1998 PONTIAC GRAND AM light

Mirrors
Convex Outside Mirror
Your passenger’s side mirror is convex. A convex
mirror’s surface
is curved so you can see more from the
driver’s seat.
Manual Remote Control Mirror
The outside rearview mirror should be adjusted so you
can just see the side of your vehicle when you
are sitting
in a comfortable driving position.
Adjust the driver’s side
outside mirror with the control lever on the
A CAUTION: I driver’s door.
A convex mirror can make things (like other
vehicles) look farther away than they really are.
If you cut too sharply into the right lane, you
could
hit a vehicle on your right. Check your
inside mirror or glance over your shoulder before
changing lanes.
To adjust your passenger’s side mirror, sit in the driver’s
Inside Daymight Rearview Mirror
To reduce glare from lights behind you, move the lever
toward you to the night position. seat
and have a passenger adjust the
mirror for you.
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Sunglasses Storage
Place your sunglasses in the open area located above
you in the overhead console, or front compartment in
the center console.
Center Console Cupholder
The console provides space for holding cups or soft
drinks.
Rear Seat Cupholder
There are cupholders on the underside of the front
storage armrest lid for the
rear passengers to use. Open
the lid completely to use the cupholders.
Convenience Net (If Equipped)
Your vehicle may have a convenience net. You’ll see it
just inside the back wall of the
trunk.
Put small loads, like grocery bags, behind the net. It can
help keep them from falling over during sharp
turns or
quick starts and stops.
The net isn’t for larger, heavier loads. Store them in the
trunk as far forward as you can.
You can unhook the net so that it will lie flat when
you’re not using it.
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter
(If Equipped)
To use the lighter, just push it in all the way and let go.
When it’s ready, it
will pop back out by itself.
NOTICE:
Don’t hold a cigarette lighter in with your hand
while it is heating.
If you do, it won’t be able to
back away from the heating element when it’s ready. That can make it overheat, damaging the
lighter and the heating element.
To clean the center console ashtray, remove the ashtray
and empty it. The ashtray can be placed in the rear
cupholder for
the rear passengers to use. The ashtray can
also be placed inside the center console for storage.
When the ashtray
is removed, you can also use this tray
as a cupholder.
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Tachometer
si The tachometer shows your
1 engine speed in revolutions
per minute (rpm).
NOTICE:
Do not run your engine at speeds in the red area,
or engine damage may occur. I
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.
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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 stay on
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.
AIR
Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows 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 sensor, the air bag modules,
the wiring and the crash sensing and diagnostic module.
For more information on the
air bag system, see “Air
Bag” in the Index.
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.
BAG
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Charging System Indicator Light
~ The charging system
indicator light will come
on
briefly when you turn on the
ignition, but the engine is
not
running. The light will
go out when the engine
is started.
If it stays on when your engine is running, or comes on
while you are driving, you may have a problem with the
electrical charging
system. It could indicate that you
have a loose generator 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 vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is divided into
two parts. If one part isn’t working, 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 is a brake problem.
Have your brake system inspected right away.
BRAKE
United States Canada
This light should come on briefly when you turn the
ignition key
to RUN. If it doesn’t come on then, have it
fixed so it will be ready to warn you if there’s a problem.
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If the light comes on while you are driving, 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. If the light
is still on, have the
vehicle towed for service. (See “Towing Your Vehicle”
in the Index.)
I 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 after you’ve
pulled off the road and stopped carefully, bqve
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 stays on, turn the ignition to OFF. Or, if the
light comes 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 vehicle needs
service. If the regular brake system warning light isn’t
on, you still have brakes, but you don’t have anti-lock
brakes.
If the regular brake system warning light is also
on, you don’t have anti-lock brakes and there’s a
problem with
your regular brakes. See “Brake System
Warning Light” earlier in this section.
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
so it will be
ready
to warn you if there is a problem.
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Enhanced Traction System Warning Light
(If Equipped)
ETS
OFF
t With the Enhanced Traction System (ETS),
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 warning light stays on, or comes on when you’re
driving, there may be a problem with your Enhanced
Traction System and your vehicle may need service.
When
this warning light is on, the system will not limit
wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.
i -. ,
The Enhanced Traction System warning light may come
on for the following reasons:
0
0
0
If you turn the system off by pressing the button an
the shift lever, 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
“Enhanced Traction 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 traction control system is affected by an
engine-related problem, the system will turn off and
the warning light will come on.
If the Enhanced Traction System warning light comes
on and stays on for an extended period of time when the
system
is turned on and the parking brake is fully
released, your vehicle needs service.
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Enhanced Traction System Active Light
When your Enhanced Traction System is limiting wheel spin,
this light will LOW
.TRAC
come on.
Slippery road conditions may exist if the Enhanced
Traction System active light comes on,
so adjust your
driving accordingly.
The light will stay on for a few seconds after the
Enhanced Traction System stops limiting wheel spin.
The Enhanced Traction System active 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 system is active.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
This gage shows the engine
coolant temperature.
If the
gage pointer moves into the
too hot!
red area, your engine
is
A light
will come on to the right of the gage when the
gage pointer moves beyond the normal operating zone.
It means that your engine coolant has overheated.
If you have been operating your vehicle under normal
driving conditions, you should pull
off the road, stop
your vehicle and turn off the engine as soon as possible.
In “Problems on the Road,” this manual shows what to
do. See “Engine Overheating” in the Index.
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