engine PONTIAC GRAND PRIX 2001 Service Manual

2-92
TRAC/TCS OFF: This light lets you know that the
enhanced traction system (3100 or 3800 V6 engine)
or the traction control system (3800 supercharged
V6 engine) has been disabled and will not limit wheel
spin. See ªTraction Control System Warning Light,º
ªEnhanced Traction System Warning Lightº and
ªLow Traction Lightº in the Index.
TRAC/TCS: If the vehicle has the enhanced traction
system (3100 or 3800 V6 engine) or the traction control
system (3800 supercharged V6 engine), you will have a
disable button on the far right side of the trip computer.
The enhanced traction system and traction control
system are automatically activated when you turn the
ignition on. This button will activate/deactivate the
system. If you need to disable the system, such as when
you are stuck and are rocking the vehicle back and forth,
push this button. See ªStuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or
Snowº in the Index.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.

2-94
To adjust the HUD so you can see it properly do
the following:
1. Start your engine and turn the DIM thumbwheel to
the desired HUD image brightness.
2. Adjust your seat, if necessary, to a
comfortable position.
3. Press the top of the UP/DN switch until the HUD
image stops moving. Then press the bottom of the
switch until the image is as low as possible but in
full view.4. Turn the DIM thumbwheel down until the HUD
image is no brighter than necessary. To turn the HUD
off, turn the DIM thumbwheel all the way down.
If the sun comes out, it becomes cloudy, or if you turn
on your headlamps, you may need to adjust the HUD
brightness again. Polarized sunglasses could make the
HUD image harder to see.
Push the ENG/MET button
on the trip calculator,
located above the audio
controls on the trip
computer (if equipped) on
the instrument panel, to
switch the HUD display
from English to metric or
metric to English.
If your vehicle is not equipped with the trip calculator,
you cannot change the display.

3-4
Air Conditioning
On very hot days, open the windows long enough to let
hot, inside air escape. This reduces the time for the
vehicle to cool down.
For quick cool down on very hot days, use MAX with
the temperature levers all the way in the blue area. If
this setting is used for long periods of time, the air in
your vehicle may become too dry.
For normal cooling on hot days, use UPPER with the
temperature levers in the blue area and the A/C button
pushed in. The system will bring in outside air and cool it.
On cool, but sunny days, the sun may warm your upper
body, but your lower body may not be warm enough.
To remedy this you can use BI
-LEVEL with the
temperature levers in the middle and the A/C button
pushed in. The system will bring in outside air and
direct it to your upper body, while sending slightly
warmed air to your lower body.Heating
On cold days use FLOOR with the temperature levers
all the way in the red area. The system will bring in
outside air, heat it and send it to the floor ducts.
If your vehicle has an engine coolant heater, you can use it
to help your system provide warm air faster when it's cold
outside 0
F (
-18
C) or lower. An engine coolant heater
warms the coolant your engine and heating system use to
provide heat. See ªEngine Coolant Heaterº in the Index.
Ventilation
For mild outside temperatures when little heating or
cooling is needed, use UPPER, with the A/C button off,
to direct outside air through your vehicle.
Defogging and Defrosting
Your system has two settings for clearing the front and
side windows. To defrost the windows quickly, use
DEFROST with the temperature levers all the way in the
red area. To warm passengers while keeping the
windows clear, use DEFOG.

3-6 Ventilation System
Adjust the direction of airflow by moving the louvered vents.
Your vehicle's flow
-through ventilation system supplies
outside air into the vehicle when it is moving. Outside
air will also enter the vehicle when the air conditioning
fan is running.
Ventilation Tips

Keep the hood and front air inlet free of ice, snow or
any other obstruction, such as leaves. The heater and
defroster will work far better, reducing the chance of
fogging the inside of your windows.
When you enter a vehicle in cold weather, adjust the
mode knob to FLOOR and the fan to the highest speed
for a few seconds before driving off. This helps clear
the intake ducts of snow and moisture and reduces the
chance of fogging the inside of your windows.

Keep the air path under the front seats clear of objects.
This helps air to circulate throughout your vehicle.
Audio Systems
Your audio system has been designed to operate easily
and give years of listening pleasure. You will get the
most enjoyment out of it if you acquaint yourself with it
first. Find out what your audio system can do and how
to operate all its controls, to be sure you're getting the
most out of the advanced engineering that went into it.
Setting the Clock
Press and hold the HR or MIN arrow for two seconds.
Then press the HR arrow until the correct hour appears.
Press and hold the MIN arrow until the correct minute
appears. The clock may be set with the ignition on
or off.

3-20 Understanding Radio Reception
AM
The range for most AM stations is greater than for
FM, especially at night. The longer range, however, can
cause stations to interfere with each other. AM can pick
up noise from things like storms and power lines. Try
reducing the treble to reduce this noise if you ever get it.
FM Stereo
FM stereo will give you the best sound, but FM signals
will reach only about 10 to 40 miles (16 to 65 km). Tall
buildings or hills can interfere with FM signals, causing
the sound to come and go.
Tips About Your Audio System
Hearing damage from loud noise is almost undetectable
until it is too late. Your hearing can adapt to higher
volumes of sound. Sound that seems normal can be loud
and harmful to your hearing. Take precautions by
adjusting the volume control on your radio to a safe
sound level before your hearing adapts to it.To help avoid hearing loss or damage do the following:

Adjust the volume control to the lowest setting.

Increase volume slowly until you hear comfortably
and clearly.
NOTICE:
Before you add any sound equipment to your
vehicle
-- like a tape player, CB radio, mobile
telephone or two
-way radio -- be sure you can
add what you want. If you can, it's very
important to do it properly. Added sound
equipment may interfere with the operation of
your vehicle's engine, Delphi Delco Electronics
radio or other systems, and even damage them.
Your vehicle's systems may interfere with the
operation of sound equipment that has been
added improperly.
So, before adding sound equipment, check with
your dealer and be sure to check Federal rules
covering mobile radio and telephone units.

4-
4-1
Section 4 Your Driving and the Road
Here you'll find information about driving on different kinds of roads and in varying weather conditions. We've also
included many other useful tips on driving.
4
-2 Defensive Driving
4
-3 Drunken Driving
4
-6 Control of a Vehicle
4
-6 Braking
4
-9 Traction Control System
(With 3800 Supercharged V6 Engine)
4
-10 Enhanced Traction System
(3100 V6 or 3800 V6 Engine)
4
-12 Steering
4
-14 Off-Road Recovery
4
-14 Passing
4
-16 Loss of Control4
-17 Driving at Night
4
-18 Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads
4
-21 City Driving
4
-22 Freeway Driving
4
-23 Before Leaving on a Long Trip
4
-24 Highway Hypnosis
4
-25 Hill and Mountain Roads
4
-27 Winter Driving
4
-31 Recreational Vehicle Towing
4
-31 Loading Your Vehicle
4
-33 Towing a Trailer

4-7
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.
Here's how anti-lock works. Let's say the road is wet.
You're driving safely. Suddenly an animal jumps out in
front of you.

4-9
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
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.
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 or snow and rocking the vehicle is
required. See ªRocking Your Vehicleº in the Index.

4-10
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.

4-12
Steering
Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist because the engine
stops or the system is not functioning, you can steer but
it will take much more effort.
Variable Effort Steering (Option)
This steering system provides lighter steering effort
for parking and when driving at speeds below
20 mph (32 km/h). Steering effort will increase at
higher speeds for improved road feel.
Steering Tips
Driving on Curves
It's important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
A lot of the ªdriver lost controlº accidents mentioned on
the news happen on curves. Here's why:Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is subject to
the same laws of physics when driving on curves. The
traction of the tires against the road surface makes it
possible for the vehicle to change its path when you turn
the front wheels. If there's no traction, inertia will keep
the vehicle going in the same direction. If you've ever
tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you'll understand this.
The traction you can get in a curve depends on the
condition of your tires and the road surface, the angle at
which the curve is banked, and your speed. While you're
in a curve, speed is the one factor you can control.
Suppose you're steering through a sharp curve. Then you
suddenly accelerate. Both control systems
-- steering and
acceleration
-- have to do their work where the tires meet
the road. Adding the sudden acceleration can demand too
much of those places. You can lose control. Refer to
ªTraction Control Systemº or ªEnhanced Traction Systemº
in the Index.
What should you do if this ever happens? Ease up on the
accelerator pedal, steer the vehicle the way you want it
to go, and slow down.