1997 PONTIAC PONTIAC light

OFF (C): This position lets you turn off the engine but
still
turn the steering wheel. It doesn’t lock the steering
wheel like LOCK. Use OFF if you must have your
vehicle
pushed or towed.
RUN (D): This position is where the key returns
after
you start your vehicle. With the engine off, you
can use RUN to display some of your warning and
indicator lights.
START (E): This position starts your engine.
A warning chime will sound if you open the driver’s
door when the ignition is in OFF, LOCK or
ACCESSORY and the key is in the ignition,
~
NOTICE:
~~
If your key seems stuck in LOCK and you can’t
turn it, be sure your are using the correct key; if
so is it all the way in? If it is, then turn the
steering wheel left and right while yon 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
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 moving,
use NEUTRAL
(N) only.
NOTICE:
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.
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.
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If a bulb is burned out, replace it to help avoid an
accident.
If the arrows don’t go on at all when you
signal a turn, check for burned-out bulbs and then check
the fuse (see “Fuses and Circuit Breakers” in the Index).
A chme will sound if you leave your turn signal on for
more than
3/4 mile (1.2 km).
Headlamp HigWLow Beam
To change your headlamps
from low beam to high
beam, or high to low, pull
the multifunction lever all
the way toward you. Then
release it. When the high
beams are on, a light on the
instrument panel also will
be
on.
Flash-to-Pass
When your headlamps are off, pull the lever toward you
to momentarily switch on the high beams (to signal that
you are going to pass). When you release the lever they
will
turn off.
Windshield Wipers
You control the windshield wipers by turning the band
marked
WIPER. For a single wiping cycle, turn the band
to MIST. Hold it there until the wipers start, then let go.
The wipers will stop after one cycle. If you want more
cycles, hold the band on
MIST longer.
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For steady wiping at low speed, turn the band to LO. For
high-speed wiping, turn the band further, to
HI. To stop
the
wipers, turn the band to OFF.
You can set the wiper speed for a long or short delay
between wipes. This can be very useful in light rain or
snow. Turn the band
to choose the delay time. The
closer to
LO, the shorter the delay.
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 can overload your wipers. A circuit
breaker will stop them until the motor cools. Clear away
snow or ice to prevent an overload.
Windshield Washer
At the top of the multifunction lever, there’s a paddle
with the word
PUSH on it. To spray washer fluid on the
windshield, push the paddle. The wipers will run for
several sweeps and then either stop or return
to your
preset speed. See “Windshield Washer Fluid”
in
the Index.
In freezing weather, don’t use your washer until
the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the washer
fluid can form ice on the windshield, blocking
your vision.
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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.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load and the steepness of the hills.
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 drivers 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
Move the cruise switch to OFF.
Erasing Cruise Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition, or
shift into
PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N), your cruise
control set speed memory is erased.
Lamps
The lamp controls are located on the lower, left side of
the instrument panel, to the left
of the steering wheel.
They control these systems:
Headlamps
@ Taillamps
Parking Lamps
License Lamps
0 Sidemarker Lamps
0 Instrument Panel Lights
0 Courtesy Lamps
0 Fo'g Lamps
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go : Turn the knob to this symbol to turn on the headlamps
and other operating lamps.
PG: Turn the knob to this symbol to turn on the parking
and other operating lamps without the headlamps.
Turn the knob to
OFF to turn off the lamps.
Daytime Running Lamps
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to see the front of your vehicle during the day.
DRL can be helpful in many different driving
conditions,
but they can be especially helpful in the
short periods after dawn and before sunset.
A light sensor on top of the instrument panel makes the
DRL work, so be sure it isn't covered.
The DRL system will make your low-beam headlamps
come on at a reduced brightness when:
0 The ignition is on,
0 The headlamp switch is off, and
0 The parking brake is released.
When the
DRL are on, only your low-beam headlamps
will be on. The taillamps, sidemarker and other lamps
won't be on. Your instrument panel won't be lit up either.
When it's dark enough outside, your headlamps will change to full brightness. The other lamps that come on
with your headlamps will also come on.
When it's bright enough outside, the regular lamps will
go out, and your low-beam headlamps change to the
reduced brightness of DRL.
To idle your vehicle with the DRL off, set the parking
brake while the ignition is in
OFF or LOCK. Then start
your vehicle. The DRL will stay
off until you release the
parking brake.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
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Fog Lamps Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Intensity Control
The fog lamps switch is located in the upper, left corner of the
instrument panel, to the left of the instrument panel cluster.
To turn the fog lamps on, press the right side of the fog
lamps switch. A light will glow on the switch to let you
know that they are on. (Your parking lamps must be on,
or
your fog lamps won’t come on.) Press the left side of
the switch to turn the fog lamps off.
You can brighten or dim the instrument panel lights by
moving the interior lamps dial. Turn the dial to the right
to increase the brightness of the instrument panel lights,
to the left to decrease the brightness. Turn the control
all the way to the left to turn them off.
The fog lamps will
go off whenever you change to
high-beam headlamps. When you return to low beams.
the fog lamps will come on again.
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Courtesy Lamps
When any door is opened, several lamps come on. These
lamps are courtesy lamps. They make
it easy for you to
enter and leave your vehicle at night. You can also turn
these lamps
on by turning the interior lamps dial all the
way to the right.
Illuminated Entry
The Illuminated Entry feature will illuminate the interior
so that you can see the inside of your vehicle before you
enter at night. The interior lamps will come on for
40
seconds when you unlock your doors using the key
chain transmitter (if equipped) and the ignition is in the
LOCK or
OFF position. After 40 seconds have elapsed,
the interior lamps will slowly fade out. The lamps will
fade out before
40 seconds have elapsed if you:
Lock all doors using your key chain transmitter.
Lock the doors using the power door lock switch.
When any door is opened, illuminated entry is canceled.
The interior lamps will stay on while any door is opened
and slowly fade out when all doors are closed. The
interior lamps may stay on for up to
25 seconds after
all
doors have been closed if they have not been locked.
See “Delayed Illumination” later in this section.
Delayed Illumination
The Delayed Illumination feature will continue to
illuminate the interior for
25 seconds after all the doors
have been closed so that you can find the ignition and
buckle your seat belt at night. Delayed Illumination will
not occur while the ignition is in RUN or ACCESSORY
position. After
25 seconds have elapsed, the interior
lamps will slowly fade out. The lamps will fade out
before the
25 seconds have elapsed if you:
0 Turn the ignition to the RUN or
Lock all doors using your key chain transmitter
Lock the doors using the power door lock switch.
To turn Delayed Illumination feature off or on. See
“Locks and Lighting Choices” in the Index.
ACCESSORY
position.
(if equipped).
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Exit Lighting Battery Saver
Your vehicle has a feature to help prevent you from
draining the battery
in case you accidentally leave the
interior, trunk or underhood lamps on.
If YOU leave any
of these lamps on while the ignition
is in LOCK or
OFF position, they will automatically turn off after
10 minutes. The lamps won’t come back on again until
you do one of the following:
So that you can see to exit the vehicle at wight, your
vehicle
is equipped with the Exit Lighting feature. The
interior lamps will illuminate for up to 25 seconds when
you remove your
key from the ignition. After 25 seconds
have elapsed, the interior lamps will slowly fade out. The
lamps will fade out before
the 25 seconds have elapsed
if you:
Turn the ignition to the RUN or
ACCESSORY position.
(if equipped).
Lock all doors using your key chain transmitter
0 Lock the doors using the power door lo’ck switch.
When any door is opened, Exit Lighting is canceled.
The
interior lamps will stay on while any ‘door is opened and
will slowly fade out when all the
doors are closed. The
interior lamps may stay on €or
up to 25 seconds after all
the doors have been closed if they have not been locked.
See“De1ayed Illumination” earlier in this section.
To turn the Exit Lighting feature
off or on, see “Locks
and Lighting Choices” in the Index.
Turn the ignition to the RUN or
ACCESSORY position;
Turn the interior lamp dial all the way to the right,
then back slightly to the left;
Open (or close and reopen) a door that is closed.
Note that if your vehicle has less than
15 miles (25 Pun)
on the odometer, the battery saver will turn off the lamps
after only three minutes.
Retained Accessory Power
With retained accessory power, your power windows,
audio system and sunroof will continue to
work up to
10 minutes after the ignition key is turned to the OFF
position and 4, of the doors are opened.
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