1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX Owners Manual

Instrument Panel Cluster
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APPLY BRAKE TO Y((FT FROM PARK
United States Version Shown, Others Similar
Your instrument cluster is designed to let you know at a glance how your vehicle is running. You’ll know how fast
you’re going, about how much fuel
is in your tank and many other things you need to drive safely and economically.
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SpeedometedOdometer
Your speedometer lets you see your speed in both miles
per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour
(km/h). Your
odometer shows how far your vehicle has been driven in
either miles (used in the United States) or in kilometers
(used in Canada).
Your vehicle has a tamper-resistant odometer.
If you see
silver lines between the numbers, you’ll
know someone
has probably tampered with it and the numbers may not
be correct.
You may wonder what happens
if your vehicle needs a
new odometer installed.
If the new one can be set to the
mileage
total of the old odometer, then that will be done.
If it can’t, then it will be set at zero and a label must be
put on the driver’s door to show the old mileage reading when the new odometer was installed.
Trip Odometer
Your trip odometer tells how far you have driven since
you last reset it.
To set it to zero, press the RESET
button on the right side of the instrument cluster.
Tachometer
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The tachometer displays the engine speed in thousands
of revolutions per minute (rpm).
NOTICE:
Do not operate the engine with the tachometer in
the red area, or engine damage may occur.
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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.
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The safety belt light will
also come
on and stay on
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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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
modules, the wiring and
the crash sensing and
diagnostic module. For more information
on the air bag
system, see
“Air Bag” in the Index.
This light will come on
when you start your engine,
and it will flash for a few
should go out. This means
the system is ready.
SRS AI R BAG seconds. Then the light
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.
Charging System Light
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The charging system light
will come on briefly when
you
turn on the ignition, as
a check to show you
it’s
working. Then it will go
out.
If it stays on, or comes on while you are driving, you
may have a problem with the charging system. It could
indicate that you have a loose
drive belt or another
electrical problem. Have it checked right away. Driving
while
this light is on could drain your battery.
If you must drive a short distance with the light on, be
certain to turn
off all your accessories, such as the radio
and air conditioner.

Brake System Warning Light
Your vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided into
two parts.
If one part isn’t working, the other part can
still work and stop you. For good braking, though, you
need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there is a brake problem.
Have your brake system inspected right away.
This light should come on
when you turn the key to
STmT. If it doesn’t come
on then, have
it fixed so it
will
be ready to warn you if
there’s a problem.
If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off the
road
and stop carefully. You may notice that the pedal is
harder to push. Or, the pedal may go closer to the
floor.
It may take longer to stop. If the light is still on, have the
vehicle towed for service. (See “Towing Your Vehicle’’
in the Index.)
I A CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working properly
if the brake system warning light is on. Driving
with the brake system warning light
on can lead
to an accident. If the light is still on after you’ve
pulled
off the road and stopped carefully, have
the vehicle towed for service.
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When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
will also come on when you set your parking brake. The
light will stay on if your parking brake doesn’t release
fully.
If it stays on after your parking brake is fully
released, it means
you have a brake problem.
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Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
With the anti-lock brake system, this light will
come on when you start your engine and it will
stay on for three seconds.
That’s normal.
If the anti-lock brake system warning light stays on
longer than normal after you’ve started your engine, turn
the ignition
off. Or, if the light comes on and stays on
when you’re driving, stop as soon as possible and turn
the ignition off. Then start the engine again to reset the
system.
If the light still stays on, or comes on again
while you’re driving, your vehicle needs service. If the
light is on and the regular brake system warning light
isn’t on, you still have brakes, but you don’t have
anti-lock brakes. Adjust your driving accordingly.
The anti-lock brake system warning light should come
on briefly 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.
Traction Control System Warning Light
(3800 Supercharged Engine Only)
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The traction control system
warning light may come
on
for the following reasons: TCS
OFF
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If you turn the system off by pressing the TCS button
located on
the far right hand side of the Driver
Information Center, the warning light
will come on and
stay on. To turn the system back on, press the button
again. The warning light should go
off. (See “Traction
Control System”
in the Index for more information.)
If there’s a brake system problem that is specifically
related to traction control, the traction control system will turn
off and the warning light will come on. If
your brakes begin to overheat, the traction control
system will turn
off and the warning light will come
on until your brakes cool down.
If
the traction control system warning light comes on
and stays on for an extended period of time when
the
system is turned on, your vehicle needs service.
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Enhanced Traction System Warning Light
(3100 or 3800 Engine)
TRAC
OFF
The Enhanced Traction System warning light may come
on for the following reasons:
0 If you turn the system off by pressing the TRAC
button on the far right hand side of the Driver
Information Center, the warning light will come on
and stay on. To
turn the system back on, press the
button again. The warning light should
go off. (See
“Enhanced Traction System” in the Index
for more
information.)
If the Enhanced Traction System warning light
comes on and stays on for
an extended period of
time when the system is turned on, your vehicle
needs service. Adjust your driving accordingly.
If the traction control system is affected by an
engine-related problem, the system will turn off and
the warning light will come on. When
this warning light is on, the
system will not limit
wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.
Low Traction Light
LOW
TRAC
When your anti-lock system
is adjusting brake pressure
to help avoid a braking skid,
this light will come on.
See
“Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light” earlier in
this section.
If you have the Enhanced Traction System or the
Traction Control System, this light will
also come on
when the system
is limiting wheel spin. You may feel or
hear the system working, but
this is normal. Slippery
road conditions may exist if the low traction light comes
on,
so adjust your driving accordingly. The light will
stay on for a few seconds after the traction system stops
limiting wheel spin. See “Enhanced Traction System”
or
“Traction Control System” in the Index.
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The low traction light also comes on briefly when you
turn the ignition key to RUN. If the light doesn’t come
on then, have
it fixed so it will be there to tell you when
the anti-lock brake system, Traction Control System or Enhanced Traction System is active.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Service Engine Soon Light)
SERVICE
ENGINE SOON
Your vehicle is equipped
with a computer which
monitors operation of the
fuel, ignition and emission
control systems.
This system is called OBD
I1 (On-Board
Diagnostics-Second Generation) and is intended to assure that emissions are at acceptable levels for the
life of the vehicle, helping to produce a cleaner
environment. The
SERVICE ENGINE SOON light
comes on to indicate that there is a problem and service is required. Malfunctions often will be indicated by the
system before any problem is apparent. This may
prevent more serious damage to your vehicle. This system is also designed to assist your service technician
in correctly diagnosing
any malfunction.
NOTICE:
If you keep driving your vehicle with this light
on, after a while, your emission controls may not
work as well, your fuel economy may not be
as
good and your engine may not run as smoothly.
This could lead to costly repairs that may not
be
covered by your warranty.
This light should come on, as a check to show you it is
working, when the ignition is on and the engine is not
running. If the light doesn’t come on, have it repaired.
This light will also come on during a malfunction in one
of two ways:
0
a
Light Flashing -- A misfire condition has been
detected.
A misfire increases vehicle emissions and
may damage the emission control system on your
vehicle. Dealer or qualified service center diagnosis
and service may be required.
Light On Steady -- An emission control system
malfunction has been detected on your vehicle.
Dealer or qualified service center
diagnosis and
service may be required.
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