steering wheel PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1995 Owners Manual

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Where is the air bag?
The driver’s air bag is in the middle of the steering
wheel.
Thie right front passenger’s air bag is in the
instrument panel on the passenger’s side.
When should an air bag inflate?
The air bag is designed to inflate in moderate to severe
frontal or near-frontal crashes. The air bag will inflate
only if the impact speed is above the system’s designed
“threshold level.”
If your vehicle goes straight into a
wall that doesn’t move or deform, the threshold level is
about
9 to 15 mph (14 to 24 km/h). The threshold level
can vary, however, with specific vehicle design,
so that
it can be somewhat above
or below this range. If your
vehicle strikes something that will move or deform, such
as a parked car, the threshold level will be higher. The
air bag
is not designed to inflate in rollovers, side
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impacts, or rear impacts, because inflation would not
help the occupant.
It is possible that in a crash only one of the two air ,bags
in your Pontiac will deploy. This ishare, but
can happen
in a crash just severe enough to make an air bag inflate.
,, _.. . .> . .~
In any particular crash, no one can say whether an air
bag should have inflated simply because of the damage
to a vehicle or because
of what the repair costs were.
Inflation is determined by the angle of the impact and
the vehicle’s deceleration. Vehicle damage is only one
indication of this.
What makes an air bag inflate?
In a frontal or near-frontal impact of sufficient severity,
the air bag sensing system detects that the vehicle is
suddenly stopping as a result
of a crash. The sensing
system triggers a chemical reaction of the sodium azide
sealed in the inflator. The reaction produces nitrogen
gas, which inflates the air bag. The inflator, air bag, and
related hardware are all part of the air bag modules
packed inside the steering wheel and in the instrument
panel in front of the right front passenger.
How does an air bag restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal collisions,
,‘.\.,, evep . belted occqymts can contact the steering wheel or
the instrument panel. The air bag supplements the
protection provided by safety belts.
Air bags distribute
the force of the impact more evenly over the occupant’s
upper body, stopping the occupant more gradhdly. But
air bags would not help you in many types
of kollisions,
including rollovers and rear and side impacts, primarily
because an occupant’s motion is not toward the air bag.
Air bags should never be regarded as anythingmore
than a supplement to safety belts, and then
od$ in
moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal colliiions.
What will you see after an air bag inflates?:.: 1 i
After the air bag inflates, it quickly deflates. &is occurs
so quickly that some people may not even realize the air
bag inflated. Some components
of the air bag module in
the steering wheel hub for the driver’s air bag, or the
instrument panel for the right front passenger’s bag, will
be hot for a short time, but the part
of the bag that comes
into contact with you will not be hot to the touch. There
will be some smoke and dust corning from vents in the
deflated air bags. Air bag inflation will not prevent the
driver from seeing
or from being able to steer the
vehicle, nor will it stop people from leaving the vehicle.
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In many crashes severe enough to inflate an air bag,
windshields
are broken by vehicle deformation.
Additional windshield breakage may also occur from the
right front passenger air bag.
The air bags are designed to inflate only once. After
they inflate, you’ll need some new parts for your
air
bag system. If you don’t get them, the air bag system
won’t be there to help protect
you in another crash.
A new system will include air bag modules and
possibly other parts. The service manual for your
vehicle covers the need
to replace other parts.
Your vehicle is equipped with a diagnostic module,
which records information about the air bag system.
The module records information about the readiness
of the system, when the sensors are activated and
driver’s safety
belt usage at deployment.
Let only qualified technicians work on your air bag
system. Improper service can mean that your air bag
system won’t work properly. See your dealer for
service.
NOTICE:
If you damage the cover for the driver’s or the
right front passenger’s
air bag, they may not
work properly.
You may have to replace the air
bag module in the steering wheel or both the air
bag module and the instrument panel for the
right front passenger’s air bag.
Do not open or
break the air bag covers.
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New Vehicle “Break-In” Ignition Switch
NOTICE:
Your modern Pontiac doesn’t need an elaborate
%break-in.” But it
will perform better in the long
run
if you follow these guidelines:
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Keep your speed at 55 mph (88 km@) or
less for the first
500 miles (804 km).
Don’t drive at any one speed
-- fast or slow
-- for the first 500 miles (804 km). Don’t
make full-throttle starts.
Ayoid making hard stops for the first
2a0: miles (322 kni) or so. During this time
your new brake linings aren’t yet broken
in. Hard stops with new linings can mean
premature wear and earlier replacement.
Follow this “breaking-in” guideline every
time you get new brake linings.
Don’t tow a trailer during “break-in.” See
“Towing a Trailer” in the Index for more
information.
With the ignition key in the ignition switch, you can turn
the switch to five positions:
ACC (A): Position in which you can operate your
electrical power accessories. Press in the ignition switch as you
turn the top of it toward you.
LOCK (B): The only position in which you can remove
the key. This locks your steering wheel, ignition and
automatic transmission.
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If you have an automatic transmission, the ignition
switch can’t be turned to
LOCK unless the shift lever is
in the PARK (P) position.
OFF (C): Unlocks the steering wheel, ignition and
automatic transmission, but does not send electrical
power to
any accessories. Use this position if your
vehicle must be pushed or towed.
A warning tone will
sound if you open the driver’s door when the ignition is
OFF and the key is in the ignition.
RUN (D): Position to which the switch returns after you
start your engine and release the switch. The switch
stays in the
RUN position when the engine is running.
But even when the engine is not running, you can use
RUN to operate your electrical power accessories and to
display some instrument panel warning and indicator
lights.
START (E): Starts the engine. When the engine starts,
release the key. The ignition switch will return to
RUN
for normal driving.
Note that even if the engine is not running, ACC and
RUN allow you to operate your electrical accessories,
such as the radio and ventilation fan.
Key Release Button: If you have a manual
transmission, your ignition lock has
a key release button.
You must press the button before you can take: your key
out
of the ignition lock.
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Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
NOTICE: ~
If your
key seems stuck in LOCK and you can’t
turn it, be sure it is all the way in. If it is, then
turn the steering wheel left and right while you
turn the key hard. But turn the key only with
your hand. Using
a tool to force it could break
the key or the ignition switch.
If none of this
works, then your vehicle needs service.
If you have power door locks, your vehicle has a feature
called Retained Accessory Power (RAP). With
RAP
your power door locks, electric mirrors, power
windows, audio system and remote hatch release will
continue to work up to
10 minutes after the ignition key
is turned to
OW and neither door is opened.
If a door is opened, the audio system and power
windows will shut
off. The power door locks, electric
mirrors and remote hatch release work until you shut the
door. Once you have shut
the door, these accessories
will continue to work for approximately
35 seconds.
After this time you will not be able to use these
accessories until the next time you open
a door or turn
the ignition.
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Horn Tilt Wheel
To sound the horn, press either horn symbol on your
steering wheel. A tilt steering wheel allows you to adjust the steering
wheel before you drive.
You can also raise it to the highest level'to give your
legs more room when you exit and enter the vehicle.
To tilt the wheel, hold the steering wheel and pull the
lever. Move the steering wheel to a comfortable level,
then release the lever to lock the wheel
in place.
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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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Steering Wheel Touch Controls
(Option)
VOL (Volume): Press the up or down arrows to
increase or decrease volume.
PLAY: Press to play the CD or cassette instead of the
MUTE: Press to silence the system. Press again to turn
on the sound.
SEEK: Press the up or down arrows to tune to the next
or previous radio station.
If a tape or compact disc is
playing, the player will advance or rewind.
PRESET Press to play a station you have programmed
on the radio preset buttons.
AMIFM: Press to choose AM, FM1 or FM2. If a tape or
- radio.
compact disc is playing, it will stop and the radio will
You can control certain audio system functions using the play.
buttons on your steering wheel.
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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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