2007 Buick Rendezvous Owners Manual

While the radio is tuned to an RDS station, the station name or call letters display instead of the frequency. RDS stations can also provide the time of day, a program type (PTY) for current programming, and the name of the program being broadcast. XM™ Satellite Radio Service XM™ is a satellite radio service that is based in the 48 contiguous United States and Canada. XM™ offers a large variety of coast-to-coast channels including music, news, sports, talk, traffic/weather (U.S. subscribers), and children’s programming. XM™ provides digital quality audio and text information that includes song title and artist name. A service fee is required in order to receive the XM™ service. For more information, contact XM™; In the U.S. at

www.xmradio.com or call 1-800-852-XMXM (9696) or in Canada at www.xmradio.ca or call 1-877-GET-XMSR (438-9677). Playing the Radio

PWR (Power): Push this knob to turn the system on and off.

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

AUTO VOL (Automatic Volume): With automatic volume, the audio system adjusts automatically to make up for road and wind noise as you drive. Set the volume at the desired level. Press this button to select MIN (minimum), MED (medium), or MAX (maximum). Each higher setting allows for more volume compensation at faster vehicle speeds. Then, as you drive, automatic volume increases the volume, as necessary, to overcome noise at any speed. The volume level should always sound the same to you as you drive. To turn automatic volume off, press this button until OFF displays.

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sSEEK t: Press the right or the left arrow to go to the next or to the previous station and stay there. The radio only seeks stations with a strong signal that are in the selected band. sSCAN t: Press and hold either SCAN arrow for two seconds until SC displays and a beep sounds. The radio goes to a station, plays for a few seconds, then goes to the next station. Press either SCAN arrow again to stop scanning. To scan preset stations, press and hold either SCAN arrow for more than four seconds. PRESET SCAN displays and a double beep sounds. The radio goes to the first preset station stored on the pushbuttons, plays for a few seconds, then goes to the next preset station. Press either SCAN arrow again to stop scanning presets. The radio only scans stations with a strong signal that are in the selected band.

RCL (Recall): Press this knob to switch the display between the radio station frequency and the time. When the ignition is off, press this knob to display the time. For RDS, press the RCL knob to change what appears on the display while using RDS. The display options are station name, RDS station frequency, PTY, and the name of the program (if available). For XM™ (if equipped), press the RCL knob while in XM mode to retrieve four different categories of information related to the current song or channel: Artist, Song Title, Category or PTY, Channel Number/Channel Name. To change the default on the display, press the RCL knob until you see the display you want, then hold the knob until the display flashes. The selected display becomes the default. Finding a Station

BAND: Press this button to switch between FM1, FM2, AM, or XM1 or XM2 (if equipped). The display shows the selection.

TUNE: Turn this knob to select radio stations.

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Setting Preset Stations Up to 30 stations (six FM1, six FM2, and six AM, six XM1 and six XM2 (if equipped)), can be programmed on the six numbered pushbuttons, by performing the following steps: 1. Turn the radio on. 2. Press BAND to select FM1, FM2, AM, or XM1

or XM2.

3. Tune in the desired station. 4. Press AUTO EQ to select the equalization. 5. Press and hold one of the six numbered

pushbuttons until you hear a beep. When that numbered pushbutton is pressed, the station that was set, returns and the equalization that was selected is stored for that pushbutton.

6. Repeat the steps for each pushbutton.

Setting the Tone (Bass/Midrange/Treble)

AUDIO: Push the AUDIO knob until BASS, MID (midrange), or TREB (treble) displays. Turn the knob to increase or to decrease the tone. If a station is weak or has static, decrease the treble. To adjust bass, midrange, or treble to the middle position, select BASS, MID, or TREB and push and hold the AUDIO knob. The display level adjusts to the middle position and a beep sounds. To adjust all tone and speaker controls to the middle position, push and hold the AUDIO knob when no tone or speaker control is displayed. CENTERED displays and one beep sounds.

AUTO EQ (Automatic Equalization): Press this button to select customized equalization settings designed for country, jazz, talk, pop, rock, and classical. To return to the manual mode, press the AUTO EQ button until CUSTOM displays. Then manually adjust the bass, midrange, and treble using the AUDIO knob.

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Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)

AUDIO: To adjust the balance between the right and the left speakers, push the AUDIO knob until BAL (balance) displays. Turn the knob to move the sound toward the right or the left speakers. To adjust the fade between the front and rear speakers, push and hold the AUDIO knob until FAD displays. Turn the knob to move the sound toward the front or the rear speakers. To adjust the balance and the fade to the middle position, select balance or fade and push and hold the AUDIO knob. The display level adjusts to the middle position and a beep sounds. To adjust all tone and speaker controls to the middle position, push and hold the AUDIO knob when no tone or speaker controls are displayed. CENTERED displays and one beep sounds.

Finding a Program Type (PTY) Station (RDS and XM™) To select and find a desired PTY perform the following: 1. Press the P-TYPE button to activate program

type select mode. P-TYPE and the last selected PTY displays.

2. Turn the P-TYPE knob to select a PTY. 3. Once the desired PTY displays, press either SEEK arrow to select and to go to the PTY’s first station.

4. To go to another station within that PTY while

the PTY is displayed, press either SEEK arrow once. If the PTY is not displayed, press either SEEK arrow twice to display the PTY and then to go to another station.

5. Press P-TYPE to exit the program type

select mode. If PTY times out and no longer displays, go back to Step 1.

If both P-TYPE and TRAF are on, the radio searches for stations with the selected PTY and traffic announcements.

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To use the PTY interrupt feature, press and hold the P-TYPE button until a beep sounds on the PTY you want to interrupt with. When selected, an asterisk appears beside that PTY on the display. You can select multiple interrupts if desired. While you are listening to a CD, the last selected RDS station interrupts play if that selected program type format is broadcast.

SCAN: Scan the stations within a PTY by performing the following: 1. Press the P-TYPE button to activate program

type select mode. P-TYPE and the last selected PTY displays.

2. Turn the P-TYPE knob to select a PTY. 3. Once the desired PTY displays, press and

hold either SCAN arrow, and the radio begins scanning the stations in the PTY.

4. Press either SCAN arrow to stop at a station. If both P-TYPE and TRAF are on, the radio scans for stations with the selected PTY and traffic announcements.

BAND (Alternate Frequency): Alternate frequency lets the radio switch to a stronger station with the same program type. To turn

alternate frequency on, press and hold BAND for two seconds. AF ON displays. The radio can switch to stations with a stronger frequency. To turn alternate frequency off, press and hold BAND again for two seconds. AF OFF displays. The radio does not switch to other stations. This function does not apply for XM™ Satellite Radio Service. Setting Preset PTYs (RDS Only) These buttons have factory PTY presets. Up to 12 PTYs (six FM1 and six FM2), can be programmed on the six numbered pushbuttons, by performing the following steps: 1. Press BAND to select FM1 or FM2. 2. Press the P-TYPE button to activate program

type select mode. P-TYPE and the last selected PTY displays.

3. Turn the P-TYPE knob to select a PTY. 4. Press and hold one of the six numbered

pushbuttons until a beep sounds. Whenever that numbered pushbutton is pressed, the PTY that was set will return.

5. Repeat the steps for each pushbutton.

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RDS Messages ALERT!: Alert warns of local or national emergencies. When an alert announcement comes on the current radio station, ALERT! displays. You will hear the announcement, even if the volume is low or a CD is playing. If a CD is playing, play stops during the announcement. Alert announcements cannot be turned off. ALERT! is not affected by tests of the emergency broadcast system. This feature is not supported by all RDS stations. INFO (Information): If the current station has a message, INFO displays. Press this button to see the message. The message can display the artist, song title, call in phone numbers, etc. If the entire message is not displayed, parts of the message appears every three seconds. To scroll through the message, press and release the INFO button. A new group of words displays after every press of this button. Once the complete message has displayed, INFO disappears from the display until another new message is received. The last message can be displayed by pressing the INFO button. The last message can be viewed until a new message is received or you tune to a different station.

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TRAF (Traffic): If TRAF displays, the tuned station broadcasts traffic announcements. To receive the traffic announcement from the tuned station, press this button. TRAF displays between brackets. You receive a traffic announcement when the tuned radio station broadcasts one. If the current tuned station does not broadcast traffic announcements, press the TRAF button and the radio seeks to a station that does. When a station that broadcasts traffic announcements is found, the radio stops seeking and TRAF displays between brackets. If no station is found, NO TRAFFIC will appear on the display. If the brackets are on the display and TRAF is not, press the TRAF button to remove the brackets or use the TUNE knob or the SEEK arrows to go to a station that supports traffic announcements. If no station is found that broadcasts traffic announcements, NO TRAFFIC displays. The radio plays the traffic announcement if the volume is low. The radio interrupts the play of a CD if the last tuned station broadcasts traffic announcements and the brackets are displayed. This function does not apply to XM™ Satellite Radio Service.

Radio Messages

CAL ERR (Calibration Error): The audio system has been calibrated for your vehicle from the factory. If CAL ERR displays it means that the radio has not been configured properly for the vehicle and it must be returned to your dealer for service.

LOCKED: This message displays when the THEFTLOCK® system has locked up. Take your vehicle to your dealer for service. If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error cannot be corrected, contact your dealer. Radio Messages for XM™ Only See XM Radio Messages on page 276 later in this section for further detail. Playing a CD If the ignition or radio is turned off, with a CD in the player, it stays in the player. When the ignition or radio is turned on, the CD starts playing where it stopped, if it was the last selected audio source.

When a CD is inserted, the CD symbol appears on the CD. As each new track starts to play, the track number displays. The CD player can play the smaller 3 inch (8 cm) single CDs with an adapter ring. Full-size CDs and the smaller CDs are loaded in the same manner. If playing a CD-R, the sound quality can be reduced due to CD-R quality, the method of recording, the quality of the music that has been recorded, and the way the CD-R has been handled. There may be an increase in skipping, difficulty in finding tracks, and/or difficulty in loading and ejecting. If these problems occur, check the bottom surface of the CD. If the surface of the CD is damaged, such as cracked, broken, or scratched, the CD will not play properly. If the surface of the CD is soiled, see Care of Your CDs and DVDs on page 298 for more information. If there is no apparent damage, try a known good CD.

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If you add any label to a CD, insert

Do not add any label to a CD, it could get caught in the CD player. If a CD is recorded on a personal computer and a description label is needed, try labeling the top of the recorded CD with a marking pen. Notice: more than one CD into the slot at a time, or attempt to play scratched or damaged CDs, you could damage the CD player. When using the CD player, use only CDs in good condition without any label, load one CD at a time, and keep the CD player and the loading slot free of foreign materials, liquids, and debris. If an error appears on the display, see “CD Messages” later in this section. LOAD CD Z: Press the LOAD side of this button to load CDs into the CD player. This CD player holds up to six CDs. To insert one CD, do the following: 1. Turn the ignition on. 2. Press and release the LOAD button. 3. Wait for the light, located to the right of the

slot, to turn green.

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4. Load a CD. Insert the CD partway into

the slot, label side up. The player pulls the CD in.

To insert multiple CDs, do the following: 1. Turn the ignition on. 2. Press and hold the LOAD button for

two seconds. A beep sounds and the light, located to the right of the slot, begins to flash.

3. Once the light stops flashing and turns green, load a CD. Insert the CD partway into the slot, label side up. The player pulls the CD in.

4. Once the CD is loaded, the light begins flashing again. Press the LOAD button again. Once the light turns green, load the next disc. Repeat this procedure for each CD. The CD player takes up to six CDs.

To load more than one CD but less than six, complete Steps 1 through 3. When finished loading CDs, the radio begins to play the last CD loaded. If more than one CD has been loaded, a number for each CD displays.

Playing a Specific Loaded CD For every CD loaded, a number appears on the display. To play a specific CD, first press the CD AUX button, then press the numbered pushbutton that corresponds to the CD. A small bar displays under the CD number that is playing and the track number also displays. If an error displays, see “CD Messages” later in this section. LOAD CD Z(Eject): Press the CD eject side of this button to eject a CD(s). A beep sounds and the indicator light flashes to let you know when a CD is being ejected. REMOVE CD displays. The CD can be removed. If the CD is not removed, after 25 seconds, the CD automatically pulls back into the player. If the CD is pushed back into the player, before the 25 second time period is complete, the player senses an error and tries to eject the CD several times before stopping.

Do not repeatedly press the CD eject button to eject a CD after trying to push it in manually. The player’s 25-second eject timer resets at each press of eject, causing the player to not eject the CD until the 25-second time period has elapsed. Once the player stops and the CD is ejected, remove the CD. After removing the CD, push the PWR knob off and then on again, or wait for the system to reset. This clears the CD-sensing feature and enables CDs to be loaded into the player again. { REV (Reverse): Press and hold this button to reverse quickly within a track. You will hear sound at a reduced volume. Release this button to play the passage. The elapsed time of the track displays. FWD |(Forward): Press and hold this button to advance quickly within a track. You will hear sound at a reduced volume. Release this button to play the passage. The elapsed time of the track displays.

RPT (Repeat): With the repeat setting, one track or an entire CD can be repeated.

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To use repeat, do the following: (cid:127) To repeat the track you are listening to, press

and release the RPT button. RPT displays. Press RPT again to turn off repeat play.

(cid:127) To repeat the CD you are listening to, press

and hold the RPT button for two seconds. RPT displays. Press RPT again to turn off repeat play.

RDM (Random): With the random setting, you can listen to the tracks in random, rather than sequential, order, on one CD or on all of the CDs. To use random, do one of the following: (cid:127) To play the tracks on the CD you are listening

to in random order, press and release the RDM button. RANDOM ONE displays. Press RDM again to turn off random play.

(cid:127) To play the tracks on all of the CDs that are

loaded in random order, press and hold RDM for more than two seconds. A beep sounds and RANDOM ALL displays. Press RDM again to turn off random play.

AUTO EQ (Automatic Equalization): Press AUTO EQ to select the desired equalization setting while playing a CD. The equalization is set whenever a CD is played. For more information on AUTO EQ, see “AUTO EQ” listed previously in this section. sSEEK t: Press the left arrow to go to the start of the current track, if more than ten seconds have played. Press the right arrow to go to the next track. If either arrow is held or pressed more than once, the player continues moving backward or forward through the CD. sSCAN t: To scan one CD, press and hold either SCAN arrow for more than two seconds until SCAN displays and a beep sounds. Use this feature to listen to 10 seconds of each track of the currently selected CD. Press either SCAN arrow again, to stop scanning. To scan all loaded CDs, press and hold either SCAN arrow for more than four seconds until CD SCAN displays and a beep sounds. Use this feature to listen to 10 seconds of the first track of each loaded CD. Press either SCAN arrow again, to stop scanning.

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RCL (Recall): Press this knob to see how long the current track has been playing. To change the default on the display, track and elapsed time, press the knob until you see the desired display, then hold the knob until the display flashes. The selected display now becomes default.

BAND: Press this button to play the radio when a CD is playing. The inactive CD(s) remains safely inside the radio for future listening.

CD AUX (Auxiliary): Press this button to play a CD when listening to the radio. Using Song List Mode The six-disc CD changer has a feature called song list. This feature is capable of saving 20 track selections. To save tracks into the song list feature, perform the following steps: 1. Turn the CD player on and load it with at least

one CD. See “LOAD CD” listed previously in this section for more information.

2. Check to see that the CD changer is not in

song list mode. S-LIST should not display. If S-LIST is displayed, press the SONG LIST button to turn it off.

3. Select the desired CD by pressing the

numbered pushbutton and then use the SEEK SCAN right arrow to locate the track to be saved. The track begins to play.

4. Press and hold the SONG LIST button to save the track into memory. When SONG LIST is pressed, one beep sounds. After two seconds of continuously pressing the SONG LIST button, two beeps sound to confirm that the track has been saved. 5. Repeat Steps 3 and 4 for saving other

selections.

S-LIST FULL displays if you try to save more than 20 selections. To play the song list, press the SONG LIST button. One beep sounds and S-LIST displays. The recorded tracks begin to play in the order they were saved. Seek through the song list by using the SEEK SCAN arrows. Seeking past the last saved track returns to the first saved track.

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To delete tracks from the song list, perform the following steps: 1. Turn the CD player on. 2. Press the SONG LIST button to turn song list

on. S-LIST displays.

3. Press the SEEK SCAN arrows to select the

desired track to be deleted.

4. Press and hold the SONG LIST button for

two seconds. When SONG LIST is pressed, one beep sounds. After two seconds of continuously pressing the SONG LIST button, two beeps sound to confirm that the track has been deleted.

After a track has been deleted, the remaining tracks are moved up the list. When another track is added to the song list, the track is added to the end of the list.

To delete the entire song list, perform the following steps: 1. Turn the CD player on. 2. Press the SONG LIST button to turn song list

on. S-LIST displays.

3. Press and hold the SONG LIST button for

more than four seconds. One beep sounds, followed by two beeps after two seconds, and a final beep sounds after four seconds. S-LIST EMPTY displays indicating the song list has been deleted.

If a CD is ejected, and the song list contains saved tracks from that CD, those tracks are automatically deleted from the song list. Any tracks saved to the song list again are added to the bottom of the list. To end song list mode, press the SONG LIST button. One beep sounds and S-LIST is removed from the display.

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Listening to a DVD Your vehicle may have a Rear Seat Entertainment System, see Rear Seat Entertainment System on page 277 for more information. If your vehicle has this system and a DVD is playing, the DVD symbol displays indicating that the DVD is available and can be listened through the vehicle’s speakers. To listen to the DVD, press the CD AUX button until RSE displays. The current source stops and the DVD sound comes through the speakers. To stop listening to the DVD press the CD AUX button, if a CD is loaded, or press the BAND button to select a different source. When the RSE system is turned off, the radio displays RSE OFF and the radio returns to the last radio source that you were listening to.

CD Messages

CHECK CD: If this message appears on the display and/or the CD ejects, it could be for one of the following reasons: (cid:127)

It is very hot. When the temperature returns to normal, the CD should play.

(cid:127) You are driving on a very rough road.

When the road becomes smoother, the CD should play.

(cid:127) The CD is dirty, scratched, wet, or

upside down.

(cid:127) The air is very humid. If so, wait about an

hour and try again.

(cid:127) There could have been a problem while

burning the CD.

(cid:127) The label could be caught in the CD player. 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 cannot be corrected, contact your dealer. If the radio displays an error message, write it down and provide it to your dealer when reporting the problem.

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XM Radio Messages

Radio Display Message XL (Explicit Language Channels)

Updating

No Signal

Loading XM

CH Off Air

CH Unavail

No Info

No Info

No Info

No Info

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Condition

Action Required

Loss of signal

Acquiring channel audio (after 4 second delay)

These channels, or any others, can be blocked at a customer’s request, by calling 1-800-852-XMXM (9696).

XL on the radio display, after the channel name, indicates content with explicit language. Updating encryption code The encryption code in the receiver is being updated, and no action is required. This process should take no longer than 30 seconds. The system is functioning correctly, but the vehicle is in a location that is blocking the XM™ signal. When you move into an open area, the signal should return. The audio system is acquiring and processing audio and text data. No action is needed. This message should disappear shortly. This channel is not currently in service. Tune to another channel. This previously assigned channel is no longer assigned. Tune to another station. If this station was one of the presets, choose another station for that preset button. No artist information is available at this time on this channel. The system is working properly. No song title information is available at this time on this channel. The system is working properly. No category information is available at this time on this channel. The system is working properly. No text or informational messages are available at this time on this channel. The system is working properly.

Artist Name/Feature not available Song/Program Title not available Category Name not available No Text/Informational message available

Channel no longer available

Channel not in service

Radio Display Message Not Found

XM Locked

Condition

No channel available for the chosen category Theft lock active

Radio ID

Unknown

Chk XMRcvr

Radio ID label (channel 0)

Radio ID not known (should only be if hardware failure) Hardware failure

Action Required

There are no channels available for the selected category. The system is working properly. The XM™ receiver in your vehicle may have previously been in another vehicle. For security purposes, XM™ receivers cannot be swapped between vehicles. If this message is received after having your vehicle serviced, check with the servicing facility. If tuned to channel 0, this message alternates with the XM™ Radio 8 digit radio ID label. This label is needed to activate the service. If this message is received when tuned to channel 0, there could be a receiver fault. Consult with your dealer.

If this message does not clear within a short period of time, the receiver could have a fault. Consult with your dealer.

Navigation/Radio System Your vehicle may have a navigation radio system. The navigation system has built-in features intended to minimize driver distraction. Technology alone, no matter how advanced, can never replace your own judgment. See the Navigation System manual for some tips to help you reduce distractions while driving.

Rear Seat Entertainment System Your vehicle may have a DVD Rear Seat Entertainment (RSE) system. The RSE system includes a DVD player, a video display screen, two sets of wireless headphones, and a remote control.

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Parental Control This button is located behind the video screen, next to the auxiliary jacks, near the driver of the vehicle. Press this button while a DVD or CD is playing to freeze the video and mute the audio. The video screen will display Parental Control On and the power indicator light on the DVD player will flash. It will also disable all other button operations from the remote control and the DVD player, with the exception of the eject button. The driver will then be able to gain the attention of the rear seat passengers. Press this button again to restore normal operation of the DVD player and remote control. This button may also be used to turn the DVD player power on and automatically resume play if the vehicle is in an enabled power mode. Before You Drive The RSE is designed for rear seat passengers only. The driver cannot safely view the video screen while driving and should not try to do so.

The DVD system is designed to be inoperable when the vehicle is exposed to extremely low or high temperatures, in order to protect the system from damage. Operate the DVD system under normal or comfortable cabin temperature ranges. Headphones The RSE system includes two sets of wireless headphones. The wireless headphones have an ON/OFF switch and a volume control. To use the headphones, turn the switch to ON. An indicator light on the headphones will illuminate. If the light does not illuminate, the batteries may need to be replaced. See “Battery Replacement” later in this section for more information. Switch the headphones to OFF when not in use. The transmitters are located below the overhead RSE control panel. The headphones will shut off automatically to save the battery power if the DVD system is shut off, or if the headphones are out of range of the transmitters for more than three minutes. If you move too far forward or step out of the vehicle, the headphones will lose the audio signal.

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To adjust the volume on the wireless headphones, use the volume control. You can listen to the RSE system through the wired headphone jacks on the Rear Seat Audio (RSA) system, if equipped when the following occurs: (cid:127) The RSA system is on (cid:127) A DVD or auxiliary device is playing (cid:127) RSE is displayed on the front audio system by

pressing the TAPE/CD button on the RSA system

See Rear Seat Audio (RSA) on page 293 for more information. If the front seat passengers are listening to the RSE system through the vehicle’s speakers and the rear seat passengers are using the wired headphones to listen to the RSA system, the BAND button will not access XM™ Satellite Radio Service. Notice: Do not store the headphones in heat or direct sunlight. This could damage the headphones and repairs will not be covered by your warranty. Keep the headphones stored in a cool, dry place.

If there is a decreased audio signal during CD or DVD play, there may be a low hissing noise through the speakers and/or headphones. If the hissing sound in the wireless headphones seems excessive, make sure that the headphone batteries are fully charged. Some amount of hissing is normal. Both sets of rear seat headphones may include foam ear pads that can be replaced. Foam ear pads on these headphones may become worn or damaged. The headphone foam ear pads can become damaged if they are not handled or stored properly. If the foam ear pads do become damaged or worn out, the pads can be replaced separately from the headphone set. It is not necessary to replace the complete headphone set. The headphone replacement foam ear pads can be ordered in pairs. See your dealer for more information.

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Battery Replacement To change the batteries, do the following: 1. Loosen the screw on the battery compartment door located on the left side of the headphone earpiece.

2. Replace the two AAA batteries in the compartment. Make sure that they are installed correctly using the diagram on the inside of the battery compartment.

3. Tighten the screw on the battery

compartment door.

If the headphones are to be stored for a long period of time, remove the batteries, and keep them in a cool, dry place.

Stereo RCA Jacks The RCA jacks are located behind the video screen on the DVD console. The RCA jacks allow audio and video signals to be connected from an auxiliary device such as a camcorder or a video game unit to the RSE. The yellow RCA jack is used for video inputs, the red RCA jack for right audio inputs, and the white RCA jack for left audio inputs. The system requires standard RCA cables, not included, to connect the auxiliary device to the RCA jacks. Refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for proper usage. To use the auxiliary audio and video inputs, connect an external auxiliary device such as a camcorder to the RCA jacks and turn on both the auxiliary device power and the power on the front of the RSE player. If a disc is present when the RSE power is turned on, the player will automatically begin playing the disc and the user will need to press the SRCE button on the remote control or on the DVD player faceplate to switch the system between the DVD player and the auxiliary device. See “DVD Player” and “Remote Control” later in this section for more information.

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To turn the vehicles speakers on and off, press either the CD, the CD TAPE, or the CD AUX button on the radio. The audio from the RSE system can be heard through the wireless headphones and the vehicles speakers at the same time. The volume on the radio may vary when switching between a radio station, CD, DVD, cassette, or auxiliary device. If there is a decreased audio signal during CD or DVD play, there may be a low hissing noise through the speakers and/or headphones. If the hissing sound in the wireless headphones seems excessive, make sure that the headphone batteries are fully charged. Some amount of hissing is normal.

Audio Output Audio from the DVD player or auxiliary devices can be heard through the following possible sources: (cid:127) Wireless Headphones (cid:127) Vehicle’s Speakers (cid:127) Rear Seat Audio (RSA) RCA Jacks, if equipped. Plug the wired headphones, not included into the jacks on the RSA system.

Only one audio source can be heard through the vehicle’s speakers at a time. The RSE system or an auxiliary device can be heard through all of the vehicles speakers when the following occurs: (cid:127) The RSA system, if equipped is off (cid:127) A DVD or auxiliary device is playing (cid:127) The front audio system is on and either the

CD, the CD TAPE, or the CD AUX button is pressed to enable the RSE system

RSE will appear on the radio display when the RSE system is on and RSE OFF, when it is off.

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Video Screen The video screen is located in the overhead console. To use the video screen, do the following: 1. Push forward on the release button and the

screen will fold down.

2. Push the screen away from you and adjust its

position as desired.

When the video screen is not in use, push it up into its stowed and latched position. The DVD player and display will continue to operate when the video screen is in either the up or down positions. The video screen contains the transmitters for the wireless headphones and the receiver for the remote control. If the screen is in the closed position, the signals will not be available for the operation of the headphones or the remote control. Notice: Avoid directly touching the video screen, as damage may occur. See “Cleaning the Video Screen” later in this section for more information.

DVD Player The DVD player is located in the overhead console. The DVD player can be controlled by the buttons on the DVD player, and/or by the buttons on the remote control. See “Remote Control” later in this section for more information. The RSE system DVD player is only compatible with DVDs of the appropriate region code for the country that the vehicle was sold in. The DVD region code is printed on the jacket of most DVDs. Standard audio CDs, CD-R, CD-RW, Video CD and Photo CD/CD-R media are fully supported by this DVD player. DVD-R and DVD-RW media is supported if formatted as DVD-Video. DVD+R and DVD+RW media may or may not be supported by the DVD player. The DVD player does not support DVD-RAM, DVD-ROM, and DVD Audio media. An error message will appear on the display if this type of media is inserted into the DVD player. If an error message appears on the video screen, see “DVD Messages” later in this section.

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DVD Player Buttons

Y (Eject): Press this button to eject a DVD or CD. O (Power): Press this button to turn the DVD player on and off.

SRCE (Source): Press this button to switch the system between the DVD player and an auxiliary source. c(Stop): Press this button to stop playing, rewinding, or fast forwarding. Press this button twice to return to the beginning of the DVD.

s(Play/Pause): Press this button to start play of a DVD or CD. Press this button while a DVD or CD is playing to pause it. Press it again to continue play of a DVD or CD.

y(Main Menu): Press this button to view the media menu. The media menu is different on every DVD. Use the up, down, right, and left arrow buttons to move the cursor around the media menu. After making a selection press enter. This button only operates when using a DVD.

z(Display Control Button): Press this button to adjust the color, tint, brightness, contrast, display mode, and dynamic range compression. The dynamic range compression feature can be used to reduce loud audio and increase low audio produced by some DVDs. To change a feature back to the factory default setting, press this button to display the feature, then press and hold this button. The default setting will appear on the display. While playing an Audio or DVD disc, press and hold this button to display and to remove the track and time information.

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n, q, p, o (Directional Control Circle): Press these buttons to move through menu choices, or to move forward or back in a movie. These controls can be used to move forward or backward through a CD.

r(Enter): Press this button to select choices highlighted in any menu. Playing a Disc To play a disc, gently insert the disc, label side up, into the loading slot. The DVD player will continue loading the disc and the player will automatically start if the vehicle is in ACCESSORY, ON, START, or RAP. If a disc is already in the player, make sure that the DVD player is on, then press the play/pause button on the player faceplate or on the remote control. Some DVDs will not allow fast forwarding or skipping of the copyright information or the previews. Some DVDs will begin playing after the previews have finished. If the DVD does not begin playing at the main title, refer to the on-screen instructions.

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Stopping and Resuming Playback To stop playing a disc, press and release the stop button on the DVD player faceplate or the remote control. To resume playback, press the play/pause button on the DVD player faceplate or the remote control. The movie should resume play from where it was last stopped if the disc has not been ejected and the stop button has not been pressed twice on the remote control or the DVD player faceplate. If the disc has been ejected or if the stop button has been pressed twice on the remote control or the DVD player faceplate, the disc will resume play at the beginning of the disc. Ejecting a Disc Press the eject button on the DVD player faceplate to eject the disc. There is not an eject button on the remote control. If a disc is ejected from the player, but not removed, the DVD player will reload the disc after a short period of time. The disc will be stored in the DVD player. The DVD player will not resume play of the disc automatically.

Remote Control To use the remote control, aim it at the transmitter window below the video screen and press the desired button. Direct sunlight or very bright light may affect the ability of the transmitter to receive signals from the remote control. If the remote control does not seem to be working, the batteries may need to be replaced. See “Battery Replacement” later in this section. Objects blocking the line of sight will affect the function of the remote control. Notice: Storing the remote control in a hot area or in direct sunlight may damage it, and the repairs will not be covered by your warranty. Keep the remote control stored in a cool, dry place. To extend the life of the batteries, the remote control does not have a press and hold feature.

Remote Control Buttons

O (Power): Press this button to turn the DVD player on and off.

v (Title): Press this button to go back to the title screen, if there is one.

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n, q, p, o (Directional Arrows): Press these buttons to move through DVD menus. The up arrow will skip to the next chapter or track, the down arrow will take you to the beginning of the current chapter or track. Press the down arrow twice to take you to the previous chapter or track. The right arrow will fast forward and the left arrow will reverse through a chapter or track.

z (Display Control Button): Press this button to adjust the color, tint, brightness, contrast, display mode, and dynamic range compression. The dynamic range compression feature can be used to reduce loud audio and increase low audio produced by some DVDs. e (Sound): Press this button to move to the next language or commentary. Press this button to call up a menu that will operate only when a DVD is playing. The format and content of this function will vary for each disc. r (Rewind): Press this button to reverse the DVD. To stop reversing, press this button again. This button may not work when the DVD is playing the copyright information or the previews.

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SRCE (Source): Press this button to switch the system between the DVD player and an auxiliary source. c (Stop): Press this button to stop playing, rewinding, or fast forwarding a DVD or CD. Press this button twice to return to the beginning of the DVD.

t (Prior Chapter/Track): Press this button to go to the beginning of the current chapter or track. Press this button again to return to the previous chapter or track. This button may not work when the DVD is playing the copyright information or previews.

1 through 0 (Numeric Keypad): The numeric keypad provides the capability of direct chapter, title, and track number selection.

} 10 (Double Digit Entries): Press this button to select chapter, title, and track numbers greater than 9. Press this button before inputting the number. \ (Clear): Press this button within three seconds after inputting a numeric selection, to clear all numeric inputs.

P (Backlight): Press this button to turn the remote control backlighting on.

y (Main Menu): Press this button to view the media menu. The media menu is different on every disc. Use the up, down, right, and left arrow buttons to move the cursor around the media menu. After making a selection, press the enter button.

r (Enter): Press this button to select the choice that is highlighted in any menu. q (Return): Press this button to go back one step in any menu. Press this button to exit the current menu and to move to the previous menu. This button will operate only when a DVD is playing and/or a menu is active.

| (Camera): This button changes camera angles on DVDs that have this feature. Press this button to display a menu that will operate only when a DVD is being played. The format and content of this function will vary for each disc.

{ (Subtitles): This button turns on subtitles and moves through subtitle options (English, Spanish, French, etc., if available). Press this button to call up a menu that will operate only when a DVD is being played. The format and content of this function will vary for each disc. [ (Fast Forward): Press this button to fast forward the DVD. To stop fast forwarding, press this button again. This button may not work when the DVD is playing the copyright information or the previews.

s (Play/Pause): Press this button to start play of a DVD or CD. Press this button while a DVD is playing to pause it. Press it again to continue playing the DVD or CD.

u (Next Chapter/Track): Press this button to go to the beginning of the next chapter or track. This button may not work when the DVD is playing the copyright information or the previews.

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Setup Menu To access the setup menu, ensure that a DVD is in the player and the video is stopped. Press the main menu button. Once the menu is activated, use the directional arrows and the enter button to navigate the screen. The setup menu allows the user to select default preferences for Menu Language, Subtitle Language, Audio Language, TV Aspect, TV Mode, and Dynamic Range Compression. Not all DVDs support all the feature defaults in the setup menus. In the event a particular feature is not supported, defaults will be provided by the DVD media. Exit the setup menu by pressing the return button on the remote control or the DVD player. If changes are made to the system setup defaults, the disc will resume play from the beginning and not where it previously left off.

Battery Replacement To change the remote control batteries, do the following: 1. Unclip the battery door located on the back of

the remote control.

2. Replace the two AA batteries in the

compartment. Make sure that they are installed correctly, using the diagram on the inside of the battery compartment.

3. Close the battery door. If the remote control is to be stored for a long period of time, remove the batteries and keep them in a cool, dry place.

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Tips and Troubleshooting Chart

Problem

No power.

Disc will not play.

Recommended Action The ignition may not be in ACCESSORY, ON, START, or RAP. The parental control button might have been pressed. The power indicator light will flash. The system might be off. The parental control button might have been pressed. The power indicator light will flash. The system might be in auxiliary source mode. Press the SRCE button to switch between the DVD player and the auxiliary source. The disc is upside down or is not compatible.

Problem

No sound.

The picture is distorted during fast forward or reverse. The picture does not fill the screen. There are black borders on the top and bottom or on both sides or it looks stretched out.

Recommended Action

The volume on the headphones could be too low. Adjust the volume on the right earpiece on the wireless headphones. If the DVD system is being heard through the vehicle speakers, adjust the volume from the radio. The radio must have the RSE enabled by using the CD, CD TAPE, or CD AUX button. This is normal for this operation.

Quickly press and release the display control button on the remote control or the DVD player and choose Display Mode. Then select Full. This will fill the screen. If there are borders on the top and bottom, the movie may have been made that way for a standard screen.

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Problem

I ejected the disc and tried to take it out, but it was pulled back into the slot. The language in the audio or on the screen is wrong.

The remote control does not work.

How do I get subtitles on or off?

Recommended Action

Eject the disc again.

Press the main menu button on the DVD player or the remote control and change the audio or language selection on the DVD menu. Point the remote control directly at the transmitter window. The batteries could be weak or put in wrong. The parental control button might have been pressed. The power indicator light will flash. Press the subtitle button on the remote control to go to the DVDs main menu. Then follow the screen prompts.

Problem

After stopping the player, I push the play button but sometimes the DVD starts where I left off, and sometimes at the beginning.

The DVD is playing but there is no picture or sound. The auxiliary source is running but there is no picture or sound.

The audio or video skips or jumps.

Recommended Action Press the stop button on the remote control to resume where the DVD left off. Press the stop button twice to start the DVD at the beginning. If the power is off and the DVD is still in the player, press the play button. Press and release the SRCE button on the remote control or the DVD player to get to auxiliary input. Check to make sure that the auxiliary source is connected to the inputs properly. The DVD could be dirty or scratched. Try cleaning the DVD.

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Problem

When I return to the DVD from the system menu, sometimes it plays from the beginning and sometimes from where it left off.

The fast forward, reverse, previous, and next functions do not work.

Recommended Action

If the stop button was pressed once, it resumes play from where it left off. If the stop button was pressed twice, it will start at the beginning of the DVD. However, if a change was made to the menu, the DVD will start from where it left off, even if the stop button was only pressed once. Some commands that do one thing for DVDs will not always work or perform the same function for audio, CDs, or games. These functions may also be disabled when the DVD is playing the copyright information or the previews.

Problem

My disc is stuck in the player. The eject button does not work.

I lost the remote control and/or the headphones. Sometimes the wireless headphone audio cuts out or buzzes for a moment, then it comes back.

DVD System inoperable.

Recommended Action Press the eject button on the DVD player. Turn the power off, then on again, then press the eject button on the DVD player. Do not attempt to force or remove the disc from the player. If the problem persists, return to your GM dealer for further assistance. Contact your GM dealer for assistance. This could be caused by interference from cell towers or by using the cellular telephone or other radio transmitter device in the vehicle. In severe or extreme temperatures the DVD system might not be operable. Temperatures below −4°F (−20°C) or above 140°F (60°C) could damage the DVD system. Operate the DVD system under normal or comfortable cabin temperature ranges.

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Problem

The wireless headphones have audio distortion.

In auxiliary mode, the picture moves or scrolls.

Recommended Action

Verify that the headphones are facing to the front of the vehicle, left and right sides are indicated on the headphones to ensure that the signal is received properly. Check the signal coming from the auxiliary device and make sure that the connection and the signal are good.

DVD Messages The following errors may be displayed on the video screen.

Disc Format Error: This message will be displayed if a disc is inserted upside down, if the disc is not readable, or if the disc format is not compatible.

Disc Play Error: This message will be displayed if the mechanism can not play the disc. Scratched or damaged discs will cause this error.

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Region Code Error: This message will be displayed if the region code of the DVD is not compatible with the region code of the DVD player.

Load/Eject Error: This message will be displayed if the disc is not properly loaded or ejected.

No Disc: This message will be displayed when the play button is pressed without a disc in the player. DVD Distortion There may be an experience with video distortion when operating cellular phones, scanners, CB radios, Global Position Systems (GPS)*, two-way radios, mobile fax, or walkie talkies. It may be necessary to turn off the DVD player when operating one of these devices in or near the vehicle. *Excludes the OnStar® System. Cleaning the DVD Player When cleaning the outside DVD faceplate and buttons, use only a clean cloth dampened with clean water.

Cleaning the Video Screen When cleaning the video screen, use only a clean cloth dampened with clean water. Use care when directly touching or cleaning the screen, as damage may result.

Rear Seat Audio (RSA) This feature allows rear seat passengers to listen to any of the sources: radio, cassette tapes, or CDs. However, the rear seat passengers can only control the sources that the front seat passengers are not listening to. For example, rear seat passengers may listen to and control cassette tapes or CDs through the headphones while the driver listens to the radio through the front speakers. The rear seat passengers have control of the volume for each set of headphones. The front seat audio controls always have priority over the RSA controls. If the front seat passengers switch the source for the main radio to a remote source, the RSA will not be able to control the source. You can operate the rear seat audio when the main radio is off.

If your vehicle has the Rear Seat Entertainment (RSE) system and the system is on, the rear seat passengers can listen to the DVDs through the wired headphone jacks on the RSA system. The RSE system cannot be controlled with the RSA system. If the front seat passengers are listening to the RSE system through the vehicle’s speakers and the rear seat passengers are using the wired headphones to listen to the RSA system, the BAND button will not access XM™ Satellite Radio Service. Primary Radio Controls The following function is controlled by the main radio:

PWR (Power): Push this knob twice to turn RSA off.

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Rear Seat Audio (RSA) Controls

The following functions are controlled by the RSA system: wSEEK x: When listening to the radio, press the up or the down arrow to go to the next or the previous station and stay there. This function is inactive if the front seat passengers are listening to the radio. To scan stations, press and hold either SEEK arrow until the radio goes into scan mode. The radio will go to a station, play for a few seconds, then go on to the next station. Press either SEEK arrow again to stop scanning. This function is inactive if the front seat passengers are listening to the radio.

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When a cassette tape is playing, press the up or the down arrow to go to the next or the previous selection. This function is inactive if the front seat passengers are listening to a cassette tape. When a CD is playing, press the up arrow to go to the next track on the CD. Press the down arrow to go to the start of the current track if more than eight seconds have played. This function is inactive if the front seat passengers are listening to a CD.

PWR (Power): Press this button to turn the system on or off.

TAPE CD: Press this button to switch between playing a cassette tape, a CD, or a DVD when listening to the radio. The inactive tape, CD, or DVD will remain safely inside the radio for future listening.

BAND: Press this button to switch between FM1, FM2, AM, or XM1 or XM2 (if equipped). If the front passengers are listening to the radio, the RSA will not switch between the bands or change the frequency.

Press BAND to listen to the radio when a cassette tape or a CD is playing. The inactive cassette or CD will remain safely inside the radio for future listening. The BAND button will not access XM™ Satellite Radio service when the front seat passengers are listening to the RSE system through the vehicle’s speakers and the rear seat passengers are using the wired headphones to listen to the RSA system.

P.SET PROG (Preset Program): Press this button to scan through the preset radio stations set on the pushbuttons on the main radio. The radio will go to a preset station stored on the pushbuttons, play for a few seconds, then go on to the next preset station. Press this button again to stop scanning presets. This function is inactive if the front seat passengers are listening to the radio.

When a cassette tape is playing, press this button to go to the other side of the tape. This function is inactive if the front seat passengers are listening to a cassette tape. When a CD is playing, press this button to select the next CD, if multiple CDs are loaded. This function is inactive if the front seat passengers are listening to a CD.

VOL #(Volume): Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn the knob to increase or to decrease the volume. Push the knob back into its stored position when you are not using it. The upper knob controls the upper headphones and the lower knob controls the lower headphones.

PHONES: To listen to the RSA sound, plug the wired headphones, into these RCA jacks.

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Theft-Deterrent Feature THEFTLOCK® is designed to discourage theft of your vehicle’s radio. It works by using a secret code to disable all radio functions whenever battery power is removed and the radio is placed in a different vehicle. This feature requires no user input to be activated. The radio is automatically armed when it is put into the vehicle for the first time. When the ignition is turned off, the blinking red light indicates that THEFTLOCK® is armed. If THEFTLOCK® is activated, the radio will not operate if stolen. The radio will display LOCKED and a red LED indicator light will come on above the key symbol to indicate a locked condition. If this occurs, the radio will need to be returned to your GM dealer.

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Audio Steering Wheel Controls

If your vehicle has this feature, some audio controls can be adjusted at the steering wheel. They include the following:

SOURCE: When listening to the radio, press this button to play a cassette tape, CD, or a DVD (if equipped). If a cassette tape, and CD, and/or DVD are loaded, the system will go to the tape play first. The inactive tape, CD, or DVD will remain safely inside the player for future listening.

MUTE: Press this button to silence the system. Press it again, or any other radio button, to turn the sound on.

Q VOL R(Volume): Press the up or down arrow to increase or decrease the volume.

QSEEK R: Press the up or the down arrow to go to the next or to the previous station and stay there. The sound will mute while seeking. The radio will only seek stations with a strong signal that are in the selected band. When playing a cassette tape or a CD, press the up arrow to go to the next selection.

BAND: Press this button to switch between FM1, FM2, AM, or XM1 or XM2 (if equipped).

SCAN: Press this button to scan the stations that are programmed on the radio preset pushbuttons. The radio will go to the first preset station stored, play for a few seconds, then go on to the next preset station. Press this button again to stop scanning. The radio will only scan preset stations with a strong signal that are in the selected band.

Radio Reception You may experience frequency interference and static during normal radio reception if items such as cellphone chargers, vehicle convenience accessories, and external electronic devices are plugged into the accessory power outlet. If there is interference or static, unplug the item from the accessory power outlet. AM The range for most AM stations is greater than for FM, especially at night. The longer range can cause station frequencies to interfere with each other. For better radio reception, most AM radio stations will boost the power levels during the day, and then reduce these levels during the night. Static can also occur when things like storms and power lines interfere with radio reception. When this happens, try reducing the treble on your radio.

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FM Stereo FM stereo will give 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 fade in and out. XM™ Satellite Radio Service XM™ Satellite Radio Service gives digital radio reception from coast-to-coast in the 48 contiguous United States, and in Canada. Just as with FM, tall buildings or hills can interfere with satellite radio signals, causing the sound to fade in and out. In addition, traveling or standing under heavy foliage, bridges, garages, or tunnels may cause loss of the XM™ signal for a period of time. The radio may display NO SIGNAL to indicate interference.

Care of Your CDs and DVDs Handle CDs carefully. Store them in their original cases or other protective cases and away from direct sunlight and dust. The CD player scans the bottom surface of the disc. If the surface of a CD is damaged, such as cracked, broken, or scratched, the CD does not play properly or not at all. If the surface of a CD is soiled, take a soft, lint free cloth or dampen a clean, soft cloth in a mild, neutral detergent solution mixed with water, and clean it. Make sure the wiping process starts from the center to the edge. Do not touch the bottom side of a CD while handling it; this could damage the surface. Pick up CDs by grasping the outer edges or the edge of the hole and the outer edge.

Care of the CD and DVD Player The use of CD lens cleaners for CDs is not advised, due to the risk of contaminating the lens of the CD optics with lubricants internal to the CD mechanism.

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Fixed Mast Antenna The fixed mast antenna can withstand most car washes without being damaged. If the mast should ever become slightly bent, straighten it out by hand. If the mast is badly bent, replace it. Check occasionally to make sure the mast is still tightened to the fender. If tightening is required, tighten by hand, then with a wrench one quarter turn.

XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System The XM™ Satellite Radio antenna is located on the roof of your vehicle. Keep this antenna clear of snow and ice build up for clear radio reception. If your vehicle has a sunroof, the performance of the XM™ system may be affected if the sunroof is open. Loading items onto the roof of your vehicle can interfere with the performance of the XM™ system. Make sure the XM™ Satellite Radio antenna is not obstructed.

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✍ NOTES

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Section 4

Driving Your Vehicle

Your Driving, the Road, and

Your Vehicle ............................................ 302
Defensive Driving ...................................... 302
Drunken Driving ........................................ 303
Control of a Vehicle .................................. 306
Braking ...................................................... 306
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) .................. 307
Braking in Emergencies ............................. 309
Traction Control System (TCS) .................. 310
Steering .................................................... 311
Off-Road Recovery .................................... 313
Passing ..................................................... 314
Loss of Control .......................................... 315
Driving at Night ......................................... 317
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads ............ 318

City Driving ............................................... 321
Freeway Driving ........................................ 322
Before Leaving on a Long Trip .................. 323
Highway Hypnosis ..................................... 324
Hill and Mountain Roads ........................... 325
Winter Driving ........................................... 327
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud,

Ice, or Snow .......................................... 331
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out ........... 332
Loading Your Vehicle ................................ 332
Towing ........................................................ 337
Towing Your Vehicle ................................. 337
Recreational Vehicle Towing ...................... 338
Level Control ............................................. 339
Towing a Trailer ........................................ 340

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Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle

{CAUTION:

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 30.

Defensive driving really means “Be ready for anything.” On city streets, rural roads, or expressways, 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 and be ready. Rear-end collisions are about the most preventable of accidents. Yet they are common. Allow enough following distance. Defensive driving requires that a driver concentrate on the driving task. Anything that distracts from the driving task makes proper defensive driving more difficult and can even cause a collision, with resulting injury. Ask a passenger to help do these things, or pull off the road in a safe place to do them. These simple defensive driving techniques could save your life.

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Drunken Driving Death and injury associated with drinking and driving is a national tragedy. It is 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: (cid:127) Judgment (cid:127) Muscular Coordination (cid:127) Vision (cid:127) 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 is 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 is 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: (cid:127) The amount of alcohol consumed (cid:127) The drinker’s body weight (cid:127) The amount of food that is consumed before

and during drinking

(cid:127) The length of time it has taken the drinker to

consume the alcohol

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

It is the amount of alcohol that counts. For example, if the same person drank three double martinis (3 ounces or 90 ml of liquor each) within an hour, the person’s BAC would be close to 0.12 percent. A person who consumes food just before or during drinking will have a somewhat lower BAC level. There is a gender difference, too. Women generally have a lower relative percentage of body water than men. Since alcohol is carried in body water, this means that a woman generally will reach a higher BAC level than a man of her same body weight will when each has the same number of drinks. The law in most 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 have seen, it depends on how much alcohol is in the drinks, and how quickly the person drinks them.

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But the ability to drive is affected well below a BAC of 0.10 percent. Research shows that the driving skills of many people are impaired at a BAC approaching 0.05 percent, and that the effects are worse at night. All drivers are impaired at BAC levels above 0.05 percent. Statistics show that the chance of being in a collision increases sharply for drivers who have a BAC of 0.05 percent or above. A driver with a BAC level of 0.06 percent has doubled his or her chance of having a collision. At a BAC level of 0.10 percent, the chance of this driver having a collision is 12 times greater; at a level of 0.15 percent, the chance is 25 times greater! The body takes about an hour to rid itself of the alcohol in one drink. No amount of coffee or number of cold showers will speed that up. “I will be careful” is not the right answer. What if there is 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 is something else about drinking and driving that many people do not 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 do not drink and drive or ride with a driver who has been drinking. Ride home in a cab; or if you are with a group, designate a driver who will not drink.

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Control of a Vehicle You have three systems that make your vehicle go where you want it to go. They are the brakes, the steering, and the accelerator. All three systems have to do their work at the places where the tires meet the road. Sometimes, as when you are driving on snow or ice, it is easy to ask more of those control systems than the tires and road can provide. That means you can lose control of your vehicle. See Traction Control System (TCS) on page 310. Adding non-GM accessories can affect your vehicle’s performance. See Accessories and Modifications on page 354.

Braking See Brake System Warning Light on page 219. Braking action involves perception time and reaction time. First, you have to decide to push on the brake pedal. That is perception time. Then you have to bring up your foot and do it. That is reaction time. Average reaction time is about three-fourths of a second. But that is 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 three-fourths 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 is pavement or gravel; the condition of the road, whether it is wet, dry, or icy; tire tread; the condition of the brakes; the weight of the vehicle; and the amount of brake force applied.

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Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive in spurts — heavy acceleration followed by heavy braking — rather than keeping pace with traffic. This is a mistake. The brakes may not have time to cool between hard stops. The 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 vehicle’s engine ever stops while you are driving, brake normally but do not pump the brakes. If you do, the pedal may get harder to push down. If the 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. Adding non-GM accessories can affect your vehicle’s performance. See Accessories and Modifications on page 354.

Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) Your vehicle may have the Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS), an advanced electronic braking system that will help prevent a braking skid.

United States

Canada

If your vehicle has ABS, 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, ABS 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.

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

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

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

Remember: ABS does not 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 will not 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 ABS. Using ABS Do not 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 ABS, you can steer and brake at the same time. However, if you do not have ABS, 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 cannot 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 do not have ABS, 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 ABS, it is different. See Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) on page 307. In many emergencies, steering can help you more than even the very best braking.

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Traction Control System (TCS) Your vehicle may have 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. The TRACTION ACTIVE message will come on when the traction control system is limiting wheel spin. See Traction Active Message on page 227. 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 on page 181.

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If this message comes on and stays on or comes on while you are driving, there’s a problem with your traction control system. See Service Traction System Warning Message on page 226. When this warning message is on, the TRAC OFF light will come on to remind you that 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 If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow on page 331.

To turn the system off, press the TRAC OFF button located on the instrument panel switchbank. If the system is limiting wheel spin when you press the button, the message will go off, but the system will not turn off until there is no longer a current need to limit wheel spin. The TRAC OFF light will come on to remind you the system is off. You can turn the system back on at any time by pressing the button again. The traction control system warning message should go off. Adding non-GM accessories can affect your vehicle’s performance. See Accessories and Modifications on page 354 for more information. 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.

Steering Tips It is important to take curves at a reasonable speed. A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents mentioned on the news happen on curves. Here is 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 is no traction, inertia will keep the vehicle going in the same direction. If you have ever tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you will 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 are in a curve, speed is the one factor you can control.

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Suppose you are steering through a sharp curve. Then you suddenly apply the brakes. 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 are 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 Traction Control System (TCS) on page 310. 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 will want to go slower. If you need to reduce your speed as you approach a curve, do it before you enter the curve, while your front wheels are straight ahead.

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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. Adding non-GM accessories can affect your vehicle’s performance. See Accessories and Modifications on page 354. 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 cannot; there is not room. That is 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 306. 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.

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

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

If the level of the shoulder is only slightly below the pavement, recovery should be fairly easy. Ease off the accelerator and then, if there is nothing in the way, steer so that your vehicle straddles the edge of the pavement. You can turn the steering wheel up to one-quarter turn until the right front tire contacts the 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: (cid:127) 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.

(cid:127) 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 is 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.

(cid:127) Do not get too close to the vehicle you want to pass while you are awaiting an opportunity. For one thing, following too closely reduces your area of vision, especially if you are following a larger vehicle. Also, you will not have adequate space if the vehicle ahead suddenly slows or stops. Keep back a reasonable distance.

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(cid:127) When it looks like a chance to pass is coming up, start to accelerate but stay in the right lane and do not 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