2005 Buick Rendezvous Owner Manual Seats and Restraint Systems ........................... 1-1 Front Seats ............................................... 1-3 Rear Seats ............................................... 1-8 Safety Belts ............................................. 1-20 Child Restraints ....................................... 1-43 Airbag System ......................................... 1-67 Restraint System Check ............................ 1-83 Features and Controls ........................
Canadian Owners A French language copy of this manual can be obtained from your dealer or from: Helm, Incorporated P.O. Box 07130 Detroit, MI 48207 GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem, BUICK, the BUICK Emblem, and the name RENDEZVOUS are registered trademarks of General Motors Corporation. This manual includes the latest information at the time it was printed. We reserve the right to make changes after that time without notice.
Index A good place to quickly locate information about the vehicle is the Index in the back of the manual. It is an alphabetical list of what is in the manual and the page number where it can be found. Safety Warnings and Symbols There are a number of safety cautions in this book. We use a box and the word CAUTION to tell about things that could hurt you if you were to ignore the warning. In the caution area, we tell you what the hazard is. Then we tell you what to do to help avoid or reduce the hazard.
Vehicle Damage Warnings Vehicle Symbols Also, in this manual you will find these notices: The vehicle has components and labels that use symbols instead of text. Symbols are shown along with the text describing the operation or information relating to a specific component, control, message, gage, or indicator. Notice: These mean there is something that could damage your vehicle. A notice tells about something that can damage the vehicle.
These are some examples of symbols that may be found on the vehicle: v
✍ NOTES vi
Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems Front Seats ......................................................1-3 Manual Passenger Seat ..................................1-3 Four-Way Manual Driver Seat ..........................1-3 Six-Way Power Seats .....................................1-4 Manual Lumbar ..............................................1-5 Heated Seats .................................................1-5 Reclining Seatbacks ........................................1-6 Head Restraints .............
Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems What Will You See After an Airbag Inflates? .....1-76 Passenger Sensing System ............................1-77 Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle ...........1-82 Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle ....................................................1-82 1-2 Restraint System Check ..................................1-83 Checking Your Restraint Systems ...................1-83 Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash ............................
Front Seats Four-Way Manual Driver Seat Manual Passenger Seat Pull up on the lever, located on the front of the seat, to unlock and move the seat. {CAUTION: You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to adjust a manual driver’s seat while the vehicle is moving. The sudden movement could startle and confuse you, or make you push a pedal when you do not want to. Adjust the driver’s seat only when the vehicle is not moving.
To make sure the seat is locked into place, try to move the seat back and forth with your body. To raise the seat, pull up on the lever located on the front right side of the seat. Six-Way Power Seats Your vehicle may have this feature. If it does, the six-way power seat control is located on the outboard sides of the driver’s and front passenger’s seats. • Move the front of the control up or down to adjust the front portion of the cushion up or down. To lower the seat, push the lever down.
Manual Lumbar Heated Seats The knob that controls this feature is located on the outboard sides of the driver’s and front passenger’s seats. Turn the knob toward the front of the vehicle to increase lumbar support. Turn the knob toward the rear of the vehicle to decrease lumbar support. Your vehicle may have heated seats. If it does, the heated seat switches are located in the instrument panel switchbank.
Reclining Seatbacks To adjust a seatback, pull up on the lever located on the outboard side of the driver’s or front passenger’s seats. Release the lever to lock the seatback where you want it. Push and pull on the seat to make sure it’s locked into position. Pull up on the lever, and the seat will go to its original upright position. 1-6 But don’t have a seatback reclined if your vehicle is moving.
Head Restraints {CAUTION: Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle is in motion can be dangerous. Even if you buckle up, your safety belts can not do their job when you are reclined like this. The shoulder belt can not do its job because it will not be against your body. Instead, it will be in 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 a crash the belt could go up over your abdomen.
Rear Seats Rear Seat Operation The rear seats in your vehicle have seat operating features to adjust, fold, remove and reinstall the seats. By using the seat operating procedures, in the correct order, you can easily remove the seats from your vehicle. When you put the seats back in the vehicle, be sure to follow the label on the back of the seat for proper location. Folding or Reclining the Seatbacks {CAUTION: If the seatback is not locked, it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash.
To recline the seatback on up-level split bench seats, push forward on the recliner lever located on the outboard side of the seatback. Removing the Split Bench Seat Each section of the split bench seat can be flipped forward or removed individually. Up-Level Move the seatback to the desired position. It is easier to raise or lower the seatback if you lean forward and take the weight off the seatback. The seatbacks on each section also fold forward to put items behind the seats. 1.
Base-Level 4. For base-level split bench seats, pull the lever at the base of the seat on the outboard side to release the rear latches from the floor pins and flip the seat forward. For up-level split bench seats, continue pushing forward on the recliner lever to release the rear latches from the floor pins and flip the seat forward. The seat can stay in this position or it can be removed from the vehicle by following the next steps. 1-10 5.
Replacing the Split Bench Seat {CAUTION: {CAUTION: If the seatback is not locked, it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always press rearward on the seatback to be sure it is locked. {CAUTION: A seat that is not locked into place properly can move around in a collision or sudden stop. People in the vehicle could be injured. Be sure to lock the seat into place properly when installing it.
1. Squeeze the angled latch release bar toward the straight crossbar while placing the front hooks of the bench seat onto the front two floor pins. 2. Make sure that the bench seat is angled so that the front hooks clear the floor pins. If the front legs are not attached correctly, the rear legs will not attach to the rear set of floor pins. 1-12 3. Firmly push the rear hooks onto the rear floor pins by pushing down on the rear of the seat. 4. Try to raise the seat to check that it is locked down. 5.
Captain Chairs If your vehicle has captain’s chairs, the chairs and seatbacks can be adjusted forward or rearward. Adjusting the Captain’s Chairs (Second Row) To adjust the second row captain’s chairs, use the adjustment bar located below the front of each seat. Lift up the lever to slide the seat forward or rearward. Release the lever. Push and pull on the seat to make sure it is locked into place.
Removing the Captain’s Chairs 1. Make sure that the seatback is in the upright position. 2. Lift the seatback recliner lever to fold the seatback forward. 4. The seat can then be lifted off the front floor pins. 5. Remove the seat by rocking it slightly toward the rear of the vehicle and then pulling it out. Repeat these steps for the other captain’s chair. 3. Pull the nylon strap behind the chair to release the rear hooks from the floor pins.
Replacing the Captain’s Chairs {CAUTION: {CAUTION: If the seatback is not locked, it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always press rearward on the seatback to be sure it is locked. {CAUTION: A seat that is not locked into place properly can move around in a collision or sudden stop. People in the vehicle could be injured. Be sure to lock the seat into place properly when installing it.
1. Hook the front latches over the front floor pins. 2. Push the rear of the seat down to lock the rear latches onto the rear set of floor pins. 3. Push and pull on the seat to check that it is properly attached.
Stowable Seat The stowable seat is a two passenger bench seat and comes with the rear convenience center. See Rear Convenience Center on page 2-44 for more information. The stowable seat can be removed and replaced or, with the seatback folded, it can lie flat with the convenience center. To fold the seatback down, pull up on the lever located on the back of the seat. Push down on the seatback until it is locked into place.
Removing the Stowable Seat 1. Remove the convenience center, if it is in the vehicle. See Rear Convenience Center on page 2-44 for more information. Replacing the Stowable Seat {CAUTION: 2. Make sure all items are off the stowable seat. 3. If the seatback is down, put the seatback in its upright position before removing the seat. See “Folding the Seatback” listed previously. 4. From the front of the bench seat, remove the two nuts from the brackets, located on the floor on each side.
{CAUTION: A safety belt that is improperly routed, not properly attached, or twisted will not provide the protection needed in a crash. The person wearing the belt could be seriously injured. After installing the seat, always check to be sure that the safety belts are properly routed and attached, and are not twisted. Do not put the stowable seat in so that it faces rearward. The stowable seat has to go in before the rear convenience center. See Rear Convenience Center on page 2-44 for more information.
Safety Belts {CAUTION: Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone This part of the manual tells you how to use safety belts properly. It also tells you some things you should not do with safety belts. {CAUTION: Do not let anyone ride where he or she can not wear a safety belt properly. If you are in a crash and you are not wearing a safety belt, your injuries can be much worse. You can hit things inside the vehicle or be ejected from it. You can be seriously injured or killed.
Your vehicle has a light that comes on as a reminder to buckle up. See Safety Belt Reminder Light on page 3-41. Why Safety Belts Work When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as it goes. In most states and in all Canadian provinces, the law says to wear safety belts. Here is why: They work. You never know if you will be in a crash. If you do have a crash, you do not know if it will be a bad one.
Put someone on it. 1-22 Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle. The rider does not stop.
The person keeps going until stopped by something. In a real vehicle, it could be the windshield... or the instrument panel...
Questions and Answers About Safety Belts Q: Will I be trapped in the vehicle after an accident if I am wearing a safety belt? A: You could be — whether you are wearing a safety belt or not. But you can unbuckle a safety belt, even if you are upside down. And your chance of being conscious during and after an accident, so you can unbuckle and get out, is much greater if you are belted.
Q: If I am a good driver, and I never drive far from home, why should I wear safety belts? A: You may be an excellent driver, but if you are in an accident — even one that is not your fault — you and your passengers can be hurt. Being a good driver does not protect you from things beyond your control, such as bad drivers. Most accidents occur within 25 miles (40 km) of home. And the greatest number of serious injuries and deaths occur at speeds of less than 40 mph (65 km/h).
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 belt across you very quickly. If this happens, let the belt go back slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt across you more slowly. 4. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks. 1-26 If the belt stops before it reaches the buckle, tilt the latch plate and keep pulling until you can buckle it. Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure.
5. To make the lap part tight, pull down on the buckle end of the belt as you pull up on the shoulder belt. The lap part of the belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the thighs. In a crash, this applies force to the strong pelvic bones. And you would be less likely to slide under the lap belt. If you slid under it, the belt would apply force at your abdomen. This could cause serious or even fatal injuries. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest.
Q: What is wrong with this? {CAUTION: You can be seriously hurt if your shoulder belt is too loose. In a crash, you would move forward too much, which could increase injury. The shoulder belt should fit against your body. A: The shoulder belt is too loose. It will not give nearly as much protection this way.
Q: What is wrong with this? {CAUTION: You can be seriously injured if your belt is buckled in the wrong place like this. In a crash, the belt would go up over your abdomen. The belt forces would be there, not at the pelvic bones. This could cause serious internal injuries. Always buckle your belt into the buckle nearest you. A: The belt is buckled in the wrong place.
Q: What is wrong with this? {CAUTION: You can be seriously injured if your belt goes over an armrest like this. The belt would be much too high. In a crash, you can slide under the belt. The belt force would then be applied at the abdomen, not at the pelvic bones, and that could cause serious or fatal injuries. Be sure the belt goes under the armrests. A: The belt is over an armrest.
Q: What is wrong with this? {CAUTION: You can be seriously injured if you wear the shoulder belt under your arm. In a crash, your body would move too far forward, which would increase the chance of head and neck injury. Also, the belt would apply too much force to the ribs, which are not as strong as shoulder bones. You could also severely injure internal organs like your liver or spleen. A: The shoulder belt is worn under the arm. It should be worn over the shoulder at all times.
Q: What is wrong with this? {CAUTION: You can be seriously injured by a twisted belt. In a crash, you would not have the full width of the belt to spread impact forces. If a belt is twisted, make it straight so it can work properly, or ask your dealer to fix it. A: The belt is twisted across the body.
Shoulder Belt Height Adjustment Before you begin to drive, move the shoulder belt adjuster to the height that is right for you. 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 the way. If you slam the door on it, you can damage both the belt and your vehicle. To move it down, push down on the button and move the height adjuster to the desired position.
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy Right Front Passenger Position Safety belts work for everyone, including pregnant women. Like all occupants, they are more likely to be seriously injured if they do not wear safety belts. To learn how to wear the right front passenger’s safety belt properly, see Driver Position on page 1-25. The right front passenger’s safety belt works the same way as the driver’s safety belt — except for one thing.
Lap-Shoulder Belt 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 belt across you very quickly. If this happens, let the belt go back slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt across you more slowly. 2. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks. If the belt stops before it reaches the buckle, tilt the latch plate and keep pulling until you can buckle it. Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure.
3. To make the lap part tight, pull down on the buckle end of the belt as you pull up on the shoulder part. The lap part of the belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the thighs. In a crash, this applies force to the pelvic bones. And you would be less likely to slide under the lap belt. If you slid under it, the belt would apply force at your abdomen. This could cause serious or even fatal injuries. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest.
The safety belt locks if there is a sudden stop or a crash, or if you pull the belt very quickly out of the retractor. {CAUTION: You can be seriously hurt if your shoulder belt is too loose. In a crash, you would move forward 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.
Center Rear Passenger Position Lap-Shoulder Belt If your vehicle has a bench seat, someone can sit in the center position. When you sit in the center seating position, you have a lap safety belt, which has no retractor. You also have a shoulder belt, which has a retractor. In order to have the protection of the shoulder belt, you must first connect it to the lap belt. 1. Remove the shoulder belt from its stowage location in the roof and pull it all the way down to the lap belt.
2. Insert the metal knob on the shoulder belt into the keyhole on the lap belt buckle as shown. Be sure to slide the shoulder belt part into the keyhole until it locks into place. 3. To make the lap belt longer, tilt the latch plate and pull it along the belt.
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children and Small Adults Rear safety belt comfort guides will provide added safety belt comfort for older children who have outgrown booster seats and for small adults. When installed on a shoulder belt, the comfort guide better positions the belt away from the neck and head. There is a guide available for the center passenger position in the second row rear seat.
Here is how to install a comfort guide and use the safety belt: 2. Attach the elastic cord to the comfort guide on the center passenger shoulder belt. Second Row Center Position For second row center position do the following: 1. Remove the elastic cord from under the head restraint of the second row driver’s side position.
Safety Belt Pretensioners Your vehicle has safety belt pretensioners. Although you cannot see them, they are located on the retractor part of the safety belts for the driver and right front passenger. They help the safety belts reduce a person’s forward movement in a moderate to severe frontal or near frontal crash. Pretensioners work only once. If they activate in a crash, you will need to get new ones, and probably other new parts for your safety belt system.
Child Restraints Older Children Q: What is the proper way to wear safety belts? A: If possible, an older child should wear a lap-shoulder belt and get the additional restraint a shoulder belt can provide. The shoulder belt should not cross the face or neck. The lap belt should fit snugly below the hips, just touching the top of the thighs. It should never be worn over the abdomen, which could cause severe or even fatal internal injuries in a crash.
Q: What if a child is wearing a lap-shoulder belt, but the child is so small that the shoulder belt is very close to the child’s face or neck? A: If the child is sitting in a seat next to a window, move the child toward the center of the vehicle. If the child is sitting in the center rear seat passenger position, move the child toward the safety belt buckle.
The lap portion of the belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the child’s thighs. This applies belt force to the child’s pelvic bones in a crash. Infants and Young Children Everyone in a vehicle needs protection! This includes infants and all other children. Neither the distance traveled nor the age and size of the traveler changes the need, for everyone, to use safety restraints.
{CAUTION: {CAUTION: People should never hold a baby in their arms while riding in a vehicle. A baby does not weigh much — until a crash. During a crash a baby will become so heavy it is not possible to hold it. For example, in a crash at only 25 mph (40 km/h), a 12-lb (5.5 kg) baby will suddenly become a 240-lb (110 kg) force on a person’s arms. A baby should be secured in an appropriate restraint.
Q: What are the different types of add-on child restraints? {CAUTION: A: Add-on child restraints, which are purchased by the vehicle’s owner, are available in four basic types. Selection of a particular restraint should take into consideration not only the child’s weight, height and age but also whether or not the restraint will be compatible with the motor vehicle in which it will be used. For most basic types of child restraints, there are many different models available.
Child Restraint Systems {CAUTION: The body structure of a young child is quite unlike that of an adult or older child, for whom the safety belts are designed. A young child’s hip bones are still so small that the vehicle’s regular safety belt may not remain low on the hip bones, as it should. Instead, it may settle up around the child’s abdomen. In a crash, the belt would apply force on a body area that is unprotected by any bony structure. This alone could cause serious or fatal injuries.
A rear-facing infant seat (B) provides restraint with the seating surface against the back of the infant. The harness 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 for the child’s body with the harness and also sometimes with surfaces such as T-shaped or shelf-like shields.
Q: How do child restraints work? A: A child restraint system is any device designed for use in a motor vehicle to restrain, seat, or position children. A built-in child restraint system is a permanent part of the motor vehicle. An add-on child restraint system is a portable one, which is purchased by the vehicle’s owner. For many years, add-on child restraints have used the adult belt system in the vehicle. To help reduce the chance of injury, the child also has to be secured within the restraint.
One system, the three-point harness, has straps that come down over each of the infant’s shoulders and buckle together at the crotch. The five-point harness system has two shoulder straps, two hip straps and a crotch strap. A shield may take the place of hip straps. A T-shaped shield has shoulder straps that are attached to a flat pad which rests low against the child’s body. A shelf- or armrest-type shield has straps that are attached to a wide, shelf-like shield that swings up or to the side.
Where to Put the Restraint Accident statistics show that children are safer if they are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat. General Motors recommends that child restraints be secured in a rear seat, including an infant riding in a rear-facing infant seat, a child riding in a forward-facing child seat and an older child riding in a booster seat. Your vehicle has a rear seat that will accommodate a rear-facing child restraint.
Top Strap Some child restraints have a top strap, or “top tether.” It can help restrain the child restraint during a collision. For it to work, a top strap must be properly anchored to the vehicle. Some top strap-equipped child restraints are designed for use with or without the top strap being anchored. Others require the top strap always to be anchored. Be sure to read and follow the instructions for your child restraint.
If you are using a top strap-equipped child restraint in the second row center bench seat and need to temporarily transport a flat tire for repair, move the child restraint to a rear seat outboard position. See Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Outside Seat Position on page 1-60 for more on this, including important safety information. Top Strap Anchor Location Once you have the top strap anchored, you will be ready to secure the child restraint itself.
Second Row Outside Position Bench Seat Second Row Center Position Bench Seat without Third Row Seat 1-55
Your vehicle has top strap anchors already installed for the rear seating positions. An anchor bar for a top strap is located at the rear of the seat cushion for each second row outboard seating position. The anchor bar for the center position bench seat is located on the floor behind the second row seats. If the vehicle has the extended rear convenience center, you need to remove a plastic plug and look under the convenience center to find the anchor bar for the center position bench seat.
Second Row Center Position Bench Seat with Third Row Seat Folded Down If the vehicle has a third row seat and the seatback is folded, there is an anchor on the back of the third row seat for the second row center position bench seat. Third Row Passenger’s Side Outside Position There is also a top strap anchor for the third row passenger’s side outside position. Locate the anchor symbol on the flap of carpet behind the seat. Lift up the carpet to access the anchor.
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for Children (LATCH System) Your vehicle has the LATCH system. You will find anchors in the second row outside passenger positions. This system, designed to make installation of child restraints easier, does not use the vehicle’s safety belts. Instead, it uses vehicle anchors and child restraint attachments to secure the restraints. Some restraints also use another vehicle anchor to secure a top tether strap. A. Lower Anchorage B. Lower Anchorage C.
In order to use the LATCH system in your vehicle, you need a child restraint designed for that system. To assist you in locating the lower anchors for this child restraint system, each seating position with the LATCH system has a label on the seatback. The labels are located at each lower anchor position, near the base of the second row outside passenger positions. A. Lower Anchorage B.
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the LATCH System Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Outside Seat Position 1. Find the LATCH anchorages for the seating position you want to use, where the bottom of the seatback meets the back of the seat cushion. See Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for Children (LATCH System) on page 1-58. If your child restraint is equipped with the LATCH system, see Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for Children (LATCH System) on page 1-58.
Tilt the latch plate to adjust the belt if needed. 3. Buckle the belt. Make sure the release button is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to.
Securing a Child Restraint in a Center Rear Seat Position If your child restraint is equipped with the LATCH system, see Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for Children (LATCH System) on page 1-58. See Top Strap on page 1-53 if the child restraint has one. If your child restraint does not have the LATCH system, you will be using the lap-shoulder belt to secure the child restraint in the center rear seating position. 4.
4. Buckle the belt. Make sure the release button is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to. 1. Make the belt as long as possible by tilting the latch plate and pulling it along the belt. 2. Put the restraint on the seat. 3. Run the vehicle’s safety belt through or around the restraint. The child restraint instructions will show you how. 5. To tighten the belt, pull its free end while you push down on the child restraint.
To remove the child restraint, just unbuckle the vehicle’s safety belt. When you remove the child restraint, be sure to reconnect the lap and shoulder parts of the belt so they will be ready to work for an adult or larger child passenger. Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position Your vehicle has a right front passenger airbag. A rear seat is a safer place to secure a forward-facing child restraint. See Where to Put the Restraint on page 1-52.
You will be using the lap-shoulder belt to secure the child restraint in this position. See Top Strap on page 1-53 if your child restraint has one. Be sure to follow the instructions that came with the child restraint. Secure the child in the child restraint when and as the instructions say. 1. Your vehicle has a right front passenger’s frontal airbag. See Passenger Sensing System on page 1-77. General Motors recommends that rear-facing child restraints be secured in a rear seat, even if the airbag is off.
7. If your vehicle has the passenger sensing system and the airbag is off, the off indicator will be lit and stay lit in the inside rearview mirror when the key is turned to ON or START. If a child restraint has been installed and the on indicator is lit, turn the vehicle off. Remove the child restraint from the vehicle and reinstall the child restraint. 5.
Airbag System Your vehicle has airbags — a frontal airbag for the driver and another frontal airbag for the right front passenger. Your vehicle may also have side impact airbags. Side impact airbags are available for the driver and right front passenger. If your vehicle has a side impact airbag for the driver and/or the right front passenger, the words AIR BAG will appear on the airbag covering on the side of the seatback closest to the door.
Here are the most important things to know about the airbag system: {CAUTION: You can be severely injured or killed in a crash if you are not wearing your safety belt — even if you have airbags. Wearing your safety belt during a crash helps reduce your chance of hitting things inside the vehicle or being ejected from it. Airbags are designed to work with safety belts but do not replace them.
{CAUTION: {CAUTION: Both frontal and side impact airbags inflate with great force, faster than the blink of an eye. If you are too close to an inflating airbag, as you would be if you were leaning forward, it could seriously injure you. Safety belts help keep you in position for airbag inflation before and during a crash. Always wear your safety belt, even with frontal airbags. The driver should sit as far back as possible while still maintaining control of the vehicle.
There is an airbag readiness light on the instrument panel cluster, which shows the airbag symbol. Where Are the Airbags? The system checks the airbag electrical system for malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical problem. See Airbag Readiness Light on page 3-41 for more information. The driver’s frontal airbag is in the middle of the steering wheel.
The right front passenger’s frontal airbag is in the instrument panel on the passenger’s side. If your vehicle has one, the driver’s side impact airbag is in the side of the driver’s seatback closest to the door.
{CAUTION: If something is between an occupant and an airbag, the airbag might not inflate properly or it might force the object into that person causing severe injury or even death. The path of an inflating airbag must be kept clear. Do not put anything between an occupant and an airbag, and do not attach or put anything on the steering wheel hub or on or near any other airbag covering. Do not let seat covers block the inflation path of a side impact airbag.
When Should an Airbag Inflate? The driver’s and right front passenger’s frontal airbags are designed to inflate in moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal crashes. But they are designed to inflate only if the impact exceeds a predetermined deployment threshold. Deployment thresholds take into account a variety of desired deployment and non-deployment events and are used to predict how severe a crash is likely to be in time for the airbags to inflate and help restrain the occupants.
Airbags may inflate at different crash speeds. For example: • If the vehicle hits a stationary object, the airbag could inflate at a different crash speed than if the object were moving. • If the object deforms, the airbag could inflate at a different crash speed than if the object does not deform. • If the vehicle hits a narrow object (like a pole) the airbag could inflate at a different crash speed than if the vehicle hits a wide object (like a wall).
What Makes an Airbag Inflate? How Does an Airbag Restrain? In an impact of sufficient severity, the airbag sensing system detects that the vehicle is in a crash. For both frontal and side impact airbags, the sensing system triggers a release of gas from the inflator, which inflates the airbag. The inflator, the airbag and related hardware are all part of the airbag modules. Frontal airbag modules are located inside the steering wheel and instrument panel.
What Will You See After an Airbag Inflates? After the airbag inflates, it quickly deflates, so quickly that some people may not even realize the airbag inflated. Some components of the airbag module will be hot for a short time. These components include the steering wheel hub for the driver’s frontal airbag and the instrument panel for the right front passenger’s frontal airbag.
• Your vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing and diagnostic module which records information after a crash. See Vehicle Data Collection and Event Data Recorders on page 7-10. • Let only qualified technicians work on your airbag system. Improper service can mean that an airbag system will not work properly. See your dealer for service.
The passenger sensing system will turn off the right front passenger’s frontal airbag under certain conditions. The driver’s airbag and the side airbags are not part of the passenger sensing system. The passenger sensing system works with sensors that are part of the right front passenger’s seat and safety belt. The sensors are designed to detect the presence of a properly-seated occupant and determine if the passenger’s frontal airbag should be enabled (may inflate) or not.
The passenger sensing system is designed to turn off the right front passenger’s frontal airbag if: • the right front passenger seat is unoccupied • the system determines that an infant is present in a rear-facing infant seat • the system determines that a small child is present in a forward-facing child restraint • the system determines that a small child is present in a booster seat • a right front passenger takes his/her weight off of the seat for a period of time • the right front passenger seat is
The passenger sensing system is designed to enable (may inflate) the right front passenger’s frontal airbag anytime the system senses that a person of adult size is sitting properly in the right front passenger’s seat. When the passenger sensing system has allowed the airbag to be enabled, the on indicator will light and stay lit to remind you that the airbag is active.
{CAUTION: If the airbag readiness light in the instrument panel cluster ever comes on and stays on, it means that something may be wrong with the airbag system. If this ever happens, have the vehicle serviced promptly, because an adult-size person sitting in the right front passenger’s seat may not have the protection of the frontal airbag. See Airbag Readiness Light on page 3-41 for more on this, including important safety information.
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle Airbags affect how your vehicle should be serviced. There are parts of the airbag system in several places around your vehicle. Your dealer and the service manual have information about servicing your vehicle and the airbag system. To purchase a service manual, see Service Publications Ordering Information on page 7-12.
Restraint System Check Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash Checking Your Restraint Systems Now and then, make sure the safety belt reminder light and all your belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors and anchorages are working properly. Look for any other loose or damaged safety belt system parts. If you see anything that might keep a safety belt system from doing its job, have it repaired. Torn or frayed safety belts may not protect you in a crash. They can rip apart under impact forces.
If the LATCH system was being used during a more severe crash, you may need new LATCH system parts. If belts are cut or damaged, replace them. Collision damage also may mean you will need to have LATCH system, safety belt or seat parts repaired or replaced. New parts and repairs may be necessary even if the belt or LATCH system was not being used at the time of the collision. If an airbag inflates, you will need to replace airbag system parts. See the part on the airbag system earlier in this section.
Section 2 Features and Controls Keys ...............................................................2-3 Remote Keyless Entry System .........................2-5 Remote Keyless Entry System Operation ...........2-6 Doors and Locks .............................................2-8 Door Locks ....................................................2-8 Power Door Locks ..........................................2-9 Delayed Locking .............................................2-9 Programmable Automatic Door Locks ..
Section 2 Features and Controls Front Armrest Storage Area ...........................2-40 Rear Storage Area ........................................2-40 Roof Rack System ........................................2-40 Convenience Net ..........................................2-43 Cargo Cover ................................................2-43 Rear Convenience Center ..............................2-44 2-2 Sunroof .........................................................2-47 Vehicle Personalization .......
Keys {CAUTION: Leaving children in a vehicle with the ignition key is dangerous for many reasons. They could operate the power windows or other controls or even make the vehicle move. The children or others could be badly injured or even killed. Do not leave the keys in a vehicle with children.
Your vehicle’s key can be used for the ignition as well as the driver’s door lock, the floor console, and the glove box. If you need a new key, contact your dealer, who can obtain the correct key code. Your vehicle has the PASS-Key® III vehicle theft system. The key has a transponder in the key head that matches a decoder in the vehicle’s steering column. If a replacement key or any additional key is needed, you must purchase this key from your dealer. The key will have PK3® stamped on it.
Remote Keyless Entry System If equipped, the keyless entry system operates on a radio frequency subject to Federal Communications Commission (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. 2. This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device. This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry Canada.
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation With this feature, you can lock and unlock your doors from about 3 feet (1 m) up to 30 feet (9 m) away using the remote keyless entry transmitter supplied with your vehicle. If you would like to program the way the headlamps and parking lamps operate with remote unlock confirmation, and your vehicle is equipped with the Driver Information Center (DIC), see DIC Vehicle Personalization on page 3-66. LOCK: To lock all doors, press LOCK.
Matching Transmitter(s) to Your Vehicle Each remote keyless entry transmitter is coded to prevent another transmitter from unlocking your vehicle. If a transmitter is lost or stolen, a replacement can be purchased through your dealer. Remember to bring any remaining transmitters with you when you go to your dealer. When the dealer matches the replacement transmitter to your vehicle, any remaining transmitters must also be matched.
Doors and Locks Door Locks {CAUTION: Unlocked doors can be dangerous. • Passengers — especially children — can easily open the doors and fall out of a moving vehicle. When a door is locked, the handle will not open it. You increase the chance of being thrown out of the vehicle in a crash if the doors are not locked. So, wear safety belts properly and lock the doors whenever you drive. • Young children who get into unlocked vehicles may be unable to get out.
Power Door Locks Delayed Locking The power door lock switch is located on the driver’s and front passenger’s doors next to the door handle. With the delayed locking feature, the doors will not lock immediately when locking the doors using the power door lock switch or when LOCK on the remote keyless entry transmitter is pressed while any door is open. Instead, three chimes will be heard to indicate that the delayed locking feature is in operation.
Programmable Automatic Door Locks 2. On the inside of the rear door will be a lock. Push the lever up to engage the safety lock. All of the doors will automatically lock when all doors are closed, the engine is running and the shift lever is shifted out of PARK (P). All of the doors will automatically unlock when the shift lever is shifted into PARK (P).
Canceling the Rear Door Security Locks 1. Unlock and open the rear door from the outside. 2. Push the lever down to disengage the safety lock. 3. Close the door. 4. Repeat Steps 1 through 3 for the other rear door lock. The rear door locks will now work normally. Lockout Protection The lockout protection feature may prevent you from locking your key in your vehicle. Pressing the power door lock switch will lock all doors, then unlock the driver’s door, if the key is in the ignition when a door is opened.
Liftgate Release To open the liftgate using the touchpad, do the following: 1. Put the vehicle in PARK (P). 2. Unlock all of the doors. 3. Lift up on the liftgate handle. If your vehicle has a remote keyless entry transmitter, you may unlock the liftgate by pressing the REAR button on the transmitter, then open the liftgate manually by lifting up on the liftgate handle. Pressing REAR while the Content Theft-Deterrent is active allows you to open the liftgate while all other doors remain locked.
Windows {CAUTION: Leaving children, helpless adults, or pets in a vehicle with the windows closed is dangerous. They can be overcome by the extreme heat and suffer permanent injuries or even death from heat stroke. Never leave a child, a helpless adult, or a pet alone in a vehicle, especially with the windows closed in warm or hot weather.
Power Windows The driver’s power window switch has two down positions. Push the rear of the switch to the first position to lower the window normally. Press the rear of any passenger window switch and that window will open. Press the front of any switch to close the window. Express-Down Window The driver’s window switch also has an express-down feature. This switch is labeled AUTO. To activate the express-down feature, push the rear of the driver’s window switch to the second position, then release it.
Window Lock Out Theft-Deterrent Systems The driver’s window controls also include a lock-out switch. Press the right side of the WDO LOCK switch to stop rear passengers from lowering their window. The driver can still control all of the windows with the lock on. Press the other side of the WDO LOCK switch for normal window operation. Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities.
Once armed, the alarm will go off if someone tries to enter the vehicle without using the optional remote keyless entry transmitter or the key, or tries to turn the ignition on without using the correct key. The horn will sound and the headlamps and parking lamps will flash any time the alarm sounds. When the content theft-deterrent system is armed, the liftgate may be opened by pressing the REAR button on the remote keyless entry transmitter. The alarm will go into standby mode.
Disarming with Your Key PASS-Key® III Your alarm system will disarm when you use your key to unlock the driver’s door. The security light will stop flashing to let you know the system is no longer armed. Your PASS-Key® III system operates on a radio frequency subject to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Rules and with Industry Canada. Disarming with the Remote Keyless Entry Transmitter Your alarm system will disarm when you press UNLOCK on your remote keyless entry transmitter to unlock the doors.
PASS-Key® III Operation Your vehicle is equipped with the PASS-Key® III (Personalized Automotive Security System) theft-deterrent system. PASS-Key® III is a passive theft deterrent system. This means you don’t have to do anything different to arm or disarm the system. It works when you insert or remove the key from the ignition. When the PASS-Key® III system senses that someone is using the wrong key, it shuts down the vehicle’s starter and fuel systems.
To program the new PK3® key do the following: 1. Verify the new key has PK3® stamped on it. 2. Insert the original key in the ignition and start the engine. If the engine will not start, see your dealer for service. 3. After the engine has started, turn the key to OFF, and remove the key. 4. Insert the key to be programmed and turn it to ON within 10 seconds of removing the previous key. 5. The SECURITY message will turn off once the key has been programmed.
Ignition Positions With the key in the ignition, you can turn it to four different positions. B (ACCESSORY): This position allows you to use things like the radio and the windshield wipers while the engine is off. This position will also allow you to turn off the engine. Use ACCESSORY if you must have your vehicle in motion while the engine is off, for example, if your vehicle is being pushed or towed. C (ON): This is the position that the switch returns to after you start your engine and release the key.
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) With RAP, the power windows, the audio system, the sunroof and the automatic level control will continue to work for up to 10 minutes after the ignition key is turned to OFF or until one of the doors is opened. Starting Your Engine Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N). Your engine will not start in any other position — that is a safety feature. To restart when you are already moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only.
Engine Coolant Heater Your vehicle may have an engine coolant heater. In very cold weather, 0°F (−18°C) or colder, the engine coolant heater can help. You will get easier starting and better fuel economy during engine warm-up. Usually, the coolant heater should be plugged in a minimum of four hours prior to starting your vehicle. At temperatures above 32°F (0°C), use of the coolant heater is not required. To Use the Engine Coolant Heater 1. Turn off the engine. 2.
Automatic Transaxle Operation If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on the shift lever — push the shift lever all the way into PARK (P) as you maintain brake application. Then move the shift lever into the gear you wish. See Shifting Out of Park (P) on page 2-28 for more information. {CAUTION: Maximum engine speed is limited when you are in PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N), to protect driveline components from improper operation. There are several different positions for your shift lever.
REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back up. Notice: Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle is moving forward could damage the transaxle. The repairs would not be covered by your warranty. Shift to 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 If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow on page 4-30. NEUTRAL (N): In this position, your engine does not connect with the wheels.
Warm-Up Shift Your vehicle has a computer controlled transaxle designed to warm up the engine faster when the outside temperature is 35°F (2°C) or colder. You may notice that the transaxle will shift at a higher vehicle speed until the engine is warmed up. This is a normal condition designed to provide heat to the passenger compartment and defrost the windows more quickly. THIRD (3): This position is also used for normal driving, but it offers more power and lower fuel economy than AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D).
All-Wheel Drive If your vehicle has all-wheel drive, your engine’s driving power is sent to all four wheels for extra traction when needed. This is like four-wheel drive, but there is no separate lever or switch to engage or disengage the front axle. It is fully automatic, and adjusts itself as needed for road conditions. You may experience a brief vehicle vibration upon acceleration when driving in slippery conditions.
Shifting Into Park (P) {CAUTION: It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll. If you have left the engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly. You or others could be injured. To be sure your vehicle will not move, even when you are on fairly level ground, use the steps that follow. If you are pulling a trailer, see Towing a Trailer on page 4-38. 1.
Torque Lock Shifting Out of Park (P) If you are parking on a hill and you do not shift your vehicle into PARK (P) properly, the weight of the vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl in the transaxle. You may find it difficult to pull the shift lever out of PARK (P). This is called torque lock. To prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and then shift into PARK (P) properly before you leave the driver’s seat. To find out how, see Shifting Into Park (P) on page 2-27.
Parking Over Things That Burn Engine Exhaust {CAUTION: Engine exhaust can kill. It contains the gas carbon monoxide (CO), which you cannot see or smell. It can cause unconsciousness and death. {CAUTION: Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust parts under your vehicle and ignite. Do not park over papers, leaves, dry grass or other things that can burn. You might have exhaust coming in if: • Your exhaust system sounds strange or different. • Your vehicle gets rusty underneath.
Running Your Engine While You Are Parked It is better not to park with the engine running. But if you ever have to, here are some things to know. {CAUTION: Idling the engine with the climate control system off could allow dangerous exhaust into your vehicle. See the earlier caution under Engine Exhaust on page 2-29. Also, idling in a closed-in place can let deadly carbon monoxide (CO) into your vehicle even if the climate control fan is at the highest setting. One place this can happen is a garage.
Mirrors Manual Rearview Mirror The vehicle may have a rearview mirror that can be adjusted for day or night driving. Push or pull the tab at the bottom of the mirror to adjust it for day or night conditions. Outside Power Mirror The power mirror controls are located on the driver’s door armrest. The mirror’s two outer buttons operate the lamps on the bottom of the mirror. The mirror may have a passenger airbag indicator. See Passenger Sensing System on page 1-77 for more information.
Outside Curb View Assist Mirror If the vehicle has this feature, it can be helpful when parallel parking. The passenger’s outside rearview mirror will tilt towards the curb when the vehicle is shifted into REVERSE (R) and return to its previous position when the vehicle is shifted out of REVERSE (R). If further adjustment is needed, the power mirror controls can be used. See Outside Power Mirror on page 2-31.
OnStar® System OnStar® uses global positioning system (GPS) satellite technology, wireless communications, and call centers to provide you with a wide range of safety, security, information, and convenience services. A complete OnStar® user’s guide and the terms and conditions of the OnStar® Subscription Service Agreement are included in the vehicle’s glove box literature. For more information, visit www.onstar.com or www.onstarcanada.com.
OnStar® Personal Calling HomeLink® Transmitter As an OnStar® subscriber, the Personal Calling capability is available if your hand-held cell phone is lost, forgotten, or has a low battery. It is a hands-free wireless phone that is integrated into the vehicle. Calls can be placed nationwide using simple voice commands with no additional contracts and no additional roaming charges. To find out more about OnStar® Personal Calling, refer to the OnStar® user’s guide in the vehicle’s glove box or visit www.
This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry Canada. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: 1. This device may not cause interference. 2. This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device. Changes and modifications to this system by other than an authorized service facility could void authorization to use this equipment.
Programming HomeLink® Your vehicle’s engine should be turned off while programming the transmitter. Follow these steps to program up to three channels: 1. Press and hold down the two outside buttons, releasing only when the indicator light begins to flash, after 20 seconds. Do not hold down the buttons for longer than 30 seconds and do not repeat this step to program a second and/or third transmitter to the remaining two HomeLink® buttons. 2.
8. Return to the vehicle. Firmly press and hold the programmed HomeLink® button for two seconds, then release. Repeat the press/hold/release sequence a second time, and depending on the brand of the garage door opener (or other rolling code device), repeat this sequence a third time to complete the programming. HomeLink® should now activate your rolling-code equipped device. To program the remaining two HomeLink® buttons, begin with Step 2 of “Programming HomeLink®.
Erasing HomeLink® Buttons Resetting Defaults To erase programming from the three buttons do the following: To reset HomeLink® to default settings do the following: 1. Press and hold down the two outside buttons until the indicator light begins to flash, after 20 seconds. Do not hold the two outside buttons for longer than 30 seconds. 2. Release both buttons.
Cupholder(s) There are two cupholders located in the floor console. The cupholders have liners that remove for larger beverage items. Remove the liners by lifting them out. Your vehicle has cupholders located in the rear seat armrests if it has a split folding rear seat. If your vehicle has captain’s chairs, there are cupholders on the sides of the seats. If your vehicle has a stowable seat, there are cupholders in the center of the seat.
Front Armrest Storage Area Your vehicle has a front armrest storage compartment which contains two storage compartments. To unlock the front armrest storage compartment, put your key into the lock and turn the key counterclockwise. To open the armrest, squeeze the lever while lifting the top to open it. To close the armrest, push the lid down until you hear a click. To lock the armrest, put your key into the lock and turn the key clockwise.
If you have the luggage carrier with crossrails you can load things on top of your vehicle. If you do load things on the top of your vehicle, you must load them on the luggage carrier crossrails. Some vehicles may not have the crossrails. Notice: Damage may be caused to the roof of your vehicle if anything is placed directly on the roof. Notice: Loading cargo on the luggage carrier that weighs more than 220 lbs (100 kg) or hangs over the rear or sides of the vehicle may damage your vehicle.
Don’t exceed the maximum vehicle capacity when loading your vehicle. For more information on vehicle capacity and loading, see Loading Your Vehicle on page 4-31. To prevent damage or loss of cargo as you’re driving, check now and then to make sure the luggage carrier and cargo are still securely fastened. Loading things onto the luggage carrier can interfere with the performance of your XM™ Satellite Radio System, if equipped.. To adjust the crossrail(s), the sunroof stop (A), if equipped, must be removed.
To adjust the crossrails, lift the release levers on each side to unlock them. Slide the crossrails forward or backward, as needed, to accommodate loads of various sizes. After repositioning the crossrails, push the release lever down. This will lock the crossrails in place. Notice: Opening the sunroof when the luggage rack crossrails are not in the full-rear position could cause damage to the sunroof or luggage rack.
Rear Convenience Center {CAUTION: If any removable convenience item is not secured properly, it can move around in a collision or sudden stop. People in the vehicle could be injured. Be sure to secure any such item properly. Your vehicle may have a rear convenience center. The rear convenience center can be used to organize and store items in your vehicle. The extended rear convenience center, without the optional third row stowable seat, has a forward bin and rear bin.
Reinstalling the Extended Rear Convenience Center 1. Make sure that all items have been removed from the rear of the vehicle. 2. Remove the carpeted mat from the vehicle. 5. Lift the rear bin into the back of the vehicle. Place the rear bin over the center T-shaped wall on the forward bin. Push down to secure. Align the rear bin over the rear mounting bolts. 6. Put the nuts back onto the mounting bolts and tighten. 3. Lift the forward bin into the back of the vehicle.
Removing the Rear Convenience Center on Vehicles with the Third Row Stowable Seat Reinstalling the Rear Convenience Center on Vehicles with the Third Row Stowable Seat 1. Make sure that all items have been removed from the top and the inside of the rear convenience center. 1. Make sure that all items have been removed from the rear of the vehicle. 2. Lift the handle(s) on the top of the lid to open the storage bin. 3. Remove the two nuts from inside the storage bin.
Sunroof If the vehicle has a sunroof, the switch to operate it is located on the headliner, between the sun visors. Press and release the rear of the switch a second time to express-open the sunroof. The sunshade will open with the sunroof. Press the switch in either direction to stop it from moving. If the rear of the switch is pressed and held, the express-open operation will be overridden. To close the sunroof, press and hold the front of the switch.
To store the memory settings, do the following: 1. Adjust the driver’s seat and the outside rearview mirrors to the position you would like for driving. 2. Press and hold memory button 1 for more than three seconds. A double beep will sound when the memory seat and mirror position have been stored. To store the seat and outside rearview mirror positions for a second driver, follow the previous steps, but press button 2 instead. To recall your stored positions, your vehicle must be in PARK (P).
Section 3 Instrument Panel Instrument Panel Overview ...............................3-4 Hazard Warning Flashers ................................3-6 Other Warning Devices ...................................3-6 Horn .............................................................3-6 Tilt Wheel .....................................................3-6 Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever .........................3-7 Turn and Lane-Change Signals ........................3-7 Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer ..............
Section 3 Instrument Panel Message Center .............................................3-51 Passenger Seatbelt Reminder Message ...........3-51 Service Traction System Warning Message ......3-51 Traction Active Message ................................3-52 Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Message ..................................................3-52 Charging System Indicator Message ................3-53 Reduced Engine Power Message ....................3-53 Low Oil Pressure Message ......................
✍ NOTES 3-3
Instrument Panel Overview 3-4
The main components of the instrument panel are the following: A. Exterior/Interior Lamps Control. See Exterior Lamps on page 3-14 and Interior Lamps on page 3-16. B. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever. See Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever on page 3-7. C. Hazard Warning Flasher Button. See Hazard Warning Flashers on page 3-6. D. Instrument Panel Cluster. See Instrument Panel Cluster on page 3-38. E. Shift Lever. See Automatic Transaxle Operation on page 2-23. F. Instrument Panel Outlets.
Hazard Warning Flashers Horn Your hazard warning flashers let you warn others. They also let police know you have a problem. Your front and rear turn signal lamps will flash on and off. Press near or on the horn symbols on your steering wheel pad to sound the horn. The hazard warning flasher button is located on top of the steering column. Tilt Wheel A tilt wheel allows you to adjust the steering wheel before you drive.
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever • L PUSH Windshield Washer. See Windshield Washer on page 3-9. • CRUISE I Cruise Control. See Cruise Control on page 3-10. Turn and Lane-Change Signals The turn signal has two upward (for right) and two downward (for left) positions. These positions allow you to signal a turn or a lane change. The lever on the left side of the steering column includes the following: • G Turn and Lane-Change Signals. See Turn and Lane-Change Signals on page 3-7.
As you signal a turn or a lane change, if the arrow flashes faster than normal, a signal bulb may be burned out and other drivers will not see your turn signal. If a bulb is burned out, replace it to help avoid an accident. If the arrows do not go on at all when you signal a turn, check for burned-out bulbs and check the fuse. See Fuses and Circuit Breakers on page 5-105. Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer To change the headlamps from low to high, push the turn signal lever away from you, then release it.
Windshield Wipers WIPER N: Turn the band marked WIPER to control the windshield wipers. MIST: For a single wiping cycle, turn the band to MIST. Hold it there until the wipers start, then let go. The wipers will stop after one cycle. If you want more cycles, hold the band on MIST longer. Delay: For delayed wiping cycles, you can set the wiper speed for a long or short delay between wipes. This can be very useful in light rain or snow. Turn the band to choose the delay time.
Rear Window Washer/Wiper The rear window washer/wiper switch is located in the instrument panel switchbank. See Instrument Panel Switchbank on page 3-20. = (Rear Wiper/Washer To wash and wipe the rear window, press the washer symbol on the bottom of the switch. Washer fluid will spray as long as the switch is held in. When the switch is released, the wiper will continue to cycle three more times. There is only one washer fluid reservoir for the front and rear windshield wipers.
The cruise controls are located on the end of the turn signal/multifunction lever. {CAUTION: Cruise control can be dangerous where you cannot drive safely at a steady speed. So, do not use your cruise control on winding roads or in heavy traffic. ON: Move the switch to this position to turn the cruise control system on. R/A: Move the switch to this position to resume a set speed or to accelerate. SET: Press this button, located at the end of the lever, to set a speed.
Setting Cruise Control {CAUTION: If you leave your cruise control on when you are not using cruise, you might hit a button and go into cruise when you do not want to. You could be startled and even lose control. Keep the cruise control switch off until you want to use cruise control. 1. Move the cruise control switch located on the turn signal/multifunction lever, to ON. 2. Get up to the speed you want. 3. Press the SET button at the end of the lever and release it. 4.
• Move the cruise switch from ON to R/A. Hold it there until you get up to the speed you want, and then release the switch. To increase your speed in very small amounts, move the switch to R/A briefly and then release it. Each time you do this, your vehicle will go about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster. The accelerate feature will work whether or not you have set an initial cruise control speed.
Exterior Lamps 5 (Headlamps): The control on the left side of the steering column operates the exterior lamps. Turning the control to this position turns on the headlamps together with the previously listed lamps and lights. Lamps on Reminder If the driver’s door is opened and you turn the ignition to OFF while leaving the lamps on, you will hear a warning chime.
When the DRL are on, only your reduced intensity high-beam headlamps will be on. Your instrument panel will not be lit up. When it is dark enough outside, the exterior lamps will come on automatically. When it is bright enough outside, the exterior lamps will go out and the DRL will turn on. Of course, you may still turn on the headlamps any time you need to. Fog Lamps The fog lamp button is located on the exterior lamp control.
Interior Lamps The interior lamps can be controlled, or automatically turn on or off under certain conditions. They are explained in the following text. Instrument Panel Brightness Interior Lamps Control The interior lamp control is located to the left of the steering column, below the exterior lamp control. This feature controls the brightness of the instrument panel lights. The knob for this feature is located on the interior lamps control. Press the knob to extend it.
Headlamp Exit Delay Entry Lighting If your vehicle has headlamp exit delay, it will keep the headlamps and parking lamps on at night for 30 seconds if the following conditions are met: If your vehicle has entry lighting, the interior of your vehicle will illuminate for 25 seconds so you can see inside your vehicle before you enter. To activate entry lighting, do one of the following: • The ignition is turned to OFF. • The exterior lamp control is in the AUTO position.
Delayed Lighting Exit Lighting If your vehicle has delayed lighting, it will continue to illuminate the interior for 25 seconds after all doors have been closed. The lamps will continue to illuminate when the following conditions are met: If your vehicle is equipped with exit lighting, the interior lamps will come on for about 30 seconds whenever you remove the key from the ignition if the following conditions are met: • A door is opened then closed. • The interior lamp control is in the DOOR position.
Perimeter Lighting Front Reading Lamps If your vehicle has perimeter lighting, it will turn on the headlamps and parking lamps for 25 seconds when the following conditions are met: There are two reading lamps located on the rearview mirror. • The ignition is turned to OFF. • The exterior lamp control is in the AUTO position. • UNLOCK is pressed on the remote keyless entry transmitter. • It is dark enough outside. After 25 seconds, the headlamps and parking lamps will turn off.
Battery Run-Down Protection Instrument Panel Switchbank Your vehicle has a feature to help prevent you from draining the battery, in case you accidentally leave the interior or exterior lamps on. If the interior lamps are left on while the ignition is in OFF, they will automatically turn off after 10 minutes. If the exterior lamps are left on while the ignition is in OFF with all doors and the liftgate closed, they will automatically turn off after 10 minutes.
Head-Up Display (HUD) The HUD will display the following lights and messages when they appear on the instrument panel cluster: • Turn Signal Indicators. See Turn {CAUTION: If the HUD image is too bright, or too high in your field of view, it may take you more time to see things you need to see when it is dark outside. Be sure to keep the HUD image dim and placed low in your field of view. If your vehicle has the Head-Up Display (HUD), it can show the speedometer reading in English or metric.
The HUD controls are located to the left of the steering wheel on the instrument panel. Under warning conditions, the CHECK GAGES message will illuminate in the HUD. Look at the instrument panel cluster for more information. Notice: If you try to use the HUD image as a parking aid, you may misjudge the distance and damage your vehicle. Do not use the HUD image as a parking aid. 3-22 When the HUD is on, the speedometer reading will always be displayed.
To adjust the HUD so you can see it properly, do the following: 1. Start your engine and turn the dimmer knob to the desired HUD image brightness. The brightness of the HUD image is determined by the ambient light conditions in the direction your vehicle is facing and where you have the HUD dimmer knob set. If you are facing a dark object or a heavily shaded area, your HUD may anticipate that you are entering a dark area and may begin to dim. 2. Adjust the driver’s seat.
Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist (URPA) {CAUTION: The Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist (URPA) system is designed to help you park, while the vehicle is in REVERSE (R). It operates only at very low speeds, less than 3 mph (5 km/h). URPA can help make parking easier and to help you avoid colliding with objects such as parked vehicles. The URPA system can detect objects up to 5 feet (1.5 m) behind the vehicle, and tell you how close these objects are from your rear bumper.
URPA can be turned off by pressing the rear park aid disable switch located in the instrument panel switchbank. When the system is disabled, an indicator light will glow on the switch. You will not see any lights on the rear display if the switch is in the off position. How the System Works Unless disabled, the URPA will turn on automatically when the shift lever is moved into REVERSE (R).
When the System Does Not Seem to Work Properly The light may flash red when the vehicle is in REVERSE (R) if the ultrasonic sensors are not kept clean. So be sure to keep your rear bumper free of mud, dirt, snow, ice, and slush. Other conditions that may affect system performance include things like the vibrations from a jackhammer or the compression of air brakes on a very large truck.
Certain electrical accessories may not be compatible with the accessory power outlet and could result in blown vehicle or adapter fuses. If you experience a problem, see your dealer for additional information on the accessory power outlets. Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter Notice: Adding any electrical equipment to your vehicle may damage it or keep other components from working as they should. The repairs would not be covered by your warranty. Check with your dealer before adding electrical equipment.
Climate Controls Climate Control System With this system you can control the heating, cooling, and ventilation for your vehicle. ) (Bi-Level): This mode directs half of the air to the instrument panel outlets, then directs the remaining air to the floor outlets. Cooler air is directed to the upper outlets and warmer air to the floor outlets. 6 (Floor): This mode directs most of the air to the floor outlets. Use this mode to send air to the rear of the vehicle.
Temperature Control: Turn the center knob clockwise or counterclockwise to increase or decrease the air temperature inside your vehicle. # A/C (Air Conditioning): Press this button to turn the air-conditioning system on or off. When A/C is pressed, an indicator light in the button will come on to let you know that air conditioning is activated. You may notice a slight change in engine performance when the air-conditioning compressor shuts off and turns on again. This is normal.
Rear Window Defogger Dual Climate Control System The rear window defogger uses a warming grid to remove fog from the rear window. Your vehicle may have a dual climate control system. With this system you can control the heating, cooling, and ventilation for your vehicle. < REAR: Press this button to turn the rear window defogger on or off. An indicator light in the button will come on to let you know that the rear window defogger is activated.
6 (Floor): This mode directs most of the air to the floor outlets. Use this mode to send air to the rear of the vehicle. Keep the area under the front seats free of objects that could obstruct airflow to the rear of the vehicle. The right knob can also be used to select defog or defrost mode. For more information, see “Defogging and Defrosting” later in this section. 9 (Fan): Turn the left knob clockwise or counterclockwise to increase or decrease the fan speed.
Defogging and Defrosting Rear Window Defogger Fog on the inside of windows is a result of high humidity, or moisture, condensing on the cool window glass. This can be minimized if the climate controls system is used properly. There are two modes to clear fog or frost from your windshield. Use the defog mode to clear the windows of fog or moisture and warm the passengers. Use the defrost mode to remove fog or frost from the windshield more quickly.
Dual Automatic Climate Control System Your vehicle may have the dual automatic climate control system. With this system you can control the heating, cooling, and ventilation for your vehicle. Automatic Operation AUTO (Automatic): When the driver’s temperature knob is pressed to select AUTO and the temperature is set, the system will automatically control the inside temperature, the air delivery and the fan speed. AUTO will also appear on the display.
Manual Operation MODE: Press this button to manually change the direction of airflow in your vehicle; keep pressing the button until the desired mode appears on the display. To change the current mode, select one of the following: H (Vent): This mode directs air to the instrument panel outlets. )(Bi-Level): This mode directs approximately half of the air to the instrument panel outlets, then directs the remaining air to the floor outlets and the defroster and side window outlets.
Air Conditioning: The air-conditioning compressor will automatically come on when a temperature cooler than the interior temperature is chosen using the temperature knobs. You may notice a slight change in engine performance when the air-conditioning compressor shuts off and turns on again. This is normal. The system is designed to make adjustments to help with fuel economy while still maintaining the selected temperature. On hot days, open the windows to let hot inside air escape; then close them.
Rear Window Defogger Outlet Adjustment The rear window defogger uses a warming grid to remove fog from the rear window. Use the louvers located on the air outlets to change the direction of the airflow. < REAR: Operation Tips • Clear away any ice, snow, or leaves from the air Press this button to turn the rear window defogger on or off. An indicator light in the button will come on to let you know that the rear window defogger is activated.
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators This part describes the warning lights and gages that may be on your vehicle. The pictures will help you locate them. Warning lights and gages can signal that something is wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause an expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to your warning lights and gages could also save you or others from injury. Warning lights come on when there may be or is a problem with one of your vehicle’s functions.
Instrument Panel Cluster Your instrument panel cluster is designed to let you know at a glance how your vehicle is running. You’ll know how fast you’re going, how much fuel you’re using, and many other things you’ll need to drive safely and economically. The indicator warning lights and gages are explained on the following pages.
Speedometer and Odometer Trip Odometer Your speedometer lets you see your speed in both miles per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour (km/h). Your odometer shows how far your vehicle has been driven, in either miles (used in the United States) or kilometers (used in Canada). However, a Canadian odometer will remain in metric units only. Your vehicle has a tamper-resistant odometer. You may wonder what happens if your vehicle needs a new odometer installed.
Retro-Active Reset The trip odometer has a feature called retro-active reset. This feature can be used to set the trip odometer to the number of miles or kilometers driven since the ignition was last turned on. This can be used if you forget to reset your trip odometer at the beginning of a trip. To use the retro-active reset feature, push and hold the trip/reset button for at least three seconds.
Safety Belt Reminder Light Airbag Readiness Light When the key is turned to ON or START, a chime will come on for several seconds to remind people to fasten their safety belts. There is an airbag readiness light on the instrument panel, which shows the airbag symbol. The system checks the airbag’s electrical system for malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical problem.
If the airbag readiness light stays on after you start the vehicle or comes on when you are driving, your airbag system or safety belt pretensioners may not work properly. Have your vehicle serviced right away. Passenger Airbag Status Indicator Your vehicle has the passenger sensing system. Your rearview mirror has a passenger airbag status indicator.
{CAUTION: If the on indicator comes on when you have a rear-facing child restraint installed in the right front passenger’s seat, it means that the passenger sensing system has not turned off the passenger’s frontal airbag. A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be seriously injured or killed if the right front passenger’s airbag inflates. This is because the back of the rear-facing child restraint would be very close to the inflating airbag.
Brake System Warning Light When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light will come on when you set your parking brake. The light will stay on if your parking brake doesn’t release fully. If it stays on after your parking brake is fully released, it means you have a brake problem. Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided into two parts. If one part isn’t working, the other part can still work and stop you. For good braking, though, you need both parts working well.
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light United States Canada Traction Control System (TCS) Warning Light United States Canada Your vehicle may have an anti-lock brake system warning light. If it does, the light should come on for a few seconds when you turn the ignition key to ON. If the anti-lock brake system warning light stays on longer than normal after you’ve started your engine, turn the ignition off.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage Malfunction Indicator Lamp Service Engine Soon Light in the United States or Check Engine Light in Canada United States Canada United States This gage shows the engine coolant temperature. If the gage pointer moves into the red area, your engine is too hot! It means that your engine coolant has overheated. If you have been operating your vehicle under normal driving conditions, you should pull off the road, stop your vehicle and turn off the engine as soon as possible.
Notice: If you keep driving your vehicle with this light on, after awhile, your emission controls may not work as well, your fuel economy may not be as good, and your engine may not run as smoothly. This could lead to costly repairs that may not be covered by your warranty.
If the Light Is On Steady Have you recently changed brands of fuel? You may be able to correct the emission system malfunction by considering the following: If so, be sure to fuel your vehicle with quality fuel. See Gasoline Octane on page 5-5. Poor fuel quality will cause your engine not to run as efficiently as designed. You may notice this as stalling after start-up, stalling when you put the vehicle into gear, misfiring, hesitation on acceleration, or stumbling on acceleration.
Emissions Inspection and Maintenance Programs Some state/provincial and local governments have or may begin programs to inspect the emission control equipment on your vehicle. Failure to pass this inspection could prevent you from getting a vehicle registration. Highbeam On Light This light will illuminate when the headlamp high beams are in use.
Fuel Gage Here are four things that some owners ask about. All these things are normal and do not indicate that anything is wrong with the fuel gage. • At the gas station, the gas pump shuts off before the gage reads full. • It takes a little more (or less) fuel to fill up than the gage reads. For example, the gage reads half full, but it took more (or less) than half of the tank’s capacity to fill it. • The gage pointer may move while cornering, braking or speeding up.
Message Center The message center is located at the top of the instrument panel cluster in between the tachometer and speedometer. It gives you important safety and maintenance facts. Service Traction System Warning Message Passenger Seatbelt Reminder Message If your vehicle is equipped with the passenger sensing system, this message reminds the passenger to buckle their seatbelt.
Traction Active Message United States Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Message Canada If your vehicle has the traction control system, the TRACTION ACTIVE message will appear when the traction control system is limiting wheel spin. You may feel or hear the system working, but this is normal. Slippery road conditions may exist if this message appears, so adjust your driving accordingly. The message will stay on for a few seconds after the traction control system stops limiting wheel spin.
Charging System Indicator Message Reduced Engine Power Message The charging system battery symbol will come on in the message center when you turn on the ignition as a check to show you it is working. United States It will remain on as long as the engine is not running. It should go out once the engine is running. If it stays on, or comes on while you are driving, you may have a problem with the charging system.
Low Oil Pressure Message {CAUTION: Do not keep driving if the oil pressure is low. If you do, your engine can become so hot that it catches fire. You or others could be burned. Check your oil as soon as possible and have your vehicle serviced. United States Canada Your vehicle is equipped with a low oil pressure warning message. Your oil pressure message lets you know when you may have a problem with your engine oil pressure.
Low Engine Oil Level Message United States Canada Your vehicle may have a low engine oil level message. If this message comes on, it means your engine is low on oil. You should check your oil level right away. Have your vehicle serviced immediately. Change Engine Oil Message United States Canada When this message comes on and stays on after you have started the engine, it means that service is required for your vehicle.
Low Tire Message United States Door Ajar Warning Message Canada Your vehicle may have the check tire pressure system which can alert you to a large change in the pressure of one tire. After the system has been properly calibrated, the low tire pressure message will come on and a chime will sound if a pressure difference, or low pressure, is detected in one tire. United States Canada This message will come on when the ignition is turned to ON or START and the driver’s or passenger’s door is open.
Check Gas Cap Message If your vehicle is equipped, this message will come on when the ignition is turned to on or start and the gas cap is open. PASS-Key® III Security Message All-Wheel Drive Disable Warning Message United States Canada Your vehicle may have this message. If it does, it will come on when there is a spare tire on the vehicle, or when the anti-lock brake system warning light comes on, or when the rear differential fluid is overheating.
Low Washer Fluid Warning Message United States Canada Your vehicle may have a low washer fluid warning message. If your washer fluid is low, this warning message will come on and stay on until you add washer fluid. See Windshield Washer Fluid on page 5-37 for adding washer fluid instructions. If the warning message is still on after adding fluid, you need to reset the warning message. To reset the warning message, turn the ignition off and then back on. If the message stays on, see your dealer.
Low Brake Fluid Warning Message United States Canada If your brake fluid is low, the warning message will come on and stay on until you add brake fluid. The brake system warning light will also be illuminated. If this message appears, the brakes need attention. You should have your vehicle serviced immediately. See Brake System Warning Light on page 3-44 and Brakes on page 5-38. If the warning message is still on after adding fluid, you may need to reset the warning message.
Program Mode Message United States Remote Keyless Entry Transmitter Battery Low Warning Message Canada If you receive this message, your vehicle is in program mode. If your vehicle is equipped with the Driver Information Center (DIC), you are ready to begin programming your vehicle’s customization features. See DIC Vehicle Personalization on page 3-66 for more information. 3-60 United States Canada If you receive this message, the battery in the remote keyless entry needs to be replaced.
Parking Lamp Warning Message United States Canada If you receive this message, one or both of the vehicle’s parking lamp bulbs needs replacement. See Bulb Replacement on page 5-49 for bulb replacement instructions. Highbeam Out Warning Message United States Canada If you receive this message, one or both of the vehicle’s high-beam headlamp bulbs needs replacement. See Bulb Replacement on page 5-49 for more information.
Driver Information Center (DIC) Compass Variance Compass variance is the difference between magnetic north and geographic north. In some areas of the country, the difference is great enough to cause the compass to give false readings. If this occurs, the compass must be recalibrated. Compass Calibration United States shown, Canada similar If your vehicle is equipped with the Driver Information Center (DIC), the display is located on the instrument panel cluster in the tachometer gage.
PRESS SET TO CALIBRATE COMPASS: After selecting your zone, press the MODE button and this will be displayed on the DIC. Press and hold the SET button and complete three 360 degree turns in an area free from large metal objects at a speed no faster than 5 mph (8 km/h). The following two messages will toggle in the display until you calibrate the compass: • DRIVE VEHICLE IN CIRCLE • CALIBRATING COMPASS When calibration is complete, the vehicle direction will be displayed instead of the C symbol.
DIC Controls and Displays When the ignition is turned to ON or START, the DIC will display the following: BUICK: BUICK will be displayed for three seconds. DRIVER #: This message will be displayed for another three seconds after BUICK appears in the display. This display lets the driver know which driver’s remote keyless entry transmitter is being used and the driver’s customization features. The DIC controls are located to the left of the steering column on the instrument panel.
FUEL USED: The fuel used display will show you how much fuel has been used since the last time it was reset. To reset the fuel used to zero, press and hold the SET button while the fuel used is displayed on the DIC and until the display goes to zero. AVG SPEED (Average Speed): The average speed display will show your average speed from when you first started your vehicle.
DIC Vehicle Personalization Entering Programming Mode The DIC is used to program the choices of two drivers. The drivers are recognized as DRIVER 1 or DRIVER 2 in the DIC display. You will let the DIC know which driver you are by using your remote keyless entry transmitter. Each remote keyless entry transmitter was pre-programmed to belong to DRIVER 1 or DRIVER 2.
30: The headlamps and parking lamps will stay on for 30 seconds when the ignition is turned to OFF. 60: The headlamps and parking lamps will stay on for 60 seconds when the ignition is turned to OFF. United States Canada 4. The program mode message will appear in the message center as an indication that your vehicle is ready to begin programming. 5. Follow the instructions given by the DIC. Headlamp Exit Delay This feature allows you to customize the headlamps and parking lamps.
Interior Lighting Delay The interior lighting delay feature can be programmed to one of the following modes: OFF: This feature will not illuminate the interior of your vehicle when all of the doors are closed. ON: This feature will continue to illuminate the interior lamps for 25 seconds after all doors have been closed so that you can find your ignition and buckle your safety belt at night. Interior lighting delay will not occur while the ignition is in ON.
Interior lighting on will not occur while the ignition is in ON. After 25 seconds, the interior lamps will fade out. The lamps will fade out before the 25 seconds if one of the following occurs: • The ignition is turned to ON • LOCK is pressed on the remote keyless entry transmitter • There is no occupant activity detected for an illumination period of 25 seconds Your vehicle was originally programmed to DOOR. The mode may have been changed since then.
If the auto door unlock feature has been programmed to DRIVER or ALL, the automatic door unlock feature can also be programmed to one of the following modes: Delayed Locking The delayed locking feature can be programmed to one of the following modes: PARK: Unlock when the shift lever is put in PARK (P). KEY OUT: Unlock when the ignition key is removed. Your vehicle was originally programmed to PARK. The mode may have been changed since then.
Your vehicle was originally programmed to ON. The mode may have been changed since then. To determine the current mode, or to change the mode, do the following: 1. Follow the instructions for “Entering Programming Mode” listed previously. 2. Press the MODE button until DELAYED LOCKING appears on the DIC. 3. Press the SET button until the arrow is before ON or OFF. The mode you selected is now set.
Unlock Feedback The unlock feedback feature can be programmed to one of the following modes: LIGHTS: This mode does the following: • During the day, when the ignition is in OFF and Your vehicle was originally programmed to LIGHTS. The mode may have been changed since then. To determine the current mode, or to change the mode, do the following: 1. Follow the instructions for “Entering Programming Mode” listed previously.
Lock Feedback The lock feedback feature can be programmed to one of the following modes: OFF: When LOCK is pressed on the remote keyless entry transmitter, the headlamps and parking lamps will not flash and the horn will not sound. LIGHTS: When LOCK is pressed on the remote keyless entry transmitter, the headlamps and parking lamps will flash briefly.
If the seat recall feature has been programmed to ON, the seat recall feature can also be programmed to one of the following modes: MEMORY: The position recalled will be the memory driving position. EXIT: The position recalled will be the previously programmed exit position. To determine the mode to which your vehicle is programmed or to program your vehicle to a different mode, do the following: 1. Follow the instructions for “Entering Programming Mode” listed previously. 2.
Exiting Programming Mode Audio System(s) To exit programming mode, do one of the following: Notice: Before adding any sound equipment to your vehicle, like a tape player, CB radio, mobile telephone, or two-way radio, make sure that it can be added by checking with your dealer. Also, check federal rules covering mobile radio and telephone units. If sound equipment can be added, it is very important to do it properly.
Setting the Time Radio with CD Press and hold H until the correct hour appears on the display. AM will appear for morning hours. Press and hold M until the correct minute appears on the display. The time can be set with the ignition on or off. To synchronize the time with an FM station broadcasting Radio Data System (RDS) information, press and hold H and M at the same time until TIME UPDATED appears on the display. If the time is not available from the station, NO UPDATE will appear on the display.
This system relies upon receiving specific information from these stations and will only work when the information is available. In rare cases, a radio station may broadcast incorrect information that will cause the radio features to work improperly. If this happens, contact the radio station. While the radio is tuned to an RDS station, the station name or call letters will appear on the display instead of the frequency.
DISP (Display): Press this button to switch the display between the radio station frequency and the time. Press this button to display the time when the ignition is turned off. For RDS, press the DISP button to change what appears on the display while using RDS. The display options are station, RDS station frequency, PTY, and the name of the program (if available).
Setting Preset Stations Setting the Tone (Bass/Treble) Up to 30 stations (six FM1, six FM2, and six AM, six XM1 and six XM2 (if equipped), can be programmed on the six numbered pushbuttons, by performing the following steps: AUDIO: Push and release this knob until BASS, MID, or TREBLE appears on the display. Then turn the AUDIO knob to increase or to decrease. If a station is weak or noisy, decrease the treble. 1. Turn the radio on. 2. Press BAND to select FM1, FM2, or AM, or XM1 or XM2. 3.
Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade) AUDIO: To adjust the balance between the right and the left speakers, push and release the AUDIO knob until BAL appears on the display. Then turn the AUDIO knob to move the sound toward the right or the left speakers. A bar graph with indicators will show how the sound is balanced. To adjust the fade between the front and the rear speakers, push and release the AUDIO knob until FADE appears on the display.
SCAN: Scan the stations within a PTY by performing the following: 1. Press P-TYP to activate program type select mode. The PTY symbol will appear on the display. 2. Turn the AUDIO knob to select a PTY. 3. Once the desired PTY is displayed, press and hold either SEEK arrow, and the radio will begin scanning the stations in the PTY. 4. Press either SEEK arrow to stop at a station. If both PTY and TRAF are on, the radio will scan for stations with the selected PTY and traffic announcements.
TRAF (Traffic): If TRAF appears on the display, the tuned station broadcasts traffic announcements. Press this button to receive the traffic announcement from the station and brackets will be displayed around TRAF. When a traffic announcement comes on the tuned radio station you will hear it. If the station does not broadcast traffic announcements, press the TRAF button and the radio will seek to a station that does.
XM™ Radio Messages Radio Display Message Condition Action Required XL (Explicit Language Channels) XL on the radio display, after the channel name, indicates content with explicit language. These channels, or any others, can be blocked at a customer’s request, by calling 1-800-852-XMXM (9696). Updating Updating encryption code The encryption code in the receiver is being updated, and no action is required. This process should take no longer than 30 seconds.
XM™ Radio Messages (cont’d) Radio Display Message Condition Action Required No Info Song/Program Title not available No song title information is available at this time on this channel. The system is working properly. No Info Category Name not available No category information is available at this time on this channel. The system is working properly. No Info No Text/Informational message available No text or informational messages are available at this time on this channel.
Playing a CD Insert a CD partway into the slot, label side up. The player will pull it in and the CD should begin playing. If you want to insert a CD while the ignition or the radio is off, first press the eject or DISP button. When a CD is inserted, the CD symbol will appear on the display. As each new track starts to play, the track number will appear on the display. If the ignition or radio is turned off with a CD in the player, it will stay in the player.
To scan tracks, press and hold either SEEK arrow for two seconds until SCAN appears on the display and you will hear a beep. The CD will go to the next track, play for a few seconds, then go on to the next track. The sound will mute and SCAN and the track number will appear on the display while scanning. The CD will only scan forward. Press either SEEK arrow again to stop scanning. DISP (Display): Press this button to see which track is playing.
Listening to a DVD Radio with Cassette and CD Your vehicle may have a Rear Seat Entertainment System, see Rear Seat Entertainment System on page 3-115 for more information. If your vehicle has this system and a DVD is playing, the DVD symbol will appear on the radio display indicating that the DVD is available and can be listened to through your vehicles speakers. To listen to the DVD, press the CD button until RSE appears on the radio display.
This system relies upon receiving specific information from these stations and will only work when the information is available. In rare cases, a radio station may broadcast incorrect information that will cause the radio features to work improperly. If this happens, contact the radio station. While the radio is tuned to an RDS station, the station name or call letters will appear on the display instead of the frequency.
SCV (Speed-Compensated Volume): With SCV, the audio system adjusts automatically to make up for road and wind noise as you drive. To use SCV, press the TUNE/AUDIO knob repeatedly until SPEED VOL appears on the display. Turn the TUNE/AUDIO knob to select MIN, MED, or MAX. Each higher setting will provide more volume compensation at faster vehicle speeds. To turn SCV off, press the TUNE/AUDIO knob repeatedly until SPEED VOL appears on the display. Turn the TUNE AUDIO knob until OFF appears on the display.
Setting Preset Stations Setting the Tone (Bass/Treble) Up to 30 stations (six FM1, six FM2, and six AM, six XM1 and six XM2 (if equipped), can be programmed on the six numbered pushbuttons, by performing the following steps: AUDIO: Push and release AUDIO until BASS, MID, or TREBLE appears on the display. Then turn the AUDIO knob to increase or to decrease. If a station is weak or noisy, decrease the treble. 1. Turn the radio on. 2. Press BAND to select FM1, FM2, AM, or XM1, or XM2. 3.
Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade) Finding a Program Type (PTY) Station AUDIO: To adjust the balance between the right and the left speakers, push and release AUDIO until BAL appears on the display. Then turn the AUDIO knob to move the sound toward the right or the left speakers. A bar graph with indicators will appear on the display.
SCAN: Scan the stations within a PTY by performing the following: 1. Press P-TYP to activate program type select mode. P-TYPE will appear on the display. 2. Turn the AUDIO knob to select a PTY. 3. Once the desired PTY is displayed, press and hold either SEEK arrow, and the radio will begin scanning the stations in the PTY. 4. Press and hold either SEEK arrow to stop at a station. If both PTY and TRAF are on, the radio will scan for the selected PTY and traffic announcements.
TRAF (Traffic): If TRAF appears on the display, the tuned station broadcasts traffic announcements. To receive the traffic announcement from the tuned station, press this button. Brackets will be displayed around TRAF and when a traffic announcement comes on the tuned radio station you will hear it. If the station does not broadcast traffic announcements, press this button and the radio will seek to a station that does.
XM™ Radio Messages Radio Display Message Condition Action Required XL (Explicit Language Channels) XL on the radio display, after the channel name, indicates content with explicit language. These channels, or any others, can be blocked at a customer’s request, by calling 1-800-852-XMXM (9696). Updating Updating encryption code The encryption code in the receiver is being updated, and no action is required. This process should take no longer than 30 seconds.
XM™ Radio Messages (cont’d) Radio Display Message Condition Action Required No Info Category Name not available No category information is available at this time on this channel. The system is working properly. No Info No Text/Informational message available No text or informational messages are available at this time on this channel. The system is working properly. Not Found No channel available for the chosen category There are no channels available for the selected category.
Playing a Cassette Tape The tape player is built to work best with tapes that are up to 30 to 45 minutes long on each side. Tapes longer than that are so thin they may not work well in this player. The longer side with the tape visible should face to the right. If you hear nothing or hear a garbled sound, the tape may not be in squarely. Press the eject button to remove the tape and start over. If the ignition and radio are off, press the eject or the DISP button to insert and to begin play of a tape.
BAND: Press this button to listen to the radio when a cassette tape or CD is playing. The inactive tape or CD will remain safely inside the radio for future listening. CD TAPE: Press this button to play a cassette tape or a CD when listening to the radio. The inactive tape or CD will remain safely inside the radio for future listening. Z (Eject): Press this button, located next to the cassette tape slot, to eject a tape. Eject may be activated with either the ignition or radio off.
Playing a CD Do not add paper labels to CDs, they could get caught in the CD player. Insert a CD partway into the slot, label side up. The player will pull it in and the CD should begin playing. If you want to insert a CD when the ignition or the radio is off, first press the eject or the DISP button. If an error appears on the display, see “CD Messages” later in this section. If the ignition or radio is turned off with the CD in the player, it will stay in the player.
© SEEK ¨: Press the left arrow to go to the start of the current track if more than eight seconds have played. If either arrow is held or pressed more than once, the player will continue moving backward through the CD. Press the right arrow to go to the next track. If either arrow is held or pressed more than once, the player will continue moving forward through the CD. To scan tracks, press and hold either SEEK arrow for two seconds until SCAN appears on the display and you hear a beep.
Listening to a DVD Radio with Six-Disc CD Your vehicle may have a Rear Seat Entertainment System, see Rear Seat Entertainment System on page 3-115 for more information. If your vehicle has this system and a DVD is playing, the DVD symbol will appear on the radio display indicating that the DVD is available and can be listened to through your vehicles speakers. To listen to the DVD, press the CD TAPE button until RSE appears on the radio display.
This system relies upon receiving specific information from these stations and will only work when the information is available. In rare cases, a radio station may broadcast incorrect information that will cause the radio features to work improperly. If this happens, contact the radio station. While the radio is tuned to an RDS station, the station name or call letters will appear on the display instead of the frequency.
RCL (Recall): Press this knob to switch the display between the radio station frequency and the time. When the ignition is off, press this knob to display the time. For RDS, press the RCL knob to change what appears on the display while using RDS. The display options are station name, RDS station frequency, PTY, and the name of the program (if available).
Setting Preset Stations Setting the Tone (Bass/Treble) Up to 30 stations (six FM1, six FM2, and six AM, six XM1 and six XM2 (if equipped)), can be programmed on the six numbered pushbuttons, by performing the following steps: AUDIO: Push the AUDIO knob until BASS, MID, or TREB appears on the display. Turn the knob to increase or to decrease. If a station is weak or noisy, decrease the treble. 1. Turn the radio on. 2. Press BAND to select FM1, FM2, AM, or XM1 or XM2. 3. Tune in the desired station. 4.
Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade) AUDIO: To adjust the balance between the right and the left speakers, push the AUDIO knob until BAL appears on the display. Turn the knob to move the sound toward the right or the left speakers. To adjust the fade between the front and rear speakers, push and hold the AUDIO knob until FAD appears on the display. Turn the knob to move the sound toward the front or the rear speakers.
To use the PTY interrupt feature, press and hold the P-TYPE button until you hear a beep on the PTY you want to interrupt with. When selected, an asterisk will appear beside that PTY on the display. You may select multiple interrupts if desired. When you are listening to a CD, the last selected RDS station will interrupt play if that selected program type format is broadcast. SCAN: Scan the stations within a PTY by performing the following: 1. Press the P-TYPE button to activate program type select mode.
3. Turn the P-TYPE knob to select a PTY. 4. Press and hold one of the six numbered pushbuttons until you hear a beep. Whenever that numbered pushbutton is pressed, the PTY that was set will return. 5. Repeat the steps for each pushbutton. RDS Messages ALERT!: Alert warns of local or national emergencies. When an alert announcement comes on the current radio station, ALERT! will appear on the display. You will hear the announcement, even if the volume is low or a CD is playing.
If the current tuned station does not broadcast traffic announcements, press the TRAF button and the radio will seek to a station that does. When a station that broadcasts traffic announcements is found, the radio will stop seeking and brackets will be displayed around TRAF. If no station is found, NO TRAFFIC will appear on the display.
XM™ Radio Messages Radio Display Message Condition Action Required XL (Explicit Language Channels) XL on the radio display, after the channel name, indicates content with explicit language. These channels, or any others, can be blocked at a customer’s request, by calling 1-800-852-XMXM (9696). Updating Updating encryption code The encryption code in the receiver is being updated, and no action is required. This process should take no longer than 30 seconds.
XM™ Radio Messages (cont’d) Radio Display Message Condition Action Required No Info Song/Program Title not available No song title information is available at this time on this channel. The system is working properly. No Info Category Name not available No category information is available at this time on this channel. The system is working properly. No Info No Text/Informational message available No text or informational messages are available at this time on this channel.
Playing a CD If the ignition or radio is turned off, with a CD in the player, it will stay in the player. When the ignition or radio is turned on, the CD will start playing where it stopped, if it was the last selected audio source. When a CD is inserted, the CD symbol will appear on the CD. As each new track starts to play, the track number will appear on the display. The CD player can play the smaller 3 inch (8 cm) single CDs with an adapter ring.
To load more than one CD but less than six, complete Steps 1 through 3. When finished loading CDs, the radio will begin to play the last CD loaded. If more than one CD has been loaded, a number for each CD will be displayed. Playing a Specific Loaded CD For every CD loaded, a number will appear on the display. To play a specific CD, first press the CD AUX button, then press the numbered pushbutton that corresponds to the CD.
RPT (Repeat): With repeat, one track or an entire CD can be repeated. To use repeat, do the following: • To repeat the track you are listening to, press and release the RPT button. RPT will appear on the display. Press RPT again to turn off repeat play. • To repeat the CD you are listening to, press and hold the RPT button for two seconds. RPT will appear on the display. Press RPT again to turn off repeat play.
RCL (Recall): Press this knob to see how long the current track has been playing. To change the default on the display, track and elapsed time, press the knob until you see the display you want, then hold the knob until the display flashes. The selected display will now be the default. BAND: Press this button to play the radio when a CD is playing. The inactive CD(s) will remain safely inside the radio for future listening. CD AUX (Auxiliary): Press this button to play a CD when listening to the radio.
To delete tracks from the song list, perform the following steps: 1. Turn the CD player on. 2. Press the SONG LIST button to turn song list on. S-LIST will appear on the display. 3. Press the SEEK SCAN arrows to select the desired track to be deleted. 4. Press and hold the SONG LIST button for two seconds. When SONG LIST is pressed, one beep will be heard immediately. After two seconds of continuously pressing the SONG LIST button, two beeps will be heard to confirm that the track has been deleted.
If the CD is not playing correctly, for any other reason, try a known good CD. Rear Seat Entertainment System If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error cannot be corrected, contact your dealer. If the radio displays an error message, write it down and provide it to your dealer when reporting the problem. Your vehicle may have a DVD Rear Seat Entertainment (RSE) system. The RSE system includes a DVD player, a video display screen, two sets of wireless headphones, and a remote control.
Before You Drive The RSE is designed for rear seat passengers only. The driver cannot safely view the video screen while driving and should not try to do so. The DVD system is designed to be inoperable when the vehicle is exposed to extremely low or high temperatures, in order to protect the system from damage. Operate the DVD system under normal or comfortable cabin temperature ranges. Headphones The RSE system includes two sets of wireless headphones.
Notice: Do not store the headphones in heat or direct sunlight. This could damage the headphones and repairs would not be covered by your warranty. Keep the headphones stored in a cool, dry place. If there is a decreased audio signal during CD or DVD play, there may be a low hissing noise through the speakers and/or headphones. If the hissing sound in the wireless headphones seems excessive, make sure that the headphone batteries are fully charged. Some amount of hissing is normal.
Audio Output Audio from the DVD player or auxiliary devices can be heard through the following possible sources: • Wireless Headphones • Vehicle’s Speakers • Rear Seat Audio (RSA) RCA Jacks (if equipped). Plug the wired headphones (not included) into the jacks on the RSA system. Only one audio source can be heard through the vehicle’s speakers at a time.
Video Screen DVD Player The video screen is located in the overhead console. The DVD player is located in the overhead console. To use the video screen, do the following: The DVD player can be controlled by the buttons on the DVD player, and/or by the buttons on the remote control. See “Remote Control” later in this section for more information. 1. Push forward on the release button and the screen will fold down. 2. Push the screen away from you and adjust its position as desired.
DVD Player Buttons s (Play/Pause): Press this button to start play of a DVD or CD. Press this button while a DVD or CD is playing to pause it. Press it again to continue play of a DVD or CD. y (Main Menu): Press this button to view the media menu. The media menu is different on every DVD. Use the up, down, right, and left arrow buttons to move the cursor around the media menu. After making a selection press enter. This button only operates when using a DVD.
n u, q t, p r, o [ (Directional Control Circle): Press these buttons to move through menu choices, or to move forward or back in a movie. These controls can be used to move forward or backward through a CD. Stopping and Resuming Playback To stop playing a disc, press and release the stop button on the DVD player faceplate or the remote control. Playing a Disc To resume playback, press the play/pause button on the DVD player faceplate or the remote control.
Remote Control Remote Control Buttons To use the remote control, aim it at the transmitter window below the video screen and press the desired button. Direct sunlight or very bright light may affect the ability of the transmitter to receive signals from the remote control. If the remote control does not seem to be working, the batteries may need to be replaced. See “Battery Replacement” later in this section. Objects blocking the line of sight will affect the function of the remote control.
n, q, p, o (Directional Arrows): Press these buttons to move through DVD menus. The up arrow will skip to the next chapter or track, the down arrow will take you to the beginning of the current chapter or track. Press the down arrow twice to take you to the previous chapter or track. The right arrow will fast forward and the left arrow will reverse through a chapter or track.
y (Main Menu): Press this button to view the media menu. The media menu is different on every disc. Use the up, down, right, and left arrow buttons to move the cursor around the media menu. After making a selection, press the enter button. r (Enter): Press this button to select the choice that is highlighted in any menu. q (Return): Press this button to go back one step in any menu. Press this button to exit the current menu and to move to the previous menu.
Not all DVDs support all the feature defaults in the setup menus. In the event a particular feature is not supported, defaults will be provided by the DVD media. Exit the setup menu by pressing the return button on the remote control or the DVD player. If changes are made to the system setup defaults, the disc will resume play from the beginning and not where it previously left off. Tips and Troubleshooting Chart Problem No power. The ignition may not be in ACCESSORY, ON, START, or RAP.
Problem No sound. Recommended Action Problem The volume on the headphones could be too low. Adjust the volume on the right earpiece on the wireless headphones. If the DVD system is being heard through the vehicle speakers, adjust the volume from the radio. The radio must have the RSE enabled by using the CD, CD TAPE, or CD AUX button. I ejected the disc and tried to take it out, but it was pulled back into the slot. Eject the disc again. The language in the audio or on the screen is wrong.
Problem Recommended Action After stopping the player, I push the play button but sometimes the DVD starts where I left off, and sometimes at the beginning. Press the stop button on the remote control to resume where the DVD left off. Press the stop button twice to start the DVD at the beginning. If the power is off and the DVD is still in the player, press the play button. The DVD is playing but there is no picture or sound. The auxiliary source is running but there is no picture or sound.
Problem Recommended Action Problem Recommended Action My disc is stuck in the player. The eject button does not work. Press the eject button on the DVD player. Turn the power off, then on again, then press the eject button on the DVD player. Do not attempt to force or remove the disc from the player. If the problem persists, return to your GM dealer for further assistance. DVD System inoperable. In severe or extreme temperatures the DVD system might not be operable.
DVD Messages DVD Distortion The following errors may be displayed on the video screen. There may be an experience with video distortion when operating cellular phones, scanners, CB radios, Global Position Systems (GPS)*, two-way radios, mobile fax, or walkie talkies. Disc Format Error: This message will be displayed if a disc is inserted upside down, if the disc is not readable, or if the disc format is not compatible.
Navigation/Radio System Your vehicle may have a navigation radio system that includes Radio Data System (RDS) with Program Type (PTY) selections that will seek out the kind of music you want to listen to and XM™ Satellite Radio Service capabilities (if equipped). The radio can also communicate with the navigation system to broadcast announcements on traffic, weather, and emergency alert communications. For information on how to use this system, see the “Navigation System” manual.
Rear Seat Audio (RSA) Controls When a cassette tape is playing, press the up or the down arrow to go to the next or the previous selection. This function is inactive if the front seat passengers are listening to a cassette tape. When a CD is playing, press the up arrow to go to the next track on the CD. Press the down arrow to go to the start of the current track if more than eight seconds have played. This function is inactive if the front seat passengers are listening to a CD.
The BAND button will not access XM™ Satellite Radio service when the front seat passengers are listening to the RSE system through the vehicle’s speakers and the rear seat passengers are using the wired headphones to listen to the RSA system. P.SET PROG (Preset Program): Press this button to scan through the preset radio stations set on the pushbuttons on the main radio. The radio will go to a preset station stored on the pushbuttons, play for a few seconds, then go on to the next preset station.
Audio Steering Wheel Controls MUTE: Press this button to silence the system. Press it again, or any other radio button, to turn the sound on. Q VOL R (Volume): Press the up or down arrow to increase or decrease the volume. Q SEEK R: Press the up or the down arrow to go to the next or to the previous station and stay there. The sound will mute while seeking. The radio will only seek stations with a strong signal that are in the selected band.
Radio Reception Care of Your Cassette Tape Player AM A tape player that is not cleaned regularly can cause reduced sound quality, ruined cassettes, or a damaged mechanism. Cassette tapes should be stored in their cases away from contaminants, direct sunlight, and extreme heat. If they are not, they may not operate properly or they may cause failure of the tape player. The range for most AM stations is greater than for FM, especially at night.
A non-scrubbing action, wet-type cleaner which uses a cassette with a fabric belt to clean the tape head can be used. This type of cleaning cassette will not eject on its own. A non-scrubbing action cleaner may not clean as thoroughly as the scrubbing type cleaner. The use of a non-scrubbing action, dry-type cleaning cassette is not recommended. After the player is cleaned, press and hold the eject button for five seconds to reset the CLEAN PLAYER indicator.
✍ NOTES 3-136
Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle ..........4-2 Driver Behavior ..............................................4-2 Driving Environment ........................................4-2 Vehicle Design ...............................................4-2 Defensive Driving ...........................................4-3 Drunken Driving .............................................4-3 Control of a Vehicle ........................................4-6 Braking .........................
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle Whenever we drive, we are taking on an important responsibility. This is true for any motor vehicle — passenger car, van, truck, sport utility. Driver behavior, the driving environment, and the vehicle’s design all affect how well a vehicle performs. But statistics show that the most important factor, by far, is how we drive.
Defensive Driving Defensive driving requires that a driver concentrate on the driving task. Anything that distracts from the driving task — such as concentrating on a cellular telephone call, reading, or reaching for something on the 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 the road in a safe place to do them yourself. These simple defensive driving techniques could save your life.
In recent years, more than 16,000 annual motor vehicle-related deaths have been associated with the use of alcohol, with more than 300,000 people injured. Many adults — by some estimates, nearly half the adult population — choose never to drink alcohol, so they never 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 and developmental reasons for these laws.
It is the amount of alcohol that counts. For example, if the same person drank three double martinis (3 ounces or 90 ml of liquor each) within an hour, the person’s BAC would be close to 0.12 percent. A person who consumes food just before or during drinking will have a somewhat lower BAC level. There is a gender difference, too. Women generally have a lower relative percentage of body water than men.
There is something else about drinking and driving that many people do not know. Medical research shows that alcohol in a person’s system can make crash injuries worse, especially injuries to the brain, spinal cord, or heart. This means that when anyone who has been drinking — driver or passenger — is in a crash, that person’s chance of being killed or permanently disabled is higher than if the person had not been drinking. {CAUTION: Drinking and then driving is very dangerous.
But even in three-fourths of a second, a vehicle moving at 60 mph (100 km/h) travels 66 feet (20 m). That could be a lot of distance in an emergency, so keeping enough space between your vehicle and others is important. And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly with the surface of the road (whether it is pavement or gravel); the condition of the road (wet, dry, icy); tire tread; the condition of your brakes; the weight of the vehicle and the amount of brake force applied.
The anti-lock system can change the brake pressure faster than any driver could. The computer is programmed to make the most of available tire and road conditions. This can help you steer around the obstacle while braking hard. Let us say the road is wet and you are driving safely. Suddenly, an animal jumps out in front of you. You slam on the brakes and continue braking. Here is what happens with ABS: A computer senses that wheels are slowing down.
Remember: Anti-lock does not change the time you need to get your foot up to the brake pedal or always decrease stopping distance. If you get too close to the vehicle in front of you, you will not have time to apply your brakes if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops. Always leave enough room up ahead to stop, even though you have anti-lock brakes. Using Anti-Lock Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal down firmly and let anti-lock work for you.
Traction Control System (TCS) Your vehicle may have a traction control system that limits wheel spin. This is especially useful in slippery road conditions. The system operates only if it senses that one or both of the front wheels are spinning or beginning to lose traction. When this happens, the system works the front brakes and reduces engine power to limit wheel spin. The TRACTION ACTIVE message will come on when the traction control system is limiting wheel spin.
To turn the system off, press the TRAC OFF button located on the instrument panel switchbank. If the system is limiting wheel spin when you press the button, the message will go off, but the system will not turn off until there is no longer a current need to limit wheel spin. The TRAC OFF light will come on to remind you the system is off. You can turn the system back on at any time by pressing the button again. The traction control system warning message should go off.
Steering Power Steering If you lose power steering assist because the engine stops or the system is not functioning, you can steer but it will take much more effort. Steering Tips Driving on Curves It is important to take curves at a reasonable speed. A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents mentioned on the news happen on curves. Here is why: Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is subject to the same laws of physics when driving on curves.
Steering in Emergencies There are times when steering can be more effective than braking. For example, you come over a hill and find a truck stopped in your lane, or a car suddenly pulls out from nowhere, or a child darts out from between parked cars and stops right in front of you. You can avoid these problems by braking — if you can stop in time. But sometimes you cannot; there is not room. That is the time for evasive action — steering around the problem.
Off-Road Recovery Passing You may find that your right wheels have dropped off the edge of a road onto the shoulder while you’re driving. The driver of a vehicle about to pass another on a two-lane highway waits for just the right moment, accelerates, moves around the vehicle ahead, then goes back into the right lane again.
• Do not get too close to the vehicle you want to pass while you are awaiting an opportunity. For one thing, following too closely reduces your area of vision, especially if you are following a larger vehicle. Also, you will not have adequate space if the 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 do not get too close.
Skidding In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle. Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking reasonable care suited to existing conditions, and by not overdriving those conditions. But skids are always possible. The three types of skids correspond to your vehicle’s three control systems. In the braking skid, your wheels are not rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, too much speed or steering in a curve causes tires to slip and lose cornering force.
Driving at Night Here are some tips on night driving. • Drive defensively. • Do not drink and drive. • Adjust your inside rearview mirror to reduce the glare from headlamps behind you. • Since you cannot see as well, you may need to slow down and keep more space between you and other vehicles. • Slow down, especially on higher speed roads. Your headlamps 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 place and rest.
You can be temporarily blinded by approaching headlamps. It can take a second or two, or even several seconds, for your eyes to re-adjust to the dark. When you are faced with severe glare, as from a driver who does not lower the high beams, or a vehicle with misaimed headlamps, slow down a little. Avoid staring directly into the approaching headlamps. Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads Keep your windshield and all the glass on your vehicle clean — inside and out.
The heavier the rain, the harder it is to see. Even if your windshield wiper blades are in good shape, a heavy rain can make it harder to see road signs and traffic signals, pavement markings, the edge of the road, and even people walking. It is wise to keep your wiping equipment in good shape and keep your windshield washer tank filled with washer fluid.
Hydroplaning Hydroplaning is dangerous. So much water can build up under your tires that they can actually ride on the water. This can happen if the road is wet enough and you are going fast enough. When your vehicle is hydroplaning, it has little or no contact with the road. Hydroplaning does not happen often. But it can if your tires do not have much tread or if the pressure in one or more is low. It can happen if a lot of water is standing on the road.
City Driving Here are ways to increase your safety in city driving: • Know the best way to get to where you are going. Get a city map and plan your trip into an unknown part of the city just as you would for a cross-country trip. • Try to use the freeways that rim and crisscross most large cities. You will save time and energy. See Freeway Driving on page 4-22. • Treat a green light as a warning signal. A traffic light is there because the corner is busy enough to need it.
Freeway Driving The most important advice on freeway driving is: Keep up with traffic and keep to the right. Drive at the same 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 the freeway. If you have a clear view of the freeway as you drive along the entrance ramp, you should begin to check traffic.
When you want to leave the freeway, move to the proper lane well in advance. If you miss your exit, do not, under any circumstances, stop and back up. Drive on to the next exit. The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply. The exit speed is usually posted. Reduce your speed according to your speedometer, not to your sense of motion. After driving for any distance at higher speeds, you may tend to think you are going slower than you actually are.
Highway Hypnosis Hill and Mountain Roads Is there actually such a condition as highway hypnosis? Or is it just plain falling asleep at the wheel? Call it highway hypnosis, lack of awareness, or whatever. There is something about an easy stretch of road with the same scenery, along with the hum of the tires on the road, the drone of the engine, and the rush of the wind against the vehicle that can make you sleepy.
If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you are planning to visit there, here are some tips that can make your trips safer and more enjoyable. {CAUTION: • Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check all fluid Coasting downhill in NEUTRAL (N) or with the ignition off is dangerous. Your brakes will have to do all the work of slowing down. They could get so hot that they would not work well. You would then have poor braking or even none going down a hill. You could crash.
Winter Driving Also see Tires on page 5-55. Include an ice scraper, a small brush or broom, a supply of windshield washer fluid, a rag, some winter outer clothing, a small shovel, a flashlight, a red cloth, and a couple of reflective warning triangles. And, if you will be driving under severe conditions, include a small bag of sand, a piece of old carpet, or a couple of burlap bags to help provide traction. Be sure you properly secure these items in your vehicle.
If you have traction control, it will improve your ability to accelerate when driving on a slippery road. But you can turn the traction system off if you ever need to. You should turn the system off if your vehicle ever gets stuck in sand, mud, ice or snow. See If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow on page 4-30. Even though your vehicle has a traction system, you will want to slow down and adjust your driving to the road conditions.
Remember, unless you have anti-lock, if you brake so hard that your wheels stop rolling, you will just slide. Brake so your wheels always keep rolling and you can still steer. If You Are Caught in a Blizzard • Whatever your braking system, allow greater following distance on any slippery road. • Watch for slippery spots. The road might be fine until you hit a spot that is covered with ice.
• Put on extra clothing or wrap a blanket around you. If you have no blankets or extra clothing, make body insulators from newspapers, burlap bags, rags, floor mats — anything you can wrap around yourself or tuck under your clothing to keep warm. {CAUTION: Snow can trap exhaust gases under your vehicle. This can cause deadly CO (carbon monoxide) gas to get inside. CO could overcome you and kill you. You cannot see it or smell it, so you might not know it is in your vehicle.
Then, shut the engine off and close the window almost all the way to preserve the heat. Start the engine again and repeat this only when you feel really uncomfortable from the cold. But do it as little as possible. Preserve the fuel as long as you can. To help keep warm, you can get out of the vehicle and do some fairly vigorous exercises every half hour or so until help comes.
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out Loading Your Vehicle First, turn your steering wheel left and right. That will clear the area around your front wheels. If your vehicle has traction control, you should turn your traction control system off. See Traction Control System (TCS) on page 4-10. Then shift back and forth between REVERSE (R) and a forward gear, spinning the wheels as little as possible.
Tire and Loading Information Label The Tire and Loading Information label also shows the size of the original equipment tires (C) and the recommended cold tire inflation pressures (D). For more information on tires and inflation see Tires on page 5-55 and Inflation - Tire Pressure on page 5-61. There is also important loading information on the vehicle Certification/Tire label. It tells you the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) for the front and rear axle.
4. The resulting figure equals the available amount of cargo and luggage load capacity. For example, if the “XXX” amount equals 1400 lbs and there will be five 150 lb passengers in your vehicle, the amount of available cargo and luggage load capacity is 650 lbs (1400 − 750 (5 x 150) = 650 lbs). 5. Determine the combined weight of luggage and cargo being loaded on the vehicle. That weight may not safely exceed the available cargo and luggage load capacity calculated in Step 4. 6.
Example 2 Item A B C Description Vehicle Capacity Weight for Example 2 = Subtract Occupant Weight 150 lbs (68 kg) × 5 = Available Cargo Weight = Example 3 Total Item 1,000 lbs (453 kg) A 750 lbs (340 kg) B 250 lbs (113 kg) C Description Vehicle Capacity Weight for Example 3 = Subtract Occupant Weight 200 lbs (91 kg) × 5 = Available Cargo Weight = Total 1,000 lbs (453 kg) 1,000 lbs (453 kg) 0 lbs (0 kg) Refer to your vehicle’s tire and loading information label for specific information about your
Certification/Tire Label The Certification/Tire label also tells you the maximum weights for the front and rear axles, called the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR). To find out the actual loads on your front and rear axles, you need to go to a weigh station and weigh your vehicle. Your dealer can help you with this. Be sure to spread out your load equally on both sides of the centerline. Never exceed the GVWR for your vehicle or the GAWR for either the front or rear axle.
If you put things inside your vehicle—like suitcases, tools, packages, or anything else, they will go as fast as the vehicle goes. If you have to stop or turn quickly, or if there is a crash, they will keep going. {CAUTION: Things you put inside your vehicle can strike and injure people in a sudden stop or turn, or in a crash. • Put things in the cargo area of your vehicle. Try to spread the weight evenly.
Here are some important things to consider before you do recreational vehicle towing: • What’s the towing capacity of the towing vehicle? Be sure you read the tow vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations. • How far will you tow? Some vehicles have restrictions on how far and how long they can tow. • Do you have the proper towing equipment? See your dealer or trailering professional for additional advice and equipment recommendations.
Level Control On vehicles equipped with automatic level control, the rear of the vehicle is automatically kept level as you load or unload your vehicle. However, you should still not exceed the GVWR or the GAWR. See Loading Your Vehicle on page 4-31. You may hear the compressor operating when you load or unload your vehicle, and periodically as the system self-adjusts. This is normal. The compressor should operate for brief periods of time.
Your vehicle can tow a trailer. To identify what the vehicle trailering capacity is for your vehicle, you should read the information in “Weight of the Trailer” that appears later in this section. But trailering is different than just driving your vehicle by itself. Trailering means changes in handling, acceleration, braking, durability, and fuel economy. Successful, safe trailering takes correct equipment, and it has to be used properly. That is the reason for this section.
Weight of the Trailer Weight of the Trailer Tongue How heavy can a trailer safely be? The tongue load (A) of any trailer is an important weight to measure because it affects the total or gross weight of your vehicle. The Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) includes the curb weight of the vehicle, any cargo you may carry in it, and the people who will be riding in the vehicle.
Total Weight on Your Vehicle’s Tires Be sure your vehicle’s tires are inflated to the upper limit for cold tires. You will find these numbers on the Certification/Tire Label at the rear edge of the driver’s door, or see Loading Your Vehicle on page 4-31. Do not go over the GVW limit for your vehicle, including the weight of the trailer tongue.
Safety Chains You should always attach chains between your vehicle and your trailer. Cross the safety chains under the tongue of the trailer to help prevent the tongue from contacting the road if it becomes separated from the hitch. Instructions about safety chains may be provided by the hitch manufacturer or by the trailer manufacturer. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendation for attaching safety chains and do not attach them to the bumper. Always leave just enough slack so you can turn with your rig.
Towing a trailer requires a certain amount of experience. Before setting out for the open road, you will want to get to know your rig. Acquaint yourself with the feel of handling and braking with the added weight of the trailer. And always keep in mind that the vehicle you are driving is now a good deal longer and not nearly as responsive as your vehicle is by itself. Before you start, check all trailer hitch parts and attachments, safety chains, electrical connector, lamps, tires and mirror adjustment.
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer When you tow a trailer, your vehicle has to have extra wiring. The arrows on your instrument panel will flash whenever you signal a turn or lane change. Properly hooked up, the trailer lamps will also flash, telling other drivers you are about to turn, change lanes or stop. When towing a trailer, the arrows on your instrument panel will flash for turns even if the bulbs on the trailer are burned out.
When You Are Ready to Leave After Parking on a Hill 1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down while you: • Start your engine. • Shift into a gear. • 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 the chocks. Maintenance When Trailer Towing Your vehicle will need service more often when you are pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for more on this.
✍ NOTES 4-46
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care Service ............................................................5-3 Doing Your Own Service Work .........................5-4 Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your Vehicle ......................................................5-5 Fuel ................................................................5-5 Gasoline Octane ............................................5-5 Gasoline Specifications ....................................5-5 California Fuel ....................
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care Tire Chains ..................................................5-70 Accessory Inflator .........................................5-70 If a Tire Goes Flat ........................................5-72 Changing a Flat Tire .....................................5-72 Removing the Spare Tire and Tools ................5-74 Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the Spare Tire ................................................5-80 Secondary Latch System ............................
Service Your dealer knows your vehicle best and wants you to be happy with it. We hope you will go to your dealer for all your service needs. You will get genuine GM parts and GM-trained and supported service people. We hope you will want to keep your GM vehicle all GM.
Doing Your Own Service Work If you want to do some of your own service work, you will want to use the proper service manual. It tells you much more about how to service your vehicle than this manual can. To order the proper service manual, see Service Publications Ordering Information on page 7-12. Your vehicle has an airbag system. Before attempting to do your own service work, see Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on page 1-82.
Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your Vehicle Things you might add to the outside of your vehicle can affect the airflow around it. This may cause wind noise and affect windshield washer performance. Check with your dealer before adding equipment to the outside of your vehicle. Fuel Use of the recommended fuel is an important part of the proper maintenance of your vehicle. Gasoline Octane If your vehicle has the 3400 V6 engine, use regular unleaded gasoline with a posted octane of 87 or higher.
California Fuel Additives If your vehicle is certified to meet California Emission Standards (see the underhood emission control label), it is designed to operate on fuels that meet California specifications. If this fuel is not available in states adopting California emissions standards, your vehicle will operate satisfactorily on fuels meeting federal specifications, but emission control system performance may be affected.
Gasolines containing oxygenates, such as ethers and ethanol, and reformulated gasolines may be available in your area to contribute to clean air. General Motors recommends that you use these gasolines, particularly if they comply with the specifications described earlier. Notice: Your vehicle was not designed for fuel that contains methanol. Do not use fuel containing methanol. It can corrode metal parts in your fuel system and also damage the plastic and rubber parts.
Filling Your Tank While refueling, hang the tethered fuel cap from the hook on the fuel door. {CAUTION: Fuel vapor burns violently and a fuel fire can cause bad injuries. To help avoid injuries to you and others, read and follow all the instructions on the pump island. Turn off your engine when you are refueling. Do not smoke if you are near fuel or refueling your vehicle. Keep sparks, flames and smoking materials away from fuel.
Be careful not to spill fuel. Do not top off or overfill the tank and wait a few seconds after you have finished pumping before removing the nozzle. Clean fuel from painted surfaces as soon as possible. See Washing Your Vehicle on page 5-98. When replacing the fuel cap, turn it to the right (clockwise) until it clicks. Make sure the cap is fully installed. The diagnostic system can determine if the fuel cap has been left off or improperly installed. This would allow fuel to evaporate into the atmosphere.
Filling a Portable Fuel Container Checking Things Under the Hood {CAUTION: Never fill a portable fuel container while it is in your vehicle. Static electricity discharge from the container can ignite the gasoline vapor. You can be badly burned and your vehicle damaged if this occurs. To help avoid injury to you and others: • Dispense gasoline only into approved containers. • Do not fill a container while it is inside a vehicle, in a vehicle’s trunk, pickup bed or on any surface other than the ground.
Hood Release To open the hood, do the following: 2. At the front of the vehicle, pull up on the center of the hood, and push the secondary hood release to the right. 3. After you have partially lifted the hood, gas struts will automatically take over to lift and hold the hood in the fully open position. Before closing the hood, be sure all filler caps are on properly. Then, pull the hood down to close. 1. Pull the hood release handle, located under the instrument panel on the driver’s side of the vehicle.
Engine Compartment Overview When you lift the hood of the 3400 V6 engine, here is what you will see: 5-12
A. Underhood Fuse Block. See Underhood Fuse Block on page 5-107. B. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. See Jump Starting on page 5-42. C. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. See Power Steering Fluid on page 5-36. D. Automatic Transaxle Fluid Dipstick. See “Checking the Fluid Level” under Automatic Transaxle Fluid on page 5-22. E. Brake Master Cylinder. See “Brake Fluid” under Brakes on page 5-38. F. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding Washer Fluid” under Windshield Washer Fluid on page 5-37. G. Battery.
When you lift the hood of the 3.
A. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding Washer Fluid” under Windshield Washer Fluid on page 5-37. B. Underhood Fuse Block. See Underhood Fuse Block on page 5-107. C. Battery. See Battery on page 5-41. D. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. See Jump Starting on page 5-42. E. Radiator Pressure Cap. See Radiator Pressure Cap on page 5-28. F. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir. See Power Steering Fluid on page 5-36. G. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil” under Engine Oil on page 5-16. H.
Engine Oil Checking Engine Oil It is a good idea to check your engine oil every time you get fuel. In order to get an accurate reading, the oil must be warm and the vehicle must be on level ground. The engine oil dipstick handle is a yellow loop. See Engine Compartment Overview on page 5-12 for the location of the engine oil dipstick. 1. Turn off the engine and give the oil several minutes to drain back into the oil pan. If you do not do this, the oil dipstick might not show the actual level.
When to Add Engine Oil If the oil is below the cross-hatched area at the tip of the dipstick, then you will need to add at least one quart of oil. But you must use the right kind. This section explains what kind of oil to use. For engine oil crankcase capacity, see Capacities and Specifications on page 5-112. Notice: Do not add too much oil. If your engine has so much oil that the oil level gets above the cross-hatched area that shows the proper operating range, your engine could be damaged.
• SAE 5W-30 As shown in the viscosity chart, SAE 5W-30 is best for your vehicle. These numbers on an oil container show its viscosity, or thickness. Do not use other viscosity oils such as SAE 20W-50. Oils meeting these requirements should also have the starburst symbol on the container. This symbol indicates that the oil has been certified by the American Petroleum Institute (API).
Notice: Use only engine oil identified as meeting GM Standard GM6094M and showing the American Petroleum Institute Certified For Gasoline Engines starburst symbol. Failure to use the recommended oil can result in engine damage not covered by your warranty. GM Goodwrench® oil meets all the requirements for your vehicle. If you are in an area of extreme cold, where the temperature falls below −20°F (−29°C), it is recommended that you use either an SAE 5W-30 synthetic oil or an SAE 0W-30 oil.
If the system is ever reset accidentally, you must change your oil at 3,000 miles (5 000 km) since your last oil change. Remember to reset the oil life system whenever the oil is changed. How to Reset the Engine Oil Life System The Engine Oil Life System calculates when to change your engine oil and filter based on vehicle use. Anytime your oil is changed, reset the system so it can calculate when the next oil change is required.
Used oil can be a threat to the environment. If you change your own oil, be sure to drain all the oil from the filter before disposal. Never dispose of oil by putting it in the trash, pouring it on the ground, into sewers, or into streams or bodies of water. Instead, recycle it by taking it to a place that collects used oil. If you have a problem properly disposing of your used oil, ask your dealer, a service station or a local recycling center for help.
3. Unlatch the two hooks on top of the engine air cleaner/filter housing. 4. Inspect or replace the engine air cleaner/filter. 5. Align the tabs located on the bottom of the panel with the slots at the bottom of the housing. 6. Latch the hooks to secure the panel in place. If the panel moves easily, check that the tabs are seated correctly in the slots. 7. Put the duct back on and reinstall the clamps. {CAUTION: Operating the engine with the air cleaner/filter off can cause you or others to be burned.
How to Check Automatic Transaxle Fluid To get the right reading, the fluid should be at normal operating temperature, which is 180°F to 200°F (82°C to 93°C). Because this operation can be a little difficult, you may choose to have this done at the dealership service department. Get the vehicle warmed up by driving about 15 miles (24 km) when outside temperatures are above 50°F (10°C). If it is colder than 50°F (10°C), you may have to drive longer.
Then, without shutting off the engine, do the following: See Engine Compartment Overview on page 5-12 for information on dipstick location. If your vehicle is equipped with a 3.6L V6 engine, the dipstick handle will have this symbol on it. If your vehicle is equipped with a 3400 V6 engine, the dipstick handle will be a red loop. 1. Pull out the dipstick and wipe it with a clean rag or paper towel. 2. Push it back in all the way, wait three seconds and then pull it back out again. 3.
How to Add Automatic Transaxle Fluid Engine Coolant Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what kind of transaxle fluid to use. See Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-12. The cooling system in your vehicle is filled with DEX-COOL® engine coolant. This coolant is designed to remain in your vehicle for 5 years or 150,000 miles (240 000 km), whichever occurs first, if you add only DEX-COOL® extended life coolant.
What Coolant to Use Use a mixture of one-half clean, drinkable water and one-half DEX-COOL® coolant which will not damage aluminum parts. If you use this coolant mixture, you do not need to add anything else. {CAUTION: Adding only plain water to your cooling system can be dangerous. Plain water, or some other liquid such as alcohol, can boil before the proper coolant mixture will. Your vehicle’s coolant warning system is set for the proper coolant mixture.
Checking Coolant The coolant recovery tank is located on the driver’s side of the vehicle, above the engine air cleaner/filter. See Engine Compartment Overview on page 5-12 for more information on location. The vehicle must be on a level surface. When your engine is cold, the coolant level should be at the FULL COLD mark, or a little higher. When your engine is warm, the level should be above the FULL COLD mark or a little higher.
Radiator Pressure Cap Notice: The radiator cap on your vehicle is a pressure-type cap and must be tightly installed to prevent coolant loss and possible engine damage from overheating. Be sure the arrows on the cap line up with the overflow tube on the radiator filler neck. The radiator pressure cap for the 3400 V6 engine and the 3.6L V6 engine are located in different areas of the engine compartment. See Engine Compartment Overview on page 5-12 for more information on location.
Notice: If your engine catches fire because you keep driving with no coolant, your vehicle can be badly damaged. The costly repairs would not be covered by your warranty. See Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode on page 5-30 for information on driving to a safe place in an emergency. If No Steam Is Coming From Your Engine If you get an engine overheat warning but see or hear no steam, the problem may not be too serious.
Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode This emergency operating mode allows your vehicle to be driven to a safe place in an emergency situation. If an overheated engine condition exists, an overheat protection mode which alternates firing groups of cylinders helps prevent engine damage. In this mode, you will notice a significant loss in power and engine performance. If your vehicle is equipped with the 3.
If the coolant inside the coolant recovery tank is boiling, do not do anything else until it cools down. The vehicle should be parked on a level surface. The coolant level should be at or above the full cold mark. If it is not, you may have a leak at the pressure cap or in the radiator hoses, heater hoses, radiator, water pump or somewhere else in the cooling system. {CAUTION: 3.6 L V6 engine A. Radiator Pressure Cap B. Electric Engine Cooling Fans C.
If there seems to be no leak, with the engine on, check to see if the electric engine cooling fans are running. If the engine is overheating, both fans should be running. If they are not, your vehicle needs service. Notice: Engine damage from running your engine without coolant is not covered by your warranty. See Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode on page 5-30 for information on driving to a safe place in an emergency.
{CAUTION: {CAUTION: You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol and it will burn if the engine parts are hot enough. Do not spill coolant on a hot engine. Steam and scalding liquids from a hot cooling system can blow out and burn you badly. They are under pressure, and if you turn the radiator pressure cap — even a little — they can come out at high speed. Never turn the cap when the cooling system, including the radiator pressure cap, is hot.
How to Add Coolant to the Radiator Notice: Your engine has a specific radiator fill procedure. Failure to follow this procedure could cause your engine to overheat and be severely damaged. 2. Then keep turning the pressure cap, but now push down as you turn it. Remove the pressure cap. {CAUTION: You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol and it will burn if the engine parts are hot enough. Do not spill coolant on a hot engine. 1.
3. If your vehicle has the 3400 V6 engine, after the engine cools, open the coolant air bleed valves. There are two bleed valves. One is located on the thermostat housing. The other is located on the thermostat bypass tube. 5. Rinse or wipe any spilled coolant from the engine and the compartment. 6. Start the engine and let it run until you can feel the upper radiator hose getting hot. Watch out for the engine cooling fans. 4.
8. Then replace the pressure cap. At any time during this procedure if coolant begins to flow out of the filler neck, reinstall the pressure cap. Be sure the arrows on the pressure cap line up properly. Power Steering Fluid See Engine Compartment Overview on page 5-12 for reservoir location. When to Check Power Steering Fluid 9. Then fill the coolant recovery tank to the FULL COLD mark. 10. Put the cap back on the coolant recovery tank.
How to Check Power Steering Fluid What Power Steering Fluid to Use To check the power steering fluid, do the following: To determine what kind of fluid to use, see Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-12. Always use the proper fluid. Failure to use the proper fluid can cause leaks and damage hoses and seals. 1. Turn the key off and let the engine compartment cool down. 2. Wipe the cap and the top of the reservoir clean. 3. Unscrew the cap and wipe the dipstick with a clean rag.
Adding Washer Fluid Open the cap with the washer symbol on it. Add washer fluid until the tank is full. See Engine Compartment Overview on page 5-12 for reservoir location. Brakes Brake Fluid Your brake master cylinder reservoir is filled with DOT-3 brake fluid. See Engine Compartment Overview on page 5-12 for the location of the reservoir. Notice: • When using concentrated washer fluid, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for adding water. • Do not mix water with ready-to-use washer fluid.
So, it is not a good idea to top off your brake fluid. Adding brake fluid will not correct a leak. If you add fluid when your linings are worn, then you will have too much fluid when you get new brake linings. You should add or remove brake fluid, as necessary, only when work is done on the brake hydraulic system. {CAUTION: If you have too much brake fluid, it can spill on the engine. The fluid will burn if the engine is hot enough. You or others could be burned, and your vehicle could be damaged.
Brake Wear Your vehicle has four-wheel disc brakes. Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that make a high-pitched warning sound when the brake pads are worn and new pads are needed. The sound may come and go or be heard all the time your vehicle is moving, except when you are pushing on the brake pedal firmly. {CAUTION: The brake wear warning sound means that soon your brakes will not work well. That could lead to an accident. When you hear the brake wear warning sound, have your vehicle serviced.
Replacing Brake System Parts The braking system on a vehicle is complex. Its many parts have to be of top quality and work well together if the vehicle is to have really good braking. Your vehicle was designed and tested with top-quality GM brake parts. When you replace parts of your braking system — for example, when your brake linings wear down and you need new ones put in — be sure you get new approved GM replacement parts. If you do not, your brakes may no longer work properly.
Jump Starting If your battery has run down, you may want to use another vehicle and some jumper cables to start your vehicle. Be sure to use the following steps to do it safely. {CAUTION: Batteries can hurt you. They can be dangerous because: • 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, some or all of these things can hurt you.
Pull up on the cap to access the remote positive (+) terminal. You should always use the remote positive (+) terminal instead of the positive (+) terminal on the battery. Notice: If you leave your radio or other accessories on during the jump starting procedure, they could be damaged. The repairs would not be covered by your warranty. Always turn off your radio and other accessories when jump starting your vehicle. 3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles.
{CAUTION: {CAUTION: Using a match near a battery can cause battery gas to explode. People have been hurt doing this, and some have been blinded. Use a flashlight if you need more light. Fans or other moving engine parts can injure you badly. Keep your hands away from moving parts once the engine is running. Be sure the battery has enough water. You do not need to add water to the battery installed in your new vehicle. But if a battery has filler caps, be sure the right amount of fluid is there.
Notice: If you connect a negative cable to the ECM, ECM mounting bracket or any cables that attach to the ECM bracket, you may damage the ECM. Attach the negative cable to a heavy, unpainted metal engine part, other than the ECM, ECM bracket or cables attached to the ECM bracket. Do not connect positive (+) to negative (−) or you will get a short that would damage the battery and maybe other parts too.
Notice: If the jumper cables are removed in the wrong order, electrical shorting may occur and damage the vehicle. The repairs would not be covered by your warranty. Remove the jumper cables in the correct order, making sure that the cables do not touch each other or other metal. To disconnect the jumper cables from both vehicles, do the following: 1. Disconnect the black negative (−) cable from the vehicle that had the dead battery. 2.
All-Wheel Drive How to Check Lubricant If you have an all-wheel-drive vehicle, be sure to perform the lubricant checks described in this section. All-wheel-drive vehicles have two additional systems that need lubrication. Transfer Case (Power Transfer Unit) When to Check Lubricant Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine how often to check the lubricant. See Scheduled Maintenance on page 6-4. To get an accurate reading, the vehicle should be on a level surface.
Carrier Assembly-Differential (Rear Drive Module) When to Check and Change Lubricant Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine how often to check the lubricant and when to change it. See Scheduled Maintenance on page 6-4. How to Check Lubricant To get an accurate reading, the vehicle should be on a level surface. 5-48 If the level is below the bottom of the filler plug hole, you will need to add some lubricant. Add enough lubricant to raise the level to the bottom of the filler plug hole.
Bulb Replacement For the proper type of replacement bulbs, see Replacement Bulbs on page 5-53. For any bulb changing procedure not listed in this section, contact your dealer. Halogen Bulbs Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker, and Parking Lamps 1. Open the hood. See Hood Release on page 5-11 for more information. 2. Push in on the headlamp panel and lift up the headlamp retaining clip partway, but do not remove.
6. Turn the bulb socket one-quarter of a turn clockwise. 8. Unhook the electrical connector by lifting up the gray tabs and separate the connector from the bulb base. 9. Install the appropriate new bulb into the electrical connector. Push the bulb firmly enough so that the gray tabs hook over the tab on the bulb. 10. Put the bulb assembly back into the lamp housing and turn the bulb socket one-quarter of a turn counterclockwise. 11.
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker and Parking Lamps 3. Pull the lamp directly rearward from the vehicle. To replace the front turn signal, parking or sidemarker lamp bulbs, follow the headlamp bulb replacement procedure and replace the appropriate bulb. 5. Pull the bulb assembly out from the lamp housing. Taillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps 7. Install the new bulb into the electrical connector. Push the bulb firmly enough so that the tabs hook over the tab on the bulb. 1. Open the liftgate.
Taillamps and Back-Up Lamps This procedure is for the liftgate-mounted taillamps and back-up lamps. 1. Open the liftgate. See Liftgate on page 2-11 for more information. 2. Remove the panel inside the liftgate by lifting the tabs and pulling the panel off. 3. Remove the seven wing nuts and the four outboard nuts (two at each end). A. Outboard Taillamp B. Center Taillamp C. Inboard Back-Up Lamp 6. Turn the bulb socket one-quarter of a turn counterclockwise. 4. Gently lower the liftgate. 5.
10. Put the bulb assembly back into the lamp housing and turn the bulb socket one-quarter of a turn clockwise. Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement 11. Replace the applique on the liftgate. Windshield wiper blades should be inspected at least twice a year for wear or cracking. See “Wiper Blade Check” under Owner Checks and Services on page 6-8 for more information. 12. Gently lift the liftgate. 13. Reinstall the seven wing nuts and the four outboard nuts. 14.
To replace the backglass mounted wiper blade, do the following: 1. Turn the rear wiper off. 2. Pull the wiper away from the backglass. 3. Pull up the release clip, located at the connecting point of the blade and the arm. Then, pull the blade assembly down toward the glass to remove it from the wiper arm. 4. Push the new wiper blade securely on the wiper arm until you hear the release clip click into place. 5. Push the release clip, from Step 3, down to secure the wiper blade into place. 4.
Tires Your new vehicle comes with high-quality tires made by a leading tire manufacturer. If you ever have questions about your tire warranty and where to obtain service, see your GM Warranty booklet for details. For additional information refer to the tire manufacturer’s booklet included with your vehicle’s Owner’s Manual. {CAUTION: Poorly maintained and improperly used tires are dangerous. • Overloading your tires can cause overheating as a result of too much friction.
Tire Sidewall Labelling Useful information about a tire is molded into its sidewall. The examples below show a typical passenger vehicle tire and a compact spare tire sidewall. (B) TPC Spec (Tire Performance Criteria Specification): Original equipment tires designed to GM’s specific tire performance criteria have a TPC specification code molded onto the sidewall. GM’s TPC specifications meet or exceed all federal safety guidelines.
(C) Tire Identification Number (TIN): The letters and numbers following the DOT (Department of Transportation) code is the Tire Identification Number (TIN). The TIN shows the manufacturer and plant code, tire size, and date the tire was manufactured. The TIN is molded onto both sides of the tire, although only one side may have the date of manufacture. (D) Maximum Cold Inflation Load Limit: Maximum load that can be carried and the maximum pressure needed to support that load.
Tire Size The following illustration shows an example of a typical passenger vehicle tire size. (D) Construction Code: A letter code is used to indicate the type of ply construction in the tire. The letter R means radial ply construction; the letter D means diagonal or bias ply construction; and the letter B means belted-bias ply construction. (E) Rim Diameter: Diameter of the wheel in inches. (A) Passenger (P-Metric) Tire: The United States version of a metric tire sizing system.
Aspect Ratio: The relationship of a tire’s height to its width. GVWR: Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, see Loading Your Vehicle on page 4-31. Belt: A rubber coated layer of cords that is located between the plies and the tread. Cords may be made from steel or other reinforcing materials. GAWR FRT: Gross Axle Weight Rating for the front axle, see Loading Your Vehicle on page 4-31. Bead: The tire bead contains steel wires wrapped by steel cords that hold the tire onto the rim.
Normal Occupant Weight: The number of occupants a vehicle is designed to seat multiplied by 150 lbs (68 kg). See Loading Your Vehicle on page 4-31. Speed Rating: An alphanumeric code assigned to a tire indicating the maximum speed at which a tire can operate. Occupant Distribution: Designated seating positions. Traction: The friction between the tire and the road surface. The amount of grip provided.
Vehicle Placard: A label permanently attached to a vehicle showing the vehicle’s capacity weight and the original equipment tire size and recommended inflation pressure. See “Tire and Loading Information Label” under Loading Your Vehicle on page 4-31. Inflation - Tire Pressure Tires need the correct amount of air pressure to operate effectively. Notice: Do not let anyone tell you that under-inflation or over-inflation is all right. It is not.
How to Check Check Tire Pressure System Use a good quality pocket-type gage to check tire pressure. You cannot tell if your tires are properly inflated simply by looking at them. Radial tires may look properly inflated even when they are under-inflated. Check the tire’s inflation pressure when the tires are cold. Cold means your vehicle has been sitting for at least three hours or driven no more than 1 mile (1.6 km).
If the anti-lock brake system warning light comes on, the check tire pressure system may not be working properly. See your dealer for service. Also, see Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light on page 3-45. The check tire pressure system detects differences in tire rotation speeds that are caused by changes in tire pressure. The system can alert you about a low tire – but it does not replace normal tire maintenance. See Tires on page 5-55.
Tire Inspection and Rotation Tires 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 as soon as possible and check wheel alignment. Also check for damaged tires or wheels. See When It Is Time for New Tires on page 5-65 and Wheel Replacement on page 5-68 for more information. Make sure the spare tire is stored securely. Push, pull, and then try to rotate or turn the tire, If it moves, use the folding wrench to tighten the cable.
When It Is Time for New Tires {CAUTION: Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts to which it is fastened, can make wheel nuts become loose after a time. The wheel could come off and cause an accident. When you change a wheel, remove any rust or dirt from places where the wheel attaches to the vehicle. In an emergency, you can use a cloth or a paper towel to do this; but be sure to use a scraper or wire brush later, if you need to, to get all the rust or dirt off. See Changing a Flat Tire on page 5-72.
Buying New Tires To find out what kind and size of tires your vehicle needs, look at the tire and loading information label. For more information about this label and its location on your vehicle, see Loading Your Vehicle on page 4-31. {CAUTION: The tires installed on your vehicle when it was new had a Tire 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 TPC Spec number.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading Treadwear Quality grades can be found where applicable on the tire sidewall between tread shoulder and maximum section width. For example: The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled conditions on a specified government test course. For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and a half (1.5) times as well on the government course as a tire graded 100.
Temperature – A, B, C Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C, representing the tire’s resistance to the generation of heat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested under controlled conditions on a specified indoor laboratory test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the material of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire life, and excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire failure.
If you need to replace any of your wheels, wheel bolts or wheel nuts, replace them only with new GM original equipment parts. This way, you will be sure to have the right wheel, wheel bolts and wheel nuts for your vehicle. {CAUTION: Using the wrong replacement wheels, wheel bolts or wheel nuts on your vehicle can be dangerous. It could affect the braking and handling of your vehicle, make your tires lose air and make you lose control. You could have a collision in which you or others could be injured.
Tire Chains {CAUTION: Don’t use tire chains. There’s not enough clearance. Tire chains used on a vehicle without the proper amount of clearance can cause damage to the brakes, suspension or other vehicle parts. The area damaged by the tire chains could cause you to lose control of your vehicle and you or others may be injured in a crash. Use another type of traction device only if its manufacturer recommends it for use on your vehicle and tire size combination and road conditions.
{CAUTION: Your accessory inflator will automatically shut off after about 10 minutes. The light in the switch will blink. After about one minute you can use the system again. Press the inflator switch and the indicator light will come on. Inflating something too much can make it explode, and you or others could be injured. Be sure to read the inflator instructions, and inflate any object only to its recommended pressure.
If a Tire Goes Flat It’s unusual for a tire to “blowout” while you’re driving, especially if you maintain your tires properly. If air goes out of a tire, it’s much more likely to leak out slowly. But if you should ever have a “blowout,” here are a few tips about what to expect and what to do: If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create a drag that pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel firmly.
{CAUTION: When you have a flat tire, use the following example as a guide to assist you in the placement of wheel blocks. Changing a tire can be dangerous. The vehicle can slip off the jack and roll over or fall on you or other people. You and they could be badly injured or even killed. Find a level place to change your tire. To help prevent the vehicle from moving: 1. Set the parking brake firmly. 2. Put the shift lever in PARK (P). 3. Turn off the engine and do not restart while the vehicle is raised.
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools The equipment you will need is located in the storage compartment on the passenger’s side, at the rear of the vehicle. 1. Open the jack storage compartment by lifting up the tab and pulling the cover off. D. Folding Wrench A. Jack E. Wing Nut B. Wing Bolt C. Jacking Instructions F. J-Hook 2. Remove the jack and jacking tools by turning the wing bolt counterclockwise. Lift up slightly on the jack to remove it from the bracket. Then take it out of the storage compartment.
The tools you will be using include the jack (A), folding wrench (B), wing nut (C), and J-hook (D). Removing the Spare Tire (Vehicles without a Rear Convenience Center) The compact spare tire is located under the vehicle, behind the rear bumper. Use the spare tire hoist to raise, lower and store the compact spare tire. See Compact Spare Tire on page 5-94 for more information about the compact spare. A. Hoist Shaft B. Folding Wrench C. Hoist Assembly D. Retainer E. Compact Spare Tire 1.
4. Tilt the retainer and slip it through the wheel opening to remove the spare tire from the cable. If the spare tire will not lower, the secondary latch may be engaged causing the tire not to lower. 5. Turn the wrench clockwise to raise the cable back up after removing the spare tire. Do not store a full-size or a flat road tire under the vehicle. See Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools on page 5-88.
3. Loosen the cable by turning the wrench counterclockwise three or four turns. 4. If the spare tire has not lowered, tighten the cable all the way and then loosen it at least two times. If the spare tire did lower to the ground, continue with Step 4 under “Removing the Spare Tire (Vehicles without the Rear Convenience Center)” listed previously. Removing the Spare Tire (Vehicles with a Rear Convenience Center) The compact spare tire is located under the vehicle, ahead of the rear bumper.
1. Open the storage compartment door of the convenience center that is nearest the liftgate and remove the cap on the bottom of the storage compartment. 2. Flip the cut out carpet that is located through the hole of the storage compartment. 3. Attach the folding wrench into the hoist shaft. 4. Turn the folding wrench counterclockwise to lower the spare tire to the ground. Continue turning the wrench until the spare tire can be pulled out from under the vehicle. 5.
3. Loosen the cable by turning the wrench counterclockwise three or four turns. 4. If the spare tire has not lowered, tighten the cable all the way and then loosen it at least two times. If the spare tire did lower to the ground, continue with Step 5 under “Removing the Spare Tire (Vehicles with the Rear Convenience Center)” listed previously. 5. If you still cannot lower the spare tire to the ground, see Secondary Latch System on page 5-84.
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the Spare Tire 1. If there is a wheel cover, loosen the plastic nut caps with the wheel wrench. They will not come off. Then, using the flat end of the wheel wrench, pry along the edge of the cover until it comes off. Be careful; the edges may be sharp. Do not try to remove the cover with your bare hands. If your vehicle has aluminum wheels, remove the wheel nut caps using the wheel wrench. 2. Loosen the wheel nuts — but do not remove them — using the folding wrench.
{CAUTION: Getting under a vehicle when it is jacked up is dangerous. If the vehicle slips off the jack you could be badly injured or killed. Never get under a vehicle when it is supported only by a jack. {CAUTION: Raising your vehicle with the jack improperly positioned can damage the vehicle and even make the vehicle fall. To help avoid personal injury and vehicle damage, be sure to fit the jack lift head into the proper location before raising the vehicle. 4.
{CAUTION: {CAUTION: Rust or dirt on the wheel, or on the parts to which it is fastened, can make the wheel nuts become loose after a time. The wheel could come off and cause an accident. When you change a wheel, remove any rust or dirt from the places where the wheel attaches to the vehicle. In an emergency, you can use a cloth or a paper towel to do this; but be sure to use a scraper or wire brush later, if you need to, to get all the rust or dirt off. Never use oil or grease on studs or nuts.
{CAUTION: 8. Lower the vehicle by attaching the folding wrench to the jack and turning the wrench counterclockwise. Lower the jack completely. Incorrect wheel nuts or improperly tightened wheel nuts can cause the wheel to come loose and even come off. This could lead to an accident. Be sure to use the correct wheel nuts. If you have to replace them, be sure to get new GM original equipment wheel nuts.
9. Tighten the wheel nuts firmly in a crisscross sequence, as shown. Notice: Wheel covers will not fit on your compact spare. If you try to put a wheel cover on the compact spare, you could damage the cover or the spare. 10. Do not try to put a wheel cover on the compact spare tire. It will not fit. Store the wheel cover securely in the rear of the vehicle until you have the flat tire repaired or replaced.
To release the spare tire from the secondary latch, do the following: {CAUTION: Someone standing too close during the procedure could be injured by the jack. If the spare tire does not slide off the jack completely, make sure no one is behind you or on either side of you as you pull the jack out from the spare. 1. If the cable is not visible, start this procedure at Step 3. All-wheel-drive Vehicle shown 2. Turn the wrench counterclockwise until approximately 6 inches (15 cm) of cable is exposed.
Front-wheel-drive Vehicle shown 3. Attach the folding wrench to the jack and raise the jack at least 10 turns. 4. Place the jack under the vehicle, ahead of the rear bumper. Position the center lift point of the jack under the center of the spare tire. 5. Turn the folding wrench clockwise to raise the jack until it lifts the secondary latch spring. 6. Keep raising the jack until the spare tire stops moving upward and is held firmly in place.
9. Tilt the retainer and slip it through the wheel opening when the spare tire has been completely lowered. 10. Turn the wrench clockwise to raise the cable back up if the cable is hanging. Have the hoist assembly inspected as soon as you can. You will not be able to store a spare tire using the hoist assembly until it has been repaired or replaced. 8. Disconnect the wrench from the jack and carefully remove the jack.
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools Storing the Flat Tire (Vehicles without Stowable Seat and without Rear Convenience Center) 1. Flip up the D-ring located in the rear cargo area. 2. Lay the tire in the rear cargo area of the vehicle with the valve stem up with the center hole of the tire over the D-ring. For vehicles with aluminum wheels, remove the center cap by tapping the back of the cap with the folding wrench. 3. Remove the J-hook and the wing nut from the back of the jack access door.
Storing the Flat Tire (Vehicles with a Rear Convenience Center) 3. Lay the tire on top of the center storage compartment with the valve stem down. Make sure you can see the D-ring through the center hole of the tire. 4. Remove the J-hook and the wing nut from the back of the jack access door. Assemble the wing nut and the J-hook. 5. Install the wing nut and the J-hook to the D-ring through the center hole of the tire. 6. Tighten the wing nut to secure the tire to the floor.
Storing the Flat Tire (Vehicles with a Stowable Seat) 3. Flip the D-ring so it is pointing outward. 4. Open the convenience center cover. 5. Stand the full-size tire up, in the tray against the back of the seat with the valve stem pointing out. 6. Remove the J-hook and the wing nut from the back of the jack access door. Assemble the wing nut and the J-hook. 7. Install the wing nut and the J-hook to the D-ring through the center hole of the tire. 8. Tighten the wing nut to secure the tire to the seatback.
Storing the Flat Tire (Vehicles with a Stowable Seatback Folded Flat) 3. Remove the J-hook and the wing nut from the back of the jack access door. Assemble the wing nut and the J-hook. 4. Install the wing nut and the J-hook to the D-ring through the center hole of the tire. 5. Tighten the wing nut to secure the tire to the seatback. 6. Push and pull on the tire to make sure the tire is secure and does not move. 7.
Storing the Spare Tire and Tools {CAUTION: {CAUTION: Storing a jack, a tire, or other equipment in the passenger compartment of the vehicle could cause injury. In a sudden stop or collision, loose equipment could strike someone. Store all these in the proper place. The underbody-mounted spare tire needs to be stored with the valve stem pointing down.
3. Tilt the retainer downward and slip it through the center hole of the spare tire. Make sure the retainer is fully seated across the underside of the wheel. 4. Attach the folding wrench to the hoist shaft. 5. Turn the folding wrench clockwise to lift the spare tire. 6. When the tire reaches the stabilizer bar, move the tire over the bar, then continue to turn the folding wrench clockwise to lift the spare tire. 7.
When you replace the compact spare with a full-size tire, reinstall the bolt-on wheel covers or the center cap, whichever your vehicle has. Tighten them hand tight over the wheel nuts, using the folding wrench. Compact Spare Tire Although the compact spare tire was fully inflated when your vehicle was new, it can lose air after a time. Check the inflation pressure regularly. It should be 60 psi (420 kPa).
Appearance Care Cleaning products can be hazardous. Some are toxic. Other cleaning products can burst into flames if a match is struck near them or if they get on a hot part of the vehicle. Some are dangerous if their fumes are inhaled in a closed space. When anything from a container is used to clean the vehicle, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s warnings and instructions. Always open the doors or windows of the vehicle when cleaning the inside.
Most stains can be removed with club soda water. To clean, use the following instructions: 1. For liquids: blot with a clean, soft, white cloth. For solids: remove as much as possible and then vacuum or brush. 2. Apply club soda water to a clean, soft, white cloth. Do not over-saturate; the cloth should not drip water. 3. Clean the entire area. Avoid getting the fabric too wet. 4. Start cleaning from the seams into the stain to avoid a ring effect. 3.
Stains caused by oil and grease can be cleaned with an approved GM cleaner and a clean, white cloth. 1. Carefully scrape off excess stain. 2. Clean with cool water and allow to dry completely. 3. If a stain remains, follow the “Using Cleaner on Fabric” instructions described earlier. Vinyl Use warm water and a clean cloth. • Rub with a clean, damp cloth to remove dirt. This may have to be done more than once. • Things like tar, asphalt, and shoe polish will stain if they are not removed quickly.
Glass Surfaces Weatherstrips Glass should be cleaned often. GM Glass Cleaner or a liquid household glass cleaner will remove normal tobacco smoke and dust films on interior glass. See Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials on page 5-102. Silicone grease on weatherstrips will make them last longer, seal better, and not stick or squeak. Apply silicone grease with a clean cloth. During very cold, damp weather frequent application may be required. See Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-12.
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses Use only lukewarm or cold water, a soft cloth and a car washing soap to clean exterior lamps and lenses. Follow instructions under Washing Your Vehicle on page 5-98. Finish Care Occasional waxing or mild polishing of the vehicle by hand may be necessary to remove residue from the paint finish. GM-approved cleaning products can be obtained from your dealer. See Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials on page 5-102. The vehicle has a “basecoat/clearcoat” paint finish.
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels The vehicle may be equipped with either aluminum or chrome-plated wheels. Keep the wheels clean using a soft clean cloth with mild soap and water. Rinse with clean water. After rinsing thoroughly, dry with a soft clean towel. A wax may then be applied. Notice: If you use strong soaps, chemicals, abrasive polishes, cleaners, brushes, or cleaners that contain acid on aluminum or chrome-plated wheels, you could damage the surface of the wheel(s).
Sheet Metal Damage If the vehicle is damaged and requires sheet metal repair or replacement, make sure the body repair shop applies anti-corrosion material to parts repaired or replaced to restore corrosion protection. At least every spring, flush these materials from the underbody with plain water. Clean any areas where mud and debris can collect. Dirt packed in close areas of the frame should be loosened before being flushed. Your GM dealer or an underbody car washing system can do this for you.
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials See your GM dealer for more information on purchasing the following products. Description Polishing Cloth Wax-Treated Tar and Road Oil Remover Chrome Cleaner and Polish White Sidewall Tire Cleaner Vinyl Cleaner Glass Cleaner Chrome and Wire Wheel Cleaner Finish Enhancer 5-102 Usage Interior and exterior polishing cloth. Removes tar, road oil, and asphalt. Use on chrome or stainless steel. Removes soil and black marks from whitewalls.
Vehicle Identification Engine Identification Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) The 8th character in your VIN is the engine code. This code will help you identify your engine, specifications and replacement parts. Service Parts Identification Label You will find this label on the inside of the access panel located on the driver’s side of the rear of the vehicle. It is very helpful if you ever need to order parts.
Electrical System Add-On Electrical Equipment Notice: Don’t add anything electrical to your vehicle unless you check with your dealer first. Some electrical equipment can damage your vehicle and the damage wouldn’t be covered by your warranty. Some add-on electrical equipment can keep other components from working as they should. Your vehicle has an airbag system. Before attempting to add anything electrical to your vehicle, see Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on page 1-82.
Fuses and Circuit Breakers Floor Console Fuse Block The wiring circuits in your vehicle are protected from short circuits by a combination of fuses, circuit breakers, and fusible thermal links. Look at the silver-colored band inside the fuse. If the band is broken or melted, replace the fuse. Be sure you replace a bad fuse with a new one of the identical size and rating. If you ever have a problem on the road and do not have a spare fuse, you can borrow one that has the same amperage.
Fuse 11 12 13 14 15 Fuse 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 5-106 Usage Empty Steering Wheel Radio Controls Power Door Locks Empty Empty Empty Empty Empty Empty Turn Signal and Hazard Lamp Flashers 16 17 18 19 21 22 24 25 26 28 29 30 31 32 Usage Power Seats Electronic Level Control (ELC) Compressor Liftgate and Endgate Rear Auxiliary Power Outlet Electronic Level Control (ELC) Compressor Relay and Height Sensor Heated Mirrors Power Mirrors Ignition 1 Module Turn Signal Switch Rear Defogger Air Bag Module TCC Switch
Fuse 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 44 46 Relay 20 23 27 33 43 45 Usage Power Sunroof Power Windows Map Lamps, Courtesy Lamps and Instrument Panel Lights Radio UQ3 Radio Amplifier Head-Up Display Hazard Flashers Instrument Panel Cluster, Climate Control, Security LED and Remote Keyless Entry Mode PASS-Key® III Body Control Module (BCM) Advanced Occupant System Module Usage Rear Defogger Relay Ignition Relay Accessory Relay Retained Accessory Power Relay Accessory Diode Back-Up Lamps Underhood Fuse Block This
Fuse 9 3400 V6 Engine Fuse 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 5-108 Usage Fuel Pump Air Conditioning Compressor Clutch Horn Engine Controls-Emissions and Sensors Power Control Module (PCM)-Battery Power Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS) Control Module Transaxle Solenoids 10 11 13 14 15 17 18 19 20 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 Usage Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) Solenoid Valves Oxygen Sensors-Emissions Control Fuel Injectors Engine Controls Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) Passenger’s Low-Beam Headlamp Driver’s Low-Beam Headlamp Driver’s H
Fuse 33 34 35 38 39 40 41 44 46 47 70 § Usage Automatic Transaxle Shift Lock Control System Starter Solenoid Battery Fuse Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) Motor Engine Cooling Fan 2 Engine Cooling Fan 1 Main Battery Fuse for Retained Accessory Power Relay and Accessory Relay Main Battery Fuse for Heated Seats, Air Main Battery Fuse for Power Outlets, Level Control, Power Seats and Mirrors and Body Computer Main Battery Fuse for Climate Control Blower and Ignition 3 Relay Main Battery Fuse for Ignition Switch
3.
Fuse 35 38 39 40 41 44 46 47 § § 71 70 Usage Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) Motor Engine Cooling Fan 2 Engine Cooling Fan 1 Main Battery Fuse for Retained Accessory Power Relay and Accessory Relay Main Battery Fuse for Heated Seats, Air Conditioning, Defogger Main Battery Fuse for Power Outlets, Level Control, Power Seats, Mirrors, and Body Computer Main Battery Fuse for Climate Control Blower and Ignition 3 Relay Main Battery Fuse for Ignition Switch, Radio, Heads-Up Display (HUD), Remote Keyless Entry (R
Capacities and Specifications The following approximate capacities are given in English and metric conversions. See Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-12 for more information. Capacities Application Air Conditioning Refrigerant R134a English 1.7 lbs Metric 0.8 kg Automatic Transaxle – Front Wheel Drive Pan Removal and Replacement Complete Overhaul 7.4 quarts 10.0 quarts 7.0 L 9.5 L Automatic Transaxle – 3400 V6 AWD Pan Removal and Replacement Complete Overhaul 8.7 quarts 10.8 quarts 8.
Capacities Application Engine Oil with Filter 3400 V6 Engine 3.6L V6 Engine Fuel Capacity Rear Differential Fluid Capacity Transfer Case Fluid Capacity Wheel Nut Torque English Metric 4.0 quarts 5.5 quarts 18.0 gallons 2.1 quarts 0.6 pints 100 ft lb 3.8 L 5.2 L 68.1 L 1.9 L 290 ml 140 Y Engine Specifications Engine VIN Code Transaxle Spark Plug Gap 3400 V6 E Automatic 0.060 inches (1.52 mm) 3.6L V6 7 Automatic 0.044 inches (1.
✍ NOTES 5-114
Section 6 Maintenance Schedule Maintenance Schedule ......................................6-2 Introduction ...................................................6-2 Maintenance Requirements ..............................6-2 Your Vehicle and the Environment ....................6-2 Using Your Maintenance Schedule ....................6-2 Scheduled Maintenance ...................................6-4 Additional Required Services ............................6-6 Maintenance Footnotes ................................
Maintenance Schedule Introduction Important: Keep engine oil at the proper level and change as recommended. Your Vehicle and the Environment Proper vehicle maintenance not only helps to keep your vehicle in good working condition, but also helps the environment. All recommended maintenance is important. Improper vehicle maintenance can even affect the quality of the air we breathe. Improper fluid levels or the wrong tire inflation can increase the level of emissions from your vehicle.
This schedule is for vehicles that: • carry passengers and cargo within recommended limits. You will find these limits on the tire and loading information label. See Loading Your Vehicle on page 4-31. • are driven on reasonable road surfaces within legal driving limits. • use the recommended fuel. See Gasoline Octane on page 5-5. The services in Scheduled Maintenance on page 6-4 should be performed when indicated.
Scheduled Maintenance When the CHANGE ENGINE OIL message comes on, it means that service is required for your vehicle. Have your vehicle serviced as soon as possible within the next 600 miles (1 000 km). It is possible that, if you are driving under the best conditions, the engine oil life system may not indicate that vehicle service is necessary for over a year. However, your engine oil and filter must be changed at least once a year and at this time the system must be reset.
Scheduled Maintenance Service Maintenance I Maintenance II Change engine oil and filter. See Engine Oil on page 5-16. Reset oil life system. See Engine Oil Life System on page 5-19. 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 Air Cleaner/Filter on page 5-21. An Emission Control Service. See footnotes † and (l). • Rotate tires and check inflation pressures and wear.
Additional Required Services The 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 or damaged components.
Maintenance Footnotes † The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or the California Air Resources Board has determined that the failure to perform this maintenance item will not nullify the emission warranty or limit recall liability prior to the completion of the vehicle’s useful life. We, however, urge that all recommended maintenance services be performed at the indicated intervals and the maintenance be recorded.
(h) Change automatic transaxle fluid and filter if the vehicle is mainly driven under one or more of these conditions: − In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature regularly 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. (i) Drain, flush and refill cooling system. See Engine Coolant on page 5-25 for what to use. Inspect hoses. Clean radiator, condenser, pressure cap and filler neck.
Engine Coolant Level Check At Least Once a Year Check the engine coolant level and add DEX-COOL® coolant mixture if necessary. See Engine Coolant on page 5-25 for further details. Starter Switch Check Windshield Washer Fluid Level Check Check the windshield washer fluid level in the windshield washer tank and add the proper fluid if necessary. At Least Once a Month Tire Inflation Check Visually inspect your tires and make sure tires are inflated to the correct pressures.
Automatic Transaxle Shift Lock Control System Check {CAUTION: When you are doing this inspection, the vehicle could move suddenly. If the vehicle moves, you or others could be injured. 3. With the engine off, turn the ignition to ON, but do not start the engine. Without applying the regular brake, try to move the shift lever out of PARK (P) with normal effort. If the shift lever moves out of PARK (P), contact your GM Goodwrench dealer for service.
Parking Brake and Automatic Transaxle Park (P) Mechanism Check Park on a fairly steep hill, with the vehicle facing downhill. Keeping your foot on the regular brake, set the parking brake. • To check the parking brake’s holding ability: With {CAUTION: When you are doing this check, your vehicle could begin to move. You or others could be injured and property could be damaged. Make sure there is room in front of your vehicle in case it begins to roll.
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants Fluids and lubricants identified below by name, part number or specification may be obtained from your dealer. Usage Fluid/Lubricant Engine oil which meets GM Standard GM6094M and displays the American Petroleum Institute Certified for Gasoline Engines Engine Oil starburst symbol. GM Goodwrench oil meets all the requirements for your vehicle. To determine the proper viscosity for your vehicle’s engine, see Engine Oil on page 5-16.
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts Replacement parts identified below by name, part number, or specification can be obtained from your GM dealer. GM® Part Number ACDelco® Part Number 25099149 A1208C 25010792 89017342 PF47 PF61 52482929 — Spark Plugs 3400 V6 3.6L V6 12568387 12565996 41–101 41–988 Windshield Wiper Blades (Hook Type) Driver’s Side – 24.0 inches (60.0 cm) Passenger’s Side – 22.0 inches (55.0 cm) 10413111 10317151 — — Part Engine Air Cleaner/Filter Engine Oil Filter 3400 V6 3.
Maintenance Record After the scheduled services are performed, record the date, odometer reading, who performed the service and the type 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 record pages. Also, you should retain all maintenance receipts.
Maintenance Record (cont’d) Date Odometer Reading Serviced By Maintenance I or Maintenance II Services Performed 6-15
Maintenance Record (cont’d) Date 6-16 Odometer Reading Serviced By Maintenance I or Maintenance II Services Performed
Section 7 Customer Assistance and Information Customer Assistance and Information ...............7-2 Customer Satisfaction Procedure ......................7-2 Online Owner Center ......................................7-3 Customer Assistance for Text Telephone (TTY) Users ........................................................7-4 Customer Assistance Offices ............................7-4 GM Mobility Reimbursement Program ................7-5 Roadside Assistance Program ..........................
Customer Assistance and Information Customer Satisfaction Procedure Your satisfaction and goodwill are important to your dealer and to Buick. Normally, any concerns with the sales transaction or the operation of your vehicle will be resolved by your GM dealer’s sales or service departments. Sometimes, however, despite the best intentions of all concerned, misunderstandings can occur.
The BBB Auto Line Program is an out of court program administered by the Council of Better Business Bureaus to settle automotive disputes regarding vehicle repairs or the interpretation of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty. Although you may be required to resort to this informal dispute resolution program prior to filing a court action, use of the program is free of charge and your case will generally be heard within 40 days.
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone (TTY) Users To assist customers who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech-impaired and who use Text Telephones (TTYs), Buick has TTY equipment available at its Customer Assistance Center. Any TTY user can communicate with Buick by dialing: 1-800-83-BUICK. TTY users in Canada can dial 1-800-263-3830. Customer Assistance Offices Buick encourages customers to call the toll-free number for assistance. If a U.S.
Overseas – Customer Assistance Please contact the local General Motors Business Unit. GM Mobility Reimbursement Program Mexico, Central America and Caribbean Islands/Countries (Except Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands) – Customer Assistance This program, available to qualified applicants, can reimburse you up to $1,000 toward eligible aftermarket driver’s or passenger’s adaptive equipment you may require for your vehicle, such as hand controls and wheelchair/scooter lifts. General Motors de Mexico, S.
Roadside Assistance Program Call 1-800-252-1112 for Buick Roadside Assistance. As the proud owner of a new Buick vehicle, you are automatically enrolled in the Buick Roadside Assistance program. This value-added service is intended to provide you with peace of mind as you drive in the city or travel the open road. Call Buick’s Roadside Assistance toll-free number at 1-800-252-1112 to speak with a Buick Roadside Assistance representative 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
For prompt and efficient assistance when calling, please provide the following to the Roadside Assistance Representative: • Your name, home address, and home telephone number. • • • • Canadian Roadside Assistance Vehicles purchased in Canada have an extensive roadside assistance program accessible from anywhere in Canada or the United States. Please refer to the Warranty and Owner Assistance Information book. Telephone number of your location. Location of the vehicle.
Scheduling Service Appointments Transportation Options When your vehicle requires warranty service, you should contact your dealer and request an appointment. By scheduling a service appointment and advising your service consultant of your transportation needs, your dealer can help minimize your inconvenience. Warranty service can generally be completed while you wait. However, if you are unable to wait Buick helps minimize your inconvenience by providing several transportation options.
Courtesy Rental Vehicle Additional Program Information Your dealer may arrange to provide you with a courtesy rental vehicle or reimburse you for a rental vehicle that you obtain if your vehicle is kept for a warranty repair. Reimbursement will be limited to a maximum of $30 a day and must be supported by receipts. This requires that you sign and complete a rental agreement and meet state, local and rental vehicle provider requirements.
Vehicle Data Collection and Event Data Recorders Your vehicle, like other modern motor vehicles, has a number of sophisticated computer systems that monitor and control several aspects of the vehicle’s performance. Your vehicle uses on-board vehicle computers to monitor emission control components to optimize fuel economy, to monitor conditions for airbag deployment and, if so equipped, to provide anti-lock braking and to help the driver control the vehicle in difficult driving situations.
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 is shown, or • share summary data which is not tied to a specific vehicle with non-GM organizations for research purposes. Others, such as law enforcement, may have access to the special equipment that can read the information if they have access to the vehicle or the device that stores the data.
Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian Government Service Publications Ordering Information If you live in Canada, and you believe that your vehicle has a safety defect, you should immediately notify Transport Canada, in addition to notifying General Motors of Canada Limited.
Owner’s Information Owner publications are written specifically for owners and intended to provide basic operational information about the vehicle. The owner’s manual will include the Maintenance Schedule for all models. In-Portfolio: Includes a Portfolio, Owner’s Manual, and Warranty Booklet. RETAIL SELL PRICE: $35.00 Without Portfolio: Owner’s Manual only. RETAIL SELL PRICE: $25.
✍ NOTES 7-14
A About Driving Your Vehicle .....................................ii Accessory Inflator ........................................... 5-70 Accessory Power Outlets ................................. 3-26 Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle ....................................................... 1-82 Additives, Fuel ................................................. 5-6 Add-On Electrical Equipment ........................... 5-104 Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine .................................
Appearance Care (cont.) Weatherstrips .............................................. 5-98 Windshield, Backglass, and Wiper Blades ....... 5-99 Ashtrays ........................................................ 3-27 Audio System(s) ............................................. 3-75 Audio Steering Wheel Controls .................... 3-133 Care of Your Cassette Tape Player ............... 3-134 Care of Your CD and DVD Player ................ 3-135 Care of Your CDs and DVDs .......................
C California Fuel .................................................. 5-6 Canadian Owners ................................................ ii Capacities and Specifications .......................... 5-112 Captain Chairs, Rear ....................................... 1-13 Carbon Monoxide ................... 2-11, 2-29, 4-26, 4-38 Care of Safety Belts ................................................ 5-98 Your Cassette Tape Player .......................... 3-134 Your CD and DVD Player ..........................
Cleaning (cont.) Tires ........................................................ 5-100 Underbody Maintenance ............................. 5-101 Vinyl .......................................................... 5-97 Washing Your Vehicle ................................... 5-98 Weatherstrips .............................................. 5-98 Windshield, Backglass, and Wiper Blades ....... 5-99 Climate Control System ................................... 3-28 Dual ................................................
Door (cont.) Programmable Automatic Door Locks ............. 2-10 Rear Door Security Locks ............................. 2-10 Driver Four-Way Manual Seat .................................. 1-3 Position, Safety Belt ..................................... 1-25 Driver Behavior ................................................ 4-2 Driver Information Center (DIC) ......................... 3-62 DIC Controls and Displays ............................ 3-64 DIC Vehicle Personalization ..........................
Engine (cont.) Overheating ................................................ Reduced Power Message ............................. Starting ...................................................... Entry Lighting ................................................. Event Data Recorders (EDR) ............................ Exit Delay, Headlamp ...................................... Exit Lighting ................................................... Extender, Safety Belt .......................................
Garage Door Opener ....................................... 2-34 Gasoline Octane ........................................................ 5-5 Specifications ............................................... 5-5 Glove Box ..................................................... 2-38 GM Mobility Reimbursement Program .................. 7-5 H Hatch Ajar Warning Message ............................ 3-56 Hazard Warning Flashers ................................... 3-6 Head Restraints ..................................
Instrument Panel (cont.) Overview ..................................................... 3-4 Switchbank ................................................. 3-20 Integrated Windshield Antenna ........................ 3-135 Interior Lamps ................................................ 3-16 Interior Lamps Control ..................................... 3-16 J Jump Starting ................................................. 5-42 K Keyless Entry System ....................................... 2-5 Keys .............
Lockout Protection .......................................... 2-11 Locks Delayed Locking ........................................... 2-9 Door ........................................................... 2-8 Lockout Protection ....................................... 2-11 Power Door .................................................. 2-9 Programmable Automatic Door Locks ............. 2-10 Rear Door Security Locks ............................. 2-10 Loss of Control ...............................................
Message (cont.) Low Oil Pressure ......................................... 3-54 Low Tire ..................................................... 3-56 Low Washer Fluid Warning ........................... 3-58 Park Lamp Warning ..................................... 3-61 PASS-Key® III Security ................................. 3-57 Program Mode ............................................ 3-60 Rear Hatch Ajar Warning .............................. 3-56 Reduced Engine Power ................................
P Park Aid ........................................................ 3-24 Park Lamp Warning Message ........................... 3-61 Park (P) Shifting Into ................................................ 2-27 Shifting Out of ............................................ 2-28 Parking Assist ........................................................ 3-24 Brake ........................................................ 2-26 Over Things That Burn .................................
Rear Reading Lamps ...................................... 3-19 Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides ...................... 1-40 Rear Seat Audio (RSA) .................................. 3-130 Rear Seat Entertainment System ..................... 3-115 Rear Seat Operation ......................................... 1-8 Rear Seat Passengers, Safety Belts .................. 1-34 Rear Storage Area .......................................... 2-40 Rearview Mirrors .............................................
Safety Belts (cont.) Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children and Small Adults ...................................... 1-40 Rear Seat Passengers ................................. 1-34 Right Front Passenger Position ...................... 1-34 Safety Belt Extender .................................... 1-42 Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy ................. 1-34 Safety Belts Are for Everyone ....................... 1-20 Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster ........................
Specifications, Capacities ............................... 5-112 Speedometer .................................................. 3-39 Split Bench Seats ............................................. 1-8 Starting Your Engine ....................................... 2-21 Steering ........................................................ 4-12 Steering Wheel Controls, Audio ....................... 3-133 Steering Wheel, Tilt Wheel ................................. 3-6 Storage Areas Cell Phone Storage Area ..........
Tires (cont.) Inspection and Rotation ................................ Installing the Spare Tire ................................ Removing the Flat Tire ................................. Removing the Spare Tire and Tools ............... Secondary Latch System .............................. Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools ............ Tire Sidewall Labelling .................................. Tire Terminology and Definitions .................... Uniform Tire Quality Grading .........................
Vehicle Personalization DIC ........................................................... Memory Seat .............................................. Ventilation Adjustment ...................................... Visors ........................................................... 3-66 2-47 3-36 2-15 W Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators ................ 3-37 Warnings Hazard Warning Flashers ............................... 3-6 Other Warning Devices .................................. 3-6 Safety and Symbols ....
