key PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1996 Owners Manual

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Your vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing and
diagnostic module, which records information
about the air bag system.
The module records
information about the readiness of the system,
when the sensors are activated and driver’s safety
belt usage at deployment.
Let only qualified technicians work
on your air bag
system. Improper service can mean that your air
bag system won’t work properly. See your dealer
for service.
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NOTICE:
If you damage the cover for the driver’s or the
right front passenger’s air bag, they may not
work properly. You may have to replace the air
bag module in the steering wheel or both the
air
bag module and the instrument panel for the
right front passenger’s air bag.
Do not open or
break the air bag covers.
Servicing ,Your Air Bag-Equipped Pontiac
Air bags affect how your Pontiac should be serviced.
There are
parts of the air bag system in several places
around your vehicle. You don’t want the system to
inflate while someone is working on your vehicle. Your
Pontiac dealer and the Firebird Service
Manual have
information about servicing your vehicle and the air bag
system.
To purchase a service manual, see “Seririce and
Owner Publications” in the Index.
I A CAUTION:
II
For up to 10 minutes after the ignition key is
turned off and the battery is disconnected, an air
bag can still inflate during improper service. You
can be injured if you are close to an air bag when
it inflates. Avoid wires wrapped with yellow tape
or yellow connectors. They are probably part of
the
air bag system. Be sure to follow proper
service procedures, and make sure’ the person
performing work for you is qualified to do
so.
’he air bag system does not need regular maintenance.
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Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy
Safety belts work for everyone, including pregnant
women. Like all occupants, they are more likely to be
seriously injured if they don’t wear safety belts. The
best way
to protect the fetus is to protect the
mother. When
a safety belt is worn properly, it’s more
likely that the fetus won’t be hurt in
a crash. For
, pregnant women, as for anyone, the key to making
safety belts effective
is wearing them properly.
A pregnant woman should wear a lap-shoulder belt, and
the lap portion should be worn as low as possible, below
the rounding, throughout the pregnancy.
Right Front Passenger Position
The right front passenger’s safety belt works the same
way as
the driver’s safety belt. See “Driver Position,’’
earlier in
this section.
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v Section 2 Features and Controls
Here you can learn about the many standard and
optional features on your Pontiac, and information on
starting, shifting and braking.
Also explained are the
instrument panel and the warning systems that tell you
if
everything is working properly -- and what to do if you
have a problem.
Keys
1
Leaving young children in'a vehicle with the
ignition key is dangerous for many reasons.
A child or others could be badly injured or
even killed.
They could operate power windows or other
controls or even make
the vehicle move. Don't
leave the keys in a vehicle
with young children.
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The ignition keys are for the
ignition
only.
The door keys are for ,the
doors 'and
all other locks.
When a new 'Firebird is
delivered, the dealer
removes the plugs from the
'door ke.ys
and gives them to
the first owner. Each plug has
a code on it that
tells your dealer or a
qualified locksmith how to make extra door ,keys. Keep
the plugs in a safe place.
,If you lose your door keys,
you'll be able to have new ones made using these plugs.
If you need a new key, contact your Pontiac dealer who
can obtain the correct key code. Remember to carry the
pre-cut emergency key which Pontiac sends after
delivery.
In an emergency, call Pontiac Roadside
Assistance
at 1-800-ROADSDE or 1-800-762-3743.
NOTICE:
Your Pontiac has a number of new features that
can help prevent theft. But you can have a lot
of trouble getting into your vehicle if you ever
lock your keys imide. You may even have to
damage your vehicle to get h. So be sure you
have extra keys.
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Door Locks
Unlocked doors can be dangerous.
Passengers
-- especially children -- can easily
open the doors and fall out. When a door
is
locked, the inside handle won’t open it.
Outsiders can easily enter through an unlocked
door when you slow
down or stop your vehicle.
This may not be so obvious: You increase the
chance of being thrown out of the vehicle in
a
crash if the doors aren’t locked. Wear safety belts
properly, lock your doors, and you will be far
better
off whenever you drive your vehicle.
There are several ways to lock and unlock your vehicle.
From’the outside, Use your door key. If your vehicle has
the Vehicle and Content Theft-Deterrent System and it
is armed, unlocking and opening a door
this way will set
off the alarm. See “Vehicle and Content Theft-Deterrent
System”
in the Index.
From the inside, to lock the door, move the lock
control on the door backward.
To unlock the door, move the lock control on the
door forward.
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Power Door Locks. (Option)
Push the power door lock
switch to lock or unlock
both doors at once.
Note: Operating the power door locks may affect the
Vehicle and Content Theft-Deterrent System
(if you
have this option). See “Vehicle and Content
Theft-Deterrent System” in the Index.
The lock switch works at all times. The unlock switch
only works when the ignition switch is in
RUN or ACC
or when RAP
is present. (See “Retained Accessory
Power” in the Index.)
East Door Closed Locking (Option)
If you have power door locks, you can program a last
door closed locking feature for your vehicle.
This
feature allows for a delayed. locking of the doors. This lets
you and your passengers exit
the vehicle after
you’ve pressed the power door lock switch. All
of the
doors will lock once everyone has gotten out of the
vehicle and closed their doors.
When
the power door lock switch is pressed, a chime
will
sound three times,.indicating that last door closed
locking has been activated. Pressing the LOCK switch
again will lo’ck
the doors immediately. Pressing the
UNLOCK switch will cancel a previously requested last
door closed loclung.
This feature
is shipped from the factory in the off
position. To turn this feature on, see “Feature
Custorrlization” in the Index.
Lockout Prevention (Option)
To protect you from locking your keys in the vehicle,
this feature stops the power door locks from locking
when the keys are in the ignition and a
door is open. If
the power lock switch is pressed when
a door is open, a
chime will sound five times as a reminder to take
the
keys out of the ignition before locking the door. This
feature is shipped from the factory in the on position. If
you would like to turn this feature off, see “Feature
Customization”
in the Index.
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Leaving Your Vehicle
If you are leaving the vehicle, take your keys, open your
door and set the locks from inside. Then get out and
close the door.
Remote Lock Control (Option)
3-Button Transmitter 4-Button Transmitter
If your Pontiac has this option, you can lock and
unlock your doors or unlock your hatch up to about
30 feet (9 m) using the key chain transmitter supplied
with your car. Your
Remote
Lock Control operates on a radio
frequency subject to Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) Rules.
This device complies with Part
15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and
(2) This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation.
Should interference to this system occur, try this:
Check to determine if battery replacement is
necessary. See the instructions on battery
replacement.
vehicle. This product has a maximum range.
be blocking the signal.
Cheek the distance. You may be too far from your
Check the location. Other vehicles or objects may
See your Pontiac dealer or a qualified technician
Changes or modifications to this system by other than
an authorized service facility could void authorization to
use this.equipment.
for
service.
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Hatch Release
Your door key opens the hatch.
If your vehicle has the Vehicle and Content
Theft-Deterrent System, and the system
is armed,
opening the hatch this way will trigger the alarm. First
&sarin the system or use the Remote Lock Control
transmitter to
open the hatch.
Remote Hatch Release (Option)
\
Press the switch under the lamp controls to unlock the
hatch
from inside y’our vehicle. If you have an automatic
transmission, your shift lever must be in
PARK (P)
or NEUTRAL (N) to use the switch. If you have a
manual transmission and the ignition switch is in
RUN, you must set the parking brake before you can
use the switch.
The switch only works when the ignition switch
is in
RUN or ACC, or when RAP is present. (See “Retained
Accessory Power” in the Index.)
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NOTICE:
If you put things in the hatchback area, be sure
they won’t break the glass when you close it.
Never slam the hatch down.
You could break the
glass
or damage the defogger grid (if equipped).
On vehicles with the Vehicle and Content
Theft-Deterrent System: If the system has sounded an
alarm, the hatch switch will not work until the system is
disarmed. See “Vehicle and Content Theft-Deterrent
System” in the Index.
Theft
Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities.
Although your Pontiac has a number
of theft-deterrent
features, we
know that nothing we put on it can make it
impossible to steal. However, there
are ways you can help.
Key in the Ignition
If you leave your vehicle with the keys inside, it’s an
easy tmget for joy riders or professional thieves -- so
don’t do it. When you
park your Pontiac and open the driver’s door,
you’ll hear a tone reminding
you to remove your key
from the ignition and take it with you.
Always do this.
Your steering wheel will be locked, and so will your
ignition. If you have an automatic transmission, taking
your key
out also locks your transmission. And
remember to lock the doors.
Parking at Night
Park in a lighted spot, close all windows and lock your
vehicle. Remember to keep your valuables out of sight,
Put them in a storage area,
or take them with you.
Parking Lots
If you park in a lot where someone will be watching
your vehicle, it’s best to lock it up and take your keys.
But what if you have to leave your ignition key? What
if
you have to leave something valuable in your vehicle?
0 Put your valuables in a storage area, like your
0 Lock the glove box.
Lock all the doors except the driver’s.
0 Then take the door key with you.
glove box.
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every two seconds, the system is armed and there was an
intrusion that sounded the alarm). Horn chirps and
parking lamp flashes can be set to your choice.
Remote Lock Control Transmitter Locking
If all the doors are closed, locking the vehicle with the
transmitter will immediately
arm the system. The horn
will chirp twice and the parking lamps will flash,
confirming that the system is armed.
If any door is open
when the transmitter LOCK button is pressed, the
system goes into an armed wait mode, waiting for the
doors to close. Once they are closed, the system will
arm, chirp the horns twice and flash the parking lamps.
If the hatch is open or ajar at the time the system is
arming, the horn will only chirp once.
Power Door Lock Switch Locking
If any door is open when the power door lock switch is
pressed, the system goes into
an armed wait mode,
waiting for the doors to close. Once they are closed, the
system will
arm and flash the parking lamps. If all of the
doors are closed when the lock switch is pressed, the
system assumes you are inside of the vehicle,
so it will
not
arm. Note: Locking the doors by using the manual
dm ‘Locks will not arm the system.
Passive Arming
If the ignition was just turned off and a door was
opened, the system will
arm six seconds after all doors
are closed, whether or not you lock them. In all other
cases, the system will wait
30 seconds after all doors are
closed before arming, allowing you time to get
into the
vehicle and the key in the ignition. The parking lamps
will flash when the system arms. Passive arming is not
enabled from the factory.
Disarming the System
There are two ways to disarm the system:
1. Press the UNLOCK button on the Remote Lock
Control transmitter.
If the horn chirps two or three
times when you unlock the car, the alarm sounded in
your absence.
lko chirps means that
the shock sensor was set
off and three chirps means
that a door or hatch was opened.
proper key.
2. Turn the ignition to the RUN position with the
For more information on customizing the features
mentioned here, see “Feature Customization” in
the Index.
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