warning PONTIAC GRAND PRIX 1999 User Guide

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2-80 Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
You have a gage that shows
the engine coolant
temperature. If the gage
pointer moves into the red
area, the engine is too hot!
That reading means the same thing as the warning light.
It means that the engine coolant has overheated. If you
have been operating the vehicle under normal driving
conditions, you should pull off the road, stop the vehicle
and turn off the engine as soon as possible.
In ªProblems on the Road,º this manual shows what to
do. See ªEngine Overheatingº in the Index.
Low Coolant Warning Light
If this light comes on, the
system is low on coolant
and the engine may
overheat.
See ªEngine Coolantº in the Index and have the vehicle
serviced as soon as you can.
Fuel Gage
The fuel gage tells you
about how much fuel you
have left when the ignition
is on. When the indicator
nears E (EMPTY), you still
have a little fuel left, but
you should get more soon.

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Here are four things that some owners ask about. All
these things are normal and do not indicate that anything
is wrong with the fuel gage:

At the gas station, the pump shuts off before the gage
reads F (FULL).

It takes a more (or less) fuel to fill up than the gage
reads. For example, the gage reads half full, but it
took a more (or less) than half the tank's capacity to
fill it.

The gage pointer may move while cornering, braking
or speeding up.

The gage may not indicate E (EMPTY) when the
ignition is turned off.Low Fuel Light
If your fuel is low, the
warning light near the fuel
gage will go on.
It will also come on for a few seconds when you first
turn on the ignition as a check to show you it's working.
If it doesn't come on then, see your dealer.

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Head-Up Display (Option)
CAUTION:
If the HUD image is too bright, or too high in
your field of view, it may take you more time to
see things you need to see when it's dark outside.
Be sure to keep the HUD image dim and placed
low in your field of view.
If you have the Head-Up
Display (HUD), you can see
the speedometer reading (in
English or metric units) and
a brief display of the current
radio station or CD track,
displayed ªthroughº
the windshield.The HUD also shows these lights when they are lit on
the instrument panel:

Turn Signal Indicators

High
-Beam Indicator Symbol

Low Fuel Symbol
The HUD will display ªCHECK GAGEº when the
following items are lit on the instrument panel:

Oil Warning Symbol

Coolant Temperature Symbol

Charging System Symbol
When you sit straight in your seat, the HUD image will
appear straight ahead near the front bumper.

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2-87 Functions
: If one of the doors is ajar, a light will appear
next to that door on the vehicle outline.
CHANGE OIL SOON: This light will appear when the
system predicts that the oil's remaining useful life is
almost up. The system predicts remaining oil life using
inputs from length of drives, coolant temperature,
engine rpm and vehicle speed. It alerts you to change
the oil on a schedule consistent with the vehicle's
driving conditions.
After changing the oil, the system must be reset. With
the ignition key in ON but the engine off, fully push and
release the accelerator pedal slowly three times within
five seconds. If the CHANGE OIL SOON light flashes,
the system is resetting. Turn the ignition key to OFF,
then start the vehicle. If the CHANGE OIL SOON light
comes back on, the Oil Life Monitor has not reset.
Repeat the procedure.LOW: This light will come on when the ignition is
on and the fluid container is low.
AJAR: This light alerts you that the trunk is not
fully closed.
LOW TRAC: This light will come on when the
Traction Control System is limiting wheel spin. See
ªTrac Systemº or ªLow Traction Lightº in the Index.
TRAC OFF: This light lets you know that the Traction
Control System has been disabled and will not limit
wheel spin. See ªEnhanced Traction System Warning
Lightº or ªLow Traction Lightº in the Index.
TRAC switch: If the vehicle has the Traction Control
System, you will have a disable switch on the far right
side of the Driver Information Center. The Traction
Control System is automatically activated when you turn
the ignition on. This switch will activate/deactivate the
Traction Control System. If you need to disable the
system, such as when you are stuck and are rocking the
vehicle back and forth, push this switch. See ªStuck: In
Sand, Mud, Ice or Snowº in the Index.

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DOOR AJAR: If one of the doors is left ajar, a light
will appear next to that door on the vehicle outline.
BOOST GAGE: If you have the 3800 supercharged
engine, this gage will show the amount of boost the
engine is receiving.
TRUNK AJAR: If the trunk is not fully closed or open,
a light will outline the trunk area on the vehicle outline.
LOW TRAC: This light will come on when the
Traction Control System is limiting wheel spin. See
ªTraction Control Systemº or ªLow Traction Lightº in
the Index.TRAC/TCS OFF: This light lets you know that the
Traction Control System has been disabled and will not
limit wheel spin. See ªTraction Control System Warning
Lightº or ªLow Traction Lightº in the Index.
TRAC/TCS SWITCH: If the vehicle has the Traction
Control System, you will have a disable switch on the
far right side of the Trip Computer. The Traction
Control System is automatically activated when you turn
the ignition on. This switch will activate/deactivate the
Traction Control System. If you need to disable the
system, such as when you are stuck and are rocking the
vehicle back and forth, push this switch. See ªStuck: In
Sand, Mud, Ice or Snowº in the Index.

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Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive in
spurts
-- heavy acceleration followed by heavy
braking
-- rather than keeping pace with traffic.
This is a mistake. Your brakes may not have time to
cool between hard stops. Your brakes will wear out
much faster if you do a lot of heavy braking. If you
keep pace with the traffic and allow realistic following
distances, you will eliminate a lot of unnecessary
braking. That means better braking and longer
brake life.
If your engine ever stops while you're driving, brake
normally but don't pump your brakes. If you do, the
pedal may get harder to push down. If your engine
stops, you will still have some power brake assist. But
you will use it when you brake. Once the power assist is
used up, it may take longer to stop and the brake pedal
will be harder to push.
Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS)
Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes (ABS). ABS is an
advanced electronic braking system that will help
prevent a braking skid.
When you start your engine, or when you begin to drive
away, your anti
-lock brake system will check itself. You
may hear a momentary motor or clicking noise while
this test is going on, and you may even notice that your
brake pedal moves or pulses a little. This is normal.
If there's a problem with the
anti
-lock brake system, this
warning light will stay on.
See ªAnti
-Lock Brake
System Warning Lightº in
the Index.

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Remember: Anti-lock doesn't change the time you need
to get your foot up to the brake pedal or always decrease
stopping distance. If you get too close to the vehicle in
front of you, you won't have time to apply your brakes
if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops. Always leave
enough room up ahead to stop, even though you have
anti
-lock brakes.
Using Anti
-Lock
Don't pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal down
firmly and let anti
-lock work for you. You may feel a
slight brake pedal pulsation or notice some noise, but
this is normal.
Traction Control System (With 3800
Supercharged V6 Engine)
Your vehicle has a traction control system that limits
wheel spin. This is especially useful in slippery road
conditions. The system operates only if it senses that
one or both of the front wheels are spinning or
beginning to lose traction. When this happens, the
system works the front brakes and reduces engine
power to limit wheel spin.
This light will come on
when your traction control
system is limiting wheel
spin. See ªTraction Control
System Warning Lightº in
the Index.
You may feel or hear the system working, but this
is normal.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the traction
control system begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise
control will automatically disengage. When road
conditions allow you to safely use it again, you may
reengage the cruise control. (See ªCruise Controlº
in the Index.)
This light should come on
briefly when you start the
engine. If it stays on or
comes on while you are
driving, there's a problem
with your traction
control system.

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See ªTraction Control System Warning Lightº in the
Index. When this warning light is on, the system will not
limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.
The traction control system automatically comes on
whenever you start your vehicle. To limit wheel spin,
especially in slippery road conditions, you should
always leave the system on. But you can turn the
traction control system off if you ever need to.
(You should turn the system off if your vehicle ever
gets stuck in sand, mud, ice or snow. See ªRocking
Your Vehicleº in the Index.)
To turn the system off,
press the TCS button on
the far right end of the
trip computer.
The traction control system warning light will come on
and stay on. If the system is limiting wheel spin when
you press the button, the warning light will come on and
the system will turn off instantly.You can turn the system back on at any time by pressing
the button again. The traction control system warning
light should go off.
Enhanced Traction System (3100 V6 or
3800 V6 Engine)
Your vehicle may have an Enhanced Traction System
(ETS) that limits wheel spin. This is especially useful in
slippery road conditions. The system operates only if it
senses that one or both of the front wheels are spinning
or beginning to lose traction. When this happens, the
system reduces engine power and may also upshift the
transaxle to limit wheel spin.
This light will come on
when your Enhanced
Traction System is limiting
wheel spin. See ªEnhanced
Traction System Warning
Lightº in the Index.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the enhanced
traction system begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise
control will automatically disengage. When road
conditions allow you to safely use it again, you may
reengage the cruise control. (See ªCruise Controlº
in the Index.)

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The Enhanced Traction System operates in all transaxle
shift lever positions. But the system can upshift the
transaxle only as high as the shift lever position you've
chosen, so you should use the lower gears only when
necessary. See ªAutomatic Transaxleº in the Index.
This TRAC OFF warning
light will come on to let you
know if there's a problem.
See ªEnhanced Traction System Warning Lightº in the
Index. When this warning light is on, the system will not
limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.
To limit wheel spin, especially in slippery road
conditions, you should always leave the Enhanced
Traction System on. But you can turn the system off if
you ever need to. (You should turn the system off if your
vehicle ever gets stuck in sand, mud, ice or snow. See
ªRocking Your Vehicleº in the Index.)
To turn the system on or off,
press the TRAC button on
the far right end of the
Driver Information Center
or the optional
trip computer.
When you turn the system off, the Enhanced Traction
System warning light will come on and stay on. If the
Enhanced Traction System is limiting wheel spin when
you press the button to turn the system off, the
warning light will come on and the system will turn
off right away.
You can turn the system back on at any time by pressing
the button again. The Enhanced Traction System
warning light should go off.
Braking in Emergencies
With anti-lock, you can steer and brake at the same
time. In many emergencies, steering can help you more
than even the very best braking.

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Loss of Control
Let's review what driving experts say about what
happens when the three control systems (brakes, steering
and acceleration) don't have enough friction where the
tires meet the road to do what the driver has asked.
In any emergency, don't give up. Keep trying to
steer and constantly seek an escape route or area of
less danger.
Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking reasonable
care suited to existing conditions, and by not
ªoverdrivingº those conditions. But skids are
always possible.
The three types of skids correspond to your vehicle's
three control systems. In the braking skid, your wheels
aren't rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, too
much speed or steering in a curve causes tires to slip and
lose cornering force. And in the acceleration skid, too
much throttle causes the driving wheels to spin.
A cornering skid is best handled by easing your foot off
the accelerator pedal.
If you have the Enhanced Traction System, remember:
It helps avoid only the acceleration skid.If you do not have the Enhanced Traction System, or if
the system is off, then an acceleration skid is also best
handled by easing your foot off the accelerator pedal.
If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want the
vehicle to go. If you start steering quickly enough, your
vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready for a
second skid if it occurs.
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice,
gravel or other material is on the road. For safety, you'll
want to slow down and adjust your driving to these
conditions. It is important to slow down on slippery
surfaces because stopping distance will be longer and
vehicle control more limited.
While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try
your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration or
braking (including engine braking by shifting to a lower
gear). Any sudden changes could cause the tires to
slide. You may not realize the surface is slippery until
your vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warning
clues
-- such as enough water, ice or packed snow on
the road to make a ªmirrored surfaceº
-- and slow
down when you have any doubt.
Remember: Any anti
-lock brake system (ABS) helps
avoid only the braking skid.