ignition PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1998 User Guide

Content Theft-Deterrent System (If Equipped)
If your vehicle has this option, it has a theft-deterrent
alarm system. Once armed, the system will sound the
horn
and flash the parking lamps if the vehicle is
broken into.
Shock Sensor
Coupe Convertible
The shock sensor is what triggers the alarm when it
detects a blow to
your vehicle. It is located over the
right rear wheelhouse near the spare tire in the hatch
area. There are two levels of
alarms via the shock
sensor:
Two horn blasts and parking lamp flashes for
non-threatening blows to the vehicle and a full
two-minute
alarm for harder blows to the vehicle. Its
sensitivity can be adjusted
if more or less sensitivity is
desired. (Note: If sensitivity is increased too much, it
may give false alarms caused by gusts of wind or other
natural events that may shake the vehicle.)
To adjust, remove the label covering the adjustment
knob and adjust as desired. Turn the knob clockwise to
increase sensitivity
and turn it counterclockwise to
decrease sensitivity. The shock sensor is ignored by the
alarm system when the ignition is on, when the hatch is
open, when the alarm
is disarmed, when it is customized
to be ignored and for five seconds after the
horn sounds
an alarm
or chirp. The shock sensor is ignored after
triggering three full
alarms until the system is rearmed.
2-14

Passive Arming
If the ignition was just turned off and a door was
opened, the system will arm six seconds after both doors
are closed, whether or not you lock them. In all other
cases, the system will wait
30 seconds after both doors
are closed before arming, allowing you time to get into
the vehicle and put the key in the ignition. The parking
lamps will flash when the system
arms. Passive arming
is not enabled from the factory.
Disarming the System
There are two ways to disarm the system:
Press the UNLOCK button on the remote keyless
entry transmitter. If the
horn chqs two or three
times when
you unlock the car, the alarm sounded in
your absence.
Two chirps means that the shock
sensor was set
off and three chqs means that a door
or hatch
was opened.
0 Turn the ignition to RUN with the proper key.
For more information on customizing the features
mentioned here, see “Feature Customization” in
the Index.
’hrning Off the Alarm
If you started the alarm by pressing the panic button on the
remote keyless entry transmitter, you must either push that
button again or
turn the ignition to RUN to stop the alarm.
If the alarm is sounding due to the shock sensor or a
door or hatch opening, it can be turned
off by either
turning the ignition with
a proper key inserted or by
pressing any button on the remote keyless entry
transmitter. If you use your remote keyless entry
transmitter
to silence the alarm, additional things will
happen depending upon which button you press.
Pressing the UNLOCK button will turn the alarm
off, unlock the driver’s door and dism the system.
Pressing the LOCK button will turn the alarm off,
keep the doors locked and keep the system armed.
Pressing the REAR 2X button twice will turn the
alarm off. A second push of the button (within five
seconds) will unlock
and disarm the hatch only.
0 Pressing the panic button will turn the alarm off,
keep the doors locked and keep the system armed.
If the
alarm is sounding because an incorrect ignition
key was used, press
any button on the remote keyless
entry transmitter to
turn the alarm off.
The alarm will stop by itself after two minutes.

PASS-Key@ I1
Your vehicle is equipped
with the PASS-Key
II
(Personalized Automotive
Security System)
theft-deterrent system.
PASS-Key
I1 is a passive
theft-deterrent system. It
works when you insert or
remove the key from
the ignition.
PASS-Key I1 uses a resistor pellet in the ignition key
that
matches a decoder in your vehicle.
When the PASS-Key
I1 system senses that someone is
using the wrong key, it shuts down the vehicle’s starter and fuel systems. For about three minutes, the starter
won’t work and fuel won’t
go to the engine. If someone
tries to start your vehicle again or uses another key during this time, the vehicle
will not start. This
discourages someone from randomly trying different
keys with different resistor pellets in an attempt to make
a match.
The ignition key must be clean and dry before it’s
inserted in the ignition or the engine may not start. If the
engine does
not start and the SECURITY light stays on
when you try to start the vehicle, the key may be dirty or
wet. Turn the ignition off.
Clean and dry the key. Wait about three minutes and try
again. If the starter still won’t work, and the key appears
to be clean and
dry, wait about three minutes and try
another ignition key. At this time, you may also want to
check the fuses (see “Fuses and Circuit Breakers’’ in the
Index).
If the starter won’t work with the other key, your
vehicle needs service.
If your vehicle does start, the first
ignition key may be faulty. See your dealer or a
locksmith who can service the PASS-Key
11.
If you accidentally use a key that has a damaged or
missing resistor pellet, the starter won’t work. The
SECURITY light will flash. But you don’t have to wait
three minutes before trying another ignition key.
See your dealer or a locksmith who can service the
PASS-Key
I1 to have a new key made.
2-17

If you’re ever driving and the SECURITY light comes on
and stays on, you will be able to restart your engine if you
turn it off. Your PASS-Key II system, however, is not
working properly and must
be serviced by your dealer.
Your vehicle is not protected by the PASS-Key II system.
If you lose or damage a PASS-Key
11 ignition key, see
your dealer or a locksmith who can service PASS-Key
II
to have a new key made. In an emergency, call the
Pontiac Roadside Assistance Center at
1-800-ROADSIE or 1-800-762-3743. (In Canada
1-800-268-6800.)
Feature Customization (If Equipped)
Your vehicle’s locks and lighting systems can be
programmed with several different features. The
features you can program depend upon the options that
came with
your vehicle. The following list tells you the
features that
can be programmed. Listed next to each
feature is the option you need
to have on your vehicle in
order to be able to program that particular feature.
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Exit Lighting (available for all)
Delayed Illumination (available for all)
Last Door Closed Locking
(if equipped with power
door locks)
Lockout Prevention (if equipped with power
door locks)
Remote Lock Control Verification (if equipped with
Content Theft-Deterrent System)
Theft-Deterrent
Arming Method (if equipped with
Content Theft-Deterrent System)
Theft-Deterrent Arming Verification (if equipped with Content Theft-Deterrent System)
Driver’s Door
Alarm Delay (if equipped with
Content Theft-Deterrent System)
Shock Sensor Enable (if equipped with Content
Theft-Deterrent System)
2-18

To program features, your vehicle must be in the
programming mode. Follow these steps:
1. Put your key
in the ignition.
2. Turn the ignition to RUN to disarm the Content
Theft-Deterrent System.
3. Turn the ignition to OFF.
4. Remove the RADIO fuse. This fuse is in the main
fuse block, located on the left side of your
instrument panel. See “Fuses and Circuit Breakers”
in the Index.
5. Turn the ignition to ACC.
You should hear a chime to verify that the system is
in the programming mode. If the chime sounds once,
you will be able to program Exit Lighting, Delayed
Illumination, Last Door Closed Locking and Lockout
Prevention only.
If the chime sounds twice and your
vehicle is equipped with the Content Theft-Deterrent
System, you will also be able to program Remote
Keyless Entry Lock Control Verification, Arming
Method, Arming Verification, Driver’s Door Delay and Shock Sensor Enable.
Exit Lighting and Delayed Illumination
With Exit Lighting, your interior lamps will come
on for up to
25 seconds when the key is removed
from the ignition.
With Delayed Illumination, your interior lamps will stay on for up to
25 seconds when entering your vehicle and
up to five seconds when leaving your vehicle.
Your vehicle comes with both features enabled (Mode 4).
To change the factory setting, do the following:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Turn the courtesy lamps on by turning the instrument
panel brightness control knob all the way up.
Count the number of chimes you hear. The number
of chimes tells you which mode your vehicle is
set for.
Turn the courtesy lamp switch to
off.
Turn the courtesy lamp switch from on to off until
you hear the number of chimes that correspond to the
mode selection you want.
Mode 1: Both Off
Mode 2: Delayed Illumination Only
Mode 3: Exit Lighting Only
Mode 4: Both On

Last Door Closed Locking and
Lockout Prevention
Your vehicle comes with this feature set in Mode 2. To
change the factory setting, do the following:
1. Press the LOCK 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 LOCK switch on the door until you hear
the number
of chimes that correspond to the mode
selection you want.
These features are designed to help prevent your keys
from being locked in your vehicle.
Mode 1: Both Off (Doors will lockhnlock when you
press the power door lock switch.)
Mode 2: Lockout Prevention Only (If you leave your keys
in the ignition and get out the driver’s door, you won’t be
able to lock the doors with the power door lock switch.)
Mode 3: Last Door Closed Locking Only (If the power
door lock switch is used to lock the vehicle while any
door is open, you will hear three chimes. The doors will
not lock until after all doors are closed.)
Mode 4: Both On (This combines Mode 2 and 3.)
Remote Keyless Entry Lock Verification
Your vehicle comes with this feature set in Mode 5. To
change the factory setting, do the following:
1. Press the UNLOCK button on the remote keyless
entry 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 UNLOCK button on the remote keyless
entry transmitter until you hear the number
of
chimes that corresponds to the mode selection
you want.
This feature provides feedback when the vehicle
receives a command from the remote keyless
entry transmitter.

Mode 3: Zero Delay and Shock Sensor Enabled (The
alarm 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 to OFF
and replace the RADIO fuse.
New Vehicle CCBreak-InS’
NOTICE:
Your vehicle doesn’t need an elaborate
“break-in.” But it will perform better
in the long
run
if you follow these guidelines:
0 Keep your speed at 55 mph (88 km/h) or
less for the
first 500 miles (805 km).
0 Don’t drive at any one speed -- fast or
slow
-- for the first 500 miles (805 km).
Don’t make full-throttle starts.
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.
See “Towing a Trailer’’ in the Index for
more information.
0 Avoid making hard stops for the first
0 Don’t tow a trailer during break-in.
2-23

Ignition Positions
C
1
A i E
With the ignition key in the ignition, you can turn the
switch to five positions.
ACC (A): Position in which you can operate your
electrical power accessories. Push in the ignition switch
as you turn
it toward you.
LOCK (B): The only position from which you can
remove the key. This locks your steering wheel, ignition
and automatic transmission.
If you have an automatic transmission, the ignition
switch can’t be turned to
LOCK unless the shift lever is
in
PARK (P).
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
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 RUN 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 will return to RUN for
normal driving.
2-24

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.
A CAUTION:
On manual transmission vehicles, turning 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.
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.
Key Release Button
If you have a manual
transmission, your ignition
lock has a key release
button.
You must press the
key release button to put the
ignition key in the
LOCK
position before you can take your key out.
2-25

Starting Your Engine
Automatic Transmission
Move your shift 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.
Manual Transmission
The gear selector should be in NEUTRAL (N) and the
parking brake engaged. 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.
Starting Your 3800 Series I1 Engine
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.
I 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 or
damaging your starter.