The new all-electric 2025 ESCALADE IQ and new 2025 Escalade and Escalade ESV deliver a truly luxurious passenger experience with inspiring design, craftsmanship and technology. These full-size SUVs offer a number of innovative features, including an available power open-and-close exterior door entry system (RPO APD) on the ESCALADE IQ and a power-assist exterior door system (RPO with R6W) on the Escalade and Escalade ESV.
Power Door Operation
The power door system (RPO APD) available on the ESCALADE IQ enables each side door to power open or close with a touch of a button. (Fig. 21) Simply press and release the touchpad on the exterior door handle and the door will power open hands free. Press the touchpad again and the door will power close. When in motion, the door automatically slows down prior to fully opening or closing.
Fig. 21
The power doors can be set to open slightly, midway, to the maximum opening, or manually. To change the settings, go to Settings > Vehicle > Doors and Locks > Power Doors on the infotainment screen.
The power doors are always power assisted, even when operated manually. To operate a door manually, press the touchpad on the exterior door handle while pulling or pushing the door. Pulling the door handle fully also will mechanically release the latch, allowing the door to be opened.
For added convenience, the driver’s door can be set to automatically close when the driver presses the brake to start the ESCALADE IQ.
To operate a power door from inside the vehicle, lightly pull the interior door handle or use the Front Command Center controls. (Fig. 22)
Fig. 22
With the Front Command Center console, users can open all doors individually or close all doors individually or simultaneously. If equipped, the Rear Command Center console also can be used to open or close the rear doors.
TIP: In the Service Information, the Front Command Center is referred to as the A26 Heater and A/C User Interface Control and the Rear Command Center is referred to as the A34 Heater and A/C Auxiliary Control.
If opening a rear door from the inside when it is locked, the first pull of the interior door handle will unlock the door and the second pull will power open the door.
Power Assist Operation
The power-assist exterior door system (RPO APD with R6W) available on the Escalade and Escalade ESV offers power-assisted door opening and closing. (Fig. 23) It features the same hardware as the power door system, but it currently does not provide fully automatic power opening and closing operation. Each side door must be physically opened and closed, but the power assist functionality will aid in making it easier to operate the doors. A future software update is planned that will enable the system to provide full power door operation.
Fig. 23
Both power door and power-assist door systems include a motorized door check-link assembly. The motorized door check-link assembly acts as the door check link to hold the door in position when open. Unlike a manual door with two detent positions, the door has infinite detent positions so that when the door is opened, the motorized door check link assembly holds the door in the position where the door stops.
If the door is being held in an open position and it needs to be moved further open or closed, some additional effort will be needed to overcome the motorized door check link and then the door will move with power assist.
The door opening and closing will feel differently on Escalade models built with power assisted doors (APD with R6W) compared to vehicles without the system. Also, the operation of the power-assisted front doors will feel differently than the power-assisted rear doors because of the size and proportion of the doors. Again, this is normal. If there is a customer concern regarding door opening or closing efforts, do not compare front door effort to the rear door effort.
TIP: Do not attempt to reprogram the doors or vehicle unless there is a repeatable current DTC. If history DTCs are present and there are not any specific door issues, do not attempt a repair.
Refer to #PIT6291B for more information.
Power Door System Components
The power side door system (RPO APD) consists of the following main components in each side door:
- Side Door Access Control Modules
- Side door actuators and side door position sensors (sensors are part of the side door actuators)
- Side door latches
- Side door latch cinch actuators and cables
- Side door object detection sensor (one in each side door exterior door handle)
- Side door exterior unlock/unlatch switches (one in each exterior door handle)
- Side door interior door handle switches (one in each side door interior door handle)
- Front side door window control switches (contain the front door lock and unlock switches)
- Rear side door window switches (contain the rear door lock and unlock switches)
Other related components include:
- Body Control Module
- Lighting Control Module
TIP: During service, do not attempt to turn the door chime off by manually flipping the door latch fork to the lock position. Moving the latch fork manually with the door open will cause a “Service Door” message to appear in the instrument cluster and will not cancel the door chime.
Operating Tips
As with any new technology, operating the ESCALADE IQ’s power doors may require a change in user behavior. Each door features obstacle detection (a radar sensor is located in the exterior door handle) that will stop the door automatically. (Fig. 24)
When opening a door, the user should press the touchpad on the exterior door handle and, as the door starts to open, step rearward of the door; otherwise, the door may stop if the system identifies the user standing in front of the door as an obstacle.
Fig. 24
If the door stops and the user inadvertently presses the touchpad on the door handle again to further open the door, the door will instead automatically close. (Fig. 25)
By pressing the door handle touchpad once to open or close the door, and then stepping back to provide enough space for the door to open, the power doors will operate properly and provide added convenience and personalization for owners.
Fig. 25
The Side Door Access Control Module continuously monitors power door operation and calculates its location and direction of travel for both the opening and closing sequences. If an object is detected during a power open cycle, the Side Door Access Control Module will turn off the drive unit actuator to prevent the door from contacting the object. The sensors may not detect objects that are very close (within 10 inches, 25 cm) of the vehicle. If an obstacle is detected near the door or the door is blocked, a warning will be displayed on the center console(s).
During an opening or closing cycle, if the power door makes physical contact with an obstacle, the door will slightly reverse in the opposite direction.
If a door is left open, the power assist will hold the door at the same position.
If electrical power is lost, fully pulling the interior release handle will unlatch the door and allow it to be manually opened. It may require more effort to open the door without the power assist.
For a closer look at power door and power-assist door operation, check out the January Emerging Issues Seminar 10225.01V.
– Thanks to Mark Shearer and Mike Waszczenko
