PONTIAC GRAND AM 1998 Owners Manual

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 km/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
WA.
Increasing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed.
0 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.
0 Move the cruise switch from ON to WA. 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 RIA 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.)
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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’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:
0 Step lightly on the brake pedal or push the clutch
pedal, if you have a manual transaxle: or
0 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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Exterior Lamps
Headlamps
Rotate the turn signal lever middle ring up one position
to
turn on:
0 Parking Lamps
Sidemarker Lamps
Taillamps
License Plate Lamps
Instrument Panel Lights Rotate the
turn signal lever middle ring up two positions
to
turn on:
Headlamps
0 Parking Lamps
0 Sidemarker Lamps
Taillamps
0 License Plate Lamps
0 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.
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Daytime Running Lamps
Daytime Running Lamps (Dm) 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:
0 The engine is running,
0 The headlamp switch is OFF,
The light sensor detects daytime light,
The parking brake is released and
The shift lever is not in PARK (P) on an
When the DRL system is on, the taillamps, sidemarker,
parking lamps and instrument panel lights will not
be illuminated. automatic transaxle.
The
DIU and ALC systems will remain off any time
your automatic transaxle vehicle is
in Park (P) and the
parking brake is engaged.
The
DFU and ALC systems will remain off any time
your manual transaxle vehicle is in Neutral
(N) and the
parking brake is engaged.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
Automatic Light Control (ALC)
Your vehicle is equipped with an automatic light sensor
on top of the instrument panel under the defroster
grin,
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 headlamps that you were last using at the normal
brightness along with other lamps such as the taillamps,
sidemarker, parking lamps and instrument panel lights.
There is a 20-second delay in the transition between
daytime and nighttime operation
of the DRL and LC
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 lamps, parking 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 top
of the button to turn the fog lamps on. An
indicator light on the button will glow when the fog
lamps are on. Push the bottom of the button to turn the
When using
fog lamps, the parking lamps or low-beam
headlamps must
be on.
fog lamp off.
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.
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Illuminated Entry System Front Reading Lamps (If Equipped)
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.
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 closed,
press the button. Press it again to turn the lamp
off.
Front Map Lamps (If Equipped)
If your vehicle has a sunroof, it will have a &ew 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.
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Rear Reading Lamps (If Equipped)
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 vehicle 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,
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.
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Mirrors
Convex Outside Mirror
Your passenger’s side mirror is convex. A convex
mirror’s surface
is curved so you can see more from the
driver’s seat.
Manual Remote Control Mirror
The outside rearview mirror should be adjusted so you
can just see the side of your vehicle when you
are sitting
in a comfortable driving position.
Adjust the driver’s side
outside mirror with the control lever on the
A CAUTION: I driver’s door.
A convex mirror can make things (like other
vehicles) look farther away than they really are.
If you cut too sharply into the right lane, you
could
hit a vehicle on your right. Check your
inside mirror or glance over your shoulder before
changing lanes.
To adjust your passenger’s side mirror, sit in the driver’s
Inside Daymight Rearview Mirror
To reduce glare from lights behind you, move the lever
toward you to the night position. seat
and have a passenger adjust the
mirror for you.
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Power Remote Control Mirror
(If Equipped)
This selector knob
controls both outside
rearview mirrors.
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.
Center Console Storage Area
I I
Select the mirror you want to adjust by rotating the knob
to the left or right. Adjust each mirror
so that you can
just see the side of
your vehicle when you are sitting in a
comfortable driving position.
Turn the knob to the center to turn the remote control
mirror off.
The armrest opens into a storage area for cassette tapes,
gloves, etc.
To open it, lift up on the front portion of
the armrest.
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Sunglasses Storage
Place your sunglasses in the open area located above
you in the overhead console, or front compartment in
the center console.
Center Console Cupholder
The console provides space for holding cups or soft
drinks.
Rear Seat Cupholder
There are cupholders on the underside of the front
storage armrest lid for the
rear passengers to use. Open
the lid completely to use the cupholders.
Convenience Net (If Equipped)
Your vehicle may have a convenience net. You’ll see it
just inside the back wall of the
trunk.
Put small loads, like grocery bags, behind the net. It can
help keep them from falling over during sharp
turns or
quick starts and stops.
The net isn’t for larger, heavier loads. Store them in the
trunk as far forward as you can.
You can unhook the net so that it will lie flat when
you’re not using it.
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter
(If Equipped)
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 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.
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