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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 you’re driving.


If the level of the shoulder is only slightly below the pavement, recovery should be fairly easy. Ease off the accelerator and then, if there is nothing in the way, steer so that your vehicle straddles the edge of the pavement. You can turn the steering wheel up to one-quarter turn until the right front tire contacts the pavement edge. Then turn your steering wheel to go straight down the roadway. 4-14


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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: D “Drive ahead.” Look down the road, to the sides and to crossroads for situations that might affect your passing patterns. If you have any doubt whatsoever about making a successful pass, wait for a better time.


D Watch for traffic signs, pavement markings and lines.


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


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


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


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


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


D Check your mirrors, glance over your shoulder, and start your left lane change signal before moving out of the right lane to pass. When you are far enough ahead of the passed vehicle to see its front in your


inside mirror, activate your right lane change signal and move back into the right lane. (Remember that your right outside mirror is convex. The vehicle you just passed may seem to be farther away from you than it really is.)


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


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


D Don’t overtake a slowly moving vehicle too rapidly. Even though the brake lamps are not flashing, it may be slowing down or starting to turn.


D If you’re being passed, make it easy for the


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


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.


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Skidding In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle. Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking reasonable care suited to existing conditions, and by not “overdriving” those conditions. But skids are always possible. The three types of skids correspond to your vehicle’s three control systems. In the braking skid, your wheels aren’t rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, too much speed or steering in a curve causes tires to slip and lose cornering force. And in the acceleration skid, too much throttle causes the driving wheels to spin. A cornering skid and an acceleration skid are best handled by easing your foot off the accelerator pedal. If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off the accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want the vehicle to go. If you start steering quickly enough, your vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready for a second skid if it occurs.


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


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Driving at Night


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


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


glare from headlamps behind you.


D Since you can’t see as well, you may need to


slow down and keep more space between you and other vehicles.


D Slow down, especially on higher speed roads. Your


headlamps can light up only so much road ahead.


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


and rest.


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Keep your windshield and all the glass on your vehicle clean -- inside and out. Glare at night is made much worse by dirt on the glass. Even the inside of the glass can build up a film caused by dust. Dirty glass makes lights dazzle and flash more than clean glass would, making the pupils of your eyes contract repeatedly. Remember that your headlamps light up far less of a roadway when you are in a turn or curve. Keep your eyes moving; that way, it’s easier to pick out dimly lighted objects. Just as your headlamps should be checked regularly for proper aim, so should your eyes be examined regularly. Some drivers suffer from night blindness -- the inability to see in dim light -- and aren’t even aware of it.


Night Vision No one can see as well at night as in the daytime. But as we get older these differences increase. A 50-year-old driver may require at least twice as much light to see the same thing at night as a 20-year-old. What you do in the daytime can also affect your night vision. For example, if you spend the day in bright sunshine you are wise to wear sunglasses. Your eyes will have less trouble adjusting to night. But if you’re driving, don’t wear sunglasses at night. They may cut down on glare from headlamps, but they also make a lot of things invisible. You can be temporarily blinded by approaching headlamps. It can take a second or two, or even several seconds, for your eyes to readjust to the dark. When you are faced with severe glare (as from a driver who doesn’t lower the high beams, or a vehicle with misaimed headlamps), slow down a little. Avoid staring directly into the approaching headlamps.


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Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads


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Rain and wet roads can mean driving trouble. On a wet road, you can’t stop, accelerate or turn as well because your tire-to-road traction isn’t as good as on dry roads. And, if your tires don’t have much tread left, you’ll get even less traction. It’s always wise to go slower and be cautious if rain starts to fall while you are driving. The surface may get wet suddenly when your reflexes are tuned for driving on dry pavement. The heavier the rain, the harder it is to see. Even if your windshield wiper blades are in good shape, a heavy rain can make it harder to see road signs and traffic signals, pavement markings, the edge of the road and even people walking. It’s wise to keep your windshield wiping equipment in good shape and keep your windshield washer tank filled with washer fluid. Replace your windshield wiper inserts when they show signs of streaking or missing areas on the windshield, or when strips of rubber start to separate from the inserts.


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CAUTION:


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


Hydroplaning Hydroplaning is dangerous. So much water can build up under your tires that they can actually ride on the water. This can happen if the road is wet enough and you’re going fast enough. When your vehicle is hydroplaning, it has little or no contact with the road. Hydroplaning doesn’t happen often. But it can if your tires do not have much tread or if the pressure in one or more is low. It can happen if a lot of water is standing on the road. If you can see reflections from trees, telephone poles or other vehicles, and raindrops “dimple” the water’s surface, there could be hydroplaning.


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


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Hydroplaning usually happens at higher speeds. There just isn’t a hard and fast rule about hydroplaning. The best advice is to slow down when it is raining. Driving Through Deep Standing Water


City Driving


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NOTICE:


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


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


D Have good tires with proper tread depth. (See


“Tires” in the Index.)


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


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Freeway Driving


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Here are ways to increase your safety in city driving: D Know the best way to get to where you are going. Get a city map and plan your trip into an unknown part of the city just as you would for a cross-country trip.


D Try to use the freeways that rim and crisscross most


large cities. You’ll save time and energy. (See the next part, “Freeway Driving.”)


D Treat a green light as a warning signal. A traffic light is


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


Mile for mile, freeways (also called thruways, parkways, expressways, turnpikes or superhighways) are the safest of all roads. But they have their own special rules. The most important advice on freeway driving is: Keep up with traffic and keep to the right. Drive at the same speed most of the other drivers are driving. Too-fast or too-slow driving breaks a smooth traffic flow. Treat the left lane on a freeway as a passing lane.


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At the entrance, there is usually a ramp that leads to the freeway. If you have a clear view of the freeway as you drive along the entrance ramp, you should begin to check traffic. Try to determine where you expect to blend with the flow. Try to merge into the gap at close to the prevailing speed. Switch on your turn signal, check your mirrors and glance over your shoulder as often as necessary. Try to blend smoothly with the traffic flow. Once you are on the freeway, adjust your speed to the posted limit or to the prevailing rate if it’s slower. Stay in the right lane unless you want to pass. Before changing lanes, check your mirrors. Then use your turn signal. Just before you leave the lane, glance quickly over your shoulder to make sure there isn’t another vehicle in your “blind” spot. Once you are moving on the freeway, make certain you allow a reasonable following distance. Expect to move slightly slower at night. When you want to leave the freeway, move to the proper lane well in advance. If you miss your exit, do not, under any circumstances, stop and back up. Drive on to the next exit.


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


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


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


all levels?


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


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


D Weather Forecasts: What’s the weather outlook


along your route? Should you delay your trip a short time to avoid a major storm system? D Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps?


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


comfortably cool interior.


D Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead and to


the sides. Check your rearview mirrors and your instruments frequently.


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


Hill and Mountain Roads


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


D Know how to go down hills. The most important


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


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


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


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


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


D As you go over the top of a hill, be alert. There


could be something in your lane, like a stalled car or an accident.


D You may see highway signs on mountains that warn


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


CAUTION:


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


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