wheel PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1998 Owners Manual

Why Safety Belts Work
When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as
it goes.
Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose it’s just a seat
on wheels.
Put someone on it.
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How the Air Bag System Works
Where are the air bags?
The driver's air bag is in the middle of the
steering wheel. The
right front passenger's air bag
is in the instrument
panel on the passenger's side.
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If something is between an occupant and an air
bag, the bag might not inflate properly or it
might force the object into that person. The path
of
an inflating air bag must be kept clear. Don’t
put anything between an occupant and an air
bag, and don’t attach or put anything on the steering wheel hub or on or near any other air
bag covering.
When should an air bag inflate?
An air bag is designed to inflate in a moderate to severe
frontal or near-frontal crash. The air bag
will inflate
only if the impact speed is above the system’s designed
“threshold level.” If your vehicle goes straight into a
wall that doesn’t move or deform, the threshold level is
about
9 to 15 mph ( 14 to 24 km/h). The threshold level
can vary, however, with specific vehicle design,
so that
it can be somewhat above
or below this range. If your vehicle strikes something that will
move or deform, such
as
a parked car, the threshold level will be higher. The
air bag is not designed to inflate in rollovers, side
impacts or rear impacts, because inflation would not
help the occupant.
In any particular crash, no one can say whether
an air
bag should have inflated simply because of the damage
to a vehicle or because
of what the repair costs were.
Inflation is determined by the angle of the impact and
how quickly the vehicle slows down in frontal or
near-frontal impacts.
What makes an air bag inflate?
In an impact of sufficient severity, the air bag sensing
system detects that the vehicle is in a crash. The sensing
system triggers a release of gas from the inflator, which
inflates the air bag. The inflator, air bag
and related
hardware are all
part of the air bag modules inside the
steering wheel and in the instrument panel in front of
the right front passenger.
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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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0 0 Your vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing and
diagnostic module, which records information
about the air bag system. The module records
information about the readiness of the system,
when the sensors are activated and driver’s safety belt usage at deployment.
Let only qualified technicians work on your air
bag system. Improper service can mean that your
air bag system won’t work properly. See your
dealer for service.
NOTICE:
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If you damage the covering for the driver’s or the
right front passenger’s air bag, the bag may not
work properly. You may have to replace the air
bag module in the steering wheel or both the air
right front passenger’s
air bag. Do not open or
break the
air bag coverings.
~ bag module and the instrument panel for the
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle
Air bags affect how your vehicle should be serviced.
There are parts of the air bag system in several places
around your vehicle. You don’t want the system to
inflate while someone is working on your vehicle. Your
dealer and the Firebird Service Manual have information
about servicing your vehicle and the air bag system.
To
purchase a service manual, see “Service and Owner
Publications’’
in the Index.
CAUTION:
I
For up to 10 minutes after the ignition key is
turned
off and the battery is disconnected, an air
bag can still inflate during improper service. You
can be injured
if you are close to an air bag when
it inflates. Avoid wires wrapped with yellow tape
or yellow connectors. They are probably part of
the air bag system. Be sure to follow proper
service procedures, and make sure the person
performing work for you
is qualified to do so.
The air bag system does not need regular maintenance.
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Section 2 Features and Controls
Here you can learn about the many standard and optional features on your vehicle, and inform\
ation on starting,
shifting and braking. Also explained are the instrument panel a\
nd the warning systems that tell you if everything
is
working properly -- and what to do if you have a problem.
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2-35
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Keys
Door Locks
Remote Keyless Entry System
Hatch Theft
Content Theft-Deterrent System
(If Equipped)
PASS-Key@
I1
Feature Customization (If Equipped)
New Vehicle “Break-In”
Ignition Positions Starting Your Engine
Engine Coolant Heater (Canada Only)
Automatic Transmission Operation
Manual Transmission Operation
Shifting Into PARK (P)
(Automatic Transmission Only)
Shifting Out of PARK (P)
(Automatic Transmission)
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2-62
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2-76
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Parking Your Vehicle (Manual Transmission)
Parking Over Things That Burn
Engine Exhaust
Running Your Engine While You’re Parked
(Automatic Transmission)
Parking Brake
Windows
Tilt Steering Wheel
Turn SignalMultifunction Lever
Exterior Lamps Interior Lamps
Mirrors Storage Compartments
%in Lift-off Roof Panels
(If Equipped)
Convertible
Top
Instrument Panel
Waming Lights, Gages and Indicators
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Theft
Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities.
Although your vehicle 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 vehicle 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 storage area, or take them with you.
Parking Lots
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?
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0
0
0
0
If possible, park in a busy, well lit area.
Put your valuables in a storage area, like your
hatch or glove box.
Be sure to close and lock the
storage area.
Close
all windows.
Lock the glove box.
Lock
all the doors except the driver’s.
Then take the door key and remote keyless entry
transmitter with you.
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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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Ignition Positions
C
1
A i E
With the ignition key in the ignition, you can turn the
switch to five positions.
ACC (A): Position in which you can operate your
electrical power accessories. Push in the ignition switch
as you turn
it toward you.
LOCK (B): The only position from which you can
remove the key. This locks your steering wheel, ignition
and automatic transmission.
If you have an automatic transmission, the ignition
switch can’t be turned to
LOCK unless the shift lever is
in
PARK (P).
OFF (C): Unlocks the steering wheel, ignition and
automatic transmission, but does not send electrical
power to any accessories. Use this position if your
vehicle must be pushed or towed.
A warning tone will
sound
if you open the driver’s door when the ignition is
off and the key is in the ignition.
RUN (D): Position to which the switch returns after you
start your engine and release the switch. The switch
stays
in RUN when the engine is running. But even
when the engine
is not running, you can use RUN to
operate your electrical power accessories and to display some instrument panel warning and indicator lights.
START (E): Starts the engine. When the engine starts,
release the key. The ignition will return to RUN for
normal driving.
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Note that even if the engine is not running, ACC and
RUN allow you to operate your electrical accessories,
such as the radio and ventilation fan.
A CAUTION:
On manual transmission vehicles, turning the key
to
LOCK will lock the steering column and result
in a loss of ability to steer the vehicle. This could
cause a collision.
If you need to turn the engine
off while the vehicle is moving, turn the key only
to
OFF. Don’t press the key release button while
the vehicle is moving.
NOTICE:
If your key seems stuck in LOCK and you can’t
turn it, be sure you are using the correct key; if
so, is it all the way in? If it is, then turn the
steering wheel left and right while you turn the
key hard. But turn the key only with your hand.
Using
a tool to force it could break the key or the
ignition switch.
If none of this works, then your
vehicle needs service.
Key Release Button
If you have a manual
transmission, your ignition
lock has a key release
button.
You must press the
key release button to put the
ignition key in the
LOCK
position before you can take your key out.
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