2007 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX Owners Manual

Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive
in spurts — heavy acceleration followed by
heavy braking — rather than keeping pace with
traffic. This is a mistake. The brakes may not have
time to cool between hard stops. The brakes
will wear out much faster if you do a lot of heavy
braking. If you keep pace with the traffic and
allow realistic following distances, you will
eliminate a lot of unnecessary braking. That means
better braking and longer brake life.
If your vehicle’s engine ever stops while you are
driving, brake normally but do not pump the
brakes. If you do, the pedal may get harder to
push down. If the engine stops, you will still have
some power brake assist. But you will use it
when you brake. Once the power assist is used
up, it may take longer to stop and the brake pedal
will be harder to push.
Adding non-GM accessories can affect your
vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories and
Modications on page 336.Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
Your vehicle may have the Anti-Lock Brake
System (ABS), an advanced electronic braking
system that will help prevent a braking skid.
If your vehicle has ABS,
this warning light on the
instrument panel will
come on briey when
you start your vehicle.
When you start your engine, or when you begin to
drive away, your ABS will check itself. You may
hear a momentary motor or clicking noise while this
test is going on, and you may even notice that your
brake pedal moves or pulses a little. This is normal.
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Let us say the road is wet and you are driving
safely. Suddenly, an animal jumps out in front of
you. You slam on the brakes and continue braking.
Here is what happens with ABS:
A computer senses that wheels are slowing down.
If one of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the
computer will separately work the brakes at
each wheel.ABS can change the brake pressure faster than
any driver could. The computer is programmed
to make the most of available tire and road
conditions. This can help you steer around the
obstacle while braking hard.
As you brake, your computer keeps receiving
updates on wheel speed and controls braking
pressure accordingly.
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Remember: ABS does not change the time you
need to get your foot up to the brake pedal or
always decrease stopping distance. If you get too
close to the vehicle in front of you, you will not have
time to apply your brakes if that vehicle suddenly
slows or stops. Always leave enough room up
ahead to stop, even though you have ABS.
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the brake
pedal down rmly and let anti-lock work for you.
You may feel a slight brake pedal pulsation
or notice some noise, but this is normal.
Braking in Emergencies
At some time, nearly every driver gets into a
situation that requires hard braking.
If you have ABS, you can steer and brake at the
same time. However, if you do not have ABS, your
rst reaction — to hit the brake pedal hard and
hold it down — may be the wrong thing to do. Your
wheels can stop rolling. Once they do, the
vehicle cannot respond to your steering.Momentum will carry it in whatever direction it was
headed when the wheels stopped rolling. That
could be off the road, into the very thing you were
trying to avoid, or into traffic.
If you do not have ABS, use a “squeeze” braking
technique. This will give you maximum braking
while maintaining steering control. You can do this
by pushing on the brake pedal with steadily
increasing pressure.
In an emergency, you will probably want to squeeze
the brakes hard without locking the wheels. If you
hear or feel the wheels sliding, ease off the brake
pedal. This will help you retain steering control. If
you do have ABS, it is different. SeeAnti-Lock
Brake System (ABS) on page 289.
In many emergencies, steering can help you more
than even the very best braking.
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Traction Control System (TCS)
If the vehicle has the 3800 Supercharged V6
engine or the 5.3L V8 engine, it has a Traction
Control System (TCS) 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.
This symbol, along with
the TRACTION
CONTROL ACTIVE
message, comes on the
DIC screen when the
system is active.
You may feel or hear the system working, but this
is normal.When the traction control system is not working,
one of these symbols will come on the instrument
panel cluster.
This symbol is located
on the instrument panel
cluster.
This symbol, along with the message TRACTION
CONTROL OFF will display in the DIC for
three seconds when the traction control system
is disabled.
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If there is a problem with the system, the service
traction system will also appear on the DIC.
When these symbols and messages appear on
the instrument panel and the DIC, the system will
not limit wheel spin. Adjust driving accordingly.
The traction control system automatically comes
on whenever the vehicle is started. To limit
wheel spin, especially in slippery road conditions,
always leave the system on. But the traction
control system can be turned off if needed. The
system should be turned off if the vehicle ever gets
stuck in sand, mud, or snow and rocking the
vehicle is required. SeeRocking Your Vehicle to
Get It Out on page 316andIf Your Vehicle is
Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow on page 316for
more information.
Press the traction
control button located
on the console to
turn the system off.If the system is limiting wheel spin when the
traction control button is pressed, the system will
turn off instantly. Turn the system back on at
any time by pressing the button again.
If the 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 safe use of it, the cruise
control can be used again. SeeCruise Control on
page 140.
Adding non-GM accessories can affect your
vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories and
Modications on page 336for more information.
Enhanced Traction System (ETS)
If the vehicle has the 3800 V6 engine and anti-lock
brakes, it has an Enhanced Traction System
(ETS) 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 reduces
engine power and may also upshift the transaxle
to limit wheel spin.
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This symbol comes on
the Driver Information
Center (DIC) when
the ETS is limiting
wheel spin.
If the vehicle is in cruise control when ETS begins
to limit wheel spin, the cruise control will
automatically disengage. When road conditions
allow safe use of it, the cruise control can be used
again. SeeCruise Control on page 140.
ETS operates in all transaxle shift lever positions.
But the system can upshift the transaxle only
as high as the chosen shift lever position, so use
the lower gears only when necessary. See
Automatic Transaxle Operation on page 110.One of these lights will appear on the instrument
panel to indicate that the ETS is not on.
This symbol, along
with the message
TRACTION CONTROL
OFF will display on the
DIC for three seconds
when the ETS is not on.
If there is a problem with the system, the service
traction system will also come on in the DIC.
SeeEnhanced Traction System Warning Light on
page 179. When this warning light is on, the
system will not limit wheel spin. Adjust driving
accordingly.
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To limit wheel spin, especially in slippery road
conditions, the ETS should always be left on. But
the system can be turned off. The system should be
turned off if the vehicle ever gets stuck in sand,
mud, or snow and rocking the vehicle is required.
SeeRocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out on
page 316andIf Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand,
Mud, Ice, or Snow on page 316for more
information.
Press the traction
control button located
on the console to
turn the system off.
If the system is limiting wheel spin when the
button is pressed, the system will turn off instantly.
Press the traction control button again to turn
the system on.StabiliTrak®Plus System
The vehicle may have a vehicle stability
enhancement system called StabiliTrak®Plus. It is
an advanced computer controlled system that
assists with directional control of the vehicle
in difficult driving conditions.
StabiliTrak
®Plus comes on whenever the vehicle
is started. It activates when the computer
senses a discrepancy between the intended path
and the direction the vehicle is actually traveling.
StabiliTrak
®Plus selectively applies braking
pressure at any one of the vehicle’s brakes to
help control the vehicle in the steering direction.
This symbol, along
with the STABILITY
CONTROL ACTIVE
message comes on the
Driver Information
Center (DIC).
SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 200.
You may also hear a noise or feel vibration in the
brake pedal. This is normal. Continue to steer
the vehicle in the desired direction.
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This symbol will appear
on the DIC.
If there is a problem detected with StabiliTrak
®
Plus, this symbol along with the SERVICE
STABILITY SYSTEM warning message will
come on the DIC.
SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 200.
When this message is displayed, the system is not
operational. Driving should be adjusted accordingly.
To turn the StabiliTrak
®system off (GXP only),
press and hold the traction control button for more
than ve seconds. A message will appear on the
DIC indicating that StabiliTrak
®has been turned off.
You can turn the system back on at any time by
pressing the button again.
If the vehicle is in cruise control when StabiliTrak
®
Plus activates, the cruise control will automatically
disengage. When road conditions allow safe use of
it, the cruise control can be used again. SeeCruise
Control on page 140for more information.
Steering
Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist because the
engine stops or the system is not functioning, you
can steer but it will take much more effort.
Variable Effort Steering
If your vehicle has this steering system, the system
provides less steering effort for parking and when
driving at speeds below 20 mph (32 km/h). Steering
effort will increase at higher speeds for improved
road feel.
Steering Tips
It is important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents
mentioned on the news happen on curves.
Here is why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is
subject to the same laws of physics when driving
on curves. The traction of the tires against the road
surface makes it possible for the vehicle to change
its path when you turn the front wheels. If there is
no traction, inertia will keep the vehicle going in the
same direction. If you have ever tried to steer a
vehicle on wet ice, you will understand this.
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