2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX tow

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 light comes on while you are driving, carefully pull
off the road and stop. 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 on page 4-33.
If the warning light comes on, there is a brake problem.
Have your brake system inspected right away.
I 3 I I
United States
Canada
This light should come on when you turn the 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.
Your oraKe 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.
While 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.
3-28

This light should come on, as a check to show you it is
working, when the ignition is on and the engine is
not running. If the light doesn’t come on, have it
repaired. This light will also come on during a
malfunction in one of two ways:
Light Flashing - A misfire condition has been
detected. A misfire increases vehicle emissions
and may damage the emission control system on
your vehicle. Dealer or qualified service center
diagnosis and service may be required.
0 Light On Steady - An emission control system
malfunction has been detected on your vehicle.
Dealer or qualified service center diagnosis
and service may be required.
If the Light Is Flashing
The following may prevent more serious damage to
your vehicle:
0 Reducing vehicle speed.
0 Avoiding hard accelerations.
Avoiding steep uphill grades.
0 If you are towing a trailer, reduce the amount of
cargo being hauled as soon as it is possible. If
the light stops flashing and remains on steady,
see “If the Light
Is On Steady” following.
If the light continues to flash, when
it is safe to do so,
stop the vehicle. Find a safe place to park your vehicle.
Turn the key
off, wait at least 10 seconds and restart the
engine. If the light remains on steady, see
“If the Light Is
On Steady” following. If the light is still flashing, follow the
previous steps, and drive the vehicle
to your dealer or
qualified service center for service.
If the Light Is On Steady
You may be able to correct the emission system
malfunction by considering the following:
Did you recently put fuel into your vehicle?
If so, reinstall the fuel cap, making sure to fully install
the cap. See Filling
Your Tank on page 5-7. The
diagnostic system can determine
if the fuel cap has
been left
off or improperly installed. A loose or missing
fuel cap will allow fuel
to evaporate into the atmosphere.
A few driving trips with the cap properly installed
should turn the light
off.
Did you just drive through a deep puddle of water?
If
so, your electrical system may be wet. The condition
will usually be corrected when the electrical system
dries out. A few driving trips should turn the light
off.
3-33

Setting the Tone (Bassnreble)
BASS: Slide the lever to the right or to the left to
increase or to decrease bass.
TREBLE: Slide the lever to the right or to the left to
increase or to decrease treble.
If a station is weak
or noisy, you may want to decrease the treble.
Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)
BAL (Balance): Press this knob lightly so it extends.
Turn this knob to move the sound toward the left or the
right speakers.
FADE: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn this
knob to move the sound toward the front or the rear
speakers.
Press these knobs back into their stored positions when
you’re not using them.
Playing a Cassette Tape
Your tape player is built to work best with tapes that are
up to
30 to 45 minutes long on each side. Tapes
longer than that are
so thin they may not work well in
this player. While
the tape is playing, use the VOL, FADE, BAL,
BASS and TREBLE controls just as you
do for the radio.
The display will show an arrow to show which side
of
the tape is playing. When the down indicator arrow is lit,
selections listed on the bottom side of the cassette
are playing. When the up arrow is lit, selections listed
on the top side of the cassette are playing. The
tape player automatically begins playing the other side
when it reaches the end of the tape.
If an error appears on the display, see ‘Cassette Tape
Messages” later in this section.
1 PREV (Previous): Your tape must have at least three
seconds
of silence between each selection for previous
to work. Press this pushbutton to search for the
previous selection on the tape. Press PREV again or
the SEEK down arrow to stop searching.
2 NEXT: Your tape must have at least three seconds of
silence between each selection for next or seek to
work. Press this pushbutton to search for the next
selection on the tape.
If you hold the pushbutton, the
player will continue moving forward through the
tape. Press NEXT again or the SEEK
up arrow to stop
searching.
3 PROG (Program): Press this pushbutton to play the
other side
of the tape.
3-46

Finding a Station
AM/FM: Press this button to switch between AM, FMl
and FM2. The display
will show your selection.
TUNE: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn it to
choose radio stations. Press the knob back into its
stored position when you’re not using it.
A SEEK v: Press the up or the down arrow to go to
the next or to the previous station and stay there.
Setting Preset Stations
The six numbered pushbuttons let you return to
your favorite stations. You can set up to
18 stations
(six AM, six
FMI and six FM2) by performing the
following steps:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Turn the radio on.
Press AM/FM to select AM, FMI or FM2.
Tune in the desired station.
Press and hold one of the six numbered
pushbuttons until §ET appears on the display.
Whenever you press that numbered pushbutton,
the station you set will return.
Repeat the steps for each pushbutton.
Setting the Tone (BasdTreble)
BASS: Slide the lever to the right or to the left to
increase or to decrease bass.
TREBLE: Slide the lever to the right or to the left to
increase
or to decrease treble. If a station is weak
or noisy, you may want to decrease the treble.
Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)
BAL (Balance): Press this knob lightly so it extends.
Turn it to move the sound toward the left or the
right speakers.
FADE: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn it to
move the sound toward the front or the rear speakers.
Press these knobs back into their stored positions when
you’re not using them.
3-49

Finding a Station
AM/FM: Press this button to switch between AM, FM1
and FM2. The display will show your selection.
TUNE: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn it to
choose radio stations. Press the knob back into its
stored position when you’re not using it.
A SEEK v: Press the up or the down arrow to go to
the next or to the previous station and stay there.
Setting Preset Stations
The six numbered pushbuttons let you return to your
favorite stations. You can set up to
18 stations (six AM,
six FMI and six FM2) by performing the following
steps:
1. Turn the radio on.
2. Press AM/FM to select AM, FM1 or FM2.
3. Tune in the desired station.
4. Press and hold one of the six numbered
pushbuttons until SET appears on the display.
Whenever you press that numbered pushbutton, the station you set will return.
5. Repeat the steps for each pushbutton.
Setting the Tone (Bass/Treble)
Equalizer: A seven-band equalizer is part of your audio
system. Slide the levers up to boost or down to reduce
frequency range.
Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)
BAL (Balance): Press this knob lightly so it extends.
Turn it to move the sound toward the left or the
right speakers.
FADE: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn it to
move the sound toward the front or the rear speakers.
Press these knobs back into their stored positions when
you’re not using them.
3-52

Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
Your Driving. the Road. and Your Vehicle .......... 4-2
Defensive Driving
........................................... 4.2
Drunken Driving
............................................. 4-3
Braking
......................................................... 4.6
Steering
...................................................... 4.13
Off-Road Recovery
....................................... 4-15
Passing
....................................................... 4.15
Loss
of Control ............................................. 4.16
Driving at Night
............................................ 4.18
Driving in Rain and on Wet
Roads .................. 4-19
Control
of a
Vehicle ........................................ 4-6
Traction Control System (TCS)
....................... 4.10
Enhanced Traction System
(ETS) .................... 4-1 1 City
Driving
.................................. ..... 4-22
Freeway Driving ............................... ..... 4.23
Highway Hypnosis
........................................ 4.25
Winter Driving
.............................................. 4.27
Ice or Snow
.............................................. 4-32
Towing Your Vehicle
................. ......... 4.33
Loading Your Vehicle
.................................... 4.35
Before Leaving
on a Long Trip
....................... 4-24
Hill and Mountain Roads
................................ 4-25
If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud,
Towing ....................... ............................ 4.33
Recreational Vehicle Towing
....... ..... 4.33
Towing
a Trailer ........................................... 4.37
4- 1

If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud,
Ice or Snow
In order to free your vehicle when it is stuck, you will
need
to spin the wheels, but you don’t want to spin your
wheels too fast. The method known as “rocking” can
help you get out when you’re stuck, but you must
use caution.
If yo
et your tires s 1 ai -. spee--7 ~~~ -y can
explode, and you or others could be injured.
And, the transaxle or other parts of the vehicle
can overheat. That could cause an engine
compartment fire or other damage. When you’re
stuck, spin the wheels as little as possible. Don’t spin the wheels above
35 mph (55 km/h)
as shown on the speedometer.
Notice: Spinning your wheels can destroy parts of
your vehicle as well as the
tires. If you spin the
wheels too fast while shifting your transaxle back
and forth, you can destroy your transaxle. See
“Rocking Your Vehicle To Get
It Out.’’
For information about using tire chains on your vehicle,
see Tire Chains on page
5-75.
Rocking Your Vehicle To Get It Out
First, turn your steering wheel left and right. That will
clear the area around your front wheels.
If your vehicle
has traction control, you should turn the system
off.
See Traction Control System (TCS) on page 4-10. Then
shift back and forth between REVERSE (R) and a
forward gear, spinning the wheels as little as possible.
Release the accelerator pedal while you shift, and press
lightly on the accelerator pedal when the transaxl is in
gear. By slowly spinning your wheels in the forward and
reverse directions, you will cause a rocking motion
that may free your vehicle. If that doesn’t get you out
after
a few tries, you may need to be towed out. If you
do need
to be towed out, see “Towing Your Vehicle”
following.
4-32

Towing
Towing Your Vehicle
Consult your dealer or a professional towing service if
you need to have your disabled vehicle towed. See
Roadside Assistance Program
on page 7-5.
If you want to tow your vehicle behind another vehicle
for recreational purposes (such as behind a motorhome),
see “Recreational Vehicle Towing” following. With
the proper preparation and equipment, many
vehicles can be towed in these ways. See “Dinghy
Towing” and “Dolly Towing,” following.
Here are some important things to consider before you
do recreational vehicle towing:
Recreational Vehicle Towing
Recreational vehicle towing means towing your vehicle
behind another vehicle
- such as behind a motorhome.
The two most common types of recreational vehicle
towing are known as “dinghy towing” (towing your
vehicle with all four wheels on the ground) and
“dolly towing” (towing your vehicle with two wheels on
the ground and two wheels up on a device known
as a “dolly”). What’s
the towing capacity of the towing vehicle?
Be sure you read the tow vehicle manufacturer’s
recommendations.
How far will you tow? Some vehicles have
restrictions on how far and how long they can tow.
Do you have the proper towing equipment?
See your dealer or trailering professional for
additional advice and equipment recommendations. Is your vehicle ready to be towed? Just as you
would prepare your vehicle for a long trip, you’ll
want to make sure your vehicle
is prepared to be
towed. See Before Leaving on
a Long Trip on
page
4-24.
4-33