PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1994 Repair Manual

Features and Controls
Six-Speed ,-
This is your shift pattern. Here’s how to
operate your transmission:
0 1 (First Gear) - Press the clutch
pedal and shift into
“1.” Then, slowly
let up on the clutch pedal as you
press the accelerator pedal.
You can shift into “1” when you’re
going less than
20 mph (30 km/h). If
you’ve come to a complete stop and
it’s hard to shift into
“1,” put the shift
lever in “Neutral” and let up on
the
clutch. Press the clutch pedal back
down. Then shift into
“1.”
2 (Second Gear) - Press the clutch
pedal as you let up on the accelerator
pedal and shift into
“2.” Then, slowly
let up
on the clutch pedal as you
press the accelerator pedal.
3,4,5 and 6 (Third, Fourth, Fifth
and
Sixth Gears) - Shift into “3,”
“4,” “5” and “6” the same way you do
for
“2.” Slowly let up on the clutch
pedal as
you press the accelerator
pedal.
To Stop - Let up on the accelerator
pedal and press the brake pedal. Just
before the vehicle stops, press the
clutch pedal and the brake pedal,
and shift to “Neutral.”
Neutral - Use this position when
you start or idle your engine.
R (Reverse) - To back up, press
down the clutch pedal and shift into
“R.” Let up on the clutch pedal slowly
while pressing the accelerator pedal.
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Your six-speed manual transmission
has a feature that allows you to safely
shift into
“R’ (Reverse) while the vehicle
is rolling (at less than 3 mph). You will be
“locked-out” if you try to shift into “R”
(Reverse) while your vehicle is’ moving
faster than
3 mph.
If you have turned your ignition off and
wish to park your vehicle in Reverse, you
will have to move the shift lever quickly
to the right, “crashing” through the high
load spring and then into gear.
SKIP
SHIFT
;kip Shift Light (5.7L LT1 Engine)
Yhen this light comes on, you can only
hift from
“1” (First) to “4” (Fourth) gear
nstead of “1” (First) to “2” (Second)
gar. This helps you to get
the best
lossible fuel economy.
’his light will come on under these
onditions:
The engine coolant temperature is greater than 170°F (77”C),
You are going
15-20 mph
(24-32
km/h), and
You are
at 35% throttle or less. When this
light
is on, the gear shift lever
will let you shift from
“1” (First) gear to
“4”(Fourth) gears only. Once you are
in
“4” (Fourth) gear, you can press the
clutch again and shift into another gear.
Follow the shift speeds in this chart when
the
“SKIP SHIFT” light is on.
Computer Aided Manual Transmission
Shift Speeds:
1st to 4th. . , . , . . 15 mph (24 km/h)
4th to 5th ...... 25 mph (40 km/h)*
5th
to 6th ...... 40 mph (64 km/h)**
Each time you come to
a stop, the
engine’s Electronic Control Module
(EGM) determines when to activate the
“SKIP SHIFT” upshift system. Use
“2”
(Second) gear only when you accelerate
very quickly from’a stop.
You can then
follow the full gear shift pattern.
*30 mph (48 km/h) when accelerating
to highway speeds.
**45 mph (72 km/h) when accelerating
to highway
speeds.
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Features and Controls
shift Speeds (MANUAL TRANSMISSION)
This chart shows when to shift to the next higher gear for best fuel economy.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION RECOMMENDED SHIFT SPEEDS, IN MPH (km/h)
Acceleration Shift Speed
1 to2 5
to
6 4 to 5 3 to 4 2 to 3
Engine
3.4L L32
you should downshift to the next lower gear. You may have to downshift two or more
If
your speed drops below
20 mph (30 km/h), or if the engine is not running smoothly,
(80)
(72)
(64)
(40)
(24)
(Code P)
50 45 40
25 15 5.7L LTI NIA
(72-75)
(51-59)
(34-35)
(21-25)
(Code
S)
45-47
32-37
21 -28
13-1 6
gears to keep the engine running smoothly or for
good performance.
NOTICE:
If you skip more than one gear when
you downshift, or if you race the
engine when you downshift, you can
damage the clutch or transmission.
Limited-Slip Rear Axle
If you have this feature, your rear axle
can give you additional traction on
snow, mud, ice, sand or gravel. It works
like a standard axle most of the time,
but
when one of the rear wheels has
no traction and the other does, the limited-slip feature will allow the
wheel with traction to move the vehicle.
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Parking
Parking Brake
The parking brake uses the brakes on the
rear wheels.
To set the parking brake: Hold the brake
pedal down and pull up on the parking brake lever. If the ignition is on, the brake
system warning light will come on.
To release the parking brake: Hold the
brake pedal down.
Pull the parking brake
lever up until you can push in the release
button. Hold the release button in as you
move the brake lever all the way down.
NOTICE:
Driving with the parking brake on
can cause your rear brakes to over-
heat. You may have to replace them,
and you could also damage other
parts of your vehicle.
If you are towing a trailer and are
parking on any hill:
See “Towing a
Trailer” in the Index. That section shows
what to do first to keep the trailer from
moving.
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Features and Controls
Shifting into P (Park)
(AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION)
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your
right foot and set the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever into T“ (Park)
position like this:
Hold in the button on the lever,
and push the lever all the way
toward the front of your vehicle.
3. Move the ignition key to “LOCK.”
4. Remove the key and take it with you.
If you can walk away from your
vehicle with the ignition key in your
hand, your vehicle is in
“P’ (Park).
Leaving Your Vehicle with the
Engine Running
(AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION)
If you have to leave your vehicle with the
engine running, be sure your vehicle is
in
“P’ (Park) and your parking brake is
firmly set before you leave it. After
you’ve moved the shift lever into the
“P’
(Park) position, hold the regular brake
pedal down. Then, see if you can move
the shift lever away from
“P’ (Park)
without first pushing the button. If you
can, it means that the shift lever wasn’t
fully locked into
“P” (Park).
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Torque Lock
(AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION)
If you are parking on a hill and you don’t
shift your transmission into “P” (Park)
properly, the weight of the vehicle may
put too much force on the parking pawl in
the transmission. You may find it difficult
to pull the shift lever out of “P” (Park)
This is called “torque lock.” To prevent
torque lock, set the parking brake and
then shift into “P’7 (Park) properly before
you leave the driver’s Seat. To find out
how, see “Shifting Into “P” (Park)” in
the Index.
When you are ready to drive, move the
shift lever out of
“P” (Park) BEFORE you
release the parking brake.
If “torque lock” does occur, you may
need to have another vehicle push yours
a little uphill to take some of the pressure
from the transmission,
so you can pull the
shift lever out of “P” (Park).
Shifting out of P (Park)
(AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION)
Your Pontiac has a brake-transmission
shift interlock. You have to fully apply
your regular brake before you can shift
from “P” (Park) when the ignition is in
the “Run” position. See “Automatic
Transmission” in the Index.
If you cannot shift out of
“F”’ (Park), ease
pressure on the shift lever
- push the
shift lever all the way into
“P” (Park) and
release the shift lever button as you
maintain brake application. Then press
the shift lever button and move the shift
lever into the gear you wish.
If you ever hold the brake pedal down but
still can’t shift out of
“P” (Park), try this:
1. Turn the key to “Off.”
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end
3. Shift to “N’ (Neutral).
4. Start the vehicle and then shift to the
drive gear you want.
of
Step
4.
5. Have the vehicle fixed as soon as you
can.
Parking Your Vehicle
(MANUAL TRANSMISSION)
Before you get out of your vehicle, put
your manual transmission in
“R’
(Reverse) and firmly apply the parking
brake.
If your vehicle is equipped
to tow a
trailer, see “Towing a Trailer” in the
Index.
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Features and Controls
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Running Your Engine While
You’re
Parked (AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION)
It’s better not to park with the engine
running. But if you ever have to, here are
some things to know.
Follow the proper steps to be sure your
vehicle won’t move. See “Shifting Into
“P” (Park)” in the Index.
[f you are parlung on a hill and if you’re
pulling a trailer, also see “Towing a
Trailer’’ in the Index.
Windows
Manual Windows
Use the window crank to open and close
each door window.
, , -.
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Features and Controls
The switch for the driver’s window has an
5xpress Down feature. Quickly press and
aelease the switch for the driver’s window
md the window will lower completely.
fou can also open the driver’s window
my amount by pressing the switch again
while the window is in the Express Down
node when it has lowered to the position
IOU want.
Power Windows (Option)
With power windows, switches on the
door control each window when the
ignition is on or when RAP is present.
(See “Retained Accessory Power” in
the Index.)
You can
also open the passenger window
any amount by pressing the switch and
releasing it when the window has
lowered to the position you want.
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Horn
ro sound the horn, press either horn
;ymbol on your steering wheel.
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I Tilt Wheel
1 tilt steering wheel allows you to adjust
he steering wheel before you drive.
r'ou can also raise it to the highest level tc
$ve your legs more room when you exit
md enter the vehicle.
?o tilt the wheel, hold the steering wheel
md pull the lever. Move the steering
vheel to a comfortable level, then release
he lever to lock the wheel in place.
I The Turn
Signal'Headlight Beam
Lever
'he lever on the left side of the steering
dumn includes your:
Turn Signal and Lane Change
Indicator
Headlight HigNLow Beam and
Passing Signal
Windshield Wipers
Windshield Washer
Cruise Control (Option)
rurn Signal and Lane Change
ndicator
'he turn signal has two upward '(for
Light) and two downward
(for Left)
lositions. These positions allow
'you to
ignal a turn or a lane change.
b signal a turn, move the lever dl the
day up or down. When the turn is
inished, the lever will return
utomatically.
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