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
ProCarManuals.com
v 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.
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Important Information About Keys
Door Locks
Remote Keyless Entry Battery Replacement for RKE
Preventing Theft
of Your Vehicle
New Vehicle “Break-In”
Ignition Positions
Tips on Starting Your Engine
Using the Engine Coolant Heater
Automatic Transaxle Operation
Parking Brake Guidelines
Important Information on Engine Exhaust
Operation of Your Windows
Adjusting the Tilt Steering Wheel 2-32
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Functions of the Multifunction Lever
How to Use the HighLow Beam
Headlamp Changer
Windshield Wipers and Fluid
Using Cruise Control
Exterior Lamps
Daytime Running Lamps
(DRL)
Interior Lamps
Rearview Mirrors
Storage Compartments
Instrument Panel Overview
All About Your Warning Lights and Gages
Driver Information Center
Head-Up Display
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OFF (C): This position lets you turn off the engine but
still
turn the steering wheel. It doesn’t lock the steering
wheel like LOCK. Use OFF if you must have your
vehicle
pushed or towed.
RUN (D): This position is where the key returns
after
you start your vehicle. With the engine off, you
can use RUN to display some of your warning and
indicator lights.
START (E): This position starts your engine.
A warning chime will sound if you open the driver’s
door when the ignition is in OFF, LOCK or
ACCESSORY and the key is in the ignition,
~
NOTICE:
~~
If your key seems stuck in LOCK and you can’t
turn it, be sure your are using the correct key; if
so is it all the way in? If it is, then turn the
steering wheel left and right while yon turn the
key hard.
But turn the key only with your hand.
Using
a tool to force it could break the key or the
ignition
switch. If none of this works, then your
vehicle needs service.
Starting Your Engine
Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
Your engine won’t start in any other position -- that’s a
safety feature. To restart when you’re already moving,
use NEUTRAL
(N) only.
NOTICE:
Don’t try to shift to PARK (P) if your Pontiac is
moving. If you do, you could, damage the
transaxle. Shift to
PARK (P) only when your
vehicle
is stopped.
1. Without pushing the accelerator pedal, turn your
ignition key to
START. When the engine starts, let
go of the key. The idle speed will go down as your
engine gets warm.
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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:
Step lightly on the brake pedal; OR
Move the cruise switch to OFF.
Erasing Cruise Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition, or
shift into
PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N), your cruise
control set speed memory is erased.
Lamps
The lamp controls are located on the lower, left side of
the instrument panel, to the left
of the steering wheel.
They control these systems:
Headlamps
@ Taillamps
Parking Lamps
License Lamps
0 Sidemarker Lamps
0 Instrument Panel Lights
0 Courtesy Lamps
0 Fo'g Lamps
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Fog Lamps Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Intensity Control
The fog lamps switch is located in the upper, left corner of the
instrument panel, to the left of the instrument panel cluster.
To turn the fog lamps on, press the right side of the fog
lamps switch. A light will glow on the switch to let you
know that they are on. (Your parking lamps must be on,
or
your fog lamps won’t come on.) Press the left side of
the switch to turn the fog lamps off.
You can brighten or dim the instrument panel lights by
moving the interior lamps dial. Turn the dial to the right
to increase the brightness of the instrument panel lights,
to the left to decrease the brightness. Turn the control
all the way to the left to turn them off.
The fog lamps will
go off whenever you change to
high-beam headlamps. When you return to low beams.
the fog lamps will come on again.
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Mode 3: Remote Lock Confirmation with Exterior
Lights and Horn
Remote Lock Confirmation: When you use the key
chain transmitter to lock your vehicle, the horn will
sound briefly and your headlamps will flash briefly
to let you know your command is received.
Remote Unlock confirmation: When you use the key
chain transmitter to unlock your vehicle or open your
trunk, your headlamps will flash briefly
to let you
know your command is received.
Mode 4: Remote Lock Confirmation with Exterior
Lights and Horn (on second LOCK press)
Remote Lock Confirmation: When you use the
key chain transmitter
to lock your vehicle, your
headlamps will flash briefly to let
you know your
command is received. The horn will sound briefly
and the headlamps will flash briefly if you press
the
LOCK button again within five seconds.
Remote Unlock Confirmation: When you use the key
chain transmitter to unlock your vehicle
or open your
trunk, your headlamps will flash briefly to let
you
know your command is received.
Content Theft
Your vehicle comes with this feature set in Mode 4. This
means that:
If anyone damages or enters your vehicle while your
Content Theft-Deterrent System is armed, an alarm
will sound and your headlamps will flash for up to
two minutes.
To change the factory setting while in the programming
mode, do the following:
1. Turn the parking lamps on, then off.
2. Count the number of chimes you hear. The number
of chimes tells you which mode your vehicle is set
for. You change the mode by turning the
park lamps
on, then off again.
3. Repeat step 2 until you hear the number of chimes
that matches the mode
you want.
Mode 1: Damage Detection with Less Sensitivity (If
anyone seriously damages your vehicle, tampers with
the trunk lock or opens a door while your theft deterrent
is armed, an alarm will sound and your headlamps will
flash for up to two minutes).
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5. Add one peg at a time until your garage door opener
operates with the compartment door closed when
you press the button.
SUNGLASSES STORAGE COMPARTMENT Your
sunglasses storage compartment is the second compartment
from the back on the overhead console. To open the sunglasses
storage compartment, press the release latch forward and pull
the compartment down to the
full open position.
ACCESSORY POWER OUTLET In front of your
reading lights in a small, black door. Push up on the
bottom edge of this door to expose your accessory
power outlet and a small storage compartment.
Trunk Access Panel (If Equipped)
If your Grand Prix has rear seat armrests, you will also
have a trunk access panel.
To use the trunk access panel,
pull your rear armrest down, unlock the access panel
and
pull it down.
Rear Armrest Storage (If Equipped)
If you have a trunk access panel, you will also have a
pull down armrest that contains an open storage bin and
two cupholders.
Convenience Net (If Equipped)
Your vehicle may have a convenience net. You’ll see it
on the back wall of the trunk.
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Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages that
may be on your vehicle. The pictures will help
you
locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that something is
wrong before
it becomes serious enough to cause an
expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to
your warning lights and gages could also save
you or
others from injury.
Warning lights come on when there may be or is a
problem with one of your vehicle’s functions. As you
will see in the details on the next few pages, some
warning lights come on briefly when
you start the
engine
just to let you know they’re working. If you are
familiar with this section,
you should not be alarmed
when this happens.
Gages can indicate when there may
be or is a problem
with one of your vehicle’s functions. Often gages and
warning lights work together to let
you know when
there’s a problem with your vehicle.
When one of the warning lights comes on and stays on
when you are driving, or when one of the gages shows
there may be
a problem, check the section that tells you what
to do about it. Please follow this
manual’s advice.
Waiting
to do repairs can be costly -- and even
dangerous.
So please get to know your warning lights
and gages. They’re a big help.
Your vehicle may also have a driver information system
that works along with the warning lights and gages. See
“Driver Information System” in the Index.
Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to RUN or START, a chime will
come on for about eight seconds to remind people
to
fasten their safety belts, unless the driver’s safety belt is
already buckled.
The safety belt light will
also come on and stav
on .I
for about 20 seconds, then
it will flash for about
55 seconds. If the driver’s
belt
is already buckled,
neither the chime nor
the
light will come on.
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