yellowblue The 1999 Pontiac Sunfire Owner’s Manual 1-1 Seats and Restraint Systems This section tells you how to use your seats and safety belts properly. It also explains the “SRS” system. 2-1 Features and Controls This section explains how to start and operate your vehicle. 3-1 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems This section tells you how to adjust the ventilation and comfort controls and how to operate your audio system. 4-1 Your Driving and the Road Here you’ll find helpful information and tips about the road and how to drive under different conditions. 5-1 Problems on the Road This section tells you what to do if you have a problem while driving, such as a flat tire or overheated engine, etc. 6-1 Service and Appearance Care Here the manual tells you how to keep your vehicle running properly and looking good. 7-1 Maintenance Schedule This section tells you when to perform vehicle maintenance and what fluids and lubricants to use. 8-1 Customer Assistance Information This section tells you how to contact Pontiac for assistance and how to get service and owner publications. It also gives you information on “Reporting Safety Defects” on page 8-12. 9-1 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. i yellowblue 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 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 For Canadian Owners Who Prefer a Division whenever it 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. DGN Marketing Services Ltd. 1577 Meyerside Dr. Mississauga, Ontario L5T 1B9 Litho in U.S.A. ECopyright General Motors Corporation 1998 Part No. 10409485 B First Edition All Rights Reserved ii yellowblue 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 Index we tell you what to do to help avoid or reduce the A good place to look for what you need is the Index in hazard. Please read these cautions. If you don’t, you or back of the manual. It’s an alphabetical list of what’s in others could be hurt. the manual, and the page number where you’ll find it. 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. iii yellowblue 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. iv yellowblue Vehicle Symbols These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle. For example, These symbols These symbols These symbols These symbols Here are some these symbols are important have to do with are on some of are used on other symbols are used on an for you and your lamps: your controls: warning and you may see: original battery: your passengers indicator lights: whenever your vehicle is MASTER WINDSHIELD CAUTION driven: LIGHTING WIPER POSSIBLE SWITCH ENGINE FUSE INJURY COOLANT TEMP DOOR LOCK TURN PROTECT WINDSHIELD UNLOCK SIGNALS EYES BY WASHER BATTERY LIGHTER SHIELDING CHARGING PARKING SYSTEM CAUSTIC LAMPS WINDSHIELD BATTERY FASTEN HORN DEFROSTER ACID COULD SEAT BRAKE CAUSE BELTS HAZARD BURNS WARNING FLASHER REAR COOLANT SPEAKER AVOID WINDOW SPARKS OR POWER DEFOGGER FLAMES DAYTIME WINDOW RUNNING ENGINE OIL LAMPS PRESSURE FUEL SPARK OR FLAME VENTILATING COULD FAN EXPLODE AIR BAG FOG LAMPS ANTI-LOCK BATTERY BRAKES v yellowblue ✍ NOTES vi yellowblue 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 1-31 Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children 1-8 Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone and Small Adults 1-12 Here Are Questions Many People Ask About 1-34 Center Passenger Position Safety Belts -- and the Answers 1-35 Children 1-13 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly 1-38 Child Restraints 1-13 Driver Position 1-50 Larger Children 1-21 Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy 1-53 Safety Belt Extender 1-22 Right Front Passenger Position 1-53 Checking Your Restraint Systems 1-22 Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) 1-53 Replacing Restraint System Parts After 1-28 Rear Seat Passengers a Crash 1- 1-1 yellowblue 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 under the driver’s seat to unlock it. Slide don’t want to. Adjust the driver’s seat only when the seat to where you want it. Then release the lever and the vehicle is not moving. 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 yellowblue 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 at lever under the passenger’s seat to the right to unlock it. the front of the seat to unlock it. Slide the seat to a Slide the seat to where you want it. Then release the comfortable position. Release the lever and try to move lever and try to move the seat with your body, to make the seat with your body, to make sure the seat is locked sure the seat is locked into place. into place. Manual Lumbar Support (If Equipped) The manual lumbar support control is located at the front of the driver’s seat, toward the right. Turn the knob clockwise or counterclockwise to increase or decrease the amount of support to your lower back. 1-3 yellowblue Reclining Front Seatbacks To adjust the seatback, lift the lever on the outer side of the seat and move the seatback to where you want it. But don’t have a seatback reclined if your vehicle Release the lever and push rearward on the seatback to is moving. make sure it is locked. Pull up on the lever and the seat will go to an upright position. 1-4 yellowblue Head Restraints CAUTION: Slide the head restraint up or down so that the top of the restraint is closest to the top of your ears. This position Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle is reduces the chance of a neck injury in a crash. in motion can be dangerous. Even if you buckle Seatback Latches (2-Door Models) up, your safety belts can’t do their job when you’re reclined like this. The front seatback folds The shoulder belt can’t do its job because it forward to let people get won’t be against your body. Instead, it will be in into the back seat. front of you. In a crash you could go into it, To fold a front seatback receiving neck or other injuries. forward, lift the latch The lap belt can’t do its job either. In a crash the located on the lower belt could go up over your abdomen. The belt backside of the seatback. forces would be there, not at your pelvic bones. Then the seat will fold forward. This could cause serious internal injuries.