2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX mirror

Do not get too close to the vehicle you want to
pass while you’re awaiting an opportunity.
For one thing, following too closely reduces your
area of vision, especially
if you’re following a larger
vehicle. Also, you won’t have adequate space
if
the vehicle ahead suddenly slows or stops.
Keep back a reasonable distance.
When it looks like a chance to pass is coming up,
start to accelerate but stay in the right lane and don’t
get too close. Time your move
so you will be
increasing speed as the time comes to move into the
other lane.
If the way is clear to pass, you will have a
“running start” that more than makes up for the
distance you would lose by dropping back. And
if
something happens to cause you to cancel your
pass, you need only slow down and drop back again
and wait for another opportunity.
If other vehicles are lined up to pass a slow vehicle,
wait your turn. But take care that someone isn’t trying
to pass you as you pull out to pass the slow vehicle.
Remember to glance over your shoulder and check
the blind spot.
Check your mirrors, glance over your shoulder, and
start your left lane change signal before moving out
of the right lane to pass. When you are far enough
ahead of the passed vehicle to see its front in your inside mirror, activate
your right lane change signal
and move back into the right lane. (Remember that
your right outside mirror
is convex. The vehicle you
just passed may seem to be farther away from you
than it really is.)
Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a time on
two-lane roads. Reconsider before passing the next
vehicle.
Don’t overtake a slowly moving vehicle too rapidly.
Even though the brake lamps are not flashing, it may
be slowing down or starting to turn.
If you’re being passed, make it easy for the following
driver to get ahead of you. Perhaps you can ease
a
little to the right.
Loss of Control
Let’s review what driving experts say about what happens
when the three control systems (brakes, steering and
acceleration) don’t have enough friction where the tires
meet the road to do what the driver has asked.
In any emergency, don’t give up. Keep trying to steer
and constantly seek an escape route or area of
less danger.
4-1 6

Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking reasonable
care suited to existing conditions, and by not “overdriving”
those conditions. But skids are always possible.
The three types of skids correspond to your vehicle’s
three control systems. In the braking skid, your wheels
aren’t rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, too much
speed or steering in a curve causes tires to slip and lose
cornering force. And
in the acceleration skid, too much
throttle causes the driving wheels to spin.
A cornering skid is best handled by easing your foot
off
the accelerator pedal.
If you do not have the Enhanced Traction System or the
Traction Control System, or
if the system is off, then
an acceleration skid is also best handled by easing your
foot
off the accelerator pedal.
If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want
the vehicle to go.
If you start steering quickly enough,
your vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready
for a second skid
if it occurs. Of
course, traction is reduced when water, snow,
ice, gravel or other material is on the road. For safety,
you’ll want to slow down and adjust your driving to these
conditions. It is important to slow down on slippery
surfaces because stopping distance will be longer and
vehicle control more limited.
While driving on
a surface with reduced traction,
try your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration or
braking (including engine braking by shifting to a
lower gear). Any sudden changes could cause the tires
to slide. You may not realize the surface is slippery
until your vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warning
clues
- such as enough water, ice or packed snow
on the road to make a “mirrored surface”
- and slow
down when you have any doubt.
If you have the anti-lock braking system, remember:
It helps avoid only the braking skid.
If you do not have
anti-lock, then in a braking skid (where the wheels
are no longer rolling), release enough pressure on the
brakes to get the wheels rolling again. This restores
steering control. Push the brake pedal down steadily
when you have to stop suddenly. As long as the wheels
are rolling, you will have steering control.
4-1 7

Driving at Night
. ..
.. .. . . . ..
Night driving is more dangerous than day driving.
One reason is that some drivers are likely to be
impaired
- by alcohol or drugs, with night vision
problems, or by fatigue. Here are some
tips on night drivinq
Drive defensively.
0 Don’t drink and drive.
0 Adjust your inside rearview mirror to reduce the
Since you can’t see as well, you may need to slow
glare from
headlamps behind you.
down and keep more space between you and
other vehicles.
Slow down, especially on higher speed roads. Your
headlamps can light up only
so much road ahead.
In remote areas, watch for animals.
If you’re tired, pull off the road in a safe place
No one can see as well at night as in the daytime.
But as we get older these differences increase.
A 50-year-old driver may require at least twice as much
light to see the same thing at night as a 20-year-old.
and
rest.
What you do in the daytime can also affect your
night vision. For example,
if you spend the day in bright
sunshine you are wise to wear sunglasses. Your
eyes will have less trouble adjusting to night. But
if
you’re driving, don’t wear sunglasses at night. They may
cut down on glare from headlamps,
but they also
make a lot of things invisible.
4-1 8

Freeway Driving The most important advice on freeway driving is:
Keep up with traffic and keep to the right. Drive at the
same speed most of the other drivers are driving.
Too-fast or too-slow driving breaks a smooth traffic flow.
Treat the left lane on a freeway as a passing lane.
At the entrance, there is usually a ramp that leads to
the freeway.
If you have a clear view of the freeway as
you drive along the entrance ramp, you should begin
to check traffic. Try to determine where you expect
to blend with the flow. Try to merge into the gap at close
to the prevailing speed. Switch on your turn signal,
check your mirrors and glance over your shoulder as
often as necessary. Try to blend smoothly with the
traffic flow.
Once you are on the freeway, adjust your speed to
the posted limit or to the prevailing rate
if it’s slower.
Stay in the right lane unless you want to pass.
Before changing lanes, check your mirrors. Then use
your turn signal.
Mile for mile, freeways (also called thruways, parkways,
Just before you leave the lane, glance quickly over your
expressways, turnpikes or superhighways) are the
shoulder to make sure there isn’t another vehicle in
safest of all roads. But they have their own special rules.
your “blind” spot.
4-23

Highway Hypnosis
Is there actually such a condition as “highway hypnosis”?
Or is it just plain falling asleep at the wheel? Call it
highway hypnosis: lack of awareness; or whatever.
There is something about an easy stretch of road with
the same scenery, along with the hum
of the tires on the
road, the drone of the engine, and the rush of the
wind against the vehicle that can make you sleepy.
Don’t let it happen to you! If
it does, your vehicle can
leave the road in
less than a second, and you could
crash and be injured.
What can you do about highway hypnosis? First,
be aware that it can happen.
Then here are some tips:
0 Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated, with a
comfortably cool interior.
Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead and
to the sides. Check your rearview mirrors and your
instruments frequently.
If you get sleepy, pull off the road into a rest,
service or parking area and take a nap, get some
exercise, or both. For safety, treat drowsiness
on the highway as an emergency.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or mountains is different from
driving in flat or rolling terrain.
4-25

Driving with a Trailer
Passing
Towing a trailer requires a certain amount of experience.
Before setting out for the open road, you’ll want to get
to know your rig. Acquaint yourself with the feel
of
handling and braking with the added weight of the trailer.
And always keep in mind that the vehicle you are
driving is now a good deal longer and not nearly as
responsive as your vehicle is by itself.
Before you start, check the trailer hitch and platform
(and attachments), safety chains, electrical connector,
lamps, tires and mirror adjustment.
If the trailer has
electric brakes, start your vehicle and trailer moving and
then apply the trailer brake controller by hand to be
sure the brakes are working. This lets you check your
electrical connection at the same time.
During your trip, check occasionally to be sure that the
load is secure, and that the lamps and any trailer
brakes are still working.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead as
you would when driving your vehicle without a trailer.
This can help you avoid situations that require
heavy braking and sudden turns. You’ll need more
passing distance up ahead when
you’re towing
a trailer. And, because you’re a good deal
longer, you’ll need to go much farther beyond the
passed vehicle before you can return to your lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand.
Then, to move the trailer to the left, just move that hand
to the left. To move the trailer to the right, move your
hand to the right. Always back up slowly and,
if possible,
have someone guide you.
Making Turns
Notice: Making very sharp turns while trailering
could cause the trailer
to come in contact with the
vehicle. Your vehicle could be damaged. Avoid
making very sharp turns while trailering.
When you’re turning with a trailer, make wider turns
than normal. Do this
so your trailer won’t strike
soft shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees or other objects.
Avoid jerky or sudden maneuvers. Signal well in
advance.
4-4 1

Maintenance Schedule (cont.) Steering. Suspension and Front Drive Axle
Boot and Seal Inspection .......................... 6-13
Throttle System Inspection ............................ 6-1 4
Your Vehicle and the Environment ................... 6-2
Maintenance When Trailer Towing ..................... 4-43
Making Turns ................................................. 4-41
Malfunction Indicator Light ................................ 3-32
Manual Seats ................................................... 1-2
Matching Transmitter(s) to Your Vehicle ............... 2-6
Mexico, Central America and Caribbean
Using
Your
................................................... 6-4
Islands/Countries
(Except Puerto Rico and
U.S. Virgin Islands) ....... 7-4
Mirror Operation ..................................... 2-33, 2-35
Mirrors Automatic Dimming Rearview with Compass
Automatic Dimming Rearview with Onstar@,
Manual Rearview Mirror
................................ 2-33
Outside Convex Mirror ................................. 2-37
Outside Power Mirrors .................................. 2-37
and Temperature Display ........................... 2-34
Compass and Temperature Display ............. 2-33
New Vehicle Break-In ............................ ... 2-19
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts ........... 5-1 04
0
Odometer ...................................................... 3-25
Off-Road Recovery .......................................... 4-15
Oil
Engine .................................... .... 5-18
Low Oil Level Light ...................................... 3-36
Pressure Light ............................................. 3-35
Supercharger, Engine ................................... 5-24
Older Children, Restraints ................................ 1-29
Onstar@ Personal Calling ................................. 2-39
Onstar@ Services ............................................ 2-38
Onstat-@ System ............................................. 2-38
Onstar@ Virtual Advisor .................................... 2-39
Other Warning Devices ...................................... 3-4
Outlet Adjustment ............................................ 3-22
Outside
Convex Mirror
............................................. 2-37
Power Mirrors ............................................. 2-37
Overhead Console .......................................... 2-40
Overhead Console Reading Lamps .................... 3-14
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode
.......................................... 5-33
Owners, Canadian ............................................... ii
Owner’s Information ........................................ 7-10
9

Radios (cont.) Setting the Time
..................... .......... 3-44
Theft-Deterrent
............................................ 3-54
Understanding Reception
.............................. 3-57
Rear Assist Handle Reading Lamps
................... 3-14
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides
...................... 1-26
Rear Seat Outside Passenger Positions
............. 1-23
Rear Storage Area
.......................................... 2-41
Rear Window Defogger
.................................... 3-22
Rearview Mirror, Automatic Dimming with
Compass and Temperature Display
................ 2-34
Rearview Mirror, Automatic Dimming with Onstar@,
Compass and Temperature Display
.................. 2-33
Rearview Mirrors
............................................. 2-33
Reclining Seatbacks
.......................................... 1-4
Recreational Vehicle Towing
................... ... 4-33
Remote Driver Unlock Control
................. ... 2-48
Remote Keyless Entry System
............................ 2-4
Remote Keyless Entry System, Operation
............ 2-5
Remote Lock and Unlock Confirmation
............... 2-49
Remote Trunk Release
.................................... 2-1 2
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing
the Spare Tire
............................................. 5-80
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools
................... 5-77
Removing Wheel Covers and Wheel Nut Caps
...... 5-79
Replacement Bulbs
......................................... 5-66
Replacing Brake System Parts
.......................... 5-52
Rear Seat Passengers.
Safety Belts
.................. 1-22 Replacing Restraint
System Parts
Reporting Safety Defects After
a Crash
.............................................. 1-58
Canadian Government
................................... 7-9
General Motors
............................................. 7-9
United States Government .............................. 7-9
Checking Your Restraint Systems
.... .... 1-58
Replacing Restraint System Parts
After a Crash
........................... .... 1-58
Restraint
System Check
................ ........ 6-10
Restraint Systems
Checking
.................................................... 1-58
Replacing Parts
........................................... 1-58
Restraints, Head
............................................... 1-6
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
...................... 2-20
Right Front Passenger Position, Safety Belts
...... 1-20
Roadside Assistance Program
....................................... 7-5
Rocking Your Vehicle To Get It Out
................... 4-32
Running Your Engine While You Are Parked
....... 2-32
S
Safety Belt
Safety Belts Reminder
Light
............................................ 3-26
Care of
...................................................... 5-91
Center Passenger Position
............................ 1-21
Driver Position
............................................ 1-12
11