instrument panel PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1994 Owners Manual

or the instrument panel ... x- the safety belts!
With safety belts,
you slow down as the
vehicle does.
You get more time: to stop.
You stop 'over more distance, and your
gtrongest bones take the forces. That's
why safety belts make such good sense.
H&e &e Questions
Many People Ask about
Safety Belts - and the
Amswers
'Q: Won't I be trapped in tlie vehicle
after an aecidemt if I'm wearing a
safety belt?
A: You could be - whether you're
wearing a safety belt or not. But you
can easily unbuckle a safety belt,
even if you're upside down. And
your
chance .of being conscious during and
after an accident,
so you can unbuckle
and get out,
is much greater if you are
belted.
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Seats and Restraint Systems
AIR
BAG
Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on
the instrument panel, which shows
“AIR BAG” on it. The system checks
for electrical malfunctions, and
the light
tells you
if there is a problem.
You will see this light flash for a few
seconds when you turn your ignition to
“Run” or “Start.” Then the light should
go out, which means the system is ready.
Remember, if the air bag readiness light
doesn’t come on when you start your
vehicle, or stays on, or comes on when
you are driving, your air bag system may
not work properly. Have your vehicle
serviced right away.
How the Air Bag System Works
Where
is the air bag?
The driver’s air bag is in the middle
steering wheel. of th
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The right-front passenger’s air bag is
located in the instrument panel on the
passenger’s side.
When is an air bag expected to inflate?
The air bag is designed to inflate in
moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal
crashes. The air bag will only inflate if
the velocity of the impact is above the
designed threshold level. When impacting straight into a wall that does not move or
deform, the threshold level for most
GM vehicles is between 9 and 15 mph
(14 and 23 km/h). However, this velocity
threshold depends on the vehicle design
and may be several miles-per-hour faster
or slower. In addition, this threshold
velocity will be considerably higher if the
vehicle strikes an object such as a parked
car which will move and deform on
impact. The air bag is also not designed to
inflate in rollovers, side impacts, or rear
impacts where the inflation would provide
no occupant protection benefit.
It is possible that in a crash, only one of
the two air bags in your Firebird will
deploy.
This is rare, but can happen in a
crash just severe enough to make an air
bag inflate.
In any particular crash, the determination
of whether the air bag should have
inflated cannot be based solely on the
level of damage on the vehicle(s).
Inflation is determined by the angle of the impact and the vehicle’s
deceleration, of
which vehicle damage is only one
indication. Repair cost
is not a good
indicator of whether an air bag should
have deployed.
What makes an air bag inflate? ;,
[n a frontal or near-frontal impact of
sufficient severity, the
air bag sensikg
system detects that the vehicle is suddenly
stopping as a result of a crash. The
sensing sytem triggers a chemical teaction
of the sodium azide sealed in the inflator.
The reaction produces nitrogen gas;
which inflates a cloth bag. The infktor,
210th bag, and related hardware are all
part of the air bag inflator modules
packed inside the steering wheel and in
the instrument panel in front of the
passenger.
How does an air bag restrain?
[n moderate to severe frontal or
near-frontal collisions, even belted
occupants can contact the steering wheel
or the instrument panel. The air bag
supplements the protection provided by
safety belts. Air bags distribute the force
of the impact more evenly over the
occupant’s upper body, stopping the
occupant more gradually. But air bags
would not provide protection in many
~.
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Seats and Restraint Systems
types of collisions, including rollovers
and rear and side impacts, primarily
because an occupant’s motion is not
toward the air bag. Air bags should
never be regarded as anything more
than a supplement to safety belt
protection in moderate to severe frontal
and near-frontal collisions.
What will you see after an air bag
inflation?
After the air bag has inflated, it will then
quickly deflate. This occurs
so quickly
that some people may not
even realize
that the air bag inflated. Some
components
of the air bag module in the
steering wheel hub for the driver’s air
bag or the instrument panel for the
passenger’s bag may be hot for a short
time, but the portion of the bag that comes
into contact with you will not be hot to
the touch. There will be small amounts
of
smoke and dust coming from vents in the
deflated air bags. The air bag will
not
impede the driver’s vision or ability to
steer the vehicle, nor will it hinder the
occupants from exiting the vehicle.
In many crashes severe enough
to inflate
an air bag, windshields are broken by
vehicle deformation. Additional
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windshield breakage may occur in
vehicles with passenger air bags because
the windshield acts as a reaction surface
for the inflating air bag.
The air bags are designed to inflate only
once. After they inflate you’ll need some
new parts for your air bag system. If you
don’t get them, the air bag system won’t
be there to help protect you in another
crash. A new system will include air bag
modules and possibly other
parts. The
service manual has information about the
need to replace other parts.
0 Your vehicle is equipped with a
diagnostic module, which records
information about the air bag system if
the air bag deploys in a crash. The
module records information about the
readiness of the system, which sensors
activated the deployment, and whether the
driver’s safety belt was in use.
Let only qualified technicians work on
your air bag system. Improper service can
mean that your air bag system won’t work
properly. See your dealer for service.
NOTICE:
If you damage the cover for the
driver’s or the right-front passenger’s
air bag, they may not work properly.
You may have to replace the air bag
on the steering wheel or both the air
bag and the instrument panel for the
passenger’s air bag.
Do not open or
break the air bag covers.
1s the smoke from an air bag inflation
harmful?
The particles emitted during air bag
inflation are not harmful to most people.
Some people with respiratory ailments
may experience difficulty breathing if
they stay in the vehicle with the windows
closed after air bag inflation.
So, if your
air bag inflates, you and any passengers
should exit the vehicle if and when it is
safe to do
so. If you or your passengers
can’t get out
of the vehicle, try to get
fresh air by opening a window, turning
on the fan, or opening a door.
ProCarManuals.com

Here you can learn about the
many standard and optional
features on your Pontiac.
And
information on starting. shifting
and braking
. Also explained are
the instrument panel and the
warning systems that tell you
if
everything is working properly
- and what to do if you have a
problem
.
Keys .......
Door Locks . .
Part 2
Features & Controls
....................................................
....................................................
Theft and Theft Deterrents ...........................................
New Vehicle “Break-In” ............................................
Ignitionswitch ....................................................
Automatic Transmission ............................................
ManualTransmission ...............................................
Limited-Slip Rear Axle .............................................
Parking ..........................................................
EngineExhaust ...................................................
Windows ........................................................
Horn ............................................................
Tiltwheel ........................................................
The Turn Signal/Headlight Beam Lever ................................
Mirrors ..........................................................
Twin Lift-off Roof Panels ...........................................
Storage and Compartments ..........................................
SunVisors .......................................................
AshtrayandLighter ................................................
Instrument Panel and Cluster .........................................
ConvertibleTop ...................................................
Starting Your Engine ...............................................
Operation of Lights ................................................
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43
48
50
51
52
56
59
62
63
66
67
68
69
69
76
79
SO
83
85
85
89
98
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Features and Controls
To match transmitters to your vehicle:
1. Find the Data Link Connector (DLC).
It is in the bottom of the instrument
panel near the steering column.
2. Insert one end of a fused jumper into
terminal
“G.” Terminal “G” is the top
terminal on the far right.
jumper into terminal
“A.” Terminal
“A” is the bottom terminal on the far
left.
3. Insert the other end of the fused
You have grounded the program input
line. You should hear the door locks lock
and unlock within one to three seconds. Nhen
matching transmitters, the first
ransmitter code matched will be stored
in
loth memories until a second transmitter
s matched. This means that the second
ransmitter will not work until it is
natched in step
5.
0.
5.
. a.
7.
Press any button on the first
transmitter. The door locks should
lock and unlock.
Press any button on the second
transmitter. The door locks should
lock and unlock.
Remove the fused jumper from the DLC. The system will not work unless
the jumper is removed.
Check that all the buttons on both
transmitters work correctly.
[f the transmitters don’t work, or if you’d
rather not match the transmitters yourself,
see your Pontiac dealer.
Battery Replacement
&der normal use, the batteries in your
rey chain transmitter should last about
:wo years.
You can tell the batteries are weak
if the
:ransmitter won’t work at the normal
-ange in any location.
If you have to get
:lose to your vehicle before the
:ransmitter works, it’s probably time to
:hange the batteries.
I‘o replace batteries in the Remote Lock
Zontrol:
1. Pop the cover off by inserting a dime
(or similar object)
in the slot between
the covers and twisting.
first.
2. Lift off the front cover, bottom half
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D
Ignition Switch
With the ignition key in the ignition
switch, you can
turn the switch to five
positions:
Acc (A): Position in which you can
operate your electrical power accessories.
Press in the ignition switch as you
turn
the top of it toward you.
LOCK (B): The only position in which
you can remove the key. This locks your
steering wheel, ignition and automatic
transmission.
If you have an automatic transmission,
tht
ignition switch can’t be turned to
“LOCK’ unless the shift lever is in the
“P’ (Park) position.
Off (C): Unlocks the steering wheel,
ignition and automatic transmission, but
does not send electrical power to any
accessories. Use this position if your
vehicle must be pushed or towed. A
warning tone will sound if you open the
driver’s door when the ignition is in
“Off”
and the key is in the ignition.
Run (D): Position to which the switch
returns after you start your engine and
release the switch. The switch stays in the
“Run” position when the engine is
running. But even when the engine is not
running, you can use “Run” to operate
your electrical power accessories and to
display some instrument panel warning
and indicator lights.
Start (E): Starts the engine. When the
engine starts, release the key. The ignition
switch will return to “Run” for normal
driving.
Note that even if the engine is not
running, “Acc” and “Run” allow you to
operate your electrical accessories, such
as the radio and ventilation fan.
:I
Ley Release Button: If you have a
lanual transmission, your ignition lock
as a key release button.
You must press
le button before you can take your key
ut of the ignition lock.
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Features and Controls
A green arrow on the instrument panel
will flash in the direction of the turn or
lane change.
To signal a lane change, just raise or
lower the lever until the green arrow start
to flash. Hold it there until you complete
your lane change. The lever will return b!
itself when you release it.
As you signal a turn or a lane change, if
the arrows don’t flash but just stay on, a
signal bulb may be burned out and other
drivers won’t see your turn signal.
If a bulb is burned out, replace it to help
avoid an accident. If the green arrows
don’t go on at all when you signal a turn,
check the fuse (see “Fuses” in the Index)
and for burned-out bulbs.
feadlight High/Low Beam
’0 change the headlights from low beam
3 high or high to low, pull the turn signal
:ver all the way toward you. Then
:lease it. When the high beams are on,
lis blue light on the instrument panel
lso will be on.
Windshield Wipers
fou control the windshield wipers by
urning the band
with the wiper symbol
In it.
;or a single wiping cycle, turn the band to
‘MIST.” Hold it there until the wipers
;tart, then let go. The wipers will stop
ifter one cycle. If
you want more cycles,
lold the band on “MIST” longer.
You can set the wiper speed for a long or
;hort delay between wipes. This can be
iery useful in light rain or snow. Turn the
>and to choose the delay time. The closer
:o “LO,” the shorter the delay.
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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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