Home » Pontiac Manuals » 1997 Pontiac Grand Am » Manual Viewer

1997 Pontiac Grand Am Owner's Manual - Page 179

1997 Pontiac Grand Am Manual

Get 1997 Pontiac Grand Am PDF manuals and user guides

View all 1997 Pontiac Grand Am manuals

Page 179 highlights

Your anti-lock brakes improve your vehicle'sstability when you make a hard stop on a slippery road. Even though you havethe anti-lock braking system, you'll want to begin stopping sooner than you would on dry pavement. See "Anti-Lock'' inthe Index. Allow greater following distance on any slippery road. Watch for slippery spots. The road might be fine until you hit a spot that's covered with On an ice. otherwise clear road, ice patches mayappear in shaded areas where the sun can't reach: around clumps of trees, behind buildingsor under bridges. Sometimes the surface of a curve or an overpass may remain icy when the surrounding roads are clear. If you see a patch of ice ahead of you, brake before you are onit. Try not to brake while you're actually on the ice, and avoid suddensteering maneuvers. If You're Caught in a Blizzard If you arestopped by heavy snow, you could be in a serious situation. You should probably stay with your vehicle unless you knowfor surethat you are near help and you can hike through snow. Here are some the things to do to summon help and keep yourself and your passengers safe: Turn on your hazard flashers. 4-28

Section	Page
Table of Contents	2
Seats and Restraint Systems	8
Seats and Seat Controls	9
Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone	14
Here Are Questions Many People Ask About Safety Belts -- and the Answers	19
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly	20
Driver Positions	20
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy	27
Right Front Passenger Position	28
Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)	28
Rear Seat Passengers	34
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children and Small Adults	38
Center Passenger Position	40
Children	42
Child Restraints	44
Larger Children	52
Safety Belt Extender	55
Checking Your Restraint Systems	55
Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash	55
Features and Controls	56
Keys	57
Door Locks	59
Keyless Entry System (If Equipped)	62
Trunk	65
Theft	67
Passlock	68
New Vehicle "Break-In"	68
Ignition Positions	69
Starting Your Engine	71
Engine Coolant Heater (If Equipped)	74
Automatic Transaxle Operation	76
Manual Transaxle Operation	80
Parking Brake	83
Shifting Into PARK (P) (Automatic Transaxle Models Only)	84
Shifting Out of PARK (P) (Automatic Transaxle Models Only)	86
Parking Your Vehicle (Manual Transaxle Only)	86
Parking Over Things That Burn	87
Engine Exhaust	87
Running Your Engine While You’re Parked (Automatic Transaxle)	88
Windows	89
Tilt Wheel (If Equipped)	90
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever	90
Exterior Lamps	98
Mirrors	103
Storage Compartments	105
Accessory Power Outlet	107
Garment Hook	108
Sunroof (If Equipped)	108
The Instrument Panel -- Your Information System	109
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators	113
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems	126
Comfort Controls	127
Climate Control System	127
Climate Control System with Air Conditioning	128
Air Conditioning	130
Heating	130
Defrosting and Defogging	131
Rear Window Defogger (If Equipped)	131
Ventilation System	132
Audio Systems	133
Setting the Clock for AM-FM Stereo	133
Setting the Clock for All Systems Except AM-FM Stereo	133
AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player (If Equipped)	135
AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player and Equalizer (If Equipped)	138
AM-FM Stereo with Compact Disc Player and Equalizer (If Equipped)	142
Remote Cassette Tape Player (If Equipped)	144
Theft-Deterrent Feature	146
Steering Wheel Controls (If Equipped)	148
Understanding Radio Reception	148
Tips About Your Audio System	149
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player	150
Care of Your Compact Discs	151
Fixed Mast Antenna	151
Your Driving and the Road	152
Defensive Driving	153
Drunken Driving	154
Control of a Vehicle	157
Braking	157
Steering	162
Off-Road Recovery	164
Passing	164
Loss of Control	166
Driving at Night	167
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads	169
City Driving	172
Freeway Driving	173
Before Leaving on a Long Trip	174
Highway Hypnosis	175
Hill and Mountain Roads	175
Winter Driving	177
Recreational Vehicle Towing	181
Loading Your Vehicle	184
Towing a Trailer	186
Problems on the Road	194
Hazard Warning Flashers	195
Other Warning Devices	195
Jump Starting	196
Towing Your Vehicle	201
Engine Overheating	207
If a Tire Goes Flat	215
Changing a Flat Tire	216
Compact Spare Tire	226
If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow	227
Service and Appearance Care	228
Service	229
Fuel	230
Fuels in Foreign Countries	231
Filling Your Tank	232
Checking Things Under the Hood	235
Engine Oil	239
Air Cleaner	245
Automatic Transaxle Fluid	246
Manual Transaxle Fluid	248
Hydraulic Clutch	250
Engine Coolant	251
Surge Tank Pressure Cap	255
Thermostat	255
Power Steering Fluid	255
Windshield Washer Fluid	256
Brakes	257
Battery	261
Bulb Replacement	262
Halogen Bulbs	262
Appearance Care	276
Cleaning the Inside of Your Pontiac	277
Cleaning the Outside of Your Pontiac	281
Aluminum Wheels (If Equipped)	282
Cleaning Tires	282
Sheet Metal Damage	282
Finish Damage	283
Appearance Care Materials Chart	284
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)	285
Electrical System	285
Replacement Bulbs	290
Capacities and Specifications	291
Air Conditioning Refrigerants	292
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts	292
Dimensions	292
Maintenance Schedule	294
Introduction	295
Your Vehicle and the Environment	295
How This Section is Organized	296
Part A: Scheduled Maintenance Services	297
Using Your Maintenance Schedule	297
Selecting the Right Schedule	297
Footnotes	300
Footnotes	322
Part B: Owner Checks and Services	334
At Each Fuel Fill	334
At Least Once a Month	334
At Least Twice a Year	335
At Least Once a Year	335
Part C: Periodic Maintenance Inspections	338
Steering, Suspension and Front Drive Axle Boot and Seal Inspection	338
Exhaust System Inspection	338
Radiator and Heater Hose Inspection	338
Throttle Linkage Inspection	338
Brake System Inspection	339
Caliper/Knuckle Maintenance Inspection	339
Part D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants	340
Part E: Maintenance Record	342
Customer Assistance Information	344
Pontiac Cares	345
Customer Satisfaction Procedure	346
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone (TTY) Users	348
Pontiac Roadside Assistance Program	349
GM Participation in an Alternative Dispute Resolution Program	352
Warranty Information	353
Reporting Safety Defects to the United States Government	353
Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian Government	354
Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors	354
Ordering Service and Owner Publications in Canada	354

Match case Limit results 1 per page

Your anti-lock brakes improve your

vehicle’s stability

when

you

make a hard stop on a slippery road. Even

though

you

have

the anti-lock

braking system, you’ll

want

begin

stopping sooner than

you

would

dry

pavement. See “Anti-Lock‘’

in the Index.

Allow greater following distance on

any

slippery

road.

Watch for slippery

spots. The road

might

be fine

until

you hit a spot

that’s

covered

with

ice.

otherwise clear road, ice patches

may appear in

shaded areas where

the sun can’t reach: around

clumps of trees, behind

buildings or under bridges.

Sometimes the surface of a curve or an overpass may

remain

icy

when

the

surrounding roads are clear.

you

see a patch of ice ahead of you,

brake

before

you

are

on it.

Try

not

brake

while

you’re

actually

the ice, and

avoid

sudden steering maneuvers.

You’re

Caught

a Blizzard

you

are stopped by

heavy

snow,

you could be

in a

serious situation. You should probably stay

with

your

vehicle unless

you

know for

sure

that

you

are

near help

and

you

can

hike

through

the snow. Here are some

things to

summon help and keep yourself

and

your

passengers

safe:

Turn

your

hazard flashers.

4-28