headlamp PONTIAC PONTIAC 1997 Owners Manual
[x] Cancel search | Manufacturer: PONTIAC, Model Year: 1997, Model line: PONTIAC, Model: PONTIAC PONTIAC 1997Pages: 419, PDF Size: 19.67 MB
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v Section 2 Features and Controls 
Here you can learn  about  the  many standard and  optional  features on your Pontiac,  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. 
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2-3 1 
Important Information About Keys 
Door Locks 
Remote Keyless Entry  Battery Replacement  for  RKE 
Preventing  Theft 
of Your  Vehicle 
New  Vehicle  “Break-In” 
Ignition  Positions 
Tips  on Starting  Your Engine 
Using  the Engine Coolant Heater 
Automatic Transaxle Operation 
Parking  Brake Guidelines 
Important  Information  on Engine Exhaust 
Operation  of  Your Windows 
Adjusting  the Tilt Steering Wheel  2-32 
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Functions  of the  Multifunction  Lever 
How  to Use the  HighLow  Beam 
Headlamp Changer 
Windshield Wipers and  Fluid 
Using  Cruise  Control 
Exterior  Lamps 
Daytime Running Lamps 
(DRL) 
Interior  Lamps 
Rearview  Mirrors 
Storage  Compartments 
Instrument  Panel  Overview 
All  About  Your Warning  Lights and Gages 
Driver  Information  Center 
Head-Up Display 
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Operation 
3-Button Key Fob 4-Button Key Fob 
Remote  All Door Lock 
To lock  all doors, press LOCK on the  key  chain 
transmitter (see “Power Door Locks”  in the Index 
for more details 
on power door lock features). If your 
vehicle is equipped with the Content Theft-Deterrent  system, the 
LOCK button  may arm the system 
(see “Content Theft-Deterrent”  in the Index for 
more  details). 
Remote  Driver’s  Door  and  All  Door  Unlock 
When  you press UNLOCK on the key chain  transmitter, 
only the driver’s door  will unlock. 
If you press 
UNLOCK again within  five seconds,  all the doors  will 
unlock. 
If you  would like  all doors  to unlock the first 
time  you press  UNLOCK,  see  “Locks and Lighting 
Choices” in the Index.  If your vehicle 
is equipped with 
the Content Theft-Deterrent  system, the  UNLOCK 
button on the key chain transmitter  will disarm the 
system  (see “Content Theft-Deterrent”  in the  Index 
for more details). 
Remote  Trunk  Release 
Press the trunk symbol  on your key chain transmitter to 
open your trunk. The transaxle must be in PARK (P) for 
this feature to operate. 
Remote  Alarm (If Equipped) 
When  you press the horn button  on the key chain 
transmitter, your  vehicle’s headlamps will flash and  the 
horn  will sound. This will allow  you to attract attention, 
if  needed. 
Remote  Lock/Unlock  Confirmation (If Equipped) 
This feature provides feedback  to the holder  of the key 
chain transmitter  that a command has been received  by 
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the Remote Lock Control receiver. To signal  that  a 
command has  been received,  the headlamps will flash 
and  the horn  will sound  briefly. 
To program the  various 
modes  available,  see “Locks and Lighting Choices” in 
the  Index. 
Matching Transmitter(s) To Your Vehicle 
Each  key  chain transmitter  is coded to prevent  another 
transmitter 
from unlocking  your  vehicle. If a  transmitter 
is lost  or stolen,  a  replacement  can ble  purchased  through 
your dealer.  Remember  to  bring  any  remaining 
transmitters 
with you  when you go to your  dealer.  When 
the  dealer  matches the  replacement  transmitter  to your 
vehicle,  any  remaining transmitters  must also be matched. 
Once  your  dealer  has  coded the new  transmitter,  the  lost 
transmitter  will  not  unlock  your  vehicle.  Each  vehicle 
can 
have  only four transmitters  matched  to it, 
Battery Replacement 
Under normal use, the battiry in your remote keyless 
entry transmitter should last about two  years. 
You  can  tell 
the battery is weak if the  transmitter  won’t 
work  at  the 
normal range  in  any  location. If you have  to 
get  close  to  your  vehicle  before 
the transmitter  works,  it’s 
probably  time 
to change the battery. 
To replace your  battery: 
1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 
5, 
Insert a flat object like a dime  into the slot  ‘on the side 
of the trmsdtter md twist to separate the halves. 
Gently 
pry the battery out of the  transmitter. Do not 
use metal flanges to “pop out”  the  battery. 
Put 
the new battery  into the transmitter as shown on 
the transmitter 
(use a type CR2032 battery). 
Rleassemblle the transmitter. Make sure the halves are 
snapped together tightly so water will not get in, 
Check  the  transmitter  operation. If needed, follow the 
instructions  on  resynchronizing your remote  transmi~r. 
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Parking at Night 
Park in a lighted spot, close all windows and lock your 
vehicle. Remember to keep your valuables out  of sight. 
Put them  in a storage area, 
or take them with you. 
Parking Lots 
If you  park  in a lot  where someone  will be watching 
your  vehicle,  it’s  best to  lock 
it up and  take your keys. 
But what 
if you  have to leave your ignition key?  What if 
you  have to leave something valuable in your vehicle? 
Put your  valuables  in a storage area,  like your trunk 
or  glove box. 
0 Lock the glove box. 
0 Lock  all doors except the driver’s. 
0 Give the valet key  to the valet. Then take the master 
key  with  you. 
Content  Theft-Deterrent (If Equipped) 
If your Grand Prix has this option,  it  has a 
theft-deterrent alarm system. 
A red light located on  top of your instrument panel (near 
the center 
of the vehicle, next  to the windshield) will 
flash  slowly  when the  system  is  armed. 
While armed,  the doors  will not unlock with the power 
lock switch.  The alarm will go 
off if someone damages 
the vehicle, tampers with  the trunk lock, enters the 
vehicle (without  using the key  chain transmitter or key 
to unlock the doors),  or turns 
the ignition on.  Your horn 
will sound and your headlamps will flash 
for up to two 
minutes.  The system will  also cut 
off the fuel supply, 
preventing the vehicle 
from being driven. 
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Arming  with  the  Power  Lock  Switch 
Your alarm system will  arm when you use either power 
lock  switch to  lock the doors  while any door  is open and 
the  key  is removed from  the  ignition (if  you would like 
to  turn  off the  power  door  lock switch arming,  see 
“Locks and Lighting Choices” 
in the Index).  The 
security  light  flashes  quickly to  let 
you know when the 
system  is ready to arm with  the power door switches. 
The security light will 
stop flashing and stay on,  when 
you  press the  rear 
of the power lock switch,  to  let you 
know the system  is arming. After all doors  are closed 
and locked, the security light will begin flashing at a 
very  slow  rate to let you  know the system  is armed. 
Arming  with  the Key Chain  Transmitter 
Your  alarm  system  will  arm  when  you  use  your  key chain 
transmitter  to lock  the  doors  while  the  key  is  removed 
from the  ignition.  The  security  light will  turn  on to let you 
know  the  system  is  arming.  After  all  doors  are  closed  and  locked,  the  security  light  will  begin  flashing 
at a very  slow 
rate to let you know the system is armed. 
Arming  Confirmation 
If remote  unlock  confirmation  is  on (see  “Locks  and  Lighting 
Choices”  in  the  Index),  your  headlamps  will  flash  briefly  to 
let  you 
know when  your  alarm  system  has  armed. 
Disarming  with  the  Key.  Chain  Transmitter 
Your alarm system  will  disarm  when you use your key 
chain  transmitter to unlock  the  doors. The security light 
will  stop  flashing 
to let you know  the system  is  disarmed. 
Disarming  with Your Key 
Your  alarm system will disarm when you  use your key 
to unlock the doors.  The security  light  will  stop  flashing 
to  let 
you know the  system is  disarmed.  If you would 
like your key  to disarm  the alarm  system, 
see “Locks 
and Lighting Choices” in the Index. 
Nuisance  Alarms 
If you  experience  nuisance alarms (alarms  which are not 
caused  by 
the opening of a door  and are not  desirable), 
you may  need to reduce  the  damage detection  sensitivity. 
Try programming  your  Content  Theft-Deterrent  to  mode 
1, see “Locks  and  Lighting  Choices”  in the  Index. If you 
continue 
to experience  nuisance  alarms,  you  may  want to 
try turning off damage  detection  by  programming  your 
Content  Theft-Deterrent 
to mode 2, see “Locks and 
Lighting  Choices” 
in the  Index. 
If you are still having trouble  with  nuisance  alarms,  you 
can turn off the Content Theft-Deterrent  system by 
programming your Content Theft-Deterrent  to  mode 
3, 
see “Locks and Lighting Choices” in the  Index. See your 
dealer 
or a qualified technician for service. 
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Wm Signal/Multifunction Lever 
1 
I 
Turn  Signal  and  Lane  Change  Indicator 
The turn  signal  has two upward (for right) and two 
downward  (for left) positions.  These  positions  allow 
you 
to signal a turn or a  lane change. 
To  signal  a 
turn, move  the  lever  all  the way  up  or  down. 
When 
the turn  is finished, the lever  will return automatically. 
The  lever 
on the left  side of the steering column 
includes your: 
Turn  Signal  and Lane  Change Indicator 
0 Headlamp High/Low Beam 
0 Windshield Wipers 
Windshield  Washer 
Cruise  Control (If Equipped) 
c: 
I 
An arrow on the  instrument 
panel  will flash  in the 
direction  of the turn  or 
lane  change. 
To  signal 
a lane  change,  just raise or lower  the  lever 
until the arrow starts to flash. Hold  it  there until 
you 
complete your  lane change.  The  lever  will return by 
itself when you release  it. 
As you signal a turn  or a lane  change,  if the  arrow 
flashes  faster than normal, 
a signal  bulb may be burned 
out and other drivers won’t  see your turn signal. 
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If a bulb is burned out,  replace  it  to help avoid an 
accident. 
If the  arrows  don’t go on at all when  you 
signal  a turn,  check  for  burned-out  bulbs and then check 
the  fuse  (see  “Fuses and  Circuit Breakers” in the Index). 
A chme will sound if you leave  your turn signal on  for 
more than 
3/4 mile (1.2 km). 
Headlamp  HigWLow  Beam 
To  change your headlamps 
from low beam to  high 
beam,  or high  to low,  pull 
the multifunction lever  all 
the  way  toward you. Then 
release it. When the high 
beams are on, a light  on the 
instrument  panel also will 
be 
on. 
Flash-to-Pass 
When your headlamps  are off, pull the lever toward  you 
to momentarily switch on  the  high beams (to signal that 
you are going to pass). When  you release  the lever they 
will 
turn off. 
Windshield  Wipers 
You  control  the  windshield wipers  by turning the band 
marked 
WIPER. For a  single  wiping  cycle, turn the band 
to MIST. Hold  it  there  until  the  wipers start, then  let go. 
The wipers  will stop after  one cycle. If you want more 
cycles, hold  the band  on 
MIST longer. 
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Passing  Another  Vehicle  While  Using  Cruise  Control 
Use the accelerator  pedal  to increase your  speed. When 
you  take your  foot off the pedal, 
your vehicle  will slow 
down  to  the cruise  control speed 
you set earlier. 
Using Cruise Control  on  Hills 
How well your  cruise  control  will work on hills depends 
upon  your speed,  load and the  steepness  of the hills. 
When  going up steep hills, 
you may  have  to step  on the 
accelerator pedal  to maintain 
your speed.  When going 
downhill,  you  may have to brake  or  shift 
to a lower gear 
to  keep your speed down. 
Of course, applying the brake 
takes you out of cruise control, Many  drivers  find this to 
be too much trouble and  don't use cruise control  on 
steep hills. 
Ending Cruise  Control 
There  are two ways  to turn off the  cruise  control: 
Step lightly on the brake pedal; OR 
Move the cruise switch to OFF. 
Erasing  Cruise  Speed  Memory 
When  you  turn off the  cruise  control or the ignition,  or 
shift  into 
PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N), your cruise 
control set speed memory  is erased. 
Lamps 
The lamp controls  are located  on  the lower, left  side  of 
the instrument panel, to  the  left 
of the  steering  wheel. 
They  control  these  systems: 
Headlamps 
@ Taillamps 
Parking Lamps 
License Lamps 
0 Sidemarker Lamps 
0 Instrument  Panel  Lights 
0 Courtesy Lamps 
0 Fo'g Lamps 
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go : Turn the knob to this symbol to turn on the headlamps 
and  other  operating  lamps. 
PG: Turn the knob to this symbol to turn on the parking 
and other  operating  lamps without the headlamps. 
Turn  the knob  to 
OFF to  turn off the lamps. 
Daytime  Running Lamps 
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. 
A light sensor on top of the  instrument panel makes  the 
DRL work, so be  sure  it  isn't  covered. 
The  DRL system will  make your low-beam  headlamps 
come  on at a reduced  brightness  when: 
0 The ignition is  on, 
0 The headlamp switch is off,  and 
0 The parking brake is released. 
When  the 
DRL are  on,  only  your  low-beam  headlamps 
will be  on.  The taillamps,  sidemarker and other  lamps 
won't  be on.  Your  instrument  panel  won't  be lit  up  either. 
When  it's  dark  enough  outside,  your  headlamps  will  change  to full brightness.  The other  lamps  that  come  on 
with  your  headlamps  will  also  come on. 
When  it's  bright  enough outside,  the regular  lamps will 
go  out,  and your low-beam  headlamps change to  the 
reduced brightness  of DRL. 
To  idle your  vehicle with the  DRL  off, set  the  parking 
brake while  the ignition is  in 
OFF or  LOCK.  Then start 
your vehicle.  The DRL  will stay 
off until  you release  the 
parking brake. 
As with  any vehicle, you should turn on the regular 
headlamp system when you need  it. 
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Fog Lamps Interior  Lamps 
Instrument Panel Intensity Control 
The fog lamps  switch  is located in the upper, left  corner of the 
instrument  panel, to the left  of the instrument  panel  cluster. 
To turn the fog lamps on, press the right  side of the fog 
lamps switch. A light will glow on the switch to  let you 
know that they are on. (Your parking  lamps must be on, 
or 
your fog  lamps won’t come  on.) Press the  left  side of 
the switch to turn the fog lamps off. 
You can brighten  or dim  the  instrument  panel lights by 
moving the  interior  lamps dial. Turn the dial to the  right 
to increase  the brightness of the instrument  panel  lights, 
to  the left  to  decrease  the  brightness.  Turn the  control 
all the way to the left to turn  them off. 
The fog lamps  will 
go off whenever you change to 
high-beam headlamps. When you return  to low beams. 
the  fog  lamps will  come on again. 
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