1993 PONTIAC GRAND-PRIX towing

Features & Controls
. ;. -c
I
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the shift lever is not fully in
h P {Park} with the parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Don’t leave your vehicle when the engine
is running unless you have to. If you
h,ave 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 fairly
level ground, always set your parking brake and move the shift lever to P (Park).
See th’e Index under Shifting Into P (Park). If you are parking on a hill, or if
you’re pulling a trailer, also e Index under Parking ~yt Hills or Towing a
[ep-:~:2>;gz%r-#p A,,2L:z:- d: . .--- - +-
Reverse
R (Reverse): Use this gear to back up.
Shifting to
R (Reverse)
vehicle is moving forward could damage your transaxle. Shift to
R
only after your vehicle is stopped.
ProCarManuals.com

Farward Gears
mtdutornatic Overdrive): If your
autcmatic transaxle
has Automatic
Overdrive,
this position is for norma
&ivin,g. If you med more power for
pas.sing, and you're:
* Goling less than 35 mph (56 lmh) ,
push your accelerator pedal about
halfway
down.
Going about 35 mph [56 Wh) or
more, push the accelerator all the way
clhwn.
You'll shift down to the next gear and
have more power.
D (Third Gear): If your automatic
transaxle does not have Overdrive, this
position is for normal driving, at all
speeds,
in most street and highway
situations.
If your automatic transaxle has
Overdrive,
D is like m, but you never
go into Overdrive.
Here are some times you might choose
D instead of m:
When driving on hilly, winding roads.
When towing a trailer, so there is less
When going down a steep hill. shifting between gears.
ProCarManuals.com

If You are on a Hill:
See the Index under Parking on Hills.
That section shows how to turn your
front wheels.
If You are Towing a Trailer and are
Parking on any Hill:
See the Index under Towing a Trailer.
That section shows what to do first to
keep the trailer from moving.
Shifting Info P (Park)-Colurnn
Shift (AUTOMATIC JRANSAXLE)
I CAUTION
A
It is dangerous to get out of
your vehicle if the shift 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. To be
sure your vehicle won’t move, when
you’re on fairly level ground, use
the steps that follow. If you are
pulling
a trailer, also see the Index
under Parking on Hills or Towing
a Trailer.
I parking on a hill, or if you’re
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your
right foot and set the parking brake.
I
2. Move the shiH lever into P (Park)
Pull the lever towards you.
position like this:
n
ProCarManuals.com

Features Controls
-
Shifting Into P (Park)-CoJumn
Shift (CONJ.)
* Move the lever up as far as it will go.
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 igniti'on key in your
hand, your vehicle is in P [Park).
Shifting lnto P (Park)-Console
Shift (AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE)
GAUTIUN
It is dangerous to get out of
your vehicle
if the shift 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. To be
sure your vehicle won't move, when
you're on fairly level ground, use
the steps that follow. If
you are
parking
on a hill, or if you're
pulling
a trailer, also see the Index
under Parking on Hills or Towing
a Trailer.
2. Move the shift lever into the P (Park)
position like this:
Hold in the button on the lever,
and 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).
I. Hold the brake pedal down with your
right foot and set the parking brake.
ProCarManuals.com

(Continued)
is not hlly in P (Park) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your
vehicle can roll. Don’t leave pur
vehicle when the engine is running
unless you have to. If you’ve left
the engine running, the vehicle can
move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure your
vehicle
won’t move, even when
you’re on fairly level ground, always
set your parking brake and move
the
shift lever to P (Park).
If you are parking on a hill, or if
you’re pulling a trailer, also see the
In&x under Parking on Hills or
Towing a Tnzileu.
.- i ,- - . I.
Horn
You can sound the horn by pressing the
horn symbols on your steering wheel.
Tilt Steering Wheel (omow
A tilt steering wheel allows you to
adjust the steering wheel before
you
drive. You can also raise it to the
highest level
to give your legs more
room when you exit and enter the
vehicle.
To tilt the wheel, hold the steering
wheel and pull the lever.
Move the
steering wheel to
a comfortable level,
then release the lever to
lock the wheel
in place.
ProCarManuals.com

Voltmeter (OPTION)
When the engine is running, the gage
shows the condition
of the charging
system. Readings between the red
warning zones indicate the normal
operating range.
Readings in either red warning zone
indicate a possible problem in the
electrical system. Have your vehicle
serviced immediately.
When your engine
is not running, but
the ignition is
on (in the Run position),
the gage shows your battery’s state
of
charge.
Brake System Warning Light
Your Pontiac’s hydraulic brake system
is divided into two parts. If one part
isn’t working, the other part can still
work and stop you. For good bralung,
though, you need both parts working
well.
If the warning light goes on, there
could be a brake problem.
Have your brake system inspected right
away.
This light should come on as you start
the vehicle.
If it doesn’t come on then,
have it fixed
so it will be ready to warn
you
if there’s a problem.
This light will also come on when you
set your
parking brake, and will stay on
if your parking brake doesn’t release fully.
If it stays on after your parking
brake is fully released, it means you
have a brake problem.
If the light comes on while driving, pull
off the road and stop carefully. You maJ
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, have the vehicle towed for
service. (See the
Index under Towing
Your Pontiac.)
1 CAUTION
Your brake system may not
be working properly if the .
WIMC warning light is on. Driving
with the brake warning light ora can
lead to an accident. If the light is
still on after you’ve pulled off the
road and stopped carefully, have
I the vehicle towed €or senrice.
ProCarManuals.com

Part 4
Here you'^ find information about
driving
on different kinds of roads
and in varying weather conditions.
We've also included
many other
useful
tips on driving.
Your Driving and the Road
Road Signs ........................................................................\
....................... - ..... .........- 138
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Drunken Driving
. . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Braking
........................................................................\
......................................... 146
Anti-Lock Brakes
.... . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. ... . ... . . ... ...... .. ... . . . .. 147
Steering
Tips ........................................................................\
................................ 152
Steering Emergencies. .... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .... ... . . . . . . . . .. . ...... . . ... . . 153
Passing.. . . . . . , . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -. . . . . . . . 154
Driving at Night
.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. ... . .. 157
Driving in the Rain
. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .. . .. .. . .... . . . . . . , .. .... . .... . 159
Driving Fog, Mist and Haze ............................................ ..................... ,. . ............ 162
City Drlvmg.. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Freeway Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Driving a Long Distance
........................................................................\
................. 166
Hill and Mountain Roads
........................................................................\
................ 168
Parlcing on Hills .... ..... . ..... . .. ... ... . .. ... .. . .. ....... ... . . ... , . . .. . ... .... . . ... . . . ... . ... . . . ... . ... . .... .. . ..... . . 169
Winter Driving .. . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . ... . . .. . ..... ... . . . . . . ,. .. . . ... .. . . . .. .. 171
Towing a Trailer..
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -. . . . . . . 174
Control
of a Vehicle
..
.. .
..
ProCarManuals.com

Your Driving and the Road
If You’re Caught in a Blizzard
(COW.)
Run your engine only as long as you
must. This saves fuel. When you run
the engine, make it go a little faster
than just idle. That is, push the
accelerator slightly. This uses less fuel
for the heat that you get and it keeps
the battery charged.
You will need a
well-charged battery to restart the
vehicle and possibly for signaling later
on with your headlights. Let the
heater run for
a while.
Then, shut the engine
off and close
the window almost all the way to
preserve the heat. Start the engine
again and repeat this only when you
feel really uncomfortable from the
cold. But do it as little as possible.
Preserve the fuel as long as you can.
To help keep warm, you can get out of
the vehicle and do some fairly
vigorous exercises every half-hour or
so until help comes.
..a 174
If You’re Stuck h Deep Snow
This manual explains how to get the
vehicle out
of deep snow without
damaging it. See the index under
Rocking Your Vehicle.
Towing a Trailer
CAUTlON
f
A
If you don’t use the correct
equipment and drive
properly, you can lose control whf
you pull a trailer. For example, if
the trailer is too heavy, the brakes
may not work well-or even at all
You and your passengers could be
seriously injured. Pull a trailer only
if you have followed all the steps in
this section.
Pulling a trailer improperly can
damage your vehicle and result
in
costly repairs not covered by your
warranty.
To pull a trailer
correctly, follow the advice
in this
section.
ProCarManuals.com