Chevrolet Pontiac Wave 2006 User manual

Seats and Restraint Systems ........................... 1-1
Front Seats ............................................... 1-2
Rear Seats ............................................... 1-7
Safety Belts ............................................. 1-12
Child Restraints ....................................... 1-29
Airbag System ......................................... 1-56
Restraint System Check ............................ 1-69
Features and Controls ..................................... 2-1
Keys ........................................................ 2-2
Doors and Locks ....................................... 2-7
Windows ................................................. 2-12
Theft-Deterrent Systems ............................ 2-14
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle ........... 2-17
Mirrors .................................................... 2-32
Storage Areas ......................................... 2-34
Sunroof .................................................. 2-35
Instrument Panel ............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview .......................... 3-4
Climate Controls ...................................... 3-18
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators ........ 3-23
Secondary Information Center (SIC) ............ 3-31
Audio System(s) ....................................... 3-39
Driving Your Vehicle ....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle ..... 4-2
Towing ................................................... 4-33
Service and Appearance Care .......................... 5-1
Service ..................................................... 5-3
Fuel ......................................................... 5-5
Checking Things Under the Hood ............... 5-10
Headlamp Aiming ..................................... 5-41
Bulb Replacement .................................... 5-41
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement ......... 5-46
Tires ...................................................... 5-47
Appearance Care ..................................... 5-70
Vehicle Identification ................................. 5-79
Electrical System ...................................... 5-80
Capacities and Specifications ..................... 5-87
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts ...... 5-88
Maintenance Schedule ..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule ................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance and Information .............. 7-1
Customer Assistance and Information ........... 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects ........................... 7-13
Index .................................................................1
2006 Pontiac Wave Owner Manual M

GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem, PONTIAC,
and the PONTIAC Emblem are registered trademarks;
and the name WAVE is a trademark 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 Motor Division whenever
it appears in this manual.
Keep this manual in the vehicle, so it will be there if it is
needed while you are on the road. If the vehicle is
sold, leave this manual in the vehicle.
Canadian Owners
A French language copy of this manual can be obtained
from your dealer or from:
Helm, Incorporated
P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207
How to Use This Manual
Many people read the owner manual from beginning to
end when they first receive their new vehicle. If this
is done, it can help you learn about the features
and controls for the vehicle. Pictures and words work
together in the owner manual to explain things.
Index
A good place to quickly locate information about the
vehicle is the Index in the back of the manual. It is
an alphabetical list of what is in the manual and
the page number where it can be found.
Litho in U.S.A.
Part No. 06WAVE A First Printing
©
2005 General Motors Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
ii

Safety Warnings and Symbols
There are a number of safety cautions in this book.
We use a box and the word CAUTION to tell about
things that could hurt you if you were to ignore
the warning.
{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 do not,
you or others could be hurt.
You will also find a circle
with a slash through it in
this book. This safety
symbol means “Do Not,”
“Do Not do this” or “Do Not
let this happen.”
iii

Vehicle Damage Warnings
Also, in this manual you will find these notices:
Notice: These mean there is something that could
damage your vehicle.
A notice tells about something that can damage the
vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be covered
by your vehicle’s warranty, and it could be costly.
But the notice will tell 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.
There are also warning labels on the vehicle.
They use the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE.
Vehicle Symbols
The vehicle has components and labels that use
symbols instead of text. Symbols are shown along with
the text describing the operation or information
relating to a specific component, control, message,
gage, or indicator.
If you need help figuring out a specific name of a
component, gage, or indicator, reference the
following topics:
•Seats and Restraint Systems in Section 1
•Features and Controls in Section 2
•Instrument Panel Overview in Section 3
•Climate Controls in Section 3
•Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators in Section 3
•Audio System(s) in Section 3
•Engine Compartment Overview in Section 5
iv

These are some examples of symbols that may be found on the vehicle:
v

✍NOTES
vi

Front Seats ......................................................1-2
Manual Seats ................................................1-2
Driver Seat Height Adjuster ..............................1-3
Reclining Seatbacks ........................................1-3
Head Restraints .............................................1-6
Rear Seats .......................................................1-7
Rear Seat Operation (Sedan) ...........................1-7
Rear Seat Operation (Hatchback) .....................1-9
Safety Belts ...................................................1-12
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone ................1-12
Questions and Answers About Safety Belts ......1-16
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly .................1-17
Driver Position ..............................................1-17
Shoulder Belt Height Adjustment .....................1-23
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy ..................1-24
Right Front Passenger Position .......................1-24
Rear Seat Passengers ..................................1-24
Center Rear Passenger Position .....................1-28
Safety Belt Pretensioners ...............................1-28
Safety Belt Extender .....................................1-28
Child Restraints .............................................1-29
Older Children ..............................................1-29
Infants and Young Children ............................1-32
Child Restraint Systems .................................1-35
Where to Put the Restraint .............................1-40
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children
(LATCH) ..................................................1-42
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat
Position ...................................................1-49
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front
Seat Position ............................................1-51
Airbag System ...............................................1-56
Where Are the Airbags? ................................1-58
When Should an Airbag Inflate? .....................1-60
What Makes an Airbag Inflate? .......................1-62
How Does an Airbag Restrain? .......................1-62
What Will You See After an Airbag Inflates? .....1-62
Passenger Sensing System ............................1-64
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle ...........1-68
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle ....................................................1-68
Restraint System Check ..................................1-69
Checking the Restraint Systems ......................1-69
Replacing Restraint System Parts
After a Crash ............................................1-70
Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems
1-1

Front Seats
Manual 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 do not want to. Adjust the driver’s
seat only when the vehicle is not moving.
Pull up and hold the bar
located under the front of
the seat to unlock it.
Slide the seat to where you want it and release the bar.
Then try to move the seat with your body, to make
sure the seat is locked into place.
1-2

Driver Seat Height Adjuster
To adjust the height of the
driver’s seat cushion,
turn the knob located on
the outboard side of
the seat cushion.
Turn the knob forward to raise the height of the seat
cushion and rearward to lower it.
Reclining Seatbacks
{CAUTION:
If the seatback is not locked, it could move
forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could
cause injury to the person sitting there.
Always push and pull on the seatback to be
sure it is locked.
Your seats have manual reclining seatbacks. The lever
used to operate them is located on the outboard side
of the seats.
1-3

To recline the seatback, do the following:
1. Lift the recline lever.
2. Move the seatback to the desired position, then
release the lever to lock the seatback in place.
3. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it
is locked.
To return the seatback to an upright position, do the
following:
1. Lift the lever fully without applying pressure to the
seatback and the seatback will return to the upright
position.
{CAUTION:
If the seatback is not locked, it could move
forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could
cause injury to the person sitting there.
Always push and pull on the seatback to be
sure it is locked.
2. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it
is locked.
1-4

{CAUTION:
Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle
is in motion can be dangerous. Even if you
buckle up, your safety belts cannot do their
job when you are reclined like this.
The shoulder belt cannot do its job because it
will not 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 cannot 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.
Do not have a seatback reclined if your vehicle is moving.
1-5

Head Restraints
Adjust your head restraint so that the top of the restraint
is closest to the top of your head. This position
reduces the chances of a neck injury in a crash.
Pull the head restraint up to raise it.
Push the release button in and press down on the head
restraint to lower it.
To remove the head restraint, pull it all the way up.
Then push the release button in and lift the head
restraint from the guide sleeve.
Replace the head restraint and reset it in the original
position before driving.
The front seat head restraints also tilt forward. To tilt the
head restraint, first put it in the upright position by tilting it
forward fully and releasing it. Then slowly move the head
restraint forward until it is in the desired position.
The rear seats have head restraints that are adjustable
up and down, but they do not tilt.
1-6

Rear Seats
Rear Seat Operation (Sedan)
Folding the Seatback
The rear seatbacks can be folded down to increase
cargo space.
To fold down the seatback, do the following:
1. Remove the safety belt strap from the safety belt
guide by pulling it through the slot.
2. Push the head restraints all the way down.
3. Pull up the release knob located on top of the rear
seatback.
4. Fold the rear seatback forward and down.
1-7

To return the seatback to the upright position, do the
following:
1. Hook the safety belts into the retaining clips.
2. Lift the seatback up and push it to its original
position.
3. Unhook the safety belts from the retaining clips.
{CAUTION:
If the seatback is not locked, it could move
forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could
cause injury to the person sitting there.
Always push and pull on the seatback to be
sure it is locked.
4. Push down and rearward firmly on the top of the
seatback until it latches securely in the fully
upright position.
{CAUTION:
A safety belt that is improperly routed, not
properly attached, or twisted will not provide
the protection needed in a crash. The person
wearing the belt could be seriously injured.
After raising the rear seatback, always check
to be sure that the safety belts are properly
routed and attached, and are not twisted.
5. Insert the safety belt strap back into the safety belt
guide.
1-8

Rear Seat Operation (Hatchback)
Folding the Rear Seats
The rear seats can be folded to increase cargo space.
To fold the rear seats, do the following:
1. Lower the head restraints completely.
2. Detach the center safety belt from the mini buckle
by pressing the black release button on the buckle.
3. Pull up the release knob, located on the top of the
seatback, and fold the seatback forward and down.
4. Move the safety belt buckles and safety belt in the
center seating position out of the space between
the seatback and the seat cushion so they are not in
the way as the seat is being folded.
5. Pull the release handles on the rear side of the seat
cushion to unlock the seat cushion.
6. Lift the seat cushion up and flip it forward.
1-9

7. Clip the hook to the front seat head restraint to
keep the rear seat secure.
8. When the rear seat is folded, store the safety belt
buckles and center safety belt in the storage area
under the floor mat.
Unfolding the Seats
To return the rear seats to the normal seating position,
do the following:
1. Unclip the hook from the front seat head restraint.
2. Remove the safety belt buckles and center seat
safety belt from the storage area.
Notice: Damage to the safety belt buckle or rear
seat locking mechanism can occur if the safety belt
and buckles are pinched under the rear seat
cushion. Do not place the safety belt and buckles
on the floor under the rear seat cushion when
the rear seat is put back to the sitting position.
3. Push the seat cushion down to its original position
until it latches securely. Try to pull up on the seat to
make sure it is locked in place.
1-10

4. Hook the safety belts in the outboard seating
positions into the retaining clips.
{CAUTION:
A safety belt that is improperly routed, not
properly attached, or twisted will not provide
the protection needed in a crash. The person
wearing the belt could be seriously injured.
After raising the rear seatback, always check
to be sure that the safety belts are properly
routed and attached, and are not twisted.
5. Lift the seatback up and push it back to its original
latched position.
6. Unhook the safety belts in the outboard seating
positions from the retaining clips.
7. Return the safety belt buckles and the center seat
safety belt to their original position between the rear
seatback and the seat cushion. Make sure the
straps of the safety belt and buckles are not twisted.
8. Reattach the center seat safety belt to the mini
buckle. See Center Rear Passenger Position on
page 1-28.
{CAUTION:
If the seatback is not locked, it could move
forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could
cause injury to the person sitting there. Always
push and pull on the seatback to be sure it is
locked.
9. Push down and rearward firmly on the top of the
seatback until it latches securely in the fully
upright position.
1-11

Safety Belts
Safety Belts: They Are 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.
{CAUTION:
Do not let anyone ride where he or she cannot
wear a safety belt properly. If you are in a
crash and you are 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.
{CAUTION:
It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo
area, inside or outside of a vehicle. In a
collision, people riding in these areas are more
likely to be seriously injured or killed. Do not
allow people to ride in any area of your vehicle
that is not equipped with seats and safety
belts. Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a
seat and using a safety belt properly.
Your vehicle has a light
that comes on as a
reminder to buckle up.
See Safety Belt Reminder
Light on page 3-32.
1-12

In most states and in all Canadian provinces, the law
says to wear safety belts. Here’s why: They work.
You never know if you’ll be in a crash. If you do have a
crash, you don’t know if it will be a bad one.
A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be so
serious that even buckled up, a person wouldn’t survive.
But most crashes are in between. In many of them,
people who buckle up can survive and sometimes walk
away. Without belts they could have been badly hurt
or killed.
After more than 30 years of safety belts in vehicles,
the facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up
does matter... a lot!
Why Safety Belts Work
When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as it goes.
Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose it’s just a seat on
wheels.
1-13

Put someone on it. Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle. The rider
doesn’t stop.
1-14