2008 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX instrument cluster

Safety belts help keep the passenger in position on the
seat during vehicle maneuvers and braking, which
helps the passenger sensing system maintain the
passenger airbag status. See “Safety Belts” and “Child
Restraints” in the Index for additional information
about the importance of proper restraint use.
{CAUTION:
If the airbag readiness light in the instrument
panel cluster ever comes on and stays on, it
means that something may be wrong with the
airbag system. If this ever happens, have the
vehicle serviced promptly, because an
adult-size person sitting in the right front
passenger’s seat may not have the protection
of the airbag(s). SeeAirbag Readiness Light
on page 3-42for more on this, including
important safety information.
A thick layer of additional material, such as a blanket or
cushion, or aftermarket equipment such as seat
covers, seat heaters, and seat massagers can affect
how well the passenger sensing system operates.
We recommend that you not use seat covers or other
aftermarket equipment other than any that GM has
approved for your specic vehicle. SeeAdding
Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on
page 1-65for more information about modications that
can affect how the system operates.
1-63

3. The paddles are
located on the steering
wheel. They are used to
up-shift or down-shift
the transmission.
4. Push either paddle once to up-shift to the next
gear. Pull either paddle once to down-shift to
the next gear.
The vehicle will begin moving in rst gear upon
acceleration. For better control in icy or slippery
conditions, the vehicle may start out in SECOND (2),
rather than FIRST (1). This will only occur if you
have “tapped up” to second gear.
The up-shift light on the
instrument panel cluster,
or the up-shift symbol on
the HUD, if equipped, is
given as a prompt to use
the TAP-Shift
®paddle.For more information, seeUp-Shift Light on page 3-45
The up-shift light will only appear in the instrument
panel cluster if the HUD is off or if the vehicle does
not have HUD.
This prompt to up-shift, as needed, will be given
throughout acceleration. If up-shifting does not occur
when prompted, the vehicle speed will be limited
to protect the engine.
The gear position will display on the DIC and HUD,
if equipped, when in manual mode.
Pressing the accelerator while driving in the highest
gear (FOURTH (4)) between 20 mph (32 km/h)
and 50 mph (80 km/h), will make the transmission
automatically downshift. As your speed gets closer to
50 mph (80 km/h), you will need to increase accelerator
pedal travel to get the vehicle to downshift. At 50 mph
(80 km/h), even with the accelerator fully depressed,
the transmission will always remain in FOURTH (4).
The transmission will also automatically downshift as
the vehicle decelerates and comes to a stop.
If a paddle is pushed or pulled and the vehicle cannot
respond to a transmission gear change, a chime will
sound. The system will not allow either an up-shift or a
down-shift if the vehicle speed is too fast or too slow,
nor will it allow a start from THIRD (3) or higher gear.
2-32

Parking Brake
The parking brake is
located to the left of the
brake pedal near the
driver’s door. To set the
parking brake, hold
the regular brake pedal
down with the right
foot. Push down on the
parking brake pedal,
with the left foot.
To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down with the right foot and push the parking
brake pedal with the left foot. When the left foot is lifted,
the parking brake pedal will lift to the released position.
A warning chime will sound if the parking brake is
set, the ignition is on, and the shift lever is not in
PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).The brake light will also appear on the instrument panel
cluster when the parking brake is set. It will stay on if
the parking brake does not release fully.
The PARKING BRAKE ON message will also appear in
the Driver Information Center (DIC) when the parking
brake is set. SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on
page 3-67for more information.
Notice:Driving with the parking brake on can
overheat the brake system and cause premature
wear or damage to brake system parts. Make sure
that the parking brake is fully released and the brake
warning light is off before driving.
If the vehicle is towing a trailer and parked on a hill,
seeTowing a Trailer on page 4-29. That section shows
what to do rst to keep the trailer from moving.
2-33

Instrument Panel Overview...............................3-4
Hazard Warning Flashers................................3-6
Other Warning Devices...................................3-6
Horn .............................................................3-6
Tilt Wheel.....................................................3-7
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.........................3-7
Turn and Lane-Change Signals........................3-8
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer..................3-9
Flash-to-Pass.................................................3-9
Windshield Wiper Lever.................................3-10
Cruise Control..............................................3-12
Exterior Lamps.............................................3-16
Headlamps on Reminder................................3-17
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL).......................3-17
Fog Lamps ..................................................3-18
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver........................3-19
Interior Lamps..............................................3-19
Instrument Panel Brightness...........................3-19
Courtesy Lamps...........................................3-19
Dome Lamp .................................................3-20
Entry Lighting...............................................3-20
Delayed Entry Lighting...................................3-20
Delayed Exit Lighting.....................................3-21
Front Reading Lamps....................................3-21
Overhead Console Reading Lamps.................3-21
Rear Assist Handle Reading Lamps................3-21
Electric Power Management...........................3-22Battery Run-Down Protection..........................3-22
Head-Up Display (HUD).................................3-23
Accessory Power Outlet(s).............................3-26
Ashtray(s) and Cigarette Lighter......................3-27
Climate Controls............................................3-28
Climate Control System.................................3-28
Dual Automatic Climate Control System...........3-32
Outlet Adjustment.........................................3-36
Passenger Compartment Air Filter...................3-36
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators............3-38
Instrument Panel Cluster................................3-39
Speedometer and Odometer...........................3-40
Tachometer.................................................3-40
Safety Belt Reminders...................................3-41
Airbag Readiness Light..................................3-42
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator...................3-43
Up-Shift Light...............................................3-45
Brake System Warning Light..........................3-45
Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) Warning Light. . . .3-47
Traction Control System (TCS) Warning Light . . .3-47
Enhanced Traction System Warning Light.........3-48
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light......3-48
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage..................3-49
Tire Pressure Light.......................................3-49
Malfunction Indicator Lamp.............................3-50
Oil Pressure Light.........................................3-52
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-1

The main components of the instrument panel are the following:
A. Side Window Defogger Outlets. SeeOutlet
Adjustment on page 3-36.
B. Air Outlets. SeeOutlet Adjustment on page 3-36.
C. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever and Cruise Controls.
SeeTurn Signal/Multifunction Lever on page 3-7
andCruise Control on page 3-12.
D. TAP-Shift
®Control (If Equipped). SeeAutomatic
Transmission Operation on page 2-28.
E. Hazard Warning Flashers Button. SeeHazard
Warning Flashers on page 3-6.
F. Instrument Panel Cluster. SeeInstrument Panel
Cluster on page 3-39.
G. Windshield Wiper Lever. SeeWindshield Wiper
Lever on page 3-10.
H. Ignition. SeeIgnition Positions on page 2-23.
I. Driver Information Center (DIC) (If Equipped). See
Driver Information Center (DIC) on page 3-55.
J. Audio System. SeeAudio System(s) on page 3-94.
K. Audio Steering Wheel Controls (If Equipped).
SeeAudio Steering Wheel Controls on page 3-115.L. Hood Release. SeeHood Release on page 5-11.
M. Tilt Steering Wheel Lever, on Steering Column.
SeeTilt Wheel on page 3-7.
N. Interior Lamps Brightness Control. SeeInterior
Lamps on page 3-19.
O. Passenger Air Bag Status Indicator. SeePassenger
Airbag Status Indicator on page 3-43.
P. Climate Controls. SeeClimate Control System
on page 3-28.
Q. Shift Lever. SeeAutomatic Transmission Operation
on page 2-28.
R. Traction Control Button (If Equipped). SeeTraction
Control System (TCS) on page 4-6.
S. Head Up Display (HUD) Control (If Equipped).
SeeHead-Up Display (HUD) on page 3-23.
T. Glove Box. SeeGlove Box on page 2-43.
U. Instrument Panel Fuse Block. SeeInstrument Panel
Fuse Block on page 5-122.
3-5

Turn and Lane-Change Signals
To signal a turn, move the turn signal lever located on
the left side of the steering column all the way up
or down. The lever returns automatically when the turn
is complete.
An arrow on the instrument
panel cluster will ash in
the direction of the
turn or lane change.
If the vehicle is equipped with the Head-Up-Display
(HUD), a right or left turn signal will appear in the
HUD area when making turns or lane changes.
SeeHead-Up Display (HUD) on page 3-23for more
information.
Raise or lower the lever until the arrow starts to ash
to signal a lane change. Hold it there until the lane
change is complete. The lever returns to its original
position when it is released.Arrows that ash rapidly when signaling for a turn or
lane change may be caused by a burned-out signal bulb.
Other drivers will not see the signal.
Replace burned-out bulbs to help avoid possible
accidents. SeeReplacement Bulbs on page 5-60,
Front Turn Signal, Parking and Fog Lamps on
page 5-57, andTaillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps
on page 5-58. Also, check the fuse for burned-out
bulbs if a turn signal arrow fails to work when signaling
a turn. SeeFuses and Circuit Breakers on page 5-121
for location information.
Turn Signal On Chime
If the turn signal is left on for more than 0.75 of a mile
(1.21 km), a warning chime will sound and the TURN
SIGNAL ON warning message will appear on the
Driver Information Center (DIC) display. See “Turn
Signal On” underDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 3-67.
3-8

Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
Push forward on the exterior lamps control lever to
change the headlamps from low to high-beam. Pull the
lever back and then release it to change from high
to low-beam.
This symbol appears on
the instrument panel
cluster when the
high-beam headlamps
are on.
When the high-beam headlamps are on, the fog lamps
will not be on. If the vehicle is equipped with the
Head-Up-Display (HUD) an arrow will appear in the
HUD area indicating that the high-beams are on.
SeeHead-Up Display (HUD) on page 3-23for more
information.
Flash-to-Pass
This feature allows the use of the high-beam headlamps
to signal the driver in front of you that you want to pass.
Pull and hold the exterior lamps control lever to use this
feature. When this is done, the following will occur:
The high-beam headlamps will turn on, while
the headlamps are off, in low-beam, or in Daytime
Running Lamps (DRL) mode. They will stay on
as long as the lever is held in this position. Release
the lever to turn them off.
The headlamps will switch to low beam if the
headlamps had been in the high-beam mode.
To return to high-beam, push the lever.
If the vehicle is equipped with the Head-Up Display
(HUD), an arrow will appear on the display to indicate
that the high beams are on.
3-9

The CRUISE SET message will also appear briey on
the Head-Up Display (HUD), if your vehicle has one,
when the cruise control lever is pushed to the minus
(set) or the plus (resume/accelerate) positions.
A cruise control light will also appear on the instrument
panel cluster when the cruise control is on. This light
will disappear when the brakes are applied or the
cruise control is cancelled. It will reappear when the set
cruise speed is resumed. The light will go out when
the cruise control is turned off. SeeCruise Control Light
on page 3-53.
Resuming a Set Speed
Once you are going about 25 mph (40 km/h) or more,
you can move the cruise control switch briey from on
to resume/accelerate.
Your vehicle will go back up to your previously chosen
speed and stay there.
If you hold the switch at resume/accelerate the vehicle
will keep going faster until you release the switch or
apply the brake. Do not hold the switch at resume/
accelerate, unless you want the vehicle to go faster.
Increasing Speed While Using
Cruise Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed:
Use the accelerator pedal to get to the higher
speed. Press the set button at the end of the
lever, then release the button and the accelerator
pedal. You will now cruise at the higher speed. If the
accelerator pedal is held longer than 60 seconds,
cruise control will turn off.
Move the cruise switch from on to
resume/accelerate. Hold it there until you get up
to the speed desired, and then release the
switch. To increase the vehicle speed in
very small amounts, move the switch briey to
resume/accelerate. Each time this is done,
the vehicle will go about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster.
The acceleration feature will only work after the
cruise control speed has been set by pushing the
cruise control set button.
3-14