Pontiac Montana 2002 Owner's Manual

2002 Pontiac Montana

Owner’s Manual

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 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:

Helm, Incorporated P.O. Box 07130 Detroit, MI 48207

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.”

iii

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

Your vehicle may be equipped with components and labels that use symbols instead of text. Symbols, used on your vehicle, are shown along with the text describing the operation or information relating to a specific component, control, message, gage or indicator.

If you need help figuring out a specific name of a component, gage or indicator reference the following topics in the Index:

“Engine Compartment Overview”

“Instrument Panel”

“Comfort Controls”

“Audio Systems”

Also see “Warning Lights and Gages” in the Index.

These are some examples of vehicle symbols you may find on your vehicle:

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

-28 Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone

1 1

-33 Here Are Questions Many People Ask About

Safety Belts

-34 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly

-34 Driver Position

-42 Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy

1 1

-43 Right Front Passenger Position

-43 Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS)

1 1

-52 Safety Belt Pretensioners

-52 Rear Seat Passengers

-- and the Answers

-56 Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children

and Small Adults

1-58 Center Passenger Position (Bench Seat) 1

-60 Center Passenger Position (Bucket Seat)

-61 Children

1 1

-65 Built-in Child Restraint (Option)

-76 Restraint Systems for Children

-95 Older Children

1 1

-99 Safety Belt Extender

-99 Checking Your Restraint Systems

1 1

-100 Replacing Restraint System Parts

After a Crash

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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 Four-Way Manual Seat

Use the lever located on the front left side of the seat to adjust the seat forward or rearward.

T o 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. Adjust the seat and release the lever.

CAUTION:

Pull up the lever to unlock the seat. Slide the seat to where you want it and release the lever.

T o make sure the seat is locked into place, try to move the seat back and forth 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.

Manual Front Passenger’s Seat

Six-Way Power Seat (Option)

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

If your vehicle has this option, the six seat control is located on the outboard side of both the driver’s and the front passenger’s seats.

Move the front of the control up or down to adjust the front portion of the cushion up or down.

Move the rear of the control up or down to adjust the rear portion of the cushion up or down.

Lift up or push down on the whole control to move the entire seat up or down.

T o move the whole seat forward or rearward, slide the control forward or rearward.

-way power

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Heated Front Seats (Option)

If your vehicle has this option, the heated seat switches are 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 bottom of the switch to turn the heater on. The indicator light on the switch will glow. Press the top 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, pull up on the lever located on the outboard sides of both the driver’s and the front passenger’s seats. 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.

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

Adjust your head restraint so that the top of the restraint is closest to the top of your head. This position reduces the chance of a neck injury in a crash.

The front seat head restraints in your vehicle are adjustable. Slide the restraint up or down to adjust it.

The rear seat head restraints in your vehicle may be adjustable. They work the same as the front seat head restraints.

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.

When you put the seats back in the vehicle, be sure to follow the label on the back of the seat for proper location.

Second Row Safety Belt Stowage

If your vehicle has a split bench seat in the second row, use the clip on the safety belt to secure the belt after it is disconnected from the mini-buckle. When removing the second row split 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.

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Flip and Fold Feature

The rear seats in your vehicle 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 forward, 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.

T o return the seat(s) to the normal position, do the following:

1. Push the seat back and firmly push the rear hooks onto the rear floor pins by pushing down on the rear of the seat.

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

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

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

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Split Bench Seats (If Equipped)

If you have the split bench seat (50/50 or 40/60), the seatbacks can be folded forward or reclined individually and the seats can be removed individually. The second row (40/60) 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

-in child restraint. See “Built-In Child

CAUTION:

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

T o fold the seatback forward, pull this nylon strap located on the rear of the seat. The seatback will lock into place.

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.

1-8

T o raise a seatback, pull the nylon strap while raising the seatback until it locks upright. Push and pull on the seatback to check that it is locked into place.

T o recline the seatback, pull the nylon strap. Press back on the seatback until you reach the desired position then let go of the nylon strap.

T o return the seatback to an upright position, pull on the nylon strap without putting any pressure on the seatback. Push and pull on the seatback to be sure it is locked into place.

The following explains how to use the recliner lever to fold or recline the seatbacks.

T o fold the seatback forward, lift up on the recliner lever located on the front of the seatback. The seatback will lock into place.

T o raise a seatback, lift the recliner lever while raising the seatback until it locks upright. Push and pull on the seatback to check that it is locked into place.

T o recline the seatback, lift the recliner lever. Press back on the seatback until you reach the desired position then let go of the recliner lever.

T o return the seatback to an upright position, lift the recliner lever without putting any pressure on the seatback. Push and pull on the seatback to be sure it is locked into place.

Adjusting the Split Bench Seats (Second Row)

The second row bench seats are adjustable. 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.

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

Lift up either lever and slide the seat forward or rearward. Release the lever. Push and pull on the seat to make sure it is locked into place.

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.

4. If the seat is in the second row, slide it all the way back by lifting one of the adjustment levers 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

-- to remove the

a pen seat belt, if needed.

1-10

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 strap until the seat is folded all the way forward.

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

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

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

1-11

Replacing the Split Bench Sections

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.

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.

1-12

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 are not twisted.

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 second row seat, adjust each section by sliding it forward.

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

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.

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.

1-13

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.

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.

7. If you have the 40/60 seat, attach the mini 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.

-buckle so

Bucket Seats (If Equipped)

If you have the rear bucket seats, the seatbacks can be folded down or reclined. The seats can also be adjusted forward or rearward and removed.

1-14

Folding or Reclining the Seatbacks

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

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.

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.

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

T o fold the seatback forward, 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 a seatback to an upright position, push and pull on the seatback to make sure that it is locked upright.

1-15

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 seats.

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

Lift up either lever and slide the seat forward or rearward.

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

1-16

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, located at the base of the seat, to release the rear latches from the floor pins.

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 strap or the lever until the seat is folded all the way forward.

1-17

Replacing the Bucket Seats

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.

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

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

1-18

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.

CAUTION:

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. 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.

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.

1-19

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 the rear of the seat.

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

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 make sure that it is locked in place.

Captain’s Chairs (If Equipped)

If your vehicle has the captain’s chairs, the seatbacks can be folded forward or reclined and the seats can be removed.

Folding or Reclining the Seatbacks

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.

1-20

T o recline the seatback, lift up on the recliner lever, located on the outboard side of the seat. Use the recliner lever to move the seatback to the desired position.

It is easier to raise or lower the seatback if you lean forward, taking the weight off the seatback.

The seatbacks on the second row captain’s chairs also fold forward to put items behind the left and right seats.

Lift up on the recliner lever and fold the seatback forward. The seatback will lock into place when you push it back to the upright position.

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

Adjusting the Captain’s Chairs (Second Row)

The second row captain’s chairs can be adjusted forward or rearward.

There are two adjustment levers on each seat. One is located below the center, in front of the seat. The other is located across the rear of the seat.

Lift up either lever to slide the seat forward or rearward. Release the lever. Push and pull on the seat to make sure it is locked into place.

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Removing the Captain’s Chairs

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

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

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.

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.

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

The captain’s chairs have seat position labels, located on the back of the seat, showing where the seat must go. Follow that diagram. The seat must be placed in the proper location for the legs to attach correctly.

1-23

Make sure the seatbacks are in the upright position, the seat belts are on the correct side of the chairs and the second row captain’ s chairs are in the full rear position before beginning this procedure.

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

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.

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