Features & Controls
Windshield Wipers
(CONT)
Heavy snow or ice can overload your
wiper motor.
A circuit breaker will stop
the motor until it cools. Clear away snow
or ice to prevent an overload.
Keep in mind that 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 using them.
If your blades
do become damaged, get new blades or
blade inserts. Some models have
a “WASHER FLUID’
warning, that indicates
if the fluid level in
the windshield washer is low. See “Low
Washer Fluid Warning Light” in the
II
Windshield Washer
At the top of the turn signal/multifunction
lever there’s a paddle with the word
“PUSH’ on it. To spray washer fluid on
the windshield, push the paddle for less
:han a second. The wipers will clear the
window and then either stop or return to
your preset speed. For more washer
cycles, push and hold the paddle.
Remember, driving without washer fluid
can be dangerous.
A bad mud splash can
block your vision.
You could hit another
vehicle or go off the road. Check your
washer fluid level often.
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You can be temporarily blinded by
approaching lights.
It can take a second or
two, or even several seconds, for your eyes to readjust to the dark. When you are
faced with severe glare (as
from a driver
who doesn’t lower the high beams, or a
vehicle with misaimed headlights), slow
down a little. Avoid staring directly into
the approaching lights.
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. Dirty
glass makes lights dazzle and flash more
than clean glass would, making the pupils
of your eyes contract repeatedly.
Remember that your 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.
....
rn 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
;ee. Even if your Windshield wiper blades
Lre in good shape, a heavy rain can make
t harder to see road signs and traffic
;ignals, pavement markings, the edge of
:he road, and even people walking.
[t’s wise
to keep your wiping equi*rnent
:n good shape and keep your wihhield
washer tank filled. Replace your
windshield wiper inserts when they show
;ips of streaking or missing are& on the
windshield, or when strips
of rubher start
to separate from the inserts.
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Your Driving and the Road
H Freeway Driving (CONK)
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.
Just before you leave the lane, glance
quickly over your shoulder to make sure
there isn’t another vehicle in your “blind”
spot.
Once you are moving
on the freeway,
make certain you allow a reasonable
following distance. Expect to move
slightly slower at night.
When you want to leave the freeway,
move to the proper lane well
in advance.
If you miss your exit do not, under any
,.. 152
circumstances, stop and back up. Drive on
to the next exit.
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes
quite sharply.
The exit speed
is usually posted.
Reduce your speed according to your
speedometer, not to your sense of motion.
After driving for any distance at higher
speeds, you may tend to think
you are
going slower than you actually are.
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:
0 Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the
reservoir full? Are all windows clean
inside and outside?
0 Wiper Blades: Are they in good
shape?
0 Fuel. Engine Oil. Other Fluids: Have
you checked all levels?
0 Lights: Are they all working? Are the
lenses clean?
Tires: They are vitally important to a
safe, trouble-free trip.
Is the tread
good enough for long-distance
driving? Are the tires all inflated to
the recommended pressure?
0 Weather Forecasts: What’s the 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?
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Service & Appearance Care
Taillight Bulb
Seplacement
(CONT.)
I. Rotate the bulb housing 1/8 turn and
1. To remove bulb, push in and rotate it
counterclockwise.
i. Replace the bulb.
i. Reverse the steps to reassemble the
remove
it.
taillight.
:og Light Bulb
qeplacement
F you have fog lights, don’t change your
lg light bulbs unless you have the proper
iming equipment. See your Pontiac
ealer if you have any further questions.
. .222
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.
2.
3.
Pull the windshield wiper arm away
from the windshield.
Lift the release clip with a screwdriver
and pull the blade assembly off the
wiper arm.
Push the new wiper blade securely on
the wiper arm.
Loading Your Vehicle
Two labels on your vehicle show how
much weight
it may properly carry. The
Tire-Loading Information label found on
the rear edge
of the driver’s door 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.
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Service & Appearance Care
Cleaning the Top of the
Instrument Panel
Use only mild soap and water to clean the
top surfaces of the instrument panel.
Sprays containing silicones or waxes may
cause annoying reflections in the
windshield and even make
it difficult to
see through the windshield under certain
conditions.
I Cure of Safety Belts
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.
[f abrasive cleaners are used on the inside
3f the rear window, an electric defogger
Aement 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.
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