PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1997 Owners Manual

Filling . - - r Tank
L
The cap is behind a hinged door on the left side of
your vehicle.
Gasoline vapor is highly flammable. It burns
violently,
and that can cause very bad injuries.
Don’t smoke
if you’re near gasoline or refueling
your vehicle. Keep sparks, flames and smoking
materials away from gasoline.
6-6

While refueling, hang the cap inside the fuel door.
To take off the cap, turn it slowly to the left
(counterclockwise).
If you get gas0 le on yourself and then
something ignites
it, you could be badly burned.
Gasoline can spray out on you
if you open the
fuel filler cap too quickly. This spray can happen
if your tank is nearly full, and is more likely in
hot weather. Open the fuel filler cap slowly and
wait
for any “hiss” noise to stop. Then unscrew
the cap all the way.
Be careful not to spill gasoline. Clean gasoline from
painted surfaces as soon as possible. See “Cleaning
the Outside of Your Pontiac” in the Index.
6-7

When you put the cap back on, turn it to the right
(clockwise) until you hear a clicking sound. Make
sure you fully install the cap. The diagnostic system
can determine
if the fuel cap has been left off or
improperly installed. This would allow fuel to
evaporate into the atmosphere. See “Malfunction
Indicator
Lamp” in the Index.
1~ NOTICE: I
If you need a new cap, be sure to get the right
type. Your dealer can get one for you. If you get
the wrong type, it may not fit or have proper
venting, and your fuel tank and emissions
system
might be damaged.
Checkinr Things Under the Hood
An electric fan under the hood can start up and
injure
you even when the engine is not running, i
Keep hands, clothing and tools away from any
underhood electric fan.
Things that burn can get on hot
engine parts a:
start
a fire. These include liquids like gasoline,
oil,
coolant, brake fluid, windshield washer and
other fluids, and plastic or rubber.
You or others
could be burned. Be careful not to
drop or spill
things that will burn onto a hot engine.

Hood Release
To open the hood, first pull the handle inside the vehicle.
Then go to the front of the vehicle and pull up on the
hood release.
Lift the hood.
6-9

When you open the hood of the 3800 engine you’ll see:
A, Engine Coolant Reservoir E. Engine Fan I, Brake Fluid Reservoir
B. Battery F. Windshield Washer Reservoir J. Clutch Fluid Reservoir
C. Oil Fill Cap G. Power Steering Reservoir
D. Automatic Transmission H. Engine Oil Dipstick (if
equipped) K. Air Cleaner
Dipstick (if equipped)
6-10

When you open the hood of the 5.7L engine you'll see:
A
ti
A, Engine Coolant Reservoir
B. Power Steering Reservoir
C. Engine Oil Dipstick
D. Battery
E. Engine Oil Fill Cap
F. Fan
G. Windshield Washer Reservoir
H. Automatic Transmission
Dipstick (if equipped)
I. Brake Fluid Reservoir
J. Clutch Fluid Reservoir
K. Air Cleaner
(if
equipped)

Before closing the hood, be sure all the filler caps
are on.
Then just pull the hood down and close it firmly.
Engine Oil
LOW
It’s a good idea to check your engine oil every time you
get fuel. In order to get an accurate reading, the oil must
be warm and the vehicle must be on level ground.
Th,e engine
oil dipstick is the yellow loop near the back
of the engine.
If the LOW OIL light on the instrument panel comes on,
it means you need to check your engine oil level right
away.
For more information, see “Low Oil Light” in the
Index. You should check your engine oil level regularly;
this is an added reminder.
5.7L Engine Oil Dipstick
6- 12

3800 Engine
3800 L36 (Code K) Oil Dipstick
Turn off the engine and give the oil a few minutes to
drain back into the oil pan.
If you don’t, the oil dipstick
might not show
the actual level.
Checking Engine Oil
Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a paper towel or
cloth, then push it back in all the way. Remove it again,
keeping the tip down, and check the level.
5.7L Engine

When to Add Oil
If the oil is at or below the ADD line, then you’ll
need to add some oil. But you must use the right
kind. This part explains what kind
of oil to use, For
crankcase capacity, see “Capacities and Specifications”
in the Index,
NOTICE:
Don’t add too much oil. If your engine has
so much oil that the oil level gets above the
cross-hatched area that shows the proper
operating
range, your engine could be damaged,
b-
Just fill it enough to put the level somewhere in the
proper operating range.
Push the dipstick all the way
back in when you’re through.
What Kind of Oil to Use
Oils recommended for your vehicle can be identified by
looking for the “Starburst” symbol. This symbol
indicates that the oil has been certified by the American
Petroleum Institute
(BPI). Do not use any oil which
does not
carry this Starburst symbol.
If you change your own oil,
c the Starburst symbol on the
you have your oil changed
: for you, be sure the oil put ’ into your engine is
American Pewoleurn
P Institute certified for
L be sure you use oil that has
P front of the oil container. If
I --- gasoline engines.
You should also use the proper viscosity oil for your
vehicle,
as shown in the following chart:
6-14

RECOMMENDED SAE VISCOSITY GRADE ENGINE OILS
FOR BEST FUEL ECONOMY AND COLD STARTING, SELECT THE LOWEST
SAE VISCOSITY GRADE OIL FOR THE EXPECTED TEMPERATURE RANGE.
HOT
WEATHER
/
4

-
“F
-100-
+80-
+60-
+40-
t 20 -
0-
7
“C
+ 38
. +27
. + 16
+4
-7
- 18
LOOK
FOR THIS
SYMBOL
SAE SW-30 PREFERRED
COLD
WEATHER
00 NOT USE SAE 2OW-50 OR ANY OTHER GRADE OIL NOT RECOMMENOEO
5.7L Engine
As shown in the chart, if you have the 5.7L engine,
SAE 5W-30 is best for your vehicle. However, you can
use
SAE 1OW-30 if it’s going to be 0°F (-18°C) or
above. These numbers on an oil container show its
viscosity, or thickness.
Do not use other viscosity oils,
such
as SAE 20W-50.
6-15