ignition PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1994 Owner's Manual

Passing Another Vehicle While Using
Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase your
speed. When you take your foot
off the
pedal, your vehicle will slow down to the
Cruise Control speed you set earlier.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your Cruise Control will work
on hills depends upon your speed, load,
and the steepness
of the hills. When going
up steep hills, you may have to step on
the accelerator pedal to maintain your
speed. When going downhill, you may
have to brake or
shift to a lower gear to
keep your speed down.
Of course,
applying the brake takes you out
of
Cruise Control. Many drivers find this to
be too much trouble and don’t use Cruise
Control on steep hills.
ro Get Out of Cruise Control
:here are several ways to turn off the
3ruise Control:
I. Step lightly on the brake pedal or pus1
the clutch pedal, if you have a manual
transmission;
OR
!. Move the Cruise switch to “OFF.”
:o Erase Speed Memory
Yhen you turn off the Cruise Control or
he ignition, your Cruise Control set speec
nemory is erased.
kaction Control System and Cruise
lontrol
f your traction control system engages
vhile your Cruise Control
is set, Cruise
lontrol will disengage. Your speed will
le
set in memory, though. When Cruise
lontrol engages again, use
“WA”
Resume/Accelerate) to go back to your
et speed.
”‘ 1. 2. 4>
fa...
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Features and Controls
Operation of Lights
Although your vehicle’s lighting system
(headlights, parking lights, fog lamps,
side marker lights and taillights) meets
al
applicable federal lighting requirements,
certain states and provinces may apply
their own lighting regulations that may
require special attention before you
operate these lights.
For example, some jurisdictions may
require that you operate your fog lamps
only when your lower beam headlights
are
also on, or that headlights be turned
on whenever
you must use your
windshield wipers. In addition, most
jurisdictions prohibit driving solely with
parking lights, especially at dawn or dusk.
It is recommended that you check with
your own state or provincial highway
authority for applicable lighting
regulations.
Main Light Control
The main light control is a knob that
works these lights:
Headlights
Taillights
Parking lights
License lights
Sidemarker lights
Instrument panel lights
Turn the knob to
-v to turn on your
headlights and okbpoperating lights.
Turn the knob to
p$ to turn on your
parking lights without your headlights.
Turn the knob to “OFF” to turn
off the
lights.
‘I
’
II
Crightness Control
’his switch controls the brightness of
‘our instrument panel lights.
Turn the
witch to brighten or dim the lights. If you
~rn the switch all the way up to .w ,
‘our courtesy lights will come on.
Lights On Reminder
f you turn the ignition “Off’ and leave
he lights on, you will hear a chime when
IOU open the driver’s door.
ieadlight Doors
The headlight doors are designed to open
vhen
you turn the headlights on and close
vhen you turn the headlights off. The
leadlight doors can be opened without
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turning on the headlights by turning the
headlights on, then turning the switch
back to the parking lights position.
The headlight doors should be open when
driving
in icy or snowy conditions to
prevent the doors from freezing when
closed and when washing the vehicle to
help clean the headlights.
You can open the headlight doors
nanually
:
1. Turn on the headlights.
2. Open the hood.
3. Remove the plastic cover from the
#. Turn the retractor motor knob
retractor motor
knob.
counterclockwise until the headlight
door is fully open. The knob will get
harder to turn when the headlight do01
is all the way up.
retractor motor knob.
5. Replace the plastic cover on the
ro manually close the headlight doors,
:urn the lights off and turn the knob
:lockwise.
If the headlight doors aren’t working properly,
see
your Pontiac dealer
for help.
Daytime Running Lights (Canada)
The Canadian Federal Government has
decided that “Daytime Running Lights”
(DRL) are a useful feature,
in that DIU
can make your vehicle more visible to
pedestrians and other drivers during
daylight hours. DRL are required on new
vehicles sold in Canada.
Your DRL work with a light sensor on top
of the instrument panel. Don’t cover it up.
The front
turn signal lights will come on
in daylight when:
0 The ignition is on
The headlight switch is off, &d
The parking brake is released.
At dusk, the exterior lights will come
on
automatically and the front turn signal
lights will go out. At dawn, the exterior
lights will go out and the front turn signal
lights will come on (if the headlight
switch
is off).
Of course, you may still turn on the
headlights any time you need to.
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Features and Controls
To idle your vehicle with the DRL off, set
the parking brake while the ignition is
in
the "Off" or "LOCK" position. Then start
the vehicle. The
DRL will stay off until
you release the parking brake.
. . .78
Fog Lights (Option)
Jse your fog lights for better vision in
!'oggy or misty conditions. Your parking
ights must be
on or your fog lights won'
work.
ro turn the fog lights on, push the right
;ide
of the switch. Push $0 to turn the
Fog lights
off. A light on the switch will
:ome on when the fog lights are
on.
't
Fog lights will go off whenever your high
beams come on. When the high beams go
Dff, the fog lights will come on again. Znterior Lights
Courtesy Lights
When any door is opened, several interior
lights go on. These lights are courtesy
lights. They make it easier for you to
enter and leave your vehicle.
Courtesy lights include the dome light and other lights throughout the interior
of
your vehicle.
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Features and Controls
I ’ ‘E3
Electric Mirror Control (Option)
The electric mirror control is on the
driver’s door. To adjust either mirror,
move the center switch to
“LEFT” or
“RIGHT.” Then use the touch pad to
adjust the mirror.
The control only works when the ignition
switch is in
“Run” or “Acc,” or when
RAP is present. (See “Retained
Accessory Power” in the Index.)
Twin Lift-off Roof
Panels (OPTION)
If you have this option, you can remove
one or both lift-off roof panels.
rhe door key unlocks the panels. The
ock is over the front door window.
Turn
:he key to the left to unlock the panel.

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Trip Odometer
The trip odometer can tell you how far
your vehicle has been driven since you
last set the trip odometer to zero.
To set the trip odometer to zero, press the
knob.
Tachometer
The tachometer displays the engine speed in thousands of revolutions per minute
(rpm).
I NOTICE:
I
Do not operate the engine with the
tachometer in the red area, or engine
damage may occur.
Warning Lights, Gages
and Indicators
This section describes the warning lights
and gages that may be on your vehicle.
The pictures will help you locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that
something is wrong before
it becomes
serious enough to cause
an expensive
repair or replacement. Paying attention to
your warning lights and gages could also
save you or others from injury.
Warning lights go on when there may be
or is a problem with one of your vehicle’s
functions.
As you will see in the details
on the next few pages, some warning
lights come on briefly when you turn the
ignition key just to let you know they’re
working. If you are familiar with this
section, you should not be alarmed when
this happens.
Gages can indicate when there may be or
is a problem with one of your vehicle’s
functions. Often gages and warning lights
work together to let you know when
there’s a problem with your vehcle. When
one of the warning lights comes on
and stays on when you are driving, or
when one
of the gages shows there may
be a problem, check the section that tells
you what to do about it. Please follow the
manual’s advice. Waiting to do repairs
can be costly
- and even dangerous. So
please get to know your warning lights
and gages. They’re a big help.
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Features and Controls
Fuel Gage
four fuel gage shows about how much
bel is in your tank. The fuel gage works
mly when the ignition switch is in the
‘Run” position. When the gage pointer
‘Irst indicates
“E,” you still have a little
uel left (about one to two gallons), but
IOU need to get more right away.
3ere are four concerns some owners
lave had about the fuel gage. All these
iituations are normal and do not indicate
:hat anything is wrong with the fuel gage.
,..go
At the gas station, the gas pump shuts
off before the gage reads “E”
It takes more (or less) gas to fill up
than the gage reads. For example, the
gage reads
1/2 full, but it took more
(or less) than half of the tank’s
capacity to fill it.
The gage moves
a little when you
turn, stop or speed up.
When you turn the engine
off, the
gage doesn’t go back to
“E.”
Brake System Warning Light
Your Pontiac’s hydraulic brake system is
divided into two parts. If one part isn’t
working, the
other part can still work and
stop you. For good braking, though, you
need both pws working well.
If the warning light comes on, there could
be a brake problem. Have your brake
system inspected right away.
This light should come on as you start the
vehicle. If it doesn’t come on then, have
it
fixed so it will be ready to warn you if
there’s a problem.
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Features and Controls
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1:
4
i;
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1
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C
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ABS
INOP
f the anti-lock brake system warning
ight stays on longer than normal after
rou’ve started your engine, turn the
gnition
off. Or, if the light comes on and
tays on when you’re driving, stop as
oon as possible and turn the ignition
off.
rhen start the engine again to reset the
‘ystem. If the light still stays on, or
:omed on again while you’re driving,
rour Pontiac needs service. If the light is
In but not flashing and the regular brake
,ystem warning light isn’t on, you still
lave brakes, but you don’t have anti-lock
wakes.
TCS
OFF
kaction Control System Warning
,ight (Option)
men the traction control system is off,
he “TCS OFF” light will come on. This
ight will also come on for three seconds
:ach time you start your vehicle as a bulb
:heck and if there’s a system failure. See
‘Traction Control System” in the Index.
The traction control system will shut
lown partially due to brake overheating
)ut the “TCS OFF” light will not come
m. If there is throttle relaxer overheating,
he “TCS
OFF” light will illuminate
md the system will shut down. Once
werything cools
off, the system will
)perate normally again.
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Features and Controls
I
Voltmeter
You can read battery voltage on your
voltmeter.
If it reads less than 11 volts or
more than
16 volts while your engine is
running, and it stays there, you may have
a problem with the electrical charging
system. Have it checked right away.
Driving with the voltmeter reading in a
warning zone could drain your battery.
If you idle your engine for a while, the
voltmeter reading might move into the
yellow zone.
If the reading stays in the
yellow zone while you are driving, you
may have a problem with the electrical
charging system. Have it checked. While
the voltmeter reads in the yellow zone,
your battery may not be able
to power
certain electrical accessories, like
ABS.
... 94
:If this happens, your “ABS INOP’ light
will come on. See “Anti-Lock Brake
System Warning Light” in this
part.)
[f you must drive a short distance with the
voltmeter reading in a warning zone, turn
~ff all your accessories, including your
:omfort control and audio systems.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Service Engine Soon Light)
A computer monitors operation of your
fuel, ignition and emission control
systems. This light should come on when
the ignition is on, but the engine is not
running, as a check to show you it is
working.
If it doesnot come on at all,
have it fixed right away.
If it stays on, or
it comes on while you are driving, the
computer is indicating that you have a
problem. You should take your vehicle in
for service soon.
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Features and Controls
1. Park on a level surface. Set the
parking brake firmly, shift an
automatic transmission into
“P’ (Park:
or a manual transmission into
“R’
(Reverse). The ignition must be in the
“Acc” or “Run” position. Lower both
sun visors.
NOTICE:
Don‘t lower the top if it is damp or
wet. When the top is down, trapped
water can cause stains, mildew and
damage to the inside of your vehicle.
Be sure to dry
off the top before you
lower it.
NOTICE:
It is not recommended to lower the
top
if your vehicle is out in cold
weather,
0°F (-18°C) or lower.
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I= 2.
NOTICE:
Before lowering the convertible top
into the storage qrea, be sure there
are no objects in
the way of the
folded, stored top. The weight
of a
stored top on items in the storage
area
will cause the convertible top
back glass to break.
Unlock the front of the convertible to;
by pushing on the smaller part of the
latch, then pulling down
on the larger
part
of the latch. Be sure the hook on
the latch that attaches into the hole at
the windshield releases.
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1. Be sure no one or nothing is on or
around the top. Push and hold the
bottom of the convertible top switch.
The switch is
on the left side of your
console. The top will automatically lower into the storage area.
nstalling the Boot Cover
ifter lowering the convertible top, you
nay want to install the boot cover. The
hree-piece boot cover
is stored in a bag
n the trunk.
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