1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX light

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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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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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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To turn this feature on or off, see “Locks and Lighting
Choices” in the Index.
Last Door Closed Locking
The Last Door Closed Locking feature makes it more
convenient for you to use your power door locks
to lock
all the doors when leaving your vehicle. When any door is
open, the first time you attempt to lock
the doors using the
power door lock switch or remote remote keyless entry
transmitter will result
in three chimes to signal that Last
Door Closed Locking feature is being used.
All doors can
be opened for any reason for five seconds from the time
the last door has been closed. Five seconds
after the last
door
is closed, all doors will lock. You can lock the doors
immediately by using the power door lock switch or the
remote keyless
entry transmitter.
The Last Door Closed Locking feature will not occur
and doors will not be locked as a result of this feature
when the ignition switch is in RUN or ACCESSORY.
The Last Door Closed Locking feature is not enabled
from the factory.
To turn the Last Door Closed Locking feature on or off,
see “Locks and Lighting Choices” in the Index.
Automatic Door Locks
All of the doors will lock automatically when you move
your shift lever out of PARK
(P). All doors will unlock
automatically when the ignition is turned
off while the
shift lever is in PARK
(P). If you prefer to have your
doors unlocked automatically at
any time, see “Locks
and Lighting Choices” in the Index.
If someone needs to get in or out
of the vehicle after the
doors have been automatically locked, then place the
shift lever into PARK
(P). Unlock all doors by using the
power door lock switch or unlock just the door you want
by using the inside lever. If you have programmed your
automatic door locks (see “Locks and Lighting Choices’’\
in the Index) to unlock the doors when the shift lever is
shifted into PARK (P), then the doors will be
automatically unlocked
for you. The doors will
automatically lock when
you move your shift lever out
of PARK (P) with the ignition on.
If you don’t want the doors to unlock automatically
when you turn the ignition
off, see “Locks and Lighting
Choices” in the Index.
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1 ~ r: 3te Driver’s Door and All Door Unlock
When you press UNLOCK on the remote keyless entry
transmitter, only the driver’s door
will unlock. If you
press UNLOCK again within five seconds,
all the doors
will unlock. If you would like all doors to unlock the
first time you press
UNLOCK, see “Locks and Lighting
Choices”
in the Index. If your vehicle is equipped with
the Content Theft-Deterrent system, the
UNLOCK
button on the remote keyless entry transmitter will
disarm the system (see “Content Theft-Deterrent” in
the Index for more details).
Remote Trunk Release
Press the trunk symbol on your remote keyless entry
transmitter to open your
trunk. The transaxle must be in
PARK (P) for this feature to operate.
Remote Alarm (If Equipped)
When you press the horn button on the remote keyless
entry transmitter, your vehicle’s headlamps
will flash
and the horn will sound.
This will allow you to attract
attention,
if needed.
Remote LocWnlock Confirmation (If Equipped)
This feature provides feedback to the holder of the
remote keyless entry transmitter that a command has
been received
by the keyless entry receiver. To signal
that a command has been received, the headlamps will
flash and the horn
will sound briefly. To program the
various modes available, see “Locks
and Lighting
Choices” in the Index.
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Parking Lots Theft
Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities.
Although your vehicle has
a number of theft-deterrent
features, we know that nothing we put on it can make
it impossible to steal. However, there are ways you
can help.
Key in the Ignition
If you leave your vehicle with the keys inside, it’s an
easy target for joy riders or professional thieves -- so
don’t do it.
When you park your vehicle and open the driver’s door,
you’ll hear a chime reminding you to remove your key
from
the ignition and take it with you. Always do this.
Your steering wheel will be locked, and so will your
ignition and transaxle. And remember to lock the doors.
Parking at Night
Park in a lighted spot, close all windows and lock your
vehicle. Remember
to keep your valuables out of sight.
Put them in a storage area, or take them with you. If you park in
a lot where someone
will be watching
your vehicle, it’s best to
lock it up and take your keys.
But what if you have to leave your ignition key?
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If possible, park in a busy, well lit area.
Put your valuables in a storage area, like your
trunk
or glove box. Be sure to close and lock the
storage area.
Close
all windows.
Lock
the glove box.
Lock all doors except
the driver’s.
Give the valet key to the valet. Then take the tnaster
key with you.

Content Theft-Deterrent
(If Equipped)
If your vehicle has’this option, it has a theft-deterrent
alarm system.
A red light located on top of your instrument panel (near
the center
of the vehicle, next to the windshield) will
flash slowly when the system is armed.
While armed, the doors will not unlock with the power
lock switch. The
alarm will go off if someone damages
the vehicle, tampers with the trunk lock, enters the
vehicle (without using the remote keyless
entry
transmitter or key to unlock the doors), or turns the
ignition on. Your
horn will sound and your headlamps
will
flash for up to two minutes. The system will also
cut off the fuel supply, preventing the vehicle from
being driven.
Arming with the Power Lock Switch
Your alarm system will arm when you use either the
power lock switch to lock the doors while any door is
open and the key is removed from the ignition (if you
would like to
turn off the power door lock switch
arming, see “Locks and Lighting Choices” in the Index).
The security light flashes quickly to let you know when
the system is ready
to arm with the power door switches.
The security light will stop flashing
and stay on when
you press the rear of the power lock switch, to let you
know the system is arming. After all doors are closed
and locked, the security light will begin flashing at a
very slow rate to let you know the system is armed.
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Arming with the Remote Keyless
Entry Transmitter
Your alarm system will arm when you use your remote
keyless entry transmitter to lock the doors after the key
is removed from the ignition. The security light will turn
on to let you know the system is arming. After all doors
are closed and locked, the security light will begin
flashing at
a very slow rate to let you know the system
is armed.
Arming Confirmation
If remote unlock confirmation is on (see “Locks and
Lighting Choices” in the Index), your headlamps will
flash briefly to let you know when your alarm system.
has armed.
Disarming with the Remote Keyless
Entry Transmitter
Your alarm system will disarm when you use your
remote keyless entry transmitter to unlock
the doors.
The security light will stop flashing to let you know the
system
is disarmed.
Disarming with Your Key
Your alarm system will disarm when you use your key
to unlock the doors. The security light will stop flashing
to let you
know the system is disarmed. If you would
like your key
to disarm the alarm system, see “Locks
and Lighting Choices” in the Index.
Nuisance Alarms
If you experience nuisance alarms (alarms which are
not caused by
the opening of a door and are not
desirable), you may need to reduce the damage
detection sensitivity.
Try programming your Content
Theft-Deterrent to mode
1 (see “Locks and Lighting
Choices” in the Index).
If you continue to experience
nuisance alarms,
you may want to try turning off
damage detection by programming your Content
Theft-Deterrent to mode
2 (see “Locks and Lighting
Choices” in the Index).
If you are still having trouble with nuisance alarms, you
can
turn off the Content Theft-Deterrent system by
programming your Content Theft-Deterrent to mode
3
(see “Locks and Lighting Choices” in the Index).
See your dealer or a qualified technician
for service.

LOCK (B): Before you put the key into the ignition
switch, the switch is in LOCK. It’s
also the only position
from which you can remove your key.
This position
locks your ignition, steering wheel and transaxle. It’s a
theft-deterrent feature.
OFF (C): This position lets you turn off the engine but
still turn the steering wheel. It doesn’t lock the steering
wheel like
LOCK. Use OFF if you must have your
vehicle pushed or towed.
RUN (D): This position is where the key returns
after you start your vehicle. With the engine
off, you
can use RUN to display some of your warning and
indicator lights.
START (E): This position starts your engine.
A warning chime will sound if you open the driver’s
door when the ignition is in
OFF, LOCK or
ACCESSORY and the key is in the ignition.
NOTICE:
If your key seem 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.
Retained Accessory Power
With retained accessory power, your power windows, audio system and sunroof will continue to work up to
10 minutes after the ignition key is turned to OFF and
none of the doors are opened.
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.
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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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