2004 Oldsmobile Alero Owner Manual M - General … Oldsmobile Alero Owner Manual M GENERAL MOTORS,...

Seats and Restraint Systems ........................... 1-1Front Seats ............................................... 1-2Rear Seats ............................................... 1-8Safety Belts .............................................. 1-9Child Restraints ....................................... 1-31Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) ......... 1-52Restraint System Check ............................ 1-59

Features and Controls ..................................... 2-1Keys ........................................................ 2-2Doors and Locks ....................................... 2-7Windows ................................................. 2-14Theft-Deterrent Systems ............................ 2-16Starting and Operating Your Vehicle ........... 2-16Mirrors .................................................... 2-32Storage Areas ......................................... 2-33Sunroof .................................................. 2-34

Instrument Panel ............................................. 3-1Instrument Panel Overview .......................... 3-2Climate Controls ...................................... 3-18Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators ........ 3-23Audio System(s) ....................................... 3-40

Driving Your Vehicle ....................................... 4-1Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle ..... 4-2Towing ................................................... 4-31

Service and Appearance Care .......................... 5-1Service ..................................................... 5-3Fuel ......................................................... 5-5Checking Things Under the Hood ............... 5-10Headlamp Aiming ..................................... 5-50Bulb Replacement .................................... 5-52Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement ......... 5-55Tires ...................................................... 5-56Appearance Care ..................................... 5-84Vehicle Identification ................................. 5-92Electrical System ...................................... 5-93Capacities and Specifications ..................... 5-98

Maintenance Schedule ..................................... 6-1Maintenance Schedule ................................ 6-2

Customer Assistance and Information .............. 7-1Customer Assistance and Information ........... 7-2Reporting Safety Defects ........................... 7-11

Index ................................................................ 1

2004 Oldsmobile Alero Owner Manual M

GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem,OLDSMOBILE, the OLDSMOBILE Rocket Emblem andthe name ALERO are registered trademarks ofGeneral Motors Corporation.

This manual includes the latest information at the time itwas printed. We reserve the right to make changesafter that time without further notice. For vehicles firstsold in Canada, substitute the name “General Motors ofCanada Limited” for Oldsmobile Division whenever itappears in this manual.

Please keep this manual in your vehicle, so it will bethere if you ever need it when you’re on the road. If yousell the vehicle, please leave this manual in it so thenew owner can use it.

Litho in U.S.A.Part No. 22713779 B First Edition

©Copyright General Motors Corporation 11/19/03All Rights Reserved

Canadian OwnersA French language copy of this manual can be obtainedfrom your dealer or from:

Helm, IncorporatedP.O. Box 07130Detroit, MI 48207

How to Use This ManualMany people read the owner manual from beginning toend when they first receive their new vehicle. If youdo this, it can help you learn about the featuresand controls for the vehicle. Pictures and words worktogether in the owner manual to explain things.

IndexA good place to look for what you need is the Index inback of the manual. It is an alphabetical list of whatis in the manual, and the page number where you willfind it.

ii

Safety Warnings and SymbolsYou will find a number of safety cautions in this book. Weuse a box and the word CAUTION to tell you about thingsthat could hurt you if you were to ignore the warning.

{CAUTION:

These mean there is something that could hurtyou or other people.

In the caution area, we tell you what the hazard is.Then we tell you what to do to help avoid or reduce thehazard. Please read these cautions. If you don’t, youor others could be hurt.

You will also find a circlewith a slash through it inthis book. This safetysymbol means “Don’t,”“Don’t do this” or “Don’t letthis happen.”

iii

Vehicle Damage WarningsAlso, in this manual you will find these notices:

Notice: These mean there is something that coulddamage your vehicle.

A notice tells about something that can damage yourvehicle. Many times, this damage would not be coveredby your vehicle’s warranty, and it could be costly. Butthe notice will tell you what to do to help avoid thedamage.

When you read other manuals, you might see CAUTIONand NOTICE warnings in different colors or in differentwords.

There are also warning labels on your vehicle. They usethe same words, CAUTION or NOTICE.

Vehicle SymbolsThe vehicle has components and labels that usesymbols instead of text. Symbols are shown along withthe text describing the operation or informationrelating to a specific component, control, message,gage, or indicator.

If you need help figuring out a specific name of acomponent, gage, or indicator, reference the followingtopics:

• Seats and Restraint Systems in Section 1

• Features and Controls in Section 2

• Instrument Panel Overview in Section 3

• Climate Controls in Section 3

• Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators in Section 3

• Audio System(s) in Section 3

• Engine Compartment Overview in Section 5

iv

These are some examples of symbols that may be found on the vehicle:

v

✍ NOTES

vi

Front Seats ......................................................1-2Manual Seats ................................................1-2Six-Way Power Driver Seat ..............................1-3Reclining Seatbacks ........................................1-3Head Restraints .............................................1-5Seatback Latches ...........................................1-5Easy Entry Seat .............................................1-6Power Lift Seat ..............................................1-7

Rear Seats .......................................................1-8Rear Seat Operation .......................................1-8

Safety Belts .....................................................1-9Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone .................1-9Questions and Answers About Safety Belts ......1-13How to Wear Safety Belts Properly .................1-14Driver Position ..............................................1-14Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy ..................1-22Right Front Passenger Position .......................1-23Rear Seat Passengers ..................................1-23Center Rear Passenger Position .....................1-27Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children

and Small Adults .......................................1-28Safety Belt Extender .....................................1-30

Child Restraints .............................................1-31Older Children ..............................................1-31Infants and Young Children ............................1-33

Child Restraint Systems .................................1-37Where to Put the Restraint .............................1-40Top Strap ....................................................1-41Top Strap Anchor Location .............................1-42Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for

Children (LATCH System) ...........................1-43Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the

LATCH System .........................................1-45Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Outside

Seat Position ............................................1-46Securing a Child Restraint in a Center Rear

Seat Position ............................................1-48Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front

Seat Position ............................................1-49Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) ..............1-52

Where Are the Air Bags? ...............................1-54When Should an Air Bag Inflate? ....................1-56What Makes an Air Bag Inflate? .....................1-56How Does an Air Bag Restrain? .....................1-56What Will You See After an Air Bag Inflates? .......1-57Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle .........1-58

Restraint System Check ..................................1-59Checking Your Restraint Systems ...................1-59Replacing Restraint System Parts After

a Crash ...................................................1-60

Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems

1-1

Front Seats

Manual Seats

{CAUTION:

You can lose control of the vehicle if you try toadjust a manual driver’s seat while the vehicleis moving. The sudden movement could startleand confuse you, or make you push a pedalwhen you do not want to. Adjust the driver’sseat only when the vehicle is not moving.

Lift the bar located under the front of the seat to unlockit. Slide the seat to where you want it and releasethe bar. Try to move the seat with your body to be surethe seat is locked in place.

1-2

Six-Way Power Driver Seat

If your vehicle has thisfeature, the power seatcontrol is located onthe outboard side of thedriver’s seat.

This control allows you to move the seat up, down,forward, or backward. It will also move the front or rearof the seat cushion up or down.

• Move the seat forward or rearward by pushing thecontrol toward the front or rear of the vehicle.

• Raise or lower the entire seat cushion by holdingthe control up or down.

• Raise or lower the front of the seat cushion byholding the front of the control up or down.

• Raise or lower the rear of the seat cushion byholding the rear of the control up or down.

Reclining Seatbacks

To adjust the seatback, lift the lever located on theoutboard side of the seat and move the seatbackto where you want it. Release the lever to lock theseatback. Pull up on the lever without pushing on theseatback and the seatback will go to an upright position.

1-3

But don’t have a seatback reclined if your vehicle ismoving.

{CAUTION:

Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicleis in motion can be dangerous. Even if youbuckle up, your safety belts can not do theirjob when you are reclined like this.

The shoulder belt can not do its job because itwill not be against your body. Instead, it will bein front of you. In a crash you could go into it,receiving neck or other injuries.

The lap belt can not do its job either. In acrash the belt could go up over your abdomen.The belt forces would be there, not at yourpelvic bones. This could cause serious internalinjuries.

For proper protection when the vehicle is inmotion, have the seatback upright. Then sitwell back in the seat and wear your safety beltproperly.

1-4

Head Restraints

Slide the head restraint up or down so that the top ofthe restraint is closest to the top of your head. Thisposition reduces the chance of a neck injury in a crash.

Seatback LatchesFor two-door model vehicles, the front seatbacks foldforward to let people get into the back seat. Theseatback latch is designed for one-handed operation.

To fold a front seatback forward, lift the seatbacklatch fully without pushing forward on the seatback tounlock it. Then the seatback will fold forward.

Push the seatback to its original position, and theseatback will lock.

{CAUTION:

If the seatback is not locked, it could moveforward in a sudden stop or crash. That couldcause injury to the person sitting there. Alwayspress rearward on the seatback to be sure it islocked.

1-5

Easy Entry SeatFor two-door model vehicles, the right front seat of yourvehicle makes it easy for people to get in and out ofthe rear seat.

1. Fold the right front seatback forward after lifting theseatback latch fully.

2. Slide the seat forward to allow someone to get intothe rear seat area.

3. Push the seatback upright to lock it and slide theseat fully rearward to lock it.

4. Adjust the seat to the desired position.

5. The front passenger should try to move the seat tomake sure the seat is locked into place.

{CAUTION:

If the easy entry right front seat isn’t locked, itcan move. In a sudden stop or crash, theperson sitting there could be injured. Afteryou’ve used it, be sure to push rearward on aneasy entry seat to be sure it is locked.

1-6

Power Lift Seat

If your vehicle has this feature, to move the power liftseat forward or rearward, pull up on the lever locatedunder the front of the driver’s seat to unlock it. Slide theseat to where you want it and release the lever. Tryto move the seat with your body to make sure the seatis locked into place.

To raise or lower the power lift seat, hold the switchlocated on the outboard side of the driver’s seat upor down.

1-7

Rear Seats

Rear Seat Operation

Folding the SeatbackIf your vehicle has this feature, do the following:

1. Pull the release strapslocated in the trunk.The right strap operatesthe passenger’s siderear split seat. The leftstrap operates thedriver’s side rearsplit seat.

2. Fold the seatback down from the inside of thevehicle.

{CAUTION:

If the seatback is not locked, it could moveforward in a sudden stop or crash. That couldcause injury to the person sitting there. Alwayspress rearward on the seatback to be sure it islocked.

{CAUTION:

A safety belt that is improperly routed, notproperly attached, or twisted will not providethe protection needed in a crash. The personwearing the belt could be seriously injured.After raising the rear seatback, always checkto be sure that the safety belts are properlyrouted and attached, and are not twisted.

To raise the seatback, push the seatback up to return itto its original position.

Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is latchedsecurely in the fully upright position.

1-8

Safety Belts

Safety Belts: They Are for EveryoneThis part of the manual tells you how to use safetybelts properly. It also tells you some things you shouldnot do with safety belts.

{CAUTION:

Do not let anyone ride where he or she can notwear a safety belt properly. If you are in acrash and you are not wearing a safety belt,your injuries can be much worse. You can hitthings inside the vehicle or be ejected from it.You can be seriously injured or killed. In thesame crash, you might not be, if you arebuckled up. Always fasten your safety belt,and check that your passengers’ belts arefastened properly too.

{CAUTION:

It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargoarea, inside or outside of a vehicle. In acollision, people riding in these areas are morelikely to be seriously injured or killed. Do notallow people to ride in any area of your vehiclethat is not equipped with seats and safetybelts. Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in aseat and using a safety belt properly.

Your vehicle has a lightthat comes on as areminder to buckle up. SeeSafety Belt ReminderLight on page 3-26.

In most states and in all Canadian provinces, the lawsays to wear safety belts. Here’s why: They work.

1-9

You never know if you’ll be in a crash. If you do have acrash, you don’t know if it will be a bad one.

A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be soserious that even buckled up, a person wouldn’t survive.But most crashes are in between. In many of them,people who buckle up can survive and sometimes walkaway. Without belts they could have been badly hurtor killed.

After more than 30 years of safety belts in vehicles, thefacts are clear. In most crashes buckling up doesmatter... a lot!

Why Safety Belts WorkWhen you ride in or on anything, you go as fast asit goes.

Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose it’s just a seat onwheels.

1-10

Put someone on it. Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle. The riderdoesn’t stop.

1-11

The person keeps going until stopped by something. Ina real vehicle, it could be the windshield...

or the instrument panel...

1-12

or the safety belts!

With safety belts, you slow down as the vehicle does.You get more time to stop. You stop over more distance,and your strongest bones take the forces. That’s whysafety belts make such good sense.

Questions and Answers AboutSafety Belts

Q: Won’t I be trapped in the vehicle after anaccident if I’m wearing a safety belt?

A: You could be – whether you’re wearing a safetybelt or not. But you can unbuckle a safety belt,even if you’re upside down. And your chanceof being conscious during and after an accident, soyou can unbuckle and get out, is much greater ifyou are belted.

Q: If my vehicle has air bags, why should I have towear safety belts?

A: Air bags are in many vehicles today and will be inmost of them in the future. But they are supplementalsystems only; so they work with safety belts – notinstead of them. Every air bag system ever offeredfor sale has required the use of safety belts. Even ifyou’re in a vehicle that has air bags, you still have tobuckle up to get the most protection. That’s true notonly in frontal collisions, but especially in side andother collisions.

1-13

Q: If I’m a good driver, and I never drive far fromhome, why should I wear safety belts?

A: You may be an excellent driver, but if you’re in anaccident – even one that isn’t your fault – you andyour passengers can be hurt. Being a gooddriver doesn’t protect you from things beyond yourcontrol, such as bad drivers.

Most accidents occur within 25 miles (40 km) ofhome. And the greatest number of seriousinjuries and deaths occur at speeds of less than40 mph (65 km/h).

Safety belts are for everyone.

How to Wear Safety Belts ProperlyThis part is only for people of adult size.

Be aware that there are special things to know aboutsafety belts and children. And there are differentrules for smaller children and babies. If a child will beriding in your vehicle, see Older Children on page 1-31or Infants and Young Children on page 1-33. Followthose rules for everyone’s protection.

First, you’ll want to know which restraint systems yourvehicle has.

We’ll start with the driver position.

Driver PositionThis part describes the driver’s restraint system.

1-14

Lap-Shoulder BeltThe driver has a lap-shoulder belt. Here is how to wearit properly.

1. Close and lock the door.

2. Adjust the seat so you can sit up straight. To seehow, see “Seats” in the Index.

3. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you.Do not let it get twisted.The shoulder belt may lock if you pull the beltacross you very quickly. If this happens, let the beltgo back slightly to unlock it. Then pull the beltacross you more slowly.

4. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure.If the belt is not long enough, see Safety BeltExtender on page 1-30.Make sure the release button on the buckle ispositioned so you would be able to unbuckle thesafety belt quickly if you ever had to.

1-15

5. To make the lap part tight, pull down on the buckleend of the belt as you pull up on the shoulder belt.

The lap part of the belt should be worn low and snug onthe hips, just touching the thighs. In a crash, thisapplies force to the strong pelvic bones. And you wouldbe less likely to slide under the lap belt. If you slidunder it, the belt would apply force at your abdomen.This could cause serious or even fatal injuries. Theshoulder belt should go over the shoulder and acrossthe chest. These parts of the body are best able to takebelt restraining forces.

The safety belt locks if there is a sudden stop or crash,or if you pull the belt very quickly out of the retractor.

1-16

Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster(Four–Door Models)Before you begin to drive, move the shoulder beltadjuster to the height that is right for you.

To move it down, squeeze the release button and movethe height adjuster to the desired position. You canmove the adjuster up just by pushing on the shoulderbelt guide. After you move the adjuster to whereyou want it, try to move it down without squeezing therelease button to make sure it has locked into position.

Adjust the height so that the shoulder portion of thebelt is centered on your shoulder. The belt shouldbe away from your face and neck, but not falling offyour shoulder.

1-17

Q: What’s wrong with this?

A: The shoulder belt is too loose. It will not give nearlyas much protection this way.

{CAUTION:

You can be seriously hurt if your shoulder beltis too loose. In a crash, you would moveforward too much, which could increase injury.The shoulder belt should fit against your body.

1-18


A: The belt is buckled in the wrong place.

{CAUTION:

You can be seriously injured if your belt isbuckled in the wrong place like this. In a crash,the belt would go up over your abdomen. Thebelt forces would be there, not at the pelvicbones. This could cause serious internalinjuries. Always buckle your belt into thebuckle nearest you.

1-19


A: The shoulder belt is worn under the arm. It shouldbe worn over the shoulder at all times.

{CAUTION:

You can be seriously injured if you wear theshoulder belt under your arm. In a crash, yourbody would move too far forward, which wouldincrease the chance of head and neck injury.Also, the belt would apply too much force tothe ribs, which are not as strong as shoulderbones. You could also severely injure internalorgans like your liver or spleen.

1-20


A: The belt is twisted across the body.

{CAUTION:

You can be seriously injured by a twisted belt.In a crash, you would not have the full width ofthe belt to spread impact forces. If a belt istwisted, make it straight so it can workproperly, or ask your dealer to fix it.

1-21

To unlatch the belt, just push the button on the buckle.The belt should go back out of the way.

Before you close the door, be sure the belt is out of theway. If you slam the door on it, you can damageboth the belt and your vehicle.

Safety Belt Use During PregnancySafety belts work for everyone, including pregnantwomen. Like all occupants, they are more likely to beseriously injured if they don’t wear safety belts.

A pregnant woman should wear a lap-shoulder belt, andthe lap portion should be worn as low as possible,below the rounding, throughout the pregnancy.

1-22

The best way to protect the fetus is to protect themother. When a safety belt is worn properly, it’s morelikely that the fetus won’t be hurt in a crash. Forpregnant women, as for anyone, the key to makingsafety belts effective is wearing them properly.

Right Front Passenger PositionTo learn how to wear the right front passenger’s safetybelt properly, see Driver Position on page 1-14.

The right front passenger’s safety belt works the sameway as the driver’s safety belt – except for one thing.If you ever pull the shoulder portion of the belt out all theway, you will engage the child restraint locking feature.If this happens, just let the belt go back all the wayand start again.

Rear Seat PassengersIt is very important for rear seat passengers to buckleup! Accident statistics show that unbelted people inthe rear seat are hurt more often in crashes than thosewho are wearing safety belts.

Rear passengers who are not safety belted can bethrown out of the vehicle in a crash. And they can strikeothers in the vehicle who are wearing safety belts.

Rear Seat Outside Passenger Positions

1-23

Lap-Shoulder BeltThe positions next to the windows have lap-shoulderbelts. Here is how to wear one properly.

1. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you.Do not let it get twisted.The shoulder belt may lock if you pull the beltacross you very quickly. If this happens, let the beltgo back slightly to unlock it. Then pull the beltacross you more slowly.

2. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.

If the belt stops before it reaches the buckle, tilt thelatch plate and keep pulling until you can buckle it.Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure.If the belt is not long enough, see Safety BeltExtender on page 1-30. Make sure the releasebutton on the buckle is positioned so you would beable to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if youever had to.

1-24

3. To make the lap part tight, pull down on the buckleend of the belt as you pull up on the shoulder part.

The lap part of the belt should be worn low and snug onthe hips, just touching the thighs. In a crash, thisapplies force to the strong pelvic bones. And you wouldbe less likely to slide under the lap belt. If you slidunder it, the belt would apply force at your abdomen.This could cause serious or even fatal injuries. Theshoulder belt should go over the shoulder and acrossthe chest. These parts of the body are best able to takebelt restraining forces.

1-25

The safety belt locks if there is a sudden stop or acrash, or if you pull the belt very quickly out ofthe retractor.

{CAUTION:

You can be seriously hurt if your shoulder beltis too loose. In a crash, you would moveforward too much, which could increase injury.The shoulder belt should fit against your body.

To unlatch the belt, just push the button on the buckle.

1-26

Center Rear Passenger Position

Lap Belt

When you sit in the center seating position, you have alap safety belt, which has no retractor. To make thebelt longer, tilt the latch plate and pull it along the belt.

To make the belt shorter, pull its free end as shownuntil the belt is snug.Buckle, position and release it the same way as the lappart of a lap-shoulder belt. If the belt isn’t longenough, see Safety Belt Extender on page 1-30.Make sure the release button on the buckle is positionedso you would be able to unbuckle the safety beltquickly if you ever had to.

1-27

Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides forChildren and Small AdultsRear shoulder belt comfort guides will provide addedsafety belt comfort for older children who have outgrownbooster seats and for small adults. When installed ona shoulder belt, the comfort guide better positionsthe belt away from the neck and head.

There is one guide for each outside passenger positionin the rear seat. To provide added safety belt comfortfor children who have outgrown child restraints andbooster seats and for smaller adults, the comfort guidesmay be installed on the shoulder belts. Here is howto install a comfort guide and use the safety belt:

1. Pull the elastic cord out from between the edge ofthe seatback and the interior body to remove theguide from its storage clip.

1-28

2. Slide the guide under and past the belt. The elasticcord must be under the belt. Then, place the guideover the belt, and insert the two edges of thebelt into the slots of the guide.

3. Be sure that the belt is not twisted and it lies flat.The elastic cord must be under the belt and theguide on top.

1-29

4. Buckle, position and release the safety belt asdescribed in Rear Seat Passengers on page 1-23.Make sure that the shoulder belt crosses theshoulder.

To remove and store the comfort guides, squeeze thebelt edges together so that you can take them out of theguides. Pull the guide upward to expose its storageclip, and then slide the guide onto the clip. Turnthe guide and clip inward and in slide them between theseatback and the interior body, leaving only the loopof the elastic cord exposed.

Safety Belt ExtenderIf the vehicle’s safety belt will fasten around you, youshould use it.

But if a safety belt isn’t long enough to fasten, yourdealer will order you an extender. It’s free. When you goin to order it, take the heaviest coat you will wear, sothe extender will be long enough for you. The extenderwill be just for you, and just for the seat in yourvehicle that you choose. Don’t let someone else use it,and use it only for the seat it is made to fit. To wearit, just attach it to the regular safety belt.

1-30

Child Restraints

Older Children

Older children who have outgrown booster seats shouldwear the vehicle’s safety belts.

If you have the choice, a child should sit next to awindow so the child can wear a lap-shoulder belt andget the additional restraint a shoulder belt can provide.

Q: What is the proper way to wear safety belts?

A: If possible, an older child should wear alap-shoulder belt and get the additional restraint ashoulder belt can provide. The shoulder beltshould not cross the face or neck. The lap beltshould fit snugly below the hips, just touching thetop of the thighs. It should never be worn overthe abdomen, which could cause severe or evenfatal internal injuries in a crash.

Accident statistics show that children are safer if theyare restrained in the rear seat.

In a crash, children who are not buckled up can strikeother people who are buckled up, or can be thrownout of the vehicle. Older children need to use safetybelts properly.

1-31

{CAUTION:

Never do this.

Here two children are wearing the same belt.The belt can not properly spread the impactforces. In a crash, the two children can becrushed together and seriously injured. A beltmust be used by only one person at a time.

Q: What if a child is wearing a lap-shoulder belt,but the child is so small that the shoulder beltis very close to the child’s face or neck?

A: Move the child toward the center of the vehicle, butbe sure that the shoulder belt still is on the child’sshoulder, so that in a crash the child’s upperbody would have the restraint that belts provide.

If the child is sitting in a rear seat outside position,see Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Childrenand Small Adults on page 1-28.

If the child is so small that the shoulder belt is stillvery close to the child’s face or neck, you mightwant to place the child in the center seat position,the one that has only a lap belt.

1-32

{CAUTION:

Never do this.

Here a child is sitting in a seat that has alap-shoulder belt, but the shoulder part isbehind the child. If the child wears the belt inthis way, in a crash the child might slide underthe belt. The belt’s force would then be appliedright on the child’s abdomen. That could causeserious or fatal injuries.

Wherever the child sits, the lap portion of the beltshould be worn low and snug on the hips, just touchingthe child’s thighs. This applies belt force to the child’spelvic bones in a crash.

Infants and Young ChildrenEveryone in a vehicle needs protection! This includesinfants and all other children. Neither the distancetraveled nor the age and size of the traveler changesthe need, for everyone, to use safety restraints. In fact,the law in every state in the United States and inevery Canadian province says children up to some agemust be restrained while in a vehicle.

1-33

Every time infants and young children ride in vehicles,they should have the protection provided by appropriaterestraints. Young children should not use the vehicle’sadult safety belts alone, unless there is no other choice.Instead, they need to use a child restraint.

{CAUTION:

People should never hold a baby in their armswhile riding in a vehicle. A baby does notweigh much -- until a crash. During a crash ababy will become so heavy it is not possible tohold it. For example, in a crash at only 25 mph(40 km/h), a 12-lb. (5.5 kg) baby will suddenlybecome a 240-lb. (110 kg) force on a person’sarms. A baby should be secured in anappropriate restraint.

1-34

{CAUTION:

Children who are up against, or very close to,any air bag when it inflates can be seriouslyinjured or killed. Air bags plus lap-shoulderbelts offer outstanding protection for adultsand older children, but not for young childrenand infants. Neither the vehicle’s safety beltsystem nor its air bag system is designed forthem. Young children and infants need theprotection that a child restraint system canprovide.

1-35

Q: What are the different types of add-on childrestraints?

A: Add-on child restraints, which are purchased by thevehicle’s owner, are available in four basic types.Selection of a particular restraint should takeinto consideration not only the child’s weight, heightand age but also whether or not the restraint willbe compatible with the motor vehicle in which it willbe used.

For most basic types of child restraints, there aremany different models available. When purchasing achild restraint, be sure it is designed to be usedin a motor vehicle. If it is, the restraint will have alabel saying that it meets federal motor vehiclesafety standards.

The restraint manufacturer’s instructions that comewith the restraint, state the weight and heightlimitations for a particular child restraint. In addition,there are many kinds of restraints available forchildren with special needs.

{CAUTION:

Newborn infants need complete support,including support for the head and neck. Thisis necessary because a newborn infant’s neckis weak and its head weighs so muchcompared with the rest of its body. In a crash,an infant in a rear-facing seat settles into therestraint, so the crash forces can bedistributed across the strongest part of aninfant’s body, the back and shoulders. Infantsalways should be secured in appropriate infantrestraints.

1-36

{CAUTION:

The body structure of a young child is quiteunlike that of an adult or older child, for whomthe safety belts are designed. A young child’ship bones are still so small that the vehicle’sregular safety belt may not remain low on thehip bones, as it should. Instead, it may settleup around the child’s abdomen. In a crash, thebelt would apply force on a body area that isunprotected by any bony structure. This alonecould cause serious or fatal injuries. Youngchildren always should be secured inappropriate child restraints.

Child Restraint Systems

An infant car bed (A), a special bed made for use in amotor vehicle, is an infant restraint system designedto restrain or position a child on a continuous flatsurface. Make sure that the infant’s head rests towardthe center of the vehicle.

1-37

A rear-facing infant seat (B) provides restraint with theseating surface against the back of the infant. Theharness system holds the infant in place and, in a crash,acts to keep the infant positioned in the restraint.

A forward-facing child seat (C-E) provides restraint forthe child’s body with the harness and also sometimeswith surfaces such as T-shaped or shelf-like shields.

1-38

A booster seat (F-G) is a child restraint designed toimprove the fit of the vehicle’s safety belt system. Somebooster seats have a shoulder belt positioner, and somehigh-back booster seats have a five-point harness. Abooster seat can also help a child to see out the window.

Q: How do child restraints work?

A: A child restraint system is any device designed foruse in a motor vehicle to restrain, seat, or positionchildren. A built-in child restraint system is apermanent part of the motor vehicle. An add-onchild restraint system is a portable one, whichis purchased by the vehicle’s owner.

For many years, add-on child restraints have usedthe adult belt system in the vehicle. To helpreduce the chance of injury, the child also has to besecured within the restraint. The vehicle’s beltsystem secures the add-on child restraint in thevehicle, and the add-on child restraint’s harnesssystem holds the child in place within the restraint.

One system, the three-point harness, has straps thatcome down over each of the infant’s shoulders andbuckle together at the crotch. The five-point harnesssystem has two shoulder straps, two hip straps and acrotch strap. A shield may take the place of hipstraps. A T-shaped shield has shoulder straps thatare attached to a flat pad which rests low against thechild’s body. A shelf- or armrest-type shield hasstraps that are attached to a wide, shelf-like shieldthat swings up or to the side.

1-39

When choosing a child restraint, be sure the childrestraint is designed to be used in a vehicle. If it is, itwill have a label saying that it meets federal motorvehicle safety standards.

Then follow the instructions for the restraint. You mayfind these instructions on the restraint itself or in abooklet, or both. These restraints use the belt system orthe LATCH system in your vehicle, but the child alsohas to be secured within the restraint to help reduce thechance of personal injury. When securing an add-onchild restraint, refer to the instructions that come with therestraint which may be on the restraint itself or in abooklet, or both, and to this manual. The child restraintinstructions are important, so if they are not available,obtain a replacement copy from the manufacturer.

Where to Put the RestraintAccident statistics show that children are safer if they arerestrained in the rear rather than the front seat. We,therefore, recommend that child restraints be secured ina rear seat, including an infant riding in a rear-facinginfant seat, a child riding in a forward-facing child seatand an older child riding in a booster seat. Never put arear-facing child restraint in the front passenger seat.

Here’s why:

{CAUTION:

A child in a rear-facing child restraint can beseriously injured or killed if the right frontpassenger’s air bag inflates. This is becausethe back of the rear-facing child restraintwould be very close to the inflating air bag.Always secure a rear-facing child restraint in arear seat.

If you secure a forward-facing child restraint inthe right front seat, always move the frontpassenger seat as far back as it will go. It isbetter to secure the child restraint in a rear seat.

Wherever you install it, be sure to secure the childrestraint properly.

Keep in mind that an unsecured child restraint canmove around in a collision or sudden stop and injurepeople in the vehicle. Be sure to properly secureany child restraint in your vehicle – even when no childis in it.

1-40

Top StrapSome child restraints have a top strap, or “top tether.” Itcan help restrain the child restraint during a collision.For it to work, a top strap must be properly anchored tothe vehicle. Some top strap-equipped child restraintsare designed for use with or without the top strap beinganchored. Others require the top strap always to beanchored. Be sure to read and follow the instructions foryour child restraint. If yours requires that the top strapbe anchored, don’t use the restraint unless it is anchoredproperly.

If the child restraint does not have a top strap, one canbe obtained, in kit form, for many child restraints.Ask the child restraint manufacturer whether or not a kitis available.

In Canada, the law requires that forward-facing childrestraints have a top strap, and that the strap beanchored. In the United States, some child restraintsalso have a top strap. If your child restraint has atop strap, it should be anchored.

1-41

Anchor the top strap to an anchor point specified in TopStrap Anchor Location on page 1-42. Be sure to usean anchor point located on the same side of the vehicleas the seating position where the child restraint willbe placed.

{CAUTION:

Each top tether bracket is designed to anchoronly one child restraint. Attaching more thanone child restraint to a single bracket couldcause the anchor to come loose or even breakduring a crash. A child or others could beinjured if this happens. To help prevent injuryto people and damage to your vehicle, attachonly one child restraint per bracket.

Once you have the top strap anchored, you’ll be readyto secure the child restraint itself. Tighten the topstrap when and as the child restraint manufacturer’sinstructions say.

Top Strap Anchor LocationYour vehicle has top strap anchors already installed forthe rear seating positions. You will find them behindthe rear seat on the filler panel.

Do not secure a child restraint with a top strap in theright front passenger’s position if a national or local lawrequires that the top strap be anchored, or if theinstructions that come with the child restraint say thatthe top strap must be anchored. There is no placeto anchor the top strap in this position.

1-42

Lower Anchorages and Top Tethersfor Children (LATCH System)

Your vehicle has the LATCH system. You will findanchors in the rear outside seat positions.

This system, designed to make installation of childrestraints easier, does not use the vehicle’s safety belts.Instead, it uses vehicle anchors and child restraintattachments to secure the restraints. Some restraintsalso use another vehicle anchor to secure a toptether strap.

1-43

A. Lower AnchorageB. Lower AnchorageC. Top Tether

A. Lower AnchorageB. Lower Anchorage

In order to use the LATCH system in your vehicle, youneed a child restraint designed for that system.

1-44

To assist you in locating thelower anchors for this childrestraint system, eachseating position with theLATCH system has a labelon the seatback at eachlower anchor position.

The labels are located near the base of the rear outsideseat positions.

{CAUTION:

If a LATCH-type child restraint is not attachedto its anchorage points, the restraint will notbe able to protect the child correctly. In acrash, the child could be seriously injured orkilled. Make sure that a LATCH-type childrestraint is properly installed using theanchorage points, or use the vehicle’s safetybelts to secure the restraint, following theinstructions that came with that restraint, andalso the instructions in this manual.

Securing a Child Restraint Designedfor the LATCH System

1. Find the LATCH anchorages for the seatingposition you want to use, where the bottom of theseatback meets the back of the seat cushion.See Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers forChildren (LATCH System) on page 1-43.

2. Put the child restraint on the seat.

3. Attach and tighten the LATCH attachments on thechild restraint to the LATCH anchorages in thevehicle. The child restraint instructions will showyou how.

4. If the child restraint is forward-facing, attach andtighten the top tether to the top tether anchorage.The child restraint instructions will show youhow. Also see Top Strap on page 1-41.

5. Push and pull the child restraint in differentdirections to be sure it is secure.

To remove the child restraint, simply unhook the toptether from the top tether anchorage and thendisconnect the LATCH attachments from the LATCHanchorages.

1-45

Securing a Child Restraint in a RearOutside Seat Position

If your child restraint is equipped with the LATCHsystem, see Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers forChildren (LATCH System) on page 1-43. See Top Strapon page 1-41 if the child restraint has one.

If your child restraint does not have the LATCH system,you’ll be using the lap-shoulder belt to secure the childrestraint in this position. Be sure to follow the instructionsthat came with the child restraint. Secure the child in thechild restraint when and as the instructions say.

1. Put the restraint on the seat.

2. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulderportions of the vehicle’s safety belt through oraround the restraint. The child restraint instructionswill show you how.

Tilt the latch plate to adjust the belt if needed.

1-46

3. Buckle the belt. Make sure the release button ispositioned so you would be able to unbuckle thesafety belt quickly if you ever had to.

4. To tighten the belt, pull up on the shoulder beltwhile you push down on the child restraint. Ifyou’re using a forward-facing child restraint, youmay find it helpful to use your knee to push down onthe child restraint as you tighten the belt.


To remove the child restraint, just unbuckle the vehicle’ssafety belt and let it go back all the way. The safetybelt will move freely again and be ready to work for anadult or larger child passenger.

1-47

Securing a Child Restraint in aCenter Rear Seat Position

If your child restraint is equipped with the LATCHsystem, see Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers forChildren (LATCH System) on page 1-43. See Top Strapon page 1-41 if the child restraint has one.

If your child restraint does not have the LATCH system,you’ll be using the lap belt to secure the child restraintin this position. Be sure to follow the instructionsthat came with the child restraint. Secure the child in thechild restraint when and as the instructions say.

1. Make the belt as long as possible by tilting the latchplate and pulling it along the belt.

2. Put the restraint on the seat.

3. Run the vehicle’s safety belt through or around therestraint. The child restraint instructions will showyou how.

1-48


5. To tighten the belt, pull its free end while you pushdown on the child restraint. If you’re using aforward-facing child restraint, you may find it helpfulto use your knee to push down on the childrestraint as you tighten the belt.


To remove the child restraint, just unbuckle the vehicle’ssafety belt. It will be ready to work for an adult orlarger child passenger.

Securing a Child Restraint in theRight Front Seat Position

If your child restraint is equipped with the LATCHsystem, see Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers forChildren (LATCH System) on page 1-43.

1-49

There is no top strap anchor in the right frontpassenger’s position. Do not secure a child seat in thisposition if a national or local law requires that thetop strap be anchored, or if the instructions that comewith the child restraint say that the top strap mustbe anchored. See Top Strap on page 1-41 if the childrestraint has one.

Your vehicle has a right front passenger air bag. Neverput a rear-facing child restraint in this seat. Here is why:

{CAUTION:

A child in a rear-facing child restraint can beseriously injured or killed if the right frontpassenger’s air bag inflates. This is becausethe back of the rear-facing child restraintwould be very close to the inflating air bag.Always secure a rear-facing child restraint in arear seat.

A rear seat is a safer place to secure a forward-facingchild restraint. If you need to secure a forward-facingchild restraint in the right front seat, you will be using thelap-shoulder belt to secure the restraint in this position.Be sure to follow the instructions that came with thechild restraint. Secure the child in the child restraintwhen and as the instructions say.

1. Because your vehicle has a right front passengerair bag, always move the seat as far back as it willgo before securing a forward-facing child restraint.See Manual Seats on page 1-2.

2. Put the child restraint on the seat.

3. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulderportions of the vehicle’s safety belt through oraround the restraint. The child restraint instructionswill show you how.

1-50


5. Pull the rest of the shoulder belt all the way out ofthe retractor to set the lock.

1-51

6. To tighten the belt, feed the shoulder belt back intothe retractor while you push down on the childrestraint. You may find it helpful to use your knee topush down on the child restraint as you tightenthe belt.


To remove the child restraint, just unbuckle the vehicle’ssafety belt and let it go back all the way. The safetybelt will move freely again and be ready to work for anadult or larger child passenger.

Supplemental RestraintSystem (SRS)This part explains the Supplemental RestraintSystem (SRS) or air bag system.

Your vehicle has air bags – one air bag for the driverand another air bag for the right front passenger.

Frontal air bags are designed to help reduce the risk ofinjury from the force of an inflating air bag. But theseair bags must inflate very quickly to do their joband comply with federal regulations.

Here are the most important things to know about theair bag system:

{CAUTION:

You can be severely injured or killed in a crashif you are not wearing your safety belt — evenif you have air bags. Wearing your safety beltduring a crash helps reduce your chance ofhitting things inside the vehicle or beingejected from it. Air bags are designed to workwith safety belts, but do not replace them.

CAUTION: (Continued)

1-52


Air bags are designed to deploy only inmoderate to severe frontal and near frontalcrashes. They are not designed to inflate inrollover, rear or low-speed frontal crashes, orin many side crashes. And, for someunrestrained occupants, air bags may provideless protection in frontal crashes than moreforceful air bags have provided in the past.Everyone in your vehicle should wear a safetybelt properly — whether or not there is an airbag for that person.

{CAUTION:

Air bags inflate with great force, faster than theblink of an eye. If you’re too close to aninflating air bag, as you would be if you wereleaning forward, it could seriously injure you.



Safety belts help keep you in position beforeand during a crash. Always wear your safetybelt, even with air bags. The driver should sitas far back as possible while still maintainingcontrol of the vehicle.

{CAUTION:

Anyone who is up against, or very close to,any air bag when it inflates can be seriouslyinjured or killed. Air bags plus lap-shoulderbelts offer the best protection for adults, butnot for young children and infants. Neither thevehicle’s safety belt system nor its air bagsystem is designed for them. Young childrenand infants need the protection that a childrestraint system can provide. Always securechildren properly in your vehicle. To read how,see Older Children on page 1-31 and Infantsand Young Children on page 1-33.

1-53

There is a air bagreadiness light on theinstrument panel, whichshows the air bag symbol.

The system checks the air bag electrical system formalfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electricalproblem. See Air Bag Readiness Light on page 3-26.

Where Are the Air Bags?

The driver’s air bag is in the middle of the steeringwheel.

1-54

The right front passenger’s air bag is in the instrumentpanel on the passenger’s side.

{CAUTION:

If something is between an occupant and anair bag, the bag might not inflate properly or itmight force the object into that person causingsevere injury or even death. The path of aninflating air bag must be kept clear. Don’t putanything between an occupant and an air bag,and don’t attach or put anything on thesteering wheel hub or on or near any other airbag covering.

1-55

When Should an Air Bag Inflate?An air bag is designed to inflate in moderate to severefrontal or near-frontal crashes. The air bag will inflateonly if the impact speed is above the system’s designed“threshold level”.

If your vehicle goes straight into a wall that doesn’tmove or deform, the threshold level is about 9 to 14 mph(14 to 23 km/h). The threshold level can vary, however,with specific vehicle design, so that it can be somewhatabove or below this range.

If your vehicle strikes something that will move ordeform, such as a parked car, the threshold level will behigher. The air bag is not designed to inflate inrollovers, rear impacts, or in many side impacts becauseinflation would not help the occupant.

In any particular crash, no one can say whether an airbag should have inflated simply because of the damageto a vehicle or because of what the repair costs were.Inflation is determined by the angle of the impactand how quickly the vehicle slows down in frontal andnear-frontal impacts.

What Makes an Air Bag Inflate?In an impact of sufficient severity, the air bag sensingsystem detects that the vehicle is in a crash. Thesensing system triggers a release of gas from theinflator, which inflates the air bag. The inflator, air bag,and related hardware are all part of the air bagmodules inside the steering wheel and in the instrumentpanel in front of the right front passenger.

How Does an Air Bag Restrain?In moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions,even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel orthe instrument panel. Air bags supplement theprotection provided by safety belts. Air bags distributethe force of the impact more evenly over the occupant’supper body, stopping the occupant more gradually.But air bags would not help you in many types ofcollisions, including rollovers, rear impacts and manyside impacts, primarily because an occupant’s motion isnot toward those air bags. Air bags should never beregarded as anything more than a supplement to safetybelts, and then only in moderate to severe frontal ornear-frontal collisions.

1-56

What Will You See After an Air BagInflates?After an air bag inflates, it quickly deflates, so quickly thatsome people may not even realize the air bag inflated.Some components of the air bag module — the steeringwheel hub for the driver’s air bag or the instrument panelfor the right front passenger’s bag — will be hot for ashort time. The parts of the bag that come into contactwith you may be warm, but not too hot to touch. There willbe some smoke and dust coming from the vents in thedeflated air bags. Air bag inflation doesn’t prevent thedriver from seeing or being able to steer the vehicle, nordoes it stop people from leaving the vehicle.

{CAUTION:

When an air bag inflates, there is dust in theair. This dust could cause breathing problemsfor people with a history of asthma or otherbreathing trouble.



To avoid this, everyone in the vehicle shouldget out as soon as it is safe to do so. If youhave breathing problems but can not get out ofthe vehicle after an air bag inflates, then getfresh air by opening a window or a door. If youexperience breathing problems following an airbag deployment, you should seek medicalattention.

In many crashes severe enough to inflate an air bag,windshields are broken by vehicle deformation.Additional windshield breakage may also occur from theright front passenger air bag.

• Air bags are designed to inflate only once. After anair bag inflates, you’ll need some new parts for yourair bag system. If you don’t get them, the air bagsystem won’t be there to help protect you in anothercrash. A new system will include air bag modulesand possibly other parts. The service manual for yourvehicle covers the need to replace other parts.

1-57

• Your vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing anddiagnostic module, which records information aboutthe air bag system. The module records informationabout the readiness of the system, when the systemcommands air bag inflation and driver’s safety beltusage at deployment.

• Let only qualified technicians work on your air bagsystem. Improper service can mean that your air bagsystem won’t work properly. See your dealer forservice.

Notice: If you damage the covering for the driver’sor the right front passenger’s air bag, the bagmay not work properly. You may have to replace theair bag module in the steering wheel or both theair bag module and the instrument panel forthe right front passenger’s air bag. Do not open orbreak the air bag coverings.

Servicing Your Air Bag-EquippedVehicleAir bags affect how your vehicle should be serviced.There are parts of the air bag system in several placesaround your vehicle. You don’t want the system to inflatewhile someone is working on your vehicle. Your dealerand the service manual have information about servicingyour vehicle and the air bag system. To purchase aservice manual, see Service Publications OrderingInformation on page 7-12.

1-58

{CAUTION:

For up to 10 minutes after the ignition key isturned off and the battery is disconnected, anair bag can still inflate during improper service.You can be injured if you are close to an air bagwhen it inflates. Avoid wires wrapped withyellow tape or yellow connectors. They areprobably part of the air bag system. Be sure tofollow proper service procedures, and makesure the person performing work for you isqualified to do so.

The air bag system does not need regular maintenance.

Restraint System Check

Checking Your Restraint SystemsNow and then, make sure the safety belt reminder lightand all your belts, buckles, latch plates, retractorsand anchorages are working properly. Look for any otherloose or damaged safety belt system parts. If you seeanything that might keep a safety belt system from doingits job, have it repaired.

Torn or frayed safety belts may not protect you in acrash. They can rip apart under impact forces. If a beltis torn or frayed, get a new one right away.

Also look for any opened or broken air bag covers, andhave them repaired or replaced. (The air bag systemdoes not need regular maintenance.)

1-59

Replacing Restraint System PartsAfter a Crash

{CAUTION:

A crash can damage the restraint systems inyour vehicle. A damaged restraint system maynot properly protect the person using it,resulting in serious injury or even death in acrash. To help make sure your restraintsystems are working properly after a crash,have them inspected and any necessaryreplacements made as soon as possible.

If you’ve had a crash, do you need new belts or LATCHsystem parts?

After a very minor collision, nothing may be necessary.But if the belts were stretched, as they would be ifworn during a more severe crash, then you neednew parts.

If the LATCH system was being used during a moresevere crash, you may need new LATCH system parts.

If belts are cut or damaged, replace them. Collisiondamage also may mean you will need to have LATCHsystem, safety belt or seat parts repaired or replaced.New parts and repairs may be necessary even if the beltor LATCH system wasn’t being used at the time ofthe collision.

If your seat adjuster won’t work after a crash, thespecial part of the safety belt that goes through the seatto the adjuster may need to be replaced.

If an air bag inflates, you’ll need to replace air bag systemparts. See Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) onpage 1-52.

1-60

Keys ...............................................................2-2Remote Keyless Entry System .........................2-3Remote Keyless Entry System Operation ...........2-4

Doors and Locks .............................................2-7Door Locks ....................................................2-7Power Door Locks ..........................................2-8Delayed Locking .............................................2-8Programmable Automatic Door Locks ................2-8Rear Door Security Locks ..............................2-10Lockout Protection ........................................2-11Leaving Your Vehicle ....................................2-11Trunk ..........................................................2-12

Windows ........................................................2-14Manual Windows ..........................................2-14Power Windows ............................................2-15Sun Visors ...................................................2-15

Theft-Deterrent Systems ..................................2-16Passlock® ....................................................2-16

Starting and Operating Your Vehicle ................2-16New Vehicle Break-In ....................................2-16Ignition Positions ..........................................2-17Starting Your Engine .....................................2-18

Engine Coolant Heater ..................................2-20Automatic Transaxle Operation .......................2-22Manual Transaxle Operation ...........................2-25Parking Brake ..............................................2-26Shifting Into Park (P) .....................................2-27Shifting Out of Park (P) .................................2-29Parking Your Vehicle/Key Removal ..................2-29Parking Over Things That Burn .......................2-30Engine Exhaust ............................................2-30Running Your Engine While You Are Parked .......2-31

Mirrors ...........................................................2-32Manual Rearview Mirror .................................2-32Outside Remote Control Mirror .......................2-32Outside Power Mirrors ...................................2-32Outside Convex Mirror ...................................2-33

Storage Areas ................................................2-33Glove Box ...................................................2-33Cupholder(s) ................................................2-33Center Console Storage Area .........................2-33

Sunroof .........................................................2-34

Section 2 Features and Controls

2-1

Keys

{CAUTION:

Leaving children in a vehicle with the ignitionkey is dangerous for many reasons. Theycould operate the power windows or othercontrols or even make the vehicle move. Thechildren or others could be badly injured oreven killed. Do not leave the keys in a vehiclewith children.

2-2

One key is used for theignition and all locks.

When a new vehicle is delivered to the dealer, the keyhas a key tag. This tag has a bar-coded key codethat tells your dealer how to make extra keys. This tagmay be removed and kept by your dealer. If it hasn’tbeen removed, keep the tag in a safe place. If you loseyour key, your dealer can easily make another oneby using the key code. See Roadside AssistanceProgram on page 7-6 for more information.

Notice: If you ever lock your keys in your vehicle,you may have to damage the vehicle to get in.Be sure you have spare keys.

Remote Keyless Entry SystemIf equipped, the keyless entry system operates on aradio frequency subject to Federal CommunicationsCommission (FCC) Rules and with Industry Canada.

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.Operation is subject to the following two conditions:

1. This device may not cause interference, and

2. This device must accept any interference received,including interference that may cause undesiredoperation of the device.

This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry Canada.Operation is subject to the following two conditions:

1. This device may not cause interference, and

2. This device must accept any interference received,including interference that may cause undesiredoperation of the device.

Changes or modifications to this system by other thanan authorized service facility could void authorization touse this equipment.

2-3

At times you may notice a decrease in range. This isnormal for any remote keyless entry system. If thetransmitter does not work or if you have to stand closerto your vehicle for the transmitter to work, try this:

• Check the distance. You may be too far from yourvehicle. You may need to stand closer duringrainy or snowy weather.

• Check the location. Other vehicles or objects maybe blocking the signal. Take a few steps to theleft or right, hold the transmitter higher, andtry again.

• Check to determine if battery replacement isnecessary. See “Battery Replacement” underRemote Keyless Entry System Operation onpage 2-4.

• If you are still having trouble, see your dealer or aqualified technician for service.

Remote Keyless Entry SystemOperationIf your vehicle has this feature, you can lock and unlockyour doors or unlock your trunk from about 3 feet (1 m) upto 30 feet (9 m) away using the remote keyless entrytransmitter supplied with your vehicle.

The following functions are available with the keylessentry system:

Q (Lock): Press thisbutton to lock all doors. Theinterior lamps will turn offafter all of the doorsare closed. If all of thedoors are closed, theparking lamps will flashtwice and the horn will chirpto indicate locking hasoccurred.

2-4

W (Unlock): Press this button once to unlock thedriver’s door. If the button is pressed again within fiveseconds, all remaining doors will unlock. The interiorlamps will stay on for 10 seconds or until the ignition isturned on. The parking lamps will flash twice toindicate unlocking has occurred.

V (Remote Trunk Release): Press this button toopen the trunk, if the trunk lockout is not engaged. Youcan open the trunk with the transmitter when thevehicle speed is less than 2 mph (3 km/h), when theparking brake is engaged, or when the ignition is off. Theinterior lamps will come on for 10 seconds or until theignition switch is turned to ON.

L (Remote Alarm): Press this button to make thehorn sound and the headlamps and the parking lampsflash for up to two minutes. The interior lamps willcome on and remain on while the horn is sounding andthe lamps are flashing. Turn off the horn and lampsby pressing the remote alarm button again or by turningthe ignition to ON.

Programmable Horn ChirpWhen you use the remote keyless entry transmitter tolock the doors or use the delayed locking featurethe parking lamps will flash and the horn will chirp.

Disable the programmable horn chirp by pressing andholding either of the door lock switches in the unlockposition for 10 seconds with the ignition ON and all ofthe doors closed. When you hear the horn chirp,programming is complete.

Reactivate the horn chirp feature by repeating theabove procedure.

Matching Transmitter(s) to YourVehicleEach remote keyless entry transmitter is coded toprevent another transmitter from unlocking your vehicle.If a transmitter is lost or stolen, a replacement canbe purchased through your dealer. Remember to bringany remaining transmitters with you when you go toyour dealer. When the dealer matches the replacementtransmitter to your vehicle, any remaining transmittersmust also be matched. Once your dealer has coded thenew transmitter, the lost transmitter will not unlockyour vehicle. Each vehicle can have a maximum of fourtransmitters matched to it.

2-5

Battery ReplacementUnder normal use, the battery in your remote keylessentry transmitter should last about four years.

You can tell the battery is weak if the transmitter won’twork at the normal range in any location. If you haveto get close to your vehicle before the transmitter works,it’s probably time to change the battery.

Notice: When replacing the battery, use care not totouch any of the circuitry. Static from your bodytransferred to these surfaces may damage thetransmitter.

To replace the battery in the remote keyless entrytransmitter do the following:

1. Use a flat object like a coin to separate the bottomhalf from the top half of the transmitter.

2. Remove the battery and replace it with the newone. Make sure the positive side of the batteryfaces up. Use one three-volt, CR2032, orequivalent, type battery.

3. Put the two halves back together. Make sure thecover is on tightly, so water won’t get in.

2-6

Doors and Locks

Door Locks

{CAUTION:

Unlocked doors can be dangerous.• Passengers — especially children — can

easily open the doors and fall out of amoving vehicle. When a door is locked, thehandle will not open it. You increase thechance of being thrown out of the vehiclein a crash if the doors are not locked. So,wear safety belts properly and lock thedoors whenever you drive.

• Young children who get into unlockedvehicles may be unable to get out. A childcan be overcome by extreme heat and cansuffer permanent injuries or even deathfrom heat stroke. Always lock your vehiclewhenever you leave it.

• Outsiders can easily enter through anunlocked door when you slow down orstop your vehicle. Locking your doors canhelp prevent this from happening.

There are several ways to lock and unlock your vehicle.

From the outside, use your key or remote keylessentry system, if your vehicle is equipped with thisfeature. If your vehicle has remote keyless entry, youcan only use your key to unlock the driver’s side door.

From the inside, you can lock or unlock the door bymoving the manual lever forward or rearward.

2-7

Power Door LocksWith the power door locks, you can lock or unlock all ofthe doors on your vehicle using the driver’s or frontpassenger’s door lock switch.

Press the bottom of the switch to lock all of the doors.Press the top of the switch to unlock all of the doors.

Delayed LockingThis feature will allow the driver to delay the actuallocking of the vehicle. This feature will not operate if thekey is left in the ignition. See Lockout Protection onpage 2-11.

With the key out of the ignition and the driver’s dooropen, pressing LOCK on the driver’s power doorlock switch will not immediately lock the other doors.Instead a seven second delay will start and three chimeswill be heard. Seven seconds after the driver’s doorhas been closed, all of the doors will lock and theparking lamps will flash. The horn will also chirp if thehorn chirp feature is enabled. See “Programmable HornChirp” previously for more information.

If the driver opens another door before the sevenseconds, the doors will not lock until seven secondsafter the last door is closed.

Press LOCK twice on the power door lock switch on thedriver’s door to lock the doors without a delay orpress the LOCK button on the remote keyless entrytransmitter while all doors are closed.

Programmable Automatic DoorLocksProgrammable automatic power door locks are intendedto provide enhanced security and convenience byautomatically locking and unlocking doors. This featurelets you program your power door locks to one offour different modes.

2-8

Customizing the Automatic Door Locksfor Automatic Transaxle Vehicles

Mode 1: All doors automatically lock when the transaxleis shifted out of PARK (P). The doors will remainlocked unless manually unlocked or the lock button ispressed. All doors will unlock when the transaxle isshifted into PARK (P) and the key is turned to OFF.

Mode 2: This mode is only available on vehiclesequipped with a remote keyless entry transmitter. Alldoors automatically lock when the transaxle is shiftedout of PARK (P). Automatic driver’s door only unlockswhen the transaxle is shifted into PARK (P) and the keyis turned to OFF.

Mode 3: All doors automatically lock when the transaxleis shifted out of PARK (P). No automatic door unlock.

Mode 4: No automatic door lock or unlock.

Customizing the Automatic Door Locksfor Manual Transaxle Vehicles

Mode 1: All doors automatically lock when the vehiclespeed is greater than 5 mph (8 km/h). The doorswill remain locked unless manually unlocked or the lockbutton is pressed. All doors will unlock when thetransaxle is shifted into REVERSE (R) and the key isturned to OFF.

Mode 2: This mode is only available with the remotekeyless entry transmitter. All doors automaticallylock when the vehicle speed is greater than5 mph (8 km/h). Automatic driver’s door only unlockwhen the transaxle is shifted into REVERSE (R) and thekey is turned to OFF.

Mode 3: All doors automatically lock when the vehiclespeed is greater than 5 mph (8 km/h). No automaticdoor unlock.

Mode 4: No automatic door lock or unlock.

2-9

Before your vehicle was shipped from the factory it wasprogrammed in Mode 1. To determine the currentmode or to change to a different mode, do the following:

1. Put an automatic transaxle in PARK (P) or amanual transaxle in REVERSE (R) with the parkingbrake engaged and turn the ignition to ON.

2. Press and hold the lower part of the power doorlock switch for 10 seconds. Release the switchwhen you hear the chime.

3. Count the number of chimes you hear. The numberof chimes tells you which mode your vehicle is in.You can change the mode by pressing andholding the lower part of the power door lock switch(two chimes for Mode 2, three chimes for Mode 3and four chimes for Mode 4).

4. Repeat Step 2 until you hear the number of chimesthat matches the mode you want.

The mode you selected is now set.

Rear Door Security LocksIf your vehicle is a four-door model, it has rear doorsecurity locks that help prevent passengers fromopening the rear doors from the inside.

The switch is locatedon the inside of eachrear door.

To use the security locks, do the following to eachrear door:

1. Move the switch up.

2. Close the door.

2-10

The rear doors on your vehicle cannot be opened fromthe inside when this feature is in use. If you want toopen a rear door when the security lock is on, dothe following:

1. Unlock the door from the inside.

2. Then open the door from the outside.

If you don’t cancel the security lock feature, adults orolder children who ride in the rear won’t be able to openthe rear door from the inside. You should let adultsand older children know how these security locks work,and how to cancel the locks.

To cancel a rear door lock, do the following:

1. Unlock the door from the inside and open it fromthe outside.

2. Move the switch down.

3. Do the same to the other rear door.

The rear doors will now work normally.

Lockout ProtectionLockout protection is intended to provide enhancedsecurity and convenience. This feature prevents a driverwho has left the key in the ignition from locking thedoors, using the power door locks while any dooris open.

To override this feature, when the key is in the ignitionand any door is open, press and hold down thepower door lock switch for three seconds.

This feature cannot guarantee that you will never belocked out of your vehicle. If you don’t leave the key inthe ignition, or if you use the manual door lock orthe remote keyless entry transmitter, you could still lockyour keys inside your vehicle. Always remember totake your keys with you.

Leaving Your VehicleIf you are leaving your vehicle, open your door andset the locks from the inside, then get out and closethe door.

2-11

TrunkTo unlock the trunk from the outside, insert the key andturn the trunk lock cylinder or use the remote keylessentry transmitter, if your vehicle has this feature.

When closing the trunk, push the trunk lid in the centerto ensure that the lock fully latches.

{CAUTION:

It can be dangerous to drive with the trunk lidopen because carbon monoxide (CO) gas cancome into your vehicle. You can not see orsmell CO. It can cause unconsciousness andeven death.



If you must drive with the trunk lid open or ifelectrical wiring or other cable connectionsmust pass through the seal between the bodyand the trunk lid:

• Make sure all other windows are shut.• Turn the fan on your heating or cooling

system to its highest speed and select thecontrol setting that will force outside airinto your vehicle. See Climate ControlSystem in the Index.

• If you have air outlets on or under theinstrument panel, open them all the way.

See Engine Exhaust on page 2-30.

2-12

Remote Trunk Release

Press the remote trunk release button, located on thedriver’s door, to release the trunk lid. The remotetrunk release will only work when either the ignition isoff, the parking brake is engaged or the vehicle speed isless than 2 mph (3 km/h).

Emergency Trunk Release Handle

Notice: Using the emergency trunk release handleas a tie-down or anchor point when securingitems in the trunk may damage it. Use theemergency trunk release handle only to help youopen the trunk lid.

There is a glow-in-the-dark emergency trunk releasehandle located inside the trunk on the trunk latch. Thishandle will glow following exposure to light. Pull therelease handle up to open the trunk from the inside.

2-13

Trap-Resistant Trunk KitTo help prevent a child from becoming trapped in yourtrunk, you can order a trap-resistant trunk kit fromyour dealer. This kit includes:

• a modified trunk latch,

• a lighted release handle, and

• seatback tethers (for vehicles with folding rearseatbacks).

See your dealer for additional information.

Windows

{CAUTION:

Leaving children, helpless adults, or pets in avehicle with the windows closed is dangerous.They can be overcome by the extreme heatand suffer permanent injuries or even deathfrom heat stroke. Never leave a child, ahelpless adult, or a pet alone in a vehicle,especially with the windows closed in warm orhot weather.

Manual WindowsOn a vehicle with manual windows, use the windowcrank to open and close each window.

2-14

Power Windows

If your vehicle has power window switches, they arelocated on the armrest on the driver’s door. In addition,each passenger door has a window switch.

Express Down WindowThe driver’s window switch has an express downfeature. Press the rear of the switch slightly down, andthe driver’s window will open a small amount. If therear of the switch is pressed all the way down,the window will go all the way down.

To stop the window while it is lowering, press the frontof the switch. To raise the window, press and holdthe front of the switch.

Window LockoutOn four-door models, the driver’s power window controlsalso include a window lockout. Press the right side of thelockout switch (LOCK) to prevent the passengers fromusing their window switches. The driver can still operateall of the windows with the lock on.

Sun VisorsTo block out glare, you can swing down the visors andslide them along the rod to cover different areas ofthe front window. You can also swing them to cover theside windows.

Visor Vanity MirrorSwing down the driver’s side sun visor and lift the coverto expose the vanity mirror.

2-15

Theft-Deterrent SystemsVehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities.Although your vehicle has a number of theft-deterrentfeatures, we know that nothing we put on it can make itimpossible to steal.

Passlock ®

Your vehicle has the Passlock® theft-deterrent system.

Passlock® is a passive theft-deterrent system.Passlock® enables fuel if the ignition lock cylinder hasnot been tampered with.

During normal operation, the SECURITY light will go offabout five seconds after the ignition key is turned toON and the engine is started.

After attempting to start the engine, if the SECURITYlight flashes or stays on, wait ten minutes with the key inON until the light goes off. Then turn the ignition toOFF before attempting to start the engine again.

See Roadside Assistance Program on page 7-6 formore information.

Starting and Operating YourVehicle

New Vehicle Break-InNotice: Your vehicle does not need an elaborate“break-in.” But it will perform better in the long runif you follow these guidelines:

• Do not drive at any one speed — fast orslow — for the first 500 miles (805 km). Do notmake full-throttle starts.

• Avoid making hard stops for the first 200 miles(322 km) or so. During this time your newbrake linings are not yet broken in. Hard stopswith new linings can mean premature wearand earlier replacement. Follow this breaking-inguideline every time you get new brakelinings.

• Do not tow a trailer during break-in. See Towinga Trailer on page 4-40 for more information.

2-16

Ignition PositionsWith the key in the ignition switch, you can turn it to fourdifferent positions.

A (OFF): This is the only position from which you canremove the key. With an automatic transaxle, theshift lever must be in PARK (P) with the ignition in OFFto remove the key. With a manual transaxle, the shiftlever must be in REVERSE (R) with the ignition in OFFto remove the key.

A warning chime will sound if you open the driver’s doorwhile the ignition is off and the key is in the ignition.

Notice: If your key seems stuck in OFF and you cannot turn it, be sure you are using the correct key;if so, is it all the way in? Turn the key only with yourhand. Using a tool to force it could break the keyor the ignition switch. If none of this works,then your vehicle needs service.

B (ACCESSORY): This position unlocks the transaxle.It also lets you use things like the radio and windshieldwipers when the engine is not running. To useACCESSORY, turn the key clockwise to the firstposition. Use this position if your vehicle must be pushedor towed, but never try to push-start your vehicle.

C (ON): This position is where the key returns to afteryou start your engine and release the key. Theignition switch stays in ON when the engine is running.But even when the engine is not running, you canuse ON to operate your electrical accessories and todisplay some instrument panel warning lights.

D (START): This position starts the engine. When theengine starts, release the key. The ignition switchwill return to ON for normal driving.

2-17

Retained Accessory Power (RAP)Your vehicle is equipped with a Retained AccessoryPower (RAP) feature which will allow the radio tocontinue to work up to 10 minutes after the ignition isturned to OFF.

Your radio will work when the ignition key is in ON orACCESSORY. Once the key is turned from ON to OFF,the radio will continue to work up to 10 minutes oruntil the driver’s door is opened.

Starting Your Engine

Automatic TransaxleMove your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).Your engine won’t start in any other position – that’s asafety feature. To restart when you’re already moving,use NEUTRAL (N) only.

Notice: Shifting into PARK (P) with the vehiclemoving could damage the transaxle. Shift intoPARK (P) only when your vehicle is stopped.

Manual TransaxleThe shift lever should be in neutral and the parkingbrake engaged. Hold the clutch pedal to the floor andstart the engine. Your vehicle won’t start if the clutchpedal is not all the way down – that’s a safety feature.

Starting Your 2.2L L4 ECOTEC™Engine

1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn yourignition key to START. When the engine starts, letgo of the key. The idle speed will go down asyour engine gets warm.

Notice: Holding your key in START for longer than15 seconds at a time will cause your battery tobe drained much sooner. And the excessive heatcan damage your starter motor. Wait about15 seconds between each try to help avoid drainingyour battery or damaging your starter.

2. If it doesn’t start, wait about 15 seconds and tryagain to start the engine by turning the ignitionkey to START. Wait about 15 seconds betweeneach try.When your engine has run about 10 seconds towarm up, your vehicle is ready to be driven. Don’t“race” your engine when it’s cold.If the weather is below freezing (32°F or 0°C), letthe engine run for a few minutes to warm up.

2-18

3. If your engine still won’t start (or starts but thenstops), it could be flooded with too much gasoline.Try pushing your accelerator pedal all the way to thefloor and holding it there as you hold the key inSTART for about three seconds. If the vehicle startsbriefly but then stops again, do the same thing, butthis time keep the pedal down for five or six seconds.This clears the extra gasoline from the engine.

Notice: Your engine is designed to work with theelectronics in your vehicle. If you add electricalparts or accessories, you could change the way theengine operates. Before adding electrical equipment,check with your dealer. If you do not, your enginemight not perform properly.

Starting Your 3400 V6 Engine1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn your

ignition key to START. When the engine starts, letgo of the key. The idle speed will go down asyour engine warms up.

Notice: Holding your key in START for longer than15 seconds at a time will cause your battery tobe drained much sooner. And the excessive heatcan damage your starter motor. Wait about15 seconds between each try to help avoid drainingyour battery or damaging your starter.

2. If the engine doesn’t start in 10 seconds, push theaccelerator pedal about one-quarter of the waydown while you turn the key to START. Do this untilthe engine starts. As soon as it does, let go ofthe key.

3. If your engine still won’t start (or starts but thenstops), it could be flooded with too much gasoline.Try pushing your accelerator pedal all the way to thefloor and holding it there as you hold the key inSTART for a maximum of 15 seconds. This clearsthe extra gasoline from the engine. If the enginestill won’t start or starts briefly but then stops again,repeat Step 1 or 2, depending on temperature.When the engine starts, release the key and theaccelerator pedal.

Notice: Your engine is designed to work with theelectronics in your vehicle. If you add electricalparts or accessories, you could change the way theengine operates. Before adding electrical equipment,check with your dealer. If you do not, your enginemight not perform properly.

2-19

Engine Coolant Heater

Your vehicle may have this feature. In very coldweather, 0°C (−18°F) or colder, the engine coolantheater can provide easier starting and better fueleconomy during engine warm-up. Usually, the coolantheater should be plugged in a minimum of fourhours prior to starting your vehicle. At temperaturesabove 32°F (0°C), use of the coolant heater is notrequired.

2.2L L4 ECOTEC™ Engine

3400 V6 Engine

2-20

To Use the Engine Coolant Heater1. Turn off the engine.

2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord. Onthe 2.2L L4 ECOTEC™ engine, the engine coolantheater cord is located in front of the coolantsurge tank on the passenger’s side. On the3400 V6 engine, the engine coolant heater cord islocated near the engine air cleaner/filter. SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 5-12 formore information on location.

3. Plug the cord into a normal, grounded 110-voltAC outlet.

{CAUTION:

Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outletcould cause an electrical shock. Also, thewrong kind of extension cord could overheatand cause a fire. You could be seriouslyinjured. Plug the cord into a properly groundedthree-prong 110-volt AC outlet. If the cord willnot reach, use a heavy-duty three-prongextension cord rated for at least 15 amps.

4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug andstore the cord as it was before to keep it awayfrom moving engine parts. If you don’t, it could bedamaged.

How long should you keep the coolant heater pluggedin? The answer depends on the outside temperature, thekind of oil you have, and some other things. Insteadof trying to list everything here, we ask that you contactyour dealer in the area where you’ll be parking yourvehicle. The dealer can give you the best advice for thatparticular area.

2-21

Automatic Transaxle Operation

Your automatic transaxlehas a shift lever located onthe console between theseats.

PARK (P): This position locks your front wheels. It isthe best position to use when you start your enginebecause your vehicle can not move easily.

{CAUTION:

It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if theshift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with theparking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.

Do not leave your vehicle when the engine isrunning unless you have to. If you have left theengine running, the vehicle can movesuddenly. You or others could be injured. Tobe sure your vehicle will not move, even whenyou are on fairly level ground, always set yourparking brake and move the shift lever toPARK (P). See Shifting Into Park (P) onpage 2-27. If you are pulling a trailer, seeTowing a Trailer on page 4-40.

2-22

Ensure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) before startingthe engine. Your vehicle has an automatic transaxleshift lock control system. You have to apply your regularbrake and press the shift lever button before you canshift from PARK (P) while the ignition key is in ON. If youcannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on theshift lever and push the shift lever all the way intoPARK (P) as you maintain brake application. Then movethe shift lever into another gear. See Shifting Out ofPark (P) on page 2-29 later in this section.

REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back up.

Notice: Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicleis moving forward could damage the transaxle. Therepairs would not be covered by your warranty. Shiftto REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is stopped.

To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow,ice or sand without damaging your transaxle, see IfYou Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow onpage 4-30.

NEUTRAL (N): In this position, your engine doesn’tconnect with the wheels. To restart when you’re alreadymoving, use NEUTRAL (N) only. Also, useNEUTRAL (N) when your vehicle is being towed.

{CAUTION:

Shifting into a drive gear while your engine isrunning at high speed is dangerous. Unlessyour foot is firmly on the brake pedal, yourvehicle could move very rapidly. You couldlose control and hit people or objects. Do notshift into a drive gear while your engine isrunning at high speed.

Notice: Shifting out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N)with the engine racing may damage the transaxle.The repairs would not be covered by your warranty.Be sure the engine is not racing when shiftingyour vehicle.

2-23

AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D): This position is fornormal driving. If you need more power for passing,and you’re:

• Going less than 35 mph (55 km/h), push youraccelerator pedal about halfway down.

• Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push theaccelerator all the way down.

You’ll shift down to the next gear and have more power.

Notice: Driving your vehicle if you notice that itis moving slowly or not shifting gears as youincrease speed may damage the transaxle. Haveyour vehicle serviced right away. You can drive inSECOND (2) when you are driving less than 35 mph(55 km/h) and AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D) forhigher speeds until then.

THIRD (3): This position is also used for normal driving.However, it offers more power and lower fuel economythan AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D). Here are sometimes you might choose THIRD (3) instead ofAUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D):• When driving on hilly, winding roads.• When towing a trailer, so there is less shifting

between gears.• When going down a steep hill.

SECOND (2): This position gives you more power butlower fuel economy than THIRD (3). You can useSECOND (2) on hills. It can help control your speed asyou go down steep mountain roads, but then youwould also want to use your brakes off and on.

Notice: Driving in SECOND (2) for more than25 miles (40 km) or at speeds over 55 mph (90 km/h)may damage the transaxle. Also, shifting intoSECOND (2) at speeds above 65 mph (105 km/h) cancause damage. Drive in THIRD (3) or AUTOMATICOVERDRIVE (D) instead of SECOND (2).

FIRST (1): This position gives you even more powerbut lower fuel economy than SECOND (2). You can useit on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud. If theshift lever is put in FIRST (1), the transaxle won’t shiftinto first gear until the vehicle is going slowly enough.

Notice: Spinning the tires or holding the vehicle inone place on a hill using only the acceleratorpedal may damage the transaxle. If you are stuck,do not spin the tires. When stopping on a hill,use the brakes to hold the vehicle in place.

2-24

Manual Transaxle Operation

This is your shift pattern.The clutch must be fullypressed in when shifting amanual transaxle toensure the transaxle isfully in gear.

Here’s how to operate your transaxle:

FIRST (1): Press the clutch pedal and shift intoFIRST (1). Then, slowly let up on the clutch pedal asyou press the accelerator pedal.

You can shift into FIRST (1) when you are going lessthat 20 mph (32 km/h). If you have come to a completestop and it is hard to shift into FIRST (1), put theshift lever into Neutral and let up on the clutch. Pressthe clutch pedal back down. Then shift into FIRST (1).

SECOND (2): Press the clutch pedal as you let upon the accelerator pedal and shift into SECOND (2).Then, slowly let up on the clutch pedal as you press theaccelerator pedal.

THIRD (3), FOURTH (4), and FIFTH (5): Shift intoTHIRD (3), FOURTH (4) and FIFTH (5) the same wayyou do for SECOND (2). Slowly let up on the clutchpedal as you press the accelerator pedal.

To stop, let up on the accelerator pedal and press thebrake pedal. Just before the vehicle stops, press theclutch pedal and the brake pedal, and shift to Neutral.

Neutral: Use this position when you start or idle yourengine.

REVERSE (R): To back up, press down the clutchpedal and lift up on the ring on the shift lever to shift intoREVERSE (R). Let up on the clutch pedal slowlywhile pressing the accelerator pedal.

Notice: Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicleis moving forward could damage the transaxle. Therepairs would not be covered by your warranty. Shiftto REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is stopped.

Also, use REVERSE (R), along with the parking brake,for parking your vehicle.

Once the shift lever is in REVERSE (R), the ignition canbe turned to OFF and the key removed.

2-25

Shift Speeds

{CAUTION:

If you skip a gear when you downshift, youcould lose control of your vehicle. You couldinjure yourself or others. Don’t shift downmore than one gear at a time when youdownshift.

Up-Shift Light

If you have a manualtransaxle, you may have aSHIFT light located onthe instrument panelcluster. This light will showyou when to shift to thenext higher gear forthe best fuel economy.

When this light comes on, you can shift to the nexthigher gear if the weather, road and traffic conditionspermit. For the best fuel economy, accelerate slowly andshift when the light comes on.

Parking Brake

To set the parking brake, pull up on the parking brakehandle. If the ignition is on, the brake system warninglight will come on. See Brake System Warning Light onpage 3-28.

To release the parking brake, hold the regular brakepedal down. Pull the parking brake handle up until youcan press the release button. Hold the release buttonin as you move the brake handle all the way down.

Automatic Transaxle shown, Manual Transaxlesimilar

2-26

Notice: Driving with the parking brake on canoverheat the brake system and cause prematurewear or damage to brake system parts. Verify thatthe parking brake is fully released and the brakewarning light is off before driving.

If you are towing a trailer and are parking on a hill, seeTowing a Trailer on page 4-40.

Shifting Into Park (P)

{CAUTION:

It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle ifthe shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with theparking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll. Ifyou have left the engine running, the vehiclecan move suddenly. You or others could beinjured. To be sure your vehicle will not move,even when you are on fairly level ground, usethe steps that follow. If you are pulling a trailer,see Towing a Trailer on page 4-40.

If your vehicle is an automatic transaxle, do the followingto shift into PARK (P):

1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot andset the parking brake.

2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) like this:

• Press and hold the button on the shift lever.• Push the shift lever all the way toward the front

of the vehicle.3. Turn the ignition key to OFF.4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can

leave your vehicle with the ignition key in yourhand, your vehicle is in PARK (P).

2-27

Leaving Your Vehicle With the EngineRunning

{CAUTION:

It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle withthe engine running. Your vehicle could movesuddenly if the shift lever is not fully inPARK (P) with the parking brake firmly set.And, if you leave the vehicle with the enginerunning, it could overheat and even catch fire.You or others could be injured. Do not leaveyour vehicle with the engine running.

If you have to leave your automatic transaxle modelvehicle with the engine running, be sure your vehicle isin PARK (P) and your parking brake is firmly setbefore you leave it. After you’ve moved the shift leverinto PARK (P), hold the regular brake pedal down. Then,see if you can move the shift lever away from PARK (P)without first pushing the button.

If you can, it means that the shift lever wasn’t fullylocked into PARK (P).

Torque LockIf you are parking on a hill and you don’t shift yourautomatic transaxle into PARK (P) properly, the weight ofthe vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl inthe transaxle. You may find it difficult to pull the shift leverout of PARK (P). This is called “torque lock.” To preventtorque lock, set the parking brake and then shift intoPARK (P) properly before you leave the driver’s seat. Tofind out how, see Shifting Into Park (P) on page 2-27.

When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out ofPARK (P) before you release the parking brake.

If torque lock does occur, you may need to have anothervehicle push your vehicle a little uphill to take some ofthe pressure from the parking pawl in the transaxle,so you can pull the shift lever out of PARK (P).

2-28

Shifting Out of Park (P)If your vehicle has an automatic transaxle, it has anautomatic transaxle shift lock control system which locksthe shift lever in PARK when the ignition is in the(OFF/OFF LOCK) position. In addition, you have to fullyapply your regular brakes before you can shift fromPARK (P) when the ignition is in RUN (ON). SeeAutomatic Transaxle Operation on page 2-22.

If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure onthe shift lever and push the shift lever all the wayinto PARK (P) as you maintain brake application. Thenmove the shift lever into the gear you want.

If you hold the brake pedal down but still can’t shift outof PARK (P), try this:

1. Turn the ignition key to (OFF/ACCESSORY). Thereis no shift interlock in this key position.

2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 4.

3. Shift the transaxle to NEUTRAL (N).

4. Start the vehicle and then shift to the gearyou want.

5. Have the system fixed as soon as possible.

Parking Your Vehicle/Key RemovalBefore leaving your manual transaxle model vehicle,fully press the clutch pedal in, move the shift lever intoREVERSE (R) and firmly apply the parking brake.Once the shift lever has been placed in REVERSE (R)with the clutch pedal pressed in, you can turn theignition key to OFF, remove the key and release theclutch. See Manual Transaxle Operation on page 2-25.

2-29

Parking Over Things That Burn

{CAUTION:

Things that can burn could touch hot exhaustparts under your vehicle and ignite. Do notpark over papers, leaves, dry grass or otherthings that can burn.

Engine Exhaust

{CAUTION:

Engine exhaust can kill. It contains the gascarbon monoxide (CO), which you can not seeor smell. It can cause unconsciousness anddeath.

You might have exhaust coming in if:• Your exhaust system sounds strange or

different.• Your vehicle gets rusty underneath.• Your vehicle was damaged in a collision.• Your vehicle was damaged when driving

over high points on the road or over roaddebris.

• Repairs were not done correctly.• Your vehicle or exhaust system had been

modified improperly.

If you ever suspect exhaust is coming intoyour vehicle:

• Drive it only with all the windows down toblow out any CO; and

• Have your vehicle fixed immediately.

2-30

Running Your Engine While YouAre ParkedIt is better not to park with the engine running. But ifyou ever have to, here are some things to know.

{CAUTION:

Idling the engine with the climate controlsystem off could allow dangerous exhaust intoyour vehicle. See the earlier Caution underEngine Exhaust on page 2-30.

Also, idling in a closed-in place can let deadlycarbon monoxide (CO) into your vehicle even ifthe climate control fan is at the highest setting.One place this can happen is a garage.Exhaust — with CO — can come in easily.NEVER park in a garage with the enginerunning.

Another closed-in place can be a blizzard. SeeWinter Driving on page 4-26.

{CAUTION:

It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle ifthe shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with theparking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.Do not leave your vehicle when the engine isrunning unless you have to. If you have left theengine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.You or others could be injured. To be sure yourvehicle will not move, even when you are onfairly level ground, always set your parkingbrake and move the shift lever to PARK (P).

Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle will notmove. See Shifting Into Park (P) on page 2-27.

If you are parking on a hill and if you are pulling atrailer, also see Towing a Trailer on page 4-40.

2-31

Mirrors

Manual Rearview MirrorThe mirror can be adjusted two ways. First, to adjustthe height of the mirror, adjust the arm that connects themirror to the windshield. Second, adjust the angle ofthe mirror, by moving the mirror to a position that allowsyou to see out of the back window.

To reduce glare from headlamps behind you, move thelever toward you to the night position. To return themirror to the daytime position, move the lever awayfrom you.

Outside Remote Control MirrorThe outside rearview mirror should be adjusted so youcan see a little of the side of your vehicle when youare sitting in a comfortable driving position.

Adjust the driver’s outside mirror with the control leveron the driver’s door.

To adjust your passenger’s mirror, sit in the driver’s seatand have a passenger adjust the mirror for you.

Outside Power Mirrors

If your vehicle has powermirrors these controls arelocated on the driver’s door.

First move the selector switch left or right depending onwhich mirror you want to adjust. Then use the arrowson the control pad to move the mirror in the desireddirection.

2-32

Outside Convex MirrorYour passenger’s side mirror is convex. A convexmirror’s surface is curved so you can see more from thedriver’s seat.

{CAUTION:

A convex mirror can make things (like othervehicles) look farther away than they really are.If you cut too sharply into the right lane, youcould hit a vehicle on your right. Check yourinside mirror or glance over your shoulderbefore changing lanes.

Storage Areas

Glove BoxTo open, pull the glove box latch toward you.

Cupholder(s)Pull down the door on the rear of the center console touse the rear seat cupholders.

Center Console Storage AreaThe center console has two separate storage areas. Toopen, pull up on the lid.

2-33

SunroofIf your vehicle has this feature, the switch is located onthe headliner between the sun visors. The sunroofwill only operate while the ignition is in ON.

The sunroof can be opened to a vent position or it canbe express-opened all of the way.

To open the sunroof to the vent position, you must firstopen the sunshade by hand. Then push the switchback and release it.

To fully open the sunroof, push the switch back againand release it.

In both the vent and fully open positions, the air flowcan be adjusted for driving comfort by pushing andholding the switch forward until the sunroof moves tothe desired position.

To close the sunroof, push the switch forward and holdit until the sunroof is closed. The sunroof will stop ifthe switch is released during operation. Close thesunshade by hand.

The sunroof glass panel cannot be opened or closed ifyour vehicle has an electrical failure.

Notice: If you force the sunshade forward of thesliding glass panel, damage will occur and thesunroof may not open or close properly. Alwaysclose the glass panel before closing the sunshade.

2-34

Instrument Panel Overview ...............................3-2Hazard Warning Flashers ................................3-4Other Warning Devices ...................................3-5Horn .............................................................3-5Tilt Wheel .....................................................3-5Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever .........................3-6Windshield Wiper Lever ...................................3-8Cruise Control ..............................................3-10Exterior Lamps .............................................3-13Interior Lamps ..............................................3-15Accessory Power Outlets ...............................3-17Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter ........................3-18

Climate Controls ............................................3-18Climate Control System .................................3-18Outlet Adjustment .........................................3-22

Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators ............3-23Instrument Panel Cluster ................................3-24Speedometer and Odometer ...........................3-25Tachometer .................................................3-25Safety Belt Reminder Light .............................3-26Air Bag Readiness Light ................................3-26Charging System Light ..................................3-27Up-Shift Light ...............................................3-28Brake System Warning Light ..........................3-28Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light .............3-29Enhanced Traction System Warning Light .........3-30Enhanced Traction System Active Light ............3-31

Engine Coolant Temperature Gage ..................3-31Low Coolant Warning Light ............................3-32Malfunction Indicator Lamp .............................3-32Oil Pressure Light .........................................3-36Change Engine Oil Light ................................3-37Security Light ...............................................3-37Cruise Control Light ......................................3-37Low Washer Fluid Warning Light .....................3-38Service Vehicle Soon Light ............................3-38Fuel Gage ...................................................3-39

Audio System(s) .............................................3-40Setting the Time for Radios without Radio

Data Systems (RDS) ..................................3-40Setting the Time for Radios with Radio Data

Systems (RDS) .........................................3-40Radio with CD (Base Level) ...........................3-41Radio with CD (Up Level) ..............................3-46Radio with Cassette and CD ..........................3-57Theft-Deterrent Feature ..................................3-70Radio Reception ...........................................3-71Care of Your Cassette Tape Player .................3-71Care of Your CDs .........................................3-72Care of Your CD Player ................................3-72Backglass Antenna .......................................3-73XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System .............3-73Chime Level Adjustment ................................3-73

Section 3 Instrument Panel

3-1

Instrument Panel Overview

3-2

The main components of your instrument panel are thefollowing:A. Instrument Panel Fuse Blocks. See Fuses and

Circuit Breakers on page 5-93.B. Air Outlets. See Outlet Adjustment on page 3-22.C. Instrument Panel Cluster. See Instrument Panel

Cluster on page 3-24.D. Hazard Warning Flashers Button. See Hazard

Warning Flashers on page 3-4.E. Audio System. See Audio System(s) on page 3-40.F. Climate Control System. See Climate Control

System on page 3-18.G. Side Window Defogger Vent. See “Defogging and

Defrosting” in Climate Control System on page 3-18.H. Fog Lamp Button (If Equipped). See “Fog Lamps”

in Exterior Lamps on page 3-13.I. Instrument Panel Brightness Thumbwheel. See

“Instrument Panel Brightness” in Interior Lamps onpage 3-15.

J. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever. See TurnSignal/Multifunction Lever on page 3-6.

K. Hood Release Handle. See Hood Release onpage 5-10.

L. Cruise Control Switches (If Equipped). See CruiseControl on page 3-10.

M. Tilt Wheel Lever. See Tilt Wheel on page 3-5.N. Ignition Switch. See Ignition Positions on page 2-17.O. Windshield Wiper/Washer Lever. See Windshield

Wiper Lever on page 3-8.P. Enhanced Traction System Button (If Equipped).

See Enhanced Traction System (ETS) on page 4-9.Q. Transaxle Shift Lever. See Automatic Transaxle

Operation on page 2-22.R. Parking Brake. See Parking Brake on page 2-26.S. Cigarette Lighter/Accessory Power Outlet. See

Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter on page 3-18.T. Accessory Power Outlet. See Accessory Power

Outlets on page 3-17.

3-3

Hazard Warning Flashers

Your hazard warning flashers let you warn others. Theyalso let police know you have a problem. Your frontand rear turn signal lamps will flash on and off.

The hazard warningflasher is located near thecenter of the instrumentpanel.

Your hazard warning flashers work no matter whatposition your key is in, and even if the key isn’t in.

Press the button to make the front and rear turn signallamps flash on and off. Press the button again toturn the flashers off.

When the hazard warning flashers are on, your turnsignals won’t work.

3-4

Other Warning DevicesIf you carry reflective triangles, you can set one up atthe side of the road about 300 feet (100 m) behind yourvehicle.

HornYou can sound the horn by pressing the horn symbol onyour steering wheel.

Tilt WheelA tilt wheel allows you to adjust the steering wheelbefore you drive. You can raise it to the highest level togive your legs more room when you exit and enteryour vehicle.

The lever that allows you to tilt the steering wheel islocated on the left side of the steering column.

To tilt the wheel, hold the wheel and pull the levertoward you. Then move the wheel to a comfortableposition and release the lever to lock the wheel in place.

3-5

Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever

The lever on the left side of the steering columnincludes the following:

• Turn and Lane-Change Signals

• Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer

• Flash-to-Pass

• Exterior Lamps Control

For information on the exterior lamps, see ExteriorLamps on page 3-13.

Turn and Lane-Change SignalsThe turn signal has two upward (for right) and twodownward (for left) positions. These positions allow youto signal a turn or a lane change.

To signal a turn, move the lever all the way up or down.When the turn is finished, the lever will returnautomatically.

An arrow on the instrumentpanel cluster will flash inthe direction of theturn or lane change.

To signal a lane change, just raise or lower the leveruntil the arrow starts to flash. Hold it there until youcomplete your lane change. The lever will return by itselfwhen you release it.

As you signal a turn or a lane change, if the arrowsflash rapidly, a signal bulb may be burned out and otherdrivers won’t see your turn signal.

If a bulb is burned out, replace it to help avoid anaccident. If the arrows do not go on at all when yousignal a turn, check for burned-out bulbs and then checkthe fuse. See Fuses and Circuit Breakers on page 5-93.

3-6

Turn Signal On ChimeIf your turn signal is left on for more than 3/4 of a mile(1.2 km), a chime will sound at each flash of theturn signal. To turn off the chime, move the turn signallever to the off position.

Headlamps

The lever on the left side of the steering columnoperates the exterior lamps.

O(Exterior Lamps): Turn the outside part of thelever with the symbol on it, to operate the lamps.

The exterior lamps control has three positions:

< (Parking Lamps): Turn the control to this position toturn on the parking lamps, together with the following.

• Sidemarker Lamps

• Taillamps

• License Plate Lamps

• Instrument Panel Lights

3 (Headlamps): Turn the control to this position toturn on the headlamps, together with the previouslylisted lamps and lights.

AUTO: Turn the control to this position to turn theheadlamps, taillamps and parking lamps on andoff automatically while the ignition is on, by sensing howdark it is outside. For more information see AutomaticHeadlamp System later in this section.

3-7

Headlamps On ReminderIf you open the driver’s door and turn off the ignitionwhile leaving the lamps on, you will hear a warningchime.

Headlamp High/Low-Beam ChangerTo change the headlamps from low beam to high beam,push the turn signal/multifunction lever away from you.

When the high beams areon, a light on theinstrument panel clusterwill come on if the ignitionis in ON.

To change the headlamps from high beam to low beam,pull the turn signal lever toward you.

Flash-to-Pass FeatureThis feature lets you use your high-beam headlamps tosignal a driver in front of you that you want to pass.

To use it, pull the turn signal/multifunction lever towardyou until the high-beam headlamps come on, thenrelease the lever to turn them off.

Windshield Wiper Lever

Use this lever located on the right side of the steeringwheel to operate the windshield wipers.

OFF: Move the lever to OFF to turn off the windshieldwipers.

3-8

INT (Intermittent): Move the lever to INT to choose adelayed wiping cycle. Turn the INT ADJ band downfor a longer delay or up for a shorter delay. The furtherthe INT ADJ band is turned upward, the shorter thedelay will be and the further the INT ADJ band is turneddownward, the longer the delay will be. The wiperspeed can only be adjusted when the lever is in the INTposition. Use this position for light rain or snow.

LO (Low Speed): Move the lever up to the first settingpast INT, for steady wiping at low speed.

HI (High Speed): Move the lever up to the secondsetting past INT, for steady wiping at high speed.

MIST: Move the lever all the way down to MIST for asingle wiping cycle. Hold it there until the windshieldwipers start; then let go. The windshield wipers will stopafter one wipe. If you want more wipes, hold theband on mist longer.

Remember that damaged wiper blades may prevent youfrom seeing well enough to drive safely. To avoiddamage, be sure to clear ice and snow from the wiperblades before using them. If they’re frozen to thewindshield, carefully loosen or thaw them. If your bladesdo become damaged, get new blades or blade inserts.

Heavy snow or ice can overload your wiper motor.A circuit breaker will stop the motor until it cools. Clearaway snow or ice to prevent an overload.

Windshield WasherTo wash your windshield, push in the button at the endof the lever until the washers begin.

{CAUTION:

In freezing weather, do not use your washeruntil the windshield is warmed. Otherwise thewasher fluid can form ice on the windshield,blocking your vision.

When you release the button, the washers will stop, butthe wipers will continue to wipe about three times orwill resume the speed you were using before.

3-9

Cruise Control

If your vehicle has this feature, the cruise controlbuttons are located on the steering wheel.

With cruise control, you can maintain a speed of about25 mph (40 km/h) or more without keeping your footon the accelerator. This can really help on longtrips. Cruise control does not work at speeds below25 mph (40 km/h).

The cruise control will turn off when any of thefollowing occur:• The brakes are applied,• the clutch is applied (manual transaxle),• the parking brake is applied, or• the brake system warning light is on.

{CAUTION:

Cruise control can be dangerous where youcan not drive safely at a steady speed. So, donot use your cruise control on winding roadsor in heavy traffic.Cruise control can be dangerous on slipperyroads. On such roads, fast changes in tiretraction can cause needless wheel spinning,and you could lose control. Do not use cruisecontrol on slippery roads.

Your vehicle may have Enhanced Traction System(ETS). See Enhanced Traction System (ETS) onpage 4-9. If your vehicle is in cruise control while theETS begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise controlwill automatically disengage. When road conditions allowyou to safely use it again, you may turn the cruisecontrol back on.

3-10

Setting Cruise Control

{CAUTION:

If you leave your cruise control on when youare not using cruise, you might hit a buttonand go into cruise when you do not want to.You could be startled and even lose control.Keep the cruise control switch off until youwant to use cruise control.

1. Press the cruise control ON OFF button. Theindicator light above the button will turn on.

2. Get up to the speed you want.

3. Press the CST SET (Coast Set) button and releaseit. The CRUISE light on the instrument panel clusterwill come on.

4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.

Resuming a Set SpeedSuppose you set your cruise control at a desired speedand then you apply the brake. This, of course, shutsoff the cruise control. But you don’t need to resetit. Once you’re going about 25 mph (40 km/h) or more,you can press the cruise control RES ACCL(Resume/Accelerate) button briefly.

You’ll go right back up to your chosen speed andstay there.

If you press the RES ACCL button longer, the vehiclewill keep going faster until you release the buttonor apply the brake. So unless you want to go faster,don’t hold down the RES ACCL button.

3-11

Increasing Speed While Using CruiseControlThere are two ways to go to a higher speed:

• Use the accelerator pedal to get to the higherspeed. Press the CST SET button, then release thebutton and the accelerator pedal. You’ll nowcruise at the higher speed.

• Press the RES ACCL button. Hold it there until youget up to the speed you want, and then release thebutton. To increase your speed in very smallamounts, press the RES ACCL button briefly andthen release it. Each time you do this, yourvehicle will go about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster.

The accelerate feature will only work after you turn onthe cruise control by pressing the CST SET button.

Reducing Speed While Using CruiseControlThere are two ways to reduce your speed while usingcruise control:

• Press the CST SET button until you reach the lowerspeed you want, then release it.

• To slow down in very small amounts, press theCST SET button briefly. Each time you do this, you’llgo 1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower.

Passing Another Vehicle While UsingCruise ControlUse the accelerator pedal to increase your speed.When you take your foot off the pedal, your vehicle willslow down to the cruise control speed you set earlier.

Using Cruise Control on HillsHow well your cruise control will work on hills dependsupon your speed, load and the steepness of thehills. When going up steep hills, you may have to stepon the accelerator pedal to maintain your speed.When going downhill, you may have to brake or shift toa lower gear to keep your speed down. Of course,applying the brake takes you out of cruise control. Manydrivers find this to be too much trouble and don’t usecruise control on steep hills.

3-12

Ending Cruise ControlThere are five ways to turn off the cruise control:

• Step on the brake pedal.

• Press the cruise control CANCEL button.

• Press the cruise control RES ACCL button and theCST SET buttons at the same time.

• Press the cruise control ON OFF button. Theindicator light above the cruise control buttonwill turn off.

• Push the clutch pedal if your vehicle has a manualtransaxle.

Erasing Speed MemoryWhen you turn off the cruise control or the ignition, yourcruise control set speed memory is erased.

Exterior Lamps

HeadlampsSee “Headlamps” under Turn Signal/Multifunction Leveron page 3-6.

Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier forothers to see the front of your vehicle during theday. DRL can be helpful in many different drivingconditions, but they can be especially helpful in the shortperiods after dawn and before sunset. Fully functionaldaytime running lamps are required on all vehiclesfirst sold in Canada.

The DRL system will make your low-beam headlampscome on at a reduced brightness when the followingconditions are met:

• The ignition is on,

• the exterior lamps control is in AUTO or the parkinglamps only position,

• the light sensor detects daytime light,

• the parking brake is released, and

• the shift lever is not in PARK (P) on vehicles withan automatic transaxle only.

When the DRL system is on, the taillamps, sidemarkerlamps, parking lamps and instrument panel lightswill not be illuminated unless you have turned theexterior lamps control to the parking lamp position.

As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regularheadlamp system when you need it.

3-13

Automatic Headlamp SystemWhen it is dark enough outside, your AutomaticHeadlamp System will turn on your headlamps at thenormal brightness along with other lamps such asthe taillamps, sidemarker, parking lamps and theinstrument panel lights. The radio lights will also be dim.

Your vehicle is equipped with a light sensor on thetop of the instrument panel under the defroster grill, sobe sure it is not covered which will cause the systemto be on whenever the ignition is on.

The system may also be on when driving through aparking garage, heavy overcast weather or a tunnel.This is normal.

There is a delay in the transition between the daytimeand nighttime operation of the DRL and the AutomaticHeadlamp System so that driving under bridges or brightoverhead street lights does not affect the system. TheDRL and Automatic Headlamp Systems will only beaffected when the light sensor sees a change in lightinglasting longer than this delay.

If you start your vehicle in a dark garage, the automaticheadlamp system will come on immediately. Onceyou leave the garage, it will take approximatelyone minute for the automatic headlamp system tochange to DRL if it is light outside.

During that delay, your instrument panel cluster may notbe as bright as usual. Make sure your instrumentpanel brightness control is in the full bright position. See“Instrument Panel Brightness Control” under InteriorLamps on page 3-15.

To idle your vehicle with the system off, set the parkingbrake while the ignition is off. Then start the vehicle.The system will stay off until you release the parkingbrake.

As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regularheadlamps when you need them.

Headlamps Off in PARK (P)To turn the headlamps off when it is dark outside, turnthe exterior lamps control to the parking lamp position.In this position, the parking lamps, sidemarker lamps,taillamps, license plate lamps and instrument panellights will be on, but the headlamps will be off.

To turn on the headlamps along with the other lampswhen it is dark outside, turn the exterior lamps control tothe AUTO or headlamp position.

3-14

Delayed HeadlampsThe delayed headlamps feature will continue toilluminate the headlamps for 20 seconds after the key isturned to OFF, then the headlamps will automaticallyturn off.

To override the 20 second delayed headlamp featurewhile it is active turn the turn signal/multifunctionlever up one position and then back to AUTO.

Fog LampsIf your vehicle has this feature, the button for your foglamps is located on the instrument panel, to the leftof the steering wheel, beside the instrument panelbrightness thumbwheel.

When using the fog lamps, the ignition must be on aswell as the parking lamps or the low-beam headlamps.Press the button to turn the fog lamps on and off.An indicator light on the button will glow while the foglamps are on.

The fog lamps will turn off while the high-beamheadlamps are turned on.

Interior Lamps

Instrument Panel Brightness

The thumbwheel for thisfeature is located on theinstrument panel to the leftof the steering wheel.

Move the thumbwheel up to brighten the lights anddown to dim them.

3-15

Entry/Exit LightingThe lamps inside your vehicle will go on when you openany door. These lamps will fade out after about10 seconds after all of the doors have been closed orwhen the ignition is turned to ON. These lamps will alsogo on when you press the trunk release, unlocksymbol button or the horn symbol on the remote keylessentry system transmitter (if equipped).

The lamps inside your vehicle will stay on for about10 seconds after your key is removed from the ignitionto provide an illuminated exit.

Dome LampThe switch on this lamp has three positions. The ONposition will turn on the light. The DOOR positionwill turn on the light whenever a door is opened or whenthe instrument panel brightness thumbwheel is movedup. The OFF position will shut off the lamp completely,even when a door is opened. If your vehicle isequipped with a sunroof, the dome lamp also hasreading lamps for the rear seat passengers. Press theleft switch for the left reading lamp and the rightswitch for the right reading lamp.

Trunk LampThe trunk lamp comes on when you open your trunk.

Battery Run-Down ProtectionYour vehicle has a battery run-down protection featuredesigned to protect your vehicle’s battery.

When any interior lamp (trunk, mirror reading lamps,dome lamp or glove box) is left on when the ignition isturned off, the battery saver system will automaticallyshut the lamp off after 20 minutes. This will avoiddraining the battery.

To reactivate the interior lamps, do one of the following:

• Lift the driver’s door handle,

• open any door or

• press any remote keyless entry transmitter button(if equipped),

• press the power door lock switch,

• press the remote trunk release or

• turn the lamp that was left on to off and then toon again.

3-16

Accessory Power OutletsWith accessory power outlets you can plug in auxiliaryelectrical equipment such as a cellular telephone orCB radio.

The accessory power outlet is located to the left of theglovebox on the lower side of the instrument paneland behind a flip-out door.

Notice: Leaving electrical equipment on forextended periods will drain the battery. Always turnoff electrical equipment when not in use and donot plug in equipment that exceeds the maximumamperage rating.

Certain electrical accessories may not be compatiblewith the accessory power outlet and could resultin blown vehicle or adapter fuses. If you experience aproblem, see your dealer for additional informationon accessory power outlets.

Notice: Adding any electrical equipment to yourvehicle may damage it or keep other componentsfrom working as they should. The repairs would notbe covered by your warranty. Check with yourdealer before adding electrical equipment.

When adding electrical equipment, be sure to follow theproper installation instructions included with theequipment.

Notice: Improper use of the power outlet can causedamage not covered by your warranty. Do nothang any type of accessory or accessory bracketfrom the plug because the power outlets aredesigned for accessory power plugs only.

3-17

Ashtrays and Cigarette LighterTo use the lighter, push it in all the way and let go.

Notice: If you put papers or other flammable itemsin the ashtray, hot cigarettes or other smokingmaterials could ignite them and possibly damageyour vehicle. Never put flammable items in theashtray.

Notice: Holding a cigarette lighter in while it isheating will not allow the lighter to back away fromthe heating element when it is hot. Damage fromoverheating may occur to the lighter or heatingelement. Do not hold a cigarette lighter in while it isheating.

Climate Controls

Climate Control SystemWith this system you can control the heating, coolingand ventilation for your vehicle.

3-18

OperationTo change the current mode, select one of the following:

H (Vent): This mode directs air to the instrumentpanel outlets.

) (Bi-Level): This mode directs half of the air to theinstrument panel outlets, and then directs most ofthe remaining air to the floor outlets. Some air may bedirected toward the side windows.

A (Floor): This mode directs most of the air to thefloor outlets with some air directed to the side windows.

The right knob can also be used to select defog ordefrost modes. Information on defogging and defrostingcan be found later in this section.

9 (Fan): Turn the left knob clockwise orcounterclockwise to increase or decrease the fan speed.

: (Outside Air): Press this button to turn theoutside air mode on or off. When this mode is on,outside air will circulate throughout your vehicle. Theoutside air mode can be used with all modes, butit cannot be used with the recirculation mode.

? (Recirculation): This mode keeps outside air fromcoming in the vehicle. It can be used to prevent outsideair and odors from entering your vehicle or to help heat orcool the air inside your vehicle more quickly. Press thisbutton to turn the recirculation mode on or off. Theair-conditioning compressor will come on. Therecirculation mode cannot be used with the outside airmode. Recirculation is not available when in the defog ordefrost modes or when the fan is off.

When you switch to the defog or defrost modes thesystem will automatically move from recirculation tooutside air. When you move the mode knob back toanother mode, the system will move back intorecirculation. When the car is turned off and back on thesystem will default to outside air automatically.

Temperature Control: Turn the center knob clockwiseor counterclockwise to manually increase or decreasethe temperature inside your vehicle.

When it’s cold outside 0°F (−18°C) or lower, use theengine coolant heater, if equipped, to provide warmer airfaster to your vehicle. An engine coolant heater warmsthe coolant that the engine uses to provide heat towarm the inside of your vehicle. For more information,see Engine Coolant Heater on page 2-20.

3-19

A/C (Air Conditioning): Press this button to turn theair-conditioning system on or off. When A/C is pressed,an indicator light in the button will come on to let youknow that air conditioning is activated.

The fan knob must be set to a speed for the airconditioning to operate.

On hot days, open the windows to let hot inside airescape; then close them. This helps to reduce the timeit takes for your vehicle to cool down. It also helpsthe system to operate more efficiently.

For quick cool down on hot days:

1. Select the vent mode.

2. Select the highest fan speed.

3. Select A/C.

4. Select the recirculation mode.

5. Select the coolest temperature.

Using these settings together for long periods of timemay cause the air inside of your vehicle to become toodry. To prevent this from happening, after the air inyour vehicle is cooled, turn the recirculation mode off.

The air-conditioning system removes moisture fromthe air, so you may sometimes notice a small amount ofwater dripping underneath your vehicle while idling orafter turning off the engine. This is normal.

Defogging and DefrostingFog on the inside of windows is a result of high humidity(moisture) condensing on the cool window glass. Thiscan be minimized if the climate control system isused properly. There are two modes to choose from toclear fog or frost from your windshield. Use thedefog mode to clear the windows of fog or moisture andwarm the passengers. Use the defrost mode toremove fog or frost from the windshield more quickly.

3-20

Turn the right knob to select the defog or defrost mode.

- (Defog): This mode directs half of the air to thewindshield and most of the remaining air to thefloor outlets with a small amount directed at the sidewindows. When you select this mode, the system turnsoff recirculation and runs the air-conditioningcompressor unless the outside temperature is at orbelow freezing. The recirculation mode cannot beselected while in the defog mode. Do not drive thevehicle until all the windows are clear.

1 (Defrost): This mode directs most of the air to thewindshield with some air directed to the floor outlets.In this mode, the system will automatically turn offrecirculation and run the air-conditioning compressor,unless the outside temperature is at or below freezing.Recirculation cannot be selected while in thedefrost mode.

Rear Window DefoggerThe rear window defogger uses a warming grid toremove fog from the rear window.

< Rear: Press this button to turn the rear windowdefogger on or off. An indicator light in the buttonwill come on to let you know that the rear windowdefogger is activated. Be sure to clear as much snowfrom the rear window as possible.

The rear window defogger will turn off about 10 minutesafter the button is pressed. If turned on again, thedefogger will only run for about five minutes beforeturning off. The defogger can also be turned off turningoff the engine.

Notice: Don’t use anything sharp on the inside ofthe rear window. If you do, you could cut or damagethe warming grid, and the repairs wouldn’t becovered by your warranty. Do not attach a temporaryvehicle license, tape, a decal or anything similarto the defogger grid.

3-21

Outlet Adjustment

Use the sliding levers on the air outlets located in thecenter and on the sides of the instrument panel, tochange the direction of the airflow.

Operation Tips• Clear away any ice, snow or leaves from the air

inlets at the base of the windshield that mayblock the flow of air into your vehicle.

• Use of non-GM approved hood deflectors mayadversely affect the performance of the system.

• Keep the path under the front seats clear of objectsto help circulate the air inside of your vehicle moreeffectively.

• When an objectionable odor outside the vehicle isencountered, use the recirculation mode, with thetemperature knob at a comfortable setting to preventthe odor from entering the vehicle through theventilation system. This can be helpful when drivingthrough a long tunnel with poor ventilation.However, extended usage of this mode in cold orcool weather can cause window fogging.

3-22

Warning Lights, Gages, andIndicatorsThis part describes the warning lights and gages thatmay be on your vehicle. The pictures will help youlocate them.

Warning lights and gages can signal that something iswrong before it becomes serious enough to causean expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention toyour warning lights and gages could also save youor others from injury.

Warning lights come on when there may be or is aproblem with one of your vehicle’s functions. As you willsee in the details on the next few pages, somewarning lights come on briefly when you start theengine just to let you know they are working. If you arefamiliar with this section, you should not be alarmedwhen this happens.

Gages can indicate when there may be or is a problemwith one of your vehicle’s functions. Often gagesand warning lights work together to let you know whenthere is a problem with your vehicle.

When one of the warning lights comes on and stays onwhen you are driving, or when one of the gages showsthere may be a problem, check the section that tells youwhat to do about it. Please follow this manual’s advice.Waiting to do repairs can be costly — and evendangerous. So please get to know your warning lightsand gages. They are a big help.

3-23

Instrument Panel ClusterYour instrument panel cluster is designed to let you know at a glance how your vehicle is running. You’ll know howfast you’re going, how much fuel you’re using, and many other things you’ll need to drive safely and economically.

Your vehicle has this cluster or one very similar to it. It includes indicator warning lights and gages that are explainedon the following pages. Be sure to read about them.

United States Automatic Transaxle Cluster shown, Manual Transaxle and Canada Clusters similar

3-24

Speedometer and OdometerYour speedometer lets you see your speed in bothmiles per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour (km/h).

Your odometer shows how far your vehicle hasbeen driven, in either miles (used in the United States)or kilometers (used in Canada).

Your vehicle has a tamper resistant odometer. Thedigital odometer will read 999,999 if someone tries toturn it back.

Repair or replacement of your instrument panel clustershould only be performed by a qualified GM servicecenter.

Trip OdometerThe trip odometer can tell you how far you have drivensince you last reset it.

The reset button is located below the tachometer. Toreset the trip odometer to zero, press and hold briefly theribbed side of the button while the trip odometer isdisplayed. Also, by pressing this button for less than onesecond you can toggle between the odometer and thetrip odometer.

Tachometer

The tachometer shows your engine speed in revolutionsper minute (rpm).

Notice: If you operate the engine with thetachometer in the shaded warning area, your vehiclecould be damaged, and the damages would notbe covered by your warranty. Do not operatethe engine with the tachometer in the shadedwarning area.

3-25

Safety Belt Reminder LightWhen the key is turned to ON or START, a chime willcome on for several seconds to remind people to fastentheir safety belts, unless the driver’s safety belt isalready buckled.

The safety belt light willalso come on and stay onfor several seconds, then itwill flash for several more.

If the driver’s belt is already buckled, neither the chimenor the light will come on.

Air Bag Readiness LightThere is an air bag readiness light on the instrumentpanel, which shows the air bag symbol. The systemchecks the air bag’s electrical system for malfunctions.The light tells you if there is an electrical problem.The system check includes the air bag modules, thewiring and the crash sensing and diagnostic module. Formore information on the air bag system, seeSupplemental Restraint System (SRS) on page 1-52.

This light will come onwhen you start yourvehicle, and it will flash fora few seconds. Then thelight should go out. Thismeans the system is ready.

If the air bag readiness light stays on after you start thevehicle or comes on when you are driving, your airbag system may not work properly. Have your vehicleserviced right away.

3-26

{CAUTION:

If the air bag readiness light stays on after youstart your vehicle, it means the air bag systemmay not be working properly. The air bags inyour vehicle may not inflate in a crash, or theycould even inflate without a crash. To helpavoid injury to yourself or others, have yourvehicle serviced right away if the air bagreadiness light stays on after you start yourvehicle.

The air bag readiness light should flash for a fewseconds when you turn the ignition key to ON. If thelight doesn’t come on then, have it fixed so it willbe ready to warn you if there is a problem.

Charging System Light

The charging system lightwill come on when youturn on the ignition, but theengine is not running, asa check to show you itis working.

When the engine is running, the light should go out.

If it stays on, or comes on while you are driving and youhear a chime, you may have a problem with theelectrical charging system. It could indicate that youhave a loose generator drive belt or another electricalproblem. Have it checked right away. Driving whilethis light is on could drain your battery.

If you must drive a short distance with the light on, becertain to turn off all your accessories, such as the radioand air conditioner.

3-27

Up-Shift Light

If your manual transaxlevehicle has this featurethis light comes onwhen you need to shift tothe next higher gear.See Manual TransaxleOperation on page 2-25.

Brake System Warning LightYour vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided into twoparts. If one part isn’t working, the other part can stillwork and stop you. For good braking, though, you needboth parts working well.

If the warning light comes on, there is a brake problem.Have your brake system inspected right away.

This light should come on briefly when you turn theignition key to ON. If it doesn’t come on then, have itfixed so it will be ready to warn you if there’s a problem.

When the ignition is on, the brake system warninglight will also come on when you set your parking brake.The light will stay on if your parking brake doesn’trelease fully. If it stays on after your parking brake isfully released, it means you have a brake problem.

If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off theroad and stop carefully. You may notice that the pedal isharder to push. Or, the pedal may go closer to thefloor. It may take longer to stop. If the light is still on,have the vehicle towed for service. See TowingYour Vehicle on page 4-31.

United States Canada

3-28

{CAUTION:

Your brake system may not be workingproperly if the brake system warning light ison. Driving with the brake system warning lighton can lead to an accident. If the light is stillon after you have pulled off the road andstopped carefully, have the vehicle towed forservice.

Anti-Lock Brake System WarningLight

If your vehicle has the anti-lock brake system, the lightwill come on when your engine is started and maystay on for several seconds. That’s normal.

If the light stays on, turn the ignition to OFF. Or, if thelight comes on when you’re driving, stop as soonas possible and turn the ignition off. Then start theengine again to reset the system. If the light still stayson, or comes on again while you’re driving, your vehicleneeds service. If the regular brake system warninglight isn’t on, you still have brakes, but you don’t haveanti-lock brakes. If the regular brake system warninglight is also on, you don’t have anti-lock brakesand there’s a problem with your regular brakes. SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 3-28.

The anti-lock brake system warning light will come onbriefly when you turn the ignition key to ON. This isnormal. If the light doesn’t come on then, have it fixedso it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.


3-29

Enhanced Traction System WarningLight

If your vehicle has theEnhanced Traction System(ETS), this warning lightshould come on briefly asyou start the engine.

If the warning light doesn’t come on then, have it fixedso it will be ready to warn you if there’s a problem.

If the warning light stays on, or comes on when you’redriving, there may be a problem with your EnhancedTraction System and your vehicle may need service.When this warning light is on, the system will notlimit wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.

The Enhanced Traction System warning light may comeon for the following reasons:

• If you turn the system off by pressing the ETSbutton on the center console near the gearshift lever, the warning light will come on and stayon. To turn the system back on, press the buttonagain. The warning light should go off. SeeEnhanced Traction System (ETS) on page 4-9 formore information.

• If the traction control system is affected by anengine-related problem, the system will turn off andthe warning light will come on.

• If the vehicle is driven on an extremely rough road,the warning light may come on momentarily but willgo off again when the vehicle leaves the roughsurface.

If the Enhanced Traction System warning light comeson and stays on for an extended period of time when thesystem is turned on and the parking brake is fullyreleased, your vehicle needs service.

3-30

Enhanced Traction System ActiveLight

If your vehicle has theEnhanced Traction System(ETS), this light willcome on when the systemis limiting wheel spin.

Slippery road conditions may exist if the EnhancedTraction System active light comes on, so adjust yourdriving accordingly.

The light will stay on for a few seconds after theEnhanced Traction System stops limiting wheel spin.

The Enhanced Traction System active light also comeson briefly when you turn the ignition key to ON. Ifthe light doesn’t come on then, have it fixed so it will bethere to tell you when the system is active.

Engine Coolant Temperature Gage

This gage shows theengine coolanttemperature. If the gagepointer moves into the redarea, the light comeson and you hear a chime,your engine is too hot.It means that your enginecoolant has overheated.

See Engine Overheating on page 5-27.

3-31

Low Coolant Warning Light

This light comes onbriefly when you turn yourignition on.

If this light comes on and stays on and you hear achime, the coolant level in your vehicle is low.See Engine Coolant on page 5-24. If the light is onalong with an overheat warning, you may have a seriousoverheating problem. See Engine Coolant TemperatureGage on page 3-31 listed previously.

Notice: If you operate the engine without coolantor fail to maintain the cooling system properly,you could damage the engine. The repairs would notbe covered by your warranty. Always follow themaintenance schedule in this manual formaintaining your cooling system. See CoolingSystem on page 5-30 for more information.

See Engine Overheating on page 5-27 for informationon what to do. Your vehicle should be serviced as soonas possible.

Malfunction Indicator Lamp

Service Engine Soon Light in the UnitedStates or Check Engine Light in Canada

Your vehicle is equipped with a computer whichmonitors operation of the fuel, ignition and emissioncontrol systems.

This system is called OBD II (On-BoardDiagnostics-Second Generation) and is intended toassure that emissions are at acceptable levels for the lifeof the vehicle, helping to produce a cleaner environment.The SERVICE ENGINE SOON or CHECK ENGINE lightcomes on to indicate that there is a problem and serviceis required. Malfunctions often will be indicated by thesystem before any problem is apparent. This may preventmore serious damage to your vehicle. This system is alsodesigned to assist your service technician in correctlydiagnosing any malfunction.


3-32

Notice: If you keep driving your vehicle with thislight on, after a while, your emission controlsmay not work as well, your fuel economy may notbe as good and your engine may not run assmoothly. This could lead to costly repairs that maynot be covered by your warranty.

Notice: Modifications made to the engine,transaxle, exhaust, intake or fuel system of yourvehicle or the replacement of the original tires withother than those of the same Tire PerformanceCriteria (TPC) can affect your vehicle’s emissioncontrols and may cause this light to come on.Modifications to these systems could lead to costlyrepairs not covered by your warranty. This mayalso result in a failure to pass a required EmissionInspection/Maintenance test.

This light should come on, as a check to show you it isworking, when the ignition is on and the engine isnot running. If the light does not come on, have itrepaired. This light will also come on during amalfunction in one of two ways:

• Light Flashing — A misfire condition has beendetected. A misfire increases vehicle emissionsand may damage the emission control system onyour vehicle. Diagnosis and service may berequired.

• Light On Steady — An emission control systemmalfunction has been detected on your vehicle.Diagnosis and service may be required.

3-33

If the Light Is FlashingThe following may prevent more serious damage toyour vehicle:

• Reducing vehicle speed.

• Avoiding hard accelerations.

• Avoiding steep uphill grades.

• If you are towing a trailer, reduce the amount ofcargo being hauled as soon as it is possible.

If the light stops flashing and remains on steady, see “Ifthe Light Is On Steady” following.

If the light continues to flash, when it is safe to do so,stop the vehicle. Find a safe place to park your vehicle.Turn the key off, wait at least 10 seconds and restartthe engine. If the light remains on steady, see “Ifthe Light Is On Steady” following. If the light is stillflashing, follow the previous steps, and see your dealerfor service as soon as possible.

If the Light Is On SteadyYou may be able to correct the emission systemmalfunction by considering the following:

Did you recently put fuel into your vehicle?

If so, reinstall the fuel cap, making sure to fully installthe cap. See Filling Your Tank on page 5-7. Thediagnostic system can determine if the fuel cap hasbeen left off or improperly installed. A loose or missingfuel cap will allow fuel to evaporate into the atmosphere.A few driving trips with the cap properly installedshould turn the light off.

Did you just drive through a deep puddle of water?

If so, your electrical system may be wet. The conditionwill usually be corrected when the electrical systemdries out. A few driving trips should turn the light off.

Have you recently changed brands of fuel?

If so, be sure to fuel your vehicle with quality fuel. SeeGasoline Octane on page 5-5. Poor fuel quality willcause your engine not to run as efficiently as designed.You may notice this as stalling after start-up, stallingwhen you put the vehicle into gear, misfiring, hesitationon acceleration or stumbling on acceleration. (Theseconditions may go away once the engine is warmed up.)This will be detected by the system and cause thelight to turn on.

3-34

If you experience one or more of these conditions,change the fuel brand you use. It will require at leastone full tank of the proper fuel to turn the light off.

If none of the above steps have made the light turn off,your dealer can check the vehicle. Your dealer hasthe proper test equipment and diagnostic tools to fix anymechanical or electrical problems that may havedeveloped.

Emissions Inspection and MaintenanceProgramsSome state/provincial and local governments have ormay begin programs to inspect the emission controlequipment on your vehicle. Failure to pass thisinspection could prevent you from getting a vehicleregistration.

Here are some things you need to know in order to helpyour vehicle pass an inspection:

Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if the SERVICEENGINE SOON or CHECK ENGINE light is on or notworking properly.

Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if the OBD(on-board diagnostic) system determines that criticalemission control systems have not been completelydiagnosed by the system. The vehicle would beconsidered not ready for inspection. This can happen ifyou have recently replaced your battery or if yourbattery has run down. The diagnostic system isdesigned to evaluate critical emission control systemsduring normal driving. This may take several daysof routine driving. If you have done this and your vehiclestill does not pass the inspection for lack of OBDsystem readiness, your GM dealer can prepare thevehicle for inspection.

3-35

Oil Pressure Light

If you have a low engine oilpressure problem, this lightwill stay on after you startyour engine, or come onand you will hear a chimewhen you are driving.

This indicates that your engine is not receiving enoughoil. The engine could be low on oil, or could havesome other oil problem. Have it fixed immediately.

When the ignition is on but the engine is not running,the light will come on as a test to show you it is working,but the light will go out when the engine is running. Ifit doesn’t come on with the ignition on, you may have aproblem with the bulb. Have it fixed right away.

{CAUTION:

Do not keep driving if the oil pressure is low. Ifyou do, your engine can become so hot that itcatches fire. You or others could be burned.Check your oil as soon as possible and haveyour vehicle serviced.

Notice: Lack of proper engine oil maintenance maydamage the engine. The repairs would not becovered by your warranty. Always follow themaintenance schedule in this manual for changingengine oil.

3-36

Change Engine Oil Light

The CHANGE OIL lightshould come on briefly asa bulb check when youstart the engine. If the lightdoesn’t come on, have itserviced.

If the CHANGE OIL light comes on and stays on afteryou start the engine, it means that service is required foryour vehicle. See Scheduled Maintenance on page 6-4and Engine Oil on page 5-16 for more information.

To reset the CHANGE OIL light, see Engine Oilon page 5-16.

Security Light

This light will come onwhen you turn the key toON and will stay onuntil the vehicle starts.

If you’re driving and the security light comes on andremains on, your Passlock® system is not workingproperly. Your vehicle is not protected by Passlock®

and you should see your dealer.

Cruise Control Light

The CRUISE light comeson whenever you set yourcruise control, if equipped.

3-37

Low Washer Fluid Warning Light

This light will come on briefly when you turn on theignition. It will also stay on, or come on and a chime willsound, if the windshield washer fluid reservoir is lessthan one-third full.

Service Vehicle Soon Light

This light will come onbriefly when you turn theignition to ON.

It will stay on, or come on and a chime will sound if itdetects a problem on the vehicle, such as a DaytimeRunning Lamps (DRL) or an automatic headlampsystem malfunction. If this happens, see your dealer assoon as possible.


3-38

Fuel Gage

Your fuel gage tells you about how much fuel you haveleft, when the ignition is on. When the indicator nearsempty, the light will come on and you will hear a chime.You still have a little fuel left, but you should getmore soon.

Here are four things that some owners ask about. Noneof these show a problem with your fuel gage:

• At the service station, the gas pump shuts offbefore the gage reads full.

• It takes a little more or less fuel to fill up than thegage indicated. For example, the gage may haveindicated the tank was half full, but it actually took alittle more or less than half the tank’s capacity tofill the tank.

• The indicator moves a little when you turn a corneror speed up.

• The gage goes back to empty when you turn off theignition.


3-39

Audio System(s)Notice: Before adding any sound equipment toyour vehicle, like a tape player, CB radio, mobiletelephone, or two-way radio, make sure that it canbe added by checking with your dealer. Also,check federal rules covering mobile radio andtelephone units. If sound equipment can be added,it is very important to do it properly. Addedsound equipment may interfere with the operationof your vehicle’s engine, radio, or other systems,and even damage them. Your vehicle’s systems mayinterfere with the operation of sound equipmentthat has been added improperly.

Figure out which audio system is in your vehicle, findout what your audio system can do, and how to operateall of its controls.

Your vehicle has a feature called Retained AccessoryPower (RAP). With RAP, the audio system can beplayed even after the ignition is turned off. See“Retained Accessory Power (RAP)” under IgnitionPositions on page 2-17.

Setting the Time for Radios withoutRadio Data Systems (RDS)Press and hold the HR or MIN arrow for two seconds.Then press HR until the correct hour appears onthe display. Press and hold MIN until the correct minuteappears on the display. The time can be set with theignition on or off.

Setting the Time for Radios withRadio Data Systems (RDS)Press and hold HR or MN for two seconds. Then pressand hold HR until the correct hour appears on thedisplay. AM or PM will appear on the display for morningor evening hours. Press and hold MN until the correctminute appears on the display. The time can be set withthe ignition on or off.

To synchronize the time with an FM station broadcastingRadio Data System (RDS) information, press andhold HR and MN at the same time for two seconds untilUPDATED appears on the display. If the time is notavailable from the station, NO UPDATE will appear onthe display.

RDS time is broadcast once a minute. After tuning to anRDS broadcast station, it may take a few minutes forthe time to update.

3-40

Radio with CD (Base Level)

Playing the Radio

PWR (Power): Press this knob to turn the system onand off.

VOL (Volume): Turn this knob to increase or todecrease the volume.

RCL (Recall): Press this knob to switch the displaybetween the radio station frequency and the time. Whenthe ignition is off, press this knob to display the time.

Finding a Station

AM FM: Press this button to switch between FM1,FM2, and AM. The display will show the selection.

TUNE: Turn this knob to select radio stations.

o SEEKp: Press the right or the left arrow to go tothe next or to the previous station and stay there.

To scan stations, press and hold either SEEK arrow fortwo seconds until you hear a beep. The radio will goto a station, play for a few seconds, then go on tothe next station. Press either SEEK arrow again to stopscanning.

To scan preset stations, press and hold either SEEKarrow for more than four seconds until you heartwo beeps. The radio will go to the first preset stationstored on the pushbuttons, play for a few seconds, thengo on to the next preset station. Press either SEEKarrow again to stop scanning presets.

The radio will only seek and scan stations, with a strongsignal, that are in the selected band.

3-41

Setting Preset StationsUp to 18 stations (six FM1, six FM2, and six AM), canbe programmed on the six numbered pushbuttons,by performing the following steps:

1. Turn the radio on.

2. Press AM FM to select FM1, FM2, or AM.

3. Tune in the desired station.

4. Press and hold one of the six numberedpushbuttons until you hear a beep. Whenever thatnumbered pushbutton is pressed, the stationthat was set will return.

5. Repeat the steps for each pushbutton.

Setting the Tone (Bass/Treble)

AUDIO: To adjust the bass or the treble, press andrelease the AUDIO button until BAS or TRE appears onthe display. Then press and hold the up or the downarrow to increase or to decrease. If a station is weak ornoisy, decrease the treble.

To adjust bass or treble to the middle position, selectBAS or TRE. Then press and hold the AUDIO button formore than two seconds until you hear a beep. B anda zero or T and a zero will appear on the display.

To adjust both tone controls and both speaker controlsto the middle position, first end out of audio modeby pressing another button, causing the radio to performthat function, or by waiting five seconds for the displayto return to the time of day. Then press and holdthe AUDIO button for more than two seconds until youhear a beep. CEN will appear on the display.

3-42

Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)

AUDIO: To adjust the balance between the rightand the left speakers, press and release the AUDIObutton until BAL appears on the display. Then press andhold the up or the down arrow to move the soundtoward the right or the left speakers.

To adjust the fade between the front and the rearspeakers, press and release the AUDIO button untilFAD appears on the display. Then press and hold the upor the down arrow to move the sound toward the frontor the rear speakers.

To adjust balance or fade to the middle position, selectBAL or FAD. Then press and hold AUDIO for morethan two seconds until you hear a beep. L and a zeroor F and a zero will appear on the display.

To adjust both tone controls and both speaker controlsto the middle position, first end out of audio modeby pressing another button, causing the radio to performthat function, or by waiting five seconds for the displayto return to the time of day. Then press and holdthe AUDIO button for more than two seconds until youhear a beep. CEN will appear on the display.

Radio Messages

CAL (Calibration): The audio system has beencalibrated for your vehicle from the factory. If CALappears on the display it means that the radio has notbeen configured properly for your vehicle and mustbe returned to the dealer for service.

LOC (Locked): This message is displayed when theTHEFTLOCK® system has locked up. Take the vehicleto the dealer for service.

If any error occurs repeatedly or cannot be corrected,contact your dealer.

3-43

Playing a CDInsert a CD partway into the slot, label side up. Theplayer will pull it in and the CD should begin playing. CDwill appear on the display. If you want to insert a CDwith the ignition off, first press the eject button orthe RCL knob.

If you insert a CD with the radio off and the ignition on,it will start to play

If the ignition or radio is turned off, with a CD in theplayer, it will stay in the player. When the ignitionor radio is turned on, the CD will start playing where itstopped, if it was the last selected audio source.

As each new track starts to play, the track number willappear on the display.

The CD player can play the smaller 3 inch (8 cm) singleCDs with an adapter ring. Full-size CDs and thesmaller CDs are loaded in the same manner.

If playing a CD-R the sound quality may be reduceddue to CD-R quality, the method of recording, the qualityof the music that has been recorded, and the way theCD-R has been handled. There may be an increasein skipping, difficulty in finding tracks, and/or difficulty inloading and ejecting. If these problems occur try aknown good CD.

Do not add paper labels to CDs, they could get caughtin the CD player.

If an error appears on the display, see “CD Messages”later in this section.

1 PREV (Previous): Press this pushbutton to go to thebeginning of the current track if more than eightseconds have played. The track number will appear onthe display. If this pushbutton is held or pressedmore than once, the player will continue movingbackward through the CD.

2 NEXT: Press this pushbutton to go to the next track.The track number will appear on the display. If thispushbutton is held or pressed more than once,the player will continue moving forward through the CD.

3 REV (Reverse): Press and hold this pushbutton toreverse quickly within a track. Release this pushbuttonto play the passage. The elapsed time of the trackwill appear on the display.

4 FWD (Forward): Press and hold this pushbutton toadvance quickly within a track. Release this pushbuttonto play the passage. The elapsed time of the trackwill appear on the display.

5 RDM (Random): Press this pushbutton to hear thetracks in random, rather than sequential, order. RND willappear on the display. Press RDM again to turn offrandom play. OFF will appear on the display.

3-44

6 RPT (Repeat): Press this pushbutton once to hear atrack over again. RPT will appear on the display.The current track will continue to repeat. Press RPTagain to turn off repeat play. OFF will appear onthe display.

o SEEKp: Press the right or the left arrow to go tothe next or to the previous track. The track numberwill appear on the display. If either arrow is heldor pressed more than once, the player will continuemoving backward or forward through the CD.

RCL (Recall): Press this knob to see the current tracknumber or how long the current track has been playing.

AM FM: Press this button to listen to the radio when aCD is playing. The inactive CD will remain safelyinside the radio for future listening.

CD: Press this button to play a CD when listening tothe radio. CD will appear on the display if a CD isloaded.

Z (Eject): Press this button to eject a CD. Eject maybe activated with either the ignition or radio off. CDsmay be loaded with the ignition and radio off if thisbutton is pressed first.

CD MessagesIf the CD comes out, it could be for one of the followingreasons:

• It is very hot. When the temperature returns tonormal, the CD should play.

• You are driving on a very rough road. When theroad becomes smoother, the CD should play.

• The CD is dirty, scratched, wet, or upside down.

• The air is very humid. If so, wait about an hour andtry again.

• There may have been a problem while burningthe CD.

• The label may be caught in the CD player.

If the CD is not playing correctly, for any other reason,try a known good CD.

If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error cannot becorrected, contact your dealer. If the radio displaysan error message, write it down and provide it to yourdealer when reporting the problem.

3-45

Radio with CD (Up Level)

Radio Data System (RDS)Your audio system is equipped with a Radio DataSystem (RDS). RDS features are available for use onlyon FM stations that broadcast RDS information.

With RDS, your radio can do the following:

• Seek to stations broadcasting the selected type ofprogramming

• Receive announcements concerning local andnational emergencies

• Display messages from radio stations

• Seek to stations with traffic announcements

This system relies upon receiving specific informationfrom these stations and will only work when theinformation is available. In rare cases, a radio stationmay broadcast incorrect information that will causethe radio features to work improperly. If this happens,contact the radio station.

While you are tuned to an RDS station, the station nameor the call letters will appear on the display instead of thefrequency. RDS stations may also provide the time ofday, a program type (PTY) for current programming andthe name of the program being broadcast.

XM™ Satellite Radio Service(48 Contiguous US States)XM™ is a continental U.S. based satellite radio servicethat offers 100 coast to coast channels includingmusic, news, sports, talk, and children’s programming.XM™ provides digital quality audio and text information,including song title and artist name. A service fee isrequired in order to receive the XM™ service. For moreinformation, contact XM™ at www.xmradio.com orcall 1-800-852-XMXM (9696).

3-46

Playing the Radio

POWER: Push this knob to turn the system on and off.

VOLUME: Turn this knob to increase or to decreasevolume.

SCV (Speed-Compensated Volume): With SCV, youraudio system adjusts automatically to make up forroad and wind noise as you drive.

Set the volume at the desired level. Press this button toselect MIN, MED, or MAX. Each higher setting allows formore volume compensation at faster vehicle speeds.Then, as you drive, SCV automatically increases thevolume, as necessary, to overcome noise at any speed.The volume level should always sound the same to youas you drive. If you don’t want to use SCV, select OFF.

RCL (Recall): Press this knob to switch the displaybetween the radio station frequency and the time.Pressing this knob with the ignition off will displaythe time.

For XM™ (48 contiguous US states, if equipped), pressthe RCL knob while in XM™ mode to retrieve fourdifferent categories of information related to the currentsong or channel: Artist, Song Title, Category or PTY,Channel Number/Channel Name.

To change the default on the display, press the RCLknob until you see the display you want, then hold theknob until the display flashes. The selected displaywill now be the default.

3-47

Finding a StationBAND: Press this button to switch between FM1, FM2,AM, or XM1 or XM2 (48 contiguous US states, ifequipped). The display will show your selection.


S SEEK T: Press the right or the left arrow to go tothe next or to the previous station and stay there.

The radio will seek only to stations that are in theselected band and only to those with a strong signal.

S SCAN T: Press and hold either arrow for twoseconds until SC appears on the display and you hear abeep. The radio will go to a station, play for a fewseconds, then go on to the next station. Press eitherarrow again to stop scanning.

To scan preset stations, press and hold either SCANarrow for more than four seconds until PRESET SCANappears on the display. You will hear a double beepand the P will blink with the preset number. Theradio will go to the first preset station stored on yourpushbuttons, play for a few seconds, then go on to thenext preset station. Press either SCAN arrow againto stop scanning presets.

The radio will scan only to stations that are in theselected band and only to those with a strong signal.

Setting Preset StationsThe six numbered pushbuttons let you return to yourfavorite stations. You can set up to 30 stations(six FM1, six FM2, and six AM, six XM1 and six XM2(48 contiguous US states, if equipped), by performingthe following steps:


2. Press BAND to select FM1, FM2, AM, or XM1or XM2.


4. Press AUTO EQ to select the equalization.

5. Press and hold one of the six numbered pushbuttonsuntil you hear a beep. Whenever you press thatnumbered pushbutton, the station you set will returnand the equalization that you selected will beautomatically stored for that pushbutton.


3-48


AUDIO: Press and release this button until BASS, MID,or TREB appears on the display. Press the knobabove the AUDIO button to extend it, then turn the knobto increase or to decrease. If a station is weak ornoisy, you may want to decrease the treble.

Pressing and holding the AUDIO button for at least twoseconds will return all tone settings to the middle position.

AUTO EQ (Automatic Equalizer): Press this button toselect customized bass, midrange, and trebleequalization settings designed for country, jazz, talk,pop, rock, and classical.


AUDIO: To adjust the balance between the rightand the left speakers, press and release the AUDIObutton until BAL appears on the display. Press the knobabove the AUDIO button to extend it, then turn theknob to move the sound toward the right or theleft speakers.

To adjust fade between the front and the rear speakers,press and release the AUDIO button until FADappears on the display. Press the knob above theAUDIO button to extend it, then turn the knob to movethe sound to the front and the rear speakers.

Pressing and holding the AUDIO button for at least twoseconds will return all tone settings to the middle position.

3-49

Finding a Program Type (PTY) Station(RDS and XM™)To select and find a desired PTY perform the following:

1. Press the P-TYPE button to activate programtype select mode. PTY will appear on the display.

2. Turn the P-TYPE knob to select a PTY.

3. Once the desired PTY is displayed, press eitherSEEK arrow to select the PTY and take you tothe PTY’s first station.

4. If you want to go to another station within that PTYand the PTY is displayed, press either SEEK arrowonce. If the PTY is not displayed, press eitherSEEK arrow twice to display the PTY and then togo to another station.

5. Press P-TYPE to exit program type select mode.If PTY times out and is no longer on the display,go back to Step 1.

If both PTY and TRAF are on, the radio will search forstations with the selected PTY and trafficannouncements.

SCAN: You can scan the stations within a PTY byperforming the following:

1. Press the P-TYPE button to activate program typeselect mode. PTY will appear on the display.


3. Once the desired PTY is displayed, press and holdeither SCAN arrow, and the radio will beginscanning the stations in the PTY.

4. Press either SCAN arrow to stop at a station.

If both PTY and TRAF are on, the radio will scan forstations with the selected PTY and trafficannouncements.

BAND (Alternate Frequency): Alternate frequencyallows the radio to switch to a stronger station with thesame program type. To turn alternate frequency onpress and hold BAND for two seconds. AF ONwill appear on the display. The radio may switch tostronger stations.

To turn alternate frequency off press and hold BANDagain for two seconds. AF OFF will appear on thedisplay. The radio will not switch to other stations.

This function does not apply for XM™ Satellite RadioService.

3-50

Setting Preset PTYs (RDS Only)The six numbered pushbuttons let you return to yourfavorite PTYs. These pushbuttons have factoryPTY presets. You can set up to 12 PTYs (six FM1and six FM2) by performing the following steps:

1. Press BAND to select FM1 or FM2.



4. Press and hold one of the six numberedpushbuttons until you hear a beep. Whenever youpress that numbered pushbutton, the PTY youset will return if program type select mode isactivated.


RDS Messages

ALERT!: Alert warns of national or local emergencies.When an alert announcement comes on the currentradio station, ALERT! will appear on the display. You willhear the announcement, even if the volume is mutedor a CD is playing. If the CD player is playing, play willstop during the announcement. You will not be ableto turn off alert announcements.

ALERT! will not be affected by tests of the emergencybroadcast system. This feature is not supported byall RDS stations.

INFO (Information): If the current station has amessage, INFO will appear on the display. Press thisbutton to see the message. The message may displaythe artist, song title, call in phone numbers, etc.

If the whole message is not displayed, parts of themessage will appear every three seconds. To scrollthrough the message at your own speed, press the INFObutton repeatedly. A new group of words will appear onthe display with each press. Once the complete messagehas been displayed, INFO will disappear from the displayuntil another new message is received. The old messagecan be displayed by pressing the INFO button. You canview an old message until a new message is received ora different station is tuned to.

3-51

TRAF (Traffic): If TRAF appears on the display, thetuned station broadcasts traffic announcements.To receive the traffic announcement from the tunedstation, press this button. Brackets will be displayedaround TRAF and when a traffic announcement comeson the tuned radio station you will hear it.

If the current tuned station does not broadcast trafficannouncements, press the TRAF button and theradio will seek to a station that does. When the radiofinds a station that broadcasts traffic announcements,the radio will stop and brackets will be displayed aroundTRAF. When a traffic announcement comes on thetuned radio station you will hear it. If no station is found,NO TRAFFIC will appear on the display.

If the brackets are on the display and TRAF is not, youcan then press the TRAF button to remove the bracketsor use the TUNE knob or the SEEK arrows to go to astation that supports traffic announcements. If no stationis found, NO TRAFFIC will appear on the display.

Your radio will play the traffic announcements even if thevolume is low. Your radio will interrupt the play of a CD ifthe last tuned station broadcasts traffic announcementsand the brackets are displayed.

This function does not apply to XM™ Satellite RadioService.

3-52

XM™ Radio MessagesRadio Display

Message Condition Action Required

XL (Explicit LanguageChannels)

XL on the radio display,after the channel name,indicates content withexplicit language.

These channels, or any others, can be blocked at acustomer’s request, by calling 1-800-852-XMXM (9696).

Updating Updating encryptioncode

The encryption code in your receiver is being updated, andno action is required. This process should take no longerthan 30 seconds.

No Signal Loss of signal Your system is functioning correctly, but you are in alocation that is blocking the XM signal. When you moveinto an open area, the signal should return.

Loading XM Acquiring channel audio(after 4 second delay)

Your radio system is acquiring and processing audio andtext data. No action is needed. This message shoulddisappear shortly.

CH Off Air Channel not in service This channel is not currently in service. Tune to anotherchannel.

CH Unavail Channel no longeravailable

This previously assigned channel is no longer assigned.Tune to another station. If this station was one of yourpresets, you may need to choose another station for thatpreset button.

No Info Artist Name/Feature notavailable

No artist information is available at this time on thischannel. Your system is working properly.

No Info Song/Program Title notavailable

No song title information is available at this time on thischannel. Your system is working properly.

3-53

XM™ Radio Messages (cont’d)Radio Display


No Info Category Name notavailable

No category information is available at this time on thischannel. Your system is working properly.

No Info No Text/Informationalmessage available

No text or informational messages are available at thistime on this channel. Your system is working properly.

Not Found No channel available forthe chosen category

There are no channels available for the category youselected. Your system is working properly.

XM Locked Theft lock active The XM receiver in your vehicle may have previously beenin another vehicle. For security purposes, XM receiverscannot be swapped between vehicles. If you receive thismessage after having your vehicle serviced, check with theservicing facility.

Radio ID Radio ID label(channel 0)

If you tune to channel 0, you will see this messagealternating with your XM Radio 8 digit radio ID label. Thislabel is needed to activate your service.

Unknown Radio ID not known(should only be ifhardware failure)

If you receive this message when you tune to channel 0,you may have a receiver fault. Consult with your dealer.

Chk XMRcvr Hardware failure If this message does not clear within a short period of time,your receiver may have a fault. Consult with your retaillocation.

3-54

Playing a CDWith the ignition on, insert a CD partway into the slot,label side up. The player will pull it in and the CD shouldbegin playing. The CD symbol will appear on thedisplay. If you want to insert a CD when the ignition isoff, first press the eject button or the RCL knob. Ifyou insert a CD with the radio off and the ignition on, itwill start to play.

If you select an EQ setting for your CD, it will beactivated each time you play a CD.

If you turn off the ignition or radio with a CD in theplayer, it will stay in the player. When you turn on theignition or radio, the CD will start playing where itstopped, if it was the last selected audio source.



If playing a CD-R the sound quality may be reduceddue to CD-R quality, the method of recording, the qualityof the music that has been recorded, and the way theCD-R has been handled. You may experience anincrease in skipping, difficulty in finding tracks and/ordifficulty in loading and ejecting. If these problems occurtry a known good CD.



1 REV (Reverse): Press and hold this pushbutton toreverse quickly within a track. You will hear sound at areduced volume. Release the pushbutton to play thepassage. The display will show the elapsed time of thetrack.

2 FWD (Forward): Press and hold this pushbutton toadvance quickly within a track. You will hear sound at areduced volume. Release the pushbutton to play thepassage. The display will show the elapsed time of thetrack.

3-55

4 RDM (Random): Press this pushbutton to hear thetracks in random, rather than sequential, order.RDM and the track number will appear on the display.Press RDM again to turn off random play.

AUTO EQ (Automatic Equalizer): Press AUTO EQ toselect the desired equalization setting while playinga CD. The equalization will be automatically setwhenever you play a CD. See “AUTO EQ” listedpreviously for more information.

S SEEK T: Press the left arrow to go to the start ofthe current track if more than eight seconds haveplayed. Press the right arrow to go to the next track. Ifyou hold either arrow or press it more than once,the player will continue moving backward or forwardthrough the CD.

S SCAN T: Press and hold either arrow for morethan two seconds until SCAN and the track numberappear on the display and you hear a beep. The CD willgo to the next track, play for a few seconds, then goon to the next track. Press either arrow again tostop scanning.

RCL (Recall): Press this knob to see how long thecurrent track has been playing. To change the defaulton the display (track or elapsed time), press theknob until you see the display you want, then hold theknob until the display flashes. The selected displaywill now be the default. While elapsed time is showing,EL TM will appear on the display.

BAND: Press this button to listen to the radio when aCD is playing. The inactive CD will remain safelyinside the radio for future listening.

CD: Press this button to play a CD when listening tothe radio. The CD symbol will appear on the display.

Z (Eject): Press this button to eject a CD. Eject maybe activated with either the ignition or radio off. CDsmay be loaded with the radio and ignition off if thisbutton is pressed first.

3-56

CD Messages

CHECK CD: If this message appears on the displayand the CD comes out, it could be for one of thefollowing reasons:








If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error cannot becorrected, contact your dealer. If your radio displays anerror message, write it down and provide it to yourdealer when reporting the problem.

Radio with Cassette and CD

Radio Data System (RDS)Your audio system is equipped with a Radio DataSystem (RDS). RDS features are available for use onlyon FM stations that broadcast RDS information.

With RDS, your radio can do the following:

• Seek to stations broadcasting the selected type ofprogramming

• Receive announcements concerning local andnational emergencies

• Display messages from radio stations

• Seek to stations with traffic announcements

3-57

This system relies upon receiving specific informationfrom these stations and will only work when theinformation is available. In rare cases, a radio stationmay broadcast incorrect information that will causethe radio features to work improperly. If this happens,contact the radio station.

While you are tuned to an RDS station, the stationname or the call letters will appear on the display insteadof the frequency. RDS stations may also provide thetime of day, a program type (PTY) for currentprogramming, and the name of the program beingbroadcast.

XM™ Satellite Radio Service(48 Contiguous US States)XM™ is a continental U.S. based satellite radio servicethat offers 100 coast to coast channels includingmusic, news, sports, talk, and children’s programming.XM™ provides digital quality audio and text information,including song title and artist name. A service fee isrequired in order to receive the XM™ service. For moreinformation, contact XM™ at www.xmradio.com orcall 1-800-852-XMXM (9696).

Playing the Radio

POWER: Press this knob to turn the system on and off.

VOLUME: Turn this knob to increase or to decreasevolume.

SCV (Speed-Compensated Volume): With SCV, youraudio system adjusts automatically to make up forroad and wind noise as you drive.

Set the volume at the desired level. Press this button toselect MIN, MED, or MAX. Each higher setting allows formore volume compensation at faster vehicle speeds.Then, as you drive, SCV automatically increases thevolume, as necessary, to overcome noise at any speed.The volume level should always sound the same to youas you drive. If you don’t want to use SCV, select OFF.

3-58

RCL (Recall): Press this knob to switch the displaybetween the radio station frequency and the time.Pressing this knob with the ignition off will displaythe time.

For XM™ (48 contiguous US states, if equipped), pressthe RCL knob while in XM™ mode to retrieve fourdifferent categories of information related to the currentsong or channel: Artist, Song Title, Category or PTY,Channel Number/Channel Name.

To change the default on the display, press the RCLknob until you see the display you want, then hold theknob until the display flashes. The selected displaywill now be the default.

Finding a Station

BAND: Press this button to switch between FM1, FM2,AM, or XM1 or XM2 (48 contiguous US states, ifequipped). The display will show your selection.


S SEEK T: Press the right or the left arrow to go tothe next or to the previous station and stay there.

The radio will seek only to stations that are in theselected band and only to those with a strong signal.

S SCAN T: Press and hold either arrow for twoseconds until SC appears on the display and you hear abeep. The radio will go to a station, play for a fewseconds, then go on to the next station. Press eitherSCAN arrow again to stop scanning.

To scan preset stations, press and hold either SCANarrow for more than four seconds. PRESET SCAN willappear on the display. You will hear a double beepand the P will blink with the preset number. The radiowill go to the first preset station stored on yourpushbuttons, play for a few seconds, then go on to thenext preset station. Press either SCAN arrow againto stop scanning presets.

The radio will scan only to stations that are in theselected band and only to those with a strong signal.

3-59

Setting Preset StationsThe six numbered pushbuttons let you return to yourfavorite stations. You can set up to 30 stations (six FM1,six FM2, and six AM, six XM1 and six XM2 (48contiguous US states, if equipped), by performing thefollowing steps:


2. Press BAND to select FM1, FM2, AM, or XM1or XM2.


4. Press AUTO EQ to select the equalization.

5. Press and hold one of the six numberedpushbuttons until you hear a beep. Whenever youpress that numbered pushbutton, the stationyou set will return and the equalization that youselected will be automatically stored for thatpushbutton.



AUDIO: Press and release the AUDIO button untilBASS, MID, or TREB appears on the display. Press theknob above the AUDIO button to extend it, then turnthe knob to increase or to decrease. If a station is weakor noisy, you may want to decrease the treble.

Pressing and holding the AUDIO button for at least twoseconds will return all tone settings to the middleposition.

AUTO EQ (Automatic Equalizer): Press this button toselect customized bass, midrange, and trebleequalization settings designed for country, jazz, talk,pop, rock, and classical.

3-60


AUDIO: To adjust balance between the right andthe left speakers, press and release the AUDIO buttonuntil BAL appears on the display. Press the knobabove the AUDIO button to extend it, then turn the knobto move the sound toward the right or the left speakers.

To adjust fade between the front and the rearspeakers, press and release the AUDIO button untilFAD appears on the display. Press the knob above theAUDIO button to extend it, then turn the knob tomove the sound toward the front or the rear speakers.

Pressing and holding the AUDIO button for at leasttwo seconds will return all tone settings to the middleposition.

Finding a Program Type (PTY) Station(RDS and XM™)To select and find a desired PTY perform the following:

1. Press the P-TYPE button to activate programtype select mode. PTY will appear on the display.


3. Once the desired PTY is displayed, press eitherSEEK arrow to select the PTY and take you tothe PTY’s first station.

4. If you want to go to another station within that PTYand the PTY is displayed, press either SEEK arrowonce. If the PTY is not displayed, press eitherSEEK arrow twice to display the PTY and then togo to another station.

5. Press P-TYPE to exit program type select mode.If PTY times out and is no longer on the display,go back to Step 1.

If both PTY and TRAF are on, the radio will search forstations with the selected PTY and trafficannouncements.

3-61

SCAN: You can scan the stations within a PTY byperforming the following:



3. Once the desired PTY is displayed, press and holdeither SCAN arrow, and the radio will beginscanning the stations in the PTY.

4. Press either SCAN arrow to stop at a station.

If both PTY and TRAF are on, the radio will scan forstations with the selected PTY and trafficannouncements.

BAND (Alternate Frequency): Alternate frequencyallows the radio to switch to a stronger station with thesame program type. To turn alternate frequency onpress and hold BAND for two seconds. AF ONwill appear on the display. The radio may switch tostronger stations.

To turn alternate frequency off press and hold BANDagain for two seconds. AF OFF will appear on thedisplay. The radio will not switch to other stations.

This function does not apply for XM™ Satellite RadioService.

Setting Preset PTYs (RDS Only)The six numbered pushbuttons let you return to yourfavorite program types (PTYs). These pushbuttons havefactory PTY presets. You can set up to 12 PTYs(six FM1 and six FM2) by performing the following steps:

1. Press BAND to select FM1 or FM2.



4. Press and hold one of the six numberedpushbuttons until you hear a beep. Whenever youpress that numbered pushbutton, the PTY youset will return if program type select mode isactivated.


3-62

RDS MessagesALERT!: Alert warns of local or national emergencies.When an alert announcement comes on the current radiostation, ALERT! will appear on the display. You will hearthe announcement, even if the volume is muted or acassette tape or CD is playing. If the cassette tape or CDis playing, play will stop during the announcement. Youwill not be able to turn off alert announcements.

ALERT! will not be affected by tests of the emergencybroadcast system. This feature is not supported by allRDS stations.

INFO (Information): If the current station has amessage, INFO will appear on the display. Press thisbutton to see the message. The message may displaythe artist, song title, call in phone numbers, etc.

If the whole message is not displayed, parts of themessage will appear every three seconds. To scrollthrough the message at your own speed, press the INFObutton repeatedly. A new group of words will appear onthe display with each press. Once the complete messagehas been displayed, INFO will disappear from the displayuntil another new message is received. The old messagecan be displayed by pressing the INFO button. You canview an old message until a new message is received ora different station is tuned to.

TRAF (Traffic): If TRAF appears on the display, thetuned station broadcasts traffic announcements.To receive the traffic announcement from the tunedstation, press this button. Brackets will be displayedaround TRAF and when a traffic announcement comeson the tuned radio station you will hear it.

If the current tuned station does not broadcast trafficannouncements, press the TRAF button and theradio will seek to a station that does. When the radiofinds a station that broadcasts traffic announcements,the radio will stop and brackets will be displayed aroundTRAF. When a traffic announcement comes on thetuned radio station you will hear it. If no station is found,NO TRAFFIC will appear on the display.

If the brackets are on the display and TRAF is not, youcan then press the TRAF button to remove the bracketsor use the TUNE knob or the SEEK arrows to go to astation that supports traffic announcements. If no stationis found, NO TRAFFIC will appear on the display.

Your radio will play the traffic announcements even if thevolume is low. Your radio will interrupt the play of acassette tape or CD if the last tuned station broadcaststraffic announcements and the brackets are on thedisplay.

This function does not apply to XM™ Satellite RadioService.

3-63

XM™ Radio MessagesRadio Display


XL (Explicit LanguageChannels)

XL on the radio display,after the channel name,indicates content withexplicit language.

These channels, or any others, can be blocked at acustomer’s request, by calling 1-800-852-XMXM (9696).

Updating Updating encryptioncode

The encryption code in your receiver is being updated, andno action is required. This process should take no longerthan 30 seconds.

No Signal Loss of signal Your system is functioning correctly, but you are in alocation that is blocking the XM signal. When you moveinto an open area, the signal should return.

Loading XM Acquiring channel audio(after 4 second delay)

Your radio system is acquiring and processing audio andtext data. No action is needed. This message shoulddisappear shortly.

CH Off Air Channel not in service This channel is not currently in service. Tune to anotherchannel.

CH Unavail Channel no longeravailable

This previously assigned channel is no longer assigned.Tune to another station. If this station was one of yourpresets, you may need to choose another station for thatpreset button.

No Info Artist Name/Feature notavailable

No artist information is available at this time on thischannel. Your system is working properly.

No Info Song/Program Title notavailable

No song title information is available at this time on thischannel. Your system is working properly.

3-64

XM™ Radio Messages (cont’d)Radio Display


No Info Category Name notavailable

No category information is available at this time on thischannel. Your system is working properly.

No Info No Text/Informationalmessage available

No text or informational messages are available at thistime on this channel. Your system is working properly.

Not Found No channel available forthe chosen category

There are no channels available for the category youselected. Your system is working properly.

XM Locked Theft lock active The XM receiver in your vehicle may have previously beenin another vehicle. For security purposes, XM receiverscannot be swapped between vehicles. If you receive thismessage after having your vehicle serviced, check with theservicing facility.

Radio ID Radio ID label(channel 0)

If you tune to channel 0, you will see this messagealternating with your XM Radio 8 digit radio ID label. Thislabel is needed to activate your service.

Unknown Radio ID not known(should only be ifhardware failure)

If you receive this message when you tune to channel 0,you may have a receiver fault. Consult with your dealer.

Chk XMRcvr Hardware failure If this message does not clear within a short period of time,your receiver may have a fault. Consult with your retaillocation.

3-65

Playing a Cassette TapeYour tape player is built to work best with tapes that areup to 30 to 45 minutes long on each side. Tapeslonger than that are so thin they may not work well inthis player. The longer side with the tape visible shouldface to the right. If the ignition is on, but the radio isoff, the tape can be inserted and will begin playing. Ifyou hear nothing but a garbled sound, the tape may notbe in squarely. Press the eject button, located next tothe cassette tape slot, to remove the tape and start over.

While the tape is playing, use the VOLUME, POWER,AUDIO, AUTO EQ, and the SEEK controls just asyou do for the radio. The display will show TAPE andan arrow showing which side of the tape is playing. Thetape player automatically begins playing the otherside when it reaches the end of the tape.

Your tape bias is set automatically when a metal orchrome tape is inserted. If you want to insert atape while the ignition is off, first press the eject buttonor the RCL knob.

If an error appears on the radio display, the tape will notplay because of an error. See “Cassette TapeMessages” later in this section.

1 REV (Reverse): Press this pushbutton to reverse thetape rapidly. Press it again to return to playing speed.The radio will play while the tape reverses. Youmay select stations during reverse operation by usingTUNE, SEEK, and SCAN.

2 FWD (Forward): Press this pushbutton to advancethe tape rapidly. Press it again to return to playingspeed. The radio will play while the tape advances.You may select stations during advance operation byusing TUNE, SEEK, and SCAN.

5 SIDE: Press this pushbutton to play the other side ofthe tape.

AUTO EQ (Automatic Equalizer): Press AUTO EQ toselect the desired equalization setting while playinga cassette tape. The equalization will be automaticallyset whenever you play a cassette tape. See “AUTO EQ”listed previously for more information.

S SEEK T: Your tape must have at least threeseconds of silence between each selection for seek towork. Press the right or the left arrow to search forthe next or the previous selection on the tape. You canskip up to nine selections on the tape. Choose howmany selections you want to skip, then press the rightor left SEEK arrows that many times. The numberof selections to be skipped will appear on the display.

3-66

S SCAN T: Press and hold either arrow for morethan two seconds until you hear a beep and SCANappears on the display. The tape will go to the nextselection, play for a few seconds, then go on to the nextselection. Press this button again to stop scanning.

BAND: Press this button to listen to the radio when acassette tape or CD is playing. The inactive tape or CDwill remain safely inside the radio for future listening.

TP CD (TAPE): Press this button to play a cassettetape or a CD when listening to the radio. Press TP CDto switch between the tape and CD if both areloaded. The inactive tape or CD will remain safely insidethe radio for future listening. The display will show theTAPE and CD symbols.

Z (Eject): Press this button, located next to thecassette tape slot, to eject a tape. Eject may beactivated with either the ignition or radio off. Cassettesmay be loaded with the ignition or the radio off ifthis button is pressed first.

Cassette Tape MessagesIf an error appears on the display, it could be for one ofthe following reasons:

TIGHT TAPE: When this message is displayed, the tapeis tight and the player cannot turn the tape hubs. Removethe tape. Hold the tape with the open end down and try toturn the right hub counterclockwise with a pencil. Turn thetape over and repeat. If the hubs do not turn easily, yourtape may be damaged and should not be used in theplayer. Try a new tape to make sure your player isworking properly.

BROKEN TAPE: If this message is displayed, the tapeis broken. Try a new tape.

WRAPPED: When this message is displayed, the tapeis wrapped around the tape head. Attempt to get thecassette out. Try a new tape.

CLEAN PLAYR (Clean Player): This message may alsoappear on the radio display to indicate that the cassettetape player needs to be cleaned. It will still play tapes, butyou should clean it as soon as possible to preventdamage to the tapes and player. For additionalinformation see Care of Your Cassette Tape Player onpage 3-71.

If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error cannot becorrected, contact your dealer. If your radio displays anerror message, write it down and provide it to your dealerwhen reporting the problem.

3-67

Playing a CDWith the ignition on, insert a CD partway into the slot,label side up. The player will pull it in and the CD shouldbegin playing. The CD symbol will appear on thedisplay. If you want to insert a CD when the ignition isoff, first press the eject button or the RCL knob.

If you select an EQ setting for your CD, it will beactivated each time you play a CD.

If you turn off the ignition or radio with a CD in theplayer, it will stay in the player. When you turn on theignition or radio, the CD will start playing where itstopped if it was the last selected audio source.



If playing a CD-R the sound quality may be reduceddue to CD-R quality, the method of recording, the qualityof the music that has been recorded, and the way theCD-R has been handled. You may experience anincrease in skipping, difficulty in finding tracks and/ordifficulty in loading and ejecting. If these problems occurtry a known good CD.



1 REV (Reverse): Press and hold this pushbutton toreverse quickly within a track. You will hear sound at areduced volume. Release the pushbutton to play thepassage. The display will show the elapsed time of thetrack.

2 FWD (Forward): Press and hold this pushbutton toadvance quickly within a track. You will hear sound at areduced volume. Release the pushbutton to play thepassage. The display will show the elapsed time of thetrack.

4 RDM (Random): Press this pushbutton to hear thetracks in random, rather than sequential, order.RDM and the track number will appear on the display.Press RDM again to turn off random play.

AUTO EQ (Automatic Equalizer): Press this button toselect the desired equalization setting while playing aCD. The equalization will be automatically set wheneveryou play a CD. See “AUTO EQ” listed previously formore information.

3-68

S SEEK T: Press the left arrow to go to the start ofthe current track if more than eight seconds haveplayed. Press the right arrow to go to the next track. Ifyou hold either arrow or press it more than once,the player will continue moving backward or forwardthrough the CD.

S SCAN T: Press and hold either arrow for morethan two seconds until SCAN appears on the displayand you hear a beep. The CD will go to the next track,play for a few seconds, then go on to the next track.Press either arrow again to stop scanning.

RCL (Recall): Press this knob to see how long thecurrent track has been playing. To change the defaulton the display (track or elapsed time), press theknob until you see the display you want, then hold theknob until the display flashes. The selected displaywill now be the default. While elapsed time is showing,EL TM will appear on the display.

BAND: Press this button to listen to the radio when acassette tape or a CD is playing. The inactive tapeor CD will remain safely inside the radio for futurelistening.

TP CD (Tape): Press this button to play a cassettetape or a CD when listening to the radio. Press TP CDto switch between the tape and CD if both areloaded. The inactive tape or CD will remain safely insidethe radio for future listening. The display will show theTAPE and CD symbols.

Z (Eject): Press this button to eject a CD. Eject maybe activated with either the ignition or radio off. CDsmay be loaded with the ignition or the radio off ifthis button is pressed first.

3-69

CD Messages

CHECK CD: If this message appears on the displayand the CD comes out, it could be for one of thefollowing reasons:








If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error cannot becorrected, contact your dealer. If your radio displays anerror message, write it down and provide it to yourdealer when reporting the problem.

Theft-Deterrent FeatureTHEFTLOCK® is designed to discourage theft of yourvehicle’s radio. The feature works automatically bylearning a portion of the Vehicle IdentificationNumber (VIN). If the radio is moved to a differentvehicle, it will not operate and LOCKED will appear onthe display.

When the radio and vehicle are turned off, the blinkingred light indicates that THEFTLOCK® is armed.

With THEFTLOCK® activated, the radio will not operateif stolen.

3-70

Radio Reception

AMThe range for most AM stations is greater than for FM,especially at night. The longer range can causestation frequencies to interfere with each other. Staticcan occur on AM stations caused by things likestorms and power lines. Try reducing the treble toreduce this noise.

FM StereoFM stereo will give the best sound, but FM signals willreach only about 10 to 40 miles (16 to 65 km). Tallbuildings or hills can interfere with FM signals, causingthe sound to fade in and out.

XM™ Satellite Radio ServiceXM™ Satellite Radio Service gives digital radioreception from coast to coast. Just as with FM, tallbuildings or hills can interfere with satellite radio signals,causing the sound to fade in and out. The radio maydisplay NO SIGNAL to indicate interference.

Care of Your Cassette Tape PlayerA tape player that is not cleaned regularly can causereduced sound quality, ruined cassettes, or a damagedmechanism. Cassette tapes should be stored in theircases away from contaminants, direct sunlight, andextreme heat. If they are not, they may not operateproperly or may cause failure of the tape player.

The tape player should be cleaned regularly after every50 hours of use. The radio may display CLEAN PLAYR toindicate that the tape player has been used for 50 hourswithout resetting the tape clean timer. If this messageappears on the display, the cassette tape player needs tobe cleaned. It will still play tapes, but it should be cleanedas soon as possible to prevent damage to the tapes andplayer. If there is a reduction in sound quality, try a knowngood cassette to see if the tape or the tape player is atfault. If this other cassette has no improvement in soundquality, clean the tape player.

For best results, use a scrubbing action, non-abrasivecleaning cassette with pads which scrub the tapehead as the hubs of the cleaner cassette turn. Therecommended cleaning cassette is available throughyour dealer.

3-71

The cut tape detection feature of the cassette tapeplayer may identify the cleaning cassette as a damagedtape, in error. To prevent the cleaning cassette frombeing ejected, use the following steps.

1. Turn the ignition on.

2. Turn the radio off.

3. Press and hold the TP CD button for five seconds.

4. Insert the scrubbing action cleaning cassette.

5. Eject the cleaning cassette after the manufacturer’srecommended cleaning time.

A non-scrubbing action, wet-type cleaner which uses acassette with a fabric belt to clean the tape headcan be used. This type of cleaning cassette will noteject on its own. A non-scrubbing action cleaner may notclean as thoroughly as the scrubbing type cleaner.The use of a non-scrubbing action, dry-type cleaningcassette is not recommended.

After the player is cleaned, press and hold the ejectbutton for five seconds to reset the CLEAN PLAYRindicator. The radio will display CLEANED to show theindicator was reset.

Cassettes are subject to wear and the sound quality maydegrade over time. Always make sure the cassette tapeis in good condition before the tape player is serviced.

Care of Your CDsHandle CDs carefully. Store them in their original casesor other protective cases and away from directsunlight and dust. If the surface of a CD is soiled,dampen a clean, soft cloth in a mild, neutral detergentsolution and clean it, wiping from the center to the edge.

Be sure never to touch the side without writing whenhandling CDs. Pick up CDs by grasping the outer edgesor the edge of the hole and the outer edge.

Care of Your CD PlayerThe use of CD lens cleaners for CD players is notadvised, due to the risk of contaminating the lens of theCD optics with lubricants internal to the CD mechanism.

3-72

Backglass AntennaThe AM-FM antenna is integrated with the rear windowdefogger, located in the rear window. Make sure thatthe inside surface of the rear window is not scratchedand that the grid lines on the glass are not damaged. Ifthe inside surface is damaged, it could interfere withradio reception.

Notice: Using a razor blade or sharp object to clearthe inside rear window may damage the rear windowantenna and/or the rear window defogger. Repairswould not be covered by your warranty. Do not clearthe inside rear window with sharp objects.

Notice: Do not apply aftermarket glass tinting withmetallic film. The metallic film in some tintingmaterials will interfere with or distort the incomingradio reception. Any damage caused to yourbackglass antenna due to metallic tinting materialswill not be covered by your warranty.Because this antenna is built into the rear window, thereis a reduced risk of damage caused by car washes andvandals.If adding a cellular telephone to your vehicle, and theantenna needs to be attached to the glass, makesure that the grid lines for the AM-FM antenna are notdamaged. There is enough space between the grid linesto attach a cellular telephone antenna without interferingwith radio reception.

XM™ Satellite Radio AntennaSystemThe XM™ Satellite Radio antenna is located on the roofof your vehicle. Keep this antenna clear of snow andice build up for clear radio reception.

The performance of the XM system may be affected ifthe sunroof is open.

Chime Level AdjustmentChime level adjustment is only available on RDS radios.The radio is the vehicle chime producer. The chime isproduced from the driver’s side front door speakers. Tochange the volume level, press and hold pushbutton 6with the ignition on and the radio power off. The chimevolume level will change from the normal level to loud,and LOUD will appear on the radio display. To changeback to the default or normal setting, press and holdpushbutton 6 again. The chime level will change from theloud level to normal, and NORMAL will appear on theradio display. Each time the chime volume is changed,three chimes will sound as an example of the new volumeselected. Removing the radio and not replacing it with afactory radio or chime module will disable vehicle chimes.

3-73

✍ NOTES

3-74

Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle ..........4-2Defensive Driving ...........................................4-2Drunken Driving .............................................4-2Control of a Vehicle ........................................4-5Braking .........................................................4-6Enhanced Traction System (ETS) .....................4-9Steering ......................................................4-11Off-Road Recovery .......................................4-13Passing .......................................................4-13Loss of Control .............................................4-15Driving at Night ............................................4-16Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads ..................4-18City Driving ..................................................4-21

Freeway Driving ...........................................4-22Before Leaving on a Long Trip .......................4-23Highway Hypnosis ........................................4-24Hill and Mountain Roads ................................4-24Winter Driving ..............................................4-26If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow ........4-30

Towing ..........................................................4-31Towing Your Vehicle .....................................4-31Recreational Vehicle Towing ...........................4-32Loading Your Vehicle ....................................4-34Towing a Trailer ...........................................4-40

Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle

4-1

Your Driving, the Road, andYour Vehicle

Defensive DrivingThe best advice anyone can give about driving is: Drivedefensively.

Please start with a very important safety device in yourvehicle: Buckle up. See Safety Belts: They Are forEveryone on page 1-9.

Defensive driving really means “be ready for anything.”On city streets, rural roads or freeways, it means“always expect the unexpected.”

Assume that pedestrians or other drivers are going tobe careless and make mistakes. Anticipate whatthey might do. Be ready for their mistakes.

Rear-end collisions are about the most preventable ofaccidents. Yet they are common. Allow enough followingdistance. It is the best defensive driving maneuver, inboth city and rural driving. You never know when thevehicle in front of you is going to brake or turn suddenly.

Defensive driving requires that a driver concentrate onthe driving task. Anything that distracts from thedriving task — such as concentrating on a cellulartelephone call, reading, or reaching for something onthe floor — makes proper defensive driving more difficult

and can even cause a collision, with resulting injury.Ask a passenger to help do things like this, or pull off theroad in a safe place to do them yourself. These simpledefensive driving techniques could save your life.

Drunken DrivingDeath and injury associated with drinking and driving isa national tragedy. It is the number one contributorto the highway death toll, claiming thousands of victimsevery year.

Alcohol affects four things that anyone needs to drive avehicle:

• Judgment

• Muscular Coordination

• Vision

• Attentiveness.

Police records show that almost half of all motorvehicle-related deaths involve alcohol. In most cases,these deaths are the result of someone who wasdrinking and driving. In recent years, more than16,000 annual motor vehicle-related deaths have beenassociated with the use of alcohol, with more than300,000 people injured.

4-2

Many adults — by some estimates, nearly half the adultpopulation — choose never to drink alcohol, so theynever drive after drinking. For persons under 21,it is against the law in every U.S. state to drink alcohol.There are good medical, psychological anddevelopmental reasons for these laws.

The obvious way to eliminate the leading highwaysafety problem is for people never to drink alcohol andthen drive. But what if people do? How much is “toomuch” if someone plans to drive? It is a lot lessthan many might think. Although it depends on eachperson and situation, here is some general informationon the problem.

The Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of someonewho is drinking depends upon four things:

• The amount of alcohol consumed

• The drinker’s body weight

• The amount of food that is consumed before andduring drinking

• The length of time it has taken the drinker toconsume the alcohol.

According to the American Medical Association, a 180 lb(82 kg) person who drinks three 12 ounce (355 ml)bottles of beer in an hour will end up with a BACof about 0.06 percent.

The person would reach the same BAC by drinkingthree 4 ounce (120 ml) glasses of wine or three mixeddrinks if each had 1-1/2 ounces (45 ml) of liquorslike whiskey, gin or vodka.

It is the amount of alcohol that counts. For example, ifthe same person drank three double martinis (3 ouncesor 90 ml of liquor each) within an hour, the person’sBAC would be close to 0.12 percent. A personwho consumes food just before or during drinking willhave a somewhat lower BAC level.

4-3

There is a gender difference, too. Women generallyhave a lower relative percentage of body waterthan men. Since alcohol is carried in body water, thismeans that a woman generally will reach a higher BAClevel than a man of her same body weight will wheneach has the same number of drinks.

The law in an increasing number of U.S. states, andthroughout Canada, sets the legal limit at 0.08 percent.In some other countries, the limit is even lower. Forexample, it is 0.05 percent in both France and Germany.The BAC limit for all commercial drivers in the UnitedStates is 0.04 percent.

The BAC will be over 0.10 percent after three to sixdrinks (in one hour). Of course, as we have seen,it depends on how much alcohol is in the drinks, andhow quickly the person drinks them.

But the ability to drive is affected well below a BAC of0.10 percent. Research shows that the driving skillsof many people are impaired at a BAC approaching0.05 percent, and that the effects are worse at night. Alldrivers are impaired at BAC levels above 0.05 percent.Statistics show that the chance of being in a collisionincreases sharply for drivers who have a BAC of0.05 percent or above.

A driver with a BAC level of 0.06 percent has doubledhis or her chance of having a collision. At a BAC level of0.10 percent, the chance of this driver having acollision is 12 times greater; at a level of 0.15 percent,the chance is 25 times greater!

The body takes about an hour to rid itself of the alcohol inone drink. No amount of coffee or number of coldshowers will speed that up. “I will be careful” is not theright answer. What if there is an emergency, a need totake sudden action, as when a child darts into the street?A person with even a moderate BAC might not be able toreact quickly enough to avoid the collision.

There is something else about drinking and driving thatmany people do not know. Medical research shows thatalcohol in a person’s system can make crash injuriesworse, especially injuries to the brain, spinal cord orheart. This means that when anyone who has beendrinking — driver or passenger — is in a crash, thatperson’s chance of being killed or permanently disabledis higher than if the person had not been drinking.

4-4

{CAUTION:

Drinking and then driving is very dangerous.Your reflexes, perceptions, attentiveness andjudgment can be affected by even a smallamount of alcohol. You can have a serious — oreven fatal — collision if you drive after drinking.Please do not drink and drive or ride with adriver who has been drinking. Ride home in acab; or if you are with a group, designate adriver who will not drink.

Control of a VehicleYou have three systems that make your vehicle go whereyou want it to go. They are the brakes, the steering andthe accelerator. All three systems have to do their work atthe places where the tires meet the road.

Sometimes, as when you are driving on snow or ice, itis easy to ask more of those control systems thanthe tires and road can provide. That means you can losecontrol of your vehicle. Also see Enhanced TractionSystem (ETS) on page 4-9.

4-5

BrakingBraking action involves perception time andreaction time.

First, you have to decide to push on the brake pedal.That is perception time. Then you have to bring up yourfoot and do it. That is reaction time.

Average reaction time is about 3/4 of a second. But that isonly an average. It might be less with one driver and aslong as two or three seconds or more with another. Age,physical condition, alertness, coordination and eyesightall play a part. So do alcohol, drugs and frustration. Buteven in 3/4 of a second, a vehicle moving at 60 mph(100 km/h) travels 66 feet (20 m). That could be a lot ofdistance in an emergency, so keeping enough spacebetween your vehicle and others is important.

And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatlywith the surface of the road (whether it is pavementor gravel); the condition of the road (wet, dry, icy); tiretread; the condition of your brakes; the weight ofthe vehicle and the amount of brake force applied.

Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive inspurts — heavy acceleration followed by heavybraking — rather than keeping pace with traffic. This isa mistake. Your brakes may not have time to coolbetween hard stops. Your brakes will wear out muchfaster if you do a lot of heavy braking. If you keep pacewith the traffic and allow realistic following distances,you will eliminate a lot of unnecessary braking.That means better braking and longer brake life.

If your engine ever stops while you are driving, brakenormally but do not pump your brakes. If you do,the pedal may get harder to push down. If your enginestops, you will still have some power brake assist.But you will use it when you brake. Once the powerassist is used up, it may take longer to stop andthe brake pedal will be harder to push.

4-6

Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)Your vehicle may have anti-lock brakes. ABS is anadvanced electronic braking system that will helpprevent a braking skid.

If your vehicle has anti-lock brakes, this warning light onthe instrument panel will come on briefly when youstart your vehicle.

When you start your engine, or when you begin to driveaway, your anti-lock brake system will check itself.You may hear a momentary motor or clicking noise whilethis test is going on, and you may even notice thatyour brake pedal moves or pulses a little. This is normal.

Let us say the road is wet and you are driving safely.Suddenly, an animal jumps out in front of you. You slamon the brakes and continue braking. Here is whathappens with ABS:

A computer senses that wheels are slowing down. Ifone of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the computerwill separately work the brakes at each front wheeland at both rear wheels.


4-7

The anti-lock system can change the brake pressurefaster than any driver could. The computer isprogrammed to make the most of available tire and roadconditions. This can help you steer around the obstaclewhile braking hard.

As you brake, your computer keeps receiving updates onwheel speed and controls braking pressure accordingly.

Remember: Anti-lock does not change the time youneed to get your foot up to the brake pedal or alwaysdecrease stopping distance. If you get too close tothe vehicle in front of you, you will not have time to applyyour brakes if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops.Always leave enough room up ahead to stop, eventhough you have anti-lock brakes.

Using Anti-LockDo not pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedaldown firmly and let anti-lock work for you. You may feela slight brake pedal pulsation or notice some noise,but this is normal.

4-8

Braking in EmergenciesAt some time, nearly every driver gets into a situationthat requires hard braking.

If you have anti-lock, you can steer and brake at thesame time. However, if you do not have anti-lock, yourfirst reaction — to hit the brake pedal hard and holdit down — may be the wrong thing to do. Your wheelscan stop rolling. Once they do, the vehicle can notrespond to your steering. Momentum will carry itin whatever direction it was headed when the wheelsstopped rolling. That could be off the road, into the verything you were trying to avoid, or into traffic.

If you do not have anti-lock, use a “squeeze” brakingtechnique. This will give you maximum brakingwhile maintaining steering control. You can do this bypushing on the brake pedal with steadily increasingpressure.

In an emergency, you will probably want to squeeze thebrakes hard without locking the wheels. If you hear orfeel the wheels sliding, ease off the brake pedal.This will help you retain steering control. If you do haveanti-lock, it is different. See “Anti-Lock Brake System”in this section.

In many emergencies, steering can help you more thaneven the very best braking.

Enhanced Traction System (ETS)Your vehicle may have an Enhanced Traction System(ETS) that limits wheel spin. This is especially useful inslippery road conditions. The system operates only ifit senses that one or both of the front wheels arespinning or beginning to lose traction. When thishappens, the system reduces engine power and mayalso upshift the transaxle to limit wheel spin.

This light will come onwhen your EnhancedTraction System is limitingwheel spin. SeeEnhanced Traction SystemActive Light on page 3-31.

You may feel or hear the system working, but this isnormal.

If your vehicle is in cruise control when the enhancedtraction system begins to limit wheel spin, the cruisecontrol will automatically disengage. When roadconditions allow you to safely use it again, you mayre-engage the cruise control. See Cruise Controlon page 3-10.

4-9

The Enhanced Traction System operates in all transaxleshift lever positions. But the system can upshift thetransaxle only as high as the shift lever position you’vechosen, so you should use the lower gears onlywhen necessary. See Automatic Transaxle Operation onpage 2-22.

When the system is onand the parking brake isfully released, this warninglight will come on to letyou know if there’s aproblem.

See Enhanced Traction System Warning Light onpage 3-30. When this warning light is on, the system willnot limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.

To limit wheel spin, especially in slippery roadconditions, you should always leave the EnhancedTraction System on. But you can turn the system off ifyou prefer.

To turn the system on oroff, press the ETS buttonon the center console.

When you turn the system off, the Enhanced TractionSystem warning light will come on and stay on. Ifthe Enhanced Traction System is limiting wheel spinwhen you press the button to turn the system off,the warning light will come on and the indicator light willgo off – but the system won’t turn off right away. Itwill wait until there’s no longer a current need to limitwheel spin.

You can turn the system back on at any time bypressing the button again. The Enhanced TractionSystem warning light should go off.

4-10

Steering

Power SteeringIf you lose power steering assist because the enginestops or the system is not functioning, you can steer butit will take much more effort.

Steering TipsDriving on CurvesIt is important to take curves at a reasonable speed.

A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents mentioned onthe news happen on curves. Here is why:

Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is subject tothe same laws of physics when driving on curves.The traction of the tires against the road surface makesit possible for the vehicle to change its path whenyou turn the front wheels. If there is no traction, inertiawill keep the vehicle going in the same direction. Ifyou have ever tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice, youwill understand this.

The traction you can get in a curve depends on thecondition of your tires and the road surface, the angle atwhich the curve is banked, and your speed. Whileyou are in a curve, speed is the one factor youcan control.

Suppose you are steering through a sharp curve.Then you suddenly apply the brakes. Both controlsystems — steering and braking — have to do their workwhere the tires meet the road. Unless you havefour-wheel anti-lock brakes, adding the hard braking candemand too much of those places. You can lose control.

The same thing can happen if you are steering througha sharp curve and you suddenly accelerate. Thosetwo control systems — steering and acceleration — canoverwhelm those places where the tires meet theroad and make you lose control. See Enhanced TractionSystem (ETS) on page 4-9.

What should you do if this ever happens? Ease up onthe brake or accelerator pedal, steer the vehicle the wayyou want it to go, and slow down.

Speed limit signs near curves warn that you shouldadjust your speed. Of course, the posted speedsare based on good weather and road conditions. Underless favorable conditions you will want to go slower.

If you need to reduce your speed as you approacha curve, do it before you enter the curve, while your frontwheels are straight ahead.

Try to adjust your speed so you can “drive” through thecurve. Maintain a reasonable, steady speed. Wait toaccelerate until you are out of the curve, and thenaccelerate gently into the straightaway.

4-11

Steering in EmergenciesThere are times when steering can be more effectivethan braking. For example, you come over a hill and finda truck stopped in your lane, or a car suddenly pullsout from nowhere, or a child darts out from betweenparked cars and stops right in front of you. Youcan avoid these problems by braking — if you can stopin time. But sometimes you can not; there is notroom. That is the time for evasive action — steeringaround the problem.

Your vehicle can perform very well in emergencies likethese. First apply your brakes — but, unless youhave anti-lock, not enough to lock your wheels.

See Braking on page 4-6. It is better to remove as muchspeed as you can from a possible collision. Thensteer around the problem, to the left or right dependingon the space available.

An emergency like this requires close attention and aquick decision. If you are holding the steering wheel atthe recommended 9 and 3 o’clock positions, youcan turn it a full 180 degrees very quickly withoutremoving either hand. But you have to act fast, steerquickly, and just as quickly straighten the whee once youhave avoided the object.

The fact that such emergency situations are alwayspossible is a good reason to practice defensive drivingat all times and wear safety belts properly.

4-12

Off-Road RecoveryYou may find that your right wheels have dropped off theedge of a road onto the shoulder while you’re driving.

If the level of the shoulder is only slightly below thepavement, recovery should be fairly easy. Ease off theaccelerator and then, if there is nothing in the way,steer so that your vehicle straddles the edge ofthe pavement. You can turn the steering wheel up toone-quarter turn until the right front tire contactsthe pavement edge. Then turn your steering wheel to gostraight down the roadway.

PassingThe driver of a vehicle about to pass another on atwo-lane highway waits for just the right moment,accelerates, moves around the vehicle ahead, thengoes back into the right lane again. A simple maneuver?

Not necessarily! Passing another vehicle on a two-lanehighway is a potentially dangerous move, since thepassing vehicle occupies the same lane as oncomingtraffic for several seconds. A miscalculation, an error injudgment, or a brief surrender to frustration or angercan suddenly put the passing driver face to face with theworst of all traffic accidents — the head-on collision.

So here are some tips for passing:

• “Drive ahead.” Look down the road, to the sidesand to crossroads for situations that might affectyour passing patterns. If you have any doubtwhatsoever about making a successful pass, waitfor a better time.

• Watch for traffic signs, pavement markings andlines. If you can see a sign up ahead that mightindicate a turn or an intersection, delay your pass.A broken center line usually indicates it is allright to pass (providing the road ahead is clear).Never cross a solid line on your side of the lane ora double solid line, even if the road seems emptyof approaching traffic.

4-13

• Do not get too close to the vehicle you want topass while you are awaiting an opportunity. For onething, following too closely reduces your area ofvision, especially if you are following a largervehicle. Also, you will not have adequate space ifthe vehicle ahead suddenly slows or stops.Keep back a reasonable distance.

• When it looks like a chance to pass is coming up,start to accelerate but stay in the right lane and donot get too close. Time your move so you will beincreasing speed as the time comes to move into theother lane. If the way is clear to pass, you will have a“running start” that more than makes up for thedistance you would lose by dropping back. And ifsomething happens to cause you to cancel yourpass, you need only slow down and drop back againand wait for another opportunity.

• If other vehicles are lined up to pass a slow vehicle,wait your turn. But take care that someone is nottrying to pass you as you pull out to pass the slowvehicle. Remember to glance over your shoulder andcheck the blind spot.

• Check your mirrors, glance over your shoulder, andstart your left lane change signal before moving outof the right lane to pass. When you are far enoughahead of the passed vehicle to see its front in yourinside mirror, activate your right lane change signaland move back into the right lane. (Remember thatyour right outside mirror is convex. The vehicle youjust passed may seem to be farther away from youthan it really is.)

• Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a time ontwo-lane roads. Reconsider before passing the nextvehicle.

• Do not overtake a slowly moving vehicle too rapidly.Even though the brake lamps are not flashing, it maybe slowing down or starting to turn.

• If you are being passed, make it easy for thefollowing driver to get ahead of you. Perhaps you canease a little to the right.

4-14

Loss of ControlLet us review what driving experts say about whathappens when the three control systems (brakes,steering and acceleration) do not have enough frictionwhere the tires meet the road to do what the driverhas asked.

In any emergency, do not give up. Keep trying to steerand constantly seek an escape route or area of lessdanger.

SkiddingIn a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle.Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking reasonablecare suited to existing conditions, and by not“overdriving” those conditions. But skids are alwayspossible.

The three types of skids correspond to your vehicle’sthree control systems. In the braking skid, your wheelsare not rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, too muchspeed or steering in a curve causes tires to slip and losecornering force. And in the acceleration skid, too muchthrottle causes the driving wheels to spin.

A cornering skid is best handled by easing your foot offthe accelerator pedal.

If you have the Enhanced Traction System, remember:It helps to avoid only the acceleration skid. If you donot have the Enhanced Traction System, or if the systemis off, then an acceleration skid is also best handledby easing your foot off the accelerator pedal.

If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off theaccelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you wantthe vehicle to go. If you start steering quickly enough,your vehicle may straighten out. Always be readyfor a second skid if it occurs.

Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice,gravel or other material is on the road. For safety,you will want to slow down and adjust your driving tothese conditions. It is important to slow down on slipperysurfaces because stopping distance will be longer andvehicle control more limited.

4-15

While driving on a surface with reduced traction, tryyour best to avoid sudden steering, accelerationor braking (including engine braking by shifting to alower gear). Any sudden changes could cause the tiresto slide. You may not realize the surface is slipperyuntil your vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warningclues — such as enough water, ice or packed snowon the road to make a “mirrored surface” — and slowdown when you have any doubt.

If you have the anti-lock braking system, remember: Ithelps avoid only the braking skid. If you do not haveanti-lock, then in a braking skid (where the wheels areno longer rolling), release enough pressure on thebrakes to get the wheels rolling again. This restoressteering control. Push the brake pedal down steadilywhen you have to stop suddenly. As long as the wheelsare rolling, you will have steering control.

Driving at Night

Night driving is more dangerous than day driving.One reason is that some drivers are likely to beimpaired — by alcohol or drugs, with night visionproblems, or by fatigue.

4-16

Here are some tips on night driving.

• Drive defensively.

• Do not drink and drive.

• Adjust your inside rearview mirror to reduce theglare from headlamps behind you.

• Since you can not see as well, you may need toslow down and keep more space between youand other vehicles.

• Slow down, especially on higher speed roads. Yourheadlamps can light up only so much road ahead.

• In remote areas, watch for animals.

• If you are tired, pull off the road in a safe placeand rest.

No one can see as well at night as in the daytime. Butas we get older these differences increase. A50-year-old driver may require at least twice as muchlight to see the same thing at night as a 20-year-old.

What you do in the daytime can also affect yournight vision. For example, if you spend the day in brightsunshine you are wise to wear sunglasses. Youreyes will have less trouble adjusting to night. But if youare driving, do not wear sunglasses at night. Theymay cut down on glare from headlamps, but they alsomake a lot of things invisible.

You can be temporarily blinded by approachingheadlamps. It can take a second or two, or even severalseconds, for your eyes to readjust to the dark. Whenyou are faced with severe glare (as from a driverwho does not lower the high beams, or a vehicle withmisaimed headlamps), slow down a little. Avoidstaring directly into the approaching headlamps.

Keep your windshield and all the glass on your vehicleclean — inside and out. Glare at night is made muchworse by dirt on the glass. Even the inside of the glasscan build up a film caused by dust. Dirty glass makeslights dazzle and flash more than clean glass would,making the pupils of your eyes contract repeatedly.

Remember that your headlamps light up far less of aroadway when you are in a turn or curve. Keepyour eyes moving; that way, it is easier to pick out dimlylighted objects. Just as your headlamps should bechecked regularly for proper aim, so should your eyesbe examined regularly. Some drivers suffer fromnight blindness — the inability to see in dim light — andare not even aware of it.

4-17

Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads

Rain and wet roads can mean driving trouble. On a wetroad, you can not stop, accelerate or turn as wellbecause your tire-to-road traction is not as good as ondry roads. And, if your tires do not have much treadleft, you will get even less traction. It is always wise togo slower and be cautious if rain starts to fall whileyou are driving. The surface may get wet suddenly whenyour reflexes are tuned for driving on dry pavement.

The heavier the rain, the harder it is to see. Even if yourwindshield wiper blades are in good shape, a heavyrain can make it harder to see road signs andtraffic signals, pavement markings, the edge of the roadand even people walking.

It is wise to keep your windshield wiping equipment ingood shape and keep your windshield washer tank filledwith washer fluid. Replace your windshield wiperinserts when they show signs of streaking or missingareas on the windshield, or when strips of rubber start toseparate from the inserts.

4-18

Driving too fast through large water puddles or evengoing through some car washes can cause problems,too. The water may affect your brakes. Try to avoidpuddles. But if you can not, try to slow down before youhit them.

{CAUTION:

Wet brakes can cause accidents. They will notwork as well in a quick stop and may causepulling to one side. You could lose control ofthe vehicle.

After driving through a large puddle of wateror a car wash, apply your brake pedal lightlyuntil your brakes work normally.

4-19

HydroplaningHydroplaning is dangerous. So much water can build upunder your tires that they can actually ride on thewater. This can happen if the road is wet enough andyou are going fast enough. When your vehicle ishydroplaning, it has little or no contact with the road.

Hydroplaning does not happen often. But it can if yourtires do not have much tread or if the pressure inone or more is low. It can happen if a lot of water isstanding on the road. If you can see reflectionsfrom trees, telephone poles or other vehicles, andraindrops “dimple” the water’s surface, there could behydroplaning.

Hydroplaning usually happens at higher speeds. Therejust is not a hard and fast rule about hydroplaning.The best advice is to slow down when it is raining.

Driving Through Deep Standing Water

Notice: If you drive too quickly through deeppuddles or standing water, water can come inthrough your engine’s air intake and badly damageyour engine. Never drive through water that isslightly lower than the underbody of your vehicle. Ifyou can not avoid deep puddles or standingwater, drive through them very slowly.

Driving Through Flowing Water

{CAUTION:

Flowing or rushing water creates strong forces.If you try to drive through flowing water, as youmight at a low water crossing, your vehicle canbe carried away. As little as six inches offlowing water can carry away a smaller vehicle.If this happens, you and other vehicleoccupants could drown. Do not ignore policewarning signs, and otherwise be very cautiousabout trying to drive through flowing water.

Some Other Rainy Weather Tips• Besides slowing down, allow some extra following

distance. And be especially careful when youpass another vehicle. Allow yourself more clearroom ahead, and be prepared to have yourview restricted by road spray.

• Have good tires with proper tread depth. See Tireson page 5-56.

4-20

City Driving

One of the biggest problems with city streets is theamount of traffic on them. You will want to watch out forwhat the other drivers are doing and pay attention totraffic signals.

Here are ways to increase your safety in city driving:

• Know the best way to get to where you aregoing. Get a city map and plan your trip intoan unknown part of the city just as you would for across-country trip.

• Try to use the freeways that rim and crisscrossmost large cities. You will save time and energy.See Freeway Driving on page 4-22.

• Treat a green light as a warning signal. A trafficlight is there because the corner is busy enoughto need it. When a light turns green, and just beforeyou start to move, check both ways for vehiclesthat have not cleared the intersection or maybe running the red light.

4-21

Freeway Driving

Mile for mile, freeways (also called thruways, parkways,expressways, turnpikes or superhighways) are thesafest of all roads. But they have their own special rules.

The most important advice on freeway driving is: Keepup with traffic and keep to the right. Drive at thesame speed most of the other drivers are driving.Too-fast or too-slow driving breaks a smooth traffic flow.Treat the left lane on a freeway as a passing lane.

At the entrance, there is usually a ramp that leads to thefreeway. If you have a clear view of the freeway as youdrive along the entrance ramp, you should begin to checktraffic. Try to determine where you expect to blend withthe flow. Try to merge into the gap at close to theprevailing speed. Switch on your turn signal, check yourmirrors and glance over your shoulder as often asnecessary. Try to blend smoothly with the traffic flow.

Once you are on the freeway, adjust your speed to theposted limit or to the prevailing rate if it is slower.Stay in the right lane unless you want to pass.

Before changing lanes, check your mirrors. Then useyour turn signal.

Just before you leave the lane, glance quickly over yourshoulder to make sure there is not another vehicle inyour “blind” spot.

Once you are moving on the freeway, make certain youallow a reasonable following distance.

4-22

Expect to move slightly slower at night.

When you want to leave the freeway, move to theproper lane well in advance. If you miss your exit, donot, under any circumstances, stop and back up. Driveon to the next exit.

The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply.The exit speed is usually posted. Reduce your speedaccording to your speedometer, not to your senseof motion. After driving for any distance at higherspeeds, you may tend to think you are going slowerthan you actually are.

Before Leaving on a Long TripMake sure you are ready. Try to be well rested. If youmust start when you are not fresh — such as aftera day’s work — do not plan to make too many miles thatfirst part of the journey. Wear comfortable clothingand shoes you can easily drive in.

Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep itserviced and maintained, it is ready to go. If it needsservice, have it done before starting out. Of course, youwill find experienced and able service experts in GMdealerships all across North America. They will be readyand willing to help if you need it.

Here are some things you can check before a trip:

• Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the reservoir full? Areall windows clean inside and outside?

• Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape?

• Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checkedall levels?

• Lamps: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?

• Tires: They are vitally important to a safe,trouble-free trip. Is the tread good enough forlong-distance driving? Are the tires all inflated to therecommended pressure?

• Weather Forecasts: What is the weather outlookalong your route? Should you delay your trip ashort time to avoid a major storm system?

• Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps?

4-23

Highway HypnosisIs there actually such a condition as “highway hypnosis”?Or is it just plain falling asleep at the wheel? Call ithighway hypnosis, lack of awareness, or whatever.

There is something about an easy stretch of road withthe same scenery, along with the hum of the tires on theroad, the drone of the engine, and the rush of thewind against the vehicle that can make you sleepy. Donot let it happen to you! If it does, your vehicle canleave the road in less than a second, and you couldcrash and be injured.

What can you do about highway hypnosis? First, beaware that it can happen.

Then here are some tips:

• Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated, with acomfortably cool interior.

• Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead andto the sides. Check your rearview mirrors and yourinstruments frequently.

• If you get sleepy, pull off the road into a rest,service or parking area and take a nap, get someexercise, or both. For safety, treat drowsinesson the highway as an emergency.

Hill and Mountain Roads

Driving on steep hills or mountains is different fromdriving in flat or rolling terrain.

4-24

If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you areplanning to visit there, here are some tips that can makeyour trips safer and more enjoyable.

• Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluidlevels and also the brakes, tires, cooling systemand transaxle. These parts can work hard onmountain roads.

• Know how to go down hills. The most importantthing to know is this: let your engine do some ofthe slowing down. Shift to a lower gear when you godown a steep or long hill.

{CAUTION:

If you do not shift down, your brakes could getso hot that they would not work well. Youwould then have poor braking or even nonegoing down a hill. You could crash. Shift downto let your engine assist your brakes on asteep downhill slope.

{CAUTION:

Coasting downhill in NEUTRAL (N) or with theignition off is dangerous. Your brakes will haveto do all the work of slowing down. They couldget so hot that they would not work well. Youwould then have poor braking or even nonegoing down a hill. You could crash. Alwayshave your engine running and your vehicle ingear when you go downhill.

• Know how to go uphill. Drive in the highest gearpossible.

• Stay in your own lane when driving on two-laneroads in hills or mountains. Do not swing wideor cut across the center of the road. Drive at speedsthat let you stay in your own lane.

• As you go over the top of a hill, be alert. Therecould be something in your lane, like a stalled car oran accident.

• You may see highway signs on mountains thatwarn of special problems. Examples are longgrades, passing or no-passing zones, a falling rocksarea or winding roads. Be alert to these and takeappropriate action.

4-25

Winter Driving

Here are some tips for winter driving:

• Have your vehicle in good shape for winter.

• You may want to put winter emergency supplies inyour trunk.

Also see Tires on page 5-56.

Include an ice scraper, a small brush or broom, asupply of windshield washer fluid, a rag, some winterouter clothing, a small shovel, a flashlight, a redcloth and a couple of reflective warning triangles. And, ifyou will be driving under severe conditions, include asmall bag of sand, a piece of old carpet or a couple ofburlap bags to help provide traction. Be sure youproperly secure these items in your vehicle.

4-26

Driving on Snow or IceMost of the time, those places where your tires meetthe road probably have good traction.

However, if there is snow or ice between your tires andthe road, you can have a very slippery situation. Youwill have a lot less traction or “grip” and will need to bevery careful.

What is the worst time for this? “Wet ice.” Very coldsnow or ice can be slick and hard to drive on. But wetice can be even more trouble because it may offerthe least traction of all. You can get wet ice when it isabout freezing (32°F; 0°C) and freezing rain beginsto fall. Try to avoid driving on wet ice until salt and sandcrews can get there.

Whatever the condition — smooth ice, packed, blowingor loose snow — drive with caution.

Keep your Enhanced Traction System on. It will improveyour ability to accelerate when driving on a slipperyroad. Even though your vehicle has this system, you willwant to slow down and adjust your driving to the roadconditions. See Enhanced Traction System (ETS)on page 4-9.

Unless you have the anti-lock braking system, you willwant to brake very gently, too. (If you do have anti-lock,see Braking on page 4-6. This system improves yourvehicle’s stability when you make a hard stop on aslippery road.) Whether you have the anti-lock brakingsystem or not, you will want to begin stopping soonerthan you would on dry pavement. Without anti-lockbrakes, if you feel your vehicle begin to slide, let up onthe brakes a little. Push the brake pedal down steadilyto get the most traction you can.

4-27

Remember, unless you have anti-lock, if you brake sohard that your wheels stop rolling, you will just slide.Brake so your wheels always keep rolling and you canstill steer.

• Whatever your braking system, allow greaterfollowing distance on any slippery road.

• Watch for slippery spots. The road might be fineuntil you hit a spot that is covered with ice. Onan otherwise clear road, ice patches may appear inshaded areas where the sun can not reach:around clumps of trees, behind buildings or underbridges. Sometimes the surface of a curve oran overpass may remain icy when the surroundingroads are clear. If you see a patch of ice aheadof you, brake before you are on it. Try not to brakewhile you are actually on the ice, and avoidsudden steering maneuvers.

If You Are Caught in a Blizzard

If you are stopped by heavy snow, you could be in aserious situation. You should probably stay withyour vehicle unless you know for sure that you are nearhelp and you can hike through the snow. Here aresome things to do to summon help and keep yourselfand your passengers safe:

• Turn on your hazard flashers.

• Tie a red cloth to your vehicle to alert police thatyou have been stopped by the snow.

4-28

• Put on extra clothing or wrap a blanket around you.If you have no blankets or extra clothing, makebody insulators from newspapers, burlap bags, rags,floor mats — anything you can wrap aroundyourself or tuck under your clothing to keep warm.

You can run the engine to keep warm, but be careful.

{CAUTION:

Snow can trap exhaust gases under yourvehicle. This can cause deadly CO (carbonmonoxide) gas to get inside. CO couldovercome you and kill you. You can not see itor smell it, so you might not know it is in yourvehicle. Clear away snow from around thebase of your vehicle, especially any that isblocking your exhaust pipe. And check aroundagain from time to time to be sure snow doesnot collect there.

Open a window just a little on the side of thevehicle that is away from the wind. This willhelp keep CO out.

Run your engine only as long as you must. This savesfuel. When you run the engine, make it go a littlefaster than just idle. That is, push the acceleratorslightly. This uses less fuel for the heat that you get andit keeps the battery charged. You will need awell-charged battery to restart the vehicle, and possiblyfor signaling later on with your headlamps. Let theheater run for a while.

4-29

Then, shut the engine off and close the window almostall the way to preserve the heat. Start the engineagain and repeat this only when you feel reallyuncomfortable from the cold. But do it as little aspossible. Preserve the fuel as long as you can. To helpkeep warm, you can get out of the vehicle and dosome fairly vigorous exercises every half hour or so untilhelp comes.

If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Iceor SnowIn order to free your vehicle when it is stuck, you willneed to spin the wheels, but you do not want tospin your wheels too fast. The method known as“rocking” can help you get out when you are stuck, butyou must use caution.

{CAUTION:

If you let your tires spin at high speed, theycan explode, and you or others could beinjured. And, the transaxle or other parts of thevehicle can overheat. That could cause anengine compartment fire or other damage.When you are stuck, spin the wheels as littleas possible. Do not spin the wheels above35 mph (55 km/h) as shown on thespeedometer.

Notice: Spinning your wheels can destroy parts ofyour vehicle as well as the tires. If you spin thewheels too fast while shifting your transaxle backand forth, you can destroy your transaxle. See“Rocking Your Vehicle To Get It Out.”

For information about using tire chains on your vehicle,see Tire Chains on page 5-71.

4-30

Rocking Your Vehicle To Get It OutFirst, turn your steering wheel left and right. That willclear the area around your front wheels. Then shift backand forth between REVERSE (R) and a forward gear(or with a manual transaxle, between FIRST (1) orSECOND (2) and REVERSE (R)), spinning the wheelsas little as possible. Release the accelerator pedalwhile you shift, and press lightly on the accelerator pedalwhen the transaxle is in gear. By slowly spinning yourwheels in the forward and reverse directions, youwill cause a rocking motion that may free your vehicle. Ifthat does not get you out after a few tries, you mayneed to be towed out. If you do need to be towed out,see Towing Your Vehicle on page 4-31.

Towing

Towing Your VehicleConsult your dealer or a professional towing service ifyou need to have your disabled vehicle towed. SeeRoadside Assistance Program on page 7-6.

If you want to tow your vehicle behind another vehiclefor recreational purposes (such as behind a motorhome),see “Recreational Vehicle Towing” following.

4-31

Recreational Vehicle TowingRecreational vehicle towing means towing your vehiclebehind another vehicle – such as behind a motorhome.The two most common types of recreational vehicletowing are known as “dinghy towing” (towing your vehiclewith all four wheels on the ground) and “dolly towing”(towing your vehicle with two wheels on the ground andtwo wheels up on a device known as a “dolly”).

With the proper preparation and equipment, manyvehicles can be towed in these ways. See “DinghyTowing” and “Dolly Towing,” following.

Here are some important things to consider before youdo recreational vehicle towing:• What’s the towing capacity of the towing vehicle?

Be sure you read the tow vehicle manufacturer’srecommendations.

• How far will you tow? Some vehicles haverestrictions on how far and how long they can tow.

• Do you have the proper towing equipment?See your dealer or trailering professional foradditional advice and equipment recommendations.

• Is your vehicle ready to be towed? Just as youwould prepare your vehicle for a long trip, you’llwant to make sure your vehicle is prepared to betowed. See Before Leaving on a Long Trip onpage 4-23.

Dinghy TowingTo tow your vehicle with all four wheels on the ground,follow these steps:

1. Position the vehicle to tow and then secure it.

2. Turn the ignition switch to OFF.

3. Set the parking brake.

4-32

4. To prevent your battery from draining while thevehicle is being towed, remove the followingfuses from the left side instrument panel fuse block:WIPER, PCM ACC and IPC/BFC ACC. See“Instrument Panel Fuse Block (Driver’s Side)” underFuses and Circuit Breakers on page 5-93 for thelocation of these fuses.

5. Turn the ignition switch to ACCESSORY.

6. Shift your transaxle to Neutral (N).

7. Release the parking brake.

Remember to reinstall the fuses once you reach yourdestination. To reinstall a fuse do the following:

1. Set the parking brake.

2. Remove the key from the ignition switch.

3. Put the fuse back in.

Notice: If you exceed 65 mph (110 km/h) whiletowing your vehicle, it could be damaged. Neverexceed 65 mph (110 km/h) while towing your vehicle.

Notice: Towing your vehicle from the rear coulddamage it. Also, repairs would not be covered bythe warranty. Never have your vehicle towed fromthe rear.

4-33

Dolly TowingTo tow your vehicle with two wheels on the ground anda dolly, do the following:

1. Put the front wheels on a dolly.2. Put the vehicle in PARK (P) for automatic transaxles

and Neutral for manual transaxles.3. Set the parking brake and then remove the key.

(For manual transaxle vehicles, the shift levermust be in REVERSE (R) before removing the key.)

4. Clamp the steering wheel in a straight-aheadposition with a clamping device designed for towing.

5. Release the parking brake.

Loading Your VehicleIt is very important to know how much weight yourvehicle can carry. This weight is called the vehiclecapacity weight and includes the weight of all occupants,cargo and all nonfactory-installed options. Two labelson your vehicle show how much weight it may properlycarry, the Tire and Loading Information label and theCertification label.

{CAUTION:

Do not load your vehicle any heavier than theGVWR, or either the maximum front or rearGAWR. If you do, parts on your vehicle canbreak, and it can change the way your vehiclehandles. These could cause you to losecontrol and crash. Also, overloading canshorten the life of your vehicle.

4-34

Tire and Loading Information Label

A. Vehicle Capacity Weight

A. Vehicle Capacity Weight

The Tire and Loading Information label shows the seatingcapacity and the total weight your vehicle can properlycarry. This weight is called the vehicle capacity weight. Ifyour vehicle has the Tire and Loading Information label,Example 1, the label is attached to the center pillar, nearthe driver’s door latch. If your vehicle has theTire-Loading Information label, Example 2, the label is onthe rear edge of the driver’s door.

Example 1

Example 2

4-35

The Tire and Loading Information label also gives youthe size and recommended inflation pressure forthe factory-installed, original equipment tires on yourvehicle. For more information on tires and inflation seeTires on page 5-56 and Inflation - Tire Pressure onpage 5-63.

There is also important loading information on theCertification label. It tells you the Gross Vehicle WeightRating (GVWR) and the Gross Axle Weight Rating(GAWR) for the front and rear axle; see “CertificationLabel” later in this section.

Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit1. Locate the statement “The combined weight of

occupants and cargo should never exceed XXXpounds” on your vehicle placard.

2. Determine the combined weight of the driver andpassengers that will be riding in your vehicle.

3. Subtract the combined weight of the driver andpassengers from XXX kilograms or XXX pounds.

4. The resulting figure equals the available amount ofcargo and luggage load capacity. For example, if the“XXX” amount equals 1400 lbs. and there will be five150 lb. passengers in your vehicle, the amount ofavailable cargo and luggage load capacity is 650 lbs.(1400 − 750 (5 x 150) = 650 lbs.).

5. Determine the combined weight of luggage andcargo being loaded on the vehicle. That weightmay not safely exceed the available cargoand luggage load capacity calculated in Step 4.

6. If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, the load fromyour trailer will be transferred to your vehicle.Consult this manual to determine how this reducesthe available cargo and luggage load capacity ofyour vehicle.

If your vehicle can tow a trailer, see Towing a Trailer onpage 4-40 for important information on towing atrailer, towing safety rules and trailering tips.

4-36

Loading Your VehicleItem Description Total

A Vehicle Capacity Weightfor Example 1 = 1,000 lbs (453 kg)

BSubtract OccupantWeight 150 lbs(68 kg) x 2 =

300 lbs (136 kg)

C Available Occupant andCargo Weight = 700 lbs (317 kg)




750 lbs (340 kg)

C Available CargoWeight = 250 lbs (113 kg)

Example 1 Example 2

4-37




1,000 lbs (453 kg)

C Available CargoWeight = 0 lbs (0 kg)

Refer to your vehicle’s tire and loading information labelfor specific information about your vehicle’s capacityweight and seating positions. The combined weight ofthe driver, passengers and cargo should neverexceed your vehicle’s capacity weight.

Certification Label

The Certification label is also found on the rear edge ofthe driver’s door. It tells you the gross weight capacityof your vehicle, called the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating(GVWR). The GVWR includes the weight of thevehicle, all occupants, fuel and cargo. Never exceed theGVWR for your vehicle, or the Gross Axle WeightRating (GAWR) for either the front or rear axle.

And, if you do have a heavy load, you should spread itout. Don’t carry more than 132 lbs. (60 kg) in your trunk.

Example 3

4-38

{CAUTION:

Do not load your vehicle any heavier than theGVWR, or either the maximum front or rearGAWR. If you do, parts on your vehicle canbreak, and it can change the way your vehiclehandles. These could cause you to losecontrol and crash. Also, overloading canshorten the life of your vehicle.

{CAUTION:

Things you put inside your vehicle can strikeand injure people in a sudden stop or turn, orin a crash.

• Put things in the trunk of your vehicle. In atrunk, put them as far forward as you can.Try to spread the weight evenly.

• Never stack heavier things, like suitcases,inside the vehicle so that some of themare above the tops of the seats.

• Do not leave an unsecured child restraintin your vehicle.

• When you carry something inside thevehicle, secure it whenever you can.

• Do not leave a seat folded down unlessyou need to.

4-39

Towing a Trailer

{CAUTION:

If you do not use the correct equipment anddrive properly, you can lose control when youpull a trailer. For example, if the trailer is tooheavy, the brakes may not work well — or evenat all. You and your passengers could beseriously injured. You may also damage yourvehicle; the resulting repairs would not becovered by your warranty. Pull a trailer only ifyou have followed all the steps in this section.Ask your dealer for advice and informationabout towing a trailer with your vehicle.

Your vehicle can tow a trailer if it is equipped with theproper trailer towing equipment. To identify whatthe vehicle trailering capacity is for your vehicle, youshould read the information in “Weight of the Trailer” thatappears later in this section. But trailering is differentthan just driving your vehicle by itself. Trailering meanschanges in handling, acceleration, braking, durabilityand fuel economy. Successful, safe trailering takescorrect equipment, and it has to be used properly.

That is the reason for this part. In it are manytime-tested, important trailering tips and safety rules.Many of these are important for your safety and that ofyour passengers. So please read this section carefullybefore you pull a trailer.

Load-pulling components such as the engine, transaxle,wheel assemblies and tires are forced to work harderagainst the drag of the added weight. The engineis required to operate at relatively higher speeds andunder greater loads, generating extra heat. Whatis more, the trailer adds considerably to wind resistance,increasing the pulling requirements.

4-40

If You Do Decide To Pull A TrailerIf you do, here are some important points:• There are many different laws, including speed limit

restrictions, having to do with trailering. Make sureyour rig will be legal, not only where you livebut also where you will be driving. A good sourcefor this information can be state or provincial police.

• Consider using a sway control. You can ask a hitchdealer about sway controls.

• Do not tow a trailer at all during the first 1,000 miles(1 600 km) your new vehicle is driven. Your engine,axle or other parts could be damaged.

• Then, during the first 500 miles (800 km) that youtow a trailer, do not drive over 50 mph (80 km/h)and do not make starts at full throttle. Thishelps your engine and other parts of your vehiclewear in at the heavier loads.

• Obey speed limit restrictions when towing a trailer.Do not drive faster than the maximum postedspeed for trailers, or no more than 55 mph(90 km/h), to save wear on your vehicle’s parts.

Three important considerations have to do with weight:• the weight of the trailer,• the weight of the trailer tongue• and the total weight on your vehicle’s tires.

Weight of the TrailerHow heavy can a trailer safely be?

It should never weigh more than 1,000 lbs. (450 kg). Buteven that can be too heavy.

It depends on how you plan to use your rig. Forexample, speed, altitude, road grades, outsidetemperature and how much your vehicle is used to pulla trailer are all important. And, it can also dependon any special equipment that you have on your vehicle.

You can ask your dealer for our trailering informationor advice, or you can write us at:

Oldsmobile Customer AssistanceP.O. Box 33171Detroit, MI 48232-5171

In Canada, write to:

General Motors of Canada LimitedCustomer Communication Centre, 163-0051908 Colonel Sam DriveOshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7

4-41

Weight of the Trailer TongueThe tongue load (A) of any trailer is an important weightto measure because it affects the total or gross weightof your vehicle. The Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)includes the curb weight of the vehicle, any cargo youmay carry in it, and the people who will be riding inthe vehicle. If you have a lot of options, equipment,passengers or cargo in your vehicle, it will reduce thetongue weight your vehicle can carry, which willalso reduce the trailer weight your vehicle can tow. Andif you tow a trailer, you must add the tongue load tothe GVW because your vehicle will be carryingthat weight, too. See Loading Your Vehicle on page 4-34for more information about your vehicle’s maximumload capacity.

If you’re using a weight-carrying hitch, the trailertongue (A) should weigh 10–15 percent of the totalloaded trailer weight (B).

After you’ve loaded your trailer, weigh the trailer and thenthe tongue, separately, to see if the weights are proper. Ifthey aren’t, you may be able to get them right simply bymoving some items around in the trailer.

4-42

Total Weight on Your Vehicle’s TiresBe sure your vehicle’s tires are inflated to the upper limitfor cold tires. You’ll find these numbers on theTire-Loading Information label at the rear edge of thedriver’s door or see Loading Your Vehicle on page 4-34.Then be sure you don’t go over the GVW limit foryour vehicle, including the weight of the trailer tongue.

HitchesIt is important to have the correct hitch equipment.Crosswinds, large trucks going by and rough roads area few reasons why you willl need the right hitch.Here are some rules to follow:

• The rear bumper on your vehicle is not intended forhitches. Do not attach rental hitches or otherbumper-type hitches to it. Use only a frame-mountedhitch that does not attach to the bumper.

• Will you have to make any holes in the body of yourvehicle when you install a trailer hitch? If you do, thenbe sure to seal the holes later when you remove thehitch. If you do not seal them, deadly carbonmonoxide (CO) from your exhaust can get into yourvehicle. See Engine Exhaust on page 2-30. Dirt andwater can, too.

Safety ChainsYou should always attach chains between your vehicleand your trailer. Cross the safety chains under the tongueof the trailer so that the tongue will not drop to the road ifit becomes separated from the hitch. Instructions aboutsafety chains may be provided by the hitch manufactureror by the trailer manufacturer. Follow the manufacturer’srecommendation for attaching safety chains and do notattach them to the bumper. Always leave just enoughslack so you can turn with your rig. And, never allowsafety chains to drag on the ground.

Trailer BrakesDoes your trailer have its own brakes?

Be sure to read and follow the instructions for the trailerbrakes so you will be able to install, adjust andmaintain them properly. And because you may haveanti-lock brakes, do not try to tap into your vehicle’sbrake system. If you do, both systems will not work well,or at all.

4-43

Driving with a TrailerTowing a trailer requires a certain amount of experience.Before setting out for the open road, you will want toget to know your rig. Acquaint yourself with the feel ofhandling and braking with the added weight of the trailer.And always keep in mind that the vehicle you aredriving is now a good deal longer and not nearly asresponsive as your vehicle is by itself.

Before you start, check all trailer hitch parts andattachments, safety chains, electrical connector, lamps,tires and mirror adjustment. If the trailer has electricbrakes, start your vehicle and trailer moving and thenapply the trailer brake controller by hand to be surethe brakes are working. This lets you check yourelectrical connection at the same time.

During your trip, check occasionally to be sure that theload is secure, and that the lamps and any trailerbrakes are still working.

Following DistanceStay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead asyou would when driving your vehicle without a trailer.This can help you avoid situations that requireheavy braking and sudden turns.

PassingYou will need more passing distance up ahead whenyou’re towing a trailer. And, because you are a good deallonger, you will need to go much farther beyond thepassed vehicle before you can return to your lane.

Backing UpHold the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand.Then, to move the trailer to the left, just move that handto the left. To move the trailer to the right, move yourhand to the right. Always back up slowly and, if possible,have someone guide you.

Making Turns

Notice: Making very sharp turns while traileringcould cause the trailer to come in contact with thevehicle. Your vehicle could be damaged. Avoidmaking very sharp turns while trailering.

When you are turning with a trailer, make wider turns thannormal. Do this so your trailer will not strike softshoulders, curbs, road signs, trees or other objects. Avoidjerky or sudden maneuvers. Signal well in advance.

4-44

Turn Signals When Towing a TrailerWhen you tow a trailer, your vehicle may need adifferent turn signal flasher and/or extra wiring. Checkwith your dealer. The arrows on your instrumentpanel will flash whenever you signal a turn or lanechange. Properly hooked up, the trailer lamps will alsoflash, telling other drivers you are about to turn,change lanes or stop.

When towing a trailer, the arrows on your instrumentpanel will flash for turns even if the bulbs on the trailerare burned out. Thus, you may think drivers behindyou are seeing your signal when they are not. Itis important to check occasionally to be sure the trailerbulbs are still working.

Driving On GradesReduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you startdown a long or steep downgrade. If you do not shiftdown, you might have to use your brakes so much thatthey would get hot and no longer work well.

Parking on Hills

{CAUTION:

You really should not park your vehicle, with atrailer attached, on a hill. If something goeswrong, your rig could start to move. Peoplecan be injured, and both your vehicle and thetrailer can be damaged.

But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here ishow to do it:

1. Apply your regular brakes, but do not shift intoPARK (P) for an automatic transaxle or into agear for a manual transaxle, yet. When parkinguphill, turn your wheels away from the curb. Whenparking downhill, turn your wheels into the curb.

2. Have someone place chocks under the trailerwheels.

4-45

3. When the chocks are in place, release the regularbrakes until the chocks absorb the load.

4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply yourparking brake and shift into PARK (P) for anautomatic transaxle or REVERSE (R) for a manualtransaxle.

5. Release the regular brakes.

When You Are Ready to Leave AfterParking on a Hill

1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal downwhile you:

• start your engine,

• shift into a gear, and

• release the parking brake.

2. Let up on the brake pedal.

3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.

4. Stop and have someone pick up and store thechocks.

Maintenance When Trailer TowingYour vehicle will need service more often when you arepulling a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule formore on this. Things that are especially important intrailer operation are automatic transaxle fluid (donot overfill), engine oil, drive belt, cooling system andbrake system. Each of these is covered in this manual,and the Index will help you find them quickly. If youare trailering, it is a good idea to review this informationbefore you start your trip.

Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and boltsare tight.

Engine Cooling When Trailer TowingYour cooling system may temporarily overheat duringsevere operating conditions. See Engine Overheating onpage 5-27.

4-46

Service ............................................................5-3Doing Your Own Service Work .........................5-4Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your

Vehicle ......................................................5-5Fuel ................................................................5-5

Gasoline Octane ............................................5-5Gasoline Specifications ....................................5-5California Fuel ...............................................5-6Additives .......................................................5-6Fuels in Foreign Countries ...............................5-7Filling Your Tank ............................................5-7Filling a Portable Fuel Container .......................5-9

Checking Things Under the Hood ....................5-10Hood Release ..............................................5-10Engine Compartment Overview .......................5-12Engine Oil ...................................................5-16Engine Air Cleaner/Filter ................................5-21Automatic Transaxle Fluid ..............................5-22Manual Transaxle Fluid ..................................5-23Hydraulic Clutch ...........................................5-23Engine Coolant .............................................5-24Engine Overheating .......................................5-27Cooling System ............................................5-30Power Steering Fluid .....................................5-36Windshield Washer Fluid ................................5-37

Brakes ........................................................5-38Battery ........................................................5-43Jump Starting ...............................................5-44

Headlamp Aiming ...........................................5-50Bulb Replacement ..........................................5-52

Halogen Bulbs ..............................................5-52Headlamps ..................................................5-52Front Turn Signal and Parking Lamps ..............5-53Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL) .........5-53Taillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps ............5-54Replacement Bulbs .......................................5-54

Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement ..............5-55Tires ..............................................................5-56

Inflation - Tire Pressure .................................5-63Tire Inspection and Rotation ...........................5-64When It Is Time for New Tires .......................5-66Buying New Tires .........................................5-66Uniform Tire Quality Grading ..........................5-68Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance ..................5-69Wheel Replacement ......................................5-70Tire Chains ..................................................5-71If a Tire Goes Flat ........................................5-72Changing a Flat Tire .....................................5-72Compact Spare Tire ......................................5-83

Section 5 Service and Appearance Care

5-1

Appearance Care ............................................5-84Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle .................5-84Care of Safety Belts ......................................5-87Weatherstrips ...............................................5-87Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle ..............5-88Sheet Metal Damage .....................................5-90Finish Damage .............................................5-90Underbody Maintenance ................................5-90Chemical Paint Spotting .................................5-90Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials ..................5-91

Vehicle Identification ......................................5-92Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) .................5-92Service Parts Identification Label .....................5-92

Electrical System ............................................5-93Add-On Electrical Equipment ..........................5-93Windshield Wiper Fuses ................................5-93Power Windows and Other Power Options .......5-93Fuses and Circuit Breakers ............................5-93

Capacities and Specifications ..........................5-98

Section 5 Service and Appearance Care

5-2

ServiceYour dealer knows your vehicle best and wants you tobe happy with it. We hope you will go to your dealerfor all your service needs. You will get genuine GM partsand GM-trained and supported service people.

We hope you will want to keep your GM vehicle all GM.Genuine GM parts have one of these marks:

California Proposition 65 WarningMost motor vehicles, including this one, contain and/oremit chemicals known to the State of California tocause cancer and birth defects or other reproductiveharm. Engine exhaust, many parts and systems(including some inside the vehicle), many fluids, andsome component wear by-products contain and/or emitthese chemicals.

5-3

Doing Your Own Service WorkIf you want to do some of your own service work, you willwant to use the proper service manual. It tells you muchmore about how to service your vehicle than this manualcan. To order the proper service manual, see ServicePublications Ordering Information on page 7-12.

Your vehicle has an air bag system. Before attemptingto do your own service work, see Servicing Your AirBag-Equipped Vehicle on page 1-58.

You should keep a record with all parts receipts and listthe mileage and the date of any service work youperform. See Maintenance Record on page 6-15.

{CAUTION:

You can be injured and your vehicle could bedamaged if you try to do service work on avehicle without knowing enough about it.

• Be sure you have sufficient knowledge,experience, the proper replacement partsand tools before you attempt any vehiclemaintenance task.

• Be sure to use the proper nuts, bolts andother fasteners. “English” and “metric”fasteners can be easily confused. If youuse the wrong fasteners, parts can laterbreak or fall off. You could be hurt.

5-4

Adding Equipment to the Outside ofYour VehicleThings you might add to the outside of your vehicle canaffect the airflow around it. This may cause windnoise and affect windshield washer performance. Checkwith your dealer before adding equipment to theoutside of your vehicle.

FuelUse of the recommended fuel is an important part of theproper maintenance of your vehicle.

Gasoline OctaneUse regular unleaded gasoline with a posted octane of 87or higher. If the octane is less than 87, you may get aheavy knocking noise when you drive. If this occurs, usea gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher as soon aspossible. Otherwise, you might damage your engine. Alittle pinging noise when you accelerate or drive uphill isconsidered normal. This does not indicate a problemexists or that a higher-octane fuel is necessary. If you areusing 87 octane or higher-octane fuel and hear heavyknocking, your engine needs service.

Gasoline SpecificationsIt is recommended that gasoline meet specificationswhich were developed by automobile manufacturersaround the world and contained in the World-Wide FuelCharter which is available from the Alliance ofAutomobile Manufacturers atwww.autoalliance.org/fuel_charter.htm. Gasolinemeeting these specifications could provide improveddriveability and emission control system performancecompared to other gasoline.

In Canada, look for the“Auto Makers’ Choice”label on the pump.

Canada Only

5-5

California FuelIf your vehicle is certified to meet California EmissionStandards (see the underhood emission control label), itis designed to operate on fuels that meet Californiaspecifications. If this fuel is not available in statesadopting California emissions standards, your vehicle willoperate satisfactorily on fuels meeting federalspecifications, but emission control system performancemay be affected. The malfunction indicator lamp may turnon (see Malfunction Indicator Lamp on page 3-32 ) andyour vehicle may fail a smog-check test. If this occurs,return to your authorized GM dealer for diagnosis. If it isdetermined that the condition is caused by the type of fuelused, repairs may not be covered by your warranty.

AdditivesTo provide cleaner air, all gasolines in the United Statesare now required to contain additives that will helpprevent engine and fuel system deposits from forming,allowing your emission control system to work properly.You should not have to add anything to your fuel.However, some gasolines contain only the minimumamount of additive required to meet U.S. EnvironmentalProtection Agency regulations. General Motorsrecommends that you buy gasolines that are advertisedto help keep fuel injectors and intake valves clean. If yourvehicle experiences problems due to dirty injectors orvalves, try a different brand of gasoline.

Gasolines containing oxygenates, such as ethers andethanol, and reformulated gasolines may be available inyour area to contribute to clean air. General Motorsrecommends that you use these gasolines, particularly ifthey comply with the specifications described earlier.

Notice: Your vehicle was not designed for fuel thatcontains methanol. Do not use fuel containingmethanol. It can corrode metal parts in your fuelsystem and also damage the plastic and rubberparts. That damage would not be covered underyour warranty.

Some gasolines that are not reformulated for lowemissions may contain an octane-enhancing additivecalled methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl(MMT); ask the attendant where you buy gasolinewhether the fuel contains MMT. General Motors doesnot recommend the use of such gasolines. Fuelscontaining MMT can reduce the life of spark plugs andthe performance of the emission control system maybe affected. The malfunction indicator lamp may turn on.If this occurs, return to your authorized GM dealer forservice.

5-6

Fuels in Foreign CountriesIf you plan on driving in another country outside theUnited States or Canada, the proper fuel may be hardto find. Never use leaded gasoline or any other fuelnot recommended in the previous text on fuel. Costlyrepairs caused by use of improper fuel would notbe covered by your warranty.

To check the fuel availability, ask an auto club, orcontact a major oil company that does business in thecountry where you will be driving.

Filling Your Tank

{CAUTION:

Fuel vapor burns violently and a fuel fire cancause bad injuries. To help avoid injuries toyou and others, read and follow all theinstructions on the pump island. Turn off yourengine when you are refueling. Do not smokeif you are near fuel or refueling your vehicle.



Keep sparks, flames and smoking materialsaway from fuel. Do not leave the fuel pumpunattended when refueling your vehicle — thisis against the law in some places. Keepchildren away from the fuel pump; never letchildren pump fuel.

The tethered fuel cap is behind a hinged door on thepassenger’s side of the vehicle.

5-7

While refueling, hang the tethered fuel cap inside thefuel door.

To remove the fuel cap, turn it slowly to the left(counterclockwise). The fuel cap has a spring in it; ifyou let go of the cap too soon, it will spring back tothe right.

{CAUTION:

If you spill fuel and then something ignites it,you could be badly burned. Fuel can spray outon you if you open the fuel cap too quickly. Thisspray can happen if your tank is nearly full, andis more likely in hot weather. Open the fuel capslowly and wait for any “hiss” noise to stop.Then unscrew the cap all the way.

Be careful not to spill fuel. Don’t top off or overfill yourtank, and wait a few seconds after you’ve finishedpumping before you remove the nozzle. Clean fuel frompainted surfaces as soon as possible. See Cleaningthe Outside of Your Vehicle on page 5-88.

5-8

When you put the fuel cap back on, turn it to the right(clockwise) until you hear a clicking sound. Makesure you fully install the cap. The diagnostic system candetermine if the fuel cap has been left off or improperlyinstalled. This would allow fuel to evaporate into theatmosphere. See Malfunction Indicator Lamp onpage 3-32.

{CAUTION:

If a fire starts while you are refueling, do notremove the nozzle. Shut off the flow of fuel byshutting off the pump or by notifying thestation attendant. Leave the area immediately.

Notice: If you need a new fuel cap, be sure to getthe right type. Your dealer can get one for you.If you get the wrong type, it may not fit properly.This may cause your malfunction indicator lamp tolight and may damage your fuel tank and emissionssystem. See Malfunction Indicator Lamp onpage 3-32.

Filling a Portable Fuel Container

{CAUTION:

Never fill a portable fuel container while it is inyour vehicle. Static electricity discharge fromthe container can ignite the gasoline vapor.You can be badly burned and your vehicledamaged if this occurs. To help avoid injury toyou and others:

• Dispense gasoline only into approvedcontainers.

• Do not fill a container while it is inside avehicle, in a vehicle’s trunk, pickup bed oron any surface other than the ground.

• Bring the fill nozzle in contact with theinside of the fill opening before operatingthe nozzle. Contact should be maintaineduntil the filling is complete.

• Do not smoke while pumping gasoline.

5-9

Checking Things Underthe Hood

{CAUTION:

An electric fan under the hood can start upand injure you even when the engine is notrunning. Keep hands, clothing and tools awayfrom any underhood electric fan.

{CAUTION:

Things that burn can get on hot engine partsand start a fire. These include liquids like fuel,oil, coolant, brake fluid, windshield washer andother fluids, and plastic or rubber. You orothers could be burned. Be careful not to dropor spill things that will burn onto a hot engine.

Hood ReleaseTo open the hood, do the following:

1. Pull the handle locatedunder the instrumentpanel on the driver’sside of the vehicle.

5-10

2. Then go to the front of the vehicle and pull upclockwise on the secondary hood release.

3. Lift the hood.

4. Release the hood prop rod from its retainer and putthe hood prop into the slot in the hood markedPROP ROD.

Before closing the hood, be sure all the filler caps areon properly. Then lift the hood to relieve pressure on thehood prop. Remove the hood prop from the slot in thehood and return the prop to its retainer. Then letthe hood down and close it firmly.

5-11

Engine Compartment OverviewWhen you open the hood on the 2.2L L4 ECOTEC™ ™ engine, you’ll see the following:

5-12

A. Engine Coolant Surge Tank. See Cooling System onpage 5-30.

B. Ground. See Jump Starting on page 5-44.C. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil” in

Engine Oil on page 5-16.D. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”

in Engine Oil on page 5-16.E. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid” in Brakes

on page 5-38.

F. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. See Power SteeringFluid on page 5-36.

G. Engine Compartment Fuse Block. See Fuses andCircuit Breakers on page 5-93.

H. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. See Engine AirCleaner/Filter on page 5-21.

I. Battery. See Battery on page 5-43.J. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Windshield

Washer Fluid on page 5-37.

5-13

When you open the hood on the 3400 V6 engine, you’ll see the following:

5-14

A. Engine Coolant Surge Tank. See Cooling System onpage 5-30.

B. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. See Power SteeringFluid on page 5-36.

C. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”in Engine Oil on page 5-16.

D. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil” inEngine Oil on page 5-16.

E. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid” in Brakeson page 5-38.

F. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. See Engine AirCleaner/Filter on page 5-21.

G. Battery. See Battery on page 5-43.H. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Windshield

Washer Fluid on page 5-37.

5-15

Engine Oil

Checking Engine OilIt is a good idea to check your engine oil every time youget fuel. In order to get an accurate reading, the oilmust be warm and the vehicle must be on level ground.

The engine oil dipstick handle is a yellow loop. SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 5-12 forthe location of the engine oil dipstick.

Turn off the engine and give the oil several minutes todrain back into the oil pan. If you don’t, the oildipstick might not show the actual level.

Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a paper towel orcloth, then push it back in all the way. Remove it again,keeping the tip down, and check the level.

2.2L L4 ECOTEC™ Engine

3400 V6 Engine

5-16

When to Add Engine OilIf the oil is at or below the MIN mark for the 2.2L L4ECOTEC™ engine or below the cross-hatched area atthe tip of the dipstick for the 3400 V6 engine, thenyou will need to add at least one quart of oil. But youmust use the right kind. This section explains what kindof oil to use. For engine oil crankcase capacity, seeCapacities and Specifications on page 5-98

Notice: Do not add too much oil. If your engine hasso much oil that the oil level gets above the uppermark that shows the proper operating range,your engine could be damaged.

See Engine CompartmentOverview on page 5-12 forthe location of theengine oil fill cap.

Be sure to add enough oil to put the level somewhere inthe proper operating range. Push the dipstick all theway back in when you are through.

What Kind of Engine Oil to UseLook for two things:

• GM6094M

Your vehicle’s engine requires oil meeting GMStandard GM6094M. You should look for and useonly an oil that meets GM Standard GM6094M.

5-17

• SAE 5W-30

As shown in the viscosity chart, SAE 5W-30 is bestfor your vehicle. However, if it is going to be 0°F(–18°C) or above and SAE 5W-30 is not available,you may use SAE 10W-30.These numbers on an oil container show itsviscosity, or thickness. Do not use other viscosityoils such as SAE 20W-50.

Oils meeting theserequirements should alsohave the starburstsymbol on the container.This symbol indicatesthat the oil has beencertified by the AmericanPetroleum Institute (API).

You should look for this information on the oil container,and use only those oils that are identified as meetingGM Standard GM6094M and have the starburst symbolon the front of the oil container.

5-18

Notice: Use only engine oil identified as meetingGM Standard GM6094M and showing the AmericanPetroleum Institute Certified For Gasoline Enginesstarburst symbol. Failure to use the recommendedoil can result in engine damage not covered byyour warranty.

GM Goodwrench® oil meets all the requirements foryour vehicle.

If you are in an area of extreme cold, where thetemperature falls below −20°F (−29°C), it isrecommended that you use either an SAE 5W-30synthetic oil or an SAE 0W-30 oil. Both will provideeasier cold starting and better protection for your engineat extremely low temperatures.

Engine Oil AdditivesDo not add anything to your oil. The recommended oilswith the starburst symbol that meet GM StandardGM6094M are all you will need for good performanceand engine protection.

When to Change Engine Oil (GM OilLife System)Your vehicle has a computer system that lets you knowwhen to change the engine oil and filter. This is based onengine revolutions and engine temperature, and not onmileage. Based on driving conditions, the mileage atwhich an oil change will be indicated can varyconsiderably. For the oil life system to work properly, youmust reset the system every time the oil is changed.

When the system has calculated that oil life has beendiminished, it will indicate that an oil change isnecessary. A CHANGE OIL light will come on. Changeyour oil as soon as possible within the next twotimes you stop for fuel. It is possible that, if you aredriving under the best conditions, the oil life system maynot indicate that an oil change is necessary for over ayear. However, your engine oil and filter must bechanged at least once a year and at this time the systemmust be reset. Your dealer has GM-trained servicepeople who will perform this work using genuine GMparts and reset the system. It is also important to checkyour oil regularly and keep it at the proper level.

If the system is ever reset accidentally, you must changeyour oil at 3,000 miles (5 000 km) since your last oilchange. Remember to reset the oil life system wheneverthe oil is changed.

5-19

How to Reset the CHANGE OIL LightThe GM Oil Life System calculates when to changeyour engine oil and filter based on vehicle use. Anytimeyour oil is changed, reset the system so it cancalculate when the next oil change is required. If asituation occurs where you change your oil prior to aCHANGE OIL light being turned on, reset the system.

After changing the engine oil, the system must be reset.To reset the CHANGE OIL light use the followingprocedure:

Using the Accelerator Pedal1. Turn the ignition to ON, with the engine off.

2. Fully press and release the accelerator pedal slowlythree times within five seconds.The reset is complete when you hear the chimesand the CHANGE OIL light goes out. However, if thelight stays on and no chime is heard, you willneed to repeat the reset procedure.

3. Turn the key to OFF.

If the CHANGE OIL light comes back on when you startyour vehicle, the engine oil life system has not reset.Repeat the procedure.

What to Do with Used OilUsed engine oil contains certain elements that may beunhealthy for your skin and could even cause cancer.Do not let used oil stay on your skin for very long. Cleanyour skin and nails with soap and water, or a goodhand cleaner. Wash or properly dispose of clothing orrags containing used engine oil. See the manufacturer’swarnings about the use and disposal of oil products.

Used oil can be a threat to the environment. If youchange your own oil, be sure to drain all the oil from thefilter before disposal. Never dispose of oil by putting itin the trash, pouring it on the ground, into sewers, or intostreams or bodies of water. Instead, recycle it bytaking it to a place that collects used oil. If you have aproblem properly disposing of your used oil, askyour dealer, a service station or a local recycling centerfor help.

5-20

Engine Air Cleaner/Filter

See Engine Compartment Overview on page 5-12 formore information on location.

When to Inspect the Engine AirCleaner/FilterInspect the air cleaner/filter at every oil change andreplace at the first oil change after 25,000 miles(40 000 km).

How to Inspect the Engine AirCleaner/FilterTo inspect the air cleaner/filter, remove the filter fromthe vehicle and lightly shake filter to release loose dustand dirt. If the filter remains “caked” with dirt, a newfilter is required.

2.2L L4 ECOTEC™ Engine shown, 3400 V6 Enginesimilar

5-21

To inspect or replace the engine air cleaner/filter, do thefollowing:

1. Remove the screws that hold the cover on.

2. Lift off the cover.

3. Check or replace the engine air cleaner/filter.

4. Put the cover back on tightly.

Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine whento replace the air filter.

See Scheduled Maintenance on page 6-4.

{CAUTION:

Operating the engine with the air cleaner/filteroff can cause you or others to be burned. Theair cleaner not only cleans the air, it helps tostop flame if the engine backfires. If it is notthere and the engine backfires, you couldbe burned. Do not drive with it off, and becareful working on the engine with the aircleaner/filter off.

Notice: If the air cleaner/filter is off, a backfire cancause a damaging engine fire. And, dirt caneasily get into your engine, which will damage it.Always have the air cleaner/filter in place when youare driving.

Automatic Transaxle FluidIt is not necessary to check the transaxle fluid level. Atransaxle fluid leak is the only reason for fluid loss. If aleak occurs, take the vehicle to the dealership servicedepartment and have it repaired as soon as possible. Youmay also have your fluid level checked by your dealer orservice center when you have your oil changed.

Change both the fluid and filter every 50,000 miles(83 000 km) if the vehicle is mainly driven under one ormore of these conditions:

• In heavy city traffic where the outside temperatureregularly reaches 90°F (32°C) or higher.

• In hilly or mountainous terrain.

• When doing frequent trailer towing.

• Uses such as found in taxi, police or deliveryservice.

5-22

If you do not use your vehicle under any of theseconditions, the fluid and filter do not require changing.

Notice: Use of automatic transaxle fluid labeledother than DEXRON ®-III may damage your vehicle,and the damages may not be covered by yourwarranty. Always use DEXRON ®-III labeled automatictransaxle fluid.

Manual Transaxle FluidIt is not necessary to check the transaxle fluid level. Atransaxle fluid leak is the only reason for fluid loss.If a leak occurs, take the vehicle to the dealershipservice department and have it repaired as soon aspossible. You may also have your fluid level checked byyour dealer or service center when you have your oilchanged. See Recommended Fluids and Lubricants onpage 6-12 for the proper fluid to use.

Hydraulic ClutchThe hydraulic clutch linkage in your vehicle isself-adjusting. The clutch master cylinder reservoir isfilled with hydraulic clutch fluid.

It is not necessary to regularly check clutch fluid unlessyou suspect there is a leak in the system. Addingfluid won’t correct a leak.

A fluid loss in this system could indicate a problem.Have the system inspected and repaired.

When to Check and What to Use

Refer to the MaintenanceSchedule to determinehow often you shouldcheck the fluid level in yourmaster cylinder reservoirand for the properfluid. See Owner Checksand Services on page 6-8and RecommendedFluids and Lubricants onpage 6-12.

5-23

How to Check and Add FluidYou do not need to check the fluid level unless yoususpect a clutch problem. To check the fluid level, takethe cap off. If the fluid level reaches the top of thereservoir, the fluid level is correct. It isn’t a good idea totop off your clutch fluid. Adding fluid won’t correct aleak. A fluid loss in this system could indicate a problem.Have the system inspected and repaired.

Engine CoolantThe cooling system in your vehicle is filled withDEX-COOL® engine coolant. This coolant is designedto remain in your vehicle for 5 years or 150,000 miles(240 000 km), whichever occurs first, if you addonly DEX-COOL® extended life coolant.

The following explains your cooling system and how toadd coolant when it is low. If you have a problemwith engine overheating, see Engine Overheating onpage 5-27.

A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water andDEX-COOL® coolant will:

• Give freezing protection down to −34°F (−37°C).

• Give boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C).

• Protect against rust and corrosion.

• Help keep the proper engine temperature.

• Let the warning lights and gages work as theyshould.

Notice: Using coolant other than DEX-COOL ® maycause premature engine, heater core or radiatorcorrosion. In addition, the engine coolant mayrequire changing sooner, at 30,000 miles (50 000 km)or 24 months, whichever occurs first. Any repairswould not be covered by your warranty. Always useDEX-COOL®(silicate-free) coolant in your vehicle.

5-24

What to UseUse a mixture of one-half clean, drinkable water andone-half DEX-COOL® coolant which won’t damagealuminum parts. If you use this coolant mixture,you don’t need to add anything else.

{CAUTION:

Adding only plain water to your coolingsystem can be dangerous. Plain water, orsome other liquid such as alcohol, can boilbefore the proper coolant mixture will. Yourvehicle’s coolant warning system is set for theproper coolant mixture. With plain water or thewrong mixture, your engine could get too hotbut you would not get the overheat warning.Your engine could catch fire and you or otherscould be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,drinkable water and DEX-COOL ® coolant.

Notice: If you use an improper coolant mixture,your engine could overheat and be badly damaged.The repair cost would not be covered by yourwarranty. Too much water in the mixture can freezeand crack the engine, radiator, heater core andother parts.

If you have to add coolant more than four times a year,have your dealer check your cooling system.

Notice: If you use the proper coolant, you do nothave to add extra inhibitors or additives which claimto improve the system. These can be harmful.

5-25

Checking Coolant The coolant surge tank is located in the enginecompartment on the passenger’s side of the vehicle.See Engine Compartment Overview on page 5-12for more information on location.

{CAUTION:

Turning the surge tank pressure cap when theengine and radiator are hot can allow steamand scalding liquids to blow out and burn youbadly. Never turn the surge tank pressurecap — even a little — when the engine andradiator are hot.

2.2L L4 ECOTEC™ Engine shown, 3400 V6 Enginesimilar

5-26

The vehicle must be on a level surface. When yourengine is cold, the coolant level should be at the FULLCOLD mark, or a little higher.

If the low coolant lightcomes on and stays on, itmeans you’re low onengine coolant.

See Low Coolant Warning Light on page 3-32 for moreinformation.

Adding CoolantIf you need more coolant, add the proper DEX-COOL®

coolant mixture at the surge tank, but only when theengine is cool. If the surge tank is empty, a special fillprocedure is necessary. See Engine Overheatingon page 5-27 and “How to Add Coolant to the CoolantSurge Tank” under Cooling System on page 5-30for instructions.

{CAUTION:

You can be burned if you spill coolant on hotengine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol,and it will burn if the engine parts are hotenough. Do not spill coolant on a hot engine.

When replacing the pressure cap, make sure it ishand-tight.

Engine OverheatingYou will find a coolant temperature gage and a lowcoolant warning light on your vehicle’s instrument panel.See Engine Coolant Temperature Gage on page 3-31and Low Coolant Warning Light on page 3-32.

5-27

If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine{CAUTION:

Steam from an overheated engine can burnyou badly, even if you just open the hood. Stayaway from the engine if you see or hear steamcoming from it. Just turn it off and geteveryone away from the vehicle until it coolsdown. Wait until there is no sign of steam orcoolant before you open the hood.

If you keep driving when your engine isoverheated, the liquids in it can catch fire. Youor others could be badly burned. Stop yourengine if it overheats, and get out of thevehicle until the engine is cool.

Notice: If your engine catches fire because youkeep driving with no coolant, your vehicle canbe badly damaged. The costly repairs would not becovered by your warranty.

5-28

If No Steam Is Coming From YourEngineAn overheat warning, along with a low coolant light, canindicate a serious problem. See Low Coolant WarningLight on page 3-32.

If you get an engine overheat warning with no lowcoolant light, but see or hear no steam, the problem maynot be too serious. Sometimes the engine can get alittle too hot when you:

• Climb a long hill on a hot day.

• Stop after high-speed driving.

• Idle for long periods in traffic.

• Tow a trailer.

If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam,try this for a minute or so:

1. In heavy traffic, let the engine idle in NEUTRAL (N)while stopped. If it is safe to do so, pull off the road,shift to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) and let theengine idle.

2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fanspeed and open the window as necessary.

If you no longer have the overheat warning, you candrive. Just to be safe, drive slower for about 10 minutes.If the warning doesn’t come back on, you can drivenormally.

If the warning continues, pull over, stop, and park yourvehicle right away.

If there’s still no sign of steam, you can idle the enginefor three minutes while you’re parked. If you stillhave the warning, turn off the engine and get everyoneout of the vehicle until it cools down.

You may decide not to lift the hood but to get servicehelp right away.

5-29

Cooling SystemWhen you decide it’s safe to lift the hood, here’s whatyou’ll see:

A. Coolant Surge Tank with Pressure CapB. Electric Engine Cooling Fan

{CAUTION:

An electric engine cooling fan under the hoodcan start up even when the engine is notrunning and can injure you. Keep hands,clothing and tools away from any underhoodelectric fan.

If the coolant inside the coolant surge tank is boiling,don’t do anything else until it cools down. The vehicleshould be parked on a level surface.

2.2L L4 Engine shown, 3400 V6 Engine similar

5-30

The coolant level should be at or above the FULL COLDmark. If it isn’t, you may have a leak at the pressure capor in the radiator hoses, heater hoses, radiator, waterpump or somewhere else in the cooling system.

{CAUTION:

Heater and radiator hoses, and other engineparts, can be very hot. Do not touch them. Ifyou do, you can be burned.



Do not run the engine if there is a leak. If yourun the engine, it could lose all coolant. Thatcould cause an engine fire, and you could beburned. Get any leak fixed before you drive thevehicle.

If there seems to be no leak, with the engine on, checkto see if the electric engine cooling fans are running.If the engine is overheating, both fans should berunning. If they aren’t, your vehicle needs service.

Notice: If you operate the engine without coolantor fail to maintain the cooling system properly,you could damage the engine. The repairs would notbe covered by your warranty. Always follow themaintenance schedule in this manual formaintaining your cooling system. See CoolingSystem on page 5-30 for more information.

Notice: Using coolant other than DEX-COOL ® maycause premature engine, heater core or radiatorcorrosion. In addition, the engine coolant mayrequire changing sooner, at 30,000 miles (50 000 km)or 24 months, whichever occurs first. Any repairswould not be covered by your warranty. Always useDEX-COOL®(silicate-free) coolant in your vehicle.

5-31

How to Add Coolant to the CoolantSurge Tank

Notice: This vehicle has a specific coolant fillprocedure. Failure to follow this procedure couldcause your engine to overheat and be severelydamaged.

If you haven’t found a problem yet, check to see ifcoolant is visible in the surge tank. If coolant is visiblebut the coolant level isn’t at or above the FULLCOLD mark, add a 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkablewater and DEX-COOL® coolant at the coolantsurge tank, but be sure the cooling system, includingthe coolant surge tank pressure cap, is cool before youdo it. See Engine Coolant on page 5-24 for moreinformation.

If no coolant is visible in the surge tank, add coolant asfollows:

{CAUTION:

Steam and scalding liquids from a hot coolingsystem can blow out and burn you badly. Theyare under pressure, and if you turn the radiatorpressure cap — even a little — they can comeout at high speed. Never turn the cap when thecooling system, including the radiator pressurecap, is hot. Wait for the cooling system andradiator pressure cap to cool if you ever haveto turn the pressure cap.

5-32

{CAUTION:

Adding only plain water to your coolingsystem can be dangerous. Plain water, orsome other liquid such as alcohol, can boilbefore the proper coolant mixture will.



Your vehicle’s coolant warning system is setfor the proper coolant mixture. With plainwater or the wrong mixture, your engine couldget too hot but you would not get the overheatwarning. Your engine could catch fire and youor others could be burned. Use a 50/50 mixtureof clean, drinkable water and DEX-COOL ®

coolant.

Notice: In cold weather, water can freeze and crackthe engine, radiator, heater core and other parts.Use the recommended coolant and the propercoolant mixture.

{CAUTION:

You can be burned if you spill coolant on hotengine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycoland it will burn if the engine parts are hotenough. Do not spill coolant on a hot engine.

5-33

1. Park the vehicle on a level surface.You can remove the coolant surge tank pressurecap when the cooling system, including the coolantsurge tank pressure cap and upper radiatorhose, is no longer hot.

2. Turn the pressure cap slowly counterclockwise (left)about two or two and one-half turns. If you hear ahiss, wait for that to stop. This will allow any pressurestill left to be vented out the discharge hose.

3. Keep turning thepressure cap slowly,and remove it.

5-34

4. Fill the coolant surge tank with the proper mixture,to the hash mark on the label. Wait about fiveminutes, then check to see if the level is below thehash mark. If the level is below the hash mark,add additional coolant to bring the level up to thehash mark. Repeat this procedure until thelevel remains constant at the hash mark for at leastfive minutes.

5. With the coolant surge tank pressure cap off, startthe engine and let it run until you can feel the upperradiator hose getting hot. Watch out for theengine cooling fans.By this time, the coolant level inside the coolantsurge tank may be lower. If the level is lower thanthe FULL COLD mark, add more of the propermixture to the coolant surge tank until the levelreaches the FULL COLD mark.

5-35

6. Replace the pressure cap. Be sure the pressurecap is hand-tight and fully seated.

See your dealer, if necessary.

Power Steering Fluid

When to Check Power Steering FluidIt is not necessary to regularly check power steering fluidunless you suspect there is a leak in the system oryou hear an unusual noise. A fluid loss in this systemcould indicate a problem. Have the system inspectedand repaired. See Engine Compartment Overviewon page 5-12 for reservoir location.

5-36

How to Check Power Steering FluidTurn the key off, let the engine compartment cool down,wipe the cap and the top of the reservoir clean, thenunscrew the cap and wipe the dipstick with a clean rag.Replace the cap and completely tighten it. Then removethe cap again and look at the fluid level on the dipstick.

The level should be at the FULL COLD mark. Ifnecessary, add only enough fluid to bring the level up tothe mark.

What to UseTo determine what kind of fluid to use, seeRecommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-12.Always use the proper fluid. Failure to use the properfluid can cause leaks and damage hoses and seals.

Windshield Washer Fluid

What to UseWhen you need windshield washer fluid, be sure to readthe manufacturer’s instructions before use. If you will beoperating your vehicle in an area where the temperaturemay fall below freezing, use a fluid that has sufficientprotection against freezing. See Engine CompartmentOverview on page 5-12 for reservoir location.

Adding Washer Fluid

Your vehicle has a lowwasher fluid telltale thatwill come on in theinstrument panel clusterwhen the washer fluidis low.

See Low Washer Fluid Warning Light on page 3-38 formore information.

5-37

The windshield washerfluid reservoir is located inthe engine compartmenttowards the front ofthe vehicle.

Open the cap with the washer symbol on it. Add washerfluid until the tank is full.

Notice:

• When using concentrated washer fluid, follow themanufacturer’s instructions for adding water.

• Do not mix water with ready-to-use washer fluid.Water can cause the solution to freeze anddamage your washer fluid tank and other parts ofthe washer system. Also, water does not clean aswell as washer fluid.

• Fill your washer fluid tank only three-quarters fullwhen it is very cold. This allows for expansion iffreezing occurs, which could damage the tank ifit is completely full.

• Do not use engine coolant (antifreeze) in yourwindshield washer. It can damage your washersystem and paint.

Brakes

Brake Fluid

5-38

Your brake master cylinder reservoir is filled with DOT-3brake fluid. See Engine Compartment Overview onpage 5-12 for the location of the reservoir.

There are only two reasons why the brake fluid level inthe reservoir might go down. The first is that thebrake fluid goes down to an acceptable level duringnormal brake lining wear. When new linings are put in,the fluid level goes back up. The other reason isthat fluid is leaking out of the brake system. If it is, youshould have your brake system fixed, since a leakmeans that sooner or later your brakes will not workwell, or will not work at all.

So, it is not a good idea to “top off” your brake fluid.Adding brake fluid will not correct a leak. If you add fluidwhen your linings are worn, then you will have toomuch fluid when you get new brake linings. You shouldadd (or remove) brake fluid, as necessary, only whenwork is done on the brake hydraulic system.

{CAUTION:

If you have too much brake fluid, it can spill onthe engine. The fluid will burn if the engine ishot enough. You or others could be burned,and your vehicle could be damaged. Add brakefluid only when work is done on the brakehydraulic system.

When your brake fluid falls to a low level, your brakewarning light will come on. See Brake System WarningLight on page 3-28.


5-39

What to AddWhen you do need brake fluid, use only DOT-3 brakefluid. Use new brake fluid from a sealed containeronly. See Recommended Fluids and Lubricants onpage 6-12.

Always clean the brake fluid reservoir cap and the areaaround the cap before removing it. This will helpkeep dirt from entering the reservoir.

{CAUTION:

With the wrong kind of fluid in your brakesystem, your brakes may not work well, or theymay not even work at all. This could cause acrash. Always use the proper brake fluid.

Notice:

• Using the wrong fluid can badly damage brakesystem parts. For example, just a few drops ofmineral-based oil, such as engine oil, in yourbrake system can damage brake system parts sobadly that they will have to be replaced. Do notlet someone put in the wrong kind of fluid.

• If you spill brake fluid on your vehicle’s paintedsurfaces, the paint finish can be damaged. Becareful not to spill brake fluid on your vehicle. Ifyou do, wash it off immediately. See AppearanceCare on page 5-84.

5-40

Brake WearDisc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that makea high-pitched warning sound when the brake padsare worn and new pads are needed. The soundmay come and go or be heard all the time your vehicleis moving (except when you are pushing on thebrake pedal firmly).

{CAUTION:

The brake wear warning sound means thatsoon your brakes will not work well. Thatcould lead to an accident. When you hear thebrake wear warning sound, have your vehicleserviced.

Notice: Continuing to drive with worn-out brakepads could result in costly brake repair.

Some driving conditions or climates may cause a brakesqueal when the brakes are first applied or lightlyapplied. This does not mean something is wrong withyour brakes.

Properly torqued wheel nuts are necessary to helpprevent brake pulsation. When tires are rotated, inspectbrake pads for wear and evenly tighten wheel nuts inthe proper sequence to GM torque specifications.

If you have rear drum brakes, they do not have wearindicators, but if you ever hear a rear brake rubbingnoise, have the rear brake linings inspected immediately.Also, the rear brake drums should be removed andinspected each time the tires are removed for rotation orchanging. When you have the front brake padsreplaced, have the rear brakes inspected, too.

Brake linings should always be replaced as completeaxle sets.

5-41

Brake Pedal TravelSee your dealer if the brake pedal does not return tonormal height, or if there is a rapid increase inpedal travel. This could be a sign of brake trouble.

Brake AdjustmentEvery time you make a moderate brake stop, your discbrakes adjust for wear. If you rarely make a moderateor heavier stop, then your brakes might not adjustcorrectly. If you drive in that way, then — verycarefully — make a few moderate brake stops aboutevery 1,000 miles (1 600 km), so your brakes will adjustproperly.

Replacing Brake System PartsThe braking system on a vehicle is complex. Its manyparts have to be of top quality and work well together ifthe vehicle is to have really good braking. Yourvehicle was designed and tested with top-quality GMbrake parts. When you replace parts of your brakingsystem — for example, when your brake liningswear down and you need new ones put in — be sureyou get new approved replacement parts. If you do not,your brakes may no longer work properly. Forexample, if someone puts in brake linings that arewrong for your vehicle, the balance between your frontand rear brakes can change — for the worse. Thebraking performance you have come to expectcan change in many other ways if someone puts in thewrong replacement brake parts.

5-42

BatteryYour new vehicle comes with a maintenance freeACDelco® battery. When it is time for a new battery, getone that has the replacement number shown on theoriginal battery’s label. We recommend an ACDelco®

battery. See Engine Compartment Overview onpage 5-12 for battery location.Warning: Battery posts, terminals and relatedaccessories contain lead and lead compounds,chemicals known to the State of California to causecancer and reproductive harm. Wash hands afterhandling.

Vehicle StorageIf you are not going to drive your vehicle for 25 daysor more, remove the black, negative (−) cable fromthe battery. This will help keep your battery fromrunning down.

{CAUTION:

Batteries have acid that can burn you and gasthat can explode. You can be badly hurt if youare not careful. See Jump Starting onpage 5-44 for tips on working around a batterywithout getting hurt.

Contact your dealer to learn how to prepare yourvehicle for longer storage periods.

Also, for your audio system, see Theft-DeterrentFeature on page 3-70.

5-43

Jump StartingIf your battery has run down, you may want to useanother vehicle and some jumper cables to start yourvehicle. Be sure to follow the steps below to do it safely.

{CAUTION:

Batteries can hurt you. They can be dangerousbecause:

• They contain acid that can burn you.• They contain gas that can explode or

ignite.• They contain enough electricity to

burn you.

If you do not follow these steps exactly, someor all of these things can hurt you.

Notice: Ignoring these steps could result in costlydamage to your vehicle that would not be coveredby your warranty.

Trying to start your vehicle by pushing or pulling itwill not work, and it could damage your vehicle.

1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-voltbattery with a negative ground system.

Notice: If the other vehicle’s system is not a 12-voltsystem with a negative ground, both vehicles canbe damaged. Only use vehicles with 12-volt systemswith negative grounds to jump start your vehicle.

2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cablescan reach, but be sure the vehicles aren’t touchingeach other. If they are, it could cause a groundconnection you don’t want. You wouldn’t be able tostart your vehicle, and the bad grounding coulddamage the electrical systems.To avoid the possibility of the vehicles rolling, setthe parking brake firmly on both vehicles involved inthe jump start procedure. Put an automatictransaxle in PARK (P) or a manual transaxle inNeutral before setting the parking brake.

Notice: If you leave your radio or other accessorieson during the jump starting procedure, they couldbe damaged. The repairs would not be coveredby your warranty. Always turn off your radio andother accessories when jump starting your vehicle.

3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplugunnecessary accessories plugged into the cigarettelighter. Turn off the radio and all lamps that aren’tneeded. This will avoid sparks and help saveboth batteries. And it could save your radio!

5-44

4. Open the hoods and locate the batteries. Find thepositive (+) and negative (−) terminal locations oneach vehicle. See Engine Compartment Overviewon page 5-12 for more information on location.

{CAUTION:

An electric fan can start up even when theengine is not running and can injure you. Keephands, clothing and tools away from anyunderhood electric fan.

{CAUTION:

Using a match near a battery can cause batterygas to explode. People have been hurt doingthis, and some have been blinded. Use aflashlight if you need more light.



Be sure the battery has enough water. You donot need to add water to the ACDelco ® batteryinstalled in your new vehicle. But if a batteryhas filler caps, be sure the right amount offluid is there.If it is low, add water to take careof that first. If you do not, explosive gas couldbe present.

Battery fluid contains acid that can burn you.Do not get it on you. If you accidentally get itin your eyes or on your skin, flush the placewith water and get medical help immediately.

{CAUTION:

Fans or other moving engine parts can injureyou badly. Keep your hands away from movingparts once the engine is running.

5-45

5. Check that the jumper cables don’t have loose ormissing insulation. If they do, you could get ashock. The vehicles could be damaged too.Before you connect the cables, here are somebasic things you should know. Positive (+) will go topositive (+) or to a remote positive (+) terminal ifthe vehicle has one. Negative (−) will go to a heavy,unpainted metal engine part or to a remotenegative (−) terminal if the vehicle with the deadbattery has one.Don’t connect positive (+) to negative (−) or you’llget a short that would damage the battery andmaybe other parts, too. And don’t connectthe negative (−) cable to the negative (−) terminalon the dead battery because this can cause sparks.

6. Connect the red positive (+) cable to the positive (+)terminal of the dead battery. Use a remotepositive (+) terminal if the vehicle has one.

5-46

7. Don’t let the other endtouch metal. Connect itto the positive (+)terminal of the goodbattery. Use a remotepositive (+) terminalif the vehicle has one.

8. Now connect the blacknegative (−) cable tothe negative (−)terminal of the goodbattery. Use a remotenegative (−) terminalif the vehicle has one.

Don’t let the other end touch anything until the nextstep. The other end of the negative (−) cable doesn’tgo to the dead battery. It goes to a heavy, unpaintedmetal engine part or to a remote negative (−)terminal on the vehicle with the dead battery.

5-47

9. Connect the other end of the negative (−) cable atleast 18 inches (45 cm) away from the dead battery,but not near engine parts that move. The electricalconnection is just as good there, and the chanceof sparks getting back to the battery is much less.

10. Now start the vehicle with the good battery and runthe engine for a while.

11. Try to start the vehicle that has the dead battery. Ifit won’t start after a few tries, it probably needsservice.

Notice: If the jumper cables are removed in thewrong order, electrical shorting may occur anddamage the vehicle. The repairs would not becovered by your warranty. Remove the jumpercables in the correct order, making sure that thecables do not touch each other or other metal.

5-48

A. Heavy, Unpainted Metal Engine PartB. Good BatteryC. Dead Battery

To disconnect the jumper cables from both vehicles, dothe following:

1. Disconnect the black negative (−) cable from thevehicle that had the dead battery.

2. Disconnect the black negative (−) cable from thevehicle with the good battery.

3. Disconnect the red positive (+) cable from thevehicle with the good battery.

4. Disconnect the red positive (+) cable from the othervehicle.

Jumper Cable Removal

5-49

Headlamp Aiming

Your vehicle has a headlamp system equipped withhorizontal and vertical aim indicators. The aim has beenpre-set at the factory and should need no furtheradjustment. This is true even though your vertical andhorizontal aim indicators may not fall exactly on the“0” (zero) marks on their scales.

If your vehicle is damaged in an accident, the headlampaim may be affected. Aim adjustment may be necessaryif it is difficult to see lane markers (for horizontalaim), or if oncoming drivers flash their high beams atyou (for vertical aim). If you believe your headlampsneed to be re-aimed, we recommend that you take it toyour dealer for service; however, it is possible foryou to re-aim your headlamps as described in thefollowing procedure.

Notice: To make sure your headlamps are aimedproperly, read all the instructions before beginning.Failure to follow these instructions could causedamage to headlamp parts.

To check the aim, the vehicle should be properlyprepared as follows:

• The vehicle must have all four tires on a perfectlylevel surface.

• If necessary, pads may be used on an unevensurface.

• The vehicle should not have any snow, ice or mudattached to it.

• The vehicle should be fully assembled and all otherwork stopped while headlamp aiming is being done.

• There should not be any cargo or loading of thevehicle, except it should have a full tank of fuel andone person or 160 lbs. (75 kg) on the driver’s seat.

• Close all doors.

• Tires should be properly inflated.

• Rock the vehicle to stabilize the suspension.

5-50

Start with the horizontalaim. The adjustmentscrews can be turned withan E8 Torx ® socket.

Once the horizontal aim is adjusted, then adjust thevertical aim. 1. Turn the horizontal aiming screw until the indicator

is lined up with zero.

2. Turn the vertical aiming screw until the level bubbleis lined up with zero.

Horizontal Aiming Vertical Aiming

5-51

Bulb ReplacementFor the type of bulb to use, see Replacement Bulbs onpage 5-54. For any bulb changing procedure notlisted in this section, contact your dealer.

Halogen Bulbs

{CAUTION:

Halogen bulbs have pressurized gas insideand can burst if you drop or scratch the bulb.You or others could be injured. Be sure to readand follow the instructions on the bulbpackage.

Headlamps1. Lift up on the two retaining clips which secure the

headlamp assembly.

2. Lift and pull the headlamp assembly forward, out ofthe mounting bracket.

3. Remove the rubber cap covering the bulb assembly.

5-52

4. Turn the bulb assembly retainer counterclockwiseone-sixth of a turn and pull out the bulb assembly.

5. Unclip the bulb assembly from the wiring harness.

6. Replace the bulb.

7. Reverse Steps 1 through 5 to reinstall the bulbassembly and headlamp housing.

Front Turn Signal and ParkingLamps

1. Remove the headlamp assembly. Refer to theremoval procedure earlier in this section.

2. Turn the bulb assembly retainer and pull outthe bulb.

3. Unclip the bulb assembly from the wiring harness.

4. When replacing the bulb, be sure to properlyalign the bulb with the locating feature in theassembly.

5. Reverse Steps 1 through 3 to reinstall the bulbassembly.

Center High-Mounted Stoplamp(CHMSL)

1. Open the trunk lid and locate the centerhigh-mounted stop lamp on the inside of the lid.

2. Use a tool to remove the three screws.

3. Gently remove and replace the bulb(s).

4. Reverse this procedure to reassemble the lamp.

5-53

Taillamps, Turn Signal, andStoplamps

A. TaillampB. Tail/Brake LampC. Taillamp

D. Turn SignalE. Back-Up Lamp

1. Disconnect the cargo net in the trunk.

2. Pull back the trunk trim.

3. Remove the three wing nut bolts which fasten thetaillamp lens to the vehicle.

4. Carefully remove the taillamp lens from the bodyand avoid scratching the paint or dropping it.

5. Turn the bulb socket 1/6 of a turn counterclockwiseand pull out the bulb assembly.

6. To remove a bulb, gently pull the bulb out from thesocket. Put in a new bulb.

7. Reverse Steps 3 through 5 to reassemble thetaillamp.

Replacement Bulbs

Exterior Lamps Bulb NumberCenter High-Mounted Stop Lamp 912Turn Signal Lamps 3157Stop/Taillamps 3157Halogen Headlamps-Low Beam 9006Halogen Headlamps-High Beam 9005Parking/Turn Signal Lamps 3157NA or 3157AFor any bulb not listed here contact your dealer.

5-54

Windshield Wiper BladeReplacementWindshield wiper blades should be inspected at leasttwice a year for wear or cracking. See “Wiper BladeCheck” in Scheduled Maintenance on page 6-4 for moreinformation.

Replacement blades come in different types and areremoved in different ways. Here’s how to removethe wiper blade:

1. Pull the windshield wiper arm away from thewindshield.

2. Push the release lever and slide the wiper assemblytoward the driver’s side of the vehicle.

3. Install a new blade by reversing Steps 1 and 2.

For the proper type and size, see Capacities andSpecifications on page 5-98.

5-55

TiresYour new vehicle comes with high-quality tires made bya leading tire manufacturer. If you ever have questionsabout your tire warranty and where to obtain service,see your GM Warranty booklet for details. For additionalinformation refer to the tire manufacturer’s bookletincluded with your vehicle’s Owner’s Manual.

{CAUTION:

Poorly maintained and improperly used tiresare dangerous.

• Overloading your tires can causeoverheating as a result of too muchfriction. You could have an air-out and aserious accident. See “Loading YourVehicle” in the Index.



• Underinflated tires pose the same dangeras overloaded tires. The resulting accidentcould cause serious injury. Check all tiresfrequently to maintain the recommendedpressure. Tire pressure should be checkedwhen your tires are cold.

• Overinflated tires are more likely to becut, punctured or broken by a suddenimpact — such as when you hit a pothole.Keep tires at the recommended pressure.

• Worn, old tires can cause accidents. Ifyour tread is badly worn, or if your tireshave been damaged, replace them.

Tire Sidewall LabelingUseful information about a tire is molded into itssidewall. The examples below show a typical passengercar tire and a compact spare tire sidewall.

5-56

(A) Tire Size: The tire size code is a combination ofletters and numbers used to define a particulartire’s width, height, aspect ratio, construction type andservice description. See the “Tire Size” illustrationlater in this section for more detail.

(B) Tire Performance Criteria Specification (TPCSpec): Original equipment tires designed to GM’sspecific tire performance criteria have a TPC specificationcode molded onto the sidewall. GM’s TPC specificationsmeet or exceed all federal safety guidelines.

(C) Department of Transportation (DOT): TheDepartment of Transportation (DOT) code indicates thatthe tire is in compliance with the U.S. Department ofTransportation Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.

(D) Tire Identification Number (TIN): The letters andnumbers following DOT code are the Tire IdentificationNumber (TIN). The TIN shows the manufacturerand plant code, tire size, and date the tire wasmanufactured. The TIN is molded onto both sides of thetire, although only one side may have the date ofmanufacture.

Passenger Car Tire Example

5-57

(E) Tire Ply Material: The type of cord and number ofplies in the sidewall and under the tread.

(F) Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG): Tiremanufacturers are required to grade tires based on threeperformance factors: treadwear, traction andtemperature resistance. For more information seeUniform Tire Quality Grading on page 5-68.

(G) Maximum Cold Inflation Load Limit: Maximumload that can be carried and the maximum pressureneeded to support that load. For more information onrecommended tire pressure see Inflation - Tire Pressureon page 5-63 and Loading Your Vehicle on page 4-34.

Compact Spare Tire Example

5-58

(A) Temporary Use Only: The compact spare tire ortemporary use tire has a tread life of approximately3,000 miles (5 000 km) and should not be drivenat speeds over 65 mph (105 km/h). The compact sparetire is for emergency use when a regular road tirehas lost air and gone flat. See Compact Spare Tire onpage 5-83 and If a Tire Goes Flat on page 5-72.

(B) Tire Ply Material: The type of cord and number ofplies in the sidewall and under the tread.

(C) Tire Identification Number (TIN): The TireIdentification Number (TIN). The TIN shows themanufacturer and plant code, tire size, and date the tirewas manufactured. The TIN is molded onto bothsides of the tire, although only one side may have thedate of manufacture.

(D) Maximum Cold Inflation Load Limit: Maximumload that can be carried and the maximum pressureneeded to support that load. See Compact Spare Tireon page 5-83 and Loading Your Vehicle on page 4-34.

(E) Tire Inflation: The temporary use tire or compactspare tire should be inflated to 60 psi (420 kPa).For more information on tire pressure and inflation seeInflation - Tire Pressure on page 5-63.

(F) Tire Size: A combination of letters and numbersdefine a tire’s width, height, aspect ratio, constructiontype and service description. The letter “T” as thefirst character in the tire size means the tire is fortemporary use only.

(G) Tire Performance Criteria Specification (TPCSpec): Original equipment tires designed to GM’sspecific tire performance criteria have a TPC specificationcode molded onto the sidewall. GM’s TPC specificationsmeet or exceed all federal safety guidelines.

5-59

Tire SizeThe following illustration shows an example of a typicalpassenger car tire size.

(A) P-Metric Tire: The United States version of ametric tire sizing system. The letter “P” as thefirst character in the tire size means a passengervehicle tire engineered to standards set by the U. S.Tire and Rim Association.

(B) Tire Width: The three-digit number indicates thetire section width in millimeters from sidewall to sidewall.

(C) Aspect Ratio: A two-digit number that indicates thetire height-to-width measurements. For example, ifthe tire size aspect ratio is “70,” as shown in item “C” ofthe illustration, it would mean that the tire’s sidewallis 70% as high as it is wide.

(D) Construction Code: A letter code is used toindicate the type of ply construction in the tire. The letter“R” means radial ply construction; the letter “D” meansdiagonal or bias ply construction; and the letter “B”means belted-bias ply construction.

(E) Rim Diameter: Diameter of the wheel in inches.

(F) Service Description: These characters representthe load range and the speed rating of a tire. The loadrange represents the load carrying capacity a tire iscertified to carry. The load index can range from 1 to 279.The speed rating is the maximum speed a tire is certifiedto carry a load. Speed ratings range from “A” to “Z”.

5-60

Tire Terminology and Definitions

Air Pressure: The amount of air inside the tire pressingoutward on each square inch of the tire. Air pressureis expressed in pounds per square inch (psi) orkilopascal (kPa).

Accessory Weight: This means the combined weightof optional accessories. Some examples of optionalaccessories are, automatic transmission, power steering,power brakes, power windows, power seats, and airconditioning.

Aspect Ratio: The relationship of a tire’s height toits width.

Belt: A rubber coated layer of cords that is locatedbetween the plies and the tread. Cords may be madefrom steel or other reinforcing materials.

Bead: The tire bead contains steel wires wrapped bysteel cords that hold the tire onto the rim.

Bias Ply Tire: A pneumatic tire in which the plies arelaid at alternate angles less than 90 degrees to thecenterline of the tread.

Cold Inflation Pressure: The amount of air pressure ina tire, measured in pounds per square inch (psi) before atire has built up heat from driving. See Inflation - TirePressure on page 5-63.

Curb Weight: This means the weight of a motorvehicle with standard and optional equipment includingthe maximum capacity of fuel, oil and coolant, butwithout passengers and cargo.

DOT Markings: A code molded into the sidewall of atire signifying that the tire is in compliance with the U.S.Department of Transportation motor vehicle safetystandards. The DOT code includes the Tire IdentificationNumber (TIN), an alphanumeric designator which canalso identify the tire manufacturer, production plant,brand and date of production.

GVWR: Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, see LoadingYour Vehicle on page 4-34.

GAWR FRT: Gross Axle Weight Rating for the frontaxle, see Loading Your Vehicle on page 4-34.

GAWR RR: Gross Axle Weight Rating for the rear axle,see Loading Your Vehicle on page 4-34.

Intended Outboard Sidewall: The side of anasymmetrical tire that must always face outward whenmounted on a vehicle.

Kilopascal (kPa): The metric unit for air pressure.There are 6.9 kPa’s to one psi.

Light Truck (LT-Metric) Tire: A tire used on light dutytrucks and some multipurpose passenger vehicles.

5-61

Load Index: An assigned number ranging from 1 to 279that corresponds to the load carrying capacity of a tire.

Maximum Inflation Pressure: The maximum airpressure to which a cold tire may be inflated. Themaximum air pressure is molded onto the sidewall.

Maximum Load Rating: The load rating for a tire at themaximum permissible inflation pressure for that tire.

Maximum Loaded Vehicle Weight: The sum of curbweight; accessory weight; vehicle capacity weight;and production options weight.

Normal Occupant Weight: The number of occupants avehicle is designed to seat multiplied by 150 pounds(68 kg). See Loading Your Vehicle on page 4-34.

Occupant Distribution: Designated seating positions.

Outward Facing Sidewall: The side of a asymmetricaltire that has a particular side that faces outwardwhen mounted on a vehicle. The side of the tire thatcontains a whitewall, bears white lettering or bearsmanufacturer, brand and or model name molding that ishigher or deeper than the same moldings on theother sidewall of the tire.

Passenger (P-Metric) Tire: A tire used on passengercars and some light duty trucks and multipurposevehicles.

Recommended Inflation Pressure: Vehiclemanufacturer’s recommended tire inflation pressure andshown on the tire placard. See Inflation - Tire Pressureon page 5-63 and Loading Your Vehicle on page 4-34.

Radial Ply tire: A pneumatic tire in which the ply cordsthat extend to the beads are laid at 90 degrees to thecenterline of the tread.

Rim: A metal support for a tire and upon which the tirebeads are seated.

Sidewall: The portion of a tire between the tread andthe bead.

Speed Rating: An alphanumeric code assigned to atire indicating the maximum speed at which a tirecan operate.

Traction: The friction between the tire and the roadsurface. The amount of grip provided.

Tread: The portion of a tire that comes into contactwith the road.

5-62

Treadwear Indicators: Narrow bands, sometimescalled “wear bars,” that show across the tread of a tirewhen only 2/32 inch of tread remains. See When ItIs Time for New Tires on page 5-66.

UTQGS: Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards, a tireinformation system that provides consumers withratings for a tire’s traction, temperature and treadwear.Ratings are determined by tire manufacturers usinggovernment testing procedures. The ratings are moldedinto the sidewall of the tire. See Uniform Tire QualityGrading on page 5-68.

Vehicle Capacity Weight: The number of designatedseating positions multiplied by 150 lbs. (68 kg) plusthe rated cargo load. See Loading Your Vehicleon page 4-34.

Vehicle Maximum Load on the Tire: Load on anindividual tire due to curb weight, accessory weight,occupant weight and cargo weight.

Vehicle Placard: A label permanently attached to avehicle showing the original equipment tire sizeand recommended inflation pressure. See Loading YourVehicle on page 4-34.

Inflation - Tire PressureThe tire and loading information label, shows the correctinflation pressures for your tires when they’re cold.“Cold” means your vehicle has been sitting for at leastthree hours or driven no more than 1 mile (1.6 km). SeeLoading Your Vehicle on page 4-34, for the locationof your vehicle’s tire and loading information label.

Notice: Don’t let anyone tell you that underinflationor overinflation is all right. It’s not. If your tiresdon’t have enough air (underinflation), you can getthe following:• Too much flexing• Too much heat• Tire overloading• Bad wear• Bad handling• Bad fuel economy

If your tires have too much air (overinflation), youcan get the following:• Unusual wear• Bad handling• Rough ride• Needless damage from road hazards

5-63

When to CheckCheck your tires once a month or more.

Don’t forget your compact spare tire. It should be at60 psi (420 kPa).

How to CheckUse a good quality pocket-type gage to check tirepressure. You can’t tell if your tires are properly inflatedsimply by looking at them. Radial tires may lookproperly inflated even when they’re underinflated. Checkthe tire’s inflation pressure when the tires are cold.Cold means your vehicle has been sitting for at leastthree hours or driven no more than 1 mile (1.6 km).

Remove the valve cap from the tire valve stem. Pressthe tire gage firmly onto the valve to get a pressuremeasurement. If the cold tire inflation pressure matchesthe recommended pressure on the Tire and LoadingInformation label, no further adjustment is necessary. Ifthe inflation pressure is low, add air until you reachthe recommended amount.

If you overfill the tire, release air by pushing on themetal stem in the center of the tire valve. Recheck thetire pressure with the tire gage.

Be sure to put the valve caps back on the valve stems.They help prevent leaks by keeping out dirt andmoisture.

Tire Inspection and RotationTires should be rotated every 5,000 to 8,000 miles(8 000 to 13 000 km).

Any time you notice unusual wear, rotate your tires assoon as possible and check wheel alignment. Alsocheck for damaged tires or wheels. See When It Is Timefor New Tires on page 5-66 and Wheel Replacementon page 5-70 for more information.

The purpose of regular rotation is to achieve moreuniform wear for all tires on the vehicle. The first rotationis the most important. See Scheduled Maintenanceon page 6-4, for scheduled rotation intervals.

5-64

When rotating your tires, always use the correct rotationpattern shown here.

Don’t include the compact spare tire in your tire rotation.

After the tires have been rotated, adjust the front andrear inflation pressures as shown on the Tire andLoading Information label.

Make certain that all wheel nuts are properly tightened.See “Wheel Nut Torque” under Capacities andSpecifications on page 5-98.

{CAUTION:

Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts towhich it is fastened, can make wheel nutsbecome loose after a time. The wheel couldcome off and cause an accident. When youchange a wheel, remove any rust or dirt fromplaces where the wheel attaches to the vehicle.In an emergency, you can use a cloth or apaper towel to do this; but be sure to use ascraper or wire brush later, if you need to, toget all the rust or dirt off. See “Changing a FlatTire” in the Index.

5-65

When It Is Time for New Tires

One way to tell when it’stime for new tires is tocheck the treadwearindicators, which willappear when your tireshave only 1/16 inch(1.6 mm) or less of treadremaining.

You need a new tire if any of the following statementsare true:

• You can see the indicators at three or more placesaround the tire.

• You can see cord or fabric showing through thetire’s rubber.

• The tread or sidewall is cracked, cut or snaggeddeep enough to show cord or fabric.

• The tire has a bump, bulge or split.

• The tire has a puncture, cut or other damage thatcan’t be repaired well because of the size orlocation of the damage.

Buying New TiresTo find out what kind and size of tires your vehicleneeds, look at the tire and loading information label. Formore information about this label and its location onyour vehicle, see Loading Your Vehicle on page 4-34.

The tires installed on your vehicle when it was new had aTire Performance Criteria Specification (TPC Spec)number on each tire’s sidewall. When you get new tires,GM recommends that you get tires with that same TPCSpec number. That way your vehicle will continue to havetires that are designed to give proper endurance,handling, speed rating, load range, traction, ride andother things during normal service on your vehicle. If yourtires have an all-season tread design, the TPC numberwill be followed by an “MS” (for mud and snow).

If you ever replace your tires with those not having aTPC Spec number, make sure they are the same size,load range, speed rating and construction type (bias,bias-belted or radial) as your original tires.

5-66

{CAUTION:

Mixing tires could cause you to lose controlwhile driving. If you mix tires of different sizesor types (radial and bias-belted tires), thevehicle may not handle properly, and youcould have a crash. Using tires of differentsizes may also cause damage to your vehicle.Be sure to use the same size and type tires onall wheels. It’s all right to drive with yourcompact spare temporarily, it was developedfor use on your vehicle. See Compact SpareTire on page 5-83.

{CAUTION:

If you use bias-ply tires on your vehicle, thewheel rim flanges could develop cracks aftermany miles of driving. A tire and/or wheelcould fail suddenly, causing a crash. Use onlyradial-ply tires with the wheels on your vehicle.

5-67

Uniform Tire Quality GradingQuality grades can be found where applicable on thetire sidewall between tread shoulder and maximumsection width. For example:

Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature AThe following information relates to the systemdeveloped by the United States National HighwayTraffic Safety Administration, which grades tires bytreadwear, traction and temperature performance. (Thisapplies only to vehicles sold in the United States.)The grades are molded on the sidewalls of mostpassenger car tires. The Uniform Tire Quality Gradingsystem does not apply to deep tread, winter-typesnow tires, space-saver or temporary use spare tires,tires with nominal rim diameters of 10 to 12 inches(25 to 30 cm), or to some limited-production tires.

While the tires available on General Motors passengercars and light trucks may vary with respect to thesegrades, they must also conform to federal safetyrequirements and additional General Motors TirePerformance Criteria (TPC) standards.

TreadwearThe treadwear grade is a comparative rating based onthe wear rate of the tire when tested under controlledconditions on a specified government test course.For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one anda half (1.5) times as well on the government course asa tire graded 100. The relative performance of tiresdepends upon the actual conditions of their use,however, and may depart significantly from the normdue to variations in driving habits, service practices anddifferences in road characteristics and climate.

Traction – AA, A, B, CThe traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A,B, and C. Those grades represent the tire’s abilityto stop on wet pavement as measured under controlledconditions on specified government test surfaces ofasphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poortraction performance. Warning: The traction gradeassigned to this tire is based on straight-ahead brakingtraction tests, and does not include acceleration,cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction characteristics.

5-68

Temperature – A, B, CThe temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C,representing the tire’s resistance to the generationof heat and its ability to dissipate heat when testedunder controlled conditions on a specified indoorlaboratory test wheel. Sustained high temperature cancause the material of the tire to degenerate andreduce tire life, and excessive temperature can lead tosudden tire failure. The grade C corresponds to alevel of performance which all passenger car tires mustmeet under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety StandardNo. 109. Grades B and A represent higher levels ofperformance on the laboratory test wheel than theminimum required by law.

Warning: The temperature grade for this tire isestablished for a tire that is properly inflated and notoverloaded. Excessive speed, underinflation, orexcessive loading, either separately or in combination,can cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.

Wheel Alignment and Tire BalanceThe wheels on your vehicle were aligned and balancedcarefully at the factory to give you the longest tire lifeand best overall performance.

Scheduled wheel alignment and wheel balancing arenot needed. However, if you notice unusual tire wear oryour vehicle pulling one way or the other, the alignmentmay need to be reset. If you notice your vehiclevibrating when driving on a smooth road, your wheelsmay need to be rebalanced.

5-69

Wheel ReplacementReplace any wheel that is bent, cracked or badly rustedor corroded. If wheel nuts keep coming loose, thewheel, wheel bolts and wheel nuts should be replaced.If the wheel leaks air, replace it (except somealuminum wheels, which can sometimes be repaired).See your dealer if any of these conditions exist.

Your dealer will know the kind of wheel you need.

Each new wheel should have the same load-carryingcapacity, diameter, width, offset and be mountedthe same way as the one it replaces.

If you need to replace any of your wheels, wheel boltsor wheel nuts, replace them only with new GMoriginal equipment parts. This way, you will be sure tohave the right wheel, wheel bolts and wheel nutsfor your vehicle.

{CAUTION:

Using the wrong replacement wheels, wheelbolts or wheel nuts on your vehicle can bedangerous.It could affect the braking andhandling of your vehicle, make your tires loseair and make you lose control. You could havea collision in which you or others could beinjured. Always use the correct wheel, wheelbolts and wheel nuts for replacement.

Notice: The wrong wheel can also cause problemswith bearing life, brake cooling, speedometer orodometer calibration, headlamp aim, bumper height,vehicle ground clearance and tire or tire chainclearance to the body and chassis.

See Changing a Flat Tire on page 5-72 for moreinformation.

5-70

Used Replacement Wheels

{CAUTION:

Putting a used wheel on your vehicle isdangerous. You can’t know how it’s been usedor how far it’s been driven. It could fail suddenlyand cause a crash. If you have to replace awheel, use a new GM original equipment wheel.

Tire Chains

{CAUTION:

If your vehicle has P225/50R16 size tires, don’tuse tire chains, there’s not enough clearance.Tire chains used on a vehicle without the properamount of clearance can cause damage to thebrakes, suspension or other vehicle parts. Thearea damaged by the tire chains could causeyou to lose control of your vehicle and you orothers may be injured in a crash.



Use another type of traction device only if itsmanufacturer recommends it for use on yourvehicle and tire size combination and roadconditions. Follow that manufacturer’sinstructions. To help avoid damage to yourvehicle, drive slowly, readjust or remove thedevice if it’s contacting your vehicle, and don’tspin your wheels.

If you do find traction devices that will fit,install them on the front tires.

Notice: If your vehicle has a tire size other thanP225/50R16 size tires, use tire chains only wherelegal and only when you must. Use only SAE Class“S” type chains that are the proper size for your tires.Install them on the front tires and tighten them astightly as possible with the ends securely fastened.Drive slowly and follow the chain manufacturer’sinstructions. If you can hear the chains contactingyour vehicle, stop and retighten them. If the contactcontinues, slow down until it stops. Driving too fastor spinning the wheels with chains on will damageyour vehicle.

5-71

If a Tire Goes FlatIt’s unusual for a tire to “blowout” while you’re driving,especially if you maintain your tires properly. If air goesout of a tire, it’s much more likely to leak out slowly.But if you should ever have a “blowout,” here are a fewtips about what to expect and what to do:

If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create a drag thatpulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your foot off theaccelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel firmly.Steer to maintain lane position, and then gently brake toa stop well out of the traffic lane.

A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like askid and may require the same correction you’d usein a skid. In any rear blowout, remove your foot from theaccelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control bysteering the way you want the vehicle to go. It may bevery bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer. Gentlybrake to a stop, well off the road if possible.

{CAUTION:

Lifting a vehicle and getting under it to domaintenance or repairs is dangerous withoutthe appropriate safety equipment and training.The jack provided with your vehicle isdesigned only for changing a flat tire. If it isused for anything else, you or others could bebadly injured or killed if the vehicle slips offthe jack. Use the jack provided with yourvehicle only for changing a flat tire.

If a tire goes flat, the next part shows how to use yourjacking equipment to change a flat tire safely.

Changing a Flat TireIf a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel damageby driving slowly to a level place. Turn on yourhazard warning flashers.

5-72

{CAUTION:

Changing a tire can be dangerous. The vehiclecan slip off the jack and roll over or fall on youor other people. You and they could be badlyinjured or even killed. Find a level place tochange your tire. To help prevent the vehiclefrom moving:

1. Set the parking brake firmly.

2. Put an automatic transaxle shift lever inPARK (P), or shift a manual transaxle toFIRST (1) or REVERSE (R).

3. Turn off the engine and do not restartwhile the vehicle is raised.

4. Do not allow passengers to remain in thevehicle.

To be even more certain the vehicle won’tmove, you should put blocks at the front andrear of the tire farthest away from the onebeing changed. That would be the tire on theother side, at the opposite end of the vehicle.

The following steps will tell you how to use the jack andchange a tire.

5-73

Removing the Spare Tire and Tools

The equipment you’ll needis in the trunk.

1. Pull the carpeting from the floor of the trunk. Turnthe center retainer nut on the compact spare tirecover counterclockwise to remove it.

2. Lift and remove the cover.

3. Turn the wing nutcounterclockwise andremove it. Then lift offthe spacer and removethe compact spare tire.See Compact SpareTire on page 5-83 formore information aboutthe compact spare.

4. Remove the jack and wheel wrench from the trunk.Your vehicle’s jack and wheel wrench are stored ina foam tray. Remove the band around the jack.

5-74

The tools you’ll be using include the jack (A) and wheelwrench (B).

Removing the Flat Tire and Installingthe Spare Tire

1. If your vehicle has a wheel cover or hubcap thathas a plastic wheel nut cap, then loosen theplastic nut caps (you may need to use the wheelwrench to loosen them). Do not pry off wheel coversor center caps that have plastic wheel nut caps.

2. Remove the wheel cover or center cap.

3. If your vehicle has a wheel cover or hubcap withoutplastic wheel nut caps, gently pry on the edge ofthe plastic wheel trim to remove it from the wheel tofind the wheel nuts.

5-75

4. Then use the wheel wrench to loosen all the wheelnuts. Don’t remove them yet.

5. Position the jack and raise the jack head until it fitsfirmly into the notch in the vehicle’s frame nearestthe flat tire. Put the compact spare tire near you.

5-76

{CAUTION:

Getting under a vehicle when it is jacked up isdangerous. If the vehicle slips off the jack youcould be badly injured or killed. Never get undera vehicle when it is supported only by a jack.

{CAUTION:

Raising your vehicle with the jack improperlypositioned can damage the vehicle and evenmake the vehicle fall. To help avoid personalinjury and vehicle damage, be sure to fit thejack lift head into the proper location beforeraising the vehicle.

6. Raise the vehicle by turning the wheel wrenchclockwise. Raise the vehicle far enough off theground so there is enough room for the compactspare tire to fit underneath the wheel well.

7. Remove all of the wheel nuts.

8. Remove the flat tire.

5-77

9. Remove any rust or dirtfrom the wheel bolts,mounting surfacesand spare wheel.

{CAUTION:

Rust or dirt on the wheel, or on the parts towhich it is fastened, can make the wheel nutsbecome loose after a time. The wheel couldcome off and cause an accident.



When you change a wheel, remove any rust ordirt from the places where the wheel attachesto the vehicle. In an emergency, you can use acloth or a paper towel to do this; but be sureto use a scraper or wire brush later, if youneed to, to get all the rust or dirt off.

{CAUTION:

Never use oil or grease on studs or nuts. Ifyou do, the nuts might come loose. Your wheelcould fall off, causing a serious accident.

10. Install the compact spare tire.

5-78

11. Put the wheel nuts back on with the rounded end ofthe nuts toward the wheel. Tighten each nut byhand until the wheel is held against the hub.

12. Lower the vehicle by turning the wheel wrenchcounterclockwise. Lower the jack completely.

5-79

13. Tighten the wheel nutsfirmly in a crisscrosssequence, as shown.

{CAUTION:

Incorrect wheel nuts or improperly tightenedwheel nuts can cause the wheel to come looseand even come off. This could lead to anaccident.



Be sure to use the correct wheel nuts. If youhave to replace them, be sure to get new GMoriginal equipment wheel nuts. Stopsomewhere as soon as you can and have thenuts tightened with a torque wrench to theproper torque specification. See “Capacitiesand Specifications” in the Index for wheel nuttorque specification.

Notice: Improperly tightened wheel nuts can lead tobrake pulsation and rotor damage. To avoidexpensive brake repairs, evenly tighten the wheelnuts in the proper sequence and to the proper torquespecification. See “Capacities and Specifications” inthe index for the wheel nut torque specification.

Notice: Wheel covers will not fit on your compactspare. If you try to put a wheel cover on the compactspare, you could damage the cover or the spare.

5-80

Storing the Flat Tire and Tools

{CAUTION:

Storing a jack, a tire, or other equipment in thepassenger compartment of the vehicle couldcause injury. In a sudden stop or collision,loose equipment could strike someone. Storeall these in the proper place.

Store the flat tire in the compact spare tire compartment.Place the tire in the compartment, then secure theadapter and wing nut. Place the cover and the nut ontop of the flat tire. Store the jack and the wrench in thefoam tray.

A. NutB. CoverC. Wing BoltD. Adapter

E. WrenchF. JackG. Tool TrayH. Flat Tire

5-81

Storing the Spare Tire and Tools

{CAUTION:

Storing a jack, a tire, or other equipment in thepassenger compartment of the vehicle couldcause injury. In a sudden stop or collision,loose equipment could strike someone. Storeall these in the proper place.

The compact spare tire is for temporary use only.Replace the compact spare tire with a full-size tire assoon as you can. See Compact Spare Tire onpage 5-83. Store the compact spare tire and tools asshown in the diagram.

A. NutB. CoverC. Wing BoltD. AdapterE. Wrench

F. JackG. Tool TrayH. Compact Spare

Tire

5-82

Compact Spare TireAlthough the compact spare tire was fully inflated whenyour vehicle was new, it can lose air after a time.Check the inflation pressure regularly. It should be60 psi (420 kPa).

After installing the compact spare on your vehicle, youshould stop as soon as possible and make sureyour spare tire is correctly inflated. The compact spareis made to perform well at speeds up to 65 mph(105 km/h) for distances up to 3,000 miles (5 000 km),so you can finish your trip and have your full-sizetire repaired or replaced where you want. Of course, it’sbest to replace your spare with a full-size tire assoon as you can. Your spare will last longer and be ingood shape in case you need it again.

Notice: When the compact spare is installed, don’ttake your vehicle through an automatic car washwith guide rails. The compact spare can get caughton the rails. That can damage the tire and wheel,and maybe other parts of your vehicle.

Don’t use your compact spare on other vehicles.

And don’t mix your compact spare tire or wheel withother wheels or tires. They won’t fit. Keep your spare tireand its wheel together.

Notice: Tire chains won’t fit your compact spare.Using them can damage your vehicle and candamage the chains too. Don’t use tire chains onyour compact spare.

5-83

Appearance CareRemember, cleaning products can be hazardous. Someare toxic. Others can burst into flames if you strike amatch or get them on a hot part of the vehicle. Some aredangerous if you breathe their fumes in a closedspace. When you use anything from a container to cleanyour vehicle, be sure to follow the manufacturer’swarnings and instructions. And always open your doorsor windows when you are cleaning the inside.

Never use these to clean your vehicle:

• Gasoline

• Benzene

• Naphtha

• Carbon Tetrachloride

• Acetone

• Paint Thinner

• Turpentine

• Lacquer Thinner

• Nail Polish Remover

They can all be hazardous — some more thanothers — and they can all damage your vehicle, too.

Do not use any of these unless this manual saysyou can. In many uses, these will damage your vehicle:

• Alcohol

• Laundry Soap

• Bleach

• Reducing Agents

Cleaning the Inside of Your VehicleUse a vacuum cleaner often to get rid of dust andloose dirt. Wipe vinyl, leather, plastic and paintedsurfaces with a clean, damp cloth.

5-84

Cleaning Fabric/CarpetYour dealer has cleaners for the cleaning of fabric andcarpet. They will clean normal spots and stains very well.

You can get GM-approved cleaning products from yourdealer. See Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials onpage 5-91.

Here are some cleaning tips:

• Always read the instructions on the cleaner label.

• Clean up stains as soon as you can — beforethey set.

• Carefully scrape off any excess stain.

• Use a clean cloth or sponge, and change to a cleanarea often. A soft brush may be used if stains arestubborn.

• If a ring forms on fabric after spot cleaning, cleanthe entire area immediately or it will set.

Using Cleaner on Fabric1. Vacuum and brush the area to remove any

loose dirt.

2. Always clean a whole trim panel or section. Masksurrounding trim along stitch or welt lines.

3. Follow the directions on the container label.

4. Apply cleaner with a clean sponge. Do not saturatethe material and do not rub it roughly.

5. As soon as you have cleaned the section, use asponge to remove any excess cleaner.

6. Wipe cleaned area with a clean, water-dampenedtowel or cloth.

7. Wipe with a clean cloth and let dry.

5-85

Special Fabric Cleaning ProblemsStains caused by such things as catsup, coffee (black),egg, fruit, fruit juice, milk, soft drinks, vomit, urineand blood can be removed as follows:

1. Carefully scrape off excess stain, then sponge thesoiled area with cool water.

2. If a stain remains, follow the cleaning instructionsdescribed earlier.

3. If an odor lingers after cleaning vomit or urine, treatthe area with a water and baking soda solution:1 teaspoon (5 ml) of baking soda to 1 cup (250 ml)of lukewarm water.

4. Let dry.

Stains caused by candy, ice cream, mayonnaise, chilisauce and unknown stains can be removed as follows:

1. Carefully scrape off excess stain.

2. Clean with cool water and allow to dry completely.

3. If a stain remains, follow the cleaner instructionsdescribed earlier.

Cleaning VinylUse warm water and a clean cloth.

• Rub with a clean, damp cloth to remove dirt. Youmay have to do this more than once.

• Things like tar, asphalt and shoe polish will stain ifyou do not get them off quickly. Use a clean clothand vinyl cleaner. See your dealer for this product.

Cleaning LeatherUse a soft cloth with lukewarm water and a mild soap orsaddle soap and wipe dry with a soft cloth. Then, letthe leather dry naturally. Do not use heat to dry.

• For stubborn stains, use a leather cleaner.

• Never use oils, varnishes, solvent-based or abrasivecleaners, furniture polish or shoe polish on leather.

• Soiled or stained leather should be cleanedimmediately. If dirt is allowed to work into the finish,it can harm the leather.

5-86

Cleaning the Top of the InstrumentPanelUse only mild soap and water to clean the top surfacesof the instrument panel. Sprays containing siliconesor waxes may cause annoying reflections in thewindshield and even make it difficult to see through thewindshield under certain conditions.

Cleaning Interior Plastic ComponentsUse only a mild soap and water solution on a soft clothor sponge. Commercial cleaners may affect thesurface finish.

Cleaning Glass SurfacesGlass should be cleaned often. GM Glass Cleaner or aliquid household glass cleaner will remove normaltobacco smoke and dust films on interior glass. SeeVehicle Care/Appearance Materials on page 5-91.

Notice: If you use abrasive cleaners when cleaningglass surfaces on your vehicle, you could scratchthe glass and/or cause damage to the rear windowdefogger and the integrated radio antenna. Whencleaning the glass on your vehicle, use only a softcloth and glass cleaner.

Care of Safety BeltsKeep belts clean and dry.

{CAUTION:

Do not bleach or dye safety belts. If you do, itmay severely weaken them. In a crash, theymight not be able to provide adequateprotection. Clean safety belts only with mildsoap and lukewarm water.

WeatherstripsSilicone grease on weatherstrips will make them lastlonger, seal better, and not stick or squeak. Applysilicone grease with a clean cloth. During very cold,damp weather frequent application may be required. SeeRecommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-12.

5-87

Cleaning the Outside of YourVehicleThe paint finish on your vehicle provides beauty, depthof color, gloss retention and durability.

Washing Your VehicleThe best way to preserve your vehicle’s finish is to keep itclean by washing it often with lukewarm or cold water.

Do not wash your vehicle in the direct rays of the sun.Use a car washing soap. Do not use strong soapsor chemical detergents. Be sure to rinse the vehicle well,removing all soap residue completely. You can getGM-approved cleaning products from your dealer. SeeVehicle Care/Appearance Materials on page 5-91.Do not use cleaning agents that are petroleum based,or that contain acid or abrasives. All cleaning agentsshould be flushed promptly and not allowed to dry on thesurface, or they could stain. Dry the finish with a soft,clean chamois or an all-cotton towel to avoid surfacescratches and water spotting.

High pressure car washes may cause water to enteryour vehicle.

Cleaning Exterior Lamps/LensesUse only lukewarm or cold water, a soft cloth and a carwashing soap to clean exterior lamps and lenses.Follow instructions under “Washing Your Vehicle.”

Finish CareOccasional waxing or mild polishing of your vehicle byhand may be necessary to remove residue from thepaint finish. You can get GM-approved cleaning productsfrom your dealer. See Vehicle Care/AppearanceMaterials on page 5-91.

Your vehicle has a “basecoat/clearcoat” paint finish. Theclearcoat gives more depth and gloss to the coloredbasecoat. Always use waxes and polishes that arenon-abrasive and made for a basecoat/clearcoatpaint finish.

Notice: Machine compounding or aggressivepolishing on a basecoat/clearcoat paint finish maydamage it. Use only non-abrasive waxes andpolishes that are made for a basecoat/clearcoatpaint finish on your vehicle.

5-88

Foreign materials such as calcium chloride and othersalts, ice melting agents, road oil and tar, tree sap, birddroppings, chemicals from industrial chimneys, etc.,can damage your vehicle’s finish if they remainon painted surfaces. Wash the vehicle as soon aspossible. If necessary, use non-abrasive cleaners thatare marked safe for painted surfaces to removeforeign matter.

Exterior painted surfaces are subject to aging, weatherand chemical fallout that can take their toll over aperiod of years. You can help to keep the paint finishlooking new by keeping your vehicle garaged or coveredwhenever possible.

Cleaning Windshield and Wiper BladesIf the windshield is not clear after using the windshieldwasher, or if the wiper blade chatters when running,wax, sap or other material may be on the bladeor windshield.

Clean the outside of the windshield with a full-strengthglass cleaning liquid. The windshield is clean if beads donot form when you rinse it with water.

Grime from the windshield will stick to the wiper bladesand affect their performance. Clean the blade bywiping vigorously with a cloth soaked in full-strengthwindshield washer solvent. Then rinse the bladewith water.

Check the wiper blades and clean them as necessary;replace blades that look worn.

Cleaning Aluminum WheelsKeep your wheels clean using a soft clean cloth withmild soap and water. Rinse with clean water. Afterrinsing thoroughly, dry with a soft clean towel. A waxmay then be applied.

The surface of these wheels is similar to the paintedsurface of your vehicle. Do not use strong soaps,chemicals, abrasive polishes, abrasive cleaners,cleaners with acid, or abrasive cleaning brushes onthem because you could damage the surface. Do notuse chrome polish on aluminum wheels.

Do not take your vehicle through an automatic car washthat has silicone carbide tire cleaning brushes. Thesebrushes can also damage the surface of these wheels.

5-89

Cleaning TiresTo clean your tires, use a stiff brush with tire cleaner.

Notice: Using petroleum-based tire dressingproducts on your vehicle may damage the paintfinish and/or tires. When applying a tire dressing,always wipe off any overspray from all paintedsurfaces on your vehicle.

Sheet Metal DamageIf your vehicle is damaged and requires sheet metalrepair or replacement, make sure the body repair shopapplies anti-corrosion material to parts repaired orreplaced to restore corrosion protection.

Original manufacturer replacement parts will provide thecorrosion protection while maintaining the warranty.

Finish DamageAny stone chips, fractures or deep scratches in the finishshould be repaired right away. Bare metal will corrodequickly and may develop into major repair expense.

Minor chips and scratches can be repaired with touch-upmaterials avaliable from your dealer. Larger areas offinish damage can be corrected in your dealer’sbody and paint shop.

Underbody MaintenanceChemicals used for ice and snow removal and dustcontrol can collect on the underbody. If these are notremoved, corrosion and rust can develop on theunderbody parts such as fuel lines, frame, floor pan andexhaust system even though they have corrosionprotection.

At least every spring, flush these materials from theunderbody with plain water. Clean any areas where mudand debris can collect. Dirt packed in close areas ofthe frame should be loosened before being flushed.Your dealer or an underbody car washing system cando this for you.

Chemical Paint SpottingSome weather and atmospheric conditions can create achemical fallout. Airborne pollutants can fall upon andattack painted surfaces on your vehicle. This damage cantake two forms: blotchy, ring-shaped discolorations, andsmall, irregular dark spots etched into the paint surface.

Although no defect in the paint job causes this, GM willrepair, at no charge to the owner, the surfaces ofnew vehicles damaged by this fallout condition within12 months or 12,000 miles (20 000 km) of purchase,whichever occurs first.

5-90

Vehicle Care/Appearance MaterialsSee your GM dealer for more information on purchasingthe following products.

Description UsagePolishing ClothWax-Treated

Interior and exteriorpolishing cloth.

Tar and Road OilRemover

Removes tar, road oil andasphalt.

Chrome Cleaner andPolish

Use on chrome orstainless steel.

White Sidewall TireCleaner

Removes soil and blackmarks from whitewalls.

Vinyl CleanerCleans vinyl tops,upholstery and convertibletops.

Glass Cleaner Removes dirt, grime,smoke and fingerprints.

Chrome and Wire WheelCleaner

Removes dirt and grimefrom chrome wheels andwire wheel covers.

Finish Enhancer

Removes dust,fingerprints, and surfacecontaminants. Spray onwipe off.

Description Usage

Swirl Remover PolishRemoves swirl marks, finescratches and other lightsurface contamination.

Cleaner Wax Removes light scratchesand protects finish.

Foaming Tire Shine LowGloss

Cleans, shines andprotects in one easy step,no wiping necessary.

Wash Wax Concentrate

Medium foamingshampoo. Cleans andlightly waxes.Biodegradable andphosphate free.

Spot Lifter

Quickly and easilyremoves spots and stainsfrom carpets, vinyl andcloth upholstery.

Odor EliminatorOdorless spray odoreliminator used on fabrics,vinyl, leather and carpet.

See your General Motors parts department for theseproducts. See Recommended Fluids and Lubricantson page 6-12.

5-91

Vehicle Identification

Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)

This is the legal identifier for your vehicle. It appears ona plate in the front corner of the instrument panel, onthe driver’s side. You can see it if you look through thewindshield from outside your vehicle. The VIN alsoappears on the Vehicle Certification and Service Partslabels and the certificates of title and registration.

Engine IdentificationThe 8th character in your VIN is the engine code. Thiscode will help you identify your engine, specificationsand replacement parts.

Service Parts Identification LabelYou’ll find this label on the bottom of your sparetire cover. It’s very helpful if you ever need to orderparts. On this label is:

• your VIN,

• the model designation,

• paint information and

• a list of all production options and specialequipment.

Be sure that this label is not removed from the vehicle.

5-92

Electrical System

Add-On Electrical EquipmentNotice: Don’t add anything electrical to your vehicleunless you check with your dealer first. Someelectrical equipment can damage your vehicle andthe damage wouldn’t be covered by your warranty.Some add-on electrical equipment can keep othercomponents from working as they should.

Your vehicle has an air bag system. Before attemptingto add anything electrical to your vehicle, seeServicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle on page 1-58.

Windshield Wiper FusesThe windshield wiper motor is protected by a circuitbreaker and a fuse. If the motor overheats due to heavysnow, etc., the wiper will stop until the motor cools. Ifthe overload is caused by some electrical problem, haveit fixed.

Power Windows and Other PowerOptionsA circuit breaker in the fuse panel protects the powerwindows. When the current load is too heavy, the circuitbreaker opens and closes, protecting the circuit untilthe problem is fixed.

Fuses and Circuit BreakersThe wiring circuits in your vehicle are protected fromshort circuits by a combination of fuses, circuit breakersand fusible links. This greatly reduces the chance ofdamage caused by electrical problems.

Look at the silver-colored band inside the fuse. If theband is broken or melted, replace the fuse. Be sure toreplace a bad fuse with a new one of the identicalsize and rating.

There are three fuse blocks in your vehicle: twoinstrument panel fuse blocks and the enginecompartment fuse block.

There are four spare fuses located in the driver’s sideinstrument panel end cap for your use.

5-93

Instrument Panel Fuse BlocksThere are two fuse panels for your vehicle. One islocated on the driver’s side of the instrument panel andthe other is located on the passenger’s side.

Instrument Panel Fuse Block(Driver’s Side)Your vehicle may not be equipped with all the fuses andfeatures listed.

Fuses Usage

WIPER Windshield Wiper Motor, WasherPump

TRUNKREL/RADIOAMP

Trunk Release Relay/Motor, AudioAmplifier/RFA

TURN LPS Turn Signal LampsPWR MIRROR Power MirrorsAIR BAG Air BagsBFC BATT Body Computer (BFC)PCM ACC Power Control Module (PCM)DR LOCK Door Lock MotorsIPC/BFC ACC Cluster, Body Computer (BFC)STOP LPS Stop LampsHAZARD LPS Hazard LampsIPC/HVACBATT

HVAC Head, Cluster, Data LinkConnector

CircuitBreakers Usage

PWR SEAT Power Seats

5-94

Relay UsageTRUNK REL Trunk RelayDR UNLOCK Door Unlock RelayDR LOCK Door Lock RelayDRIVER DRUNLOCK Driver’s Door Unlock Relay

Instrument Panel Fuse Block(Passenger’s Side)Your vehicle may not be equipped with all the fuses andfeatures listed.

Fuse UsageINST LPS Interior Lamp DimmingCRUISE SWLPS

Steering Wheel Cruise ControlSwitch Lamps

CRUISE SW Steering Wheel Cruise ControlSwitches

HVACBLOWER HVAC Blower Motor

CRUISE Cruise ControlFOG LPS Fog LampsINT LPS Interior Courtesy LampsRADIO BATT Radio, XM™ Satellite Radio/DABSUNROOF Power Sunroof

Circuit Breaker UsagePWR WNDW Power Windows

Relay UsageFOG LPS Fog Lamps

5-95

Engine Compartment Fuse BlockYour vehicle may not be equipped with all the fuses andfeatures listed.

The engine compartment fuse block is located on thedriver’s side of the vehicle, near the battery.

Fuse Usage1 Ignition Switch

2Right Electrical Center-Fog Lamps,Radio, Body Function ControlModule, Interior Lamps

3

Left Electrical Center-Stop Lamps,Hazard Lamps, Body FunctionControl Module, Cluster, ClimateControl System

4 Anti-Lock Brakes

5

Left Electrical Center-Power Seats,Power Mirrors, Door Locks, TrunkRelease, Audio Amplifier, RemoteKeyless Entry

6 Not Used7 Ignition Switch8 Cooling Fan #1

Relays Usage9 Rear Defog

10 Not Used11 Starter (V6 only)12 Cooling Fan #113 HVAC Blower (Climate Control)14 Cooling Fan #215 Cooling Fan

5-96

Relays Usage16 Air Conditioning Compressor17 Not Used18 Fuel Pump19 Automatic Headlamp System20 Automatic Headlamp System21 Horn22 Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)

Fuses Usage23–32 Spare Fuse Holder

33 Rear Defog

34 Accessory Power Outlets, CigaretteLighter

35 Generator36 Not Used

37 Air Conditioning Compressor, BodyFunction Control Module

38 Automatic Transaxle39 Powertrain Control Module (PCM)40 Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS)

Fuses Usage41 Ignition System

42 Back-Up Lamps, Brake TransaxleShift Interlock

43 Horn44 PCM45 Parking Lamps

46 Climate Control System, AirConditioning

47 Canister Vent Valve, ExhaustOxygen Sensors

48 Fuel Pump, Injectors49 Not Used50 Right Headlamp51 Left Headlamp52 Cooling Fan #253 HVAC Blower (Climate Control)54 Crank (V6 only)55 Cooling Fan #2 Ground56 Fuse Puller for Mini Fuses57 Not Used

5-97

Capacities and SpecificationsAll capacities are approximate. When adding, be sure to fill to the appropriate level or as recommended in thismanual.

Capacities

Application

Capacities

English Metric

Air Conditioning Refrigerant R134aUse Refrigerant Oil, R134a Systems 1.4 lbs. 0.6 kg

Automatic TransaxleComplete Overhaul

9.5 quarts 9.0 L

Cooling System2.2L L4 † Engine3400 V6 Engine

8.6 quarts13.6 quarts

8.2 L12.9 L

Engine Oil with Filter2.2L L4 † Engine3400 V6 Engine

4.0 quarts4.0 quarts

3.8 L3.8 L

Fuel Tank 14.1 gallons 53.4 L

5-98

Capacities (cont’d)

Application

Capacities

English Metric

Manual TransaxleComplete Overhaul

1.8 quarts 1.7 L

Wheel Nut Torque 100 lb-ft 140Y

†ECOTEC™

See Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-12.

Engine SpecificationsEngine VIN Code Transaxle Spark Plug Gap

2.2L L4 † F AutomaticManual 0.042 inch (1.06 mm)

3400 V6 E AutomaticManual 0.060 inch (1.52 mm)

5-99

✍ NOTES

5-100

Maintenance Schedule ......................................6-2Introduction ...................................................6-2Maintenance Requirements ..............................6-2Your Vehicle and the Environment ....................6-2Using Your Maintenance Schedule ....................6-3Scheduled Maintenance ...................................6-4Additional Required Services ............................6-6Maintenance Footnotes ...................................6-7

Owner Checks and Services ............................6-8At Each Fuel Fill ............................................6-8At Least Once a Month ...................................6-9At Least Once a Year .....................................6-9Recommended Fluids and Lubricants ...............6-12Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts ..........6-13Engine Drive Belt Routing ..............................6-14Maintenance Record .....................................6-15

Section 6 Maintenance Schedule

6-1

Maintenance Schedule

IntroductionImportant: Keep engine oil at the proper level andchange as recommended.

Have you purchased the GM Protection Plan? The Plansupplements your new vehicle warranties. See yourWarranty and Owner Assistance booklet or your dealerfor details.

Maintenance RequirementsNotice: Maintenance intervals, checks, inspections,replacement parts and recommended fluids andlubricants as prescribed in this manual are necessaryto keep your vehicle in good working condition. Anydamage caused by failure to follow scheduledmaintenance may not be covered by warranty.

Your Vehicle and the EnvironmentProper vehicle maintenance not only helps to keep yourvehicle in good working condition, but also helps theenvironment. All recommended maintenance isimportant. Improper vehicle maintenance can evenaffect the quality of the air we breathe. Improper fluidlevels or the wrong tire inflation can increase the level ofemissions from your vehicle. To help protect ourenvironment, and to keep your vehicle in good condition,be sure to maintain your vehicle properly.

6-2

Using Your Maintenance ScheduleWe at General Motors want to help you keep yourvehicle in good working condition. But we do not knowexactly how you will drive it. You may drive veryshort distances only a few times a week. Or you maydrive long distances all the time in very hot, dustyweather. You may use your vehicle in making deliveries.Or you may drive it to work, to do errands or in manyother ways.

Because of all the different ways people use theirvehicles, maintenance needs vary. You may need morefrequent checks and replacements. So please readthe following and note how you drive. If you have anyquestions on how to keep your vehicle in good condition,see your GM Goodwrench dealer.

This schedule is for vehicles that:

• carry passengers and cargo within recommendedlimits. You will find these limits on the tire andloading information label. See Loading Your Vehicleon page 4-34.

• are driven on reasonable road surfaces within legaldriving limits.

• use the recommended fuel. See Gasoline Octaneon page 5-5.

The services in Scheduled Maintenance on page 6-4should be performed when indicated. See AdditionalRequired Services on page 6-6 and MaintenanceFootnotes on page 6-7 for further information.

{CAUTION:

Performing maintenance work on a vehicle canbe dangerous. In trying to do some jobs, youcan be seriously injured. Do your ownmaintenance work only if you have therequired know-how and the proper tools andequipment for the job. If you have any doubt,see your GM Goodwrench dealer to have aqualified technician do the work.

Some maintenance services can be complex. So,unless you are technically qualified and have thenecessary equipment, you should have your GMGoodwrench dealer do these jobs.

When you go to your GM Goodwrench dealer for yourservice needs, you will know that GM-trained andsupported service technicians will perform the workusing genuine GM parts.

6-3

If you want to get service information, see ServicePublications Ordering Information on page 7-12.

Owner Checks and Services on page 6-8 tells you whatshould be checked, when to check it and what you caneasily do to help keep your vehicle in good condition.

The proper replacement parts, fluids and lubricants touse are listed in Recommended Fluids and Lubricantson page 6-12 and Normal Maintenance ReplacementParts on page 6-13. When your vehicle is serviced,make sure these are used. All parts should be replacedand all necessary repairs done before you or anyoneelse drives the vehicle. We recommend the use ofgenuine GM parts.

Scheduled MaintenanceWhen the CHANGE OIL light comes on, it means thatservice is required for your vehicle. Have yourvehicle serviced as soon as possible within the next600 miles (1 000 km). It is possible that, if you aredriving under the best conditions, the engine oil lifesystem may not indicate that vehicle service isnecessary for over a year. However, your engine oil andfilter must be changed at least once a year and atthis time the system must be reset. Your GMGoodwrench dealer has GM-trained service technicianswho will perform this work using genuine GM partsand reset the system.

If the engine oil life system is ever reset accidentally,you must service your vehicle within 3,000 miles(5 000 km) since your last service. Remember to resetthe oil life system whenever the oil is changed. SeeEngine Oil on page 5-16 for information on the EngineOil Life System and resetting the system.

When the CHANGE OIL light appears, certain services,checks and inspections are required. Required servicesare described in the following for “Maintenance I” and“Maintenance II.” Generally, it is recommended that yourfirst service be Maintenance I, your second service beMaintenance II and that you alternate Maintenance I andMaintenance II thereafter. However, in some cases,Maintenance II may be required more often.

Maintenance I — Use Maintenance I if the CHANGEOIL light comes on within ten months since vehicle waspurchased or Maintenance II was performed.

Maintenance II — Use Maintenance II if the previousservice performed was Maintenance I. Always useMaintenance II whenever the light comes on ten monthsor more since the last service or if the light has notcome on at all for one year.

6-4

Scheduled MaintenanceService Maintenance I Maintenance II

Change engine oil and filter. Reset oil life system. See Engine Oil onpage 5-16. An Emission Control Service. • •Visually check for any leaks or damage. See footnote (j). • •Inspect engine air cleaner filter. If necessary, replace filter. See Engine AirCleaner/Filter on page 5-21. An Emission Control Service. See footnote †. • •

Rotate tires and check inflation pressures and wear. See Tires on page 5-56. • •Inspect brake system. See footnote (a). • •Check engine coolant and windshield washer fluid levels and add fluid asneeded. • •

Perform any needed additional services. See “Additional Required Services” inthis section. • •

Inspect suspension and steering components. See footnote (b). •Inspect engine cooling system. See footnote (c). •Inspect wiper blades. See footnote (d). •Inspect restraint system components. See footnote (e). •Lubricate body components. See footnote (f). •Inspect throttle system. See footnote (g). •

6-5

Additional Required ServicesThe following services should be performed at the first maintenance service (I or II) after the indicated miles(kilometers) shown for each item.

Additional Required Services

Service and Miles (Kilometers)25,000

(41 500)50,000

(83 000)75,000

(125 000)100,000

(166 000)125,000

(207 500)150,000

(240 000)Inspect fuel system for damage or leaks. • • • • • •Inspect exhaust system for loose ordamaged components. • • • • • •

Replace engine air cleaner filter. SeeEngine Air Cleaner/Filter on page 5-21.An Emission Control Service.

• • • • • •

Change automatic transaxle fluid andfilter (severe service only). Seefootnote (h).

• • •

Replace spark plugs. Inspect spark plugwires (V6 only). An Emission ControlService.

•

Engine cooling system service (or every5 years, whichever occurs first). AnEmission Control Service. Seefootnote (i).

•

Inspect engine accessory drive belt. AnEmission Control Service. •

6-6

Maintenance Footnotes† The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or theCalifornia Air Resources Board has determined that thefailure to perform this maintenance item will not nullifythe emission warranty or limit recall liability prior tothe completion of the vehicle’s useful life. We, however,urge that all recommended maintenance services beperformed at the indicated intervals and themaintenance be recorded.

(a) Visually inspect brake lines and hoses for properhook-up, binding, leaks, cracks, chafing, etc. Inspectdisc brake pads for wear and rotors for surfacecondition. Inspect drum brake linings for wear or cracks.Inspect other brake parts, including drums, wheelcylinders, calipers, parking brake, etc.

(b) Visually inspect front and rear suspension andsteering system for damaged, loose or missing parts orsigns of wear. Inspect power steering lines andhoses for proper hook-up, binding, leaks, cracks,chafing, etc.

(c) Visually inspect hoses and have them replaced if theyare cracked, swollen or deteriorated. Inspect all pipes,fittings and clamps; replace with genuine GM parts asneeded. To help ensure proper operation, a pressure testof the cooling system and pressure cap and cleaning theoutside of the radiator and air conditioning condenser isrecommended at least once a year.

(d) Visually inspect wiper blades for wear or cracking.Replace blade inserts that appear worn or damagedor that streak or miss areas of the windshield.

(e) Make sure the safety belt reminder light and all yourbelts, buckles, latch plates, retractors and anchoragesare working properly. Look for any other loose ordamaged safety belt system parts. If you see anythingthat might keep a safety belt system from doing itsjob, have it repaired. Have any torn or frayed safety beltsreplaced. Also look for any opened or broken air bagcoverings, and have them repaired or replaced. (The airbag system does not need regular maintenance.)

(f) Lubricate all key lock cylinders, door hinges andlatches, hood hinges and latches and trunk lid hinges andlatches. More frequent lubrication may be required whenexposed to a corrosive environment. Applying siliconegrease on weatherstrips with a clean cloth will make themlast longer, seal better and not stick or squeak.

(g) Check system for interference or binding and fordamaged or missing parts. Replace parts as needed.Replace any components that have high effort orexcessive wear. Do not lubricate accelerator or cruisecontrol cables.

6-7

(h) Change automatic transaxle fluid and filter if thevehicle is mainly driven under one or more of theseconditions:

− In heavy city traffic where the outside temperatureregularly reaches 90°F (32°C) or higher.

− In hilly or mountainous terrain.− When doing frequent trailer towing.− Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery

service.

If you do not use your vehicle under any of theseconditions, the fluid and filter do not require changing.

(i) Drain, flush and refill cooling system. See EngineCoolant on page 5-24 for what to use. Inspect hoses.Clean radiator, condenser, pressure cap and filler neck.Pressure test the cooling system and pressure cap.

(j) A fluid loss in any vehicle system could indicate aproblem. Have the system inspected and repaired andthe fluid level checked. Add fluid if needed.

Owner Checks and ServicesThese owner checks and services should be performedat the intervals specified to help ensure the safety,dependability and emission control performance of yourvehicle. Your GM Goodwrench dealer can assist youwith these checks and services.

Be sure any necessary repairs are completed at once.Whenever any fluids or lubricants are added to yourvehicle, make sure they are the proper ones, as shownin Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-12.

At Each Fuel FillIt is important to perform these underhood checks ateach fuel fill.

Engine Oil Level CheckCheck the engine oil level and add the proper oil ifnecessary. See Engine Oil on page 5-16 for furtherdetails.

Notice: It is important to check your oil regularlyand keep it at the proper level. Failure to keep yourengine oil at the proper level can cause damageto your engine not covered by your warranty.

6-8

Engine Coolant Level CheckCheck the engine coolant level and addDEX-COOL® coolant mixture if necessary. See EngineCoolant on page 5-24 for further details.

Windshield Washer Fluid Level CheckCheck the windshield washer fluid level in the windshieldwasher tank and add the proper fluid if necessary.

At Least Once a Month

Tire Inflation CheckVisually inspect your tires and make sure tires are inflatedto the correct pressures. Do not forget to check yourspare tire. See Tires on page 5-56 for further details.

Cassette Tape Player ServiceClean cassette tape player. Cleaning should be doneevery 50 hours of tape play. See Audio System(s)on page 3-40 for further details.

At Least Once a Year

Starter Switch Check

{CAUTION:

When you are doing this inspection, thevehicle could move suddenly. If the vehiclemoves, you or others could be injured.

1. Before you start, be sure you have enough roomaround the vehicle.

2. Firmly apply both the parking brake and the regularbrake. See Parking Brake on page 2-26 ifnecessary.Do not use the accelerator pedal, and be ready toturn off the engine immediately if it starts.

3. Try to start the engine in each gear. The startershould work only in PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).If the starter works in any other position, contactyour GM Goodwrench dealer for service.

6-9

Automatic Transaxle Shift Lock ControlSystem Check

{CAUTION:

When you are doing this inspection, thevehicle could move suddenly. If the vehiclemoves, you or others could be injured.

1. Before you start, be sure you have enough roomaround the vehicle. It should be parked on a levelsurface.

2. Firmly apply the parking brake. See Parking Brakeon page 2-26 if necessary.Be ready to apply the regular brake immediately ifthe vehicle begins to move.

3. With the engine off, turn the key to the ON position,but do not start the engine. Without applying theregular brake, try to move the shift lever outof PARK (P) with normal effort. If the shift levermoves out of PARK (P), contact your GMGoodwrench dealer for service.

Ignition Transaxle Lock CheckWhile parked, and with the parking brake set, try to turnthe ignition key to OFF in each shift lever position.

• With an automatic transaxle, the key should turn toOFF only when the shift lever is in PARK (P). Thekey should come out only in OFF.

• With a manual transaxle, the key should turn toOFF only when the shift lever is in reverse. Thekey should come out only in OFF.

Contact your GM Goodwrench dealer if service isrequired.

6-10

Parking Brake and Automatic TransaxlePark (P) Mechanism Check

{CAUTION:

When you are doing this check, your vehiclecould begin to move. You or others could beinjured and property could be damaged. Makesure there is room in front of your vehicle incase it begins to roll. Be ready to apply theregular brake at once should the vehicle beginto move.

Park on a fairly steep hill, with the vehicle facingdownhill. Keeping your foot on the regular brake, set theparking brake.

• To check the parking brake’s holding ability: Withthe engine running and transaxle in NEUTRAL (N),slowly remove foot pressure from the regularbrake pedal. Do this until the vehicle is held by theparking brake only.

• To check the PARK (P) mechanism’s holding ability:With the engine running, shift to PARK (P). Thenrelease the parking brake followed by the regularbrake.

Contact your GM Goodwrench dealer if service isrequired.

Underbody Flushing ServiceAt least every spring, use plain water to flush anycorrosive materials from the underbody. Take care toclean thoroughly any areas where mud and other debriscan collect.

6-11

Recommended Fluids andLubricantsFluids and lubricants identified below by name, partnumber or specification may be obtained from yourdealer.

Usage Fluid/Lubricant

Engine Oil

Engine oil which meets GM StandardGM6094M and displays theAmerican Petroleum InstituteCertified for Gasoline Enginesstarburst symbol. GM Goodwrenchoil meets all the requirements for yourvehicle. To determine the properviscosity for your vehicle’s engine,see Engine Oil on page 5-16.

Engine Coolant

50/50 mixture of clean, drinkablewater and use onlyDEX-COOL® Coolant. See EngineCoolant on page 5-24.

Hydraulic BrakeSystem

Delco Supreme 11 Brake Fluid orequivalent DOT-3 brake fluid.

WindshieldWasher Solvent GM Optikleen® Washer Solvent.

Usage Fluid/Lubricant

HydraulicClutch System

Hydraulic Clutch Fluid(GM Part No. U.S. 12345347 inCanada 10953517) or equivalentDOT-3 brake fluid.

Power SteeringSystem

GM Power Steering Fluid(GM Part No. U.S. 89021184, inCanada 89021186).

ManualTransaxle

DEXRON®-III AutomaticTransmission Fluid.

AutomaticTransaxle

DEXRON®-III AutomaticTransmission Fluid.

Key LockCylinders

Multi-Purpose Lubricant, Superlube(GM Part No. U.S. 12346241, inCanada 10953474).

Hood LatchAssembly,Secondary

Latch, Pivots,Spring Anchorand Release

Pawl

Lubriplate Lubricant Aerosol(GM Part No. U.S. 12346293, inCanada 992723) or lubricant meetingrequirements of NLGI #2, CategoryLB or GC-LB.

Hood and DoorHinges

Multi-Purpose Lubricant, Superlube(GM Part No. U.S. 12346241, inCanada 10953474).

WeatherstripConditioning

Dielectric Silicone Grease(GM Part No. U.S. 12345579, inCanada 992887).

6-12

Normal Maintenance Replacement PartsReplacement parts identified below by name, part number, or specification can be obtained from your dealer.

Part GM Part No. ACDelco ® Part No.

Engine Air Cleaner/Filter2.2 L L4† Engine3400 V6

2509884525161977

A1172CA1279C

Engine Oil Filter2.2 L L4† Engine3400 V6

2446071325010792

PF2244GPF47

Spark Plugs2.2 L L4† Engine3400 V6

25337472 (Platinum Plug)12568387 (Platinum Plug)

41–981 (Platinum Plug)41–10 (Platinum Plug)

Windshield Wiper BladesType — Shepherd’s HookPassenger’s Side — 17.0 inches (43.0 cm)Driver’s Side — 22.0 inches (56.0 cm)

2212132922155307

——

†ECOTEC™

6-13

Engine Drive Belt Routing

6-14

Maintenance RecordAfter the scheduled services are performed, record the date, odometer reading, who performed the service and thetype of services performed in the boxes provided. See Maintenance Requirements on page 6-2 in this section.Any additional information from Owner Checks and Services on page 6-8 can be added on the following recordpages. Also, you should retain all maintenance receipts.

Maintenance Record

Date OdometerReading Serviced By Maintenance I or

Maintenance IIServices Performed

6-15

Maintenance Record (cont’d)

Date OdometerReading Serviced By Maintenance I or

Maintenance IIServices Performed

6-16

Customer Assistance and Information ...............7-2Customer Satisfaction Procedure ......................7-2Online Owner Center ......................................7-4Customer Assistance for Text Telephone (TTY)

Users ........................................................7-4Customer Assistance Offices ............................7-4GM Mobility Program for Persons with

Disabilities ..................................................7-6Roadside Assistance Program ..........................7-6Courtesy Transportation ...................................7-8Vehicle Data Collection and Event Data

Recorders ................................................7-10

Reporting Safety Defects ................................7-11Reporting Safety Defects to the United States

Government ..............................................7-11Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian

Government ..............................................7-12Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors .....7-12Service Publications Ordering Information .........7-12

Section 7 Customer Assistance and Information

7-1

Customer Assistance andInformation

Customer Satisfaction ProcedureYour satisfaction and goodwill are important toyour dealer and to Oldsmobile. Normally, any concernswith the sales transaction or the operation of yourvehicle will be resolved by your dealer’s sales or servicedepartments. Sometimes, however, despite the bestintentions of all concerned, misunderstandings canoccur. If your concern has not been resolved to yoursatisfaction, the following steps should be taken:

STEP ONE: Discuss your concern with a member ofdealership management. Normally, concerns canbe quickly resolved at that level. If the matter hasalready been reviewed with the sales, service or partsmanager, contact the owner of the dealership orthe general manager.

STEP TWO: If after contacting a member of dealershipmanagement, it appears your concern cannot beresolved by the dealership without further help, contactthe Oldsmobile Customer Assistance Center by calling1-800-442-6537. In Canada, contact GM of CanadaCustomer Communication Centre in Oshawa by calling1-800-263-3777 (English) or 1-800-263-7854 (French).

We encourage you to call the toll-free number in order togive your inquiry prompt attention. Please have thefollowing information available to give the CustomerAssistance Representative:

• Vehicle Identification Number (This is available fromthe vehicle registration or title, or the plate at the topleft of the instrument panel and visible through thewindshield.)

• Dealership name and location

• Vehicle delivery date and present mileage

When contacting Oldsmobile, please remember thatyour concern will likely be resolved at a dealer’s facility.That is why we suggest you follow Step One first ifyou have a concern.

7-2

STEP THREE: Both General Motors and your dealerare committed to making sure you are completelysatisfied with your new vehicle. However, if you continueto remain unsatisfied after following the procedureoutlined in Steps One and Two, you should file with theBBB Auto Line Program to enforce any additionalrights you may have. Canadian owners refer to yourWarranty and Owner Assistance Information booklet forinformation on the Canadian Motor Vehicle ArbitrationPlan (CAMVAP).

The BBB Auto Line Program is an out of court programadministered by the Council of Better BusinessBureaus to settle automotive disputes regarding vehiclerepairs or the interpretation of the New VehicleLimited Warranty. Although you may be required toresort to this informal dispute resolution program prior tofiling a court action, use of the program is free ofcharge and your case will generally be heard within40 days. If you do not agree with the decision given inyour case, you may reject it and proceed with any othervenue for relief available to you.

You may contact the BBB Auto Line Program using thetoll-free telephone number or write them at thefollowing address:

BBB Auto Line ProgramCouncil of Better Business Bureaus, Inc.4200 Wilson BoulevardSuite 800Arlington, VA 22203-1804

Telephone: 1-800-955-5100

This program is available in all 50 states and the Districtof Columbia. Eligibility is limited by vehicle age,mileage and other factors. General Motors reserves theright to change eligibility limitations and/or discontinueits participation in this program.

7-3

Online Owner CenterThe Owner Center is a resource for your GM ownershipneeds. You can find your specific vehicle informationall in one place.

The Owner Center allows you to:

• Get e-mail service reminders.

• Access information about your specific vehicle,including tips and videos and an electronicversion of this owner’s manual. (United States only)

• Keep track of your vehicle’s service history andmaintenance schedule.

• Find GM dealers for service nationwide.

• Receive special promotions and privileges onlyavailable to members. (United States only)

Refer to the web for updated information.

To register your vehicle, visit www.MyGMLink.com.(United States) or My GM Canada withinwww.gmcanada.com (Canada).

Customer Assistance for TextTelephone (TTY) UsersTo assist customers who are deaf, hard of hearing, orspeech-impaired and who use Text Telephones (TTYs),Oldsmobile has TTY equipment available at itsCustomer Assistance Center. Any TTY user cancommunicate with Oldsmobile by dialing:1-800-833-OLDS (6537). (TTY users in Canada can dial1-800-263-3830.)

Customer Assistance OfficesOldsmobile encourages customers to call the toll-freenumber for assistance. If a U.S. customer wishesto write to Oldsmobile, the letter should be addressed toOldsmobile’s Customer Assistance Center.

7-4

United States – Customer AssistanceOldsmobile Customer Assistance CenterP.O. Box 33171Detroit, MI 48232-5171

1-800-442-65371-800-833-6537 (For Text Telephone devices (TTYs))Roadside Assistance: 1-800-442-OLDS (6537)Fax Number: 313-381-0022

From Puerto Rico:1-800-496-9992 (English)1-800-496-9993 (Spanish)Fax Number: 313-381-0022

From U.S. Virgin Islands:1-800-496-9994Fax Number: 313-381-0022

Canada – Customer AssistanceGeneral Motors of Canada LimitedCustomer Communication Centre, 163-0051908 Colonel Sam DriveOshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7

1-800-263-3777 (English)1-800-263-7854 (French)1-800-263-3830 (For Text Telephone devices (TTYs)Roadside Assistance: 1-800-268-6800

Overseas – Customer AssistancePlease contact the local General Motors Business Unit.

Mexico, Central America andCaribbean Islands/Countries(Except Puerto Rico and U.S. VirginIslands) – Customer Assistance

General Motors de Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V.Customer Assistance CenterPaseo de la Reforma # 2740Col. Lomas de BezaresC.P. 11910, Mexico, D.F.01-800-508-0000Long Distance: 011-52-53 29 0 800

7-5

GM Mobility Program for Personswith Disabilities

This program, available toqualified applicants, canreimburse you up to $1,000toward eligible aftermarketdriver or passengeradaptive equipment youmay require for your vehicle(hand controls, wheelchair/scooter lifts, etc.).

This program can also provide you with free resourceinformation, such as area driver assessment centers andmobility equipment installers. The offer is available fora limited period of time from the date of vehiclepurchase/lease. For more details, or to determine yourvehicle’s eligibility, see your GM dealer or call theGM Mobility Assistance Center at 1-800-323-9935. Texttelephone (TTY) users, call 1-800-833-9935.

GM of Canada also has a Mobility Program. Call1-800-GM-DRIVE (463-7483) for details. All TTY userscall 1-800-263-3830.

Roadside Assistance Program

Security While You Travel1-800-442-OLDS (6537)

As the proud owner of a new Oldsmobile vehicle, youare automatically enrolled in the Oldsmobile RoadsideAssistance program. This value-added service isintended to provide you with peace of mind as you drivein the city or travel the open road. Oldsmobile’sRoadside Assistance toll-free number is staffed bycourteous and capable Roadside AssistanceRepresentatives who are available 24 hours a day,365 days a year.

We will provide the following services during theBumper-to-Bumper warranty period, at no expenseto you:

• Fuel Delivery: Delivery of enough fuel ($5maximum) for the customer to get to the nearestservice station.

• Lock-out Service (identification required):Replacement keys or locksmith service willbe covered at no charge if you are unable to gainentry into your vehicle. Delivery of the replacementkey will be covered within 10 miles.

7-6

• Emergency Tow: Tow to the nearest dealership forwarranty service or in the event of avehicle-disabling accident. Assistance when thevehicle is mired in sand, mud or snow.

• Flat Tire Change: Installation of a spare tire will becovered at no charge. (The customer is responsiblefor the repair or replacement of the tire if notcovered by a warrantable failure.)

• Jump Start: No-start occurrences which require abattery jump start will be covered at no charge.

• Dealer Locator Service

• Trip Routing: Your Roadside AssistanceRepresentative can provide you with specificinformation regarding this feature.

• Trip Interruption Expense Benefits: YourRoadside Assistance Representative can provideyou with specific information regarding this feature.

In many instances, mechanical failures are coveredunder Oldsmobile’s Bumper-to-Bumper warranty.However, when other services are utilized, our RoadsideAssistance Representatives will explain any paymentobligations you might incur.

For prompt and efficient assistance when calling, pleaseprovide the following to the Roadside AssistanceRepresentative:• Your name, home address, and home telephone

number• Telephone number of your location• Location of the vehicle• Model, year, color, and license plate number• Mileage, Vehicle Identification Number and delivery

date of the vehicle• Description of the problem

While we hope you never have the occasion to use ourservice, it is added security while traveling for youand your family. Remember, we are only a phone callaway. Oldsmobile Roadside Assistance:1-800-442-OLDS (6537), text telephone (TTY) users,call 1-888-889-2438.

Oldsmobile reserves the right to limit services orreimbursement to an owner or driver when, inOldsmobile’s judgement, the claims become excessivein frequency or type of occurrence.

Roadside Assistance is not part of or included in thecoverage provided by the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.Oldsmobile reserves the right to make any changesor discontinue the Roadside Assistance program at anytime without notification.

7-7

Canadian Roadside AssistanceVehicles purchased in Canada have an extensiveroadside assistance program accessible from anywherein Canada or the United States. Please refer to theWarranty and Owner Assistance Information book.

Courtesy TransportationOldsmobile has always exemplified quality and valuein its offering of motor vehicles. To enhance yourownership experience, we and our participating dealersare proud to offer Courtesy Transportation, a customersupport program for new vehicles.

The Courtesy Transportation program is offered to retailpurchase/lease customers in conjunction with theBumper-to-Bumper coverage provided by the NewVehicle Limited Warranty. Several transportation optionsare available when warranty repairs are required. This willreduce your inconvenience during warranty repairs.

Plan Ahead When PossibleWhen your vehicle requires warranty service, youshould contact your dealer and request an appointment.By scheduling a service appointment and advisingyour service consultant of your transportation needs,your dealer can help minimize your inconvenience.

If your vehicle cannot be scheduled into the servicedepartment immediately, keep driving it until it can bescheduled for service, unless, of course, the problem issafety-related. If it is, please call your dealership, letthem know this, and ask for instructions.

If the dealer requests that you simply drop the vehicleoff for service, you are urged to do so as early inthe work day as possible to allow for same day repair.

7-8

Transportation OptionsWarranty service can generally be completed while youwait. However, if you are unable to wait Oldsmobilehelps minimize your inconvenience by providing severaltransportation options. Depending on the circumstances,your dealer can offer you one of the following:

Shuttle ServiceParticipating dealers can provide you with shuttleservice to get you to your destination with minimalinterruption of your daily schedule. This includes a oneway or round trip shuttle ride to a destination up to10 miles from the dealership.

Public Transportation or FuelReimbursementIf your vehicle requires overnight warranty repairs,reimbursement (five days maximum) may be availablefor the use of public transportation such as taxi orbus. In addition, should you arrange transportationthrough a friend or relative, reimbursement forreasonable fuel expenses (five day maximum) may beavailable. Claim amounts should reflect actual costs andbe supported by original receipts.

Courtesy Rental VehicleYour dealer may arrange to provide you with a courtesyrental vehicle or reimburse you for a rental vehicleyou obtained if your vehicle is kept for a warranty repair.Reimbursement will be limited to a maximum of $30 aday and must be supported by receipts. This requiresthat you sign and complete a rental agreement and meetstate, local and rental vehicle provider requirements.Requirements vary and may include minimum agerequirements, insurance coverage, credit card, etc. Youare responsible for fuel usage charges and may alsobe responsible for taxes, levies, usage fees, excessivemileage or rental usage beyond the completion ofthe repair.

Generally it is not possible to provide a like-vehicle as acourtesy rental.

7-9

Additional Program InformationCourtesy Transportation is available during theBumper-to-Bumper warranty coverage period, but it isnot part of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty. Aseparate booklet entitled Warranty and OwnerAssistance Information furnished with each new vehicleprovides detailed warranty coverage information.

Courtesy Transportation is available only at participatingdealers and all program options, such as shuttleservice, may not be available at every dealer. Pleasecontact your dealer for specific information aboutavailability. All Courtesy Transportation arrangementswill be administered by appropriate dealer personnel.

Canadian Vehicles: For warranty repairs duringthe Complete Vehicle Coverage period of the GeneralMotors of Canada New Vehicle Limited Warranty,alternative transportation may be available under theCourtesy Transportation Program. Please consultyour dealer for details.

General Motors reserves the right to unilaterally modify,change or discontinue Courtesy Transportation atany time and to resolve all questions of claim eligibilitypursuant to the terms and conditions describedherein at its sole discretion.

Vehicle Data Collection and EventData RecordersYour vehicle, like other modern motor vehicles, has anumber of sophisticated computer systems that monitorand control several aspects of the vehicle’sperformance. Your vehicle uses on-board vehiclecomputers to monitor emission control components tooptimize fuel economy, to monitor conditions for air bagdeployment and, if so equipped, to provide anti-lockbraking and to help the driver control the vehiclein difficult driving situations. Some information may bestored during regular operations to facilitate repairof detected malfunctions; other information is stored onlyin a crash or near crash event by computer systemscommonly called event data recorders (EDR).

In a crash or near crash event, computer systems, suchas the Air Bag Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM)in your vehicle may record information about thecondition of the vehicle and how it was operated, suchas engine speed, brake applications, throttle position,vehicle speed, safety belt usage, air bag readiness, airbag performance data, and the severity of a collision.This information has been used to improve vehicle crashperformance and may be used to improve crashperformance of future vehicles and driving safety. Unlikethe data recorders on many airplanes, these on-boardsystems do not record sounds, such as conversation ofvehicle occupants.

7-10

To read this information, special equipment is neededand access to the vehicle or the SDM is required.GM will not access information about a crash event orshare it with others other than• with the consent of the vehicle owner or, if the

vehicle is leased, with the consent of the lessee,• in response to an official request of police or similar

government office,• as part of GM’s defense of litigation through the

discovery process, or• as required by law.

In addition, once GM collects or receives data, GM may• use the data for GM research needs,• make it available for research where appropriate

confidentiality is to be maintained and need isshown, or

• share summary data which is not tied to a specificvehicle with non-GM organizations for researchpurposes.

Others, such as law enforcement, may have access tothe special equipment that can read the informationif they have access to the vehicle or SDM.

If your vehicle is equipped with OnStar®, please checkthe OnStar® subscription service agreement or manualfor information on its operations and data collection.

Reporting Safety Defects

Reporting Safety Defects to theUnited States GovernmentIf you believe that your vehicle has a defect which couldcause a crash or could cause injury or death, youshould immediately inform the National Highway TrafficSafety Administration (NHTSA), in addition to notifyingGeneral Motors.

If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open aninvestigation, and if it finds that a safety defect exists ina group of vehicles, it may order a recall and remedycampaign. However, NHTSA cannot become involved inindividual problems between you, your dealer orGeneral Motors.

To contact NHTSA, you may either call the Auto SafetyHotline toll-free at 1-800-424-9393 (or 366-0123 inthe Washington, D.C. area) or write to:

NHTSA, U.S. Department of TransportationWashington, D.C. 20590

You can also obtain other information about motorvehicle safety from the hotline.

7-11

Reporting Safety Defects to theCanadian GovernmentIf you live in Canada, and you believe that your vehiclehas a safety defect, you should immediately notifyTransport Canada, in addition to notifying GeneralMotors of Canada Limited. You may write to:

Transport Canada330 Sparks StreetTower COttawa, Ontario K1A 0N5

Reporting Safety Defects to GeneralMotorsIn addition to notifying NHTSA (or Transport Canada) ina situation like this, we certainly hope you’ll notify us.Please call us at 1-800-442-6537, or write:

Oldsmobile Customer Assistance CenterP.O. Box 33171Detroit, MI 48232-5171

In Canada, please call us at 1-800-263-3777 (English)or 1-800-263-7854 (French). Or, write:

General Motors of Canada LimitedCustomer Communication Centre 163-0051908 Colonel Sam DriveOshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7

Service Publications OrderingInformation

Service ManualsService Manuals have the diagnosis and repairinformation on engines, transmission, axle, suspension,brakes, electrical, steering, body, etc.

RETAIL SELL PRICE: $120.00

Transmission, Transaxle, TransferCase Unit Repair ManualThis manual provides information on unit repair serviceprocedures, adjustments, and specifications for GMtransmissions, transaxles, and transfer cases.


7-12

Service BulletinsService Bulletins give technical service informationneeded to knowledgeably service General Motors carsand trucks. Each bulletin contains instructions toassist in the diagnosis and service of your vehicle.

In Canada, information pertaining to Product ServiceBulletins can be obtained by contacting your GeneralMotors dealer or by calling 1-800-GM-DRIVE(1-800-463-7483).

Owner’s InformationOwner publications are written specifically for ownersand intended to provide basic operational informationabout the vehicle. The owner’s manual will includethe Maintenance Schedule for all models.

In-Portfolio: Includes a Portfolio, Owner’s Manual, andWarranty Booklet.


Without Portfolio: Owner’s Manual only.


Current and Past Model Order FormsService Publications are available for current andpast model GM vehicles. To request an order form,please specify year and model name of the vehicle.

ORDER TOLL FREE: 1-800-551-4123Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 6:00 PMEastern TimeFor Credit Card Orders Only(VISA-MasterCard-Discover), visit Helm, Inc. on theWorld Wide Web at: www.helminc.com

Or you can write to:

Helm, IncorporatedP. O. Box 07130Detroit, MI 48207

Prices are subject to change without notice and withoutincurring obligation. Allow ample time for delivery.

Note to Canadian Customers: All listed prices arequoted in U.S. funds. Canadian residents are to makechecks payable in U.S. funds.

7-13

✍ NOTES

7-14

AAccessory Power Outlets ................................. 3-17Adding Washer Fluid ....................................... 5-37Additional Program Information ......................... 7-10Additives, Fuel ................................................. 5-6Add-On Electrical Equipment ............................ 5-93Adjusting the Speakers

(Balance/Fade) ............................ 3-43, 3-49, 3-61Air Bag

Readiness Light .......................................... 3-26Air Bag System, Supplemental Restraint System

(SRS) ........................................................ 1-52Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine ................................. 5-21Airbag Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM) ....... 7-10AM ............................................................... 3-71Antenna, Backglass ......................................... 3-73Antenna, XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna

System ...................................................... 3-73Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) ............................ 4-7Anti-Lock Brake, System Warning Light .............. 3-29Appearance Care ............................................ 5-84

Care of Safety Belts .................................... 5-87Chemical Paint Spotting ............................... 5-90Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle ................ 5-84Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle .............. 5-88Finish Damage ............................................ 5-90Sheet Metal Damage ................................... 5-90Underbody Maintenance ............................... 5-90

Appearance Care (cont.)Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials ................ 5-91Weatherstrips .............................................. 5-87

Ashtrays ........................................................ 3-18Audio System(s) ............................................. 3-40

Backglass Antenna ...................................... 3-73Care of Your Cassette Tape Player ................ 3-71Care of Your CD Player ............................... 3-72Care of Your CDs ........................................ 3-72Chime Level Adjustment ............................... 3-73Radio with Cassette and CD ......................... 3-57Radio with CD .................................... 3-41, 3-46Setting the Time for Radios with Radio Data

Systems (RDS) ........................................ 3-40Setting the Time for Radios without Radio

Data Systems (RDS) ................................ 3-40Theft-Deterrent Feature ................................ 3-70Understanding Radio Reception ..................... 3-71XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System ............ 3-73

Automatic Headlamp System ............................ 3-14Automatic Transaxle ........................................ 2-18

Fluid .......................................................... 5-22Operation ................................................... 2-22

BBackglass Antenna .......................................... 3-73Backing Up .................................................... 4-44Battery .......................................................... 5-43

1

Battery Replacement ......................................... 2-6Battery Run-Down Protection ............................ 3-16Before Leaving on a Long Trip ......................... 4-23Brake

Parking ...................................................... 2-26System Warning Light .................................. 3-28

Brake Adjustment ............................................ 5-42Brake Fluid .................................................... 5-38Brake Pedal Travel ......................................... 5-42Brake Wear ................................................... 5-41Brakes .......................................................... 5-38Braking ........................................................... 4-6Braking in Emergencies ..................................... 4-9Break-In, New Vehicle ..................................... 2-16Bulb Replacement ........................................... 5-52

Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL) ........ 5-53Front Turn Signal and Parking Lamps ............. 5-53Halogen Bulbs ............................................ 5-52Headlamp Aiming ........................................ 5-50Headlamps ................................................. 5-52Replacement Bulbs ...................................... 5-54Taillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps ............ 5-54

Buying New Tires ........................................... 5-66

CCalifornia Fuel .................................................. 5-6Canada – Customer Assistance .......................... 7-5Canadian Owners ................................................ ii

Canadian Roadside Assistance ........................... 7-8Capacities and Specifications ............................ 5-98Carbon Monoxide ................... 2-12, 2-30, 4-26, 4-40Care of

Safety Belts ................................................ 5-87Your Cassette Tape Player ............................ 3-71Your CD Player ........................................... 3-72Your CDs ................................................... 3-72

Cassette Tape Messages ................................. 3-67Cassette Tape Player Service ............................. 6-9CD Messages ................................ 3-45, 3-57, 3-70Center Console Storage Area ........................... 2-33Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL) ........... 5-53Center Rear Passenger Position, Safety Belts ..... 1-27Chains, Tires .................................................. 5-71Charging System Light .................................... 3-27Check

Engine Light ............................................... 3-32Checking Coolant ............................................ 5-26Checking Engine Oil ........................................ 5-16Checking Things Under the Hood ...................... 5-10Chemical Paint Spotting ................................... 5-90Child Restraints

Child Restraint Systems ............................... 1-37Infants and Young Children ........................... 1-33Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for

Children (LATCH System) .......................... 1-43Older Children ............................................. 1-31Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the

LATCH System ........................................ 1-45

2

Child Restraints (cont.)Securing a Child Restraint in a Center Rear

Seat Position ........................................... 1-48Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Outside

Seat Position ........................................... 1-46Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front

Seat Position ........................................... 1-49Top Strap ................................................... 1-41Top Strap Anchor Location ............................ 1-42Where to Put the Restraint ........................... 1-40

Chime Level Adjustment .................................. 3-73Cigarette Lighter ............................................. 3-18Cleaning

Inside of Your Vehicle .................................. 5-84Outside of Your Vehicle ................................ 5-88Underbody Maintenance ............................... 5-90Weatherstrips .............................................. 5-87

Cleaning Aluminum Wheels .............................. 5-89Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses ....................... 5-88Cleaning Fabric/Carpet .................................... 5-85Cleaning Glass Surfaces .................................. 5-87Cleaning Interior Plastic Components ................. 5-87Cleaning Leather ............................................ 5-86Cleaning the Top of the Instrument Panel ........... 5-87Cleaning Tires ................................................ 5-90Cleaning Vinyl ................................................ 5-86Cleaning Windshield and Wiper Blades .............. 5-89Climate Control System ................................... 3-18

Outlet Adjustment ........................................ 3-22

Clutch, Hydraulic ............................................. 5-23Compact Spare Tire ........................................ 5-83Control of a Vehicle .......................................... 4-5Coolant

Engine Temperature Gage ............................ 3-31Heater, Engine ............................................ 2-20Low Warning Light ....................................... 3-32

Cooling System .............................................. 5-30Cruise Control ................................................ 3-10Cruise Control Light ........................................ 3-37Cupholder(s) .................................................. 2-33Current and Past Model Order Forms ................ 7-13Customer Assistance Information

Courtesy Transportation .................................. 7-8Customer Assistance for Text Telephone (TTY)

Users ....................................................... 7-4Customer Assistance Offices ........................... 7-4Customer Satisfaction Procedure ..................... 7-2GM Mobility Program for Persons with

Disabilities ................................................ 7-6Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors ....... 7-12Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian

Government ............................................ 7-12Reporting Safety Defects to the United States

Government ............................................ 7-11Roadside Assistance Program ......................... 7-6Service Publications Ordering Information ........ 7-12

3

Customizing the Automatic Door Locks forAutomatic Transaxle Vehicles .......................... 2-9

Customizing the Automatic Door Locks forManual Transaxle Vehicles ............................. 2-9

DDaytime Running Lamps (DRL) ......................... 3-13Defensive Driving ............................................. 4-2Defogging and Defrosting ................................. 3-20Delayed Headlamps ........................................ 3-15Delayed Locking ............................................... 2-8Dinghy Towing ................................................ 4-32Doing Your Own Service Work ........................... 5-4Dolly Towing .................................................. 4-34Dome Lamp ................................................... 3-16Door

Delayed Locking ........................................... 2-8Locks .......................................................... 2-7Power Door Locks ......................................... 2-8Programmable Automatic Door Locks ............... 2-8Rear Door Security Locks ............................. 2-10

DriverPosition, Safety Belt ..................................... 1-14Six-Way Power Seat ...................................... 1-3

DrivingAt Night ..................................................... 4-16City ........................................................... 4-21

Driving (cont.)Defensive ..................................................... 4-2Drunken ....................................................... 4-2Freeway ..................................................... 4-22Hill and Mountain Roads .............................. 4-24In Rain and on Wet Roads ........................... 4-18Winter ........................................................ 4-26

Driving On Grades .......................................... 4-45Driving on Snow or Ice .................................... 4-27Driving Through Deep Standing Water ............... 4-20Driving Through Flowing Water ......................... 4-20Driving with a Trailer ....................................... 4-44

EEasy Entry Seat ............................................... 1-6Electrical System

Add-On Equipment ...................................... 5-93Fuses and Circuit Breakers ........................... 5-93Power Windows and Other Power Options ...... 5-93Windshield Wiper Fuses ............................... 5-93

Emergency Trunk Release Handle ..................... 2-13Emissions Inspection and Maintenance

Programs ................................................... 3-35Engine

Air Cleaner/Filter ......................................... 5-21Battery ....................................................... 5-43Change Engine Oil Light ............................... 3-37Check and Service Engine Soon Light ............ 3-32

4

Engine (cont.)Coolant ...................................................... 5-24Coolant Heater ............................................ 2-20Coolant Temperature Gage ........................... 3-31Drive Belt Routing ....................................... 6-14Engine Compartment Overview ...................... 5-12Exhaust ..................................................... 2-30Oil ............................................................. 5-16Overheating ................................................ 5-27Starting ...................................................... 2-18

Engine Compartment Fuse Block ...................... 5-96Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing .................. 4-46Engine Oil Additives ........................................ 5-19Enhanced Traction System (ETS) ........................ 4-9

Active Light ................................................ 3-31Warning Light ............................................. 3-30

Entry/Exit Lighting ........................................... 3-16Event Data Recorders (EDR) ............................ 7-10Express Down Window .................................... 2-15Extender, Safety Belt ....................................... 1-30Exterior Lamps ............................................... 3-13

FFilter

Engine Air Cleaner ...................................... 5-21Finding a Program Type (PTY) Station

(RDS and XM™) ................................. 3-50, 3-61Finding a Station ............................ 3-41, 3-48, 3-59

Finish Care .................................................... 5-88Finish Damage ............................................... 5-90Flat Tire ........................................................ 5-72Flat Tire, Changing ......................................... 5-72Fluid

Automatic Transaxle ..................................... 5-22Manual Transaxle ........................................ 5-23Power Steering ........................................... 5-36Windshield Washer ...................................... 5-37

FM Stereo ..................................................... 3-71Fog Lamps .................................................... 3-15Folding the Seatback ........................................ 1-8Following Distance .......................................... 4-44Fuel ............................................................... 5-5

Additives ...................................................... 5-6California Fuel .............................................. 5-6Filling a Portable Fuel Container ..................... 5-9Filling Your Tank ........................................... 5-7Fuels in Foreign Countries .............................. 5-7Gage ......................................................... 3-39Gasoline Octane ........................................... 5-5Gasoline Specifications .................................. 5-5

FusesFuses and Circuit Breakers ........................... 5-93Windshield Wiper ......................................... 5-93

5

GGage

Engine Coolant Temperature ......................... 3-31Fuel .......................................................... 3-39Speedometer .............................................. 3-25Tachometer ................................................. 3-25

GasolineOctane ........................................................ 5-5Specifications ............................................... 5-5

Glove Box ..................................................... 2-33GM Mobility Program for Persons with

Disabilities .................................................... 7-6

HHazard Warning Flashers ................................... 3-4Head Restraints ............................................... 1-5Headlamp

Aiming ....................................................... 5-50Headlamps ...................................... 3-7, 3-13, 5-52

Bulb Replacement ....................................... 5-52Front Turn Signal and Parking Lamps ............. 5-53Halogen Bulbs ............................................ 5-52

Headlamps Off in PARK (P) .............................. 3-14Highway Hypnosis ........................................... 4-24Hill and Mountain Roads .................................. 4-24Hitches .......................................................... 4-43

HoodChecking Things Under ................................ 5-10Release ..................................................... 5-10

Horn ............................................................... 3-5How to Add Coolant to the Coolant

Surge Tank ................................................. 5-32How to Check and Add Fluid ............................ 5-24How to Check Power Steering Fluid .................. 5-37How to Inspect the Engine Air Cleaner/Filter ....... 5-21How to Use This Manual ...................................... iiHow to Wear Safety Belts Properly ................... 1-14Hydraulic Clutch ............................................. 5-23Hydroplaning .................................................. 4-20

IIf No Steam Is Coming From Your Engine .......... 5-29If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine ............... 5-28If the Light Is Flashing ..................................... 3-34If the Light Is On Steady ................................. 3-34If You Are Caught in a Blizzard ......................... 4-28If You Are Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow ....... 4-30If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer ..................... 4-41Ignition Positions ............................................. 2-17Infants and Young Children, Restraints ............... 1-33Inflation - Tire Pressure ................................... 5-63

6

Instrument PanelCluster ....................................................... 3-24Overview ..................................................... 3-2

Instrument Panel Brightness ............................. 3-15Instrument Panel Fuse Block (Driver’s Side) ....... 5-94Instrument Panel Fuse Block

(Passenger’s Side) ....................................... 5-95Instrument Panel Fuse Blocks ........................... 5-94Interior Lamps ................................................ 3-15

JJump Starting ................................................. 5-44

KKey Removal ................................................. 2-29Keyless Entry System ....................................... 2-3Keys ............................................................... 2-2

LLamps

Exterior ...................................................... 3-13Interior ....................................................... 3-15

Lap Belt ........................................................ 1-27Lap-Shoulder Belt ................................... 1-15, 1-24

LATCH SystemChild Restraints ........................................... 1-43Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the

LATCH System ........................................ 1-45Latches, Seatback ............................................ 1-5Leaving Your Vehicle ....................................... 2-11Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine

Running ..................................................... 2-28Lift Seat, Power ............................................... 1-7Light

Air Bag Readiness ....................................... 3-26Anti-Lock Brake System Warning ................... 3-29Brake System Warning ................................. 3-28Change Engine Oil ...................................... 3-37Charging System ......................................... 3-27Cruise Control ............................................. 3-37Enhanced Traction System (ETS)

Active Light ............................................. 3-31Enhanced Traction System (ETS) Warning

Light ...................................................... 3-30Low Coolant Warning ................................... 3-32Low Washer Fluid Warning ........................... 3-38Malfunction Indicator .................................... 3-32Oil Pressure ............................................... 3-36Safety Belt Reminder ................................... 3-26Security ..................................................... 3-37Service Vehicle Soon ................................... 3-38Up-Shift ..................................................... 3-28

7

Loading Your Vehicle ....................................... 4-34Lockout Protection .......................................... 2-11Locks

Delayed Locking ........................................... 2-8Door ........................................................... 2-7Leaving Your Vehicle .................................... 2-11Lockout Protection ....................................... 2-11Power Door .................................................. 2-8Programmable Automatic Door Locks ............... 2-8Rear Door Security Locks ............................. 2-10

Loss of Control ............................................... 4-15Low Coolant Warning Light .............................. 3-32Low Washer Fluid Warning Light ....................... 3-38

MMaintenance Schedule

Additional Required Services ........................... 6-6At Each Fuel Fill ........................................... 6-8At Least Once a Month .................................. 6-9At Least Once a Year .................................... 6-9Introduction .................................................. 6-2Maintenance Footnotes .................................. 6-7Maintenance Record .................................... 6-15Maintenance Requirements ............................. 6-2Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts ......... 6-13Owner Checks and Services ........................... 6-8Recommended Fluids and Lubricants ............. 6-12

Maintenance Schedule (cont.)Scheduled Maintenance ................................. 6-4Using Your ................................................... 6-3Your Vehicle and the Environment ................... 6-2

Maintenance When Trailer Towing ..................... 4-46Making Turns ................................................. 4-44Malfunction Indicator Light ................................ 3-32Manual Seats ................................................... 1-2Manual Transaxle ............................................ 2-18

Fluid .......................................................... 5-23Operation ................................................... 2-25

Manual Windows ............................................ 2-14Matching Transmitter(s) to Your Vehicle ............... 2-5Mexico, Central America and Caribbean

Islands/Countries (Except Puerto Rico andU.S. Virgin Islands) – Customer Assistance ....... 7-5

MirrorsManual Rearview Mirror ................................ 2-32Outside Convex Mirror ................................. 2-33Outside Power Mirrors .................................. 2-32Outside Remote Control Mirror ...................... 2-32

MyGMLink.com ................................................ 7-4

NNew Vehicle Break-In ...................................... 2-16Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts ............ 6-13

8

OOdometer ...................................................... 3-25Off-Road Recovery .......................................... 4-13Oil

Change Engine Oil Light ............................... 3-37Engine ....................................................... 5-16Pressure Light ............................................. 3-36

Older Children, Restraints ................................ 1-31Online Owner Center ........................................ 7-4Operation ...................................................... 3-19Other Warning Devices ...................................... 3-5Outlet Adjustment ............................................ 3-22Outside

Convex Mirror ............................................. 2-33Power Mirrors ............................................. 2-32Remote Control Mirror .................................. 2-32

Overseas – Customer Assistance ........................ 7-5Owner Checks and Services .............................. 6-8Owners, Canadian ............................................... iiOwner’s Information ........................................ 7-13

PPark (P)

Shifting Into ................................................ 2-27Shifting Out of ............................................ 2-29

ParkingBrake ........................................................ 2-26Over Things That Burn ................................. 2-30Your Vehicle/Key Removal ............................ 2-29

Parking on Hills .............................................. 4-45Passing ................................................. 4-13, 4-44Passlock® ...................................................... 2-16Plan Ahead When Possible ................................ 7-8Playing a Cassette Tape .................................. 3-66Playing a CD ................................. 3-44, 3-55, 3-68Playing the Radio ........................... 3-41, 3-47, 3-58Power ............................................................. 1-3

Accessory Outlets ........................................ 3-17Door Locks .................................................. 2-8Electrical System ......................................... 5-93Lift Seat ....................................................... 1-7Steering Fluid ............................................. 5-36Windows .................................................... 2-15

Power Steering ............................................... 4-11Programmable Automatic Door Locks .................. 2-8

QQuestions and Answers About Safety Belts ......... 1-13

9

RRadio Data System (RDS) ....................... 3-46, 3-57Radio Messages ............................................. 3-43Radios .......................................................... 3-40

Care of Your Cassette Tape Player ................ 3-71Care of Your CD Player ............................... 3-72Care of Your CDs ........................................ 3-72Radio with Cassette and CD ......................... 3-57Radio with CD .................................... 3-41, 3-46Setting the Time for Radios with Radio Data

Systems (RDS) ........................................ 3-40Setting the Time for Radios without Radio

Data Systems (RDS) ................................ 3-40Theft-Deterrent ............................................ 3-70Understanding Reception .............................. 3-71

RDS Messages ...................................... 3-51, 3-63Rear Door Security Locks ................................ 2-10Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides ...................... 1-28Rear Seat Operation ......................................... 1-8Rear Seat Outside Passenger Positions ............. 1-23Rear Seat Passengers, Safety Belts .................. 1-23Rear Window Defogger .................................... 3-21Rearview Mirrors ............................................. 2-32Reclining Seatbacks .......................................... 1-3Recommended Fluids and Lubricants ................. 6-12Recreational Vehicle Towing ............................. 4-32

Remote Keyless Entry System ............................ 2-3Remote Keyless Entry System, Operation ............ 2-4Remote Trunk Release .................................... 2-13Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the

Spare Tire .................................................. 5-75Removing the Spare Tire and Tools ................... 5-74Replacement Bulbs ......................................... 5-54Replacing Brake System Parts .......................... 5-42Reporting Safety Defects

Canadian Government .................................. 7-12General Motors ........................................... 7-12United States Government ............................ 7-11

Restraint System CheckChecking Your Restraint Systems ................... 1-59Replacing Restraint System Parts After

a Crash .................................................. 1-60Restraint Systems

Checking .................................................... 1-59Replacing Parts ........................................... 1-60

Retained Accessory Power (RAP) ...................... 2-18Right Front Passenger Position, Safety Belts ...... 1-23Roadside

Assistance Program ....................................... 7-6Rocking Your Vehicle To Get It Out ................... 4-31Routing, Engine Drive Belt ............................... 6-14Running Your Engine While You Are Parked ....... 2-31

10

SSafety Belt

Reminder Light ............................................ 3-26Safety Belts

Care of ...................................................... 5-87Center Rear Passenger Position .................... 1-27Driver Position ............................................ 1-14How to Wear Safety Belts Properly ................ 1-14Questions and Answers About Safety Belts ..... 1-13Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children

and Small Adults ...................................... 1-28Rear Seat Passengers ................................. 1-23Right Front Passenger Position ...................... 1-23Safety Belt Extender .................................... 1-30Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy ................. 1-22Safety Belts Are for Everyone ......................... 1-9

Safety Chains ................................................. 4-43Safety Warnings and Symbols .............................. iiiScheduled Maintenance ..................................... 6-4Seatback Latches ............................................. 1-5Seats

Easy Entry Seat ............................................ 1-6Head Restraints ............................................ 1-5Manual ........................................................ 1-2Power Lift Seat ............................................. 1-7Rear Seat Operation ...................................... 1-8Reclining Seatbacks ...................................... 1-3Seatback Latches .......................................... 1-5

Seats (cont.)Six-Way Power Driver .................................... 1-3

Securing a Child RestraintCenter Rear Seat Position ............................ 1-48Designed for the LATCH System ................... 1-45Rear Outside Seat Position ........................... 1-46Right Front Seat Position .............................. 1-49

Security Light ................................................. 3-37Security While You Travel .................................. 7-6Service ........................................................... 5-3

Adding Equipment to the Outside of YourVehicle ..................................................... 5-5

Doing Your Own Work ................................... 5-4Engine Soon Light ....................................... 3-32Publications Ordering Information ................... 7-12Vehicle Soon Light ....................................... 3-38

Service Bulletins ............................................. 7-13Service Manuals ............................................. 7-12Setting Preset PTYs (RDS Only) ............... 3-51, 3-62Setting Preset Stations .................... 3-42, 3-48, 3-60Setting the Time

Radios with Radio Data Systems (RDS) ......... 3-40Radios without Radio Data Systems (RDS) ..... 3-40

Setting the Tone (Bass/Treble) .......... 3-42, 3-49, 3-60Sheet Metal Damage ....................................... 5-90Shift Speeds .................................................. 2-26Shifting Into Park (P) ....................................... 2-27Shifting Out of Park (P) ................................... 2-29Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster ........................... 1-17Skidding ........................................................ 4-15

11

Some Other Rainy Weather Tips ....................... 4-20Special Fabric Cleaning Problems ..................... 5-86Specifications, Capacities ................................. 5-98Speedometer .................................................. 3-25Starting Your 2.2L L4 ECOTEC™ Engine ........... 2-18Starting Your 3400 V6 Engine ........................... 2-19Starting Your Engine ....................................... 2-18Steering ........................................................ 4-11Steering in Emergencies .................................. 4-12Steering Tips .................................................. 4-11Steering Wheel, Tilt Wheel ................................. 3-5Storage Areas

Center Console Storage Area ........................ 2-33Cupholder(s) ............................................... 2-33Glove Box .................................................. 2-33

Storing the Flat Tire and Tools .......................... 5-81Storing the Spare Tire and Tools ....................... 5-82Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow ...................... 4-30Sun Visors ..................................................... 2-15Sunroof ......................................................... 2-34Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) ............... 1-52

How Does an Air Bag Restrain? .................... 1-56Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle ......... 1-58What Makes an Air Bag Inflate? .................... 1-56What Will You See After an Air Bag

Inflates? .................................................. 1-57When Should an Air Bag Inflate? ................... 1-56Where Are the Air Bags? .............................. 1-54

TTachometer .................................................... 3-25Taillamps

Turn Signal, and Stoplamps .......................... 5-54Theft-Deterrent, Radio ..................................... 3-70Theft-Deterrent Systems ................................... 2-16

Passlock® ................................................... 2-16Tilt Wheel ........................................................ 3-5Tire Inflation Check ........................................... 6-9Tire Sidewall Labeling ...................................... 5-56Tire Size ....................................................... 5-60Tire Terminology and Definitions ........................ 5-61Tires ............................................................. 5-56

Buying New Tires ........................................ 5-66Chains ....................................................... 5-71Changing a Flat Tire .................................... 5-72Compact Spare Tire ..................................... 5-83If a Tire Goes Flat ....................................... 5-72Inflation - Tire Pressure ................................ 5-63Inspection and Rotation ................................ 5-64Uniform Tire Quality Grading ......................... 5-68Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance ................. 5-69Wheel Replacement ..................................... 5-70When It Is Time for New Tires ...................... 5-66

Service Engine Soon Light in the United Statesor Check Engine Light in Canada .................. 3-32

To Use the Engine Coolant Heater .................... 2-21

12

Top Strap ...................................................... 1-41Top Strap Anchor Location ............................... 1-42Torque Lock ................................................... 2-28Total Weight on Your Vehicle’s Tires .................. 4-43Towing

Recreational Vehicle ..................................... 4-32Towing a Trailer .......................................... 4-40Your Vehicle ............................................... 4-31

TractionEnhanced Traction System (ETS) .................... 4-9Enhanced Traction System (ETS)

Active Light ............................................. 3-31Enhanced Traction System (ETS)

Warning Light .......................................... 3-30Trailer Brakes ................................................. 4-43Transaxle

Fluid, Automatic ........................................... 5-22Fluid, Manual .............................................. 5-23

Transaxle Operation, Automatic ......................... 2-22Transaxle Operation, Manual ............................ 2-25Transmission

Up-Shift Light .............................................. 3-28Transmission, Transaxle, Transfer Case Unit

Repair Manual ............................................ 7-12Transportation Options ...................................... 7-9Trap-Resistant Trunk Kit ................................... 2-14Trip Odometer ................................................ 3-25Trunk ............................................................ 2-12Trunk Lamp ................................................... 3-16

Turn and Lane-Change Signals .......................... 3-6Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever ........................... 3-6Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer .................. 4-45

UUnderstanding Radio Reception ........................ 3-71Uniform Tire Quality Grading ............................ 5-68United States – Customer Assistance .................. 7-5Up-Shift Light ................................................. 3-28Used Replacement Wheels .............................. 5-71Using Cleaner on Fabric .................................. 5-85

VVehicle

Control ........................................................ 4-5Damage Warnings ........................................... ivLoading ...................................................... 4-34Parking Your ............................................... 2-29Service Soon Light ...................................... 3-38Symbols ......................................................... iv

Vehicle Data Collection and Event DataRecorders .................................................. 7-10

Vehicle IdentificationNumber (VIN) ............................................. 5-92Service Parts Identification Label ................... 5-92

Vehicle Storage .............................................. 5-43

13

Ventilation Adjustment ...................................... 3-22Visor Vanity Mirror .......................................... 2-15Visors ........................................................... 2-15

WWarning Lights, Gages and Indicators ................ 3-23Warnings

Hazard Warning Flashers ............................... 3-4Other Warning Devices .................................. 3-5Safety and Symbols ......................................... iiiVehicle Damage .............................................. iv

Washer Fluid, Low Warning Light ...................... 3-38Washing Your Vehicle ...................................... 5-88Weight of the Trailer ........................................ 4-41Weight of the Trailer Tongue ............................. 4-42What Kind of Engine Oil to Use ........................ 5-17What to Do with Used Oil ................................ 5-20Wheels

Alignment and Tire Balance .......................... 5-69Replacement ............................................... 5-70

When to Add Engine Oil .................................. 5-17When to Change Engine Oil (GM Oil Life

System) ..................................................... 5-19When to Check Power Steering Fluid ................ 5-36When to Inspect the Engine Air Cleaner/Filter ........ 5-21

When You Are Ready to Leave After Parkingon a Hill ..................................................... 4-46

Where to Put the Restraint ............................... 1-40Why Safety Belts Work .................................... 1-10Window Lockout ............................................. 2-15Windows ....................................................... 2-14

Manual ...................................................... 2-14Power ........................................................ 2-15

Windshield Washer ........................................... 3-9Fluid .......................................................... 5-37

Windshield WiperBlade Replacement ...................................... 5-55Fuses ........................................................ 5-93

Windshield Wiper Lever ..................................... 3-8Winter Driving ................................................ 4-26

XXM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System ................ 3-73XM™ Satellite Radio Service ............................ 3-71XM™ Satellite Radio Service (48 Contiguous

US States) ......................................... 3-46, 3-58

YYour Vehicle and the Environment ....................... 6-2

14

2004 Oldsmobile Alero Owner Manual M - General … Oldsmobile Alero Owner Manual M GENERAL MOTORS,...

Documents

Transcript of 2004 Oldsmobile Alero Owner Manual M - General … Oldsmobile Alero Owner Manual M GENERAL MOTORS,...