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is wrong with the fuel gage: D At the gas station, the pump shuts off before the gage


reads full.


D It takes more (or less) fuel to fill up than the gage


reads. For example, the gage reads half full, but it took more (or less) than half of the tank’s capacity to fill it.


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United States


Canada


If your fuel is low, a circular light on your instrument panel cluster will come on and stay on and a chime will sound periodically until you add fuel. It will also come on for a few seconds when you first turn on the ignition as a check to show you it’s working. If it doesn’t come on then, have it fixed.


Section 3 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems


In this section, you’ll find out how to operate the comfort control and audio systems offered with your vehicle. Be sure to read about the particular systems supplied with your vehicle.


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Comfort Controls Dual ComforTempt Climate Control Dual Automatic ComforTempt Climate Control (If Equipped) Defogging and Defrosting Rear Window Defogger Ventilation System Audio Systems Setting the Clock AM-FM Stereo AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player (If Equipped) AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player and Automatic Tone Control (If Equipped)


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AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape and Compact Disc Player with Automatic Tone Control (If Equipped) Theft-Deterrent Feature (If Equipped) Audio Steering Wheel Controls (If Equipped) Understanding Radio Reception Tips About Your Audio System Care of Your Cassette Tape Player Care of Your Compact Discs Care of Your Compact Disc Player Fixed Mass Antenna Backglass Antenna (If Equipped) Diversity Antenna System (If Equipped)


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If the airflow seems very low when the fan is adjusted to the highest setting regardless of the mode setting, your passenger compartment air filter may need to be replaced. See “Maintenance Schedule” or “Passenger Compartment Air Filter” in the Index. OFF: To turn off the fan turn the knob all the way counterclockwise to OFF.


DRIVER (Driver’s Side Temperature): The lever on the left adjusts the air temperature on the driver’s side outlets independent of the temperature set by the passenger. Slide the lever up to raise the temperature. Slide the lever down to lower the temperature.


PASSENGER (Passenger’s Side Temperature): The lever on the right adjusts the air temperature on the passenger’s side independent of the temperature set by the driver. Slide the lever up to raise the temperature. Slide the lever down to lower the temperature.


Comfort Controls Dual ComforTempt Climate Control With this system, the driver and passenger can maintain separate temperatures in their seating areas. The system works best if you keep your windows closed while using it.


FAN:


The left knob labeled FAN controls the fan speed. Turn the knob clockwise toward HI to increase fan speed and counterclockwise toward LO to decrease fan speed. The fan must be turned on for the air conditioning compressor to operate. 3-2


Mode Knob The right knob has several settings to control the direction of airflow. MAX (Maximum Air Conditioning): This setting recirculates much of the air inside your vehicle and sends it through the instrument panel outlets. The air conditioning compressor will run automatically in this setting unless the outside temperature is below 40_F (4_C). (Even when the compressor is running, you can control the temperature.) VENT (Ventilation): This setting brings in outside air and directs it through the instrument panel outlets. BI-LEV (Bi-Level): This setting brings in outside air and directs it two ways. Half of the air is directed through the instrument panel outlets. Most of the remaining air is directed through the floor ducts and a little to the defrost and side window vents. HTR (Heater): This setting sends most of the air through the ducts near the floor. The rest comes out of the defroster and side window vents.


BLEND: This setting allows half of the air to go to the floor ducts and half to the defroster and side window vents. The air conditioning compressor will run automatically in this setting unless the outside temperature is below 40_F (4_C). (Even when the compressor is running, you can control the temperature.) DEF (Defrost): This setting directs most of the air


through the defroster and side window vents. Some of the air goes to the floor ducts and the side window vents. The air conditioning compressor will run automatically in this setting unless the outside temperature is below 40_F (4_C). (Even when the compressor is running, you can control the temperature.)


A/C (Air Conditioning): Press this button to


turn the air conditioning on and off. The system will cool and dehumidify the air inside the vehicle when the A/C light is on.


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Dual Automatic ComforTempt Climate Control (If Equipped) With this system, you set a temperature. You can then either let the system automatically control airflow direction and force to maintain the temperature, or you can manually adjust it. The system works best if you keep your windows closed while using it.


Manual Control If you prefer to manually control the heating, cooling and ventilation in your vehicle, you can select airflow direction, fan speed, outside or recirculated air, air compressor and temperature operation with the following:


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AIR FLOW: This control has several settings to control the direction of airflow when the system is not in AUTO. To access the various modes available, continue to press the AIR FLOW rocker switch up or down until the desired mode appears in the display:


WINDSHIELD/FLOOR: This setting directs half of the air to the floor ducts and half to the defroster and side window vents. The air conditioning compressor will run automatically in this setting unless the outside temperature is below 40_F (4_C). MID/FLOOR (Instrument Panel/Floor): This setting directs half of the air through the instrument panel outlets. Most of the remaining air is directed through the floor ducts and a little to the defroster and side window vents. MID (Instrument Panel): This setting directs air through the instrument panel outlets. FLOOR: This setting sends most of the air through the ducts near the floor. The rest comes out of the defroster and side window vents. When in this setting and the RECIRC setting, the windows can fog up. See “RECIRC” in the Index.


FAN: Press the up arrow to increase fan speed and the down arrow to decrease fan speed. The fan must be turned on for the air conditioning compressor to operate. TEMP (Temperature): The TEMP switch sets the temperature for the entire cabin when the light on the DUAL light button isn’t lit. When the DUAL button light is lit, the TEMP switch sets the temperature for the driver only. Press the up arrow to raise the temperature and press the down arrow to lower the temperature. The display will show your selection for a few seconds, then the outside temperature will be displayed. If you push the AUTO button, the system will control the fan speed and airflow and will maintain the selected temperature. VENT: This setting turns the air conditioning compressor on and off. The indicator is lit when the compressor is turned off. Recirculation is not permitted when the compressor is off. The system will try to control the temperature automatically, but without the compressor. VENT is not permitted in FRONT defrost mode. If the VENT button is pushed while in FRONT defrost mode, the indicator will light briefly and then turn off.


RECIRC (Recirculation): This setting recirculates much of the air inside your vehicle. This setting is not permitted in FRONT defrost mode and is only permitted in WINDSHIELD/FLOOR mode if the compressor is turned on. The indicator light will be lit when recirculation is engaged, but will light briefly and then turn off if selected when not permitted. Operating the climate control system in the RECIRC mode may cause fogging of the vehicle’s windows when the weather is cold and damp. To clear the fog, switch the system to either WINDSHIELD/FLOOR or WINDSHIELD mode and increase the fan speed. To avoid re-fogging of the windows, operate the system with RECIRC off.


FRONT: This setting brings in outside air


and directs most of the air through the defrost vent. Some of the air also goes to the floor ducts and the side window defogger outlets. The indicator on the button will light and WINDSHIELD will be seen on the display. The air conditioning compressor will run automatically in this setting unless the outside temperature is below 40_F (4_C).


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PASSENGER Control: The PASSENGER CONTROL buttons with the arrows adjust the temperature on the passenger’s side so it is warmer or cooler than the temperature for the driver’s side. Push the DUAL button so that the indicator light is lit. Press the right arrow button to raise the temperature. Press the left arrow button to lower the temperature. The display will not show the passenger’s temperature, only that of the driver. Indicators in the passenger control section will show passenger’s side temperature relative to the driver’s set temperature. D The amber light indicates the same temperature as


set for the driver.


D The red lights indicate a warmer temperature than


that of the driver.


D The blue lights indicate a cooler temperature than


that of the driver.


AUTO (Automatic Control): For the most efficient operation, you should set the system temperature and press AUTO. The system will then select the best fan speed and airflow settings to keep you comfortable. The air conditioning compressor will run if the outside temperature is above 40_F (4_C). You may notice a delay of two to three minutes before the fan comes on at start up in cool weather.


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For the automatic system to function, the temperature must be set between 61_F (16_C) and 89_F (31_C). The driver’s temperature and passenger’s temperature settings will be automatically maintained even if manual overrides have been selected except for settings at 60_F (15_C) and 90_F (32_C). Setting the temperature to 90_F (32_C) will lock control in full hot, direct air to the floor, and increase the fan speed to high. The system will not return to automatic temperature control until the temperature setting is lowered. Setting the temperature to 60_F (15_C) will lock control in full cold, recirculate interior air, direct air to outlets on panel and increase blower speed to high. The system will not return to automatic temperature control until the temperature setting is raised. OFF: Press this button to turn the air compressor off. Heating On cold days, use HTR with the driver and passenger levers all the way in the red area. This system will bring in outside air, heat it, and send it to the floor ducts.


Heating (Engine Coolant Heater) If your vehicle has an engine coolant heater, you can use it to help your system provide warm air faster when it’s cold outside -- 0_F (-18_C) or lower. An engine coolant heater warms the coolant your engine and heating system use to provide heat. See “Engine Coolant Heater” in the Index. Air Conditioning On very hot days, open the windows long enough to let hot, inside air escape. This reduces the time for the vehicle to cool down. For a quick cool-down on very hot days, use MAX with the temperature levers all the way in the blue area. If this setting is used for long periods of time, the air in your vehicle may become too dry. For normal cooling on hot days, use VENT with the temperature levers in the blue area. The system will bring in outside air and cool it. On cool, but sunny days, the sun may warm your upper body, but your lower body may not be warm enough. You can use BI-LEV and set the temperature levers to a comfortable setting. The system will bring in outside air and direct it to your upper body, while sending slightly warmed air to your lower body. You may notice this temperature difference more at some times than others. Push the A/C button for cooling.


Defogging and Defrosting If you have the Dual Comfortemp Climate Control, your system has two settings for clearing the front and side windows. To defrost the windows quickly, turn the mode knob to the defrost setting and turn the temperature knob all the way in the red area. For maximum defroster performance, set both driver and passenger temperature controls to the warmest setting. To warm passengers while keeping the windows clear, use BLEND. If you have the Dual Automatic Comfortemp Climate Control, your system has two settings for clearing the front and side windows. To defrost the windows quickly, press the FRONT button, set the temperature to 90 _F (32_C), select high fan speed and turn the DUAL button off. To warm passengers while keeping the windows clear, push the AIR FLOW button until WINDSHIELD/FLOOR appears in the display. Select fan speed for comfort and windshield clearing performance.


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NOTICE:


Do not attach anything like a temporary vehicle license or decal across the defogger grid.


NOTICE:


Don’t use a razor blade or anything else sharp on the inside of the rear window. If you do, you could cut or damage the warming grid, and the repairs wouldn’t be covered by your warranty.


Rear Window Defogger


Dual ComforTempt


Climate Control


Dual Automatic ComforTempt Climate Control


The rear window defogger uses a warming grid to remove fog from the rear window. Press the button to turn the rear defogger on. It will turn off after about 15 minutes. If you turn it on again, the rear defogger will only run for about seven and a half minutes before turning off. You can also turn it off by pressing the button again.


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Ventilation System


Adjust the direction of airflow by moving the vent levers.


Your vehicle’s flow-through ventilation system supplies outside air into the vehicle when it is moving. Outside air will also enter the vehicle when the air conditioning fan is running. If the airflow seems very low when the fan is adjusted to the highest setting regardless of the mode setting, your passenger compartment air filter may need to be replaced. See “Maintenance Schedule” or “Passenger Compartment Air Filter” in the Index.


Ventilation Tips D Keep the hood and front air inlet free of ice, snow or any other obstruction, such as leaves. The heater and defroster will work far better, reducing the chance of fogging the inside of your windows.


D When you enter a vehicle in cold weather, adjust the


mode knob or button to FLOOR and the fan to the highest speed for a few seconds before driving off. This helps clear the intake ducts of snow and moisture and reduces the chance of fogging the inside of your windows.


D Keep the air path under the front seats clear


of objects. This helps air to circulate throughout your vehicle.


D For mild outside temperatures, when little heating or cooling is needed, use VENT to direct outside air through your vehicle.


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AM-FM Stereo


Audio Systems Your audio system has been designed to operate easily and give years of listening pleasure. You will get the most enjoyment out of it if you acquaint yourself with it first. Find out what your audio system can do and how to operate all of its controls to be sure you’re getting the most out of the advanced engineering that went into it. Setting the Clock Press and hold HRS until the correct hour appears. Press and hold MIN until the correct minute appears. You may set the clock with the ignition off if you push RECALL first.


Playing the Radio ON/OFF: Press this knob to turn the system on and off. VOLUME: Turn the knob clockwise to increase volume. Turn it counterclockwise to decrease volume.


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RECALL: Push this knob to display the station being played or to display the clock. To change what is normally shown on the display (station or time), push the knob until you see the display you want, then hold the knob until the display flashes. Push this knob when the ignition is off, to display the clock.


Finding a Station AM–FM: Press this button to switch between AM, FM1 and FM2. The display shows your selection. TUNE: Turn this knob to choose radio stations. A SEEK ": Press the right or left arrow to go to the next or previous station and stay there. The radio will seek to stations with a strong signal only. The sound will mute while scanning. The sound will mute while seeking. To scan stations, press one of the SEEK arrows for two seconds, and SCAN will appear on the display. The radio will go to a station, play for a few seconds, then go on to the next station. Press one of the SEEK arrows again to stop scanning. The radio will scan to stations with a strong signal only. The sound will mute while scanning.


P SCAN (Preset Scan): Press this button to listen to each of your preset stations for a few seconds. The radio will go to the first preset station, play for a few seconds, then go on to the next preset station. Press P SCAN again to stop scanning. The radio will scan preset stations with a strong signal only. The sound will mute while scanning.


Setting Preset Stations The six numbered pushbuttons let you return to your favorite stations. You can set up to 18 stations (six AM, six FM1 and six FM2) by performing the following steps: 1. Turn the radio on. 2. Press the AM–FM button to select the band. 3. Tune in the desired station. 4. Press and hold one of the six numbered pushbuttons.


The sound will mute. When it returns, release the pushbutton. Whenever you press that numbered pushbutton, the station you set will return.


5. Repeat the steps for each pushbutton.


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Setting the Tone (Bass/Treble) BASS: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn the knob to increase or decrease bass. TREB (Treble): Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn the knob to increase or decrease treble. If a station is weak or noisy, you may want to decrease the treble. Push these knobs back into their stored positions when you’re not using them.


Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade) BAL (Balance): Turn the control behind the upper knob to move the sound to the left or right speakers. The middle position balances the sound between the speakers. FADE: Turn the control behind the lower knob to move the sound to the front or rear speakers. The middle position balances the sound between the speakers.


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AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player (If Equipped)


Playing the Radio ON/OFF: Press this knob to turn the system on and off. VOLUME: Turn the knob clockwise to increase volume. Turn it counterclockwise to decrease volume.


RECALL: Push this knob to display the station being played or to display the clock. To change what is normally shown on the display (station or time), push the knob until you see the display you want, then hold the knob until the display flashes. Push this knob when the ignition is off, to display the clock.


Finding a Station AM–FM: Push this knob to switch between AM, FM1 and FM2. The display shows your selection. TUNE: Turn this knob to choose radio stations. A SEEK ": Press the right or left arrow to go to the next or previous station and stay there. The radio will seek to stations with a strong signal only. The sound will mute while seeking. To scan stations, press one of the SEEK arrows for two seconds, and SCAN will appear on the display. The radio will go to a station, play for a few seconds, then go on to the next station. Press one of the SEEK arrows again to stop scanning. The radio will scan to stations with a strong signal only. The sound will mute while scanning.


P SCAN (Preset Scan): Press this button to listen to each of your preset stations for a few seconds. The radio will go to the first preset station, play for a few seconds, then go on to the next preset station. Press P SCAN again to stop scanning. The radio will scan preset stations with a strong signal only. The sound will mute while scanning.


Setting Preset Stations The six numbered pushbuttons let you return to your favorite stations. You can set up to 18 stations (six AM, six FM1 and six FM2) by performing the following steps: 1. Turn the radio on. 2. Press the AM FM knob to select the band. 3. Tune in the desired station. 4. Press and hold one of the six numbered pushbuttons.


The sound will mute. When it returns, release the pushbutton. Whenever you press that numbered pushbutton, the station you set will return.


5. Repeat the steps for each pushbutton.


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Setting the Tone (Bass/Treble) BASS: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn the knob to increase or decrease bass. TREB (Treble): Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn the knob to increase or decrease treble. If a station is weak or noisy, you may want to decrease the treble. Push these knobs back into their stored positions when you’re not using them.


Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade) BAL (Balance): Turn the control behind the upper knob to move the sound to the left or right speakers. The middle position balances the sound between the speakers. FADE: Turn the control behind the lower knob to move the sound to the front or rear speakers. The middle position balances the sound between the speakers.


Playing a Cassette Tape The longer side with the tape visible should face to the right. If the ignition and the radio are on, the tape can be inserted and will begin playing. If you hear nothing or hear a garbled sound, the tape may not be in squarely. Press EJECT to remove the tape and start over. While the tape is playing, use the VOLUME, SEEK, FADE, BAL, BASS and TREB controls just as you do for the radio. Other controls may have different functions when a tape is inserted. The display will show an arrow to show which side of the tape is playing. If you want to insert a tape when the ignition or radio is off, first press EJECT or RECALL. Cassette tape adapter kits for portable compact disc players will work in your cassette tape player. Your tape bias is set automatically. If an error appears on the display, see “Cassette Tape Messages” later in this section.


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1 PREV (Previous): Press this pushbutton to go to the previous selection on the tape. Your tape must have at least three seconds of silence between each selection for previous to work. The sound will mute while seeking. 2 NEXT: Press this pushbutton to go to the next selection on the tape. Your tape must have at least three seconds of silence between each selection for next to work. The sound will mute while seeking. 3 AA (Reverse): Press this pushbutton to reverse the tape rapidly. Press it again to return to playing speed. The radio will play while the tape reverses. 4 "" (Forward): Press this pushbutton to advance quickly to another part of the tape. Press it again to return to playing speed. The radio will play while the tape advances. 5 SIDE: Press this pushbutton to change the side of the tape that is playing.


6 D (Dolby): Press this pushbutton to reduce background noise. The display will show either OFF or ON for a few seconds when you press the button. Dolby Noise Reduction is manufactured under a license from Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. Dolby and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. A SEEK ": Press the left or right arrow to go to the previous or next selection on the tape. Your tape must have at least three seconds of silence between each selection for seek to work. The sound will mute while seeking. EJECT: Press this button to stop a tape when it is playing and to remove a tape when it is not playing. Eject may be activated with the radio off.


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Cassette Tape Messages If an E and a number appears on the display while trying to play a cassette tape, it could be for one of the following reasons: D E10: The tape is tight and the player can’t turn


the tape hubs. Remove the tape. Hold the tape with the open end down and try to turn the right hub counterclockwise with a pencil. Turn the tape over and repeat. If the hubs do not turn easily, your tape may be damaged and should not be used in the player. Try a new tape to make sure your player is working properly.


D E11: The tape is broken. Try a new tape. CLN (Clean): If this message appears on the display, the cassette tape player needs to be cleaned. It will still play tapes, but you should clean it as soon as possible to prevent damage to the tapes and player. See “Care of Your Cassette Tape Player” in the Index. If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error can’t be corrected, contact your dealer. If your radio displays an error number, write it down and provide it to your dealer when reporting the problem.


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AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player and Automatic Tone Control (If Equipped)


Standard Radio --- MonsoonR Not Shown


Your vehicle may be equipped with a Concert Sound III sound system, which includes eight speakers and an eight channel, 200 watt amplifier.


Playing the Radio ON/OFF: Push this knob to turn the system on and off. VOLUME: Turn the knob clockwise to increase volume. Turn it counterclockwise to decrease the volume. RECALL: Press this button to display the station being played or to display the clock. To change what is normally shown on the display (station or time), press this button until you see the display you want, then hold the button until the display flashes. If you press the button when the ignition is off, the clock will show for a few seconds.


Finding a Station AM-FM: Press this button to switch between AM, FM1 and FM2. The display shows your selection.


TUNE


radio stations.


: Press the up or down arrow to choose


SEEK : Press the up or down arrow to go to the next or previous station and stay there. The radio will seek to stations with a strong signal only. The sound will mute while seeking.


To scan stations, press and hold one of the SEEK arrows for two seconds and SCAN will appear on the display. The radio will go to a station, play for a few seconds, then go on to the next station. Press one of the SEEK arrows again to stop scanning. The radio will scan to stations with a strong signal only. The sound will mute while scanning. P SCAN (Preset Scan): Press this button to listen to each of your preset stations for a few seconds. The radio will go to the first preset station, play for a few seconds, then go on to the next preset station. Press P SCAN again to stop scanning. The radio will scan preset stations with a strong signal only. The sound will mute while scanning. AUTO (Automatic) SET: Press this button and the system will seek and set the 12 strongest FM or the 6 strongest AM stations on your preset pushbuttons (depending on which band (AM or FM) you are listening to). AUTO SET will flash while seeking and will remain on until this function is complete. To return to the stations you manually set, press AUTO SET again.


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Setting Preset Stations The six numbered pushbuttons let you return to your favorite stations. You can set up to 18 stations (six AM, six FM1 and six FM2) by performing the following steps: 1. Turn the radio on. 2. Press AM-FM to select the band. 3. Tune in the desired station. 4. Press TONE to select the setting you prefer. 5. Press and hold one of the six numbered pushbuttons.


The sound will mute. When it returns, release the pushbutton. Whenever you press that numbered pushbutton, the station you set will return and the tone you selected will be automatically selected for that button.


6. Repeat the steps for each pushbutton.


Setting the Tone (Bass/Treble) BASS: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn the knob to increase or decrease bass. TREB (Treble): Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn the knob to increase or decrease treble. If a station is weak or noisy, you may want to decrease the treble. Push these knobs back into their stored positions when you’re not using them. TONE: This feature allows you to choose preset bass and treble equalization settings designed for country/western, jazz, talk, pop and classical stations. CLASS will appear on the display when you first press TONE. Each time you press the TONE button, this feature will switch to one of these program types. To return the bass and treble to the manual mode, either press TONE, BASS or TREB until MANUAL appears. See “Setting Preset Stations” listed previously to program the auto tone feature.


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Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade) BAL (Balance): Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn the knob to move the sound to the left or right speakers. The middle position balances the sound between the speakers. FADE: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn the knob to move the sound to the front or rear speakers. The middle position balances the sound between the speakers. Push these knobs back into their stored positions when you’re not using them.


Playing a Cassette Tape The longer side with the tape visible should face to the right. If the ignition and the radio are on, the tape can be inserted and will begin playing. If you hear nothing or hear a garbled sound, the tape may not be in squarely. Press EJECT to remove the tape and start over. While the tape is playing, use the VOLUME, SEEK, FADE, BAL, BASS and TREB controls just as you do for the radio. Other controls may have different functions when a tape is inserted. The display will show an arrow to show which side of the tape is playing.


If you want to insert a tape when the ignition or radio is off, first press EJECT or RECALL. Cassette tape adapter kits for portable compact disc players will work in your cassette tape player. Your tape bias is set automatically. If an error appears on the display, see “Cassette Tape Messages” later in this section. 1 PREV (Previous): Press this pushbutton to search for the previous selection on the tape. Your tape must have at least three seconds of silence between each selection for previous to work. The sound will mute while seeking. 2 NEXT: Press this pushbutton to search for the next selection on the tape. Your tape must have at least three seconds of silence between each selection for next to work. The sound will mute while seeking. 3 AA (Reverse): Press this pushbutton to reverse the tape rapidly. Press it again to return to playing speed. The radio will play while the tape reverses. 4 "" (Forward): Press this pushbutton to advance quickly to another part of the tape. Press it again to return to playing speed. The radio will play while the tape advances.


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5 SIDE: Press this pushbutton to change the side of the tape that is playing. 6 D (Dolby): Press this pushbutton to reduce background noise. The double-D symbol will appear on the display. Dolby Noise Reduction is manufactured under a license from Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. Dolby and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. AM-FM: Press this button to listen to the radio when a cassette tape is playing. SOURCE: Press this button to play a tape when listening to the radio. TAPE PLAY with an arrow will appear on the display when the tape is active.


SEEK : Press the up or down arrow to go to the next or previous selection on the tape. Your tape must have at least three seconds of silence between each selection for seek to work. The sound will mute while seeking. EJECT: Press this button to stop a tape when it is playing and to remove a tape when it is not playing. Eject may be activated with the radio off.


Cassette Tape Messages E (Error): If this message and a number appears while trying to play a cassette tape, it could be for one of the following reasons: D E10: The tape is tight and the player can’t turn


the tape hubs. Remove the tape. Hold the tape with the open end down and try to turn the right hub counterclockwise with a pencil. Turn the tape over and repeat. If the hubs do not turn easily, your tape may be damaged and should not be used in the player. Try a new tape to make sure your player is working properly.


D E11: The tape is broken. Try a new tape. CLN (Clean): If this message appears on the display, the cassette tape player needs to be cleaned. It will still play tapes, but you should clean it as soon as possible to prevent damage to the tapes and player. See “Care of Your Cassette Tape Player” in the Index. If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error can’t be corrected, contact your dealer. If your radio displays an error number, write it down and provide it to your dealer when reporting the problem.


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AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape and Compact Disc Player with Automatic Tone Control (If Equipped)


Standard Radio --- MonsoonR Not Shown


Your vehicle may be equipped with a Concert Sound III sound system, which includes eight speakers and an eight channel, 200 watt amplifier.


Playing the Radio ON/OFF: Push this knob to turn the system on and off. VOLUME: Turn this knob clockwise to increase volume. Turn it counterclockwise to decrease volume. RECALL: Press this button to display the station being played or to display the clock. To change what is normally shown on the display (station or time), press this button until you see the display you want, then hold this button until the display flashes. Press this button when the ignition is off to display the clock.


Finding a Station AM-FM: Press this button to switch between AM, FM1 and FM2. The display shows your selection.


TUNE


radio stations.


: Press the up or down arrow to choose


SEEK : Press the up or down arrow to go to the


next or previous station and stay there. The radio will seek to stations with a strong signal only. The sound will mute while seeking.


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To scan, press one of the SEEK arrows for two seconds and SCAN will appear on the display. The radio will go to a station, play for a few seconds, then go on to the next station. Press one of the SEEK arrows again to stop scanning. The radio will scan to stations with a strong signal only. The sound will mute while scanning. P SCAN (Preset Scan): Press this button to listen to each of your preset stations for a few seconds. The radio will go to the first preset station, play for a few seconds, then go on to the next preset station. Press P SCAN again to stop scanning. The radio will scan preset stations with a strong signal only. The sound will mute while scanning. AUTO (Automatic) SET: Press this button and the system will seek and set the 12 strongest FM or the 6 strongest AM stations on your preset pushbuttons (depending on which band (AM or FM) you are listening to). AUTO SET will flash while seeking and will remain on until this function is complete. To return to the stations you manually set, press AUTO SET again.


Setting Preset Stations The six numbered pushbuttons let you return to your favorite stations. You can set up to 18 stations (six AM, six FM1 and six FM2) by performing the following steps: 1. Turn the radio on. 2. Press AM-FM to select the band. 3. Tune in the desired station. 4. Press TONE to select the setting you prefer. 5. Press and hold one of the six numbered pushbuttons.


The sound will mute. When it returns, release the pushbutton. Whenever you press that numbered pushbutton, the station you set will return and the tone you selected will be automatically selected for that button.


6. Repeat the steps for each pushbutton.


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Setting the Tone (Bass/Treble) BASS: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn the knob to increase or decrease bass. TREB (Treble): Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn the knob to increase or decrease treble. If a station is weak or noisy, you may want to decrease the treble. Push these knobs back into their stored positions when you’re not using them. TONE: This feature allows you to choose preset bass and treble equalization settings designed for country/western, jazz, talk, pop and classical stations. CLASS will appear on the display when you first press TONE. Each time you press the TONE button, this feature will switch to one of these program types. To return the bass and treble to the manual mode, either press TONE until MANUAL appears or press and release the BASS or TREB knob and turn it until the display goes blank. See “Setting Preset Stations” listed previously to program the auto tone feature.


Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade) BAL (Balance): Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn the knob to move the sound to the left or right speakers. The middle position balances the sound between the speakers. FADE: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn the knob to move the sound to the front or rear speakers. The middle position balances the sound between the speakers. Push these knobs back into their stored positions when you’re not using them.


Playing a Cassette Tape The longer side with the tape visible should face to the right. If the ignition and the radio are on, the tape can be inserted and will begin playing. If you hear nothing or hear a garbled sound, the tape may not be in squarely. Press EJECT to remove the tape and start over. While the tape is playing, use the VOLUME, SEEK, FADE, BAL, BASS and TREB controls just as you do for the radio. Other controls may have different functions when a tape is inserted. The display will show an arrow to show which side of the tape is playing.


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If you want to insert a tape when the ignition or radio is off, first press EJECT or RECALL. Your tape bias is set automatically. If an error appears on the display, see “Cassette Tape Messages” later in this section. 1 PREV (Previous): Press this pushbutton to search for the previous selection on the tape. Your tape must have at least three seconds of silence between each selection for previous to work. The sound will mute while seeking. 2 NEXT: Press this pushbutton to search for the next selection on the tape. Your tape must have at least three seconds of silence between each selection for next to work. The sound will mute while seeking. 3 AA (Reverse): Press this pushbutton to reverse the tape rapidly. Press it again to return to playing speed. The radio will play while the tape reverses. 4 "" (Forward): Press this pushbutton to advance quickly to another part of the tape. Press it again to return to playing speed. The radio will play while the tape advances.


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5 SIDE: Press this pushbutton to change the side of the tape that is playing. 6 RAND (Dolby): Press this pushbutton to reduce background noise. The double-D symbol will appear on the display. Dolby Noise Reduction is manufactured under a license from Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. Dolby and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. AM-FM: Press this button to listen to the radio when a cassette tape is playing. SOURCE: Press this button to play a cassette tape or a CD when listening to the radio. TAPE SIDE and an arrow will appear on the display. If this button is pressed again, the system will go to disc play; CD PLAY will appear on the display.


SEEK : Press the up or down arrow to go to the next or previous selection on the tape. Your tape must have at least three seconds of silence between each selection for seek to work. The sound will mute while seeking. EJECT: Press this button, located next to the cassette tape slot, to stop a tape when it is playing and to remove a tape when it is not playing. Eject may be activated with the radio off.


Cassette Tape Messages E (Error): If this message and a number appears while trying to play a cassette tape, it could be for one of the following reasons: D E10: The tape is tight and the player can’t turn


the tape hubs. Remove the tape. Hold the tape with the open end down and try to turn the right hub counterclockwise with a pencil. Turn the tape over and repeat. If the hubs do not turn easily, your tape may be damaged and should not be used in the player. Try a new tape to make sure your player is working properly.


D E11: The tape is broken. Try a new tape. CLN (Clean): If this message appears on the display, the cassette tape player needs to be cleaned. It will still play tapes, but you should clean it as soon as possible to prevent damage to the tapes and player. See “Care of Your Cassette Tape Player” in the Index. If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error can’t be corrected, contact your dealer. If your radio displays an error number, write it down and provide it to your dealer when reporting the problem.


Playing a Compact Disc Insert a disc partway into the slot, label side up. The player will pull it in. The disc should begin playing. If you want to insert a CD while the ignition or the radio is off, first press EJECT or RECALL. If you turn off the ignition or radio with a disc in the player, it will stay in the player. When you turn on the ignition or system, the disc will start playing where it stopped, if it was the last selected audio source. Also, as a protection feature, if a CD is ejected and left in the player, it will be pulled back in the player with the ignition on or off. If an error appears on the display, see “Compact Disc Messages” later in this section. 1 PREV (Previous): Press this pushbutton to go to the start of the current track, if more than eight seconds have played. If you hold this pushbutton or press it more than once, the player will continue moving back through the disc. The sound will mute while seeking. 2 NEXT: Press this pushbutton to go to the next track. If you hold this pushbutton or press it more than once, the player will continue moving forward through the disc. The sound will mute while seeking.


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3 AA (Reverse): Press and hold this pushbutton to quickly reverse within a track. You will hear sound at a reduced level. Release it to play the passage. 4 "" (Forward): Press and hold this pushbutton to quickly advance within a track. You will hear sound at a reduced level. Release it to play the passage. 6 RAND (Random): Press this pushbutton to hear the tracks in random, rather than sequential, order. Press it again to turn off random play. RECALL: Press this button to see which track is playing. Press it again within five seconds to see how long it has been playing. To change what is normally shown on the display (track or elapsed time), press this button until you see the display you want, then hold this button until the display flashes. AM-FM: Press this button to listen to the radio when a CD is playing. SOURCE: Press this button to play a cassette tape or a CD when listening to the radio. TAPE SIDE and an arrow will appear on the display. If this button is pressed again, the system will go to disc play; CD PLAY will appear on the display.


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SEEK : Press the up or down arrow to go to the previous or next track on the CD. The sound will mute while seeking. EJECT: Press this button, located next to the CD slot, to stop a CD when it is playing and to remove a CD when it is not playing. Eject may be activated with the radio off.


Compact Disc Messages E (Error): If you’re driving on a very rough road or if it’s very hot, the disc may not play and an E and a number may appear on the display. When the road becomes smooth or the temperature returns to normal, the disc should play. If the disc comes out, it could be for one of the following reasons: D E20: The disc is upside down. D E20: It is dirty, scratched or wet. D E20: There’s too much moisture in the air. (Wait


about an hour and try again.)


If the CD is not playing correctly, for any other reason, try a known good CD. If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error can’t be corrected, contact your dealer. If your radio displays an error number, write it down and provide it to your dealer when reporting the problem.


Theft-Deterrent Feature (If Equipped) THEFTLOCKR is designed to discourage theft of your radio. It works by using a secret code to disable all radio functions whenever battery power is removed. If THEFTLOCK is active, the THEFTLOCK will flash when the ignition is off. The THEFTLOCK feature for the radio may be used or ignored. If ignored, the system plays normally and the radio is not protected by the feature. If THEFTLOCK is activated, your radio will not operate if stolen. When THEFTLOCK is activated, the radio will display LOC to indicate a locked condition anytime battery power is removed. If your battery loses power for any reason, you must unlock the radio with the secret code before it will operate. Activating the Theft-Deterrent Feature The instructions which follow explain how to enter your secret code to activate the THEFTLOCK system. It is recommended that you read through all nine steps before starting the procedure.


If you allow more than 15 seconds to elapse between any steps, the radio automatically reverts to time and you must start the procedure over at Step 4. 1. Write down any three or four-digit number from 000 to 1999 and keep it in a safe place separate from the vehicle.


2. Turn the ignition to ACCESSORY or ON. 3. Turn the radio off. 4. Press the 1 and 4 pushbuttons at the same time. Hold them down until --- shows on the display. Next you will use the secret code number which you have written down.


5. Press MIN and 000 will appear on the display. 6. Press MIN again to make the last two digits agree


with your code.


7. Press HRS to make the first one or two digits agree


with your code.


8. Press AM-FM after you have confirmed that the


code matches the secret code you have written down. The display will show REP to let you know that you need to repeat Steps 5 through 7 to confirm your secret code.


9. Press AM-FM and this time the display will show


SEC to let you know that your radio is secure.


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Unlocking the Theft-Deterrent Feature After a Power Loss Enter your secret code as follows; pause no more than 15 seconds between steps: 1. Turn the ignition on. LOC will appear on the display. 2. Press MIN and 000 will appear on the display. 3. Press MIN again to make the last two digits agree


with your code.


4. Press HRS to make the first one or two digits agree


with your code.


5. Press AM-FM after you have confirmed that the


code matches the secret code you have written down. The display will show SEC, indicating the radio is now operable and secure.


If you enter the wrong code eight times, INOP will appear on the display. You will have to wait an hour with the ignition on before you can try again. When you try again, you will only have three more chances (eight tries per chance) to enter the correct code before INOP appears. If you lose or forget your code, contact your dealer.


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Disabling the Theft-Deterrent Feature Enter your secret code as follows; pause no more than 15 seconds between steps: 1. Turn the ignition to ACCESSORY or ON. 2. Turn the radio off. 3. Press the 1 and 4 pushbuttons at the same time. Hold them down until SEC shows on the display.


4. Press MIN and 000 will appear on the display. 5. Press MIN again to make the last two digits agree


with your code.


6. Press HRS to make the first one or two digits agree


with your code.


7. Press AM-FM after you have confirmed that the


code matches the secret code you have written down. The display will show ---, indicating that the radio is no longer secured.


If the code entered is incorrect, SEC will appear on the display. The radio will remain secured until the correct code is entered. When battery power is removed and later applied to a secured radio, the radio won’t turn on and LOC will appear on the display. To unlock a secured radio see “Unlocking the Theft-Deterrent Feature After a Power Loss” earlier in this section.


Audio Steering Wheel Controls (If Equipped) If your vehicle has this feature, you can control certain radio functions using the buttons on your steering wheel.


Y SEEK B: Press the up or down arrow to seek to the next or previous radio station. If a cassette tape or compact disc is playing, the player will advance to the next or previous selection.


SCAN: Press this button and SCAN will appear on the display. The radio will scan to the first preset station on your pushbuttons, play for a few seconds, then go to the next preset station. The radio will scan preset stations with a strong signal only. Press SCAN again to stop scanning. AM FM: Press this button to choose AM, FM1 or FM2. If a cassette tape or compact disc is playing, press this button to listen to the radio. SRCE (Source): Press this button to change to playing a cassette tape or compact disc when listening to the radio. MUTE: Press this button to silence the audio system. Press it again to turn on the sound. Y VOL (Volume)B: Press the up or down arrow to increase or decrease volume.


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Understanding Radio Reception


AM The range for most AM stations is greater than for FM, especially at night. The longer range, however, can cause stations to interfere with each other. AM can pick up noise from things like storms and power lines. Try reducing the treble to reduce this noise if you ever get it.


FM Stereo FM stereo will give you the best sound, but FM signals will reach only about 10 to 40 miles (16 to 65 km). Tall buildings or hills can interfere with FM signals, causing the sound to come and go. If your vehicle is equipped with the diversity antenna system, the interference may be reduced. Tips About Your Audio System Hearing damage from loud noise is almost undetectable until it is too late. Your hearing can adapt to higher volumes of sound. Sound that seems normal can be loud and harmful to your hearing. Take precautions by adjusting the volume control on your radio to a safe sound level before your hearing adapts to it.


To help avoid hearing loss or damage do the following: 1. Adjust the volume control to the lowest setting. 2. Increase volume slowly until you hear comfortably


and clearly.


NOTICE:


Before you add any sound equipment to your vehicle -- like a tape player, CB radio, mobile telephone or two-way radio -- be sure you can add what you want. If you can, it’s very important to do it properly. Added sound equipment may interfere with the operation of your vehicle’s engine, Delphi Electronics radio or other systems, and even damage them. Your vehicle’s systems may interfere with the operation of sound equipment that has been added improperly. So, before adding sound equipment, check with your dealer and be sure to check federal rules covering mobile radio and telephone units.


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Care of Your Cassette Tape Player A tape player that is not cleaned regularly can cause reduced sound quality, ruined cassettes or a damaged mechanism. Cassette tapes should be stored in their cases away from contaminants, direct sunlight and extreme heat. If they aren’t, they may not operate properly or may cause failure of the tape player. Your tape player should be cleaned regularly after every 50 hours of use. Your radio may display CLN to indicate that you have used your tape player for 50 hours without resetting the tape clean timer. If this message appears on the display, your cassette tape player needs to be cleaned. It will still play tapes, but you should clean it as soon as possible to prevent damage to your tapes and player. If you notice a reduction in sound quality, try a known good cassette to see if it is the tape or the tape player at fault. If this other cassette has no improvement in sound quality, clean the tape player. The recommended cleaning method for your cassette tape player is the use of a scrubbing action, non-abrasive cleaning cassette with pads which scrub the tape head as the hubs of the cleaner cassette turn. The recommended cleaning cassette is available through your dealer (GM Part No. 12344789).


When cleaning the cassette tape player with the recommended non-abrasive cleaning cassette, it is possible that the cassette may eject, because the cut tape detection feature on your radio may recognize it as a broken tape. If the cleaning cassette ejects, insert the cassette at least three times to ensure thorough cleaning. You may also choose a non-scrubbing action, wet-type cleaner which uses a cassette with a fabric belt to clean the tape head. This type of cleaning cassette will not eject on its own. A non-scrubbing action cleaner may not clean as thoroughly as the scrubbing type cleaner. The use of a non-scrubbing action, dry-type cleaning cassette is not recommended. After you clean the player, press and hold the EJECT button for five seconds to reset the CLN indicator. The radio will display --- to show the indicator was reset. Cassettes are subject to wear and the sound quality may degrade over time. Always make sure the cassette tape is in good condition before you have your tape player serviced.


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Care of Your Compact Discs Handle discs carefully. Store them in their original cases or other protective cases and away from direct sunlight and dust. If the surface of a disc is soiled, dampen a clean, soft cloth in a mild, neutral detergent solution and clean it, wiping from the center to the edge. Be sure never to touch the signal surface when handling discs. Pick up discs by grasping the outer edges or the edge of the hole and the outer edge. Care of Your Compact Disc Player The use of CD lens cleaner discs is not advised, due to the risk of contaminating the lens of the CD optics with lubricants internal to the CD mechanism. Fixed Mast Antenna The fixed mast antenna can withstand most car washes without being damaged. If the mast should ever become slightly bent, you can straighten it out by hand. If the mast is badly bent, as it might be by vandals, you should replace it. Check every once in a while to be sure the mast is still tightened to the fender. If tightening is required, tighten by hand, then with a wrench one quarter turn.


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Backglass Antenna (If Equipped) The AM-FM antenna is integrated with the rear window defogger, located in the rear window. Be sure that the inside surface of the rear window is not scratched and that the lines on the glass are not damaged. If the inside surface is damaged, it could interfere with radio reception. Also, for proper radio reception, the antenna connector at the top-center of the rear window needs to be properly attached to the post on the glass.


NOTICE:


Do not try to clear frost or other material from the inside of the rear window with a razor blade or anything else that is sharp. This may damage the rear window defogger grid and affect your radio’s ability to pick up stations clearly. The repairs wouldn’t be covered by your warranty.


Because this antenna is built into your rear window, there is a reduced risk of damage caused by car washes and vandals.


If you choose to add a cellular telephone to your vehicle, and the antenna needs to be attached to the glass, be sure that you do not damage the grid lines for the AM-FM antenna. There is enough space between the lines to attach a cellular telephone antenna without interfering with radio reception. Do not apply aftermarket glass tinting to the back glass. The metallic film in some tinting materials will interfere with or distort the incoming radio reception. Care must be taken when cleaning the rear window because it breaks in the resistive material heating element and will adversely affect radio and defogger performance. See your dealer for details. Diversity Antenna System (If Equipped) Your AM-FM antennas are located in the front windshield and rear window. Be sure that the inside surfaces of the front windshield and rear window are not scratched and that the lines on the glass are not damaged. If the inside surfaces are damaged, they could interfere with radio reception. Also, for proper radio reception, the antenna connectors at the top-center of the front and rear windows need to be properly attached to the posts on the glass.


Do not apply aftermarket glass tinting. The metallic film in some tinting materials will interfere with or distort the incoming radio reception.


NOTICE:


Do not try to clear frost or other material from the inside of the rear window with a razor blade or anything else that is sharp. This may damage the rear defogger grid and affect your radio’s ability to pick up stations clearly. The repairs wouldn’t be covered by your warranty.


If, when you turn on your rear window defogger, you hear static on your radio station, it could mean that a defogger grid line has been damaged. If this is true, the grid line must be repaired. If you choose to add an aftermarket cellular telephone to your vehicle, and the antenna needs to be attached to the glass, be sure that you do not damage the grid lines for the AM-FM antennas or place the cellular telephone antenna over the grid lines.


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Section 4 Your Driving and the Road


Here you’ll find information about driving on different kinds of roads and in varying weather conditions. We’ve also included many other useful tips on driving.


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4-3
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Defensive Driving Drunken Driving Control of a Vehicle Braking Enhanced Traction System (ETS) Steering Off-Road Recovery Passing Loss of Control Driving at Night


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Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads City Driving Freeway Driving Before Leaving on a Long Trip Highway Hypnosis Hill and Mountain Roads Winter Driving Recreational Vehicle Towing Loading Your Vehicle Towing a Trailer


4-


4-1


Defensive driving really means “be ready for anything.” On city streets, rural roads or freeways, it means “always expect the unexpected.” Assume that pedestrians or other drivers are going to be careless and make mistakes. Anticipate what they might do. Be ready for their mistakes. Rear-end collisions are about the most preventable of accidents. Yet they are common. Allow enough following distance. It’s the best defensive driving maneuver, in both city and rural driving. You never know when the vehicle in front of you is going to brake or turn suddenly. Defensive driving requires that a driver concentrate on the driving task. Anything that distracts from the driving task -- such as concentrating on a cellular telephone call, reading, or reaching for something on the floor -- makes proper defensive driving more difficult and can even cause a collision, with resulting injury. Ask a passenger to help do things like this, or pull off the road in a safe place to do them yourself. These simple defensive driving techniques could save your life.


Defensive Driving The best advice anyone can give about driving is: Drive defensively. Please start with a very important safety device in your vehicle: Buckle up. See “Safety Belts” in the Index.


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Drunken Driving Death and injury associated with drinking and driving is a national tragedy. It’s the number one contributor to the highway death toll, claiming thousands of victims every year. Alcohol affects four things that anyone needs to drive a vehicle: D Judgment D Muscular Coordination D Vision D Attentiveness. Police records show that almost half of all motor vehicle-related deaths involve alcohol. In most cases, these deaths are the result of someone who was drinking and driving. In recent years, about 16,000 annual motor vehicle-related deaths have been associated with the use of alcohol, with more than 300,000 people injured.


Many adults -- by some estimates, nearly half the adult population -- choose never to drink alcohol, so they never drive after drinking. For persons under 21, it’s against the law in every U.S. state to drink alcohol. There are good medical, psychological and developmental reasons for these laws. The obvious way to solve the leading highway safety problem is for people never to drink alcohol and then drive. But what if people do? How much is “too much” if the driver plans to drive? It’s a lot less than many might think. Although it depends on each person and situation, here is some general information on the problem. The Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of someone who is drinking depends upon four things: D The amount of alcohol consumed D The drinker’s body weight D The amount of food that is consumed before and


during drinking


D The length of time it has taken the drinker to


consume the alcohol.


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According to the American Medical Association, a 180-lb. (82 kg) person who drinks three 12-ounce (355 ml) bottles of beer in an hour will end up with a BAC of about 0.06 percent. The person would reach the same BAC by drinking three 4-ounce (120 ml) glasses of wine or three mixed drinks if each had 1-1/2 ounces (45 ml) of a liquor like whiskey, gin or vodka.


It’s the amount of alcohol that counts. For example, if the same person drank three double martinis (3 ounces or 90 ml of liquor each) within an hour, the person’s BAC would be close to 0.12 percent. A person who consumes food just before or during drinking will have a somewhat lower BAC level. There is a gender difference, too. Women generally have a lower relative percentage of body water than men. Since alcohol is carried in body water, this means that a woman generally will reach a higher BAC level than a man of her same body weight when each has the same number of drinks. The law in an increasing number of U.S. states, and throughout Canada, sets the legal limit at 0.08 percent. In some other countries, the limit is even lower. For example, it is 0.05 percent in both France and Germany. The BAC limit for all commercial drivers in the United States is 0.04 percent. The BAC will be over 0.10 percent after three to six drinks (in one hour). Of course, as we’ve seen, it depends on how much alcohol is in the drinks, and how quickly the person drinks them.


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But the ability to drive is affected well below a BAC of 0.10 percent. Research shows that the driving skills of many people are impaired at a BAC approaching 0.05 percent, and that the effects are worse at night. All drivers are impaired at BAC levels above 0.05 percent. Statistics show that the chance of being in a collision increases sharply for drivers who have a BAC of 0.05 percent or above. A driver with a BAC level of 0.06 percent has doubled his or her chance of having a collision. At a BAC level of 0.10 percent, the chance of this driver having a collision is 12 times greater; at a level of 0.15 percent, the chance is 25 times greater! The body takes about an hour to rid itself of the alcohol in one drink. No amount of coffee or number of cold showers will speed that up. “I’ll be careful” isn’t the right answer. What if there’s an emergency, a need to take sudden action, as when a child darts into the street? A person with even a moderate BAC might not be able to react quickly enough to avoid the collision.


There’s something else about drinking and driving that many people don’t know. Medical research shows that alcohol in a person’s system can make crash injuries worse, especially injuries to the brain, spinal cord or heart. This means that when anyone who has been drinking -- driver or passenger -- is in a crash, that person’s chance of being killed or permanently disabled is higher than if the person had not been drinking.


CAUTION:


Drinking and then driving is very dangerous. Your reflexes, perceptions, attentiveness and judgment can be affected by even a small amount of alcohol. You can have a serious -- or even fatal -- collision if you drive after drinking. Please don’t drink and drive or ride with a driver who has been drinking. Ride home in a cab; or if you’re with a group, designate a driver who will not drink.


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Control of a Vehicle You have three systems that make your vehicle go where you want it to go. They are the brakes, the steering and the accelerator. All three systems have to do their work at the places where the tires meet the road.


Sometimes, as when you’re driving on snow or ice, it’s easy to ask more of those control systems than the tires and road can provide. That means you can lose control of your vehicle. Also see “Enhanced Traction System” in the Index.


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Braking Braking action involves perception time and reaction time. First, you have to decide to push on the brake pedal. That’s perception time. Then you have to bring up your foot and do it. That’s reaction time. Average reaction time is about 3/4 of a second. But that’s only an average. It might be less with one driver and as long as two or three seconds or more with another. Age, physical condition, alertness, coordination and eyesight all play a part. So do alcohol, drugs and frustration. But even in 3/4 of a second, a vehicle moving at 60 mph (100 km/h) travels 66 feet (20 m). That could be a lot of distance in an emergency, so keeping enough space between your vehicle and others is important. And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly with the surface of the road (whether it’s pavement or gravel); the condition of the road (wet, dry, icy); tire tread; the condition of your brakes; the weight of the vehicle and the amount of brake force applied.


Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive in spurts -- heavy acceleration followed by heavy braking -- rather than keeping pace with traffic. This is a mistake. Your brakes may not have time to cool between hard stops. Your brakes will wear out much faster if you do a lot of heavy braking. If you keep pace with the traffic and allow realistic following distances, you will eliminate a lot of unnecessary braking. That means better braking and longer brake life. If your engine ever stops while you’re driving, brake normally but don’t pump your brakes. If you do, the pedal may get harder to push down. If your engine stops, you will still have some power brake assist. But you will use it when you brake. Once the power assist is used up, it may take longer to stop and the brake pedal will be harder to push.


Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes. ABS is an advanced electronic braking system that will help prevent a braking skid. When you start your engine, or when you begin to drive away, your anti-lock brake system will check itself. You may hear a momentary motor or clicking noise while this test is going on, and you may even notice that your brake pedal moves or pulses a little. This is normal.


United States


Canada


If there’s a problem with the anti-lock brake system, this warning light will stay on. See “Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light” in the Index.


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The anti-lock system can change the brake pressure faster than any driver could. The computer is programmed to make the most of available tire and road conditions. This can help you steer around the obstacle while braking hard.


Let’s say the road is wet and you’re driving safely. Suddenly, an animal jumps out in front of you. You slam on the brakes and continue braking. Here’s what happens with ABS: A computer senses that wheels are slowing down. If one of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the computer will separately work the brakes at each wheel.


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As you brake, your computer keeps receiving updates on wheel speed and controls braking pressure accordingly.


Remember: Anti-lock doesn’t change the time you need to get your foot up to the brake pedal or always decrease stopping distance. If you get too close to the vehicle in front of you, you won’t have time to apply your brakes if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops. Always leave enough room up ahead to stop, even though you have anti-lock brakes. Using Anti-Lock Don’t pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal down firmly and let anti-lock work for you. You may feel a slight brake pedal pulsation or notice some noise, but this is normal. Braking in Emergencies With anti-lock, you can steer and brake at the same time. In many emergencies, steering can help you more than even the very best braking.


Enhanced Traction System (ETS) Your vehicle is equipped with an Enhanced Traction System (ETS) that limits wheel spin. This is especially useful in slippery road conditions. The system operates only if it senses that one or both of the front wheels are spinning or beginning to lose traction. When this happens, the system reduces engine power and may also upshift the transaxle to limit wheel spin.


This light will come on when your Enhanced Traction System is limiting wheel spin. See “Enhanced Traction System Active Light” in the Index.


You may feel or hear the system working, but this is normal. If your vehicle is in cruise control when the enhanced traction system begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise control will automatically disengage. When road conditions allow you to safely use it again, you may re-engage the cruise control. See “Cruise Control” in the Index.


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The Enhanced Traction System operates in THIRD (3) and OVERDRIVE (B). If you are in THIRD (3), the system can upshift the transaxle to OVERDRIVE (B). The Enhanced Traction System is turned off in SECOND (2) or FIRST (1) gear. See “Automatic Transaxle” in the Index.


When the system is on, this warning light will come on to let you know if there’s a problem.


See “Enhanced Traction System Warning Light” in the Index. When this warning light is on, the system will not limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly. To limit wheel spin, especially in slippery road conditions, you should always leave the Enhanced Traction System on. But you can turn the system off if you ever need to. You should turn the system off if your vehicle ever gets stuck in sand, mud or snow and rocking the vehicle is required. See “Rocking Your Vehicle” in the Index.


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To turn the system off, your gear shift lever must be in FIRST (1) or SECOND (2) gear. See “Rocking Your Vehicle” in the Index. When you turn the system off, the Enhanced Traction System warning light will come on and stay on. If the Enhanced Traction System is limiting wheel spin when you turn the system off, the warning light will come on -- but the system won’t turn off right away. It will wait until there’s no longer a current need to limit wheel spin. Also, if you set the parking brake, the system will turn off. You can turn the system back on at any time by shifting to OVERDRIVE (B) or THIRD (3). The Enhanced Traction System warning light should go off.


Steering Power Steering If you lose power steering assist because the engine stops or the system is not functioning, you can steer but it will take much more effort.


Magnetic Variable Effort Steering (If Equipped) This steering system provides lighter steering effort for parking and when driving at low speeds. Steering effort will increase at higher speeds for improved road feel. Steering Tips


Driving on Curves It’s important to take curves at a reasonable speed. A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents mentioned on the news happen on curves. Here’s why: Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is subject to the same laws of physics when driving on curves. The traction of the tires against the road surface makes it possible for the vehicle to change its path when you turn the front wheels. If there’s no traction, inertia will keep the vehicle going in the same direction. If you’ve ever tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you’ll understand this.


The traction you can get in a curve depends on the condition of your tires and the road surface, the angle at which the curve is banked, and your speed. While you’re in a curve, speed is the one factor you can control. Suppose you’re steering through a sharp curve. Then you suddenly accelerate. Both control systems -- steering and acceleration -- have to do their work where the tires meet the road. Adding the sudden acceleration can demand too much of those places. You can lose control. Refer to “Enhanced Traction System” in the Index. What should you do if this ever happens? Ease up on the accelerator pedal, steer the vehicle the way you want it to go, and slow down. Speed limit signs near curves warn that you should adjust your speed. Of course, the posted speeds are based on good weather and road conditions. Under less favorable conditions you’ll want to go slower. If you need to reduce your speed as you approach a curve, do it before you enter the curve, while your front wheels are straight ahead. Try to adjust your speed so you can “drive” through the curve. Maintain a reasonable, steady speed. Wait to accelerate until you are out of the curve, and then accelerate gently into the straightaway.


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Steering in Emergencies There are times when steering can be more effective than braking. For example, you come over a hill and find a truck stopped in your lane, or a car suddenly pulls out from nowhere, or a child darts out from between parked cars and stops right in front of you. You can avoid these problems by braking -- if you can stop in time. But sometimes you can’t; there isn’t room. That’s the time for evasive action -- steering around the problem. Your vehicle can perform very well in emergencies like these. First apply your brakes. See “Braking in Emergencies” earlier in this section. It is better to remove as much speed as you can from a possible collision. Then steer around the problem, to the left or right depending on the space available.


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An emergency like this requires close attention and a quick decision. If you are holding the steering wheel at the recommended 9 and 3 o’clock positions, you can turn it a full 180 degrees very quickly without removing either hand. But you have to act fast, steer quickly, and just as quickly straighten the wheel once you have avoided the object. The fact that such emergency situations are always possible is a good reason to practice defensive driving at all times and wear safety belts properly.


Off-Road Recovery You may find that your right wheels have dropped off the edge of a road onto the shoulder while you’re driving.


If the level of the shoulder is only slightly below the pavement, recovery should be fairly easy. Ease off the accelerator and then, if there is nothing in the way, steer so that your vehicle straddles the edge of the pavement. You can turn the steering wheel up to one-quarter turn until the right front tire contacts the pavement edge. Then turn your steering wheel to go straight down the roadway.


Passing The driver of a vehicle about to pass another on a two-lane highway waits for just the right moment, accelerates, moves around the vehicle ahead, then goes back into the right lane again. A simple maneuver? Not necessarily! Passing another vehicle on a two-lane highway is a potentially dangerous move, since the passing vehicle occupies the same lane as oncoming traffic for several seconds. A miscalculation, an error in judgment, or a brief surrender to frustration or anger can suddenly put the passing driver face to face with the worst of all traffic accidents -- the head-on collision. So here are some tips for passing: D “Drive ahead.” Look down the road, to the sides


and to crossroads for situations that might affect your passing patterns. If you have any doubt whatsoever about making a successful pass, wait for a better time. D Watch for traffic signs, pavement markings and lines.


If you can see a sign up ahead that might indicate a turn or an intersection, delay your pass. A broken center line usually indicates it’s all right to pass (providing the road ahead is clear). Never cross a solid line on your side of the lane or a double solid line, even if the road seems empty of approaching traffic.


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D Check your mirrors, glance over your shoulder, and start your left lane change signal before moving out of the right lane to pass. When you are far enough ahead of the passed vehicle to see its front in your inside mirror, activate your right lane change signal and move back into the right lane. (Remember that your right outside mirror is convex. The vehicle you just passed may seem to be farther away from you than it really is.)


D Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a time


on two-lane roads. Reconsider before passing the next vehicle.


D Don’t overtake a slowly moving vehicle too rapidly.


Even though the brake lamps are not flashing, it may be slowing down or starting to turn. D If you’re being passed, make it easy for the


following driver to get ahead of you. Perhaps you can ease a little to the right.


D Do not get too close to the vehicle you want to


pass while you’re awaiting an opportunity. For one thing, following too closely reduces your area of vision, especially if you’re following a larger vehicle. Also, you won’t have adequate space if the vehicle ahead suddenly slows or stops. Keep back a reasonable distance.


D When it looks like a chance to pass is coming up,


start to accelerate but stay in the right lane and don’t get too close. Time your move so you will be increasing speed as the time comes to move into the other lane. If the way is clear to pass, you will have a “running start” that more than makes up for the distance you would lose by dropping back. And if something happens to cause you to cancel your pass, you need only slow down and drop back again and wait for another opportunity.


D If other cars are lined up to pass a slow vehicle, wait your turn. But take care that someone isn’t trying to pass you as you pull out to pass the slow vehicle. Remember to glance over your shoulder and check the blind spot.


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Loss of Control Let’s review what driving experts say about what happens when the three control systems (brakes, steering and acceleration) don’t have enough friction where the tires meet the road to do what the driver has asked. In any emergency, don’t give up. Keep trying to steer and constantly seek an escape route or area of less danger. Skidding In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle. Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking reasonable care suited to existing conditions, and by not “overdriving” those conditions. But skids are always possible. The three types of skids correspond to your vehicle’s three control systems. In the braking skid, your wheels aren’t rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, too much speed or steering in a curve causes tires to slip and lose cornering force. And in the acceleration skid, too much throttle causes the driving wheels to spin. A cornering skid and an acceleration skid are best handled by easing your foot off the accelerator pedal.


If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off the accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want the vehicle to go. If you start steering quickly enough, your vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready for a second skid if it occurs. Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice, gravel or other material is on the road. For safety, you’ll want to slow down and adjust your driving to these conditions. It is important to slow down on slippery surfaces because stopping distance will be longer and vehicle control more limited. While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration or braking (including engine braking by shifting to a lower gear). Any sudden changes could cause the tires to slide. You may not realize the surface is slippery until your vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warning clues -- such as enough water, ice or packed snow on the road to make a “mirrored surface” -- and slow down when you have any doubt. Remember: Any anti-lock brake system (ABS) helps avoid only the braking skid.


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Driving at Night


Night driving is more dangerous than day driving. One reason is that some drivers are likely to be impaired -- by alcohol or drugs, with night vision problems, or by fatigue.


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Here are some tips on night driving. D Drive defensively. D Don’t drink and drive. D Adjust your inside rearview mirror to reduce the


glare from headlamps behind you.


D Since you can’t see as well, you may need to slow down and keep more space between you and other vehicles.


D Slow down, especially on higher speed roads. Your


headlamps can light up only so much road ahead.


D In remote areas, watch for animals. D If you’re tired, pull off the road in a safe place


and rest.


No one can see as well at night as in the daytime. But as we get older these differences increase. A 50-year-old driver may require at least twice as much light to see the same thing at night as a 20-year-old. What you do in the daytime can also affect your night vision. For example, if you spend the day in bright sunshine you are wise to wear sunglasses. Your eyes will have less trouble adjusting to night. But if you’re driving, don’t wear sunglasses at night. They may cut down on glare from headlamps, but they also make a lot of things invisible.


You can be temporarily blinded by approaching headlamps. It can take a second or two, or even several seconds, for your eyes to readjust to the dark. When you are faced with severe glare (as from a driver who doesn’t lower the high beams, or a vehicle with misaimed headlamps), slow down a little. Avoid staring directly into the approaching headlamps. Keep your windshield and all the glass on your vehicle clean -- inside and out. Glare at night is made much worse by dirt on the glass. Even the inside of the glass can build up a film caused by dust. Dirty glass makes lights dazzle and flash more than clean glass would, making the pupils of your eyes contract repeatedly. Remember that your headlamps light up far less of a roadway when you are in a turn or curve. Keep your eyes moving; that way, it’s easier to pick out dimly lighted objects. Just as your headlamps should be checked regularly for proper aim, so should your eyes be examined regularly. Some drivers suffer from night blindness -- the inability to see in dim light -- and aren’t even aware of it.


Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads


Rain and wet roads can mean driving trouble. On a wet road, you can’t stop, accelerate or turn as well because your tire-to-road traction isn’t as good as on dry roads. And, if your tires don’t have much tread left, you’ll get even less traction. It’s always wise to go slower and be cautious if rain starts to fall while you are driving. The surface may get wet suddenly when your reflexes are tuned for driving on dry pavement.


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The heavier the rain, the harder it is to see. Even if your windshield wiper blades are in good shape, a heavy rain can make it harder to see road signs and traffic signals, pavement markings, the edge of the road and even people walking. It’s wise to keep your windshield wiping equipment in good shape and keep your windshield washer tank filled with washer fluid. Replace your windshield wiper inserts when they show signs of streaking or missing areas on the windshield, or when strips of rubber start to separate from the inserts.


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Driving too fast through large water puddles or even going through some car washes can cause problems, too. The water may affect your brakes. Try to avoid puddles. But if you can’t, try to slow down before you hit them.


CAUTION:


Wet brakes can cause accidents. They won’t work as well in a quick stop and may cause pulling to one side. You could lose control of the vehicle. After driving through a large puddle of water or a car wash, apply your brake pedal lightly until your brakes work normally.


Hydroplaning Hydroplaning is dangerous. So much water can build up under your tires that they can actually ride on the water. This can happen if the road is wet enough and you’re going fast enough. When your vehicle is hydroplaning, it has little or no contact with the road. Hydroplaning doesn’t happen often. But it can if your tires do not have much tread or if the pressure in one or more is low. It can happen if a lot of water is standing on the road.


If you can see reflections from trees, telephone poles or other vehicles, and raindrops “dimple” the water’s surface, there could be hydroplaning. Hydroplaning usually happens at higher speeds. There just isn’t a hard and fast rule about hydroplaning. The best advice is to slow down when it is raining. Driving Through Deep Standing Water


NOTICE:


If you drive too quickly through deep puddles or standing water, water can come in through your engine’s air intake and badly damage your engine. Never drive through water that is slightly lower than the underbody of your vehicle. If you can’t avoid deep puddles or standing water, drive through them very slowly.


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Driving Through Flowing Water


City Driving


CAUTION:


Flowing or rushing water creates strong forces. If you try to drive through flowing water, as you might at a low water crossing, your vehicle can be carried away. As little as six inches of flowing water can carry away a smaller vehicle. If this happens, you and other vehicle occupants could drown. Don’t ignore police warning signs, and otherwise be very cautious about trying to drive through flowing water.


Some Other Rainy Weather Tips D Besides slowing down, allow some extra following distance. And be especially careful when you pass another vehicle. Allow yourself more clear room ahead, and be prepared to have your view restricted by road spray.


D Have good tires with proper tread depth.


See “Tires” in the Index.


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One of the biggest problems with city streets is the amount of traffic on them. You’ll want to watch out for what the other drivers are doing and pay attention to traffic signals.


Freeway Driving


Here are ways to increase your safety in city driving: D Know the best way to get to where you are


going. Get a city map and plan your trip into an unknown part of the city just as you would for a cross-country trip.


D Try to use the freeways that rim and crisscross most large cities. You’ll save time and energy. See the next part, “Freeway Driving.”


D Treat a green light as a warning signal. A traffic light is there because the corner is busy enough to need it. When a light turns green, and just before you start to move, check both ways for vehicles that have not cleared the intersection or may be running the red light.


Mile for mile, freeways (also called thruways, parkways, expressways, turnpikes or superhighways) are the safest of all roads. But they have their own special rules.


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The most important advice on freeway driving is: Keep up with traffic and keep to the right. Drive at the same speed most of the other drivers are driving. Too-fast or too-slow driving breaks a smooth traffic flow. Treat the left lane on a freeway as a passing lane. At the entrance, there is usually a ramp that leads to the freeway. If you have a clear view of the freeway as you drive along the entrance ramp, you should begin to check traffic. Try to determine where you expect to blend with the flow. Try to merge into the gap at close to the prevailing speed. Switch on your turn signal, check your mirrors and glance over your shoulder as often as necessary. Try to blend smoothly with the traffic flow. Once you are on the freeway, adjust your speed to the posted limit or to the prevailing rate if it’s slower. Stay in the right lane unless you want to pass. Before changing lanes, check your mirrors. Then use your turn signal. Just before you leave the lane, glance quickly over your shoulder to make sure there isn’t another vehicle in your “blind” spot. Once you are moving on the freeway, make certain you allow a reasonable following distance. Expect to move slightly slower at night.


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When you want to leave the freeway, move to the proper lane well in advance. If you miss your exit, do not, under any circumstances, stop and back up. Drive on to the next exit. The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply. The exit speed is usually posted. Reduce your speed according to your speedometer, not to your sense of motion. After driving for any distance at higher speeds, you may tend to think you are going slower than you actually are. Before Leaving on a Long Trip Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well rested. If you must start when you’re not fresh -- such as after a day’s work -- don’t plan to make too many miles that first part of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes you can easily drive in. Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it serviced and maintained, it’s ready to go. If it needs service, have it done before starting out. Of course, you’ll find experienced and able service experts in Buick dealerships all across North America. They’ll be ready and willing to help if you need it.


Here are some things you can check before a trip: D Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the reservoir full? Are


all windows clean inside and outside? D Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape? D Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked


all levels?


D Lamps: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean? D Tires: They are vitally important to a safe,


trouble-free trip. Is the tread good enough for long-distance driving? Are the tires all inflated to the recommended pressure?


D Weather Forecasts: What’s the weather outlook along your route? Should you delay your trip a short time to avoid a major storm system?


D Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps?


Highway Hypnosis Is there actually such a condition as “highway hypnosis”? Or is it just plain falling asleep at the wheel? Call it highway hypnosis, lack of awareness, or whatever. There is something about an easy stretch of road with the same scenery, along with the hum of the tires on the road, the drone of the engine, and the rush of the wind against the vehicle that can make you sleepy. Don’t let it happen to you! If it does, your vehicle can leave the road in less than a second, and you could crash and be injured. What can you do about highway hypnosis? First, be aware that it can happen. Then here are some tips: D Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated, with a


comfortably cool interior.


D Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead and to the sides. Check your rearview mirrors and your instruments frequently.


D If you get sleepy, pull off the road into a rest, service or parking area and take a nap, get some exercise, or both. For safety, treat drowsiness on the highway as an emergency.


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Hill and Mountain Roads


Driving on steep hills or mountains is different from driving in flat or rolling terrain.


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If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you’re planning to visit there, here are some tips that can make your trips safer and more enjoyable. D Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid levels and also the brakes, tires, cooling system and transaxle. These parts can work hard on mountain roads.


D Know how to go down hills. The most important


thing to know is this: let your engine do some of the slowing down. Shift to a lower gear when you go down a steep or long hill.


CAUTION:


If you don’t shift down, your brakes could get so hot that they wouldn’t work well. You would then have poor braking or even none going down a hill. You could crash. Shift down to let your engine assist your brakes on a steep downhill slope.


CAUTION:


Coasting downhill in NEUTRAL (N) or with the ignition off is dangerous. Your brakes will have to do all the work of slowing down. They could get so hot that they wouldn’t work well. You would then have poor braking or even none going down a hill. You could crash. Always have your engine running and your vehicle in gear when you go downhill.


D Know how to go uphill. You may want to shift


down to a lower gear. The lower gears help cool your engine and transaxle, and you can climb the hill better.


D Stay in your own lane when driving on two-lane


roads in hills or mountains. Don’t swing wide or cut across the center of the road. Drive at speeds that let you stay in your own lane.


D As you go over the top of a hill, be alert. There could be something in your lane, like a stalled car or an accident.


D You may see highway signs on mountains that


warn of special problems. Examples are long grades, passing or no-passing zones, a falling rocks area or winding roads. Be alert to these and take appropriate action.


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Winter Driving


Here are some tips for winter driving: D Have your vehicle in good shape for winter. D You may want to put winter emergency supplies in


your trunk.


Include an ice scraper, a small brush or broom, a supply of windshield washer fluid, a rag, some winter outer clothing, a small shovel, a flashlight, a red cloth and a

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