PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1996 Owners Manual
Page 151 of 386
TREBLE: Slide the lever  to  the right or left to increase 
or decrease treble. If a station is weak or noisy,  slide the 
lever down  to reduce the noise. 
Adjusting  the  Speakers 
BAL: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn it to 
move  the  sound to the left or right speakers.  Use the 
middle  position  to balance these speakers. Push the 
knob 
back  in  when  you're not  using  it. 
FADE: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn it to 
move  the 
sound to  the  front or rear speakers. Use the 
middle position to balance these speakers. Push the knob 
back  in  when  you're not using  it. 
Playing a Compact Disc 
The integral CD player  can play 8 cm "single" 
mini-discs. 
Insert  a disc  partway  into 
the slot, label side  up. The 
player  will  pull  it in. The compact disc symbol 
will 
appear on the  display. If the ignition  is on, but  the radio 
is off, the disc will begin playing. CD will appear  on the 
display. 
If you  want  to insert a disc when  the ignition is 
OFF, fist press EJECT. 
If you're  driving on a very  rough road or if it's very  hot, 
the disc  may not play  and 
E (error)  'and a number may 
appear on the radio  display. 
If the disc comes out,  it 
could  be that: 
The disc is upside down. 
It  is  dirty,  scratched  or wet. 
The  air is very  humid.  (If so, wait  about an hour 
If any error occurs repeatedly  or if  an  error  can't  be 
corrected, please contact your dealer. 
If your  radio 
displays an error number, write it down and provide it to 
your dealer  when reporting the problem. 
RECALL: Press this  button  to see what track is playing. 
Press  it again within  five seconds to  see how  long  it has 
been  playing (elapsed time).  The track number  also 
appears  when the disc  is  inserted,  you change the 
volume  or when  a  new track starts playing. 
PREV (1): Press this button or the SEEK down arrow  to 
go to the start of the current track if more than eight 
seconds have played. 
If you  hold  the  button or press it 
more than once, the player  will continue moving back 
through the disc. 
and  try 
again.) 
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Page 152 of 386
NEXT (2): Press  this  button or the SEEK up  arrow  to 
go  to  the  start  of  the next  track  if more  than  eight 
seconds  have  played. 
If you hold the  button  or  press  it 
more  than  once,  the player  will  continue  moving 
forward  through  the disc. 
RDM (3): Press this  button to hear  the  tracks  in  a 
random  order.  It  will  change tracks in a  random,  rather 
than  sequential  order.  Press 
RDM again  to turn  off 
random  play. 
REV (5): Press  and  hold  this  button  to quickly  reverse 
within a  track  (song).  Release it to play the passage. YOU 
will  hear  sound  at a  reduced  volume.  The display  will 
show  elapsed  time. 
FWD (6): Press and  held this button to quickly advance 
within  a  track  (song).  You will  hear  sound  at  a  reduced 
volume.  The display  will  show elapsed  time. 
AM-FM: Press this button to play the radio  when a disc 
is playing.  The disc  will  stop  but  remain  in the  player. 
CDPLAY. Press this  button to change to the  disc 
function  when  the radio  is 
on. 
EJECT Press this  button  to  remove  the  disc or stop the 
disc  and  switch  to the  radio.  EJECT will  work  with 
the 
radio off. 
AM-FM Stereo  with  Compact  Disc  Player 
and  Equalizer 
Playing the Radio 
VOL: Push  this  knob to turn  the  system on or off. Turn 
it clockwise  to increase volume  and  counterclockwise  to 
decrease  volume. 
RECALL: Press  this  button  briefly  to  recall the  station 
being  played  or 
to display the clock. If you press the 
knob  when  the  ignition  is off, the  clock  will show  for a 
few  seconds. 
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Page 153 of 386
Finding a Station Setting the  Tone 
AM-FM: 
Press  this  button  to get AM, FM1 or FM2. 
The display  shows  your  selection. 
TUNE: Press this knob lightly so it extends.  Turn it to 
choose radio stations. Push the  knob back in  when 
you're  not using it. 
SEEK: Press the  up  or d,own  arrow  to go  to  the next 
higher  or  lower station. 
PUSHBUTTONS: The six numbered  pushbuttons  let 
you return to your favorite stations.  You can set  up to 
18 stations  (six AM, six FM1 and six FM2). 
1. Press AM-FM to select the  band. 
2. Find the station  you want by  using TUNE or SEEK. 
3. Press and  hold one of the six  numbered  buttons until 
SET appears on the  display.  Whenever  you  press  that 
numbered  button, the station  you set will  return. 
7 
4. Repeat  the steps for each pushbutton. 
EQUALIZER: A seven  band  equalizer is part of your 
audio system. Slide the levers  up  to 
boost or down to 
reduce frequency range. 
Adjusting  the Speakers 
BAL: Press this knob lightly so it extends. Turn  it  to 
move the 
sound to  the left or right speakers. Use the 
middle position to balance these speakers. 
Push the knob 
back  in when  you're  not using it. 
FADE: Pressthis  knob lightly so it extends. Turn it to 
move the  sound  to the front  or rear speakers.  Use the 
middle position to balance  these speakers. Push the 
knob 
back in  when you're  not using  it. 
Playing a Compact,Disc 
The integral CD player  can play 8 cm "single" 
mini-discs. 
Insert a disc partway into the slot, label  side up. The 
player 
will pull  it in. If the ignition is  on, but the radio is 
off, the disc will begin playing.  If you  want to insert a 
disc  when  the ignition is off, first press EJECT. 
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Page 154 of 386
If you’re driving on a  very  rough road  or if it’s  very  hot, 
the  disc  may  not play  and  E  (error) and  a number  may 
appear  on  the radio display.  If  the disc comes out,  it 
could  be that: 
The disc  is upside down. 
It is  dirty,  scratched  or wet. 
The air is very  humid. (If so, wait about  an  hour 
If  any  error occurs  repeatedly or  if an  error  can’t  be 
corrected,  please contact your  dealer. 
If your radio 
displays 
an error  number,  write it down and provide  it to 
your  dealer  when  reporting  the problem. 
RECALL: Press this button  to see  what  track  is playing. 
Press it again within  five seconds  to see  how  long 
it has 
been  playing (elapsed time). The track number also 
appears  when the disc  is inserted, the volume  is changed 
or  when  a  new  track starts playing. 
PREV (1): Press this button or the SEEK down  arrow to 
go to the  start  of the current track if more  than  eight 
seconds  have played. 
If you hold  the button  or press  it 
more  than once,  the player 
will continue moving back 
through the disc. 
’ NEXT (2): Press this  button or the SEEK  up  arrow to 
go 
to the start  of the next track if more than eight 
and 
try  again.)  seconds 
have played.  If you  hold the button or  press it 
more  than once, the player will continue  moving 
forward  through the disc. 
RDM (3): Press this  button  t’o  hear  the tracks in a 
random  order. It will  change tracks 
in a random, rather 
than  sequential order. Press 
RDM again  to turn off 
random  play. The radio  will play during this  operation. 
REV (5): Press and hold this button  to  quickly  reverse 
within  a  track  (song). Release  it to  play  the  passage.  You 
will  hear  sound  at a reduced volume. The  display will 
show  elapsed time. 
FWD (6): Press  and hold this button  to  quickly advance 
within  a track (song).  You will hear  sound at 
a reduced 
volume.  The 
display will show elapsed time. 
AM-FM: Press this  button to play  the radio  when  a  disc 
is  playing. The disc  will stop  but remain in the  player. 
CDPLAY Press this button to change to the  disc 
function  when the radio is  on. 
EJECT Press this button  to remove the disc or stop  the 
disc  and switch  to’ the radio. EJECT  will  work  with the 
radio 
off.  
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Page 155 of 386
Theft-Deterrent  Feature 
THEFTLOCK" is designed  to discourage theft of your 
rabio. It works  by using a secret code.to  disable all radio 
functions whenever battery  power  is  removed. 
The THEFTLOCK feature for  the radio may  be  used  or 
radio 
is not  protected  by the  feature. If THEFTLOCK is 
activated,  your radio  will not operate 
if stolen. 
When THEFTLOCK is activated, the radio  will display 
LOC to indicate  a  locked  condition anytime battery 
power  is  removed. 
If your battery loses  power for any 
reason,  you must 
unlock the radio  with the secret code 
before-it will operate. 
+ ignored. If ignored,  the  system plays normally  an'd the 
Activating the Theft-Reterrent Feature 
The  instructions  which follow explain how to enter your 
secret code  to activate  the 
THEFTLOCK system. It is 
recommended  that 
you read through all nine steps 
before starting the procedure. 
NOTE: If you  allow  more than 15 seconds to elapse 
between  any 
steps, the radio  automatically reverts to 
time and you must start the procedure over at Step 4. 
1. Write  down  any wee or four-digit number  from 
000 to 1999 and keep it in a  safe  place  separate from 
the vehicle. 
2. Turn the ignition to  the ACC or RUN position. 
3. Turn the radio off. 
4. Press  the 1 and 4 buttons together.  Hold them  down 
until 
--- shows on  the  display.  Next you will use  the 
secret  code number  which  you have written  down. 
5. Press MIN and 000 will appear  on the  display. 
6. Press MIN again to make the last two digits agree 
7. Press PElR to  make  the first one  or two digits  agree 
8. Press AM-FM after you have confirmed that the 
with 
your code. 
with 
your  code. 
code  matches  the secret  code 
you have written down. 
The display will show REP to let you know  that you 
need  to  repeat Steps 5 through 7 to confirm your 
secret code. 
9. Press AM-FM and  this  time  the display will show 
SEC to let you know that your  radio  is secure. 
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Unlocking  the  Theft-Deterrent  Feature  After  a Power 
Loss 
Enter  your secret  code as follows;  pause no more than 
15 seconds between steps: 
1. LOC appears  when the ignition  is on. 
2. Press  MIN  and 000 will appear  on the  display. 
3. Press  MIN again to  make the last  two  digits agree 
4. Press HR to make  the first  one  or  two digits agree 
with 
your  code. 
with  your  code. 
code  matches  the secret  code you have  written down. 
The 
display  will show SEC, indicating the radio is 
now operable  and secure. 
5. Press AM-FM after  you have  confirmed that the 
If you enter  the wrong  code eight times, INOP will 
appear 
on the  display. You will have  to wait an hour 
with  the ignition  on before  you can 
try again.  When you 
try again, you will  only  have three  chances to enter  the 
correct code  before INOP appears. 
If 
you lose  or  forget your  code, contact your  dealer. 
Disabling  the  Theft-Deterrent  Feature 
Enter your secret code as follows; pause no more than 
15 seconds between steps: 
1. Turn the ignition to  the ACC or RUN position. 
2. Turn'the  radio off. 
3. Press  the 1 and 4 buttons together.  Hold  them  down 
until 
SEC shows  on the  display. 
4. Press  MIN qd 000 will appear  on  the  display. 
5. Press MIN again  to make  the last two digits  agree 
with your  code. 
6. Press HR to make the  first  one  or  two digits agree 
7. Press AM-FM after you have  confirmed  that the 
with 
your  code. 
code  matches the secret  code you have  written  down. 
The  display will  show 
---, indicating that the  radio  is 
no longer secured. 
If  the  code  entered  is incorrect, 
SEC will appear on the 
display.  The  radio  will remain  secured until  the correct 
code  is  entered. 
When  battery  power  is  given to a  secured  radio, the 
radio  won't 
turn on and LOC will appear on the display. 
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Page 157 of 386
Steering Wheel Controls (Option) 
If your vehicle has this feature,  you can control  certain 
radio  functions  using  the buttons on 
your steering  wheel. 
VOLUME: Press the up arrow  to  increase  the volume 
and the down  arrow to decrease volume. 
PLAY: Press this button to play a cassette  tape or 
compact  disc when  the  radio is playing. 
MUTE: Press this button  to silence  the system. Press it 
again,  or any  other 
radio button, to turn on the sound. 
SEEK: Press the up mow to tune to the next radio 
station  and 
the down arrow to tune to the previous radio 
station. If a cassette tape or compact disc is playing, the 
player will advance  with  the up arrow and rewind with 
the down mow. 
PRESET: Press this button to  hear the radio stations 
that 
are set on your pushbuttons. 
AM-F": Press this button to select AM, FM1 or €342. 
If a  cassette tape or compact disc  is playing, the tape or 
disc will stop playing and the radio  will  play. 
UBderstanding Radio R: 3eption 
FM Stereo 
FM stereo will give you the best sound. But FM signals 
will  reach  only  about 
10 to 40 miles ( 16 to 65 km). Tall 
buildings  or 
hills can interfere with FM signals, causing 
the sound to come and go. 
AM 
The range for most AM stations is greater than for FM, 
especially  at night. The longer range,  however,  can 
cause  stations 
to interfere with each other. AM can pick 
up noise horn things like storms  and power lines. Try 
reducing  the treble to reduce this noise  if  you  ever get  it. 
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Page 158 of 386
Tips  About  Your  Audio  System 
Hearing damage from loud noise is  almost undetectable 
until  it is  too  late.  Your  hearing  can adapt  to higher 
volumes 
of sound.  Sound that  seems  normal can  be loud 
and  harmful  to your hearing.  Take precautions 
by 
adjusting the volume control  on your  radio  to a safe 
sound  level before your hearing adapts  to it. 
To help  avoid  hearing loss  or damage: 
Adjust  the volume  control to the  lowest  setting. 
Increase volume slowly until you hear Comfortably 
and  clearly. 
NOTICE: 
Before  you  add any sound equipment to your 
vehicle 
-- like a tape  player,  CB  radio,  mobile 
telephone 
or two-way  radio -- be sure you can add 
what you  want. If you .can, it’s very important  to 
do 
it properly..  Added  sound  equipment  may 
interfere  with the operation 
of your  vehicle’s 
engine,  Delco  radio or other  systems,  and even 
with  the  operation 
of sound  equipment  that has 
been  added  improperly. 
So, before adding sound equipment, check with 
your dealer  and be sure  to check  Federal rules 
covering  mobile  radio  and telephone units. 
~ damage  them. Your vehicle’s systems may interfere 
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Page 159 of 386
Care of Your CasAte 'I - r1; 
A tape player  that is not  cleaned  regularly  can cause 
reduced sound quality, ruined cassettes or a damaged 
mechanism.  'Cassette tapes should  be  stored 
in their 
cases 
away from  *contaminants,  direct sunlight  and 
extreme  heat. 
If they aren't,  they  may  not operate 
properly  or may cause  failure  of the 
tape player. 
Your  tape player  should  be  cleaned  regularly  after  every 
50 hours of  use. Your radio  may  display CLN to  indicate 
that  you  have used  your  tape player 
for 50 hours  without 
resetting  the  tape clean timer. 
If you  notice a reduction in 
sound quality, try a known good cassette to see if the tape 
or the  tape  player  is at  fault. If this other  cassette  has no 
improvement  in  sound  quality,  clean the  tape  player. 
Cleaning may be  done with a scrubbing  action, 
non-abrasive cleaning cassette  with pads  which  scrub 
the tape  head  as the hubs 
of the  cleaner cassette turn. It 
is normal for the  cassette  to eject  while  cleaning.  Insert 
the  cassette at least  three times  to ensure thorough 
cleaning.  A scrubbing action cleaning cassette is 
available through your Pontiac dealer. 
,. I . E-.. . . ;, -. ' __ '.c.l . : .. -. .. j .-:,,;n '.;- ';. .. ~, _: 
You may  also choose a non-scrubbing action, wet-type 
cleaner  which  uses  a cassette with  a fabric belt  to clean 
the tape head. This type 
of cleaning cassette  will not 
eject.  €t  may  not  clean 
as thoroughly as  the scrubbing 
type cleaner. 
Cassettes  are subject to wear  and the sound 
quality may 
degrade  over  time. Always make  sure that the cassette 
tape is  in good condition before  you have  your  tape 
player  serviced. 
Care of Your Compact Discs , 
Handle  discs  carefully. Store them in their original  cases 
or other protective cases  and away from direct sunlight 
and  dust. 
If the surface of a  disc  is soiled, dampen  a 
clean,  soft cloth 
in a mild, neutral detergent .solution and 
clean  it, wiping  from the center  to the edge. 
Be sure never to  touch  the signal surface  when handling 
discs.  Pick up discs by grasping the outer  edges or the 
edge of the hole  and  the  outer edge. 
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Page 160 of 386
Power Antenna Mast  Care 
Your power  antenna  will  look its  best  and  work  well 
if  it’s  cleaned  from time  to  time. 
To clean the 
antenna  mast: 
1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 
5. 
6. 
Turn, on  the  ignition  and  radio to  raise  the  anrenna. 
Dampen  a  clean cloth with mineral  spirits  or 
equivalent  solvent. 
Wipe  the  cloth  over  the  mast sections,  removing 
any  dirt. 
Wipe 
dry with  a  clean cloth. 
,. ,.:-:. 1’ : . ., . 8.t ;. - . .‘Y, .. --.2b$ 
NOTICE: 
Before  entering  an automatic  car wash,  turn off 
your radio to make the  power antenna  go  down. 
This will prevent  the mast from  possibly  getting 
damaged. 
If the  antenna  does not go  down  when 
you  turn  the radio 
off, it may  be damaged  or 
need  to  be  cleaned.  In either  case,  lower  the 
antenna  by hand  by carefully  pressing  the 
antenna  down. 
- I 
Make the  antenna go up and  down  by  turning  the 
radio  or ignition 
off and  on. If the mast  portion  of  your  antenna is  damaged,  you  can 
Repeat 
if necessary.  and follow the  instructions  in the  kit. 
easily replace it. See your dealer for a replacement kit 
I NOTICE: 
r 
Don’t  lubricate the  power antenna. Lubrication 
could  damage 
it. 
I 3-23 
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