trip computer PONTIAC GRAND PRIX 2001 Owners Manual

2-
2-1
Section 2 Features and Controls
Here you can learn about the many standard and optional features on your vehicle, and information on starting,
shifting and braking. Also explained are the instrument panel and the warning systems that tell you if everything
is working properly
-- and what to do if you have a problem.
2
-2 Windows
2
-4 Keys
2
-6 Door Locks
2
-9 Remote Keyless Entry System (If Equipped)
2
-13 Multifunction Alarm Locks and
Lighting Choices
2
-24 Trunk
2
-26 Theft
2
-27 Content Theft-Deterrent (If Equipped)
2
-28 PASS-Key
III
2
-30 New Vehicle ªBreak-Inº
2
-31 Ignition Positions
2
-32 Starting Your Engine
2
-35 Engine Coolant Heater (Option)
2
-37 Automatic Transaxle Operation
2
-41 Parking Brake
2
-42 Shifting Into PARK (P)2
-44 Shifting Out of PARK (P)
2
-44 Parking Over Things That Burn
2
-45 Engine Exhaust
2
-45 Running Your Engine While You're Parked
2
-47 Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
2
-52 Exterior Lamps
2
-54 Interior Lamps
2
-56 Mirrors
2
-61 Storage Compartments
2
-66 OnStar
System (If Equipped)
2
-69 Sunroof (Option)
2
-70 The Instrument Panel -- Your
Information System
2
-74 Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
2
-87 Driver Information Center (DIC)
2
-89 Trip Computer (If Equipped)
2
-92 Head-Up Display (Option)

2-71
The main components of the instrument panel are listed here:
A. Side Window Defogger Vents
B. Fog Lamp Switch
C. Multifunction Lever
D. Instrument Panel Cluster
E. Hazard Button
F. Horn, Driver's Side Air Bag
G. Trip Computer/Driver Information Center (DIC)
H. Instrument Panel Vents
I. Interior Lamp ControlJ. Exterior Lamp Control
K. Tilt Wheel Control
L. Audio Steering Controls (If Equipped)
M. HUD Display Controls (Option)
N. Comfort Controls
O. Ashtray and Cigarette Lighter
P. Audio System
Q. Glove Box
R. Instrument Panel Fuse Block

2-78 Traction Control System Warning Light
(3800 Supercharged V6 Engine Only)
The traction control system
warning light may come on
for the following reasons:

If you turn the system off by pressing the TCS button
located on the far right side of the trip computer, the
warning light will come on and stay on. To turn the
system back on, press the button again. The warning
light should go off. See ªTraction Control Systemº in
the Index for more information.

If there's a brake system problem that is specifically
related to traction control, the traction control system
will turn off and the warning light will come on. If
your brakes begin to overheat, the traction control
system will turn off and the warning light will come
on until your brakes cool down.
If the traction control system warning light comes on
and stays on for an extended period of time when the
system is turned on, your vehicle needs service.
Enhanced Traction System Warning Light
(3100 V6 or 3800 V6 Engine)
The Enhanced
Traction System
warning light may
come on for the
following reasons:

If you turn the system off by pressing the TRAC
button on the far right side of the Driver Information
Center or trip computer (if equipped), the warning
light will come on and stay on. To turn the system
back on, press the button again. The warning light
should go off. See ªEnhanced Traction Systemº in
the Index for more information.

If the Enhanced Traction System warning light
comes on and stays on for an extended period of
time when the system is turned on, your vehicle
needs service. Adjust your driving accordingly.

2-89
Trip Computer (If Equipped)
3100 V6 and 3800 V6 Engines

2-90
3800 V6 Supercharged Engine
When you start the engine, the trip computer will display a mode. A lighted oval will appear to the left of the mode
currently being used.

2-91 Control Buttons
The trip computer has three buttons that control
its functions.
ENG/MET: Press this button to change the display
from English to metric units or metric to English.
RESET: Press this button for two seconds to reset the
mode displayed.
MODE: Press this button to change the mode
being displayed.
Functions
FUEL USED: Shows the total amount of fuel used
since you last reset this mode. The amount can be
displayed in gallons or liters.
AVG ECON: Shows the average fuel economy since
you last reset this mode.
OIL LIFE: Shows a percentage of the oil's remaining
useful life. The system predicts remaining oil life using
inputs from length of drives, coolant temperature,
engine rpm and vehicle speed. Each time you get an oil
change, be sure to reset this function so that it will give
you an accurate percentage. See ªHow to Reset the GM
Oil Life System
º in the Index.RANGE: Shows how much farther you can travel with
the fuel you have before refueling. When the range
displays ªLº, for 40 to 50 miles (64.36 to 80.45 km),
the display will flash the word LOW continuously and
the vehicle will chime three times. The range is
calculated from the average econ value times the fuel
remaining in the tank.
LOW: This light will come on when the ignition is on
and the fluid in the washer fluid container is low.
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 V6 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
enhanced traction system (3100 or 3800 V6 engine) or
the traction control system (3800 supercharged V6
engine) is limiting wheel spin. See ªTraction Control
Systemº ªEnhanced Traction Systemº and ªLow
Traction Lightº in the Index.

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.

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.

4-11
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 or snow and
rocking the vehicle is required. 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 (DIC) or the trip
computer (if equipped).
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.