Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped
Vehicle
Air bags affect how your vehicle should be serviced.
There are parts of the air bag systems in several places
around your vehicle. Your dealer and the service manual
have information about servicing your vehicle and the air
bag systems.To purchase a service manual, seeService
Publications Ordering Information on page 7-12.
{CAUTION:
For up to 10 seconds after the ignition key is
turned off and the battery is disconnected, an
air bag can still in ate during improper
service. You can be injured if you are close to
an air bag when it in ates. Avoid wires
wrapped with yellow tape or yellow
connectors. They are probably part of the air
bag system. Be sure to follow proper service
procedures, and make sure the person
performing work for you is quali ed to do so.
The air bag systems do not need regular maintenance.
1-74
At times you may notice a decrease in range. This is
normal for any remote keyless entry system. If the
transmitter does not work or if you have to stand closer
to your vehicle for the transmitter to work, try this:
Check the distance. You may be too far from your
vehicle. You may need to stand closer during
rainy or snowy weather.
Check the location. Other vehicles or objects may
be blocking the signal. Take a few steps to the
left or right, hold the transmitter higher, and
try again.
Check to determine if battery replacement is
necessary. See “Battery Replacement” under
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation
on page 2-4.
If you are still having trouble, see your dealer or a
quali ed technician for service.
Remote Keyless Entry System
Operation
With this system you can lock and unlock your doors
from about 3 feet (1 m) up to 30 feet (9 m) away
using the remote keyless entry transmitter supplied with
your vehicle.
UNLOCK:Press this
button to unlock the driver’s
door and turn on the
interior lights. The parking
lamps may also ash,
and the horn may chirp,
when this button is pressed.
Press the unlock button again within three seconds and
all of the doors will unlock.
LOCK:Press this button to lock all the doors. The
parking lamps may also ash and the horn may chirp
when this button is pressed. Press the button again
within three seconds and the horn may chirp.
2-4
Battery Replacement
Under normal use, the battery in your remote keyless
entry transmitter should last about two years.
You can tell the battery is weak if the transmitter will not
work at the normal range in any location. If you have
to get close to your vehicle before the transmitter works,
it is probably time to change the battery.
Notice:When replacing the battery, use care not to
touch any of the circuitry. Static from your body
transferred to these surfaces may damage
the transmitter.To replace the battery, do the following:
1. Insert a thin coin, or similar object, in the slot
between the covers of the transmitter housing.
Gently pry the transmitter apart.
2. Remove and replace the battery with a three-volt
CR2032 or equivalent battery.
3. Align the covers and snap them together.
4. Check the operation of the transmitter.
2-6
Content Theft-Deterrent
If your vehicle has the
remote keyless entry
system, the vehicle has a
content theft-deterrent
alarm system.
To activate the content theft-deterrent system, do
the following:
1. Close all the doors.
2. Lock the door with the remote keyless entry
transmitter. The security light ashes.
If the vehicle is equipped with OnStar
®, and OnStar®
locks the doors, with all the doors closed, it will activate
the system.
If the lock button on the remote keyless entry transmitter
is pressed, but a door is open, the horn will chirp six
times. Close the open door and the system will
be activated.If a locked door is not opened with the remote keyless
entry transmitter, or OnStar
®, the alarm will go off.
The front turn signal lamps will ash for two minutes,
and the horn will sound for two minutes, then will turn off
to save the battery power.
Remember, the theft-deterrent system won’t activate if
you lock the doors with a key, the manual door lock,
or power door lock switch. The system can only
be activated with the remote keyless entry transmitter,
or OnStar
®. You should also remember that you
can start your vehicle with the correct ignition key if the
alarm has been set off.
Here’s how to avoid setting off the alarm by accident:
If you don’t want to activate the theft-deterrent
system, the vehicle should be locked with the door
key after the doors are closed.
Always unlock a door with a the remote keyless
entry transmitter. Unlocking a door any other
way will set off the alarm.
If you set off the alarm by accident, you can turn off the
alarm by pressing unlock on the remote keyless
entry transmitter. The alarm won’t stop if you try to
unlock a door any other way.
2-15
Starting Your Engine
1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn the
ignition key to START. When the engine starts,
let go of the key. The idle speed will go down as
your engine gets warm.
Notice:Holding your key in START for longer than
15 seconds at a time will cause your battery to
be drained much sooner. And the excessive heat
can damage your starter motor. Wait about
15 seconds between each try to help avoid draining
your battery or damaging your starter.
2. If the engine does not start within 10 seconds, push
the accelerator pedal all the way to the oor, while
you hold the ignition key in START. When the
engine starts, let go of the key and let up on the
accelerator pedal. Wait about 15 seconds between
each try.
Depending on the outside temperature, the engine
starter may continue cranking the engine up to
approximately four seconds after you release the
ignition key. This is normal.When starting your engine in very cold weather
(below 0°F or 18°C), do this:
1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn the
ignition key to START and hold it there up to
15 seconds. When the engine starts, let go of
the key.
2. If your engine still will not start (or starts but then
stops), it could be ooded with too much gasoline.
Try pushing your accelerator pedal all the way
to the oor and holding it there as you hold the key
in START for about three seconds. When the
engine starts, let go of the key and accelerator. If
the vehicle starts brie y but then stops again, do the
same thing, but this time keep the pedal down for
ve or six seconds. This clears the extra gasoline
from the engine.
Notice:Your engine is designed to work with the
electronics in your vehicle. If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could change the way the
engine operates. Before adding electrical equipment,
check with your dealer. If you do not, your engine
might not perform properly.
2-20
Automatic Transmission Operation
Your automatic transmission has a shift lever on the
steering column.
It features an electronic shift position indicator within the
instrument cluster. This display must be powered
anytime the shift lever is capable of being moved out of
PARK (P). This means that if your key is turned off,
but not in LOCK, there will be a small current drain on
your battery which could discharge your battery over
a period of time. If you need to leave your key in
the ignition but not in LOCK for an extended period, it is
recommended that you disconnect the battery cable
from the battery to prevent discharging your battery.
There are several different positions for your shift lever.
PARK (P):This position locks your rear wheels. It is
the best position to use when you start your engine
because your vehicle cannot move easily.
{CAUTION:
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the
shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake rmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Do not leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be injured. To
be sure your vehicle will not move, even when
you are on fairly level ground, always set your
parking brake and move the shift lever to
PARK (P). SeeShifting Into Park (P) (Automatic
Transmission) on page 2-32. If you are pulling
a trailer, seeTowing a Trailer on page 4-57.
Make sure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) before
starting the engine. Your vehicle has an automatic
transmission shift lock control system. You have to fully
apply your regular brakes before you can shift from
PARK (P) when the ignition key is in RUN. If you cannot
shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on the shift lever
by pushing the shift lever all the way into PARK (P)
as you maintain brake application. Then move the shift
lever into the gear you want. SeeShifting Out of
Park (P) (Automatic Transmission) on page 2-34.
2-22
Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Brightness
The thumbwheel for this feature is located next to the
exterior lamps control. SeeExterior Lamps on page 3-6.
D(Instrument Panel Lights):Turn the thumbwheel
up or down to brighten or dim the instrument panel lights
and the radio display. This will only work if the
headlamps or parking lamps are on.
To turn on the dome lamp, with the vehicle doors
closed, turn the thumbwheel all the way up.
Dome Lamp
The dome lamp will come on when you open a door.
You can also turn the dome lamp on by turning the
thumbwheel all the way up. In this position, the dome
lamp will remain on whether a door is opened or closed.
E(Dome Override):Press this button, located
below the exterior lamp control, to turn the dome lamp
off even when a door is opened. To return the lamp
to automatic operation, press the button again.
Exit Lighting
With exit lighting, the interior lamps will come on when
you remove the key from the ignition. The lamps
will not come on if the dome override button is
pressed in.
Battery Run-Down Protection
This feature shuts off the dome lamp if it is left on for
more than 20 minutes when the ignition is in LOCK. This
will keep your battery from running down.
Accessory Power Outlets
Your vehicle may have an accessory power outlet.
With accessory power outlets you can plug in auxiliary
electrical equipment such as a cellular telephone or
CB radio.
Your vehicle may have two accessory power outlets
located on the lower part of the instrument panel below
the climate control system and there may be one
located on the rear of the center console. A small cap
must be pulled down to access an accessory power
outlet. When not using an outlet be sure to cover it with
the protective cap.
3-10
This can happen if you have recently replaced your
battery or if your battery has run down. The diagnostic
system is designed to evaluate critical emission
control systems during normal driving. This may take
several days of routine driving. If you have done this and
your vehicle still does not pass the inspection for lack
of OBD system readiness, your GM dealer can prepare
the vehicle for inspection.
Oil Pressure Light
{CAUTION:
Do not keep driving if the oil pressure is low. If
you do, your engine can become so hot that it
catches re. You or others could be burned.
Check your oil as soon as possible and have
your vehicle serviced.
Notice:Lack of proper engine oil maintenance may
damage the engine. The repairs would not be
covered by your warranty. Always follow the
maintenance schedule in this manual for changing
engine oil.This light tells you if there
could be a problem with
your engine oil pressure.
The light goes on when you turn your key to ON or
START. It goes off once you start your engine. That’s a
check to be sure the light works. If it doesn’t come
on, be sure to have it xed so it will be there to warn
you if something goes wrong.
When the light comes on and stays on, it means that oil
isn’t owing through your engine properly. You could
be low on oil and you might have some other system
problem. SeeEngine Oil on page 5-13and “OIL” under
DIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-32for
more information.
3-27