Features & Controls
Your vehicle is equipped with the
PASS-Key’II (Personalized Automotive
Security System) theft deterrent system.
PASS-Key’II is a passive theft deterrent
system. This means you don’t have to do
anything different to arm or disarm the
system. It works when you insert or
remove the key from the ignition.
PASS-Key@II uses a resistor pellet
in the
ignition key that matches a decoder
in
your vehicle. When
the PASS-Key@II system senses
that someone is using the wrong key,
it
shuts down the vehicle’s starter and fuel
systems. For about three minutes, the
starter won’t work and
fuel won’t go to
the engine. If someone tries to start your
vehicle again or uses another key during
this time, the vehicle will not start. This
discourages someone from randomly
trying different keys with different
resistor pellets in an attempt to make a
match.
7 SECURITY
The ignition key must be clean and dry
before it’s inserted in the ignition or the
engine may not start. If the engine does
not start and the “SECURITY” light is on,
the key may be dirty or wet. Turn the
ignition off.
Clean and dry the key. Wait about three
minutes and try again. The security tight
may remain on during this time. If the
starter still won’t work, and the key
ippears to be clean and dry, wait about
:hree minutes and try another ignition key.
4t this time, you may also want to check
the fuse (see “Fuses
& Circuit Breakers”
in the Index). If the starter won’t work
with the other key, your vehicle needs
service. If your vehicle
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Features & Controls
Universal Theft
Deterrent
(omoN) (CONI)
To Stop the Alarm:
If you set off the alarm by accident,
unlock any door with your key.
You can
also
turn off the alarm by pressing the
“UNLOCK” button on the Keyless Entry
System transmitter. The alarm won’t stop
if you try to unlock a door any other way.
How to Test the Alarm:
Roll your window down, then follow the
directions under
“To Arm the System”
earlier. Once the alarm is set, reach
through the window and manually unlock
the door from the inside or
turn on the
ignition. The alarm should sound.
If the alarm does not sound when it
should, check to see
if the horn works.
The horn fuse may be blown. To replace
the fuse, see “Fuses
& Circuit Breakers”
in the Index.
To reduce the possibility
of theft, always
arm the theft deterrent system
when
leaving your vehicle.
H Illuminated Entry
System
(omoN)
When you lift the lever of either front
door, a light will glow around the door
lock. This will help you insert the door
key at night.
The lights inside your vehicle will also
go
on. These lights will go off after about 20
seconds, or when you start your engine.
These lights will also
go on when you
press any button on the optional Remote
Keyless Entry transmitter.
If a door is left ajar, your interior lights
will turn
off after ten minutes to save your
battery.
Trunk Lock
To unlock the trunk from the outside, insert the door key and
turn it.
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Features & Controls
.
Starting Your Engine
(CONK)
To start your 3.8 Liter engine:
1. Without pushing the accelerator pedal,
turn your ignition
key to “Start”.
When the engine starts,
let go of the
key. The idle speed will go down as
your engine gets warm.
NOTICE:
Holding your key in “Start” for
longer than
15 seconds at a time will
cause your battery
to be drained
much sooner. And the excessive
heat can damage your starter motor.
2. If it doesn’t start right away, hold
your key
in “Start” for about
three to five seconds at a time until
your engine starts. Wait about
15 seconds between each try to help
avoid draining your battery.
3. If your engine still won’t start (or
starts but then stops),
it could be
flooded with
too much gasoline. Try
pushing your accelerator pedal all the
,.a54
way to the floor and holding it there a
you hold the key in “Start” for about
three seconds.
If the vehicle starts
briefly but then stops again, do the
same thing, but this time keep the
pedal down for five or six seconds.
This clears the extra gasoline from
the engine. After waiting about
15 seconds, repeat the normal startin8
procedure.
NOTICE:
Your engine is designed to work
with the electronics
in your vehicle.
If you add electrical parts or
accessories, you could change the
way the fuel injection system
operates. Before adding electrical
equipment, check with your dealer. If you don’t, your engine might not
perform properly.
If you ever have to have your
vehicle towed, see the part of this
manual that tells how
to do it
without damaging your vehicle. See
“Towing Your Pontiac”
in the
Index.
I Driving Through Deep
Standing Water
NOTICE:
If you drive too quickly through
deep puddles or standing water,
water can come
in through your
engine’s air intake and badly
damage your engine. If you can’t
avoid deep puddles or standing
water, drive through
them very
slowly.
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Features & Controls
SYSTEMS MONITOR
0
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[HeURlTY][-))
Warning Lights (CONT.)
I
I-] INFORMATION DRIVER
CHECK OIL LEVEL - LAMP
WASHER FLUID
CHECK QAQES LOW
COOLANT
moo DOOR TRUNK AJAR TURN SIONAL
BACK UP TAIL
BRAKE LAMP
MILES TRIP
(][TEiir] ENGINE SOON
[E][--
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning
Light
This light tells you that your engine
coolant has overheated or your radiator
cooling fans are not working.
If you have
been operating your vehicle under normal
driving conditions, you
should pull off the
road, stop your vehicle and
turn the
engine off as soon as possible.
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HOT COOLANT CAN BURN YOU
BADLY!
In “Problems on the Road”, this manual
shows
what to do. See “Engine
Overheating”
in the Index.
Some clusters
with gages do not have a
coolant temperature warning light. In
those clusters a “CHECK GAGES”
warning light
will alert you of a potential
coolant heating problem.
r LOW COOLANT
Low Coolant Warning
Light
If you have this light and it comes on, you
system may be low on coolant and the
engine may overheat. Check to see
if the
level is low
at the recovery tank, and add
coolant
if necessary. If the level is not low.
have your low coolant warning system serviced. See “Engine Coolant”
in the
Index. The
“LOW COOLANT” warning
light
will also come on when you
turn on the
ignition, but your engine
is not running,
as a check to show you
it is working. If it
doesn’t come on then, have it fixed right
away.
After the bulb check, the light will go out
for
20 seconds. If the light comes back on
after
20 seconds, the system may be low
on coolant. See “Engine Coolant” in the
Index.
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Features 8t Controls
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If
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Si
XI Warning Light
’ you have a problem with your oil, this
ght may stay on after you start your
ngine, or come on when you are driving.
‘his may indicate that oil is not going
lrough your engine quickly enough to
eep
it cool. The engine could be low on
il,
or could have some other oil problem,
’ you are driving, carefully pull over to a
ife location and stop to check the oil
:vel. See “Checking Engine Oil Level”
I the Index. If
the engine oil is low, add oil as
required. See “Adding Engine Oil” in the
Index.
If additional oil is not needed
or the
engine oil warning light stays on, then
have the light investigated at a qualified
service agent immediately.
The oil light could also come
on in two
other situations:
When the ignition is on 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.
If you make a hard stop, the light may
come on
for a moment. This is
normal. :lusters with
gages
use the “CHECK
;AGES” warning light to alert you of a
hotential oil pressure problem.
NOTICE:
Damage to your engine from
neglected oil problems can be costly
and is not covered by your warranty.
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CHECK OIL
I LEVEL I
:heck Oil Level Warning
Light
(OPTION)
’his light indicates when the engine oil
:vel
is 1 to 1 1/2 quarts (0.95 L to 1.4 L)
3w. The light will go on for one to three
econds when the ignition is turned to the
Run” position, as a bulb check to show
ou that the system is working. If the light
oesn’t come on, have your oil level
vlarning system serviced.
:veri if you have a low oil level, the light
dl go off for 15 to 20 seconds. Then, if
le oil level is low, and it has been at least
ight minutes since your engine was last
unning, the “CHECK OIL LEVEL” light
dl come on for 20 to 40 seconds. The
ight-minute delay allows the majority of the oil
to drain back into the oil pan and
prevent a false
low condition.
If the “CHECK
OIL LEVEL” warning
comes
on, the oil level should be checked
at the oil dipstick. If the level is low, the
engine oil should be brought up to the
proper
level (see “Engine Oil” in the
Index). After restoring the proper level
and waiting for the eight-minute
drainback, the key can be turned to
the
“Run” position and the “CHECK OIL
LEVEL” warning light should only come
on as a bulb check.
3attery Warning Light..:
This light will come on briefly whm you
start the vehicle, as a check to show you
i
is working, then it should go out. IF it
stays on, or comes on while you ai-6,
driving,
you may have a problem Gith thc
electrical charging system. It could
indicate that you have a generator
”
problem or another electrical system
problem. Have
it checked right away.
Driving while this light
is on could drain
your battery.
c
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Features & Controls
Battery Warning Light
(CONT.)
If you must drive a short distance with the
light
on, be certain to turn off all your
accessories, such as
the radio and climate
control system.
Some clusters with gages do not have a
battery warning light. They have
a
“CHECK GAGES” warning to indicate a
problem. Vehicles with the supercharged
engine also have a similar battery warning
light.
SERVICE
ENGINE SOON
Malfunction Indicator
.amp (Service Engine
Soon Light)
1 computer monitors operation of your
uel, ignition and emission control
ystems. This light should come on when
he ignition is on, but the engine is not
unning, as a check
to show you it is
iorking. If
it does not come on at all,
ave
it fixed right away. If it stays on, or
: comes on while you are driving, the
omputer is indicating that you have
a
roblem. You should take your vehicle in
x- service soon.
NOTICE:
If you keep driving your vehicle
with this light on, after a while the
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 repairs not covered by your
warranty.
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