Pontiac MONTANA-1999 User Manual

The 1999 Pontiac Montana Owner’s Manual

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1-1 Seats and Restraint Systems

This section tells you how to use your seats and safety belts properly. It also explains the “SRS” system.

2-1 Features and Controls

This section explains how to start and operate your vehicle.

3-1 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems

This section tells you how to adjust the ventilation and comfort controls and how to operate your audio system.

4-1 Your Driving and the Road

Here you’ll find helpful information and tips about the road and how to drive under different conditions.

5-1 Problems on the Road

This section tells you what to do if you have a problem while driving, such as a flat tire or overheated engine, etc.

6-1 Service and Appearance Care

Here the manual tells you how to keep your vehicle running properly and looking good.

7-1 Maintenance Schedule

This section tells you when to perform vehicle maintenance and what fluids and lubricants to use.

8-1 Customer Assistance Information

This section tells you how to contact Pontiac for assistance and how to get service and owner publications. It also gives you information on “Reporting Safety Defects” on page 8

9-1 Index

Here’s an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual. You can use it to quickly find something you want to read.

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GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem, PONTIAC, the PONTIAC Emblem and the name MONTANA are registered trademarks of General Motors Corporation.

This manual includes the latest information at the time it was printed. We reserve the right to make changes in the product after that time without further notice. For vehicles first sold in Canada, substitute the name “General Motors of Canada Limited” for Pontiac Division whenever it appears in this manual.

Please keep this manual in your vehicle, so it will be there if you ever need it when you’re on the road. If you sell the vehicle, please leave this manual in it so the new owner can use it.

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We support voluntary technician certification.

For Canadian Owners Who Prefer a French Language Manual:

Aux propriétaires canadiens: Vous pouvez vous

procurer un exemplaire de ce guide en français chez votre concessionaire ou au:

DGN Marketing Services Ltd. 1577 Meyerside Dr. Mississauga, Ontario L5T 1B9

How to Use this Manual

Many people read their owner’s manual from beginning to end when they first receive their new vehicle. If you do this, it will help you learn about the features and controls for your vehicle. In this manual, you’ll find that pictures and words work together to explain things quickly.

Index

A good place to look for what you need is the Index in back of the manual. It’s an alphabetical list of what’s in the manual, and the page number where you’ll find it.

Safety Warnings and Symbols

You will find a number of safety cautions in this book. We use a box and the word CAUTION to tell you about things that could hurt you if you were to ignore the warning.

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CAUTION:

These mean there is something that could hurt you or other people.

In the caution area, we tell you what the hazard is. Then we tell you what to do to help avoid or reduce the hazard. Please read these cautions. If you don’t, you or others could be hurt.

You will also find a circle with a slash through it in this book. This safety symbol means “Don’t,” “Don’t do this” or “Don’t let this happen.”

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Vehicle Damage Warnings

Also, in this book you will find these notices:

NOTICE:

These mean there is something that could damage your vehicle.

In the notice area, we tell you about something that can damage your vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be covered by your warranty, and it could be costly. But the notice will tell you what to do to help avoid the damage.

When you read other manuals, you might see CAUTION and NOTICE warnings in different colors or in different words.

You’ll also see warning labels on your vehicle. They use the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE.

Vehicle Symbols

These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle.

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For example, these symbols are used on an original battery:

CAUTION

POSSIBLE

INJURY

PROTECT

EYES BY

SHIELDING

CAUSTIC BATTERY

ACID COULD

CAUSE

BURNS

AVOID

SPARKS OR

FLAMES

SPARK OR

FLAME

COULD

EXPLODE

BATTERY

These symbols are important for you and your passengers whenever your vehicle is driven:

DOOR LOCK

UNLOCK

FASTEN

SEAT

BELTS

POWER

WINDOW

AIR BAG

These symbols have to do with your lamps:

MASTER

LIGHTING

SWITCH

TURN

SIGNALS

PARKING

LAMPS

HAZARD WARNING FLASHER

DAYTIME

RUNNING

LAMPS

FOG LAMPS

These symbols are on some of your controls:

WINDSHIELD

WIPER

WINDSHIELD

WASHER

WINDSHIELD

DEFROSTER

REAR

WINDOW

DEFOGGER

VENTILATING

FAN

These symbols are used on warning and indicator lights:

ENGINE

COOLANT

TEMP

BATTERY

CHARGING

SYSTEM

BRAKE

COOLANT

ENGINE OIL

PRESSURE

ANTI-LOCK

BRAKES

Here are some other symbols you may see:

FUSE

LIGHTER

HORN

SPEAKER

FUEL

✍

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NOTES

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Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems

Here you’ll find information about the seats in your vehicle and how to use your safety belts properly. You can also learn about some things you should not do with air bags and safety belts.

-2 Seats and Seat Controls

-6 Rear Seats

-22 Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone

1 1

-27 Here Are Questions Many People Ask About

Safety Belts

-28 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly

-28 Driver Position

-36 Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy

1 1

-37 Right Front Passenger Position

-37 Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS)

1 1

-46 Safety Belt Pretensioners

-46 Rear Seat Passengers

-- and the Answers

-50 Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children

and Small Adults

1-52 Center Passenger Position (Bench Seat) 1

-54 Center Passenger Position (Bucket Seat)

-56 Children

1 1

-59 Built-in Child Restraint (Option)

-70 Child Restraints

-85 Larger Children

1 1

-88 Safety Belt Extender

-88 Checking Your Restraint Systems

1 1

-89 Replacing Restraint System Parts After

a Crash

1-1

Seats and Seat Controls

This section tells you about the seats -- how to adjust them, take them out, put them back in and fold and unfold them.

Driver’s 4-Way Manual Seat

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T o raise the seat, pull up on the lever on the front right side of the seat. T o lower the seat, push the lever down.

CAUTION:

Use the lever on the front left side of the seat to adjust the seat forward or rearward. Pull up the lever on the front of the seat to unlock it. Slide the seat to where you want it.

T o make sure the seat is locked into place, release the lever and try to move the seat with your body.

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You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to adjust a manual driver’s seat while the vehicle is moving. The sudden movement could startle and confuse you, or make you push a pedal when you don’t want to. Adjust the driver’s seat only when the vehicle is not moving.

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Manual Front Passenger Seats

T o move the seat, pull up the lever on the front of the seat to unlock it.

Slide the seat to where you want it. T o make sure the seat is locked into place, release the lever and try to move the seat with your body.

6-Way Power Seat (Option)

T o adjust the six-way power seat: Front Control (A): Raise the front of the seat by

holding the switch up. Hold the switch down to lower the front of the seat.

Center Control (B): Move the seat forward or rearward by holding the control to the front or rear. Raise or lower the seat by holding the control up or down.

Rear Control (C): Raise the rear of the seat by holding the switch up. Hold the switch down to lower the rear of the seat.

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Manual Lumbar Control

The knob for the lumbar control is located on the side of the seat.

Turn this knob to adjust the support for the lower back.

Reclining Front Seatbacks

All front seats recline.

T o adjust the seatback, turn this knob. It is easier to recline the seat if you lean forward, taking your weight off the seatback.

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But don’t have a seatback reclined if your vehicle is moving.

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CAUTION:

Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle is in motion can be dangerous. Even if you buckle up, your safety belts can’t do their job when you’re reclined like this.

The shoulder belt can’t do its job because it won’t be against your body. Instead, it will be in front of you. In a crash you could go into it, receiving neck or other injuries.

The lap belt can’t do its job either. In a crash the belt could go up over your abdomen. The belt forces would be there, not at your pelvic bones. This could cause serious internal injuries.

For proper protection when the vehicle is in motion, have the seatback upright. Then sit well back in the seat and wear your safety belt properly.

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Head Restraints

Slide the head restraint up or down so that the top of the restraint is closest to the top of your ears. This position reduces the chance of a neck injury in a crash.

The head restraints tilt forward and rearward also.

Folding Seatback

The seatbacks on the second row seats fold forward to put items behind the left and right seats. Lift the lever and fold the seatback forward. The seatback will lock into place when you push it back to the upright position.

Rear Seats

Seat Controls

The rear seats in your vehicle have levers and straps used to adjust, remove and replace the seats. By using the levers and straps, in the correct order, you can easily remove the seats from your vehicle.

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Floor Seat Pin Diagram

When you replace the seats in the vehicle, be sure to follow the label on the back of the seat for proper location. Follow the diagram above when the text in this manual tells you what sets of floor cups to use for each seat.

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Second Row Safety Belt Stowage

If your vehicle has seats in the third row, there is a sleeve on the second row outside safety belt to store the safety belt while entering and exiting the third row of the vehicle.

If your vehicle has a split bench seat in the second row, follow this procedure:

Pull the belt out and slide the sleeve along the belt until it reaches the patch of Velcro

Simply press the sleeve against the Velcro patch to secure it in place.

Do not have the second row outside safety belt stored if someone is sitting in the second row outside position.

T o release the second row outside safety belt, just pull the sleeve away from the Velcro patch and use the safety belt as usual. The sleeve should slide freely when not in use.

There is also a clip on the safety belt used to secure the belt after it is disconnected from the mini-buckle. When removing the split second row bench seat, secure the loose end of the safety belt in this clip. This will keep the safety belt from dangling and possibly striking something.

on the roof.

Flip and Fold Feature

The rear seats in your vehicle, except the captain’s chairs, can be folded forward. Use this feature for exiting and entering third row seats.

1. Push the adjustable head restraints fully down.

2. Fold the seatback flat on the seat. If the seat adjusts, slide it all the way back.

3. Release the rear set of hooks from the floor pins; hang on to the straps as the seat folds forward.

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Split Bench Seats

If you have the split bench seat (50/50 or 40/60), the seatbacks can be folded down individually and the sections can be removed individually. The sections can also be adjusted forward or rearward individually.

The second row (40/60) split bench may be equipped with built Restraint” in the Index.

Folding or Reclining the Seatbacks

The seatbacks on each section of the split bench seat can be either folded down or reclined. The following explains how to use either the nylon strap or the lever to fold or recline the seatbacks.

-in child restraint(s). See “Built-In Child

T o fold down the seatback, pull this nylon strap on the rear of the seat.

T o raise a seatback, pull the nylon strap while raising the seatback until it locks upright.

T o fold down the seatback, lift up on this lever located on the front of the seatback.

Use the lever to raise or lower the seatback to the desired position.

When raising or reclining a seatback to an upright position, push and pull on the seatback to check that it is locked upright.

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Adjusting the Split Bench Seats

There are two adjustment levers on each section of the split bench seats to adjust the seat forward or rearward.

One is located below the center, in the front of each section of the split bench.

The other lever is located on the rear of the seat.

Lift up either lever and slide the seat forward to allow for extra storage behind the seat, or slide the seat back to allow extra room for passengers.

Release the lever. Push and pull on the seat to be sure it is locked into place.

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Removing the Split Bench Seat

Make sure the seatback is in the upright position and that the safety belts are on the correct section of the seat. The head restraints should be fully down.

1. For the second row split bench, with the seatback in the upright position, unhook the side attachment for the safety belt. This mini right side of the seat.

3. Lift the seatback recliner lever or pull the nylon strap on the back of the seat to fold the seatback forward.

4. Slide the seat all the way back by lifting either one of the adjustment bars and sliding the seat fully rearward.

-buckle is located on the

2. Push the red center of the buckle up with a small pointed object

-- like a key or a

pen to remove the seat belt, if needed.

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5. From behind the bench seat, pull the nylon strap at the base of the seat to release the rear latches from the floor pins.

Do not let go of the straps until the seat is folded all the way forward.

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6. T o unlatch the front latches, squeeze the angled latch release bar toward the straight crossbar.

7. Remove the seat by rocking it slightly toward the rear of the vehicle and then pulling it out.

Repeat these steps for the other section of the split bench seat.

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Replacing the Split Bench Sections

Don’t put the sections of the bench seat in so they face rearward because they won’t latch that way. If you want more storage room behind the seat, adjust each section by sliding it forward.

The split benches have seat position labels, located on the back of each seat, showing where the seat must go. Follow that diagram.

The left (40) section of the 40/60 split bench uses the A and B sets of floor cups.

The right (60) section of the 40/60 split bench uses the C and D sets of floor cups.

The left section of the 50/50 split bench uses the G and H sets of floor cups.

The right section of the 50/50 split bench uses the I and J sets of floor cups.

See “Seat Controls” in the beginning of this section for more details. The seat must be placed in the proper location for the legs to attach correctly.

Make sure the seat is in the full rear position before beginning this procedure.

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1. Squeeze the angled bar toward the solid crossbar while placing the front hooks of the bench seat onto the front two floor pins.

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T o do this, the bench seat will need to be angled so that the front hooks clear the floor pins.

If the front legs are not attached correctly, the rear legs will not attach to the rear set of floor pins.

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If the front latches are not attaching correctly, check that the seat is in the full rear position.

2. Firmly push the rear hooks onto the rear floor pins by pushing down on the rear of the seat.

3. Try to raise the seat to check that it is locked down.

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CAUTION:

A seat that isn’t locked into place properly can move around in a collision or sudden stop. People in the vehicle could be injured. Be sure to lock the seat into place properly when installing it.

4. Lift the seatback recliner lever or pull the nylon strap on the back of the seat and raise the seatback until it locks upright.

5. Push and pull on the seatback to check that it is locked.

CAUTION:

If the seatback isn’t locked, it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always press rearward on the seatback to be sure it is locked.

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6. Attach the mini-buckle so that the safety belt is

ready for use when a passenger uses the seat. The buckle reattaches by pushing the latch into the

buckle until the red center pops out again. Repeat these steps for the other section of the split

bench seat.

CAUTION:

A safety belt that is twisted or not properly attached won’t provide the protection needed in a crash. The person wearing the belt could be seriously injured. After installing the seat, always check to be sure that the safety belts are not twisted and are properly attached.

Bucket Seats

There are three types of rear bucket seats: RIGHT ONLY, CENTER OR LEFT and LEFT ONLY. RIGHT ONLY and LEFT ONL Y seats may be equipped with the built

The rear bucket seats can be removed to provide extra storage. Each seat that has the built option fits in only one location in your vehicle, but seats that don’t have the built moved to different rows.

Folding or Reclining the Seatbacks

The seatback on a bucket seat can be either folded down or reclined. The following explains how to use either the nylon strap or the lever to fold or recline the seatback.

-in child restraint option.

-in child restraint

-in child restraint option can be

T o fold down the seatback, pull this nylon strap on the rear of the seat.

1-14

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T o raise a seatback, pull the nylon strap while raising the seatback until it locks upright.

T o fold down the seatback, lift up on this lever located on the front of the seatback.

Use the lever to raise or lower the seatback to the desired position.

When raising or reclining a seatback to an upright position, push and pull on the seatback to check that it is locked upright.

Adjusting the Bucket Seats

There are two adjustment levers on each seat to adjust the seat forward or rearward.

One is located below the center, in front of the bucket seat.

1-15

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The other lever is located on the rear of the bucket seat.

Lift up either lever and slide the seat forward to allow for extra storage behind the seat, or slide the seat back to allow extra room for passengers.

Release the lever. Push and pull on the seat to be sure it is locked into place.

Removing the Bucket Seats

Make sure the seatback is in the upright position. The head restraints should be fully down.

1. Lift the seatback recliner lever or pull the nylon strap on the back of the seat to fold the seatback forward.

2. Slide the seat all the way back by lifting either one of the adjuster levers and sliding the seat fully rearward.

3. From behind the seat, pull the nylon strap at the base of the seat to release the rear latches from the floor pins.

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You can also lift the lever on the side of the seat to release the rear latches from the floor pins.

Do not let go of the straps or lever until the seat is folded all the way forward.

4. T o unlatch the front latches, with the seat folded forward, squeeze the angled latch release bar toward the straight crossbar.

5. Remove the seat by rocking it slightly toward the rear of the vehicle and then pulling it out. This should be done in one motion.

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Replacing the Bucket Seats

Don’t put the seats in so they face rearward because they won’t latch that way. If you want more storage room behind the seat, adjust the seat by sliding it forward.

The bucket seats have seat position labels, located on the back of the seat, showing where the seat must go. Follow that diagram. See “Seat Controls” in the beginning of this section for more details. The seat must be placed in the proper location for the legs to attach correctly.

RIGHT ONLY seats that don’t have the built restraint option fit only in the right location of either row, the E and F or I and J sets of floor cups.

The CENTER OR LEFT seat fits in the center location or in either left location, the A and B, C and D or G and H sets of floor cups.

The LEFT ONLY seats that don’t have the built restraint option fit only in the left location of either row, the A and B or G and H sets of floor cups.

RIGHT ONLY seats that have the built option fit only in the right location of the second row, the E and F sets of floor cups.

-in child

-in child restraint

LEFT ONLY seats that have the built option fit only in the left location of the second row, the A and B sets of floor cups.

Make sure the seat is in the full rear position before beginning this procedure.

1. With the seat folded, squeeze the angled bar toward the solid crossbar while placing the front hooks of the bucket seat onto the front two floor pins.

T o do this, the seat will need to be angled so that the front hooks clear the floor pins.

If the front legs are not attached correctly, the rear legs will not attach to the rear set of floor pins.

-in child restraint

1-18

If the front latches are not attaching correctly, check that the seat is in the full rear position.

2. Firmly push the rear hooks onto the rear floor pins by pushing down on the rear of the seat.

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CAUTION:

A seat that isn’t locked into place properly can move around in a collision or sudden stop. People in the vehicle could be injured. Be sure to lock the seat into place properly when installing it.

3. Try to raise the seat to check that it is locked down.

4. Lift the seatback recliner lever or pull the nylon strap on the back of the seat and raise the seatback until it locks upright.

5. Push and pull on the seatback to check that it is locked in place.

CAUTION:

If the seatback isn’t locked, it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could cause injury to the person sitting there. Always press rearward on the seatback to be sure it is locked.

1-19

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Captain’s Chairs

The captain’s chairs adjust like the manual front passenger seats.

The seatback can be reclined or raised by turning the knob on the inboard side of the seat. It is easier to raise or lower the seatback if you lean forward and take the weight off the seatback.

The armrests can be lowered or raised for entering or exiting the vehicle.

Removing the Captain’s Chairs

1. Pull the nylon strap behind the chair to release the rear hooks from the floor pins.

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2. The seat can then be lifted off the front floor pins and removed from the vehicle.

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Replacing the Captain’s Chairs

The left chair goes in the A and C sets of floor pins. The right chair goes in the D and F sets of floor pins.

1. Hook the front latches over the front floor pins.

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2. Push the rear of the seat down to lock the rear latches onto the rear set of floor pins.

3. Push and pull on the seat to be sure it is properly attached.

CAUTION:

A seat that isn’t locked into place properly can move around in a collision or sudden stop. People in the vehicle could be injured. Be sure to lock the seat into place properly when installing it.

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Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone

This part of the manual tells you how to use safety belts properly. It also tells you some things you should not do with safety belts.

And it explains the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS), or air bag system.

CAUTION:

Don’t let anyone ride where he or she can’t wear a safety belt properly. If you are in a crash and you’re not wearing a safety belt, your injuries can be much worse. You can hit things inside the vehicle or be ejected from it. You can be seriously injured or killed. In the same crash, you might not be if you are buckled up. Always fasten your safety belt, and check that your passengers’ belts are fastened properly too.

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CAUTION:

It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area, inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision, people riding in these areas are more likely to be seriously injured or killed. Do not allow people to ride in any area of your vehicle that is not equipped with seats and safety belts. Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and using a safety belt properly.

Your vehicle has a light that comes on as a reminder to buckle up. (See “Safety Belt Reminder Light” in the Index.)

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In most states and Canadian provinces, the law says to wear safety belts. Here’s why: They work.

You never know if you’ll be in a crash. If you do have a crash, you don’t know if it will be a bad one.

A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be so serious that even buckled up a person wouldn’t survive. But most crashes are in between. In many of them, people who buckle up can survive and sometimes walk away . Without belts they could have been badly hurt or killed.

After more than 30 years of safety belts in vehicles, the facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up does matter ... a lot!

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Why Safety Belts Work

When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as it goes.

T ake the simplest vehicle. Suppose it’s just a seat on wheels.

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Put someone on it.

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