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T h i n g s Y o u N e e d t o K n o w
WARNING
Always adjust the audio while the
vehicle is stopped:
Do not adjust the audio control
switches while driving the vehicle.
Adjusting the audio while driving
the vehicle is dangerous as it could
distract your attention from the vehicle
operation which could lead to a serious
accident.
Even if the audio control switches are
equipped on the steering wheel, learn
to use the switches without looking
down at them so that you can keep your
maximum attention on the road while
driving the vehicle.
CAUTION
For the purposes of safe driving, adjust
the audio volume to a level that allows
you to hear sounds outside of the vehicle
including car horns and particularly
emergency vehicle sirens.
NOTE
To prevent the battery from being
discharged, do not leave the audio
system on for a long period of time
when the engine is not running.
If a cellular phone or CB radio is
used in or near the vehicle, it could
cause noise to occur from the audio
system, however, this does not
indicate that the system has been
damaged.
Do not spill any liquid on the audio
system.
Do not insert any objects, other than CDs,
into the slot.
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Appendix
Radio Reception
AM characteristics
AM signals bend around such things as
buildings or mountains and bounce off the
ionosphere.
Therefore, they can reach longer distances
than FM signals.
Because of this, two stations may
sometimes be picked up on the same
frequency at the same time.
Station 2 Station 1Ionosphere
FM characteristics
An FM broadcast range is usually about
40—50 km (25—30 miles) from the
source. Because of extra coding needed to
break the sound into two channels, stereo
FM has even less range than monaural
(non-stereo) FM.
FM Station
40—50km
(25—30 miles)
Signals from an FM transmitter are similar
to beams of light because they do not
bend around corners, but they do re À ect.
Unlike AM signals, FM signals cannot
travel beyond the horizon. Therefore, FM
stations cannot be received at the great
distances possible with AM reception.
AM wave FM wave
FM wave
100—200 km (60—120 miles) Ionosphere
Atmospheric conditions can also affect
FM reception. High humidity will cause
poor reception. However, cloudy days may
provide better reception than clear days.
Multipath noise
Since FM signals can be re À ected by
obstructions, it is possible to receive both
the direct signal and the re À ected signal
at the same time. This causes a slight
delay in reception and may be heard as a
broken sound or a distortion. This problem
may also be encountered when in close
proximity to the transmitter.
Reflected wave
Direct
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Appendix
Flutter/Skip noise
Signals from an FM transmitter move in
straight lines and become weak in valleys
between tall buildings, mountains, and
other obstacles. When a vehicle passes
through such an area, the reception
conditions may change suddenly, resulting
in annoying noise.
Weak signal noise
In suburban areas, broadcast signals
become weak because of distance from the
transmitter. Reception in such fringe areas
is characterised by sound breakup.
Strong signal noise
This occurs very close to a transmitter
tower. The broadcast signals are extremely
strong, so the result is noise and sound
breakup at the radio receiver.
Station drift noise
When a vehicle reaches the area of two
strong stations broadcasting at similar
frequencies, the original station may be
temporarily lost and the second station
picked up. At this time there will be some
noise from this disturbance.
Station 2
88.3 MHz Station 1
88.1 MHz
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