
Features & Controls
I
Wjndshiield Wipers
You control the windshield wipers by
sliding the hob.
Far a single wiping cycle, push the
switch marked MIST. Hold it there
until the
wipers start, then let go. The
wipers will stop .after one cycle. If you
want more cycle.s, hold the switch on
MISIT longer.
Far skady wiping at low speed, slide
the
hob to the LO position. For high
speed wiping, slide the knob further, to
HI.. 'To stop the wipers, slide the knob
to OFF.
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I
i
Damaged wiper blades may
prevent
you from seeing well
enough
to drive safely. To avoid
damage,
be sure to clear ice and
snow
from the wiper blades before I
using them. If they're frozen to the
windshield, carefully loosen or
thaw them.
If your blades do
become damaged, get new blades or
blade inserts.
I
Heavy snow or ice can overload your
wipers. A circuit breaker will stop them
until the motor
cools. Clear away snow
or ice
to prevent an overload.
You can set the wiper speed for a long
or short delay between wipes. This can
be very useful in light rain
or snow.
Slide the hob to choose the delay time.
The closer to
LO, the shorter the delay.
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A Few More Might Driving
Suggestions
Keep your windshield and all the glass
on your vehicle clean-inside and out.
Glare at night is made much worse by
dirt
on the glass. Even the inside of the
glass can build up a film caused
by dust.
Tobacco smoke
also makes inside glass
surfaces very filmy and
can be a vision
hazard
if it’s left there.
Dirty glass makes lights dazzle and
flash more than clean glass would,
making the pupils
of your eyes contract
repeatedly.
You might even want to
keep a cloth
and some glass cleaner in
your vehicle if you need to clean your
glass frequently. Remember
that
pur headlights light up
far less of a roadway when you are in a
turn or curve.
Keep your eyes moving; that way, it’s
easier
to pick out dimly lighted objects.
Just as your headlights should be
checked
regularly for proper aim, so
should your eyes be examined regularly.
Some drivers
suffer from night
blindness-the inability to see in dim
light-and aren’t even aware
of it.
Driving in the Rain
Rain and wet roads can mean driving
trouble. On a wet road you can’t stop,
accelerate or turn as well because your
tire-to-road traction isn’t
as good as on
dry roads. And, if your tires don’t have
much tread left, you’ll get even less
traction.
It’s always wise to
go slower and be
cautious if rain starts to fall while you
are driving. The surface may get wet
suddenly when your reflexes are tuned
for driving on dry pavement.
The heavier the rain, the harder it is
to
see. Even if your windshield wiper
blades are in
good shape, a heavy rain
can male it harder to
see road signs and
traffic signals, pavement markings, the
edge
of the road, and even people
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Your Driving and the Road
Drkjng a Long Distance
Although most long trips today are
made on freeways, there are still many
made
on regular highways.
Long-distance driving on freeways and
reguIar highways is the same in some
ways. The trip has to be planned and
the vehicle prepared, you drive at
higher-than-city speeds, and there are
longer turns behind the wheel. You’ll
enjoy your trip more if you and your
vehicle are in good shape. Here are
some tips for a successful long trip.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well
rested. If you must start when you’re
not fresh-such as after a day’s work-
don’t plan to make too many miles that
first part of the journey. Wear
comfortable clothing and shoes you can
easily drive in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If
you keep it serviced and maintained, it’s
ready to go. If it needs service, have it
done before starting out. Of course,
you’ll find experienced and able service
experts in Pontiac dealerships all across
North America. They’ll be ready and
willing to help
if you need it. 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
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aam
Service & Appearance Care
Windshield Wiper Blade
Replacement
Replacement blades come in different
types and are removed in different
ways. Here’s how to remove the type
with
a release clip:
1. Pull the windshield wiper arm away
2. Lift the release clip with a
from the
windshield.
screwdriver and pull the blade
assembly off the wiper arm.
the wiper arm.
3. Push the new wiper blade securely on
252
Loading Your Vehicle
Two labels on your vehicle show how
much weight it may properly carry. The
Tire-Loading Information label found
on the inside of the trunk lid tells you
the proper size, speed rating and
recommended inflation pressures for
the tires on your vehicle. It also gives
you important information about the
number of people that can be in your
vehicle and the total weight that you
can carry. This weight is called the
Vehicle Capacity Weight and includes
the weight of all occupants, cargo, and
all nonfactory-installed options.
The other label is the Certification label,
found on the rear edge of the driver’s
door. It tells you the gross weight
capacity of your vehicle, called the GVWR
(Gross Vehicle Weight Rating).
The GVWR includes the weight of the
vehicle, all occupants, fuel and cargo.
Never exceed the GVWR for your
vehicle, or the Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR) for either the front or
rear axle.
And,
if you do have a heavy load, you
should spread it out. Don’t carry more
than
167 lbs. (75 kg) in your trunk.
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Glass
Glass should be cleaned often. GM
Glass Cleaner (GM Part
No. 1050427)
or a liquid household glass cleaner will
remove normal tobacco smoke and dust
films.
Don’t use abrasive cleaners on glass,
because they may cause scratches.
Avoid placing decals on the inside rear
window, since they may have to be
scraped off later.
If abrasive cleaners are used
on the
inside of the rear window, an electric
defogger element may be damaged. Any
temporary license should not be
attached across the defogger grid.
Cleaning the Outside of the
Windshield and Wiper Blades
If the windshield is not clear after using
the windshield washer, or if the wiper
blade chatters when running, wax or
other material may be
on the blade or
windshield.
Clean the outside of the windshield
with GM Windshield Cleaner, Bon-Ami
Powder@ (GM Part
No. 105001 1). The
windshield is clean
if beads do not form
when you rinse it with water.
Clean the blade by wiping vigorously
with a cloth soaked in full strength
windshield washer solvent. Then rinse
the blade with water.
Wiper blades should be checked on a
regular basis and replaced when worn.
Cleaning the Outside of Your
Pontiac
The paint finish on pour vehicle
provides beauty, depth of color, gloss
retention and durability.
Washing Your Vehicle
The best way to preserve your vehicle’s
finish is to keep it clean by washing it
often with lukewarm or cold water.
Don’t wash your vehicle in the direct
rays of the sun. Don’t use strong
soaps
or chemical detergents. Use liquid hand,
dish or car washing (non-detergent)
soaps. Don’t use cleaning agents that
contain acid or abrasives. All cleaning
agents should be flushed promptly and
not allowed to dry
on the surface, or
they could stain. Dry the finish with a
soft, clean chamois or a
100% cotton
towel to avoid surface scratches and
water spotting.
High pressure vehicle washes may
cause water to enter your vehicle.
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Top of the Instrument Panel ......... 264
Underbody Maintenance
.............. 267
Vinyl or Leather
............................. 264
Warnings
........................................ 261
Weatherstrips
................................ 266
White Sidewall Tires
..................... 266
Windshield and Wiper Blades
...... 265
Climate Control
................................ 116
Clock. Setting the
............................. 120
Clusters. Instrument Panel
................ 94
Clutch. Hydraulic Adding Fluid
......................... 230. 278
Checking Fluid
.............................. 229
Climate Control
.............................. 116
Ventilation ............................ 117. 119
Compact Disc Player (see
Audio Systems)
Compact Spare Tire ................ 207. 336
Compartments. Storage
............... 85. 86
Compass ............................................ 109
Control of a Vehicle
.......................... 145
Convenience Net
............................... 50
Convex Outside Mirror ..................... 83
Comfort Controls Coolant
.............................................. 230
Checking
&
Adding ................. 195. 230. 277. 278
Proper Mixture to Use
.... 195.230. 278
Safety Warnings About
.................. 195. 196. 230. 232
Temperature Gage
........................... 99
Temperature Warning Light
........... 98
Cooling System ................................. 230
Courtesy Lights
................................... 82
Covers. Wheel ........................... 202. 266
Cruise Control
.................................... 72
Cup Holder
......................................... 85
Curves. Driving on ........................... 152
Customer Assistance Information
... 309
Daytime Running Lights
................. 79
Dead Battery: What to Do
.............. 185
Defects. Reporting Safety ................. 314
Defensive Driving
............................ 142
Defogger. Rear Window
................... 118
Defogging Your Windows ............... 117
Delco LOC II@
.................................. 130
Door Locks
........................................ 45
Downshifting
..................... 60. 168. 180
Driver Information Center .............. 105
Driver Position
.................................. 20
Driving ............................................. 137
At Night
.......................................... 157
City
................................................ 163
Controlling a Skid .......................... 156
Defensively .................................... 142
Drunken
........................................ 143
Freeway
......................................... 164
Hill and Mountain ........................ 168
In a Foreign Country ..................... 214
In Fog. Mist and Haze
.................. 162
In the Rain
...................................... 159
Long Distance
............................... 166
Loss of Control .............................. 156
On Curves
..................................... 152
Passing
........................................... 154
Through Deep Standing Water
....... 56
Winter Driving .............................. 171
With a Trailer
................................ 179
Drunken Driving
............................. 143
Electric Outside Mirror Control
...... 84
Electrical Equipment.
Adding
............................. 55. 120. 269
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