User manual PONTIAC SUNFIRE 2001

Every 2001 Sunfire under warranty is backed with the following services: 1-800-762-3743 (For vehicles purchased in Canada, call 1-800-268-6800) that provides in an emergency: Courtesy Transportation Free lockout assistance Free dead-battery assistance Free out-of-fuel assistance Free flat-tire change Emergency towing 2001 Pontiac Sunfire Owner's Manual Litho in U.S.A. Part Number 22628180 A First Edition © Copyright General Motors Corporation 2000 All Rights Reserved i Table of Contents Seats and Restraint Systems Section 1 Seats and Seat Controls Safety Belts Air Bag Systems Restraint Systems for Children Features and Controls Section 2 Windows Keys and Door Locks Remote Keyless Entry System (If Equipped) Trunk Release (If Equipped) Automatic Transaxle (If Equipped) Manual Transaxle (If Equipped) Parking Brake Tilt Wheel (If Equipped) Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever Windshield Wipers Cruise Control (If Equipped) Exterior and Interior Lamps Mirrors Storage Compartments Convenience Net (If Equipped) Sunroof (If Equipped) Instrument Panel, Warning Lights and Gages Personalization Feature ii Table of Contents (cont'd) Comfort Controls and Audio Systems Section 3 Heating and Air Conditioning Setting the Radio Clock Radio/Cassette Player/CD Player Radio Theft-Deterrent Feature Your Driving and the Road Section 4 Defensive Driving Drunken Driving Control of a Vehicle Braking Traction Control System Steering Driving Tips for Various Road Conditions Recreational Vehicle Towing Loading Your Vehicle Towing a Trailer Problems on the Road Section 5 Hazard Warning Flashers Jump Starting Towing Your Vehicle Engine Overheating Changing a Flat Tire If You're Stuck iii Table of Contents (cont'd) Service and Appearance Care Section 6 Fuel Checking Fluids and Lubricants Engine Air Cleaner/Filter Brakes Bulb Replacement Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement Tires and Wheels Appearance Care Electrical System/Fuses and Circuit Breakers Capacities and Specifications Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts Maintenance Schedule Section 7 Scheduled Maintenance Owner Checks and Services Periodic Maintenance Inspections Recommended Fluids and Lubricants Maintenance Records iv Table of Contents (cont'd) Customer Assistance Information Section 8 Customer Satisfaction Procedures Customer Assistance Offices Roadside Assistance and Courtesy Transportation Warranty Information (See Warranty Manual) Reporting Safety Defects on page 8-10 Service Publications Index Section 9 In the Index you will find an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual. You can use it to quickly find something you want to read. Please refer to the last page of this manual for your Service Station Guide v We support voluntary technician certification. GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem, PONTIAC, the PONTIAC Emblem and the name SUNFIRE are registered trademarks of General Motors Corporation. This manual includes the latest information at the time it was printed. We reserve the right to make changes after that time without further notice. For vehicles first sold in Canada, substitute the name "General Motors of Canada Limited" for Pontiac Division whenever it appears in this manual. Please keep this manual in your vehicle, so it will be there if you ever need it when you're on the road. If you sell the vehicle, please leave this manual in it so the new owner can use it. For Canadian Owners Who Prefer a French Language Manual: Aux propriétaires canadiens: Vous pouvez vous procurer un exemplaire de ce guide en français chez votre concessionaire ou au: Helm, Incorporated P.O. Box 07130 Detroit, MI 48207 vi How to Use this Manual Many people read their owner's manual from beginning to end when they first receive their new vehicle. If you 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. CAUTION: These mean there is something that could hurt you or other people. In the caution area, we tell you what the hazard is. Then we tell you what to do to help avoid or reduce the hazard. Please read these cautions. If you don't, you or others could be hurt. Safety Warnings and Symbols You will find a number of safety cautions in this book. We use a box and the word CAUTION to tell you about things that could hurt you if you were to ignore the warning. You will also find a circle with a slash through it in this book. This safety symbol means "Don't," "Don't do this" or "Don't let this happen." vii Vehicle Damage Warnings Also, in this book you will find these notices: NOTICE: These mean there is something that could damage your vehicle. In the notice area, we tell you about something that can damage your vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be covered by your warranty, and it could be costly. But the notice will tell you what to do to help avoid the damage. When you read other manuals, you might see CAUTION and NOTICE warnings in different colors or in different words. You'll also see warning labels on your vehicle. They use the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE. viii Vehicle Symbols These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle. Also see "Warning Lights and Gages" in the Index. For example, these symbols are used on an original battery: CAUTION POSSIBLE INJURY PROTECT EYES BY SHIELDING CAUSTIC BATTERY ACID COULD CAUSE BURNS AVOID SPARKS OR FLAMES SPARK OR FLAME COULD EXPLODE BATTERY These symbols are important for you and your passengers whenever your vehicle is driven: CHILD RESTRAINT TOP STRAP ANCHOR These symbols have to do with your lamps: MASTER LIGHTING SWITCH These symbols are on some of your controls: WINDSHIELD WIPER These symbols are used on warning and indicator lights: Here are some other symbols you may see: ENGINE COOLANT TEMP WINDSHIELD WASHER BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM FUSE TURN SIGNALS LIGHTER DOOR LOCK UNLOCK PARKING LAMPS WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER HORN BRAKE FASTEN SEAT BELTS HAZARD WARNING FLASHER POWER WINDOW DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER COOLANT FUEL ENGINE OIL PRESSURE VENTILATING FAN AIR BAG FOG LAMPS ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ix Service Station Guide Fuel For a More Detailed Look at What's Under the Hood See Section 6 2.2L Engine Oil Dipstick Cooling System See Section 5 Use unleaded only. See Section 6 for octane ratings. Spare Tire Pressure See Section 5 Hood Release See Section 6 Tire Pressure Battery See Section 6 See Section 6 Windshield Washer Fluid See Section 6 2.4L Engine Oil Dipstick Oil Viscosity Engine Oil See Section 6 Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems Here you'll find information about the seats in your vehicle and how to use your safety belts properly. You can also learn about some things you should not do with air bags and safety belts. 1-2 1-8 1-13 1-14 1-14 1-21 1-22 1-22 1-28 Seats and Seat Controls Safety Belts: They're for Everyone Here Are Questions Many People Ask About Safety Belts -- and the Answers How to Wear Safety Belts Properly Driver Position Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy Right Front Passenger Position Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Rear Seat Passengers 1-32 1-34 1-36 1-40 1-51 1-54 1-54 1-54 Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children and Small Adults Center Passenger Position Children Restraint Systems for Children Older Children Safety Belt Extender Checking Your Restraint Systems Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash 1- 1-1 Seats and Seat Controls This section tells you about the seats -- how to adjust them -- and also about reclining seatbacks and head restraints. Manual Front Seats CAUTION: You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to adjust a manual driver's seat while the vehicle is moving. The sudden movement could startle and confuse you, or make you push a pedal when you don't want to. Adjust the driver's seat only when the vehicle is not moving. Lift the lever located under the driver's seat to unlock it. Slide the seat to where you want it. Then release the lever and try to move the seat with your body, to make sure the seat is locked into place. Your vehicle will be equipped with one of the following passenger seat adjusters. 1-2 If your vehicle is not equipped with easy entry seats, your passenger seat adjuster looks like this. Slide the lever located under the passenger's seat to the right to unlock it. Slide the seat to where you want it and release the lever. Then try to move the seat with your body, to make sure the seat is locked into place. If your vehicle is equipped with easy entry seats, this is your front passenger seat adjuster. Pull up on the lever located at the front of the seat to unlock it. Slide the seat to a comfortable position and release the lever. Then try to move the seat with your body, to make sure the seat is locked into place. 1-3 Reclining Front Seatbacks To adjust the seatback, lift the lever located on the outboard side of the seat and move the seatback to where you want it. Release the lever and push rearward on the seatback to make sure it is locked. Pull up on the lever and the seatback will go to an upright position. But don't have a seatback reclined if your vehicle is moving. 1-4 Head Restraints CAUTION: Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle is in motion can be dangerous. Even if you buckle up, your safety belts can't do their job when 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 crash you could go into it, receiving neck or other injuries. The lap belt can't do its job either. In a crash the belt could go up over your abdomen. The belt forces would be there, not at your pelvic bones. This could cause serious internal injuries. For proper protection when the vehicle is in motion, have the seatback upright. Then sit well back in the seat and wear your safety belt properly. Slide the head restraint up or down so that the top of the restraint is closest to the top of your ears. This position reduces the chance of a neck injury in a crash. 1-5 Seatback Latches (2-Door Models) The front seatback folds forward to let people get into the back seat. When you return the seatback to its original position, make sure the seatback is locked. The latch must be down for the seat to work properly. CAUTION: If the seatback isn't locked, it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always press rearward on the seatback to be sure it is locked. To fold a front seatback forward, lift the latch located on the lower backside of the seatback. Then the seatback will fold forward. 1-6 Easy Entry Seat (If Equipped) Rear Seats Folding the Rear Seat CAUTION: If an easy entry right front 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 rearward on an easy entry seat to be sure it is locked. The right front seat of some two-door vehicles makes it easy to get in and out of the rear seat. 1. Tilt the right front seatback completely forward and the whole seat will slide forward. 2. Move the right front seatback to its original position after someone gets into the rear seat area. Then move the seat rearward until it locks. 3. Tilt the seatback completely forward again to get out. To open the fold-down rear seat, pull forward on the seat tab to unlatch the seatback. 1-7 Safety Belts: They're for Everyone This part of the manual tells you how to use safety belts properly. It also tells you some things you should not do with safety belts. And it explains the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS), or air bag system. CAUTION: Don't let anyone ride where he or she can't wear a safety belt properly. If you are in a crash and you're not wearing a safety belt, your injuries can be much worse. You can hit things inside the vehicle or be ejected from it. You can be seriously injured or killed. In the same 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. To close the seat, push the seatback up to its original position. Check to ensure the seatback is in its original position and securely latched by pulling forward on the top of the seatback. Move any objects in the trunk compartment. 1-8