spare tire PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1998 Owners Manual

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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Section 5 Problems on the Road
Here you’ll find what to do about some problems that can occur on the road.
5-2
5-3
5-8
5-15
5-17
5-21
Hazard Warning Flashers Jump Starting
Towing Your Vehicle
Engine Overheating
Cooling System
How to Add Coolant to the Radiator
(3800 V6 Engine) 5-24
How to
Add Coolant to the Radiator
(V8 Engine Only)
5-27 If a Tire Goes Flat
5-27 Changing a Flat Tire
5-40 Compact Spare Tire
5-4 1 If You’re Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow
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The following steps will tell you how to use the jack and
change a
tire.
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools
The equipment you’ll need is in the right (passenger)
rear area behind the trim panel.
First
you must remove the close-out panel. See
“Close-Out Panel” in
the Index.
On convertible models,
you must also remove the
convertible top protection panel. It’s at the upper back
of the
trunk. Turn the two screw knobs under the trunk
edge a quarter turn (left) counterclockwise to remove
the panel.
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Find the plastic screw heads in the trim panel over the
spare tire. (See “Compact Spare Tire” later in this
section for more information about the compact spare.)
Use a coin or a key to turn the screw heads until the
slots point front
and back. Gently lift the trim panel and
move it out
of the way.
If you have speakers in the trim panel, you may have to
disconnect the wire from the speaker. The speaker wire
may be long enough to remove the trim panel without
disconnecting
the wire.
To remove the jack and wheel wrench, loosen and
remove the bolt and remove the plastic cover.
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Removing the Flat Tire and Installing
the Spare Tire
Each wheel has one locknut in place of the standard
wheel nut.
A special wheel lock key (removal tool) and
instructions are located in the center console. Attach
the wheel lock key to the socket of the wheel
wrench. Remove the locking wheel
nut by turning
to the left (counterclockwise).
1. Using the wheel wrench, loosen all the wheel nuts.
Don’t remove them
yet.
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3. Raise the vehicle by rotating the wheel wrench to
the right (clockwise). Raise the vehicle far enough
off the ground so there is enough room for the spare
tire
to fit. Remove all the wheel nuts and take off
the flat tire.
4. Remove any rust or dirt
from the wheel bolts,
mounting surfaces
and
spare wheel.
A CAUTION:
Rust or dirt on the wheel, or on the parts to
which
it is fastened, can make the wheel nuts
become loose after
a time. The wheel could come
off and cause an accident. When you change a
wheel, remove any rust or dirt from the places
where the wheel attaches to the vehicle.
In an
emergency, you can use a cloth or a paper towel
to do this; but be sure
to use a scraper or wire
brush later,
if you need to, to get all the rust or
dirt off.
5-35

NOTICE:
Improperly tightened wheel nuts can lead to
brake pulsation and rotor damage.
To avoid
expensive brake repairs, evenly tighten the wheel
nuts in the proper sequence and to the proper
torque specification.
Don’t try to put
a center cap on your compact spare
tire. It won’t fit. Store the center cap in the rear area
until
you have the flat tire repaired or replaced.
I NOTICE:
Center caps won’t fit on your compact spare. If
you try to put a center cap on your compact
spare, you could damage the cover or the spare.
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools
A CAUTION:
Storing a jack, a tire or other equipment in the
passenger compartment
of the vehicle could
cause injury.
In a sudden stop or collision, loose
equipment could strike someone. Store all these
in the proper place.
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Replace the jack, wheel wrench and flat tire using the
storage instructions. When
you replace the trim panel,
be sure to tuck it under the weatherstrip.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Trim Panel
Bolt
Cover
Jack
Wing Nut Adapter
Compact Spare Tire
Full-Size Tire Carpet
Flap
Tire Storage Bolt Convertible
Top Protection
Knob
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Compact Spare Tire
Although the compact spare tire was fully inflated when
your vehicle was new, it can lose air after a time. Check
the inflation pressure regularly. It should be 60 psi
(420 kPa).
After installing the compact spare on your vehicle, you
should stop
as soon as possible and make sure your spare
tire is correctly inflated. The compact spare is made to
perfom well at speeds up
to 65 mph (105 km/h) for
distances
up to 3,000 miles (5 OOO km), so you can finish
your trip and have your full-size tire repaired or replaced
where you want. (When the compact spare is used on the
rear axle, see Notice following.) Of course, it’s best to
replace
your spare with a full-size tire as soon as you can.
Your spare will last longer and be in good shape in case
you need it again.
NOTICE:
If the compact spare is used as a rear tire, do not
drive faster than
50 mph (80 M). Damage to
the rear axle may occur if the compact spare is
driven faster than
50 mph (80 km/h).
NOTICE:
When the compact spare is installed, don’t take
your vehicle through
an automatic car wash with
guide rails. The compact spare can get caught on
the rails. That can damage the tire and wheel,
and maybe other parts of your vehicle.
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Don’t use your compact spare on other vehicles.
And don’t mix your compact spare tire or wheel with
other wheels or tires. They won’t fit. Keep your spare
tire and its wheel together. If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud,
Ice or Snow
What you don’t want to do when your vehicle is stuck is
to
spin your wheels too fast. The method known as
“rocking” can help you get out when you’re stuck,
NOTICE: but you must use caution.
Tire chains won’t fit your compact spare. Using
them can damage your vehicle and can damage
the chains too. Don’t use tire chains on your
compact spare.
A CAUTION:
m
If you let your tires spin at high speed, they can
explode, and you or others could
be injured.
And, the transmission or other parts
of the
vehicle can overheat. That could cause an
engine compartment fire or other damage.
When you’re stuck, spin the wheels
as little as
possible. Don’t spin the wheels above
35 mph
(55 kmh) as shown on the speedometer.
5-41