Remote Control
To use the remote control, aim it at the transmitter
window at the rear of the overhead console and press
the desired button. Direct sunlight or very bright light
could affect the ability of the RSE transmitter to receive
signals from the remote control. If the remote control
does not seem to be working, the batteries might need
to be replaced. See“Battery Replacement” later in this
section. Objects blocking the line of sight could also
affect the function of the remote control.
If a CD or DVD is in the Radio DVD slot, the remote
control power button can be used to turn on the video
screen display and start the disc. The radio can also
turn on the video screen display. See Radio(s)
on
page 4‑82for more information.
Notice: Storing the remote control in a hot area or
in direct sunlight can damage it, and the repairs will
not be covered by the warranty. Storage in extreme
cold can weaken the batteries. Keep the remote
control stored in a cool, dry place.
Remote Control Buttons
O(Power): Press this button to turn the video screen
on and off.
P(Illumination): Press this button to turn the remote
control backlight on. The backlight automatically turns
off after seven to ten seconds if no other button is
pressed while the backlight is on.
v(Title): Press this button to return the DVD to the
main menu of the DVD. This function may vary for
each disc.
y(Main Menu): Press this button to access the DVD
menu. The DVD menu is different on every DVD. Use
the navigation arrows to move the cursor around the
DVD menu. After making a selection press the enter
button. This button only operates when using a DVD.
n,q,p,o(Menu Navigation Arrows): Use the
arrow buttons to navigate through a menu.
r(Enter): Press this button to select the choice that
is highlighted in any menu.
z(Display Menu): Press this button to adjust the
brightness, screen display mode (normal, full, or zoom),
and display the language menu.
q(Return): Press this button to exit the current
active menu and return to the previous menu. This
button operates only when the display menu or a DVD
menu is active.
c(Stop): Press this button to stop playing, fast
reversing, or fast forwarding a DVD. Press this button
twice to return to the beginning of the DVD.
s(Play/Pause): Press this button to start playing a
DVD. Press this button while a DVD is playing to pause
it. Press it again to continue playing the DVD.
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Audio Steering Wheel Controls
Vehicles with audio
steering wheel controls
could differ depending
on the vehicle's options.
Some audio controls
can be adjusted at the
steering wheel.
w/x(Next / Previous):Press to select preset or
favorite radio stations, select tracks on a CD/DVD, or to
navigate an iPod
®or USB device.
Radio
To select preset or favorite radio stations:
Press and release
worxto go to the next or previous
radio station stored as a preset or favorite.
CD/DVD
To select tracks on a CD/DVD:
Press and release
worxto go to the next or previous
track.
Select tracks on an iPod or USB Device
(Vehicles without a Navigation System)
1. Press and holdworxwhile listening to a song
until the contents of the current folder display on
the radio display.
2. Press and release
worxto scroll up or down the
list, then press and hold
w, or press¨to play the
highlighted track.
Navigating folders on an iPod or USB
Device (Vehicles without a Navigation
System):
1. Press and holdworxwhile listening to a song
until the contents of the current folder display on
the radio display.
2. Press and hold
xto go back to the previous
folder list.
4-136
3. Press and releaseworxto scroll up or down
the list.
.To select a folder, press and holdw, or press
¨when the folder is highlighted.
.To go back further in the folder list, press and
hold
x.
Navigating an iPod or USB Device on
the Main Audio Screen (Vehicles with a
Navigation System)
Press and releaseworxto select the next or
previous track within the selected category.
Press and hold
worxto move quickly through the
tracks.
Press and release
¨to move up one track within the
selected category.
Navigating an iPod or USB Device on the
Music Navigator Screen (Vehicles with a
Navigation System)
Press and releaseworxto select the next or
previous track within the selected category.
Press and hold
worxto move quickly through the
tracks within the selected category. Press and release
¨to move up one track within the
selected category.
b g(Mute/Push to Talk): Press to silence the vehicle
speakers only. Press again to turn the sound on.
For vehicles with Bluetooth or OnStar
®systems, press
and hold for longer than two seconds to interact with
those systems. See Bluetooth
®on page 4‑114and the
OnStar Owner's Guide for more information.
c(End): Press to reject an incoming call, or end a
current call.
SRCE (Source/Voice Recognition): Press to switch
between the radio, CD, and for vehicles with, DVD, front
auxiliary, and rear auxiliary.
For vehicles with the navigation system, press and hold
this button for longer than one second to initiate voice
recognition. See “Voice Recognition” in the Navigation
System manual for more information.
¨(Seek): Press to go to the next radio station while in
AM, FM, or XM™.
For vehicles with or without a navigation system:
Press
¨to go to the next track or chapter while
sourced to the CD or DVD slot.
Press
¨to select a track or a folder when navigating
folders on an iPod or USB device.
4-137
For persons under 21, it is against the law in every
U.S. state to drink alcohol. There are good medical,
psychological, and developmental reasons for
these laws.
The obvious way to eliminate the leading highway
safety problem is for people never to drink alcohol and
then drive.
Medical research shows that alcohol in a person's
system can make crash injuries worse, especially
injuries to the brain, spinal cord, or heart. This means
that when anyone who has been drinking—driver or
passenger —is in a crash, that person's chance of
being killed or permanently disabled is higher than if the
person had not been drinking.
Control of a Vehicle
The following three systems help to control the vehicle
while driving —brakes, steering, and accelerator. At
times, as when driving on snow or ice, it is easy to ask
more of those control systems than the tires and road
can provide. Meaning, you can lose control of the
vehicle. See StabiliTrak
®System on page 5‑6.
Adding non‐dealer/non‐retailer accessories can affect
vehicle performance. See Accessories and
Modifications on page 6‑4.
Braking
If the vehicle is a Two‐mode Hybrid, see the Two‐mode
Hybrid manual for more information.
See Brake System Warning Light on page 4‑36.
Braking action involves perception time and reaction
time. Deciding to push the brake pedal is perception
time. Actually doing it 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 100 km/h (60 mph) travels
20 m (66 feet). That could be a lot of distance in an
emergency, so keeping enough space between the
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.
5-3
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.
The brakes might not have time to cool between hard
stops. The brakes will wear out much faster with a lot
of heavy braking. Keeping pace with the traffic and
allowing realistic following distances eliminates a lot of
unnecessary braking. That means better braking and
longer brake life.
If the engine ever stops while the vehicle is being
driven, brake normally but do not pump the brakes.
If the brakes are pumped, the pedal could get harder to
push down. If the engine stops, there will still be some
power brake assist but it will be used when the brake is
applied. Once the power assist is used up, it can take
longer to stop and the brake pedal will be harder
to push.
Adding non‐dealer/non‐retailer accessories can affect
vehicle performance. SeeAccessories and
Modifications on page 6‑4.Antilock Brake System (ABS)
This vehicle has the Antilock Brake System (ABS), an
advanced electronic braking system that helps prevent
a braking skid.
When the engine is started and the vehicle begins to
drive away, ABS checks itself. A momentary motor or
clicking noise might be heard while this test is going on.
This is normal.
If there is a problem with
ABS, this warning light
stays on. See Antilock
Brake System (ABS)
Warning Light
on
page 4‑37.
Along with ABS, the vehicle has a Dynamic Rear
Proportioning (DRP) system. If there is a DRP problem,
both the brake and ABS warning lights come on
accompanied by a 10‐second chime. The lights and
chime will come on each time the ignition is turned on
until the problem is repaired. See your dealer for
service.
5-4
StabiliTrak®System
The vehicle has a vehicle stability enhancement system
called StabiliTrak. It is an advanced computer controlled
system that assists the driver with directional control of
the vehicle in difficult driving conditions.
StabiliTrak activates when the computer senses a
discrepancy between the intended path and the
direction the vehicle is actually traveling. StabiliTrak
selectively applies braking pressure at any one of the
vehicle's brakes to assist the driver with keeping the
vehicle on the intended path.
When the vehicle is started and begins to move, the
system performs several diagnostic checks to insure
there are no problems. The system may be heard or felt
while it is working. This is normal and does not mean
there is a problem with the vehicle. The system should
initialize before the vehicle reaches 20 mph (32 km/h).
In some cases, it may take approximately two miles of
driving before the system initializes.
If cruise control is being used when StabiliTrak
activates, the cruise control automatically disengages.
The cruise control can be re-engaged when road
conditions allow. SeeCruise Control on page 4‑8. If the system fails to turn on or activate, the StabiliTrak
light along with one of the following messages will be
displayed on the Driver Information Center (DIC):
TRACTION CONTROL OFF, SERVICE TRACTION
CONTROL, STABILITRAK OFF, SERVICE
STABILITRAK. If these DIC messages appear,
make sure the StabiliTrak system has not been
turned off using the StabiliTrak on/off button. Then turn
the steering wheel clockwise from the nine o'clock
position to the three o'clock position. If this clears the
message(s), the vehicle does not need servicing. If this
does not clear the message(s), then turn the vehicle off,
wait 15 seconds, and then turn it back on again to reset
the system. If any of these messages still appear on the
Driver Information Center (DIC), the vehicle should be
taken in for service. For more information on the DIC
messages, see
Driver Information Center (DIC)
on
page 4‑47.
The StabiliTrak light will
flash on the instrument
panel cluster when the
system is both on and
activated.
The system may be heard or felt while it is working; this
is normal.
5-6
The traction control
disable button is located
on the instrument panel
below the climate
controls.
The traction control part of StabiliTrak can be turned
off by pressing and releasing the StabiliTrak button if
both systems (traction control and StabiliTrak) were
previously on. To disable both traction control and
StabiliTrak, press and hold the button for five seconds.
Traction control and StabiliTrak can be turned on by
pressing and releasing the StabiliTrak button if not
automatically shut off for any other reason.
When the TCS or StabiliTrak system is turned off,
the StabiliTrak light and the appropriate TCS off or
StabiliTrak off message will be displayed on the DIC to
warn the driver. The vehicle will still have brake-traction
control when traction control is off, but will not be able
to use the engine speed management system. See
“Traction Control Operation” next for more information.
When the traction control system has been turned off,
system noises may still be heard as a result of the
brake-traction control coming on. It is recommended to leave the system on for normal
driving conditions, but it may be necessary to turn the
system off if the vehicle is stuck in sand, mud, ice or
snow, and you want to
“rock”the vehicle to attempt to
free it. It may also be necessary to turn off the system
when driving in extreme off-road conditions where high
wheel spin is required. See If Your Vehicle is Stuck in
Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow on page 5‑27.
Traction Control Operation
The traction control system is part of the StabiliTrak
system. Traction control limits wheel spin by
reducing engine power to the wheels (engine speed
management) and by applying brakes to each individual
wheel (brake-traction control) as necessary.
The traction control system is enabled automatically
when the vehicle is started. It will activate and the
StabiliTrak light will flash if it senses that any of the
wheels are spinning or beginning to lose traction while
driving. If traction control is turned off, only the
brake-traction control portion of traction control will
work. The engine speed management will be disabled.
5-7
In this mode, engine power is not reduced automatically
and the driven wheels can spin more freely. This can
cause the brake-traction control to activate constantly.
Notice:If the wheel(s) of one axle is allowed to spin
excessively while the StabiliTrak, ABS and brake
warning lights and any relevant DIC messages are
displayed, the transfer case could be damaged.
The repairs would not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Reduce engine power and do not spin the
wheel(s) excessively while these lights and
messages are displayed.
The traction control system may activate on dry or
rough roads or under conditions such as heavy
acceleration while turning or abrupt upshifts/downshifts
of the transmission. When this happens, a reduction in
acceleration may be noticed, or a noise or vibration may
be heard. This is normal.
If cruise control is being used when the system
activates, the StabiliTrak light will flash and cruise
control will automatically disengage. Cruise control may
be reengaged when road conditions allow. See Cruise
Control on page 4‑8.
StabiliTrak may also turn off automatically if it
determines that a problem exists with the system.
If the problem does not clear itself after restarting the
vehicle, see your dealer for service.Locking Rear Axle
Vehicles with a locking rear axle can give more traction
on snow, mud, ice, sand or gravel. It works like a
standard axle most of the time, but when traction is low,
this feature will allow the rear wheel with the most
traction to move the vehicle.
Steering
Power Steering
If the vehicle is a Two‐mode Hybrid, see the Two‐mode
Hybrid manual for more information.
If power steering assist is lost because the engine stops
or the system is not functioning, the vehicle can be
steered but it will take more effort.
Steering Tips
It is important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
Traction in a curve depends on the condition of the tires
and the road surface, the angle at which the curve is
banked, and vehicle speed. While in a curve, speed is
the one factor that can be controlled.
If there is a need to reduce speed, do it before entering
the curve, while the front wheels are straight.
5-8