check engine PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1999 Owners Manual

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2-17
The ignition key must be clean and dry before it's
inserted in the ignition or the engine may not start. If the
engine does not start and the SECURITY light stays on
when you try to start the vehicle, the key may be dirty or
wet. Turn the ignition off.
Clean and dry the key. Wait about three minutes and try
again. The SECURITY light may remain on during this
time. If the starter still won't work, and the key appears
to be clean and dry, wait about three minutes and try
another ignition key. At this time, you may also want to
check the fuses (see ªFuses and Circuit Breakersº in the
Index). If the starter won't work with the other key, your
vehicle needs service. If your vehicle does start, the first
ignition key may be faulty. See your dealer or a
locksmith who can service the PASS
-Key II.
If you accidentally use a key that has a damaged or
missing resistor pellet, the starter won't work. The
SECURITY light will flash. But you don't have to wait
three minutes before trying another ignition key.See your dealer or a locksmith who can service the
PASS
-Key II to have a new key made.
If you're ever driving and the SECURITY light comes
on and stays on, you will be able to restart your engine if
you turn it off. Your PASS
-Key II system, however, is
not working properly and must be serviced by your
dealer. Your vehicle is not protected by the
PASS
-Key II system.
If you lose or damage a PASS
-Key II ignition key, see
your dealer or a locksmith who can service PASS
-Key II
to have a new key made. In an emergency, call the
Pontiac Roadside Assistance Center at
1
-800-ROADSIDE or 1-800-762-3743.
(In Canada call 1
-800-268-6800.)

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3. If your engine still won't start (or starts but then stops),
it could be flooded with too much gasoline. Try
pushing your accelerator pedal all the way to the floor
and holding it there as you hold the key in START for
about three seconds. If the vehicle starts briefly but
then stops again, do the same thing, but this time keep
the pedal down for five or six seconds. This clears the
extra gasoline from the engine. After waiting about
15 seconds, repeat the normal starting procedure.
NOTICE:
Your engine is designed to work with the
electronics in your vehicle. If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could change the way
the engine operates. Before adding electrical
equipment, check with your dealer. If you don't,
your engine might not perform properly.
If you ever have to have your vehicle towed, see
the part of this manual that tells how to do it
without damaging your vehicle. See ªTowing
Your Vehicleº in the Index.
Starting Your 5.7L V8 Engine
1. Without pushing the accelerator pedal, turn the
ignition key to START. When the engine starts, let
go of the key. The idle speed will go down as your
engine gets warm.
NOTICE:
Holding your key in START for longer than
15 seconds at a time will cause your battery to
be drained much sooner. And the excessive heat
can damage your starter motor. Wait about
15 seconds between each try to help avoid
draining your battery or damaging your starter.
2. If it doesn't start within 10 seconds, push the
accelerator pedal all the way to the floor, while you
hold the ignition key in START. When the engine
starts, let go of the key and let up on the accelerator
pedal. Wait about 15 seconds between each try to help
avoid draining your battery or damaging your starter.

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When starting your engine in very cold weather (below
0
F or
-18
C), do this:
1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn the
ignition key to START and hold it there. When the
engine starts, let go of the key. Use the accelerator
pedal to maintain engine speed, if you have to, until
your engine has run for a while.
2. If your engine still won't start (or starts but then
stops), it could be flooded with too much gasoline.
Try pushing your accelerator pedal all the way to the
floor and holding it there as you hold the key in
START for about three seconds. If the vehicle starts
briefly but then stops again, do the same thing, but
this time keep the pedal down for five or six seconds.
This clears the extra gasoline from the engine.NOTICE:
Your engine is designed to work with the
electronics in your vehicle. If you add electrical
parts or accessories, you could change the way
the engine operates. Before adding electrical
equipment, check with your dealer. If you don't,
your engine might not perform properly.
If you ever have to have your vehicle towed, see
the part of this manual that tells how to do it
without damaging your vehicle. See ªTowing
Your Vehicleº in the Index.

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2-78
Warning Lights, Gages and
Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages that
may be on your vehicle. The pictures will help you
locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that something is
wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause an
expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention to
your warning lights and gages could also save you or
others from injury.
Warning lights come on when there may be or is a
problem with one of your vehicle's functions. As you
will see in the details on the next few pages, some
warning lights come on briefly when you start the
engine just to let you know they're working. If you are
familiar with this section, you should not be alarmed
when this happens.
Gages can indicate when there may be or is a problem
with one of your vehicle's functions. Often gages and
warning lights work together to let you know when
there's a problem with your vehicle.When one of the warning lights comes on and stays on
when you are driving, or when one of the gages shows
there may be a problem, check the section that tells you
what to do about it. Please follow this manual's advice.
Waiting to do repairs can be costly
-- and even
dangerous. So please get to know your warning lights
and gages. They're a big help.
Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to RUN or START, a chime will
come on for about eight seconds to remind people to
fasten their safety belts.
The safety belt light will
also come on and stay on
for about 70 seconds. If the
driver's belt is already
buckled, neither the chime
nor the light will come on.

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2-79 Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows AIR BAG. The system checks the
air bag's electrical system for malfunctions. The light
tells you if there is an electrical problem. The system
check includes the air bag sensors, the air bag modules,
the wiring and the crash sensing and diagnostic module.
For more information on the air bag system, see ªAir
Bagº in the Index.
This light will come on
when you start your engine,
and it will flash for a few
seconds. Then the light
should go out. This means
the system is ready.
If the air bag readiness light stays on after you start the
engine or comes on when you are driving, your air bag
system may not work properly. Have your vehicle
serviced right away.
The air bag readiness light should flash for a few
seconds when you turn the ignition key to RUN. If the
light doesn't come on then, have it fixed so it will be
ready to warn you if there is a problem.
Voltmeter
You can read battery
voltage on your voltmeter.
If it reads less than 11 volts
or more than 16 volts while
your engine is running, and
it stays there, you may have
a problem with the
electrical charging system.
Have it checked right away. Driving with the voltmeter
reading in a warning zone could drain your battery.
If you idle your engine for a while, the voltmeter
reading might move into the yellow zone. If the reading
stays in the yellow zone while you are driving, you may
have a problem with the electrical charging system.
Have it checked. While the voltmeter reads in the yellow
zone, your battery may not be able to power certain
electrical accessories, like ABS. (If this happens, your
ABS INOP light will come on. See ªAnti
-Lock Brake
System Warning Lightº in the Index.)
If you must drive a short distance with the voltmeter
reading in a warning zone, turn off all your accessories,
including your air conditioning and audio system.

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2-83 Low Coolant Light (5.7L V8 Engine)
This warning light should
come on briefly while you
are starting your engine.
If the light doesn't come
on, have it repaired.
Your vehicle is equipped with a low coolant indicator
that is designed to detect when the coolant level drops
below a set limit. If the coolant level sensor (on the
radiator) detects that the level drops while the engine is
running, the low coolant indicator will light and remain
lit until the ignition is turned to OFF. Check coolant
level and add coolant as needed. The low coolant light
might stay on after filling the radiator. Turn the ignition
to OFF, then restart the engine to verify that the low
coolant light goes out. See ªEngine Coolantº in
the Index.NOTICE:
Driving with the low coolant light on could cause
your vehicle to overheat. See ªEngine Overheatingº
in the Index. Your vehicle could be damaged and
it wouldn't be covered by your warranty.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Service Engine Soon Light)
Your vehicle is equipped
with a computer which
monitors operation of the
fuel, ignition and emission
control systems.

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This light should come on, as a check to show you it is
working, when the ignition is on and the engine is not
running. If the light doesn't come on, have it repaired.
This light will also come on during a malfunction in one
of two ways:

Light Flashing
-- A misfire condition has been
detected. A misfire increases vehicle emissions and
may damage the emission control system on your
vehicle. Dealer or qualified service center diagnosis
and service may be required.

Light On Steady
-- An emission control system
malfunction has been detected on your vehicle.
Dealer or qualified service center diagnosis and
service may be required.
If the Light Is Flashing
The following may prevent more serious damage to
your vehicle:

Reducing vehicle speed.

Avoiding hard accelerations.

Avoiding steep uphill grades.

If you are towing a trailer, reduce the amount of
cargo being hauled as soon as it is possible.If the light stops flashing and remains on steady, see ªIf
the Light Is On Steadyº following.
If the light continues to flash, when it is safe to do so,
stop the vehicle. Find a safe place to park your vehicle.
Turn the key off, wait at least 10 seconds and restart the
engine. If the light remains on steady, see ªIf the Light
Is On Steadyº following. If the light is still flashing,
follow the previous steps, and drive the vehicle to your
dealer or qualified service center for service.
If the Light Is On Steady
You may be able to correct the emission system
malfunction by considering the following:
Did you recently put fuel into your vehicle?
If so, reinstall the fuel cap, making sure to fully install
the cap. See ªFilling Your Tankº in the Index. The
diagnostic system can determine if the fuel cap has been
left off or improperly installed. A loose or missing fuel
cap will allow fuel to evaporate into the atmosphere. A
few driving trips with the cap properly installed should
turn the light off.
Did you just drive through a deep puddle of water?
If so, your electrical system may be wet. The condition
will usually be corrected when the electrical system
dries out. A few driving trips should turn the light off.

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Are you low on fuel?
As your engine starts to run out of fuel, your engine may
not run as efficiently as designed since small amounts of
air are sucked into the fuel line causing a misfire. The
system can detect this. Adding fuel should correct this
condition. Make sure to install the fuel cap properly. See
ªFilling Your Tankº in the Index. It will take a few
driving trips to turn the light off.
Have you recently changed brands of fuel?
If so, be sure to fuel your vehicle with quality fuel (see
ªFuelº in the Index). Poor fuel quality will cause your
engine not to run as efficiently as designed. You may
notice this as stalling after start
-up, stalling when you put
the vehicle into gear, misfiring, hesitation on acceleration
or stumbling on acceleration. (These conditions may go
away once the engine is warmed up.) This will be
detected by the system and cause the light to turn on.
If you experience one or more of these conditions,
change the fuel brand you use. It will require at least one
full tank of the proper fuel to turn the light off.
If none of the above steps have made the light turn off,
have your dealer or qualified service center check the
vehicle. Your dealer has the proper test equipment and
diagnostic tools to fix any mechanical or electrical
problems that may have developed.
Oil Pressure Gage
3800 V6 Engine 5.7L V8 Engine
This gage tells you there could be a problem with your
engine oil pressure.
The engine oil pressure gage shows the engine oil pressure
in psi (pounds per square inch) in the United States, or kPa
(kilopascals) in Canada, when the engine is running. On
the 5.7L V8 engine, oil pressure should be 20 to 80 psi
(140 to 550 kPa). On the 3800 V6 engine, the oil pressure
should be between 20 and 120 psi (140 to 827 kPa). It
may vary with engine speed, outside temperature and oil
viscosity, but readings above the red area show the normal
operating range. Readings in the red area tell you that the
engine is low on oil, or that you might have some other oil
problem. See ªEngine Oilº in the Index.

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CAUTION:
Don't keep driving if the oil pressure is low.
If you do, your engine can become so hot that it
catches fire. You or others could be burned.
Check your oil as soon as possible and have your
vehicle serviced.
NOTICE:
Damage to your engine from neglected oil
problems can be costly and is not covered by
your warranty.
Low Oil Light
Your vehicle is equipped
with an oil level monitoring
system. When you start
your engine, the warning
light will come on briefly.
If the light doesn't come on,
have it repaired.
If the light stays on after starting your engine, your
engine oil level may be too low. You may need to add
oil. See ªEngine Oilº in the Index.
NOTICE:
The oil level monitoring system only checks the
oil level when you are starting your engine. It
does not keep monitoring the level once your
engine is running. Also, the oil level check only
works when the engine has been turned off long
enough for the oil to drain back into the oil pan.

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2-88 Oil Change Light
This OIL CHANGE light
should come on briefly as a
bulb check when you start
the engine. If the OIL
CHANGE light doesn't
come on, have it serviced.
If the OIL CHANGE light comes on and stays on
for 60 seconds after you start your vehicle, have the
oil changed.
For additional information, see ªEngine Oil, When to
Changeº in the Index. After changing the engine oil, the
system must be reset. See ªHow to Reset the Oil Change
Lightº in the Index.
Service Vehicle Light
This warning light should
come on in your instrument
panel for a three
-second
bulb check when you first
start your vehicle. If the
light doesn't come on, have
it serviced.
This light will stay on steady if you have certain
non
-emission related vehicle problems. These problems
may not be obvious and may affect vehicle performance
or durability. Consult a qualified dealership for
necessary repairs to maintain top vehicle performance.