PONTIAC FIREBIRD 2001 Manual Online

2-21
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. See ªRoadside
Assistanceº in the Index for more information.

2-22
Feature Customization (If Equipped)
Your vehicle's content theft-deterrent/alarm system, locks and lighting systems can be programmed with several
different features. The features you can program depend upon the options that came with your vehicle. The following
chart shows the features that can be programmed. To determine which features your vehicle is equipped with, follow
the steps listed for entering the programming mode.

2-23 Entering Programming Mode
To program any feature, your vehicle must be in the
programming mode. Follow these steps:
1. Put your key in the ignition.
2. Turn the ignition to RUN to disarm the content
theft
-deterrent/alarm system.
3. Turn the ignition to OFF.
4. Remove the RADIO fuse. This fuse is in the
main fuse block, located on the left side of your
instrument panel. See ªFuses and Circuit Breakersº
in the Index.
5. Turn the ignition toward you to ACC.
6. Count the number of chimes you hear. You will
hear one or two chimes depending on the features
your vehicle is equipped with. Refer to the chart
shown previously.
You can now program your choices.
To exit the programming mode, follow the steps
listed under ªLeaving Programming Modeº later
in this section.
Exit Lighting and Delayed Illumination
With exit lighting, your interior lamps will come on
for up to 25 seconds when the key is removed from
the ignition.
With delayed illumination, your interior lamps will
come on and stay on for up to 25 seconds when
entering your vehicle and up to five seconds when
leaving your vehicle.
Programmable Modes
Mode 1: Both Off
Mode 2: Delayed Illumination Only
Mode 3: Exit Lighting Only
Mode 4: Both On

2-24
When your vehicle was shipped from the factory, it was
programmed in Mode 4. The mode to which the vehicle
has been programmed may have been changed since it
left the factory. To determine the mode to which your
vehicle is programmed or to program your vehicle to a
different mode, do the following:
1. Turn the courtesy lamps on by turning the instrument
panel brightness control all the way up.
2. Count the number of chimes you hear. The number
of chimes tells you which mode your vehicle is set
for. (If you do not wish to change the current mode,
you can either exit the programming mode by
following the instructions later in this section or
program the next feature available on your vehicle.)
3. Turn the courtesy lamp switch off to change the
current mode.
4. Turn the courtesy lamp switch from on to off until
you hear the number of chimes that corresponds to
the mode selection you want.
The mode you selected is now set. You can either exit
the programming mode by following the instructions
later in this section or program the next feature available
on your vehicle.Last Door Closed Locking and
Lockout Prevention
These features are designed to help prevent your keys
from being locked in your vehicle.
Programmable Modes
Mode 1: Both Off (Doors will lock/unlock when you
press the power door lock switch.)
Mode 2: Lockout Prevention Only (If you leave your
keys in the ignition and leave through the driver's door,
you won't be able to lock the doors with the power door
lock switch.)
Mode 3: Last Door Closed Locking Only (If the power
door lock switch is used to lock the vehicle while any
door is open, you will hear three chimes. The doors
will not lock until after all doors are closed.)
Mode 4: Both On (This combines Mode 2 and 3.)

2-25
When your vehicle was shipped from the factory, it was
programmed in Mode 2. The mode to which the vehicle
has been programmed may have been changed since it
left the factory. To determine the mode to which your
vehicle is programmed or to program your vehicle to a
different mode, do the following:
1. Press the power door lock switch on the door.
2. Count the number of chimes you hear. The number
of chimes tells you which mode your vehicle is set
for. (If you do not wish to change the current mode,
you can either exit the programming mode by
following the instructions later in this section or
program the next feature available on your vehicle.)
3. Press the power door lock switch again on the door
until you hear the number of chimes that corresponds
to the mode selection you want.
The mode you selected is now set. You can either exit
the programming mode by following the instructions
later in this section or program the next feature available
on your vehicle.Remote Keyless Entry Verification
This feature provides feedback when the vehicle
receives a command from the remote keyless
entry transmitter.
Programmable Modes
Mode 1: All Off (The headlamps will not flash and
the horn will not sound to provide you feedback that a
lock/unlock command has been received by the remote
keyless entry transmitter.)
Mode 2: Horn and Lamps/Lamps (Your horn will sound
briefly and your parking lamps will flash when you press
LOCK on the remote keyless entry transmitter. Only your
parking lamps will flash when you press UNLOCK.)
Mode 3: Horn and Lamps (Your horn will sound briefly
and your parking lamps will flash every time you push
LOCK or UNLOCK.)
Mode 4: Lamps (Your parking lamps will flash every
time you press LOCK or UNLOCK.)
Mode 5: Lamps/Horn and Lamps/Lamps (Your lamps will
flash upon the first press on LOCK, your lamps will flash
and your horn will sound upon the second press on LOCK
and your lamps will flash upon any press on UNLOCK.)

2-26
When your vehicle was shipped from the factory, it was
programmed in Mode 5. The mode to which the vehicle
has been programmed may have been changed since it
left the factory. To determine the mode to which your
vehicle is programmed or to program your vehicle to a
different mode, do the following:
1. Press the UNLOCK button on the remote keyless
entry transmitter.
2. Count the number of chimes you hear. The number
of chimes tells you which mode your vehicle is set
for. (If you do not wish to change the current mode,
you can either exit the programming mode by
following the instructions later in this section or
program the next feature available on your vehicle.)
3. Press the UNLOCK button, again, on the remote
keyless entry transmitter until you hear the number
of chimes that corresponds to the mode selection
you want.
The mode you selected is now set. You can either exit
the programming mode by following the instructions
later in this section or program the next feature available
on your vehicle.Theft-Deterrent Arming Method
With this feature, you can program your vehicle to arm
the content theft
-deterrent/alarm system using the
remote keyless entry transmitter, the power door lock
switch or by passive arming.
Programmable Modes
Mode 1: Alarm System Off (The system will not arm.)
Mode 2: Remote Keyless Entry Transmitter Lock
(When you lock your doors using the LOCK button
on the remote keyless entry transmitter, the system will
arm itself.)
Mode 3: Remote Keyless Entry Transmitter/Power
Door Lock Switch (If you use either the LOCK button
on the remote keyless entry transmitter or the power
door lock switch to lock the doors, the system will
arm itself.)
Mode 4: Passive Arming and Remote Keyless
Entry Transmitter/Power Door Lock Switch Arming
(The system will arm itself after all doors are closed,
plus arming per Mode 3.)

2-27
When your vehicle was shipped from the factory, it was
programmed in Mode 3. The mode to which the vehicle
has been programmed may have been changed since it
left the factory. To determine the mode to which your
vehicle is programmed or to program your vehicle to a
different mode, do the following:
1. Press the unlock switch on the door.
2. Count the number of chimes you hear. The number
of chimes tells you which mode your vehicle is set
for. (If you do not wish to change the current mode,
you can either exit the programming mode by
following the instructions later in this section or
program the next feature available on your vehicle.)
3. Press the unlock switch, again, on the door until you
hear the number of chimes that corresponds to the
mode selection you want.
The mode you selected is now set. You can either exit
the programming mode by following the instructions
later in this section or program the next feature available
on your vehicle.Theft-Deterrent Arming Verification
With this feature, you can program your vehicle to
give verification when the theft
-deterrent system has
been armed.
Programmable Modes
Mode 1: All Off (No horn chirps or parking lamp flash.)
Mode 2: Horn and Lamps (Your parking lamps will
flash and your horn will chirp twice to verify the system
is armed using any arming method.)
Mode 3: Horn and Lamps/Lamps (If you use the
remote keyless entry transmitter to arm the system, your
parking lamps will flash and your horn will chirp twice
to verify that the system is armed. If it only chirps once,
the hatch is open or unlatched. If you use either the
power door lock switch or passive arming, only your
parking lamps will flash for verification.)
Mode 4: Lamps (When your vehicle arms, only your
parking lamps will flash for verification.)

2-28
When your vehicle was shipped from the factory, it was
programmed in Mode 3. The mode to which the vehicle
has been programmed may have been changed since it
left the factory. To determine the mode to which your
vehicle is programmed or to program your vehicle to a
different mode, do the following:
1. Press the LOCK button on the remote keyless
entry transmitter.
2. Count the number of chimes you hear. The number
of chimes tells you which mode your vehicle is set
for. (If you do not wish to change the current mode,
you can either exit the programming mode by
following the instructions later in this section or
program the next feature available on your vehicle.)
3. Press the LOCK button, again, on the remote
keyless entry transmitter until you hear the number
of chimes that corresponds to the mode selection
you want.
The mode you selected is now set. You can either exit
the programming mode by following the instructions
later in this section or program the next feature available
on your vehicle.Driver's Door Alarm Delay and Shock
Sensor Enable
These features will allow you to change when the alarm
system will sound and to turn the shock sensor on or off.
Programmable Modes
Mode 1: Zero Delay and Shock Sensor Disabled
(The alarm will sound immediately if the driver's door
is opened with your key and the shock sensor will not
be available to measure sharp blows to your vehicle.)
Mode 2: Eight
-Second Delay and Shock Sensor
Disabled (The alarm will sound eight seconds after the
driver's door is opened with your key and the shock
sensor will not be available to measure sharp blows to
your vehicle.)
Mode 3: Zero Delay and Shock Sensor Enabled
(The alarm will sound immediately after the driver's
door is opened with your key and the shock sensor will
be available to measure sharp blows to your vehicle.)
Mode 4: Eight
-Second Delay and Shock Sensor
Enabled (The alarm will sound eight seconds after the
driver's door is opened with your key and the shock
sensor will be available to measure sharp blows to
your vehicle.)

2-29
When your vehicle was shipped from the factory, it was
programmed in Mode 4. The mode to which the vehicle
has been programmed may have been changed since it
left the factory. To determine the mode to which your
vehicle is programmed or to program your vehicle to a
different mode, do the following:
1. Turn the parking lamps on and off.
2. Count the number of chimes you hear. The number
of chimes tells you which mode your vehicle is set
for. (If you do not wish to change the current mode,
you can either exit the programming mode by
following the instructions later in this section or
program the next feature available on your vehicle.)
3. Turn the parking lamps on and off, again, until you
hear the number of chimes that corresponds to the
mode selection you want.
The mode you selected is now set. You can either exit
the programming mode by following the instructions
next in this section or program the next feature available
on your vehicle.
Exiting Programming Mode
When programming is complete, turn the ignition to
OFF and reinstall the RADIO fuse.
New Vehicle ªBreak-Inº
NOTICE:
Your vehicle doesn't need an elaborate
ªbreak
-in.º But it will perform better in
the long run if you follow these guidelines:

Keep your speed at 55 mph (88 km/h) or
less for the first 500 miles (805 km).

Don't drive at any one speed
-- fast or
slow
-- for the first 500 miles (805 km).
Don't make full
-throttle starts.

Avoid making hard stops for the first
200 miles (322 km) or so. During this time
your new brake linings aren't yet broken
in. Hard stops with new linings can mean
premature wear and earlier replacement.
Follow this breaking
-in guideline every
time you get new brake linings.

Don't tow a trailer during break
-in.
See ªTowing a Trailerº in the Index for
more information.

2-30
Ignition Positions
With the key in the ignition, you can turn the switch to
five different positions.
ACC (A): This is the position in which you can operate
your electrical power accessories. Push in the ignition
switch as you turn it toward you.
LOCK (B): This is 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).
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.