Detailed instructions for use are in the User's Guide.
[. . . ] Every 2001 Sunfire under warranty is backed with the following services:
1-800-762-3743
(For vehicles purchased in Canada, call 1-800-268-6800)
that provides in an emergency:
Courtesy Transportation
Free lockout assistance Free dead-battery assistance Free out-of-fuel assistance Free flat-tire change Emergency towing
2001 Pontiac Sunfire Owner's Manual
Litho in U. S. A. Part Number 22628180 A First Edition
© Copyright General Motors Corporation 2000 All Rights Reserved
i
Table of Contents
Seats and Restraint Systems
Section 1
Seats and Seat Controls Safety Belts
Air Bag Systems Restraint Systems for Children
Features and Controls
Section 2
Windows Keys and Door Locks Remote Keyless Entry System (If Equipped) Trunk Release (If Equipped) Automatic Transaxle (If Equipped) Manual Transaxle (If Equipped) Parking Brake Tilt Wheel (If Equipped) Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
Windshield Wipers Cruise Control (If Equipped) Exterior and Interior Lamps Mirrors Storage Compartments Convenience Net (If Equipped) Sunroof (If Equipped) Instrument Panel, Warning Lights and Gages Personalization Feature
ii
Table of Contents (cont'd)
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
Section 3
Heating and Air Conditioning Setting the Radio Clock
Radio/Cassette Player/CD Player Radio Theft-Deterrent Feature
Your Driving and the Road
Section 4
Defensive Driving Drunken Driving Control of a Vehicle Braking Traction Control System
Steering Driving Tips for Various Road Conditions Recreational Vehicle Towing Loading Your Vehicle Towing a Trailer
Problems on the Road
Section 5
Hazard Warning Flashers Jump Starting Towing Your Vehicle
Engine Overheating Changing a Flat Tire If You're Stuck
iii
Table of Contents (cont'd)
Service and Appearance Care
Section 6
Fuel Checking Fluids and Lubricants Engine Air Cleaner/Filter Brakes Bulb Replacement Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
Tires and Wheels Appearance Care Electrical System/Fuses and Circuit Breakers Capacities and Specifications Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts
Maintenance Schedule
Section 7
Scheduled Maintenance Owner Checks and Services Periodic Maintenance Inspections
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants Maintenance Records
iv
Table of Contents (cont'd)
Customer Assistance Information
Section 8
Customer Satisfaction Procedures Customer Assistance Offices Roadside Assistance and Courtesy Transportation
Warranty Information (See Warranty Manual) Reporting Safety Defects on page 8-10 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. [. . . ] Check every once in a while to be sure the mast is still tightened to the fender. If tightening is required, tighten by hand, then with a wrench one quarter turn.
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Section 4 Your Driving and the Road
Here you'll find information about driving on different kinds of roads and in varying weather conditions. 4-2 4-3 4-6 4-6 4-9 4-11 4-13 4-13 4-15 4-16 4-17 4-20 Defensive Driving Drunken Driving Control of a Vehicle Braking Enhanced Traction System Steering Off-Road Recovery Passing Loss of Control Driving at Night Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads City Driving 4-21 4-22 4-23 4-24 4-25 4-29 4-32 4-34 4-42 Freeway Driving Before Leaving on a Long Trip Highway Hypnosis Hill and Mountain Roads Winter Driving Recreational Vehicle Towing Loading Your Vehicle Towing a Trailer (Models with 2. 4L L4 Engine and 4-Speed Automatic Transaxle) Towing a Trailer (Except Models with 2. 4L L4 Engine and 4-Speed Automatic Transaxle)
4-
4-1
Defensive driving really means "be ready for anything. " On city streets, rural roads or freeways, it means "always expect the unexpected. " Assume that pedestrians or other drivers are going to be careless and make mistakes. It's the best defensive driving maneuver, in both city and rural driving. You never know when the vehicle in front of you is going to brake or turn suddenly. Defensive driving requires that a driver concentrate on the driving task. Anything that distracts from the driving task -- such as concentrating on a cellular telephone call, reading, or reaching for something on the floor -- makes proper defensive driving more difficult and can even cause a collision, with resulting injury. Ask a passenger to help do things like this, or pull off the road in a safe place to do them yourself. These simple defensive driving techniques could save your life.
Defensive Driving
The best advice anyone can give about driving is: Drive defensively. Please start with a very important safety device in your vehicle: Buckle up. See "Safety Belts" in the Index.
4-2
Drunken Driving
Death and injury associated with drinking and driving is a national tragedy. It's the number one contributor to the highway death toll, claiming thousands of victims every year. Alcohol affects four things that anyone needs to drive a vehicle:
The obvious way to solve the leading highway safety problem is for people never to drink alcohol and then drive. Although it depends on each person and situation, here is some general information on the problem. The Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of someone who is drinking depends upon four things:
D D D D
Judgment Muscular Coordination Vision Attentiveness.
D The amount of alcohol consumed D The drinker's body weight D The amount of food that is consumed before and
during drinking
Police records show that almost half of all motor vehicle-related deaths involve alcohol. In most cases, these deaths are the result of someone who was drinking and driving. In recent years, about 16, 000 annual motor vehicle-related deaths have been associated with the use of alcohol, with more than 300, 000 people injured. Many adults -- by some estimates, nearly half the adult population -- choose never to drink alcohol, so they never drive after drinking. There are good medical, psychological and developmental reasons for these laws.
D The length of time it has taken the drinker to
consume the alcohol. (82 kg) person who drinks three 12-ounce (355 ml) bottles of beer in an hour will end up with a BAC of about 0. 06 percent. The person would reach the same BAC by drinking three 4-ounce (120 ml) glasses of wine or three mixed drinks if each had 1-1/2 ounces (45 ml) of a liquor like whiskey, gin or vodka.
4-3
Since alcohol is carried in body water, this means that a woman generally will reach a higher BAC level than a man of her same body weight when each has the same number of drinks. The BAC limit for all commercial drivers in the United States is 0. 04 percent. [. . . ] You may write to: Transport Canada 330 Sparks Street Tower C Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N5
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REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS TO GENERAL MOTORS
In addition to notifying NHTSA (or Transport Canada) in a situation like this, we certainly hope you'll notify us. Please call us at 1800762-2737, or write: Pontiac-GMC Customer Assistance Center P. O. Box 33172 Detroit, MI 48232-5172
In Canada, please call us at 1-800-263-3777 (English) or 1-800-263-7854 (French). Or, write: General Motors of Canada Limited Customer Communication Centre, 163-005 1908 Colonel Sam Drive Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7
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2001 PONTIAC SERVICE PUBLICATIONS ORDERING INFORMATION
The following publications covering the operation and servicing of your vehicle can be purchased by filling out the Service Publication Order Form in this book and mailing it in with your check, money order, or credit card information to Helm, Incorporated (address below. )
CURRENT PUBLICATIONS FOR 2001 PONTIAC
SERVICE MANUALS Service Manuals have the diagnosis and repair information on engines, transmission, axle, suspension, brakes, electrical, steering, body, etc. [. . . ]