Pontiac 2001 Aztek User manual

Free lockout assistance
Free dead-battery assistance
Free out-of-fuel assistance
Free flat-tire change
Emergency towing
1-800-762-3743
( For vehicles purchased in Canada,
call
1-800-268-6800 )
that provides in an emergency:
1-800-762-3743
( For vehicles purchased in Canada,
call
1-800-268-6800 )
Courtesy
Transportation
Every
2001 Aztek
under warranty is
backed with the
following
services:

2001 Pontiac Aztek
Owner's Manual
Litho in U.S.A.
Part Number 10413350 A First Edition © Copyright General Motors Corporation 2000 All Rights Reserved i

Table of Contents
Windows
Keys and Door Locks
Remote Keyless Entry System (Option)
Liftgate/Tailgate Release
Automatic Transaxle
Parking Brake
Tilt Wheel
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
Windshield Wipers
Cruise Control (Option)
Exterior and Interior Lamps
Mirrors
Storage Compartments
Roof Rack System (Option)
Accessory Power Outlets
OnStar® System (Option)
Sunroof (Option)
Instrument Panel, Warning Lights and Gages
Driver Information Center (If Equipped)
Head-Up Display (Option)
Vehicle Customization
Seats and Seat Controls
Safety Belts Air Bag Systems Restraint Systems for Children
Section
1
Section
2
Seats and Restraint Systems
Features and Controls
ii

Table of Contents (cont'd)
Your Driving, the Road and Your Vehicle
Defensive Driving
Drunken Driving
Control of a Vehicle
Braking
Steering
Driving Tips for Various Road Conditions
Recreational Vehicle Towing
Loading Your Vehicle
Towing a Trailer
Heating and Air Conditioning
Setting the Radio Clock
Radio/Cassette Player/CD Player
Radio Theft-Deterrent Feature
Audio Steering Wheel Controls (If Equipped)
Hazard Warning Flashers
Jump Starting
Towing Your Vehicle
Engine Overheating
Changing a Flat Tire
If You're Stuck
Problems on the Road
Section
3
Section
4
Section
5
Your Driving and the Road
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
iii

iv
Table of Contents (cont'd)
Maintenance Schedule
Service and Appearance Care
Section
7
Section
6
Scheduled Maintenance
Owner Checks and Services
Periodic Maintenance Inspections
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
Maintenance Records
Fuel
Checking Fluids and Lubricants
GM Oil Life System™
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
Passenger Compartment Air Filter (If Equipped)
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

v
Table of Contents (cont'd)
Customer Assistance Information
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.
Section
8
Customer Satisfaction Procedures
Customer Assistance Offices
Roadside Assistance and Courtesy Transportation
Warranty Information
Reporting Safety Defects on page 8-12
Service Publications
Index
Section
9
Please refer to the last page of this manual for your Service Station Guide

vi
GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem,
PONTIAC and the PONTIAC Emblem are registered
trademarks and the name AZTEK 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 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.
We support voluntary
technician certification.
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:
DGN Marketing Services Ltd.
1577 Meyerside Dr.
Mississauga, Ontario L5T 1B9

vii
About Driving Your Vehicle
As with other vehicles of this type, failure to operate
this vehicle correctly may result in loss of control or
an accident. See “Your Driving, the Road and Your
Vehicle” in the Index.
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.
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.
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.

viii
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.”
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.

ix
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
vehicleisdriven:
CHILD
RESTRAINT
TOP STRAP
ANCHOR
DOOR LOCK
UNLOCK
FASTEN
SEAT
BELTS
POWER
WINDOW
AIR BAG
These symbols
have to do with
your lamps:
MASTER
LIGHTING
SWITCH
TURN
SIGNALS
PARKING
LAMPS
HAZARD
WARNING
FLASHER
DAYTIME
RUNNING
LAMPS
FOG LAMPS
These symbols
are on some of
your controls:
WINDSHIELD
WIPER
WINDSHIELD
WASHER
WINDSHIELD
DEFROSTER
REAR
WINDOW
DEFOGGER
VENTILATING
FAN
These symbols
are used on
warning and
indicator lights:
ENGINE
COOLANT
TEMP
BATTERY
CHARGING
SYSTEM
BRAKE
COOLANT
ENGINE OIL
PRESSURE
ANTI-LOCK
BRAKES
Here are some
other symbols
you may see:
FUSE
LIGHTER
HORN
FUEL
Vehicle Symbols
These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle. Also see “Warning Lights and Gages” in the Index.

Service Station Guide
Oil Viscosity
Engine Oil
See Section 6
Engine Oil Dipstick
See Section 6
Fuel
Use unleaded only.
See Section 6
for octane ratings.
Cooling System
See Section 5
Windshield Washer
Fluid
See Section 6
Spare Tire Pressure
See Section 5
Battery
See Section 6
Tire Pressure
See Section 6
For
a More
Detailed Look at
What's Under the Hood
See Section 6
Hood Release
See Section 6

1- 1-1
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 Seats and Seat Controls
1-7 Rear Seats
1-16 Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone
1-20 Here Are Questions Many People Ask About
Safety Belts -- and the Answers
1-21 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly
1-22 Driver Position
1-30 Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy
1-31 Right Front Passenger Position
1-32 Air Bag Systems
1-39 Center Passenger Position
1-42 Rear Seat Passengers
1-46 Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for
Children and Small Adults
1-50 Children
1-53 Restraint Systems for Children
1-69 Older Children
1-72 Safety Belt Extender
1-72 Checking Your Restraint Systems
1-72 Replacing Restraint System Parts After
a Crash

1-2
Seats and Seat Controls
This section tells you about the seats -- how to
adjust them, take them out, put them back in, fold and
unfold them.
Driver’s 4-Way Manual Seat
Use the lever located on the front left side of the seat to
adjust the seat forward or rearward. Pull up the lever on
the front of the seat to unlock it. Slide the seat to where
you want it and release the lever.
To make sure the seat is locked into place, try to move
the seat with your body.
To raise the seat, pull up on the lever located on the
front right side of the seat. To lower the seat, push the
lever down. Adjust the seat and release the lever.

1-3
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.
Manual Front Passenger Seats
To move the seat, pull the
lever located on the front
of the seat up to unlock it.
Slide the seat to where you want it and release the lever.
To make sure the seat is locked into place, try to move
the seat with your body.

1-4
6-Way Power Seat (Option)
The six-way power seat
controls are located on the
outboard sides of the
driver’s or both the driver’s
and front passenger’s seat.
D Move the front of the control in the direction of the
arrows to adjust the front portion of the cushion up
or down.
D Move the rear of the control in the direction of the
arrows to adjust the rear portion of the cushion up
or down.
D Lift up or push down on both outer arrows at the
same time to move the entire seat up or down.
D To move the whole seat forward or rearward, slide
the control in the direction of the center arrows.
Manual Lumbar (If Equipped)
The knob that controls this
feature is located on the
outboard sides of the
driver’s and front
passenger’s seats.
Turn the knob toward the front of the vehicle to increase
lumbar support. Turn the knob toward the rear of the
vehicle to decrease lumbar support.

1-5
Heated Front Seats (Option)
The heated seat switch is
located in the center
console switchbank.
This feature will quickly heat the lower cushions and
lower back of the driver’s and front passenger’s seat for
added comfort. The left switch is for the driver’s seat
and the right switch is for the front passenger’s seat.
Press the top of the switch to turn the heater on.
Press the bottom of the switch to turn the heater off.
The heated seat switch will turn off when the ignition is
turned to OFF and will resume operation when the
ignition is turned to ON, unless the switch is manually
turned off.
Reclining Front Seatbacks
To adjust the seatback, pull up on the recliner lever
located on the outboard sides of both the driver’s and
passenger’s seat. It is easier to recline the seat if you
lean forward, taking your weight off the seatback.

1-6
But don’t have a seatback reclined if your vehicle
is moving.
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.

1-7
Head Restraints
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.
On some models, the head restraints tilt forward and
rearward also.
Rear Seats
The rear seats in your vehicle have seat operating
features to adjust, fold, remove and reinstall the seats.
By using the seat operating features, in the correct order,
you can easily remove the seats from your vehicle.
Floor Seat Pin Diagram
When you put the seats back in the vehicle, be sure to
follow the label on the back of the seat for proper
location. Follow the diagram above when the text in
this manual tells you which sets of floor cups to use for
each seat.

1-8
Split Bench Seats (If Equipped)
If your vehicle has the split bench seat, the seatbacks
can be folded forward or reclined individually and the
sections can be flipped forward or removed individually.
Folding or Reclining the Seatbacks
The seatbacks on each section of the split bench seat can
be reclined or folded forward.
To recline the seatback,
lift up on the recliner lever
located on the outboard
side of the seatback.
Use the recliner lever to
move the seatback to the
desired position.
It is easier to raise or lower the seatback if you lean
forward and take the weight off the seatback.
The seatbacks on each section also fold forward to put
items behind the seats.
Lift up on the recliner lever and fold the seatback
forward. The seatback will lock into place when you
push it back to the upright position.
After raising a seatback to an upright position, push and
pull on the seatback to check that it is locked upright.
Removing the Split Bench Seat
Each section of the split bench seat can be flipped
forward or removed individually.
1. Unlatch the shoulder belt from the lap-belt.