1994 PONTIAC GRAND-AM tow

Front Seatback Latches
(TWO-DOOR MODELS)
The front seatback 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 into place.
There’s one time the front seats may not
fold without some help from you. That’s
if your vehicle is parked going down a
fairly steep
hill.
To fold a front seatback forward, push the
seatback toward the rear seat as you
lift
this latch. Then the seatback will fold
forward. The latch must be down for the
seat to work properly.
Easy-Entry Seat
(TWO-DOOR MODELS)
The right front seat of your vehicle makes
it easy to get in and out of the rear seat.
When you tilt the right front seatback
fully forward, the whole seat will 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, again tilt the seatback fully
forward.
Split Fold-Down Rear Seat
(OPTION)
To Open:
Pull forward on the seat tab.
To Close:
Push the seatback up to its original
position.
Push the seatback solidly up against the
back plate to ensure the inertial latch will
hook and lock securely during sudden
stops.
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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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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?
A: 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. See “Rear Safety Belt
Comfort Guides”
in the Index.
41. .
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Features & Controls
. .
Remote Trunk Release
(CONT.)
Lockout Feature:
The remote trunk release is equipped wit1
a lockout feature to help prevent
unauthorized entry into the trunk when
leaving the vehicle unattended. The
switch is located on the inside of the trun
lid, mounted to the trunk lid latch.
To turn the lockout on, slide the switch a1
the way to the right.
To turn the lockout
off, slide the switch all the way to the lefi
When the lockout is on, the mechanical
remote trunk release will not release the
trunk lid. However, the trunk lid can still
be opened with the key.
54
Glove Box
Use the door key to lock and unlock the
glove box.
To open, pull the glove box
handle toward you.
New Vehicle
“Break-In”
NOTICE:
Your modem Pontiac doesn’t need
an elaborate “break-in.” But it
will
perform better in the long run if you
follow these guidelines:
0
0
Don’t drive at any one speed
-- fast or slow -- for the first
500 miles (804 km). Don’t
make full-throttle starts.
Avoid making hard stops for
the first
200 miles (322 km)
or so. During this time your
new brake linings aren’t yet
broken
in. Hard stops with
new linings can mean
premature wear and earlier
replacement. Follow this “breaking-in” guideline
every time you get new
brake linings.
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LOCK
ACCESSORY
I Ignition Switch-
Vith the ignition key in the ignition
witch, you can
turn the switch ‘to five
ositions:
,CCESSORE An “on” position in
lhich you can operate some of your
lectrical power accessories. Press
in the
;nition switch as you turn the top of
it
)ward you.
,OCK: The only position in which you
!n remove the key. This locks your
:cering wheel, ignition and transaxle
~n automatic models).
IFF: Unlocks the steering wheel,
;nition, and transaxle (on’ automatic
todels), 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.
A warning’chime will sound if
you open the driver’s door when the
ignition is off and the key is in the
ignition.
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 io operate
your electrical power accessories,
and to
display
some instrument 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.
,.
Key Release Button
‘MANUAL TRANSAXLE)
The ignition key cannot be removed from
he ignition unless.the key release button
s used.
ro Remwe the Key:
rum the key to the OFF position. Press
he key release button while turning
the
Ley from OFF to LOCK. Keeping your
inger on
the button, pull the key straight
)Ut.
sa...
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2. If it doesn’t start right away, and if the
weather is very cold (below
-20” F, or
-29” C), push the accelerator pedal
about one-quarter of
the way down
while you
turn the key to “Start.” Do
this until the engine starts. As soon as
it does, let go of the key.
3. If your engine still won’t start (or
starts but then stops), it could be
flooded with too much gasoline. Try
pushing your accelerator pedal all the
way to the floor and holding it there as
you hold the key
in “Start”.for about
three seconds. This clears the extra
gasoline from
the engine. If the car
starts briefly but then stops again, do
the same thing, but this time keep the
pedal
about one-quarter of the way
down for five or six seconds.
NOTICE:
Your engine is designed to work
with the electronics in your vehicle.
If you add electrical parts or
accessories, you could change the
way the fuel injection system
operates. Before adding electrical
equipment, check with your dealer.
If you don’t, your engine might not
perform properly.
If you ever have to have your
vehicle towed, see the part of this
manual that tells how to do it
without damaging your vehicle. See
“Towing Your Pontiac”
in the
Index.
To Start Your V6 Engine (Code M):
1. Without pushing the accelerator pedal,
turn your ignition key to “Start.”
When the engine starts, let
go of the
key. The idle speed will go down as
your engine gets warm.
NOTICE:
Holding your key in “Start” for
longer than
15 seconds at a time will
cause your battery to
be drained
much sooner. And the excessive
heat can damage your starter motor.
. If your engine won’t start (or starts but
then stops), it could be flooded with
too much gasoline. Try pushing your
accelerator pedal all the way
to the
floor and holding it there as you hold
the key
in “Start” for about three
seconds. If the car starts briefly but
then stops again, do the same thing,
but this time keep the pedal down for
five or six seconds. This clears the
extra gasoline from the engine.
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Features & Controls
Bofh Transaxles (CONT.)
NOTICE:
Your engine is designed to work
with the electronics
in your vehicle.
If you add electrical parts or accessories, you could change the
way the fuel injection system
operates. Before adding electrical
equipment, check
with your dealer.
If you don’t, your engine might not
perform properly.
If you ever have to have your
vehicle towed, see the part of this
manual that
tells how to do it
without damaging your vehicle. See
“Towing Your Pontiac”
in the
Index.
Driving Through Deep
Standing Water
NOTICE:
If you drive too quickly through
deep puddles or standing water,
water can come in through your
engine’s air intake and badly
damage your engine. If you can’t
avoid deep puddles or standing
water, drive through them very
slowly.
I Engine Coolant Heater (Engine
Block Heater)
(OPTION)
[n very cold weather, 0°F (- 18°C) or
;older, the engine coolant heater can help.
You’ll get easier starting and better fuel
zconomy during engine warm-up.
Usually, the coolant heater should be
plugged.
in a minimum of four hours prior
to starting your vehicle.
To Use the Coolant Heater:
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the
electrical cord.
... 58
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Ensure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P)
range before starting the engine. Your
Pontiac has a brake-transaxle shift
interlock.
You have to fully apply your
regular brake before you can shift from
PARK (P) when the ignition key is in the
RUN position. If you cannot shift out of
PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift
lever- push the shift lever all the way
into PARK (P)
- as you maintain brake
application. Then move
the shift lever
into the gear you wish. (Press the shift
lever button before moving the shift
lever.) See “Shifting
Out of PARK (P)”
later
in this section.
I
Reverse
REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back up.
NOTICE:
Shifting to REVERSE (R) while
your vehicle is moving forward
could damage your transaxle. Shift
to REVERSE only after your
vehicle is stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get
out of snow, ice or sand without
damaging your transaxle, see “If You’re
Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow” in the
Index.
Neutral
NEUTRAL (N): In this position,,your
engine doesn’t connect with the wheels.
To restart when you’re already moving,
use NEUTRAL
(N) only. Also, use
NEUTRAL when your vehicle is Geing
towed.
61 ...
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