automatic transmission PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1996 User Guide

Running Your Engine While You’re
Parked (Automatic Transmission)
,.
It’s better not to park with the engine running. But if you
ever have
to, here are some things to know.
- -
A CAUTION:
-
Idling the engine with the air system control
off could anow dangerous exhaust into
your vehicle
(see the earlier Caution under
“Engine Exhaust”).
Also, idling in a closed-in place can let deadly
carbon monoxide
(CO) into your vehicle even if
the fan switch is at the highest setting. One place
this can happen
is a garage. Exhaust -- with
CO
-- can come in easily. NEVER park in a
garage with the engine running.
Another closed-in place can be a blizzard. (See
“Blizzard” in the Index.)
I
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever
is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can
roll.
Don’t leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have
.to. If you’ve left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured.
To be sure your
vehicle won’t move, even when you’re on fairly
level ground, always set your parking brake and
move the shift lever to PARK
(P).
Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle won’t
move. See “Shifting Into
PARK (P)” in the Index.
If you are parking on a hill and if you’re pulling a
trailer,
also see “Towing a Trailer’’ in the Index.
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When you apply your brakes, or push the clutch pedal, If
your vehicle is in cruise control when the optional
if you have a manual transmission, the cruise control traction control system
begins to
limit wheel spin, the
shuts off. cruise control will automatically disengage. (See
“Traction Control System’’ in the Index.) When road
conditions allow you to safely use
it again, you may turn
the cruise control back on.
Setting Cruise Control
can’t drive safely at a steady speed.
So,
don’t use your cruise control on winding
roads or in heavy traffic.
slippery roads. On such roads, fast changes
in tire traction can cause needless wheel
spinning, and you could lose control. Don’t
use cruise control on slippery roads.
0 Cruise control can be dangerous on If you leave your cruise control switch on when
yodre not using
cruise, you might hit a button
and go into cruise when you don’t want to. You
could be startled and even lose control. Keep the
cruise control switch
OFF until you want to use it.
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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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You can store the sunshades two different ways:
0 When the T-tops are in use, store the sunshades in
their storage area in the rear of the vehicle, and
make
sure the close-out panel is in its closed,
upright position.
0 When you have the T-tops off and in their storage
slots, store the sunshades on the T-tops, in their
installed position.
Convertible Top
The following procedures explain the proper operation
of your convertible top.
Lowering Your Convertible Top
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
1. Park on a level surface. Set the parking brake firmly,
shift
an automatic transmission into PARK (PI 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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3. Install the middle section of the cover by sliding
the tabs into the slots on right side cover. Lower
the cover and engage latch.
4. Close the trunk.
Raising Your Convertible Top
1. Park on a level surface. Set the parking brake fdy.
If you have an automatic transmission, shift into
PARK (I?). If you have a manual transmission, shift
into REVERSE (R). The ignition must be in the ACC
or RUN position or RAP must be on. Lower both sun
visors. Lower both windows at least 3 inches (8 cm).
If the boot cover is in place, it must be removed first.
2. Open the trunk. Remove the middle piece of the
cover by pushing in on the latch and lifting up on
the cover.
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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 .
1 1. Parking Brake Lever
12. Cupholder
13. Storage Console
14. Shift Lever
15. Ashtray (Automatic Transmission)
16. Rear Window Defogger Switch
17. Steering Wheel Controls
18. Remote Hatch Release
19. Convertible Top Switch (Option)
20. Traction Control System Switch (Option)
21. Second Gear Start (V6 Automatic only)
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Traction Control System Warning Light (Option)
T’CS
OFF
This warning light should
come on briefly as you start
the engine.
If the warning
light doesn’t come on then,
have it fixed
so it will be
ready to
warn you if there’s
a problem.
I. . . -,.L-,-
If it stays on, or comes‘0n’’when you’re driving, there
may be a problem with
your traction control system and
your vehicle may need service. When this warning light
is
OW, the system will not lifnit wheel spin. Adjust your
driving accordingly.
If your brakes begin to overheat, the brake portion of the
traction control system will shut down, but the throttle
and engine spark control wiil continue to work. The
warning light will not
come on when this happens.
The traction control system warning light may come on
for the following reasons:
If you turn the system off by pressing the button
located on the center of the console behind the shift
lever (Automatic Transmission) or in front of the
shiftboot (Manual Transmission), the warning light
will
come on and stay on. To turn the system back
on, press the button again. The warning light should
go
off. (See “Traction Control System’’ in the Index
for more information.)
If the temperature of the throttle control begins
to rise, the system will turn off and the warning
light will come on until the system cools down.
The system,does this
to prevent damage from
overheating.
If the tmchan CQII~XQ~ system warning light comes on
and stays on
for an extended period of time when the
system is turned on, your vehicle needs service.
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abrupt upshift or downshft. Also, when the compact spare
tire is on the rear axle,
the traction control system will
cycle and limit acceleration for about
the first 15 seconds
of driving after each engine start.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the traction
control system begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise
control will automatically disengage. When road
conditions allow you to safely use it again, you may
re-engage the cruise control. (See “Cruise Control”
in the Index.)
TCS
OFF
When the system is on,
this warning light will
come on to let you know
if
there’s a problem with your
traction control system.
See “Traction Control
System Warning Light”
in the Index.
When this warning light is
on, the system will not limit
wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.
The traction control system automatically comes on
whenever you start your vehicle.
To limit wheel spin, especially in slippery road
conditions,
you should
always leave the system on. But you
can turn the
traction control system
off if you ever need to.
(You should turn the system off if your vehicle ever
gets stuck in sand, mud, ice
or snow. See “Rocking
Your Vehicle” in the Index.)
Automatic Transmission Manual Transmission
To turn the system off, press the button located on
the center
of the console behind the shift lever
(Automatic Transmission) or in front
of the shift
boot (Manual Transmission).
The light on the button will go off, and the traction
control system warning light will come on and stay on.
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Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle may need a
different ‘turn signal flasher and/or extra wiring. Check
with your Pontiac dealer.
The arrows
on your instrument panel will flash
whenever you signal a turn or lane change. Properly
hooked up, the trailer lamps will also flash, telling other
drivers you’re about to turn, change lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the arrows on your instrument
panel will flash for turns even if the bulbs on the trailer
are burned out. Thus, you may think drivers behind you
are seeing your signal when they are not. It’s important
to check occasionally to be sure the trailer bulbs are
still working.
1 ’ Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you start
down a long or steep downgrade.
If you don’t shift
down, you might have to use your brakes
so much that
they would get hot and no longer work well.
On
a long uphill grade, shift down and reduce your
speed to around
45 mph (70 km/h) to reduce the
possibility
of engine and transmission overheating.
If YOU are towing a trailer and you have an automatic
transmission with Overdrive, you may prefer to drive in
THIRD (D) instead of AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (0)
(or, as you need to, a lower gear). Or, if you have a
manual transmission with
FJFTH (5) (or SIXTH (6)) gear
and you are towing a trailer, it’s better not to use FIFTH
(5) (or SIXTH) (6) gear. Just drive in FOURTH (4) (drive
in
FIFTH (5) if you have a six-speed manual transmission)
or,
as you need to, a lower gear.
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
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.
PARK (P) yet, or into gear for a manual transmission.
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.. ' When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a €Till
' ' 1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while
you:
Start your engine;
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
pul1ing.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 heip you find them quickly.
If you're trailering, it's a good idea to review these
sections befcn-e
you start yam trip.
Check;periodically
to see that all hitch nuts and bolts .
are tight.
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