Page 7 of 338
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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If you drive too quickly through I
deep puddles or standing water,
water can come in through your
engine’s air intake and badly
damage your engine. If you can
avoid deep puddles or standin
water, dr&e through them ve
Engine Block Heater (OPTION)
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. Plug the
cord into a properly grounded
three-prong
1 10-volt outlet. If the
cord won’t reach, use a heavy-duty
three-prong extension cord rated
for at least 15 amps.
NOTICE
After you’ve used the block heater,
be sure to store the cord as it was
before, to keep it away from
moving engine parts.
If you dol
it could be damaged. .
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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.
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Page 58 of 338
$;. +..* s.:
P-
::
. PW~Oil ..
. Shi ng the Automatic
Transale
Your automatic transaxle may have a
shift lever located on the steering
column or on the console between the
seats. Both are shown above.
Maximum engine speed
is limited on
automatic transaxle vehicles when
you’re
in D (Drive) or N (Neutral), to
protect driveline components from
improper operation.
h
There are six shift positions, seven if
you have Overdrive. In this manual,
these are referred to by the commonly
used symbols in the right column
below:
Park P
Reverse R
Neutral N
Overdrive (DI
Drive D
Second 2
First 1
Park
P (Park): This locks your front
wheels. It’s the best position to use
when you start your engine because
your vehicle can’t move
easily.
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Page 101 of 338
mmm
Features & Controls
I
Oil Warning Light
If you have a problem with your oil, this
light may stay on after you start
your
engine, or come on when you are
driving. This indicates that oil
is not
going through your engine quickly
enough to
keep it lubricated. The
engine
could be low on oil, or could
have some other oil problem. Have it
fixed right away.
3 00
The oil light could also come on in three
other situations:
When the ignition is but the engine
is not running, the light will come on
as a test to show you it is working,
but the light
will go out when you
turn the ignition to Start. If it doesn’t
come on with the ignition on, you
may have a problem with the fuse or
bulb.
Have it fixed right away.
Sometimes when the engine is idling
at
a stop, the light may blink on and
off. This is normal.
If you make a hard stop, the light may
come on for ‘a moment. This is
normal.
Don’t keep driving if the oil
pressure is low. If you do,
your engine can become so hot that
it catches he. You or others could
be burned. Check your oil as soon
as possible and have yaw vehicle
NOTICE
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Page 102 of 338
Oil Pressure Indicator (OPTION)
This indicator tells you if there could be
a problem with your engine oil pressure.
The pointer should be above the red
zone when the engine is running.
I CAUTION
Readings in the red area tell you that
the engine is low on oil, or that you
might have some other oil problem. See
the
Index under Engine Oil.
Don't keep driving if the oil
pressure is low.
If you do,
your engine can become
so hot that
it catches fire, You or others could
be burned. Check your oil as soon
as possible and have your vehicle
serviced.
Battery Warning Light
The charging system light will come on
briefly when you turn on the ignition
as
a check to show you it is working. Then
it should go out.
If it stays on, or comes
on while you are driving, you may have
a problem with the electrical charging
system. It could indicate that
you have
a loose generator drive belt
or another
electrical problem. Have it checked
right away. Driving while this light
is on
could drain your battery.
If you must drive a short distance with
the light
on, be certain to turn off all
your accessories, such as the radio and
air conditioner.
101
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Page 105 of 338
Features & Controls
Malfunction Incfkator Lamp
(Semite Engine Soon Light)
A computer monitors operation of your
fuel, ignition and emission control
systems. This light should
come on
when the ignition is on, but the engine
is not running, as a check to show you
it is,
working. If it does not come on at
all, have it fixed right away. If it stays
on, or it comes on while you are driving,
the computer is indicating that yo8u
have a problem. You should take your
vehicle in for service soon.
If you keep driving your vehicle
with
this light on, after a while th
emission controls won't work as
well, your fuel economy won't be
as good and your engine may not
run as smoothly. This could lead to
costly repai+p@,cqered
by your warranty :',~: ~;'='-- ~ -'--:< .:-
Check Gauges Light (OPTION)
The CHECK GAUGES light will come
on
if your oil pressure gage or engine
coolant temperature gage
is pointing to
the red area.
If these gages do not indicate a
problem, the CHECK GAUGES light
means there is
a problem with your
vehicle's charging system.
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Page 108 of 338
INST ECON: Press to display your
fuel economy at the time you press the
button. The display will be updated
every five seconds until you turn it off.
Press again to turn off the display.
SYSTEMS CHECK: Press to display
the systems monitor
(STE Model only).
If your model does not have the systems
monitor, it will display the sewice
reminder sequence.
If it has the systems
monitor, press again to display the
service reminder sequence.
Systems Monitor: This checks to be
sure the following systems in your
vehicle are in proper working order:
Front lights
Rear lights
Side lights
Doors
Hood
Washer fluid
Trunk
Fuel tank
Anti-lock brakes (if equipped)
The systems monitor briefly displays
messages as it checks these systems. If
it finds a problem, the systems monitor
will display a continuous
or flashing
message about the problem. If all
systems are satisfactory, the service
reminder sequence will begin.
If you pull a trailer, the extra trailer
lamp bulbs will not allow the systems
monitor to properly detect a burned-out
bulb. When the trailer lights are
disconnected, the systems monitor will
again monitor the bulbs.
Service Reminder Sequence: This
shows the distance remaining to the
next recommended:
Oil change (OIL)
Oil filter change (OIL FILT)
Air filter change (AIR FILT)
Tire rotation (ROT TIRE)
Tune up (TUNE UP)
Press SYSTEMS CHECK each time
you want to see the next item in the
sequence.
When you have any of these services
performed, be sure to reset the service
reminder.
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Page 111 of 338
Features & Controls
Head-Up Display (OPTION)
If you have the optional Head-Up
Display (HUD), you can see the
speedometer reading,
in English or
metric units, displayed “through” the
windshield. The HUD
also shows:
* Turn signal indicator lights.
A high beam indicator symbol.
A CHECK GAUGES message. (For
low oil pressure, high coolant
t.emperature, and high or low battery
voltage.).
A low fuel warning symbol.
HUD shows these lights when they are
lit on the instrument panel. When you
sit straight in your seat, the HUD image
will appear slightly to the right.
When the ignition key
is turned to Run,
all possible HUD images will! come on
and look like this. Then the Head-Up
Display will operate normally. Although
the HUD image appears
to be near the front
of the vehicle,
do not use it as a parking aid. The
HUD was
not designed for that
purpose.
If you try to use it that
way, such as in a parking lot, you
may misjudge distance and run
r,y, into something. R
A If you never look at your
,A instrument panel, you rnL
not see something important, si1
as a warning light. So be sure tc
scan your displays and controls
an
th’e driving environment ju,st as xou --. W n a car w- out UD. .:g:~$ I. A,..+-
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