lock PONTIAC GRAND-AM 1994 Owner's Manual

Ensure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P)
range before starting the engine. Your
Pontiac has a brake-transaxle shift
interlock.
You have to fully apply your
regular brake before you can shift from
PARK (P) when the ignition key is in the
RUN position. If you cannot shift out of
PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift
lever- push the shift lever all the way
into PARK (P)
- 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.) See “Shifting
Out of PARK (P)”
later
in this section.
I
Reverse
REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back up.
NOTICE:
Shifting to REVERSE (R) while
your vehicle is moving forward
could damage your transaxle. Shift
to REVERSE only after your
vehicle is stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get
out of snow, ice or sand without
damaging your transaxle, see “If You’re
Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow” in the
Index.
Neutral
NEUTRAL (N): In this position,,your
engine doesn’t connect with the wheels.
To restart when you’re already moving,
use NEUTRAL
(N) only. Also, use
NEUTRAL when your vehicle is Geing
towed.
61 ...
ProCarManuals.com

Features & Controls
T
Shifting Into
PARK (P)
(Automatic Transaxle
Models Only) (cow)
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your
right foot and set the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P)
position like this:
a. Hold
in the button on the lever.
b.
Push the lever all the way toward
the front of your vehicle into the
PARK position.
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 PARK (P).
Leaving Your Vehicle With
the Engine Running
(Automatic Transaxle
Models Only)
If you have to leave your vehicle with the
engine running, be sure your vehicle is
in
PARK (P) and your parking brake is
firmly set before you leave it. After
you’ve moved the shift lever into the
’ARK (P) position, hold the regular brake
Jedal down. Then, see
if you can move
he shift lever away from
PARK (P)
without first pushing the button.
:f you can, it means that the shift lever
wasn’t
fully locked into PARK (P).
Torque Lock
(Automatic Transaxle)
[f you are parking on a hill and you don’t
shift your transaxle into PARK (P)
properly, the weight of the vehicle may
put too much force on the parking pawl
in
[he transaxle. You may find it difficult to
pull the shift lever out of PARK (P). This
is called “torque lock.” To prevent torque
lock, set the parking brake and then shift
into
PARK (P) properly before you leave
the driver’s seat.
To find out how, see
”Shifting Into
PARK (P)” in the Index.
When you are ready to drive, move the
shift lever out of PARK (P) BEFORE you
release the parking brake.
If “torque lock” does occur, you may
need to have another vehicle push yours a
little uphill to take some of the pressure
from the transaxle,
so you can pull the
shift lever out of
PARK (P).
... 68
ProCarManuals.com

H Shifting Out of
PARK (P)
(Automatic Transaxle
Models Only)
Your Pontiac has a brake-transaxle shift
interlock. You have to
fully apply your
regular brake before you can shift from
PARK
(P) when the ignition is in the
RUN position. See “Automatic
Transaxle”
in the Index.
tf you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease
pressure on the shift lever
- push the
shift lever all the way into PARK (P) -as
you maintain brake application. Then
move the shift lever into the gear you
want. (Press the
shift lever button before
moving the shift lever.)
[f you ever hold the brake pedal down but
still can’t shift out of PARK (P), try this:
1. Turn the key to OFF.
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end
of Step 4.
3. Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Start the vehicle and then shift to the
drive gear you want.
5. Have the vehicle fixed as soon as you
can.
Parking Your Vehicle
(Manual Transaxle
Models Only)
Before you get out of your vehicle, put
your manual transaxle
in REVERSE (R)
and firmly apply the parking brake.
If you are parking on a hill, or if your
vehicle is equipped to tow a trailer, see
“Towing a Trailer”
in the Index.
Parking Over Things
That Burn
ProCarManuals.com

Follow the proper steps to be sure your
vehicle won’t move. See “Shifting Into
PARK (P)” in the Index.
If you’re pulling a trailer, see “Towing a
Trailer”
in the Index.
Horn
You can sound the horn by pressing the
horn symbol
on your steering wheel.
A tilt steering wheel allows you to adjust
the steering wheel before you drive.
You can also raise it to the highest level tc
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 comfortable level, then release
the lever
to lock the wheel in place,
71 ...
ProCarManuals.com

Features & Controls
Windows
On a vehicle with manual windows, use
the window crank to open and close each
window.
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 a small amount
by quickly pressing
and releasing the rear
of the switch. 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.
Power Window
Lock-Out Switch
(OPTION)
On 4-door models, this switch disables all
passenger power windows.
Push the
switch forward to lock the windows. Push
the switch back to unlock the windows.
... 72
ProCarManuals.com

Features & Controls
Daytime Running Lights
(CANADA ONLY) (CONT.)
The shift lever is shifted out of PARK
(P) or NEUTRAL (N) 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 PARK (P) or
NEUTRAL
(N) 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 PARK (P) or NEUTRAL
(N) on an automatic transaxle.
Yeadlight High-Low Beam
%anger
To change the headlights from low beam
o high or high to low, pull the turn signal
ever all the way toward you. Then
elease it. When the high beams are on,
his blue light on the instrument panel
dso will be on.
Flash-To-Pass
(EXCEPT CANADA)
Flash-to-pass lets you use your high
beam headlights to signal a driver
in front
of you that you want to pass.
To use it, pull the turn signal/
multifunction lever toward you.
If Your Headlights are Off
Your high beam headlights will turn on.
They’ll stay on as long as you hold the
lever there. Release the lever to turn them
off.
If Your Headlights are On:
No flash-to-pass. Use the lever to change
between high and low beams.
mm.78
ProCarManuals.com

Features & Controls
Rear Reading Lights
(OPTION)
These overhead lights and the interior courtesy lights will come on when you
open the doors.
To turn on a reading light when the doors
are closed, push the button. Press it again
to turn
off the light.
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.
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:
0 The ignition must be turned on
0 The activated light switch must be
turned off and then on, OR
0 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, audio system
and Remote Keyless Entry (if you have
this option) 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.
... 80
ProCarManuals.com

Features & Controls
Power Remote Control
Mirrors
(OPTION)
A selector knob on the center console
controls both outside rearview mirrors.
Select the mirror you want to adjust by
rotating the knob to the left or right.
Adjust each mirror
so that you can just
see the side of your vehicle when you are
sitting
in a comfortable driving position.
H Sun Visors
To block out glare, you can swing down
the visors. You can also swing them to
tht
side.
Your vehicle may also have a plastic
extension which pulls out of the main
visor to increase protection from glare.
Visor Vanity Mirror
Open the cover to expose the vanity
mirror.
... 84
ProCarManuals.com

Features & Controls
BRAKE
Brake System Warning
light
four Pontiac’s hydraulic brake system is
!ivided into two parts. If one part isn’t
qorking, the other part can still work and
top you. For good braking, though, you
leed both parts working well.
f the warning light comes on, there coulc
le a brake problem. Have your brake
ystem inspected right away.
ihis light should come on as you start tht
lehicle. If it doesn’t come
on then, have i
ixed so it will be ready to warn you if
here’s a problem.
[f the light comes on while you are
hiving, pull
off the road and stop
zarefully. You may notice that the pedal is
harder to push. Or, the pedal may go
;loser to the floor. It may take longer to
stop. If the light is still on, or if the
anti-lock brake system warning light is
flashing, have the vehicle towed for
service. (See “Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light” and “Towing Your Car”
in the Index.)
The brake system warning light will also
come on when you set your parking
brake, and it will stay on if your parking
brake doesn’t release fully. If it stays on
after your parking brake is fully released,
it means you have a brake problem.
... 98
ProCarManuals.com

anti-Lock Brake System
Naming Light
Vith anti-lock, this light will come on
{hen you start your engine and it will
tay on for three seconds. That’s normal.
F the light doesn’t come on, have it fixed
D it will be ready to warn you if there is 2
roblem.
1 the light flashes when you’re driving,
ou don’t have anti-lock brakes and
lere’s a problem with your regular
rakes. Pull off the road and stop arefully. You may notice that the pedal
is
arder to push. Or, the pedal may go
loser to the floor. It may take longer to
:op. Have the vehicle towed for service.
See “Towing Your Car”
in the Index.)
If the anti-lock brake system warning
light stays on longer than normal after
you’ve started your engine, turn the
ignition
off. Or, if the light comes on and
stays on when you’re driving, stop as
soon as possible and turn the ignition off.
Then start the engine again to reset the
system.
If the light still stays on, or comes
3n again while you’re driving, your
Pontiac needs service.
If the light is on
but not flashing and the regular brake
system warning light isn’t on, you still
nave brakes, but you don’t have anti-lock
xakes.
Shift Light
(MANUAL TRA NSAXL E)
This light comes on when you need to
shift to the next higher gear. See “Manual
Transaxle”
in the Index.
99. ..
ProCarManuals.com