tires PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1994 Owner's Manual

Service and Appearance Care
[dation - Tire Pressure
The Tire-Loading Information label
which
is on the driver’s door shows the
correct inflation pressures for your
tires, when they’re cold. “Cold” means
your vehicle has been sitting for at
least three hours or driven
no more
than
a mile.
If your vehicle is equipped with
P245/50ZR16 tires and you’ll be
driving at speeds higher than 100 mph
(160
km/h) where it is legal, raise the
“cold” inflation pressure of each tire
to
35 psi (240 Pa). When you end this
very high speed driving, reduce the
“cold” inflation pressures to those
listed
on the Tire Loading Information
label.
NOTICE:
Don’t let anyone tell you that underinflation overinflation is all right. It’s not.
If your tires don’t have enough air (underinflation) you
can get:
Too much flexing
0 Too much heat
a Tire overloading
0 Bad wear
Bad handling
0 Bad fuel economy.
If your tires have too much air (overinflation), you can get:
0 Unusual wear
Bad handling
0 Rough ride
0 Needless damage from road hazards.
.’. . 216
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When to Check: Check your tires once a
month or more. Don’t forget your
compact spare tire. It should be at
60 psi
(420 kPa).
How to Check: Use a good quality
pocket-type gage to check tire pressure.
Simply looking at the tires will not tell
you the pressure, especially
if you have
radial tires
- which may look properly
inflated even if they’re underinflated.
If your tires have valve caps, be sure to
put them back on. They help prevent
leaks by keeping out dirt and moisture.
ll r JI
t \/t
IAI
MI
Tire Inspection and Rotation
To make your tires last longer, have them
inspected and rotated at the mileages
recommended in the Maintenance
Schedule. See “Scheduled Maintenance
Services” in the Index.
If you don’t have P245/50ZR16 size tires:
use the rotation pattern shown above for
your size tires.
I1
II
0
SI
B
SI
e:
b
’ fl
A
tl
SI
12
P:
T
4-
-I-
4-
-a4
F you have P245/50ZR16 size tires, they
lust roll in a certain direction for the besl
vera11 performance. The direction is
hown by an arrow on both sidewalls.
lecause these tires are directional, they
hould be rotated as shown in the
xample above. These tires should only
e moved from front to rear and rear to
-ont on the same side of the vehicle.
Lfter the tires have been rotated, adjust
le front and rear inflation pressure as
Sown
on the Tire-Loading Information
lbel. Make certain that all wheel nuts are
roperly tightened. See “Wheel Nut
orque” in the Index.
217.
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Service and Appearance Care
When It’s Time for New Tires
he way to tell when it’s time for new
ires is to check the treadwear indicators,
vhich will appear when your tires have
Inly
2/32 inch (1.6 mm) or less of tread
emaining.
r‘ou need a new tire if:
D You can see the indicators at three or
more places around the tire.
through the tire’s rubber.
or snagged deep enough to show corc
or fabric.
B You can see cord or fabric showing
B The tread or sidewall is cracked, cut
D The tire has a bump, bulge or split.
The tire has a puncture, cut, or other
damage that can’t be repaired well
because of the size or location of the
damage.
Buying New Tires
To find out what kind and size of tires you
need, look at the Tire-Loading
[nformation label.
The tires installed on your vehicle when it
was new had a Tire Performance Criteria
Specification (TPC Spec) number on
each tire’s sidewall. When you get
new
tires, get ones with that same TPC Spec
number. That way, your vehicle will
continue to have tires that are designed
to give proper endurance, handling,
speed rating, traction, ride and other
things during normal service on your
vehicle. If your tires have an all-season
tread design, the TPC number will be
followed by a
“MS” (for mud and snow).
If you ever replace your tires with those
not having a TPC Spec number, make sure they are the same size, load range,
speed rating and construction type (bias,
bias-belted
or radial) as your original
tires.
. . . ZIU
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Uniform Tire Quality Grading
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.)
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 - A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to
lowest are: A,
B, and C. They 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 braking
(straight-ahead) traction tests and does
not include cornering (turning) traction.
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
3bility to dissipate heat when tested under
:ontrolled 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.
Those grades are molded on the sidewalls
of passenger car tires.
While the tires available as standard or
optional equipment on General Motors
vehicles may
vary with respect to these
grades, all such tires meet General Motors
performance standards and have been
approved for use on General Motors
vehicles. All passenger type
(P Metric)
tires must conform to Federal safety
requirements in addition to these grades.
I
219 ...
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I Tire Chains
I
I NOTICE:
I
If your Pontiac has P235/55R 16 or
P245/50ZR16 size tires, don’t use tire
chains; they can damage your vehicle.
If
you have other tires, use tire chains
only where legal and only when you must. Use only SAE Class
“S” type
chains that are the proper size for
your tires. Install them on the rear tires
and tighten them
as tightly as possible
with the ends securely fastened.
Drive slowly and follow the chain
manufacturer’s instructions. If you
can hear the chains contacting your
vehicle, stop and retighten them. If the
contact continues, slow down until it
stops. Driving too fast with chains on
will damage your vehicle.
Appearance Care
Remember, cleaning products can be
hazardous. Some are toxic. Others can
burst into flame if you strike a match
or get them on a hot part of the vehicle.
Some
are dangerous if you breathe
their fumes in a closed space. When
you use anything from a container to
clean your Pontiac, be sure to follow
the manufacturer‘s warnings and
instructions. And always open your
doors or windows when you’re
cleaning the inside. Never
use these to clean your
vehicle:
0 Gasoline
0 Benzene
0 Naphtha
0 Carbon Tetrachloride
0 Acetone
Paint Thinner
Turpentine
Lacquer Thinner
Nail Polish Remover
They can all be hazardous
- some more
than others
- and they can all damage
your vehicle, too.
I
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. C’
221 . . .
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Finish Care
Occasional waxing or mild polishing of
your Pontiac may be necessary to remove
residue from the paint finish.
You can get
GM approved cleaning products from
your dealer. (See “Appearance Care and
Maintenance Materials” in the Index.)
Your Pontiac has
a “basecoatjclearcoat”
paint finish. The clearcoat gives more depth and gloss to the colored
basecoat.Always use waxes and polishes
that are non-abrasive and made for a
basecoatklearcoat paint finish.
NOTICE:
Machine compounding or aggressive
polishing
on a basecoatjclearcoat
paint finish may dull the finish or
leave swirl marks.
Cleaning Your Convertible Top
NOTICE:
When using an automatic car wash,
set your heating or cooling system to
“VENT” with the fan speed set to
the second highest speed. This will
prevent high pressure water from
entering around your top.
Your convertible top should be cleaned
often. Use a mild soap, lukewarm water
and a soft brush. Don’t use any harsh
cleaners or bleaching agents on the top.
They can damage the material.
When the top is really dirty, use a mild
foam-type cleaner. Use a cloth or sponge
to remove the dirt.
Thoroughly rinse the top and dry
it before
lowering it.
A damp top causes wrinkles.
Aluminum Wheels (If So Equipped)
Your aluminum wheels have a protective
coating similar to the painted surface of
your vehicle. Don’t use strong soaps,
chemicals, chrome polish, abrasive
cleaners,
or abrasive cleaning brushes
on them because you could damage this coating. After
rinsing thoroughly, a wax
may be applied.
NOTICE:
If you have aluminum wheels, don’t
use an automatic car wash that has
hard silicon carbide cleaning brushes.
These brushes can take off the
protective coating.
Tires
Your Pontiac dealer has a GM White
Sidewall Tire Cleaner.
You can use a stiff
brush with the cleaner.
When applying a tire dressing always take
care to wipe
off any overspray or splash
from painted surfaces. Petroleum-based
products may damage the paint finish.
Weatherstrips
Silicone grease on weatherstrips will
make them last longer, seal better, and not
stick or squeak. Apply silicone grease
with a clean cloth at least every six
months. During
very cold, damp weather
more frequent application may be
required. (See “Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants’’ in the Index.)
I-
225. . .
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Appearance Care and Maintenance Materials
PART NUMBER USAGE DESCRIPTION
SIZE
1051516
16
02. (0.473 L) 10501 73
Also old waxes, polishes
Tar
and Road Oil Remover
16 02. (0.473 L)
10501 72 Windshield washing system and gas line
Washer
Solvent and Gas Liner De-lcer
32
02. (0.946 L)
Windshield cleaner
Bon-Ami Powder"
12
02. (0.340 kg)
105001
1 Exterior cleaner and polish
Magic Mirror Cleaner-Polish
16
02. (0.473 L)
1050201 Spot and stain removal
on cloth and fabric Spot Lifter*
8 02. (0.237 L) 1051 398 Exterior wash
Wash-Wax (Concentrated)
16
02. (0.473
L)
1052870 Vinyl, cloth, door trims, seats, carpet, tires, mats Multi-Purpo\
se Powdered Cleaner
6
Ib. (2.72 kg)
1050429 Glass cleaning and
spot cleaning on vinyls Glass
Cleaner
24 02. (0.680 L)
1050427 Spot and stain removal
on cloth and fabric Fabric
Cleaner*
16 02. (0.473 L)
1050244 Spot and stain removal
on leather
and vinyl
VinyVLeather Cleaner*
32 02. (0.946 L)
105021 4 Cleans white and black tires White Sidewall Tire Cleaner 16
02. (0.473
L)
10501 74 Removes
rust and corrosion on chrome and steel
Cleaner and Polish
*Not recommended for pigskin suede leather.
See your General Motors Dealer for these products. See the Index under "Recommended Fluids and Lubricants" for other produc\
ts.
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Maintenance Schedule
Section A: Scheduled Maintenance Services (Cont.)
Explanation of Scheduled
Maintenance Services
Following are explanations of the services
listed in Schedule I and Schedule
II.
The proper fluids and lubricants to use are
listed in Section
D. Make sure whoever
services your vehicle uses these. All parts
should be replaced and all necessary
repairs done before you or anyone else
drives the vehicle.
NOTE: To determine your engine’s
displacement and code, see
“Engine Identification” in the
Index.
ITEM
NO. SERVICE
1 Engine Oil and Filter Change* -
Always use SH or SG Energy
Conserving
I1 oils of proper
viscosity. The “SH” or “SG”
designation may be shown alone
or in combination with others,
such as “SH/CD,”
“SH, SG,
CD,” “SG/CD,” etc. To deter-
mine the preferred viscosity for
your vehicle’s engine (e.g., SAE
ITEM
NO.
2
3
4
SERVICE
5W-30 or SAE 10W-30), see
“Engine Oil” in the Index.
Chassis Lubrication
- Lubricate
the suspension and steering
linkage. Lubricate the
transmission
shift linkage.
Tire and Wheel Rotation and
InsDection
- For proper wear
and maximum tire life, rotate
your tires following the
instructions in this manual. See
“Tires, Inspection and Rotation”
in the Index. Check the tires for
uneven wear or damage. If you
see irregular or premature wear,
check the wheel alignment.
Check for damaged wheels also.
Engine Accessorv Drive Belt!s)
InsDection
- Inspect the belt(s)
for cracks, fraying, wear and
proper tension. Replace as
needed. (Belts can have many small cracks in individual ribs
without affecting performance.)
ITEM
NO. SERVICE
5 Cooling: System Service* -
Drain, flush and refill the system
with new or approved recycled
coolant conforming to GM
Specification 1825M. Keep
coolant at the proper mixture as specified. See “Coolant”
in the
Index. This provides proper
freeze and boil protection, corrosion inhibitor level and
maintains proper engine operating temperature.
Inspect hoses and replace if they
are cracked, swollen or deterior-
ated. Tighten screw-type hose
clamps. Clean the outside of the
radiator and air conditioning
condenser. Wash the pressure cap and neck.
To help ensure proper operation,
we recommend a pressure test of
both the cooling system and the
pressure cap.
* An Emission Control Service.
. . .246
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Maintenance Schedule
Section B: Owner Checks and Services
Listed below are owner checks and services which should be performed at the intervals specified to help ensure the saf\
ety,
dependability and emission control performance of your vehicle. Be sure any necessary repairs are completed at once.
Whenever any fluids or lubricants are added
to your vehicle, make sure they are the proper ones, as shown in Section D.
At Each Fuel Fill (It is important for you or a service station attendant to perform these underhood checks at each fuel fill.)
CHECK
OR SERVICE
Engine Oil Level
Engine Coolant Level
Windshield Washer
Fluid Level
At least Once a Month
WHAT TO DO
Check the engine oil level and add the proper oil if necessary. See “Engine Oil” in the Index for
further details.
Check the engine coolant level and add the proper coolant mix if necessary. See “Coolant” in
the Index for further details.
Check the windshield washer fluid level in the windshield washer tank and add the proper fluid if
necessary. See “Windshield Washer Fluid” in the Index for further details.
CHECK
OR SERVICE ~~
Tire Inflation
Cassette Deck
WHAT TO DO
Check tire inflation. Make sure they are inflated to the pressures specified on the Tire-Loading
Information label located on the rear edge of the driver’s door. See “Tires”
in the Index for
further details.
Clean cassette deck. Cleaning should be done every
15 hours of tape play. See “Audio Systems”
in the Index for further details.
I At Least Twice a Year ___ ~~~ ~ ~
CHECK
OR SERVICE WHAT TO DO
Hydraulic Clutch
loss in
this system could indicate a problem. Have the system inspected and repaired at once.
System Inspection Check
the fluid level
in the clutch reservoir. See “Hydraulic Clutch Fluid” in the Index. A fluid
. . .248
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Index
Steering
Storage Tips
........................ 132
Compartments
............... 83
Vehicle
..................... 208
Stuck: In Sand. Mud. Ice or Snow
. . 180
Sun Visors
.................... 85
Sunshades. T-Top ............... 82
Supplemental Inflatable Restraint System (Air Bags)
............ 23
Switch. Ignition
................ 51
Switch. Performance Mode
....... 54
Symbols. Vehicle
............... 5
TTop Sunshades .............. 82
Tachometer .................... 89
Tank. Filling Your
.............. 187
Temperature Control Knob
....... 104
Theft
......................... 48
Theft Deterrent Feature/
THEFTLOCK
............... 120
Theft.Deterrent. PASS-Key I1 ..... 49
Thermostat
.................... 204
Tilt Wheel
..................... 69
Tips. Steering .................. 132
Tips. Ventilation
................ 108
Tire Loading
................... 2 13
Tires
......................... 215
Balance. Wheel Alignment and
. . 220
Buying New
................. 2 18
Symbols. Safety Warnings and
.... 4
... 276
Tires
Chains
..................... 221
Changing
a Flat .............. 17 1
Inflation Pressure ............. 2 16
Inspection and Rotation
........ 217
Temperature Grades
........... 2 1 9
Traction Grades .............. 219
Treadwear ................... 2 19
Uniform Quality Grading
....... 219
When It's Time for New
....... 2 18
AM/F" Stereo with Cassette Tape
Player
.................... 1 10
AM/FM Stereo with Cassette
Tape Player and Graphic
Tone.
Setting the
Equalizer
............... 1 13
A" Stereo with Compact Disc
Player
.................... I 16
A" Stereo with Compact
Disc Player and Graphic
Equalizer
............... 1 19
Top Strap (Child Restraints)
....... 32
Torque Lock
.................. 65
Towing
A Trailer .................... 144
Front Hook-Ups
.............. 158
Rear Hook-Ups .............. 160
Your Vehicle
................. 156
Traction Control System
......... 130
And Cruise Control ........... 75
Warning Light ............... 92 Trailer Brakes
.................. 147
Trailer. Towing a
............... 144
Transmission
Automatic
................... 56
Fluid. Automatic ............. 198
Fluid. Manual
................ 200
Manual. Five-Speed
........... 59
Manual. Six-Speed
............ 60
Transmitters. Matching to Your
Vehicle (Remote Lock Control)
. . 45
Transportation. Courtesy ......... 263
Trip Odometer
................. 89
Trip. Before Leaving on a Long
.... 140
Turn Signal and Lane Change
Indicator
.................... 69
Turn Signaweadlight
Beam Lever
................. 69
Twin Lift-off Roof Panels
........ 80
Underbody Maintenance ....... 226
Underhood Electrical Center
...... 231
Understanding Radio Reception
... 121
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
..... 219
Used Oil. What to Do With
....... 195
Used Replacement Wheels
........ 220
Vehicle Control of a
................. 128
Damage Warnings
............ 4
Dimensions ................. 236
Environment and Your
......... 240
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