Home » Pontiac Manuals » 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix » Manual Viewer

1997 Pontiac Grand Prix Owner's Manual - Page 227

1997 Pontiac Grand Prix Manual

Get 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix PDF manuals and user guides

View all 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix manuals

Page 227 highlights

0 Don't tow a trailer at all during the first 1,000 miles (1 600 km) your new vehicle isdriven. Your engine, axle orother parts could bedamaged. Then, during the first500 miles (800 km) that you tow a trailer, don't drive over 50 mph (80 km/h) and don't make starts at full throttle. This helps your engine and other partsof your vehicle wear in at the heavier loads. Obey speed limit restrictions when towing a trailer. Don't drive faster than the maximum posted speed for trailers (or no more than 55 mph (90 k d h ) ) to save wear on your vehicle's parts. the weight of the trailer, trailer are all important. And, it can also depend on any special equipment that you have on your vehicle. You can ask your dealer for our trailering information or advice, oryou can write us at: Customer Assistance Center Pontiac Division, One Pontiac Plaza Pontiac, MI 48340-2952 In Canada, write to: General Motors of Canada Limited Customer Communication Centre 1908 Colonel Sam Drive Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7 0 0 Three important considerations have to do with weight: 0 Weight sf the TrailerTongue The tongue load (A) of any trailer is an important weight to measure because it affects the total capacity weight of your vehicle. The capacity weight includes the curb weight of the vehicle, any cargo you may carry in it, and the people who will be riding in the vehicle. And if you will tow a trailer, you must subtract the tongue load from your vehicle's capacity weight because your vehicle will be carrying that weight, too. See "Loading Your Vehicle" in the Index for more information about your vehicle's maximum load capacity. the weight of the trailer tongue and the total weight on your vehicle's tires. Weight of the Trailer How heavy can a trailer safely be? It should never weigh more than 1,000 pounds (450 kg). But even that can betoo heavy. It depends on how you plan to use your rig. For example, speed, altitude, road grades, outside temperature and how much your vehicle is used to pull a 4-33

Section	Page
Table of Contents	3
Seats and Restraint Systems	9
Seats and Controls	10
Manual Seats	10
Power Seats	11
Reclining Front Seatbacks	13
Seatback Latches	15
Why Safety Belts Work	17
Questions Many People Ask About Safety Belts	20
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly	22
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy	29
Questions and Answers About Air Bags	32
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides	41
How to Use Child Restraints	44
How to Use the Built-In Child Restraint	46
Important Information for Buckling Children in Child Restraints	60
Child Restraint Top Straps	61
How to Obtain a Safety Belt Extender	71
Checking Your Restraint Systems	71
Replacing Parts After a Crash	72
Features and Controls	75
Important Information About Keys	76
Door Locks	78
Remote Keyless Entry	82
Battery Replacement for RKE	84
Preventing Theft of Your Vehicle	86
New Vehicle "Break-In"	89
Ignition Positions	89
Tips on Starting Your Engine	90
Using the Engine Coolant Heater	92
Automatic Transaxle Operation	93
Parking Brake Guidelines	98
Important Information on Engine Exhaust	103
Operation of Your Windows	104
Adjusting the Tilt Steering Wheel	105
Functions of the Multifunction Lever	106
How to Use the High/Low Beam Headlamp Changer	107
Windshield Wipers and Fluid	107
Using Cruise Control	109
Exterior Lamps	112
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)	113
Interior Lamps	114
Rearview Mirrors	127
Storage Compartments	128
Instrument Panel Overview	136
All About Your Warning Lights and Gages	138
Driver Information Center	152
Head-Up Display	157
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems	161
Comfort Controls	162
Air Conditioning, Air Conditioning with Electronic Controls	162
Air Conditioning, Air Conditioning with Automatic and Auxiliary Temperature Control	164
Heating, Air Conditioning with Electronic Controls	164
Heating, Air Conditioning with Automatic and Auxiliary Temperature Controls	168
Ventilation System and Tips	168
Tips for Defogging and Defrosting	168
Rear Window Defogger	169
Setting the Clock	170
Radios	170
CD Adapter Kit	175
Trunk Mounted CD Changer	184
Theft-Deterrent Feature	186
Steering Wheel Controls	189
Understanding Radio Reception	190
Adding Sound Equipment to Your	190
Tips About Your Audio System	190
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player	191
Care of Your Compact Discs	192
Fixed Mast Antenna	192
Backglass Antenna	192
Your Driving and the Road	195
Defensive Driving	196
Driving Drunk	197
Having Control of Your Vehicle	200
Your Braking System Information	200
Anti-Lock Brake Information	201
Trac System	203
Braking in Emergencies	205
Steering Tips	205
Off-Road Recovery Tips	207
Passing Other Vehicles	207
Losing Control of Your Vehicle	209
Night Driving	210
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads	211
Tips Before Leaving on a Long Trip	216
Avoiding Highway Hypnosis	217
Driving on Hills and Mountains	217
Winter Driving	219
If You’re Caught in a Blizzard	221
Loading Your Vehicle	223
Helpful Hints for Towing a Trailer	225
Problems on the Road	235
How to Use Warning Flashers	236
Other Types of Warning Devices	236
Step-by-step Procedure for Jump Starting	237
Information You Should Know Before Towing	242
Towing Your Vehicle From the Front	243
Towing Your Vehicle From the Rear	245
If Your Engine is Overheating	247
If Steam is Coming From Your Engine	247
Cooling System	249
How to Add Coolant	251
What to do if a Tire Goes Flat	257
How to Change a Flat Tire	258
Where to Store the Flat Tire and Tools	266
Information on the Compact Spare Tire	268
If You’re Stuck in Sand, Mud, Snow or on Ice	269
How to Rock Your Vehicle to Get Unstuck	269
Service and Appearance Care	271
Doing Your Own Service Work	272
What Kind of Fuel to Use	273
Using Fuel in Foreign Countries	275
Where to Put the Fuel and Filling the Tank	275
Checking Things Under the Hood	277
Checking Your Engine Oil	284
Automatic Transaxle Fluid	291
Engine Coolant	296
Where to Fill the Windshield Washer Fluid	302
Important Brake Information	303
Information on Your Vehicle’s Battery	306
Tips on Vehicle Storage	307
Bulb Replacement Procedures	307
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement	314
How and When to Check Tire Inflation	316
When it is Time to Buy New Tires	320
Wheel Alignment	322
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle	325
Care of the Safety Belts and Built-in Child Restraint	328
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle	329
How to Clean Aluminum Wheels	331
Underbody Maintenance	333
Recommended Appearance Care Materials	334
Your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)	335
The Electrical System	336
Fuses and Circuit Breakers	336
Replacement Bulb Types for Your Vehicle	342
Capacities and Specifications	342
Air Conditioning Specifications	343
Normal Replacement Parts	343
Maintenance Schedule	345
Introduction to Your Maintenance Schedule	346
Your Vehicle and the Environment	346
How this Section is Organized	347
Using Your Maintenance Schedule	348
Selecting the Right Schedule for Your Vehicle	348
Short Trip/City Definition	349
Short Trip/City Intervals	349
Long Trip/Highway Definition	350
Long Trip/Highway Intervals	350
Owner Checks at Each Fuel Fill-up	383
What to Check at Least Once a Month	384
What to Check at Least Once a Year	384
Periodic Maintenance Inspections	387
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants	388
A Place to Record Maintenance Procedures	390
Customer Assistance Information	393
Pontiac Cares Services	394
What Makes up Pontiac Cares?	395
Customer Satisfaction Procedure	395
Customer Assistance Information	396
Address for Writing to Pontiac	397
Assistance for Text Telephone (TTY) Users	397
Pontiac Roadside Assistance	398
Phone Number for Roadside Assistance	398
Canadian Roadside Assistance	400
Pontiac Courtesy Transportation	400
BBB Autoline Information	401
Warranty Information	402
Reporting Safety Defects to the United States	402
Reporting Safety Defects to Canada	403
Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors	403
Ordering Service Publications in Canada	403
How to Order Service Publications	404
Order Form for Service Publications	405

Match case Limit results 1 per page

Don’t tow a trailer at all during the first

1,000

miles

600

km) your new vehicle

is driven. Your engine,

axle

or other parts could

be damaged.

Then, during the

first

500

miles

(800

km)

that you

tow a trailer, don’t drive over

mph

(80

km/h)

and

don’t make

starts

full throttle. This helps your

engine and other

parts of your vehicle wear in at the

heavier loads.

Obey speed limit restrictions when towing a trailer.

Don’t drive faster than the maximum posted speed

for trailers (or no more than

mph

(90

kdh)) to

save wear

your vehicle’s parts.

Three important considerations have to

with weight:

the

weight

the

trailer,

the weight

the trailer tongue

and the total weight on your vehicle’s tires.

Weight

the

Trailer

How

heavy can a trailer safely be?

It should never weigh more than

1,000

pounds

(450

kg).

But

even

that can

too heavy.

depends

how

you

plan

use your rig. For

example, speed, altitude, road grades, outside

temperature and how much your vehicle is used to pull

trailer are all important. And, it can also depend on any

special equipment that you have on your vehicle.

You can ask

your

dealer for our trailering information

advice,

or you can write us at:

Customer Assistance Center

Pontiac Division, One Pontiac Plaza

Pontiac, MI 48340-2952

In Canada, write to:

General Motors of Canada Limited

Customer Communication Centre

1908

Colonel Sam Drive

Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7

Weight

the

Trailer

Tongue

The tongue load

(A)

of any trailer is an important

weight to measure because it affects the total capacity

weight

your vehicle. The capacity weight includes the

curb weight of the vehicle, any cargo you may carry

it, and the people who will

riding in the vehicle. And

you will tow

trailer, you must subtract

the

tongue

load from your vehicle’s capacity weight because your

vehicle will be carrying that weight, too.

See “Loading

Your

Vehicle” in the Index for more information

about

your vehicle’s maximum load capacity.

4-33