PONTIAC PONTIAC 1996 Owners Manual

Accessory Outlet Sunroof (Option)
If your vehicle has a center console, you have a 12-volt
outlet.
It is on the passenger’s side, near the floor. Open
the cover to
use the outlet.
I NOTICE:
Adding some electrical equipment to your vehicle
can damage
it or keep other things from working
as they should. This wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty. Check with
your dealer before adding
electrical equipment and never use anything
requiring more than
20 amps.
I
Your sunroof includes a sliding glass panel and a sliding
sunshade. The, switch works
only when the ignition is on.
To open the glass panel and sunshade, press the rear of
the switch. Let go of the switch to stop the panel in any
position.
Press the front of the switch to close the glass
panel. The sunshade can
only be closed by hand.
To open the rear vent, press the front of the switch when
the sunroof is closed. Open the sunshade by hand. Press
the rear of the switch to close the vent.
The
sunroof glass panel cannot be opened or closed if
your vehicle has an elecbical failure.
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Instrument Panel -- Your Information System
Q Q
A. Lamp Controls
B . Instrument Cluster
C. Vents
D. Glove Box
E. Audio System
E Climate Control System
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hstrument Panel Cluster
3.1L United States Version Shown, Others Similar
Your instrument cluster is designed to let you know at a glance how your vehicle is running. You'll know how fast
you're going, about how much
fuel is in your tank and many other things you need to drive safely and economically.
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Speedometer/Odometer
Your speedometer lets you see your speed in both miles
per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour
(M). Your
odometer shows how far your vehicle has been driven in
either miles (used in the United States) or in kilometers
(used in Canada).
Your Pontiac has a tamper-resistant odometer.
If you see
silver lines between the numbers, you’ll know someone
has probably tampered with it and the numbers may not
be correct.
YQU may wonder what happens if your-vehicle needs a
, new odometer installed. If the new one can be set to the
mileage total of the old odometer, then that will be done.
If it can’t, then it will be set at zero and a label must be
put on the driver’s door to show the old mileage reading ,
when the new odometer was installed.
Trip Odometer
Your trip odometer tells how far you have driven since
you last reset it.
To set it to zero, press the RESET
button on the right side of the instrument cluster.
Tachometer
1
The tachometer displays
the engine speed
in
w
*1
RPM X 1000
thousands of revolutions
per minute (rpm).
I 1
NOTICE:
Do not operate the engine with the tachometer in
the red area, or engine damage may occur.
I I
2-45
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Wslrr!ing Lights, Gages and Indicators
This part des’cribes the warning lights and gages that may
be on your vehicle. The pictures will help you locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that something
is
wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause an
expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to
your warning lights and gages could also save you or
others from injury.
Warning lights come on when there
may be QT is a
problem with one
of your vehicle’s functions. As you will
see in the details on the next few pages, some warning
lights come on briefly when you start the engine just to let
you know they’re working. If you are familiar with this
section, you should not be alarmed when this happens.
Gages can indicate when there
may be or is a problem
with one of your vehicle’s functions. Often gages
and
warning lights work together to let you know when
.-:.‘:?there’s
. .. a problem with your vehicle.
I!;.. ’ ’
I.
When one of the warning lights comes on and stays on
when you are driving,.or when one of the gages shows
there may be a problem, check the section that tells you
what to
do about it. Please follow this manual’s advice.
Waiting to
do repairs can be costly -- and even
dangerous.
So please get to know your warning lights
and gages.
They’re a big help.
Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to RUN or START, a chime will
come on for about eight seconds to remind people to
fasten their safety belts, unless
the driver’s safety belt is
already buckled.
The safety belt light
will also come on and
, .!
stay on until the driver3
belt
is buckled.
,.
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Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
pqel, which shows
SRS AIR BAG or the air bag symbol.
The system checks the air bag's electrical system for
malfunctions.
The light tells you if there is an electrical
problem. The system check includes the air bag sensors,
the
air bag modules, the wiring and the crash sensing and
diagnostic module. For more information on the air bag
system,
see "Air Bag" in the Index.
SRS AIR BAG
You will see this light flash
for a few seconds when you
turn your ignition to
RUN
or START. Then the light
should go out. This means
the system is ready.
If the air bag readiness light doesn't come on when you
start your vehicle, or stays on, or comes on when you
are driving, your air bag system may not work properly.
Have your vehicle serviced right away.
Charging System Light
Ifl
The charging system light
will come on briefly when
you turn on the ignition,
as a check to show you
it's working. Then
it should
go out.
If it stays on, or comes on while you are driving, you
may have a problem with the charging system. It could
indicate
that you have a loose drive belt or ansther
electrical problem. Have it checked right away. Driving
while this light is on could drain your battery.
If you must drive a short distance with the light on, be
certain to turn
off all your accessories, such as the radio
and air conditioner.
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Brake System Warning Light
Your Pontiac's hydraulic brake system is divided into
two pats. If one part isn't working, the other pa;t.can
still work and stop you. For
good braking, though, you
need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there could be a brake
problem. Have your brake system inspected right away.
BRAKE
This light should come on
briefly when you turn the
ignition key to
RUN. If it
doesn't come on then, have
it fixed
so it will be ready to
warn you if there's a
problem.
If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off the
road and stop carefully.
You may notice that the pedal is
harder to push. Or, the pedal may go closer to the floor.
It may take longer to stop. If the light is still on; or if the anti-lock brake system warning light
is flashing,
have
the vehicle towed
for service. (See "Anti-Lock Brake
System Warning Light" and "Towing Your Vehicle" in
the Index.)
A CAUTION: -
~ ~~~~ ~ ~ ~~
Your brake system may not be working properly
if the brake system warning light is on. Driving
with the brake system warning light on can
lead
to an accident. If the light is still on or if the
anti-lock brake system warning light
is flashing
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 parking brake doesn't release
fully.
If it stays on after your parking brake is fdly
released,
it means you have a brake problem.
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Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light (Option)
(@)
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 flashes when you’re ( ving, you don’t have
anti-lock brakes and there could be a problem with your
regular brakes. Pull off the road and stop carefully.
You
may notice that the pedal is harder to push. Or, the pedal
may
go closer to the floor. It may take longer to stop.
Have the vehicle towed for service. (See ‘Towing Your
Vehicle’’ in the Index.)
A CAUTION:
I
Your regular brake system may not be working
properly if the anti-lock brake system warning
light is flashing. Driving with the anti-lock
brake system warning light flashing can lead to
an accident. After you’ve pulled
off the road
and stopped carefully, have the vehicle towed
for service.
If the anti-lock brake system warning light stays on
longer than normal after you’ve started your engine, turn
the ignition
off. Or, if the light comes on and stays on
when you’re driving, stop as soon as possible and turn
the ignition
off. Then start the engine again to reset the
system.
If the light still stays on, or comes on again
while you’re driving, your Pontiac needs service.
If the
light
is on but not flashing and the regular brake system
warning light isn’t on, you still have brakes, but you
don’t have anti-lock brakes.
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.
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Anti-Lock Brake System Active Light
(Option)
Men your anti-lock system
is adjusting brake pressure
to help avoid a braking skid,
the anti-lock brake system
active light will come on.
Engine Coolant Temperature Light
h E- -
c. TEMP
This light tells you that your
engine coolant,
has
overheated or your radiator
c-ooling €an
is not working.
.. . ..
' .. 5
.. . .
Slippery road conditions may exist if this light comes
on,
so adjust your driving accordingly. The light will
stay un for a few seconds after the system stops
adjusting brake pressure.
If you have been operatmg your vehicle under normal
driving conditions, you should pull off the road, stop
your vehicle and turn off the engine as soon as possible.
In "Problems on the Road," this manual shows what to
do. See "Engine Overheating" in the Index.
The anti-lock brake system active light also come,s 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
there to tell you when the system is active.
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Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
You have a gage that shows
the engine coolant temperature.
If the gage
pointer moves into the red
area,
your engine is too hot!
Low Coolant Warning Light
LOW
COOLANT
If this light comes on, your
system
is low on coolant
and the engine may
overheat. See “Engine
Coolant” in the Index
and
have your vehicle serviced
as soon as you can.
That reading means the same thing as the warning light.
It means that your engine coolant has overheated.
If you
have been ‘operating your vehicle under normal driving
conditions, you should pull off the road, stop your
vehicle and turn
off the engine as soon as possible.
In “Problems on the Road,” this manual shows what to
do. S’ee “Engine Overheating” in the Index.
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