PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1996 Owners Manual

Automatic Transmission Fluid
When to Check and Change
A good time to check your automatic transmission fluid
level is when the engine oil
is changed.
Change both
the fluid and filter every 15,000 miles
(25 000 km) if the vehicle is mainly driven under one
or more
of these conditions:
In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
regularly reaches
90°F (32°C) or higher.
In hilly or mountainous terrain.
When doing frequent trailer towing.
Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these
con’ditions, change
the fluid and filter every 100,000 miles
(166 000 km).
See “Scheduled Maintenance Services” in the Index.
How to Check
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you
may choose to have this done at your Pontiac dealership
Service Department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow all the instructions
here, or you could get a false reading on the dipstick.
NOTICE:
Too much or too little fluid can damage your
transmission. Too much can mean that some of
the fluid could come out and fall on hot engine
parts or exhaust system parts, starting a fire.
Be
sure to get an accurate reading if you check your
transmission fluid.
Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the
transmission fluid level if
you have been driving:
When outside temperatures are above 90°F (32 ” C).
At high speed for quite a while.
0 In heavy traffic -- especially in hot weather.
0 While pulling a trailer.
To get the right reading, the fluid should be at normal
operating temperature, which
is 180°F to 200°F
(82°C to 93°C).
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Checking Transmission Fluid Hot
Get the vehicle warmed up by driving about 15 miles
(24 km) when outside temperatures are above 50°F
(10°C). If it's colder than 50°F (lO"C), drive the
vehicle in DRIVE
(D) until the engine temperature gage
moves and then remains steady for 10 minutes. Then
follow the hot check procedures.
Checking Transmission Fluid Cold
A cold check is made after the vehicle has been sitting
for eight hours
or more with the engine off and is used
only
as a reference. Let the engine run at idle for five
minutes if outside temperatures
are 50°F (10" C) or
more. If it's colder than
50°F (lO"C), you may have to
idle the engine longer. Should the fluid level be low
during a cold check, you must perform a hot check
before adding fluid. This will give you a more accurate
reading of the fluid level.
Checking the Fluid Hot or Cold ,
0 Park your vehicle on a level place. Keep the engine
0 With the parking brake applied, place the shift lever
running.
in
PARK (P).
0 With your foot on the brake pedal, move the shift
lever through each gear range, pausing for about
three seconds in each range. Then, position the shift
lever in
PARK (P).
0 Let the engine run at idle for three minutes or more.
Then, without shutting
off the engine, follow
these steps:
3800 L36 Engine Transmission Dipstick
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5.7L LT1 Engine Transmission Dipstick-
back
of the engine. Pull out the dipstick and wipe it
with a clean rag or paper towel.
then pull it back out again.
1. The transaxle fluid handle is the red loop near the
2. Push it back in all the way, wait three seconds and
5.7L LT1 Engine Transmission Dipstick
The fluid level
must be in the COLD area for a cold
check QT in the HOT area or cross hatch area for a
hot check.
L 33
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3800 L36 Engine Transmission Dipstick
3. Check both sides of the dipstick, and read the lower
level. The fluid
level must be in the COLD area for a
cold check or in the HOT area or cross-hatched area
for a hot check.
4. If the fluid level is in the acceptable range, push the
dipstick back in all the way.
How to Add Fluid
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind
of transmission fluid to use. See “Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants” in the Index.
Add fluid only after checking the transmission fluid
HOT. (A COLD check is used only as a reference.) If
the fluid level is low, add only enough
of the proper
fluid to bring the level up
to the HOT area for a hot
check. It doesn’t take much fluid, generally less than a
pint
(0.5 L). Don’t overfill. We recommend you use only
fluid labeled DEXRON@-111, because fluid with that
label
is made especially for your automatic transmission.
Damage caused by fluid other
than DEXRON-111 is not
covered by your new vehicle warranty.
0 After adding fluid, recheck the fluid level as
described under “How to
Check.”
0 When the correct fluid level is obtained, push the
dipstick back in all the way.
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Manual Transmission Fluid
When to Check
A good time to have it checked is when the engine oil is
changed. However, the fluid in your manual
transmission doesn’t require changing.
How to Check
Because this operation can be difficult, you may choose
to have this done at your Pontiac dealership Service
Department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow all the
instructions here, or you could get a false reading.
NOTICE:
Too much or too little fluid can damage your
transmission. Too much can mean that some of
the fluid could come out and fall on
hot engine
parts or exhaust system parts, starting a fire. Be
sure to get an accurate reading if you check your
transmission fluid.
Check the fluid level only when your engine is off, the
vehicle is parked on a level place and the transmission
is
cool enough for you to rest your fingers on the
transmission case.
Then, follow these steps:
1. Remove the filler plug.
2. Check that the lubricant level is up to the bottom of
the filler plug hole.
3. If the fluid level is good, install the plug and be sure
it
is fully seated. If the fluid level is low, add more
fluid as described in the next steps.
How to Add Fluid
Here’s how to add fluid. Refer to the Maintenance
Schedule to determine what kind of fluid to use. See
“Recommended Fluids and Lubricants” in the Index.
1. Remove the filler plug.
2. Add fluid at the filler plug hole. Add only enough
fluid to bring the fluid level up to the bottom
of the
filler plug hole.
3. Install the filler plug. Be sure the plug is fully seated.
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Hydraulic Clutch
The hydraulic clutch linkage in your vehicle is
self-adjusting. The clutch master cylinder reservoir is
filled with‘hydraulic clutch fluid.
It isn’t a good idea to “top off’ your clutch fluid. Adding
fluid won’t correct a leak.
A fluid loss in this system could indicate a problem.
Have the system inspected and repaired.
-’ ) :-
When to Check and What’to Use
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine how
often you should check
the fluid level in your clutch
master cylinder reservoir and for the proper fluid. See
“Owner Checks and Services” and “Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants” in the Index.
How to Check
The proper fluid should be added if the level is below
the STEP mark on the reservoir. See the instructions on
the reservoir
cap.
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Rear Axle
When to Check and Change Lubricant
Refer to the Maintenance’ Schedule to determine how
often to check the lubricant and when to change it. See
“Periodic Maintenance Inspections” in the Index.
How to Check Lubricant
If the level is below the bottom of the filler plug hole,
you’ll need to add some lubricant.. Add enough lubricant
to raise the level to the bottom of the filler plug hole.
What to Use
Standard Differential
Use Axle Lubricant (GM Part No. 12345977) or
SAE 8OW-90 GL-5 gear lubricant. -
Limited-Slip Differential
To add lubricant when the level is low, use Axle
Lubricant
(GM Part No. 12345977). To completely refill
after draining, add
2 ounces (59 ml) of Limited-Slip
Differential Lubricant Additive
(GM Part No. 1052358).
Then fill to the bottom of the filler plug hole with Axle
Lubricant (GM,Part No. 12345977).
/
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is filled with new
DEX-COOL TM (orange-colored, silicate-free) engine
coolant. This coolant is designed to remain in your
vehicle
for 5 years or 100,000 miles (166 000 km),
whichever occurs first.
The following explains your cooling system and how to
add coolant when it is
low. If you have a problem with
engine overheating or if you need to add coolant to your
radiator, see “Engine Overheating” in the Index.
A 50/50 mixture of water and the proper coolant for
your Pontiac will:
0
0
0
a
a
Give freezing protection down to -34 OF (-3 7 O C).
Give boiling protection up to 265 OF ( 129°C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages work as they should.
,. .:
. .( , <.
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NOTICE:
When adding coolant it is important that you use
DEX-COOL (orange-colored, silicate-free) coolant meeting
GM Specification 6277111.
If silicated coolant is added to the system,
premature engine, heater core or radiator
corrosion may result. In addition, the engine
coolant
will require change sooner -- at
30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs first.
What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean water (preferably
distilled) and one-half
DEX-COOL (orange-colored,
silicate-free) antifreeze that meets
GM Specification
6277M, which won’t damage aluminum parts. Use GM
Engine Coolant Supplement (sealer) (GM Part
No. 3634621) with any complete coolant change. If you
use this mixture,
you don’t need to add anything else.
Adding only plain water to your cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water, or some other
liquid like alcohol, can boil before the proper
coolant
mix will. Your vehicle’s coolant warning
system is set for the proper coolant mix. With
plain water or the wrong mix, your engine could
get too hot but you wouldn’t get the overheat
warning. Your engine could catch fire and you
or
others could be burned. Use a 50/50 mix of clean
water and DEX-COOL
TM (orange-colored,
silicate-free) antifreeze.
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NOTICE:
If you use an improper coolant mix, your engine
could overheat and be badly damaged. The
repair cos’t wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty.
Too much water in the mix can freeze
and crack the engine, radiator, heater core and
other parts.
If you have to add coolant more than four times a year,
have your dealer check your cooling system.
NOTICE:
If you use the proper coolant, you don’t have to
add extra inhibitors or additives which claim to
improve the system. These
can be harmful.
Checking Coolant
When your engine is cold, check the dipstick on the cap
of the coolant recovery tank. The coolant level should
be at COLD, or a little higher. When your engine is
warm, the level on the dipstick should be up to HOT, or
a little higher.
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LOW
COOLANT
If this light comes on,
it means you’re low on
engine coolant.
.. 5.7L LT1 Engine
Adding Coolant to the Recovery Tank
j,
If you need more coolant, add the proper mix at the
emban& recovery tank, but only when your engine is
cool. If the tank is very low or empty, also add coolant
to the radiator. See “Engine Overheating” in
the Index
for
information.
LAUTION:
”urning the radiator pressure cap when the
engine and radiator are hot can allow steam and
scalding liquids to blow out and burn
you badly-
Never turn the pressure cap -- even a
little -- when the engine and radiator are hot.
Add coolant mix at the recovery tank, but be careful not
to spill it.
I
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.
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