light PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1998 Repair Manual

I NOTICE:
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 (1)
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.
5-42

To remove the cap, turn it slowly to the left
(counterclockwise). The cap has a spring in it; if you let
go of the cap too soon, it will spring back to the right.
L
If you get gasoline 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 Vehicle” in the Index. 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.
NOTICE:
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 properly. This may
cause your malfunction indicator lamp to light
and your fuel tank and emissions system may be
damaged. See “Malfunction Indicator Lamp” in
the Index.
6-7

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
OIL
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.
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. The engine
oil dipstick is the yellow loop near
the
back of the engine.
Note: Do not check the
5.7L engine oil level after the
engine has sat overnight.
A higher than normal reading
might be obtained. Check oil level with the oil warm.
Shut
off the engine, wait a few minutes, and then
check the oil.
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.
6-12

A 50/50 mixture of water and DEX-COOL@
coolant will:
0 Give freezing protection down to -34°F (-37°C).
0 Give boiling protection up to 265 “F (1 29°C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages work as
they should.
NOTICE:
When adding coolant, it is important that you
use only DEX-COOL@ (silicate-free) coolant.
If coolant other than DEX-COOL is added to
the system, premature engine, heater core or
radiator corrosion may result.
In addition, the
engine coolant
will require change sooner -- at
30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs first. Damage caused by the
use of coolant other than DEX-COOL@
is not
covered by your new vehicle warranty.
What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean water (preferably
distilled) and one-half
DEX-COOL@ coolant which
won’t damage aluminum parts. If you use this mixture,
you don’t need to add anything else.
I A CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling system
can
be dangerous. Plain water, or some other
liquid like
alcohol, can boil before the proper
coolant mixture will. Your vehicle’s coolant
warning system is set
for the proper coolant
mixture. With plain water or the wrong mixture,
your engine could get too hot but you wouldn’t
get the overheat warning. Your engine could
catch fire and
you or others could be burned.
Use a
50/50 mixture of clean water and
DEX-COOL@ coolant.
6-28

1
If this light comes on, it
means you’re
low on
5.7L Engine
Adding Coolant to the Recovery Tank
If you need more coolant, add the proper DEX-COOL@
coolant mixture at the coolant recovery tank, but only
when your engine is cool. If the tank is very low or
empty,
also add coolant to the radiator. See “Engine
Overheating’’
in the Index for information.
A CAUTION:
Thrning the radiator pressure cap when the
engine and radiator are hot can allow steam
and scalding liquids to blow out and burn you
badly. Never turn the pressure cap
-- even a
little -- when the engine and radiator are hot.
L
Add coolant mixture at the recovery tank, but be careful
not to spill it.
I /1 CAUTION:
You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol,
and it will burn if the engine parts are hot
enough. Don’t spill coolant on a hot engine.
I

’ A CAUTION:
The brake wear warning sound means that soon
your brakes won’t work well. That could lead to
an accident. When you hear the brake wear
warning sound, have your vehicle serviced.
I NOTICE:
I I
Continuing to drive with worn-out brake pads
could result in costly brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates may cause a brake
squeal when the brakes are first applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean something is wrong with
your brakes.
When you have
the front brake pads replaced, have the
rear brakes inspected, too. Brake linings should always
be replaced as complete
axle sets.
See “Brake System Inspection” in Section
7 of
this manual under Part C “Periodic Maintenance
Inspections.”
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal does not return to
normal height, or
if there is a rapid increase in pedal
travel.
This could be a sign of brake trouble.
Brake Adjustment
Every time you make a moderate brake stop, your
disc brakes adjust for wear. If you rarely make a
moderate or heavier stop, then your brakes might not
adjust correctly.
If you drive in that way, then -- very
carefully
-- make a few moderate brake stops about
every
1,000 miles (1 600 km), so your brakes will
adjust properly.
The park brake system has separate brake linings that
do not self adjust for wear. If the park brake lever pulls
up more than the normal eighteen clicks, the parking
brakes may need adjustment. See your dealer.
6-36

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 limited-production 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 government 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.
%action -- 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 (straight ahead) traction tests and
does not include cornering (turning) traction.
6-50

Finish Care
Occasional waxing or mild polishing of your vehicle by
hand
may be necessary to remove residue from the paint
finish. You can get GM-approved cleaning products
from your dealer. (See “Appearance Care and Materials”
in the Index.)
Your vehicle has a “basecoatlclearcoat” paint finish.
The clearcoat gives more depth and gloss to the
colored basecoat. Always use waxes and polishes
that are non-abrasive and made for a basecoatlclearcoat
paint finish.
I NOTICE:
Machine compounding or aggressive polishing on
a basecoatlclearcoat paint finish
may dull the
finish or leave swirl marks.
Foreign materials such as calcium chloride and other
salts, ice melting agents, road oil and tar, tree sap, bird
droppings, chemicals from industrial chimneys, etc., can
damage your vehicle’s finish if they remain on painted surfaces.
Wash the vehicle as soon as possible. If
necessary, use non-abrasive cleaners that
are marked
safe for painted surfaces to remove foreign matter.
Exterior painted surfaces
are subject to aging, weather
and chemical fallout that can take their toll over a period
of years. You can help to keep the paint finish looking
new by keeping your vehicle garaged
or covered
whenever possible.
Cleaning Your Convertible Top
Your convertible top should be cleaned often. If you use
an automatic car wash, use one with water jets and
hanging cloths. High pressure car washes may cause
water
to enter your vehicle.
When you hand wash the top, do it in partial shade.
Use a mild soap, lukewarm water and
a soft sponge. A
chamois or cloth may leave lint
on the top, and a brush
can chafe the threads in the top fabric. Don’t use
detergents, harsh cleaners, solvents or bleaching agents.
Wet the entire vehicle and wash the top evenly to avoid
spots or rings. Let the soap remain on the fabric for a
few minutes. When the top is really
dirty, use a mild
foam-type cleaner. Thoroughly rinse the entire vehicle,
then let the top dry in direct sunlight.
6-58

Appearance Care Materials Chart
PART NUMBER USAGE DESCRIPTION
SIZE
994954 Exterior polishing cloth
Polishing Cloth - Wax Treated 23 in. x 25 in.
1050172 Removes tar, road oil and asphalt
Tar and Road Oil Remover 16 oz. (0.473 L)
1050173
Cleans and lightly waxes
Wash Wax Concentrate 16 oz. (0.473 L) 1052870 Removes dirt, grime, smoke and fingerprints
Glass Cleaner
23 oz. (0.680 L) 1050427
Cleans vinyl tops, upholstery and convertible tops Vinyl Cleaner\
32 oz. (0.946 L) 1050214
Removes soil and black marks from whitewalls
White Sidewall Tire Cleaner 16 oz. (0.473 L) 1050174
Use on chrome, stainless steel, nickel, copper and brass Chrome Cleaner and Polish 16 oz. (0.473 L)
~~
1052918”” Armor All Protectant 8 oz. (0.237 L) Protects leather, wood, acrylics, Plexiglas TM , plastic,
rubber and vinyl
1 1052925 I 16 oz. (0.473 L) I Multi-Purpose Interior Cleans carpets, seats, interior trim, door panels
I Cleaner and floor mats _~. ~..~
1052929 16 oz. (0.473 L) Wheel Cleaner
1052930 8 oz. (0.237 L) Capture
Dry Spot Remover
12345002 16 oz. (0.473 L) Armor All TM Cleaner
12345721
2.5 sq. ft. Synthetic Chamois
12345725 12 oz. (0.354 L) Silicone Tire Shine
12377964 16 oz. (0.473 L) Finish Enhancer
12377966 16 oz. (0.473 L) Cleaner Wax
12377984 16 oz. (0.473 L)
Surface Cleaner
See your General Motors
PGS Department for these products.
See “Fluids and Lubricants” in the Index. Spray on and rinse with water
Attracts, absorbs and removes soils
Cleans and shines a variety of surface types
~~
Shines vehicle without scratching
Spray on tire shine
Removes dust, fingerprints and surface contaminants
Removes light scratches and oxidation and protects finish
~ Removes contaminants, blemishes and swirl marks
k* Not recommended for use on instrument panel vinyl.
6-61

The other two are in the engine compartment. Open the
cover on either
of the boxes to expose the fuses.
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 fuse, 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.
Main Fuse Block
III 20 30 40
FUSE USAGE CHART
STOPIHAZARD TURN BIU STG WHL CNTRL RADIO ACCY
--
5u 4--l 7u 8U TAIL LPS HVAC PWR ACCY COURTESY
9-1 lin 121-1
GAUGES AIR BAG CIGIACCY DEFOGISEATS
IP DIMMER ACCY RADIO
SEE OWNER'S MANUAL FOR MORE INFORMATION PRINTED IN U.S.A
Fuse Usage
STOP/HAZARD Hazard Flasher, Brake
Switch Assembly
TURN B/U Traction ControVSecond Gear
Start Switch, Back/Up Lamp
Switch, Turn Flasher, Daytime
Running Lamps
(DRL) Module
Steering Wheel Controls
STG WHEEL
CNTFU
6-64