Mobile Digital Media System
Your vehicle may have the GM Mobile Digital
Media system which is made up of a digital media
player, a wireless game controller, the digital
media storage (DMS) cartridge, the USB 2.0 cradle
(docking station), and the PhatNoise™ Media
Manager software.
See the following information to learn more about
the components that make up the complete
Digital Media system.
Digital Media Player
The digital media player
is contained in an
overhead console. It is
attached to the
vehicle’s overhead rail
system, located
behind the second row
domelamp.
The overhead console has an opening that opens
downward and is used to insert or remove the
DMS cartridge. Pull the panel down to insert the
removable cartridge. Close this panel to completely
hide the cartridge inside the console.
With the DMS cartridge inserted, the digital media
player is capable of playing back all of the content
that has been stored on the cartridge. Audio content
is accessible through the radio and steering wheel
controls. Audio, videos, and games are accessible
through the rear seat video screen.
345
Selecting Your Mobile Digital Media as the
Active Source
Your radio and rear seat entertainment system
communicate with the GM Mobile Digital
Media system, as one compact unit that can be
accessed by everyone seated inside the vehicle.
The GM Mobile Digital Media system can hold
thousands of songs, hours of videos, and
hundreds of games.
To help use this system, see the following “Quick
Start” information:
Front seat driver and passenger, use the radio
and steering wheel controls to access the
music collection with PhatNoise Voice Index™
technology. The preset buttons can be used
to select the browsing category. The Next,
Previous, and Seek buttons can be used to
browse within a browsing category. Browse the
music collection by artist, album, genre, or
custom playlist as the system uses the voice
mode to announce these selections. See
“Using the GM Mobile Digital Media System
for Front Seat Audio Entertainment” later
in this manual.
Rear seat passengers, use the wireless DVD
remote control to navigate the menu displayed
on the overhead DVD video screen, then select
to play music, videos, or games. A dedicated
game controller is included with the Mobile
Digital Media package. See “Using the GM
Mobile Digital Media System for Rear Seat
Entertainment” later in this manual.
Your vehicle may have audio steering wheel
controls. Some audio controls can be adjusted at
the steering wheel. SeeAudio Steering Wheel
Controls on page 367in your owner manual.
If your vehicle has the OnStar
®/Mute audio
steering wheel control, read the following
instructions.
348
The GM Mobile Digital Media is controlled through
the radio and steering wheel controls on your
vehicle’s audio system. This system functions
differently than a typical CD changer. The Digital
Media system allows you to switch between
different playback modes. These modes determine
the next song that will play. Using modes, you
can browse through playlists, artists, albums, and
genres while the system reads Voice Index™
names to you while you drive. By selecting Playlist
Mode, you can access the music collection in
the order placed onto the DMS cartridge, or you
can have the system sort the music by Album,
Artist, or Genre by selecting the corresponding
Modes.
Starting the System for Front Seat
Entertainment
The GM Mobile Digital Media system is available
through the DMS mode of your radio. This
system will power on and off automatically and
resume where the system last stopped.To begin playback, follow the instructions listed
below:
1. Insert the DMS cartridge into the GM Mobile
Digital Media player.
2. Turn on your radio and switch to the DMS
mode by pressing the CD/AUX button on
your radio.
3. Press any of the rst four pushbuttons (A-D)
to select different browse modes.
4. Press the left or right SEEK/SCAN arrow (E)
to navigate through the mode items.
5. Turn the tune knob (F) to navigate through
songs in a song list.
350
Customer Assistance Center
For customer assistance in the United States, call
1-877-GM-PHATN (877-467-4286) or contact
the Customer Assistance Center through
the internet at gmmobilemediasupportgedas.com
For customer assistance in Canada, see the
Customer Assistance Offices in the index of your
vehicle’s owner manual.
Theft-Deterrent Feature
THEFTLOCK®is designed to discourage theft of
your vehicle’s radio. The feature works
automatically by learning a portion of the Vehicle
Identi cation Number (VIN). If the radio is
moved to a different vehicle, it will not operate and
LOCKED will appear on the display.
With THEFTLOCK
®activated, the radio will not
operate if stolen.
Audio Steering Wheel Controls
If your vehicle has this feature, some audio
controls can be adjusted at the steering wheel.
They include the following:
wtux(Seek):Press the up or the down
arrow to go to the next or previous station and stay
there.
To scan stations, press and hold either arrow for
two seconds until FREQUENCY SCAN appears
on the display. The radio will go to a station, play
for a few seconds, then go to the next station.
Press either arrow again to stop scanning.
The sound will mute while seeking or scanning.
367
Your Driving, the Road, and
Your Vehicle............................................ 372
Defensive Driving...................................... 372
Drunken Driving........................................ 373
Control of a Vehicle.................................. 376
Braking...................................................... 376
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS).................. 377
Braking in Emergencies............................. 379
Traction Control System (TCS).................. 379
StabiliTrak
®System................................... 381
Steering.................................................... 383
Off-Road Recovery.................................... 385
Passing..................................................... 385
Loss of Control.......................................... 387
Driving at Night......................................... 388
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads............ 390City Driving............................................... 393
Freeway Driving........................................ 394
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.................. 395
Highway Hypnosis..................................... 396
Hill and Mountain Roads........................... 397
Winter Driving........................................... 399
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud,
Ice, or Snow.......................................... 403
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out........... 404
Loading Your Vehicle................................ 404
Towing........................................................ 410
Towing Your Vehicle ................................. 410
Recreational Vehicle Towing...................... 410
Level Control............................................. 411
Towing a Trailer........................................ 412
Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
371
Control of a Vehicle
You have three systems that make your vehicle
go where you want it to go. They are the brakes,
the steering, and the accelerator. All three
systems have to do their work at the places where
the tires meet the road.
Sometimes, as when you are driving on snow or
ice, it is easy to ask more of those control systems
than the tires and road can provide. That means
you can lose control of your vehicle. SeeTraction
Control System (TCS) on page 379and
StabiliTrak
®System on page 381.
Adding non-GM accessories can affect your
vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories and
Modi cations on page 426.
Braking
SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 238.
Braking action involves perception time and
reaction time.
First, you have to decide to push on the brake
pedal. That is perception time. Then you have to
bring up your foot and do it. That is reaction time.
Average reaction time is about three-fourths of a
second. But that is only an average. It might
be less with one driver and as long as two or
three seconds or more with another. Age, physical
condition, alertness, coordination, and eyesight
all play a part. So do alcohol, drugs, and
frustration. But even in three-fourths of a second,
a vehicle moving at 60 mph (100 km/h) travels
66 feet (20 m). That could be a lot of distance in an
emergency, so keeping enough space between
your vehicle and others is important.
And, of course, actual stopping distances vary
greatly with the surface of the road, whether it is
pavement or gravel; the condition of the road,
whether it is wet, dry, or icy; tire tread; the
condition of the brakes; the weight of the vehicle;
and the amount of brake force applied.
376
Remember: ABS does not 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 will not
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 ABS.
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the brake
pedal down rmly 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 ABS, 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 (TCS)
Your vehicle may have a traction control system
that limits wheel spin. This is especially useful
in slippery road conditions. The system operates if
it senses that one or both of the front wheels
are spinning or beginning to lose traction. When
this happens, the system brakes the spinning
wheel(s) and/or reduces engine power to
limit wheel spin.
The TRACTION CONTROL ACTIVE message will
come on in the Driver Information Center (DIC)
when the traction control system is limiting wheel
spin. You may feel or hear the system working,
but this is normal.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the
traction control system begins to limit wheel spin,
the cruise control will automatically disengage.
When road conditions allow you to safely
use it again, you may re-engage the cruise control.
379
StabiliTrak®System
Your vehicle may be equipped with StabiliTrak®
which combines anti-lock brake, traction and
stability control systems and helps the driver
maintain directional control of the vehicle in most
driving conditions.
When you rst start your vehicle and begin to drive
away, the system performs several diagnostic
checks to insure there are no problems. You may
hear or feel the system working. This is normal and
does not mean there is a problem with your vehicle.
If the system fails to turn on or activate, the
SERVICE STABILITY SYSTEM message will be
displayed on the Driver Information Center (DIC). If
the vehicle has gone through heavy acceleration or
braking or multiple turns during the rst two miles of
driving after starting your vehicle, the STABILITY
CONTROL OFF message may appear on the DIC.
If this is the case, your vehicle does not need
servicing. You will need to turn the vehicle off and
then restart it to initialize StabiliTrak
®. If either
message appears on the DIC, and your vehicle has
not gone through hard acceleration, braking or
multiple turns in the rst two miles of driving, your
vehicle should be taken in for service.The STABILITY CONTROL ACTIVE message will
appear on the DIC only when the system is
both on and activated. It means that an advanced
computer-controlled system has come on to
help your vehicle continue to go in the direction in
which you are steering. StabiliTrak
®activates
when the computer senses that your vehicle is just
starting to spin, as it might if you hit a patch of
ice or other slippery spot on the road. When
the system activates, you may hear a noise or feel
a vibration in the brake pedal. This is normal.
When the STABILITY CONTROL ACTIVE
message is on, you should continue to steer in the
direction you want to go. The system is designed
to help you in bad weather or other difficult driving
situations by making the most of whatever road
conditions will permit. For more information on the
stability messages, seeDriver Information
Center (DIC) on page 249.
If the StabiliTrak
®system turns off, the traction
control system warning light will illuminate, and the
STABILITY CONTROL OFF message will
appear on the DIC to warn the driver that
StabiliTrak
®is no longer available to assist you
with directional control of the vehicle. Adjust your
driving accordingly.
381