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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 73 of 405

Ignition Positions
C
A E
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
ignition 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 (C): Unlocks the steering wheel, ignition and
transaxle, but does not send electrical power to any
accessories. Use this position if your vehicle must be
pushed
or towed, but never try to push-start your
vehicle.
A warning chime will sound if you open the
driver’s door when the ignition
is OFF and the key is in
the ignition.
RUN (D): 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
can use RUN
to operate your electrical power
accessories, and
to display some instrument panel
warning lights.
START (E): Starts the engine. When the engine starts,
release the 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 your electrical accessories, such as the radio.
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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.
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Page 97 of 405

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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Page 112 of 405
1. Twilight Sentinel/Headlamp Switch
2. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
3. Tilt Steering Wheel Lever
4. Instrument Cluster/Gages
5. Audio System Steering Wheel Controls
6. Ignition Switch
7. Air Outlet
8. Climate Control System
9. Passenger’s Side Air Bag
10. Glove Box
11. Audio System
12. Hazard Warning Flashers Switch
13. Driver’s Side SRS Air Bag
14. Hood Release
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Page 113 of 405
Instrument Panel Clusters
Your instrument panel clusters are designed to let you know at a glance how your vehide is running. You’ll know how
fast you’re going, how much fuel you’re using, and many other things you’ll need to drive safely and economically.
Your Pontiac is equipped with one of these instrument panel clusters, which includes indicator warning lights and -
gages that are explained on the following pages.
--
I ~~~~~~
~ -- -
FUEL ONLY UNLEADED
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