PONTIAC GRAND-AM 1994 Owners Manual

Features & Controls
Instrument Panel Clusters
Your Pontiac is equipped with one of these instrument panel clusters, which includes
indicator warning lights and gages that are explained on the foilowing pages. Be sure to
read about those that apply to the instrument panel cluster for your vehicle.
Standard Cluster
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Optional Cluster L
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Features & Controls
Speedometer and
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
U.S.) or kilometers (used in Canada).
Tamper Resistant
Odometer
Your Pontiac has a tamper resistant
odometer.
If you see silver lines between
the numbers, you’ll know that someone
has probably tried to turn it back,
so the
numbers may not be true.
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 it must be. But
if
it can’t, then it’s 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
The trip odometer can tell you how far
you have driven since you last reset it.
To
reset the trip odometer to zero, press the
knob to the right of the gage.
Tachometer (OPTION)
The tachometer shows your engine speed
in revolutions per minute (rpm).
I NOTICE:
I
Do not run your engine at speeds in
the red area, or engine damage may
I
I Occur.
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Warning Lights, Gages
and Indicators
This section describes the warning lights
and gages that may be on your vehicle. The pictures will help you locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that
something is wroug before it becomes
serious enough to cause an expensive
repair or replacement. Paying attention to
your warning lights and gages could also
save you
or others from injury.
Warning lights go on when there may be
Dr is a problem with one of your vehicle’s
functions. As you will see
in the details
on the next few pages, some warning
lights come on briefly
when you turn the
ignition key just to let you know they’re
working. If you are familiar with this
section, you should not be alarmed when
this happens.
Gages can indicate when there may be or
is a problem with one of your vehicle’s
functions. Often gages and warning lights
work together to let you know when
there’s a problem with your vehicle.
When one of the warning lights comes on
and stays on when you are driving, or
when one of the gages shows there may
be a problem, check the section that tells
you what to do about
it. Please follow the
manual’s advice. Waiting to do repairs
can
be costly -- and even dangerous. So
please get to know your warning lights
and gages. They’re
a big help.
Fuel Gage
Your fuel gage tells you about how much
fuel you have left, when the ignition is on.
When
the indicator nears “E” (Empty),
you still have a little
fuel left, but you
should get more soon.
Here are four things that some owners ask
about. None of these show a problem with
your fuel gage:
At the service station, the gas pump
shuts off before the gage reads “F”
(Full).
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Features & Controls
Fuel Gage (CONT.)
0 It takes a little more or less fuel to fill
up than the gage indicated. For
example, the gage may have indicated
the tank was half full, but it actually
took a little more or less than half the
tank’s capacity to fill the tank.
0 The gage moves a little when you turn
a corner or speed up.
0 The gage doesn’t go back to “E” when
you turn off the ignition.
For your fuel tank capacity, see “Service
Station Information”
on the last page of
this manual.
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning
Light
This light tells you that your engine
coolant has overheated or your radiator
cooling fan is not working.
If you have been operating your vehicle
under normal driving conditions, you should pull
off the road, stop your vehicle
and
turn the engine off as soon as possible
HOT COOLANT CAN BURN YOU
BADLY!
In “Problems on the Road”, this manual
shows what to do. See “Engine
Overheating” in the Index.
Engine Coolant
Temperature Gage
This gage shows the engine coolant
temperature. If the gage pointer moves
into the red area, your engine is too hot!
That reading means the same thing as the
warning light. It means that your engine
coolant has overheated.
If you have been operating your vehicle
under normal driving conditions, you
should pull
off the road, stop your vehicle
and
turn off the engine as soon as possible.
HOT COOLANT CAN BURN YOU
BADLY!
In “Problems on the Road”, this manual shows what to do. See “Engine
Overheating” in the Index.
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LOW
COOLANT
Low Coolant Warning
Light
F this light comes on and stays on, the
ehicle should be promptly pulled off the
Dad and the coolant level checked. See
Engine Coolant” in the Index. If there
re visible signs of steam see “Engine
herheating” in the Index before opening
le hood.
V6 Engine
Low Engine
Oil Level
Warning Light
Your vehicle may be equipped with an oil
level monitoring system. When the
ignition key is turned on, the light will
briefly flash. If the light stays on, stop the
vehicle on a level surface and turn the
engine off. Check the oil level using the
engine oil dipstick. (See the Index under
“Engine Oil.”) If the light does not flash,
have the low oil level sensor system
repaired
so it will be ready to warn you if
there’s a problem.
NOTE: The oil level monitoring system
only checks oil level during the brief
period between key on and and engine
crank.. It does not monitor engine ail level
when the engine
is running. Additionally,
an oil level check is only performed if the
engine has been turned off for a
considerable period of time allowing the
oil normally in circulation to drain back
into the oil pan.
Oiil Warning Light
If you have a problem with your oil, this
light may stay on after you start your
engine, or come on when you are driving.
This indicates that oil is not going through
your engine quickly enough to
keep it
lubricated. The engine could be low on
oil, or could have some other oil problem.
Have
it fixed right away.
The oil light could also come on in three
other situations:
0 When the ignition is on but the engine
is not running, the light will come on
as a test to show you it is working, but
the light will go out when you turn the
ignition to “Start”. If it doesn’t come
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Features & Controls
Oil Warning Light (CONT.)
on with the ignition on, you may have
a problem with the fuse or bulb. Have
it fixed right away.
0 Sometimes when the engine is idling
at a stop, the light may blink
on and
off. This is normal.
0 If you make a hard stop; the light may
come
on for a moment. This is normal.
NOTICE:
Damage to your engine from
neglected oil problems can be costly
and is
not covered by your warranty.
?heck Oil Light
’his light should come on briefly when
‘ou turn your ignition key to
RUN. It alsi
omes
on and stays on when the oil level
n your vehicle is low. If this happens,
ark your vehicle
in a level place, check
our oil level and bring the engine oil up
its proper level. See “Engine Oil” in th
Idex.
ENQINE
SOON
Oil Pressure Gage
The oil pressure gage shows the engine
oil pressure
in psi (pounds per square
inch) when the engine is running.
Canadian vehicles indicate pressure in
kPa. Oil pressure may vary with engine
speed, outside temperature and oil
viscosity, but readings above the red
warning zone indicate the normal
operating range.
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A reading in the red zone may be caused
by a dangerously low oil level or other
problem causing low oil pressure. Have
your vehicle serviced immediately.
NOTICE:
Damage to your engine from
neglected oil problems can be costly
and is not covered
by your warranty.
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3harging System Light
'he charging system light will come on
riefly when you turn on
the ignition, but
le engine is not running, as a check to
low you
it is working. Then it should gc
ut. If it stays on when your engine is
Inning, or comes on while you are
riving, you may have a problem
with thc
lectrical charging system. It could
tdicate that you have a loose generator
rive belt or another electrical problem.
ave
it checked right away. Driving whih
lis light is on could drain your battery.
'you must drive a short distance with thc
ght on, be certain to turn off all your
xessories, such as the radio and air
mditioner.
Voltmeter (OPTION)
When your engine is not running, this
gage shows the condition
of your
charging system.
When your engine is not running, but the
ignition is on (in the Run position), the
gage shows your battery's state
of charge
in DC volts. Readings between the red
warning zones indicate the normal
operating range.
Readings in either red warning zone
indicate a possible problem in the
electrical system. Have your vehicle
serviced immediately.
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Features & Controls
BRAKE
Brake System Warning
light
four Pontiac’s hydraulic brake system is
!ivided into two parts. If one part isn’t
qorking, the other part can still work and
top you. For good braking, though, you
leed both parts working well.
f the warning light comes on, there coulc
le a brake problem. Have your brake
ystem inspected right away.
ihis light should come on as you start tht
lehicle. If it doesn’t come
on then, have i
ixed so it will be ready to warn you if
here’s a problem.
[f the light comes on while you are
hiving, pull
off the road and stop
zarefully. You may notice that the pedal is
harder to push. Or, the pedal may go
;loser to the floor. It may take longer to
stop. If the light is still on, or if the
anti-lock brake system warning light is
flashing, have the vehicle towed for
service. (See “Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light” and “Towing Your Car”
in the Index.)
The brake system warning light will also
come on when you set your parking
brake, and it will stay on if your parking
brake doesn’t release fully. If it stays on
after your parking brake is fully released,
it means you have a brake problem.
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anti-Lock Brake System
Naming Light
Vith anti-lock, this light will come on
{hen you start your engine and it will
tay on for three seconds. That’s normal.
F the light doesn’t come on, have it fixed
D it will be ready to warn you if there is 2
roblem.
1 the light flashes when you’re driving,
ou don’t have anti-lock brakes and
lere’s a problem with your regular
rakes. Pull off the road and stop arefully. You may notice that the pedal
is
arder to push. Or, the pedal may go
loser to the floor. It may take longer to
:op. Have the vehicle towed for service.
See “Towing Your Car”
in the Index.)
If the anti-lock brake system warning
light stays on longer than normal after
you’ve started your engine, turn the
ignition
off. Or, if the light comes on and
stays on when you’re driving, stop as
soon as possible and turn the ignition off.
Then start the engine again to reset the
system.
If the light still stays on, or comes
3n again while you’re driving, your
Pontiac needs service.
If the light is on
but not flashing and the regular brake
system warning light isn’t on, you still
nave brakes, but you don’t have anti-lock
xakes.
Shift Light
(MANUAL TRA NSAXL E)
This light comes on when you need to
shift to the next higher gear. See “Manual
Transaxle”
in the Index.
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