User manual PONTIAC SUNFIRE 1996

[. . . ] "_. _ The 1996 Pontiac Sunfire Owner's Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SeatsandRestraint Systems FeaturesandControls 1-1 2-1 This section tells you how to use your seats and safety belts properly. It also explains the "SRS" system. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . This section explains how to start and operate your Pontiac. Comfort Controls and Audio Systems YourDrivingandtheRoad ProblemsontheRoad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1 4-1 5-1 6-1 7-1 This section . tellsyou how to adjust the ventilation and comfort controls and how to operate your audio system. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Here you'll find helpful information and tips about the road and how to drive under different conditions. This section tells you what to do if you have a problem while driving, such as a flat tire or overheated engine, etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Service and Appearance Care Maintenanceschedule Here the manual tells you how to keep your Pontiac running properly and looking good. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . This section tells you when to perform vehicle maintenance and what fluids and lubricants to use. CustomerAssistanceInformation Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1 9-1 This section tells you h o ~ v contact Pontiac or assistance and how e get service and owner publications. to o It also gives you information on "Reporting Safety Defects" on page 8-9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Here's an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual. You can use it to quickly find something you want to read. 1 We support voluntary technician certification, GENERAL MOTORS, GM and the GM Emblem, PONTIAC and the PONTIAC Emblem and the name SUNFIRE are registered trademarks of General Motors Corporation. [. . . ] If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot the off accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want the steering qnickzy mough, y m vehicle to go. Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice, gravel or other material is on the road. For safety, you'll want to slow down and adjust your driving these to conditions. It is important to slow down on slippery surfaces because stopping distancewill be longerand vehicle control more limited. While drivingon a surface with reduced traction, try your best to avoid suddensteering, acceleration or braking (including engine braking shifting to a lower gear). You may not realize the surface is slippery until your vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warning clues -- such as enough water, iceor packed snow on the road to make a "mirrored surface"-- and slow down when you have any doubt. Remember: Any anti-lock brakesystem (ABS) helps avoid only the brakingskid. In any emergency, don't give up. Keep trying to steer and constantly seek an escape routeor area of less danger. Skidding In a skid, a driver can lose control the vehicle. of Defensive drivers avoid most skids @king reasonable by care suited to existing conditions, and by not "overdriving" those conditions. But skids are always possible. The three typesof skids correspond to your Pontiac's three control systems. In the steering or cornering skid, too much speed or steering in a curve causes tires to slip and lose corneringforce. And in the acceleration skid, too much throttle causesthe driving wheels to spin. A corneringskid is best handled easing your foot off by the accelerator pedal. If you have theEnhanced Traction System, remember: It helps avoid only the acceleration skid. Driving at Night e Don't drink and drive. 0 Adjust your inside rearview mirror to reduce the glare from headlamps behind you. e Since you can't see as well, you may need to slow down and keep more space between you and other vehicles. 0 Slow down, especially on higher speed roads. In remote areas, watch for animals. 0 Iyou're tired, pull othe road in a safe place and rest. Night Vision No one can see as well at night as in the daytime. A 50-year-old driver may require at least twice as much light to see the same thing at night as a 20-year-old. For example, if you spend the day in bright sunshine you are wise to wear sunglasses. They may cut down on glare from headlamps, but they also make a lot of things invisible. Night driving is more dangerous than day driving. One reason is that some driversare likely to be impaired -- by alcohol or drugs, with night vision problems, or by fatigue. Drive defensively. 4-15 You can be temporarily blinded by approaching headlamps. It can take a second or two, or even several seconds, for your eyes to readjust to the dark. [. . . ] For further information, contact the BBB at 1-800-955-5100 o the Pontiac Customer r Assistance Center at 1 -800-PM-CARES. REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS TO THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT If you believe that your vehicle has a defect which could cause a crash orcould cause injury or death, you should immediately inform the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in addition to notifying General Motors. If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open an investigation, and if it finds that a safety defect exists in a g. p+q v. e&x{q it may GT& a pyal. 1. However, NHTSA cannot become involved in individual problems between you, your dealer, or General Motors. To contact NHTSA, you may either call the Auto Safety Hotline toll-free at 1-800-424-9393 (or 366-0123 in the Washington, D. C. [. . . ]