
The 2003 Pontiac  Grand  Prix  Owner  Manual a 
Seats  and  Restpaint  Systems ........................... ? -1 
Front  Seats ............................................... 1-2 
Safety  Belts 
.............................................. 1-7 
Child  Restraints 
....................................... 1-29 
Supplemental  Restraint  System 
(SRS) ......... 1-51 
Restraint  System  Check 
............................ 1-58 
Keys 
........................................................ 2-3 
Doors  and  Locks 
....................................... 2-8 
Windows 
................................................. 2-1 3 
Theft-Deterrent  Systems 
............................ 2-1 5 
Starting  and Operating  Your Vehicle 
........... 2-19 
Mirrors 
.................................................... 2-33 
Onstar@  System 
...................................... 2-38 
Storage  Areas 
......................................... 2-40 
Sunroof 
.................................................. 2-42 
Vehicle  Personalization 
............................. 2-43 
Instrument Panel  Overview 
.......................... 3-2 
Climate  Controls 
...................................... 3-20 
Warning  Lights, Gages  and  Indicators 
......... 3-23 
Driver  Information Center  (DIC) 
.................. 3-38 
Trip  Computer 
......................................... 3-40 
Audio  System(s) 
....................................... 3-44 
Features  and Controls ..................................... 2-1 
Instrument  Panel ............................................. 3-1 
~rivingi yoerr Vehicle ....................................... 4-1 
Your  Driving, the  Road, and Your  Vehicle 
..... 4-2 
Towing 
................................................... 4-33 
Service 
..................................................... 5-3 
Fuel 
......................................................... 5-5 
Checking  Things  Under  the Hood 
............... 5-10 
Headlamp  Aiming 
..................................... 5-59 
Bulb  Replacement 
.................................... 5-60 
Windshield  Wiper  Blade  Replacement 
......... 5-67 
Tires 
...................................................... 5-68 
Appearance  Care 
..................................... 5-88 
Vehicle  Identification 
................................. 5-96 
Electrical  System 
...................................... 5-97 
Capacities  and Specifications 
................... 5-1 02 
Normal  Maintenance  Replacement  Parts .... 5-1  04 
Maintenance Schedule ........................... ,6-1 .. 
Maintenance  Schedule ................................ 6-2 
Customer Assistance  Information .................... 7-1 
Customer  Assistance  Information 
.................. 7-2 
Service and  Appearance  Care .......................... 5-1 
Reporting  Safety  Defects 
......................... 7-9 
Index ........................................ ..... 1  

But if you  ever  have to park your  rig  on  a  hill, here’s 
how  to do  it: 
1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 
5. 
Apply  your  regular  brakes, but don’t shift into 
PARK 
(P) yet. 
Have  someone  place chocks  under  the trailer 
wheels. 
When  the  wheel  chocks  are  in place, release the 
regular  brakes until  the chocks  absorb  the  load. 
Reapply  the  regular  brakes. Then apply your 
parking  brake,  and  then shift to PARK 
(P). 
Release  the  regular  brakes. 
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, 
0 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  Part 
A: Scheduled  Maintenance 
Services  on page 
6-4 for  more  information.  Things that 
are especially important  in trailer operation  are 
automatic transaxle fluid  (don’t overfill),  engine oil, drive 
belts, cooling  system and brake  system. 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 this  information before  you start your trip. 
Check  periodically 
to see that all hitch  nuts and bolts 
are tight. 
Engine Cooling  When Trailer Towing 
Your cooling  system  may  temporarily overheat during 
severe  operating conditions.  See  Engine Overheating 
on  page 
5-33. 
4-43  

3. Pull out the filter. 
4. Check  or  install a  new  engine  air cleanerbiker.  See 
Normal Maintenance Replacement  Parts on 
page 
5- 104. 
5. To reinstall  the cover, position  the tabs through  the 
slots  on the  housing. 
A notch  on the  sides  of the 
filter cover will indicate the correct  engagement. 
Reinstall the  two clips  on  the  top of the housing 
when  you  are finished. 
Refer  to the  Maintenance  Schedule  to determine when 
to  replace the air filter. 
See Part A: Scheduled  Maintenance Services  on 
page 
6-4. 
Operating t--. engine  with  the  air  cleaner/filter 
off can  cause  you  or  others  to  be  burned.  The 
air  cleaner  not  only  cleans  the  air, 
it stops 
flame  if  the  engine  backfires.  If 
it isn’t  there 
and  the  engine  backfires,  you  could  be  burned.  Don’t  drive  with 
it off, and  be  careful  working 
on  the  engine  with  the  air  cleanedfilter 
off. 
Nofice: If  the  air  cleaner/filter  is off, a  backfire  can 
cause  a  damaging  engine  fire.  And, dirt  can  easily  get 
into  your  engine,  which  will  damage 
it. Always  have 
the  air  cleanedfilter  in  place  when  you’re  driving. 
5-26  

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 
0 In hilly or  mountainous  terrain. 
0 When doing frequent  trailer towing. 
0 Uses  such  as found  in taxi, police  or delivery service. 
regularly  reaches 
90°F (32°C) 
or higher. 
If  you  do  not  use  your  vehicle under  any  of these 
conditions,  change  the  fluid and filter at 
100,000 miles (166 000 km). 
See  Part 
A: Scheduled  Maintenance  Services on 
page 
6-4. 
How to Cheek 
Because  this operation  can be  a  little difficult,  you may 
choose  to have  this done  at the  dealership service 
department. 
If  you  do  it yourself,  be sure  to follow  all  the  instructions 
here,  or  you  could get a false  reading  on the  dipstick. 
Nofice: Too much  or too  little  fluid  can damage 
your  transaxle. 
Too much  can  mean  that  some of the 
fluid  could  come  out and  fall on  hot  engine  or 
exhaust system parts,  starting  a  fire. 
Too little fluid 
could  cause  the transaxle  to  overheat. Be  sure 
to  get  an accurate  reading 
if you  check  your 
transaxle  fluid. 
Wait  at  least 30 minutes before checking  the transaxle 
fluid  level 
if you  have  been  driving: 
When  outside temperatures are  above 
90°F (32°C). 
At  high  speed  for  quite a  while. 
In  heavy  traffic 
- especially  in hot  weather. 
While pulling  a trailer. 
5-27  

Bad  wear 
0 Bad  handling 
Bad fuel  economy 
If your  tires  have  too  much air (overinflation), 
you  can  get  the  following: 
Unusual  wear 
Bad  handling 
Rough  ride 
Needless  damage  from  road hazards 
When to Check 
Check  your tires once  a  month  or  more. 
Don’t  forget  your  compact  spare tire.  It should  be 
at 
60 psi (420 kPa). 
How to Check 
Use  a  good  quality  pocket-type gage to check  tire 
pressure.  You  can’t  tell 
if your tires are properly inflated 
simply  by looking  at them. Radial tires  may look 
properly inflated  even  when  they’re  underinflated. 
Be  sure  to put  the  valve  caps  back  on  the valve stems. 
They  help prevent  leaks  by keeping out dirt and 
moisture. 
Tire  Inspection  and  Rotation 
Tires should  be rotated every 7,500 miles (1 2 500 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 Is Time 
for  New  Tires on page 
5-70 and  Wheel  Replacement 
on page 5-73 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  “Part  A:  Scheduled 
Maintenance  Services,’’  in Section 
6, for  scheduled 
rotation intervals. 
1 
When  rotating your tires,  always  use the correct  rotation 
pattern  shown here. 
5-69  

Section 6 Maintenance  Schedule 
Maintenance Schedule ...................................... 6-2 
Introduction 
................................................... 6-2 
Your  Vehicle  and  the  Environment 
.................... 6-2 
Maintenance  Requirements 
.............................. 6-2 
How  This  Section is  Organized 
......................... 6-3 
Part  A: Scheduled  Maintenance  Services 
........... 6-4 
Using  Your  Maintenance  Schedule 
.................... 6.4 
Scheduled  Maintenance 
.................. ......... 6.5 
Part  B:  Owner  Checks  and  Services 
.... ..... 6.9 
At  Each  Fuel  Fill 
........................................ 6-9 
At  Least  Once  a  Month 
................................... 6.9 
At  Least  Twice  a Year 
................................... 6.10  At 
Least  Once  a  Year 
................................... 6.10 
Pari  C: Periodic 
Maintenance inspections ......... 6.13 
Steering,  Suspension  and  Front  Drive Axle 
Boot  and  Seal  Inspection 
............................ 6-13 
Exhaust  System  Inspection 
............................ 6.13 
Fuel  System  Inspection 
.................................. 6.13 
Engine  Cooling  System Inspection 
................... 6.13 
Throttle  System Inspection 
............................ -6-14 
Brake  System  Inspection 
................................ 6.14 
Part  D:  Recommended  Fluids and Lubricants 
.... 6-15 
Part 
E: Maintenance  Record ........................... 6.16 
6-  1  

How This Section is Organized 
This  maintenance  schedule is divided into five  parts: 
“Part 
A: Scheduled  Maintenance  Services”  explains 
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. 
Perl_______  lg  maintenance  work  on  a  vehic.-  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 want  to get  the service information, see  Service 
Publications Ordering Information  on page 
7- 10. 
“Part B: Owner  Checks  and  Services”  tells you what 
should  be checked and  when.  It  also explains what 
you  can easiiy 
do to help keep  your vehicle in good 
condition. 
“Part 
C: Periodic  Maintenance  Inspections”  explains 
important inspections  that  your dealer’s service 
department  or another qualified  service center should 
perform. 
“Part 
D: Recommended  Fluids  and  Lubricants” 
lists  some  recommended products necessary 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”  is a place for  you to 
record and keep track  of the  maintenance performed 
on  your  vehicle. Keep  your maintenance receipts. 
They  may be needed  to qualify  your vehicle for 
warranty  repairs. 
6-3  

Part A: Scheduled  Maintenance 
Services 
This  part contains engine oil  scheduled  maintenance 
which  explains the engine oil life  system  and  how 
it  indicates  when to change  the engine oil and filter. 
Also, listed are  scheduled  maintenance  services which 
are  to be  performed  at  the mileage intervals  specified. 
Using Your  Maintenance  Schedule 
We at  General Motors  want to keep  your vehicle  in good 
working condition. But  we  don’t  know exactly how 
you’ll drive  it.  You  may  drive 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 the different  ways people  use their vehicles, 
maintenance  needs  may  vary. You  may  need  more 
frequent  checks  and  replacements. 
So please read the 
following  and note  how  you  drive. 
If you  have 
questions  on  how to keep  your vehicle  in good  condition, 
see  your  dealer.  This part tells 
you the maintenance  services you 
should  have  done  and  when  you  should schedule  them. 
When  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  parts. 
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. 
This schedule  is for  vehicles  that: 
carry  passengers  and  cargo  within recommended 
limits.  You will find  these  on  your  vehicle’s 
Tire-Loading Information  label.  See  Loading 
Your 
Vehicle  on page 4-35. 
are driven on  reasonable  road surfaces  within  legal 
use the recommended  fuel.  See  Gasoline Octane 
driving limits. 
on page 5-5. 
6-4