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Features & Controls
‘1
Rear Door Security Locks (CONT.)
To Cancel the Rear Door Lock:
1 . Unlock the door from the inside and open the door from the outside.
48
2. Use a key to move the lock all the
3. Do the same for the other rear door.
The rear door locks will now work
normally. way
down.
Theft
Vehicle theft is big business, especially
in some cities.
Although your Pontiac has a number of
theft-deterrent features, we know that nothing we put on it can make it
impossible
to steal. However, there are
ways you can help.
Key in the Ignition: If you walk away
from your vehicle with the keys inside,
it’s an easy target for
joy riders or
professional thieves-so don’t do it.
When you park your Pontiac and open
the driver’s door, you’ll hear a chime
reminding you to remove your key from
the ignition and take it with you.
Always do
this. Your steering wheel will
be locked, and
so will your ignition. If
you have an automatic transaxle, taking
your key out
also locks your transaxle.
And remember to lock the doors.
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Parking at Night: Park in a lighted
spot, close all windows and lock your
vehicle. Remember to keep your valuables out of sight. Put them in a
storage area, or take them with you.
Parking Lots: If you park in a lot where
someone will be watching your vehicle,
it’s best to lock it up and take your keys.
But what if you have to leave your
ignition key? What if you have to leave something valuable in your vehicle?
Put your valuables in a storage area,
Activate the remote trunk release
Lock the glove box.
Lock all the doors except the driver’s.
Then take the door key with you.
like your trunk
or glove
box.
lockout feature.
Trunk Lock
To unlock the trunk from the outside,
insert the door key and
turn the trunk
lock cylinder.
Remote Trunk Release
Pull upward on the remote release
handle, located on the floor near the left
side of the driver’s seat, to release the
trunk lid. Make sure the lockout feature
is not activated.
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Features & Controls
Remote Trunk Release (CONK)
Lockout Feature:
The remote trunk release is equipped
with a lockout feature to help prevent
unauthorized entry into the trunk when
leaving the vehicle unattended. The
switch is located on the inside of the
trunk lid, mounted to the
trunk lid latch.
To turn the lockout on, slide the switch
all the way to the right.
To turn the
lockout off, slide the switch all the way
to the left.
When the lockout is on, the mechanical
remote trunk release will not release the
trunk lid. However, the trunk lid can
still be opened with the key.
Glove Box
Use the door key to lock and unlock the
glove box. To open, pull the glove box
handle toward you. Your
modern Pontiac doesn’t need
an elaborate “break-in.” But
it will
perform better in the long run if
you follow these guidelines:
Don’t drive at any one speed-
fast or slow-for the first 500
miles (804 km). Don’t make full-
throttle
starts
Avoid making hard st+ for the
first
200 miles (322 km) or so.
During this time your new brake
linings aren’t yet broken in. Hard stops with new linings can mean
premature wear and earlier
replacement. Follow this
“breaking-in” guideline every
time you get new brake linings
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lgnition Switch
With the ignition key in the ignition switch,
you can turn the switch
to five positions:
Accessory: An “~n” position in which
you can operate some of your electrical
power accessories. Press in the ignition
switch as you turn the top of it toward you.
Lock: The only position in which you
can remove the key. This locks your
steering wheel, ignition and transaxle
(on automatic models).
Off: Unlocks the steering wheel,
ignition, and transaxle (on automatic
models), but does not send electrical
power to any accessories. Use this
position if your vehicle must be pushed
or towed, but never try to push-start
your vehicle.
A warning chime will
sound if
you open the driver’s door when
the ignition is
off and the key is in
the ignition.
Run: An “on” position to which the
switch returns after you
start your
engine and release the switch. The
switch stays in the
Run position when
the engine is running. But even when
the engine is not running,
you can use
Run to operate your electrical power
accessories, and
to display some
instrument panel warning lights.
Start: Starts the engine. When the
engine starts, release the key. The
ignition switch will return to
Run for
normal driving.
Note that even if the engine is not
running, the positions
Accessory and
Run are “on” positions that allow you
to operate some of your electrical
accessories, such
as the radio.
Key Release Button
(MANML TRANSAXLE)
The ignition key cannot be removed
from the ignition unless the key release
button is used.
To Remove the Key:
Turn the key to the Lock position while
pressing the key release button in.
Keeping your finger on the button, pull
the key straight out.
51 ...
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Features & Controls
On manual transaxle vehicles,
lock the steering column
and result
in a loss of ability to steer the
vehicle. This could cause a
collision.
If you need to turn the
engine
off while the vehicle is
moving,
turn the key only to Off.
Don’t press the key release button
while the vehicle is moving.
L turning the key to Lock will
... 52
NOTICE Starting Your Engine
Engines start differently. The 8th digit of
your Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) shows the code letter or number
for your engine. You will find the
VIN
at the top left of your instrument panel.
(See the Index under @hide
IdentiJication Number.
) Follow the
proper steps to
start the engine.
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Features & Controls
Engine Block Heater (oPnoN)
In very cold weather, 0" F (-18" C) or
colder, the engine block heater can help.
You'll get easier starting and better fuel
economy during engine warm-up.
To Use the Block Heater:
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded
electrical
cord.
110-volt outlet. Plugging the cord into an
ungrounded outlet could cause
an electrical shock. Also, the
wrong kind of extension cord
could overheat and cause a fire.
You could be seriously injured.
1
Plug the cord into a properly
grounded three-prong 110-volt
outlet.
If the cord won't reach, use
a heavy-duty three-prong extension
cord rated for at least
15 amps.
I NOTICE
After you've used the block heater, , ;
be sure to store the cord as it was., ,(
moving engine parts. If you don't,
.. before, to keep it away from ,~
it could be damaged, ~".',:; ,"::,:;s ':,:';:::':;
How long should you keep the block
heater plugged in? The answer depends
on the weather, the kind
of oil you have,
and some other things. Instead of trying
to list everything here, we ask that you contact a Pontiac dealer in the area
where you'll be parking your vehicle.
The dealer can give you the best advice
for that particular area.
mmm 56
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Shifting the Automatic Transaxle
Your automatic transaxle has a shift
lever located on the console between the
seats.
There are several different positions for
your shift lever. In this manual, these
are referred
to by the commonly used
symbols in the right column below:
Park P
Reverse R
Neutral N
Drive D
Second 2
First 1
Park
P (hrk): This locks your front wheels.
It’s the best position to use when you
start your engine because your vehicle
can’t move easily.
I I
It can be dangerous to get out
b of your vehicle if the shift
hever is not fully in
P (Park) with
the parking brake firmly
set v-*7
vehicle can roll
Don’t leave your venue
WI I me
engine is running unless you llavr
to. 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 fair1
level ground, always set your
parking brake and move the shift
lever to
P (Park). See the Index
under Shifting into P (Park). If you
are parking
on a hill, or if you’re
pulling a trailer, also see the
Index
under Parking on Hills or %wing a
Trailer.
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Features & Controls
Park (CONT.)
Ensure the shift lever is fully in P (Park)
range before starting the engine. Your
Pontiac has a brake-transaxle shift
interlock. You have
to apply your
regular brake
before you can shift from
P (Park) when the ignition key is in the
Run position. If you cannot shift out of
P (Park), ease pressure on the shift
lever-push the shift lever all the way
into
P (Park)-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,) See
Shifting Out of P (Park) later
in this section.
Reverse
R (Reverse): Use this gear to back up.
Shifting to
R (Reverse) while your
vehicle
is moving forward could
damage your transaxle. Shift
to
R only after your vehicle is
stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to
get out of
snow, ice or sand without
damaging your transaxle,
see the Index
under If You ’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud,
Ice or Snow.
Neutral
N (Neutral): In this position, your
engine doesn’t connect with the wheels.
To restart when you’re already moving,
use
N (Neutral) only. Also, use N when
your vehicle is being towed.
A Shifting out of P (Park) or
1 N (Neutral) while your engine I
‘racing” (running at high speed)
is dangerous. Unless your foot is
firmly 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) while your
engine is racing.
I.. 58
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