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L
Vehicle Symbols
These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle.
For example,
these symbols
are used on an
original battery:
POSSIBLE A
CAUTION
INJURY
PROTECT EYES BY
SHIELDING
CAUSTIC
ACID COULD BATTERY
CAUSE
BURNS
AVOID
SPARKS
OR
FLAMES
SPARK
OR ,111,
COULD FLAME
EXPLODE BATTERY
These symbols are important
for you and
your passengers
whenever your
vehicle
is
driven:'
DOOR LOCK
UNLOCK
FASTEN SEAT
BELTS
These symbols
have to
do with
your lamps:
SIGNALS e
TURN
FOG LAMPS # 0
These symbols
are on some
of
your controls:
WINDSHIELD
WIPER
WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER
WINDOW
DEFOGGER
VENTILATING
(
FAN
These symbols
are used on
warning and
indicator lights:
COOLANT -
TEMP -
CHARGING I-1
BAllERY
SYSTEM
BRAKE
(a)
COOLANT
a
ENGINE OIL
PRESSURE
-4
ANTI-LOCK (@)
BRAKES
Here are some
other symbols
you may see:
FUSE
t
LIGHTER a
HORN )tr
SPEAKER
b
FUEL p3
V
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Page 54 of 405

Section 2 Features and Controls
Here you can learn about the many standard and optional features on your Pontiac, and information on starting,
shifting and braking. Also explained are the instrument panel and the warning systems that tell you if everything
is
working properly -- and what to do if you have a problem.
2-2
2-4
2-9
2- 14
2-16
* 2-16
2-18
2-19
2-20
2-2
1
2-23
2-24
2-28
2-29
2-30
2-33
2-33
2-34 Keys
Door Locks
Remote Keyless Entry Trunk
Theft
Universal Theft-Deterrent
PASS-Key@
I1
New Vehicle “Break-In”
Ignition Positions
Starting
Your Engine
Engine Coolant Heater
Automatic Transaxle Operation Computer Command Ride
Parking Brake
Shifting Into PARK (P)
Shifting Out of PARK (P)
Parking Over Things That Bum
Engine Exhaust 2-34
2-3
5
2-3 6
2-36
2-37
1 2-43
~ 2-46
2-48
2-50
2-55
2-56
2-56
2-57
2-5 8
2-64
2-77
2-80
2-82 Running
Your Engine While You’re Parked
Windows
Horn
Tilt Wheel
Turn SignalMultifunction Lever
Exterior Lamps
Interior Lamps
Mirrors
Storage Compartments
Sun Visors
Air Inflator
System
Accessory Power Outlet
Sunroof
Instrument Panel
Warning Lights, Gages
and Indicators
Head-Up Display
Driver Information Center
Electronic Compass
2-.l
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Page 72 of 405

See your Pontiac dealer or a locksmith who can service
the PASS-Key
I1 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-Key I1 system,
however,
is not working properly and must be serviced
by your Pontiac dealer. Your vehicle is not protected by
the PASS-Key
I1 system.
If you lose or damage a PASS-Key I1 ignition key,
see your Pontiac dealer or a locksmith
who can service
PASS-Key
I1 to have a new key made. In an emergency,
call the Pontiac Roadside Assistance Center
at
l-SOO-ROADSI~, or 1-800-762-3743.
New Vehicle CCBreak-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 (805 km).
Don’t make full-throttle starts.
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.
See “Towing
a Trailer” in the Index for
more information.
Avoid making hard stops for the first
Don’t tow a trailer during break-in.
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Page 82 of 405

Parking Brake
Your Pontiac has a PUSH
TO RELEASE parking
brake.
To set the parking
brake, hold the regular
brake pedal down with your
right foot. Push down the
parking brake pedal with
your left foot. If the ignition
is on, the brake system
warning light will come
on and a single chime
will be heard.
If you start to drive away with the parking brake set, a
chime will sound after the vehicle has traveled
approximately
40 feet (12 m).
If you try to drive away with the parking brake on, the
brake light stays on and a chime sounds until you release
the parking brake.
NOTICE:
Driving with the parking brake on can cause
your rear brakes to overheat.
You may have to
replace them, and you could also damage other
parts
of your vehicle.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on any hill,
see “Towing a Trailer” in the Index. That section
shows
what to do first to keep the trailer from moving.
To release the parking brake, use the PUSH TO
RELEASE parking brake pedal. Hold the regular brake
pedal down with your right foot and push the parking
brake pedal with your left foot. This will unlock the
pedal.
When you lift your left foot, the parking brake
pedal will follow it to the release position.
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Page 93 of 405
Windshield Washer Cruise Control
At the top of the turn signal/multifunction lever, there’s
a paddle with the word PUSH on it. To spray washer
fluid on the windshield, push the paddle for less than a
second. The wipers
will clear the window and either
stop or return to your preset speed. For more washer
cycles, push
and hold the paddle.
Some models have
a WASHER FLUID warning that
indicates if the fluid level in the windshield washer
reservoir is low.
See “Low Washer Fluid Warning Light”
in the Index. With cruise control,
you can
maintain a speed
of about
25 mph (40 km/h) or more
without keeping your foot
~ on the accelerator. This can
really help on long trips.
4 Cruise control do’es not work at speeds below about
I
25 mph (40 km/h).
When you apply your brakes, the cruise control
In freezing weather, don’t use your washer until shuts off.
the windshi’eld is warmed, Otherwise the washer
fluid cam €orm ice on the windshield, blocking
your vision.
2-40 ~
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Page 96 of 405

Passing Another Vehicle While Using Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed. When
you take your foot off the pedal, your vehicle will slow
down to the cruise control speed you set earlier.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load and the steepness
of the hills.
When going up steep hills, you may have to step on
the
accelerator pedal to maintain your speed. When going
downhill, you may have
to brake or shift to a lower gear
to keep your speed down. Of course, applying the brake
takes you out
of cruise control. Many drivers find this to
be too much trouble and don’t use cruise control on
steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
There are two ways to turn off the cruise control:
0 Step lightly on the brake pedal; or
0 Move the cruise switch to OFF.
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition,
your cruise control set speed memory is erased.
Exterior Lamps
Headlamps
Pull the switch to the first
stop to turn on the:
Parking Lamps
Sidemarker Lamps
0 Taillamps
Pull the switch out all the way to turn on the headlamps,
together with:
Parking Lamps
0 Sidemarker Lamps
0 Taillamps
0 Instrument Panel Lights
Push the switch in all the way to turn all the lamps off.
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Page 120 of 405

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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Page 121 of 405
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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