light PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1996 User Guide
[x] Cancel search | Manufacturer: PONTIAC, Model Year: 1996, Model line: FIREBIRD, Model: PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1996Pages: 386, PDF Size: 19.18 MB
Page 66 of 386

Exit Lighting and Delayed Illumination Last Door Closed Locking and
Your vehicle comes with this feature set in Mode 4. This Lockout Prevention
means that your interior lamps will go on when the key
Your vehicle comes with this feature set in Mode 2.
is removed from the ignition switch and stay on for This means that your power door locks will not lock
25 seconds after closing the doors to help in exiting the
when the keys are in the ignition and a door is open.
vehicle. TO change the factory setting, do the following:
TO change the factory setting, do the following:
1. Turn the courtesy lamps on by turning the instrument 1. press the LOCK switch on the door.
2. Count the number of chimes you hear. The number of chimes tells you which mode your vehicle is
panel brightness control knob all the way up.
of chimes tells you which mode your vehicle is set for.
set for.
2. Count the number of chimes you hear. The number
3. Press the LOCK switch on the door until you hear
3. Turn the courtesy lamp switch to off. the number of chimes that correspond to the mode
4. Turn the courtesy lamp switch from on to off until
you hear the number of chimes that correspond to the Mode 1: Both Off (Doors will 1ocWunlock when you
mode selection you want. press the power door lock switch).
Mode 1: Both Off (Interior lamps will turn on or off at ~ Mode 2: Lockout Prevention Only (If you leave your
the same instant that a door is opened or closed). keys in the ignition and get outl the driver’s door, you
Mode 2: Delayed Illumination Only (Interior lamps will
stay on for
25 seconds after the doors are closed).
Mode 3: Exit Lighting Only (Interior lamps will come
on whenever you remove the ignition key). selection
you want.
won’t be able to lock the doors with the,power door lock
switch). Mode 3: Last Door Closed Locking Only (If the power
door lock switch is used to lock the, vehicle while any
door is open,
y0.u will hear three chimes. The doors will
Mode 4: Both On (This combines Mode 2 and 3). not lock until after all doors are closed).
Mode 4: Both On (This combines Mode 2 and 3).
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Page 71 of 386

LOCK (B): The only position in which you can remove
the key.
This locks your steering wheel, ignition and
automatic transmission.
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 plashed 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
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.
I warning and indicator lights.
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.
On manual transmission vehicles, turning the key
to
LOCK will lock the steering column and result
in a loss of ability to steer the vehicle. This could
cause a
collision. If you need to turn the engine
off while the vehicle is moving, turn the key only
to OFF. Don't press the key release button while
the vehicle
is moving.
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Page 83 of 386

Skip Shift Light (5.7L LT1 Engine)
SKIP
SHIFT
When this light comes on,
you can only shift from
FIRST (1) to
FOURTH (4)
gear instead of FIRST (1) to
SECOND (2) gear. This
helps you to get the best
possible fuel economy.
This light will come on under these conditions:
0 The engine coolant temperature is greater than
You are going 15 to 20 mph (24 to 32 kdh), ana
You are at 35 percent throttle or less.
When this light is on, the gear shift lever will let
you
shift from FIRST (1) to FOURTH (4) only. Once you
are in
FOURTH (4) , you can press the clutch again and
shift into another gear.
Follow the shift speeds in this chart when the SKIP
SHIFT light is on.
170°F (77°C)’
Computer Aided Manual Transmission Shift Speeds
1st to4th ...... 15 mph (24 km/h)
4th to 5th ...... 25 mph (40 km/h)*
5th to 6th ...... 40 mph (64 M)**
Each time you come to a stop, the engine’s Powertrain
Control Module (PCM) determines when to activate the
SKIP
SHIFT upshift system. Use SECOND (2) gear
only when you accelerate very quickly from a stop. You
can then follow the full gear shift pattern.
*30 mph (48 km/h) when accelerating to
highway speeds.
**45 mph (72 km/h) when accelerating to
highway speeds.
Shift Speeds
If you skip more than one gear when you
downshift, you could lose control of your vehicle.
And you could injure yourself or others.
Don’t
shift from SIXTH (6) to THIRD (3), or FIFTH (5)
to SECOND (2) or FOURTH (4) to FIRST (1).
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Page 85 of 386

Parking Brake
To set the parking brake, hold the brake pedal down and
pull up on the parking brake lever. If the ignition is on,
the brake system warning light will come
on.
To release the parking brake, hold the brake pedal down.
Pull the
parking brake lever up until you can push in the
release button.
Hold the release button in as you move
the brake lever all the way down.
1. '
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Page 93 of 386

Turn Signal and Lane Change Indicator
The turn signal has two upward (for right) and two
downward (for left) positions. These positions allow
you to signal a turn or a lane change.
To signal a turn, move the lever all the way up or
down. When
the turn is finished, the lever will +
return automatically.
An arrow on the instrument
panel will flash in the
direction.
of the turn or lane
change.
As you signal a turn or a lane change, if the arrows don’t
flash but just ‘stay
on, a signal bulb may be burned out
and other drivers won’t see your turn signal.
If a bulb is burned out, replace it to help avoid an
accident. If the arrows don’t go on at all when you
signal a turn, check the fuse (see “Fuses and,Circuit
Breakers” in the Index).
Headlarnp High/Low Beam Changer ’
.. -.
.;: , i.:. : . .. 1 g .- ..
To change the headlamps
from low beam to high or
high to low, pull the turn
signal lever all the way
toward you.
Then release it.
When
the high beams are
con, this light
on the
instrument panel also will
be on.
To signal a lane change, just raise or lower the lever
until the
mow starts to flash. Hold it there until you
complete
your lane change. The lever will return by
itself when you release it.
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Page 94 of 386

Windshield Wipers You can set the wiper speed for a long or short delay
between wipes. This can be very useful in light rain or
snow.
Turn the band to choose the delay time. The
closer to LO, the shorter the delay.
For steady wiping at low speed, turn the band away
from you to the
LO position. For high-speed wiping,
turn the band further, to HI. To stop the wipers, move
the band to
OFF.
Damaged wiper blades may prevent you from seeing
well enough to drive safely.
To avoid damage, be sure to
clear ice and snow from the wipers blades before using
them. If they're frozen to the windshield, carefully
loosen or thaw them. If your blades do become
damaged, get new blades or blade inserts.
Heavy snow or ice can overload your wipers.
A circuit
You control the windshield wipers by turning the band
with the wiper symbol on it. breaker will stop them
until the motor cools. Clear away
snow or
ice to prevent an overload.
For
it: single wiping cycle, turn the band to MIST. Hold
it there until the wipers start, then let go. The wipers will
stop after one cycle.
If you want more cycles, .hold the
band on MIST longer.
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Page 98 of 386

Increasing Speed While Using Cruise Control Passing Another Vehicle While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed. Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed. When
. Use the accelerator pedal to get to the higher speed. you
take your foot off the pedal, your vehicle-will slow
Push the button at the end of the lever, then release down to the cruise control speed
you set earlier.
the button and the accelerator pedal. You’ll now
cruise at the higher speed.
0 Move the cruise switch from ON to R/A. Hold it
there until you get up to the speed you want, and
then release the switch.
(To increase your speed in
very small amounts, move the switch to R/A for
less than half a second and then releas; it. Each
time you do
this, your vehicle will go about
1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster.)
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise Control
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load and the steepness
of the hills.
When going up steep hills, you may have to step on the
accelerator pedal to maintain your speed. When going
downhill, you may have to brake or shift to a lower gear
to keep your speed down.
Of course, applying the brake
takes you out
of cruise control. Many drivers find this to
be too much trouble and don’t use cruise control on
steep hills.
There are two ways to reduce your speed while using Ending Out of Cruise Control
cruise control:
There are several ways to turn off the cruise control:
0 Push in the button at the end of the lever until you 0 Step lightly on the brake pedal or push the clutch
reach the lower speed you want, then release it. pedal, if you have a manual transmission
; OR
To slow down in very small amounts, push the 0 Move the cruise switch to OFF.
button for less than half a second. Each time you do
this, you’ll go 1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower. Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition,
your cruise control set speed memory
is erased.
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Page 99 of 386

Lamps The main lamp control is a knob that works these lamps:
0 Headlamps
Taillamps
Parking Lamps
0 License Lamps
Sidemarker Lamps
0 Instrument Panel Lights
-'Q- , This setting turns on your headlamps and other
operating lamps.
Pg This setting turns on your parking lamps without
your headlamps.
Turn the hob to OFF to turn off the lamps.
Headlamps On Reminder
If you turn the ignition OFF and leave the lamps on, you
will hear a chime lasting up to 5 seconds. If the laws
are still on when you open the driver's door, the chime
will sound again.
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Page 101 of 386

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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Page 102 of 386

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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