
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly
Adults
This part 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 part of this manual 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 part describes the driver’s restraint system.
Lap-Shoulder Belt
The driver has a lap-shoulder belt. Here’s how to wear it
properly.
1. Close and lock the door.
2. Adjust the seat (to see how, see “Seats” in the Index)
so you can sit up straight.
3. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you,
Don’t let it. get twisted.
On convertible models, the shoulder belt may lock if
you pull the belt across YOU very quickly, If this
happas, kt the belt go back slightly to unlock it.
Then pull the belt across you more slowly.
4. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.
1-13
ProCarManuals.com

You’ll be using the lap-shoulder belt. See the earlier part
about the top strap if the child restraint has one.
You’ll need a safety locking clip to properly secure a
child restraint in this position.
You can get a locking clip
where child restraints are sold, or from you Pontiac
dealer
(GM Part No. 94844571). The locking clip must
be the same as the one shown here.
Until you have this clip, secure a child restraint only in
the rear seat. See the earlier part about securing a child
restraint in the rear seat. Once you have the clip, follow
these instructions:
1. Because your vehicle has a right front passenger air
bag, always move the seat as far back as it will go
before securing a forward-facing child restraint. (See
“Seats’’ in the Index.)
2. Put the restraint on the seat. Follow the instructions
for the child restraint.
3.
4.
Secure the child in the child restraint as the
instructions say.
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.
1-35
ProCarManuals.com

Make sure the release button is positioned so you
would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if
you ever had to.
through the locking clip.
6. Then thread both lap and shoulder belt portions
A. Lap Belt portion
B. Latch Plate
C. Buckle
D. Shoulder Belt portion
E. Locking Clip
7. Push and pull the child restraint in different
directions to be sure it is secure.
I
I
ProCarManuals.com

To remove the child restraint, just unbuckle the vehicle’s
safety belt and remove the locking clip. Let the safety
belt go back all the way.
The safety belt will move freely again and be ready
to
work for an adult or larger child passenger.
Larger Children
Children who have outgrown child restraints should
wear the vehicle’s safety belts.
1-37
ProCarManuals.com

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.
pin 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.
4-12
ProCarManuals.com

Engine Oil .................................. 6-14
Hydraulic Clutch Fluid
........................ 6-29
Manual Transmission Fluid
.................... 6-27
Power Steering Fluid
......................... 6-34
Restraint Systems
............................ 1-40
Things Under the Hood
........................ 6-8
Chemical Paint Spotting .......................... 6-63
Child Restraints
....................................
Securing in st Rear Seat Position ................. 1-33
Securing in the Right Front Seat Position
.......... 1-34
TopStrap
................................... 1-32
WheretoPut
................................ 1-31
Cigarette Lighter
............................... 2-63
Circuit Breaker. Power Windows and Other
Power Options ................................ 6-67
Cleaner.
Air ................................... 6-19
Cleaning
Aluminurnwheels ........................... 6-62
Fabric
..................................... 6-57
Glass
...................................... 6-59
Leather
.................................... 6-59
Outside of the Windshield and Wiper Blades
....... 6-60
Special Problems
............................ 6-58
Stains
...................................... 6-58
The Inside
of Your Pontiac ..................... 6-56
The Outside
of Your Pontiac .................... 6-60
Tires
...................................... 6-62
Your Convertible Top ......................... 6-62
Vinyl
...................................... 6-58
Top of the Instrument Panel .................... 6-59
Clock. Setting the ................................ 3-5
Close-OutPanel
................................ 2-60
Clutch Adjustment
.............................. 6-28
Clutch. Hydraulic
............................... 6-28
Compact Disc Care ............................. 3-16
Compact Spare Tire
............................. 5-42
Console. Front
................................. 2-60
Control
of a Vehicle .............................. 4-5
Control.
Loss of ................................ 4-14
Convertible Top
................................ 2-80
Convertible Top Cleaning
........................ 6-62
CornfortControls ................................ 3-1
Convertible Top. To Lower Your ................... 2-80
Convertible Top.
To Raise Your .................... 2-83
Convex Outside Mirror
.......................... 2-54
Coolant
....................................... 6-30
Coolant Heater. Engine .......................... 2-21
Coolant Recovery Tank
.......................... 5-20
Coolant Temperature Gage
.................. ; .... 2-73
Coolant. How to Add to the Coolant Recovery Tank
... 5-20
Coolant. How to Add
to the Radiator (LT1 Engine) .... 5-26
Coolant.
How to Add to the Radiator (V6 Engine) ..... 5-23
Cooling System
................................ 5-18
Coudesy Lamps ................................ 2-52
Covered Visor Vanity Mirror ...................... 2-61
Cruise Control
Erasing Speed Memory
........................ 2-49
Passing Another Vehicle While Using ............ 2-48
Getting Out of ............................... 2-48
To Increase Speed ............................ 2-47
9-3
ProCarManuals.com

Lamps ...................................... 2-49
Lamps On Reminder
............................ 2-50
Lamps. Courtesy
............................... 2-52
Lamps. Daytime Running
........................ 2-50
Lmps. Front Map .............................. 2-52
Lamps. Interior
................................. 2-52
Lane Change Indicator
........................... 2-41
Larger Children. Safety Belt Use
................... 1-37
Latches. Front Seatback
........................... 1-6
Leaving Your Vehicle
............................. 2-4
Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine Running
....... 2-35
Lights
Air Bag Readiness ...................... 1-21. 2-68
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
........... 2-70. 4-6
Brake System Warning
........................ 2-69
Check Gauges
............................... 2-79
Coolant
(V8 Engine Only) ..................... 2-73
Low Traction
................................ 2-72
Safety Belt Reminder
..................... 1.8. 2.68
Service Engine Soon
.......................... 2-74
LowCoolant ................................ 2-73
LowOil
.................................... 2-77
Low Traction
................................ 2-72
Lighter ....................................... 2-63
Limited Slip Differential
......................... 6-29
Limited
Slip Axle .............................. 6-32
Loading Your Vehicle
........................... 4-29
Locks
Lamps. Fog ................................... 2-52
Traction Control System Warning ........... 2.72. 4-9
Door ....................................... 2-3
PowerDoor
.................................. 2-4
Steering Column
............................. 7-46
Lock. Torque .................................. 2-35
Loss of Control
................................ 4-14
Lubricants and Fluids
............................ 6-73
Lubrication. Body .............................. 7-46
Main Fuse Block ......................... 6-66. 6-67
Maintenance Record
............................ 7-52
Maintenance Schedule
Long Trip. Before Leaving on a .................... 4-22
Low Maintenance Battery
........................ 6-40
Owner Checks and Services .................... 7-45 .
Periodic Maintenance Inspections ............... 7-48
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
............ 7-50
Schedule1
................................... 7-6
Schedule
I Definition .......................... 7-4
ScheduleII
................................. 7-32
Schedule
11 Definition .......................... 7-5
Scheduled Maintenance Services
................. 7-3
Maintenance. Normal Replacement Parts ............ 6-74
Maintenance. Underbody
.... .- .. ................... 6-63
Maihtenance. When Trailer Towing
................. 4-38
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Service Engine Soon Light) 2-74
Manual Adjust Mirror
........................... 2-53
Manual Front Seat
............................... 1-1
Manual Remote Control Mirror .................... 2-53
Manual Transmission
ProCarManuals.com

Release. Remote Hatch .......................... 2- 10
Remote Hatch Release
........................... 2- 10
Remote Lock Control ............................. 2-5
Remote Lock Control. Battery Replacement
........... 2-8
Remote Lock Control. Matching Transmitters
......... 2-6
Remote Lock Control. Operation
.................... 2-6
Replacement Bulbs
............................. 6-7 1
Replacement Parts .............................. 6-74
Replacement. Wheel
............................ 6-54
Replacing Safety Belts
........................... 1-40
After a Crash ................................. 1-40
Restraints. Checking Your
........................ 1-40
Restraints. Child
................................ 1-3 1
Restraints. Head ................................. 1-6
Restraints. Replacing Parts After a Crash
............ 1-40
Retained Accessory Power
........................ 2-16
Reverse (R) Position. Manual (Five Speed) ........... 2-28
Reverse (R) Position. Manual
(Six Speed) ........... 2-29
Right Front Passenger Position
.................... 1-26
Roadside Assistance
.............................. 8-6
Roadside Assistance. Canadian
..................... 8-7
Rocking Your Vehicle
........................... 5-44
Rotation. Tire .................................. 6-50
Replacing Seat and Restraint System Parts
Reverse (R) Position Automatic Transmission ........ 2-24
RoofPanelsT-Tops ............................. 2-55
safety Belt Extender ............................ 1-40
Safety Belt Reminder Light
........................ 1-8
Safety Belts
.................................... 1-8
Adults
..................................... 1 . 13
Safety Belt Warning Light ........................ 2-68
Careof .................................... 6-59
DriverPosition
.............................. l-13
Extender ................................... 1-40
How to Wear Properly
........................ 1-13
Incorrect Usage
......................... 1-15, 1-39
Lap-Shoulder Belt ........................... 1-26
Questions People Ask
......................... 1-12
Rear Seat Passengers
......................... 1-26
Replacing After a Crash
....................... 1-40
Right Front Passenger Position
.................. 1-26
Use by Children
............................. 1-29
Use
by Larger Children ........................ 1-37
Use by Smaller Children and Babies
............. 1-29
Use During Pregnancy
........................ 1-25
Why They Work
.............................. 1-9
Safety Chains .................................. 4-35
Safety Defects
.................................. 8-5
Reporting to General Motors
.................... 8-5
Reporting to the Canadian Government
............ 8-5
Lap-Shoulder ............................... l-13
Reporting to the United States Government ......... 8-4
ProCarManuals.com