Page 15 of 338

Seats & Safety Eelts
I’
Seatback Latches
In 2-door Pontiacs, the front seat folds
forward to let people get into the back
seat.
Your seatback will move back and forth
freely, unless you come to a sudden
stop. Then it will lock in place.
There’s one time the seatback may not
fold without some help from
you. That’s
if your vehicle is parked facing down a
fairly steep hill.
TQ fold a seatback forward, push the
seatback toward the rear as you
lift this
latch. Then the seatback will fold
forward. The latch must be down for
the seat to work properly.
4 Safety Belts:
They’ve For Everyone
This part of the manual tells you how to
use sakty belts properly. It also tells
you mme things you should not do with
s’afety belts .
14
Don’t let anyone ride where I L
- they can’t wear 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 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.
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Seats #& Safety 6eIts
Larger Children (CONK)
I I
9 Chilldren who aren’t buckled up can
strike other people who are.
38
A Never do this.
Here two children are
wearing the same belt. The belt
can’t properly spread the impact
forces. In a crash, the
two children
can be crushed together and
seriously injured.
A belt must be
;ed bv onlv one Derson at a time.
Q: What if a child is wearing a lap-
shoulder belt, but the child is
so
small that the shoulder belt is very
close to the child’s face or neck?
\: Move the child toward the center of
the vehicle, but be sure that the
shoulder belt still is on the child’s
shoulder,
so that in a crash the
child’s upper body would have the
restraint that belts provide.
If the child is so small that the
shoulder belt
is still very close to the
child’s face or neck, you might want
to place the child in the center seat
position, the one that has only
a lap
belt.
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Page 53 of 338

Features & Controls
Qnifion Switch
Nith the ignition key in the ignition
;witch, you can turn the switch to five
~ositions:
kccessory: An “on” position in which
rou can operate your radio and
vindshield wipers. Press in the ignition
;witch as you turn the top of it toward
Lock: The only position in which you
:an remove the key. This locks your
;teering wheel, ignition and transaxle.
TOU.
Off: Unlocks the steering wheel,
ignition, and transaxle, but does not
send electrical power to any accessories,
Use this position if your vehicle must
be
pushed or towed, but never try to push-
start your vehicle.
Run: An “on” position to which the
switch returns after you start your
engine and release the switch. The
switch stays in the
Run position when
the engine is running. But even when
the engine is not running, you can use
Run to operate your electrical power
accessories, and to display some instru-
ment panel warning lights.
Start: Starts the engine. When the
engine starts, release the key. The
ignition switch will return to
Run for
normal driving.
Note that even
if the engine is not
running, the positions
Accessory and
Run are “on” positions that allow you
to operate your electrical accessories,
such
as the radio.
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Page 59 of 338
Features & Controls
. ;. -c
I
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the shift lever is not fully in
h P {Park} with the parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Don’t leave your vehicle when the engine
is running unless you have to. If you
h,ave left the engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly. You or others
could
be injured. To be sure your vehicle won’t move, when you’re on fairly
level ground, always set your parking brake and move the shift lever to P (Park).
See th’e Index under Shifting Into P (Park). If you are parking on a hill, or if
you’re pulling a trailer, also e Index under Parking ~yt Hills or Towing a
[ep-:~:2>;gz%r-#p A,,2L:z:- d: . .--- - +-
Reverse
R (Reverse): Use this gear to back up.
Shifting to
R (Reverse)
vehicle is moving forward could damage your transaxle. Shift to
R
only after your vehicle is stopped.
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Page 60 of 338
To rock your vehicle back and forth to
get
out of snow, ice or sand without
damaging your transaxle, see the
Index
under If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud,
Ice or Snow .
PW2047
Neufral
N (Neutral): In this position, your
engine doesn’t connect with the wheels.
To restart when you’re already moving,
use
N (Neutral) only. Also, use
N (Neutral) when your vehicle is being
towed.
Ir Shifting out of P (Park) or
N (Neutral) while your
;ine
is “racing” (running at higl
I
speed) is dangerous. Unless your
foot is firmly on the brake pedal,
your vehicle could
move very
rapidly.
You could lose c
hit people or objects. Don’t
shi
out of P (Park) or N (Ne
while
yo mginc racin
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Page 61 of 338
Farward Gears
mtdutornatic Overdrive): If your
autcmatic transaxle
has Automatic
Overdrive,
this position is for norma
&ivin,g. If you med more power for
pas.sing, and you're:
* Goling less than 35 mph (56 lmh) ,
push your accelerator pedal about
halfway
down.
Going about 35 mph [56 Wh) or
more, push the accelerator all the way
clhwn.
You'll shift down to the next gear and
have more power.
D (Third Gear): If your automatic
transaxle does not have Overdrive, this
position is for normal driving, at all
speeds,
in most street and highway
situations.
If your automatic transaxle has
Overdrive,
D is like m, but you never
go into Overdrive.
Here are some times you might choose
D instead of m:
When driving on hilly, winding roads.
When towing a trailer, so there is less
When going down a steep hill. shifting between gears.
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Page 66 of 338

If You are on a Hill:
See the Index under Parking on Hills.
That section shows how to turn your
front wheels.
If You are Towing a Trailer and are
Parking on any Hill:
See the Index under Towing a Trailer.
That section shows what to do first to
keep the trailer from moving.
Shifting Info P (Park)-Colurnn
Shift (AUTOMATIC JRANSAXLE)
I CAUTION
A
It is dangerous to get out of
your vehicle if the shift lever
is not fully in P (Park) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your
vehicle can roll.
If you have left the engine running,
the vehicle can move suddenly.
You
or others could be injured. To be
sure your vehicle won’t move, when
you’re on fairly level ground, use
the steps that follow. If you are
pulling
a trailer, also see the Index
under Parking on Hills or Towing
a Trailer.
I parking on a hill, or if you’re
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your
right foot and set the parking brake.
I
2. Move the shiH lever into P (Park)
Pull the lever towards you.
position like this:
n
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Page 67 of 338

Features Controls
-
Shifting Into P (Park)-CoJumn
Shift (CONJ.)
* Move the lever up as far as it will go.
3. Move the ignition key to Lock.
4. Remove the key and take it with you.
If you can walk away from your
vehicle with the igniti'on key in your
hand, your vehicle is in P [Park).
Shifting lnto P (Park)-Console
Shift (AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE)
GAUTIUN
It is dangerous to get out of
your vehicle
if the shift lever
is not fully in P (Park) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your
vehicle can roll.
If you have left the engine running,
the vehicle can move suddenly.
You
or others could be injured. To be
sure your vehicle won't move, when
you're on fairly level ground, use
the steps that follow. If
you are
parking
on a hill, or if you're
pulling
a trailer, also see the Index
under Parking on Hills or Towing
a Trailer.
2. Move the shift lever into the P (Park)
position like this:
Hold in the button on the lever,
and push the lever all the way
toward the front of your vehicle.
3. Move the ignition key to Lock.
4. Remove the key and take it with you.
If you can walk away from your
vehicle with the ignition key
in your
hand, your vehicle is in
P (Park).
I. Hold the brake pedal down with your
right foot and set the parking brake.
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