tire type PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1994 Owners Manual

Loss of Control
Let’s review what driving experts say about what happens when the three
control systems (brakes, steering and
acceleration) don’t have enough friction
where the tires meet the road to do what
the driver has asked.
In any emergency, don’t give up. Keep
trying to steer and constantly seek an
escape route or area of less danger.
Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of the
vehicle. Defensive drivers avoid most
skids by taking reasonable care suited
to existing conditions, and by not
“overdriving” those conditions. But
skids are always possible.
The three types of skids correspond to
your Pontiac’s three control systems. In
the braking skid your wheels aren’t
rolling.
In the steering or cornering skid,
too much speed or steering in a curve
causes tires to slip and lose cornering
force. And in the acceleration skid too
much throttle causes the driving wheels
to spin.
A cornering skid is best handled by
Easing your foot
off the accelerator pedal.
[f you have the traction control system,
remember:
It helps avoid only the
acceleration skid. If you do not have
traction control, or if the system is
off,
then an acceleration skid is also best
handled by easing your foot
off the
accelerator pedal.
If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your
bot off the accelerator pedal and quickly
steer the way you want the vehicle to
go.
If you start steering quickly enough, your
vehicle may straighten out. Always be
ready for a second skid
if it occurs.
Of course, traction is reduced when water,
snow, ice, gravel, or other material is on
the road. For safety, you’ll want to slow
down and adjust your driving to these
conditions. It is important
to slow down
on slippery surfaces because stopping
distance will be longer and vehicle
control more limited. While
driving
on a surface with reduced
traction,
try your best to avoid sudden
steering, acceleration, or braking
(including engine braking by shifting to
a lower gear). Any sudden changes could
cause the tires to slide. You may not
realize the surface is ‘slippery until your
vehicle is skidding. Learn to recqgnize
warning clues
- such as enough water,
ice or packed snow
on the road to make a
“mirrored surface”
- and slow down
when you have any doubt.
Remember: Any anti-lock braking system
(ABS) helps avoid only the braking skid.
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Hitches
It’s important to have the correct hitch
equipment. Crosswinds, large trucks
going by, and rough roads are a few
reasons why you’ll need the right hitch.
Here are some rules to follow:
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0
Will you have to make any holes in
the body of your vehicle when you
install a trailer hitch? If you do, then
be sure to seal the holes later when
you remove the hitch. If you don’t
seal them, deadly carbon monoxide
(CO) from your exhaust can get into
your vehicle (see “Carbon Monoxide”
in the Index). Dirt and water can,
too.
The bumpers on your vehicle are not
intended for hitches.
Do not attach
rental hitches or other bumper-type
hitches to them. Use only a
frame-mounted hitch that does not
attach to the bumper.
Safety Chains
You should always attach chains between
your vehicle and your trailer. Cross the
safety chains under the tongue of the
trailer
so that the tongue will not drop to
the road if it becomes separated from the
hitch. Instructions about safety chains
may be provided by the hitch manufacturer or
by the trailer
, 1.
manufacturer. Follow the manufacturer’s
recommendation for attaching safety
chains. Always leave just enough slack
so
you can turn with your rig. And, never
allow safety chains to drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
If your trailer weighs more than 1,000
pounds (450 kg) loaded, then it needs its
own brakes
- and they must be adequate.
Be sure to read and follow the instructions
for the trailer brakes
so you’ll be able to
install, adjust and maintain them properly.
Because you have anti-lock brakes, do not
try to tap into your vehicle’s brake
system. If
YOU do, both brake systems
won’t work well, or at all.
Driving with a Trailer
Towing a trailer requires a certain amount
of experience. Before setting out for the
open road, you’ll want to get to know
your rig. Acquaint yourself with the feel
of handling and braking with the added
weight
of the trailer. And always keep in
mind that ’the vehicle you are driving is
now a good deal longer and not nearly as
responsive
as your vehicle is by itself. Before you
start, check the trailer hitch
and platform, safety chains, electrical
connector, lights, tires and mirror
adjustment. If
the trailer has electric
brakes,
start your vehicle and trailer
moving and then apply the trailer brake
controller by hand to be sure the brakes
are working. This lets you check your
electrical connection at the same time.
During your trip, check occasionally to
be sure that the load is secure,. and that
the lights and any trailer brakes are still
working.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the
vehicle ahead as you would when driving
your vehicle without a trailer.,,This can
help
you avoid situations that’.require
heavy braking and sudden turns.
Passing
You’ll need more passing distance up
ahead when you’re towing a trailer. And,
because you’re a good deal longer, you’ll
need to go much farther beyond the
passed vehicle before you can return to
your lane.
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Problems on the Road
9.
IO.
Attach the cable at least 18 inches
(45 cm) away from the dead battery,
but not near engine parts that move.
The electrical connection is just as
good there, but the chance of sparks
getting back to the battery is much
less.
Now start the vehicle with the good
battery and run the engine for a
while.
11.
12.
Try to start the vehicle with the dead
battery.
If it won't start after a few tries, it
probably needs service.
Remove the cables in reverse order
to prevent electrical shorting. Take
care that they don't touch each other
or any other metal.
A. Heavy Metal Engine Part
B. Good Battery
C. Dead Battery
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1 Towing Your Vehicle
ry to have a GM dealer or a professional
,wing service tow your Pontiac. The
sua1 towing equipment is a sling-type
4) or a wheel-lift (B) or car carrier (C)
)w truck.
' your vehicle has been changed or
hodified since it was factory-new by
iding aftermarket items like fog lamps,
xo skirting, or special tires and wheels,
lese instructions and illustrations may
ot be correct.
'efore you do anything, turn on the
azard warning flashers.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Service and Appearance Care
When It’s Time for New Tires
he way to tell when it’s time for new
ires is to check the treadwear indicators,
vhich will appear when your tires have
Inly
2/32 inch (1.6 mm) or less of tread
emaining.
r‘ou need a new tire if:
D You can see the indicators at three or
more places around the tire.
through the tire’s rubber.
or snagged deep enough to show corc
or fabric.
B You can see cord or fabric showing
B The tread or sidewall is cracked, cut
D The tire has a bump, bulge or split.
The tire has a puncture, cut, or other
damage that can’t be repaired well
because of the size or location of the
damage.
Buying New Tires
To find out what kind and size of tires you
need, look at the Tire-Loading
[nformation label.
The tires installed on your vehicle when it
was new had a Tire Performance Criteria
Specification (TPC Spec) number on
each tire’s sidewall. When you get
new
tires, get ones with that same TPC Spec
number. That way, your vehicle will
continue to have tires that are designed
to give proper endurance, handling,
speed rating, traction, ride and other
things during normal service on your
vehicle. If your tires have an all-season
tread design, the TPC number will be
followed by a
“MS” (for mud and snow).
If you ever replace your tires with those
not having a TPC Spec number, make sure they are the same size, load range,
speed rating and construction type (bias,
bias-belted
or radial) as your original
tires.
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Uniform Tire Quality Grading
The following information relates to the
system developed by the United States
National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration which grades tires by
treadwear, traction and temperature
performance.
(This applies only to
vehicles sold in the United States.)
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative
rating based on the wear rate of the tire
when tested under controlled conditions
on a specified government test course. For
example, a tire graded 150 would
wear one and a half
(1 1/2) times as well
on the government course as a tire graded
100. The relative performance of tires
depends upon the actual conditions of
their use, however, and may depart
significantly from the norm due to
variations in driving habits, service
practices and differences in road
characteristics and climate.
Traction - A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to
lowest are: A,
B, and C. They represent
the tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement
as measured under controlled conditions
on specified government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C
may have poor traction performance.
Warning: The traction grade assigned to
this tire is based on braking
(straight-ahead) traction tests and does
not include cornering (turning) traction.
Temperature - A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the
highest),
B, and C, representing the tire’s
resistance to the generation of heat and its
3bility to dissipate heat when tested under
:ontrolled conditions on a specified indoor
laboratory test wheel. Sustained
high temperature can cause the material
of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire
life, and excessive temperature can lead
to sudden tire failure. The grade
C
corresponds to a level of performance
which all passenger car tires must meet
under
the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard No.
109. Grades B and A
represent higher levels of performance
on the laboratory test wheel than the
minimum required by law.
Warning: The temperature grade for
this tire is established for a tire that is
properly inflated and not overloaded.
Excessive speed, underinflation, or
excessive loading, either separately ,,or
in combination, can cause heat buildup
and possible tire failure.
Those grades are molded on the sidewalls
of passenger car tires.
While the tires available as standard or
optional equipment on General Motors
vehicles may
vary with respect to these
grades, all such tires meet General Motors
performance standards and have been
approved for use on General Motors
vehicles. All passenger type
(P Metric)
tires must conform to Federal safety
requirements in addition to these grades.
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I Tire Chains
I
I NOTICE:
I
If your Pontiac has P235/55R 16 or
P245/50ZR16 size tires, don’t use tire
chains; they can damage your vehicle.
If
you have other tires, use tire chains
only where legal and only when you must. Use only SAE Class
“S” type
chains that are the proper size for
your tires. Install them on the rear tires
and tighten them
as tightly as possible
with the ends securely fastened.
Drive slowly and follow the chain
manufacturer’s instructions. If you
can hear the chains contacting your
vehicle, stop and retighten them. If the
contact continues, slow down until it
stops. Driving too fast with chains on
will damage your vehicle.
Appearance Care
Remember, cleaning products can be
hazardous. Some are toxic. Others can
burst into flame if you strike a match
or get them on a hot part of the vehicle.
Some
are dangerous if you breathe
their fumes in a closed space. When
you use anything from a container to
clean your Pontiac, be sure to follow
the manufacturer‘s warnings and
instructions. And always open your
doors or windows when you’re
cleaning the inside. Never
use these to clean your
vehicle:
0 Gasoline
0 Benzene
0 Naphtha
0 Carbon Tetrachloride
0 Acetone
Paint Thinner
Turpentine
Lacquer Thinner
Nail Polish Remover
They can all be hazardous
- some more
than others
- and they can all damage
your vehicle, too.
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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.
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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.)
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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.
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