light PONTIAC GRAND AM 2000 User Guide

2-17
ACC (Accessory) (B): This position unlocks the
transaxle. It also lets you use things like the radio and
windshield wipers when the engine is not running. To
use ACC, turn the key clockwise to the first position.
Use this position if your vehicle must be pushed or
towed, but never try to push
-start your vehicle.
ON (C): This position is where the key returns after
you start your engine and release the switch. The switch
stays in ON when the engine is running. But even when
the engine is not running, you can use ON to operate
your electrical power accessories and to display some
instrument panel warning lights.
START (D): This position starts the engine. When the
engine starts, release the key. The ignition switch will
return to ON for normal driving.
NOTICE:
If your key seems stuck in OFF and you can't
turn it, be sure you are using the correct key; if
so, is it all the way in? Turn the key only with
your hand. Using a tool to force it could break
the key or the ignition switch. If none of this
works, then your vehicle needs service.
Starting Your Engine
Automatic Transaxle
Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
Your engine won't start in any other position
-- that's a
safety feature. To restart when you're already moving,
use NEUTRAL (N) only.
NOTICE:
Don't try to shift to PARK (P) if your vehicle
is moving. If you do, you could damage the
transaxle. Shift to PARK (P) only when your
vehicle is stopped.
Manual Transaxle
The gear selector should be in NEUTRAL and the
parking brake engaged. Hold the clutch pedal to the
floor and start the engine. Your vehicle won't start
if the clutch pedal is not all the way down
-- that's a
safety feature.

2-26
THIRD (3), FOURTH (4) and FIFTH (5): Shift into
THIRD (3), FOURTH (4) and FIFTH (5) the same way
you do for SECOND (2). Slowly let up on the clutch
pedal as you press the accelerator pedal.
To stop, let up on the accelerator pedal and press the brake
pedal. Just before the vehicle stops, press the clutch pedal
and the brake pedal, and shift to NEUTRAL.
NEUTRAL: Use this position when you start or idle
your engine.
REVERSE (R): To back up, press down the clutch
pedal and lift up on the ring on the shift lever to shift
into REVERSE (R). Let up on the clutch pedal slowly
while pressing the accelerator pedal.
NOTICE:
Shift into REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is
stopped. Shifting into REVERSE (R) while your
vehicle is moving could damage your transaxle.
Also, use REVERSE (R), along with the parking brakes,
for parking your vehicle.
Once the transaxle is in REVERSE (R) the ignition can
be turned to OFF and the key removed.
Shift Speeds
CAUTION:
If you skip a gear when you downshift, you could
lose control of your vehicle. You could injure
yourself or others. Don't shift down more than
one gear at a time when you downshift.
Up-Shift Light (Manual Transaxle)
If you have a manual
transaxle, you may have a
SHIFT light. This light will
show you when to shift to
the next higher gear for the
best fuel economy.
When this light comes on, you can shift to the next
higher gear if the weather, road and traffic conditions let
you. For the best fuel economy, accelerate slowly and
shift when the light comes on.

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Parking Brake
To set the parking brake, hold the regular brake pedal
down with your right foot. Pull up on the parking brake
handle. If the ignition is on, the brake system warning
light will come on.To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down. Pull the parking brake handle up until you
can press the release button. Hold the release button in
as you move the brake handle all the way down.
NOTICE:
Driving with the parking brake on can cause
your rear brakes to overheat. You may have to
replace them, and you could also damage other
parts of your vehicle.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on a hill, see
ªTowing a Trailerº in the Index. That section shows
what to do first to keep the trailer from moving.

2-35 Turn and Lane Change Signals
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.
An arrow on the instrument
panel cluster 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 arrows flash
rapidly, a signal bulb may be burned out and other
drivers won't see your turn signal.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 ªFuses and Circuit Breakersº in the Index).
Headlamp High/Low Beam Changer
To change the headlamps
from low beam to high
beam, push forward
on the turn signal/
multifunction lever.
To change the headlamps from high beam to low beam,
pull the turn signal lever backward. If the ignition is on
and the high beams are on, a light on the instrument
panel cluster also will be on.
Flash-to-Pass
This feature lets you use your high-beam headlamps to
signal a driver in front of you that you want to pass.
To use it, pull the turn signal/multifunction lever toward
you until the high
-beam headlamps come on, then
release the lever to turn them off.

2-36 Windshield Wipers
You control the windshield wipers by moving the stalk
with the wiper symbol on it up or down.
For a single wiper cycle, push the stalk down to
MIST, then release it. For more cycles, hold the stalk
down longer.For steady wiping at low speed, move the stalk up to the
LO position. For high
-speed wiping, move the stalk up
further, to HI. To stop the wipers, move the stalk to OFF.
You can set the wiper speed for a long or short delay between
wipes. This can be very useful in light rain or snow.
Move the stalk to INT, then turn the inner band, labeled
INT ADJ, and choose the delay you want. Turn the inner
band up for shorter delay times between wiper cycles.
Turn the band down for a longer delay time between
wiper cycles.
Remember that damaged wiper blades may prevent you
from seeing well enough to drive safely. To avoid damage,
be sure to clear ice and snow from the wiper blades before
using them. If they're frozen to the windshield, carefully
loosen or thaw them. If your blades do become damaged,
get new blades or blade inserts.
Heavy snow or ice can overload your wiper motor. A
circuit breaker will stop the motor until it cools. Clear
away snow or ice to prevent an overload.

2-38 Cruise Control (If Equipped)
The cruise control buttons are located on the bottom of
the steering wheel.
With cruise control, you can maintain a speed of about
25 mph (40 km/h) or more without keeping your foot on
the accelerator. This can really help on long trips. Cruise
control does not work at speeds below 25 mph (40 km/h).When you apply your brakes, the clutch pedal if you
have a manual transaxle or the parking brake, or the
BRAKE light is on the cruise control will turn off.
CAUTION:

Cruise control can be dangerous where you
can't drive safely at a steady speed. So,
don't use your cruise control on winding
roads or in heavy traffic.

Cruise control can be dangerous on
slippery roads. On such roads, fast changes
in tire traction can cause needless wheel
spinning, and you could lose control.
Don't use cruise control on slippery roads.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the enhanced
traction control system begins to limit wheel spin, the
cruise control will automatically disengage. (See ªTraction
Control Systemº or ªEnhanced Traction Systemº in the
Index.) When road conditions allow you to safely use it
again, you may turn the cruise control back on.

2-39
Setting Cruise Control
CAUTION:
If you leave your cruise control switch on when
you're not using cruise, you might hit a button
and go into cruise when you don't want to. You
could be startled and even lose control. Keep the
cruise control switch off until you want to use
cruise control.
1. Press the cruise control ON OFF button.
The indicator on the button will turn on.
2. Get up to the speed you want.
3. Press the SET COAST button and release it. The
CRUISE light on the instrument panel will come on.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.Resuming a Set Speed
Suppose you set your cruise control at a desired speed
and then you apply the brake. This, of course, shuts off
the cruise control. But you don't need to reset it. Once
you're going about 25 mph (40 km/h) or more, you can
press the cruise control RES ACCEL button for about
half a second.
You'll go right back up to your chosen speed and
stay there.
If you press the RES ACCEL button longer than half a
second, the vehicle will keep going faster until you release
the button or apply the brake. So unless you want to go
faster, don't hold down the RES ACCEL button.
Increasing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed.

Use the accelerator pedal to get to the higher speed.
Push the SET COAST button, then release the button
and the accelerator pedal. You'll now cruise at the
higher speed.

2-40

Press the RES ACCEL button. Hold it there until you
get up to the speed you want, and then release the
button. To increase your speed in very small amounts,
press the RES ACCEL button for less than half a
second and then release it. Each time you do this, your
vehicle will go about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster.
The accelerate feature will only work after you turn on
the cruise control by pushing the SET COAST button.
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to reduce your speed while using
cruise control:

Push the SET COAST button until you reach the
lower speed you want, then release it.

To slow down in very small amounts, push SET
COAST button for less than half a second. Each time
you do this, you'll go 1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower.
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 Out of Cruise Control
There are four ways to turn off the cruise control:

Step lightly on the brake pedal.

Press the cruise control RES ACCEL button and the
SET COAST buttons at the same time.

Press the cruise control ON OFF button.

Push the clutch pedal if you have a manual transaxle.
Erasing the Cruise Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition,
your cruise control set speed memory is erased.

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Exterior Lamps
Turn the turn signal lever end cap up one position to
turn on your:

Parking Lamps

Side Marker Lamps

Taillamps

License Plate Lamps

Instrument Panel LightsTurn the turn signal lever end cap up two positions to
turn on your:

Headlamps

Parking Lamps

Sidemarker Lamps

Taillamps

License Plate Lamps

Instrument Panel Lights
Turn the switch to OFF to turn all of the lamps off.
Lamps On Reminder
If you turn off the ignition and open the driver's door while
leaving the lamps on, you will hear a warning chime.

2-42 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.
The DRL system will make your high
-beam headlamps
come on at a reduced brightness when:

The ignition is on,

the headlamp switch is in OFF or you have turned on
your parking lamps,

the light sensor detects daytime light,

the parking brake is released and

the shift lever is not in PARK (P) on vehicles with an
automatic transaxle.When the DRL system is on, the taillamps, sidemarker
lamps, park lamps and instrument panel lights will not
be illuminated.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.Automatic Light Control (ALC)
When it is dark enough outside, your Automatic Light
Control (ALC) will turn on your headlamps along with
other lamps such as the taillamps, sidemarker lamps,
park lamps and the instrument panel lights. The radio
lights will also be dim.
Your vehicle is equipped with a light sensor on the top
of the instrument panel under the defroster grill, so be
sure it is not covered. This will cause the ALC system to
be on whenever the ignition is on.
The ALC system may also come on when driving
through a parking garage, heavy overcast weather or a
tunnel. This is normal.