checking oil PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1994 Owners Manual

I I
Here you will find information
about the care of your Pontiac
.
This part begins with service and fuel information. and then
it
shows how to check important
fluid and lubricant levels
. There
is also technical information
about your vehicle. and a section devoted
to its
appearance care
.
Part b
Service 8t Appearance Care
Service .........................................................
Fuel ...........................................................
Checking Things under the Hood ....................................
HoodRelease ..................................................
184
185
188
188
Engineoil
.................................................... 191
Aircleaner
.................................................... 195
Automatic Transmission Fluid
..................................... 198
Manual Transmission Fluid
....................................... 200
Hydraulic Clutch
............................................... 201
RearAxle
..................................................... 201
Enginecoolant
................................................. 201
Power Steering fluid
............................................ 204
Windshield Washer Fluid
......................................... 205
Brake Master Cylinder
........................................... 206
Bulb Replacement
................................................ 209
Battery
....................................................... 208
LoadingYourVehicle
............................................. 213
Tires
........................................................... 215
Appearance Care
................................................. 221
Appearance Care and Maintenance Materials
.......................... 227
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
................................. 228
Service Parts Identification Label
.................................... 228
Add-on Electrical Equipment
....................................... 228
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
......................................... 228
ReplacementBulbs
............................................... 232
Capacities and Specifications
........................................ 233
183 ...
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Service and Appearance Care
Automatic Transmission Fluid
When to Check and Change:
A good time to check your automatic
transmission fluid level
is when the
engine oil is changed. Refer to the
Maintenance Schedule to determine when
to change your fluid. See “Scheduled
Maintenance Services” in the Index.
How to Check:
Because this operation can be a little
difficult, you may choose to have this
done at a Pontiac dealership Service
Department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow all
the instructions here, or
you could get a
false reading on the dipstick.
Too much or too little fluid can
damage your transmission. Too much
can mean that some of the fluid could
come out and fall on hot engine parts
or exhaust system, starting a fire. Be
sure to get an accurate reading
if you
check your transmission fluid. Wait
at least 30 minutes before checking
the transmission fluid level if you have
been driving:
When outside temperatures are above
At high speed for quite a while.
In heavy traffic - especially in hot
90°F (32°C).
weather.
While pulling a trailer.
To get the right reading, the fluid should
be at normal operating temperature,
which is 180°F to 200°F (82°C to 93°C).
To check transmission fluid hot: Get
the vehicle warmed up by driving
about
15 miles (24 km) when outside
temperatures
are above 50°F ( 10°C).
If it’s colder than 50°F ( lO”C), drive
the vehicle in
“D’ (Third Gear) until the
engine temperature gage moves and then
remains steady for
ten minutes. Then
follow the hot check procedures.
To check transmission fluid cold: A cold
check is made after the vehicle has been
sitting for eight hours or more with the
engine
off and is used only as a reference.
Let the engine run at idle for five minutes
if outside temperatures are 50°F
(10°C)
or more. If it’s colder than 50°F (lO°C),
you may have to idle the engine longer.
Should the fluid level be low during a
cold check, you must perform a hot check
before adding fluid. This will give you a
more accurate reading of the fluid level.
To check the fluid hot or cold:
0
Park your vehicle on a level place.
With the parking brake applied, place
the shift lever
in “P” (Park).
With your foot on the brake pedal,
move the shift lever through each gear
range, pausing for about three seconds
in each range. Then, position the shift
lever in “P” (Park).
Let the engine
run at idle for three
minutes or more.
. . .I98
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Front Fuel
......................... 185
Towing Hook-ups
............. 158
Fuel Gage
..................... 90
Fuels
in Foreign Countries ........ 186
Fully Articulating Sport Seat
...... 9
Fuse Block. Main
............... 230
Fuse Block. Underhood
.......... 231
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
....... 229
Gages Engine Coolant Temperature
.... 93
Engine Oil Pressure ........... 95
Fuel
....................... 90
Warning Lights and Indicators
... 89
Gasolines for Cleaner
Air ........ 186
Glass
......................... 224
GloveBox
.................... 83
GM Participation in BBB Auto Line
-
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Program
.................. 261
Halogen Bulbs
............... 209
Hatch Release
.................. 47
Hatch Release. Remote
.......... 47
Hazard Warning Flashers
......... 152
Head Restraints
................ 12
Headlight Doors
................ 76
Headlight High/Low Beam
....... 70
Heater Controls
................ 104
... 272
Headlights .................... 209 Heater.
Engine Coolant (Block)
.... 56
Heating
....................... 104
Highway Hypnosis
.............. 140
Hill and Mountain Roads
......... 141
Hitches
....................... 147
Hood Release
.................. 188
Hood. Checking Things under the
. . 188
Kook.Ups. Front Towing
......... 158
Kook.Ups. Rear Towing
......... 160
Horn ......................... 68
How to Add Coolant to the
Coolant Recovery Tank
. . . . 164
How to Add Coolant to the
Radiator
................ .165. 167
Hydraulic Clutch
............... 201
Hydroplaning
.................. 138
Hypnosis. Highway
............. 140
Identification Number. Vehicle
.... 228
Identification. Engine
............ 228
If a Tire Goes Flat
.............. 170
If You’re Stuck: In Sand. Mud. Ice
or Snow
.................... 180
Ignition Switch
................. 51
Inflatable Restraint System.
Supplemental
................ 23
Inflation
- Tire Pressure .......... 216
Inside Daymight Rearview
Mirror
...................... 79
Instrument Cluster
.............. 88
Instrument Panel
............. 87 Instrument Panel. Cleaning the
Topof
..................... 223
[nterior Lights
................. 78
Jump Starting
............... 153
Key Release Button
. .
Keys .............
Label. Service Parts
Lane Change Indicator.
Lap-Shoulder Belt (Safety Belts)
. e . 19
Larger Children (Safety Belts)
. . . e 38
Leaving Your Vehicle with the
Identification
...........
Turn Signal and .............. 69
Leaving Your Vehicle
............ 44
Engine Running
.............. 64
Lighter. Ashtray and ............. 85
Lighter. Cigarette
............... 85
Lights Air Bag Readiness
.... ..... 24
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
.................. 91
Brake System Warning ......... 90
Bulb Replacement
.......... 232
Daytime Running
............. 77
Front Map
................... 79
Check Gages
........ 96
Courtesy
............ 78
Fog ........................ 78
... 51
42
... 228
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