radiator PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1994 Owners Manual

Features and Controls
NOTICE:
When using concentrated washer
fluid, follow the manufacturer’s
instructions for adding water.
Don’t mix water with
ready-to-use washer fluid. Water
can cause the solution to freeze
and damage your washer fluid
tank and other parts of the washer
system. Also, water doesn’t clean
as well as washer fluid.
Fill your washer fluid tank only
314 full when it’s very cold. This
allows for expansion, which could
damage the tank if
it is completely
full.
Don’t use radiator antifreeze in
your windshield washer. It can
damage your washer system and
paint.
.. . .
hise Control (opnoN)
Vith Cruise Control, you can maintain a
peed of about
25 mph (40 km/h) or more
rrithout keeping your foot on the
ccelerator. This can really help on long
:ips. Cruise Control does not
work at
peeds below about
25 mph (40 km/h).
Vhen you apply your brakes, or push the
lutch pedal, if you have a manual
ransmission, the Cruise Control shuts
off
To Set Cruise Control
1. Move the Cruise Control switch to
“ON.”
... 72
ProCarManuals.com

9
!I LOW
COOLANT
Low Coolant Light (4% Engine)
This light should come on while you are
starting your engine.
If the light doesn’t
come on, have it repaired. The light also
comes on when the coolant in your
radiator
is low. You may need to add
coolant. See “Engine Coolant”
in the
NOTICE:
Driving with the “LOW COOLANT”
light on could cause
your Pontiac to
overheat. See “Engine Overheating”
in the Index. Your Pontiac could
be
damaged, and it wouldn’t be covered
by your warranty.
Convertible Top
The following procedures explain the
proper operation of your convertible top.
To Lower Your Convertible Top
NOTICE:
Don’t leave yoqxconvertible out with
the top down for any long periods
of time. The sun and the rain can
damage your seat material and other
things inside your vehicle.
97. .
ProCarManuals.com

Problems on the Road
If your engine catches fire because
you keep driving with no coolant,
your vehicle can be badly darhaged.
The costly repairs would not be
covered by your warranty.
If No Steam Is Coming from Your
Engine:
If you get the overheat warning but see
or hear
no steam, the problem may not be
too serious. Sometimes the engine can gel
a little too hot when you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
Stop after high speed driving.
0 Idle for long periods in traffic.
0 Tow a trailer. If you
get the overheat warning with
no
sign of steam, try this for a minute or so:
1. If you have an air conditioner, turn it
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the
off.
highest
fan speed and
open the
window as necessary.
3. Try to keep your engine under load
(in a drive gear where the engine runs
slower).
If you no longer have the overheat
warning, you can drive. Just to be safe,
drive slower for about
ten minutes. If the
warning doesn’t come back
on, you can
drive normally.
If the warning continues, pull over, stop,
and park your vehicle right away.
If there’s still no sign of steam,
you can
idle the engine for two or three minutes
while you’re parked, to see if the warning
stops. But then, if you still have the
warning, TURN
OFF THE ENGINE
AND GET EVERYONE OUT
OF THE
VEHICLE until it cools down.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to
get service help right away.
Cooling System
When you decide it’s safe to lift the hood,
here’s what you’ll see on the V6 engine:
1. Coolant recovery tank
2. Radiator pressure cap
3. Electric engine fan
. . .I62
ProCarManuals.com

On the V8 engine you’ll see this:
1. Coolant recovery tank
2. Radiator pressure cap
3. Electric engine fans
If the coolant inside the coolant recovery
tank is boiling, don’t do anything else
until it cools down.
When it
is cool, remove the coolant
recovery tank cap and look at the dipstick.
The coolant level should be at
or above
“FULL
COLD.” If it isn’t, you may have
a leak in the radiator hoses, heater hoses,
radiator, water pump or somewhere else
in the cooling system.
NOTICE:
Engine damage from running your
engine without coolant isn’t covered
by your warranty.
If there seems to be no leak, check to see
if the electric engine fan is running. If the
engine
is overheating, the fan should be
running.
If it isn’t, your vehicle needs
service.
163..
ProCarManuals.com

Problems on the Road
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery Tank
If you haven’t found a problem yet, but
the coolant level isn’t at or above the
“FULL COLD’ mark, add a 50/50
mixture of clean water (preferably
distilled) and a proper antifreeze at the
coolant recovery tank. (See “Engine
Coolant” in the Index for more
information about the proper coolant
mix.)
NOTICE:
I
In cold weather, water can freeze
and crack the engine, radiator,
heater core and other parts. Use the
recommended coolant. When the coolant
in the coolant recovery
tank is at or above the “FULL COLD’
mark, start your vehicle.
If the overheat warning continues, there’s
one more thing
you can try. You can add
the proper coolant mix directly to the
radiator, but be sure the cooling system is
cool before
you do it.
. . ,164
ProCarManuals.com

How to Add Coolant to the Radiator
:3.4L L32 (Code S) Engine)
I. You can remove the radiator pressure
cap when the cooling system,
including the radiator pressure cap
and upper radiator hose, is no longer
hot. Turn the pressure cap slowly to
the left until it first stops. (Don't pres:
down while turning the pressure cap.)
If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stor
A hiss means there is still some
pressure left.
2. Then keep turning the pressure cap,
but
now push down as you tum it.
Remove the pressure cap.
165 ...
ProCarManuals.com

Problems on the Road
3. Fill the radiator with the proper mix,
up to the base of the filler neck. 4. Then fill the coolant recovery tank to
“FULL COLD.”
5. Put the cap back on the coolant
recovery tank, but leave the radiator
pressure cap
off.
. . .I66
ProCarManuals.com

6.
7.
Start the engine and let it run until
you can feel the upper radiator hose
getting hot. Watch out for the engine
fan(s).
By this time the coolant level inside
the radiator filler neck may be lower.
If the level is lower, add more of the
proper
mix through the filler neck
until the level reaches the base of the
filler neck. Then
replace the pressure cap. At any
time during this procedure if coolant
begins
to flow out of the filler neck,
reinstall the pressure cap. Be sure the
arrows on the pressure cap line up likl
this.
How to Add Coolant to the Radiator
(5.7L LT1 (Code P) Engine)
NOTICE:
The LTl engine (Code P) has a
specific radiator fill procedure.
Failure to follow this procedure
could cause your engine to overheat
and be severely damaged.
167 ...
ProCarManuals.com

Problems on the Road
1. You can remove the radiator
pressure cap when the cooling system
including the radiator pressure cap
and upper radiator hose, is
no longer
hot.
Turn the pressure cap slowly to
the left until it first stops. (Don? pres5
down while turning
the pressure cap.)
If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop
A hiss means there is still some
pressure left.
2. Then keeb turning the pressure cap,
but now push down
as you turn it.
Remove the pressure cap.
5. After the engine cools, open the air
bleed valves on the heater return hose
and water pump inlet.
. . .168
ProCarManuals.com

4. Fill with the proper mix. Add coolant
until you see a steady stream of
coolant coming from the bleed valves.
5. Close the bleed valves.
i. Continue to fill the radiator up to the *
base of the filler neck.
’. Rinse or wipe the spilled coolant from
the engine and compartment.
I. Start the engine and allow it to run in
idle
for approximately four minutes.
By this time, the coolant level inside
the radiator will be lower. Add more
of the proper mix through the filler
neck until the level reaches the bdse
of the filler neck.
169 ...
ProCarManuals.com