Pontiac 1998 Grand Am User manual

own
'-' ,,

The 1998 Pontiac Grand Am Owner’s Manual
1-1
2-1
3-1
4-1
5-1
6- 1
7-1
8- 1
Seats and Restraint Systems
This section tellsyou how to use your seats and safety belts properly. It also explains the “SRS” system.
Features and Controls
This section explains how to start and operate your vehicle.
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
This section tells you how to adjust the ventilation and comfort controls and how to operate your audio system.
Your Driving and the Road
Here you’ll find helpful information and tips about the road and how to drive under different conditions.
Problems on the Road
This section tells what to do if you have a problem while driving, such as aflat tire or overheated engine, etc.
Service and Appearance Care
Here the manual tells you how to keep your vehicle running properly and looking good.
Maintenance Schedule
This section tells you when to perform vehicle maintenance and what fluids and lubricants to use.
Customer Assistance Information
This section tells you how to contact Pontiac for assistance and how to get service and owner publications.
It also givesyou information on “Reporting Safety Defects” on page
8-10.
9-1 Index
Here’s an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual. You can useit to quickly find
something you wantto read.
i

GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem,
PONTIAC, the PONTIAC Emblem and the name
GRAND AM 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 in the
product after that time without further notice. For
vehicles first soldin Canada, substitute the name
“General Motors
of Canada Limited” for Pontiac
Division whenever
it appears in this manual.
Please keep this manualin your vehicle,
so it will be
there
if you ever needit when you’re on the road. If you
sell the vehicle, please leave this manualin it so the new
owner can use it.
Litho
in U.S.A.
Part No. 10296282 A First Edition
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 propriCtaires canadiens: Vous pouvez vous
procurer un exemplairedece guide enfraqaischez
votre concessionaire
ou au:
DGN Marketing Services Ltd.
1500 Bonhill Rd.
Mississauga, Ontario
L5T IC7
@Copyright General Motors Corporation
1997
AllRights Reserved

How to Use this Manual
Many people read their owner’s manualfrombeginning
to endwhen theyfirstreceive theirnew vehicle.If you
do
this, it will help you learn about the features and
controlsforyour vehicle. In
this manual, you’ll find
that pictures and words work together to explain
things quickly.
Index
A good place to lookforwhat you need is the Index in
back of the manual. It’s an alphabeticallist
of what’s in
the manual, andthepage number where you’ll find it.
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.
1 A CAUTION:
These mean thereis something that could hurt
you or otherpeople. -1
In the caution area,we tell you what the hazard is. Then
we tell you whatto do tohelp avoid or reduce 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 throughit 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 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 muals,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.
iv

Vehicle Symbols
These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle.
For example,
these symbols
are used on an
originalbattery:
POSSIBLE A
CAUTION
INJURY
PROTECT
EYES BY
SHIELDING
CAUSTlC
ACID COULD x
BAllERY
CAUSE
.~ .. ~
BURNS
AVOID
SPARKS OR
FLAMES
FLAME
EXPLODE
BAllERY
These symbols
are important
for you and
your passengers
whenever your
vehicle is
driven:
FASTEN
SEAT
BELTS
POWER
WINDOW
These symbols
have
to do with
your lamps:
SIGNALS 6
TURN
PARKING PC
LAMPS
FOGLAMPS # 0
These symbols
are on some
of
your controls:
WINDSHIELD
DEFROSTER
WINDOW
DEFOGGER
VENTILATING
These symbols
are used on
warning and
indicatorlights:
COOLANT -
TEMP -
CHARGING I-1
BATTERY
SYSTEM
BRAKE (a)
COOLANT a
ENGINEOIL w,
PRESSURE
ANTI-LOCK (e)
BRAKES
Here are some
other symbols
you
may see:
FUSE
LIGHTER n
HORN )tr
SPEAKER
b
FUEL p3
V

b% NOTES
vi

Section 1 SeatsandRestraintSystems
Here you’ll find information about the seats in your Pontiacand howto use your safety belts properly.You can also
learn about
some things you should not do with air bags and safety belts.
1-2
1-7
1-12
1-13
1-13
1-20
1-21
1-21
1-28
Seats andSeatControls
Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone
Here Are Questions Many People
Ask About
Safety Belts
-- and the Answers
How toWear Safety Belts Properly
Driver Position
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy
Right Front Passenger Position
Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)
Rear SeatPassengers
1-3 1
1-33
1-35
1-38
1-49
1-52
1-52
1-52
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children
and SmallAdults
Center Passenger Position
Children
Child Restraints
Larger Children
Safety Belt Extender
CheckingYour Restraint Systems
Replacing Restraint System
Parts
After a Crash
1-1

Seats and Seat Controls
This section tells you about the seats -- how to adjust
them,
and also about reclining front seatbacks and
head restraints.
Manual Seats
A CAUTION: I
I
1
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
-
I
confuse you, or make you push a pedal when you
don’t want to. Adjust the driver’s seat only when
Move the control lever under the front of the seat to
unlock it. Slide the ‘seat to whereyou want it. Then
thevehicle is notmoving. releasethelever and try tomovetheseatwithyour
I body, to make sure the seat is locked into place.
1-2

Manual Lumbar Support (If Equipped) Power Seat Controls (If Equipped)
Turntheknob on theright frontof thedriver’sseat To adjustthepowerseat on somemodels:
lower back.
cushiontotherightortothe lefttoadjustsupportforthe
FRONT CONTROL (A): the front of the seat by
holding the switch up. Lower thefrontof the seat
by
holding the switch down.
CENTER CONTROL (B): Move the seat forward or
back by holding the control to the frontorback.
Move
the seat higher by holding the con^^ up. Lower
the seatby holding the control down.
1-3