headlamp PONTIAC GRAND PRIX 2007 User Guide

To turn off the automatic headlamp feature when it
is dark outside, move the exterior lamp control
to the parking lamp position. The parking lamps
will remain illuminated and the headlamps will turn
off. The fog lamps will also go on if they were
on previously.
As with any vehicle, the regular headlamp system
should be turned on when needed.
Fog Lamps
If equipped, fog lamps provide brighter roadway
lighting for better vision in foggy or misty
conditions.
-(Fog Lamps):Turn the second band on the
exterior lamps control lever to this position to
turn the fog lamps on. The band will return to its
original position.
This symbol appears on
the instrument panel
cluster when the
fog lamps are on.To turn the fog lamps off, turn the band up to the
fog lamp symbol and release it. The band will
return to its original position. If the high-beam
headlamps are on, the fog lamps will turn off. The
fog lamps will go on again when the low-beam
headlamps are turned back on.
The parking lamps must be on for the fog lamps
to work.
Some localities have laws that require the
headlamps to be on along with the fog lamps.
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver
If the parking lamps or headlamps have been left
on after the ignition has been turned to off, the
exterior lamps will turn off after about 10 minutes.
This protects the battery from being drained.
Use the exterior lamp control to turn the lamps
back on, if they are still needed.
Interior Lamps
The interior lamps can be controlled, or
automatically turn on or off under certain conditions.
They are explained in the following text.
146

Electric Power Management
The vehicle has Electric Power Management
(EPM) that estimates the battery’s temperature and
state of charge. It then adjusts the voltage for
best performance and extended life of the battery.
When the battery’s state of charge is low, the
voltage is raised slightly to quickly put the charge
back in. When the state of charge is high, the
voltage is lowered slightly to prevent overcharging.
If the vehicle has a voltmeter gage or voltage
display on the Driver Information Center (DIC), you
may see the voltage move up or down. This is
normal. If there is a problem, an alert will be
displayed.
The battery can be discharged at idle if the
electrical loads are very high. This is true for all
vehicles. This is because the generator (alternator)
may not be spinning fast enough at idle to
produce all the power that is needed for very high
electrical loads.A high electrical load occurs when several of the
following loads are on: headlamps, high beams,
fog lamps, rear window defogger, climate
control fan at high speed, heated seats, engine
cooling fans, trailer loads, and loads plugged into
accessory power outlets.
EPM works to prevent excessive discharge of the
battery. It does this by balancing the generator’s
output and the vehicle’s electrical needs. It
can increase engine idle speed to generate more
power, whenever needed. It can temporarily
reduce the power demands of some accessories.
Normally, these actions occur in steps or levels,
without being noticeable. In rare cases at the
highest levels of corrective action, this action may
be noticeable to the driver. If so, a Driver
Information Center (DIC) message might be
displayed, such as Battery Saver Active. If this
message is displayed, it is recommended that the
driver reduce the electrical loads as much as
possible. SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on
page 200.
150

Fog Lamp Light
This light will come on
when the fog lamps are
in use.
The light will go out when the fog lamps are
turned off. SeeFog Lamps on page 146for more
information.
Cruise Control Light
This light comes on
whenever you set your
cruise control.
The light will go out when the cruise control is
turned off. SeeCruise Control on page 140
for more information.
Highbeam On Light
This light comes on
whenever the
high-beam headlamps
are on.
See “Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer” under
Exterior Lamps on page 144for additional
information.
Fuel Gage
The fuel gage shows
about how much fuel is
left in the fuel tank
when the ignition is on.
185

To change the language, use the following
procedure:
1. Press the options button to enter the language
screen.
2. Press the set/reset button to scroll through
and set the language choice.
3. Press the options button again to advance to
the next screen.
DISPLAY UNITS:This menu allows selection of
measurements to be displayed in English or
metric units. The messages on the HUD, if
equipped, and the instrument panel cluster will
also appear with the type of measurement
selected.
To set the measurement when Display Units is
shown, use the following procedure:
1. Press the set/reset button to select ENGLISH
or METRIC.
2. Press the options button again to advance to
the next screen.DAYTIME DISPLAY ENHANCEMENT:This
menu allows selection of the color of the display
message. When ON is selected for the daytime
enhancement, the messages will appear black on
a red screen. This combination makes it easier
to see the DIC messages during the daytime.
When OFF is selected, or when the headlamps
are on, the messages will appear red on a
black background.
To set the daytime display enhancement, use the
following procedure:
1. Press the set/reset button to select OFF or ON.
2. Press the options button again to advance to
the next screen.
ENGINE OIL MONITOR SYSTEM:This menu
allows the engine oil monitor system to be reset.
To reset the engine oil monitor system, see
Engine Oil Life System on page 353.
PERSONAL PROGRAMMING MODE:This menu
allows you to customize several features on
your vehicle. SeeDIC Vehicle Customization on
page 226for more information.
Press the options button again to advance to the
next screen.
189

To set the display units function, use the following
procedure:
1. Press the set/reset button to select ENGLISH
or METRIC.
2. Press the options button to advance to the
next screen.
DAYTIME DISPLAY ENHANCEMENT:This
menu allows selection of the color of the display
message. When ON is selected for the daytime
enhancement, the messages will appear black on
a red screen. This combination makes it easier
to see the DIC messages during the daytime.
When OFF is selected, or when the headlamps
are on, the messages will appear red on a
black background.
To set the daytime display enhancement function,
use the following procedure:
1. Press the set/reset button to select OFF or ON.
2. Press the options button to advance to the
next screen.ENGINE OIL MONITOR SYSTEM:This menu
allows the engine oil monitor system to be reset.
To reset the engine oil monitor system, see
Engine Oil Life System on page 353.
Press the options button to advance to the next
screen.
COMPASS CALIBRATION MODE:This menu
allows you to adjust for compass variance.
SeeDIC Compass (Uplevel DIC) on page 198for
more information.
Press the options button again to advance to the
next screen.
PERSONAL PROGRAMMING MODE:This menu
allows you to customize several features on
your vehicle. SeeDIC Vehicle Customization on
page 226for more information.
Press the options button again to advance to the
next screen.
196

This message and symbol display briey whenever
the cruise control is set. The cruise control light
on the instrument panel cluster also comes
on when cruise control is set. SeeCruise Control
Light on page 185. CRUISE SET also appears
briey in the Head-Up Display (HUD), if your
vehicle has this feature. This message displays
when the ignition is in RUN. SeeCruise Control on
page 140for more information.
This message does not need to be acknowledged.
DELAYED LOCKING
This message displays when the doors of the
vehicle are closed and the delayed locking feature
has been programmed through the DIC. See
“DELAYED LOCKING” underDIC Vehicle
Customization on page 226for more information.
This message displays when the ignition is in
OFF. A chime sounds for two seconds when this
message is displayed.
This message cannot be acknowledged.
HEADLAMPS SUGGESTED
This message displays when the amount of
available light outside the vehicle is low and the
exterior lamps control has been turned off. This
condition happens when the headlamps are turned
off at night or the Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
are turned off during the day. This message informs
the driver that it has become dark enough outside
to require the headlamps to be turned on. When the
headlamps are turned on, this message clears from
the screen. SeeExterior Lamps on page 144and
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) on page 145for
more information.
This message displays while the ignition is in
RUN. A chime sounds for two seconds when this
message is displayed. Press the set/reset
button to acknowledge this warning message and
to clear it from the screen.
This message continues to display if it has not
been acknowledged when the engine is turned off.
It also re-displays for three seconds if the
message has been acknowledged, but the
condition still exists when the engine is turned off.
If the condition still exists, the message
re-appears when the engine is turned on.
205

Entering the Personal Programming Mode
1. Turn the ignition on and make sure the
vehicle is in PARK (P).
To avoid excessive drain on the battery, it is
recommended that the headlamps are
turned off.
2. Press the options button until PERSONAL
PROGRAMMING MODE appears on the DIC.
3. Press the set/reset button to display the rst
screen.
4. Press the options button to access these
modes:
Personal Programming Mode Screens
EXTERIOR LIGHTING DELAY:This screen
allows this feature to be turned off, or allows the
selection of the number of seconds the headlamps,
sidelamps, taillamps, fog lamps, and back-up
lamps are turned on after the key is removed from
the ignition, or the vehicle is unlocked using the
remote keyless entry transmitter.
If OFF is selected, the exterior lamps will not
turn on.If a time delay is chosen, the lamps will turn on for
the selected time. The time delay will be
cancelled and the exterior lamps will turn on
automatically when the key is removed from the
ignition, or the vehicle is unlocked using the
remote keyless entry transmitter.
To program this mode, use the following
procedure:
1. Press and release the set/reset button to
scroll to the selection you want to program.
Choose from OFF, 15, 30, 60, or 90 seconds.
2. Press the options button again to advance to
the next screen.
INTERIOR LIGHTS WHEN DOOR CLOSED:This
screen allows this feature to be turned OFF or ON.
If OFF is selected, the interior lamps will turn off
immediately when the ignition is turned off and the
last open door is closed.
If ON is selected, the interior lamps will stay on for
about 25 seconds after the vehicle’s ignition is
turned off and the last open door is closed.
227

Learn to recognize warning clues — such as
enough water, ice, or packed snow on the road to
make a mirrored surface — and slow down when
you have any doubt.
If you have the Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS),
remember: It helps avoid only the braking skid. If
you do not have ABS, then in a braking skid,
where the wheels are no longer rolling, release
enough pressure on the brakes to get the wheels
rolling again. This restores steering control.
Push the brake pedal down steadily when you
have to stop suddenly. As long as the wheels are
rolling, you will have steering control.
Driving at Night
Night driving is more dangerous than day driving.
One reason is that some drivers are likely to
be impaired — by alcohol or drugs, with night
vision problems, or by fatigue.
Here are some tips on night driving.
Drive defensively.
Do not drink and drive.
Adjust the inside rearview mirror to reduce the
glare from headlamps behind you.
Since you cannot see as well, you may need
to slow down and keep more space between
you and other vehicles.
Slow down, especially on higher speed roads.
Your vehicle’s headlamps can light up only so
much road ahead.
In remote areas, watch for animals.
If you are tired, pull off the road in a safe
place and rest.
No one can see as well at night as in the daytime.
But as we get older these differences increase.
A 50-year-old driver may require at least twice as
much light to see the same thing at night as a
20-year-old.
What you do in the daytime can also affect your
night vision. For example, if you spend the
day in bright sunshine you are wise to wear
sunglasses. Your eyes will have less trouble
adjusting to night. But if you are driving, do not
wear sunglasses at night. They may cut down on
glare from headlamps, but they also make a
lot of things invisible.
302

You can be temporarily blinded by approaching
headlamps. It can take a second or two, or
even several seconds, for your eyes to re-adjust
to the dark. When you are faced with severe glare,
as from a driver who does not lower the high
beams, or a vehicle with misaimed headlamps,
slow down a little. Avoid staring directly into
the approaching headlamps.
Keep the windshield and all the glass on your
vehicle clean — inside and out. Glare at night is
made much worse by dirt on the glass. Even
the inside of the glass can build up a lm caused
by dust. Dirty glass makes lights dazzle and
ash more than clean glass would, making the
pupils of your eyes contract repeatedly.
Remember that the headlamps light up far less of a
roadway when you are in a turn or curve. Keep your
eyes moving; that way, it is easier to pick out dimly
lighted objects. Just as the headlamps should be
checked regularly for proper aim, so should your
eyes be examined regularly. Some drivers suffer
from night blindness — the inability to see in dim
light — and are not even aware of it.Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can mean driving trouble. On a
wet road, you cannot stop, accelerate, or turn as
well because your tire-to-road traction is not as
good as on dry roads. And, if your tires do not have
much tread left, you will get even less traction. It is
always wise to go slower and be cautious if rain
starts to fall while you are driving. The surface may
get wet suddenly when your reexes are tuned for
driving on dry pavement.
303

{CAUTION:
Snow can trap exhaust gases under your
vehicle. This can cause deadly CO
(carbon monoxide) gas to get inside.
CO could overcome you and kill you.
You cannot see it or smell it, so you might
not know it is in your vehicle. Clear away
snow from around the base of your
vehicle, especially any that is blocking
your exhaust pipe. And check around
again from time to time to be sure snow
does not collect there.
Open a window just a little on the side of
the vehicle that is away from the wind.
This will help keep CO out.Run your engine only as long as you must. This
saves fuel. When you run the engine, make it go
a little faster than just idle. That is, push the
accelerator slightly. This uses less fuel for the heat
that you get and it keeps the battery charged.
You will need a well-charged battery to restart the
vehicle, and possibly for signaling later on with
your headlamps. Let the heater run for a while.
Then, shut the engine off and close the window
almost all the way to preserve the heat. Start
the engine again and repeat this only when you
feel really uncomfortable from the cold. But do it as
little as possible. Preserve the fuel as long as
you can. To help keep warm, you can get out of
the vehicle and do some fairly vigorous exercises
every half hour or so until help comes.
315