GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Rear Seat Entertainment System


Object Number: 891487  Size: SH

Rear Seat Entertainment System

The rear seat entertainment (RSE) system augments the vehicle in-dash audio system with:

    • A digital versatile disc (DVD) player
    • A video display screen
    • Two sets of wireless infrared headphones
    • A remote control and
    • Stereo audio and video inputs in the overhead console for playing an auxiliary device

DVD Player


Object Number: 891489  Size: SH
(1)Eject Button
(2)Enter Button
(3)Menu Navigation Buttons
(4)DVD Menu Button
(5)Video Screen Display Menu Button
(6)Play / Pause Button
(7)Stop Button
(8)Source Button
(9)Power Button

DVD Player

The DVD player and the video display screen are located in the overhead console. The DVD player can be controlled by both the buttons on the DVD player and by the buttons on the remote control. The DVD player power may be turned on when the ignition is in the run, accessory, or retained accessory power (RAP) power modes. DVDs are manufactured with different region codes based on the country in which they are sold. Therefore, the RSE system DVD player is only compatible with the region code where the vehicle is sold. The DVD region code is printed on the jacket of most DVDs. The DVD player will also play audio CDs. Home recorded CDs, CD-R or CD-RW formats, will not play in this DVD player.

DVD Player Buttons

The following buttons operate the DVD player.

Eject: Press this button to eject the DVD or CD media.

Enter: Press this button to select items within a menu.

Menu Navigation: Use the arrow keys to navigate through a menu. The up arrow will skip to the next chapter or track; the down arrow acts as a previous chapter or track access key; the right arrow acts as fast forward, and the left arrow acts as rewind.

Menu: Press this button to access the DVD menu. This button does not operate with media other than DVD.

Display Menu: Press this button to modify the video screen display characteristics.

Play/Pause: Press this button to turn the DVD player on to play media, pause media, and to toggle between play and pause of media.

Stop: Press this button to stop play of media in the DVD player.

Source: Press this button to toggle between DVD player and auxiliary source.

Power: Press this button to turn the RSE system power On or Off.

Playing a Disc

To play a disc, gently insert the disc with the label side up, into the loading slot. The DVD player will continue to load the disc and the player will automatically start if the vehicle ignition is in an enabled power mode. If a disc is already in the player, press the play/pause button on the face of the DVD player or on the remote control. Some DVDs will not allow the user to fast forward or skip the copyright or previews. Some DVDs will automatically begin to play after the previews have finished. If the DVD does not begin to play the main title, refer to the on-screen instructions, and press play on the DVD player buttons or on the remote control.

Stopping and Resuming Play

To stop a disc, press and release the stop/eject button on the DVD player or the remote control. To resume playback, press the play/pause button on the DVD player or the remote control. The movie should resume play from where it was stopped. If the disc has been ejected, or if the stop button has been pressed 2 times, the disc will resume play at the beginning of the main title.

Ejecting the Disc

Press the eject button on the DVD player to eject the disc.

If a disc is ejected from the DVD player but is not removed, the DVD player will reload the disc within 25 to 30 seconds. The disc will then be stored in the DVD player. The DVD player will not resume play of this disc automatically upon its reload.

DVD Messages

The following errors may be displayed on the video screen monitor.

Disc Format Error: This message will be displayed if a disc is inserted upside down, the disc is not able to be read, or if the disc format is not compatible with the DVD player.

Load/Eject Error: This message will be displayed if the disc is not able to properly load or eject.

Disc Play Error: This message will be displayed if the DVD player cannot play the disc. Severely damaged discs will cause this error.

Region Code Error:  This message will be displayed if the region code of the DVD media is not compatible with the DVD player.

No Disc: This message will be displayed if the play button is pressed and there is no disc in the DVD player.

Parental Control


Object Number: 891491  Size: SH
(1)Auxiliary Inputs
(2)Parental Control Button
(3)DVD Screen Latch

Parental Control Button

This button is located on the forward part of the DVD console, near the driver of the vehicle. Press this button while media is playing in the DVD player to freeze the video and mute the audio. The video screen will display the message Parental Control ON and the power indicator light on the DVD player will flash at one-second intervals. While in this mode, all other button operations from the remote control and the DVD player, with the exception of the eject function, will be disabled. The driver will then be able to gain the attention of the rear seat passengers. Press this button again to restore normal operation of the DVD player. This button may also be used to turn the DVD power on and automatically resume play of the media within the DVD player if the vehicle is in an enabled power mode.

Video Screen

To use the video screen, push forward on the release latch and the screen will be free to rotate down. Adjust the screen's position as desired. The display menu button will allow different screen display modes, such as normal, full screen, zoom or cinema. When the video screen is not in use, push it up into its latched position.

The DVD player and video screen will continue to operate when the screen is in either the up (closed) or down (viewing) position. The video screen contains the infrared transmitters for the wireless headphones as well as the infrared receiver for the remote control. Therefore, if the screen is in the closed position the infrared signals will not be available for the operation of the headphones and the remote control.

Avoid directly touching the video screen, as damage may occur.

Remote Control

To use the remote control, aim it at the infrared window below the video screen and press the desired remote control button. Direct sunlight or very bright light may affect the ability of the entertainment system to receive signals from the remote control. If the remote control does not seem to be working, the batteries may need to be replaced. Objects blocking the line of sight may affect the function of the remote control.

Remote Control Buttons

DVD Player Power On/Off:  Press this button to turn the RSE system power ON or OFF.

RSERC Illumination: Press this button to turn the remote control backlight ON.

Title: Press this button to return the DVD media to the root menu of the DVD.

Menu: Press this button to access the DVD menu. This button does not operate with media other than DVD.

Display Menu: Press this button to modify the video screen display characteristics.

Return: The return button shall operate only when a DVD is being played and a menu is active. The return function allows the user to exit the current active menu and return to the previous superior menu.

Enter: Press this button to select items within a menu.

Audio: Pressing this button shall call-up a menu that shall operate only when a DVD is being played. The format and content of this function is defined by the disc and is dependent on the disc.

Angle: Pressing this button shall call-up a menu that shall operate only when a DVD is being played. The format and content of this function is defined by the disc and is dependent on the disc.

Subtitle: Pressing this button shall call-up a menu that shall operate only when a DVD is being played. The format and content of this function is defined by the disc and is dependent on the disc.

Source: Press this button to toggle between DVD player and auxiliary source.

Fast Forward: Press this button to fast forward the DVD in 5x speed. To stop fast forwarding, press this button again. This button may not work when the DVD is playing the copyright or the preview.

Fast Reverse: Press this button to fast rewind the DVD in 5x speed. To stop fast rewinding, press this button again. This button may not work when the DVD is playing the copyright or the preview.

Previous Track/Chapter: Press this button to return to the start of the current track/chapter. Press this button again to backup to the previous track/chapter. This button may not work when the DVD is playing the copyright material.

Next Track/Chapter: Press this button to advance to the beginning of the next track/chapter. The button may not work when the DVD is playing copyright material.

Stop: Press this button to stop play of media in the DVD player

Play/Pause: Press this button to turn the DVD player on, to play media, to pause media, and to toggle between play and pause of media.

Cancel: Pressing this button within 3 seconds of inputting a numeric selection shall clear all numeric inputs.

Numeric Keypad: The RSERC numeric keypad shall provide the operator with the capability of direct chapter/title/track number selection.

Menu Navigation: Use the arrow keys to navigate through a menu. The up arrow will skip to the next chapter or track; the down arrow acts as a previous chapter or track access key; the right arrow acts as fast forward, and the left arrow acts as rewind.

Battery Replacement

To change the batteries, do the following:

  1. Remove the battery compartment door located on the bottom of the remote control.
  2. Remove the batteries from the compartment.
  3. Replace the 2 AA-size batteries in the proper orientation.

If the remote control is to be stored for a long period of time, remove the batteries and keep them in a cool, dry place. Do not store the remote control in heat or direct sunlight. This could damage the remote control and would not be covered by your vehicle warranty. Keep the remote control stored in a cool, dry place.

Wireless Headphones

The RSE system includes 2 sets of wireless infrared headphones.

Each set of headphones has an ON/OFF control. To use the headphones activate the ON/OFF control. A red indicator light will illuminate on the headphones. If the light does not illuminate, the batteries may need to be replaced. See Battery Replacement in this section for more information. To turn the headphones OFF activate the ON/OFF control once again.

Each set of headphones has a rotary volume control. To adjust the volume, adjust this control. The headphones will automatically turn OFF if they lose the infrared signal from the system for approximately 4 minutes in order to preserve their battery power. The signal may be lost if the system is turned off or if the headphones are out of range of the infrared signal transmitters that are located below the video display screen.

Battery Replacement

To change the batteries, do the following:

  1. Loosen the screw on the battery compartment door located on the LEFT headphone earpiece.
  2. Remove the batteries from the compartment.
  3. Replace the 2 AAA-size batteries in the proper orientation.

If the headphones are to be stored for a long period of time, remove the batteries and keep them in a cool, dry place. Do not store the headphones in heat or direct sunlight. This could damage the headphones and would not be covered by your vehicle warranty. Keep the headphones stored in a cool, dry place.

Stereo RCA Jacks

The RCA jacks are located on the forward portion of the overhead console next to the parental control button. The RCA jacks allow you to connect audio and video from an auxiliary device such as a camcorder or a video game player to your RSE system just as you would to a standard television. Standard RCA cables are needed to connect the auxiliary device to the RCA jacks. The yellow connector transmits video while the red and white connectors transmit right and left stereo audio respectively. Please refer to the manufacturer's instructions for proper connection of your auxiliary device.

To use the auxiliary inputs on the RSE system, connect an external auxiliary device to the color-coded RCA jacks and turn both the auxiliary device and the RSE system power on. If the RSE system had been previously in the DVD player mode, the user will need to press the SRCE button on the faceplate or remote control to change to the auxiliary mode. Successive actuations of the SRCE button will toggle the RSE system between the auxiliary and DVD player modes.

Audio Output

Audio from the RSE system DVD player or auxiliary inputs may be heard through the following possible sources:

    • Wireless infrared headphones
    • Vehicle speakers
    • Vehicle wired headphone jacks on rear seat audio controller (if equipped)

The RSE system will always transmit the audio signal by infrared to the wireless headphones, if there is audio available. The RSE system is capable of outputting audio to the vehicle speakers by pressing the CD button on the vehicle's radio. The RSE system may be selected as an audio source on the radio if the RSE system power is on. Once the RSE system is selected as an audio source on the radio you may adjust the speaker volume on the radio to control the volume of the audio to the speakers. If the RSE system power is not on, the RSE system will not be an available source on the radio head unit. Please refer to the operating instructions for the vehicle radio for more information on its operation.

The RSE system is capable of outputting audio to the wired headphone jacks on the rear seat audio controller if the vehicle is so equipped. The RSE system may be selected as an audio source on the Rear Seat Audio controller if the RSE system power is on. Please refer to the operating instructions for the Rear Seat Audio Controller for more information on its operation.