1996 PONTIAC GRAND-AM Owners Manual

Windshield Wipers
You control the windshield wipers by moving the stalk
up or down.
For a single wiper cycle push the stalk down
to MIST, then
release it. For more cycles, hold the stalk down longer.
For fixed delay wiper cycles, move the wiper switch to
DELAY for wiper cycles with a fixed time delay
between them.
For steady wiper cycles, move the stalk up to either 1 or
2, depending on the wiper speed you want.
To turn the wipers off, move the stalk down to OFF.
Remember 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 they're frozen to the
windshield, carefully loosen or thaw them. If your
blades do become damaged, get new blades or blade
inserts.
Heavy snow or ice c& overload your wiper motor. A
circuit breaker will stop them until the motor cools.
Clear away snow or ice to prevent an overload.
Controlled Cycle Wipers (Option)
If your vehicle has controlled-cycle wipers, you can set
the wiper speed for a short or long delay between wiper
cycles. The controlled-cycle delay is very useful
in light
rain or snow.
Move the stalk to DELAY, then rotate the band and
choose the delay you want. Rotate the inner band
clockwise for shorter delay times between wiper cycles.
Rotate the band counterclockwise for a longer delay
time between wiper cycles.
With controlled-cycle wipers
you can also use MIST for
a single wiper cycle. ,
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Windshield Washer
To wash your windshield, pull the stalk with th'e
windshield washer symbol toward you until the washers
begin.
The wipers will resume the speed you were using
before. If you had no speed selected, the wipers will
stop.
In freezing weather, don't use your washer until
the windshield
is warmed. Otherwise the washer
fluid can
form ice on the windshield, blocking
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Cruise Control (Option)
With cruise control, you can maintain a speed of about
25 mph (40 h/h) or more without keeping your foot on
the accelerator. This can really help on long trips. Cruise
control does not work at speeds below about
25 mph
(40 hh).
When you apply your brakes or push the clutch pedal
(if you have a manual transaxle), the cruise control
shuts
off.
Cruise control can be dangerous where you
can't drive safely at a steady speed. So,
don't use your cruise control on winding
roads or in heavy traffic.
slippery roads. On such roads, fast changes
in tire traction can cause needless wheel
spinning, and
you could lose control. Don't
use cruise control on slippery roads.
0 Cruise control can be dangerous on
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Setting Cruise Control
If you leave your cruise control switch on when
you’re not using cruise,
you might hit a button
ana
go into cruise when you don’t want to. You
could be startled and even lose control. Keep
the cruise control switch OFF until yon want
to
me it.
..
..
1. Move the cruise control switch to ON.
2. Get up to the speed you want. 3. Push in the SET button at
the end of the lever and
release it.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
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Resuming a Set Speed
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Suppose you set your cruise control at a desired speed
and then you apply the brake. This,
of course, shuts off
the cruise control. But you don’t need to reset it. Once
you’re going about
25 mph (40 km/h) or more, you
can move the cruise control switch from
ON to
R/A (Resume/Accelerate) for about half
a second.
You’ll go right back up to your chosen speed and stay
there.
If you hold the switch at R/A longer than half a second,
the vehicle will keep going faster until you release the
switch or apply the brake, or clutch pedal
(if you have a
manual transaxle). You could be startled and even lose
control.
So unless you want to go faster, don’t hold the
switch to R/A.
’
Increasing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed. Here’s the
first:
1. Use the accelerator pedal to get to the higher speed.
2. Push the SET button at the end of the lever, then
release the button and the accelerator pedal.
You’ll now cruise
at the higher speed.
Here’s the second way to go to a higher speed:
Move the cruise switch from ON to R/A. Hold it
there until you get up to the speed you want, and
then release the
switch.
To increase your speed in very small amounts, move
the switch to R/A for less than half a second and then
release it. Each time you
do this, your vehicle will go
about 1 mph (1.6 h/h) faster.
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Reducing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to reduce your speed while using
cruise control:
0 Press in the button at the end of the lever until you
reach the lower speed you
want, then release it.
To slow down in very small amounts, push the
button
for less than half a second. Each time you do
this, you'I1 go 1 mph (1.6 h/h) slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While Using Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed. When
you take your foot
off the pedal, your vehicle will slow
down to the cruise control speed you set earlier.
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Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load, and the steepness of the bills.
When going up steep hills, you may have to step on the
accelerator pedal to-maintain your speed.
When going
downhill, you may have to brake
or shift to a lower gear
to keep your speed down. Of course, applying the brake
takes
YOU out of cruise control. Many driven find this to;
be too much trouble and don't use cruise control on
steep
hills.
'Ending Cruise Control
There are two ways to turn off the cruise control:
Step lightly on the brake pedal or push the clutch
pedal,
if you have a manual transaxle: OR
Move the cruise switch to OFF.
Erasing Cruise Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition,
your cruise control set speed memory is erased.
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Lamps
I
Headlamps
Rotate the band counterclockwise to the second position
to turn on:
Headlamps
0 Parking Lamps
Sidemarker Lamps
0 Taillamps
0 Instrument Panel Lights
Rotate the
band clockwise to OFF to turn all the lamps
The
band on the turn signal/multifunction lever controls
your vehicle’s lamps. to turn on:
0 Parking Lamps
0 Sidemarker Lamps
0 Taillamps
Instrument Panel
Lights
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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.
Daytime Running Lamps
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) caw make it easier for
others to see the front of
your vehicle during the day.
DRL caw be helpful in many different driving
conditions, but they
can be especially helpful in the
short periods after dawn
and before sunset.
The
DRL system will make your high-beam headlamps
come
on at reduced brightness when:
The ignition is on,
, The headlamp switch is OFF,
The light sensor sees daytime light, and
0 The parking brake is released (manual transaxle), or
0 The shift lever is not in PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N)
When the DRL are on, only your high-beam headlamps
will
be on. The taillmps, sidemarker and other lamps
won't be on. Your instrument panel wonY be lit up
either. (automatic transaxle). When
it's dark enough outside,
your headlamps will
come on at full brightness.
The other lamps that come
on with your headlamps will also come on. A light
sensor ,on top of the instrument panel turns the
headlamps oh and the DRL ,system off. Be sure the light
sensor isn't covered. When it's bright enough outside,
the regular
lamps will go off and your high-bem
headlamps will change
to the reduced brightness of the
DRL.
To idle your vehicle with the DRL off, set the parking
brake on
a manual transaxle or put the vehicle in
PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) on an automatic transaxle,
while the ignition is in the OFF or LOCK position. Then
start the vehicle, The DRL will stay off until you release
the
parking brake on a manual transaxle or shift out of
PARK (P) or NEUTaAL (N) on an automatic transaxle.
As with any vehicle,
you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need
it.
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