GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Radio with CD (Base)


Object Number: 1546915  Size: B3

Radio with CD (MP3) shown, Radio with Six-Disc CD (MP3) similar


Object Number: 1546891  Size: B3

The vehicle has one of these radios as its audio system.

Radio Data System (RDS)

The radio may have the Radio Data System (RDS) feature. RDS is available for use only on FM stations that broadcast RDS information. This system relies upon receiving specific information from these stations and only works when the information is available. While the radio is tuned to an FM-RDS station, the station name or call letters display. In rare cases, a radio station can broadcast incorrect information that causes the radio features to work improperly. If this happens, contact the radio station.

Playing the Radio

(Power/Volume): Press to turn the system on and off. Turn clockwise or counterclockwise to increase or decrease the volume. The radio goes to the previous volume setting when the radio is turned on. The volume can still be adjusted by using the volume knob.

Speed Compensated Volume (SCV): The Radio with CD (MP3) and the Radio with Six-Disc CD (MP3) have SCV. SCV automatically adjusts the radio volume to compensate for road and wind noise as the vehicle increases or decreases speed while driving. The volume level should sound about the same while driving. To activate SCV:

  1. Set the radio volume to the desired level.
  2. Press the MENU button to display the radio setup menu.
  3. Press the pushbutton under the AUTO VOLUM (automatic volume) tab on the radio display.
  4. Press the pushbutton under the desired Speed Compensated Volume setting (OFF, Low, Med, or High) to select the level of radio volume compensation. The display times out after approximately 10 seconds. Each higher setting allows for more radio volume compensation at faster vehicle speeds.

Finding a Station

BAND: Press to switch between FM1, FM2, AM, or XM™. The selection displays.

(Tune): Turn to select radio stations.

SEEK : Press to go to the previous or the next station and stay there. To scan stations, press and hold either arrow for a few seconds until the radio beeps once. The radio goes to a station, plays for a few seconds, then goes to the next station. Press either arrow again to stop scanning. The radio seeks and scans stations only with a strong signal that are in the selected band.

(Information) (Radio with CD (Base)): Press to switch the display between the radio station frequency and the time. While the ignition is off, press to display the time.

(Information) (With XM™ Satellite Radio Service, MP3, and RDS Features): Press to display additional text information related to the current FM-RDS or XM station, or MP3 song. A choice of additional information such as: Channel, Song, Artist, and CAT (category) can appear. Continue pressing to highlight the desired tab, or press the pushbutton positioned under any one of the tabs and the information about that tab displays. When information is not available, No Info displays.

Setting Preset Stations (Radio with CD (Base))

If the radio does not have XM, up to 18 stations (six FM1, six FM2, and six AM), can be programmed on the six numbered pushbuttons. To program presets:

  1. Turn the radio on.
  2. Press BAND to select FM1, FM2, or AM.
  3. Tune in the desired station.
  4. Press and hold one of the six numbered pushbuttons for three seconds until a beep sounds. When that pushbutton is pressed and released, the station that was set, returns.
  5. Repeat the Steps 2 through 4 for each pushbutton.

Storing a Radio Station as a Favorite

Drivers are encouraged to set up their radio station favorites while the vehicle is in P (Park). Tune to favorite stations using the presets, favorites button, and steering wheel controls if the vehicle has this feature. See Defensive Driving .

If the vehicle has XM and has a FAV button, a maximum of 36 stations can be programmed as favorites using the six pushbuttons positioned below the radio station frequency tabs and by using the radio favorites page button (FAV button).

FAV (Favorites): Press to go through up to six pages of favorites, each having six favorite stations available per page. Each page of favorites can contain any combination of AM, FM, or XM stations. To store a station as a favorite:

  1. Tune to the desired radio station.
  2. Press the FAV button to display the page where you want the station stored.
  3. Press and hold one of the six pushbuttons until a beep sounds. When that pushbutton is pressed and released, the station that was set, returns.
  4. Repeat the steps for each pushbutton radio station you want stored as a favorite.

The number of favorites pages can be setup using the MENU button. To setup the number of favorites pages:

  1. Press the MENU button to display the radio setup menu.
  2. Press the pushbutton located below the FAV 1-6 tab.
  3. Select the desired number of favorites pages by pressing the pushbutton located below the displayed page numbers.
  4. Press the FAV button, or let the menu time out, to return to the original main radio screen showing the radio station frequency tabs and to begin the process of programming favorites for the chosen amount of numbered pages.

Setting the Tone (Bass/Midrange/Treble)

BASS/MID/TREB (Bass, Midrange, or Treble): The radio may display some or all tones, such as BASS, MID, and TREB. To adjust the tone settings, press the knob until the tone control tabs display. Press the pushbutton positioned under the desired tab, then turn the knob clockwise or counterclockwise to adjust the highlighted setting. The highlighted setting can also be adjusted by pressing either SEEK arrow, FWD, or REV button until the desired levels are obtained. If a station's frequency is weak, or has static, decrease the treble. The radio may be capable of adjusting bass, midrange, or treble to the middle position by pressing the pushbutton positioned under the BASS, MID (midrange), or TREB (treble) tab for more than two seconds. The radio beeps once and the level adjusts to the middle position. The radio may also be capable of adjusting all tone and speaker controls to the middle position by pressing the knob for more than two seconds until the radio beeps once.

EQ (Equalization): Press to select preset equalization settings. To return to the manual mode, press until Manual displays or start to manually adjust the bass and depending on your radio, midrange, or treble by pressing the knob.

Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)

BAL/FADE (Balance/Fade): To adjust balance or fade, press the if the radio has this symbol, or the knob until the speaker control tabs display. Continue pressing to highlight the desired tab, or press the pushbutton positioned under the desired tab. Turn the knob clockwise or counterclockwise to adjust the setting. The setting can also be adjusted by pressing either SEEK arrow, FWD, or REV until the desired levels are obtained. The radio may be capable of adjusting balance or fade to the middle position by pressing the pushbutton positioned under the BAL or FADE tab for more than two seconds. The radio beeps once and the level adjusts to the middle position. The radio may also be capable of adjusting all speaker and tone controls to the middle position by pressing the knob for more than two seconds until the radio beeps once.

Finding a Category (CAT) Station (XM™ Satellite Radio Service Only)

CAT (Category): Your radio may have the CAT button feature. To select and find a desired category:

  1. Press the BAND button until the XM frequency displays. Press the CAT button to display the category tabs on the radio display. Continue pressing the CAT button until the desired category name displays.
  2. Press either of the two buttons below the desired category tab to immediately tune to the first XM station associated with that category.
  3. Turn the knob, press the buttons below the right or left arrows displayed, or press the SEEK arrows to go to the previous or to the next XM station within the selected category.
  4. To exit the category search mode, press the FAV button or BAND button to display favorites again.

Undesired XM categories can be removed through the setup menu. To remove an undesired category:

  1. Press the MENU button to display the radio setup menu.
  2. Press the pushbutton located below the XM CAT tab.
  3. Turn the knob to display the category to be removed.
  4. Press the pushbutton located under the Remove tab until the category name along with the word Removed displays.
  5. Repeat the steps to remove more categories.

Removed categories can be restored by pressing the pushbutton under the Add tab when a removed category displays or by pressing the pushbutton under the Restore All tab.

Categories cannot be removed or added while the vehicle is moving faster than 5 mph (8 km/h).

Radio Messages

Calibration Error: The audio system has been calibrated for the vehicle from the factory. If Calibration Error displays, it means that the radio has not been configured properly for your vehicle and it must be returned to your dealer/retailer for service.

Loc or Locked: If Loc or Locked displays, it means the THEFTLOCK® system has locked up. Take the vehicle to your dealer/retailer for service. If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error cannot be corrected, contact your dealer/retailer.

XM™ Satellite Radio Service

XM is a satellite radio service that is based in the 48 contiguous United States and 10 Canadian provinces. XM Satellite Radio has a wide variety of programming and commercial-free music, coast-to-coast, and in digital-quality sound. During your trial or when you subscribe, you will get unlimited access to XM Radio Online for when you are not in the vehicle. A service fee is required to receive the XM service. For more information, contact XM at xmradio.com or call 1-800-929-2100 in the U.S. and xmradio.ca or call 1-877-438-9677 in Canada.

Radio Messages for XM™ Only

See XM Radio Messages later in this section for further detail.

Playing a CD

Insert a CD partway into the slot, label side up. The player pulls it in and the CD should begin playing.

If the ignition or radio is turned off while 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 3 inch (8 cm) single CDs with an adapter ring. Full-size CDs and the smaller CDs are loaded in the same manner.

For vehicles that have a Radio with a Six-Disc CD player:

LOAD : Press to load CDs into the CD player. This CD player holds up to six CDs.

To insert one CD, do the following:

  1. Press and release the load button.
  2. Wait for the message to insert the disc.
  3. Load a CD. Insert the CD partway into the slot, label side up. The player pulls the CD in.

To insert multiple CDs:

  1. Press and hold the load button for two seconds. A beep sounds and Load All Discs displays.
  2. Follow the displayed instruction on when to insert the discs. The CD player takes up to six CDs.
  3. Press this button again to cancel loading more CDs.

If the ignition or radio is turned off, while a CD is in the player, it stays in the player. When the ignition or radio is turned on, the CD starts playing where it stopped, if it was the last selected audio source.

EJECT: For the Radio with a Single CD player, press to eject the CD. If the CD is not removed, after several seconds, the CD automatically pulls back into the player. For the Radio with a Six-Disc CD player, press and release to eject the CD that is currently playing. The radio beeps once and Ejecting Disc displays. Once the disc is ejected, Remove Disc displays. The CD can be removed. If the CD is not removed, after several seconds, the CD automatically pulls back into the player and begins playing. Press and hold for two seconds to eject all discs.

(Tune): Turn to select tracks on the CD currently playing.

SEEK : Press the left arrow to go to the start of the current track, if more than ten seconds have played. Press the right arrow to go to the next track. If either arrow is held, or pressed multiple times, the player continues moving backward or forward through the tracks on the CD.

REV (Fast Reverse): Press and hold to reverse playback quickly within a track. Sound is heard at a reduced volume. Release to resume playing the track. The elapsed time of the track displays.

FWD (Fast Forward): Press and hold to advance playback quickly within a track. Sound is heard at a reduced volume. Release to resume playing the track. The elapsed time of the track displays.

RDM (Random): Tracks can be listened to in random, rather than sequential order, on one CD or all CDs in a Six-disc CD player. To use random on the base radio with Single CD player, press the RDM button to play tracks from a CD in random order. The random icon displays. Press again to turn off random play. The random icon disappears from the display.

To use random on an Uplevel Radio with a Single CD player:

  1. Press the CD/AUX button, insert a disc partway into the slot of the CD player. A RDM tab displays.
  2. To play the tracks in random order, press the pushbutton positioned under the RDM tab until Random Current Disc displays. Press the pushbutton again to turn off random play.

To use random on a radio with a Six-Disc CD player:

  1. Press the CD/AUX button, press and hold . A beep sounds and Load All Discs displays. Insert one or more discs partway into the slot of the CD player.
  2. To play tracks from all CDs loaded in random order, press the pushbutton positioned under the RDM tab until Randomize All Discs displays. Press the same pushbutton again to turn off random play.
RPT (Repeat): With repeat, one track or an entire CD can be repeated. To use repeat on the base radio with a Single CD player:

    • Press and release the RPT button to repeat the current track. An arrow symbol displays. Press again to turn off repeat play.
    • Press and hold the RPT button for a few seconds to repeat the CD. An arrow symbol displays. Press again to turn off repeat play. When repeat is off, the symbol no longer displays.
BAND: Press to listen to the radio while a CD is playing. The CD remains inside the radio for future listening.

CD/AUX (CD/Auxiliary): Press to play a CD while listening to the radio. The CD icon and a message showing disc and/or track number displays when a CD is in the player. Press this button again and the system automatically searches for an auxiliary input device, such as a portable audio player. If a portable audio player is not connected, No Aux Input Device Found may display.

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.

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.

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, or 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.

Playing an MP3 CD-R or CD-RW Disc

the radio may have MP3 CD-R or CD-RW disc capability. For more information, see Using an MP3 later in this section.

CD Messages

CHECK DISC: If an error message displays and/or the CD comes out, it could be for one of the following reasons:

    • 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.
    • There could have been a problem while burning the CD.
    • The label could be caught in the CD player.

If there is no apparent damage, try a known good CD.

If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error cannot be corrected, contact your dealer/retailer. If the radio displays an error message, write it down and provide it to your dealer/retailer while reporting the problem.

Using the Auxiliary Input Jack

The radio system has an auxiliary input jack located on the lower right side of the faceplate. This is not an audio output; do not plug the headphone set into the front auxiliary input jack. However, an external audio device such as an iPod, laptop computer, MP3 player, CD changer, or cassette tape player, etc. can be connected to the auxiliary input jack for use as another source for audio listening.

Drivers are encouraged to set up any auxiliary device while the vehicle is in P (Park). See Defensive Driving for more information on driver distraction.

To use a portable audio player, connect a 3.5 mm (1/8 inch) cable to the radio's front auxiliary input jack. While a device is connected, press the radio CD/AUX button to begin playing audio from the device over the vehicle speakers.

(Power/Volume): Turn to increase or decrease the volume of the portable player. Additional volume adjustments might need to be made from the portable device.

BAND: Press to listen to the radio while a portable audio device is playing. The portable audio device continues playing, so you might want to stop it or turn it off.

CD/AUX (CD/Auxiliary): Press to play a CD while a portable audio device is playing. Press again and the system begins playing audio from the connected portable audio player. If a portable audio player is not connected, No Aux Input Device Found may display.