1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX Engine

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.
2-69

If the Light Is Flashing If the Light Is On Steady
The following may prevent more serious damage to
your vehicle:
Reducing vehicle speed.
0 Avoiding hard accelerations.
Avoiding steep uphill grades.
0 If you are towing a trailer, reduce the amount of
cargo being hauled as soon as it is possible.
If the light stops flashing and remains on steady, see “If
the Light
Is On Steady” following.
If the light continues to flash, when
it is safe to do so,
stop the vehicle. Find a safe place to park your vehicle.
Turn the key
off, wait at least 10 seconds and restart the
engine. If the light remains on steady, see “If
the Light
Is On Steady” following. If the light is still flashing,
follow the previous steps, and drive the vehicle to your dealer or qualified service center for service.
You may be able to correct the emission system
malfunction by considering the following:
Did you recently put
fuel into your vehicle?
If
so, reinstall the fuel cap, making sure to fully install
the cap. The diagnostic system
can determine if the fuel
cap has been left off or improperly installed. A loose or
missing fuel cap will allow fuel to evaporate into the
atmosphere.
A few driving trips with the cap properly
installed should
turn the light off.
Did you just drive through a deep puddle of water?
If so, your electrical system may be wet. The condition
will usually be corrected when the electrical system
dries out.
A few driving trips should turn the light off.
Are you low on fuel?
As your engine starts to run out of fuel, your engine may
not
run as efficiently as designed since small amounts of
air are sucked into the fuel line causing a misfire. The
system can detect
this. Adding fuel should correct this
condition. Make sure to install the fuel cap properly. It
will take a few driving trips to turn the light off.
Have you recently changed brands of fuel?
2-70

If so, be sure to fuel your vehicle with quality fuel (see
“Fuel” in the Index). Poor fuel
quality will cause your
engine not to
run as efficiently as designed. You may
notice
this as stalling after start-up, stalling when you
put the vehicle into gear, misfiring, hesitation on
acceleration or stumbling on acceleration. (These
conditions may go away once the engine is warmed up.)
This will be detected by the system and cause the light
to
turn on.
If you experience one or more of these conditions,
change the fuel brand you use. It will require at least one
full tank of the proper fuel to
turn the light off.
If none of the above steps have made the light turn off,
have your dealer or qualified service center check the
vehicle. Your dealer has the proper test equipment and
diagnostic
tools to fix any mechanical or electrical
problems that may have developed.
Oil Warning Light
If you have a problem with
your oil pressure, this light
may stay
on after you start
your engine, or come
on
when you are driving.
This indicates that oil is not going through your engine
quickly enough to keep it lubricated. The engine could
be low on oil or could have some other oil problem.
Have it fixed right away.
The
oil light could also come on in two other situations:
0
0
When the ignition is on but the engine is not running,
the light will come on
as a test to show you it is
working, but the light
will go out when you turn the
ignition to START.
If it doesn’t come on with the
ignition on, you may have a problem with the fuse or
bulb. Have
it fixed right away.
If you make
a hard stop, the light may come on for a
moment. This is normal.
2-71

A CAUTION:
Don’t keep driving if the oil pressure is low. If
you do, your engine can become so hot that it
catches fire. You or others could be burned.
Check your
oil as soon as possible and have your
vehicle serviced.
I NOTICE:
Damage to your engine from neglected oil problems
can be costly and is not covered by
your warranty.
PERF
SHIFT
This light comes on when
you press the performance
shift button (located on the
console shift) to indicate
that your vehicle is in
performance shifting mode.
See “Performance Shifting” in
the Index.
Low Oil Level Light
LOW OIL
LEVEL
Your engine is equipped
with
an oil level monitoring
system. When the ignition
key is turned
to ON, the
LOW OIL LEVEL light
will briefly flash.
If the light does not flash, have it fixed so it will be
ready to
warn you if there’s a problem.
If the light stays on, stop the vehicle on a level surface
and turn the engine off. Check the oil level using the
engine oil dipstick. (See “Engine Oil” in the Index.)
2-72

The oil level monitoring system only checks oil level during the brief period between key on and engine
crank. It
does not monitor engine oil level when the
engine is running. Additionally, an oil level check is
only performed if the engine has been turned
off for a
considerable period of time, allowing the oil normally in
circulation to drain back into the oil pan.
Engine Coolant Temperature Light
TEMP
This light tells you that your
engine coolant has
overheated or your radiator
cooling fan
is not working.
If you have been operating your
vehicle under normal
driving conditions, you should pull
off the road, stop
your vehicle and turn
off the engine as soon as possible.
In “Problems on the Road,” this manual shows what to
do. See “Engine Overheating” in the Index.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
You have a gage that shows
the engine coolant
temperature. If the gage
pointer moves into
the red
area, your engine is too hot!
That reading means the sarne thing as the warning light.
It means
that your engine coolant has overheated. If you
have been operating your vehicle under normal driving
conditions, you should pull
off the road, stop your
vehicle and turn
off the engine as soon as possible.
In “Problems on the Road,”
this manual shows what to
do. See “Engine Overheating” in the Index.
2-73

Low Coolant Warning Light
If this light comes on,
LOW
your system is low on
coolant and the engine
COOLANT
may overheat.
See “Engine Coolant” in the Index and have your
vehicle serviced as soon
as you can.
Low Washer Fluid Warning Light
This light will come on
when your ignition is on
and the fluid container
LOW
I is low.
I
NOTICE:
Remember, driving without washer fluid can be
dangerous.
A bad mud splash can block your
vision. You could collide with another vehicle.
Check your washer fluid often, and add only the
proper fluid. See “Windshield Washer Fluid” in
the Index.
Trunk Ajar Warning Light
This light will come on if
your trunk is not
completely closed.
AJAR
2-74

Functions
CHANGE OIL SOON: This light will appear when
the system predicts that the oil’s remaining useful life is \
almost up. The system predicts remaining oil life using
inputs from length of drives, coolant temperature, engine rpm and vehicle speed. It alerts you to change
the oil on a schedule consistent with your vehicle’s driving conditions.
After changing the oil, the system must be reset. With
the ignition key in the ON position but the engine
off,
fully push and release the accelerator pedal slowly three
times within five seconds. If the CHANGE
OIL SOON
light flashes, the system is resetting. Turn the ignition
key to the OFF position, then start the vehicle. If the
CHANGE OIL SOON light comes back on, the oil life
monitor has not reset. Repeat the procedure.
LOW WASHER FLUID: This light will come on when
your ignition is on and the fluid container is low.
TRUNK A JAR: This light alerts you that your trunk is
not fully closed.
DOOR AJAR: If one of your doors is left ajar, a light
will appear next to that door on the vehcle outline.
TRAC SWITCH: If your vehicle has the Trac System,
you will have
a disable switch on the far right side of
your Driver Information Center. Your Trac System is automatically activated when you turn the ignition on.
This switch will activate/deactivate the Trac System. If
you need to disable the system, such as when you are
stuck and are rocking your vehicle back and forth, push
this switch. See “Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow” in
the Index.
TRAC OFF: This light lets you know that your Trac
System has been disabled and will not limit wheel spin. See “Enhanced Traction System Warning Light”
or
“Low Traction Light” in the Index.
LOW TRAC: This light will come on when your Trac
System is limiting wheel spin. See “Trac System” or
“Low Traction Light”
in the Index.
2-77

Trip Computer (If Equipped)
3100 and 3800 Engines
2-78