Page 110 of 346

2-43
Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Brightness Control
You can brighten or dim
the instrument panel lights
by turning the interior
lamps thumbwheel.
Turn the thumbwheel upward to increase the brightness
of the instrument panel lights. Turn the thumbwheel
downward to decrease the brightness.Parade Mode
The instrument panel brightness control has an added
feature called parade mode to assist you in seeing
certain instrument panel controls if your headlamps are
on in the daylight. Without turning the courtesy lamps
on, turn the instrument panel brightness thumbwheel
all the way to the top. The radio, season/trip odometer,
gearshift selection indicator on the instrument panel
cluster and the heating and air conditioning controls
will come on at their maximum brightness. This will
occur only with the parking lamps or headlamps on.
Courtesy Lamps
When any door is opened, several lamps come on.
These lamps are courtesy lamps. They make it easy
for you to enter and leave your vehicle. You can also
turn these lamps on by turning the interior lamps
thumbwheel all the way up or by turning on each
individual lamp.
Page 122 of 346

2-55 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.
Page 183 of 346

4-12
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.
Magnetic Speed Sensitive Steering
This steering system provides lighter steering effort
for parking and when driving at speeds below 20 mph
(32 km/h). Steering effort will increase at higher speeds
for improved road feel.
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.
If your vehicle is equipped with the Precision Control
System, the LOW TRAC light may come on to indicate
the system is engaged. See ªLow Traction Active
(LOW TRAC) Lightº in the Index.
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.