamps
If equipped with cornering lamps, they automatically come on when all of the following occur:

• The low-beam headlamps are on.
• The turn signals are activated or the steering wheel is at a turning angle.
• The vehicle speed is below 40 km/h (25 mph).

Interior Lighting

Instrument Panel Illumination Control
This feature adjusts the brightness of all illuminated controls.
: Move the thumbwheel up or down to brighten or dim the lights. The thumbwheel is functional at night, or when the headlamps or parking lamps are ON.

Interior Lamps
Interior Ambient Lighting
If equipped, this feature allows the color of the interior lighting in the vehicle to be chosen. To access, press on the infotainment
controls, then touch AMBIENT LIGHTING to display the settings screen. Touch to select from the following:

• OFF: Turns the feature off.
• ON: Turns the feature on. Ambient lighting provides the ability to customize the color and intensity of the interior accent lighting. Choose the color on the display screen to make changes to the interior lighting color.
• DEMO MODE: When the shift lever is in P (Park), touch to turn the feature on in colors chosen by the vehicle. When the shift lever is not in P (Park), the interior color will default to the last active color selected.
• LINK TO DRIVE MODE: The light color is matched to the color being used for the drive mode.

Dome Lamps
There are dome lamps in the overhead console and the headliner. The dome lamps come on when any door is opened, the remote key is pressed, or when the vehicle is turned off. To change the dome lamp settings, press the following:

OFF: Press to turn off the dome lamps. An indicator light on the button will turn on when the dome lamp override is activated. Press OFF again to deactivate this feature and the indicator light turns off. Press and hold any of the overhead console lenses to turn all dome lamps on or off manually.

Reading Lamps
There are reading lamps on the overhead console and over the rear seats. These lamps come on when any door is opened.

Front Reading Lamps
The front reading lamps are in the overhead console. Press the lamp lenses to turn the front reading lamps on or off.

Rear Reading Lamps
The rear reading lamps are over the rear seats.
Press the lens on each reading lamp to turn it on or off.

Lighting Features
Entry Lighting
The interior lamps turn on when pressing the remote key or opening any doors, and the dome lamp control is in the door position. Some exterior lamps also turn on when pressing on the remote key or opening any doors. Low-Beam lamps will only turn on briefly at night, or in areas with limited lighting. All lamps will gradually fade out after about 30 seconds. Entry lighting can be disabled manually by closing all doors, pressing the remote key, or starting the vehicle. This feature can be changed. On the infotainment home page, select the Settings icon > Vehicle > Vehicle Locator Lights.

Exit Lighting
Some exterior lamps and interior lamps turn on when the driver door is opened after the vehicle is turned off. The exterior and interior lamps remain on for a set amount of time, and then automatically turn off. The interior lights turn on when the vehicle is turned off. The exterior lamps turn off immediately by turning the exterior lamp control off. This feature can be changed. On the infotainment home screen, select the Settings icon > Vehicle > Exit Lighting.

Battery Load Management
The vehicle has Electric Power Management (EPM), which estimates the battery’s temperature and state of charge. It then adjusts the voltage for best performance and extended life of the battery. When the battery’s state of charge is low, the voltage is raised slightly to quickly bring the charge back up. When the state of charge is high, the voltage is lowered slightly to prevent overcharging. The voltmeter gauge or the voltage display on the Driver Information Center (DIC), if equipped, may show the voltage moving up or down. This is normal. If there is a problem, an alert will be displayed. The battery can be discharged at idle if the electrical loads are very high. This is true for all vehicles. This is because the generator (alternator) may not be spinning fast enough at idle to produce all the power that is needed for very high electrical loads. A high electrical load occurs when several of the following are, such as headlamps, high beams, fog lamps, rear window defoggers, climate control fans at high speed, heated seats, engine cooling fans, trailer loads, and loads plugged into accessory power outlets. EPM works to prevent excessive discharge of the battery. It does this by balancing the generator’s output and the vehicle’s electrical needs. It can increase engine idle speed to generate more power, whenever needed. It can temporarily reduce the power demands of some accessories. Normally, these actions occur in steps or levels, without being noticeable. In rare cases at the highest levels of corrective action, this action may be noticeable to the driver. If so, a DIC message might be displayed and it is recommended that the driver reduce the electrical loads as much as possible.

Battery Power Protection
This feature helps prevent the battery from being drained if the interior courtesy lamps or reading lamps are accidentally left on. If any of these lamps are left on, they automatically turn off after 10 minutes, if the ignition is off. The lamps will not  come back on again until one of the following occurs:

• The ignition is turned on.
• The doors are closed and then re-opened.

Exterior Lighting Battery Saver
The exterior lamps turn off about 10 minutes after the vehicle is turned off if the parking lamps or headlamps have been manually left on. This protects against draining the battery. To restart the 10-minute timer, turn the exterior lamp control to the position and then back to the or position. To keep the lamps on for more than 10 minutes, the vehicle must be on or in accessory mode.

FAQ’s