ignition PONTIAC GRAND-AM 1993 User Guide
[x] Cancel search | Manufacturer: PONTIAC, Model Year: 1993, Model line: GRAND-AM, Model: PONTIAC GRAND-AM 1993Pages: 306, PDF Size: 15.39 MB
Page 64 of 306

1.
Parking Brake
To Set the Parking Brake:
Hold the regular brake pedal down with
your right foot. Push down the parking
brake pedal with your left foot.
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
BRAKE RELEASE lever.
%riving with the parking
can cause your
rear
overheat. You may have to replace
them,
and you could also damage
other parts of your vehicle.
If You are on a Hill:
See the Index under Parking on Hills.
That section shows how to turn your
front wheels.
If You are Towing a Trailer and are
Parking on a Hill:
See the Index under Towing a Trailer.
That section shows what to do first to
keep the trailer from moving.
ProCarManuals.com
Page 65 of 306

Shifting Into P (Park)
(AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE)
A
It can be dangerous to get out
of your vehicle if the shift
I
lever is not fully in P (Park) with
the parking brake firmly set. Your
vehicle can roll.
If you have left the engine running
the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured.
Tc
be sure your vehicle won’t move,
when you’re on fairly level ground,
use the steps that follow. If you arc
parking on a hill, or if you’re
I
pulling a trailer, also see the Inden
under ParkinP 01 lills or %wing .
“rail
I
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your
right foot and set the parking brake.
8.. 64
2. Move the shift lever into P (Park)
position like this:
Hold in the button on the lever.
Push the lever all the way toward
the front of your vehicle.
3. Move the ignition key to Lock.
4. Remove the key and take it with you.
If you can walk away from your
vehicle
with the ignition key in your
hand, your vehicle is in
P (Park).
Leaving Your Vehicle With the
Engine Running
(AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE)
It is dangerous to leave your
running. Your vehicle could move
suddenly
if the shift lever is not
fully
in P (Park) with the parking
brake firmly set. And,
if you leave
the vehicle
with the engine
running,
it could overheat and even
catch fire. You or others could be
injured. Don’t leave your vehicle
with the engine
rumins unless you,
have to.
h- *2-- ;,a,:+h .u ’ -. :.
L vehicle with the engine
i- ’-
ProCarManuals.com
Page 66 of 306

If you have to leave your vehicle with
the engine running, be sure your vehicle
is in
P (Park) and your parking brake is
firmly set before you leave it. After
you’ve moved the
shift lever into the
P (Park) position, hold the regular brake
pedal down. Then, see if you can move
the shift lever away from
P (Park)
without first pushing the button.
If you can, it means that the shift lever
wasn’t fully locked into
P (Park).
Shifting Out of P (Park)
(AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE)
Your Pontiac has a brake-transaxle shift
interlock. You have to
apply your
regular brake
before you can shift from
P (Park) when the ignition is in the Run
position. See the Index under Automatic
Transaxle.
If you cannot shift out of P (Park), ease
pressure on the shift lever-push the
shift lever all the way into
P (hrk)- as
you maintain brake application. Then
move the shift lever into the gear you
wish. (Press the shift lever button before
moving the shift lever.) If you ever hold the
brake pedal down
but still can’t shift out
of P (Park), try
this:
1. Turn the key to Off.
2. Apply and hold the brake until the
3. Shift to N (Neutral).
4. Start the vehicle and then shift to the
drive gear you want.
5. Have the vehicle fixed as soon as you
can. end of Step
4.
65
ProCarManuals.com
Page 69 of 306

...
Features & Controls
Ti/t Steering Wheel (opTIoN)
A tilt steering wheel allows you to
adjust the steering wheel before you
drive.
You can also raise it to the highest level
to give your legs more room when
you
exit and enter the vehicle.
To tilt the wheel, hold the steering
wheel and pull the lever.
Move the steering wheel to a comfort-
able level, then release the lever to lock
the wheel in place.
38
Windows
On a vehicle with manual windows, use
the window crank to open and close
each window.
I N21
Power Windows (opTIoN)
With power windows, switches on the
center console control each of the
windows when the ignition is
on. In
addition, each passenger door has a
control switch for its own window.
The driver’s window switch has an Auto
Down feature. The driver’s window can
be opened to any position by pushing
the rear of the switch to the first detent.
When the switch is fully depressed, the
window will go down all the way.
To stop the window while it
is lowering,
press the switch, then release.
To raise the window, press and hold the
switch forward.
ProCarManuals.com
Page 75 of 306

Features & Controls
I
I'
To Get Out of Cruise Control
There are two ways to turn off the cruise
control:
Step lightly on the brake pedal or push
the clutch pedal, if you have
a manual
transaxle; OR
Move the cruise switch to OFF.
To Erase Cruise Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or
the ignition, your cruise control set
speed memory is erased.
74
. .. .. .. . , .. PN210!
Light Controls
Parking Lights:
Rotate the switch up to pf to turn on
Parking Lights
Side Marker Lights
Taillights
Instrument Panel Lights
Headlights:
Rotate the switch to , , ,- to turn on:
Headlights
Parking Lights
Side Marker Lights
Taillights
Instrument Panel Lights
Rotate the switch
to OF" to turn all the
lights off.
-'D
Operation of Lights
Although your vehicle's lighting system
(headlamps, parking lamps, fog lamps,
side marker lamps and taillamps) meets
all applicable federal lighting requirements,
certain states and provinces may apply
their own lighting regulations that may
require special attention before you
operate these lamps. For example, some
jurisdictions may require that you
operate your lower beam lamps with fog
lamps at all times, or that headlamps be
turned
on whenever you must use your
windshield wipers.
In addition, most
jurisdictions prohibit driving solely with
parking lamps, especially at dawn
or
dusk. It is recommended that you check
with your own state
or provincial
highway authority for applicable lighting
regulations.
c ProCarManuals.com
Page 76 of 306

lights On Reminder
If you open the driver’s door while
leaving the lights on, you will hear a
warning chime.
Daytime Running lights
(CANADA ONLY)
The Canadian federal government has
decided that Daytime Running Lights
(DRL) are a useful feature, in that DRL
can make your vehicle more visible to
pedestrians and other drivers during
daylight hours. DRL are required on
new vehicles sold in Canada.
Your DRL work with a light sensor
on
top of the instrument panel. Don’t cover
it up.
The high beam headlights will come on
at reduced brightness in daylight when:
The ignition is on
The headlight switch is off, and
The parking brake is released on a
manual transaxle; or
The shift lever is shifted out of
P (Park) or N (Neutral) on an
automatic transaxle. At
dusk, the exterior lights and
headlights will come on automatically.
At dawn, the exterior lights will go out
and the high beams will change to the
reduced brightness
of DRL again (if the
headlight switch is
off).
Of course, you may still turn on the
headlights any time you need to.
To idle your vehicle with the DRL
off,
set the parking brake on a manual
transaxle or put the vehicle in
P (Park)
or
N (Neutral) on an automatic
transaxle, while the ignition is in the
Off or Lock position. Then start the
vehicle. The DRL will
stay off until you
release the parking brake on a manual
transaxle or shift out
of P (Park) or
N (Neutral) on an automatic transaxle.
75
ProCarManuals.com
Page 79 of 306

Features & Controls
Trunk Light
This light comes on when you open
your trunk. It also comes on when you
open the doors or turn on the courtesy
lights.
78
Battery Rundown Protection
Your Pontiac is equipped with a Battery
Rundown Protection feature designed to
protect your vehicle’s battery.
When any interior light (trunk, reading,
footwell or glove box) is left on when
the ignition is turned off, the Battery
Rundown Protection system will
automatically shut the light off after
20
minutes. This will avoid draining the
battery.
To reactivate the interior lights, either:
The ignition must be turned on
The activated light switch must be
turned off and then on, OR
A front door must be opened. The Battery Rundown Protection feature
will
also be activated when any door of
your vehicle is left open.
Also,
if your vehicle is left with the
ignition turned
off for over 24 days,
battery power to your clock and audio
system will be turned off to reduce
battery drain. When the ignition is
turned on again, battery power will
be
resupplied. However, under these
conditions, it will be necessary to reset
the clock and audio system settings.
ProCarManuals.com
Page 88 of 306

The lnstrument Panel-
bur Information System
Your instrument panel 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’re using, and
many other things you’ll need to drive
safely and economically.
The main components
of your
instrument panel are:
1. Fog Light Switch
2. Instrument Panel Intensity
3. Side Vent
4. Turn SignaUHeadlight Beam Lever Control/Interior Lights Switch
5. Hazard Warning Flashers Switch
6. Instrument
Cluster
7. Windshield Wiper/Washer Stalk
8. Center Vent
9. Audio System
1 0. Side Vent
1 1. Side Window Defogger Vent
12. Glove Box
1 3. Climate Control System
14. Ashtray/Lighter
15. Gear Shift Lever
16. Rear Window Defogger (Option)
17. Ignition Switch
18. Horn
1 9. Tilt Steering Wheel Lever (Option)
20. Parking Brake Release Lever
21. Hood Release Handle
22. Fuse Panel
I
ProCarManuals.com
Page 92 of 306

Warning Lights,
Gages
Tachometer (omtoN)
The tachometer shows your engine
speed in revolutions per minute (rpm).
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 wrong 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
or 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.
91
ProCarManuals.com
Page 93 of 306

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 gas station, the gas pump shuts
off before the gage reads
F (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
The gage doesn’t go back to E when
For your fuel tank capacity, see
Service
Station Information
on the last page of
this manual. a
corner or speed up.
you turn off the ignition.
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 the
Index under
Engine Overheating.
ProCarManuals.com