load capacity PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1994 Owners Manual

NOTICE:
Pulling a trailer improperly can
damage your vehicle and result in
costly repairs not covered by your
warranty.
To pull a trailer correctly,
follow the advice in this section, and
see your Pontiac dealer for important
information about towing a trailer
with your vehicle.
Your vehicle can tow a trailer if it is
equipped with the proper trailer towing
equipment. To identify what the vehicle
trailering capacity is for your vehicle, you
should read the information in “Weight
of the Trailer” that appears later in this
section. But trailering is different than just
driving your vehicle by itself. Trailering
means changes
in handling, durability,
and fuel economy. Successful, safe
trailering takes correct equipment, and
it has to be used properly.
That’s the reason for this section. In it are
many time-tested, important trailering
tips and safety rules. Many of these are
important for your safety and that of your
passengers.
So please read this section
carefully before you pull a trailer. Load-pulling components such
as the
engine, transmission, rear axle, wheel
assemblies, and tires are forced to work
harder against the drag of the added
weight, The engine is required to operate
at relatively higher speeds and under
greater loads, generating extra heat.
What’s more, the trailer adds considerably
to wind resistance, increasing the pulling
requirements.
If You Do Decide to Pull a Trailer
If you do, here are some important points.
0 There are many different laws,
including speed limit restrictions,
having to do with trailering. Make
sure your rig will be legal, not only
where you live but also where you’ll
be driving.
A good source for this
information can be state or provincial
police.
0 Consider using a sway control. You
can ask a hitch dealer about sway
controls.
0 Don’t tow a trailer at all during the
first 1,000 miles (1 600 km) your
new vehicle is driven. Your engine,
axle or other parts could be damaged.
(800 km) that you tow a trailer, don’t
drive over
50 mph (SO h/h) and don’t
make starts at full throttle. This heips
your engine and other parts of your
vehicle wear in at the heavier loads.
Obey speed limit restrictions when
towing a trailer. Don’t drive faster
than the maximum posted speed for
trailers (or no more than
55 mph
(90 km/h)) to save wear on your
vehicle’s parts.
Three important considerations have to do
with weight:
., )I
Weight of the .Trailer $:
How heavy can a trailer safelyabe?
It should never weigh more th&
1,500 pounds (680 kg) under nQrmal
driving conditions. It should n&er
weigh more than
1,000 pounds
(450 kg) when driven on long grades
at high ambient temperatures. But
even that can be too heavy.
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Your Driving and the
It depends on how you plan to use
your rig. For example, speed, altitude,
road grades, outside temperature and
how much your vehicle is used to pull
a trailer are all important. And, it can
also depend on any special equipment
that you have on your vehicle.
You can ask your dealer for our
trailering information or advice, or
you can write
us at:
Pontiac Division Customer Assistance Center
One Pontiac Plaza
Pontiac, MI 48340-2952
General Motors of Canada Limited
Customer Assistance Center
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario L1
H 8P7
In Canada, write to:
. . .I46
Road
A B
Weight of the Trailer Tongue
The tongue load (A) of any trailer is
an important weight to measure
because it affects the total capacity
weight of your vehicle. The capacity
weight includes the curb weight of the
vehicle, any cargo you may carry in it
and the people who will be riding in
the vehicle. And if you will tow a
trailer, you must subtract the tongue
load from your vehlcle’s capacity
weight because your vehicle will be
carrying that weight, too. See
“Loading Your Vehicle” in the Index
for more information about your
vehicle’s maximum load capacity.
If you’re using a “dead-weight”
hitch, the trailer tongue (A) should weight
10% of the total loaded
trailer weight (B). If you have a
“weight-distributing” hitch, the
trailer tongue (A) should weigh 12%
of the total loaded trailer weight (B).
After you’ve loaded your trailer, weigh
the trailer and then the tongue,
separately, to see if the weights are
proper. If they aren’t, you may be able
to get them right simply by moving
some items around in the trailer.
Total Weight on Your Vehicle’s Tires
Be sure your vehicle’s tires are
inflated to the limit for cold tires.
You’ll find these numbers
on the
Certification label at the rear edge of
the driver’s door or see “Loading
Your Vehicle
” in the Index. Then be
sure you don’t go over the
GVW limit
for your vehicle.
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1. Turn counterclockwise and pull out
I. Pull out the bulb.
i. Reverse the steps with a new bulb.
the socket and
the bulb.
r ~~
~~ ~~~
TIRE-LOADING INFORMATION
FRT. CRT.
RR. TOTAL LBS KG 3 3 2 MAX. LOADING @ GVWR SAME AS VEHICLE 8 1199 544
OCCUPANTS VEHICLE CAP. WT.
TIRE SIZE
In 0
0
INFORMATION l-
< d
I Loading Your Vehicle
wo labels on your vehicle show how
luch weight it may properly carry. The
ire-Loading Information label found on
le driver’s door tells you the proper size,
Jeed rating and recommended inflation
ressures for the tires on your vehicle. It
so gives you important information
)out
the number of people that can be in
3ur vehicle and the total weight that you
in carry. This weight is called the
ehicle Capacity Weight and includes the
eight of all occupants, cargo, and all
onfactory-installed options.
MFD BY GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
DATE GVWR GAWRFRT GAWRRR
01/91 5713LB 2503LB
Y) In
0 2
c d
he other label is the Certification label,
Iund on the rear edge of the driver’s
oor. It tells you the
gross weight
apacity of your vehicle, called the
WWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating).
he GVWR includes the weight of the
shicle, all occupants, fuel and cargo.
’ever exceed the GVWR for your
zhicle, or the Gross Axle Weight Rating
3AWR) for either the front or rear axle.
.nd, if you do have a heavy load, you
lould spread it out. Don’t carry more
Ian
100 pounds (45 kg) in your rear area
213. ProCarManuals.com

Service and Appearance Care
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
The wheels on your vehicle were aligned
and balanced carefully at the factory to
give you
the longest tire life and best
overall performance.
In most cases, you will not need to have
your wheels aligned again. However, if
you notice unusual tire wear or your
vehicle pulling one way or the other, the
alignment may need to be reset. If you
notice your vehicle vibrating when
driving on a smooth road, your wheels
may need to be rebalanced.
Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel that is bent, cracked or
badly rusted. If wheel nuts keep coming
loose, the wheel, wheel bolts, and wheel
nuts should be replaced. If the wheel
leaks air out, replace it (except some
aluminum wheels, which can sometimes
be repaired). See your Pontiac dealer if
any
of these conditions exist.
Your dealer will know the kind of wheel
you need.
Each new wheel should have the same
load carrying capacity, diameter, width,
offset, and be mounted the same way as
the one it replaces.
[f you need to replace any of your wheels,
wheel bolts, or wheel nuts, replace them
mly with new
GM original equipment
sarts. This way, you will be sure to have
:he right wheel, wheel bolts, and wheel
nuts for your Pontiac model.
NOTICE:
The wrong wheel can also cause
problems with bearing life, brake
cooling, speedometer/odometer
calibration, headlight aim, bumper height, vehicle ground clearance, and tire or tire chain clearance to
the body and chassis.
Used Replacement Wheels
. . .220
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Service Station Information
Engine
(3.4L I
Engine Hood
Release
See Page 188 ---G A-
Windshield Washer
Fluid Reservoir
Oil Dipstick and
Fill Cap.
J32 (Code S) Engine)
See Page 192
Oil Dipstick and
Fill Cap
(5.7L LT1 (Code P) Engine)
See Page 192
Cold Tire Pressure
See Tire-Loading Information label on the
inside
of the rear edge of the driver’s door.
See Page 213
Fuel
Capacity 15.5 U.S. Gal. (58.7 L).
Use unleaded gas only, 87 octane or
higher for
the 3.4L L32 (Code S) engine,
91 octane or higher for the 5.7L LT1
(Code
P) engine. See Page 185
See Page 205
Battery
The Delco Freedom@ battery needs
no water.
See Page 208
Cooling system Reservoir
Check coolant at the coolant recovery tank
by using the dipstick. Add coolant at the
coolant recovery tank. The fluid should be
at or a little above the “FULL HOT’’ mark
on the dipstick when the engine is warm.
If the.engine is cool, the level should be at
“FULL COLD’’ on the dipstick.
See Page 202
Spare Tire Pressure
Compact Spare: 60 psi (420 kPa).
See Page 180
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