Page 35 of 419

0 Your vehicle  is equipped with a crash sensing  and 
diagnostic module, which records information 
about the air bag system.  The module records 
information about the readiness 
of the  system, 
when the sensors are activated and driver’s safety 
belt usage  at deployment. 
bag system. Improper service can mean  that your 
air  bag system won’t work  properly. 
See your 
dealer 
for service. 
Let  only  qualified technicians work  on your  air 
NOTICE: 
Servicing  Your Air Bag-Equipped  Pontiac 
Air bags affect  how your Pontiac  should be serviced. 
There  are parts 
of the air bag system in several places 
around your vehicle.  You don’t want the system to 
inflate while someone  is working  on your  vehicle.  Your 
Pontiac dealer and the Grand Prix Service Manual have 
information about servicing your vehicle  and  the air bag 
system. 
To purchase a service manual,  see’ “Service and 
Owner Publications”  in the Index. 
If you aarnage the  cover for the  driver’s  or  the 
right  front  passenger’s  air bag,  the bag  may not 
work  properly.  You  may have 
to replace the air 
bag module  in the steering  wheel or both the  air 
bag module and the instrument panel for the 
right  front  passenger’s 
air bag. Do not open or 
break  the air bag  covers. 
1 r up to 10 1 nutes  af th gn.  )n: y is 
turned  off and  the battery  is disconnected,  an air 
bag can still inflate  during  improper  service. You 
can  be injured 
if you  are close  to an air bag  when 
it inflates.  Avoid wires wrapped  with yellow  tape 
or  yellow  connectors. They  are probably  part of 
the  air bag  system.  Be sure  to  follow proper 
service  procedures,  and make  sure  the  person 
performing  work for you 
is qualified  to do so. 
The air bag system does  not need regular maintenance. 
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        Page 95 of 419

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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        Page 113 of 419

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. 
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Air Bag Readiness Light 
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument 
panel, which shows SRS  AIR BAG.  The system  checks 
the  air bag’s  electrical system  for malfunctions.  The 
light tells you if there is an electrical problem.  The 
system check  includes  the  air  bag sensors,  the air bag 
mo’dules, the wiring and  the  crash sensing and 
diagnostic module. For more information on  the air bag 
system,  see “Air Bag” 
in the Index. 
SRS AIR BAG 
This  light  will come on 
when  you start  your  engine, 
and it will flash  for a few 
seconds. 
Then the  light 
should go out. This means 
the system is ready. 
If the  air bag  readiness  light  stays on after you start  the 
engine 
or comes on when you are driving, your  air bag 
system  may not work properly. Have your vehicle 
serviced right away. 
The  air bag  readiness  light  should flash  for  a few 
seconds when  you 
turn the ignition key to RUN. If the 
light  doesn’t  come on then,  have it  fixed so it will  be 
ready to warn you if there 
is a  problem. 
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        Page 245 of 419
Attach a separate safety chain around the outboard end 
of each  lower  control  arm. 
Rear Towing 
A towing dolly must be used  under  the  drive  wheels when 
towing from the real: 
Note: Take care not to damage speed  sensor wires when 
attaching  chains. 
Use wheel lift or car  carrier  equipment. Additional 
ramping  may 
be required for car  carrier  equipment.  Use 
safety chains and wheel  straps. 
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        Page 247 of 419
Attach a separate safety 
chain around the outboard 
end 
of both  lateral  arms. 
Please  take  care  not to 
damage speed sensor 
wires  or  brake 
hoses 
when attaching chains 
l.1 and T-hooks. - 
Engine Overheating 
You will find a coolant temperature gage and a warning 
light  about 
a hot  engine  on your instrument  panel. See 
“Engine Coolant Temperature Gage” and “Engine 
Coolant Temperature Warning Light”  in the Index. 
You 
also  have a low coolant  light on your  instrument  panel. 
Sed‘Low Coolant Light” in the Index. 
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine 
Steam  from  an  overheated  engine  can  burn  you 
badly,  even  if  you  just  open  the  hood.  Stay  away 
from the  engine  if  you  see or hear  steam  coming 
from  it.  Just  turn  it  off  and  get  everyone  away 
from the  vehicle  until  it cools down. Wait  until 
CAUTION: (Continued) 
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        Page 341 of 419
Fuse 
FUTURE 
PARK 
LP 
FOG LP 
FUTURE 
ECM 
FUEL PMP 
TCC 
ALT 
Description 
Spare 
Chimemall  Module, Taillamps, 
Park  Lamps,  Sidemarker  Lamps,  Dimmable 
Lamps 
Fog Lamps 
Spare 
ECM/PCM 
Fuel  Pump 
Automatic Transaxle:  Enable, 
Switch,  Shift, 
PWM 
Alt Sense 
Fuse 
RADIO 
AC  CLU 
Description 
Radio,  Remote  Lock  Control, 
Theft  Shock  Sensor,  Trip 
Computer,  HVAC Module,  ABS 
Module,  Security  LED 
AC  Clutch 
B/U LP 
Trunk Release,  Back-up  Lamps 
IGN  MODULE 
Ignition Module 
IGNI-UH 
INJ  MAF, 
Heated  Sensors,  Canister 
Prg, 
Boost Solenoid 
Fuel  Injectors 
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