GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only
Makes 🢒 Chevrolet 🢒 2000 🢒 Malibu 🢒 Body and Accessories 🢒 Entertainment 🢒 Radio/Audio System Operation

Setting The Clock For Systems Without Automatic Tone Control
  1. Press the SET button.
  2. Within 5 seconds, press and hold the right arrow on the SEEK button until the correct minute appears on the display.
  3. Press and hold the left arrow on the SEEK button until the correct hour appears on the display.

Setting The Clock For Systems With Automatic Tone Control
  1. Press and hold the HR button until the correct hour appears.
  2. Press and hold the MN button until the correct minute appears.

Theftlock®

Activating the Theft-Deterrent Feature

The instructions which follow explain how to enter your secret code to activate the THEFTLOCK system.

If you allow more than 15 seconds to elapse between any steps, the radio automatically reverts to time and you must start over at Step 4.

  1. Write down any three or four digit number from 000 to 1999.
  2. Turn the ignition to ACC or ON.
  3. Turn the radio OFF.
  4. Press the 1 and 4 buttons together. Hold them down until -- -- -- shows on the display. Next you will use the secret code number which you have written down.
  5. Press MN and 000 will appear on the display.
  6. Press MN again to make the last two digits agree with your code.
  7. Press HR to make the first one or two digits agree with your code.
  8. Press AM-FM after you have confirmed that the code matches the secret code you have written down. The display will show REP to let you know that you need to repeat Steps 5 through 7 to confirm your secret code.
  9. Press AM-FM and this time the display will show SEC to let you know that your radio is secure.

Note that on the Pontiac models, the THEFTLOCK LED indicator will flash, indicating a secured radio.

Unlocking the Theft-Deterrent Feature After a Power Loss

Enter the code as follows; pause no more than 15 seconds between steps.

  1. Turn ON the ignition. LOC will appear on the display.
  2. Press MN and 000 will appear on the display.
  3. Press MN again to make the last two digits agree with your code.
  4. Press HR to make the first one or two digits agree with your code.
  5. Press AM-FM after you have confirmed that the code matches the secret code you have written down. The display will show SEC, indicating the radio is now operable and secure.

Entering the incorrect code eight times will cause INOP to appear on the display. Wait an hour with the ignition in the ON position before you try again. When you try again, you will have three more chances (eight tries per chance) to enter the correct code before INOP appears.

Deactivating the Theft-Deterrent Feature

Enter the code as follows; pause no more than 15 seconds between steps.

  1. Turn the ignition to ACC or ON.
  2. Turn OFF the radio.
  3. Press the 1 and 4 buttons together. Hold them down until SEC shows on the display.
  4. Press MN and 000 will appear on the display.
  5. Press MN again to make the last two digits agree with your code.
  6. Press HR to make the first one or two digits agree with your code.
  7. Press AM-FM after you have confirmed that the code matches the secret code you have written down. The display will show -- -- --, indicating that the radio is no longer secured.

Entering the incorrect code will cause SEC to appear on the display. The radio will remain secured until the correct code is entered.

When battery power is removed and later applied to a secured radio, the radio will not turn on and LOC appears on the display. To unlock a secured radio, refer to "Unlocking the Theft-Deterrent Feature After a Power Loss".

AM-FM Stereo

Playing the Radio

Perform one of the following functions in order to play the radio:

    • Volume--Push the VOLUME button in order to turn the system ON and OFF.
        Increase the volume by turning the knob clockwise.
        Decrease the volume by turning the knob counterclockwise.
    • Recall -- Press this button in order to recall the station being played or in order to display the clock.

Finding a Station

Perform one of the following functions in order to select a station:

    • AM-FM--Press the AM-FM button in order to switch between AM and FM. The display shows the selection.
    • Tune--Turn the lower knob in order to choose the radio stations.
    • Seek--Press the UP or DOWN arrow in order to select the next higher or next lower station and remain there.
    • Scan - Press both SEEK arrows; SCAN will appear on the display. Use SCAN in order to listen to stations for a few seconds. The radio will go to a station, stop for a few seconds, then go to the next station. The radio will scan up or down the radio band, depending on the arrow you pressed first. Press both SEEK arrows or the upper knob to stop scanning.

Presetting a Station

Pushbuttons--The 4 numbered pushbuttons allow you to return to the preselected stations. The customer can select 1-14 stations (seven AM and seven FM).

Perform the following steps in order to preset the stations:

  1. Turn the radio ON.
  2. Press the AM-FM in order to select the band.
  3. Tune in the desired station.
  4. Press SET. Wait for SET to appear on the display.
  5. Press 1 of the 4 numbered pushbuttons within 5 seconds. The station that was set will return when that numbered button is pressed.
  6. Repeat the steps for each pushbutton.

In addition to the 4 stations that have been preset, 3 more stations may be preset on each band. Perform the following steps in order to preset the other 3 stations:

  1. Tune in the desired station.
  2. Press the SET button, SET will appear on the display.
  3. Press any 2 adjoining pushbuttons at the same time within 5 seconds. The station that was set will return when the same buttons are pressed.
  4. Repeat the steps for each pair of pushbuttons.

Setting the Tone

Perform the following functions in order to set the tone:

    • Bass--Slide the lever UP or DOWN to increase or decrease the bass.
    • Treb--Slide the lever UP or DOWN to increase or decrease the treble. If a station is weak or noisy, decease the treble.

Adjusting the Speakers

Perform the following functions in order to adjust the speakers:

    • Balance--Turn the control behind the upper knob in order to move the sound to the left or right speakers. The middle position balances the sound between the speakers.
    • Fade--Turn the control behind the lower knob in order to move the sound to the front or rear speakers. The middle position balances the sound between the speakers.

AM-FM Stereo Cassette and Automatic Tone Control (If Equipped)

Playing the Radio

Perform one of the following functions in order to play the radio:

    • Volume--Push the VOLUME button in order to turn the system ON and OFF.
        Increase the volume by turning the knob clockwise.
        Decrease the volume by turning the knob counterclockwise.
    • Recall--Press the Recall button in order to display the time with the ignition in the OFF position. When the radio is playing, press this button in order to recall the station frequency.
    • SCV: Speed--Compensated Volume (SCV). With SCV, the audio system adjusts automatically to make up for road and wind noise as you drive.
        To use SCV perform the following:
        1. Set the volume at the desired level.
        2. Turn the control ring behind the upper knob clockwise to adjust the SCV. As the vehicle is driven, SCV automatically increases the volume.
    • The volume level should always sound the same as you drive.
        Turn the control ring all the way down to disable SCV. Each notch on the control ring allows for more compensation at faster speeds.

Finding a Station

Perform one of the following functions in order to select a station:

    • AM-FM--Press the AM-FM button in order to switch between AM, FM1 and FM2. The display shows the selection.
    • Tune--Press the Tune knob lightly so it extends. Turn the knob in order to choose radio stations. Push the knob back in when not in use.
    • Seek -- Press the right or left arrow in order to select the next higher or next lower station and remain there. The sound will mute while seeking.
    • Scan - Press one of the SEEK arrows for two seconds and SCAN will appear on the display. Use SCAN in order to listen to stations for a few seconds. The radio will go to a station, stop for a few seconds, then go to the next station. The radio will scan up or down the radio band, depending on the arrow you pressed first. Press SEEK again to stop scanning. The sound will mute while scanning.

Presetting a Station

Pushbuttons--The 6 numbered pushbuttons allow you to return to the preselected stations. The customer can select 1-18 stations (6 AM, 6 FM1 and 6 FM2).

Perform the following steps in order to preset the stations:

  1. Turn the radio ON.
  2. Press the AM-FM in order to select the band.
  3. Tune in the desired station.
  4. Press AUTO TONE to select the equalization that best suits the type of station selected.
  5. Press and hold one of the five numbered buttons. The sound will mute. When it returns, release the button. Whenever the numbered button is pressed, the station and the AUTO TONE equalization that was selected will return.
  6. Repeat the steps for each pushbutton.

P.SCAN

Pressing the P.SCAN button for more than 2 seconds will allow the radio to scan through the stored stations on the pushbuttons. The radio will not scan to stations with weak reception. The AUTO TONE setting stored for that pushbutton will be automatically chosen. Press P.SCAN or one of the pushbuttons again to stop scanning. P.SCAN is displayed whenever the tuner is in the P.SCAN mode. The channel number (P1 -- P6) appears momentarily just before the frequency is displayed. In FM mode, this function scans through FM1 and FM2 preset stations and FM1 and FM2 will appear on the display.

Setting the Tone

Perform the following functions in order to set the tone:

    • Bass--Press the knob slightly so it extends. Turn the knob to increase or decrease the bass. When you use this control, the radio's AUTO TONE setting will switch to manual and the AUTO TONE display will go blank.
    • Treb--Press the knob slightly so it extends. Turn the knob to increase or decrease the treble. When you use this control, the radio's AUTO TONE setting will switch to manual and the AUTO TONE display will go blank. If a station is weak or noisy, decease the treble.

Push the knob back into its stored position after adjusting the tone.

Auto Tone

This feature allows you to choose between preset bass and treble equalization settings designed for jazz, vocal, pop, rock and classical music stations.

C/W will appear on the display the first time you press the AUTO TONE button. Each time you press it, another setting will appear on the display. Press it again after JAZZ appears and the AUTO TONE display will go blank. Tone control will return to the BASS and TREB knobs. If you use the BASS and TREB knobs, control will return to them and the AUTO TONE display will go blank. Use PUSHBUTTONS and AUTO TONE button to program AUTO TONE for station presets.

Adjusting the Speakers

Perform the following functions in order to adjust the speakers:

    • Balance--Press the Balance knob lightly so it extends. Turn the knob in order to move the sound to the left or right speakers. The middle position balances the sound between the speakers. Push the knob back in when not in use.
    • Fade--Press the Fade knob lightly so it extends. Turn the knob in order to move the sound to the front or rear speakers. The middle position balances the sound between the speakers. Push the knob back in when not in use.

Playing a Cassette

The tape player is built to work best with tapes that are 30--45 minutes long on each side. Tapes longer than 45 minutes are so thin they will not operate correctly in this player.

While the tape is playing use the following controls in order to adjust the performance:

    • Vol--Volume
    • Auto Tone
    • Fade
    • Bal--Balance
    • Bass
    • Treb--Treble

The display will show the tape symbol and an arrow in order to show which side of the tape is playing.

The player is able to detect a tight or broken tape, and will eject the tape. The radio will go back to playing the last station selected.

The player automatically senses the cassette for metal or CrO2 and sets the pre-emphasis. Anytime a tape is inserted, the top side is selected to play first.

Perform the following functions in order to play or adjust a cassette:

    • PREV (1)--Press this button or the left SEEK arrow in order to search for the previous selection on the tape. The tape must have at least 3 seconds of silence between each selection for PREV or SEEK to work.
        The tape direction arrow blinks during PREV or SEEK operation. Press PREV or the SEEK down arrow to stop searching. The sound will mute during PREV or SEEK operation.
    • PROG (2)--Press this button in order to play the other side of the tape.
    • NEXT (3)--Press this button or the SEEK up arrow in order to search for the next selection on the tape. If you hold the button, the player will continue moving forward through the tape. The tape must have at least 3 seconds of silence between each selection for NEXT or SEEK to work
        The tape direction arrow blinks during NEXT or SEEK operation. Press NEXT or the SEEK up arrow in order to stop searching. The sound will mute during NEXT or SEEK operation.
    • REV (4)--Press this button in order to reverse the tape rapidly. Press it again in order to return to playing speed. The radio will play the last selected station while the tape reverses. Use SEEK or TUNE in order to select stations during the REV operation.
    • DOLBY® (5)--Press this button in order to reduce the background noise. Note the Double-D symbol will appear on the display.
        The Dolby® Noise Reduction is manufactured under a license from the Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. Dolby® and the Double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby® Laboratories Licensing Corporation.
    • FWD (6)--Press this button in order to advance quickly to another part of the tape. Press the button again in order to return to the playing speed. The radio will play the last selected station while the tape advances. Use SEEK or TUNE in order to select stations during the FWD operation.
    • AM-FM--Press this button in order to play the radio when a tape is in the player.
    • TAPE AUX--Press this button in order to change to the tape function when the radio is ON. The tape symbol with an arrow will appear on the display when the tape is active. In order to return to playing the radio, press the AM-FM button.
    • EJECT--Press this button in order to remove the tape. The radio will play once the tape is ejected. EJECT may be activated with either the ignition or radio OFF. Cassettes may be loaded with the radio and ignition OFF if this button is pressed first. If you leave a cassette tape in the player while listening to the radio it may become warm.
    • CLN--If this message appears on the display the cassette tape player needs to be cleaned. It will still play tapes but should be cleaned as soon as possible to prevent damage to the tapes and tape player. After you clean the player, press and hold the EJECT button for 5 seconds in order to reset the CLN indicator. The radio will display -- -- -- to show the indicator was reset.

AM-FM Stereo Compact Disc and Automatic Tone Control (If Equipped)

Playing the Radio

Perform one of the following functions in order to play the radio:

    • Volume--Push the VOLUME button in order to turn the system ON and OFF.
        Increase the volume by turning the knob clockwise.
        Decrease the volume by turning the knob counterclockwise.
    • Recall--Press the Recall button briefly in order to recall the station being played or to display the clock. If you press the knob with the ignition OFF, the clock will show for a few seconds.
    • SCV: Speed--Compensated Volume (SCV). With SCV, the audio system adjusts automatically to make up for road and wind noise as you drive.
        To use SCV perform the following:
        1. Set the volume at the desired level.
        2. Turn the control ring behind the upper knob clockwise to adjust the SCV. As the vehicle is driven, SCV automatically increases the volume.
    • The volume level should always sound the same as you drive.
        Turn the control ring all the way down to disable SCV. Each notch on the control ring allows for more compensation at faster speeds.

Finding A Station

Perform one of the following functions in order to select a station:

    • AM-FM--Press the AM-FM button in order to switch between AM, FM1 and FM2. The display shows the selection.
    • Tune--Press the Tune knob lightly so it extends. Turn the lower knob in order to choose the radio stations. Push the knob back in when not in use.
    • Seek -- Press the right or left arrow in order to select the next higher or next lower station and remain there. The sound will mute while seeking.
    • Scan - Press one of the SEEK arrows for two seconds and SCAN will appear on the display. Use SCAN in order to listen to stations for a few seconds. The radio will go to a station, stop for a few seconds, then go to the next station. The radio will scan up or down the radio band, depending on the arrow you pressed first. Press SEEK again to stop scanning. The sound will mute will scanning.

Presetting a Station

Pushbuttons--The 6 numbered pushbuttons allow you to return to the preselected stations. The customer can select 1-18 stations (6 AM, 6 FM1 and 6 FM2).

Perform the following steps in order to preset the stations:

  1. Turn the radio ON.
  2. Press the AM-FM in order to select the band.
  3. Tune in the desired station.
  4. Press AUTO TONE to select the equalization that best suits the type of station selected.
  5. Press and hold one of the five numbered buttons. The sound will mute. When it returns, release the button. Whenever the numbered button is pressed, the station and the AUTO TONE equalization that was selected will return.
  6. Repeat the steps for each pushbutton.

P.SCAN

Pressing the P.SCAN button for more than 2 seconds will allow the radio to scan through the stored stations on the pushbuttons. The radio will not scan to stations with weak reception. The AUTO TONE setting stored for that pushbutton will be automatically chosen. Press P.SCAN or one of the pushbuttons again to stop scanning. P.SCAN is displayed whenever the tuner is in the P.SCAN mode. The channel number (P1 -- P6) appears momentarily just before the frequency is displayed. In FM mode, this function scans through FM1 and FM2 preset stations and FM1 and FM2 will appear on the display.

Setting the Tone

Perform the following functions in order to set the tone:

    • Bass--Press the knob slightly so it extends. Turn the knob to increase or decrease the bass. When you use this control, the radio's AUTO TONE setting will switch to manual and the AUTO TONE display will go blank.
    • Treb--Press the knob slightly so it extends. Turn the knob to increase or decrease the treble. When you use this control, the radio's AUTO TONE setting will switch to manual and the AUTO TONE display will go blank. If a station is weak or noisy, decease the treble.

Push the knob back into its stored position after adjusting the tone.

Auto Tone

This feature allows you to choose between preset bass and treble equalization settings designed for jazz, vocal, pop, rock and classical music stations.

C/W will appear on the display the first time you press the AUTO TONE button. Each time you press it, another setting will appear on the display. Press it again after JAZZ appears and the AUTO TONE display will go blank. Tone control will return to the BASS and TREB knobs. If you use the BASS and TREB knobs, control will return to them and the AUTO TONE display will go blank. Use PUSHBUTTONS and AUTO TONE button to program AUTO TONE for station presets.

Adjusting the Speakers

Perform the following functions in order to adjust the speakers:

    • Balance--Press the Balance knob lightly so it extends. Turn the control behind the upper knob in order to move the sound to the left or right speakers. The middle position balances the sound between the speakers. Push the knob back in when not in use.
    • Fade--Press the Fade knob lightly so it extends. Turn the control behind the lower knob in order to move the sound to the front or rear speakers. The middle position balances the sound between the speakers. Push the knob back in when not in use.

Playing a Compact Disc (CD)

Insert a disc partially into the slot with the label side up. The player will pull it in. With the ignition and the radio ON, the disc will begin playing. The display will show CD and the CD symbol. Press EJECT or RECALL in order to insert a disc when the ignition is OFF.

If driving on a rough road or the temperature is very hot the disc may not play and ERR (error) may appear on the display. Press RECALL to take ERR off the display.

If the disc comes out, check the following:

    • The disc is upside down
    • The disc is dirty, scratched or wet
    • The air is very humid. Wait approximately an hour and try again.

Perform the following functions in order to play or adjust a CD:

    • PREV (1)--Press this button or the left SEEK arrow in order to go to the previous track if the current selection has been playing for less than eight seconds. If the PREV button is pressed and the current selection has been playing for more than eight seconds, it will go to the beginning of the current selection. When you hold the button or press it more than once, the player will continue moving back through the disc. The sound will mute will seeking.
    • RDM (2)--Press this button to hear the tracks in random, rather than sequential order. RANDOM will show on the display. Press RANDOM again to turn off random play. RDM is reset to off when the disc is ejected.
    • NEXT (3)--Press this button or the right SEEK arrow in order to go to the next track. If you hold the button or press it more than once, the player will continue moving forward through the disc. The sound will mute while seeking.
    • REV (4)--Press this button in order to reverse within a track. Release it to play the passage. You can use the counter reading on the display to locate a passage easily.
    • FWD (6)--Press this button in order to advance quickly within the track. Release the button in order to resume playing.
    • RECALL -- Press this button to see which track is playing. Press it again to see how long it has been playing (elapsed time). The track number also appears when you change the volume or when a new track starts to play.
    • AM-FM--Press this button in order to play the radio when a disc is in the player. The letters CD will go off the display.
    • CD AUX--Press this button in order to change to the CD function when the radio is ON. The CD symbol will appear on the display when the disc is in the player, whether it is active or not. If the system is equipped with a remote playback device, pressing the CD AUX a second time will allow the remote playback device to play.
    • EJECT--Press this button in order to remove the disc. The radio will play once the disc is ejected. The disc will start at the first track when you reinsert it.
        The disc will stay in the player when you turn OFF the ignition or radio. When you turn ON the ignition or radio, the disc will start playing where it was stopped. If you press EJECT but do not remove the disc, the player will pull the disc back in to protect it after about one minute. The disc may get warm if you leave it in the player while listening to the radio.

Remote Cassette Tape Player (If Equipped)

With this option, the remote single cassette player is mounted to the console.

The tape player is built to work best with tapes that are 30--45 minutes long on each side. Tapes longer than 45 minutes are so thin they will not operate correctly in this player.

Playing a Cassette Tape

With the radio ON, insert a cassette tape. Once the tape is playing, use the control knobs for VOL, BAL, FADE, BASS and TREB on the radio. A lighted cassette symbol shows when a cassette tape is in the player. A lighted arrow will appear and show the direction of play when a tape is active.

Perform the following functions in order to play or adjust a cassette.

    • PREV (1)--Press this button or the SEEK down arrow in order to search for the previous selection on the tape. The tape must have at least 3 seconds of silence between each selection for PREV or SEEK to work.
        The tape direction arrow blinks during PREV or SEEK operation. Press PREV or the SEEK down arrow to stop searching. The sound will mute during PREV or SEEK operation.
    • NEXT (2)--Press this button or the SEEK up arrow in order to search for the next selection on the tape.
        The tape direction arrow blinks during the SEEK operation. The sound will mute during the SEEK operation.
    • REV (4)--Press this button in order to reverse the tape rapidly. Press it again in order to return to playing speed. Use the SEEK button or the TUNE knob in order to play the radio during the REV operation. The radio will play the last selected station.
    • (5)--Press this button in order to reduce the background noise. Note the Double-D symbol will appear on the display.
    • FWD (6)--Press this button in order to advance quickly to another part of the tape. Press the button again in order to return to the playing speed. Use the SEEK button or the TUNE knob in order to play the radio during the REV operation. The radio will play the last selected station.
    • PROG--Press this button in order to play the other side of the tape.
    • CD/AUX - After a cassette tape and a CD have been inserted, press the CD/AUX button to switch between the CD player and the cassette tape player. Both features cannot be played at the same time.
    • EJECT--Press this button on the remote cassette player in order to remove the tape. EJECT may be activated with either the ignition or radio OFF. Press EJECT before loading a cassette with the radio off to allow loading.
    • CLN--If this message appears on the display the cassette tape player needs to be cleaned. It will still play tapes but should be cleaned as soon as possible to prevent damage to the tapes and tape player. After you clean the player, press and hold the RECALL on the radio and the EJECT button on the remote cassette player at the same time for 5 seconds in order to reset the CLN indicator. The radio will display -- -- -- to show the indicator was reset.