1997 PONTIAC GRAND AM service

7 The 1997 Pontiac Grand Am Owner’s Manual
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Seats and Restraint Systems
This section tells you how to use your seats and safety belts properly. It also explains the “SRS” system.
Features and Controls
This section explains how to start and operate your Pontiac.
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
This section tells you how to adjust the ventilation and comfort controls and how to operate your audio system.
Your Driving and the Road
Here you’ll find helpful information and tips about the road and how to drive under different conditions.
Problems on the Road
This section tells what to do if you have a problem while driving, such as a flat tire or overheated engine, etc.
Service and Appearance Care
Here the manual tells you how to keep your Pontiac running properly and looking good.
Maintenance Schedule
This section tells you when to perform vehicle maintenance and what fluids and lubricants to use.
Customer Assistance Information
This section tells you how to contact Pontiac for assistance and how to get service and owner publications.
It also gives you information on “Reporting Safety Defects” on page
8- 10.
Index
Here’s an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual. You can use it to quickly find
something you want to read.
i

WUB PONTIAC
GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem,
PONTIAC, the PONTIAC Emblem and the name
GRAND AM are registered trademarks of General
Motors Corporation.
This manual includes the latest information at the time it
was printed. We reserve the right to make changes in the
product after that time without further notice. For
vehicles first sold in Canada, substitute the name
“General Motors
of Canada Limited” for Pontiac
Division whenever it appears
___ this manual.
Please keep this manual in your Pontiac,
so it will be
there if you ever need it when you’re on the road. If you
sell the vehicle, please leave this manual in it
so the new
owner can use it.
Litho in
U.S.A.
Part No. 10273369 B First Edition
WE SUPPORT
VOLUNTARY TECHNICIAN
CERTIFICATION THROUGH
National Institute for
AUTOMOTIVE
SERVICE
EXCELLENCE
We support voluntary
technician certification.
For Canadian Owners Who Prefer a
French Language Manual:
Aux propriktaires canadiens: Vous pouvez vous
procurer un exemplaire de ce guide en franqais chez
votre concessionaire ou au:
DGN Marketing Services Ltd.
1500 Bonhill Rd.
Mississauga, Ontario L5T 1C7
@Copyright General Motors Corporation
1996
All Rights Reserved
ii

In many crashes severe enough to inflate an air bag,
windshields are broken by vehicle deformation.
Additional windshield breakage may
also occur from the
right front passenger air bag.
0 Air bags are designed to inflate only once. After they
inflate, you’ll need some new parts for your air bag
system. If you don’t get them, the air bag system
won’t be there to help protect you in another crash.
A new system will include air bag modules and
possibly other parts. The service manual for your
vehicle covers the need to replace other parts.
0 Your vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing and
diagnostic module, which records information
about the air bag system. The module records
infomation about the readiness of the system, when
the sensors are activated and driver’s safety belt
usage at deployment.
0 Let only qualified technicians work on your air bag
system. Improper service can mean that your air
bag system won’t work properly. See your dealer
for service.
NOTICE:
If you damage the covering for the driver’s or the
right front passenger’s
air bag, the bag may not
work properly.
You may have to replace the air
bag module in the steering wheel or both the air
bag module and the instrument panel for the
right front passenger’s air bag.
Do not open or
break the air bag coverings.
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Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Pontiac
Air bags affect how your Pontiac should be serviced.
There are parts
of the air bag system in several places
around your vehicle. You don’t want the system to
inflate while someone is working on your vehicle. Your
Pontiac dealer and the Grand Am Service Manual have
information about servicing your vehicle and the air bag
system. To purchase a service manual, see “Service and
Owner Publications” in the Index.
I A I
/! CAUTION:
For up to 10 minutes after the ignition key is
turned off and the battery is disconnected, an air
bag can
still inflate during improper service. You
can be injured if you are close to an air bag when
it inflates. Avoid wires wrapped with yellow tape
or yellow connectors. They are probably part of
the
air bag system. Be sure to follow proper
service procedures, and make sure the person
performing work for you
is qualified to do so.
The air bag system does not need regular maintenance.
Rear Seat Passengers
It’s very important for rear seat passengers to buckle up!
Accident statistics show that unbelted people in the rear
seat are hurt more often in crashes than those who are
wearing safety belts.
Rear passengers who aren’t safety belted can be thrown
out of the vehicle in a crash. And they can strike others
in the vehicle who are wearing safety belts.
Rear Seat Outside Passenger Positions
U
Lap-Shoulder Belt
The positions next to the windows have lap-shoulder
belts. Here’s how to wear one properly.
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Keyless Entry System (If Equipped)
If your Pontiac has this option, you can lock and unlock
your doors or unlock your trunk from about
3 feet (1 m)
up to
30 feet (9 m) away using the remote keyless entry
transmitter supplied with your vehicle.
In addition, the system illuminates the interior lamps for
a set period of time. The Keyless Entry System consists
of a receiver, which is located in the vehicle, and two
hand-held transmitters.
Your Keyless Entry System
operates on a radio
frequency subject to Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) Rules
and with Industry and
Science Canada.
This device complies with
Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) this device may not cause harmful interference,
and
(2) this device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may cause
undesired operation.
This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry and Science
Canada. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) this device may not cause interference, and (2) this device
must accept any interference received, including interference
that may cause undesired operation of the device.
Changes
or modifications to this system by other than an
authorized service facility could void authorization to
use this equipment.
This system has a range of about
3 feet (1 m) up to
30 feet (9 m). At times you may notice a decrease
in range. This
is normal for any keyless entry system.
If the transmitter does not work or
if you have to
stand closer to your vehicle for the transmitter to
work,
try this:
Check to determine if battery replacement or
resynchronization
is necessary. See the instructions
that follow.
Check the distance. You may be too far from your
vehicle. You may need to stand closer during rainy
or snowy weather.
Check the location. Other vehicles or objects may be
blocking the signal. Take a few steps to the left or right,
hold the transmitter higher and
try again.
or a qualified technician for service.
If you’re still having trouble, see your Pontiac dealer

Synchronization Your Keyless Entry System is equipped with a security
system that prevents anyone from recording and playing
back your signal. The transmitter does not send the same
signal twice to the receiver. The receiver will not
respond
to a signal that has been sent to it more
than once.
Trunk
To resynchronize your transmitter and receiver, follow
these directions:
1. Stand close to your vehicle.
2. Press and hold the LOCK and UNLOCK buttons on
the transmitter at the same time.
3. Hold the buttons for five seconds. In this time, the
doors should lock and unlock once. This confirms
the resynchronization. If the doors do not lock and
unlock, see your dealer for service.
To unlock the trunk from the outside, insert the key and
turn the trunk lock cylinder.
It can be dangerous to drive with the trunk lid
open because carbon monoxide (CO) gas can
come into your vehicle.
You can’t see or smell
CO.
It can cause unconsciousness and even death.
If you must drive with the trunk lid open or if
electrical wiring or other cable connections must
pass through the seal between the body and the
trunk lid:
0 Make sure all windows are shut.
Turn the fan on your heating or cooling
system to its highest speed
with the setting on
VENT. That
will force outside air into your
vehicle. See “Comfort Controls” in the Index.
instrument panel, open them all the way.
0 If you have air outlets on or under the
See “Engine Exhaust” in the Index.
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Passlock TM
Your vehicle is equipped with the Passlock
theft-deterrent system.
Passlock is a passive theft-deterrent system. The system is
armed once the key is removed from the ignition. Passlock
enables fuel if the ignition lock cylinder is turned with a valid key.
If a correct key is not used, fuel is disabled,
During normal operation, the THEFT SYS light will go
off after the engine is started. If the engine stalls and the
THEFT SYS light flashes, wait until the light stops
flashing before trying to restart the engine. Remember to
release the key from the START position as soon as the
engine starts. If you are driving and the THEFT
SYS
light comes on, you will be able to restart the engine if
you turn the engine off. However, your Passlock system
is not working properly and must be serviced by your
dealer. Your vehicle is not protected by Passlock at this
time.
You may also want to check the fuse (see “Fuses
and Circuit Breakers” in the Index). See your Pontiac
dealer for service.
If the THEFT SYS light comes on while the engine is
running,
a problem has been detected and the system
may need service. See your dealer for service.
In an emergency, call the Pontiac Roadside Assistance
Center at 1-800-ROADSIB or 1-800-762-3743.
New Vehicle “Break-InSS
NOTICE:
Your modern Pontiac doesn’t need an elaborate
“break-in,” But it will perform better in the long
run
if you follow these guidelines:
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Don’t drive at any one speed -- fast or
slow
-- for the first 500 miles (805 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,
Don’t tow
a trailer during break-in,
See “Towing a Trailer” in the Index for
more information.
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START (E): This position starts your 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.
On manual transaxle vehicles, turning the key to
LOCK will lock the steering column and result in
a loss of ability to steer the vehicle. This could
cause
a collision, If you need to turn the engine
off while the vehicle is moving, turn the key only
to
OFF. Don’t press the key release button while
the vehicle is moving.
NOTICE:
If your key seems stuck in LOCK and you can’t
turn it, be sure you are using the correct key; if
so, is it all the way in? If it is, then turn the
steering wheel left and right while you turn the
key
hard. But turn the key only with your hand.
Using
a tool to force it could break the key or the
ignition switch.
If none of this works, then your
vehicle needs service.
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