Disclaimer: Not affiliated with or endorsed by Cadillac Motor Company. For informational purposes only. Full Disclaimer

2020 Cadillac Escalade Owners Manual - Exterior Lighting



Exterior Lighting

Exterior Lamp Controls


The exterior lamp control is on the instrument panel to the left of the steering wheel.

Turn the control to the following positions:

:Turns off the automatic headlamps and Daytime Running Lamps (DRL). Turning the headlamp control to again will turn the automatic headlamps and DRL back on.

For vehicles first sold in Canada, the off position only works when the vehicle is shifted into the P (Park) position.

AUTO : Automatically turns the exterior lamps on and off, depending on outside lighting.

: Turns on the parking lamps including all lamps, except the headlamps.

:Turns on the headlamps together with the parking lamps and instrument panel lights.

When the headlamps are turned on while the vehicle is on, the headlamps will turn off automatically 10 minutes after the ignition is turned off. When the headlamps are turned on while the vehicle is off, the headlamps will stay on for 10 minutes before automatically turning off to prevent the battery from being drained. Turn the headlamp control to off and then back to the headlamp on position to make the headlamps stay on for an additional 10 minutes.

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, activate the high/low-beam changer on then off within two seconds while 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 on light appears on the instrument cluster when the high beams are on.

There is a sensor near the top center of the windshield, which automatically controls the system. Keep this area of the windshield clear of debris to allow for best system performance.

The high-beam headlamps remain on, under the 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, pressbon the turn signal lever when the exterior lamp control is in the AUTO or 2 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.

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 ignition is off. To turn off the chime, turn the exterior lamp control 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 off or remain on until the headlamp delay ends (if enabled in the DIC).

Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer


Push the turn signal lever toward the instrument panel to change the headlamps from low to high beam.

Pull the turn signal lever toward you and release it to return to low-beam headlamps.

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.

If the headlamps are in the automatic position or on low beam, the high-beam headlamps will turn on. They 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 DRL 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 transmission is not in P (Park).
  • The light sensor determines it is daytime.

When the DRL system is on, only the DRL are on. The taillamps, sidemarker 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 and then release. 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, 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 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 that 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, it takes approximately one minute 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

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 wiper speed. When the wipers are not operating, these lamps turn off. Move the exterior lamp control to or to disable this feature.

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 Lane-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 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 Signal On 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).

Download Manual