adding oil PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1994 Owners Manual

Service and Appearance Care
Automatic Transmission Fluid
When to Check and Change:
A good time to check your automatic
transmission fluid level
is when the
engine oil is changed. Refer to the
Maintenance Schedule to determine when
to change your fluid. See “Scheduled
Maintenance Services” in the Index.
How to Check:
Because this operation can be a little
difficult, you may choose to have this
done at a Pontiac dealership Service
Department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow all
the instructions here, or
you could get a
false reading on the dipstick.
Too much or too little fluid can
damage your transmission. Too much
can mean that some of the fluid could
come out and fall on hot engine parts
or exhaust system, starting a fire. Be
sure to get an accurate reading
if you
check your transmission fluid. Wait
at least 30 minutes before checking
the transmission fluid level if you have
been driving:
When outside temperatures are above
At high speed for quite a while.
In heavy traffic - especially in hot
90°F (32°C).
weather.
While pulling a trailer.
To get the right reading, the fluid should
be at normal operating temperature,
which is 180°F to 200°F (82°C to 93°C).
To check transmission fluid hot: Get
the vehicle warmed up by driving
about
15 miles (24 km) when outside
temperatures
are above 50°F ( 10°C).
If it’s colder than 50°F ( lO”C), drive
the vehicle in
“D’ (Third Gear) until the
engine temperature gage moves and then
remains steady for
ten minutes. Then
follow the hot check procedures.
To check transmission fluid cold: A cold
check is made after the vehicle has been
sitting for eight hours or more with the
engine
off and is used only as a reference.
Let the engine run at idle for five minutes
if outside temperatures are 50°F
(10°C)
or more. If it’s colder than 50°F (lO°C),
you may have to idle the engine longer.
Should the fluid level be low during a
cold check, you must perform a hot check
before adding fluid. This will give you a
more accurate reading of the fluid level.
To check the fluid hot or cold:
0
Park your vehicle on a level place.
With the parking brake applied, place
the shift lever
in “P” (Park).
With your foot on the brake pedal,
move the shift lever through each gear
range, pausing for about three seconds
in each range. Then, position the shift
lever in “P” (Park).
Let the engine
run at idle for three
minutes or more.
. . .I98
ProCarManuals.com

Service and Appearanc’e Care
The proper coolant for your Pontiac will:
0
Give freezing protection down to
-34°F (-37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 262°F
(128°C)
.
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine
temperature.
Let the warning lights work as
they
should.
What to Use:
Use a mixture of one-half clean water
(preferably distilled) and one-half
antifreeze that meets
“GM Specification
1825M,” which won’t damage aluminum
parts. You can also use a recycled coolant
conforming to GM Specification 1825M
with a complete coolant flush and refill. If
you use this mixture, you don’t need to
add anything else.
NOTICE:
If you use an improper coolant mix,
your engine could overheat and be
badly damaged. The repair cost wouldn’t be covered by your war-
ranty. Too much water in the mix can
freeze and crack the engine, radiator,
heater core and other parts.
Adding Coolant
To Check Coolant: When your engine is
cold, check the dipstick on the cap of the
coolant recovery tank. The coolant level should be “COLD,” or a little higher.
When your engine is warm, the level on
the dipstick should be up to
“HOT,” or a
little higher.
. . .202
ProCarManuals.com

ABS ........................ 129
Accessory Power. Retained
....... 52
Add-on Electrical Equipment
..... 228
Adding Coolant
................ 202
Additives. Engine Oil
............ 194
AirBags
...................... 23
How the System Works
........ 24
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped
Pontiac
................... 27
Readiness Light
.............. 24
Air Cleaner
.................... 195
Air Conditioner Controls
......... 106
Air Control
Knob ............... 104
Air Filter Replacement
........... 196
Alignment and Tire Balance.
Wheel
...................... 220
Aluminum Wheels
.............. 225
A"M Stereo
With Cassette Tape Player
...... 109
With Cassette Tape Player and
Graphic Equalizer
.......... 1 12
With Compact Disc Player
...... 115
With Compact Disc Player and
Graphic Equalizer
.......... 1 18
Antenna. Fixed Mast
............ 123
Anti-Lock Brakes
.............. 129
To Use ..................... 130
System Warning Light ......... 91
Appearance Care
............... 221
Appearance Care and Materials
.... 227 Appearance Care.
Service and
..... 183
Ashtray and Lighter
............. 85
Ashtray. Front
................. 85
Audio Systems ................. 108
Audio Systems. Comfort
Controls and
................. 103
Automatic Transmission
................ 56
Transmission Fluid
............ 198
Axle. Limited-Slip Rear
.......... 62
Axle. Rear
.................... 201
Babies. Smaller Children
and (Safety Belts)
............. 30
Balance. Wheel Alignment
and Tire
.................... 220
Battery
....................... 208
Battery Replacement. Remote Lock
Control
..................... 45
BBB Auto Line
- Alternative Dispute
Resolution Program.
GM Participation in
......... 261
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
.... 140
Belt Routing
................... 237
Belt. Lap-Shoulder
.............. 19
Bi-Level Heating
............... 105
Blizzard. If You're Caught in a
... 143
Box. Glove
.................... 83
Brakes Adjustment
.................. 208
Anti-Lock
(ABS) ............. 129 Brakes
Fluid
....................... 207
Master Cylinder
.............. 206
Parking
..................... 63
Pedal Travel ................. 207
System Parts. Replacing
........ 208
System Warning Light
......... 90
Trailer ...................... 147
Wear
...................... 207
Braking (Control of a Vehicle)
..... 128
Braking
in Emergencies ........... 132
"Break.In,
.. New Vehicle ........ 50
Brightness Control .............. 76
Bulb Replacement .............. 209
Center High-Mounted
Stoplight
.................. 210
Front Turn Signal
............. 211
Headlights
............. .' .... 209
Rear Lights
.................. 211
Rear Sidemarker
.............. 212
Bulbs, Halogen
................. 209
Bulbs. Replacement
............. 232
Canadian Roadside Assistance
... 263
Capacities and Specifications
...... 233
Carbon Monoxide
.............. 48
Care
Appearance
................. 221
Cassette Tape Player
.......... 122
Compact Discs
............... 122
Safety Belts
................. 224
269 ...
ProCarManuals.com