Pontiac 1998 Grand Prix User manual

A
'98
owner's manual
7.
A
9, I
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PONTIiLC
WE ARE DRIVING EXCITEMENT

The 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix Owner’s Manual
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Seats and Restraint Systems
This section tells youhow to use your seats and safety belts properly. It also explains the “SRS” system.
Features and Controls
This section explainshow to start and operate your vehicle.
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
This section tells youhow 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 andhow to drive under different conditions.
Problems on the Road
This section tells what to doif you have a problem whiledriving, such as a flat tire or overheated engine, etc.
Service and Appearance Care
Here the manual tells youhow to keep your vehicle running properly and looking good.
Maintenance Schedule
This section tells youwhen to perform vehicle maintenance and what fluids and lubricants to use.
Customer Assistance Information
This section tellsyou how to contact Pontiacfor assistance andhow to get service and owner publications.
It also givesyou information on “Reporting Safety Defects” on page
8-10.
Index
Here’s an alphabetical listingof almost every subject in this manual.You can use it to quickly find
something you want to read.
i

GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem,
PONTIAC, the PONTIAC Emblem and the name
GRAND PRKareregistered trademarks of General
Motors Corporation.
This manual includes the latest information at the timeit
was printed. Wereserve the right to make changesin the
product 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 manualin it
so the new
owner can use
it.
Litho in U.S.A.
Part No. 10285608 B First Edition
WE SUPPORT
VOLUNTARY TECHNICIAN
CERTIFICATIONTHROUGH
National InatiMe 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 exemplairede
ce guide en franpischez
votre
concessionaire ou au:
DGN Marketing Services Ltd.
1577 Meyerside Dr.
Mississauga, Ontario
L5T 1B9
@Copyright General Motors Corporation 1997
All Rights Reserved

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.
Index
A good place to look for what you need is the Index in
back of the manual. It’s an alphabetical list of what’s in
the manual, and the page number where you’ll findit.
Safety Warnings and Symbols
You will find a number of safety cautions in this book.
We use a box and the word CAUTIONto tell you
about things
that could hurt you if you were to ignore
the warning.
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 todoto help 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 through itin
this book.This safety
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 these notices:
NOTICE:
These mean thereis something that could
damage your vehicle.
In the notice area, we tellyou 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.
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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
CAUSTIC
I
BURNS
I
AVOID
SPARKS
OR
FLAMES
SPARK
OR ,\I/,
COULD
FLAME
EXPLODE
BAllERY
These symbols
are important
for you and
your passengers
whenever your
vehicle is
driven:
n
UNLOCK Fol
FASTEN
SEAT
BELTS
op
AIR BAG p\
These symbols
have todo with
your lamps:
SIGNALS 6
TURN
PARKING
p$
LAMPS
FOG LAMPS
$0
These symbols
are
on someof
your controls:
WINDSHIELD
WIPER
WINDSHIELD
DEFROSTER
VENTILATING
1
These symbols
are used on
warning and
indicator lights:
COOLANT
TEMP
-
CHARGING I-1
BAllERY
SYSTEM
BRAKE
(0)
h
ENGINEOIL
PRESSURE
Here are some
other symbols
you may see:
FUSE
LIGHTER
m
HORN tcr
SPEAKER
b
FUEL e3
V

b NOTES
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v Section 1 SeatsandRestraintSystems
Here you’llfind information about the seats in your Pontiac 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.
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Seats and 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
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1-33 RearSafetyBelt Comfort Guidesfor
Children and Small Adults
Children
Built-in Child Restraint (Option)
Child Restraints
Larger Children
Safety Belt Extender
Checking Your
Restraint Systems
Replacing Restraint System
Parts
After a Crash

Seats and Seat Controls
This section tells you how to adjust the seats and
explains
reclining seatbacks and head restraints.
2-Way Manu4 Drive-Tassenger Seat
I A CAUTION:
You canlose 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 under the front of the seat up, using a
twisting motion. This will unlock the seat. Slide the seat to
where you want it and release the lever. Try to move the
seat with your body to be sure the seat is locked in place.
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6-Way Power Driver’s Seat (If Equipped)
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This switch is designed to control the movements of
your seat cushion. It is located on the left side of the
driver’s seat cushion.
To move the seat forward or
rearward, push the switch forward or rearward.
To raise
or lower the seat, push the switch up or down. To raise
or lower the fiont portion of your seat, push the front of
the switch up or down. To raise or lower the rear portion
of your seat, push the rear of the switch up or down.
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2-Way Manual Lumbar (If Equipped)
The knob that controls this featureis located on the
right side
of the driver's seat, about halfway down
the seatback.
Turn the knob clockwiseto increase
lumbar support. Turn the knob counterclockwise to
decrease lumbar support.
4-Way Power Lumbar Driver's Seat
(If Equipped)
I
If you have this option, there will be a toggle switch on
the left side
of the driver's seat cushion,just in frontof
the reclining seatback lever. To increase ordecrease
lumbar support,
push the switch forward or rearward.
To adjust the lumbar support up or down, push the
switch up or down.
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Heated Seat (If Equipped) Reclining Front Seatbacks
If your vehicle has this
option, the switch is on the
center console,just behind
the open storage bin.
Press LO to warm the seatto a lower temperature. Press
HI to warm the seat to a higher temperature. To turn this
feature off, place the switch in the center position. Lift the leverto release the seatback, then movethe
seatback to where you want it. Release the lever to
lock the seatback in place. Pull up onthe lever without
pushing
on the seatback, and the seatback will
move forward.
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But don’t have a seatback reclined if your vehicle
is moving.
Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle is
in motion can be dangerous. Evenif you buckle
up, your
safety belts can’t do theirjob when
you’re reclined like this.
The shoulder belt can’t do itsjob because it
won’t be against yourbody. 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 itsjobeither. In a crash the
belt could goup over your abdomen. The belt
forces would
be there, notatyour pelvic bones.
This could cause seriousinternal injuries.
For properprotection when the vehicle
is in
motion, have the seatback upright. Then sit well
back
in the seat and wear your safety belt properly.
Head Restraints
Slide the head restraint upor down so that the topof the
restraint is closestto the top
of your ears. This position
reduces the chance
of a neck injuryin a crash.
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Seatback Latches (2-Door Models)
On two-door models, the right front seat is designed to
make it easy to get in
and out of the rear seat. Tilt the
right seatback
fully forward, The whole seat will now
slide forward. If the seat will not tilt,liftthe seatback
latch, located
on the back of the seat totilt the seatback
forward. The whole seat will now slide forward.
After someone gets into
the rear seat area, move the
right front seatback to its original position. Then move
the seat rearward until it locks.
To get out, tilt the seatback fully forward.
A 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
islocked.
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SafetyBelts: 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 explainsthe Supplemental Restraint System
(SRS), or air bag system.
Don’t let anyoneride where heor she can’t wear
a safety belt properly. If you are in a crash and
you’re not wearinga safety belt, yourinjuries
can be much worse.You can hit things inside the
vehicle orbe ejected from it.You can
be seriously
injured
or killed. In the same crash,you might
not be if
you arebuckled up. Always fasten your
safety belt,
and check that yourpassengers’ belts
arefastened properlytoo.
A CAUTION:
It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargoarea,
inside or outside of a vehicle. In
a collision,
people riding in theseareas aremore likelyto be
seriouslyinjured or
killed. Do not allow people to
ridein any
area of your vehiclethat is not
equipped withseatsand safety belts. Besure
everyone
in your vehicle is ina seat and using a
safety belt properly.
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Your vehicle has a light
that comes
on as a reminder
to buckle up. (See “Safety
BeltReminder Light” 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 crashesaremild, 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 factsare clear. In most crashes bucklingup does
matter
... a lot!
Why Safety Belts Work
When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as
it goes.
. ‘a
A
1
Take the simplest vehicle.Supposeit’s just a seat
on wheels.
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Put someone on it.
Get it up to speed.Then stop thevehicle.The rider
doesn’tstop.
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I
The personkeeps goinguntil stopped by something.
In
a real vehicle, it could be the windshield ...
r
I
or the instrument panel .. .
F
1-11

”-
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.
Here Are Questions Many People Ask
About Safety Belts -- and the Answers
@ Won’t I be trapped in the vehicle after an
accident if I’m wearing a safety belt?
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 chanceof
being conscious during and after an 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?
A: Air bags arein many vehicles today and will be 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. Even if you’re in a vehicle that has
air
bags, you still have to buckle up to get the most
protection. That’s true not onlyin frontal collisions,
but especially in side and other collisions.
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&: If I’m a good driver, and I never drive far from
A: You may be an excellent driver, butif you’re in an
home, why should I wear safety belts?
accident -- even onethat isn’t your fault -- you and
your passengers can be hurt. Being a good driver
doesn’t protect youfromthings beyond your
control, such
as bad drivers.
Most accidents occur within 25 miles (40 km) of
home. Andthe greatest number of serious injuries
and deaths occurat speeds
of less than 40 mph
(65 kmlh).
Safety belts are for everyone.
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly
Adults
This part is only for people of adult size.
Be aware that there are special things to know about safety
belts and children. And there are different rules for smaller
children and babies.
If a child will be riding in your
vehicle,
see the part of this manual called “Children.”
Follow those rules for everyone’s protection.
First, you’ll want to know which restraint systems your
vehicle has.
We’ll start with the driver position.
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