ignition PONTIAC GRAND-AM 1996 User Guide

Starting Your 3.1 Liter Engine
1. Without pushing the accelerator pedal, turn your
ignition key to START. When the engine starts, let
go of the key. The idle speed will go down as your
engine gets warm.
NOTICE:
Holding your key in START for longer than
15 seconds at a time will cause your battery to be
drained much sooner. And the excessive heat can
damage your starter motor.
2. If your engine won’t start (or starts but then stops),
it could be flooded with too much gasoline.
Try
pushing your accelerator pedal all the way to the
floor and holding it there as you hold the key in
START for up to 15 seconds, This clears the extra
gasoline from the engine.
NOTICE:
Your engine is designed to work with the
electronics in your vehicle.
If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could change the way
the engine operates. Before adding electrical
equipment, check with your dealer.
If you don’t,
your engine might not perform properly.
If you ever have to have your vehicle towed, see
the part of this manual that tells how to do it
without damaging your vehicle. See “Towing
Your Vehicle” in the Index.
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Ensure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) range before
1 ’. I . starting the engine. Your Pontiac has a brake-transaxle !’ 2 . shift interlock. You have to fully apply your regular
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 (I?)” 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.
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Shifting out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) while
your engine
is “racing” (running at high speed) is
dangerous. Unless your foot is firmly on. the
brake pedal, your vehicle could move very
rapidly.
You could lose control and hit people or
objects. Don’t shift out of PARK
(P) or
NEUTRAL
(N) while your engine is racing. .
NOTICE:
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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Parkiaag.’Brake handle. 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 parking brake lever up until you
can press the release button. Hold the release button in
as you move the brake lever all the way down.
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
To set the parking brake hold the .regular brake pedal If you are towing a trailer and are parking on my hill,
see “Towing
a Trailer” in the Index. That section shows
down with Your ‘ght foot* On the parking brake what to do first to keep the bailer from moving.
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Shifting Into PARK (P)
(Automatic Transaxle Models Only)
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever
is not fully in PARK (P) 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.
To be sure your vehicle won’t move, even
when you’re on fairly level ground, use the steps
that
follow. If you’re pulling a trailer, see
YI‘owing
a Trailer” in the Index.
2. 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:
Hold in the button on the lever.
0 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
leave your vehicle yith 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 apply your regular brakes before you can
shift from PARK (P) when the ignition is in the RUN
position. See “Automatic-Transaxle Operation” in the
Index.
If you cannot shift out of
PARK (P), ease pressure wn
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. , ,<. j:~+!-,. , , ‘(, . .I. ”
,..I_ . , , . P ., , :. a -9 -- ....,. 4 -’. .:‘.I..: .,:- ;.
i.. ’ .--4 ..
2.
3.
4.
5.
Apply and hold the regular brake until the end of
Step
4.
Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
Start the vehicle and then shift to the drive gear you
want.
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 vehic1e.k
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)
Switches on the driver’s door armrest control each of the
windows when the ignition is on.
In addition, each
passenger door has a switch for its own window. The driver’s window switch has
an auto-down feature.
This switch
is labeled AUTO. Tap the switch back, and
the driver’s window will open a
small amount. When the
switch is moved all the way back, the window will go
down all the way.
To stop the window while it is lowering, move the .
switch forward. To raise the window, move and hold the
switch forward.
On four-door models, the driver’s window controls also
include a lock-out switch.
Press REAR LOCK OUT to
stop front and rear passengers from using their window switches.
The driver can still control all of the windows
with the switch in the lock position. Press the other side
of the
REAR LOCK OUT button for normal window
operation.
--
Horn
Press the center of your steering wheel to sound the
horn.
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Reducing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to reduce your speed while using
cruise control:
0 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'I1 go 1 mph (1.6 h/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.
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Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load, and the steepness of the bills.
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 driven find this to;
be too much trouble and don't use cruise control on
steep
hills.
'Ending 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.
Erasing 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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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.
Daytime Running Lamps
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) caw make it easier for
others to see the front of
your vehicle during the day.
DRL caw be helpful in many different driving
conditions, but they
can be especially helpful in the
short periods after dawn
and before sunset.
The
DRL system will make your high-beam headlamps
come
on at reduced brightness when:
The ignition is on,
, The headlamp switch is OFF,
The light sensor sees daytime light, and
0 The parking brake is released (manual transaxle), or
0 The shift lever is not in PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N)
When the DRL are on, only your high-beam headlamps
will
be on. The taillmps, sidemarker and other lamps
won't be on. Your instrument panel wonY be lit up
either. (automatic transaxle). 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. A light
sensor ,on top of the instrument panel turns the
headlamps oh and the DRL ,system off. Be sure the light
sensor isn't covered. When it's bright enough outside,
the regular
lamps will go off and your high-bem
headlamps will 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 NEUTaAL (N) on an automatic transaxle.
As with any vehicle,
you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need
it.
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Illuminated Entry System
When you lift the outside handle of either front door or
open a rear door, the lamps inside
your vehicle will go
on. These lamps will fade out after about 40 seconds, or
when the ignition is turned
on after all doors have been
closed. If the ignition was recently turned off, the lamps
will fade out after four seconds. These lamps will also
go on when you press the DOOR or UNLOCK button
on the optional Keyless Entry transmitter.
If the ignition has been off for less than two minutes, the
lamps inside your vehicle will stay on for 15 seconds
when your key is removed from the ignition switch to
provide an illuminated exit. When the, interior lamps go
off they will fade out like in a movie theatre.
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 dosed,
press the button. Press it again to turn the lamp off.
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Front Map 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)
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.
Battery Saver
Your Pontiac is equipped with a battery saver 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 saver system will automatically shut the lamp off
after
20 minutes. This will avoid draining the battery.
To reactivate the interior lamps, either:
0 The ignition must be turned on,
0 The activated lamp switch must be turned off and
then on, or
0 A front door must be opened.
The battery saver 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 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.
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