2008 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX engine

Temperature
The knob on the right of the climate control panel is the
temperature adjustment that can be used with any of
the climate control modes.
Turn the knob clockwise for warmer settings and
counterclockwise for colder settings.
Air Conditioning
#
(Air Conditioner):Press this button to turn the
air conditioning compressor on or off. An indicator light
to the right of the button will come on. This button
has no control over the air conditioning compressor
when in Floor/Defog and Defrost modes. The instrument
panel brightness control may have to be adjusted to
the highest setting in order to see the indicator.
SeeInstrument Panel Brightness on page 3-19for
additional information.
On hot days during the vehicle’s initial start-up, open
the windows to let hot inside air escape; then close
them. This helps to reduce the time it takes for
the vehicle to cool down. It also helps the system to
operate more efficiently.For quicker cool down on hot days, do the following:
1. Select any mode setting between vent and the
setting before defrost.
2. Select the air conditioner.
3. Select the coolest temperature.
4. Select the highest climate control fan speed.
Using these settings will set recirculation for quicker
cool down (the light indicator will not turn on). If outside
air is desired, press the recirculation button twice.
Using these settings together for long periods of time
may cause the air inside the vehicle to become too dry.
To prevent this from happening, after ve minutes
the recirculation door will open slightly to allow some
outside air into the vehicle.
The air conditioning system removes moisture from the
air, so sometimes there may be a small amount of
water dripping underneath the vehicle while it is idling
or after the engine is turned off. This is normal.
3-30

Recirculation
h
(Recirculation):Press this button to activate the
recirculation mode. With this selection, inside air is
recirculated into the vehicle. This mode reduces outside
air and odors from entering the vehicle. It may also help
to heat or cool the air inside the vehicle more quickly.
An indicator light to the right of the button will come on
to show that the recirculation button has been pressed.
The instrument panel brightness control may have to be
adjusted to the highest setting to see the indicator.
The recirculation mode has a timer. After ve minutes,
the system’s air inlet door will move slightly to allow
for ten percent fresh outside air to maintain interior
air quality. The only way to reset the system to full
recirculation is to restart the ve minute timer by
selecting vent/outside air and recirculation again.
Rear Window Defogger
The rear window defogger uses a warming grid to
remove fog or frost from the rear window. Be sure to
clear as much snow from the rear window as possible.Notice:Do not use a razor blade or sharp object
to clear the inside rear window. Do not adhere
anything to the defogger grid lines in the rear glass.
These actions may damage the rear defogger.
Repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
=(Rear Window Defogger):Press this button to
turn the rear window defogger on or off.
An indicator light to the right of the button will come
on to show that the rear window defogger is on.
The instrument panel brightness control may have
to be adjusted to the highest setting during the daytime
in order to see the indicator light.
The rear window defogger will turn off about 20 minutes
after the button is pressed. If the button is pressed
again, it will run another 20 minutes. The defogger
can be turned off by pressing the button again or by
turning off the engine.
Do not drive the vehicle until all windows are clear.
z(Heated Seats):Press this button to turn the heated
seats on and off. The button on the left controls the
driver’s seat and the button on the right controls
the passenger’s seat. SeeHeated Seats on page 1-4
for additional information.
3-31

-(Floor/Defog):This mode directs the air between
the windshield, oor outlets and side windows.
When you select this mode, the system turns off
recirculation and runs the air-conditioning compressor
unless the outside temperature is near or below
freezing. Pressing the recirculation button, while in this
mode, will have no effect other than turning on the
indicator light.
1(Defrost):This mode directs most of the air to the
windshield, with some air directed to the side windows.
In this mode, the system will automatically turn off
the recirculation and run the air conditioning compressor,
unless the outside temperature is near or below
freezing. Pressing the recirculation button, while in this
mode, will have no affect other than turning on the
indicator light.
Rear Window Defogger
The rear window defogger uses a warming grid to
remove fog or frost from the rear window.
The rear window defogger will only work when the
engine is running.
=(Rear Window Defogger):Press this button to
turn the rear window defogger on and off. Be sure
to clear as much snow from the rear window as possible.
The rear window defogger will turn off about 20 minutes
after the button is pressed. If turned on again, the
defogger will only run for about 20 minutes before
turning off. The defogger can also be turned off
by pressing the button again or by turning off the engine.
Do not drive the vehicle until all the windows are clear.
Notice:Do not use anything sharp on the inside
of the rear window. If you do, you could cut or
damage the warming grid, and the repairs would
not be covered by your warranty. Do not attach
a temporary vehicle license, tape, a decal or
anything similar to the defogger grid.
3-35

Outlet Adjustment
Turn the air outlets, located in the middle and at each
outboard side of the instrument panel, to adjust the
direction of the airow.
Operation Tips

Clear away any ice, snow, or leaves from the air
inlets at the base of the windshield that may
block the ow of air into the vehicle.
Use of non-GM approved hood deectors may
adversely affect the performance of the system.
Keep the path under the front seats clear of objects
to help circulate the air inside of the vehicle more
effectively.
If the airow seems low when the fan is at the
highest setting, the passenger compartment air
lter may need to be replaced. See “Passenger
Compartment Air Filter” following, for more
information.
Passenger Compartment Air Filter
The passenger compartment air lter is located near the
passenger’s side windshield wiper arm, under the
inlet grille.
The lter traps most of the pollen from entering the
climate control system. Similar to the engine’s air lter,
it may need to be changed periodically to insure
system performance. SeeScheduled Maintenance on
page 6-4for more information.
To change the passenger compartment air lter,
1. Turn the ignition to ACC/ACCESSORY and the
windshield wipers on.
2. Turn the ignition to LOCK/OFF when the windshield
wipers are in the upright position.
3. Raise the hood.
4. Disconnect the windshield washer pump hose from
the fender rail and the air inlet grille.
5. Remove the hood weather-strip from the
passenger’s side of the vehicle, peeling it back
halfway.
3-36

Warning Lights, Gages,
and Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages on
your vehicle. The pictures help to 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 the 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 the
details show on the next few pages, some warning lights
come on briey when you start the engine just to let
you know they are 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 is a problem with your vehicle.
When one of the warning lights comes on and stays on
as 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 vehicle’s
warning lights and gages. They can be a big help.
Your vehicle may also have a Driver Information
Center (DIC) that works along with the warning lights
and gages. SeeDriver Information Center (DIC)
on page 3-55for more information.
3-38

Speedometer and Odometer
The speedometer shows the vehicle’s speed in both
miles per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour (km/h).
The odometer, located on the Driver Information Center
(DIC) display, shows how far the vehicle has been
driven, in either miles or kilometers. SeeDIC Operation
and Displays (Uplevel DIC with Trip Computer) on
page 3-55orDIC Operation and Displays (Base Level
DIC) on page 3-62for more information.
If the vehicle has the Head-Up Display (HUD) the speed
will also be displayed on the HUD screen.
If a vehicle has to have a new odometer installed, a
new one can be set to the mileage total of the old
odometer, if that can be done. If it cannot, than it will be
set at zero and a label must be put on the driver’s
door to show the old mileage reading when the new
odometer was installed.
Tachometer
The tachometer
displays the engine
speed in revolutions
per minute (rpm).
Notice:If you operate the engine with the
tachometer in the shaded warning area, your vehicle
could be damaged, and the damages would not
be covered by your warranty. Do not operate
the engine with the tachometer in the shaded
warning area.
3-40

Safety Belt Reminders
Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the engine is started, a chime will come on for
several seconds to remind people to fasten their safety
belts, unless the driver’s safety belt is already buckled.
The safety belt light will
also come on and stay
on for several seconds,
then it will ash for
several more.
This chime and light is repeated if the driver remains
unbuckled and the vehicle is in motion. If the driver’s belt
is already buckled, neither the chime nor the light will
come on.
Passenger Safety Belt Reminder Light
Several seconds after the engine is started, a chime
will sound for several seconds to remind the front
passenger to buckle their safety belt. This would only
occur if the passenger airbag is enabled. SeePassenger
Sensing System on page 1-60for more information.
The passenger safety belt light, located on the
instrument panel, will come on and stay on for several
seconds and then ash for several more.
This chime and light are
repeated if the passenger
remains unbuckled and
the vehicle is in motion.
If the passenger’s safety belt is buckled, neither the
chime nor the light will come on.
3-41

Airbag Readiness Light
There is an airbag readiness light on the instrument
panel cluster, which shows the airbag symbol. The
system checks the airbag’s electrical system for
malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical
problem. The system check includes the airbag
sensor, the pretensioners, the airbag modules, the
wiring and the crash sensing and diagnostic module.
For more information on the airbag system, seeAirbag
System on page 1-52.
This light will come on
when you start your
vehicle, and it will ash
for a few seconds.
The light should go out
and the system is ready.
If the airbag readiness light stays on after you start
the vehicle or comes on when you are driving,
your airbag system may not work properly.
Have your vehicle serviced right away.{CAUTION:
If the airbag readiness light stays on after you
start your vehicle, it means the airbag system
may not be working properly. The airbags in
your vehicle may not inate in a crash, or they
could even inate without a crash. To help
avoid injury to yourself or others, have your
vehicle serviced right away if the airbag
readiness light stays on after you start your
vehicle.
The airbag readiness light should ash for a few
seconds when you start the engine. If the light does not
come on then, have it xed immediately. If there is a
problem with the airbag system, an airbag Driver
Information Center (DIC) message may also come on.
SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-67for
more information.
3-42