1999 PONTIAC GRAND AM Owners Manual

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2-33 Windshield Washer
To wash your windshield, push in the button at the end
of the stalk until the washers begin.
CAUTION:
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.
When you release the button, the washers will stop, but
the wipers will continue to wipe for about three times or
will resume the speed you were using before.

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2-34 Cruise Control (If Equipped)
The cruise control buttons are located on the bottom of
the steering wheel.
With cruise control, you can maintain a speed of about
25 mph (40 km/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
25 mph (40 km/h).When you apply your brakes or the parking brake, or the
BRAKE light is on or have low brake fluid, the cruise
control will turn off.
CAUTION:

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.

Cruise control can be dangerous on
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.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the enhanced
traction control system begins to limit wheel spin, the
cruise control will automatically disengage. (See
ªTraction Control Systemº or ªEnhanced Traction
Systemº in the Index.) When road conditions allow you
to safely use it again, you may turn the cruise control
back on.

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Setting Cruise Control
CAUTION:
If you leave your cruise control switch on when
you're not using cruise, you might hit a button
and go into cruise when you don't want to. You
could be startled and even lose control. Keep the
cruise control switch off until you want to use it.
1. Press the cruise control ON OFF button.
The indicator on the button will turn on.
2. Get up to the speed you want.
3. Press the SET COAST button and release it. The
CRUISE light on the instrument panel will come on.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
Resuming a Set Speed
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
press the cruise control RES ACCEL button for about
half a second.You'll go right back up to your chosen speed and
stay there.
If you press the RES ACCEL button longer than half
a second, the vehicle will keep going faster until you
release the button or apply the brake. So unless you want
to go faster, don't hold down the RES ACCEL button.
Increasing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed.

Use the accelerator pedal to get to the higher speed.
Push the SET COAST button, then release the button
and the accelerator pedal. You'll now cruise at the
higher speed.

Press the RES ACCEL button. Hold it there until you
get up to the speed you want, and then release the
button. To increase your speed in very small amounts,
press the RES ACCEL button for less than half a
second and then release it. Each time you do this, your
vehicle will go about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster.
The accelerate feature will only work after you turn on
the cruise control by pushing the SET COAST button.

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Reducing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to reduce your speed while using
cruise control:

Push the SET COAST button until you reach the
lower speed you want, then release it.

To slow down in very small amounts, push SET
COAST button for less than half a second. Each time
you do this, you'll go 1 mph (1.6 km/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.
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 Out of Cruise Control
There are three ways to turn off the cruise control:

Step lightly on the brake pedal.

Press the cruise control RES ACCEL button and the
SET COAST buttons at the same time.

Press the cruise control ON OFF button.
Erasing the 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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Exterior LampsRotate the turn signal lever end cap up one position to
turn on your:

Parking Lamps

Side Marker Lamps

Taillamps

License Plate Lamps

Instrument Panel Lights
Rotate the turn signal lever end cap up two positions to
turn on your:

Headlamps

Parking Lamps

Sidemarker Lamps

Taillamps

License Plate Lamps

Instrument Panel Lights
Rotate the switch to OFF to turn all of the lamps off.

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2-38 Lamps On Reminder
If you turn off the ignition and open the driver's door while
leaving the lamps on, you will hear a warning chime.
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.
The DRL system will make your high
-beam headlamps
come on at a reduced brightness when:

The ignition is on,

The headlamp switch is in OFF or you have turned
on your parking lamps,

The light sensor detects daytime light,

The parking brake is released and

The shift lever is not in PARK (P).When the DRL system is on, the taillamps, sidemarker
lamps, park lamps and instrument panel lights will not
be illuminated.
The DRL system will remain off any time your vehicle
is in PARK (P) or the parking brake is engaged and the
vehicle speed is less than 3 mph (1.9 km/h).
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
Automatic Light Control (ALC)
When it is dark enough outside, your Automatic Light
Control (ALC) will turn on your headlamps along with
other lamps such as the taillamps, sidemarker lamps,
park lamps and the instrument panel lights. The radio
lights will also be dim.
Your vehicle is equipped with a light sensor on the top
of the instrument panel under the defroster grill, so be
sure it is not covered. This will cause the ALC system to
be on whenever the ignition is on.
The ALC system may also come on when driving
through a parking garage, heavy overcast weather or a
tunnel. This is normal.

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There is a delay in the transition between the daytime
and nighttime operation of the DRL and the ALC
systems so that driving under bridges or bright overhead
street lights does not affect the system. The DRL and
ALC systems will only be affected when the light sensor
sees a change in lighting lasting longer than this delay.
To idle your vehicle with the ALC system off, set the
parking brake while the ignition is off. Then start the
vehicle. The ALC system 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.
Delayed Headlamps
The delayed headlamps feature will continue to
illuminate the headlamps for 20 seconds after the key is
turned to OFF.
If you wish to turn off the headlamps rather than have
them remain on for 20 seconds, turn the turn
signal/multifunction lever end cap up one position and
back to OFF.
Fog Lamps
The button for your fog
lamps is located on the
instrument panel, to the left
of the steering wheel, beside
the instrument panel
intensity control.
When using the fog lamps, the ignition must be on as
well as the parking lamps or the low
-beam headlamps.
Push the button to turn the fog lamps on. An indicator
light on the button will glow when the fog lamps are on.
Push the button again to turn the fog lamps off.
The fog lamps will turn off whenever the high
-beam
headlamps are turned on. When the high beams are
turned off, the fog lamps will come on again.

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Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Intensity Control
You can brighten or dim the instrument panel cluster
lights by moving the thumb wheel to the right to
increase intensity and to the left to decrease intensity.
The thumb wheel is located on the instrument panel to
the left of the steering wheel.
Courtesy Lamp Control
When the thumbwheel for the instrument panel intensity
control is moved to the right, the dome lamp, the mirror
reading lamps (if equipped) and the footwell lamps will
turn on. Move the thumbwheel to the left, to turn the
lamps off.
Illuminated Entry/Exit System
When you lift the driver's door handle or open the
driver's door, the lamps inside your vehicle will go on.
These lamps will fade out after about 10 seconds, or
when the ignition is turned on after all doors have been
closed. These lamps will also go on when you press the
trunk release or UNLOCK button on the optional
keyless entry system transmitter.
The lamps inside your vehicle will stay on for about
10 seconds after your key is removed from the ignition
to provide an illuminated exit.