2002 PONTIAC GRAND AM brake

2-40
The cruise control will turn off if any of the
following occur:

The brakes are applied,

the clutch pedal is applied (manual transaxle),

the automatic transaxle is shifted to NEUTRAL (N),

the parking brake is applied, or

the brake system warning light is on.
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
ªEnhanced Traction Systemº in the Index. When road
conditions allow you to safely use it again, you may turn
the cruise control back on.
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
cruise control.
1. Press cruise ON OFF. An indicator light will come
on when ON OFF is pressed.
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.

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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 RESUME ACCEL
(Resume/Accelerate) button briefly.
You'll go right back up to your chosen speed and
stay there.
If you press the RESUME ACCEL button longer, 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 RESUME 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.
Press the SET COAST button, then release the
button and the accelerator pedal. You'll now cruise
at the higher speed.

Press the RESUME 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 RESUME ACCEL button
briefly 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 pressing the SET COAST button.

2-42
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to reduce your speed while using
cruise control:

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

To slow down in very small amounts, press the SET
COAST button briefly. 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 four ways to turn off the cruise control:

Step lightly on the brake pedal.

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

Press cruise ON OFF.

Push the clutch pedal if you have a manual transaxle.
Erasing the Cruise Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition,
your cruise control set speed memory is erased.

2-44 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. Fully
functional daytime running lamps are required on all
vehicles first sold in Canada.
The DRL system will make your high
-beam headlamps
come on at a reduced brightness when the following
conditions are met:

The ignition is on,

the exterior lamps control is in the AUTO or parking
lamps only position,

the light sensor detects daytime light,

the parking brake is released, and

the shift lever is not in PARK (P) on vehicles with an
automatic transaxle only.
When the DRL system is on, the taillamps, sidemarker
lamps, parking lamps and instrument panel lights will
not be illuminated unless you have turned the exterior
lamps control to the parking lamp position.
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 at the
normal brightness along with other lamps such as the
taillamps, sidemarker, parking 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 which will cause the ALC system
to be on whenever the ignition is on.
The ALC system may also be on when driving through
a parking garage, heavy overcast weather or a tunnel.
This is normal.
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
headlamps when you need them.

2-59 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.
United States Canada
This light should come on briefly when you turn
the ignition key to ON. If it doesn't come on then,
have it fixed so it will be ready to warn you if there's
a problem.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 ªTowing Your Vehicleº in
the Index.
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, 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.

2-60 Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
With the anti-lock brake
system, the light will come
on when your engine is
started and may 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 ªBrake System
Warning Lightº earlier in this section.
The anti
-lock brake system warning light should come
on briefly when you turn the ignition key to ON. If the
light doesn't come on then, have it fixed so it will be
ready to warn you if there is a problem.
Enhanced Traction System Warning Light
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.
The Enhanced Traction System warning light may come
on for the following reasons:

If you turn the system off by pressing the ETS button
located on the instrument panel above the audio
system, 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 ªEnhanced
Traction Systemº in the Index for more information.

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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 vehicle is driven on an extremely rough
road, the warning light may come on momentarily
but will go off again when the vehicle leaves the
rough surface.
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.Enhanced Traction System Active Light
When your Enhanced
Traction System is
limiting wheel spin,
this light will 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 ON. If the
light doesn't come on then, have it fixed so it will be
there to tell you when the system is active.

4-2
Defensive Driving
The best advice anyone can give about driving is:
Drive defensively.
Please start with a very important safety device in your
vehicle: Buckle up. See ªSafety Beltsº in the Index.Defensive driving really means ªbe ready for anything.º
On city streets, rural roads or freeways, it means
ªalways expect the unexpected.º
Assume that pedestrians or other drivers are going to be
careless and make mistakes. Anticipate what they might
do. Be ready for their mistakes.
Rear
-end collisions are about the most preventable
of accidents. Yet they are common. Allow enough
following distance. It's the best defensive driving
maneuver, in both city and rural driving. You never
know when the vehicle in front of you is going to brake
or turn suddenly.
Defensive driving requires that a driver concentrate
on the driving task. Anything that distracts from the
driving task
-- such as concentrating on a cellular
telephone call, reading, or reaching for something on the
floor
-- makes proper defensive driving more difficult
and can even cause a collision, with resulting injury.
Ask a passenger to help do things like this, or pull off
the road in a safe place to do them yourself. These
simple defensive driving techniques could save
your life.