GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

Power Button (PWR)-On/Off Switch

Important: When jump starting the vehicle, turn off the radio in order to avoid damage to the sound system.

Pressing the PWR knob alternately turns the radio ON or OFF. On the UN6 and UM7, the power knob is a rotary ON/OFF switch that is shared with the volume control.

Volume Control (VOLUME)

A single multi-function rotary/push control provides the following functions:

    • The on-off power
    • The volume control

The volume control portion of the switch is a continuous rotary detente type with 36 detents per revolution. You may increase or decrease the volume over a range of 64 possible steps. The volume function will not be available during radio conditions that do not permit audio output. Actively seeking/scanning in tuner or tape modes does not permit audio output. Volume changes do not affect the radio display. The volume function is replicated on the steering wheel control with separate volume buttons. Each momentary button closure causes the volume to increase or decrease by one step. Pressing either one of these buttons causes the volume to change at a rate of 12 steps per second.

Stereo Indicator

The letters ST displays whenever a stereo broadcast is received.

Tune Control

On the UN6 and UM7 model, the tuning control is a continuous rotary knob with 20 detentes per revolution. Turn the control in the desired direction in order to tune the receiver:

    • Clockwise turning increases the frequency
    • Counterclockwise turning decreases the frequency.

The ULO, UNO, and UPO models, incorporate a vertically-mounted tuning control button.

    • Pressing the top portion of the button increases the frequency.
    • Pressing the bottom portion of the button decreases the frequency.

Frequency is either increased or decreased by one channel per detente.

Adjusting the tuning control will stop the SEEK and SCAN functions. Tuning will then continue from the last frequency where the SEEK/SCAN function stopped. The tuning function is replicated on the steering wheel controls with the separate SEEK and SCAN buttons, when equipped.

AM-FM Switching

The AM/FM button is a sequencing, push-push type that toggles between the AM, FM1 and the FM2 bands. The button is active anytime the unit is on.

Pressing the AM/FM button while the radio is in the receiver mode changes the tuning to the frequency which was last selected on the next band. Pressing the AM/FM button while the radio is in the playback mode causes the unit to switch into the receiver mode at the last selected band and frequency. The following band switching sequence is from an initial state of FM1:

  1. The first push toggles the receiver to FM2.
  2. The second push toggles the receiver to AM.
  3. The third push toggles the receiver back to FM1.

Recall Control (RECALL)

On the UN6 and UM7 model, the RECALL activator is a knob. On all other models this activator is a button. Press this activator briefly in order to recall the station being played or to display the clock. To change what is normally shown on the display (station or time), press this activator until you see the display you want, then hold this activator until the displays flashes. If you press this activator when the ignition is OFF, the clock will show for a few seconds.

Bass and Treble Controls

Bass and Treble controls are separate rotary control knobs. Each control is used for adjusting the system's audio frequency response. Operate the BASS function by first pressing and releasing the knob to the out position. This affects only the lower audio frequencies and has a center frequency of 60 Hz. Operate the TREB (treble) function by first pressing and releasing the knob to the out position, then pulling to the fully extended position. This affects the high audio frequencies and has a center frequency of 10kHz. The center position of a given control indicates the flat response over that particular frequency range.

Moving a control to the right of center position produces boost. Moving a control to the left of center position produces a cut in frequency range related to that control. All units incorporate a loudness feature that automatically increases bass bias at low listening levels. On the Auto Tone Control (ATC) models, any adjustment of the controls activates the MANUAL tone control (ATC) mode. The adjustment of the controls establishes the MANUAL ATC mode as default. The MANUAL tone mode displays on the ATC models. The bass and treble changes do not affect the radio display on non-ATC models.

Fade Control

On the UN6 and UM7 model, turn the ring behind the lower knob in order to adjust the relative sound between the front and the rear speakers. On all other models, press and release the knob to the out position. Turn the knob either to the left or the right in order to adjust the relative sound between the rear and the front speakers.

Balance (BAL) Control

On the UN6 and UM7 model, turn the ring behind the upper knob in order to adjust the relative sound between the left and the right speakers. On all other models, press and release the knob to the out position. Turn the knob to the left or the right in order to adjust the relative sound between the left and the right channels.

Auto Set Buttons

Pressing the AUTO SET button sets the following items on the preset buttons:

    • The 12 strongest FM stations
    • The 6 strongest AM stations

Press the AUTO SET button again in order to return to the preset stations that were manually set.

Station Preset Buttons

The 6 favorite station preset push-buttons serve a dual role with the cassette and the compact disc player functions. When in the receiver mode, these preset buttons serve as station memories. When a CD or a tape is being played, the buttons perform the CD or the tape deck functions as described elsewhere in this section.

The following 18 presets are available:

    • 6 AM presets
    • 6 FM1 presets
    • 6 FM2 presets

To set a station preset perform the following steps:

  1. Select the desired band, AM or FM.
  2. Tune to the desired station.
  3. Press TONE in order to set the equalization setting for the station.
  4. Press and hold one of the 6 numbered buttons.
  5. The sound will mute. When the sound returns, release the button. Push the buttons again in order to return to the preset stations.

Seek Buttons

All radios feature a dial direction seek. On model UN6, pressing the right-hand arrow SEEK button causes the radio to seek up in frequency. Pressing the left-hand arrow SEEK button causes the radio to seek down in frequency.

All other models incorporate a vertically mounted SEEK button. Pressing the top portion of the button causes the radio to seek up in frequency. Pressing the bottom portion causes the radio to seek down in frequency. The steering wheel SEEK control button replicates this function.

Scan Button

Pressing one of the SEEK buttons for 2 seconds causes SCAN to appear in the display. The radio goes to the next higher or lower station for 5 seconds, then goes on to the next station. Press the SEEK button again in order to stop scanning.

Preset Scan

Press the P-SCAN in order to scan the preset stations for 5 seconds, then continue scanning. Press P-SCAN in order to stop scanning.

Setting the Time of Day

Set the time-of-day (TOD) by using the HRS (hours) and MIN (minutes) buttons. There is an initial delay of 2 seconds after the first button depression, before the unit enters the time set mode.

    • Pressing HRS causes the hours display to increase.
    • Pressing MIN causes the minutes display to increase.

Auto Tone Control (ATC Model Specific)

The TONE button is a sequencing, push-push type switch. The tone button switches between predetermined frequency response curves and a manual mode (BASS & TREB controls functional). The following sequence occurs in a continuous loop configuration:

  1. MANUAL
  2. CLASS (Classical)
  3. POP
  4. ROCK
  5. JAZZ
  6. TALK
  7. C & W (Country & Western)

When you select a specific ATC mode with the TONE button, the ATC mode becomes the default. This ATC setting is stored along with the receiver preset frequencies and is recalled whenever you select the preset.

Error Displays

Tape Player

  1. The radio will display error codes for the tape player, integral CD Player, and remote cd player.
  2. The radio will display the following tape player error codes for tight tape, broken tape, and wrapped tape. If these conditions are detected, the radio will switch to the radio mode and eject the tape. The error code will be displayed for 5 seconds, followed by the tuner display, then the 'default'.
  3. • E10-Tight tape
    • E11-Broken tape
    • E13-Communication problem
    • E14-Wrapped tape
  4. The radio will display the following Integral CD Player error codes. If one of these problems is detected, the unit will switch to the radio mode and eject the CD. The display will show TOD, if the unit is off or radio frequency for 5 seconds, then the 'default', if the unit is on.
  5. • E20-Optics focus error, maybe due to moisture
    • E21-Optics loss of tracking control, maybe due to blemishes on disc
    • E22-Load/Unload motor problem
    • E23-Communication problem
  6. The radio will display the following Remote CD Player error codes. If one of these problems is detected, the unit will switch to the radio mode and eject the CD. The display will show TOD, if the unit is off or radio frequency for 5 seconds, then the 'default', if the unit is on.
  7. • E30-Focus Error
    • E31-Loss of Tracking Control
    • E34-Door Open