fuel PONTIAC GRAND AM 2002 Owners Manual

2-18 Parking Lots
Even if you park in a lot where someone will be
watching your vehicle, it's still best to lock it up and
take your keys. But what if you have to leave your key?

If possible, park in a busy, well
-lit area.

Put your valuables in a storage area, like your trunk
or glove box.

Be sure to close and lock the storage area.

Close all windows.

Move the trunk release lockout switch to ON.

Lock the glove box.

Lock all the doors except the driver's.

If your vehicle has a remote keyless entry system,
take the transmitter with you.
Passlock
Your vehicle is equipped with the Passlock
theft
-deterrent system.
Passlock is a passive theft
-deterrent system. Passlock
enables fuel if the ignition lock cylinder has not been
tampered with.
During normal operation, the SECURITY light will go
off approximately five seconds after the ignition key is
turned to ON and the engine is started.
After attempting to start the engine, if the SECURITY
light flashes or stays on, wait ten minutes with the key in
ON until the light goes off. Then turn the ignition to
OFF before attempting to start the engine again.
See ªRoadside Assistanceº in the Index for
more information.

2-23
Engine Coolant Heater (Option)
2.2L L4 ECOTEC Engine
3400 V6 Engine
In very cold weather, 0
F (
-18
C) or colder, the
engine coolant heater can help. You'll get easier
starting and better fuel economy during engine
warm
-up. Usually, the coolant heater should be
plugged in a minimum of four hours prior to starting
your vehicle. At temperatures above 32
F (0
C),
use of the coolant heater is not required.

2-27
THIRD (3): This position is also used for normal
driving, however, 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
between gears.

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.
NOTICE:
Don't drive in SECOND (2) for more than
25 miles (41 km), or 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.
FIRST (1): This position gives you even more power
(but lower fuel economy) than SECOND (2). You can
use it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud. If the
shift lever is put in FIRST (1), the transaxle won't shift
into first gear until the vehicle is going slow enough.

2-29
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 shift lever 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 Equipped)
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.

2-54
Instrument Panel Cluster
Your instrument panel cluster is designed to let you know at a glance how your vehicle is running. You'll know how
fast you're going, how much fuel you have, and many other things you'll need to drive safely and economically.
Your vehicle is equipped with this cluster or one very similar to it. It includes indicator warning lights and gages that
are explained on the following pages. Be sure to read about them.
Automatic Transaxle Cluster shown Manual Transaxle Cluster and Canada Cluster similar

2-63 Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Service Engine Soon Light)
Your vehicle is equipped
with a computer which
monitors operation of the
fuel, ignition and emission
control systems.
This system is called OBD II (On
-Board
Diagnostics
-Second Generation) and is intended
to assure that emissions are at acceptable levels for
the life of the vehicle, helping to produce a cleaner
environment. The SERVICE ENGINE SOON light
comes on to indicate that there is a problem and service
is required. Malfunctions often will be indicated by the
system before any problem is apparent. This may
prevent more serious damage to your vehicle.
This system is also designed to assist your service
technician in correctly diagnosing any malfunction.
NOTICE:
If you keep driving your vehicle with this light
on, after a while, your emission controls may not
work as well, your fuel economy may not be as
good and your engine may not run as smoothly.
This could lead to costly repairs that may not be
covered by your warranty.
NOTICE:
Modifications made to the engine, transaxle,
exhaust, intake or fuel system of your vehicle or
the replacement of the original tires with other
than those of the same Tire Performance Criteria
(TPC) can affect your vehicle's emission controls
and may cause the SERVICE ENGINE SOON
light to come on. Modifications to these systems
could lead to costly repairs not covered by your
warranty. This may also result in a failure to pass
a required Emission Inspection/Maintenance test.

2-64
This light should come on, as a check to show you it is
working, when the ignition is on and the engine is not
running. If the light doesn't come on, have it repaired.
This light will also come on during a malfunction in one
of two ways:

Light Flashing
-- A misfire condition has been
detected. A misfire increases vehicle emissions and
may damage the emission control system on your
vehicle. Dealer or qualified service center diagnosis
and service may be required.

Light On Steady
-- An emission control
system malfunction has been detected on your
vehicle. Dealer or qualified service center diagnosis
and service may be required.
If the Light Is Flashing
The following may prevent more serious damage to
your vehicle:

Reducing vehicle speed.

Avoiding hard accelerations.

Avoiding steep uphill grades.

If you are towing a trailer, reduce the amount of
cargo being hauled as soon as it is possible.If the light stops flashing and remains on steady, see ªIf
the Light Is On Steadyº following.
If the light continues to flash, when it is safe to do so,
stop the vehicle. Find a safe place to park your vehicle.
Turn the key off, wait at least 10 seconds and restart the
engine. If the light remains on steady, see ªIf the Light
Is On Steadyº following. If the light is still flashing,
follow the previous steps, and drive the vehicle to your
dealer or qualified service center for service.
If the Light Is On Steady
You may be able to correct the emission system
malfunction by considering the following:
Did you recently put fuel into your vehicle?
If so, reinstall the fuel cap, making sure to fully install
the cap. See ªFilling Your Tankº in the Index. The
diagnostic system can determine if the fuel cap has been
left off or improperly installed. A loose or missing fuel
cap will allow fuel to evaporate into the atmosphere. A
few driving trips with the cap properly installed should
turn the light off.
Did you just drive through a deep puddle of water?
If so, your electrical system may be wet. The condition
will usually be corrected when the electrical system
dries out. A few driving trips should turn the light off.

2-65
Have you recently changed brands of fuel?
If so, be sure to fuel your vehicle with quality fuel. See
ªFuelº in the Index. Poor fuel quality will cause your
engine not to run as efficiently as designed. You may
notice this as stalling after start
-up, stalling when you
put the vehicle into gear, misfiring, hesitation on
acceleration or stumbling on acceleration. (These
conditions may go away once the engine is warmed up.)
This will be detected by the system and cause the light
to turn on.
If you experience one or more of these conditions,
change the fuel brand you use. It will require at least one
full tank of the proper fuel to turn the light off.
If none of the above steps have made the light turn off,
have your dealer or qualified service center check the
vehicle. Your dealer has the proper test equipment and
diagnostic tools to fix any mechanical or electrical
problems that may have developed.Emissions Inspection and Maintenance Programs
Some state/provincial and local governments have
or may begin programs to inspect the emission
control equipment on your vehicle. Failure to pass
this inspection could prevent you from getting a
vehicle registration.
Here are some things you need to know in order to help
your vehicle pass an inspection:
Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if the
SERVICE ENGINE SOON light is on or not
working properly.
Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if the OBD
(on
-board diagnostic) system determines that critical
emission control systems have not been completely
diagnosed by the system. The vehicle would be considered
not ready for inspection. This can happen if you have
recently replaced your battery or if your battery has run
down. The diagnostic system is designed to evaluate
critical emission control systems during normal driving.
This may take several days of routine driving. If you
have done this and your vehicle still does not pass the
inspection for lack of OBD system readiness, see your
dealer or qualified service center to prepare the vehicle
for inspection.

2-69 Fuel Gage
United States Canada
Your fuel gage tells you about how much fuel you
have left, when the ignition is on. When the indicator
nears empty, the light will come on and you will hear a
chime. 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 full.

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.

The gage moves a little when you turn a corner or
speed up.

The gage goes back to empty when you turn off
the ignition.

3-2
Comfort Controls
With this system, you can control the ventilation
and heating in your vehicle. Your vehicle also has
the flow
-through ventilation system described later
in this section.
Climate Control System with
Air Conditioning
Fan Knob
The left knob regulates the fan speed. To select the force
of air you want, turn the knob. The fan is always
running unless the fan knob is moved to OFF.Temperature Knob
The center knob regulates the temperature of the air
coming through the system.
Mode Knob
The right knob changes the functions of your system.
MAX (Maximum): Use this mode for
maximum cooling. This setting recirculates much of
the air inside your vehicle. It maximizes your air
conditioner's performance and your vehicle's fuel
economy. The air conditioning compressor will run
automatically in this position when it is needed to
help dry the air in the vehicle.
(Vent): In this mode most of the airflow comes
through the instrument panel outlets. A small amount of
air comes through the floor vents. Set the center knob to
the desired temperature for comfort.
(Bi-Level): In this position the airflow
comes through the instrument panel outlets and
through the floor outlets. Set the center knob to the
desired temperature.