PONTIAC GRAND AM 1997 Owners Manual

Turn and Lane Change Signals
The turn signal has two upward (for right) and two
downward (for left) positions. These positions allow you
to signal a turn or a lane change.
To signal a turn, move the lever all the way up or down.
When the turn is finished, the lever will return
automatically.
An arrow on the instrument
panel will flash in the
direction of the turn or
lane change.
To signal a lane change, just raise or lower the lever
until the arrow starts to flash. Hold it there until you
complete your lane change. The lever will return by
itself when you release it.
A warning chime signal will come on
if you have left
your turn signal on for more than
3/4 mile (1 km).
As you signal a turn or a lane change, if the arrows flash
rapidly, a signal bulb may be burned out and other
drivers won’t see your turn signal.
If a bulb is burned out, replace it to help avoid an
accident. If the arrows don’t go on at all when you
signal a turn, check the fuse (see “Fuses and Circuit
Breakers” in the Index). If the arrows still do not flash,
have your Pontiac Dealer service department check the
bulb in the instrument panel.
Headlamp High/Low Beam
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, a light on the instrument
panel
also will be on.
The headlamp high/low beam indicator may flash
if the
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) system is experiencing
a problem
or if a headlamp is malfunctioning.
2-36

Windshield Wipers
You control the windshield wipers by moving the stalk
with the wiper symbol on it 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 steady wiping at low speed, move the stalk up to the
(1) position. For high-speed wiping, move the stalk up
further, to
(2). To stop the wipers, move the stalk
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 can overload your wiper motor.
A circuit breaker will stop the motor until it cools.
Clear away snow or ice to prevent an overload.
Controlled Cycle Wipers (If Equipped)
You can set the wiper speed for a long or short delay
between wipes. This can be very useful in light rain
or snow.
Move the stalk to DELAY, then rotate the inner band
and choose the delay you want. Rotate the inner band
up for shorter delay times between wiper cycles. Rotate
the band down for a longer delay time between
wiper cycles.
With controlled cycle wipers, you can also use
MIST for
a single wiper cycle.
2-37

Windshield Washer
To wash your windshield, pull the stalk with the
windshield washer symbol toward you until the washers
begin. When the lever is pulled with the wipers in
OFF,
the wipers will continue to work until you return the
lever to
OFF. If your vehicle is equipped with the
controlled cycle wipers, the wipers will automatically
shut off after you release the lever if no speed
was selected.
In freezing weather, don’t use your washer until
the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the washer
fluid can form ice on the windshield, blocking
your vision.
2-38

Cruise Control (If Equipped)
With cruise control, you can maintain a speed of about
25 mph (40 h/h) or more without keeping your foot on
the accelerator. This
can really help on long trips. Cruise
control does not work at speeds below about
25 mph
(40 km/h). When you apply your brakes
or push the clutch pedal
(if you have a manual transaxle), the cruise control
shuts off.
A CAUTION:
Cruise control can be dangerous where you
can’t drive safely at a steady speed. So,
don’t use your cruise control on winding
roads or in heavy traffic.
slippery roads. On such roads,
fast changes
in tire traction can cause needless wheel
spinning, and you could lose control. Don’t
use cruise control on slippery roads.
Cruise control can be dangerous on
2-39

Setting Cruise Control
A CAUTION:
If you leave your cruise control switch on when
you’re not using cruise,
you might hit a button
and go into cruise when
you don’t want to. You
could be startled and even lose control. Keep the
cruise control switch
OFF until you want to
use it.
1. Move the cruise control switch to ON.
2. Get up to the speed you want. 3. Push in the SET button at the end of the lever and
release
it.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
2-40

Resuming a Set Speed
Suppose you set your cruise control at a desired speed
and then you apply the brake. This, of course, shuts
off the cruise control. But you don’t need to reset it.
Once you’re going about
25 mph (40 h/h) or more,
you can move the cruise control switch from
ON to
R/A (Resume/Accelerate) for about half a second.
You’ll go right back up to your chosen speed and stay there. If you
hold the switch at R/A longer than half a second,
the vehicle will keep going faster until you release the
switch or apply the brake, or clutch pedal (if you have a
manual transaxle).
You could be startled and even lose
control,
So unless you want to go faster, don’t hold the
switch to R/A.
Increasing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed.
Use the accelerator pedal to get to the higher speed. Push the
SET button at the end of the lever, then
release the button and the accelerator pedal. You’ll now cruise at the higher speed.
Move the cruise switch from ON to R/A. Hold it
there until you get up to the speed you want, and
then release the switch.
(To increase your speed in
very small amounts, move the switch to R/A for
less than half a second and then release it. Each
time you do this, your vehicle will go about
1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster.)
2-41

Reducing 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.
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.
2-42

Exterior Lamps
Headlamps
I-
Rotate the turn signal lever middle ring up one position
to turn on:
Parking Lamps
Sidemarker Lamps
0 Taillamps
0 License Plate Lamps
0 Instrument Panel Lights Rotate the turn signal lever middle ring up two positions
to
turn on:
Headlamps
0 Parking Lamps
Sidemarker Lamps
Taillamps
License Plate Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights
Rotate the switch to
OFF to turn all of the lamps off.
Lamps On Reminder
If you open the driver’s door and turn off the
ignition while leaving the lamps
on, you will hear a
warning chime.
2-43

Daytime Running Lamps
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.
The DRL system will make your high-beam headlamps
come on at a reduced brightness when:
The engine is running,
0 The headlamp switch is in the OFF position,
The light sensor detects daytime light,
0 The parking brake is released and
The shift lever is not in PARK (P) on an
automatic transaxle.
When the DRL system is on, the taillamps, sidemarker,
park lamps
and instrument panel lights will not be
illuminated.
The DRL and the ALC systems will remain off any time
your automatic transaxle vehicle is in PARK (P) and the
parking brake is engaged.
The DRL and the ALC systems will remain
off any time
your manual transaxle vehicle is in NEUTRAL (N) and
the parking brake is engaged.
Automatic Light Control (ALC)
Your vehicle is equipped with an automatic light sensor
on top of the instrument panel under the defroster grill,
so be sure it is not covered which will cause the
nighttime lights to be on continuously.
When it is dark enough outside, your ALC will turn
on
your low-beam headlamps at the normal brightness
along with other lamps such as the taillamps,
sidemarker, park lamps and instrument panel lights.
There is a 20-second delay in the transition between
daytime and nighttime operation
of the DRL and the
ALC systems.
If the light sensor senses a reduction in
lighting that lasts longer than
20 seconds, it will activate
the nighttime lamps. If you are driving through a
parking garage, heavy overcast weather, a tunnel or
fueling your vehicle in a low light area, the ALC will
turn on your low-beam headlamps at a normal
brightness along with the taillamps, sidemarker, park
lamps and the instrument panel lights. The radio lights
will be dimmer.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need
it.

Fog Lamps
The button for your fog
lamps is beside the
instrument panel
intensity control.
Push the button to turn the fog lamps
on. An indicator
light on the button will glow when the fog lamps are on.
When using fog lamps, the parking lamps or low-beam
headlamps must be on.
The fog lamps will turn off whenever the high-beam
headlamps
are turned on. When the high beams are
turned off, the fog lamps will come on again.
Interior Lamps
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.
2-45