PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1996 Owners Manual

6. Start the engine and let it run until you can feel the
upper radiator hose getting hot. Watch out for the
engine
fan.
filler neck may be lower. If the level is lower, add
more
of the proper mix through the filler neck until
the level reaches the base
of the filler neck.
7. By this time the coolant level inside the radiator
8. Then replace the pressure cap. At any time during
this procedure if coolant begins to flow out
of the
filler neck, reinstall the pressure cap. Be sure the
arrows on the pressure cap line up like this.
, 'I I
5-22
ProCarManuals.com

How to Add Coolant to the Radiator
(V8 Engine Only)
NOTICE:
The LTl Engine (Code P) has a specific radiator
fill procedure. Failure to follow this procedure
could cause your engine to overheat and be
severely damaged.
<
I
1. You can remove the radiator pressure cap when the
cooling system, including the radiator pressure cap and upper radiator hose, is
no longer hot. Turn the pressure
cap slowly counterclockwise until it first stops. (Don’t
press down while turning the pressure cap.)
.
If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop. A hiss means
there is still some pressure left.
ProCarManuals.com

2. Then keep turning the pressure cap, but now gush
down as you turn it, Remove the pressure cap.
/rl CAUTION:
I
1
You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol,
and it
will burn if the engine parts are hot
enough Don't spill coolant
on a hot engine.
3. After the engine cools, open the air bleed valves on
the heater return hose and water pump inlet.
ProCarManuals.com

4. Fill with the proper mix. Add coolant until you
see a steady stream of coolant coming from the
bleed valves.
.. i L . -8
-.
5. Close the bleed valves.
6. Continue to fill the radiator up to the base of the
7. Rinse or wipe the spilled coolant from the engine
and compartment.
8. Start the engine and allow it to run in idle for
approximately four minutes. By this time, the
coolant level inside the radiator will be lower.
Add
more of the proper mix through the filler neck until
the level reaches the base of the filler neck.
filler
neck.
I. . :-
ProCarManuals.com

9. Shut the engine off and replace the pressure cap. Be
sure the arrows on the cap line up like this.
10. Then fill the coolant recovery tank to the proper
level.
For a complete
drain, flush and refill, see your Pontiac
dealer or a Pontiac Firebird Service Manual. To
purchase a service manual, see “Service and Owner
Publications”
in the Index.
5-26
ProCarManuals.com

If a Tire Goes Flat
It’s unusual for a tire to “blow out” while you’re driving,
especially
if you maintain your tires properly. If air goes
out of a tire, it’s much more likely to leak out slowly.
But if you should ever have a “blowout,” here are a few
tips about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create a drag that
pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your foot
off the
accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel
firmly.
Steer to maintain lane position, and then gently bralie to
a stop well out
of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a
skid and may
require the same correction you’d use in a
skid. In any rear blowout, remove your foot from the
accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control by
steering the way you want the vehicle to
go. It may be
very bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently
brake to a stop
-- well off the road if possible.,
If a tire goes flat, the next part shows how to use your
jacking equipment to change a flat tire safely.
Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel damage
by driving slowly
to a level place. Turn on your hazard
warning flashers.
I
A CAUTILN:
Changing a tire can cause an injury. The vehicle
can slip off the jack and roll over
you or other
people. You and they could be
badly injured.
Find
a level place to change your tire. To help
prevent the vehicle from moving:
1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put an automatic transmission shift
lever in
PARK (P), or shift a manual
transmission to
FIRST (1) or
REVERSE (a).
3. Turn off the engine.
To be even more certain the vehicle won’t move,
you can put blocks
at the front and rear of the
tire farthest away from the one being changed.
That would be the tire on the other side of the
vehicle,
at the opposite end.
5-27
ProCarManuals.com

Removing the Spare Tire and Tools
The equipment you’ll need is in the right (passenger)
rear area behind the trim panel.
First you must remove the close-out panel. See
“Close-Out Panel” in the Index.
On convertible models, you must also remove the
convertible top protection panel. It’s at
the upper back
the trunk. Turn the two screw
knobs under the trunk
edge a quarter turn left (counterclockwise) to remove
the panel.
The following steps will tell you how to use the jack and
change
a tire.
i
of
5-28
ProCarManuals.com

Find the plastic screw heads in the trim panel over the
spare tire. (See “Compact Spare’ Tire” later in this
section for more information about the compact spare.)
Use
a coin or a key to turn the screw heads until the
slots point front and back. Gently lift the trim panel and
move
it out of the way.
If you have speakers in the trim panel, you may have to
disconnect the wire form the speaker. The speaker wire
may be long enough to remove the trim panel without
disconnecting the wire.
Tu remove the jack and wheel wrench, loosen and
remove the bolt and remove the plastic cover.
5-29
ProCarManuals.com

Remove the wing nut and adapter and pull out the spare. The tools you’ll be using include the jack (A) and wheel
wrench
(B).
5-30
ProCarManuals.com

The jack has a bolt at the end. Attach the wheel wrench
to the jack bolt.
Turn the wheel wrench to the right to raise the lift
head a little.
If your wheel has a bolt-on center cap, loosen the plastic
caps using the wheel wrench.
5-31
ProCarManuals.com