sensor 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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Vehicle and Content Theft-Deterrent
System (Option)
If your vehicle has ths option, it has a theft-deterrent
alarm system. Once armed, the system will sound the horn
and
flash the parking lamps if the vehicle is broken into.
Shock Sensor
I
Coupe Convertible
The shock sensor is what triggers the alarm when it
detects a blow to your vehicle. It is located over the
right rear wheelhouse near the
spare tire in the hatch
area. There are two levels of
alarrns via the shock
sensor: Two horn blasts and parlung lamp flashes for
non-threatening blows to the vehicle and a full two
minute alarm for harder blows to the vehicle. Its
sensitivity can be adjusted if more or less sensitivity is
desired. (Note: If sensitivity increased too much, it may
give false alarms caused
by gusts of wind or other
natural events that may shake the vehicle).
To adjust, remove the label covering the adjustment knob
and adjust as desired. Turn clockwise to increase sensitivity.
Turn counterclockwise to decrease sensitivity. The shock
sensor
is ignored by the alarm system during ignition on,
when the hatch is open, when the alarm is &arm& when
customized to
be ignored and for five seconds after the horn
sounds an alarm or chq. The shock sensor is ignored after
triggering
three fuu. alarms until the system is rearmed.
Arming the System
The alarm system can be armed to detect break-ins by
locking your vehicle using the Remote Lock Control
transmitter
or by lochng the doors with the power door
lock switch. Passive
arming is also available, if you
would
like the system to arm all by itself after the doors
have
been closed for a short time. When the system is
armed, a red light will flash briefly once every two
seconds. (Note: If you return to your vehicle and the red
light is
flashing two brief flashes every two seconds, the
system
is armed and the shock sensor had triggered a
two minute alarm. If the red light is flashing three times
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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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Turning Off the Alarm
If you started the alarm by pressing the panic button on
the Remote Lock Control transmitter, you must either
push that button again or
turn the ignition switch to the
If the alarm is sounding due to the shock sensor or a
door
or hatch opening, it can be turned off by either
turning the ignition switch with
a proper keyinserted or
’ by pressing any button on the Remote Lock Control
transmitter. If you use your transmitter to silence
the
alarm, additional things will happen depending upon
which button you press.
Pressing the UNLOCK button will lurn the alarm off,
will unlock the driver’s door and disarm the system.
Pressing the LOCK button will turn the alarm off,
keep the ,doors locked and keep the system armed.
Pressing the trunk symbol button will turn the dam
off and will unlock and disarm the hatch only.
Pressing the panic button will turn the alarni off,
keep the doors locked and keep the system armed.
If the alarm is sounding because an incorrect ignition
key was used, press any button on the transmitter
to turn
the alarm off.
The alarm will stop by itself after two minutes.
, RUN position to stop the alarm.
PASS-Key 8 ‘1
Your vehicle is equipped
with the PASS-Key
II
(Personalized Automotive
Security System)
theft-deterrent system.
PASS-Key
II is a passive
theft-deterrent system.
It works when you insert
or remove the key
from
the ignition.
PASS-Key
11 uses a resistor pellet in the ignition key
that matches a decoder in your vehicle.
When the PASS-Key 11 system senses that someone is
using the wrong key, it shuts down the vehicle’s starter
and fuel system. For about three minutes, the starter
won’t
work and fuel won’t go to the engine. If someone
tries to start your vehicle again or uses another key
during this time,
the vehicle will not start. This
discourages someone from randomly trying different
keys
with different resistor pellets in an attempt to make
a- match.
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Feature Customization (Option)
Your Pontiac’s locks and lighting systems can be
programmed with several, different features.. The
features you can program depend upon the options that
came with your vehicle. The following list tells you the
features that can be programmed. Listed next
to each
feature is the option you need to have on your vehicle in
order to be able to program that particular feature.
Exit Lighting (available for all)
Delayed Illumination (available for all)
Last Door Closed Locking
(if equipped with power
door locks)
Lockout Prevention
(if. equipped with power
door locks)
Remote Lock Control Verification (if equipped with
Vehicle and Content Theft-Deterrent System)
Theft-Deterrent Arming.
Method (if equipped with
Vehicle and Content Theft-Deterrent System)
Theft-Deterrent Arming Verification
(if equipped
with Vehicle and Content Theft-Deterrent System)
Driver’s Door Alarm Delay (if equipped with
Vehicle and Content Theft-Deterrent System)
Shock Sensor Enable
(if equipped with Vehicle and
Content Theft-Deterrent System) To
program features, your vehicle must be
in the
programming mode. Follow these steps:
1. Put your key in the ignition.
2. Turn the ignition to the RUN position to disarm the
3. Turn the ignition to the OFF position.
4. Remove the RADIO fuse. This fuse is in the main
Vehicle .and Content Theft-Deterrent System.
fuse block, located on the left side of your
instrument panel. See “Fuses and Circuit Breakers”
in the Index.
5. Put the ignirion in the ACC posmon.
You should hear a chime to veiify that the system is
in programming mode. If the chime sounds once,
you will be able to program Exit Lighting, Delayed
Illumination, Last Door Closed Locking and Lockout
Prevention only.
If the chime sounds twice and your
vehicle
is equipped with the Vehicle and Content
Theft-Deterrent System, you will also be able to set
Remote Lock Control Verification, Arming Method,
Arrning Verification, Driver’s Door Delay and Shock
Sensor Enable.
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Mode 3: Horn and LampsLamps (If you use the
transmitter to arm the system, your parking lamps will
flash and your horn will chirp twice
to verify that the
system is armed.
If you use either the power door lock
switch or passive arming, only your lamps will flash
for verification).
Mode 4: Lamps (When your vehicle arms, only your
parking lamps will flash for verification).
Driver’s Door Alarm Delay and Shock
Sensor Enable
Your vehicle comes with this feature set in Mode 4.
This means that if you open the driver’s door using
your key, the alarm will not
soand for eight seconds.
Also the sho’ck sensor, able
to detect sharp blows to
your vehicle is active. To change the factory setting, do
the following:
1.
2.
3.
Turn the parking lamps on and off.
Count the number of chimes you hear. The number of
chimes tells you which mode your vehicle is set for.
Turn the parking Imps on and off until you’hear the
number
of chimes that correspond to the mode
selection
you want.
Mode 1: Zero Del,ay and Shock Sensor Disabled (The
alarm will sound immediately if the driver’s door is
opened with your key and the shock sensor will not be
available
to measure sharp blows to your vehicle).
Mode 2: Eight Second Delay and Shock Sensor
Disabled (The alarm will sound eight seconds after the
driver’s door is opened with your key and the shock
sensor will not be available to measure sharp blows to
,
your vehicle).
Mode 3: Zero Delay and Shock Sensor Enabled (The
alarm will sound immediately after the driver’s door is
opened
with your key and the shock sensor will be
available to measure sharp blows to your vehicle).
Mode 4: Eight Second Delay and Shock Sensor Enabled
(The alarm will sound eight seconds’ after the driver’s
door is opened with your key and the shock sensor will
be available to measure sharp blows to your vehicle). :
Leaving Programming Mode
When programming is done, turn the ignition switch to
the
OW position and replace the RADIO fuse.
. ,,.
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Daytime Running Lamps (Option)
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others
tu see the front of your vehicle during the day.
DRL can be helpful in many different driving
conditions, but they can be especially helpful in.the
short periods after dawn and before sunset.
A light sensor on top of the instrument panel makes the
DRL work, so be sure it isn’t covered.
The
DRL system will make your front turn signal lamps
come on when:
The ignition is on,
The headlamp switch is OFF, and
The parking brake is released.
When
the DRL are on, only your front turn signal
lamps will be on. The taillamps, sidemarker and other
lamps won’t be on. Your instrument panel won’t be lit
up either.
When it’s dark enough outside, your front turn signal
lamps will
go out and your headlamps will come on.
The other lamps that come on with your headlamps will
also come on.
When it’s bright enough outside, the regular lamps will
go off, and your front turn signal lamps will come on.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
Fog Lamps (Option)
Use your fog lamps for better vision in foggy or misty
conditions. Your parking lamps must be on or your fog
lamps won’t work.
SO To turn the fog lamps on, push the top of the fog
lamp switch,
Push the bottom of the switch to turn the
fog lamps off. A light on the switch will come on when
the fog
lamps are on.
Fog lamps will go off whenever your high beams come
on. When the high beams
go off, the fog lamps will
come
on again.
If your vehicle is equipped with Vehicle and Content
Theft-Deterrent System and your
fog lamp switch is
on,
the fog lamps may flash to indicate operation of
the Vehicle
and Content Theft-Deterrent System.
See “Vehicle and Content Theft-Deterrent System” in
the
Index.
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Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows AIR
BAG. The system checks the
air bag’s electrical system for malfunctions. The light
tells you if there
is an electrical problem. The system
check includes
the air bag sensors, the air bag modules,
the wiring and the crash sensing and diagnostic module.
For more information on the air bag system, sed “Air
Bag” in the Index.
AIR
BAG
You will see this light flash
for a few seconds when you
turn your ignition to
RUN
or START. Then the light
should go out. This means
the system is ready.
If the air bag readiness light doesn’t come on when you
start your vehicle, or stays on, or comes on when you
are driving, your air bag system may not work properly.
Have your vehicle serviced right away.
Voltmeter
I p4
You can read battery
voltage on
your voltmeter.
If it reads less than 11 volts
or more than 16 volts while
your engine
is running,
and it stays there, you may
have
a problem with the
electrical charging system.
Have it checked right away. Driving with the voltmeter
reading in a warning zone could drain your battery.
If you idle your engine for a while, the voltmeter
reading might move into the yellow zone, If the reading
stays in the yellow zone while you are driving, you may
have a problem with the electrical charging system.
Have it checked. While the voltmeter reads in the
yellow
zone, your battery may not be able to power certain
electrical accessories,
like ABS. (If this happens, your
ABS INOP light will come on. See “Anti-Lock Brake
System Warning Light” in this
part.)
If you must drive a short distance with the voltmeter
reading in a warning zone,
turn off all your accessories,
including your comfort control and audio system.
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Low Coolant Light (V8 Engine)
LOW
COOLANT
I
This warning light should
come on while
you are
starting your engine. If the
light doesn’t come on, have
it repaired.
Your Firebird
is equipped with a LOW COOLANT
indicator which is designed to detect when the coolant
level
drops below set limits. If the low coolant level
sensor (on the radiator)
drops while the engine is
running, ‘the LOW COOLANT indicator will light
and remain lit until the ignition switch is turned to
the
OFF position. Check coolant level and add coolant
as needed. The LOW COOLANT light might stay on
after filling the radiator., Turn the ignition switch to the
OFF position, then restart the engine to verify that the
LOW COOLANT light goes out. See “Engine Coolant”
in the Index.
~
NOTICE:
Driving with the LOW COOLANT light on could
cause your Pontiac to overheat. See “Engine
Overheating’’
in the^ Index. Your Pontiac could be
damaged md it wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty.
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NOTICE:
Do not attach winch cables or J-hooks to
suspension components when using car carrier
equipment. Always use T-hooks inserted in the
T-hook slots.
Attach a separate safety chain around outboard end of
each lower control arm.
NOTICE:
Take care not to damage the brake pipes and
hoses
or the ABS sensor and wiring.
NOTICE: 1
Towing a vehicle over rough surfaces could
damage
a vehicle. Damage can occur from
vehicle-to-ground or
vehicle-to-wheel-lift-equipment contact.
To help
avoid damage, install
a towing dolly and raise
vehicle until adequate clearance
is obtained
between the ground and/or wheel-lift equipment.
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