ignition PONTIAC FIREBIRD 2000 Owners Manual

1-27
NOTICE:
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
bag module and the instrument panel for the
right front passenger's air bag. Do not open or
break the air bag coverings.
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 service manual have information about
servicing your vehicle and the air bag system. To
purchase a service manual, see ªService and Owner
Publicationsº in the Index.
CAUTION:
For up to 10 seconds 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 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.

2-
2-1
Section 2 Features and Controls
Here you can learn about the many standard and optional features on your vehicle, and information on starting,
shifting and braking. Also explained are the instrument panel and the warning systems that tell you if everything is
working properly
-- and what to do if you have a problem.
2
-2 Keys
2-4 Door Locks
2-6 Keyless Entry System (If Equipped)
2-11 Hatch
2-12 Theft
2-14 Content Theft-Deterrent/Alarm
System (Option)
2
-17 PASS-Key
II
2-25 New Vehicle ªBreak-Inº
2-25 Ignition Positions
2-27 Starting Your Engine
2-30 Engine Coolant Heater (Canada Only)
2-32 Automatic Transmission Operation
2-35 Manual Transmission Operation
2-39 Parking Brake
2-40 Shifting Into PARK (P)
(Automatic Transmission Only)
2
-42 Shifting Out of PARK (P)
(Automatic Transmission)2
-42 Parking Your Vehicle (Manual Transmission)
2-43 Parking Over Things That Burn
2-43 Engine Exhaust
2-44 Running Your Engine While You're Parked
(Automatic Transmission)
2
-44 Limited-Slip Rear Axle
2-45 Windows
2-46 Tilt Wheel
2-46 Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
2-51 Exterior Lamps
2-54 Interior Lamps
2-56 Mirrors
2-57 Storage Compartments
2-61 T-Top Roof Panels (If Equipped)
2-68 Convertible Top (If Equipped)
2-76 The Instrument Panel -- Your
Information System
2
-80 Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators

2-2
Keys
CAUTION:
Leaving children in a vehicle with the ignition
key is dangerous for many reasons. A child or
others could be badly injured or even killed.
They could operate the power windows or other
controls or even make the vehicle move. Don't
leave the keys in a vehicle with children.

2-3
This key is for the
ignition only.
This key is for the doors
and all other locks.
When a new vehicle is delivered, the dealer removes the
bar
-coded plugs from the door keys and gives them to
the first owner.However, the ignition keys don't have plugs. Instead,
they have bar
-coded key tags. These tags may be
removed by your dealer or even before the vehicle is
delivered to your dealer.
Each door key plug has a code on it that tells your dealer
or a qualified locksmith how to make extra door keys.
Keep the plugs in a safe place. If you lose your door
keys, you'll be able to have new ones made using
these plugs.
If you need a new ignition key, contact your dealer who
can obtain the correct key code. Remember to carry the
pre
-cut emergency key that Pontiac sends after delivery
(this service is not available in Canada). In an emergency,
call Pontiac Roadside Assistance at 1
-800-ROADSIDE or
1
-800-762-3743. (In Canada call 1-800-268-6800.)
NOTICE:
Your vehicle has a number of new features that
can help prevent theft. But you can have a lot of
trouble getting into your vehicle if you ever lock
your keys inside. You may even have to damage
your vehicle to get in. So be sure you have
extra keys.

2-4
Door Locks
CAUTION:
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/alarm system and it is armed,
unlocking and opening a door this way will set off the
alarm after eight seconds unless the ignition key is
inserted into the ignition. See ªContent
Theft
-Deterrent/Alarm Systemº in the Index.
To lock the door from the inside, slide the lock control
located on the door rearward.
To unlock the door, slide the lock control located on the
door forward.

2-5 Power Door Locks (If Equipped)
Press the power door lock
switch located on the
driver's door to lock or
unlock both doors at once.
The power door lock switch works at all times, except
when lockout prevention (if equipped) is programmed.
The unlock switch only works when the ignition is in
RUN, ACC or Retained Accessory Power (RAP) is
active. (See ªRetained Accessory Powerº in the Index.)
Operating the power door locks may affect the content
theft
-deterrent/alarm system (if equipped). See ªContent
Theft
-Deterrent/Alarm Systemº in the Index.
Last Door Closed Locking (If Equipped)
If you have power door locks, you can program your
vehicle to delay the locking of the doors. This lets you
and your passengers exit the vehicle after you've
pressed the power door lock switch. All of the doors will
lock once everyone has gotten out of the vehicle and the
doors are closed.
When the power door lock switch is pressed, a chime
will sound three times, indicating that the last door
closed locking feature has been activated. Pressing the
power door lock switch again will lock the doors
immediately. Pressing the unlock switch will cancel a
previously requested last door closed locking.
The vehicle is shipped from the factory with this feature
turned off. To turn this feature on, see ªFeature
Customizationº in the Index.

2-6 Lockout Prevention (If Equipped)
To protect you from locking your keys in the vehicle,
this feature stops the power door locks from locking
when the keys are in the ignition and a door is open. If
the power lock switch is pressed when a door is open, a
chime will sound five times as a reminder to take the
keys out of the ignition before locking the door.
The vehicle is shipped from the factory with this feature
turned on. If you would like to turn this feature off, see
ªFeature Customizationº in the Index.
Leaving Your Vehicle
If you are leaving the vehicle, take your keys, open your
door and set the locks from inside. Then get out and
close the door.
Keyless Entry System (If Equipped)
If your vehicle has this feature, you can lock and unlock
your doors or unlock your trunk from about 3 feet (1 m)
up to 30 feet (9 m) away using the remote keyless entry
transmitter supplied with your vehicle.
Your keyless entry system operates on a radio frequency
subject to Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Rules and with Industry Canada.

2-8 Operation
The driver's door will unlock automatically when
UNLOCK is pressed on the transmitter. If UNLOCK is
pressed again within five seconds, the passenger's door
will also unlock. All doors will lock when LOCK
is pressed.
The hatch will unlock when the REAR 2X button on the
transmitter is pressed twice within five seconds (pause
slightly between presses) and as long as the ignition is
turned to OFF. If the ignition is on, the REAR 2X button
will only work if the transmission is in PARK (P) for an
automatic transmission, or if the parking brake is set on
a manual transmission.
The system will turn on the interior lamps for about
40 seconds (or until the ignition is turned to RUN),
when you unlock the doors or hatch. The interior lamps
will go off when you lock the doors.
Operating the remote keyless entry transmitter may
interact with the content theft
-deterrent/alarm system
(if equipped). See ªContent Theft
-Deterrent/Alarm
Systemº in the Index.Alarm/Panic Mode
If you are involved in a panic situation, press the horn
symbol button on your remote keyless entry transmitter
and the horn will sound and the parking lamps will
flash. This will draw needed attention to you and your
vehicle. To turn this feature off, either push the horn
symbol button again or turn the ignition key to RUN.
This feature will not work if your ignition is on or if the
transmitter is 30 feet (9 m) or more away from
your vehicle.
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 keyless entry 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 ªFeature Customizationº in the Index).

2-9 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, do
the following:
1. Turn the ignition key to RUN, then to OFF. This will
disarm the content theft
-deterrent/alarm system
(if equipped).
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 on the lower
right
-hand corner of your instrument panel. See
ªFuses and Circuit Breakersº in the Index.3. Turn the ignition key from 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 the vehicle. Leave the ignition
in RUN.
4. Press and hold the LOCK and UNLOCK buttons on
the first transmitter for 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
the buttons.
If the transmitters don't work, or if you'd rather not
match the transmitters yourself, see your dealer.

2-12 Hatch Release
Your door key opens the hatch from the outside. If your
vehicle has the content theft
-deterrent/alarm 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. See
ªContent Theft
-Deterrent/Alarm Systemº in the Index.
Remote Hatch Release
Press the button located
under the lamp control on
the driver's side below the
instrument panel to unlock
the hatch from inside
your vehicle.
If you have an automatic transmission, the shift lever
must be in PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) to use the
remote hatch release. If you have a manual transmission
and the ignition is in RUN, you must set the parking
brake before you can use the remote hatch release.This button only works when the ignition is in RUN,
ACC or when RAP is present. (See ªRetained Accessory
Powerº 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).
On vehicles with the content theft-deterrent/alarm
system, the remote hatch release button will not work
while the system is armed. See ªContent
Theft
-Deterrent/Alarm Systemº in the Index.
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.