1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX coolant temperature

How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged
in? The answer depends on the outside temperature, the
kind of oil you have, and some other things. Instead of
trying to list everything here, we ask that you contact
your dealer in the area where you’ll be parking your
vehicle. The dealer can give you the best advice for that
particular area.
Automatic Transaxle Operation
I ‘%
6
10
Your automatic transaxle may have a shift lever on the
steering column or on the console between the seats.
Maximum engine speed is limited when you’re in
PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N), to protect driveline
components from improper operation. There are several different positions
for your shift lever.
PARK
(P): This locks your front wheels. It’s the best
position to use when you start your engine because your
vehicle can’t move easily.
It is 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 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, always set your parking brake and
move the shift lever to PARK
(P).
See “Shifting Into PARK (P)” in the Index. If
you’re pulling a trailer, see “Towing a Trailer” in
the Index.
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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.
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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.
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Control Buttons
The trip computer has three buttons that control its functions.
ENGMET: Press this button to change the display from
English to metric units or metric to English.
RESET Press this button for two seconds to reset the
mode displayed.
MODE: Press this button to change the mode
being displayed.
Functions
FUEL USED: Shows the total amount of fuel used
since you last reset this mode. The amount can be
displayed in gallons
or liters.
AVG ECON: Shows your average fuel economy since
you last reset this mode.
OIL LIFE: Shows a percentage of the oil’s remaining
useful life. The system predicts remaining oil life using
inputs from length of drives, coolant temperature,
engine rpm and vehicle speed. Each time
you get an oil
change, be sure to reset this function
so that it will give
you an accurate percentage.
To reset the Oil Life Indicator after the oil has been
changed, press the
MODE button until the light appears lit next
to
OIL LIFE. Press and hold the RESET button
for
three seconds. The oil life percentage should change
to
100%.
RANGE: Shows how much farther you can travel with
the fuel you have before refueling.
LOW WASHER FLUID: This light will come on when
your ignition
is on and the fluid container is low.
DOOR AJAR: If one of your doors is left ajar, a light
will appear next to that
door on the vehicle outline.
BOOST GAGE: If you have the supercharged engine,
this gage will show the amount of boost your engine
is receiving.
TRUNK AJAR: If your trunk is not fully closed or
open, a light will outline the trunk
area on your
vehicle outline.
TCS SWITCH: If your vehicle has the Traction Control
System, you will have
a disable switch on the far right
side of your Trip Computer. Your Traction Control
System
is automatically activated when you turn the
ignition on. This switch will activate/deactivate the
Traction Control 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.

TCS OFF: This light lets you know that your Traction
Control System has been disabled and will not limit
wheel spin. See “Traction Control System Warning
Light” or “Low Traction Light” in the Index.
LOW TRAC: This light will come on when your
Traction Control System is limiting wheel spin. See “Traction Control System” or “Low Traction Light” in
the Index.
Head-Up Display (If Equipped)
If you have the Head-Up
Display (HUD), you can see
the speedometer reading (in
English or metric units) and
a brief display of the current
radio station or CD track,
displayed
“through” the
windshield.
The
HUD also shows these lights when they are lit on
the instrument panel:
0 Turn Signal Indicators
0 High-Beam Indicator Symbol
Low Fuel Symbol
The HUD will display the “Check Gage” when the
following are lit on the instrument panel:
0 Oil Warning Symbol
0 Coolant Temperature Symbol
0 Charging System Symbol
When you sit straight in your seat, the HUD image will appear straight ahead near the front bumper.
When the ignition key is turned to
RUN, the HUD
image
will come on. Then the Head-Up Display will
operate normally.
I NOTICE: I
Although the HUD image appears to be near the
front
of the vehicle, do not use it as a parking aid.
The
HUD was not designed for that purpose. If
you try to use it that way, such as in a parking
lot, you may misjudge distance and run
into something.
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Heating
On cold days use FLOOR with the temperature knob all
the
way in the red area. The system will bring in outside
air, heat it and send it to the floor ducts.
If your vehicle has
an engine coolant heater, you can use
it to help your system provide warm
air faster when it’s
cold outside
0 OF (- 18 O C) or lower. An engine coolant
heater warms the coolant your engine and heating
system use to provide heat. See “Engine Coolant
Heater”
in the Index.
Ventilation
For mild outside temperatures when little heating or
cooling
is needed, use UPPER, with the A/C button off,
to direct outside air through your vehicle. Your vehicle
also has the flow-through ventilation system described
later in this section.
Defogging and Defrosting
Your system has two settings for clearing the front and
side windows.
To defiost the windows quickly, use
DEFROST with the temperature knob all the way in the
red area. To warm passengers while keeping the
windows clean, use
DEFOG.
Air Conditioning with Automatic
and Auxiliary Temperature Control
(If Equipped)
With this system, you set a “desired cabin” temperature.
You can then either let the system automatically control
airflow direction and amount (to maintain the desired
cabin temperature) or you can manually adjust it. The
system works best if
you keep your windows closed
while using it.
3-4

Heating Ventilation System
On cold days use LOWER. The system will bring in
outside
air, heat it and send it to the floor ducts.
If your vehicle has
an engine coolant heater, you can use
it to help
your system provide warm air faster when it’s
cold outside
0°F (- 18°C) or lower. An engine coolant
heater
warms the coolant your engine and heating
system uses to provide heat. See “Engine Coolant
Heater” in the Index.
Ventilation
For mild, outside temperatures when little heating or
cooling is needed, use
UPPER with the A/C button off,
to direct outside air through your vehicle. Your vehicle
also has the flow-through ventilation system described
later in this section.
Defogging and Defrosting
Your system has two settings for clearing the front and
side windows. To defrost the windows quickly, use DEE
To warm passengers while keeping the windows clean,
use
DEFOG.
Adjust the direction of airflow by moving the
louvered vents.
Your vehicle’s flow-through ventilation system supplies
outside
air into the vehicle when it is moving. Outside
air will also enter the vehicle when the
air conditioning
fan is running.
3-8

Engine Overheating
You will find a coolant temperature gage and a warning
light about a hot engine on your instrument panel. See
“Engine Coolant Temperature Gage” and “Engine
Coolant Temperature Warning Light” in the Index. You
also have a low coolant light on your instrument panel.
See “Low Coolant Light” in the Index.
Overheated Engine Protection Operating
Mode
(3100 Engine Only)
Should an overheated engine condition exist, an
overheat protection mode which alternates firing groups
of three cylinders helps prevent engine damage. In this
mode, you will notice a significant loss in power and
engine performance. The low coolant light may come on
and the temperature gage will indicate an overheat
condition exists. This emergency operating mode allows
your vehicle to be driven to a safe place in an
emergency. Towing a trailer in the overheat protection
mode should
be avoided.
NOTICE:
After driving in the overheated engine protection
operating mode, to avoid engine damage,
allow
the engine to cool before attempting any repair.
The engine
oil will be severely degraded. Repair
the cause of coolant loss and change the oil. See
“Engine Oil, When to Change” in the Index.
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