1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX window

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 anythmg more than a
supplement to safety belts, and then only in moderate to
severe frontal or near-frontal 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 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.
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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.
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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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
Lap-Shoulder Belt
The positions next to the windows have lap-shoulder
belts. Here’s how to wear one properly.
1. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you.
Don’t let it get twisted.
The shoulder belt
may lock if you pull the belt across
you very quickly. If this happens, let the belt go back
slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt across you
more slowly.
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7. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.
Pull on both latch plates to make sure they are secure. A
green indicator will show in each latch plate window (G).
If the harness locks before the latch plate reaches the
buckle, let the harness go all the way back so it will move
freely again. Then repeat Steps 6 and 7. Be sure to keep
the harness pulled all the way out until you buckle it.
Once both sides of the lap-shoulder harness are pulled
out
of the retractor and buckled, the harness will lock.
8. Now fasten the left and right halves of the shoulder
harness
clip together. The indicator window (H) on
the clip will show green when the two halves are
fastened together. The purpose
of this clip is to help
keep the harness positioned
on the child’s shoulders.
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A booster seat (F, G) is designed for children who are
about 40 to 60 lbs. (1 8 to 27 kg) and about four to
eight years
of age. It’s designed to improve the fit of
the vehicle’s safety belt system. Booster seats with
shields use lap-only belts; however, booster seats
without shields use lap-shoulder belts. Booster seats
can also help a child to see out the window. When choosing
a child restraint, be sure the child
restraint
is designed to be used in a vehicle. If it is, it
will have
a label saying that it meets Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standards.
Then follow the instructions
for the restraint. You may
find these instructions on the restraint itself
or in a
booklet,
or both. These restraints use the belt system in
your vehicle, but the child
also has to be secured within
the restraint to help reduce the chance
of personal injury.
The instructions that come with the infant or child
restraint will
show you how to do that. Both the owner’s
manual
and the child restraint instructions are important,
so if either one of these is not available, obtain a
replacement copy from
the manufacturer.
Where to Put the Restraint
Accident statistics show that children are safer if they
are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat. We at
General Motors therefore recommend that you put your
child restraint in the rear seat.
Never put a rear-facing
child restraint in the front passenger seat. Here’s
why:
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Larger Children Children who have outgrown child restraints should
wear the vehicle’s safety belts.
If you have the choice, a child should sit next to a
window so the child can wear a lap-shoulder belt and
get the additional restraint
a shoulder belt can provide.
Accident statistics show that children are safer if they
are restrained in the rear seat. But they need to use the
safety belts properly.
0 Children who aren’t buckled up can be thrown out
0 Children who aren’t buckled up can strike other
in
a crash.
people
who are.
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Section 2 Features and Controls
Here you can learn about the many standard and optional features on your vehicle, and inform\
ation on starting,
shifting and braking.
Also explained are the instrument panel and the warning systems that\
tell you if everything is
working properly
-- and what to do if you have a problem.
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Keys
Door Locks
Remote Keyless Entry System (If Equipped)
TrUnk
Theft
Content Theft-Deterrent (If Equipped)
New Vehicle “Break-In”
Ignition Positions
Starting Your Engine
Engine Coolant Heater
(If Equipped)
Automatic Transaxle Operation
Parking Brake Shifting Into PARK (P)
Shifting Out of PARK (P)
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Parking Over Things That Burn
Engine Exhaust
Running Your Engine While You’re Parked
Power Windows
Turn SignaVMultifunction Lever
Exterior Lamps
Interior Lamps
Locks and Lighting Choices
Mirrors
Storage Compartments Sunroof
(If Equipped)
The Instrument Panel
-- Your
Information System
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
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Keys
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A CAUTION:
Leaving young children in a vehicle with the
ignition key is dangerous
for many reasons. A
child or others could be badly injured or
even killed.
They could operate power windows
or other
controls or even make the vehicle move. Don’t
leave the keys in a vehicle with young children.
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Trunk Trunk Lock
A CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to drive with the trunk 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 open or if
electrical wiring or other cable connections
must pass through the seal between the body
and the trunk:
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.
If you have air outlets on or under the
See “Engine Exhaust” in the Index. can
also use
the remote
keyless entry transmitter, if
your vehicle has this option.
Remote Trunk Release (If Equipped)
Press the button behind the
glove
box door to unlock
the
trunk from inside Your
vehicle.
your transaxfe shift
lever must be in PARK (P).
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