PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1997 Repair Manual
Manufacturer: PONTIAC, Model Year: 1997, Model line: FIREBIRD, Model: PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1997Pages: 410, PDF Size: 19.2 MB
Page 61 of 410

NOTICE:
If you put things in the hatchback area, be sure
they won’t break the glass when
you close it.
Never slam the
hatch down. You could break the
glass
or damage the defogger grid (if equipped).
On vehicles with the Vehicle and Content
Theft-Deterrent System: The hatch switch will not work
while the system
is armed. See “Vehicle and Content
Theft-Deterrent System” in the
Index.
Theft
Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities.
Although your Pontiac has
a number of theft-deterrent
features, we know that nothing we put
on it can make it
impossible to steal. However, there are ways you
can help.
Key in the Ignition
If you leave your vehicle with the keys inside, it’s an
easy target for joy riders or professional thieves -- so
don’t do it. When
you park
your Pontia’c and open the driver’s door,
you’ll hear a chime reminding you to remove your key
from the ignition and take it with you. Always do this.
Your steering wheel will be locked, and so will your
ignition.
If you have an automatic transmission, taking
your key out also locks your transmission. And
remember to lock the
doors.
Parking at Night
Park in a lighted spot, close all windows and lock your
vehicle. Remember to keep your valuables
out of sight.
Put them in a storag-e area. or take them with vou.
Par ng ,ots
If you park in a lot where someone will be watching
your vehicle, it’s best to
lock it up and take your keys.
But what if you have
to leave your ignition key? What if
you have to leave something valuable in your vehicle?
Put your valuables in a storage area, like your glove
box.
Lock the glove box.
a Lock all the doors except the driver’s.
Then take the door key and Remote Keyless Entry
keychain with
you.
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If your vehicle has this option, it has a theft-deterrent
alarm system. Once armed, the system will sound the
horn and flash the parking lamps if the vehicle is
broken into.
Shock Sensor
Coupe Convertible
The shock sensor is what triggers the alarm when it
detects a blow to your vehicle. It
is located over the
right rear wheelhouse near the spare
tire in the hatch
area. There are two levels of alarms via the shock
sensor: Two horn blasts and parking lamp flashes for
non-threatening blows to the vehicle and
a full two
minute alarm for harder blows to the vehicle. Its
sensitivity can be adjusted if more or less sensitivity is
desired. (Note: If sensitivity is increased too much,
it
may give false alarms caused by gusts of wind or other
natural events that may shake the vehicle).
To adjust, remove the label covering the adjustment
knob on the sensor and adjust as desired. Turn clockwise
to increase sensitivity and turn counterclockwise to decrease sensitivity. The shock sensor
is ignored by the
alarm system when the ignition is on, when the hatch is
open, when the alarm is disarmed, when it is customized
to be ignored and for five seconds after
the horn sounds
an alarm or chirp. The shock sensor is ignored after
triggering three full alarms until the system is rearmed.
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Page 63 of 410

Arming the System
The alarm system can be
armed to detect break-ins
by locking your vehicle
using the key chain
transmitter or by locking
the
doors with the power door
lock switch.
Passive arming is also available,
if you would like the
system to
am all by itself after the doors have been
closed for a short time. When the system
is armed, a red
light will flash briefly once every two seconds. (Note:
If
you return to your vehicle and the red light is flashing
two
brief flashes every two seconds, the system is armed
and the shock sensor had triggered a two minute alarm.
If the red light is flashing three times every two seconds,
the system
is armed and there was an intrusion that
sounded the alarm).
Horn chirps and parking lamp
flashes can be
set to your choice.
Remote Keyless Entry Transmitter Locking
If all the doors are closed, locking the vehicle with the
transmitter will immediately arm the system. The horn
will chirp twice and the
parking lamps will flash,
confirming that the system
is armed. If any door is open
when the transmitter
LOCK button is pressed, the
system goes into an armed wait mode, waiting for the
doors
to close. Once they are closed, the system will
arm, chirp the horns twice and flash the parking lamps.
If the hatch
is open or ajar at the time the system is
arming, the
horn will only chirp once.
Power Door Lock Switch Locking
If any door is open when the power door lock switch is
pressed, the system goes into an armed wait mode,
waiting for the doors to close. Once they are closed, the
system will arm and flash the parking lamps.
If all of the
doors are closed when the lock switch is pressed, the
system assumes
you are inside the vehicle, so it will not
arm. Note: Locking the doors
by using the manual door
locks will
not arm the system.
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Passive Arming
If the ignition was just turned off and a door was
opened, the system will arm
six seconds after all doors
are closed, whether or not you lock them. In all other
cases, the system will wait 30 seconds after all doors are
closed before arming, allowing you time
to get into the
vehicle and put the key in the ignition. The parking
lamps will flash when the system arms. Passive arming
is not enabled from the factory.
Turning Off the Alarm
Disarming the System
There are two ways to disarm the system:
1. Press the UNLOCK button on the key chain
transmitter. If the horn chirps two or three times
when you unlock the car, the alarm sounded in your
absence. Two chirps means that the shock sensor was
set off and three chirps means that a door or hatch
was opened.
proper key.
2. Turn the ignition to the RUN position with the
For more information on customizing the features
mentioned here, see “Feature Customization” in
the Index.
If you started the alarm by pressing the panic button on
the key chain transmitter, you must either push that
button again or turn the ignition switch to the RUN
position to stop the alarm.
If the alarm is sounding due to the shock sensor or a
door or hatch opening, it can be turned
off by either
turning the ignition switch with a proper key inserted or
by pressing any button on the key chain transmitter. If
you
use your key chain transmitter to silence the alarm,
additional things will happen depending upon which
button you press.
Pressing the UNLOCK button will turn the alarm
off, unlock the driver’s door and disarm the system.
0 Pressing the LOCK button will turn the alarm off,
keep the doors locked and keep the system armed.
Pressing the trunk symbol button twice within five
seconds will turn the alarm off, unlock and disarm
the hatch only.
keep the doors locked and keep the system armed.
Pressing the panic button will turn the alarm off,
If the alarm is sounding because an incorrect ign“’ >n
key was used, press any button on the key chain
transmitter to turn the alarm off.
The alarm will stop by itself after two minutes.
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PASS-Key’ I1
Your vehicle is equipped
with the PASS-Key
11
(Personalized Automotive
Security System)
theft-deterrent system.
PASS-Key
I1 is a passive
theft-deterrent system.
It
works when you insert os
remove the key from
the ignition.
PASS-Key I1 uses a resistor pellet in the ignition key
that matches a decoder
in your vehicle.
When the PASS-Key I1 system senses that someone is
using the wrong key, it shuts down the vehicle’s starter
and fuel systems. For about three minutes, the starter
won’t work and fuel won’t go to the engine. If someone
tries to start your vehicle again
or uses another key
during this time, the vehicle will not start.
This
discourages someone from randomly trying different
keys with different resistor pellets
in an attempt to make
a match.
The ignition key must be clean and dry before it’s
inserted
in the ignitio’n or the engine may not start. If the
engine
does not start and the SECURITY light stays on
when you try to start the vehicle, the key may be dirty or
wet,
Turn the ignition off.
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Clean and dry the key. Wait about three minutes and try
again. The SECURITY light may remain on during this
time. If the starter still won’t work, and the key appears
to be clean and dry, wait about three minutes and try
another ignition key. At this time, you may also want to
check the fuses (see “Fuses and Circuit Breakers” in the
Index). If the starter won’t work with the other key, your
vehicle needs service.
If your vehicle do’es start, the first
ignition key may be faulty. See your Pontiac dealer or a
locksmith who can service the PASS-Key
11.
If you accidentally use a key that has a damaged or
missing resistor pellet, the starter won’t work, and the
SECURITY light will flash. But you don’t have to wait
three minutes before trying another ignition key.
See your Pontiac dealer or
a locksmith who can service
the PASS-Key
I1 to have a new key made.
If you’re ever driving and the SECUFUTY light comes on and
stays on, you will be able to restart your engine if you
turn it
off. Your PASS-Key II system, however, is not working
properly and must be serviced by your Pontiac dealer. Your
vehicle is not protected by the PASS-Key
II system.
If
you lose or damage a PASS-Key I1 ignition key, see
your Pontiac dealer or a locksmith who can service
PASS-Key
I1 to have a new key made. In an emergency,
call the Pontiac Roadside Assistance Program at
1-800-ROADSIm or 1-800-762-3743.
Feature Customization (If Equipped)
Your Pontiac’s locks and lighting systems can be
programmed with several different features. The
features you can program depend upon the options that
came with your vehicle. The following list
tells you the
features that can be programmed. Listed next to each
feature is the option you need to have
on your vehicle in
order to be able to program that particular feature.
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Exit Lighting (available for all)
Delayed Illumination (available for all)
Last Door Closed Locking (if equipped with power
door locks)
Lockout Prevention
(if equipped with power door locks)
Remote Lock Control Verification (if equipped with
Vehicle and Content Theft-Deterrent System)
Theft-Deterrent Arming Method
(if equipped with
Vehicle and Content Theft-Deterrent System)
Theft-Deterrent Arming Verification
(if equipped
with Vehicle and Content Theft-Deterrent System)
Driver’s Door Alarm Delay (if equipped with
Vehicle and Content Theft-Deterrent System)
Shock Sensor Enable (if equipped with Vehicle and
Content Theft-Deterrent System)
Page 67 of 410

To program features, your vehicle must be in the
programming mode. Follow these steps:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Put your key in the ignition.
Turn the ignition to the
RUN pos’ition to disarm the
Vehicle and Content Theft-Deterrent System.
Turn the ignition
to the OFF position.
Remove the RADIO
fuse. This fuse is in the main
fuse block, located on the left side of your
instrument panel. See “Fuses and Circuit Breakers”
in the Index.
Put the ignition in the
ACC position:
You should hear
a chime to verify that the system is
in programming mode.
If the chime sounds once,
you will be able
to program Exit Lighting, Delayed
Illumination, Last Door Closed Locking and Lockout
Prevention only.
If the chime sounds twice and your
vehicle is equipped with the Vehicle and Content
Theft-Deterrent System,
you will also be able to set
Remote
Lock Control Verification, Arming Method,
Arming Verification, Driver’s Door Delay and Shock
Sensor Enable.
Exit Lighting and Delayed Illumination
Exit Lighting: Your interior lights will come on for
up to
25 seconds when the key is removed from the
ignition switch.
Delayed Illumination: Your interior lights will stay
on
for up to 25 seconds when entering your vehicle and up
to five seconds when leaving your vehicle.
Your vehicle comes with both features enabled (Mode
4).
To change the factory setting, do the following:
1. Turn the courtesy lamps on by turning the instrument
panel brightness control knob all the way up.
2. Count the number of chimes you hear. The number of
chimes tells you which mode your vehicle is set for.
3. Turn the courtesy lamp switch to off.
4. Turn the courtesy lamp switch from on to off until
you hear the number of chimes that correspond to the
mode selection
you want.
Mode 1: Both Off
Mode 2: Delayed Illumination Only
Mode 3: Exit Lighting Only
Mode 4: Both On
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Last Door Closed Locking and
Lockout Prevention
Your vehicle comes with this feature set in Mode 2. This
means that your power door locks will not lock when
the keys are in the ignition and a door is open. To
change the factory setting, do the following:
1. Press the LOCK switch on the door.
2. Count the number of chimes you hear. The number of
chimes tells you which mode your vehicle is set for.
3. Press the LOCK switch on the door until you hear
the number
of chimes that correspond to the mode
selection you want.
Mode 1: Both O€€ (Doors will 1ocWunlock when you
press the power door lock switch).
Mode 2: Lockout Prevention Only (If you leave your
keys in the ignition and get out the driver’s door, you
won’t be able
to lock the doors with the power door
lock switch).
Mode 3: Last Door Closed Locking Only (If the power
door lock switch is used to lock the vehicle while any
door is open, you will hear three chimes. The doors will
not lock until after all doors are closed).
Mode 4: Both On (This combines Mode 2 and 3).
Remote Keyless Entry Lock Verification
Your vehicle comes with this feature set in Mode 5. This
means that when you
use the key chain transmitter to
lockhnlock your vehicle, your parking lamps will flash
briefly upon the first push
on LOCK. Your horn will
sound briefly, your parking lamps will flash briefly upon
the second push on LOCK and your parking lamps will
flash briefly upon any push on UNLOCK.
To change the
factory setting, do the following:
1. Press the UNLOCK switch on the Remote Keyless
2. Count the number of chimes you hear. The number
of chimes tells you which mode your vehicle is
set for.
Entry transmitter.
3. Press the UNLOCK switch on the Remote Keyless
Entry transmitter until you hear the number
of
chimes that correspond to the mode selection
you want.
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Mode 1: All Off (The headlamps will not flash and the
horn will not sound
to provide you feedback that a
lock/ud~& command has been received by the Remote
Lock Control transmitter).
Mode 2: Horn and LampdLamps (Your horn will sound
briefly and your parking lamps will flash when you
press
LOCK on the key chain transmitter. Only your
parking lamps will flash when you press
UNLOCK).
Mode 3: Horn and Lamps (Your horn will sound briefly
and your parking lamps will flash every time you push
LOCK and
UNLOCK).
Mode 4: Lamps (Your parking lamps will flash every
time
you push LOCK and UNLOCK),
Mode 5: Lamps/Horn and Lamps/Lamps (Your
lamps will flash
upon the first push on LOCK, your
lamps will flask and
your horn will sound upon the
second push on
LOCK and your lamps will flash upon
any push on
UNLOCK).
Theft-Detlerrent Arming Method
Your vehicle comes with this feature set in Mode 3. This
means that both your key chain transmitter and the
power door lock switch will actively arm the system.
To
change the factory setting, do the following:
1. Press the UNLOCK switch on the door.
2. Count the number of chimes you hear. The number of
chimes tells you which mode your vehicle is set for,
3. Press the UNLOCK switch on the door until you
hear the number
of chimes that correspond to the
mode selection
you want.
Mode I: Alarm System Off (The system will not arm).
Mode 2: Key Chain Transmitter Lock (When you lock
your doors using the Key Chain Transmitter, the system
will arm itself).
Mode 3: Key Chain TransmittedPower Door Lock
Switch
(If you use either the Key Chain Transmitter or
the power door
lock switch to lock the doors, the system
will arm itself).
Mode 4: Passive arming and Remote Lock Control
Transmitter/Power Door Lock Switch Arming
(The
system will arm itself after all doors are closed plus
arming per;mg&
3).
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Theft-Deterrent Arming Verification
Your vehicle comes with this feature set in Mode 3. This
means that if you arm the system using the key chain
transmitter, your parking lamps will flash and your horn
will chirp twice to verify that the system is armed. If it
only chirps once, the hatch is open or unlatched. If you
arm the
system using either the power door lock switch
or by passive arming, only the parking lamps will flash
for verification. To change the factory setting, do
the following:
1. Press the LOCK switch on the key chain transmitter.
2. Count the number of chimes you hear. The number
of chimes tells you which mode your vehicle is
set for.
3. Press the LOCK switch on the key chain transmitter
until you hear the number of chimes that correspond
to the mode selection
you want.
Mode 1: All Off (No horn chirps or parking lamp flash).
Mode 2: Horn and Lamps (Your parking lamps will
flash and your horn will chirp twice to verify the system
is armed using any arming method).
Mode 3: Horn and Lamps/Lamps (If you use the key
chain transmitter to arm the system, your parking lamps
will flash and your horn will chirp twice to verify that
the system is armed. If you use either the power door
lock switch or passive arming, only your lamps will
flash for verification).
Mode 4: Lamps (When your vehicle arms, only your
parking lamps will flash for verification).
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