2006 Cadillac Escalade ESV Owner's Manual - Page 180

Charging System Light The charging system light will come on briefly when you turn on the ignition, but the engine is not running, as a check to show you it is working. Voltmeter Gage When your engine is not running, but the ignition is in RUN, this gage shows your battery's state of charge in DC volts. It should go out once the engine is running. If it stays on, or comes on while you are driving, you may have a problem with the charging system. It could indicate that you have problems with a generator drive belt, or another electrical problem. Have it checked right away. Driving while this light is on could drain your battery. When this light comes on the DIC will also display the battery not charging message. See DIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-54. If you must drive a short distance with the light on, be certain to turn off all your accessories, such as the radio and air conditioner. When the engine is running, the gage shows the condition of the charging system. The gage may transition from a higher to lower or a lower to higher reading, this is normal. Readings between the low and high warning zones indicate the normal operating range. Readings in the low warning zone may occur when a large number of electrical accessories are operating in the vehicle and the engine is left at an idle for an extended period. This condition is normal since the charging system is not able to provide full power at engine idle. As engine speeds are increased, this condition should correct itself as higher engine speeds allow the charging system to create maximum power. 3-38