GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Rear Seat Audio (RSA) With Entertainment System

This feature allows rear seat passengers to listen to and control any of the sources: radio, cassette tapes, CDs, DVD, and auxiliary device. However, the rear seat passengers can only control the sources that the front seat passengers are not listening to. For example, rear seat passengers may listen to and control a cassette tape or CD through headphones while the driver listens to the radio through the front speakers. The rear seat passengers have control of the volume for each set of headphones.

The front seat audio controls always have priority over the RSA controls. If the front seat passengers switch the source for the main radio to a remote source, the RSA will not be able to control the remote source. You can operate the RSA when the main radio is off.

The DVD or auxiliary device will always be available on channel A of the headphones. All other sources are available on channel B. You will not be able to listen to XM, on channel B, if you are listening to a DVD or an auxiliary device on channel B and vice versa.


Object Number: 809503  Size: B1
RSA PWR (Power): Press this button to turn the system on or off. The headphone symbol will appear on the display above the video screen when the system is on. The rear speakers will be muted when the RSA power is turned on.

BAND: Press this button to switch between FM1, FM2, or AM when the headphones are on channel B. The selected radio station will appear on the display above the video screen. If the front passengers are already listening to the radio, the RSA will not switch between the bands and cannot change the station.

(Tune): When listening to the radio, press the right or the left arrow to go to the next or the previous station and stay there. This function is inactive if the front seat passengers are listening to the radio. When a cassette tape is playing, press the right or the left arrow to go to the next or the previous selection. This function is inactive if the front seat passengers are listening to a cassette tape. When a CD is playing, press the right arrow to go to the next track on the CD. Press the left arrow to go to the start of the current track, if more than eight seconds have played. This function is inactive if the front seat passengers are listening to a CD.

P.SET SCAN (Preset Scan): Press and hold this button to scan the preset radio stations set on the pushbuttons on the main radio. The radio will go to a preset station stored on the pushbuttons, play for a few seconds, then go on to the next preset station. The selected radio station will appear on the display above the video screen. Press this button again to stop scanning presets. This function is inactive if the front seat passengers are listening to the radio. When a cassette tape is playing, press this button to go to the other side of the tape. This function is inactive if the front seat passengers are listening to a cassette tape. When a CD is playing in the six-disc CD changer, press this button to select the next CD, if multiple CDs are loaded. This function is inactive if the front seat passengers are listening to a CD.

CD TAPE: Press this button to switch between playing a cassette tape, CD, a DVD, or an auxiliary device when the headphones are on channel B. If one of the devices is not loaded, the system will skip over the device when this button is pressed.

Rear Seat Audio (RSA) Without Entertainment System

This feature allows rear seat passengers to listen to and control any of the sources: radio, cassette tapes, and CDs. However, the rear seat passengers can only control the sources that the front seat passengers are not listening to. For example, rear seat passengers may listen to and control a cassette tape or CD through headphones, while the driver listens to the radio through the front speakers. The rear seat passengers have control of the volume for each set of headphones.

The front seat audio controls always have priority over the RSA controls. If the front seat passengers switch the source for the main radio to a remote source, the RSA will not be able to control the remote source. You may operate the RSA when the main radio is off.

Primary Radio Controls

The following function is controlled by the main radio:

PWR (Power): Press this knob twice to turn RSA off.

Rear Seat Radio Controls


Object Number: 865163  Size: B2

The following functions are controlled by the RSA system:

PWR (Power): Press this button to turn the system on or off. The rear speakers will be muted when the RSA power is turned on.

VOL (Volume): Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn the knob to increase or to decrease the volume. Push the knob back into it's stored position when you are not using it. The upper VOL knob controls the upper headphones and the lower VOL knob controls the lower headphones.

BAND: Press this button to switch between FM1, FM2, or AM. If the front passengers are already listening to the radio, the RSA will not switch between the bands and cannot change the frequency. Press this button to play a CD when listening to the radio.

SEEK : When listening to the radio, press the up or the down arrow to go to the next or the previous station and stay there. This function is inactive if the front seat passengers are listening to the radio. To scan stations, press and hold either SEEK arrow until the radio goes into scan mode. The radio will go to a station, play for a few seconds, then go on to the next station. Press SEEK again to stop scanning. This function is inactive if the front seat passengers are listening to the radio. When a cassette tape is playing, press the up or the down arrow to go to the next or the previous selection. This function is inactive if the front seat passengers are listening to a cassette tape. When a CD is playing, press the up arrow to go to the next track on the CD. Press the down arrow to go to the start of the current track if more than eight seconds have played. This function is inactive if the front seat passengers are listening to the CD.

P.SET PROG (Preset Program): Press this button to scan the preset radio stations set on the pushbuttons on the main radio. The radio will go to a preset station stored on the pushbuttons, play for a few seconds, then go on to the next preset station. Press this button again to stop scanning presets. This function is inactive if the front seat passengers are listening to the radio. When a cassette tape is playing, press this button to go to the other side of the tape. This function is inactive if the front seat passengers are listening to a cassette tape. When a CD is playing in the six-disc CD changer, press this button to select the next CD, if multiple CDs are loaded. This function is inactive if the front seat passengers are listening to a CD.

TAPE CD: Press this button to play a cassette tape or a CD when listening to the radio. The inactive tape or CD will remain safely inside the radio for future listening.