User manual PONTIAC GRANDAM 1996

The 1996 Pontiac Grand Am Owner's Manual ............................................................. FeaturesandControls .................................................................. This section explainshow to start and operate your Pontiac. Comfort Controls and Audio Systems ..................................................... Seats and Restraint Systems This section tells you how to use your seats and safety belts properly. also explains the"SRS" system. It 1-1 2-1 3-1 and This section tells you how to adjust the ventilation comfort conkols and how to operate your audio system. Your Driving and the Road ProblemsontheRoad ' ............................................................... 4-1 5-1 Here you'll find helpful information and tips about the road and how to drive under different conditions. This section tells you what to do if you have a problem while driving, such as a flat tire or overheated engine, etc. .................................................................. ............................................................ M a i n t e n a n c e s c h e d u l e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .............. This section tells when to perform vehicle maintenance and what fluids and lubricants you to use. CustomerAssistanceInformation ........................................................ Service and Appearance Care Here the manual tells you how to keep your Pontiac running properly and looking good. 6-1 7-1 8-1 , . , (, This section tells you how to contact Pontiac for assistance and how to get service and owner publications. It also gives you information on "Reporting Safety Defects" on page 8-9. Here's an alphabetical listingof almost every subject in this manual. can use it to quickly You find something you want to read. Index ................................................................................ 9-1 i 7We support voluntary technician certification. FASij CERTIFIED !. GENERAL MOTORS, GM and the GM Emblem, PONTIAC, the PONTIAC Emblemand the name @and Am are registered trademarks of General Motors Corporation. This manual includes the latest infomation at the time it was printed. We reserve the right to make changes in the product afterthat time without further notice. For vehicles first sold in Canada,substitute the name "General Motorsof Canada Limited"fur Pontiac Division wheneverit appears inthis manual. Please keep this manual in your Pontiac, so it will be there if you ever need it when you'reon the road. If you sell the vehicle, please leave this manualin it so the new owner can use it. WE SUPPORT VOLUNTARY TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION THROUGH National Institute for AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE EXCELLENCE For Canadian Owners Who Prefer a French Language Manual: Aux propriktaires canadiens:Vous pouvez vous procurer un exemplaire de ce guide en frangais chez votre concessionaireou au: DGN Marketing Services Ltd. 1500 Bonhill Rd. Mississauga, Ontario L5T 1C7 -. `X Litho in U.S.A. Part No. 102731.97B First Edition `Copyright General Motors Corporation 1995 All Rights Reserved ii How to Use This Manual Many peopleread their owner's manual from beginning to end when they first receiv'e their new vehicle. you If do this, it will help you learn about the features and controls for your vehicle.In this manual, you'll find that pictures and words work together to explain things quickly. These mean there is something that could hurt you or other people. ' 1 Index 'A good place to look for swhat you need the Indexin is the back of the manual. It's alphabetical listof all an that's in the manual, and the page number where you'll find it. %d;=y." In the caution area, tell you what hazard is.Then we the we tell youwhat'todo to help avoid reduce the or hazard. Please read these cautions. you don't,you or If others could be hurt. You will also find a circle with a slash through it in this book. This safety Safety Warnings and Symbols A''* You will find a number safety cautionsin this book. of We use a box and the word CAUTION to tellyou ab'out things that could hurt you you were to ignore the if warning. symbol means "Don't,'' "Don't do this," or "Don't let this happen." iii Vehicle Damage Warnings Also, in this book you will find thes'e notices: ..In the notic'e area, tell you about something that we can damage your vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be covered by warranty, andit could be costly. your But the notice will tell what to do to help avoid the you darnage. These mean there is something that could damage your vehicle, When you read other manuals, you rnight CAUTION see and NOTICE warnings in differefit colors or different in words. You'll also see warning labelson your vehicle.They use the same words, CAUTIONor NOTICE. 1v Vehicle Symbols These are some of the symbols you may find onyour vehicle. For example, these symbols me used on an original battery: CAUTION POSSIBLE INJURY PROTECT EYES BY SHIELDING CAUSTIC BAllERY ACID COULD CAUSE BURNS AVOID SPARKS OR FLAMES A These symbols are important for you and yorr passengers whenever your vehicle is driven: These symbols have to do with your lights: These symbols are on some of your controls: These symbols are used on warning and indicator lights: Here are some other symbols you may see: DOOR LOCK UNLOCK TURN SIGNALS e pf WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER ENGINE COOLANT TEMP k -rd - FUSE LIGHTER m PARKING LAMPS FASTEN SEAT BELTS BRAKE () 0 HORN )tr SPEAKER DAYTIME * RUNNING ' ' LAMPS * 0 WINDOW DEFOGGER ENGINE OIL PRESSURE VENTILATING FAN FUEL b i' l V FLAME EXPLODE BAllERY Op AIR BAG p \ FOG LAMPS $0 ANTI-LOCK BRAKES (e) NOTES . . vi Section 1 Seats andRestraint Systems Here you'll find information about the seats in your Pontiac and how use your safety belts properly. to You can also learn about some things you should do with not air bags and safety belts. Seats and Seat Controls This section tells you about the seats how to adjust -them -- and also about reclining seatbacksand head restraints. Manual Seats A CAUTION: I I Move the control lever under the front the seat to of unlock it. Slide the seat to where you want it. Then release the lever and try move theseat with your to body, to makesure the seatis locked into place. You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to adjust a manual driver's seat while vehicle is the moving. The sudden movement could startle and confuLseyou, or make you push a pedal when you don't wantto. Adjust the driver's seat only when the vehicle isnot moving. 1-1 Manual Lumbar Support (Option). Power Seat Controls (Option) Turn the knob on the right front the driver's seat of or cushion clo'ckwise counterclockwise to adjust support for the lower back. To adjust the power seat some models: on FRONT CONTROL (A): Raise thefront of the seatby hblding the switch up. Lower the front the seat by of holding the switch down. 1-2 CENTER CONTROL(B): Move the seat forward or back by holding the control the front or back. to Move the seat higher by holding the control Lower up. the seat by holding the control down. Reclining Front Seatbacks REAR CONTROL (C): Raise the rearof the seatby holding the switch up. Lower the rearof the seat by holding the switch down. To adjust the seatback, the lever onthe outer side lift of the seat and move the seatback where you want it. Release the lever to lock the seatback. Pullon the up lever and the seat will go an upright position. to I I But don't have a seatbackreclined if your vehicle is moving. Sitting ina reclined position when your vehicle is in motion can be dangerous. Even you buckle if up, your safety belts can't their job when do you're reclined like this. The shoulder belt can't do its job because it won't be.against your body. Instead, it will be in front of you. In a `crashyou could go into it, receiving neck OF other injuries. The lap belt can't do its job either. In a crash the belt c&ld go up over your abdomen. The belt forces wouldl be there, notat your .pelvicbones. This could' cause seri'ous internal injuries. For proper protectionwhen the vehicle is in motion, have theseatback upright. Then sitwell back in the seatand wear your safety belt properly. ~. . 1-4 Head Restraints Head restraints are fixed some modelsand adjustable on on others. Slidean adjustable head restraint or down up so that the top the restraint is closest the topof of to your ears. This position reduces the chance a neck of injury in a crash. On some models, the head restraints tilt forward and rearward also. ., . . .. .. $ , , ' A Seatback Latches (2-Door Models) ' . -.._ '. .% i 1 . ~. ... , i. 3 . ''- ..'. The front seatback folds forward to let people get into the back seat. To fold a front seat forward, the seatback latch. lift When you return the seatback to its original position, the seatback will lock. 1-5 Easy Entry Seat (2-Door Models) Rear Seats I . > Folding the Rear Seat (Option) , ~~ ?L .- Q: 11an easy entry rlgnrrronr seat isn't locked, it can move. In a sudden stop or crash, the person sitting there could be injured. After you've used it, be sure to push rearwa`rd on an easy entry seat to be sure it is locked. The right front seat of your vehicle makes easy to get it i and out of the rear seat. n Tilt the right front seatback Completely forward and whole seat will slide forward. Move theright front seatback to its original position after someone gets into the rear seat area. Then move the seat rearward untilit locks. Tilt the seatback completely forward againto get out. TOopen, pull forward on the seat tab. To close, push the seatback to its original. position. up Push the seatback completely against the back plate up to ensure that thelatch will, hook. 1-6 Safety Belts: They're for Everyone This part of the manual tells you how to use safety b'elts properly, It also tells you some things you should do not with safety belts. And it explains the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS), or air bag system. Your vehicle has a light that comes on as a reminderto buckle up. (See "Safety Belt Reminder Light" in the Index.) - - A CAUTION: Don't let anyone ride where he she can'twear or a safety belt properly. If you are in a crash and you're not wearing safety belt, your injuries a can be much worse. You can hit thingsinside the vehicle or be ejected from it. You can be seriously injured orkilled. In thesame crash,you might not be if you are buckled up. Always fasten your safety belt, and check that your passengers' belts are fastened properly too. In most states and Canadian provinces, the law to says wear safety belts. Here's why: work. They You never knowif you'll be in a crash. If you dohave a crash, you don't know if it will be a bad one. A few crashes aremild, and some crashes can be so serious thateven buckled up a person wouldn't survive. But most crashesare in between. In many of them, people who buckle upcan survive and sometimes walk away. Without belts they could have been badly hurt or killed. After more than years of safety beltsin vehicles, 25 the facts are clear. In most crashes bucklingdoes up matter ... a lot! 1-7 Why Safety Belts Work When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as it goes. Put someoneon it. 1-8 Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle. rider The doesn't stop. The person keeps going until stoppedby something. In a real vehicle,it could be the windshield... 1-9 L or the instrument panel ... or the safety belts! you With safety belts, slow down as the vehicle does. You get more time to stop. stop over more distance, You and your strongest bones take the forces. That's why good sense. safety belts make such 1-10 Here Are Questions Many People Ask Aboutsafety Belts -- and the Answers Won't Ibe trapped in the vehicle after an accident'ifI'm wearing a safety belt? IfI'm a good driver,and I neverdrivefarfrom home, why should I wear safety belts? A: A: You could be -- whether you're wearing a safety belt or not. But you can unbuckle a safety belt, even if you're upside down. And your chance of being conscious during and after accident, so an you can unbuckle and get out, much greater if is you are belted. You may be an excellent driver, if you're in an but accident -- even one that isn't your fault you and -your passengerscan be hurt. Being a good driver doesn't protect you from things beyond your control, such as bad drivers. 25 m of Most accidents occur within miles (40 k ) home. And the greatest number serious injuries of and deaths occur at speeds of less than40 mph (65h/h). ~ Q.: If my vehicle A: has air bags, why should I have to wear safety belts? Safety belts are everyone. for Air bags are in many vehicles. today and be in will most of them in the future. But they are so supplemental systems only; they work with safety belts--. not instead of them. Every air bag system ever offered sale has required the use for of safety belts. Even you're in a vehicle that air if has bags, you still have buckle up to get the most to protection. That'strue not only in frontal collisions, but especially in side and other collisions. 1-11 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly Adults This part is only for people of adult size. Be aware that there specid things to know about are safety beltsand children. And thereare different d e s for smaller children and babies. a child willbe riding If in your Pontiac, see the part of this manual called "Childrin.'' Followthose rules for everyone's protection. First, you'll wantto know which restrakt systems your , vehicle has. We'll start w t the driver position. ih ' Driver Position This part describes the drives's restraint system. Lap-Shoulder Belt The driver hasa lap-shoulder belt. Here's how to wear it properly. 1. Close and lock the door. 2. Adjust the seat (to see how, see "Seats"in the Index) so you can sit up straight. 3. Pick up thelatch plate and pull the belt across you. Don't let it get twisted. 4. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks. , .('. 1-12