2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX traction control

Section 3 Instrument Panel
Instrument Panel Overview .......................... -3-2
Hazard Warning Flashers
-3-3
Other Warning Devices ................................... 3.4
Horn
............................................................. 3.4
Tilt Wheel
..................................................... 3.4
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
......................... 3.5
Exterior Lamps
............................................. 3.10
Interior Lamps
.............................................. 3.12
Head-Up Display (HUD)
................................. 3-15
Accessory Power Outlets
............................... 3.18
Auxiliary Power Connection (Power Drop)
......... 3.19
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter
........................ 3-19
Climate Controls ............................................ 3.20
Dual Climate Control System
.......................... 3.20
Outlet Adjustment
......................................... 3.22
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators ............. 3.23
Instrument Panel Cluster
................................ 3.24
Speedometer and Odometer
........................... 3.25
Tachometer
................................................. 3.25
Safety Belt Reminder Light
............................. 3.26
Air Bag Readiness Light
................................ 3-26
Charging System Light
.................................. 3.27
Brake System Warning Light
......................... -3-28
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
............. 3.29
Traction Control System (TCS) Warning Light
...... 3.29
Enhanced Traction System Warning Light
........ -3-30
.. ...............................
Low Traction Light ....................................... -3-30
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
.................. 3-31
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
............................ -3-32
Oil Pressure Light
........................................ -3-35
Security Light
............................................... 3-36
Fuel Gage
................................................... 3-37
Low Fuel Warning Light
................................. 3-37
Driver Information Center (DE) ....................... 3-38
Trip Computer ................................... ..... 3-40
Control Buttons
............................................ 3-42
Functions
.................................................... 3-42
Audio System(s) ............................................. 3-44
Setting the Time
........................................... 3-44
Radio with Cassette
...................................... 3-45
Radio with CD (Base Level)
........................... 3-48
Radio with CD
(Up Level) .............................. 3-51
Theft-Deterrent Feature
.................................. 3-54
Engine
Coolant Temperature 'Warning Light
...... 3.31
Low Oil Level Light ....................................... 3-36
Audio Steering Wheel Controls
....................... 3-56
Understanding Radio Reception
...................... 3-57
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player
................. 3-58
Care
of Your CDs ......................................... 3-59
Care of Your CD Player
................................ 3-59
Backglass Antenna
....................................... 3-59
3-
1

Cruise Control
With cruise control, you can maintain a speed of about
25 mph (40 km/h) or more without keeping your foot
on the accelerator. This can really help on long
trips. Cruise control does not work at speeds below
approximately
25 mph (40 km/h).
When you apply the brakes, the cruise control
shuts
off.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the traction
control system on the
3800 Supercharged V6 engine or
the enhanced traction system on the 3100 V6 and
3800 V6 engine begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise
control will automatically disengage. See Traction
Control System (TCS) on page
4- 10 or Enhanced
Traction System (ETS) on page
4-1 1. When road
conditions allow you to safely use it again, you may
turn the cruise control back on.
Setting Cruise Control
Cruise control can be dangerous where
you can’t drive safely at a steady speed.
So, don’t use you’r cruise control on
winding roads or in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous on
slippery roads. On such roads, fast
changes
in tire traction can cause
needless wheel spinning, and you could
lose control. Don’t use cruise control on
slippery roads.
I
If you leave your cruise control on when you’re
not using cruise, you might hit a button and go
into cruise when you don’t want to. You could
be startled and even lose control. Keep the
cruise control switch off until you want to use
cruise control.
1. Move the cruise control switch to ON.
2. Get up to the speed you want.
3. Push in the SET button at the end of the
4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
multifunction lever
and release it.
3-8

Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
if your vehicle has the
optional anti-lock brake
system, this light will come
on when your engine is
started and may stay on
for several 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. If the light comes on and stays on
while 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.
The anti-lock brake system warning light should come
on briefly when you turn the ignition key to
RUN. This is
normal.
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 (TCS)
Warning Light
TCS
OFF
If your vehicle is
equipped with the 3800
supercharged V6 engine,
the traction control
system warning light
may come on for the
following reasons:
If you turn the system off by pressing the TCS
button located on the far right side of the trip
computer, 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 (TCS) on page
4-10 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.
3-29

Enhanced Traction System Warning
Light
TRAC
OFF
If your vehicle is equipped
with a
31 00 V6 or 3800 V6
engine and the optional
ABS brake system, the
Enhanced Traction System
warning light may come on
for the following reasons:
e
e
e
If you turn the system off by pressing the TRAC
button on the far right side of the Driver Information
Center or trip computer (if equipped), 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 (ETS)
on page 4-1 1 for more information.
If the Enhanced Traction System warning light
comes on and stays on for an extended period of
time while 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
If your vehicle has the
Enhanced Traction
System or the Traction
Control System, this light
will also come on while
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 Enhanced Traction System or the Traction Control
System stops limiting wheel spin. See Enhanced
Traction System
(ETS) on page 4-1 1 or Traction Control
System (TCS) on page
4- 10.
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 Traction Control System or Enhanced Traction
System is active.
3-30

DOOR AJAR: If one of the doors is left ajar, a light will
appear next to that door on the vehicle outline.
BOOST GAGE: If you have the 3800 V6 supercharged
engine, this gage will show the amount
of boost the
engine is receiving.
TRUNK AJAR: If the trunk is not fully closed, the trunk
area will light up on the vehicle outline.
LOW TRAC (Low Traction): This light will come on
when the enhanced traction system (3100 or 3800
V6 engine) or the traction control system (3800
supercharged V6 engine) is limiting wheel spin.
See Traction Control System (TCS)
on page 4- IO,
Enhanced Traction System (ETS) on page 4- 1 I
and Low Traction Light on page 3-30.
TRAC OFF (Traction Off) or TCS OFF (Traction
Control System
Off): This light lets you know that the
enhanced traction system (31
00 or 3800 V6 engine) or the
traction control system (3800 supercharged
V6 engine) has been disabled and will not limit wheel
spin. See Traction Control System (TCS) Warning Light
on page 3-29, Enhanced Traction System Warning Light
on page 3=30 and Low Trxti=n Light a1 page 3-38.
TRAC (Traction) or TCS (Traction Control
System):
If the vehicle has the enhanced traction
system (3100 or 3800 V6 engine) or the traction control
system (3800 supercharged V6 engine), you will
have a disable button on the far right side of the trip
computer. The enhanced traction system and traction
control system are automatically activated when you turn
the ignition on. This button will activate/deactivate the
system.
If you need to disable the system, such as when
you are stuck and are rocking the vehicle back and
forth, push this button. See If
You Are Stuck: In Sand,
Mud, Ice or Snow on page 4-32.
3-43

Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
Your Driving. the Road. and Your Vehicle .......... 4-2
Defensive Driving
........................................... 4.2
Drunken Driving
............................................. 4-3
Braking
......................................................... 4.6
Steering
...................................................... 4.13
Off-Road Recovery
....................................... 4-15
Passing
....................................................... 4.15
Loss
of Control ............................................. 4.16
Driving at Night
............................................ 4.18
Driving in Rain and on Wet
Roads .................. 4-19
Control
of a
Vehicle ........................................ 4-6
Traction Control System (TCS)
....................... 4.10
Enhanced Traction System
(ETS) .................... 4-1 1 City
Driving
.................................. ..... 4-22
Freeway Driving ............................... ..... 4.23
Highway Hypnosis
........................................ 4.25
Winter Driving
.............................................. 4.27
Ice or Snow
.............................................. 4-32
Towing Your Vehicle
................. ......... 4.33
Loading Your Vehicle
.................................... 4.35
Before Leaving
on a Long Trip
....................... 4-24
Hill and Mountain Roads
................................ 4-25
If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud,
Towing ....................... ............................ 4.33
Recreational Vehicle Towing
....... ..... 4.33
Towing
a Trailer ........................................... 4.37
4- 1

Control of a Vehicle
You have three systems that make your vehicle go where
you want it to go. They are the brakes, the steering and
the accelerator. All three systems have to do their work at
the places where the tires meet the road. Sometimes,
as when you’re driving on snow
or ice,
it’s easy to ask more
of those control systems than the
tires and road can provide. That means you can
lose control of your vehicle.
Also see Traction Control
System (TCS) on page
4-10 and Enhanced Traction
System (ETS) on page
4-1 1.
Braking
Braking action involves perception time and
reaction time.
First, you have to decide to push on the brake pedal.
That’s perception time. Then you have to bring up your
foot and do it. That’s reaction time.
Average reaction time is about
3/4 of a second. But
that’s only an average. It might be less with one driver
and as long as two or three seconds or more with
another. Age, physical condition, alertness, coordination
and eyesight all play a part.
So do alcohol, drugs and
frustration. But even in
3/4 of a second, a vehicle moving
at
60 mph (1 00 km/h) travels 66 feet (20 m). That
could be a lot of distance in an emergency,
so keeping
enough space between your vehicle and others is
important.
4-6

Traction Control System (TCS)
If your vehicle has the 3800 supercharged V6 engine it
has a traction control system that limits wheel spin.
This is especially useful in slippery road conditions. The
system operates only
if it senses that one or both of
the front wheels are spinning or beginning to lose
traction. When this happens, the system works the front
brakes and reduces engine power to limit wheel spin.
LOW
TRAC
This light will come on
when your traction control
system is limiting wheel
spin. See Traction Control
System (TCS) Warning
Light on page 3-29.
You may feel or hear the system working, but this
is normal.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the traction
control system begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise
control will automatically disengage. When road
conditions allow you to safely use it again, you may
reengage the cruise control. See “Cruise Control” under
Turn SignaVMultifunction Lever on page 3-5.
TCS
OFF
This light should come on
briefly when you start the
engine.
If it stays on or
comes on while you
are driving, there is a
problem with your traction
control system.
See Traction Control System (TCS) Warning Light on
page 3-29. When this warning light
is on, the system will
not limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.
The traction control system automatically comes
on whenever you start your vehicle.
To limit wheel spin,
especially in slippery road conditions, you should
always leave the system on. But you can turn the
traction control system
off if you ever need to. You
should turn the system
off if your vehicle ever gets stuck
in sand, mud or snow and rocking the vehicle is
required. See “Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out”
under
If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow
on page
4-32.
4-1 0