Pontiac Montana 2000 Owner's Manual

Every

2000

Montana under

warranty is backed

with the following

services:

Bumper-to-Bumper

3-years/36,000 miles (60 000 km)

Limited Warranty

1-800-762-3743

(For vehicles purchased in Canada,

1-800-268-6800)

call

that provides in an emergency:

Courtesy

Transportation

Free Free Free Free

lockout assistance

dead-battery assistance

out-of-fuel assistance

flat-tire change

Emergency

towing

2000 Pontiac Montana

Owner's Manual

Litho in U.S.A. Part Number 10423671 A First Edition

Section

Table of Contents

Seats and Restraint Systems

Seats and Seat Controls Safety Belts

Features and Controls

Keys and Door Locks Keyless Entry System (Option) Automatic Transaxle Parking Brake Windows Tilt Wheel Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever Windshield Wipers Cruise Control (Option)

Air Bag Systems Child Restraints

Interior and Exterior Lamps Mirrors Storage Compartments Convenience Net (Option) Accessory Power Outlets OnStar® System (If Equipped) Instrument Panel, Warning Lights and Gages Driver Information Center (Option)

Section

Table of Contents (cont'd)

Comfort Controls and Audio Systems

Heating and Air Conditioning Setting the Radio Clock Radio/Cassette Player/CD Player

Your Driving and the Road

Defensive Driving Drunken Driving Control of a Vehicle Braking Steering

Problems on the Road

Hazard Warning Flashers Jump Starting Towing Your Vehicle

Radio Theft-Deterrent Feature Steering Wheel Controls (If Equipped)

Driving Tips for Various Road Conditions Recreational Vehicle Towing Loading Your Vehicle Towing a Trailer

Engine Overheating Changing a Flat Tire If You're Stuck

iii

Section

Table of Contents (cont'd)

Service and Appearance Care

Fuel Checking Fluids and Lubricants GM Oil Life System™ Engine Air Cleaner/Filter Passenger Compartment Air Filter Brakes Bulb Replacement

Maintenance Schedule

Scheduled Maintenance Owners Checks and Services Periodic Maintenance Inspections

Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement Tires and Wheels Appearance Care Electrical System/Fuses and Circuit Breakers Capacities and Specifications Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts

Recommended Fluids and Lubricants Maintenance Records

Table of Contents (cont'd)

Customer Assistance Information

Section

Customer Satisfaction Procedures Customer Assistance Offices

Roadside Assistance and Courtesy Transportation

Warranty Information Reporting Safety Defects on page 8-12 Service Publications

Index

In the Index you will find an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual.

You can use it to quickly find something you want to read.

Please refer to the last page of this manual for your

Service Station Guide

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.

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.

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.

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.”

vii

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.

viii

Vehicle Symbols

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

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

Service Station Guide

For

a More

Detailed Look at

What's Under the Hood

See Section 6

Engine Oil Dipstick

See Section 6

Oil Viscosity

Engine Oil

See Section 6

Battery

See Section 6

Secondary

Hood Release

See Section 6

Windshield Washer

Fluid

See Section 6

Cooling System

See Section 5

Tire Pressure

See Section 6

Hood Release

See Section 6

Spare Tire Pressure

See Section 5

Fuel

Use unleaded gas only,

87 Octane or higher.

See Section 6

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

-23 Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone

1 1

-28 Here Are Questions Many People Ask About

Safety Belts

-29 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly

-29 Driver Position

-37 Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy

1 1

-38 Right Front Passenger Position

-39 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

1-53 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

-87 Larger Children

1 1

-90 Safety Belt Extender

-90 Checking Your Restraint Systems

1 1

-91 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, fold and unfold them.

Driver’s 4-Way Manual Seat

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

CAUTION:

Use the lever located 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.

1-2

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.

Manual Front Passenger Seats

T o move the seat, pull up the lever located 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)

To adjust the six-way power seat located on the outboard sides of both the driver’s and passenger’s seats:

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.

1-3

Heated Front Seats (Option)

The heated seat switch is located in the instrument panel switchbank.

This feature will quickly heat the lower cushions and lower back of the driver’s and front passenger’s seats for added comfort. The left switch is for the driver’s seat and the right switch is for the front passenger’s seat. Press the top of the switch to turn the heater on. The indicator light on the switch will glow. Press the bottom of the switch to turn the heater off. The heated seat switch will turn off when the ignition is turned to OFF and will resume operation when the ignition is turned to RUN, unless the switch is manually turned off.

Reclining Front Seatbacks

All front seats recline.

T o adjust the seatback, turn this knob located on the inboard sides of both the driver’s and passenger’s seats. It is easier to recline the seat if you lean forward, taking your weight off the seatback.

1-4

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

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.

1-5

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.

Rear Seats

Seat Controls

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

Floor Seat Pin Diagram

When you put the seats back 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.

1-6

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:

1. Pull the belt out and slide the sleeve along the belt until it reaches the patch of VelcroR on the headliner.

2. Press the sleeve against the Velcro patch to secure it in place.

3. Use the clip on the safety belt to secure the belt after it is disconnected from the mini 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.

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.

-buckle.

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. If the seats have the adjustable head restraints, push them fully down.

2. Fold the seatback flat on the seat, by either pulling on the nylon strap on the rear of the seat or lifting up on the lever located on the front of the seatback. If the seat adjusts, slide it all the way back.

3. Release the rear set of hooks from the floor pins by pulling the nylon strap located at the base of the seat; hang on to the strap as the seat folds forward.

4. Return the seat(s) to the normal position.

1-7

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 a 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. See “Built-In Child

T o fold down the seatback, pull this nylon strap on the rear of the seat, while pulling the seatback down until it locks into place.

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.

1-8

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.

1-9

Removing the Split Bench Seat

Make sure the seatback is in the upright position.

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.

-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.

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

5. From behind the bench seat, pull the nylon strap at the center of 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.

1-10

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.

Replacing the Split Bench Sections

Make sure the seatback is in the upright position and the safety belts are on the correct section of the seat.

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.

1-11

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

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

2. Make sure the bench seat is 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.

1-12

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

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

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

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.

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

6. 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.

1-13

7. 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 improperly routed, not properly attached, or twisted 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 properly routed and attached, and a re not twisted.

Bucket Seats

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

-in child restraint option.

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 can be

-in child restraint

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

1-14

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

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.

1-16

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.

1-17

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.

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

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.

2. Make sure the bucket seat is 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.

1-18

+ 398 hidden pages