PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1995 Owners Manual
Page 291 of 386
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Special Cleaning Problems
Greasy or Oily Stains
Stains caused by: grease, oil, butter, margarine, shoe
polish, coffee with cream, chewing gum, cosmetic
creams, vegetable oils, wax crayon, tar and asphalt can
be removed as follows:
@ Carefully scrape off excess stain.
9 Fallow the solvent-type instnxctions described
?, Sboe palish, wax crayon, tar and asphalt will stain if
left on a vehicle seat fabric. They should be removed
as &on as possible. Be careful, because the cleaner
will dissolve them and may cause them to spread.
earlier.
t
Non-Greasy .. Stains
Stains caused by: catsup, coffee (black), egg, fruit, fruit
juice,
nrlilk, soft drinks, wine, vomit, urine and blood can
he removsd as follows:
Carefully scrape off excess stain, then sponge the
If a stain remains, follow the foam-type instructions
sailed &pa with cool water.
desciibed evlier.. ..
If an odor lingers after cleaning vomit or urine,
treat the area with a waterhaking soda solution:
1 teaspoon (5 ml) of baking Soda to 1 cup (250 ml)
of lukewarm water.
0 If needed, clean lightly with solvent-type cleaner.
Combination Stains
Stains caused by: candy, ice cream, mayonnaise, chili
sauce and unknown stains can be removed as follows:
0 Carefully scrape off excess stain, then clean with
cool water and allow to dry.
If a stain remains, clean it with solvent-type cleaner.
Cleaning Vinyl
Use warm water and a clean cloth.
0 Rub with a clean, damp cloth to remove dirt. You
Things like tar, asphalt and shoe polish will stain if
may have to do it more than once.
you don’t get them
of€ quickly. Use a clean cloth and
a solvent-type vinyl cleaner.
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Cleaning Leather
Use a soft cloth with lukewarm water and a mild soap or
saddle soap.
For stubborn stains, use a mild solution of 10%
isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) and 90% water.
Never use oils, varnishes, solvent-based or abrasive
cleaners, furniture polish or shoe polish on leather.
Soiled leather should be cleaned immediately. If dirt
is allowed to work into finish, it can harm the
leather.
Cleaning the Top of the Instrument Panel
Use only mild soap and water to clean the top surfaces
of the instrument panel. Sprays containing silicones or
waxes may cause annoying reflections in the windshield
and even make
it difficult to see through the windshield
under certain conditions.
Care of Safety Belts
Keep belts clean and dry.
, . .. .
Glass
Glass should be cleaned often. GM Glass Cleaner (GM
Part No. 1050427) or a liquid household glass cleaner
will remove
normal tobacco smoke and dust films.
Don’t use abrasive cleaners on glass, because they may
cause scratches. Avoid placing decals on the inside rear
window, since they may have
to be scraped off later. If
abrasive cleaners are used on the inside of the rear
window, an electric defogger element may be damaged.
Any temporary license should not be attached across
the
defogger grid.
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Cleaning the Outside of the
Windshield and Wiper Blades
If the windshield is not clear after using the windshield
washer, or if the wiper blade chatters when running, wax
or other material may be on the blade or windshield.
Clean the outside of the windshield with GM
Windshield Cleaner, Bon-Ami Powder@ (GM Part
No. 1050011). The windshield is clean if beads do not
form when you rinse it with water.
Clean the blade by wiping vigorously with a cloth
soaked in
full strength windshield washer solvent. Then
rinse the blade with water.
Wiper blades should be checked on a regular basis and
replaced when worn.
Weatherstrips
Silicone grease on weatherstrips will make them last
longer, seal better, and not stick or squeak. Apply
silicone grease with a clean cloth at least every six
months. During very cold, damp weather more frequent application may be required. (See “Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants” in the Index.)
Cleaning a Removable Roof Panel
Special care is necessary when cleaning, removing
and/or storing the roof panel.
Flush with water to remove dust and dirt, then dry
the panel.
Clean the panel with GM Glass Cleaner. Leave the
cleaner on the panel for one minute, then wipe the
panel with a soft, lint-free cloth.
Don’t use abrasive cleaning materials.
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Cleaning the Outside of Your Pontiac
The paint finish on your vehicle provides beauty, depth
of color, gloss retention and durability.
Washing Your Vehicle
The best way to preserve your vehicle’s f”mish is to kee\
p it
clean by washing it often with lukewarm or cold water.
Don’t wash your vehicle in the direct rays of the sun.
Don’t use strong soaps or chemical detergents. Use
liquid hand, dish or car washing (mild detergent) soaps.
Don’t use cleaning agents that are petroleum based, or
that contain acid or abrasives. All cleaning agents should be flushed promptly and not allowed to dry on
the surface, or they could stain. Dry the finish with a
soft, clean chamois or a
100% cotton towel to avoid
surface scratches and water spotting.
High pressure car washes may cause water to enter your
vehicle.
Finish Care
Occasional waxing or mild polishing of your Pontiac by
hand may be necessary to remove residue from the paint
finish. You can get
GM approved cleaning products
from your dealer. (See “Appearance Care and Materials”
in the Index.)
Your Pontiac has a “basecoatklearcoat” paint finish. The
clearcoat gives more depth and gloss to the colored basecoat.
Always use waxes and polishes that are non-abrasive and
made for a basecoatklearcoat paint f~sh.
NOTICE:
Machine compounding or aggressive polishing on
a basecoatlclearcoat paint finish may dull the
finish
or leave swirl marks.
Foreign materials such as calcium chloride and other
salts, ice melting agents, road oil and tar, tree sap, bird
droppings, chemicals from industrial chimneys, etc. can
damage your vehicle’s finish if they remain on painted
surfaces. Wash the vehicle as soon as possible. If
necessary, use non-abrasive cleaners that are marked
safe for painted surfaces to remove foreign matter.
Exterior painted surfaces are subject to aging, weather
and chemical fallout that can take their toll over a period
of years. You can help to keep the paint finish looking
new by keeping your Pontiac garaged or covered
whenever possible.
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Cleaning Your Convertible Top
NOTICE:
When using an automatic car wash, set your
heating or cooling system to “VENT” with the
fan speed set to the second highest speed. This
will prevent high pressure water from entering
around your top.
Your convertible top should be cleaned often. Use a
mild soap, lukewarm water and a soft brush. Don’t use
any harsh cleaners or bleaching agents on the top. They
can darnage the material.
When the top is really dirty, use a mild foam-type
cleaner. Use a cloth or sponge to remove the dirt.
Thoroughly rinse the top and dry it before lowering it.
A damp top causes wrinkles.
Aluminum Wheels (If So Equipped)
Your aluminum wheels have a protective coating similar
to the painted surface of your car. Don’t use strong
soaps, chemicals, chrome polish, abrasive cleaners
or
abrasive cleaning brushes on them because you could
damage this coating, After rinsing thoroughly, a wax
may be applied.
NOTICE:
If you have aluminum wheels, don’t use an
automatic car wash that has hard silicon carbide
cleaning brushes. These brushes can take the
protective coating
off your aluminum wheels.
Tires
To clean your tires, use a stiff brush with a tire cleaner.
When applying a tire dressing always take care to wipe
off any overspray or splash from painted surfaces.
Petroleum-based products may damage the paint finish.
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Sheet Metal Damage
If your vehicle is damaged and requires sheet metal
repair or replacement, make sure the body repair shop
applies anti-corrosion material to the parts repaired or
replaced to restore corrosion protection.
Finish Damage
Any stone chips, fractures or deep scratches in the finish
should be repaired right away. Bare metal will corrode
quickly and may develop into a major repair expense.
Minor chips and scratches can be repaired with touch-up
materials available from your dealer or other service
outlets. Larger areas of finish damage can be corrected
in your dealer's body and paint shop.
Underbody Maintenance
Chemicals used for ice and snow removal and dust contr~l
can collect on the underbody.
If these are not removed,
accelerated corrosion (rust) can occur on the underbody
parts such
as fuel lines, frame, floor pan, and exhaust
system even though they have corrosion protection.
At least every speng, flush these materials from the
underbody with plain water. Clean any areas where mud
and other debris can collect.
Dirt packed in closed areas
of the frame should be loosened before being flushed.
Your dealer or an underbody vehicle washing system
can do this for you.
e.
Chemical Paint Spotting
Some weather and atmospheric conditions can create a
chemical fallout. Airborne pollutants can fall uppn
and
attack painted surfaces on your vehicle. This damage
can take two
foims: blotchy, ringlet-shaped ,'
discolorations, and small irregular dark spots etched into
the paint surface.
Although no defect in the paint job causes this, Pantiac
will repair, at no charge to the owner, the surfaces bf
new vehicles damaged by
this fallout conditiop.within
12 'months or 12,000 miles (20 000 km) of purchase,
whichever comis fist;
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Appearance Care and Maintenance Materials __
YOU can get these from your GM Parts Department. 1
PART
NUMBER SIZE DESCRIPTION USAGE
12345343 16 oz. (0.473L) Goodwrench0 Liquid Wax Exterior polish
1052277 12 oz. (0.354L) I Spray-A-Squeak Silicone Grease Weatherstrips, Stops squeaks
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Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
1111 11111 II II I I 111 I II II Ill Ill I 11111 111 I11111111 I1111 Ill II I 111111 II
I
This is the legal identifier for your Pontiac. It appears on
a plate in the front corner of the instrument panel, on the
driver’s side.
You can see it if you look through the
windshield from outside your vehicle. The VIN also
appears on the Vehicle Certification and Service Parts
labels and the certificates of title and registration.
Engine Identification
The eighth character in your VIN is the engine code.
This code will help you identify your engine.
specifications, and replacemenf parts.
Service Parts Identification Label
You’ll find this label inside your console storage
compartment. It’s very helpful
if you ever need to order
parts. On this label is:
your VIN,
the model designation,
paint information, and
a list of all production options and special equipment.
Be sure that
this label is not removed from the vehicle.
Add-on Electrical Equipment
NOTICE: ,ii :/
Don’t add anything electrical to your Pontiac
unless you check with your dealer
first. Some
electrical equipment can damage your vehicle and
tbe damage wouldn’t be covered
by your warranty.
some add-on electrical equipment can keep other
components from working
as they should.
!:
Your vehicle has an air bag system. Before attempting to
add anything electrical to your Pontiac, see “Servicing
Your Air Bag-Equipped Pontiac” in the Index.
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Fuses tu~d Circuit Breakers
The other is in the engine CoIfipartment. Open the cover
on either of the boxes to expose the fuses.
me wiring circuits in your vehicle are protected from
shci'rl
circ&b by a combination of fuses, circuit breakers,
and fusible thermal
links in the wiring itself. This
greatly redtices the chance of fires caused by electrical
problems.
Thkre are two hse centers on your vehicle. One is in the
left side ok your instrument panel.
Look at the silver-colored band inside the fuse. If the
band
is broken or melted, replace the fuse. Be sure you
replace a bad
fuse with a new one of the correct size.
If you ever have a problem on the road and don't have a
spare
fuse, you can bortow one. Just pick some feature
of your car that you can get along without-like the
radio or cigarette lighter-ind use ite fuse,
if it is the
size
you need. ReplaGe it as soon as you can.
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Headlamps
The headlamp wiring is protected by a circuit breaker.
An electrical overload will cause the larnps to
go on and
off, or in some cases to remain off. If this happens, have
your headlamp wiring checked right away.
Windshield Wipers
The windshield wiper motor is protected by a circuit
breaker and
a fuse. If the motor overheats due to heavy
snow, etc., the wiper will stop until the motor cools.
If
the overload is caused by some electrical problem and
not snow, etc., be sure to get it fixed.
Power Windows and Other Power Options
Circuit breakers protect the power windows and other
power accessories. When the current load is
too heavy,
the circuit breaker opens and closes, protecting the
circuit until the problem is fixed or goes away.
Main Fuse Block
IC3 20 30 4EIl
FUSE USAGE CHART
AIR BAG TURN B - U HVAC RADIO ACCY
5m 60 70 80 PCM IGN STOP/HAZARD PWR ACCY COURTESY
GAGES TAIL LTS CIGAR/HORN DEFOG/SEATS
CRANK ACCY RADIO
SEE OWNER'S MANUAL FOR MORE INFORMATION PRINTED IN U.S.A 10264033 2
1.
2.
3.
4.
AIR BAG: SIR Components
TURN B-U: Backup Lamps; Daytime Running
Lamps Module (Canada);Turn Flasher; Transmission
Range Switch;Traction Control Switch
HVAC: Heat Control Selector Switch (Heatedfir
Conditioner); Rear Defogger
RADIO ACCY: Power Antenna; Disc Changer
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