wheel PONTIAC GRAND AM 2004 Owners Manual

Your vehicle has a light
that comes on as a
reminder to buckle up. See
Safety Belt Reminder
Light on page 3-25.
In most states and in all Canadian provinces, the law
says to wear safety belts. Here’s why:They work.
You never know if you’ll be in a crash. If you do have a
crash, you don’t know if it will be a bad one.
A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be so
serious that even buckled up, a person wouldn’t survive.
But most crashes are in between. In many of them,
people who buckle up can survive and sometimes walk
away. Without belts they could have been badly hurt
or killed.
After more than 30 years of safety belts in vehicles, the
facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up does
matter... a lot!Why Safety Belts Work
When you ride in or on anything, you go as
fast as it goes.
Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose it’s just a seat on
wheels.
1-10

There is a air bag
readiness light on the
instrument panel, which
shows AIR BAG.
The system checks the air bag electrical system for
malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical
problem. SeeAir Bag Readiness Light on page 3-25.Where Are the Air Bags?
The driver’s air bag is in the middle of the
steering wheel.
1-56

The right front passenger’s air bag is in the instrument
panel on the passenger’s side.
{CAUTION:
If something is between an occupant and an
air bag, the bag might not inate properly or it
might force the object into that person causing
severe injury or even death. The path of an
inating air bag must be kept clear. Don’t put
anything between an occupant and an air bag,
and don’t attach or put anything on the
steering wheel hub or on or near any other air
bag covering.
When Should an Air Bag Inate?
An air bag is designed to inflate in moderate to severe
frontal or near-frontal crashes. The air bag will inflate
only if the impact speed is above the system’s designed
“threshold level”.
If your vehicle goes straight into a wall that doesn’t
move or deform, the threshold level is about 9 to 14 mph
(14 to 23 km/h). The threshold level can vary, however,
with specific vehicle design, so that it can be somewhat
above or below this range.
1-57

If your vehicle strikes something that will move or
deform, such as a parked car, the threshold level will be
higher. The air bag is not designed to inflate in
rollovers, rear impacts, or in many side impacts because
inflation would not help the occupant.
In any particular crash, no one can say whether an air
bag should have inflated simply because of the damage
to a vehicle or because of what the repair costs were.
Inflation is determined by the angle of the impact
and how quickly the vehicle slows down in frontal and
near-frontal impacts.
What Makes an Air Bag Inate?
In an impact of sufficient severity, the air bag sensing
system detects that the vehicle is in a crash. The
sensing system triggers a release of gas from the
inflator, which inflates the air bag. The inflator, air bag,
and related hardware are all part of the air bag
modules inside the steering wheel and in the instrument
panel in front of the right front passenger.
How Does an Air Bag Restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions,
even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel or
the instrument panel. Air bags supplement the
protection provided by safety belts. Air bags distribute
the force of the impact more evenly over the occupant’s
upper body, stopping the occupant more gradually.
But air bags would not help you in many types of
collisions, including rollovers, rear impacts and many
side impacts, primarily because an occupant’s motion is
not toward those air bags. Air bags should never be
regarded as anything more than a supplement to safety
belts, and then only in moderate to severe frontal or
near-frontal collisions.
1-58

What Will You See After an Air Bag
Inates?
After an air bag inflates, it quickly deflates, so quickly that
some people may not even realize the air bag inflated.
Some components of the air bag module — the steering
wheel hub for the driver’s air bag or the instrument panel
for the right front passenger’s bag — will be hot for a
short time. The parts of the bag that come into contact
with you may be warm, but not too hot to touch. There will
be some smoke and dust coming from the vents in the
deflated air bags. Air bag inflation doesn’t prevent the
driver from seeing or being able to steer the vehicle, nor
does it stop people from leaving the vehicle.
{CAUTION:
When an air bag inates, there is dust in the
air. This dust could cause breathing problems
for people with a history of asthma or other
breathing trouble. To avoid this, everyone in
the vehicle should get out as soon as it is safe
to do so. If you have breathing problems but
can not get out of the vehicle after an air bag
inates, then get fresh air by opening a
window or a door. If you experience breathing
problems following an air bag deployment, you
should seek medical attention.
In many crashes severe enough to inflate an air bag,
windshields are broken by vehicle deformation.
Additional windshield breakage may also occur from the
right front passenger air bag.
•Air bags are designed to inflate only once. After an
air bag 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 air bag modules
and possibly other parts. The service manual for your
vehicle covers the need to replace other parts.
1-59

•Your vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing and
diagnostic module, which records information about
the air bag system. The module records information
about the readiness of the system, when the system
commands air bag inflation 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.
Notice:If you damage the covering for the driver’s
or the right front passenger’s air bag, the bag
may not work properly. You may have to replace the
air bag module in the steering wheel or both the
air bag module and the instrument panel for
the right front passenger’s air bag. Do not open or
break the air bag coverings.
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped
Vehicle
Air bags affect how your vehicle 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 dealer and the service manual have information
about servicing your vehicle and the air bag system. To
purchase a service manual, seeService Publications
Ordering Information on page 7-11.
{CAUTION:
For up to 10 minutes after the ignition key is
turned off and the battery is disconnected, an
air bag can still inate during improper
service. You can be injured if you are close to
an air bag when it inates. Avoid wires
wrapped with yellow tape or yellow
connectors. They are probably part of the air
bag system. Be sure to follow proper service
procedures, and make sure the person
performing work for you is qualied to do so.
The air bag system does not need regular maintenance.
1-60

Automatic Transaxle Operation
Your automatic transaxle
has a shift lever located
on the console between
the seats.
PARK (P):This position locks your front wheels. It’s the
best position to use when you start your engine
because your vehicle can’t move easily.{CAUTION:
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the
shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake rmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Do not leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be injured. To
be sure your vehicle will not move, even when
you are on fairly level ground, always set your
parking brake and move the shift lever to
PARK (P). SeeShifting Into Park (P) on
page 2-30. If you are pulling a trailer, see
Towing a Trailer on page 4-41.
2-24

Ensure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) before starting
the engine. Your vehicle has an automatic transaxle
shift lock control system. You have to apply your regular
brake and press the shift lever button before you can
shift from PARK (P) while the ignition key is in ON. If you
cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on the
shift lever and push the shift lever all the way into
PARK (P) as you maintain brake application. Then move
the shift lever into another gear. SeeShifting Out of
Park (P) on page 2-32later in this section.
REVERSE (R):Use this gear to back up.
Notice:Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle
is moving forward could damage the transaxle.
The repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is
stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow,
ice or sand without damaging your transaxle, seeIf
You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow on
page 4-31.NEUTRAL (N):In this position, your engine doesn’t
connect with the wheels. To restart when you’re already
moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only. Also, use
NEUTRAL (N) when your vehicle is being towed.
{CAUTION:
Shifting into a drive gear while your engine is
running at high speed is dangerous. Unless
your foot is rmly on the brake pedal, your
vehicle could move very rapidly. You could
lose control and hit people or objects. Do not
shift into a drive gear while your engine is
running at high speed.
Notice:Shifting out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N)
with the engine racing may damage the transaxle.
The repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
Be sure the engine is not racing when shifting
your vehicle.
2-25

Instrument Panel Overview...............................3-2
Hazard Warning Flashers................................3-4
Other Warning Devices...................................3-5
Horn.............................................................3-5
Tilt Wheel.....................................................3-5
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.........................3-6
Windshield Wiper Lever...................................3-9
Cruise Control..............................................3-10
Exterior Lamps.............................................3-14
Interior Lamps..............................................3-17
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter........................3-18
Climate Controls............................................3-19
Climate Control System.................................3-19
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
Brake System Warning Light..........................3-27
Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light...........................................3-28
Enhanced Traction System
Warning Light...........................................3-28Enhanced Traction System
Active Light..............................................3-29
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage..................3-30
Low Coolant Warning Light............................3-30
Malfunction Indicator Lamp.............................3-31
Oil Pressure Light.........................................3-34
Change Engine Oil Light................................3-35
Security Light...............................................3-35
Low Washer Fluid Warning Light.....................3-36
Service Vehicle Soon Light............................3-36
Fuel Gage...................................................3-37
Audio System(s).............................................3-38
Setting the Time for Radios without Radio
Data Systems (RDS)..................................3-38
Setting the Time for Radios with Radio Data
Systems (RDS).........................................3-38
Radio with CD (Base Level)...........................3-39
Radio with CD (Up Level)..............................3-43
Radio with CD (MP3)....................................3-54
Theft-Deterrent Feature..................................3-68
Audio Steering Wheel Controls.......................3-69
Radio Reception...........................................3-70
Care of Your CDs.........................................3-70
Care of Your CD Player................................3-70
Fixed Mast Antenna......................................3-71
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System.............3-71
Chime Level Adjustment................................3-71
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-1

The main components of your instrument panel are the following:
A. Fog Lamp Button (If Equipped). See “Fog Lamps” in
Exterior Lamps on page 3-14.
B. Instrument Panel Brightness Thumbwheel. See
“Instrument Panel Brightness” inInterior Lamps on
page 3-17.
C. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever. SeeTurn
Signal/Multifunction Lever on page 3-6.
D. Horn. SeeHorn on page 3-5.
E. Instrument Panel Cluster. SeeInstrument Panel
Cluster on page 3-23.
F. Windshield Wiper/Washer Lever. SeeWindshield
Wiper Lever on page 3-9.
G. Ignition Switch. SeeIgnition Positions on page 2-18.
H. Enhanced Traction System Button (If Equipped).
SeeEnhanced Traction System (ETS) on page 4-9.
I. Hazard Warning Flashers Button. SeeHazard
Warning Flashers on page 3-4.J. Instrument Panel Fuse Blocks. SeeFuses and
Circuit Breakers on page 5-87.
K. Hood Release Handle. SeeHood Release on
page 5-10.
L. Tilt Wheel Lever. SeeTilt Wheel on page 3-5.
M. Audio System Steering Wheel Controls (If Equipped).
SeeAudio Steering Wheel Controls on page 3-69.
N. Cruise Control Buttons (If Equipped). SeeCruise
Control on page 3-10.
O. Shift Lever. SeeAutomatic Transaxle Operation on
page 2-24.
P. Cigarette Lighter. SeeAshtrays and Cigarette
Lighter on page 3-18.
Q. Climate Control System. SeeClimate Control
System on page 3-19.
R. Audio System. SeeAudio System(s) on page 3-38.
3-3