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2004 Pontiac GTO Owner Manual M


Front Seats Safety Belts Child Restraints Air Bag Systems Restraint System Check


Seats and Restraint Systems ........................... 1-1
............................................... 1-2
.............................................. 1-6
....................................... 1-26
...................................... 1-46
............................ 1-52
Features and Controls ..................................... 2-1
........................................................ 2-2
....................................... 2-6
................................................. 2-10
............................ 2-12
........... 2-15
.................................................... 2-29
......................................... 2-30
............................. 2-32
Instrument Panel ............................................. 3-1
.......................... 3-2
...................................... 3-19
........ 3-23
......................................... 3-36
....................................... 3-42


Keys Doors and Locks Windows Theft-Deterrent Systems Starting and Operating Your Vehicle Mirrors Storage Areas Vehicle Personalization


Instrument Panel Overview Climate Controls Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators Trip Computer Audio System(s)


Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle Towing


Driving Your Vehicle ....................................... 4-1
..... 4-2
................................................... 4-29
Service and Appearance Care .......................... 5-1
Service ..................................................... 5-3
Fuel ......................................................... 5-5
Checking Things Under the Hood ............... 5-10
Bulb Replacement .................................... 5-47
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement ......... 5-50
Tires ...................................................... 5-51
Appearance Care ..................................... 5-78
Vehicle Identification ................................. 5-86
Electrical System ...................................... 5-87
Capacities and Specifications ..................... 5-92
Maintenance Schedule ..................................... 6-1
................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance and Information .............. 7-1
........... 7-2
........................... 7-10
Index ................................................................ 1


Customer Assistance and Information Reporting Safety Defects


Maintenance Schedule


How to Use This Manual Many people read their owner’s manual from beginning to end when they first receive their new vehicle. If you do this, it will help you learn about the features and controls for your vehicle. In this manual, you will find that pictures and words work together to explain things.


Index A good place to look for what you need is the Index in back of the manual. It is an alphabetical list of what is in the manual, and the page number where you will find it.


GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem, PONTIAC, the PONTIAC Emblem and the name GTO are registered trademarks of General Motors Corporation. This manual includes the latest information at the time it was printed. We reserve the right to make changes after that time without further notice. Please keep this manual in your vehicle, so it will be there if you ever need it when you’re on the road. If you sell the vehicle, please leave this manual in it so the new owner can use it.


Part No. 04GTO A First Edition


ii


©Copyright General Motors Corporation 10/15/03
All Rights Reserved


Safety Warnings and Symbols You will find a number of safety cautions in this book. We use a box and the word CAUTION to tell you about things that could hurt you if you were to ignore the warning.


{CAUTION:


These mean there is something that could hurt you or other people.


In the caution area, we tell you what the hazard is. Then we tell you what to do to help avoid or reduce the hazard. Please read these cautions. If you don’t, you or others could be hurt.


You will also find a circle with a slash through it in this book. This safety symbol means “Don’t,” “Don’t do this” or “Don’t let this happen.”


iii


Vehicle Damage Warnings Also, in this book you will find these notices: Notice: These mean there is something that could damage your vehicle. A notice will tell you about something that can damage your vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be covered by your warranty, and it could be costly. But the notice will tell you what to do to help avoid the damage. When you read other manuals, you might see CAUTION and NOTICE warnings in different colors or in different words. You’ll also see warning labels on your vehicle. They use the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE.


Vehicle Symbols Your vehicle has components and labels that use symbols instead of text. Symbols, used on your vehicle, are shown along with the text describing the operation or information relating to a specific component, control, message, gage or indicator. If you need help figuring out a specific name of a component, gage or indicator, reference the following topics: • Seats and Restraint Systems in Section 1
• Features and Controls in Section 2
• Instrument Panel Overview in Section 3
• Climate Controls in Section 3
• Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators in Section 3
• Audio System(s) in Section 3
• Engine Compartment Overview in Section 5


iv


These are some examples of symbols you may find on your vehicle:


✍ NOTES


vi


Section 1


Seats and Restraint Systems


Front Seats ......................................................1-2
Power Seats ..................................................1-2
Manual Lumbar ..............................................1-2
Reclining Seatbacks ........................................1-3
Head Restraints .............................................1-4
Seatback Latches ...........................................1-4
Safety Belts .....................................................1-6
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone .................1-6
Questions and Answers About Safety Belts ......1-10
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly .................1-12
Driver Position ..............................................1-12
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy ..................1-19
Right Front Passenger Position .......................1-20
Rear Seat Passengers ..................................1-20
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children


and Small Adults .......................................1-23
Safety Belt Pretensioners ...............................1-25
Safety Belt Extender .....................................1-25
Child Restraints .............................................1-26
Older Children ..............................................1-26
Infants and Young Children ............................1-28
Child Restraint Systems .................................1-32
Where to Put the Restraint .............................1-35


Top Strap ....................................................1-36
Top Strap Anchor Location .............................1-37
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for


Children (LATCH System) ...........................1-38


Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the


LATCH System .........................................1-40


Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat


Position ...................................................1-40


Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front


Seat Position ............................................1-43
Air Bag Systems ............................................1-46
Where Are the Air Bags? ...............................1-48
When Should an Air Bag Inflate? ....................1-49
What Makes an Air Bag Inflate? .....................1-50
How Does an Air Bag Restrain? .....................1-50
What Will You See After an Air


Bag Inflates? ............................................1-50
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle .........1-52
Restraint System Check ..................................1-52
Checking Your Restraint Systems ...................1-52
Replacing Restraint System Parts After


a Crash ...................................................1-53


1-1


• Move the seat forward or rearward by sliding the


horizontal switch toward the front or rear of the vehicle.


• Raise or lower the seat cushion by sliding the


horizontal switch up or down.


• Tilt the horizontal switch up at the front to tilt the front of the seat up, and tilt the horizontal switch down at the rear to tilt the seat down at the rear.


• Tilt the vertical switch to adjust the angle of


the seatback. The seat back moves in the same direction that the switch is tilted to.


Manual Lumbar


The manual lumbar control lets you adjust the amount of support in the lower seatback.


Front Seats


Power Seats


The power front seat controls are located on the outboard side of the driver’s and passenger’s seat. The horizontal switch is used to electrically adjust the height, the tilt, and the movement of the seat forward and rearward. The vertical switch is used to electrically adjust the angle of the back of the seat. To adjust the seat, do the following:


1-2


The control is located on the outboard side of the seat cushion. To increase or decrease lumbar support, turn the knob. Reclining Seatbacks Use the vertical switch on the outboard side of the front seat cushion to recline the seatbacks. Tilt the vertical switch to adjust the angle of the seatback. The seatback moves in the same direction that the switch is tilted to.


But don’t have a seatback reclined if your vehicle is moving.


{CAUTION:


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 its 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.


1-3


Head Restraints


Seatback Latches


The front seatbacks fold forward to let people get into the back seat.


To fold a front seatback forward, lift the entry lever located near the top of the outboard shoulders of each front seat. Then tilt the seatback forward. To move the seat forward, push the button located below the seatback latch. Then move the seat forward. For safety of front seat passengers, a weight sensor has been built into the front seats. The seat will not move forward if there is more than 27 lbs (12 kg) on the seat sensor.


To raise the height of the head restraint, pull the head restraint up. To lower the height of the head restraint, push in the locking clip at the base of the head restraint and push the head restraint down. The locking clip needs to be pushed outboard on the driver’s side head restraint and inboard on the passenger’s side. The upper edge of the head restraint should be about at eye level, never at neck level. This position reduces the chance of a neck injury in a crash.


1-4


{CAUTION:


If the seatback isn’t locked, it could move 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 locked.


To return the seat to the original position after it has been moved forward, do the following:


1. Before moving the seat, ensure there are no


objects in front or behind the seat.


2. Tilt the seatback rearward until the seatback latches upright.


3. Press and hold the


button under the front seat lever to return the seat to its original position. The seat will pause for two seconds when it reaches its original position.


The seatback must first be returned upright before pressing the button, otherwise it will not pause for two seconds at the original position, and instead will continue rearwards until the button is released. When rear seat passengers are entering or exiting the vehicle, it may be helpful to move the seat belt anchor arm towards the rear of the vehicle, to avoid tripping.


1-5


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.


{CAUTION:


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, and check that your passengers’ belts are fastened properly too.


{CAUTION:


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.


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.


1-6


Why Safety Belts Work When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as it goes.


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!


Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose it’s just a seat on wheels.


1-7


Put someone on it.


Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle. The rider doesn’t stop.


1-8


The person keeps going until stopped by something. In a real vehicle, it could be the windshield...


or the instrument panel...


1-9


Questions and Answers About Safety Belts


Q: Won’t I be trapped in the vehicle after an


accident if 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.


or the safety belts! With safety belts, you slow down as the vehicle does. You get 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.


1-10


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 safety belts – not instead of them. Every air bag 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 only in frontal collisions, but especially in side and other collisions.


Q: If I’m a good driver, and I never drive far from


home, why should I wear safety belts?


A: You may be an excellent driver, but if you’re in an accident – even one that isn’t your fault – you and your passengers can be hurt. Being a good driver doesn’t protect you from things beyond your control, such as bad drivers. Most accidents occur within 25 miles (40 km) of home. And the greatest number of serious injuries and deaths occur at speeds of less than 40 mph (65 km/h). Safety belts are for everyone.


1-11


How to Wear Safety Belts Properly This part is only for people of adult size. Be aware that there are special things to know about safety belts and children. And there are different rules for smaller children and babies. If a child will be riding in your vehicle, see Older Children on page 1-26
or Infants and Young Children on page 1-28. Follow those rules for everyone’s protection. First, you’ll want to know which restraint systems your vehicle has. We’ll start with the driver position.


Driver Position This part describes the driver’s restraint system. Lap-Shoulder Belt The driver has a lap-shoulder belt. Here is how to wear it properly. 1. Close and lock the door. 2. Adjust the seat so you can sit up straight. To see


how, see “Seats” in the Index.


1-12


4. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.


Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure. If the belt is not long enough, see Safety Belt Extender on page 1-25. Make sure the release button on the buckle is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to.


3. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you.


Do not let it get twisted. The shoulder belt may lock if you pull the belt across you very quickly. If this happens, let the belt go back slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt across you more slowly.


5. To make the lap part tight, pull down on the buckle end of the belt as you pull up on the shoulder belt.


1-13


The safety belt locks if there is a sudden stop or a crash, or if you pull the belt very quickly out of the retractor. Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster Before you begin to drive, move the shoulder belt height adjuster to the height that is right for you. Adjust the height so that the shoulder portion of the belt is centered on your shoulder. The belt should be away from your face and neck, but not falling off your shoulder.


To move it up or down, squeeze the adjuster as shown and move it to the desired position. After you move the adjuster to where you want it, try to move it without squeezing it, to make sure it has locked into position.


The lap part of the belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the thighs. In a crash, this applies force to the strong pelvic bones. And you would be less likely to slide under the lap belt. If you slid under it, the belt would apply force at your abdomen. This could cause serious or even fatal injuries. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest. These parts of the body are best able to take belt restraining forces.


1-14


Q: What’s wrong with this?


{CAUTION:


You can be seriously hurt if your shoulder belt is too loose. In a crash, you would move forward too much, which could increase injury. The shoulder belt should fit against your body.


A: The shoulder belt is too loose. It will not give nearly


as much protection this way.


1-15


Q: What’s wrong with this?


{CAUTION:


You can be seriously injured if your belt is buckled in the wrong place like this. In a crash, the belt would go up over your abdomen. The belt forces would be there, not at the pelvic bones. This could cause serious internal injuries. Always buckle your belt into the buckle nearest you.


A: The belt is buckled in the wrong place.


1-16


Q: What’s wrong with this?


{CAUTION:


You can be seriously injured if you wear the shoulder belt under your arm. In a crash, your body would move too far forward, which would increase the chance of head and neck injury. Also, the belt would apply too much force to the ribs, which aren’t as strong as shoulder bones. You could also severely injure internal organs like your liver or spleen.


A: The shoulder belt is worn under the arm. It should


be worn over the shoulder at all times.


1-17


Q: What’s wrong with this?


{CAUTION:


You can be seriously injured by a twisted belt. In a crash, you wouldn’t have the full width of the belt to spread impact forces. If a belt is twisted, make it straight so it can work properly, or ask your dealer to fix it.


A: The belt is twisted across the body.


1-18


Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy Safety belts work for everyone, including pregnant women. Like all occupants, they are more likely to be seriously injured if they don’t wear safety belts.


To unlatch the belt, just push the button on the buckle. The belt should go back out of the way. Before you close the door, be sure the belt is out of the way. If you slam the door on it, you can damage both the belt and your vehicle.


A pregnant woman should wear a lap-shoulder belt, and the lap portion should be worn as low as possible, below the rounding, throughout the pregnancy.


1-19


The best way to protect the fetus is to protect the mother. When a safety belt is worn properly, it’s more likely that the fetus won’t be hurt in a crash. For pregnant women, as for anyone, the key to making safety belts effective is wearing them properly.


Right Front Passenger Position To learn how to wear the right front passenger’s safety belt properly, see Driver Position on page 1-12. The right front passenger’s safety belt works the same way as the driver’s safety belt – except for one thing. If you ever pull the shoulder portion of the belt out all the way, you will engage the child restraint locking feature. If this happens, just let the belt go back all the way and start again.


Rear Seat Passengers It is very important for rear seat passengers to buckle up! Accident statistics show that unbelted people in the rear seat are hurt more often in crashes than those who are wearing safety belts. Rear passengers who are not safety belted can be thrown out of the vehicle in a crash. And they can strike others in the vehicle who are wearing safety belts. Rear Seat Passenger Positions


1-20


Lap-Shoulder Belt All rear seating positions have lap-shoulder belts. Here is how to wear one properly.


2. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.


Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure. When the shoulder belt is pulled out all the way, it will lock. If it does, let it go back all the way and start again. If the belt is not long enough, see Safety Belt Extender on page 1-25. Make sure the release button on the buckle is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to.


1. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you.


Do not let it get twisted. The shoulder belt may lock if you pull the belt across you very quickly. If this happens, let the belt go back slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt across you more slowly.


3. To make the lap part tight, pull down on the buckle end of the belt as you pull up on the shoulder part.


1-21


The lap part of the belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the thighs. In a crash, this applies force to the strong pelvic bones. And you would be less likely to slide under the lap belt. If you slid under it, the belt would apply force at your abdomen. This could cause serious or even fatal injuries. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest. These parts of the body are best able to take belt restraining forces. The safety belt locks if there is a sudden stop or a crash, or if you pull the belt very quickly out of the retractor.


{CAUTION:


You can be seriously hurt if your shoulder belt is too loose. In a crash, you would move forward too much, which could increase injury. The shoulder belt should fit against your body.


1-22


To unlatch the belt, just push the button on the buckle.


Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children and Small Adults Rear shoulder belt comfort guides provide added safety belt comfort for older children who have outgrown booster seats and for small adults. When installed on a shoulder belt, the comfort guide better positions the belt away from the neck and head. There is one guide for each passenger position in the rear seat. To provide added safety belt comfort for children who have outgrown child restraints and booster seats and for smaller adults, the comfort guides may be installed on the shoulder belts. Here is how to install a comfort guide and use the safety belt: 1. Pull the elastic cord out from between the edge of the seatback and the interior body to remove the guide from its storage pocket.


1-23


2. Slide the guide under and past the belt. The elastic cord must be under the belt. Then, place the guide over the belt, and insert the two edges of the belt into the slots of the guide.


3. Be sure that the belt is not twisted and it lies flat.


The elastic cord must be under the belt and the guide on top.


1-24


Safety Belt Pretensioners Your vehicle has safety belt pretensioners. You’ll find them on the buckle end of the safety belts for the driver and right front passenger. They help the safety belts reduce a person’s forward movement in a moderate to severe crash in which the front of the vehicle hits something. Pretensioners work only once. If they activate in a crash, you’ll need to get new ones, and probably other new parts for your safety belt system. See Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash on page 1-53.


Safety Belt Extender If the vehicle’s safety belt will fasten around you, you should use it. But if a safety belt isn’t long enough to fasten, your dealer will order you an extender. It’s free. When you go in to order it, take the heaviest coat you will wear, so the extender will be long enough for you. The extender will be just for you, and just for the seat in your vehicle that you choose. Don’t let someone else use it, and use it only for the seat it is made to fit. To wear it, just attach it to the regular safety belt.


1-25


4. Buckle, position and release the safety belt as


described in Rear Seat Passengers on page 1-20. Make sure that the shoulder belt crosses the shoulder.


To remove and store the comfort guides, squeeze the belt edges together so that you can take them out of the guides. Slide the guide into its storage pocket on the side of the seatback.


Child Restraints


Older Children


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 fit 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.


Accident statistics show that children are safer if they are restrained in the rear seat. 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.


Older children who have outgrown booster seats should wear the vehicle’s safety belts.


1-26


{CAUTION:


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.


Q: 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.


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 position, see Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children and Small Adults on page 1-23.


1-27


{CAUTION:


Never do this. Here a child is sitting in a seat that has a lap-shoulder belt, but the shoulder part is behind the child. If the child wears the belt in this way, in a crash the child might slide under the belt. The belt’s force would then be applied right on the child’s abdomen. That could cause serious or fatal injuries.


Wherever the child sits, the lap portion of the belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the child’s thighs. This applies belt force to the child’s pelvic bones in a crash.


Infants and Young Children Everyone in a vehicle needs protection! This includes infants and all other children. Neither the distance traveled nor the age and size of the traveler changes the need, for everyone, to use safety restraints. In fact, the law in every state in the United States and in every Canadian province says children up to some age must be restrained while in a vehicle.


1-28


Every time infants and young children ride in vehicles, they should have the protection provided by appropriate restraints. Young children should not use the vehicle’s adult safety belts alone, unless there is no other choice. Instead, they need to use a child restraint.


{CAUTION:


People should never hold a baby in their arms while riding in a vehicle. A baby doesn’t weigh much — until a crash. During a crash a baby will become so heavy it is not possible to hold it. For example, in a crash at only 25 mph (40 km/h), a 12-lb. (5.5 kg) baby will suddenly become a 240-lb. (110 kg) force on a person’s arms. A baby should be secured in an appropriate restraint.


1-29


{CAUTION:


Children who are up against, or very close to, any air bag when it inflates can be seriously injured or killed. Air bags plus lap-shoulder belts offer outstanding protection for adults and older children, but not for young children and infants. Neither the vehicle’s safety belt system nor its air bag system is designed for them. Young children and infants need the protection that a child restraint system can provide.


Q: What are the different types of add-on child


restraints?


A: Add-on child restraints, which are purchased by the


vehicle’s owner, are available in four basic types. Selection of a particular restraint should take into consideration not only the child’s weight, height and age but also whether or not the restraint will be compatible with the motor vehicle in which it will be used.


1-30


{CAUTION:


The body structure of a young child is quite unlike that of an adult or older child, for whom the safety belts are designed. A young child’s hip bones are still so small that the vehicle’s regular safety belt may not remain low on the hip bones, as it should. Instead, it may settle up around the child’s abdomen. In a crash, the belt would apply force on a body area that’s unprotected by any bony structure. This alone could cause serious or fatal injuries. Young children always should be secured in appropriate child restraints.


For most basic types of child restraints, there are many different models available. When purchasing a child restraint, be sure it is designed to be used in a motor vehicle. If it is, the restraint will have a label saying that it meets federal motor vehicle safety standards. The restraint manufacturer’s instructions that come with the restraint state the weight and height limitations for a particular child restraint. In addition, there are many kinds of restraints available for children with special needs.


{CAUTION:


Newborn infants need complete support, including support for the head and neck. This is necessary because a newborn infant’s neck is weak and its head weighs so much compared with the rest of its body. In a crash, an infant in a rear-facing seat settles into the restraint, so the crash forces can be distributed across the strongest part of an infant’s body, the back and shoulders. Infants always should be secured in appropriate infant restraints.


1-31


Child Restraint Systems


An infant car bed (A), a special bed made for use in a motor vehicle, is an infant restraint system designed to restrain or position a child on a continuous flat surface. Make sure that the infant’s head rests toward the center of the vehicle.


A rear-facing infant seat (B) provides restraint with the seating surface against the back of the infant. The harness system holds the infant in place and, in a crash, acts to keep the infant positioned in the restraint.


1-32


A forward-facing child seat (C-E) provides restraint for the child’s body with the harness and also sometimes with surfaces such as T-shaped or shelf-like shields.


A booster seat (F-G) is a child restraint designed to improve the fit of the vehicle’s safety belt system. Some booster seats have a shoulder belt positioner, and some high-back booster seats have a five-point harness. A booster seat can also help a child to see out the window.


1-33


Q: How do child restraints work? 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. For many years, add-on child restraints have used the adult belt system in the vehicle. To help reduce the chance of injury, the child also has to be secured within the restraint. The vehicle’s belt system secures the add-on child restraint in the vehicle, and the add-on child restraint’s harness system holds the child in place within the 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 five-point harness system has two shoulder straps, two hip straps and a crotch strap. A shield may take the place of hip straps.


A T-shaped shield has shoulder straps that are attached to a flat pad which rests low against the child’s body. A shelf- or armrest-type shield has straps that are attached to a wide, shelf-like shield that swings up or to the side.


When choosing a 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 find these instructions on the restraint itself or in a booklet, or both. These restraints use the belt system or the LATCH system in your vehicle, but the child also has to be secured within the restraint to help reduce the chance of personal injury. 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.


1-34


Where to Put the Restraint Accident statistics show that children are safer if they are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat. We, therefore, recommend that child restraints be secured in a rear seat, including an infant riding in a rear-facing infant seat, a child riding in a forward-facing child seat and an older child riding in a booster seat. Never put a rear-facing child restraint in the front passenger seat. Here’s why:


{CAUTION:


A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be seriously injured or killed if the right front passenger’s air bag inflates. This is because the back of the rear-facing child restraint would be very close to the inflating air bag. Always secure a rear-facing child restraint in a rear seat.


CAUTION:


(Continued)


CAUTION:


(Continued)


If you secure a forward-facing child restraint in the right front seat, always move the front passenger seat as far back as it will go. It is better to secure the child restraint in a rear seat.


Wherever you install it, be sure to secure the child restraint properly. 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.


1-35


Top Strap Some child restraints have a top strap, or “top tether.” It can help restrain the child restraint during a collision. For it to work, a top strap must be properly anchored to the vehicle. Some top strap-equipped child restraints are designed for use with or without the top strap being anchored. Others require the top strap always to be anchored. Be sure to read and follow the instructions for your child restraint. If yours requires that the top strap be anchored, don’t use the restraint unless it is anchored properly. If the child restraint does not have a top strap, one can be obtained, in kit form, for many child restraints. Ask the child restraint manufacturer whether or not a kit is available.


1-36


In Canada, the law requires that forward-facing child restraints have a top strap, and that the strap be anchored. In the United States, some child restraints also have a top strap. If your child restraint has a top strap, it should be anchored.


Anchor the top strap to an anchor point specified in Top Strap Anchor Location on page 1-37. Be sure to use an anchor point located on the same side of the vehicle as the seating position where the child restraint will be placed.


Top Strap Anchor Location Your vehicle has top strap anchors already installed for the rear seating positions. You’ll find them behind the rear seat head restraints. Pull up the head restraint to access the anchors.


{CAUTION:


Each top tether bracket is designed to anchor only one child restraint. Attaching more than one child restraint to a single bracket could cause the anchor to come loose or even break during a crash. A child or others could be injured if this happens. To help prevent injury to people and damage to your vehicle, attach only one child restraint per bracket.


Once you have the top strap anchored, you’ll be ready to secure the child restraint itself. Tighten the top strap when and as the child restraint manufacturer’s instructions say.


The straps from the child restraint must be threaded between the poles of the head restraint on the seat. The strap must not go around the head restraint. Do not use a child restraint with a top strap in the right front passenger’s position because there is no place to anchor the top strap.


1-37


Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for Children (LATCH System)


Your vehicle has the LATCH system. You will find anchors (A) for the two rear seat positions. This system, designed to make installation of child restraints easier, does not use the vehicle’s safety belts. Instead, it uses vehicle anchors (A, B) and child restraint attachments to secure the restraints. Some restraints also use another vehicle anchor to secure a top tether strap (C).


1-38


In order to use the LATCH system in your vehicle, you need a child restraint designed for that system.


{CAUTION:


If a LATCH-type child restraint is not attached to its anchorage points, the restraint will not be able to protect the child correctly. In a crash, the child could be seriously injured or killed. Make sure that a LATCH-type child restraint is properly installed using the anchorage points, or use the vehicle’s safety belts to secure the restraint, following the instructions that came with that restraint, and also the instructions in this manual.


1-39


Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the LATCH System 1. Find the LATCH anchorages for the seating


position you want to use, where the bottom of the seatback meets the back of the seat cushion. See Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for Children (LATCH System) on page 1-38.


2. Put the child restraint on the seat. 3. Attach and tighten the LATCH attachments on the


child restraint to the LATCH anchorages in the vehicle. The child restraint instructions will show you how.


4. If the child restraint is forward-facing, attach and tighten the top tether to the top tether anchorage. The child restraint instructions will show you how. Also see Top Strap on page 1-36.


5. Push and pull the child restraint in different


directions to be sure it is secure.


To remove the child restraint, simply unhook the top tether from the top tether anchorage and then disconnect the LATCH attachments from the LATCH anchorages.


1-40


Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat Position


If your child restraint is equipped with the LATCH system, see Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for Children (LATCH System) on page 1-38. See Top Strap on page 1-36 if the child restraint has one. If the child restraint does not have the LATCH system, 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. Put the child restraint on the seat. 2. 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.


3. 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.


4. Pull the rest of the shoulder belt all the way out of


the retractor to set the lock.


1-41


5. To tighten the belt, push down on the child restraint,


pull the shoulder portion of the belt to tighten the lap portion of the belt and feed the shoulder belt back into the retractor. If you are using a forward-facing child restraint, you may find it helpful to use your knee to push down on the child restraint as you tighten the belt.


6. Push and pull the child restraint in different


directions to be sure it is secure.


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.


1-42


Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position


{CAUTION:


If your child restraint is equipped with the LATCH system, see Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for Children (LATCH System) on page 1-38. Your vehicle has a right front passenger air bag. Never put a rear-facing child restraint in this seat. Here is why:


A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be seriously injured or killed if the right front passenger’s air bag inflates. This is because the back of the rear-facing child restraint would be very close to the inflating air bag. Always secure a rear-facing child restraint in a rear seat.


A rear seat is a safer place to secure a forward-facing child restraint. If you need to secure a forward-facing child restraint in the right front seat, you will be using the lap-shoulder belt. See the earlier part about the Top Strap on page 1-36, if the child restraint has one. 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. 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.


1-43


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.


5. Pull the rest of the shoulder belt all the way out of


the retractor to set the lock.


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.


1-44


6. To tighten the belt, push down on the child restraint,


pull the shoulder portion of the belt to tighten the lap portion of the belt and feed the shoulder belt back into the retractor. You may find it helpful to use your knee to push down on the child restraint as you tighten the belt.


7. Push and pull the child restraint in different


directions to be sure it is secure.


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.


1-45


Air Bag Systems This part explains the air bag system. Your vehicle has a frontal air bag for the driver and another frontal air bag for the right front passenger. Frontal air bags are designed to help reduce the risk of injury from the force of an inflating frontal air bag. But these air bags must inflate very quickly to do their job and comply with federal regulations. Here are the most important things to know about the air bag system:


{CAUTION:


You can be severely injured or killed in a crash if you are not wearing your safety belt — even if you have air bags. Wearing your safety belt during a crash helps reduce your chance of hitting things inside the vehicle or being ejected from it. Air bags are designed to work with safety belts, but do not replace them. Air bags are designed to deploy only in moderate to severe frontal and near frontal crashes. They are not designed to inflate in rollover, rear or low-speed frontal crashes, or in many side crashes. And, for some unrestrained occupants, air bags may provide less protection in frontal crashes than more forceful air bags have provided in the past. Everyone in your vehicle should wear a safety belt properly — whether or not there is an air bag for that person.


1-46


{CAUTION:


Air bags inflate with great force, faster than the blink of an eye. If you’re too close to an inflating air bag, as you would be if you were leaning forward, it could seriously injure you. Safety belts help keep you in position before and during a crash. Always wear your safety belt, even with air bags. The driver should sit as far back as possible while still maintaining control of the vehicle.


{CAUTION:


Anyone who is up against, or very close to, any air bag when it inflates can be seriously injured or killed. Air bags plus lap-shoulder belts offer the best protection for adults, but not for young children and infants. CAUTION:


(Continued)


CAUTION:


(Continued)


Neither the vehicle’s safety belt system nor its air bag system is designed for them. Young children and infants need the protection that a child restraint system can provide. Always secure children properly in your vehicle. To read how, see the part of this manual called “Older Children” or “Infants and Young Children.”


There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument panel, which shows the air bag symbol.


The system checks the air bag electrical system for malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical problem. See Air Bag Readiness Light on page 3-26
for more information.


1-47


Where Are the Air Bags?


The driver’s frontal air bag is in the middle of the steering wheel.


The right front passenger’s frontal air bag is in the instrument panel on the passenger’s side.


1-48


{CAUTION:


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.


When Should an Air Bag Inflate? The driver’s and right front passenger’s frontal air bags are designed to inflate in moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal crashes. But they are designed to inflate only if the impact speed is above the system’s designed “threshold level”. If the front of your vehicle goes straight into a wall that does not move or deform, the threshold level is about 11 to 17 mph (18 to 28 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 driver’s and right front passenger’s frontal air bags are 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.


1-49


What Will You See After an Air Bag Inflates? After the 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 will be hot for a short time. These components include the steering wheel hub for the driver’s frontal air bag and the instrument panel for the right front passenger’s frontal air bag. 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 does not prevent the driver from seeing or being able to steer the vehicle, nor does it stop people from leaving the vehicle.


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.


1-50


{CAUTION:


When an air bag inflates, 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’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.


Your vehicle has a feature that will automatically unlock the doors, turn off the engine, turn off the fuel pump, and turn the interior lamps on when the air bags inflate (if battery power is available). You can operate these features by switching the ignition OFF and then ON. 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 will need some new parts for your air bag system. If you do not get them, the air bag system will not 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.


• Your vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing and


diagnostic module, which records information about the frontal 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. The module also records speed, engine rpm, brake and throttle data.


• Let only qualified technicians work on your air bag


systems. Improper service can mean that an air bag system will not work properly. See your dealer for service.


If you damage the covering for the driver’s


Notice: 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.


1-51


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.)


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, see Service Publications Ordering Information on page 7-11.


{CAUTION:


For up to 10 seconds after the ignition key 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 wires, 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 qualified to do so.


The air bag system does not need regular maintenance.


1-52


Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash


{CAUTION:


A crash can damage the restraint systems 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.


If you have had a crash, do you need new belts or LATCH system parts? 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. If belts are cut or damaged, replace them. Collision damage also may mean you will need to have LATCH system, safety belt or seat parts repaired or replaced. New parts and repairs may be necessary even if the belt or LATCH system was not being used at the time of the collision. If an air bag inflates, you will need to replace air bag system parts. See the part on the air bag system earlier in this section. If the frontal air bags inflate, you will also need to replace the driver’s and right front passenger’s safety belt buckle assembly. Be sure to do so. Then the new buckle assembly will be there to help protect you in a collision. After a crash you may need to replace the driver and front passenger’s safety belt buckle assemblies, even if the frontal air bags have not deployed. The driver and front passenger’s safety belt buckle assemblies contain the safety belt pretensioners. Have your safety belt pretensioners checked if your vehicle has been in a collision, or if your air bag readiness light stays on after you start your vehicle or while you are driving. See Air Bag Readiness Light on page 3-26.


1-53


✍ NOTES


1-54


Section 2


Features and Controls


Keys ...............................................................2-2
Remote Keyless Entry System .........................2-4
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation ...........2-5
Doors and Locks .............................................2-6
Door Locks ....................................................2-6
Leaving Your Vehicle ......................................2-7
Trunk ............................................................2-8
Windows ........................................................2-10
Power Windows ............................................2-11
Sun Visors ...................................................2-12
Theft-Deterrent Systems ..................................2-12
Theft-Deterrent System ..................................2-12
Immobilizer ..................................................2-12
Immobilizer Operation ....................................2-13
.................................2-14
Content Theft-Deterrent Starting and Operating Your Vehicle ................2-15
New Vehicle Break-In ....................................2-15
Ignition Positions ..........................................2-16
Starting Your Engine .....................................2-17


Automatic Transmission Operation ...................2-18
Manual Transmission Operation ......................2-21
Parking Brake ..............................................2-23
Shifting Into Park (P) .....................................2-24
Shifting Out of Park (P) .................................2-26
Parking Your Vehicle/Key Removal ..................2-26
Parking Over Things That Burn .......................2-27
Engine Exhaust ............................................2-27
Running Your Engine While You Are Parked ....2-28
Mirrors ...........................................................2-29
Manual Rearview Mirror .................................2-29
Outside Power Mirrors ...................................2-29
Outside Convex Mirror ...................................2-30
Storage Areas ................................................2-30
Glove Box ...................................................2-30
Cupholder(s) ................................................2-31
Front Storage Area .......................................2-31
Center Console Storage Area .........................2-31
Vehicle Personalization ...................................2-32


2-1


Keys


{CAUTION:


Leaving children in a vehicle with the ignition key is dangerous for many reasons. They could operate the power windows or other controls or even make the vehicle move. The children or others could be badly injured or even killed. Do not leave the keys in a vehicle with children.


2-2


The main key can be used for the ignition, as well as all locks, except for the glovebox.


There is another key that locks and unlocks the glovebox.


This key can usually be kept in the unlocked glovebox. Then, when leaving your vehicle and master key with a car park attendant, you can lock valuables in the glovebox and take the glovebox key with you. 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. The vehicle comes with a security card that lists various security numbers for your vehicle, including key numbers, and the radio PIN. Please keep the card in a safe place, away from your vehicle. If a replacement key is needed, you will have to go to the dealership and make a request. If a key is lost, your vehicle will have to be towed to a dealer to receive a new key. In an emergency, contact Pontiac Roadside Assistance. See Roadside Assistance Program on page 7-5 for more information. Notice: you may have to damage the vehicle to get in. Be sure you have spare keys.


If you ever lock your keys in your vehicle,


2-3


Remote Keyless Entry System Your keyless entry system operates on a radio frequency subject to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Rules. This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: 1. This device may not cause interference, and 2. This device must accept any interference received,


including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device.


Changes or modifications to this system by other than an authorized service facility could void authorization to use this equipment.


At times you may notice a decrease in range. This is normal for any remote keyless entry system. If the transmitter does not work or if you have to stand closer to your vehicle for the transmitter to work, try this: • Check the distance. You may be too far from your


vehicle. You may need to stand closer during rainy or snowy weather.


• Check the location. Other vehicles or objects may


be blocking the signal. Take a few steps to the left or right, hold the transmitter higher, and try again.


• Check to determine if battery replacement is necessary. See “Battery Replacement” under Remote Keyless Entry System Operation on page 2-5.


• If you are still having trouble, see your dealer or a


qualified technician for service.


2-4


Remote Keyless Entry System Operation


The buttons on your key allow you to lock and unlock your doors or unlock your trunk.


When pressing the key buttons, ensure that other keys on the key ring are not between the main key and the vehicle. Other keys can obscure the signal being transmitted to the vehicle. When a button on the key is pressed, it sends a signal to the vehicle. The receiver of the signal is a small rectangle on top of the dashboard, in the center. The receiver is also used to measure sunlight. It is important that the receiver is clean, not covered, and that there are no metal objects close by, as this may block the signals.


LOCK: Press this button on the key to lock all the doors, disable the engine, and set the alarm. The vehicle’s turn signals will briefly flash.


If you prefer to have the turn signals flash accompanied by the horn sounding, the LOCK feature can be changed. See Vehicle Personalization on page 2-32.


The LOCK button on the key will not work if the ignition is turned on or if the driver’s door is open.


UNLOCK: Press this button on the key to unlock the doors. The turn signals will flash twice, and the horn will chirp twice, if selected through vehicle personalization. The interior light will also turn on for a short time. If UNLOCK is pressed once, the driver’s door will unlock. If UNLOCK is pressed a second time, or is held down for more than half a second, all the doors will unlock. If you prefer to have all the doors unlock with a single press, the unlock feature can be changed to unlock all doors. See “Two Stage Unlock” under Vehicle Personalization on page 2-32.


If the lock system is overloaded as a result of repeated use in a short time interval, the power supply is cut off for about 30 seconds. The door lock system has been designed to make the vehicle horn chirp rapidly five times if it detects a fault in the lock system when the LOCK button is pressed. You should check to see that the doors have locked.


2-5


V(Trunk): Press the button with the opened trunk symbol to release the trunk lid.


The trunk button on the key will not work if you are travelling over 12 mph (20 km/h). Battery Under normal use, the battery in your key should last about five years. You can tell the battery is weak if the key won’t work at the normal range in any location. If you have to get close to your vehicle before the key works, it is probably time for a new battery. See your dealer. The key buttons will not work if the battery inside the key is flat. Try turning the key in the ignition to ON, then off again and remove it. Try pressing LOCK on the key again. If it still does not work a replacement key may be needed from your vehicle dealer.


2-6


Doors and Locks


Door Locks


{CAUTION:


Unlocked doors can be dangerous.


(cid:127) Passengers — especially children — can


easily open the doors and fall out of a moving vehicle. When a door is locked, the handle will not open it. You increase the chance of being thrown out of the vehicle in a crash if the doors are not locked. So, wear safety belts properly and lock the doors whenever you drive.


(cid:127) Young children who get into unlocked


vehicles may be unable to get out. A child can be overcome by extreme heat and can suffer permanent injuries or even death from heat stroke. Always lock your vehicle whenever you leave it.


(cid:127) Outsiders can easily enter through an unlocked door when you slow down or stop your vehicle. Locking your doors can help prevent this from happening.


There are several ways to unlock and lock your vehicle. To unlock the doors from inside the vehicle, pull up on the door lock knob. To lock the doors, press the knob down. If you use the driver’s door lock knob, both doors will lock or unlock. Automatic transmission vehicles have an automatic locking in DRIVE (D) feature which locks the doors automatically when the transmission selector is shifted out of PARK (P). To select this feature, see Vehicle Personalization on page 2-32. For safety reasons, vehicles cannot be locked using the remote key if the key is in the ignition or if the driver’s door is open. To lock or unlock your vehicle from the outside, use your key or the remote buttons on the key. To lock the doors from the outside, do the following: 1. Insert the key in the driver’s door lock. 2. Turn the key towards the rear of the vehicle. 3. Then turn the key back to the vertical position and


remove.


The alarm system is not set using this method. To unlock the doors from the outside, do the following: 1. Insert the key in the driver’s door lock. 2. Turn the key towards the front of the vehicle. 3. Then turn the key back to the vertical position and


remove.


The alarm system will go off as soon as a door is opened. If this happens, turn the key in the ignition to ON to shut off the alarm.


Leaving Your Vehicle If you are leaving your vehicle, make sure that you lock it and take the keys with you.


2-7


Trunk Lock To unlock the trunk, press the open trunk symbol on the key. The button on the key must be pressed for more than half a second and travelling speed must be less than 12 mph (20 km/h) for the signal to work. When the trunk is unlocked, it can then be fully opened from the outside. See Remote Keyless Entry System Operation on page 2-5 for more information. After partly opening the trunk lid, gas struts automatically take over to lift and hold the trunk lid in the fully open position. The trunk locks automatically when pushed shut, so be careful not to leave keys in the trunk. They will be locked in when it is shut.


Trunk


{CAUTION:


It can be dangerous to drive with the trunk lid open because carbon monoxide (CO) gas can come into your vehicle. You can not see or smell CO. It can cause unconsciousness and even death. If you must drive with the trunk lid open or if electrical wiring or other cable connections must pass through the seal between the body and the trunk lid:


(cid:127) Make sure all other windows are shut. (cid:127) Turn the fan on your heating or cooling


system to its highest speed and select the control setting that will force outside air into your vehicle. See Climate Control System in the Index. If you have air outlets on or under the instrument panel, open them all the way.


See Engine Exhaust on page 2-27.


2-8


(cid:127) Remote Trunk Release This feature is used to unlock the trunk from inside the vehicle.


There is also a secondary trunk release handle located under the passenger’s side rear seat head restraint. To access this handle, when the vehicle is not moving, lift the head restraint and pull the yellow ring towards the front of the vehicle.


Push the button in the glovebox to unlock the trunk, provided you are not traveling over 12 mph (20 km/h) or the alarm system is on. Then from the outside, lift up the trunk. For added vehicle security, the glovebox button is disabled when all the doors are locked with the LOCK button on the key or through the door lock.


2-9


Emergency Trunk Release Handle


Windows


{CAUTION:


Leaving children, helpless adults, or pets in a vehicle with the windows closed is dangerous. They can be overcome by the extreme heat and suffer permanent injuries or even death from heat stroke. Never leave a child, a helpless adult, or a pet alone in a vehicle, especially with the windows closed in warm or hot weather.


Notice: Using the emergency trunk release handle as a tie-down or anchor point when securing items in the trunk may damage it. Use the emergency trunk release handle only to help you open the trunk lid. There is a glow-in-the-dark emergency trunk release handle located inside the trunk on the trunk lid. This handle will glow following exposure to light. Pull the release handle to open the trunk from the inside.


2-10


Power Windows


Use the switches located between the seats to operate the windows.


To raise the window, pull up the switch. To lower the window, push down the switch. The switches will remain operational when the ignition is turned off for 15 minutes, while the doors remain closed. When the doors are opened, the power windows are deactivated, and will not operate until the ignition is turned on again.


2-11


Express-Down Window The window switch has an express-down feature. Hold the switch down for more than half a second and then release it. To interrupt the express-down feature, move the switch up or down again.


Sun Visors To help block out glare, pull the sun visors down. Pull on the inside edges of the sun visors to swing them from the front windshield to the side window. Lighted Visor Vanity Mirrors Both the driver and passenger’s side sun visors have lighted vanity mirrors. Raise the cover on the top of the sun visor to expose the vanity mirror. The lights at either side of the vanity mirror automatically turn on and off when the cover is opened and closed.


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Theft-Deterrent Systems


Theft-Deterrent System Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities. Although your vehicle has a number of theft-deterrent features, we know that nothing we put on it can make it impossible to steal.


Immobilizer This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: 1. this device may not cause interference, and 2. this device must accept any interference received,


including interference that may cause undesired operation.


This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry Canada. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: 1. this device may not cause interference, and 2. this device must accept any interference received,


including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device.


Changes or modifications to this system by other than an authorized service facility could void authorization to use this equipment.


Immobilizer Operation Your vehicle may have a passive theft-deterrent system. The system is an electronic engine immobilizer, which disables the car, when the key is removed from the ignition. The system works when you turn the key to ON. The key uses a transponder that matches an immobilizer control unit in your vehicle. The correct key will start the vehicle. Your vehicle has a special key that works with the theft-deterrent system. There is a transponder in the key head. If the key is ever damaged, you may not be able to start your vehicle. When trying to start the vehicle, if the engine does not start and the security light comes on, the key may have a damaged transponder. Turn the ignition off and try again.


If the engine still does not start, and the key appears to be undamaged, try another ignition key. At this time, you may also want to check the fuse. See Fuses and Circuit Breakers on page 5-87 for more information on fuses. If the engine still does not start with the other key, your vehicle needs service. If your vehicle does start, the first key may be faulty. See your dealer who can service the theft-deterrent system to have a new key made. If you are ever driving and the security light comes on and stays on, you will be able to restart your engine if you turn it off. The theft-deterrent system, however, is not working properly and must be serviced by your dealer. Your vehicle is not protected by the theft-deterrent system at this time. In an emergency, contact Roadside Assistance. See Roadside Assistance Program on page 7-5.


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Content Theft-Deterrent Your vehicle has a theft-deterrent alarm system. Arming the System The alarm system is turned on when the LOCK button on the key is pressed. Therefore, locking the doors by pressing LOCK not only locks all the doors but, after a short delay, also sets the alarm system. When the system is armed, the alarm is triggered when any of the doors, hood or trunk are opened or a hot-wire attempted. The alarm system thinks a break-in has occurred. An alarm sounds and the turn signals and dome light will flash.


When the alarm system is turned on, you may open the trunk by pressing the trunk symbol button on the key. This does not set off the alarm, but leaves the alarm system on and undisturbed. Closing the trunk re-arms the trunk alarm after a short delay. The LOCK button on the key will not function when the ignition is turned ON or the driver’s door is open. Disarming the System To disarm the system, press UNLOCK on the key or turn the ignition to ON.


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How to Detect a Tamper Condition The exterior turn signals should flash twice when returning to your vehicle and pressing UNLOCK on the key. If they flash three times, an attempted break-in has occurred while the vehicle was armed. If you wish to find out what set the alarm off, turn the ignition on and look at the trip computer display for the ALARM ACTIVATED message being shown. The ALARM ACTIVATED message will be displayed first for one second, followed by the trigger point screens. The trigger point screens will also be displayed for one second. If more than one trigger point has been activated, the display will show each trigger point screen in sequence for one second, returning back to the ALARM ACTIVATED screen. The alarm screens will be shown in a continuous cycle until the trip computer MODE button is pressed. The center display then reverts to the last screen shown prior to the ignition being off. The possible trigger points are the following: • The hood has been opened. • The trunk has been opened. • One of the doors has been opened. • Hot wiring of the vehicle was attempted


(ignition on without key inserted).


Starting and Operating Your Vehicle


New Vehicle Break-In Notice: Your vehicle does not need an elaborate “break-in.” But it will perform better in the long run if you follow these guidelines: (cid:127) Keep your speed at 55 mph (88 km/h) or less for


the first 500 miles (805 km).


(cid:127) Do not drive at any one speed — fast or


slow — for the first 500 miles (805 km). Do not make full-throttle starts.


(cid:127) Avoid making hard stops for the first 200 miles (322 km) or so. During this time your new brake linings are not yet broken in. Hard stops with new linings can mean premature wear and earlier replacement. Follow this breaking-in guideline every time you get new brake linings.


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Ignition Positions With the key in the ignition switch, you can turn it to three different positions.


A (LOCK and ACCESSORY): This is the only position from which you can insert or remove the key. When the key is inserted and is in this position, all accessories, electrical systems, and engine are off. If the key is cycled back to this position the accessories will remain on until the key is removed. Once the key is removed the accessories will turn off. If the key is left inserted in this position, a chime will sound when the driver’s


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door is opened to remind you the key has been left in the ignition. The key can only be turned to this position if the vehicle’s automatic transmission is in PARK (P). To help guard against theft, your vehicle’s engine is automatically disabled shortly after turning the key to this position. This is indicated by the flashing padlock symbol on the bottom left corner of the instrument panel.


The steering column is automatically locked when the key is removed. To release the steering wheel, insert the key again and turn it towards the front of the vehicle. Notice: Using a tool to force the key from the ignition switch could cause damage or break the key. Use the correct key and turn the key only with your hand. Make sure the key is all the way in. If it is, turn the steering wheel left and right while you turn the key hard. If none of this works, then your vehicle needs service.


B (ON and ACCESSORY): This position is where the key returns to after you start your engine and release the key. The ignition switch stays in ON when the engine is running. But even when the engine is not running, you can use ON to operate your electrical accessories and to display some instrument panel warning lights.


C (START): This position starts the engine. When the engine starts, release the key. The ignition switch will return to ON for normal driving.


Retained Accessory Power (RAP) Your vehicle is equipped with a Retained Accessory Power (RAP) feature which will allow the radio to continue to work for one hour after the ignition is turned to OFF. The windows will also be accessible for 15 minutes or until either door is opened.


Starting Your Engine 1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal and the


parking brake firmly applied, turn your ignition key to START. When the engine starts, let go of the key. The idle speed will go down as your engine gets warm.


Starting Your Engine Automatic Transmission Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N). Your engine won’t start in any other position – that’s a safety feature. To restart when you’re already moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only. Notice: Do not try to shift to PARK (P) if your vehicle is moving. If you do, you could damage the transmission. Shift to PARK (P) only when your vehicle is stopped. Manual Transmission The shift lever should be in neutral and the parking brake engaged. Hold the clutch pedal to the floor and start the engine. Your vehicle won’t start if the clutch pedal is not all the way down – that’s a safety feature.


Notice: Holding your key in START for longer than 15 seconds at a time will cause your battery to be drained much sooner. And the excessive heat can damage your starter motor. Wait about 15 seconds between each try to help avoid draining your battery or damaging your starter. 2. If it doesn’t start, wait about 15 seconds and try again to start the engine by turning the ignition key to START. Wait about 15 seconds between each try. When your engine has run about 10 seconds to warm up, your vehicle is ready to be driven. Don’t run your engine at high speeds when it is cold. If the weather is below freezing (32°F or 0°C), let the engine run for a few minutes to warm up.


Notice: Your engine is designed to work with the electronics in your vehicle. If you add electrical parts or accessories, you could change the way the engine operates. Before adding electrical equipment, check with your dealer. If you do not, your engine might not perform properly.


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If you use your vehicle for racing or other


Racing or Other Competitive Driving See your warranty book before using your vehicle for racing or other competitive driving. Notice: competitive driving, the engine may use more oil than it would with normal use. Low oil levels can damage the engine. Be sure to check the oil level often during racing or other competitive driving and keep the level at or near 1 quart (1 L) above the upper mark that shows the proper operating range on the engine oil dipstick. For information on how to add oil, see Engine Oil on page 5-13. After the competitive driving, remove excess oil so that the level on the dipstick is not above the upper mark that shows the proper operating range.


Automatic Transmission Operation There are several different positions for your shift lever. Push in the button on top of the shift lever when shifting into position.


PARK (P): The engine can be started in this position. This position prevents the rear wheels from turning and so should be selected, together with the parking brake, when leaving the vehicle. Never select PARK (P) while your vehicle is still moving.


{CAUTION:


It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the parking brake firmly 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). See Shifting Into Park (P) on page 2-24. If you are pulling a trailer, see Towing a Trailer on page 4-35.


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Ensure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) before starting the engine. Your vehicle has an automatic transmission shift lock control system. You must have your foot on the regular brakes before you can shift from PARK (P) when the ignition key is in ON. The vehicle will not shift from PARK (P) if the button is pressed before the brake is applied. If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on the shift lever, push the shift lever all the way into PARK (P), and release the shift lever button as you maintain brake application. Then press the shift lever button and move the shift lever into the desired gear. See Shifting Out of Park (P) on page 2-26.


REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back up. Never select REVERSE (R) while your vehicle is still moving. Reverse lights will operate when this position is selected and the ignition is on. After reversing, make sure the vehicle has fully stopped before selecting another gear position. After selecting this position, pause for a moment before accelerating to allow the transmission to engage reverse gear. 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.


To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow, ice or sand without damaging your transmission, see If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow on page 4-28.


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. This is the out-of-gear position. You may then start a stalled engine while the vehicle is still moving or stopped.


{CAUTION:


Shifting into a drive gear while your engine is running at high speed is dangerous. Unless your foot is firmly 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 running at high speed may damage the transmission. The repairs would not be covered by your warranty. Be sure the engine is not running at high speed when shifting your vehicle.


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DRIVE (D): This is the most effective position for normal or freeway driving. This position gives maximum fuel efficiency, as the transmission can choose the appropriate gear (1 through 4) for the existing load and driving conditions. After selecting DRIVE (D) from PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N), pause for a moment before accelerating, to allow the transmission to engage the forward gear. Use this position when towing.


THIRD (3): This position is also used for normal driving. However, it offers more power and lower fuel economy than DRIVE (D). Here are some times you might choose THIRD (3) instead of DRIVE (D): • When driving on hilly, winding roads. • When towing a trailer, so there is less shifting


between gears.


• When going down a steep hill.


SECOND (2): This position gives you more power but lower fuel economy than THIRD (3). You can use SECOND (2) on hills. It can help control your speed as you go down steep mountain roads, but then you would also want to use your brakes off and on.


FIRST (1): This position gives you even more power but lower fuel economy than SECOND (2). You can use it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud. If the shift lever is put in FIRST (1), the transmission won’t shift into first gear until the vehicle is going slowly enough.


Remember to move the shift lever back to DRIVE(D) so that the transmission again upshifts into higher gears. Even though the shift lever may be in FIRST (1), the transmission does not select first gear until vehicle speed is less that 35 mph (56 km/h).


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Manual Transmission Operation


This is the shift pattern for the six-speed manual transmission.


Here is how to operate your transmission:


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