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2004 Pontiac Grand Prix Owner's Manual - Page 278

2004 Pontiac Grand Prix Manual

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Making Turns Notice: Making very sharp turns while trailering could cause the trailer to come in contact with the vehicle. Your vehicle could be damaged. Avoid making very sharp turns while trailering. When you're turning with a trailer, make wider turns than normal. Do this so your trailer won't strike soft shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees or other objects. Avoid jerky or sudden maneuvers. Signal well in advance. Your vehicle has bulb warning lights. When you plug a trailer lighting system into your vehicle's lighting system, its bulb warning lights may not let you know if one of your lamps goes out. So, when you have a trailer lighting system plugged in, be sure to check your vehicle and trailer lamps from time to time to be sure they're all working. Once you disconnect the trailer lamps, the bulb warning lights again can tell you if one of your vehicle lamps is out. Driving On Grades Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you start down a long or steep downgrade. If you don't shift down, you might have to use your brakes so much that they would get hot and no longer work well. On a long uphill grade, shift down and reduce your speed to around 45 mph (70 km/h) to reduce the possibility of engine and transaxle overheating. If you have overdrive, you may have to drive in THIRD (3) instead of AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D). Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer When you tow a trailer, your vehicle may need a different turn signal flasher and/or extra wiring. Check with your dealer. The arrows on your instrument panel will flash whenever you signal a turn or lane change. Properly hooked up, the trailer lamps will also flash, telling other drivers you're about to turn, change lanes or stop. When towing a trailer, the arrows on your instrument panel will flash for turns even if the bulbs on the trailer are burned out. Thus, you may think drivers behind you are seeing your signal when they are not. It's important to check occasionally to be sure the trailer bulbs are still working. 4-42

Section	Page
Seats and Restraint Systems	7
Front Seats	8
Manual Seats	8
Power Seat	10
Power Lumbar	11
Heated Seats	11
Reclining Seatbacks	12
Head Restraints	13
Rear Seats	14
Split Folding Rear Seat	14
Safety Belts	16
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone	16
Questions and Answers About Safety Belts	20
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly	21
Driver Position	21
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy	28
Right Front Passenger Position	29
Rear Seat Passengers	29
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children and Small Adults	32
Safety Belt Pretensioners	34
Safety Belt Extender	34
Child Restraints	35
Older Children	35
Infants and Young Children	38
Child Restraint Systems	41
Where to Put the Restraint	44
Top Strap	45
Top Strap Anchor Location	46
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for Children (LATCH System)	47
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the LATCH System	49
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat Position	49
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position	51
Air Bag Systems	54
Where Are the Air Bags?	56
When Should an Air Bag Inflate?	59
What Makes an Air Bag Inflate?	59
How Does an Air Bag Restrain?	60
What Will You See After an Air Bag Inflates?	60
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle	62
Restraint System Check	62
Checking Your Restraint Systems	62
Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash	63
Features and Controls	65
Keys	66
Remote Keyless Entry System	68
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation	69
Doors and Locks	71
Door Locks	71
Power Door Locks	72
Last Door Closed Locking	72
Programmable Automatic Door Locks	73
Lockout Protection	73
Leaving Your Vehicle	73
Trunk	74
Windows	76
Power Windows	77
Sun Visors	77
Theft-Deterrent Systems	78
Content Theft-Deterrent	78
PASS-Key® III	79
PASS-Key® III Operation	80
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle	82
New Vehicle Break-In	82
Ignition Positions	82
Starting Your Engine	83
Engine Coolant Heater	84
Automatic Transaxle Operation	86
Parking Brake	91
Shifting Into Park (P)	92
Shifting Out of Park (P)	94
Parking Over Things That Burn	94
Engine Exhaust	95
Running Your Engine While You Are Parked	96
Mirrors	97
Manual Rearview Mirror	97
Manual Rearview Mirror with OnStar®	97
Outside Power Mirrors	98
Outside Convex Mirror	98
OnStar® System	99
Storage Areas	100
Glove Box	100
Overhead Console	100
Front Seat Storage Net	101
Center Console Storage Area	101
Assist Handles	102
Convenience Net	102
Sunroof	103
Instrument Panel	105
Instrument Panel Overview	106
Hazard Warning Flashers	108
Other Warning Devices	109
Horn	109
Tilt Wheel	109
Windshield Washer Lever	110
Cruise Control Lever	112
Exterior Lamps	116
Interior Lamps	120
Head-Up Display (HUD)	123
Accessory Power Outlets	127
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter	128
Climate Controls	129
Climate Control System	129
Outlet Adjustment	133
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators	135
Instrument Panel Cluster	136
Speedometer and Odometer	137
Tachometer	137
Safety Belt Reminder Light	138
Air Bag Readiness Light	138
Up-Shift Light	139
Brake System Warning Light	140
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light	141
Traction Control System (TCS) Warning Light	142
Enhanced Traction System Warning Light	142
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light	143
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage	143
Malfunction Indicator Lamp	144
Oil Pressure Light	147
Fog Lamp Light	148
High-Beam On Light	148
Fuel Gage	148
Driver Information Center (DIC)	149
DIC Controls and Displays	149
DIC Warnings and Messages	169
Audio System(s)	192
Setting the Time	192
Radio with CD	193
Radio with Cassette and CD	204
Radio with Six-Disc CD	218
Theft-Deterrent Feature	232
Audio Steering Wheel Controls	233
Understanding Radio Reception	234
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player	234
Care of Your CDs	235
Care of Your CD Player	235
Backglass Antenna	236
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System (United States Only)	236
Driving Your Vehicle	237
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle	238
Defensive Driving	238
Drunken Driving	239
Control of a Vehicle	242
Braking	242
Traction Control System (TCS)	246
Enhanced Traction System (ETS)	247
Stabilitrak® Plus System	249
Steering	250
Off-Road Recovery	252
Passing	252
Loss of Control	254
Driving at Night	255
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads	256
City Driving	259
Freeway Driving	260
Before Leaving on a Long Trip	261
Highway Hypnosis	262
Hill and Mountain Roads	262
Winter Driving	264
If You Are Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow	268
Towing	269
Towing Your Vehicle	269
Recreational Vehicle Towing	269
Loading Your Vehicle	271
Towing a Trailer	273
Service and Appearance Care	281
Service	283
Doing Your Own Service Work	283
Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your Vehicle	284
Fuel	284
Gasoline Octane	284
Gasoline Specifications	285
California Fuel	285
Additives	286
Fuels in Foreign Countries	287
Filling Your Tank	287
Filling a Portable Fuel Container	290
Checking Things Under the Hood	290
Hood Release	291
Engine Compartment Overview	292
Engine Oil	296
Supercharger Oil	301
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter	302
Automatic Transaxle Fluid	304
Engine Coolant	306
Radiator Pressure Cap	309
Engine Overheating	309
Cooling System	312
Power Steering Fluid	322
Windshield Washer Fluid	323
Brakes	325
Battery	328
Jump Starting	329
Headlamp Aiming	336
Bulb Replacement	339
Halogen Bulbs	339
Headlamps and Sidemarker Lamps	340
Front Turn Signal, Parking and Fog Lamps	342
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)	344
Taillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps	344
Back-Up Lamps	345
Replacement Bulbs	346
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement	347
Tires	348
Inflation -- Tire Pressure	349
Tire Pressure Monitor System	350
Tire Inspection and Rotation	351
When It Is Time for New Tires	352
Buying New Tires	353
Uniform Tire Quality Grading	354
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance	355
Wheel Replacement	355
Tire Chains	357
If a Tire Goes Flat	358
Changing a Flat Tire	358
Compact Spare Tire	369
Appearance Care	370
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle	370
Care of Safety Belts	373
Weatherstrips	373
Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehicle	373
Sheet Metal Damage	375
Finish Damage	375
Underbody Maintenance	376
Chemical Paint Spotting	376
GM Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials	376
Vehicle Identification	378
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)	378
Service Parts Identification Label	378
Electrical System	379
Add-On Electrical Equipment	379
Headlamp Wiring	379
Windshield Wiper Fuses	379
Power Windows and Other Power Options	379
Fuses and Circuit Breakers	379
Capacities and Specifications	384
Capacities and Specifications	384
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts	385
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts	385
Maintenance Schedule	387
Maintenance Schedule	388
Introduction	388
Maintenance Requirements	388
Your Vehicle and the Environment	388
How This Section is Organized	389
Part A: Scheduled Maintenance Services	390
Using Your Maintenance Schedule	390
Scheduled Maintenance	391
Part B: Owner Checks and Services	396
At Each Fuel Fill	396
At Least Once a Month	396
At Least Twice a Year	397
At Least Once a Year	397
Part C: Periodic Maintenance Inspections	400
Steering, Suspension and Front Drive Axle Boot and Seal Inspection	400
Exhaust System Inspection	400
Fuel System Inspection	400
Engine Cooling System Inspection	401
Throttle System Inspection	401
Brake System Inspection	401
Part D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants	402
Part E: Maintenance Record	403
Customer Assistance Information	405
Customer Assistance Information	406
Customer Satisfaction Procedure	406
Online Owner Center	407
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone (TTY) Users	408
Customer Assistance Offices	408
GM Mobility Program for Persons with Disabilities	409
Roadside Assistance Program	410
Courtesy Transportation	411
Reporting Safety Defects	412
Reporting Safety Defects to the United States Government	413
Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian Government	414
Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors	414
Service Publications Ordering Information	414

Match case Limit results 1 per page

Making Turns

Notice:

Making very sharp turns while trailering

could cause the trailer to come in contact with

the vehicle. Your vehicle could be damaged.

Avoid making very sharp turns while trailering.

When you’re turning with a trailer, make wider turns than

normal. Do this so your trailer won’t strike soft shoulders,

curbs, road signs, trees or other objects. Avoid jerky or

sudden maneuvers. Signal well in advance.

Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer

When you tow a trailer, your vehicle may need a

different turn signal flasher and/or extra wiring.

Check with your dealer. The arrows on your instrument

panel will flash whenever you signal a turn or lane

change. Properly hooked up, the trailer lamps will also

flash, telling other drivers you’re about to turn,

change lanes or stop.

When towing a trailer, the arrows on your instrument

panel will flash for turns even if the bulbs on the trailer

are burned out. Thus, you may think drivers behind

you are seeing your signal when they are not. It’s

important to check occasionally to be sure the trailer

bulbs are still working.

Your vehicle has bulb warning lights. When you plug

a trailer lighting system into your vehicle’s lighting

system, its bulb warning lights may not let you know if

one of your lamps goes out. So, when you have a trailer

lighting system plugged in, be sure to check your

vehicle and trailer lamps from time to time to be sure

they’re all working. Once you disconnect the trailer

lamps, the bulb warning lights again can tell you if one

of your vehicle lamps is out.

Driving On Grades

Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you start

down a long or steep downgrade. If you don’t shift

down, you might have to use your brakes so much that

they would get hot and no longer work well.

On a long uphill grade, shift down and reduce your

speed to around 45 mph (70 km/h) to reduce the

possibility of engine and transaxle overheating.

If you have overdrive, you may have to drive in

THIRD (3) instead of AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D).

4-42