Pontiac 1996 Grand Am User manual

The 1996 Pontiac Grand Am Owner’s Manual
SeatsandRestraintSystems ............................................................. 1-1
FeaturesandControls .................................................................. 2-1
ComfortControlsandAudioSystems ..................................................... 3-1
This section tellsyou how to use your seats and safety belts properly.It also explains the “SRS” system.
This section explains how to start and operate your Pontiac.
This section tells you how to adjust the ventilation
and comfortconkols and how to operate your
audio system.
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
Your Driving and the Road ............................................................... 4-1
ProblemsontheRoad .................................................................. 5-1
’ overheatedengine,etc.
Service and Appearance Care ............................................................ 6-1
Maintenanceschedule.................................................... .............. 7-1 , ., ,(
CustomerAssistanceInformation ........................................................ 8-1
Here the manual tells you how to keep your Pontiac running properly and looking good.
This section tellsyou when
to perform vehicle maintenance and what fluids and lubricantsto use.
This section tellsyou 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 listing of almost every subject in this manual. You can use it to quickly find
something you want to read.
Index ................................................................................ 9-1
i

GENERAL MOTORS, GM and the GM Emblem,
PONTIAC,the PONTIAC Emblem
and the name
@and Am are registeredtrademarks of General
Motors Corporation.
This
manual includesthe latestinfomation at the time it
was printed.We reserve the right to make changes in the
product after
that time without further notice. For
vehicles first sold in Canada,substitutethe name
“General Motorsof Canada Limited”fur Pontiac
Division whenever
it appears inthis manual.
Pleasekeepthis manual in yourPontiac, so it will be
there
if you everneed it when you’re on theroad. If you
sell the vehicle, pleaseleavethis manualin it so the new
owner can use it.
-.
‘X
Litho in U.S.A.
Part No. 102731.97 B First Edition
7-
FASij CERTIFIED
!.
WE SUPPORT
VOLUNTARY TECHNICIAN
CERTIFICATION THROUGH
National Institute for
AUTOMOTIVE
SERVICE
EXCELLENCE
We support voluntary
technician certification.
For Canadian Owners Who Prefer a
French Language Manual:
Aux propriktaires canadiens: Vous pouvez vous
procurer un exemplaire de ce guide en frangaischez
votre concessionaireou
au:
DGN Marketing ServicesLtd.
1500 Bonhill Rd.
Mississauga,Ontario
L5T 1C7
‘Copyright GeneralMotors Corporation 1995
All RightsReserved
ii

How to Use This Manual
Many peopleread their owner’s manualfrombeginning
to endwhen they firstreceiv’e 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.
Index
’A good place tolookforswhat you need is the Indexin
the backof the manual. It’s
an alphabetical listof all
that’s in the manual, and thepagenumber where you’ll
find it.
%d;=y.”
Safety Warnings and Symbols A’’*
You will find a number of safety cautions in this book.
We use a box and the word
CAUTION to tellyou ab’out
things that could hurt you if you were to ignore the
warning.
These mean there is something that could hurt
you orother people. ’
1
In the caution area,we tell you whatthe hazard is.Then
we tell youwhat’to do to help avoidorreduce the
hazard. Please read these cautions.
If you don’t, you or
others could be hurt.
You will also find a circle
with
a slash through it in
this book. This safety
symbol means “Don’t,’’
“Don’tdo this,” or “Don’t
let this happen.”
iii

Vehicle Damage Warnings
Also, in this book you will find thes'e notices:
These mean there is something that could
damage your vehicle,
..In the notic'e area, we tell you about something thatcan
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 avoidthe
darnage.
When you read other manuals, you rnight
see CAUTION
and NOTICE warnings in differefit colors or in different
words.
You'll
also see warning labels on your vehicle.They use
the
same words, CAUTIONor NOTICE.
1v

For example,
these symbols
me used on an
originalbattery:
POSSIBLE A
CAUTION
INJURY
PROTECT
EYES BY
SHIELDING
CAUSTIC
ACID COULD
BAllERY
CAUSE
BURNS
AVOID
SPARKS OR
FLAMES
FLAME
EXPLODE
BAllERY
These symbols
are important
for you and
yorr passengers
whenever your
vehicle is
driven:
DOOR LOCK
UNLOCK
FASTEN
SEAT
BELTS
Vehicle Symbols
These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle.
Op
AIR BAG p\
These symbols
have
to do with
your lights:
SIGNALS e
TURN
PARKING pf
LAMPS
RUNNING ' ' 0
DAYTIME *
LAMPS *
FOG LAMPS $0
These symbols
are
on some of
your controls:
WINDSHIELD
DEFROSTER
WINDOW
DEFOGGER
VENTILATING
FAN
These symbols
are used on
warning and
indicatorlights:
ENGINE k
COOLANT - rd
TEMP -
BRAKE (0)
ENGINEOIL
PRESSURE
ANTI-LOCK (e)
BRAKES
Here are some
other symbols
you may
see:
FUSE
LIGHTER m
HORN )tr
SPEAKER
b
il'
FUEL
V

NOTES ..
vi

Section 1
Seats and Restraint Systems
Here you’ll find information about the seats in your
Pontiac and how
to use your safety belts properly. You
can alsolearn about some things you should not do with
air bags and safety belts.
Seats and Seat Controls
This section tells you about the seats -- how to adjust
them
-- and also about reclining seatbacks and head
restraints.
Manual Seats
I
A CAUTION:
You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to
adjust a manual driver’s seat whilethe vehicle is
moving. The sudden movement could startle and
confuLse you, or make you push a pedal when you
don’t wantto. Adjust the driver’sseatonly when
the vehicle isnot moving.
I
Move the control lever under the front of the seat to
unlock it. Slide the seat to where you want it. Then
release the lever and tryto move theseat with
your
body, to makesurethe seatis locked intoplace.
1-1

Manual Lumbar Support (Option). Power Seat Controls (Option)
Turn the knob on the right front of the driver’s seat
cushion clo’ckwise
or counterclockwise to adjust support
forthe lower back.
To adjust the power seat on some models:
FRONT CONTROL (A): Raise thefront of the seat by
hblding the switch up. Lower the front ofthe seat by
holding the switch down.
1-2

CENTER CONTROL (B): Move the seat forward or
back by holding the control
to the front or back.
Move the seathigherby holding the control
up. Lower
the seat by holding the control
down.
REAR CONTROL (C): Raisethe rearof the seat by
holding the switch up.Lowerthe rear of the seat by
holding the switch down.
Reclining Front Seatbacks
To adjust the seatback,lift the lever onthe outer side
of the seat andmove the seatback where you want it.
Release the lever to lock the seatback. Pullup onthe
lever and the seat will goto an upright position.

I
But don’t have a seatback reclined if your vehicle is
moving.
I
Sitting in a reclined position whenyour 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 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, not at your .pelvicbones.
This could’ cause seri’ousinternal injuries.
For proper protection when the vehicle is in
motion, have the seatback upright. Then sitwell
back in the seat and wear your safety belt
properly.
~. .
1-4

Head Restraints Seatback Latches
(2-Door Models)
Head restraints are fixedon some modelsand adjustable
on others. Slide
an adjustable head restraintup or down
so that the top of the restraint is closestto the top of
your ears. This position reduces the chance of a neck
injury in a crash.
On some models, the head restraints tilt forward and
rearward
also.
., .
..
$,
,' A ..
'.
-.._ '.
.-
3 ..
i . ...
1 ~.
, ''-
.% i.
. .'.
The front seatback folds forward to let people get into
the back seat.
To fold a front seat forward,lift the seatback latch.
When
you return the seatback to its original position, the
seatback will lock.
1-5

Easy Entry Seat (2-Door Models)
I
.>
Q:
11 an easy entry rlgnr rronr seat isn’t locked, it
can move. In a sudden stopor 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.
Rear Seats
Theright front seat of your vehicle makesit easyto get
in and out of the rear seat.
Tilt theright front seatbackCompletely forward and
whole seatwill slide forward.
Folding theRear Seat (Option)
, ~~ ?.L-
Move theright front seatback to its originalposition
after someone
gets into the rear seat area.Thenmove TO open, pullforward on the seattab.
the seatrearward untilit locks.
To close, push the seatback up to its original. position.
Push the seatback completely up againsttheback plate
to ensurethat thelatch will, hook.
Tilt theseatbackcompletely forward again to get
out.
1-6

Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone
This part of the manualtells you how to use safety b’elts
properly,It also tells yousomethings you shouldnot do
with safety belts.
And it explains the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS),
or
air bag system.
- -
A CAUTION:
Don’t let anyone ride where heor she can’twear
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 orkilled. In thesame crash,you might
not be
if you arebuckled up. Alwaysfasten your
safety belt, and check that your passengers’ belts
arefastened properlytoo.
Your vehicle has a light that
comes
on as a reminderto
buckle up.(See“Safety Belt
ReminderLight”in the
Index.)
In most states and 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 dohave 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 thatevenbuckled up a person wouldn’t survive.
But most crashes
are in between. In many of them,
people who buckle upcan survive and sometimes walk
away. Without belts theycouldhavebeen badly hurt
or killed.
After more than
25 years of safety belts invehicles,
the facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up does
matter
... a lot!
1-7

Why Safety Belts Work
When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as it
goes.
Put someone on it.
1-8

Getit up to speed. Then stop the vehicle.Therider
doesn’t stop. The personkeeps going until stopped
by something.
In a real vehicle,it couldbe the windshield ...
1-9

L
or the instrument panel ... or the safety belts!
With safety belts,
you slow down as the vehicle does.
You get more time to stop. You stop over more distance,
and your strongest bones take the forces.
That’s why
safety belts make such
good sense.
1-10

Here Are Questions Many People Ask IfI’m a gooddriver,and I neverdrivefarfrom
AboutsafetyBelts -- and the Answers
home, why should I wear safety belts?
A:
Q.:
A:
Won’t Ibe trapped in the vehicle after an
accident’ifI’m wearing a safety belt?
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 afteran accident, so
you can unbuckle and get out,is much greater if
you are belted.
If my vehicle has air bags, why should I have to
wear safety belts?
Air bags are in many vehicles. today and willbe in
most of them
in the future. But they are
supplemental systems only;
so they work with
safety belts --. not instead of them. Every air bag
system ever offeredfor sale has required the useof
safety belts. Evenif you’rein a vehicle thathas air
bags, you still have
to buckle up to get the most
protection. That’s
true not only in frontal collisions,
but especially in side and other collisions.
A: You may be an excellent driver,but if you’rein an
accident -- even onethat isn’t your fault -- you and
your passengers can be hurt. Being a good driver
doesn’t protect you from things beyond your
control,
such as bad drivers.
Most accidents occur within
25 miles (40 km) of
home. And the greatest number of serious injuries
and deaths occur atspeeds
of less than 40 mph
(65 h/h). ~
Safety belts arefor everyone.
1-11

How to Wear Safety Belts Properly
Adults
This part is only forpeople of adult size.
Be aware that there are specid things to know about
safety belts and children. And there are different des
for smaller children and babies. If a child will be riding
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 with the driver position.
,
Driver Position
This part describes the drives’s restraint system.
Lap-Shoulder Belt
The driver has a lap-shoulder belt. Here’s how to wearit
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 thelatchplate and pull the belt across you.
4. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.
Don’tlet it get twisted.
, .(’.
1-12