1995 PONTIAC GRAND-AM ignition

Manual transaxle:
The gear selector should be in neutral. Hold the clutch
pedal to the floor and
start the engine. Your vehicle
won’t start
if the clutch pedal is not all the way
down
-- that’s a safety feature.
To start your 2.3 Liter engine:
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.
I
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 Vehicle’’ in the Index.
2-14
ProCarManuals.com

To start your 3.1 Liter engine:
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.
2. 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.
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 Vehicle” in the Index.
2-15
ProCarManuals.com

brakes 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.
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
(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 “If
You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice
or Snow” in the Index.
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
(N) when your vehicle is being towed.
I NOTICE: I
Damage to your transaxle caused by shifting out
of
PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) with the engine
racing isn’t covered by your warranty.
2-19
ProCarManuals.com

Parking Brake
To set the parking
brake hold the regular
brake pedal down with
your right foot. Push
down the parking
brake pedal with your
If the ignition is on, the brake system warning light will
come on.
To release the parking
brake hold the regular
brake pedal down. Pull the
BRAKE
RELEASE lever.
Driving with the parking brake on can cause
your rear brakes to overheat. You may have to
replace them, and you could also damage other
parts
of your vehicle.
If you are towing a trailer and are parking on any hill
see “Towing a Trailer” in the Index. That section shows
what to do first to keep the trailer from moving.
2-25
ProCarManuals.com

Shifting Into PARK (P)
(Automatic Transaxle Models Only)
2. Move the shift lever into
this:
Hold in the button on
Push the lever all the
your vehicle.
PARK (P) position like
I the lever.
way toward the front of
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and 3. Move the ignition key to LOCK.
set the parking brake. 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 PARK (P)
2-26
ProCarManuals.com

Shifting Out of PARK (P)
(Automatic Transaxle Models Only)
Your Pontiac has a brake-transaxle shift interlock. You
have to fully appZy your regular brakes before you can
shift from PARK (P) when the ignition is in the RUN
position. See “Automatic Transaxle” in the Index.
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 want. (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 PARK (P), try this:
1. Turn the key to OFF, not LOCK.
2. Apply and hold the regular brake until the end of
Step 4.
3. Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Start the vehicle and then shift to the drive gear you
want,
5. Have the vehicle fixed as soon as you can.
Parking Your Vehicle (Manual
Transaxle Models Only)
Before you get out of your vehicle, put your manual
transaxle in
REVERSE (R) and firmly apply the parking
brake.
If you are parking on a hill, or if your vehicle is
equipped to tow
a trailer, see ‘Towing a Trailer” in the
Index.
2-28
ProCarManuals.com

Windows
On a vehicle with manual windows, use the window
crank located on the inside of each door to open and
close each window.
Power Windows (Option)
With power windows, switches on the center console
control each of the windows when the ignition
is on. In
addition, each rear passenger door has a control switch
for its own window.
The driver’s window switch has an Auto Down feature.
The driver’s window can be opened to any position by
pressing the rear
of the switch to the first detent. When
the switch is fully depressed, the window will go down
all the way.
To stop the window while it is lowering, press the front
of the switch, then release.
To raise the window, press and hold the switch forward.
Power Window Lock-Out Switch
(Option)
On four-door models, this switch disables the rear
passenger power window switches. Push the switch
forward to lock the windows. Push the switch back to
unlock the window switches.
The lock-out switch prevents rear passengers from
opening and closing windows. The driver can
dill
control all of the windows with the switch in the lock
position.
Horn
You can sound the horn by pressing the horn symbol on
your steering wheel.
2-31
ProCarManuals.com

Lamps On Reminder
If you open the driver’s door while leaving the lamps on
and the ignition
off, you will hear a warning chime.
Headlamp High-Low Beam Changer
To change the headlamps
from low beam to high or
high to low, pull the turn
signal lever all the way
toward you. Then release it.
When the high beams are
on,
this blue light on the
instrument panel
also will
be on.
Flash-To-Pass (Except Canada)
Flash-to-pass lets you use your high beam headlamps to
signal a driver in front
of you that you want to pass.
To use it, pull the turn signaVmultifunction lever toward
you.
If your headlamps are off your high beam headlamps
will
turn on. They’ll stay on as long as you hold the
lever there. Release the lever to turn them
off.
If your headlamps are on, the flash-to-pass function will
not work. Use the lever
to change between high and low
beams.
2-35
ProCarManuals.com