PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1998 Owners Manual

Bulb Replacement
For the proper type of replacement bulb, see
“Replacement Bulbs” in the Index.
Halogen Bulbs
1 A CAUTION:
Halogen bulbs have pressurized gas inside and
can burst
if you drop or scratch the bulb. You or
others could be injured. Be sure to read and
follow the instructions on the bulb package.
Headlamps
To replace a headlamp:
1. Open the headlamp door by turning the headlamps
on, then turning the switch back to the parking lamps
position. See “Headlamp Doors” in the Index.
2. Remove the bezel using a Phillips screwdriver on the
three main screws.
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3. Remove the headlamp plate that holds the bulb to the
housing, by removing the two screws on top
of the
bulb with a torx screwdriver.
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4. Pull out the bulb and disconnect the electrical connector.
5. Reverse the steps with a new bulb.
Front limn Signal
1. Using a screwdriver, remove the screws from the
access panel under the vehicle. Move the access
panel out
of the way.
2. Turn the bulb and socket counterclockwise and
gently pull out.
3. Pull out the bulb.
4. Reverse the steps with a new bulb.
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Center High-Mounted Stoplamp
To replace the bulb:
1. Remove the two screws in the stoplamp lens.
2. Gently pull the assembly out, turn the bulb
counterclockwise
and remove from the back of
the assembly.
3. Reverse the steps with a new bulb.
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Rear Lamps
To change any rear bulb, you have to remove the
entire
housing.
1. Remove the trim panel from the side that you are
replacing the bulb.
2. Pull the carpet back.
3. Remove the wing nuts.
L,,,
1
4.
5.
6.
7.
Pull off the assembly from the outside.
To remove a socket with a tab, press the tab and turn
the socket to the left.
To remove a socket without a
tab, turn the socket to the left.
To remove the bulb, pull the bulb from the socket.
Reverse the steps with
a new bulb.
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Rear Sidemarker
To replace a rear sidemarker bulb:
1. Remove the screw from the sidemarker assembly.
2. To pull out the bulb housing, tilt the housing to
remove the end with the tab.
3. Turn the bulb and socket counterclockwise and
4. Reverse the steps with a new bulb.
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
Replacement blades come in different types and are
removed in different ways.
To remove the wiper blade assembly:
gently pull out.
1. Lift the wiper ann until it
locks into an upright position.
2. Press the locking clip in while sliding the blade
assembly down.
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Wiper Blade Element Replacement
II
To replace the wiper blade element, refer to the wiper
blade assembly replacement instructions.
To replace the
element, follow these steps:
1. Locate the heel end of the wiper blade assembly that
has the two notches held by the wiper blade claw.
2. Hold the wiper blade assembly with one hand and
pull the element gently with the other hand.
(Replacement blade elements have three plastic caps
which retain two metal strips.
Do not remove these
caps before the element is installed.)
3. At the heel end of the blade assembly, notched end
of blade element last, slide the blade element into the
blade claw sets. The plastic retainer caps will be
forced
off as the element is fully inserted. Make sure
that all the claw sets
are properly engaged in the
slots
of the blade element.
4. Install the wiper blade assembly on the wiper arm.
For information on windshield wiper blade replacement
type and length, see “Capacities and Specifications” in
the Index.
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Tires
Your new vehicle comes with high-quality tires made by
a leading tire manufacturer. If you ever have questions
about
your tire wmanty and where to obtain service, see
your Pontiac Warranty booklet for details.
I A CAUTION:
Poorly maintained and improperly used tires
are dangerous.
Overloading your tires can cause
overheating as a result
of too much friction.
You could have an air-out
and a serious
accident. See “Loading
Your Vehicle” in
the Index.
Underinflated tires pose the same danger
as overloaded tires. The resulting accident
could cause serious injury. Check all tires
frequently to maintain the recommended
pressure. Tire pressure should be checked
when your tires are cold.
CAUTION: (Continued) CAUTION:
(Continued)
I
Overinflated tires are mo
cut, punctured or broken by a sudden
impact
-- such as when you hit a pothole.
Keep tires at the recommended pressure.
Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If your
tread is badly worn, or
if your tires have
been damaged, replace them.
See “Inflation
-- Tire Pressure” in this section
for inflation pressure adjustment for higher
speed driving.
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Inflation -- Tire Pressure
The Tire-Loading Information label, which is on the
driver’s door, shows the correct inflation pressures
for
your tires when they’re cold. “Cold” means your vehicle\
has been sitting for at least three hours
or driven no
more than
I mile (1.6 km).
If you’ll be driving at high speeds (e.g., speeds of
100 mph (160 km/h or higher), where it is legal, set
the cold inflation pressure to the maximum inflation
pressure shown on the tire sidewall, or to
38 psi
(265 Wa), whichever is lower. See the example below.
When you end this high-speed driving, return to the cold inflation pressures shown on the Tire-Loading
Information label.
Example: You’ll find maximum load and inflation pressure
molded on the tire’s sidewall, in small letters, near the
rim flange. It will read something like this: Maximum
load
690 kg (1521 lbs.) 0 300 kPa (44 psi) Max. Press.
For this example, you would set the inflation pressure
for high-speed driving at
38 psi (265 Wa).
NOTICE:
Don’t let anyone tell you that underinflation or
overinflation is all right.
It’s not. If your tires
don’t have enough air (underinflation), you can
get the following:
0 Too much flexing
0 Too much heat
0 Tire overloading
0 Bad wear
0 Bad handling
Bad fuel economy.
If your tires have too much air (overinflation),
you can get the following:
Unusual wear
0 Bad handling
0 Rough ride
0 Needless damage from road hazards.
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When to Check
Check your tires once a month or more.
Don’t forget your compact spare tire. It should be
at
60 psi (420 Pa).
How to Check
Use a good quality pocket-type gage to check tire
pressure. You can’t tell
if your tires are properly inflated
simply by looking at them. Radial tires may look
properly inflated even when they’re underinflated.
Be sure
to put the valve caps back on the valve
stems. They help prevent leaks by keeping out
dirt
and moisture.
Tire Inspection and Rotation
Tires should be rotated every 6,000 to 8,000 miles
( 10 000 to 13 000 km). Any time you notice unusual
wear, rotate
your tires as soon as possible and check
wheel alignment. Also check for damaged tires or
wheels. See “When It’s Time for New Tires”
and
“Wheel Replacement” later in this section for
more information.
The purpose
of regular rotation is to achieve more
uniform wear for all tires on the vehicle.
The first
rotation is the most important. See “Scheduled
Maintenance Services’’
in the Index for scheduled
rotation intervals.
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If you don’t have P245/50ZR16 Goodyear Eagle GS-C
tires or
P27Y4OZR17 Goodyear Eagle F1-GS tires, use
the rotation pattern shown above for
your tires.
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If you have P245/50ZR16 Goodyear Eagle GS-C tires
or P275/4OZR17 Goodyear Eagle F1-GS tires, they
must roll in a certain direction for the best overall
performance. The direction is shown by an arrow on
the sidewall. Because these tires are directional, they
should be rotated
as shown here. These tires should
only be moved from front to rear and rear to front on
the same side of the vehicle.
Don’t include the compact spare tire in your
tire rotation.
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