2-27
If the parking brake has not been fully released and
you try to drive with the parking brake on, the
BRAKE indicator light comes on and stays on.
See ªBrake System Warning Lightº in the Index for
more information.
When you move out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N),
if the engine is running, the parking brake should
release. If it doesn't, you can manually release the
parking brake.
CAUTION:
Always shift to PARK (P) before pulling the
manual release lever. If your hand or arm is in
the way of the pedal you could be hurt. The pedal
springs back quickly. Keep your hand and arm
away when you use the manual release lever.
Be sure to turn off the ignition and put the vehicle in
PARK (P) before manually releasing the brake.
Reach under the driver's side of the instrument panel
and pull on the manual release lever, which is located
above the parking brake pedal. If the parking brake does
not release, you should either drive to the nearest service
station or have your vehicle towed.
2-34 Turn and Lane Change Signals
To signal a turn, move the lever all the way up or
down. The lever returns automatically when the turn
is complete.
An arrow located on the
instrument panel cluster will
flash in the direction of the
turn or lane change.
Raise or lower the lever until the arrow starts to flash to
signal a lane change. Hold it there until the lane change
is complete. The lever returns when it's released.
If the turn signal is left on, a warning chime will sound
and the Driver Information Center (DIC) will display
TURN SIGNAL ON (after driving about 1 mile
(1.6 km/h)) to remind you to turn it off.Arrows that flash rapidly when signaling for a turn or
lane change may be caused by a burned
-out signal bulb.
Other drivers won't see the turn signal.
Replace burned
-out bulbs to help avoid possible
accidents. Check the fuse (see ªFuses and Circuit
Breakersº in the Index) and for burned
-out bulbs if the
arrow fails to work when signaling a turn.
Headlamp High/Low Beam Changer
This light located on the
instrument panel panel will
be on when the high beam
headlamps are in use.
Pull the turn signal lever all the way toward you and
then release it to change the headlamps from low beam
to high or from high beam to low.
2-41
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load and the steepness of the hills.
When going up steep hills, you may have to step on the
accelerator pedal to maintain your speed. When going
downhill, you may have to brake or shift to a lower gear
to keep your speed down. Of course, applying the brakes
or downshifting into FIRST (1) takes you out of cruise
control. Many drivers find this to be too much trouble
and don't use cruise control on steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
There are two ways to end cruise control:
Step lightly on the brake pedal.
Move the CRUISE switch to OFF.
Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed memory is erased when you
turn off the cruise control or the ignition.Exterior Lamps
The control located on
the left side of the
instrument panel controls
these lamp systems:
Headlamps
Taillamps
Parking Lamps
Sidemarker Lamps
License Plate Lamp
Underhood Lamp
Fog Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights
Interior Courtesy Lamps
Instrument panel backlighting will activate whenever
the lamps or lights are turned on.
2-42 Parking Lamps
Pull the exterior lamp control knob out to the first stop to
turn on the parking as well as the taillamps, sidemarker
lamps and instrument panel lights. Push the control knob
all the way back in to turn the lamps and lights off.
Headlamps
Pull the exterior lamp control knob out all the way to
turn on the headlamps. Push the control knob all the
way back in to turn the headlamps off.
Wiper
-Activated Headlamps
This feature activates the headlamps and parking lamps
after the windshield wipers have been in use for
approximately 20 seconds.
In order to operate the wiper
-activated headlamps, the
Twilight Sentinel must be turned on. This feature
lights the way in poor weather and it also makes your
vehicle more visible to other drivers. If the
wiper
-activated headlamps are on, and the ignition
switch is turned off, the wiper
-activated headlamps will
immediately turn off.
The wiper
-activated headlamps will deactivate if you
turn off the Twilight Sentinel or if the windshield wipers
have been turned off for a period of one or two seconds.
Lamps On Reminder
If the manual headlamp control is activated, you will
hear a warning chime if you open either door while
leaving the lamps on. An exception to this is when
you're using Twilight Sentinel.
Daytime Running Lamps
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to see the front of your vehicle during the day.
DRL can be helpful in many different driving
conditions, but they can be especially helpful in the
short periods after dawn and before sunset. Fully
functional daytime running lights are required on all
vehicles first sold in Canada.
The DRL system will make the high
-beam headlamps
come on at reduced brightness when:
The ignition is on,
the headlamp switch is off and
the transaxle is not in PARK (P).
When DRL are on, only your high
-beam headlamps (at
reduced brightness) will be on. No other exterior lamps
such as the parking lamps, taillamps, etc. will be on
when the DRL are being used. Your instrument panel
won't be lit up either.
2-46
Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel
Intensity/Brightness Control
The digital displays automatically dim when it becomes
dark outside and your lights are on. When it's dark, the
brightness control can be manually adjusted by turning
the exterior lamps control knob counterclockwise to dim
and clockwise to brighten the lighting. The digital
displays automatically brighten when it becomes light
outside, although backlighting will remain active at the
selected brightness as long as the lights are on.
Illuminated Entry
The illuminated entry system turns on the courtesy
lamps and the backlighting to the door controls and to
the exterior lamps control knob when a door is opened
or if you press a remote keyless entry transmitter button.
Since the illuminated entry system has a photocell, this
means that it must be dark outside in order for the
courtesy lamps or backlighting to turn on. The courtesy
lamps turn off approximately 20 seconds after the last
door is closed or after the ignition is turned to RUN.
Parade Dimming
This feature prohibits the dimming of the instrument
panel lights during daylight while the headlamps are on.
This feature operates with the light sensor for the
Twilight Sentinel and is fully automatic. When the light
sensor reads darkness outside, the instrument panel
lights can be adjusted by turning the exterior lamps
control knob counterclockwise to dim and clockwise to
brighten lighting. Backlighting to the instrument panel
will turn on, regardless of light conditions.
Reading Lamps
The reading lamps are located either in the headliner or
above the windows if you have a sunroof. To turn them
on, turn the exterior lamps control knob all the way
clockwise. These lamps and the interior courtesy lamps
automatically come on when either door is opened and it
is dark outside. For manual operation, press the button
to turn them on. Press it again to turn them off.
If the reading lamps are left on, they automatically shut
off 10 minutes after the ignition has been turned off.
2-47 Inadvertent Power Battery Saver
This feature is designed to protect your vehicle's battery
against drainage from the interior lamps, trunk lamp,
glove box lamp, cigarette lighters or the garage
door opener. When the ignition is turned off, the
power to these features will automatically turn off after
10 minutes (three minutes if a new car has 15 miles
(24 km) or less). Power will be restored for an additional
10 minutes if either door is opened, the trunk is opened
or the courtesy lamps are turned on.
Storage Mode Personalization
This feature is for long-term use and must be
programmed through the Driver Information Center
(DIC) while the ignition is in RUN. Storage mode
personalization protects the battery by placing your
vehicle in a storage mode so that the radio, amplifiers,
instrument panel cluster and remote keyless entry will
not drain the battery over a long period of time. For
programming information, see ªMemory and
Personalization Featuresº in the Index.
Mirrors
Electrochromic Day/Night Rearview Mirror
with Compass
Your vehicle has an electrochromic inside rearview
mirror with a compass. Your vehicle's mirror also
contains OnStar
controls. For more information about
OnStar, see ªOnStarº in the Index.
This is the on/off button, located on the lower left
side of the mirror for the electrochromic and compass
functions of the rearview mirror.
The mirror also includes an eight
-point compass
display in the upper right corner of the mirror face.
When on, the compass automatically calibrates as the
vehicle is driven.
2-55
The light will be red in the event of an OnStar system
malfunction. If this occurs press the OnStar button to
attempt to contact an advisor. If the connection is made,
the advisor will assist you with steps to take to make
sure that the system is functioning properly. If you
cannot contact the advisor, take your vehicle to your
dealership as soon as possible for assistance.
Safety and Security Services
Automatic Notification of Air Bag
Deployment
-- If an air bag deploys, a priority
emergency signal is automatically sent to the center.
An advisor will locate your vehicle's position, try to
contact you and assist you in the situation. If the
center is unable to contact you, an emergency service
provider will be contacted.
Stolen Vehicle Tracking
-- Call the center at
1
-888-4-ONSTAR (1-888-466-7827) to report your
vehicle stolen. The system can then locate and track
your vehicle and the advisor will be able to notify
the proper authorities.
Roadside Assistance with Location
-- For vehicle
breakdowns, press the OnStar button. An advisor
will contact the appropriate help.Remote Diagnostics
-- If an instrument panel light
comes on, the center can perform a check of the
engine on
-board computer. An advisor can then
recommend what action needs to be taken.
OnStar MED
-NET -- Med-Net can store your
personal medical history and provide it to emergency
personnel if necessary. (Requires activation and
additional fee.)
Accident Assist
-- An advisor can provide
step
-by-step guidance following an accident.
Remote Door Unlock
-- To contact the center,
call 1
-888-4-ONSTAR. You will be required to
provide your security information. An advisor will
send a command to your vehicle to unlock itself.
The advisor can delay unlocking your vehicle.
Remote Door Unlock is disabled 48 hours after the
vehicle is parked to maintain the battery charge.
Vehicle Locator Service
-- To contact the center,
call 1
-888-4-ONSTAR. You will be required to
provide your security information. An advisor will
send a command to your vehicle to sound the horn
and/or flash the lamps.
In order to provide you with excellent service, calls with
the OnStar Center may be monitored or recorded.
2-62
The Instrument Panel -- Your Information System