Pontiac SUNBIRD 1994 Owner Manual
I
ss4
SUNEIRD
OWNER'S
MANUAL
Pontiac
Sunbird
IS94
Owner's
Manual
lntr0ductiot-1
Part
Part
Part
Part
Part
Part
1
2
3
4
5
6
Table
How
Seats & Restraint Systems
Features & Controls
Comfort Controls & Audio Systems
Your Driving and the Road
Problems on the Road
Service & Appearance Care
to Use this ~anual
of
Contents
..............................
.........................
....................................
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...........................
..................
........
101
121
147
3
9
39
89
Printed in
USA
Part
Part
Part
7
8
9
Maintenance Schedule
Customer Assistance Information
Includes "Reporting Safety
Index .......................................................
Service Station Information ..........
10234006
A
Defects"
..........................
............
on
page
222
197
219
231
Last
First Edition
Page
. .
Important Notes About this Manual
Please keep this manual in your Pontiac,
vehicle, please leave this manual in it
so
it
will be there
so
the new owner can use it.
if
you ever need it when you’re
on
the road.
If
you sell the
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.
Note
For vehicles first sold in Canada, substitute the name “General Motors
whenever it appears in this manual.
For
Aux
concessionaire
Published by
to
Canadian Owners
Canadian Owners
proprietaires canadiens:
ou
Pontiac Division
General Motors Corporation
Who
au DGN Marketing Services Ltd.,
Prefer a French Language
Vous
pouvez vous procurer un exemplaire de ce guide en francais chez votre
1500
of
Canada Limited” for Pontiac Division
Manual:
Bonhill Rd., Mississauga, Ontario
General
Pontiac,
are registered trademarks
Corporation.
The word
Motors Corporation.
Motors,
the Pontiac emblem and the name Sunbird
Delco
L5T
1C7.
GM
and the GM emblem, the worG
of
General Motors
is a registered trademark
in
the product
of
General
0
Copyright
1993
General Motors Corporation, Pontiac Division. All rights reserved.
How
Using
to
Your
1994
Use
Pontiac
Owner’s
this
Manual
Many people read their owner’s
manual from beginning to end when
they first receive their new vehicle. This
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.
There are nine parts with thumb-tabbed
pages in this manual.
Each part begins with a brief list of
so
contents,
glance if that part contains the
information you want.
You can bend the manual slightly to
reveal the tabs that help you find a part.
you can usually tell at a
Manual
Part
1:
Seats & Restraint Systems
This part tells
and safety belts properly.
Part
2:
Features & Controls
This part explains how to start and
operate your Pontiac.
Part
3:
Comfort Controls & Audio
Systems
This part tells you how to adjust the
ventilation and comfort controls and
how to operate your audio system.
Part
4:
Your
Here you’ll find helpful information and
tips about the road and how to drive
under different conditions.
Part
5:
Problems on the Road
This part tells you what to do if you
have a problem while driving, such as a
flat tire or engine overheating.
Part
6:
Service & Appearance Care
Here the manual tells you how to keep
your Pontiac running properly and
looking good.
you
how to use your seats
Driving
and the Road
Part
7:
Maintenance Schedule
This part tells you when to perform
vehicle maintenance and what fluids
and lubricants to use.
Part
8:
Customer Assistance
Information
This part includes important
information about reporting safety
defects and gives you details about the
“Roadside Assistance” program.
will also find customer satisfaction
phone numbers (including customer
satisfaction numbers for the hearing
and speech impaired) as well as the
mediation/ arbitration procedure. We’ve
also
included ordering information for
service publications in this part.
Part
9:
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.
Service Station Information
This is a quick reference of service
information. You can find it on the last
page of this manual.
You
c
How
to
Use
this
Manual
Safety Warnings and
You
will find a number of safety
cautions in this book. We use a box
with gray background and the word
CAUTION to tell you about things that
if
could hurt you
warning.
In the gray 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 were to ignore the
Symbols
You will also find a circle with a slash
through it in this book. This safety
svmbol means:
Y
Don’t
Don’t
Don’t /et
do
this
this happen
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
will
could be costly. But the notice
you what to do to help avoid the
damage.
When you read other manuals, you
might see CAUTION
warnings in different colors or in
different words.
~0~~11
vehicle. They use yellow for cautions,
blue for notices and the words
CAUTION or NOTICE.
also see warning labels on your
and
NOTICE
tell
II
4
Vehicle
These are some
find on your vehicle. For example, these
symbols are used on an original battery:
Symbols
of
the symbols you
will
These symbols are important for you
and your passengers whenever your
vehicle is driven:
These symbols have to
lights:
do
with your
Caution Possible Injury
Protect Eyes
Caustic Battery Acid
Could Cause Burns
Avoid Sparks or Flames
Spark a Flame
Could Explode Battery
by
Shielding
A
Q
0
Fasten Safety Belts
Door LocklUnlock
Master Lighting Switch
Turn Signal Direction
Hazard Warning Flashers
Headlight High Beam
Parking Lights
Fog Lights
How
to
Use
this
Manual
These symbols are on some
controls:
Windshield Wipers
Windshield Washer
Windshield Defroster
Rear Window Defogge
Ventilating Fan
Power Window
!r
of
your
w
a
w
Qj-J
3f
These symbols are used
indicator lights:
Engine Coolant
Temperature
Battery Charging
System
Fuel
Engine Oil Pressure
Brake
Anti-Lock Brakes
on
warning and
Here are some other symbols you may
see:
Fuse
Trunk Release
Lighter
Horn
Speaker
Hood Release
Notes
U
7888
Notes
I
8
Part
1
Here you’ll
the seats in your Fontiac
use
your
can also learn about
you should not
find
safety
information abut
and
belts
do
properly
some
with
safety belts
things
how
.
You
Seats
Seats and Seat Controls
to
Safety Belts
How
to
Driver Position
.
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy
Right Front Passenger Position
Rear Seat Passengers
Rear Safety Belt
Center Passenger Position
Children
Smaller Children and Babies
Child Restraints
Larger Children
Safety Belt Extender
Replacing Safety Belts After a Crash
................................................................................................................
Wear Safety Belts Properly
..........................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................
&
............................................................................................
................................................................................................
Comfort
.........................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................
..................................................................................................
Restraint
Systems
..........................................................................
...........................................................................
................................................................................
Guides
.............................................................................
........................................................................................
....................................................................................
........................................................................
10
12
17
18
22
22
23
25
27
28
28
29
36
38
38
Seats
&
Restraint Systems
Seats and Seat
This
section tells your about the seatshow to adjust them-and also about
reclining seatbacks and head restraints.
Controh
Manual Front Seat
Reclining Front Seatback
To
adjust the seatback, lift the lever
the outer side
seatback to where you want it. Release
the lever to lock the seatback. Pull up
on
the lever and the seat will go to an
upright position.
Don’t have a seatback reclined,
however,
of
the seat and move the
if
your vehicle is moving.
on
Move the lever under the front seat to
unlock it. Slide the seat to where you
want it. Then.release the lever and try
to move the seat with your body, to
make sure the seat is locked into place.
I
10
Head
Restraints
Head restraints are fixed
vehicles and adjustable
an adjustable head restraint up or down
so
that the top
to the top of your ears.
This position reduces the chance of a
neck injury in a crash.
On
some models, the head restraints tilt
forward and rearward also.
of
the restraint is closest
on
some
on
others. Slide
11
Seats Restraint Systems
Easy-Entry Seat
(2-DOOR
MODELS)
Front Seatback Latches
(2-DOOR MODELS)
In 2-door Pontiacs, the front seatback
folds forward to let people get into the
back seat. Your seatback will move
back and forth freely, unless you come
to a sudden stop. Then it will lock in
place.
There’s one time the seatback may not
fold without some help from you. That’s
if your vehicle is parked facing down a
fairly steep hill.
To
fold a front seatback forward, push
the seatback toward the rear as
this latch. Then the seatback will fold
forward. The latch must be down for
the seat to work properly.
you
lift
The right front seat
makes it easy to get in and out of the
rear seat.
When you push down on the rear
latch and tilt the right front seatback
fully forward, the whole seat will slide
forward.
After someone gets into the rear seat
area, move the
its original position. Then move the
seat rearward until it locks.
To
get out, again tilt the seatback fully
forward.
of
your vehicle
right
front seatback to
Split Fold-Down Rear Seat
To
Open:
Pull forward on the seat tab.
To
Close:
Push the seatback up to its original
position.
Push seatback solidly up against the
back plate to ensure inertid latch will
hook.
I
Safety
Bebs:
Ilzey’be
(OPTION)
For
Everyone
This part of the manual tells you how to
use safety belts properly. It also tells
you
you some things
safety belts.
should not do with
I2
r
I
This figure lights up as a reminder to
buckle up. (See
Light
In many states and Canadian provinces,
the law says to wear safety belts. Here’s
why:
in the
They
Safety
Index.)
work.
Belt
Warning
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
so
crashes can be
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 walls: away.
Without belts they could have been
badly hurt or lulled.
After more than
in vehicles, the facts are clear. In most
crashes buckling up does matter
serious that even
25
years of safety belts
...
a lot!
Seats
Why
When
go
1.
Safety
you
as fast as
For
example,
mph
(16
Belts
ride
in
it
goes.
km/h),
&
Work
or
on
if
the bike
so
Restraint
anything,
is
is the child.
you
going
10
Systems
2.
When the bike hits the block, it
stops. But the child keeps going!
3.
Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose
it's just a seat on wheels.
14
4.
Put someone on it.
5.
Get it up to speed. Then stop the
vehicle. The rider doesn’t stop.
k
6.
The person keeps going until
stopped by something.
In a real vehicle,
windshield
_.
..
...
it
could be the
Seats
&
Restraint
Systems
HereAre Questions Many
7.
or
the instrument panel
...
8.
or
the safety belts!
With safety belts, you slow down as the
vehicle does. You get more time to stop.
You stop over more distance, and your
strongest bones take the forces. That’s
why safety belts make such good sense.
People
Belts
Q:
Won’t I be trapped in the vehicle
after an accident
safety belt?
A:
You
wearing a safety belt or not. But you
can easily unbuckle a safety belt,
even if you’re upside down. And
your chance of being conscious
during and after an accident,
can
greater
Q:
Why don’t they just put in air bags
so
belts?
A:
Air bags are in some vehicles today
and will be in more of them in the
future. But they are supplemental
systems only
safety belts, not instead
Every air bag system ever offered for
sale has required the use of safety
belts. Even
has air bags, you still have to buckle
up to get the most protection. That’s
Ask
About Safety
-
and the Answers
if
I’m wearing a
could
unbuckle. and get out, is
people won’t have to wear safety
be -whether you’re
if
you are belted.
-
so
they work
of
if
you’re in a vehicle that
so
much
with
them.
you
I
16
true not only in frontal collisions, but
especially in side and other
collisions.
Q:
If
I’m
a good driver, and I never
drive far from home, why should
wear safety belts?
A
You
may be an excellent driver, but
you’re in
that isn’t your fault
passengers can be hurt. Being
driver doesn’t protect you
things beyond your control, such as
bad drivers. Most accidents occur
within
And the greatest number of serious
injuries and deaths occur at speeds
of less than 40 mph
Safety belts are for everyone.
an
accident - even one
-
25
miles
(40
km)
(65
you and your
a
from
of
home.
km/h).
I
if
good
!Safety Belt
When the key is turned to
a chime will come on for about eight
seconds to remind people to fasten their
safety belts, unless the driver’s safety
belt is already buckled. The safety belt
light will
20
seconds, then it will flash for an
additional
belt is already buckled, neither the
chime nor the light will come
Warning Light
Run
also
come on and stay on for
55
seconds. If the driver’s
or
on.
Start,
4
How
To
Wear Safety Belts
Properly
Adults
This section is only for people of adult
size.
Be aware that there are special things to
know about safety belts and children.
And there are different rules for smaller
a
children and babies. If
riding in your Pontiac, see the section
after this one, called
those rules for everyone’s protection.
child will be
Children.
Follow
Seats
First, you’ll want to laow which
restraint systems your vehicle has.
We’ll start with the driver position.
&
Restraint
Systems
‘vehicles First
Sold
In
Ci2nada
Was your Pontiac first sold, when new,
in Canada? (If it was, a sticker on the
driver’s door will say “conforms to all
applicable Canada motor vehicle..
etc.) If
not apply to your vehicle.
To
please read the
Belt Supplement.
new Pontiac first sold in Canada.
so,
then the rest of Part 1 does
learn how to use your safety belts,
her’s Manual Safety
It comes with every
.”
Driver Position
rhis
section describes the driver’s
:estraint system.
Automatic
This safety belt is called “automatic”
because you don’t have to buckle
when
you
Lap-Shoulder
get into your vehicle.
Belf
up
The safety belt locks
or
a
stop
It’s possible that an automatic belt
could keep you
door. That can happen
slammed shut very hard. Just close the
door
that doesn’t
needs service.
crash.
all
the way, then slowly open it. If
fix
if
there’s a sudden
from
fully opening a
if
the door was
it,
then your Pontiac
r
I’
.-
,.
And you don’t have to unbuclde when
you get out.
Just get into your vehicle. Then close
and lock the door. Adjust the seat (to
see how, see
can sit
up
straight.
Seats
in the
Index)
so
you
The lap belt should be worn as low on
;he hips as possible. In a crash, this
ipplies force to the strong pelvic bones.
Id you’d be less likely to slide under
it,
;he lap belt. If you slid under
would apply force at your abdomen.
rhis could cause
njuries. The shoulder belt should
lver the shoulder and across the chest.
rhese parts
lake belt restraining forces.
serious
of
the body are best able to
or even fatal
the belt
go
We hope you’ll always keep your
automatic belt buckled. However, you
in
may need to unbuckle it
emergency.
an
Seats
To
unbuclde the automatic belt, just
push the button on the buclde.
&
Restraint Systems
To
reattach the automatic belt:
1.
Close and lock the door.
2.
Adjust the seat (to see how, see
in the
straight.
3.
Pick
belt across you. Don't let it get
twisted.
Index)
up
so
you can sit up
the latch plate and pull the
Seats
Q:
What's
A:
The shoulder belt is too loose. It
won't give nearly as much protection
this way.
wrong
with
this?
20
Push the latch plate into the buckle
until it clicks. Pull up on the latch plate
to make sure it is secure.
Q:
What's wrong with this?
A:
The belt
is
buckled in the wrong
place.
IIIIIIIIIIII
3:
What's wrong with this?
4:
The shoulder belt
is
worn under the
arm. It should be worn over the
shoulder at all times.
I
Q:
What's wrong with this?
A
The belt
is
twisted across the body.
Seats Restraint
Systems
Safety Belt Use During
Pregnancy
Safety belts work for everyone,
including pregnant women. Like all
occupants, they are more likely to be
seriously injured if they don’t wear
safety belts.
A
pregnant woman should wear a lapshoulder belt, and the lap portion
should be worn as low as possible
throughout the pregnancy.
The best way to protect the fetus
protect the mother. When a safety belt
is worn properly, it’s more likely that
the fetus won’t be hurt in a crash. For
pregnant women, as for anyone, the key
to making safety belts effective is
wearing them properly.
is
to
1
Right Front Passenger
Position
The right front passenger’s safety belt
works the same way as the driver’s
safety belt. See
in this part.
Driver Position,
earlier
Adjust the seat (to see
the
Index)
Move your seat far enough forward that
your feet touch the part of the vehicle
is
that
way you’d be less likely to slide under
the lap belt in a crash.
so
you can sit up straight.
called the “toeboard”
how,
see
(A).
Seats
That
in
Rear
It’s very important for rear seat
passengers to buckle
statistics show that unbelted people in
the rear seat are hurt more often in
crashes than those who are wearing
safety belts.
Rear passengers who aren’t safety
belted can be thrown out
in a crash. And they can strike others in
the vehicle who are wearing safety belts.
Seat
Passengers
up!
Accident
of
the vehicle
Rear Seat Outside Passenger
Positions
Lap-Shoulder
The
lap-shoulder belts.
Belt
positions next to the windows have
Here’s how
1.
Pick
belt across
twisted.
2.
Push the latch plate into the buckle
until it cliclts.
to
wear one properly.
up the latch plate and pdl the
you.
Don’t let
it
get
.
.>
Seats
I
&
Restraint
Systems
If the belt stops before it reaches the
buckle, tilt the latch plate and keep
pulling until you can buclde it.
Pull up on the latch plate to make sure
is
secure.
it
If the belt is not long enough, see
BeZt Extender
Make sure the release button on the
buckle is positioned
able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly
if
you
ever had to.
.I.
24
at the end of this section.
so
you would be
Safety
To
make the lap part tight, pull down
on the buckle end of the belt as
on
up
the shoulder part.
you
pull
The lap part of the belt should be worn
low and snug on the hips, just touching
the thighs. In a crash, this applies force
to the strong pelvic bones. And you’d be
less likely to slide under the lap belt.
you slid under it, the belt would apply
force at your abdomen. This could
cause serious or even fatal injuries. The
go
shoulder belt should
shoulder and across the chest. These
parts of the body are best able to take
belt restraining forces.
The safety belt locks if there’s a sudden
stop or a crash.
over the
If
To
unlatch the belt, just push the
button
on
the buckle.
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides
for Children and Small Adults
Rear shoulder belt comfort guides will
provide added comfort for children who
have outgrown child restraints, and for
small adults. The comfort guides pull
the shoulder belts away from the neck
and head.
There is one guide for each outside
passenger position in the rear seat.
will find them tucked in between the
seatback and the interior body, about
half-way down the edge
Here is how you should install the
comfort guide on the shoulder belts:
1.
Pull the elastic cord out from
between the edge of the seat back
and the interior body to remove the
guide
from
its storage clip.
of
the seatback.
1
You
Seats
2.
Slide the guide under and past the
belt. The elastic cord must be under
the belt. Then, place the guide over
the belt, and insert the two edges
the belt into the slots
&
Restraint Systems
of
the guide.
of
3.
Be sure that the belt is not twisted
and it lies flat. The elastic cord must
be under the belt and the guide on
top.
4.
Buckle the belt around the child, and
make sure that both the lap belt and
the shoulder belt are secured
properly. Make sure that the shoulder
belt crosses the shoulder. See
Belts, Rear Seat Passengers
Index.
To remove and store the comfort
guides, just perform these steps in
reverse order. Squeeze the belt edges
so
that
you
together
from the guides. Pull the guide upward
to expose its storage clip, and then slide
the guide onto the clip. Rotate the guide
and clip inward and in between the seat
back and the interior body, leaving
the loop of elastic cord exposed.
can take them out
Safety
in the
only
E6
To
Center Pmsenger Position
make the belt longer, tilt the latch
plate and pull it along the belt.
To
make the belt shorter, pull its hee
end as shown until the belt is snug.
Lap
Belt
If
your vehicle has a rear bench seat,
someone can sit in the center position.
When
position,
which has no retractor.
you
sit in a center seating
you
have a lap safety belt,
Buckle, position and release it t&.same
way as the lap part
belt.
If
the belt isn't long enough,:,'see
Safety
section.
Make sure the release button
buckle is positioned
able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly
if
Belt
you
ever had to.
Extender
of
a lap-shoulqer
at the end
011:
so
you
would be
4f
the
this
27
Seats
&
Restraint
Children
Everyone in a vehicle needs protection!
That includes infants and all children
smaller than adult size. In fact, the law
in every state in the United States and
in every Canadian province says
to
children up
restrained while in a vehicle.
some age must
be
Systems
Smaller Children and Babies
Child
Be sure to follow the instructions for
the restraint. You may find these
instructions on the restraint itself or in
a booklet, or both. These restraints use
the belt system in your vehicle, but the
child also has to be secured within the
restraint to help reduce the chance of
personal injury. The instructions that
come with the infant or child restraint
will show you how to do that.
Restraints
Where
Accident statistics show that children
are safer
rear rather than the front seat. We at
General Motors therefore recommend
that
rear seat unless the child is
and you’re the only adult in the vehicle.
In that case, you might want to secure
the restraint
can keep an eye on the baby.
Wherever
secure the child restraint properly.
Keep in mind that an unsecured child
restraint can move around in a collision
or sudden stop and injure people in the
vehicle. Be sure to properly secure any
child restraint in your vehicle
when no child is in it.
to
Put
the Restraint
if
they are restrained in the
you
put your child restraint in the
an
in
the front seat where you
you
install it, be sure to
infant
-
even
Top
Strap
If your child restraint has a top itrap, it
should be anchored.
If you have a convertible, don’t ube a
restraint like that in your vehicle,’,
because the top strap anchor cmot be
installed properly. You shouldn?k use
of
this type
the top strap.
If your vehicle is not a convertibie and
you need to have an anchor installed,
you can ask your Pontiac dealer to put
one in for you. If you want to install
anchor yourself, your dealer can tell you
how to do it.
For cars first sold in Canada, child
restraints with a top strap must be
anchored according to Canadian Law.
restraint without ancihoring
an
r
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