
The 1997 Pontiac  Grand  Prix Owner’s Manual 
1-1 
2- 1 
3- 1 
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  comfo\
rt  controls  and  how  to  operate  your  audio  system. 
4- 1 Your Driving  and  the  Road 
Here  you’ll  find  helpful  information  and  tips  about  the  road\
  and  how to drive  under  different  conditions. 
This  section  tells  what  to  do 
if you  have  a  problem  while  driving,  such  as  a  flat  tire  or  ove\
rheated  engine,  etc. 
5-1 Problems on the Road 
6- 1 
7-1 
Service  and  Appearance  Care 
Here  the  manual  tells  you  how  to  keep  your  Pontiac  running  pr\
operly  and  looking  good. 
Maintenance  Schedule 
This  section  tells  you  when  to  perform  vehicle  maintenance  and \
 what  fluids  and  lubricants  to  use. 
8- 1 Customer  Assistance  Information 
This  section  tells  you  how to contact  Pontiac  for  assistance  and  how  to  get  service  and  owne\
r  publications. 
It  also  gives  you  information  on  “Reporting  Safety  Defects”  on  page 
8-10. 
Here’s an alphabetical  listing  of almost  every  subject in this  manual.  You can  use  it  to  quickly  find 
something  you  want  to  read. 
9-1 Index 
i 
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GENERAL  MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem, 
PONTIAC,  the 
PONTIAC Emblem and the name 
GRAND PRIX 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 in 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, 10405301 A Third  Edition 
.. 
WE SUPPORT 
VOLUNTARY  TECHNICIAN 
CERTIFICATION 
THROUGH 
National Institute for 
AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE EXCELLENCE 
We  supp’ort voluntary 
technician certification. 
For Canadian Owners Who Prefer a 
French Language Manual: 
Aux propribtaires  canadiens: Vous pouvez vous 
procurer  un exemplaire  de  ce guide 
en frarqais  chez 
votre concessionaire ou  au: 
DGN  Marketing  Services Ltd. 
15800 Bonhill Rd. 
Mississauga,  Ontario L5T IC7 
‘Copyright General Motolrs Corporation 1996 
A€€ Rights Reserved 
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How does an  air  bag  restrain? 
In moderate  to severe frontal or near-frontal  collisions, 
even 
belted occupants can contact the  steering  wheel  or 
the instrument panel. Air bags supplement the protection 
provided  by safety  belts. 
Air bags distribute the force of 
the impact more evenly over the  occupant’s  upper  bady, 
stopping 
the occupant more  gradually. But air bags would 
not  help 
you in many  types of collisions,  including 
rollovers,  rear impacts  and side  impacts,  primarily 
because  an occupant’s  motion is not  toward  those  air 
bags. 
Air bags should  never  be  regarded  as  anything 
more 
than a supplement tn safety  belts,  and then only in 
moderate  to  severe front:.- ~r newfrontal  collisions. 
What  will you see  after an air bag  inflates? 
After an  air bag  inflates,  it  quickly deflates, so 
quickly that some people  may not even realize the 
air  bag  inflated.  Some  components o’f the  air bag 
module 
-- the steering  wheel hub for  the driver’s air bag, 
or 
the instrument  panel  for  the  right front  passenger’s 
bag 
-- will  be  hot  for  a short  time.  The  parts of the bag 
that come  into  contact  with you 
may be warm, but not 
too hot 
to touch.  There  will be some smoke and  dust 
coming 
from vents  in the deflated air bags. Air bag 
inflation doesn’t  prevent  the driver from seeing  or from 
being  able  to  steer the vehicle, nor 
does it  stop people 
from  leaving  the  vehkle. 
When  an air bag inflates,  there  is  dust  in  the  air. 
This  dust  could  cause  breathing  problems 
for 
people  with a history of asthma  or other 
breathing  trouble. 
To avoid  this,  everyone in the 
vehicle  should  get  out  as 
soon as  it  is safe  to do so. 
If  you  have  breathing  problems  but can’t get out 
of the vehicle  after  an  air  bag  inflates,  then  get 
fresh air by opening a window or door. 
In many  crashes  severe  enough ta inflate  an air  bag, 
windshields  are broken 
by vehicle  deformation. 
Additional windshield breakage  may also  occur  from  the 
right  front  passenger air bag. 
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. 
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0 Your vehicle  is equipped with a crash sensing  and 
diagnostic module, which records information 
about the air bag system.  The module records 
information about the readiness 
of the  system, 
when the sensors are activated and driver’s safety 
belt usage  at deployment. 
bag system. Improper service can mean  that your 
air  bag system won’t work  properly. 
See your 
dealer 
for service. 
Let  only  qualified technicians work  on your  air 
NOTICE: 
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 Prix 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. 
If you aarnage the  cover 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  covers. 
1 r up to 10 1 nutes  af th gn.  )n: y 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. 
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9. On both sides  of the harness, pull up on the lap part  a 
little to be sure it’s locked. 
If the harness isn’t locked,  or if it becomes too tight, 
unfasten  the harness clip. Then unlatch the harness 
by pushing the button 
on the buckle,  and let both 
sides  of the harness  go  all the way  back 
so they  will 
move freely again.  Then, repeat Steps 
4 through 8. 
If the harness still  doesn’t lock, don’t use the child 
restraint.  See your dealer  to have the built-in  child 
restraint serviced.  10. 
Adjust the position 
of the  harness  on the  child’s 
shoulders  by moving  the clip up 
or down along the 
harness.  On each side of  the harness, the shoulder 
part should be centered  on the child’s  shoulder. The 
harness should be away  from 
the child’s face and 
neck,  but not falling 
off the child’s  shoulders. 
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3. Close the door. 
4. Do the same thing  to the other rear door lock. 
The  rear  doors  of your vehicle cannot  be opened from 
the insid'e when this  feature is 
in use. If  you  want to 
open  the rear door when the security lock 
is on, unlock 
the  door from the  inside and then open the door from 
the  outside. 
Leaving Your Vehicle 
If you are leaving  the vehicle, take your keys, open your 
door and set the  locks from inside. Then get out and 
close the  door. 
Keyless  Entry (If Equipped) 
If your Pontiac  has this option, you can  lock  and  unlock  your 
doors  or  unlock  your 
trunk from up  to 30 feet (9 m) away 
using 
the key  chain  transmitter  supplied  with your vehicle. 
Your  Keyless 
Entry System  operates  on  a  radio  frequency 
subject  to Federal  Communications  Commission (FCC) 
Rules  and  with  Industry  and  Science  Canada  Rules. 
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. Operations  is subject to the following 
two conditions: 
(I) 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. 
This system has  a range 
of about 3 geet (1 m) up to 
30 feet (9 m).  At times you may  notice  a decrease  in 
range. This 
is normal  for any  remote  keyless entry 
system. If the transmitter  does not work or if you have 
to  stand  closer to your vehicle  for th'e transmitter to 
work,  try 
this: 
Check  to determine if battery replacement 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 and  try again. 
or  a qualified technician  for service. 
If you're still having trouble, see your Pontiac  dealer 
Changes  or modifications to this  system by other than 
an  authorized service facility 
could void authorization to 
use this equipment. 
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Arming  with  the  Power  Lock  Switch 
Your alarm system will  arm when you use either power 
lock  switch to  lock the doors  while any door  is open and 
the  key  is removed from  the  ignition (if  you would like 
to  turn  off the  power  door  lock switch arming,  see 
“Locks and Lighting Choices” 
in the Index).  The 
security  light  flashes  quickly to  let 
you know when the 
system  is ready to arm with  the power door switches. 
The security light will 
stop flashing and stay on,  when 
you  press the  rear 
of the power lock switch,  to  let you 
know the system  is arming. After all doors  are closed 
and locked, the security light will begin flashing at a 
very  slow  rate to let you  know the system  is armed. 
Arming  with  the Key Chain  Transmitter 
Your  alarm  system  will  arm  when  you  use  your  key chain 
transmitter  to lock  the  doors  while  the  key  is  removed 
from the  ignition.  The  security  light will  turn  on to let you 
know  the  system  is  arming.  After  all  doors  are  closed  and  locked,  the  security  light  will  begin  flashing 
at a very  slow 
rate to let you know the system is armed. 
Arming  Confirmation 
If remote  unlock  confirmation  is  on (see  “Locks  and  Lighting 
Choices”  in  the  Index),  your  headlamps  will  flash  briefly  to 
let  you 
know when  your  alarm  system  has  armed. 
Disarming  with  the  Key.  Chain  Transmitter 
Your alarm system  will  disarm  when you use your key 
chain  transmitter to unlock  the  doors. The security light 
will  stop  flashing 
to let you know  the system  is  disarmed. 
Disarming  with Your Key 
Your  alarm system will disarm when you  use your key 
to unlock the doors.  The security  light  will  stop  flashing 
to  let 
you know the  system is  disarmed.  If you would 
like your key  to disarm  the alarm  system, 
see “Locks 
and Lighting Choices” in the Index. 
Nuisance  Alarms 
If you  experience  nuisance alarms (alarms  which are not 
caused  by 
the opening of a door  and are not  desirable), 
you may  need to reduce  the  damage detection  sensitivity. 
Try programming  your  Content  Theft-Deterrent  to  mode 
1, see “Locks  and  Lighting  Choices”  in the  Index. If you 
continue 
to experience  nuisance  alarms,  you  may  want to 
try turning off damage  detection  by  programming  your 
Content  Theft-Deterrent 
to mode 2, see “Locks and 
Lighting  Choices” 
in the  Index. 
If you are still having trouble  with  nuisance  alarms,  you 
can turn off the Content Theft-Deterrent  system by 
programming your Content Theft-Deterrent  to  mode 
3, 
see “Locks and Lighting Choices” in the  Index. See your 
dealer 
or a qualified technician for service. 
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OFF (C): This position lets you turn  off the engine  but 
still 
turn the steering wheel. It doesn’t lock the steering 
wheel like LOCK. Use OFF if  you  must have your 
vehicle 
pushed or towed. 
RUN (D): This  position is where the key returns 
after 
you start your vehicle. With the engine off, you 
can use RUN to  display some of your warning and 
indicator lights. 
START (E): This  position starts your engine. 
A warning  chime will sound  if  you open the driver’s 
door when the ignition is in OFF, LOCK or 
ACCESSORY and the key  is in the ignition, 
~ 
NOTICE: 
~~ 
If your key seems  stuck in LOCK and you can’t 
turn  it, be  sure  your  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  yon  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. 
Starting Your Engine 
Move your shift lever  to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N). 
Your  engine  won’t start in any  other  position -- that’s a 
safety feature. To restart when you’re already moving, 
use NEUTRAL 
(N) only. 
NOTICE: 
Don’t  try to shift to PARK (P) if your Pontiac is 
moving. If you  do,  you  could,  damage the 
transaxle. Shift  to 
PARK (P) only  when your 
vehicle 
is stopped. 
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. 
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