1996 GMC Sierra Owners Manual

information on the air bag system, see “Air Bag” in the Index.

You will see this light flash for a few seconds when you turn your ignition to RUN or START. Then the light should go out. This means the system is ready.

AIR BAG

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

Charging System Indicator Light

This light should come on briefly when you turn on the ignition, before starting the engine, as a check to show you it is working.

After the engine starts, the light should go out. If it stays on or comes on while you are driving, you may have a problem with your charging system. It could indicate a problem with the alternator drive belt, or some other charging system 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, it helps to turn off all your accessories, such as the radio and air conditioner.

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Voltmeter

19

When your engine is not running, but the ignition is in the RUN position, this gage shows your battery’s state of charge in DC volts.

When the engine is running, the gage shows the condition of the charging system. Readings between the low and high warning zones indicate the normal operating range.

Readings in the low warning zone may occur when a large number of electrical accessories are operating in the vehicle and the engine is left at an idle for an extended period. This condition is normal since the charging system is not able to provide full power at engine idle. As engine speeds are increased, this condition should correct itself as higher engine speeds allow the charging system to create maximum power. You can only drive for a short time with the reading in either warning zone. If you must drive, turn off all unnecessary accessories. Readings in either warning zone indicate a possible problem in the electrical system. Have the vehicle serviced as soon as possible.

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Brake System Warning Light 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.

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

BRAKE

I!\ CAUTION:

Your brake system may not be working properly if the brake system warning light 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.

is on. Driving

When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light will also 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.

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 “Towing Your Vehicle” in the Index.)

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Qnti-Lock Brake System Warning Light

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

ANTI - LOCK

Engine Coolant Temperature Gage

This gage shows the engine coolant temperature.

If the light stays on, or comes on when you’re driving, your vehicle needs service. If the regular brake system warning light isn’t on, you still have brakes, but you don’t have anti-lock brakes. If the regular brake system warning light is also on, you don’t have anti-lock brakes and there’s a problem with your regular brakes. See “Brake System Warning Light” earlier in this part. The anti-lock brake system warning light should come on briefly when you turn the ignition key to RUN. If the light doesn’t come on then, have it fixed so it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.

It also provides an indicator of how hard your vehicle is working. During a majority of the operation, the gage will read 210°F (100°C) or less. If you are pulling a load or going up hills, it is normal for the temperature to fluctuate and approach the 260°F ( 125 “C) mark. If the gage reaches the 260°F ( I 25 “C) mark, it indicates that the cooling system is working beyond its capacity. In “Problems on the Road,” this manual shows what to do. See “Engine Overheating” in the Index.

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Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Service - ;ine Soon Light) (Gasoline Engine)

I NOTICE:

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

SERVICE ENGINE SOON

This system is called OBD I1 (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. (In Canada, OBD TI is replaced by Enhanced Diagnostics.) 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, which may prevent more serious damage to your vehicle. This system is also designed to assist your service technician in correctly diagnosing any malfunction.

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.

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: 0 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 is required.

0 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.

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If the Light Is Flashing The following may prevent more serious damage to your vehicle:

Reduce vehicle speed. Avoid hard accelerations. Avoid steep uphill grades.

0 If towing a trailer, reduce the amount of cargo being

hauled as soon as it is possible.

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. Put your vehicle in PARK (P). 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 just put fuel into your vehicle? If so7 reinstall the fuel cap, making sure to fully install the cap. The diagnostic system can determine if the fuel cap has been left off or improperly installed. This will allow fuel to evaporate into the atmosphere. A few driving trips 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. 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. it will take a few driving trips to turn the light off.

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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, hesitaIion 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 this condition, 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.

Oil Pressure Gage

0 \\

80

The oil pressure gage shows the engine oil pressure in psi (pounds per square inch) when the engine is running. Canadian vehicles indicate pressure in Wa (kilopascals).

Oil pressure may vary with engine speed, outside temperature and oil viscosity, but readings above the low pressure zone indicate the normal operating range. A reading in the low pressure zone may be caused by a dangerously low oil level or some other problem causing low oil pressure. Check your oil as soon as possible.

/A CAUTION: l!,L-

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.

Shift Light

SHIFT

This light is used on some models with manual transmissions.

I NOTICE:

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

The SHIFT indicator light will help you get the best fuel economy. See “Shift Light” or “Shift Speeds” in this section for more information.

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Daytime Running Lamps Indicator Light

Check Gages Light

This light goes on whenever the DRL are on.

This light will come on briefly when you are starting the engine.

CHECK GAGES

When it begins to get dark, the DRL indicator light is a reminder to turn on your headlamps.

If the light comes on and stays on w.hile you are driving, it could indicate a problem with your vehicle. It could be a problem with your oil pressure, coolant temperature, or some other problem. Check your various gages to see if they are in the warning zones. If they are, have your vehicle serviced right away.

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Fuel Gage

The fuel gage, when the ignition is on, tells you about how much fuel you have left in your tank.

The gage will first indicate EMPTY (E) before you are out of fuel, and you should get more fuel as soon as possible.

Here are four situations you may experience with your fuel gage. None of these indicate a problem with the fuel gage.

At the gas station, the fuel pump shuts off before the gage reads FULL (F). It takes a little more or less fuel to fill up than the fuel gage indicated. For example, the gage may have indicated the tank was half full, but it actually took a little more or less than half the tank’s capacity to fill the tank. The gage moves a little when you turn a corner or speed up. The gage doesn’t go back to EMPTY (E) when you turn off the ignition.

If you have a diesel engine, see “Fuel Gage” in the Diesel Engine Supplement.

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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. Comfort Controls Standard Climate Control System

Fan Knob The knob on the left side of the heating system control panel controls the fan speed. The knob has four speed positions. To increase airflow, move the knob toward HI. To decrease airtlow, move it toward LO. To turn the fan off, move the knob to OFF.

Temperature Knob The middle knob on the control panel lets you select the relative temperature of the air flowing into the passenger area of your vehicle. This knob will allow you to adjust the relative air temperature independently of the function knob setting. Move the knob clockwise toward the red area for warmer air. Move the knob counterclockwise toward the blue area for cooler air.

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Mode Knob The right knob on the control panel allows you to choose the direction of air delivery. The control knob can be placed in any position between two mode settings to blend the flow of air. +e /J VENT: This setting directs air through the instrument panel outlets. +’ VENT/HEAT Use this setting to divide airflow +* +iJ H E A T B ; This setting directs air through the

between the floor outlets and instrument panel outlets.

floor outlets. (ii3, 6fl DEFOG: This setting directs air to the heater 9 DEFROST: This setting directs air toward outlets and toward the windshield.

the windshield.

Optional Climate Control System

Fan Knob The knob on the left side of the heating system control panel controls the fan speed. The knob has four speed positions. To increase airflow, move the knob toward HI. To decrease airflow, move it toward LO. To turn the fan off, move the knob to OFF. If you have the air conditioner on. moving the fan knob to OFF also turns off the A/C compressor.

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Temperature Knob The middle knob on the control panel lets you select the relative temperature of the air flowing into the passenger area of your vehicle. This knob will allow you to adjust the relative air temperature independently of the function knob setting. Move the knob clockwise toward the red area for warmer air. Move the knob counterclockwise toward the blue area for cooler air.

The right knob on the control panel allows you to choose the direction of air delivery. The control knob can be placed in any position between two mode settings to blend the flow of air. /J VENT: This setting directs air through the instrument panel outlets. +H VENT/HEAT Use this setting to divide airflow

+ e +. between the floor outlets and instrument panel outlets. +’

HEATER: This setting directs air through the

heater floor outlets.

Qe +’

DEFOG: This setting directs air to the heater

outlets and toward the windshield.

DEFROST This setting directs air toward the

windshield. Air Conditioning On hot days, open the windows long enough to let hot air inside escape. This reduces the time it takes for your vehicle to cool down. Then keep your windows closed for the air conditioner to work it’s best. The recirculation button, between the fan and temperature knobs, allows the air inside your vehicle to be recirculated. This setting helps to maximize your air conditioner’s performance and your vehicle’s fuel economy. This setting also cools the air the fastest and can be used to keep unwanted odors and/or dust from entering the vehicle. When using the air conditioner, turn off recirculation after the vehicle reaches a comfortable interior temperature. When the right knob on the control panel is between HEATER and DEFROST, the recirculation feature will not function.

The A/C button, between the temperature and mode knobs, allows the air coming into your vehicle to be cooled. This setting is useful for normal cooling on hot days. When you use A/C with the recirculation button pushed in, turn off recirculation as soon as the vehicle reaches a comfortable interior temperature. With the A/C on, move the temperature knob to MAX for maximum cooling. This setting also puts the system in the recirculation mode and helps to maximize your air conditioner’s performance and your vehicle’s fuel economy. This setting also cools the air the fastest. After the vehicle’s interior reaches a comfortable temperature, move the temperature knob clockwise to place the air conditioning system in the normal mode. Heating The heater works best if you keep your windows closed while using it. On cold days, use the HEATER or VENT/HEAT setting with the temperature knob in the red area. If you use the engine coolant heater before starting your engine (in cold weather (20°F (-8°C) or lower), your heating system will produce warmer air faster, to heat the passenger compartment in cold weather.

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The use of an engine coolant heater also reduces the time it takes for the engine to reach normal operating temperature, and shortens the time it takes the heater to reach full output. For more information, see “Engine Coolant Heater” in the Index. Ventilation System For mild outside temperature when little heating or cooling is needed, use VENT to direct outside air through your vehicle. Air will flow through the instrument panel outlets. Your vehicle’s ventilation systeril supplies outside air to the inside of your vehicle when it is moving. With the side windows closed, air will flow into the front air inlet grilles, through the vehicle, and out the air exhaust valves. Outside air will also enter the vehicle when the heater or the air conditioning fan is running, unless you have the recirculation button pushed in. For more information on the recirculation button, see “Air Conditioning” earlier in this section.

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, turn the blower fan to HI for a few moments before driving. 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.

Defogging and Defrosting On cool, humid days, use DEFOG to keep the windshield and side windows clear. Use DEFROST to remove fog or ice from the windshield in extremely humid or cold conditions. Use DEFROST with the temperature knob toward the red area and the fan control toward HI.

Your vehicle has air outlets in the center and on the sides of your instrument panel. You can move the outlets from side to side or up and down to direct the flow of air, or close the outlets altogether. When you close an outlet, it will increase the flow of air coming out of any outlets that are open. These outlets do not completely shut off airflow when in the closed position.

the glass. -

Rear Window Defogger (Option) If you see lines running across the rear window, you have the rear window defogger. The lines warm

To turn on the rear window defogger, press this button next to the fan control knob. The rear window defogger will only work if the ignition switch is turned to RUN. For best results, clear the window of as much snow or ice as possible first.

The defogger will shut itself off after several minutes. If you need additional warming time, press the button again. You can turn the defogger off at any time by pressing the button.

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Do not attach a temporary vehicle license, tape or decals across the defogger grid on the rear window.

L O T I C E :

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.

Audio Systems Your Delco@ audio system has been designed to operate easily and give years of listening pleasure. You will get the most enjoyment out of it if you acquaint yourself with it first. Find out what your Delco 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 for Systems without Automatic Tone Control Press SFT. Within five seconds, press and hold the SEEK right arrow until the correct minute appears on the display. Press and hold the SEEK left arrow until the correct hour appears on the display. Setting the Clock for Systems with Automatic Tone Control Press and hold HR until the correct hour appears on the display. Press and hold MIN until the correct minute appears on the display. To display the clock with the ignition off, press RECALL and the time will be displayed for a few seconds. There is an initial two-second delay before the clock goes into the time-set mode.

AM-FM Stereo

Playing the Radio VOLUME-BAL: Turn the knob clockwise t o turn the radio on and counterclockwise to turn it off. To increase the volume, turn the knob clockwise. To decrease the volume, turn the knob counterclockwise. Display the time with the ignition off by pressing the VOLUME-BAL knob. When the radio is playing, press this button to recall the station frequency.

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Finding a Station AM-FM: Press the lower knob to get AM or FM. TUNE: Turn this knob to tune in radio stations. SEEK: Press the right amow to tune to the next higher station and the left arrow to tune to the next lower station and stay there. SCAN: Pre.ss both SEEK buttons to listen to a few seconds of each radio station. SCAN will light’up on the display. Press the right arrow to tune in the next higher station and press the left arrow to tune to the next lower station. Press VOLUME-BAL or both SEEK buttons to stop scanning. PUSHBUTTONS: The four numbered pushbuttons let you return to your favorite stations. You can set up to 14 stations (seven AM and seven FM). 1. Tune in the desired station. 2. Press SET. 3. Press and hold one of the four pushbuttons, within five seconds. Whenever you press that numbered button, the station you set will return.

In addition to the four stations set as above, up to three additional stations may be preset on each band by pressing two adjoining buttons at the same time. Just: 1. Tune in the desired station. 2. Press SET. 3. Press two adjoining buttons at the same time, within

five seconds. Whenever you press the same two buttons, the station.you set will return.

4. Repeat these steps for each pair of buttons.

Setting the Tone BASS: Slide this lever up to increase the bass. TREB: Slide this lever up to increase the treble. Slide the lever down to reduce noise with a weak or noisy station.

Adjusting the Speakers BAL: The control behind the VOLUME-BAL knob balances the sound between the right and left speakers. FADE: The control behind the TUNE knob fades the sound between the front and rear speakers.

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ANI-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player (Option)

Playing the Radio VOLUME-BAL: Turn the knob clockwise to turn the radio on and counterclockwise to turn it off. To increase the volume, turn the knob clockwise. To decrease the volume, turn the knob counterclockwise. RECALL: Display the time with the ignition off by pressing the RECALL knob. When the radio is playing, press this button to recall the station frequency.

Find.ing a Station AM-FM: Press the lower knob to get AM or FM. TUNE: Turn this knob to tune in radio stations. SEEK: Press this button and the radio will tune to the next higher or lower station and stay there. PUSHBUTTONS: The four numbered pushbuttons let you return to your favorite stations. You can set up to 14 stations (seven AM and seven FM). 1. Tune in the desired station. 2. Press SET. 3. Press and hold one of the four pushbuttons, within five seconds. Whenever you press that numbered button, the station you set will return.

In addition to the four stations set as above, up to three additional stations may be preset on each band by pressing two adjoining buttons at the same time. Just: 1. Tune in the desired station. 2. Press SET. 3. Press two adjoining buttons at the same time,

within five seconds. Whenever you press the same two buttons, the station you set will return. 4, Repeat these steps for each pair of buttons.

P.SCAN: Press both SEEK buttons to scan through each of the preset stations. The system will scan through and play each preset station stored o n your pushbuttons for a few seconds. Press either SEEK button or RECALL to stop scanning through the preset stations.

Setting the Tone BASS: Slide this lever up to increase the bass. TREB: Slide this lever up to increase the treble. Slide the lever down to reduce noise with a weak or noisy station.

Adjusting the Speakers BAL: The control behind the VOLUME-BAL knob balances the sound between the right and left speakers. FADE: The control behind the TUNE knob fades the sound between the front and rear speakers.

Playing a Cassette Tape Your tape player is built to work best with tapes that are 30 to 45 minutes long on each side. Tdpes longer than that are so thin they may not work well in this player. Once the tape is playing, use the knobs for VOLUME, FADE and BAL just as you do for the radio. FWD: Press the SEEK right arrow to advance the cassette tape. Press the SEEK left arrow to stop forwarding the tape. REV: Press the SEEK left arrow to reverse the cassette tape. Press the SEEK right arrow to stop reversing the tape. RECALL: Press this button to switch tape sides. EJECT Press this button to remove the tape or stop the tape and play the radio. CLN: This message may appear on the display. If it does, 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. See “Care of Your Cassette Tdpe Player’’ in the Index. After you clean the player, press and hold EJECT for five seconds to reset the CLN indicator. The radio will display --- to show the indicator was reset.

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AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape and Automatic Tone Control (Option)

Playing the Radio PWR-VOL: Press this knob to turn the system on and off. Turn this control clockwise to increase the volume and counterclockwise to decrease the volume. The faster the PWR-VOL knob is rotated, the quicker the volume is increased or decreased. RECALL: Press this button to switch between the clock and the radio station frequency displayed when the radio is on. Also, press this button to display the time when the ignition is off.

~~

SCV This is the Speed-Compensated-Volume (SCV) knob. Move the control ring behind the PWR-VOL knob clockwise to adjust the SCV. Set the volume at the desired level. As you drive, the SCV automatically increases the volume, as necessary, to overcome road and wind noise at any particular speed. The volume should always sound the same. Each clockwise position on the control ring allows for more compensation at a faster rate.

Finding a Station AM-FM: Press this button to switch between AM, FM1 and FM2. The display will show your selection. TUNE: Press lightly on this knob to release it from its stored position. Rotate the knob clockwise to increase frequency and counterclockwise to decrease frequency. When finished tuning, press the knob again to return it to its stored position. SEEK: Press the right arrow to tune to the next higher station and the left m o w to tune to the next lower station and stay there, The sound will mute while seeking.

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3. Press AUTO TONE to select the setting you prefer. 4. Press and hold one of the six pushbuttons. 5. The sound will mute. When it returns, release the

button. Whenever you press that numbered button, the station you set will return and the tone you selected will be automatically selected for that button.

PSCAN: The preset scan button lets you scan through your hvorite stations stored on your pushbuttons. Select either the AM, FMI or FM2 mode and then press P.SCAN. It will scan through each station stored on your pushbuttons and stop for a few seconds before continuing to scan through all of the pushbuttons. Press P.SCAN again or one of the pushbuttons to stop scanning to listen to a specific preset station. P.SCAN will light up on the display while in this mode. If one of the stations stored on a pushbutton is too weak for the location you are in, the radio display will show the channel number (P 1 -P6) for several seconds before advancing to the next preset station.

SCAN: Press and hold SEEK for two seconds until SCAN appears on the display. SCAN allows you to listen to stations for a few seconds. The receiver will continue to scan and momentarily stop at each station until you press the button again. The sound will mute while scanning. AUTO TONE: Press this button to select among the five preset equalization settings and tailor the sound to the music or voice being heard. Each time you press the button, the selection will switch to one of the preset settings of CLASSIC, NEWS, ROCK, POP or JAZZ. To return to the manual mode, press and release this button until MAN appears on the display. This will return the tone adjustment to the TREB and BASS controls. If a TREB or BASS control is rotated, the AUTO TONE setting will change to MAN. PUSHBUTTONS: The six numbered pushbuttons let you return to your favorite stations. You can set up to 18 stations (six AM, six FM 1 and six FMZ). 1. Press AM-FM to select the band. 2. Tune in the desired station by pressing TUNE or the

SEEK left or right arrows.

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Setting the Tone BASS: Press lightly on this knob to release it from its stored position. Turn the knob clockwise to increase the bass and counterclockwise to decrease the bass. When the BASS control is rotated, the AUTO TONE setting will change to MAN. Push the knob back in to its stored position when done. TREB: Press lightly on the TREB knob to release it from its stored position. Turn the knob clockwise to increase the treble and counterclockwise to decrease the treble. When the TREB control is rotated, the AUTO TONE setting will change to MAN. Push the knob back in to its stored position when done.

Adjusting the Speakers BAL: Press this button to remove the control from its stored position. Turn the control clockwise to adjust sound to the right speakers and counterclockwise to adjust sound to the left speakers. Press the button again to return BAL to its stored position. FADE: Press this button to remove the control from its stored position. Turn the control clockwise to adjust the sound to the front and counterclockwise for rear speakers. Press the button again to return FADE to its stored position.

Playing a Cassette Tape Your tape player is built to work best with tapes that are 30 to 45 minutes long on each side. Tapes longer than that are so thin they may not work well i n this player. To load a cassette tape with the ignition off. press EJECT or RECALL. Then, insert the cassette tape. If the ignition is on but the radio is off, the tape will begin playing. The player automatically senses if the cassette tape is metal or CI-02 and adjusts for best playback sound. For metal tapes, the double-D symbol will appear on the display. Once the tape is playing. use the VOL, BAL, FADE, TREB and BASS controls just as you do for the radio. The tape symbol and a direction arrow will be on the display whenever a tape is being played. Anytime a tape is inserted. the top side is selected for play first. PREV (1): Press the PREV or the SEEK left arrow to search for the previous selection. A minitnurn three-second blank pap is required for the player to stop at the beginning of the selection. The tape direction arrow will blink during the SEEK operation. PROG (2): Press this button to switch frotn one side of the tape t o the other.

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AM-FM: Press this button to switch from a tape to the radio. TAPE AUX: Press this button to return to the tape player. The lighted arrow will appear and show the direction of play when a tape is in the active mode. EJECT Press this button to remove the tape. The radio will now play. EJECT can be used with either the ignition or radio off. To load a cassette tape with the ignition or radio off, press EJECT before loading the cassette. CLN: This message may appear on the display. If it does, 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. See "Care of Your Cassette Tape Player" in the 1nde.x. After you clean the player? press and hold EJECT for five seconds to reset the CLN indicator. The radio will display --- to show the indicator was reset.

NEXT (3): Press NEXT or the SEEK right arrow to search for the next selection. A minimum three-second blank gap is required for the player to stop at the beginning of the selection. The tape direction arrow will blink during the SEEK operation. REV (4): Press this button to rapidly reverse the tape to the beginning of the cassette reel or until you press REV again. The radio will play the last selected station while reversing the tape. The tape direction arrow will blink during REV operation.

(5): Press this button'to reduce cassette tape noise. The double-D symbol will appear on the display while the player is in this mode. Dolby Noise Reduction is manufactured under a license from Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. Dolby and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. FWD (6): Press this button to rapidly forward the tape to the end of the cassette reel or until you press FWD again. The radio will play the last selected station while forwarding the tape. The tape direction arrow will blink during FWD operation.

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CD Adapter Kits Although this is not a recommended practice, it is possible to use a CD adapter kit with your cassette tape player. The adapter kit cassette should begin playing like a regular audio cassette tape once inserted. If the cassette immediately ejects, turn the radio off, turn the ignition on and press and hold the TAPE AUX button until the tape icon flashes on the display. Insert the adapter cassette again. It will power up the radio and begin playing. This override routine will remain active until the EJECT button is pressed.

Playing a Compact Disc in the Single Remote Disc Player

If you have this option, you can play one compact disc (CD) at a time.

To load a CD into the player, hold the disc with the label side up and insert it carefully into the player (approximately half way). The disc will autolnatically be pulled into the player. If the radio is off and the ignition is o n when a CD is inserted, the radio will turn on and begin playing the CD. It is possible to load and unload CD's with the ignition off. To load a disc with the ignition off, press the EJECT button on the remote player and then insert the disc. To remove the disc, press the EJECT button and remove the disc from the player. A disc that has been ejected but is still sitting in the remote CD player will be pulled back into the player after approximately 30 seconds. This protects the disc and player from damage. The disc will not start playing. To remove the disc, press the EJECT button and remove the disc from the player. All of the compact disc functions are controlled by the radio buttons except for EJECT. When a disc is in the player, a CD symbol will appear on the display. When a disc is playing, the letters CD will appear next to the CD symbol in the bottom left corner. The track number will also be displayed.

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If the disc comes back out and ERR appears on the display, it could be that:

The disc is upside down. It is dirty, scratched or wet. There’s too much moisture in the air. (Wait about an hour and try again.) You are driving on a very rough road.

Please contact your dealer if any error recurs or cannot be corrected. TAPE AUX: With a disc loaded in the player and the radio playing, press this button once to play the compact disc. To return to playing the radio, press AM-FM. If both a cassette tape and CD are loaded, press TAPE AUX to switch between the tape and compact disc. SEEK: Press the left arrow while playing a CD to go back to the start of the current track. It will go back to the current track if more than eight seconds have played. Press the left arrow again to go to previous tracks. Press the right arrow to go to the next higher track on the disc. PREV (1): Press this button to go back to the start of the current track if more than eight seconds have played. Press PREV again to go to the previous track on the disc.

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PROG (2): This button is active only when you have the 12-disc changer. NEXT (3): Press this button to advance to the next track on the disc. REV (4): Press and hold this button to quickly reverse within a track (song). As the CD reverses, elapsed time will be displayed to help you find the correct passage. FWD (6): Press and hold this button to quickly advance within a track (song). As the CD advances, elapsed time will be displayed to help you find the correct passage. RANDOM: Press P.SCAN to enter the random play mode. RANDOM will appear on the display. While in this mode, the tracks on the discs will be played in random order. I f you press SEEK, PREV or NEXT while in the random mode, the PREV or NEXT track will be scanned randomly. Press P.SCAN again to turn off RANDOM and return to normal operation. EJECT: Press this button on the remote player to eject a compact disc. RECALL: Press this button to see what track is currently playing. Press RECALL again within five seconds to see how long the track has been playing. When a new track starts to play, the track number will also appear. Press RECALL a third time and the time of day will be displayed.

AM-FM Stereo with Compact Disc Player and Automatic Tone Control (Option)

J: This is the Speed-Compensated-Volume (SCV)

knob. Move the control ring behind the PWR-VOL knob clockwise to adjust the SCV. Set the volume at the desired level. As you drive, the SCV automatically increases the volume, as necessary, to overcome road and wind noise at any particular speed. The volume should always sound the same. Each clockwise position on the control ring allows for more compensation at a faster rate.

Playing the Radio PWR-VOL: Press this knob to turn the system on and off. Turn this control clockwise to increase the volume and counterclockwise to decrease the volume. The faster the PWR-VOL knob is rotated, the quicker the volume is increased or decreased. RECALL: Press this button to switch between the clock and the radio station frequency displayed when the radio is on. Also, press this button to display the time when the ignition is off.

Finding a Station AM-FM: Press this button to switch between AM, FMl and FM2. The display will show your selection. TUNE: Press lightly on this knob to release it from its stored position. Rotate the knob clockwise to increase frequency and counterclockwise to decrease frequency. When finished tuning, press the knob again to return it to its stored position. 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. There will be no sound when using the SEEK feature.

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SCAN: Press and hold SEEK for two seconds until SCAN appears on the display. SCAN allows you to listen to stations for a few seconds. The receiver will continue to scan and momentarily stop at each station until you press the button again. There will be no sound when using the SCAN feature. PUSHBUTTONS: The six numbered pushbuttons let you return to your favorite stations. You can set up to 18 stations (six AM, six FM 1 and six FM2). 1. Press AM-FM to select the band. 2. Tune in the desired station by pressing TUNE or the

SEEK left or right arrows.

3. Press AUTO TONE to select the setting you prefer. 4. Press and hold one of the four pushbuttons. 5. The sound will mute. When it returns, release the

button. Whenever you press that numbered button, the station you set will return and the tone you selected will be automatically selected for that button.

P.SCAN: The preset scan button lets you scan through your favorite stations stored on your pushbuttons. Select either the AM, FMI or FM2 mode and then press P.SCAN. It will scan through each station stored on your pushbuttons and stop for a few seconds before continuing to scan through all of the pushbuttons. Press P.SCAN again or one of the pushbuttons to stop scanning to listen to a specific stored station. P.SCAN will light up on the display while in this mode. If one of the stations stored on a pushbutton is too weak for the location you are in, the radio display will show the channel number (PI-P6) for several seconds before advancing to the next preset station.

Setting the Tone AUTO TONE: Press this button to select among the five preset equalization settings and tailor the sound to the music or voice being heard. Each time you press the button, the selection will switch to one of the preset settings of CLASSIC, NEWS, ROCK, POP or JAZZ. The display will show which mode the receiver is in. To return to the manual mode, press and release this button until MAN appears on the display. This will return the tone adjustment to the TREB and BASS controls. When a TREB or BASS control is rotated, tone is automatically set to MAN.

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BAS Press'lightly on this knob to release it from its stored position. Turn the knob clockwise to increase the bass and counterclockwise to decrease the bass. When the BASS control is rotated, the AUTO TONE setting will change to MAN. Push the knob back in to its stored position when done. TREB: Press lightly on the TREB knob to release it from its stored position. Turn the knob clockwise to increase the treble and counterclockwise to decrease the treble. When the TREB control is rotated, the AUTO TONE setting will change to MAN. Push the knob back in to its stored position when done.

Adjusting the Speakers BAL: Press this button to remove the control from its stored position. Turn the control clockwise to adjust sound to the right speakers and counterclockwise to adjust sound to the left speakers. Press the button again to return BAL to its stored position. FADE: Press this button to remove the control from its stored position. Turn the control clockwise to adjust the sound to the front and counterclockwise for rear speakers. Press the button again to return FADE to its stored position.

Playing a Compact Disc PWR: Press this knob to turn the system on. (Please note that you can also turn the system on when you insert a compact disc into the player with the ignition on.) Insert a disc partway into the slot, label side up. The player will pull it in. Wait a few seconds and the disc should play. CD and a CD symbol will also appear on the display. Anytime you are playing a CD, the letters CD will be next to the CD symbol. If the disc comes back out and ERR appears on the display, it could be that:

You are driving on a very rough road. (The disc should play when the road gets smoother.) The disc is upside down.

0 It is dirty, scratched or wet. 0 It is very humid. (If so, wait about an hour and

try again.) The disc player is very hot.

Press RECALL to make ERR go off the display.

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RECALL: Press this button to see what track is playing. Press it again within five seconds to see how long the CD has been playing that track. Elapsed time is displayed in minutes and tenths of a second. The track number will also appear when a new track begins to play. Press RECALL again to return to the time display. PREV (1): Press PREV or the SEEK left arrow to search for the previous selection. If you hold this button or press it more than once, the disc will advance further. Sound is muted in this mode. RDM (2): Press this button to play the tracks on the disc in random (instead of I , 2,3. . .) order. While in the RDM mode, RANDOM appears on the display. Press RDM again to return to normal play. NEXT (3): Press NEXT or the SEEK right arrow to search for the next selection. If you hold this button or press it more than once, the disc will advance further. The next track number will appear on the display. Sound is muted in this mode. REV (4): Press and hold REV to return rapidly to a favorite passage. You will hear the disc selection play at high speed while you press the REV button. This allows you to listen and find out when the disc is at the desired selection. Release REV to resume playing.

FWD (6): Press and hold this button to advance rapidly within a track. You will hear the disc selection play at high speed while you press the FWD button. This allows you to listen and find out when the disc is at the desired selection. Release FWD to resume playing. AM-FM: While in the CD mode, press this button to stop playing the CD and play the radio. The CD symbol will still display but the word CD will be replaced with either AM, FM 1 or FM2. (If the radio is turned off, the disc stays in the player and will resume playing at the point where it stopped.) CD AUX: To switch between the player and the radio when a disc is playing, press the AM-FM button. To return to the player, press CD AUX. When a disc is playing, the letters CD and the CD symbol will appear on the display. (If the radio is turned off, the disc stays in the player and will resume playing at the point where it stopped.) EJECT Press this button to eject the disc from the player and play the radio. When the same or a new disc is inserted, the disc will start playing on track one. If a compact disc is left sitting in the opening for more than a few seconds, the player will pull the CD back in. The radio will continue playing. When the ignition is off, press this button to load a CD.

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Theft-Deterrent Feature THEFTLOCK" is designed to discourage theft of your radio. It works by using a secret code to disable all radio functions whenever battery power is removed. The THEFTLOCK feature for the radio may be used or ignored. If ignored, the system plays normally and the radio is not protected by the feature. If THEFTLOCK is activated, your radio will not operate if stolen. When THEFTLOCK is activated, the radio will display LOC to indicate a locked condition anytime battery power is removed. If your battery loses power for any reason, you must unlock the radio with the secret code before it will operate.

Activating the Theft-Deterrent Feature The instructions which follow, explain how to enter your secret code to activate the THEFTLOCK system. It is recommended that you read through all nine steps before starting the procedure. NOTE: If you allow more than 15 seconds to elapse between any steps, the radio automatically reverts to time and you must start the procedure over at Step 4. 1. Write down any three or four-digit number from

000 to 1999 and keep it in a safe place separate from the vehicle.

2.

3, 4.

5. 6.

7.

8.

9.

Turn the ignition to the ACCESSORY or RUN position. Turn the radio off. Press the 1 and 4 buttons together. Hold them down until --- shows on the display. Next you will use the secret code number which you have written down. Press MN and 000 will appear on the display. Press MN again to make the last two digits agree with your code. Press HR to make the first one or two digits agree with your code. Press AM-FM after you have confirmed that the code matches the secret code you have written down. The display will show REP to let you know that you need to repeat Steps 5 through 7 to confirm your secret code. Press AM-FM and this time the display will show SEC to let you know that your radio is secure. The indicator by the volume control will begin flashing when the ignition is turned off.

Unlocking the Theft-Deterrent Feature After a Power Loss Enter your secret code as follows; pause no more than 15 seconds between steps: 1. LOC appears when the ignition is on. 2. Press MN and 000 will appear on the display. 3. Press MN again to make the last two digits agree

with your code.

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

with your code.

5. Press AM-FM after you have confirmed that the

code matches the secret code you have written down. The display will show SEC, indicating the radio is now operable and secure.

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

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Disabling the Theft-Deterrent Feature Enter your secret code as follows; pause no more than 15 seconds between steps: 1. Turn the ignition to the ACCESSORY or RUN position. 2. Turn the radio off. 3. Press the 1 and 4 buttons together. Hold them down

until SEC shows on the display.

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

with your code.

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

with your code.

7. Press AM-FM after you have confirmed that the

code matches the secret code you have written down. The display will show ---, indicating that the radio is no longer secured.

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

Understanding Radio Reception

FM Stereo FM stereo will give you the best sound. But FM signals will reach only about 10 to 40 miles (1 6 to 65 km). Tall buildings or hills can interfere with FM signals, causing the sound to come and go.

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 line?. Try reducing the treble to reduce this noise if you ever get it. 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: 0 Adjust the volume control to the lowest setting.

increase volume slowly until you hear comfortably and clearly.

NOTICE: vehicle -- like a tape player, CB radio, mobile telephone or two-way radio -- be sure you can

Before you add any sound equipment to your

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

Care of Your Cassette Tape Player A tape player that is not cleaned regularly can cause reduced sound quality, ruined cassettes or a damaged mechanism. Cassette tapes should be stored in their cases away from contaminants, direct sunlight and extreme heat. If they aren’t, they may not operate properly or may cause failure of the tape player. Your tape player should be cleaned regularly after every 50 hours of use. Your radio may display CLN to indicate that you have used your tape player for 50 hours without resetting the tape clean timer. If you notice a reduction in sound quality, try a known good cassette to see if the tape or the tape player is at fault. If this other cassette has no improvement in sound quality, clean the tape player. Cleaning may be done with a scrubbing action, non-abrasive cleaning cassette with pads which scrub the tape head as the hubs of the cleaner cassette turn. It is normal for the cassette to eject while cleaning because your unit is equipped with a cut tape feature. To temporarily override this feature (for one insertion), turn the radio off and press and hold TAPE AUX until the tape symbol flashes on the display, then insert the cassette again. Insert the cassette at least three times to ensure thorough cleaning. A scrubbing action cleaning cassette is available through your GM dealer.

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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. It may not clean as thoroughly as the scrubbing type cleaner. Cassettes are subject to wear and the sound quality may degrade over time. Always make sure that 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. Fixed Mast Antenna The fixed mast antenna can withstand most vehicle washes without being damaged. If the mast should ever become slightly bent, you can straighten it out by hand. If the mast is badly bent, as it might be by vandals, you should replace it. Check every once in a while to be sure the mast is still tightened to the cowl.

Section 4 Your Driving and the Road

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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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.

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:

Judgment Muscular Coordination Vision Attentiveness.

Police records show that almost half of all motor vehicle-related deaths involve alcohol. In most cases, these deaths are the result of someone who was drinking and driving. In recent years, some 18,000 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 2 1, it’s against the law in every US. state to drink alcohol. There are good medical, psychological and developmental reasons for these laws.

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The obvious way to solve this 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:

The amount of alcohol consumed

0 The drinker’s body weight

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

According to the American Medical Association, a 180-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 ( I 20 ml) glasses of wine or three mixed drinks if each had I - 1/2 ounces (45 ml) of a liquor like whiskey, gin or vodka.

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. But the ability to drive is affected well below a BAC of 0.10 percent. Research shows that the driving skills of many people are impaired at a BAC approaching 0.05 percent, and that the effects are worse at night. All drivers are impaired at BAC levels above 0.05 percent. Statistics show that the chance of being in a collision increases sharply for drivers who have a BAC of 0.05 percent or above. A driver with a BAC level of 0.06 percent has doubled his or her chance of having a collision. At a BAC level of 0.10 percent, the chance of this driver having a collision is 12 times greater; at a level of 0.15 percent, the chance is 25 times greater!

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

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.

A 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 rime. 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 noving at 60 mph (1 00 kmh) 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; and the condition of your brakes.

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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 Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes (ABS). ABS is an advanced electronic braking system that will help prevent a braking skid. When you start your engine and 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. This is normal.

If there’s a problem with the anti-lock brake system, this warning light will stay on. See “Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light’‘ in

ANTI - LOCK

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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 the 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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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 and let anti-lock work for you. You may feel the brakes vibrate, or you may notice some noise, but this is normal. On vehicles with four-wheel drive, your anti-lock brakes work at all times -- whether you are in two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. Braking in Emergencies Use your anti-lock braking system when you need to. With anti-lock, you can steer and brake at the same time. In many emergencies, steering can help you more than even the very best braking.

Steering Power Steering If you lose power steering assist because the engine stops or the system is not functioning, you can steer but it will take much more effort. Steering Tips Driving on Curves It’s important to take curves at a reasonable speed. A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents mentioned on the news happen on curves. Here’s why: Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is subject to the same laws of physics when driving on curves. The traction of the tires against the road surface makes it possible for the vehicle to change its path when you turn the front wheels. If there’s no traction, inertia will keep the vehicle going in the same direction. If you’ve ever tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you’ll understand this. The traction you can get in a curve depends on the condition of your tires and the road surface, the angle at which the curve is banked, and your speed. While you’re in a curve, speed is the one factor you can control.

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Suppose you’re steering through a sharp curve. Then you suddenly accelerate. Both control systems -- steering and acceleration -- have to do their work where the tires meet the road. Adding the sudden acceleration can demand too much of those places. You can lose control. What should you do if this ever happens? Ease up on the accelerator pedal, steer the vehicle the way you want it to go, and slow down. Speed limit signs near curves warn that you should adjust your speed. Of course, the posted speeds are based on good weather and road conditions. Under less favorable conditions you’ll want to go slower. 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 o u t of the curve, and then acce.lerate gently into the straightaway.

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

Road Rea ---:y

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

OFF-ROAD RECOVERY

RECOVER

0-

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

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

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: 0 “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.

0 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.

0 Do not get too close to the vehicle you want to

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

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

start to accelerate but stay in the right lane and don’t get too close. Time your move so you will be increasing speed as the time comes to move into the other lane. If the way is clear to pass, you will have a “running start” that more than makes up for the distance you would lose by dropping back. And if something happens to cause you to cancel your pass, you need only slow down and drop back again and wait for another opportunity. If other cars are lined up to pass a slow vehicle, w a ~ t your turn. But take care that someone isn’t trying to pass you as you pull out to pass the slow vehicle. Remember to glance over your shoulder and check the blind spot.

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@ Check your mirrors, glance over your shoulder and start your left lane change signal before moving out of the right lane to pass. When you are far enough ahead of the passed vehicle to see its front in your inside mirror, activate your right lane change signal and move back into the right lane. (Remember that if your right outside mirror is convex, the vehicle you just passed may seem to be farther away from you than it really is.) Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a time on two-lane roads. Reconsider before passing the next vehicle. Don’t overtake a slowly moving vehicle too rapidly. Even though the brake lamps are not flashing, it may be slowing down or starting to turn. If you’re being passed, make it easy for the following driver to get ahead of you. Perhaps you can ease a little to the right.

Loss of Control Let’s review what driving experts say about what happens when the three control systems (brakes, steering and acceleration) don’t have enough friction where the tires meet the road to do what the driver has asked. In any emergency, don’t give up. Keep trying to steer and constantly seek an escape route or area of less danger. Skidding In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle. Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking reasonable care suited to existing conditions, and by not “overdriving” those conditions. But skids are always possible. The three types of skids correspond to your vehicle’s three control systems. In t.he braking skid, your wheels aren’t rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, too much speed or steering in a curve causes tires to slip and lose cornering force. And in the acceleration skid, too much throttle causes the driving wheels to spin.

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A cornering skid and an acceleration skid are best handled by easing your foot off the accelerator pedal. If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off the accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want the vehicle to go. If you start steering quickly enough, your vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready for a second skid if it occurs. Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice, gravel or other material is on the road. For safety, you’ll want to slow down and adjust your driving to these conditions. It is important to slow down on slippery surfaces because stopping distance will be longer and vehicle control more limited. While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration or braking (including engine braking by shifting to a lower gear). Any sudden changes could cause the tires to slide. You may not realize the surface is slippery until your vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warning clues -- such as enough water, ice or packed snow on the road to make a “mirrored surface” -- and slow down when you have any doubt. Remember: Any anti-lock brake system (ABS) helps avoid only the braking skid.

Driving Guidelines Off-Road Driving with Your Four-Wheel-Drive Vehicle This off-road guide is for vehicles that have four-wheel drive. Also, see “Anti-Lock Brakes” in the Index. If your vehicle doesn’t have four-wheel drive, you shouldn’t drive off-road unless you’re on a level, solid surface. Off-road driving can be great fun. But it does have some definite hazards. The greatest of these is the terrain itself. “Off-roading” means you’ve left the great North American road system behind. Traffic lanes aren’t marked. Curves aren’t banked. There are no road signs. Surfxes can be slippery, rough, uphill or downhill. In short, you’ve gone right back to nature. Off-road driving involves some new skills. And that’s why it’s very important that you read this guide. You’ll find many driving tips and suggestions. These will help make your off-road driving safer and more enjoyable.

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Before You Go Off-Roading There are some things to do before you go out. For example, be sure to have all necessary maintenance and service work done. Check to make sure all underbody shields (if so equipped) are properly attached. Be sure you read all the information about your four-wheel-drive vehicle in this manual. Is there enough fuel? Is the spare tire fully inflated? Are the fluid levels up where they should be? What are the local laws that apply to off-roading where you’ll be driving? If you don’t know, you should check with law enforcement people in the area. Will you be on someone’s private land? If so, be sure to get the necessary permission. Loading Your Vehicle for Off-Road Driving There are some important things to remember about how to load your vehicle.

The heaviest things should be on the load floor and forward of your rear axle. Put heavier items as far forward as you can. Be sure the load is secured properly, so driving on the off-road terrain doesn’t toss things around.

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4 CAUTION:

‘ ’

Cargo on the load floor piled higher than the seatbacks can be thrown forward during a sudden stop. You or your passengers could be injured. Keep cargo below the top of the seatbacks. Unsecured cargo on the load floor can be tossed about when driving over rough terrain. You or your passengers can be struck by flying objects. Secure the cargo properly. Heavy loads on the roof raise the vehicle’s center of gravity, making it more likely to roll over. You can be seriously or fatally injured if the vehicle rolls over. Put heavy loads inside the cargo area, not on the roof. Keep cargo in the cargo area as far forward and low as possible.

You’ll find other important information in this manual. See “Vehicle Loading,” “Luggage Carrier” and “Tires” in the Index.

Environmental Concerns Off-road driving can provide wholesome and satisfying recreation. However, it also raises environmental concerns. GM recognizes these concerns and urges every off-roader to follow these basic rules for protecting the environment:

Always use established trails, roads and areas that have been specially set aside for public off-road recreational driving; obey all posted regulations. Avoid any driving practice that could damage the environment -- shrubs, flowers, trees, grasses -- or disturb wildlife (this includes wheel-spinning, breaking down trees or unnecessary driving through streams or over soft ground). Always carry a litter bag -- make sure all refuse is removed from any campsite before leaving. Take extreme care with open fires (where permitted), camp stoves and lanterns. Never park your vehicle over dry grass or other combustible materials that could catch fire from the heat of the vehicle’s exhaust system.

Traveling to Remote Areas It makes sense to plan your trip, especially when going to a remote area. Know the terrain and plan your route. You are much less likely to get bad surprises. Get accurate maps of trails and terrain. Try to learn of any blocked or closed roads. It’s also a good idea to travel with at least one other vehicle. If something happens to one of them, the other can help quickly. Does your vehicle have a winch? If so, be sure to read the winch instructions. In a remote area, a winch can be handy if you get stuck. But you’ll want to know how to use it properly. Gett.ing Familiar with Off-Road Driving It’s a good idea to practice in an area that’s safe and close to home before you go into the wilderness. Off-road driving does require some new and different driving skills. Here’s what we mean. Tune your senses to different kinds of signals. Your eyes, for example, need to constantly sweep the terrain for unexpected obstacles. Your ears need to listen for unusual tire or engine sounds. With your arms, hands, feet and body, you’ll need to respond to vibrations and vehicle bounce.

Controlling your vehicle is the key to successful off-road driving. One of the best ways to control your vehicle is to control your speed. Here are some things to keep in mind. At higher speeds:

you approach things faster and you have less time to scm the terrain for obstacles. you have less time to react. you have more vehicle bounce when you drive over obstacles. you’ll need more distance for braking, especially since you’re on an unpaved surface.

When you’re driving off-road, bouncing and quick changes in direction can easily throw you out of position. This could cause you to lose control and crash. So, whether you’re driving on or off the road, you and your passengers should wear safety belts.

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Scanning the Terrain Off-road driving can take you over many different kinds of terrain. You need to be familiar with the terrain and its many different features. Here are some things to consider. Surface Conditions. Off-roading can take you over hard-packed dirt, gravel, rocks, grass, sand, mud, snow or ice. Each of these surfxes affects the steering, acceleration and braking of your vehicle in different ways. Depending upon the kind of surface you are on, you may experience slipping, sliding, wheel spinning, delayed acceleration, poor traction and longer braking distances. Swfuce Obsrdes. Unseen or hidden obstacles can be hazardous. A rock, log, hole, rut or bump can startle you if you’re not prepared for them. Often these obstacles are hidden by grass, bushes, snow or even the rise and fall of the terrain itself. Here are some things to consider:

Is the path ahead clear?

0 Will the surfxe texture change abruptly up ahead?

Does the travel take you uphill or downhill? (There’s more discussion of these subjects later.)

0 Will you have to stop suddenly or change

direction quickly?

Driving on Off-Road Hills Off-road driving often takes you up, down or across a hill. Driving safely on hills requires good judgment and an understanding of what your vehicle can and can’t do. There are some hiIls that simply can’t be driven, no matter how well built the vehicle.

Many hills are simply too steep for any vehicle. If you drive up them, you will stall. If you drive down them, you can’t control your speed. If you drive across them, you will roll over. You could be seriously injured or killed. If you have any doubt about the steepness, don’t drive the hill.

When you drive over obstacles or rough terrain, keep a firm grip on the steering wheel. Ruts, troughs or other surfax features can jerk the wheel out of your hands if you’re not prepared. When you drive over bumps, rocks, or other obstacles, your wheels can leave the ground. If this happens, even with one or two wheels, you can’t control the vehicle as well or at all. Because you will be on an unpaved surface, it‘s especially important to avoid sudden acceleration, sudden turns or sudden braking. In a way, off-road driving requires a different kind of alertness from driving on paved roads and highways. There are no road signs, posted speed limits or signal lights. You have to use your own good judgment about what is safe and what isn’t. Drinking and driving can be very dangerous on any road. And this is certainly true for off-road driving. At the very time you need special alertness and driving skills, your reflexes, perceptions and judgment can be affected by even a small amount of alcohol. You could have a serious -- or even fatal -- accident if you drink and drive or ride with a driver who has been drinking. See “Drunken Driving” in the Index.

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Approaching a Hill When you approach a hill, you need to decide if it’s one of those hills that’s just too steep to climb, descend or cross. Steepness can be hard to judge. On a very small hill, for example, there may be a smooth, constant incline with only a small change in elevation where you can easily see all the way to the top. On a large hill, the incline may get steeper as you near the top, but you may not see this because the crest of the hill is hidden by bushes, grass or shrubs. Here are some other things to consider as you approach a hill.

Is there a constant incline, or does the hill get sharply steeper in places? Is there good traction on the hillside, or will the surface cause tire slipping? Is there a straight path up or down the hill so you won’t have to make turning maneuvers?

Are there obstructions on the hill that can block your path (boulders, trees, logs or ruts)‘?

0 What’s beyond the hill? Is there a cliff, an

embankment, a drop-off, a fence? Get out and walk the hill if you don’t know. It’s the smart way to find out. Is the hill simply too rough? Steep hills often have ruts, gullies, troughs and exposed rocks because they are more susceptible to the effects of erosion.

Driving Uphill Once you decide you can safely drive up the hill, you need to take some special steps.

Use a low gear and get a firm grip on the steering wheel. Get a smooth start up the hill and try to maintain your speed. Don’t use more power than you need, because you don’t want your wheels to start spinning or sliding.

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0 Try to drive straight up the hill if at all possible. If the path twists and turns, you might want to find another route.

I b CAUTION:

Turning or driving across steep hills can be dangerous. You could lose traction, slide sideways, and possibly roll over. You could be seriously injured or killed. When driving up hills, always try to go straight up.

0 Ease up on your speed as you approach the top of the

hill. Attach a flag to the vehicle to make you more visible to approaching traffic on trails or hills.

0 Sound the horn as you approach the top of the hill to

let opposing traffic know you're there.

0 Use your headlamps even during the day. They make

you more visible to oncoming traffic.

' a hill --I full speed can

Driving tc -he top (cre cause an accident. There could be a drop-off, embankment, cliff, or even another vehicle. You could be seriously injured or killed. As you near the top of a hill, slow down and stay alert.

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What should I do if my vehicle stalls, or is about to stall, and I can’t make it up the hill?

A: If this happens, there are some things you should do, and these are some things you must not do. First, here’s what you shalrlcl do: Push the brake pedal to stop the vehicle and keep it from rolling backwards. Also, apply the parking brake. If your engine is still running, shift the transmission to REVERSE (R), release the parking brake, and slowly back down the hill in REVERSE (R). If your engine has stopped running, you’ll need to restart it. With the brake pedal depressed and the parking brake still applied, shift the transmission to PARK (P) (or, shift to NEUTRAL (N) if your vehicle has a manual transmission) and restart the engine. Then, shift to REVERSE (R), release the parking brake, and slowly back down the hill as straight as possible in REVERSE (R).

As you are backing down the hill, put your left hand on the steering wheel at the 12 o’clock position. This way, you’ll be able to tell if your wheels are straight and maneuver as you back down. It’s best that you back down the hill with your wheels straight rather than in the left or right direction. Turning the wheel too far to the left or right will increase the possibility of a rollover.

Here are sonie things you rnusf not do if you stall, or are about to stall, when going up a hill.

Never attempt to prevent a stall by shifting into NEUTRAL (N) (or depressing the clutch, if you have a manual transmission) to “rev-up” the engine and regain forward momentum. This won’t work. Your vehicle will roll backwards very quickly and you could go out of control. Instead, apply the regular brake to stop the vehicle. Then apply the parking brake. Shift to REVERSE (R), release the parking brake, and slowly back straight down. Never attempt to turn around if you are about to stall when going up a hill. If the hill is steep enough to stall your vehicle, it’s steep enough to cause you to roll over if you turn around. If you can’t make it up the hill, you must back straight down the hill.

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&.’ Suppose, after stalling, I try to back down the hill and decide I just can’t do it. What should 1 do?

A: Set the parking brake. put your transmission in PARK (Pj (or the manual transmission in FIRST ( I )) and turn off the engine. Leave the vehicle and go get some help. Exit on the uphill side and stay clear of the path the vehicle would take if it rolled downhill. Do not shift the transfer case to NEUTRAL (N) when you leave the vehicle. Leave it in some gear.

Shirring the transter ca-- to NEU 1 dAL (N) can cause your vehicle to roll even if the transmission is in PARK (P) (or, if you have the manual transmission, even if you’re in gear). This is because the NEUTRAL (N) position on the transfer case overrides the transmission. If you are going to leave your vehicle, set the parking brake and shift the transmission to PARK (P) (or, put your manual transmission in FIRST (I)). But do not shift the transfer case to the NEUTRAL (N) position. Leave the transfer case in the 2 Wheel, 4 High or 4 I,ow position.

Driving Downhill When off-roading takes you downhill, you’ll want to consider a number of things:

How steep is the downhill? Will I be able to maintain vehicle control? What’s the surface like? Smooth? Rough? Slippery? Hard-packed dirt? Gravel? Are there hidden surface obstacles? Ruts? Logs? Boulders? What’s at the bottom of the hill‘? Is there a hidden creek bank or even a river bottom with large rocks? If you decide YOU can go down a hill safely, then try to keep your vehicle headed straight down, and use a low gear. This way, engine drag can help your brakes and they won’t have to do all the work. Descend slowly, keeping your vehicle under control at all times,

’ A CAUTION:

Heavy braking when going down a hill can cause your brakes to overheat and fade. This could cause loss of control and a serious accident. Apply the brakes lightly when descending a hill and use a low gear to keep vehicle speed under control.

Are there some things I should not do when driving down a hill?

At Yes! These are important because if you ignore them you could lose control and have a serious accident.

0 When driving downhill, avoid turns that take you across the incline of the hill. A hill that’s not too steep to drive down may be too steep to drive across. You could roll over if you don’t drive straight down.

0 Never go downhill with the transmission in

NEUTRAL (N), or with the clutch pedal depressed in a manual shift, This is called “free-wheeling.” Your brakes will have to do all the work and could overheat and fade.

Am I likely to stall when going downhill?

A: It’s much more likely to happen going uphill. But if it happens going downhill, here’s what to do. Stop your vehicle by applying the regular brakes. Apply the parking brake. Shift to PARK (P) (or to NEUTRAL (N) with the manual transmission) and, while still braking, restart the engine. Shift back to a low gear, release the parking brake, and drive straight down. If the engine won’t start, get out and get help.

Driving Across an Incline Sooner or later, an off-road trail will probably go across the incline of a hill. If this happens, you have to decide whether to try to drive across the incline. Here are some things to consider: 0 A hill that can be driven straight up or down may be too steep to drive across. When you go straight up or down a hill, the length of the wheel base (the distance from the front wheels to the rear wheels) reduces the likelihood the vehicle will tumble end over end. But when you drive across an incline, the much more narrow track width (the distance between the left and right wheels) may not prevent the vehicle from tilting and rolling over. Also, driving across an incline puts more weight on the downhill wheels. This could cause a downhill slide or a rollover.

0 Surface conditions can be a problem when you drive across a hill. Loose gravel, muddy spots, or even wet grass can cause your tires to slip sideways, downhill. If the vehicle slips sideways, it can hit something that will trip it (a rock, a rut, etc.) and roll over.

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Q.’ What if I’m driving across an incline that’s not

too steep, but I hit some loose gravel and start to slide downhill. What should I do?

A: If you feel your vehicle starting to slide sideways, turn downhill. This should help straighten out the vehicle and prevent the side slipping. However, a much better way to prevent this is to get out and “walk the course” so you know what the surface is like before you drive it.

@ Hidden obstacles can make the steepness of the

incline even worse. If you drive across a rock with the uphill wheels, or if the downhill wheels drop into a rut or depression, your vehicle can tilt even more.

For reasons like these, you need to decide carefully whether to try to drive across an incline. Just because the trail goes across the incline doesn’t mean you have to drive it. The last vehicle to try it might have rolled over.

1 A CAUTION:

. . -.

r:

:. *. -

Driving across an incline that’s too steep will make your vehicle roll over. You could be seriously injured or killed. If you have any doubt