
The 2003 Pontiac  Grand  Prix  Owner  Manual a 
Seats  and  Restpaint  Systems ........................... ? -1 
Front  Seats ............................................... 1-2 
Safety  Belts 
.............................................. 1-7 
Child  Restraints 
....................................... 1-29 
Supplemental  Restraint  System 
(SRS) ......... 1-51 
Restraint  System  Check 
............................ 1-58 
Keys 
........................................................ 2-3 
Doors  and  Locks 
....................................... 2-8 
Windows 
................................................. 2-1 3 
Theft-Deterrent  Systems 
............................ 2-1 5 
Starting  and Operating  Your Vehicle 
........... 2-19 
Mirrors 
.................................................... 2-33 
Onstar@  System 
...................................... 2-38 
Storage  Areas 
......................................... 2-40 
Sunroof 
.................................................. 2-42 
Vehicle  Personalization 
............................. 2-43 
Instrument Panel  Overview 
.......................... 3-2 
Climate  Controls 
...................................... 3-20 
Warning  Lights, Gages  and  Indicators 
......... 3-23 
Driver  Information Center  (DIC) 
.................. 3-38 
Trip  Computer 
......................................... 3-40 
Audio  System(s) 
....................................... 3-44 
Features  and Controls ..................................... 2-1 
Instrument  Panel ............................................. 3-1 
~rivingi yoerr Vehicle ....................................... 4-1 
Your  Driving, the  Road, and Your  Vehicle 
..... 4-2 
Towing 
................................................... 4-33 
Service 
..................................................... 5-3 
Fuel 
......................................................... 5-5 
Checking  Things  Under  the Hood 
............... 5-10 
Headlamp  Aiming 
..................................... 5-59 
Bulb  Replacement 
.................................... 5-60 
Windshield  Wiper  Blade  Replacement 
......... 5-67 
Tires 
...................................................... 5-68 
Appearance  Care 
..................................... 5-88 
Vehicle  Identification 
................................. 5-96 
Electrical  System 
...................................... 5-97 
Capacities  and Specifications 
................... 5-1 02 
Normal  Maintenance  Replacement  Parts .... 5-1  04 
Maintenance Schedule ........................... ,6-1 .. 
Maintenance  Schedule ................................ 6-2 
Customer Assistance  Information .................... 7-1 
Customer  Assistance  Information 
.................. 7-2 
Service and  Appearance  Care .......................... 5-1 
Reporting  Safety  Defects 
......................... 7-9 
Index ........................................ ..... 1  

Vehicle Damage  Warnings 
Also, in this  book  you  will find these  notices: 
Notice: These mean there is something that could 
damage  your  vehicle. 
A notice will tell  you  about  something  that can damage 
your vehicle.  Many  times, this damage  would  not  be 
covered  by your  warranty, and  it  could  be costly. 
But  the notice will tell  you what  to do  to  help avoid the 
damage. 
When  you read other  manuals, you might  see 
CAUTION  and  NOTICE  warnings  in different colors 
or 
in different words. 
You’ll  also see warning labels 
on your vehicle.  They 
use  the  same  words,  CAUTION  or NOTICE. 
Vehicle Symbols 
Your  vehicle  has  components  and  labels that use 
symbols  instead of text.  Symbols,  used  on  your  vehicle, 
are  shown  along with  the text describing the operation 
or  information relating to  a specific  component,  control, 
message,  gage  or  indicator. 
If you  need help figuring  out a specific name of a 
component,  gage  or  indicator reference the following 
topics: 
Seats  and  Restraint Systems in Section 1 
Features and Controls in Section 2 
Instrument Panel  Overview in Section 3 
Climate Controls in  Section 3 
Warning Lights, Gages  and  Indicators in Section 3 
Audio  System(s) in Section 3 
Engine  Compartment  Overview  in Section 5 
iv  

Notice: If your  key  seems stuck in LOCK and  you 
can’t turn  it,  be sure  you  are  using the correct  key; 
if 
so, is  it  all  the  way  in?  Turn the  key only  with 
your  hand.  Using a  tool to force  it could  break  the 
key or the  ignition  switch.  If  none 
of these works, 
then  your  vehicle  needs service. 
B (LOCK): This position locks  the ignition, steering 
wheel  and transaxle. It’s  a theft-deterrent feature. It’s also 
the  only  position from  which  you can remove  the key. 
C (OFF): This  position lets  you turn off the engine  but 
still  turn  the steering  wheel. It doesn’t lock  the 
steering  wheel like LOCK.  Use 
OFF if you  must  have 
the  vehicle  pushed  or towed. 
D (RUN): This position is  where the key returns to after 
you  start the vehicle.  With the engine 
off, you can  use 
RUN  to  display some of the warning  and indicator lights. 
E (START): This  position starts the engine. 
A  warning  chime  will  sound 
if you  open  the driver’s  door 
while  the ignition  is in 
OFF, LOCK  or  ACCESSORY 
and  the  key is in the  ignition. 
Retained  Accessory  Power  (RAP) 
With  Retained Accessory  Power,  (RAP),  the power 
windows,  audio system  and  sunroof  will continue to work 
up  to 
10 minutes after the ignition  key is turned to 
OFF and  none  of the doors are  opened. 
Starting  Your  Engine 
Move your shift lever  to  PARK (P) or  NEUTRAL (N). 
Your  engine  won’t  start  in any  other position - that’s  a 
safety feature.  To restart  while  you’re  already moving, 
use  NEUTRAL 
(N) only. 
Nofice: Don’t  try to  shift  to  PARK  (P)  if  your 
vehicle  is  moving. 
If you  do,  you  could  damage  the 
transaxle.  Shift  to 
PARK (P) only  when  your 
vehicle  is stopped. 
Shift Lock  Release 
This vehicle  is equipped  with  an  electric shift  lock 
release  system.  The  shift  lock  release is designed to 
do  the following: 
Prevent ignition  key  removal unless the  shift  lever is 
in PARK  (P)  with the  shift  lever  button fully released. 
Prevent movement  of the  shift lever  out of  PARK  (P) 
unless the  ignition is in a position  other  than 
OFF or 
LOCK.  The  shift lock release  is  always  functional 
except  in the  case 
of a dead  or  low  voltage 
(less than 
9 V) battery. 
2-20  

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  

Ending Cruise Control 
There  are two  ways to turn off the  cruise control: 
Step  lightly  on the  brake pedal, 
or  move  the cruise switch  to OFF. 
Erasing Speed Memory 
When  you  turn off the cruise control or  the ignition, 
or shift into  PARK 
(P) or  NEUTRAL  (N), the cruise 
control set  speed  memory  is erased. 
Exterior Lamps 
The  exterior  lamp control 
is  located  on the  lower 
left side  of the instrument 
panel, to the left  of the 
steering  wheel.  The 
exterior  lamp  has  three positions. 
OFF: Turning the control to  this  position, turns off all 
lamps, except the  Daytime  Running  Lamps  (DRL). 
pf (Parking Lamps): Turning the control to this 
position turns  on the  parking  lamps,  together  with  the 
following: 
Sidemarker  Lamps 
Taillamps 
License Plate  Lamp 
Instrument Panel  Lights 
4 20 (Headlamps): Turning the control to this  position 
turns  on the  headlamps,  together  with  the  previously 
listed  lamps  and  lights. 
A  warning  chime will sound 
if you  open  the  driver’s  door 
when  you  turn the  ignition switch to  LOCK  or 
ACCESSORY  with the  lamps  on. 
3-1 0  

Fog Lamps 
The  fog lamps switch  is  located  on  the  upper  corner of 
the  instrument panel,  to the  left of the  instrument 
panel  cluster. 
For  this  feature  to work  the  exterior 
lamps control must 
be  on.  To turn  the fog  lamps  on,  press the right  side 
of  the  fog  lamp switch. 
A light  will  glow in the  switch  to 
let  you  know  that  they are on. Press  the left side  of 
the  switch  to turn  the fog  lamps 
off. 
Interior Lamps 
Instrument  Panel  Brightness 
This feature  controls the  brightness  of the  instrument 
panel lights. 
The  thumbwheel for 
this  feature 
is located 
on  the  instrument 
panel,  to the  left of 
the  steering  wheel. 
Turn the thumbwheel  to  the  right  to  increase  the 
brightness  of the  instrument  panel lights  and  to  the 
left  to decrease the  brightness. 
3-1 2  

The  HUD  also  shows the following lights when they  are 
lit  on  the  instrument panel  cluster: 
Turn Signal Indicators 
High-Beam  Indicator Symbol 
Low Fuel  Symbol 
The  HUD  will display  CHECK  GAGES  when  the 
following  items are lit  on  the instrument panel cluster: 
Oil Warning  Symbol 
Coolant  Temperature  Symbol 
Charging  System  Symbol 
When  the  ignition key  is turned to  RUN, the entire  HUD 
image  will come  on.  Then  the Head-Up  Display will 
operate normally. 
Notice: 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 as such,  you may 
misjudge  the  distance  and  damage your  vehicle. 
When the HUD  is on,  the  speedometer  reading will be 
displayed  continually.  The current radio station 
or 
CD track  number will only be displayed  for three 
seconds  after the  radio  or  CD track status  changes. 
This will  happen  whenever  one  of the  radio controls is 
pressed, either  on the  radio itself  or on  the optional 
steering  wheel controls.  To 
adjust  the  HUD 
so you  can see it properly  do  the 
following: 
1. Adjust  your seat, if necessary,  to a comfortable 
position. 
2. Start the engine  and  adjust  the  HUD  controls 
located  on the  instrument  panel, to the  right 
of 
the  steering wheel.  Move  the  DIM  thumbwheel  up 
or down to adjust  brightness. 
3-1 6  

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 
Center  (DIC)  that works along  with the warning  lights 
and  gages.  See Driver Information Center  (DIC) 
on page 3-38. 
3-23