1995 PONTIAC PONTIAC Owners Manual

Second-Gear Start (Option)
Your vehicle may be
equipped with a
Second-Gear Start feature.
The button is below the
lamp controls.
Press
2ND GEAR START to provide more traction
when you are starting
on ice or other slippery surfaces.
The transaxle
will be in second gear when the vehicle
begins
to move. After starting in second gear, the
vehicle will upshift normally. The
SECOND GEAR
START
light on the
instrument cluster will
come on when this feature
is active.
This feature is only for improved traction when the road
surface is slippery and is not intended for continuous
use. Press the switch
to turn off the feature. Leave the
switch off for normal road conditions.
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Parking Brake
The parking brake uses the brakes on the rear wheels.
To set the parking brake,
hold the regular brake pedal
down with
your right foot.
Push
down the parking
brake
pedal with your left
foot.
To release the parking brake, hold the regular brake
pedal down with
your right foot and push the parking
brake pedal with
your left foot. When you lift your left
foot, the parking brake pedal will follow it to the
released position.
NOTICE:
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.
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Shifting Into PARK (P)
Column Shift
1, Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and set the parking brake.
?. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) position
like this:
Pull the lever toward
you.
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 ignition key
in your hand, your vehicle
is in PARK (P).
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Console Shift
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) position like
set the
parking brake.
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 PARK (P).
Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine
Running
If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine
running, be sure your vehicle is in PARK (P) and your
parking brake is firmly set before you leave it. After
you’ve moved the shift lever into the PARK (P)
position, hold the regular brake pedal down. Then, see
if you can move the shift lever away from PARK (P)
without first pulling it toward you (or, if you have. a
console shift lever, without first pushing the button). If
you can, it means that the shift lever wasn’t fully locked
into PARK (P).
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Torque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and you don’t shift your
transaxle into PARK (P) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put to@ much force on the parking pawl in
the transaxle. You may find it difficult to pull the shift
lever out of PARK (P). This is called “torque lock.” To
prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and then
shift
into PARK (P) properly before you leave the driver’s
seat.
To find out how, see “Shifting Into PARK (P)” in
the Index.
When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out of
PARK
(P) before you release the parking brake.
If “torque lock” does occur, you may need to have
another vehicle push yours a little uphill to take some of
the pressure from the transaxle,
so you can pull the shift
lever out
of PARK (P).
Shifting Out of PARK (P)
Your Pontiac has a brake-transaxle shift interlock. You
must fully apply your regular brakes before you can shift from
PARK (P) when the ignition is in RUN. See
“Automatic Transaxle” in the Index.
lr you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever by pushing it all the way into PARK (P)
while keeping the brake pedal pushed down. Release the
shift lever button
if you have a console shift. Then move
the
shift lever out of PARK (P), being sure to press the
shift lever button if you have a console shift.
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.
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 4.
3. Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Start the vehicle and shift to the drive gear you want.
5. Have the vehicle fixed as soon as you can.
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Parking Over Things That Burn Engine Exhaust
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Running Your Engine WhiIe You’re
Parked
It’s better not to park with the engine running. But if you
ever have
to, here are some things to how.
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle won’t
move. See “Shifting Into PARK (P)” in the Index.
If you are parking on a hill and if you’re pulling a
trailer, also see “Towing a Trailer”
in the Index.
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Power Windows The driver’s window switch has an auto-down feature.
This switch is labeled
AUTO. Tap the rear of the switch,
and the driver’s window will open a small amount. If
the rear of the switch
is pressed all the way down and
released, the window will
go all the way down.
To stop the window while it is lowering, press the front
of the switch.
To raise the window, press and hold the
front of the switch.
On four-door models, the driver’s window controls
also
include a lock-out switch. Press LOCK OUT to stop
front and rear passengers from using their window
switches. The driver can still control all the windows
with the lock on. Push
LOCK OUT again for normal
window operation. When the orange band on the switch
is showing, the passengers can operate their windows.
Switches on the driver’s door armrest control each
of the Horn
windows when the ignition is on. In addition, each
Press either horn symbol on your steering wheel to
passenger door has a switch for its own window.
sound the horn.
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