2008 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX headlamp

Exterior Lamps
The exterior lamp control is located to the left of the
steering wheel on the multifunction lever.
It controls the following systems:
Headlamps
Taillamps
Parking Lamps
License Plate Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights
O(Exterior Lamp Control):Turn the band with
this symbol on it to operate the exterior lamps.
The exterior lamp band has four positions:
O(Off):Turn the band to this position to turn off
all lamps.
AUTO (Automatic):Turn the control to this position
to automatically turn on the headlamps at normal
brightness, together with the following:
Parking Lamps
Taillamps
License Plate Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights
To override AUTO mode, turn the control to off.
To reset to AUTO mode turn the control to exterior
lamps and then back to AUTO. Automatic mode will also
reset when the vehicle is turned off and then back on
again while the control is left in the AUTO position.
3-16

;(Parking Lamp):Turn the band to this position to
turn on the parking lamps together with the following:
Taillamps
License Plate Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights
The parking brake indicator light comes on and stays
on when the parking lamps are on with the engine
in LOCK/OFF and the ignition to ACC/ACCESSORY.
5(Headlamps):Turn the control to this position
to turn on the headlamps together with the following
lamps listed below. A warning chime sounds if the
driver’s door is opened while the ignition switch is off
and the headlamps are on.
Parking Lamps
Taillamps
License Plate Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights
Headlamps on Reminder
A warning chime will sound if the vehicle’s ignition is
off and the driver’s door is opened when the exterior
lamp control is left on in either the headlamp or
parking lamp position.
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier
for others to see the front of your vehicle during the day.
DRL can be helpful in many different driving conditions,
but they can be especially helpful in the short periods
after dawn and before sunset. Daytime running
lamps are required to function at all times on all
vehicles rst sold in Canada.
A light sensor on top of the instrument panel makes
the DRL work, so be sure it is not covered.
The DRL system will make the low-beam headlamps
come on at reduced brightness when the following
conditions are met:
The ignition is on.
The exterior lamps control is off.
The parking brake is released.
While the DRL are on, only the vehicle’s low-beam
headlamps will be on at reduced brightness. The turn
signal, taillamps, sidemarker and other lamps will not be
on. The instrument panel cluster will not be lit up either.
3-17

When it is dark enough outside, the DRL will turn off
and the vehicle’s headlamps and parking lamps will turn
on. The other lamps that come on with the headlamps
will also come on.
When it is bright enough outside, the headlamps will go
off and the DRL will come on.
To idle the vehicle with the DRL off, turn the exterior
lamp control off and then do one of the following:
Turn the exterior lamp control to the parking
lamp position.
Turn the exterior lamp control to the headlamp
position.
Turn the exterior lamp control from AUTO to off
and back to AUTO.
This feature is not available for vehicles rst sold in
Canada.
To turn off the automatic headlamp feature when it is
dark outside, move the exterior lamp control to the
parking lamp position. The parking lamps will remain
illuminated and the headlamps will turn off. The
fog lamps will also go on if they were on previously.
As with any vehicle, the regular headlamp system
should be turned on when needed.
Fog Lamps
If equipped, fog lamps provide brighter roadway lighting
for better vision in foggy or misty conditions.
-(Fog Lamps):Turn the second band on the exterior
lamps control lever to this position to turn the fog
lamps on. The band will return to its original position.
This symbol appears on
the instrument panel
cluster when the fog
lamps are on.
To turn the fog lamps off, turn the band up to the fog
lamp symbol and release it. The band will return
to its original position. If the high-beam headlamps are
on, the fog lamps will turn off. The fog lamps will go
on again when the low-beam headlamps are turned
back on.
The parking lamps must be on for the fog lamps
to work.
Some localities have laws that require the headlamps
to be on along with the fog lamps.
3-18

Exterior Lighting Battery Saver
If the parking lamps or headlamps have been left on
after the ignition has been turned to off, the exterior
lamps will turn off after about 10 minutes. This protects
the battery from being drained.
Use the exterior lamp control to turn the lamps back on,
if they are still needed.
Interior Lamps
The interior lamps can be controlled, or automatically
turn on or off under certain conditions. They are
explained in the following text.
Instrument Panel Brightness
This feature controls the brightness of the instrument
panel lights.
The interior lamps
control is located on
the instrument panel,
to the left of the
steering column.
Turn the control to adjust the brightness of the
instrument panel lights.
Courtesy Lamps
When a door is opened, the courtesy lamps will
automatically come on. These lamps will also come on
when the interior lamps control is fully turned clockwise.
3-19

Electric Power Management
The vehicle has Electric Power Management (EPM) that
estimates the battery’s temperature and state of charge.
It then adjusts the voltage for best performance and
extended life of the battery.
When the battery’s state of charge is low, the voltage is
raised slightly to quickly put the charge back in. When the
state of charge is high, the voltage is lowered slightly to
prevent overcharging. If the vehicle has a voltmeter gage
or voltage display on the Driver Information Center (DIC),
you may see the voltage move up or down. This is
normal. If there is a problem, an alert will be displayed.
The battery can be discharged at idle if the electrical
loads are very high. This is true for all vehicles.
This is because the generator (alternator) may not be
spinning fast enough at idle to produce all the power
that is needed for very high electrical loads.
A high electrical load occurs when several of the
following loads are on: headlamps, high beams, fog
lamps, rear window defogger, climate control fan at
high speed, heated seats, engine cooling fans, trailer
loads, and loads plugged into accessory power outlets.
EPM works to prevent excessive discharge of the
battery. It does this by balancing the generator’s output
and the vehicle’s electrical needs. It can increase
engine idle speed to generate more power, whenever
needed. It can temporarily reduce the power demands
of some accessories.Normally, these actions occur in steps or levels, without
being noticeable. In rare cases at the highest levels
of corrective action, this action may be noticeable to
the driver. If so, a Driver Information Center (DIC)
message might be displayed, such as Battery Saver
Active. If this message is displayed, it is recommended
that the driver reduce the electrical loads as much
as possible. SeeDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 3-67.
Battery Run-Down Protection
The vehicle has a feature to help prevent the battery
from draining in case the interior, trunk, or underhood
lamps are accidentally left on. If any of these lamps are
left on while the ignition is in LOCK/OFF, they will
automatically turn off after 10 minutes. The lamps will not
come back on again until any of the following are done:
The ignition is turned to ON/RUN or
ACC/ACCESSORY.
The interior lamps control is turned completely to
the right, then back slightly to the left.
Open, or close and reopen, a door that is closed.
If the vehicle has less than 15 miles (25 km) on the
odometer, the battery saver will turn off the lamps
after only three minutes.
3-22

Highbeam On Light
This light comes on when
the high-beam headlamps
are in use.
SeeHeadlamp High/Low-Beam Changer on page 3-9
for more information.
Fuel Gage
The fuel gage shows
about how much fuel is
left in the fuel tank
when the ignition is on.
When the indicator nears empty, there is still a little fuel
left, but you should get more soon.
Here are four things owners usually ask about the fuel
gage. All these situations are normal and do not
indicate a problem with the fuel gage:
At the gas station the pump shuts off before the
gage reads full.
It takes more or less fuel to ll up than the gage
indicates. For example, the gage reads half full,
but it took more or less than half the tank’s capacity
to ll it.
The gage pointer may move while cornering,
braking or speeding up.
The gage may not indicate full when the ignition is
turned off.
3-54

5. Press the set/reset button to scroll through the
months of the year, releasing the button when
the correct month appears.
6. Press the options button to advance to the days
of the month.
7. Press the set/reset button to scroll through the
days of the month, releasing the button when
the correct day appears.
8. Press the options button again to advance to the
main date screen. The screen will now display
the new date.
9. Press the options button to advance to the
next screen.
Language:This menu allows selection of the language
in which the DIC messages will appear. The DIC can
be programmed in one of three languages: English,
French, or Spanish. The message on the HUD, if
equipped, will also appear in the language selected.
SeeHead-Up Display (HUD) on page 3-23.
To change the language:
1. Press the options button to enter the language
screen.
2. Press the set/reset button to scroll through and
set the language choice.
3. Press the options button again to advance to
the next screen.DISPLAY UNITS:This menu allows selection of
measurements to be displayed in English or metric
units. The messages on the HUD, if equipped, and the
instrument panel cluster will also appear in the type
of measurement selected.
To set the display units function:
1. Press the set/reset button to select ENGLISH
or METRIC.
2. Press the options button to advance to the next
screen.
DAYTIME DISPLAY ENHANCEMENT:This menu
allows selection of the color of the display message.
When ON is selected for the daytime enhancement,
the messages will appear black on a red screen. This
combination makes it easier to see the DIC messages
during the daytime. When OFF is selected, or when
the headlamps are on, the messages will appear red
on a black background.
To set the daytime display enhancement function:
1. Press the set/reset button to select OFF or ON.
2. Press the options button to advance to the
next screen.
3-59

5. Press the set/reset button to scroll through the
months of the year, releasing the button when
the correct month appears.
6. Press the options button to advance to the days of
the month.
7. Press the set/reset button to scroll through the days
of the month, releasing the button when the correct
day appears.
8. Press the options button again to advance to the
main date screen. The screen will now display the
new date.
Language:This menu allows the selection of the
language in which the DIC messages will appear. The
DIC can be programmed to one of three languages:
English, French, or Spanish. The message on the HUD,
if equipped, will also appear in the language selected.
SeeHead-Up Display (HUD) on page 3-23.
To change the language:
1. Press the options button to enter the language
screen.
2. Press the set/reset button to scroll through and set
the language choice.
3. Press the options button again to advance to the
next screen.DISPLAY UNITS:This menu allows selection of
measurements to be displayed in English or metric units.
The messages on the HUD, if equipped, and the
instrument panel cluster will also appear with the type of
measurement selected.
To set the measurement when Display Units is shown:
1. Press the set/reset button to select ENGLISH
or METRIC.
2. Press the options button again to advance to the
next screen.
DAYTIME DISPLAY ENHANCEMENT:This menu
allows selection of the color of the display message.
When ON is selected for the daytime enhancement,
the messages will appear black on a red screen. This
combination makes it easier to see the DIC messages
during the daytime. When OFF is selected, or when
the headlamps are on, the messages will appear red on
a black background.
To set the daytime display enhancement:
1. Press the set/reset button to select OFF or ON.
2. Press the options button again to advance to
the next screen.
3-64