ignition PONTIAC GRAND-AM 1995 User Guide

brakes 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.
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
(R) 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 (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
(N) when your vehicle is being towed.
I NOTICE: I
Damage to your transaxle caused by shifting out
of
PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) with the engine
racing isn’t covered by your warranty.
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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
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.
Driving with the parking brake on can cause
your rear brakes to overheat. You may have to
replace them, and you could also damage other
parts
of your vehicle.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on any hill
see “Towing a Trailer” in the Index. That section shows
what to do first to keep the trailer from moving.
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Shifting Into PARK (P)
(Automatic Transaxle Models Only)
2. Move the shift lever into
this:
Hold in the button on
Push the lever all the
your vehicle.
PARK (P) position like
I the lever.
way toward the front of
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and 3. Move the ignition key to LOCK.
set the parking brake. 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)
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Shifting Out of PARK (P)
(Automatic Transaxle Models Only)
Your Pontiac has a brake-transaxle shift interlock. You
have to fully appZy your regular brakes before you can
shift from PARK (P) when the ignition is in the RUN
position. See “Automatic Transaxle” in the Index.
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 want. (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 PARK (P), try this:
1. Turn the key to OFF, not LOCK.
2. Apply and hold the regular 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.
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Windows
On a vehicle with manual windows, use the window
crank located on the inside of each door 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 rear 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
pressing 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 front
of the switch, then release.
To raise the window, press and hold the switch forward.
Power Window Lock-Out Switch
(Option)
On four-door models, this switch disables the rear
passenger power window switches. Push the switch
forward to lock the windows. Push the switch back to
unlock the window switches.
The lock-out switch prevents rear passengers from
opening and closing windows. The driver can
dill
control all of the windows with the switch in the lock
position.
Horn
You can sound the horn by pressing the horn symbol on
your steering wheel.
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Lamps On Reminder
If you open the driver’s door while leaving the lamps on
and the ignition
off, you will hear a warning chime.
Headlamp High-Low Beam Changer
To change the headlamps
from low beam to high or
high to low, pull the turn
signal lever all the way
toward you. Then release it.
When the high beams are
on,
this blue light on the
instrument panel
also will
be on.
Flash-To-Pass (Except Canada)
Flash-to-pass lets you use your high beam headlamps to
signal a driver in front
of you that you want to pass.
To use it, pull the turn signaVmultifunction lever toward
you.
If your headlamps are off your high beam headlamps
will
turn on. They’ll stay on as long as you hold the
lever there. Release the lever to turn them
off.
If your headlamps are on, the flash-to-pass function will
not work. Use the lever
to change between high and low
beams.
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To Reduce Speed While Using Cruise
Control
There are two ways to reduce your speed while using
cruise control:
Press in the button at the end of the lever until you
reach the lower speed
you want, then release it.
To slow down in very small amounts, push the
button for less than half a second. Each time you do
this, you’ll go
1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While Using
Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed. When
you take your
foot off the pedal, your vehicle will slow
down to the cruise control speed you set earlier.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load, and the steepness of the hills.
When going up steep hills, you may have to step on the
accelerator pedal to maintain your speed. When going
downhill, you may have to brake or shift to a lower gear
to keep your speed down.
Of course, applying the brake
takes you out of cruise control. Many drivers find this to
be too much trouble and don’t use cruise control on
steep hills.
To Get Out of Cruise Control
There are two ways to turn off the cruise control:
0 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.
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Instrument Panel Intensity Control
You can brighten or dim your instrument cluster lamps
by rotating the instrument panel intensity control switch.
Rotate the switch all the way to the right to turn on the
interior courtesy lamps. Rotate the switch to the left to
turn off the instrument cluster lamps and displays.
Fog Lamps
The switch for your fog lamps is next to the instrument
panel intensity control.
Push the top of the switch
to turn the fog lamps on.
When using fog lamps, the parking lamps or low beam
headlamps must be on.
Fog lamps will go off whenever the high beam
headlamps come on. When the high beams go off, the
fog lamps will come on again.
Daytime Running Lamps (Canada Only)
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. Several
countries, including Canada, require
DRL.
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 high beam headlamps come on at
reduced brightness when:
The ignition is on,
0 The headlamp switch is off, and
0 The parking brake is released (manual transaxle).
The shift lever is not in PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N)
(automatic transaxle).
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When the DRL are on, only your high 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 headlamps will
come on at
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
off and
your high beam headlamps change to the reduced
brightness
of the DRL.
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.
As with any vehicle, you should turn the regular
headlamp system on any time you need it.
Front Reading Lamps (Option)
These lamps and the interior courtesy lamps will come
on when you open the doors.
To turn on a reading lamp when the doors are closed,
press the button. Press
it again to turn the lamp off.
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Front Readinmap Lamps (Option)
If your vehicle has a sunroof, it will have a rearview
mirror with lamps built in. The lamps
go on when you
open the doors. When the doors
are closed, turn the
lamps on and
off with the switches located below the
face
of the mirror.
Rear Reading Lamps (Option)
A
I1
These overhead lamps and the interior courtesy lamps
will come on when you open the doors.
To
turn on a reading lamp when the doors are closed,
press the button. Press it again to turn
off the lamp.
Trunk Lamp
This lamp comes on when you open-your trunk.
Dome Lamp Bulb Change
It may not be obvious how to change your dome lamp
bulb. Here’s how: Grasp the center front and center rear
portion of the housing and squeeze firmly but gently.
The housing should pop off.
If this doesn’t work, you may need to use a small,
flat-head screwdriver under the side of the housing to
help pry it
off.
Battery Rundown Protection
Your Pontiac is equipped with a Battery Rundown
Protection feature designed to protect
your vehicle’s
battery.
When any interior lamp (trunk, reading, footwell or
glove box) is left on when the ignition is turned off, the
Battery Rundown Protection system will automatically
shut the lamp
off after 20 minutes. This will avoid
draining the battery.
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