Every 2001 1-800-762-3743 Sunfire under warranty is backed (For vehicles purchased in Canada, with the following call 1-800-268-6800) services: that provides in an emergency: Free lockout assistance Courtesy Free dead-battery assistance Transportation Free out-of-fuel assistance Free flat-tire change Emergency towing 2001 Pontiac Sunfire Owner's Manual Litho in U.S.A. © Copyright General Motors Corporation 2000 Part Number 22628180 A First Edition All Rights Reserved i Table of Contents Seats and Restraint Systems Section 1 Seats and Seat Controls Air Bag Systems Safety Belts Restraint Systems for Children Features and Controls Section 2 Windows Windshield Wipers Keys and Door Locks Cruise Control (If Equipped) Remote Keyless Entry System (If Equipped) Exterior and Interior Lamps Trunk Release (If Equipped) Mirrors Automatic Transaxle (If Equipped) Storage Compartments Manual Transaxle (If Equipped) Convenience Net (If Equipped) Parking Brake Sunroof (If Equipped) Tilt Wheel (If Equipped) Instrument Panel, Warning Lights and Gages Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever Personalization Feature ii Table of Contents (cont'd) Comfort Controls and Audio Systems Section 3 Heating and Air Conditioning Radio/Cassette Player/CD Player Setting the Radio Clock Radio Theft-Deterrent Feature Your Driving and the Road Section 4 Defensive Driving Steering Drunken Driving Driving Tips for Various Road Conditions Control of a Vehicle Recreational Vehicle Towing Braking Loading Your Vehicle Traction Control System Towing a Trailer Problems on the Road Section 5 Hazard Warning Flashers Engine Overheating Jump Starting Changing a Flat Tire Towing Your Vehicle If You're Stuck iii Table of Contents (cont'd) Service and Appearance Care Section 6 Fuel Tires and Wheels Checking Fluids and Lubricants Appearance Care Engine Air Cleaner/Filter Electrical System/Fuses and Circuit Breakers Brakes Capacities and Specifications Bulb Replacement Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement Maintenance Schedule Section 7 Scheduled Maintenance Recommended Fluids and Lubricants Owner Checks and Services Maintenance Records Periodic Maintenance Inspections iv Table of Contents (cont'd) Customer Assistance Information Section 8 Customer Satisfaction Procedures Warranty Information (See Warranty Manual) Customer Assistance Offices Reporting Safety Defects on page 8-10 Roadside Assistance and Courtesy Transportation Service Publications Index Section 9 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 v We support voluntary technician certification. GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem, PONTIAC, the PONTIAC Emblem and the name SUNFIRE 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 For Canadian Owners Who Prefer a appears in this manual. French Language Manual: Please keep this manual in your vehicle, so it will be Aux propriétaires canadiens: Vous pouvez vous there if you ever need it when you’re on the road. If you procurer un exemplaire de ce guide en français chez sell the vehicle, please leave this manual in it so the new votre concessionaire ou au: owner can use it. Helm, Incorporated P.O. Box 07130 Detroit, MI 48207 vi How to Use this Manual Many people read their owner’s manual from beginning CAUTION: to end when they first receive their new vehicle. If you do this, it will help you learn about the features and These mean there is something that could hurt controls for your vehicle. In this manual, you’ll find you or other people. that pictures and words work together to explain things quickly. 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 Safety Warnings and Symbols with a slash through it in this book. This safety You will find a number of safety cautions in this book. symbol means “Don’t,” We use a box and the word CAUTION to tell you “Don’t do this” or “Don’t about things that could hurt you if you were to ignore let this happen.” the warning. vii Vehicle Damage Warnings In the notice area, we tell you about something that can damage your vehicle. Many times, this damage would Also, in this book you will find these notices: not be covered by your warranty, and it could be costly. But the notice will tell you what to do to help avoid NOTICE: the damage. When you read other manuals, you might see CAUTION These mean there is something that could and NOTICE warnings in different colors or in different words. damage your vehicle. 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. Also see “Warning Lights and Gages” in the Index. For example, These symbols These symbols These symbols These symbols Here are some these symbols are important for have to do with are on some of are used on other symbols are used on an you and your your lamps: your controls: warning and you may see: original battery: passengers indicator lights: whenever your vehicle is driven: MASTER WINDSHIELD CAUTION LIGHTING WIPER POSSIBLE SWITCH ENGINE FUSE INJURY CHILD COOLANT RESTRAINT TEMP TOP STRAP TURN PROTECT WINDSHIELD ANCHOR SIGNALS EYES BY WASHER BATTERY LIGHTER SHIELDING CHARGING DOOR LOCK PARKING SYSTEM CAUSTIC UNLOCK LAMPS WINDSHIELD BATTERY HORN DEFROSTER ACID COULD BRAKE CAUSE FASTEN HAZARD BURNS SEAT WARNING BELTS FLASHER REAR COOLANT FUEL AVOID WINDOW SPARKS OR DEFOGGER FLAMES DAYTIME POWER RUNNING WINDOW ENGINE OIL LAMPS PRESSURE SPARK OR FLAME VENTILATING COULD AIR BAG FAN EXPLODE FOG LAMPS ANTI-LOCK BATTERY BRAKES ix Service Station Guide Fuel Use unleaded only. Cooling System 2.2L Engine Oil See Section 6 For Dipstick See Section 5 for octane ratings. a More Detailed Look at What's Under the Hood See Section 6 Spare Tire Pressure See Section 5 Hood Release See Section 6 Tire Pressure Battery See Section 6 See Section 6 2.4L Engine Oil Dipstick Oil Viscosity Windshield Washer Fluid Engine Oil See Section 6 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. 1-2 Seats and Seat Controls 1-32 Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children 1-8 Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone and Small Adults 1-13 Here Are Questions Many People Ask About 1-34 Center Passenger Position Safety Belts -- and the Answers 1-36 Children 1-14 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly 1-40 Restraint Systems for Children 1-14 Driver Position 1-51 Older Children 1-21 Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy 1-54 Safety Belt Extender 1-22 Right Front Passenger Position 1-54 Checking Your Restraint Systems 1-22 Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) 1-54 Replacing Restraint System Parts After 1-28 Rear Seat Passengers a Crash 1- 1-1 Seats and Seat Controls This section tells you about the seats -- how to adjust them -- and also about reclining seatbacks and head restraints. Manual Front Seats CAUTION: 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 Lift the lever located under the driver’s seat to unlock it. don’t want to. Adjust the driver’s seat only when Slide the seat to where you want it. Then release the the vehicle is not moving. lever and try to move the seat with your body, to make sure the seat is locked into place. Your vehicle will be equipped with one of the following passenger seat adjusters. 1-2 If your vehicle is not equipped with easy entry seats, If your vehicle is equipped with easy entry seats, this is your passenger seat adjuster looks like this. Slide the your front passenger seat adjuster. Pull up on the lever lever located under the passenger’s seat to the right to located at the front of the seat to unlock it. Slide the seat unlock it. Slide the seat to where you want it and release to a comfortable position and release the lever. Then try the lever. Then try to move the seat with your body, to to move the seat with your body, to make sure the seat is make sure the seat is locked into place. locked into place. 1-3 Reclining Front Seatbacks To adjust the seatback, lift the lever located on the outboard side of the seat and move the seatback to But don’t have a seatback reclined if your vehicle where you want it. Release the lever and push rearward is moving. on the seatback to make sure it is locked. Pull up on the lever and the seatback will go to an upright position. 1-4 Head Restraints 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.