steering Oldsmobile Bravada 2002 s User Guide

2-65
The main components of your instrument panel are the following:
A. Exterior Lamp Controls
B. Air Vents
C. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
D. Comfort Control Steering Wheel Controls
E. Instrument Panel Cluster
F. Audio Steering Wheel Controls
G. Ignition Switch
H. Audio SystemI. Comfort Controls
J. Hood Release
K. Driver Information Center (DIC) Steering
Wheel Controls
L. Rear Window Washer/Wiper
M. Lighter
N. Accessory Power Outlet
O. Rear Window Defogger
P. Glove Box

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Driver Information Center (DIC)
The DIC display is located on the instrument panel
cluster above the steering wheel. The DIC can display
information such as the trip odometer, fuel economy and
personalization features.
A.Trip Information: This button will display the
odometer, trip odometer and the timer.
B.Fuel Information: This button will display the
current range, average fuel economy, instant fuel
economy and engine oil life.
C.Personalization: This button will change personal
options available on your vehicle.
D.Select: This button resets certain functions and turns
off or acknowledges messages on the DIC.
DIC Operation and Displays
The DIC comes on when the ignition is on. After a short
delay the DIC will display the current driver and the
information that was last displayed before the engine
was turned off.
If a problem is detected, a warning message will
appear on the display. Pressing the select button will
acknowledge any current warning or service messages.
The DIC has different modes which can be accessed by
pressing the four buttons on the DIC. These buttons are
trip information, fuel information, personalization and
select. The button functions are detailed in the following.

3-
3-1
Section 3 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
In this section, you'll find out how to operate the comfort control and audio systems offered with your vehicle.
Be sure to read about the particular systems supplied with your vehicle.
3
-2 Comfort Controls
3
-6 Air Conditioning
3
-6 Heating
3
-6 Defogging and Defrosting
3
-7 Rear Window Defogger
3
-8 Ventilation System
3
-10 Audio Systems
3
-10 Setting the Clock
3
-11 AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape and
Compact Disc Player with Programmable
Equalization and Radio Data System (RDS)3
-20 AM-FM Stereo with 6-Disc Compact Disc
Player with Programmable Equalization and
Radio Data System (RDS) (If Equipped)
3
-34 Theft-Deterrent Feature
3
-34 Audio Steering Wheel Controls
3
-35 Understanding Radio Reception
3
-35 Tips About Your Audio System
3
-36 Care of Your Cassette Tape Player
3
-37 Care of Your Compact Discs
3
-37 Care of Your Compact Disc Player
3
-37 Diversity Antenna System
3
-37 Chime Level Adjustment

3-10 Comfort Control Steering Wheel Controls
You can adjust certain comfort control functions using
the controls on your steering wheel.
(Fan): Press the up arrow to increase the fan speed
and the down arrow to decrease the fan speed.
(Temperature): Press the up arrow to increase the
temperature of the air flowing through the system and
the down arrow to decrease the temperature of the air
flowing through the system.
Audio Systems
Your audio system has been designed to operate easily
and give years of listening pleasure. You will get the
most enjoyment out of it if you acquaint yourself with it
first. Find out what your audio system can do and how
to operate all its controls, to be sure you're getting the
most out of the advanced engineering that went into it.
Setting the Clock
Press and hold HR until the correct hour appears.
The letters AM or PM may appear on the display
for AM or PM. Then, press and hold MN until the
correct minute appears. The clock may be set with the
ignition on or off. In addition, the clock can also be
automatically set, when tuned to an RDS station that
is broadcasting time, by pressing and holding the HR
and the MN button at the same time. The display will
show TIME UPDATED. If there is no time available,
NO UPDATE will be displayed.

3-34 Theft-Deterrent Feature
THEFTLOCK
is designed to discourage theft of
your radio. The feature works automatically by learning
a portion of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
If the radio is moved to a different vehicle, it will not
operate and LOCKED will be displayed.
When the radio and vehicle are turned off, the blinking
red light indicates that THEFTLOCK is armed.
With THEFTLOCK activated, your radio will not
operate if stolen.
Audio Steering Wheel Controls
If your vehicle has this
feature, you can control
certain radio functions
using the controls on
your steering wheel.
AM/FM: Press this control to tune to the next radio
station. When playing a cassette tape or compact disc,
press AM/FM to switch to the radio.
(Program): Press this control to tune to the next
preset radio station. When playing a cassette tape, press
program to hear the other side of a tape that is playing.
When using the CD changer, this control will seek to the
next selection.
(Volume): Press the up or down arrow to increase
or decrease volume.

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4-1
Section 4 Your Driving and the Road
Here you'll find information about driving on different kinds of roads and in varying weather conditions. We've also
included many other useful tips on driving.
4
-2 Defensive Driving
4
-3 Drunken Driving
4
-6 Control of a Vehicle
4
-6 Braking
4
-9 Traction Assist System (TAS)
(Two
-Wheel Drive Only)
4
-11 Steering
4
-13 Off-Road Recovery
4
-14 Passing
4
-15 Loss of Control
4
-16 Operating Your All-Wheel-Drive Vehicle
(If Equipped) Off Paved Roads4
-30 Driving at Night
4
-32 Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads
4
-35 City Driving
4
-36 Freeway Driving
4
-37 Before Leaving on a Long Trip
4
-38 Highway Hypnosis
4
-38 Hill and Mountain Roads
4
-40 Winter Driving
4
-44 Recreational Vehicle Towing
4
-44 Loading Your Vehicle
4
-47 Adding a Snow Plow or Similar Equipment
4
-48 Towing a Trailer

4-6
Control of a Vehicle
You have three systems that make your vehicle go where
you want it to go. They are the brakes, the steering and
the accelerator. All three systems have to do their work
at the places where the tires meet the road.
Sometimes, as when you're driving on snow or ice,
it's easy to ask more of those control systems than
the tires and road can provide. That means you can
lose control of your vehicle.
Braking
Braking action involves perception time and
reaction time.
First, you have to decide to push on the brake pedal.
That's perception time. Then you have to bring up
your foot and do it. That's reaction time.
Average reaction time is about 3/4 of a second.
But that's 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 3/4 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's 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.

4-9
Remember: Anti-lock doesn't 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 won't 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
Don't pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal down
firmly and let anti
-lock work for you. You may feel the
brakes vibrate, or you may notice some noise, but this
is normal.
Braking in Emergencies
With anti-lock, you can steer and brake at the same
time. In many emergencies, steering can help you
more than even the very best braking.
Traction Assist System (TAS)
(Two
-Wheel Drive Only)
Your vehicle has a Traction Assist System (TAS) 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 rear wheels are spinning or
beginning to lose traction. When this happens, the
system reduces engine power to limit wheel spin.
The LOW TRAC light next to the button will come on
when TAS is limiting wheel spin. You may feel or hear
the system working, but this is normal.
The Traction Assist System may operate on dry
roads under some conditions. When this happens,
you may notice a reduction in acceleration. This is
normal and doesn't mean there's a problem with your
vehicle. Examples of these conditions include a hard
acceleration in a turn, an abrupt upshift or downshift
of the transmission or driving on rough roads.

4-11
If desired, you can change the TAS automatic
engagement feature so that the system will not come
on automatically when the engine is started. To do so:
1. Park the vehicle with the ignition off and the
transmission in PARK (P).
2. Turn the ignition to RUN; do not start the engine.
3. Apply the brake pedal, press the accelerator pedal to
the floor and then press the TAS on/off button and
hold it down for at least six seconds.
4. Release the TAS button and both pedals.
5. Turn off the ignition and wait a few seconds.
The next time you start your vehicle, the TAS will not
automatically come on. You can restore the automatic
feature by using the same procedure. Whether the
TAS is set to come on automatically or not, you can
always turn the system on or off by pressing the TAS
on/off button.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's important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
A lot of the ªdriver lost controlº accidents mentioned
on the news happen on curves. Here's why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is subject
to the same laws of physics when driving on curves.
The traction of the tires against the road surface makes it
possible for the vehicle to change its path when you turn
the front wheels. If there's no traction, inertia will keep
the vehicle going in the same direction. If you've ever
tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you'll understand this.
The traction you can get in a curve depends on the
condition of your tires and the road surface, the angle at
which the curve is banked, and your speed. While you're
in a curve, speed is the one factor you can control.

4-12
Suppose you're steering through a sharp curve.
Then you suddenly accelerate. Both control
systems
-- steering and acceleration -- have to do
their work where the tires meet the road. Adding the
sudden acceleration can demand too much of those
places. You can lose control. Refer to ªTraction Assist
Systemº in the Index.
What should you do if this ever happens? Ease up on the
accelerator pedal, steer the vehicle the way you want it
to go, and slow down.
Speed limit signs near curves warn that you should
adjust your speed. Of course, the posted speeds are
based on good weather and road conditions. Under less
favorable conditions you'll want to go slower.
If you need to reduce your speed as you approach a
curve, do it before you enter the curve, while your front
wheels are straight ahead.
Try to adjust your speed so you can ªdriveº through
the curve. Maintain a reasonable, steady speed.
Wait to accelerate until you are 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.
You can avoid these problems by braking
-- if you can
stop in time. But sometimes you can't; there isn't room.
That's the time for evasive action
-- steering around
the problem.
Your vehicle can perform very well in emergencies
like these. First apply your brakes. See ªBraking in
Emergenciesº earlier in this section. It is better to
remove as much speed as you can from a possible
collision. Then steer around the problem, to the left
or right depending on the space available.