2003 Chevrolet Impala Owners Manual

6 RDM (Random): Press this pushbutton to hear the tracks in random, rather than sequential, order. RDM ON will appear on the display. RDM T and the track number will appear on the display when each track starts to play. Press RDM again to turn off random play. RDM OFF will appear on the display. 4 SEEK b : Press the left arrow to go to the start of the current or of the previous track. Press the right arrow to go to the start of the next track. If either of the arrows is held or pressed more than once, the player will continue moving backward or forward through the CD. DlSP (Display): Press this knob to see how long the current track has been playing. ET and the elapsed time will appear on the display. To change the default on the display (track or elapsed time), push the knob until you see the display you want, then hold the knob for two seconds. The radio will produce one beep and selected display will now be the default.

BAND: Press this button to listen to the radio when a CD is playing. The CD will stop but remain in the player

this button to play a CD

CD AUX (Auxiliary): Press when listening to the radio. A EJT (Eject): Press this button to eject a CD. Eject may be activated with either the ignition or radio off. CDs may be loaded with the radio and ignition off if this button is pressed first. 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. The disc is dirty, scratched, wet or upside down. The air 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 correc@a;comamyour

dealer.

~ ~ _ _ _

Radio with Cassejte and CD

Radio Data System (RDS): Your audio system is equipped with a Radio Data System (RDS). RDS features are available for use only on FM stations that broadcast RDS information. 0 Seek to stations broadcasting the selected type of

programming, receive announcements concerning local and national emergencies, display messages from radio stations, and seek to stations with traffic announcements.

~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~

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This system relies upon receiving specific information from these stations and will only work when the information is available. In rare cases, a radio station may broadcast incorrect information that will cause the radio features to work improperly. If this happens, contact the radio station. While you are tuned to an RDS station, the station name or the call letters will appear on the display instead of the frequency. RDS stations may also provide the time of day, a program type (PTY) for current programming and the name of the program being broadcast. XMTM Radio Satellite Service (USA Only): XMTM is a continental U.S. based satellite radio service that offers 100 coast to coast channels including music, news, sports, talk and children’s programming. XMTM provides digital quality audio and text information, including song title and artist name. A service fee is required in order to receive the XMTM service. For more information, contact XMTM at www.xmradio.com or call 1 -800-852-XMXM (9696). Digital Audio Broadcast (DAB) (Canada Only): DAB is a Canadian land-based radio service that offers digital quality audio and text information including song title, artist name, traffic, weather, emergency announcements and more. Digital Audio Broadcast transmission services are currently available in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa, and Windsor.

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In fringe areas signals may be interrupted by buildings, trees and other obstructions. Additional services will be added in the future. For current DAB coverage and other information consult the GM Canada website at www.gmcanada.com, your dealer or call 1-800-263-3777. Playing the Radio

PWR (Power): Press this knob to turn the system on and off. VOL (Volume): Turn the knob to increase or to decrease volume.

AUTO VOL (Automatic Volume): With automatic volume, your 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 LOW, MEDIUM or HIGH. AVOL will appear on the display. Each higher setting will allow 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. NONE will appear on the display if the radio cannot determine the vehicle speed. I f you don’t want to use automatic volume, select OFF.

DlSP (Display): Push this knob to switch the display between radio station frequency and time. Time display is available with the ignition turned off. For RDS, press this 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 XMTM (USA only, if your radio is equipped with XMTM Satellite Radio Service), press this button while in XM mode to retrieve various pieces of information related to the current song or channel. By pressing and releasing the MSG button, you may retrieve four different categories of information: Artist, Song Title, Category or PTY, Channel NumberEhannel Name. For DAB (Canada only, if your radio is equipped with DAB), pushing this knob switches the display between channel name and PTY name. To change the default on the display, push the knob until you see the display you want, then hold the knob for twn s~cnnds. The ratdin \.,vi!! prnd~.Ice nnp hepp and selected display will now be the default.

Finding a Station

BAND: Press this button to switch between AM, FM, FM2, or XM1, XM2 (USA only, if your radio is equipped with XMTM Satellite Radio Service) or DABI, DAB2 (Canada only, if your radio is equipped with DAB). The display will show your selection. TUNE: Turn this knob to choose radio stations. For DAB (Canada only, if your radio is equipped with DAB), the TUNE knob allows you to navigate the DAB frequency range. Turning this knob will tune up or tune down the range. The radio will display the letter L with a number next to it (1 through 23). Each L number refers to a frequency and there can be multiple stations contained in one frequency. It may also take a few seconds, once you have tuned to a frequency, for that frequency to gather all of the stations. Depending on how many stations are within a frequency, with every tune up or down, you may be tuning to another station or to another frequency. The display will shf-J\n/ p u r s+ctinns. 4 SEEK b : Press the right or the left arrow to seek to the next or to the previous station and stay there. The radio will seek only to stations that are in the serec€ed band and onry to those with a strong signal. ~~

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4 PSCAN (Preset Scan) b : Press and hold one 01 the arrows for more than two seconds. The radio will produce one beep. The radio will scan through each of the preset stations stored on the pushbuttons, play for a few seconds, then go on to the next preset station. SCAN will be displayed. Press one of the arrows again or one of the pushbuttons to stop scanning presets. The radio will scan only to the preset stations that are in the selected band and only to those with a strong signal. Setting Preset Stations The six numbered pushbuttons let you return to your favorite stations. You can set up to 30 stations (six AM, six FMI and six FM2, six XMI and six XM2 (USA only, if your radio is equipped with the XM Satellite Radio Service) or DABl and DAB2 (Canada only, if your radio is equipped with DAB), by performing the following steps:

1. Turn the radio on. 2. Press BAND to select AM, FMI or FM2, or XMI,

XM2, or DABl, DAB2.

3. Tune in the desired station. 4. Press AUTO TONE to choose the bass and treble equalization that best suits the type of station you are listening to.

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5. Press and hold one of the six numbered

pushbuttons. The radio will produce one beep. Whenever you press that numbered pushbutton, the station you set will return and the bass and treble equalization that you selected will also be automatically selected for that pushbutton.

6. Repeat the steps for each pushbutton. Setting the Tone (Bassnreble) AUDIO: Push and release the AUDIO knob until BASS or TREB appears on the display. Turn the knob to increase or to decrease. The display will show the bass or the treble level. If a station is weak or noisy, you may want to decrease the treble. To adjust bass and treble to the middle position, push and hold the AUDIO knob. The radio will produce one beep and adjust the display level to the middle position. 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. The radio will produce one beep and display ALL with the level display in the middle position. AUTO TONE (Automatic Tone): Press this button to choose bass and treble equalization settings designed for country/western, jazz, talk, pop, rock and classical stations. To return the bass and treble to the manual mode, push and release the AUDIO knob until MANUAL is displayed.

Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)

AUDIO: To adjust the balance between the right and the left speakers, push and release the AUDIO knob until BAL appears on the display. Turn the knob to move the sound toward the right or the left speakers. To adjust the fade between the front and the rear speakers, push and release the AUDIO knob until FADE appears on the display. Turn the knob to move the sound toward the front or the rear speakers. To adjust the balance and fade to the middle position, push the AUDIO knob then push it again and hold it until you hear one beep. The balance and the fade will be adjusted to the middle position and the display will show the speaker balance. 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. The radio will produce one beep and display ALL with the level display in the middle position. Finding a PTY Station (RDS, XMTM and DAB) To select and find a desired PTY perform the following: 1 . Press the P-TYPE LIST knob. TYPE and a P

will appear on the display.

2. Select a category by turning the P-TYPE

LIST knob.

3. Once the desired category is displayed, press the SEEK TYPE button to take you to the category’s first station.

4. If you want to go to another station within that category and the category is displayed, press the SEEK TYPE button once. If the category is not displayed, press the SEEK TYPE button twice to display the category and then to go to another station.

If the radio cannot find the desired program type, NONE will appear on the display and the radio will return to the last station you were listening to.

BAND (Alternate Frequency): Alternate frequency allows the radio to switch to a stronger station with the same program type. Press and hold BAND for two seconds to turn alternate frequency on. AF ON will appear on the display. The radio may switch to stronger stations. Press and hold BAND again for two seconcis to turn aiternate frequency oii. AF OFF will appear on the display. The radio will not switch to other stations. This function does not apply for XMTM or DAB.

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RDS and DAB Messages

ALERT!: Alert warns of local or national emergencies. When an alert announcement comes on the current radio station, ALERT! will appear on the display. You will hear the announcement, even if the volume is muted or a cassette tape or compact disc is playing. If the cassette tape or compact disc player is playing, play will stop during the announcement. You will not be able to turn off alert announcements. ALERT! will not be 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, the information symbol will appear on the display. Press this button to see the message. The message may display the artist and song title, call in phone numbers, etc. If the whole message is not displayed, parts of it will appear every three seconds. To scroll through the message at your own speed, press the INFO button repeatedly. A new group of words will appear on the display with each press. Once the complete message has been displayed, the information symbol will disappear from the display until another new

message is received. The old message can be displayed by pressing the INFO button until a new message is received or a different station is tuned to. When a message is not available from a station, NO INFO will be displayed. TRAF (Traffic): Press this button to receive traffic announcements. If the current tuned station does not broadcast traffic announcements, the radio will seek to a station that does. When the radio finds a station that broadcasts traffic announcements, it will stop. TRAF will appear on the display and when a traffic announcement comes on you will hear it. If no station is found, NO TRAF will appear on the display. When a traffic announcement comes on the current station or on a related network station, you will hear it, even if the volume is muted or a compact disc is playing. The traffic symbol and TRAF will appear on the display while the announcement plays. If the compact disc player was being used, play will stop during the announcement. For DAB (Canada only, if your radio is equipped with DAB), when the TRAF button is pressed, DAB does not seek to a station that broadcasts traffic. DAB only checks the current frequency for traffic support.

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interrupt the

Traffic Interrupt Feature: Your radio can play of a cassette, CD, or XMTM, or DAB station. Press the TRAF button. The radio will seek to a station that broadcasts traffic announcements. When the radio finds a station that broadcasts traffic announcements, it will stop. TRAF will appear on the display. When a traffic announcement comes on the station that was found, you will hear it. When the traffic announcement is over, the radio will resume play of the cassette, CD, or XMTM, or DAB station. If no station is found, NO TRAF will appear on the display.

Radio Messages

CAL ERR (Calibration Error): This message is displayed when the radio has not been calibrated properly for the vehicle. You must return to the dealership for service.

LOCKED: This message is displayed when the THEFTLOCK@ system has locked up. You must return to the dealership for service.

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XMTM Radio Messages

Radio Display

Message

XL (Explicit Language Channels)

Updating

Condition

~~

XL on the radio display, after the channel name, indicates content with explicit language. Updating encryption code

No Sign1

Loss of signal

Loading

Off Air

CH Unavl

No Info

No Info

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Acquiring channel audio (after 4 second delay)

Channel not in service

Channel no longer available

Artist Name/Feature not available Song/Program Title not available

Action Required

~ These channels, or any others, can be blocked at a

customer’s request, by calling 1 -800-852-XMXM (9696).

~~~

The encryption code in your receiver is being updated, and no action is required. This process should take no longer than 30 seconds. Your system is functioning correctly, but you are in a location that is blocking the XM signal. When you move into an open area, the signal should return. Your radio 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 your presets, you may need to choose another station for that preset button. No artist information is available at this time on this channel. Your system is working properly. No song title information is available at this time on this channel. Your system is working properly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~

~~

Radio Display

Message

XMTM Radio Messages (cont’d)

Condition

Action Required

No Info

No Info

Not Found

XM Lock

Radio ID

Unknown

message available

channel 0) I Radio ID not known

If you tune to channel 0, you will see this message alternating with your XM Radio 8 digit radio ID label. This label is needed to activate your service. I If you receive this message when you tune to channel 0,

Check XM

ardware failure

If this message does

not clear within a short period of time,

eiver may have a fault. Consult with your retail

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Playing a Cassette Tape Your tape player is built to work best with tapes that are up to 30 to 45 minutes long on each side. Tapes longer than that are so thin they may not work well in this player. The longer side with the tape visible should face to the right. If the ignition is on, but the radio is off, the tape can be inserted and will begin playing. A tape symbol is shown on the display whenever a tape is inserted. If you hear nothing but a garbled sound, the tape may not be in squarely. Press EJT to remove the tape and start over. While the tape is playing, use the VOL, AUDIO and SEEK controls just as you do for the radio. The display will show TAPE and an arrow showing which side of the tape is playing. If you want to insert a tape while the ignition is off, first press EJT or DISP. If an error appears on the display, see “Cassette Tape Messages” later in this section.

tape must have at least three

1 PREV (Previous): Your seconds of silence between each selection for previous to work. Press this pushbutton to go to the previous selection on the tape if the current selection has been playing for less than three seconds. If pressed when the current selection has been playing from 3 to 13 seconds, it will go to the beginning of the previous selection or the beginning of the current selection, depending upon

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the position on the tape. If pressed when the current selection has been playing for more than 13 seconds, it will go to the beginning of the current selection. SEEK and a negative number will appear on the display while the cassette player is in the previous mode. Pressing this pushbutton multiple times or holding it will increase the number of selections to be searched back, up to -9. 2 NEXT: Your tape must have at least three seconds of silence between each selection for next to work. Press this pushbutton to go to the next selection on the tape. If you press the pushbutton more than once, the player will continue moving forward through the tape. SEEK and a positive number will appear on the display. 3 REV (Reverse): Press tape rapidly. Press it again to return to playing speed. The radio will play while the tape reverses. The station frequency and REV will appear on the display. You may select stations during reverse operation using TUNE, SEEK or PSCAN. 4 FWD (Forward): Press this pushbutton to advance quickly. Press this pushbutton again to return to playing speed. The radio will play while the tape advances. The station frequency and FWD will appear on the display. You may select stations during forward operation by using TUNE, SEEK or PSCAN.

this pushbutton to reverse the

5 SIDE: Press this pushbutton to play the other side of the tape. 4 SEEK b : The right arrow is the same as the NEXT pushbutton, and the left arrow is the same as the PREV pushbutton. If the arrows are held or pressed more than once, the player will continue moving forward or backward through the tape. SEEK and a positive or a negative number will appear on the display.

BAND: Press this button to listen to the radio when a tape is playing. The tape will stop but remain in the player.

TAPE CD: Press this button to play a tape when listening to the radio. Press TAPE CD to switch between the tape and compact disc if both are loaded. The inactive tape or CD will remain safely inside the radio for future listening. A EJT (Eject): Press this button, located to the right of the cassette tape slot, to eject a tape. Eject may --.. L- h- --+:..-+-A UG a b u v a L c u v v l u I 11 I C ~aulu u l l . uaaacuc rapca 111ay UG loaded with the radio off if this button is pressed first.

-W P - - - - + + - +--A-

...:+L +L- --A:-

Cassette Tape Messages

CHK TAPE (Check Tape): If this message appears on the radio display, the tape won’t play because of one of the following errors.

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. The tape is broken. Try a new tape. The tape is wrapped around the tape head. Attempt to get the cassette out. Try a new tape.

CLEAN: If this message appears on the display, the cassette tape player needs to be cleaned. It will still play tapes, but you should clean it as soon as possible to prevent damage to the tapes and player. See Care of Your Cassette Tape Player on page 3-88. If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error can’t be corrected, contact your dealer.

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CD Adapter Kits It is possible to use a portable CD player adapter kit with your cassette tape player after disabling the tighVloose tape sensing feature on your tape player. To disable the feature, use the following steps:

1. Turn the ignition on. 2. Turn the radio off. 3. Press and hold the TAPE CD button. The radio will

display READY and flash the cassette symbol. 4. Insert the adapter into the cassette slot. It will

power up the radio and begin playing.

The override feature will remain active until EJT is pressed. Playing a Compact Disc Insert a disc partway into the slot, label side up. The player will pull it in and the disc should begin playing. The display will show the CD symbol. If you want to insert a compact disc with the ignition off, first press DlSP or EJT. If an error appears on the display, see "Compact Disc Messages" later in this section.

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this pushbutton to go to the

1 PREV (Previous): Press previous track if the current track has been playing for less than eight seconds. If pressed when the current track has been playing for more than eight seconds, it will go to the beginning of the current track. TRACK and the track number will appear on the display. 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. TRACK. The track number will appear on the display. If you hold this pushbutton or press it more than once, the player will continue moving forward through the disc. 3 REV (Reverse): Press and hold this pushbutton to reverse quickly within a track. Press and hold this pushbutton for less than two seconds to reverse at six times the normal playing speed. Press and hold it for more than two seconds to reverse at 17 times the normal playing speed. Release it to play the passage. The display will show ET and the elapsed time.

4 FWD (Forward): Press and hold this pushbutton to advance quickly within a track. Press and hold this pushbutton for less than two seconds to advance at six times the normal playing speed. Press and hold it for more than two seconds to advance at 17 times the normal playing speed. Release it to play the passage. The display will show ET and the elapsed time.

this pushbutton to hear the

6 RDM (Random): Press tracks in random, rather than sequential, order. RDM ON will appear on the display. RDM T and the track number will appear on the display when each track starts to play. Press it again to turn off random play. RDM OFF will appear on the display. 4 SEEK b : The right arrow is the same as the NEXT pushbutton, and the left arrow is the same as the PREV pushbutton. If either of the SEEK arrows is held or pressed more than once, the player will continue moving backward or forward through the CD.

DlSP (Display): Press this knob to see how long the current track has been playing. ET and the elapsed time will appear on the display. To change the default on the display (track or elapsed time), push the knob until you see the display you want, then hold the knob for two seconds. The radio will produce one beep and selected display will now be the default.

TAPE CD: Press this button to play a CD when listening to the radio. Press TAPE CD to switch between the tape and compact disc if both are loaded. The inactive tape or CD will remain safely inside the radio for future listening. A EJT (Eject): Press this button, located to the right of the CD slot, to eject a CD. Eject may be activated with either the ignition or radio off. CDs may be loaded with the radio and ignition off if this button is pressed first. Compact Disc Messages If the disc comes out or CHECK CD appears on the display, it could be for one of the following reasons: 0 You’re driving on a very rough road. When the road

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

If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error can’t be corrected, contact your dealer.

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

Theft-Deterrent Feature (RDS Radios) THEFTLOCK@ is designed to discourage theft of your radio. The feature works automatically by learning a portion of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). If the radio is moved to a different vehicle, it will not operate and LOCKED will be displayed. When the ignition is off and RAP is not active, the blinking red light indicates that THEFTLOCK is armed. With THEFTLOCK activated, your radio will not operate if stolen.

: Press the up or the down arrow to seek

A SEEK to the next or to the previous radio station. If a cassette tape or compact disc is playing, the player will advance with the up arrow and reverse with the down arrow. Holding SEEK for three seconds or more will activate the PSCAN mode.

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SEEK TYPE: Press this button to go to a station with the last selected PTY TYPE and the last selected PTY will appear on the display, if it is not already showing. If a station with the selected PTY is not found, the radio will return to the original station. If both SEEK by TYPE and TRAF are on, the radio will search for stations with the selected PTY and traffic announcements.

PRESET: Press this button to play a station you have programmed on the radio preset pushbuttons. MODE: Press this button to choose AM, FM1 or FM2, or XM1, or XM2, XMTM Satellite Radio Service) or DABl, or DAB2 (if your radio is equipped with DAB). If a cassette tape or compact disc is playing, it will stop and the radio will play.

(if your radio is equipped with

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

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

to increase or to decrease volume.

Understanding Radio Reception AM The range for most AM stations is greater than for FM, especially at night. The longer range, however, can cause stations to interfere with each other. AM can pick up noise from things like storms and power lines. Try reducing the treble to reduce this noise if you ever get it. FM Stereo FM stereo will give you the best sound, but FM signals will reach only about 10 to 40 miles (1 6 to 65 km). Tall buildings or hills can interfere with FM signals, causing the sound to come and go. XMTM Satellite Radio Service XMTM Satellite Radio gives you digital radio reception from coast to coast. Just as with FM, tall buildings or hills can interfere with Satellite radio signals, causing the sound to come ana go. Your rauio may uispiay “NO SIGNL” to indicate interference. DAB Radio RAS~~au-@kCradb~recepkm; JusLas with-FM, M i buildings or hilis can interfere with radio signais, causing the sound to come and go. Your radio may display “NO SIGNL” to indicate interference.

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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 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 broken tape detection feature of your cassette tape player may identify the cleaning cassette as a damaged tape, in error. To prevent the cleaning cassette from being ejected, use the following steps: 3-88

1. Turn the ignition on. 2. Turn the radio off. 3. Press and hold the TAPE CD button for

five seconds. READY will appear on the display and a cassette symbol will flash for five seconds.

4. Insert the scrubbing action cleaning cassette. 5. Eject the cleaning cassette after the manufacturer’s

recommended cleaning time.

After the cleaning cassette is ejected, the broken tape detection feature will be active again. 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 EJT button for five seconds to reset the CLEAN indicator. The radio will display CLEANED 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.

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 need3 to be^ properly attached to the post on the glass.

~ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Notice: Do not try to clear frost or other material from the inside of the rear window with a razor blade or anything else that is sharp. This may damage the rear defogger grid and affect your radio's ability to pick up stations clearly. The repairs wouldn't be covered by your warranty. Because this antenna is built into your rear window, there is a reduced risk of damage caused by car washes and vandals. If you choose to add a cellular telephone to your vehicle, and the antenna needs to be attached to the glass, be sure that you do not damage the grid lines for the AM-FM antenna. There is enough space between the lines to attach a cellular telephone antenna without interfering with radio reception 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 ad\/nrcnl\/ Iffapt radin Qnd dnfnnnnr 33"' performance. See your dealer for details.

U I . V V . IWU .Y U l lU UU,"

3-89

XMTM Satellite Radio Antenna System Your XMTM 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. The performance of your XM system may be affected if your sunroof is open. DAB Radio Antenna System Your DAB 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 is purchased in Canada and driven into the United States the DAB radio antenna system will not function. DAB radio reception is available in Canada only. The performance of your DAB antenna may be affected if your sunroof is open.

Vehicle Customization Settings Your audio system can be used to control vehicle customization settings using the DISP button when the radio is off. See Vehicle Personalization on page 2-45 for more information. Chime Level Adjustment The radio is the vehicle chime producer. To change the volume level, press and hold pushbutton 6 with the ignition on and the radio power off. The chime volume level will change from the normal level to loud, and LOUD will be displayed on the radio. To change back to the default or normal setting, press and hold pushbutton 6 again. The chime level will change from the loud level to normal, and NORMAL will be displayed. Each time the chime volume is changed, three chimes will sound as an example of the new volume selected. Removing the radio and not replacing it with a factory radio or chime module will disable vehicle chimes.

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Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle

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 Traction Control System (TCS)

(3800 V6 Engine) ........................................ 4-9 Steering ...................................................... 4-10 Off-Road Recovery ....................................... 4-12 Passing ...................................................... -4-1 3 Loss of Control ............................................. 4-14 Driving at Night ............................................ 4-16 .................. 4-17 Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads

City Driving ........................... ........ 4.20 Freeway Driving ....................................... -4-2 1 Before Leaving on a Long Trip ....................... 4-22 Highway Hypnosis ....................................... -4-23 Hill and Mountain Roads ................................ 4-23 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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Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle

Defensive Driving The best advice anyone can give about driving is: Drive defensively. Please start with a very important safety device in your vehicle: Buckle up. See Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone on page 1-9. 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

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on the floor - makes proper defensive driving more difficult and can even cause a collision, with resulting injury. Ask a passenger to help do things like this, or pull off the road in a safe place to do them yourself. These simple defensive driving techniques could save your life. Drunken Driving Death and injury associated with drinking and driving is a national tragedy. It’s the number one contributor to the highway death toil, claiming thousands of victims every year. Alcohol affects four things that anyone needs to drive a vehicle:

Judgment Muscular Coordination Vision Attentiveness.

Police records show that almost half of all motor vehicle-related deaths involve alcohol. In most cases, these deaths are the result of someone who was drinking and driving. In recent years, more than 16,000 annual motor vehicle-related deaths have been associated with the use of alcohol, with more than 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 wrlsume tile aiconoi.

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 sane BAC by drinking three 4 ounce (120 mi) giasszs 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 DHL, wuuid be duse iu u. I L percent. A person who consumes food just before or during drinking will have a somewhat lower BAC level.

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A m

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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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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.

L, ,,king and ther, diving 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.

Sometimes, as when you’re driving on snow or ice, it’s easy to ask more of those con&ol systemthan A h tires and :cad can pr~vide. That meaw you caR loss control of your vehicle. Also see Traction Control System (TCS) (3800 V6 Engine) on page 4-9.

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Braking

Braking action involves perception time and reaction time. First, you have to decide to push on the brake pedal. That’s perception time. Then you have to bring up your foot and do it. That’s reaction time. Average reaction time is about 3/4 of a second. But that’s only an average. It might be less with one driver and as long as two or three seconds or more with another. Age, physical condition, alertness, coordination and eyesight all play a part. So do alcohol, drugs and frustration. But even in 3/4 of a second, a vehicle moving at 60 mph (100 km/h) travels 66 feet (20 m). That could be a lot of distance in an emergency, so keeping enough space between your vehicle and others is important. And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly with the surface of the road (whether it’s pavement or gravel); the condition of the road (wet, dry, icy); tire tread; the condition of your brakes; the weight of the vehicle and the amount of brake force applied. 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

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

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.

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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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 L------ I l a y p l ~ a VYILI I A U ~ . 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 front wheel and at both rear wheels.

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

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Remember: Anti-lock doesn’t change the time you need to get your foot up to the brake pedal or always decrease stopping distance. If you get too close to the vehicle in front of you, you won’t have time to apply your brakes if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops. Always leave enough room up ahead to stop, even though you have anti-lock brakes. Using Anti-Lock Don’t pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal down firmly and let anti-lock work for you. You may feel a slight brake pedal pulsation or notice some noise, but this is normal. Braking in Emergencies 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.

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Traction Control System (TCS) (3800 V6 Engine)

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 reduces engine power and may also upshift the transaxle and apply the front brakes to limit wheel spin.

TRACTION

ACTIVE

conditions allow you to safely use it again, you may re-engage the cruise control. See “Cruise Control” in Turn SignaVMuItifunction 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 2-23.

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

TRAC OFF

States

United

Canada

This liaht will come on when vour traction control system is limiting wheel spin. See Traction Active Message on page 3-40. You may feel or hear the system working, but this is normal. !f your vehic!e is in cruise contra! when the tracti9n control system begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise control will automatically disengage. When road

See. 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 recking the vehicle is required. See ‘“ocking You: Vehicle To Get It Out” under If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow on page 4-30.

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To turn the system on or off, press the TRAC OFF button on the left side of the instrument panel.

When you turn the system off, a chime will sound and the TRAC OFF 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 TRAC OFF warning light should go off.

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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 Driving on Curves It’s important to take curves at a reasonable speed. A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents mentioned on the news happen on curves. Here’s why: Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is subject to the same laws of physics when driving on curves. The traction of the tires against the road surface makes it possible for the vehicle to change its path when you turn the front wheels. If there’s no traction, inertia will keep the vehicle going in the same direction. If you’ve ever tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you’ll understand this. The traction you can get in a curve depends on the condition of your tires and the road surface, the angle at which the curve is banked, and your speed. While you’re in a curve, speed is the one factor you can control.

Suppose you’re steering through a sharp curve. Then you suddenly 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’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. What should you do if this ever happens? Ease up on the brake or accelerator pedai, 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. ii you neea to reauce 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 acceierate untii you are out of the curve, and then accelerate gently into the straightaway.

Steering in Emergencies

There are times when steering can be more effective than braking. For example, you come over a hill and find a truck stopped in your lane, or a car suddenly pulls out from nowhere, or a child darts out from between parked cars and stops right in front of you. You can avoid these problems by braking - if you can stop in time. But sometimes you can’t; there isn’t room. That’s the time for evasive action - steering around the problem. Your vehicle can perform very well in emergencies like these. First apply your brakes - but, unless you have anti-lock, not enough to lock your wheels. See Braking on page 4-6. It is better to remove as much speed as you can from a possible collision. Then steer around the problem, to the left or right depending on the space available.

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Off-Road Recovery

You may find that your right wheels have dropped off the edge of a road onto the shoulder while you’re driving.

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

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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.

Passing The driver of a vehicle about to pass another on & 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. When it looks like a chance to pass is coming up, start to accelerate but stay in the right lane and don’t get too close. Time your move so you will be increasing speed as the time comes to move into the other lane. If the way is clear to pass, you will have a “running start” that more than makes up for the distance you would lose by dropping back. And if something happens to cause you to cancel your pass, you need only slow down and drop back again and wait for another opportunity. If other vehicles are lined up to pass a slow vehicle, wait your tlJrn- Rlrt take m r e th2t snmpnnp isn’t trying to pass you as you pull out to pass the slow vehicle. Remember to glance over your shoulder and check the blind spot.

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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.

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.)

0 Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a time on

two-lane roads. Reconsider before passing the next vehicle. Don’t overtake a slowly moving vehicle too rapidly. Even though the brake lamps are not flashing, it may be slowing down or starting to turn. If you’re being passed, make it easy for the following driver to get ahead of you. Perhaps you can ease a little to the right.

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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 coraering skid and an acceleration skid are best handled by easing your foot off the accelerator pedal. If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off the accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want the vehicle to go. If you start steering quickly enough, your vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready for a second skid if it occurs.

Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice, gravel or other material is on the road. For safety, you’ll want to slow down and adjust your driving to these conditions. It is important to slow down on slippery surfaces because stopping distance will be longer and vehicle control more limited. While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration or braking (including engine braking by shifting to a lower gear). Any sudden changes could cause the tires to slide. You may not realize the surface is slippery until your vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warning clues - such as enough water, ice or packed snow on the road to make a “mirrored surface” - and slow down when you have any doubt. 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 wirer1 you have to siop suaaeniy. As iong as rne wneeis are rolling, you will have steering control.

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Driving at Night

Here are some tips on night driving.

Drive defensively. Don’t drink. and drive. 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.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . r-:::::.:.: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....... 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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

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

in a turn or curve. Keep

drivers suffer from

of it.

Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads

Rain and wet roads can mean driving trouble. On a wet road, you can’t stop,

accelerate or turn as well

your tire-to-road traction isn’t as good as On

dry roads. And, if your tires don’t have you’ll get even less traction. It’s always wise to go slower and be cautious if rain starts to fall while you are driving. The s ~ l r f a ~ e may get v e t suddenly when p u r reflexes are tuned for driving on dry pavement.

much tread left,

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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.

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

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Hydroplaning

Dl

lrough Flowing Water

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

Kuiice; it you cirive io0 quickiy irnrougn 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.

Flowi.., or I dshing 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.

e Have good tires with proper tread depth. See Tires

017 page 5-60.

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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.

City Driving

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Freeway Driving

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 nlizhtly slnww at n h h t .

Mile for mile7 freeways (also called thruways, parkways3 expessways, iurrrpikes or supernignwaysj are ine safest of all roads. But thev have 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 drivina. T~o-fast ~OO-S!OW driving breaks smooth traffic f!eLAi. Treat the left lane on a freeway as a passing lane.

cl

their own sDecial rules. When vou want to leave the freeway, move to the

proper-lane well in advance. If you miss your exit, do not, under any circumstances, stop and back up. Drive on to the next exit.

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The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply. The exit speed is usually posted. Reduce your speed according to your speedometer, not to your sense of motion. After driving for any distance at higher speeds, you may tend to think you are going slower than you actually are. Before Leaving on a Long Trip Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well rested. If you must start when you’re not fresh - such as after a day’s work - don’t plan to make too many miles that first part of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes you can easily drive in. Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it serviced and maintained, it’s ready to go. If it needs service, have it done before starting out. Of course, you’ll find experienced and able service experts in 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? Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked all levels? Lamps: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean? 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? Weather Forecasts: What’s the weather outlook along your route? Should you delay your trip a short time to avoid a major storm system? Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps?

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

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.

Hill and Mountain Roads

Driving on steep hills or mountains is different from &ivii-ly

ir-1 iiai ur ruiiirry ierrain.

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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 would then have poor braking or even none going down a hill. You could crash. Always have your engine running and your vehicle in gear when you go downhill.

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

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

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Winter Driving

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.

0 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.

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

your 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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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.

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. Keep your traction control system on. It improves 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 Traction Control System (TCS) (3800 V6 Engine) on page 4-9. 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 svstem or not. vou’ll want to begin stoppin; sonnet- 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.

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If You’re Caught in a Blizzard

,‘ .

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’

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. Were are some things to do to summon help and keep yourself and your passengers safe:

Turn on your hazard flashers.

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

trap exhaust gases under your C ..___ --.I 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 Caster 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 caution.

you let y

r tires S ~ . - I at high speed,

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~~

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 km/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 5-70. 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 Traction Control System (TCS) (3800 V6 Engine) on page 4-9. 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 transaxl 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 9 “AnlI,,”\ u UVllY j . 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 4-22.

Dinghy Towing Notices 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. If your vehicle must be towed, you should use a dolly. See “Dolly Towing” that follows for more information.

4-3 1

Dolly Towing

Loading Your Vehicle

TIRE-LOADING INFORMATION

OCCUPANTS

FRT. CTR. n n n n

RR.

VEHICLE C

TOTAL A Ls

OT, ADD 28KPA(4PSI)

!S MANUAL FOR MORE INFORMATION

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 on the inside of 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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MFD BY GENERAL MOTORS CORP

If you do have a heavy load, spread it out. Don’t carry more than 167 pounds (75 kg) in you1

i.

THIS VEHICLE CONFORMS Tn *I

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 Axie Vveignt Sating jGKvvEj ior eiiner ine iront or rear axle.

Do not load your vehicle any heL-- -er ---_in 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.

Notice: 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.

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

0 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.

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If you don’t use the correct equipment 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 than just driving your vehicle by itself. Trailering means changes in handling, durability and fuel economy. Successful, safe trailering takes correct equipment, and it has to be used properly.

That’s the reason for this part. In it are many time-tested, important trailering tips and safety rules. Many of these are important for your safety and that of your passengers. So please read this section carefully before you pull a trailer. Load-pulling components such as the engine, transaxle, wheel assemblies and tires are forced to work harder against the drag of the added weight. The engine is required to operate at relatively higher speeds and under greater loads, generating extra heat. What’s more, the trailer adds considerably to wind resistance, increasing the pulling requirements. If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer If yoi do, here are some important points:

There are many different laws, including speed limit restrictions, having to do with trailering. Make sure your rig will be legal, not only where you live but also where you’ll be driving. A good source for this information can be state or provincial police.

0 Consider using a sway control. You can ask a hitch

dealer about sway controls. Don’t tow a trailer at all during the first 1,000 miles (1 600 km) your new vehicle is driven. Your engine, axle or other parts could be damaged. Then, during the first 500 miles (800 km) that you tow a trailer, don’t drive over 50 mph (80 km/h) and don’t make starts at full throttle. This helps your engine and other parts of your vehicle wear in at the heavier loads. Obey speed limit restrictions when towing a trailer. Don’t drive faster than the maximum posted speed for trailers, or no more than 55 mph (90 km/h), to save wear on your vehicle’s parts.

Three important considerations have to do with weight:

the weight of the trailer, the weight of the trailer tongue

0 and the total weight on your vehicle’s tires.

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Weight of the Trailer How heavy can a trailer safely be? It should never weigh more than 1,000 Ibs (454 kg). But even that can be too heavy. It depends on how you plan to use your rig. For example, speed, altitude, road grades, outside temperature and how much your vehicle is used to pull a trailer are all important. And, it can also depend on any special equipment that you have on your vehicle. You can ask your dealer for our trailering information or advice, or you can write us at: Chevrolet Customer Assistance Center P.O. Box 33170 Detroit, MI 48232-5170 In Canada, write to: General Motors of Canada Limited Customer Communication Centre, 163-005 1908 Colonel Sam Drive Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7 Weight of the Trailer Tongue The tongue load (A) of any trailer is an important weight to measure because it affects the total or gross weight of your vehicle. The Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) includes the curb weight of the vehicle, any cargo you may carry in it, and the people who will be riding in the vehicle. And if you tow a trailer, you must add the

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tongue load to the GVW because your vehicle will be carrying that weight, too. See Loading Your Vehicle on page 4-32 for more information about your vehicle’s maximum load capacity.