1998 PONTIAC GRAND AM instrument panel

or the instrument panel . . . or the safety belts!
With safety belts, you slow down as the vehicle does.
You get more time to stop. You stop over more distance,
and your strongest bones take the forces. That’s why
safety belts make such good sense.
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AIR
BAG
There is an air bag
readiness light on the
instrument panel, which shows AIR BAG.
m
The system checks the air bag electrical system for
malfunctions. The light tells
you if there is an electrical
problem. See
“Air Bag Readiness Light” in the Index
for more information.
How the Air Bag System Works
Where are the air bags?
The driver’s air bag is in the middle of the
steering wheel.
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The right front passenger’s air bag is in the instrument
panel on
the passenger’s side.
I A CAUTION:
If something is between an occupant and an air
bag, the bag might not inflate properly or it
might force the object into
that person. The path
of an inflating air bag must be kept clear. Don’t
put anything between an occupant and
an air
bag, and don’t attach or put anything
on the
steering wheel hub or on or near any other air
bag covering.
I
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When should an air bag inflate?
An air bag is designed to inflate in a moderate to severe
frontal or near-frontal crash. The air bag will inflate
only if the impact speed is above the system’s designed “threshold level.”
If your vehicle goes straight into a
wall that doesn’t move or deform, the threshold level is
about 9 to 14 mph (14 to 23 km/h). The threshold level
can vary, however, with specific vehicle design,
so that
it can be somewhat above or below this range. If your
vehicle strikes something that will move or deform, such
as a parked car, the threshold level will be higher. The
air bag is not designed to inflate in rollovers, side
impacts or rear impacts, because inflation would not
help the occupant.
In any particular crash, no one can say whether an air
bag should have inflated simply because of the damage
to a vehicle or because of what the repair costs were.
Inflation
is determined by the angle of the impact and
how quickly the vehicle slows down in frontal or near-frontal impacts.
What makes an air bag inflate?
In an impact of sufficient severity, the air bag sensing
system detects that the vehicle is in a crash. The sensing
system triggers a release of gas from the inflator, which
inflates the air bag. The inflator, air bag and related
hardware are all
part of the air bag modules inside the
steering wheel and in the instrument panel in front of the
right front passenger.
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 body, 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 to safety belts,
and
then only in moderate to severe frontal or
near-frontal collisions.
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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 of 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 vehicle.
I
CAUTION:
I
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 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
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.
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.
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.
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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.
If your vehicle ever gets into a lot of water -- such as
water up to the carpeting or higher
-- or if water enters
your vehicle and
soaks the carpet, the air bag controller
can be soaked and ruined. If this ever happens, and then
you
start your vehicle, the damage could make the air
bags inflate, even if there’s no crash. You would have to
replace the air bags as well as the sensors and related
parts.
If your vehicle is ever in a flood, or if it’s exposed
to water that soaks the carpet, you can avoid needless
repair costs by turning
off the vehicle immediately.
Don’t let anyone start the vehicle, even to tow it, unless
the battery cables are first disconnected.
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle
Air bags affect how your vehicle 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
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.
n I
1 A 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.
I
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v
Section 2 Features and Controls
Here you can learn about the many standard and optional featur\
es on your vehicle, and information on starting, shifting and braking.
Also explained are the instrument panel and the warning systems that tell you if everythmg is
working properly -- and what to do if you have a problem.
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16
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Keys
Door
Locks
Keyless Entry System
TrUnk
Theft
Passlock@
New Vehicle “Break-In’’
Ignition Positions Starting Your Engine
Engine Coolant Heater
(If Equipped)
Automatic Transaxle Operation
Manual Transaxle Operation
Parking Brake
Shifting Into PARK
(P)
(Automatic Transaxle Only)
Shifting Out of PARK(P)
(Automatic Transaxle Models
Only)
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2-3
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2-47 2-48
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Parking Your Vehicle
(Manual Transaxle Only)
Parking Over Things That
Burn
Engine Exhaust Running Your Engine While You’re Parked
(Automatic Transaxle)
Windows
Tilt Wheel (If Equipped)
Turn SignaVMultifunction Lever
Exterior Lamps
Interior Lamps
Mirrors Storage Compartments
Accessory Power Outlet
Sunroof
(If Equipped)
The Instrument Panel --Your
Information System
Warning Lights, Gages
and Indicators
2-1

Trunk Remote Trunk Release
To unlock the trunk from the outside, insert the key and
turn the trunk lock cylinder.
1 A CAUTION:
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:
Make sure all windows are shut.
lbrn 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.
a
The remote trunk release handle is located on the floor
near the
left side of the driver’s seat in front of the fuel
door release. Pull up on the remote release handle
to
release the trunk lid. Make sure the override feature is
not activated.
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