1997 PONTIAC PONTIAC towing

New Vehicle “Break-In”
NOTICE:
Your modern Pontiac doesn’t need an elaborate
“break-in.” But
it will perform better in the long
run
if you follow these guidelines:
Don’t drive at any one speed -- fast or
slow -- for the first 500 miles (805 km).
Don’t make full-throttle starts.
200 miles (322 km) or so. During this time
your new brake linings aren’t yet broken
in. Hard stops with new linings can mean
premature wear and earlier replacement.
Follow this breaking-in guideline every
time
you get new brake linings.
Don’t tow a trailer during break-in. See
“Towing
a Trailer’’ in the Index for
more information.
0 Avoid making hard stops for the first
Ignition Positions
C
With the ignition key in the ignition switch, you can turn
the switch to five positions:
ACCESSORY (A): This position lets you use things
like the radio and windshield wipers when the engine is
off. To use ACCESSORY, push in the key and turn it
toward you. Your steering wheel will stay locked.
LOCK (B): Before you put the key into the ignition
switch, the switch is in
LOCK. It’s also the only position
in which you can remove your key.
This position locks
your ignition, steering wheel and transaxle. It’s a
theft-deterrent feature.
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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 it doesn’t start right away, hold your key in
START for about three to five seconds at a time until
your engine starts. Wait about
15 seconds between
each
try to help avoid draining your battery.
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.
If the vehicle 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.
After waiting about
15 seconds, repeat the normal
starting procedure.
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 engine 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.
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Automatic Transaxle Operation
Your automatic transaxle may have a shift lever on the
steering column
or on the console between the seats.
Maximum engine speed is limited when you’re in
PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N), to protect driveline
components from improper operation. There
are several different positions for your shift lever.
PARK (P): This locks your front wheels. It’s the best
position to use when you start your engine because your
vehicle can’t move easily.
I
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the
shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Don’t leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to.
If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured.
To be sure your
vehicle won’t move, even when you’re
on fairly
level ground, always set your parking brake and
move the shift lever to
PARK (P).
See “Shifting Into PARK (P)” in the Index. If
you’re pulling
a trailer, see “Towing a Trailer” in
the Index.
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AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D): This position is for
normal driving.
If your vehicle has overdrive, AUTOMATIC
OVERDRIVE
(D) is the overdrive position. If you need
more power for passing, and you’re:
Going less than 35 mph (55 km/h), push your
0 Going about 35 mph (55 kmh) or more, push the
accelerator
pedal about halfway down.
accelerator pedal all the way down.
You’ll
shift down to the next gear and have more power.
NOTICE:
If your vehicle seems to start up rather slowly,
or
if it seems not to shift gears as you go faster,
something may be wrong with
a transaxle system
sensor.
If you drive very far that way, your
vehicle can be damaged.
So, if this happens, have
your vehicle serviced right
away. Until then, you
can use SECOND
(2) when you are driving less
than 35 mph (55 km/h) and AUTOMATIC
OVERDRIVE (D) for higher speeds. THIRD
(3): This
position is also used for normal
driving, but it offers more power and lower fuel
economy than AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE
(D).
Here are some times you might choose THIRD (3)
instead of AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D):
When driving on hilly, winding roads.
When towing a trailer, so there is less shifting
When going down a steep hill.
SECOND (2): This position gives you more power, but
lower fuel economy. You can use SECOND
(2) on hills.
It can help control your speed as you go down steep
mountain roads, but then you would also want to use
your brakes off and on.
between gears.
NOTICE:
Don’t drive in SECOND (2) for more than 25 miles
(41 km) at speeds over 55 mph (88 km/h), or you can
damage your transaxle. Use AUTOMATIC
OVERDRIVE (D) or THIRD (3) as much as possible.
Don’t shift into
SECOND (2) unless you are going
slower than
65 mph (105 km/h), or you can
damage your engine.
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I
Parking Brake
~~ ~~~~ L ~ ~~ ~~
NOTICE:
To set the parking brake,
hold
the regular brake pedal
brake pedal with your
Push down the parking
down with your right foot.
Driving with the parking brake on can cause
left foot,
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 pasking on any hill,
+. ..
To release the parking brake, hold the’rZguhr 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.
’ J- ‘5, ‘,-: ‘
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)
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
If you have left the engine running, the vehicle
can move suddenly. You
or others could be
injured.
To be sure your vehicle won’t move, even
when you’re on fairly level ground, use the steps
that follow.
If you’re pulling a trailer, see
“Towing
a Trailer’’ in the Index.
Pull the lever toward you.
Column Shift
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) position like this:
set the parking brake.
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It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Don’t leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to.
If you’ve left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
Yon or others could be injured. To be sure your
vehicle won’t move, even when you’re on fairly
level ground, always set your parking brake and
move the
shift lever to PARK (P).
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.
Power Windows
Switches on the driver’s door armrest control each of the
windows when the ignition is on. In addition, each
passenger door has
a switch for its own window.
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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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