1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX Owners Manual

Never do this.
Here two children are wearing the same belt. The
belt can’t properly spread the impact forces.
In a
crash, the two children can be crushed together
and seriously injured.
A belt must be used by
only one person at a time.
&: What if a child is wearing a lap-shoulder belt,
but the child is
so small that the shoulder belt is
very close to the child’s face
or neck?
A: Move the child toward the center of the vehicle, but
be sure that the shoulder belt still is on the child’s
shoulder,
so that in a crash the child’s upper body
would have the restraint that belts provide.
If the
child is sitting in a rear seat outside position, see
“Rear Safety Belt
Comfort Guides’’ in the Index. If
the child is
so small that the shoulder belt is still
very close to the child’s face or neck, you might
want to place the child in the center seat position,
the one that has only
a lap belt.
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I A CAUTION:
I
Never do this.
Here a child is sitting
in a seat that has a
lap-shoulder belt, but the shoulder part is behind
the child.
If the child wears the belt in this way, in
a crash the child might slide under the belt. The
belt’s force would then be applied right on the
child’s abdomen. That could cause serious or
fatal injuries.
Wherever the child sits, the lap portion of the belt
should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching
the child’s thighs.
This applies belt force to the child’s
pelvic bones in a crash.
Safety Belt Extender
If the vehicle’s safety belt will fasten around you, you
should use it.
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But if a safety belt isn’t long enough to fasten, your
dealer will order you
an extender. It’s free. When you go
in to order it, take the heaviest coat you will wear, so the
extender will be long enough for you. The extender will
be just for you, and just for the seat in your vehicle that
you choose. Don’t let someone else use it, and use it
only for
the seat it is made to fit. To wear it, just attach it
to the regular safety belt.
Checking Your Restraint Systems
Now and then, make sure the safety belt reminder light
and all your belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors
and
anchorages are working properly. If your vehicle has a
built-in child restraint, also periodically make sure the
harness straps, latch plates, buckle, clip, retractors and
anchorages are working properly. Look for
any other
loose or damaged safety belt and built-in child restraint
system parts. If you see anything that might keep a
safety belt
or built-in child restraint system from doing
its job, have it repaired.
Torn or frayed safety belts may not protect you in a
crash. They can rip apart under impact forces. If
a belt is
torn or frayed, get a new one right away.
If your vehicle has the built-in child restraint, torn or
frayed harness straps can rip apart under impact forces
just like tom or frayed safety belts can. They may not protect
a child in a crash. If a harness
strap is tom or
frayed, get a new harness right away.
Also look
for any opened or broken air bag covers, and
have them repaired
or replaced. (The air bag system
does not need regular maintenance.)
Replacing Restraint System Parts
After
a Crash
If you’ve had a crash, do you need new safety belts or
built-in child restraint parts?
After
a very minor collision, nothing may be necessary.
But if the safety belts or built-in child restraint harness
straps were stretched,
as they would be if worn during a
more severe crash, then
you need new safety belts or
harness straps.
If safety belts or built-in child restraint harness straps
are cut or damaged, replace them. Collision damage also
may mean you will need to have safety belt, built-in
child restraint or seat
parts repaired or replaced. New
parts and repairs may be necessary even if the safety belt
or built-in child
restraint wasn’t being used at the time
of the collision.
If an air bag inflates, you’ll need to replace air bag
system
parts. See the part on the air bag system earlier
in this section.
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Section 2 Features and Controls
Here you can learn about the many standard and optional features on your vehicle, and inform\
ation 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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2-4
2-7
2-
12
2-13
2-14
2- 16
2-16
2-
17
2-20
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1
2-26 2-27 2-30
Keys
Door Locks
Remote Keyless Entry System (If Equipped)
TrUnk
Theft
Content Theft-Deterrent (If Equipped)
New Vehicle “Break-In”
Ignition Positions
Starting Your Engine
Engine Coolant Heater
(If Equipped)
Automatic Transaxle Operation
Parking Brake Shifting Into PARK (P)
Shifting Out of PARK (P)
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2-3 1
2-32
2-33
2-34
2-40
2-42
2-45
2-52
2-54
2-59
2-60
2-64
Parking Over Things That Burn
Engine Exhaust
Running Your Engine While You’re Parked
Power Windows
Turn SignaVMultifunction Lever
Exterior Lamps
Interior Lamps
Locks and Lighting Choices
Mirrors
Storage Compartments Sunroof
(If Equipped)
The Instrument Panel
-- Your
Information System
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
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Keys
I
A CAUTION:
Leaving young children in a vehicle with the
ignition key is dangerous
for many reasons. A
child or others could be badly injured or
even killed.
They could operate power windows
or other
controls or even make the vehicle move. Don’t
leave the keys in a vehicle with young children.
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The master key can be used
for the ignition, as well
as all door locks and
storage compartments.
The valet key can be used
for the ignition and the two
side doors only. It will not
open the
trunk, glove box or
fold down rear seat
trunk
access panel (if equipped). When a new vehicle
is delivered, it will come with
a bar
coded tag attached to the key ring.
This tag has a code on it that tells your dealer or
a
qualified locksmith how to make extra keys. Keep the
code in
a safe place. If you lose your keys, you’ll be able
to have new ones made easily using this code.
If you need a new ignition key, contact your dealer who
can obtain the correct key code. Remember to carry the
pre-cut emergency key which Pontiac sends after delivery.
(This service is not available in Canada.) In an
emergency, call Pontiac Roadside Assistance at
1-800-ROADSIDE or 1-800-762-3743. (In Canada call
1-800-268-6800.)
I 1
I NOTICE: I ~~
Your vehicle has a number of features that can
help prevent theft. But you can have a lot
of
trouble getting into your vehicle if you ever lock
your keys inside. You may even have to damage
your vehicle to get in.
So be sure you have
extra keys.
2-3

Door Locks
1
I A CAUTION:
Unlocked doors can be dangerous.
Passengers
-- especially children -- can easily
open the doors and fall out. When
a door is
locked, the inside handle won’t open it.
Outsiders can easily enter through an unlocked
door
when you slow down or stop your vehicle.
This may not be so obvious: You increase the
chance of being thrown out of the vehicle in a
crash
if the doors aren’t locked. Wear safety belts
properly,
lock your doors, and you will be far
better off whenever you drive your vehicle.
There are several ways to lock and unlock your vehicle.
Front Door
To unlock either front door from outside the vehicle
with your key, insert it fully into the door key cylinder
and turn
it toward the front.
You can lock either front door from outside the vehicle
with your key
by inserting it fully into the door key
cylinder and
turning it toward the rear.
To unlock either front door from inside the vehicle, push
the lock lever forward.
To lock either front door from inside the vehicle, push
the lock lever back.

Rear Doors
To unlock either rear door from inside the vehicle, push
the lock lever forward.
To lock either rear door from inside the vehicle, push the
lock lever back.
Power Door Locks
I
You can lock all doors from inside the vehicle by
pressing the rear of the power lock switch on either front
door. If your vehicle is equipped with a Content
Theft-Deterrent system, the power lock switch may
cause the system to
arm (see “Content Theft-Deterrent”
in the Index for more details).
To unlock any door from outside the vehicle with your
key, insert it fully into the key cylinder and
turn it to the
unlock position. This will cause only the door you are
operating to be unlocked. If your vehicle is equipped
with Content Theft-Deterrent, you can unlock all doors
by holding the key cylinder in the unlock position for
one second.
Lockout Deterrent
The Lockout Deterrent feature makes it difficult for you
to lock your keys
in your vehicle. If the driver’s door is
open while the keys are in the ignition, you will not be
able to use your power door locks.
This feature cannot guarantee that you’ll never be locked out of your vehicle. If you don’t leave the keys in
the ignition, or if you used the manual door lock, you
could still lock your keys inside your vehicle, Always
remember to take your
keys with you.
To unlock all dour-s from inside the vehicle, press the
front of the power door lock switch on either front door.
If your vehicle is equipped with a Content
Theft-Deterrent system, the power door lock switch will not unlock the doors until the system is disarmed. See
“Content Theft-Deterrent” in the Index for more details.
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