1993 PONTIAC GRAND-AM engine

Features & Controls
Engine Block Heater (oPnoN)
In very cold weather, 0" F (-18" C) or
colder, the engine block heater can help.
You'll get easier starting and better fuel
economy during engine warm-up.
To Use the Block Heater:
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded
electrical
cord.
110-volt outlet. Plugging the cord into an
ungrounded outlet could cause
an electrical shock. Also, the
wrong kind of extension cord
could overheat and cause a fire.
You could be seriously injured.
1
Plug the cord into a properly
grounded three-prong 110-volt
outlet.
If the cord won't reach, use
a heavy-duty three-prong extension
cord rated for at least
15 amps.
I NOTICE
After you've used the block heater, , ;
be sure to store the cord as it was., ,(
moving engine parts. If you don't,
.. before, to keep it away from ,~
it could be damaged, ~".',:; ,"::,:;s ':,:';:::':;
How long should you keep the block
heater plugged in? The answer depends
on the weather, the kind
of oil you have,
and some other things. Instead of trying
to list everything here, we ask that you contact a Pontiac dealer in the area
where you'll be parking your vehicle.
The dealer can give you the best advice
for that particular area.
mmm 56
ProCarManuals.com

Shifting the Automatic Transaxle
Your automatic transaxle has a shift
lever located on the console between the
seats.
There are several different positions for
your shift lever. In this manual, these
are referred
to by the commonly used
symbols in the right column below:
Park P
Reverse R
Neutral N
Drive D
Second 2
First 1
Park
P (hrk): This locks your front wheels.
It’s the best position to use when you
start your engine because your vehicle
can’t move easily.
I I
It can be dangerous to get out
b of your vehicle if the shift
hever is not fully in
P (Park) with
the parking brake firmly
set v-*7
vehicle can roll
Don’t leave your venue
WI I me
engine is running unless you llavr
to. If you have left the engine
running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be
injured. To be sure your vehicle
won’t move, when you’re on fair1
level ground, always set your
parking brake and move the shift
lever to
P (Park). See the Index
under Shifting into P (Park). If you
are parking
on a hill, or if you’re
pulling a trailer, also see the
Index
under Parking on Hills or %wing a
Trailer.
ProCarManuals.com

Features & Controls
Park (CONT.)
Ensure the shift lever is fully in P (Park)
range before starting the engine. Your
Pontiac has a brake-transaxle shift
interlock. You have
to apply your
regular brake
before you can shift from
P (Park) when the ignition key is in the
Run position. If you cannot shift out of
P (Park), ease pressure on the shift
lever-push the shift lever all the way
into
P (Park)-as you maintain brake
application. Then move the shift lever
into the gear you wish. (Press the shift
lever button before moving the shift
lever,) See
Shifting Out of P (Park) later
in this section.
Reverse
R (Reverse): Use this gear to back up.
Shifting to
R (Reverse) while your
vehicle
is moving forward could
damage your transaxle. Shift
to
R only after your vehicle is
stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to
get out of
snow, ice or sand without
damaging your transaxle,
see the Index
under If You ’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud,
Ice or Snow.
Neutral
N (Neutral): In this position, your
engine doesn’t connect with the wheels.
To restart when you’re already moving,
use
N (Neutral) only. Also, use N when
your vehicle is being towed.
A Shifting out of P (Park) or
1 N (Neutral) while your engine I
‘racing” (running at high speed)
is dangerous. Unless your foot is
firmly on the brake pedal, your
vehicle could move very rapidly. You
could lose control and hit people
or objects. Don’t shift out
of
P (Park) or N (Neutral) while your
engine is racing.
I.. 58
ProCarManuals.com

1 3 5
2 4 R
This is your shift pattern. Here’s how to
operate your transaxle:
1 (First Gear): Press the clutch pedal
and shift into
1. Then, slowly let up on
the clutch pedal as you press the accelerator pedal.
You can shift into
1 when you’re going
less than
20 mph (32 km/h). If you’ve
come to a complete stop and it’s hard to
shift into
1, put the shift lever in
N (Neutral) and let up on the clutch.
Press the clutch pedal back down. Then
shift into
1.
2 (Second Gear): Press the clutch pedal
as you let up on the accelerator pedal
and shift into
2. Then, slowly let up on
the clutch pedal as you press the
accelerator pedal.
3,4 and 5 (Third, Fourth and Fifth
Gears): Shift into 3, 4 and 5 the same
way you do for
2. Slowly let up on the
clutch pedal as you press the accelerator
pedal.
To Stop: Let up on the accelerator pedal
and press the brake pedal. Just before
the vehicle stops, press the clutch pedal and the brake pedal, and shift into
N (Neutral).
N (Neutral): Use this position when
you
start or idle your engine.
R (Reverse): To back up, press the
clutch pedal and shift into
R. Let up on
the clutch pedal slowly while pressing
the accelerator pedal.
Shift to
R (Reverse) only after your
vehicle is stopped. Shifting to
R (Reverse) while your vehicle is
moving could damage your
transaxle.
Also, use
R (Reverse), along with the
parking brake, for parking your vehicle.
ProCarManuals.com

Features & Controls
Shift Light (MANUAL TRANSAXLE)
If you have a manual transaxle, you have
a SHIFT light. This light will show you
when to shift to the next higher gear for
best fuel economy.
When this light comes
on, you can shift
to the next higher gear if weather, road
and traffic conditions let you. For the
best fuel economy, accelerate slowly and
shift when the light comes on.
While you accelerate, it is normal for
the light to go on and off if you quickly
change the position of the accelerator.
Ignore the
SHIFT light when you
downshift.
Shift Speeds (MANUAL TRANSAXLE)
This chart shows when to shift to the
next higher gear for best fuel economy.
Acceleration Shift Speeds for 2.3L
OHC and 2.3L High Output Quad 4
Engines (Codes 3 and A):
Ist to 2nd 15 mph (24 km/h)
2nd to 3rd 25 mph (40 km/h)
3rd to 4th 40 mph
(64 km/h)
4th to 5th 45 mph (72 km/h)
If your speed drops below 20 mph
(32 km/h), or if the engine is not
running smoothly, you should downshift
to the next lower gear. You may have to
downshift two or more gears to keep the
engine running smoothly or for good
performance.
If you skip more than one gear
when you downshift, or
if you race
the engine when
you downshift,
you can damage the clutch
or
transaxle.
ProCarManuals.com

Shifting Into P (Park)
(AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE)
A
It can be dangerous to get out
of your vehicle if the shift
I
lever is not fully in P (Park) with
the parking brake firmly set. Your
vehicle can roll.
If you have left the engine running
the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured.
Tc
be sure your vehicle won’t move,
when you’re on fairly level ground,
use the steps that follow. If you arc
parking on a hill, or if you’re
I
pulling a trailer, also see the Inden
under ParkinP 01 lills or %wing .
“rail
I
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your
right foot and set the parking brake.
8.. 64
2. Move the shift lever into P (Park)
position like this:
Hold in the button on the lever.
Push the lever all the way toward
the front of your vehicle.
3. Move the ignition key to Lock.
4. Remove the key and take it with you.
If you can walk away from your
vehicle
with the ignition key in your
hand, your vehicle is in
P (Park).
Leaving Your Vehicle With the
Engine Running
(AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE)
It is dangerous to leave your
running. Your vehicle could move
suddenly
if the shift lever is not
fully
in P (Park) with the parking
brake firmly set. And,
if you leave
the vehicle
with the engine
running,
it could overheat and even
catch fire. You or others could be
injured. Don’t leave your vehicle
with the engine
rumins unless you,
have to.
h- *2-- ;,a,&#:+h .u ’ -. :.
L vehicle with the engine
i- ’-
ProCarManuals.com

If you have to leave your vehicle with
the engine running, be sure your vehicle
is in
P (Park) and your parking brake is
firmly set before you leave it. After
you’ve moved the
shift lever into the
P (Park) position, hold the regular brake
pedal down. Then, see if you can move
the shift lever away from
P (Park)
without first pushing the button.
If you can, it means that the shift lever
wasn’t fully locked into
P (Park).
Shifting Out of P (Park)
(AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE)
Your Pontiac has a brake-transaxle shift
interlock. You have to
apply your
regular brake
before you can shift from
P (Park) when the ignition is in the Run
position. See the Index under Automatic
Transaxle.
If you cannot shift out of P (Park), ease
pressure on the shift lever-push the
shift lever all the way into
P (hrk)- as
you maintain brake application. Then
move the shift lever into the gear you
wish. (Press the shift lever button before
moving the shift lever.) If you ever hold the
brake pedal down
but still can’t shift out
of P (Park), try
this:
1. Turn the key to Off.
2. Apply and hold the brake until the
3. Shift to N (Neutral).
4. Start the vehicle and then shift to the
drive gear you want.
5. Have the vehicle fixed as soon as you
can. end of Step
4.
65
ProCarManuals.com

Features & Controls
Parking Your Vehicle
(MANUL TRANSAXLE)
Before you get out of your vehicle, put
your manual transaxle in
R (Reverse)
and firmly apply the parking brake.
If you are parking on a hill, or if your
vehicle
is equipped to tow a trailer, see
the Index under Parking on Hills or
i%w*ng a Trailer.
36
1 Engine Exhaust
I
Parking Over Things That Burn
Things that can burn could
touch hot exhaust parts under
your vehicle
and ignite. Don’t park
over papers, leaves, dry grass or
other things that can burn.
Engine exhaust can kill. It
contains the gas carbon
monoxide
(CO), which you can’t
see or smelt It can cause
unconsciousness and death.
You might have exhaust coming
in if:
* Your exhaust system sounds
strange or different.
* Your vehicle gets rusty
undemath.
* Your vehicle was damaged in a
collision.
* Your vehicle was damaged when
driving over high points on the
road or over road debris.
* Repairs weren’t done correctly.
* Your vehicle or exhaust systkm
has been modified improperly.
If you eys suspect exhaust is
~rrmi@ into your vehicle:
Drive it only wifh all the
windows down to blow out any
co; and
* Have it -fixed immediately.
ProCarManuals.com