
The 1997 Pontiac  Grand  Prix Owner’s Manual 
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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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Parking on Hills 
You really should  not  park your  vehicle, with a trailer 
attached, 
on a hill.  If something goes wrong, your rig 
could  start to move. People 
can be injured, and both 
your vehicle and the trailer  can be damaged. 
But 
if you  ever have to park your rig on a hill,  here’s 
how to do it: 
1. Apply  your regular brakes, but don’t shift  into 
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer  wheels. 
3. When the wheel chocks are  in place,  release the 
regular brakes until the  chocks absorb the load. 
4. Reapply the regular brakes.  Then apply  your parking 
brake,  and then shift  to 
FARM (P). 
5. Release the regular brakes. 
PARK (P) yet, 
When You Are Ready  to  Leave After 
Parking on a Hill 
1. Apply your regular brakes  and hold the  pedal down 
while you: 
Start your engine; 
Shift into a gear; and 
0 Release the parking brake. 
2. Let up on the brake pedal. 
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks. 
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks. 
Maintenance When Trailer Towing 
Your  vehicle will need service more often when you’re 
pulling 
a trailer.  See the Maintenance Schedule for more 
on  this. Things that are especially important  in trailer 
operation are automatic transaxle  fluid (don’t overfill), 
engine oil, belts, belt, cooling  system and brake 
adjustment. Each 
of these is covered in this manual, and 
the Index  will 
help you find  them quickly. If you’re 
trailering,  it’s a good idea  to review  these sections 
before you start your trip. 
Check periodically  to see  that  all hitch  nuts and bolts 
are tight. 
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What to Do with Used Oil 
Did  you know that used  engine  oil  contains  certain 
elements that may  be unhealthy for your  skin and  could 
even  cause  cancer?  Don't let used oil  stay on your skin 
for very  long. Clean your  skin and nails with  soap and 
water,  or a good hand cleaner.  Wash or properly throw 
away clothing 
or rags  containing  used engine  oil. (See 
the manufacturer's  warnings about the  use and  disposal 
of  oil  products.) 
Used oil can be 
a real threat  to the environment. If you 
change your own  oil,  be  sure  to drain all free-flowing  oil 
from the filter  before  disposal.  Don't ever  dispose  of oil 
by putting  it  in the trash, pouring  it on  the  ground,  into 
sewers, or  into  streams  or  bodies of water. Instead, 
recycle  it  by taking  it to a  place  that collects  used oil. If 
you  have  a problem properly disposing 
of your used oil, 
ask  your dealer, 
a service  station or a local  recycling 
center  for  help. 
Air Cleaner 
To check  or  replace  the air  filter: 
1. 
2. 
3. 
Loosen the wing nut on  the  air  duct. 
Lift  up on the  two  clips  located  on top  of the 
filter  cover. 
Disconnect  duct and reposition  while  removing 
the  side  cover. Pull  out  the  filter. 
Be sure to install 
the  air filter and install  the  cover tightly when  you 
are  finished. 
Refer 
to the  Maintenance Schedule to  determine when to 
replace  the air filter. 
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How to Check  and  Add Oil 
Check oil only when the  engine is cold. Allow the 
engine  to cool  two  to  three  hours  after running. 
If you  remove  the  supercharger  oil  fill  plug  while 
the  engine  is  hot,  pressure  may  cause  hot  oil  to 
blow  out 
of the  oil  fill  hole. You may be  burned. 
DQ not  remove  the  plug  until  the  engine  cools. 
1. Clean the  area around  the  oil  fill  plug  before 
removing  it. 
2, Remove the  oil  fill plug using a 3/16 inch 
Allen wrench. 
5. The  oil level is  correct when it  just  reaches the 
bottom  of the  threads 
of the inspection hole. 
4. Replace  the  oil plug with the O-ring  in place. 
Torque to  88 
lb-in (10 N.m). 
Automatic  Transaxle  Fluid 
When to Check  and  Change 
A good time  to  check your  automatic transaxle fluid 
level is when  the  engine  oil  is  changed. 
Change both  the fluid and  filter every 
50,000 miles 
(83 
000 km) if  the vehicle is mainly driven under  one  or 
more  of these conditions: 
In heavy  city traffic where  the outside temperature 
regularly  reaches 
90 OF (3 2 O C) or higher. 
0 In hilly  or mountainous terrain. 
0 When doing  frequent  trailer  towing. 
Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service. 
If you do not use your vehicle  under any of these 
conditions, the  fluid and filter  do  not require  changing. 
See  “Scheduled Maintenance  Services” in the  Index. 
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To calibrate the system: 
1. Turn the ignition switch  to ON. 
2. The CALIBRATE TIRE PRESS button is under the 
instrument panel, to the right  of the steering column. 
Press  and hold the button for about three seconds. 
The 
CHECK TIRE PRFSS light will flash  three 
times  and go  out. 
If the light doesn’t go out after  you 
press  the 
CALIBRATE TIRE PRESS button,  see 
your  dealer for service. 
3. The system completes the calibration process during 
driving. During the first 
10 to 20 miles (15 to 30 km) 
of  driving,  the system  will not alert you if a tire  is 
low  or high.  After 
20 to 80 miles (30 to 125 km), the 
system will  only alert 
you about pressure differences 
of 
12 psi (85 kPa) or more.  After 80 miles (125 km) 
of driving, the system will alert you if a tire  is 8 psi 
(55 Pa) different from the other  three tires. 
Tire Inspection and Rotation 
Tires  should  be rotated every 6,000 to 8,000 miles 
(10 000 to 13 000 km). Any time  you notice unusual 
wear, rotate your tires  as soon  as possible and check 
wheel alignment. Also  check  for damaged tires or 
wheels.  See “When 
It’s Time  for New Tires” and 
“Wheel Replacement” later  in this section for 
more  information.  The 
purpose 
of regular rotation  is to  achieve more 
uniform wear for all tires on the vehicle.  The  first 
rotation  is the most important.  See “Scheduled 
Maintenance Services” in  the Index  for scheduled 
rotation intervals. 
When  rotating your tires, always  use 
the correct rotation 
pattern shown here. 
Don’t  include  the  compact spare tire in your tire  rotation. 
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Section 7 Maintenance  Schedule 
This section  covers the maintenance required for your Pontiac.  Your vehicle needs these services  to retain its &e@ 
dependability  and emission control performance. 
7-2  Introduction to  Your Maintenance Schedule 
7-2  Your  Vehicle  and the Environment 
7-3 
How this  Section  is Organized 
7-4  Using Your Maintenance Schedule 
7-4  Selecting the Right Schedule for  Your  Vehicle 
7-5 Short TripKity Definition 
7-5 Short Trip/City  Intervals 
7-6 Long Trip/Highway Definition  7-6 
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7-40 
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Long  Tripmighway  Intervals 
Owner Checks 
at Each Fuel Fill-up 
What  to Check  at Least Once  a  Month 
What 
to Check  at Least Twice  a Year 
What  to Check  at Least Once  a Year 
Periodic Maintenance Inspections 
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants 
A Place to Record Maintenance Procedures 
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HQW This  Section is Organized 
The remainder  of this  section is divided into  five parts: 
“Part A: Scheduled  Maintenance  Services” shows 
what  to have  done  and how often.  Some of these 
services can be complex, 
so unless  you are technically 
qualified  and have  the  necessary equipment,  you should 
let  your  dealer’s  service department  or another qualified 
service center  do these 
jobs. 
Performing  maintenance  work on a vehicle  can 
be  dangerous. 
In trying  to do some jobs, you can 
be  seriously  injured. Do your  own  maintenance 
work  only  if you  have  the  required  know-how 
and the  proper  tools  and  equipment  for the job. 
If you  have  any  doubt,  have a qualified 
technician  do the  work. 
If you are  skilled enough to do some work on your 
vehicle,  you will  probably want to get  the service 
information 
GM publishes.  See  “Service  and Owner 
Publications” 
in the  Index. 
“Part B: Owner  Checks  and  Services” tells  you 
what should  be checked and when. 
It also explains 
what  you can easily  do  to  help  keep your vehicle 
in 
good condition. 
“Part C: Periodic  Maintenance  Inspections” explains 
important  inspections  that your Pontiac 
deaIer’s service 
department  or another  qualified  service center 
should perform. 
((Part D: Recommended  Fluids  and  Lubricants” lists 
some products 
GM recommends  to  help keep your 
vehicle properly maintained.  These products,  or their 
equivalents,  should be used whether  you do the work 
yourself  or  have  it  done. 
“Part E: Maintenance  Record” provides a place for 
you  to record  the maintenance performed  on your 
vehicle. Whenever any maintenance  is performed,  be 
sure  to write  it down  in  this  part. 
This will help you 
determine when your next maintenance should  be done. 
In addition,  it 
is a good idea  to  keep your maintenance 
receipts. They  may be needed 
to qualify  your vehicle for 
warranty  repairs. 
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Part A: Scheduled Maintlenance 
Services 
Using Your Maintenance Schedule 
We at General Motors want  to help  you keep your 
vehicle  in  good working condition. But  we don’t know 
exactly  how  you’ll 
drive it. You  may  drive very short 
distances only 
a few times  a  week. Or you may  drive 
long distances  all the time  in very  hot, dusty  weather, 
You may use your vehicle in making deliveries. Or 
you may  drive it to work, to do errands  or in many 
other ways. 
Because  of all  the  different ways people 
use their GM 
vehicles, maintenance needs  vary. You may even need 
more frequent checks and replacements than you’ll find 
in  the schedules  in this section. 
So please  read this 
section and note  how 
you drive. If you have  any 
questions 
on how  to  keep  your vehicle in good 
condition,  see your Pontiac dealer. 
This part tells you the maintenance services you should 
have done and when 
you should schedule them. If you 
go to your dealer for  your service  needs, you’ll know 
that GM-trained and supported service people  will 
perform the work  using genuine 
GM pasts.  The  proper  fluids  and  lubricants 
to use  are  listed  in Part D. 
Make sure whoever  services  your  vehicle  uses  these.  All 
parts should 
be replaced  and all necessary  repairs  done 
before 
you or anyone  else  drives the vehicle. 
These schedules are  for vehicles that: 
carry passengers and cargo within recommended 
limits. 
You will  find these  limits on your vehicle’s 
Tire-Loading Information  label.  See “Loading Your 
Vehicle”  in the Index. 
0 are driven on reasonable road surfaces within  legal 
use the recommended fuel. See “Fuel” in the Index. 
driving limits. 
Selecting the Right Scheldule 
First you’ll need 
to decide which of the two schedules  is 
right for your vehicle.  Here’s how 
to decide which 
schedule 
to follow: 
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