1997 PONTIAC PONTIAC Owners Manual

Speedometer/Odometer
Your speedometer lets you see your speed in both miles
per hour (mph) and kilometers per hour
(km/h). Your
odometer shows how far your vehicle has been driven
in
either miles (used in the United States) or .in kilometers
(used in Canada).
Your Pontiac has a tamper-resistant odometer.
If you see
silver lines between the numbers, you’ll know someone
has probably tampered with it and the numbers may not
be correct.
Tachometer
You may wonder what happens if your vehicle needs a
new odometer installed. If
the new one can be set to the
mileage total
of the old odometer, then that will be d’one.
If it can’t, then it will be set at zero and a label must be
put on the driver’s door to show the old mileage reading
when the new odometer was installed.
Trip Odometer
Your trip odometer tells how far you have driven since
you last reset
it. To set it to zero, press the RESET
button on the right side of the instrument cluster.
L
Ill I
3
4
The tachometer displays the engine speed in thousands
of revolutions per minute (rpm).
NOTICE:
Do not operate the engine with the tachometer in
the red area, or engine damage may occur.
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Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages that
may be on your vehicle. The pictures will help
you
locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that something is
wrong before
it becomes serious enough to cause an
expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to
your warning lights and gages could also save
you or
others from injury.
Warning lights come on when there may be or is a
problem with one of your vehicle’s functions. As you
will see in the details on the next few pages, some
warning lights come on briefly when
you start the
engine
just to let you know they’re working. If you are
familiar with this section,
you should not be alarmed
when this happens.
Gages can indicate when there may
be or is a problem
with one of your vehicle’s functions. Often gages and
warning lights work together to let
you know when
there’s a problem with your vehicle.
When one of the warning lights comes on and stays on
when you are driving, or when one of the gages shows
there may be
a problem, check the section that tells you what
to do about it. Please follow this
manual’s advice.
Waiting
to do repairs can be costly -- and even
dangerous.
So please get to know your warning lights
and gages. They’re a big help.
Your vehicle may also have a driver information system
that works along with the warning lights and gages. See
“Driver Information System” in the Index.
Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to RUN or START, a chime will
come on for about eight seconds to remind people
to
fasten their safety belts, unless the driver’s safety belt is
already buckled.
The safety belt light will
also come on and stav
on .I
for about 20 seconds, then
it will flash for about
55 seconds. If the driver’s
belt
is already buckled,
neither the chime nor
the
light will come on.
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Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows SRS AIR BAG. The system checks
the air bag’s electrical system for malfunctions. The
light tells you if there is an electrical problem. The
system check includes the air bag sensors, the air bag
mo’dules, the wiring and the crash sensing and
diagnostic module. For more information on the air bag
system, see “Air Bag”
in the Index.
SRS AIR BAG
This light will come on
when you start your engine,
and it will flash for a few
seconds.
Then the light
should go out. This means
the system is ready.
If the air bag readiness light stays on after you start the
engine
or comes on when you are driving, your air bag
system may not work properly. Have your vehicle
serviced right away.
The air bag readiness light should flash for a few
seconds when you
turn the ignition key to RUN. If the
light doesn’t come on then, have it fixed so it will be
ready to warn you if there
is a problem.
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Charging System Light
/+I
The charging system light
will come on briefly when
you turn on the ignition,
as
a check to show you
it’s working. Then it will
go out.
If it stays on, or comes on while you are driving, you
may have a problem with the charging system. It could
indicate that
you have a loose drive belt or another
electrical problem.
Have it checked right away. Driving
while this light
is on could drain your battery.
If you must drive a short distance with the light on, be
certain to turn
off all your accessories, such as the radio
and air conditioner.
Brake System Warning Light
Your Pontiac’s hydraulic brake system is divided into
two parts.
If one part isn’t worhng, the other part can
still work and stop you. For good braking, though, you
need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there could be a brake
problem. Have your brake system inspected right away.
This light should come on
briefly when
you turn the
BRAKE I
ignition key to RUN. If it
doesn’t
come on then, have
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:;:;gu if there’s
it fixed so it will be ready
If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off the
road and stop carefully. You may notice thatthe pedal is
harder to gush. Or, the pedal may go closer to the floor.
It may take longer to stop. If the light is still on, or if the
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anti-lock brake system warning light is flashing, have
the vehicle towed for service. (See “Anti-Lock Brake
System Warning Light” and “Towing Your Vehicle” in
the Index.)
A CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working properly
if the brake system warning light is on. Driving
with the brake system warning light on can lead
to an accident.
If the light is still on or if the
anti-lock brake system warning light is flashing
after you’ve pulled off the road and stopped
carefully, have the vehicle towed for service.
When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
will also come on when you set your parking brake. The
light will stay
on if your parking brake doesn’t release
fully.
If it stays on after your parking brake is fully
released,
it means you have a brake problem.
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
With the anti-lock brake
system, this light will come
on when you start your
engine
and it will stay
on for three seconds.
That’s normal.
If the light flashes when you’re driving, you don’t have
anti-lock
brakes and there could be a problem with your
regular brakes. Pull off the road and stop carefully. You
may notice that the pedal
is harder to push. Or, the pedal
may
go closer to the floor. It may take longer to stop.
Have the vehicle towed for service. (See “Towing Your
Vehicle” in the Index.)
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Wac System Warning Light
Your regular brake system may not be working
properly if the anti-lock brake system warning
light is flashing, Driving with the anti-lock brake
system w’arning light flashing
can lead to an
accident, After you’ve pulled off the road
and
stopped carefully, have the vehicle towed
for service.
TRAC
OFF
With the Trac System, this
warning light should come
on briefly as you start the
engine.
If the warning light
doesn’t come on then,
have it fixed
so it will be
ready to warn you if
there’s a problem.
If the anti-lock brake system warning light stays on
longer than normal after you’ve started your engine, turn
the ignition
off. Or, if the light comes o,n and stays on
when you’re driving,
stop as soon as possible and turn
the ignition off. Then start the engine again to reset the
system.
If the light still stays on, or comes on again
while you’re driving, your
Pontiac needs service. If the
light is on but not flashing and the regular brake system
warning light isn’t
on, you still have brakes, but you
don’t have anti-lock brakes.
The anti-lock brake system warning light should come
on briefly when you turn the ignition key
to RUN. If the
light doesn’t
come on then, have it fixed €0 if will b’e
ready to warn you if there is a problem. .
If it stays on, or comes on when you’re driving, there
may be
a problem with your Trac System and your
vehicle may need service, When this warning light
is on, the system will not limit wheel spin. Adjust
your driving accordingly.
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The Trac System warning light may come on for the
following reasons:
If you turn the system off by pressing the TRAC
button, the warning light will come on and stay
on.
To turn the system back on, press the button again.
The warning light should go off. (See “Trac System”
in the Index for more information.)
The warning light will come on when you set your
parking brake with the engine running, and it will
stay
on if your parking brake doesn’t release fully. If
the system is turned on and the warning light stays
on after your parking brake is fully released, it
means there’s a problem with the system.
If the Trac System warning light comes on and stays on
for an extended period of time when th,e system is
turned on and the parking brake is fully. released, your
vehicle needs service.
Low Traction Light
LOW
TRAC
When your anti-lock system
is adjusting brake pressure
to help avoid a braking skid,
this light will come
on.
If you have the Trac System, this light will also come on
when the system is limiting wheel spin. Slippery road
conditions may exist if the low traction light comes on,
so adjust your driving accordingly. The light will stay
on for a few seconds after the anti-lock system stops
adjusting brake pressure or the Trac System stops
limiting wheel spin.
The low traction light also comes on briefly when you
turn the ignition key to RUN. If the light doesn’t come
on then, have it fixed
so it will be there to tell you when
the anti-lock brake system or Trac
System is active,
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Check Tire Pressure Light
CHECK
TIRE
PRESS
With the check tire pressure
system, after you’ve driven
10 to 20 miles (1 5 to 30 km)
the CHECK TIRE PRESS
light will come on if the
pressure in one tire becomes
at least
10 psi (69 kPa)
higher or lower than the
other three tires.
When
the CHECK TIRE PRESS light comes on, you
should stop
as soon as you can and check all your tires
for damage.
(If a tire is flat, see “If a Tire Goes Flat’’
in the Index.) Also
check the tire pressure in all four
tires
as soon as you can. See ‘‘Inflation - Tire Pressure
in the Index.
The light will stay on until you turn off the ignition or
press the
CALIBRATE TIP9 PRESS button. See
“Check Tire Pressure Syst?
.” in the Index.
If the anti-lock
brake system warning light comes on
with the CHECK
TIRE PRESS light, the check tire
pressure system isn’t working. See your Pontiac dealer
for service.
(Also, see “Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light in the Index.)
Mal€unctisn Indicator Lamp
(Service Engine Soon Light)
SERVICE
ENIGINIE SOON
Your Pontiac is equipped
with a computer which
monitors operation
of the
fuel, ignition and emission
control systems.
This system is called
OBD I1 (On-Board
Diagnostics-Second Generation) and is intended to assure
that emissions are at acceptable levels for the life of the
vehicle, helping to produce a cleaner environment. (In
Canada,
OBD I1 is replaced by Enhanced Diagnostics.)
The SERVICE ENGINE SOON light comes on to
indicate that there is
a problem and service is required.
Malfunctions often will be indicated
by the system before
any problem
is apparent. This may prevent more serious
damage to
your vehicle. This system is also designed to
assist your service technician in correctly diagnosing
any malfunction.
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