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not clear within a short period of time, the receiver could have a fault. Consult with your dealer.
If this message does
If this message is
Radio Reception Frequency interference and static can occur during normal radio reception if items such as cell phone chargers, vehicle convenience accessories, and external electronic devices are plugged into the accessory power outlet. If there is interference or static, unplug the item from the accessory power outlet.
AM The range for most AM stations is greater than for FM, especially at night. The longer range can cause station frequencies to interfere with each other. For better radio reception, most AM radio stations boost the power levels during the day, and then reduce these levels during the night. Static can also occur when things like storms and power lines interfere with radio reception. When this happens, try reducing the treble on the radio. FM Stereo FM signals only reach about 16 to 65 km (10 to 40 miles). Although the radio has a built-in electronic circuit that automatically works to reduce interference, some static can occur, especially around tall buildings or hills, causing the sound to fade in and out.
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XM™ Satellite Radio Service XM Satellite Radio Service gives digital radio reception from coast-to-coast in the 48 contiguous United States, and in Canada. Just as with FM, tall buildings or hills can interfere with satellite radio signals, causing the sound to fade in and out. In addition, traveling or standing under heavy foliage, bridges, garages, or tunnels may cause loss of the XM signal for a period of time. Cellular Phone Usage Cellular phone usage may cause interference with the vehicle's radio. This interference may occur when making or receiving phone calls, charging the phone's battery, or simply having the phone on. This interference causes an increased level of static while listening to the radio. If static is received while listening to the radio, unplug the cellular phone and turn it off.
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Infotainment System
Fixed Mast Antenna The fixed mast antenna can withstand most car washes without being damaged as long as it is securely attached to the base. If the mast becomes slightly bent, straighten it out by hand. If the mast is badly bent, replace it. Occasionally check to make sure the antenna is tightened to its base. If tightening is required, tighten by hand until fully seated plus one quarter turn.
Satellite Radio Antenna The XM Satellite Radio antenna is located on the roof of the vehicle. Keep the antenna clear of obstructions for clear radio reception.
Audio Players
CD Player
Care of The CD Player Do not add any label to a CD, it could get caught in the CD player. If a CD is recorded on a personal computer and a description label is needed, try labeling the top of the recorded CD with a marking pen. The use of CD lens cleaners for CDs is not advised, due to the risk of contaminating the lens of the CD optics with lubricants internal to the CD player mechanism. Notice: If a label is added to a CD, more than one CD is inserted into the slot at a time, or an attempt is made to play scratched or damaged CDs, the CD player could be damaged. While using the CD player, use only CDs in good condition without any label, load one CD at a time, and keep the CD player
and the loading slot free of foreign materials, liquids, and debris. If an error displays, see “CD Messages” later in this section. Care of CDs If playing a CD-R, the sound quality can be reduced due to CD-R quality, the method of recording, the quality of the music that has been recorded, and the way the CD-R has been handled. Handle them carefully. Store CD-R(s) in their original cases or other protective cases and away from direct sunlight and dust. The CD player scans the bottom surface of the disc. If the surface of a CD is damaged, such as cracked, broken, or scratched, the CD does not play properly or not at all. Do not touch the bottom side of a CD while handling it; this could damage the surface. Pick up CDs by grasping the outer edges or the edge of the hole and the outer edge.
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If the surface of a CD is soiled, take a soft, lint free cloth or dampen a clean, soft cloth in a mild, neutral detergent solution mixed with water, and clean it. Make sure the wiping process starts from the center to the edge. Playing a CD Insert a CD partway into the slot, label side up. The player pulls it in, and READING displays. The CD should begin playing. To insert a CD with the ignition off, first press the Z (eject) button or the DISPL knob. If the ignition or radio is turned off with a CD in the player it stays in the player. When the ignition or radio is turned on, the CD starts to play where it stopped, if it was the last selected audio source. When the CD is inserted, the CD symbol displays. As each new track starts to play, the track number displays.
The CD player can play the smaller 8 cm (3 in) single CDs with an adapter ring. Full-size CDs and the smaller CDs are loaded in the same manner. 3 REV (Fast Reverse): Press and hold to reverse quickly within a track. Press and hold for less than two seconds to reverse at 10 times the normal playing speed. Press and hold for more than two seconds to reverse at 20 times the normal playing speed. Release to play the track. 4 FWD (Fast Forward): Press and hold to advance quickly within a track. Press and hold for less than two seconds to advance at six times the normal playing speed. Press and hold for more than two seconds to advance at 17 times the normal playing speed. Release to play the track. 6 RDM (Random): Press to hear the tracks in random, rather than sequential, order. RDM ON displays.
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RDM and the track number displays when each track starts to play. Press again to turn off random play. RDM OFF displays. q SEEK r : Press the left arrow to go to the start of the current or the previous track. Press the right arrow to go to the start of the next track. Pressing either arrow for more than two seconds scans the next tracks, playing the first eight seconds of each track until all of the tracks have been previewed. Press either arrow again to stop scanning and to play the track. q TUNE r : Turn to go to the previous or next track. DISPL (Display): Press to see how long the current track has been playing. ET and the elapsed time of the track displays. To change the default on the display (track or elapsed time), press until you see the desired display, then press and hold for two seconds. The radio beeps once. The selected display is now the default.
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Infotainment System
BAND: Press to listen to the radio when a CD is playing. The inactive CD remains inside the radio for future listening. CD AUX (Auxiliary): Press to play a CD when listening to the radio. The CD symbol displays when a CD is loaded. Z (Eject): Press to eject a CD. Eject can be activated with either the ignition or radio off. CDs can be loaded with the ignition and radio off if this button is pressed first. Playing an MP3/WMA Disc
MP3/WMA CD-R Disc Format If you burn your own MP3/WMA disc on a personal computer: . Make sure the MP3/WMA files are recorded on a CD-R disc.
. Make sure playlists have a .m3u
or .wpl extension, other file extensions might not work. Files can be recorded with a variety of fixed or variable bit rates. Song title, artist name,
and album are displayed by the radio when recorded using ID3
tags version 1 and 2.. Create a folder structure that
makes it easy to find songs while driving. Organize songs by albums using one folder for each album. Each folder or album should contain 18 songs or less.
. Make sure to finalize the disc when burning an MP3/WMA disc, using multiple sessions. It is usually better to burn the disc all at once.
The player is able to read and play a maximum of 253 folders, 50 playlists, 20 sessions, and 949 files. Long file names, folder names, or playlist names may use more disc memory space than necessary. To conserve space on the disc, minimize the length of the file, folder, or playlist names. An MP3/WMA CD-R that was recorded using no file folders can also be used. The system can support up to 11 folders in depth, though, keep the
depth of the folders to a minimum in order to keep down the complexity and confusion in trying to locate a particular folder during playback. If a CD contains more than the maximum of 253 folders, 50 playlists, 20 sessions, and 949 files, the player lets you access and navigate up to the maximum, but all items over the maximum are played.
Root Directory The root directory is treated as a folder. If the root directory has compressed audio files, the directory displays as F1 ROOT. All files contained directly under the root directory are accessed prior to any root directory folders. However, playlists (Px) are always accessed before root folders or files.
Empty Directory or Folder If a root directory or a folder exists somewhere in the file structure that contains only folders/subfolders and no compressed files directly
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beneath them, the player advances to the next folder in the file structure that contains compressed audio files. The empty folder does not display.
No Folder When the CD contains only compressed files, the files are located under the root folder. The next and previous folder functions have no function on a CD that was recorded without folders or playlists. When displaying the name of the folder the radio displays ROOT. When the CD contains only playlists and compressed audio files, but no folders, all files are located under the root folder. The folder down and the folder up buttons search playlists (Px) first and then go to the root folder. When the radio displays the name of the folder, the radio displays ROOT.
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Order of Play Tracks are played in the following order: . Play begins from the first track in
the first playlist and continues sequentially through all tracks in each playlist. When the last track of the last playlist has played, play continues from the first track of the first playlist. If the CD does not contain any playlists, then play begins from the first track under the root directory. When all tracks from the root directory have played, play continues from files according to their numerical listing. After playing the last track from the last folder, play begins again at the first track of the first folder or root directory. When play enters a new folder, the display does not automatically show the new folder name unless you have chosen the folder mode as the default display. See DISPL (display)
later in this section for more information. The new track name displays.
File System and Naming The song name that displays is the song name that is contained in the ID3 tag. If the song name is not present in the ID3 tag, then the radio displays the file name without the extension (such as .mp3) as the track name. Track names longer than 32 characters or four pages are shortened. Parts of words on the last page of text and the extension of the filename does not display.
Preprogrammed Playlists Preprogrammed playlists which were created by WinAmp™, MusicMatch™, or Real Jukebox™ software can be accessed, however, they cannot be edited. These playlists are treated as special folders containing compressed audio song files.
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Infotainment System
Playing an MP3/WMA Insert a CD partway into the slot, label side up. The player pulls it in, and READING displays. The CD should begin playing and the CD symbol displays. If you want to insert a CD with the ignition off, first press the Z button or the DISPL knob. If the ignition or radio is turned off with a CD in the player it stays in the player. When the ignition or radio is turned on, the CD starts to play where it stopped, if it was the last selected audio source. As each new track starts to play, the track number displays. 1 FLD x (Previous Folder): Press this button to go to the first track in the previous folder. Pressing this button while in folder random mode takes you to the previous folder and plays the tracks in random order in that folder.
2 FLD w (Next Folder): Press this button to go to the first track in the next folder. Pressing this button while in folder random mode takes the CD to the next folder and plays the tracks in random order in that folder. 3 REV (Reverse): Press and hold this button to reverse quickly within a track. Press and hold this button for less than two seconds to reverse at 10 times the normal playing speed. Press and hold it for more than two seconds to reverse at 20 times the normal playing speed. Release this button to play the track. 4 FWD (Forward): Press and hold this button to advance quickly within a track. Press and hold this button for less than two seconds to advance at 10 times the normal playing speed. Press and hold it for more than two seconds to advance at 20 times the normal playing speed. Release this button to play the track.
6 RDM (Random): To play the tracks in random order in the current folder or playlist, press and release this button. FLDR RDM (folder random) displays. Once all of the tracks in the current folder or playlist have played, the system moves to the next folder or playlist and plays all of the tracks in random order. To play all the tracks in random order on the CD, press and hold this button for two seconds. A beep sounds and DISC RDM (disc random) displays. This feature does not work with playlists. When in random, pressing and releasing either SEEK arrow takes the CD to the previous or to the next random track. Press and release this button again to turn off random play. NO RDM (no random) displays. q SEEK r : Press the left SEEK arrow to go to the start of the previous track. Press the right SEEK arrow to go to the start of the next track. Pressing either
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SEEK arrow for more than two seconds searches the previous or next tracks at two tracks per second. Release the button to stop searching and to play the track. q TUNE r : Turn to reverse or advance through the tracks in all folders or playlists. The track number and file name displays for each track. Turning this knob while in random reverses or advances the tracks in sequential order. DISPL (Display): Press this knob to switch between track mode, folder/playlist mode, and time of day mode. The display shows only eight characters, but there can be up to four pages of text. If there are more than eight characters in the song, folder, or playlist name, pressing this knob within two seconds takes you to the next
page of text. If there are no other pages to be shown, pressing this knob within two seconds takes you to the next display mode.
Track mode displays the current track number and the ID3 tag song name. Folder/playlist mode displays the current folder or playlist number and the folder/playlist name. Time of day mode displays the time of day and the ID3 tag song name.
To change the default on the display, press the DISPL knob until you see the desired display, then press and hold this knob for two two seconds. The radio produces one beep and the selected display is now the default.
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INFO displays
INFO (Information): when a current track has ID3 tag information. Press this button to display the artist name and album contained in the tag. INFO disappears from the display when the information in the ID3 tag has finished being read. BAND: Press this button to listen to the radio when a CD is playing. The inactive CD remains inside the radio for future listening. CD AUX (Auxiliary): Press this button to play a CD when listening to the radio. The CD symbol illuminates on the display when a CD is loaded. Z (Eject): Press this button to eject a CD. Eject can activate while either the ignition or radio is off. CDs can be loaded with the ignition and radio off if this button is pressed first.
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Infotainment System
CD Messages CHECK CD: displays and/or the CD comes out, it could be for one of the following reasons:
If this message
It is very hot. When the temperature returns to normal, the CD should play.
. You are driving on a very rough road. When the road becomes smoother, the CD should play. The CD is dirty, scratched, wet, or upside down. The air is very humid. If so, wait about an hour and try again.
The format of the CD might not be compatible. See “Using an MP3” later in this section. There could have been a problem while burning the CD. The label could be caught in the CD player.
If the CD is not playing correctly, for any other reason, try a known good CD. If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error cannot 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.
Phone
Bluetooth For vehicles equipped with Bluetooth capability, the system can interact with many cell phones, allowing: . Placement and receipt of calls in
a hands-free mode.
. Sharing of the cell phone’s
address book or contact list with the vehicle.
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To minimize driver distraction, before driving, and with the vehicle parked: . Become familiar with the
features of the cell phone. Organize the phone book and contact lists clearly and delete duplicate or rarely used entries. If possible, program speed dial or other shortcuts.
. Review the controls and
operation of the infotainment system.
. Pair cell phone(s) to the vehicle.
The system may not work with all cell phones. See “Pairing a Phone” in this section for more information. If the cell phone has voice dialing capability, learn to use that feature to access the address book or contact list. See “Voice Pass-Thru” in this section for more information.
. See “Storing and Deleting Phone
Numbers” in this section for more information.
{ WARNING
When using a cell phone, it can be distracting to look too long or too often at the screen of the phone or the infotainment (navigation) system. Taking your eyes off the road too long or too often could cause a crash resulting in injury or death. Focus your attention on driving.
Vehicles with a Bluetooth system can use a Bluetooth capable cell phone with a Hands‐Free Profile to make and receive phone calls. The system can be used while the key is in ON/RUN or ACC/ACCESSORY position. The range of the Bluetooth system can be up to 9.1 m (30 ft). Not all phones support all functions, and not all phones are guaranteed to work with the Bluetooth system.
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See www.gm.com/bluetooth for more information on compatible phones. Voice Recognition The Bluetooth system uses voice recognition to interpret voice commands to dial phone numbers and name tags. For additional information say “Help” while you are in a voice recognition menu. Noise: Keep interior noise levels to a minimum. The system may not recognize voice commands if there is too much background noise. When to Speak: A short tone sounds after the system responds indicating when it is waiting for a voice command. Wait until the tone and then speak. How to Speak: Speak clearly in a calm and natural voice.
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Infotainment System
Audio System When using the in‐vehicle Bluetooth system, sound comes through the vehicle's front audio system speakers and overrides the audio system. Use the audio system volume knob, during a call, to change the volume level. The adjusted volume level remains in memory for later calls. To prevent missed calls, a minimum volume level is used if the volume is turned down too low. Bluetooth Controls Use the g button, located on the driver side of the instrument panel near the headlamp controls, to operate the Bluetooth system. g (Push To Talk) : Press to answer incoming calls, to confirm system information, and to start speech recognition.
Pairing A Bluetooth cell phone must be paired to the Bluetooth system and then connected to the vehicle before it can be used. See your cell phone manufacturer's user guide for Bluetooth functions before pairing the cell phone. If a Bluetooth phone is not connected, calls will be made using OnStar® Hands‐Free Calling, if available. Refer to the OnStar owner's guide for more information.
Pairing Information . Up to five cell phones can be
paired to the Bluetooth system. The pairing process is disabled when the vehicle is moving.
. Pairing only needs to be
completed once, unless the pairing information on the cell phone changes or the cell phone is deleted from the system.
. Only one paired cell phone can be connected to the Bluetooth system at a time. If multiple paired cell phones are within range of the system, the system connects to the first available paired cell phone in the order that they were first paired to the system. To link to a different paired phone, see “Linking to a Different Phone” later in this section.
Pairing a Phone 1. Press and release g. 2. Say “Bluetooth.” 3. Say “Pair.” The system responds with instructions and a four‐digit Personal Identification Number (PIN).
4. Start the pairing process on the cell phone that you want to pair. For help with this process, see your cell phone manufacturer's user guide.
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5. Locate the device named “Your
Vehicle” in the list on the cell phone. Follow the instructions on the cell phone to enter the PIN that was provided in Step 3. After the PIN is successfully entered, the system prompts you to provide a name for the paired cell phone. This name will be used to indicate which phones are paired and connected to the vehicle, see “Listing All Paired and Connected Phones” later in this section for more information. 6. Repeat Steps 1 through 5 to pair
additional phones.
Listing All Paired and Connected Phones The system can list all cell phones paired to it. If a paired cell phone is also connected to the vehicle, the system responds with “is connected” after that phone name. 1. Press and release g. 2. Say “Bluetooth.” 3. Say “List.”
Deleting a Paired Phone If the phone name you want to delete is unknown, see “Listing All Paired and Connected Phones.” 1. Press and release g. 2. Say “Bluetooth.” 3. Say “Delete.” The system asks
for which phone to delete.
4. Say the name of the phone you
want to delete.
Connecting to a Different Phone To connect to a different cell phone, the Bluetooth system looks for the next available cell phone in the order in which all the available cell phones were paired. Depending on which cell phone you want to connect to, you may have to use this command several times. 1. Press and release g. 2. Say “Bluetooth.”
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3. Say “Change phone.”
If another cell phone is found, the response will be “
is now connected.” If another cell phone is not found, the original phone remains connected. Storing and Deleting Phone Numbers The system can store up to 30 phone numbers as name tags in the Hands Free Directory that is shared between the Bluetooth and OnStar systems. The following commands are used delete and store phone numbers. Store: This command will store a phone number, or a group of numbers as a name tag.
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Infotainment System
Digit Store: This command allows a phone number to be stored as a name tag by entering the digits one at a time. Delete: This command is used to delete individual name tags. Delete All Name Tags: This command deletes all stored name tags in the Hands Free Calling Directory and the OnStar Turn by Turn Destinations Directory.
Using the “Store” Command 1. Press and release g. 2. Say “Store.” 3. Say the phone number or group of numbers you want to store all at once with no pauses, then follow the directions given by the system to save a name tag for this number.
Using the “Digit Store” Command If an unwanted number is recognized by the system, say “Clear” at any time to clear the last number. To hear all of the numbers recognized by the system, say “Verify” at any time. 1. Press and release g. 2. Say “Digit Store.” 3. Say each digit, one at a time,
that you want to store. After each digit is entered, the system repeats back the digit it heard followed by a tone. After the last digit has been entered, say “Store,” and then follow the directions given by the system to save a name tag for this number.
Using the “Delete” Command 1. Press and release g. 2. Say “Delete.” 3. Say the name tag you want to
delete.
Using the “Delete All Name Tags” Command This command deletes all stored name tags in the Hands Free Calling Directory and the OnStarTurn by Turn Destinations Directory. To delete all name tags: 1. Press and release g. 2. Say “Delete all name tags.” Listing Stored Numbers The list command will list all the stored numbers and name tags.
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3. Say the entire number without pausing or say the name tag.
Once connected, the person called will be heard through the audio speakers.
Using the “Digit Dial” Command The digit dial command allows a phone number to be dialed by entering the digits one at a time. After each digit is entered, the system repeats back the digit it heard followed by a tone. If an unwanted number is recognized by the system, say “Clear” at any time to clear the last number. To hear all of the numbers recognized by the system, say “Verify” at any time. 1. Press and release g. 2. Say “Digit Dial.”
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3. Say each digit, one at a time,
that you want to dial. After each digit is entered, the system repeats back the digit it heard followed by a tone. After the last digit has been entered, say “Dial.”
Once connected, the person called will be heard through the audio speakers.
Using the “Re‐dial” Command 1. Press and release g. 2. After the tone, say “Re‐dial.” Once connected, the person called will be heard through the audio speakers. Receiving a Call When an incoming call is received, the audio system mutes and a ring tone is heard in the vehicle. Press and release g to answer the call.
Using the “List” Command 1. Press and release g. 2. Say “Directory.” 3. Say “Hands Free Calling.” 4. Say “List.” Making a Call Calls can be made using the following commands. Dial or Call: The dial or call command can be used interchangeably to dial a phone number or a stored name tag. Digit Dial: This command allows a phone number to be dialed by entering the digits one at a time. Re‐dial: This command is used to dial the last number used on the cell phone.
Using the “Dial” or “Call” Command 1. Press and release g. 2. Say “Dial” or “Call.”
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Infotainment System
Call Waiting Call waiting must be supported on the Bluetooth phone and enabled by the wireless service carrier to work. . Press and release g to answer an incoming call when another call is active. The original call is placed on hold.
. Press and release g again to
return to the original call. To ignore the incoming call, continue with the original call with no action.
Three‐Way Calling Three‐Way Calling must be supported on the Bluetooth phone and enabled by the wireless service carrier to work. 1. While on a call press and
release g.
2. Say “Three‐way call.”
3. Use the dial or call command to dial the number of the third party to be called.
4. Once the call is connected, press g to link all the callers together.
Ending a Call To end a call: 1. Press and release g. 2. Say “End Call.” Muting a Call During a call, all sounds from inside the vehicle can be muted so that the person on the other end of the call cannot hear them. To mute a call, press g, and then say “Mute Call.” To cancel mute, press g, and then say “Un‐mute Call.”
Transferring a Call Audio can be transferred between the Bluetooth system and the cell phone. The cell phone must be paired and connected with the Bluetooth system before a call can be transferred. The connection process can take up to two minutes after the ignition is turned to ON/RUN.
To Transfer Audio From the Bluetooth System to a Cell Phone During a call with the audio in the vehicle: 1. Press and release g. 2. Say “Transfer Call.”
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To Transfer Audio to the Bluetooth System From a Cell Phone During a call with the audio on the cell phone, press g for more than two seconds. The audio transfers to the vehicle. If the audio does not transfer to the vehicle, use the audio transfer feature on the cell phone. See your cell phone manufacturer's user guide for more information. Voice Pass-Thru Voice Pass‐Thru allows access to the voice recognition commands on the cell phone. See the cell phone manufacturer's user guide to see if the cell phone supports this feature. This feature can be used to verbally access contacts stored in the cell phone. 1. Press and release g. 2. Say “Bluetooth.”
3. Say “Voice.”
The cell phone's normal prompt messages will go through its cycle according to the phone's operating instructions.
Dual Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) Tones The Bluetooth system can send numbers and the numbers stored as name tags during a call. You can use this feature when calling a menu driven phone system. Account numbers can also be stored for use.
Sending a Number or Name Tag During a Call 1. Press g. The system responds
“Ready,” followed by a tone.
2. Say “Dial.” 3. Say the number or name tag
to send.
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Clearing the System Unless information is deleted out of the in‐vehicle Bluetooth system, it will be retained indefinitely. This includes all saved name tags in the phonebook and phone pairing information. For information on how to delete this information, see the above sections on Deleting a Paired Phone and Deleting Name Tags. Other Information The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are owned by the Bluetooth® SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by General Motors is under license. Other trademarks and trade names are those of their respective owners. See Radio Frequency Statement on page 13‑17 for Federal Communications Commission and Industry Canada information.
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2 NOTES
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Climate Controls
Climate Control Systems
Climate Controls
8-1
Climate Control Systems
Climate Control Systems . . . . . . 8-1
Air Vents
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-3
The heating, cooling, and ventilation for the vehicle can be controlled with this system.
A. Temperature Control B. Fan Control C. Air Delivery Mode Control
D. Air Conditioning E. Recirculation
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8-2
Climate Controls
Temperature Control: Turn the knob clockwise or counterclockwise to increase or decrease the temperature of the air inside the vehicle. 9 (Fan Control): Turn the knob clockwise or counterclockwise to increase or decrease the fan speed. If the knob is set on “0” (zero), some outside air will still enter the vehicle and will be directed according to the position of the mode knob. Air Delivery Mode Control: Turn the knob clockwise or counterclockwise to change the current airflow mode. Select from the following modes: H (Vent): Air is directed to the instrument panel outlets. \ (Bi-Level): Air is divided between the instrument panel outlets and floor and side window outlets. Cooler air is directed to the upper outlets and warmer air to the floor outlets.
[ (Floor): Air is directed to the floor outlets. Recirculation cannot be selected while in floor mode because this could cause the interior window to fog. / (Floor/Defog): This mode clears the windows of fog or moisture. Air is directed to the floor, windshield, and side window outlets. When this mode is selected, the system runs the air conditioning compressor unless the outside temperature is near freezing or below. Recirculation is not available in this mode. 0 (Defrost): This mode clears the windshield of fog or frost more quickly. Air is directed to the windshield and side window outlets. When this mode is selected, the system runs the air conditioning compressor unless the outside temperature is near, or below freezing. Recirculation is not available in this mode. Do not drive the vehicle until all the windows are clear.
# (Air Conditioning): Press to turn the air conditioning system on or off. An indicator light on the button comes on to show that the air conditioning is on. The fan control must be on to use the air conditioning. There might be 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. The air conditioning system removes moisture from the air, so a small amount of water might drip under the vehicle while idling or after turning off the engine. This is normal.
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@ (Recirculation): Press to turn the recirculation mode on or off. An indicator light on the button comes on to show that the recirculation mode is on. This mode recirculates and helps to quickly cool the air inside the vehicle. It can be used to prevent outside air and odors from entering the vehicle. The recirculation mode cannot be used with floor/defog, defrost, or defogging modes. If recirculation is selected in these modes, the indicator will flash or not come on.
Air Vents Use the thumbwheel on the outlets to change the direction of the air flow. Lift up or push down on the thumbwheel located in the center of the outlet to direct the air up or down, or slide the thumbwheel to the left or right to direct the airflow from side‐to‐side.
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8-3
Operation Tips . Clear away any ice, snow or
leaves from the air inlets at the base of the windshield that may block the flow of air into the vehicle.
. Use of non-GM approved hood deflectors may adversely affect the performance of the system.
. Keep the path under the front seats clear of objects to help circulate the air inside of the vehicle more effectively.
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8-4
Climate Controls
2 NOTES
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Driving and Operating
Driving Information
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . 9-16
Highway Hypnosis . . . . . . . . . . . 9-16
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 9-17
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-17
If the Vehicle is Stuck . . . . . . . . 9-19
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . 9-20
Truck-Camper LoadingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-26
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . 9-26
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-27
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . 9-28
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-29Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-30
Shifting Into Park (Automatic
Transmission) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-30
Shifting Out of Park
(Automatic Transmission) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-32
Parking (Manual
Transmission) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-32
Parking Over Things
That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-33
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-33
Running the Vehicle WhileParked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-34
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . 9-35
Manual Transmission
Manual Transmission . . . . . . . . 9-37
Drive Systems
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-39
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Brakes
Antilock Brake
System (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-43
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-44
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-45Ride Control Systems
Traction Control
System (TCS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-46
StabiliTrak® System . . . . . . . . . 9-47
Limited-Slip Rear Axle . . . . . . . 9-48Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-49
Fuel
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-51
Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . 9-51
Gasoline Specifications (U.S.and Canada Only) . . . . . . . . . . 9-52
California Fuel
Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-52
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 9-52
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-53
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-54
Filling a Portable FuelContainer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-55
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9-2
Driving and Operating
Towing
General Towing
Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-56
Driving Characteristics and
Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-56
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-60
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . 9-66Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical
Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-67
Pickup Conversion to
Chassis Cab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-67
Driving Information
Defensive Driving Defensive driving means “always expect the unexpected.” The first step in driving defensively is to wear the safety belt. See Safety Belts on page 3‑12.
{ WARNING
Assume that other road users (pedestrians, bicyclists, and other drivers) are going to be careless and make mistakes. Anticipate what they might do and be ready. In addition:
. Allow enough following
distance between you and the driver in front of you.
. Focus on the task of driving.
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
Driver distraction can cause collisions resulting in injury or possible death. These simple defensive driving techniques could save your life.
Drunk Driving
{ WARNING Drinking and then driving is very dangerous. Your reflexes, perceptions, attentiveness, and judgment can be affected by even a small amount of alcohol. You can have a serious — or even fatal — collision if you drive after drinking. Do not drink and drive or ride with a driver who has been drinking. Ride home in a cab; or if you are with a group, designate a driver who will not drink.
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Death and injury associated with drinking and driving is a global tragedy. Alcohol affects four things that anyone needs to drive a vehicle: judgment, muscular coordination, vision, and attentiveness. Police records show that almost 40 percent of all motor vehicle-related deaths involve alcohol. In most cases, these deaths are the result of someone who was drinking and driving. In recent years, more than 17,000 annual motor vehicle-related deaths have been associated with the use of alcohol, with about 250,000 people injured. For persons under 21, it is against the law in every U.S. state to drink alcohol. There are good medical, psychological, and developmental reasons for these laws. The obvious way to eliminate the leading highway safety problem is for people never to drink alcohol and then drive.
Medical research shows that alcohol in a person's system can make crash injuries worse, especially injuries to the brain, spinal cord, or heart. This means that when anyone who has been drinking — driver or passenger — is in a crash, that person's chance of being killed or permanently disabled is higher than if the person had not been drinking.
Control of a Vehicle The following three systems help to control the vehicle while driving — brakes, steering, and accelerator. At times, as when driving on snow or ice, it is easy to ask more of those control systems than the tires and road can provide. Meaning, you can lose control of the vehicle. Adding non‐dealer accessories can affect vehicle performance. See Accessories and Modifications on page 10‑4.
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Braking See Brake System Warning Light on page 5‑15. Braking action involves perception time and reaction time. Deciding to push the brake pedal is perception time. Actually doing it is reaction time. Average reaction time is about three‐fourths of a second. But that is only an average. It might be less with one driver and as long as two or three seconds or more with another. Age, physical condition, alertness, coordination, and eyesight all play a part. So do alcohol, drugs, and frustration. But even in three‐fourths of a second, a vehicle moving at 100 km/h (60 mph) travels 20 m (66 ft). That could be a lot of distance in an emergency, so keeping enough space between the vehicle and others is important. And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly with the surface of the road, whether it is
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Driving and Operating
pavement or gravel; the condition of the road, whether it is wet, dry, or icy; tire tread; the condition of the brakes; the weight of the vehicle; and the amount of brake force applied. Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive in spurts — heavy acceleration followed by heavy braking — rather than keeping pace with traffic. This is a mistake. The brakes might not have time to cool between hard stops. The brakes will wear out much faster with a lot of heavy braking. Keeping pace with the traffic and allowing realistic following distances eliminates a lot of unnecessary braking. That means better braking and longer brake life. If the engine ever stops while the vehicle is being driven, brake normally but do not pump the brakes. If the brakes are pumped, the pedal could get harder to push down. If the engine stops, there will still be some power brake assist but it will be used when the brake is
applied. Once the power assist is used up, it can take longer to stop and the brake pedal will be harder to push. Adding non‐dealer accessories can affect vehicle performance. See Accessories and Modifications on page 10‑4.
Steering
Power Steering If power steering assist is lost because the engine stops or the power steering system is not functioning, the vehicle can be steered but it will take more effort. Steering Tips It is important to take curves at a reasonable speed. Traction in a curve depends on the condition of the tires and the road surface, the angle at which the curve is banked, and vehicle speed. While in a curve, speed is the one factor that can be controlled.
If there is a need to reduce speed, do it before entering the curve, while the front wheels are straight. Try to adjust the speed so you can drive through the curve. Maintain a reasonable, steady speed. Wait to accelerate until out of the curve, and then accelerate gently into the straightaway. 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. These problems can be avoided by braking — if you can stop in time. But sometimes you cannot stop in time because there is no room. That is the time for evasive action — steering around the problem. The vehicle can perform very well in emergencies like these. First apply the brakes. See Braking on
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page 9‑3. It is better to remove as much speed as possible from a collision. Then steer around the problem, to the left or right depending on the space available.
The fact that such emergency situations are always possible is a good reason to practice defensive driving at all times and wear safety belts properly.
Off-Road Recovery The vehicle's right wheels can drop off the edge of a road onto the shoulder while driving.
An emergency like this requires close attention and a quick decision. If holding the steering wheel at the recommended 9 and 3 o'clock positions, it can be turned a full 180 degrees very quickly without removing either hand. But you have to act fast, steer quickly, and just as quickly straighten the wheel once you have avoided the object.
If the level of the shoulder is only slightly below the pavement, recovery should be fairly easy. Ease off the accelerator and then, if there
Driving and Operating
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is nothing in the way, steer so that the vehicle straddles the edge of the pavement. Turn the steering wheel 8 to 13 cm (3 to 5 in), about one-eighth turn, until the right front tire contacts the pavement edge. Then turn the steering wheel to go straight down the roadway.
Loss of Control Let us review what driving experts say about what happens when the three control systems — brakes, steering, and acceleration — do not have enough friction where the tires meet the road to do what the driver has asked. In any emergency, do not give up. Keep trying to steer and constantly seek an escape route or area of less danger. 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,
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Driving and Operating
and by not overdriving those conditions. But skids are always possible. The three types of skids correspond to the vehicle's three control systems. In the braking skid, the 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. And in the acceleration skid, too much throttle causes the driving wheels to spin. If the vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off the accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want the vehicle to go. If you start steering quickly enough, the vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready for a second skid if it occurs. Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice, gravel, or other material is on the road. For safety, slow down and adjust your driving to these conditions. It is important to
slow down on slippery surfaces because stopping distance is longer and vehicle control more limited. While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try to avoid sudden steering, acceleration, or braking, including reducing vehicle speed by shifting to a lower gear. Any sudden changes could cause the tires to slide. You might not realize the surface is slippery until the vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warning clues — such as enough water, ice, or packed snow on the road to make a mirrored surface — and slow down when you have any doubt. Remember: Antilock brakes help avoid only the braking skid.
Off-Road Driving Vehicles with four-wheel drive can be used for off-road driving. Vehicles without four-wheel drive should not be driven off-road except on a level, solid surface.
The airbag system is designed to work properly under a wide range of conditions, including off‐road usage. Always wear your safety belt and observe safe driving speeds, especially on rough terrain. Drinking and driving can be very dangerous on any road and this is certainly true for off-road driving. At the very time you need special alertness and driving skills, your reflexes, perceptions, and judgment can be affected by even a small amount of alcohol. You could have a serious — or even fatal — accident if you drink and drive or ride with a driver who has been drinking. Off-roading can be great fun but has some definite hazards. The greatest of these is the terrain itself. When off-road driving, traffic lanes are not marked, curves are not banked, and there are no road signs. Surfaces can be slippery, rough, uphill, or downhill.
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Avoid sharp turns and abrupt maneuvers. Failure to operate the vehicle correctly off‐road could result in loss of vehicle control or vehicle rollover. Off-roading involves some new skills. That is why it is very important that you read these driving tips and suggestions to help make off-road driving safer and more enjoyable. Before You Go Off-Roading . Have all necessary maintenance
and service work done.
. Make sure there is enough fuel, that fluid levels are where they should be, and that the spare tire is fully inflated.
. Be sure to read all the
information about four-wheel-drive vehicles in this manual.
. Make sure all underbody shields, if the vehicle has them, are properly attached.
. Know the local laws that apply
to off-roading where you will be driving or check with law enforcement people in the area.
. Be sure to get the necessary
permission if you will be on private land.
Loading Your Vehicle for Off-Road Driving
{ WARNING
. Cargo on the load floor piled
higher than the seatbacks can be thrown forward during a sudden stop. You or your passengers could be injured. Keep cargo below the top of the seatbacks.
. Unsecured cargo on the load
floor can be tossed about when driving over rough terrain. You or your
(Continued)
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9-7
WARNING (Continued)
passengers can be struck by flying objects. Secure the cargo properly.
. Heavy loads on the roof raise the vehicle's center of gravity, making it more likely to roll over. You can be seriously or fatally injured if the vehicle rolls over. Put heavy loads inside the cargo area, not on the roof. Keep cargo in the cargo area as far forward and low as possible.
There are some important things to remember about how to load your vehicle.
The heaviest things should be on the floor, forward of the rear axle. Put heavier items as far forward as you can.
. Be sure the load is properly
secured, so things are not tossed around.
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Driving and Operating
You will find other important information under Vehicle Load Limits on page 9‑20 and Tires on page 10‑46. Environmental Concerns Off-road driving can provide wholesome and satisfying recreation. However, it also raises environmental concerns. We recognize these concerns and urge every off-roader to follow these basic rules for protecting the environment: . Always use established trails,
roads, and areas that have been specially set aside for public off-road recreational driving and obey all posted regulations.
. Avoid any driving practice that could damage shrubs, flowers, trees, or grasses or disturb wildlife. This includes wheel-spinning, breaking down trees, or unnecessary driving through streams or over soft ground.
. Always carry a litter bag and
make sure all refuse is removed from any campsite before leaving. Take extreme care with open fires (where permitted), camp stoves, and lanterns.
. Never park your vehicle over
dry grass or other combustible materials that could catch fire from the heat of the vehicle's exhaust system.
Traveling to Remote Areas It makes sense to plan your trip, especially when going to a remote area. Know the terrain and plan your route. Get accurate maps of trails and terrain. Check to see if there are any blocked or closed roads. It is also a good idea to travel with at least one other vehicle in case something happens to one of them.
For vehicles with a winch, be sure to read the winch instructions. In a remote area, a winch can be handy if you get stuck but you will want to know how to use it properly. Getting Familiar with Off-Road Driving It is a good idea to practice in an area that is safe and close to home before you go into the wilderness. Off-roading requires some new and different skills. Tune your senses to different kinds of signals. Your eyes need to constantly sweep the terrain for unexpected obstacles. Your ears need to listen for unusual tire or engine sounds. Use your arms, hands, feet, and body to respond to vibrations and vehicle bounce.
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Controlling the vehicle is the key to successful off-road driving. One of the best ways to control the vehicle is to control the speed. At higher speeds: . You approach things faster and
have less time to react. There is less time to scan the terrain for obstacles. The vehicle has more bounce when driving over obstacles.
. More braking distance is needed, especially on an unpaved surface.
{ WARNING
When you are driving off-road, bouncing and quick changes in direction can easily throw you out of position. This could cause you to lose control and crash. So, whether you are driving on or off the road, you and your passengers should wear safety belts.
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Scanning the Terrain Off-road driving can take you over many different kinds of terrain. Be familiar with the terrain and its many different features. Surface Conditions: Off-roading surfaces can be hard-packed dirt, gravel, rocks, grass, sand, mud, snow, or ice. Each of these surfaces affects the vehicle's steering, acceleration, and braking in different ways. Depending on the surface, slipping, sliding, wheel spinning, delayed acceleration, poor traction, and longer braking distances can occur. Surface Obstacles: Unseen or hidden obstacles can be hazardous. A rock, log, hole, rut, or bump can startle you if you are not prepared for them. Often these obstacles are hidden by grass, bushes, snow, or even the rise and fall of the terrain itself.
Some things to consider:
Is the path ahead clear?
. Will the surface texture change
abruptly up ahead?
. Does the travel take you uphill or
downhill?
. Will you have to stop suddenly
or change direction quickly? When driving over obstacles or rough terrain, keep a firm grip on the steering wheel. Ruts, troughs, or other surface features can jerk the wheel out of your hands. When driving over bumps, rocks, or other obstacles, the wheels can leave the ground. If this happens, even with one or two wheels, you cannot control the vehicle as well or at all. Because you will be on an unpaved surface, it is especially important to avoid sudden acceleration, sudden turns, or sudden braking.
Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2011
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Driving and Operating
Off-roading requires a different kind of alertness from driving on paved roads and highways. There are no road signs, posted speed limits, or signal lights. Use good judgment about what is safe and what is not. Driving on Hills Off-road driving often takes you up, down, or across a hill. Driving safely on hills requires good judgment and an understanding of what the vehicle can and cannot do. There are some hills that simply cannot be driven, no matter how well built the vehicle.
{ WARNING
Many hills are simply too steep for any vehicle. If you drive up them, you will stall. If you drive down them, you cannot control your speed. If you drive across them, you will roll over. You could (Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
be seriously injured or killed. If you have any doubt about the steepness, do not drive the hill.
Approaching a Hill When you approach a hill, decide if it is too steep to climb, descend, or cross. Steepness can be hard to judge. On a very small hill, for example, there may be a smooth, constant incline with only a small change in elevation where you can easily see all the way to the top. On a large hill, the incline may get steeper as you near the top, but you might not see this because the crest of the hill is hidden by bushes, grass, or shrubs.
Consider this as you approach a hill:
Is there a constant incline, or does the hill get sharply steeper in places? Is there good traction on the hillside, or will the surface cause tire slipping? Is there a straight path up or down the hill so you will not have to make turning maneuvers?
. Are there obstructions on the hill
that can block your path, such as boulders, trees, logs, or ruts? . What is beyond the hill? Is there
a cliff, an embankment, a drop-off, a fence? Get out and walk the hill if you do not know. It is the smart way to find out. Is the hill simply too rough? Steep hills often have ruts, gullies, troughs, and exposed rocks because they are more susceptible to the effects of erosion.
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Driving Uphill Once you decide it is safe to drive up the hill: . Use a low gear and get a firm
grip on the steering wheel.
. Get a smooth start up the hill and try to maintain speed. Not using more power than needed can avoid spinning the wheels or sliding.
{ WARNING
Turning or driving across steep hills can be dangerous. You could lose traction, slide sideways, and possibly roll over. You could be seriously injured or killed. When driving up hills, always try to go straight up.
Try to drive straight up the hill if at all possible. If the path twists and turns, you might want to find another route.
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. Ease up on the speed as you
approach the top of the hill.
. Attach a flag to the vehicle to be
more visible to approaching traffic on trails or hills.
. Sound the horn as you approach the top of the hill to let opposing traffic know you are there.
. Use headlamps even during the
day to make the vehicle more visible to oncoming traffic.
{ WARNING
Driving to the top (crest) of a hill at full speed can cause an accident. There could be a drop-off, embankment, cliff, or even another vehicle. You could be seriously injured or killed. As you near the top of a hill, slow down and stay alert.
If the vehicle stalls, or is about to stall, and you cannot make it up the hill: . Push the brake pedal to stop the
vehicle and keep it from rolling backwards and apply the parking brake. If the engine is still running, shift the transmission to R (Reverse), release the parking brake, and slowly back down the hill in R (Reverse). If the engine has stopped running, you need to restart it. With the brake pedal pressed and the parking brake still applied, shift the automatic transmission to P (Park) or the manual transmission to Neutral and restart the engine. Then, shift to R (Reverse), release the parking brake, and slowly back down the hill as straight as possible in R (Reverse).
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Driving and Operating
. While backing down the hill, put
. Never try to turn around if about
your left hand on the steering wheel at the 12 o'clock position so you can tell if the wheels are straight and can maneuver as you back down. It is best to back down the hill with the wheels straight rather than in the left or right direction. Turning the wheel too far to the left or right will increase the possibility of a rollover.
Things not to do if the vehicle stalls, or is about to stall, when going up a hill: . Never attempt to prevent a stall
by shifting into N (Neutral), or pressing the clutch pedal if the vehicle has a manual transmission, to rev-up the engine and regain forward momentum. This will not work. The vehicle can roll backward very quickly and could go out of control.
to stall when going up a hill. If the hill is steep enough to stall the vehicle, it is steep enough to cause it to roll over. If you
