brake PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1995 User Guide

If you are towing a trailer and are parking on any
hill: See“Towing a Trailer” in the Index. That section
shows what to
do first to keep the trailer from moving.
To release the parking brake:
L
Hold the brake pedal down. Pull the parking brake lever
up until you
can push in the release button. Hold the
release button in as you move the brake lever all the way
down.
NOTICE:
Driving with the parking brake on can cause
your rear brakes to overheat.
You may have to
replace them,
and you could also damage other
parts
of your vehicle.
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Shifting Into PARK (P) (Automatic
lhnsmission Models Only)
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
set the parking brake.
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2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) position like
this:
Hold in the button on the lever, and push the
lever all the way toward the front of your car.
3. Move the ignition key to LOCK.
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
walk away from your car with the ignition key in
your hand, your car
is in PARK (P).
Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine
Running (Automatic Transmission Models
Only)
If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine
running, be sure your vehicle is in PARK (P) and your
parking brake is firmly set before you leave it. After
you’ve moved the shift lever into the PARK (P)
position, hold the regular brake pedal down. Then, see if
you can move the shift lever away from PARK (P)
without first pushing the button. If you can, it means
that the shift lever wasn’t fully locked into PARK
(P).
Torque Lock (Automatic Transmission)
If you are parking on a hill and you don’t shift your
transmission into PARK (P) 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 PARK (P). This is called “torque lock.”
To prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and then
shift into PARK
(P) properly before you leave the
driver’s seat. To find out how, see “Shifting Into
PARK
(P)” in the Index.
When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out of
PARK (P)
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 PARK (P).
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Shiftiqg out of PARK (P)
(Authmatic .. .. Transmission)
Parking Your Vehicle
(Manual Transmission)
Your Pontic has a brake-transmission shift interlock. Before you get out of your vehicle, put your manual
You hqve to hlly apply your regular brake before you transmission in REVERSE (R) and firmly apply the
ca~ shjft from PARK (P) when the ignition is in the parking brake.
RUN position. See “Automatic Transmission” in the
Index.
If yov cmot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever - push the shift lever all the way into
PARK (P) 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 per hold the brake pedal down but still can’t
shift out
of PARK (P), try this:
1. Turn @e key to OFF.
If your vehicle is equipped to tow a trailer, see “Towing
a Trailer” in the Index.
2, Apply and hold the brake.
3. Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
4. St& the vehicle and then shift to the drive gear you
5. Have the vehicle fixed as soon as you can,
ww!.
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Cruise Control (Option)
With cruise control, you can maintain a speed of about
25 rnph (40 km/h) or more without keeping your foot on the
accelerator.
This can really help on long trips. Cruise control
does not work at speeds below about
25 mph (40 km/h).
When you apply your brakes, or push the clutch pedal,
if you have a manual transmission, the cruise control
shuts
off.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the optional
traction control system begins to limit wheel spin,
the cruise control will automatically disengage. (See
“Traction Control” in the Index.) When road conditions
allow you to safely use it again, you may
turn the cruise
back on.
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To Resume a Set Speed
Suppose you set your cruise control at a desired speed
and then you apply the brake or clutch peddle. This,
of
course, shuts off the cruise control. But you don’t need
to reset it. Once you’re going about
25 mph (40 km/h)
or more, you can move the cruise control switch from
ON to R/A (Resume/Accelerate) for about half a second.
You’ll go right back up to your chosen speed and stay
there.
To Increase Speed While Using Cruise
Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed. Here’s the
first:
1. Use the accelerator pedal to get to the higher speed.
2. Push the button at the end of the lever, then release
the button and the accelerator pedal. You’ll now
cruise at the higher speed.
’ 6:
Here’s the second way to go to a higher speed:
1. Move the Cruise switch from ON to WA. Hold it
there until you get up’to the speed
you want, and
then release the switch.
To increase your speed in very small amounts, move
the switch to
WA for less than half a second and then
release it. Each time you do this, your vehicle will
go
about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster.
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To Reduce Speed While Using Cruise
Control
There are two ways to reduce your speed while using
cruise control:
1. Push the button at the end of the lever until you
reach the lower speed you want, then release it.
2. To slow down in very small amounts, push the
button for less than half a second. Each time you do
this, you’ll go about
1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While Using
Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed. When
you take your foot
off the pedal, your vehicle will slow
down to the cruise control speed you set earlier.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load, and the steepness of
the hills.
When going up steep hills, you may have to step on the
accelerator
pedal to maintain your speed. When going
downhill, you may have to brake or
shift to a lower gear to
keep your speed down. Of course, applying the brake takes you out of cruise control. Many drivers find
this to be too
much trouble and don’t use cruise control on steep
hills.
To Get Out of Cruise Control
There are several ways to turn off the cruise control:
1. Step lightly on the brake pedal or clutch pedal, if you
have a manual transmission; or
2. Move the cruise switch to OW.
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Daytime Running Lamps (Canada)
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) make it easier to see
the front
of your vehicle during the day. DIU can be
helpful when it’s raining and in the short periods after
dawn and before sunset. Several countries, including
Canada, require DRL.
A light sensor on top of the instrument panel makes the
DRL work,
so be sure it isn’t covered.
The DRL system.wil1 make your front turn signal lamps
come on when:
The ignition is on
0 The headlamp switch is off, and
The parking brake is released.
When the DRL are on, only your front turn signal lamps
will be on. The taillamps, sidemarker and other lamps
won’t be on. Your instrument panel won’t
be lit up either.
When it’s dark enough outside, your front turn signal
lamps will go out and your headlamps will come on.
The other lamps that come on with your headlamps will
also come on.
When it’s bright enough outside, the regular lamps will
go off, and your front turn signal lamps come on.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system any time you need it.
Lamps On Reminder
If you turn the ignition OFF and leave the lamps on, you
will hear a chime when you open the driver’s door.
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Electric Mirror Control (Option) Convex Outside Mirror
Your passenger’s side mirror is convex.
A convex mirror’s surface is curved so you can see more
from the driver’s seat.
The electric mirror control is on the driver’s door. To
adjust either mirror, move the center switch to
LEFT (L)
or RIGHT (R). Then use the touch pad to adjust the
mirror.
The control only works when the ignition switch is in
RUN or ACC, or when RAP is present. (See “Retained
Accessory Power’’ in the Index.)
Floor Mats
Your Firebirds floor mats are custom-fitted to the floor
wells. Be sure the driver’s floor mat is
in place. If it
isn’t, it could interfere with the accelerator or brake
pedal.
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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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