fuel PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1997 Owner's Manual

To provide cleaner air, all gasolines in the United States
are now required to contain additives that will help
prevent deposits from forming in your engine and fuel
system, allowing your emission control system to
function properly. Therefore, you should not have to add
anything to the fuel. In addition, gasolines containing
oxygenates, such
as ethers and ethanol, and
reformulated gasolines may be available in your area to
help clean the air. General Motors recommends that you
use these gasolines if they comply with the
specifications described earlier.
NOTICE:
Your vehicle was not designed for fuel that
contains methanol. Don’t use it. It can corrode
metal parts in your fuel system and also damage
plastic and rubber parts. That damage wouldn’t
be covered under your warranty.
Fuels in Foreign Countries
If you plan on driving in another country outside the
United States or Canada, the proper fuel may be hard to
find. Never use leaded gasoline or any other fuel n’ot
recommended in the previous text on fuel. Costly repairs
caused by use of improper fuel wouldn’t be covered by
your warranty.
To check on fuel availability, ask an auto club, or
contact a major oil company that does business in the
country where you’ll be driving.
You can also write us at the following address for
advice. Just tell us where you’re going and give your
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
General Motors International Product Center
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario
L1H 8P7
6-5

Filling . - - r Tank
L
The cap is behind a hinged door on the left side of
your vehicle.
Gasoline vapor is highly flammable. It burns
violently,
and that can cause very bad injuries.
Don’t smoke
if you’re near gasoline or refueling
your vehicle. Keep sparks, flames and smoking
materials away from gasoline.
6-6

While refueling, hang the cap inside the fuel door.
To take off the cap, turn it slowly to the left
(counterclockwise).
If you get gas0 le on yourself and then
something ignites
it, you could be badly burned.
Gasoline can spray out on you
if you open the
fuel filler cap too quickly. This spray can happen
if your tank is nearly full, and is more likely in
hot weather. Open the fuel filler cap slowly and
wait
for any “hiss” noise to stop. Then unscrew
the cap all the way.
Be careful not to spill gasoline. Clean gasoline from
painted surfaces as soon as possible. See “Cleaning
the Outside of Your Pontiac” in the Index.
6-7

When you put the cap back on, turn it to the right
(clockwise) until you hear a clicking sound. Make
sure you fully install the cap. The diagnostic system
can determine
if the fuel cap has been left off or
improperly installed. This would allow fuel to
evaporate into the atmosphere. See “Malfunction
Indicator
Lamp” in the Index.
1~ NOTICE: I
If you need a new cap, be sure to get the right
type. Your dealer can get one for you. If you get
the wrong type, it may not fit or have proper
venting, and your fuel tank and emissions
system
might be damaged.
Checkinr Things Under the Hood
An electric fan under the hood can start up and
injure
you even when the engine is not running, i
Keep hands, clothing and tools away from any
underhood electric fan.
Things that burn can get on hot
engine parts a:
start
a fire. These include liquids like gasoline,
oil,
coolant, brake fluid, windshield washer and
other fluids, and plastic or rubber.
You or others
could be burned. Be careful not to
drop or spill
things that will burn onto a hot engine.

Before closing the hood, be sure all the filler caps
are on.
Then just pull the hood down and close it firmly.
Engine Oil
LOW
It’s a good idea to check your engine oil every time you
get fuel. In order to get an accurate reading, the oil must
be warm and the vehicle must be on level ground.
Th,e engine
oil dipstick is the yellow loop near the back
of the engine.
If the LOW OIL light on the instrument panel comes on,
it means you need to check your engine oil level right
away.
For more information, see “Low Oil Light” in the
Index. You should check your engine oil level regularly;
this is an added reminder.
5.7L Engine Oil Dipstick
6- 12

RECOMMENDED SAE VISCOSITY GRADE ENGINE OILS
FOR BEST FUEL ECONOMY AND COLD STARTING, SELECT THE LOWEST
SAE VISCOSITY GRADE OIL FOR THE EXPECTED TEMPERATURE RANGE.
HOT
WEATHER
/
4

-
“F
-100-
+80-
+60-
+40-
t 20 -
0-
7
“C
+ 38
. +27
. + 16
+4
-7
- 18
LOOK
FOR THIS
SYMBOL
SAE SW-30 PREFERRED
COLD
WEATHER
00 NOT USE SAE 2OW-50 OR ANY OTHER GRADE OIL NOT RECOMMENOEO
5.7L Engine
As shown in the chart, if you have the 5.7L engine,
SAE 5W-30 is best for your vehicle. However, you can
use
SAE 1OW-30 if it’s going to be 0°F (-18°C) or
above. These numbers on an oil container show its
viscosity, or thickness.
Do not use other viscosity oils,
such
as SAE 20W-50.
6-15

RECl"ENDE0 SAE VISCOSITY GRADE ENGINE OILS
FOR BEST FUEL AND COLD STARTING, SELECT THE LOWEST
SAE VISCOSITY Gmmw= JL FOR THE EXPECTED TEMPERATURE RANGE.
HOT
WEATHER
/

WEATHER
COLD
LOOK
FOR THIS
SYMBOL
SAL SW-30 ..
DO NOT USE SAE 2OW-50 OR ANY
OTHER GRADE OIL NOT RECOMMENDED
3800 Engine
As shown in the chart, if you have the 3800 engine, SAE
1OW-30 is best for your vehicle. However, you can use
SAE 5W-30 if it's going to be colder than 60°F (16OC)
before your next oil change. When it's very cold, you
should use SAE 5W-30. These numbers on an oil
container show its viscosity, or thickness. Do not use
other viscosity oils, such as SAE 2OW-50.
6-1 6

Inflation -- Tire Pressure
The Tire-Loading Information label, which is on the
driver’s door, shows the correct inflation pressures for
your tires when they’re cold. “Cold” means your vehicle
has been sitting for at least three hours or driven
no
more than 1 mile ( 1.6 km).
If you’ll be driving at speeds higher than
100 mph
(160 kdh) where it is legal, raise the cold inflation
pressure
of each tire to 35 psi (240 kPa). When you
end this very high-speed driving, reduce the
cold
inflation pressures to those listed on the Tire-Loading
Information label.
NOTICE:
Don’t let anyone tell you that underinflation or
overinflation is all right. It’s not. If your tires
don’t have enough air (underinflation), you can
get the following:
Too much flexing
0 Too much heat
0 Tire overloading
0 Bad wear
0 Bad handling
0 B,ad fuel economy.
If your tires have too much air (overinflation),
you can get the following:
0 Unusual wear
0 Bad handling
Rough ride
0 Needless damage from road hazards.
6-50

Underbody Maintenance
Chemicals used for ice and snow removal and dust
control 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 spring, 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 car washing system can do
this for you.
Chenf ea1 Paint Spotting
Some weather and atmospheric conditions can create a
chemical fallout, Airborne pollutants can fall upon and
attack painted surfaces on your vehicle. This damage
can take two forms: blotchy, ringlet-shaped
discolorations,
and ,mall irregular .dark spots etched into
the paint surface.
Although no defect in the paint
job causes this, Pontiac
will repair, at
no charge to the owner, the surfaces of
new vehicles damaged by this fallout condition within
12 months or 12,000 miles (20 000 km) of purchase,
whichever occurs first.
6-66

Main Fuse Block
The other is in the engine compartment. Open the cover
on either of the boxes to expose the €uses.
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 €use, you can “borrow”
one. Just pick some
feature
of your car that you can get along without -- like
the radio or cigarette lighter -- and use its fuse, if it is
the size you need. Replace it as soon as you
can.
FUSE USAGE CHART
In 211 3~ 4~3
511 6~ 7n en
9m 100 1111 12)l
STOP/#AZARD TURN 6-U PCM BATT RADIO ACCY
TAIL LTS
HVAC PWR ACCY COURTESY
GAGES AIR BAG ClGARiACCY DEFOG/SEATS
Q IGN 13n 14)) PGM IGN WlPERiWASH BATT WINDOWS
160 I7 170 IP DIMMER ACCY RADIO
SEE OWNER’S MANUAL FOR MORE INFORMATION PRINTED IN U.S.A 10281550
Fuse Usage
STOP/HAZARB Hazard,Flasher, Brake
Switch Assembly
PCM BATT
RADIO ACCY
TURN B-U Traction ControlJ2nd Gear Start
Switch, Back-up Lamp Switch,
Turn Flasher, Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL) Module
Powertrain Control Module
(PCM), Fuel Pump Relay
Delco Audyssey
Radio Amplifier,
Power Antenna, Remote CD
Player (trunk)
6-70