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3-24
Using RDS
Your audio system is equipped with a Radio Data
System (RDS). RDS mode gives you many useful new
features. With RDS, the radio can do the following:
Seek only to stations with the types of programs you
want to listen to,
seek to stations with traffic announcements,
receive announcements concerning local and
national emergencies, and
receive and display messages from radio stations.
RDS features are only available on FM stations that
broadcast RDS information. The RDS features on your
radio rely on receiving specific RDS information from
these stations. These features will only work when the
RDS information is available. In rare cases, a radio
station may broadcast incorrect information that will
cause the radio features to work improperly. If this
happens, contact the radio station.
When you are tuned to an RDS station, the station
name will appear on the display, instead of the
frequency. Most RDS stations provide their station
name, the time of day and a Program Type (PTY) for
their current programming.Finding a PTY Preset Station
To find a PTY preset station, perform the following steps:
1. Press the P
-TYPE button to turn on PTY select. PTY
will be displayed and the light next to the button will
turn on. The last selected PTY will appear on the
display for five seconds.
2. Turn the P
-TYPE knob clockwise or
counterclockwise to select the PTY you want to
listen to. The list is alphabetical. If you select ANY
TYPE your radio will seek to the first PTY available.
3. Press the right SEEK arrow to find radio stations
for that PTY. The radio will seek to the first RDS
broadcaster of the selected program type. If the radio
cannot find the desired program type, NOT FOUND
will appear on the display and the radio will return to
the last station you were listening to. If both P
-TYPE
and TRAF are on, the radio will search for stations
with traffic announcements and the selected PTY.
To use the P
-TYPE interrupt feature, press and hold the
P
-TYPE button until you hear a beep on the PTY you
want to interrupt on. An asterisk will appear next to the
PTY name (for example CLASSICAL*). When you are
listening to a cassette or compact disc, the last selected
RDS FM station will interrupt play if that selected PTY
format is broadcast.
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3-28
SCAN : Press and hold either arrow for more than
two seconds until you hear a beep and SCAN appears on
the display. The tape will go to the next selection, play
for a few seconds, then go on to the next selection.
Press this button again to stop scanning.
BAND: Press this button to listen to the radio when a
cassette tape is playing. The tape will stop but remain in
the player.
TP CD (TAPE): Press this button to play to play a
cassette tape or a CD when listening to the radio. Press
TP CD to switch between the tape and compact disc if
both are loaded. The inactive tape or CD will remain
safely inside the radio for future listening. The display
will show the TAPE and CD symbols.
(Eject): Press this button, located next to the
cassette tape slot, to eject a tape. Eject may be activated
with either the ignition or radio off. Cassettes may be
loaded with the radio and ignition off if this button is
pressed first.Cassette Tape Messages
If an error occurs while trying to play a cassette tape,
it could be for one of the following reasons:
TIGHT TAPE: When this message is displayed, the
tape is tight and the player can't turn the tape hubs.
Remove the tape. Hold the tape with the open end down
and try to turn the right hub counterclockwise with a
pencil. Turn the tape over and repeat. If the hubs do not
turn easily, your tape may be damaged and should not be
used in the player. Try a new tape to make sure your
player is working properly.
BROKEN TAPE: If this message is displayed, the tape
is broken. Try a new tape.
WRAPPED: When this message is displayed, the tape
is wrapped around the tape head. Attempt to get the
cassette out. Try a new tape.
Page 179 of 363

3-31 Theft-Deterrent Feature
THEFTLOCK is designed to discourage theft of your
radio. It works by using a secret code to disable all radio
functions whenever battery power is removed and the
radio is placed in a different vehicle. This feature
requires no user input to be activated. It is automatically
armed when it is put into the vehicle for the first time.
When the radio is turned off, the blinking red light
indicates that THEFTLOCK is armed.
If THEFTLOCK is activated, your radio will not operate
if stolen. The radio will display LOCKED and a red
LED indicator light will come on above the
THEFTLOCK logo to indicate a locked condition. If
this occurs, the radio will have to be returned to the
dealer.
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.
VOL (Volume): Press the up or down arrow to
increase or decrease volume.
PROG (Program): When playing a cassette tape, press
this button to play the other side of the tape. When
playing a CD, press this button to go to the next track.
SEEK : Press the up or down arrow to seek to the
next or previous station. When playing a cassette tape or
compact disc, press the up arrow to hear the next
selection. There must be at least a three
-second gap
between selections on a cassette tape.
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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 Brake System (ABS)
Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes. ABS is an advanced
electronic braking system that will help prevent a
braking skid.
When you start your engine, or when you 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 or pulses a little. This is normal.
United States Canada
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.
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4-8
Let's say the road is wet and you're driving safely.
Suddenly, an animal jumps out in front of you. You
slam on the brakes and continue braking. Here's what
happens with ABS:
A computer senses that wheels are slowing down. If one
of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the computer will
separately work the brakes at each front wheel and at
both rear wheels.The anti
-lock system can change the brake pressure
faster than any driver could. The computer is
programmed to make the most of available tire and road
conditions. This can help you steer around the obstacle
while braking hard.
As you brake, your computer keeps receiving updates on
wheel speed and controls braking pressure accordingly.
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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 (Option)
Your vehicle may have 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, may upshift the
transaxle, and reduces engine power to limit wheel spin.
This light will come on
when your traction control
system is limiting wheel
spin. See ªTraction Control
System Active Lightº in
the Index.
The low traction light will come on when the traction
control system is limiting wheel spin. See ªLow
Traction Lightº in the Index. You may feel or hear
the system working, but this is normal.
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4-13
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.
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.
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4-17
While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try
your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration or
braking (including engine braking by shifting to a lower
gear). Any sudden changes could cause the tires to slide.
You may not realize the surface is slippery until your
vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warning
clues
-- such as enough water, ice or packed snow on
the road to make a ªmirrored surfaceº
-- and slow
down when you have any doubt.
Remember: Any anti
-lock brake system (ABS) helps
avoid only the braking skid.
Driving at Night
Night driving is more dangerous than day driving.
One reason is that some drivers are likely to be
impaired
-- by alcohol or drugs, with night vision
problems, or by fatigue.