lock PONTIAC GRAND-AM 1996 Workshop Manual

Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive in
spurts -- heavy acceleration followed by heavy
braking -- rather than keeping pace with traffic. This is a
mistake. Your brakes may not have time to cool between
hard stops.
Your brakes will wear out much faster if you
do a lot of heavy braking. If you keep pace with the
traffic
and allow realistic following distances, you will
eliminate a lot of unnecessary braking. That means
better braking and longer brake life.
If your engine ever stops while you’re driving, brake
normally
hut don’t pump your brakes. If you do, the
pedal
may get harder to push down. If your engine
stops, you will still have some power brake assist. But
you
will use it when you brake. Once the power assist is
used up, it m’ay take longer to stop and the brake pedal
will be harder to push.
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AntbLsck Brakes
Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes (ABS). ABS is an
advanced electronic braking system that will help
prevent a braking
skid.
When you start your engine, or when you begin to drive
away,
your anti-lock brake system will check itself. You
may hear a momentary motor or clicking noise while
this test is going
on, and you may even notice that your
brake pedal moves
a little. This is- normal.
(e)
If there’s a problem with the
anti-lock brake system,
this
warning light will stay on.’
See “Anti-Lock Brake
System Warning Light”
in
the Index.
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The anti-lock system can change the brake pressure
faster than any driver
could. The computer is
programmed to make the most of available tire and road
conditions.
Here’s how anti-lock works. Let’s say the road is wet.
You’re driving safely. Suddenly an animal jumps out in
front
of you.
You slam on the brakes. Here’s what happens with ABS.
A computer senses that wheels are slowing down. If one
of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the computer will
separately
work the brakes at each front wheel and at the
rear wheels. You
can steer around the obstacle
while braking hard.
As you brake, your computer keeps receiving updates on
wheel speed and controls braking pressure accordingly.
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Remember: Anti-lock doesn’t change the time you need
to get your foot up to the brake pedal or always decrease
stopping distance.
If you get too close to the vehicle in
front of you, you won’t have time to apply your brakes.
if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops. Always leave
enough
room up ahead to(stop, even though you hav’e
anti-lock
brakes.
Using AntkLock
Don’t pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal down
and let anti-lock work for you.
You may feel the system
working, or you may notice some noise, but this is
normal.
Enhanced Traction System
If your vehicle has the optional four-speed automatic
transaxle, it
also has an Enhanced Traction System
(ETS) that limits wheel spin. This is especially useful in
slippery road condittons. The system operates only if it
senses that one or both of the front wheels we spinning
or beginning to lose traction. When this happens, the
system reduces engine power and may also upshift the
transaxle to limit wheel spin.
I
LOW
TRAC
This light will come on
when your Enhanced
Traction System is limiting
wheel
spin. See “Enhanced
Traction System Active
Light”
in the Index. You
may feel or hear the system
working, but this
is normal.
The
Enhanced Traction System operates in all transaxle
shift lever positions. But the system can upshift the
transaxle only
as high as the shift lever position you’ve
chosen,
so you should use the lower gears only when
necessary.
See “Automatic Transaxle” in the Index.
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Braking in Emergencies
Use your anti-lock braking system when you need to.
With anti-lock, you can steer and brake at the same
time. Tn many emergencies, steerirzg’cm help you more
thin even the very best braking. -
Steering
Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist because the engine
stops or the system is not functioning,
you can steer but
it will take much more effort.
Variable Effort Steering (Option)
This steering system provides lighter steering effort for
parlcitlg ad at low vehicle speeds. Steering effurt will
increase at higher speeds for improved road feel.
Steering Tips
Driving on Curves
It’s important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents mentioned on
the news happen on curves. Here’s why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is subject to
the same laws
of physics when driving on curves. The
traction
of the tires against the road surface makes it
possible
for the vehicle to change its path when you turn
the front wheels.
If there’s no traction, inertia will keep
the vehicle
going in the same direction. If you’ve ever
tried
to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you’ll understand this.
The traction you can get
in a curve depends on the
condition
of your tires and the road surface, the angle at
which the curve is banked,
and your speed. While
you’re
in a curve, speed is the one factor you can
control.
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An emergency like this requires close attention and a
quick decision.
If you are holding the steering wheel at
the recommended 9 and' 3 o'clock positions, you can
turn it a full 180 degrees very quickly without removing
either hand. But you have to act ,fast, steer quickly, and
just as quickly straighten the wheel once
you have.
avoided the object.
,(
The fact that such emergency situations are always
possible is a good reason to practice defensive driving at
all times and wear safety belts properly.
..._ - '
Off-Road Recovwy ,. t
', %
You may find sometime that your right wheels have
dropped
off the edge of a road onto the shoulder while
you're
driving.
OFF-RUAD RECOVERY
/- / ,zl I I
-/// edge of paved surface
I
If the level of the shoulder is only slightly below the
pavement, recovery should
be fairly easy. Ease off the
accelerator
and then, if there is nothing in the way, steer
so that your vehicle straddles the edge of the pavement.
You can turn the steering wheel up to one-quarter turn
until the right front tire contacts the pavement edge. Then
turn your steering wheel to go straight down the roadway.
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If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want the
vehicle to
go. If you start steering quickly enough, your
vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready for a
second skid
if it occurs.
Driving at Night
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice,
gravel or other material is on the road, For safety, you’ll
want
to slow down and adjust your driving to these
conditions. It is important to slow down
on slippery
surfaces because stopping distance will be longer and
vehicle control more limited.
While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try
your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration or
braking (including engine braking by shifting to
a lower
gear). Any sudden changes could cause
the tires to
slide. You may not realize the surface is slippery until
your vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warning
clues
-- such as enough water, ice or packed snow on
the road to make a “mirrored surface” -- and slow
down when you have any doubt.
Remember: Any anti-lock brake system
(ABS) helps alcohol or drugs, with night vision problems, or by fatigue.
avoid only the braking skid. Night driving
is more dangerous than day driving. One
reason
is that some drivers are likely to be impaired -- by
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Tie a red cloth to your vehicle to alert police that
you’ve been stopped by the snow.
Put on extra clothing or wrap a blanket around you.
If you have no blankets or extra clothing, make body
insulators
frob newspapers, burlap bags, rags, floor
mats -- anything you can wrap around yourself or
tuck under your clothing to keep warm. ..
Snow can trap exhaust gases under your vehicle.
This
can cause deadly CO (carbon monoxide) gas
to get inside. CO could overcome you and kill
you. You can’t see it or smell it, so you might not
know it is in your vehicle. Clear away snow from
around the base of your vehicle, especially any
that
is blocking your exhaust pipe. And check
around again from time to time to be sure snow
doesn’t collect there.
Open
a window just a little on the side of the
vehicle that’s away from the wind. This will help
keep
CO out.
You can sun the engine to keen warm, but be careful.
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NOTICE:
Do not tow your vehicle with the front wheels in
contact with the
ground, or the automatic
transaxle
could be damaged.
2. Set the parking brake.
3. Open the fuse panel on the driver’s side of the
instrument
panel. Remove the fuse labeled
PRNDL. This will keep your battery from
draining while towing.
wheel. See “Ignition Positions”
in the Index.
with
a clamping device designed for towing.
4. Turn the ignition key to OFF to unlock the steering
5. Clamp the steering wheel in a straight-ahead position,
6. Release the parking brake.
When you are finished towing, make sure you replace
the PRNDL fuse in the instrument panel fuse block.
If your vehicle has a manual transaxle, you may tow
your vehicle with all four wheels on the ground.
m
Follow these steps:
1. Set the parking brake. .
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2.
3.
4.
5.
Open the fuse panel on the driver's side of the
instrument panel. Remove the fuse labeled
PRNDL. This will keep your battery from
draining while towing.
Tum the ignition key to OFF to unlock the
steering wheel.
Shift your manual transaxle to
NEUTRAL (N).
Release the parking brake.
When you
are finished towing, make sure you replace
the
PRNDL fuse in the instrument panel fuse block.
NOTICE:
Make sure that the towing speed does not exceed
55 mph (90 kdh), or your vehicle could be badly
damaged.
Towing your Vehicle from the'Rear
'b
8
,NOTICE:
~~ ~
Do not tow your vehicle from the rear. Your
vehicle could be badly damaged and the costly
repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
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Hitches Safety Chains
It’s important to have the correct hitch equipment.
Crosswinds, large trucks going by
and rough roads are a
few reasons why you’ll need the right hitch. Here are
some rules to follow:
Will you have to make any holes in the body of your
vehicle when
you install a trailer hitch? If you do,
then be sure to seal the holes later when you remove
the hitch.
If you don’t seal them, deadly carbon
monoxide
(CO) from your exhaust can get into your
vehicle (see “Carbon Monoxide” in the Index). Dirt
’ and water can, too.
The bumpers on your vehicle are not intended for
hitches. Do not attach rental hitches or other
bumper-type hitches to them. Use only a
frame-mounted hitch that
does not attach to the
bumper.
i
You should always attach chains between your vehicle
and your trailer.
Cross the safety chains under the tongue
of the trailer so that the tongue will not drop to the road
if it becomes separated from the hitch. Instructions
about safety chains may be provided by the hitch
manufacturer or by the trailer manufacturer. Follow the
manufacturer’s recommendation for attaching safety chains and do not attach
them to the bumper. Always
leave just enough slack
so you can prn with your rig.
And, never allow safety chains to drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
Does your trailer have its own brakes?
Be sure
to read and follow the instructions for the trailer
brakes so you’ll be able to install, adjust and maintain
them properly.
And because you have anti-lock brakes,
do not try to tap into your vehicle’s brake system. If you
do, both brake systems won’t work well, or at all.
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