wheel torque PONTIAC FIREBIRD 2001 Owners Manual

2-39
AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D): This position is
for normal driving. If you need more power for passing,
and you're:

Going less than about 35 mph (55 km/h), push your
accelerator pedal about halfway down.

Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push the
accelerator all the way down.
You'll shift down to the next gear and have more power.
THIRD (3): This position is also used for normal
driving, however, it offers more power and lower fuel
economy than AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D).
Here are some times you might choose THIRD (3)
instead of AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D):

When driving on hilly, winding roads.

When towing a trailer, so there is less shifting
between gears.

When going down a steep hill.SECOND (2): This position gives you more power but
lower fuel economy. You can use SECOND (2) on hills.
It can help control your speed as you go down steep
mountain roads, but then you would also want to use
your brakes off and on.
If you have a 5.7L V8 engine and manually select
SECOND (2) when you start the vehicle, the
transmission will drive (and stay) in second gear. You
may use this feature for reducing torque to the rear
wheels when you are trying to start your vehicle from
a stop on slippery road surfaces, or for preventing the
transmission from downshifting into FIRST (1) in
situations where a downshift would be undesirable.
NOTICE:
Don't drive in SECOND (2) for more than
25 miles (40 km), or at speeds over 55 mph
(90 km/h), or you can damage your transmission.
Use AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D) or
THIRD (3) as much as possible.
Don't shift into SECOND (2) unless you are
going slower than 65 mph (105 km/h), or you
can damage your engine.

5-30
8. Tighten the wheel
nuts firmly in a
crisscross sequence
as shown. Install
the plastic nut
caps and tighten
by hand.
Then, using the wheel wrench, tighten an additional
one
-quarter turn.
CAUTION:
Incorrect wheel nuts or improperly tightened
wheel nuts can cause the wheel to become loose
and even come off. This could lead to an accident.
Be sure to use the correct wheel nuts. If you have
to replace them, be sure to get new GM original
equipment wheel nuts.
Stop somewhere as soon as you can and
have the nuts tightened with a torque wrench
to 100 lb
-ft (140 N´m).
NOTICE:
Improperly tightened wheel nuts can lead to
brake pulsation and rotor damage. To avoid
expensive brake repairs, evenly tighten the wheel
nuts in the proper sequence and to the proper
torque specification.
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools
CAUTION:
Storing a jack, a tire or other equipment in the
passenger compartment of the vehicle could
cause injury. In a sudden stop or collision, loose
equipment could strike someone. Store all these
in the proper place.
Return the jack, wheel wrench and flat tire using the
storage instructions. When you reinstall the trim panel,
be sure to tuck it under the weatherstrip.

6-47
If you have P245/50ZR16 Goodyear Eagle GS-C tires
or P275/40ZR17 Goodyear Eagle F1
-GS tires,
they must roll in a certain direction for the best overall
performance. The direction is shown by an arrow on the
sidewall. Because these tires are directional, they should
be rotated as shown here. These tires should only be
moved from front to rear and rear to front on the same
side of the vehicle.Don't include the compact spare tire in your tire rotation.
After the tires have been rotated, adjust the front and
rear inflation pressures as shown on the Tire
-Loading
Information label. Make certain that all wheel nuts
are properly tightened. See ªWheel Nut Torqueº in
the Index.
CAUTION:
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts to which
it is fastened, can make wheel nuts become loose
after a time. The wheel could come off and cause
an accident. When you change a wheel, remove
any rust or dirt from places where the wheel
attaches to the vehicle. In an emergency,
you can use a cloth or a paper towel to do this;
but be sure to use a scraper or wire brush later,
if you need to, to get all the rust or dirt off.
See ªChanging a Flat Tireº in the Index.

6-70
Capacities and Specifications
The following approximate capacities are given in English
and metric conversions. Please refer to ªRecommended
Fluids and Lubricantsº in the Index for more information.
Air Conditioning
See the refrigerant . . . . . . . . . . . .
information label under the hood.
Automatic Transmission
Drain and Refill 5.0 quarts (4.7 L). . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Overhaul
3800 V6 8.8 quarts (8.3 L). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5.7L V8 10.8 quarts (10.2 L). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Manual Transmission
Five
-Speed 3.4 quarts (3.2 L). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Six
-Speed 4.0 quarts (3.8 L). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cooling System
3800 V6
With Manual Transmission 11.6 quarts (11.0 L). . . .
With Automatic
Transmission 11.4 quarts (10.8 L). . . . . . . . . . . . .
5.7L V8
With Manual Transmission 11.9 quarts (11.3 L). . . .
With Automatic
Transmission 11.8 quarts (11.2 L). . . . . . . . . . . . . Crankcase
Oil and Filter Change
3800 V6 4.5 quarts (4.3 L). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5.7L V8 5.5 quarts (5.2 L). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fuel Tank16.5 U.S. gallons (63 L) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tire Pressures, SizesSee Tire
-Loading . . . . . . . . . . .
Information label on
rear edge of driver's door.
Wheel Nut Torque100 lb
-ft (140 N´m) . . . . . . . . . .
Rear Axle Lubricant1.75 quarts (1.7 L) . . . . . . . . .
All capacities are approximate. When adding, be sure to
fill to the appropriate level, as recommended in this
manual. Recheck fluid level after filling.
Engine Specifications
Type
VIN Engine Code K 3800 V6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
VIN Engine Code G 5.7L V8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fuel DeliveryFuel Injection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Valve ArrangementIn
-Head . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Displacement
3800 V6 231 cubic inches (3791 cc). . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5.7L V8 346 cubic inches (5670 cc). . . . . . . . . . . . . .