2-107
Oil Life Indicator
This feature lets you know when to change the engine
oil. It's based on the engine oil temperatures and your
driving patterns. To see the display, press the INFO
button several times until ENGINE OIL LIFE appears.
If you see 99% ENGINE OIL LIFE, 99 percent of your
current oil life remains.The DIC may display a CHANGE ENGINE OIL
message. Always keep a written record of the mileage
and date when you changed your oil. For more
information, see the Maintenance Schedule booklet.
If you see CHANGE ENGINE OIL, it means the
oil life is gone and you should change the oil right away.
The system doesn't check how much oil you have,
so you'll still have to check for that. To see how, see
ªEngine Oilº in the Index.
When the oil is changed, you'll need to reset the system.
See ªOil Life Indicator, How to Resetº in the Index.
3-4
To avoid blowing cold air in cold weather, the system
will start at reduced fan speeds until warm air is
available. The length of reduction depends on the
outside air temperature, engine coolant temperature or
the time since the engine was last started. As the coolant
warms up, the blower fan speed will gradually increase
and air will flow from the heater outlets, with some
airflow to the windshield to prevent fogging under most
normal conditions. If you select defrost mode or a
manual fan speed, this function will be skipped.
If you leave your vehicle, the system will remember the
control setting the next time you start your engine,
except for recirculation and defrost. Each ignition cycle
cancels recirculation. Defrost will change to automatic
operation when the ignition is shut off and then turned
back on.Manual Operation
You may manually adjust the air delivery mode, fan
speed, air input and compressor operation using the
following controls.
DEFROST (FRONT): Press this button to quickly
remove fog or frost from the windshield. This setting
sends most of the airflow to the windshield with only a
small amount to the floor outlets.
RECIRCULATION: Press this button to limit
the amount of fresh air entering your vehicle. This is
helpful when you are trying to cool the air quickly or
limit odors entering your vehicle. In the AUTO mode,
the system will use recirculation as necessary to cool the
air. Pressing the recirculation button will change the
operation to a manual mode and the air will recirculate
non
-stop. Press this button again to turn off the
recirculation feature. If you notice the windows fogging,
press the recirculation button to exit the recirculation
mode. Recirculation is not available in the defrost mode.
3-5
A/C: Press this button to turn the air conditioning
compressor on and off. When you press the button, an
A/C OFF message appears on the climate control panel's
display. Press the button again and the air conditioner
will return to automatic control. The system will cool
and dehumidify the air inside the vehicle. In the
automatic mode, the air conditioning compressor only
operates when the system determines it is needed. The
A/C OFF function is not available in the defrost mode.
MODE: Press this button (the right or left arrow) to
deliver air through the floor, instrument panel or
windshield outlets. The climate control system will stay
in the selected mode until the MODE button, the
DEFROST button or the AUTO button is pressed again.
Press the left or right arrow to cycle through the
following available modes.
UPPER: This setting directs airflow through the
middle instrument panel outlets. Your vehicle is
equipped with a driver's side lap cooler which will also
come on when the upper vents are being used.
BI-LEVEL: This setting directs air into your
vehicle in two ways. Cool air is directed to the upper
portion of your body through the four instrument panel
outlets while warmed air is directed to the floor.
DEFOG: This setting directs air to the floor
outlets and toward the windshield.
HEATER: This setting directs warmed air
through the floor outlets. Some warm air is diverted to
the windshield to minimize fogging.
FAN: The button with the fan symbol adjusts the
fan speed. Press the up arrow to increase fan speed and
the down arrow to decrease fan speed. Press the AUTO
button to set the fan speed for automatic operation. If it
is cold outside, the blower may not run in the maximum
high fan speed right away. The system checks the
temperature of the engine coolant to assure it is warm
enough to provide heat. When the engine coolant is
warm, the controller allows the fan to gradually increase
to a higher speed. This prevents cold air from blowing
into the passenger's compartment. Selecting a manual
fan speed will override this feature.
3-11
Audio Systems
Your audio system has been designed to operate easily
and give years of listening pleasure. You will get the
most enjoyment out of it if you acquaint yourself with it
first. Find out what your audio system can do and how
to operate all its controls, to be sure you're getting the
most out of the advanced engineering that went into it.
Setting the Clock
Press and hold HR or MN until the time display begins
to change. Release the button as you get close to the
correct time. The time may be set anytime the clock is
displayed. There is a two
-second delay before the clock
goes into time
-set mode.
AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape and
Compact Disc Player
Playing the Radio
PWR/VOL: Press this knob lightly to turn the system
on. Press the knob again to turn the system off. To
increase volume, turn the knob clockwise. Turn it
counterclockwise to decrease volume.
HR or MN: Display the time with the ignition off by
pressing this button.
3-33
This interference is described as an increased level of
static while listening to the radio. If you notice static
while listening to the radio, unplug the cellular phone
and turn if off.
Weather Band
Weather band is restricted to speech and the audio
quality is not as good as with the AM or FM bands.
Depending on location, the radio should receive one or
two channels.
Tips About Your Audio System
Hearing damage from loud noise is almost undetectable
until it is too late. Your hearing can adapt to higher
volumes of sound. Sound that seems normal can be loud
and harmful to your hearing. Take precautions by
adjusting the volume control on your radio to a safe
sound level before your hearing adapts to it.
To help avoid hearing loss or damage:
Adjust the volume control to the lowest setting.
Increase volume slowly until you hear comfortably
and clearly.
NOTICE:
Before you add any sound equipment to your
vehicle
-- like a tape player, CB radio, mobile
telephone or two
-way radio -- be sure you can
add what you want. If you can, it's very
important to do it properly. Added sound
equipment may interfere with the operation of
your vehicle's engine, radio or other systems, and
even damage them. Your vehicle's systems may
also interfere with the operation of sound
equipment that has been added improperly.
So, before adding sound equipment, check with
your dealer and be sure to check Federal rules
covering mobile radio and telephone units.
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player
A tape player that is not cleaned regularly can cause
reduced sound quality, ruined cassettes or a damaged
mechanism. Cassette tapes should be stored in their
cases away from contaminants, direct sunlight and
extreme heat. If they aren't, they may not operate
properly or may cause failure of the tape player.
4-7
Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive
in spurts
-- heavy acceleration followed by heavy
braking
-- rather than keeping pace with traffic.
This is a mistake. Your brakes may not have time to
cool between hard stops. Your brakes will wear out
much faster if you do a lot of heavy braking. If you
keep pace with the traffic and allow realistic following
distances, you will eliminate a lot of unnecessary
braking. That means better braking and longer
brake life.
If your engine ever stops while you're driving, brake
normally but don't pump your brakes. If you do, the
pedal may get harder to push down. If your engine
stops, you will still have some power brake assist.
But you will use it when you brake. Once the power
assist is used up, it may take longer to stop and the
brake pedal will be harder to push.
Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS)
Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes (ABS).
ABS is an advanced electronic braking system
that will help prevent a braking skid.
When you start your engine 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's a problem with
the anti
-lock brake system,
this warning light will stay
on. See ªAnti
-Lock Brake
System Warning Lightº in
the Index.
4-9
Remember: Anti-lock doesn't change the time you need
to get your foot up to the brake pedal or always decrease
stopping distance. If you get too close to the vehicle in
front of you, you won't have time to apply your brakes
if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops. Always leave
enough room up ahead to stop, even though you have
anti
-lock brakes.
Using Anti
-Lock
Don't pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal down
firmly and let anti
-lock work for you. You may 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.
Traction Control System
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.
The TRACTION ENGAGED message will display on
the Driver Information Center when the traction control
system is limiting wheel spin. See ªDriver Information
Center Messagesº in the Index. You may feel or hear
the system working, but this is normal.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the traction
control system begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise
control will automatically disengage. When road
conditions allow you to safely use it again, you may
reengage the cruise control. See ªCruise Controlº in
the Index.
4-11
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.
Magnasteer (If Equipped)
Your vehicle may be equipped with GM Magnasteer,
a system that continuously adjusts the effort you feel
when steering at all vehicle speeds. It provides ease
when parking yet a firm, solid feel at highway speeds.
Steering Tips
Driving on Curves
It's important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
A lot of the ªdriver lost controlº accidents mentioned
on the news happen on curves. Here's why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is subject
to the same laws of physics when driving on curves.
The traction of the tires against the road surface makes
it possible for the vehicle to change its path when you
turn the front wheels. If there's no traction, inertia will keep the vehicle going
in the same direction. If you've ever tried to steer a
vehicle on wet ice, you'll understand this.
The traction you can get in a curve depends on the
condition of your tires and the road surface, the angle at
which the curve is banked, and your speed. While you're
in a curve, speed is the one factor you can control.
Suppose you're steering through a sharp curve.
Then you suddenly accelerate. Both control
systems
-- steering and acceleration -- have to do
their work where the tires meet the road. Adding the
sudden acceleration can demand too much of those
places. You can lose control. Refer to ªTraction Control
Systemº in the Index.
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.
Since your vehicle is equipped with Stabilitrak
, you
may see the STABILITY SYS ENGAGED message
on the Driver Information Center. See ªStability Sys
Engaged Messageº in the Index.