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1997 Pontiac Grand Am Owner's Manual - Page 186

1997 Pontiac Grand Am Manual

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Towing a Trailer NOTICE: Pulling a trailer improperly can damage your vehicle and result in costly repairs not covered by your warranty. To pull a trailer correctly,follow the advice in part, andsee your Pontiac this dealer for important information about towing a trailer with your vehicle. If you don't use the correct equipment and drive properly, you can lose control whenyou pull a trailer. For example, if the traileris too heavy, the brakes may not work well or even at all. You and your passengers could be seriouslyinjured. Pull a trailer only if you have followed all the steps in this section. your Pontiac dealer for Ask advice and information about towing a trailer with your vehicle. -- Do not towa trailer if your vehicle is equipped with a 2.4L (Code T) engine. Your vehicle can tow a trailer if it is equipped with a 3100 (Code M) engine and proper trailer towing equipment. To identify what the vehicle trailering capacity is for your vehicle, you should read the information in "Weight of the Trailer'' that appears later in this section. But trailering is different than just driving your vehicle by itself. Trailering means changes in handling, durability and fuel economy. Successful, safe trailering takes correct equipment, and it has to be used properly. 4-35

Section	Page
Table of Contents	2
Seats and Restraint Systems	8
Seats and Seat Controls	9
Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone	14
Here Are Questions Many People Ask About Safety Belts -- and the Answers	19
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly	20
Driver Positions	20
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy	27
Right Front Passenger Position	28
Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)	28
Rear Seat Passengers	34
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children and Small Adults	38
Center Passenger Position	40
Children	42
Child Restraints	44
Larger Children	52
Safety Belt Extender	55
Checking Your Restraint Systems	55
Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash	55
Features and Controls	56
Keys	57
Door Locks	59
Keyless Entry System (If Equipped)	62
Trunk	65
Theft	67
Passlock	68
New Vehicle "Break-In"	68
Ignition Positions	69
Starting Your Engine	71
Engine Coolant Heater (If Equipped)	74
Automatic Transaxle Operation	76
Manual Transaxle Operation	80
Parking Brake	83
Shifting Into PARK (P) (Automatic Transaxle Models Only)	84
Shifting Out of PARK (P) (Automatic Transaxle Models Only)	86
Parking Your Vehicle (Manual Transaxle Only)	86
Parking Over Things That Burn	87
Engine Exhaust	87
Running Your Engine While You’re Parked (Automatic Transaxle)	88
Windows	89
Tilt Wheel (If Equipped)	90
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever	90
Exterior Lamps	98
Mirrors	103
Storage Compartments	105
Accessory Power Outlet	107
Garment Hook	108
Sunroof (If Equipped)	108
The Instrument Panel -- Your Information System	109
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators	113
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems	126
Comfort Controls	127
Climate Control System	127
Climate Control System with Air Conditioning	128
Air Conditioning	130
Heating	130
Defrosting and Defogging	131
Rear Window Defogger (If Equipped)	131
Ventilation System	132
Audio Systems	133
Setting the Clock for AM-FM Stereo	133
Setting the Clock for All Systems Except AM-FM Stereo	133
AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player (If Equipped)	135
AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player and Equalizer (If Equipped)	138
AM-FM Stereo with Compact Disc Player and Equalizer (If Equipped)	142
Remote Cassette Tape Player (If Equipped)	144
Theft-Deterrent Feature	146
Steering Wheel Controls (If Equipped)	148
Understanding Radio Reception	148
Tips About Your Audio System	149
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player	150
Care of Your Compact Discs	151
Fixed Mast Antenna	151
Your Driving and the Road	152
Defensive Driving	153
Drunken Driving	154
Control of a Vehicle	157
Braking	157
Steering	162
Off-Road Recovery	164
Passing	164
Loss of Control	166
Driving at Night	167
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads	169
City Driving	172
Freeway Driving	173
Before Leaving on a Long Trip	174
Highway Hypnosis	175
Hill and Mountain Roads	175
Winter Driving	177
Recreational Vehicle Towing	181
Loading Your Vehicle	184
Towing a Trailer	186
Problems on the Road	194
Hazard Warning Flashers	195
Other Warning Devices	195
Jump Starting	196
Towing Your Vehicle	201
Engine Overheating	207
If a Tire Goes Flat	215
Changing a Flat Tire	216
Compact Spare Tire	226
If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow	227
Service and Appearance Care	228
Service	229
Fuel	230
Fuels in Foreign Countries	231
Filling Your Tank	232
Checking Things Under the Hood	235
Engine Oil	239
Air Cleaner	245
Automatic Transaxle Fluid	246
Manual Transaxle Fluid	248
Hydraulic Clutch	250
Engine Coolant	251
Surge Tank Pressure Cap	255
Thermostat	255
Power Steering Fluid	255
Windshield Washer Fluid	256
Brakes	257
Battery	261
Bulb Replacement	262
Halogen Bulbs	262
Appearance Care	276
Cleaning the Inside of Your Pontiac	277
Cleaning the Outside of Your Pontiac	281
Aluminum Wheels (If Equipped)	282
Cleaning Tires	282
Sheet Metal Damage	282
Finish Damage	283
Appearance Care Materials Chart	284
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)	285
Electrical System	285
Replacement Bulbs	290
Capacities and Specifications	291
Air Conditioning Refrigerants	292
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts	292
Dimensions	292
Maintenance Schedule	294
Introduction	295
Your Vehicle and the Environment	295
How This Section is Organized	296
Part A: Scheduled Maintenance Services	297
Using Your Maintenance Schedule	297
Selecting the Right Schedule	297
Footnotes	300
Footnotes	322
Part B: Owner Checks and Services	334
At Each Fuel Fill	334
At Least Once a Month	334
At Least Twice a Year	335
At Least Once a Year	335
Part C: Periodic Maintenance Inspections	338
Steering, Suspension and Front Drive Axle Boot and Seal Inspection	338
Exhaust System Inspection	338
Radiator and Heater Hose Inspection	338
Throttle Linkage Inspection	338
Brake System Inspection	339
Caliper/Knuckle Maintenance Inspection	339
Part D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants	340
Part E: Maintenance Record	342
Customer Assistance Information	344
Pontiac Cares	345
Customer Satisfaction Procedure	346
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone (TTY) Users	348
Pontiac Roadside Assistance Program	349
GM Participation in an Alternative Dispute Resolution Program	352
Warranty Information	353
Reporting Safety Defects to the United States Government	353
Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian Government	354
Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors	354
Ordering Service and Owner Publications in Canada	354

Match case Limit results 1 per page

Towing

Trailer

you don’t use the

correct

equipment

and

drive

properly, you can lose control

when you pull

trailer. For example, if the

trailer

too heavy, the

brakes may

not work well

or even

all.

You

and

your

passengers

could

seriously

injured.

Pull

trailer only if you have followed all

the

steps

this

section.

Ask your

Pontiac

dealer

for

advice and

information

about

towing

trailer

with your vehicle.

NOTICE:

Pulling

trailer

improperly

can

damage

your

vehicle and result

costly

repairs

not

covered by

your

warranty.

pull

trailer

correctly,

the

advice

this

part,

and see your

Pontiac

dealer

for

important

information

about

towing

trailer

with

your

vehicle.

not

tow a trailer if your vehicle is equipped with a

2.4L

(Code T) engine.

Your vehicle can tow a trailer if

equipped with a

100

(Code

engine and proper trailer towing

equipment.

identify what the vehicle trailering

capacity

for your vehicle,

you

should read the

information in “Weight

the Trailer’’ that appears later

in this section. But trailering is different than just

driving your vehicle

itself. Trailering means changes

in handling, durability and fuel economy. Successful,

safe trailering takes correct equipment, and it has to be

used

properly.

4-35