1999 Buick Regal 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. Your vehicle may also have a driver information system that works along with the warning lights and gages. See “Driver Information System” in the Index. Safety Belt Reminder Light When the key is turned to RUN or START, a chime will come on for about eight 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 about 20 seconds, then it will flash for about 55 seconds. 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” in the Index.

This light will come on when you start your engine, 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 engine or comes on when you are driving, your air bag system may not work properly. Have your vehicle serviced right away. 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

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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.

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.

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CAUTION:

Your brake system may not be 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.

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.

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.

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 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 “Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light” and “Towing Your Vehicle” in the Index.)

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Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light

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 and you don’t have anti-lock brakes. The brake pedal may be harder to push, or it may go to the floor. It may take longer to stop. Adjust your driving accordingly. The anti-lock brake system warning light should come 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 ready to warn you if there is a problem.

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Traction Control System Warning Light (3800 Supercharged V6 Engine Only)

The traction control system warning light may come on for the following reasons: D If you turn the system off by pressing the traction control button located on the black panel directly behind your automatic transaxle shift lever, the warning light will come on and stay on. To turn the system back on, press the button again. The warning light should go off. (See “Traction Control System” in the Index for more information.)

D If there’s a brake system problem that is specifically related to traction control, the traction control system will turn off and the warning light will come on. If your brakes begin to overheat, the traction control system will turn off and the warning light will come on until your brakes cool down.

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D With Full-Range Traction Control equipped

vehicles, if there’s a brake system problem that is specifically related to traction control, the traction control system will turn off and the warning light will come on. If your brakes begin to overheat, the traction control system will turn off and the warning light will come on until your brakes cool down.

D If the traction control system is affected by an

engine-related problem, the system will turn off and the warning light will come on.

D With Full-Range Traction Control, if there is a base brake problem, the system will turn off and the light will come on.

If the traction control system warning light comes on and stays on for an extended period of time when the system is turned on, your vehicle needs service.

Traction Control System Active Light

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When your traction control system is limiting wheel spin, this light will come on. Slippery road conditions may exist if the traction control system active light comes on, so adjust your driving accordingly.

The light will stay on for a few seconds after the traction control system stops limiting wheel spin.

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Low Traction Light

Engine Coolant Temperature Light

This light will also come on when the Traction Control System is limiting wheel spin.

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

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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 traction control system stops limiting wheel spin. See “Traction Control System” in the Index. 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 Traction Control System is active.

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. The “Problems on the Road” section of this manual shows what to do. See “Engine Overheating” in the Index.

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Engine Coolant Temperature Gage

Low Coolant Warning Light

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If the LOW COOLANT light comes on, your system is low on coolant and the engine may overheat. See “Engine Coolant” in the Index and have your vehicle serviced as soon as you can.

The light will come on briefly when your ignition is turned on to show you that it is working properly. Low Tire Light

The low tire inflation monitor system can alert you to a large change in the pressure in one tire.

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

That 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. The “Problems on the Road” section of this manual shows what to do. See “Engine Overheating” in the Index.

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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 low 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 60 mph (95 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” in the Index.) Also check the tire pressure in all four tires as soon as you can. See “Inflation - Tire Pressure” in the Index. The light will stay on until you turn off the ignition or reset the system. See “Low Tire Inflation Monitor System” in the Index. The LOW TIRE 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 if the pressure in a tire is low or high.

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Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Service Engine Soon Light)

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

D 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.

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 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 the SERVICE ENGINE SOON 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.

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If the Light Is Flashing The following may prevent more serious damage to your vehicle: D Reducing vehicle speed. D Avoiding hard accelerations. D Avoiding steep uphill grades. D If you are towing a trailer, reduce the amount of

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. 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.

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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” in the Index. 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. Did you just drive 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. 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” in the Index. It will take a few driving trips to turn the light off.

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Have you recently changed brands of fuel? If so, be sure to fuel your vehicle with quality fuel (see “Fuel” in the Index). 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.

Oil Warning Light

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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: D 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.)

D Sometimes when the engine is idling at a stop, the

light may blink on and off. This is normal.

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CAUTION:

Don’t 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.

NOTICE:

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

Low Oil Level Light

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Your engine 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” in the Index.) If the light does not flash, 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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The SECURITY light will come on when you turn the key to START and stay on until the vehicle starts.

It will also flash if your ignition key is too dirty or wet for the PASS-KeyR II system to read the resistor pellet. See “PASS-Key II” in the Index. If the resistor pellet is damaged or missing, the light will come on. If you’re ever driving and the SECURITY light comes on, you will be able to restart your engine if you turn it off. Your PASS-Key II system, however, is not working properly and must be serviced by your dealer. Your vehicle is not protected by the PASS-Key II system.

Change Oil Soon Light

Security Light

The CHANGE OIL SOON light should come on briefly as a bulb check when you start the engine. 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 “Engine Oil, When to Change” in the Index. To reset the Oil Life Monitor, see “Engine Oil Life Monitor” in the Index.

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Cruise Light

Service Vehicle Soon Light

The CRUISE light comes on whenever you set your cruise control. See “Cruise Control” in the Index.

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

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Performance Shift Light (If Equipped)

The PERF SHIFT light comes on when you press the performance shift button to indicate that your vehicle is in performance shifting mode. See “Performance Shifting” in the Index.

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. Low Washer Fluid Warning Light

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.

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Here are four things that some owners ask about. All these things are normal and do not indicate that anything is wrong with the fuel gage: D At the gas station, the pump shuts off before the gage

reads FULL (F).

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.

D The gage pointer may move while cornering, braking

or speeding up.

D The gage may not indicate EMPTY (E) when the

ignition is turned off.

Door/Trunk Ajar Warning Light

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

Your fuel gage tells you about how much fuel you have left when the ignition is on. When the indicator nears EMPTY (E), you still have a little fuel left, but you should get more soon.

Fuel Gage

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Low Fuel Light

Driver Information Center (Option)

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If your fuel is low, a circular light on your instrument panel 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.

3800 V6 Supercharged Engine

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Control Buttons

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3800 V6 Engine

Your Driver Information Center, (DIC) located below the tachometer on the instrument panel cluster, gives you important safety and maintenance facts. When you turn the ignition on, the entire center lights up for just a few seconds.

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The Driver Information Center has three buttons that control its functions. E/M, RESET AND MODE: The English/Metric (E/M), RESET and MODE buttons for the Driver Information Center are located to the left of the steering wheel, just below the instrument panel cluster. E/M: Press this button to change the display from English to metric units or metric to English.

RESET: Press this button for one second to reset the mode displayed. MODE: Press this button to change the mode being displayed. Modes AVG ECON: Shows your average fuel economy since you last reset this mode. Average fuel economy is viewed as a long term approximation of your overall driving and driving conditions. To learn the average fuel economy from a new starting point, press the RESET button while the average fuel economy is displayed in the DIC. INSTANTANEOUS FUEL ECONOMY: Shows your current fuel economy. Instantaneous fuel economy varies with your driving conditions, such as acceleration, braking and the grade of the road being traveled. The instantaneous fuel economy display cannot be reset, therefore the reset button has no effect while in this mode.

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OIL LIFE MONITOR: Shows an estimate of the oil’s remaining useful life. When the oil life index is less than 10%, the CHANGE OIL SOON light will come on. When you have the oil changed according to the maintenance schedule (see “Maintenance Schedule” in the Index), you will have to reset the oil life monitor. To do this, press and hold the RESET button for more than five seconds while the oil life monitor is being displayed on the DIC. The oil life will change to 100%. RANGE: Shows the approximate distance you can drive without refueling. This is based on the amount of fuel in the tank and on the fuel economy of the most recent 25 miles (40 km). Pressing RESET while in this mode will have no effect. BOOST GAGE: If you have the supercharged engine, this gage will show the amount of boost your engine is receiving. Pressing RESET while in this mode will have no effect.

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- NOTES

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Section 3 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems

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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 ComforTemp Climate Control Dual Automatic ComforTemp Climate Control (If Equipped) Rear Window Defogger Ventilation System Audio Systems Setting the Clock AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player and Automatic Tone Control AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape and Compact Disc Player with Automatic Tone Control (If Equipped)

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Theft-Deterrent Feature 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 Backglass Antenna Diversity Antenna System (If Equipped)

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Comfort Controls Dual ComforTemp Climate Control

With this system, the driver and passenger can maintain separate temperatures. The system works best if you keep your windows closed while using it.

Fan Control The left knob labeled FAN controls the fan speed selection. 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. 3-2

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Driver’s Temperature Knob The center knob sets the temperature for the driver’s outlets. Turn the knob toward red (clockwise) for warmer air. Turn it toward blue (counterclockwise) for cooler air.

Passenger’s Temperature Lever The bottom lever adjusts the air temperature on the passenger’s side independent of the temperature set by the driver. Slide the lever toward the right to raise the temperature. Slide the lever toward the left to lower the temperature.

Mode Knob The right knob has several settings to control the direction of airflow. To access the various modes available, turn the mode knob to the desired mode. MAX: 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.)

NORM: This setting brings in outside air 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.) BI-LEV: 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. 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: This setting brings in outside air and directs it through the instrument panel outlets. HTR: 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.)

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FRONT: 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.) 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 knob and lever 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 NORM with the temperature knob and lever 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 knob 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. 3-3

Heating On cold days, use HTR with the temperature knob and lever all the way in the red area. The system will bring in outside air, heat it and send it to the floor ducts. 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.

Ventilation For mild outside temperatures when little heating or cooling is needed, use VENT to direct outside air through your vehicle. Your vehicle also has the flow-through ventilation system described later in this section. Defogging and Defrosting Your system has two settings for clearing the front and side windows. To defrost the windows quickly, use FRONT with 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.

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Dual Automatic ComforTemp Climate Control (If Equipped)

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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.

Automatic Control For the most efficient operation, you should set the system temperature and press AUTO. The system will 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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Temperature Control The TEMP switch sets the temperature for the entire system when the light on the DUAL button isn’t lit. If the DUAL button light is lit, this master temperature control 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.

Passenger’s Temperature 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 set by the driver. 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 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.

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 and air compressor operation with the following buttons: 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 button up or down until the desired mode appears in the display: D WINDSHIELD/FLOOR: This setting directs half of the air to the floor ducts and half to the defroster and side window vents.

D MID/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.

D MID: This setting directs air through the instrument

panel outlets.

D 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.

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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 lit in the display. The air conditioning compressor will run automatically in this setting unless the outside temperature is below 40_F (4_C). VENT: This pushbutton 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 for one second and then turn off. RECIRC: 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 for one second and then turn off if selected when not permitted.

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. Defogging and Defrosting 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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Rear Window Defogger

Dual ComforTemp

Climate Control

Dual Automatic

ComforTemp 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 itself off after about 10 minutes. If you turn it on again, the rear defogger will only run for about five minutes before turning off. You can also turn it off by pressing the button again. The picture above on the left refers to the defogger button that is found on a Dual ComforTemp Climate Control system; the button on the right is found on the Dual Automatic ComforTemp Climate Control system.

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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.

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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.

Ventilation System

Adjust the direction of airflow by moving the vents.

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.

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Audio Systems Your Delco Electronics 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 Delco Electronics system can do and how to operate all 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 press RECALL first and follow the same procedure described above.

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AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player and Automatic Tone Control

If your vehicle is equipped with the MonsoonR AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player and Automatic Tone Control (not shown), included are 8 speakers and a powerful 8 channel, 200 watt amplifier.

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

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RECALL: Press this button briefly to recall 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: Press the up or down arrow to choose radio stations. SEEK: Press the up or down arrow to go to the next higher or lower station and stay there. The sound will mute while seeking. SCAN: Press one of the SEEK arrows for two seconds and SCAN will appear on the display. Use SCAN to listen to stations for a few seconds. The radio will go to a station, stop for a few seconds, then go on to the next station. Press one of the SEEK buttons again to stop scanning. The sound will mute while scanning.

PUSHBUTTONS: 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). Just: 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 buttons. The sound will mute. When it returns, release the button. Whenever you press that numbered button, 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. P 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, stop for a few seconds, then go on to the next preset station. Press P SCAN again to stop scanning. If a preset station has weak reception, the radio will not stop at the preset station.

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AUTO SET: Press this button and the system will seek and set the 12 strongest FM or the 6 strongest AM stations on your preset buttons (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 the Tone BASS: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn the knob to increase or decrease bass. TREB: 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 classical, pop, rock, jazz, talk and country/western stations. CLASS will appear on the display when you first press TONE. Each time you press it, another setting will appear on the display. Press it again after C & W appears and MANUAL will appear. Tone control will return to the BASS and TREB knobs. Also, if you use the BASS and TREB knobs, control will return to them and MANUAL will appear.

Adjusting the Speakers BAL: 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, 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. Note that the cassette tape adapter kits for portable compact disc players will work in your cassette tape player. Your tape bias is set automatically. If E and a number appear on the radio display, the tape won’t play because of an error. 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. If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error can’t be corrected, please contact your dealer. If your radio displays an error number, write it down and provide it to your dealer when reporting the problem.

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

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D (6): Press this button 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 play the radio when a tape is in the player. SOURCE: Press this button to change to the tape function when the radio is on. TAPE PLAY with an arrow will appear on the display when the tape is active. EJECT: Press this button to remove the tape. The radio will play. CLN: 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. After you clean the player, press and hold EJECT for five seconds to reset the CLN indicator. The radio will display --- to show the indicator was reset.

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

If your vehicle is equipped with the MonsoonR AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player and Compact Disc with Automatic Tone Control (not shown), included are 8 speakers and a powerful 8 channel, 200 watt amplifier.

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

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RECALL: Press this button briefly to recall the station being played or to display the clock. To change what is normally shown on the display (station or time), press the RECALL button until you see the display you want, then hold the RECALL 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: Press the up or down arrow to choose radio stations. SEEK: Press the up or down arrow to go to the next higher or lower station and stay there. The sound will mute while seeking. SCAN: Press one of the SEEK arrows for two seconds and SCAN will appear on the display. Use SCAN to listen to stations for a few seconds. The radio will go to a station, stop for a few seconds, then go on to the next station. Press one of the SEEK arrows again to stop scanning. The sound will mute while scanning.

PUSHBUTTONS: 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). Just: 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 buttons. The sound will mute. When it returns, release the button. Whenever you press that numbered button, 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. P 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, stop for a few seconds, then go on to the next preset station. Press P SCAN again to stop scanning. If a preset station has weak reception, the radio will not stop at the preset station.

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AUTO SET: Press this button and the system will seek and set the 12 strongest FM or the 6 strongest AM stations on your preset buttons. 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 the Tone BASS: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn the knob to increase or decrease bass. TREB: 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 classical, pop, rock, jazz, talk and country/western stations. CLASS will appear on the display when you first press TONE. Each time you press it, another setting will appear on the display. Press it again after C & W appears and MANUAL will appear. Tone control will return to the BASS and TREB knobs. Also, if you use the BASS and TREB knobs, control will return to them and MANUAL will appear.

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Adjusting the Speakers BAL: 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, 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.

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Your tape bias is set automatically. If E and a number appear on the radio display, the tape won’t play because of an error. 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. If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error can’t be corrected, please contact your dealer. If your radio displays an error number, write it down and provide it to your dealer when reporting the problem. PREV (1): Press this button to search for the previous selection on the tape. Your tape must have at least three seconds of silence between each selection for PREV to work. The sound will mute while seeking. NEXT (2): Press this button 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. The SEEK down and up arrows will also find the previous and next selections on the tape.

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AA (3): Press this button to reverse the tape rapidly. Press it again to return to playing speed. The radio will play while the tape reverses. "" (4): Press this button to advance quickly to another part of the tape. Press the button again to return to playing speed. The radio will play while the tape advances. SIDE (5): Press this button to change the side of the tape that is playing. RAND (6): Press this button to reduce background noise. The double-D symbol will appear in 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. SOURCE: Press this button to change to the tape or disc function when the radio is on. If both a tape and a disc are installed, the system will first go to tape play; TAPE SIDE and an arrow will appear on the display. If SOURCE is pressed again, the system will go to disc play; CD PLAY will appear on the display. EJECT: The system has two EJECT buttons. Press the button near the CD slot to remove a disc. Press the button near the tape slot to remove a tape and the radio will play.

CLN: 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. After you clean the player, press and hold EJECT for five seconds to reset the CLN indicator. The radio will display --- to show the indicator was reset. Your cassette tape player automatically reduces background noise from tapes encoded with Dolby NR. You may turn Dolby NR off by pressing the number six preset.

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’re driving on a very rough road or if it’s very hot, the disc may not play and an error code may appear on the display. When things get back to normal, the disc should play. If the disc comes out, it could be that: 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.)

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If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error can’t be corrected, please contact your dealer. If your radio displays an error number, write it down and provide it to your dealer when reporting the problem. PREV (1): Press this button to go to the start of the current track, if more than eight seconds have played. If you hold the button or press it more than once, the player will continue moving back through the disc. The sound will mute while seeking. NEXT (2): Press this button to go to the next track. If you hold the button or press it more than once, the player will continue moving forward through the disc. The sound will mute while seeking. The SEEK down and up arrows will also find the previous and next selections on the disc. AA (3): Press and hold this button to quickly reverse within a track. You will hear sound. "" (4): Press and hold this button to quickly advance within a track. You will hear sound. RAND (6): Press this button to hear the tracks in random, rather than sequential, order. Press RAND again to turn off random play.

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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 the RECALL button until you see the display you want, then hold the RECALL button until the display flashes. AM-FM: Press this button to play the radio when a disc is in the player. SOURCE: Press this button to change to the disc function when the radio is on. When a disc is inserted, the disc will play until you press AM-FM. Then the disc will stop playing and the radio will play. Press SOURCE again to play a disc again. CD PLAY will show on the display. EJECT: Press this button to remove the disc. The radio will play. 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.

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Theft-Deterrent Feature 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. 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 has been interrupted. 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. NOTE: 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.

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

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

with your code.

7. Press HR 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. The LED indicator by the volume control will begin flashing when the ignition is turned off.

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 MN and 000 will appear on the display. 3. Press MN again to make the last two digits agree

with your code.

4. Press HR 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 chances to enter the correct code before INOP appears. If you lose or forget your code, contact your dealer.

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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.

SEEK: Press the up or down arrow to tune 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.

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 RUN. 2. Turn the radio off. 3. Press the 1 and 4 buttons together. Hold them down

until SEC shows on the display.

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

with your code.

6. Press HR 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.

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SCAN: Press the SCAN button and SCAN will appear on the display. SCAN works as the PSCAN button on your radio. It will scan through each of the preset radio stations. If a preset radio station has weak reception, the radio will not stop at the preset station. 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 stop it and the radio will play.

SRCE: Press this button to change to the cassette tape, compact disc function or return to playing the radio.

MUTE: Press this button to silence the audio system. Press it again to turn on the sound. VOL: 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.

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To help avoid hearing loss or damage: D Adjust the volume control to the lowest setting. D 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, Delco 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.

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 dealership (GM Part No. 12344789).

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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.

When using a scrubbing action, non-abrasive cleaning cassette, it is normal for the cassette to eject because your unit is equipped with a cut tape detection feature and a cleaning cassette may appear 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 EJECT 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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Backglass Antenna Your AM-FM antenna is integrated with your 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 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. On cars equipped with the rear window defogger and built-in antenna, the defogger grid serves as a radio antenna. 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 breaks in the resistive material heating element will adversely affect radio performance and defogger performance. See your dealer for details.

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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.

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 connector at the top-center of the front windshield and the antenna connector at the top-center of the rear window need to be properly attached to the posts 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 defogger grid and affect your radio’s ability to pick up stations clearly. The repairs wouldn’t be covered by your warranty.

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- NOTES

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Section 4 Your Driving and the Road

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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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Defensive Driving Drunken Driving Control of a Vehicle Braking Steering Off-Road Recovery Passing Loss of Control Driving at Night Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads

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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

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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. 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.

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.) Defensive driving really means “be ready for anything.” On city streets, rural roads or freeways, it means “always expect the unexpected.”

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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, over 17,000 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.

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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.

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.

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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 many U.S. states sets the legal limit at a BAC of 0.10 percent. In a growing number of U.S. states, and throughout Canada, the limit is 0.08 percent. In some other countries, it’s even lower. 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. 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!

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

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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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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.

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. 4-6

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.

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Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS) Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes (ABS). 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.

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.

Here’s how anti-lock works. Let’s say the road is wet. You’re driving safely. Suddenly an animal jumps out in front of you. You slam on the brakes. 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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You can steer around the obstacle while braking hard. 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. Full-Range Traction Control System (With 3800 Supercharged V6 Engine) Your vehicle has a traction control system 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 works the front brakes and reduces engine power to limit wheel spin.

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This light will come on when your traction control system is limiting wheel spin. See “Traction Control 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 traction control system begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise control will automatically disengage. When road conditions allow you to safely use it again, you may reengage the cruise control. (See “Cruise Control” in the Index.)

This light should come on briefly when you start the engine. If it stays on or comes on while you are driving, there’s a problem with your traction control system.

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See “Traction Control System Warning Light” in the Index. When this warning light is on, the system will not limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly. The traction control system automatically comes on whenever you start your vehicle. To limit wheel spin, especially in slippery road conditions, you should always leave the system on. But you can turn the traction control system off if you ever need to. (You should turn the system off if your vehicle ever gets stuck in sand, mud, ice or snow. See “Rocking Your Vehicle” in the Index.)

You can turn the system back on at any time by pressing the button again. The traction control system warning light should go off. Traction Control System (3800 V6 Engine) Your vehicle is equipped with a Traction Control System 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.

To turn the system off, press the TRACTION button on the black panel located directly behind your automatic transaxle shift lever.

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

The traction control system warning light will come on and stay on.

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

The Traction Control System operates in all transaxle shift lever positions. But the system can upshift the transaxle only as high as the shift lever position you’ve chosen, so you should use the lower gears only when necessary. 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 “Traction Control 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 Traction Control 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, ice or snow. See “Rocking Your Vehicle” in the Index.)

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To turn the system on or off, press the TRACTION button on the black panel located directly behind your automatic transaxle shift lever.

When you turn the system off, the Traction Control System warning light will come on and stay on. If the Traction Control System is limiting wheel spin when you press the button to turn the system off, the warning light will come on and the system will turn off right away. You can turn the system back on at any time by pressing the button again. The Traction Control System warning light should go off.

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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. 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 Steeringt 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 “Full-Range Traction Control System” or “Traction Control 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.

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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. (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.

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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