belt PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1995 Owner's Guide

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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Installing the Boot Cover
After lowering the convertible top, you may want to
install the boot cover. The three-piece boot cover is
stored
in a bag in the trunk.
3. 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.
1. Open the trunk and remove the two side covers from
the storage bag.
2. Install the two side covers by engaging the tab into
the front seatbelt cover. Lower the covers onto the
car.
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Care of Your Cassette Tape Player
A tape player that is not cleaned regularly can cause
reduced sound quality, ruined cassettes, or a damaged
mechanism. Cassette tapes should be stored in their
cases away from contaminants, direct sunlight, and
extreme heat.
If they aren’t, they may not operate
properly
or cause failure of the tape player.
Cassettes are subject to wear and the sound quality may
degrade over time. Always verify that the cassette tape
is in good condition and that the tape player is clean
before obtaining service on your tape player.
Your tape player should be cleaned with every 50 hours
of use to provide optimum performance. Your radio may
display “Cln” to indicate that your have used your tape
player for
50 hours without resetting the tape clean
timer.
If you notice a reduction in sound quality,
regardless of when the tape player was last cleaned, try
playing a different cassette to see if the tape or the tape
player is at fault. If the second cassette results in no
improvement in sound quality, try cleaning the tape
player.
Proper tape player cleaning should be done with a
scrubbing action, nonabrasive cleaner cassette. This is a
wet-type cleaning system that uses a cleaning cassette
with pads which scrub the tape head as the hubs of the
cleaner cassette
turn. To properly clean your tape player,
follow the instructions with the cleaning cassette.
If you
use this type of cleaner, the radio may display an error
and eject the cartridge. This is normal and is the result
of an added feature in the tape player that detects broken
tapes. If an error occurs, you will need to insert the
cleaning cassette at least three times to thoroughly clean
the tape player.
You may also choose a non-scrubbing action, wet-type
cleaner which uses a cassette with a fabric belt to clean
the tape head.
This type of cleaning cassette will not
eject. It may not clean as thoroughly as the scrubbing
type cleaner.
A scrubbing action cleaner is available through your
dealer
(GM Part No. 12344600).
Note: Tape adapter kits for portable CD players will not
work in your cassette player. These adapters will cause
the radio to display an error message and the adapter
cassette will be ejected.
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Section 4 Your Driving and the Road
Here you’ll find information about driving on different
kinds
of roads and in varying weather conditions. We’ve
also included many other useful tips on driving.
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.
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Steering in Emergencies
There are times when steering can be more effective
than braking. For example, you come over a
hill and
find a truck stopped in your lane, or a car suddenly pulls
out from nowhere,
or a child darts out from between
parked cars and stops right in front of you.
You can
avoid these problems by braking
-- if you can stop in
time. But sometimes you can’t; there isn’t room. That’s
the time for evasive action
-- steering around the
problem.
Your Pontiac can perform very well in emergencies like
these.
First apply your brakes. It is better to remove as
much speed as you can from a possible collision. Then
steer around the problem, to the left or right depending
on the space available.
pin emergency like this requires close attention and a
quick decision. If you are holding the steering wheel at
the recommended
9 and 3 o’clock positions, you can
turn it a full 180 degrees very quickly without removing
either hand. But you have to act fast, steer quickly, and
just as quickly straighten the wheel once
you have
avoided the object.
The fact that such emergency situations are always
possible is a good reason to practice defensive driving at
all times and wear safety belts properly.
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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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You need a new tire if
0
0
e
0
0
You can see the indicators at three or more places
around the tire.
You can see cord
or fabric showing through the tire’s
rubber.
The tread or sidewall is cracked, cut
or snagged deep
enough to show cord or fabric.
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.
design, the TPC number will be followed by an “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.
Buying New Tires
To find out what kind and size of tires you need, look at
the Tire-Loading Information 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
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Cleaning Leather
Use a soft cloth with lukewarm water and a mild soap or
saddle soap.
For stubborn stains, use a mild solution of 10%
isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) and 90% water.
Never use oils, varnishes, solvent-based or abrasive
cleaners, furniture polish or shoe polish on leather.
Soiled leather should be cleaned immediately. If dirt
is allowed to work into finish, it can harm the
leather.
Cleaning the Top of the Instrument Panel
Use only mild soap and water to clean the top surfaces
of the instrument panel. Sprays containing silicones or
waxes may cause annoying reflections in the windshield
and even make
it difficult to see through the windshield
under certain conditions.
Care of Safety Belts
Keep belts clean and dry.
, . .. .
Glass
Glass should be cleaned often. GM Glass Cleaner (GM
Part No. 1050427) or a liquid household glass cleaner
will remove
normal tobacco smoke and dust films.
Don’t use abrasive cleaners on glass, because they may
cause scratches. Avoid placing decals on the inside rear
window, since they may have
to be scraped off later. If
abrasive cleaners are used on the inside of the rear
window, an electric defogger element may be damaged.
Any temporary license should not be attached across
the
defogger grid.
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Maintenance Schedule
Schedule I Definition
Follow Maintenance Schedule I if any one of these is
true for your vehicle:
0 Most trips are less than 5 to 10 miles (8 to 16 km).
This is particularly important when outside
temperatures are below freezing.
Most trips include extensive idling (such as frequent
driving in stop-and-go traffic).
Most trips are through dusty areas.
0 You frequently tow a trailer or use a carrier on top of
Schedule I should also be followed if the vehicle is used
for delivery service, police, taxi, or other commercial
application.
your car.
Schedule I Intervals
Every 3,000 Miles (5 000 km) or 3 Months
Engine Oil and Filter Change
Every 6,000 Miles (10 000 km) or 6 months
Chassis Lubrication
At 6,000 Miles (10 000 km) - Then Every
12,000 Miles
(25 000 km)
Every 7,500 Miles (12 500 km)
At 7,500 Miles (12 500 km)
Every 15,000 Miles (25
000 km)
Tire Rotation
Rear Axle Fluid Change (Vehicles Towing Trailers)
Rear Axle Fluid Change (Limited Slip Differential)
Air Cleaner Filter Inspection, if driving in dusty conditions
Automatic Transmission Service (severe conditions)
Every 30,000 Miles (50 000 km)
Air Cleaner Filter Replacement
Spark Plug Replacement (Except 5.7L Code
P engine)
Spark Plug Wire Inspection
Fuel Tank, Cap and Lines Inspection
Engine Accessory Drive Belt Inspection (or every
Cooling System Service (or every 24 months)
Spark Plug Replacement
(5.7L Code P engine only)
Automatic Transmission Service (normal conditions)
24 months)
Every 100,000 Miles (166 000 km)
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Maintenance Schedule
I Schedule I1 Definition
Follow Schedule I1 only if none of the conditions from
Schedule I is true.
1 Schedule I1 Intervals I
Every 7,500 Miles (12 500 km)
Engine Oil and Filter Change (or every 12 months)
Chassis Lubrication (or every
12 months)
Rear Axle Fluid Change (Limited-Slip Differential)
At 7,500 Miles (12 500 km)
At 7,500 Miles (12 500 km) - Then Every
15,000 Miles (25 000 km)
Tire Rotation
Automatic Transmission Service (severe conditions)
Engine Accessory Drive Belt Inspection
(or every
Cooling System Service (or every
24 months)
Spark Plug Replacement (Except 5.7L Code P engine)
Spark Plug Wire Inspection
Air Cleaner Filter Replacement
Fuel
Tank, Cap and Lines Inspection
Every 100,000 Miles (166 000 km)
Spark Plug Replacement (5.7L Code P engine only)
Automatic Transmission Service (normal conditions)
@very 30,000 Miles (50 000 km)
24 months)
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