automatic transmission PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1996 Owner's Manual

NOTICE:
Ignoring these steps could result in costly damage
to your vehicle that wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty.
Trying to start your Pontiac by pushing or
pulling
it could damage your vehicle, even if you
have a manual transmission.
And if you have an
automatic transmission, it won’t start that way.
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt
battery with a negative ground system.
NOTICE:
If the other system isn’t a 12-volt system with a
negative ground, both vehicles can be damaged.
2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables
can reach, but be sure the vehicles aren’t touching
each other. If they are, it could cause a ground
connection you don’t want.
You wouldn’t be able to start
your Pontiac, and the bad grounding could
damage the electrical systems.
unnecessary accessories plugged into the cigarette
lighter. Turn
off all lamps that aren’t needed as well
as radios. This will avoid sparks and help save both
batteries. In addition, it could save your radio!
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug
(CE:
r
If you leave your radio on, it could be badly
damaged. The repairs wouldn’t be covered by
your warranty.
4. Open the hoods and locate the batteries.
I==--
~
An electric fan can start up even when the engine
is not running and can injure you. Keep hands,
clothing and tools away from any underhood
electric fan.
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If No Ste~ n Is C Jminp From Your Engine
If you get the overheat warning but see or hear no
steam, the problem may not be too serious. Sometimes
the engine can get a little too hot when
you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
0 Stop after high-speed driving.
0 Idle for long periods in traffic.
0 Tow a trailer.
If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam,
try this for, a minute or so:
1. If you have an air conditioner, turn it off.
2. Turn on your heater to full hbt at the highest fan
speed and open the window as necessary.
3. If you’re in a traffic jam, shift to NEUTRAL (N);
otherwise, shift to the highest gear while
driving
-- AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (@) or
DRIVE
(D) for automatic transmissions.
If you no longer have the overheat warning, you can
drive.
Just to be safe, drive slower for about 10 minutes.
If the warning doesn’t come back on, you can
drive normally.
If the warning continues, pull over, stop, and park your
vehicle right away.
If there’s still no sign of steam, you can idle the engine
for two or three minutes while you’re parked, to see
if
the warning stops. But then, if you still have the
warning,
turn oflthe engine and get everyone out of the
vehicle
until it cools down.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get service
help right away.
5-14
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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
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When you open the hood of the 3800 L36 (Code K) engine you’ll see:
A. Engine Coolant Reservoir
B. Battery
C. Oil Fill Cap
D. Automatic Transmission
Dipstick (if equipped) E. Engine Fan
E Windshield
Washer Reservoir
G. Power Steering Reservoir
H. Engine Oil Dipstick
I. Brake Fluid Reservoir
J. Clutch Fluid Reservoir
K. Air Cleaner
(if equipped)
6-8
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When you open the hood of the 5.7L LT1 (Code P) -giro you’ll see:
d
A. Engine Coolant Reservoir
B. Power Steering Reservoir
C. Engine Oil Dipstick
D. Battery
E. Engine Oil Fill Cap
E Fan
G. Windshield Washer Reservoir
H. Automatic Transmission
Dipstick (if equipped)
I. Brake Fluid Reservoir
J. Clutch Fluid Reservoir
(if equipped)
K. Air Cleaner
6-9
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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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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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Underhood Electrical Center 1
Fuse Usage
ABS IGN Anti-Lock Brake System
ACTUATORS
R HDLP DR
L HDLP DR Daytime
Running Lamp Module,
Headlamp Switch, Cooling Fan
Relay, Exhaust,
Gas Recirculation,
EVAP Canister Purge Solenoid
Headlamp Door Module
Headlamp Door Module
$$L,~: :'... : ? '&,. -
,-
Fuse
ABS VLV
ABS BAT
AIR PUMPFAN
HORN INJECTOR
EN6 SEN
IGNITION
NC-CRUISE
Usage
Brake Pressure Valve
Electronic Brake Control Module
Air Pump (V8) Relay, Pump,
Bleed Valve and
Cooling Fan
Horn Relay
Fuel Injectors
Mass Airflow, Heated Oxygen Sensor, Reverse Lockout
Solenoid, Skip Shift Solenoid,
Automatic Transmission,
Brake Switch
V6 VIN K: Electronic
Ignition Module
V8 VIN P: Ignition Coil Module,
Crankshaft Position Sensor,
Ignition Coil
Air Conditioning Compressor
Relay; Cruise Control Switches
and Module
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Relay
B . L 1 ... ..
C
D
E
F
G
H
J
r .. '
Usage
Air Conditioning Compressor
Anti-Lock Brake Systedraction
Control
System (TCS)
Cooling Fan 1
Air Pump
Cooling Fan 2
Not Used
Fog Lamps
Cooling Fan 3 .... .... ... ...._ . . € ~ : ". .. L .. ....
.. !
Replacement Bulbs
Ashtray* ................................ 194
Automatic Transmission Indicator
............. 73
Back-up ................................ 1156
Center High-Mounted
Stoplamp ............. 921
Cluster
.................................. 161
Dome
.................................. 906
Do'or Courtesy ............................ 74
Fog ..................................... 880
Front Parking and Turn Signal .............. 3057
GloveBox .............................. 194
..... Headlamp .................. ......... H-6545
Heater and
A/C Control ..................... 37
Indicator Lights
......................... PC74
Interior
Door Handle ....................... 74
License
................................. 194
Reading
.............................. .21 2-2
Rea Courtesy ............................ 562
Sidemarker
.............................. 194
Tail
Only ................................ 194
TaiVStop/Turn .......................... 2057
Trunk ................................... 562
Turn Signal Indicators ..................... 161
*Manual transmission only
.
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Capacities and Specifications
Engine
Type VIN Engine Code
K ...................... V6
VTN Engine Code P ...................... V8
Fuel Delivery .................... Fuel Injection
Valve Arrangement
.................... In-Head
Piston Displacement
..........................
VINEngine Code K ............ 231 CID (3.8L)
VIN Engine Code
P ............ 350 CID (5.7L)
VIN Engine Code K .............. 1-6-5-4-3-2
VIN Engine Code P ......... 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2
Wheel Nut Torque ............ 100 lb-ft (140 N-m)
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
Type ............ ................. hook
Length ........ ... 24 inches (610 mm)
Firing Order
Capacities (Approximate)
The following approximate capacities are given in
English and metric conversions.
Air Conditioning?
............. See the refrigerant
information label under the hood.
Automatic Transmission
Drain and Refill ............... 10 pints (4.7 L)*
Overhaul
VIN Engine Code
K ......... 17.6 pints (8.3 L)*
VIN Engine Code P ........ 21 ..6 pints (10.2 L)*
VIN Engine Code K V)
With Manual Transmission .... 12.5 quarts (11.8 L)
With' Automatic "ransmissjon . 12.3 qums (1 1.6 L)
VIN Engine Code P
With Manual Transmission ... 15.3 quarts (14.5 L)
With Automatic Transmission 15.1 quarts (14.3
L)
Cooling System
6-69
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