PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1996 Owners Manual

Capacities (Approximate) (Continued)
Crankcase
Oil and Filter Change
3800 (WN K) ............ 4.5 quarts (4.3 L)**
5.7 L (VIN P) ............ 5.0 quarts (4.7 L)**
Fuel Tank .................. 15.5 gallons (58.7 L)
Five-Speed ................. 6.8 pints (3.2 L)*
Six-Speed .................. 8.0 pints (3.8 L)*
Rear Axle Lubricant ............ 3.5 pints (1 .TL)
Manual Transmission
+Not all air conditioning refrigerants are the same.
If the air conditioning system in your vehicle needs
refrigerant, be sure the proper refrigerant is used.
If you’re not sure, ask your Pontiac dealer.
*Recheck fluid level after filling. See “Automatic
Transmission
Fluid” or “Manual Transmission Fluid”
in the Index.
**Recheck the oil level after filling. See “Engine Oil” in
the Index.
Vehicle Dimensions
Wheelbase
Front Tread
Rea’ Tread
Length
Firebird / Formula
Trans
Am
Width
Height
101.1 inches (2 566 mm)
60.7 inches (1 542 mm)
60.7 inches (1 540 mm)
195.6 inches (4 968 mm)
197.0 inches ( 5 005 mm)
74.5 inches (1 893 mm)
52.10 inches (1 323, nun)
ProCarManuals.com

Replacement Parts Air Conditioning Refrigerants
Air Cleaner Filter Not all air conditioning refrigerants are the same.
VIN Engine Code P .................. A1163C refrigerant, be sure the proper refrigerant is used.
VIN Engine Code P (with WS6 Option) A1097C
Battery
............................... .75-60
Engine
Oil Filter
..... .;+ VIN Engine Code K .................. A1163C If the air conditioning system in your vehicle needs I . . '. .~ ,..I . ,. ,
If you're not sure, ask your Pontiac dealer. ...
. VIN Engine Code K ..................... PF47
VIN Engine Code
P .................... PF25
Fuel Filter
............................. GF578
PCV Valve
VIN Engine Code
K ................. CV892C
VIN Engine Code P ................. CV895C
Radiator Cap
........................... RC24
Spark Plug
VIN Engine Code K ....... -41-921 (0.060" Gap)
VIN Engine Code P ....... e41-943 (0.050" Gap)
Specification
................... 180°F (82°C)
Thermostat Temperature
I 6r't
ProCarManuals.com

NOTES
ProCarManuals.com

Section 7 Maintenance Schedule
IMPORTANT:
KEEP ENGINE OIL
AT THE PROPER
,EVEL AND CHANGE AS
RECOMMENDED
This section co
Introduction
Your Vehicie and the Environment
Proper vehicle maintenance not only helps to keep your
vehicle in good working condition, but also helps the
environment. All recommended maintenance procedures
are important. Improper vehicle maintenance
can even
lvers the maintenance required for your affect the quality
of the air we breathe. Improper fluid
Pontiac. Your vehicle needs these services to retain its levels or the wrong tire inflation can increase the level
safety, dependability and emission control performance. of emissions from your vehicle. To help protect our
Iu
GM -
environment, and to keep your vehicle in good
1 condition, please maintain your vehicle properly.
Protection
Plan
Have you purchased the GM Protection Plan? The Plan
supplements
your new vehicle warranties. See your
Warranty and Owner Assistance booklet, ,or your
Pontiac dealer
for details.
ProCarManuals.com

How This Section is Organized
The remainder of this section is divided into five parts:
“Part A: Scheduled Maintenance Services’’ shows
what to have done and how often. Some
of these
services can be complex,
so unless you are technically’
qualified and have the necessary equipment, you should
let your dealer’s service department
or another qualified
service center do these jobs.
/d CL’ ‘JTION:
Performing maintenance work on a vehicle can
be dangerous.
In trying to do some jobs, you can
be seriously injured. DO your own maintenance
work
only if you have the required know-how
and the proper tools and ‘equipment for the job.
If you have any doubt, have a qualified
technician do the
work.
I
If you are skilled enough to do some work on your
vehicle, you will probably want to get
the service
information
GM publishes. See “Service and Owner
Publications” in the Index.
“Part B: Owner Checks and Services9’ tells you what
should
be checked whenever you stop for fuel. It also
explains what you can easily
do to help keep your
vehicle in good condition.
“Part C: Periodic Maintenance Inspections”
explains important inspections that your Pontiac dealer’s
service department or another qualified service center
should perform.
64Part D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants”
lists some products GM recommends to help keep your
vehicle properly maintained.
These products, or their
equivalents, shod be used whether you do the work
yourself or have it done.
“Part E: Maintenance Record” provides a place for
you to record
the maintenance performed on your
vehicle. Whenever any maintenance is performed, be
sure to write
it down in this part. This will help yon
determine when your next maintenance should be done.
In addition, it is a good idea to keep your maintenance
receipts. They may be needed
to qualify your vehicle for
warranty repairs.
7-2
ProCarManuals.com

Part A: Scheduled Maintenance
Services
Using Your Maintenance Schedule
We at General Motors want to help you keep your
vehicle in good working condition. But we don’t know
exactly how you’ll drive it. You may drive very short
distances only a few times a week. Or you may drive
long distances all the time in very hot, dusty weather.
You may use your vehicle
in making deliveries. Or
you may drive it to work, to do errands or in many
other ways.
Because of all the different ways people use their
GM
vehicles, maintenance needs vary. You may even need
more frequent checks and replacements than you’ll find
in the schedules in this section. So please read this
section and note how you drive. If you have any
questions on how to keep your vehicle in good
condition, see your Pontiac dealer.
This part tells you the maintenance services you should
have done and when you should schedule them. If you
go to your dealer for your service needs, you’ll know
that GM-trained and supported service people will perform the work using genuine
GM parts.
The proper fluids and lubricants to use are listed in
Part
D. Make sure whoever services your vehicle
uses these. All
parts should be replaced and all
necessary repairs done before you or anyone else
drives the vehicle.
These schedules
are for vehicles that:
0
0
0
carry passengers and cargo within recommended
limits. You
will find these limits on your vehicle’s
Tire-Loading Information label. See “Loading Your
Vehicle” in the Index.
are driven
on reasonable road surfaces within legal
driving limits.
use the recommended fuel. See “Fuel” in the Index.
Selecting the Right Schedule
First you’ll need to decide which of the two schedules is
right for your vehicle. Here’s how to decide which
schedule to follow:
ProCarManuals.com

Maintenance Schedule
Short Trip/City Definition
Follow the Short TripKity Maintenance Schedule if any
one
of these conditions is true for your vehicle:
0 Most trips are less than 5 to 10 miles (8 to 16 km).
This is particularly important when outside
temperatures are below freezing.
0 Most trips include extensive idling (such as frequent
driving in stop-and-go traffic).
$0 Most trips are through dusty areas.
You frequently tow a trailer or use a carrier on top of
0 If the vehicle is used for delivery service, police, taxi
One ofthe reasons you should follow this schedule if you
operate your vehicle under any of these conditions is that
these conditions cause engine oil to break down
soonel:
your vehicle.
or other commercial application.
Short Trip/City Intervals
~~
Every 3,000 Miles .(5 000 km): Engine Oil and Filter
Every 6,000 Miles (10 000 km): Chassis Lubrication
Change
(or 3 months, whichever occurs first).
(or
6 months, whichever occurs first).
- I
Short Trip/City Intervals
At 6,000 Miles (10 000 km) -- .Then
Every 12,000 Miles (20 000 km): Tire Rotation.
Every 6,000 Miles (10 000 km) of Trailering:
Rear Axle Fluid Change (Vehicles Towing Trailers).
At the First 6,000 Miles (10 000 Ism): Rear Axle Fluid
Change (Limited-Slip Differential).
Every 15,000 Miles (25 000 km): Air Cleaner Filter
Inspection, if driving in dusty conditions. Automatic
Transmission Service (severe conditions only).
Every 30,000 Miles (50 000 km): Air Cleaner Filter
Replacement, Fuel Tank, Cap and
Lines Inspection.
Every 60,000 Miles (100 000 km): Engine Accessory
Drive Belt Inspection.
Every 100,000 Miles (166 000 km): Cooling System
Service
(or every 60 months, whichever occurs fust).
Spark Plug Wire Inspection. Spark Plug Replacement.
Automatic Transmission Service (normal conditions).
These intervals only summarize maintenance services.
Be
sure to follow the complete maintenance schedule on
the following pages.
7-4
ProCarManuals.com

Maintenance Schedule
Lung Trip/Highway Definition Long Trip/Highway Intervals
Follow this maintenance schedule only if none of the
conditions from the Short Trip/City Maintenance
Schedule is true.
Driving a vehicle with a fully warmed engine under
highway conditions causes engine oil to break
down slower.
Every 7,500 Miles (12 500 km): Engine Oil and Filter
Change (or every
12 months, whichever occurs fist).
Chassis Lubrication (or every
12 months, whichever
occurs first).
At the First 7,500 Miles (12 500 km): Rear Axle Fluid
Change (Limited-Slip Differential).
At 7,500 Miles (12 500 km) -- Then Every
15,000 Miles (25
000 km): Tire Rotation.
Every 15,000 Miles (25 000 km): Automatic
Transmission Service (severe conditions
only).
Every 30,000 Miles (50 000 km): Air Cleaner Filter
Replacement. Fuel Tank, Cap and Lines Inspection.
Every 60,000 Miles (100 000 km): Engine Accessory
Drive Belt Inspection.
Every 100,000 Miles (166 000 km): Cooling System
Service (or every
60 months, whichever occurs first).
Spark Plug Wire Inspection: Spark Plug Replacement.
Automatic Transmission Service (normal conditions).
These intervals only summarize maintenance services.
Be sure to follow the complete maintendnce schedule on
the following pages.
7-5
ProCarManuals.com

I Short Trip/City Maintenance Schedule I
The services shown in this s'chedule up to 100,000 miles
(166 000 km) should be performed after 100,000 miles
(1.66 000 km) at the same intervals.
Footnotes
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or the
California Air Resources Board has determined that the
failure to perform this' maintenance item will
not nullify
the emission warranty
or limit recall liability prior to the
completion
of the vehicle's useful life. We, however,
urge that all recommended maintenance services be
performed at the indicated intervals and the maintenance
be recorded.
I 3,000 Miles (5 000 km)
17 Change engine oil and filter (or every
3 months, whichever occurs first).
An Emission Control Service.
I DATE ACTUAL MILEAGE SERVICED BY:
ProCarManuals.com

1 Short TripKity Maintenance Schedule 1
6,000 Miles (10 000 km)
0 Change engine oil and filter (or every
3 months, whichever occurs first).
An Emission Control Service.
0 Lubricate the steering linkage (or every
6 months, whichever occurs first).
0 Rotate tires. See “Tire Inspection and Rotation”
in the Index for proper rotation pattern and
additional mforrnation. Dwing tire rotation,
check
brake calipers for freedom of movement.
Refer to the appropriate
GM service manual for
proper caliper service procedures.
0 Change the rear axle gear lubricant if vehicle is used
to pull a trailer or has limited-slip merentid.
9,000 Miles (15 000 km)
0 Change engine oil and filter (or every
3 months, whichever occurs first).
An Emission Control Service.
. .I
DATE ACTUAL MILEAGE
!
SERVICED BY
-7
ProCarManuals.com