lock PONTIAC GRAND-AM 1996 Owner's Guide
[x] Cancel search | Manufacturer: PONTIAC, Model Year: 1996, Model line: GRAND-AM, Model: PONTIAC GRAND-AM 1996Pages: 356, PDF Size: 17.17 MB
Page 90 of 356

Windshield Washer
To wash your windshield, pull the stalk with th'e
windshield washer symbol toward you until the washers
begin.
The wipers will resume the speed you were using
before. If you had no speed selected, the wipers will
stop.
In freezing weather, don't use your washer until
the windshield
is warmed. Otherwise the washer
fluid can
form ice on the windshield, blocking
2-34
ProCarManuals.com
Page 95 of 356

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
2-39
ProCarManuals.com
Page 96 of 356

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.
ProCarManuals.com
Page 98 of 356

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.
2-42
ProCarManuals.com
Page 99 of 356

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.
2-43
ProCarManuals.com
Page 102 of 356

Storage Compartments
Glove Box
Use one of the vehicle’s keys to lock and unlock the
glove
box. To open, pull the glove box handle toward
you.
Overhead Console
Sunglasses Storage
Place your sunglasses in the open area located above
you in the overhead console.
Center Console Storage Area
Coinhslder
Place your coins in the appropriate slots within the
center console in front of the gearshift selector.
Pull up on the front edge of the mest to open the center
console storage
area for cassette tapes, gloves, etc.
2-46
ProCarManuals.com
Page 113 of 356

Your brake system may not be working properly
if the brake system warning light is on. Driving
with the brake system warning lighlt on can lead
to an accident.
If the light is still on after you’ve
pulled off the road and stopped carefully, have
the vehicle towed
for service.
When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
will also come
on when you set your parking brake. The
light will stay on if your parlung brake doesn’t release
fully.
If it stays on after your parking brake is fully
released,
it means you have a brake problem.
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
With the anti-lock brake
system,
this light will come
on when you
start your
engine
and it will stay on for
three seconds. That’s normal.
If the light stays on, turn the ignition off. Or, if the light
comes on when you’re driving, stop
as soon as possible
and turn the ignition off. &. 1
Then start the engine again to reset the system. If the .I ‘I
light still stays on, or comes on again while you’re
driving, your Pontiac needs service.
If the regular brake
system warning light isn’t
on, you still have brakes, but
you don’t have anti-lock brakes.
If the regular brake
system warning light is also on, you don’t have anti-lock
brakes and there’s a problem with your regular brakes. See “Brake System Warning Light” earlier
in .this part.
2-57
ProCarManuals.com
Page 114 of 356

The anti-lock brake system warning light should come
on briefly when
you turn the ignition key to RUN. If the
light doesn’t come
on then, have it fixed so it will be
ready to warn you if there is a problem.
Enhanced,T’raction Syst’em Warning Light
(Option)
!
ETS
OFF
With the Enhanced Traction
System
(ETS), this warning
light should come on briefly
as
you start the engine. If
the warning light doesn’t
come on then, have it fixed
so it will be ready to warn
you if there’s a problem.
If it stays on, or comes on when you’re driving, there
may
be a problem with your Enhanced Traction System
and
your vehicle may need service. When this warning
light is on, the system will not limit wheel spin. Adjust
your driving accordingly. The Enhanced Traction
System warning light may come
on for the following reasons:
0 If you turn the system off by pressing the button on
the shift lever
knob, the warning light will come on
and stay an. To turn the system back on, press the
button
again. The warning light should go off. (See
“Enhanced Traction System” in the Index for more
information.)
The warning light will come on when you set your
parking brake with the engine running,
and it will
stay on if your parking brake doesn’t release fully. If :‘.
the system is turned on and the warning light stays
on after your parking brake is fully released, it
means there’s a problem with the system.
If the Enhanced Traction System warning light comes
on and stays on
for an extended period of time when the
system is turned on and the paking brake is fully
released, your vehicle needs service.
ProCarManuals.com
Page 121 of 356

Passlock Warning Light Fuel Gage
THEFT
SYS
This light will come on
briefly when you turn the
key towards the START
position. The light will stay
on until the engine starts.
W
(3
Your fuel gage tells you
about how much fuel you
have left, when
the ignition is
on. When the indicator nears
EMPTY (E), you still have a
little fuel left, but you should
get more soon.
An amber
light
will come on below the
gage when the fuel
tank is
near
EMPTY (E).
If the light flashes,. the Passlock system has entered a
tamper mode. If the vehicle fails to start, see "Passlock"
in the Index.
If the light comes on continuously while driving and
stays on, there may
be a problem with the Passlock
system. Your vehicle will not be protecteil
by Passlock,
and you should see your dealer.
J
Here are four things that some owners ask about. None
of these show a problem with
your fuel gage:
At the service station, the gas pump shuts off b'efore
the gage reads
FULL (F). ' I
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 a, corner or
The gage doesn't go back to EMPTY (E) when you
speed up.
turn
off the ignition.
2-65
ProCarManuals.com
Page 124 of 356

Fan Knob
‘The left controlknob sets the fin speed. To select thle
force
of air you want, turn the knob. The fan is always
runhing unless the mode control is moved to OFF.
Temperature Knob
The center control knob regulates the temperature of the
air coming through the system. ,
Mode Knob
The right control knob changes the functions of your
system.
2 VENT Use when outside temperatures are mild,
and little heating or cooling is needed, Airflow is
through the instrument panel outlets. Set the center
control
hob to the temperature desired.
9 BI-LEVEL: Use on cool, but sunny days.
This setting
brings in the outside air, but directs it in
two
ways. Cooler air is directed to the upper portion of
your body through the instrument panel outlets; slightly
wanner
air is directed through the heater ducts and
defroster vents. At times, this‘temperature difference
may be more apparent than others,
d HEATER: This setting brings heated air through
the he’ater ducts and some through the windshield
defroster vents.
If you have the optional engine coolant heater (engine
block heater)
and use it during cold weather, 0°F
(- 18 O C) or lower, your heating system will more quickly
provide heat be’cause the engine coolant is already
warmed. See “Engine Coolant Heater” in
the Index.
9 BLEND: This setting divides airflow equally
between the heater ducts
and the windshield defroster ’
vents.
DEFROST
This setting directs air though the
windshield gefroster vents located on top of the
instrument panel,
3-2
ProCarManuals.com