engine PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1995 Owner's Guide

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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d HEATER: This setting directs most of the air
through the heater ducts and some of the air through the
windshield defroster vents.
z2 BLEND: Air is directed through the windshield
defroster vents and the heater ducts.
9 DEFROST: This setting directs most of the air
through the windshield defkoster vents and some of the
air through the heater ducts.
Heating
The heater works best if you keep your windows closed
while using it.
1. Turn the air control knob to HEATER.
2. Turn the fan control knob to the desired speed.
3. Turn the temperature control knob to a comfortable
During initial start-up only, if your vehicle is equipped
with an optional engine coolant heater, you can use it in
cold weather (around
+20 O F/-8 O C or lower) to improve
heater performance on
start up. Because an engine
coolant heater warms the engine coolant, your vehicle’s
setting.
heating system can more efficiently provide heat for the
passenger area of
your vehicle. See “Engine Coolant
Heater” in the Index.
Bi-Level Heating
You may want to use bi-level heating on cool, but sunny
days. This setting directs cool air toward your body and
warmer air toward your feet.
1. Turn the air control knob to BI-LEVEL.
2. Turn the temperature control knob to a comfortable
3. Turn the fan control knob to the desired speed.
Ventilation
For mild outside temperatures when little heating or
cooling
is needed, you can still direct outside air through
your vehicle.
1. Turn the air control knob to VENT.
2. Turn the temperature control knob to a comfortable
3. Turn the fan control knob to the desired speed.
setting.
setting.
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Defogging and Defrosting the Windshield
1. Turn the air control knob to DEFROST.
2. Turn the temperature control knob to the desired
setting.
3. Turn the fan control knob to the desired speed.
Air Conditioner Controls (Option)
The air conditioning system uses the same controls as the
heating system, except that the
slir control knob has two
extra settings, described below. For an explanation of all
the controls, see “Heater Controls” earlier in this part.
MAX: Provides maximum cooling or quick cool-down
on very hot days.
This setting recirculates most of the air
inside your vehicle. If it is used for long periods of time,
the
air may become dry. This setting directs air through
the upper air vents.
A/C: Use for normal cooling on hot days. This setting
cools outside
air and directs it through the upper air vents.
The air conditioner compressor operates in MAX, A/C,
BI-LEVEL, BLEND and DEFROST when the outside
temperature is above freezing. When the
air conditioner
is on, you may sometimes notice slight changes in your
vehicle’s engine speed and power.
This is normal because
the system is designed to cycle the compressor on and
off
to keep the desired cooling and help fuel economy.
Cooling
The air conditioner works best if you keep your
windows closed. On very hot days, open the windows
just long enough for the hot air to escape.
1. Turn the air control knob to A/C for normal cooling.
For faster cooling move the knob to MAX.
2. Turn the temperature control knob to a comfortable
3. Move the fan cdfitrol knob to the desired speed.
setting.
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Audio Systems
Your Delco@ audio system has been designed to operate
easily and give years of listening pleasure. But you will
get the most enjoyment out of it if you acquaint yourself
with it first. Find out what
your Delco@systerh can do
and how to operate
all its controls, to be sure you’re
getting the most out of the advanced engineering that
went into it.
If you have power door locks, your vehicle has a feature
called Retained Accessory Power (RAP). With RAP you
can play your audio system even after the ignition is
off.
See the Index under “Retained Accessory Power.”
Setting the Clock
The clock may be set with the ignition on or off.
1. Press and hold HR until the correct hour appears.
2. Press and hold MIN until the correct minute appears.
NOTE: There will be a two second delay before the
clock goes into the time-set mode, and the colon in the
display will blink while in this mode’.
AmM Stereo Radios with Cassette Tape
Player or Compact
Disc Player
If your Pontiac has a radio with either a cassette tape
player, a compact disc player or a graphic equalizer, the
instructions below will explain how
to use the radio. For
other features,
see the instructions for the feature your
radi.0 has.
To Play the Radio
Push POWER to turn the system on or off.
VOLUME: Turn the VOLUME knob to adju.st the
sound.
RECALL: Press RECALL to recall the station being
played or the clock display. You can also press
RECALL
to display the time when the ignition is off.
Finding a Station
AM-FM: Press A” to get AM, FMI or FM~. The
lighted display shows yout selection.
TUNE: Press TUNE to release the knob. Tuk the knob
to choose radio stations. Push TUNE back in to store it
when not tuning.
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AM Stereo
This means the Delco@ system can receive C-QUAM@
stereo broadcasts. Many
AM stations around the country
use C-QUAM’ to produce stereo, though some do not.
(C-QUAM@ is a registered trademark of Motorola, Inc.)
If your Delco@ system can get C-QUAM@, your
STEREO light will come on when you’re receiving it.
Tips about your Audio System
Hearing damage from loud noise is almost undetectable
until it
is too late. Your hearing can adapt to higher
volumes
of sound. Sound that seems normal can be loud
and haul
to your hearing. Take precautions by
adjusting the volume control on your radio to a safe
sound level before your hearing adapts to it.
To help avoid hearing loss or damage:
0 Adjust tbe volume control to the lowest setting.
9 Increase volume slowly until you hear comfortably
and clearly.
NOTICE:
Before you add any sound equipment to your
vehicle
-- like a tape player, CB radio, mobile
telephone or two-way radio
-- be sure you can
add what you want.
If you can, it’s very
important to do
it properly. Added sound
equipment may interfere with the operation of
your vehicle’s engine, Delco@ radio or other
systems, and even damage them. And, your
vehicle’s systems may interfere with the
operation of sound equipment that has been
added improperly.
So, before adding sound equipment, check with
your dealer and be sure to check Federal rules
covering mobile radio and telephone units.
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Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive in
spurts
-- heavy acceleration followed by heavy braking
-- rather than keeping pace with traffic. This is a
mistake. Your brakes may not have time to cool between
hard stops. Your brakes will wear out much faster
if you
do a lot
of heavy braking. If you keep pace with the
traffic and allow realistic following distances, you will
eliminate a lot of unnecessary braking. That means
better braking and longer brake
life.
If your engine ever stops while you’re driving, brake
normally but don’t pump your brakes.
If you do, the
pedal may get harder to push down.
If your engine
stops, you will still have some power brake assist. But
you will use it when you brake. Once the power assist is
used up, it may take longer to stop and the brake pedal
will be harder to push.
Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS)
Your Pontiac has an advanced electronic braking system
that will help prevent a braking skid.
INOP
This light on the
instrument panel will
come on briefly when
you start your vehicle.
When you start your vehicle, or when you begin to drive
away, you may hear a momentary motor or clicking
noise. And you may even notice that your brake pedal
moves a little while this is going on. This is the ABS
system testing itself. If there’s a problem with the
anti-lock brake system, the anti-lock brake system
warning light will stay on or flash.
See “Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light’’ in the
Index.
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Remember: Anti-lock doesn’t change the time you need
to get your foot up to the brake pedal.
If you get too
close to the vehicle in fiont of you, you won’t have time
to apply your brakes if that vehicle suddenly slows or
stops. Always leave enough room up ahead to stop, even
though you have anti-lock brakes.
To Use Anti-Lock
Don’t pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal down
and let anti-lock work for you. You may feel the system
working, or you may notice some noise, but this
is
normal. When your anti-lock system is adjusting brake
pressure to help avoid a braking skid,
the LOW TRAC
light
will come on. See “LOW Traction Light” in the
Index.
Traction Control System
(Option:
LT1 V8 Engine)
Your vehicle may have a traction control system that
limits wheel spin. This is especially useful in slippery
road conditions: The system operates only if it senses
that one or both of the rear wheels are spinning or
beginning to lose traction.
When this happens, the system works the rear brakes
and reduces engine power
(by closing the throttle and
managing engine spark) to limit wheel spin.
The LOW TRAC light will come on when your traction
control system is limiting wheel spin. See “Low Traction
Light” in the Index.
You may feel the system working, or
you may notice some noise, but this
is normal.
The traction control system may operate on dry roads
under some conditions, and
you may notice a reduction
in acceleration when
this happens. This is normal and
doesn’t mean there’s a problem with your vehicle.
Examples of these conditions include a hard acceleration
in a
turn, or an abrupt upshift or downshift.
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Braking in Emergencies
Use your anti-lock braking system when you need to.
With anti-lock, you can steer and brake at the same
time. In many emergencies, steering can help you more
than even the
very best braking.
Steering
Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist because the engine
stops or the system is not functioning, you can steer but
it will take much more effort.
Steering Tips
Driving on Curves
It’s important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents mentioned on
the news happen on curves. Here’s why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is subject to
the same laws of physics when driving on curves. The
traction of the tires against the road surface makes it
possible for the vehicle to change its path when you
turn
the front wheels. If there’s no traction, inertia will keep
the vehicle going in the same direction. If you’ve ever
tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you’ll understand this\
.
The traction you can get in a curve depends on the
condition of your tires and the road surface, the angle at
which the curve is banked, and your speed. While
you’re in a curve, speed is the one factor you can
control.
Suppose you’re steering through a sharp curve. Then
you suddenly accelerate. Both control systems
--
steering and acceleration -- have to do their work where
the tires meet the road. Unless you have traction control
and the system is on, adding the sudden acceleration can
demand too much of those places. You can lose control.
Speed limit signs near curves warn that you should
adjust your speed. Of course, the posted speeds are
based
on good weather and road conditions. Under less
favorable conditions you’ll want to go slower.
If you need to reduce your speed as you approach a
curve, do it before you enter the curve, while your front
wheels are straight ahead.
Try to adjust your speed so you can “drive” through the
curve. Maintain
a reasonable, steady speed. Wait to
accelerate until you are out of the curve, and then
accelerate gently into the straightaway.
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Loss of Control
Let’s review what driving experts say about what
happens when the three control systems (brakes, steering and acceleration) don’t have enough friction where the
tires meet the road to do what the driver has asked.
In any emergency, don’t give up. Keep trying to steer and constantly seek an escape route or area of less
danger.
Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking reasonable
care suited to existing conditions, and by not
“overdriving” those conditions. But skids are always
possible.
The three types of skids correspond to your Pontiac’s
three control systems. In the braking skid your wheels
aren’t rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, too
much speed or steering
in a curve causes tires to slip and
lose cornering force. And in the acceleration skid too
much throttle causes the driving wheels to spin.
A cornering skid is best handled by easing your foot off
the accelerator pedal.
If you have the traction control system, remember: It
helps avoid only the acceleration skid.
If you do not have traction control, or if the system is
off, then an acceleration skid is also best handled by
easing your foot
off the accelerator pedal.
If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want the
vehicle to go.
If you start steering quickly enough, your
vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready for a
second skid if it occurs.
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice,
gravel, or other material is on the road.
For safety, you’ll
want to slow down and adjust your driving to these
conditions.
It is important to slow down on slippery
surfaces because stopping distance
will be longer and
vehicle control more limited.
While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try
your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration, or
braking (including engine braking by shifting to a lower
gear). Any sudden changes could cause the tires to slide.
You may not realize the surface is slippery until your
vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warning clues
--
such as enough water, ice or packed snow on the road to
make
a “mirrored surface” -- and slow down when you
have any doubt.
Remember: Any anti-lock brake system (ABS) helps
avoid only the braking skid.
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