PONTIAC GRAND AM 2003 User Guide

But don’t have a seatback reclined if your vehicle is
moving.
I
Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle
is in motion can be dangerous. Even if you
buckle up, your safety belts can’t do their job
when you’re reclined like this.
The shoulder belt can’t do its job because
it
won’t be against your body. Instead, it will be
in front of you. In a crash you could go into it,
receiving neck or other injuries.
The lap belt can’t do it’s job either. In
a crash
the belt could
go up over your abdomen. The
belt forces would be there, not at your pelvic
bones. This could cause serious internal
injuries.
For proper protection when the vehicle is
in
motion, have the seatback upright. Then sit
well back in the seat and wear your safety belt
properly.
1 -4

Head Restraints
Slide the head restraint up or down so that the top of
position reduces the chance of a neck injury in a crash.
+L- r--+r-:n+ :m mlnr.nmt tn +hn tnn nf \/n~tr hnad Thic LIIC IG3LIUtIIl la blkJaba& bu LI IW rwp VI y vu- I IVCIU. a I ~IY
Seatback Latches
For two-door model vehicles, the front seatbacks fold
forward
to let people get into the back seat. The
seatback latch
is designed for one-handed operation.
To fold a front seatback forward, lift the seatback
latch fully without pushing forward on the seatback to
unlock it. Then the seatback will fold forward.
Push the seatback to
its original position, and the
seatback will lock.
forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could
cause injury to the person sitting there. Always
press rearward
on the seatback to be sure it is
1-5

Easy Entry Seat
For two-door model vehicles, the right front seat of your
vehicle makes it easy for people to get in and out
of
the rear seat.
1. Fold the right front seatback forward by lifting the
2. The seat will slide forward to allow someone to get
seatback
latch fully.
into the rear seat area.
3. Push the seatback upright to lock it and slide the
seat fully rearward to lock it.
4. Adjust the seat to the desired position.
4b CAUTION:
If the easy entry right front seat isn't locked, it
can move. In a sudden stop or crash, the
person sitting there could be injured. After
you've used it, be sure to push rearward on an
easy entry seat to be sure it
is locked.
5. The front passenger should try to move the seat to
make sure the seat
is locked into place.
I -6

Bower Lift Seat
If your vehicle has this feature, to move the power lift
seat forward or rearward, pull up on the lever located
under the front of the driver’s seat to unlock it. Slide the
seat to where you want it and release the lever. Try
is locked into place.
L- .- +L. ---& ..,:&h .,e,lr h,-.A,, +- --Iln +hn c.--t LW IIIWVC LI 12 acat VVIU I yuu~ uuuy LW IIIUI\~ ~UIU II IU uwut
To raise or lower the power lift seat, hold the switch
located
on the outboard side of the driver’s seat
up or down.
1 -7

Rear Seats
Rear Seat Operation
Folding the Seatback
If your vehicle has this feature, do the following:
2. Fold the seatback down from the inside of the
vehicle.
To raise the seatback, push the seatback up
to return it
to its original position.
Push and pull on the seatback
to make sure it is latched
securely in the fully upright position.
1. Pull the release straps
located in the trunk.
The right strap operates
the passenger’s side
rear split seat. The left
strap operates the
driver’s side rear
split seat.
1-8

Safety Belts
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone
This part of the manual tells you how to use safety
belts properly. It also tells you some things you should
not
do with safety belts.
A I I
CA UTl0,N:
Don’t let anyone ride where he or she can’t
wear a safety belt properly. If you are in a
crash and you’re not wearing a safety belt,
your injuries can be much worse. You can hit
things inside the vehicle or be ejected from
it.
You can be seriously injured or killed. In the
same crash, you might not be, if you are
buckled up. Always fasten your safety belt,
ana cneck
tnai your passengers’ Leiis art:
fastened properly too.
It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo
area, inside
or outside of a vehicle. In a
collision, people riding in these areas are more
likely to be seriously injured or killed.
Do not
allow people to ride in any area of your vehicle
that
is not equipped with seats and safety
belts. Be sure everyone in your vehicle
is in a
seat and using a safety belt properly.
1-9

Your vehicle has a light
that comes on as a
reminder
to buckle up. See
Safety Belt Reminder
Light
on page 3-25. L
Why Safety Belts Work
When you ride in or on anything, you go as
fast as it goes.
1-10

L

ZC-C

or the safety belts!
With safety belts, you slow down as the vehicle does.
Yn~r rpt more time to stop. You stop over more distance,
and your strongest bones take the forces. That’s why
safety belts make such good sense.
Questions and Answers About
Safety Belts
Q: Won’t I be trapped in the vehicle after an
accident id I’m wearing a safety belt?
A: You could be - whether you’re wearing a safety
belt or not. But you can unbuckle a safety belt,
even
if you’re upside down. And your chance
of being conscious during and after an accident,
so
you can unbuckle and get out, is much greater if
you are belted.
Q: If my vehicle has air bags, why should I have to
wear safety belts?
A: Air bags are in many vehicles today and will be in
most of them in the future. But they are
supplemental systems only;
so they work with
system ever offered for sale has required the use of
safety belts. Even
if you’re in a vehicle that has
air bags, you still have to buckle up to get the most
protection. That’s true not oniy in frontal collisions,
but especially in side and other collisions.
aalcry UGIW - I IWL 11 IQL~WU V, LI ,UBI,. LIVi --$-+ST k-l+c. mn+ inctnrrd nf thorn C\,nnr Y sir b2,-1 3
1-13