
FIRST (1): This position  gives you even more power, 
but lower  fuel economy than 
SECOND (2). You  can use 
it on very steep hills, or in deep snow  or mud. If the shift 
lever 
is put in FIRST (1)’ the transaxle won’t shift  into 
first gear  until the vehicle  is going slowly  enough. 
NOTICE: 
~~~~~~  ~ 
If your  front wheels can’t rotate, don’t try to 
drive. This  might  happen if you were  stuck in 
very  deep  sand  or  mud  or  were  up  against a solid 
object. You could  damage  your  transaxle. 
Also, if you stop  when  going  uphill,  don’t  hold 
your  vehicle  there with  only  the  accelerator 
pedal.  This  could  overheat  and  damage  the 
transaxle.  Use 
your brakes or shift  into  PARK (P) 
to  hold  your  vehicle  in  position  on a hill. 
Shift Lock Release (Console Shift) 
If your  vehicle’s  battery  should go dead,  there are two override 
access  slots  that  will  allow  you  to  override 
park lock. 
The  first  is  located 
underneath  the  steering 
column below  the  lock 
cylinder. 
To use  this  slot, 
first remove  the  trim 
cap. 
Insert a key or screwdriver 
into  the  access slot  and 
press 
the lock cylinder. 
You  will now  be  able  to  remove your key from the 
ignition.  Be  sure 
to replace the trim cap after use. 
If the car has a column mounted gear  shift lever, 
you  will  now  also 
be able  to  shift  your vehicle  out 
of PARK (P). 
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Move the lever up as far  as  it  will go. 
3, Move the  ignition key to LOCK. 
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can 
leave  your vehicle  with the ignition key  in your 
hand, your  vehicle  is in 
PARK (P). 
Console  Shift 
I. Hold the  brake  pedal down with your  right  foot and 
2, Move  the shift lever into PARK (P) position  like this: 
set the parking brake. 
3. 
4. 
Hold in the  lever, located on  the  front of the  shift 
knob, and push the  shift knob all  the way  toward  the 
front  of your vehicle. 
Move the ignition key 
to LOCK. 
Remove the key and take  it with you. If you  can 
leave your  vehicle with the ignition key  in your 
hand, your  vehicle is in PARK (P). 
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Leaving  Your  Vehicle  With  the Engine  Running 
It  can  be  dangerous  to  leave  your  vehicle  with 
the  engine  running.  Your  vehicle  could  move 
suddenly  if  the  shift  lever  is  not  fully  in  PARK 
(P) 
with  the  parking  brake  firmly  set.  And,  if  you 
leave  the  vehicle  with  the  engine  running,  it  could 
overheat  and  even  catch  fire.  You  or  others  could 
be  injured.  Don’t  leave  your  vehicle  with  the 
engine  running  unless  you  have  to. 
If  you  have  to  leave  your vehicle  with the  engine 
running,  be  sure your vehicle  is  in PARK  (P) and your 
parking brake is firmly set  before you leave  it.  After 
you’ve moved  the shift  lever  into 
the PARK (P) 
position, hold  the regular  brake pedal down. Then,  see if 
you can move  the shift lever away from PARK (P) 
without first pulling  it toward  you (or, if you have a 
console 
shift lever, without  first pushing the button). If 
you can,  it  means that  the  shift lever wasn’t fully locked 
into  PARK  (P). 
Torque  Lock 
If you are parlung on a  hill and you don’t  shift your 
transaxle  into PARK  (P) properly, the weight of the 
vehicle  may put  too  much force on the  parking  pawl  in 
the transaxle.  You may  find it difficult to pull the shift 
lever  out  of  PARK  (P). This  is called “torque lock.”  To 
prevent torque  lock, set the parking brake and then shift 
into  PARK  (P) properly  before you leave  the driver’s 
seat. 
To find  out how,  see “Shifting  Into PARK  (P)” in 
the Index. 
When  you are ready to  drive, move the  shift lever  out 
of 
PARK  (P) before you release  the  parking brake. 
If torque  lock  does occur, you  may need  to have another 
vehicle  push yours a little  uphill  to take some  of the 
pressure  from the parking  pawl in the  transaxle, 
so you 
can  pull the  shift lever  out of PARK  (P). 
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Shifting Out of PARK (P) 
Your Pontiac has a Brake-Transaxle Shift Interlock. 
You  must  fully  apply  your regular  brakes before 
you can 
shift from 
PARK (P) when  the ignition is  in RUN. See 
“Automatic  Transaxle Operation”  in the Index. 
If 
you cannot  shift  out of PARK (P), ease pressure on 
the shift lever by pushing  it all  the  way into PARK 
(P) 
while  keeping  the brake pedal pushed down.  Release the 
shift  lever  button  if you have 
a console  shift. Then move 
the shift lever  out of PARK (P), being  sure to press the 
shift lever button if you have a console shift. 
If you ever hold the brake  pedal  down but still can’t 
shift  out of  PARK 
(P) with column shift, try  this: 
1. Turn the key to OFF. 
2. Apply and hold the  brake  until  the  end of Step 4. 
3. Shift  to NEUTRAL (N). 
4. Start  the  engine  and shift to  the  drive  gear you want. 
5. Have the vehicle fixed as soon as you can. 
With  Console  Shift 
see “Shift Lock Release”  section. 
Parking Over Things That Burn 
r 
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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The driver’s window switch has an auto-down feature. 
This  switch 
is labeled  AUTO.  Tap  the rear of the  switch, 
and  the driver’s window  will open a  small amount.  If the 
rear  of the  switch  is  pressed all the  way  down and 
released, the window will  go all the  way  down. 
To  stop the window  while  it 
is lowering, press the  front 
of  the switch. 
To raise  the window, press and hold the 
front  of the switch. 
On  four-door models,  the driver’s window controls  also 
include a lock-out switch.  Press 
LOCK OUT to stop 
front  and rear passengers  from using their window 
switches.  The  driver  can still control all the windows 
with the  lock 
on. Push LOCK OUT again for normal 
window operation. When  the orange band on the switch 
is  showing,  the  passengers can operate their windows. 
Full  Floating Horn 
The  full  floating  horn is designed so  that you  may  press 
anywhere on  the steering wheel pad 
to sound the horn. 
Tilt  Steering Wheel 
A tilt steering wheel allows 
you  to  adjust  the steering 
wheel before 
you drive.  You 
can  also  raise  it  to 
the 
highest  level  to give your 
legs  more room when you 
exit  and enter 
the vehicle. 
To  tilt the  wheel,  hold the  steering  wheel and pull 
the 
lever. Move  the steering wheel to a  comfortable level, 
then release  the lever  to  lock  the  wheel in place. 
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For steady wiping at low speed, turn  the band  to LO. For 
high-speed  wiping, turn the band further,  to 
HI. To stop 
the 
wipers, turn the band to OFF. 
You  can set the wiper speed  for  a long or  short  delay 
between wipes.  This  can be very useful  in light  rain or 
snow.  Turn  the band 
to choose the delay time. The 
closer  to 
LO, the  shorter  the  delay. 
Be sure  to  clear  ice  and snow from the wiper blades 
before using them. 
If they’re  frozen to the windshield, 
carefully loosen 
or thaw them.  If your blades  do become 
damaged, get  new blades 
or blade inserts. 
Heavy  snow 
or ice can overload your wipers. A circuit 
breaker will  stop them until the motor cools.  Clear away 
snow or ice to prevent an overload. 
Windshield  Washer 
At the top  of the multifunction lever,  there’s a paddle 
with  the word 
PUSH on it. To spray washer  fluid on the 
windshield,  push the paddle. The wipers  will  run  for 
several sweeps and then either  stop  or  return 
to your 
preset  speed.  See  “Windshield Washer Fluid” 
in 
the Index. 
In  freezing  weather,  don’t  use  your  washer  until 
the  windshield  is warmed.  Otherwise  the  washer 
fluid  can  form  ice  on  the  windshield,  blocking 
your  vision. 
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go : Turn the knob to this symbol to turn on the headlamps 
and  other  operating  lamps. 
PG: Turn the knob to this symbol to turn on the parking 
and other  operating  lamps without the headlamps. 
Turn  the knob  to 
OFF to  turn off the lamps. 
Daytime  Running Lamps 
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) 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 makes  the 
DRL work, so be  sure  it  isn't  covered. 
The  DRL system will  make your low-beam  headlamps 
come  on at a reduced  brightness  when: 
0 The ignition is  on, 
0 The headlamp switch is off,  and 
0 The parking brake is released. 
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 lit  up  either. 
When  it's  dark  enough  outside,  your  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  out,  and your low-beam  headlamps change to  the 
reduced brightness  of DRL. 
To  idle your  vehicle with the  DRL  off, set  the  parking 
brake while  the ignition is  in 
OFF or  LOCK.  Then start 
your vehicle.  The DRL  will stay 
off until  you release  the 
parking brake. 
As with  any vehicle, you should turn on the regular 
headlamp system when you need  it. 
ProCarManuals.com 

Courtesy  Lamps 
When  any door is opened, several lamps come  on.  These 
lamps  are courtesy  lamps. They make 
it easy for you  to 
enter and  leave your vehicle at night.  You can also turn 
these lamps 
on by turning  the interior lamps  dial all the 
way to the right. 
Illuminated  Entry 
The  Illuminated Entry  feature will illuminate  the interior 
so that  you can see  the  inside  of your  vehicle  before you 
enter  at night.  The interior lamps will come on for 
40 
seconds  when you unlock your doors using the key 
chain  transmitter  (if equipped)  and the ignition  is in  the 
LOCK  or 
OFF position.  After 40 seconds have elapsed, 
the interior lamps will slowly  fade out. The  lamps will 
fade  out before 
40 seconds have elapsed  if you: 
Lock all  doors using your key chain transmitter. 
Lock the doors  using the power  door lock switch. 
When  any door  is opened, illuminated entry  is  canceled. 
The interior lamps will stay on while any door  is opened 
and slowly  fade  out when all doors  are  closed.  The 
interior lamps  may stay on  for up to 
25 seconds  after 
all 
doors have been closed  if they have  not been  locked. 
See  “Delayed Illumination” later in this section. 
Delayed  Illumination 
The  Delayed Illumination  feature will continue  to 
illuminate the  interior  for 
25 seconds after all the doors 
have been  closed so that you can find  the ignition and 
buckle your  seat belt at  night. Delayed  Illumination  will 
not occur  while the ignition is  in RUN  or ACCESSORY 
position. After 
25 seconds  have elapsed, the interior 
lamps will slowly  fade  out.  The lamps will fade out 
before  the 
25 seconds have elapsed  if you: 
0 Turn the ignition to the RUN or 
Lock all  doors using your key chain transmitter 
Lock the  doors using the power door  lock  switch. 
To turn Delayed Illumination  feature off or on.  See 
“Locks and Lighting Choices”  in the Index. 
ACCESSORY 
position. 
(if  equipped). 
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