weight PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1994 Owners Manual

Torque Lock
(AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION)
If you are parking on a hill and you don’t
shift your transmission into “P” (Park)
properly, the weight of the vehicle may
put too much force on the parking pawl in
the transmission. You may find it difficult
to pull the shift lever out of “P” (Park)
This is called “torque lock.” To prevent
torque lock, set the parking brake and
then shift into “P’7 (Park) properly before
you leave the driver’s Seat. To find out
how, see “Shifting Into “P” (Park)” in
the Index.
When you are ready to drive, move the
shift lever out of
“P” (Park) BEFORE you
release the parking brake.
If “torque lock” does occur, you may
need to have another vehicle push yours
a little uphill to take some of the pressure
from the transmission,
so you can pull the
shift lever out of “P” (Park).
Shifting out of P (Park)
(AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION)
Your Pontiac has a brake-transmission
shift interlock. You have to fully apply
your regular brake before you can shift
from “P” (Park) when the ignition is in
the “Run” position. See “Automatic
Transmission” in the Index.
If you cannot shift out of
“F”’ (Park), ease
pressure on the shift lever
- push the
shift lever all the way into
“P” (Park) and
release the shift lever button as you
maintain brake application. Then press
the shift lever button and move the shift
lever into the gear you wish.
If you ever hold the brake pedal down but
still can’t shift out of
“P” (Park), try this:
1. Turn the key to “Off.”
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end
3. Shift to “N’ (Neutral).
4. Start the vehicle and then shift to the
drive gear you want.
of
Step
4.
5. Have the vehicle fixed as soon as you
can.
Parking Your Vehicle
(MANUAL TRANSMISSION)
Before you get out of your vehicle, put
your manual transmission in
“R’
(Reverse) and firmly apply the parking
brake.
If your vehicle is equipped
to tow a
trailer, see “Towing a Trailer” in the
Index.
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Features and Controls
1. Park on a level surface. Set the
parking brake firmly, shift an
automatic transmission into
“P’ (Park:
or a manual transmission into
“R’
(Reverse). The ignition must be in the
“Acc” or “Run” position. Lower both
sun visors.
NOTICE:
Don‘t lower the top if it is damp or
wet. When the top is down, trapped
water can cause stains, mildew and
damage to the inside of your vehicle.
Be sure to dry
off the top before you
lower it.
NOTICE:
It is not recommended to lower the
top
if your vehicle is out in cold
weather,
0°F (-18°C) or lower.
... 98
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I= 2.
NOTICE:
Before lowering the convertible top
into the storage qrea, be sure there
are no objects in
the way of the
folded, stored top. The weight
of a
stored top on items in the storage
area
will cause the convertible top
back glass to break.
Unlock the front of the convertible to;
by pushing on the smaller part of the
latch, then pulling down
on the larger
part
of the latch. Be sure the hook on
the latch that attaches into the hole at
the windshield releases.
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1. Be sure no one or nothing is on or
around the top. Push and hold the
bottom of the convertible top switch.
The switch is
on the left side of your
console. The top will automatically lower into the storage area.
nstalling the Boot Cover
ifter lowering the convertible top, you
nay want to install the boot cover. The
hree-piece boot cover
is stored in a bag
n the trunk.
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Your Driving and the Road
I Defensive Driving
The best advice anyone can give about
driving
is: Drive defensively.
Please start with
a very important safety
device in your Pontiac: Buckle up.
(See “Safety Belts”
in the Index.)
Defensive driving really means “be ready
for anything.” On city streets, rural roads,
or freeways, it means “always expect the
unexpected.”
Assume that pedestrians or other drivers
are going to be careless and make
mistakes. Anticipate what they might
do. Be ready for their mistakes.
Rear-end collisions are about the most
preventable of accidents. Yet they are
common. Allow enough following
distance. It’s the best defensive driving
maneuver,
in both city and rural driving.
You never know when the vehicle in front
of you is going to brake or
turn suddenly.
Drunken Driving
Death and injury associated with drinking
and driving is a national tragedy. It’s the
number one contributor to the highway
death toll, claiming thousands of victims :very year.
Alcohol takes away three
:hings that anyone needs to drive a
vehicle:
Judgment
Muscular Coordination
Vision
Police records show that almost half of
all motor vehicle-related deaths involve
alcohol
- a driver, a passenger or
someone else, such as a pedestrian, had
been drinking. In most cases, these
deaths are the result of someone who
was drinking and driving. About
20,000
motor vehicle-related deaths occur each
year because of alcohol, and thousands
of people are injured.
Just how much alcohol
is too much if a
person plans to drive? Ideally, no one
should drink alcohol and
then drive. But
if one does, then what’s “too much”? It
can be a lot less than many might think.
Although it depends on each person and
situation, here is some general
information on the problem. The
Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of
Gomeone who is drinking depends upon
Four things:
How much alcohol is in the drink.
The drinker’s body weight.
The amount of food that
is consumed
before and during drinking.
The length of time it has taken the
drinker to consume the alcohol.
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According to the American Medical
Association, a 180-pound
(82 kg) person
who drinks three 12-ounce (355 ml)
bottles of beer in
an hour will end up with
a BAC of about
0.06 percent. The person
would reach the same BAC by drinking
three 4-ounce (120 ml) glasses of wine or
three mixed drinks if each had 1
- 1/2
ounces (45 mi) of a liquor like whiskey,
gin or vodka.
It’s the amount of alcohol that counts. For
example, if the same person drank three
double martinis
(3 ounces or 90 ml of
liquor each) within an hour, the person’s
BAC would be close to 0.12 percent. A
person who consumes food just before or
during drinking will have a slightly lower
BAC level.
DRINKING THAT WILL
RESULT IN A BAC QF .05%
IN THE TIME SHOWN
100 120 140 160 180 200 220 240
Rnnv WEIGHT IN POUNDS ~
The law in most U.S. states sets the legal
limit at a BAC of 0.10 percent.
In Canada
the limit is
0.08 percent, and in some
other countries it’s lower than that. The
BAC will be over 0.10 percent after three
to six drinks (in one hour). Of course, as
we’ve seen, it depends on how much
alcohol is in the drinks, and how quickly
the person drinks them. But it’s very important
to keep in mind
that the ability
to drive is affected well
below a BAC of 0.10 percent. Research
shows that the driving skills of many
people are impaired at a BAC
approaching 0.05 percent, and that the
effects are worse at night. All drivers
are
impaired at BAC levels above 0.05
percent. Statistics show that the chance of
being in an accident increases sharply for
drivers who have a BAC of
0.05 percent
or above. A driver with a BAC level of
0.06 percent (three beers in one hour for a
180-pound or 82 kg person) has doubled
his or her chance of having an accident.
At a BAC level of 0.10 percent, the
chance of that driver having an accident is
six times greater; at a level of 0.15
percent, the chances are twenty-five times
greater! And, the body takes about an
hour to rid itself of the alcohol in one
drink.
No amount of coffee or number of
cold showers will speed that up.
“I’ll be careful” isn’t the right answer.
What if there’s an emergency, a need to
take sudden action, as when a child darts
into the street? A person with a higher
BAC might not be able to react quickly
enough to avoid the collision.
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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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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:
0
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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1. Turn counterclockwise and pull out
I. Pull out the bulb.
i. Reverse the steps with a new bulb.
the socket and
the bulb.
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~~ ~~~
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
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