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2003 Pontiac Grand Prix Owner's Manual - Page 62

2003 Pontiac Grand Prix Manual

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When Should an Air Bag Inflate? An air bag is designed to inflate in a moderate to severe frontal, or near-frontal crash. The air bag will inflate only if the impact speed is above the system's designed "threshold level." If your vehicle goes straight into a wall that doesn't move or deform, the threshold level is about 12 to 18 mph (19 to 29 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 air bag is 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 or near-frontal impacts. 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. 1-55

Section	Page
Table of Contents	2
Seats and Restraint Systems	8
Front Seats	9
Manual Seats	9
Six-Way Power Driver Seat	10
Power Lumbar	10
Heated Seats	11
Reclining Seatbacks	11
Head Restraints	13
Safety Belts	14
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone	14
Questions and Answers About Safety Belts	18
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly	19
Driver Position	19
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy	27
Right Front Passenger Position	27
Center Passenger Position	28
Rear Seat Passengers	29
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children and Small Adults	33
Safety Belt Extender	35
Child Restraints	36
Older Children	36
Infants and Young Children	39
Child Restraint Systems	42
Where to Put the Restraint	45
Top Strap	46
Top Strap Anchor Location	47
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for Children (LATCH System)	48
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the LATCH System	50
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Outside Seat Position	50
Securing a Child Restraint in a Center Rear Seat Position	53
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position	55
Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)	58
Where Are the Air Bags?	60
When Should an Air Bag Inflate?	62
What Makes an Air Bag Inflate?	62
How Does an Air Bag Restrain?	62
What Will You See After an Air Bag Inflates?	63
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle	64
Restraint System Check	65
Checking Your Restraint Systems	65
Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash	65
Features and Controls	68
Keys	70
Remote Keyless Entry System	71
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation	72
Doors and Locks	75
Door Locks	75
Power Door Locks	76
Last Door Closed Locking	76
Programmable Automatic Door Locks	77
Lockout Protection	77
Leaving Your Vehicle	78
Trunk	78
Windows	80
Power Windows	81
Sun Visors	81
Theft-Deterrent Systems	82
Content Theft-Deterrent	82
PASS-Key III	83
PASS-Key III Operation	84
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle	86
New Vehicle Break-In	86
Ignition Positions	86
Starting Your Engine	87
Engine Coolant Heater	90
Automatic Transaxle Operation	91
Parking Brake	94
Shifting Into Park (P)	95
Shifting Out of Park (P)	97
Parking Over Things That Burn	97
Engine Exhaust	98
Running Your Engine While You Are Parked	99
Mirrors	100
Manual Rearview Mirror	100
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with OnStar, Compass and Temperature Display	100
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror with Compass and Temperature Display	101
Outside Power Mirrors	104
Outside Convex Mirror	104
OnStar System	105
Storage Areas	107
Glove Box	107
Overhead Console	107
Center Console Storage Area	107
Assist Handles	108
Purse or Litter Bag Holder	108
Rear Storage Area	108
Convenience Net	108
Trunk Access Panel	108
Sunroof	109
Instrument Panel	122
Instrument Panel Overview	123
Hazard Warning Flashers	124
Other Warning Devices	125
Horn	125
Tilt Wheel	125
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever	126
Exterior Lamps	131
Interior Lamps	133
Head-Up Display (HUD)	136
Accessory Power Outlets	139
Auxiliary Power Connection (Power Drop)	140
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter	140
Climate Controls	141
Dual Climate Control System	141
Outlet Adjustment	143
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators	144
Instrument Panel Cluster	145
Speedometer and Odometer	146
Tachometer	146
Safety Belt Reminder Light	147
Air Bag Readiness Light	147
Charging System Light	148
Brake System Warning Light	149
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light	150
Traction Control System (TCS) Warning Light	150
Enhanced Traction System Warning Light	151
Low Traction Light	151
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light	152
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage	152
Malfunction Indicator Lamp	153
Oil Pressure Light	156
Low Oil Level Light	157
Security Light	157
Fuel Gage	158
Low Fuel Warning Light	158
Driver Information Center (DIC)	159
Trip Computer	161
Control Buttons	163
Functions	163
Audio System(s)	165
Setting the Time	165
Radio with Cassette	166
Radio with CD (Base Level)	169
Radio with CD (Up Level)	172
Theft-Deterrent Feature	175
Audio Steering Wheel Controls	177
Understanding Radio Reception	178
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player	179
Care of Your CDs	180
Care of Your CD Player	180
Backglass Antenna	180
Driving Your Vehicle	182
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle	183
Defensive Driving	183
Drunken Driving	184
Control of a Vehicle	187
Braking	187
Traction Control System (TCS)	191
Enhanced Traction System (ETS)	192
Steering	194
Off-Road Recovery	196
Passing	196
Loss of Control	197
Driving at Night	199
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads	200
City Driving	203
Freeway Driving	204
Before Leaving on a Long Trip	205
Highway Hypnosis	206
Hill and Mountain Roads	206
Winter Driving	208
If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow	213
Towing	214
Towing Your Vehicle	214
Recreational Vehicle Towing	214
Loading Your Vehicle	216
Towing a Trailer	218
Service and Appearance Care	226
Service	228
Doing Your Own Service Work	229
Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your Vehicle	229
Fuel	230
Gasoline Octane	230
Gasoline Specifications	230
California Fuel	231
Additives	231
Fuels in Foreign Countries	232
Filling Your Tank	232
Filling a Portable Fuel Container	234
Checking Things Under the Hood	235
Hood Release	235
Engine Compartment Overview	237
Engine Oil	243
Supercharger Oil	249
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter	250
Automatic Transaxle Fluid	252
Engine Coolant	255
Radiator Pressure Cap	258
Engine Overheating	258
Cooling System	261
Power Steering Fluid	271
Windshield Washer Fluid	273
Brakes	274
Battery	277
Jump Starting	278
Headlamp Aiming	284
Bulb Replacement	285
Halogen Bulbs	285
Headlamps	285
Front Turn Signal and Sidemarker Lamps	287
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)	288
Taillamps, Sidemarker and Back-Up Lamps	289
Replacement Bulbs	291
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement	292
Tires	293
Inflation -- Tire Pressure	293
Tire Inspection and Rotation	294
When It Is Time for New Tires	295
Buying New Tires	296
Uniform Tire Quality Grading	297
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance	298
Wheel Replacement	298
Tire Chains	300
If a Tire Goes Flat	301
Changing a Flat Tire	301
Compact Spare Tire	312
Appearance Care	313
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle	313
Care of Safety Belts	316
Weatherstrips	316
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle	316
Sheet Metal Damage	318
Finish Damage	318
Underbody Maintenance	318
Chemical Paint Spotting	319
GM Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials	319
Vehicle Identification	321
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)	321
Service Parts Identification Label	321
Electrical System	322
Add-On Electrical Equipment	322
Headlamp Wiring	322
Windshield Wiper Fuses	322
Power Windows and Other Power Options	322
Fuses and Circuit Breakers	322
Capacities and Specifications	327
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts	329
Maintenance Schedule	330
Maintenance Schedule	331
Introduction	331
Your Vehicle and the Environment	331
Maintenance Requirements	331
How This Section is Organized	332
Part A: Scheduled Maintenance Services	333
Using Your Maintenance Schedule	333
Scheduled Maintenance	334
Part B: Owner Checks and Services	338
At Each Fuel Fill	338
At Least Once a Month	338
At Least Twice a Year	339
At Least Once a Year	339
Part C: Periodic Maintenance Inspections	342
Steering, Suspension and Front Drive Axle Boot and Seal Inspection	342
Exhaust System Inspection	342
Fuel System Inspection	342
Engine Cooling System Inspection	342
Throttle System Inspection	343
Brake System Inspection	343
Part D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants	344
Part E: Maintenance Record	345
Customer Assistance Information	348
Customer Assistance Information	349
Customer Satisfaction Procedure	349
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone (TTY) Users	350
Customer Assistance Offices	351
GM Mobility Program for Persons with Disabilities	352
Roadside Assistance Program	352
Courtesy Transportation	353
Reporting Safety Defects to the United States Government	356
Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian Government	356
Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors	356
Service Publications Ordering Information	357

Match case Limit results 1 per page

When

Should

Air

Bag Inflate?

air bag is designed to inflate in a moderate to severe

frontal,

or near-frontal crash. The air bag will inflate

only

the

impact

speed

above the system’s designed

“threshold

level.”

your vehicle goes straight into a

wall

that

doesn’t

move

or deform, the threshold level is

about

mph

(19

km/h). The threshold

level

can

vary,

however,

with specific vehicle design,

that

can be somewhat above or below this range.

your

vehicle

strikes something that will move or

deform,

such

parked

car, the threshold level will

be higher.

The air bag is not designed to inflate

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

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 or

near-frontal

impacts.

What

Makes

Air

Bag Inflate?

In an impact of sufficient

severity, the air bag sensing

system detects that the vehicle is in

crash. The

sensing system triggers a release

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

the instrument

panel in front of the right front passenger.

How

Does an

Air

Bag

Restrain?

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

moderate to severe frontal or

near-frontal collisions.

1-55