The 1996 Pontiac Grand Am Owner’s Manual
Seats and Restraint Systems ............................................................. 1-1
Features and Controls .................................................................. 2-1
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems ..................................................... 3-1
This section tells you how to use your seats and safety belts properly. It also explains the “SRS” system.
This section explains how to start and operate your Pontiac.
This section tells you how to adjust the ventilation
and comfort conkols and how to operate your
audio system.
Here you’ll find helpful information and tips about the road\
and how to drive under different conditions.
This section tells you what to do if you have a problem while driving, such as a flat tire or
Your Driving and the Road ............................................................... 4-1
ProblemsontheRoad .................................................................. 5-1
’ overheated engine, etc.
Service and Appearance Care ............................................................ 6-1
Maintenanceschedule.................................................... \
.............. 7-1 , ., ,(
Customer Assistance Information ........................................................ 8-1
Here the manual tells you how to keep your Pontiac running pr\
operly and looking good.
This section tells you when
to perform vehicle maintenance and what fluids and lubricants to use.
This section tells you how to contact Pontiac for assistance and how to get serv\
ice and owner publications.
It also gives you information on “Reporting Safety Defects” o\
n page
8-9.
Here’s an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual. You can use it to quickly find
something you want to read.
Index ........................................................................\
........ 9-1
i
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7. Push and pull the child restraint in different
directions to be sure it
is secure. If it isn't, secure
the restraint in a different place
in the vehicle and
contact the child restraint maker for their advice
about how to attach the child restraint properly.
To remove the child restraint, just unbuckle the vehicle's
safety belt. It
will be ready to work for an adult or larger
child passenger.
Securing.a Child Restraint in the Right
Front Seat Position
Your vehicle has a right front passenger air bag. Never
put a rear-facing child restraint in this seat. Here's why:
,I I
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be
seriously injured if the right front passenger's air
bag inflates. This
is because the back of a
rear-facing child restraint would
be very close to
the inflating air bag. Always secure a rear-facing
child restraint in the rear seat.
you'll be using the lap-shoulder belt. See the earlier part
about the top strap if the child restraint has one.
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
3. Secure the child in the child restraint as the
for the child restraint,
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.
- A-
1-41
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Loading Your Vehicle
/@!!!I OCCUPANTS VEHICLE CAP. WT.
TIRE-LOADING INFORMATION
FRT. CTR. RR. TOTAL LBS. *KG
. ..
MAX. LOADING & GVWR SAME AS VEHICLE
CAPACITY WEIGHT XXX COLD TIRE
TIRE SIZE SPEED PRESSURE
FRT.
RTG PSI/KPa
RR.
SPA.
IF TIRES ARE,HOT, ADD 4PS1/28KPa
SEE OWNER'S MANUAL FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
Two labels on your vehicle show how much weight it
may properly carry. The Tire-Loading Information label
found on the driver's door tells
you the proper size,
speed rating and recommended inflation pressures for
the tires on
your vehicle. It also gives you important
information about
the number of people that can be in
your vehicle and the total weight that you can carry.
This weight is called the Vehicle Capacity Weight and
includes the weight of all occupants, cargo and all
nonfactory-installed
options.
THIS VEHICLE CONFORMS TO ALL APPLI-
SAFETY, BUMPER, AND THEFT PREVENTION
MANUFACTURE SHOWN ABOVE.
CABLE- U.S. FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE
STANDARDS IN EFFElCT ON THE DATE OF
The other label is the Certification label, found on the
rear edge of the driver's door. It tells you the GVMrR
(Gross Vehicle Weight Rating). The GVWa includes the
weight of the vehicle, all occupants, fuel and cargo.
Never exceed the
GVWa for your vehicle, or the Gruss
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) for either the front or rear
axle.
.
And, if you do have a heavy load, you should spread it
out. Don't carry
more than 132 lbs. (60 kg) in your trunk
4-32
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10. Tighten the wheel. nuts
firmly in a criss-cross
sequence, as shown.
-
Incorrect wheel nuts or improperly tightened
wheel nuts can cause the wheel to become loose
and even come
off. This could lead to an accident.
Be sure
to use the correct wheel nuts. If you have
to replace them, be sure
to get new GM original
equipment wheel
nuts.
Stop somewhere as soon as you can.and have the
nuts tightened with
a torque wrench to I00 Ib-ft
(140 N-m).
I NOTICE:
Improperly tightened wheel nuts can lead to
brake pulsation and rotor damage. To avoid
expensive brake repairs, evenly tighten the wheel
nuts in the proper sequence and to the proper
torque specifications.
Don’t itry to put a wheel cover on your compact spare
tire. It won’t fit. Store the wheel cover and plastic
cap nuts in the trunk until you have the flat tire
repaired
or replaced.
... .
NOTICE:
~
Wheel covers won’t, fit on your compact spare.
If you try to put a wheel cover on your compact
spare,
you could damwe the cover or the spare.
~~
5-28
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Halogen Bulbs ................... .... 6-33
Hazard Warning Flashers
................... ... 5-1
Head Restraints ................................. 1-5
Headlamps ..................................... 2-39
Bulb Replacement
............................ 6-33
HighLow Beam Changer
...................... 2-32
Hearing Impaired, Customer Assistance .............. 8-4
High-Beam Headlamps
.......................... 2-32
Highway Hypnosis
.............................. 4-23
Hill
and Mountain Roads ......................... 4-23
Hitches, Trailer
................................. 4-37
Checking Things Under
......................... 6-6
Hydraulic Clutch
............................... 6-21
Hydraulic Clutch Fluid
........................... 6-22
Hydraulic Clutch System Check
................... 7-38
OnReminder
................................ 2-40
Wiring
...................................... 6-54
.Heating
.................. ; ..................... 3-5
Hood Prop
........................................ 6-7
Release
........................................ 6-6
Horn ......................................... 2-30
Hydroplaning .............................. : .... 4-19
Ignition Switch
................................ 2- 11
Illuminated Entry
............................... 2-42
Inside Daymight Rearview Mirror
................. 2-44
Exhaust Systems
............................. 7-41
Front-Wheel-Drive Axle Boot
.................. 7-41,
Inflation. Tire
.................................. 6-38
Inspections
BmkeSystem ................................ 7-41
Front-Wheel-Drive Axle
Seal .................... 7-41 Radiator and Heater Hose
...................... 7-41
Suspension
................................... 7-41
Steering .................................... 7-41
Throttle Linkage
............................... 7-41
Instrument Panel
............................... 2-50
Brightness Control ............................ 2-41
Fuse Block
.................................. 6-55
Interior Lamps ................................. 2-41
Cleaning
.................................... 6-48
Cluster
2-52 .....................................
Jack. Tire .................................... 5-23
Jump Starting
................................... 5-2
Key Lock Cylinders Service ..................... 7-38
Key Release Button
............................. 2-13
Keyless Entry System
............................ 2-6
Keys .......................................... 2-1
Labels Certification/”ire ............................. 4-32
Service
Parts Identification ..................... 6-53
Tire-Loading Information
...................... 4-32
Vehicle Identification Number
: .................. 6-53
Lamps ........................................ 2-39
Fog
........................................ 2-41
Interior
..................................... 2-41
On Reminder ................................ 2-40
Latches, Seatback
................................ 1-5
Leaving Your Vehicle ............................. 2-5
Leaving Your Vehicle with the Engine Running ....... 2-26
Lighter
....................................... 2-47
9-5
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Tire Loading .................................... 4-32
Tire-Loading Information Label
................... 4-32
Tires
......................................... 6-37
Alignment
and Balance ........................ 6-42
Buying New ................................. 6-40
Chains
..................................... 6-44
Changing a Flat
.............................. 5-21
Cleaning
.................................... 6-50
Compact Spare ............................... 5-3 1
Inflation
.................................... 6-38
Inflation Check
............................... 7-37
Inspection and Rotation
........................ 6-39
Loading
.................................. :.4-32
Pressure
.................................... 6-38
Temperature
.................................. 6-42
Traction
.................................... 6-42
Treadwe as ................................... 6-41
Uniform Quality Grading
....................... 6-41
Used Replacement Wheel ...................... 6-44
Wear Indicators .............................. 6-40
Wheel Replacement
........................... 6-43
When It’s Time for New
....................... 6-40
TopStrap ..................................... 1-37
T~rqueLock
................................... 2-26
I’orque, Wheel
Nut ......................... 5-28. 6-60
From the Front
............................... 4-29
From the Rear ............................... 4-31
Recreational Vehicle
.......................... 4-29
Trailer
...................................... 4-34
Vehicle
...................................... 5-7
rowing
Trailer
Brakes
..................................... 4-37
Driving on Grades ............................ 4-39
Driving with ................................. 4-38
Hitches ..................................... 4-37
Maintenance
When Towing ..................... 4-40
Parking on Hills
.............................. 4-39
Safety Chains
................................ 4-37
Tongueweight ............................... 4-36
Total Weight on Tires
.......................... 4-36
Towing
..................................... 4-34
Turnsignals
................................. 4-39
Weight
..................................... 4-35
Automatic
................................... 6-17
Manual ..................................... 6-20
Transmitters, Keyless Entry
........................ 2-6
Transportation, Courtesy .......................... 8-7
Trip Odometer ................................. 2-53
TrUnk
Lock ........................................ 2-8
Security Override .............................. 2-9
TTY Users ..................................... 8-4
Turn Signal
and Lane Change Signals ............... 2-32
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever ................... 2-31
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
................ 4-39
Transaxle
Underbody Flushing Service
...................... 7-40
Underbody Maintenance ......................... 6-51
Up Shift Light ............................ 2-23. 2.64
9-10
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