Notice: Driving with the engine coolant temperature warning light on could cause your vehicle to overheat. See “Engine Overheating” under Engine Coolant on page 5-23. Your vehicle could be damaged, and it might not be covered by your warranty. Never drive with the engine coolant temperature warning light on. This light will also come on when starting your vehicle. If it doesn’t, have your vehicle serviced.
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Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
Low Coolant Warning Light
This gage measures the temperature of the vehicle’s engine. If the indicator needle moves into the shaded area, the engine is too hot. A temperature indicator light will turn on and a chime will sound.
If you have been operating your vehicle under normal driving conditions, and the temperature indicator light comes on, you should pull off the road, stop your vehicle and turn off the engine as soon as possible.
This light comes on briefly when you turn your ignition on.
If this light comes on and stays on, the coolant level in your vehicle is low. If the light is on along with an overheat warning, you may have a serious overheating problem. See Engine Coolant Temperature Gage on page 3-33. Notice: Driving with the low coolant warning light on could cause your vehicle to overheat. See “Engine Overheating” under Engine Coolant on page 5-23. Your vehicle could be damaged and the damages might not be covered by your warranty. See Engine Coolant on page 5-23 for information on what to do. Your vehicle should be serviced as soon as possible.
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If you keep driving your vehicle with this
Notice: light on, after a while, your emission controls may not work as well, your fuel economy may not be as good and your engine may not run as smoothly. This could lead to costly repairs that may not be covered by your warranty. Notice: Modifications made to the engine, transaxle, exhaust, intake or fuel system of your vehicle or the replacement of the original tires with other than those of the same Tire Performance Criteria (TPC) can affect your vehicle’s emission controls and may cause this light to come on. Modifications to these systems could lead to costly repairs not covered by your warranty. This may also result in a failure to pass a required Emission Inspection/Maintenance test.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp Service Engine Soon Light
Your vehicle is equipped with a computer which monitors operation of the fuel, ignition and emission control systems.
This system is called OBD II (On-Board Diagnostics-Second Generation) and is intended to assure that emissions are at acceptable levels for the life of the vehicle, helping to produce a cleaner environment. The SERVICE ENGINE SOON light comes on to indicate that there is a problem and service is required. Malfunctions often will be indicated by the system before any problem is apparent. This may prevent more serious damage to your vehicle. This system is also designed to assist your service technician in correctly diagnosing any malfunction.
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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 does not 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. Diagnosis and service may be required. Light On Steady — An emission control system malfunction has been detected on your vehicle. Diagnosis and service may be required.
If the Light Is Flashing The following may prevent more serious damage to your vehicle: (cid:127) Reducing vehicle speed. (cid:127) Avoiding hard accelerations. (cid:127) 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 see your retailer for service as soon as possible. If the Light Is On Steady You may be able to correct the emission system malfunction by considering the following: Did you recently put fuel into your vehicle? If so, reinstall the fuel cap, making sure to fully install the cap. See Filling Your Tank on page 5-8. The diagnostic system can determine if the fuel cap has been left off or improperly installed. A loose or missing fuel cap will allow fuel to evaporate into the atmosphere. A few driving trips with the cap properly installed should turn the light off. Did you just drive through a deep puddle of water? If so, your electrical system may be wet. The condition will usually be corrected when the electrical system dries out. A few driving trips should turn the light off.
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(cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) Have you recently changed brands of fuel? If so, be sure to fuel your vehicle with quality fuel. See Gasoline Octane on page 5-5. 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, your retailer can check the vehicle. Your retailer has the proper test equipment and diagnostic tools to fix any mechanical or electrical problems that may have developed.
Emissions Inspection and Maintenance Programs Some state/provincial and local governments have or may begin programs to inspect the emission control equipment on your vehicle. Failure to pass this inspection could prevent you from getting a vehicle registration. Here are some things you need to know in order to help your vehicle pass an inspection: Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if the SERVICE ENGINE SOON light is on or not working properly. Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if the OBD (on-board diagnostic) system determines that critical emission control systems have not been completely diagnosed by the system. The vehicle would be considered not ready for inspection. This can happen if you have recently replaced your battery or if your battery has run down. The diagnostic system is designed to evaluate critical emission control systems during normal driving. This may take several days of routine driving. If you have done this and your vehicle still does not pass the inspection for lack of OBD system readiness, your retailer can prepare the vehicle for inspection.
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Oil Pressure Light
If you have a low engine oil pressure problem, this light will stay on after you start your engine, or come on when you are driving. This indicates that your engine is not receiving enough oil.
The engine could be low on oil, or could have some other oil problem. Have it fixed immediately. The oil light may also come on when the ignition is on but the engine is not running, the light will come on as a test to show you it is working, but the light will go out when you turn the ignition to START. If it doesn’t come on with the ignition on, you may have a problem with the fuse or bulb. Have it fixed right away.
{CAUTION:
Do not keep driving if the oil pressure is low. If you do, your engine can become so hot that it catches fire. You or others could be burned. Check your oil as soon as possible and have your vehicle serviced.
Notice: Lack of proper engine oil maintenance may damage the engine. The repairs would not be covered by your warranty. Always follow the maintenance schedule in this manual for changing engine oil.
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Change Engine Oil Light
Reduced Engine Power Light
If this light comes on and stays on, it means that service is required for your vehicle.
This light will come on briefly when you start the engine.
This light is displayed when a noticeable reduction in the vehicle’s performance may occur. Stop the vehicle and turn off the ignition. Wait for 10 seconds and restart your vehicle. This may correct the condition. The vehicle may be driven at a reduced speed when the reduced engine power light is on but acceleration and speed may be reduced. The performance may be reduced until the next time you drive your vehicle. If this light stays on, see your retailer as soon as possible for diagnosis and repair.
See Scheduled Maintenance on page 6-4 Engine Oil on page 5-16 for more information. Security Light
Your vehicle is equipped with a Passlock® theft-deterrent system. With this system, the security light will flash as you open the door if your ignition is off.
For more information, see Passlock® on page 2-18.
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Daytime Running Lamps Indicator Light
Trunk Ajar Light
This light is located on the instrument panel cluster. It goes on whenever the Daytime Running Lamps are on.
If this light comes on, your trunk or liftgate is ajar. Try closing the trunk or liftgate again. Never drive with the trunk or liftgate open.
See Daytime Running Lamps under Exterior Lamps on page 3-13 for further information.
Low Washer Fluid Warning Light
This light will come on when your vehicle is low on windshield washer fluid.
Service Vehicle Soon Light
This light will come on if you have certain non-emission related vehicle problems.
Take your vehicle in for service as soon as possible.
For more information, see Windshield Washer Fluid on page 5-35.
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The gage moves a little when you turn a corner or speed up. The gage takes a few seconds to stabilize after the ignition is turned on, and will go back to empty when you turn the ignition off.
For your fuel tank capacity, see Capacities and Specifications on page 5-98. Low Fuel Warning Light
The light next to the fuel gage will come on briefly when you are starting the engine.
This light also comes on when the fuel tank is low on fuel. When you add fuel the light should go off. If it doesn’t, have your vehicle serviced.
Fuel Gage
When the ignition is on, the fuel gage tells you about how much fuel you have left in your tank.
When the indicator nears empty, the low fuel light will come on. You still have a little fuel left, but you should get more soon. See Low Fuel Warning Light on page 3-40 for more information. Here are four things that some owners ask about. None of these show a problem with your fuel gage: (cid:127) At the service station, the fuel pump shuts off
before the gage reads full. 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.
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(cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) Audio System(s) Notice: Before adding any sound equipment to your vehicle, like a tape player, CB radio, mobile telephone, or two-way radio, make sure that it can be added by checking with your dealer. Also, check federal rules covering mobile radio and telephone units. If sound equipment can be added, it is very important to do it properly. Added sound equipment may interfere with the operation of your vehicle’s engine, 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.
Notice: Getting suntan lotion, hand lotion, or hand cleaner on the radio, will soften the paint, and the paint will eventually begin to peel. Repairs will not be covered by your vehicle’s warranty. Try not to get suntan lotion, hand lotion, or hand cleaner on the radio. If you do, wipe the lotion or cleaner off immediately. Figure out which audio system is in your vehicle, find out what your audio system can do, and how to operate all of its controls.
Setting the Time Press and hold the RCL button and at the same time press the HR arrow or the MIN arrow until the correct hour and minute appear on the display. The time can be set with the ignition on or off.
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AM-FM Radio
Finding a Station
AM FM: Press this button to switch between FM1, FM2, or AM. The display will show the selection. R TUNE Q: Press either arrow to select radio stations. R SEEK Q: Press the up or down arrow to go to the next or to the previous station and stay there.
The radio will only seek stations with a strong signal that are in the selected band.
SCN (Scan): Press this button to scan stations. The radio will go to a station, play for a few seconds, then go on to the next station. Press this button again to stop scanning.
The radio will only scan stations with a strong signal that are in the selected band.
Playing the Radio
ON (Power): Push this knob to turn the system on and off.
VOL (Volume): Turn this knob to increase or to decrease the volume.
RCL (Recall): Press this knob to switch the display between the radio station frequency and the time. When the ignition is off, press this knob to display the time.
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Setting Preset Stations Up to 18 stations (six FM1, six FM2, and six AM) can be programmed on the six numbered pushbuttons, by performing the following steps: 1. Turn the radio on. 2. Press AM FM to select FM1, FM2, or AM. 3. Tune in the desired station. 4. Press and hold one of the six numbered
pushbuttons until you hear a beep. Whenever that numbered pushbutton is pressed, the station that was set will return.
5. Repeat the steps for each pushbutton. If the battery has been disconnected or a radio fuse has been removed, the preset stations and time of day will need to be reset.
Using Automatic Set Use this feature to automatically save the radio preset pushbuttons with the stations with the strongest radio signals.
A.SET (Automatic Set): Press this button to have the radio automatically select the first 12 strongest radio stations for FM and the six strongest radio stations for AM.
To select the stations, perform the following: 1. Press AM FM to select FM1, FM2, or AM. 2. Press and hold AM FM until you hear a beep.
The radio will begin to search the current band. The radio will store the stations, starting from the lowest frequency, to each preset pushbutton. A.SET will appear on the display when the radio is finished storing the stations.
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Cancelling Automatic Set The radio retains the previously stored stations so they can be recalled when automatic set is canceled. Press and hold A.SET until you hear a beep. A.SET will no longer appear on the display. Setting the Tone (Bass/Treble)
BASS: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn the knob to increase or to decrease the bass.
TREB (Treble): Press the BASS knob lightly so it extends, then pull then knob out slightly. Turn the knob to increase or to decrease the treble. If a station is weak or noisy, decrease the treble. Push the knob back into it’s stored position when not in use.
Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)
BAL (Balance): To adjust the balance between the right and the left speakers, pull the VOL knob out slightly. Turn the knob to move the sound toward the right or the left speakers.
Push the knob back into it’s stored position when not in use.
FADE: To adjust the fade between the front and the rear speakers, turn the ring around the VOL knob.
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Radio with CD
Finding a Station
AM FM: Press this button to switch between FM1, FM2, or AM. The display will show your selection. R TUNE Q: Press the up or down arrow to select radio stations. R SEEK Q: Press the up or down arrow to go to the next or to the previous station and stay there.
The radio will seek only to stations that are in the selected band and only to those with a strong signal.
SCN (Scan): Press this button to scan stations. The radio will go to a station, play for a few seconds, then go on to the next station. Press this button again to stop scanning.
The radio will scan only to stations that are in the selected band and only to those with a strong signal.
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Playing the Radio
PUSH ON (Power): Press this knob to turn the system on and off.
VOL (Volume): Turn this knob to increase or to decrease volume.
RCL (Recall): Press this knob to switch the display between the radio station frequency and the time. Time display is available with the ignition turned off.
Setting Preset Stations The six numbered pushbuttons let you return to your favorite stations. You can set up to 18 stations (six FM1, six FM2, and six AM) by performing the following steps: 1. Turn the radio on. 2. Press AM FM to select FM1, FM2, or AM. 3. Tune in the desired station. 4. Press and hold one of the six numbered
pushbuttons until you hear a beep. Whenever you press that numbered pushbutton, the station you set will return.
5. Repeat the steps for each pushbutton. If the battery has been disconnected or a radio fuse has been removed, the preset stations and time of day will need to be reset.
Using Automatic Set Use this feature to automatically save the radio preset pushbuttons with the stations with the strongest radio signals.
A.SET (Automatic Set): Press this button to have the radio automatically select the first 12 strongest radio stations for FM and the six strongest radio stations for AM.
To select the stations, perform the following: 1. Press AM FM to select FM1, FM2, or AM. 2. Press and hold AM FM until you hear a beep.
The radio will begin to search the current band. The radio will store the stations, starting from the lowest frequency, to each preset pushbutton. A.SET will appear on the display when the radio is finished storing the stations. Cancelling Automatic Set The radio retains the previously stored stations so they can be recalled when automatic set is canceled. Press and hold A.SET until you hear a beep. A.SET will no longer appear on the display.
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Setting the Tone (Bass/Treble)
MODE: Press this button until BAS or TRE appears on the display. Press the plus or minus buttons to increase or to decrease. The display will show the bass or the treble level. If a station is weak or noisy, you may want to decrease the treble. Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)
MODE: To adjust the balance between the right and the left speakers, press this button until BAL appears on the display. Press the plus or minus buttons to move the sound toward the right or the left speakers.
To adjust the fade between the front and the rear speakers, press this button until FAD appears on the display. Press the plus or minus buttons to move the sound toward the front or the rear speakers.
Playing a CD Insert a CD partway into the slot, label side up. The player will pull it in and the CD should begin playing. The CD symbol will appear on the display. You can insert a CD with the ignition off. If you turn off the ignition or radio with a CD in the player, it will stay in the player. When you turn on the ignition or radio, the CD will start playing where it stopped, if it was the last selected audio source. As each new track starts to play, the track number will appear on the display. The CD player can play the smaller 8 cm single CDs with an adapter ring. Full-size CDs and the smaller CDs are loaded in the same manner. If playing a CD-R the sound quality may be reduced due to CD-R quality, the method of recording, the quality of the music that has been recorded, and the way the CD-R has been handled. You may experience an increase in skipping, difficulty in finding tracks and/or difficulty in loading and ejecting. If these problems occur try a known good CD.
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Do not add paper labels to CDs, they could get caught in the CD player. Do not play 3 inch CDs without a standard adapter CD. If an error appears on the display, see “CD Messages” later in this section.
1 PRV (Previous): Press this pushbutton to go to the start of the current track if more than eight seconds have played. If you hold this pushbutton or press it more than once, the player will continue moving backward through the CD.
2 NXT (Next): Press this pushbutton to go to the next track. If you hold this pushbutton or press it more than once, the player will continue moving forward through the CD.
3 REV (Reverse): Press and hold this pushbutton to reverse quickly within a track. Release it to play the track. The display will show the elapsed time of the track.
4 FWD (Forward): Press and hold this pushbutton to advance quickly within a track. Release it to play the track. The display will show the elapsed time of the track.
5 RDM (Random): Press this pushbutton to hear the tracks in random, rather than sequential, order. RDM will appear on the display. Press RDM again to turn off random play.
6 RPT (Repeat): Press this pushbutton to hear a track over again. RPT will appear on the display. The current track will continue to repeat. Press RPT again to turn off repeat play. Q TUNE SEEK R: Press the up arrow to go to the start of the current or of the previous track. Press the down arrow to go to the start of the next track. If you hold either arrow or press it more than once, the player will continue moving backward or forward through the CD.
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RCL (Recall): Press this button to see the track number. Press this button again to see how long the current track has been playing.
AM FM: Press this button to listen to the radio when a CD is playing. The inactive CD will remain safely inside the radio for future listening.
CD: Press this button to play a CD when listening to the radio. The CD symbol will appear on the display when a CD is loaded.
EJ (Eject): Press this button to eject a CD. Eject may be activated with either the ignition or radio off.
CD Messages If ERR appears on the display and the CD comes out, it could be for one of the following reasons:
It is very hot. When the temperature returns to normal, the CD should play.
(cid:127) You are driving on a very rough road. When the
road becomes smooth, the CD should play. The CD is dirty, scratched, wet, or upside down. The air is very humid. If so, wait about an hour and try again. There may have been a problem while burning the CD. The label may be caught in the CD player.
If the CD is not playing correctly, for any other reason, try a known good CD. If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error cannot be corrected, contact your retailer. If your radio displays an error message, write it down and provide it to your retailer when reporting the problem.
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(cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) Radio with Cassette and CD
Playing the Radio
PUSH ON (Power): Press this knob to turn the system on and off.
VOL (Volume): Turn this knob to increase or to decrease volume.
RCL (Recall): Press this knob to switch the display between the radio station frequency and the time. Time display is available with the ignition turned off. Finding a Station
AM FM: Press this button to switch between FM1, FM2, or AM. The display will show your selection. R TUNE Q: Press the up or down arrow to select radio stations. R SEEK SCAN Q: Press the up or down arrow to go to the next or to the previous station and stay there.
To scan stations, press and hold either arrow until you hear a beep. SCAN will appear on the display. The radio will go to a station, play for a few seconds, then go on to the next station. Press either arrow again to stop scanning.
The radio will seek and scan only to stations that are in the selected band and only to those with a strong signal.
Single CD Player Audio System Shown — Six-CD
CD Player Similar
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Setting Preset Stations The six numbered pushbuttons let you return to your favorite stations. You can set up to 18 stations (six FM1, six FM2, and six AM) by performing the following steps: 1. Turn the radio on. 2. Press AM FM to select FM1, FM2, or AM. 3. Tune in the desired station. 4. Press the AUTO TONE arrow to select the
equalization.
5. Press and hold one of the six numbered
pushbuttons until you hear a beep. Whenever you press that numbered pushbutton, the station you set will return and the equalization that you selected will be automatically stored for that pushbutton.
6. Repeat the steps for each pushbutton. If the battery has been disconnected or a radio fuse has been removed, the preset stations and time of day will need to be reset.
Using Automatic Set Use this feature to automatically save the radio preset pushbuttons with the stations with the strongest radio signals.
A.SET (Automatic Set): Press this button to have the radio automatically select the first 12 strongest radio stations for FM and the six strongest radio stations for AM.
To select the stations, perform the following: 1. Press AM FM to select FM1, FM2, or AM. 2. Press and hold AM FM until you hear a beep.
The radio will begin to search the current band. The radio will store the stations, starting from the lowest frequency, to each preset pushbutton. A.SET will appear on the display when the radio is finished storing the stations. Cancelling Automatic Set The radio retains the previously stored stations so they can be recalled when automatic set is canceled. Press and hold A.SET until you hear a beep. A.SET will no longer appear on the display.
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Setting the Tone (Bass/Treble)
BASS/TREB (Treble): Press and release this knob until BASS or TREB appears on the display. Turn the knob to increase or to decrease. The display will show the bass or the treble level. If a station is weak or noisy, you may want to decrease the treble. R AUTO TONE Q (Automatic Tone): Press either arrow to select customized equalization settings designed for country/western, jazz, news, pop, rock, and classical. There is also a flat setting that has been factory tuned for the best overall performance.
To return the bass and treble to the manual mode, press either arrow until CSTM is displayed. Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)
FADE/BAL (Balance): To adjust the balance between the right and the left speakers, press and release this knob until BAL appears on the display. Turn the knob to move the sound toward the right or the left speakers.
To adjust the fade between the front and the rear speakers, press and release this knob until FADE appears on the display. Turn the knob to move the sound toward the front or the rear speakers.
Playing a Cassette Tape Your tape player is built to work best with tapes that are up to 30 to 45 minutes long on each side. Tapes longer than that are so thin they may not work well in this player. The longer side with the tape visible should face to the right. If the ignition is on, the tape can be inserted and will begin playing. The tape symbol will appear on the display whenever a tape is inserted. If you hear nothing but a garbled sound, the tape may not be in squarely. Press EJ to remove the tape and start over. While the tape is playing, use the VOL, BASS/TREB/FADE/BAL, and AUTO TONE controls just as you do for the radio. The tape symbol will appear on the display and an arrow showing which side of the tape is playing. If you turn off the ignition or radio with a tape in the player, it will stay in the player. When you turn on the ignition or radio, the tape will start playing where it stopped, if it was the last selected audio source. Your tape bias is automatically set when a metal or chrome tape is inserted. If an error appears on the display, see “Cassette Tape Messages” later in this section.
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1 PREV (Previous): Press this pushbutton to go to the beginning of the current selection. Press this pushbutton again to go to the previous selection on the tape.
2 NEXT: Press this pushbutton to go to the next selection on the tape. The radio will play while the tape advances.
3 SIDE: Press this pushbutton to play the other side of the tape. 4 W (Dolby®): Press this button to remove background noise. 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.
6 RPT (Repeat): Press this pushbutton to hear a selection over again. RPT will appear on the display. The current selection will continue to repeat. Press this pushbutton again to off repeat play.
R REW (Rewind): Press the down arrow to rewind quickly within the tape. Press it again to return to playing speed. The radio will play while the tape rewinds. Q FF (Fast Forward): Press the up arrow to advance quickly within the tape. Press it again to return to playing speed. The radio will play while the tape advances.
AM FM: Press this button to listen to the radio when a tape is playing. The inactive tape will remain safely inside the radio for future listening.
CD TP (Tape) / AUX (Auxiliary): Press this button to play a tape when listening to the radio. Press this button to switch between the tape, CD, and DVD (if equipped) if loaded. The inactive tape, CD, or DVD will remain safely inside the radio for future listening.
EJ (Eject): Press this button, located to the left of the cassette tape slot, to eject a tape. Eject may be activated with the radio off.
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Cassette Tape Messages
ERR (Error): If this message appears on the display, the tape will not play because of one of the following errors.
The tape is tight and the player cannot turn the tape hubs. Remove the tape. Hold the tape with the open end down and try to turn the right hub counterclockwise with a pencil. Turn the tape over and repeat. If the hubs do not turn easily, your tape may be damaged and should not be used in the player. Try a new tape to make sure your player is working properly. The tape is broken. Try a new tape. The tape is wrapped around the tape head. Attempt to get the cassette out. Try a new tape.
CLEAN: If this message appears on the display, the cassette tape player needs to be cleaned. It will still play tapes, but you should clean it as soon as possible to prevent damage to the tapes and player. See Care of Your Cassette Tape Player on page 3-72.
If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error cannot be corrected, contact your retailer. If your radio displays an error message, write it down and provide it to your retailer when reporting the problem.
CD Adapter Kits It is possible to use a portable CD player adapter kit with your cassette tape player. Insert the adapter as you would insert a normal tape and the adapter should begin playing. The display and radio buttons will function the same. If the adapter cassette will not play, press the SIDE pushbutton to reverse the adapter. If the adapter still will not play, refer to the directions that came with the adapter. Playing the Single CD Player Insert a CD partway into the slot, label side up. The player will pull it in and the CD should begin playing. The CD symbol will appear on the display. You can insert a CD with the ignition off. If you turn off the ignition or radio with a CD in the player, it will stay in the player. When you turn on the ignition or radio, the CD will start playing where it stopped, if it was the last selected audio source. As each new track starts to play, the track number will appear on the display. The CD player can play the smaller 8 cm single CDs with an adapter ring. Full-size CDs and the smaller CDs are loaded in the same manner.
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(cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) If playing a CD-R the sound quality may be reduced due to CD-R quality, the method of recording, the quality of the music that has been recorded, and the way the CD-R has been handled. You may experience an increase in skipping, difficulty in finding tracks and/or difficulty in loading and ejecting. If these problems occur try a known good CD. Do not add paper labels to CDs, they could get caught in the CD player. Do not play 3 inch CDs without a standard adapter CD. If an error appears on the display, see “CD Messages” later in this section.
1 PREV (Previous): Press this pushbutton to go to the start of the current track. If you hold this pushbutton or press it more than once, the player will continue moving backward through the CD.
2 NEXT: Press this pushbutton to go to the next track. If you hold this pushbutton or press it more than once, the player will continue moving forward through the CD.
5 RDM (Random): Press this pushbutton to hear the tracks in random, rather than sequential, order. RDM will appear on the display. Press RDM again to turn off random play. When in random play, press the PREV pushbutton to repeat the current track one time.
6 RPT (Repeat): Press this pushbutton to hear a track over again. RPT will appear on the display. The current track will continue to repeat. Press RPT again to turn off repeat play. R REW (Rewind): Press and hold the down arrow to rewind quickly within a track. Release it to play the passage. The display will show the elapsed time of the track. Q FF (Fast Forward): Press and hold the up arrow to advance quickly within a track. Release it to play the passage. The display will show the elapsed time of the track. Q SEEK R: Press the up arrow to go to the start of the current or of the previous track. Press the down arrow to go to the start of the next track. If you hold either arrow or press it more than once, the player will continue moving backward or forward through the CD.
RCL (Recall): Press this button to see the track number. Press this button again to see how long the current track has been playing.
AM FM: Press this button to listen to the radio when a CD is playing. The inactive CD will remain safely inside the radio for future listening.
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CD TP (Tape): Press this button to play a CD when listening to the radio. Press this button to switch between the tape, CD, and DVD (if equipped) if loaded. The inactive tape, CD, or DVD will remain safely inside the radio for future listening.
EJ (Eject): Press this button, located to the left of the CD slot, to eject a CD. Eject may be activated with either the ignition or radio off.
If you eject a CD, but decide that you want to listen to it, press the CD/TP button. This will pull the CD back in and it will begin to play. Playing the Six–Disc CD Player If you turn off the ignition or radio with a CD in the player, it will stay in the player. When you turn on the ignition or radio, the CD will start playing where it stopped, if it was the last selected audio source. As each new track starts to play, the track number will appear on the display. The CD player can play the smaller 8 cm single CDs with an adapter ring. Full-size CDs and the smaller CDs are loaded in the same manner.
If playing a CD-R the sound quality may be reduced due to CD-R quality, the method of recording, the quality of the music that has been recorded, and the way the CD-R has been handled. You may experience an increase in skipping, difficulty in finding tracks and/or difficulty in loading and ejecting. If these problems occur try a known good CD. Do not add paper labels to CDs, they could get caught in the CD player. Do not play 3 inch CDs without a standard adapter CD. If an error appears on the display, see “CD Messages” later in this section.
LD/EJ (Load/Eject): Press the LD side of this button to load CDs into the CD player. This CD player will hold up to six CDs. To load or eject one CD, do the following: 1. Turn the ignition on. 2. Press and release the LD/EJ button. NUM will appear on the display. Flashing numbers at the bottom of the display indicate empty CD slots.
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3. Press the pushbutton (1-6) for the CD slot to load
or to eject. WAIT will appear on the display. If a CD is already loaded the CD will eject. If the CD slot is empty, LOAD will appear on the display, and a CD can be loaded.
4. Load a CD. Insert the CD partway into the slot,
label side up. The player will pull the CD in.
If you select an equalization setting for your CD, it will be activated each time you play a CD. If the radio is on or off, the CD will begin to play automatically. To load or eject all CDs, do the following: 1. Turn the ignition on. 2. Press and hold the LD/EJ button.
If any CDs are loaded, EJT will appear on the display and the CDs will begin to eject. When all slots are empty, LOAD will appear on the display.
3. Load, up to six CDs, in order, starting with slot 1. Loading will continue until all six CDs are loaded or load is stopped by pressing any other radio button.
You can cancel the loading or the ejecting of a CD by pressing the LD/EJ button once, if in NUM selection, or twice, if the CD is already loading or ejecting.
1 PREV (Previous): Press this pushbutton to go to the start of the current track. If you hold this pushbutton or press it more than once, the player will continue moving backward through the CD.
2 NEXT: Press this pushbutton to go to the next track. If you hold this pushbutton or press it more than once, the player will continue moving forward through the CD.
5 RDM (Random): Press this pushbutton once to hear the tracks on the current CD in random, rather than sequential, order. RDM will appear on the display.
Press this pushbutton twice to hear the tracks on all of the CDs loaded in random, rather than sequential, order. ALL RDM will appear on the display.
Press this pushbutton a third time to turn off random play.
6 RPT (Repeat): Press this pushbutton to hear a track over again. RPT will appear on the display. The current track will continue to repeat. Press RPT again to turn off repeat play.
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R REW (Rewind): Press and hold the down arrow to rewind quickly within a track. Release it to play the passage. The display will show the elapsed time of the track. Q FF (Fast Forward): Press and hold the up arrow to advance quickly within a track. Release it to play the passage. The display will show the elapsed time of the track. Q CD SEEK R: Press the up arrow to go to the previous CD. Press the down arrow to go to the next CD.
RCL (Recall): Press this button to see the track number, press this button again to see how long the current track has been playing.
AM FM: Press this button to listen to the radio when a CD is playing. The inactive CD will remain safely inside the radio for future listening.
AUX (Auxiliary): Press this button to play a CD when listening to the radio. Press this button to switch between the tape, CD, and DVD (if equipped) if loaded. The inactive tape, CD, or DVD will remain safely inside the radio for future listening.
CD Messages If ERR appears on the display and the CD comes out, it could be for one of the following reasons:
It is very hot. When the temperature returns to normal, the CD should play.
(cid:127) You are driving on a very rough road. When the
road becomes smooth, the CD should play. The CD is dirty, scratched, wet, or upside down. It is very humid. If so, wait about an hour and try again. There may have been a problem while burning the CD. The label may be caught in the CD player.
If the CD is not playing correctly, for any other reason, try a known good CD. If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error cannot be corrected, contact your retailer. If your radio displays an error message, write it down and provide it to your retailer when reporting the problem.
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(cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) Rear Seat Entertainment System Your vehicle may have a DVD Rear Seat Entertainment (RSE) system. The RSE system works with the vehicles audio system and includes a DVD radio, a video display screen, two sets of wireless headphones, and a remote control. Before You Drive The RSE is designed for rear seat passengers only. The driver cannot safely view the video screen while driving and should not try to do so. In severe or extreme weather conditions the RSE system may or may not work until the temperature is within the operating range. The operating range for the RSE system is above −4°F (−20°C) or below 140°F (60°C). If the temperature of your vehicle is outside of this range, heat or cool the vehicle until the temperature is within the operating range of the RSE system.
Headphones The RSE system includes two sets of wireless headphones. The headphones are used to listen to the DVD radio or an auxiliary device connected to the RCA jacks. The wireless headphones have an ON/OFF switch and a volume control. To use the headphones, turn the switch to ON. An indicator light located on the headphones will illuminate. If the light does not illuminate, the batteries may need to be replaced. See “Battery Replacement” later in this section for more information. Switch the headphones to OFF when not in use. The transmitters are located in the display above the video screen. The headphones will shut off automatically to save the battery power if the DVD system is shut off or if the headphones are out of range of the transmitters for more than three minutes. If you move too far forward or step out of the vehicle, the headphones will lose the audio signal. To adjust the volume on the headphones, use the volume control located on the right side. Notice: Do not store the headphones in heat or direct sunlight. This could damage the headphones and repairs would not be covered by your warranty. Keep the headphones stored in a cool, dry place.
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Stereo RCA Jacks
Battery Replacement To change the batteries, do the following: 1. Slide open the battery door located on the left side
of the headphones.
2. Replace the two AAA batteries in the compartment.
Make sure that they are installed correctly, using the diagram on the inside of the battery compartment.
3. Slide the battery door shut. If the headphones are to be stored for a long period of time, remove the batteries and keep them in a cool, dry place.
The RCA jacks are located behind the video screen on the overhead console. The RCA jacks allow audio or video signals to be connected from an auxiliary device such as a camcorder or a video game unit to the RSE. Adapter connectors or cables may be required to connect the auxiliary device to the RCA jacks. Refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for proper usage.
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The RCA jacks are color coded to match typical home entertainment system equipment. The yellow jack (right) is for the video input. The white jack (middle) is for the left audio input. The red jack (left) is for the right audio input. To use the auxiliary function, connect a camcorder or a video game unit to the RCA jacks and turn on the auxiliary device. If you want to view a DVD, insert the DVD into the DVD radio. The system will automatically switch to DVD and start to play. To switch between the auxiliary device and the DVD, press the AUX button on the DVD player or on the remote control. See “DVD Radio” and “Remote Control” later in this section for more information. Audio Output Only one audio source can be heard through the speakers at one time. The only way to listen to the audio through the vehicle speakers is if the front seat passengers select DVD Family Mode using the AUX button on the radio. Audio will still play through the wireless headphones.
There are three modes to the RSE system:
RSE: This is the default. When a DVD is inserted, the rear speakers will be muted. The rear seat passengers will be able to hear audio through the wireless headphones. The front seat passengers will be able to listen to the radio by pressing the AM FM button, or listen to XM™ Satellite Radio Service (if equipped) or CD, by pressing the AUX button, through the front speakers.
DVD Family: When in RSE mode, press the AUX button to switch to DVD Family. All passengers will be able to hear audio through the vehicles speakers. Audio will still be available through the wireless headphones.
DVD Aux: This is the default. When the RCA jacks are connected, the rear speakers will be muted. The rear seat passengers will be able to hear audio from the auxiliary device through the wireless headphones. The front seat passengers will be able to listen to the radio by pressing the AM FM button, or listen to XM™ Satellite Radio Service (if equipped) or CD, by pressing the AUX button, through the front speakers.
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Video Screen The video screen is located in the overhead console. To use the video screen, do the following: 1. Push forward on the release button on the DVD
display console.
2. Pull the screen down, away from you, and adjust its
position as desired.
When the video screen is not in use, push it up into its locked position. If a DVD is playing and the screen is raised to its locked position, the screen will shut off, but the DVD will continue to play through the previously selected audio source. The video screen contains the transmitters for the wireless headphones and the remote control. If the screen is in the closed position, the signals will not be available for the operation of the headphones or the remote control. Notice: Directly touching the video screen may damage it. Do not touch the screen. See “Cleaning the Video Screen” later in this section for more information.
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DVD Radio
The DVD radio is located in the center of the instrument panel. The DVD radio can be controlled by the buttons on the DVD radio and by the buttons on the remote control. See “Remote Control” later in this section for more information. The DVD radio works while the ignition is in RUN or ACC.
Playing a Disc To play a disc, gently insert the disc, with the label side up, into the loading slot. The DVD player will continue loading the disc and the player will automatically start. If a disc is already in the radio, press the play/pause button on the remote control to start playing the disc. Vehicle speaker volume, bass, treble, etc. may be adjusted using the radio controls. Some DVDs will not allow fast forwarding or skipping of the copyright information or the previews. Some DVDs will begin playing after the previews have finished, although there may be a delay of up to 30 seconds. If the DVD does not begin playing the movie automatically, press the RSE button on the radio. If the DVD still does not play, refer to the on-screen instructions.
The DVD radio is only compatible with DVDs authorized for use in the United States and Canada (Region Code 1). The DVD region code is printed on the jacket of most DVDs. Regular audio CDs, CD-R, CD-RW, and MP3s can also be played by the DVD radio. If an error message appears on the video screen or the radio, see “DVD Display Error Messages” and “DVD Radio Error Messages” later in this section. DVD Radio Buttons
RSE: Press this button to pause the DVD. Press this button again to play the DVD.
Press and hold this button for more than two seconds to turn off the DVD system.
AUX (Auxiliary): Press this button to switch between RSE and DVD family when a DVD is playing.
Press this button to switch between playing a CD or listening to XM™ Satellite Radio Service (if equipped) when a CD is playing. Z (Eject/Load): Press this button to eject a DVD or CD. If a DVD or CD is ejected, but not removed, pressing this button will load the DVD or CD.
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Stopping and Resuming Playback To stop playing a disc, press the stop button on the remote control. To resume playback, press the play/pause button on the remote control. The movie should resume play from where it last stopped if the disc has not been ejected and the stop button has not been pressed twice on the remote control. If the disc has been ejected or the stop button has been pressed twice on the remote control, the disc will resume playing at the beginning of the disc. Ejecting a Disc Press the eject button on the radio to eject the disc. If a disc is ejected from the radio, but not removed, the radio will reload the disc after a short period of time. The disc will be stored in the radio. The radio will not resume play of the disc automatically.
Remote Control To use the remote control, aim it at the transmitter window below the video screen and press the desired button. Direct sunlight or very bright light may affect the ability of the RSE transmitter to receive signals from the remote control. If the remote control does not seem to be working, the batteries may need to be replaced. See “Battery Replacement” later in this section. Objects blocking the line of sight may also affect the function of the remote control. Notice: Storing the remote control in a hot area or in direct sunlight may damage it, and the repairs would not be covered by your warranty. Keep the remote control stored in a cool, dry place.
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Remote Control Buttons
O (Power): Press this button to turn the DVD player on and off. v (Title): Press this button to return the DVD to the main menu of the DVD. n, q, p, o (Menu Navigation Arrows): Use the arrow buttons to navigate through a menu.
z (Set-up Menu): Press this button to adjust the color, tint, brightness, contrast, and display mode (normal, full, or zoom). The dynamic range compression feature can be used to reduce loud audio and increase low audio produced by some DVDs. e (Audio): Press this button to display a menu that will only appear when a DVD is playing. The format and content of this function will vary for each disc. r (Fast Reverse): Press this button to fast reverse the DVD or CD. To stop fast reversing, press this button again. This button may not work when the DVD is playing the copyright information or the previews.
SRCE (Source): Press this button to switch between the DVD player and an auxiliary source. c (Stop): Press this button to stop playing, rewinding, or fast forwarding a DVD or CD. Press this button twice to return to the beginning of the DVD. t (Previous Track/Chapter): Press this button to return to the start of the current track or chapter. Press this button again to go to the previous track or chapter. This button may not work when the DVD is playing the copyright information or the previews.
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q (Return): Press this button to exit the current active menu and return to the previous menu. This button will operate only when a DVD is playing and a menu is active. | (Camera Angle): Press this button to change camera angles on DVDs that have this feature when a DVD is playing. The format and content of this function will vary for each disc. { (Subtitle): Press this button to turn on subtitles and to move through subtitle options when a DVD is playing. The format and content of this function will vary for each disc. [ (Fast Forward): Press this button to fast forward the DVD or CD. To stop fast forwarding, press this button again. This button may not work when the DVD is playing the copyright information or the previews.
1 through 0 (Numeric Keypad): The numeric keypad provides the capability of direct chapter, title, and track number selection. }10 (Double Digit Entries): Press the button, to select chapter, title, and track numbers greater than 9. Press this button before inputting the number. \ (Clear): Press this button, within 3 seconds after inputting a numeric selection to clear all numeric inputs. P (Illumination): Press this button to turn the remote control backlight on. The backlight will time out after about 7 to 10 seconds if no other button is pressed while the backlight is on. y (Main DVD Menu): Press this button to access the DVD menu. The DVD menu is different on every DVD. Use the up, down, left, and right arrow buttons to move the cursor around the DVD menu. After making a selection press the enter button. This button only operates when using a DVD. r (Enter): Press this button to select the choices that are highlighted in any menu.
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s (Play/Pause): Press this button to start play of a DVD or CD. Press this button while a DVD or CD is playing to pause it. Press this button again to continue playing the DVD or CD.
When the DVD is playing, press the pause button then press the fast forward button. The DVD will continue playing in a slow play mode. To cancel slow play mode, press the play/pause button. u (Next Track/Chapter): Press this button to advance to the beginning of the next track or chapter. This button may not work when the DVD is playing the copyright information or the previews. Battery Replacement To change the remote control batteries, do the following: 1. Remove the battery compartment door located on
the bottom of the remote control.
2. Replace the two AA batteries in the compartment. Make sure that they are installed correctly, using the diagram on the inside of the battery compartment.
3. Close the battery door securely. If the remote control is to be stored for a long period of time, remove the batteries and keep them in a cool, dry place.
DVD Display Error Messages The video screen may display one of the following:
Disc Format Error: This message will be displayed, if a disc is inserted upside down, if the disc is not readable, or if the disc format is not compatible. The disc will be automatically ejected from the radio.
Disc Play Error: This message will be displayed, if the mechanism cannot play the disc. Severely scratched or damaged discs may cause this error. The disc will be automatically ejected from the radio.
Region Code Error: This message will be displayed, if the disc is not a Region Code 1. The disc will be automatically ejected from the radio.
Load/Eject Error: This message will be displayed, if the disc is not properly loaded or ejected.
No Disc: This message will be displayed, if no disc is present when the play, eject, or DVD/AUX button is pressed on the remote control or the eject, RSE, or AUX button is pressed on the radio.
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DVD Radio Error Messages The radio may display one of the following:
No Disc: This message will be displayed, if no disc is present when the play, eject, or DVD/AUX button is pressed on the remote control or the eject, RSE, or AUX button is pressed on the radio.
RSE Error: This message will be displayed for one of the following reasons:
If a disc is inserted upside down, if the disc is not readable, or if the disc format is not compatible. The disc will be automatically ejected from the radio. If the mechanism cannot play the disc. Severely scratched discs may cause this error. The disc will be automatically ejected from the radio. If the disc is not a Region Code 1. The disc will be automatically ejected from the radio. If the disc is not properly loaded or ejected.
DVD Distortion There may be an experience with video distortion when operating cellular phones, scanners, CB radios, Global Position Systems (GPS)*, two-way radios, mobile fax, or walkie talkies. It may be necessary to turn off the DVD player when operating one of these devices in or near the vehicle. *Excludes the OnStar® System. Cleaning the DVD Player When cleaning the outside DVD faceplate and buttons, use only a clean cloth dampened with clean water. Cleaning the Video Screen When cleaning the video screen, use only a clean cloth dampened with clean water. Use care when directly touching or cleaning the screen, as damage may result.
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(cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) Theft-Deterrent Feature The Radio with Cassette and CD and the Radio with Cassette and Six-Disc CD have a theft deterrent feature. The theft deterrent feature is designed to discourage theft of your vehicle’s radio. It works by using a secret code to disable all radio functions whenever battery power is interrupted. The theft deterrent feature for the radio may be used or ignored. If ignored, the radio plays normally and the radio is not protected by the feature. If the theft deterrent feature is activated, the radio will not operate if stolen. When the theft deterrent feature is activated, LOCK will appear on the radio display to indicate a locked condition anytime battery power has been interrupted. If the 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 theft deterrent feature. Read through all 10 steps before starting the procedure. 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 four-digit number from 0000 to 9999 and keep it in a safe place separate from the vehicle.
2. Turn the ignition to RUN. 3. Turn the radio off. 4. Press the 5 and 6 pushbuttons at the same time for
five seconds. -- -- -- -- will appear on the display. Next you will use the secret code number which you have written down.
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5. Press the SEEK/SCAN up arrow to make the first
digit agree with your code.
6. Press the SEEK/SCAN down arrow to make the
second digit agree with your code.
7. Press the TUNE up arrow to make the third digit
agree with your code.
8. Press the TUNE down arrow to make the fourth
digit agree with your code.
9. Press AM-FM after you have confirmed that the code matches the secret code you have written down. REP will appear on the display to indicate that Steps 5 through 8 need to be repeated to confirm your secret code.
10. Press AM-FM again. SEC will appear on the display
to indicate that the radio is secure. If SEC is not displayed, but displays Err1, Err2, or LOCK, the theft deterrent feature is already set to another code. See “Disabling the Theft-Deterrent Feature” later in this section.
Unlocking the Theft-Deterrent Feature After a Power Loss Enter your secret code as follows; pause no more than 15 seconds between steps: 1. Turn the ignition on. -- -- -- -- will appear on the
display.
2. Preform Steps 5 through 8 from the “Activating the
Theft-Deterrent Feature” earlier to enter your secret code.
3. Press AM-FM after you have confirmed that the code matches the secret code you have written down. SEC will appear on the display, indicating the radio is now operable and secure.
If you enter the wrong code, the display will momentarily show an error message and all radio functions will continue to be disabled. If -- -- -- -- appears on the display, you can try to enter your secret code again. If you enter the wrong code three times, LOCK will appear on the display. Contact your retailer. Your retailer is authorized to obtain the factory programmed code that is assigned to the radio to reset the system. If you forget your code, if the theft deterrent feature is accidentally activated with an unknown code, or if the radio is in the locked mode, contact your retailer.
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Disabling the Theft-Deterrent Feature Enter your secret code as follows; pause no more than 15 seconds between steps: Preform Steps 1 through 9 from the “Activating the Theft-Deterrent Feature” earlier to enter your secret code. OFF will appear on the display indicating the theft deterrent feature is off. If OFF does not appear on the display, the wrong code was entered. If you enter the wrong code, the display will momentarily show an error message and all radio functions will continue to be disabled. If -- -- -- -- appears on the display, you can try to enter your secret code again. If you enter the wrong code three times, LOCK will appear on the display. Contact your retailer. Your retailer is authorized to obtain the factory programmed code that is assigned to the radio to reset the system. If you forget your code, if the theft deterrent feature is accidentally activated with an unknown code, or if the radio is in the locked mode, contact your retailer.
Radio Reception AM The range for most AM stations is greater than for FM, especially at night. The longer range, however, can cause stations to interfere with each other. AM can pick up noise from things like storms and power lines. Try reducing the treble to reduce this noise. FM 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.
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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 are not, they may not operate properly or they may cause failure of the tape player. The tape player should be cleaned regularly after every 30 hours of use. The radio may display CLEAN to indicate that the tape player has been used for 30 hours without resetting the tape clean timer. If this message appears on the display, the cassette tape player needs to be cleaned. It will still play tapes, but it should be cleaned as soon as possible to prevent damage to the tapes and player. If there is a reduction in sound quality, try a known good cassette to see if the tape or the tape player is at fault. If this other cassette has no improvement in sound quality, clean the tape player. For best results, use a scrubbing action, non-abrasive cleaning cassette with pads which scrub the tape head as the hubs of the cleaner cassette turn. The recommended cleaning cassette is available through your retailer.
The cut tape detection feature of the cassette tape player may identify the cleaning cassette as a damaged tape, in error. If the cleaning cassette ejects, insert the cassette at least three times to ensure thorough cleaning. A non-scrubbing action, wet-type cleaner which uses a cassette with a fabric belt to clean the tape head can be used. This type of cleaning cassette will not eject on its own. A non-scrubbing action cleaner may not clean as thoroughly as the scrubbing type cleaner. The use of a non-scrubbing action, dry-type cleaning cassette is not recommended. After the player is cleaned, insert a cassette tape, press and hold the eject button for five seconds to reset the CLEAN indicator. CLEAN will no longer appear on the 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 the tape player is serviced.
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Fixed Mast Antenna The fixed mast antenna can withstand most car washes without being damaged. If the mast should ever become slightly bent, straighten it out by hand. If the mast is badly bent, replace it. Check occasionally to make sure the mast is still tightened to the rear quarter panel.
Care of Your CDs and DVDs Handle discs carefully. Store them in their original cases or other protective cases and away from direct sunlight and dust. If the surface of a disc is soiled, dampen a clean, soft cloth in a mild, neutral detergent solution and clean it, wiping from the center to the edge. Be sure never to touch the side without writing when handling discs. Pick up discs by grasping the outer edges or the edge of the hole and the outer edge.
Care of Your CD and DVD Player The use of CD lens cleaners for CDs is not advised, due to the risk of contaminating the lens of the CD optics with lubricants internal to the CD mechanism.
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✍ NOTES
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Section 4
Driving Your Vehicle
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle ..........4-2
Defensive Driving ...........................................4-2
Drunken Driving .............................................4-2
Control of a Vehicle ........................................4-5
Braking .........................................................4-6
Traction Control System (TCS) .........................4-9
Steering ......................................................4-10
Off-Road Recovery .......................................4-12
Passing .......................................................4-13
Loss of Control .............................................4-14
Driving at Night ............................................4-15
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads ..................4-17
City Driving ..................................................4-20
Freeway Driving ...........................................4-21
Before Leaving on a Long Trip .......................4-23
Highway Hypnosis ........................................4-23
Hill and Mountain Roads ................................4-24
Winter Driving ..............................................4-26
If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow ........4-30
Towing ..........................................................4-32
Towing Your Vehicle .....................................4-32
Recreational Vehicle Towing ...........................4-32
Loading Your Vehicle ....................................4-34
Towing a Trailer ...........................................4-40
4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
Defensive Driving The best advice anyone can give about driving is: Drive defensively. Please start with a very important safety device in your vehicle: Buckle up. See Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone on page 1-11. 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 is 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.
Drunken Driving Death and injury associated with drinking and driving is a national tragedy. It is the number one contributor to the highway death toll, claiming thousands of victims every year. Alcohol affects four things that anyone needs to drive a vehicle:
Judgment
(cid:127) Muscular Coordination (cid:127) Vision (cid:127) Attentiveness. Police records show that almost half of all motor vehicle-related deaths involve alcohol. In most cases, these deaths are the result of someone who was drinking and driving. In recent years, more than 16,000 annual motor vehicle-related deaths have been associated with the use of alcohol, with more than 300,000 people injured.
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(cid:127) Many adults — by some estimates, nearly half the adult population — choose never to drink alcohol, so they never drive after drinking. For persons under 21, it is against the law in every U.S. state to drink alcohol. There are good medical, psychological and developmental reasons for these laws. The obvious way to eliminate the leading highway safety problem is for people never to drink alcohol and then drive. But what if people do? How much is “too much” if someone plans to drive? It is a lot less than many might think. Although it depends on each person and situation, here is some general information on the problem. The Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of someone who is drinking depends upon four things:
The amount of alcohol consumed The drinker’s body weight The amount of food that is consumed before and during drinking The length of time it has taken the drinker to 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 liquors like whiskey, gin or vodka.
It is the amount of alcohol that counts. For example, if the same person drank three double martinis (3 ounces or 90 ml of liquor each) within an hour, the person’s BAC would be close to 0.12 percent. A person who consumes food just before or during drinking will have a somewhat lower BAC level.
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(cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) There is a gender difference, too. Women generally have a lower relative percentage of body water than men. Since alcohol is carried in body water, this means that a woman generally will reach a higher BAC level than a man of her same body weight will when each has the same number of drinks. The law in an increasing number of U.S. states, and throughout Canada, sets the legal limit at 0.08 percent. In some other countries, the limit is even lower. For example, it is 0.05 percent in both France and Germany. The BAC limit for all commercial drivers in the United States is 0.04 percent. The BAC will be over 0.10 percent after three to six drinks (in one hour). Of course, as we have seen, it depends on how much alcohol is in the drinks, and how quickly the person drinks them. But the ability to drive is affected well below a BAC of 0.10 percent. Research shows that the driving skills of many people are impaired at a BAC approaching 0.05 percent, and that the effects are worse at night. All drivers are impaired at BAC levels above 0.05 percent. Statistics show that the chance of being in a collision increases sharply for drivers who have a BAC of 0.05 percent or above.
A driver with a BAC level of 0.06 percent has doubled his or her chance of having a collision. At a BAC level of 0.10 percent, the chance of this driver having a collision is 12 times greater; at a level of 0.15 percent, the chance is 25 times greater! The body takes about an hour to rid itself of the alcohol in one drink. No amount of coffee or number of cold showers will speed that up. “I will be careful” is not the right answer. What if there is an emergency, a need to take sudden action, as when a child darts into the street? A person with even a moderate BAC might not be able to react quickly enough to avoid the collision. There is something else about drinking and driving that many people do not know. Medical research shows that alcohol in a person’s system can make crash injuries worse, especially injuries to the brain, spinal cord or heart. This means that when anyone who has been drinking — driver or passenger — is in a crash, that person’s chance of being killed or permanently disabled is higher than if the person had not been drinking.
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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.
{CAUTION:
Drinking and then driving is very dangerous. Your reflexes, perceptions, attentiveness and judgment can be affected by even a small amount of alcohol. You can have a serious — or even fatal — collision if you drive after drinking. Please do not drink and drive or ride with a driver who has been drinking. Ride home in a cab; or if you are with a group, designate a driver who will not drink.
Sometimes, as when you are driving on snow or ice, it is easy to ask more of those control systems than the tires and road can provide. That means you can lose control of your vehicle. Also see Traction Control System (TCS) on page 4-9.
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Braking Braking action involves perception time and reaction time. First, you have to decide to push on the brake pedal. That is perception time. Then you have to bring up your foot and do it. That is reaction time. Average reaction time is about 3/4 of a second. But that is only an average. It might be less with one driver and as long as two or three seconds or more with another. Age, physical condition, alertness, coordination and eyesight all play a part. So do alcohol, drugs and frustration. But even in 3/4 of a second, a vehicle moving at 60 mph (100 km/h) travels 66 feet (20 m). That could be a lot of distance in an emergency, so keeping enough space between your vehicle and others is important. And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly with the surface of the road (whether it is 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 are driving, brake normally but do not 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.
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Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes. 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, and you may even notice that your brake pedal moves a little. This is normal.
If there is a problem with the anti-lock brake system, this warning light will stay on. See Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light on page 3-31.
Let us say the road is wet and you are driving safely. Suddenly, an animal jumps out in front of you. You slam on the brakes and continue braking. Here is what happens with ABS: A computer senses that wheels are slowing down. If one of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the computer will separately work the brakes at each wheel.
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The anti-lock system can change the brake pressure faster than any driver could. The computer is programmed to make the most of available tire and road conditions. This can help you steer around the obstacle while braking hard.
Remember: Anti-lock does not change the time you need to get your foot up to the brake pedal or always decrease stopping distance. If you get too close to the vehicle in front of you, you will not have time to apply your brakes if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops. Always leave enough room up ahead to stop, even though you have anti-lock brakes. Using Anti-Lock Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal down firmly and let anti-lock work for you. You may hear the anti-lock pump or motor operate, and feel the brake pedal pulsate, but this is normal. 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.
As you brake, your computer keeps receiving updates on wheel speed and controls braking pressure accordingly.
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Traction Control System (TCS) Your vehicle has 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. 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” under Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever on page 3-6.
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 (TCS) Warning Light on page 3-32. 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 or snow and rocking the vehicle is required. See If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow on page 4-30.
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To turn the system off, press the trac switch.
The traction control system warning light will come on and stay on. If the system is limiting wheel spin when you press the button, the warning light will come on – but the system won’t turn off right away. It will wait until there’s 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.
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 is important to take curves at a reasonable speed. A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents mentioned on the news happen on curves. Here is why: Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is subject to the same laws of physics when driving on curves. The traction of the tires against the road surface makes it possible for the vehicle to change its path when you turn the front wheels. If there is no traction, inertia will keep the vehicle going in the same direction. If you have ever tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you will understand this. The traction you can get in a curve depends on the condition of your tires and the road surface, the angle at which the curve is banked, and your speed. While you are in a curve, speed is the one factor you can control.
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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 not; there is not room. That is the time for evasive action — steering around the problem. Your vehicle can perform very well in emergencies like these. First apply your brakes — but, unless you have anti-lock, not enough to lock your wheels. See Braking on page 4-6. It is better to remove as much speed as you can from a possible collision. Then steer around the problem, to the left or right depending on the space available.
Suppose you are steering through a sharp curve. Then you suddenly apply the brakes. Both control systems — steering and braking — have to do their work where the tires meet the road. Unless you have four-wheel anti-lock brakes, adding the hard braking can demand too much of those places. You can lose control. The same thing can happen if you are steering through a sharp curve and you suddenly accelerate. Those two control systems — steering and acceleration — can overwhelm those places where the tires meet the road and make you lose control. See Traction Control System (TCS) on page 4-9. What should you do if this ever happens? Ease up on the brake or accelerator pedal, steer the vehicle the way you want it to go, and slow down. Speed limit signs near curves warn that you should adjust your speed. Of course, the posted speeds are based on good weather and road conditions. Under less favorable conditions you will want to go slower. If you need to reduce your speed as you approach a curve, do it before you enter the curve, while your front wheels are straight ahead. 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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Off-Road Recovery You may find that your right wheels have dropped off the edge of a road onto the shoulder while you’re driving.
An emergency like this requires close attention and a quick decision. If you are holding the steering wheel at the recommended 9 and 3 o’clock positions, you can turn it a full 180 degrees very quickly without removing either hand. But you have to act fast, steer quickly, and just as quickly straighten the wheel once you have avoided the object. The fact that such emergency situations are always possible is a good reason to practice defensive driving at all times and wear safety belts properly.
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If the level of the shoulder is only slightly below the pavement, recovery should be fairly easy. Ease off the accelerator and then, if there is nothing in the way, steer so that your vehicle straddles the edge of the pavement. You can turn the steering wheel up to one-quarter turn until the right front tire contacts the pavement edge. Then turn your steering wheel to go straight down the roadway.
Passing The driver of a vehicle about to pass another on 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.
(cid:127) Watch for traffic signs, pavement markings and lines. If you can see a sign up ahead that might indicate a turn or an intersection, delay your pass. A broken center line usually indicates it is all right to pass (providing the road ahead is clear). Never cross a solid line on your side of the lane or a double solid line, even if the road seems empty of approaching traffic.
(cid:127) Do not get too close to the vehicle you want to
pass while you are awaiting an opportunity. For one thing, following too closely reduces your area of vision, especially if you are following a larger vehicle. Also, you will not have adequate space if the vehicle ahead suddenly slows or stops. Keep back a reasonable distance.
(cid:127) When it looks like a chance to pass is coming up, start to accelerate but stay in the right lane and do not get too close. Time your move so you will be increasing speed as the time comes to move into the other lane. If the way is clear to pass, you will have a “running start” that more than makes up for the distance you would lose by dropping back. And if something happens to cause you to cancel your pass, you need only slow down and drop back again and wait for another opportunity. If other vehicles are lined up to pass a slow vehicle, wait your turn. But take care that someone is not 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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(cid:127) (cid:127) (cid:127) 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.) Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a time on two-lane roads. Reconsider before passing the next vehicle.
(cid:127) Do not 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 are 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 us review what driving experts say about what happens when the three control systems (brakes, steering and acceleration) do not have enough friction where the tires meet the road to do what the driver has asked. In any emergency, do not 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 the braking skid, your wheels are not 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 handled by easing your foot off the accelerator pedal.
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(cid:127) (cid:127) 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 will want to slow down and adjust your driving to these conditions. It is important to slow down on slippery surfaces because stopping distance will be longer and vehicle control more limited. While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration or braking (including engine braking by shifting to a lower gear). Any sudden changes could cause the tires to slide. You may not realize the surface is slippery until your vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warning clues — such as enough water, ice or packed snow on the road to make a “mirrored surface” — and slow down when you have any doubt. If you have the anti-lock braking system, remember: It helps avoid only the braking skid. If you do not have anti-lock, then in a braking skid (where the wheels are no longer rolling), release enough pressure on the brakes to get the wheels rolling again. This restores steering control. Push the brake pedal down steadily when you have to stop suddenly. As long as the wheels are rolling, you will have steering control.
Driving at Night
Night driving is more dangerous than day driving. One reason is that some drivers are likely to be impaired — by alcohol or drugs, with night vision problems, or by fatigue.
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You can be temporarily blinded by approaching headlamps. It can take a second or two, or even several seconds, for your eyes to readjust to the dark. When you are faced with severe glare (as from a driver who does not lower the high beams, or a vehicle with misaimed headlamps), slow down a little. Avoid staring directly into the approaching headlamps. Keep your windshield and all the glass on your vehicle clean — inside and out. Glare at night is made much worse by dirt on the glass. Even the inside of the glass can build up a film caused by dust. Dirty glass makes lights dazzle and flash more than clean glass would, making the pupils of your eyes contract repeatedly. Remember that your headlamps light up far less of a roadway when you are in a turn or curve. Keep your eyes moving; that way, it is easier to pick out dimly lighted objects. Just as your headlamps should be checked regularly for proper aim, so should your eyes be examined regularly. Some drivers suffer from night blindness — the inability to see in dim light — and are not even aware of it.
Here are some tips on night driving. (cid:127) Drive defensively. (cid:127) Do not drink and drive. (cid:127) Adjust your inside rearview mirror to reduce the
glare from headlamps behind you.
(cid:127) Since you can not see as well, you may need to
slow down and keep more space between you and other vehicles.
(cid:127) Slow down, especially on higher speed roads. Your headlamps can light up only so much road ahead. In remote areas, watch for animals. If you are tired, pull off the road in a safe place and rest.
No one can see as well at night as in the daytime. But as we get older these differences increase. A 50-year-old driver may require at least twice as much light to see the same thing at night as a 20-year-old. What you do in the daytime can also affect your night vision. For example, if you spend the day in bright sunshine you are wise to wear sunglasses. Your eyes will have less trouble adjusting to night. But if you are driving, do not wear sunglasses at night. They may cut down on glare from headlamps, but they also make a lot of things invisible.
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(cid:127) (cid:127) Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can mean driving trouble. On a wet road, you can not stop, accelerate or turn as well because your tire-to-road traction is not as good as on dry roads.
And, if your tires do not have much tread left, you will get even less traction. It is always wise to go slower and be cautious if rain starts to fall while you are driving. The surface may get wet suddenly when your reflexes are tuned for driving on dry pavement. The heavier the rain, the harder it is to see. Even if your windshield wiper blades are in good shape, a heavy rain can make it harder to see road signs and traffic signals, pavement markings, the edge of the road and even people walking. It is wise to keep your windshield wiping equipment in good shape and keep your windshield washer tank filled with washer fluid. Replace your windshield wiper inserts when they show signs of streaking or missing areas on the windshield, or when strips of rubber start to separate from the inserts.
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{CAUTION:
Wet brakes can cause accidents. They will not work as well in a quick stop and may cause pulling to one side. You could lose control of the vehicle. After driving through a large puddle of water or a car wash, apply your brake pedal lightly until your brakes work normally.
Driving too fast through large water puddles or even going through some car washes can cause problems,