service indicator PONTIAC GRAND AM 2003 Owners Manual

The 2003 Pontiac Grand Am Owner Manual
Seats and Restraint Systems ........................... 1-1
Front Seats ............................................... 1-2
Rear Seats ............................................... 1-8
Safety Belts .............................................. 1-9
Child Restraints ....................................... 1-32
Supplemental Restraint
System
(SRS) ...................................... 1-53
Restraint System Check ............................ 1-60
Keys ........................................................ 2-2
Doors and Locks ....................................... 2-7
Theft-Deterrent Systems ............................ 2-1 7
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle ........... 2-18
Mirrors .................................................... 2-35
Sunroof .................................................. 2-38
Instrument Panel Overview .......................... 3-2
Climate Controls ...................................... 3-1 8
\Warning Lights, Gages a.nd Indicators ......... 3-22
Audio System@) ....................................... 3-38
Features and Controls ..................................... 2-1
Windows ................................................. 2-1 5
Stcr3.g~ .A rean ~ ................... 2-37 ..........
Instrument Panel ............................................. 3-1
Driving Your Vehicle ....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle ..... 4-2
Towing ................................................... 4-32
Service ..................................................... 5-3
Fuel ......................................................... 5-5
Checking Things Under
Service
and Appearance
Care .......................... 5-1
the Hood ............................................. 5-10
Bulb Replacement .................................... 5-49
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement ......... 5-52
Tires ...................................................... 5-53
Appearance Care ..................................... 5-72
Vehicle Identification ................................. 5-80
Electrical System ...................................... 5-81
Capacities and Specifications ..................... 5-86
Normai iviainienance Fiepiawl I 1t.1-1; F&iJiS ...... 5-00 nn
Maintenance Schedule ..................................... 6-1
bhintenance Schedule ................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance Information .................... 7-1
Customer Assistance Information .................. 7-2
Index ............................................................... ..I

Section 3 Instrument Panel
Instrument Panel Overview ............................... 3.2
Hazard Warnin Flashers
................................ 3.4
Other Warning !bevices
................................... 3.5
Horn
............................................................. 3.5
Tilt Wheel
..................................................... 3.5
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
......................... 3.6
Exterior Lamps
............................................. 3.13
Interior Lamps
.............................................. 3.16
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter
........................ 3.17
Climate Controls
............................................ 3.18
Climate Control System
................................. 3.18
Outlet Adjustment
......................................... 3.21
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
............. 3-22
Instrument Panel Cluster
................................ 3.23
Speedometer and Odometer
........................... 3.24
Tachometer
................................................. 3.24
Safety Belt Reminder Light
............................. 3.25
Air Bag Readiness Light ................................ 3.25
Charging System Light
.................................. 3.26
Up-Shift Light
............................................... 3.26
Erake QlQtT! -J -.-. !n!=lrning Light ........................ ~ 3-76 .
Warnin Light ........................................... 3-28
Warning Light
........................................... 3.28
Active Light
.............................................. 3.29
Low Coolant Warning Light
............................ 3.30
Anti-Lock
Brake System
Enhance
c? Traction System
Enhanced Traction System
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
3.3~ rl on ..................
Malfunction Indicator Lamp ............................. 3.31
Oil Pressure Light
......................................... 3.34
Low Oil Level Li ht
....................................... 3.35
Securit Light:
............................................... 3-36
Service Vehicle Soon Light
............................ 3-36
Fuel Gage
................................................... 3-37
Audio System(s)
............................................. 3-38
Data Systems RDS)
.................................. 3-38
Change Engine
ail Light ................................ 3-35
Low dsher Fluid Warning Light
..................... 3-36
Setting the Time for Radios without Radio
Setting the Time
1 or Radios with Radio 3-39
........................... 3-39
.............................. 3-43
Radio with Cassette and CD
.......................... 3-55
Theft-Deterrent Feature
Theft-Deterrent Feature (Non-RDS Radios)
..................................... 3-68
(RDS Radios)
........................................... 3-68
MUUIW ULCCI II ly VVI IGGI VU1 ILI WIG v vv A . .A .- C'&-A~;~~ \Alhnnl Pnmtrnlrr Qxa .......................
Understanding Radio Reception ...................... 3-70
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player
................. 3-70
Care of Your CDs ......................................... 3-71
Care of Your CD Player
................................ 3-72
Fixed Mast Antenna ...................................... 3-72
XM Satellite Radio Antenna System
................ 3-72
DAB Radio Antenna System 3-11 Chime Level Adjustment ................................ 3-72
n Tn ...........................
3- 1

Malfunction Indicator Lamp
Service Engine Soon Light
SERVICE
ENGINE
SOON
Your vehicle is equipped
with a computer which
monitors operation of the
fuel, ignition and emission control systems.
This system is called OBD
II (On-Board
Diagnostics-Second Generation) and is intended to
assure that emissions are at acceptable levels for the
life of the vehicle, helping
to produce a cleaner
environment. The
SERVICE ENGINE SOON light
comes on to indicate that there is a problem and
service is required. Malfunctions often will be indicated
by the system before any problem
is apparent. This
may prevent more serious damage
to your vehicle. This
system is also designed to assist your service
technician in correctly diagnosing any malfunction.
Notice: If you keep driving your vehicle with this
light on, after a while, your emission controls
may not work as well, your fuel economy may not
smoothly. This could lead to costly repairs that may not be covered by your warramty.
be 85 gcod and yaur engine may not run as
Notice: Modifications made to the engine,
transaxle, exhaust, intake or fuel system of your
vehicle or the replacement of
the original tires with
other than those
of the same Tire Performance
Criteria
(TPC) can affect your vehicle’s emission
controls and may cause
this light to come on.
Modifications to these systems could lead to costly
repairs not covered &y your warranty. This may
also result in a failure to pass a required Emission
Inspection/Maintenance test.
This light should come on, as a check to show you
it is
working, when the ignition is on and the engine
is
not running. If the light doesn’t come on, have it
repaired. This light will also come on during
a
malfunction in one of two ways:
e
e
Light Flashing - A misfire condition has been
detected.
A misfire increases vehicle emissions
and may damage the emission control system
on
your vehicle. Dealer or qualified service center
diagnosis and service may be required.
Light On Steady
- An emission control system
malfunction has been detected on your vehicle.
Dealer or qualified service center diagnosis
and service may be required.
3-31

Fuel Gage
I
United States Canada
Your fuel gage tells you about how much fuel
you have
left, when the ignition
is on. When the indicator nears
empty, the light will come on and you will hear a chime.
You still have a little fuel left, but you should get
more
soon.
Here are four things that some owners ask about. None
of these show a problem with your fuel gage:
At the service station, the gas pump shuts off
before the gage reads full.
It takes a little more or less fuel to fill up than the
gage indicated. For example, the gage may have indicated the tank was half full, but it actually took a
little more or less than half the tank’s capacity
to
fill the tank.
The indicator moves a little when you turn a corner
The gage goes back to empty when you turn off the
or
speed up.
ignition.
3-37

Setting Preset Stations
The six numbered pushbuttons let you return to your
favorite stations.
You can set up to 30 stations (six AM,
six
FM1 and six FM2, six XM1 and six XM2 (USA
only, if your radio is equipped with the XMTM Satellite
Radio Service) or DAB1 and DAB2 (Canada only,
if your
radio is equipped with DAB), by performing the
following
steps:
1. Turn the radio on.
2. Press BAND
to select AM, FM1 or FM2, or XM1,
XM2, or DABI, DAB2
3. Tune in the desired station.
4. Press EQ to select the equalization.
5. Press and hold one of the six numbered
pushbuttons until you hear a beep. Whenever you
press that numbered pushbutton, the station
you set will return and the equalization that you
selected will also be automatically selected for that
pushbutton.
6. Repeat the steps for each pushbutton.
Setting the Tone (BassRreble)
TONE: Press and release this button until BASS, MID
or TREB appears
on the display. The SELECT LED
indicator will light
to show that the tone control can be
adjusted. Turn the SELECT knob
to increase or to
decrease. If a station is weak or noisy, you may want to
decrease the treble.
To adjust all of the tone controls
to the middle position,
press and hold TONE until
FLAT appears on the
display.
EQ (Equalizer): Press this button to select customized
bass, mid and treble equalization settings.
You can set up
to six customized equalization settings
by performing the following steps:
1. Turn the radio on.
2. Use the TONE button and the SELECT knob to
3. Press and hold the EQ button for two seconds.
create the desired equalization.
SELECT
EQ # will appear on the display and the
EQ symbol will flash.
4. Press the EQ button or turn the SELECT knob to
select the desired EQ setting number.
3-58

For best results, use a scrubbing action, non-abrasive
cleaning cassette with pads which scrub the tape
head as the hubs of the cleaner cassette turn. The
recommended cleaning cassette is available through
your dealership.
The broken tape detection feature of your cassette tape
player may identify the cleaning cassette as
a
damaged tape, in error. To prevent the cleaning cassette
from being ejected, use the following steps:
1. Turn the ignition on.
2. Turn the radio off.
3. Press and hold the CD TAPE button for five
seconds. READY
will appear on the display for five
seconds.
4. Insert the scrubbing action cleaning cassette.
5. Eject the cleaning cassette after the manufacturer’s
recommended cleaning time.
After the cleaning cassette is ejected, the broken tape
detection feature will be active again.
You may also choose a non-scrubbing action, wet-type
cleaner which uses a cassette with a fabric belt
to
clean the tape head. This type of cleaning cassette will not eject on
its own. A non-scrubbing action cleaner
may not clean as thoroughly as the scrubbing type
cleaner. The use
of a non-scrubbing action, dry-type
cleaning cassette is not recommended.
After you clean the player, press and hold the eject
button for five seconds
to reset the CLEAN PLAYER
indicator. The radio will display CLEANED
to show the
indicator was reset.
Cassettes are subject
to wear and the sound quality
may degrade over time. Always make sure the cassette
tape is in good condition before you have your tape
player serviced.
Care of Your CDs
Handle discs carefully. Store them in their original cases
or other protective cases and away from direct sunlight
and dust.
If the surface of a disc is soiled, dampen
a clean, soft cloth in a mild, neutral detergent solution
and clean it, wiping from the center
to the edge.
Be sure never
to touch the side without writing when
nanaiing aiscs. Pick up aiscs by grasping ihe ouier
edges or the edge of the hole and the outer edge.
3-71

California Fuel
If your vehicle is certified to meet California Emission
Standards (see the underhood emission control label),
it is designed
to operate on fuels that meet California
specifications.
If this fuel is not available in states
adopting California emissions standards, your vehicle
will operate satisfactorily on fuels meeting federal specifications, but emission control system performance may be affected. The malfunction indicator lamp may
turn on (see
Malfunction lndicator Lamp on page 3-31)
and your vehicle may fail a smog-check test. If this
occurs, return to your authorized GM dealer for
diagnosis.
If it is determined that the condition is caused
by the type of fuel used, repairs may not be covered
by your warranty.
Additives
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines in the United States
are now required to contain additives that will help
prevent engine and fuel system deposits from forming,
allowing your emission control system to work
properly. You should not have to add anything to your
fuel. Gasolines containing oxygenates, such as
ethers and ethanol, and reformulated gasolines may be
available in your area
to contribute to clean air. General Motors
recommends that you use these
gasolines, particularly
if they comply with the
specifications described earlier.
Nofice: Your vehicle was not designed for fuel that
contains methanol. Don’t use fuel containing
methanol. It can corrode metal parts in your fuel
system and also damage the plastic and rubber
parts. That damage wouldn’t be covered under your
warranty.
Some gasolines that are not reformulated for low
emissions may contain an octane-enhancing additive
called methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl
(MMT); ask the attendant where you buy gasoline
whether the fuel contains MMT. General Motors does
not recommend the use of such gasolines. Fuels
containing MMT can reduce the life of spark plugs and
the performance of the emission control system may
be affected. The malfunction indicator lamp may turn on.
If this occurs, return to your authorized GM dealer for
service.
5-6

How to Reset the Change Oil Light
The GM Oil Life SystemTM calculates when to change
your engine oil and filter based on vehicle use. Anytime
your oil is changed, reset the system
so it can
calculate when the next oil change is required.
If a
situation occurs where you change your oil prior
to a
CHANGE OIL light being turned on, reset the system.
After changing the engine oil, the system must be reset.
To reset the oil life indicator, do the following steps:
1. With the ignition key in ON (a short time after
turning
off the engine), press the RESET button
located in the driver’s side instrument panel
fuse block. See “Instrument Panel Fuse Block”
under
Fuses and Circuit Breakers on page 5-81.
2. When the CHANGE OIL light starts to flash, press
and hold the RESET button again.
The reset is complete when you hear the chimes and
the CHANGE OIL light goes out.
If your vehicle is equipped with a 2.2L L4 ECOTEC
engine, it has a unique oil filter element. When
reinstalling the filter cap do not exceed
18 Ib ft (25 N*m ).
Inspect the condition of the O-ring and replace if
damaged.
What to Do with Used Oil
Used engine oil contains certain elements that may be
unhealthy for your skin and could even cause cancer.
Don’t let used oil stay on your skin for very long. Clean
your skin and nails with soap and water, or a
good
hand cleaner. Wash or properly dispose of clothing or
rags containing used engine oil. See the manufacturer’s
warnings about the use and disposal of oil products.
Used oil can be a threat
to the environment. If you
change your own oil, be sure to drain all the oil from the
filter before disposal. Never dispose of oil by putting it
in the trash, pouring it on the ground, into sewers, or into
streams or bodies of water. Instead, recycle it by
taking it to a place that collects used oil. If you have a
problem properly disposing of your used oil, ask
your dealer, a service station or a local recycling center
for help.
See your dealer for additional information.
5-20

Brake Wear
The GT Series has four-wheel disc brakes and the SE
Series has front disc brakes and rear drum brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that make
a high-pitched warning sound when the brake pads
are worn and new pads are needed. The sound
may come and go or be heard all the time your vehicle
is moving (except when you are pushing on the
brake pedal firmly).
A CAUTION:
-
The brake wear warning sound means that
soon your brakes won’t work well. That could
lead to an accident. When you hear the brake
wear warning sound, have your vehicle
serviced.
Notice: Continuing to drive with worn-out brake
pads could result in costly brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates may cause a brake
squeal when the brakes are first applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean something is wrong with
your brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are necessary to help
prevent brake pulsation. When tires are rotated, inspect
brake pads for wear and evenly tighten wheel nuts in
the proper sequence to
GM torque specifications.
If you have rear drum brakes, they don’t have wear
indicators, but
if you ever hear a rear brake rubbing
noise, have the rear brake linings inspected immediately.
Also, the rear brake drums should be removed and
inspected each time the tires are removed for rotation or
changing. When you have the front brake pads
replaced, have the rear brakes inspected, too.
Brake linings should always be replaced as complete
axle sets.
See
Brake System Inspection on page 6-14.
5-4 1

When It Is Time for New Tires
One way to tell when it’s
time for new tires is
to
check the treadwear
indicators, which will
appear when your tires
have only
1/16 inch
(1.6 mm) or less of tread
remainina.
You need a new tire
if any of the following statements
are true:
You can see the indicators at three or more places
You can see cord or fabric showing through the
around the tire.
tire’s rubber.
The
tread or sidewall is cracked, cut or snagged
deep enough
to show cord or fabric.
The tire has a bump, bulge or split.
The tire has a puncture, cut or other damage that
can’t be repaired well because of the size or
location of the damage.
Buying New Tires
To find out what kind and size of tires you need, look at
the Tire-Loading Information label.
The tires installed on your vehicle when it was new had
a Tire Performance Criteria Specification (TPC Spec)
number on each tire’s sidewall. When you get new tires,
get ones with that same TPC Spec number. That way
your vehicle will continue
to have tires that are designed
to give proper endurance, handling, speed rating,
traction, ride and other things during normal service on your vehicle.
If your tires have an all-season tread
design, the TPC number will be followed by an
“MS”
(for mud and snow).
If you ever replace your tires with those not having a
TPC Spec number, make sure they are the same size,
load range, speed rating and construction type (bias,
bias-belted or radial) as your original tires.
5-56