light PONTIAC GRAND PRIX 2000 Owner's Manual
Page 98 of 376
2-30
NOTICE:
If your key seems stuck in LOCK and you can't
turn it, be sure you are using the correct key; if
so, is it all the way in? If it is, then turn the
steering wheel left and right while you turn the
key hard. But turn the key only with your hand.
Using a tool to force it could break the key or the
ignition switch. If none of this works, then your
vehicle needs service.
OFF (C): This position lets you turn off the engine but
still turn the steering wheel. It doesn't lock the steering
wheel like LOCK. Use OFF if you must have the
vehicle pushed or towed.
RUN (D): This position is where the key returns after
you start the vehicle. With the engine off, you can
use RUN to display some of the warning and
indicator lights.
START (E): This position starts the engine.
A warning chime will sound if you open the driver's
door when the ignition is in OFF, LOCK or
ACCESSORY and the key is in the ignition.
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
With retained accessory power, the power windows,
audio system and sunroof will continue to work up to
10 minutes after the ignition key is turned to OFF and
none of the doors are opened.
Starting Your Engine
Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
Your engine won't start in any other position
-- that's a
safety feature. To restart when you're already moving,
use NEUTRAL (N) only.
NOTICE:
Don't try to shift to PARK (P) if your vehicle is
moving. If you do, you could damage the
transaxle. Shift to PARK (P) only when your
vehicle is stopped.
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2-48
If a bulb is burned out, replace it to help avoid an
accident. If the arrows don't go on at all when you
signal a turn, check for burned
-out bulbs and then check
the fuse (see ªFuses and Circuit Breakersº in the Index).
A chime will sound if you leave the turn signal on for
more than 3/4 mile (1.2 km).
Headlamp High/Low Beam Changer
To change the headlamps
from low beam to high
beam, or high to low, pull
the multifunction lever
all the way toward you.
Then release it.
When the high beams are on, a light on the instrument
panel cluster also will be on. Please note that while you
are in high
-beam mode, your fog lamps will not
be illuminated.
Flash-to-Pass Feature
When the headlamps are off, pull the lever toward you
to momentarily switch on the high beams (to signal that
you are going to pass). When you release the lever, they
will turn off and stay off.
Windshield Wipers
You control the windshield wipers by turning the band
marked WIPER on the turn signal/multifunction lever.
For a single wiping cycle, turn the band to MIST. Hold
it there until the wipers start, then let go. The wipers will
stop after one cycle. If you want more cycles, hold the
band on MIST longer.
For steady wiping at low speed, turn the band to LOW.
For high
-speed wiping, turn the band further, to HIGH.
To stop the wipers, turn the band to OFF.
You can set the wiper speed for a long or short delay
between wipes. This can be very useful in light rain or
snow. Turn the band to choose the delay time. The
closer to LOW, the shorter the delay.
Be sure to clear ice and snow from the wiper blades
before using them. If they're frozen to the windshield,
carefully loosen or thaw them. If the blades do become
damaged, get new blades or blade inserts.
Heavy snow or ice can overload the wipers. A circuit
breaker will stop them until the motor cools. Clear away
snow or ice to prevent an overload.
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2-51
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.
Push in the SET button, then release the button
and the accelerator pedal. You'll now cruise at the
higher speed.
Move the cruise switch from ON to R/A. Hold it
there until you get up to the speed you want, and
then release the switch. To increase your speed in
very small amounts, move the switch to R/A briefly
and then release it. Each time you do this, your
vehicle will go 1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster.
The accelerate feature will only work after you set the
cruise control speed by pushing the SET button.
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 briefly. 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.
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2-52
Exterior LampsThe 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
: 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.
A warning chime will sound if you open the driver's
door when you turn the ignition switch to LOCK or
ACC with the lamps on.
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2-53 Daytime Running Lamps / Automatic
Headlamp Control
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,
the transaxle is not in PARK (P) and
the parking brake is released.When the DRL are on, only your low
-beam headlamps,
at a reduced brightness, will be on. The taillamps,
sidemarker and other lamps won't be on. Your
instrument panel won't be lit up either.
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 shift out
of PARK (P) and release the parking brake.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
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2-54 Fog Lamps
The fog lamp switch is located in the upper 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
lamp 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 side of
the switch to turn the fog lamps off.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 thumbwheel.
Turn the thumbwheel to the right to increase the
brightness of the instrument panel lights and to the left
to decrease the brightness. Turn the thumbwheel
completely to the left to turn them off.
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2-55 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
thumbwheel completely to the right.
Illuminated Entry
The illuminated entry feature will light the interior of
the vehicle 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 (if equipped).
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.
Delayed Illumination
The delayed illumination feature will continue to light
the interior of the vehicle 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.
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2-56 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 Choicesºin the Index.
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.
Overhead Console Reading Lamps
These lamps are part of the overhead 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.
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2-57 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 thumbwheel 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.
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
located in the center of the bottom of the mirror toward
you to the night position. To return the mirror back to
the day position, push the lever away from you.
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2-62 Trunk Access Panel (If Equipped)
If the vehicle has rear seat armrests, you will also have a
trunk access panel. To use the trunk access panel, pull
the rear armrest down, unlock the access panel and pull
it down.
Convenience Net (If Equipped)
The vehicle may have a convenience net. You'll see it
on the back wall of the trunk.
Put small loads, like grocery bags, in the net. It can help
keep them from falling over during sharp turns or quick
starts and stops.
The net isn't for larger, heavier loads. Store them in the
trunk as far forward as you can.
You can unhook the net so that it will lie flat when
you're not using it.
Ashtray and Cigarette Lighter
The center front ashtray is on the instrument panel.
To open it, pull at the bottom of the ashtray until it is
fully open. To remove the ashtray cup, lift the tabs on
the sides and pull out.