The 1998 Pontiac Grand Am Owner’s Manual
1-1
2-1
3-1
4-1
5-1
6- 1
7-1
8- 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 vehicle.
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
This section tells you how to adjust the ventilation and comfort co\
ntrols 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 vehicle running properly and looking good.
Maintenance Schedule
This section tells you when to perform vehicle maintenance and what fluids and lubrica\
nts to use.
Customer Assistance Information
This section tells you how to contact Pontiac for assistance and ho\
w to get service and owner publications.
It also gives you information on “Reporting Safety Defects” on page
8-10.
9-1 Index
Here’s an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in th\
is manual. You can use it to quickly find
something you want to read.
i
Your instrument panel is designed to let you know at a glance how \
your vehicle is running. You’ll know how fast
you’re going, how much
fuel you’re using, and many other things you’ll need to drive \
safely and economically.
The main components of your instrument panel are:
A. Fuse Panel
B. Vent
C. Turn SignaVMultifunction Lever
D. Horn
E. Hazard Warning Flashers Switch F. Instrument Cluster
G. Windshield WipersNasher Stalk
H. Audio System
I. Side Window Defogger Vent
J. Glove Box
K. Climate Control System L. Gear Shift Lever
M. CupholdedAshtray (If Equipped)
N. Enhanced Traction System (ETS) Switch
0. Accessory Power
Outlenighter (If Equipped)
(If Equipped)
P. Ignition Switch
Q. Tilt Steering Wheel Lever (If Equipped)
R. Fog Lamp Switch
S. Hood
Release Handle
T. Instrument Panel Intensity ControlDnterior
Lamps Switch
2-53
Section 3 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
In this section, you’ll find out how to operate the comfort control and audio systems offered w\
ith your vehicle. Be
sure to read about the particular systems supplied with your v\
ehicle.
3-2
3-2
3-3
3-4
3-4
3-5
3-6
3-7
3-7
3-7
3-7
3-9
Comfort Controls
Climate Control System
with
Air Conditioning
Air Conditioning
Heating
Defrosting and Defogging
Rear Window Defogger
(If Equipped)
Ventilation System
Audio Systems
Setting the Clock for
AM-FM Stereo
Setting the Clock for
All Systems Except
AM-EM Stereo
AM-FM Stereo
AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player
(If Equipped)
3-12
3-
16
3-18
3-20
3-22
3-23
3-23
3-24
3-25 3-25
3-25
AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player and
Equalizer
(If Equipped)
AM-FM Stereo with Compact Disc Player and
Equalizer (If Equipped)
Remote Cassette Tape Player
(If Equipped)
Theft-Deterrent Feature Audio Steering Wheel Controls
(If Equipped)
Understanding Radio Reception
Tips About
Your Audio System
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player
Care
of Your Compact Discs
Care
of Your Compact Disc Player
Fixed Mast Antenna
Audio Systems AM-FM Stereo
Your Delco Electronics audio system has been designed
to operate easily and give years of listening pleasure.
You will get the most enjoyment out of it
if you acquaint
yourself with it first. Find out what your Delco
Electronics system can do and how to operate
all its
controls, to be sure you’re getting the most out of the
advanced engineering that went into it.
Setting the Clock for AM-FM Stereo
Press SET. Within five seconds, press and hold the
SEEK down arrow until the correct hour appears on the
display. Press and hold the
SEEK up arrow until the
correct minute appears
on the display.
Setting the Clock for All Systems Except
AM-FM Stereo
Press and hold HR until the correct hour appears. Press
and hold
MIN until the correct minute appears. There
will be a two-second delay before the clock goes into
time-set mode, and the colon on the display will blink
while in
this mode.
Playing the Radio
PWR-VOLUME: This knob turns the system on and
off and controls the volume. To turn the radio on and to
increase volume,
turn the knob to the right. Turn it to the
left to decrease volume and to
turn the radio off.
RCL: Press this knob to recall the station being played
or to display the clock.
3-7
Finding a Station AM-FM:
Press this button to switch between AM, FM1
and FM2. The display shows your selection.
TUNE: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn it to
choose radio stations. Push the knob back into its stored position when you’re not using it.
SEEK: Press the up or down arrow to go to the next
higher or lower station and stay there.
PUSHBUTTONS: The six numbered pushbuttons let
you return to your favorite stations. You can set up to
18 stations (six AM, six FM1 and six FM2). Just:
1. Turn the radio on.
2. Press AM-FM to select the band.
3. Tune in the desired station.
4. Press and hold one of the six numbered buttons until
SET appears on the display. Whenever you press that
numbered button, the station you set
will return.
5. Repeat the steps for each pushbutton.
Setting the Tone
EQUALIZER: A seven band equalizer is part of your
audio system. Slide the levers up to boost or down to
reduce frequency range.
Adjusting the Speakers
BAL:
Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn it to
move the sound to the left or right speakers. The middle
position balances the sound between
the speakers.
FADE: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn it to
move the sound to the front or rear speakers. The middle
position balances the sound between
the speakers.
Push these knobs back into their stored positions when
you’re not using them.
Playing a Cassette Tape
Your tape player is built to work best with tapes that are
30 to 45 minutes long on each side. Tapes longer than
that are
so thin they may not work well in this player.
While the tape
is playing, use the VOL, FADE and BAL
controls just as you do for the radio. The display will
show
an arrow to show which side of the tape is playing.
When the down indicator arrow is lit, selections listed
on the bottom side of the cassette are playing. When the
up arrow
is lit, selections listed on the top side of the
cassette are playing. The tape player automatically
begins playing the other side when it reaches the end of
the tape.
AM-FM Stereo with Compact Disc Player
and Equalizer
(If Equipped)
Playing the Radio
POWER-VOL: Push this knob to turn the system on
and off. To increase volume, turn the knob to the right.
Turn it to the left to decrease volume.
RECALL: Press this button briefly to recall the station
being played or to display the clock.
If you press the
knob when the ignition is off, the clock will show for a
few seconds.
Finding a Station
AM-FM: Press this button to switch between AM, FM1
and FM2. The display shows your selection.
TUNE: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn it to
choose radio stations. Push the knob back into its stored
position when
you’re not using it.
SEEK: Press the up or down arrow to go to the next
higher or lower station and stay there.
PUSHBUTTONS: The six numbered pushbuttons let
you return to
your favorite stations. You can set up to
18 stations (six AM, six FM1 and six FM2). Just:
1. Turn the radio on.
2. Press AM-FM to select the band.
3. Tune in the desired station.
4. Press and hold one of the six numbered buttons until
SET appears on the display. Whenever you press that
numbered button, the station you set will return.
5. Repeat the steps for each pushbutton.
Setting the Tone
EQUALIZER. A seven band equalizer is part of your
audio system. Slide the levers up to
boost or down to
reduce frequency range.
3-16
To unlock a secured radio, see “Unlocking the
Theft-Deterrent Feature After
a Power Loss” earlier in
this section.
Audio Steering Wheel Controls
(If Equipped)
SEEK: Press the up arrow to tune to the next radio
station and
the down arrow to tune to the previous radio
station.
If a cassette tape or compact disc is playing, the
player
will advance with the up arrow and rewind with
the down arrow.
AM-FM: Press this button to choose AM, FM1 or FM2.
If a cassette tape or compact disc is playing, it will stop
and the radio will play.
PRESET: Press this button to play a station you have
programmed
on the radio preset buttons.
PLAY: Press this button to play a cassette tape or
compact
disc when the radio is playing.
MUTE: Press this button to silence the system. Press it
again, or any other radio button, to turn on the sound.
I VOL: Press the up or down arrow to increase or
decrease volume.
If your vehicle has
this feature, you can control certain
radio functions using the buttons
on your steering wheel.
3-22
Understanding Radio Reception
AM
The range for most AM stations is greater than for FM,
especially at night. The longer range, however, can
cause stations to interfere with each other.
AM can pick
up noise from things like storms and power lines.
Try
reducing the treble to reduce this noise if you ever get it. \
FM Stereo
FM stereo will give you the best sound, but FM signals
will reach only about
10 to 40 miles (16 to 65 km). Tall
buildings or
hills can interfere with FM signals, causing
the sound to come and go.
Tips About Your Audio System
Hearing damage from loud noise is almost undetectable
until it is too late.
Your hearing can adapt to higher
volumes of sound. Sound that seems normal can be loud
and harmful to your hearing. Take precautions by
adjusting the volume control on your radio to a safe
sound level before your hearing adapts to it.
To help avoid hearing loss or damage:
Adjust the volume control to the lowest setting.
0 Increase volume slowly until you hear comfortably
and clearly.
NOTICE:
Before you add any sound equipment to your
vehicle
-- like a tape player, CB radio, mobile
telephone or two-way radio
-- be sure you can
add what you want, If you can, it’s very
important
to do it properly. Added sound
equipment may interfere with the operation of
your vehicle’s engine, Delco Electronics radio or
other systems, and even damage them. Your
vehicle’s systems may interfere
with the
operation
of sound equipment that has been
added improperly.
So, before adding sound equipment, check with
your dealer and be sure to check Federal
rules
covering mobile radio and telephone units.
3-23