traction control PONTIAC FIREBIRD 2002 User Guide

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If You're Stuck: In Sand, Mud,
Ice or Snow
In order to free your vehicle when it is stuck, you will
need to spin the wheels, but you don't want to spin
your wheels too fast. The method known as ªrockingº
can help you get out when you're stuck, but you must
use caution.
CAUTION:
If you let your tires spin at high speed, they can
explode, and you or others could be injured.
And, the transmission or other parts of the
vehicle can overheat. That could cause an engine
compartment fire or other damage. When you're
stuck, spin the wheels as little as possible. Don't
spin the wheels above 35 mph (55 km/h) as shown
on the speedometer.
NOTICE:
Spinning your wheels can destroy parts of your
vehicle as well as the tires. If you spin the wheels
too fast while shifting your transmission back
and forth, you can destroy your transmission.
For information about using tire chains on your vehicle,
see ªTire Chainsº in the Index.
Rocking Your Vehicle To Get It Out
First, turn your steering wheel left and right. That will
clear the area around your front wheels. If your vehicle
has traction control, you should turn the system off.
See ªTraction Control Systemº in the Index. Then shift
back and forth between REVERSE (R) and a forward
gear (or with a manual transmission, between FIRST (1)
or SECOND (2) and REVERSE (R)), spinning the
wheels as little as possible. Release the accelerator pedal
while you shift, and press lightly on the accelerator
pedal when the transmission is in gear. By slowly
spinning your wheels in the forward and reverse
directions, you will cause a rocking motion that may
free your vehicle. If that doesn't get you out after a few
tries, you may need to be towed out. If you do need to
be towed out, see ªTowing Your Vehicleº in the Index.

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CAUTION:
Mixing tires could cause you to lose control while
driving. If you mix tires of different sizes or types
(radial and bias
-belted tires), the vehicle may not
handle properly, and you could have a crash.
Using tires of different sizes may also cause
damage to your vehicle. Be sure to use the same
size and type tires on all wheels.
It's all right to drive with your compact spare,
though. It was developed for use on your vehicle.
CAUTION:
If you use bias-ply tires on your vehicle, the
wheel rim flanges could develop cracks after
many miles of driving. A tire and/or wheel could
fail suddenly, causing a crash. Use only radial
-ply
tires with the wheels on your vehicle.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable on the
tire sidewall between tread shoulder and maximum
section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
The following information relates to the system
developed by the United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, which grades tires by
treadwear, traction and temperature performance.
(This applies only to vehicles sold in the United States.)
The grades are molded on the sidewalls of most
passenger car tires. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading
system does not apply to deep tread, winter
-type snow
tires, space
-saver or temporary use spare tires, tires with
nominal rim diameters of 10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm),
or to some limited
-production tires.
While the tires available on General Motors passenger
cars and light trucks may vary with respect to these
grades, they must also conform to federal safety
requirements and additional General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC) standards.

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Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on
the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and
a half (1 1/2) times as well on the government course
as a tire graded 100. The relative performance of
tires depends upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart significantly from the norm
due to variations in driving habits, service practices and
differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction
-- AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA,
A, B, and C. Those grades represent the tire's ability
to stop on wet pavement as measured under controlled
conditions on specified government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have
poor traction performance. Warning: The traction
grade assigned to this tire is based on straight
-ahead
braking traction tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction characteristics.Temperature
-- A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C,
representing the tire's resistance to the generation of
heat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested under
controlled conditions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire life,
and excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire
failure. The grade C corresponds to a level of
performance which all passenger car tires must meet
under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
No. 109. Grades B and A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test wheel than the
minimum required by law.
Warning: The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly inflated and
not overloaded. Excessive speed, underinflation, or
excessive loading, either separately or in combination,
can cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.

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NOTICE:
The wrong wheel can also cause problems with
bearing life, brake cooling, speedometer or
odometer calibration, headlamp aim, bumper
height, vehicle ground clearance and tire or tire
chain clearance to the body and chassis.
See ªChanging a Flat Tireº in the Index for
more information.
Used Replacement Wheels
CAUTION:
Putting a used wheel on your vehicle is
dangerous. You can't know how it's been used or
how far it's been driven. It could fail suddenly
and cause a crash. If you have to replace a wheel,
use a new GM original equipment wheel.
Tire Chains
CAUTION:
If your vehicle has P235/55R16, P245/50ZR16
or P275/40ZR17 size tires, don't use tire chains,
there's not enough clearance.
Tire chains used on a vehicle without the
proper amount of clearance can cause damage
to the brakes, suspension or other vehicle parts.
The area damaged by the tire chains could
cause you to lose control of your vehicle and
you or others may be injured in a crash.
Use another type of traction device only if its
manufacturer recommends it for use on your
vehicle and tire size combination and road
conditions. Follow that manufacturer's
instructions. To help avoid damage to your
vehicle, drive slowly, readjust or remove the
device if it's contacting your vehicle, and don't
spin your wheels.
If you do find traction devices that will fit,
install them on the rear tires.

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Instrument Panel Fuse Block
Fuse Usage
STOP/HAZARD Hazard Flashers,
Brake Switch Assembly
TURN B/U Traction Control Switch,
Back/Up Lamp Switch,
Turn Flasher, Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL) ModuleFuse Usage
STG
WHEEL CNTRLSteering Wheel Controls
RADIO ACCY Delco Monsoon Radio Amplifier,
Power Antenna, Remote CD
Player (Hatch)
TAIL LPS Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
Module, Headlamp Switch
HVAC HVAC Selector Switch,
Rear Defogger Switch/Timer
PWR ACCY Parking Lamp Relay, Hatch
Release Relay, Power Mirror
Switch, Radio, Shock Sensor,
Instrument Cluster
COURTESY Body Control Module (BCM)
GAUGES Body Control Module (BCM),
Brake
-Transmission Shift
Interlock (BTSI), Instrument
Panel Cluster, Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL) Module

6-69
Fuse Usage
AIR BAG Air Bag
CIG/ACCY Cigarette Lighter, Data Link
Connector (DLC), Auxiliary
Accessory Wire
DEFOG/SEATS Rear Defogger Switch/Timer,
Rear Defogger Timer/Relay,
Power Seats
IGN Aftermarket Use Only
STG
WHEEL CNTRLSteering Wheel Controls
WIPER/WASH Wiper Motor Assembly,
Wiper/Washer Switch
BATT Aftermarket Use Only
WINDOWS Power Windows Switch
(Right
-Hand, Left-Hand),
Express
-Down Module,
Convertible Top SwitchFuse Usage
IP DIMMER Door Illumination Lamp
(Right
-Hand, Left-Hand),
Headlamp Switch, Fog Lamp
Switch, Instrument Cluster,
HVAC Control Assembly,
PRNDL Illumination Lamp,
Ashtray Lamp, Radio, Rear
Window Defogger Switch/Timer,
Traction Control Switch (TCS),
Convertible Top Switch
ACCY Aftermarket Use Only
RADIO Body Control Module (BCM),
Radio, Amplifier, Steering Wheel
Controls
-Radio

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Engine Compartment Fuse Block
Fuse and Relay Center 1
Fuse Usage
ABS BAT SOL Anti
-Lock Brake System
TCS BAT Traction Control System
COOL FAN Cooling Fan Control
PCM BAT Powertrain Control Module (PCM)
FUEL PUMP Fuel PumpFuse Usage
AIR PUMP A.I.R. Pump Relay and
Bleed Valve
LH HDLP DR Left Headlamp Door Module
RH HDLP DR Right Headlamp Door Module
HORN Horn Relay
ABS BAT
-1 Anti-Lock Brake System Module
H/L DR HORN Horn and Headlamp Doors
ABS BAT
-2 Anti-Lock Brake and Traction
Control System
COOL FAN Cooling Fan Relays
Relay Description
FOG LAMP Fog Lamps
HORN Horn
FAN #3 Cooling Fans
FAN #2 Cooling Fans
FAN #1 Cooling Fans