ignition PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1995 Owner's Manual

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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in either miles (used in the U.S.) or kilometers (used in
Canada).
Your Pontiac’s odometer is tamper-resistant. If you can
see silver lines between the numbers, probably someone
has tried to
turn it back. The numbers may not be true.
You may wonder what happens if your Pontiac needs a
new odometer installed.
If possible, the new one has to be
set to the same reading the old one had.
If it can’t be, then
it’s set at zero, but a label on the driver’s door must show
the old reading and when the new one was installed.
Trip Odometer
The trip odometer can tell you how far your car has been
driven since you last set the trip odometer to zero.
To set the trip odometer to zero, press the knob.
Tachometer
The tachometer displays the engine speed in thousands
of revolutions per minute (rpm).
I NOTICE:
I
Do not operate the engine with the tachometer in
the red area, or engine damage may occur.
Warning Lights, Gauges and Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gauges that
may be on your vehicle. The pictures will help you
locate them.
Warning lights and gauges can signal that something is
wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause an
expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to
your warning lights and gauges could also save you or
others from injury.
Warning lights go on when there may be or is, a problem
with one of your car’s functions.
As you will see in the
details on the next few pages, some warning lights come
on briefly when you turn the ignition key just to let you
know they’re working. If you are familiar with this
section, you should not be alarmed when this happens.
Gauges can indicate when there may be or is a problem
with one of your car’s functions. Often gauges and
warning lights work together to let you know ,when
there’s a problem with your car.
When one of the warning lights comes on and stays on
when you are driving, or when one of the gauges shows
there may be a problem, check the section that tells you
what to do about it. Please follow the manual’s advice.
Waiting to do repairs can be costly- and even
dangerous.
So please get to know your warning lights
and gauges. They’re a big help.
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Safety Belt . . ,.. Reminder Light
When the key is turned to RUN or START, a chime will
come
on €& about eight seconds to remind people to
fasten
their safety belts, unless the driver’s safety belt is
already buckled. The safety belt light will also come on
and
I Ctiy .. on until the driver’s belt is buckled.
Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows
AIR BAG. The system checks the
air bag’s electrical system for malfunctions. The light
tells you if there
is an electrical problem. The system
check includes the
air bag sensors and modules, the
wiring and the diagnostic module. For more information
on the air bag system, see “Air Bag” in the Index.
AIR
BAG
You will see this light flash for a few seconds when you
turn your ignition to RUN or START. Then the light
should go out. This means the system is ready.
If the air bag readiness light doesn’t come on when you
start your vehicle, or stays on, or comes on when you
are driving, your
air bag system may not work properly.
Have your vehicle serviced right away.
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Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
ABS
INOP
With the anti-lock brake system, this light will come on when
you
start your engine and it will stay on for three seconds.
That’s normal.
If the light doesn’t come on, have it fixed so it
will be ready
to warn you if there is a problem.
If the light flashes when you’re driving, you don’t have
anti-lock brakes and there could be a problem with your
regular brakes. Pull
off the road and stop carefully. You
may notice that the pedal is harder to push. Or, the pedal
may go closer to the floor. It may take longer to stop.
Have the vehicle towed for service. (See “Towing Your
Car” in the Index.)
If the anti-lock brake system warning light stays on
longer than normal after you’ve started your engine, turn
the ignition off. Or, if the light comes on and stays on
when you’re driving, stop as soon as possible and
tum
the ignition off. Then start the engine again to reset the
system.
If the light still stays on, or comes on again
while you’re driving, your Pontiac needs service.
If the
light
is on but not flashing and the regular brake system
warning light isn’t
on, you still have brakes, but you
don’t have anti-lock brakes.
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Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Service Engine Soon Light)
I SERVICE ~
ENGINE
SOON
..
A computer
monitors operation of your fuel, ignition
and emission control systems. This light should come on
when the ignition is on, but the engine
is not running, as
a check to show you it is working. If it does not come on
at
all, have it fixed right away. If it stays on, or it comes
on while
you are driving, the computer is indicating that
you have a problem. You should take your vehicle in for
service soon.
NOTICE:
If you keep driving your vehicle with this light
on, after a while the emission controls won’t
work as well, your fuel economy won’t be as good
and your engine may not run as smoothly. This
could lead to costly repairs not covered by your
warranty.
OBD I1 3.8L Engine (Code K)
Certain vehicles are equipped with a new emission
diagnostic system. You can tell whether your vehicle has
this system by reading our tune-up label located under
the hood.
If the label says OBD 11 on it, the following
instructions apply.
Your Pontiac Firebird is equipped with an onboard
computer which monitors operation of the emission
control system. This system is called OBD
11 (On-
Board Diagnostics-Second Generation) and is intended
to assure that emissions
are at acceptable levels for the
life
of the vehicle, helping to produce a cleaner
environment. The SERVICE
ENGINE SOON light
comes on to indicate when service is required.
Malfunctions often will be indicated by the system
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before any problem is apparent, which may prevent more serious damage to your vehicle. The system is also
designed to assist your service technician in correctly
diagnosing any malfunction.
The SERVICE ENGINE SOON light should come on,
as
a check to show you it is working, when the ignition
is on and the engine is not running. This light will also
come on during a malfunction in one or two ways:
Light on steady - - indicates a system malfunction
has been detected. Drive the vehicle to the dealer for
service at your first opportunity.
Light Flashing - - indicates a misfire has been
detected which may damage the emission control
system. The damage may be reduced'by lowering the
vehicle speed, reducing the amount of cargo being
hauled or trailered, avoiding hard acceleration, or by
avoiding steep uphill grades.
If these actions are
effective, the light will stop flashing and remain on
steady. Drive the vehicle to a dealer for service.
If
the light continues to flash, stop the vehicle. Wait for
a steady light to come on, then drive the vehicle to
the nearest dealer for service.
These following conditions also may cause the
SERVICE ENGINE
SOON light to come on.
Low Fuel/Out of Fuel - - As the vehicle starts to run out
of fuel the SERVICE ENGINE SOON light may come
on as a result of
an engine misfire. Filling your gasoline
tank should correct this condition. Make sure to install
the gas cap fully. It will require a few driving trips to
turn the light
off.
Poor Quality Fuel - - Be sure to fuel your vehicle with
quality fuel. Your engine may not run efficiently on poor
fuel. Poor fuel may cause stalling, hesitation or misfire.
These conditions may go away when the engine is
warmed-up. However, poor quality fuel may cause the
SERVICE ENGINE SOON light to come
on.
Have a dealer check the vehicle. If no problems are
found, you may want to change to another brand of fuel.
Driving Through Standing Water -- Driving your
vehicle through puddles
of deep standing -w.a&r may
result in a temporary misfire condition. This condition
will usually correct itself- shortly after the electrical
system dries out.
It will require a few driving trips to
turn the light off.
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Check Gauges Light Fuel Gage
This red warning light will come on briefly when you
are starting the engine. If the light comes on and stays
on while you are driving, check your gages to see if they
are in the warning areas. Your
fuel gage shows about how much fuel is in your
tank. The gage works only when the ignition switch is in
the
RUN position. When the gage pointer first indicates
EMPTY
(E) you still have a little fuel left (about one to
two gallons), but you need to get more right away.
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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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5. Push and hold
the top of the
convertible top switch. ~~~
6. Pull down on the latches and align hooks with
holes.
hsh forward on the larger part of the latch until it
clicks.
Do not force the latch. If it is hard to lock, the
top is not properly aligned.
If your vehicle suffers a power loss, such as a dead
battery, you
can still raise or lower the top manually by
rotating the valve in the left side of the
trunk.
Open the trunk and find the tab along the left side trim
panel. Lift up the tab and turn the valve clockwise to
release the hydraulic pressure.
Turn the ignition key to
the
LOCK position. You can now raise or lower your top
manually. Be
sure to close the valve after installing your
top
so you can raise or lower it electronically later.
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