light PONTIAC GRAND-AM 1996 User Guide

Windshield Wipers
You control the windshield wipers by moving the stalk
up or down.
For a single wiper cycle push the stalk down
to MIST, then
release it. For more cycles, hold the stalk down longer.
For fixed delay wiper cycles, move the wiper switch to
DELAY for wiper cycles with a fixed time delay
between them.
For steady wiper cycles, move the stalk up to either 1 or
2, depending on the wiper speed you want.
To turn the wipers off, move the stalk down to OFF.
Remember that damaged wiper blades may prevent you
from seeing well enough to drive safely. To avoid
damage, be
sure to clear ice and snow from the wiper
blades before using them.
If they're frozen to the
windshield, carefully loosen or thaw them. If your
blades do become damaged, get new blades or blade
inserts.
Heavy snow or ice c& overload your wiper motor. A
circuit breaker will stop them until the motor cools.
Clear away snow or ice to prevent an overload.
Controlled Cycle Wipers (Option)
If your vehicle has controlled-cycle wipers, you can set
the wiper speed for a short or long delay between wiper
cycles. The controlled-cycle delay is very useful
in light
rain or snow.
Move the stalk to DELAY, then rotate the band and
choose the delay you want. Rotate the inner band
clockwise for shorter delay times between wiper cycles.
Rotate the band counterclockwise for a longer delay
time between wiper cycles.
With controlled-cycle wipers
you can also use MIST for
a single wiper cycle. ,
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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.
I'
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
I
Headlamps
Rotate the band counterclockwise to the second position
to turn on:
Headlamps
0 Parking Lamps
Sidemarker Lamps
0 Taillamps
0 Instrument Panel Lights
Rotate the
band clockwise to OFF to turn all the lamps
The
band on the turn signal/multifunction lever controls
your vehicle’s lamps. to turn on:
0 Parking Lamps
0 Sidemarker Lamps
0 Taillamps
Instrument Panel
Lights
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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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Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter
To use the lighter, just push it in all the way and let go.
When it’s ready, it will pop back out by itself.
NOTICE:
Don’t hold a cigarette lighter in with your hand
while it is heating.
If you do, it won’t be able to
back away from the heating element when it’s
ready. That
can make it overheat, damaging the
lighter and the heating element.
To clean the center console ashtray, remove the entire
ashtray and empty it. The ashtray can
be placed in the
rear cupholder for the rear passengers to use. The
ashtray can also be placed inside the center console for
storage.
When the ashtray
is removed, you can also use this tray
as a cupholder. The ashtray can be stored in the center
console storage area when not in use.
i
NOTICE:
Don’t put papers and other things that burn into
your ashtrays.
If you do, cigarettes or other
smoking materials could set them on fire, causing
damage.
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Your instlument 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:
A. Fuse Panel
B. Vent
C. Turn Signal/Multifunction ,Lever
D. SRS - Supplemental Restraint System (Air Bag)
E. Hazard Warning Flashers Switch
E Instrument Cluster
G. Windshield Wipersmasher Stalk
H. Audio System
I. Side Window Defogger Vent
J. Glove Box
K. Climate Control System
L. Gear Shift Lever
M. Ashtray
N. Enhanced Traction System (ETS) Switch (Option)
0. Lighter
P. Ignition Switch
Q. Tilt Steering Wheel Lever (Option)
R. Fog Lamp Switch
S. Instrument Panel Intensity Control/ Interior Lamps
Switch
T. Hood Release Handle
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Instrument Panel Cluster gages that are explained on the following pages. Be sure
cluster, which includes indicator
warning lights and ..
to read about those that apply to the instrument panel
Your Pontiac is equipped with this instrument panel cluster for your vehicle. I.
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Tachometer
The tachometer shows your
engine speed
in revolutions
per minute (rpm).
I NOTICE:
Do not run your engine at speeds in the red area,
or engine damage may occur.
Warning ,Lights, Gages and
Indicators
This part 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 come 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 start the
engine 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 this 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.
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Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to RUN or START, a chime will
‘come on for about eight seconds to remind people to
fasten their safety belts, unless the driver’s safety belt i\
s
already buckled.
The safety belt light will
also come
on and stay on
for about
20 seconds,
then it will flash
for about
55 seconds. If the driver’s
belt is already buckled,
neither the chime nor the
light
will come on.
Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows AIR
BAG. The system checks the
air bag’s electrical system for malfunctions. The light
tells you
if there is an electrical problem. The system
check includes the air bag sensor, the air bag
modules,
the wiring and the crash sensing and diagnostic module.
For more information
on the air bag system, see “Air
Bag” in the Index.
AIR,
BAG
You will see this light flash
for a few seconds when you
turn your ignition to
RUN
or START. Then the light
should
go out. This means
the system
is ready.
If the air bag readiness light doesn’t come
on when you
start your vehicle,
or stays on, or comes on when you
are driving, your air bag system may not work properly.
Have your vehicle serviced right away.
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Charging System Indicator Light
The charging system
indicator light will come on
briefly when
you turn on the
ignition, but the engine
is
not running, as a check to
show you it is working.
Then it should go out. .. 1.
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If it stays on when your engine is running, OF comes on
while you are driving, you may have a problem with the
electrical charging system. It could indicate that you
have a loose generator drive belt or another electrical
problem. Have it checked right away. Driving while this
light
is on could drain your battery.
If you mast drive a short distance with the light on, be
certain to turn off all your accessories, such as themdio
and
air conditioner,
Brake System Warning Light
Your Pontiac’s hydraulic brake system is divided into
two parts. If one part isn’t working, the other part can
still w’ork and
stop you. For good braking, though, you
need both
parts workmg well.
If the warning light comes on, there could be a brake
problem. Have your brake system inspected right away.
BRAKE
This light should come ow
briefly when you turn the
ignitibn key
to RUN. If it
doesn’t come on then, have
it fixed so it will be ready to
warn
you if there’s a
problem,
If the light .comes on while you are driving, pull off the
road and stop carefully. You may notice that the pedal is
harder to push. Or, the pedal may go closer to the floor,
It may take longer to stop. If the light is still on, have the
vehicle towed €or
service, (See “Towing Your Vehicle”
in the Index.)
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