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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
appears in this manual.

Keep this manual in the vehicle, so it will be there if it is
needed while you are on the road. If the vehicle is
sold, leave this manual in the vehicle.

Canadian Owners

A French language copy of this manual can be obtained
from your dealer or from:

Helm, Incorporated
P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207

How to Use This Manual

Many people read the owner manual from beginning to
end when they first receive their new vehicle. If this
is done, it can help you learn about the features
and controls for the vehicle. Pictures and words work
together in the owner manual to explain things.

Index

A good place to quickly locate information about the
vehicle is the Index in the back of the manual. It is an
alphabetical list of what is in the manual and the
page number where it can be found.

Litho in U.S.A.
Part No. 05SUNFIRE A First Edition

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Safety Warnings and Symbols

There are a number of safety cautions in this book. We
use a box and the word CAUTION to tell about things
that could hurt you if you were to ignore the warning.

{

CAUTION:

These mean there is something that could hurt
you or other people.

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 do not,
you or others could be hurt.

You will also find a circle
with a slash through it in
this book. This safety
symbol means “Do Not,”
“Do Not do this” or “Do Not
let this happen.”

iii

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Vehicle Damage Warnings

Also, in this manual you will find these notices:

Notice: These mean there is something that could
damage your vehicle.

A notice tells about something that can damage the
vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be covered
by your vehicle’s warranty, and it could be costly. But
the notice will tell what to do to help avoid the damage.

When you read other manuals, you might see
CAUTION and NOTICE warnings in different colors
or in different words.

There are also warning labels on the vehicle. They use
the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE.

Vehicle Symbols

The vehicle has components and labels that use
symbols instead of text. Symbols are shown along with
the text describing the operation or information
relating to a specific component, control, message,
gage, or indicator.

If you need help figuring out a specific name of a
component, gage, or indicator, reference the
following topics:

•

Seats and Restraint Systems in Section 1

•

Features and Controls in Section 2

•

Instrument Panel Overview in Section 3

•

Climate Controls in Section 3

•

Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators in Section 3

•

Audio System(s) in Section 3

•

Engine Compartment Overview in Section 5

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These are some examples of symbols that may be found on the vehicle:

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Front Seats ......................................................1-2

Manual Seats ................................................1-2
Reclining Seatbacks ........................................1-4
Head Restraints .............................................1-5
Seatback Latches ...........................................1-6
Easy Entry Seat .............................................1-7

Rear Seats .......................................................1-8

60/40 Split Bench Seat ...................................1-8

Safety Belts .....................................................1-9

Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone .................1-9
Questions and Answers About Safety Belts ......1-13
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly .................1-14
Driver Position ..............................................1-15
Shoulder Belt Height Adjustment

(Four Door Models) ...................................1-21

Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy ..................1-22
Right Front Passenger Position .......................1-22
Rear Seat Passengers ..................................1-22
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for Children

and Small Adults .......................................1-26

Safety Belt Extender .....................................1-28

Child Restraints .............................................1-29

Older Children ..............................................1-29
Infants and Young Children ............................1-31

Child Restraint Systems .................................1-35
Where to Put the Restraint .............................1-38
Top Strap ....................................................1-39
Top Strap Anchor Location .............................1-40
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for

Children (LATCH System) ...........................1-41

Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the

LATCH System .........................................1-42

Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear

Seat Position ............................................1-43

Securing a Child Restraint in the Right

Front Seat Position ....................................1-45

Airbag System ...............................................1-47

Where Are the Airbags? ................................1-50
When Should an Airbag Inflate? .....................1-53
What Makes an Airbag Inflate? .......................1-54
How Does an Airbag Restrain? .......................1-54
What Will You See After an Airbag Inflates? .....1-54
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle ...........1-56

Restraint System Check ..................................1-56

Checking Your Restraint Systems ...................1-56
Replacing Restraint System Parts After

a Crash ...................................................1-57

Section 1

Seats and Restraint Systems

1-1

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Front Seats

Manual 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 do not want to. Adjust the driver’s
seat only when the vehicle is not moving.

Lift the lever located on the front of the driver’s seat to
unlock it. Slide the seat to where you want it and
release the lever. Then 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

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If your vehicle is not equipped with easy entry seats,
your passenger seat adjuster looks like this. Slide
the lever located under the passenger’s seat to the right
to unlock it. Slide the seat to where you want it and
release the lever. Then try to move the seat with your
body, to make sure the seat is locked into place.

If your vehicle is equipped with easy entry seats, this is
your front passenger seat adjuster. Pull up on the
lever located at the front of the passenger’s seat to
unlock it. Slide the seat to a comfortable position
and release the lever. Then try to move the seat with
your body, to make sure the seat is locked into place.

1-3

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Reclining Seatbacks

To adjust the seatback, lift the lever located on the
outboard side of the seat and move the seatback
to where you want it. Release the lever and push
rearward on the seatback to make sure it is locked. Pull
up on the lever without pushing on the seatback and
the seatback will go to an upright position.

But do not have a seatback reclined if your vehicle
is moving.

1-4

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{

CAUTION:

Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle
is in motion can be dangerous. Even if you
buckle up, your safety belts can not do their
job when you are reclined like this.

The shoulder belt can not do its job because it
will not be against your body. Instead, it will be
in front of you. In a crash you could go into it,
receiving neck or other injuries.

The lap belt can not do its job either. In a
crash the belt could go up over your abdomen.
The belt forces would be there, not at your
pelvic bones. This could cause serious
internal injuries.

For proper protection when the vehicle is in
motion, have the seatback upright. Then sit
well back in the seat and wear your safety
belt properly.

Head Restraints

Adjust your head restraint so that the top of the restraint
is closest to the top of your head. This position
reduces the chances of a neck injury in a crash.

1-5

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Seatback Latches

If your vehicle is a two-door model, the front seatback
folds forward to let people get into the back seat.

To fold a front seatback
forward, lift the latch
located on the lower
back side of the
seatback and push the
seatback forward.

When you return the seatback to its original position,
make sure the seatback is locked. The latch must
be down for the seat to work properly.

{

CAUTION:

If the seatback is not locked, it could move
forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could
cause injury to the person sitting there. Always
press rearward on the seatback to be sure it
is locked.

1-6

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Easy Entry Seat

{

CAUTION:

If the easy entry right front seat is not locked,
it can move. In a sudden stop or crash, the
person sitting there could be injured. After you
have used it, be sure to push rearward on an
easy entry seat to be sure it is locked.

If your vehicle has this feature, the right front seat
makes it easy to get in and out of the rear seat.

1. Lift the right front seatback latch to release

the seatback.

2. Tilt the seatback completely forward and the whole

seat will slide forward.

3. Move the right front seatback to its original position

after someone gets into the rear seat area.

4. Then move the seat rearward until it locks.

Tilt the seatback completely forward again and move
the seat to get out of the back seat.

1-7

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Rear Seats

60/40 Split Bench Seat

To fold the seatback, do the following:

1. Pull the release straps

located in the trunk.
The right strap
operates the
passenger’s side rear
split seat. The left
strap operates
the driver’s side rear
split seat.

2. Fold the seatback down from the inside of

the vehicle.

{

CAUTION:

If the seatback is not locked, it could move
forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could
cause injury to the person sitting there. Always
press rearward on the seatback to be sure it
is locked.

{

CAUTION:

A safety belt that is improperly routed, not
properly attached, or twisted will not provide
the protection needed in a crash. The person
wearing the belt could be seriously injured.
After raising the rear seatback, always check
to be sure that the safety belts are properly
routed and attached, and are not twisted.

To raise the seatback, push the seatback up to return it
to its original position.

Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is latched
securely in the fully upright position.

1-8

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Safety Belts

Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone

This part of the manual tells you how to use safety
belts properly. It also tells you some things you should
not do with safety belts.

{

CAUTION:

Do not let anyone ride where he or she can not
wear a safety belt properly. If you are in a
crash and you are not wearing a safety belt,
your injuries can be much worse. You can hit
things inside the vehicle or be ejected from it.
You can be seriously injured or killed. In the
same crash, you might not be, if you are
buckled up. Always fasten your safety belt,
and check that your passengers’ belts are
fastened properly too.

{

CAUTION:

It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo
area, inside or outside of a vehicle. In a
collision, people riding in these areas are more
likely to be seriously injured or killed. Do not
allow people to ride in any area of your vehicle
that is not equipped with seats and safety
belts. Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a
seat and using a safety belt properly.

Your vehicle has a light
that comes on as a
reminder to buckle up. See
Safety Belt Reminder
Light on page 3-24.

In most states and in all Canadian provinces, the law
says to wear safety belts. Here is why: They work.

1-9

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You never know if you will be in a crash. If you do have
a crash, you do not know if it will be a bad one.

A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be so
serious that even buckled up, a person would not
survive. But most crashes are in between. In many of
them, people who buckle up can survive and sometimes
walk away. Without belts they could have been badly
hurt or killed.

After more than 30 years of safety belts in vehicles, the
facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up does
matter...a lot!

Why Safety Belts Work

When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as
it goes.

Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose it is just a seat
on wheels.

1-10

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Put someone on it.

Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle. The rider
does not stop.

1-11

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