arm PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1998 Owners Manual

What’s wrong with this?
~
A: The shoulder belt is worn under the arm. It should
be
worn over the shoulder at all times. You
can be seriously injured if you wear the
shoulder belt under your
arm. In a crash, your
body would move too
far forward, which would
increase the chance of head and neck injury.
Also, the belt would apply too much force to the
ribs, which aren’t as strong
as shoulder bones.
You could also severely injure internal organs
like your liver or spleen.
I
1-19

How does an air bag restrain?
In moderate to severe fi-ontal or near-frontal collisions,
even
bdted occupants can contact the steering wheel or the
instrument panel.
Air bags supplement the protection
provided by safety belts.
Air bags distribute the force of
the impact more evenly over the occupant’s upper body,
stopping the occupant more gradually. But
air bags would
not help you in many types of collisions, including
rollovers, rear impacts and side impacts, primarily because an occupant’s motion is not toward those
air bags. Air
bags should never be regarded as an-g more than a
supplement to safety
belts, and then only in moderate to
severe fi-ontal or near-frontal collisions.
What will you see after an air bag inflates?
After an air bag inflates, it quickly deflates, so
quickly that some people may not even realize the air
bag inflated. Some components of the air bag
module
-- the steering wheel hub for the driver’s
air bag, or the instrument panel for the right front
passenger’s bag
-- will be hot for a short time. The
parts of the bag that come into contact with you may
be
warm, but not too hot to touch. There will be some
smoke and dust coming from vents
in the deflated air
bags.
Air bag inflation doesn’t prevent the driver from
seeing or from being able to steer the vehicle, nor does it
stop people from leaving the vehicle.
When an air bag inflates, there is dust in the air.
This dust could cause breathing problems for
people with a history
of asthma or other
breathing trouble.
To avoid this, everyone in the
vehicle should get out as soon as it is
safe to do so.
If you have breathing problems but can’t get out
of the vehicle after an air bag inflates, then get
fresh air
by opening a window or door.
In many crashes severe enough to inflate an air bag,
windshields are broken
by vehicle deformation.
Additional windshield breakage may
also occur from
the right front passenger air bag.
Air bags are designed to inflate only once. After they
inflate, you’ll
need some new parts for your air bag
system.
If you don’t get them, the air bag system
won’t
be there to help protect you in another crash.
A new system will include
air bag modules and
possibly other parts. The service manual for your
vehicle covers the need to replace other parts.
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A CAUTION:
L
Never hold a baby in your arms while riding in a
vehicle.
A baby doesn’t weigh much -- until a
crash. During
a crash a baby will become so
heavy you can’t hold it. For example, in a crash
CAUTION: (Continued) at
only 25 mph (40 km/h),
a 12-1b. (5.5 kg) baby
will suddenly become
a 2404b. (110 kg) force on
your arms. The baby would be almost impossible
to hold.
Secure the baby in an infant restraint.
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Door Locks
A CAU-ION:
I
Unlocked doors can be dangerous.
Passengers
-- especially children -- can easily
open the doors and fall out. When
a door is
locked, the inside handle won’t open
it.
Outsiders can easily enter through an unlocked
door when you slow down or stop your vehicle.
This may not be so obvious: You increase the
chance of being thrown out
of the vehicle in a
crash
if the doors aren’t locked. Wear safety belts
properly, lock your doors, and you
will be far
better off whenever you drive your vehicle.
There are several ways to lock
and unlock your vehicle.
From the outside, use
your door key. If your vehicle has
the Content Theft-Deterrent System and it is med,
unlocking and opening a door this way will set off the
alarm. See “Content Theft-Deterrent System” in the Index.

L
To lock the door from the inside, slide the lock control
on the door rearward.
To unlock the door, slide the lock control on the
door
forward.
2-4 ’

Your remote keyless entry system operates on a radio
frequency subject to Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) Rules and with Industry Canada.
This device complies with
Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) this device may not cause harmful interference,
and
(2) this device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
This device complies with
RSS-210 of Industry Canada.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) this device may not cause interference, and (2) this
device must accept any interference received, including
interference that may cause undesired operation of
the device.
Changes or modifications to this system by other than an
authorized service facility could void authorization to
use this equipment. This
system has a range
of about 3 feet (1 m) up to
30 feet (9 m). At times you may notice a decrease in
range. This is normal for any remote keyless entry
system.
If the transmitter does not work or if you have
to stand closer to your vehicle for the transmitter to
work, try this:
0
0
0
0
Check to determine if battery replacement is
necessary.
See the instructions that follow.
Check the distance.
You may be too far from your
vehicle.
You may need to stand closer during rainy
or snowy weather.
Check the location. Other vehicles or objects may be
blocking the signal. Take a few steps
to the left or
right, hold the transmitter higher, and
try again.
If you’re still having trouble, see your dealer or a
qualified technician for service.
2-7

Transmitter Verification (If Equipped)
This feature provides feedback to the holder of the
remote keyless entry transmitter that a command has
been received by the Remote Lock Receiver. The parking lamps will flash on every lock and unlock
command and the horn will sound only if the LOCK
button
is pressed twice within five seconds. This allows
for silent operation of locking and unlocking unless
a
confirming horn chirp is desired. Other options may be
selected
for this feature (see “Feature Customization” in
the Index).
Matching Transmitter(s) To Your Vehicle
Each remote keyless entry transmitter is coded to
prevent another transmitter
from unlocking your vehicle.
If a transmitter is lost
or stolen, a replacement can be
purchased through your dealer. Remember to bring any
remaining transmitters with you when you go to your
dealer. When the dealer matches the replacement
transmitter to your vehicle, any remaining transmitters
must also be matched. Once your dealer has coded
the
new transmitter, the lost transmitter will not unlock your
vehicle. Each vehicle can have only four transmitters
matched
to it.
Have each transmitter you intend to match ready for the
next steps.
To match transmitters to your vehicle:
1. Turn the ignition to RUN, then to OFF. This will
disarm the Content Theft-Deterrent System (if your
vehicle has this option).
2. Remove the RADIO fuse. This fuse is located in the
main fuse block, which is located
on the left side of
your instrument panel. The RADIO fuse is located
on the lower right hand corner of the panel. See
“Fuses and Circuit Breakers”
in the Index.
3. Turn the ignition fi-om OFF to RUN three times quickly
(within five seconds). The vehicle
will respond by
locking the
doors, unlocking the driver’s door and
releasing the hatch. Your transmitter is now ready to
match your vehicle. Leave the ignition in RUN.
4. Press and hold the LOCK and UNLOCK buttons on
the first transmitter for up to
15 seconds. The vehicle
will respond as in Step
3.
5. Repeat Step 4 for the remaining transmitters.
6. When you have finished matching all of your
transmitters, replace
the RADIO fuse.
7. Check that all transmitters work by pressing their buttons.
If the transmitters don’t work, or if you’d rather not
match the transmitters yourself, see your Pontiac dealer.

Hatch Hatch Release
A CAUTION:
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It can be dangerous to drive with the hatch open
because carbon monoxide (CO) gas can come into
your vehicle. You can’t see or smell
CO. It can
cause unconsciousness and even death.
If you must drive with the hatch open or if
electrical wiring or other cable connections must
pass through the
seal between the body and
the hatch:
Make sure all windows are shut.
0 Turn the fan on your heating or cooling
system to its highest speed with the setting
on VENT. That will force outside air into
your vehicle. See “Comfort Controls” in
the Index.
instrument panel, open them all the way.
0 If you have air outlets on or under the
See “Engine Exhaust” in the Index.
Your door key opens the hatch from the outside. If your
vehicle has the Content Theft-Deterrent System and the
system is armed, opening the hatch this way will trigger
the alarm. First disarm the system or use the remote
keyless entry transmitter to open the hatch.
2-11

Remote Hatch Release
Press the switch under the
main lamp control below
the instrument panel to
unlock the hatch
from
inside your vehicle. The
switch only works when the ignition switch is
in
RUN, ACC or when RAP is present. (See “Retained
Accessory Power” in the Index.)
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).
If you have an automatic transmission, your shift lever
must be
in PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) to use the
switch. If
you have a manual transmission and the
ignition is in RUN, you must set the parking brake
before you can use the switch. On
vehicles with the Content Theft-Deterrent System,
the hatch switch will
not work while the system is
armed. See Tontent Theft-Deterrent System” in
the Index.
2-12

Content Theft-Deterrent System (If Equipped)
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 and adjust as desired. Turn the knob clockwise to
increase sensitivity
and turn it 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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Arming the System
The alarm system can be
armed to detect break-ins
by locking your vehicle
using the remote keyless entry transmitter or by
locking the
doors with the
power door lock switch.
Passive arming is
also available, if you would like the
system to arm 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
remote keyless entry 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, the horn chirps twice and the parking
lamps will flash. If the hatch is open or ajar at the time
the system is arming, the horn will only chup 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 the parking lamps will flash. If both
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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