traction control PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1997 User Guide

If you do not have traction control, or if the system is
off, then an acceleration skid is also best handled by
easing your foot off the accelerator pedal.
If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want the
vehicle to go. If you start steering quickly enough, your
vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready for a
second skid
if it occurs.
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice,
gravel or other material is on the road. For safety, you’ll
want to slow down and adjust your driving to these
conditions. It
is important to slow down on slippery
surfaces because stopping distance will be longer and
vehicle control more limited.
While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try
your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration
or
braking (including engine braking by shifting to a
lower gear). Any sudden changes could cause the tires
to slide.
You may not realize the surface is slippery until
your vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warning
clues
-- such as enough water, ice or packed snow on
the road to make a “mirrored surface” -- and slow down
when you have any doubt.
Remember: Any anti-lock brake system
(ABS) helps
avoid only the braking skid.
Driving at Night
I
.A
Night driving is more dangerous than day driving.
One reason is that some drivers are likely
to be
impaired -- by alcohol or drugs, with night vision
problems, or by fatigue.
4-15

What’s the worst time for this? “Wet ice.” Very cold
snow or ice can be slick and hard to drive on. But wet
ice can be even more trouble because it may offer the
least traction of all. You can get wet ice when it’s about
freezing
(32” F; 0” C) and freezing rain begins to fall.
Try
to avoid driving on wet ice until salt and sand crews
can get there.
Whatever the condition
-- smooth ice, packed, blowing
or loose snow
-- drive with caution,
If you have traction control, keep the system on. It will
improve your ability to accelerate when driving on a
slippery road. Even though your vehicle has a traction
control system, you’ll want to slow down and adjust
your driving to
the road conditions. See “Traction
Control System” in the Index,
If you don’t have the traction control system, accelerate
gently. Try not
to break the fragile traction. If you
accelerate too fast, the drive wheels will spin and polish
the surface under the tires even more. Your
anti-lock brakes improve your vehicle’s stability
when you make a hard stop on
a slippery road. Even
though you have the anti-lock braking system, you’ll
want to begin stopping sooner than you would on dry
pavement. See “Anti-Lock” in the Index.
Allow greater following distance on any
Watch for slippery spots. The road might be fine
until you hit a spot that’s covered with ice. On an
otherwise clear road, ice patches may appear in
shaded areas where the sun can’t reach: around
clumps
of trees, behind buildings or under bridges.
Sometimes the surface of a curve
or an overpass may
remain
icy when the surrounding roads are clear. If
you see a patch of ice ahead of you, brake before you
are on it.
Try not to brake while you’re actually on
the ice, and avoid sudden steering maneuvers.
slippery
road.

Compact Spare Tire
Although the compact spare tire was fully inflated when
your vehicle was new, it can lose air after a time. Check
the inflation pressure regularly. It should be
60 psi
(420 kPa).
After installing the compact spare on your vehicle, YOU
should stop as soon as possible and make sure your
spare tire is correctly inflated. The compact spare is
made to perform well at speeds
up to 65 mph
(105 km/h) for distances up to 3,000 miles (5 000 km),
so you can finish your trip and have your full-size tire
repaired or replaced where you want. (When the
compact spare
is used on the rear axle, see Notice
below.) Of course, it’s best to replace your spare with a
full-size tire as soon as you can. Your spare will last
longer and be in good shape in case you need it again. When the compact
spare is on the rear axle, the optional
traction control system will cycle and limit acceleration
for about the first 15 seconds of driving after each
engine start.
NOTICE:
If the compact spare is used as a rear tire, do not
drive faster than
50 mph (SO km/h). Damage to
the rear axle may occur
if the compact spare is
driven faster than 50 mph
(80 kmh).
5-38

NOTICE:
b
Spinning your wheels can destroy parts of your
vehicle as well
as the tires. If you spin the wheels
too
fast while shifting your transmission back
and forth, you can destroy your transmission.
For information about using tire chains on your vehicle,
see “Tire Chains” in the Index.
Rocking Your Vehicle To Get It Out
First, turn your steering wheel left and right. That will
clear the area around your front wheels.
If your vehicle
has traction control, you should turn the system off. (See
“Traction Control System”
in the Index.) Then shift
back and forth between
REVERSE (R) and a forward
gear
(or with a manual transmission, between FIRST (I)
I or SECOND (2) and REVERSE (R)), spinning the
wheels
as little as possible. Release the accelerator pedal
while you shift, and press lightly on the accelerator
pedal when the transmission is
in gear. If that doesn’t
get you out after
a few tries, you may need to be towed
out. If you do need to be towed out, see “Towing Your
Vehicle’’ in the Index.
5-40

Mixing tires could cause you to lose control while
driving.
If you mix tires of dif€erent sizes or types
(radi,al
and bias-belted tires), the vehicle may not
handle properly, and
you could have a crash.
Using tires of different sizes may also cause
damage to
your vehicle. Be sure to use the same
size and type tires on all wheels.
It's
all right to drive with your compact spare,
though. It was developed for use 0n your vehicle.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
The following information relates to the system
developed by the United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, which grades tires by
treadwear, traction and temperature performance, (This
applies
only to vehicles sold in the United States.) The
grades are molded
on the sidewalls of most passenger car
tires. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading system
does not apply
to deep tread, winter-type snow tires,
space-saver or temporary
use spare tires, tires with
nominal rim diameters
of 10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm),
or to some lirnited-pro'duction tires.
While the tires available
on General Motors passenger
cars and light trucks may vary with respect to these
grades, they must also conform to Federal safety
requirements and additional General Motors Tire
performance Criteria
(TPC) standards.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on
the wear rate
of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions
on a specified government test course. For
example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and a half
(1 1/2) times as well on the gov'esnrnent course as a tire
graded
100. The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions
of their use, however, and
may depart significantly from the norm due to variations
in driving habits, service practices and differences in
road characteristics
and climate.
6-54

Traction -- A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are A, B,
and C, and they represent the tire’s ability to stop on
wet pavement as measured under controlled conditions
on specified government test surfaces
of asphalt and
concrete.
A tire marked C may have poor traction
performance.
Warning: The traction grade assigned to this tire is based
on braking (straightahead) traction tests and does not
include cornering (turning) traction.
Temperature -- A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C,
representing the tire’s resistance to the generation of
heat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested under
controlled conditions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the
material of the tire
to degenerate and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire failure.
The grade
C corresponds to a level of performance
which all passenger car tires must meet under the Federal
Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
No. 109. Grades
B and A represent higher levels of performance on the
laboratory test wheel than the minimum required
by law.
Warning: The temperature grade for this tire
is
established for a tire that is properly inflated and
not overloaded. Excessive speed, underinflation,
or
excessive loading, either separately or in combination,
can cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
The wheels on your vehicle were aligned and balanced
carefully at the factory to give you the longest tire life
and best overall performance.
Scheduled wheel alignment and wheel balancing are
not needed. However, if you notice unusual tire wear or
your vehicle pulling one way or the other, the alignment
may need to be reset. If
you notice your vehicle
vibrating when driving on a smooth road, your wheels
may need to be rebalanced.

Main Fuse Block
The other is in the engine compartment. Open the cover
on either of the boxes to expose the €uses.
Look at the silver-colored band inside the fuse. If the
band is broken or melted, replace the fuse.
Be sure you
replace a bad fuse with a new one of the correct size.
If
you ever have a problem on the road and don’t have a
spare €use, you can “borrow”
one. Just pick some
feature
of your car that you can get along without -- like
the radio or cigarette lighter -- and use its fuse, if it is
the size you need. Replace it as soon as you
can.
FUSE USAGE CHART
In 211 3~ 4~3
511 6~ 7n en
9m 100 1111 12)l
STOP/#AZARD TURN 6-U PCM BATT RADIO ACCY
TAIL LTS
HVAC PWR ACCY COURTESY
GAGES AIR BAG ClGARiACCY DEFOG/SEATS
Q IGN 13n 14)) PGM IGN WlPERiWASH BATT WINDOWS
160 I7 170 IP DIMMER ACCY RADIO
SEE OWNER’S MANUAL FOR MORE INFORMATION PRINTED IN U.S.A 10281550
Fuse Usage
STOP/HAZARB Hazard,Flasher, Brake
Switch Assembly
PCM BATT
RADIO ACCY
TURN B-U Traction ControlJ2nd Gear Start
Switch, Back-up Lamp Switch,
Turn Flasher, Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL) Module
Powertrain Control Module
(PCM), Fuel Pump Relay
Delco Audyssey
Radio Amplifier,
Power Antenna, Remote CD
Player (trunk)
6-70

Fuse
TAIL LTS
HVAC PWR ACCY
COURTESY
GAGES
AIR BAG
CIGARIACCY DEFOG/SEATS
Usage
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
Module, Headlamp Switch
Selector Switch, Rear Defogger
SwitchITimer
Park Lamp Relay, Hatch Release
Relay, Power Mirror Switch,
Radio, Shock Sensor,
Instrument Cluster
Body Control Module (BCM)
Body Control Module (BCM),
Brake Switch Assembly (BTSI),
Instrument Cluster, Daytime
Running Lamps
(DRL) Module
Diagnostic Energy Reserve
Module (DERM), Dual Pole
Arming Sensor
Cigar Lighter, Data Link
Connector (DLC), Auxiliary
Accessory Wire
Rear Defogger Switch/Timer,
Rear Defogger Timer/Relay,
Power Seats
Fuse
PCM IGN
WIPERIWASH WINDOWS
I/P DIMMER
RADIO
Usage
Powertrain Control Module
(PCM), EVAP Canister Purge
Vacuum Switch, EVAP Canister
Purge Valve, Transmission
Wiper Motor Assembly,
Wipermasher Switch
Power Windows Switch
(RH, LH),
Express-Down Module, Coolant Level Latching Module, Convertible
Top Switch
Door Illumination Lamp (RH,
LH), Headlamp Switch,
Fog Lamp
Switch, Instrument Cluster,
HVAC
Control Assembly, PRNDL
Illumination
Lamp, Ashtray
Lamp, Radio, Steering Wheel
Controls-Radio, Rear Window
Defogger Switch/Timer, Traction
Control Switch
(TCS) and 2nd
Gear Start Switch
Body Control Module (BCM),
Radio, Amplifier, Steering
Wheel
Controls-Radio
6-71

Relay
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
J
Usage
Air Conditioning Compressor Anti-Lock Brake SystedTraction Control
System
(TCS)
Cooling Fan 1
AIR Pump
Cooling Fan 2
Not Used
Fog
Lamps
Cooling Fan 3
Replacement Bulbs
Back-up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp . .
Front Parking and Turn Signal . .
Headlamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sidemarker . .
Tail Only . . . . .
Tail/Stop/Turn . . .
. . . . . . . . 1156
e.* . . 921
. . . . . . . . . 3157K
. . . . . . H-6545
, . . . . . . . . . . 194
.., .. . . . . . . . . . 194
.................. . 2057
Capacities and Specifications
Engine
Type
VIN Engine Code
K . . .
VIN Engine Code P .
Fuel Delivery . . . . . . . .
...... V6
. * . , . e. . V8
. . . . . . . . Fuel Injection
Valve Arrangement
. . . . .
Piston Displacement
VIN Engine Code K . . .
VIN Engine Code P . . . . .
Firing Order
VIN Engine Code K . . .
VIN Engine Code P .
.., . . . . In-Head
, . ,231 CID (3800)
, , . 350 CID (5.7L)
, . . 1-6-5-4-3-2
.... 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2
Wheel Nut Torque
. . . . . . . . . . . 100 lb-ft (140 N-m)
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
Type
. . . . . ........................ hook
Length
. . . ..... . 24 inches (610 mm)

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