child restraint PONTIAC GRAND AM 1997 User Guide

Securing a Child Restraint in the Right
Front Seat Position
Your vehicle has a right front passenger air bag. Never
put a rear-facing child restraint in this seat. Here’s why:
A CAUTION:
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be
seriously injured if the right front passenger’s air
bag inflates. This is because the back of a
rear-facing child restraint would be very close to
the inflating air bag. Always secure a rear-facing
child restraint in the rear seat.
You’ll be using the lap-shoulder belt. See the earlier part
about the top strap
if the child restraint has one.
1. Because your vehicle has a right front passenger air
bag, always move the seat as
far back as it will go
before securing a forward-facing child restraint. (See
“Seats” in the Index.)
2. Put the restraint on the seat. Follow the instructions
for the child restraint.
3. Secure the child in the child restraint as the
instructions say.
4. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulder
portions
of the vehicle’s safety belt through or
around the restraint.
The child restraint instructions
will show you how.
1-43

Tilt the latch plate to adjust the belt if needed.
If the shoulder belt goes in front of the child’s face or
neck, put it behind the child restraint.
5. Buckle the belt. Make sure the release button is
positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the
safety belt quickly if you ever had to.
1-44

6. To tighten the belt, pull up on the shoulder belt while
you push down
on the child restraint.
7. Push and pull the child restraint in different
To remove the child restraint, just unbuckle the vehicle’s
safety belt and let it go back
all the way. The safety belt
will move freely again and be ready to work for an adult
or larger child passenger.
directions
to be sure it is secure.
Larger Children
Children who have outgrown child restraints should
wear the vehicle’s safety belts.
If you have the choice, a child should sit next to a
window
so the child can wear a lap-shoulder belt and
get the additional restraint a shoulder belt can provide.
1-45

Accident statistics show that children are safer if they
are restrained in the rear seat. But they need to use the
safety belts properly.
Children who aren’t buckled up can be thrown out in
a crash.
Children who aren’t buckled up can strike other
people who are. Never
do this.
Here two children are wearing the same belt. The
belt can’t properly spread the impact forces. In a
crash, the two children can be crushed together
and seriously injured.
A belt must be used by
only one person at
a time.
e.’ What if a child is wearing a lap-shoulder belt,
but the child
is so small that the shoulder belt is
very close to the child’s face or neck?
A: Move the child toward the center of the vehicle, but
be sure that the shoulder belt still is on the child’s
shoulder,
so that in a crash the child’s upper body
would have the restraint that belts provide. If the
child is sitting in
a rear seat outside position, see
“Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides” in the Index. If
the child is
so small that the shoulder belt is still
very close to the child’s face or neck, you might
want to place the child in the center seat position,
the one
that has only a lap belt.
1-46

A CAUTION:
Do not load your vehicle any heavier than the
GVWR, or either the maximum front or rear
GAWR. If you do, parts on your vehicle can
break, or it can change the way your vehicle
handles. These could cause you to lose control.
Also, overloading can shorten the life of
your vehicle.
NOTICE:
Your warranty does not cover parts or
components
that fail because of overloading.
If you put things inside your vehicle- like suitcases,
tools, packages,
or anything else-they will go as fast as
the vehicle goes. If you stop or turn quickly, or
if there
is a crash, they’ll keep going. Things
you put inside your vehicle can strike and
injure people in
a sudden stop or turn, or in
a crash.
Put things in the trunk of your vehicle. In a
trunk, put them as far forward as you can.
Try to spread the weight evenly.
Never stack heavier things, like suitcases,
inside the vehicle
so that some of them are
above the tops
of the seats.
Don’t leave an unsecured child restraint in
your vehicle.
When you carry something inside the
vehicle, secure it whenever you can.
Don’t leave a seat folded down unless you
need
to.
4-34

Brake Adjustment
.......... ........ ... 6-34
Master Cylinder
.............................. 6-30
Parking
..................................... 2-2 8
Pedal Travel
................................. 6-34
Replacing System Parts
........................ 6-34
System Warning Light
.................... 2-60, 6-31
Trailer
...................................... 4-38
Transaxle Shift Interlock Check
.................. 7-43
Wear
....................................... 6-33
Brakes. Anti-Lock
............................... 4-7
Braking
........................................ 4-6
Braking in Emergencies
.......................... 4- 11
Break-In. New Vehicle
.......................... 2- 13
Brightness Control
.............................. 2-45
Bulb Replacement
.............................. 6-35
Back-up Lamps
.............................. 6-39
CHMSL
.................................... 6-38
DomeLamp
................................. 6-40
Headlamps .................................. 6-36
Taillamps
................................. 6-39
Fluid
....................................... 6-30
BTSICheck
................................... 7-43
c aliper/Knuckle Maintenance Inspection ........... 7-46
Canadian Roadside Assistance
...................... 8-8
Capacities and Specifications ...................... 6-64
Carbon Monoxide
.......... 2-10.2-32,2-33,4-29,4-38
Cassette Deck Service ........................... 7-41
Cassette Tape Player
.................. 3-10.3-13. 3-19
Cassette Tape Player Care
........................ 3-25
Cassette Tape Player Errors .................. 3-1 1. 3- 15
CD Adapter Kit ........................... 3-13. 3-16 CD Player Theft-Deterrent Feature
................. 3-21
Center Console Cupholder
........................ 2-50
Center Console Storage Area
...................... 2-50
Center High-Mounted Stop Lamp Bulb Replacement
... 6-38
Center Rear Passenger Position
.................... 1-33
Certification Label
.............................. 4-33
Chains. Safety
................................. 4-38
Chains. Tire
................................... 6-49
Changing a Flat Tire
............................. 5-22
Check Engine Light
............................. 2-65
Check Oil Light
........................... 2-68. 6-12
Checking Your Restraint Systems
.................. 1-48
Chemical Paint Spotting
.......................... 6-56
Child Restraints
................................ 1-36
Securing in a Rear Outside Seat Position
........... 1-39
Securing in the Center Rear Seat Position
.......... 1-41
Securing in the Passenger Seat Position
........... 1-43
Securing in the Right Front Seat Position
.......... 1-43
TopStrap
................................... 1-38
WheretoPut
................................ 1-37
Cigarette Lighter
............................... 2-51
Circuit Breakers and Fuses
....................... 6-59
Cleaner. Air
................................... 6-18
Cleaning
...................................... 6-49
Aluminum Wheels
............................ 6-55
Fabric
...................................... 6-50
Glass
....................................... 6-53
Inside of Your Pontiac
......................... 6-50
Instrument Panel
............................. 6-52
Leather
..................................... 6-52
Outside
of Your Pontiac ........................ 6-54
Special Problems
............................. 6-51
Stains
...................................... 6-51
Tires ....................................... 6-55
9-2

Radio Reception .............................. 3-23
Radios
........................................ 3-8
Rain, Driving In
................................ 4- 18
Reading Lamps
........................... 2-46, 2-47
Rear
Door Security Locks
........................... 2-6
Outside Seat Position
.......................... 1-27
Safety Belt Comfort Guides
..................... 1-3 1
Seatpassengers
.............................. 1-27
Window Defogger
............................. 3-6
Rear Seat Cupholder ............................ 2-5 1
RearTowing
................................... 5-12
Rearview Mirror
Inside
...................... .......... 2-48
Outside, Manual
.............................. 2-49
Outside, Power
............................... 2-49
Reclining Front Seatbacks
......................... 1-4
Recreational Vehicle Towing
...................... 4-30
Refrigerants, Air Conditioning
.................... 6-65
Remote Cassette Tape Player
.......................... 3- 19
Fuel Door Release
............................. 6-6
Trunk Release ................................ 2-1 1
Bulbs ...................................... 6-63
Parts ....................................... 6-65
Wheel
...................................... 6-47
Replacing Safety Belts
........................... 1-48
Reporting Safety Defects
......................... 8-10
Restraints
Replacement
Checking
................................... 1-48
Child
....................................... 1-36
Head
........................................ 1-5
Replacing Parts After a Crash ................... 1-48 Systemcheck
................................ 7-42
Reverse. Automatic Transaxle
..................... 2-22
Reverse. Manual Transaxle
....................... 2-26
Right Front Passenger Position
.................... 1-21
Roadside Assistance
.............................. 8-6
Roadside Assistance. Canadian
..................... 8-8
Rocking Your Vehicle ........................... 5-34
Rotation. Tires
................................ 6-43
safety Belt Extender
.......................... 1-48
Safety Belts
.................................... 1-7
Care
....................................... 6-53
Children
.................................... 1-35
Driver Position
............................... 1-13
Extender
.................................... 1-48
How to Wear Properly
......................... 1-13
Incorrect Usage .................... 1 - 16, 1-46, 1-47
LapBelt
.................................... 1-34
Lap-Shoulder
............ .......... 1-13, 1-27
Larger Children
.............................. 1-45
Passenger Position
............................ 1-21
Questions and Answers
........................ 1-12
Rear Comfort Guides
.......................... 1-31
Rear Seat Passengers
.......................... 1-27
Reminder Light
.......................... 1-8, 2-59
Replacing After a Crash
........................ 1-48
Right Front Passenger Position
.................. 1-21
Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster
................... 1-15
Smaller Children and Babies
.................... 1-35
Use
During Pregnancy ......................... 1-20
Adults ...................................... 1-13
Center Rear Passenger Position
.................. 1-33 .
Rear Seat Outside Passenger Positions ............ 1-27
WhyTheyWork
............................... 1-9
9-8

Safety Chains ................................ 4-38
Safety Defects. Reporting
........................ 8-10
Safety Warnings and Symbols
....................... 111
Scheduled Maintenance Services .................... 7-4
Seat Adjuster
.............................. 1-2. 1-48
Seatback Latches
.................................... 1-5
Reclining Front
............................. 1-4
Easy Entry
................................... 1-6
Manual Front
................................. 1-2
Manual Lumbar Support
................ ' ........ 1-3
Power ....................................... 1-3
Rear
........................................ 1-7
Seatcontrols
................................. 1-2
...
Seats
Restraint Systems
.............................. 1 - 1
Securing a Child Restraint ............ 1.39. 1.41. 1-43
Second Gear. Automatic Transaxle
................. 2-24
Second Gear. Manual Transaxle
................... 2-25
Security System
................................ 2- 13
Service
........................................ 6-2
Bulletins. Ordering
............................ 8- 12
Bulletins. Ordering in Canada
................... 8- 11
Manuals. Ordering ............................ 8- 12
Manuals. Ordering in Canada ................... 8-11
Parts Identification Label
....................... 6-58
Publications. Ordering
......................... 8- 12
Publications. Ordering in Canada
................ 8- 11
Work. Doing Your Own
......................... 6-2
Service and Appearance Care
...................... 6- 1
Service and Owner Publications
................... 8-12
Service Publications
............................. 8- 12
Servicing
Your Air Bag-Equipped Pontiac ........... 1-27
Sheet Metal Damage ............................ 6-55 Shift Lever
............................... 2.21. 2.25
Shift Speeds
................. .............. 2-26
Shifting Automatic Transaxle
.......................... 2-21
Into Park (P)
................................. 2-29
ManualTransaxle
............................. 2-25
Outofpark
.................................. 2-31
Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster
..................... 1-15
Signaling Turns
................................ 2-36
Skidding
...................................... 4-15
Spare Tire. Compact
............................. 5-33
Specifications and Capacities
...................... 6-64
Specifications. Engine
........................... 6-64
Sound Equipment.
Adding
.............. 2-17.2.18. 3-24
Speech Impaired. Customer Assistance
............... 8-5 .
Speedometer ................................... 2-57
SRS ......................................... l-21
Stains. Cleaning ................................ 6-51
Starter Switch Check
............................ 7-43
Starting Your Engine
...................... 2-16. 17. 18
Steam
........................................ 5-14
Steering
...................................... 4-11
In Emergencies
............................... 4-12
Power
...................................... 4-11
Tips ........................................ 4-11
Variable Effort
............................... 4-11
Wheel. Tilt
.................................. 2-35
Steering Wheel Touch Controls
.................... 3-23
Storage Compartments
........................... 2-50
Storage. Vehicle
................................ 6-34
Sunglasses Storage .............................. 2-50
Stuck:
In Sand. Mud. Ice or Snow
.................. 5-34
SunVisors
.................................... 2-52
9-9