1994 PONTIAC GRAND-AM Owners Manual

Features & Controls
Key Release Button
(MANUAL TRANSAXLE) (CONT.)
NOTICE:
If your key seems stuck in LOCK
and you can’t turn it, be sure it is all
the.way in. If
it is, then turn the
steering wheel left and right while
you
turn the key hard. But turn the
key only
with your hand. Using a
tool to force
it could break the key
or the ignition switch.
If none of this
works, then your vehicle needs
service.
Starting Your Engine
Engines start differently. The 8th digit of
your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
shows
the code letter or number for your
engine. You
will find the VIN at the top
left
of your instrument panel. (See
”Vehicle Identification Number”
in the
Index.) Follow the proper steps to start
the engine.
Automatic transaxle
Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or
NEUTRAL (N). Your engine won’t start
in any other position -- that’s a safety
feature. To restart when you’re already
.EUTRAL (N) only.
Don’t try to shift to PARK (P) if
your Pontiac is moving. If you do,
you could damage the transaxle.
Shift to PARK (P) only when your
vehicle
is stopped.
Manual transaxle
Hold the clutch pedal to the floor, then
shift your gear selector to neutral while
starting the engine. Your vehicle won’t
start
if the clutch pedal is not all the way
down
-- that’s a safety feature.
Both Transaxles
To Start Your 2.3 Liter EnEine
(Codes
3. D or A):
1. Without pushing the accelerator pedal,
turn your ignition key to START.
When the engine starts, let
go of the
key. The idle speed
will go down as
your engine gets warm.
NOTICE:
Holding your key in START for
longer than
15 seconds at a time will
cause your battery to be drained
much sooner. And the excessive
heat can damage your starter motor.
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2. If it doesn’t start right away, and if the
weather is very cold (below
-20” F, or
-29” C), push the accelerator pedal
about one-quarter of
the way down
while you
turn the key to “Start.” Do
this until the engine starts. As soon as
it does, let go of the key.
3. If your engine still won’t start (or
starts but then stops), it could be
flooded with too much gasoline. Try
pushing your accelerator pedal all the
way to the floor and holding it there as
you hold the key
in “Start”.for about
three seconds. This clears the extra
gasoline from
the engine. If the car
starts briefly but then stops again, do
the same thing, but this time keep the
pedal
about one-quarter of the way
down for five or six seconds.
NOTICE:
Your engine is designed to work
with the electronics in your vehicle.
If you add electrical parts or
accessories, you could change the
way the fuel injection system
operates. Before adding electrical
equipment, check with your dealer.
If you don’t, your engine might not
perform properly.
If you ever have to have your
vehicle towed, see the part of this
manual that tells how to do it
without damaging your vehicle. See
“Towing Your Pontiac”
in the
Index.
To Start Your V6 Engine (Code M):
1. Without pushing the accelerator pedal,
turn your ignition key to “Start.”
When the engine starts, let
go of the
key. The idle speed will go down as
your engine gets warm.
NOTICE:
Holding your key in “Start” for
longer than
15 seconds at a time will
cause your battery to
be drained
much sooner. And the excessive
heat can damage your starter motor.
. If your engine won’t start (or starts but
then stops), it could be flooded with
too much gasoline. Try pushing your
accelerator pedal all the way
to the
floor and holding it there as you hold
the key
in “Start” for about three
seconds. If the car starts briefly but
then stops again, do the same thing,
but this time keep the pedal down for
five or six seconds. This clears the
extra gasoline from the engine.
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Features & Controls
Bofh Transaxles (CONT.)
NOTICE:
Your engine is designed to work
with the electronics
in your vehicle.
If you add electrical parts or accessories, you could change the
way the fuel injection system
operates. Before adding electrical
equipment, check
with your dealer.
If you don’t, your engine might not
perform properly.
If you ever have to have your
vehicle towed, see the part of this
manual that
tells how to do it
without damaging your vehicle. See
“Towing Your Pontiac”
in the
Index.
Driving Through Deep
Standing Water
NOTICE:
If you drive too quickly through
deep puddles or standing water,
water can come in through your
engine’s air intake and badly
damage your engine. If you can’t
avoid deep puddles or standing
water, drive through them very
slowly.
I Engine Coolant Heater (Engine
Block Heater)
(OPTION)
[n very cold weather, 0°F (- 18°C) or
;older, the engine coolant heater can help.
You’ll get easier starting and better fuel
zconomy during engine warm-up.
Usually, the coolant heater should be
plugged.
in a minimum of four hours prior
to starting your vehicle.
To Use the Coolant Heater:
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the
electrical cord.
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3. Plug it into a normal, grounded
1 10-volt outlet. NOTICE:
After you’ve used the coolant
heater, be sure to store the cord as
it
was before to keep it away from
moving engine parts. If you don’t,
it
could be damaged.
L
How long should you keep the coolant
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.
Shifting the Automatic
Transaxle
(3 or 4 Speeds)
Your Grand Am may be equipped with a
three speed automatic or a four speed
automatic transaxle. The shift lever is
located on the console between the seats.
There are six different positions for the
shift lever on the three speed automatic
and four speed automatic transaxles.
While PARK (P),
REVERSE (R) and
NEUTRAL (N) operate identically for
both transaxles, the forward gear
positions represent different geariirg and
operation. See “Forward Gears (Three
Speed)’’ or “Forward Gears
(Four Speed)”
later
in this section.
Three Speed
Park
P Park P Four Speed
Second
2 First 1
Third 3 Second 2
Overdrive D Drive D Neutral N
Neutral N Reverse
R Reverse R
59.0.
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Features & Controls
Three Speed Automatic
Four Speed Automatic
I
Park
PARK (P): This locks your front wheels
[t’s the best position to use when
you sta
your engine because your vehicle can’t
move easily.
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Ensure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P)
range before starting the engine. Your
Pontiac has a brake-transaxle shift
interlock.
You have to fully apply your
regular brake before you can shift from
PARK (P) when the ignition key is in the
RUN position. If you cannot shift out of
PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift
lever- push the shift lever all the way
into PARK (P)
- 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 PARK (P)”
later
in this section.
I
Reverse
REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back up.
NOTICE:
Shifting to REVERSE (R) while
your vehicle is moving forward
could damage your transaxle. Shift
to REVERSE 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 “If You’re
Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow” in the
Index.
Neutral
NEUTRAL (N): In this position,,your
engine doesn’t connect with the wheels.
To restart when you’re already moving,
use NEUTRAL
(N) only. Also, use
NEUTRAL when your vehicle is Geing
towed.
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Features & Controls
Shifting the Automatic
Transaxle
(3 or 4 Speeds) (CONT.)
I NOTICE: I
Damage to your transaxle caused by
shifting out of
“P’ (Park) or “N”
(Neutral) with the engine racing
isn’t covered by your warranty.
Forward Gears
(Three Speed)
D (Drive): This position is for normal
driving with the three speed automatic
transaxle.
2 (Second Gear): This position gives you
more power but lower fuel economy.
You
can use “2” on hills. It can help control
your speed as
you go down steep
mountain roads, but then you would also
want to use your brakes off and on.
NOTICE:
Don’t drive in “ 2” (Second Gear)
for more than
5 miles (8 km), or at
speeds over
55 mph (88 km/h), or
you can damage your transaxle. Use
“D” as much as possible.
Don’t shift into “2” unless you are
going slower than
65 mph (105 km/h),
or damage to your engine may result.
I
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FIRST (1): This position gives you even
more power
(but lower fuel economy)
than
SECOND. You can use it on very
steep
hills, or in deep snow or mud. If the
selector lever
is put in FIRST, the
transaxle won’t downshift into
first gear
until the vehicle is going slowly enough.
NOTICE:
If your front wheels can’t rotate,
don’t try
to drive. This might
happen
if you were stuck in very
deep sand or mud or were up
against a solid object. You could
damage your transaxle.
Also, if you stop when going uphill,
don’t hold your vehicle there
with
only the accelerator pedal. This
could overheat and damage the
transaxle. Use your brakes to hold
your vehicle
in position on a hill.
Forward Gears
(Four Speed)
AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D): This
position is for normal driving
with the
four speed automatic transaxle.
If you
need more power for passing, and you’re:
Going less than about 35 mph
(55 kmh), push your accelerator pedal
about halfway down.
Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or
more, push the accelerator all the way
down.
The transaxle will automatically shift
down to the next gear and provide more
power.
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