steering PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1999 Owners Manual

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1-25 How the Air Bag System Works
Where are the air bags?
The driver's air bag is in the middle of the steering wheel.
The right front passenger's air bag is in the instrument
panel on the passenger's side.

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CAUTION:
If something is between an occupant and an air
bag, the bag might not inflate properly or it
might force the object into that person. The path
of an inflating air bag must be kept clear. Don't
put anything between an occupant and an air
bag, and don't attach or put anything on the
steering wheel hub or on or near any other air
bag covering.
When should an air bag inflate?
An air bag is designed to inflate in a moderate to severe
frontal or near
-frontal crash. The air bag will inflate
only if the impact speed is above the system's designed
ªthreshold level.º If your vehicle goes straight into a
wall that doesn't move or deform, the threshold level is
about 12 to 18 mph (19 to 29 km/h). The threshold level
can vary, however, with specific vehicle design, so that
it can be somewhat above or below this range. If yourvehicle strikes something that will move or deform, such
as a parked car, the threshold level will be higher. The
air bag is not designed to inflate in rollovers, side
impacts or rear impacts, because inflation would not
help the occupant.
In any particular crash, no one can say whether an air
bag should have inflated simply because of the damage
to a vehicle or because of what the repair costs were.
Inflation is determined by the angle of the impact and
how quickly the vehicle slows down in frontal or
near
-frontal impacts.
What makes an air bag inflate?
In an impact of sufficient severity, the air bag sensing
system detects that the vehicle is in a crash. The sensing
system triggers a release of gas from the inflator, which
inflates the air bag. The inflator, air bag and related
hardware are all part of the air bag modules inside the
steering wheel and in the instrument panel in front of the
right front passenger.

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How does an air bag restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or near
-frontal collisions,
even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel or the
instrument panel. Air bags supplement the protection
provided by safety belts. Air bags distribute the force of
the impact more evenly over the occupant's upper body,
stopping the occupant more gradually. But air bags would
not help you in many types of collisions, including
rollovers, rear impacts and side impacts, primarily because
an occupant's motion is not toward those air bags. Air
bags should never be regarded as anything more than a
supplement to safety belts, and then only in moderate to
severe frontal or near
-frontal collisions.
What will you see after an air bag inflates?
After an air bag inflates, it quickly deflates, so quickly that
some people may not even realize the air bag inflated.
Some components of the air bag module
-- the steering
wheel hub for the driver's air bag, or the instrument panel
for the right front passenger's bag
-- will be hot for a short
time. The parts of the bag that come into contact with you
may be warm, but not too hot to touch. There will be
some smoke and dust coming from vents in the deflated
air bags. Air bag inflation doesn't prevent the driver from
seeing or from being able to steer the vehicle, nor does it
stop people from leaving the vehicle.
CAUTION:
When an air bag inflates, there is dust in the air.
This dust could cause breathing problems for
people with a history of asthma or other
breathing trouble. To avoid this, everyone in the
vehicle should get out as soon as it is safe to do so.
If you have breathing problems but can't get out
of the vehicle after an air bag inflates, then get
fresh air by opening a window or door.
In many crashes severe enough to inflate an air bag,
windshields are broken by vehicle deformation.
Additional windshield breakage may also occur from
the right front passenger air bag.

Air bags are designed to inflate only once. After they
inflate, you'll need some new parts for your air bag
system. If you don't get them, the air bag system
won't be there to help protect you in another crash.
A new system will include air bag modules and
possibly other parts. The service manual for your
vehicle covers the need to replace other parts.

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Your vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing
and diagnostic module, which records information
about the air bag system. The module records
information about the readiness of the system, when
the system commands air bag inflation and driver's
safety belt usage at deployment.

Let only qualified technicians work on your air bag
system. Improper service can mean that your air bag
system won't work properly. See your dealer
for service.
Some modules also record speed, engine RPM, brake
and throttle data.
NOTICE:
If you damage the covering for the driver's or the
right front passenger's air bag, the bag may not
work properly. You may have to replace the air
bag module in the steering wheel or both the air
bag module and the instrument panel for the
right front passenger's air bag. Do not open or
break the air bag coverings.
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle
Air bags affect how your vehicle should be serviced.
There are parts of the air bag system in several places
around your vehicle. You don't want the system to
inflate while someone is working on your vehicle. Your
dealer and the service manual have information about
servicing your vehicle and the air bag system.
To purchase a service manual, see ªService and Owner
Publicationsº in the Index.
CAUTION:
For up to 10 minutes after the ignition key is
turned off and the battery is disconnected, an air
bag can still inflate during improper service. You
can be injured if you are close to an air bag when
it inflates. Avoid wires wrapped with yellow tape
or yellow connectors. They are probably part of
the air bag system. Be sure to follow proper
service procedures, and make sure the person
performing work for you is qualified to do so.
The air bag system does not need regular maintenance.

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2-13 Key in the Ignition
If you leave your vehicle with the keys inside, it's an
easy target for joy riders or professional thieves
-- so
don't do it.
When you park your vehicle and open the driver's door,
you'll hear a chime reminding you to remove your key
from the ignition and take it with you. Always do this.
Your steering wheel will be locked, and so will your
ignition. If you take the key with you, and you have an
automatic transmission, it will be locked. And remember
to lock the doors.
Parking at Night
Park in a lighted spot, close all windows and lock your
vehicle. Remember to keep your valuables out of sight.
Put them in a storage area, or take them with you.
Parking Lots
If you park in a lot where someone will be watching
your vehicle, it's best to lock it up and take your keys.
But what if you have to leave your ignition key?

If possible, park in a busy, well lit area.
Put your valuables in a storage area, like your
trunk or glove box. Be sure to close and lock the
storage area.

Close all windows.

Lock the glove box.

Lock all the doors except the driver's.

Then take the door key and remote keyless entry
transmitter with you.
Content Theft-Deterrent System
(Option)
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.
Turning 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.

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Ignition Positions
CAUTION:
Leaving children in a vehicle with the ignition
key is dangerous for many reasons. A child or
others could be badly injured or even killed.
They could operate power windows or other
controls or even make the vehicle move. Don't
leave the keys in the vehicle with children.
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.

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START (E): Starts the engine. When the engine starts,
release the key. The ignition will return to RUN for
normal driving.
Even if the engine is not running, ACC and RUN allow
you to operate your electrical accessories, such as the
radio and ventilation fan.
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.

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You can open the passenger's window any amount by
pressing the switch and releasing it when the window
has lowered to the position you want.
The switch for the driver's window has an express
-down
feature. This switch is labeled AUTO. Quickly press and
release the bottom of the switch for the driver's window
and the window will lower completely. You can also
open the driver's window any amount by pressing the
switch again while the window is in the express
-down
mode when it has lowered to the position you want.
To stop the window while it is lowering, press the top of
the switch. To raise the window, press and hold the top
of the switch.
Horn
To sound the horn, press either horn symbol on your
steering wheel.
If your horn sounds two or three chirps when unlocking
your vehicle with the remote keyless entry transmitter
(if equipped), the alarm was triggered while you were
away. Check the vehicle before entering.
Tilt Wheel
A tilt wheel allows you to adjust the steering wheel
before you drive.
You can also raise it to the highest level to give your
legs more room when you exit and enter the vehicle.
To tilt the wheel, hold the steering wheel and pull the
lever. Move the steering wheel to a comfortable level,
then release the lever to lock the wheel in place.

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Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
The lever on the left side of the steering column
includes your:

Turn Signal and Lane Change Indicator

Headlamp High/Low Beam Changer and
Passing Signal

Windshield Wipers

Windshield Washer

Cruise Control (Option)
Turn Signal and Lane Change Indicator
The turn signal has two upward (for right) and
two downward (for left) positions. These positions
allow you to signal a turn or a lane change.
To signal a turn, move the lever all the way up
or down. When the turn is finished, the lever will
return automatically.
An arrow on the instrument
panel will flash in the
direction of the turn or
lane change.
To signal a lane change, just raise or lower the lever
until the arrow starts to flash. Hold it there until you
complete your lane change. The lever will return by
itself when you release it.

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A. Fog Lamp Switch
B. Main Lamp Control
C. Air Vents
D. Instrument Panel Cluster
E. Horn
F. Audio System
G. Glove Box
H. Comfort Controls
I. Cupholders
J. Parking Brake LeverK. Storage Console
L. Rear Window Defogger Button
M. Convertible Top Switch (If Equipped)
N. Traction Control System Switch
O. Cigarette Lighter
P. Shift Lever
Q. Ashtray (Automatic Transmission)
R. Steering Wheel Controls (If Equipped)
S. Remote Hatch Release
T. Accessory Power Outlet