2003 PONTIAC GRAND AM height

Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster
(Four-Door Models)
Before you begin to drive, move the shoulder belt
adjuster to the height that is right for you.
-
To move it down, squeeze the release button and move
the height adjuster to the desired position. You can
move the adjuster up just by pushing on the shoulder
belt guide. After you move the adjuster to where
you want it, try to move it down without squeezing the
release button to make sure it has locked into position.
Adjust the height
so that the shoulder portion of the
belt is centered on your shoulder. The belt should
be away from your face and neck, but not falling
off
your shoulder.
1-17

1-36
Children who are up against, or very close to,
any air bag when
it inflates can be seriously
injured or killed. Air bags plus lap-shoulder
belts offer outstanding protection for adults
and older children, but not for young children
and infants. Neither the vehicle’s safety belt
system nor its air bag system is designed for
them. Young children and infants need the
protection that a child restraint system can
provide.
Q: What are the different types of add-on child
A: Add-on child restraints, which are purchased by the
restraints?
vehicle’s owner, are available in four basic types.
Selection
of a particular restraint should take
into consideration not only the child’s weight, height
and age but also whether or not the restraint will
be compatible with the motor vehicle in which it
will
be used.
For most basic types
of child restraints, there are
many different models available. When purchasing a
child restraint,
be sure it is designed to be used

in a motor vehicle. If it is, the restraint will have a
label saying that it meets federal motor vehicle
safety standards.
The restraint manufacturer’s instructions that come
with the restraint, state the weight and height
limitations for a particular child restraint.
In addition,
there are many kinds
of restraints available for
children with special needs.
Newborn infants need complete support,
including support for the head and neck. This
is necessary because a newborn infant’s neck
is weak and its head weighs
so much
compared with
the rest of its body. In a crash,
an infant in
a rear-facing seat settles into the
restraint,
so the crash forces can be
distributed across the strongest part of an
infant’s body, the back and shoulders. Infants
always should be secured in appropriate infant restraints. The
body structure of a young ch
is quite
unlike that of an adult or older child, for whom
the safety belts are designed.
A young child’s
hip bones are still so small that the vehicle’s
regular safety belt may not remain low on the
hip bones, as
it should. Instead, it may settle
up around the child’s abdomen.
In a crash, the
belt would apply force on a body area that’s
unprotected by any bony structure. This alone
could cause serious or fatal injuries. Young
children always should be secured in
appropriate child restraints.
1-37

Mirrors
Manual Rearview Mirror
The mirror can be adjusted two ways. First, to adjust
the height of the mirror, adjust the arm that connects the
mirror to the windshield. Second, adjust the angle of
the mirror, by moving the mirror to a position that allows
you to see out of the back window.
To reduce glare from headlamps behind you, move the
lever toward you to the night position.
To return the
mirror to the daytime position, move the lever away
from you.
Outside Remote Control Mirror
The outside rearview mirror should be adjusted so you
can see
a little of the side of your vehicle when you
are sitting in
a comfortable driving position.
Adjust the driver’s outside mirror with the control lever
on the driver’s door.
To adjust your passenger’s mirror, sit in the driver’s seat
and have
a passenger adjust the mirror for you.
2-35

Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal does not return to
normal height, or if there is a rapid increase in
pedal travel. This could be a sign
of brake trouble.
Brake Adjustment
Every time you make a moderate brake stop, your
disc brakes adjust for wear.
If you rarely make a
moderate or heavier stop, then your brakes might not
adjust correctly. If you drive in that way, then
- very
carefully
- make a few moderate brake stops about
every
1,000 miles (1 600 km), so your brakes will adjust
properly.
Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a vehicle is complex. Its many
parts have
to be of top quality and work well together if
the vehicle is to have really good braking. Your
vehicle was designed and tested with top-quality
GM
brake parts. When you replace parts of your braking
system
- for example, when your brake linings
wear down and you need new ones put in
- be sure you
get new approved replacement parts. If you don’t,
your brakes may no longer work properly. For example,
if someone puts in brake linings that are wrong for
your vehicle, the balance between your front and rear
brakes can change
- for the worse. The braking
performance you’ve come
to expect can change in many
other ways
if someone puts in the wrong replacement
brake parts.
Battery
Your new vehicle comes with a maintenance free
ACDelco@ battery. When it’s time for a new battery, get
one that has the replacement number shown
on the
original battery’s label. We recommend an ACDelco@
battery. See
Engine Compartment Overview on
page
5- 12 for battery location.
Warning: Battery posts, terminals and related
accessories contain lead and lead compounds,
chemicals known
to the State of California to cause
cancer and reproductive harm. Wash hands after
handling.
5-42

Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
The wheels on your vehicle were aligned and balanced
carefully at the factory
to give you the longest tire life
and best overall performance.
Scheduled wheel alignment and wheel balancing are
not needed. However,
if you notice unusual tire wear or
your vehicle pulling one way or the other, the alignment
may need to be reset.
If you notice your vehicle
vibrating when driving on a smooth road, your wheels
may need to be rebalanced.
Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel that is bent, cracked or badly rusted
or corroded. If wheel nuts keep coming loose, the
wheel, wheel bolts and wheel nuts should be replaced.
If the wheel leaks air, replace it (except some
aluminum wheels, which can sometimes be repaired).
See your dealer
if any of these conditions exist.
Your dealer will know the kind of wheel you need.
Each new ~hppl shnulc! hae the qqme inauj-carryin~
capacity, diameter, width, offset and be mounted
the same way as the one it replaces.
If you need to replace any of your wheels, wheel bolts
or wheel nuts, replace them only with new
GM
original equipment parts. This way, you will be sure to
have the right wheel, wheel bolts and wheel nuts
for your vehicle. Using the wrong replacement wheels, wheel
bolts or wheel nuts on your vehicle can be
dangerous.
It could affect the braking and
handling
of your vehicle, make your tires lose
air and make you lose control. You could have a collision in which you or others could be
injured. Always use the correct wheel, wheel
bolts and wheel nuts for replacement.
Notice: The wrong wheel can also cause problems
with bearing life, brake cooling, speedometer or odometer calibration, headlamp aim, bumper height,
vehicle ground clearance and tire or tire chain
clearance to the body and chassis.
See
Changing a flat Tire on page 5-62 for more
information.
5-59

Sheet Metal Damage ....................................... 5-77
Shift Speeds
.................................................. 2-28
Shifting Into Park
(P) ....................................... 2-30
Shifting Out of Park (P)
................................... 2-32
Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster
........................... 1-1 7
Skidding ........................................................ 4-1 5
Some Other Rainy Weather Tips ....................... 4-21
Special Fabric Cleaning Problems
..................... 5-73
Specifications. Capacities
................................. 5-86
Speedometer
.................................................. 3-24
Starter Switch Check
....................................... 6-1 1
Starting Your 2.2L L4 ECOTECTM Engine ........... 2-20
Starting Your 3400 V6 Engine
........................... 2-21
Starting Your Engine
....................................... 2-19
Steering
........................................................ 4-1 1
Steering in Emergencies .................................. 4-12
Steering, Suspension and Front Drive Axle Boot
and Seal Inspection
..................................... 6-13
Steering Tips
.................................................. 4-1 1
Steering Wheel Controls, Audio
......................... 3-69
Storage Areas
Center Console Storage Area
........................ 2-37
Cupholder(s)
............................................... 2-37
Glove Box
.................................................. 2-37
Storing the Flat Tire and Tools
.......................... 5-69
Storing the Spare Tire and Tools
....................... 5-70
Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow ...................... 4-31
Sun Visors
..................................................... 2-16
Sunroof
......................................................... 2-38 Supplemental
Restraint System
(SRS) .....
How Does an Air Bag Restrain? ..........
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle
What Will You See After an Air Bag
What
Makes an Air Bag Inflate?
..........
When Should an Air Bag Inflate? .........
Inflates? ........................................
Where Are the Air Bags? ....................
...... 1-53
...... 1-57
...... 1-59
...... 1-57
...... 1-58
...... 1-56
...... 1-55
Tachometer .................................................... 3-24
Taillamps
Turn Signal. and Stoplamps
.......................... 5-51
Theft.Deterrent. Radio ..................................... 3-68
Passlock@
.................................................. 2-17
Throttle System Inspection
............................... 6-14
Tilt Wheel
........................................................ 3-5
Tire Inflation Check
........................................... 6-9
Tires
..................................................... 5.53. 5-77
Buying New Tires ........................................ 5-56
Chains
....................................................... 5-60
Changing a Flat Tire
.................................... 5-62
Compact Spare Tire
..................................... 5-71
If a Tire Goes Flat
....................................... 5-61
Inflation
-- Tire Pressure ............................... 5-54
Inspection and Rotation ................................ 5-55
Uniform Tire Quality Grading ......................... 5-57
Theft-Deterrent Systems
................................... 2-17
12