engine PONTIAC PONTIAC 1997 User Guide

Make sure the shift lever is fully into PARK (P) NEUTRAL (N): In this position, your engine
range before starting the engine.
Your Pontiac has a doesn’t connect with the wheels. To restart when you’re
brake-transaxle shift interlock.
You must fully apply already moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only. Also, use
your regular brakes before
you can shift from PARK (P) NEUTRAL (N) when your vehicle is being towed.
when the ignition is in
RUN. If you cannot shift out of
PARK (P), ease pressure on the shift lever by pushing
it all the way into PARK (P) while keeping the brake
pedal pushed down. Release the shift lever button
if you
have a console shift. Then move the shift lever out of
PARK (P), being sure to press the shift lever button
if you have a console shift. See “Shifting Out of
PARK (P)” in the Index.
REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back up.
Shifting out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) while
your engine is “racing” (running at high speed)
is
dangerous. Unless your foot is firmly on the
brake pedal, your vehicle could move very
rapidly.
You could lose ‘control and hit people
I 1 I or objects. Don’t shift out of PARK (P) or I
NOTICE: NEUTRAL (N) while your engine is racing.
~ -
I Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle is I
moving forward could damage your transaxle.
Shift
to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle
is stopped. NOTICE:
I I I I Damage to your transaxle caused by shifting out
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow,
ice
or sand without damaging your transaxle, see racing isn’t covered by your warranty. I
of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) with the engine
“Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow” in the Index,
~ ~~
2-20
ProCarManuals.com

AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D): This position is for
normal driving.
If your vehicle has overdrive, AUTOMATIC
OVERDRIVE
(D) is the overdrive position. If you need
more power for passing, and you’re:
Going less than 35 mph (55 km/h), push your
0 Going about 35 mph (55 kmh) or more, push the
accelerator
pedal about halfway down.
accelerator pedal all the way down.
You’ll
shift down to the next gear and have more power.
NOTICE:
If your vehicle seems to start up rather slowly,
or
if it seems not to shift gears as you go faster,
something may be wrong with
a transaxle system
sensor.
If you drive very far that way, your
vehicle can be damaged.
So, if this happens, have
your vehicle serviced right
away. Until then, you
can use SECOND
(2) when you are driving less
than 35 mph (55 km/h) and AUTOMATIC
OVERDRIVE (D) for higher speeds. THIRD
(3): This
position is also used for normal
driving, but it offers more power and lower fuel
economy than AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE
(D).
Here are some times you might choose THIRD (3)
instead of AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D):
When driving on hilly, winding roads.
When towing a trailer, so there is less shifting
When going down a steep hill.
SECOND (2): This position gives you more power, but
lower fuel economy. You can use SECOND
(2) on hills.
It can help control your speed as you go down steep
mountain roads, but then you would also want to use
your brakes off and on.
between gears.
NOTICE:
Don’t drive in SECOND (2) for more than 25 miles
(41 km) at speeds over 55 mph (88 km/h), or you can
damage your transaxle. Use AUTOMATIC
OVERDRIVE (D) or THIRD (3) as much as possible.
Don’t shift into
SECOND (2) unless you are going
slower than
65 mph (105 km/h), or you can
damage your engine.
2-21
ProCarManuals.com

For cars with center console mounted gear shift levers,
the second access slot is located on the right hand side
of the console shift panel, next to the shift lever.
Insert a screwdriver into the slot. Pry the cap open using
the screwdriver. Be careful not to damage the cap. Press
down and hold. You will now be able to shift your
vehicle out of PARK (P).
Performance Shifting (If Equipped)
Press the performance shift
button, located on the side
of the console shift knob,
to allow the transaxle
to
shift at higher engine
speeds, increasing
acceleration performance.
If you have a vehicle with the option 3800 Supercharged
engine,
the words “Performance Shift” will glow in the
trip computer when the Performance Shift is in operation.
Downshifts will occur at a lower percentage of
accelerator use while you’re in the performance
shift mode.
Press the button again to return to normal shifting. The
transaxle will then shift at lower engine speeds,
increasing fuel economy.
2-23
ProCarManuals.com

Shifting Into PARK (P)
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly 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 won’t move, even
when you’re on fairly level ground, use the steps
that follow.
If you’re pulling a trailer, see
“Towing
a Trailer’’ in the Index.
Pull the lever toward you.
Column Shift
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) position like this:
set the parking brake.
2-25
ProCarManuals.com

Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine Running
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 firmly set. And, if you
leave the vehicle with the engine running, it could
overheat and even catch fire. You or others could
be injured. Don’t leave your vehicle with the
engine running unless you have to.
If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine
running, be sure your vehicle is in PARK (P) and your
parking brake is firmly set before you leave it. After
you’ve moved the shift lever into
the PARK (P)
position, hold the regular brake pedal down. Then, see if
you can move the shift lever away from PARK (P)
without first pulling it toward you (or, if you have a
console
shift lever, without first pushing the button). If
you can, it means that the shift lever wasn’t fully locked
into PARK (P).
Torque Lock
If you are parlung on a hill and you don’t 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 find 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 find out how, see “Shifting Into PARK (P)” in
the Index.
When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out
of
PARK (P) before you release the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may need to have another
vehicle push yours 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).
2-27
ProCarManuals.com

Shifting Out of PARK (P)
Your Pontiac has a Brake-Transaxle Shift Interlock.
You must fully apply your regular brakes before
you can
shift from
PARK (P) when the ignition is in RUN. See
“Automatic Transaxle Operation” in the Index.
If
you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever by pushing it all the way into PARK
(P)
while keeping the brake pedal pushed down. Release the
shift lever button if you have
a console shift. Then move
the shift lever out of PARK (P), being sure to press the
shift lever button if you have a console shift.
If you ever hold the brake pedal down but still can’t
shift out of PARK
(P) with column shift, try this:
1. Turn the key to OFF.
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 4.
3. Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Start the engine and shift to the drive gear you want.
5. Have the vehicle fixed as soon as you can.
With Console Shift
see “Shift Lock Release” section.
Parking Over Things That Burn
r
Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust
parts under your vehicle
and ignite. Don’t park
over papers, leaves, dry grass or other things that
can burn.
2-28
ProCarManuals.com

Engine Exhaust
Engine exhaust can kill. It contains the gas
carbon monoxide
(CO), which you can’t see or
smell. It can cause unconsciousness and death.
You might have exhaust coming in
ifi
Your exhaust system sounds strange
Your vehicle gets rusty underneath.
0 Your vehicle was damaged in a collision.
Your vehicle was damaged when driving over
high points on the road or over road debris.
Repairs weren’t done correctly.
0 Your vehicle or exhaust system had been
If you ever suspect exhaust is coming into
your vehicle:
Drive it only with all the windows down to
Have your vehicle fixed immediately.
or different.
modified improperly.
blow
out any CO; and
Running Your Engine While
You’re Parked
It’s better not to park with the engine running. But if you
ever have to, here are some things to know.
I A CAUTION:
Idling the engine with the air system control
o’ff could allow dangerous exhaust into
your vehicle (see the earlier Caution under
“Engine Exhaust”).
Also, idling in a closed-in place can let deadly
carbon monoxide
(CO) into your vehicle even if
the fan switch is at the highest setting. One place
this can happen
is a garage. Exhaust -- with
CO -- can come in easily. NEVER park in a
garage with the engine running.
Another closed-in place can be
a blizzard.
(See “Blizzard” in the Index.)
2-29
ProCarManuals.com

It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Don’t leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to.
If you’ve left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
Yon or others could be injured. To be sure your
vehicle won’t move, even when you’re on fairly
level ground, always set your parking brake and
move the
shift lever to PARK (P).
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle won’t
move.
See “Shifting Into PARK (P)” in the Index.
If you are parking on a hill and if you’re pulling a
trailer, also see “Towing a Trailer’’ in
the Index.
Power Windows
Switches on the driver’s door armrest control each of the
windows when the ignition is on. In addition, each
passenger door has
a switch for its own window.
2-30
ProCarManuals.com

Mode 1: Power Lock Switch Arming Off.
Your Content Theft-Deterrent System will arm when
you Jock the doors with your key chain transmitter.
The key must be removed from the ignition when
you lock the doors or the Content Theft-Deterrent
System will
not arm.
Your Content Theft-Deterrent System will disarm
when you unlock the doors with the keys or your key
chain transmitter.
Mode 2: Key Chain Transmitter ArdDisarm Only
0 Your Content Theft-Deterrent System will arm when
you lock the doors with your key chain transmitter.
The key must be removed from the ignition when
you lock the doors or the Content Theft-Deterrent
System will
not arm.
Your Content Theft-Deterrent System will disarm
when
you unlock the doors with your key
chain transmitter. Special
Note: While
this mode provides increased
security, it can be a problem if your key chain
transmitter is damaged,
lost or if it fails to operate for
any reason while the Content Theft-Deterrent System is
armed. The Content Theft-Deterrent System must
be
disarmed for the engine to run and, while in mode 2,
your key can no longer disarm the system.
a
a
0
a
Mode 3: Full Arming and Disarming
Your Content Theft-Deterrent system will arm when
you lock the doors using either power lock switch
while any door is open and the key is removed from
the ignition.
Your Content Theft-Deterrent System will
arm when
you lock the doors with your key chain transmitter.
The key must
be removed from the ignition when
you lock the doors or the Content Theft-Deterrent
System will not arm.
Your Content Theft-Deterrent System will disarm
when you unlock the doors with your key or your
key chain transmitter.
2-52
ProCarManuals.com

Speedometer/Odometer
Your speedometer lets you see your speed in both miles
per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour
(km/h). Your
odometer shows how far your vehicle has been driven
in
either miles (used in the United States) or .in kilometers
(used in Canada).
Your Pontiac has a tamper-resistant odometer.
If you see
silver lines between the numbers, you’ll know someone
has probably tampered with it and the numbers may not
be correct.
Tachometer
You may wonder what happens if your vehicle needs a
new odometer installed. If
the new one can be set to the
mileage total
of the old odometer, then that will be d’one.
If it can’t, then it will be set at zero and a label must be
put on the driver’s door to show the old mileage reading
when the new odometer was installed.
Trip Odometer
Your trip odometer tells how far you have driven since
you last reset
it. To set it to zero, press the RESET
button on the right side of the instrument cluster.
L
Ill I
3
4
The tachometer displays the engine speed in thousands
of revolutions per minute (rpm).
NOTICE:
Do not operate the engine with the tachometer in
the red area, or engine damage may occur.
2-63
ProCarManuals.com