key PONTIAC GRAND PRIX 2000 Owner's Guide

2-31
NOTICE:
If you cannot remove your ignition key from the
ignition and the gear shift is in PARK (P) (with
the shift lever button fully released), see ªShift
Lock Releaseº in the Index.
Starting Your 3100 V6 Engine
1. Without pushing the accelerator pedal, turn your
ignition key to START. When the engine starts, let
go of the key. The idle speed will go down as your
engine gets warm.
NOTICE:
Holding your key in START for longer than
15 seconds at a time will cause your battery to
be drained much sooner. And the excessive heat
can damage your starter motor. Wait about
15 seconds between each try to help avoid
draining your battery or damaging your starter.
2. If your engine won't start (or starts but then stops),
it could be flooded with too much gasoline. Try
pushing your accelerator pedal all the way to the
floor and holding it there as you hold the key in
START for up to 15 seconds. This clears the extra
gasoline from the engine.
NOTICE:
Your engine is designed to work with the
electronics in your vehicle. If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could change the way
the engine operates. Before adding electrical
equipment, check with your dealer. If you don't,
your engine might not perform properly.
If you ever have to have your vehicle towed, see
the part of this manual that tells how to do it
without damaging your vehicle. See ªTowing
Your Vehicleº in the Index.

2-32 Starting Your 3800 Series II V6 Engine
1. Without pushing the accelerator pedal, turn your
ignition key to START. When the engine starts, let
go of the key. The idle speed will go down as your
engine gets warm.
NOTICE:
Holding your key in START for longer than
15 seconds at a time will cause your battery to
be drained much sooner. And the excessive heat
can damage your starter motor. Wait about
15 seconds between each try to help avoid
draining your battery or damaging your starter.
2. If it doesn't start right away, hold your key in
START for about three to five seconds at a time until
your engine starts. Wait about 15 seconds between
each try to help avoid draining your battery or
damaging your starter.3. If your engine still won't start (or starts but then
stops), it could be flooded with too much gasoline.
Try pushing your accelerator pedal all the way to the
floor and holding it there as you hold the key in
START for about three seconds. If the vehicle starts
briefly but then stops again, do the same thing, but
this time keep the pedal down for five or six seconds.
This clears the extra gasoline from the engine.
After waiting about 15 seconds, repeat the normal
starting procedure.
NOTICE:
Your engine is designed to work with the
electronics in your vehicle. If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could change the way
the engine operates. Before adding electrical
equipment, check with your dealer. If you don't,
your engine might not perform properly.
If you ever have to have your vehicle towed, see
the part of this manual that tells how to do it
without damaging your vehicle. See ªTowing
Your Vehicleº in the Index.

2-38 Shift Lock Release
This vehicle is equipped with an electric shift lock
release system. The shift lock release is designed to:

Prevent ignition key removal unless the shift lever
is in PARK (P) (with the shift lever button
fully released).

Prevent movement of the shift lever out of PARK (P)
unless the ignition is in a position other than OFF or
LOCK. The shift lock release is always functional
except in the case of a dead or low voltage
(less than 9 V) battery.
If your vehicle has a dead battery or a battery with low
voltage, there is an override access slot that will allow
you to override the shift lock release.
The override access slot is located on the upper right
side of the console shift panel.

2-39
To use the slot:
1. Verify that the shift lever is in PARK (P) and that the
shift lever button is fully released.
2. Locate the override access slot on the upper right
side of the shift panel.
3. Remove the override access slot cap.
4. Insert a key or screwdriver into the access slot, press
in and hold.
5. Press the shift lever button in and hold.
6. Remove the key or screwdriver from the slot.
7. Pull the shift lever into the desired gear position.
8. Reinstall the override access slot cap.
Please note that you will not be able to remove the
key from the ignition unless the shift lever is in the
PARK (P) position (with the shift lever button
fully released).Parking Brake
To set the parking brake,
hold the regular brake pedal
down with the right foot.
Push down on the parking
brake pedal, located to the
left of the regular brake
pedal near the driver's door,
with the left foot.
To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down with the right foot and push the parking
brake pedal with the left foot. When you lift the left
foot, the parking brake pedal will follow it to the
released position.

2-41

Press in and hold the shift lever button, located
on the front of the shift lever.

Push the shift lever all the way toward the front
of the vehicle.
3. Turn the ignition key to LOCK.
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave the vehicle with the ignition key in your hand,
the vehicle is in PARK (P).
Leaving Your Vehicle With the
Engine Running
CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with the
engine running. Your vehicle could move
suddenly if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P)
with the parking brake firmly set. And, if you
leave the vehicle with the engine running, it could
overheat and even catch fire. You or others could
be injured. Don't leave your vehicle with the
engine running unless you have to.
If you have to leave the vehicle with the engine running,
be sure the vehicle is in PARK (P) and the parking brake
is firmly set before you leave it. After you've moved the
shift lever into PARK (P) position, hold the regular
brake pedal down. Then, see if you can move the shift
lever away from PARK (P) (without first pushing the
shift lever button). If you can, it means that the shift
lever wasn't fully locked into PARK (P).

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.

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.

2-59 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.
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 and
storage compartments (including one for your garage
door opener and one for sunglasses). These features are
explained on the following pages.

2-70
Warning Lights, Gages
and Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages that
may be on your vehicle. The pictures will help you
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
your 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 you
will see in the details on the next few pages, some
warning lights come on briefly when you start the
engine just to let you know they're 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's a problem with your vehicle.When one of the warning lights comes on and stays on
when 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 warning lights
and gages. They're a big help.
Your vehicle may also have a driver information system
that works along with the warning lights and gages. See
ªDriver Information Systemº in the Index.
Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to RUN, a chime will come
on for about eight 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 about 20 seconds,
then it will flash for about
55 seconds.
If the driver's belt is already buckled, neither the chime
nor the light will come on.

2-71 Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows the words SRS AIR BAG. The
system checks the air bag's electrical system for
malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical
problem. The system check includes the air bag sensors,
the air bag modules, the wiring and the crash sensing
and diagnostic module. For more information on the
air bag system, see ªAir Bagº in the Index.
United States Canada
This light will come on when you start your vehicle, and
it will flash for a few seconds. Then the light should go
out. This means the system is ready.If the air bag readiness light stays on after you start the
vehicle or comes on when you are driving, your air bag
system may not work properly. Have your vehicle
serviced right away.
CAUTION:
If the air bag readiness light stays on after you
start your vehicle, it means the air bag system
may not be working properly. The air bags in
your vehicle may not inflate in a crash, or they
could even inflate without a crash. To help avoid
injury to yourself or others, have your vehicle
serviced right away if the air bag readiness light
stays on after you start your vehicle.
The air bag readiness light should flash for a few
seconds when you turn the ignition key to RUN. If the
light doesn't come on then, have it fixed so it will be
ready to warn you if there is a problem.