Bit the bullet and bought a 2015 Escalade ESV - Now I have a bunch of quesions?

[Vector]

I was leaning toward a Denali XL, but had a deal too good to pass up on a 2015 ESV.
I was under the impression that a Luxury edition had most of the options, but my knowledge of when certain options became available is lacking.

1) One thing I am not sure about is whether it has an 8 speed tranny or a 6 speed (I've read where early production 2015's were manufactured with the 6 speed), but I am not certain of that, how to tell, or the date cut off?

2) Now for some observations and questions related to this one. When looking at various Escalades/Denali's, I notice some center console lids had what looked to be loose leather, almost like excess skin on a dog that is not taut. This one has a great conditioned interior, with the exception of the center console which has loose leather and the lid is not tight.
Any reason this is the case on not only mine, but others I have looked at?

3) I am not sure what year the wireless charging was offered in Escalades, but since mine does not have it, can it be added with exchanging the center console lid?

4) Also, certain Escalades seem to have the rear kick feature where the liftgate will rise automatically when you wave your foot under the rear bumper, provided you have the fob. Was that on later years or a different package than what I have with the Luxury package?

5) What is up with the battery in these things. The one I bought had a dead battery that did take a charge. I was going to swap the Optima Yellow Top from my 2007 into it, and instead of just the two top posts and one side post connection, this thing (as you guys in the know are aware of) has at least 6 more connections.
I can only imagine what a replacement battery would cost, but I suspect some of you have alternatives?

6) I have only one remote/keyfob, so other than the dealer, any place/vendor you'll typically go to get another?

Needless to say if some of you only reply with a couple of answers you know about to my multitude questions, I'd appreciate it.

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[Doubeleive]

I don't know what the rpo code is for 6 or 8 speed transmission but I think a very easy way to tell is to look at your shifter handle at the +/- control and see if it allows you to shift 1-6 or 1-8, I think they added the automatic rear lift gate feature in 2016 but I could be wrong, haven't seen a battery with 6 connectors?? are you sure that you are not just seeing additional connections on the positive cable? my 2012 has like 4 but there is still only 2 post's on the battery, remote fobs can be found on amazon or ebay and many other places cheaper than from the dealer still has to be programmed though.

 

[Tahoe14]

Should be a 15.5 which was produced after 10-15-14 (drivers door frame sticker). Easy way to tell should be the center console charging pad, will also have the kick open tail gate and 4g lite.

 

[Vector]

I don't know what the rpo code is for 6 or 8 speed transmission but I think a very easy way to tell is to look at your shifter handle at the +/- control and see if it allows you to shift 1-6 or 1-8, I think they added the automatic rear lift gate feature in 2016 but I could be wrong, haven't seen a battery with 6 connectors?? are you sure that you are not just seeing additional connections on the positive cable? my 2012 has like 4 but there is still only 2 post's on the battery, remote fobs can be found on amazon or ebay and many other places cheaper than from the dealer still has to be programmed though.

I will try your suggestion on the shifting (6 vs 8), however the next posters comment has me worried.

In regard to the battery, there is a cover over the section closest to the engine, but it has a multitude of individual cables attached to bolts which seem to feed into another cable going directly to the positive terminal. If someone has a picture great, otherwise I can try to take a picture myself in the coming days.

In regard to the programming a new remote, is this strictly something a dealer must do, or can the owners follow XYZ and program it?

 

[Doubeleive]

yes the positive cable has a longer metal portion on it with fuses and other leads coming off of it and it has a rubber cover to protect you from accidently grounding out anything to it, but it will still be a standard 2 post battery, the key fob has to be done by the dealer or some locksmiths might have the electronics to do it if they are keeping up with the times, these 15+ are all locked up with cryptographic security now

 

[Vector]

Should be a 15.5 which was produced after 10-15-14 (drivers door frame sticker). Easy way to tell should be the center console charging pad, will also have the kick open tail gate and 4g lite.

As I alluded to in the previous post, I am worried based on your information, mine may not be an 8 speed transmission. This despite the ad from this dealer claiming the one I bought had an 8 speed transmission. The salesman said as much also.
My manufacture date on the inner door sill (so low and recessed compared to the typical placement it is obscured to the point I didn't even see it) is 06/14.
While I am not sure what the 4g lite is, I do not have the center console charging pad, nor the kick open tail gate.
Since I mentioned to the person who made my appointment and to the salesman who showed me several choices (two Escalades & one Denali) that I was looking for & willing to pay more for the 6.2 engine, the 8 speed transmission, and magnetic suspension, it looks like I might not have the tranny I thought I paid for.

 

[Vector]

yes the positive cable has a longer metal portion on it with fuses and other leads coming off of it and it has a rubber cover to protect you from accidently grounding out anything to it, but it will still be a standard 2 post battery, the key fob has to be done by the dealer or some locksmiths might have the electronics to do it if they are keeping up with the times, these 15+ are all locked up with cryptographic security now

This is what it looks like;

 

[Doubeleive]

yes that's just a cover and lead to power more electronics in the vehicle, the regular battery is under that plastic plate/cover

 

[Tahoe14]

4g lite is the wi-fi hotspot in your vehicle offered through on-star. According to my Google search the 15.5 offered 8-speed, wi-fi, phone charging pad, kick open tail gate and 360 view camera. You lost out on a lot and I would be talking to the GM at the Dealer you purchased the Escalade from.

 

[Doubeleive]

here is a no-brainer guide on how to replace the battery on the 2015+ trucks
https://www.carcarekiosk.com/video/...n_LT_5.3L_V8_FlexFuel/battery/replace_battery

 

[Doubeleive]

did you get or look at the window sticker? it should have a breakdown of the features on the vehicle, also you can put the vin into numerous websites to get all the details of that vehicle.

 

[Doubeleive]

I looked for months for the 2012 I bought to be sure I got all the features I wanted, after doing all this I flew to vegas to pick it up only to discover it was probably the only Denali on the planet without a sunroof, I was so pissed at myself for not asking because every single other one I had looked at had the sunroof, luckily they had another one on the lot different color but had what I wanted.

 

[Vector]

4g lite is the wi-fi hotspot in your vehicle offered through on-star. According to my Google search the 15.5 offered 8-speed, wi-fi, phone charging pad, kick open tail gate and 360 view camera. You lost out on a lot and I would be talking to the GM at the Dealer you purchased the Escalade from.

It would seem as if what I thought was a good deal based on price and condition of the Escalade ESV might have been deceptive advertising. Frankly, I was not aware of the wi-fi aspect, but the rest I made mention of and asked questions about.
Yes, it is a 2015 4WD with sunroof and a 6.2, but I kept mentioning to the salesman how it should have a functioning phone charging pad and the kick open tailgate. He placed his phone on the pad to see if it started charging, and it did not. We tried the kick feature on the test portion in a parking lot, but it did not lift the gate.
He speculated those items were either not working and/or were on a different level package (i.e. the premium package, not the luxury). However, "buying the extended warranty would result in those items being fixed if they were not working".
Though I seemed to know more generally about Escalades than he did, I assumed that the written claims in the ad were accurate regarding the 8 speed transmission(which was an important factor in me moving up from a regular Yukon XL or a Suburban). Heck my posts in this forum indicated the same prior to me ever setting foot on their lot.

 

[Vector]

did you get or look at the window sticker? it should have a breakdown of the features on the vehicle, also you can put the vin into numerous websites to get all the details of that vehicle.

It did not have a sticker with features, only the internet ad listing it's options/features/cost. Though the ad has already been taken down, it clearly said 8 speed transmission.

 

[Doubeleive]

type your vin into this and it will atleast tell you if is it s 8 speed or not, the rest they charge a fee for, there is a GM rep on the forum that can give a build sheet but I don't have that link
https://www.autodna.com/

 

[Vector]

type your vin into this and it will atleast tell you if is it s 8 speed or not, the rest they charge a fee for, there is a GM rep on the forum that can give a build sheet but I don't have that link
https://www.autodna.com/

Thanks

It says a 6A gearbox

 

[techbiker]

Thanks

It says a 6A gearbox

Vector, time to make a decision.

Now is the time to go back to the dealer and demand a refund or forever hold your peace imo. While you can retrofit many things, a transmission swap isn't cheap or easy. I've done one myself. The 6 speed is fine (much better than the 4 speed) but it apparently isn't what you paid for.

Do you still have a copy of the ad? Any documentation stating you were getting an 8 speed? The salesman's word means nothing. If the dealer posted a false ad, they may just lie to you and claim you were notified it was a 6 speed unless you have documentation. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Vector]

Vector, time to make a decision.

Now is the time to go back to the dealer and demand a refund or forever hold your peace imo. While you can retrofit many things, a transmission swap isn't cheap or easy. I've done one myself. The 6 speed is fine (much better than the 4 speed) but it apparently isn't what you paid for.

Do you still have a copy of the ad? Any documentation stating you were getting an 8 speed? The salesman's word means nothing. If the dealer posted a false ad, they may just lie to you and claim you were notified it was a 6 speed unless you have documentation. Just my 2 cents.

I would like to think they did not do it on purpose, but their ad definitely said an 8 speed transmission. The ad for the one I have is no longer up, otherwise I'd make a screen shot of it. The other 2015 ESV I test drove ad is still there, and it's ad also says 8 speed transmission in the ad. So I just ran the VIN at the website Doubelieve posted, and it too comes back as a 6A gearbox.
Maybe they didn't know about it, but I have my suspensions at this stage, especially since I was clear with everyone about why I was only looking at Denali's & Escalades. In part because from the guy I originally spoke to over the phone, another salesguy when we arrived, and eventually our salesman, I mentioned the big three as the reason I only wanted to see Denali XL's and Escalade ESV's.
I specifically looked for it having an 8 speed, even though "I knew" they all came with one. This is because it is one of the 3 reasons I decided to spring for more and get a Denali or the Escalade, over the decked out Suburban LTZ or Yukon XL SLT. Here I thought I had done my homework, but didn't realize that there was a small number without the 8 speed and all these items missing on some 2015 Escalades. The smaller items you could assume were part of a upgraded level that you were unfamiliar with (despite my research), but not something major like a transmission.

This is a place like Car Max - Auto Nation (they will remain nameless unless they will not straighten this out) where they have every make car. The salesman was nice and friendly, but he was not that familiar with the various features. Thus when I kept telling him the charging pad and the kick rear hatch feature should be working, he speculated that if true (he didn't really think I knew what I was saying), those items could be fixed. Hence part of the reason I sprung for even more with the extended warranty. Heck I even asked the finance guy who sold it to me whether I could get a bunch of items fixed all at once at Cadillac ( with only one deductible), and he said yes, that it was a good idea on how to get my monies worth.

So yes, getting smaller items fixed is one thing, and the extra $2,800 I spent would at least cover getting it all done, plus give peace of mind for anything major in the next 38k or 3 years. However you cannot retrofit those smaller items under a warranty, much less a transmission. Sure you said it can be done, but it would be a huge expense/hassle. Trouble is that I know myself, and would likely always be bothered by spending so much and not getting what I set out to. So I guess I will have to start the new year by going down to see if they will be honorable (which will indicate it was a honest mistake), or if they tell me to pound sand.


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[sickk23]

The early build eskys also had the old emblem and smaller mirrors.

 

[Vector]

The early build eskys also had the old emblem and smaller mirrors.

I understand when new year models come out with upgrades or changes, especially cosmetic and the like. However it is typically done from year to year, not within the same model year.

Thanks for the info.