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1997 Pontiac Sunfire Owner's Manual - Page 86

1997 Pontiac Sunfire Manual

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Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine Running (Automatic Thmmxle Models Only) I e Torque Lock (Automatic Transaxle) If you are parking on a hill and you don't shift your transaxle into PARK (P) properly, the weight of the vehicl'emay put too much force on the parking pawl in the transaxle. You may find it difficult to pull the shift lever out of PARK (P). This iscalled "torque lock."To prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and then shift into PARK (P) properly before you leave the driver's seat. To find outhow, see "Shifting Into PARK (P)" in the Index. When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out of PARK (P) before you release the parking brake. If torque lock does occur, you may need to have another A CAUTION: It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with the engine running.Your vehicle could move suddenly if the shift lever is not fully inPARK (P) with the parking brake firmly set, And, if you leave the vehiclewith the engine running, it could overheat and even catch fire. You or others could be injured. Don't leaveyour vehicle with the engine running unlessyou have to. I vehicle push yours a little uphill to take some of the pressure from the parking pawl in the transaxle, so you can pull the shift lever out of PARK (P). If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine running, be sure your vehicle is in PARK (P) and your parking brake is firmly set before you leave it. After you've movedthe shift lever into the PARK (P) position, hold the regular brake pedal down. Then, see if you can move the shift lever away from PARK (P) without first pushing the button. If you can, it means that the shift lever wasn't fully locked into PARK (P). Shifting Out of PARK (P) (Automatic Transaxle) Your Pontiac has a brake-transaxle shift interlock. You have to fully apply your regular brakes before you can shift from PARK (P) when the ignition is in the RUN position. See "Automatic Transaxle" in the Index. 2-28

Section	Page
Table of Contents	3
Seats and Restraint Systems	9
Seats and Seat Controls	10
Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone	16
Here Are Questions Many People Ask About Safety Belts -- And the Answers	21
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly	22
Driver Position	22
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy	30
Right Front Passenger Position	31
Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)	31
Rear Seat Passengers	37
Center Passenger Position	42
Children	44
Child Restraints	46
Larger Children	54
Safety Belt Extender	57
Checking Your Restraint Systems	57
Replacing Restraint System Part after a Crash	57
Features and Controls	59
Keys	60
Door Locks	62
Remote Keyless Entry	64
Trunk	68
Theft	68
Passlock	69
New Vehicle “Break-In"	70
Ignition Positions	70
Starting Your Engine	72
Engine Coolant Heater	75
Automatic Transaxle Operation	76
Manual Transaxle Operation	81
Parking Brake	84
Shifting Into PARK (P)	85
Shifting Out of PARK (P)	86
Parking Over Things That Burn	87
Engine Exhaust	88
Running Your Engine While You're Parked	88
Windows	89
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever	91
Exterior Lamps	99
Interior Lamps	101
Mirrors	103
Storage Compartments	105
Sunroof (If Equipped)	108
Convertible Top	109
The Instrument Panel -- Your Information System	120
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators	124
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems	139
Comfort Controls	140
Air Conditioning	143
Heating	143
Ventilation System	143
Defogging and Defrosting Windows	144
Audio Systems	145
Setting the Clock for AM-FM Stereo	145
Setting the Clock for All Systems Except AM-FM Stereo	145
AM-FM Stereo	146
AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player	147
AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player And Equalizer	151
AM-FM Stereo with Compact Disc Player and Equalizer	154
Theft-Deterrent Feature	157
Understanding Radio Reception	160
Tips About Your Audio System	160
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player	161
Care of Your Compact Discs	162
Fixed Mast Antenna	162
Your Driving and the Road	165
Defensive Driving	166
Drunken Driving	166
Control of a Vehicle	170
Braking	170
Steering	175
Off-Road Recovery	177
Passing	177
Loss of Control	179
Driving at Night	180
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads	182
City Driving	185
Freeway Driving	186
Before Leaving on a Long Trip	187
Highway Hypnosis	188
Hills and Mountain Roads	188
Winter Driving	190
Recreational VehicleTowing	195
Loading your Vehicle	197
Towing a Trailer (Models with 2.4L Engine and 4-Speed Automatic Transaxle)	199
Towing A Trailer (Except Models with 2.4L Engine and 4-Speed Automatic Transaxle)	206
Problems on the Road	209
Hazard Warning Flashers	210
Other Warning Devices	211
Jump Starting	211
Towing Your Vehicle	216
Engine Overheating	222
If a Tire Goes Flat	230
Changing a Flat Tire	231
Compact Spare Tire	241
If You’re Stuck In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow	242
Service and Appearance Care	245
Fuel	247
Filling Your Tank	249
Checking Things Under the Hood	251
Engine Oil	255
Air Cleaner	260
Automatic Transaxle Fluid (Except 2.4L Code T Engine)	261
Automatic Transaxle Fluid (2.4L Code T Engine Only)	264
Manual Transaxle Fluid	265
Hydraulic Clutch	267
Engine Coolant	268
Surge Tank Pressure Cap	271
Power Steering Fluid	272
Windshield Washer Fluid	273
Brakes	274
Battery	277
Halogen Bulbs	278
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement	283
Tires	283
Care of Safety Belts	294
Cleaning Tires	297
Finish Damage	298
Underbody Maintenance	298
Service Parts Identification Label	300
Electrical System	300
Capacities and Specifications	305
Air Conditioning Refrigerants	306
Maintenance Schedule	309
Introduction	310
Your Vehicle and the Environment	310
How This Section is Organized	311
Part A: Scheduled Maintenance Services	312
Using Your Maintenance Schedule	312
Selecting the Right Schedule	312
Part B: Owner Checks and Services	349
At Each Fuel Fill	349
At Least Once a Year	351
Part C: Periodic Maintenance Inspections	354
Steering, Suspension and Front Drive Axle Boot and Seal Inspection	354
Exhaust System Inspection	354
Radiator and Heater Hose Inspection	354
Throttle Linkage Inspection	354
Brake System Inspection	355
Caliper/Knuckle Maintenance Inspection	355
Part D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants	356
Part E: Maintenance Record	358
Customer Assistance Information	361
Pontiac Cares	362
What Makes up Pontiac Cares?	363
Customer Satisfaction Procedure	363
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone (TTY) Users	365
Pontiac Roadside Assistance Program	366
Canadian Roadside Assistance	368
Pontiac Courtesy Transportation	368
GM Participation in an Alternative Dispute Resolution Program	369
Warranty nformation	370
Reporting Safety Defects to the United States Government	370
Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian Government	371
Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors	371
OrderingService and Owner Publications in Canada	371

Match case Limit results 1 per page

Leaving

Your

Vehicle

With

the

Engine

Running

(Automatic

Thmmxle

Models

Only)

CAUTION:

can

dangerous

leave

your

vehicle

with

the

engine

running. Your vehicle

could

move

suddenly

the shift

lever

not

fully

PARK

(P)

with

the

parking

brake

firmly

set,

And,

you

leave

the

vehicle

with

the

engine

running,

could

overheat

and

even

catch

fire.

You

others

could

injured.

Don’t

leave

your

vehicle

with

the

engine

running

unless

you

have

to.

you have to leave your vehicle with the engine

running,

be sure your vehicle is in PARK

(P)

and your

parking

brake is firmly set before you leave

it.

After

you’ve

moved the shift lever into the

PARK

(P)

position,

hold

the

regular

brake

pedal

down.

Then,

see

you can move the shift lever away from

PARK

(P)

without first pushing the button.

If you can, it means that the shift lever wasn’t fully

locked into PARK

(P).

Torque

Lock

(Automatic

Transaxle)

you

are

parking

on a

hill

and

you

don’t

shift your

transaxle into PARK

(P)

properly, the weight of

the

vehicl’e

may

put too much force

the

parking

pawl in

the transaxle. You may find it difficult to pull the shift

lever out of

PARK

(P).

This

is called “torque

lock.” To

prevent torque lock, set the parking brake

and

then shift

into PARK (P) properly before you leave the driver’s

seat.

find

out how, see “Shifting Into PARK

(P)”

the

Index.

When

you are ready

drive, move the shift lever out

PARK

(P)

before

you release the parking

brake.

torque lock does occur, you may need

have another

vehicle push yours a little uphill to take some of the

pressure

from

the parking pawl in the transaxle,

you

can pull

the

shift lever out

PARK

(P).

Shifting

Out

PARK

(P)

(Automatic

Transaxle)

Your Pontiac

has

brake-transaxle shift interlock. You

have

fully

apply

your regular brakes

before

you can

shift from PARK (P) when the ignition

in the

RUN

position. See “Automatic Transaxle”

the Index.

2-28