GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Radio with CD shown, AM-FM Radio similar


Object Number: 807379  Size: B2

Radio with Cassette


Object Number: 808613  Size: B2

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

Playing the Radio

PWR (Power): Press to turn the system on and off.

VOL (Volume): Turn clockwise or counterclockwise to increase or to decrease the volume.

RCL (Recall): Press to switch the display between the radio station frequency and the time. When the ignition is off, press to display the time.

Finding a Station

AM FM: Press to switch between FM1, FM2, and AM. The selection displays.

TUNE: Turn to select radio stations.

SEEK : Press the arrows to go to the previous or to the next station. To scan stations, press and hold either arrow for two seconds until a beep sounds. The radio goes to a station, plays for a few seconds, then goes to the next station. Press either arrow again to stop scanning. To scan preset stations, press and hold either arrow for more than four seconds until two beeps sound. The radio goes to the first preset station stored on the pushbuttons, plays for a few seconds, then goes to the next preset station. Press either arrow again to stop scanning presets. The radio only seeks and scans stations, with a strong signal, that are in the selected band.

Setting Preset Stations

Up to 18 stations (six FM1, six FM2, and six AM), can be programmed on the six numbered pushbuttons, by performing the following steps:

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

Setting the Tone (Bass/Treble)

AUDIO: To adjust the bass or the treble, press and release the AUDIO button until BAS (bass) or TRE (treble) displays. Then press and hold the up or the down arrow to increase or to decrease. If a station is weak or has static, decrease the treble. To adjust bass or treble to the middle position, select BAS or TRE. Then press and hold the AUDIO button for more than two seconds until a beep sounds. B and a zero or T and a zero displays. To adjust both tone controls and both speaker controls to the middle position, first end out of audio mode by pressing another button, causing the radio to perform that function, or by waiting five seconds for the display to return to the time of day. Then press and hold the AUDIO button for more than two seconds until a beep sounds. CEN (center) displays.

Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)

AUDIO: To adjust the balance between the right and the left speakers, press and release the AUDIO button until BAL (balance) displays. Then press and hold the up or the down arrow to move the sound toward the right or the left speakers. To adjust the fade between the front and the rear speakers, press and release the AUDIO button until FAD (fade) displays. Then press and hold either arrow to move the sound toward the front or the rear speakers. To adjust balance or fade to the middle position, select BAL or FAD. Then press and hold AUDIO for more than two seconds until a beep sounds. B (balance) and a zero or F (fade) and a zero displays. To adjust both tone controls and both speaker controls to the middle position, first end out of audio mode by pressing another button, causing the radio to perform that function, or by waiting five seconds for the display to return to the time of day. Then press and hold the AUDIO button for more than two seconds until a beep sounds. CEN displays. Fade may not be available if the vehicle is a regular cab model.

Radio Messages

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

LOC (Locked): This message displays when the THEFTLOCK® system has locked up. Take the vehicle to your dealer/retailer for service. If any error occurs repeatedly or cannot be corrected, contact your dealer/retailer.

Playing a CD

Insert a CD partway into the slot, label side up. The player pulls it in and the CD should begin playing. CD displays. If you want to insert a CD with the ignition off, first press the eject button or the RCL knob.

If you insert a CD with the radio off and the ignition on, it starts to play.

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 playing where it stopped, if it was the last selected audio source.

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.

Care of Your 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 Your 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.

1 PREV (Previous): Press to go to the beginning of the current track if more than eight seconds have played. The track number displays. If this pushbutton is held or pressed more than once, the player continues moving backward through the CD.

2 NEXT: Press to go to the next track. The track number displays. If this pushbutton is held or pressed more than once, the player continues moving forward through the CD.

3 REV (Reverse): Press and hold to reverse quickly within a track. Release to play the passage. The elapsed time of the track displays.

4 FWD (Forward): Press and hold to advance quickly within a track. Release to play the passage. The elapsed time of the track displays.

5 RDM (Random): Press to hear the tracks in random, rather than sequential, order. RND displays. Press again to turn off random play. OFF displays.

6 RPT (Repeat): Press once to hear a track over again. RPT displays. The current track continues to repeat. Press again to turn off repeat play. OFF displays.

SEEK : Press the left or right arrow to go to the previous or to the next track. The track number displays. If either arrow is held or pressed more than once, the player continues moving backward or forward through the CD.

RCL (Recall): Press this to see the current track number or how long the current track has been playing.

AM FM: Press to listen to the radio when a CD is playing. The inactive CD remains inside the radio for future listening.

CD: Press to play a CD when listening to the radio. CD displays if a CD is loaded.

(Eject): Press to eject a CD. Eject can be activated with either the ignition or radio off. CDs may be loaded with the ignition and radio off if this button is pressed first.

CD Messages

If 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 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/retailer. If the radio displays an error message, write it down and provide it to your dealer/retailer when reporting the problem.

Playing a Cassette Tape

The tape player is built to work best with tapes that are up to 30 to 45 minutes long on each side. Tapes longer than that are so thin they might not work well in this player. The longer side with the tape visible should face to the right. If you hear nothing or hear a garbled sound, the tape might not be in squarely. Press the (eject) button to remove the tape and start over.

If the ignition and the radio are off, press the eject button or the RCL knob to insert and to begin play of a tape. If the ignition is on and the radio is off, the tape can be inserted and begins playing. CAS (cassette) displays when a tape is inserted.

While the tape is playing, use the VOL, AUDIO, and SEEK controls just as you do for the radio. The radio displays UP if the top side of the tape is playing. DN (Down) appears if the bottom side is playing. The tape player plays the other side of the tape when it reaches the end.

Cassette tape adapter kits for portable CD players works in the cassette tape player. See "CD Adapter Kits" later for more information.

The tape bias is set automatically when a metal or chrome tape is inserted.

If an error displays, see "Cassette Tape Messages" later in this section.

1 PREV (Previous): The tape must have at least three seconds of silence between each selection for previous to work. Press this pushbutton to go to the previous selection on the tape if the current selection has been playing for less than three seconds. If pressed when the current selection has been playing from three to 13 seconds, it goes to the beginning of the previous selection or the beginning of the current selection, depending on the position on the tape. If pressed when the current selection has been playing for more than 13 seconds, it goes to the beginning of the current selection. Pressing this pushbutton multiple times increases the number of selections to be searched back, up to -9. Pressing the NEXT pushbutton cancels the selections.

2 NEXT: The tape must have at least three seconds of silence between each selection for next to work. Press this pushbutton to go to the next selection on the tape. Pressing this pushbutton multiple times in the next mode increases the number of selections to be searched forward. Pressing the PREV pushbutton cancels the selections.

3 REV (Reverse): Press to quickly reverse the tape. FR  displays. The radio plays while the tape reverses. Press it again to return to playing speed. Select stations during reverse operation by using the TUNE or SEEK controls or by using the scan or preset scan features.

4 FWD (Forward): Press to quickly advance the tape. FF displays. The radio plays while the tape advances. Press again to return to playing speed. Select stations during forward operation by using the TUNE or SEEK controls or by using the scan or preset scan features.

5 SIDE: Press to play the other side of the tape.

6 RPT (Repeat): The tape must have at least three seconds of silence between each selection for repeat to work. Press and release to hear a selection over again. RPT displays. Press again to turn off repeated play. OFF displays.

SEEK : The tape must have at least three seconds of silence between each selection for seek to work. The left arrow is the same as the PREV pushbutton and the right arrow is the same as the NEXT pushbutton. If either the left or right arrow is held or pressed more than once, the player continues moving backward or forward through the tape.

AM FM: Press to listen to the radio when a tape is playing. The inactive tape remains inside the radio for future listening.

TAPE: Press to play a cassette tape when listening to the radio. CAS displays when a tape is loaded.

(Eject): Press to eject a tape. Eject can be activated with the radio off. Cassette tapes can be loaded with the ignition and radio off if this button is pressed first.

Care of the Cassette Tape Player

A tape player that is not cleaned regularly can cause reduced sound quality, ruined cassettes, or a damaged mechanism. Cassette tapes should be stored in their cases away from contaminants, direct sunlight and extreme heat. If they are not properly stored, they may not operate properly or may cause failure of the tape player.

The tape player should be cleaned regularly after every 50 hours of use. The radio may display CLN to indicate that the tape player has been used for 50 hours without resetting the tape clean timer. If this message appears on the display, the cassette tape player needs to be cleaned. It will still play tapes, but it should be cleaned as soon as possible to prevent damage to the tapes and player. If there is a reduction in sound quality, try a known good cassette to see if the tape or the tape player is at fault. If this other cassette has no improvement in sound quality, clean the tape player.

For best results, use a scrubbing action, non-abrasive cleaning cassette with pads which scrub the tape head as the hubs of the cleaner cassette turn. The recommended cleaning cassette is available through your dealer/retailer.

The cut tape detection feature of the cassette tape player may identify the cleaning cassette as a damaged tape. To prevent the cleaning cassette from being ejected, use the following steps:

  1. Turn the ignition on.
  2. Turn the radio off.
  3. Press and hold the TAPE button for two seconds until the radio produces one beep. CAS will flash on the display for five seconds.
  4. Insert the scrubbing action cleaning cassette.
  5. Eject the cleaning cassette after the manufacturer's recommended cleaning time.
  6. After the cleaning cassette is ejected, the cut tape detection feature will be active again.

A non-scrubbing action, wet-type cleaner which uses a cassette with a fabric belt to clean the tape head can be used. This type of cleaning cassette will not eject on its own. A non-scrubbing action cleaner may not clean as thoroughly as the scrubbing type cleaner. The use of a non-scrubbing action, dry-type cleaning cassette is not recommended.

After the player is cleaned, press and hold the eject button for three seconds to reset the CLN indicator. The radio will display --- to show the indicator was reset.

Cassettes are subject to wear and the sound quality may degrade over time. Always make sure the cassette tape is in good condition before the tape player is serviced.

Cassette Tape Messages

ERR (Error): If the player detects a tight or broken tape, this message displays and the player ejects the tape. The radio goes back to playing the last station selected.

CLN (Clean): If this message displays, the cassette tape player needs to be cleaned. It still plays tapes, but it should be cleaned as soon as possible to prevent damage to the tapes and player. See "Care of the Cassette Tape Player" later in this section.

If the cassette is not playing correctly, for any other reason, try a known good cassette.

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 when reporting the problem.

CD Adapter Kits

It is possible to use a portable CD player adapter kit with the cassette tape player after deactivating the tight/loose tape sensor feature on the tape player.

To deactivate this feature, use the following steps:

  1. Turn the ignition on.
  2. Turn the radio off.
  3. Press and hold the TAPE button for two seconds until one beep is produced. CAS flashes, indicating that the TIGHT/LOOSE TAPE sensor feature is no longer active.
  4. Insert the adapter into the cassette slot.

The override feature remains active until the button is pressed.