PONTIAC PONTIAC 1996 Owners Manual
Page 101 of 370
Lamps
The lamp controls are on the instrument panel.Vhey
control these systems:
Headlamps
Taillamps
Parking Lamps
0 License Lamps
Sidemarker Lamps
0 Instrument Panel Lights
0 Courtesy Lamps
0 Fog Lamps
-:q- Turn the knob to this symbol (B) to turn on the
headlamps and other operating lamps.
pf Turn the knob to this symbol (A) to turn on the
parking
and other operating lamps without the
headlamps.
Turn the knob to OFF to turn off the lamps.
A warning chime will sound when you turn the ignition
switch to the
OFF, LOCK or ACC position with the
lamps on.
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Page 102 of 370
Daytime Running Lamps (Option)
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 aye 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 low-beam 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 will change to
the reduced brightness of DRL.
To idle your vehicle with the DIU off, set the parking
brake while the ignition is in the
OFF or LOCK
position. 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.
Fog Lamps
To turn the fog lamps on, press the top of the fog lamp
switch
(C). Press the bottom of the switch to turn the fog
lamps
off. Your parking lamps must be on, or your fog
lamps won’t come on.
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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Page 103 of 370
Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Brightness Control
You cm brighten or dim the instrument panel lights by
moving the
PANEL dial. If you turn the dial all the way
up, your courtesy or interior lamps will come on.
Courtesy Lamps
When any door is opened, several lamps come on. lltllese
lamps are courtesy lamps. They make it easy for you
to
enter and leave your vehicle. You can also tun these
lamps on by moving the
PANEL dial all the way up.
Some of the lamps have switches
so you can turn them
on, even when the doors are closed. These lamps are
reading lamps. To avoid dtaining your battery, be sure to
turn
off all reading lamps when leaving your vehicle.
Sustained Interior Illumination
Your courtesy lamps will come on and stay on for a set
time whenever
you:
Open a door.
Press UNLOCK on the Remote Lock Control
transmitter (if equipped).
transmitter (if equipped).
Press DOOR on the Remote Lock, Control
If you open a door, the lamps will stay on while it’s open
and then turn off automatically about 18 seconds after
you close
it. If you don”t open a door, the lamps will
turn
off after about 18 seconds, unless you pressed
UNLOCK on the Remote Lock Control transmitter.
If
you pressed UNLOCK and don’t open a door, the lamps
will turn
off after about 55 seconds.
Sustained interior illumination includes a feature called
theater
dimming. With theater dimming, the lamps
don’t just
turn off at the end of the delay time. Instead,
they slowly
dim during the delay time until they go out.
The delay tirne is cancelled if you turn the ignition key to
the
RUN or START position, so the lamps will go out
right away.
When the ignition is
on, sustained interior illumination is
inactive, which means the courtesy lamps won’t come on.
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Page 104 of 370
Rearview Mirror Reading Lamps Roof Console Reading Lamps (Option)
These lamps go on when you open the doors. When the
doors are closed, turn them
on and off with the switches. These
lamps are part
of the optional roof console. They
will
go on when you open the doors. When the doors are
closed, push the button to turn the lamp on and'
off.
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Page 105 of 370
Dome Lamp
The dome lamp will go on when YOU open the doors.
Next to the dome lamp are two reading lamps. Push the
button next
to each lamp to turn them on and oE
Rear Reading Lamps
These lamps are near each passenger’s door. They will
go on when you open the doors. When the doors are
closed, move the switch to turn the lamp on
and off.
Battery Saver
Your vehicle has a feature to help prevent you from
draining the battery, in case you accidentally leave
the
courtesy lamps on. If you leave the PANEL dial turned
all the way
up or if you leave a door open, the lamps
will automatically turn
off after 10 minutes (if the
ignition
is off).
This feature will not turn off the reading lamps, only
the lamps controlled by the
PANEL dial. Be sure to turn
off any reading lamps using the switch before you leave
the vehicle.
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Mirrors Manual Outside Mirrors
To reduce glare from headlamps behind you, push the
lever away from
you (to the night position). To return
the
mirror back to the day position, pull the lever
toward
you.
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Convex Outside Mirror
Your passenger’s side mirror is convex. A convex
mirror’s surface
is curved so you can see more from the
driver’s seat.
A CAUi ION:
A convex mirror can make things (like other
vehicles)
look farther away than they really are.
If you cut too sharply into the right lane, you
codd hit a vehicle on your right. Check your
inside mirror or glance over your shoulder before
changing lanes.
Storage and COrr7artments
Glove Box
Use the door key to lock and unlock the glove box. To
open it, lift the latch.
To use the storage area, fold down the armrest. Press
the latch on the front edge and pull up. To use the
cupholder,
flip it forward. ;.
You may also have an armrest in the rear. It has a
storage area for small items.
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Center Console
To open the storage area, press the latch on the front
edge and pull up. The console has a cupholder, cassette
tape storage and
a coinholder.
Trunk Access Panel (Option)
If you have split rear seats,
you may have a
trunk
access panel. To open, pull
your rear armrest down,
then pull
the latch on the
trunk access panel.
I
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Page 109 of 370
Convenience Net (Option)
Your vehicle may have a convenience net. You’ll see it
on
the back wall of the trunk.
Put small loads, like grocery bags, in the net. It can help
keep them from falling
over during sharp turns or quick
starts and
stops.
The net isn’t for larger, heavier loads. Store them in the
trunk as far forward as you can.
You can unhook the net so that it will lie flat when
you’re
not using it.
Ashtrays and Lighter
The center front ashtray may be on the instrument panel
or on the console. To remove the console ashtray, open
the lid and lift out the ashtray using the snuffer.
For the instrument panel ashtray, open it, push down on
the locking tab and pull out the ashtray.
To remove the rear console ashtray, open it, push down
on the snuffer and pull the ashtray out of the console. To
remove the rear door ashtray, open and pull up on the
ashtray
door.
NOTICE:
Don’t put papers and other things that burn into
your ashtrays.
If you do, cigarettes or other
smoking materials could set them
on fire,
causing damage,
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Page 110 of 370
To use the lighter, just push it in all the way and let go.
When it’s ready, it will pop back by itself.
NOTICE:
Don’t hold a cigarette lighter in with your hand
while it is heating.
If you do, it won’t be able to
back away from the heating element when
it’s
ready. That can make it overheat, damaging the
lighter and the heating element.
Sun Visors
To block out glare, you can swing down the visors. You
can
also move them from side to side.
Visor Vanity Mirrors
Open the cover to expose the vanity mirror. If your
vehicle has the optional hghted vanity mirrors, the
lamps come on when you open
the cover.
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