2001 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO steering wheel

2-50
Increasing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed:

Use the accelerator pedal to get to the higher speed.
Press the SET button on the steering wheel, then
release the button and the accelerator pedal.
You'll now cruise at the higher speed.

Press the ACC button on the steering wheel. Hold it
there until you get up to the speed you want and then
release the button. (To increase your speed in very
small amounts, press the ACC button briefly and
then release it. Each time you do this, your vehicle
will go about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster.
The accelerate feature will only work after you set the
cruise control speed by pressing the SET button on the
steering wheel.
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to reduce your speed while using
cruise control:

Press the COAST button on the steering wheel until
you reach the lower speed you want, then release it.

To slow down in very small amounts, press the
COAST button on the steering wheel briefly.
Each time you do this, you'll go about 1 mph
(1.6 km/h) slower.Passing Another Vehicle While Using Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed. When
you take your foot off the pedal, your vehicle will slow
down to the cruise speed you set earlier.
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 brake
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 cancel the cruise control:

Step lightly on the brake pedal.

Press the OFF button on the steering wheel.
Erasing Cruise Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition,
your cruise control set speed memory is erased.

2-63
OnStar
System (If Equipped)
OnStar is a vehicle communications system that offers a
variety of services and provides a hands
-free
communication link between you and the OnStar Center.
A service subscription agreement and fee are required in
order to receive OnStar service. Services are available
24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For more information,
call 1
-888-ONSTAR-7 (1-888-667-8277).
OnStar Services Button: Press this button once to
contact an advisor who will be able to assist you with
these services. If you are not quickly connected, the
system will automatically reset and redial. This ensures
connection to the center; there is no additional action
required. Press the Call Answer/End button to cancel the
automatic redial.
Emergency Button: In an emergency situation,
press the emergency service button. Upon receiving the
call, an advisor at the center will locate your vehicle and
assess the situation. If necessary, the advisor will alert
the nearest emergency service provider.
Call ANSWER/END Button: Use this button to
answer a call. (If you are receiving a call, the audio
system will mute, and the ring will be heard). Press this
button at the end of a call to disconnect and return the
audio system to its previous settings. This button will
also cancel a call if one of the buttons is accidentally
pressed or if the automatic redial function is activated.
Volume Control: You can control the volume of the
OnStar System using either the volume control knob
on the radio or using the steering wheel volume control
(if equipped).
Telltale Light: This light will indicate the status of
the system. A solid green light will come on when you
start the vehicle to let you know that the system is on
and is ready to make or receive calls.
If the light blinks green it means that an incoming
or outgoing call is in progress. Press the Call
ANSWER/END button if you notice the light
blinking and you are not on a call.

2-73
The main components of your instrument panel are listed here:
A. Instrument Panel Fuse Block
B. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
(behind steering wheel)
C. Audio Steering Wheel Controls (If Equipped)
D. Hazard Warning Flasher Switch
E. Audio System
F. Exterior Lamp ControlsG. Remote Trunk Release
H. Hood Release
I. Steering Wheel Cruise Control Switches
(If Equipped)
J. Ignition Switch
K. Automatic Transaxle Shift Lever
L. Climate Controls

3-
3-1
Section 3 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
In this section, you'll find out how to operate the comfort control and audio systems offered with your vehicle. Be
sure to read about the particular systems supplied with your vehicle.
3
-2 Comfort Controls
3
-2 Manual Single Zone Climate Control
3
-4 Dual ComforTemp
Climate Control
(If Equipped)
3
-6 Air Conditioning
3
-6 Heating
3
-6 Defogging and Defrosting
3
-7 Rear Window Defogger
3
-8 Ventilation System
3
-9 Audio Systems
3
-9 Setting the Clock for Systems with
Radio Data System
3
-9AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player
with Radio Data System (RDS) and Automatic
Tone Control3
-19 AM-FM Stereo with Compact Disc Player
with Radio Data System (RDS) and Automatic
Tone Control (Option)
3
-26 AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape and
Compact Disc Player with Radio Data System
(RDS) and Automatic Tone Control (Option)
3
-37 Theft-Deterrent Feature RDS Radios
3
-37 Audio Steering Wheel Controls (If Equipped)
3
-38 Understanding Radio Reception
3
-38 Tips About Your Audio System
3
-39 Care of Your Cassette Tape Player
3
-41 Care of Your Compact Discs
3
-41 Care of Your Compact Disc Player
3
-41 Backglass Antenna
3
-42 Vehicle Customization Settings
3
-42 Chime Level Adjustment

3-37
Theft-Deterrent Feature RDS Radios
THEFTLOCK
is designed to discourage theft of your
radio. The feature works automatically by learning a
portion of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
If the radio is moved to a different vehicle, it will not
operate and LOCKED will be displayed.
When the ignition is off and RAP is not active, the
blinking light indicates that THEFTLOCK is armed.
With THEFTLOCK activated, your radio will not
operate if stolen.
Audio Steering Wheel Controls
(If Equipped)
If your vehicle has this feature, you can control certain
radio functions using the buttons on your steering wheel.
SEEK: Press the up arrow to tune to the next radio
station and the down arrow to tune to the previous
radio station.
If a cassette tape or compact disc is playing, the player
will advance with the up arrow and reverse with the
down arrow. Holding SEEK for 3 seconds or more
will activate the PSCAN mode.

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 feel a
slight brake pedal pulsation or notice some noise, 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 is equipped with 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 reduces engine power and may also upshift the
transaxle and apply the front brakes to limit wheel spin.
United States Canada
This light will come on when your Traction Control
System is limiting wheel spin. See ªTraction Control
System Active Lightº 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.
The Traction Control System operates in all transaxle
shift lever positions. But the system can upshift the
transaxle only as high as the shift lever position you've
chosen, so you should use the lower gears only when
necessary. See ªAutomatic Transaxleº 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.
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.
What should you do if this ever happens? Ease up on the
accelerator pedal, steer the vehicle the way you want it
to go, and slow down.
Speed limit signs near curves warn that you should
adjust your speed. Of course, the posted speeds are
based on good weather and road conditions. Under less
favorable conditions you'll want to go slower.
If you need to reduce your speed as you approach a
curve, do it before you enter the curve, while your front
wheels are straight ahead.
Try to adjust your speed so you can ªdriveº 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.

4-12 Steering in Emergencies
There are times when steering can be more effective
than braking. For example, you come over a hill and
find a truck stopped in your lane, or a car suddenly pulls
out from nowhere, or a child darts out from between
parked cars and stops right in front of you. You can
avoid these problems by braking
-- if you can stop in
time. But sometimes you can't; there isn't room.
That's the time for evasive action
-- steering around
the problem.
Your vehicle can perform very well in emergencies like
these. First apply your brakes. See ªBraking in
Emergenciesº earlier in this section. It is better to
remove as much speed as you can from a possible
collision. Then steer around the problem, to the left or
right depending on the space available.
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.