turn signal PONTIAC PONTIAC 1997 Owners Manual

Vehicle Symbols
These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle.
For example,
these symbols are used on an
original battery:
POSSIBLE A
CAUTION
INJURY
PROTECT EYES BY
SHIELDING
CAUSTIC
BURNS AVOID
SPARKS
OR
FLAMES
SPARK OR ,\[I,
COULD FLAME
EXPLODE BATTERY
These symbols are important
for you and
your passengers
whenever your
vehicle is
driven:
n
FASTEN
SEAT
BELTS
q4
AIR BAG p
These symbols
have to do with
your lamps:
SIGNALS e
TURN
PARKING LAMPS
FOG LAMPS
$0
These symbols
are
on some of
your controls:
WINDSHIELD
WIPER
WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER
WINDOW
DEFOGGER
VENTILATING
~3
FAN
These symbols are used
on
warning and indicator lights:
COOLANT -
TEMP -
CHARGING BATTERY
SYSTEM
BRAKE
(0)
h
COOLANT
ENGINE OIL
w,
PRESSURE
ANTI-LOCK
(@)
BRAKES
Here are some
other symbols
you may see:
FUSE
P
LIGHTER m
HORN )cr
SPEAKER
b
FUEL la
V
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Last Door Closed Locking
The Last Door Closed Locking makes it more
convenient €or you to use your power door lo’cks to lock
all doors when leaving your vehicle. When any door
is
open, the first time you attempt to lock the doors using
the power
door lock switch or key chain transmitter will
result in three chimes to signal that Last
Door Closed
Locking is being used. All doors can be opened for any
reason for five seconds from the time the last door has
been closed. Five seconds after the last door is closed,
all doors will lock. You can lock the doors immediately
by using the power door lock switch or the key chain
transmitter
to lock again.
The Last Door Closed
Locking feature will not
occur and d’oors will not
be locked as a result of this
feature when
the ignition switch is in the RUN or
ACCESSORY position. The Last Door Closed Locking
feature
is not enabled from the factory.
Automatic Door Locks
I
Unlocked doors can be dangerous.
Passengers -- especially children -- can easily
open the doors and fall out. When
a door is
locked, the inside handle won’t open
it.
Outsiders can easily enter through an unlocked
door when you slow down or stop your vehicle.
This
may not be so obvious: You increase the
chance
of being thrown out of the vehicle in a
crash
if the doors aren’t locked. Wear safety belts
properly, lock your doors, and you will
be far
better off whenever you drive your vehicle.
To turn the Last Door Closed Locking feature on or off,
see “Locks and Lighting Choices” in the Index. All of the
doors will lock automatically when you move
your shift lever
out of PARK (P). All doors will. unl’ock
automatically when the ignition
is turned off while the
shift lever
is in PARK (P). If you prefer to have your
doors unlocked automatically at any time, see “Locks
and Lighting Choices” in the Index.
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Wm Signal/Multifunction Lever
1
I
Turn Signal and Lane Change Indicator
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.
The lever
on the left side of the steering column
includes your:
Turn Signal and Lane Change Indicator
0 Headlamp High/Low Beam
0 Windshield Wipers
Windshield Washer
Cruise Control (If Equipped)
c:
I
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.
As you signal a turn or a lane change, if the arrow
flashes faster than normal,
a signal bulb may be burned
out and other drivers won’t see your turn signal.
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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 for burned-out bulbs and then check
the fuse (see “Fuses and Circuit Breakers” in the Index).
A chme will sound if you leave your turn signal on for
more than
3/4 mile (1.2 km).
Headlamp HigWLow Beam
To change your headlamps
from low beam to high
beam, or high to low, pull
the multifunction 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.
Flash-to-Pass
When your headlamps are off, pull the lever toward you
to momentarily switch on the high beams (to signal that
you are going to pass). When you release the lever they
will
turn off.
Windshield Wipers
You control the windshield wipers by turning the band
marked
WIPER. For a single wiping cycle, turn the band
to MIST. Hold it there until the wipers start, then let go.
The wipers will stop after one cycle. If you want more
cycles, hold the band on
MIST longer.
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Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
This part describes 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 or 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.
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.
Your vehicle may also have a driver information system
that works along with the warning lights and gages. See
“Driver Information System” in the Index.
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 stav
on .I
for about 20 seconds, then
it will flash for about
55 seconds. If the driver’s
belt
is already buckled,
neither the chime nor
the
light will come on.
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TRUNK A JAR: If your trunk is not fully closed or
open, a light will outline the trunk area on your
vehicle outline.
TRAC SWITCH: If yop vehicle has the Trac System
(this is not an available option with the 3800 Supercharged
engine),
you will have a disable switch on the far right
side
of your Trip Computer. Your Trac System is
automatically activated when you turn the ignition on. This
switch will activate/deactivate the Trac System. If you
need to disable
the system, such as when you are stuck
and are rocking your vehicle back and forth, push this
switch. See “Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow” in
the Index.
TRAC OFF: This light lets you know that your Trac
System has been disabled and will not limit wheel spin.
See “Trac System Warning Light” or “Low Traction
Light” in the Index.
LOW TRAC: This light will come on when your Trac
System is limiting wheel spin or when your anti-lock
brake system is active. See “Trac System” or “Low
Traction Light” in the Index.
Head-Up Display (If Equipped)
radio station or CD track,
displayed “through”
the windshield.
The
HUD also shows these lights when they are lit on
the instrument panel:
0 Turn Signal Indicators
0 High-Beam Indicator Symbol
0 Low Fuel Symbol
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Do not get too close to the vehicle you want to pass
while you’re awaiting
an opportunity. For one thing,
following too closely reduces your area of vision,
especially if you’re following a larger vehicle.
Also, you won’t have adequate space if the vehicle
ahead suddenly slows or stops. Keep back a
reasonable distance.
0 When it looks like a chance to pass is coming up,
start to accelerate but stay in the right l’ane and
don’t get too close. Time your move
so you will be
increasing speed as the time comes to move into the
other lane. If the way is clear to pass, you will have a
“running start’’ that more than makes up for
the
distance you would lose by dropping back. And if
something happens to cause
you to cancel your pass,
you need only slow down and
drop back again and
wait for another opportunity.
If other cars are lined up to pass a slow vehicle, wait
your turn. But take care that someone isn’t trying to
pass you as you pull out to pass
the slow vehicle.
Remember to glance over your shoulder and check
the blind spot.
Check your mirrors, glance over your shoulder, and
start your left lane change signal before moving out
of the right lane to pass. When you are far enough
ahead of the passed vehicle to see its front in your
inside mirror, activate your right lane change signal
and move back into the right lane. (Remember that
your right outside mirror is convex. The vehicle you
just passed may seem to
be farther away from you
than it really is.)
0 Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a time on
two-lane roads, Reconsider before passing the
next vehicle.
Don’t overtake a 8slowly moving vehicle too rapidly.
, Even though the brake lamps are not flashing, it may
be slowing down or starting to turn.
0 If you’re being passed, make it easy for the
following driver to get ahead of you, Perhaps you
can ease
a little to the right.
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City Driving
One of the biggest problems with city streets is the
amount
of traffic on them. You’ll want to watch out for
what
the other drivers are doing and pay attention to
traffic signals. Here are ways
to increase your safety
in city driving:
Know the b’est way to get to where you are
going. Get
a city map and plan your trip into an
unknown part of the city just as you would for a
cross-country trip.
Try to use the freeways that rim and crisscross most
large cities. You’ll save time and energy. (See th’e
next
part, “Freeway Driving.”)
Treat a green light as a warning signal. A traffic light
is there because
the corner is busy enough to need it.
When a Bight turns green, and just before
you start to
move, check both ways for vehicles
that have not
cleared the intersection or may be running the
red light.
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Freeway Driving The most important advice on freeway driving is: Keep
up with traffic and keep to the right. Drive at the same
Mile for mile, freeways
(also called thruways, parkways,
expressways, turnpikes or superhighways)
are the safest
of all roads. But they have their own special rules. drive
along-the entrance ramp, you should begin to
-
check traffic. Try to determine where you expect to
blend with the flow. Try to merge into the gap at close to
the prevailing speed. Switch on your turn signal, check
your mirrors and glance over your shoulder as often as
necessary. Try to blend smoothly with the traffic flow.
Once you
are on the freeway, adjust your speed to the
posted
limit or to the prevailing rate if it's slower. Stay
in the right lane unless you want to pass.
Before changing lanes, check your mirrors. Then use
your turn signal.
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Making Turns
I NOTICE:
Making very sharp turns while trailering could cause the trailer to come in contact with the
vehicle. Your vehicle could be damaged. Avoid making very sharp turns while trailering.
When you’re turning with a trailer, make wider turns than
normal.
Do this so your trailer won’t strike soft shoulders,
curbs, road signs, trees or other objects. Avoid jerky or
sudden maneuvers. Signal well in advance.
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle may need a
different turn signal flasher andlor extra wiring. Check
with your Pontiac dealer. The green arrows on your
instrument panel will flash whenever you signal a turn
or lane change. Properly hooked up, the trailer lamps
will also flash, telling other drivers you’re about to turn,
change lanes or stop. When towing
a trailer, the green
arrows on your
instrument panel will flash for turns even if the bulbs on
the trailer are burned out. Thus, you may think drivers
behind you are seeing your signal when they are not. It’s
important to check occasionally to be
sure the trailer
bulbs
are still working.
Your vehicle has bulb warning lights. When you plug
a
trailer lighting system into your vehicle’s lighting
system, its bulb warning lights may not
let you know if
one of your lamps goes out. So, when you have a trailer
lighting system plugged in, be sure to check your
vehicle and trailer lamps
from time to time to be sure
they’re all working. Once you disconnect the trailer
lamps, the bulb warning lights again can tell you if one
of your vehicle lamps is out.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you start
down a long or steep downgrade. If you don’t shift
down, you might have to use your brakes
so much that
they would get hot and no longer work well.
On
a long uphill grade, shift down and reduce your
speed to around
45 mph (70 kd) to reduce the
possibility
of engine and transaxle overheating.
If you have Overdrive, you may want to drive in
THIRD (3), instead of DRIVE (D),
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