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1996 Pontiac Grand Am Owner's Manual - Page 186

1996 Pontiac Grand Am Manual

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Driving with a Trailer Towing a trailer requires a certain amountexperience. of Before setting out for the open road, you'll want'to get to know your rig. Acquaint yourself w t the feelof ih handling and braking with the added weight the of you trailer. And always keep in mind that the vehicle are driving is now a good deal longerand not nearly as responsive as your vehicle by itselfi. is Before you start, check the trailer hitch and platform chains, electrical connector, (and attachments), safety lamps, tires and mirror adjustment, If the trailer has electric brakes,start your vehicle and trailer moving and then/apply the trailer brake controller hand to be sure by the brakes are working. This lets you check your electrical connection at the same tirne. During your trip,check occasionally to be sure that the load is secure, and that the lamps and trailer brakes any are still working. , Passing You'll need more passing distance up ,ahead when you're towing a trailer. And, because you're a good longer, you'll needto go much farther beyondthe passed vehicle before you return to your lane. can Backing Up Hold thebottom of the steering wheel with one hand. Then, to move the trailer to the just move thathand left, to the left.To move the trailerto the right,move your hand to the right. Always back slowly and, if up possible, have someone guide you. Making Thrns I NOTICE: Making very sharp turns while traileringcould cause th'etrailer to come in contact withthe vehicle. Your vehicle couldbe damaged. Avoid making very sharp turns while trailering. ~ ~~ ~~ ~~~ Following Distance Stay at least twice as b'ehind the vehicle ahead you far as would when driving your vehicle without a trailer, This can help you avoid situations that require heavv braking When you're turning with a trailer, make wider hms than and suddenturns. normal. Do this so your trailer won't strike soft shoulders, other objects. Avoid jerky or curbs, road signs, trees or sudden maneuvers.Siggd well in advance. 4-38

Section	Page
Table of Contents	3
Seats and Restraint Systems	9
Seats and Seat Controls	9
Head Restraints	13
Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone Your vehicle has a light that	15
Why Safety Belts Work	16
Here Are Questions Many People Ask About Safety Belts -- and the Answers	19
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly	20
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy	34
Rear Seat Passengers	34
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children and Small Adults	38
Children	42
Child Restraints	44
Larger Children	51
Safety Belt Extender	54
Checking Your Restraint Systems	54
Replacing Restraint System Parts	54
Features and Controls	57
Keys	57
Door Locks	59
Keyless Entry System	62
Trunk	64
New Vehicle.“Break-In”	67
Ignition Switch	67
Starting Your Engine	69
Automatic Transaxle Operation	74
Manual Transaxle	77
Parkiaag.’Brake	80
Shifting Into PARK (P) (Automatic Transaxle Models Only)	81
Shifting Out of PARK (P) (Automatic Transaxle Models Only)	83
Parking Over Things That Burn	84
Engine Exhaust	84
Running Your Engine While You’re Parked (Automatic Transaxle) 1	85
Windows	86
Turn Signal Multifunction Lever	87
Windshield Wipers	89
Windshield Washer	90
Lamps	95
Mirrors	100
Storage Compartments	102
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter	103
Sun Visors	104
The Instrument Panel	106
Warning , Lights, Gages and Indicators	110
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems	123
Comfort Controls	123
Heating	127
Ventilation	127
Defrosting and Defogging	128
Audio Systems	130
Setting the Clock	130
AM-FM Stereo	130
AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player	132
AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player and Equalizer	135
AM-FM Stereo with Compact Disc Player	139
Theft-Deterrent Feature	143
Understanding Radio Reception	145
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player	147
Care of Your Compact Discs	147
Fixed Mast Antenna	147
Your Driving and the Road	149
Defensive Driving	149
Control of a Vehicle	153
Braking	153
Steering	158
Off-Road Recovery	160
Passing	161
Loss of Control	162
Driving at Night	163
Driving in Rain	165
City Driving	168
Freeway Driving	169
Before Leaving on a Long Trip	170
Highway Hypnosis	171
Hill and Mountain Roads	171
Winter Driving	173
Recreational Vehicle Towing	177
Loading Your Vehicle	180
Towing a Trailer	182
Problems on the Road	191
Hazard Warning Flashers	191
Jump Starting	192
Towing Your Vehicle	197
Engine Overheating	202
If a Tire Goes Flat	211
If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow	222
Service and Appearance Care	223
Service	223
Fuel	224
Checking Things Under the Hood	228
Engine Oil	232
Air Cleaner	238
Automatic Transaxle Fluid	239
Manual Transaxle Fluid	242
Engine Coolant	244
Power Steering Fluid	248
Windshield Washer Fluid	249
Brakes	250
Battery	254
Halogen Bulbs	255
Tires	259
Appearance Care	267
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)	275
Electrical System	276
Replacement . Bulbs	281
Capacities and Specifications	282
Maintenance Schedule	285
Introduction	285
Part A: Scheduled Maintenance	287
Using Your Maintenance Schedule	287
Selecting the Right Schedule	287
Part B: Owner Checks and Services	321
At Each Fuel Fill	321
At Least Once a Month	321
At Least Once a Year	322
Part C: -Periodic Maintenance	325
Part D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants	326
Part E: Maintenance Record	328
Customer Assistance Information	331
Customer Satisfaction Procedure	332
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone (TTY) Users	334
Pontiac Roadside Assistance Program	335
GM Participation in BBB AUTO LINE - Alternative Dispute Resolution Program	338
REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS TO THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT	339
REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS TO THE CANADIAN Governent	340
REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS TO GENERAL MOTORS	340
Service and Owner Publications	341

Match case Limit results 1 per page

Driving

with

Trailer

Towing

trailer

requires

certain

amount

experience.

Before

setting

out

for

the

open

road,

you’ll

want’to

get

know

your

rig.

Acquaint

yourself

with

the

feel

handling

and

braking

with

the

added

weight

the

trailer.

And

always

keep

mind

that

the

vehicle

you

are

driving

now

good

deal

longer

and

not

nearly

responsive

your

vehicle

itselfi.

Before

you

start,

check

the

trailer

hitch

and

platform

(and

attachments),

safety

chains,

electrical

connector,

lamps,

tires

and

mirror

adjustment,

the

trailer

has

electric

brakes,

start

your

vehicle

and

trailer

moving

and

then/apply

the

trailer

brake

controller

hand to be

sure

the

brakes

are

working.

This

lets

you

check

your

electrical

connection

the

same

tirne.

During

your

trip,

check

occasionally

sure

that

the

load

secure,

and

that

the

lamps

and

any

trailer

brakes

are

still

working.

Following

Distance

Stay

least

twice

far

b’ehind

the

vehicle

ahead

you

would

when

driving

your

vehicle

without

trailer,

This

can

help

you

avoid

situations

that

require

heavv

braking

and

sudden

turns.

Passing

You’ll

need

passing

distance

,ahead

when

you’re

towing

trailer.

And,

because

you’re

good

longer,

you’ll

need

much farther

beyond

the

passed

vehicle

before

you

can

return to your

lane.

Backing

Hold

the

bottom

the

steering

wheel

with

one

hand.

Then,

move

the

trailer

the

left, just move

that

hand

the

left.

move

the

trailer to the

right,

move

your

hand

the

right.

Always

back

slowly

and,

possible,

have

someone

guide

you.

Making

Thrns

NOTICE:

Making

very

sharp

turns

while

trailering

could

cause

th’e

trailer

come

contact

with

the

vehicle.

Your

vehicle

could

damaged.

Avoid

making

very

sharp

turns

while

trailering.

When

you’re

turning

with

trailer,

make

wider

hms

than

normal.

this

your

trailer

won’t

strike

soft

shoulders,

curbs,

road

signs,

trees

other

objects.

Avoid

jerky

sudden

maneuvers.

Siggd

well

advance.

4-38