seats PONTIAC SOLSTICE 2007 User Guide

Child Restraints
Older Children
Older children who have outgrown booster seats
should wear the vehicle’s safety belts.
Q:What is the proper way to wear safety belts?
A:If possible, an older child should wear a
lap-shoulder belt and get the additional
restraint a shoulder belt can provide. The
shoulder belt should not cross the face
or neck. The lap belt should t snugly below
the hips, just touching the top of the thighs.
It should never be worn over the abdomen,
which could cause severe or even fatal internal
injuries in a crash.
According to accident statistics, children are safer
when properly restrained in the rear seating
positions than in the front seating positions.
In a crash, children who are not buckled up can
strike other people who are buckled up, or can be
thrown out of the vehicle. Older children need
to use safety belts properly.
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A booster seat (F-G) is a child restraint designed
to improve the t of the vehicle’s safety belt
system. Some booster seats have a shoulder belt
positioner, and some high-back booster seats
have a ve-point harness. A booster seat can also
help a child to see out the window.
Q:How Should I Use a Child Restraint?
A:A child restraint system is any device designed
for use in a motor vehicle to restrain, seat,
or position children. A built-in child restraint
system is a permanent part of the motor
vehicle. An add-on child restraint system is a
portable one, which is purchased by the
vehicle’s owner. To help reduce injuries, an
add-on child restraint must be secured in
the vehicle. With built-in or add-on child
restraints, the child has to be secured within
the child restraint.
When choosing an add-on child restraint, be
sure the child restraint is designed to be
used in a vehicle. If it is, it will have a label
saying that it meets federal motor vehicle
safety standards. Then follow the instructions
for the restraint. You may nd these
instructions on the restraint itself or in a
booklet, or both.
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Securing an Add-on Child Restraint
in the Vehicle
{CAUTION:
A child can be seriously injured or killed
in a crash if the child restraint is not
properly secured in the vehicle. Make sure
the child restraint is properly installed
in the vehicle using the vehicle’s safety
belt, following the instructions that
came with that restraint, and also the
instructions in this manual.
To help reduce the chance of injury, the child
restraint must be secured in the vehicle. Child
restraint systems must be secured in vehicle seats
by lap belts or the lap belt portion of a lap-shoulder
belt. A child can be endangered in a crash if the
child restraint is not properly secured in the
vehicle.When securing an add-on child restraint, refer
to the instructions that come with the restraint
which may be on the restraint itself or in a booklet,
or both, and to this manual. The child restraint
instructions are important, so if they are not
available, obtain a replacement copy from the
manufacturer.
Keep in mind that an unsecured child restraint can
move around in a collision or sudden stop and
injure people in the vehicle. Be sure to properly
secure any child restraint in your vehicle — even
when no child is in it.
Securing the Child Within the
Child Restraint
There are several systems for securing the child
within the child restraint. One system, the
three-point harness, has straps that come down
over each of the infant’s shoulders and buckle
together at the crotch. The ve-point harness
system has two shoulder straps, two hip straps,
and a crotch strap. A shield may take the place
of hip straps.
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{CAUTION:
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can
be seriously injured or killed if the right
front passenger’s airbag inates. This is
because the back of the rear facing child
restraint would be very close to the
inating airbag. Be sure the airbag is off
before using a rear-facing child restraint
in the passenger’s position.
Even though the passenger sensing
system is designed to turn off the
passenger’s frontal airbag if the system
detects a rear-facing child restraint,
no system is fail-safe, and no one can
guarantee that an airbag will not deploy
under some unusual circumstance,
even though it is turned off.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
We recommend that rear-facing child
restraints be transported in vehicles with
a rear seat that will accommodate a
rear-facing child restraint, whenever
possible.
There is no top strap anchor in your vehicle.
Do not secure a child seat in your vehicle
if a national or local law requires that the top strap
be anchored, or if the instructions that come
with the child restraint say that the top strap must
be anchored. SeeLower Anchors and Tethers
for Children (LATCH) on page 37for more
information.
If you need to secure a forward-facing child
restraint in the passenger’s position, move the
seat as far back as it will go before securing the
forward-facing child restraint. SeeManual Seats
on page 8.
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You will be using the lap-shoulder belt to secure
the child restraint in this position. Be sure to follow
the instructions that came with the child restraint.
Secure the child in the child restraint when and as
the instructions say.
1. Your vehicle has a passenger’s frontal airbag.
SeePassenger Sensing System on page 50.
We recommend that rear-facing child
restraints not be transported in your vehicle,
even if the airbag is off. If your child restraint is
forward-facing, move the seat as far back
as it will go before securing the child restraint
in this seat. SeeManual Seats on page 8.
When the passenger sensing system
has turned off the passenger’s frontal airbag,
the off indicator in the passenger airbag
status indicator should light and stay lit when
the vehicle is started. SeePassenger
Airbag Status Indicator on page 132.
2. Put the child restraint on the seat.
3. 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.4. 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.
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Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Q:Is there anything I might add to the front
of the vehicle that could keep the airbags
from working properly?
A:Yes. If you add things that change your
vehicle’s frame, bumper system, height,
front end or side sheet metal, they may keep
the airbag system from working properly.
Also, the airbag system may not work properly
if you relocate any of the airbag sensors.
If you have any questions about this,
you should contact Customer Assistance
before you modify your vehicle. The phone
numbers and addresses for Customer
Assistance are in Step Two of theCustomer
Satisfaction Procedure on page 362.
Q:Because I have a disability, I have to get
my vehicle modied. How can I nd out
whether this will affect my airbag system?
A:Changing or moving any parts of the
front seats, safety belts, the airbag sensing
and diagnostic module, steering wheel,
the instrument panel, or airbag wiring can
affect the operation of the airbag system.
If you have questions, call Customer
Assistance. The phone numbers and
addresses for Customer Assistance are
in Step Two of the Customer Satisfaction
Procedure in this manual. SeeCustomer
Satisfaction Procedure on page 362.
55

Automatic Transmission Operation
If your vehicle has an automatic transmission,
the shift lever is located on the center console
between the front seats.
There are several
different positions for
the shift lever.
PARK (P):This position locks the rear wheels.
It is the best position to use when you start
the engine because your vehicle cannot
move easily.{CAUTION:
It can be 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. 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,
use the steps that follow.
Make sure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P)
before starting the engine. Your vehicle has an
automatic transmission shift lock control system.
You must fully apply your regular brakes rst
and then press the shift lever button before you
can shift from PARK (P) when the ignition key is in
RUN. 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 press the shift lever button
and move the shift lever into another gear. See
Shifting Out of Park (P) on page 89.
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REVERSE (R):To back up, press the clutch
pedal. After the vehicle stops, shift into
REVERSE (R). Slowly let up on the clutch pedal
as you press the accelerator pedal. If it is hard
to shift, let the shift lever return to NEUTRAL and
release the clutch pedal. Then press the clutch
pedal again and shift into REVERSE (R). Do
not attempt to shift into the fth gear position prior
to shifting into REVERSE (R). Your transmission
has a lock out feature which prevents a fth
gear to reverse gear shift.
Notice:Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your
vehicle is moving forward could damage
the transmission. The repairs would not be
covered by your warranty. Shift to
REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is
stopped.
Also, use FIRST (1) or REVERSE (R), along with
the parking brake, for parking your vehicle.Parking Brake
The parking brake lever is located between the
front seats.
To set the parking brake, hold the brake pedal
down and pull up on the parking brake lever. If the
ignition is on, the brake system warning light will
come on. SeeBrake System Warning Light
on page 134.
86

=(Rear Defogger):Press the right knob on the
control panel to turn the rear window defogger
on or off.
Do not operate rear defogger when convertible top
is down.
Notice:Do not use anything sharp on the
inside of the rear window. If you do, you could
cut or damage the warming grid, and the
repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
Do not attach a temporary vehicle license,
tape, a decal or anything similar to the
defogger grid.
Outlet Adjustment
Use the air outlets located in the center and on
the side of your instrument panel to direct
the airow.
Your vehicle has air outlets that allow you to
adjust the direction and amount of airow inside
the vehicle. Move the louvers up or down or
turn clockwise or counterclockwise to change the
direction of the airow.Your vehicle has ow through ventilation that
allows outside air to be forced through your
ventilation system when your vehicle is moving.
Outside air will enter the vehicle when the air
conditioning fan is running. Flow through
ventilation can be stopped in vent and bi-level
modes by pressing the recirculation button.
Operation Tips

Clear away any ice, snow or leaves from the
air inlets at the base of the windshield that
may block the ow of air into your vehicle.
Use of non-GM approved hood deectors may
adversely affect the performance of the
system.
Keep the path under the front seats clear of
objects to help circulate the air inside of
your vehicle more effectively.
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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 have to stop or turn quickly, or if there
is a crash, they will keep going.
{CAUTION:
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 rear area of your
vehicle. 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.
Do not leave an unsecured child
restraint in your vehicle.
When you carry something inside the
vehicle, secure it whenever you can.
Towing
Towing Your Vehicle
Consult your dealer or a professional towing
service if you need to have your disabled vehicle
towed. SeeRoadside Assistance Program on
page 368.
Recreational Vehicle Towing
Notice:Dolly towing or dinghy towing your
vehicle may cause damage because of reduced
ground clearance. Always put your vehicle
on a atbed truck.
Your vehicle was neither designed nor intended to
be towed with any of its wheels on the ground.
If your vehicle must be towed, see “Towing Your
Vehicle” earlier in this section.
Towing a Trailer
Your vehicle is neither designed nor intended to
tow a trailer.
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