2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX Owners Manual

Shifting Out of Park (P)
Your vehicle has an automatic transaxle shift lock
control system. You
must fully apply your regular brakes
before you can shift from PARK (P) while the ignition
is in RUN. See Automatic Transaxle Operation on
page
2-24.
Parking Over Things That Burn
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever by pushing it
all the way into PARK (P)
while keeping the brake pedal down. Release the shift
lever button. Then move the shift lever out of
PARK (P), being sure to press the shift lever button.
1 ngL -.iat 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.
2-30

Engine Exhaust
Engine exhaust can A. 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:
Your exhaust system sounds strange or
different.
Your vehicle gets rusty underneath.
0 Your vehicle was damaged in a collision.
e Your vehicle was damaged when driving
over high points on the road or over road
debris.
CAUTION: (Continued)
Repairs weren’t done correctly.
Your vehicle or exhaust system had been
modified improperly.
If you ever suspect exhaust is coming into
your vehicle:
Drive it only with all the windows down to
* Have your vehicle fixed immediately.
blow out any
CO; and
2-31

Running Your Engine While You
Are Parked
It’s better not to park with the engine running. But if you
ever ha.-- to, here are som- ‘hings to know.
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
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 “Winter Driving” in the Index.
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) on page 2-28.
If you are parking on a hill and if you’re pulling a trailer,
also see Towing a Trailer
on page 4-37.
2-32

Mirrors
Manual Rearview Mirror
To reduce glare from lamps behind you, pull the lever
located in the center of the bottom of the mirror
toward you to the night position. To return the mirror
back
to the day position, push the lever away from you. The mirror also has an eight-point compass and
temperature display in the
upper right corner on the
mirror face and a three-button Onstar@ system.
When the automatic dimming feature is turned on,
the mirror automatically changes
to reduce glare from
headlamps behind you. A photocell
on the mirror senses
when it is becoming dark outside. Another photocell
built into the mirror face senses when headlamps
are behind you.
Automatic Dimming Rearview
Mirror with Onstar@, Compass and
a few seconds. The mirror will return to its clear,
Temperature Display
At night, when the glare is too bright, the mirror will
gradually darken to reduce glare. This change may take
daytime state when the glare is reduced.
Mirror Operation
(On/Off): The button with this symbol is the on/off
button for the mirror functions such as automatic
dimming and temperature display. It is the far left button
located on the lower part of the mirror face.
A light on the mirror will be lit while the feature is
turned on.
Your vehicle may have an automatic-dimming rearview
mirror with a compass and temperature display and
the Onstar@ system.
2-33

Temperature Display
Press the on/off button to change the temperature
display. You can select
OF, "C, or turn the display off.
Compass Operation
There is a compass display in the window in the
upper right corner of the mirror face. The compass
displays a maximum of two characters. For example,
NE is displayed for north-east.
The compass may need to be calibrated. See
"Compass Calibration" under Automatic Dimming
Rearview Mirror with Compass and Temperature
Display on page
2-34 for more information.
The other three buttons are for the Onstar@ system.
See your dealer for more information on the system and
how to subscribe to Onstar@. See Onstar@ System
on page 2-38 for more information about the services
Onstar@ provides.
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror
with Compass and Temperature Display
Your vehicle may have an automatic-dimming rearview
mirror with a compass and temperature display.
When turned on, this mirror automatically dims to the
proper level to minimize glare from headlamps
behind you after dark.
The mirror has an eight-point compass and temperature
display in the upper right corner of the mirror face.
The display shows the current outside temperature and
the vehicle's current direction.
2-34

Mirror Operation
The automatic dimming feature is turned on or off by
briefly pressing the COMP button located on the bottom
of the mirror face. A light on the mirror will be lit
while the feature is turned on. It will go out while the
feature is turned
off.
Temperature Display
The TEMP button located on the bottom of the mirror
face changes the temperature display. You can
select
OF, "C, or turn the display off.
Compass Variance
Press the COMP button once briefly to turn the
compass on or
off. When on, the display will show the
compass direction, with a maximum of two characters.
For example,
NE is displayed for north-east.
Compass Calibration
Press and hold the COMP button down for six seconds
to activate the compass calibration mode.
If your
vehicle has the optional mirror with the compass,
temperature display and OnStar system, press the
on/off button for nine seconds.
CAL will be displayed in the compass/temperature
window on the mirror.
The mirror can be calibrated in one of two ways:
Drive the vehicle ir! circles at 5 mph (8 km/h)
or less until CAL is no longer displayed in the
compass window.
0 Drive the vehicle on your everyday routine.
(This method may take longer to calibrate).
Compass Variation
Compass variance is the difference between earth's
magnetic north and true geographic north. If not
adjusted to account for compass variance, your
compass could give false readings. The mirror is set to
zone eight upon leaving the factory.
It will be necessary
to adjust the compass to compensate for compass
variance
if you live outside zone eight. Under certain
circumstances, such as during a long distance
cross-country trip, it will be necessary to adjust for
compass variance.
2-35

To adjust for compass variance, do the following:
1. Find your current location and variance zone
number on the map.
2. Press and hold the COMP button for three seconds.
If your vehicle has the optional mirror with the
compass, temperature display and Onstar@ system,
press the on/off button for six seconds. Release
the button when
ZONE is displayed. The number
shown is the current zone number.
3. Scroll through the zone numbers that appear in the
compass/temperature window on the mirror by
pressing the COMP button or the on/off button.
Once you find your zone number, release the
button. After about four seconds, the mirror will
return
to the compass and temperature display,
and the new zone number will be set.
2-36

Outside Power Mirrors Outside Convex Mirror
The power mirror
control is located near
the driver’s window,
on the armrest.
Turn the control counterclockwise to adjust the
left mirror or clockwise to adjust the right mirror.
Then move the control in the direction you want
the mirror to go. Your
passenger’s side mirror is convex. A convex
mirror’s surface is curved
so you can see more from
the driver’s seat.
A convex mirror can make things (like other
vehicles)
look farther away than they really are.
If you cut too sharply into the right lane, you
could hit a vehicle on your right. Check your
inside mirror or glance over your shoulder
before changing lanes.
2-37