PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1996 Owners Manual

Daytime Running Lamps (Option)
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others
tu see the front of your vehicle during the day.
DRL can be helpful in many different driving
conditions, but they can be especially helpful in.the
short periods after dawn and before sunset.
A light sensor on top of the instrument panel makes the
DRL work, so be sure it isn’t covered.
The
DRL system will make your front turn signal lamps
come on when:
The ignition is on,
The headlamp switch is OFF, and
The parking brake is released.
When
the DRL are on, only your front turn signal
lamps will be on. The taillamps, sidemarker and other
lamps won’t be on. Your instrument panel won’t be lit
up either.
When it’s dark enough outside, your front turn signal
lamps will
go out and your headlamps will come on.
The other lamps that come on with your headlamps will
also come on.
When it’s bright enough outside, the regular lamps will
go off, and your front turn signal lamps will come on.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
Fog Lamps (Option)
Use your fog lamps for better vision in foggy or misty
conditions. Your parking lamps must be on or your fog
lamps won’t work.
SO To turn the fog lamps on, push the top of the fog
lamp switch,
Push the bottom of the switch to turn the
fog lamps off. A light on the switch will come on when
the fog
lamps are on.
Fog lamps will go off whenever your high beams come
on. When the high beams
go off, the fog lamps will
come
on again.
If your vehicle is equipped with Vehicle and Content
Theft-Deterrent System and your
fog lamp switch is
on,
the fog lamps may flash to indicate operation of
the Vehicle
and Content Theft-Deterrent System.
See “Vehicle and Content Theft-Deterrent System” in
the
Index.
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Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Brightness Control
This switch controls the brightness of your
instrument panel lights. Turn the switch to brighten
or
dim the lights. If you turn the switch all the way up your
courtesy lamps will come on.
Courtesy Lamps
When any door is opened, several interior lamps go on.
These lamps are courtesy lamps. They make it easier for
you to enter and leave your vehicle.
Courtesy lamps include the dome lamp and other
lamps
throughout the interior of your vehicle.
To prevent battery rundown, your interior lamps will be
disabled about
10 minutes after the ignition is turned to
OFFm The 10 minute timer will be restarted if you do any
of the following:
1. Turn the ignition on.
2. Open either door.
3.
4.
5.
Press any button on your Remote Lock
Control transmitter.
Turn the interior lamp switch from off to on.
Open the hatch.
Delayed Illumination (Option)
With delayed illumination, when you open a door, your
courtesy lamps will come
on and stay on for 25 seconds
after the doors
are closed. The 25 seconds is shortened
if the ignition is turned to
the RUN position or if the
power locks
are activated. To turn this feature on or off,
see “Feature Customization” in the Index.
Exit Lighting (Option)
With exit lighting, the interior lamps will come on when
you remove the key from the ignition to help you see
while exiting the vehicle. To turn
this feature on or off,
see “Feature Customization” in the Index.
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Front Map Lamps
Your inside rearview mirror includes two map lamps.
Each lamp has its own switch. Use the switch closest to
the lamp
to turn it on, The lamps will also go on when a
door is opened.
Retained Acce,ssory Power (RAP)
Your vehicle is equipped with a Retained Accessory
Power
(RAP) feature which will allow certain features
of your vehicle to continue to work
up to 10 minutes
after the ignition key
is turned to OFF.
Your convertible top, power windows, and audio system
will work when the ignition key is in the
RUN or ACC
positions. Once the key is turned from RUN to OFF,
these features will continue to work for up to 10 minutes
or until either door
is opened.
Your power door unlock and remote hatch release
features will work when the ignition key
is in the RUN
or ACC positions or if either door is open. Once the key
is turned to OFF, these features will continue to work for
up to 10 minutes. If either door is open and the ignition
key is OFF, these features will continue to work until
both doors have been closed for about 30 seconds or
until the theft-deterrent system
arms. At that time, both
the power door unlock and remote hatch release features
will be disabled to enhance the security of the vehicle.
The power door lock function will work at all times
except during Lockout Prevention (if this feature is
enabled). See “Lockout Prevention’’
in the Index.
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Mirrors
Inside Daymight Rearview Mirror Outside Manual Adjustable Mirror Adjust the passenger’s
side outside mirror by hand so
that you can just see the side of your vehicle when you
are sitting in a comfortable driving position.
Manual Remote Control Mirror
An inside rearview mirror is attached to your windshield.
The
mirror has pivots so that you can adjust it.
You can adjust
the mirror for day or night driving. Pull
the tab for night driving to reduce glare. Push the tab for
daytime driving. Adjust
the driver’s side outside mirror with the lever on
the door. Adjust the mirror
so that you just see the side
of your vehicle when you
are sitting in a comfortable
driving position.
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Power Remote Control Mirror (Option)

The power 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.
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.
A convex mirror can make things (like other
vehicles)
look farther away than they really are.
If you cut too sharply into the right lane, you
could hit a vehicle on your right. Check your
inside mirror or glance over your shoulder before changing lanes.
Storage Compartments
Glove BOX
To open the glove box, lift up on the lever. Use your
door key to lock and unlock it. The glove box has a
lamp inside.
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Front Console Cassette and Compact Disc Storage
To
use the storage area, push the tab and pull up on
the
front end of the console. There is a cupholder in
the console.
The console will also have a storage area. You
have a storage area for cassette tapes.
If you have a compact disc player, you will have a
storage area for compact discs in your console.
Map Pocket
Each door has a map pocket. There may also be a map
pocket on the back
of the seats.
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Close-Out Panel
The close-out panel can be closed for hidden storage in
the rear area of your vehicle.
Removing the Clase-Out Panel
1. Close the panel. If the close-out panel is not closed
and resting OR the trim panel, it cannot be removed.
2. Pull the panel toward you to unsnap it. Then slide the
close-out panel along the groove in the trim panel.
Reverse
the steps to install the panel.
When carrying large or heavy items, it is a good idea to
open the panel and place the items in the rear area.
An. improperly stored close-out panel could be
thrown about the vehicle
during a collision or
sudden maneuver. You or others could be
injured.
If you remove the cover, always store it
outside your vehicle.
When you put it back,
always
be sure that it is secureIy reattached.
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Ashtray and Lighter
Lift up the cover to open the ashtray. To remove it, lift
up
on either side of the ashtray. If you have an automatic
transmission, the ashtray is near the front of your
console.
If you have a manual transmission, the ashtray
is
near your cupholder.
NOTICE:
Don’t put papers and other things that burn into
your ashtray.
If’ you do, cigarettes or other
smoking materials could set them on fire, causing
damage.
To use the lighter, push it in all the way and let go.
When it’s ready, it. will pop b’ack bv itself.
NOTICE:
Don’t hold a cigarette lighter in with your hand
while
it is heating. If you do, it won’t be able to
back away from the heating element when
it’s
ready. That can make it overheat, damaging the
lighter and the heating element.
If you plug accessories into your cigarette lighter, such
as heating devices or air compressors, these accessories
should have a rated current of less than
15 amps.
Exceeding
this limit will result in a blown fuse.
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Sun Visors
I
To block out glare, you can swing down the visors. You
can also swing them to the side.
The elastic bands on
your visor provide extra storage for maps or papers.
Covered Visor Vanity Mirror
Pull down the sun visor and lift the cover to expose the
vanity mirror.
Accessory Plug
This plug is located inside the front section ahead of the
shift lever in the console. The plug can be used to
connect electrical'equipment such as a cellular phone or
CB radio. Be sure to follow the installation instructions
included with the equipment.
The plug has three separate wires:
The orange wire'connects to the battery.
0 The pink wire connects to the ignition. Power is only
available in RUN.
The black wire connects to the ground.
When using the accessory plug:
The maximum load of any electrical equipment
should not exceed
3 amps.
Be sure to turn off any electrical equipment when not
in use. Leaving electrical equipment on for extended
periods
can drain your battery.
We recommend that you see a qualified technician
or your dealer for the proper installation of
your equipment.
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Floor Mats
Your Firebird’s 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.
lhvin Lift-off Roof Panels (Option)
If you have this option, you can remove one or both
lift-off roof panels.
Don’- __ to remove the T-top panels while the
vehicle is moving. Trying to remotre T-top panel
while the vehicle is moving could cause an
accident. The panel could
fall into the vehicle and
cause you to lose control, or it could fly off and
strike another vehicle.
You or others could be
injured. Remove
T-top panel only when the
vehicle is parked.
The door key unlocks the panels. The lock is over the
front door window. Turn the key to the left to unlock
the panel.
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