Page 65 of 322
“r Controls
I Neutral (CONTJ
Shifting out of P (Park) or N
(Neutral) while your engine is
I “racing” (running at high speed) i: ’ ngerous. Unless your foot is
I llrmly on the brake pedal, your
vehicle could move very rapidly.
You
could lose control and hit people
or objects. Don’t shift out
of
P (Park) or N (Neutral) whill- --~ur
engine
is racin- Damage to your
transaxle caused
by shifting out
of P (Park) or
N (Neutral) with the engine racing
isn’t covered by your warranty.
Forward Gears
(Automatic Overdrive): This
position
is for normal driving. If you
need more power for passing, and
you’re:
Going less than about 35 mph (56 km/h),
push your accelerator pedal about
halfway down.
Going about 35 mph (56 h/h) or
more, push the accelerator all the way
down.
You’ll shift down to the next gear and
have more power.
... 64
ProCarManuals.com
Page 66 of 322

If your vehicle seems to start up
rather slowly, or if it seems not to
shift gears
as you go faster,
something may be wrong with a
transaxle system sensor. If you
drive very far that way, your
vehicle can be damaged.
So, if this
happens, have your vehicle
serviced right away. Until
then,
you can use 2 (Second Gear) when
vou are driving less than
35 mDh
i56 km/h) anza (0
higher speeds.
D (Third Gear): This is like , but
you never go into Overdrive. Here are
some times you might choose
D instead
When driving on hilly, winding roads.
When towing a trailer, so there is less
When going down a steep hill.
2 (Second Gear): This position gives
you more power but lower fuel
economy.
You can use 2 on hills. It can
help control your speed as you go down
steep mountain roads, but then you
would also want to use your brakes
off
and on.
ofm:
shifting between gears.
r
Don't drive in 2 (Second Gear) for I
more than 5 miles (8 km), or at
speeds over
55 mph (88 km/h), or
you
can damage your transaxle. Use
or
D as much as possible.
Don't shift into
2 unless you are
going slower than
65 mph
(105 km/h), or you can damage
your engine.
65 mmm
ProCarManuals.com
Page 67 of 322

Features & Controls
Forward Gears (CONT.)
1 (First Gear): This position gives you
even more power (but lower fuel
economy) than
2. You can use it on very
steep hills, or in deep snow or
mud. If
the selector lever is put in
1, the
transaxle won’t shift into first gear until
the vehicle is going slowly enough.
66
If your front wheels can’t rotate,
don’t try to drive. This might
happen if you were stuck
in very
deep sand or mud or were up
against a solid object. You could
damage your transaxle.
Also,
if you stop when going uphill,
don’t hold your vehicle there with
only the accelerator pedal. This
could overheat and damage the
transaxle.
Use your brakes or shift
into
P (Park) to hold your vehicle
in position
on a hill.
Performance Shifting (opTIoN)
Press PERFORM SHIFT to allow the
transaxle to shift at higher engine
speeds, increasing acceleration
performance. An indicator light on the
switch will glow when performance
shifting is in operation.
Downshifts will occur at a lower
percentage
of accelerator application
while you’re in the
PERFORM SHIFT
mode.
Press
NORMAL SHIFT to have the
transaxle shift at lower engine speeds, increasing fuel economy. An indicator
light on the switch will glow when
normal shifting is in operation.
ProCarManuals.com
Page 68 of 322
L-
Parking Brake
To Set the Parking Brake:
Hold the regular brake pedal down with
your right foot. Push down the parking
brake pedal with
your left foot. If the
ignition
is on, the brake system warning
light will come on.
A chime will sound
after the vehicle has traveled
46 feet
(14 meters),
To Release the Parking Brake:
Hold the regular brake pedal down. Pull
the
BRAKE RELEASE lever. If you
try to drive off with the parking brake
on, the brake light stays on and a chime
sounds until you release the parking
brake or recycle the ignition.
If You are on a Hill:
See the Index under Parking on Hitls.
That section shows how to turn your
front wheels.
If You are Towing a Trailer and are
Parking on
Any Hill:
See the Index under Towing a Trailer.
That section shows what to do first to
keep the trailer from moving.
67
c
...
ProCarManuals.com
Page 69 of 322
Features & Controls
1 Shifting Znto P (Park)
It can be dangerous to get out
~ b of your vehicle if the shift
lever is not fully
in P (Park) with
the parking brake firmly set. Your
vehicle can roll.
If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can
move suddenly. You or others
could be injured.
To be sure your
vehicle won’t move, when you’re
on fairly level ground, use the
steps that follow. If you are parking
on a hill, or if you’re pulling a
trailer, also see the
Index under
rking on Hills or Towing a
rrailer.
Steering Column Shift Lever
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your
right foot and set the parking brake. 2. Move the shift lever into the P (Park)
position as follows:
Pull the lever toward you.
68
ProCarManuals.com
Page 70 of 322
Move the lever up as far as it will go.
3. Move the ignition key to Lock.
4. Remove the key and take it with you.
If you can walk away from your
vehicle with the ignition key in your
hand, your vehicle
is in P (Park).
Console ShiR Lever
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your
right foot and set the parking brake. 2. Move the shift lever into P (Park)
position like this:
Hold in the button on the lever.
Push the lever all the way toward
the front of your vehicle.
3. Move the ignition key to Lock.
4. Remove the key and take it with you.
If you can walk away from your
vehicle with the ignition key in your
hand,
your vehicle is in P (Park).
69
ProCarManuals.com
Page 71 of 322

Features & Controls
Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine Running
It is dangerous to leave your
vehicle with the engine
nning. Your vehicle could move
ddenly if the shift lever is not
dy in P (Park) with the parking
brake firmly set. And, if
you leave
the vehicle with the engine
running,
it could overheat and even
catch fire. You or others could be
injured. Don’t leave your vehicle
with the engine running unless you
have to.
I
If you have to leave your vehicle with
the engine running, be sure your vehicle
is in
P (Park) and your parking brake is
firmly set before you leave
it. After
you’ve moved the shift lever into the
P (Park) position, hold the regular brake
pedal down. Then, see if you can move
the shift lever away from
P (Park)
without first pulling it toward you (or, if
you have the console shift lever, without
first pushing the button).
If you can, it means that the shift lever
wasn’t fully locked into
P (Park).
70
Shifting Out of P (Park)
Your Pontiac has a brake-transaxle shift
interlock. You have to fully
apply your
regular brakes
before you can shift from
P (Park) when the ignition is in the On
position. See the Index under Shifting
the Automatic Transaxle.
If you cannot shift out of P (Park), ease
pressure
on the shift lever-push the
shift lever all the way into
P (Park) and
also release the shift lever button on
floor shift console models as you
maintain brake application. Then move
the shift lever into the gear you wish.
(Press the shift lever button before
moving the shift lever on floor shift
console models.)
If you ever hold the
brake pedal down but still can’t shift out
of
P (Park), try this:
1. Turn the key to Off. Open and close
the driver’s door to
turn off the
Retained Accessory Power feature.
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step
4.
3. Shift to N (Neutral).
4. Start the vehicle and then shift to the
drive gear you want.
5. Have the vehicle fixed as soon as you
can.
ProCarManuals.com
Page 72 of 322
I CAUTION I
A
Things that can burn could
touch hot exhaust parts under
your vehicle and ignite. Don't park over papers, leaves,
dry grass or
other things that can burn.
A
Engine exhaust can kill. It contains the gas carbon monoxide (eo),
which you can't see or smell. It can cause unconsciousness and death.
You might have exhaust coming in if:
0 Your exhaust system sounds strange or different.
Your vehicle gets rusty underneath.
0 Your vehicle was damaged in a collision.
Your vehicle was damaged when driving over high points on the road or
0 Repairs weren't done correctly.
* Your vehicle or exhaust system has been modified improperly.
If
you ever suspect exhaust is coming into your vehicle:
0 Drive it only with all the windows down to blow out any CO; and
0 Have it fixed immediately.
over road debris.
I
r
ProCarManuals.com