Page 249 of 435
3-28 Audio Steering Wheel Controls
Some audio controls can be adjusted at the steering
wheel. They include the following:
Volume: Turning the
knob increases and
decreases volume.
(Band/Source): Press this button to select AM,
FM1, FM2 or a source, either radio, cassette tape or CD.
The cassette or CD must be loaded to play. Available
loaded sources are shown on the display as a tape or a
CD symbol. (For vehicles with the six
-disc changer
radio
- If none of the audio sources are loaded, and this
button is pressed, NO SOURCE LOADED will appear
on the display.)
(Mute): Press this button to silence the system.
Press it again to turn on the sound. If your vehicle has
the Navigation system, this button does not have a
mute function.
See ªReconfigurable
Steering Wheel Controls
(SWC)º in the Index for
more information on
this feature.
Page 250 of 435
3-29 Understanding Radio Reception
AM
The range for most AM stations is greater than for FM,
especially at night. The longer range, however, can
cause stations to interfere with each other. AM can pick
up noise from things like storms and power lines. Try
reducing the treble to reduce this noise if you ever get it.
FM Stereo
FM stereo will give you the best sound, but FM signals
will reach only about 10 to 40 miles (16 to 65 km). Tall
buildings or hills can interfere with FM signals, causing
the sound to come and go.Cellular Phone Usage
Cellular phone usage may cause interference with your
vehicle's radio. This interference may occur when
making or receiving phone calls, charging the phone's
battery or simply having the phone ªonº. 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.
Page 251 of 435

3-30 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 do the following:
1. Adjust the volume control to the lowest setting.
2. 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.
Page 252 of 435

3-31 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.
Your tape player should be cleaned regularly after every
50 hours of use. Your radio will display CLEAN TAPE
to indicate that you have used your tape player for
50 hours without resetting the tape clean timer. If this
message appears on the display, your cassette tape
player needs to be cleaned. It will still play tapes,
but you should clean it as soon as possible to prevent
damage to your tapes and player. If you notice a
reduction in sound quality, try a known good cassette to
see if the tape or the tape player is at fault. If this other
cassette has no improvement in sound quality, clean the
tape player.
For best results, use a scrubbing action, non
-abrasive
cleaning cassette with pads which scrub the tape head as
the hubs of the cleaner cassette turn. The recommended
cleaning cassette is available through your dealer
(GM Part No. 12344789).For vehicles with the single compact disc player, use the
following steps:
1. Turn the ignition to ON or ACCESSORY.
2. Turn the radio on.
3. Insert the scrubbing action cleaning cassette.
4. Eject the cleaning cassette after the manufacturer's
recommended cleaning time.
For vehicles with the six
-disc compact disc player, when
cleaning the cassette tape player with the recommended
non
-abrasive cleaning cassette, it is possible that the
cassette may eject, because the cut tape detection feature
on your radio may recognize it as a broken tape, in error.
To prevent the cleaning cassette from being ejected, use
the following steps:
1. Turn the ignition to ON or ACCESSORY.
2. Turn the radio on.
3. Insert the scrubbing action cleaning cassette.
4. Eject the cleaning cassette after the manufacturer's
recommended cleaning time.
Page 253 of 435

3-32
You may also choose a non-scrubbing action, wet-type
cleaner which uses a cassette with a fabric belt to clean
the tape head. This type of cleaning cassette will not
eject on its own. A non
-scrubbing action cleaner may
not clean as thoroughly as the scrubbing type cleaner.
The use of a non
-scrubbing action, dry-type cleaning
cassette is not recommended.
After you clean the player, perform the following steps:
1. Press the TUNE/SEL knob.
2. Turn the TUNE/SEL knob until SETUP is displayed.
3. Press the TUNE/SEL knob to enter SETUP.
4. Turn the TUNE/SEL knob until CLEAR TAPE
HOURS is displayed.
5. Press the TUNE/SEL knob to select. The radio
will display CLEARED to show that the indicator
was reset.
Cassettes are subject to wear and the sound quality
may degrade over time. Always make sure the cassette
tape is in good condition before you have your tape
player serviced.
Care of Your Compact Discs
Handle discs carefully. Store them in their original cases
or other protective cases and away from direct sunlight
and dust. If the surface of a disc is soiled, dampen a
clean, soft cloth in a mild, neutral detergent solution and
clean it, wiping from the center to the edge.
Be sure never to touch the side without writing when
handling discs. Pick up discs by grasping the outer edges
or the edge of the hole and the outer edge.
Care of Your Compact Disc Player
The use of CD lens cleaner discs is not advised, due to
the risk of contaminating the lens of the CD optics with
lubricants internal to the CD mechanism.
Page 254 of 435

3-33 Diversity Antenna System
Your AM-FM antenna is integrated with your rear
window defogger, located in the rear window. Be sure
that the inside surface of the rear window is not
scratched and that the lines on the glass are not
damaged. If the inside surface is damaged, it could
interfere with radio reception.
Do not apply aftermarket glass tinting. The metallic film
in some tinting materials will interfere with or distort the
incoming radio reception.NOTICE:
Do not try to clear frost or other material from
the inside of the front windshield or rear window
with a razor blade or anything else that is sharp.
This may damage the grid lines and affect your
radio's ability to pick up stations clearly. The
repairs wouldn't be covered by your warranty.
If, when you turn on your rear window defogger, you
hear static on your radio station, it could mean that a
defogger grid line has been damaged. If this is true, the
grid line must be repaired.
If you choose to add an aftermarket cellular telephone to
your vehicle, and the antenna needs to be attached to the
glass, be sure that you do not damage the grid lines for
the AM
-FM antennas or place the cellular telephone
antenna over the grid lines.
Page 255 of 435
4-
4-1
Section 4 Your Driving and the Road
Here you'll find information about driving on different kinds of roads and in varying weather conditions. We've also
included many other useful tips on driving.
4
-2 Defensive Driving
4
-3 Drunken Driving
4
-6 Control of a Vehicle
4
-6 Braking
4
-9 Traction Control System
4
-10 Stabilitrak - Vehicle Stability Enhancement
System (If Equipped)
4
-11 Steering
4
-13 Off-Road Recovery
4
-14 Passing
4
-15 Loss of Control4
-16 Driving at Night
4
-18 Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads
4
-21 City Driving
4
-22 Freeway Driving
4
-23 Before Leaving on a Long Trip
4
-24 Highway Hypnosis
4
-24 Hill and Mountain Roads
4
-26 Winter Driving
4
-30 Recreational Vehicle Towing
4
-32 Loading Your Vehicle
4
-34 Towing a Trailer
Page 256 of 435

4-2
Defensive Driving
The best advice anyone can give about driving is:
Drive defensively.
Please start with a very important safety device in your
vehicle: Buckle up. See ªSafety Beltsº in the Index.Defensive driving really means ªbe ready for anything.º
On city streets, rural roads or freeways, it means
ªalways expect the unexpected.º
Assume that pedestrians or other drivers are going to be
careless and make mistakes. Anticipate what they might
do. Be ready for their mistakes.
Rear
-end collisions are about the most preventable of
accidents. Yet they are common. Allow enough
following distance. It's the best defensive driving
maneuver, in both city and rural driving. You never
know when the vehicle in front of you is going to brake
or turn suddenly.
Defensive driving requires that a driver concentrate
on the driving task. Anything that distracts from the
driving task
-- such as concentrating on a cellular
telephone call, reading, or reaching for something on the
floor
-- makes proper defensive driving more difficult
and can even cause a collision, with resulting injury.
Ask a passenger to help do things like this, or pull
off the road in a safe place to do them yourself.
These simple defensive driving techniques could save
your life.