2000 Chevrolet Tracker Owners Manual

If you turn the ignition off, remove the key, open the door and leave the lamps on, a tone will remind you to turn off your lamps. Interior Lamps Instrument Panel Brightness Control

The thumbwheel controls the brightness of your instrument panel lights. Rotate the wheel upward to brighten the lights or downward to dim them.

Automatic Light Control (ALC) Your vehicle is equipped with an automatic light sensor on top of the instrument panel, so be sure it is not covered. If it is, the nighttime lights will remain on continuously. When it is dark enough outside, your ALC will turn on your low-beam headlamps at the normal brightness along with other lamps such as the taillamps, sidemarker, park lamps and instrument panel lights. There is a short delay in the transition between daytime and nighttime operation of the Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) and the ALC systems. If the light sensor senses a reduction in lighting that lasts longer than 5 seconds, it will activate the nighttime lamps. If you are driving through a parking garage, heavy overcast weather or a tunnel, the ALC will turn on your low-beam headlamps at a normal brightness along with the taillamps, sidemarker, park lamps and the instrument panel lights. The radio lights will be dimmer. As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular headlamp system when you need it.

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Dome Lamp The dome lamp has a three-position switch. OFF: This position is to the left when you are sitting in the driver’s seat. The lamp will stay off even when a door is opened. Center: This is the center position. The lamp will come on when a door is opened. After a door is closed, the dome lamp will stay on for 15 seconds. ON: This position is to the right when you are sitting in the driver’s seat. The dome lamp will turn on and stay on whether or not a door is open. Battery Rundown Protection Your vehicle is equipped with a battery saver feature designed to protect your vehicle’s battery. When the dome lamp is left on and the ignition is turned off and the key is removed, the battery saver system will automatically turn the lamp off after about 15 minutes. This will avoid draining the battery. This system does not protect against leaving on the headlamps or parking lamps.

Mirrors Inside Day/Night Rearview Mirror An inside rearview mirror is attached to your windshield. The mirror is able to move so that you can adjust it up and down or side to side. The mirror is equipped with reading lamps and map lamps. You can adjust the mirror for day or night driving. Pull the tab for night driving to reduce glare. Push the tab for daytime driving. Outside Manual Adjust Mirrors Adjust these mirrors by hand so that you can just see the side of your vehicle when you are sitting in a comfortable driving position.

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2. Press the outer part of the pad that matches the

direction you want to move the mirror.

3. Return the selector switch to the center position to

help prevent moving the mirror accidentally.

Convex Outside Mirror Your passenger’s side mirror is convex. A convex mirror’s surface is curved so you can see more from the driver’s seat.

CAUTION:

A convex mirror can make things (like other vehicles) look farther away than they really are. If you cut too sharply into the right lane, you could hit a vehicle on your right. Check your inside mirror or glance over your shoulder before changing lanes.

Power Remote Control Mirrors (If Equipped)

The switch to control the power mirrors is located on the lower left side of the instrument panel.

You can only adjust the mirrors when the ignition switch is in the ON or ACC position. To adjust the mirrors: 1. Move the selector switch to the L (left) or R (right)

to select the mirror you wish to adjust.

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Storage Compartments Glove Box To open the glove box, pull the latch toward you. Use your key to lock and unlock the glove box. The glove box has a two-position detent for opening the door. Lower the door to the first detent for access to the glove box. Pull it to the next detent for further access. Door Storage Each side door has a storage compartment. Coinholder Your instrument panel has a coinholder located to the left of the steering wheel. Cupholder Two cupholders are on the center console next to the parking brake lever. Convenience Net (If Equipped) You may have a convenience net in the rear of your vehicle to help keep small items, like gloves and light clothing, in place during sharp turns or quick stops and starts.

The net is not designed to retain these items during off-road use. The net is not for larger, heavier items. Attach the loops to the hooks located along the sides of the rear cargo area. You may attach the convenience net loops to either the forward or the rear hooks. Lockable Storage Compartment and Cargo Cover (Option) If your two-door vehicle has the optional lockable storage compartment, you can use it to cover and secure items in the cargo area of your vehicle. The closeout panel can be removed to allow for extra cargo space. To remove the close-out panel, do the following:

1. Remove the two

attaching screws from each lower corner of the cargo area.

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2. Release the tension bows on both sides of the

convertible top. See “Convertible Top” later in this section for more information.

5. Carefully lift the panel out of the cargo area. 6. Put the screws back into the mounting holes for

storage while the panel is out of the vehicle.

CAUTION:

An improperly stored cargo cover could be thrown about the vehicle during a collision or sudden maneuver. You or others could be injured. If you remove the cover, always store it outside of the vehicle. When you put it back, always be sure that it is securely reattached.

3. Loosen the lower rear corners of the convertible top. 4. Remove the rear window. See “Removing and

Installing Your Rear Window” later in this section.

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The luggage carrier has side rails and crossrails attached to the roof to secure cargo. To install the crossrails, follow these steps:

1. Turn the screw cover lock to the unlocked position and lower the cover.

Luggage Carrier (Option)

CAUTION:

If you try to carry something on top of your vehicle that is longer or wider than the luggage carrier -- like paneling, plywood, a mattress, and so forth -- the wind can catch it as you drive along. This can cause you to lose control. What you are carrying could be violently torn off, and this could cause you or other drivers to have a collision, and of course damage your vehicle. You may be able to carry something like this inside. But, never carry something longer or wider than the luggage carrier on top of your vehicle.

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2. Turn the screw counterclockwise to loosen the

mounting attachment so it can fit over the side rails.

3. Mount the crossrails onto the side rails and adjust

their position so the cargo can be mounted properly. Make sure the crossrails are not slanted.

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D If you need to carry long items, move the crossrails as far apart as possible. Tie the load to the tie downs provided. Also tie the load to the bumpers. Do not tie the load so tightly that the crossrails or side rails are damaged.

NOTICE:

Loading cargo that weighs more than 100 lbs. (45 kg) on the luggage carrier may damage your vehicle. When you carry large things, never let them hang over the rear or the sides of your vehicle. Put the cargo against the side rails and fasten it securely to the luggage carrier. Put the main weight as far forward as possible to keep the load from shifting.

Don’t exceed the maximum vehicle capacity when loading your vehicle. For more information on vehicle capacity and loading, see “Loading Your Vehicle” in the Index. To prevent damage or loss of cargo as you’re driving, check now and then to make sure the luggage carrier and cargo are still securely fastened.

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4. Tighten the screws securely, taking care not to overtighten them. Then raise and lock the screw covers.

Be sure the cargo is properly loaded. Follow these guidelines: D Carrying small, heavy loads on the roof is not

recommended.

D Do not load cargo directly on the roof panel.

Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter To use the lighter, the ignition key must be in ON or ACC. Push the lighter in all the way and let go. When it’s ready, it will pop back out by itself.

NOTICE:

Don’t hold a cigarette lighter in with your hand while it is heating. If you do, it won’t be able to back away from the heating element when it’s ready. That can make it overheat, damaging the lighter and the heating element.

Pull the door to open the ashtray. To remove it, press down on the silver tab and pull the ashtray out. To replace the ashtray, push it in until the silver tab latches. The rear ashtray is on the back of the center console. Push on the left side of the the ashtray. The ashtray will turn clockwise for usage. To remove the rear ashtray, press down on the tab and pull it out.

NOTICE:

Don’t put papers and other things that burn into your ashtray. If you do, cigarettes or other smoking materials could set them on fire, causing damage.

Sun Visors To block out glare, you can swing down the visors. You can also swing them to the side. The visors have extensions to give additional sun blockage. Accessory Power Outlet With the accessory power outlet, you can plug in auxiliary electrical equipment. The accessory power outlet is located in the center console near the parking brake. Just remove the cap from the outlet and follow the proper instructions that are included with any electrical equipment you may install. These circuits are protected by a fuse and have maximum current levels.

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NOTICE:

When using the accessory power outlet, maximum electrical loads must not exceed 15 amps. Always turn off any electrical equipment when not in use. Leaving electrical equipment on for extended periods will drain your battery.

Convertible Top (If Equipped) Your convertible top features a sunroof, a removable rear window and removable side windows.

NOTICE:

D Never raise or lower the top while the vehicle

is moving, or drive with any part of the top unfastened or partially removed. The wind could get under it and cause damage.

NOTICE: (Continued)

NOTICE: (Continued)

D Do not take your vehicle through an

automatic car wash. It could damage your convertible top.

D Don’t try to lower or raise the convertible top or tap or beat on the plastic windows if your vehicle is out in cold weather, 41_F (5_C) or below. The cold can cause cracks and other damage to the windows and to the top as it is being lowered or raised. D Don’t lower the top if it is damp or wet. After the top is down, the trapped water can cause stains, mildew and damage to the inside of your car. Be sure to dry off the top before you lower it.

D Don’t lower the convertible top if the rear flap or side windows are dirty. Dirt could scratch the side windows.

D The convertible top isn’t designed to carry weight. Never let anyone sit on the top, and don’t put anything on top of it when it is up, or it could be damaged.

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Opening and Closing Your Sunroof 1. Lower your antenna and swing your sun visors down.

2. Squeeze the front top bow latch buttons and pull the

latch back.

3. Unhook the latch from the front top bow.

4. Swing the front top bow up and back while folding

the canvas top as shown. Be sure that you don’t pinch the canvas top between the front top bow arms and the roof rails.

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5. Unfasten the holding strap near the dome lamp and

pull it through the slot in the front top bow.

6. Fasten the holding strap to itself.

7. Push the front top bow latches down until

they “click.”

8. Swing your sun visors up and raise your antenna. Reverse the steps to close your sunroof. Be sure your front top bow is latched securely. Removing and Installing Your Rear Window The rear window of your vehicle is removable. This allows you to open the back opening all the way or to replace the window if it becomes deteriorated. To remove the rear window: 1. Open the rear gate all the way. 2. Unfasten the canvas flaps at the lower corners of the

rear window to uncover the zipper pull.

3. Unzip the rear window.

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Removing and Installing the Side Window To remove the side window:

4. Hang the rear window down so it hangs outside of

the vehicle.

5. Pull the rear window frame bar rearward (see

illustration above). Then slide the bar to the left to remove the window.

Reverse the steps to install the rear window. Make sure that all the VelcroR strips and flaps are correctly fastened and overlapped. Make sure that the window is completely closed before driving.

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1. Release the tension in the canvas top support arms.

Unfasten the Velcro strips on the top and rear quarter of the side window.

2. Unzip the zipper almost all the way, leaving about 3 inches (8 cm) of it still zipped and unfasten the Velcro strips on the inside of the window.

3. Release the plastic strip sewn along the bottom

edge of the window by gently pulling down and out. Then release the plastic along the front edge of the window by pulling it forward and out. It may help to rock the window back and forth to remove it.

To install the side window:

4. Unfasten the plastic clip, which is part of the canvas

top, at the top front corner of each side window. Then unzip the zipper the rest of the way and remove the side window.

Make sure the plastic clip at the top front corner of the canvas top is unfastened. Then start by zipping the zipper about 3 inches (8 cm), to hold the window in place. When zipping, place the rear bottom corner of the window inside the rear part of the vehicle body to help support the window while you engage the zipper end. Install the plastic strip into the window channel before completely zipping the window. There is a locating pin in the front upper corner to assist in aligning the window. Pull rearward on the rear edge of the window to make sure the window is secure and finish zipping the window.

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Lowering and Raising the Canvas Top 1. Remove the side windows of the canvas top as

shown previously. Remember to release the tension in the canvas top support arms first.

2. Open the rear window and hang it down inside the

luggage compartment (or over the top of the vehicle’s trunk).

After completing installation, make sure that the front and bottom ends are securely hooked and the rear top end of the window is under the canvas top. Refasten the plastic clip at the top front corner of the side window. Reengage the tension to the canvas top support arms.

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3. Unfasten the snaps that secure the canvas top to the

roof. The snaps are located on either side of the dome lamp. Reattach the snaps which hold the sunroof canvas in place.

4. Unhook the front end of the rear canvas top. You

may want to open the sunroof to gain easier access to the rear top. Lower the bow slowly while tucking the canvas into the luggage compartment, making sure the bows are not pinching any part of the canvas top. Make sure the safety belts are not blocked by the folded top.

5. Reengage the latches by pushing down on the

support arms at the hinges.

Reverse the steps to raise your canvas top. During installation of the top, make sure the plastic retaining strip along the front edge of the canvas top is aligned with the locating pin in the channel. There is a mark near the center of the channel.

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The Instrument Panel -- Your Information System

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A. Side Defroster Vent B. Air Vent C. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever D. Instrument Panel Cluster E. Windshield Wiper/Washer Lever F. Hazard Switch G. Rear Window Defogger (If Equipped) H. Comfort Controls I. Vent Shut-off Thumbwheel J. Audio System K. Ashtray

Instrument Panel Fuse Block

L. Shift Lever M. Power Mode Switch (If Equipped) N. Cigarette Lighter O. Ignition Switch P. Q. Hood Release R. Instrument Panel Brightness Control S. Power Remote Control Mirror (If Equipped) T. Cruise Control Button (If Equipped) U. Coinholder V. Rear Window Wiper/Washer (If Equipped)

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Instrument Panel Cluster Your instrument cluster is designed to let you know at a glance how your vehicle is running. You’ll know how fast you’re going, about how much fuel you have left, and many other things you’ll need to know to drive safely and economically.

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U.S. Cluster shown; Canada similar

Speedometer and Odometer Your speedometer lets you see your speed in both miles per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour (km/h). Your odometer shows how far your vehicle has been driven, in either miles (used in the United States) or kilometers (used in Canada). Your vehicle’s odometer is tamper-resistant. If you can see silver lines between the numbers, someone probably has tried to turn it back. The numbers may not be true. You may wonder what happens if your vehicle needs a new odometer installed. If possible, the new one is to be set to the same reading as the old one. If it can’t be, then it’s set at zero. Then a label is attached on the driver’s door to show the old reading and when the new one was installed.

Trip Odometer The trip odometer can tell you how far your vehicle has been driven since you last set the trip odometer to zero. The button located to the right of the odometer display allows you to switch between the odometer and the two trip odometers. Press the button once to switch to TRIP A and again to switch to TRIP B. To return the display to the odometer reading, press the trip odometer button again. To set the trip odometers to zero, press and hold the knob.

Tachometer The tachometer shows engine speed in thousands of revolutions per minute (rpm). You can use it while driving to select correct shift points. The tachometer may not return to zero when the engine is not running.

NOTICE:

Do not operate the engine with the tachometer in the red area, or engine damage may occur.

Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators This part describes the warning lights and gages that may be on your vehicle. The pictures will help you locate them. Warning lights and gages can signal that something is wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause an expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to your warning lights and gages could also save you or others from injury.

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Warning lights come on when there may be or is a problem with one of your vehicle’s functions. As you will see in the details on the next few pages, some warning lights come on briefly when you start the engine just to let you know they’re working. If you are familiar with this section, you should not be alarmed when this happens. Gages can indicate when there may be or is a problem with one of your vehicle’s functions. Often gages and warning lights work together to let you know when there’s a problem with your vehicle. When one of the warning lights comes on and stays on when you are driving, or when one of the gages shows there may be a problem, check the section that tells you what to do about it. Please follow this manual’s advice. Waiting to do repairs can be costly -- and even dangerous. So please get to know your warning lights and gages. They’re a big help.

Safety Belt Reminder Light When the key is turned to ON or START, a tone will come on for about eight seconds to remind people to fasten their safety belts, unless the driver’s safety belt is already buckled.

The safety belt light will also come on and stay on until the driver’s belt is buckled.

Air Bag Readiness Light There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument panel, which shows AIR BAG. The system checks the air bag’s electrical system for malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical problem. The system check includes the air bag modules, and the crash sensing and diagnostic module. For more information on the air bag system, see “Air Bag” in the Index.

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This light will come on when you start your vehicle, and it will flash for a few seconds. Then the light should go out. This means the system is ready.

The air bag readiness light should flash for a few seconds when you turn the ignition key to ON. If the light doesn’t come on then, have it fixed so it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem. Charging System Light

If the air bag readiness light stays on after you start the vehicle or comes on when you are driving, your air bag system may not work properly. Have your vehicle serviced right away.

CAUTION:

If the air bag readiness light stays on after you start your vehicle, it means the air bag system may not be working properly. The air bags in your vehicle may not inflate in a crash, or they could even inflate without a crash. To help avoid injury to yourself or others, have your vehicle serviced right away if the air bag readiness light stays on after you start your vehicle.

This light will come on briefly when you turn on the ignition, but the engine is not running, as a check to show you it is working. Then it should go out when the engine starts.

If the light stays on or comes on while you are driving, you may have a problem with the electrical charging system. It could indicate that you have a loose generator drive belt or another electrical problem. Have it checked right away. Driving while this light is on could drain your battery. If you must drive a short distance with this light on, be certain to turn off all your accessories, such as the radio and air conditioner.

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Brake System Warning Light When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light will come on when you set your parking brake. The light will stay on if your parking brake doesn’t release fully. If it stays on after your parking brake is fully released, it means you have a brake problem. Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided into two parts. If one part isn’t working, the other part can still work and stop you. For good braking, though, you need both parts working well. If the warning light comes on, there could be a brake problem. Have your brake system inspected right away.

If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off the road and stop carefully. You may notice that the pedal is harder to push. Or, the pedal may go closer to the floor. It may take longer to stop. If the light is still on, have the vehicle towed for service. (See “Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light” and “Towing Your Vehicle” in the Index.)

CAUTION:

Your brake system may not be working properly if the brake system warning light is on. Driving with the brake system warning light on can lead to an accident. If the light is still on after you’ve pulled off the road and stopped carefully, have the vehicle towed for service.

United States

Canada

This light should come on when you turn the ignition key to START. If it doesn’t come on then, have it fixed so it will be ready to warn you if there’s a problem.

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Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light (Option)

CAUTION:

With the anti-lock brake system, this light will come on when you start your engine and it will stay on for three seconds. That’s normal.

If the light comes on when you’re driving, you don’t have anti-lock brakes and there could be a problem with your regular brakes. Pull off the road and stop carefully. You may notice that the pedal is harder to push. Or, the pedal may go closer to the floor. It may take longer to stop. Have the vehicle towed for service. (See “Towing Your Vehicle” in the Index.)

Your regular brake system may not be working properly if the anti-lock brake system warning light is on. Driving with the anti-lock brake system warning light on can lead to an accident. After you’ve pulled off the road and stopped carefully, have the vehicle towed for service.

If the anti-lock brake system warning light stays on longer than normal after you’ve started your engine, turn the ignition off. Or, if the light comes on and stays on when you’re driving, stop as soon as possible and turn the ignition off. Then start the engine again to reset the system. If the light still stays on, or comes on again while you’re driving, your vehicle needs service. If the light is on and the regular brake system warning light isn’t on, you still have brakes, but you don’t have anti-lock brakes. The anti-lock brake system warning light should come on briefly when you turn the ignition key to ON. If the light doesn’t come on then, have it fixed so it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.

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Engine Coolant Temperature Gage

This gage shows the engine coolant temperature. If the gage pointer moves to the H (red) side, your engine is too hot.

Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Service Engine Soon Light)

Your vehicle is equipped with a computer which monitors operation of the fuel, ignition and emission control systems.

It means that your engine coolant has overheated and you should stop your vehicle and turn off the engine as soon as possible. The “Problems on the Road” section of this manual show what to do. See “Engine Overheating” in the Index.

This system is called OBD II (On-Board Diagnostics-Second Generation) and is intended to assure that emissions are at acceptable levels for the life of the vehicle, helping to produce a cleaner environment. The SERVICE ENGINE SOON light comes on to indicate that there is a problem and service is required. Malfunctions often will be indicated by the system before any problem is apparent. This may prevent more serious damage to your vehicle. This system is also designed to assist your service technician in correctly diagnosing any malfunction.

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NOTICE:

If you keep driving your vehicle with this light on, after a while, your emission controls may not work as well, your fuel economy may not be as good and your engine may not run as smoothly. This could lead to costly repairs that may not be covered by your warranty.

NOTICE:

Modifications made to the engine, transmission, exhaust or fuel system of your vehicle or the replacement of the original tires with other than those of the same Tire Performance Criteria (TPC) can affect your vehicle’s emission controls and may cause the SERVICE ENGINE SOON light to come on. Modifications to these systems could lead to costly repairs not covered by your warranty. This may also result in a failure to pass a required Emission Inspection/Maintenance test.

This light should come on, as a check to show you it is working, when the ignition is on and the engine is not running. If the light doesn’t come on, have it repaired. This light will also come on during a malfunction in one of two ways: D Light Flashing -- A misfire condition has been

detected. A misfire increases vehicle emissions and may damage the emission control system on your vehicle. Dealer or qualified service center diagnosis and service may be required.

D Light On Steady -- An emission control system malfunction has been detected on your vehicle. Dealer or qualified service center diagnosis and service may be required.

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

cargo being hauled as soon as it is possible.

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If the light stops flashing and remains on steady, see “If the Light Is On Steady” following. If the light continues to flash, when it is safe to do so, stop the vehicle. Find a safe place to park your vehicle. Turn the key off, wait at least 10 seconds and restart the engine. If the light remains on steady, see “If the Light Is On Steady” following. If the light is still flashing, follow the previous steps, and drive the vehicle to your dealer or qualified service center for service.

If the Light Is On Steady You may be able to correct the emission system malfunction by considering the following: Did you recently put fuel into your vehicle? If so, reinstall the fuel cap, making sure to fully install the cap. See “Filling Your Tank” in the Index. The diagnostic system can determine if the fuel cap has been left off or improperly installed. A loose or missing fuel cap will allow fuel to evaporate into the atmosphere. A few driving trips with the cap properly installed should turn the light off. Did you just drive through a deep puddle of water? If so, your electrical system may be wet. The condition will usually be corrected when the electrical system dries out. A few driving trips should turn the light off.

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Are you low on fuel? As your engine starts to run out of fuel, your engine may not run as efficiently as designed since small amounts of air are sucked into the fuel line causing a misfire. The system can detect this. Adding fuel should correct this condition. Make sure to install the fuel cap properly. See “Filling Your Tank” in the Index. It will take a few driving trips to turn the light off. Have you recently changed brands of fuel? If so, be sure to fuel your vehicle with quality fuel (see “Fuel” in the Index). Poor fuel quality will cause your engine not to run as efficiently as designed. You may notice this as stalling after start-up, stalling when you put the vehicle into gear, misfiring, hesitation on acceleration or stumbling on acceleration. (These conditions may go away once the engine is warmed up.) This will be detected by the system and cause the light to turn on. If you experience one or more of these conditions, change the fuel brand you use. It will require at least one full tank of the proper fuel to turn the light off. If none of the above steps have made the light turn off, have your dealer or qualified service center check the vehicle. Your dealer has the proper test equipment and diagnostic tools to fix any mechanical or electrical problems that may have developed.

Emissions Inspection and Maintenance Programs Some state/provincial and local governments have or may begin programs to inspect the emission control equipment on your vehicle. Failure to pass this inspection could prevent you from getting a vehicle registration. Here are some things you need to know in order to help your vehicle pass an inspection: Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if the SERVICE ENGINE SOON light is on or not working properly. Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if the OBD (on-board diagnostic) system determines that critical emission control systems have not been completely diagnosed by the system. The vehicle would be considered not ready for inspection. This can happen if you have recently replaced your battery or if your battery has run down. The diagnostic system is designed to evaluate critical emission control systems during normal driving. This may take several days of routine driving. If you have done this and your vehicle still does not pass the inspection for lack of OBD system readiness, see your dealer or qualified service center to prepare the vehicle for inspection.

Oil Pressure Light

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

This indicates that there is not enough pressure to keep your engine properly lubricated and cool. The engine could be low on oil, or have some other oil related problem. Have it fixed right away. The oil light could also come on in three other situations. D When the ignition is on but the engine is not running,

the light will come on as a test to show you it is working, but the light will go out when you turn the engine to START. If it doesn’t come on with the ignition on, you may have a problem with the fuse or bulb. Have it fixed right away.

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

light may blink on and off. This is normal.

D If you make a hard stop, the light may come on

for a moment. This is normal.

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CAUTION:

Don’t keep driving if the oil pressure is low. If you do, your engine can become so hot that it catches fire. You or others could be burned. Check your oil as soon as possible and have your vehicle serviced.

NOTICE:

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

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Four Wheel Drive Light (If Equipped)

This light comes on when the ignition switch is on and the transfer case lever is in one of the four wheel drive positions.

See “Four Wheel Drive” in the Index. Power Indicator Light (If Equipped)

This light comes on when the power mode selector switch is turned to “P” (power) with the ignition switch in the ON position.

This light comes on as a check for approximately five seconds when the ignition key is turned to ON or START.

Overdrive Off Light (If Equipped)

This light comes on when the automatic four-speed transmission has been converted to the three-speed mode and the overdrive is turned off.

This light also comes on as a check for approximately five seconds when the ignition key is turned to ON or START. Fuel Gage

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

the gage reads “F” (full).

D It takes more (or less) fuel to fill up than the gage reads. For example, the gage reads half full, but it took more (or less) than half of the tank’s capacity to fill it.

D The gage moves a little when you turn, stop or

speed up.

D When you turn the engine off, the gage doesn’t go

back to E (empty).

Your fuel gage shows about how much fuel is in your tank. When the gage first indicates “E” (empty), you still have about one or two gallons (4 to 8 L) of fuel left in your tank, but you need to get more right away.

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Section 3 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems

In this section, you’ll find out how to operate the comfort control and audio systems offered with your vehicle. Be sure to read about the particular systems supplied with your vehicle.

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Comfort Controls Climate Control System Air Conditioner Controls (Option) Heating Defogging and Defrosting Rear Window Defogger (If Equipped) Ventilation System Audio Systems Setting the Clock AM-FM Stereo (If Equipped)

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AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player (If Equipped) AM-FM Stereo with Compact Disc Player (If Equipped) Understanding Radio Reception Tips About Your Audio System Care of Your Cassette Tape Player Care of Your Compact Discs Care of Your Compact Disc Player Antenna

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Comfort Controls With this system, you can control the heating and ventilation in your vehicle. If you have the air conditioning option, you can also control cooling. Your vehicle also has the flow-through ventilation system described later in this section. Climate Control System

Airflow Lever

VENT: This position directs the airflow through

the instrument panel vents.

BI-LEVEL: This position directs air through the

instrument panel vents and toward the floor.

FLOOR: This position directs air toward the floor.

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DEFOG: This position directs air toward the

floor, the windshield and side windows. The air conditioning compressor will run automatically in this setting.

DEFROST: This position directs air to the

windshield and side windows. The air conditioning compressor will run automatically in this setting.

Fan Control Lever

Slide the lever away from OFF to turn the system on. Move the lever toward the fan symbol to increase the fan’s speed.

Temperature Control Lever Slide the lever to change the temperature of the air flowing from the system. Move it to the right for warmer air and to the left for cooler air. Without optional air conditioning, the air temperature cannot be less than the outside air temperature.

Air Intake Lever

RECIRCULATE: Choose this position to recirculate the inside air through the comfort control system.

OUTSIDE AIR: Choose this position to circulate

outside air through the comfort control system.

Air Conditioner Controls (Option)

The air conditioning system uses the same controls as described previously. The function of each lever is explained under “Climate Control System” in this part. The incoming air is cooled and dehumidified instead of being heated.

Push the A/C button to change your comfort control system from heating to air conditioning. A light will come on when the air conditioning is on. The A/C button can also control the humidity in your vehicle. The air conditioner works best if you keep your windows closed. On very hot days, open the windows just long enough for the hot air to escape. For normal cooling, push the A/C button and move the air intake lever to OUTSIDE AIR. For faster cooling, move the lever to RECIRCULATE. Then move the airflow lever to VENT, the temperature control lever toward the left and the fan control lever toward the fan symbol.

On days when it is raining or the humidity is high, follow these dehumidifying steps to help clean windows that are cloudy with moisture. Move the air intake lever to OUTSIDE AIR. Move the airflow lever to DEFROST and the fan control lever toward the fan symbol. Adjust the temperature control lever to a comfortable setting. The air conditioning compressor will run automatically and the A/C button will illuminate when the air flow lever is in DEFOG or DEFROST. Heating For the quickest results, move the air intake lever to RECIRCULATE. Move the airflow lever to FLOOR, the temperature control lever toward the right for warmer air and the fan control lever toward the fan symbol. You should switch to OUTSIDE AIR once in a while to avoid stale air and cloudy windows. Defogging and Defrosting Slide the air intake lever to OUTSIDE AIR and the airflow lever to DEFROST to direct air to the windshield vents. Then slide the temperature control lever toward the right and the fan lever toward the fan symbol. When the windshield is clear, turn down the fan speed.

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Rear Window Defogger (If Equipped)

The rear window defogger uses a warming grid to remove fog from the rear window.

Press the switch to turn on the defogger. An indicator light on the switch will come on to remind you that the defogger is on. The rear window defogger will turn itself off after about 15 minutes. You can also turn it off by pressing the switch again. Do not attach anything like a temporary vehicle license or a decal across the defogger grid on the rear window.

NOTICE:

Don’t use a razor blade or something else sharp on the inside of the rear window. If you do, you could cut or damage the warming grid, and the repairs wouldn’t be covered by your warranty.

Ventilation System For mild outside temperatures, when little heating or cooling is needed, you can still direct outside air through your vehicle. Move the air intake lever to OUTSIDE AIR and the airflow lever to BI-LEVEL. Adjust the temperature control lever to a comfortable setting and move the fan control lever toward the fan symbol. Your vehicle’s flow-through ventilation system supplies outside air into the vehicle when it is moving. Outside air will also enter the vehicle when the fan is running and the air intake lever is at OUTSIDE AIR.

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Your vehicle has air outlets that allow you to adjust the direction and amount of airflow inside the vehicle.

You can direct the airflow side-to-side by turning the thumbwheel located in the center of the vent. The vent can be tilted up and down also. To control the amount of airflow though the outlets, turn the thumbwheel below the vent.

Ventilation Tips Keep the hood and front air inlet free of ice, snow or any other obstruction (such as leaves). The heater and defroster will work far better, reducing the chance of fogging the inside of your windows.

When you enter a vehicle in cold weather, move the fan control lever toward the fan symbol for a few moments before driving off. This helps clear the intake ducts of snow and moisture, and reduces the chance of fogging the inside of your windows. Keep the air path under the front seats clear of objects. This helps air to circulate throughout your vehicle. Audio Systems Your audio system has been designed to operate easily and give years of listening pleasure. You will get the most enjoyment out of it if you acquaint yourself with it first. Find out what your audio system can do and how to operate all its controls, to be sure you’re getting the most out of the advanced engineering that went into it. Setting the Clock Press and hold the HR or MIN arrow for two seconds. Then press the HR arrow until the correct hour appears. Press and hold the MIN arrow until the correct minute appears. The clock may be set with the ignition on or off.

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AM-FM Stereo (If Equipped)

Playing the Radio PWR VOL: Press this knob to turn the system on and off. To increase volume, turn the knob clockwise. Turn it counterclockwise to decrease volume. RCL: Press this knob to recall the station being played or to display the clock. Clock display is available with the vehicle off.

Finding a Station AM FM: Press this button to switch between AM, FM1
and FM2. The display shows your selection. TUNE: Turn this knob to choose radio stations.

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SEEK: Press the right arrow to tune to the next higher station and the left arrow to tune to the next lower station and stay there. The radio will seek to stations with a strong signal only. SCAN: Press and hold one of the SEEK arrows for two seconds until you hear a beep. Use SCAN to listen to stations for a few seconds. The radio will go to a station, stop for a few seconds and flash the station frequency, then go on to the next station. Press one of the SEEK arrows again to stop scanning. The radio will scan to stations with a strong signal only. PRESET SCAN: Use PRESET SCAN to listen to each of your preset stations for a few seconds. Press and hold one of the SEEK arrows for more than four seconds until you hear two beeps. The radio will go to the first preset station stored on your pushbuttons, except those stations with weak reception, stop for a few seconds and flash the station frequency, then go on to the next preset station. PRESET SCAN will only scan the six presets that are in the band selected. Press one of the SEEK arrows again to stop scanning presets. The channel number (P1-P6) will appear momentarily just before the frequency is displayed.

PUSHBUTTONS: The six numbered pushbuttons let you return to your favorite stations. You can set up to 18 stations (six AM, six FM1 and six FM2). Just: 1. Turn the radio on. 2. Press AM FM to select the band. 3. Tune in the desired station. 4. Press and hold one of the six numbered buttons until you hear a beep. Whenever you press that numbered button, the station you set will return. 5. Repeat the steps for each pushbutton.

Setting the Tone BASS: Press and release AUDIO repeatedly until BAS appears on the display. Then press and hold the up arrow to increase bass. “B” and a positive number will appear on the display. Press and hold the down arrow to decrease bass. B and a negative number will appear on the display. B and a zero will appear on the display when the bass level is set to the middle position. Release the up or down arrow when you find the bass level you want or when the maximum or minimum level is reached.

TREBLE: Press and release AUDIO until TRE appears on the display. Then press and hold the up arrow to increase treble. “T” and a positive number will appear on the display. Press and hold the down arrow to decrease treble. T and a negative number will appear on the display. T and a zero will appear on the display when the treble level is set to the middle position. Release the up or down arrow when you find the treble level you want or when the maximum or minimum level is reached. If a station is weak or noisy, you may want to decrease the treble. To set BASS or TREBLE to the middle position, select the desired tone control. Then press and hold AUDIO for more than two seconds until you hear a beep. B and a zero or T and a zero will appear on the display. To set all of the tone controls and speaker controls to the middle position, end out of audio mode. Then press and hold AUDIO for more than two seconds until you hear a beep. CEN will appear on the display.

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To set BALANCE or FADE to the middle position, select the desired speaker control. Then press and hold AUDIO for more than two seconds until you hear a beep. L and a zero or F and a zero will appear on the display. To set all of the tone controls and speaker controls to the middle position, end out of audio mode. Then press and hold AUDIO for more than two seconds until you hear a beep. CEN will appear on the display.

Radio Calibration Your audio system has been calibrated for your vehicle from the factory. If CAL appears on the display it means that your radio has not been configured properly for your vehicle and must be returned to the dealership for service.

Adjusting the Speakers BALANCE: Press and release AUDIO until BAL appears on the display. Then press and hold the up arrow to move the sound to the right speakers or the down arrow to move the sound to the left speakers. “R” and a number will appear on the display when the sound is balanced toward the right speakers. “L” and a number will appear on the display when the sound is balanced toward the left speakers. L and a zero will appear on the display when the the sound is balanced between the speakers. Release the up or down arrow when you find the speaker balance you want or when the maximum or minimum level is reached. FADE: Press and release AUDIO until FAD appears on the display. Then press and hold the up arrow to move the sound to the front speakers or the down arrow to move the sound to the rear speakers. “F” and a number will appear on the display when the sound is balanced toward the front speakers. “R” and a number will appear on the display when the sound is balanced toward the rear speakers. F and a zero will appear on the display when the the sound is balanced between the speakers. Release the up or down arrow when you find the speaker balance you want or when the maximum or minimum level is reached.

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AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player (If Equipped)

Playing the Radio PWR VOL: Press this knob to turn the system on and off. To increase volume, turn the knob clockwise. Turn it counterclockwise to decrease volume. RCL: Press this knob to recall the station being played, if the tape player is active, or to display the clock.

Finding a Station AM FM: Press this button to switch between AM, FM1
and FM2. The display shows your selection. TUNE: Turn this knob to choose radio stations.

SEEK: Press the right arrow to tune to the next higher station and the left arrow to tune to the next lower station and stay there. The radio will seek to stations with a strong signal only. SCAN: Press and hold one of the SEEK arrows for two seconds until you hear a beep. Use SCAN to listen to stations for a few seconds. The radio will go to a station, stop for a few seconds and flash the station frequency, then go on to the next station. Press one of the SEEK arrows again to stop scanning. The radio will scan to stations with a strong signal only. PRESET SCAN: Use PRESET SCAN to listen to each of your preset stations for a few seconds. Press and hold one of the SEEK arrows for more than four seconds until you hear two beeps. The radio will go to the first preset station stored on your pushbuttons, except stations with weak reception, stop for a few seconds and flash the station frequency, then go on to the next preset station. PRESET SCAN will only scan the six presets that are in the band selected. Press one of the SEEK arrows again to stop scanning presets. The channel number (P1-P6) will appear momentarily just before the frequency is displayed.

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TREBLE: Press and release AUDIO until TRE appears on the display. Then press and hold the up arrow to increase treble. “T” and a positive number will appear on the display. Press and hold the down arrow to decrease treble. T and a negative number will appear on the display. T and a zero will appear on the display when the treble level is set to the middle position. Release the up or down arrow when you find the treble level you want or when the maximum or minimum level is reached. If a station is weak or noisy, you may want to decrease the treble. To set BASS or TREBLE to the middle position, select the desired tone control. Then press and hold AUDIO for more than two seconds until you hear a beep. B and a zero or T and a zero will appear on the display. To set all of the tone controls and speaker controls to the middle position, end out of audio mode. Then press and hold AUDIO for more than two seconds until you hear a beep. CEN will appear on the display.

PUSHBUTTONS: The six numbered pushbuttons let you return to your favorite stations. You can set up to 18 stations (six AM, six FM1 and six FM2). Just: 1. Turn the radio on. 2. Press AM FM to select the band. 3. Tune in the desired station. 4. Press and hold one of the six numbered buttons until you hear a beep. Whenever you press that numbered button, the station you set will return. 5. Repeat the steps for each pushbutton.

Setting the Tone BASS: Press and release AUDIO until BAS appears on the display. Then press and hold the up arrow to increase bass. “B” and a positive number will appear on the display. Press and hold the down arrow to decrease bass. B and a negative number will appear on the display. -B and a zero will appear on the display when the bass level is set to the middle position. Release the up or down arrow when you find the bass level you want or when the maximum or minimum level is reached.

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Adjusting the Speakers BALANCE: Press and release AUDIO until BAL appears on the display. Then press and hold the up arrow to move the sound to the right speakers or the down arrow to move the sound to the left speakers. “R” and a number will appear on the display when the sound is balanced toward the right speakers. “L” and a number will appear on the display when the sound is balanced toward the left speakers. L and a zero will appear on the display when the the sound is balanced between the speakers. Release the up or down arrow when you find the speaker balance you want or when the maximum or minimum level is reached. FADE: Press and release AUDIO until FAD appears on the display. Then press and hold the up arrow to move the sound to the front speakers or the down arrow to move the sound to the rear speakers. “F” and a number will appear on the display when the sound is balanced toward the front speakers. “R” and a number will appear on the display when the sound is balanced toward the rear speakers. F and a zero will appear on the display when the the sound is balanced between the speakers. Release the up or down arrow when you find the speaker balance you want or when the maximum or minimum level is reached.

To set BALANCE or FADE to the middle position, select the desired speaker control. Then press and hold AUDIO for more than two seconds until you hear a beep. L and a zero or F and a zero will appear on the display. To set all of the tone controls and speaker controls to the middle position, end out of audio mode. Then press and hold AUDIO for more than two seconds until you hear a beep. CEN will appear on the display.

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. If you hear nothing but a garbled sound, the tape may not be in squarely. Press the eject button to remove the tape and start over. While the tape is playing, use the VOL, FAD, BAL, TRE, BAS and SEEK controls just as you do for the radio. The radio will display UP or the Y symbol if the top side of the tape is playing. DN or the B symbol will appear if the bottom side is playing.

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If the player detects a tight or broken tape, ERR (error) will appear on the display and the player will eject the tape. The radio will go back to playing the last station selected. If you want to insert a tape when the ignition is off, first press the eject button or the RCL knob. PREV (1): Press this button or the left SEEK arrow to go to the previous selection on the tape if the selection has been playing for less than 3 seconds. If the PREV button or the left SEEK arrow is pressed and the current selection has been playing for more than 13 seconds, it will go to the beginning of the current selection. If the PREV button or the left SEEK arrow is pressed and 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 on the position on the tape. PRE will appear on the display while the cassette player is in PREV mode. Your tape must have at least three seconds of silence between each selection for PREV to work. The sound will mute while seeking.

NEXT (2): Press this button or the right SEEK arrow to go to the next selection on the tape. NXT will appear on the display while the cassette player is in NEXT mode. Your tape must have at least three seconds of silence between each selection for NEXT to work. The sound will mute while seeking. REV (3): Press this button to reverse the tape rapidly. REV will appear on the display. Press it again to return to playing speed. The radio will play the last selected station while the tape reverses. You may select stations during REV operation by using TUNE, SEEK, SCAN or PRESET SCAN. FWD (4): Press this button to advance quickly to another part of the tape. FWD will appear on the display. Press the button again to return to playing speed. The radio will play the last selected station while the tape advances. You may select stations during FWD operation by using TUNE, SEEK, SCAN or PRESET SCAN. SIDE (5): Press this button to play the other side of the tape.

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RPT (6): Press this button once to hear a selection over again. RPT will appear on the display. The current selection will continue to repeat. RPT will flash on the display while the cassette player is searching for the start of the selection. Your tape must have at least three seconds of silence between each selection for RPT to work. Press this button again to turn off repeated play. OFF will appear on the display. AM FM: Press this button to play the radio when a tape is in the player. The tape will stop but remain in the player. TAPE: With a cassette tape in the player and the radio playing, press this button to play a cassette tape. CAS will appear on the display. Press AM FM to return to the radio when a cassette tape is playing. The inactive tape will remain safely inside the radio for future listening. In order to use a portable CD player adapter or a cassette tape head cleaner you must disable the TIGHT/LOOSE TAPE sensor. Press and hold the TAPE button for two seconds with the radio off and the vehicle on. CAS will flash on the display showing the TIGHT/LOOSE TAPE sensor has been disabled. The feature will remain disabled until the tape is ejected.

EJECT: Press the upward triangle button to remove a tape. The radio will play. Eject may be activated with the radio off. Cassette tapes may be loaded with the radio and vehicle off if this button is pressed first. CLN: If this message appears on the display, the cassette tape player needs to be cleaned. It will still play tapes, but you should clean it as soon as possible to prevent damage to the tapes and player. See “Care of Your Cassette Tape Player” in the Index. After you clean the player, press and hold the eject button for five seconds to reset the CLN indicator. The radio display will flash --- to show the indicator was reset.

Radio Calibration Your audio system has been calibrated for your vehicle from the factory. If CAL appears on the display it means that your radio has not been configured properly for your vehicle and must be returned to the dealership for service.

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AM-FM Stereo with Compact Disc Player (If Equipped)

Playing the Radio PWR VOL: Press this knob to turn the system on and off. To increase volume, turn the knob clockwise. Turn it counterclockwise to decrease volume. RCL: Press this knob to recall the station being played or to display the clock. Pressing RCL while playing a CD will also display the CD track number or elapsed time of CD track.

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Finding a Station AM FM: Press this button to switch between AM, FM1
and FM2. The display shows your selection. TUNE: Turn this knob to choose radio stations. SEEK: Press the right arrow to tune to the next higher station and the left arrow to tune to the next lower station and stay there. SCAN: Press and hold one of the SEEK arrows for two seconds until you hear a beep. Use SCAN to listen to stations for a few seconds. The radio will go to a station, stop for a few seconds, then go on to the next station. Press one of the SEEK arrows again to stop scanning. PRESET SCAN: Press and hold one of the SEEK arrows for more than four seconds until you will hear a double beep. Use PRESET SCAN to listen to each of your preset stations for a few seconds. The radio will go to the first preset station stored on your pushbuttons, stop for a few seconds, then go on to the next preset station. Press one of the SEEK arrows again to stop scanning presets. The channel number (P1-P6) will appear momentarily just before the frequency is displayed.

PUSHBUTTONS: The six numbered pushbuttons let you return to your favorite stations. You can set up to 18 stations (six AM, six FM1 and six FM2). Just: 1. Turn the radio on. 2. Press AM FM to select the band. 3. Tune in the desired station. 4. Press and hold one of the six numbered buttons until you hear a beep. Whenever you press that numbered button, the station you set will return. 5. Repeat the steps for each pushbutton.

Setting the Tone BAS: Press and release AUDIO until BAS appears on the display. Then press and hold the up arrow to increase bass. “B” and a positive number will appear on the display. Press and hold the down arrow to decrease bass. B and a negative number will appear on the display. B and a zero will appear on the display when the bass level is set to the middle position. Release the up or down arrow when you find the bass level you want or when the maximum or minimum level is reached.

TRE: Press and release AUDIO until TRE appears on the display. Then press and hold the up arrow to increase treble. “T” and a positive number will appear on the display. Press and hold the down arrow to decrease treble. T and a negative number will appear on the display. T and a zero will appear on the display when the treble level is set to the middle position. Release the up or down arrow when you find the treble level you want or when the maximum or minimum level is reached. If a station is weak or noisy, you may want to decrease the treble. To set BAS or TRE to the middle position, select the desired tone control. Then press and hold AUDIO for more than two seconds until you hear a beep. B and a zero or T and a zero will appear on the display. To set all of the tone controls and speaker controls to the middle position, end out of audio mode. Then press and hold AUDIO for more than two seconds until you hear a beep. CEN will appear on the display.

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Adjusting the Speakers BAL: Press and release AUDIO until BAL appears on the display. Then press and hold the up arrow to move the sound to the right speakers or the down arrow to move the sound to the left speakers. “R” and a number will appear on the display when the sound is balanced toward the right speakers. “L” and a number will appear on the display when the sound is balanced toward the left speakers. L and a zero will appear on the display when the the sound is balanced between the speakers. Release the up or down arrow when you find the speaker balance you want or when the maximum or minimum level is reached. FAD: Press and release AUDIO until FAD appears on the display. Then press and hold the up arrow to move the sound to the front speakers or the down arrow to move the sound to the rear speakers. “F” and a number will appear on the display when the sound is balanced toward the front speakers. “R” and a number will appear on the display when the sound is balanced toward the rear speakers. F and a zero will appear on the display when the the sound is balanced between the speakers. Release the up or down arrow when you find the speaker balance you want or when the maximum or minimum level is reached.

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To set BAL or FAD to the middle position, select the desired speaker control. Then press and hold AUDIO for more than two seconds until you hear a beep. L and a zero or F and a zero will appear on the display. To set all of the tone controls and speaker controls to the middle position, end out of audio mode. Then press and hold AUDIO for more than two seconds until you hear a beep. CEN will appear on the display.

Playing a Compact Disc Insert a disc partway into the slot, label side up. The player will pull it in. The disc should begin playing. The display will show CD. If you want to insert a compact disc with the ignition off, first press RCL or the eject button. If you’re driving on a very rough road or if it’s very hot, the disc may not play and Err (error) may appear on the display. When the road becomes smooth or the temperature returns to normal, the disc should play. If the disc comes out, it could be that: D The disc is upside down. D It is dirty, scratched or wet. D 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, please contact your dealer.

PREV (1): Press this button or the left SEEK arrow to go to the previous track if the current selection has been playing for less than eight seconds. If the PREV button or the left SEEK arrow is pressed and the current selection has been playing for more than eight seconds, it will go to the beginning of the current selection. The track number will appear on the display. If you hold the button or press it more than once, the player will continue moving back through the disc. The sound will mute while seeking. NEXT (2): Press this button or the right SEEK arrow to go to the next track. The track number will appear on the display. If you hold the button or press it more than once, the player will continue moving forward through the disc. The sound will mute while seeking. REV (3): Press and hold this button to reverse quickly within a track. Release it to play the passage. The display will show elapsed time. FWD (4): Press and hold this button to advance quickly within a track. Release it to play the passage. The display will show elapsed time.

RDM (5): Press this button to hear the tracks in random, rather than sequential, order. RND will show on the display. Press RDM again to turn off random play. OFF will appear on the display. RPT (6): Press this button once to hear a selection over again. RPT will appear on the display. The current track will continue to repeat. Press RPT button again to turn off repeated play. OFF will appear on the display. RCL: Press this button to see the current track number or how long the current track has been playing. AM FM: Press this button to play the radio when a disc is in the player. The disc will stop but remain in the player. CD: With a compact disc in the player and the radio playing, press this button to play a compact disc. CD will appear on the display. Press AM-FM to return to the radio when a compact disc is playing. The inactive CD will remain safely inside the radio for future listening.

EJECT: Press the upward triangle button to remove the disc. The radio will play. Eject may be activated with either the ignition or radio off. CDs may be loaded with the radio and ignition off this button is pressed first.

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Understanding Radio Reception

AM The range for most AM stations is greater than for FM, especially at night. The longer range, however, can cause stations to interfere with each other. AM can pick up noise from things like storms and power lines. Try reducing the treble to reduce this noise if you ever get it.

FM Stereo FM stereo will give you the best sound, but FM signals will reach only about 10 to 40 miles (16 to 65 km). Tall buildings or hills can interfere with FM signals, causing the sound to come and go. Tips About Your Audio System Hearing damage from loud noise is almost undetectable until it is too late. Your hearing can adapt to higher volumes of sound. Sound that seems normal can be loud and harmful to your hearing. Take precautions by adjusting the volume control on your radio to a safe sound level before your hearing adapts to it.

To help avoid hearing loss or damage: D Adjust the volume control to the lowest setting. D Increase volume slowly until you hear comfortably

and clearly.

NOTICE:

Before you add any sound equipment to your vehicle -- like a tape player, CB radio, mobile telephone or two-way radio -- be sure you can add what you want. If you can, it’s very important to do it properly. Added sound equipment may interfere with the operation of your vehicle’s engine, Delphi Delco Electronics radio or other systems, and even damage them. Your vehicle’s systems may interfere with the operation of sound equipment that has been added improperly. So, before adding sound equipment, check with your dealer and be sure to check Federal rules covering mobile radio and telephone units.

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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 CLN or 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 it is the tape or the tape player at fault. If this other cassette has no improvement in sound quality, clean the tape player. The recommended cleaning method for your cassette tape player is the use of a scrubbing action, non-abrasive cleaning cassette with pads which scrub the tape head as the hubs of the cleaner cassette turn. The recommended cleaning cassette is available through your dealership (GM Part No. 12344789).

When using a scrubbing action, non-abrasive cleaning cassette, it is normal for the cassette to eject because your unit is equipped with a cut tape detection feature and a cleaning cassette may appear as a broken tape. To prevent the cleaning cassette from being ejected, use the following steps. 1. Turn the ignition to ON or ACC. 1. Turn the radio off. 2. Press and hold the TAPE button for five seconds.

CAS will flash on the display for five seconds.

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

recommended cleaning time.

When the cleaning cassette has been ejected, the cut tape detection feature is 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.

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After you clean the player, press and hold the cassette eject symbol or EJT button for five seconds to reset the CLEAN or CLN indicator. The radio will display CLEANED or --- 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 Compact Discs Handle discs carefully. Store them in their original cases or other protective cases and away from direct sunlight and dust. If the surface of a disc is soiled, dampen a clean, soft cloth in a mild, neutral detergent solution and clean it, wiping from the center to the edge. Be sure never to touch the signal surface when handling discs. Pick up discs by grasping the outer edges or the edge of the hole and the outer edge.

Care of Your Compact Disc Player The use of CD lens cleaner discs is not advised, due to the risk of contaminating the lens of the CD optics with lubricants internal to the CD mechanism. Antenna Use the knob on the end of the antenna to raise the antenna. To lower it, hold the antenna mast near the roof and feed it into the holder. Do not try to lower the antenna using the knob. Keep the antenna mast clean for good performance. Always lower the antenna before entering a car wash. If you have the convertible top, also lower the antenna before removing or installing the top.

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Section 4 Your Driving and the Road

Here you’ll find information about driving on different kinds of roads and in varying weather conditions. We’ve also included many other useful tips on driving.

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Your Driving, the Road and Your Vehicle Defensive Driving Drunken Driving Control of a Vehicle Braking Steering Off-Road Recovery Passing Loss of Control Off-Road Driving with Your Four-Wheel-Drive Vehicle

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Driving at Night Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads City Driving Freeway Driving Before Leaving on a Long Trip Highway Hypnosis Hill and Mountain Roads Winter Driving Recreational Vehicle Towing Loading Your Vehicle Towing a Trailer

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But statistics show that the most important factor, by far, is how we drive. Knowing how these three factors work together can help you understand how your vehicle handles and what you can do to avoid many types of crashes, including a rollover crash. Driver Behavior The single most important thing is this: everyone in the vehicle, including the driver, should buckle up (see “Safety Belts” in the Index). In fact, most serious injuries and fatalities to unbelted occupants can be reduced or prevented by the use of safety belts. In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is significantly more likely to die than a person wearing a seat belt. In addition, avoiding excessive speed, sudden or abrupt turns and drunken or aggressive driving can help make trips safer and avoid the possibility of a crash, especially a rollover crash. This section provides many useful tips to help you drive more safely.

Your Driving, the Road and Your Vehicle Whenever we drive, we’re taking on an important responsibility. This is true for any motor vehicle -- passenger car, van, truck or sport utility. Driver behavior, the driving environment, and the vehicle’s design all affect how well a vehicle performs.

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Driving Environment You can also help avoid a rollover or other type of crash by being prepared for driving in inclement weather, at night, or during other times where visibility or traction may be limited (such as on curves, slippery roads or hilly terrain). Unfamiliar surroundings can also have hidden hazards. To help you learn more about driving in different conditions, this section contains information about city, freeway, and off-road driving, as well as other hints for driving in various weather conditions. Vehicle Design According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, utility vehicles have a significantly higher rollover rate than other types of vehicles. Utility vehicles do have a higher ground clearance and a narrower track or shorter wheelbase than passenger cars to make them more capable for off-road driving. Specific design characteristics like these give the driver a better view of the road, but also give utility vehicles a higher center of gravity than other types of vehicles. This means that you shouldn’t expect a utility vehicle to handle the same way a vehicle with a lower center of gravity, like a car, would in similar situations. But driver behavior factors are far

more often the cause of a utility vehicle rollover than are environmental or vehicle factors. Safe driver behavior and understanding the environment in which you’ll be driving can help avoid a rollover crash in any type of vehicle, including utility vehicles. Defensive Driving The best advice anyone can give about driving is: Drive defensively. Please start with a very important safety device in your vehicle: Buckle up. (See “Safety Belts” in the Index.) Defensive driving really means “be ready for anything.” On city streets, rural roads or freeways, it means “always expect the unexpected.” 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.

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Defensive driving requires that a driver concentrate on the driving task. Anything that distracts from the driving task -- such as concentrating on a cellular telephone call, reading, or reaching for something on the floor -- makes proper defensive driving more difficult and can even cause a collision, with resulting injury. Ask a passenger to help do things like this, or pull off the road in a safe place to do them yourself. These simple defensive driving techniques could save your life. Drunken Driving Death and injury associated with drinking and driving is a national tragedy. It’s the number one contributor to the highway death toll, claiming thousands of victims every year. Alcohol affects four things that anyone needs to drive a vehicle: D Judgment D Muscular Coordination D Vision D Attentiveness.

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Police records show that almost half of all motor vehicle-related deaths involve alcohol. In most cases, these deaths are the result of someone who was drinking and driving. In recent years, over 17,000 annual motor vehicle-related deaths have been associated with the use of alcohol, with more than 300,000 people injured. Many adults -- by some estimates, nearly half the adult population -- choose never to drink alcohol, so they never drive after drinking. For persons under 21, it’s against the law in every U.S. state to drink alcohol. There are good medical, psychological and developmental reasons for these laws. The obvious way to solve the leading highway safety problem is for people never to drink alcohol and then drive. But what if people do? How much is “too much” if the driver plans to drive? It’s a lot less than many might think. Although it depends on each person and situation, here is some general information on the problem. The Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of someone who is drinking depends upon four things: D The amount of alcohol consumed D The drinker’s body weight D The amount of food that is consumed before and

during drinking

D The length of time it has taken the drinker to

consume the alcohol.

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

It’s the amount of alcohol that counts. For example, if the same person drank three double martinis (3 ounces or 90 ml of liquor each) within an hour, the person’s BAC would be close to 0.12 percent. A person who consumes food just before or during drinking will have a somewhat lower BAC level. There is a gender difference, too. Women generally have a lower relative percentage of body water than men. Since alcohol is carried in body water, this means that a woman generally will reach a higher BAC level than a man of her same body weight when each has the same number of drinks. The law in many U.S. states sets the legal limit at a BAC of 0.10 percent. In a growing number of U.S. states, and throughout Canada, the limit is 0.08 percent. In some other countries, it’s even lower. The BAC limit for all commercial drivers in the United States is 0.04 percent. The BAC will be over 0.10 percent after three to six drinks (in one hour). Of course, as we’ve seen, it depends on how much alcohol is in the drinks, and how quickly the person drinks them.

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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’ll be careful” isn’t the right answer. What if there’s an emergency, a need to take sudden action, as when a child darts into the street? A person with even a moderate BAC might not be able to react quickly enough to avoid the collision.

There’s something else about drinking and driving that many people don’t know. Medical research shows that alcohol in a person’s system can make crash injuries worse, especially injuries to the brain, spinal cord or heart. This means that when anyone who has been drinking -- driver or passenger -- is in a crash, that person’s chance of being killed or permanently disabled is higher than if the person had not been drinking.

CAUTION:

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

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

Sometimes, as when you’re driving on snow or ice, it’s easy to ask more of those control systems than the tires and road can provide. That means you can lose control of your vehicle.

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.

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

Anti-Lock Brakes (Option) Your vehicle may have anti-lock brakes (ABS). 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. If there’s a problem with the anti-lock brake system, the anti-lock brake system warning light will stay on. See “Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light” in the Index.

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The anti-lock system can change the brake pressure faster than any driver could. The computer is programmed to make the most of available tire and road conditions.

Here’s how anti-lock works. Let’s say the road is wet. You’re driving safely. Suddenly an animal jumps out in front of you. You slam on the brakes. Here’s what happens with ABS. A computer senses that wheels are slowing down. If one of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the computer will separately work the brakes at each front wheel and at both rear wheels.

You can steer around the obstacle while braking hard. As you brake, your computer keeps receiving updates on wheel speed and controls braking pressure accordingly.

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If you don’t have anti-lock, use a “squeeze” braking technique. This will give you maximum braking while maintaining steering control. You 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 the Index.) In many emergencies, steering can help you more than even the very best braking. Steering Power Steering If you lose power steering assist because the engine stops or the system is not functioning, you can steer but it will take much more effort.

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.

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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 pedal, steer the vehicle the way you want it to go, and slow down. Speed limit signs near curves warn that you should adjust your speed. Of course, the posted speeds are based on good weather and road conditions. Under less favorable conditions you’ll want to go slower. If you need to reduce your speed as you approach a curve, do it before you enter the curve, while your front wheels are straight ahead. Try to adjust your speed so you can “drive” through the curve. Maintain a reasonable, steady speed. Wait to accelerate until you are out of the curve, and then accelerate gently into the straightaway.

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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 in Emergencies” earlier in this section.) It is better to remove as much speed as you can from a possible collision. Then steer around the problem, to the left or right depending on the space available.

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

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

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

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

to crossroads for situations that might affect your passing patterns. If you have any doubt whatsoever about making a successful pass, wait for a better time.

D Watch for traffic signs, pavement markings and lines.

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

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

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