ignition PONTIAC FIREBIRD 2000 Owner's Guide

2-52 Headlamp Doors
The headlamp doors are designed to open when you turn
the headlamps on and close when you turn the
headlamps off. The headlamp doors can be opened
without turning on the headlamps by turning the
headlamps on, then turning the switch back to the
parking lamps position.
The headlamp doors should be open when driving in icy
or snowy conditions to prevent the doors from freezing
closed, and when washing the vehicle to help clean
the headlamps.
To open the headlamp doors manually:
1. Open the hood.
2. Remove the plastic cover from the retractor
motor knob.
3. Turn the retractor motor knob counterclockwise until
the headlamp door is fully open. The knob will get
harder to turn when the headlamp door is all the
way up.
4. Reinstall the plastic cover on the retractor
motor knob.
To manually close the headlamp doors, turn the lamps off
and turn the retractor motor knob clockwise. If the
headlamp doors aren't working properly, see your dealer.
Daytime Running Lamps
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to see the front of your vehicle during the day.
DRL can be helpful in many different driving
conditions, but they can be especially helpful in the
short periods after dawn and before sunset.
For Canadian vehicles, a light sensor on top of the
instrument panel automatically turns the headlamps on,
so be sure it isn't covered.
The DRL system will not activate if the parking brake is
engaged prior to turning the ignition on.
The DRL system will make your front turn signal lamps
come on when:

The ignition is on,

the headlamp switch is OFF,

the parking brake is released, and

it is bright enough outside (on Canadian vehicles).

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Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Brightness Control
The thumbwheel controls the brightness of your
instrument panel lights. Move the thumbwheel to
brighten or dim the lights. If you move the thumbwheel
all the way up, your courtesy lamps will come on.
Courtesy Lamps
When either door is opened, several interior lamps go
on. These lamps are courtesy lamps. They make it easier
for you to enter and leave your vehicle.
Courtesy lamps include two map lamps on the inside
rearview mirror and other lamps throughout the interior
of your vehicle.
To prevent battery rundown, your interior lamps will be
disabled about 10 minutes after the ignition is turned to
OFF. The 10
-minute timer will be restarted if you do
any of the following:

Turn the ignition on.

Open either door.

Press any button on your remote keyless entry
transmitter (if equipped).

Turn the interior lamp switch from off to on.

Open the hatch.

2-55 Delayed Illumination
With delayed illumination, the courtesy lamps will come
on and stay on for 25 seconds after you enter the vehicle
and close the doors. They will also stay on for five
seconds after you exit the vehicle and close the doors.
Delayed illumination will be shortened if the ignition is
turned to RUN or if the power locks are activated. To
turn this feature on or off, see ªFeature Customizationº
in the Index.
Exit Lighting
With exit lighting, the interior lamps will come on when
you remove the key from the ignition to help you see
while exiting the vehicle. To turn this feature on or off,
see ªFeature Customizationº in the Index.
Front Map Lamps
Your inside rearview mirror includes two map lamps.
Each lamp has its own switch. Use the switch closest to
the lamp to turn it on. The lamps will also come on
when a door is opened.
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
Your vehicle is equipped with a Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) feature. It allows certain features on your
vehicle to continue to work up to 10 minutes after the
ignition key is turned to OFF.
Your convertible top, power windows, power mirrors
and audio system will work when the ignition key is in
RUN or ACC. Once the key is turned from RUN to
OFF, these features will continue to work for up to
10 minutes or until either door is opened.
Your power door unlock and remote hatch release
features will work when the ignition key is in RUN or
ACC or if either door is open. Once the key is turned to
OFF, these features will continue to work for up to
10 minutes. If either door is open and the ignition key is
off, these features will continue to work until both doors
have been closed for about 30 seconds or until the
theft
-deterrent system arms. At that time, both the
power door unlock and remote hatch release features
will be disabled to enhance the security of the vehicle.
The power door lock function will work at all times
except when lockout prevention is enabled. See
ªLockout Preventionº in the Index.

2-68
Convertible Top (If Equipped)
The following procedures explain the proper operation
of your convertible top.
Lowering Your Convertible Top
NOTICE:
Don't leave your convertible out with the top
down for any long periods of time. The sun and
the rain can damage your seat material and other
things inside your vehicle.
1. It is recommended that you park on a level surface.
Set the parking brake firmly. Shift an automatic
transmission into PARK (P) or a manual
transmission into REVERSE (R).
2. Turn the ignition to ACC or RUN.
3. Lower both of the sun visors.
NOTICE:
It is not recommended that you raise or lower the
top while the vehicle is moving.
NOTICE:
Don't lower the top if it is damp or wet. When
the top is down, trapped water can cause stains,
mildew and damage to the inside of your vehicle.
Be sure to dry off the top before you lower it.

2-73
3. Store each piece of the cover in its separate
compartment according to the graphic printed inside
of the storage bag. Store the bag in the trunk area
and close the hatch.
4. Disengage the two convertible top latches.
Raising Your Convertible Top
1. It is recommended that you park on a level surface.
Set the parking brake firmly. If you have an
automatic transmission, shift into PARK (P).
If you have a manual transmission, shift into
REVERSE (R).
2. Turn the ignition to ACC or RUN (or RAP must
be on).
3. Lower both sun visors and lower both windows at
least 3 inches (8 cm). If the boot cover is in place, it
must be removed first.
NOTICE:
It is not recommended that you raise or lower the
top while the vehicle is moving.

2-75
NOTICE:
The convertible top may be tight when pushing
forward on the latch when your vehicle is new,
but it will loosen up with time. Make sure that
the hooks are properly aligned before using any
kind of force.
If your vehicle has a power loss, such as a dead battery,
you can still raise or lower the top manually by turning
the valve in the driver's side of the trunk area.
Open the hatch and find the tab located along the left
side trim panel. Lift up the tab and turn the valve
counterclockwise to release the hydraulic pressure. Turn
the ignition key to LOCK. You can now raise or lower
your top manually. Be sure to close the valve after
installing your top so you can raise or lower it
electrically later.

2-82
CAUTION:
If the air bag readiness light stays on after you
start your vehicle, it means the air bag system
may not be working properly. The air bags in
your vehicle may not inflate in a crash, or they
could even inflate without a crash. To help avoid
injury to yourself or others, have your vehicle
serviced right away if the air bag readiness light
stays on after you start your vehicle.
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 the 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 low voltage zone (indicated
by red dots). If the reading stays in the low voltage zone
while you are driving, you may have a problem with the
electrical charging system. Have it checked. While the
voltmeter reads in the low voltage zone, your battery
may not be able to power certain electrical accessories,
like ABS. (If this happens, the 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.

2-83 Brake System Warning Light
Your vehicle's hydraulic brake system is divided into
two parts. If one part isn't working, the other part can
still work and stop you. For good braking, though, you
need both parts working well.
If the warning light comes on, there is a brake problem.
Have your brake system inspected right away.
United States Canada
This light should come on briefly when you turn the
ignition key to RUN. If it doesn't come on then, have it
fixed so it will be ready to warn you if there's a problem.If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off the
road and stop carefully. You may notice that the pedal is
harder to push. Or, the pedal may go closer to the floor.
It may take longer to stop. If the light is still on, have the
vehicle towed for service. (See ªTowing Your Vehicleº
in the Index.)
CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working properly
if the brake system warning light is on. Driving
with the brake system warning light on can lead
to an accident. If the light is still on after you've
pulled off the road and stopped carefully, have
the vehicle towed for service.
When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
will also come on when you set your parking brake. The
light will stay on if your parking brake doesn't release
fully. If it stays on after your parking brake is fully
released, it means you have a brake problem.

2-84 Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
United States Canada
With the anti
-lock brake system, this light will come on
when you start your engine and it will stay on for three
seconds. That's normal.
If the anti
-lock brake system warning light stays on
longer than normal after you've started your engine, turn
the ignition off. Or, if the light comes on and stays on
when you're driving, stop as soon as possible and turn
the ignition off. Then start the engine again to reset the
system. If the light still stays on, or comes on again
while you're driving, your vehicle needs service. If the
light is on and the regular brake system warning light
isn't on, you still have brakes, but you don't have
anti
-lock brakes. Adjust your driving accordingly.The anti
-lock brake system warning light should come
on briefly 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.
Traction Control System Warning Light
This warning light should
come on briefly as you start
the engine. If the warning
light doesn't come on then,
have it fixed so it will be
ready to warn you if there's
a problem.
If it stays on, or comes on when you're driving, there
may be a problem with your traction control system and
your vehicle may need service. When this warning light
is on, the system will not limit wheel spin. Adjust your
driving accordingly.
The traction control system warning light will come on
if you turn the system off by pressing the TCS button
located in front of the console, the warning light will
come on and stay on. To turn the system back on, press
the button again. The warning light should go off.
(See ªTraction Control Systemº in the Index for
more information.)

2-85
If the traction control system warning light comes on
and stays on for an extended period of time when the
system is turned on, your vehicle needs service.
Low Traction Light
When your anti-lock system
is adjusting brake pressure
to help avoid a braking skid,
this light will come on.
If you have the traction control system, this light will
also come on when the system is limiting wheel spin.
You may feel or hear the system working, but this is
normal. Slippery road conditions may exist if the low
traction light comes on, so adjust your driving
accordingly. The light will stay on for a few seconds
after the traction control system stops limiting
wheel spin.
The low traction light also comes on briefly when you
turn the ignition key to RUN. If the light doesn't come
on then, have it fixed so it will be there to tell you when
the anti
-lock brake system or traction control system
is active.
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
This gage shows the engine
coolant temperature. If the
gage pointer moves into the
red area, your engine is
approaching an
overheating condition.
If you have been operating your vehicle under normal
driving conditions, you should pull off the road, stop
your vehicle and turn off the engine as soon as possible.
See ªEngine Overheatingº in the Index.