Page 157 of 366
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
-3 Cooling
3
-3 Heating
3
-4 Defogging and Defrosting
3
-4 Rear Window Defogger
3
-5 Ventilation System
3
-6 Audio Systems
3
-6 Setting the Clock
3
-6 Monsoon AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape
Player and Equalizer
3
-10 AM-FM Stereo with Compact Disc Player and
Equalizer (If Equipped)3
-13 Trunk Mounted CD Changer (Option)
3
-18 Theft-Deterrent Feature
3
-20 Audio Steering Wheel Controls (If Equipped)
3
-21 Understanding Radio Reception
3
-21 Tips About Your Audio System
3
-22 Care of Your Cassette Tape Player
3
-23 Care of Your Compact Discs
3
-23 Care of Your Compact Disc Player
3
-23 Fixed Mast Antenna
3
-24 Power Antenna Mast Care
Page 159 of 366

3-3
BI-LEVEL: This setting directs air through the
upper air vents and the heater ducts.
VENT: This setting directs air through the upper
air vents.
HEATER: This setting directs most of the air
through the heater ducts and some of the air through the
windshield defroster vents.
BLEND: This setting directs air through the
windshield defroster vents and the heater ducts.
DEFROST: This setting directs most of the air
through the windshield defroster vents and some of the
air through the heater ducts.
Cooling
The air conditioner works best if you keep your
windows closed. On very hot days, open the windows
just long enough for the hot air to escape.
1. Turn the air control knob to A/C for normal cooling.
For faster cooling, turn the knob to MAX.
2. Turn the temperature control knob to a
comfortable setting.
3. Turn the fan control knob to the desired speed.
Heating
The heater works best if you keep your windows closed
while using it.
1. Turn the air control knob to HEATER.
2. Turn the fan control knob to the desired speed.
3. Turn the temperature control knob to a
comfortable setting.
During initial start
-up only, if your vehicle is equipped
with an optional engine coolant heater, you can use it in
cold weather (around +20F/
-8C or lower) to improve
heater performance on initial start up. See ªEngine
Coolant Heaterº in the Index.
Bi
-Level
You may want to use bi
-level on cool, but sunny days.
This setting directs cool air toward your body and
warmer air toward your feet.
1. Turn the air control knob to BI
-LEVEL.
2. Turn the temperature control knob to a
comfortable setting.
3. Turn the fan control knob to the desired speed.
Page 160 of 366

3-4 Defogging and Defrosting
1. Turn the air control knob to DEFROST.
2. Turn the temperature control knob to the
desired setting.
3. Turn the fan control knob to the desired speed.
The side window defogging works equally as well in the
heater, blend and defrost modes.
Rear Window Defogger
The rear window defogger
uses a warming grid to
remove fog from the
rear window.Press the button to turn on the defogger. An indicator
light will come on to remind you that the defogger is on.
The defogger will turn off automatically after about
10 minutes of use. If you turn it on again, the defogger
will operate for about five minutes only. You can turn
the defogger off by pressing the button again. The
indicator light will go off when the system is turned off.
Do not attach anything like a temporary vehicle license
or a decal across the defogger grid on the rear window.NOTICE:
Don't use a razor blade or something else sharp
on the inside of the rear window. If you do, you
could cut or damage the warming grid, and the
repairs wouldn't be covered by your warranty.
Page 161 of 366

3-5 Ventilation System
Adjust the direction of airflow by moving the vents.
Your vehicle's flow
-through ventilation system supplies
outside air into the vehicle when it is moving. Outside
air will also enter the vehicle when the blower fan
is running.For mild outside temperature when little heating or
cooling is needed, you can still direct outside air through
your vehicle.
1. Turn the air control knob to VENT.
2. Turn the temperature control knob to a
comfortable setting.
3. Turn the fan control knob to the desired speed.
Ventilation Tips
Keep the hood and front air inlet free of ice, snow or
any other obstruction (such as leaves). The heater
and defroster will work far better, reducing the
chance of fogging the inside of your windows.
When you enter a vehicle in cold weather, turn the
fan control knob clockwise for a few moments
before driving off. This helps clear the intake ducts
of snow and moisture, and reduces the chance of
fogging the inside of your windows.
Keep the air path under the front seats clear of
objects. This helps air to circulate throughout
your vehicle.
Page 166 of 366

3-10
CD Adapter Kits
It is possible to use a portable CD player adapter kit
with your cassette tape player after activating the bypass
feature on your tape player.
To activate the bypass feature, use the following steps:
1. Turn the ignition to RUN or ACC.
2. Turn the radio off.
3. Press and hold the TAPE/PLAY button for three
seconds. The tape symbol on the display will flash
for two seconds, indicating the feature is active.
4. Insert the adapter into the cassette slot. It will power
up the radio and begin playing.
This override routine will remain active until EJECT
is pressed.AM-FM Stereo with Compact Disc Player
and Equalizer (If Equipped)
If your vehicle is equipped with the AM-FM Stereo
with Compact Disc Player and Equalizer, included are
four speakers. Please see your dealer for details.
If your vehicle is equipped with the Monsoon AM
-FM
Stereo with Compact Disc Player and Equalizer
(not shown), included are eight (convertibles only) or
10 high performance speakers and a powerful eight
channel amplifier. This feature requires power windows
and door locks. Please see your dealer for details.
Page 203 of 366

4-23
The exit speed is usually posted.
Reduce your speed according to your speedometer, not
to your sense of motion. After driving for any distance
at higher speeds, you may tend to think you are going
slower than you actually are.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you're ready. Try to be well rested. If you
must start when you're not fresh
-- such as after a day's
work
-- don't plan to make too many miles that first part
of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes you
can easily drive in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it
serviced and maintained, it's ready to go. If it needs
service, have it done before starting out. Of course,
you'll find experienced and able service experts in
Pontiac dealerships all across North America.
They'll be ready and willing to help if you need it.Here are some things you can check before a trip:
Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the reservoir full?
Are all windows clean inside and outside?
Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked
all levels?
Lamps: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
Tires: They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free trip. Is the tread good enough for
long
-distance driving? Are the tires all inflated to the
recommended pressure?
Weather Forecasts: What's the weather outlook
along your route? Should you delay your trip a short
time to avoid a major storm system?
Maps: Do you have up
-to-date maps?
Page 209 of 366

4-29
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.
You can run the engine to keep warm, but be careful.
CAUTION:
Snow can trap exhaust gases under your vehicle.
This can cause deadly CO (carbon monoxide) gas
to get inside. CO could overcome you and kill
you. You can't see it or smell it, so you might not
know it is in your vehicle. Clear away snow from
around the base of your vehicle, especially any
that is blocking your exhaust pipe. And check
around again from time to time to be sure snow
doesn't collect there.
Open a window just a little on the side of the
vehicle that's away from the wind. This will help
keep CO out.
Run your engine only as long as you must. This saves
fuel. When you run the engine, make it go a little faster
than just idle. That is, push the accelerator slightly. This
uses less fuel for the heat that you get and it keeps the
battery charged. You will need a well
-charged battery to
restart the vehicle, and possibly for signaling later on
with your headlamps. Let the heater run for a while.
Page 210 of 366

4-30
Then, shut the engine off and close the window almost
all the way to preserve the heat. Start the engine again
and repeat this only when you feel really uncomfortable
from the cold. But do it as little as possible. Preserve the
fuel as long as you can. To help keep warm, you can get
out of the vehicle and do some fairly vigorous exercises
every half hour or so until help comes.
Recreational Vehicle Towing
Your vehicle was not designed to be towed with all four
wheels on the ground. If your vehicle must be towed,
see ªTowing Your Vehicleº in the Index.
NOTICE:
Towing your vehicle with all four wheels on the
ground will damage drivetrain components.
Loading Your Vehicle
Two labels on your vehicle show how much weight it
may properly carry. The Tire
-Loading Information label
found on the rear edge of the driver's door tells you the
proper size, speed rating and recommended inflation
pressures for the tires on your vehicle. It also gives you
important information about the number of people that
can be in your vehicle and the total weight that you can
carry. This weight is called the vehicle capacity weight
and includes the weight of all occupants, cargo, and all
nonfactory
-installed options.