
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
BURNS AVOID
SPARKS
OR
FLAMES
SPARK OR ,\[I,
COULD FLAME
EXPLODE BATTERY
These symbols are important
for you and
your passengers
whenever your
vehicle is
driven:
n
FASTEN
SEAT
BELTS
q4
AIR BAG p
These symbols
have to do with
your lamps:
SIGNALS e
TURN
PARKING LAMPS
FOG LAMPS
$0
These symbols
are
on some of
your controls:
WINDSHIELD
WIPER
WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER
WINDOW
DEFOGGER
VENTILATING
~3
FAN
These symbols are used
on
warning and indicator lights:
COOLANT -
TEMP -
CHARGING BATTERY
SYSTEM
BRAKE
(0)
h
COOLANT
ENGINE OIL
w,
PRESSURE
ANTI-LOCK
(@)
BRAKES
Here are some
other symbols
you may see:
FUSE
P
LIGHTER m
HORN )cr
SPEAKER
b
FUEL la
V
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Parking at Night
Park in a lighted spot, close all windows and lock your
vehicle. Remember to keep your valuables out of sight.
Put them in a storage area,
or take them with you.
Parking Lots
If you park in a lot where someone will be watching
your vehicle, it’s best to lock
it up and take your keys.
But what
if you have to leave your ignition key? What if
you have to leave something valuable in your vehicle?
Put your valuables in a storage area, like your trunk
or glove box.
0 Lock the glove box.
0 Lock all doors except the driver’s.
0 Give the valet key to the valet. Then take the master
key with you.
Content Theft-Deterrent (If Equipped)
If your Grand Prix has this option, it has a
theft-deterrent alarm system.
A red light located on top of your instrument panel (near
the center
of the vehicle, next to the windshield) will
flash slowly when the system is armed.
While armed, the doors will not unlock with the power
lock switch. The alarm will go
off if someone damages
the vehicle, tampers with the trunk lock, enters the
vehicle (without using the key chain transmitter or key
to unlock the doors), or turns
the ignition on. Your horn
will sound and your headlamps will flash
for up to two
minutes. The system will also cut
off the fuel supply,
preventing the vehicle
from being driven.
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AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D): This position is for
normal driving.
If your vehicle has overdrive, AUTOMATIC
OVERDRIVE
(D) is the overdrive position. If you need
more power for passing, and you’re:
Going less than 35 mph (55 km/h), push your
0 Going about 35 mph (55 kmh) or more, push the
accelerator
pedal about halfway down.
accelerator pedal all the way down.
You’ll
shift down to the next gear and have more power.
NOTICE:
If your vehicle seems to start up rather slowly,
or
if it seems not to shift gears as you go faster,
something may be wrong with
a transaxle system
sensor.
If you drive very far that way, your
vehicle can be damaged.
So, if this happens, have
your vehicle serviced right
away. Until then, you
can use SECOND
(2) when you are driving less
than 35 mph (55 km/h) and AUTOMATIC
OVERDRIVE (D) for higher speeds. THIRD
(3): This
position is also used for normal
driving, but it offers more power and lower fuel
economy than AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE
(D).
Here are some times you might choose THIRD (3)
instead of AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D):
When driving on hilly, winding roads.
When towing a trailer, so there is less shifting
When going down a steep hill.
SECOND (2): This position gives you more power, but
lower fuel economy. You can use SECOND
(2) on hills.
It can help control your speed as you go down steep
mountain roads, but then you would also want to use
your brakes off and on.
between gears.
NOTICE:
Don’t drive in SECOND (2) for more than 25 miles
(41 km) at speeds over 55 mph (88 km/h), or you can
damage your transaxle. Use AUTOMATIC
OVERDRIVE (D) or THIRD (3) as much as possible.
Don’t shift into
SECOND (2) unless you are going
slower than
65 mph (105 km/h), or you can
damage your engine.
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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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For cars with center console mounted gear shift levers,
the second access slot is located on the right hand side
of the console shift panel, next to the shift lever.
Insert a screwdriver into the slot. Pry the cap open using
the screwdriver. Be careful not to damage the cap. Press
down and hold. You will now be able to shift your
vehicle out of PARK (P).
Performance Shifting (If Equipped)
Press the performance shift
button, located on the side
of the console shift knob,
to allow the transaxle
to
shift at higher engine
speeds, increasing
acceleration performance.
If you have a vehicle with the option 3800 Supercharged
engine,
the words “Performance Shift” will glow in the
trip computer when the Performance Shift is in operation.
Downshifts will occur at a lower percentage of
accelerator use while you’re in the performance
shift mode.
Press the button again to return to normal shifting. The
transaxle will then shift at lower engine speeds,
increasing fuel economy.
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Instrument Panel -- Your Information System
LOW -1 FUEL
I -E
w
UNWED FUEL ONLY
>> LOW OIL
APPLY BAAKE TO SHIFT FROM PARK TEMP
United States Version Shown, Others Similar
Your instrument cluster is designed to let you know at a glance how your vehicle is running. You’ll know how fast
you’re going, about how much fuel is in your tank and many other things you need to drive safely and economically.
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Check Tire Pressure Light
CHECK
TIRE
PRESS
With the check tire pressure
system, after you’ve driven
10 to 20 miles (1 5 to 30 km)
the CHECK TIRE PRESS
light will come on if the
pressure in one tire becomes
at least
10 psi (69 kPa)
higher or lower than the
other three tires.
When
the CHECK TIRE PRESS light comes on, you
should stop
as soon as you can and check all your tires
for damage.
(If a tire is flat, see “If a Tire Goes Flat’’
in the Index.) Also
check the tire pressure in all four
tires
as soon as you can. See ‘‘Inflation - Tire Pressure
in the Index.
The light will stay on until you turn off the ignition or
press the
CALIBRATE TIP9 PRESS button. See
“Check Tire Pressure Syst?
.” in the Index.
If the anti-lock
brake system warning light comes on
with the CHECK
TIRE PRESS light, the check tire
pressure system isn’t working. See your Pontiac dealer
for service.
(Also, see “Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light in the Index.)
Mal€unctisn Indicator Lamp
(Service Engine Soon Light)
SERVICE
ENIGINIE SOON
Your Pontiac is equipped
with a computer which
monitors operation
of the
fuel, ignition and emission
control systems.
This system is called
OBD I1 (On-Board
Diagnostics-Second Generation) and is intended to assure
that emissions are at acceptable levels for the life of the
vehicle, helping to produce a cleaner environment. (In
Canada,
OBD I1 is replaced by Enhanced Diagnostics.)
The SERVICE ENGINE SOON light comes on to
indicate that there is
a problem and service is required.
Malfunctions often will be indicated
by the system before
any problem
is apparent. This may prevent more serious
damage to
your vehicle. This system is also designed to
assist your service technician in correctly diagnosing
any malfunction.
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NOTICE:
If you keep driving your vehicle with this light
on, after a while, your emission controls may not
work as well, your fuel economy may not be as
good and your engine may not run as smoothly.
This could lead to costly repairs that may not be
covered by your warranty.
This light should come on, as a check to show you it is
working, when the ignition
is on and the engine is not
running.
If the light doesn’t come on, have it repaired.
This light will also come on during a malfunction in one
of two ways:
0 Light Flashing -- A misfire condition has been
detected.
A misfire increases vehicle emissions and
may damage the emission control system on your
vehicle. Dealer
or qualified service center diagnosis
and service is required.
Light On Steady -- An emission control system
malfunction has been detected on your vehicle.
Dealer or qualified service center diagnosis and
service
may be required.
If the Light Is Flashing
The following may prevent more serious damage to
your vehicle:
Reducing vehicle speed.
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 possible.
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.
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