Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
Pushbuttons
The six pushbuttons let you return to
your favorite stations. You can preset
up to 18 stations
(6 AM, 6 FMl and
6 FM2).
1. Press “AM/FM’ to choose AM,
2. Tune in the station.
FM1 or
FM2.
3. Press and hold one of the six
pushbuttons until the display shows
“SET.” Whenever you press that
button, the preset station will
return.
Repeat these steps for each pushbutton.
Steering Wheel Controls
Your vehicle may be equipped with
steering wheel controls for this audio
system. With steering wheel controls,
you can use the buttons
on your
steering wheel to:
Turn the audio system on or off.
Adjust the volume.
Choose AM, FM1 or FM2.
Use the seek and recall functions.
Choose one of the preset stations
on your pushbuttons.
Setting the Tone
Bass:
Slide the “BASS” lever to the
5ght to hear more bass.
I’reble: Slide the “TREBLE’ lever to
:he right to hear more treble.
[f a station is weak and noisy, slide
‘TREBLE’ to the left to reduce the
noise.
Adjusting the Speakers
Balance:
Press “BAL” to release the
knob. Turn the knob to move the sound
between the right and left speakers.
Push “BAL” back in to store
it when
not adjusting.
Fade: Press “FADE” to release the
knob. Turn the knob to move the sound
between the front and rear speakers.
Push “FADE’ back in to store it when
not adjusting.
To Play a Cassette Tape
Your tape player is built to work best
with tapes that are
30 to 45 minutes
long on each side. Tapes longer than
that are
so thin they may not work well
in this player. A cassette symbol will
appear in the upper left corner of the
display whenever a tape is inserted.
The longer side with the tape visible
goes in first. If you hear nothing or
hear just a garbled sound, it may not be
in squarely. Press “EJECT” to remove
the tape and start over.
Once the tape is playing, use “VOLUME,” “FADE,” “TREBLE’
and “BASS” just as you do for the
radio. The arrows show which side of
the tape is playing.
Forward
Press “FWD” to rapidly advance to
another part of the tape. Press “PROG”
or “FWD” again to stop it. The radio will play during this operation.
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Steering Wheel Controls
Your vehicle may be equipped with
steering wheel controls for this audio
system. With steering wheel controls, you
can use the buttons
on your steering
wheel to:
0 Turn the audio system on or off.
Adjust the volume.
Choose AM, FM1 or FM2.
Use the seek and recall functions.
Choose one of the preset stations on
your pushbuttons.
Setting the Tone
Use the levers to set the bass, midrange
and treble until you get the sound you
want. The
“40,” “100,” “250” and
“625” levers adjust the bass.
“1.6K’ is
midrange, and “4K’ and
“l2K’ control
the treble. We suggest setting the “1.6K’
lever in the middle position and then
moving the other levers up or down until
you get the amount of bass and treble you
like.
Adjusting the Speakers
Balance:
Press “BAL” to release the
knob. Turn the knob to move the sound
between the right and left speakers. Push
“BAL” back in to store it when not
adjusting.
Fade: Press “FADE” to release the knob.
Turn the knob to move the sound between
the front and rear speakers. Push “FADE”
back in to store it
when not adjusting.
To Play a Cassette Tape
Your tape player is built to work best with
tapes that are
30 to 45 minutes long on
each side. Tapes longer than that are
so
thin they may not work well in this player.
A cassette symbol will appear in the
upper left corner of the display whenever
a tape is inserted.
The longer side with the tape visible goes
in first. If you hear nothing or hear just a
garbled sound, it may not be in squarely.
Press “EJECT.” to remove the tape and
start over.
Once the tape is playing, use
“VOLUME,” “BAL” and “FADE” just as
you do for the radio. The arrows show
which side
of the tape is playing.
Forward
Press “FWD” to rapidly advance to
another part of the tape. Press “PROG’ or
“FWD’ again to stop it. The radio will
play during this operation.
Reverse
Press “REV” to rapidly rewind the tape.
Press “PROG’ or
“REV” again to stop it.
The radio will play during this operation.
To Play the Next Selection
Press “NEXT” or “SEEK A” to hear the
next selection (instead
of waiting until the
current selection is finished.)
For
“NEXT” to work properly, your tape
must have at least three seconds
of silence
between each selection.
The radio will not play during this
operation.
To Replay the Current Selection
Press “PREV” or “SEEK v” to play a
selection again.
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Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
Steering Wheel Controls
Your vehicle may be equipped with
steering wheel controls for this audio
system. With steering wheel controls, you
can use the buttons on your steering
wheel to:
Turn the audio system on or off.
Adjust the volume.
0 Choose AM, FM1 or FM2.
Use the seek and recall functions.
Choose one of the preset stations on
your pushbuttons.
Setting the Tone
Bass:
Slide the “BASS” lever to the right
to hear more bass.
Treble: Slide the “TREBLE” lever to the
right to hear more treble.
If a station is weak and noisy, slide
“TREBLE’ to
the left to reduce the noise.
Adjusting the Speakers
Balance:
Press “BAL” to release the
knob.
Turn the knob to move the sound
between the right and left speakers. Push
“BAL” back
in to store it when not
adjusting.
Fade: Press “FADE” to release the knob.
Turn
the knob to move the sound between
the front and rear speakers. Push “FADE’
back in to store it when not adjusting.
To Play a Compact Disc
Before you begin, please note: don’t use
the mini-discs that are called “singles.”
They won’t eject. Use full-size compact
discs.
With
the audio system on, insert a disc
into the slot with the label side up. “CD’
will appear on the display and track 1 will
begin to play.
If the disc comes back out and “ERR’
appears on the display, it could be that:
* The disc is upside down.
It is dirty, scratched, or wet.
0 There’s too much moisture in the air.
You are driving on a very rough road.
The temperature is too hot or too cold.
Recall
Press “RECALL” to see what track is
playing. Press it again within five seconds
to see how long it has been playing.
The track number also appears when the
disc is inserted.
To Play the Next Selection
Press “NEXT” or “SEEK A” to hear the
next track now (instead of waiting until
the present track is finished).
If you press and hold this button or press
it more than once, the disc
will advance
further.
To Replay the Current Selection
Press “PREV” or “SEEK v” to hear a
track again.
If you press and hold this button, or press
it more than once,
the disc will return to
previous tracks.
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I Steering Wheel Controls
Your vehicle has steering wheel controls
for this audio system. With steering wheel controls, you can use the buttons on your
steering wheel to:
0 Turn the audio system on or off.
0 Adjust the volume.
0 Choose AM, FM1 or FM2.
0 Use the seek and recall functions.
0 Choose one of the preset stations on
your pushbuttons.
Setting the Tone
Use the levers to set the bass, midrange
and treble
until you get the sound you
want. The “40,” “lOO,” “250” and “625”
levers adjust the bass. “1.6K” is
midrange, and
“4K” and “12K” control
the treble. We suggest setting the “1.6K”
lever in the middle position and then
moving the other levers up or down until
you get the amount of bass and treble you
like.
Adjusting the Speakers
Balance:
Press “BAL” to release the
knob. Turn the knob to move the sound
between the right and
left speakers. Push
‘‘BAL,” back in to store
it when not
adjusting.
Fade: Press “FADE” to release the knob.
Turn the knob to move the sound betweer
the front and rear speakers. Push “FADE”
back
in to store it when not adjusting.
To Play a Compact Disc
Before you begin, please note: don’t use
the mini-discs that are called “singles.”
They won’t eject. Use full-size compact
discs.
With the audio system on, insert a disc
into the slot with the label side up.
“CD”
will appear on the display and track 1 wil
begin to play.
If the disc comes back out and “ERR”
appears on the display,
it could be that:
0 The disc is upside down.
0 It is dirty, scratched, or wet.
0 There’s too much moisture in the air.
0 You are driving on a very rough road.
The temperature is too hot or too cold
Recall
Press “RECALL” to see what track is
playing. Press
it again within five seconds
to see how long it has been playing.
The track number also appears when the
disc is inserted.
To Play the Next Selection
Press “NEXT” or “SEEK A” to hear the
next track now (instead of waiting until
the present track is finished).
If you press and hold this button or press
it more than once, the disc will advance
further.
To Replay the Current Selection
Press “PREV” or “SEEK v” to hedr a
track again.
If
you press and hold this button, or press
it more than once, the disc will return to
previous tracks.
Reverse
Press and hold “REV” to rapidly return to
a favorite passage. Release
it to play the
passage. The radio
will play during this
operation.
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Your Driving and the Road
Braking in Emergencies
Use your anti-lock braking system when
you need to. With anti-lock, you can steer
and brake at the same time.
In many
emergencies, steering can help you more
than even the very best braking.
Steering
Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist because
the engine stops or the system
is not
functioning, you can steer but it will
take much more effort.
Steering Tips
Driving on Curves
It’s important to take curves at a
reasonable speed.
A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents
mentioned on the news happen on curves.
Here’s why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each of
us is subject to the same laws of physics
when driving on curves. The traction of
the tires against the road surface makes it
possible for the vehicle to change its path
when you turn the front wheels. If there’s
no traction, inertia will keep the vehicle
going in the same direction. If you’ve
ever tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice,
you’ll understand this.
The traction you can get in a curve
depends on the condition of your tires
and the road surface, the angle at which
the curve is banked, and your speed.
While you’re in a curve, speed is the
one factor you can control.
Suppose you’re steering through a sharp
curve. Then you suddenly accelerate.
Both control systems
- steering and
acceleration
- have to do their work
where the tires meet the road. Unless you
have traction control and the system is
on, adding the sudden acceleration can
demand too much of those places.
You
can lose control.
What should you do if this ever happens?
Ease up on the accelerator pedal, steer the
vehicle the way you want
it to go, and
slow down.
Speed limit signs near curves warn that
you should adjust your speed. Of course,
the posted speeds are based on good
weather and road conditions. Under less
favorable conditions you’ll want to go
slower.
[f you need to reduce your speed as you
approach a curve,
do it before you enter
the curve, while your front wheels are
straight ahead.
Try to adjust
your speed so you can
”drive” through the curve. Maintain a
reasonable, steady speed. Wait to
accelerate until you are out of the curve,
and then accelerate gently into the
straightaway.
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Steering in Emergencies
rhere are times when steering can be
.nore effective than braking. For example,
you come over a hill and find a truck
stopped in your lane, or a car suddenly
pulls out from nowhere, or a child darts
out from between parked cars and stops
right
in front of you. You can avoid these
problems by braking
- if you can stop in
time.
But sometimes you can’t; there isn’t
room. That’s the time for evasive action
- steering around the problem.
Your Pontiac can perform very well
in
:mergencies like these. First apply your
)rakes. It is better to remove as much
;peed as you can from a possible
:ollision. Then steer around the problem,
to the left or right depending on the space
available.
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
mce you have avoided the object.
The fact that such emergency situations
xe always possible is a good reason to
practice defensive driving at all times and
wear safety belts properly.
1
3ff-Road Recovery
fou may find sometime that your right
aheels have dropped
off the edge of a
road onto the shoulder
(A) while you’re
hiving.
[f the level of the shoulder
is only slightly
)elow the pavement, recovery shbuld be
Fairly easy. Ease
off the accelerator and
:hen, if there is nothing in the way, steer
$0 that your vehicle straddles the edge of
he pavement. You can turn the steering
wheel up to
114 turn (B) until the:right
kont tire contacts the pavement edge.
rhen
turn your steering wheel to go
;traight down the roadway.
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Loss of Control
Let’s review what driving experts say about what happens when the three
control systems (brakes, steering and
acceleration) don’t have enough friction
where the tires meet the road to do what
the driver has asked.
In any emergency, don’t give up. Keep
trying to steer and constantly seek an
escape route or area of less danger.
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 Pontiac’s three control systems. In
the braking skid your wheels aren’t
rolling.
In the steering or cornering skid,
too much speed or steering in a curve
causes tires to slip and lose cornering
force. And in the acceleration skid too
much throttle causes the driving wheels
to spin.
A cornering skid is best handled by
Easing your foot
off the accelerator pedal.
[f you have the traction control system,
remember:
It helps avoid only the
acceleration skid. If you do not have
traction control, or if the system is
off,
then an acceleration skid is also best
handled by easing your foot
off the
accelerator pedal.
If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your
bot off the accelerator pedal and quickly
steer the way you want the vehicle to
go.
If you start steering quickly enough, your
vehicle may straighten out. Always be
ready for a second skid
if it occurs.
Of course, traction is reduced when water,
snow, ice, gravel, or other material is on
the road. For safety, you’ll want to slow
down and adjust your driving to these
conditions. It is important
to slow down
on slippery surfaces because stopping
distance will be longer and vehicle
control more limited. While
driving
on a surface with reduced
traction,
try your best to avoid sudden
steering, acceleration, or braking
(including engine braking by shifting to
a lower gear). Any sudden changes could
cause the tires to slide. You may not
realize the surface is ‘slippery until your
vehicle is skidding. Learn to recqgnize
warning clues
- such as enough water,
ice or packed snow
on the road to make a
“mirrored surface”
- and slow down
when you have any doubt.
Remember: Any anti-lock braking system
(ABS) helps avoid only the braking skid.
*:p? ’
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Whatever the condition - smooth ice,
packed, blowing or loose snow
- drive
with caution. If you have traction control,
keep the system on. It will improve your
ability to accelerate when driving on a
slippery road. Even though your vehicle
has a traction control system, you’ll want
to slow down and adjust your driving to
the road conditions. See “Traction
Control System’’ in the Index. If you
don’t have the traction control
system, accelerate gently. Try not to break
the fragile traction. If you accelerate too
fast, the drive wheels will spin and polish
the surface under the tires even more.
Your anti-lock brakes improve your
ability to make a hard stop on a slippery
road. Even though you have the anti-lock
braking system, you’ll want to begin
stopping sooner than you would
on dry
pavement. See “Anti-Lock” in the Index.
0
0
Allow greater following distance on
any slippery road.
Watch for slippery spots. The road
might be fine until you hit a spot that’s
covered with ice. On an otherwise
clear road, ice patches may appear in
shaded areas where the sun can’t
reach: around clumps of trees, behind
buildings, or under bridges.
Sometimes the surface of a curve or
an overpass may remain icy when the
surrounding roads are clear. If
you
see a patch of ice ahead of you, brake
before you are on it. Try not to brake
while you’re actually on the ice, and
avoid sudden steering maneuvers.
If You’re Caught in a Blizzard
If you are stopped by heavy snow, you
could be
in a serious situation. You should
probably stay with your vehicle unless
you know for sure that
you are near help
and you can hike through the snow. Here
are some things to do
to summon help and
keep yourself and your passengers safe:
Turn on your hazard flashers. Tie a red
cloth to your vehicle to alert police that
you’ve been stopped by the snow. Put
on
extra clothing or wrap a blanket around
you. If
you have no blankets or extra
clothing, make body insulators from
newspapers, burlap bags, rags, floor mats
- anything you can wrap around yourself
or tuck under your clothing to keep warm.
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