service schedule PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1996 Owners Manual

v The 1996’Pontiac Firebird Owner’s Manual
Seats and Restraint Systems ............................................................. 1-1
This section tells you how to use your seats and safety belts properly. It also explains the “SRS” system.
This section explains how to start and operate your Pontiac.
This section tells you how to adjust the ventilation and comfort controls and how to operate your
audio system.
FeaturesandControls .................................................................. 2-1
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems ..................................................... 3-1
.... Your Driving and the Road .............................................................. 4-1
..... Here you’ll find helpful information and tips about the road and how to drive under different conditions.
ProblemsontheRoad .................................................................. 5-1
This section tells you what to do if you have a problem while driving, such as a flat tire or
overheated engine, etc.
Here the manual tells you how to keep your Pontiac running properly and looking good.
.
This section tells you when to perform vehicle maintenance and what fluids and lubricants to use.
This section tells you how to contact Pontiac for assistance and h’ow to get service and owner publications.
It also gives you information on “Reporting Safety Defects” on page 8-9.
Here’s an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual. You can use it to quickly find
something you want to read.
Service and Appearance Care .............................................................. 6-1
Maintenanceschedule ................................................................... 7-1
Customer Assistance Information ........................................................ 8-1
Index ........................................................................\
........ 9-1
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.. ' When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a €Till
' ' 1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while
you:
Start your engine;
Shift into a gear; and
0 Release the parking brake.
2. Let .up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you're
pul1ing.a trailer. See
the Maintenance Schedule for more
on this. Things that are especially important in trailer
operation
are automatic: transmission fluid (don't
overfill), engine oil, axle lubricant, belts,
cooling system
and brake adjustment. Each
of these is covered in this
manual, and the Index will heip you find them quickly.
If you're trailering, it's a good idea to review these
sections befcn-e
you start yam trip.
Check;periodically
to see that all hitch nuts and bolts .
are tight.
.. 1
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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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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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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.
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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.
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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:
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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.
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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.
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