Page 57 of 338

If you don’t cancel the security lock feature, adults or
older children who ride in the rear won’t be able to open
the rear door from the inside. You should let adults and
older children know
how these security locks work, and
how to cancel the locks.
To cancel the rear door lock:
1. Unlock the door from the inside and open the door
from the outside.
2. Move the lever all the way down.
3. Do the same for the other rear door.
The rear door locks will
now work normally.
Glove Box
Use the door key to lock and unlock the glove box. To
open, lift the latch release on the left side of the glove
box door.
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 tone 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 and transaxle. And remember
to lock the doors.
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.
2-8
ProCarManuals.com
Page 58 of 338

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?
0
0
0
0
Put your valuables in a storage area, like your trunk
or glove box.
Lock the glove box.
Lock all the doors except the driver’s.
Then take the door key with you.
Universal Theft Deterrent (Option)
If your Pontiac has this option, it has a theft deterrent
alarm system. With this system, the
SECURITY light
will flash as you open the
door (if your ignition is off).
This light reminds you to activate the theft deterrent
system when leaving your vehicle.
Activating the system:
1. Open the door.
2. Lock the door with the power door lock switch or
Remote Keyless Entry transmitter. The SECURITY
light should
come on and stay on.
3. Close all doors. The SECURITY light should go off
after about 30 seconds and the system will then be
armed.
If the SECURITY light comes on for one minute and
then shuts
off while the ignition is on, the security
system has detected a problem with itself. See your
dealer for service.
If a door or the trunk is opened without the key or
Remote Keyless Entry transmitter, the alarm will
go off.
It will also go off if the trunk lock is damaged. Your
vehicle’s lamps will flash and the horn will sound for
three minutes, then will go
off to save battery power.
Remember, the theft deterrent system won’t activate
if
you lock the doors with a key or manual door lock. It
activates only if you
use a power door lock switch or
Remote Keyless Entry transmitter.
Avoid setting
off the alarm by accident.
If you don’t want to activate the theft deterrent system,
the vehicle should be locked
after the doors are closed.
Always unlock
a door with a key, or use the Remote
Keyless Entry System transmitter.
Unbckirrg a door my
other way will set off the alarm.
2-9
ProCarManuals.com
Page 59 of 338

Stopping 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 Remote
Keyless Entry System transmitter. The
alarm won’t stop
if you try to unlock a door any other way.
Testing the alarm: Open the window, then follow the
directions for activating the system described 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.
I€ 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 and Circuit Breakers” in the
Index.
To reduce the possibility of theft, always activate the
theft deterrent system when leaving your vehicle.
PASS-Key@II
Your vehicle is equi -ed
with the PASS-Key II
(Personalized Automotive
Security System) theft
deterrent system.
PASS-Key(%
is a passive
theft deterrent system.
k?
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% uses a
resistor pellet in the ignition key that matches a decoder
in your vehicle.
When the PASS-Key% 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
2-10
ProCarManuals.com
Page 60 of 338

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.
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 light may remain on during this
time. If the
starter still won’t work, and the key appears
to be clean and
dry, wait about three minutes and try
another ignition key. At this time, you may also want to
check the fuse (see “Fuses and Circuit Breakers” in the
Index). If the starter won’t work.with the other key, your
vehicle needs service. If your vehicle does start, the first
ignition key may be faulty.
See your Pontiac dealer or a
locksmith who can service the PASS-Key@II. If
you accidentally use a key that has
a damaged or
missing resistor pellet, the starter won’t work and the
SECURITY light will flash. But you don’t have to wait
three minutes before trying another ignition key.
See your Pontiac dealer or a locksmith who can service
the PASS-Key’II to have
a new key made.
If you’re
ever driving and the SECURITY light comes
on and remains on, you will be able to restart your
engine if you
turn it off. Your PASS-K~Y~I system,
however, is not working properly and must be serviced
by your Pontiac dealer. Your vehicle is not protected by
the PASS-Key% system.
If you lose or damage a PASS-Key(% ignition key, see
your Pontiac dealer or a locksmith who can service
PASS-Key@II to have a new key made. In an
emergency, call the Pontiac Roadside Assistance
Program at
1 -800-ROADSID& or 1-800-762-3743.
2-11
ProCarManuals.com
Page 61 of 338
Illuminated Entry System (Option)
When you lift the lever of either front door, a lamp will
glow around the door lock. This will help you insert the
door key at night.
The lamps inside your vehicle will also
go on. These
lamps
will go off after about 20 seconds, or when you
start your engine. These lamps will
also go on when you
press any button on the optional remote keyless entry
transmitter.
If a door is left ajar, your interior lamps will turn off
dter ten minutes to save your battery.
Trunk Lock
To unlock the trunk from the outside. insert the door key
and turn it.
Remote Trunk Release (Option)
Press the trunk relase
button located below the
driver's door armrest to
release the trunk
lid.
The ignition may be on or off and the transaxle must be
in PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N). The system also works
with the Remote Keyless Entry System.
2-12
ProCarManuals.com
Page 62 of 338
;ystem tu its higlxevt speed with
>n ECON or VENT. That will
air into
your vehicle. See Vornfo
New Vehicle “Break-In”
NOTICE:
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 stops 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.
Don’t tow a trailer during “break-in.” See
“Towing a Trailer’’ in the Index
for more
information.
2-13
ProCarManuals.com
Page 63 of 338

Ignition Switch
With the ignition key in the ignition switch, you can turn
the switch to five positions.
ACCESSORY (A): An ON position in which you can
operate your electrical power accessories. Press in the
igniti’on switch as you turn the top of it toward you.
LOCK (B): The only position in which you can remove
the key, This locks your steering wheel, ignition and
transaxle.
OFF (e): Unlocks the steering wheel, ignition, and
transaxle, but does not send electrical power to any
accessories.
Use this position if your vehicle me be
pushed or towed, but never try to push-start your
vehicle.
A warning cbime will sound if you open the
driver’s door when the ignition
is off and the key is in
the ignition.
RUN 0): 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
accessories,
and to display some instrument panel
warning lights.
§TART (E): Starts the engine. When the engine starts,
release de 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
yom electrical accessories, such as the
radio.
Key Reminder Warning: If you leave your key in the
ignition, in the OFF position, you will hear a warning
tone when you open the driver’s door.
CEUl Use Rm to QPe3Tit.e yOlar &C!T’kd power
2-14 ProCarManuals.com
Page 64 of 338

Retained Accessory Power: If you have ths option,
after you turn your ignition
off and even remove the key,
you will still have electrical power to such accessories
as the radio and power windows for up to ten minutes.
But if you open
a door, power is turned off.
NOTICE:
If your key seems stuck in LOCK and you can’t
turn it, be sure it is all the way in.
If it is, then
turn the steering wheel left and right while you
turn the key hard. But turn the key only with
your hand. Using a tool to force it could break
the key
or the ignition switch. If none of this
works, then your vehicle needs service.
Starting Your Engine
Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
Your engine won’t start in any other position -- that’s a
safety feature.
To restart when you’re already moving,
use
NEUTRAL (N) only.
NOTICE:
Don’t try to shift to PARK (P) if your Pontiac is
moving. If you do, you could damage the
transaxle. Shift to PARK
(P) only when your
vehicle is stopped.
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.
2-15
ProCarManuals.com