PONTIAC GRAND PRIX 2003 Repair Manual

If something is between an occupant and an
air bag, the bag might not inflate properly or
it
might force the object into that person causing
severe injury or even death. The path
of an
inflating 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.
The right front passenger’s air bag is in the instrument
panel
on the passenger’s side.
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When Should an Air Bag Inflate?
An air bag is designed to inflate in a moderate to severe
frontal, or near-frontal crash. 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
12 to 18 mph (19 to 29 km/h). The threshold
level can vary, however, with specific vehicle design,
so that it can be somewhat above or below this range.
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 or
near-frontal impacts.
What Makes an Air Bag Inflate?
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.
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What Will You See After an Air Bag
Inflates?
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,
no- ”oes it sto- Teople from leaving the vehicle
When an air
,,g inflates, there is dust i.. khe
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
CAUTION: (Continued) to do
so. If you hawe breath ...d prob.,.ns
butcan’t get out of the vehicle after an air bag
inflates, 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.
0 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.
I
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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 senlice manual, see Service Publications
Ordering Informal
7 on page 7- 10.
For up to 10 seconds afi the ignitio ’ is
turned off and the battery is disconnected,
an air bag can still inflate during improper
service. You can be injured if you are close to
an air bag when
it inflates. Avoid 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 qualified to do so.
The air bag system does not need regular maintenance.
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Restraint System Check
Checking Your Restraint Systems
Now and then, make sure the safety belt reminder light
and all your belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors
and anchorages are working properly. Look for any other
loose or damaged safety belt system parts. If you see
anything that might keep a safety belt system from doing
its job, have it repaired.
Torn or frayed safety belts may not protect you in a
crash. They can rip apart under impact forces. If a belt
is torn or frayed, get a new one right away.
Also
look for any opened or broken air bag covers, and
have them repaired or replaced. (The air bag system
does not need regular maintenance.)
Replacing Restraint System Parts
After a Crash
A crash can damag he restrain . :ems in
your vehicle.
A damaged restraint system may
not properly protect the person using
it,
resulting in serious injury or even death in a
crash.
To help make sure your restraint
systems are working properly after a crash,
have them inspected and any necessary
replacements made as
soon as possible.
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If you’ve had a crash, do you need new belts or LATCH If belts are cut or damaged, replace them. Collision
system parts? damage also
may mean you will need to have LATCH
After
a very minor collision, nothing may be necessary.
But if the belts were stretched, as they would be if
worn during a more severe crash, then you need
new parts.
If the LATCH system was being used during a
more severe crash, you may need new LATCH
system parts. system, safety belt or seat
parts repaired or replaced.
New parts and repairs may be necessary even
if the belt
or LATCH system wasn’t being used at the time of
the collision.
If an air bag inflates, you’ll need to replace air bag
system parts. See the part on the air bag system earlier
in this section.
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Section 2 Features and Controls
Keys ............................................................... 2.3
Remote Keyless Entry System
......................... 2.4
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation ........... 2.5
Doors and Locks ............................................. 2-8
Door Locks
.................................................... 2-8
Power Door Locks
.......................................... 2-9
Last Door Closed Locking
................................ 2-9
Programmable Automatic Door Locks
.............. 2-10
Lockout Protection
........................................ 2-10
Leaving Your Vehicle
.................................... 2-1 1
Trunk
.......................................................... 2-1 1
Windows ........................................................ 2.13
Power Windows
............................................ 2-14
Sun Visors
................................................... 2.14
Theft-Deterrent Systems .................................. 2.15
Content Theft-Deterrent
................................. 2.15
PASS-Key@
Ill .......................................... 2.16
PASS-Key@
Ill Operation ........................... 2-17
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle ............... -2-1 9
New Vehicle Break-In
.................................... 2-19
Ignition Positions
.......................................... 2.19
Starting Your Engine
..................................... 2-20
Engine Coolant Heater
.................................. 2-23
Automatic Transaxle Operation
....................... 2.24 Shifting Into
Park
(P) ..................................... 2-28
Parking Over Things That Burn
....................... 2-30
Shifting
Out
of Park (PI ................................. 2-30
Engine Exhaust ............................................ 2-31
Running Your Engine While You Are Parked
.... 2-32
Mirrors ........................................................... 2-33
Manual Rearview Mirror
................................ -2-33
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with
Onstar@, Compass and Temperature
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with
Compass and Temperature Display
.............. 2-34
Outside Power Mirrors
................................... 2-37
Outside Convex Mirror
................................... 2-37
OnStar@ System ............................................. 2-38
Storage Areas .... -2-40
Glove Box
................................................... 2-40
Overhead Console
........................................ 2-40
Center Console Storage Area
......................... 2-40
Assist Handles
............................................. 2-41
Purse or Litter Bag Holder
............................. 2-41
Rear Storage Area
........................................ 2-41
Convenience Net
.......................................... 2-41
Trunk Access Panel
...................................... 2-41
Display
.................................................... 2-33
....................................
Parking Brake .............................................. 2-27 Sunroof .................. ........... ............. 2.42
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Section 2 Features and Controls
Vehicle Personalization ................................... 2.43
Entering Programming Mode
.......................... 2-44
Delayed illumination and Exit Lighting
.............. 2-44
Automatic Door Locks
................................... 2-45
Last Door Closed Locking and Lockout
Protection
................................................. 2-47 Remote Driver
Unlock Control
........................ 2.48
Remote Lock and Unlock Confirmation
............ -2-49
Content Theft-Deterrent System
.............. , ... -2-51
Arming and Disarming the Content
Theft-Deterrent System
............................... 2.52
Exiting Programming Mode
......................... 2.53
2-2

The key can be used for the ignition, as well as the
door lock and storage compartments.
When a new key
is delivered, it will come with a bar
coded tag attached to the key ring. Keep the bar code
tag that came with the original keys. Give this tag
to your dealer
if you need a new key made.
2-3