maintenance schedule PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1994 User Guide

When to Check: Check your tires once a
month or more. Don’t forget your
compact spare tire. It should be at
60 psi
(420 kPa).
How to Check: Use a good quality
pocket-type gage to check tire pressure.
Simply looking at the tires will not tell
you the pressure, especially
if you have
radial tires
- which may look properly
inflated even if they’re underinflated.
If your tires have valve caps, be sure to
put them back on. They help prevent
leaks by keeping out dirt and moisture.
ll r JI
t \/t
IAI
MI
Tire Inspection and Rotation
To make your tires last longer, have them
inspected and rotated at the mileages
recommended in the Maintenance
Schedule. See “Scheduled Maintenance
Services” in the Index.
If you don’t have P245/50ZR16 size tires:
use the rotation pattern shown above for
your size tires.
I1
II
0
SI
B
SI
e:
b
’ fl
A
tl
SI
12
P:
T
4-
-I-
4-
-a4
F you have P245/50ZR16 size tires, they
lust roll in a certain direction for the besl
vera11 performance. The direction is
hown by an arrow on both sidewalls.
lecause these tires are directional, they
hould be rotated as shown in the
xample above. These tires should only
e moved from front to rear and rear to
-ont on the same side of the vehicle.
Lfter the tires have been rotated, adjust
le front and rear inflation pressure as
Sown
on the Tire-Loading Information
lbel. Make certain that all wheel nuts are
roperly tightened. See “Wheel Nut
orque” in the Index.
217.
ProCarManuals.com

I IMPORTANT
I
KEEP THE ENGINE OIL
AT THE PROPER
LEVEL AND CHANGE AS
RECOMMENDED
This part covers the
maintenance required for your
Pontiac. Your vehicle needs
these services
to retain its
safety, dependability and
emission control performance.
Part 7
Maintenance Schedule
Section
Introduction: A Word about Maintenance ... . . 240
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
..
Your Vehicle and the Environment ...... .......... 240
How This Part
Is Organized .......... ....... . . 240
Scheduled Maintenance Services .... ................. 242
Using
Your Maintenance Schedules ....................... 241
Selecting the Right Schedule
................ ..... 241
Schedule1
............................... . . 242
Schedule11
................................. . . 244
Explanation
of Scheduled Maintenance Services .......... 246
Owner Checksand Services ................................ 248
AtEachFuelFill
....................................... 248
At Least Once
a Month .................................. 248
At Least Twice a Year
................... ......... 248
At Least Once
a Year ............... .., . . 249
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants ... ................ 253
Maintenance Record ...................................... 255
Periodic Maintenance Inspections .... ... ..... 251
I-
I- -
Have you purchased the GM Protection Plan? The Plan
supplements
your new car warranties.
See
your GM dealer for details.
239. ..
ProCarManuals.com

Maintenance Schedule
Introduction: A Word about Maintenance
We at General Motors want to help you
keep your vehicle in good working
condition. But we don’t know exactly
how you’ll drive it. You may drive very
short distances only a
few times a week.
Or you may drive long distances all the
time in very hot, dusty weather. You may
use your vehicle in making deliveries. Or
you may drive it to work, to do errands,
or in many other ways.
Because of all the different ways people
use their GM vehicles, maintenance needs
vary. You may even need more frequent
checks and replacements than you will
find in the schedules
in this part. So
please read this part and note how you
drive.
If you have any questions on how
to keep your vehicle in good condition,
see your Pontiac dealer, the place
many GM owners choose to have their
maintenance work done.
Your dealer can
be relied upon to use proper parts and
practices.
Your Vehicle and the
Environment
Proper vehicle maintenance not only
helps to keep your vehicle in good
working condition, but also helps the
environment. All recommended
maintenance procedures are important. Improper vehicle maintenance or the
removal of important components can
significantly affect the quality of the air
we breathe. Improper fluid levels or even
the wrong tire inflation can increase the
level of emissions from your vehicle.
To
help protect our environment, and to help
keep your vehicle in good condition,
please maintain your vehlcle properly.
How This Part is Organized
The remainder of this part is divided into
five sections:
“Section
A: Scheduled Maintenance
Services” shows what to have done and
how often. Some of these services can be
complex,
so unless you are technically
qualified and have the necessary
equipment, you should let your dealer’s service department or another qualified
service center do these jobs.
If you are skilled enough to do some work
on your vehicle, you will probably want
to get the service information GM
publishes. You will find a list of
publications and how to get them in
this
manpal. See “Service Publications” in the
Index.
“Section
B: Owner Checks and Services’’
tells you what should be checked
whenever you stop for fuel. It also
explains what you can easily do
to help
keep your vehicle in good condition.
. . .240
ProCarManuals.com

“Section C: Periodic Maintenance
Inspections” explains important
inspections that your Pontiac dealer’s
service department or another qualified
service center should perform.
“Section
D: Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants” lists some products GM
recommends to help keep your vehicle
properly maintained. These products,
or
their equivalents, should be used whether
you do the work yourself or have it done.
“Section
E: Maintenance Record”
provides a place for you to record the
maintenance perfowed on your vehicle.
Whenever any maintenance is performed,
be
sure to write it down in this section.
This will help you determine when your
next maintenance should be done. In
addition, it is a good idea to keep your
maintenance receipts. They may be
needed to qualify your vehicle for
warranty repairs.
Using Your Maintenance
Schedules
This section tells you the maintenance
services you should have done and when
you should schedule them. Your Pontiac
dealer knows your vehicle best and wants
you to be happy
with it. If you go to your
dealer for your service needs, you’ll know
that GM-trained and supported service
people will perform the work using
genuine GM parts.
These schedules are for vehicles that:
carry passengers and cargo within
recommended limits. You will find
these limits on your vehicle’s
Tire-Loading Information label. See
“Loading Your Vehicle”
in the Index.
are driven on reasonable road surfaces
within legal driving limits.
use the recommended unleaded fuel.
See “Fuel” in the Index.
Selecting the Right Schedule
First you’ll need to decide which of the
two schedules is right for your vehicle.
Here’s how to decide which schedule to
follow:
Schedule
I
Is any one of these true for your vehicle?
Most trips are less than 4 miles (6 km).
Most trips are less than 10 miles (1 6
km) when outside temperatures are
below freezing.
0 The engine is at low speed most of the
time (as
in door-to-door delivery, or in
stop-and-go traffic).
e You operate your vehicle in dusty
e You tow a trailer.
If any one (or more) of these is true for
your driving, follow Schedule
I.
Schedule 11
Follow Schedule I1 QI& if none of the
above conditions is true.
areas.
241 . .
ProCarManuals.com

Maintenance Schedule
C L Section A: Scheduled Maintenance Services
Schedule I
Follow Schedule I if your vehicle is
MAINLY driven under one or more of
the following conditions:
When most trips are less than
4 miles
(6 km).
When most trips are less than
10 miles
(16 km) and outside temperatures
remain below freezing.
When most trips include extended
idling and/or frequent low-speed
operation, as in stop-and-go traffic.
When towing a trailer.
When operating in dusty areas.
Schedule
I should also be followed if the
vehicle is used for delivery service. police,
taxi or other commercial aqdications.
* An Emission Control Service.
t The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
or the California Air Resources Board has
determined that the failure to perform this
maintenance item will not nullify the emission
warranty
or limit recall liability prior to the
completion ‘of vehicle useful life. General
Motors, however, urges that all recommended
maintenance services be performed at the
indicated intervals and the maintenance be
recorded in “Section
E: Maintenance Record.”
ITEM NO.
-
1
3
-
4
6
-
7
9
11
WHAT TO SERVICE
See “Explanation of Scheduled
Maintenance Services” following
Schedules
I and II.
~
Engine Oil & Oil Filter Change*
Chassis Lubrication
Tire and Wheel Rotation
& Inspection
Engine Accessory Drive Belt Inspection*
Cooling System Service*
Transmission Service
Spark Plug Replacement
(3.4L L32 (Code
S) Engine)*
Spark Plug Replacement
(5.7L LTl (Code P) Engine)*
Spark Plug Wire Inspection*?’
Air Cleaner Filter Replacement*
Fuel Tank, Cap
& Lines Inspeclion*t
Rear Axle Fluid Change (For Vehicles
Towing Trailers or for Vehicles with
Limited-Slip Differentials)
WHEN TO PERFORM
Miles (kilometers) or Months
(whichever occursfirst).
Every 3,000 miles (5 000 km) or 3 months.
Every other oil change.
At
6,000 miles (10 000 km) and every
15,000 miles (25 000 km) or as necessary.
Every
30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months.
See “Explanation of Scheduled Maintenance
Services” following Schedules I and
II.
Every 30,000 miles (50 000 km).
Every 100,000 miles (166 000 km).
Every 30,000 miles (50 000 km).
See “Explanation of Scheduled Maintenance
Services” following Schedules I and 11.
Every 30,000 miles
(50 000 km).
~ ~~ ~~~
See “Explanation of Scheduled Maintenance
Services” following Schedules
I and 11.
. . .242
ProCarManuals.com

Maintenance Schedule
Section A: Scheduled Maintenance Services (Cont.)
Schedule lI
Follow Schedule II ONLY if none of
the driving. conditions specified in
Schedule
I apply.
* An Emission Control Service.
t The US. Environmental Protection Agency
or the California Air Resources Board has
determined that the failure to pedorm this
maintenance item will not nullify the emission
warranty or limit recall liability prior to the
completion
of vehicle useful life. General
Motors, however, urges that all recommended
maintenance services be performed at the
indicated intervals and the maintenance be
recorded in “Section
E: Maintenance Record.”
WHAT TO SERVICE WHEN TO PERFORM
“Explanation of Scheduled Miles (kilometers) or Months ITEM NO. Maintenance Services” following (whichever occursfirst).
Schedules
I and I?.
Engine Oil Change* Every 7,500 miles (12 500 km) or 12 months.
Oil Filter Change* At
first and every other oil change. 1
2 Chassis Lubrication Every 7,500 miles (12 500 km) or 12 months. ~~~
3 I Tire and Wheel Rotation & Inspection I
At 7,500 miles (12 500 km) and then every
15,000 miles (25
000 km) or as necessarv.
4 I Engine Accessory Drive Belt Inspection* ~ Every 30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months.
5 I Cooling System Service* !
6 I Transmission Service I
See “Explanation of Scheduled Maintenance
Services” following Schedules
I and 11.
Spark Plug Replacement
(3.4L L32 (Code
S) Engine)* Every 30,000 miles (50 000 km).
7
I
Spark Plug Replacement
(5.7L LTl (Code P) Ennine)* I Every 100,000 miles (166 000 km). \- I I, I
8 Spark Plug Wire Inspection*? Every 30,000 miles (50 000 km).
9 Air Cleaner Filter Replacement* I I
See “Explanation of Scheduled Maintenance
Services” following Schedules
I and II.
10 Fuel Tank, Cap & Lines Inspection”? Every 30,000 miles (50 000 km).
, , Rear Axle Fluid Change (For Vehicles See “Explanation
of Scheduled Maintenance
with Limited-Slip Differentials) Services” following Schedules I and
11.
. . .244
ProCarManuals.com

Maintenance Schedule
Section A: Scheduled Maintenance Services (Cont.)
Explanation of Scheduled
Maintenance Services
Following are explanations of the services
listed in Schedule I and Schedule
II.
The proper fluids and lubricants to use are
listed in Section
D. Make sure whoever
services your vehicle uses these. All parts
should be replaced and all necessary
repairs done before you or anyone else
drives the vehicle.
NOTE: To determine your engine’s
displacement and code, see
“Engine Identification” in the
Index.
ITEM
NO. SERVICE
1 Engine Oil and Filter Change* -
Always use SH or SG Energy
Conserving
I1 oils of proper
viscosity. The “SH” or “SG”
designation may be shown alone
or in combination with others,
such as “SH/CD,”
“SH, SG,
CD,” “SG/CD,” etc. To deter-
mine the preferred viscosity for
your vehicle’s engine (e.g., SAE
ITEM
NO.
2
3
4
SERVICE
5W-30 or SAE 10W-30), see
“Engine Oil” in the Index.
Chassis Lubrication
- Lubricate
the suspension and steering
linkage. Lubricate the
transmission
shift linkage.
Tire and Wheel Rotation and
InsDection
- For proper wear
and maximum tire life, rotate
your tires following the
instructions in this manual. See
“Tires, Inspection and Rotation”
in the Index. Check the tires for
uneven wear or damage. If you
see irregular or premature wear,
check the wheel alignment.
Check for damaged wheels also.
Engine Accessorv Drive Belt!s)
InsDection
- Inspect the belt(s)
for cracks, fraying, wear and
proper tension. Replace as
needed. (Belts can have many small cracks in individual ribs
without affecting performance.)
ITEM
NO. SERVICE
5 Cooling: System Service* -
Drain, flush and refill the system
with new or approved recycled
coolant conforming to GM
Specification 1825M. Keep
coolant at the proper mixture as specified. See “Coolant”
in the
Index. This provides proper
freeze and boil protection, corrosion inhibitor level and
maintains proper engine operating temperature.
Inspect hoses and replace if they
are cracked, swollen or deterior-
ated. Tighten screw-type hose
clamps. Clean the outside of the
radiator and air conditioning
condenser. Wash the pressure cap and neck.
To help ensure proper operation,
we recommend a pressure test of
both the cooling system and the
pressure cap.
* An Emission Control Service.
. . .246
ProCarManuals.com

Maintenance Schedule
Section B: Owner Checks and Services
Listed below are owner checks and services which should be performed at the intervals specified to help ensure the saf\
ety,
dependability and emission control performance of your vehicle. Be sure any necessary repairs are completed at once.
Whenever any fluids or lubricants are added
to your vehicle, make sure they are the proper ones, as shown in Section D.
At Each Fuel Fill (It is important for you or a service station attendant to perform these underhood checks at each fuel fill.)
CHECK
OR SERVICE
Engine Oil Level
Engine Coolant Level
Windshield Washer
Fluid Level
At least Once a Month
WHAT TO DO
Check the engine oil level and add the proper oil if necessary. See “Engine Oil” in the Index for
further details.
Check the engine coolant level and add the proper coolant mix if necessary. See “Coolant” in
the Index for further details.
Check the windshield washer fluid level in the windshield washer tank and add the proper fluid if
necessary. See “Windshield Washer Fluid” in the Index for further details.
CHECK
OR SERVICE ~~
Tire Inflation
Cassette Deck
WHAT TO DO
Check tire inflation. Make sure they are inflated to the pressures specified on the Tire-Loading
Information label located on the rear edge of the driver’s door. See “Tires”
in the Index for
further details.
Clean cassette deck. Cleaning should be done every
15 hours of tape play. See “Audio Systems”
in the Index for further details.
I At Least Twice a Year ___ ~~~ ~ ~
CHECK
OR SERVICE WHAT TO DO
Hydraulic Clutch
loss in
this system could indicate a problem. Have the system inspected and repaired at once.
System Inspection Check
the fluid level
in the clutch reservoir. See “Hydraulic Clutch Fluid” in the Index. A fluid
. . .248
ProCarManuals.com

Maintenance Schedule
Section B: Owner Checks and Services (Cont.)
At least Once a Year (CONK)
CHECK
OR SERVICE
Steering Column Lock
Parking Brake and
Automatic Transmission “P” (Park) Mechanism
Check
Underbody Flushing
WHAT TO DO
While parked, and with the parking brake set, try to turn the key to “LOCK” in each shift lever
position.
With an automatic transmission, the key should turn to “LOCK” only when the shift lever is
0 With a manual transmission, the key should turn to “LOCK” only when the shift lever is in
On vehicles with a key release button, try to turn the key to “LOCK” without pressing the
button. The key should turn to “LOCK” only with the key button depressed. On all vehicles,
the kev should come out only in “LOCK.”
in
“P” (Park).
“R” (Reverse).
brake, set the parking brake.
0 To check the parhng brake: With the engine running and transmission in “N” (Neutral),
slowly remove foot pressure from the regular brake pedal.
Do this until the vehicle is held by
the parking brake only.
brakes.
0 To check the “P” (Park) mechanism’s holding ability: Shift to “P” (Park). Then release all
~~ ~
At least every spring, use plain water to flush any corrosive materials from the underbody. Take
care to clean thoroughly any areas where mud and other debris can collect.
. . .250
ProCarManuals.com

Maintenance Schedule
Section C: Periodic Maintenance Inspections (Cont.)
I INSPECTION
F Manual Transmission
I
Rear Axle Service
Brake System
Inspection
WHAT SHOULD BE DONE
Check the transmission fluid level; add if needed. See “Manual Transmission” in the Index.
A fluid
loss may indicate a problem. Check the system and repair if needed.
Check the gear lubricant level in the rear axle and add if needed. See “Rear Axle” in the Index.
A fluid loss may indicate a problem. Check the axle and repai\
r it if needed.
If your vehicle
is used to pull a trailer, have the rear axle gear lubricant changed every
7,500 miles
(12 500 km).
Inspect the complete system. Inspect brake lines and hoses for \
proper hookup, binding, leaks,
cracks, chafing, etc. Inspect disc brake pads for wear and rotors for surface condition. Also
inspect drum brake linings for wear and cracks. Inspect other \
brake parts, including drums,
wheel cylinders, calipers, parking brake, etc. The parking brake\
is self-adjusting and no manual
adjustment is required. You may need to have your brakes inspected more often if your driving
habits or conditions result in frequent braking.
NOTE: A low brake fluid level can indicate worn disc brake pads which may need to be serv-
iced. Also, if the brake system warning light stays on or comes on, something may be wrong
with the brake system.
See “Brake System Warning Light” in the Index. If your anti-lock brake \
system warning light stays on, comes on or flashes, something may be wrong with the anti-lock
brake system. See “Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light’’ in the Index.
~~
. . .252
ProCarManuals.com