service PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1995 Owner's Guide

4. Open the air cleaner and remove the filter.
Automatic Transmission Fluid
When to Check and Change
A good time to check your automatic transmission fluid
level is when the engine oil is changed. Refer to the
Maintenance Schedule to determine when to change
your fluid. See “Scheduled Maintenance Services” in the
Index.
How to Check
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you may
choose to have this done at your Pontiac dealer Service
Department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to- follow all the
instructions here, or you could get a false reading on the dipstick.
NOTICE:
Too much or too little fluid can damage your
transmission.
Too much can mean that some of
the fluid could come out and fall on hot engine
parts or exhaust system parts, starting a fire. Be sure to get an accurate reading if you check your
transmission fluid.
.
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Manual Transmission Fluid
How to Check
Because this operation can be difficult, you may choose
to have this done at your Pontiac dealer Service
Department.
If you do
it yourself, be sure to follow all the
instructions here, or you could get a false reading.
NOTICE:
Too much or too little fluid can damage your
transmission. Too much can mean that some of
the fluid could come out and fall on hot engine
parts or exhaust system parts, starting a fire. Be
sure to get an accurate reading if you check your
transmission fluid.
Check the fluid level only when your engine is off, the
vehicle is parked on a level place and the transmission is
cool enough for you to rest your fingers on the
transmission case.
Then, follow these steps:
1. Remove the filler plug.
2. Check that the lubricant level is up to the bottom of
the filler plug hole.
3. If the fluid level is good, install the plug and be sure
it is fully seated. If the fluid level is low, add more
fluid as described in the next steps.
How to Add Fluid
Here’s how to add fluid. Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what kind of fluid to use. See
“Recommended Fluids and Lubricants” in the Index.
1. Remove the filler plug.
2. Add fluid at the filler plug hole. Add only enough
fluid to bring the fluid level up to the
bottom of the
filler plug hole.
3. Install the filler plug. Be sure the plug is fully seated.
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Hydraulic Clutch
The hydraulic clutch linkage in your vehicle is
self-adjusting. The clutch master cylinder reservoir is
filled with hydraulic clutch fluid.
It isn’t a good idea to “top off’ your clutch fluid. Adding
fluid won’t correct a leak.
A fluid loss in this system could indicate a problem.
Have the system inspected and repaired.
When to Check and What to Use
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine how
often you should check the fluid level in your clutch
master cylinder reservoir and for the proper fluid. See
“Owner Checks and Services’’ and “Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants’’ in the Index.
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Tire Inspection and Rotation
Tires should be inspected every 6,000 to 8,000 miles
(10 000 to 13 000 km) for any signs of unusual wear. If
unusual wear is present, rotate your tires as soon as
possible and check wheel alignment. Also check for
damaged tires or wheels. See “When it’s Time for New
Tires” and “Wheel Replacement” later in this section for
more information.
The purpose of regular rotation is to achieve more
uniform wear for
all tires on the vehicle. The first
rotation
is the most important. See “Scheduled
Maintenance Services” in the Index for scheduled
rotation intervals.
I I 1
If you don’t have P245/5OZR16 Goodyear Eagle GS-C
tires, use the rotation pattern shown above for your tires.
n
If you have P245/5OZR16 Goodyear Eagle GS-C tires,
they must roll
in a certain direction for the best overall
performance. The direction
is shown by an arrow on
both sidewalls. Because these tires are directional, they should be rotated as shown here. These tires should only
be moved from front to rear and rear to front on the
same side
of the vehicle. I I
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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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Uniform Tire Quality Grading
The following information relates to the system
developed by the United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration which grades tires by
treadwear, traction and temperature performance. (This applies only to vehicles sold in the United States.)
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on
the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified government test course. For
example, a tire graded
150 would wear one and a half
(1 1/2) times as well on the government course as a tire
graded
100. The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions
of their use, however, and
may depart significantly from the norm due to variations
in driving habits, service practices and differences in
road characteristics and climate.
Traction - A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest are: A, B,
and C. They represent the tire’s ability to stop on wet
pavement as measured under controlled conditions on specified government test surfaces of asphalt and
concrete.
A tire marked C may have poor traction
performance.
Warning: The traction grade assigned to this tire is based
on braking (straight-ahead) traction tests and does not
include cornering
(turning) traction.
Temperature - A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C,
representing the tire’s resistance to the generation of
heat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested under controlled conditions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate and reduce
tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire failure.
The grade
C corresponds to a level of performance
which
all passenger car tires must meet under the
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
No. 109. Grades
€3 and A represent higher levels of performance on the
laboratory test wheel than the minimum required by law.
Warning: The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly inflated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed, underinflation, or
excessive loading, either separately or in combination,
can cause heat buildup and possible
tire failure.
These grades are molded on the sidewalls of passenger
car tires.
While the tires available as standard or optional
equipment on General Motors vehicles may vary with
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Sheet Metal Damage
If your vehicle is damaged and requires sheet metal
repair or replacement, make sure the body repair shop
applies anti-corrosion material to the parts repaired or
replaced to restore corrosion protection.
Finish Damage
Any stone chips, fractures or deep scratches in the finish
should be repaired right away. Bare metal will corrode
quickly and may develop into a major repair expense.
Minor chips and scratches can be repaired with touch-up
materials available from your dealer or other service
outlets. Larger areas of finish damage can be corrected
in your dealer's body and paint shop.
Underbody Maintenance
Chemicals used for ice and snow removal and dust contr~l
can collect on the underbody.
If these are not removed,
accelerated corrosion (rust) can occur on the underbody
parts such
as fuel lines, frame, floor pan, and exhaust
system even though they have corrosion protection.
At least every speng, flush these materials from the
underbody with plain water. Clean any areas where mud
and other debris can collect.
Dirt packed in closed areas
of the frame should be loosened before being flushed.
Your dealer or an underbody vehicle washing system
can do this for you.
e.
Chemical Paint Spotting
Some weather and atmospheric conditions can create a
chemical fallout. Airborne pollutants can fall uppn
and
attack painted surfaces on your vehicle. This damage
can take two
foims: blotchy, ringlet-shaped ,'
discolorations, and small irregular dark spots etched into
the paint surface.
Although no defect in the paint job causes this, Pantiac
will repair, at no charge to the owner, the surfaces bf
new vehicles damaged by
this fallout conditiop.within
12 'months or 12,000 miles (20 000 km) of purchase,
whichever comis fist;
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Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
1111 11111 II II I I 111 I II II Ill Ill I 11111 111 I11111111 I1111 Ill II I 111111 II
I
This is the legal identifier for your Pontiac. It appears on
a plate in the front corner of the instrument panel, on the
driver’s side.
You can see it if you look through the
windshield from outside your vehicle. The VIN also
appears on the Vehicle Certification and Service Parts
labels and the certificates of title and registration.
Engine Identification
The eighth character in your VIN is the engine code.
This code will help you identify your engine.
specifications, and replacemenf parts.
Service Parts Identification Label
You’ll find this label inside your console storage
compartment. It’s very helpful
if you ever need to order
parts. On this label is:
your VIN,
the model designation,
paint information, and
a list of all production options and special equipment.
Be sure that
this label is not removed from the vehicle.
Add-on Electrical Equipment
NOTICE: ,ii :/
Don’t add anything electrical to your Pontiac
unless you check with your dealer
first. Some
electrical equipment can damage your vehicle and
tbe damage wouldn’t be covered
by your warranty.
some add-on electrical equipment can keep other
components from working
as they should.
!:
Your vehicle has an air bag system. Before attempting to
add anything electrical to your Pontiac, see “Servicing
Your Air Bag-Equipped Pontiac” in the Index.
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Maintenance Schedule
IMPORTANT:
KEEP ENGINE OIL
AT THE PROPER
LEVEL AND CHANGE AS
RECOMMENDED
This section covers the maintenance required for your Pontiac. Your vehicle needs these services to retain its
safety, dependability and emission control performance.
11 motec
I
Have you purchased the GM Protection Plan? The Plan
supplements your new vehicle warranties. See your
Pontiac dealer for details.
Introduction
Your Vehicle and the Environment
Proper vehicle maintenance not only helps to keep your
vehicle in good working condition, but also helps the
environment. All recommended maintenance procedures
are important. Improper vehicle maintenance or the
removal of important components can significantly
affect the quality of the air we breathe. Improper fluid
levels or even the wrong tire inflation can increase the
level of emissions from your vehicle.
To help protect our
environment, and to help keep your vehicle in good
condition, please maintain your vehicle properly.
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How This Section is Organized
The remainder of this section is divided into five parts:
“Part A: Scheduled Maintenance Services” shows
what to have done and how often. Some of these
services can be complex,
so unless you are technically
qualified and have the necessary equipment, you should
let your dealer’s service department or another qualified
service center do these jobs.
If you are skilled enough to do some work on your
vehicle,
you will probably want to get the service
information
GM publishes. You will find a list of
publications
and how to get them in this manual. See
“Service Publications”
in the Index.
“Part B: Owner Checks and Services” tells you what
should be checked whenever you stop for fuel. It also
explains what you can easily do to help keep your
vehicle in
good condition.
“Part C: Periodic Maintenance Inspections” explains
important inspections that your Pontiac dealer’s service department or another qualified service center should
perform.
“Part D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants” lists
some products GM recommends to help keep your
vehicle properly maintained. These products, or their
equivalents, should be used whether you do the work
yourself or have
it done.
“Part E: Maintenance Record” provides a place for
you to record the maintenance performed on your
vehicle. Whenever any maintenance is performed, be
sure to write it down in this part.
This will help you
determine when your next maintenance should be done. In addition, it is a good idea to keep your maintenance
receipts. They may be needed to qualify your vehicle for
warranty repairs.
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