1993 PONTIAC GRAND-AM check engine light

Warning Lights,
Gages
Tachometer (omtoN)
The tachometer shows your engine
speed in revolutions per minute (rpm).
and Indicators
This section 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 go 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 turn the ignition key 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 the 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.
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Oil Warning Light (CONT.)
The oil light could also come on in three
other situations:
When the ignition is on but the engine
is not running, the light will come on
as a test to show you it is working, but
the light will
go out when you turn the
ignition to
Start. If it doesn’t come on
with the ignition on, you may have a
problem with the fuse or bulb. Have
it
fixed right away.
Sometimes when the engine is idling
at a stop, the light may blink on and
off. This is normal.
If you make a hard stop, the light may
come on for a moment. This is
normal.
I
Don’t keep driving if the oil
your engine can become so hot that
it catches fire. You or others could
’ ; burned. Check your oil as soon
ab possible and have your vehicle
serviced.
E pressure is low. If you do,
‘CHECK I
OIL
,4-;, Damage to your engine from
;; neglected oil problems can be
,’: costly and is not covered -1 by your
i:.. warranty. , 1.
I
1
Check Oil Light
This light should come on briefly when
you
turn your ignition key to Run. It
also comes on and stays on when the oil
level in your vehicle is low. If this
happens, park your vehicle
in a level
place, check your
oil level and bring the
engine
oil up to its proper level. See the
Index under Engine Oil.
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Oil Pressure Gage (omrorv)
The oil pressure gage shows the engine
oil pressure in psi (pounds per square
inch) when the engine is running.
Canadian vehicles indicate pressure in
kPa. Oil pressure may vary with engine
speed, outside temperature and
oil
viscosity, but readings above the red warning zone indicate the normal
operating range.
A reading in the red zone may be caused
by a dangerously low oil level
or other
problem causing low oil pressure. Have
your vehicle serviced immediately.
A
Don’t keep driving if the oil
pressure is low.
If you do,
your engine can become
so hot that
it catches fire. You or others could
be burned. Check your oil as soon
as possible and have your vehicle
serviced.
Charging System Light
The charging system light will come on
briefly when you
turn on the ignition,
but the engine is not running, as a check
to show you it is working. Then it
should go out.
If it stays on when your
engine is running, or comes on while
you are driving, you may have a
problem with the electrical charging
system. It could indicate that
you have a
loose generator drive belt or another
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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Features tS Controls
!
-
Shift Light (MANUAL TRANSAXLE)
This light comes on when you need to
shift to the next higher gear. See the
Index under Manual Transaxle.
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Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Service Engine Soon Light)
A computer monitors operation of your
fuel, ignition and emission control
systems. This light should come on
when the ignition is on, but the engine
is not running, as a check to show you
it
is working. If it does not come on at all,
have it fixed right away.
If it stays on, or
it comes on while you are driving, the
computer is indicating that
you have a
problem. You should take your vehicle
in for service soon.
If you keep driving your vehicle
with this light on, after a while the
emission controls won’t work as
well, your fuel economy won’t be
as good and your engine may not
run as smoothly. This could lead to
costly repairs not covered by your
warranty.
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. .. . ..
Check Gauges Light (opTIoN)
This light will come on briefly when
you are starting the engine. If the light
comes
on and stays on while you are
driving, check your various gages to see
if they are in the warning zones.
c
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“Riding” the brakes wears them
out much faster. You would need
costly brake replacement
much
sooner than normal, and it also reduces fuel economy. If you keep pace with the traffic and
allow realistic following distances,
you
will eliminate a lot of unnecessary
braking. That means better braking and
longer brake life. If your engine ever stops while you’re
driving, brake normally but don’t
pump your brakes. If you do, the pedal
may get harder to push down. If your
engine stops, you will still have some
power brake assist. But
you will use it
when you brake. Once the power
assist is used up, it may take longer
to
stop and the brake pedal will be
harder to push.
Anti-Lock Bmkes (ABS)
Your Pontiac has an advanced electronic
braking system that will help prevent
skidding.
This light on the instrument panel will
go on when you start your vehicle.
When you
start your vehicle and begin
to drive away you may hear a
momentary motor or clicking noise
and
you may even notice that your brake
pedal moves a little while this is going
on. This is the ABS system testing itself.
If you have your foot on the brake
pedal,
this check won’t happen until the vehicle
goes about
4 mph (6 km/h) or until you
take your foot off the brake pedal.
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Here are some things you can check
before a trip:
Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the
reservoir full? Are all windows clean
inside and outside?
shape?
Have you checked all levels?
lenses clean?
safe, trouble-free trip.
Is the tread
good enough for long-distance
driving? Are the tires all inflated to
the recommended pressure?
weather outlook along your route? Should you delay your trip a short
time to avoid a major storm system?
Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps?
Wiper Blades: Are they in good
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids:
Lights: Are they all working? Are the
Tires: They are vitally important to a
Weather Forecasts: What’s the
On the Road
Unless you are the only driver, it is
good to share the driving task with
others. Limit
turns behind the wheel to
about
100 miles (160 km) or two hours
at a sitting. Then, either change drivers
or stop for some refreshment like coffee,
tea or
soft drinks and some. limbering
up. But do stop and move around. Eat
lightly along the way. Heavier meals
tend to make some people sleepy.
On two-lane highways or undivided
multilane highways that do not have
controlled access, you’ll want to watch
for some situations not usually found on
freeways. Examples are: stop signs and
signals, shopping centers with direct
access to the highway, no passing zones
and school zones, vehicles turning left
and right off the road, pedestrians,
cyclists, parked vehicles, and even
animals.
Highway Hypnosis
Is there actually such a condition as
“highway hypnosis”? Or is it just plain
falling asleep at the wheel?
Call it
highway hypnosis, lack of awareness, or
whatever.
There is something about an easy stretch
of road with the same scenery, along
with the hum of the tires on the road,
the drone of the engine, and the rush
of
the wind against the vehicle that can
make you sleepy. Don’t let it happen
to
you! If it does, your vehicle can leave
the road
in less than a second, and you
could crash and be injured.
What can you do about highway
hypnosis? First, be aware that it can
happen.
Then here are some tips:
Make sure your vehicle is well
ventilated, with a comfortably cool
interior.
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your urwlng and the Road
Highway Hypnosis (CONI)
Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road
ahead and to the sides. Check your
rearview mirrors frequently and your
instruments from time to time. This
can help you avoid a fixed stare.
Wear good sunglasses in bright light.
Glare can cause drowsiness. But don’t
wear sunglasses at night. They will
drastically reduce your overall vision
at the very time you need all the
seeing power you have.
If you get sleepy, pull off the road into
a rest, service, or parking area and
take a nap, get some exercise, or both.
For safety, treat drowsiness on the
highway as an emergency.
As in any driving situation, keep pace
with traffic and allow adequate
following distances.
I CAUTION
d
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or mountains is
different from driving in flat or rolling
terrain. If
you drive regularly in steep
country, or
if you’re planning to visit
there, here are
some tips that can make
your trips safer and more enjoyable.
Keep your vehicle in good shape.
Check all fluid levels and also the
brakes, tires, cooling system and
transaxle. These parts can work hard
on mountain roads.
Know how to go down hills. The most
important thing to know
is this: let
your engine do some of the slowing
down. Don’t make your brakes
do it
all. Shift to a lower gear when
you go
down a steep or long hill. That way,
you will slow down without excessive
use of your brakes.
A
If you don’t shift down, your
brakes could get
so hot that
they wouldn’t work well.
You
would then have poor braking or
even none going down a hill. You
could crash. Shift down to let your
engine assist your brakes on
a
steep downhill slope.
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