1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette Owners Manual

push the reset button which is located above and to the right of the temperature gage.

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Tachometer

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I-;1 R

The tachometer displays the engine speed in revolutions per minute (rpm).

I NOTICE:

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

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Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators This part describes the warning lights and gages that may be on your vehicle. The pictures will help you locate them. Warning lights and gages can signal that something is wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause an expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to your warning lights and gages could also save you or others from injury. Warning lights come on when there may be or is a problem with one of your vehicle’s functions. As you will see in the details on the next few pages, some warning lights come on briefly when you start the engine just to let you know they’re working. If you are familiar with this section, you should not be alarmed when this happens. Gages can indicate when there may be or is a problem with one of your vehicle’s functions. Often gages and warning lights work together to let you know when there’s a problem with your vehicle.

When one of the warning lights comes on and stays on when you are driving, or when one of the gages shows there may be a problem, check the section that tells you what to do about it. Please follow this manual’s advice. Waiting to do repairs can be costly -- and even dangerous. So please get to know your warning lights and gages. They’re a big help. Safety Belt Reminder Light When the key is turned to RUN or START, a chime will come on for about eight seconds to remind people to fasten their safety belts.

The safety belt light will also come on and stay on for about 70 seconds. If the driver’s belt is already buckled, neither the chime nor the light will come on.

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

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

If the air bag readiness light stays on after you start the engine or comes on when you are driving, your air bag system may not work properly. Have your vehicle serviced right away. The air bag readiness light should flash for a few seconds 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.

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Charging System Indicator Light

The charging system light will come on when you turn on the ignition as a check to show you it is working. It will remain on as long as the engine is not running.

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

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

BRAKE

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Canadian

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.

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, or if the anti-lock brake system warning light is flashing, have the vehicle towed for service. (See “Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light” and “Towing Your Vehicle” in the Index .)

I A CAUTION:

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

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

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

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A CAUTION:

Traction Control System Warning Light (Option)

This warning light should come on briefly as you start the engine. If the warning light doesn’t come on then, have it fixed so it will be ready to warn you if there’s a problem.

If it stays on, or comes on when you’re driving, there may be a problem with your traction control system and your vehicle may need service. When this warning light is on, the system will not limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.

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

If the anti-lock brake system warning light stays on longer than normal after you’ve started your engine, turn the ignition off. Or, if the light comes on and stays on when you’re driving, stop as soon as possible and turn the ignition off. Then start the engine again to reset the system. If the light still stays on, or comes on again while you’re driving, your vehicle needs service. If the light is on but not flashing and the regular brake system warning light isn’t on, you still have brakes, but you don’t have anti-lock brakes. The anti-lock brake system warning light should come on briefly when you turn the ignition key to 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. 2-90

The traction control system warning light may come on for the following reasons:

If there’s a brake system problem that is specifically related to traction control, the traction control system will turn off and the warning light will come on. If your brakes begin to overheat, the traction control system will turn off and the warning light will come on until your brakes cool down. If the traction control system is affected by an engine-related problem, the system will turn off and the warning light will come on.

If the traction control system warning light comes on and stays on for an extended period of time when the system is turned on, your vehicle needs service.

Low Traction Light (Option)

LOW

TRACTION

If your vehicle has the traction control system, there will be a LOW TRACTION light on the instrument panel.

When your anti-lock system is adjusting brake pressure to help avoid a braking skid, or when your traction control system is limiting wheel spin, the LOW TRACTION light will come on. Slippery road conditions may exist if this light comes on, so adjust your driving accordingly. The light will come on and stay on for four seconds when your anti-lock system adjusts brake pressure for less than four seconds or when your traction control system limits wheel spin for less than four seconds. Otherwise, the light will go out as soon as the anti-lock system stops adjusting brake pressure or the traction control system stops limiting wheel spin. The LOW TRACTION light also comes on briefly, as a bulb check, when the engine is started. If the light doesn’t come on then, have it fixed so it will be there to tell you when the system is active.

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Engine Coolant Temperature Gage

Engine Temperature Warning Light b This light will come on when your engine gets too hot.

If this light comes on, it means that your engine coolant has overheated. If you have been operating your vehicle under normal driving conditions, you should pull off the road, stop your vehicle and turn off the engine as soon as possible. In “Problems on the Road,” this manual shows what to do. See “Engine Overheating” in the Index.

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This gage shows the engine coolant temperature. If the gage pointer moves into the red area, your engine is too hot! It means that your engine coolant has overheated. If you have been operating your vehicle under normal driving conditions, you should pull off the road, stop your vehicle and turn off the engine as soon as possible. In “Problems on the Road,” this manual shows what to do. See “Engine Overheating” in the Index.

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Low Coolant Light

If this light comes on, your system is low on coolant and the engine may overheat.

To prevent damage to your engine, immediate action is required. See “Engine Coolant” in the Index and have your vehicle serviced as soon as possible.

Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Service Engine Soon Light)

SERVICE ENGINE SOON

CHECK

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Canadian Your vehicle is equipped with a computer which monitors operation of the fuel, ignition and emission control systems. 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. The SERVICE ENGINE SOON light comes on and a chime will sound to indicate that there is a problem and service is required. Malfunctions often will be indicated by the system before any problem is apparent. This may prevent more serious damage to your vehicle. This system is also designed to assist your service technician in correctly diagnosing any malfunction.

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

Reducing vehicle speed. Avoiding hard accelerations. Avoiding steep uphill grades. If you are 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. Find a safe place to park your vehicle. Turn the key off, wait at least 10 seconds and restart the engine. If the light remains on steady, see “If the Light Is On Steady” following. If the light is still flashing, follow the previous steps, and drive the vehicle to your retailer or qualified service center for service.

NOTICE:

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

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:

Light Flashing -- A misfire condition has been detected. A misfire increases vehicle emissions and may damage the emission control system on your vehicle. Retailer or qualified service center diagnosis and service may be required. Light On Steady -- An emission control system malfunction has been detected on your vehicle. Retailer or qualified service center diagnosis and service may be required.

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

Have you recently changed brands of fwl? If so, be sure to fuel your vehicle with quality fuel (see “Fuel” in the Index). Poor fuel quality will cause your engine not to run as efficiently as designed. You may notice this as stalling after start-up, stalling when you put the vehicle into gear, misfiring, hesitation on acceleration or stumbling on acceleration. (These conditions may go away once the engine is warmed up.) This will be detected by the system and cause the light to turn on. If you experience one or more of these conditions, change the fuel brand you use. It will require at least one full tank of the proper fuel to turn the light off. If none of the above steps have made the light turn off, have your retailer or qualified service center check the vehicle. Your retailer has the proper test equipment and diagnostic tools to fix any mechanical or electrical problems that may have developed.

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Oil Pressure Light

Your vehicle is equipped with an oil pressure warning light. Your oil pressure light lets you know when you may have a problem with your engine oil pressure.

When the engine is running and this light comes on, the engine oil level may be too low. There may also be another problem causing low oil pressure.

A c ON: m 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.

I NOTICE:

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

Low Oil Level Light

If this light comes on, it means your engine is low on oil.

LEVEL

You need to check the oil level right away. Have your vehicle serviced immediately.

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Door Ajar Light

This light will come on if any of the doors or the liftgate are not completely closed and the ignition is turned to RUN or START.

If you shift the transaxle out of PARK (P) while the power sliding door is open or in the process of closing, and the power sliding door override feature is disabled, a buzzer will sound. This is a warning that the power sliding door is not completely closed.

Power Sliding Door Warning Light

'IF I

This light will come on if the power sliding door is not completely closed and the ignition is turned to RUN or START.

If you shift the transaxle out of PARK (P) and accelerate before the power sliding door latches closed, the door may reverse to the open position. A child or others could fall out of the vehicle and be injured. Always make sure the power sliding door is closed and latched before you drive away.

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Fuel Gage

e‘ EB

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Canadian

Your fuel gage tells you about how much fuel you have left, when the ignition is on. When the gage first indicates EMPTY (E), you still have a little fuel left, but you should get more soon. After filling the fuel tank, the gage will not read FULL (F) until the ignition is turned on. Here are four things that some owners ask about. None of these show a problem with your fuel gage: 0 At the service station, the gas pump shuts off before

the gage reads FULL (F).

It takes a little more or less fuel to fill up than the 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, brake or speed up. The gage doesn’t go back to EMPTY (E) when you turn off the ignition.

Low Fuel Warning Light

If your fuel is low, the warning light next to the fuel gage will go on and stay on until you add fuel.

If the warning light is still on after adding fuel, you need to reset the warning light. To reset the warning light, turn the ignition to OFF then to ON. If the light stays on, see your dealer for service. This light will also come on when you turn on the ignition, but the engine is not running, to show you it is worlung. If it doesn’t come on as you start your vehicle, have it fixed right away.

Driver Information Center (DIC) (Option)

The DIC will show information about the vehicle and the surroundings.

EnglishMetric Button (EM): You can change the display to a metric or English reading at any time by pressing E M

Mode Button (MODE): Press this button to cycle through three modes of operation -- Off, Compass/Temperature mode and Trip Computer mode. In the Trip Computer mode, pressing the MODE button cycles through the five displays. Press the MODE button after the last Trip Computer display to return the DIC to the OFF mode.

Off: No driver information is displayed in this mode of operation. Temperature/Compass Mode: One of eight compass readings and the outside temperature are displayed. If the temperature is below 38 OF (3 O C), the temperature reading will toggle between displaying the outside temperature and the word “ICE” for two minutes. Compass Variance Compass variance is the difference between magnetic north and geographic north. In some areas of the country, the difference is great enough to cause the compass to give false readings. If this occurs, the compass variance must be set.

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Setting the Variance

Turn the ignition on and cycle the DIC to the Compass/Temperature mode. Press both the E M and MODE buttons for approximately five seconds. The last entered variance zone number will be displayed. Press the E M button until the proper variance number, as shown on the map, is showing. Press the MODE button to set the new variance zone and resume normal operation.

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The display will show all the display segments for half a second to acknowledge the change in zone number.

Automatic Compass Calibration The compass is self-calibrating which eliminates the need to manually set the compass. When the vehicle is new, the calibration process may not be complete. In these cases the calibration symbol, C , will be displayed where the compass reading is normally displayed. To calibrate the compass, in an area free from large metal objects, make three 360" turns. The calibration symbol will turn off and the compass reading will be displayed.

Manual Compass Calibration If the compass appears erratic and the calibration symbol does not appear, you must manually put the compass into the calibration mode. Turn the ignition on and cycle the DIC to the Compassflemperature mode. Press both the E/M and MODE buttons for at least 10 seconds until the calibration symbol appears. Release both buttons and complete three 360" turns in an area free from large metal objects. The calibration symbol will turn off and the compass reading will be displayed.

Error Displays

An error of the vehicle’s speed sensor or fuel sender will cause -E- to be displayed. In the absence of vehicle communications, a double dash “--” is displayed.

Trip Computer There are five trip computer displays which may be stepped through by pushing the MODE button. The information will appear in the following order:

Average Fuel Economy (AVG ECON): This shows the average fuel economy since the last reset. Instantaneous Fuel Economy (INST ECON): This shows fuel economy for the most recent second of driving.

Trip Range (RANGE): This shows the estimated distance that can be traveled with the remaining fuel. The fuel economy used to calculate range is based on the last few hours of driving.

0 Trip Fuel Used (FUEL USED): This shows the

accumulated fuel used since the last reset. Average Speed (AVG SPEED): This shows the average speed since the last reset. Resetting the Trip Computer Press and hold the MODE and E M buttons for at least two seconds. The reset is acknowledged with the display showing all segments on for a period of half a second. A reset can only be done in AVG ECON, FUEL USED and AVG SPEED displays. Resetting affects all three displays regardless of which display you are in.

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& NOTES

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Section 3 Comfort Controls and Audio Systc-;

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.

3-2 3-3 3-4 3-4 3-5 3-6 3-8 3-9 3-10

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Comfort Controls Air Conditioning Heating Defogging and Defrosting Rear Window Defogger Rear Climate Control (If Equipped) Ventilation System Setting the Clock for All Systems AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player and Automatic Tone Control AM-FM Stereo with Compact Disc Player and Automatic Tone Control (If Equipped)

3-18 3 -20 3-21 3 -24 3 -25 3 -25 3-26 3-27 3 -27 3-27

Rear Seat Audio (If Equipped) Remote Compact Disc Player (If Equipped) Theft-Deterrent Feature Audio Steering Wheel Controls (If Equipped) Understanding Radio Reception Tips About Your Audio System Care of Your Cassette Tape Player Care of Your Compact Discs Care of Your Compact Disc Player Integrated Windshield Antenna

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Comfort Controls This section tells you how to make your air system work for you. Your comfort control system uses ozone-friendly R- 134a refrigerant. With these systems, you can control the heating, cooling and ventilation in your vehicle. Your vehicle also has a flow-through ventilation system described later in this section.

Fan Knob The left knob is the fan knob and selects the force of air you want. Turn the knob to the right to increase fan speed and to the left to decrease fan speed. The fan must

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be turned on for the air conditioning compressor to operate.

Temperature Knob The center knob controls the temperature of the air coming through the system. Turn it to the left (toward the blue area) for cooler air. Turn it to the right (toward the red area) for warmer air.

Mode Knob This knob selects the direction of where the air will enter the vehicle. /J UPPER: This setting directs outside air through + 0 the instrument panel outlets. +fl BI-LEV: This setting directs outside air into your +e vehicle in two ways. Cooler air is directed toward your upper body through the front instrument panel outlets, while warmed air is directed through the heater ducts at your feet. +d LOWER: This setting brings in most of the air through the floor ducts. This setting is also used to send air to the rear of the vehicle. Keep the area under the front seats free of objects that could obstruct airflow to the rear of the vehicle.

w. +H DEFOG: This setting directs air to the windshield and through the floor ducts. This mode is particularly useful during cold or inclement weather because of your vehicle’s larger windshield area.

DEFROST This setting directs most of the air to

the windshield and side window vents.

Mode Buttons

RECIRC: Press this button (the light will glow) to limit the amount of fresh air entering your vehicle by recirculating much of the air inside your vehicle. You may use this setting to limit odors entering your vehicle. Press the OUTSIDE AIR button (the light on the RECIRC button will go off) to let outside air circulate into the vehicle.

OUTSIDE AIR: Press this button (the light will glow) to send outside air into your vehicle. Using this setting while trying to defrost or defog the windows will help clear the vents of moisture. Press the RECIRC button (the light on the OUTSIDE AIR button will go off> to limit outside air entering the vehicle. When the DEFOG or DEFROST setting is selected, the system will automatically go to OUTSIDE AIR mode.

Air Conditioning On very hot days, your vehicle will cool down more quickly and economically if you open the windows long enough to let hot, inside air escape. For all settings, adjust the temperature control knob and fan speed as desired. To get maximum cooling or a quick cool-down on very hot days, press the A/C and RECIRC buttons (the lights will glow) and turn the temperature knob to the left (toward the blue area). Adjust the mode knob to direct the air to the desired location. This setting should not be used for long periods of time because the air may become too cold and dry. Push the A/C button again (the light will go off) to turn off the air conditioning. When the air conditioner compressor is on, you may sometimes notice slight changes in your vehicle’s engine performance and power. This is normal. The system is designed to help fuel economy while it maintains the desired cooling level. The air conditioner removes moisture from the air, so you may sometimes notice water dripping from under your vehicle’s engine compartment when it is idling or after it has been turned off. This is normal.

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Heating Turn the temperature knob to the right (toward the red area) to warm the air. In the LOWER mode, outside air will be brought in and sent through the floor outlets. The heater works best if you keep your windows closed while using it. The BI-LEV setting is designed for use on sunny days when the air is only moderately warm or cool. On days like these, the sun may adequately warm your upper body, but your lower body may not be warm enough. For the best results, turn the temperature control knob to the middle position, and then adjust it for comfort. If you have the optional engine coolant heater and use it during cold weather, 0 “F (- 18 O C) or lower, your heating system will provide heat more quickly because the engine coolant is already warmed. See “Engine Coolant Heater” in the Index.

Defogging and Defrosting To rapidly defrost the windshield, turn the temperature control knob all the way to the right (to the red area) and turn the mode knob to DEFROST. Adjust the fan to the highest speed. To keep the windshield clear and bring in heated air through the heater ducts, turn the mode knob to DEFOG. When the temperature outside is above freezing, the air conditioner compressor will run in these settings to help remove moisture from the air. Your vehicle is equipped with side window defogger vents located on the top of the instrument panel. For additional side window defogging, turn the mode knob to the BI-LEVEL setting and adjust the fan to the highest speed. Aim the side vents on the instrument panel toward the side windows. For increased airflow to the side vents, close the center vents.

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Rear Window Defogger

Press REAR (the light will glow) to warm the defogger grid on the rear window.

Do not attach a temporary vehicle license across the defogger grid on the rear window.

I NOTICE:

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

The rear window defogger will turn off automatically after about 10 minutes of use. If you turn it on again, the defogger will operate for about five minutes. You can also turn the defogger off by turning off the ignition or pressing the switch again.

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Rear Climate Control (If Equipped) If you have the optional rear climate control, the rear seat passengers can control the temperature and the amount of air directed to the rear of the vehicle. The amount of air directed to the rear of the vehicle can also be adjusted using the front control for the rear fan. Set the main climate control mode knob to LOWER, DEFOG or DEFROST, when outside temperatures are cold or moderate, to send air to the rear of the vehicle through the lower vents. Set the main climate control mode knob to UPPER or BI-LEV to send air to the rear of the vehicle through the headliner outlets. To send conditioned air to the rear of the vehicle, press the A/C button (the light will glow) on the main climate controls. If you do not select N C , air directed to the rear of the vehicle will be cabin temperature.

Rear Fan Control This option comes with the rear climate controls. Keep the area around the base of the center instrument panel console and the area between and under the front seats free of objects that would obstruct airflow to the rear of the vehicle.

/ C

The rear fan control is located below the climate control system, in the switchbank.

O’@

’

REAR)

Turn the fan to the desired setting for the amount of air to be directed to the rear of the vehicle. The temperature of the air will be the same as the air in the front of the vehicle. The rear fan control in the instrument panel switchbank has an R setting which allows the rear passengers to use the rear climate control knobs to adjust the air through the rear air outlets.

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Rear Comfort Controls The rear climate control knobs are in a panel next to the second row seat. If your vehicle has the optional dual sliding doors, the panel is above the driver’s seat.

Turn the temperature knob to the blue area for cooler air, or to the red area for warmer air. To maintain a comfortable temperature in the rear, use either rear fan control to adjust the force of air coming through the rear outlets. Select the desired climate control mode using the directional controls on the instrument panel (see “Mode Knob” earlier in the section). The mode you choose will regulate both the front and rear climate control systems.

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Ventilation System Your vehicle’s flow-through ventilation system supplies outside air into the vehicle when it is moving. Outside air will also enter the vehicle when the fan is running. Your vehicle has air outlets that allow you to adjust the direction and amount of airflow inside the vehicle. Push the outlet up or down to direct airflow to your preference. Increase or reduce the amount of airflow by opening and closing the louvers. Opening and closing the louvers will also direct airflow from side to side. The air-flow through the vents can be shut off completely by turning the thumb-wheel next to each outlet all the way down. You can also stop outside air from entering by turning the fan to OFF and pushing the RECIRC button.

Rear Air Vents

~ 1 To maximize airflow through the rear heater outlet, i place the left bucket seat in the second row in the forward position (see “Adjusting Rear Seats” in the Index).

The vent behind the left rear seat is the cold air return vent. Be sure to keep it free of obstructions. Please keep the area around the base of the center instrument panel console and between and under the front seats free of objects that could obstruct airflow to the rear.

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Ventilation Tips

Keep the hood and front air inlet free of ice, snow or any other obstruction (such as leaves). This will allow the heater and defroster to work much better, reducing the chance of fogging the inside of your windows. When you enter a vehicle in cold weather, turn the blower fan to 5 for a few moments before driving off. This helps clear the intake ducts of snow and moisture, and reduces the chance of fogging the inside of your windows. Keep the area around the base of the center instrument panel console and the air path under the front seats clear of objects. This helps air to circulate throughout your vehicle. In cold weather, operating the system in the OUTSIDE AIR mode will improve the time it takes to warm the vehicle.

Audio Systems Your Delco Electronics 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 Electronics 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 All Systems Press and hold HR until the correct hour appears. Press and hold MN until the correct minute appears.

AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player and Automatic Tone Control

Playing the Radio PWR-VOL: Press this knob to turn the system on and off. To increase volume, turn the knob to the right. Turn it to the left to decrease volume. The knob is capable of rotating continuously. RECALL: Press this button to recall the station being played. If you press the button when the ignition is off, the clock will show for a few seconds.

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SCV: Your system has a feature called Speed-Compensated-Volume (SCV). With SCV, your audio system adjusts automatically to make up for road and wind noise as you drive. Set the volume at the desired level. Move the control ring behind the upper knob to the right to adjust the SCV. Then, as you drive, SCV automatically increases the volume, as necessary, to overcome noise at any particular speed. The volume level should always sound the same to you as you drive. If you don’t want to use SCV, turn the control all the way down. Each notch on the control ring allows for more volume compensation at faster vehicle speeds.

Finding a Station AM-FM: Press this button to switch between AM, FM1 and FM2. The display shows your selection. TUNE: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn it to choose radio stations. Push the knob back into its stored position when you’re not using it. SEEK: Press the right or left arrow to go to the next higher or lower station. The sound will mute while seeking.

SCAN: Press one of the SEEK arrows for two seconds, and SCAN will appear in the display. Use SCAN to listen to stations for a few seconds. The radio will go to a station, stop for a few seconds, then go on to the next station. Press SEEK again to stop scanning. The sound will mute while scanning. PUSHBUTTONS: The six numbered pushbuttons let you return to your favorite stations. You can set up to 18 stations (six AM, six FMl and six FM2). Just: 1. 2. 3. 4.

Turn the radio on. Press AM-FM to select the band. Tune in the desired station. Press AUTO TONE to select the equalization that best suits the type of station selected. Press and hold one of the six numbered buttons. The sound will mute. When it returns, release the button. Whenever you press that numbered button, the station you set will return and the AUTO TONE equalization that you selected will also be automatically selected for that button. Repeat the steps for each pushbutton.

5.

6.

PSCAN: Press this button to listen to each of your favorite stations stored on your pushbuttons for a few seconds. The radio will scan through each of the stations stored on your pushbuttons, except those stations with weak reception. The AUTO TONE setting stored for that pushbutton will be automatically chosen. Press P.SCAN or one of the pushbuttons again to stop scanning. P.SCAN will be displayed whenever the tuner is in the P.SCAN mode. The channel number (P1 -P6) will appear momentarily just before the frequency is displayed. In FM mode, this function will scan through both FM1 and FM2 preset stations and FM1 or FM2 will appear on the display.

Setting the Tone BASS: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn the knob to the right to increase bass and to the left to decrease bass. When you use this control, the radio’s AUTO TONE setting will switch to manual and the AUTO TONE display will go blank. TREB: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn the knob to the right to increase treble and to the left to decrease treble. When you use this control, the radio’s AUTO TONE setting will switch to manual and the AUTO TONE display will go blank. If a station is weak or noisy, you may want to decrease the treble.

3-11

Push these knobs back into their stored positions when you’re not using them. AUTO TONE: This feature allows you to choose preset bass and treble equalization settings designed for country/western, classical, news, rock, pop and jazz stations. C N will appear on the display when you first press AUTO TONE. Each time you press it, another setting will appear on the display. Press it again after JAZZ appears and the AUTO TONE display will go blank. Tone control will return to the BASS and TREB knobs. Also, if you use the BASS and TREB knobs, control will return to them and the AUTO TONE display will go blank. Use PUSHBUTTONS to program AUTO TONE.

Adjusting the Speakers BAL: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn the knob to the right for the right speakers and to the left for the left speakers. The middle position balances the sound between the speakers. FADE: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn the knob to the right to adjust the sound to the front speakers and to the left for the rear speakers. The middle position balances the sound between the speakers. Push these knobs back into their stored positions when you’re not using them. 3-12

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 in this player. If a tape is inserted when the ignition is on but the radio is off, the tape will begin playing. A tape symbol is shown in the center of the graphic display whenever a tape is inserted. When a tape is active, the tape symbol will be accompanied by a direction arrow. While the tape is playing, use the VOL, AUTO TONE, BAL, FADE, BASS and TREB controls just as you do for the radio. Other controls may have different functions when a tape is inserted. The display will show the tape symbol and an arrow to show which side of the tape is playing. If you hear nothing or hear just a garbled sound, it may not be in squarely. Press EJECT to remove the tape and start over. The player is able to detect a tight or broken tape, and will eject the tape. The radio will go back to playing the last station selected. The player automatically senses the cassette for metal or Cr02 and sets the pre-emphasis. Anytime a tape is inserted, the top side is selected to play first.

PREV (1): Press this button or the left SEEK arrow to go to the previous selection on the tape if the current selection has been playing for less than eight seconds. If the PREV button is pressed and the current selection has been playing for more than eight seconds, it will go to the beginning of the current selection. Your tape must have at least three seconds of silence between each selection for PREV or SEEK to work. The tape direction arrow blinks during PREV or SEEK operation. The sound will mute during PREV or SEEK operation. Press this button or one of the SEEK arrows again to return to normal play. PROG (2): Press this button to play the other side of the tape. NEXT (3): Press this button or the right SEEK arrow to go to the next selection on the tape. If you hold the button or press it more than once, the player will continue moving forward through the tape. Your tape must have at least three seconds of silence between each selection for NEXT or SEEK to work. The tape direction arrow blinks during NEXT or SEEK operation. The sound will mute during NEXT or SEEK operation. Press this button or one of the SEEK mows again to return to normal play. REV (4): Press this button to reverse the tape rapidly. Press it again to return to playing speed. The radio will play the last-selected station while the tape reverses.

00 (5): Press this button to reduce background noise. Note that the double-D symbol will appear on the display. Dolby Noise Reduction is manufactured under a license from Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. Dolby and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. FWD (6): Press this button to advance quickly to another part of the tape. Press the button again to return to playing speed. The radio will play the last-selected station while the tape advances. AM-FM: Press this button to play the radio when a tape is in the player. TAPE AUX: Press this button to change to the tape function when the radio is on. The tape symbol with an arrow will appear on the display when the tape is active. If your system is equipped with a remote playback device, pressing this button a second time will allow the remote device to play. EJECT Press this button to remove the tape. The radio will play. EJECT may be activated with either the ignition or radio off. Cassettes may be loaded with the radio off if this button is pressed first. If you leave a cassette tape in the player while listening to the radio, it may become warm.

3-13

CLN: If this message appears on the display, the cassette tape player needs to be cleaned. It will still play tapes, but you should clean it as soon as possible to prevent damage to the tapes and player. See “Care of Your Cassette Tape Player” in the Index. After you clean the player, press and hold EJECT for five seconds to reset the CLN indicator. The radio will display --- to show the indicator was reset.

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

CD Adapter Kits It is possible to use a CD adapter kit with your cassette tape player after activating the bypass feature on your tape player. To activate the bypass feature, use the following steps: 1. Turn the ignition to RUN or ACCESSORY. 2. Turn the radio off. 3. Press and hold the TAPE AUX button for five

seconds. The tape symbol on the display will flash for two seconds, indicating the feature is active. 4. Insert the adapter. It will power up the radio and

begin playing.

This override routine will remain active until EJECT is pressed.

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Playing the Radio PWR-VOL: Press this knob to turn the system on and off. To increase volume, turn the knob to the right. Turn it to the left to decrease volume. The knob is capable of rotating continuously. RECALL: Press this button to recall the station being played. If you press the button when the ignition is off, the clock will show for a few seconds.

SCV Your system has a feature called Speed-Compensated-Volume (SCV). With SCV, your audio system adjusts automatically to make up for road and wind noise as you drive. Set the volume at the desired level. Move the control ring behind the upper knob to the right to adjust the SCV. Then, as you drive, SCV automatically increases the volume, as necessary, to overcome noise at any particular speed. The volume level should always sound the same to you as you drive. If you don’t want to use SCV, turn the control all the way down. Each notch on the control ring allows for more volume compensation at faster vehicle speeds. Finding a Station AM-FM: Press this button to switch between AM, FMl and FM2. The display shows your selection. TUNE: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn it to choose radio stations. Push the knob back into its stored position when you’re not using it. SEEK: Press the right or left arrow to go to the next higher or lower station. The sound will mute while seeking.

SCAN: Press one of the SEEK arrows for two seconds, and SCAN will appear on the display. Use SCAN to listen to stations for a few seconds. The radio will go to a station, stop for a few seconds, then go on to the next station. Press SEEK again to stop scanning. The sound will mute while scanning. PUSHBUTTONS: The six numbered pushbuttons let you return to your favorite stations. You can set up to 18 stations (six AM, six FM1 and six FM2). Just: 1. 2. 3. 4.

Turn the radio on. Press AM-FM to select the band. Tune in the desired station. Press AUTO TONE to select the equalization that best suits the type of station selected. Press and hold one of the six numbered buttons. The sound will mute. When it returns, release the button. Whenever you press that numbered button, the station you set will return and the AUTO TONE equalization that you selected will also be automatically selected for that button. Repeat the steps for each pushbutton.

5.

6.

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P.SCAN: Press this button to listen to each of your favorite stations stored on your pushbuttons for a few seconds. The radio will scan through each of the stations stored on your pushbuttons, except those stations with weak reception. The AUTO TONE setting stored for that pushbutton will be automatically chosen. Press P.SCAN or one of the pushbuttons again to stop scanning. P.SCAN will be displayed whenever the tuner is in the P.SCAN mode. The channel number (PI-P6) will appear momentarily just before the frequency is displayed. In FM mode, this function will scan through both FM1 and FM2 preset stations and FM 1 or FM2 will appear on the display.

Setting the Tone BASS: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn the knob to the right to increase bass and to the left to decrease bass. When you use this control, the radio’s AUTO TONE setting will switch to manual and the AUTO TONE display will go blank. TREB: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn the knob to the right to increase treble and to the left to decrease treble. When you use this control, the radio’s AUTO TONE setting will switch to manual and the AUTO TONE display will go blank. If a station is weak or noisy, you may want to decrease the treble.

3-16

Push these knobs back into their stored positions when you’re not using them. AUTO TONE: This feature allows you to choose preset bass and treble equalization settings designed for country/western, classical, news, rock, pop and jazz stations. CnV will appear on the display when you first press AUTO TONE. Each time you press it, another setting will appear on the display. Press it again after JAZZ appears and the AUTO TONE display will go blank. Tone control will return to the BASS and TREB knobs. Also, if you use the BASS and TREB knobs, control will return to them and the AUTO TONE display will go blank. Use PUSHBUTTONS to program AUTO TONE.

Adjusting the Speakers BAL: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn the knob to the right for the right speakers and to the left for the left speakers. The middle position balances the sound between the speakers. FADE: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn the knob to the right to adjust the sound to the front speakers and to the left for the rear speakers. The middle position balances the sound between the speakers. Push these knobs back into their stored positions when you’re not using them.

Playing a Compact Disc Insert a disc partway into the slot, label side up. The player will pull it in. The disc should begin playing. The display will show CD and the CD symbol. If you want to insert a compact disc with the ignition off, first press RECALL or EJECT. If you’re driving on a very rough road or if it’s very hot, the disc may not play and ERR (error) may appear on the display. Press RECALL to take ERR off the display. When things get back to normal, the disc should play. If the disc comes out, it could be that: 0 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.)

PREV (1): Press this button or the left SEEK arrow to go to the previous track if the current selection has been playing for less than eight seconds. If the PREV button is pressed and the current selection has been playing for more than eight seconds, it will go to the beginning of the current selection. If you hold the button or press it more than once, the player will continue moving back through the disc. The sound will mute while seeking.

RDM (2): Press this button to hear the tracks in random, rather than sequential, order. RANDOM will show on the display. Press RDM again to turn off random play. RDM is reset to off when the disc is ejected. NEXT (3): Press this button or the right SEEK arrow to go to the next track. If you hold the button or press it more than once, the player will continue moving forward through the disc. The sound will mute while seeking. REV (4): Press and hold this button to quickly reverse within a track. Release it to play the passage. You can use the counter reading on the display to locate a passage more easily. FWD (6): Press and hold this button to advance quickly within a track. Release it to resume playing. You can use the counter reading on the display to locate a passage easily. RECALL: Press this button to see which track is playing. Press it again within five seconds to see how long it has been playing (elapsed time). The track number also appears when you change the volume or when a new track starts to play.

If you turn off the ignition or radio with a disc in the player, it will stay in the player. When you turn on the ignition or system, the disc will start playing where it was stopped. If you press EJECT but don’t remove the disc, the player will pull the disc back in to protect it after about one minute. If you leave a compact disc in the player while listening to the radio, it may become warm.

This feature allows rear seat passengers to listen to a different music source than the front seat passengers including AM-FM automatic tone control, cassette tapes or CDs. For example, rear seat passengers may listen to a cassette tape or CD through headphones while the driver listens to the radio through the front speakers. The rear seat passengers have control of the volume for each headphone. Be aware that the front seat audio controls always override the rear seat audio controls. Note that this feature is intended for rear seat passengers.

3-18

PWR: Press this button to turn the rear seat audio system on or off. The rear speakers will be muted when the power is turned on. You may operate the rear seat audio functions even when the primary radio power is off. VOL: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn the knob to the right to increase volume and to the left to decrease volume. Push the knob back into its stored position when you’re not using it. The upper VOL knob controls the upper headphone and the lower VOL knob controls the lower headphone. AM-FM: Press this button to switch between AM, FMl and FM2. If the front passengers are already listening to AM-FM, the rear seat audio controller will not switch between the bands and cannot change the frequency. SEEK: Press the up arrow to tune to the next higher station and stay there. Press the down arrow to tune to the next lower station and stay there. The sound will mute while seeking. The SEEK button is inactive if the AM-FM mode on the front radio is in use. If your vehicle is equipped with the AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player and Automatic Tone Control, while listening to a cassette tape, press the up arrow to hear the next selection on the tape. Press the down arrow to go back to the previous selection. The SEEK button is inactive if the cassette mode on the front radio is in use.

If your vehicle is equipped with the AM-FM Stereo with Compact Disc Player and Automatic Tone Control or the Remote Compact Disc Player, while listening to a compact disc, press the up arrow to hear the next selection on the compact disc. Press the down arrow to go back to the previous selection. The SEEK button is inactive if the CD mode on the front radio is in use. P.SET PROG: The front passengers must be listening to something different for each of these functions to work:

Press this button to seek through your preset radio stations set on your primary radio pushbuttons. When a cassette tape is playing, press this button to go to the other side of the tape.

TAPE CD: With a cassette tape in the player and the radio playing, press this button to play a cassette tape. Press TAPE CD to switch between the tape and compact disc if both are loaded. Press AM-FM to return to the radio when a cassette tape or compact disc is playing. The inactive tape or CD will remain safely inside the radio for future listening.

Remote Compact Disc Player (If Equipped)

If you have this option, you can play up to 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 automatically be pulled into the player. If the radio is off and the ignition is on when a CD is inserted, the radio will turn on and begin playing the CD. It is possible to load and unload CDs 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.

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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 comer. The track number will also be displayed. 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 retail facility if any error recurs or cannot be corrected. 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. 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. 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. As the CD advances, elapsed time will be displayed to help you find the correct passage. 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. RANDOM: Press PSCAN 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. If 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. 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.

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. EJECT: Press this button on the remote player to eject a compact disc. 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. Your audio system is equipped with THEFTLOCK if THEFTLOCK is displayed on the front of the radio. 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 has been interrupted. 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. Turn the ignition to ACCESSORY or RUN. 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.

2. 3. 4.

5. Press MN and 000 will appear on the display. 6. Press MN again to make the last two digits agree

with your code.

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

with your code.

8. 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.

9. 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.

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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 retailer.

Disabling the Theft-Deterrent Feature Enter your secret code as follows; pause no more than 15 seconds between steps:

1. Turn the ignition to ACCESSORY or RUN. 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 removed and later applied to a secured radio, the radio won’t turn on and LOC will appear on the display. To unlock a secured radio, see “Unlocking the Theft-Deterrent Feature After a Power Loss” earlier in this section.

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

MUTE: Press this button to silence the system. Press it again to turn on the sound. This button may be used when listening to the radio, a cassette tape or a compact disc.

VOL: Press the up or down arrow to increase or decrease volume. PLAY: Press this button to play a cassette tape or compact disc when the radio is playing.

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SEEK: Press the up arrow to tune to a higher radio station and the down arrow to tune to a lower radio station. The sound will mute while seeking. When playing a cassette tape or compact disc, press SEEK to hear the next selection. AM-FM: Press this button to choose AM or FM. PRESET Press this button to play a station you have programmed on the radio preset buttons.

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

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

To help avoid hearing loss or damage: 0 Adjust the volume control to the lowest setting. 0 Increase volume slowly until you hear comfortably

and clearly.

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

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Care of Your Cassette Tape Player A tape player that is not cleaned regularly can cause reduced sound quality, ruined cassettes or a damaged mechanism. Cassette tapes should be stored in their cases away from contaminants, direct sunlight and extreme heat. If they aren’t, they may not operate properly or may cause failure of the tape player. Your tape player should be cleaned regularly after every 50 hours of use. Your radio may display CLN to indicate that you have used your tape player for 50 hours without resetting the tape clean timer. If this message appears on the display, your cassette tape player needs to be cleaned. It will still play tapes, but you should clean it as soon as possible to prevent damage to your tapes and player. If you notice a reduction in sound quality, try a known good cassette to see if it is the tape or the tape player at fault. If this other cassette has no improvement in sound quality, clean the tape player. The recommended cleaning method for your cassette tape player is the use of a scrubbing action, non-abrasive cleaning cassette with pads which scrub the tape head as the hubs of the cleaner cassette turn. The recommended cleaning cassette is available through your retail facility (GM Part No. 12344789).

When using a scrubbing action, non-abrasive cleaning cassette, it is normal for the cassette to eject because your unit is equipped with a cut tape detection feature and a cleaning cassette may appear as a broken tape. To prevent the cleaning cassette from being ejected, use the following steps. 1. Turn the ignition to RUN or ACCESSORY. 2. Turn the radio off. 3. Press and hold the TAPE AUX button for five

seconds. The tape symbol on the display will flash for two seconds.

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

recommended cleaning time.

When the cleaning cassette has been ejected, the cut tape detection feature is active again. You may also choose a non-scrubbing action, wet-type cleaner which uses a cassette with a fabric belt to clean the tape head. This type of cleaning cassette will not eject on its own. A non-scrubbing action cleaner may not clean as thoroughly as the scrubbing type cleaner. The use of a non-scrubbing action, dry-type cleaning cassette is not recommended.

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After you clean the player, press and hold EJECT for five seconds to reset the CLN indicator. The radio will display --- to show the indicator was reset. Cassettes are subject to wear and the sound quality may degrade over time. Always make sure the cassette tape is in good condition before you have your tape player serviced. Care of Your Compact Discs Handle discs carefully. Store them in their original cases or other protective cases and away from direct sunlight and dust. If the surface of a disc is soiled, dampen a clean, soft cloth in a mild, neutral detergent solution and clean it, wiping from the center to the edge. Be sure never to touch the signal surface when handling discs. Pick up discs by grasping the outer edges or the edge of the hole and the outer edge.

Care of Your Compact Disc Player The use of CD lens cleaner discs is not advised, due to the risk of contaminating the lens of the CD optics with lubricants internal to the CD mechanism. Integrated Windshield Antenna The antenna in your vehicle is a very thin, metal layer in the windshield. If you look near the edges of the windshield, you can see the outline of the antenna. The connector is at the top of the windshield, where the headliner ends. If you experience difficulty with remote transmitters, such as a garage door opener, try pointing the device through the very top of the windshield.

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kb NOTES

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Section 4 Your Driving and the Road

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

4-2 4-3 4-6 4-6 4-11 4- 13 4-13 4- 15 4- 16

Defensive Driving Drunken Driving Control of a Vehicle Braking Steering Off-Road Recovery Passing Loss of Control Driving at Night

4-1 8 4-2 1 4-22 4-23 4-24 4-24 4-26 4-30 4-33

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

4-1

Defensive driving really means “be ready for anything.” On city streets, rural roads or freeways, it means “always expect the unexpected.” Assume that pedestrians or other drivers are going to be careless and make mistakes. Anticipate what they might do. Be ready for their mistakes. Rear-end collisions are about the most preventable of accidents. Yet they are common. Allow enough following distance. It’s the best defensive driving maneuver, in both city and rural driving. You never know when the vehicle in front of you is going to brake or turn suddenly. Defensive driving requires that a driver concentrate on the driving task. Anything that distracts from the driving task -- such as concentrating on a cellular telephone call, reading, or reaching for something on the floor -- makes proper defensive driving more difficult and can even cause a collision, with resulting injury. Ask a passenger to help do things like this, or pull off the road in a safe place to do them yourself. These simple defensive driving techniques could save your life.

Defensive Driving The best advice anyone can give about driving is: Drive defensively. Please start with a very important safety device in your Oldsmobile: Buckle up. (See “Safety Belts” in the Index.)

4-2

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

0 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, over 17,000 annual motor vehicle-related deaths have been associated with the use of alcohol, with more than 300,000 people injured. Many adults -- by some estimates, nearly half the adult population -- choose never to drink alcohol, so they never drive after drinking. For persons under 21, it’s against the law in every U.S. state to drink alcohol. There are good medical, psychological and developmental reasons for these laws.

The obvious way to solve 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: 0 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 (120 ml) glasses of wine or three mixed drinks if each had 1 - 1/2 ounces (45 ml) of a liquor like whiskey, gin or vodka.

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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.

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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 drinlung.

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. a driver Please don’t drink and drive or ride with who has been drinking. Ride home in a cab; or if you’re with a group, designate a driver who will not drink.

~

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

, at the places where the tires meet the road.

I Sometimes, as when you’re driving on snow or ice, it’s

I easy to ask more of those control systems than the tires and road can provide. That means you can lose control of your vehicle.

Braking Braking action involves perception time and reaction time. First, you have to decide to push on the brake pedal. That’s perception time. Then you have to bring up your foot and do it. That’s reaction time. Average reaction time is about 3/4 of a second. But that’s only an average. It might be less with one driver and as long as two or three seconds or more with another. Age, physical condition, alertness, coordination and eyesight all play a part. So do alcohol, drugs and frustration. But even in 3/4 of a second, a vehicle moving at 60 mph (100 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; the condition of your brakes; the weight of the vehicle and the amount of brake force applied.

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

Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS) 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, or when you begin to drive away, your anti-lock brake system will check itself. You may hear a momentary motor or clicking noise while this test is going on, and you may even notice that your brake pedal moves a little. (You may also hear a clicking noise if you leave the ignition in the RUN position for about four seconds before starting the vehicle.) This is normal.

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

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

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

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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.

Remember: Anti-lock doesn’t change the time you need to get your foot up to the brake pedal or always decrease stopping distance. If you get too close to the vehicle in front of you, you won’t have time to apply your brakes if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops. Always leave enough room up ahead to stop, even though you have anti-lock brakes.

Using Anti-Lock Don’t pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal down firmly and let anti-lock work for you. You may feel a slight brake pedal pulsation or notice some noise, but this is normal.

LOW TRACTI

If your vehicle has the traction control system, this light will come on when your anti-lock system is adjusting brake pressure to help avoid a braking skid.

See “Low Traction Light” in the Index.

Traction Control System (If Equipped) Your vehicle may have a traction control system that limits wheel spin. This is especially useful in slippery road conditions. The system operates only if it senses that one or both of the front wheels are spinning or beginning to lose traction. When this happens, the system works the front brakes and reduces engine power to limit wheel spin.

LOW

TRACTION

This light will come on when the traction control system is limiting wheel spin. See “Low Traction Light” in the Index.

You may feel or hear the system working, but this is normal. If your vehicle is in cruise control when the traction control system begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise control will automatically disengage. When road conditions allow you to safely use it again, you may reengage the cruise control. (See “Cruise Control” in the Index.)

This light should come on briefly when you start the engine. If it stays on or comes on while you are driving, there’s a problem with your traction control system.

See “Traction Control System Warning Light” in the Index. When this warning light is on, the system will not limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly. The traction control system automatically comes on whenever you start your vehicle. To limit wheel spin, especially in slippery road conditions, you should always leave the system on. But you can turn the traction control system off if you ever need to. (You should turn the system off if your vehicle ever gets stuck in sand, mud, ice or snow. See “Rocking Your Vehicle” in the Index.)

c the TCS symbol on the C bottom of the button in the C center console switchbank. The indicator light on the traction control button will

c go off.

-I

If the system is limiting wheel spin when you press the button, the indicator light will go off, but the system will not turn off until there is no longer a current need to limit wheel spin. You can turn the system back on at any time by pressing the button again. The traction control system warning light should go off. Braking in Emergencies 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.

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

Suppose you’re steering through a sharp curve. Then you suddenly 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 out of the curve, and then accelerate gently into the straightaway.

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

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

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

/ /&

edge ot paved surface

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:

“Drive ahead.” Look down the road, to the sides and to crossroads for situations that might affect your passing patterns. If you have any doubt whatsoever about making a successful pass, wait for a better time. Watch for traffic signs, pavement markings and lines. If you can see a sign up ahead that might indicate a turn or an intersection, delay your pass. A broken center line usually indicates it’s all right (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.

to pass

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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. 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, wait your turn. But take care that someone isn’t trying to pass you as you pull out to pass the slow vehicle. Remember to glance over your shoulder and check the blind spot.

Check your mirrors, glance over your shoulder and start your left lane change signal before moving out of the right lane to pass. When you are far enough ahead of the passed vehicle to see its front in your inside mirror, activate your right lane change signal and move back into the right lane. (Remember that your right outside mirror is convex. The vehicle you just passed may seem to be farther away from you than it really is.)

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

on two-lane roads. Reconsider before passing the next vehicle. Don’t overtake a slowly moving vehicle too rapidly. Even though the brake lamps are not flashing, it may be slowing down or starting to turn.

0 If you’re being passed, make it easy for the

following driver to get ahead of you. Perhaps you can ease a little to the right.

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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.

In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle. Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking reasonable care suited to existing conditions, and by not “overdriving” those conditions. But skids are always possible. The three types of skids correspond to your vehicle’s three control systems. In the braking skid, your wheels aren’t rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, too much speed or steering in a curve causes tires to slip and lose cornering force. And in the acceleration skid, too much throttle causes the driving wheels to spin. A cornering skid and an acceleration skid are best