1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX Owners Manual

Make sure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) before
starting the engine. Your vehicle has a Brake-Transaxle
Shift Interlock. You must fully apply your regular brakes
before
you can shift from PARK (P) when the ignition is
in RUN. If you cannot shift out
of PARK (P), ease
pressure on the shift lever by pushing it all the way into
PARK
(P) while keeping the brake pedal pushed down.
Release the shift lever button
if you have a console shift.
Then move the shift lever out
of PARK (P), being sure
to press the shift lever button
if you have a console shift.
See “Shifting Out of PARK
(P)” in the Index.
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.
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I
A CAUTION: I
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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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
Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) 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
between gears.
0 When going down a steep hill.
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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.
NOTICE:
.
Don’t drive in SECOND (2) for more than
25 miles (40 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. 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.
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Shift Lock Release
If your vehicle’s battery should go dead, there are two
override access slots (for the console
shift) that will
allow you to override park lock.
11 The first is located
underneath the steering
column below the
lock cylinder.
1
To use this slot:
1. Remove the trim cap.
2. Insert a key or screwdriver into the access slot and
You will now be able to remove your key from the
ignition. Be sure to replace the
trim cap after use. If your
vehicle
has a column-mounted gear shift lever, you will
now be able to shift your vehicle out of
PARK (P).
press the lock cylinder. For vehicles with center console-mounted gear shift
levers, the second access slot is located on the upper,
right-hand side of the console shift panel.
To use
this slot:
1. Remove the cap with the words SHIFT LOCK
RELEASE on it.
2. Insert a screwdriver into the slot. Be careful not to
damage the cap.
3. Press down and hold.
You will now be able to shift your vehicle out of
PARK (P) .
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Performance Shifting (If Equipped)
1 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
3800 Supercharged
engine option, the
“PERF SHIFT” light in the
instrument panel cluster will come on.
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.
Parking Brake
To set the parking brake,
hold the regular brake pedal
down with your right foot.
Push down the parking
brake pedal with
your
left foot.
To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down with your right foot and push the parking
brake pedal with your left foot. When you lift your left
foot, the parking brake pedal will follow it to the
released position.
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I NOTICE:
~ ~ ~
Driving with the parking brake on can cause
your rear brakes to overheat. You may have to
replace them, and you could also damage other
parts of your vehicle.
If you are towing a trailer and parking on any hill, see
“Towing a Trailer”
in the Index. That section shows
what to do first to keep the trailer from moving.
Shifting Into PARK (P)
A CAUTION:
It can be 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. 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, use the steps that
follow.
If you’re pulling a trailer, see “Towing a
Trailer” in the Index.

Column Shift
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) position
set the parking brake.
like this:
0 Move the lever up as far as it will go.
1. Turn the ignition key to LOCK.
2. Remove the key and take
it with you. If you can
leave your vehicle with the ignition key in your
hand, your vehicle is in
PARK (P).
0 Pull the lever toward you.
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Console Shift
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) position
set
the parking brake.
like this:

0 Hold in the button, located on the front of the
0 Push the shift knob all the way toward the front
shift
knob.
of your vehicle.
3. Turn the ignition key to LOCK.
4. Remove the key and take
it with you. If you can
leave
your vehicle with the ignition key in your
hand,
your vehicle is in PARK (P).
Leaving Your Vehicle With the
Engine Running
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1
A CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with the
engine running. Your vehicle could move
suddenly if the shift lever is not fully
in PARK (P)
with the parking brake firmly set. And, if you
leave the vehicle with the engine running, it could
overheat and even catch fire. You or others could
be injured. Don’t leave your vehicle with the
engine running unless you have to.
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