steering CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO 2003 6.G Owners Manual

Where Are the Air Bags?
The driver's frontal air bag is in the middle of the
steering wheel.The right front passenger's frontal air bag is in the
instrument panel on the passenger's side.
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If your vehicle has one, the driver's side impact
air bag is in the side of the driver's seatback closest to
the door.
{CAUTION:
If something is between an occupant and an
air bag, the bag might not in¯ate properly or it
might force the object into that person causing
severe injury or even death. The path of an
in¯ating air bag must be kept clear. Don't put
anything between an occupant and an air bag,
and don't attach or put anything on the
steering wheel hub or on or near any other air
bag covering. Don't let seat covers block the
in¯ation path of a side impact air bag.
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When Should an Air Bag In¯ate?
The driver's and right front passenger's frontal air bags
are designed to in¯ate in moderate to severe frontal
or near-frontal crashes. But they are designed to in¯ate
only if the impact speed is above the system's
designed ªthreshold level.º
In addition, your vehicle has ªdual stageº frontal air
bags, which adjust the amount of restraint according to
crash severity. For moderate frontal impacts, these
air bags in¯ate at a level less than full deployment. For
more severe frontal impacts, full deployment occurs.
If the front of your vehicle goes straight into a wall that
does not move or deform, the threshold level for the
reduced deployment is about 12 to 18 mph (19 to
29 km/h), and the threshold level for a full deployment is
about 18 to 24 mph (29 to 38.5 km/h). The threshold
level can vary, however, with speci®c vehicle design, so
that it can be somewhat above or below this range.
If your vehicle strikes something that will move or
deform, such as a parked car, the threshold level will be
higher. The driver's and right front passenger's frontal
air bags are not designed to in¯ate in rollovers, rear
impacts, or in many side impacts because in¯ation
would not help the occupant.
Your vehicle may or may not have a driver side air bag.
See
Air Bag Systems on page 1-48. A driver 's side
impact air bag is designed to in¯ate in moderateto severe side crashes involving the driver's door. A
side impact air bag will in¯ate if the crash severity
is above the system's designed ªthreshold level.º The
threshold level can vary with speci®c vehicle design. A
driver's side impact air bag is not designed to in¯ate
in frontal or near-frontal impacts, rollovers or rear
impacts, because in¯ation would not help the occupant.
In any particular crash, no one can say whether an
air bag should have in¯ated simply because of
the damage to a vehicle or because of what the repair
costs were. For frontal air bags, in¯ation is determined
by the angle of the impact and how quickly the
vehicle slows down in frontal and near-frontal impacts.
For side impact air bags, in¯ation is determined by
the location and severity of the impact.
What Makes an Air Bag In¯ate?
In an impact of sufficient severity, the air bag sensing
system detects that the vehicle is in a crash. For
both the frontal and side impact air bags, the sensing
system triggers a release of gas from the in¯ator, which
in¯ates the air bag. The in¯ator, air bag and related
hardware are all part of the air bag modules. Frontal air
bag modules are located inside the steering wheel
and instrument panel. For vehicles with a driver's side
impact air bag, the air bag moules are located in
the seatback closest to the driver's door.
1-53

How Does an Air Bag Restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal collisions,
even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel or
the instrument panel. In moderate to severe side
collisions, even belted occupants can contact the inside
of the vehicle. The air bag supplements the protection
provided by safety belts. Air bags distribute the force of
the impact more evenly over the occupant's upper
body, stopping the occupant more gradually. But the
frontal air bags would not help you in many types
of collisions, including rollovers, rear impacts, and many
side impacts, primarily because an occupant's motion
is not toward the air bag. A side impact air bag
would not help you in many types of collisions, including
frontal or near frontal collisions, rollovers, and rear
impacts, primarily because an occupant's motion is not
toward that air bag. Air bags should never be regarded
as anything more than a supplement to safety belts,
and then only in moderate to severe frontal or
near-frontal collisions for the driver's and right front
passenger's frontal air bags, and only in moderate to
severe side collisions for vehicles with a driver's
side impact air bag.
What Will You See After an Air Bag
In¯ates?
After the air bag in¯ates, it quickly de¯ates, so quickly
that some people may not even realize the air bag
in¯ated. Some components of the air bag module will be
hot for a short time. These components include the
steering wheel hub for the driver's frontal air bag and the
instrument panel for the right front passenger's frontal air
bag. For vehicle's with a driver's side impact air bag, the
side of the seatback closest to the driver's door will be
hot. The parts of the bag that come into contact with you
may be warm, but not too hot to touch. There will be
some smoke and dust coming from the vents in the
de¯ated air bags. Air bag in¯ation doesn't prevent the
driver from seeing or being able to steer the vehicle, nor
does it stop people from leaving the vehicle.
{CAUTION:
When an air bag in¯ates, there is dust in the
air. This dust could cause breathing problems
for people with a history of asthma or other
breathing trouble. To avoid this, everyone in
CAUTION: (Continued)
1-54

CAUTION: (Continued)
the vehicle should get out as soon as it is safe
to do so. If you have breathing problems but
can't get out of the vehicle after an air bag
in¯ates, then get fresh air by opening a
window or a door. If you experience breathing
problems following an air bag deployment, you
should seek medical attention.
Your vehicle has a feature that will automatically unlock
the doors and turn the interior lamps on when the air
bags in¯ate (if battery power is available). You can lock
the doors again and turn the interior lamps off by
using the door lock and interior lamp controls.
In many crashes severe enough to in¯ate an air bag,
windshields are broken by vehicle deformation.
Additional windshield breakage may also occur from the
right front passenger air bag.
·Air bags are designed to in¯ate only once. After an
air bag in¯ates, you'll need some new parts for
your air bag system. If you don't get them, the air
bag system won't be there to help protect you
in another crash. A new system will include air bagmodules and possibly other parts. The service
manual for your vehicle covers the need to replace
other parts.
·Your vehicle is equipped with an electronic frontal
sensor, which helps the sensing system distinguish
between a moderate frontal impact and a more
severe frontal impact. Your vehicle is also equipped
with a crash sensing and diagnostic module,
which records information about the frontal air bag
system. The module records information about
the readiness of the system, when the system
commands air bag in¯ation and driver's safety belt
usage at deployment. The module also records
speed, engine RPM, brake and throttle data.
·Let only quali®ed technicians work on your air bag
systems. Improper service can mean that an air
bag system won't work properly. See your dealer for
service.
Notice:If you damage the covering for the driver's
or the right front passenger's air bag, or the air
bag covering on the driver's seatback, the bag may
not work properly. You may have to replace the
air bag module in the steering wheel, both the air
bag module and the instrument panel for the
right front passenger's air bag, or the air bag
module and seatback for the driver's side impact air
bag. Do not open or break the air bag coverings.
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Ignition Positions
With the key in the ignition, you can turn the switch to
four positions.
The ignition switch is
located on the instrument
panel, to the right of
the steering column.
OFF:This is the only position from which you can
remove the key. Removing the key locks your ignition
and automatic transaxle.
Notice:If your key seems stuck in OFF and you
can't turn it, be sure you are using the correct key;
if so, is it all the way in? Turn the key only with
your hand. Using a tool to force it could break the
key or the ignition switch. If none of this works, then
your vehicle needs service.ACC (ACCESSORY):This is the position in which you
can operate your electrical accessories. With the key
in this position, the ignition and automatic transaxle will
unlock.
ON:This is the position to which the switch returns
after you start the engine and release the switch. The
switch stays in ON while the engine is running. But even
when the engine is not running, you can use ON to
operate your electrical accessories and to display some
instrument panel cluster messages and warning
lights.
START:This position starts the engine. When the
engine starts, release the key. The ignition switch will
return to ON for normal driving.
While the engine is not running, ACC and ON allow you
to operate your electrical accessories, such as the
radio.
A warning chime will sound if you open the driver's door
while the ignition is in OFF or ACC and the key is in
the ignition.Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
With Retained Accessory Power (RAP), your power
windows, audio system and sunroof (option) will
continue to work for up to 10 minutes after the ignition is
turned to OFF and none of the doors is opened.
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Driver Information Center (DIC).......................3-52
Trip Computer................................................3-55
Audio System(s).............................................3-56
Setting the Time...........................................3-56
Radio with Cassette......................................3-57
Radio with CD..............................................3-67
Radio with Cassette and CD..........................3-78
Theft-Deterrent Feature..................................3-89
Audio Steering Wheel Controls.......................3-90Understanding Radio Reception......................3-91
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player.................3-91
Care of Your CDs.........................................3-92
Care of Your CD Player................................3-92
Backglass Antenna.......................................3-93
XMŸ Satellite Radio Antenna System
(United States Only)..................................3-94
Vehicle Customization Settings.......................3-94
Chime Level Adjustment................................3-94
Section 3 Instrument Panel
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The main components of your instrument panel are listed here:
A. Instrument Panel Fuse Block. See ªInstrument Panel
Fuse Blockº under
Fuses and Circuit Breakers on
page 5-91.
B. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever (behind steering
wheel). See
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
on page 3-7.
C. Audio Steering Wheel Controls (If Equipped). See
Audio Steering Wheel Controls on page 3-90.
D. Instrument Panel Cluster. See
Instrument Panel
Cluster on page 3-31.
E. Hazard Warning Flasher Button. See
Hazard
Warning Flashers on page 3-6.
F. Audio System. See
Audio System(s) on page 3-56.
G. Air Outlet. See ªOutlet Adjustmentº under
Dual
Climate Control System on page 3-22.
H. Exterior Lamps Control. See
Exterior Lamps on
page 3-15.I. Remote Trunk Release. See ªRemote Trunk
Releaseº under
Trunk on page 2-10.
J. Tilt Steering Wheel Lever. See
Tilt Wheel on
page 3-7.
K. Hood Release. See
Hood Release on page 5-10.
L. Cruising Steering Wheel Controls (If Equipped). See
ªCruise Controlº under
Turn Signal/Multifunction
Lever on page 3-7.
M. Ignition Switch. See ªIgnition Positionsº under
New
Vehicle Break-In on page 2-16.
N. Automatic Transaxle Shift Lever. See
Automatic
Transaxle Operation on page 2-21.
O. Climate Controls. See
Dual Climate Control System
on page 3-22.
P. Glove Box. See
Glove Box on page 2-39.
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Hazard Warning Flashers
Your hazard warning ¯ashers let you warn others. They
also let police know you have a problem. Your front
and rear turn signal lamps will ¯ash on and off.The hazard warning
¯asher button is located to
the right of the steering
wheel on the instrument
panel.
The hazard warning ¯ashers work no matter what
position your key is in, and even if the key isn't in.
Press the button to make the front and rear turn signal
lamps ¯ash on and off. Press the button again to
turn the ¯ashers off.
When the hazard warning ¯ashers are on, your turn
signals won't work.Other Warning Devices
If you carry re¯ective triangles, you can set one up at
the side of the road about 300 feet (100 m) behind your
vehicle.
3-6

Horn
Press near or on the horn symbols on your steering
wheel pad to sound the horn.
Tilt Wheel
A tilt steering wheel allows you to adjust the steering
wheel before you drive. You can raise the steering wheel
to the highest level to give your legs more room when
you exit and enter. The lever to adjust it is located on the
left side of the steering column.
To adjust the wheel, hold
the steering wheel and pull
the lever. Move the
steering wheel to a
comfortable level, then
release the lever to
lock the wheel into place.
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
The lever located on the left side of the steering column
includes the following:
·Turn Signal and Lane-Change Signals
·Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
·Flash-to-Pass Feature
·Windshield Wipers
·Windshield Washer
For information on the exterior lamps, see ªExterior
Lampsº later in this section.
3-7