PONTIAC GRAND PRIX 1999 Owners Manual

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Reducing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to reduce your speed while using
cruise control:

Push in the SET button until you reach the lower
speed you want, then release it.

To slow down in very small amounts, push the
SET button for less than half a second. Each time
you do this, you'll go 1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While Using Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed. When
you take your foot off the pedal, the vehicle will slow
down to the cruise control speed you set earlier.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well the cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load and the steepness of the hills.
When going up steep hills, you may have to step on the
accelerator pedal to maintain your speed. When going
downhill, you may have to brake or shift to a lower gear
to keep your speed down. Of course, applying the brake
takes you out of cruise control. Many drivers find this to
be too much trouble and don't use cruise control on
steep hills.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 Cruise 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 lamp controls are located on the lower left side of
the instrument panel, to the left of the steering wheel.
They control these systems:

Headlamps

Taillamps

Parking Lamps

License Lamps

Sidemarker Lamps

Instrument Panel Lights

Courtesy Lamps

Fog Lamps

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: Turn the knob to this symbol to turn on the
headlamps and other operating lamps.
: Turn the knob to this symbol to turn on the parking
and other operating lamps without the headlamps.
Turn the knob to OFF to turn off the lamps.
Daytime Running Lamps
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.
A light sensor on top of the instrument panel makes the
DRL work, so be sure it isn't covered.
The DRL system will make your low
-beam headlamps
come on at a reduced brightness when:

the ignition is on,

the headlamp switch is off and

the parking brake is released.
When the DRL are on, only your low
-beam headlamps
will be on. The taillamps, sidemarker and other lamps
won't be on. Your instrument panel won't be lit up either.

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When it's dark enough outside, your headlamps will
change to full brightness. The other lamps that come on
with your headlamps will also come on.
When it's bright enough outside, the regular lamps will
go out, and your low
-beam headlamps change to the
reduced brightness of DRL.
To idle your vehicle with the DRL off, set the parking
brake while the ignition is in OFF or LOCK. Then start
your vehicle. The DRL will stay off until you release the
parking brake.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
Fog Lamps
The fog lamps switch is located in the upper hand corner
of the instrument panel, to the left of the instrument
panel cluster.
To turn the fog lamps on, press the right side of the fog
lamps switch. A light will glow on the switch to let you
know that they are on. (The parking lamps must be on,
or the fog lamps won't come on.) Press the left
-hand
side of the switch to turn the fog lamps off.

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The fog lamps will go off whenever you change to
high
-beam headlamps. When you return to low beams,
the fog lamps will come on again.
Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Intensity Control
You can brighten or dim the
instrument panel lights by
turning the interior
lamps dial.
Turn the dial clockwise to increase the brightness of the
instrument panel lights and counterclockwise to
decrease the brightness. Turn the control completely
counterclockwise to turn them off.
Courtesy Lamps
When any door is opened, several lamps come on. These
lamps are courtesy lamps. They make it easy for you to
enter and leave the vehicle at night. You can also turn
these lamps on by turning the interior lamps dial
completely clockwise.
Illuminated Entry
The Illuminated Entry feature will illuminate the interior
so that you can see the inside of the vehicle before you
enter at night. The interior lamps will come on for
40 seconds when you unlock the doors using the remote
keyless entry transmitter (if equipped) and the ignition is
in LOCK or OFF. After 40 seconds have elapsed, the
interior lamps will slowly fade out. The lamps will fade
out before 40 seconds have elapsed if you:

Lock all doors using the remote keyless
entry transmitter.

Lock the doors using the power door lock switch.
When any door is opened, illuminated entry is canceled.
The interior lamps will stay on while any door is opened
and slowly fade out when all doors are closed. The
interior lamps may stay on for up to 25 seconds after all
doors have been closed if they have not been locked.
See ªDelayed Illuminationº later in this section.

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2-55 Delayed Illumination
The Delayed Illumination feature will continue to
illuminate the interior for 25 seconds after all the doors
have been closed so that you can find the ignition and
buckle the seat belt at night. Delayed Illumination will
not occur while the ignition is in RUN or ACCESSORY.
After 25 seconds have elapsed, the interior lamps will
slowly fade out. The lamps will fade out before the
25 seconds have elapsed if you:

Turn the ignition to RUN or ACCESSORY.

Lock all doors using the remote keyless entry
transmitter (if equipped).

Lock the doors using the power door lock switch.
To turn Delayed Illumination feature off or on,
see ªLocks and Lighting Choicesº in the Index.
Exit Lighting
For exiting the vehicle at night, the vehicle is equipped
with the Exit Lighting feature. The interior lamps will
illuminate for up to 25 seconds when you remove the
key from the ignition. After 25 seconds have elapsed,
the interior lamps will slowly fade out. The lamps will
fade out before the 25 seconds have elapsed if you:

Insert the key and turn the ignition to RUN or
ACCESSORY.

Lock all doors using the remote keyless entry
transmitter (if equipped).

Lock the doors using the power door lock switch.
When any door is opened, Exit Lighting is canceled. The
interior lamps will stay on while any door is opened and
will slowly fade out when all the doors are closed. The
interior lamps may stay on for up to 25 seconds after all
the doors have been closed if they have not been locked.
See ªDelayed Illuminationº earlier in this section.
To turn the Exit Lighting feature off or on, see ªLocks
and Lighting Choicesº in the Index.

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2-56 Front Reading Lamps
If the vehicle has the optional sunroof, you will have
reading lamps in front of the sunroof switch. Press the
button behind each reading lamp to turn them on
and off.
Rear Assist Handle Reading Lamps
There is a reading lamp provided in each rear assist
handle. Use the button next to each lamp to turn it on
and off.
Roof Console Reading Lamps
These lamps are part of the roof console. They will go
on when you open the doors. When the doors are closed,
push the button next to each lamp to turn them on and
off. The console also contains an open storage bin.
Battery Saver
The vehicle has a feature to help prevent you from
draining the battery in case you accidentally leave the
interior, trunk or underhood lamps on. If you leave any
of these lamps on while the ignition is in LOCK or OFF,
they will automatically turn off after 10 minutes. The
lamps won't come back on again until you do one of
the following:

Turn the ignition to RUN or ACCESSORY.

Turn the interior lamp dial completely clockwise,
then back slightly counterclockwise.

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.

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Mirrors
Adjust all the mirrors so you can see clearly when you
are sitting in a comfortable driving position.
Inside Day/Night Rearview Mirror
To reduce glare from lamps behind you, pull the lever
toward you (to the night position). To return the mirror
back to the day position, push the lever away from you.
Electrochromic Day/Night Rearview Mirror
(If Equipped)
The vehicle may have an electrochromic day/night
rearview mirror. Push the button on the bottom of the
mirror to turn this feature on. The mirror will darken
gradually to reduce glare from headlamps behind you.
This may take a few moments.

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One photocell on the front of the mirror senses when it
is becoming dark outside. Another photocell, facing
rearward, senses headlamps behind you. To turn the
electrochromic feature off, press the button on the
bottom of the mirror again.
To keep the photocells operating well, occasionally
clean them with a cotton swab and glass cleaner.
Power Outside Mirrors
The power mirror control is
near the driver's window,
on the armrest. Turn the
control counterclockwise to
adjust the left mirror or
clockwise to adjust the right
mirror. Then move the
control in the direction you
want to move the mirror.
Convex Outside Mirror
Your passenger's side mirror is convex. A convex
mirror's surface is curved so you can see more from the
driver's seat.
CAUTION:
A convex mirror can make things (like other
vehicles) look farther away than they really are.
If you cut too sharply into the right lane, you
could hit a vehicle on your right. Check your
inside mirror or glance over your shoulder before
changing lanes.

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Storage Compartments
Glove Box
Use the master key to lock and unlock the glove box. To
open, lift the right side of the latch.
Overhead Console (Option)
The optional overhead console has reading lamps,
storage compartments (including one for your garage
door opener and one for sunglasses) and an accessory
power outlet. These features are explained on the
following pages.Reading Lamps
To turn either reading lamp on or off, press the switch
next to it.
Garage Door Opener
You can store your garage door opener in the rear
compartment of the overhead console, and operate it
from this position. To install your garage door opener,
follow these instructions:
1. Open the compartment by pressing the latch forward.
Remove the piece of self
-sticking Velcro
.
2. Peel the protective backing from the Velcro and
press it firmly to the back of your garage
door opener.
3. Be sure that the button on your garage door opener is
centered above the area with raised lines on the
compartment door. Make sure the button is facing
down and press the opener firmly into place.

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4. Once the opener is installed, remove the peg (B)
from the compartment. Install the peg onto the
feature (A) on the door that is aligned with your
garage door opener button.
5. Add one peg at a time until your garage door opener
operates with the compartment door closed when
you press the button.Sunglasses Storage Compartment
The sunglasses storage compartment is the second
compartment from the back on the overhead console. To
open the sunglasses storage compartment, press the
release latch forward and pull the compartment down to
the full open position.
Accessory Power Outlet
The accessory power outlet is located in front of the
reading lamps in a small, black door. Push up on the
bottom edge of this door to expose the accessory power
outlet and a small storage compartment.