1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX Engine

Parking Over Things '
.. . . .
& -"
---- e-" I
Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust
parts under your vehicle and ignite. Don't park
over papers, leaves, dry grass or other things that
can burn.
Engine Exhaust
Engine exhaust can kill. It contains the gas
carbon monoxide (CO), which you can't see or
smell. It can cause unconsciousness and death.
You might have exhaust coming in if:
0 Your exhaust system sounds strange
0 Your vehicle gets rusty underneath.
0 Your vehicle was damaged in a collision.
Your vehicle was damaged when driving
over high points on the road or over
road debris. or different.
Repairs weren't done correctly.
0 Your vehicle or exhaust system had been
If you ever suspect exhaust is coming into
your vehicle:
0 Drive it only with all the windows down to
0 Have your vehicle fixed immediately.
modified
improperly.
blow out any
CO; and
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~~

Running Your Engine While
You’re Parked
It’s better not to park with the engine running. But if you
ever have to, here are some things to know.
A CAUT’ IN:
Idling the engine with the climate control
system
off could allow dangerous exhaust into
your
vehicle (see the earlier Caution under
“Engine Exhaust”).
Also, idling in
a closed-in place can let deadly
carbon monoxide
(CO) into your vehicle even if
the fan switch is at the highest setting. One place
this can happen is a garage. Exhaust
-- with
CO -- can come in easily. NEVER park in a
garage with the engine running.
Another closed-in place can be a blizzard.
(See “Blizzard” in the Index.)
I
, 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.
Don’t leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you’ve 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).
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle won’t
move. See “Shifting Into PARK (P)” in the Index.
If you are parking on a hill and if you’re pulling a
trailer, also see “Towing a Trailer’’ in the Index.
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Special Note: While this mode provides increased
security, it can be a problem if your remote keyless entry
transmitter is damaged, lost or if it fails to operate for
any reason while the Content Theft-Deterrent system is
armed. The Content Theft-Deterrent system must be
disarmed for the engine to run and while in mode
2,
your key can no longer disarm the system.
Mode 3: Standard Arming and Disarming
0
0
0
Your Content Theft-Deterrent system will arm when
you lock the doors using either power door lock
switch while any door is open and the key is
removed from the ignition.
Your Content Theft-Deterrent system will arm when
you lock
the doors with your remote keyless entry
transmitter. The key must be removed from the
ignition when you lock
the doors or the Content
Theft-Deterrent system will not
arm.
Your Content Theft-Deterrent system will disarm
when you unlock
the doors with your key or your
remote keyless entry transmitter.
Mirrors
Adjust all the mirrors so you can see clearly when you
are sitting in a comfortable driving position.
Inside Daymight Rearview Mirror
To reduce glare from lamps behind you, push the lever
away from you (to
the night position). To return the mirror
back to the
day position, pull the lever toward you.
Electrochromic Daymight Rearview Mirror
(If Equipped)
Your vehicle may have an electrochromic dayhight
rearview mirror. Push the button on the bottom of the
mirror to
turn this feature on. The mirror will darken
gradually to reduce glare from headlamps behind you.
This may take a
few moments.
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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
I
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.
14
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
Ifl
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.

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)
1
The traction control system
warning light may come
on
for the following reasons: TCS
OFF
0
0
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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