tire pressure PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1994 Owners Manual

Your Driving and the Road
Here’s how anti-lock works. Let’s say
the road is wet. You’re driving safely.
Suddenly an animal jumps out in front
You slam on the brakes. Here’s what
happens with ABS.
A computer senses that wheels are
slowing down. If one of the wheels is
about to stop rolling, the computer will
separately work the brakes at each front
wheel and at the rear wheels.
The anti-lock system can change the
brake pressure faster than any driver
could. The computer is programmed to
make the most of available tire and road
conditions.
of you.
. . .I30
You can steer around the obstacle while
braking hard.
As you brake, your computer keeps
receiving updates
on wheel speed and
controls braking pressure accordingly.
Remember: Anti-lock doesn’t change the
time you need to get your foot
up to the
brake pedal. If you get too close to the vehicle
in front of you, you won’t have
time to apply your brakes if that vehicle
suddenly slows or stops. Always leave
enough room up ahead to stop, even
though you have anti-lock brakes.
To Use Anti-Lock
Don’t pump the brakes. Just hold the
brake pedal down and let anti-lock work for
you. You may feel the system
working, or you may notice some noise,
but this is normal. When your anti-lock system is adjusting brake pressure to help
avoid a braking skid, the “LOW TRAC”
light will come on. See “Low Traction
Light” in the Index.
Traction Control System (Option: LT1
V8 Engine)
Your vehicle may have a traction control
system that limits wheel spin. This is
especially useful in slippery road
conditions. The system operates only
if
it
senses that one or both of the rear wheels
are spinning or beginning to lose traction.
When this happens, the system works the
rear brakes and reduces engine power (by
closing the throttle and managing spark)
to limit wheel spin.
The “LOW TRAC” light will come on
when your traction control system is
limiting wheel spin. See “Low Traction Light” in the Index.
You may feel the
system working, or you may notice some
noise, but this is normal.
The traction control system may operate
on dry roads under some conditions, and
you may notice a reduction
in acceleration
when this happens. This is normal and
doesn’t mean there’s a problem with your vehicle. Examples of these conditions
include a hard acceleration in a turn, or
an abrupt upshift or downshift.
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Your Driving and the Road
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. So much
water can build up under your tires that
they can actually ride on the water. This
can happen if the road is wet enough and
you’re going fast enough. When your
vehicle is hydroplaning, it has little
or no
contact with the road.
Hydroplaning doesn’t happen often. But it can if your tires haven’t much tread or if
the pressure in one or more is low. It can
happen if a lot of water is standing on the
road. If you can see reflections from trees,
telephone poles, or other vehicles, and
raindrops “dimple” the water’s surface,
there could be hydroplaning. Hydroplaning usually happens at higher
speeds. There just isn’t a hard and fast
rule about hydroplaning. The best advice
is to slow down when it is raining.
Some Other Rainy Weather Tips
Turn on your low-beam headlights -
not just your parking lights - to help
make
you more visible to others.
Besides slowing down, allow some
extra following distance. And be
especially careful when you pass
another vehicle. Allow yourself more
clear room ahead, and be prepared to
have your view restricted by road
spray.
Have good tires with proper tread
depth. (See “Tires” in the Index.)
City Driving
One of the biggest problems with city
streets is the amount of traffic on them.
You’ll want to watch out for what the
other drivers are doing and pay attention
to traffic signals.
Here are ways to increase your safety in
city driving:
Know the best way to get to where
you are going. Get a city map and plan
your trip into an unknown part of the
city just as you would for a
cross-country trip.
Try to use the freeways that rim and crisscross most large cities. You’ll save time and energy. (See the next
section, “Freeway Driving.”)
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Your Driving and the Road
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes
quite sharply. The exit speed is usually
posted. Reduce your speed according to
your speedometer, not to your sense of
motion. After driving for any distance at
higher speeds, you may tend to thnk you
are going slower than you actually are.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well
rested.
If you must start when you’re not
fresh
- such as after a day’s work -
don’t plan to make too many miles that
first part of the journey. Wear comfortable
clohng and shoes you can easily drive
in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If
you keep it serviced and maintained, it’s
ready to go. If it needs service, have it
done before starting out. Of course, you’ll
find experienced and able service experts
in Pontiac dealerships all across North
America. They’ll be ready and willing to
help if you need it.
Here are some things you can check
before a trip:
Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the
reservoir full? Are all windows clean
inside and outside?
. . .I40
Wiper Blades: Are they m good
shape?
0 Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids:
Have you checked all levels?
0 Lights: Are they all workmg? Are the
lenses clean?
0 Tires: They are vitally important to a
safe, trouble-free trip. Is the tread
good enough for long-distance
driving? Are the tires all inflated to
the recommended pressure?
Weather Forecasts: What’s the
weather outlook along your route?
Should you delay your trip a short
time to avoid a major storm system?
maps?
Maps: Do you have up-to-date
Highway Hypnosis
Is there actually such a condition as
“highway hypnosis”? Or is it just plain
falling asleep at the wheel? Call
it
highway hypnosis, lack of awareness, or
whatever.
There is something about an easy stretch
of road with the same scenery, along with
the hum of the tires on the road, the drone
of the engine, and the rush of the wind
against the vehicle that can make you sleepy. Don’t let
it happen to you! If it
does, your vehicle can leave the road in
less than a second, and you could crash
and be injured.
What can you
do about highway
hypnosis? First, be aware that it can
happen.
Then here are some tips:
0
0
0 Make sure your vehicle is well
ventilated, with a comfortably cool
interior.
Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road ahead and to the sides. Check your
rearview mirrors and your instruments
frequently.
If you get sleepy, pull
off the road into
a rest, service, or parking area and
take a nap, get some exercise, or both.
For safety, treat drowsiness on the
highway as an emergency.
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Problems on the Road
9. Shut the engine off and replace the
pressure cap. Be sure the arrows
on
the cap line up like this.
I
0. Then fill the coolant recovery tank to
;or a complete drain, flush and refill, see
‘our Pontiac dealer or a Pontiac Firebird
Iervice Manual. To purchase a service
nanual, see “Service Publications’’ in
he Index. the proper
level.
If a Tire Goes Flat
[t’s unusual for a tire to “blow out” while
you’re driving, especially
if you maintain
your tires properly. If air goes out of a
;ire, it’s much more likely to leak out
jlowly. But if you should ever have a
‘blowout,” here are a few tips about what
:o expect and what to do:
[fa front tire fails, the
flat tire will create
3 drag that pulls the vehicle toward that
side. Take your foot off the accelerator
pedal and grip the steering wheel firmly.
Steer to maintain lane position,
then
gently brake to a stop well out of the
traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve,
acts much like a
slud and may require the
same correction you’d use in a skid. In
any rear blowout, remove your foot from
the accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle
under control by steering the way you
want the vehicle to go.
It may be very
bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer.
Gently brake to a stop, well
off the road
if possible.
[f a tire goes flat, the next section shows
how to use your jacking equipment to
change a flat tire safely.
. . .I70
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Problems on the Road
Compact Spare Tire
Although the compact spare was fully
inflated when your vehicle was new, it
can lose air after a time. Check the
inflation pressure regularly. It should be
60 psi (420 kPa). After installing the
compact spare on your vehicle, you
should stop as soon as possible and make
sure your spare tire is correctly inflated.
The compact spare is made to perform
well at posted speed limits for distances
up to
3,000 miles (5 000 km), so you can
finish your trip and have your full-size
tire repaired or replaced where you want.
Of course, it’s best to replace your spare
with
a full-size tire as soon as you can.
Your spare will last longer and be in
good shape in case you need it again.
. . .I80
NOTICE:
If the compact spare is used as a rear
tire, do not drive faster than
50 mph
(80 km/h). Damage to the rear axle
may occur if the compact spare
is
driven faster than 50 mph (80 km/h).
This speed limitation does not apply
when the compact spare is used as a
front tire.
NOTICE:
Don’t take your compact spare
through an automatic car wash with
guide rails. The compact spare can
get caught on the rails. That can
damage the tire and wheel, and
maybe other parts of your vehicle.
Don’t use your compact spare on some
other vehicle.
And don’t mix your compact spare or
wheel with other wheels or tires. They
won’t fit. Keep your spare and its wheel
together.
NOTICE:
Tire chains won’t fit your compact
spare. Using them will damage your
vehicle and destroy the chains too.
Don’t use tire chains on your
compact spare.
H Zf You’re Stuck: Zn
Sand, Mud, Zce or
Snow
What you don’t want to do when your
vehicle is stuck is to spin your wheels.
The method known as “rocking” can hell
you get out when you’re stuck, but you
must use caution.
1
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Service and Appearance Care
[dation - Tire Pressure
The Tire-Loading Information label
which
is on the driver’s door shows the
correct inflation pressures for your
tires, when they’re cold. “Cold” means
your vehicle has been sitting for at
least three hours or driven
no more
than
a mile.
If your vehicle is equipped with
P245/50ZR16 tires and you’ll be
driving at speeds higher than 100 mph
(160
km/h) where it is legal, raise the
“cold” inflation pressure of each tire
to
35 psi (240 Pa). When you end this
very high speed driving, reduce the
“cold” inflation pressures to those
listed
on the Tire Loading Information
label.
NOTICE:
Don’t let anyone tell you that underinflation overinflation is all right. It’s not.
If your tires don’t have enough air (underinflation) you
can get:
Too much flexing
0 Too much heat
a Tire overloading
0 Bad wear
Bad handling
0 Bad fuel economy.
If your tires have too much air (overinflation), you can get:
0 Unusual wear
Bad handling
0 Rough ride
0 Needless damage from road hazards.
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When to Check: Check your tires once a
month or more. Don’t forget your
compact spare tire. It should be at
60 psi
(420 kPa).
How to Check: Use a good quality
pocket-type gage to check tire pressure.
Simply looking at the tires will not tell
you the pressure, especially
if you have
radial tires
- which may look properly
inflated even if they’re underinflated.
If your tires have valve caps, be sure to
put them back on. They help prevent
leaks by keeping out dirt and moisture.
ll r JI
t \/t
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MI
Tire Inspection and Rotation
To make your tires last longer, have them
inspected and rotated at the mileages
recommended in the Maintenance
Schedule. See “Scheduled Maintenance
Services” in the Index.
If you don’t have P245/50ZR16 size tires:
use the rotation pattern shown above for
your size tires.
I1
II
0
SI
B
SI
e:
b
’ fl
A
tl
SI
12
P:
T
4-
-I-
4-
-a4
F you have P245/50ZR16 size tires, they
lust roll in a certain direction for the besl
vera11 performance. The direction is
hown by an arrow on both sidewalls.
lecause these tires are directional, they
hould be rotated as shown in the
xample above. These tires should only
e moved from front to rear and rear to
-ont on the same side of the vehicle.
Lfter the tires have been rotated, adjust
le front and rear inflation pressure as
Sown
on the Tire-Loading Information
lbel. Make certain that all wheel nuts are
roperly tightened. See “Wheel Nut
orque” in the Index.
217.
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Service and Appearance Care
Don’t use any of these unless this manual
says you can. In many uses, these will
damage your vehicle:
0 Alcohol
Laundry Soap
0 Bleach
0 Reducing Agents
Cleaning the Inside of Your
Pontiac
Use a vacuum cleaner often to get rid of
dust and loose dirt. Wipe vinyl or leather
with a clean, damp cloth.
Your Pontiac dealer has two
GM cleaners,
a solvent-type spot lifter and a foam-type
powdered cleaner. They will clean normal
spots and stains very well. Do not use
them on vinyl or leather.
Here are some cleaning tips:
Always read the instructions on the
Clean up stains as soon as you can -
Use a clean cloth or sponge, and
cleaner
label.
before they set.
change to a clean area often. A soft
brush may be used
if stains are
stubborn.
D Use solvent-type cleaners in a
well-ventilated area only. If you use
them, don’t saturate
the stained area.
clean the entire area immediately or it
will set.
If a ring forms after spot cleaning,
Using Foam-Type Cleaner on Fabric
Vacuum and brush the area to remove
any loose dirt.
Always clean a whole trim panel or
section. Mask surrounding trim along stitch or welt lines.
Mix Multi-Purpose Powdered Cleaner
following the directions on the
container label.
Use suds only and apply with a clean
sponge.
Don’t saturate the material.
Don’t rub it roughly.
As soon as you’ve cleaned the section,
use a sponge to remove the suds.
Rinse the section with a clean, wet
sponge.
Wipe off what’s left with a slightly
damp paper towel or cloth.
Then dry it immediately with a blow
dryer or a heat lamp.
NOTICE:
Be careful with a hair dryer or heat
lamp.
You could scorch the fabric.
0 Wipe with a clean cloth.
Using Solvent-Type Cleaner on Fabric
First, see if you have to use solvent-type
cleaner at all. Some spots and stains will
clean
off better with just water and mild
soap.
If you need to use a solvent:
Gently scrape excess soil from the
trim material with a clean, dull knife
or scraper. Use very little cleaner, light
pressure and clean cloths (preferably cheesecloth). Cleaning should start at
the outside of the stain, “feathering”
toward the center. Keep changing to
a
clean section of the cloth.
. . .222
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Finish Care
Occasional waxing or mild polishing of
your Pontiac may be necessary to remove
residue from the paint finish.
You can get
GM approved cleaning products from
your dealer. (See “Appearance Care and
Maintenance Materials” in the Index.)
Your Pontiac has
a “basecoatjclearcoat”
paint finish. The clearcoat gives more depth and gloss to the colored
basecoat.Always use waxes and polishes
that are non-abrasive and made for a
basecoatklearcoat paint finish.
NOTICE:
Machine compounding or aggressive
polishing
on a basecoatjclearcoat
paint finish may dull the finish or
leave swirl marks.
Cleaning Your Convertible Top
NOTICE:
When using an automatic car wash,
set your heating or cooling system to
“VENT” with the fan speed set to
the second highest speed. This will
prevent high pressure water from
entering around your top.
Your convertible top should be cleaned
often. Use a mild soap, lukewarm water
and a soft brush. Don’t use any harsh
cleaners or bleaching agents on the top.
They can damage the material.
When the top is really dirty, use a mild
foam-type cleaner. Use a cloth or sponge
to remove the dirt.
Thoroughly rinse the top and dry
it before
lowering it.
A damp top causes wrinkles.
Aluminum Wheels (If So Equipped)
Your aluminum wheels have a protective
coating similar to the painted surface of
your vehicle. Don’t use strong soaps,
chemicals, chrome polish, abrasive
cleaners,
or abrasive cleaning brushes
on them because you could damage this coating. After
rinsing thoroughly, a wax
may be applied.
NOTICE:
If you have aluminum wheels, don’t
use an automatic car wash that has
hard silicon carbide cleaning brushes.
These brushes can take off the
protective coating.
Tires
Your Pontiac dealer has a GM White
Sidewall Tire Cleaner.
You can use a stiff
brush with the cleaner.
When applying a tire dressing always take
care to wipe
off any overspray or splash
from painted surfaces. Petroleum-based
products may damage the paint finish.
Weatherstrips
Silicone grease on weatherstrips will
make them last longer, seal better, and not
stick or squeak. Apply silicone grease
with a clean cloth at least every six
months. During
very cold, damp weather
more frequent application may be
required. (See “Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants’’ in the Index.)
I-
225. . .
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Maintenance Schedule
Section A: Scheduled Maintenance Services (Cont.)
Explanation of Scheduled
Maintenance Services
Following are explanations of the services
listed in Schedule I and Schedule
II.
The proper fluids and lubricants to use are
listed in Section
D. Make sure whoever
services your vehicle uses these. All parts
should be replaced and all necessary
repairs done before you or anyone else
drives the vehicle.
NOTE: To determine your engine’s
displacement and code, see
“Engine Identification” in the
Index.
ITEM
NO. SERVICE
1 Engine Oil and Filter Change* -
Always use SH or SG Energy
Conserving
I1 oils of proper
viscosity. The “SH” or “SG”
designation may be shown alone
or in combination with others,
such as “SH/CD,”
“SH, SG,
CD,” “SG/CD,” etc. To deter-
mine the preferred viscosity for
your vehicle’s engine (e.g., SAE
ITEM
NO.
2
3
4
SERVICE
5W-30 or SAE 10W-30), see
“Engine Oil” in the Index.
Chassis Lubrication
- Lubricate
the suspension and steering
linkage. Lubricate the
transmission
shift linkage.
Tire and Wheel Rotation and
InsDection
- For proper wear
and maximum tire life, rotate
your tires following the
instructions in this manual. See
“Tires, Inspection and Rotation”
in the Index. Check the tires for
uneven wear or damage. If you
see irregular or premature wear,
check the wheel alignment.
Check for damaged wheels also.
Engine Accessorv Drive Belt!s)
InsDection
- Inspect the belt(s)
for cracks, fraying, wear and
proper tension. Replace as
needed. (Belts can have many small cracks in individual ribs
without affecting performance.)
ITEM
NO. SERVICE
5 Cooling: System Service* -
Drain, flush and refill the system
with new or approved recycled
coolant conforming to GM
Specification 1825M. Keep
coolant at the proper mixture as specified. See “Coolant”
in the
Index. This provides proper
freeze and boil protection, corrosion inhibitor level and
maintains proper engine operating temperature.
Inspect hoses and replace if they
are cracked, swollen or deterior-
ated. Tighten screw-type hose
clamps. Clean the outside of the
radiator and air conditioning
condenser. Wash the pressure cap and neck.
To help ensure proper operation,
we recommend a pressure test of
both the cooling system and the
pressure cap.
* An Emission Control Service.
. . .246
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