Seats & Restraint Systems
Why Safety Belts Work
When you ride in or on anything, you go
as fast as
it goes.
For example, if the bike is going 10 mph
(16 km/h), so is the child. When the bike hits
the block, it stops.
But
the child keeps going!
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Seats & Restraint Systems
How To Wear Safety
Belts
Properly
Adults
This section 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 Pontiac, see the section
located later
in this part 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.
Driver Position
This section describes the driver’s
restraint system.
lap-Shoulder Belt
The driver has a lap-shoulder belt. Here’s
low to wear it properly.
I. Close and lock the door.
2. Adjust the seat (to see how, see
“Seats” in the Index)
so you can sit up
straight.
. . . 16
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Seats & Restraint Systems
~ ~~
Securing a Child Restraint
in a Rear Outside Position
You’ll be using the lap-shoulder belt. See
the earlier section about
the top sfrap if
the child restraint has one.
1. Put the restraint on the seat. Follow
the instructions for the child restraint.
2. Secure the child in the child restraint
as the instructions say.
3. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap
and shoulder portions
of the vehicle’s
safety belt through
or around the
restraint. The child restraint
instructions will show you how. If
the shoulder
belt goes in front of the
child’s face
or neck, put it behind the
child restraint.
4. Buckle the belt. Make sure the release
button
is positioned so you would be
able to unbuckle the safety belt
quickly
if you ever had to.
5. Pull the rest of the lap belt all the way
out
of the retractor to set the lock.
... 32
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Seats & Restraint Systems
Securing a Child Restraint
in the Right Front Seat
(CONT.)
You’ll be using the lap-shoulder belt. See
the earlier section about the top strap
if
the child restraint has one.
1. Because your vehicle has a right-front
passenger’s air bag, always move the
seat as far back as
it will go before
securing a front-facing child restraint.
2. Put the restraint on the seat. Follow
the instructions for the child restraint.
3. Secure the child in the child restraint
as the instructions say.
4. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap
and shoulder portions
of the vehicle’s
safety belt through or around the
restraint. The child restraint
instructions
will show you how.
If the shoulder belt goes
in front of the
child’s face
or neck, put it behind the
child restraint.
5. Buckle the belt.
Make sure the release button is
positioned
so you would be able to
unbuckle the safety belt quickly
if you
ever had to.
6. Pull the rest of the lap belt all the way
out of the retractor to set the lock.
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Features & Controls
Rear Door Security
Locks
Your Pontiac is equipped with rear door
security locks that help prevent
passengers from opening the rear doors
of
your car from the inside. To use one of
these locks:
1. Move the lever all the way up to the
“ENGAGED” position.
2. Close the door.
3. Do the same thing to the other rear
door lock. ’he
rear doors
of your vehicle cannot be
pened from inside when this feature is
in
se. If you want to open a rear door when
le security lock is on:
. Unlock the door from the inside.
2. Then open the door from the outside.
If you don’t cancel the security lock
feature, adults or older children who ride
in the rear won’t be able to open the rear
door from the inside. You should let
adults and older children know how these
security locks work, and how
to cancel
the locks.
To cancel the rear door lock:
1. Unlock the door from the inside and
open the door from the outside.
. .46
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What should you do if this ever happens?
Ease up on the brake or accelerator pedal,
steer the vehicle the way you want it to
go, and slow down.
Speed limit signs near curves warn that
you should adjust your speed. Of course,
the posted speeds are based on good
weather and road conditions. Under less
favorable conditions you’ll want to
go
slower.
If you need to reduce your speed as you
approach a curve, do
it before you enter
the curve, while your front wheels are
straight ahead.
Try to adjust your speed
so you can
“drive” through the curve. Maintain a
reasonable, steady speed. Wait to
accelerate until you are out of the curve,
and then accelerate gently into the
straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
There are times when steering can be
more effective than braking. For example,
you come over a hill and find a truck
stopped
in your lane, or a car suddenly
pulls out from nowhere, or a child darts
out from between parked cars and stops
right
in front of you. You can avoid these
problems by braking
-- if you can stop in
time. But sometimes you can’t; there isn’t
room. That’s the time for evasive action
-- steering around the problem. Your
Pontiac can perform very well in
emergencies like these.
First apply your
brakes. It is better to remove as much
speed as you can
from a possible
collision. Then steer around the problem,
to the left or right depending on the space
available.
An emergency like this requires close
attention and a quick decision. If you are
holding the-steering wheel at the
recommended
9 and 3 o’clock positions,
you can turn
it a full 180 degrees very
quickly without removing either hand.
But you have to act fast, steer quickly,
and just as quickly straighten the wheel
once you have avoided the object.
The fact that such emergency situations
are always possible is a good reason to
practice defensive driving at all times and
wear safety belts properly.
145...
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Chains. Tire ............... 192. 229
Changing a Flat Tire
............. 183
Check Gages Warning Light
...... 100
Check Oil Level Warning Light ..... 95
Checking
Brake Fluid
................. 217
Engine Coolant
.......... 176. 2 13
Engine Oil Level
............. 205
Power Steering Fluid
......... 216
Restraint Systems
............. 39
Transaxle Fluid
.............. 2 1 1
Checking Things Under the
Hood
....................... 199
Chemical Paint Spotting
.......... 235
Child Restraints
................. 30
Children and Safety Belts
...... 29. 37
Cigarette Lighter
................ 84
Circuit Breakers
& Fuses ......... 238
City Driving
................... 15 1
Cleaner. Air ............... 209. 243
Cleaning
Aluminum Wheels
........... 233
Cassette Player
.............. 133
Fabric
..................... 230
Finish Care
................. 233
Glass
...................... 232
Head-Up Display
............ 107
Inside of Your Pontiac ........ 230
Outside of Your Pontiac
....... 233
Power Antenna
.............. 135
Safety Belts
................. 232 Special Problems
............ 23 I
Tires ...................... 233
Vinyl or Leather
............. 231
Warnings
....... 229. 230. 232. 233
Weatherstrips
............... 234
Windshield
................. 232
Electronic
.................. 1 15
Standard ................... 1 12
Clock. Setting the
............... 120
Clusters. Instrument Panel
......... 88
Comfort Controls Electronic Climate Control
..... 115
Standard Climate Control ...... I12
Compact Spare Tire
............. 19 1
Compass ...................... 105
Control of a Vehicle ............. 141
Convenience Net
................ 51
Convex Outside Mirror ........... 79
Coolant
Checking
& Adding ...... 176. 2 13
Function Monitor
............ 103
Underbody Maintenance ....... 235
Climate Control
“Low” Warning Light
.......... 93
Proper Mixture to Use
........ 214
Safety Warnings About
.... 178. 179.200.214. 215
Temperature Gage
............ 10 1
Cruise Control .................. 71
Customer Assistance Information
. . 265
Temperature Warning Light
..... 92 Daytime
Running Lights
......... 75
Dead Battery: What to Do ........ 167
Defects. Safety (See “Safety
Defensive Driving
.............. 138
Defogger. Rear Window
...... I 14. 1 17
Defogging Windows
......... 1 13. I 17
Defrosting ................. 1 13. 1 17
Door Cup Holder ................ 82
Door Locks
..................... 43
Downshifting
........... 59. 154. 162
Driver Information Center ........ 103
Driver Position
.................. 16
Driving
AtNight
................... 148
City
....................... 151
Defensively ................. 138
Drunken ................... 138
Freeway
.................... 151
Hill and Mountain ............ 153
Defects.
Reporting”)
Hydroplaning
............... 1 SO
In a Foreign Country .......... 196
In the Rain
.................. 149
Long Distance
............... 152
Loss of Control .............. 147
Passing
.................... 146
Through Deep Standing Water
..................... 54
Drunken Driving
............... 138
Winter Driving
.............. 155
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Index
Gear Positions (see “Shifting
Gearshift Lever (see “Shifting
GloveBox
..................... 52
Graphic Equalizer (see “Audio Systems”)
the
Transaxle”)
the Transaxle”)
Halogen Bulb Replacement
. . 220. 244
Hazard Warning Flashers
......... 166
Head Restraints ................. 10
Headlight & Taillight.
Removing and Replacing
... 220. 22 1
Headlight Washers ............... 7 1
Head-Up Display ............... 107
Headlights
..................... 74
High-Low Beam Changer
...... 76
Instrument Panel Intensity Control
.................... 76
Lamp Monitor
............... 103
“On” Reminder
............... 75
Replacement Bulb
............ 244
Washers
..................... 71
Wiring
..................... 241
Heater (see “Comfort Controls”)
Heater. Engine Block
............. 55
Heater. Engine Coolant ........... 55
High Beams .................... 76
“Highway Hypnosis”
............ I53
Hill and Mountain Roads ......... 153
Hills. Parking on
............... 163 Hood
Release
.................. 199
Safety Warning
. . 168. 169. 177. 200
Warning. Overheated
Engine
... 176. 178.200.214. 215
Horn
.......................... 67
Hot Engine. Safety Warnings
. . 176. 178.
200.214. 215
How
the Anti-Lock Brake
System Works
................ 142
Hydroplaning
.................. 150
lhentification Number. Vehicle
.... 237
Idling Your Engine
......... 62.64. 66
If You’re Stuck in Sand. Mud.
Ice. or Snow
.................. 192
Ignition
Key
........................ 42
Positions
.................... 52
Illuminated Entry
................ 50
Indicator Lights (see “Warning Lights”)
Infant Restraint (see “Child Restraints”)
Inflation. Tires
................. 224
Inside Rearview Mirror
........... 78
Instrument Panel
................ 87
Instrument Panel Clusters ...... 88. 89
Intensity Control ................ 76
Jack. Tire
.................... 184
Jump Starting
.................. 167
Instrument
Panel Warning Lights
.... 91
Keyless Entry. Remote ........... 44
Keys
...............t.......... 42
Camp Monitor
................ 103
Lane Change Indicator
............ 68
Lap-Shoulder Safety Belt
......... 16
Front ....................... 25
Rear
........................ 26
Use by Children
.............. 37
Light Controls
.................. 74
Lighters
....................... 84
Lights
Air Bag System
............... 22
Daytime Running Lights
........ 75
Fog Lights ................... 77
Headlights
............ 74,76, 220
“On” Reminder
............... 75
Parking
..................... 74
Reading
.................. 77, 78
Removing
& Replacing
Bulbs
............ 220.221, 244
Replacement Bulbs
........... 244
Taillights
............... 221, 244
Turn Signal
.................. 68
Underhood
................. 200
Warning Lights
............... 91
Loading Your Vehicle
........... 222
Locks
......................... 43
Locks, Rear Door Security
......... 46
Locks, Remote Control
........... 44
I . . 282
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