clock PONTIAC GRAND AM 1997 User Guide

Try to adjust your speed so you can “drive” through the
curve. Maintain a reasonable, steady speed. Wait to
accelerate until you are out of the curve, and then
accelerate gently into the straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
There are times when steering can be more effective than
braking. For example, you come over
a hill and find a
truck stopped
in your lane, or a car suddenly pulls out
from nowhere, or a child darts out from between parked
cars and stops right
in front of you. You can avoid these
problems by braking
-- if you can stop in time. But
sometimes you can’t; there isn’t room. That’s the time \
for
evasive action
-- steering around the problem.
Your Pontiac can perform very well in emergencies like
these. First apply your brakes. (See “Braking in
Emergencies” earlier in this section.) It is better to
remove as much speed as you can from
a possible
collision. Then steer around the problem, to the left
or
right depending on the space available. 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.
4-12

Removing the Spare Tire and Tools
Lift and remove the cover. See “Compact Spare Tire”
later in this section for more information about the
compact spare. Turn
the wing nut
counterclockwise and
remove it. Then lift off the
spacer and remove the
spare tire.
Remove the jack and wheel wrench from the trunk. Your
vehicle’s jack and wheel wrench are stored in
a foam
tray. Remove the band around the jack.
5-24

4. Raise the vehicle by rotating the wheel wrench
clockwise. Raise the vehicle far enough off the
ground
so there is enough room for the spare
tire to
fit.
5. Remove all of the wheel nuts.
6. Remove the wheel cover from the wheel, if your flat
tire has one. Then take
off the flat tire.
5-27

9. Lower the vehicle by rotating the wheel wrench
counterclockwise. Lower the jack completely.
10. Tighten the wheel nuts
firmly in a criss-cross
sequence,
as shown.
Incorrect wheel nuts or improperly tightened
wheel nuts can cause the wheel to become loose
and even come
off. This could lead to an accident.
Be sure to use the correct wheel nuts.
If you have
to replace them, be sure to get new
GM original
equipment wheel nuts.
Stop somewhere
as soon as you can and have the
nuts tightened with
a torque wrench to 100 lb-ft
(140 N-m)
5-29

A
To open the fuel door, pull the fuel access handle on the
floor by the driver’s seat.
The remote fuel filler door release can help keep your
fuel
tank from being siphoned. Always be sure the fuel
door is closed and latched after refueling. While refueling, hang the tethered cap over
the hook
inside the fuel door.
To take off the cap, turn it slowly to the left
(counterclockwise). The cap has a spring in it; if you let
go of the cap too soon, it will spring back to the right.

A CAUTION:
I=
If you get gasoline on yourself and then
something ignites it, you could be badly burned.
Gasoline can spray out on you
if you open the
fuel filler cap too quickly, This spray can happen
if your tank
is nearly full, and is more likely in
hot weather. Open the fuel filler cap slowly and
wait for any “hiss” noise to stop. Then unscrew
the cap all the way.
Be careful not to spill gasoline. Clean gasoline from
painted surfaces as
soon as possible. See “Cleaning the
Outside of Your Pontiac” in the Index. When you
put the cap back on, turn
it to the right
(clockwise) until you hear a clicking sound. Make sure
you fully install the cap. The diagnostic system can
determine
if the fuel cap has been left off or improperly
installed. This would allow fuel to evaporate into the
atmosphere. See “Malfunction Indicator Lamp” in
the Index.
NOTICE:
If you need a new cap, be sure to get the right
type. Your dealer can get one for you, If you get
the wrong type, it may not fit properly. This may cause your malfunction indicator lamp to light
and your fuel tank and emissions system may be
damaged. See “Malfunction Indicator Lamp” in
the Index,
6-7

4. Lift the headlamp assembly out of the
mounting bracket.
5. Twist the bulb assembly counterclockwise one-sixth
of a turn and pull out the bulb assembly.
6. Unclip the bulb assembly from the wiring harness.
7. Reverse Steps 1 through 5 to replace the bulb
assembly and headlamp housing.
6-37

3. Carefully remove the taillamp lens from the body
and avoid scratching the paint or dropping it.
4. To remove a socket, push in the lock tab and turn the
socket counterclockwise to pull it out
5. To remove a bulb, gently push in and turn the bulb
counterclockwise.
5. Reverse Steps 1 through 5 to reassemble the taillamp.
Dome Lamp Bulb Replacement
To change your dome lamp bulb, grasp the center front
and center rear portion of the housing
and squeeze
firmly but gently. The housing should pop off.
If this doesn’t work, you may need to use a small
flat-head screwdriver under the side of the housing to
help pry
it off.
6-40

Vinyl ....................................... 6-52
Wheels
...................................... 6-55
Windshield and Wiper Blades
................... 6-53
Climate Control System
........................... 3-2
Clock, Setting the
................................ 3-8
Clutch Fluid, Hydraulic
.......................... 6-23
Clutch, Hydraulic
............................... 6-23
Comfort Controls
................................ 3-2
Compact Disc Adapter Kit
................... 3-13, 3-16
Compact Disc Care
............................. 3-26
Compact Disc Player
............................ 3 - 17
Compact Spare Tire
............................. 5-33
Control of a Vehicle
.............................. 4-6
Convenience Net
............................... 2-5 1
Convex Outside Mirror .......................... 2-48
Coolant
....................................... 6-24
Adding
................................ 5-18, 6-27
Checking
................................... 6-26
SurgeTank
.................................. 5-16
Climate Control System
with Air Conditioning
......... 3-3
Heater, Engine
........... ............... 2-19
Surge Tank Pressure Cap
....................... 6-28
Cooling System
................................ 5-16
Courtesy Transportation ........................... 8-8
Cruise Control
................................. 2-39
Cupholder
..................................... 2- 50
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone Users
......... 8-5
Customer Assistance Information
................... 8-3
Customer Satisfaction Procedure
.................... 8-3
Damage, Finish
............................... 6-56
Damage, Sheet Metal
............................ 6-55
Daytime Running Lamps
......................... 2-44 Dead Battery
................................... 5-3
Defects. Reporting Safety
........................ 8-10
Defensive Driving ............................... 4-2
Defogger. Rear Window
.......................... 3-6
Defrosting
..................................... 3-6
Dimensions. Vehicle
............................ 6-65
Dolby@ B Noise Reduction
.................. 3- 12. 3- 16
Dome Lamp Bulb Replacement
.................... 6-40
DoorLocks
..................................... 2-4
Driver Position
................................. 1-13
Driving Backing Up When Towing
a Trailer .............. 4-39
City
........................................ 4-21
Defogging ..................................... 3-6
Defensive
.................................... 4-2 .
Drunken ..................................... 4-3
Following Distance when Towing a Trailer
......... 4-39
Freeway
.................................... 4-22
InaBlizzard
................................. 4-28
In Foreign Countries
............... ........ 6-4
IntheRain
.................................. 4-18
Making Turns When Towing a Trailer
............. 4-40
Night
...................................... 4-16
OnCurves
.................................. 4-11
On Grades While Towing a Trailer ............... 4-40
On Hill and Mountain Roads
.................... 4-24
On Snow and Ice
............................. 4-27
Passing When Towing a Trailer
.................. 4-39
Throughwater
............................... 4-20
WetRoads
.................................. 4-17
Winter
...................................... 4-26
With a Trailer
................................ 4-39
Drunken Driving
............................ 4-3
9-3