Page 78 of 395

NOTICE: 
If  your key  seems  stuck  in LOCK and you can’t 
turn  it, be  sure  you 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  you  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. 
Key  Reminder Warning 
If you  leave your key  in the ignition,  in the OFF 
position,  you  will  hear  a  warning  tone  when  you  open 
the  driver’s  door. 
Retained  Accessory  Power (If Equipped) 
If you  have this option,  after  you  turn  the ignition off 
and  even  remove  the  key,  you will still  have  electrical 
power 
to such  accessories as the  radio  and  power 
windows  for up 
to 10 minutes.  Power  is turned off if 
you open a door. 
Always  leave  your  key  in  LOCK. If you  leave  your  key 
in  any  other  position  than  LOCK,  your  battery  will  discharge  prematurely. 
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. 
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Automatic Transaxle Operation 
Your  automatic  transaxle  may  have a shift lever  located on 
the console between the  seats or on the steering column. 
There  are  several  different 
positions for  your shift lever. 
PARK (P): This  locks  your  front  wheels. It’s the best 
position  to  use 
when you  start  your  engine  because your 
vehicle  can’t  move  easily. 
A CAUTION: I 
It is dangerous  to  get out of your  vehicle if the 
shift  lever  is  not  fully  in 
PARK (P) with  the 
parking  brake firmly  set.  Your  vehicle 
can roll. 
Don’t  leave  your  vehicle  when  the  engine  is 
running  unless 
you have to. If you  have  left  the 
engine 
running, the  vehicle  can move  suddenly. 
You  or others  could  be  injured. 
To be  sure  your 
vehicle  won’t  move,  even  when  you’re  on  fairly 
level  ground,  always  set  your  parking brake and 
move  the  shift  lever  to 
PARK (P). 
See  “Shifting Into PARK (P)” in the  Index.  If 
you’re  pulling 
a trailer,  see  “Towing  a  Trailer” 
in  the  Index. 
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Ensure  the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) range  before 
starting the  engine. Your vehicle  has  a  brake-transaxle shift 
interlock. You have  to  fully apply your  regular  brakes 
b#ore you  can shift from PARK (P) when  the  ignition  key 
is 
in an on  position. If you  cannot  shift  out of PARK (P), 
ease pressure  on  the shift lever -- push  the shift lever all 
the  way  into PARK (P) and also release  the shift lever 
button  on  floor 
shift console  models as you maintain brake 
application.  Then  move  the 
shift lever  into  the  gear  you 
wish.  (Press  the 
shift lever  button  before  moving  the shift 
lever  on  floor shift console  models.) See “Shifting  Out of 
PARK (P)” later in this section. 
REVERSE  (R): Use  this  gear  to  back  up. 
NOTICE: 
Shifting  to  REVERSE  (R)  while  your  vehicle  is 
moving  forward  could  damage  your  transaxle. 
Shift  to 
REVERSE (R) only  after  your  vehicle 
is  stopped. 
To rock your vehicle  back  and  forth  to  get  out of snow, 
ice or sand without damaging your transaxle, see 
“Stuck:  In  Sand,  Mud,  Ice or  Snow”  in the Index. 
NEUTRAL (N): In this  position,  your  engine 
doesn’t  connect  with  the  wheels.  To  restart  when  you’re 
already  moving,  use  NEUTRAL 
(N) only.  Also,  use 
NEUTRAL (N) when  your  vehicle is being  towed. 
A CAUTION: 
Shifting  out  of  PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) while 
your  engine  is  “racing”  (running at 
high speed)  is 
dangerous.  Unless  your  foot  is 
firmly on  the 
brake  pedal,  your  vehicle  could  move  very 
rapidly.  You 
could lose  control and hit people or 
objects.  Don’t  shift  out of PARK (P) or 
NEUTRAL (N) while your engine  is racing. 
NOTICE: 
Damage  to your  transaxle  caused by shifting  out 
of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) with  the  engine 
racing  isn’t  covered 
by your  warranty. 
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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  selector  lever  is put  in FIRST (l), 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. 
Performance Shifting  (Option) 
Press  PERFORM SHIFI' to 
allow  the  transaxle  to shift 
at higher  engine  speeds, 
increasing  acceleration 
performance. 
An indicator 
light  on  the  switch  will 
glow when  performance 
shifting  is 
in operation. 
Downshifts  will  occur  at  a lower  percentage 
of 
accelerator  application  while  you're in the  PERFORM 
SHIFT mode. 
Press NORMAL SHIFT to  have  the  transaxle  shift  at 
lower  engine  speeds,  increasing  fuel  economy. 
An 
indicator  light on the  switch  will  glow  when  normal 
shifting  is  in  operation. 
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Windows 
Power Windows 
Express-Down Window 
When  the  driver’s  window  switch is held  rearward  for 
more  than 
half a  second,  the  window  will  lower 
completely.  The  window  can  be  opened 
in smaller 
amounts  by pressing  the  switch  rearward  and  releasing 
it  immediately. 
To stop  the  window  while  it is  lowering,  press  the 
switch  again,  then  release. 
To raise  the  window,  hold  the 
switch  forward. 
Horn 
Nearly  the  entire surface  of the  center  pad  of  the 
steering  wheel  is 
an active  horn  switch.  Press  anywhere 
on  the  pad  to  sound  the  horn. 
Switches  on  the  driver’s  door  panel  control  each  of the 
windows 
when the ignition  is on or  when  retained 
accessory  power  is  active. 
In addition,  each  passenger 
door  has 
a control  switch  for its  own  window. 
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Tilt  Wheel Turn  SignallMultifunction  Lever 
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  into  place. 
The lever  on the  left  side of the steering column 
includes  your: 
0 Turn Signal  and  Lane  Change  Signals 
0 Headlamp  HighLow  Beam  Changer 
0 Flash-To-Pass  Feature 
0 Windshield  Wipers  and  Washer 
Cruise Control 
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Cruise Control 
on  the  accelerator. This can 
really  help 
on long  trips. 
Cruise  control 
does not  work  at speeds below about 
25 mph (40 km/h). 
When you apply  your  brakes,  the  cruise  control 
shuts off. 
I A CAUTION: 
0 Cruise  control  can be dangerous  where  you 
can’t  drive  safely  at a  steady  speed. 
So, 
don’t use your  cruise  control  on  winding 
roads  or in  heavy  traffic. 
slippery  roads. 
On such  roads,  fast  changes 
in  tire traction  can  cause  needless  wheel 
spinning, 
and you could  lose  control.  Don’t 
use  cruise  control  on  slippery  roads. 
Cruise  control  can  be dangerous  on 
If your  vehicle  is in cruise  control  when  the  optional 
traction  control  system  begins  to limit  wheel  spin,  the 
cruise  control  will  automatically  disengage.  (See  “Traction  Control  System”  in the  Index.)  When  road 
conditions  allow 
you to  safely  use  it again,  you  may turn 
the  cruise  control  back on. 
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1. Tbilight  SentineVHeadlamp  Switch 
2.  Turn  SignaVMultifunction  Lever 
3. Tilt  Steering  Wheel  Lever 
4. Instrument  Cluster/Gages 
5. Audio System  Steering  Wheel  Controls 
6. Ignition  Switch 
7. Air  Outlet 
8. Climate  Control  System 
9. Glove Box 
10. Audio System 
1 1. Hazard Warning  Flashers  Switch 
12.  Hood  Release