automatic transmission PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1995 User Guide

Sun Visors
To block out glare, you can swing down the visors. You
can also swing them to the side. The elastic bands on
your visor provide extra storage for maps or papers.
Covered Visor Vanity Mirror I
Pull down the sun visor and lift the cover to expose the
vanity mirror.
Ashtray and Lighter
Front Ashtray
Lift up the cover to open the ashtray. To remove it, lift
up on either side
of the ashtray. If you have an automatic
transmission, the ashtray is near the front of your
console. If you have
a manual transmission, tfie ashtray
is near your cupholder.
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1. Fog Lamp Switch (if equipped)
2. Main Lamp Control
3. Side Upper Air Vent
4. Instrument Cluster
5. Horn
6. Center Upper Air Vent
7. Audio System
8. Glove Box
9. Comfort Controls
10. Cigarette Lighter
11. Parking Brake Lever
12. Cupholder
13. Storage Console and Cassette TapeKompact Disc
14. Transmission Mode Switch (Automatic
Storage (as equipped)
Transmission)
15. Shift Lever
16. Ashtray (Automatic Transmission)
17. Rear Window Defogger Switch
18. Steering Wheel Controls
19. Remote Hatch Release
20. Convertible
Top Switch (if equipped)
21. Traction Control System Switch (if equipped)
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Here are four concerns some owners have had about the
fuel gage. All these situations are normal and do not
indicate that anything is wrong with the
fuel gage.
0
0
0
0
At the gas station, the gas pump shuts off before the
gage reads
FULL (F).
It takes more (or less) gas to fill up than the gage
reads. For example, the
gage reads 1/2 full, but it
took more (or less) than half
of the tank’s capacity to
fill it.
The gage moves a little whefi you turn, stop or speed
UP.
When
you turn the engine off, the gage doesn’t go
back to EMPTY (E).
Convertible Top
The following procedures explain the proper operation
of your convertible top.
To Lower Your Convertible Top
NOTICE:
Don’t leave your convertible 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 car.
1. Park on a level surface. Set the parking brake firmly,
shift an automatic transmission into
PARK (P) or a
manual transmission into
REVERSE (R). The
ignition must be in the ACC or
RUN position. Lower
both
sun visors.
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To Raise Your Convqtible Top
1. Park on a level surface. Set the parking brake firmly.
If you have an automatic transmission, shift into
PARK (P). If you have a manual transmission, shift
into
REVERSE (R). The ignition must be in the
ACC or RUN position. Lower both sun visors.
Lower both windows at least three inches.
If the boot
cover is in place, it must be removed first.
3. Insta the middle section of the cover by sliding the
tabs ilifo the slots on right side cover. Lower the
cover and engage latch.
4. Close the trunk.
2. Open the trunk. Remove the middle piece of the
cover by pushing in on the latch and lifting up on the
cover.
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1
TRACTION
@
Automatic
Transmission
Manual
Transmission
TRACTION
CONTROL
To turn the system off, press the button located on
the center of the console behind the shift lever
(Automatic Transmission) or in ffont of the shift boot
(Manual Trans’Mss-ion).
The light on the bu@on will go off, and the TCS OFF
wmiqg light will come on and stay on. If the traction
control system
is limiting wheel spin when you press the
button, the system won’t
turn off right away. It will wait
until there’s no.lonier
a current need to limit wheel spin.
You can turn the system back on at any time by pressing
the button again.
The light on the button should come on, aqd the
TCS
QFF warning light should go off.
If your car is equipped with P245/50ZR16 tires, the
traction control system will automatically
turn off at
speeds above 108 mph (174
km/h). (The TCS OFF
warning light will not come on.) When the vehicle speed
drops below
1p3 mph (166 km/h) the system will
automaticaUy borne on agdn.
,!
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Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle has to have a
different turn signal flasher and extra wiring. The green
arrows on your instrument panel will flash whenever
you signal a turn or lane change. Properly hooked up,
the trailer lamps will also flash, telling other drivers
you’re about to turn, change lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the green arrows on your
instrument panel will flash for turns even if the bulbs on
the trailer are burned out. Thus, you may think drivers
behind you are seeing your signal when they are not. It’s
important to check occasionally to be sure the trailer
bulbs are still working.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you start
down a long or steep downgrade.
If you don’t shift
down, you might have to use your brakes
so much that
they would get hot and no longer work well.
On a long uphill grade, shift down and reduce your
speed to around
45 mph (70 km/h) to reduce the
possibility of engine and transmission overheating.
If you are towing a trailer and you have an automatic
transmission with Overdrive, you may prefer
to driving
in THIRD
(D) instead of OVERDRIVE (or, as you need
to, a lower gear). Or, if you have
a manual transmission
with FIFTH (or SIXTH) gear and you are towing a
trailer, it’s better not to use FIFTH (or
SIXTH) gear.
Just drive in FOURTH (drive in FIFTH if you have a
six-speed manual transmission) or, as you need to, a
lower gear.
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Parking on Hills
You really should not park your vehicle, with a trailer
attached, on a
hill. If something goes wrong, your rig
could
start to move. People can be injured, and both
your vehicle and the trailer can be damaged.
But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here’s
how to
do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into
PARK (P) yet, or into gear for a manual transmission.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes, Then apply your parking
brake, and then shift to PARK (P), or REVERSE (R)
for a manual transmission.
5. Release the regular brakes.
When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you:
Start your engine;
0 Shift into a gear; and
0 Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re
pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for more on this. Things that
are especially important in trailer
operation
are automatic transmission fluid (don’t
overfill), engine oil, axle lubricant, belts, cooling
system, and brake adjustment. Each
of these is covered
in this manual, and the Index will help you find them
quickly.
If you’re trailering, it’s a good idea to review
these sections before you start your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts are
tight.
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To turn off the flashers, pull
out on the collar.
When the hazard warning flashers are on, your turn
signals won’t work.
Other Warning Devices
If you carry reflective triangles, you can set one up at
the side of the road about
300 feet (100 m) behind your
vehicle.
Jump Starting
If your battery has run down, you may want to use
another vehicle
and some jumper cables to start your
Pontiac. But please follow the steps below to do it safely.
NOTICE:
Ignoring these steps could result in costly damage
to your vehicle that wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty.
Qying to start your Pontiac by pushing or
pulling it could damage your vehicle, even if you
have,a manual transmission. And if you have an
automatic transmission, it
won’t start that way.
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~ ~. ~~~ .
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 get a little too hot when you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
Stop after high speed driving.
Idle for long periods in traffic.
Tow a trailer.
If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam,
try this for a minute or so:
1.
2.
3.
If you have an air conditioner, turn it off.
Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan
speed and open the window as necessary.
If you're in a traffic jam, shift to NEUTRAL (N);
otherwise, shift to the highest gear while
driving
-- AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (03)
or DRIVE (D) for automatic transmissions.
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 oflthe engine and get everyone out of the
vehide
until it cools down.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get 'service
help right away.
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3.4L L32 (Code S) When you open the hood you'll see:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
Battery
Engine Coolant Reservoir
Engine Oil Dipstick
Automatic Transmission Dipstick (if equipped)
Air Cleaner
Oil
Fill Cap
Brake Fluid Reservoir
Power Steering Reservoir
Windshield Washer Reservoir
Engine Fan Clutch Fluid Reservoir (if equipped)
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