service PONTIAC GRAND-AM 1995 Owners Manual

v The 1995 Pontiac Grand Am Owner’s Manual
... How to Use this Manual .............................................................. .111
Seats and Restraint Systems .......................................................... 1-1
Features and Controls ............................................................... 2-1
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems .................................................. 3-1
This section tells you how to use your manual and includes safety and vehicle damage warnings and symbols.
This section tells you how to use your seats and safety belts properly. It also explains the “SRS” system.
This section explains how to start and operate your Pontiac.
This section tells you how to adjust the ventilation and comfo\
rt controls and how to operate your
audio system.
Here you’ll find helpful information and tips about the road\
and how
to drive under different conditions.
This section tells you what to do
if you have a problem while driving, such as a flat tire or engine
overheating, etc.
Here the manual tells you how to keep your Pontiac running properly and looking good.
This section tells you when to perform vehicle maintenance and what fluids and lubricants to use.
This section tells you how to contact Pontiac for assistance and how to get service publications.
It also gives you information on “Reporting Safety Defects” on page 8-4.
Here’s an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual. You can use it to quickly find
something you want to read.
YourDrivingandtheRoad ........................................................... 4-1
ProblemsontheRoad ............................................................... 5-1
Service and Appearance Care. ........................................................ 6-1
Maintenanceschedule ............................................................... 7-1
Customer Assistance Information ..................................................... 8-1
Index ........................................................................\
..... 9-1
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GENERAL MOTORS, GM and the GM Emblem,
PONTIAC and the PONTIAC Emblem are registered
trademarks of General Motors Corporation.
This manual includes the latest information at the time it
was printed. We reserve the right to make changes in the
product after that time without further notice. For
vehicles first sold
in Canada, substitute the name
“General Motors of Canada Limited” for Pontiac Motor
Division whenever it appears in this manual.
Please keep this manual in your Pontiac, so it will be
there if you ever need it when you’re on the road. If you
sell the vehicle, please leave this manual in it
so the new
owner can use it.
Litho in U.S.A.
Part No. 10254644 B First Edition
r CERTIFIED i
WE SUPPORT VOLUNTARY TECHNICIAN
CERTIFICATION THROUGH
AUTOMOTIVE National Institute for
EXCELLENCE SERVICE
We. support voluntary technician certification.
For Canadian Owners Who Prefer a
French Language
Manual:
Aux propribtaires canadiens: Vous pouvez vous procurer
un exemplaire de ce guide en franGais chez votre
concessionaire ou au
DGN Marketing Services Ltd.,
1500 Bonhill Rd., Mississauga, Ontario L5T lC7.
‘Copyright General Motors Corporation 1994
All Rights Reserved
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It’s possible that an automatic belt could keep you from
fully opening a door. That can happen
if the door was
slammed shut very hard. Just close the door all the way,
then slowly open it.
If that doesn’t fix it, then your
Pontiac needs service.
We hope you’ll always keep your automatic belt
buckled. However, you may need to unbuckle it in an
emergency.
To unbuckle the automatic belt, just push the
button
on the buckle.
To reattach the automatic belt:
1. Close and lock the door.
2. Adjust the seat (to see how, see “Seats” in the Index)
so you can sit up straight.
- I
3. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you.
Don’t let it get twisted.
4. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.
Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure.
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What will you see after an air bag inflates?
After the air bag inflates, it quickly deflates. This occurs
so quickly that some people may not even realize the air
bag inflated. Some components of the air bag module in
the steering wheel hub will be hot for a short time, but
the part of the bag that comes into contact with you will
not be hot to the touch. There will be some smoke and
dust coming from vents in the deflated air bag. Air bag
inflation will not prevent the driver from seeing or from
being able to steer the vehicle, nor will it stop people
from leaving the vehicle.
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0
0
The air bag is designed to inflate only once. After it
inflates, 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 the air bag module and
possibly other parts. The service manual for your
vehicle covers the need to replace other
parts.
Your vehicle is equipped with a diagnostic module,
which records information about the air bag system.
The module records information about the readiness
of the system, when the sensors
are activated and
driver’s safety belt usage at deployment.
Let only qualified technicians work on your air bag
system. Improper service can mean that your air bag
system won’t work properly. See your dealer for
service.
I NOTICE:
If you damage the cover for the driver’s air bag,
it may not work properly. You may have to
replace the air bag module.
Do not open or break
the air bag cover.
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Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Pontiac
The air bag affects how your Pontiac should be serviced.
There are parts of the air bag system in several places
around your vehicle. You don’t want the system to
inflate while someone is working
on your vehicle. Your
Pontiac dealer and the
1995 Grand Am Service Manual
have information about servicing your vehicle and the
air bag system.
To purchase a service manual, see
“Service Publications” in the Index. The air bag system
does not need regular maintenance.
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy
Safety belts work for everyone, including pregnant
women. Like all occupants, they are more likely
to be
seriously injured if they don’t wear safety belts.
A pregnant woman should wear a lap-shoulder belt, and
the lap portion should be worn as low
as possible
throughout the pregnancy.
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Check the distance. You may be too far from your
Check the location. Other vehicles or objects may be
vehicle. This product has a maximum range.
blocking the signal.
See your Pontiac dealer or a qualified technician for
service.
Changes or modifications to this system by other than an
authorized service facility could void authorization to
use this equipment.
Operation
The driver’s door will unlock automatically when
UNLOCK is pressed. If UNLOCK is pressed twice
quickly,
all doors will unlock. All the doors will lock
when DOOR is pressed. The trunk will unlock anytime
the opened trunk symbol is pressed if the ignition is
OFF. If the ignition is ON, the trunk will unlock if the
automatic transaxle is in NEUTRAL
(N) or PARK (P).
On vehicles equipped with a manual transaxle, the
parking brake must be set.
Matching Transmitter(s) To Your Vehicle
Each key chain transmitter is coded to prevent another
transmitter from unlocking your vehicle. If a transmitter
is lost or stolen, a replacement can be purchased through
your. dealer. Remember
to bring any remaining
transmitters with you when you
go to your dealer. When
the dealer matches the replacement transmitter to your
vehicle, the remaining transmitters must also be
matched. Once the new transmitter is coded, the lost
transmitter will not unlock your vehicle.
You can match a transmitter to as many different
vehicles as you own, provided they are equipped with
exactly the same model system. (General Motors offers
several different models
of these systems on their
vehicles.) Each vehicle can have only two transmitters
matched to
it.
See your dealer to match transmitters to another vehicle.
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I NOTICE:
If your key seems stuck in LOCK and you can’t
turn it, be sure it is all the
way in. If it is, then
turn the steering wheel left and right while you
turn the key hard. But turn the key only with
your hand. Using
a tool to force it could break
the key or the ignition switch.
If none of this
works, then your vehicle needs service.
Starting Your Engine
Engines start differently. The 8th digit of your Vehicle
Identification Number (VIN) shows the code letter or
number for your engine.
You will find the VIN at the top
left of your instrument panel. (See “Vehicle
Identification Number” in the Index.) Follow the proper
steps to start the engine.
Automatic transaxle:
Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
Your engine won’t start in any other position
-- that’s a
safety feature.
To restart when you’re already moving,
use NEUTRAL (N) only.
NOTICE:
Don’t try to shift to PARK (P) if your Pontiac is
moving. If you do, you could damage the
transaxle. Shift to PARK
(P) only when your
vehicle
is stopped.
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Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows AIR BAG. The system checks the
air bag’s electrical system for malfunctions. The light
tells you if there is an electrical problem. The system
check includes the air bag sensors and module, the
wiring and the diagnostic module. For more information
on the air bag system, see “Air Bag” in the Index.
AIR
BAG
You will see this light
flash
for a few seconds
when you turn your
ignition to
RUN or
START. Then the light
should go out. This
means the system is
ready.
If the air bag readiness light doesn’t come on when you
start your vehicle, or stays on,
or comes on when you
are driving, your air bag system may not work properly.
Have your vehicle serviced right away.
Charging System Light
The charging system light
will come on briefly when
you turn on the ignition, but
the engine
is not running, as
a check to show you
it is
working. Then it should go
out.
If it stays on when your engine is running, or comes on
while you are driving, you may have
a problem with the
electrical charging system. It could indicate that you
have a loose generator drive belt or another electrical
problem. Have it checked right away. Driving while this
light is on could drain your battery.
If you must drive a short distance with the light on, be
certain to
turn off all your accessories, such as the radio
and air conditioner.
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Voltmeter (Option)
U
W
[-I
When your engine is not running, this gage shows the
condition
of your charging system.
When your engine is not running, but the ignition is on
(in the
RUN position), the gage shows your battery’s
state of charge in
DC volts. Readings between the red
warning zones indicate the normal operating range.
Readings in either red warning zone indicate a possible
problem in the electrical system. Have your vehicle
serviced immediately.
Shift Light (Manual Transaxle)
0
SHIFT
L
This light comes on when you need to shift to the next
higher gear. See “Manual
Transaxle” in the Index.
Brake System Warning Light
BRAKE
Your Pontiac .’s hyc h-au llic
brake system is divided into
two parts.
If one part isn’t
working, the other
part can
still work
and stop you. For
good braking, though, you
need both parts working
well.
If the warning light comes on, there could be a brake
problem. Have your brake system inspected right away.
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This light should come on briefly as you start the
vehicle. If it doesn’t come on then, have it fixed
so it
will be ready to warn you if there’s a problem.
If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off the
road
and stop carefully. You may notice that the pedal is
harder to push.
Or, the pedal may go closer to the floor. It
may take longer to stop. If the light is still on, or if the
anti-lock brake system warning light is flashing, have the
vehicle towed for service. (See “Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light” and “Towing Your Vehicle” in the Index.)
The brake system warning light will also come on when
you set your parking brake, and it will stay
on if your
parking brake doesn’t release fully. If it stays on after
your parking brake is fully released, it means you have a
brake problem.
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
1
With the anti-lock brake
svstem. this lirrht will
8 u
come on when you start
your engine and it will stay
on for three seconds.
That’s normal. If the light
doesn’t come
on, have it
fixed
so it will be ready to
warn you if there is a
problem.
If the light flashes when you’re driving, you don’t have
anti-lock brakes and there could be a problem w-ith your
regular brakes. Pull off the road and stop carefully. You
may notice that the pedal is harder to push.
Or, the pedal
may go closer to the floor. It may take longer to stop.
Have the vehicle towed for service. (See “Towing Your
Vehicle” in the Index.)
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