1994 PONTIAC GRAND-AM gas type

-.
How The Air Bag System
Works
Where is the air bag?
The driver’s air bag is in the middle of the
steering wheel.
When is an air bag expected to inflate?
The air bag is designed to inflate in
moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal
crashes. The air bag will only inflate
if the
velocity of the impact is above the
designed threshold level. When impacting
straight into a wall that does not move or
deform, the threshold level for most
GM
vehicles is between 9 and 15 mph (14 and
23 km/h). However, this velocity
threshold depends on the vehicle design
and may be several miles-per-hour faster
or slower. In addition, this threshold
velocity will be considerably higher
if the
vehicle strikes an object such as a parked
car which will move and deform on
impact. The air bag is also not designed to
inflate in rollovers, side impacts, or rear
impacts where the inflation would provide
no occupant protection benefit.
In any particular crash, the determination
of whether ‘the air bag should have inflated
cannot be based solely on the level of
damage on the vehicle(s), Inflation is
determined by the angle of the impact and
the vehicle’s deceleration, of which vehicle
damage
is only one indication. Repair cost
is not a good indicator of whether an air
bag should have deployed.
What makes an air bag inflate?
In a frontal impact of sufficient severity, the
air bag sensing system detects that the
vehicle is suddenly stopping as a result of a
crash. The sensing system triggers a
chemical reaction
of the sodium azide
sealed in the inflator. The reaction produces
nitrogen gas, which inflates the cloth bag.
The inflator, cloth bag, and related
hardware are all part of the
air bag inklator
module packed inside the steering wheel.
How does an air bag restrain? ~
In moderate to severe frontal or
near-frontal collisions, even belted
occupants can contact the steering wheel.
The air bag supplements the protektion
provided by safety belts. Air.bags
distribute the force of the impact more
evenly over the occupant’s upper body,
stopping the occupant more gradually. But
air bags would not provide protection in
many types of collisions, including
rollovers and rear and side impacts,
primarily because an occupant’s motion is
not toward the air bag. Air bags should
never be regarded as anything more than a
supplement to safety belt protection in
moderate to severe frontal and near-frontal
:ollisions.
II
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Be careful not to spill gasoline. Clean
gasoline from painted surfaces as soon as
possible. See “Cleaning the Outside of
Your Pontiac”
In the Index.
When you put the cap back on, turn it to
the right
until you hear at least three
clicks.
NOTICE:
If you need a new cap, be sure to get
the right type. Your dealer can get
one for you. If you get the wrong
type,
it may not fit or have proper
venting, and your fuel
tank and
emissions system might be
damaged.
Checking Things
Under the Hood
The following sections tell you how to
check fluids, lubricants and important
parts underhood.
Hood Release
To open the hood, first pull the handle
inside the vehicle.
Then go to the front of the vehicle and
press the secondary hood release handle
to the right.
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Service & Appearance Care
w Appearance Care
Remember, cleaning products can be
hazardous. Some are toxic. Others can
burst into flame if you strike a match or
get them on a hot part of the vehicle.
Some are dangerous if you breathe their
fumes in a closed space.
When you use
anything from a container to clean your
Pontiac, be sure to follow the
manufacturer’s warnings and instructions.
And always open your doors or windows
when you’re cleaning the inside.
Never use these to clean your vehicle:
0 Gasoline
0 Benzene
0 Naphtha
0 Carbon Tetrachloride
0 Acetone
0 Paint Thinner
0 Turpentine
0 Lacquer Thinner
0 Nail Polish Remover
hey can all be hazardous -- some more
an others
-- and they can all damage
)ur vehicle, too.
NOTICE:
Don’t use any of these unless this
manual says you can. In many uses,
these will damage your vehicle:
0 Alcohol
0 Laundry Soap
0 Bleach
0 Reducing Agents
Cleaning the Inside of
Your Pontiac
Use a vacuum cleaner often to get rid of
dust and loose dirt. Wipe vinyl or leather with a clean, damp cloth.
Your Pontiac dealer has two GM cleaners,
a solvent-type spot lifter and a foam-type
powdered cleaner. They will clean normal spots and stains very well.
Do not use
them on vinyl or leather.
. . .204
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6. Transaxle Service -- For manual transaxles, fluid doesn’t
require changing. See “Periodic Maintenance Inspections.”
For automatic transaxles, change both the fluid and filter
every
15,000 miles (25 000 km) if the vehicle is mainly
driven under one or more of these conditions:
* In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
regularly reaches 90°F (32°C) or higher.
0 In hilly or mountainous terrain.
0 When doing frequent trailer towing.
0 Uses such as found in taxi, police car or delivery
service.
If you -do not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, change both the fluid and filter every
100,000 miles ( 166 000 km).
7. Spark Plug Replacement* -- Replace spark plugs with
the proper type. See “Replacement Parts” in the Index.
8. Spark Plug Wire Inspection (3.1L Code M engine
only)*?
-- Inspect for burns, cracks or other damage.
Check
the boot fit at the coils and at the spark plugs.
Replace wires as needed.
9. Air Cleaner Filter Replacement* -- Replace every
30,000 miles (50 000 km) or more often under dusty
conditions.
Ask your dealer for the proper replacement
intervals for your driving conditions.
1 O.Fuel Tank, Cap and Lines Inspection”? -- Inspect fuel
tank, cap and
lines (including fuel rails and injection
assembly) for damage or leaks. Inspect
fuel cap gasket for
an even filler neck imprint or any damage. Replace parts as
needed. Periodic replacement of the fuel filter is
not
required.
* An Emission Control Service.
3- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or the California Air Resources Board has determined that the failure to perform this maintenance item will not nullify the
emission warranty or limit recall liability prior to the completion of vehicle useful life. General Motors, however, urges that all recommended maintenance services be performed at the indicated intervals and the maintenance be recorded in “Section E: Maintenance Record”.
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Stereo Sound Systems (see “Audio
Storage
Systems”) ................... lot
Armrest ..................... 82
Glove Box ................... 54
Passenger Side Cup Holder/
Storage Area ................ 85
Sunglasses Storage ............ 87
Storing Your Pontiac ............ 194
Stuck. If You Are
............... 167
Subscriptions .................. 25C
Sun Visors
..................... 84
Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)
........................ 21
Surge Tank Pressure Cap
......... 190
Tachometer .................... 92
rape Player (see “Audio Systems”)
rechnical Facts
& Specifications
Bulbs ...................... 217
Electrical Equipment.
Add-on .............. 107. 2 1 1
Fluid Capacities & Types . . 215. 216
Fuses
& Circuit Breakers ...... 212
Service Parts Edentification
Label ..................... 211
Vehicle Identification
Number (VIN) ............. 2 11
remperature Warning Light
........ 94
rheft
.......................... 52
rhermostat
.................... 190
l‘ilt Steering Wheel
.............. 71
Time. Setting the ............... 107
Tires
......................... 198
Buying New ................ 201
Chains
................. 143. 202
Flat. Changing
............... 162
Inflation
.................... 199
Inspection
& Rotation ......... 200
Loading
.................... 198
Pressure
.................... 199
Quality Grading
............. 201
Spare. Compact
.............. 167
Wear Indicators
.............. 192
Wheel Alignment and
Tire Balance ............... 202
Wheel Replacement
.......... 202
When to Replace Wheels
...... 202
Winter Driving. and Tires
...... 136
Top Strap ...................... 33
Torque Lock
.................... 68
Towing a Trailer
................ 141
Towing Your Pontiac
............ 152
Trailer Towing
................. 139
Maintenance ................ 146
Parking on Hills
............. 145
Trailer Brakes
............... 143
Driving with a Trailer ......... 144
Transaxle. Automatic (see “Automatic
Transaxle. Manual (see “Manual
rransmission. Automatic (see
Transaxle”)
Transaxle”)
“Automatic Transaxle”)
Transmission. Manual (see “Manual
Trip Odometer .................. 92
Trunk
......................... 53
Trunk Light
.................... 80
Trunk Release. Remote ........... 53
Turn Signal Indicator
............. 73
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
.... 78
Cruise Control ................ 74
Headlight Highbow Beam
...... 78
Turn Signal & Lane Change
Indicator ................... 73
Underbody Maintenance ........ 209
Unleaded Gasoline
.............. 173
Upholstery Care
................ 205
Upshift Indicator Light
......... 65. 99
Urban Driving
................. 132
Variable Effort Steering ......... 125
Vehicle “Break-In” Period
......... 54
Vehicle. Control
of a ............ 122
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ....................... 211
Vehicle Loading
................ 197
Vehicle Storage
................ 194
Ventilation (see “Comfort
Controls”) ................... 103
VIN
......................... 211
Visors. Sun
..................... 84
Visor Vanity Mirror
.............. 84
Voltmeter ...................... 97
269
Transaxle” )
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