2003 Buick Century Owners Manual

locate them. Warning lights and gages can signal that something is wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause an expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to your warning lights and gages could also save you or others from injury. Warning lights come on when there may be or is a problem with one of your vehicle’s functions. As you will see in the details on the next few pages, some warning

lights come on briefly when you start the engine just to let you know they’re working. If you are familiar with this section, you should not be alarmed when this happens. Gages can indicate when there may be or is a problem with one of your vehicle’s functions. Often gages and warning lights work together to let you know when there’s a problem with your vehicle. When one of the warning lights comes on and stays on when you are driving, or when one of the gages shows there may be a problem, check the section that tells you what to do about it. Please follow this manual’s advice. Waiting to do repairs can be costly - and even dangerous. So please get to know your warning lights and gages. They’re a big help.

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Instrument Panel Cluster The instrument panel cluster is designed to let you know at a glance how your vehicle is running. You’ll know how fast you’re going, about how much fuel is in your tank and many other things you need to drive safely and economically.

~~

United States version with Enhanced Traction System and ABS shown; Canada Base Level similar

~~

~ _ _ _ _ ~

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Speedometer and Odometer The speedometer lets you see your speed in both miles per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour (km/h). The odometer shows how far your vehicle has been driven in either miles (used in the United States) or in kilometers (used in Canada). Your vehicle has a tamper-resistant odometer. If you see ERROR, you'll know someone has probably tampered with it and the numbers may not be accurate. You may wonder what happens if your vehicle needs a new odometer installed. If the new one can be set to the mileage total of the old odometer, then that will be done. But if it can't, then it will be set at zero and a label must be put on the driver's door to show the old mileage reading when the new odometer was installed. Trip Odometer The trip odometer tells how far you have driven since you last reset it. To set it to zero, press the button on the rinht cidcl cf the instrdmpn? p"np! +s?~r. "3"' - * - - The tripkelect reset button will go back and forth between the odometer and the trip odometer if the button is pressed and released within 1.5 seconds.

If the button is pressed and held for longer than 1.5 seconds while in the trip odometer mode, it will be reset to zero. If the button is pressed and held for longer than 1.5 seconds while in the odometer mode, it will have no effect. Safety Belt Reminder Light When the key is turned to RUN or START, a chime will come on for several seconds to remind people to fasten their safety belts, unless the driver's safety belt is already buckled.

The safety belt light will also come on and stay on for several seconds, then it will flash for several more.

If the driver's belt is already buckled, neither the chime nor the light will come on.

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Air Bag Readiness Light There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument panel, which shows the air bag symbol. The system checks the air bag’s electrical system for malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical problem. The system check includes the air bag modules, the wiring and the crash sensing and diagnostic module. For more information on the air bag system, see Air Bag Systems on page 1-53.

This light will come on when you start your vehicle, and it will flash for a few seconds. Then the light should go out. This means the system is ready.

If the air bag readiness light stays on after you start the vehicle or comes on when you are driving, your air bag system may not work properly. Have your vehicle serviced right away.

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If the air bag readiness light stays on after you start your vehicle, it means the air bag system may not be working properly. The air bags in your vehicle may not inflate in a crash, or they could even inflate without a crash. To help avoid injury to yourself or others, have your vehicle serviced right away if the air bag readiness light stays on after you start your vehicle.

The air bag readiness light should flash for a few seconds when you turn the ignition key to RUN. If the light doesn’t come on then, have it fixed so it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.

Charging System Light

-7

The charging system light will come on briefly when you turn on the ignition, as a check to show you it’s working. Then it should go out.

Brake System Warning Light Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided into two parts. If one part isn’t working, the other part can still work and stop you. For good braking, though, you need both parts working well. If the warning light comes on, there is a brake problem. Have your brake system inspected right away.

If it stays on, or comes on while you are driving, you may have a problem with the charging system. It could indicate that you have a loose accessory belt or another electrical problem. Have it checked right away. Driving while this light is on could drain your battery. If you must drive a short distance with the light on, be certain to turn off all your accessories, such as the radio and air conditioner.

BRAKE

United States

Canada

This light should come on briefly when you turn the ignition key to RUN. If it doesn’t come on then, have it fixed so it will be ready to warn you if there’s a nrnhlom r --.-....

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When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light will also come on when you set your parking brake. The light will stay on if your parking brake doesn’t release fully. If it stays on after your parking brake is fully released, it means you have a brake problem. If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off the road and stop carefully. You may notice that the pedal is harder to push. Or, the pedal may go closer to the floor. It may take longer to stop. If the light is still on, have the vehicle towed for service. See Towing Your Vehicle on page 4-32.

. -UT - _ 3ke SI em may no - Je working properly if the brake system warning light is on. Driving with the brake system warning light on can lead to an accident. If the light is still on after you’ve pulled off the road and stopped carefully, have the vehicle towed for service.

Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light

ANTI- LOCK

United States

Canada

If your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, this warning light will come on for a few seconds when you turn the ignition key to RUN. If the anti-lock brake system warning light stays on longer than normal after you’ve started your engine, turn the ignition off. Or, if the light comes on and stays on when you’re driving, stop as soon as possible and turn the ignition off. Then start the engine again to reset the system. If the light still stays on, or comes on again while you’re driving, the anti-lock brake system needs service. If the light is on and the regular brake system warning light isn’t on, you still have brakes, but you don’t have anti-lock brakes.

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The anti-lock brake system warning light will come on briefly when you turn the ignition key to RUN. This is normal. If the light doesn't come on then, have it fixed so it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem. Enhanced Traction System Warning Light

TRAC OFF

If your vehicle has the Enhanced Traction System, the warning light may come on for the following reasons:

' If You turn the system Off by shifting

to

or FIRST (l), the warning light will come on and stay on. To turn the system back on, shift to

('1

If the Enhanced Traction System warning light comes on and stays on for an extended period of time when the system is turned on, your vehicle needs service. Adjust your driving accordingly. The warning light will come on when you set your parking brake with the engine running, and it will stay on if your parking brake doesn't release fully. If the transaxle shift lever is in any position other than FIRST (1) or SECOND (2) and the warning light stays on after your parking brake is fully released, it means there's a problem with the system. If the traction control system is affected by an engine-related problem, the system will turn off and the warning light will come on.

When this warning light is on, the system will not limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.

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Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light

I--- -

This light tells you that your engine coolant has overheated or your radiator cooling fan is not working.

TEMP

The light will come on briefly when your ignition is turned on to show you that it is working. If you have been operating your vehicle under normal driving conditions, you should pull off the road, stop your vehicle and turn off the engine as soon as possible. See Engine Overheating on page 5-25.

Low Traction Light

LOW TRAC

If your vehicle has the Enhanced Traction System, this light will come on when the system is limiting wheel spin.

You may feel or hear the system working, but this is normal. Slippery road conditions may exist if the low traction light comes on, so adjust your driving accordingly. The light will stay on for a few seconds after the Enhanced Traction System stops limiting wheel spin. See Enhanced Traction System (ETS) on page 4- 10. The low traction light also comes on briefly when you turn the ignition key to RUN. If the light doesn’t come on then, have it fixed so it will be there to tell you when the Enhanced Traction System is active.

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Engine Coolant Temperature Gage

Tire Pressure Light

You have a gage that shows the engine coolant temperature. If the gage pointer moves into the red area, your engine is too hot!

LOW TIRE

Your vehicle may have a tire pressure monitor that can alert you to a large change in the pressure in one tire.

TEMPERATURE

This reading means the same thing as the warning light. It means that your engine coolant has overheated. If you have been operating your vehicle under normal driving conditions, you should pull off the road, stop your vehicle and turn off the engine as soon as possible. See Engine Overheating on page 5-25.

After the system has learned tire pressures with properly inflated tires, the LOW TIRE light will come on if the pressure in one tire becomes 12 psi (83 kPa) lower than the other three tires. The tire inflation monitor system won't alert you if the pressure in more than one tire is low, if the system is not yet calibrated, or if the vehicle is moving faster than 70 mph (1 10 km/h). When the LOW TIRE light comes on, you should stop as soon as you can and check all your tires for damage. (If a tire is flat, see If a Tire Goes Flat on page 5-66.) ;\;As c;-,e.c;;i as sswil you can. See Inflation -- Tire Pressure on page 5-57. The light will stay on (while the ignition is on) until you reset (calibrate) the system. See Tire Pressure Monitor System on page 5-58.

tile rJi"esaui-e ii? a;; f w u ; ;ii.eA

~~

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Notice: If you keep driving your vehicle with this light on, after a while, your emission controls may not work as well, your fuel economy may not be as good and your engine may not run as smoothly. This could lead to costly repairs that may not be covered by your warranty. Notice: Modifications made to the engine, transaxle, exhaust, intake or fuel system of your vehicle or the replacement of the original tires with other than those of the same Tire Performance Criteria (TPC) can affect your vehicle’s emission controls and may cause this light to come on. Modifications to these systems could lead to costly repairs not covered by your warranty. This may also result in a failure to pass a required Emission Inspection/Maintenance test. This light should come on, as a check to show you it is working, when the ignition is on and the engine is not running. If the light doesn’t come on, have it repaired.

Malfunction Indicator Lamp Service Engine Soon Light

SERVICE ENGINE

SOON

Your vehicle is equipped with a computer which monitors operation of the fuel, ignition and emission control systems.

This system is called OBD II (On-Board Diagnostics- Second Generation) and is intended to assure that emissions are at acceptable levels for the life of the vehicle, helping to produce a cleaner environment. The SERVICE ENGINE SOON light comes on and a chime will sound to indicate that there is a problem and service is required. Malfunctions often will be indicated by the system before any problem is apparent. This may prevent more serious damage to your vehicle. This system is also designed to assist your service technician in correctly diagnosing any malfunction.

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This light will also come on during a malfunction in one of two ways:

Light Flashing - A misfire condition has been detected. A misfire increases vehicle emissions and may damage the emission control system on your vehicle. Dealer or qualified service center diagnosis and service may be required.

e Light On Steady -An emission control system malfunction has been detected on your vehicle. Dealer or qualified service center diagnosis and service may be required.

If the Light Is Flashing The following may prevent more serious damage to your vehicle:

Reducing vehicle speed. Avoiding hard accelerations. Avoiding steep uphill grades. If y u u a l G l u v v t l ly z u a l l c l , cargo being hauled as soon as it is possible. If the light stops flashing and remains on steady, see “If the Light Is On Steady” following.

---J..-- 4.L.- -.---...- I - r Icuuvz 11 Ic a1 lluul It ut

1 1 - 1 1 _ r e +e,.*:-- +--:I-.-

.)

If the light continues to flash, when it is safe to do so, stop the vehicle. Find a safe place to park your vehicle. Turn the key off, wait at least 10 seconds and restart the engine. If the light remains on steady, see “If the Light Is On Steady” following. If the light is still flashing, follow the previous steps, and drive the vehicle to your dealer or qualified service center for service. If the Light Is On Steady You may be able to correct the emission system malfunction by considering the following: Did you recently put fuel into your vehicle? If so, reinstall the fuel cap, making sure to fully install the cap. See Filling Your Tank on page 5-7. The diagnostic system can determine if the fuel cap has been left off or improperly installed. A loose or missing fuel cap will allow fuel to evaporate into the atmosphere. A few driving trips with the cap properly installed should turn the light off. Uld you lust drtve through a deep puddle of water? If so, your electrical system may be wet. The condition will usually be corrected when the electrical system dries out. A few driving trips should turn the light off.

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Are you low on fuel? As your engine starts to run out of fuel, your engine may not run as efficiently as designed since small amounts of air are sucked into the fuel line causing a misfire. The system can detect this. Adding fuel should correct this condition. Make sure to install the fuel cap properly. See Filling Your Tank on page 5-7. It will take a few driving trips to turn the light off. Have you recently changed brands of fuel? If so, be sure to fuel your vehicle with quality fuel. See Gasoline Octane on page 5-5. Poor fuel quality will cause your engine not to run as efficiently as designed. You may notice this as stalling after start-up, stalling when you put the vehicle into gear, misfiring, hesitation on acceleration or stumbling on acceleration. (These conditions may go away once the engine is warmed up.) This will be detected by the system and cause the light to turn on. If you experience one or more of these conditions, change the fuel brand you use. It will require at least one full tank of the proper fuel to turn the light off. If none of the above steps have made the light turn off, have your dealer or qualified service center check the vehicle. Your dealer has the proper test equipment and diagnostic tools to fix any mechanical or electrical problems that may have developed.

Emissions Inspection and Maintenance Programs Some state/provincial and local governments have or may begin programs to inspect the emission control equipment on your vehicle. Failure to pass this inspection could prevent you from getting a vehicle registration. Here are some things you need to know to help your vehicle pass an inspection: Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if the SERVICE ENGINE SOON light is on or not working properly. Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if the OBD (on-board diagnostic) system determines that critical emission control systems have not been completely diagnosed by the system. The vehicle would be considered not ready for inspection. This can happen if you have recently replaced your battery or if your battery has run down. The diagnostic system is designed to evaluate critical emission control systems during normal driving. This may take several days of routine driving. If you have done this and your vehicle still does not pass the inspection for lack of OBD system readiness, see your dealer or qualified service center to prepare the vehicle for inspection.

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Oil Pressure Light

If you have a problem with your oil, this light may stay on after you start your engine, or come on when you are driving.

This indicates that oil is not going through your engine quickly enough to keep it lubricated. The engine could be low on oil or could have some other oil problem. Have it fixed right away. The oil light could also come on in the following situations:

The light will come on briefly when you turn on the ignition to show you that it is working properly. If it doesn’t come on with the ignition on, you may have a problem with the fuse or bulb. Have it fixed right away.

e Sometimes when the engine is idling at a stop, the light may blink on and off. This is normal.

Do.. . keep driving if the oil pressure is low. If you do, your engine can become so hot that it catches fire. You or others could be burned. Check your oil as soon as possible and have your vehicle serviced.

Nofice: Damage to your engine from neglected oil problems can be costly and is not covered by your warranty.

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Change Engine Oil Light

I CHANGE OIL I when you start the engine.

The CHANGE OIL SOON light should come on briefly as a bulb check

SOON

If the light doesn’t come on, have it serviced.

If the CHANGE OIL SOON light comes on and stays on after you start the engine, have the oil changed. For additional information, see “When to Change Engine Oil (GM Oil Life System)” under Engine Oil on page 5-73. To reset the CHANGE OIL SOON light, see “How to Reset the System” under Engine Oil on page 5- 13.

Low Oil Level Light

LOW OIL

Your vehicle is equipped with an oil level monitoring system. When the ignition key is turned on, the LOW OIL light will come on briefly.

If the light does not come on briefly, have it fixed so it will be ready to warn you if there’s a problem. If the light stays on, stop the vehicle on a level surface and turn the engine off. Check the oil level using the engine oil dipstick. See Engine Oil on page 5-13. If the light does not come on briefly, have the low oil level sensor system repaired so it will be ready to warn you if there’s a problem. The oil level monitoring system only checks oil level during the brief period between key on and engine crank. It does not monitor engine oil level when the engine is running. Additionally, an oil level check is only performed if the engine has been turned off for a considerable period of time, allowing the oil normally in circulation to drain back into the oil pan.

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Security Light

Cruise Control Light

SECURITY

The SECURITY light will come on when you turn the key to START and stay on until the vehicle starts.

CRUISE

The CRUISE light comes on whenever you set your cruise control. See “Cruise Control” under Turn Signal/Mu!tifunction Lever on page 3-5.

It will also flash if your ignition key is too dirty or wet for the PASS-Key@ II system to read the resistor pellet. See PASS-Key“ !I on page 2- 17. If the resistor pellet is damaged or missing, the light will come on.

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Low Washer Fluid Warning Light

Service Vehicle Soon Light

LOW WASH

The LOW WASH light will come on when your windshield washers are working and the fluid container is low.

The light will also come on briefly when your ignition is turned on to show that it is working properly. Doormrunk Ajar Warning Light

DOOR/TRUNK

The DOOFUTRUNK light will come on if your trunk or any door is not completely closed.

The SERVICE VEHICLE SOON light will come on if you have certain non-emission related vehicle problems.

These problems may not be obvious and may affect vehicle performance or durability. Consult a qualified dealership for necessary repairs to maintain top vehicle performance. The light will come on briefly when your ignition is turned on to show that it is working properly.

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Fuel Gage

United States

FUEL

Canada

Your fuel gage tells you about how much fuel you have left when the ignition is on. When the indicator nears empty, you still have a little fuel left, but you should get more soon. Here are four things that some owners ask about. P . ! ! these things 2re r?Crml! 2nd $e nzt in!%x.te th2,t anything is wrong with the fuel gage: e At the gas station, the pump shuts off before the

gage reads full. It takes more (or less) fuel to fill up than the gage reads. For exampie, the gage reads halt full, but it took more (or less) than half of the tank’s capacity to fill it.

The gage pointer may move while cornering, braking or speeding up. The gage may not indicate empty when the ignition is turned off.

Low Fuel Warning Light

oo\\ ‘

’

United States

Canada

.-.-.

I -

y p ~ r jns:f-:me~7f

if \ / n I I r f ~ m i is !e\>!, 2 circ-!zr 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.

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Audio System(s) Notices 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. Your audio system has been designed to operate easily and to 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. Your vehicle has a feature called Retained Accessory Power (RAP). With RAP, you can play your audio system even after the ignition is turned off. See “Retained Accessory Power (RAP)” under lgnition Positions on page 2- 19. Setting the Time Press and hold HRS until the correct hour appears on the display. Press and hold MIN until the correct minute also appears. You may set the time with the ignition off if you push RECALL first.

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AM-FM Radio

Playing the Radio

ON/OFF: Press this knob to turn the,system on and off. VOLUME: Turn the knob to increase or 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 while the ignition if off to display the clock. Finding a Station

AM FM: Press this button to switch between AM, FMI and FM2. The display will show your selection. TUNE: Turn this knob to choose radio stations. 4 SEEK b : Press the right or the left arrow to go to the next or to the previous station and stay there. 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.

I UUIV V v I I t 3 G G n VI IIY LU aLaLwI 13 LI l a t CII e II I LI ~e

Th,. rrrA:fi ..,:I1 I I I C selected band and only to those with a strong signal.

r l - 2 ~ _ . _ _ !.- 11- -

-+-4:---

--I.,

- - - I ,

+-

3-45

P SCAN (Preset Scan): Press this button to listen to each of your preset stations for a few seconds. Press P SCAN again to stop scanning presets. The radio will scan only to preset stations that are in the selected band and only to those with a strong signal. Setting Preset Stations The six numbered pushbuttons let you return to your favorite stations. You can set up to 18 stations (six AM, six FMI and six FM2) by performing the following steps:

1. Turn the radio on. 2. Press the AM FM button to select AM, FMI or FM2. 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.

Setting the Tone (Bassnreble)

BASS: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn the knob to increase or to decrease bass.

TREB (Treble): Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn the knob to increase or to decrease treble. If a station is weak or noisy, you may want to decrease the treble. Return these knobs to their stored positions when you’re not using them. Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)

BAL (Balance): Turn the control ring behind the upper knob to move the sound toward the left or the right speakers.

FADE: Turn the control ring behind the lower knob to move the sound toward the front or the rear speakers.

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Radio with Cassette (Base Level)

Playing the Radio

ON/OFF: Press this knob to turn the system on and off.

VOLUME: Turn the knob to increase or to decrease volume.

RECALL: Push this knob to switch the display between the radio station frequency and the time. 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 while the ignition is off to display the time. Finding a Station

AM FM: Push this knob to switch between AM, FMI and FM2. The display will show your selection. TUNE: Turn this knob to choose radio stations. 4 SEEK b : Press the right or the left arrow to go to the next or to the previous station and stay there. 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 seek and scan only to stations that are in the selected band and only to those with a strong signal.

3-47

P SCAN (Preset Scan): Press this button to listen to each of your preset stations for a few seconds. Press P SCAN again to stop scanning presets. The radio will scan only to preset stations that are in the selected band and only to those with a strong signal. 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 AM, FM1 or FM2. 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.

Setting the Tone (Bassnreble)

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

BAL (Balance): Turn the control ring behind the upper knob to move the sound toward the left or the right speakers. FADE: Turn the control ring behind the lower knob to move the sound toward the front or the rear speakers.

3-48

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 while 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): Your tape must have at least three seconds of silence between each selection for previous to work. Press this pushbutton to go to the previous selection on the tape. 2 NEXT: Your tape must have at least three seconds of silence between each selection for next to work. Press this pushbutton to go to the next selection on the tape. tape rapidly. Press it again to return to playing speed. The radio will play while the tape reverses. 4 bb (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 play the other side of the tape.

(Reverse): Press this pushbutton to reverse the

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6 00 (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. 4 SEEK b : Your tape must have at least three seconds of silence between each selection for seek to work. Press the left or the right arrow to go to the previous or to the next selection on the tape. 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 TIGHT TAPE: 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. BROKEN TAPE: The tape is broken. Try a new tape. WRAPPED: The tape is wrapped. Try a new tape. CLEAN PLAYR (Clean Player): 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 on page 3-64. 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.

If this message

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Radio with Cassette (Up Level)

RECALL: Press this button to switch the display between the radio station frequency and the time. 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

Standard Radio Shown

Your vehicle may be equipped with a Concert Sound Ill 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 to increase or to decrease the volume.

AM-FM: Press this button to switch between AM, FMI and FM2. The display will show your selection.

A TUNE v : Press the up or the down arrow to A SEEK v : Press the up or the down arrow to go to

choose radio stations.

the next or to the previous station and stay there. 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 seek and scan only to stations that are in the selected band and only to those with a strong signal.

3-5 1

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 presets. The radio will scan only to preset stations that are in the selected band and only to those with a strong signal.

AUTO SET (Automatic Set): Press this button, after selecting AM or FM, to seek and set the 12 strongest FM or the 6 strongest AM stations on your preset pushbuttons. 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, FMI and six FM2) by performing the following steps: 1. Turn the radio on. 2. Press AM-FM to select AM, FMI or FM2. 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 pushbutton.

6. Repeat the steps for each pushbutton. Setting the Tone (Bassnreble) BASS: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn the knob to increase or to decrease bass. TREB (Treble): Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn the knob to increase or to decrease treble. If a station is weak or noisy, you may want to decrease the treble. Return these knobs to their stored positions when you’re not using them. TONE: Press this button to choose bass and treble equalization settings designed for country/western, jazz, talk, pop and classical stations. To return the bass and treble to the manual mode, press either TONE, BASS or TREB until MANUAL appears. See “Setting Preset Stations” listed previously to program the auto tone feature.

3-52

Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)

BAL (Balance): Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn the knob to move the sound toward the left or the right speakers.

Turn the the

FADE: Press this knob lightly so it extends. knob to move the sound toward the front or rear speakers. Return these knobs to 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 while 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): Your tape must have at least three seconds of silence between each selection for previous to work. Press this pushbutton to search for the previous selection on the tape. 2 NEXT: Your tape must have at least three seconds of silence between each selection for next to work. Press this pushbutton to search for the next selection on the tape. 3 1( (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 ot the tape. Press it again to return to playing speed. The radio will play while the tape advances.

3-53

5 SIDE: Press this pushbutton to play the other side of the tape. 6 00 (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 while the tape is active.

A SEEK v : Your tape must have at least three

seconds of silence between each selection for seek to work. Press the up or the down arrow to go to the next or to the previous selection on the tape. 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

TIGHT TAPE: 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. BROKEN TAPE: The tape is broken. Try a new tape. WRAPPED: The tape is wrapped. Try a new tape. CLEAN PLAYR (Clean Player): 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 on page 3-64. 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.

If this message

3-54

Radio with Cassette and CD

RECALL: Press this button to switch the display between the radio station frequency and the time. 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 time. Finding a Station

Standard Radio Shown

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

ON/OFF: Push this knob to VOLUME: Turn this knob to increase or to decrease \rClLJ!??E!.

turn the system on and off.

: Press the up or the down arrow to go to

AM-FM: Press this button to switch between AM, FM1 and FM2. The display will show your selection.

A TUNE v : Press the up or the down arrow to choose radio stations. A SEEK the next or to the previous station and stay there. 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 statinn Press nnp nf the SEEK srre?n,s s @ ~ ?e stop scanning. The radio will seek and scan only to stations that are in the selected band and only to those with a strong signal.

3-55

P SCAN (Preset Scan): Press this button to listen to each of your preset stations for a few seconds. Press P SCAN again to stop scanning. The radio will scan only to preset stations that are in the selected band and only to those with a strong signal.

AUTO SET (Automatic Set): Press this button, after selecting AM or FM, to seek and set the 12 strongest FM or the 6 strongest AM stations on your preset pushbuttons. 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 FMI and six FM2) by performing the following steps:

1. Turn the radio on. 2. Press AM-FM to select AM, FMI or FM2 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 pushbutton.

6. Repeat the steps for each pushbutton. Setting the Tone (Bassnreble) BASS: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn the knob to increase or to decrease bass. TREB (Treble): Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn the knob to increase or to decrease treble. If a station is weak or noisy, you may want to decrease the treble. Return these knobs to their stored positions when you’re not using them. TONE: Press this button to choose bass and treble equalization settings designed for countqdwestern, jazz, talk, pop and classical stations. To return the bass and treble to the manual mode, press either 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.

3-56

Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)

BAL (Balance): Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn the knob to move the sound toward the left or the right speakers.

FADE: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn the knob to move the sound toward the front or the rear speakers. Return these knobs to 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 while 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): Your tape must have at least three seconds of silence between each selection for previous to work. Press this pushbutton to search for the previous selection on the tape. 2 NEXT: Your tape must have at least three seconds of silence between each selection for next to work. Press this pushbutton to search for the next selection on the tape.

3 a (Reverse): Press this pushbutton to reverse the 4 * (Forward): Press this pushbutton to advance

tape rapidly. The radio will play while the tape reverses. Press it again to return to playing speed.

quickly to another part of the tape. The radio will play while the tape advances. Press it aslain to .retlIrn to playing speed. 5 SIDE: Press this pushbutton to play the other side of the tape.

3-57

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. A SEEK 7 : Your tape must have at least three seconds of silence between each selection for seek to work. Press the up or the down arrow to go to the next or to the previous selection on the tape. 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

TIGHT TAPE: 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. BROKEN TAPE: The tape is broken. Try a new tape. WRAPPED: The tape is wrapped. Try a new tape. CLEAN PLAYR (Clean Player): 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 on page 3-64. 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.

If this message

3-58

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.

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. 3 fl (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 bb (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 blltton lmtil the display flashes

3-59

AM-FM: Press this button to listen to the radio when a CD is playing. SOURCE: Press this button to play a cassette tape ot 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. A SEEK the previous or to the next track on the CD.

: Press the up or the down arrow to go to

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 If the disc comes out or CHECK CD appears on the display, it could be for one of the following reasons:

0 You’re driving on a very rough road. When the road

becomes smoother, the disc should play. It’s very hot. When the temperature returns to normal, the disc should play. The disc is dirty, scratched, wet, or upside down. It is very humid. If so, 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.

3-60

Theft-Deterrent Feature

battery power is

radio may be used

is not protected by the feature.

THEFTLOCK@ is designed to discourage theft of your radio. It works by using a secret code to disable all radio functions whenever interrupted. If THEFTLOCK@ is active, the TH€FTLOCK@ indicator will flash when the ignition is off. The TH€FTLOCK@ feature for the or ignored. If ignored, the system plays normally and the radio If THEFTLOCK@ is activated, your radio will not operate if stolen. V/hen THEFTLOCK@ is activateu, the radio wiii uispiay LOC to indicate a locked condition anytime battery power is removed. If your reason, you must unlock code before it will operate. Activating the Theft-Deterrent Feature The instructions which enter your secret code to activate the THEFTLOCK@ system. Read through all starting the procedure.

battery loses power for any

the radio with the secret

follow explain how to

nine steps before

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.

2. 3. 4.

5. 6.

7.

8.

9.

Write down any three or four-digit number from 000 to 1999 and keep it in a safe place separate from the vehicle. Turn the ignition on. Turn the radio off. 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. Press MIN and 000 will appear on the display. Press biiN again io make the last two digits agree with your code. Press HRS to make the first one or two digits agree with your code. Press AM-FM after you have confirmed that the code matches the secret code you have written &\A!n. that you need to repeat Steps 5 through 7 to confirm your secret code. Press AM-FM and this time the display will show SEC to let you know that your radio is secure.

The ~ic-ils:/ y h l l ShQ\!! REP p-J !et :'"E

knmAl

3-6 1

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 dealership.

Disabling the Theft-Deterrent Feature Enter your secret code as follows; pause no more than 15 seconds between steps: 1. Turn the ignition 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.

3-62

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

SEEK v : Press the up or the down arrow to seek

to the next or the previous radio station. If a cassette tape or compact disc is playing, the player wiii aLivar~r;e iu iile rlexi or tile previous seieciion.

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, FMI 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.

iviUiE: Press this buiion io siience the audio system. Press it again to turn on the sound.

A VOL (Volume) v : Press the up or the down arrow

to increase or to decrease volume.

3-63

Understanding Radio Reception

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 will give you the best sound, but FM signals will reach only about 10 to 40 miles (1 6 to 65 km). Tall buildings or hills can interfere with FM signals, causing the sound to come and go. 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 CLEAN PLAYR 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 the tape or the tape player is at fault. If this other cassette has no improvement in sound quality, clean the tape player. For best results, use 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 dealership. The cut tape detection feature of your cassette tape player may identify the cleaning cassette as a damaged tape, in error. If the cleaning cassette ejects, insert the cassette at least three times to ensure thorough cleaning.

3-64

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 CLEAN PLAYR 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 p!ayer sen/iced. Care of Your CDs 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, nel.ltral deterGent S n 1 1 . 1 t i n n and clean it, wiping from the center to the edge.

Be sure never to touch the side without writing when handling discs. Pick up discs by grasping the outer edges or the edge of the hole and the outer edge.

Care of Your CD 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 occasionally 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.

3-65

Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle

Your Driving. the Road. and Your Vehicle .......... 4-2 Defensive Driving ........................................... 4.2 Drunken Driving ............................................. 4-3 Control of a Vehicle ........................................ 4-6 Braking ......................................................... 4-6 Enhanced Traction System (ETS) .................... 4.10 Steering ...................................................... 4-1 1 Off-Road Recovery ....................................... 4.13 Passing ...................................................... 4 1 4 Loss of Control ............................................. 4.15 Driving at Night ............................................ 4.16 Driving in Rain and on ?!et Roads .................. "-1 7 8

City Driving .................................................. 4-21 Freeway Driving ....................... ............. 4-22 Before Leaving on a Long Trip ....................... 4-23 Highway Hypnosis ........................................ 4-24 Hill and Mountain Roads ................................ 4-24 Winter Driving .............................................. 4-26 If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow ........ 4-31 Towing .......................................................... 4.32 Towing Your Vehicle ..................................... 4-32 Recreational Vehicle Towing ........................... 4-32 Loading Your Vehicle .................................... 4.33 Towing a Trai!er ........................................... A - 9 K

7 V"

4- I

Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle 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: They Are for Everyone on page 1-7. 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.

4-2

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:

Judgment Muscular Coordination Vision 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, more than 16,000 annual motor vehicle-related deaths have been associated with the use of alcohol, with more than 3S0,CSS peopie injurea.

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 eliminate 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 someone 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:

The amount of alcohol consumed The drinker’s body weight The amount of food that is consumed before and during drinking The length of time it has taken the drinker to consume the alcohol.

4-3

According to the American Medical Association, a 180 Ib (82 kg) person who drinks three 12 ounce (355 mi) 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 mi) glasses of wine or three mixed drinks if each had 1 - 1/2 ounces (45 mi) 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 mi 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.

4-4

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. “1’11 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 i7iafiy peGp;e dcri-,’; ~i-,uvv-. ;v;&iCai iesealC;-, s;-,uws 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.

YIIIIRing and then driving is very dangerous. Your reflexes, perceptions, attentiveness and judgement 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.

4-5

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.

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.

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 (ETS) on page 4- 10.

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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.

rake System (ABS)

Anti-lock Your vehicle may have anti-lock brakes. ABS is an advanced electronic braking system that will help prevent a braking skid.

ANTI- LOCK

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If your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, this warning iight on the instrument panel will come on briefly when you start your vehicle. 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 lest is CJC!r!G E?, 2!?d y% m2y e'!e!? !?CtiCP t h l t !!?E your brake pedal moves or pulses a little. This is normal.

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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 Ai some time, nearly every driver gets into a siiuation that requires hard braking. If you have anti-lock, you can steer and brake at the same time. However, if you don’t have anti-lock, your first reaction - to hit the brake pedal hard and

hold it down - may be the wrong thing to do. Your wheels can stop rolling. Once they do, the vehicle can’t respond to your steering. Momentum will carry it in whatever direction it was headed when the wheels stopped rolling. That could be off the road, into the very thing you were trying to avoid, or into traffic. If you don’t have anti-lock, use a “squeeze” braking technique. This will give you maximum braking while maintaining steering control. You can do this by pushing on the brake pedal with steadily increasing pressure. In an emergency, you will probably want to squeeze the brakes hard without locking the wheels. If you hear or feel the wheels sliding, ease off the brake pedal. This will help you retain steering control. If yolr do have anti-lock, it’s different. See “Anti-Lock Brakes.” In many emergencies, steering can help you more than even the very best braking.

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Enhanced Traction System (ETS) Your vehicle may have 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.

LOW TRAC

This light will come on when your Enhanced Traction System is limiting wheel spin. See Enhanced Traction System Warning Light on page 3-33.

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” under Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever on page 3-5.

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The Enhanced Traction System operates in THIRD (3) and OVERDRIVE (@). If you are in THIRD (3), the

system can upshift the transaxle to OVERDRIVE (a).

The Enhanced Traction System is turned off in SECOND (2) or FIRST (1) gear. See Automatic Transaxle Operation on page 2-23.

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

TRAC OFF

See Enhanced Traction System Warning Light on page 3-33. 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 To Get It Out” under If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow on page 4-31.

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effort.

To turn the system off, your gear shift lever must be in FIRST (1) or SECOND (2) gear. See “Rocking Your Vehicle To Get It Out” under If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow on page 4-31. 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 (@) 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 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 nnderst2nd 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.

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Suppose you’re steering through a sharp curve. Then you suddenly accelerate. Both control systems - steering and braking - have to do their work where the tires meet the road. Unless you have four-wheel anti-lock brakes, adding the hard braking can demand too much of those places. You can lose control. The same thing can happen if you’re steering through a sharp curve and you suddenly accelerate. Those two control systems - steering and acceleration - can overwhelm those places where the tires meet the road and make you lose control. See Enhanced Traction System (ETS) on page 4- IO. What should you do if this ever happens? Ease up on the brake or 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. 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 - but, unless you have anti-lock, not enough to lock your wheels. See Braking on page 4-6. 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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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.

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.

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 pa?/ement edge. The!? turn ynllr steering ?nthee! to go straight down the roadway.

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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:

“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. 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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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. 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. If other vehicles 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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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.) Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a time on two-lane roads. Reconsider before passing the next vehicle. 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. 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.

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.

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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 ana 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. If you have the anti-lock braking system, remember: It helps avoid only the braking skid. If you do not have anti-lock, then in a braking skid (where the wheels are no longer rolling), release enough pressure on the brakes to get the wheels rolling again. This restores steering control. Push the brake pedal down steadily when you have to stop suddenly. As long as the wheels are rolling, you will have steering control.

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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. Here are some tips on night driving.

Drive defensively. Don’t drink and drive.

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Adjust your inside rearview mirror to reduce the glare from headlamps behind you. Since you can’t see as well, you may need to slow down and keep more space between you and other vehicles. Slow down, especially on higher speed roads. Your headlamps can light up only so much road ahead. In remote areas, watch for animals. 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 ynltre drivincj; don’t wear slmcjlasses 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