2005 PONTIAC GRAND AM Owners Manual

Reporting Safety Defects to General
Motors
In addition to notifying NHTSA (or Transport Canada) in
a situation like this, we certainly hope you’ll notify us.
Please call us at 1-800-762-2737, or write:
Pontiac Customer Assistance Center
P.O. Box 33172
Detroit, MI 48232-5172
In Canada, please call us at 1-800-263-3777 (English)
or 1-800-263-7854 (French). Or, write:
General Motors of Canada Limited
Customer Communication Centre, 163-005
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7
Service Publications Ordering
Information
Service Manuals
Service Manuals have the diagnosis and repair
information on engines, transmission, axle suspension,
brakes, electrical, steering, body, etc.
Transmission, Transaxle, Transfer
Case Unit Repair Manual
This manual provides information on unit repair service
procedures, adjustments, and specifications for GM
transmissions, transaxles, and transfer cases.
Service Bulletins
Service Bulletins give technical service information
needed to knowledgeably service General Motors cars
and trucks. Each bulletin contains instructions to
assist in the diagnosis and service of your vehicle.
In Canada, information pertaining to Product Service
Bulletins can be obtained by contacting your General
Motors dealer or by calling 1-800-GM-DRIVE
(1-800-463-7483).
7-11

Owner’s Information
Owner publications are written specifically for owners
and intended to provide basic operational information
about the vehicle. The owner’s manual will include
the Maintenance Schedule for all models.
In-Portfolio: Includes a Portfolio, Owner’s Manual, and
Warranty Booklet.
RETAIL SELL PRICE: $35.00
Without Portfolio: Owner’s Manual only.
RETAIL SELL PRICE: $25.00
Current and Past Model Order Forms
Service Publications are available for current and
past model GM vehicles. To request an order form,
please specify year and model name of the vehicle.
ORDER TOLL FREE: 1-800-551-4123
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Eastern Time
For Credit Card Orders Only
(VISA-MasterCard-Discover), visit Helm, Inc. on the
World Wide Web at: www.helminc.com
Or you can write to:
Helm, Incorporated
P. O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207
Prices are subject to change without notice and without
incurring obligation. Allow ample time for delivery.
Note to Canadian Customers: All listed prices are
quoted in U.S. funds. Canadian residents are to make
checks payable in U.S. funds.
7-12

A
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-6
Add-On Electrical Equipment............................5-80
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-20
Air Conditioning..............................................3-19
Airbag
Readiness Light..........................................3-25
Airbag Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM)...... 7-9
Airbag System................................................1-51
How Does an Airbag Restrain?......................1-55
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle..........1-56
What Makes an Airbag Inflate?......................1-54
What Will You See After an Airbag Inflates?........1-55
When Should an Airbag Inflate?....................1-54
Where Are the Airbags?...............................1-52
Antenna, Fixed Mast.......................................3-70
Antenna, XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System.....3-70
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)........................... 4-6
Anti-Lock Brake, System Warning Light..............3-28
Appearance Care............................................5-71
Aluminum Wheels........................................5-76
Care of Safety Belts....................................5-74
Chemical Paint Spotting...............................5-77
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses....................5-75
Fabric/Carpet..............................................5-71
Finish Care.................................................5-75
Finish Damage............................................5-77Appearance Care (cont.)
Glass Surfaces............................................5-73
Instrument Panel.........................................5-73
Interior Plastic Components...........................5-73
Leather......................................................5-73
Sheet Metal Damage...................................5-77
Tires..........................................................5-76
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-77
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials................5-78
Vinyl..........................................................5-73
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-74
Weatherstrips..............................................5-74
Windshield and Wiper Blades........................5-75
Ashtrays........................................................3-18
Audio System(s).............................................3-37
Audio Steering Wheel Controls......................3-68
Care of Your CD Player...............................3-69
Care of Your CDs........................................3-69
Chime Level Adjustment...............................3-70
Fixed Mast Antenna.....................................3-70
Radio with CD............................3-38, 3-42, 3-53
Setting the Time for Radios with Radio Data
Systems (RDS)........................................3-37
Setting the Time for Radios without Radio
Data Systems (RDS)................................3-37
Theft-Deterrent Feature................................3-67
Understanding Radio Reception.....................3-69
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System............3-70
1

Automatic Headlamp System............................3-15
Automatic Transaxle
Fluid..........................................................5-21
Operation...................................................2-20
B
Battery..........................................................5-36
Run-Down Protection...................................3-18
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.........................4-22
Brake
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)........................ 4-6
Emergencies................................................ 4-8
Parking......................................................2-23
System Warning Light..................................3-27
Brakes..........................................................5-33
Braking........................................................... 4-5
Braking in Emergencies..................................... 4-8
Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................2-15
Bulb Replacement...........................................5-42
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)........5-44
Front Turn Signal and Parking Lamps.............5-43
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-42
Headlamps.................................................5-42
Replacement Bulbs......................................5-45
Taillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps............5-44
Buying New Tires...........................................5-55
C
California Fuel.................................................. 5-5
Canadian Owners................................................ ii
Capacities and Specifications............................5-85
Carbon Monoxide...................2-11, 2-26, 4-25, 4-38
Care of
Safety Belts................................................5-74
Your CD Player...........................................3-69
Your CDs ...................................................3-69
Center Console Storage Area...........................2-30
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)...........5-44
Center Rear Passenger Position, Safety Belts.......1-26
Chains, Tire...................................................5-59
Charging System Light....................................3-26
Check
Engine Light...............................................3-30
Checking Things Under the Hood......................5-10
Chemical Paint Spotting...................................5-77
Child Restraints
Child Restraint Systems...............................1-36
Infants and Young Children...........................1-32
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System)..........................1-41
Older Children.............................................1-30
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the
LATCH System........................................1-43
2

Child Restraints (cont.)
Securing a Child Restraint in a Center Rear
Seat Position...........................................1-46
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Outside
Seat Position...........................................1-44
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front
Seat Position...........................................1-48
Top Strap...................................................1-39
Top Strap Anchor Location............................1-41
Where to Put the Restraint...........................1-39
Chime Level Adjustment..................................3-70
Cigarette Lighter.............................................3-18
Cleaning
Aluminum Wheels........................................5-76
Exterior Lamps/Lenses.................................5-75
Fabric/Carpet..............................................5-71
Finish Care.................................................5-75
Glass Surfaces............................................5-73
Instrument Panel.........................................5-73
Interior Plastic Components...........................5-73
Leather......................................................5-73
Tires..........................................................5-76
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-77
Vinyl..........................................................5-73
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-74
Weatherstrips..............................................5-74
Windshield and Wiper Blades........................5-75Climate Control System...................................3-19
Outlet Adjustment........................................3-21
Comfort Guides, Rear Safety Belt.....................1-27
Compact Spare Tire........................................5-70
Control of a Vehicle.......................................... 4-5
Coolant
Engine Temperature Gage............................3-29
Heater, Engine............................................2-19
Low Warning Light.......................................3-30
Cooling System..............................................5-26
Cruise Control Lever.......................................3-11
Cupholder(s)..................................................2-29
Customer Assistance Information
Courtesy Transportation.................................. 7-7
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone (TTY)
Users....................................................... 7-4
Customer Assistance Offices........................... 7-4
Customer Satisfaction Procedure..................... 7-2
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program............... 7-5
Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors.......7-11
Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian
Government............................................7-10
Reporting Safety Defects to the United States
Government............................................7-10
Roadside Assistance Program......................... 7-5
Service Publications Ordering Information........7-11
3

D
Daytime Running Lamps..................................3-15
Defensive Driving............................................. 4-2
Delayed Headlamps........................................3-15
Delayed Locking............................................... 2-8
Doing Your Own Service Work........................... 5-4
Dome Lamp...................................................3-17
Door
Delayed Locking........................................... 2-8
Locks.......................................................... 2-7
Power Door Locks......................................... 2-8
Programmable Automatic Door Locks............... 2-8
Rear Door Security Locks.............................2-10
Driver
Position, Safety Belt.....................................1-14
Seat Height Adjuster...................................... 1-3
Six-Way Power Seat...................................... 1-3
Driving
At Night.....................................................4-16
City...........................................................4-20
Defensive..................................................... 4-2
Drunken....................................................... 4-2
Freeway.....................................................4-21
Hill and Mountain Roads..............................4-23
In Rain and on Wet Roads...........................4-17
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get it Out.................4-30
Winter........................................................4-25
E
Easy Entry Seat............................................... 1-6
Electrical System
Add-On Equipment......................................5-80
Engine Compartment Fuse Block...................5-83
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...........................5-80
Instrument Panel Fuse Block.........................5-81
Power Windows and Other Power Options......5-80
Windshield Wiper Fuses...............................5-80
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter.........................................5-20
Battery.......................................................5-36
Change Engine Oil Light...............................3-34
Check and Service Engine Soon Light............3-30
Coolant......................................................5-22
Coolant Heater............................................2-19
Coolant Temperature Gage...........................3-29
Engine Compartment Overview......................5-12
Exhaust.....................................................2-26
Oil .............................................................5-15
Overheating................................................5-24
Starting......................................................2-17
Enhanced Traction System (ETS)........................ 4-8
Active Light................................................3-29
Warning Light.............................................3-28
Entry/Exit Lighting...........................................3-17
Event Data Recorders (EDR)............................. 7-9
Extender, Safety Belt.......................................1-29
4

F
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner......................................5-20
Finish Damage...............................................5-77
Fixed Mast Antenna........................................3-70
Flash-to-Pass................................................... 3-9
Flat Tire........................................................5-60
Flat Tire, Changing.........................................5-61
Flat Tire, Storing.............................................5-69
Fluid
Automatic Transaxle.....................................5-21
Power Steering...........................................5-31
Windshield Washer......................................5-32
Fog Lamps....................................................3-16
Fuel............................................................... 5-5
Additives...................................................... 5-6
California Fuel.............................................. 5-5
Filling a Portable Fuel Container..................... 5-9
Filling Your Tank........................................... 5-7
Fuels in Foreign Countries.............................. 5-7
Gage.........................................................3-36
Gasoline Octane........................................... 5-5
Gasoline Specifications.................................. 5-5
Fuses
Engine Compartment Fuse Block...................5-83
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...........................5-80
Instrument Panel Fuse Block.........................5-81
Windshield Wiper.........................................5-80
G
Gage
Engine Coolant Temperature.........................3-29
Fuel..........................................................3-36
Speedometer..............................................3-24
Tachometer.................................................3-24
Gasoline
Octane........................................................ 5-5
Specifications............................................... 5-5
Glove Box.....................................................2-29
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program.................. 7-5
H
Hazard Warning Flashers................................... 3-6
Head Restraints............................................... 1-5
Headlamps............................................3-14, 5-42
Automatic Headlamp System.........................3-15
Bulb Replacement.......................................5-42
Daytime Running Lamps...............................3-15
Delayed.....................................................3-15
Flash-to-Pass............................................... 3-9
Front Turn Signal and Parking Lamps.............5-43
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-42
High/Low Beam Changer................................ 3-9
Headlamps Off in Park (P)...............................3-14
Heater...........................................................3-19
5

Height Adjuster, Driver Seat............................... 1-3
Highbeam On Light.........................................3-35
Highway Hypnosis...........................................4-23
Hill and Mountain Roads..................................4-23
Hood
Checking Things Under................................5-10
Release.....................................................5-10
Horn............................................................... 3-7
How to Use This Manual...................................... ii
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly...................1-14
I
Ignition Positions.............................................2-16
Infants and Young Children, Restraints...............1-32
Inflation -- Tire Pressure..................................5-52
Instrument Panel
Brightness..................................................3-17
Cluster.......................................................3-22
Overview..................................................... 3-4
J
Jump Starting.................................................5-37
K
Keyless Entry System....................................... 2-3
Keys............................................................... 2-2
L
Labelling, Tire Sidewall....................................5-47
Lamps
Battery Run-Down Protection.........................3-18
Dome........................................................3-17
Fog ...........................................................3-16
Trunk.........................................................3-18
LATCH System
Child Restraints...........................................1-41
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the
LATCH System........................................1-43
Latches, Seatback............................................ 1-6
Lift Seat, Power............................................... 1-7
Light
Airbag Readiness........................................3-25
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning...................3-28
Brake System Warning.................................3-27
Change Engine Oil......................................3-34
Charging System.........................................3-26
6