2011 Cadillac Escalade EXT Owner's Manual - Page 362

9-42 Driving and Operating The vehicle has a shift stabilization feature that adjusts the transmission shifting to the current driving conditions in order to reduce rapid upshifts and downshifts. This shift stabilization feature is designed to determine, before making an upshift, if the engine will be able to maintain vehicle speed by analyzing things such as vehicle speed, throttle position and vehicle load. If the shift stabilization feature determines that a current vehicle speed cannot be maintained, the transmission does not upshift and instead holds the current gear. In some cases, this may appear to be a delayed shift, however the transmission is operating normally. The vehicle's transmission uses adaptive shift controls that compares key shift parameters to pre-programmed ideal shifts stored in the transmissions computer. The transmission constantly makes adjustments to improve vehicle performance according to how the vehicle is being used, such as with a heavy load or when temperature changes. During this adaptive shift controls process, shifting may feel different as the transmission determines the best settings. When temperatures are very cold, the Hydra-Matic® 6L80 automatic 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. Downshifting the transmission in slippery road conditions could result in skidding, see "Skidding" under Loss of Control on page 9‑6. M (Manual Mode): This position lets drivers select the range of gears appropriate for current driving conditions. See "Driver Shift Control (DSC)" under Manual Mode on page 9‑43. 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.