Here are some ways in which you can help avoid
distraction while driving.
While your vehicle is parked:
Familiarize yourself with all of its controls.
Familiarize yourself with its operation.
Set up your audio system by presetting your
favorite radio stations, setting the tone, and
adjusting the speakers. Then, when driving
conditions permit, you can tune to your favorite
radio stations using the presets and steering
wheel controls if the vehicle has them.
Notice:Before adding any sound equipment
to your vehicle, such as an audio system,
CD player, CB radio, mobile telephone,
or two-way radio, make sure that it can be
added by checking with your retailer. Also,
check federal rules covering mobile radio and
telephone units. If sound equipment can be
added, it is 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 interfere with the
operation of sound equipment that has
been added.Notice:The chime signals related to safety
belts, parking brake, and other functions
of your vehicle operate through the radio/
entertainment system. If that equipment
is replaced or additional equipment is added to
your vehicle, the chimes may not work. Make
sure that replacement or additional equipment
is compatible with your vehicle before
installing it. SeeAccessories and Modifications
on page 412.
Your vehicle has a feature called Retained
Accessory Power (RAP). With RAP, the audio
system can be played even after the ignition
is turned off. SeeRetained Accessory Power
(RAP) on page 139for more information.
271
ProCarManuals.com
Mobile Digital Media System
GM 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.
330
ProCarManuals.com
Quick Start Guide
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 353in your owner manual.
If your vehicle has the OnStar
®/Mute audio
steering wheel control, read the following
instructions.
333
ProCarManuals.com
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.
335
ProCarManuals.com
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.
The radio will only seek or scan stations with
a strong signal that are in the selected band.When a CD is playing, press either arrow to
go to the previous or next track, if more than
eight seconds have played. If either arrow is held or
pressed more than once, the player will continue
moving backward or forward through the CD.
BAND:Press this button to switch between FM1,
FM2, AM, or XM1 or XM2 (if equipped).
1-6:Press this button to scan the stations that
are programmed on the radio preset pushbuttons.
The radio will go to the next preset station
stored on the pushbuttons, play for a few seconds,
then go on to the next preset station. Press this
button again to stop scanning. The radio will
only scan preset stations with a strong signal that
are in the selected band.
$(Mute):Press this button to silence the system.
Press this button again, to turn the sound on.
r(Play):When listening to the radio, press this
button to play a CD.
wux(Volume):Press the up or down arrow
to increase or decrease the volume.
353
ProCarManuals.com
Your Driving, the Road, and
Your Vehicle............................................ 358
Defensive Driving...................................... 358
Drunken Driving........................................ 359
Control of a Vehicle.................................. 362
Braking...................................................... 362
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS).................. 363
Braking in Emergencies............................. 365
Traction Control System (TCS).................. 365
StabiliTrak
®System................................... 367
Steering.................................................... 369
Off-Road Recovery.................................... 372
Passing..................................................... 372
Loss of Control.......................................... 374
Driving at Night......................................... 375
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads............ 376City Driving............................................... 380
Freeway Driving........................................ 381
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.................. 382
Highway Hypnosis..................................... 383
Hill and Mountain Roads........................... 384
Winter Driving........................................... 386
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand,
Mud, Ice, or Snow ................................. 390
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out........... 391
Loading Your Vehicle................................ 391
Towing........................................................ 396
Towing Your Vehicle ................................. 396
Recreational Vehicle Towing...................... 396
Level Control............................................. 398
Towing a Trailer........................................ 398
Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
357
ProCarManuals.com
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 365and
StabiliTrak
®System on page 367.
Adding non-Saturn accessories can affect your
vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories and
Modi cations on page 412.
Braking
SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 226.
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.
362
ProCarManuals.com
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 has 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.
365
ProCarManuals.com