2003 Buick Regal Owners Manual

have your dealer or qualified service center check the vehicle. Your dealer has the proper test equipment and diagnostic tools to fix any mechanical or electrical problems that may have developed. Emissions Inspection and Maintenance Programs Some state/provincial and local governments have or may begin programs to inspect the emission control equipment on your vehicle. Failure to pass this inspection could prevent you from getting a vehicle registration. Here are some things you need to know to help your vehicle pass an inspection: Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if the SERVICE ENGINE SOON light is on or not working properly.

Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if the OBD (on-board diagnostic) system determines that critical emission control systems have not been completely diagnosed by the system. The vehicle would be considered not ready for inspection. This can happen if you have recently replaced your battery or if your battery has run down. The diagnostic system is designed to evaluate critical emission control systems during normal driving. This may take several days of routine driving. If you have done this and your vehicle still does not pass the inspection for lack of OBD system readiness, see your dealer or qualified service center to prepare the vehicle for inspection.

Oil Pressure Light

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

This indicates that oil is not going through your engine quickly enough to keep it lubricated. The engine could be low on oil or could have some other oil problem. Have it fixed right away.

The oil light could also come on in the following situations:

The light will come on briefly when you turn on the ignition to show you that it is working properly. If it doesn’t come on with the ignition on, you may have a problem with the fuse or bulb. Have it fixed right away. Sometimes when the engine is idling at a stop, the light may blink on and off. This is normal.

ing if the o yessure is low. If Don’t keep d 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.

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Low Oil Level Light

Change Engine Oil Light

LOW OIL

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

CHANGE OIL

SOON

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 “When to Change Engine Oil (GM Oil Life System)” under Engine Oil on page 5-15. To reset the CHANGE OIL SOON light, see “How to Reset the System’’ under Engine Oil on page 5- 15.

If the light does not come on briefly, have it fixed so it will be ready to warn you if there’s a problem. If the light stays on, stop the vehicle on a level surface and turn the engine off. Check the oil level using the engine oil dipstick. See Engine Oil on page 5-15. If the light does not come on briefly, have the low oil level sensor system repaired so it will be ready to warn you if there’s a problem. The oil level monitoring system only checks oil level during the brief period between key on and engine crank. It does not monitor engine oil level when the engine is running. Additionally, an oil level check is only performed if the engine has been turned off for a considerable period of time, allowing the oil normally in circulation to drain back into the oil pan.

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Security Light

Cruise Control Light

SECURITY

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

CRUISE

The CRUISE light comes on whenever you set your cruise control. See “Cruise Control” under Turn Signal/Multifunc tion Lever on page 3-7.

It will also flash if your ignition key is too dirty or wet for the PASS-Key@ II system to read the resistor pellet. See PASS-Kef‘ I/ on page 2- 16. If the resistor pellet is damaged or missing, the light will come on.

Low Washer Fluid Warning Light

LOW WASH

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

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

3-4 1

r Warning Light

Fuel Gage

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

1 12

Service Vehicle Soon Light 7 I SERVICE VEHICLE 1

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

United States

SOON

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

FUEL

Canada

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

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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:

At the gas station, the pump shuts off before the gage reads full. It takes more (or less) fuel to fill up than the gage reads. For example, the gage reads half full, but it took more (or less) than half of the tank‘s capacity to fill it. The gage pointer may move while cornering, braking or speeding up. The gage may not indicate empty when the ignition is turned off.

Low Fuel Warning Light

United States

Canada

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

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A V G m )'lii D - PSI kPa

- -

MPG % INST- OIL k.! km LIFERANGE SC BOOST

),(.h!L/lOO

3800 V6 Supercharged Engine

Control Buttons

Driver Information Center (DIC) If your vehicle is equipped with the Driver Information Center (DIC), it is located below the tachometer on the instrument panel cluster. The DIC gives you important safety and maintenance facts. When you turn the ignition on, the entire center lights up for just a few seconds.

LIFERANGE

3800 V6 Engine

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The Driver Information Center has three buttons that control its functions. 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. U M (EngIish/Metric): Press this button to change the display from English to metric. RESET: Press this button to reset the mode displayed. MODE: Press this button to change the mode being displayed. Modes AVG ECON (Average Economy): This mode 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: This mode 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.

OIL LIFE MONITOR: This mode shows an estimate of the oil’s remaining useful life. When the oil life index is less than IO%, the CHANGE OIL SOON light will come on. When you have the oil changed according to the maintenance schedule. See Part A: Scheduled Maintenance Services on page 6-4. You will have to reset the CHANGE OIL SOON light. To reset the CHANGE OIL SOON light, see “How to Reset the System” under Engine Oil on page 5-15. Also, see “When to Change Engine Oil (GM Oil Life SystemTM)” under Engine Oil on page 5-15 and Part A: Scheduled Maintenance Services on page 6-4.

RANGE: This mode 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). This display cannot be reset.. BOOST GAGE: If you have the supercharged engine, this gage will show the amount of boost your engine is receiving. This display cannot be reset.

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Your vehicle has a feature called Retained Accessory Power (RAP). With RAP, you can play your audio system even after the ignition is turned off. See “Retained Accessory Power (RAP)” under Ignition Positions on page 2- 18.

Setting the Time

Press and hold HRS until the correct hour appears on the display. Press and hold MIN until the correct minute also appears. You may set the time with the ignition off if you push RECALL first.

Audio System(s) Notice: Before you add any sound equipment to your vehicle - like a tape player, CB radio, mobile telephone or two-way radio - be sure you can add what you want. If you can, it’s very important to do it properly. Added sound equipment may interfere with the operation of your vehicle’s engine, Delphi Electronics radio or other systems, and even damage them. Your vehicle’s systems may interfere with the operation of sound equipment that has been added improperly. So, before adding sound equipment, check with your dealer and be sure to check federal rules covering mobile radio and telephone units. Your audio system has been designed to operate easily and to give years of listening pleasure. You will get the most enjoyment out of it if you acquaint yourself with it first. Find out what your audio system can do and how to operate all of its controls to be sure you’re getting the most out of the advanced engineering that went into it.

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Radio with Cassette

RECALL: Press this button to switch the display between the radio station frequency and the time. To change what is normally shown on the display (station or time), press this button until you see the display you want, then hold the button until the display flashes. If you press the button when the ignition is off, the clock will show for a few seconds. Finding a Station

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

TUNE

: Press the up or the down arrow to

choose radio stations.

Standard Radio Shown

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

ON/OFF: Push this knob to turn the system on and off. VOLUME: Turn the knob to increase or to decrease the volume.

SEEK

: Press the up or the down arrow to go to

the next or to the previous station and stay there. To scan stations, press and hold one of the SEEK arrows for two seconds and SCAN will appear on the display. The radio will go to a station, play for a few seconds, then go on to the next station. Press one of the SEEK arrows again to stop scanning. The radio will seek and scan only to stations that are in the selected band and only to those with a strong signal.

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

AUTO SET (Automatic Set): Press this button, after selecting AM or FM, to seek and set the 12 strongest FM or the 6 strongest AM stations on your preset pushbuttons. AUTO SET will flash while seeking and will remain on until this function is complete. To return to the stations you manually set, press AUTO SET again. Setting Preset Stations The six numbered pushbuttons let you return to your favorite stations. You can set up to 18 stations (six AM, FM1 and six FM2) by performing the following steps: 1. Turn the radio on. 2. Press AM-FM to select AM, FM1 or FM2. 3. Tune in the desired station. 4. Press TONE to select the setting you prefer.

5. Press and hold one of the six numbered

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

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

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Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)

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

tape visible should face to the

FADE: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn the knob to move the sound toward the front or the rear speakers. Return these knobs to their stored positions when you’re not using them. Playing a Cassette Tape The longer side with the right. If the ignition and the radio are on, the tape can be inserted and will begin playing. If you hear nothing or hear a garbled sound, the tape may not be in squarely. Press EJECT to remove the tape and start over. While the tape is playing, use the VOLUME, SEEK, FADE, BAL, BASS and TREB controls just as you do for the radio. Other controls may have different functions when a tape is inserted. The display will show an arrow to show which side of the tape is playing. If you want to insert a tape while the ignition or radio is off, first press EJECT or RECALL. Cassette tape adapter kits for portable compact disc players will work in your cassette tape player. Your tape bias is set automatically.

If an error appears on the display, see “Cassette Tape Messages” later in this section. 1 PREV (Previous): Your tape must have at least three seconds of silence between each selection for previous to work. Press this pushbutton to search for the previous selection on the tape. 2 NEXT: Your tape must have at least three seconds of silence between each selection for next to work. Press this pushbutton to search for the next selection on the tape. 3 4 (Reverse): Press this pushbutton to reverse the tape rapidly. Press it again to return to playing speed. The radio will play while the tape reverses. 4 bb (Forward): Press this pushbutton to advance quickly to another part of the tape. Press it again to return to playing speed. The radio will play while the tape advances. 5 SIDE: Press this pushbutton to play the other side of the tape. 6 01 (Dolby): Press this pushbutton to reduce background noise. The double-D symbol will appear on the display. Dolby Noise Reduction is manufactured under a license from Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. Dolby and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation.

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If this message

BROKEN TAPE: The tape is broken. Try a new tape. WRAPPED: The tape is wrapped. Try a new tape. CLEAN PLAYR (Clean Player): appears on the display, the cassette tape player needs to be cleaned. It will still play tapes, but you should clean it as soon as possible to prevent damage to the tapes and player. See Care of Your Cassette Tape Player on page 3-59. If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error can’t be corrected, contact your dealer. If your radio displays an error number, write it down and provide it to your dealer when reporting the problem.

: Your tape must have at

AM-FM: Press this button to listen to the radio when a cassette tape is playing. SOURCE: Press this button to play a tape when listening to the radio. TAPE PLAY with an arrow will appear on the display while the tape is active. A SEEK seconds of silence between each selection for seek to work. Press the up or the down arrow to go to the next or to the previous selection on the tape. EJECT: Press this button to stop a tape when it is playing and to remove a tape when it is not playing. Eject may be activated with the radio off. Cassette Tape Messages

least three

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

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Radio with Cassette and CD

Standard Radio Shown

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

Playing the Radio ON/OFF: Push this knob to turn the system on and off. VOLUME: Turn this knob to increase or to decrease volume. RECALL: Press this button to switch the display between the radio station frequency and the time. To change what is normally shown on the display (station or time), press this button until you see the display you want, then hold this button until the display flashes. Press this button when the ignition is off to display the time. Finding a Station AM-FM: Press this button to switch between AM, FMI and FM2. The display will show your selection.

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

choose radio stations.

the next or to the previous station and stay there. To scan, press one of the SEEK arrows for two seconds and SCAN will appear on the display. The radio will go to a station, play for a few seconds, then go on to the next station. Press one of the SEEK arrows again to stop scanning. The radio will seek and scan only to stations that are in the selected band and only to those with a strong signal.

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

AUTO SET (Automatic Set): Press this button, after selecting AM or FM, to seek and set the 12 strongest FM or the 6 strongest AM stations on your preset pushbuttons. AUTO SET will flash while seeking and will remain on until this function is complete. To return to the stations you manually set, press AUTO SET again. Setting Preset Stations The six numbered pushbuttons let you return to your favorite stations. You can set up to 18 stations (six AM, six FMI and six FM2) by performing the following steps: 1. Turn the radio on. 2. Press AM-FM to select AM, FM1 or FM2. 3. Tune in the desired station. 4. Press TONE to select the setting you prefer.

5. Press and hold one of the six numbered

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

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

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Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade) BAL (Balance): Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn the knob to move the sound toward the left or the right speakers. FADE: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn the knob to move the sound toward the front or the rear speakers. Return these knobs to their stored positions when you’re not using them. Playing a Cassette Tape The longer side with the right. If the ignition and the radio are on, the tape can be inserted and will begin playing. If you hear nothing or hear a garbled sound, the tape may not be in squarely. Press EJECT to remove the tape and start over. While the tape is playing, use the VOLUME, SEEK, FADE, BAL, BASS and TREB controls just as you do for the radio. Other controls may have different functions when a tape is inserted. The display will show an arrow to show which side of the tape is playing. If you want to insert a tape while the ignition or radio is off, first press EJECT or RECALL. Your tape bias is set automatically. If an error appears on the display, see “Cassette Tape Messages” later in this section.

tape visible should face to the

1 PREV (Previous): Your tape must have at least three seconds of silence between each selection for previous to work. Press this pushbutton to search for the previous selection on the tape. 2 NEXT: Your tape must have at least three seconds of silence between each selection for next to work. Press this pushbutton to search for the next selection on the tape. 3 4 (Reverse): Press this pushbutton to reverse the tape rapidly. The radio will play while the tape reverses. Press it again to return to playing speed.

4 * (Forward): Press this pushbutton to advance

quickly to another part of the tape. The radio will play while the tape advances. Press it again to return to playing speed. 5 SIDE: Press this pushbutton to play the other side of the tape. 6 RAND (Dolby): Press this pushbutton to reduce background noise. The double-D symbol will appear on the display. Dolby Noise Reduction is manufactured under a license from Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. Dolby and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation.

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AM-FM: Press this button to listen to the radio when a cassette tape is playing. SOURCE: Press this button to play a cassette tape or a CD when listening to the radio. TAPE SIDE and an arrow will appear on the display. If this button is pressed again, the system will go to disc play; CD PLAY will appear on the display.

A SEEK v : Your tape must have at least three

seconds of silence between each selection for seek to work. Press the up or the down arrow to go to the next or to the previous selection on the tape. EJECT: Press this button, located next to the cassette tape slot, to stop a tape when it is playing and to remove a tape when it is not playing. Eject may be activated with the radio off. Cassette Tape Messages TIGHT TAPE: The tape is tight and the player can’t turn the tape hubs. Remove the tape. Hold the tape with the open end down and try to turn the right hub counterclockwise with a pencil. Turn the tape over and repeat. If the hubs do not turn easily, your tape may be damaged and should not be used in the player. Try a new tape to make sure your player is working properly. BROKEN TAPE: The tape is broken. Try a new tape. WRAPPED: The tape is wrapped. Try a new tape.

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If this message

CLEAN PLAYR (Clean Player): appears on the display, the cassette tape player needs to be cleaned. It will still play tapes, but you should clean it as soon as possible to prevent damage to the tapes and player. See Care of Your Cassette Tape Player on page 3-59. If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error can’t be corrected, contact your dealer. If your radio displays an error number, write it down and provide it to your dealer when reporting the problem. Playing a Compact Disc Insert a disc partway into the slot, label side up. The player will pull it in. The disc should begin playing. If you want to insert a CD while the ignition or the radio is off, first press EJECT or RECALL. If you turn off the ignition or radio with a disc in the player, it will stay in the player. When you turn on the ignition or system, the disc will start playing where it stopped, if it was the last selected audio source. Also, as a protection feature, if a CD is ejected and left in the player, it will be pulled back in the player with the ignition on or off. If an error appears on the display, see “Compact Disc Messages” later in this section.

1 PREV (Previous): Press this pushbutton to go to the start of the current track, if more than eight seconds have played. If you hold this pushbutton or press it more than once, the player will continue moving back through the disc. 2 NEXT: Press this pushbutton to go to the next track. If you hold this pushbutton or press it more than once, the player will continue moving forward through the disc. 3 1( (Reverse): Press and hold this pushbutton to quickly reverse within a track. You will hear sound at a reduced level. Release it to play the passage.

(Forward): Press and hold this pushbutton to

quickly advance within a track. You will hear sound at a reduced level. Release it to play the passage. 6 RAND (Random): Press this pushbutton to hear the tracks in random, rather than sequential, order. Press it again to turn off random play. RECALL: Press this button to see which track is playing. Press it again within five seconds to see how long it has been playing. To change what is normally shown on the display (track or elapsed time), press this button until you see the display you want, then hold this button until the display flashes. AM-FM: Press this button to listen to the radio when .a CD is playing.

SOURCE: Press this button to play a cassette tape or a CD when listening to the radio. TAPE SIDE and an arrow will appear on the display. If this button is pressed again, the system will go to disc play; CD PLAY will appear on the display.

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

the previous or to the next track on the CD. EJECT: Press this button, located next to the CB slot, to stop a CD when it is playing and to remove a CD when it is not playing. Eject may be activated with the radio off. Compact Disc Messages If the disc comes out or CHECK CD appears on the display, it could be for one of the following reasons:

You’re driving on a very rough road. When the road becomes smoother, the disc should play. It’s very hot. When the temperature returns to normal, the disc should play.

e The disc is dirty, scratched, wet, or upside down.

It is very humid. If so, wait about an hour and try again.

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

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Theft-Deterrent Feature THEFTLOCK@ is designed to discourage theft of your radio. It works by using a secret code to disable all radio functions whenever battery power is interrupted. If THEFTLOCK@ is active, the THEFTLOCK@ indicator will flash when the ignition is off. The THEFTLOCK@ feature for the radio may be used or ignored. If ignored, the system plays normally and the radio is not protected by the feature. If THEFTLOCK@ is activated, your radio will not operate if stolen. When THEFTLOCK@ is activated, the radio will display LOC to indicate a locked condition anytime battery power is removed. If your battery loses power for any reason, you must unlock the radio with the secret code before it will operate. Activating the Theft-Deterrent Feature The instructions which follow explain how to enter your secret code to activate the THEFTLOCK@ system. Read through all nine steps before starting the procedure. If you allow more than 15 seconds to elapse between any steps, the radio automatically reverts to time and you must start the procedure over at Step 4.

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1.

2. 3. 4.

5. 6.

7.

8.

9.

Write down any three or four-digit number from 000 to 1999 and keep it in a safe place separate from the vehicle. Turn the ignition on. Turn the radio off. Press the 1 and 4 pushbuttons at the same time. Hold them down until --- shows on the display. Next you will use the secret code number which you have written down. Press MIN and 000 will appear on the display. Press MIN again to make the last two digits agree with your code. Press HRS to make the first one or two digits agree with your code. Press AM-FM after you have confirmed that the code matches the secret code you have written down. The display will show REP to let you know that you need to repeat Steps 5 through 7 to confirm your secret code. Press AM-FM and this time the display will show SEC to let you know that your radio is secure.

Unlocking the Theft-Deterrent Feature After a Power Loss Enter your secret code as follows; pause no more than 15 seconds between steps: 1. Turn the ignition on. LOC will appear on the

display.

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

with your code.

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

with your code.

5. Press AM-FM after you have confirmed that the code matches the secret code you have written down. The display will show SEC, indicating the radio is now operable and secure.

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

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

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

with your code.

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

with your code.

7. Press AM-FM after you have confirmed that the code matches the secret code you have written down. The display will show ---, indicating that the radio is no longer secured.

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

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SCAN: Press this button and SCAN will appear on the display. The radio will scan to the first preset station on your pushbuttons, play for a few seconds, then go to the next preset station. The radio will scan preset stations with a strong signal only. Press SCAN again to stop scanning.

AM FM: Press this button to choose AM, FMI or FM2. If a cassette tape or compact disc is playing, press this button to listen to the radio.

SRCE (Source): Press this button to change to playing a cassette tape or compact disc when listening to the radio.

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

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

to increase or to decrease volume.

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

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

to the next or the previous radio station. If a cassette tape or compact disc is playing, the player will advance to the next or the previous selection.

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Understanding Radio Reception AIM 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 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. Care of Your Cassette Tape Player A tape player that is not cleaned regularly can cause reduced sound quality, ruined cassettes or a damaged mechanism. Cassette tapes should be stored in their cases away from contaminants, direct sunlight and extreme heat. If they aren’t, they may not operate properly or may cause failure of the tape player. Your tape player should be cleaned regularly after every 50 hours of use. Your radio may display CLEAN PLAYR to indicate that you have used your tape player for 50 hours without resetting the tape clean timer. If this message appears on the display, your cassette tape player needs to be cleaned. It will still play tapes, but you should clean it as soon as possible to prevent

damage to your tapes and player. If you notice a reduction in sound quality, try a known good cassette to see if the tape or the tape player is at fault. If this other cassette has no improvement in sound quality, clean the tape player. For best results, use a scrubbing action, non-abrasive cleaning cassette with pads which scrub the tape head as the hubs of the cleaner cassette turn. The recommended cleaning cassette is available through your dealership. The cut tape detection feature of your cassette tape player may identify the cleaning cassette as a damaged tape, in error. If the cleaning cassette ejects, insert the cassette at least three times to ensure thorough cleaning. You may also choose a non-scrubbing action, wet-type cleaner which uses a cassette with a fabric belt to clean the tape head. This type of cleaning cassette will not eject on its own. A non-scrubbing action cleaner may not clean as thoroughly as the scrubbing type cleaner. The use of a non-scrubbing action, dry-type cleaning cassette is not recommended. After you clean the player, press and hold the EJECT button for five seconds to reset the CLEAN PLAYR indicator. The radio will display --- to show the indicator was reset. Cassettes are subject to wear and the sound quality may degrade over time. Always make sure the cassette tape is in good condition before you have your tape player serviced.

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Notices 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 Do not apply aftermarket glass tinting to the back glass. The metallic film in some tinting materials will interfere with or distort the incoming radio reception. Care must be taken when cleaning the rear window because it breaks in the resistive material heating element and will adversely affect radio and defogger performance. See your dealer for details.

Care of Your CDs Handle discs carefully. Store them in their original cases or other protective cases and away from direct sunlight and dust. If the surface of a disc is soiled, dampen a clean, soft cloth in a mild, neutral detergent solution and clean it, wiping from the center to the edge. Be sure never to touch the side without writing when handling discs. Pick up discs by grasping the outer edges or the edge of the hole and the outer edge. Care of Your CD Player The use of CD lens cleaner discs is not advised, due to the risk of contaminating the lens of the CD optics with lubricants internal to the CD mechanism. Backglass Antenna The AM-FM antenna is integrated with the rear window defogger, located in the rear window. Be sure that the inside surface of the rear window is not scratched and that the lines on the glass are not damaged. If the inside surface is damaged, it could interfere with radio reception. Also, for proper radio reception, the antenna connector at the top-center of the rear window needs to be properly attached to the post on the glass.

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Section 4

Your Driving. the Road. and Your Vehicle .......... 4-2 Defensive Driving ........................................... 4.2 Drunken Driving ............................................. 4.2 Control of a Vehicle ........................................ 4-5 Braking ......................................................... 4.6 Full-Range Traction Control System .................. 4.9 Traction Control System (TCS) ....................... 4.10 Steering ..................................................... -4-1 2 Off-Road Recovery ....................................... 4-14 Passing ....................................................... 4. 1 4 Loss of Control ............................................. 4-15 Driving at Night ........................................... -4-1 7 .................. 4-18 Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads City Driving .................................................. 4.21

Freeway Driving ........................................... 4-22 Before Leaving on a Long Trip ....................... 4-23 Highway Hypnosis ........................................ 4-23 Hill and Mountain Roads ................................ 4-24 Winter Driving ........................................... 4-25 If You Are Stuck: in Sand, Mud,

ice or Snow .............................................. 4-30 Towing .......................................................... 4-31 Towing Your Vehicle ..................................... 4-31 Recreational Vehicle Towing ........................... 4-31 Loading Your Vehicle .................................... 4-32 Towing a Trailer ........................................... 4-34

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e Road, and

Defensive Driving The best advice anyone can give about driving is: Drive defensively. Please start with a very important safety device in your vehicle: Buckle up. See Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone on page 1-7. Defensive driving really means “be ready for anything.” On city streets, rural roads or freeways, it means “always expect the unexpected.” Assume that pedestrians or other drivers are going to be careless and make mistakes. Anticipate what they might do. Be ready for their mistakes. Rear-end collisions are about the most preventable of accidents. Yet they are common. Allow enough following distance. It’s the best defensive driving maneuver, in both city and rural driving. You never know when the vehicle in front of you is going to brake or turn suddenly. Defensive driving requires that a driver concentrate on the driving task. Anything that distracts from the driving task - such as concentrating on a cellular telephone call, reading, or reaching for something on the floor - makes proper defensive driving more difficult and can even cause a collision, with resulting injury.

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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. Alcohol affects four things that anyone needs to drive a vehicle:

0 Judgment

Muscular Coordination Vision Attentiveness.

Police records show that almost half of all motor vehicle-related deaths involve alcohol. In most cases, these deaths are the result of someone who was drinking and driving. In recent years, more than 16,000 annual motor vehicle-related deaths have been associated with the use of alcohol, with more than 300,000 people injured. Many adults - by some estimates, nearly half the adult population - choose never to drink alcohol, so they never drive after drinking. For persons under 21, it’s against the law in every U.S. state to drink alcohol. There are good medical, psychological and developmental reasons for these laws.

The obvious way to eliminate the leading highway safety problem is for people never to drink alcohol and then drive. But what if people do? How much is “too much” if someone plans to drive? It’s a lot less than many might think. Although it depends on each person and situation, here is some general information on the problem. The Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of someone who is drinking depends upon four things:

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

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

It’s the amount of alcohol that counts. For example, if the same person drank three double martinis (3 ounces or 90 ml of liquor each) within an hour, the person’s BAC would be close to 0.12 percent. A person who consumes food just before or during drinking will have a somewhat lower BAC level.

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There is a gender difference, too. Women generally have a lower relative percentage of body water than men. Since alcohol is carried in body water, this means that a woman generally will reach a higher BAC level than a man of her same body weight when each has the same number of drinks. The law in an increasing number of U.S. states, and throughout Canada, sets the legal limit at 0.08 percent. In some other countries, the limit is even lower. For example, it is 0.05 percent in both France and Germany. The BAC limit for all commercial drivers in the United States is 0.04 percent. The BAC will be over 0.10 percent after three to six drinks (in one hour). Of course, as we’ve seen, it depends on how much alcohol is in the drinks, and how quickly the person drinks them. But the ability to drive is affected well below a BAC of 0.10 percent. Research shows that the driving skills of many people are impaired at a BAC approaching 0.05 percent, and that the effects are worse at night. All drivers are impaired at BAC levels above 0.05 percent. Statistics show that the chance of being in a collision

increases sharply for drivers who have a BAC of 0.05 percent or above. A driver with a BAC level of 0.06 percent has doubled his or her chance of having a collision. At a BAC level of 0.10 percent, the chance of this driver having a collision is 12 times greater; at a level of 0.15 percent, the chance is 25 times greater! The body takes about an hour to rid itself of the alcohol in one drink. No amount of coffee or number of cold showers will speed that up. “1’11 be careful” isn’t the right answer. What if there’s an emergency, a need to take sudden action, as when a child darts into the street? A person with even a moderate BAC might not be able to react quickly enough to avoid the collision. There’s something else about drinking and driving that 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.

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

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

Sometimes, as when you’re driving on snow or ice, it’s easy to ask more of those control systems than the tires and road can provide. That means you can lose control of your vehicle. Also see Traction Control System (TCS) on page 4-10 and Full-Range Traction Control System on page 4-9.

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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 (1 00 km/h) travels 66 feet (20 m). That could be a lot of distance in an emergency, so keeping enough space between your vehicle and others is important. And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly with the surface of the road (whether it’s pavement or gravel); the condition of the road (wet, dry, icy); tire tread; the condition of your brakes; the weight of the vehicle and the amount of brake force applied.

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

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Anti-lock Brake System (A Your vehicle may have anti-lock brakes. AB§ is an advanced electronic braking system that will help prevent a braking skid.

ANTI- LOCK

United States

Canada

If your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, this warning light on the instrument panel will come on briefly when you start your vehicle. When you start your engine, or when you begin to drive away, your anti-lock brake system will check itself. You may hear a momentary motor or clicking noise while this test is going on, and you may even notice that your brake pedal moves or pulses a little. This is normal.

Let’s say the road is wet and you’re driving safely. Suddenly, an animal jumps out in front of you. You slam on the brakes and continue braking. Here’s what happens with ABS: A computer senses that wheels are slowing down. If one of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the computer will separately work the brakes at each wheel. The anti-lock system can change the brake pressure faster than any driver could. The computer is programmed to make the most of available tire and road conditions. This can help you steer around the obstacle while braking hard.

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Using Anti-Lock Don’t pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal down firmly and let anti-lock work for you. You may feel a slight brake pedal pulsation or notice some noise, but this is normal. Braking in Emergencies At some time, nearly every driver gets into a situation that requires hard braking. If you have anti-lock, you can steer and brake at the same time. However, if you don’t have anti-lock, your first reaction - to hit the brake pedal hard and hold it down - may be the wrong thing to do. Your wheels can stop rolling. Once they do, the vehicle can’t respond to your steering. Momentum will carry it in whatever direction it was headed when the wheels stopped rolling. That could be off the road, into the very thing you were trying to avoid, or into traffic. If you don’t have anti-lock, use a “squeeze” braking technique. This will give you maximum braking while maintaining steering control. You can do this by pushing on the brake pedal with steadily increasing pressure. In an emergency, you will probably want to squeeze the brakes hard without locking the wheels. If you hear or feel the wheels sliding, ease off the brake pedal. This will help you retain steering control. If you do have anti-lock, it’s different. See “Anti-Lock Brakes.” In many emergencies, steering can help you more than even the very best braking.

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.

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Full-Range Traction Control System

Your vehicle may have a Full Range 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.

LOW TRAC

The low traction light will come on when the traction control system is limiting wheel spin. See Low Traction Light on page 3-32.

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’’ under Turn SignaVMultifunction Lever on page 3-7.

TRAC OFF

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.

See Traction Control System (TCS) Warning Light on page 3-31. 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 or snow and rocking the vehicle is required. See “Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out” under If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow on page 4-30.

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C

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

LOW TRAC

This light will come on when your Traction Control System is limiting wheel spin. See Low Traction Light on page 3-34.

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 re-engage the cruise control. See Cruise Control in Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever on page 3-7. 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 Operation on page 2-22.

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

Your vehicle may be 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.

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

TRAC OFF

0 To turn the system on or

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

See Traction Control System (TCS) Warning Light on page 3-31. 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 or snow and rocking the vehicle is required. See Rocking Your Vehicle in If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow on page 4-30.

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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Suppose you’re steering through a sharp curve. Then you suddenly accelerate. Both control systems - steering and braking - have to do their work where the tires meet the road. Unless you have four-wheel anti-lock brakes, adding the hard braking can demand too much of those places. You can lose control. The same thing can happen if you’re steering through a sharp curve and you suddenly accelerate. Those two control systems - steering and acceleration - can overwhelm those places where the tires meet the road and make you lose control. See Full-Range Traction Control System on page 4-9 or Traction Control System (TCS) on page 4- IO. What should you do if this ever happens? Ease up on the brake or accelerator pedal, steer the vehicle the way you want it to go, and slow down. Speed limit signs near curves warn that you should adjust your speed. Of course, the posted speeds are based on good weather and road conditions. Under less favorable conditions you’ll want to go slower.

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. 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.

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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 on page 4-6. It is better to remove as much speed as you can from a possible collision. Then steer around the problem, to the left or right depending on the space available.

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.

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

“Drive ahead.” Look down the road, to the sides and to crossroads for situations that might affect your passing patterns. If you have any doubt whatsoever about making a successful pass, wait for a better time. Watch for traffic signs, pavement markings and lines. If you can see a sign up ahead that might indicate a turn or an intersection, delay your pass. A broken center line usually indicates it’s all right to pass (providing the road ahead is clear). Never cross a solid line on your side of the lane or a double solid line, even if the road seems empty of approaching traffic.

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.

0 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.

0 If other vehicles are lined up to pass a slow vehicle,

wait your turn. But take care that someone isn’t trying to pass you as you pull out to pass the slow vehicle. Remember to glance over your shoulder and check the blind spot. Check your mirrors, glance over your shoulder, and start your left lane change signal before moving out of the right lane to pass. When you are far enough ahead of the passed vehicle to see its front

in your inside mirror, activate your right lane change signal and move back into the right lane. (Remember that your right outside mirror is convex. The vehicle you just passed may seem to be farther away from you than it really is.) Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a time on two-lane roads. Reconsider before passing the next vehicle.

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

Even though the brake lamps are not flashing, it may be slowing down or starting to turn. If you’re being passed, make it easy for the following driver to get ahead of you. Perhaps you can ease a little to the right.

Loss of Control Let’s review what driving experts say about what happens when the three control systems (brakes, steering and acceleration) don’t have enough friction where the tires meet the road to do what the driver has asked. In any emergency, don’t give up. Keep trying to steer and constantly seek an escape route or area of less danger.

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While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration or braking (including engine braking by shifting to a lower gear). Any sudden changes could cause the tires to slide. You may not realize the surface is slippery until your vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warning clues - such as enough water, ice or packed snow on the road to make a “mirrored surface” - and slow down when you have any doubt. If you have the anti-lock braking system, remember: It helps avoid only the braking skid. If you do not have anti-lock, then in a braking skid (where the wheels are no longer rolling), release enough pressure on the brakes to get the wheels rolling again. This restores steering control. Push the brake pedal down steadily when you have to stop suddenly. As long as the wheels are rolling, you will have steering control.

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.

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Driving at Night

..A

. . .

Night driving is more dangerous than day driving. One reason is that some drivers are likely to be impaired - by alcohol or drugs, with night vision problems, or by fatigue. Here are some tips on night driving. 0 Drive defensively. 0 Don’t drink and drive. 0 Adjust your inside rearview mirror to reduce the

glare from headlamps behind you.

Since you can’t see as well, you may need to slow down and keep more space between you and other vehicles. Slow down, especially on higher speed roads. Your headlamps can light up only so much road ahead. In remote areas, watch for animals. If you’re tired, pull off the road in a safe place and rest.

No one can see as well at night as in the daytime. But as we get older these differences increase. A 50-year-old driver may require at least twice as much light to see the same thing at night as a 20-year-old. What you do in the daytime can also affect your night vision. For example, if you spend the day in bright sunshine you are wise to wear sunglasses. Your eyes will have less trouble adjusting to night. But if 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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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.

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.

F kes can cause acci

nts. 1 my WOI

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.

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Hydroplaning Hydroplaning is dangerous. So much water can build up under your tires that they can actually ride on the water. This can happen if the road is wet enough and you’re going fast enough. When your vehicle is hydroplaning, it has little or no contact with the road. Hydroplaning doesn’t happen often. But it can if your tires do not have much tread or if the pressure in one or more is low. It can happen if a lot of water is standing on the road. If you can see reflections from trees, telephone poles or other vehicles, and raindrops “dimple’’ the water’s surface, there could be hydroplaning. Hydroplaning usually happens at higher speeds. There just isn’t a hard and fast rule about hydroplaning. The best advice is to slow down when it is raining. Driving Through Deep Standing Water

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

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Driving Through Flowing Water

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

Some Other Rainy Weather Tips

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. Have good tires with proper tread depth. See Tires on page 5-57.

City Driving

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. Here are ways to increase your safety in city driving:

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

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Freeway Driving

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. 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 dealerships all across North America. They’ll be ready and willing to help if you need it. Here are some things you can check before a trip:

Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the reservior full? Are all windows clean inside and outside? Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape?

0 Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked

all levels?

0 Lamps: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean? 0 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?

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

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

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

Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated, with a comfortably cool interior. Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead and to the sides. Check your rearview mirrors and your instruments frequently. If you get sleepy, pull off the road into a rest, service or parking area and take a nap, get some exercise, or both. For safety, treat drowsiness on the highway as an emergency.

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Hill and Mountain Roads

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 (

'on: * ill.

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.

Coasting downhill in NEUTRAL (N) or with the ignition off is dangerous. Your brakes will have to do all the work of slowing down. They could get so hot that they wouldn't work well. You

CAUTION: (Continued)

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.

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.

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going down a hill. You could crash. Always have your engine running and your vehicle in gear when you go downhill.

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. 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. 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. 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.

Winter Driving

Here are some tips for winter driving: 0 Have your vehicle in good shape for winter. 0 You may want to put winter emergency supplies in

vour trunk.

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Driving on Snow or Ice Most of the time, those places where your tires meet the road probably have good traction. However, if there is snow or ice between your tires and the road, you can have a very slippery situation. You’ll have a lot less traction or “grip” and will need to be very careful.

Include an ice scraper, a small brush or broom, a supply of windshield washer fluid, a rag, some winter outer clothing, a small shovel, a flashlight, a red cloth and a couple of reflective warning triangles. And, if you will be driving under severe conditions, include a small bag of sand, a piece of old carpet or a couple of burlap bags to help provide traction. Be sure you properly secure these items in your vehicle.

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What’s the worst time for this? “Wet ice.” Very cold snow or ice can be slick and hard to drive on. But wet ice can be even more trouble because it may offer the least traction of all. You can get wet ice when it’s about freezing (32°F; OOC) and freezing rain begins to fall. Try to avoid driving on wet ice until salt and sand crews can get there. Whatever the condition - smooth ice, packed, blowing or loose snow - drive with caution. If you have the Full Range Traction Control System or the Traction Control System, keep the system on. It will improve your ability to accelerate when driving on a slippery road. Even though your vehicle has a traction control system, you’ll want to slow down and adjust your driving to the road conditions. See Full-Range Traction Control System on page 4-9 or Traction Control System (TCS) on page 4-70. Unless you have the anti-lock braking system, you’ll want to brake very gently, too. (If you do have anti-lock, see Braking on page 4-6. This system improves your vehicle’s stability when you make a hard stop on a slippery road.) Whether you have the anti-lock braking system or not, you’ll want to begin stopping sooner than

you would on dry pavement. Without anti-lock brakes, if you feel your vehicle begin to slide, let up on the brakes a little. Push the brake pedal down steadily to get the most traction you can. Remember, unless you have anti-lock, if you brake so hard that your wheels stop rolling, you’ll just slide. Brake so your wheels always keep rolling and you can still steer.

Whatever your braking system, allow greater following distance on any slippery road. Watch for slippery spots. The road might be fine until you hit a spot that’s covered with ice. On an otherwise clear road, ice patches may appear in shaded areas where the sun can’t reach: around clumps of trees, behind buildings or under bridges. Sometimes the surface of a curve or an overpass may remain icy when the surrounding roads are clear. If you see a patch of ice ahead of you, brake before you are on it. Try not to brake while you’re actually on the ice, and avoid sudden steering maneuvers.

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If You’re Caught in a Blizzard

Tie a red cloth to your vehicle to alert police that you’ve been stopped by the snow. Put on extra clothing or wrap a blanket around you. If you have no blankets or extra clothing, make body insulators from newspapers, burlap bags, rags, floor mats - anything you can wrap around yourself or tuck under your clothing to keep warm.

If you are stopped by heavy snow, you could be in a serious situation. You should probably stay with your vehicle unless you know for sure that you are near help and you can hike through the snow. Here are some things to do to summon help and keep yourself and your passengers safe: 0 Turn on your hazard flashers.

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You can run the engine to keep warm, but be careful.

Snow can trap exhaust gases under your vehicle. This can cause deadly CO (carbon monoxide) gas to get inside. CO could overcome you and kill you. You can’t see it or smell it, so you might not know it is in your vehicle. Clear away snow from around the base of your vehicle, especially any that is blocking your exhaust pipe. And check around again from time to time to be sure snow doesn’t collect there. Open a window just a little on the side of the vehicle that’s away from the wind. This will help keep CO out.

Run your engine only as long as you must. This saves fuel. When you run the engine, make it go a little faster than just idle. That is, push the accelerator slightly. This uses less fuel for the heat that you get and it keeps the battery charged. You will need a well-charged battery to restart the vehicle, and possibly for signaling later on with your headlamps. Let the heater run for a while. Then, shut the engine off and close the window almost all the way to preserve the heat. Start the engine again and repeat this only when you feel really uncomfortable from the cold. But do it as little as possible. Preserve the fuel as long as you can. To help keep warm, you can get out of the vehicle and do some fairly vigorous exercises every half hour or so until help comes.

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If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow

In order to free your vehicle when it is stuck, you will need to spin the wheels, but you don’t want to spin your wheels too fast. The method known as “rocking” can help you get out when you’re stuck, but you must use c

tion.

If you let your tires spin at high speed, .--3y can explode, and you or others could be injured. And, the transaxle or other parts of the vehicle can overheat. That could cause an engine compartment fire or other damage. When you’re stuck, spin the wheels as little as possible. Don’t spin the wheels above 35 mph (55 krn/h) as shown on the speedometer.

Notice: Spinning your wheels can destroy parts of your vehicle as well as the tires. If you spin the wheels too fast while shifting your transaxle back and forth, you can destroy your transaxle. See “Rocking Your Vehicle To Get It Out.’’ For information about using tire chains on your vehicle, see Tire Chains on page 5-66. Rocking Your Vehicle To Get It Out First, turn your steering wheel left and right. That will clear the area around your front wheels. If your vehicle has traction control, you should turn the system off. See Full-Range Traction Control System on page 4-9 or Traction Control System (TCS) on page 4-10. Then shift back and forth between REVERSE (R) and a forward gear, spinning the wheels as little as possible. Release the accelerator pedal while you shift, and press lightly on the accelerator pedal when the transaxle is in gear. By slowly spinning your wheels in the forward and reverse directions, you will cause a rocking motion that may free your vehicle. If that doesn’t get you out after a few tries, you may need to be towed out. If you do need to be towed out, see “Towing Your Vehicle” following.

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Towing

Towing Your Vehicle Consult your dealer or a professional towing service if you need to have your disabled vehicle towed. See Roadside Assistance Program on page 7-5. If you want to tow your vehicle behind another vehicle for recreational purposes (such as behind a motorhome), see “Recreational Vehicle Towing” following. Recreational Vehicle Towing Recreational vehicle towing means towing your vehicle behind another vehicle - such as behind a motorhome. The two most common types of recreational vehicle towing are known as “dinghy towing” (towing your vehicle with all four wheels on the ground) and “dolly towing” (towing your vehicle with two wheels on the ground and two wheels up on a device known as a “dolly”). With the proper preparation and equipment, many vehicles can be towed in these ways. See “Dinghy Towing” and “Dolly Towing,” following.

Here are some important things to consider before you do recreational vehicle towing:

What’s the towing capacity of the towing vehicle? Be sure you read the tow vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations. How far will you tow? Some vehicles have restrictions on how far and how long they can tow. Do you have the proper towing equipment? See your dealer or trailering professional for additional advice and equipment recommendations. Is your vehicle ready to be towed? Just as you would prepare your vehicle for a long trip, you’ll want to make sure your vehicle is prepared to be towed. See Before Leaving on a Long Trip on page 4-23.

Dinghy Towing Notice: Towing your vehicle with all four wheels on the ground will damage drivetrain components. Your vehicle was not designed to be towed with all four wheels on the ground. I f your vehicle must be towed, you should use a dolly. See “Dolly Towing” that follows for more information.

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Dolly Towing

Loading Your Vehicle

TIRE-LOADING INFORMATION VEHICLE

OCCUPANTS

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Your vehicle can be towed using a dolly. To tow your vehicle using a dolly, follow these steps:

1. Put the front wheels on a dolly. 2. Put the vehicle in PARK (P). 3. Set the parking brake and then remove the key. 4. Clamp the steering wheel in a straight-ahead

position.

5. Releases the parking brake.

Two labels on your vehicle show how much weight it may properly carry. The Tire-Loading Information label is inside the trunk lid. The label tells you the proper size, speed rating and recommended inflation pressures for the tires on your vehicle. It also gives you important information about the number of people that can be in your vehicle and the total weight you can carry. This weight is called the vehicle capacity weight and includes the weight of all occupants, cargo and all nonfactory-installed options.

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I

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THIS VEHICLE CONFORMS TO ALI

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The other label is the Certification label, found on the rear edge of the driver’s door. It tells you the gross weight capacity of your vehicle, called the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). The GVWR includes the weight of the vehicle, all occupants, fuel and cargo. Never exceed the GVWR for your vehicle or the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) for either the front or rear axle. If you do have a heavy load, spread it out. Don’t carry more than 167 Ibs (75 kg) in your trunk.

Do not load your vehicle any heavier than the GVWR, or either the maximum front or rear GAWR. If you do, parts on your vehicle can break, and it can change the way your vehicle handles. These could cause you to lose control and crash. Also, overloading can shorten the life of your vehicle.

Nofice: Your warranty does not cover parts or components that fail because of overloading.

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If you put things inside your vehicle - like suitcases, tools, packages or anything else - they will go as fast as the vehicle goes. If you have to stop or turn quickly, or if there is a crash, they’ll keep going.

Towing a Trailer

Things you put inside your vehicle can strike and injure people in a sudden stop or turn, or in a crash.

Put things in the trunk of your vehicle. In a trunk, put them as far forward as you can. Try to spread the weight evenly. Never stack heavier things, like suitcases, inside the vehicle so that some of them are above the tops of the seats. Don’t leave an unsecured child restraint in your vehicle. When you carry something inside the vehicle, secure it whenever you can. Don’t leave a seat folded down unless you need to.

If you don’t use the correc qui, nent and drive properly, you can lose control when you pull a trailer. For example, if the trailer is too heavy, the brakes may not work well -- or even at all. You and your passengers could be seriously injured. You may also damage your vehicle; the resulting repairs would not be covered by your warranty. Pull a trailer only if you have followed all the steps in this section. Ask your dealer for advice and information about towing a trailer with your vehicle.

Your vehicle can tow a trailer if it is equipped with the proper trailer towing equipment. To identify what the vehicle trailering capacity is for your vehicle, you should read the information in “Weight of the Trailer’’ that appears later in this section. But trailering is different