service PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1997 Owners Manual

Canadian Roadside Assistance
Vehicles purchased in Canada have an extensive
Roadside Assistance program accessible from anywhere
in Canada or the United States. Please refer
to the
separate brochure provided by the dealer or
'call
1-800-268-6800 for emergency services.
Pontiac Courtesy Transportation
Pontiac strives to give you a worry free ownership of
your vehicle, and we realize the inconvenience of being
without a car.
So Pontiac has come up with a way to
eliminate any frustrations you might have
when trying
to get a ride to work, o'r wondering how you will get
home. Well, your worries
are over. Pontiac provides
no-cost transportation when you bring your
1997 Pontiac in for warranty service.
It appli'es to any repair covered under the
3 year/36,000 mile (60 000 km) limited warranty, and to
any
1997 Bontiac requiring repair as a result of product
recall or special policy situations. For same day service,
you are entitled
to one-way shuttle service of up to
10 miles (16 km). If the vehicle requires multiple day
repairs, you're entitled to either a Pontiac loaner or
reimbursement for a rental car, up to $30/day, for up
to five days.
Some state insurance regulations make it impractical
to
rent vehicles to people under 21 years of age. If you are
under 21 and have difficulty renting a vehicle, Pontiac
will reimburse you,
up to $30/day, for any documented
transportation
you receive.
In Canada, please consult your GM dealer for
information on Courtesy Transportation.
8-8

REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS TO THE CANADIAN
GOVERNMENT
If you live in Canada, and you believe that your vehicle
has a safety defect, you should immediately notify
Transport Canada, in addition to notifying General
Motors of Canada Limited. You may write to:
Transport Canada
Box 8880
Ottawa, Ontario K1G 352
REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTIS
TO
GENERAL MOTORS
In addition to notifying NHTSA (or Transport Canada)
in
a situation like this, we certainly hope you’ll notify
us. Please call
us at 1-800-PM-CARES or write:
Pontiac Division Customer Assistance Center
One Pontiac Plaza
Pontiac, MI 48340-2952 In Canada, please call
us at 1-800-263-3777 (English)
or 1-800-263-7854 (French). Or, write:
General
Motors of Canada Limited
Customer Communication Centre,
163-005
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario
L1H 8P7
Ordering Service and Owner
Publications in Canada
Service manuals, service bulletins, owner’s manuals and
other service literature
are available for purchase for all
current and past model General Motors vehicles.
The toll-free telephone number for ordering information
in Canada is 1-800-668-5539.

1997 PONTIAC SERVICE PUBLICATIONS ORDERING INFORMATION
The following publications covering the operation and servicing of your vehicle can be purchased by filling out
the Sewice Publication Order Form in this book and mailing it in with your check, money order,
or credit card information to Helm, /ncorporated (address below.)
CURRENT PUBLICATIONS FOR 1997 PONTIAC
SERVICE MANUALS
Service Manuals have the diagnosis and repair information
on engines, transmission, axle, suspension, brakes,
electrical, steering,
body, etc.
RETAIL
SELL PRICE: $90.00
TRANSMISSION, TRANSAXLE, TRANSFER CASE UNIT
REPAIR MANUAL
This manual provides information on unit repair service
procedures, adjustments and specifications for €he
1997 GM transmissions, transaxles and transfe:r cases.
RETAIL SELL PRICE: $40.00
SERVICE BULLETINS
Service Bulletins give technical service information needed
to knowledgeably service General Motors cars and trucks.
Each bulletin contains instructions
to assist in the
diagnosis and service
of your vehicle.
OWNER’S INFORMATION
Owner publications are written directly for Owners and
intended
to provide basic operational information about the
vehicle. The owner’s manual will include the Maintenance
Schedule for
all models,
In-Portfolio: Includes
a Portfolio, Owner’s Manual and
Warranty Booklet. RETAIL SELL
PRICE: $1 5.00
Without Portfolio: Owner’s Manual only.
RETAIL SELL PRICE: $1 0.00
CURRENT & PAST MODEL ORDER FORMS
Sewice Publications are available for current and past
rno’del
GM vehicles. To request an order form, please
specify year and
model name of the vehicle.

ORDER TOLL FREE (NOTE: For Credit Card Holders Only)
(Monday-Friday
8:OO AM - 6:OO PM EST)
FAX Orders Only 1-31 3-865-5927
1 -800-782-4356
Orders will be mailed within 10 days of receipt. Please allow ade uate time for postal
service. If further information is needed, write to the address s 7l own below or call
1-800-782-4356. Material cannot be returned for credit without packing slip with return
information within 30 days of delivery. On returns, a re-stocking fee may
be applied
against the orlglnal order.

Brake
Adjustment .................................. 6-39
Master Cylinder .............................. 6-36
Replacing System Parts
........................ 6-40
System Warning Light
......................... 2-79
Transmission Shift Interlock
.................... 2-40
Brakes, Anti-Lock
............................... 4-7
Braking
........................................ 4-6
Braking in Emergencies.
.......................... 4- 10
Break-In, New Vehicle .......................... 2-23
Brightness Control
.............................. 2-54
BTSI ......................................... 2-40
Bulb Replacement
.............................. 6-4 1
Fluid ....................................... 6-36
Parking
..................................... 2-37
PedalTravel
................................. 6-39
Trailer
...................................... 4-35
Wear
....................................... 6-38
BTSICheck
................................... 7-46
CalipedKnuckle Maintenance Inspections .......... 7-49
Canadian Roadside Assistance
...................... 8-8
Capacities and Specifications ...................... 6-73
Carbon Monoxide
.......... 2- 10.2-41.2-42.4-29. 4-35
Cassette Deck Service
........................... 7-44
Cassette Tape Player ............ ......... 3-7. 3-10
Errors .................................. 3-8. 3-12
CD Player Theft-Deterrent Feature ................. 3 - 19
Certification Label .............................. 4-30
Care
....................................... 3-23
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp Bulb Replacement
.... 6-44
Chains. Safety ................................. 4-35
Chains. Tire ................................... 6-57
Changing
a Flat Tire ............................. 5-26
Check Gauges Light
............................. 2-89
Checking Your Restraint Systems
.................. 1-41
Chemical Paint Spotting .......................... 6-66
Child Restraints'
................................ 1-32
Securing in a Rear Seat Position
................. 1-34
Securing
in the Right Front Seat Position .......... 1-36
Cigarette Lighter ............................... 2-59
Circuit Breakers and Fuses
....................... 6-69
Aluminum Wheels
............................ 4-64
Convertible Top .............................. 6-64
Glass
....................................... 6-61
Inside of Your Pontiac
......................... 6-58
Instrument Panel ............................. 6-61
Outside of Your Pontiac ........................ 6-63
Removable
Roof Panel ......................... 6-62
Special Problems ............................. 6'-59
Vinyl
....................................... 6-60
Windshield and Wiper Blades ................... 6-62
Climate Control System ........................... 3-2
Clock. Setting the ................................ 3-6
TopStrap ................................... l-33
WheretoPut ................................ 1-32
Cleaner. Air
................................... 6-18
Cleaning Fabric
...................................... 6-59
Leather ..................................... 6-60
Stains
...................................... 6-59
Tires ....................................... 6-65
Wheels ..................................... 6-64
9-2

Instrument Panel ............................... 2-74
Brightness Control
............................ 2-54
Cleaning
.................................... 6-61
Cluster ..................................... 2-76
Interior
Lamps ................................. 2-54
Jack. Tire
.................................... 5-29
JumpStarting
................................... 5-3
Key Lock Cylinders Service ..................... 7-45
Key Rele'ase Button ............................. 2-'24
Keys .......................................... 2-2
Labels
Certification
................................. 4-30
Service Parts Identification ..................... 6-68
Tire-Loading Information
...................... 4-30
Vehicle Identification Number ................... 6-68
Lamps ........................................ 2-51
Courtesy .................................... 2-54
Interior
..................................... 2-54
OnReminder
................................ 2-51
Last Door Closed Locking Feature ............. 2-52- 19
Last Door Closed LockingLockout Prevention ....... 2- 19
Latches, Front Seatback ........................... 1-6
Leaving Your Vehicle ............................. 2-5
Leaving Your Vehicle with the Engine Running ....... 2-39
Lighter ....................................... 2-59
Lights
Air Bag Readiness ....................... 1-22. 2.78
Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning ............ 2.80. 4.7
Brake System Warning ......................... 2-79
Low Coolant ................................. 2-83
Low Traction ............................ 2-82. 4-9
Safety Belt Reminder
...................... 1-8. 2-78
Service Engine Soon .......................... 2-84
Traction Control System Warning
............ 2-8 1. 4-9
Limited-Slip Differential. Rear Axle ................ 6-29
Loading Your Vehicle
........................... 4-30
Lockout Prevention ......................... 2-5, 2-19
CheckGauges
............................... 2-89
LowOil .................................... 2-88
Locks ......................................... 2-4
CyIinders
................................... 7-45
Door ........................................ 2-4
Key Lock Cylinder Service ..................... 7-45
Power Door .................................. 2-5
Steering Column Lock Check ................... 7-47
Low Coolant Light .............................. 2-83
Low Oil Light ................................. 2-88
Low Traction Light ......................... 2-82. 4-9
Lubricants and Fluids ............................ 7-50
Lubrication Service. Body ........................ 7-45
Lumbar Controls ................................ 1-4
Main Fuse Block .............................. 6-70
Maintenance. Normal Replacem'ent Parts ............ 6-75
Maintenance
Record ............................ 7-52
............ 94

Maintenance Schedule ............................ 7- 1
Long TripMighway Definition ................... 7-6
Long Trip/Highway Intervals
..................... 7-6
Owner Checks and Services
..................... 7-44
Periodic Maintenance Inspections
................ 7-48
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants ............. 7-50
Scheduled Maintenance Services
.................. 7-4
Short Trip/City Definition ....................... 7-5
Short Trip/City Intervals ........................ 7-5
Maintenance. Underbody
......................... 6-66
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
................. 4-38
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
...................... 2-84
Manual Front Seat
............................... 1-2
Manual Mirror
................................. 2-56
Manual Transmission
Check
...................................... 7-45
Fluid
....................................... 6-27
Shifting ..................................... 2-32
Starting Your Engine .......................... 2-26
Map Pocket ................................... 2-58
Methanol
...................................... 6-5
Mirrors ....................................... 2-56
Convex Outside
.............................. 2-57
Inside Day/Night Rearview ..................... 2-56
Manual
..................................... 2-56
Manual Remote Control ........................ 2-56
Power Remote Control
......................... 2-57
Visor Vanity
................................. 2-60
MountainRoads
................................ 4-23
Multifunction Lever ............................. 2-44
Neutral. Automatic Transmission ................. 2-29
Neutral. Manual Transmission
................ 2.32. 2.34
New Vehicle “Break-In”
......................... 2-23
Night Vision
................................... 4-16
Odometer
.................................... 2-77
Odometer. Trip
................................. 2-77
Off-Road Recovery
............................. 4-12
Oil. Engine
.................................... 6-12
Overdrive, Automatic Transmission
................ 2-30
Overheating Engine
............................. 5-14
Owner Checks and Services
....................... 7-44
Owner Publications, Ordering
................... 8-12
Paint Spotting. Chemical
....... ............ 6-66
Park
Automatic Transmission ....................... 2-28
Shifting Into ................................. 2-38
Shifting
Out of ............................... 2-40
AtNight
.................................... 2-12
Brake
...................................... 2-37
Brake Mechanism
Check ....................... 7-47
Lots
....................................... 2-12
Over Things That Burn
........................ 2-41
With a Trailer
................................ 4-38
Parking Your Vehicle, Manual Transmission
.......... 2-40
Passenger Position
......................... 1-21, 1-27
Parking
9-7

Passing .................................. 4-13
PASS-Key
I1 ................................. 2-16 ' -49' *
Periodic Maintenance Inspections .................. 7-48
Pontiac Cares Information ......................... 8-2
Antenna Mast Care ............................ 3-24
Option Fuses ................................ 6-69
Remote Control Mirror
........................ 2-57
Retain'ed Accessory ........................... 2-55
Steering Fluid ................................ 6-33
Pregnancy. Use of Safety Belts .................... 1-20
Problems on the Road ............................ 5-1
Publications, Service and Owner ................... 8- 12
Power
DoorLocks ................................... 2-5
Seat ..................,...........,.......... l-3
Steering .................................... 4-10
Windows
................................... 2-43
Radiator
................................ 5.19. 5.22
Radiator Pressure
Cap ........................... 6-33
Radio Reception
................................ 3-22
Radios .............................. 3-7.3-10. 3-14
Rain. Driving In ................................ 4-17
UP ......................................... 2-55
ReadingLamps ................................ 2-55
Rear
Axle ....................................... 6-29
Lamp Bulb Replacement ....................... 6-45
Sidemarker Bulb Replacement ................... 6-46
Storage ..................................... 2-58
Seatpassengers ..,.........,,,...........,... l-27
Towing ..................................... 5-12
Window Defogger
............................. 3-5
Reclining Front Seatbacks ......................... 1-4
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants ............... 7-50
Recovery
Tank, Coolant .......................... 5-17
Refrigerants, Air Conditioning
.................... 6-74
Hatch Release
................................ 2-11
Keyless
Entry ................................. 2-6
Rearview Mirror, Inside Daymight
2-56 .................
Remote
Keyless Lock Control Verification
......... . . 2-19
Replacement
Bulbs
...................................... 6-73
Parts ....................................... 6-75
Wheel ...................................... 6-56
Replacing Safety Belts
........................... 1-41
Reporting Sa€ety Defects ......................... 8-10
Restraints
Checking
................................... 1-41
Child
......,....,...........,+.............. l-32
Head ........................................ 1-6
Replacing Pats After a Crash ................... 1-41
SystemCheck
................................ 7-44
Retained Accessory Power ........................ 2-55
Reverse, Automatic Transmission .................. 2-29
Reverse, Manual Transmission ............... 2-33. 2-34
Right Front Passenger Position .................... 1-21
Roadside Assistance .............................. 8-6
Roadside Assistance, Canadian ..................... 8-8
Rocking Your Vehicle ........................... 5-40
Roof Panels, Twin Lift-off ....................... 2-61
Rotation, Tires ................................. 6-51
9-8 .

Safety Belt Extender ....... , ..... . . 1-41
Safety Belts
.................................... 1-7
Adults
...................................... 1-13
Care
....................................... 6-61
Children
.................................... 1-30
Driver Position
............................... 1 . 13
Extender
.................................... 1-41
How to Wear Properly ......................... 1 . 13
Incorrect Usage
.................... 1.16. 1.39. 1-40
Lap-Shoulder
........................... 1 . 13. 1-27
Larger Children
.............................. 1-38
Questions and Answers
........................ 1 . 12
Rear Seat Positions
............................ 1-27
Reminder Light
.......................... 1.8. 2.78
Replacing After a Crash
........................ 1-41
Right Front Passenger Position .................. 1-21
Smaller Children and Babies
.................... 1-30
Use During Pregnancy .... ................ 1-20
Why They Work .... ........................ 1-9
Safety Chains .................................. 4-35
Safety Defects. Reporting
........................ 8-10
Safety Warnings and Symbols ....................... 111
Scheduled Maintenance Services .................... 7-4
Seatback Folding Rear
.................................. 1-7
Front Latches
................................. 1-6
Reclining Front
............................... 1-4
...
Seats
Four-Way Manual
................... ....... 1-3
Fully Articulating Sport .......... .. ..... , 1-4
Lumbar Control ............................... 1-4
Manual Front
................................. 1-2 Power
....................................... 1-3
Restraint
Systems .............................. 1-1
Seat Controls
................................. 1-2
Securing a Child Restraint
...................... 1-34
Second Gear. Automatic Transmission .............. 2-30
Second Gear. Manual Transmission
............ 2-32. 2-34
Second-Gear Start
.............................. 2-31
Service
........................................ 6-2
Bulletins. Ordering
............................ 8-12
Engine
Soon Light ............................ 2-84
Manuals. Ordering
............................ 8-12
Parts Identification Label ....................... 6-68
Publications. Ordering
......................... 8-12
Work. Doing Your Own
......................... 6-2
Service and Appearance Care
...................... 6-1
Service and Owner Publications ................... 8-12
Service Publications
............................. 8-12
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Pontiac ........... 1-26
Sheet Metal Damage ............................ 6-65
ShiftLever .................................... 2-28
Shiftspeeds
................................... 2-36
Shifting
Automatic Transmission
....................... 2-28
Into
Park (P) ................................. 2-38
Outofpark
.................................. 2-40
Shifting. Manual Transmission
............... 2-32. 2-33
Signaling Turns
................................ 2-45
Sixth Gear. Manual Transmission
.................. 2-34
Skidding
...................................... 4-14
Skip Shift Light ................................ 2-35
Sound Equipment. Adding ........................ 3-22
Spare Tire. Compact ............................. 5-38

Treadwear ............................... 6-54
Uniform Quality Grading
....................... 6-54
Wear Indicators
.............................. 6-53
Wheel Replacement
........................... 6-56
When It’s Time for New
....................... 6-53
Torque Lock
................................... 2-40
Torque. Wheel Nut ......................... 5-36. 6-73
TowingaTrajler
................................ 4-32
Towing Your Vehicle
............................. 5-8
Traction
Control
Off Button ................... .... 4-10
Control System
................................ 4-8
Control System Warning Light
.............. 2-81. 4-9
Brakes
..................................... 4-35
Driving on Grades
............................ 4-37
Drivingwith
................................. 4-36
Hitches ..................................... 4-35
Maintenance When Towing ..................... 4-38
ParkingonHills
.............................. 4-38
Safety Chains ................................ 4-35
Tongueweight
............................... 4-34
Towing
..................................... 4-32
Turnsignals
................................. 4-37
TopStrap
..................................... 1-33
Trailer Total Weight on Tires
........ .............. 4-35
Weight
..................................... 4-33
Transmission Fluid
Automatic
................................... 6-22
..................... 6-27
Transmitters. Matching ........................... 2-8
Transmitters. Range
.............................. 2-7
Transmitters. Remote Keyless Entry
................. 2-6
Transmitters. Synchronization ...................... 2-8
Transportation. Courtesy .......................... 8-8
Trip Odometer ................................. 2-77
T-Top Sunshades
............................... 2-66
TTY Users
..................................... 8-5
Turn Signal and Lane Change Signals ............... 2-45
Turn SignalNultifunction Lever
................... 2-44
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer ................ 4-37
Twin Lift-off Roof Panels
........................ 2-61
Underbody Flushing Service
..................... 7-47
Underbody Maintenance
......................... 6-66
Underhood Electrical Center
...................... 6-72
Vehicle Control
............................ ... 4-5
Damage Warnings .............................. iv
Dimensions
................................. 6-75
Identification Number
......................... 6-68
Loading
.................................... 4-30
Storage
..................................... 6-40
Ventilation System
............................... 3-5
Visor Vanity Mirrors
............................ 2-60
Visors, Sun .................................... 2-60
Voltmeter
.............................. 2-79