Driver Information Center
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CHANGE OIL SOON c
Your Driver Information Center gives you important safety and maintenance facts, When you turn the ignition on, the
entire center lights ug.for a few seconds. Then it goes to work.
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TRUNK A JAR: If your trunk is not fully closed or
open, a light will outline the trunk area on your
vehicle outline.
TRAC SWITCH: If yop vehicle has the Trac System
(this is not an available option with the 3800 Supercharged
engine),
you will have a disable switch on the far right
side
of your Trip Computer. Your Trac System is
automatically activated when you turn the ignition on. This
switch will activate/deactivate the Trac System. If you
need to disable
the system, such as when you are stuck
and are rocking your vehicle back and forth, push this
switch. See “Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow” in
the Index.
TRAC OFF: This light lets you know that your Trac
System has been disabled and will not limit wheel spin.
See “Trac System Warning Light” or “Low Traction
Light” in the Index.
LOW TRAC: This light will come on when your Trac
System is limiting wheel spin or when your anti-lock
brake system is active. See “Trac System” or “Low
Traction Light” in the Index.
Head-Up Display (If Equipped)
radio station or CD track,
displayed “through”
the windshield.
The
HUD also shows these lights when they are lit on
the instrument panel:
0 Turn Signal Indicators
0 High-Beam Indicator Symbol
0 Low Fuel Symbol
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You can be temporarily blinded by approaching
headlamps.
It can take a second or two, or even several
seconds, for your eyes to readjust to the dark. When
you are faced with severe glare (as from a driver who
doesn’t lower the high beams, or a vehicle with
misaimed headlamps), slow down a little. Avoid
staring directly into the approaching headlamps.
Keep your windshield and all the glass on your vehicle
clean
-- inside and out. Glare at night is made much
worse by dirt on the glass. Even the inside
of the glass
can build up a film caused by dust. Dirty glass makes
lights dazzle and flash more
than clean glass would,
making the pupils
of your eyes contract repeatedly.
Remember that your headlamps light up far less
of a
roadway when you are in a turn or curve. Keep your
eyes moving; that way, it’s easier to pick out dimly
lighted objects. Just as your headlamps should be
checked regularly for proper aim,
so should your eyes
be examined regularly. Some drivers suffer from night
blindness
-- the inability to see in dim light -- and
aren’t even aware
of it.
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can mean driving trouble. On a wet
road, you can’t stop, accelerate or turn
as well because
your tire-to-road traction isn’t as good as on dry roads.
And, if your tires don’t have
much tread left, you’ll get
even less traction. It’s always wise to
go slower and be
cautious if rain starts to fall while you are driving. The
surface may get wet suddenly when your reflexes
are
tuned for driving on dry pavement.
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Making Turns
I NOTICE:
Making very sharp turns while trailering could cause the trailer to come in contact with the
vehicle. Your vehicle could be damaged. Avoid making very sharp turns while trailering.
When you’re turning with a trailer, make wider turns than
normal.
Do this so your trailer won’t strike soft shoulders,
curbs, road signs, trees or other objects. Avoid jerky or
sudden maneuvers. Signal well in advance.
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle may need a
different turn signal flasher andlor extra wiring. Check
with your Pontiac dealer. The green arrows on your
instrument panel will flash whenever you signal a turn
or lane change. Properly hooked up, the trailer lamps
will also flash, telling other drivers you’re about to turn,
change lanes or stop. When towing
a trailer, the green
arrows on your
instrument panel will flash for turns even if the bulbs on
the trailer are burned out. Thus, you may think drivers
behind you are seeing your signal when they are not. It’s
important to check occasionally to be
sure the trailer
bulbs
are still working.
Your vehicle has bulb warning lights. When you plug
a
trailer lighting system into your vehicle’s lighting
system, its bulb warning lights may not
let you know if
one of your lamps goes out. So, when you have a trailer
lighting system plugged in, be sure to check your
vehicle and trailer lamps
from time to time to be sure
they’re all working. Once you disconnect the trailer
lamps, the bulb warning lights again can tell you if one
of your vehicle lamps is out.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you start
down a long or steep downgrade. If you don’t shift
down, you might have to use your brakes
so much that
they would get hot and no longer work well.
On
a long uphill grade, shift down and reduce your
speed to around
45 mph (70 kd) to reduce the
possibility
of engine and transaxle overheating.
If you have Overdrive, you may want to drive in
THIRD (3), instead of DRIVE (D),
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Hazard Warning Flashers Press the switch OB top of
the steering column to make
your front and
rear turn
signal lamps
flash on and
off. Your hazard warning
flashers
work no matter
what position your key
is in,
and even if the key isn’t in.
Your hazard warning flashers let you warn others. They
also let police know
you have a problem. Your front and
rear
turn signal lamps will flash on and off.
To turn off the flashers, press the switch again. When
the hazard warning flashers are
on, your turn signals or
brake lights won’t work.
Other Warning Devices
If you carry reflective triangles, you can set one up
at the side of the road about 300 feet (100 m) behind
your vehicle.
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The cooling system in your vehicle is filled with new
DEX-COOL TM engine coolant. This coolant is designed
to remain in your vehicle for 5 years or 150,000 miles
‘(240 000 h), whichever occurs first.
The following explains your cooling system and how to
add coolant when it is low. If you have a problem with
engine overheating or if you need to add coolant to your
radiator, see “Engine Overheating” in the Index.
A $OB0 mixture of water and the proper coolant for
your Pontiac will:
Give freezing protection down to -34°F (-37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 265 “F (129’ C).
0 Protect against rust and corrosion.
0 Help keep the proper engine temperature.
0 Let the warning lights and gages work as they should.
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NOTICE:
When adding coolant, it is important that you
use only IBEX-COOL TM silicate-free coolant.
If silicated coolant is added to the system,
premature
engine, heater core or radiator
corrosion may result. In addition, the engine
coolant
will requipe change sooner -- at
30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs first.
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Lights Lubrication Service. Body ........................ 7-40 Air Bag Readiness ....................... 1-23. 2-65 Lumbar Seat .................................... 1-4
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
............ 2-67. 4-7
Brake System Warning ......................... 2-66
Charging System
............................. 2-66 Maintenance. Normal Replacement Parts ........... 6-73
Check Tire Pressure ........ 2-70 Maintenance Record 7-46
Engine Coolant Temperature
.................... 2-74 Maintenance Schedule ............................ 7-1 Interior ..................................... 2-40 Introtduction .................................. 7-2
Low Coolant Warning ......................... 2-75 Long TripMighway Definition ................... 7-6
LowFuel ................................... 2-77 Long TripMighway Intervals ..................... 7-6
Low Traction
................................ 2-69 Periodic Maintenance Inspections ................ 7-43
Low Washer Fluid ............................ 2-76
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants ............. 7-44
Oil Warning ................................. 2-73 Scheduled Maintenance Services .................. 7-3
Safety Belt Reminder ...................... 1-9. 2-64 Short TriplCity Definition ....................... 7-5
Service Engine Soon
.......................... 2-70 Short Trip/City Intervals .........................
Trac System Warning .......................... 2-68 Your Vehicle and the Environment ................ 7-2
Trunk
Ajar Warning ........................... 2-76 Maintenance. Underbody ......................... 6-63
Loading Your Vehicle
........................... 4-29 Maintenance When Trailer Towing ................. 4-38
Automatic Door .......................... 2-6. 2-46 Manual Front Seat ............................... 1-2
Door ........................................ 2-4 Mirrors ....................................... 2-53
Ignition Transaxle Check ....................... 7-42 Convex Outside .............................. 2-54
Key Lock Cylinder Service
..................... 7-40 Electrochromic Daymight Rearview .............. 2-53
Locks and Lighting Choices
...................... 2-44 Visor Vanity .................................. 2-59
Low Coolant Warning Light ...................... 2-75 ......................................... 6-4
LOW Fuel Light ................................ 2-77 Mode Buttons. Automatic and Auxiliary Temp Control .. 3-6 LOW Oil Level Light ............................ 2-74 Mode Knob. climate Control System ................ 3-2
LOW Traction Light ............................. 2-69 Mountain Roads ................................ 4-23 Low Washer muid Light ......................... 2-76 Multifunc$iQn Lever ............................. 2-32
............ ............................
LowOilLevel ............................... 2-74 Owner Checks and Services ..................... 7-39
7-5
......................................... ...................... Locks 2-4 Malfunction Indicator Lap 2-70
Cylinders 7-40 Methanol 6-4 ................................... ......................................
PowerDoor .................................. 2-5 Inside DayNight Rearview ..................... 2-53
Pawar Outside
2-54
Trunk ...................................... 2-12 ...............................
Lubricants and Fluids ............................ 7-44
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Underbody Flushing Service .
Underhood Electrical Center
Underbody
Maintenance
.....
...
.......
...
... 7-42
..... 6-63
I ....... 6-69
Vehicle Control
............. ..................... 4-6
Damage Warnings
.............................. iv
Dimensions ................................. 6-73
Identification Number
......................... 6-65
Loading
.................................... 4-29
Storage
..................................... 6-37
Ventilationsystem
............................... 3-8
.Visor Vanity Mirrors ............................ 2-59
Visors,
Sun .................................... 2-59
warning Devices
............................... 5-2
Warning
Lights. Gages and Indicators ............... 2-64
Washer Fluid. Windshield ................... . . 6-32 Washing
Your Vehicle
........................... 6-60
Weatherstrips
.................................. 6-60
Wheel Alignment
.................................. 6-52
NutTorque
.................................. 5-31
Replacement
................................. 6-52
Wrench
.............................
Auto-Down ................................. 2-31
Power
...................................... 2-30
Windshield Washer
............................. 2-34
Fluid
.................................. 2-34, 6-32
Fluid Level Check
............................ 7-39
Windshield Wiper ............................... 2-33
Blade Replacement
........................... 6-44
Fuses
...................................... 6-67
Winter Driving
................................. 4-25
Wiring, Headlamp
.............................. 6-66
WreckerTowing
................................. 5-8
Wrench, Wheel .............................. 5-26
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