warning light PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1995 User Guide

Check Gauges Light Fuel Gage
This red warning light will come on briefly when you
are starting the engine. If the light comes on and stays
on while you are driving, check your gages to see if they
are in the warning areas. Your
fuel gage shows about how much fuel is in your
tank. The gage works only when the ignition switch is in
the
RUN position. When the gage pointer first indicates
EMPTY
(E) you still have a little fuel left (about one to
two gallons), but you need to get more right away.
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Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive in
spurts
-- heavy acceleration followed by heavy braking
-- rather than keeping pace with traffic. This is a
mistake. Your brakes may not have time to cool between
hard stops. Your brakes will wear out much faster
if you
do a lot
of heavy braking. If you keep pace with the
traffic and allow realistic following distances, you will
eliminate a lot of unnecessary braking. That means
better braking and longer brake
life.
If your engine ever stops while you’re driving, brake
normally but don’t pump your brakes.
If you do, the
pedal may get harder to push down.
If your engine
stops, you will still have some power brake assist. But
you will use it when you brake. Once the power assist is
used up, it may take longer to stop and the brake pedal
will be harder to push.
Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS)
Your Pontiac has an advanced electronic braking system
that will help prevent a braking skid.
INOP
This light on the
instrument panel will
come on briefly when
you start your vehicle.
When you start your vehicle, or when you begin to drive
away, you may hear a momentary motor or clicking
noise. And you may even notice that your brake pedal
moves a little while this is going on. This is the ABS
system testing itself. If there’s a problem with the
anti-lock brake system, the anti-lock brake system
warning light will stay on or flash.
See “Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light’’ in the
Index.
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If your vehicle is in cruise control when the traction When this warning light is on, the system will not liinit
control system begins to lirinit wheel spin, the cruise wheel spin. Adiust your driving accordingly - -
control will automatically disengage. When road
conditions allow you to safely use it again, you may
re-engage the cruise
corn-01. (See “Ci-uise Control” in
The traction control system automatically comes on
whenever you start your vehicle.
the Index.)
TCS
OFF
When the system is on,
the TCS
OFF warning
light will come on to
let you know if there’s a problem with your
traction control
system. See “Traction
Control System
Warning Light” in the
Index.
To limit wheel spin, especially in slippery mad
conditions, you should always leave the system on. But
you can
turn the traction control system off if you ever
need to. (You should
turn the system off if youi. vehicle
ever gets stuck in sand, mud, ice
or snow. See “Rocking
Your Vehicle” in the Index.)
’
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1
TRACTION
@
Automatic
Transmission
Manual
Transmission
TRACTION
CONTROL
To turn the system off, press the button located on
the center of the console behind the shift lever
(Automatic Transmission) or in ffont of the shift boot
(Manual Trans’Mss-ion).
The light on the bu@on will go off, and the TCS OFF
wmiqg light will come on and stay on. If the traction
control system
is limiting wheel spin when you press the
button, the system won’t
turn off right away. It will wait
until there’s no.lonier
a current need to limit wheel spin.
You can turn the system back on at any time by pressing
the button again.
The light on the button should come on, aqd the
TCS
QFF warning light should go off.
If your car is equipped with P245/50ZR16 tires, the
traction control system will automatically
turn off at
speeds above 108 mph (174
km/h). (The TCS OFF
warning light will not come on.) When the vehicle speed
drops below
1p3 mph (166 km/h) the system will
automaticaUy borne on agdn.
,!
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City Driving
I
Here are ways to increase your safety in city driving:
a
a
0
Know the best way to get to where you are going.
Get a city map and
plan your trip into an unknown
part of the city just as
you would for a cross-country
Try to use the freeways that rim and crisscross most
large cities. You’ll save time and energy. (See the
next part, “Freeway Driving.”)
Treat a green light as a warning signal. A traffic light
is there because the corner
is busy enough to need it.
When a light turns green, and just before you start to
move, check both ways for vehicles that have not
cleared the intersection or may be ruqping the red light.
trip.
One of the biggest problems with city streets is the
amount of traffic on them. You’ll want to watch out for
what the other drivers
are doing and pay attention to
traffic
signals.
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Winter Driving
Here are some tips for winter driving:
Have your Pontiac in good shape for winter. Be sure
your engine coolant mix is correct.
You may want to put winter emergency supplies in
your vehicle.
Include an ice scraper, a small brush or broom, a supply
of windshield washer fluid, a rag, some winter outer
clothing, a small shovel, a flashlight,
a red cloth, and a
couple
of reflective warning triangles. And, if you will
be driving under severe conditions, include
a small bag
of sand, a piece of old carpet or a couple of burlap bags
to help provide traction. Be sure you properly secure
these items in your vehicle.
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Section 5 Problems on the Road
Here you’ll find what to do about some problems that
can occur on the road.
Hazard Warning Flashers
Your hazard warning flashers let you warn others. They also let police know you have
a problem. Your front and
rear turn signal lights will flash on and off.
Press the button in to make
your front and rear turn
signal lights flash
on and
off.
Your hazard warning flashers work no matter what
position your key
is in, and even if the key isn’t in.
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Engine Overheating
You will find a coolant temperature gage on your
Pontiac’s instrument panel. You may also find
a low
coolant warning light on your Pontiac instrument panel.
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
NOTICE:
If your engine catches fire because you keep
driving with
no coolant, your vehicle can be
badly damaged. The costly repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
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Engine Coolant
The following explains your cooling system and how to
add coolant when it is low. If you have a problem with
engine overheating or if you need to add coolant to your
radiator, see “Engine Overheating” in the Index.
The proper coolant for your Pontiac will:
Give freezing protection down to -34°F (-37 O C).
Give boiling protection up to 262 “F ( 128 ” C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning lights work as they should.
What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean water (preferably
distilled) and one-half antifreeze that meets “GM
Specification
1825-M,” which won’t damage aluminum
parts.
You can also use a recycled coolant conforming to
GM Specification 1825-M with a complete coolant flush
and refill. If you use this mixture, you don’t need to add
anything else.
NOTICE:
If you use an improper coolant mix, your engine
could overheat and be badly damaged. The
repair cost wouldn’t be covered by your warranty.
Too much water in the mix can freeze
and crack the engine, radiator, heater core and
other parts.
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Section 9 INDEX
Adding. Automatic Transmission Fluid ............. 6-26
Adding. Brake Fluid
............................. 6-38
Adding. Electrical Equipment
..................... 6-65
Adding. Engine Coolant
.......................... 6-31
Adding. Engine Oil
............................. 6- 15
Adding. Hydraulic Clutch Fluid
.................... 6-26
Adding. Manual Transmission Fluid
................ 6-27
Adding. Power Steering Fluid
..................... 6-35
Adding. Sound Equipment
........................ 6- 14
Adding. Windshield Washer Fluid
............. 2-44. 6-35
AirBag
....................................... 1-19
Air Bag Readiness Light
.................... 1-21.2. 69
Air Bag System
................................ 1-19
Air Bag. How Does it Restrain
.................... 1-23
Air Bag.
How it Works ........................... 1-21
Air Bag Location
............................... 1-22
Air Bag. Servicing
.............................. 1-25
Air Bag. What
Makes it Inflate .................... 1-23
Air Bag. What Will You See After It inflates
......... 1-23
Air Bag. When Should it Inflate
................... 1-23
Aircleaner
.................................... 6-19
Air Conditioning
................................ 3-3
Alignment and Balance. Tires
..................... 6-54
Aluminum Wheels. Cleaning ...................... 6-62
Antenna. Fixed Mast
............................ 3-16
Antenna. Power Mast Care
....................... 3-17
Anti-Lock
..................................... 4-6
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
......... 2.71. 4.6
Anti-Lock Brakes
............................... 4-6
Antifreeze ..................................... 6-30
Antifreeze Adding
.............................. 6-31
Antifreeze Checking
............................ 6-31
Anti-Theft Feature. Theftlock
..................... 3-12
Appearance Care
............................... 6-55
Appearance Care and Materials .................... 6-64
Ashtray and Lighter
............................. 2-62
Ashtray. Front
................................. 2-62
Audio System. Steering Wheel Touch Controls
....... 3-18
Audio System. Tips About Your
................... 3-14
Audio Systems
.................................. 3-5
Automatic Transmission
......................... 2-23
Automatic Overdrive Position .................. 2-25
First Gear
(1) Position ........................ 2-26
Neutral (N) Position
.......................... 2-24
Park (P) Position
............................. 2-23
Reverse (R) Position
.......................... 2-24
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