key PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1997 Owner's Manual

Mode 1: All Off (The headlamps will not flash and the
horn will not sound
to provide you feedback that a
lock/ud~& command has been received by the Remote
Lock Control transmitter).
Mode 2: Horn and LampdLamps (Your horn will sound
briefly and your parking lamps will flash when you
press
LOCK on the key chain transmitter. Only your
parking lamps will flash when you press
UNLOCK).
Mode 3: Horn and Lamps (Your horn will sound briefly
and your parking lamps will flash every time you push
LOCK and
UNLOCK).
Mode 4: Lamps (Your parking lamps will flash every
time
you push LOCK and UNLOCK),
Mode 5: Lamps/Horn and Lamps/Lamps (Your
lamps will flash
upon the first push on LOCK, your
lamps will flask and
your horn will sound upon the
second push on
LOCK and your lamps will flash upon
any push on
UNLOCK).
Theft-Detlerrent Arming Method
Your vehicle comes with this feature set in Mode 3. This
means that both your key chain transmitter and the
power door lock switch will actively arm the system.
To
change the factory setting, do the following:
1. Press the UNLOCK switch on the door.
2. Count the number of chimes you hear. The number of
chimes tells you which mode your vehicle is set for,
3. Press the UNLOCK switch on the door until you
hear the number
of chimes that correspond to the
mode selection
you want.
Mode I: Alarm System Off (The system will not arm).
Mode 2: Key Chain Transmitter Lock (When you lock
your doors using the Key Chain Transmitter, the system
will arm itself).
Mode 3: Key Chain TransmittedPower Door Lock
Switch
(If you use either the Key Chain Transmitter or
the power door
lock switch to lock the doors, the system
will arm itself).
Mode 4: Passive arming and Remote Lock Control
Transmitter/Power Door Lock Switch Arming
(The
system will arm itself after all doors are closed plus
arming per;mg&
3).
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Theft-Deterrent Arming Verification
Your vehicle comes with this feature set in Mode 3. This
means that if you arm the system using the key chain
transmitter, your parking lamps will flash and your horn
will chirp twice to verify that the system is armed. If it
only chirps once, the hatch is open or unlatched. If you
arm the
system using either the power door lock switch
or by passive arming, only the parking lamps will flash
for verification. To change the factory setting, do
the following:
1. Press the LOCK switch on the key chain transmitter.
2. Count the number of chimes you hear. The number
of chimes tells you which mode your vehicle is
set for.
3. Press the LOCK switch on the key chain transmitter
until you hear the number of chimes that correspond
to the mode selection
you want.
Mode 1: All Off (No horn chirps or parking lamp flash).
Mode 2: Horn and Lamps (Your parking lamps will
flash and your horn will chirp twice to verify the system
is armed using any arming method).
Mode 3: Horn and Lamps/Lamps (If you use the key
chain transmitter to arm the system, your parking lamps
will flash and your horn will chirp twice to verify that
the system is armed. If you use either the power door
lock switch or passive arming, only your lamps will
flash for verification).
Mode 4: Lamps (When your vehicle arms, only your
parking lamps will flash for verification).
2-21

Driver’s Door Alarm Delay and Shock
Sensor Enable
Your vehicle comes with this feature set in Mode 4.
This means that if you open the driver’s door using
your key, the alarm will not sound
for eight seconds.
Also the shock sensor, able
to detect sharp blows to
your vehicle, is active.
To change the factory setting, do
the following:
1. Turn the parking lamps
on and off,
2. Count the number of chimes you hear. The number
of chimes tells you which mode your vehicle is
set for.
3. Turn the parking lamps on and off until you hear the
number of chimes that correspond to the mode
selection you want.
Mode 1: Zero Delay and Shock Sensor Disabled (The
alarm will sound immediately
if the driver’s door is
opened with your
key and the shock sensor will not be
available to measure sharp blows to your vehicle).
Mode 2: Eight Second Delay and Shock Sensor
Disabled (The alarm will sound eight seconds after the
driver’s door is opened with your key and the shock
sensor will not be available to measure sharp blows to
your vehicle),
Mode 3: Zero Relay and Shock Sensor Enabled (The
alum will sound immediately after the driver’s door is
opened with your key and the
shock sensor will be
available
to measure sharp blows to your vehicle).
Mode 4: Eight Second Delay and Shock Sensor Enabled
(The alarm will
sound eight seconds after the driver’s
door is
opened with your key and the shock sensor will
be available to measure sharp
blows to your vehicle).
Leaving Programming Mode
When programming is done, turn the ignition switch to
the
OFF position and replace the RADIO fuse.
2-22

New Vehicle “Break-In” Ignition
Switch
NOTICE:
Your modern Pontiac doesn’t need an elaborate
“break-in.” But it will perform better in the long
run
if you follow these guidelines:
a
a
a
Keep your speed at 55 mph (88 kmh) or
less
for the first 500 miles (805 km).
Don’t drive
at any one speed -- fast or
slow
-- for the first 500 miles (805 km).
Don’t make full-throttle starts.
Avoid making hard stops for the first
200 miles (322 km) or so. During this time
your new brake linings aren’t yet broken
in. Hard stops with new linings can mean
premature wear and earlier replacement.
Follow this breaking-in guideline every
time you get new brake linings.
Don’t
tow a trailer during break-in.
See “Towing
a Trailer’’ in the Index for
more information.
C
I
D
A E
With the ignition key in the ignition switch, you can turn
the switch to five positions.
ACC (A): Position in which you can operate your
electrical power accessories. Press in the ignition switch
as you turn the top
of it toward you.
LOCK (B): The only position in which you can remove
the
key. This locks your steering wheel, ignition an’d
automatic transmission.
2-23

If you have an automatic transmission, the ignition
switch can’t be turned to
LOCK unless the shift lever is
in the PARK (P) position.
OFF (C): Unlocks the steering wheel, ignition and
automatic transmission, but does not send electrical
power to any accessories. Use this position if your
vehicle
must be pushed or towed. A warning tone will
sound if you open the driver’s door when the ignition is
in OFF and the key is in the ignition.
RUN (D): Position to which the switch returns after you
start your engine and release the switch. The switch
stays in the
RUN position when the engine is running,
But even when the engine is not running, you can
use RUN to operate your electrical power accessories
and to display some instrument panel warning and
indicator lights.
START (E): Starts the engine. When the engine starts,
release the key. The ignition switch will return to RUN
€or normal driving.
Note that even if the engine is not running, ACC and
RUN allow you to operate your electrical accessories,
such
as the radio and ventilation fan.
Key Release Button
If you have a manual
transmission, your ignition
lock has a key release
button.
You must press the
button before you can take
your key out
of the
ignition
lock.
On manual transmission vehicles, turn g the key
to
LOCK will lock the steering column and result
in a loss
of ability to steer the vehicle. This could
cause
a collision. If you need to turn the engine
off while the vehicle is moving, turn the key only
to OFF. Don’t press the key release button while
the vehicle
is moving.
2-24

NOTICE:
If your key seems stuck in LOCK and you can’t
turn
it, be sure you are using the correct key; if
so, is it all the way in? If it is, then turn the
steering wheel left and right while you turn the
key hard. But turn the key only with your hand.
Using
a tool to force it could break the key or the
ignition switch. If none of this works, then your
vehicle needs service.
Starting Your Engine
Automatic Transmission
Move your snm lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
Your engine won’t start in any other position -- that’s a
safety feature. To restart when you’re already moving,
use NEUTRAL (N) only.
NOTICE:
~~
Don’t try to shift to PARK (P) if your Pontiac is
moving.
If you do, you could damage the
transmission. Shift to
PARK (P) only when your
vehicle is stopped.
2-25

Manual Transmission
The gear selector should be in NEUTRAL (N). Hold the
clutch pedal to the floor and start the engine. Your
vehicle won’t start if the clutch pedal
is not all the way
down
-- that’s a safety feature.
1. Without pushing the accelerator pedal, turn your
ignition key to START. When the engine starts, let
go of the key. The idle speed will go down as your
engine gets warm.
NOTICE:
Holding your key in START for longer than
15 seconds at a time will cause your battery to be
drained much sooner. And the excessive heat can
damage your starter motor.
2. If it doesn’t start right away, hold your key in
START for about three to five seconds at a time until
your engine starts. Wait about 15 seconds between
each try to help avoid draining your battery.
3. If your engine still won’t start (or starts but then stops),
it could be flooded with too much gasoline. Try
pushing
your accelerator pedal all the way to the floor and
holding it there as you hold the key
in START for about
three seconds.
If the vehicle starts briefly but then stops
again,
do the same thing, but this time keep the pedal
down for five or six seconds. This clears the extra
gasoline from the engine. After waiting about
15 seconds, repeat the normal starting procedure.
NOTICE:
Your engine is designed to work with the
electronics in your vehicle. If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could change the way
the engine operates. Before adding electrical
equipment, check
with your dealer. If you don’t,
your engine might not perform properly.
If you ever have to have your vehicle towed, see
the part
of this manual that tells how to do it
without damaging your vehicle. See “Towing
Your Vehicle” in the Index.
2-26

Ensure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) range before
starting the engine. Your Pontiac has a
Brake-Transmission Shift Interlock.
You have to fully
apply your regular brakes before you can shift from
PARK
(P) when the ignition key is in the RUN position.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever
-- push the shift lever all the way into
PARK (P) and also release the shift lever button on floor
shift console models as
you maintain brake application.
Then move the shift lever into the‘gear you wish. (Press
the shift lever button before moving the shift lever
on
floor shift console models.) See “Shifting Out of
PARK,
(P) in this section.
REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back up.
I NOTICE:
Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle is
moving forward could damage your
transmission. Shift to
REVERSE (R) only after
your vehicle is stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow,
ice or sand without damaging your transmission, see
“Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice
or Snow” in the Index.
NEUTRAL (N): In this position, your engine
doesn’t connect with the wheels.
To restart when you’re
already moving, use
NEUTRAL (N) only. Also, use
NEUTRAL (N) when your vehicle is being towed.
A 1
A CAUTION:
Shifting out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) while
your engine
is “racing” (running at high speed) is
dangerous. Unless your foot is firmly on the
brake pedal, your vehicle could move
very
rapidly. You could lose control and hit people or
objects. Don’t shift out of PARK (P) or
NEUTRAL
(N) while your engine is racing.
NOTICE:
Damage to your transmission caused by shifting
out of PARK
(P) or NEUTRAL (N) with the
engine racing isn’t covered
by you warranty.
2-29

2.
3.
4.
Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
set the parking brake.
Move the shift lever
into PARK (P) position by
holding in the button
on the lever and pushing the
lever all the way toward the front
of your vehicle.
Move the ignition key to
LOCK.
Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave your vehicle with the ignition key in your
hand, your vehicle is in PARK (P).
Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine
Running (Automatic Transmission
Models Only)
It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with the
engine running. Your vehicle could move
suddenly
if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P)
with the parking brake firmly set. And, if you
leave the vehicle with the engine running,
it could
overheat and even catch fire. You
or others could
be injured. Don’t leave your vehicle
with the
engine running unless you have to.
2-39

Torque Lock (Automatic Transmission)
If you are parking on a hill and you don’t shift your
transmission into
PARK (P) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl in
the transmission.
You may find it difficult to pull the
shift lever out of
PARK (P). This is called “torque lock.”
To prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and then
shift into PARK
(P) properly before you leave the
driver’s seat.
To find out how, see “Shifting Into PARK
(P)” in the Index.
When you are ready to drive, move
the shift lever out of
PARK (P) before you release the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may need to have another
vehicle
push yours a little uphill to take some of the
pressure from the parking pawl in the transmission,
so
you can pull the shift lever out of PARK (P).
Parking Your Vehicle
(Manual Transmission)
Before you get out of your vehicle, put your manual
transmission in REVERSE (R) and firmly apply the
parking
brake.
If your vehicle is equipped to tow a trailer, see “Towing
a Trailer” in the Index,
Shifting Out of PARK (P)
(Automatic Transmission)
Your Pontiac has a brake-transmission shift interlock.
You have to fully apply your regular brake before you
can shift from PARK
(P) when the ignition is in the
RUN position.
See “Automatic Trans---’ssion” in
the Index.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever
-- push the shift lever all the way into
PARK (P) and release the shift lever button as you
maintain brake application. Then press the shift lever
button and move the shift lever into the gear you wish.
If you ever hold the brake pedal down but still can’t
shift out of PARK (P),
try this:
1. Turn the key to OFF.
2. Apply and hold the brake.
3. Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Start the vehicle and then shift to the drive gear
you want.
5. Have the vehicle fixed as soon as you can.
2-40