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.
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Lamps On Reminder
If you open the driver’s door while leaving the
headlamps or
parking lamps switch! on and the key
is removed from the ignition, you will hear a
warning chime.
Daytime Running Lamps
Daytime Running Lamps (Dm) can make it easier
for others to see the front of your vehicle during
the day. DRL can be helpful in many different driving
conditions, but they can be especially helpful in the
short periods after dawn and before sunset.
A light sensor on top of the instrument panel monitors
the exterior light level for the operation
of DRL and
twilight sentinel,
so be sure it isn’t covered. The DlU
system will make your low-beam headlamps come on at
a reduced brightness when:
The ignition is on,
The headlamp switch is OFF and
0 The transaxle is not in PARK (P).
When the DRL are on, only your low-beam headlamps
will be
on. The taillamps, sidemarker and other lamps
won’t be on. Your instrument panel won’t be
lighted either.
When it’s dark enough outside, your low-beam
headlamps will change
to full brightness. The other
lamps that
come on with your headlamps will also come
on. When it’s bright enough outside, the regular lamps
will go
off, and your low-beam headlamps change to the
reduced brightness
of DRL.
To idle your vehicle with the DRL off, shift the
transaxle into
PARK (P). The DRL will stay off until
you shift out of
PARK (P).
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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.
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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.
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Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to RUN or START, a chime will
come on for about eight seconds to remind people to
fasten their safety belts.
The safety belt light will
also come on and stay on
for about
70 seconds. If the
driver’s belt is already
buckled, neither the chime
B E LTS nor the light will come on.
FASTEN
Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows AIR
BAG. The system checks the
air bag’s electrical system for malfunctions. The light
tells you
if there is an electrical problem. The system
check includes the air bag sensors, the air bag modules, the
wiring and the crash sensing and diagnostic module.
For more information on the air bag system, see “Air
Bag” in the Index.
This light will come on when you start your engine,
and
it will flash for a few
seconds. Then the light
should go out. This means
the system
is ready.
If the air bag readiness light stays on after you start the
engine or comes on when you are driving, your air bag
system may not work properly. Have your vehicle
serviced right away.
The air bag readiness light should flash for a few
seconds when you turn the ignition key to RUN.
If the
light doesn’t
come on then, have it fixed so it will be
ready to warn you
if there is a problem.
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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 braking, though, you
need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there could be a brake
problem. Have your brake system inspected right away.
BRAKE (a)
This light should come on
when you turn the key to
START. If it doesn’t come
on then, have
it fixed so it
will be ready to warn you
if
there’s a problem.
If the light and chime come on while you are driving,
pull
off the road and stop carefully. You may 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 “Towing
Your Vehicle” in the Index.)
Your brake system may not be working properly
if the brake system warning light is
on. Driving
with the brake system warning light on can lead to an accident. If the light is still
on after you’ve
pulled off the road and stopp,ed carefully, have
the vehicle towed for service.
When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
will also come on when you set your parking brake. The
light will stay on
if your parking brake doesn’t release
fully.
If you try to drive off with the parking brake set, a
chime will
also come on until you release the parking
brake.
If the light and chime stay on after your parking
brake is fully released, it means
you have a brake problem.
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Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
With the anti-lock brake
system, the light(s) will
come
on when you start
your engine and
may stay
The anti-lock brake system warning light should come
on briefly when you turn the ignition key to
RUN. If the
light doesn’t come
on then, have it fixed so it will be
ready to warn you if there
is a problem.
If the light stays on, turn
the ignition to OFF. Or, if the
light comes on when you’re driving, stop as
soon as possible
and turn the ignition off. Then start the engine
again to reset the system.
If the light still stays on, or
comes on again while you’re driving, your Pontiac
needs service.
If the regular brake system warning light
isn’t on, you still have brakes, but you don’t have
anti-lock brakes.
If the regular brake system warning
light
Is also on, you don’t have anti-lock brakes and
there’s a problem with your regular brakes. See “Brake
System Warning Light” earlier in this section.
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If the Light Is Flashing
The following may prevent more serious damage to
your vehicle:
Reducing vehicle speed.
0 Avoiding hard accelerations.
Avoiding steep uphill grades.
If you are towing a trailer, reduce the amount of
cargo being hauled as soon as it is possibmle.
If the light stops flashing and remains on steady, see “If
the Light
Is On Steady” following.
If the light continues to flash, when it is safe to do
so,
stop the vehicle. Find a safe place to park your vehicle.
Turn the key
off, wait at least 10 seconds and restart the
engine. If
the light remains on steady, see “If the Light
Is On Steady” following.
If the light is still flashing,
follow the previous steps, and drive the vehicle to your
dealer or qualified service center for service.
If the Light Is On Steady
You may be able to correct the emission system
malfunction
by considering the following:
Did you recently put fuel into your vehicle?
If so, reinstall the fuel cap, making sure to fully install
the cap. The diagnostic system can determine if the fuel cap
has been left
off or improperly installed. A loose or
missing fuel cap will allow fuel to evaporate into the
atmosphere.
A few driving trips with the cap properly
installed should turn the light off.
Did you just drive through
a deep puddle of water?
If
so, your electrical system may be wet. The condition
will usually be corrected when the electrical system
dries out,
A few driving trips should turn the light off.
Have
you recently changed brands of fuel?
If
so, be sure to fuel your vehicle with quality fuel (see
“Fuel”
in the Index). Poor fuel quality will cause your
engine not to run as efficiently as designed. You may
notice this as stalling after start-up, stalling when you put
the vehicle into gear, misfiring, hesitation on acceleration
or stumbling on acceleration. (These conditions may
go
away once the engine is warmed up.) This will be
detected
by the system and cause the light to hrn on.
If you experience one or more
of these conditions,
change
the fuel brand you use. It will require at least
one full tank of the proper fuel to turn the light off.
If none of the above steps have made the light turn on,
have your dealer or qualified service center check the
vehicle. Your dealer has the proper test equipment and
diagnostic tools to fix any mechanical or electrical
problems that may have developed.
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