PONTIAC GRAND-AM 1993 Owners Manual

Your Driving and the Road
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Braking action involves perception time
and reaction time.
First, you have to decide to push on the
brake pedal. That’s perception time.
Then you have to bring up your foot and
do it. That’s reaction time.
Average reaction time is about 34 of a
second. But that’s only
an average. It
might be less with one driver and as
long as two or
three seconds or more
with another. Age, physical condition,
alertness, coordination,
and eyesight all
play a
part. So do alcohol, drugs and
frustration. But even in
34 of a second, a
vehicle moving at
60 mph (100 km/h)
travels
66 feet (20 m). That could be a
lot of distance in
an emergency, so
keeping enough space between your
vehicle and others is important. And,
of course, actual stopping
distances vary greatly with the surface
of the road (whether it’s pavement or
gravel); the condition of the road (wet,
dry, icy); tire tread; and the condition of
your brakes.
Most drivers treat their brakes with
care. Some, however, overwork the
braking system with poor driving habits.
Avoid needless heavy braking. Some
people drive in spurts-heavy
acceleration followed by heavy
braking-rather than keeping
pace
with traffic. This is a mistake. Your
brakes may not have time to cool
between hard stops. Your brakes will
wear out much faster if you
do a lot of
heavy braking.
Don’t “ride” the brakes by letting your
left foot rest lightly on the brake
pedal
while driving.
“Riding” your brakes can
cause them to overheat to the
point that they won’t work well.
You might not be able to stop your
vehicle in time to avoid an
accident.
If you “ride” your
brakes, they will get
so hot they
will require a lot of pedal force to slow you down. Avoid “riding” the
I
I brakes.
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“Riding” the brakes wears them
out much faster. You would need
costly brake replacement
much
sooner than normal, and it also reduces fuel economy. If you keep pace with the traffic and
allow realistic following distances,
you
will eliminate a lot of unnecessary
braking. That means better braking and
longer brake life. If your engine ever stops while you’re
driving, brake normally but don’t
pump your brakes. If you do, the pedal
may get harder to push down. If your
engine stops, you will still have some
power brake assist. But
you will use it
when you brake. Once the power
assist is used up, it may take longer
to
stop and the brake pedal will be
harder to push.
Anti-Lock Bmkes (ABS)
Your Pontiac has an advanced electronic
braking system that will help prevent
skidding.
This light on the instrument panel will
go on when you start your vehicle.
When you
start your vehicle and begin
to drive away you may hear a
momentary motor or clicking noise
and
you may even notice that your brake
pedal moves a little while this is going
on. This is the ABS system testing itself.
If you have your foot on the brake
pedal,
this check won’t happen until the vehicle
goes about
4 mph (6 km/h) or until you
take your foot off the brake pedal.
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...
Your Driving and the Road
Anti-Lock Brakes (CONT.)
After an ABS stop, you may also hear a
clicking noise the next time the vehicle
reaches about
4 mph (6 km/h).
If there’s a problem with the anti-lock
brake system, the anti-lock brake system
warning light will stay
on or flash.
See the
Index under Anti-Lock Brake
System Warning Light.
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Here’s how anti-lock works. Let’s say
the road is wet. You’re driving safely.
Suddenly an animal jumps out in front
You slam on the brakes. Here’s what
happens with ABS.
A computer senses that wheels are
slowing down. The computer separately
works the brakes at each front wheel
and at the rear wheels.
The anti-lock system can change the
of you.
brake pressure faster than any driver
could. The computer
is programmed to
make the most
of available tire and road
conditions. You
can steer around the obstacle while
braking hard.
As you brake, your
computer keeps receiving updates on
wheel speed and controls braking
pressure accordingly.
Anti-lock doesn’t change the
time you need
to get your foot
the brake pedal. If you get
too close to the vehicle in front
of
I you, you won’t have time to apply
your brakes
if that vehicle suddenly
slows or stops. Always leave enough
room up ahead to stop, even though
you have anti-lock brakes.
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To Use Anti-Lock:
Don’t pump the brakes. Just hold the
brake pedal down and let anti-lock work
for
you. You may hear a clicking noise
as you accelerate after a hard stop.
Disc Brake Wear Indicators
Your Pontiac has front disc brakes and
rear drum brakes. Disc brake pads have
built-in wear indicators that make a
high-pitched warning sound when the
brake pads are worn and new pads are
needed. The sound may come and go or
be heard all the time your vehicle is
moving (except when you are pushing
on the brake pedal firmly).
A
The brake wear warning
sound means that sooner
or
later your brakes won’t work well.
That could lead to an accident.
When you hear the brake wear
warning sound, have your vehicle
serviced.
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'Your Driving and the Road
Disc Brake Wear Indicators (CONTJ
I
Continuing to drive with worn-out
brake pads could res
: brake repair. P". I
Some driving conditions or climates
may cause a brake squeal when the
brakes are fmt applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean something
is wrong with your brakes.
Rear Drum Brakes
Your rear drum brakes don't have wear
indicators, but if you ever hear a rear
brake rubbing noise, have the rear brake
linings inspected. When you have the
front brakes replaced, have the rear
brakes inspected, too.
Brake linings should always be replaced
as complete axle sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal does
not return to normal height, or if there
is a rapid increase in pedal travel. This
could be
a sign of brake trouble.
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Brake Aflustment
Every time you make a moderate reverse
brake stop, your brakes adjust for wear.
If you rarely make a moderate or
heavier stop, then your brakes might not
adjust correctly. If you drive
in that way,
then-very carefully-make a few
moderate brake stops about every
1,OOO
miles (1 600 km), so your brakes will
adjust properly.
If your brake pedal goes down farther
than
normal, your rear drum brakes may
need adjustment. Adjust them by
backing up and
firmly applying the
brakes a few times.
Braking In Emergencies
Use your anti-lock braking system when
you need to. With anti-lock, you can
steer and brake at the same time. In
many emergencies, steering can help
you more than even the very best
braking.
Power Steering -
If you lose power steering assist because
the engine stops or the system fails to
function, you can steer but it will
take
much more effort.
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Your Driving and the Road
Variable Effort Steering (omoN)
This steering system provides lighter
steering effort for parking and at low
vehicle speeds. Steering effort will
increase at higher
speeds for improved
road feel.
Steering Tips-Driving on Curves
It’s important to take curves at a
reasonable speed.
A lot of the “driver lost control”
accidents mentioned on the
news happen
on curves. Here’s why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each
of
us is subject to the same laws of physics
when driving on curves. The traction of
the tires against the road surface makes
it possible for the vehicle to change its
path when you
turn the front wheels. If
there’s no traction, inertia will keep the
vehicle going in the same direction. If
you’ve ever tried to steer a vehicle on
wet ice, you’ll understand this. The traction
you
can get in a curve
depends on the condition of your tires
and the road surface, the angle at which
the curve is banked, and your speed.
While you’re
in a curve, speed is the
one factor you can control.
Suppose you’re steering through
a sharp
curve. Then you suddenly accelerate. Those
two control systems-steering
and acceleration-can overwhelm those
places where the tires meet the road and make you lose control.
What should you do if this ever
happens? Let up on the accelerator
pedal, steer the vehicle the way you
want it to go, and slow down.
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Speed limit signs near curves warn that
you should adjust your speed. Of
course, the posted speeds are based
on
good weather and road conditions.
Under less favorable conditions you’ll
want to go slower.
If you need to reduce your speed as you
approach a curve, do it before you enter
the curve, while your front wheels are
straight ahead.
Try to adjust your speed
so you can
“drive” through the curve. Maintain a
reasonable, steady speed. Wait to
accelerate until
you are out of the curve,
and then accelerate gently into the
straightaway.
When
you drive into a curve at night,
it’s harder to see the road ahead of you
because it bends away from the straight
beams of your lights. This is one good
reason to drive slower.
Steering in Emergencies
There are times when steering can be more
effective than braking. For example, you
come over a hill and find a truck stopped
in your lane, or a car suddenly pulls out
from nowhere, or a child darts out from
between parked cars and stops right in
front of you.
You can avoid these
problems by braking-if
you can stop in
time. But sometimes you can’t; there
isn’t
room. That’s the time for evasive
action-steering around the problem.
Your Pontiac can perform very well in
emergencies like these. First apply your
brakes. It is better to remove as much
speed as you can from a possible
collision. Then steer around the
problem, to the left or right depending
on the space available. An emergency like this requires
close
attention and
a quick decision. If you
are holding the steering wheel at the
recommended
9 and 3 o’clock positions,
you can turn it a
full 180 degrees very
quickly without removing either hand.
But
you have to act fast, steer quickly,
and just as quickly straighten the wheel
once
you have avoided the object. You
must then be prepared to steer back to
your original lane and then brake to a
controlled stop.
Depending on your speed, this can
be
rather violent for an unprepared driver.
This is one of the reasons driving
experts recommend that
you use your
safety belts and keep both hands on the
steering wheel.
The fact that such emergency situations
are always possible is a good reason to
practice defensive driving at all times.
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Your Driving and the Road
Off-Road Recovery
You may find sometime that your right
wheels have dropped off the edge of a
road onto the shoulder while you're
driving.
If the level of the shoulder is only
slightly below the pavement, recovery
should be fairly easy. Ease off the
accelerator and then, if there is nothing
in the way, steer
so that your vehicle
straddles the edge of the pavement. You
can turn the steering wheel up
to 94 turn
until the right front tire contacts the
pavement edge. Then turn your steering
wheel to go straight down the roadway.
If the shoulder appears
to be about four
inches
(100 mm) or more below the
pavement, this difference can cause
problems.
If there is not enough room to pull
entirely onto the shoulder and stop,
then follow the same procedures. But
if
the right front tire scrubs against the
side of the pavement, do
not steer more
sharply. With too much steering angle,
the vehicle may jump back onto the road
with
so much steering input that it
crosses over into the oncoming traffic
before you can bring
it back under
control. Instead, ease off again on the
accelerator and steering input, straddle
the pavement once more, then try again.
Passing
The driver of a vehicle about to pass
another on a two-lane highway waits for
just
the right moment, accelerates,
moves around the vehicle ahead, then
goes back into the right lane again.
A
simple maneuver?
Not necessarily! Passing another vehicle
on a two-lane highway
is a potentially
dangerous move, since the passing
vehicle occupies the same lane as oncoming traffic for several seconds.
A
miscalculation, an error in judgment, or
a brief surrender to frustration or anger
can suddenly put the passing driver face
to face with the worst of all traffic
accidents-the head-on collision.
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So here are some tips for passing:
“Drive ahead.” Look down the road,
to the sides, and to crossroads for situations that might affect your
passing patterns. If you have any doubt
whatsoever about making a successful
pass, wait for a better time.
markings, and lines.
If you can see a
sign up ahead that might indicate a
turn or an intersection, delay your
pass.
A broken center line usually
indicates it’s all right to pass (providing
the road ahead is clear). Never cross
a
solid line on your side of the lane or a
double solid line, even if the road
seems empty of approaching traffic.
0 Watch for traffic signs, pavement
If you suspect that the driver of the
vehicle you want to pass isn’t aware of
your presence, tap the horn a couple
of times before passing. Or, you can
use flash-to-pass. See the
Index under
Flash-to-Pass.
Do not get too close to the vehicle you
want to pass while you’re awaiting
an
opportunity. For one thing, following
too closely reduces. your area of
vision, especially if you’re following a
larger vehicle.
Also, you won’t have
adequate space if the vehicle ahead
suddenly slows or stops. Keep back a
reasonable distance.
When it looks like a chance to pass is
coming up,
start to accelerate but stay
in the right lane and don’t get too
close. Time your move
so you will be
increasing speed
as the time comes to
move into the other lane.
If the way is
clear to pass, you will have
a “running
start” that more than makes up for the
distance you would lose by dropping
back. And if something happens
to
cause you to cancel your pass, you
need only slow down and drop back
again and wait for another opportunity.
slow vehicle, wait your
turn. But take
care that someone isn’t trying to pass
you as you pull out
to pass the slow
vehicle. Remember to glance over your
shoulder and check the blind spot.
If other cars are lined up to pass a
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