How to Use this Manual
Vehicle Symbols (CQNT.)
These symbols are on some of your
controls:
Windshield
WiperlWasher
Windshield Defroster
Rear Window Defogger
Ventilating Fan
Power Window
These symbols are used on warning and
indicator lights:
Engine Coolant - Fd
Temperature .HccF
Battery Charging
System
Fuel
Engine Oil Pressure
Brake
Anti-Lock Brakes
Here are some other symbols you may
see:
Fuse
Trunk Release
Lighter
Horn
Speaker
Hood Release
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Here you can learn about the
many standard and optional
features on your Pontiac. and information on starting. shifting and
braking
. Also explained are the
instrument panel and the warning
systems that tetl you if everything is
working properly-and what to
do if
you have a problem .
Features & Controls
Keys ........................................................................\
........................................... 44
Locks ........................................................................\
......................................... 45
Remote Lock Control ........................................................................\
................ 46
Glove Box ........................................................................\
................................... 50
Ignition ........................................................................\
....................................... 52
Starting Your Engine ........................................................................\
................. 54
Engine Block Heater ........................................................................\
.................. 56
Shifting the Transaxle ........................................................................\
................ 57
Second-Gear Start ........................................................................\
..................... 61
Parking Brake ........................................................................\
............................. 64
Shifting into Park ........................................................................\
....................... 65
Windows ........................................................................\
..................................... 70
Turn Signal/Headlight Beam Lever .................................................................. 70
Cruise Control ........................................................................\
............................ 72
Windshield Wipers ........................................................................\
..................... 76
Windshield Washer ........................................................................\
.................... 77
Headlights ........................................................................\
.................................. 78
Interior Lights ........................................................................\
............................ 81
Mirrors ........................................................................\
........................................ 83
Storage Compartments ........................................................................\
.............. 85
Ashtrays and Lighter ........................................................................\
................. 87
Sunroof ........................................................................\
....................................... 90
Instrument Panel ........................................................................\
....................... 92
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators .............................................................. 95
Driver Information Center ........................................................................\
...... 105
Head-Up Display ........................................................................\
..................... 110
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[ou cannot go from 5 (Fifth Gear) into
R (Reverse). If you try, you will be
ocked out.
You must first shift to 1,2,
5 or 4 and then shift into R (Reverse).
rhis is
a safety feature.
Shift
to R (Reverse) only after your
vehicle is stopped. Shifting to
R (Reverse) while your vehicle is
moving
could damage your
transaxle.
Use, use R (Reverse), along with the
mlting brake, for parking your vehicle.
I
Shift Light
If you have a manual transaxle, you
have a shift light. This light will show
you when to shift to the next higher
gear for best fuel economy.
When this light comes on, you can shift
to the next higher gear if weather, road
and traffic conditions let you.
For the best fuel economy, accelerate
slowly and shift when the light comes
on.
While
you accelerate, it is normal for
the light to
go on and off if you quickly
change the position
of the accelerator.
Ignore the shift light when you
downshift.
I
Shift Speeds
(IWANUAL TRANSAXLE)
This chart shows when to shift to the
next higher gear for the best
fuel
economy.
Acceleration Shift Speeds €or 3.4L
(Code X) Engine:
1st to 2nd 17 mph (27Wh)
2nd to 3rd 30 mph (48 km/h)
3rd to 4th 39 mph {63 km/h)
4th to 5th 44 mph (71 km/h)
If your speed drops below 210 mph
(32 Wh), or if the engine is not
running smoothly, you should
downshift
to the next lower gear. You may have to
downshift two or more gears to keep the
engine running smoothly or for good
performance.
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Features & Controls
I CAUTION
A If you skip more than one
L A gear when you downshift,
you could lose control of your
vehicle. And you could injure
yourself or others. Don’t shift from
5 tn 2 nr 4 tn 7.
If you skip nwrt: ~11arl one gear
when you downshift,
or if you race
the engine when you downshift,
you can damage the clutch nr
transaxle.
1
Pump-to-Set Parking Brake
The parking brake uses the brakes on
the rear wheels.
To Set the Parking Brake:
Hold the regular brake pedal down with
your right foot. Pump your parking
brake pedal several times with your left
foot until the pedal feels firm.
If the
ignition is
on, the brake system warning
light will come on.
Over time, more
pumps may be needed
to set the parking brake firmly. If it ever
takes more than two full pumps, have
the brake system adjusted by your
dealer.
To Release the Parking Brake:
Hold the regular brake pedal down. Pull
the
BRAKE RELEASE lever.
Driving with the parKing DraKe
on
can cause your rear brakes to
overheat. You may have to replace
them, and you could also damage
other parts of your vehicle.
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r
Passing Another Vehicle While Using Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase
your speed. When you take your foot
off
the pedal, your vehicle will slow down
to the cruise control speed you set
earlier.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work
on hills depends upon your speed, load,
and the steepness
of the hills. When
going up steep hills, you may have to
step on the accelerator pedal to
maintain your speed. When going
downhill, you may have to brake or
shift
to a lower gear to keep your speed
down.
Of course, applying the brake or
clutch pedal takes you out of cruise
control. Many drivers find this to be too
much trouble and don't use cruise
control on steep hills.
To Get Out of Cruise ConW
There are two ways to turn off the
cruise control:
Step lightly on the brake pedal or push
the clutch pedal,
if you have a manual
transaxle;
OR
Move the cruise switch to OFF.
Ti Erase Cruise Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruis'e control or
the ignition, your cruise
control set
speed memory is erased.
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Dayfime Running lights
(CANADA ONLY)
The Canadian Federal Government has
decided that “Daytime Running Lights”
(DRL) are a useful feature, in that DRL
can make your vehicle more visible to
pedestrians and other drivers during
daylight hours. DRL are required
on
new vehicles sold in Canada.
Your DRL work with a light sensor on
top of the instrument panel. Don’t
cover it up.
The low beam headlights will come on
at reduced brightness in daylight when:
The ignition is on
The headlight switch is off, and
The parking brake is released. At
dusk, the exterior lights will come
on
automatically and the low beams will
change to full brightness. At dawn, the
exterior lights will go out and the low
beams will change to the reduced
brightness
of DRL (if the headlight
switch is off).
Of course, you may still turn on the
headlights any time you need to.
To idle your vehicle with the DRL off,
set the parking brake while the ignition
is in the
Off or Lock position. Then
start the vehicle. The DRL will stay
off
until you release the parking brake.
Headlighf High-Low Beam
Changer
To change the headlights from low
beam to high or high to low, pull the
turn signal/headlight beam lever all the
way toward
you. Then release it.
When the high beams are on, a blue
light on the instrument panel
also will
be on.
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The Instrument Panel-
Your Information System
Your instrument panel is designed to let
you know at
a glance how your vehicle
is running. You’ll how how fast you’re
going, how much fuel you’re using, and
many other things you’ll need to drive
safely and economically.
The main components of your
instrument panel are:
1. Light Controls
2. Tilt Steering Wheel Lever (Option)
3. Horn
4. Steering Wheel Controls (Option)
5. Instrument Cluster
6. Trip Odometer Reset
7. Ignition Switch
8. Windshield Wiper Controls
9. HUD Controls (Option)
IO. Vents
1 1. Glove Box Combination Lock
12. Vents
13. Glove Box/Fuse PaneVRemote
Trunk Release (Option)
14. Audio System
15. Gearshift Lever
16. Second-Gear Start Switch (Option)
17. Driver Information Center (Option)
18. Climate Controls/Rear Window
19. Hazard Warning Flashers Switch
20. Turn SignaVHeadlight Beam Lever
21. Brake Release
22. Hood Release (on floor by driver’s
door)
23. Vents Defogger
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Voltmeter (OPTION)
When the engine is running, the gage
shows the condition
of the charging
system. Readings between the red
warning zones indicate the normal
operating range.
Readings in either red warning zone
indicate a possible problem in the
electrical system. Have your vehicle
serviced immediately.
When your engine
is not running, but
the ignition is
on (in the Run position),
the gage shows your battery’s state
of
charge.
Brake System Warning Light
Your Pontiac’s hydraulic brake system
is divided into two parts. If one part
isn’t working, the other part can still
work and stop you. For good bralung,
though, you need both parts working
well.
If the warning light goes on, there
could be a brake problem.
Have your brake system inspected right
away.
This light should come on as you start
the vehicle.
If it doesn’t come on then,
have it fixed
so it will be ready to warn
you
if there’s a problem.
This light will also come on when you
set your
parking brake, and will stay on
if your parking brake doesn’t release fully.
If it stays on after your parking
brake is fully released, it means you
have a brake problem.
If the light comes on while driving, pull
off the road and stop carefully. You maJ
notice that the pedal is harder to push.
Or, the pedal may
go closer to the floor.
It may take longer to stop.
If the light is
still on, have the vehicle towed for
service. (See the
Index under Towing
Your Pontiac.)
1 CAUTION
Your brake system may not
be working properly if the .
WIMC warning light is on. Driving
with the brake warning light ora can
lead to an accident. If the light is
still on after you’ve pulled off the
road and stopped carefully, have
I the vehicle towed €or senrice.
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