lock PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1997 Service Manual

Headlamp Doors
The headlamp doors are designed to open when you turn
the headlamps on and close when you turn the
headlamps off. The headlamp doors can be opened
without turning
on the headlamps by turning the
headlamps on, then turning the switch back
to the
parking lamps position. The headlamp doors should
be open when
driving in
icy or snowy conditions to prevent the doors from
freezing closed and when washing the vehicle to help
clean the headlamps.
You can open the headlamp doors manually:
1. Open the hood.
2. Remove the plastic cover from the retractor
motor knob.
3. Turn the retractor motor knob counterclockwise until
the headlamp door
is fully open. The knob will get
harder
to turn when the headlamp door is all the
way up.
motor
knob.
4. Replace the plastic cover on the retractor
To manually close the headlamp doors, turn the lamps
o€€ and turn the knob clockwise. If the headlamp doors
aren’t working properly, see your Pontiac dealer
for help.
2-52

Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Brightness Control
This switch controls the brightness of your
instrument panel lights. Turn the switch upward
to
brighten or dim the lights, If you turn the switch all the
way up, your courtesy lamps will come on.
Courtesy Lamps
When any door is opened, several interior lamps go on.
These lamps are courtesy lamps. They make
it easier for
you
to enter and leave your vehicle.
Courtesy lamps include the dome lamp and other lamps
throughout the interior
of your vehicle.
To prevent battery rundown, your interior lamps will be
disabled about
10 minutes after the ignition is turned to
OFF. The 10 minute timer will be restarted if you do any
of the following;
1, Turn the ignition on.
2. Open either door.
3. Press any button on your Remote. Lock
Control transmitter.
4. Turn the int’erior lamp switch from off to on.
5. Open the hatch.
Delayed Illumination
With delayed illumination, the courtesy lamps will stay
on for
25 seconds after you close the doors when
entering the vehicle. They will stay
on for five seconds
after you close the doors when exiting the vehicle. The
times will
be shortened if the ignition is turned to the
RUN position or if the power locks are activated. To
turn this feature on or off, see “Feature Customizatian”
in the Index.
Exit Lighting
With exit lighting, the interior lamps will come on when
you remove the key from the ignition
to help you see
while exiting the vehicle.
To turn this feature on or off,
see “Feature Customization” in the Index,
2-54

Front Map Lamps
Your inside rearview mirror includes two map lamps.
Each lamp has its own switch. Use the switch closest to
the lamp to turn it on. The lamps will also
go on when a
door
is opened.
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
Your vehicle is equipped with a Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) feature which will allow certain features
of your vehicle to continue to work up to
10 minutes
after the ignition key is turned to
OFF.
Your convertible top, power windows, and audio system
will work when the ignition key is in the
RUN or ACC
positions. Once the key is turned from RUN to OFF,
these features will continue to work for up to 10 minutes
or until either door is opened.
Your power door unlock and remote hatch release
features will work when the ignition key is in the RUN
or
ACC positions or if either door is open. Once the key
is turned to OFF, these features will continue to work €or
up to 10 minutes. If either door is open and the ignition
key
is OFF, these features will continue to work until
both doors have been closed for about
30 seconds or
until the theft-deterrent system arms. At that time, both
the power door unlock and remote hatch release features
will be disabled to enhance the security
of the vehicle.
The power door lock function will work at all times
except during Lockout Prevention (if this feature is
enabled). See “Lockout Prevention’’ in
the Index.
2-55

Storage Compartments
Glove Box
To open the glove box, lift up on the lev'er. Use your
door key to lock and unlock it, The glove b'ox has a
lamp inside.
Front Console
To use the storage are'a, push the tab and pull up
on the front end of the console. There is a cupholder
on the console,
The console will also have
a storage area.
Cassette and Compact Disc Storage
If you have a compact disc player, the console can be
used for storing your compact discs.
Map Pocket (If Equipped)
Each door has a map pocket. There may also be a map
pocket on the back of the seats.
Close-Out Panel
The close-out panel can be closed for hidden storage in
the rear area of your vehicle.
To remove the 'close-out panel
1. Close the panel. If the close-out panel is not closed
and resting
on the trim panel, it cannot be removed.
2. Pull the panel toward you to unsnap it. Then slide the
close-out panel along the groove
in the trim panel.
Reverse the steps
to install the panel.
2-58

Sun Visors
I NOTICE:
Don? hold a cigarette lighter in with your hand
while it is heating.
If you do, it won9t be able to
back away
from the heating element when it’s
ready. That can make it overheat, damaging the
lighter and the heating element.
If you plug accessories into your cigarette lighter, such
as heating devices or air ~ompressors, these accessories
should have a rated current of less than 15 amps.
Exceeding this limit will result in a blown fuse.


To block out glare, YOU can swing down the visors. You
can also swing them to the side. The elastic bands on
your visor provide extra storage for maps or papers.
Covered Visor Vanity Mirror
Full down the sun visor and lift the cover to expose the
vanity mirror.
2-60

The door key unlocks the panels. The lock is over the
front
door window. Turn the key to the left to unlock
the panel. Then
push on
the release handle to unlatch the panel. Lift
the outer edge
of the panel and pull it toward you. Then
carry the panel
to the rear of the vehicle for storage.
2-62

Push the handle closed to secure the panel in the slot. To
lock e'ach panel in the storage area, use your door key.
An improperly ins'talled panel may fall into or fly
off the vehicle. You or others could be injured.
After installing a T-top panel, always check that
it is firmly attached by pushing up on the
underside
of the panel.
NOTICE:
~
the roof panel joints. This will cause leaks.
enter
your vehicle. Never spray water directly
at ~
High pressure car washes may cause water to
2-64

Reverse the steps to remove the T-top panels
from storage.
1. When installing the panels to the roof, keep the
outboard edge
of the panel raised about 3 inches
above the roof while placing the inboard edge
of
the panel under the center roof rail.
2. After the inboard edge of the panel is in position
under the center roof rail, lower the outboard edge
of the panel into position, close the latch and lock
the T-top.
t
NOTICE:
Do not attempt to install the panels by sliding
them horizontally towards the center roof rail.
Doing
so may cause the weatherstrips to be
aligned improperly,
which may result in leaks
and possible damage
to the weatherstrips.

5. Pull the sunshade back a little and remove the
backing paper from the Velcro
buttons. Push the
sunshade back into place, sticking the Velcro to
the glass.
6. Install the T-top, close the latch and lock the T-top.
Repeat the above steps for the passenger-side sunshade. You
can store the sunshades two different ways:
When the T-tops are in use, store the sunshades in their
storage area in the rear
of the vehicle, and make sure
the close-out panel is in its closed, upright position.
When you have the T-tops off and in their storage
slots, store the sunshades on
the T-tops, in their
installed positions.
2-67

~~~~ Manual
Transmission
I NOTICE:
Before lowering the convertible top into the
storage area, be sure there are no objects in the
way of the folded, stored top. The weight of a
stored top
on items in the storage area will cause
the convertible top back glass
to break.
2. Unlock the front of the convertible top by pushing on
the smaller
part of the latch, then pulling down on the
larger
part of the latch. Be sure the hook on the latch
that attaches into the hole at the windshield releases.
Automatic
Transmission
3. Be sure no one or nothing is on or around the top.
Push and hold the bottom of the convertible top
switch. The switch is on the left side of your console
for a manual transmission and in front
of the gear
shift lever for automatic transmissions. The
top will
automatically lower into the storage area.