coolant PONTIAC GRAND PRIX 2002 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
-10 Remote Keyless Entry System (If Equipped)
2
-14 Multifunction Alarm Locks and
Lighting Choices
2
-25 Trunk
2
-27 Theft
2
-28 Content Theft-Deterrent System (If Equipped)
2
-30 PASS-Key
III
2
-32 New Vehicle ªBreak-Inº
2
-33 Ignition Positions
2
-34 Starting Your Engine
2
-38 Engine Coolant Heater (Option)
2
-39 Automatic Transaxle Operation
2
-43 Parking Brake
2
-44 Shifting Into PARK (P)
2
-46 Shifting Out of PARK (P)
2
-47 Parking Over Things That Burn2
-47 Engine Exhaust
2
-48 Running Your Engine While You're Parked
2
-49 Tilt Wheel
2
-49 Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
2
-55 Exterior Lamps
2
-57 Interior Lamps
2
-60 Mirrors
2
-64 Storage Compartments
2
-68 Accessory Power Outlet
2
-69 Auxiliary Power Connection (Power Drop)
2
-69 OnStar
System (If Equipped)
2
-73 Power Sunroof (Option)
2
-74 The Instrument Panel -- Your
Information System
2
-78 Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
2
-91 Driver Information Center (DIC)
2
-93 Trip Computer (If Equipped)
2
-96 Head-Up Display (HUD) (Option)

2-38
Engine Coolant Heater (Option)
In very cold weather, 0
F (-18
C) or colder, the engine
coolant heater can help. You'll get easier starting and
better fuel economy during engine warm
-up. Usually,
the coolant heater should be plugged in a minimum of
four hours prior to starting your vehicle. At temperatures
above 32
F (0
C), use of the coolant heater is
not required.
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord.
The cord is located below the engine air
cleaner/filter near the coolant reservoir bottle.
See ªEngine Compartment Overviewº in the
Index for more information on location.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110
-volt AC outlet.
CAUTION:
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet
could cause an electrical shock. Also, the wrong
kind of extension cord could overheat and cause
a fire. You could be seriously injured. Plug the
cord into a properly grounded three
-prong
11 0
-volt AC outlet. If the cord won't reach, use a
heavy
-duty three-prong extension cord rated for
at least 15 amps.

2-39
4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug
and store the cord as it was before to keep it away
from moving engine parts. If you don't, it could
be damaged.
How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged
in? The answer depends on the outside temperature, the
kind of oil you have, and some other things. Instead of
trying to list everything here, we ask that you contact
your dealer in the area where you'll be parking your
vehicle. The dealer can give you the best advice for
that particular area.Automatic Transaxle Operation
The automatic transaxle has a shift lever on the console
between the seats. There is also a display of the gear
positions on the instrument panel cluster near the
speedometer and tachometer.
Maximum engine speed is limited when your vehicle is
in PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) to protect driveline
components from improper operation.

2-83 Low Traction Light
If you have the Enhanced
Traction System or the
Traction Control System,
this light will also come
on when the system is
limiting wheel spin.
You may feel or hear the system working, but this is
normal. Slippery road conditions may exist if the low
traction light comes on, so adjust your driving
accordingly. The light will stay on for a few seconds
after the Enhanced Traction System or the Traction
Control System stops limiting wheel spin. See
ªEnhanced Traction Systemº or ªTraction Control
Systemº in the Index.
The low traction light also comes on briefly when you
turn the ignition key to RUN. If the light doesn't come
on then, have it fixed so it will be there to tell you when
the Traction Control System or Enhanced Traction
System is active.
Engine Coolant Temperature Light
This light tells tells you that
the engine coolant has
overheated or the radiator
cooling fan is not working.
If you have been operating the vehicle under normal
driving conditions, you should pull of the road, stop the
vehicle and turn off the engine as soon as possible.
See ªEngine Overheatingº in the Index.

2-84
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
United States Canada
Your vehicle has a gage that shows the engine coolant
temperature. If the gage pointer moves into the shaded
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
conditions, you should pull off the road, stop the
vehicle, and turn off the engine as soon as possible.
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 possible.

2-92
Functions
(Door Ajar): If one of the doors is ajar, this
light will appear next to that door on the vehicle outline.
CHANGE OIL SOON: This light will appear when the
system indicates that it's time for an oil change. The
system predicts remaining oil life using data 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. See ªHow to
Reset the GM Oil Life System
º in the Index.
LOW: This light will come on when the ignition is
on and the fluid in the washer fluid container is low.
AJAR: This light alerts you that the trunk is not
fully closed.LOW TRAC (Low Traction): This light will come on
when the enhanced traction system is limiting wheel
spin. See ªEnhanced Traction Systemº or ªLow Traction
Lightº in the Index.
TRAC OFF (Traction Off): This light lets you know
that the enhanced traction system has been disabled and
will not limit wheel spin. See ªEnhanced Traction
System Warning Lightº or ªLow Traction Lightº in
the Index.
TRAC (Traction): If the vehicle has the enhanced
traction system, you will have a disable button on the far
right side of the DIC. The enhanced traction system is
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.

2-95 Control Buttons
The trip computer has three buttons that control its
functions.
ENG/MET (English/Metric): 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 (Average Economy): 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
data 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 remaining in the gas tank before
refueling. When the range displays L, for 40 to 50 miles
(64.36 to 80.45 km), the display will flash LOW
continuously. The range is calculated from the AVG
ECON value multiplied by the fuel remaining in
the tank.
LOW: This light will come on the vehicle outline 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, the
trunk area will light up on the vehicle outline.
LOW TRAC (Low Traction): 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.

2-97
When you sit up straight in your seat, the HUD image
will appear straight ahead near the front bumper.
The HUD also shows the following lights when they are
lit on the instrument panel cluster:

Turn Signal Indicators

High
-Beam Indicator Symbol

Low Fuel Symbol
The HUD will display CHECK GAGES when the
following items are lit on the instrument panel cluster:

Oil Warning Symbol

Coolant Temperature Symbol

Charging System Symbol
When the ignition key is turned to RUN, the entire HUD
image will come on. Then the Head
-Up Display will
operate normally.
NOTICE:
Although the HUD image appears to be near
the front of the vehicle, do not use it as a parking
aid. The HUD was not designed for that purpose.
If you try to use it that way, such as in a parking
lot, you may misjudge distance and run
into something.
When the HUD is on, the speedometer reading will be
displayed continually. The current radio station or CD
track number will only be displayed for three seconds
after the radio or CD track status changes. This will
happen whenever one of the radio controls is pressed,
either on the radio itself or on the optional steering
wheel controls.

3-4
Heating
On cold days select a fan setting and 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 a fan setting and vent 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, turn the
fan to a high setting and use defroster with the
temperature levers all the way in the red area. To
warm passengers while keeping the windows clear,
use defogger.
Rear Window Defogger
The rear window defogger uses a warming grid to
remove fog from the rear window.
The comfort control
system has a button to
operate your vehicle's
rear window defogger.
It is marked REAR.
Press the button to turn the rear window defogger on or
off. When the rear window defogger is operating, an
indicator above this button will light. The rear warming
grid will turn off after about 15 minutes.
If you turn the rear window defogger on again, it will
operate for about seven and one half minutes before
turning off. The system will turn off when the ignition is
turned off.
Do not attach anything like a temporary vehicle license
or decal across the rear window defogger grid.

5-11
Engine Overheating
You will find a coolant temperature gage and a warning
light concerning an overheated engine condition on the
instrument panel cluster. See ªEngine Coolant
Temperature Gageº and ªEngine Coolant Temperature
Lightº in the Index. You also have a low coolant light on
your instrument panel cluster. See ªLow Coolant Lightº
in the Index.
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode
This emergency operating mode allows your vehicle
to be driven to a safe place in an emergency situation.
If an overheated engine condition exists, an overheat
protection mode which alternates firing groups of cylinders
helps prevent engine damage. In this mode, you will notice
a significant loss in power and engine performance. The
low coolant light may come on and the temperature
gage will indicate an overheat condition exists. Driving
extended miles (km) and/or towing a trailer in the
overheat protection mode should be avoided.
NOTICE:
After driving in the overheated engine protection
operating mode, to avoid engine damage, allow
the engine to cool before attempting any repair.
The engine oil will be severely degraded. Repair
the cause of coolant loss, change the oil and reset
the oil life system. See ªEngine Oilº in the Index.