Page 74 of 405

NOTICE:
If your key seems stuck in LOCK and you can’t
turn
it, be sure you are using the correct key; if
so, is it 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 th’e
ignition switch.
If none of this works, then your
vehicle needs service.
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.
Retained Accessory Power
If you have this 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 10 minutes. But if you open a door,
the power is turned off.
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.
I
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.
Starting Your 3800 Series I1 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.
2-21
ProCarManuals.com
Page 86 of 405

Shifting Out of PARK (P)
Your Pontiac has a brake-transaxle shift interlock. You
have to fully
apply your regular brake before you can
shift from PARK (P) when the ignition
is in the RUN
position. See “Automatic Transaxle” in the Index.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever -- push the shift lever all the way into
PARK (P) as you maintain brake application. Then
move the shift lever into the gear you want. If you ever
hold the brake pedal down but still can’t shift out of
PARK (P), try this:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Turn the ignition key to OFF. Open and close the
driver’s
door to turn off the Retained Accessory
Power feature.
Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 4.
Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
Start the vehicle and then shift to the drive gear
you want.
Have the vehicle fixed as
soon as you can.
Parking Over Things That Burn
L
Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust
parts under your vehicle and
ignite. Don’t park
over papers, leaves, dry grass or other things that
can burn.
2-33
ProCarManuals.com
Page 99 of 405

Twilight Sentinel Also, it's possible that your headlamps may go out if
you drive from a dark area into a bright area like a
fish in the headlamp switch
lighted parking lot.
If this happens, turn on your
to turn your headlamps
off. headlamps with the regular headlamp switch,
Turn the twilight sentinel
knob located behind
the headlamp switch
Instrument Panel Intensity/Brightness
toward MAX.
Interior Lamps
Control
You can brighten or dim your instrument cluster lights
by turning the headlamp switch. Turn the switch
clockwise to brighten the instrument cluster lights
and
displays. Turn the switch clockwise all the way to turn
on the interior courtesy lamps. Turn the switch
counterclockwise to dim the instrument cluster lights
and displays and
to turn off the courtesy lamps.
At
night, you can turn off all exterior lamps when you
are in PARK (P) by moving the twilight sentinel
control
all the way to MIN. If it was on MIN, move
the control to the right to turn it on, then back to MIN.
The lamps will come back on when you turn the knob
toward MAX.
Twilight sentinel will keep your headlamps on for up
to three minutes, to light your way when you leave
your vehicle.
To operate twilight sentinel, turn the control to MAX for
the three minute delay. Tm it the other way to reduce the
delay.
Turn the control to MIN to turn twilight sentinel off.
Delayed Illumination
When you open the door to enter your vehicle, the
interior lamps will corne on. When you close the door
with the ignition
off, the interior lamps will stay on for
25 seconds or until the ignition is turned to an on
position. Pleas'e note that locking the doors will override
the delayed illumination feature and
the lamps will turn
off right away.
2-46
ProCarManuals.com
Page 100 of 405

Theater Dimming
This feature allows for a three to five-second fade out
of the courtesy lamps instead
of immediate turn off.
Exit Lighting
With this feature, the interior lamps will come on for
25 seconds after you remove the key from the ignition.
This will give you time to find the door pull handle
or
lock switches as you exit the vehicle.
Illuminated Entry (Option) Front Reading Lamps
These lamps and
the
interior courtesy lamps
will come
on when you
open the doors.
When you press the unlock button on the optional
Remote Keyless Entry transmitter, the lamps inside your
TO turn on a reading lamp when the doors are closed,
vehicle will go
on. These lamps will go off after about press either switch. Press it again to turn the lamp off.
25 seconds, or when you start your engine. Pressing the
lock button on your Remote Keyless Entry transmitter
will turn the lights immediately off.
If a door is left ajar, your interior lamps will turn off
after
10 minutes to save your battery.
To avoid draining your vehicle’s battery, be sure to turn
off the reading lamps when leaving your vehicle.
2-47
ProCarManuals.com
Page 103 of 405

Adjust the driver’s side outside mirror with the control
lever on the drives’s door.
To adjust your passenger’s side mirror, sit in the driver’s
seat and have a passenger adjust the mirror for you.
Power Remote Control Mirrors (Option)
A control lever on the
driver’s door controls both
outside rearview mirrors.
Turn the lever to the left to select the driver’s side
rearview mirror,
or to the right to select the passenger’s
side rearview
mirror. Then push the lever in the
direction of
the desired movement to adjust each mirror
so that you can see the side of the vehicle when you are
sitting in
a comfortable driving position.
Convex Outside Mirror
Your passenger’s side mirror is convex. A convex
mirror’s surface is curved so you can see more from the
driver’s seat.
A CAUTION:
-
A convex mirror can make things (like other
vehicles)
look farther away than they really are.
If you cut too sharply into the right lane, you
could
hit a vehicle on your right. Check your
inside mirror or glance over your shoulder before
changing lanes.
Storage Compartments
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.
2-50
ProCarManuals.com
Page 258 of 405

Fuels in Foreign Countries
If you plan on driving in another country outside the
United States or Canada, the proper fuel may be hard to
find. Never use leaded gasoline or any other fuel not
recommended in the previous text on fuel. Costly repairs
caused
by use of improper fuel wouldn’t be covered by
your warranty.
To check on fuel availability, ask an auto club, or
contact a major oil company that does business in the
country where you’ll
be driving.
You can also write us at the following address for
advice, Just tell us where you’re going and give your
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
General Motors International Product Center
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario
L1H 8P7
Fuel Door Lock (Option)
On a model equipped with the theft-deterrent system,
the fuel door is locked and unlocked together with the
driver’s power door lock. Therefore, to unlock the fuel
filler door, you may use the outside door key lock, the
inside power door lock button or the Remote Keyless
Entry key chain transmitter.
To unlock the fuel door,
unlock the driver’s door.
6-5
ProCarManuals.com
Page 260 of 405
I
A CAUTION:
2
If you get gasoline on yourself and then
something ignites it, you could be badly burned.
Gasoline can spray out on you if you open the
fuel filler cap too quickly. This spray can happen
if your tank is nearly full, and is more likely in
hot weather. Open the fuel filler cap slowly and
wait for any “hiss” noise to stop. Then unscrew
the cap all the way.
If you have the (L36) 3800 V6 engine, your fuel cap
will be tethered and you cannot hang it on the inside fuel
door while refueling.
To take off the cap, turn it slowly to the left
(counterclockwise). Be
careful not
to spill gasoline. Clean gasoline from
painted surfaces as soon as possible. See “Cleaning the
Outside of
Your Pontiac” in the Index.
6-7
ProCarManuals.com
Page 261 of 405

When you pur the cap back on, turn it to the right
(clockwise) until
you hear a clicking sound. Make sure
Fuel Door Manual Release (Option)
you fully &stall the cap. The diagnostic system can
determine if the fuel
cap has been left off or improperly
installed. This would allow fuel to evaporate into
the
atmosphere. See “Malfunction Indicator Lamp” in
the Index.
type.
Your dealer can get one for you. If you get
the wrong
type, it may not fit properly. This may
If your vehicle has a fuel
door lock, the
fuel door
can be opened manually
in case of an electrical
power failure.
cause your malfunction indicator lamp to light
and your fuel tank and emissions system may be
damaged. See ‘(Malfunction Indicator Lamp” in
the Index. Open
the trunk. The release mechanism is on the
driver’s side
of the vehicle, at the top of the trunk
compartment. Pull the tab rearward to release the
fuel door.
Prying on
a locked fuel filler door can damage it.
Use the remote fuel door manual release located
in the trunk.
ProCarManuals.com