ignition PONTIAC GRAND PRIX 2007 Owner's Manual

Make sure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P)
before starting the engine. The vehicle has
an automatic transaxle shift lock control system.
You must fully apply your regular brakes rst
and then press the shift lever button, located on
the front of the shift lever, before you can shift from
PARK (P) when the ignition key is in RUN.
If the vehicle cannot be shifted out of PARK (P),
ease pressure on the shift lever by pushing it
all the way into PARK (P) as you maintain brake
application. Then press the shift lever button
and move the shift lever into another gear.
SeeShifting Out of Park (P) on page 117.
REVERSE (R):Use this gear to back up.
Notice:Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your
vehicle is moving forward could damage
the transaxle. The repairs would not be
covered by your warranty. Shift to
REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is
stopped.
To rock the vehicle back and forth to get out of
snow, ice or sand without damaging the transaxle,
seeIf Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice,
or Snow on page 316.NEUTRAL (N):In this position, the engine does
not connect with the wheels. To restart when
the vehicle is already moving, use NEUTRAL (N)
only. Also, use NEUTRAL (N) when the vehicle
is being towed.
{CAUTION:
Shifting into a drive gear while your
engine is running at high speed is
dangerous. Unless your foot is rmly on
the brake pedal, your vehicle could move
very rapidly. You could lose control and
hit people or objects. Do not shift into a
drive gear while your engine is running at
high speed.
Notice:Shifting out of PARK (P) or
NEUTRAL (N) while the engine is running at
high speed may damage the transaxle.
The repairs would not be covered by your
warranty. Be sure the engine is not running at
high speeds when shifting your vehicle.
111

Parking Brake
The parking brake is
located to the left of the
brake pedal near the
driver’s door. To set the
parking brake, hold
the regular brake pedal
down with the right
foot. Push down on the
parking brake pedal,
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 the
left foot is lifted, the parking brake pedal will lift to
the released position.
A warning chime will sound if the parking brake is
set, the ignition is on, and the shift lever is not
in PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).The brake light will also appear on the instrument
panel cluster when the parking brake is set. It will
stay on if the parking brake does not release fully.
The PARKING BRAKE ON message will also
appear in the Driver Information Center (DIC)
when the parking brake is set. SeeDIC Warnings
and Messages on page 200for more information.
Notice:Driving with the parking brake on
can overheat the brake system and cause
premature wear or damage to brake system
parts. Verify that the parking brake is fully
released and the brake warning light is
off before driving.
If the vehicle is towing a trailer and parked on a
hill, seeTowing a Trailer on page 324. That
section shows what to do rst to keep the trailer
from moving.
115

Shifting Into Park (P)
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the parking brake rmly set.
Your vehicle can roll. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be injured.
To be sure your vehicle will not move, even
when you are on fairly level ground, use
the steps that follow. If you are pulling a
trailer, seeTowing a Trailer on page 324.
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot
and set the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) by holding
in the button on the shift lever and pushing
the shift lever all the way toward the front
of the vehicle.
3. Turn the ignition key to OFF.
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you
can leave your vehicle with the ignition key in
your hand, your 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 rmly set. And, if you leave the
vehicle with the engine running, it could
overheat and even catch re. You or
others could be injured. Do not leave your
vehicle with the engine running.
If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine
running, be sure your vehicle is in PARK (P) and
your parking brake is rmly set before you leave it.
After you have moved the shift lever into PARK (P),
hold the regular brake pedal down. Then, see if you
can move the shift lever away from PARK (P)
without rst pushing the button.
If you can, it means that the shift lever was not
fully locked in PARK (P).
116

Torque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and you do not shift your
transaxle into PARK (P) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl
in the transaxle. You may nd it difficult to pull the
shift lever out of PARK (P). This is called torque
lock. To prevent torque lock, set the parking brake
and then shift into PARK (P) properly before you
leave the driver’s seat. To nd out how, seeShifting
Into Park (P) on page 116.
When you are ready to drive, move the shift
lever out of PARK (P)beforeyou release the
parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may need to have
another vehicle push your vehicle a little uphill
to take some of the pressure from the parking pawl
in the transaxle, so you can pull the shift lever
out of PARK (P).
Shifting Out of Park (P)
The vehicle has an automatic transaxle shift lock
control system which locks the shift lever in
PARK (P) when the ignition is in OFF. In addition,
the regular brakes must be fully applied before
shifting from PARK (P) while the ignition is in RUN.
SeeAutomatic Transaxle Operation on page 110.
If the vehicle cannot be shifted out of PARK (P),
ease pressure on the shift lever and push the
shift lever all the way up into PARK (P) as brake
application is maintained. Then move the shift lever
into the desired gear.
If the brake pedal is held down but the vehicle still
cannot be shifted out of PARK (P), try this:
1. Turn the key to ACC or RUN.
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of
Step 4.
3. Shift the transaxle to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Start the vehicle and then shift to the desired
transaxle gear.
5. Have the system xed as soon as possible.
117

Sunroof
If the vehicle has a sunroof, it includes a sliding
glass panel and a sunshade.
The switch to control
the sunroof is located
in the headliner.
The switch works only while the ignition is on, or in
ACC, or Retained Accessory Power (RAP) is on.
SeeRetained Accessory Power (RAP) on
page 106.Vent:Open the sunshade by hand. Push the switch
toward the rear of the vehicle once and the sunroof
will open to the vent position. Push the switch
forward to close.
Open/Express-Open:Push the switch toward the
rear of the vehicle a second time and the sunroof
will open the remainder of the way. The sunshade
will open with the sunroof if the switch is pushed
toward the rear of the vehicle twice.
Close:Push and hold the front of the switch until
the sunroof motor stops. The sunshade must
be closed by hand.
128

The main components of the instrument panel are the following:
A. Side Window Defogger Outlets. SeeOutlet
Adjustment on page 166.
B. Air Outlets. SeeOutlet Adjustment on page 166.
C. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever and Cruise
Controls. SeeTurn Signal/Multifunction Lever
on page 135andCruise Control on page 140.
D. TAP-Shift
®Control (If Equipped). See
Automatic Transaxle Operation on page 110.
E. Hazard Warning Flashers Button. See
Hazard Warning Flashers on page 134.
F. Instrument Panel Cluster. SeeInstrument Panel
Cluster on page 169.
G. Windshield Wiper Lever. SeeWindshield Wiper
Lever on page 138.
H. Ignition. SeeIgnition Positions on page 105.
I. Driver Information Center (DIC) (If Equipped).
SeeDriver Information Center (DIC) on
page 186.
J. Audio System. SeeAudio System(s) on
page 233.K. Audio Steering Wheel Controls (If Equipped).
SeeAudio Steering Wheel Controls on
page 277.
L. Hood Release. SeeHood Release on page 345.
M. Tilt Steering Wheel Lever, on Steering Column.
SeeTilt Wheel on page 135.
N. Interior Lamps Brightness Control. SeeInterior
Lamps on page 146.
O. Passenger Air Bag Status Indicator. See
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator on page 173.
P. Climate Controls. SeeClimate Control
System on page 157.
Q. Shift Lever. SeeAutomatic Transaxle Operation
on page 110.
R. Traction Control Button (If Equipped). See
Traction Control System (TCS) on page 292.
S. Head Up Display (HUD) Control (If Equipped).
SeeHead-Up Display (HUD) on page 151.
T. Glove Box. SeeGlove Box on page 126.
U. Instrument Panel Fuse Block. SeeInstrument
Panel Fuse Block on page 460.
133

Hazard Warning Flashers
The hazard warning ashers warn others. They
also let police know you have a problem.
Your front and rear turn signal lamps will ash on
and off.
The hazard warning
asher button is located
on top of the steering
column.
The hazard warning ashers work no matter what
ignition position the key is in, and even if the
key is not in the ignition.Press the button to make the front and rear turn
signal lamps ash on and off. Press the button
again to turn the ashers off.
When the hazard warning ashers are on, your
turn signals will not work.
Other Warning Devices
If you carry reective triangles, you can set them up
at the side of the road about 300 feet (100 m)
behind your vehicle.
Horn
Press on or near the horn symbols on the steering
wheel pad to sound the horn.
134

Reducing Speed While Using
Cruise Control
There are two ways to reduce the vehicle’s speed
while using cruise control:
Press and hold the set button until you reach
the lower speed desired, then release it.
To slow down in very small amounts,
briey press the set button. Each time you do
this your vehicle will slow down about
one mph (1.6 km/h).
Passing Another Vehicle While Using
Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase the vehicle’s
speed. When you take your foot off the pedal,
the vehicle will slow down to the cruise control
speed set earlier.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well the cruise control will work on hills
depends upon the vehicle’s speed, its load, and
the steepness of the hills. When going up
steep hills, the accelerator pedal might have to be
used in order to maintain the vehicle’s speed.
When going downhill, the brakes might have to be
applied, or the transaxle might have to be
shifted to a lower gear to keep the vehicle’s speed
down. Doing either of these things will take the
vehicle out of cruise. It may be better not to
use the cruise control if the brakes constantly have
to be applied, or the vehicle continuously needs
to be shifted to a lower gear.
Ending Cruise Control
There are two ways to turn off the cruise control:
Step lightly on the brake pedal
Move the cruise control switch to off
Erasing Speed Memory
When the cruise control or the ignition is turned
off, the cruise control set speed memory is erased.
143

Exterior Lamps
The exterior lamp control is located to the left of
the steering wheel on the multifunction lever.
O(Exterior Lamp Control):Turn the band with
this symbol on it to operate the exterior lamps.
The exterior lamp band has four positions:
O(Off):Turning the band to this position turns
off all lamps.
AUTO (Automatic):Turning the band to this
position sets the exterior lamps in automatic mode.
AUTO mode will turn the exterior lamps on and
off depending on how much light is available
outside the vehicle.To override AUTO mode, turn the control to off.
To reset to AUTO mode turn the control to exterior
lamps and then back to AUTO. Automatic mode
will also reset when your vehicle is turned off
and then back on again when the control is left in
the AUTO position.
;(Parking Lamp):Turning the band to this
position turns on the parking lamps together with
the following:
Sidemarker Lamps
Taillamps
License Plate Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights
The parking brake indicator light will come on and
stay on when the parking lamps are on with the
engine off and the ignition to ACC.
5(Headlamps):Turning the control to this
position turns on the headlamps, together with the
previously listed lamps and lights.
144

Headlamps on Reminder
A warning chime will sound if the vehicle’s ignition
is off and the driver’s door is opened when the
exterior lamp control is left on in either the
headlamp or parking lamp position.
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier
for others to see the front of your vehicle during
the day. DRL can be helpful in many different
driving conditions, but they can be especially
helpful in the short periods after dawn and before
sunset. Daytime running lamps are required to
function at all times on all vehicles rst sold
in Canada.
A light sensor on top of the instrument panel
makes the DRL work, so be sure it is not covered.
The DRL system will make the low-beam
headlamps come on at reduced brightness when
the following conditions are met:
The ignition is on.
The exterior lamps control is off.
The parking brake is released.While the DRL are on, only the vehicle’s low-beam
headlamps will be on at reduced brightness.
The turn signal, taillamps, sidemarker and other
lamps will not be on. The instrument panel cluster
will not be lit up either.
When it is dark enough outside, the DRL will turn
off and the vehicle’s headlamps and parking
lamps will turn on. The other lamps that come on
with the headlamps will also come on.
When it is bright enough outside, the headlamps
will go off and the DRL will come on.
To idle the vehicle with the DRL off, turn the
exterior lamp control off and then do one of the
following:
Turn the exterior lamp control to the parking
lamp position.
Turn the exterior lamp control to the headlamp
position.
Turn the exterior lamp control from AUTO to
off and back to AUTO.
This feature is not available for vehicles rst sold
in Canada.
145