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NOTICE - Pontiac

1. 255 E Protection Plan Have you purchased the GM Protection Plan The Plan supplements your new car warranties See your GM dealer for details Maintenance Schedule Introduction A Word about Maintenance We at General Motors want to help you keep your vehicle in gow working condition But we don t know exactly how you ll drive it You may drive very short distances only a few times a weck Or you may drive long distances all the time in very hot dusty weather You may use your vehicle in making deliveries Or you may drive it to work to do errands or in many other ways Because of all the different ways people use their GM vehicles maintenance needs vary You may even need more frequent checks and replacements than you will find in the schedules in this part So please read this part and note how you drive If you have any questions on how to keep your vehicle in good condition see your Pontiac dealer the place many GM owners choose to have their maintenance work done Your dealer can be relied upon t use proper parts and practices 240 Your Vehicle and the Environment Proper vehicle maintenance not only helps to keep your vehicle in good working condition but also helps the environment All recommended maintenance procedures are important Improper vehicle maintenance or the removal of important components can significantly affect the quality of the air we br
2. Check Gages Light Low Oil Light This light will come on briefly when you Your vehicle is equipped with an oil level are starting the engine If the light comes monitoring system When you start your on and stays on while you are driving engine the light will come on briefly If check your gages to see if they are in the the light doesn t come on have it warning areas 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 Engine Oil in the Index 96 Driving with the LOW COOLANT LOW light on could cause your Pontiac to overheal See Engine Overheating COOLANT in the Index Your Pontiac could be damaged and it wouldn t be covered hy your warranty Low Coolant Light V8 Engine m Convertible Top This light should come on while you are The following procedures explain the starting your engine If the light doesn t proper operation of your convertible tap come on have it repaired The light also comes on when the coolant in your To Lower Your Convertible Top radiator is low You may need to add coolant See Engine Coolant in the 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 seal material and other things inside vour vehicle 97 Features and Controls 1 Park on a level surface Set the pa
3. eae 121 Care of Your Cassette Tape Player 22 2 peeve cpus eer 122 Care of Your Compact Discs 123 PEE a AEE Para RR RE EXE EU CXII 123 103 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems m Comfort Controls With this system you can control the heating and ventilation in your Pontiac If you have the air conditioning option you can also contral cooling Your vehicle also has the flow through ventilation system described later in this section Heater Controls Fan Control Knob 88 Turn this knob to select the force of air you want 104 gt Air is directed through the windshield defroster vents and the heater ducts This setting directs most of the air through the windshield defroster vents and some of the air through the heater ducts Heating The heater works best if you keep your windows closed while using it Temperature Control Knob Turn the knob to change the temperature of the air flowing from the heating system Turn it to the right for warmer air and to the left far cooler air The temperature of the air can not be less than the temperature of the outside air 1 Turn the air control knob to TE 2 Turn the fan control knob to the right 3 Turn the temperature control knob to a comfortable setting Air Control Knob OFF The system is off AJ Air flows through the upper air vents eJ Air is directed through t
4. the Answers sie you should not do with safety Penne eta BMG cae es reece tine mesh eerie E belts ae How to Wear Safety Belts Properly ccc cece rhon nnn 19 ETE vitia aloe EAS 30 CIO RRR eke AREA EA RETE aD RIA a 3l Larret CRIE NOIL STU E TUE EU EE Safety Belt Extender RCE toe OR alee ei 39 Checking Your Restraint Systems Rebs Pete EFFERRE EAE REPE dete 40 Replacing Safety Belts after a 40 Seats and Restraint Systems Seats and Seat Controls This section tells you about the seats how to adjust them and also about reclining front seatbacks seatback latches and the folding rear seatback Manual Front Seat Move the lever under the passenger s front seat to unlock it Slide the seat to where you want it Then release the lever and try to move the seat with your body to make sure the seat is locked into place Be sure the lever returns to its original position after moving the seat Four Way Manual Seat To move the driver s seat forward or backward lift the lever under the left front of the seat Slide the seat to where you want it Then release the lever and try to move the seat with your body t make sure the seat is locked into place To tilt the entire seat
5. eee 243 Maintenance Schedule Section A Scheduled Maintenance Services Cont chedule II N ru An Emission Control Service t The 175 Environmental Protection Agency ov He California Air Resources Board has determined that the failure to perform this maintenance item will nor nudlify the emission warranty or recall Bability prior to the completion of vehicle useful fife General Motors however urges that all recommended maintenance services be performed at the indicated intervals and the maintenance be recorded in Section E Maintenance Record 2 244 Engine Change Lese Transmissi Service WHEN TO PERFORM Miles or Month wiichever occurs first WHAT TO SERVICE Explanation of Scheduled Maintenance Services following Schedules and avery 7 5060 miles 12 S00 km or L2 months At first and every other ool change Every 7 500 miles 12 500 km or 12 months At 7 500 miles 12 km and then every 13 04 miles 25 X kim as necessary Oil Filter Change Tire and Wheel Rotation amp Inspection Engine Accessory Drive Belt Inspection Every 30 000 miles SC QUO Km ar 24 monite Cooling System Service See Explanation of Scheduled Maindenance Services following Schedules and IL C ALLANT CCS ay l e Every 34 000 miles 50 000 km Spark Plug
6. _ Features and Controls The ignition keys are for the ignition only The door keys are for the doors and all other locks CAUTION Leaving young 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 power windows or other controls or even make the vehicle move Don t leave the keys ina vehicle with young children 42 When a new Firebird is delivered the dealer removes the plugs from the door keys and gives them to the first owner The ignition keys don t have plugs Instead they have bar coded key tags These tags may he removed hy your dealer or even before the car is delivered to your dealer Each plug has a code on it that tells your dealer or a qualified locksmith how to make extra door keys Keep the plugs in sale place you lose your door keys you ll be able to have new ones made using these plugs If you need a new ignition key go to your Pontiac dealer who can obtain the correct key cade In an emergency call Pontiac Roadside Assistance at I SOX ROADSIDE NOTICE Your Pontiac has a number of new features that can help prevent theft But you can have a lot of trouble get ting 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 Pontiac also supplies a key card that you can use if you do
7. move the trailer to the right move your hand to the right Always back up slowly and if possible have someone guide you Making Turns When you re turning with a trailer make wider turns than normal Do this so your trailer won t strike soft shoulders curbs road signs trees or other objects Avoid jerky or sudden maneuvers Signal well in advance Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer When you tow a trailer your vehicle has to have a different turn signal tlasher and extra wiring The green arrows on your instrument panel will flash whenever you signal a turn or lane change Properly hooked up the trailer lights will also flash telling other drivers you re about t tum change lanes or stop 148 Your Driving and the Road When towing a trailer the green arrows on your instrument panel will flash for turns even if the bulbs on the trailer are burned out Thus vou may think drivers behind you are seeing your signal when they are not It s important to check occasionally to be sure the trailer bulbs are still working Driving on Grades Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you start down a long or steep downgrade If you don t shift down you might have to use your brakes so much that they would get hot and no longer work well On a long uphill grade shift down and reduce your speed to around 45 mph 70 km h to reduce the possibility of engine and transmission overheating If
8. Position the jack under the vehicle There Stay away from the moldings or fender is a notch in the vehicle s rocker flange flanges to avoid damaging them on the coupe model Raise the jack head until it fits firmly into the notch nearest the flat tire N CAUTION Getting under a vehicle when it is jacked up is dangerous If the vehicle slips off the jack you could be badly injured or killed Never get under a vehicle when it is supported only by jack On convertible models place the jack in a similar location MM ee eee OO 175 Problems on the Road Raise the vehicle by rotating the wheel wrench clockwise Raise the vehicle far enough off the ground so there is enough room for the spare tire to 176 Remove all the wheel nuts and take off the flat tire N CAUTION Rust or dirt on the wheel or on the parts to which it is fastened can make the 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 the places where the wheel attaches the vehicle In an emer gency you can use a cloth or a paper towel to do this but be sure use a scraper or wire brush later if you need to to get all the rust or dirt off Remove any rust or dirt from the wheel bolts mounting surfaces and spare wheel Place the spare on the w
9. may have poor traction performance Warning The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on braking straight ahead traction tests and does not include cornering turning traction indoor laboratory test wheel Sustained high temperature can cause the material of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire life and excessive temperature can lead te sudden tire failure The grade C corresponds to a level of performance which all passenger car tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No 109 Grades B and A represent higher levels of performance on the laboratory test wheel than the minimum required by law Warning The temperature grade for this tire is established for a tire that is properly inflated and not overloaded Excessive speed underinflation or excessive loading either separately or in combination can cause heat buildup and possible tire failure Those grades are molded on the sidewalls of passenger car tires While the tires availahle as standard or optional equipment on General Motors vehicles may vary with respect to these Temperature A B C The temperature grades are A the highest B and C representing the tire s resistance to the generation of heat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested under controlled conditions on a specified Treadwear grades all such tires meet General Motors performance standards and have been approved for use on General Motor
10. Gently scrape excess soil from the trim material with a clean dull knife or scraper Use very little cleaner light pressure and clean cloths preferably cheesecloth Cleaning should start at the outside of the stain Teathering toward the center Keep changing to a clean section of the cloth When you clean a stain from fabric immediately dry the area with an air hose hair dryer or heat lamp to help prevent a cleaning ring Sec the previous NOTICE Special Cleaning Problems Greasy or oily stains Such as grease oil butter margarine shoe polish coffee with cream chewing gum cosmetic creams vegetable oils wax crayon tar and asphalt Carefully scrape off excess stain Follow the solvent type instructions described earlier Shoe polish wax crayon tar and asphalt will stain if left on a vehicle seat fabric They should be removed as soon as possible Be careful because the cleaner will dissolve them and may cause them to spread Non greasy stains Such as catsup coffee black egg fruit fruit juice milk soft drinks wine vomit urine and blood e Carefully scrape off excess stain then sponge the soiled area with cool water e Ifa stain remains follow the foam type instructions described earlier e fan odor lingers after cleaning vomit or urine treat the area with a water haking soda solution teaspoon 5 ml of baking soda to 250 ml of lukewarm water e Il needed
11. These three things are usually included in a doughnut shaped logo symbol on most containers If you cannot find oils with the starburst symbol you should look for oils with the doughnut shaped symbol containing the three things noted above If you use oils that do not have either the starburst symbol or an API SH or SG designation you can cause engine damage not covered by your warranty GM Goodwrench oil in Canada GM Engine Oil meets all the requirements for your vehicle Engine Oil Additives Don t add anything to your oil Your Pontiac dealer is ready to advise if you think something should be added When to Change Engine Oil See if any one of these is true for you Most trips are less than 4 miles 6 km its below freezing outside and trips are less than 10 miles 16 km The engine is at low speed most of the time as in door to door delivery or in stop and go traffic You tow a trailer often Most trips are through dusty places If any one of these is true for your vehicle then you need to change your oil and filter every 3 000 miles 5 000 km or 3 months whichever comes first If none of them is true change the oil every 7 500 miles 12 500 km or 12 months whichever comes first Change the filter at the first oil change and at every other ail change after that Engine Coolant Heater Engine Block Heater An engine coolant heater can be a big help
12. When you replace vour thermostat an AC thermostat is recommended 204 NOTICE e When using concentrated washer Huid follow the manufacturer s instructions for adding water Don t mix water with ready to use washer Huid Water can cause the solution to freeze and damage your washer tank and other parts of the washer system Also water doesn t clean What to Add Windshield Washer Fluid as well as washer fluid Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to To Add All vour washe id tank only determine what kind of fluid to use See 9 es TM Washer Hana tane Recommended Fluids and Lubricants in Open the cap labeled WASHER FLUID 3 4 full when its very cold This ONLY Add washer until the bottle allows for expansion which could the Index va is full damage the tank if it is completely Full Don t use radiator antifreeze in vour windshield washer It can damage your washer system and paint NOTICE When adding power steering fluid or making a complete fluid change always use the proper fluid Failure to use the proper fluid can cause leaks and damage hoses and seals 205 Service and Appearance Care So it isn t a good idea to lop off your brake fluid Adding brake fluid won t correct a leak If you add fluid when your linings are worn then you ll have too much fluid when you get new brake linings You should add or remove brake fluid as nec
13. 74 Fourth gear you can press the clutch again and shift into another gear Follow the shift speeds in this chart when the SKIP SHIFT light is on Computer Aided Manual Transmission Shift Speeds Istto4th I5 mph 24 km h 4th iro Sth 25 mph 40 km h Sth to 6th 40 mph 64 km h Each time you come to stop the engine s Electronic Control Module ECM determines when to activate the SKIP SHIFT upshift system Use 2 Second gear only when you accelerate very quickly from a stop You can then follow the full gear shift pattern MI mph 48 km h when accelerating to highway speeds 45 mph 72 km h when accelerating to highway speeds 61 Features and Controls Shift Speeds MANUAL TRANSMISSION This chart shows when to shift to the next higher gear for best fuel economy m Limited Slip Rear Axle If you have this feature your rear axle can give you additional traction on MANUAL TRANSMISSION RECOMMENDED SHIFT SPEEDS IN MPH km h anow mud ice sand or gravel t works 5 7L LT1 Code P 3 4L L32 Code 5 like standard axle most of the time but when one of the rear wheels has no traction and the other does the limited slip feature will allow the wheel with traction to move the vehicle 182 aoe 13 16 1 28 32 37 ES LOI ELEM If your speed drops below 20 imp 30 km h or if the engine is not running smoothly
14. Backup Lights Daytime Running Lights Module Canada Turn Flasher 20 Amp 3 HVAC Selector Switch Heater Air Conditioner Rear Defogger 25 Amp 4 Powertrain Control Module Instrument Cluster PASS Key Decoder Module 10 Amp 5 Powertrain Control Module PASS Key Decoder Module Fuel Pump Relay 15 Amp 10 Exterior Lighting 20 Amp 230 11 Cigarette Lighter Hom Relay 25 Amp 7 Power Door Locks Power Mirrors 12 Power Seats Rear Defogger 30 Amp Circuit Breaker 13 Brightness Control 5 Amp 14 Windshield Wiper Washer 25 Amp 15 Power Windows Convertible Top Switch 30 Amp Circuit Breaker 16 Diagnostic Energy Reserve Module 3 Amp 17 Radio Steering Wheel Controls 15 Amp Underhood Electrical Center 7 Air Injection Pump Assembly Air Pump Relay 20 Amp s 8 Not Used 1 Electronic Brake Control Module 9 Fuel Injectors 7 5 Amp 2 0 ane SA 10 Fuel Injectors 7 5 Amp Fog pod 20 Amp 11 VIN Engine Code 5 Camshaft 3 Headlight Doors Module 15 Position Sensor Crankshaft Amp Position Sensor Electronic 4 Headlight Doors Module 15 Ignition Module 10 Amp Amp VIN Engine Code P Ignition 5 Anti Lock Brake System 5 Amp E feces Coil Driver 6 Coolant Fan Relays EVAP Canister Purge Solenoid Exhaust Vc AE Compe Compressor Gas Recirculation Low Coolant Relay
15. If your rear wheels can t rotate don t try t drive This might happen if you were stuck in very deep sand or mud or were up against a solid object You could damage your transmission Also if you stop when going uphill don t hold your vehicle there with only the accelerator pedal This could overheat and damage the transmission Use vour brakes or shift into F Park to hold your vehicle in position on a hill Maximum engine speed is limited to protect driveline components from improper operation B Manual Transmission Five Speed This is your shift pattern Here s how to operate your transmission e 1 First Gear Press the clutch pedal and shift into 1 Then slowly let up on the clutch pedal s you press the accelerator pedal You can shift into 17 when you re going less than 20 mph 32 km h If you ve come to a complete stop and it s hard to shift into 1 put the shift lever in Neutral and let up on the clutch Press the clutch pedal back down Then shift into 1 2 Second Gear Press the clutch pedal as you let up on the accelerator pedal and shift into 2 Then slowly let up on the clutch pedal as vou press the accelerator pedal 3 4 and 5 Third Fourth and Fifth Gears Shift into 3 4 and 5 the same way you do for 2 Slowly let up on the clutch pedal as you press the accelerator pedal To Stop Let up on the accelerator pedal and press the brake
16. Press the clutch and shift to Neutral pedal and shift into 1 Then slowly let up on the clutch pedal as you press the accelerator pedal You can shift into 1 when you re going less than 20 mph 30 km h If you ve come to a complete stop and it s hard to shift into 1 put the shift lever in Neutral and let up on the clutch Press the clutch pedal back down Then shift into 1 60 Your six speed manual transmission has a feature that allows you to safely shift into R Reverse while the vehicle is rolling at less than 3 mph You will be lacked out if you try to shift into R Reverse while your vehicle is moving faster than 3 mph If you have turned your ignition off and wish to park your vehicle in Reverse you will have to move the shift lever quickly to the right crashing through the high load spring and then into gear Skip Shift Light 5 7L LTI Engine When this light comes on you can only shift from 17 First to 4 Fourth gear instead of 1 First to 2 Second gear This helps you to get the best possible fuel economy This light will come on under these conditions The engine coolant temperature is greater than 170 F 777 C You are going 15 20 mph 24 32 km h and amp You are at 35 throttle or less When this light is on the gear shift lever First gear to A Fourth gears only Once you are in FE will let you shift from
17. WHAT TO SERVICE See Explanation of Scheduled Maintenance Services following Schedules I and WHEN TO PERFORM Miles kilometers or Months wiehever occurs first Every 3 0 miles 5 000 Em or 3 months At 6 000 miles LO OLD and every Fhap 1 Tire and Wheel Rotation amp Inspectoon 15 000 miles 23 000 km or as necessary Every 30 004 males 40 000 km 24 montis Sec Explimatis n of Scheduled Maintenance Services following Schedules and IT Spark Flug Replacement 4L 1 32 Cile 8 Engine Every 30 000 miles Every 100 000 miles 166 00 km Spark Plug Wire Enspection t Every 300000 miles 50 000 km Air Cleuner Filter Eepiacemeni Fuel Tank Cap amp Lines Inspection 1 Spark Plug Replacement 5 7L LTI Code P Engine See Explanation of Scheduled Maintenance Services following Schedules and Every 30 000 mikes 150 000 Rear Axle Fluid Change For Vehicles Towing Trailers or for Vehicles wath Limited Slip Differentials Sec Expluniion of Scheduled Maintenance Services follawing Schedules 1 ard The services shown on this chart up to 43 000 mules 80 OUO kin should be performed after AE 0049 miles CHI Kr ai the same bntereals MILES 000 KILOMETERS 000 5 ro 15 20 25 35 5o 55 6 75 rn CAR
18. higher for drinking drivers CAUTION Drinking and then driving is very dangerous Your reflexes perceptions and judgment will be affected by even small amount of alcohol You could have a serious or even fatal accident if you drive after drinking Please don t drink and drive or ride with a driver who has been drinking Ride home in a cab or if you re with a group designate a driver who will not drink 128 Control of a Vehicle You have three systems that make your vehicle ga where you want il to go They are the brakes the steering and the accelerator All three systems have to do their work at the places where the tires meet the road Sometimes as when you re driving on snow or ice it s easy to ask more of those control systems than the tires and road can provide That means you can lose control of your vehicle Braking Braking action involves perception time and reaction time First you have to decide to push on the brake pedal That s perception time Then you have to bring up your toot and do it That s peaction time Average reaction time is about 3 4 of a second But that s only an average It might be less with one driver and as long as two or three seconds or more with another Age physical condition alertness coordination and eyesight all play 50 do alcohol drugs and frustration But even in 3 4 of a second a vehicle moving at 60 mph
19. to quickly advance within a track Release it to resume playing The radio will play during this operation Random Press RDM to hear random selection of tracks To Stop the Disc Player Turn the power off or turn the ignition key off The disc stays in the player and will resume playing at the point where it stopped Press AM FM to stop playing the disc and switch to radio Press CD PLAY to restart the disc at the point where it stopped Press EJECT to eject the disc or stop the disc arid switch to radio EJECT will work with the ignition or radio off Press EJECT to load a disc when the audio system is off 120 Theft Deterrent System Your audio system is equipped with the THEFTLOCK theft deterrent system Sce Theft Deterrent System at the end of this section Theft Deterrent Feature THEFTLOCK is a security feature for the cassette tape and compact disc player can be used or ignored If ignored the T system functions normally If it 15 used your system won t be usable if it s ever B stolen When the system is active the indicator light will flash while the ignition 9 is off Setting Your Security Code 10 The instructions below tell you how to enter a security code into the system If your vehicle loses battery power for any reason you must enter the security code again before the system will turn on 1 Write down any number from COO to 1999 and k
20. to reduce tape noise This NOTE This radio has a broken symbol will appear in the display feature that will eject broken or misfed tupes Because of this feature CD changers that plug into the tape deck will not work in this system Theft Deterrent System Your audio system is equipped with the THEFTLOCK thett deterrent system See Theft Deterrent System at the end of this section Comfort Controls and Audio Systems Seek Press SEEK A or SEEK W to go to the next lower or higher station and stay there Pushbuttons The six pushbuttons let you return to your favorite stations To set the pushbuttons for up to 18 stations 6 AM 6 and FM2 1 Press AM FM to choose AM or 2 2 Tune in the station 3 Press and hold one of the six Stereo with Cassette AM FM adimi until the display Ret Tape Plaver and Graphic Press AM FM to get AM or FM2 PE PRTI RETE press nd p The lighted display shows your selection button the preset station will return Tune Press TUNE to release the knob Turn the knob ro choose radio stations Push To Play the Radio Push POWER to tum the system on or off TUNE back in to store it when not Volume tuning Turn the VOLUME knob to adjust the Recall sound Press RECALL to recall the station being played or the clock display You can also press RECALL to disp
21. 2 Add fluid at the filler plug hole Add only enough fluid to bring the fluid level up to the bottom of the filler plug hole Install the filler plug Be sure the plug is fully seated Hydraulic Clutch The hydraulic clutch in your vehicle is self adjusting The clutch master cylinder reservoir is filled with hydraulic clutch fluid It isn ta good idea to top off your clutch fluid Adding fluid won t correct leak A fluid loss in this system could indicate a problem Have the system inspected and repaired When to Check and What to Use Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine how often you should check the fluid level in your clutch master cylinder reservoir and for the proper fluid See Owner Checks and Services and Recommended Fluids and Lubricants in the Index How to Check The proper fluid should be added if the level 15 below the STEP mark on the reservoir See the instructions on the reservoir cap Rear Axle When to Check and Change Lubricant Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine how often to check the lubricant and when to change it See Periodic Maintenance Inspections in the Index How to Check Lubricant If the level is below the bottom of the filler plug hole you ll need to add some lubricant Add enough lubricant to raise the level to the bottom of the filler plug hole What to Use Standard Differential Use Axle Lubricant GM Part No 105
22. 3 Press and hold one of the six pushbuttons until the display shows SET Whenever you press that button the preset station will return Tune Press TUNE to release the knob Tum the knob to choose radio stations Push TUNE hack in to store it when not tuning Recall Press RECALL to recall the station being played or the clock display You can also press RECALL to display the time when the ignition is off 115 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems Steering Wheel Controls Your vehicle may be equipped with steering wheel controls for this audio system With steering wheel controls you can use the buttons on your steering wheel ta Turn the audio system on or off Adjust the volume Choose AM 2 Use the seek and recall Functions Choose one of the preset stations on your pushbuttons Setting the Tone Bass Slide the BASS lever to the right lo hear more bass Treble Slide the TREBLE lever to the night to hear more treble If a station is weak and noisy slide TREBLE to the left to reduce the noise 116 Adjusting the Speakers Balance Press BAL to release the knob Turn the knob to move the sound hetween the right and left speakers Push BAL back in to store it when not adjusting Fade Press FADE to release the knob Turn the knob to move the sound between the front and rear speakers Push FADE hack in to store it w
23. How to Add Coolant to the Radiator 3 4L L32 Code 5 Engine 1 You can remove the radiator pressure but now push down as you turn it Remove the pressure cap CAUTION Steam and scalding liquids from a hot cooling system can blow out and burn you badly They are under pressure cap even a little they can come out at high speed Never including the radiator pressure cap is hot Wait for the cooling system and radiator pressure cap to cool if you ever have to turn the pressure cap cap when the cooling system including the radiator pressure cap and upper radiator hose is no longer hot Turn the pressure cap slowly to the left until it first stops Don t press down while turning the pressure cap If you hear hiss wait for that to stop A hiss means there is still some pressure left 165 Problems on the Road AT o 3 Fill the radiator with the proper mix 4 Then fill the coolant recovery tank to 5 Put the cap back on the coolant up to the base of the filler neck FULL COLD recovery tank but leave the radiator pressure cap off 6 Start the engine and let it run until you can feel the upper radiator hose getting hot Watch out for the engine fan s By this time the coolant level inside the radiator filler neck may be lower If the level is lower add more of the proper mix through the filler neck until the level reaches the hase of the filler neck Th
24. However if there is snow or ice between your tines and the road you can have a very slippery situation You ll have a lot less traction or grip and will need to be very careful You may want to put winter m Winter Driving emergency supplies in your vehicle Here are some tips for winter driving Include an ice scraper a small brush Have your Pontiac in good shape for or broom a supply of windshicld winter Be sure your engine coolant washer fluid a some winter outer VASE clothing small shovel a tlashlight a red cloth and couple of reflective warning triangles And if you will be driving under severe conditions include a small bag of sand a piece of old carpet or a couple of burlap bags to help provide traction Be sure you properly secure these items in your vehicle 142 What s the worst time for this Wert ice Very cold snow or ice can be slick and hard to drive on But wet ice can be even more trouble because it may offer the least traction of all You can get wet ice when it s about freezing 32 F 0 C and freezing rain begins to fall Try to avoid driving on wet ice until salt and sand crews can get there Whatever the condition smooth ice packed blowing or loose snow drive with caution If you have traction control keep the system on It will improve your ability to accelerate when driving on slippery road Even though your vehicle
25. This feature is only for improved traction when the road surface is slippery and is not intended for continuous use Always use NORMAL for normal road conditions You may press AND GEAR START again to turn off this feature Whenever you start your vehicle the transmission is in the NORMAL mode Engine Coolant Heater Engine Block Heater OPTION In very cold weather 0 F 18 C or colder the engine coolant heater can help You ll get easier starting and better fuel economy during engine warm up Usually the coolant heater should be plugged in minimur of four hours prior to starting your vehicle To use the coolant heater 1 Turn off the engine 2 Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord Plug it into a normal grounded 110 volt outlet N CAUTION Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet could cause an electrical shock Also the wrong kind of extension cord could overheat and cause fire You could be seriously injured Plug the cord into a properly grounded three prong 110 volt outlet If the cond won t reach use a heavy duty three prong extension cord rated for least 15 amps NOTICE After you ve used the coolant heater he sure to store the cord as it was before to keep it away from moving engine parts If you don t it could be damaged 55 Features and Controls How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged in The answer depe
26. When you do need brake fluid use only DOT 3 brake fluid such as Delco Supreme 17 GM Part No 1052535 Use new brake fluid from a sealed container only and always clean the brake fluid reservoir cap before removing it NOTICE Don t let someone put in the wrong kind of fluid For example just few drops of mineral based oil such as engine oil in your hrake system can damage brake system parts so badly that they ll have to be replaced Brake fluid can damage paint 50 be careful not to spill brake fluid on your vehicle If you do wash it off immediately See Appearance Care in the Index Brake Wear Unless you have the four wheel disc brake option your Pontiac has front disc brakes and rear drum brakes Disc brake pads have built in wear indicators that make a high pitched warning sound when the brake pads are worn and new pads are needed The sound may come and go or be heard all the time your vehicle is moving except when you are pushing on the brake pedal firmly AN CAUTION The brake wear warning sound means that sooner or later your brakes won t work well That could lead to an accident When you hear the brake wear warning sound have your vehicle serviced NOTICE Continuing to drive with worn out brake pads could result in costly brake repair Some driving conditions or climates may cause brake squeal when the brakes are first applied or lightl
27. YPONTIAC Firebird Introduction Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Printed in U S A 1994 Owner s Manual Table of Contents How to Use This Manual 3 Seats amp Restraint Systems 7 Features amp Controls 41 Comfort Controls amp Audio Systems 103 E Your Driving and the Road 125 W Problems on the Road 151 Service amp Appearance Care 183 NN Maintenance Schedule 239 I Customer Assistance Information 259 Including Reporting Safety Defects on page 261 WIGS MNT E D TT TIT as 269 Service Station Information Last Page Part Mo 10260939 A Second Edition Important Notes about This Manual Please keep this manual in your Pontiac so it will be there if you ever need it when you re on the road If you sell the vehicle please leave this manual in it so the new owner can use it This manual includes the latest information at the time it was printed We reserve the right to make changes in the product after that time without further notice For vehicles first sold in Canada substitute the name General Motors of Canada Limited for Pontiac Motor Division wherever it appears in this manual How to Use This Manual For Canadian Owners Who Prefer French Language Manual Aux propri taires canadien
28. push the shift lever all the way into P Park and also release the shift lever button on floor shift console models as you maintain brake application Then move the shift lever into the pear you wish Press the shift lever button before moving the shift lever on floor shift console models See Shifting out of P Park in this part e R Reverse Use this gear to back up NOTICE Shifting to R Reverse while your vehicle is moving forward could damage vour transmission Shift to R only after your vehicle is stopped To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow ice or sand without damaging your transmission see Stuck In Sand Mud Ice or Snow If You re in the Index WN Neutral In this position your engine doesn t connect with the wheels To restart when you re already moving use N Neutral only Also use N when your vehicle is being towed N CAUTION Shifting out of P Park or N Neutral while your engine is racing running at high speed is dangerous Unless your foot is firmly on the brake pedal your vehicle could move very rapidly You could lose control and hit people or objects Don t shift out of P Park or N Neutral while your engine is racing NOTICE Damage to your transmission caused by shifting out of P Park or N Neutral with the engine racing isn t covered by your warranty Features and Co
29. scratch the bulb You or others could Headlights he injured Take special care when To replace a headlight MR Sino Ring oen 1 Open the headlight door by hand See ae Headlight Doors in the Index 4 Remove the screws and pull out the bulb housing 2 Unscrew the bezel with a screwdriver and remove it 209 4 Pull out the bulb and disconnect the Center High Mounted Stoplight 2 Gently pull the assembly out and electrical connector To replace the bulb remove the bulb from the back of the ix assembly 5 A H Ww I Er 5 Reverse the steps with a new bulb 1 Remove the two screws in the stoplight lens 3 Reverse the steps with a new bulb za T Rear Lights change any rear bulb you have to remove the entire housing 1 Remove the trim panel from the side that you are replacing the bulb 2 Pull the carpet back Front Turn Signal 2 Turn and pull out the socket and the bulb 1 Using a screwdriver remove the plastic screws from the deflector Pull out the bulb under the vehicle Move the deflector 4 Reverse the steps with a new bulb out of the way 211 Service and Appearance Care 3 Remove the wing nuts 4 Pull off the assembly from the outside Rear Sidemarker 5 To remove a socket with tab To replace a rear sidemarker bulb press the tab and turn the socket counterclockwise To remove a socket without a
30. Although no defect in the paint job causes melting agents road oil and tar tree ough they have corrosion protection this Pontiac will repair at no charge to bird droppings chemicals from industrial At least every spring flush these the owner the surfaces of new vehicles chimneys and other foreign matter can materials from the underbody with plain damaged by this fallout condition within damage your vehicle s finish if they water Clean any areas where mud and 12 months or 12 000 miles 20 000 km remain on painted surfaces Use cleaners other debris can collect Dirt packed in of purchase whichever comes first that are marked safe for painted surfaces closed areas of the frame should be to remove foreign matter loosened before being flushed Your dealer or an underbody vehicle washing Finish Damage system can do this for you Any stone chips fractures or deep scratches in the finish should be repaired right away Bare metal will corrode quickly and may develop into a major repair expense Minor chips and scratches can be repaired with touch up materials available from your dealer or other service outlets Larger areas of finish damage can be 226 m Appearance Care and Maintenance Materials 1050011 12 0 340 recommended tor pigskin suede leather See your General Motors Dealer for these products See the Index under Recommended Fluids and Lubricant
31. Lock all the doors except the driver s m 55 II Your vehicle is equipped with the PASS Key Il Personalized Automotive Security System theft deterrent system PASS Key Il is a passive theft deterrent system This means you don t have to do anything different to arm or disarm the system It works when vou insert or remove the key from the ignition PASS Key II uses a resistor pellet in the ignition kev that matches a decoder in your vehicle When the PASS Key II system senses that someone is using the wrong key it shuts down the vehicle s starter and fuel systems For about three minutes the starter won t work and fuel won t go to the engine If someone tries to start your vehicle again or uses another kev during this time the Vehicle will not start This discourages someone from randomly trying different keys with different resistor pellets in an attempt to make a match 49 Features and Controls SECURITY 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 will 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 an
32. What s wrong with this Q What s wrong with this Q What s wrong with this A The shoulder belt is worn under the The shoulder belt is too loose It won t The belt is buckled in the wrong arm It should be worn over the give nearly as much protection this place shoulder at all times Way CAUTION You can be seriously injured if your belt is buckled in the wrong place like this In a crash the belt would go N CAUTION You can be seriously hurt if your shoulder belt is too loose In a crash you would move forward too much which could increase injury The shoulder belt should fit against your body up over your abdomen The belt forces would be there not at the pel vie bones This could cause serious internal injuries Always buckle your belt into the buckle nearest you 21 Seats and Restraint Systems CAUTION You can be seriously injured if you wear the shoulder belt under your arm In a crash your body would move too far forward which would increase the chance of head and neck injury Also the belt would apply too much force to the ribs which aren t as strong as shoulder bones You could also severely injure internal To unlatch the belt just push the burton organs like your liver or spleen Q What s wrong with this on the buckle The belt should go back out of the way The belt is twisted across the body Before you close the door be sure the belt i
33. around the base of your vehicle espetially any that is blocking your exhaust pipe And check around again from time to time to be sure snow doesn t collect there CAUTION If you don t use the correct equip Open a window just a little on the side of the vehicle that s away from the wind This will help keep CO out 144 the vehicle and possibly for signaling later on with your headlights Let the heater run for awhile ment and drive properly you can lose control when you pull a trailer For example if the trailer is too heavy the hrakes may not work well or even at all You and your passengers could be seriously injured Pull a trailer only if you have followed all the steps in this section Ask your Pontiac dealer for advice and information about towing a trailer with your vehicle NOTICE Pulling a trailer improperly can damage your vehicle and result in costly repairs not covered by your warranty To pull a trailer correctly follow the advice in this section and see vour Pontiac dealer for important information about towing a trailer with your vehicle Your vehicle can tow a trailer if it is equipped with the proper trailer towing equipment To identify what the vehicle trailering capacity is for your vehicle you should read the information in Weight af the Trailer that appears later in this section But trailering is different than just driving your vehicle by itself Tr
34. clean lightly with solvent type cleaner Combination stains Such as candy ice cream mayonnaise chili sauce and unknown stains Carefully scrape off excess stain then clean with cool water and allow to dry e stain remains clean it with solvent Lype cleaner Cleaning Vinyl Use warm water and a clean cloth e Rub with a clean damp cloth to remove dirt You may have to do it more than once Things like tar asphalt and shoe polish will stain if you don t get them off quickly Use clean cloth and a solvent type vinyl cleaner Cleaning Leather Use soft cloth with lukewarn water and a mild soap or saddle soap For stubborn stains use a mild solution of 10 isopropyl alcohol rubbing alcohol and 9056 water Never use oils varnishes solvent based or abrasive cleaners furntiure polish or shoe polish on leather Soiled leather should be cleaned immediately IF dirt is allowed to work into finish it can harm the leather Cleaning the Top of the Instrument Panel Use only mild soap and water to clean the top surfaces of the instrument panel Sprays containing silicones or waxes may cause annoying reflections in the windshield and even make it difficult to see through the windshield under certain conditions 293 Service and Appearance Care Care of Safety Belts Keep belts clean and dry N CAUTION Do not bleach or dye safety belts lf you do it may severely we
35. dirt then dry the panels Clean the panels with GM Glass Cleaner GM Part No 1050427 or a liquid household glass cleaner Leave the cleaner on the panel for one minute then wipe the panel with a soft lint free cloth e Don t use abrasive cleaning materials Cleaning the Outside of Your Pontiac The paint finish on your vehicle provides heauty depth of color gloss retention and durability Washing Your Vehicle The best way to preserve your vehicle s Finish is to keep it clean by washing il often with lukewarm or cold water Don t wash your vehicle in the direct rays of the sun Don t use strong soaps or chemical detergents Use liquid hand dish or car washing mild detergent soaps Don t use cleaning agents thar are petroleum based or contain acid or abrasives All cleaning agents should be flushed promptly and not allowed to dry on the surface or they could stain Dry the finish with a soft clean chamois or a 100 cotton towel to avoid surface scratches and water spotting High pressure car washes may cause water to enter your vehicle Finish Care Occasional waxing or mild polishing of your Pontiac may be necessary to remove residue from the paint finish You can get GM approved cleaning products from your dealer See Appearance Care and Maintenance Materials in the Index Your Pontiac has basecoat clearcoat paint finish The clearcoat gives more depth and gloss to the colored hasecoat Always
36. has traction control system you ll want to slow down and adjust your driving to the road conditions See Traction Control System in the Index If you don t have the traction control system accelerate gently Try not to hreak the fragile traction If you accelerate too fast the drive wheels will spin and polish the surface under the tires even more Your anti lock brakes improve your ability to make a hard stop on a slippery road Even though you have the anti lock braking system you ll want to begin stopping sooner than you would on dry pavement See Anti Lock in the Index Allow greater following distance on any slippery road e Watch for slippery spots The road might be fine until vou hit a spot that s covered with ice On an otherwise Clear road ice patches may appear in shaded areas where the sun can t reach around clumps of trees behind buildings or under bridges Sometimes the surface of a curve or an overpass may remain icy when the surrounding roads are clear If you see a patch of ice ahead of you brake before you are on it Try not to brake while you re actually on the ice and avoid sudden steering maneuvers If You re Caught in a Blizzard If you are stopped by heavy snow you could be in serious situation You should probably stay with your vehicle unless vou know for sure that you are near help and vou can hike through the snow Here are some things to do to summon help and keep yoursel
37. or others could be injured To be sure your vehicle won t move even when 2 you re on fairly level ground use the steps thal follow If you re pulling a trailer see Towing a Trailer in the Index 64 1 Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and set the parking brake Move the shift lever into P Park position like this e Hold in the button on the lever and push the lever all the way toward the front of vour vehicle Move the ignition key ta LOCK Remove the key and take it with you If you can walk away from your vehicle with the ignition key in your hand your vehicle is m P Park Leaving Your Vehicle with the Engine Running AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION A CAUTION It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with the engine running Your vehicle could move suddenly if the shift lever is not fully in Park with the brake firmly set And if you leave the vehicle with the engine running it could overheat and even catch fire You or others could be injured Don t leave your vehicle with the engine running unless you have ta If you have to leave your vehicle with the engine running be sure your vehicle is in P Park and your parking brake is firmly set before you leave it After you ve moved the shift lever into the P Park position hold the regular brake pedal down Then see if you can move the shift lever away from Park without fi
38. or wire brush later if you need to to get all the rust or dirt off See Changing a Flat Tire in the Index When It s Time for New Tires One way to tell when it s time for new remaining You need a new tire if You can see the indicators at three or more places around the tire You can see cord or fabric showing through the tire s rubber The tread or sidewall is cracked cut or snagged deep enough to show cord or fabric The tire has a bump bulge or split 218 tires is to check the treadwear indicators which will appear when your tires have only 2 32 inch 1 6 or less of tread The tire has a puncture eut or other damage th t can t be repaired well because of the size or location of the damage Buying New Tires To find out what kind and size of tires you need look at the Tire Loading Information label The tires installed on your vehicle when it was new had a Tire Performance Criteria Specification TPC Spec number on each tire s sidewall When you get new tires get ones with that same TPC Spec number That way your vehicle will continue to have tires that are designed to give proper endurance handling speed rating traction ride and other things during normal service on your vehicle 1f your tires have an all season tread design the TPC number will be followed by a MS for mud and snow If you ever replace your tires with those not having a TPC Spec
39. part explains how to stari and operate your Pontiac Part 3 Comfort Controls amp Audio Systems This part tells you how to adjust the comfort controls and how to operate your sound system Part 4 Your Driving and the Road Here you ll find helpful information and trps about the road and how to drive under different conditions Part 5 Problems on the Road This part tells you what to do if you have a problem while driving such as a lire or engine overheating ete Part 6 Service amp Appearance Care Here the manual tells you how to keep your Pontiac running properly and looking good Part 7 Maintenance Schedule This part tells when to perform vehicle maintenance and what fluids and lubricants to use Part 8 Customer Assistance Information This part includes important information about reporting safety defects and gives you details about the Roadside Assistance program You will also find customer satisfaction phone numbers including customer satisfaction numbers for the hearing and speech impaired as well as the mediation arbitration procedure We ve also included ordering information for service publications in this part Service Station Information This is a quick reference of service information You can find it on the last page of this manual How to Use This Manual Safety Warnings and Symbols You will find a number of safety cautions in this book We use a bo
40. time will cause your battery to he drained much sooner And the excessive heat can damage your starter motor doesn t start within 10 seconds push the accelerator pedal all the way ta 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 Wail about 15 seconds between cach try to help avoid draining your battery B3 Features and Controls When starting your engine in very cold weather below 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 Lise the accelerator pedal to maintain engine speed if you have to until your engine has run for a while If your engine still won t start or starts hut then stops it could be flooded with too much gasoline Try pushing your accelerator pedal all the way ro 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 m Driving through Deep Performance Mode Switch Option This switch lets vou change from a normal driving mode to a performance mode When you start the engine the switch will be in normal mode For general driving conditions
41. 2 Wik ach ble CR C ee eee E ONO EE RET RENI RE mie ree ne eee eaten Cee 194 Tal Only a al ata alm alata A fal al a a ca aha ml wich la 194 2057 RY 562 161 Manual transmission only 1232 B Capacities and Specifications Engine pe i VIN Engine Code 5 T A Er EE UE E EE VIN Enpina Cade eee Err V8 rs MM C REM Fuel Injection Mare aia a a ania a i ease alll ud ala aia a aa ala MR ma In Head Piston Displacement VIN Engine SRR en 207 CID 3 4L M og les qo MM 350 CID 5 7L Compression Ratio VIN Engine Code VERS 9 01 EROR KE EY Per 10 5 1 Firing Order VIN Engine Cade 5 1 llllsc lluluullliillu i 1 2 3 4 5 6 VIN Engine Code Pie Ex es pete nape aero s ERROR 1 85 4 3 6 5 7 2 233 Service and Appearance Care Replacement Parts Air Cleaner Filter Gag EER AAT EE cae ET 1163 lS 75 50 Engine Oil Filter VIN Engine Code cate er enn eee ee X e ss HED ne Cole MU echa oo re erat re morc eee eo ee mc m
42. A 198 Manual Transmission Fluid AER ea 200 Hydraulic Clutch cL M RAS CUR CHER Sag 201 v PLI AETERNE CRI T Re oa gw gL 201 Engine Coolant ole eee AU E RR TE INNER EA 201 Power Steering Plaid Ba ter ATEN 204 Windshield Washer Fluid ccce 9 205 Hraks Maser Cy ee ecce esae ce ee ete eile en a 206 Battery Berat I E EY EI RISORSE ORA OQ 208 Bulb Replacement osea at mk Dreier om wad lla 209 Loading Your Vehicle core a rtr Rer spate alg ack 213 revive ees ND CIERTO NEN PAE Leni Riker Pera RC Aopearance are Lulli e d aes ease a wens Rv Ceara SR CRI 22 Appearance Care and Maintenance Materials traps allah fala 227 Vehicle Identification Number VIN 228 Service Parts Identification Label ree nmn 228 Add On Electrical Equipment lucis ertt I rrr rtt 228 Poses and Circuit Breakers lul lll luz rb ea 228 Replacement Bulbs ine eee area ge gane SERIA amp Y Capacities a SpecthicRDONQS oleae ee rre eter een 233 Service and Appearance Care B Service Your Pontiac dealer knows your vehicle best and wants you to be happy with We hope you ll go to your dealer for all your service needs You ll get genuine GM parts and GM trained and supported service people We
43. Door Lock Unlock Fog Lamps Protect Eyes by Shielding gt Window Up Down al x 0 These symbols on some of your controls Caustic Battery Acid w These symbols have to do with your lights Could Cause Burns 4 Master Lighting Switch X Windshield Wiper S Avoid Sparks or Flames 3 j Turn Signal Direction a o gt Windshield Washer Sparks or Flame Could Hazard Warning Flashers i LN Windshield Defroster How to Use This Manual Hear Window Defogger 0 Ventilating Fan Bi Level Vent Heater Blend 5 i ECP t These symbols are used on warning and indicator lights Engine Coolant Temperature E Lori Battery Charging System Fuel Engine Oi Pressure Brake Canada Anti Lock Brake System Canada Low Coolant RA Here are some other symbols you may see Hatch Trunk Release anm Hood Helease P Lighter rtr Speaker Convertible Top Switch Part 1 Seats amp Restraint Systems Here you ll find information about the seats in your Sens aod Seat COWS Eee eee ce Pontiac and how to use your Safety Belts They re for Everyone FD ROADS safety belts properly You Why Safety Belts Work ie 19 also learn about some things Here Are Questions Many People Ask about Safety Belts
44. ENIMS EAM Switches Relay Reverse Lockout Solenaid and Module 20 Amp 10 Amp Kelays B Air Conditioning Compressor C Anti Lock Brake System D Primary Coolant Fan Driver Side E Air Pump F Secondary Coolant Fan Passenger Side G Traction Control System H Fog Lamps J Not Used 231 Service and Appearance Care m Replacement Bulbs PO a oe LEA rA hahaa eee MUR Rm PORA ERU KURSE d Tau erates 194 Automatic Transmission Indicator lisse ees opera EIER T3 rama e n a ee eee ee oe RR E 1156 Center High Mounted SNP COL EC 921 COE RUN UE ns Meee MEE E dod 161 COE Ck EC ieee RR ITE ROTO pews 194 Gala curate ad ue cn get a tan aM ES PEE Ca CE E Ha carina 74 eh BSS Front Parking and Tum Signal ccce e 23907 CHOC ERE rr ERE RM LEO ERO MT EA 194 Esse ula eee a RIS WIR E MM RR E MRNA T EET EE LEVER H 6545 Hester amd AU os riui a rea na ERG E ERE RC CFLC E EET 37 LAB NE EXER mE TE PCT4 Leo EE no x ance eee esr aa ace Rm imn rm on ee m a AGRAR SERERE TRE Sale 194 cu haa aam a dla c des ca E do rece EU ice CET CR Rs 212
45. If you need to reduce your speed as you approach a curve do it before you enter the curve while your front wheels are straight ahead Try to adjust your speed so you can drive through the curve Maintain reasonable steady speed Wail to accelerate until you are out af the curve and then accelerate gently into the straightaway Suppose you re steering through a sharp curve Then you suddenly accelerate Both control systems steering and acceleration have to do their work where the tires meet the road Unless you have traction control and the system is on adding the sudden acceleration can demand too much of those places You can lose control What should you do if this ever happens Ease up on the accelerator pedal steer the vehicle the way you want it to go and slow down Speed limit signs near curves warn that you should adjust your speed Of course the posted speeds are based on good weather and road conditions Under less favorable conditions you ll want to go slower Steering in Emergencies There are times when steering can be more effective than braking For example you come over a hill and find a truck stopped in your lane or a car suddenly pulls out from nowhere or a child darts out from between parked cars and stops right in front of vou You can avoid these problems by braking if you can stop in time But sometimes vou can t there isn t room That s the time for e
46. They contain acid that can To Jump Start Your Pontiac If you leave your radio on it could be burn you 1 Check the other vehicle It must have ee ee They contain gas that can 12 volt battery with a negative SOE UE TUE eee explode or ignite zround system 4 They contain enough electricity to burn you If you don t follow these steps exactly some or all of these things can hurt you NOTICE Open the hoods and locate the NOTICE batteries If the other system isn t a 12 volt system with a negative ground both vehicles can be damaged 2 Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables can reach bur be sure the vehicles aren t touching each 153 Problems on the Road CAUTION An electric fan can start up even when the engine is not running and can injure you Keep hands clothing and tools away from any underhood electric fan Find the positive and negative terminals on each battery 154 A CAUTION Using a match near a battery can cause battery gas to explode People have been hurt doing this and some have been blinded Use a flashlight if you need more light Be sure the battery has enough water You don t need to add water to the Delco Freedom battery installed in every new GM vehicle But if a bat tery has filler caps be sure the right amount of fluid is there If it is low add water to take care of that first If you don t e
47. Top Fabric Glass Inside of Your Pontine prec ET Ze Instrument Panel Top of bomo om o3 OR Hoa m HORE d bos a d h more ee E o ob o Ln wor rom ow 7 3 RBOSORUR on 4 B ROB Rod rer rere ere ae a oR GR ee rete ee B X hom amp a B k 109 122 Cleaning GAGE wk hie eaa daraus ci 223 Outside of Your Pontiac 224 Problems Special 223 Twin Lift Off Roof Panels 224 Liu NP Ene S 223 Windshield and Wiper Blades 224 Clock Setting 109 Close Out Panel Clutch Hydraulic 20 Comfort Controls IHRE 104 Comfort Controls and Audio re EMILE 1 3 Compact Disc To Play a 116 119 Compact Disc Player and Graphic Equalizer AM FM Stereo with 118 Compact Disc Player AM FM Seren with 115 Compact Discs Care of Your 122 Compact Spare Tire 180 Compartments Storage and 83 Console Froni BA Control of a Vehicle 128 Control Loss OF sce tee es 135 Controls Air 10 1 COPA oe erring P 104 Features and 41 ES 104 Main Light 76 Controls Remote Lock wo ees ieee 44 Seat wxxdad
48. Your Own Service Work 184 UBL ur ce ER Rua dE Es 191 Foreign Countries Fuels in 186 Door Locke Oil Pressure Gage 95 Foreign Material Paint Damage 226 Door Locks Power es 4 Overheating T 16 Four Way Manual Seat 8 Doors Headlight 76 Specifications 233 Freeway Driving TES AR paci 139 Driver Position Safety Belts 19 Starting Your 52 Front Driving Environment Your Vehicle aya REED 85 ioco 136 oo get me trace tae aor rona 240 LONE orreen kenene B4 ERES GR 138 Exhaust Engine 66 Map Lighis 1 cce eens 79 26 Extender Safety Belt 39 Seat Manual 5 Index Front Towing 158 PON lua d 185 Poel Gage eR 90 Fuels in Foreign Countries 86 Fully Articulating Sport Seat 3 Fuse Bhock Main 230 Fuse Block Underhood 23 Fuses and Circuit Breakers 229 Gages Engine Coolant Temperature 93 Engine Oil Pressure 95 Pt re vane rt moe pear sean ts 90 Warning Lights and Indicators 8g Gasolines for Cleaner Air 186 oro EX ERE HOC 6E YER 224 NEE TINE nece teeny sors 83 GM Participation in BBB Auto Line Alternative Dispute Resolu
49. a mild neutral detergent solution and clean it wiping from the center to the edge Bc sure never to touch the signal surface when handling discs Pick up discs by grasping the outer edges or the edge of the hole and the outer edge 123 Notes 124 Here you ll find information about driving on different kinds of roads and in varying weather conditions We ve also included many other useful tips on driving Defensive Driving Drunken Driving Control of a Vehicle Driving at Night Driving in the City Driving Freeway Driving Hill and Mountain Roads Winter Driving Towing a Trailer Part 4 Your Driving and the Road w b a d B A o od Rod 5 A L k E ee 125 Your Driving and the Road m Defensive Driving The best advice anyone can give about driving is Drive defensively Please start with very important safety device in your Pontiac Buckle up See Safety Belts in the Index Defensive driving really means be ready far anything On city streets rural roads or freeways it means always expect the unex pected Assume that pedestrians or other drivers are going to be careless and make mistakes Anticipate what they might do Be ready for their mistakes Rear end collisions are about the most preventable of accidents Yet they are common Allow enough following
50. at speeds above 108 mph 173 km h The TCS OFF warning light will not come on When the vehicle speed drops below 103 mph 165 km h the system will automatically turn on again 131 Your Driving and the Road Braking in Emergencies Use your anti lock braking system when you need to With anti lock you can steer and brake at the same time In many emergencies steering can help you more than even the very best braking Steering Power Steering If you lose power steering assist because the engine stops or the system is not functioning you can steer but it will take much more effort Steering Tips Driving on Curves It s important to take curves reasonable speed A lot of the driver lost control accidents mentioned on the news happen on curves Here s why Experienced driver or beginner each of us is subject to the same laws of physics when driving on curves The traction of the tires against the road surface makes it possible for the vehicle to change its path when you turn the front wheels If there s 132 no traction inertia will keep the vehicle going in the same direction If you ve ever tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice you ll understand this The traction you can get in a curve depends on the condition of your tires and the road surface the angle at which the curve is banked and your speed While you re in a curve speed is the one factor you can control
51. audio system is still secured NOTE If you lose or forget your security code see your dealer for assistance Unlocking the Audio System after a Power Failure If pawer is disrupted to the audio system while in the SEC mode the unit will not work and LOC will show on the display whenever the ignition is on To unlock the unit 1 Press MIN 000 will appear on the display 2 Press MIN again and hold until the last two digits of your code appear Release the button 3 Press HR until the first one or two digits of your code appear 4 Press AM FM SEC will appear the display and the unit will work If LOC shows the numbers did not match and the unit is still locked How to Change Your Security Code You can change your security code by following these steps 1 Using vour old code follow the directions given under Shutting Off the Theft Deterrent Feature 2 Repeat directions of Setting Your Security Code with your new security code Understanding Radio Reception FM Stereo FM stereo will give you the best sound But FM signals will reach only about 10 t0 40 miles 16 t0 65 km And tall buildings or hills can interfere with FM signals causing the sound to come and go AM The range for most AM stations is greater than for FM especially at night The longer range however can cause stations to interfere with each other AM can pick up noise from things like storms an
52. cau riraa M Convertible Top sate Finale d ura nd Un Installing the Boot Cover 99 sr Rr Ox To ero Eun 100 Convex Outside Mirror 79 Coolant Adding UPC a ea 202 BARING Cescierirerbrd ky 201 Heuer Engine How to Add to the Coolant Recovery Tank 164 How to Add to the Radiator 165 167 Temperature Gage Engine 94 icona 106 Cooling System Courtesy Lights 78 Courtesy Transportation 265 Covered Visor Vanity Mirror 5 Cruise Contm 72 Passing Another Vehicle While Using 75 Erase Speed Memory 15 To Get Out oF 75 To Increase Speed While Using 74 To Reduce Speed While Using 74 To Resume a Set Speed 73 To Set 12 Traction Control System and 75 Gy Cruise Control Driving Using on Hills 75 Minken 126 Fa Control Knob 104 Curves Driving on 132 sais e er a 139 Features and Controls 41 Customer Assistance for the Hearing In the Rain 137 Filling Your Tank 187 or Speech Impaired TDD 260 CATE CAEN 132 Filter Air Replacement 196 Customer Assistance Information 259 On Snow orlee 142 Finish Care Paint 225 Customer Satisfaction Procedure 260 Through Deep St
53. find the VIN at the top left of your instrument panel See Vehicle Identification Number in the Index 3 4L 1 32 Code 5 Use regular unleaded gasoline rated al 87 octane or higher It should meet specifications ASTM D4814 in the U S and CGSB 3 5 92 in Canada These fuels should have the proper additives so you should not have to add anything to the fuel In the 17 5 and Canada it s easy to be sure you get the right kind of gasoline unleaded You ll see UNLEADED right an the pump And only unleaded nozzles will fit into your vehicle s filler neck Be sure the posted octane is at least 87 If the octane is less than 87 vou may get a heavy knocking noise when you drive If it s bad enough it can damage your engine If you re using fuel rated at 87 octane or higher and you still hear heavy knocking your engine needs service But don t worry if you hear a little pinging noise when you re accelerating or driving up hill That s normal and you don t have to buy a higher octane fuel to get rid of pinging It s the heavy constant knock that means you have a prablem STL LTI Code P Use premium unleaded gasoline rated at 91 octane or higher You may use middle grade or regular unleaded gasolines but your vehicle may not accelerate as well The gasoline you use should meet specifications ASTM D4814 in the U S and CGSB 3 5 92 in Canada These fuels should have the proper additives so yo
54. for recommended replacement filters valves and spark plugs Rear Axle in the Index Section E Maintenance Record After the scheduled services are performed record the date odometer reading and who performed the service in the columns indicated When completing the Maintenance Performed column insert the numbers from the Schedule I or Schedule maintenance charts which correspond to the maintenance performed Also you should retain all maintenance receipts Your owner information portfolio is a convenient place to store them 255 Maintenance Schedule Section E Maintenance Record Cont ODOMETER SERVICED BY MAINTENANCE PERFORMED 256 MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ODOMETER SERVICED BY 257 Maintenance Schedule Section E Maintenance Record Cont w 258 a Here you will find out how to contact Pontiac if you need assistance This part also tells you how to obtain service publications and how to report any Safety defects Part 8 Customer Assistance Information Customer Satisfaction Procedure aap ey 260 GM Participation in BBB AUTO LINE Alternative Dispute ecce s rores t rs Ie Yrs 26 Reporting Safety Defects to the United States Government 202 Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian Government 262 Reporting Safet
55. hope you ll want to keep your GM vehicle all GM Genuine GM parts have one of these marks 184 Doing Your Own Service Work order the proper service manual see i bolts and other fasteners receipts and list the mileage and the date English and metric fasteners of any service work you perform See can be easily confused If you use the wrong fasteners parts can later break or fall off You could N CAUTION You can be injured if you try to do service work on a vehicle without knowing enough about it Be sure you have sufficient If you want to do some of your own service work you ll want to get the proper Pontiac Service Manual It tells you much more about how to service your Pontiac than this manual can To Service Publications in the Index T i n knowledge experience and the Your vehicle has an air bag system proper replacement ee Before attempting to do your own tools before you sadi any service work see Servicing Your Air y aE vehicle maintenance task Bag Equipped Pontiac in the Index Be sure to use the proper nuts You should keep a record with all parts be hurt NOTICE If you try ta do your own service work without knowing enough about it your vehicle could be damaged Maintenance Recon in the Index m Fuel The 8th digit of your Vehicle Identification Number VIN shows the code letter for your engine You will
56. lift the lever under the right front of the seat N CAUTION You can lose control of the vehicle if you try te adjust a manual driver s seat while the vehicle is moving The sudden movement could startle and confuse you or make you push a pedal when you don t want to Adjust the driver s seat only when the vehicle is not moving Six Way Power Seat Option Fully Articulating Sport Seat The driver s seat has three controls on the Option left side If your Pontiac has these seats the The front control makes the front of the driver s seat has the four way manual seat seat go up and down adjuster See Four Way Manual Seat earlier in this part The passenger seat has the two way manual seat adjuster See Manual Front Seat earlier in this The hack control makes the back of the seat go up and down The center conirol makes the whole seat go up and down or forward and backward seats and Restraint ayes adjust the thigh support pull up on the front of your seat cushion and move the support to the position you want To release the support continue pulling up To engage it again push down firmly The switch pads on the outer sides of the The two buttons that have dots inflate seats inflate and deflate parts of your and deflate the outer parts of the seatback seatback To inflate push the raised button To deflate push the indented button 10 T
57. number make sure they are the same size load range speed rating and construction type bias bias helted or radial as your original tires N CAUTION Mixing tires could cause you to lose control while driving you mix tires of different sizes or types radial and bias belted tires the vehicle may not handle properly and you could have a crash Be sure to use the same size and type tires on all four wheels It s all right to drive with your compact spare though It was developed for use on your vehicle Uniform Tire Quality Grading The following information relates to the system developed hy the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration which grades tires hy treadwear traction and temperature performance This applies only to vehicles sold in the United States For example a tire graded 150 would wear one and a half 1 1 2 times as well on the government course as a tire graded 100 The relative performance of tires depends upon the actual conditions of their use however and may depart significantly from the norm due to variations in driving habits service practices and differences in road characteristics and climate Traction A B C The traction grades from highest to lowest are B and C They represent the tires ability to stop on wet pavement as measured under controlled conditions on specified government test surfaces of asphalt and concrete A tire marked C
58. of cover by 2 Open the trunk Remove the middle side covers from the storage bag sliding tabs into slots on right side piece of the cover by pushing in on 2 Install the two side covers by cover Lower cover and engage latch the latch and lifting up on the cover engaging the tab into the front seatbelt 4 Close the trunk cover Lower the covers onto vehicle To Raise Your Convertible Top 1 Park on a level surface Set the parking brake firmly If you have an automatic transmission shift into P Park If you have a manual transmission shift into R Reverse The ignition must be in the ACC or Run position Lower both sun visors Lower both windows at least three inches If the boot cover is in place it must be removed first 3 Remove the two side pieces of the boot cover by lifting rear cover and sliding them out of their slots 100 4 Store each piece of the cover in its separate compartment in the storage bag Store in the trunk and close the trunk 5 Push and hold the top of the convertible top switch Open the trunk and find the tab along the left side trim panel Lift up the tab and the valve clockwise to release the hydraulic pressure Turn the ignition key to the LOCK positon You can now raise or lower vour top manually Be sure to close the valve after installing vour top so you can raise or lower it electronically later u 6 Pull down on the latches and a
59. panel is not stored properly it could be thrown about the vehicle in crash or sudden maneuver People in the vehicle could be injured Whenever you store a T top panel in the vehicle always be sure that it is stored securely in the correct storage slot with the T top handle closed Push the handle closed to secure the panel in the slot To lock each panel in the storage arca use your door key N CAUTION An improperly installed T tap panel may fall into or fly off the vehicle You or others could be injured After installing a T top panel always check that it is firmly attached by pushing up on the underside of the panel 81 Features and Controls Reverse the steps above to install the T top panels When installing panels be sure to align weatherstrips properly Panels incorrectly installed may leak NOTICE High pressure car washes may cause water to enter your vehicle Never spray water directly at the roof panel joints This will cause leaks T Top Sunshades 3 Open the latch and close the T top 1 Start with the panel marked DRIVER to see if there are any gaps FRONT Unlatch the driver side MOVIE b Top T top raise it halfway and close the adjust the sunshade as required latch handle 4 Once the sunshade is installed properly you can stick the velcro buttons on the glass for proper Fit every time you install the sunshades 2 With the top raised and r
60. pedal Just before the vehicle stops press the clutch pedal and the brake pedal and shift to Neutral Neutral Use this position when you start or idle vour engine R Reverse To back up press down the clutch pedal and shift into R Let up on the clutch pedal slowly while pressing the accelerator pedal NOTICE Shift to R Reverse only after your vehicle is stopped Shifting to R Reverse while your vehicle is moving could damage your transmission Also use Reverse along with the parking brake for parking your vehicle Features and Controls 2 Second Gear Press the clutch Neutral Use this position when pedal as you let up on the accelerator you start or idle your engine pedal and shift into 2 Then slowly e Reverse To back up press let up on the clutch pedal as you down the clutch pedal and shift into press the accelerator pedal R Let up an the clutch pedal slowly 3 4 5 and 6 Third Fourth Fifth while pressing the accelerator pedal and Sixth Gears Shift into 3 4 5 and 6 the same way you do for 2 Slowly let up on the clutch pedal as you press the accelerator pedal 3 To Stop Let up on the accelerator Six Speed pedal and press the brake pedal Just This is your shift pattern Here s how to before the vehicle stops press the operate your transmission clutch pedal and the brake pedal i First Gear
61. recommend a pressure test of both the cooling system and the pressure cap Emission Control Service ITEM NO SERVICE NO 6 Transmission Service For 7 manual transmissions fluid doesn t require changing See Periodic Maintenance Inspections 8 For automatic transmissions change both the fluid and filter every 15 000 miles 25 000 Km if the vehicle is mainly driven under one or more of these 9 conditions Inheavy city traffic where the outside temperature regularly reaches 90 F 32 C or higher In hilly or mountainous terrain When doing frequent trailer towing Uses such as found in taxi police car or delivery service 10 If you do not use your vehicle under any of these conditions change both the fluid and filter every 100 000 miles 166 O00 km SERVICE Spark Plug Replacement Replace spark plugs with the proper type See Replacement Paris in the Index Spark Plug Wire Inspection Inspect for burns cracks or other damage Check the boot fit at the distributor and at the spark plugs Replace wires as needed Air Cleaner Filte acement Replace every 30 000 miles 50 000 km or more often under dusty conditions Ask your dealer for the proper replacement intervals for your driving conditions Fuel Tank Cap and Lines Inspection Inspect fuel tank cap and lines including fuel rails and injection assembly for damage or leaks Inspect fuel ca
62. stretch of road with the same scenery along with the hum of the tires on the road the drone of the engine and the rush of the wind against the vehicle that can make you 140 sleepy Don t let it happen to you If it does your vehicle can leave the road in less than a second and you could crash and be injured What can you do about highway hypnosis First be aware that it can happen Then here are some tips Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated with a comfortably coal interiar Keep your eyes moving Scan the road ahead and to the sides Check your rearview mirrors and your instruments frequently f you get sleepy pull off the road into a rest service ar parking area and take a nap get some exercise or both Far safety treat drowsiness on the highway as an emergency Know how to go down hills The most Know how to go uphill You may important thing to know 1s this let want to shift down to a lower gear your engine do some of the slowing The lower gears help cool your engine down Shift to lower gear when you and transmission and you can climb go down a steep or long hill the hill better In hilly terrain vou may want to switch to the PERFORMANCE mode for better performance CAUTION Stay in your own lane when dde as boca e driving on two lane roads in hills or mountains Don t swing wide or cut work well You would the
63. system working or you may notice some noise but this is normal When your anti lock system is adjusting brake pressure to help avoid a braking skid the LOW TRAC light will come on See Low Traction Light in the Index Traction Control System Option LTI V8 Engine Your vehicle may have a traction control system that limits wheel spin This is especially useful in slippery road conditions The system operates only if it senses that one or both of the rear wheels are spinning or beginning to lose traction When this happens the system works the rear brakes and reduces engine power by closing the throttle and managing spark Lo limit wheel spin The LOW TRAC light will come on when your traction control system 15 limiting wheel spin See Low Traction Light in the Index You may feel the system working ar vou mav notice some noise but this is normal The traction control system may operate on dry roads under some conditions and you may natice a reduction in acceleration when this happens This is normal and doesn t mean there s a problem with your vehicle Examples of these conditions include a hard acceleration in a turn or an abrupt upshift or downshift If your vehicle is in cruise control when the traction control system begins to limit Wheel spin the cruise control will automatically disengage When road conditions allow you to safely use il again you may re engage the cruise control S
64. the console The console will also have a storage area for either cassette tapes or compact discs Close Out Panel The close out panel can be closed for hidden storage in the rear area of your vehicle To remove the close out panel 1 Close the panel If the close out panel is not closed and resting on the trim panel it cannot be removed 2 Pull the panel toward you to unsnap it Then slide the close out panel along the groove in the trim panel Reverse the steps to install the panel When carrying large or heavy items it 15 a good idea to open the panel and place the items in the rear area CAUTION An improperly stored close out panel could be thrown about the vehicle during a collision or sudden maneuver You or others could be injured If you remove the cover don t store it in your vehicle When you put it back always be sure that it is securely attached with both sides snapped in place B Sun Visors To block out glare you can swing down the visors You can also swing them to the side The elastic bands on your visor provide extra strorage for maps or papers Covered Visor Vanity Mirror Pull down the sun visor and lift the cover to expose the vanity mirror m Ashtray and Lighter Cigarette Lighter To use the lighter push it in all the way dm Astilewy and let go When it s ready it will pop Lift up the cover to open the ashtray back by itself To remove it
65. tire goes flat the next section shows how to use your jacking equipment to change a flat tire safely If a tire goes flat avoid further tire and wheel damage by driving slowly to level place Turn on your hazard warning flashers Changing a Flat Tire A CAUTION Changing tire can cause an injury The vehicle can slip off the jack and roll over you or other people You and they could be badly injured Find a level place to change your tire To help prevent the vehicle from moving 1 Set the parking hrake firmly 2 Put an automatic transmission shift lever in P Park or shift a manual transmission to I First or R Reverse Turn off the engine To be even more certain the vehicle won t move you can put chocks at the front and rear of the tire farthest away from the one heing changed That would be the tire on the other side of the vehicle at the opposite The following steps will tell you how to use the jack and change a tire The equipment you ll need is in the rear ares First you must remove the close out panel See Close Out Panel in the Index On convertible models you must also remove the trunk access panel It s at the upper back of the trunk Turn the two screw knobs under the trunk edge a quarter turn counterclockwise to remove the panel Find the plastic screw heads in the trim panel over the spare tire Use a coin or key
66. to rapidly advance to another part of the tape Press PROG or FWD again to stop it The radia will play during this operation Reverse To Replay the Current Selection To Stop the Tape Player Press REV to rapidly rewind the tape Press PREV or SEEK W to play e Turn the power off or turn the ignition Press PROG or REV again to stop it selection again key off The cassette stays in the The radio will play during this operation Ear PREV to work properly your tape player and will resume playing at the must have at least three seconds of silence point where it stopped To Play the Next Selection between each selection Press AM FM to stop playing the Press NEXT or SEEK A to hear The radio will not play during this cassette and switch to the radio Press next selection instead of waiting until the operation E TAPE PLAY to restait the cassette current selection is finish d at the point where it stopped For NEXT to work properly your tape Program Press EJECT to remove the cassette RE must have at least three seconds of silence Press PROG to switch from one side of or stop the cassette and switch to between each selection the tape to the other or to stop the tape radio EJECT will work with the The radio will not play during this from searching ignition or radio off Press EJECT operation to load a cassette when the radio is Noise Reduction off Press
67. tow a trailer don t drive over 50 mph km h and don t make starts at full throttle This helps your engine and other parts of your vehicle wear in al the heavier loads Obey speed limit restrictions when towing a trailer Don t drive faster than the maximum posted speed for trailers or no more than 55 mph 90 km h to save wear on your vehicle s parts Weight of the Trailer How heavy can a trailer safely be It should never weigh more than 1 500 pounds 680 kg under normal driving conditions It should never weigh more than 1 000 pounds 450 kg when driven on long grades at high ambient temperatures But even that can be too heavy 145 It depends on how you plan to use your rig For example speed altitude road grades outside temperature and how much your vehicle is used to pull a trailer are all important And it can also depend on any special equipment that you have on your vehicle You can ask your dealer for our trailering information or advice or VOU can write us a Pontiac Division Customer Assistance Center One Pontiac Plaza Pontiac 48340 2952 In Canada write to General Motors of Canada Limited Customer Assistance Center 1908 Colonel Sam Drive Oshawa Ontario LIH 8P7 146 Your Driving and the Road Weight of the Trailer Tongue The tongue load A of any trailer is an important weight to measure because it affects the total capacity weight of your vehicle The c
68. use the normal mode will remain in normal unless you select the PERFORM feature 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 fuel injection system operates Before adding electrical equipment check with your dealer If you don t your engine might nor perform property For a firmer shift and increased performance you may choose the PERFORM mode The light in the center of the switch will light up when selected The switch will then remain in PERFORMANCE mode until the engine 15 shut off when will go back to normal mode 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 Towing Your Vehicle in the Index Standing Water NOTICE If you drive too quickly through deep puddles or standing water water can come in through your engine s air intake and badly damage your engine If you can t avoid deep puddles or standing water drive through them very slowly TRANSMISSION 2 GEAR es START 291 Second Gear Start Your vehicle may be equipped with a Second Gear Start feature Press 2ND GEAR START to provide more traction when you are starting on ice or other slippery surfaces The transmission will be in second gear when the vehicle begins to move After starting in second gear the vehicle will upshift normally
69. use wakes and polishes that are non abrasive and made for hasecoat clearcoat paint finish NOTICE Machine compounding or aggressive polishing on a basecoatl clearcoat paint finish may dull the finish or leave swirl marks Cleaning Your Convertible Top NOTICE When using an automatic car wash sel your heating or cooling system to VENT with the fan speed set to the second highest speed This will prevent high pressure water from entering around your top Your convertible top should be cleaned often Use a mild soap lukewarm water and a soft brush Don t use any harsh cleaners or bleaching agents on the top They can damage the material When the top is really dirty use a mild foam type cleaner Use a cloth or sponge to remove the dirt Thoroughly rinse the top and dry it before lowering it A damp top causes wrinkles Aluminum Wheels If So Equipped Your aluminum wheels have a protective coating similar to the painted surface of your vehicle Don t use strong soaps chemicals chrome polish abrasive cleaners or abrasive cleaning brushes on them because you could damage this coating After rinsing thoroughly wax may he applied NOTICE If you have aluminum wheels don t use an automatic car wash thal has hard silicon carbide cleaning hrushes These brushes can take off the protective coating Tires Your Pontiac dealer has a GM White Sidewall Tire Cleaner You can use a suff br
70. vents inthe e Let only qualified technicians work on deflated air bags 1 he air bag will not your air bag system Improper SETVICE CAN can t get out of the vehicle try to get impede the driver s vision or ability to mean hat your air bag system won t work fresh air by opening a window turning steer the vehicle nor will it hinder the properly See your dealer for service us on the fan or opening a door occupants from exiting the vehicle In many crashes severe enough to inflate an air bag windshields are broken by vehicle deformation Additional 28 Servicing Your Air Bag Equipped Pontiac Air bags affect how your Pontiac 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 Pontiac dealer and the 1994 Firebird Service Manual have information about servicing your vehicle and the air bag system The air bag system does not need regular maintenance CAUTION For up to 2 minutes 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 wires wrapped with yellow tape or 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 d
71. way Remove it again keeping the tip lower and check the level 192 To Check Engine 5 7L LTI Code P Engine Pull out the dipstick slightly Pinch the end af the dipstick tube as you remove the dipstick to wipe the oil from it Then push it all the way back in Now remove it without pinching the tube keeping the tip lower SA Laz Code 8 When to Add Oil If the oil is at or below the ADDO line then you ll need to add some oil But you must use the right kind This section explains what kind of oil to use For crankcase capacity see Capacities and Specifications in the Index NOTICE Don t add too much oil If your engine has so much cil that the oil level gets above the cross hatched area that shows the proper operating range your engine could be dam aged What Kind of Oil to Use POTE Beginning midyear 1993 oils of the Tust Fil it enough to put the level proper quality for your vehicle will be somewhere in the proper operating range identified with this new starburst Push the dipstick all the way back in symbol The starburst symbol indicates when you re through that the oil has been certified by the American Petroleum Institute API and is preferred for use in your gasoline engine 8 7L ETE CCosde T You should look for this on the front of the oil container and use only oils that display this new symbol You should also use the pro
72. weak if the transmitter won t work at the normal 4 Press any button on the first range in any location If you have to get transmitter The door locks should close to your vehicle before the lock and unlock transmitter works it s probably time to 5 Press any button on the second change the batteries transmitter The door locks should To replace batteries in the Remote Lock To match transmitters to your vehicle lock and unlock Control 1 Find the Data Link Connector DLC 6 Remove the fused jumper from 4 pop the cover off by inserting a dime It is in the bottom of the instrument DLC The system will not work unless or similar object in the slot between panel near the steering column the jumper is removed the covers and twisting 2 Insert end of a fused jumper imo 7 Check that all the buttons on both 2 Lift off the front cover bottom half terminal G Terminal GG is the top transmitters work correctly first terminal on the Tar right If the transmitters don t work or if you d 3 Insert the other end of the fused rather not match the transmitters yourself jumper into terminal A Terminal see your Pontiac dealer A is the bottom terminal on the far left You have grounded rhe program input line You should hear the door locks lack and unlock within one to three seconds Remove and replace the batteries Use two Duracell batteries type DL2016 or a similar type Put new batt
73. wear your safety bell even with an air bag and the driver should sit as far back as possible while still maintaining control of the vehicle Supplemental Inflatable Here are the most important things to Restraint System Air Bags N CAUTION Even with an air bag if you re not wearing a safety belt and you re in a crash your injuries may be much worse Air bags are not designed to inflate in rollovers or in rear side or low speed frontal crashes You need to wear your safety belt to reduce the chance of hitting things inside the vehicle or being ejected from it Always wear your safety belt even with an air bag This section explains the Supplemental Inflatable Restraint SIR or air bag system Your Pontiac has an air bag for both the driver and the right front passenger CAUTION An inflating air bag can seriously injure small children Always secure children properly in your vehicle To read how see the Children and Safety Belts section of this manual and read the caution label on the front passenger s safety belt Seats and Restraint Systems N CAUTION When an air bag inflates there is dust in the air This dust could cause breathing problems for people with a history of asthma or other breathing trouble To avoid this everyone in the vehicle should get out as soon as it is safe to do so If you have breathing problems but can t ge
74. you are towing a trailer and you have an automatic transmission with Overdrive you may prefer to drive in D instead of Overdrive or as you need to a lower gear Or if you have a manual transmission with fifth or sixth gear and you are towing a trailer its better not to use fifth or sixth gear Just drive in fourth gear fifth gear if you have a six speed manual transmission or as you need to a lower gear Parking on Hills You really should not park your vehicle with a trailer attached on a hill If something goes wrong your ng could start to move People can be injured and both your vehicle and the trailer can be damaged But if you ever have to park your ng ona hill here s how to do it 1 Apply your regular brakes but don t shift into P Park yet or into gear for a manual transmission Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels When the wheel chocks are in place release the regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load Reapply the regular brakes Then apply your parking brake and then shift to P Park or R Reverse for manual transmission 5 Release the regular brakes When You Are Ready to Leave after Parking on a Hill 1 Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down while you e Start your engine Shift into a gear and Release the parking brake 2 Let up on the brake pedal Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the cha
75. you can just see the side of your vehicle when you are sitting in comfortable driving position Features and Controls m Twin Lift Off Roof Panels option If you have this option you can remove one or both lift off roof panels Z CAUTION Don t try to remove the T top panels while the vehicle is moving Trying T to remove a T top panel while the The door key unlocks the panels The Electric Mirror Control Option vehicle is duis cause an lock is over iis front windia Turn The electric mirror control is on the accident The panel could fall into the key to the left to unlock the panel driver s door To adjust either mirror the vehicle and cause you to lose move the center switch to LEFT or control or it could fly off and strike RIGHT Then use the touch pad to another vehicle You or others could adjust the mirror be injured Remove a T top panel only when the vehicle is parked The control only works when the ignition switch is in Run or Acc or when RAP is present See Retained Accessory Power in the Index Then push on the release handle to unlatch the panel Lift the outer edge of the panel and pull it toward you Open the close out panel completely Place the panel in the correct slot DRIVER or PASSENGER in the rear area of your vehicle Make sure the handle is open and facing you when you put it in the storage slot N CAUTION If T top
76. your foot off the accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want the vehicle to go If you start steering quickly enough your vehicle may straighten out Always be ready for a second skid if it occurs Of course traction is reduced when water snow ice gravel or other material is on the road For safety you ll want to slow down and adjust your driving to these conditions It is important to slow down on slippery surfaces because stopping distance will be longer and vehicle control more limited While driving on a surface with reduced traction try your best to avoid sudden steering acceleration or braking including engine braking by shifting to a lower gear Any sudden changes could cause the tires to slide You may not realize the surface is slippery until your vehicle is skidding Learn to recognize warning clues such as enough water ice or packed snow on the road to make a mirrored surface and slow down when you have amy doubt Remember Any anti lock braking system ili ABS helps avoid only the braking skid 135 Your Driving and the Road Slow down especially on higher vehicle with misaimed headlights slow speed roads Your headlights can light down a little Avoid staring directly into up only so much road ahead the approaching lights In remote areas watch for animals Keep your windshield and all the glass on If you re tired pull off the road in your vehicle cl
77. 100 km h travels 66 feet 20 m That could be a lot of distance in an emergency so keeping enough space between your vehicle and others is important And of course actual stopping distances vary greatly with the surface of the road whether it s pavement or gravel the condition of the road wet dry icy tire tread and the condition of your brakes Avoid needless heavy braking Some people drive in spurts heavy acceleration followed by heavy braking rather than keeping pace with traffic This is a mistake Your brakes may not have time to cool between hard stops Your brakes will wear out much faster if you do a lot of heavy braking If you keep pace with the traffic and allow realistic following distances you will eliminate a lot of unnecessary braking That means better braking and longer brake life If your engine ever stops while you re driving brake normally but don t pump your brakes If you do the pedal may get harder to push down If your engine stops you will still have some power brake assist But you will use it when you brake Once the power assist is used up it make take longer to stop and the brake pedal will be harder to push This light on the instrument panel will go on when you start your vehicle When you start your vehicle or when you begin to drive away you may hear momentary motor or clicking noise And you may even notice thar your brake Anti Lock Brake
78. 2271 or SAE B0W 90 GL 5 gear lubricant Limited Slip Differential To add lubricant when the level is low use Axle Lubricant GM Part No 1052271 or SAE 80W 90 GL 5 gear lubricant To completely refill after draining add 4 ounces 118 ml af Limited Slip Differential Lubricant Additive GM Part No 1052358 Then fill to the bottom of the filler plug hole with Axle Lubricant GM Part Na 12345977 or SAE 8UW 90 GL 5 gear lubricant Engine Coolant The following explains your cooling system and how to add coolant when it is low If you have a problem with engine overheating or if you need to add coolant to your radiator see Engine Overheating in the Index 201 Service and Appearance Care The proper coolant for your Pontiac will Give freezing protection down to MF 37 C Give boiling protection up to 262 F 128 C Protect against rust and corrosion Help keep the proper engine temperature Let the warning lights work as they should What to Use Use a mixture of one half clean water preferably distilled and one half antifreeze that meets GM Specification 525M which won t damage aluminum parts You can also use a recycled coolant conforming to GM Specification 1825M with a complete coolant flush and refill If you use this mixture you don t need to add anything else 202 CAUTION Adding only plain water to your cooling system can be dangerous Plain water or some
79. 331 mm Recheck fluid level after filling See ManualTransmission Fluid in the Index Recheck oil level after filling See Engine Oil in the Index Belt Routing 1 32 Code 5 Engine Belt Routing LTI Code P Engine 237 Notes 238 Part 7 IMPORTANT Maintenance Schedule KEEP THE ENGINE OIL Section AT THE PROPER Introduction A Word about Maintenance uv 240 LEVEL AND CHANGE AS Your Vehicle and the Environment rixas TAN How This Part Is Organized RECOMMENDED A Scheduled Maintenance Services P TORRE Using Your Maintenance Schedules 2M Selecting the Right Schedule IM pL IH 241 REPRO ps OL re eee LV ose ids REIS RIPE RS Mr T This part covers the Explanation of Scheduled Maintenance Services 246 maintenance required for your B Owner Cheeks and Services PAL 7 caus S45 Pontiac Your vehicle needs At Each Fuel Fill I IW Ue HEAD Un 248 these services to retain its d M ees ne pa safety dependability and At Least Once a Year e RAT ier emission control performance C Periodic Maintenance Inspections rn D Recommended Fluids and Lubricants _ eine ey eae ne ARAS Maintenance Record
80. AP you can play your audio system even after the ignition is off See the Index under Retained Accessory Power Ventilation Tips Keep the hood and front air inlet free of ice snow or any other obstruction such as leaves The heater and defroster will work far better reducing the chance of fogging the inside of your windows When you enter a vehicle in cold weather turn the fan control knob to the right for a few moments before driving off This helps clear the intake ducts of snow and moisture and reduces the chance of fogging the inside of your windows Keep the air path under the front seats clear of objects This helps air to circulate throughout your vehicle 108 NOTICE Before you add any sound equipment to your vehicle like a tape player CB radio mobile telephone or two way radio be sure you can add what you want If you can it s very important to do it properly Added sound equipment may inter fere with the operation of your vehicle s engine Delco radio or other systems ard even damage them And your vehicle s systems may interfere with the operation of sound equipment that has been added improperly Sa before adding sound equipment check with your dealer and be sure to check Federal rules covering mobile radio and telephone units Setting the Clock The clock may be set with the ignition on or off 1 Press and hold HR until the correct hour ap
81. C Periodic Maintenance Inspections Cont INSPECTION _ OR SERVICE WHAT SHOULD BE DONE Manual Transmission Check the transmission fluid level add if needed See Manual Transmission in the Index A fluid loss may indicate a problem Check the system and repair if needed Check the gear lubricant level in the rear axle and add if needed Scc Rear Axle in the Index A fluid loss may indicate a problem Check the axle and repair it if needed If your vehicle is used to pull a trailer have the rear axle gear lubricant changed every 7 500 miles 12 500 km Inspect the complete system Inspect hrake lines and hoses for proper hookup binding leaks cracks chafing etc Inspect disc brake pads for wear and rotors for surface condition Also inspect drum brake linings for wear and cracks Inspect other brake parts including drurns wheel cylinders calipers parking brake etc The parking brake is self adjusting and no manual adjustment is required You may need to have your brakes inspected more often if your driving habits or conditions result in frequent braking NOTE A low brake fluid level can indicate worn disc brake pads which may need to be serv iced Also if the brake system warning light stays on or comes on something may be wrong with the brake system See Brake System Warning Light in the Index If your anti lock brake system warning light stays on comes on or flashes something may be wrong with the anti lock
82. Crash 40 Smaller Children and Babies They re for Everyone 14 Use during Pregnancy Why They Work 18 Safety Defects Reporting to General Motors 262 Reporting to the Canadian Govemment 262 Reporting to the United States Govemment vs 261 Safety Warnings and Symbols 4 Schedule Maintenance Scheduled Maintenance Services 242 Scheduled Maintenance Services Explanation of 246 Seats And Restraint Systems T And Seat Controls 8 Four Way Manual amp Fully Articulating Sport 9 Manual Front 000 000005 8 Sixn Way 9 Seatback Folding Rear 13 Second Gear Start 55 Securing a Child Restraint 33 Right Se3t 35 Vr 184 and Appearance Care 183 Engine Soon Light 94 Parts Identification Label 228 Publications 263 Publications Ordering Information Pontis careers case EREE 265 Work Doing Your Own 184 Servicing Your Air Bag Equipped his ec helene ee eee 27 Setting the Clock 109 Sheet Metal Damage 226 Shift Speeds 62 Shifting into P Park 4 Shifting out of P Park aaa 65 Six Way Power Seat 9 Skidding 50 22 22 rrr Skip
83. Five Speed Manual Six Speed Transmitters Matching to Your Vehicle Remote Lock Control Transportation manne Tere S Trip Odometer Trip Before Leaving on a a Long Turn Signal and Lane hange Indicator EA Turn Signa Headlight Beam Lever Twin Lift Off Roof Panels EX XUCERS Maintenance Underhood Electrical Center Understanding Radio Reception Uniform Tire Quality Grading Used Oil What to Do With Used Replacement Wheels Vehicle Control of a Damage Warnings Dimensions i Shon aa Environment and Your rare Vehicle Weight of the Trailer 145 Identification Number VIN 228 Wheel Nut Torque 234 Leaving Your 44 Wheels Loading Your 213 Alignment and Tire Balance 220 Parking Your 65 Alum num err RD RAM ES M Replacement 220 Storage ilu ruo ru 208 TUE Seger oo Symbols ez eee se ayes 5 Used Replacement 220 Towing Your oos 156 Where to Put the Restraint Washing Your ES ENT 224 Child Restraints 21 Ventilation ice eee ea ee 105 Why Safety Belts Work 15 Ventilation System Windows 67 Flow Through 107 Defogging and Defrosting 105 Ven
84. GEA Losses rk 79 Right Front Passenger Position R Recommended Fluids Safety Belts 21 adiator Pressure Cap and Lubricants eos WIC 253 Right Front Seat Securing a Child Radiator How to Add Coolant Recovery Off Road 133 Restraint inthe 35 to the 165 167 Release Road Problems on the 151 Radio Reception Understanding Hatch 47 Road Your Driving and the 125 Radio To Play the Hatch Remote 47 Roads Hill and Mountain 141 AM FM Stereo with Cassette 188 Roadside Assistance Canadian 263 Tape Player Reminder Light Safety Belt 8 Roadside Assistance Pontiac 262 Reminder Lights On 76 274 Rocking Your Vehicle to Get AR LUST SE RETE TE ME 181 Roof Panels Twin Lift Off Rotation Tire 217 Running Lights Daytime Ti Running Your Engine while You re 67 S afery Belts ciis vervesur 19 Air Bag System 23 ES te ee 224 Chidin 3 EXIeBUET I e eaa 39 How to Wear Properly 19 Lap 3boulder 19 Larger Children 38 Questions People Ask 17 Reminder Light 18 Replacing after a
85. Index E T Ue PEE a 91 Features and Controls CAUTION ds i flashing brake system warning light Mashing can to accident yon carefu ly have the vehicle towed for service 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 Tf the light still stays on or comes on again while you re driving your Pontiac needs service If the light is on but not flashing and the regular brake system warning light isn t on you still have brakes but you don t have anti lock brakes Traction Control System Warning Light Option the TCS OFF light will illuminate When the traction control system is off the TES OFF light will come on This light will also come on for three seconds each time you start your vehicle as a bulb check and if there s a system failure See Traction Control System in the Index The traction control system will shut down partially due to brake overheating but the TCS OFF light will not come on If there is throttle relaxer overheating and the system will shut down Once everything cools off t
86. Nut 6 Adapter 7 Compact Spare Tire 8 Full Size Tire 9 Carpet Flap 10 Tire Storage Bolt 11 Trunk Access Panel Convertible Only 12 Knoh 179 Problems on the Road AN CAUTION Storing a jack a tire or other equip ment 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 Compact Spare Tire Although the compact spare was fully inflated when your vehicle was new it can lose air after a time Check the inflation pressure regularly It should be 60 psi 420 kPa After installing the compact spare on your vehicle you should stop as soon as possible and make sure your spare tire is correctly inflated The compact spare is made to perform well at posted speed limits for distances up to 3 000 miles 5 000 km so you can finish your trip and have your full size tire repaired or replaced where you want Of course it s best to replace your spare with a full size tire as soon as you can Your spare will last longer and be in good shape in case you need it again 180 NOTICE If the compact spare is used as a rear tire do not drive faster than 50 mph km h Damage to the rear axle may occur if the compact spare is driven faster than 50 mph 80 km h This speed limitation does not apply when the compact spare is used as a front tire NOTICE Don t tak
87. PTION The air conditioning system uses the same controls as the heating system except that the air control knob has two extra settings described below For an explanation of all the controls see Heater Controls earlier in this part MAX Provides maximum cooling or quick cool down on very hot days This setting recirculates most of the air inside your vehicle If it is used for long periods of time the air may become dry This setting directs air through the upper air vents 106 Cooling The air conditioner works best if you keep your windows closed On very hot days open the windows just long enough for the hot air to escape 1 Turn the air control knob to ASC for normal coaling For faster cooling move the knob to MAX 2 Turn the temperature control knob to a comfortable setting A C Use for normal cooling on hot days Turn the fan control knob to the right This setting cools outside air and directs it through the upper air vents The air conditioner compressor operates in MAX and in bei and when the outside temperature is above freezing When the air conditioner is you may sometimes notice slight changes in your vehicle s engine speed and power This is normal because the system is designed to cycle the compressor on and off to keep the desired cooling and help fuel economy NOTICE Don t use a razor blade or something else sharp on the insi
88. Player Theft Deterrent System Tum the power off or turn the ignition Your audio system is equipped with the key off The cassette stays in the THEFTLOCK theft deterrent system player and will resume playing atthe See Theft Deterrent System at the end point where it stopped af this section Press AM FM to stop playing the cassette and switch to the radio Press TAPE PLAY to restart the cassette al the point where it stopped Press EJECT to remove the cassette or stop the cassette and switch to radio EJECT will work with the ignition or radio off Press EJECT to load cassete when the radio is off NOTE This radio has a broken tape feature that will eject broken or misfed tapes Because of this feature CD changers that plug into the tape deck will not work in this system AM FM Stereo with Compact Dise Player Play the Radio Push POWER to turn the system on or olf Volume Tum the VOLUME knob to adjust the sound AM FM Press AMIFM to get AM or FMZ The lighted display shows your selection Seek Press SEER A or SEER W to go to the next lower or higher station and stay there Pushbuttons The six pushbuttons let you return to your favorite stations To set the pushbuttons for up to 18 stations 6 AM 6 PMI BAL FADE 6 2 GD 1 Press AM FM to choose AM or FMZ 2 Tune in the station
89. Replacement 5 7L LTI Cade P Engine Every 00 000 miles 166 000 kina Every 30 000 miles 30 CU km Spark Plug Wire Inspection t m x See Explanation of Scheduled Martenance Air Cleaner Filter Replacement Services follewing Schedules T and Fuel Tank Cap amp Lines Inspection t Every 3 000 miles 50 000 km Rear Axle Fluid Change For Vehicles with Limited Slip Differentials See Explanation of Scheduled Maintenance Services following Schedules 1 and I The services shown on this chart up 48 000 miles 000 km be performed after miles BO OOC Kom at the intervals MILES 000 245 Maintenance Schedule Section A Scheduled Maintenance Services Cont Explanation of Scheduled Maintenance Services Following are explanations of the services listed in Schedule and Schedule IL The proper fluids and lubricants to use are listed in Section D Make sure whoever services your vehicle uses these All parts should be replaced and all necessary repairs done before you or anyone else drives the vehicle NOTE To determine your engine s displacement and code seg Engine Identification in the Index ITEM NO SERVICE 1 Engine Oil and Filter Change Always use SH or SG Energy Conserving Il oils of proper viscosity The SH or SG designation may be shown alone or in combination with others such as SHICD SH 8G CD SG CD e
90. Restraint or air bag system N CAUTION Don t let anyone ride where they can t wear a safety belt properly If you are in a crash and you re not wearing a safety belt your injuries can be much worse You can hit things inside the vehicle or be ejected from it You can be seriously injured or killed In the same crash you might not be if you are buckled up Always fasten your safety belt and check that your passengers belts are fastened properly too 14 This figure lights up as a reminder to buckle up See Safety Belt Reminder Light in the Index In many states and Canadian provinces the law says to wear safety belts Here s why They work You never know if you ll be in crash If you do have a crash you don t know if it will be a bad one A few crashes are mild and some crashes can be so serious that even buckled up a person wouldn t survive But most crashes are in between In many of them people who buckle up can survive and sometimes walk away Without helts they could have been badly hurt or killed After more than 25 years of safety belts in vehicles the facts are clear In most crashes buckling up does matter lot m Why Safety Belts Work When vou ride in or on anything you go as fast as it goes For example if the bike is going 10 mph 16 km h is the child When the bike hits the block it stops But Take the simplest vehicle Suppose it s the child keeps g
91. Shift Light 61 Smaller Children and Babies Safety Belts 30 Snow or Ice Driving on 142 Spare Tire EDIT 180 Speakers Adjusting the AM FM Stereo with Cassette Player 110 AM FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player and Graphic Equalizer 113 AM FM Stereo with Compact Disc Player il AM FM Stereo with Compact Disc Player and Graphic Equalizer 119 Specifications Capacities and 233 Speedometer and Odometer B8 Sport Seat Fully Articulating 9 Start Second Gear 55 Starting Your Engine 52 Starting Jump 153 Steam Coming from Your Engine Ae Tete ies psa 161 Steam If There Is No 162 Saeed LES 132 Fluid Power 204 In Emergencies 133 DON Lc cit sey ieee rea ed 132 Index Steering jii ae ate rece Storage Compartments VOUS es Stuck In Sand Mud Ice or Snow BU VISOFE o Sra a Se ey Sunshades T Top Supplemental Inflatable Restraint System Air Bags Switch Ignition Switch Performance Mode Symbols Safety Warnings and Symbols Vehicle Sunshades TAHOMA 21 ees Tank Filling Your Temperature Co
92. This way you will be sure to have the right wheel wheel bolts and wheel nuts for your Pontiac model CAUTION Using the wrong replacement wheels wheel bolts or wheel nuts on your vehicle can be dangerous It could affect the braking and handling of your vehicle make your tires lose air and make you lose control You could have a collision in which you or others could be injured Always use the correct wheel wheel bolts and wheel nuts for replacement NOTICE The wrong wheel can also cause problems with bearing life brake cooling speedometer odometer calibration headlight aim bumper height vehicle ground clearance and lire or tire chain clearance to the body and chassis Used Replacement Wheels CAUTION Putting a used wheel on your vehicle is dangerous You can t know how it s been used or how many miles it s been driven It could fail suddenly and cause an accident If you have to replace a wheel use a new GM ariginal equipment wheel Tire Chains NOTICE If your Pontiac has P233 55R16 or P243 50ZR 16 size tires don t use lire chains they can damage vour vehicle If you have other tires use tire chains only where legal and only when you must Use only SAE Class S type chains that are the proper size for your tires Install them on the rear tires and tighten them as tightly as possible with the ends securely fastened Drive slowly and follow the chain manufa
93. Warning Light 90 How the System Works 24 Transmission 56 TRUM 147 Servicing Your Air Bag Transmission Fluid 198 OE T UE ti 207 Pontiac 27 Axle Limited Slip 62 Braking Control of a Vehicle 128 Readiness Light Sr 24 Axle Rent en rl 201 Braking in Emergencies i Kir Chesne 195 Break In New Vehicle 50 Air Conditioner Controls 106 Smaller Children Brightness Control 76 Air Control Knob APRI 104 and Safety Belts 30 Bulb Replacement 209 Air Filter Replacement 196 Balance Whecl Alignment Center High Mounted Alignment and Tire Balance and Tht E sa 220 Stoplight 3 210 NNEBES PRO a e oua eee exercice n 208 Front Turn Signal 211 Aluminum Wheels 225 Battery Replacement Remote Lock Headlights 209 AM FM Stereo Com eL 45 Rear 211 With Cassette Tape Player 109 BBB Auto Line Alternative Dispute Rear Sidemarker Mean 212 With Cassette Tape Player and Resolution Program Bulbs 209 Graphic Equalizer 112 GM Participation in 261 Bulbs Replacement With Compact Disc Pl
94. age caused by fluid other than DEXRON 1II or is not covered by your new vehicle warranty After adding fluid recheck the fluid level as descnibed under How to Check When the correct fluid level is obtained push the dipstick back in all the way Manual Transmission Fluid How to Check Because this operation can be difficult you may choose to have this done at a Pontiac dealership Service Department If vou do it yourself be sure ro follow all the instructions here or you could get a false reading 200 can mean that some of the fluid could come out and fall on hot engine parts or exhaust system starting a fire Be sure to get an accurate reading if you check your transmission fluid Check the fluid level only when vour engine is off the vehicle is parked on a level place and the transmission is cool enough for you to rest your fingers on the transmission case Then follow these steps 1 Remove the filler plug 2 Check that the lubricant level is up t the bottom of the filler plug hole 3 If the fluid level is good install the plug and be sure it is fully seated If the fluid level is low add more fluid as described in the next steps How to Add Fluid Here s how to add fluid Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what kind of fluid to use See Recommended Fluids and Lubricants in the Index 1 Remove the filler plug
95. ailering means changes in handling durability and fuel economy Successful safe trailering takes correct equipment and it has to be used properly That s the reason for this section In it are many time tested important trailering tips and safety rules Many of these are important for your safety and that of your passengers So please read this section carefully before you pull a trailer Load pulling components such as the engine transmission rear axle wheel assemblies and tires are forced to work harder against the drag of the added weight The engine is required to operate at relatively higher speeds and under greater loads generating extra heal What s more the trailer adds considerably to wind resistance increasing the pulling requirements If You Do Decide to Pull a Trailer If you do here are some important points There are many different laws including speed limit restrictions having to do with trailering Make sure your rig will be legal not only where you live but also where you ll be driving A good source for this information can be state or provincial police Consider using a sway control You can ask a hitch dealer about sway controls Don t tow a trailer at all during the first 1 000 miles 1 600 km your new vehicle is driven Your engine axle or other parts could be damaged Three important considerations have to do with weight Then during the first 500 miles BOO km that you
96. aken them In a crash they might not be able to provide adequate protection Clean safety belts only with mild soap and lukewarm water Glass Cilass should he cleaned often GM Glass Cleaner GM Part No 1050427 or liquid household glass cleaner will remove normal tobacco smoke and dust films Don t use abrasive cleaners on glass because they may cause scratches Avoid placing decals on the inside rear window since they may have to be scraped off later If abrasive cleaners are used on the inside of the rear window an electric defogger element may be damaged Any temporary license should not be attached across the defogger grid 224 Cleaning the Outside of the Windshield and Wiper Blades If the windshield is not clear after using the windshield washer or if the wiper blade chatters when running wax or other material may be on the blade or windshield Clean the outside of the windshield with GM Windshield Cleaner Bon Ami Powder GM Part 1050011 The windshield is clean if beads do not form when you rinse it with water Clean the hlade by wiping vigorously with a cloth soaked in full strength windshield washer solvent Then rinse the blade with water Wiper blades should be checked on regular basis and replaced when worn Cleaning Twin Lift Off Roof Panels Special care is necessary when cleaning removing and or storing the roof panels e Flush with water to remove dust and
97. al lights flash a and off collar i Flashers Your hazard warning flashers work no When the hazard warning flashers are on Your hazard warning flashers let you matter what position your key is in and your turn signals won t work warn others They also let police know even if the key isn t in you have a problem Your front and rear Other Warning Devices turn signal lights will flash on and aff If you carry reflective triangles vou can set one up at the side of the road about 300 feet 100 m behind your vehicle 152 Jump Startin other If they are it could cause a J P 5 NOTICE ground connection you don t want If your battery has run down you may You wouldn t be able to start your coda ae vage lgnoring these steps could result in Pontiac and the bad grounding could aide sis pu pum phas costly damage to your vehicle that damage the electrical systems ease follow the steps below to do in zx TR em ERE A P wouldn t be covered by your war d Tum off the ignition on both vehicles safely ranty Tum off all lights that aren t needed Trying to start your Pontiac by push and radios This will avoid sparks and MEET pulling 1 could damage your help save both battenes And it could vehicle even if you have a manual save your radio transmission And if you have an automatic transmission it won t start that way CAUTION Batteries can hurt you They can be dangerous because
98. am may not be available in all states depending on state law Canadian owners refer to your Warranty and Owner Assistance information booklet General Motors reserves the right to change eligibility limitations and or to discontinue its participation in this program 261 Customer Assistance Information Reporting Safety m Reporting Safety m Reporting Safety Defects to the United Defects to the Canadian Defects to General States Government Government Motors If you believe that your vehicle has a If you live in Canada and you believe In addition to notifying NHTSA or defect which could cause crash or could that your vehicle has a safety defect you Transport Canada in a situation like this cause injury or death you should should immediately notify Transport we certainly hope you ll notify us Please immediately inform the National Canada in addition to notifying General call us at 1 800 PM CARES or write Highway Traffic Safety Administration Motors of Canada Limited You may Ponting Divisiau NHTSA in addition to notifying write to Customer Assistance Center General Motors Transport Canada One Pontiac Plaza If NHTSA receives similar complaints it Box 8880 Pontiac MI 48340 2952 may open an investigation and if it finds Ottawa Ontario 372 In Canada please call us at that safety defect exists group of 1 800 263 2777 English vehicles it mas onder a recall and remedy 1 800 263 7834 Fre
99. and other You can set the wiper speed for a long or drivers won t see your turn signal short delay between wipes This can be If a bulb is burned out replace it to help very useful in light rain or snow the band ta choose the delay time The closer avoid an accident If the green arrows to LO the shorter the delay don t go on at all when you signal a turn check the fuse see Fuses in the Index and for burned out bulbs s TU For steady wiping at low speed turn the band away from you to the LO position 29 IN CAUTION For high speed wiping turn the band further to HI To stop the wipers move Ee In freezing weather don t use your the band to OFF washer until the windshield is Heavy snow or ice can overload your warned Otherwise the washer fluid wipers A circuit breaker will stop them can form ice on the windshield until the motor cools Clear away snow or blocking your vision ice to prevent an overload Windshield Washer At the top of the signal lever there s a paddle with the word PUSH on it To spray washer fluid on the windshield just push the paddle The washer will continue to spray until vou release the paddle The wipers will clear the window and wipe a few more times before stopping or returning to the previous setting TA Features and Controls NOTICE When using concentrated washer fluid follow the manu
100. anding Water 54 Finish Damage Paint 226 WAG cp 2 142 Fixed Mast 123 Running Lights 77 Witha Tral t ay ce eee eee 147 Flashers Hazard Warning 152 Deep Standing Water Drunken Driving 126 Flat Tire Changing 171 Driving through 54 Flat If a Tire Goes 170 Defects Safety Center Underhood 231 Floormats 79 Reporting to General Motors 262 Electrical Equipment Add On 228 Flow Through Ventilation System 107 Reporting to the Canadian Electric Mirror Control 80 Fluid G vepment 262 Emergencies Braking in 132 Automatic Transmission 198 Reporting to the United States Emergencies Steering in 133 Brake RYE 207 Government 261 Engine Manual Transmission 200 Defensive Driving 126 oO ens ES TIE PR 201 Power Steering 204 Defogger Rear Window 107 Coolant Block Heater 55 Recommended 253 Defogging and Defrosting Coolant Temperature Gage 93 Windshield Washer 205 Win roii ath et RA 105 EXBRUSE eee erm en Fog Lights orm 78 Dimensions Vehicle 236 Identification 228 Folding Rear Seatback Doing
101. ap J Electric engine fan A CAUTION Heater and radiator hoses and other engine paris be very hot Don t touch them If you do you can be burned Don t run the engine if there is leak If you run the engine it could lose all coolant That could cause an yv IC JT engine fire and you could be burned On the V 8 engine you 1l see this If the coolant inside the coolant recovery Get any leak fixed hefore vou drive 1 Coolant recovery tank tank is boiling don t do anything else the vehicle x until it cools down 2 Radiator pressure cap Be When 15 cool remove the coolant recovery tank cap and look at the dipstick 7 The coolant level should be at or above NOTICE FULL COLD If it isn t you may have a leak in the radiator hoses heater hoses CAUTION radiator water pump or somewhere else An electric fan under the hood can f 1 the cooling system J Electric engine fans Engine damage from running your engine without coolant isn t covered by your warranty start up even when the engine is net running and can injure you Keep hands clothing and tools away from any underhood electric fan If there seems to be no leak check to see if the electric engine fan is running If the engine is overheating the fan should be running If it isn t your vehicle needs service 163 Problems on the Road How to Add Coolant to the Coolant Recovery Tank If you haven t fou
102. apacity weight includes the curb weight of the vehicle any cargo you may carry in it and the people who will be riding in the vehicle And if you will tow a trailer you must subtract the tongue load from your vehicle s capacity weight because your vehicle will be carrying that weight too See Loading Your Vehicle in the Index for more information about your vehicle s maximum load capacity If you re using a dead weight hitch the trailer tongue A should weight 10 of the total loaded trailer weight B If you have a weight distributing hitch the trailer tongue A should weigh 1256 of the total loaded trailer weight B After you ve loaded your trailer weigh the trailer and then the tongue separately to see if the weights are proper If they aren t you may be able to get them right simply by moving some items around in the trailer Total Weight on Your Vehicle s Tires Be sure your vehicle s tires are inflated to the limit for cold tires You ll find these numbers on the Certification label at the rear edge of the driver s door or see Loading Your Vehicle in the Index Then be sure you don t go over the GVW limit for your vehicle Hitches it s important to have the correct hitch equipment Crosswinds large trucks going by and rough roads are a few reasons why you ll need the right hitch Here are some rules to follow manufacturer or by the trailer manufacturer Follow the manufacturer s recommendati
103. at damage wouldn t be covered under your warranty And even at 5 or less there must be cosolvents and corrosion prevent ers in this fuel to help avoid these problems Gasolines for Cleaner Air Your use of gasoline with deposit control additives will help prevent deposits from forming in your engine and fuel system That helps keep your engine in tune and your emission control system working properly It s good for your vehicle and you ll be doing your part for cleaner air Many gasolines are now blended with oxypenates General Motors recommends that vou use gasolines with these blending materials such as MTBE and ethanol By doing so you can help clean the air especially in those parts of the county that have high carbon monoxide levels 186 In addition some gasoline suppliers are now producing reformulated gasolines These gasolines are specially designed to reduce vehicle emissions General Motors recommends that you use reformulated gasoline By doing so you can help clean the air especially in those parts of the country that have high ozone levels You should ask your service station operators if their gasolines contain deposit control additives and oxygenates and if they have been reformulated to reduce vehicle emissions Fuels in Foreign Countries If you plan on driving in another country outside the U S or Canada unleaded fuel may be hard to find Do not use leaded gasoline If you use even one
104. atch plate and run the lap the dealer The hardware and installation and shoulder portions of the vehicle s instructions were specifically designed safety belt through or around the for this vehicle restraint The child restraint instructions will show you how Tilt the latch plate to adjust the belt if needed 4 Buckle the belt Make sure the release 5 To tighten the belt pull up on the 6 Push ond pull the child restraint in button is positioned so you would be shoulder belt while you push down on different directions to be sure it ts able ta unbuckle the safety belt the child restraint quickly if you ever had to secure To remove the child restraint just unbuckle the vehicle s safety belt and let it go back all the way The safety belt will move freely again and be ready to work for an adult or larger child passenger 34 Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Your vehicle has a right front passenger s air bag NEVER put a rear facing child restraint in this seat Here s why CAUTION A rear facing child restraint in the front seat could be pushed into the seatback by the right front passen ger s air bag if it inflates A child ina rear facing child restraint can be seri ously injured if this happens Always secure a rear facing child restraint in the rear seat You ll be using the lap shoulder belt See the carlier section about the top strap if the child restraint has on
105. ate all body door hinges Also lubricate all hin ges and latches including those for the hood headlight door assemblies rear compartment console doors and any folding seat hardware Section D tells you what to use Starter Switch A CAUTION When you are doing this check the vehicle could move suey It does you or could be injured Follow the steps below 1 Before you stan be sure you have enough room around the vehicle 2 Firmly apply both the parking brake see Parking Brake in the Index if necessary and the regular brake NOTE Do not use the accelerator pedal and be ready to turn off the engine immediately if it starts 1 On automatic transmission vehicles try to start the engine in each gear The starter should work only in P Park or N Neutral If the starter works in any other position your vehicle needs service On manual transmission vehicles put the shift lever in Neutral push the clutch down halfway and try to start the engine The starter should work only when the clutch is pushed down all the way to the floor If the starter works when the clutch isn t pushed all the way down your vehicle needs service 249 Maintenance Schedule Section B Owner Checks and Services Cont At Least a Year cont CHECK OR SERVICE WHAT TO DO Steering Column Lock While parked and with the parking brake set try to turn the key to LOCK i
106. ate space if the vehicle ahead suddenly slows or stops Keep back a reasonable distance When it looks like a chance to pass is coming up start to accelerate but stay in the right lane and don t get too close Time your move so you will be increasing speed as the time comes to move into the other lane If the way is clear to pass you will have a running start that more than makes up for the distance you would lose by dropping back And if something happens to cause you to cancel your pass you need only slow down and drop back again and wait for another Opportunity If other cars are lined up to pass a slow vehicle wait your turn But take care that someone isn t trying to pass you as you pull out to pass the slow vehicle Remember to glance over your shoulder and check the blind spot Check your mirrors glance over your shoulder and start your left lane change signal before moving out of the right lane ta pass When you are far enough ahead of the passed vehicle to see its front in your inside mirror activate your right lane change signal and move back into the right lane Remember that your right outside miror is convex The vehicle you just passed may seem to be farther away from you than it really is Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a time on two lane roads Reconsider before passing the next vehicle Don t overtake a slowly moving vehicle tao rapidly Even though the brake lights are not flas
107. ave a tire warranty folder from each of these manufacturers CAUTION Things you put inside your vehicle can strike and injure people in a sudden stop or turn or in a crash Put things in the rear area of your vehicle Try to spread the weight evenly A CAUTION Poorly maintained and improperly used tires are dangerous Never stack heavier things like suitcases inside the vehicle so that some of them are above the tops of the seats Don t leave an unsecured child Overloading your tires can cause overheating as result of too much friction You could have an air out and serious accident See Loading Your restraint in your vehicle When you carry something inside the vehicle secure it whenever you can Don t leave seat folded down unless you need to Underinflated tires pose the same danger as overloaded tires The resulting Vehicle in the Index accident could cause serious injury Check all tires frequently to maintain the recommended pressure Tire pressure should be checked when your tires are cold Overinflated tires are more likely to be cul punctured or broken by a sudden impact such as when you hit a pothole Keep tires at the recommended pressure Worn old tires can cause accidents If your tread is badly worn or if your tires have been damaged replace them See Inflation Tire Pressure in this section for inflation pressure adjustment for higher
108. ayer 115 Before Leaving on a Long Trip 140 With Compact Disc Player and Belt Routing 237 Roadside Assistance 263 Graphic Equalizer 118 Belt Lap Shoulder 19 Capacities and Specifications 233 Antenna Fixed Mast 123 Bi Level Heating 105 Carbon Monoxide 48 Anti Lock Brakes 129 Blizzard If You re Caught ina 143 Care System Warning Light 91 Glove Appearange 22 130 Brakes Cassette Tape Player 122 Appearance Care 221 Adjstment 208 Compact Discs 122 Appearance Care and Materials 227 Anti Lock ABS 129 Safety Belts 224 Index Cassette Tape Player and Graphic Equalizer AM FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player AM FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player Cut or ds ee rcr n Chains Tie osos laa a Changing a Flat Tire Check Gages Light Checking Things under the Hood Checking Your Restraint Systems Chemical Paint Spotting Child Restraints Rear Right Front Seat Top Sirap Where to Put the Children Safety Belts Children Larger Safety Belts Cigarette Lighter Circuit Breakers Fuses and City Driving Cleaner Air Cleaning Aluminum Wheels Convertible
109. brake system See Anti Lock Brake System Warning Light in the Index Rear Axle Service Brake System Inspection 252 Section D Recommended Fluids amp Lubricants NOTE Fluids and lubricants identified below by name part number or specification may be obtained from your GM Dealer FLUIDILUBRICANT Engine API service SH or SG Energy Conserving II oils of the proper viscosity The SH designation may be shown alone or in combination with others such as SHED SH 5G CD SG CD etc To determine the preferred viscosity for your vehicle s engine see Engine Oil in the Index 50 50 mixture of water preferably distilled and good quality ethylene glycol hase antifreeze GM Part No 1052753 or equivalent conforming to GM Specification 1825M or approved recycled coolant conforming to GM Specification 1825M Brake Fluid GM Part No 1052535 or equivalent DOT 3 Brake Fluid Engine Coolant Hydraulic Brake j System Hydraulic Clutch Delco Supreme 11 Hydraulic Clutch Fluid GM Part 12345347 or equivalent System Power Steering System GM Hydraulic Power Steering Fluid GM Part No 1052884 or equivalent Manual Transmission DEXRON IIE Automatic Transmission Fluid DEXRON III or DEKXRON Automatic HE Automatic Transmission Fluid Transmission Key Lock Cylind
110. cial body or engine types on order form Write information in the Farm Number column For example Turba Convertible Price do be announced at a later date Cali 1 800 782 4158 for tanher informaibon OWNERS INFORMATION Owner publications written directly tor owners and intended to pro vide basic operational information about the vehicle The Owner s Manual includes the Maintenance Schedule for all models 1994 Pontiac Firebird Owner s Manual In Portfolio frncludes Partial Owner s Manual and Warranty Beoklgt 1994 Pontiac Firebird In Porttoalia 102609830 375 00 Without Portfolio inc udes Owners Manual 1994 Pontiac Firebied Without Portfolio 10260935 10 00 HELM INCORPORATED P Bax 07130 Detroit For information and inquiries call 1 800 782 4356 Address all inquiries to 267 Notes 268 A Appearance Care Service and 183 Brakes BS VIDERE A T rE 2s 129 Ashtray and Lighter Bhd soit texere T Accessory Power Retained 52 Ashtray Front 85 Master Cylinder 206 Add On Electrical Faune 228 Audio Systems 108 Parking ves 63 Adding Coolant 202 Audio Systems Comfort Pedal Travel 207 Additives Engine 194 Controls and 103 System Parts Replacing 208 Air Bags 22 Automatic System
111. ck if equipped 5 Air Cleaner 190 u n 51 LTT Code F Oil Fill Cap Brake Fluid Reservoir Power Steering Reservoir Windshield Washer Reservoir Engine Fans Clutch Fluid Reservoir if equipped N CAUTION Things that burn can get on hot engine parts and start a fire These include liquids like gasoline oil coolant brake fluid windshield washer and other fluids and plastic rubber You or others could be burned Be careful not to drop or spill things that will burn onto a hot engine Before closing the hood be sure all the filler caps are on Then just pull the hood down and close it firmly Engine Oil I the LOW OIL light on the instrument panel comes on it means you need to check your engine ail level right away For more information see Low Oil Light in the Index You should check your engine oil level regularly this is an added reminder AL LAF S I s a good idea to check your engine every time vou get fuel In order to get an accurate reading the oil must be warm and the vehicle must be on level ground STL ETI rCude Turn off the engine and give the oil a few minutes to drain back into the oil pan If you don t the oil dipstick might not show the actual level 191 To Check Engine Oil BAL L32 Code 5 Engine Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a paper towel or cloth then push it back in all the
112. cks 4 Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks Gc Maintenance When Trailer Towing Your vehicle will need service more often when you re pulling trailer See the Maintenance Schedule for more on this Things that are especially important in trailer operation are automatic transmission fluid don t overfill engine oil axle lubricant belts cooling system and brake adjustment Each of these 15 covered in this manual and the Index will help you find them quickly If you re trailering it s a good idea to review these sections before vou start your trip Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts are tight 149 Notes 150 Here you ll find what to do about some problems that can occur on the road Part 5 Problems on the Road Hazard Warning Plasheis 152 Jump Starting EG lenin Gates be a 153 Towing Your Vehicle oiseau rie rrt a ae RR ERREUR 156 Engine Overheating athe ace alee ee RE Rp Ifa Tire Goes Flat ETE CS ER E Tee ey Weert tere Nhe 70 If You re Stuck In Sand Mud Ice or Snow nn 80 151 Problems on the Road Press the button to make your front and To turn off the flashers pull out on the Hazard Warning rear turn sign
113. crushed together and seriously injured A belt must be used by only one person at a time What if a child is wearing a lap shoulder belt but the child is so small that the shoulder belt is very close to the child s face or neck Move the child toward the center of the vehicle but be sure that the shoulder belt still is on the child s shoulder so that in crash the child s upper body would have the restraint that belts provide CAUTION Never do this Here a child is sitting in a seat that has a lap shoulder belt but the shoulder part is behind the child If the child wears the belt in this way in a crash the child might slide under the belt The belt s force would then be applied right on the child s abdomen That could cause serious or fatal injuries Wherever the child sits the lap portion of the belt should be worn low and snug on the hips just touching the child s thighs This applies belt force to the child s pelvic bones in a crash m Safety Belt Extender If the vehicle s safety belt will fasten around you you should use it But if safety belt isn t long enough to fasten your dealer will order you an extender Its free When you go in to order it take the heaviest coat you will wear so the extender will be long enough for vou The extender will be just for you and just for the seat in your vehicle that you choose Don t let someone else use it and use it only for the sea
114. ction produces nitrogen gas which inflates a cloth bag The inflator cloth bag and related hardware are all part of the air bag inflator modules packed inside the steering wheel and in the instrument panel in front of the passenger How does an air bag restrain In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal collisions even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel ar the instrument panel The air bag supplements the protection provided by safety belts Air bags distribute the force of the impact more evenly over the upper body stopping the occupant more gradually But air bags would not provide protection in many 25 Seats and Restraint Systems types of collisions including rollovers windshield breakage may occur in zm and rear and side impacts primarily vehicles with passenger air bags because NOTICE because an occupant s motion is not the windshield acts as a reaction surface toward the air bag Air bags should for the inflating air bag If you damage the cover forthe never be regarded as anything more The air bags are designed to inflate only driver s or the right front passenger s hara supplement to safety bel once After they inflate you ll need some air bag they ney not work properly protection in moderate to severe frontal new parts for your air bag system If you You may have to replace the air bag and near frontal collisions don t get them the air bag system won t on the s
115. cturer s instructions If you can hear the chains contacting your vehicle stop and retighten them If the contact continues slow down until it stops Driving too fast with chains on will damage your vehicle Appearance Care Remember cleaning products can be hazardous Some are toxic Others can burst into Flame if you strike a match or get them on hot part of the vehicle Some are dangerous if you breathe their fumes in a closed space When you use anything from a container to clean your Pontiac be sure to follow ihe manufacturer s warnings and instructions And always open your doors or windows when you re cleaning the inside Never use these to clean your vehicle Gasoline Benzene Naphtha Carbon Tetrachloride Acetone Paint Thinner Turpentine Lacquer Thinner Nail Polish Remover They can all be hazardous some more than others and they can all damage your vehicle too 221 Service and Appearance Care Don t use any of these unless this manual says you can In many uses these will damage your vehicle Alcohol laundry Soap Bleach Reducing Agents Cleaning the Inside of Your Pontiac Use a vacuum cleaner often to get rid of dust and loose dirt Wipe vinyl or leather with a clean damp cloth Your Pontiac dealer has two GM cleaners a solvent type spot lifter and a foam type powdered cleaner They will clean normal spots and stains very well Do not use them o
116. curity while traveling for you and your family Remember we re only phone call away Pontiac Roadside Assistance 1 800 ROADSIDE or 1 800 762 3743 Vehicle out of fuel B Pontiac Roadside Assistance Keys locked in car Tow to the nearest dealer for warranty Security While You Travel nang ROADSIDE 1 800 762 3743 Jump starts As the proud owner af a new Pontiac vehicle vou are automatically enrolled in the Pontiac Roadside Assistance Program This value added service is intended to provide you with peace of mind as you drive in the city or travel the open raad We have quick easy access to telephone numbers of the following services depending on vour needs Hotels Cilass replacement Rental vehicles or taxis Police fire department or hospitals B Canadian Roadside Assistance Vehicles purchased in CANADA have an extensive ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE Program accessible rom anywhere in Canada or the U S A Please refer to the separate brochure provided by the dealer or call 1 800 268 6800 for emergency services 263 Customer Assistance Information Pontiac regularly sends its dealers useful service bulletins about Pontiac products Transportation Pontiac monitors product performance in For warranty repairs during the BUMPER the field We then prepare bulletins for TO BUMPER coverage period interim servicing our products better Now you transportation may be available
117. d power lines Try reducing the treble to reduce this noise if you ever get it AM Stereo This means the Delco system can receive C QUAM stereo broadcasts Many AM stations around the country use C QUAM to produce stereo though some do not C QUAM js a registered trademark of Motorola Inc If your Delco system can get C QUAM your STEREO light will come on when you re receiving it 121 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems Care of Your Cassette Tape Player A tape player that is not cleaned regularly can cause reduced sound quality ruined cassettes or a damaged mechanism Cassette tapes should be stored in their cases away from contaminants direct sunlight and extreme heat If they aren t they may not operate properly or cause failure of the tape player Cassettes are subject to wear and the sound quality may degrade over lime Always make sure that the cassette tape is in good condition before you have your tape player serviced 122 Your tape player should be cleaned after every 50 hours of use for best performance If you notice a reduction in sound quality regardless of when the tape player was last cleaned try a known good cassette to see if the tape or the tape player is at fault If this other cassette has no improvement in sound quality clean the tape player Clean your tape player with a scrubbing action non abrasive cleaning cassette This wet type cleani
118. d by road spray Have good tires with proper tread depth See Tires in the Index City Driving One of the biggest problems with city streets 15 the amount of traffic on them You ll want to watch out for what the other drivers are doing and pay attention to traffic signals Here are ways to increase your safety in city driving Know the best way to get to where vou are going Get a city map and plan your trip into an unknown part of the city just as you would for a cross country trip Try to use the freeways that rim and crisscross most large cities You ll save time and energy See the next section Freeway Driving Treat a green light as warning signal A traffic light is there because the corner is busy enough to need it When a light turns green and just before you start to move check both ways for vehicles that have not cleared the intersection or may be running the red light m Freeway Driving Mile for mile freeways also called thruways parkways expressways turnpikes or superhighways are the safest of all roads But they have their own special rules The most important advice on freeway driving is Keep up with traffic and keep lo the right Drive at the same speed most of the other drivers are driving Too fast or loo slow driving breaks a smooth traffic Now Treat the left lane on a freeway as a passing lane At the entrance there is usually ramp that l
119. de of the rear window If you do you could cut or damage the warming grid and the repairs wouldn t be covered hy your warranty Rear Window Defogger oPrioN The rear window defogger uses warming grid to remove fog from the rear window Press the switch to turn on the defogger An indicator light will come on to remind you that the defogger 1s on The defogger will tum off automatically after about ten minutes of use If you turn it on again the defogger will operate for about five minutes only You can also turn the defogger off by pressing the switch again Do not attach anything like a temporary vehicle license or a decal across the defogger grid on the rear window Flow Through Ventilation System Your Pontiac s flow through ventilation system supplies outside air into the vehicle when it is moving Outside air will also enter the vehicle when the heater or the air conditioning fan is running 107 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems B Audio Systems Your Delco audio system has been designed to operate easily and give years of listening pleasure But you will get the most enjoyment out of it if you acquaint yourself with it first Find out what your Delco system can do and how to operate all its controls to be sure you re getting ihe most out of the advanced engineering that went into it If you have power door lacks your vehicle has a feature called Retained Accessory Power RAP With R
120. ded pressure Weather Forecasts What s the The exit ramp can be curved sometimes quite sharply The exit speed is usually posted Reduce your speed according your speedometer not to your sense of motion After driving for any distance al higher speeds you may tend to think you are going slower than you actually are Before Leaving on a Long Trip Make sure you re ready Try to be well rested If you must start when you re not fresh such as after a day s work don t plan t make too many miles that first part of the journey Wear comfortable weather outlook along your route clothing and shoes you can easily drive Should you delay your trip a short in time to avoid major storm system Maps Do you have up to date maps Highway Hypnosis Is there actually such a condition as highway hypnosis Or is it just plain falling asleep at the wheel Call it highway hypnosis lack of awareness or whatever Is your vehicle ready for a long trip If you keep it serviced and maintained it s ready to go If it needs service have it done before starting out Of course you ll find experienced and able service experts in Pontiac dealerships all across North America They ll be ready and willing to help if you need it Here are some things you can check before a e Windshield Washer Fluid Is the reservoir full Are all windows clean inside and outside There is something about an easy
121. derinflated If your tires have valve caps be sure to put them back on They help prevent leaks by keeping out dirt and moisture Tire Inspection and Rotation To make vour tires last longer have them inspected and rotated at the mileages recommended in the Maintenance Schedule See Scheduled Maintenance Services in the Index If you don t have P245 50ZR 16 size tires use the rotation pattern shown above for your size tires If you have P245 S07R 16 size tires they must roll in a certain direction for the hest overall performance The direction is shown by an arrow on both sidewalls Because these tires are directional they should be rotated as shown in the example above These tires should only be moved from front to rear and rear to front on the same side of the vehicle After the tires have heen rotated adjust the front and rear inflation pressure as shown on the Tire Loading Information label Make certain that all wheel nuts are properly tightened See Wheel Nut Torque in the Index ST Service and Appearance Care A 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
122. distance It s the best defensive driving maneuver in both city and rural driving You never know when the vehicle in front of you is going to brake or turn suddenly m Drunken Driving Death and injury associared with drinking and driving is a national tragedy It s the number one contributor to the highway death toll claiming thousands of victims 126 every year Alcohol takes away three things that anyone needs to drive a vehicle Judgment Muscular Coordination Vision Police records show that almost halt of all motor vehicle related deaths involve alcohol a driver passenger or someone else such as a pedestrian had been drinking In most cases thesc deaths are the result of someone who was drinking and driving About 20 000 motor vehicle related deaths occur each year because of alcohol and thousands of people are injured Just how much alcohol is too much if a person plans to drive Ideally no one should drink alcohol and then drive But if one does then what s too much t can be a lot less than many might think Although it depends on each person and situation here is some general information on the problem The Blood Alcohol Content BAC of someone who is drinking depends upon four things How much alcohol is in the drink The drinker s body weight The amount of food that is consumed before and during drinking The length of time it has taken the
123. ditional ramping may be required for car carrier equipment Use safety chains and wheel straps Attach separate safety chain around outboard end of the rear axle NOTICE Take care not to damage the brake pipes and cables If Steam Is Coming from Your Engine NOTICE Towing a vehicle over rough surfaces could damage a vehicle Damage can occur from vehicle to ground or vehicle to wheel lift equipment contact To help avoid damage install a towing dolly and raise vehicle until adequate clearance is obtained between the ground and or wheel lift equipment m Engine Overheating You will find a coolant temperature gage on your Pontiac s instrument panel A CAUTION Steam from an overheated engine can bum you badly even if you just open the hood Stay away from the engine if you see or hear steam coming from it Just turn it off and get everyone away from the vehicle until it cools down Wait until there 15 no sign of steam coolant before opening the hood If you keep driving when your engine is overheated the liquids in it can catch fire You or others could be badly burned Stop your engine if it overheats and get out of the vehicle until the engine is cool You may also find a low coolant warning light on your Pontiac instrument panel 161 Problems on the Road NOTICE If your engine catches fire because you keep driving with no coolant your vehicle can be badly damaged The co
124. drinker to consume the alcohol ig According to the American Medical Association 180 pound 82 kg person who drinks three 12 ounce 355 ml bottles of beer in an hour will end up with BAC of about 0 06 percent The person would reach the same BAC by drinking three 4 ounce 120 ml glasses of wine or three mixed drinks if each had 1 1 2 ounces 45 ml af a liquor like whiskev gin or vodka It s the amount of alcohol that counts For example if the same person drank three double martinis 3 ounces or 90 ml of liquor each within an hour the person s BAC would be close to 0 12 percent A person who consumes food just before or during drinking will have a slightly lower BAC level DRINKING THAT WILL RESULT IN A OF 05 IN THE TIME SHOWN I a T ME bb 100 jaj 1 2098 hie IN POS The law in most U S states sets the legal limit at of 0 10 percent In Canada the limit 1s 0 08 percent and in some other countries it s lower than that The BAC will be over 0 10 percent after three to six drinks in one hour Of course as seen It depends on how much alcohol is in the drinks and how quickly the person drinks them But its very important to keep in mind that the ability to drive is affected well below a BAC of 0 10 percent Research shows that the driving skills of many people are impaired at BAC approaching 0 05 percent and t
125. e You ll need safety locking clip to properly secure a child restraint in this position You can get a locking clip where child restraints are sold or from your Pontiac dealer GM Part No 94844571 The locking clip must be the same as rhe one shown here 35 Seats and Restraint Systems Until you have this clip secure a child restraint only in the rear seat See the 54 earlier section about securing child restraint in the rear seat Once you have the clip follow these instructions 1 Because your vehicle has a right front passenger s air bag always move the seal as far back as it will go before securing a front facing child restraint 2 Put the restraint on the seat Follow the instructions for the child restraint 3 Secure the child in the child restraint 5 Buckle the belt A Lap Belt Portion as the instructions say Make sure the release button is B Latch Plate 4 Pick up the latch plate and run the lap positioned so you would be able to Buckle and shoulder portions of the vehicle s span the safety belt quickly if you S Shoulder Belt Portion safety belt through or around the ever nad to E Locking Clip restraint The child restraint instructions will show you how Then thread both lap and shoulder belt If the shoulder helt goes in front of the portions through the locking clip child s face or neck put it behind the child restraint A CAUTION If a locking clip is not u
126. e right type and size for your child A Tounlatch the belt just push the very young child s hip bones are button on the m Children unl hice regular bel might not Everyone in vehicle needs protection stay low on the hips as it should That includes infants and all children Instead the belt will likely be over smaller than adult size In fact the law in the child s abdomen In a crash the every slate in the United States and in belt would apply farce right on the every Canadian province says children up child s abdomen which could cause ta some age must be restrained while in serious or fatal injuries So be sure vehicle that any child small enough for one 15 always properly restrained in a child or infant restraint 30 Never hold a baby in your arms while riding in a vehicle A baby doesn t weigh much until crash During a crash a baby will become sa heavy you can t hold it For example in a crash at only 25 mph 40 km h a 12 pound 5 5 kg baby will suddenly become a 240 pound 110 kg force on your arms The baby would be almost impossible ta hold Secure the baby in an infant restraint m Child Restraints Be sure to follow the instructions for the restraint You may find these instructions on the restraint itself or in a booklet or both These restraints use je the belt system in your vehicle but the a child also has to be secured within the restra
127. e the air cleaner in place when you re Air Filter Replacement To remove the air filter CAUTION Operating the engine with the air cleaner off can cause you or others to be burned The air cleaner not only 1 Remove the plastic pin by pulling it straight up cleans the air it stops flame if the engine backfires If it isn t there and the engine backfires you could be burned Don t drive with it off and be careful working on the engine with the air cleaner off 196 Pull the air cleaner straight up 2 Disconnect the plastic clamp on the nclamp the metal clips duct Pull apart the connection 197 Service and Appearance Care Automatic Transmission Fluid When to Check and Change A good time to check your automatic transmission fluid level is when the engine oil is changed Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine when to change your fluid See Scheduled Maintenance Services in the Index How to Check Because this operation can he a little difficult you may choose to have this done at a Pontiac dealership Service Department If you do it yourself he sure to follow all the instructions here or you could get a false reading on the dipstick NOTICE Too much or too little fluid can damage your transmission Too much can mean that some of the fluid could come out and fall on hot engine parts or exhaust system starting a fire Be sure to get an accurate
128. e top quality GM brake parts in them as your Pontiac does when it is new When you replace parts of your braking system for example when your brake linings wear down and you have to have new ones put in be sure you get new genuine GM replacement parts If you don t your brakes may no longer work properly For example if someone puts in brake linings that are wrong for your vehicle the balance between your front and rear brakes can change for the worse The braking performance you ve come to expect can change in many other ways if someone puts in the wrong replacement brake parts Battery Every new Pontiac has a Delco Freedom battery You never have to add water to one of these When it s time for a new battery we recommend a Delco Freedom battery Get one that has the catalog number shown on the original battery s label Vehicle Storage If you re not going to drive your vehicle for 25 days or more take off the black negative cable from the batterv This will help keep your battery from running down ee ck badly hurt if you aren t careful See in me Index Contact your dealer to learn how to prepare your vehicle for longer storage periods Bulb Replacement For the proper type of replacement bulb see Replacement Bulbs in the Index Halogen Bulbs AN CAUTION Halogen bulbs have pressurized gas inside and can burst if you drop or
129. e eee 196 Pontiac Service Publications AM FM Stereo with Compact Battery Remote Lock Control 44 Ordering Information Dise 113 Bulbs Part Numbers 232 Power AM FM Stereo with Compact Bulbs Service 209 Dow Log se o ener n TUS Disc Player and Graphic BONE QU CREER e Retained Accessory Equalizer 118 Wen AANE E sa 220 Seat Six Way ooo ioa Rain Driving inthe 137 Wheels Used 20 or eorr ntn s Rainy Weather Tips Some Other 138 Replacing Brake System Pans T 208 Steering Fluid 2 204 445 Rear Replacing Safety Belts after Winds 2 22 fate cc edie eta parla sel Wal 201 a Crash Hise Pregnancy Safety Belt Use Axle Limited Slip 62 Reporting Safety Defects HER sae 261 ay Seat Passengers Safety Belts 28 Restraint Systems Seatsand 7 Pressure Cap Radiator Seat Securing Child Restraint Restraints Problems the Road PADRES er de a 33 Checking Your di rem PIER 40 Publications Service Seatback Folding 13 Child re ae Towing Hook Ups Hd ene ree 12 Questions Many People Ask about Window Defogger 107 Where to Putthe 3 Safety Belts and the Answers Rearview Mirror Inside Retained Accessory Power 352
130. e impact is above the designed threshold level When impacting straighr into a wall that does mot move or deform the threshold level for most GM vehicles is between 9 and 15 mph 14 and 23 km h However this velocity threshold depends on the vehicle design and may be several miles per hour faster or shower In addition this threshold velocity will be considerably higher if the velucle strikes an object such as a parked ear which will move and deform on impact The air bag is also not designed to inflate in rollovers side impacts or rear impacts where the inflation would provide no occupant protection benefit It is possible that in a crash only one of the two air bags in vour Firebird will deploy This 15 rare but can happen in a crash just severe enough to make an air bag influate In any particular crash the determination of whether the air bag should have inflated cannot be based solely on the level of damage on the vehicle s Inflation is determined by the angle af the impact and the vehicle s deceleration of which vehicle damage is only one indication Repair cost is not good indicator of whether an air bag should have deployed What makes an air bag inflate In a frontal or near frontal impact of Mi sufficient severity the air bag sensing system detects that the vehicle is suddenly stopping as result of a crash The sensing sytem triggers a chemical reaction of the sodium azide sealed in the inflatar The rea
131. e your compact spare through an automatic car wash with guide rails The compact spare can get caught on the rails That can damage the tire and wheel and maybe other parts of your vehicle Don t use your compact spare on some other vehicle And don t mix your compact spare or wheel with other wheels or tires They won t fit Keep your spare and its wheel together NOTICE Tire chains won t fit your compact spare Using them will damage your vehicle and destroy the chains too Don t use tire chains on your compact spare m If You re Stuck In Sand Mud Ice or Snow What you don t want to do when your vehicle is stuck is 10 spin your wheels The method known as rocking can help you get out when you re stuck but you must use caution N CAUTION If you let your tires spin at high specd they can explode and you or others could be injured And the transmission or other parts of the vehicle can overheat That could cause an engine compartment fire or other damage When you re stuck spin the wheels as little as possible Don t spin the wheels above 35 mph 35 km h as shown on the speedom eter NOTICE Spinning your wheels can destroy parts of your vehicle as well as the tires If you spin the wheels too fast while shifting your transmission back and forth you can destroy your trans mission Rocking your vehicle to get it out First turn your st
132. eads to the freeway IF you have a clear view of the freeway as vou drive along the entrance ramp you should j begin to cheek traffic Try to determine where you expect ro blend with the flow Try to merge into the gap at close to the prevailing speed Switch on your turn signal check your mirrors and glance over your shoulder as often as necessary Try to blend smoothly with the traffic flow Once you are on the freeway adjust your speed to the posted limit or to the prevailing rate if its slower Stay in the right lane unless you want ta pass Before changing lanes check your mirrors Then use your turn signal Just before you leave the lane glance quickly over your shoulder to make sure there isn t another vehicle in your blind spot Once you are moving on the freeway make certain you allow a reasonable following distance Expect to move slightly slower at night When you want to leave the freeway move to the proper lane well in advance If you miss your exit do not under any circumstances stop and back up Drive on to the next exit 138 Your Driving and the Road Wiper Blades Are they in good shape Fuel Engine Oil Other Fluids Have you checked all levels Lights Are they all working Are the lenses clean e Tires They are vitally important toa sale trouble free trip Is the tread good enough for long distance driving Are the tires all inflated to the recommen
133. ean inside and out Glare at night is made much worse hy dirt on the glass Even the inside af the glass can build up a film caused by dust Dirty glass makes lights dazzle and flash more than clean glass would making the pupils of your eyes contract repeatedly safe place and rest Night Vision No one can sec as well at night as in the daytime But as we get older these differences increase A 50 year old driver Pl may require at least twice as much light to Remember that your headlights light up Driving at Night sce the thine at night as a far less of a roadway when you are in a Night driving ts more dangerous than day 20 year old turn or curve TM affect your night vision For example if pick out dimly lighted objects drugs with night vision problems or by Just as your headlights should be you spend the day in bright sunshine you sa are wise to wear sunglasses Your eves checked regularly for proper Eme Here are some tips on night driving will have less trouble adjusting to night Should your cyes be examined regularly Some drivers suffer from night blindness Drive defensively if you ang don t wea xen EPI on you js iiie eon the inability to see in dim light and Don t drink and drive sunglasses at night They may cut down aren t even aware of on glare from headlights but they also e Adjust your i
134. eathe Improper fluid levels or even the wrong tire inflation can increase the level of emissions from your vehicle To help protect our environment and to help keep your vehicle in good condition please maintain your vehicle properly How This Part is Organized The remainder of this part is divided into five sections Section A Scheduled Maintenance Services shows what to have done and how often Some of these services can be complex so unless you are technically qualified and have the necessary equipment you should let your dealer s service department or another qualified service center do these jobs If you are skilled enough to do some work on your vehicle you will probably want to get the service information GM publishes You will find a list of publications and how to get them in this manual See Service Publications in the Index Section B Owner Checks and Services tells you what should be checked whenever you stop for fuel It also explains what you can easily do to help keep your vehicle in god condition Section C Periodic Maintenance Inspections explains important inspections that your Pontiac dealer s service department or another qualified service center should perform Section D Recommended Fluids and Lubricants lists some products GM recommends t help keep your vehicle properly maintained These products or their equivalents should be used whether you do the work vours
135. ee Cruise Control in the Index The TCS OFF warning light will come on when you turn the traction control system aff When the system is on this light will come on t let you know if there s a problem with your traction control system See Traction Control System Warning Light in the Index When this warning light is on the system will not limit wheel spin Adjust your driving accordingly The traction control system automatically comes on whenever you start your vehicle To limit wheel spin especially in slippery road conditions you should always leave the system on But you can burn the traction control system off if you ever need to You should turn the system off if your vehicle ever gets stuck in sand mud ice or snow See Rocking Your Vehicle in the Index To turn the system off press the button near the center of the console behind the shift lever The light on the button will go aff and the TCS OFF warning light will come on and stay on If the traction control system is limiting wheel spin when you press the button the system won t turn off right away It will wait until there s no longer a current need to limit wheel spin You can turn the system back on at any time by pressing the button agam The light on the button should come on and the TCS OFF warning light should go off If your car is equipped with P245 507R16 tires the traction control system will automatically turn off
136. eep it in a safe place Turn the ignition switch to the Acc or Run position Turn the audio system off Press and hold pushbuttons 1 and 4 together until shows on the display 2 3 gt You are now ready to enter your security code Don t wait more than 15 seconds between steps Press MIN and 000 will appear on the display Press MIN again and hold until the last two digits of your code appear Release the button Press HR until the first one or two digits of your code appears Press AM FM will appear on the display Repeat steps 5 through 7 for verification Press AM FM SEC will appear on the display This means that your audio system is secured Shutting Off the Theft Deterrent Feature If vour audio system is secured SEC shows on display and you wish to disable it enter your security code as follows pausing no more than 15 seconds between steps 1 Turn the ignition Make sure the audio system is off The time will show on the display 2 Press pushbuttons 1 and 4 together until SEC shows on the display 3 Press MIN 000 will appear on the display 4 Press MIN again and hold until the last two digits of your code appear Release the button 5 Press HR until the first one or two digits of your code appear B Press AM FM If shows you have shut off the theft deterrent feature If SEC shows your
137. eering wheel left and right That will clear the area around your front wheels If your vehicle has traction control you should turn the system off See Traction Control System in the Index Then shift back and forth between Reverse and a forward gear or with a manual transmission between First or Second gear and Reverse spinning the wheels as little as possible Release the accelerator pedal while you shift and press lightly on the accelerator pedal when the transmission is in gear If that doesn t get vou out after a few tries you may need to be towed out If you do need to be towed out see Towing Your Vehicle in the Index 181 Notes 182 Here you will find information about the care of your Pontiac This part begins with service and fuel information and then it shows how to check important fluid and lubricant levels There is also technical information about your vehicle and a section devoted to its appearance care Part 6 Service amp Appearance Care SGervVicB 184 Full uu D ERO CRISE EET EI ERE SEE Ie E o CE wees LES Things under the aa vlna 188 Hood Release ashes a Lad era Us Edu 188 Ename once eh pee cece eR x ee ee 191 PRR ee 06 C ee es o emn HET CRT 195 Automatic Transmission x S REUSE xU quM
138. electrical power accessories Start Starts the engine When the engine starts release the key The ignition switch will return to Run for normal driving Press in the ignition switch as you turn the top of it toward you LOCK The only position in which you can remove the key This locks your steering wheel ignition and automatic transmission Note that even if the engine is nol running and Run allow you to operate your electrical accessories such S as the radio and ventilation fan If you have an automatic transmission the ignition switch can t be turned to LOCK unless the shift lever is in the P Park position Features and Controls N 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 it is all the way in If it is then turn the steer ing 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 52 Retained Accessory Power RAP If y
139. elf or have it done Section E Maintenance Record provides a place for vou to record the maintenance performed on your vehicle Whenever any maintenance is performed be sure to write it down in this section This will help you determine when your next maintenance should be done In addition it is a good idea to keep your maintenance receipts They may be needed to qualify your vehicle for warranty repairs Using Your Maintenance Schedules This section tells you the maintenance services you should have done and when you should schedule them Your Pontiac dealer knows your vehicle best and wants you to be happy with it you go to your dealer for your service needs you ll know that GM trained and supported service people will perfarm the work using genuine GM parts These schedules are for vehicles that carry passengers and cargo within recommended limits You will find these limits on your vehicles Tire Loading Information label See Loading Your Vehicle in the Index are driven on reasonable road surfaces within legal driving limits a use the recommended unleaded fuel See Fuel in the Index Selecting the Right Schedule First youll need to decide which of the two schedules is right for your vehicle Here s how to decide which schedule to follow schedule Is any of these true for your vehicle Most trips are less than 4 miles 6 km Most trips are less than 10 miles 16 km
140. eme m mes 25 Fuel Filter s restaran E A TIE EE I ES EET AT ERE E EA GE378 PCV Valve VIN Engine Code 5 oce n 6 S CV780C VIN Engine Code P T d DR Ha AN CV895C ROME auam dcus uisi aa Raid a E TR E ROZ Spark Plug VIN Engine Code S orien ed RA3TSK 0 045 I8 cs care ee RASLTSP 0 050 Thermostat Temperature Specification 21135 180 F 82 C Wheel Nuts WEL UR TORQUE 100 tb ft 140 234 Capacities Approximate The following approximate capacities are given in U S and metric conversions Ai Conditioning See the refrigerant information label under the hood Automatic Transmission Drain and Refill i eRe aes an dria acit 10 4 7 by Overhaul NUF DER OEE 17 6 p 8 3 L YIN Engine i 206 pt 10 2 L Cooling System VIN Engine Code 5 With Manual Transmission 2 262 eee ee eee eens 12 5 gt 11 8 L With Automatic Transmission te ne 12 3 qi 11 61 VIN Engine Code P With Manual Transmission Seri 15 3 qt 14 5 1 With Automatic Transmission T 15 1 at 13 3 L TNot all air conditioning refrigerants are the same If the air conditioning system in your vehicle needs refrigerant be
141. en replac the pressure cap At any time during this procedure if coolant begins to flow out of the filler neck reinstall the pressure cap Be sure the arrows on the pressure cap line up like this NOTICE The LTI engine Code P has a specific radiator fill procedure Failure to follow this procedure could cause your engine to overheat and be severely damaged 167 1 You can remove the radiator 2 Then keep turning the pressure cap pressure cap when the cooling system but now push down as you turn it including the radiator pressure cap Remove the pressure cap and upper radiator hose is no longer hot Turn the pressure cap slowly to You can be burned if you Spill the left until it first stops Don t press coolant on hot engine parts Coolant down while turning the pressure cap glycol If you hear a hiss wait for that to stop enough PT spill bane ona hiss means there 15 still some hot pu pressure left s 3 After the engine cools open the air bleed valves on the heater return hose and water pump inlet 168 4 Fill with the proper mix Add coolant until you see a steady stream of coolant coming from the bleed valves B Close the bleed valves 8 Start the engine and allow it to run in base of the filler neck idle for approximately four minutes By this time the coolant level inside the radiator will be lower Add more of the proper mix thr
142. en 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 time will cause your battery to be drained much sooner And the excessive heat can damage vour starter motor If your engine 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 staps 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 fuel injection system 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 Towing Your Vehicle in the Index To start your 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
143. enough see Rear passengers who aren t safety belted Safety Belt Extender at the end of can be thrown eut of the vehicle in a this section crash And they can strike others in the Make sure the release button on the vehicle who are wearing safety belts buckle is positioned so you would be x able to unbuckle the safety belt Lap Shoulder Belt quickly if you ever had 3 To make the lap part tight pull down on the buckle end of the belt as you pull up on the shoulder part The lap part of the belt should be worn low and snug on the hips just touching the thighs In a crash this applies force to the strong pelvic bones And you d be less likely to slide under the lap belt If you slid under it the belt would apply force at your abdomen This could cause serious or even fatal injuries The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest These parts of the body are best able to take belt restraining forces The safety belt locks if there s a sudden stop or crash Z CAUTION You can be seriously hurt if your shoulder belt 15 too loose In a crash you would move forward too much which could increase injury The d shoulder belt should fit against your body 29 Smaller Children and Babies CAUTION Smaller children and babies should always be restrained in a child or infant restraint The instructions for the restraint will say whether it is th
144. er Satisfaction Procedure vou may contact the using the toll free telephone number or write them at the following address AUTO LINE Council of Better Business Bureaus 4200 Wilson Boulevard Suite SOC Arlington VA 22203 Telephone 1 800 955 5100 To file a claim you will be asked to provide your and address your vehicle identification number VIN and statement of the nature of your complaint Eligibility is limited by vehicle age and mileage and other factors We prefer you utilize the Customer Satisfaction Procedure before vou resort t AUTO LINE but you may contact the BBB at any time The BBB will attempt to resolve the complaint serving as an intermediary between you and Pontiac If this mediation is unsuccessful an informal hearing will be scheduled where eligible customers may present their case to an impartial third party arbitrator The arbitrator will make a decision which you may accept or reject If you accept the decision GM will be bound by that decision The entire dispute resolution procedure should ordinarily take about forty days from the time you file claim until a decision is made Some state laws may require you to use this program before filing a claim with a state run arbitration program or in the courts For further information contact the BBB at 1 800 955 5100 or the Pontiac Customer Assistance Center at 800 PM C ARES This progr
145. eries in printed side down 4 Replace the front cover Make sure the cover is on tightly so water won t get im Hatch Release Your door key opens the hatch Remote Hatch Release Option Press the switch under the light controls to unlock the hatch from inside your vehicle If you have an automatic transmission vour shift lever must be in P Park or Neutral to use the switch If vou have manual transmission and the ignition switch is in Run you must sel the parking brake before you can use the switch The switch only works when the ignition switch is in Run or Acc or when RAP is present See Retained Accessory Power in the Index 47 Features and Controls 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 if equipped N CAUTION It can be dangerous to drive with the hatch open because carbon monoxide CO gas can come into your vehicle You can t see or smell CO can cause unconsciousness and even death If you must drive with the hatch open or if electrical wiring or other cable connections must pass through the seal between the body and the hatch Make sure all windows are shut Turn the fan on your heating or cooling system to its highest speed with the serting on Al That will force outside air into your vehicle See Comfo
146. ers Automatic Trans mission Shift Linkage Clutch Linkage Pivot Points Lubricate with Multi Purpose Lubricant GM Part 12345120 or synthetic SAE 5W 30 engine oil Engine oil Maintenance Schedule Section D Recommended Fluids amp Lubricants Cont Floor Shift Linkage Chassis Lubrication Rear Axle Standard Differential Rear Axle Limited Slip Differential Windshield Washer Solvent Hood Latch Assembly a Pivots and Spring Anchor b Release Pawl Hood and Door Hinges Headlight Door Assemblies Rear Folding Seat Fuel Door Hinge Rear Compartment Lid Hinges Weatherstrips FLUID LUBRICANT Engine oil Chassis lubricant GM Part No 1052497 or equivalent or lubricant meeting requirements of NLGI Grade 2 Category LB or GC LB Axle Lubricant GM Part No 1052271 or SAE 80W 90 GL 5 Gear Lubricant Axle Lubricant GM Part No 12345977 or SAE 80W 90 GL 5 Gear Lubricant and Limited Slip Differential Lubricant Additive GM Part No 1052358 or equivalent where required See GM Optikleen Washer Solvent GM Part No 051515 or equivalent a Engine oil b Chassis lubricant GM Part No 1052497 or equivalent or lubricant meeting requirements of NLGI Grade 2 Category LB or GC LB En gine oil or Lubriplate Lubricant GM Part No 1050109 Dielectric Silicone Grease GM Part No 12345579 or equivalent See Replacement Pans in the Index
147. essary only when work is done on the brake hydraulic system N CAUTION If you have too much brake fluid it can spill on the engine The fluid will burn if the engine is hot enough You or others could be burned and your vehicle could be damaged Add brake fluid only when work is done on the brake hydraulic system To Check Brake Fluid You can check the brake fluid without taking off the cap Just look at the brake fluid reservoir The fluid level should be above the plastic seam in the reservoir If it isn t have your brake system checked to see if there is a leak After work is done on the brake hydraulic system make sure the level is above the plastic seam near the base of the filler neck Brake Master Cylinder Your brake master cylinder 1s here It is filled with DOT 3 brake fluid There are only two reasons why the brake fluid level in your master cylinder might go down The first is that the brake fluid goes down to an acceptable level during normal brake lining wear When new linings are put in the fluid level goes back up The other reason is that fluid is leaking out of the brake system If it is you should have vour brake system fixed since a leak means that sooner or later your brakes won t work well or won t work at all Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine when to check vour hrake fluid See Periodic Maintenance Inspections in the Index What to Add
148. esting on the center roof rail slide the flat edge of the sunshade panel with the vinyl y side to the ainssi between the nes 10 do this first TE the T top and plastic trim making sure the with the sunshade installed and place edge marked DRIVER FRONT is it upside down on a table or bench pointing to the front of the vehicle Take care not to scratch the glass You can store the sunshades two different 2 Pull the sunshade back little and remove the backing paper from the velcro buttons Push the sunshade back into place sticking the velcro WHYS 6 Install the T top close the latch and lock the T top Repeat the above steps for the passenger side sunshade B Storage and 1 When the T tops are in use store the Compartments Sunshades in their storage area in the rear of the vehicle and make sure the Glove Box close out panel is in it s closed To open the glove box lift up on the upright position lever Use your door key ta lock and When you have the T tops off and in unlock it The glove box has a light their storage slots store the sunshades inside on the T tops in their installed position Features and Controls Map Pocket Each door has a map pocket There may also be a map pocket on the back of the seats Front Console To use the storage area push the tab ns pull up on the front end of the console There is a cupholder and light and may be coinholder in
149. f and your passengers safe Turn on your hazard flashers Tie red cloth to vour vehicle to alert police that you ve been stopped by the snow Put on extra clothing or wrap a blanket around you If you have no blankets or extra clothing make body insulators from newspapers burlap bags rags floor mats anything you can wrap around yourself or tuck under your clothing to keep warm 143 Your Driving and the Road You can mun the engine to keep warm but 29 Then shut the engine off and close the be careful window almost all the way to preserve the heat Start the engine again and repeat this only when you feel really uncomfortable from the cold But do it as little as possible Preserve the fuel as long as you can To help keep warm you can get of the vehicle and do some fairly vigorous exercises every half hour or so until help comes Snow can trap exhaust gases under your vehicle This cin cause deadly CO carbon monoxide gas to get inside CO could overcome you and kill you You can t see it or smell it sd you might not know it is in your m Towing a Trailer Kun your engine only as long as vou must This saves fuel When vou run the engine make it go little faster than just idle That is push the accelerator slightly This uses less fuel for the heat that you get and it keeps the battery charged You will need a well charged battery to restart vehicle Clear away snow from
150. facturer s instructions for adding water Don t mix water with ready to use washer fluid Water can cause the solution to freeze and damage your washer fluid tank and other parts of the washer system Also water doesn t clean as well as washer fluid Fill your washer fluid tank only 3 4 full when it s very cold This allows for expansion which could damage the tank if it is completely full Don t use radiator antifreeze in your windshield washer It can damage your washer system and paint speed af about 25 mph 40 km h or more Cruise Control option With Cruise Control you can maintain without keeping your foot on the accelerator This can really help on long To Set Cruise Control trips Cruise Control does not work at 1 Move the Cruise C speeds below about 25 mph 40 kmh song e Comtrol switch to When you apply your brakes or push the clutch pedal if you have a manual transmission the Cruise Control shuts off A CAUTION If you leave your Cruise Control switch on when you re not using Cruise you might hit a button and inta Cruise when you don t want t You could be startled and even lose control Keep the Cruise Control switch OFF until you want t use it Take your foot off the accelerator Get up to the speed you want Resume a Set Speed Push in the set button at the end of the Suppose you set your Cruise Control at lever and re
151. g the dipstick Add coolant at the coolant recovery tank The fluid should be at or a little above the FULL HOT mark on the dipstick when the engine is warm If the engine 15 cool the level should be at FULL COLD on the dipstick See Page 202 Cold Tire Pressure See Tire Loading Information label on the inside of the rear edge of the driver s door 5ee Page 214 Fuel Capacity 15 5 U S Gal 58 7 LJ Use unleaded gas only 87 octane or higher for the 3 4L 1 32 Code engine 9 octane or higher for the 5 71 LTT Code P engine See Page 185 Spare Tire Pressure Compact Spare 60 psi 420 kPa See Page 180
152. g wheel to Turn the audio system on or off Adjust the volume 110 Choose AM 2 Lise the seek and recall functions Choose one of the preset stations on your pushbuttons Setting the Tone Bass Slide the BASS lever to the nght to hear more bass Treble Slide the TREBLE lever to the right to hear more treble If station 15 weak and noisy slide TREBLE to the left to reduce the moise Adjusting the Speakers Balance Press BAL to release the knob Turn the knob to move the sound between the right and left speakers Push BAL hack in to store it when not adjusting Fade Press FADE to release the knob Turn the knob to move the sound between the front and rear speakers Push FADE back in to store it when not adjusting To Play a Cassette Tape Your tape player is built to work best with tapes that are 30 to 45 minutes long on each side Tapes longer than that are so thin they may not work well in this player A cassette symbol will appear in the upper left comer of the display whenever a tape 15 inserted The longer side with the tape visible gnes in first If you hear nothing or hear just a garbled sound it may not be in squarely Press EJECT to remove the tape and start over Once the tape is playing use VOLUME FADE TREBLE and BASS just as you do for the radio The arrows show which side of the tape is playing Forward Press FWD
153. hat the effects are worse at night All drivers are impaired at BAC levels above 0 05 percent Statistics show that the chance of being in an accident increases sharply for drivers who have a BAC of 0 05 percent or above A driver with a BAC level of 0 06 percent three beers in one hour for a 180 pound or 82 kg person has doubled his or her chance of having an accident At a BAC level of 0 10 percent the chance of that driver having an accident is six times greater at a level of 0 15 percent the chances are twenty five times greater And the body takes about an hour to rid itself of the alcohol in one drink No amount of coffee or number of cold showers will speed that up be careful isn t the right answer What if there s an emergency a need to take sudden action as when a child darts into the street A person with a higher BAC might not be able to react quickly enough to avoid the collision 127 Your Driving and the Road There s something else about drinking and driving that many people don t know Medical research shows that alcohol in person s system can make crash injuries worse That s especially true for brain spinal cord and heart injuries That means that if anyone who has been drinking driver or passenger is in a crash the chance of being killed or permanently disabled is higher than if that person had not been drinking And we ve already seen that the chance of a crash itself is
154. he brake pedal move the shift lever through each gear range pausing for about three seconds in each range Then position the shift lever in P Park e Let the engine run at idle for three minutes or more JAL 1 32 Sh Then without shutting off the engine follow these steps 1 Pull out the dipstick and wipe it with a clean rag or paper towel 5 71 ETI iode Fi 2 Push it back in all the way wait three seconds and then pull it back out 3 Cheek both sides of the dipstick and read the lower level The fluid level must he in the COLD area for cold check or in the HOT area or cross hatched area for hot check 4 If the fluid level is in the acceptable range push the dipstick back in all the Waly How to Add Fluid Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what kind of transmission fluid to use See Recommended Fluids and Lubricants in the Index 199 Service and Appearance Care NOTICE Too much or too little fluid can damage your transmission Too much If the fluid level is low add only enough of the proper fluid to bring the level up to the COLD area for cold check or the HOT area for a hot check It doesn t take much fluid generally less than pint Don t overfill We recommend you use only fluid labeled or DEXRON IIE because fluids with that label are made especially for your automatic transmission Dam
155. he front turn signal lights will go out Al dawn the exterior lights will go out and the front turn signal lights will come on f the headlight switch is aff B Replace the plastic cover on the retractor motor knob To manually close the headlight doors turn the lights off and turn the knob clockwise If the headlight doors aren t Of course you may still tum on the headlights any time you need to Features and Controls To idle your vehicle with the DRL off set Fog Lights Option the parking brake while the ignition isin Use your fog lights for better vision in the Off or LOCK position Then start foggy misty conditions Your parking the vehicle The DRL will stay off until tights must be on or your fog lights won t you release the parking brake word To turn the fog lights on push the right side of the switch Push p to turn the fog lights off A light on the switch will come on when the fog lights are on Fog lights will go off whenever your high S ANY beams come When the high beams go off the fog lights will come on again B Interior Lig h fs Courtesy Lights When any door is opened several interior lights go on These lights are courtesy lights They make it easier for you to enter and leave your vehicle Courtesy lights include the dome light and other lights throughout the interior of your vehicle Convex Outside Mirror Your right side mirror is con
156. he system will operate normally again When this warning light is on the system will not limit wheel spin Adjust your driving accordingly Low Traction Light When your anti lock system is adjusting brake pressure to help avoid a braking skid the LOW TRAC light will appear on your instrument cluster If you have the traction control system this light will also come on when the system is limiting wheel spin Slippery road conditions may exist if this light comes on so adjust your driving accordingly The light will stay on for a few seconds after the anti lock system stops adjusting brake pressure or the traction control system stops limiting wheel spin The LOW TRAC light also comes on briefly as a bulb check when the engine 1s started Engine Coolant Temperature Gage This gage shows the engine coolant temperature If the gage pointer moves into the red area your engine is too hot It means that your engine coolant has overheated If you have been operating your vehicle under normal driving conditions you should pull off the road slop your vehicle and turn off the engine as soon as possible In Problems on the Road this manual shows what to do See Engine Overheating in the Index 93 Features and Controls 2 this happens your ABS INOP light Voltmeter You can read battery voltage on your voltmeter If it reads less than 11 volts or more than 16 volts while your eng
157. he two buttons without dots inflate and deflate the lumbar lower part of the seatback support To inflate push the raised button To deflate push the indented button To adjust the seatback lift the lever on the outer side of the seat Release the lever to lock the seatback where you want it Pull up on the lever and the seat will go to its original upright position But don t have the seatback reclined if your vehicle is moving If you have fully articulating sport seats your recliner lever looks like this TT Seats and Restraint Systems a Head Restraints CAUTION Slide the head restraints up or down 50 Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle is in motion can be dangerous that the top of the restraint is closest to Even if you buckle up your safety belts can t do their job when you re reclined the top of your ears This position reduces the chance af a The shoulder belt can t do its job In a crash you could go into it receiving neck or neck injury a crash other injuries If you have the fully articulating sport The lap belt can t do its job either In a crash the belt could go up over your abdo seat you have a six way head restraint men The belt forces would be there not at your pelvic bones This could cause It can be adjusted up and down forward serious internal injuries and rearward or tilted For proper protection when the vehicle is in motion have the seathack upright T
158. he upper air vents and the heater ducts Pad This setting directs most of the air wough the heater ducts and some of the air through the windshield defroster vents During initial start up only if your vehicle is equipped with an optional engine coolant heater you ean use it in cold weather around 20 F 8 C or lower ta heat the passenger area hetter than without it Because an engine coolant heater warms the engine coolant your vehicle s heating system can more efficiently provide heat for the passenger area Of your vehicle See Engine Coolant Heater in the Index Bi Level Heating You may want to use bi level heating on cool but sunny days This setting directs cool air toward your body and warmer air toward your feet 1 Turn the air control knob to xl 2 Turn the temperature control knob to 4 comfortable setting 3 Turn the fan control knoh to the right Ventilation For mild outside temperatures when little heating or cooling is needed you can still direct outside air through your vehicle 1 Turn the air control knob to FE 2 Turn the temperature control knob to a comfortable setting 3 Turn the fan contro knob to the right Defogging and Defrosting Windows 1 Turn the air control knob to P 2 Turn the temperature control knob all the way to the right 3 Turn the fan control knob to the right 105 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems Air Conditioner Controls O
159. heel mounting surface CAUTION Mever use oil or grease on studs or nuts If you do the nuts might come loose Your wheel could fall off causing a serious accident Replace the wheel nuts with the rounded Lower the vehicle by rotating the wheel end of the nuts toward the wheel Tighten wrench counterclockwise Lower the jack each nut by hand until the wheel is held completely against the hub 177 Problems on the Road Don t try to put a center cap on your compact spare tire It won t fit Stare the center cap in the rear area until you have the flat tire repaired or replaced N 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 NOTICE Center caps won t fit on your them be sure to get the right kind compact spare If you try to put a Stop evens soon as yos can center cap on your compact spare Tighten the wheel nuts firmly in and have the nuts tightened with you could damage tbe cower or the spare torque wrench to 100 pound feet 140 Nem criss cross sequence as shown c 178 Replace the jack wheel wrench and flat tire using the storage instructions When you replace the trim panel be sure to tuck it under the weatherstrip 1 Trim Panel 2 Bolt 3 Cover 4 Jack 5 Wing
160. hen not adjusting To Play a Compact Disc Before you begin please note don t use the mini discs that are called singles They won t eject Use full size compact discs With the audio system on insert disc into the slot with the label side up will appear on the display and track will begin to play If the disc comes back out and ERR appears on the display it could be that The disc is upside down e tis dirty scratched or wet There s too much moisture in the air You are driving on very rough road e The temperature is too hot or too cold Recall Press RECALL to see what track is playing Press it again within five seconds to see how long it has been playing The track number also appears when the disc is inserted To Play the Next Selection Press NEXT or SEEK A to hear the next track now instead of waiting until the present track is finished If you press and hold this button or press it more than once the disc will advance Further To Replay the Current Selection Press PREV or SEEK W to hear a track again If you press and hold this button or press it more than once the disc will return to previous tracks Reverse To Stop the Disc Player Theft Deterrent System Press and hold REV to rapidly return to Turn the power off or turn the ignition Your audio system is equipped with the a favorite passage Release it ta play the key off The disc stay
161. higher station and stay there Pushbuttons The six pushbuttons let you return to your favorite stations To set the pushbuttons far up to 18 stations AM 6 and 6 FMZ 1 Press AM FM to choose AM or FMZ 2 Tune in the station 3 Press and hold one of the six pushbuttons until the display shows SET Whenever you press that button the preset station will return Steering Wheel Controls Your vehicle has steering wheel controls for this audio system With steering wheel controls you can use the buttons on your steering wheel to Turn the audio system on or off Adjust the volume Choose AM FM or FMZ Use the seek and recall functions Choose one of the preset stations on your pushbuttons Setting the Tone Use the levers to set the bass midrange and treble until you get the sound you want The 40 100 250 and 625 levers adjust the bass 1 6K is midrange and AK and 12K control the treble We suggest setting the LOK lever in the middle position and then moving the other levers up or down until you get the amount of bass and treble you like Adjusting the Speakers Balance Press BAL to release the knob Turn the knob to move the sound between the right and left speakers Push BAL back in to store it when not adjusting Fade Press FADE to release the knob Turn the knob to move the sound between the front and rear speakers Push FADE back in
162. hing it may be slowing down or starting to turn If you re being passed make il easy for the following driver to get ahead of you Perhaps you can ease a little to the right Loss of Control Let s review what driving experts say about what happens when the three control systems brakes steering and acceleration don t have enough friction where the tires meet the road to do what the driver has asked In any emergency don t give up Keep trying to steer and constantly seek an escape route or area of less danger Skidding In a skid a driver can lose control of the vehicle Defensive drivers avoid mast skids hy taking reasonable care suited to existing conditions and by not overdriving those conditions But skids are always possible The three types of skids correspond to your Pontiac s three control systems In the braking skid your wheels aren t rolling In the steering or cornering skid too much speed or steering in a curve causes tires to slip and lose cornering farce And in the acceleration skid too much throttle causes the driving wheels to spin A cornering skid is best handled by casing your foot off the accelerator pedal If you have the traction control system remember It helps avoid only the acceleration skid I you do not have traction control or if the system is off then an acceleration skid 1s also best handled by easing your foot off the accelerator pedal If your vehicle starts to slide ease
163. hored If you need to have an anchor installed you can ask your Pontiac dealer to put it in for you If you want to instali an anchor yourself your dealer can tell you how to do it If you have a convertible don t use a restraint that has a top strap in your vehicle because the top sirap anchor cannot be installed properly If the shoulder belt goes in front of the child s face or neck put it behind the child restraint CAUTION The place where the anchor has to gn is quite close to your fuel tank If the anchor isn t installed correctly it can make a hole in the fuel tank either then or in a later collision Gasoline could leak out and be ignited and people in the vehicle or outside it could be badly burned Don t install the anchor yourself unless you know vou can do it A Securing a Child Restraint in the Rear Sent For cars first sold in Canada child You ll be using the lap shoulder belt See restraints with a top strap must be the earlier section about the top strap if anchored according to Canadian Law the child restraint has one Your dealer can obtain the hardware kit 1 Put the restraint on the seat Follow and install it for you or you may install it the instructions for the child restraint yourself using the instructions provided 2 Secure the child in the child restraint with the kit as the instructions say Use the tether hardware kit available from 3 Pick up the l
164. hose which may pertain to a particular model To do this you will first need to see our index affecting a small number of cars or trucks of PSP s It provides a variety of information Here s what you ll find in the index and how you can What You ll Find in the Index A list of all PSP s published by Pontiac in model year 19 or later PSP s covering all models of Pontiac vehicles are listed in the same index e Ordering information so you can buy the specific PSP s you may want Price information for the PSP s you may want to buy How You Can Get an Index Indexes are published periodically Most af the PSP s which could potentially apply to the most recent Pontiac models will he listed im the most recent publication for that model year This means you may want to wait until the end of the model year before ordering an index if you are interested in buying PSP s pertaining to a current model year car or truck Some PSP s pertaining to a particular model year vehicle may be published in later years and these would be listed in the later year s index When you order an index fora model year that is not over yet we ll send you the most recently published issue Check the ordering form for indexes for earlier model years Cut out the ordering form fill it out and mail it in We will then see to it that an index is mailed to you There is no charge for indexes for the 1990 1994 model year
165. ication label found on the rear edge of the driver s door It tells you the gross weight capacity of your vehicle called the GVWR Gross Vehicle Weight Rating The GVWR includes the weight of the vehicle all occupants fuel and cargo Never exceed the GVWR for your vehicle or the Gross Axle Weight Rating GAWR for either the front or rear axle And if you do have a heavy load you should spread it out Don t carry more than 100 pounds 45 kg in your rear area 213 Service and Appearance Care If you put things inside your vehicle NOTICE like suitcases tools packages or anything else they will go as fast as the Your warranty does nat cover parts or vehicle goes If you have to stop or turn components that fail because of over quickly or if there is a crash they ll keep loading going N CAUTION Do not load your vehicle any heavier than the GVWR or the maximum front and rear If you do parts on your vehicle can break or it can change the way your vehicle handles These could cause you to lose control Also ower loading can shorten the life of your vehicle wu 214 Tires We don t make tires Your new vehicle comes with high quality tires made by a leading tire manufacturer These tires are warranted by the tire manufacturers and their warranties are delivered with every new Pontiac If your spare tire is 3 different brand than your road tires you will h
166. if vou have to park outside in very cold weather 18 C or colder If your vehicle has this option see Engine Coolant Heater in the Index What to Do with Used Oil Did vou know that used engine oil contains elements that may be unhealthy far your skin and could even cause cancer Don t let used oil stay on your skin for very long Clean your skin and nails with soap and water or good hand cleaner Wash or properly throw away clothing or rags containing used engine oil See the manufacturer s warnings about the use and disposal of oil products Used oil can be a real threat to the environment lf you change your own ail be sure to drain all free flowing oil from the filter before disposal Don t ever dispose of ail by putting it in the trash pouring it on the ground into sewers or into streams or bodies of water Instead recycle it hy taking it to a place that collects used oil If you have a problem properly disposing of your used oil ask your dealer a service station or a local recycling center for help Air Cleaner 1 41 1 32 Code 5 Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine when to replace the air Filter See Scheduled Maintenance Services in the Index 195 NOTICE If the air cleaner is off a backfire can cause a damaging engine fire And dirt can easily get into your engine Service and Appearance Care ei 1 pert which will damage it Always hav
167. ifting Into P ParkY in the Index If you are parking on a hill and if you re pulling a trailer also see Towing a Trailer in the Index 67 Features and Controls Power Windows Option With power windows switches on the door control each window when the ignition is on or when RAP is present See Retained Accessory Power in the Index You can also open the passenger window any amount by pressing the switch and releasing it when the window has lowered to the position you want The switch for the driver s window has an Express Down feature Quickly press and release the switch for the driver s window and the window will lower completely You can also open the driver s window any amount by pressing the switch again while the window is in the Express Down mode when it has lowered to the position yo want m Horn To sound the horn press either horn symbol on vour steering wheel m Tilt Wheel tilt steering wheel allows you to adjust the steering wheel before you drive You can also raise it to the highest level to give your legs more room when you exit and enter the vehicle To tilt the wheel hold the steering wheel and pull the lever Move the steering wheel to a comfortable level then release the lever to lock the wheel in place m The Turn Signal Headlight Beam Lever The lever on the left side of the steering column includes your Turn Signal and Lane Change Indicat
168. ighter and use its fuse if it is the size you need Replace it as soon as you Headlights The headlight wiring is protected by a circuit breaker An electrical overload will cause the lights to go on and off or in some cases to remain off If this happens have your headlight wiring checked right away Windshield Wipers The windshield wiper motor is protected by a circuit breaker and a fuse If the motor overheats due to heavy snow elt the wiper will stop until the motor cools Tf the overload is caused by some electrical problem and not snow etc be sure to get it fixed Power Windows and Other Power Options Circuit breakers protect the power windows and other power accessories When the current load is too heavy the circuit breaker opens and closes protecting the circuit until the problem is fixed or goes away 229 Service and Appearance Care z 6 Brake Light Cruise Release CIO CIO Cs 14 Switch Hazard Flasher 20 Amp Cr CES 2 Hatch Release 15 Amp B Audio Alarm Module Bose Relay Courtesy Lights Console Compartment Glove Box Dome Trunk Rear Courtesy Rearview Mirror and Radio 15 Amp eo 9 Audio Alarm Module Daytime Running Lights Module Canada p Diagnostic Energy Reserve Min Pus Beck Module Instrument Cluster 1 Air Bag SIR Components Remote Lock Control Module 15 Amp 10 Amp 2
169. iles 804 km Don t drive at any one speed fast or slow for the first 500 miles 804 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 brcaking in guideline every time you get new hrake linings OM C Unlocks the steering wheel ignition and automatic transmission but does not send electrical power to any accessories Use this position if your vehicle must be pushed or towed A w rning tone will sound if you open the driver s door when the ignition is in OR and the key is in the ignition Run D Position to which the switch returns after vou start your engine and release the switch The switch stays in the t Run position when the engine is Key Release Button If you have a 8 Ignition Switch running But even when the engine isnot ruat transmission your ignition lack running you can use Run to operate has a key release button You must press your electrical power accessories andto the button before you can take your key display some instrument panel warning With the ignition key in the ignition switch you can turn the switch to five ysitions out of the ignition lock Positi hich and indicator lights E Position in which you can es operate your
170. ine ts 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 vellow zone your battery may not be able to power certain electrical accessories like ABS 94 will come See Anti Lock Brake System Warning Light in this part If you must drive a short distance with the voltmeter reading in a warning zone turn off all your accessories including your comfort control and audio systems SERVICE ENGINE SOON Malfunction Indicator Lamp Service Engine Soon Light A computer monitors operation of your fuel ignition and emission control systems This light should come on when the ignition 15 on but the engine 15 not running as a check to show you it is working If it does not come on at all have it fixed right away If it stays on ar it comes on while you are driving the computer is indicating that you have a problem You should take your vehicle in for service soon NOTICE If you keep driving your vehicle with this light on after a while the emis A CAUTION Don t keep driving if the oi
171. ins to slots in frame J rearward of front wheels on both sides NOTICE Do not attach winch cables or I hooks to suspension components when using car carrier equipment Always use T hooks inserted 1n the T hook slots 158 Attach a separate safety chain around NOTICE Do not tow with sling type equiment ar fascia fog light damage will occur NOTICE Use wheel lift or car carrier equip ment Additional ramping may be required for ear carrier equipment Take care not to damage the brake pipes and hoses or the ABS sensor and wiring Use safety chains and wheel straps outboard end of each lower control arm NOTICE Towing a vehicle over rough surtaces could damage a vehicle Damage can occur from vehicle to ground or vehicle to wheel lift equipment contact To help avoid damage install a towing dolly and raise vehicle until adequate clearance is obtained between the ground and or wheel lift equipment 159 Problems on the Road Rear Towing Hook Ups Attach T hook chains in front of rear wheels in bottom of frame rail on both sides NOTICE Do not attach winch cables or J hooks to suspension components when using car carrier equipment Always use T hooks inserted in the T hook slots 160 NOTICE Do not tow with sling type equip ment or rear bumper valance will be damaged Use wheel lift or car carrier equip ment Ad
172. int to help reduce the chance of personal injury The instructions that come with the infant or child restraint will show you how to do that Where to Put the Restraint Accident statistics show that children are safer if they are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat We at General Motors therefore recommend that you put your child restraint in the rear seat NEVER put a rear facing child restraint in the front passenger seat Here s why 31 Seats and Restraint Systems N CAUTION A child in a rear facing child restraint can be seriously injured if the right front passenger s air bag inflates This is because the back af a rear facing child restraint would be very close to the inflating air bag Always secure a rear facing restraint in the rear seat You may however secure a forward facing child restraint in the right front seat Before you secure a forward facing child restraint ALWAYS move the front passenger seat as far back as it will go Or secure the child restraint in the rear seat eos ae or sudden stop and injure people in the Wherever you install it be sure to securc the child restraint properly Keep in mind that an unsecured child restraint can move around in a collision vehicle Be sure to properly secure any child restraint in your vehicle even when no child is in it Top Strap If your child restraint has top strap it should be anc
173. ions for the trailer brakes so you ll be able to install adjust and maintain them properly Because you have anti lock brakes do not try to tap into your vehicles brake system If you do both brake systems won t work well or at all Driving with a Trailer Towing a trailer requires a certain amount of experience Before setting out for the open road you ll want to get to know your rig Acquaint yourself with the feel of handling and braking with the added weight of the trailer And always keep in mind that the vehicle you are driving 15 now a good deal longer and not nearly as responsive as your vehicle is by itself are working This lets you check your electrical connection at the same time During your trip check occasionally to be sure that the load is secure and that the lights and any trailer brakes are still working Following Distance Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead as you would when driving your vehicle without a trailer This can help you avoid situations that require heavy braking and sudden turns Passing You ll need more passing distance up ahead when you re towing a trailer And because you re a good deal longer you ll need to go much farther beyond the passed vehicle before you can return to your lane 147 Backing Up Hold the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand Then to move the trailer to the left just move that hand to the left
174. ish or 1 800 263 7854 French In Mexico call 525 254 3777 In Puerto Rico or U S Virgin Islands call 1 809 763 1315 In all other overseas locations contact GM North American Export Sales in Canada by calling 1 905 644 4112 For prompt assistance please have the following information available to give the Customer Assistance Representative Your name address home and business telephone numbers Vehicle Identification Number This is available from the vehicle registration or title or the plate attached to the left top of the instrument panel and visible through the windshield Dealership name and location Vehicle delivery date and present mileage Nature of concem We encourage you to call the toll free number listed previously in order to give your inquiry prompt attention However if you wish to write Pontiac write to United States Pontiac Division Customer Assistance Center One Pontiac Plaza Pontiac MI 48340 2952 Canada General Motors of Canada Limited Customer Assistance Center 163 005 1908 Colonel Sum Drive Oshawa Ontario LIH 8P7 Refer to your Warranty and Owner Assistance Information booklet for addresses of Canadian and GM Overseas offices When contacting Pontiac please remember that your concern will likely be resolved in the dealership using the dealership s facilities equipment and personnel That is why we suggest you follow Step One first if you have a co
175. l pressure is low If you do your engine can sion controls won t work as well your fuel economy won t be as good and your engine may not run as smoothly This could lead to costly repairs not covered hy your warranty 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 Engine Oil Pressure Gage NOTICE This gage tells you if there could be a A problem with your engine ail pressure Damage to your engine from neglected oil problems can be costly and is not covered by your warranty engine oil pressure in psi pounds per square inch in the U S or kPa kilopascals in Canada when the engine is running Oil pee should be 20 to 8 psi 140 to 550 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 Engine Oil in the Index The engine oil pressure gage shows the 95 Features and Controls 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 en gine 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 CHECK GAUGES
176. l the windows down to blow out any CO and Have your vehicle fixed immediately 66 Running Your Engine While You re Parked automatic TRANSMISSION It s better not to park with the engine running But if you ever have to here are some things to know A CAUTION Tdling the engine with the air system control off could allow dangerous exhaust into your vehicle See the earlier caution under Engine Exhaust Also idling in a closed in place can let deadly carbon monoxide CO into your vehicle even if the fan switch is at the highest setting One place this can happen is a garage Exhaust with CO can come in easily NEVER park in a garage with the engine running Another closed in place can be a blizzard See Blizzard in the Index CAUTION It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the shift lever 15 not fully in P Park with the parking brake firmly set Your vehicle can roll Don t leave vour vehicle when the engine is running unless you have to If you ve lett the engine running the vehicle can move suddenly You or others could be injured To be sure your vehicle won t move even when M Windows you re on fairly level ground always sel your parking brake and move the shift lever to P Park Manual Windows Use the window crank to open and close each door window Follow the proper steps to be sure your vehicle won t move See Sh
177. lay the time when the ignition is off saa 112 Steering Wheel Controls Your vehicle may be equipped with steering wheel controls for this audio system With steering wheel controls you can use the buttons on your steering wheel Tum the audio system on or off Adjust the volume Choose AM or FMZ Use the seek and recall functions Choose one of the preset stations on your pushbuttons Setting the Tone Use the levers to set the bass midrange and treble until you get the sound you want The 40 100 250 and 625 levers adjust the bass LORK is midrange and 4K and 12K control the treble We suggest setting the 1 5 lever in the middle position and then moving the other levers up or down until you get the amount of bass and treble you like Adjusting the Speakers Balance Press BAL to release the knob Turn the knob to move the sound between the right and left speakers Push BAL back in to store it when not adjusting Fade Press FADE to release the knob Forward Press FWD to rapidly advance to another part of the tape Press PROG or PWD again to stop it The radio will play during this operation Reverse Turn the knob to move the sound between Press REV to rapidly rewind the tape the front and rear speakers Push FADE back in to store it when not adjusting Play a Cassette Tape Your tape player is built to work best with lapes
178. lease it a desired speed and then you apply the brake This of course shuts off the Cruise Control But you don t need to reset it Once you re going about 25 mph 40 km h or more you can move the Cruise Control switeh from ON t R A Resume Accelerate for about half second You ll go night back up to your chosen speed and stay there pedal T3 Features and Controls Here s the second way to go a higher To Increase Speed While Using Cruise seq To Reduce Speed While Using Cruise Control i OT V Ene T Control 1 Move the Cruise switch from ON to There are two ways to go to a higher R A Hold it there until you get up There are two ways to reduce your speed speed Here s the first to the speed you want and then while using cruise control 1 Use the accelerator pedal to get to the release the switch 1 Push in the button at the end of the higher speed To increase your speed in very small lever until you reach the lower speed 2 Push the button at the end of the lever amounts move the switch to R A you want then release it then release the button and the for less than half a second and then 2 To slow down in very small amounts accelerator pedal You ll now cruise at release it Each time you do this push the button for less than half the higher speed your vehicle will go about 1 mph second Each time you do this you ll 1 6 km h faster go mph 1 6 km h slower 74 Passing Ano
179. lift up on either side of the ashtray If you have an automatic Aly transmission the ashtray is near the front NOTICE of your console If you have a manual Don t hold a cigarette lighter in with transmission the ashtray is near your your hand while it is heating 1f you cupholder do it won t be able to back away from the heating element when it s NOTICE ready That can make it overheat damaging the lighter and the heating Don t put papers and other things element that burn into your ashtray IF you do cigarettes or other smoking materials could set them on fire causing damage If you plug accessories into your cigarette lighter such as heating devices or air com pressors these accessories should have a rated current of less than 15 amps Exceed ing this limit will result in a blown fusce 85 Instrument Panel 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Fog Lamp Switch if equipped Main Light Control Side Upper Air Vent Instrument Cluster Hom Center Upper Air Vent Audio System Glove Box 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Comfort Controls Cigarette Lighter Parking Brake Lever Cupholder Storage Console and Cassette Tape Compact Disc Storage as equipped Transmission Mode Switch Automatic Transmission Shift Lever Ashtray Automatic Transmission 17 Rear Window Defogger Switch 18 Steering Wheel Controls 19 Remote Hatch Release 20 Convertible Top Switch if eq
180. lign If your vehicle suffers a power loss such hooks with holes Push forward on the as a dead battery you can still raise or larger part of the latch until it clicks lower the top manually by rotating the Do not force the latch If it is hard to valve in the left side of the trunk lock the top is not properly aligned 101 Notes 102 Part 3 Comfort Controls amp Audio Systems Comfort Com Heater eu hex ae si quee REPERTA SEA 104 cocer r it Bi Level Heating RARE OT TREE EEE zx Ventilation ia erae Facta aa 105 Defogging and Defrosting Windows 105 this part you ll find out how Air Conditioner Controls ese RR ee ee ee 106 to operate the comfort control Cooling i AC Ce oS em TCR cat 106 systems and audio systems Rear Window Defogger M E 107 offered with your Pontiac Be ie ee Ventilation amp 1 S E ZR RE NE sure to read about the particular Sering the Clock cess KB system supplied with your AM FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player see bins 109 vehicle AM FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player and Graphic Equalizer 112 AM FM Stereo with Compact Disc Player 115 AM FM Stereo with Compact Disc Player and Graphic PEE Kies 118 Understanding Radio Reception
181. m m x m reer tre ees ee k wm d be a obo wo o OS mco PRBS PEST eee reS tee ett eee 4 Maintenance EU SCORE CR o a REA 255 78 vir ur ER 239 En Services Scheduled 242 97 226 94 When Trailer Towing 149 76 Malfunction Indicator Lamp 95 95 Manual 76 Adjust Mimos 19 18 egt isse CePA aa 8 95 Remote Control Mirror 79 6 peat Four Way 4 8 Transmission Five Speed 59 93 Transmission Six Speed 60 76 Transmission Fluid 200 62 WIMKENS ee cee eee 67 213 Map Lights Front 79 44 Pocket Bd 43 Master Cylinder Brake 206 44 Mirrors 135 Control Convex Outside 79 07 Inside Day Night Rearview 79 4 Manual Adjust 79 2H Manual Remote Control 79 293 Visor Vanity Covered 85 Mode Switch Performance 54 230 Mountain Roads Hill amd 14 76 N ew Vehicle Break In 50 251 Night Driving 136 Night Vision Nuts Wheel CJ usas speedometer and Odometer Trip Off Road Recovery Oil Engine Operation of Lights Overheating Engine Owner Checks and Services P Park Shifting into P Park Shifting out of Paint Che
182. mable Be careful not to spill gasoline Clean Te bucas and thar c n cause gasoline from painted surfaces as soon as j possible See Cleaning the Outside of Your Pontiac in the Index very bad injuries Don t smoke if you re near gasoline or refueling your vehicle Keep sparks flames When you put the cap back on turn it to and smoking materials away from the right until you hear at least three gasoline clicks The cap is behind a hinged door on the left side of your vehicle 187 Service and Appearance Care N CAUTION An electric fan under the hood can start up and injure yau even when the engine is not running Keep hands clothing and tools away from any underhood electric fan E Then go to the front of the vehicle and m Checking Things under i up on the hood release the Hood Lift the hood Hood Release To open the hood first pull the handle inside the vehicle 188 ONNE RAL Li Code Si When you open the hood you ll see 6 Oil Fill Cap 1 Battery T Brake Fluid Reservoir 2 Engine Coolant Reservoir 8 Power Steering Reservoir 3 Engine Oil Dipstick 9 Windshield Washer Reservoir 4 Automatic Transmission Dipstick 10 Engine Fan if equipped 11 Clutch Fluid Reservoir if equipped 5 Air Cleaner 189 When you open the hood you ll see 1 Battery 2 Engine Coolant Reservoir 3 Engine Oil Dipstick 4 Automatic Transmission Dipsti
183. mical Spotting Finish Care Finish Damage Foreign Material Parking Brake On Hills Trailer Towing Over Things That Burn Your Vehicle Parts Replacement PASS Key Passenger Positions Safety Belis zi Rear Seat Right Front Passengers Rear Seat Safety Belts Passing BS 9 T qTF FF T d bo ho md hook mod ob oh om espren amp oko d x od h m oh nud hmm mx m amp ww m hmm h ma ga s p s a b md 5 m hu d h mu k m3 m b m B d E Bd k m k ch ok d amp 63 148 66 20 265 224 Q9 i wd h p maa mw 4 bua m ma n c m h mn WO BOW c Bodod 8 m po ee Por o pom d od modom ao nod amp tob 4o m d o b a b dod moro od BOR Rob m om bom T 234 e 89 va MU e 13 191 E 161 248 04 55 226 La 229 226 226 2 Index Pedal Travel Brake C HAT Radio To Play the Remote Hatch Release 47 Performance Mode Switch AM FM Stereo with Cassette Remote Lock Control 44 Periodic Maintenance Inspections Tape Player and Graphic Replacement Pontiac Roadside Assistamce Euler as es tees 112 PA PMS oo ane nace eve ee
184. mp Starting cere ree ee eee 153 Key Release Button KEYS 42 Service Parts Identification 228 Lane Change Indicator Turn Signal and 69 Lap Shoulder Belt Safety Belts 19 Larger Children Safety Belts 38 Leaving Your Vehicle bee Leaving Your Vehicle with the Engine Running 64 Lighter Ashtray and 85 Lighter Cigarette 85 Lights Air Bag Readiness 24 Anti Lock Brake System WINE EK EA 91 Brake System Warning Bulb Replacement 1232 Check 96 COUR s sie cai ep aes 78 Daytime ME ris TI POR Gur aia 78 Front Map 79 Lights Gages and Indicators Warning nterior AUR d e ara Low Coolant Low Low Traction Main Control Malfunction Indicator Lamp Opration of eee nnno Safety Belt Reminder CAPITE Service Engine Soon Skip Shift Fi Traction Control System Warning Lights On Reminder Limited Slip Rear Axle Loading Your Vehicle Lock Control Remote Locks Dow i Locks Power Door Loss of Control Low Coolant Light Low Oil Light Low Traction Light Lubricant Rear Axle Lubricants Recommended ain Fuse Block Light Control Maintenance Inspections Periodic 4 kb m dob m m obo ok hon nod bo mod d oh m h
185. mpany name and chim also he name af the person to whose attention The shipment should be sent _ For purchases outside U S A please write to the above address lor quotation Parchasars add 385 sales Check ar Money payable ig USA funds aniy do nal send cash Handing Charge Cann Sen Mole CUSTOMER ATTENTION D Discower VISA Car STREET ADDHES5 NO PD BOX NUMBERS Account Humba Fe S ES Check here il billig T ici STATE FIP ODE anes bom pie T AREA DAYTIME TELEPHONE NO CODE ER 2 GLETOMER SIGNATURES z EN PHess am Subject in change aithowi celis and incuing NOTE TO CANADIAN CUSTOMERS All lied prox quoted m US lund Canaan ane ia checks payable im LS funda Te cover Canadian postage mid 50 pia the Hands Change Price 1g be announced a jatar date Call 1 800 782 0155 dor further inlormatin for id ar arm initvied in Frech haud to Canadian Danem Orders cannot withnul poor authorization A mocking fag may app Pirate alie adequate time tor postal ania 1994 PONTIAC SERVICE PUBLICATIONS ORDERING INFORMATION The fovowwng
186. n each shift lever position With an automatic transmission the key should turn to LOCK only when the shift lever 15 in P Park e With a manual transmission the key should to LOCK only when the shift lever is in Reverse On vehicles with a key release button try to turn the key to LOCK without pressing the button The key should tum to LOCK only with the key button depressed On all vehicles the key should come out only in LOCK UTION When Yor doing is check hicle could b you Mike qure there is room in front of your vehicle in c Pelis t sol apply ance RY licle Park on a fairly steep hill with the vehicle facing downhill Keeping your foot on the regular brake set the parking brake To check the parking brake With the engine running and transmission in N Neutral slowly remove foot pressure from the regular brake pedal Do this until the vehicle is held by the parking brake only Tocheck the P Park mechanisms holding ability Shift to P Park Then release all brakes At least every spring use plain water to flush any corrosive materials from the underbody Take care to clean thoroughly amy areas where mud and other debris can collect Purking Brake and Automatic Transmission P Park Mechanism Check Underbody Flushing 4 250 Section C Periodic Maintenance Inspecti
187. n have poor across the center of the road Drive at m Hill and Mountain braking or even none going down a ir ds that let iod stay in your ow hill You could crash Shift down to en csi Sette dcum Roads let your engine assist your brakes on man As you go over the top of a hill be Driving on steep hills or mountains is a steep downhill sh nnd 5 alert There could be something in different from driving in flat or rolling terrain If you drive regularly in steep eet ante car aram country or if you re planning to visit there here are some tips that can make A CAUTION You may see highway signs on your trips safer and more enjoyable 46 mountains that wam of special Keep your vehicle in good shape UU UNUDA problems Examples are long grades Check all fluid levels and also the or with the ignition off is dangerous passing or no passing zones a falling Your brakes will have to do all the rocks area or winding roads Be alert work of slowing down They could to these and take appropriate action get so hot that they wouldn t work well You could crash Always have your engine running and your vehicle in gear when you go downhill brakes tires cooling system and transmission These parts can work hard on mountain roads 14 Driving on Snow or Ice Most of the time those places where your tires meet the road probably have good traction
188. n t have your keys so be sure to keep this key card with you at all times B 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 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 Features and Controls From the inside To lock the door move the lock control on the door back To unlock the door move the lock control on the door forward Power Door Locks Option Push the power door lock switch to lock or unlock both doors at once The switch only works when the ignition switch is in Run or Acc or when RAP is present See Retained Accessory Power 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 Remote Lock Control Option If your Pontiac has this option you can lock and unlack your doors or unlock your hatch from about 30 feet 9 m using the key chain tran
189. n vinyl or leather Here are some cleaning tips Always read the instructions on the cleaner label Clean up stains as soon as you can before they set Uscaclean cloth or sponge and change to a clean area often A soft brush may be used if stains are stubborn 222 Use solvent type cleaners in well ventilated area only If you use them don t saturate the stained area e lf aring forms after spot cleaning clean the entire area immediately or il will set Using Foam Type Cleaner on Fabric Vacuum and brush the area to remove any loose dirt e Always clean a whole trim panel section Mask surrounding trim along stitch or welt lines Mix Multi Purpose Powdered Cleaner following the directions on the container label Use suds only and apply with a clean sponge Don t saturate the material Don t rub it roughly As soon s vou ve cleaned the section use sponge to remove the suds Rinse the section with clean wet sponge Wipe off what s left with a slightly damp paper towel or cloth e Then dry it immediately with a blow dryer or a heat lamp NOTICE Be careful with a hair dryer or heat lamp You could scorch the fabric Wipe with a clean cloth Using Solvent Type Cleaner on Fabric First see if you have to use solvent type cleaner at all Some spots and stains will clean off better with just water and mild soap If you need to use a solvent
190. n your tank The fuel gage works only when the ignition switch is in the Run position When the gage pointer first indicates E you still have a little fuel left about one to two gallons but vou need to get more right away Here are four concerns some owners have had about the fuel gage All these situations are normal and do not indicate that anything ts wrong with the fuel gage 90 At the gas station the gas pump shuts aff before the gage reads F It takes more or less gas to fill up than the gage reads For example the gage reads 1 2 full but it took more or less than half of the tank s capacity to fill it The gage moves a little when you turn stop or speed up When you turn the engine off the gage doesn t go back to E BRAKE B XD Brake System Warning Light Your Pontiac 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 could be brake problem Have your brake system inspected right away This light should come on as you start the vehicle 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 The brake system warning light will also Anti Lock Brake System Warning driving pull off the road and stop come on when you set your parking Ligh
191. nce Customer Assistance for the Hearing or Speech Impaired TDD To assist customers who have hearing difficulties Pontiac has installed special TDD Telecommunication Devices for the Deaf equipment at its Customer Assistance Center Any hearing or speech impaired customer who has access to TDD or a conventional teletypewriter TTY can communicate with Pontiac hy dialing 1 800 TDD PONT TDD users in Canada can dial 1 800 263 3830 um GM Participation in BBB AUTO LINE Alternative Dispute Resolution Program Both Pontiac and your Pontiac dealer are committed to making sure you completely satisfied with your new vehicle Our experience has shown that if a situation arises where vou feel your concern has not been adequately addressed the Customer Satisfaction Procedure described earlier in this section is very successful There may be instances where an impartial third party can assist in arriving at solution to a disagreement regarding vehicle repairs or interpretation of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty To assist in resolving these disagreements Pontiac voluntarily participates in BBB AUTO LINE BBB AUTO LINE is an out of court program administered by the Better Business Bureau system to settle disputes between customers and automobile manufacturers This program is available free of charge to customers who currently own or lease GM vehicle If you are not satisfied after following the Custom
192. nch Or write campaign However NHTSA cannot become involved in individual problems between you your dealer or General Motors To contact NHTSA you may either call the Auto Safety Hotline toll free at 1 800 424 9393 or 366 0123 in the Washington D C area or write to NHTSA U S Department of Transportation Washington D C 20590 You can also obtain other information about motor vehicle safety from the Hotline General Motors of Canada Limited Customer Assistance Center 163 005 1908 Colonel Sam Drive Oshawa Ontario LIH 8P7 262 In many instances mechanical failures are covered under Pontiac s comprehensive warranty However when other services are utilized our advisors will explain any payment obligations you might incur Pontiac s Roadside Assistance toll free number is staffed by a team of trained technical advisors who are available 24 hours a day 365 days a year We take the anxiety out of uncertain situations by providing minor repair information over the phone or making arrangements to tow your vehicle to the nearest Pontiac dealer Pontiac reserves the right to limit services or reimbursement to an owner driver when in Pontiac s judgment the claims become obsessive in frequency or type of occurrence We will provide the following services for 3 years 36 000 miles al no expense to you While we hope you never have the occasion use our service il is added se
193. nd a problem yet but the coolant level isn t at or above the FULL COLD mark add a 50 50 mixture of clean water preferably distilled and a proper antifreeze at the coolant recovery tank See Engine Coolant in the Index for more information about the proper coolant mix 164 N CAUTION Adding only plain water to your cooling system can be dangerous Plain water or some other liquid like alcohol can boil before the proper coolant mix will Your vehicle s coolant warning system is set for the proper coolant mix With plain water or the wrong mix your engine could get too hot but you wouldn t get the overheat warning Your engine could catch fire and you or others could be burned Use a 50 50 mix of clean water and a proper antifreeze NOTICE In cold weather water can freeze and crack the engine radiator heater core and other parts Use the recommended coolant radiator but be sure the cooling system is cool before you do it CAUTION You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot engine parts Coolant contains ethylene glycol and it will burn if the engine parts are hot enough Don t spill coolant on a hot engine When the coolant in the coolant recovery tank is at or above the FULL COLD mark start your vehicle If the overheat warning continues there s one more thing vou can try You can add the proper coolant mix directly to the 2 Then keep turning the pressure cap
194. nds on the weather the kind of oi you have and some other things Instead of trying to list everything here we ask that you contact a Pontiac dealer in the area where you ll be parking your vehicle The dealer can give you the best advice for that particular ares m Automatic Transmission There are several different positions for your shill lever e P Park This locks your rear wheels It s the best position to use when you start your engine because your vehicle can t move easily CAUTION It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the shift lever is not fully in P Park with the parking brake firmly set Your vehicle can roll Don t leave your vehicle when the engine is running unless you have to If you have left the engine running the vehicle can move suddenly You or others could be injured To be sure your vehicle won t move even when you re on fairly level ground always set your parking brake and move the shift lever to P Park See Shift ing into P Park in the Index If you re pulling a trailer see Tow ing a Trailer in the Index Ensure the shift lever is fully in P Park range before starting the engine Your Pontiac has a brake transmission shift interlock You have to fully apply your regular brakes before you can shift from P Park when the ignition key is in the Kun position If you cannot shift out of P Park ease pressure on the shift lever
195. ng system uses Cleaning cassette with pads which scrub the tape head as the hubs of the cleaner cassette turn If you use this type of cleaner the radio may eject the cartridge This is normal and is the result of a feature in the tape player that ejects broken tapes IH this happens vou will need to insert the cleaning cassette three times to thoroughly clean the rape player You may prefer to use a non scrubbing action wet type cleaner This type of cleaning cassette which uses a fabric belt to clean the tape head will not be cjected hut may not clean the tape player as thoroughly as the scrubbing type cleaner Whichever method you choose follow the instructions provided with the cleaning cassette Cleaning cassettes are available in most stores that sell audio products A scrubbing action cleaning cassette is available from your dealer GM Part 12344600 Fixed Mast Antenna The fixed mast antenna can withstand most cur washes without being damaged If the mast should ever become slightly bent you can straighten it out by hand If the mast is badly bent as it might be by vandals you should replace it Check every once in while to be sure the mast is still tightened to the fender Care of Your Compact Discs Handle discs carefully Store them in their original cases or other protective cases and away from direct sunlight and dust If the surface of a disc is soiled dampen clean soft cloth in
196. nside rearview mirror to BUT Jus make a lot af things invisible reduce the glare from headlights behind you You can be temporarily blinded by approaching lights It can take a second or two or even several seconds for your eyes to readjust to the dark When you are faced with severe glare as from a driver who doesn t lower the high beams or a Since you can t see as well you may need to slow down and keep more space between you and other vehicles 136 It s wise to keep your wiping equipment in good shape and keep your windshield washer tank filled Replace your windshield wiper inserts when they show signs of streaking or missing areas on the windshield or when strips of rubber start separate from the inserts m Driving in the Rain Rain and wet roads can mean driving trouble On a wet road you can t stop accelerate or tum as well because your tire toa road traction isn t as good as on dry roads And if vour tires don t have much tread left you ll get even less traction It s always wise to go slower and be cautious if rain starts to fall while you are driving The surface tnay get wet suddenly when your reflexes are tuned for driving on dry pavement The heavier the rain the harder it is to sec Even if your windshield wiper blades are in good shape heavy rain can make it harder to see road signs and traffic signals pavement markings the edge of the road and even people walking puddle
197. ntrol Knob MER ped dimi Wes aad era ab hig Theft Deterrent Feature Theft Deterrent PASS Key II Thermosat 1 221r ei Tips Steering 1 ees Tips Ventati n Tire Loading h md bo amp dona d aaa THE vo Lud a Balance Wheel Alignment and Buying New se 276 Tires rrr RET 221 Changing a 171 Inflation Pressure a 216 Inspection and Rotation 217 Temperature Grades 219 Traction Grades 219 Treadwear ETE EA FEE 219 Uniform Quality Grading 419 When It s Time for New 218 Tone Setting the AM FM Stereo with Cassette Tape 110 AM FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player and Graphic Equalizer 113 AM FM Stereo with Compact Disc FIM ore paste eet 16 AM FM Stereo with Compact Disc Player and Graphic Equalizer 119 Top Strap Child Restraints ELE 32 Torque Lock reae Towing ATE rrr ats teed Bags 144 Front Hook Ups 158 Rear Hook Ups 160 Your 156 Traction Control System 130 And Cruise Control 75 Warning Light cou d Trailer Brakes Trailer Towing ES Transmission Automatic sienne Fluid Automatic Fluid Manual
198. ntrols Automatic Overdrive This position is for normal driving If you need more power for passing and you re Going less than about 35 mph 56 km h push your accelerator pedal about halfway down Going about 35 mph 56 km h ar more push the accelerator all the way down You Hl shift down to the next gear and have more power e DilIhird Gear This is like B but you never go into Overdrive Here are some times you might choose D instead of When driving on hilly winding roads When towing a trailer so there 15 bess shifting between gears When going down a steep hill e 2 Second Gear This position gives you more power but lower fuel economy You can use 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 hrakes off and on NOTICE Don t drive in 2 Second Gear for more than 5 miles amp kim or at speeds over 55 mph 88 km h or you can damage your transmission Use B or D as much as possible Don t shift into 2 unless you are going slower than 65 mph 105 km h or you can damage your engine e First Gear This position gives vou even more power but lower fuel economy than 2 You can use it on very steep hills or in deep show or mud If the selector lever is in 1 the transmission won t shift inte first gear until the vehicle is going slowly enough NOTICE
199. o Safety Belt Use during Pregnancy Safety belts work for everyone including pregnant women Like all occupants they are more likely to be seriously injured if they don t wear safety belts A pregnant woman should wear a lap shoulder belt and the lap portion should be worn s low as possible throughout the pregnancy The best way to protect the fetus is to protect the mother When a safety belt is worm properly it s more likely that the fetus won t be hurt crash For pregnant women as for anyone the key to making safety belts effective is wearing them properly Passenger Positions Kight Front Passenger Position The right front passenger s safety belt works the same way as the driver s safety belt See Driver Position earlier in this part a Seats and Restraint Systems Rear Seat Passengers 1 Pick up the latch plate and pull the If the belt stops before it reaches the The rear seats have lap shoulder belts Here s how to wear properly It s very important for rear seat belt across you Don t let it get buckle tilt the latch plate and keep passengers to buckle up Accident twisted pulling until you can buckle it statistics show that unbelted people in the 2 Push the latch plate into the buckle Pull up on the latch plate to make sure rear seat are hurt more often in crashes until it clicks it is secure than those who are wearing safety belts If the belt is not long
200. o adjust it forward pull the restraint Then sit well back in the seat and wear your safety belt properly forward To adjust it rearward pull the restraint forward all the way to release it Then move it to the position you want cen The front seatback folds forward to let people get into the back seat To fold a seatback forward push the seathack toward the rear as you lift this latch Then the seatback will fold forward When you return the seatback to its original position make sure the seatback is locked The latch must be down for the seat to work properly AN CAUTION If the seatback isn t locked it could move forward in a sudden stop or crash That could cause injury to the person sitting there Always press rearward on the seatback to be sure it is locked i Folding Rear Seatback The rear seatback in your Pontiac folds down to provide more slorage space To fold the seatback down 1 Pull forward on both levers 2 Fold the seatback down To raise the seathack 1 Pull it up to the locked upright position 2 Be sure both latches hold the seatback in place Have them fixed if they don t 13 Seats and Restraint Systems Safety Belts They re for Everyone This part of the manual tells you how to use safety belts properly It also tells you some things you should not do with safety belts And it explains the Supplemental Inflatable
201. o perform these underhood checks at each fuel fill CHECK OR SERVICE WHAT TO DO Engine Oil Level Check the engine oil level and add the proper oil if necessary See Engine Oil in the Index for further details Engine Coolant Level Check the engine coolant level and add the proper coolant mix if necessary See Coolant in the Index for further details Windshield Washer Check the windshield washer fluid level in the windshield washer tank and add the proper fluid if Fluid Level necessary See Windshield Washer Fluid in the Index for further details Least Once a Month CHECK OR SERVICE Tire Inflation At Least Twice a Year CHECK 3 Hydraulic Clutch Check the fluid level in the clutch reservoir See Hydraulic Clutch Fluid in the Index A fluid System Inspection loss in this system could indicate a problem Have the system inspected and repaired at once WHAT TO DO Check tire inflation Make sure they are inflated to the pressures specified on the Tire Loading Information label located on the rear edge of the driver s door Sec Tires in the Index for further details Clean cassette deck Cleaning should be done every 15 hours of tape play See Audio Systems in the Index for further details 248 At Least Once a Year Key Lock Cylinders Lubricate the key lock cylinders with the lubricant specified in Section D Body Lubrication Lubric
202. oing just a seat on wheels 15 Seats and Restraint Systems ras PA Put someone on if Get it up to speed Then stop the vehicle The person keeps going until stopped by The rider doesn t stop something In a real vehicle it could be the windshield 16 or the instrument panel or the safety belts With safety belts you slow down as the vehicle does You get more time to stop You stop over more distance and your strongest bones take the forces That s why safety belts make such good sense Here Are Questions Many People Ask about Safety Belts and the Answers Won t I be trapped in the vehicle after an accident if I m wearing a safety belt You could he whether you re wearing a safety helt or not But vou can easily unbuckle a safety belt even if you re upside down And your chance of being conscious during and after an accident so you can unbuckle and get out is much greater if you are belted BP esis Seats and Restraint Systems Q gt Why don t they just put in air bags so people won t have to wear safety belts Air bags or Supplemental Inflatable Restraint systems are in some vehicles today and will he in more of them in the future But they are supplemental systems only so they work with safety belts not instead of them Every air bag system ever offered for sale has required the use of safety belts Even if you
203. on for attaching safety chains Always leave just enough slack so you can turn with your rig And never allow safety chains to drag on the ground Before you start check the trailer hitch and platform safety chains electrical connector lights tires and mirror adjustment If the trailer has electric hrakes start your vehicle and trailer mowving and then apply the trailer brake controller by hand to be sure the brakes Will you have to make any holes in Trailer Brakes the body of your vehicle when you install trailer hitch If you do then he sure to seal the holes later when you remove the hitch If you don t seal them deadly carbon monoxide CO from your exhaust can get into your vehicle see Carbon Monoxide in the Index Dirt and water too The bumpers on your vehicle are intended for hitches Do not attach rental hitches or other bumper type hitches to them Use only frame mounted hiteh that does noi attach to the bumper Safety Chains You should abways attach chains between your vehicle and vour trailer Cross the safety chains under the tongue of the trailer so that the tongue will not drop to the road if it becomes separated from the hitch Instructions about safety chains may be provided by the hitch If your trailer weighs more than 1 000 pounds 450 kg loaded then it needs its own brakes and they must be adequate Be sure to read and follow the instruct
204. ons Listed below are inspections and services which should be performed at least twice a year for instance each spring and fall You should let your GM dealer s service department or other qualified service center do these jobs Make sure any necessary repairs are completed once pi gilt WHAT SHOULD BE DONE Restraint Systems Now and then make sure all your belts buckles latch plates retractors anchorages and reminder systems ure working properly Look for any loose parts or damage If you see anything that might keep a restraint system from doing its job have it repaired Inspect the front and rear suspension and steering system for damaged loose or missing parts signs of wear or lack of lubrication Inspect the power steering lines and hoses for proper hookup binding leaks cracks chafing etc Steering and Suspension Inspection Inspect the complete exhaust system Inspect the body near the exhaust system Look for broken damaged missing or out of position parts as well as open seams holes loose connections or other conditions which could cause heat build up in the floor pan or could let exhaust fumes into the vehicle See Engine Exhaust in the Index Exhaust System Inspection Throttle Linkage Inspection Inspect the throttle linkage for interference or binding and for damaged or missing parts Replace parts as needed 291 Maintenance Schedule Section
205. oors The headlight doors are designed to open when you turn the headlights on and close when you turn the headlights off The headlight doors can be opened without turning on the headlights by turning the headlights on then turning the switch back to the parking lights position The headlight doors should be open when driving in icy or snowy conditions to prevent the doors from freezing when closed and when washing the vehicle to help clean the headlights working properly see your Pontiac dealer for help Daytime Running Lights Canada The Canadian Federal Government has decided that Daytime Running Lights DRL are a useful feature in that DRL can make your vehicle more visible to pedestrians and other drivers during E daylight hours DRL are required on new vehicles sold in Carada Your DRL work with a light sensor on lop of the instrument panel Don t cover it up You can open the headlight doors manually 1 Turn on the headlights 2 Open the hood 3 Remove the plastic cover from the retractor motor knob 4 the retractor motor knob counterclockwise until the headlight door is fully open The knob will get harder to turn when the headlight door is all the way up The front turn signal lights will come on in daylight when The ignition is on The headlight switch is off and The parking brake is released At dusk the exterior lights will come on automatically and t
206. operate the engine with the tachometer in the red area or engine damage may occur m Warning Lights Gages and Indicators This section 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 ta cause an expensive repair or replacement Paying attention to your warning lights and gages could also save vou or others from injury Warning lights go 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 turn the ignition key 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 vou 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 ta do about it Please follow the manual s advice Waiting to do repairs can be castly and even dangerous So please get to know your warning lights and gages They re a big help Features and Controls Fuel Gage Your fuel gage shows about how much fuel is i
207. or Headlight High Low Beam and Passing Signal Windshield Wipers Windshield Washer Cruise Control Option Turn Signal and Lane Change Indicator The signal has two upward for Right and two downward for Left positions These positions allow you to signal turn lane change To signal a turn move the lever all the way up or down When the turn 15 finished the lever will return automatically 69 Features and Controls A green arrow on the instrument panel n will flash in the direction of the tum o Headlight High Low Beam Windshield Wipers lane change To change the headlights from low beam You control the windshield wipers by To signal a lane change just raise or to high or high to low pull the turn signal turning the band with the wiper symbol lever all the way toward you Then on it lower the lever until the green arrow starts to flash Hold it there until you complete release it When the high beams are For a single wiping cycle turn the band to your lane change The lever will return by is blue light on the instrument panel MIST Hold it there until the wipers itself when you release it also will be on start then let go The wipers will stop after one cycle If you want more cycles 5 you sional or lane change if Sb pia rep a uis hold the band on MIST longer the arrows don t flash but just stay on a signal bulb may be burned out
208. other ignition key At this time you may also want to check the fuses see Fuses and Circuit Breakers 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 90 faulty See your Pontiac dealer or a locksmith who can service the PASS Key If you accidentally use a key that has a damaged or missing resistor pellet the starter won t work and the security light will flash But you don t have to wait three minutes before trying another ignition key See your Pontiac dealer or locksmith who can service the PASS Key Il 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 warking properlv and must be serviced by your Pontiac dealer Your vehicle is not protected by the PASS Key II system If you lose or damage a PASS Key ignition key see your Pontiac dealer or a locksmith who can service PASS Key II to have a new key made In an emergency call the Pontiac Roadside Assistance Program on 1 800 ROADSIDE or 1 800 762 3743 m New Vehicle Break In NOTICE Your modern Pontiac doesn t need an elaborate break in But it will per form better in the long run if you fol low these guidelines Keep your speed at 55 mph 88 km h or less for the first 500 m
209. other liquid like alcohol can boil before the proper coolant mix will Your vehicle s cool ant warning system is set for the proper coolant mix With plain water or the wrong mix your engine could get too hot but you wouldn t get the overheat warning Your engine could calch fire and you or others could be burned Use a 30 50 mix of clean water and a proper antifreeze NOTICE If you use an improper coolant mix your engine could overheat and be badly damaged The repair cost wouldn t be covered by your war ranty Too much water in the mix can freeze and crack the engine radiator heater core and other parts Adding Coolant To Check Coolant When vour engine i5 cold check the dipstick on the cap of the coolant recovery tank The coolant level should he COLD or a little higher When your engine is warm the level on the dipstick should be up to HOT or a little higher CAUTION Tumming the radiator pressure cap when the engine and radiator are hot can allow steam and scalding liquids to blow out and burn you badly Never turn the pressure cap even a little when the engine and radiator are hot COOLANT If you have the 5 7L LT Code P engine To Add Coolant to the Recovery Tank Add coolant mix at the recovery tank but and this light comes on it means you re If you need more coolant add the proper he careful not to spill it low on engine coolant mix at the coolant recover
210. other on two lane highway waits for just the right moment accelerates moves around the vehicle ahead then goes back into the right lane again A simple maneuver Mot necessarily Passing another vehicle on a two lane highway is a potentially dangerous move since the passing vehicle occupies the same lane as oncoming traffic for several seconds A miscalculation an error in judgment or brief surrender to frustration or anger can suddenly put the passing driver face to face with the worst of all traffic accidents the head on collision So here are some tips for passing Drive ahead Look down the road to the sides and to crossroads for situations that might affect your passing patterns If you have any doubt whatsoever about making a successful pass wait for a better time Watch for traffic signs pavement markings and lines If you can see a sign up ahead that might indicate a turn or an intersection delay your pass A broken center line usually cave 134 indicates it s all right to pass providing the road ahead is clear Never cross a solid line on your side of the lane or a double solid line even if the road seems empty of approaching traffic Do not get too close to the vehicle you 9 want lo pass while you re awaiting opportunity For one thing following too closely reduces your area of vision especially if you re following a larger vehicle Also you won t have adequ
211. ou have power door locks your vehicle has a feature called Retained Accessory Power KAP With RAP vour power door locks electric mirrors power windows audio system and remote hatch release will continue to work up to 10 minutes after the ignition key is turned to and neither door is opened If a door is opened the audio system and power windows will shut off The power door locks electric mirrors and remote hatch release will work until you shut the door Once you have shut the door these accessories will continue to work for approximately 35 seconds After this time you will not be able to use these accessories until the next time vou open a door or turn on the ignition m Starting Your Engine Automatic Transmission Move your shift lever to P Park or N Neutral Your engine won t start in any other position that s a safety feature To restart when you re already moving use N Neutral only NOTICE Don t try t shift to P Park if your Pontiac is moving If you do you could damage the transmission Shift t P Park only when your vehicle is stopped Manual Transmission The gear selector should be in neutral Hold the clutch pedel to the floor and start the engine Your vehicle won t start if the clutch pedal is not all the way down that s a safety feature To start your V6 engine 1 Without pushing the accelerator pedal turn your ignition key to Start Wh
212. ough the filler neck until the level reaches the base of the filler neck 7 Rinse or wipe the spilled coolant from the engine and compartment 169 Problems on the Road pressure cap Be sure the arrows on the cap line up like this 170 10 Then fill the coolant recovery tank to the proper level For a complete drain flush and refill see your Pontiac dealer or a Pontiac Firebird Service Manual To purchase a service manual see Service Publications in the Index Ifa Tire Goes Flat Its unusual for a tire to blow out while you re driving especially if you maintain your tires properly If air goes out of a tire its much more likely to leak out slowly But if you should ever have hlowout here are few tips about what lo expect and what to If a front tire fails the Mat tire will create a drag that pulls the vehicle toward that side Take your foot off the accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel firmly Steer to maintain lane position then gently brake to a stop well out of the traffic lane rear blowout particularly on curve acts much like a skid and may require the same correction you d use in skid In any rear blowout remove your foot from the accelerator pedal Get the vehicle under control by steering the way you want the vehicle to go It may be very bumpy and noisy but you can still steer Gently brake to a stop well off the road if possible If a
213. p gasket for an even filler neck imprint or any damage Replace parts as needed Periodic replacement of the fuel filter is not required ITEM NO SERVICE 11 Rear Axle Fluid Change If your vehicle is used to pull a trailer have the rear axle gear lubricant changed every 7 500 miles 12 500 km If your vehicle is not used to pull a trailer but has a limited slip differential have the rear axle gear lubricant changed once after the first 7 500 miles 12 500 km An Emission Contral Service T The US Environmental Protection Agency aor the California Air Resources Board fias determined that the failure to perform this malntenamce Hem will aor nullifv the emission warranty or limit recall liability prior te the compleri af vehicle useful life General Motors however urges that all recommended inaintenance services be performed at the indicated intervals and the maintenance be recorded in Section E Maintenance Record 247 Maintenance Schedule Section B Owner Checks and Services Listed below are owner checks and services which should be performed at the intervals specified to help ensure the safety dependability and emission control performance of your vehicle Be sure any necessary repairs are completed at once Whenever any fluids or lubricants are added to your vehicle make sure they are the proper ones as shown in Section D At Each Fuel Fill It is important for you or service station attendant t
214. pears 2 Press and hold MIN until the correct minute appears NOTE There will be a two second delay before the clock goes into the time set mode AM FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player To Play the Radio Push POWER to turn the system on or off Volume Turn the VOLUME knob to adjust the sound AM FM Pr ss AM FM to get AM or 2 The lighted display shows your selection Tune Press TUNE to release the knob Turn the knob to choose radio stations Push TUNE back in to store it when not tuning Recall Press RECALL to recall the station being played or the clock display You also press RECALL to display the time when the ignition is off Seek Press SEER Yor A and the radio will tune to the next lower or higher station and stay there 109 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems Pushbuttons The six pushbuttons let you return to your favorite stations You can preset up to 8 stations AM 6 and FM2 1 Press AM FM to choose AM or FMI 2 Tune in the station 3 Press and hold one of the six pushbuttons until the display shows SET Whenever you press that button the preset station will return Repeat these steps for each pushbutton Steering Wheel Controls Your vehicle may be equipped with steering wheel controls for this audio system With steering wheel controls you can use the huttons on your steerin
215. per viscosity oil for your vehicle as shown in the following chart 193 Service and Appearance Care Recommended SAE Viscosity Grade Engine Oils For best fuel economy and cold starting select Ihe lowest SAE viscosity grade nil for the expected lemperature range HOT WEATHER oct nee oF Mee LABELS 100 H E 18 T zd amb 1 0 ta SAE 1 30 PREFERRED 8 E COLD WEATHER NEITHER SAE 5W 30 NOR SAE 10W 30 GRADE DILS ARE AVAILABLE SAE 30 GRADE MAY BE USED AT TEMPERATURES ABOVE 40 DEGREES F 4 DEGREES C DO USE SAE 10W 40 SAE 20W 50 OR OTHER GRADE DIL RECOMMENDED 194 As shown in the chart SAE 5W 30 is hest for your vehicle However you can use SAE 3 if it s going to be F 18 C or above These numbers on an oil container show its viscosity or thickness Do not use mher viscosity ols such as SAE 10W 40 or SAE 20W 50 If you cannot find oils with the new starburst symbol on the front of the container vou should look for and use oils containing the following three things SHor SG SH or SG must be on the container either by itself or combined with other quality designations such as SH CD SH SG CD SGCD etc These letters show American Petroleum Institute API levels of quality SAE 5W 3 Energy Conserving 11 Oils with these words on the container will help you save fuel
216. publications covering fe operator and servicing of pour velice can be purchased By fillim eur rhe Service Publications Order Form in this book mailing with your check money order or credit card information Io Heim Incorporated address listed below CURRENT PUBLICATIONS FOR 1994 PONTIAC FIREBIRD PRODUCT SERVICE PUBLICATIONS Product Service Publications PSP s are bulletins letters and articles published for trained dealer service personnel See Service Publica lions listed previousty in this section A cumulative index is published quarterly dunng the current model year The indexes list all PSP s published by Pontiac in the model year PSP Index Year Form Number Price 1894 94 X d Cau Free 1993 5 93 Free 1992 PSP 92 P Free 1991 PSPI BT P Free PSP Bound Bulletin Book Complete Year Bulletins Year Description Form Number Price 1992 All PSP s 5 92 5 4 15 00 1991 All PSP s 5 91 PSP 4 15 00 For subscription information call Helm Incorporated CURRENT amp PAST MODEL ORDER FORMS Service Publications are available for current and past model Pontiac vehicles To request an order form please specify year and model of vehicle SERVICE MANUALS Service Manuals have the diagnosis repair and overhaul information on engines transmission axle suspension brakes electrical steer ing body ete Maocdel Farm Number Price 1994 Pontiac Firebird S O410 F TBA NOTE Please spacily spe
217. r Locks Part 2 dom ROB osx 4 Bo ORA m 1 d FI d es eh a a Theft and Theft Deterients Set ele NM ME UP MO NN MA New Vehicle Break In Ignition Switch Starting Your Engine Automatic Transmission Limited Slip Rear Axle PAINE E n nc Engine Exhaust Windows a Gian lh aid da Tilt Wheel The Turn Signal Headlight Beam Lever Operation of Lights Mirrors Storage and Compartments Sun Visors Ashtray and Lighter Instrument Panel and Cluster Convertible Tap Twin Lift Off Roof Panels asd hm T ik ue ee IS Manual Transmission TR Tao RATER E Md e WIL RHET TT ES opo Bod Pom iW od d ood o eod eode Ho RON OR OX ON Y ER FF Y mo 4 B 4 bh m m 4 h 4 k m d k a d n a s 4 k m 4 amp d k 4 kh bh 4 h R k bk a b o d 4 obo doc vow i m dob om 4 a don oa b a 4 Lo mu b d Lk m d b a b d L a b 4 d L rm 4 4 4 b amp amp hk 4d hk d b kh d i d b d d kh a i kh b b m 4 d r d Features amp Controls 41
218. re in vehicle that has air bags you still have to buckle up to get the most protection That s true not only in frontal collisions but especially in side and other collisions 18 Q If l m a good driver and never drive far from home why should 1 wear safety belts A You may be an excellent driver but if you re in an accident even one that isn t vour fault you and your passengers can be hurt Being a good driver doesn t protect you from things beyond your control such as bad drivers Most accidents occur within 25 miles 40 km of home And the greatest number of serious injuries and deaths occur al speeds of less than 40 mph 65 km h Safety belts are for everyone m 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 safery belts unless the driver s safety belt is already buckled The safety belt light will also come on and stay until the driver s belt is buckled m How to Wear Safety Belts Properly Adults This section is only for people of adult size Be aware that there are special things to know about safety belts and children And there are different rules for smaller children and babies If child will be riding in your Pontiac sec the section after this one called Children Follow First vou Hl want to know which restraint Lap Shoulder Belt those rules for ever
219. reading if you check vour transmission fluid 198 Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the transmission fluid level if you have been driving e When outside temperatures are above 90 F 32 C At high speed for quite a while In heavy traffic especially in hot weather e While pulling a trailer To get the right reading the fluid should be at normal operating temperature which is 180 F to 200 F 82 C to 93 C To check transmission fluid hot Get the vehicle warmed up by driving about 15 miles 24 km when outside temperatures are above 50 F 10 C If it s colder than 50 F 10 C drive the vehicle in D Third Gear until the engine t mperature gage moves and then remains steady for ten minutes Then Follow the hot check procedures To check transmission fluid cold cold check is made alter the vehicle has heen sitting for eight hours or more with the engine aff and is used only as a reference Let the engine run at idle for five minutes if outside temperatures are 50 F 10 C or more If it s colder than 50 F 10 C you may have to idle the engine longer Should the fluid level be low during a cold check you must perform a hot check before adding fluid This will give you a more accurate reading of the fluid level To check the fluid hot or cold Park your vehicle on a level place With the parking brake applied place the shift lever in P Park With your foot on t
220. rking brake firmly shift an automatic transmission into P Park or manual transmission into R Reverse The ignition must be in the Acc ar Run position Lower both sun Visors 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 NOTICE It is not recommended lower the top if your vehicle 1s out in cold weather O F 18 C or lower 3 Be sure no one or nothing is on or around the top Push and hold the bottom of the convertible top switch The switch is on the left side of your console The top will automatically lower into the storage area NOTICE Before lowering the convertible top into the storage area be sure there are no objects in the way of the folded stored top The weight of a stored top on items in the storage area will cause the convertible top hack glass to break Installing the Boot Cover After lowering the convertible top you may want to install the boot cover The three piece boot cover 15 stored in a bag Unlock the front of the convertible top in the trunk by pushing on the smaller part of the latch then pulling down on the larger part of the latch Be sure the hook on the latch that attaches into the hole at the windshield releases 1 Open the trunk and remove the two 3 Install middle section
221. rst pushing the button If you can ii means that the shift lever wasn t fully lacked into P Park Torque Lock AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION you are parking on a hill and you don t shift your transmission into P Park properly the weight of the vehicle may pul too much force on the parking pawl in the transmission You may find it difficult to pull the shift lever out of P Park This is called torque lock To prevent torque lock set the parking brake and then shift into P Park properly before you leave the driver s seat To find out how see Shifting Into P Park in the Index When you are ready to drive move the shift lever out of P Park BEFORE you release the parking brake If torque lock does occur you may need to have another vehicle push yours a little uphill to take some of the pressure from the transmission so you can pull the shift lever out of P Park Shifting out of P Park AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION Your Pontiac has a brake transmission shift interlock You have to fully apply your regular brake before you can shift from P Park when the ignition is in the Run position See Automatic Transmission in the Index If you cannot shift out of P Park ease pressure on the shift lever push the shift lever all the way into P Park and release the shift lever button as you maintain brake application Then press the shift lever button and move the shift le
222. rt Controls in the Index you have air vents on or under the instrument panel open them all the way See Engine Exhaust in the Index Theft Vehicle theft is big business especially in some cities Although your Pontiac has number of theft deterrent features we know that nothing we put on it can make it impossible to steal However there are ways vou can help Key in the ignition If you walk away from your vehicle with the keys inside its an easy target for joy riders or professional thieves so don t do it When you park your Pontiac and open the driver s door you ll hear a tone reminding you to remove your key from the ignition and take it with you Always do this Your steering wheel will be locked and so will your ignition If you have an automatic transmission taking your key out also locks your transmission And remember to lock the doors Parking at Night Park in a lighted spot close all windows and lock your vehicle Remember to keep vour valuables out of sight Put them in storage area or take them with you Parking Lots If you park in a lot where someone will be watching your vehicle it s best to lock it up and take your keys But what if you have to leave your ignition key What if you have to leave something valuable in your vehicle Put your valuables in a storage area like your glove box Lock the glove box Then take the door key with you
223. rt on the engine of the vehicle with the dead battery 155 9 Attach the cable at least 18 inches 45 cm away from the dead battery but not near engine parts that move The electrical connection is just as good there but the chance of sparks getting back to the battery 15 much less 10 Now start the vehicle with the good battery and run the engine for while 156 11 Try to start the vehicle with the dead battery If it won t start after a few tries it probably needs service 12 Remove the cables in reverse order to prevent electrical shorting Take care that they don t touch each other or any other metal A Heavy Metal Engine Part B Good Battery C Dead Battery m Towing Your Vehicle Try to have a GM dealer or a professional towing service tow your Pontiac The usual towing equipment is a sling type A or a wheel lift B or car carrier C tow truck If your vehicle has been changed or modified since it was factory new by adding aftermarket items like fog lamps aero skirting or special tires and wheels these instructions and illustrations may not be correct Before you do anything turn on the hazard warning flashers When you call tell the towing service That your vehicle cannot be towed from the front or rear with sling type equipment That your vehicle has rear wheel drive The make model and year of your vehicle Whether you can still move
224. s Toll Free Telephone Number If you want an additional ordering form for an index just call toll free and we ll be happy to send you one Automated recording equipment will take your name and mailing address The number to call is 1 800 551 4123 These PSP s are meant for technicians They are not meant for the do it yourselfer Technicians have the equipment tools safety instructions and know how to do a job quickly and safely Pontiac Service Publications You can get these by using the order form Pontiac Division Service Manuals are intended for use hy professional qualified technicians Atlempting repairs or service without the appropriate training tools and equipment could cause injury to you or others and damage to your vehicle that may cause it not t operate properly 265 Customer Assistance Information PONTIAC SERVICE PUBLICATIONS ORDER FORM NOTE Please complete form below Print or Type and MAIL TO HELM Post Office Box 07130 Detroit Michigan 48207 ORDER TOLL FREE 1 800 782 4356 Monday Friday 8 00 A M 6 00 EST VEHICLE MODEL PUBLICATION FORM NUMBER ITEM DESCRIPTION 5 9410 Service Manual Pontiac Firebird _ 10260930 Owner s Manual In Portfolio Pontiac Firebird 10260939 Owner s Manual Withoul Portiolia Pontiac Firebird TOTAL MATERIAL MOTE Dealers and Companies please provide dealer or co
225. s ABS Your Pontiac has an advanced electronic braking system that will help prevent skidding pedal moves a little while this is going on This is the ABS system testing itself If there s a problem with the anti lock brake system the anti lack brake system warning light will stay on or flash 129 Here s how anti lock works Let s say the road is wet You re driving safely Suddenly an animal jumps oul in front of you You slam on the brakes Here s what happens with ABS A computer senses that wheels are slowing down If one of the wheels is about to stop rolling the computer will separately work the brakes at each front wheel and at the rear wheels The anti lock system can change the brake pressure faster than any driver could The computer is programmed to make the mast of available tire and road conditions 130 You can steer around the obstacle while braking hard As you brake vour computer keeps receiving updates on wheel speed and controls braking pressure accordingly Remember Anti lock doesn t change the lime vou need to get vour foot up ro rhe brake pedal If you get too close to the vehicle in front of you you won t have time to apply your brakes if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops Always leave enough room up ahead to stop even though you have anti lock brakes To Use Anti Lock Don t pump the brakes Just hold the brake pedal down and let anti lock work for you You may feel the
226. s Vous pouvez vous procurer un exemplaire de ce guide en francais chez votre concessionaire ou au DGN Marketing Services Ltd 1500 Bonhill Rd Mississauga Ontario LST ICT Published by Pontiac Motor Division General Motors Corporation Pontiac Motors GM and the GM emblem Pontiac and the Pontiac emblem and Firebird and the Firebird emblem are registered trademarks of General Motors Corporation 9Copyright 1993 General Motors Corporation Pontiac Motor Division All Rights Reserved B How to Use This Manual Many people read their owner s manual from beginning to end when they first receive their new vehicle This will help you leara about the features and controls for your vehicle In this manual you ll find that pictures and words work together ta explain things quickly Index A good place to look for what you need 15 the Index in back of the manual It s alphabetical list of all that s in the manual and the page number where you ll find it Farts 1 8 Each part of this manual begins with a brief list of its contents so you can often find at a glance if a contains the information you want How to Use This Manual This pari tells you how to use your manual and includes safety and vehicle damage warnings and symbols Part 1 Seats amp Restraint Systems This part tells you how to use your seats and safety belts properly It also explains the air bag system Part 2 Features amp Controls This
227. s for other products Bon Ami Powder _ __Windshield cleaner 2 227 PARTNUMBER SIZE DESCRIPTION usage 1051516 3202 0 9461 Washer Solvent and Gas Liner De Icer Windshield washing system and gas line 1050173 160z 04731 Cleaner and Polish Cleans white and black tires __Spot and stain removal on leather and vinyl pot and stain removal on cloth and fabric Glass cleaning and spot cleaning on vinyls 1050429 61ib 2 72kg Multi Purpose Powdered Cleaner Vinyl cloth door trims seats carpet tires mats pot and stain removal on cloth and fabric z Magic Mirror Cleaner Polish Service and Appeeranon Care Service Parts Identification Label You ll find this label inside your console starage compartment It s very helpful if you ever need to order parts On this label is e your VIN the model designation paint information and 2 list of all production options and special equipment m Vehicle Identification Number VIN This is the legal identifier for your Pontiac It appears on a plate in the front corner of the instrument panel on the driver s side You can see it if you look through the windshield from outside your vehicle The VIN also appears on the Vehicle Certification and Service Parts labels and the certificates of title and registration Be sure that this label is nor removed from the vehicle Engine Identification The eighth character in
228. s vehicles All passenger type P Metric tires must conform to Federal safety requirements in addition to these grades The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled conditions on a specified government test course 219 Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance The wheels on your vehicle were aligned and balanced carefully at the factory to give you the longest tire life and best overall performance In most cases you will not need to have your wheels aligned again However if you notice unusual tire wear or your vehicle pulling one way or the other the alignment may need to be reset If you notice your vehicle vibrating when driving on a smooth road your wheels may need to be rebalanced Wheel Replacement Replace any wheel that is bent cracked or badly rusted If wheel nuts keep coming loose the wheel wheel bolts and wheel nuts should be replaced If the wheel leaks air out replace it except some aluminum wheels which can sometimes be repaired See your Pontiac dealer if any of these conditions exist Your dealer will know the kind of wheel you need Each new wheel should have the same load carrying capacity diameter width offset and be mounted the same way as the one it replaces 220 Service and Appearance Care If you need to replace any of your wheels wheel bolts or wheel nuts replace them only with new GM original equipment paris
229. s in the player THEFTLOCK theft deterrent system passage The radio will play during this and will resume plaving at the point See Theft Deterrent System at the end operation where stopped of this section e Press AM FM to stop playing the Forward dise and switch to radio Press Press and hold FWD to quickly CD PLAY to restart the disc at the advance within a track Release it to point where it stopped playing The radio will play Press EJECT to eject the disc or during this operation stop the disc and switch to radio EJECT will work with the ignition Random or radio off Press EIECT to load a Press to hear a random selection disc when the audia system is off of tracks HT Comfort Controls and Audio Systems icd TOUR AM FM Stereo with Compact Disc Player and Graphic Equalizer To Play the Radio Push POWER to turn the system on or aff Volume Turn the VOLUME knob to adjust the sound 118 AM FM Press AM FM t get AM or 2 The lighted display shows your selection Tune Press TUNE to release the knob Turn the knob to choose radio stations Push TUNE back in to store it when not tuning Recall Press RECALL to recall the station being played or the clock display You can also press RECALL to display the time when the ignition is off Seek Press SEER A or SEEK W to go to the next lower or
230. s or even going through some car washes can cause problems too The water may affect your brakes Try to avoid puddles But if you can t try to Driving too fast through large water m slow down before you hit them 137 MM Driving and the Road abeam brake pedal lightly until a a work normally Hydroplaning Hydroplaning 1 dangerous 5o much water can build up under your tires that they can actually ride on the water This can happen if the road is wet cnough and you re going fast enough When your vehicle is hydroplaning it has little no contact with the road Hydroplaning doesn t happen often But it can if your tires haven t much tread or if the pressure in one or more is low It can happen if a lot of water 15 standing on the road If vou can see reflections from trees telephone poles or other vehicles and raindrops dimple the water s surface there could be hydroplaning 198 Hydroplaning usually happens at higher speeds There just isn t a hard and fast rule about hydroplaning The best advice is to slow down when it is raining Some Other Rainy Weather Tips Turn on your low beam headlights not just your parking lights to help make you more visible to others Besides slowing down allow some extra following distance And be especially careful when you pass another vehicle Allow yourself more clear room ahead and be prepared to have your view restricte
231. s out of the way If you slam the door on it you can damage bot the belt and your I CAUTION vehicle You can be seriously injured by a twisted belt In a crash you wouldn t have the full width of the belt to spread impact forces If a belt is twisted make it straight so it can work properly or ask your dealer to fix it 22 This vehicle has AIR BAGS for front occupants A AUTION YOU NEED YOUR SAFETY BELT EVEN WIT G HERE S WHY bags are nnt designed to inflate in rollovers nr in rear side nr low speed frontal crashes Air bags inflate with great force faster than the blink of an eye you re too close ta an inflating air bag z could senously injure you Safety belts help keep you in position for air bag Inflation in a cras x AN inating air bag can Seriously injure small children Follow the instructions on the passenger safely Caution label REGULAR MAINTENANCE OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM I5 NOT REQUIRED i ine air bag readiness light cames on while you are driving or doesn t come an when you first stan your vehicle see your dealer lor service PRINTED i LE A See your Owner s Manual for mare information PART C30 30 355 N CAUTION Air bags inflate with great force faster than the blink of an eye If you re too close to an inflating air bag it could seriously injure you Safety belts help keep you in position for an air bag inflation in crash Always
232. sed or is not installed properly the child restraint may move or tip over when your vehicle turns or stops quickly The child or others could be injured When you secure a child restraint with a lap shoulder belt always thread both the lap and shoulder helt portions through a locking clip Ex 7 Push and pull the child restraint in different directions to be sure it is secure To remove the child restraint just unbuckle the vehicle s safety belt and remove the locking clip Let the safety belt back all the way A CAUTION When not used with a child restraint seat a safety belt with a child restraint locking clip still attached can cause serious injury in crash Always remove the clip when you are not using it with a child restraint The safety belt will move freely again and be ready to work for an adult or larger child passenger 37 Larger Children Children who have outgrown child restraints should wear the vehicle s safety helts Accident statistics show that children are safer if they are restrained in the rear seat But they need to use the safety belts properly e Children who aren t buckled up can be thrown out in a crash Children who aren t buckled up can strike other people who are N CAUTION Never do this Here two children are wearing the same belt The belt can t properly spread the impact forces In a crash the two children can be
233. smitter supplied with vour vehicle Your Remote Lock Control operates on a radio frequency subject to Federal Communications Commission FCC Rules This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules Operation is subject to the following two conditions 1 This device may not cause harmful interference and 2 This device must accept any interference received including interference that may cause undesired operation Should interference to this system occur try this Check to determine if battery replacement is necessary See the instructions on battery replacement Check the distance You may be too far from your vehicle This product has Maximum range Check the location Other vehicles or objects may be blocking the signal See your Pontiac dealer or a qualified technician for service Changes or modifications to this system by other than an authorized service facility could void authorization to use this equipment Operation The driver s door will unlock automatically when UNLOCK is pressed If UNLOCK is pressed again within five seconds the passenger door will also unlock All doors will lock when DOOR is pressed The hatch will unlock when the opened trunk symbol is pressed but only when the ignition switch is not in Run and the transmission 15 in P Park if you have an automatic transmission If you have a manual transmission the parking brake must he set The sys
234. speed driving 215 Service and Appearance Care Inflation Tire Pressure The Tire Loading Information label NOTICE which is on the driver s door shows the correct inflation pressures for your Don t let anyone tell you that underinflation or overinflation is all right It s not tires when they re cold Cold means If your tires don t have enough air underinflation you can get your vehicle has been sitting for at Too much flexing least three hours or driven no more than a mile Too much heat If your vehicle is equipped with Tire overloading P245 502R 16 tires and you ll be Bad wear driving at speeds higher than 10 mph x 160 km h where it is legal raise the Bad handling cold inflation pressure of each tire Bad fuel economy to 35 psi 240 kPa When you end this very high speed driving reduce the If your tires have too much air overinflation you can get cold inflation pressures to those Unusual wear listed on the Tire Loading Information label Bad handling Rough ride Needless damage from road hazards 216 When to Check Check your tires once a month or more Don t forget your compact spare tire It should be at 60 psi 420 kPa How to Check Use a good quality pocket type gage to check tire pressure Simply looking at the tires will not tell you the pressure especially if you have radial tires which may look properly inflated even if they re un
235. stly repairs would be covered by your warranty If No Steam Is Coming from Your Engine If you get the overheat warning but see or hear no steam the problem may not be too serious Sometimes the engine can get a little too hot when you Climb a long hill on a hot day Stop after high speed driving Idle for long periods in traffic Tow a trailer 162 If vou get the overheat warning with no sign of steam ory this for minute or 50 1 If you have an air conditioner turn it off 2 Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan speed and open the window as necessary 3 Try to keep your engine under load slower If you no longer have the overheal warning you can drive Just to be safe drive slower for about ten minutes Tf the warning doesn t come back you can drive normally If the warning continues pull over stop and park your vehicle night away IF there s still no sign of steam you can idle the engine for two or three minutes while you re parked to see if the warning stops But then if you still have the warming TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND GET EVERYONE OUT OF THE VEHICLE until it cools down You may decide not to lift the hood but to get service help right away in a drive gear where the engine runs Cooling System When you decide it s safe to lift the hood here s what you ll sec on the V6 engine 1 Coolant recovery tank 2 Radiator pressure c
236. sure the proper refrigerant is used If you re not sure ask your Pontiac dealer Recheck fluid level after filling See Automatic Transmission Fluid in the Index Service and Appearance Care Crankcase b vds inr e e eaa 4 0 qt 3 8 L VIN Engine Code P Without Filter Change VAR xe3 HR id 4 0 qt 3 8 L WIUCPHIEC Chanpa ig caw oe aerae e onn n nea NV 5 0 qt 4 7 Ly Pal HABE OE o o A rile ote MENS qam e EA aie qs 15 5 gal 58 7 1 Manual Transmission PESE oe PUE EE EEREERIERU EY RUE WX 5 9 pt 2 8 L BIX BDOR west ea err Errem OE TEE RT E S TETTE RO pt 3 8 L erue creo ern tet melee saa a 3 5 pt 1 7L Vehicle Dimensions WY RvR jee uiua eo ewe lene a OL 42566 mm Tread CR ame ae me i 60 7 1 542 mm Rear Iu I eam IR DAE 60 6 1 540 mm Lengih feng ie Ar Sa PCR AER Pe a 193 2 4 908 Firebird and Formula 195 6 4 968 mm Ta AMET or ee eae S er St bmw EE 197 0 5 005 mm ES TUBES ee E IU ESLC TE Vcr raa o 748 4 893 mm Height Firebird and Formula MES estes rie ting Cre ta M RISE 52 0 1 322 mm LL ids aa aaa ee oe e x l Rc 52 7 1 340 mm Trans Am A 51 7 1 312 mm Less br mur an Oar out os 524 1
237. t carefully You may notice that the pedal is brake and it will stay on if your parking With anti lock this ight will come on harder to push Or the pedal may go brake doesn t release fully If it stays on when you start your engine aed it will closer to the floor It may take longer to after your parking brake is fully released stay on for three seconds That s normal stop If the light is still on or if the it means you have a brake problem If the light doesn t come on have it fixed so it will be ready to warn you if there is problem If the light flashes when you re driving B you don t have anti lock brakes and there s a problem with your regular anti lock brake system warning light is flashing have the vehicle towed for service See Anti Lock Brake System Warning Light and Towing Your Vehicle in the Index CAUTION Your brake system may not be work brakes Pull aff the road and stop ing properly if the brake system carefully You may notice that the pedal is warning light is on Driving with the harder to push Or the pedal may go brake system warning light on can closer to the floor It may take longer to lead to an accident If the light is still stop Have the vehicle towed for service on or if the anti lock brake system See Towing Your Vehicle in the warning light is flashing after you ve pulled off the road and stopped care fully have the vehicle towed for ser vice
238. t out of the vehicle after an air bag inflates then get fresh air by opening Air Bag Readiness Light How the Air Bag System Works a window or door There is an air bag readiness light on Where is the air hag the instrument panel which shows The driver s air bag is in the middle of the AIR BAG on it The system checks steering wheel for electrical malfunctions and the light tells you if there is a problem CAUTION You will see this light flash for a few seconds when you turn your ignition to Run or Stan Then the light should go out which means the system is ready Don t put anything on or attach anything to the driver air bag or instrument panel Also don t put anything such as pets or objects Remember if the air bag readiness light between any occupant and the doesn t come on when you start your driver air bag or instrument panel vehicle or stays on or comes on when If something is between an occupant you are driving your air bag system may and an air bag it could affect the not work properly Have your vehicle performance of the air bag or worse serviced right away it could cause injury 24 The right front passenger s air bag 15 located in the instrument panel on the passenger 5 side When is an air bag expected to inflate The air bag is designed to inflate in moderate to severe frontal or near frontal crashes The air bag will only inflate if the velocity of th
239. t it is made to To wear it just attach it to the regular safety belt 39 Seats and Restraint Systems m Checking Your Restraint Systems Now and then make sure all your helts buckles latch plates retractors anchorages and reminder systems are working properly Look for any loose parts or damage If you see anything that might keep a restraint system from doing its job have it repaired m Replacing Safety Belts after a Crash If you ve had a crash do you need new belts After very minor collision nothing may be necessary But if the belts were stretched as they would be if worn during a more severe crash then you need new helts If belts are cut or damaged replace them Collision damage also may mean you will need to have safety belt or seat parts repaired or replaced New parts and repairs may be necessary even if the belt wasn t being used at the time of the collision Q What s wrong with this A The belt is tom Torn or frayed belts may not protect you in crash They rip apart under impact forces If a belt is tom or frayed get a new one right away Here you can leam about the many standard and optional features on your Pontiac and information on starting shifting and braking Also explained are the instrument panel and the warming systems that tell you if everything is working properly and what to do if you have a problem Keys Doo
240. ta turn the screw heads until the slots point front and back Lift the trim panel and move it out of the way 171 Problems on the Road If you have speakers in the trim panel you will have to disconnect the speaker wire before completely removing the trim panel To remove the jack and wheel wrench Remove the wing nut and adapter and loosen and remove the bolt and remove pull out the spare the plastic cover 172 Start with the jack A and wheel wrench The jack has a bolt at the end Attach the If your wheel has a bolt on center cap B wheel wrench to the jack bolt loosen the plastic caps using the wheel Turn the wheel wrench to the right to wrench raise the lift head a little 173 Then pry off the center cap with the wheel wrench 174 If your vehicle has optional alloy wheels Using the wheel wrench loosen all the each wheel may have locknut in place wheel nuts Don t remove them yet of the standard wheel nut A special wheel lock key removal tool and instructions are located in the center console Attach the wheel lock key to the socket of the wheel wrench Remove the locking wheel nut by turning counterclockwise NOTICE Raising your vehicle with the jack improperly positioned will damage the vehicle or may allow the vehicle to fall off the jack Be sure to fit the jack lift head into the proper location before raising your vehicle
241. tab turn the socket 6 2 To pull out the bulb housing tilt the counterclockwise housing to remove the tabbed end 1 Remove the screw from the sidemarker assembly 6 To remove the bulb push in and tum it counterclockwise then pull it out 7 Reverse the steps with a new bulb orar Turn counterclockwise and pull out the socket and the bulb Pull out the bulb Reverse the steps with a new bulb TIRE LOADINO INFORM ATEOH OCCUPAMTS VEHICLE CAP WT FRT CAT RA TOTAL Las 1 1 a B 1188 MAX LOADING amp AS FEHICLE CAPACITY BAW AMP AUD nHER S MANUAL FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMA TION 180135543 h Loading Your Vehicle Two labels on your vehicle show how much weight it may properly carry The Tire Loading Information label found on the driver s door tells you the proper size speed rating and recommended inflation pressures for the tires on your vehicle It also gives you important information about the number of people that can be in your vehicle and the total weight that you can carry This weight is called the Vehicle Capacity Weight and includes the weight of all occupants cargo and all nonfactory installed options MFD HY GENERAL MOTORS CORP DATE GVWR DAWA FAT 01291 ZT13LB 011356 REI amp ABOVE 3 1 03043 PaaS CAR The other label is the Certif
242. tankful your emission controls won t work well or at all With continuous use spark plugs can get fouled the exhaust system can corrode and your engine oil can deteriorate quickly Your vehicle s oxygen sensor will be damaged All of that means costly repairs that wouldn t be covered by yaur warranty To check on fuel availability ask an auto club or contact a major oil company that does business in the country where you ll be driving You can alsa write us at the following address for advice Just tell us where you re going and give your Vehicle Identification Number VIN General Motors Overseas Distribution Corporation North American Export Sales NAES 1908 Colonel Sam Drive Oshawa Ontario LIH 8P7 Canada To take off the cap turn it slowly to the left counterclockwise NOTICE lf you need a new cap be sure to get the right type Your dealer can get one for you If you get the wrong type it may not fit and your fuel tank and emissions system might be dam aged CAUTION If you get gasoline on you and then something ignites it you could be badly burned Gasoline can spray out on you if you open the fuel filler cap PEERS too quickly This spray can happen if Filling Your Tank your tank is nearly full and is more likely in hot weather Open the fuel filler cap slowly and wait for any hiss noise to stop Then unscrew the cap all the way CAUTION Gasoline vapor is highly flam
243. tc To deter mine the preferred viscosity for your vehicle s engine e g SAE 246 SERVICE SW 30 or SAE LOW 30 see Engine Oil in the Index Chassis Lubrication Lubricate the suspension and steering linkage Lubricate the transmission shift linkage Tire and Wheel Rotation and Inspection For proper wear and maximum tire life rotate your tires following the instructions in this manual See Tires Inspection and Rotation in the Index Check the tires for uneven wear or damage If you see irregular or premature wear check the wheel alignment Check for damaged wheels also Engine Accessory Drive Belts Inspection Inspect the beltis for cracks fraying wear and proper tension Replace as needed Belts can have many small cracks in individual ribs without affecting performance 5 ITEM NO SERVICE lervipe Drain flush and refill the system with new or approved recycled coolant conforming lo GM Specification 1825M Keep coolant at the proper mixture as specified See Coolant in the Index This provides proper freeze and boil protection corrosion inhibitor level and Maintains proper engine operating temperature Inspect hoses and replace if they are cracked swollen or deterior ated Tighten screw type hose clamps Clean the outside of the radiator and air conditioning condenser Wash the pressure cap and neck To help ensure proper operation we
244. teering wheel or both the air What will you see after an air bag he there to help protect you in another inflation crash A new system will include air bag modules and possibly other parts The service manual has information about the bag and the instrument panel for the passenger s air bag Do not open or break the air bag covers After the air bag has inflated it will then Paese yeast or need to replace other parts from an air bag inflation that the air bag inflated Some Your vehicle is equipped with a ae rere eee components of the air bag module in the diagnostic module which records 1 particles Shean le steering wheel hub for the driver s air information about the air bag system if bag or the instrument panel for the the air bag deploys in a crash The One pP re 5 be qs bieathine if passenger s bag may be hot for a short module records information about the ens al Agen ud em with tha n time but the portion of the bag that comes readiness of the system which sensors rs dats b if into contact with you will not be hot to activated the deployment and whether the closed alter ar bag imiiation H your air bag inflates you and any passengers should exit the vehicle if and when it is safe to do so If you or your passengers the touch There will be small amounts of driver s safety belt was in use smoke and dust coming from
245. tem will turn on the interior lights for about 40 seconds or until the ignition switch is turned to Run when you unlock the doors or hatch The interior lights will come on for about two seconds when you lock the doors Matching Transmitter s to Your Vehicle Each key chain 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 the remaining transmitter must also be matched Once the new transmitter is coded the lost transmitter will not unlock your vehicle You can match a transmitter to as many different vehicles as you own provided they are equipped with exactly the s model system General Motors offers several different models of these systems on their vehicles Each vehicle can have only two transmitters matched to it 45 Features and Controls When matching transmitters the first Battery Replacement transmitter code matched will be stored in tinder normal use the batteries in your both memories until a second transmitter key chain transmitter should last about is matched This means that the second EWO years transmitter will not work until 15 Y teli the eakifthe matched in step 5 ou can tell the batteries are
246. that are 30 to 45 minutes long on each side Tapes longer than that are so thin they may not work well in this player A cassette symbol will appear in the upper left corner of the display whenever tape is inserted The longer side with the tape visible goes in first If you hear nothing or hear just a garbled sound it may not be in squarely Press EJECT to remove the tape and start over Once the tape is playing use VOLUME BAL and FADE just as you do for the radio The arrows show which side of the tape is playing Press PROG or REV again to stop it The radio will play during this operation To Play the Next Selection Press NEXT or SEEK A to hear the next selection instead of waiting until the current selection is finished For NEXT ta work properly your tape must have at least three seconds of silence between each selection The radio will not play during this operation To Replay the Current Selection Press PREV or SEEK Y to play a selection again 113 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems For PREV to work properly your tape must have at least three seconds of silence between cach selection The radio will not play during this operation Program Press PROG to switch from one side of the tape to the other or to stop the tape from searching Noise Reduction Press to reduce lape noise This symbol will appear in the display oo 114 To Stop the Tape
247. the shift lever e If there was an accident what was damaged When the towing service arrives let the low operator know that this manual contains detailed towing instructions A and illustrations The operator may CAUTION wani to see them To help avoid injury to you or others Never let passengers ride in a vehicle that is being towed Never tow faster than safe or posted speeds Never tow with damaged parts not fully secured Never get under your vehicle after it has been lifted by the tow truck Always secure the vehicle on each side with separate safety chains when towing iL Never use J hooks Use T hooks instead 157 Problems on the Road When your vehicle is being towed have the ignition key off The steering wheel should be clamped in a straight ahead position with a clamping device designed for towing service Do not use the vehicle s steering column lock for this The transmission should be in Neutral and the parking brake released velitis should be ghily secu n Don t have your vehicle towed on the rear with chains or steel cables before it wheels unless you must If the vehicle ds transported must be towed on the rear wheels don t go more than 35 mph 55 km h or farther than 50 miles 80 km or your transmission will be damaged If these limits must be exceeded then the rear wheels have to be supported on a dolly Front Towing Hook Ups Attach T hook cha
248. ther Vehicle While Using Cruise Control Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed When you take your foot off the pedal your vehicle will slow down to the Cruise Control speed you set earlier Using Cruise Control on Hills How well your Cruise Control will work on hills depends upon vour speed load and the steepness of the hills When going up steep hills you may have to step on the accelerator pedal to maintain your speed When going downhill you may have to brake or shift lower gear to keep your speed down Of course applying the brake takes you out of Cruise Control Many drivers find this to be too much trouble and don t use Cruise Control on steep hills Get Out of Cruise Control There are several ways to turn off the Cruise Control 1 Step lightly on the brake pedal or push the clutch pedal if vou have a manual transmission OR 2 Move the Cruise switch to OFF To Erase Speed Memory When you tum off the Cruise Control or the ignition your Cruise Control set speed memory is erased Traction Control System and Cruise Control Tf your traction control system engages while your Cruise Control is set Cruise Control will disengage Your speed will be set in memory though When Cruise Control engages again use R A Resume Accelerate to go back to your set speed 75 Features and Controls Operation of Lights Although your vehicle s lighting system headligh
249. tilation Tips 108 67 Vision Night 136 POWEE I ys taka ERE 68 Visor Vanity Mirror Covered 85 Rear Defogger 107 Visors Sun 85 Windshield FOI EN E Y 94 MAGS 12 522432 42d caua 224 NISUS DI cul cv rx 71 Mi Washer Fluid 205 Devices QEP WP ees cence tees 70 Hazard Flashers 152 Winter Driving 142 Lights Gages and Indicators 89 Wipers Windshield 70 dae ee e 04 Vehicle Damage 4 You Driving and the Road 125 Washer Fluid Windshield 205 Washers Windshield Tl Washing Your Vehicle 224 Water Driving Through Deep Standing 5 Weatherstvips 22 Notes 279 Notes 280 281 os amp Notes 283 eee eee Notes 285 Notes 287 Service Station Information Hood Release See Page 188 Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir See Page 205 Engine Oil Dipstick and Fill Cap 3 4L 1 32 Code 5 Engine See Page 192 Battery The Delco Freedom battery needs no water See Page 208 Engine Oil Dipstick and Fill Cap 5 7L LT1 Code P Engine Cooling System Reservoir See Page 192 Check coolant at the coolant recovery tank by usin
250. tion Progt am TEE 261 alogen Bulbs 209 Hatch 47 Hatch Release Remote 47 Hazard Warning Flashers 152 Head Restraints 12 Headlight Doors Headlight High ow Beam ET PEE 70 a 209 Heater Controls 104 Heater Engine Coolant Block 56 ee N T Py 104 Highway Hypnosis 140 Hill and Mountain Roads 141 Hibhig oon iaaa a ees 147 Hood 188 Hood Checking Things under the 138 Huok Ups Front Towing 158 Hook Ups Rear Towing 160 eee ee 68 How to Add Coolant to the Coolant Recovery Tank 164 How to Add Coolant to the eru rri 165 167 Hydraulic Clutch 201 Hydroplaning 138 Hypnosis Highway 140 I dentification Number Vehicle 228 Identification Engine 228 Tire Goes Flat 170 If You re Stuck In Sand Mud Ice OF SMOW 180 Ignition Switeh esses 51 Inflatable Restraint System Supplemental 23 Inflation Tire Pressure 216 Inside Day Night Rearview MEL 19 Instrument Cluster BE Instrument Panel 87 Instrument Panel Cleaning the 223 Interior Lights 78 J u
251. to store it when not adjusting To Play a Compact Disc Before you begin please note don t use the mini discs that are called singles They won t eject Use full size compact discs With the audio system on insert a disc inta the slot with the label side up CD will appear on the display and track will begin to play If the disc comes back out and ERR appears on the display it could be that The disc is upside down It is dirty scratched or wet There s too much moisture in the air You are driving on very rough road The temperature is too hot or too cold Recall Press RECALL to see what track is playing Press it again within five seconds to see how long it has been playing The track number also appears when the disc is inserted To Play the Next Selection Press NEXT or SEEK 4 to hear the next track now instead of waiting until the present track is finished If you press and hold this button or press it more than once the disc will advance further To Replay the Current Selection Press PREV or SEEK Ww to hear track again If you press and hold this button or press it more than once the disc will return to previous tracks Reverse Press and hold REV to rapidly return to favorite passage Release it to play the passage The radio will play during this operation 118 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems Forward Press and hold FWD
252. ts parking lights fog lamps side marker lights and taillights meets all applicable federal lighting requirements certain states and provinces may apply their own lighting regulations that may require special attention before you operate these lights For example some jurisdictions may require that you operate your fog lamps only when your lower beam headlights are also on or that headlights be turned on whenever you must use your windshield wipers In addition most jurisdictions prohibit driving solely with parking lights especially at dawn or dusk It is recommended that you check with your own state or provincial highway authority for applicable lighting regulations Main Light Control The main light control is a knob that works these lights Headlights Taillights Parking lights License lights Sidemarker lights Instrument panel lights Turn the knob to 3E to tum on your headlights and other operating lights Turn the knob pe to turn on your parking lights without your headlights Turn the knob to OFF to turn off the lights Brightness Control This switch controls the brightness of your instrument panel lights Turn the switch to brighten or dim the lights If you turn the switch all the way up to F your courtesy lights will come on Lights On Reminder If you turn the ignition Off and leave the lights on you will hear a chime when you open the driver s door Headlight D
253. u should not have to add anything to the fuel In the U S and Canada it s easy to be sure you get the right kind of gasoline unleaded You ll sec UNLEADED right on the pump And only unleaded nozzles will fit into your vehicle s filler neck Be sure the posted octane for premium is at least 91 at least 89 for middle grade and 87 for regular If the octane is less than 87 you may get a heavy knocking noise when you drive If it s bad enough it can damage your engine If you re using fuel rated at 91 octane or higher and you still hear heavy knacking your engine needs service But don t worry if you hear a little pinging noise when you re accelerating or driving up hill That s normal and you don t have to buy a higher octane fuel to get rid of pinging It s the heavy constant knock that means you have a problem All Engines What about gasoline with blending materials that contain oxygen axvgenates such as MTBE or alcohol MTBE is methyl tertiary hutyl ether Fuel that is no more than 13 MTBE is fine for your vehicle Ethanol is ethyl or grain alcohol Properly blended fuel that is no more than 105r ethanol is fine for your vehicle Methanol is methyl or wood alcohol 185 Service and Appearance Care NOTICE Fuel that is more than 4 methanol i bad for your vehicle Don t use it It can corrode metal parts in your fuel system and also damage plastic and rubber parts Th
254. uipped 21 Traction Control Switch if equipped 22 Ashtray Manual Transmission 87 Features and Controls B Instrument Panel and Cluster Your instrument cluster is designed to let you know at a glance how your vehicle is running You ll know how fast you re going about how much fuel you have left and many other things you ll need to know to drive safely and economically 5peedometer and Odometer Your speedometer lets you see your speed in both miles per hour mph and kilometers per hour km h Your odometer shows how far your vehicle has been driven in either miles used in the U S or kilometers used in Canada Your Pontiac s odometer is tamper resistant If you can see silver lines between the numbers probably someone has tried to turn it back The numbers may not he true U S shown Canada similar You may wonder what happens if your Pontiac needs a new odometer installed If possible the new one has to be set to the same reading the old one had If it can t be then it s set at zero but a label on the driver s door must show the old reading and when the new one was installed Trip Odometer The trip odometer can tell you how far your vehicle has been driven since you last set the trip odometer to zero To set the trip odometer to zero press the knab Tachometer The tachometer displays the engine speed in thousands of revolutions per minute rpm NOTICE Do not
255. under the can get these bulletins too Pontiac Courtesy Transportation Program Bulletins cover various subjects Some Please consult your dealer for details pertain to the proper use and care of your In Canada please consult your GM vehicle Some describe costly repairs Dealer for information on courtesy Others describe Inexpensive repairs transportation which if done on time with the latest parts may avoid future costly repairs Some bulletins tell a technician how to repair new or unexpected condition Others describe a quicker way to fix your vehicle They can help a technician service your vehicle better m Pontiac Courtesy m Service Publications Information on how to obtain Product Service Publications and Indexes as described below is applicable only in the fifty U S states and the District of Columbia and only for cars and light trucks with GVWR less than 10 000 pounds 4 536 kg In Canada information pertaining to Product Service Bulletins and Indexes can be obtained by writing to General Motors of Canada Limited Service Publications Department 1908 Colonel Sam Dr Oshawa Ontario L1H 8P7 Most bulletins apply to conditions Your Pontiac dealer or a qualified technician may have to determine if a specific bulletin applies to your vehicle Individual PSP s If you don t want to buy all the PSP s issued by Pontiac for all car or truck models in the model year you can buy individual PSP s such as t
256. ush with the cleaner When applying a tire dressing always take to wipe off any overspray or splash from painted surfaces Petroleum based products may damage the paint finish Weatherstrips Silicone grease on weatherstrips will make them last longer seal better and not stick or squeak Apply silicone grease with a clean cloth at least every six months During very cold damp weather more frequent application may be required See Recommended Fluids and Lubricants in the Index 225 Service and Appearance Care Sheet Metal Damage corrected in your dealer s body and paint Chemical Paint Spotting If your vehicle is damaged and requires SPOP Some weather and atmospheric conditions sheet metal repair or replacement make create chemical fallout Airborne sure the body repair shop applies Underbody Maintenance pollutants can fall upon and attack painted anti corrosion material to the parts Chemicals used for ice and snow removal surfaces on your vehicle This damage repaired or replaced to restore corrosion and dust control can collect on the can take two forms blotchy protection underbody If these are not removed ringlet shaped discolorations and small accelerated corrosion rust ean occur irregular dark spots etched into the paint Foreign Material the underbody parts such as fuel lines surface Calcium chloride and other salts ice frame floor pan and exhaust system even
257. vasive action steering around the problem Your Pontiac can perform very well in emergencies like these First apply your brakes It is better to remove as much speed as you can from a possible collision Then steer around the problem to the left or right depending on the space availahle An emergency like this requires close attention and a quick decision If you are holding the steering wheel at the recommended 9 and 3 o clock positions you can turn it a full 180 degrees very quickly without removing either hand But you have to act fast steer quickly and just as quickly straighten the wheel once you have avoided the object The fact that such emergency situations are always possible is a good reason to practice defensive driving at all times and wear safety belts properly Off Road Recovery You may find sometime that your right wheels have dropped off the edge of a road onto the shoulder A while you re driving If the level af the shoulder is only slightly below the pavement recovery should be fairly easy Ease off the accelerator and then if there is nothing in the way steer so that your vehicle straddles the edge of the pavement You can turn the steering wheel up ta 1 4 tum B until the right front tire contacts the pavement edge Then turn your steering wheel to go straight down the roadway 133 Your Driving and the Road Passing The driver of a vehicle about to pass an
258. ver into the gear you wish If you ever hold the brake pedal down but still can t shift out of P Park try this 1 Tum the key to Off 2 Apply and hold the hrake until the end of Step 4 3 Shift to N Neutral 4 Start the vehicle and then shift to the drive gear vou want 5 Have the vehicle fixed as soon as you can Parking Your Vehicle MANUAL TRANSMISSION Before you get out af your vehicle put your manual transmission in R Reverse and firmly apply the parking brake If your vehicle is equipped to tow a trailer see Towing a Trailer in the Index 65 Features and Controls m Engine Exhaust CAUTION Engine exhaust can kill It contains the gas carbon monoxide which you can t see or smell It can cause unconsciousness and death You might have exhaust coming in if Your exhaust system sounds strange or different Your vehicle gets rusty underneath Par king over Things That Burn Your vehicle was damaged in a collision Your vehicle was damaged when driving over high points on the road or over debris Repairs weren t done correctly Your vehicle or exhaust system had been modified improperly If you ever suspect exhaust is coming into your vehicle N CAUTION Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust parts under your vehicle and ignite Don t park over papers leaves dry grass or other things that can burn Drive it only with al
259. vex A convex minror s surface 15 curved so you can see more from the driver s seat ZX CAUTION If you aren t used to convex mirror you can hit another vehicle A con Front Map Lights B Mirrors vex mirror can make things lik other vehicles look farther away iino rearview mirror includes 199 Inside Day Night Rearview Mirror than they really are If you cuttoo ap lights Each li its own switch ae ut Usc fis switch the light to tiri An inside rearview mirror is attached to sharply into the right lane you could it en The lights will ilko go on when a your windshield The mirror has pivots so hit a vehicle on your right Check art spend fano that you can adjust it up and down or side your inside mirror or glance over Mp in uide L shoulder before changing lanes m Floor Mats You can adjust the mirror for day or might Your Firebirds floor mats are driving Pull the tab for night dri ving It Manual Remote Control Mirror custom fitted to the foot wells Be sure reduce glare Push the tab for daytime Adjust the driver side outside mirror with the driver s floor mat is in place Lf it driving the lever on the door Adjust the mirror so isn t it could interfere with the M imet Mi that vou can just see the side of your accelerator or brake pedals Adjust Mirror vehicle when you arc sitting in Adjust the passenger side outside mirror comfortable driving position by hand so that
260. when outside temperatures are below freezing The engine is at low speed most of the time as in door to door delivery or in stop and go traffic You operate your vehicle in dusty areas You tow a trailer any one or more of these is true for your driving follow Schedule 1 Schedule L Follow Schedule II only if none of the above conditions is true 241 Maintenance Schedule Section A Scheduled Maintenance Services Schedule I Follow Schedule I if your vehicle is rive br m the following conditions e When most trips are less than 4 miles 6 km e When most trips are less than 10 miles 16 km and outside temperatures remain below freezing e When most trips include extended idling and or frequent low speed operation as in stop and go traffic e When towing 4 trailer e When operating in dusty areas should als followed if hicle 15 us very service taxi or other commercial applications An Emission Control Service The US Envirommennz Promectnam Agency ar the California Air Resources Board has determined that the failure to perform this maintenance item will not nullify the emission warranty or limit recall liability prior ta the completion af vehicle useful life General Motors however urges that all recommended maintenance services be performed ar the indicated intervals and the maintenance be recorded in Section E Maintenance Record 242
261. x with a gray background and the word CAUTION to tell you about things that could hurt you if you Were to ignore the warning In the gray caution area we tell you what the hazard is Then we tell you what to do to help avoid or reduce the hazard Please read these cautions you don t you or others could be hurt 4 NOTICE These mean there is something that could damage your vehicle You will also find a circle with a slash through it in this book This safety symbol Vehicle Damage Warnings means Don t Don t do this or Don t Also in this book you will find these let this happen notices In the notice area we tell vou about something that can damage vour vehicle Many times this damage would not be covered by your warranty and it could be costly But the notice will tell you what to do to help avoid the damage When you read other manuals you might see CAUTION and NOTICE warnings in different colors or in different words You ll also see warning labels on your vehicle They use vellow for cautions blue for notices and the words CAUTION or NOTICE Vehicle Symbols These symbols are important for you and Headlight High Beam ZD These are some of the symbols you will 5207 Passengers whenever your vehicle is find on your vehicle For example these driver m symbols are used on an original battery Parking Lights P Fasten Safety Belts IN Courtesy Lights Caution Possible Injury
262. xplosive gas could be present Battery fluid contains acid that can burn you Don t get it on you If you accidentally get it in your eyes or on your skin flush the place with water and get medical help immediately Check that the jumper cables don t have loose or missing insulation If they do vou could get a shock The vehicles could be damaged toa Before you connect the cables here are some basic things you should know Positive will go to positive and negative will go to negative or a metal engine part Don t connect to or you ll get a short that would damage the battery and maybe other parts too CAUTION Fans or other moving engine parts can injure you badly Keep your hands away from moving parts once the engines are running 6 Connect the red positive cable to the positive terminal of the vehicle with the dead battery Use a remote positive terminal if the vehicle has one Don t let the other end touch metal Connect it to the positive terminal of the good battery Use a remote positive terminal if the vehicle has one But don t use the junction block on your Pontiac 8 Now connect the black negative cahle to the good battery s negative terminal gm Don t let the other end touch anything until the next step The other end of the negative cable doesn t go to the dead battery It goes to a heavy unpainted metal pa
263. y Defects to General Motors Pontiac Roadside Assistance oat 263 Canadian Roadside Assistance ee ee ee teas 263 Pontiac Courtesy Transportation 264 Service Publications paca Soyo ora ste Acide pa era a 259 Customer Assistance Information m Customer Satisfaction Procedure Your satisfaction and goodwill are important to your dealer and Pontiac Normally any concern with the sales transaction or the operation of your vehicle will be resolved by your dealer s Sales or Service Departments Sometimes however despite the best intentions of all concemed misunderstandings can occur If your concern has not been resalved to your satisfaction the following steps should be taken STEP ONE Discuss your concern with a member of dealership management Normally concerns can be quickly resolved at that level If the matter has already been reviewed with the Sales Service or Parts Manager contact the owner of the dealership or the General Manager STEP TWO If after contacting a member of dealership management it appears your concem cannot be resolved by the dealership without further help contact the Pontiac Customer Assistance Center hy calling 1 800 PM CARES 260 In Canada contact GM of Canada Customer Assistance Center in Oshawa by calling 1 800 263 3777 Engl
264. y applied This does not mean something is wrong with your brakes If you have rear drum brakes they don t have wear indicators but if you ever hear a rear brake rubbing noise have the rear brake linings inspected Also the rear brake drums should be removed and inspected each time the tires are removed for rotation or changing When you have the front brakes replaced have the rear brakes inspected tod Brake linings should always be replaced as complete axle sets Brake Pedal Travel See your dealer if the brake pedal does not return to normal height or if there is rapid increase in pedal travel This could he a sign of brake trouble 207 Service and Appearance Care M U_T Brake Adjustment Every time you make a moderate brake stop your disc brakes adjust for wear If you rarely make a moderate or heavier stop then your brakes might not adjust correctly If you drive in that way then very carefully make a few moderate brake stops about every 1 000 miles 1 600 km so your brakes will adjust properly If your brake pedal goes down farther than normal your rear drum brakes need adjustment Adjust them by backing up and firmly applying the brakes a few times Replacing Brake System Parts The braking system on modern vehicle is complex Its many parts have to be of top quality and work well together if the vehicle is to have really good braking Vehicles we design and test hav
265. y tank but only when your engine is cool If the tank is T x very low or empty also add coolant to the IN C AUTION radiator see Engine Overheating in the z Index for information You can be bumed if you spill coolant on hot engine parts Coolant contains ethylene glycol and it will burn if the engine parts are hot enough Don t spill coolant on a hot engine 203 Service and Appearance Care Radiator Pressure Cap All Engines NOTICE Your radiator cap is a 18 psi 124 kPa pressure type cap and must be tightly installed to prevent coolant loss and possible engine damage from over heating Be sure the arrows on the cap line up with the overflow tube on the radiator filler neck 3 4 L 32 Code 8j STL ET I Coe Fi When you replace your radiator pressure s AC cap is recommended Power Steering Fluid e When the engine VEREOR is hot the level should be at the or Thermostat How to Check Power Steering Fluid HOT mark Fha a ye h 1 Engine coolant temperature is controlled Unscrew the cap and wipe the dipstick 5 w wala FEE M by a thermostat in the engine coolant with a clean rag Replace the cap and speed p usa e system The thermostat stops the flow of completely tighten it Then remove the n SU CHEER coolant through the radiator until the cap and look at the fluid level on coolant reaches a preset temperature the dipstick
266. yone s protection systems your vehicle has The driver has a lap shoulder belt Here s We ll start with the driver position how to wear it properly 1 Close and lock the door Driver Position 2 Adjust the seat to see how see Tina graces tho Seats in the Index so you can sit up restraint system straight Seats and Restraint Systems 3 Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you Don t let it get twisted Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure If the belt isn t long enough see Safety Belt Extender at the end of this section Make sure the release button on the buckle is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to 20 5 To make the lap part tight pull down on the buckle end of the belt as you pull up on the shoulder belt The lap part of the belt should be worn low and snug on the hips just touching the thighs In a crash this applies force to the strong pelvic bones And you d be less likely to slide under the lap belt If you slid under it the belt would apply force at your abdomen This could cause serious or even fatal injuries The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest These parts of the body are best able to take belt restraining forces The safety belt locks if there s a sudden stop or crash Q
267. you should downshift to the next lower gear You may have to downshift two or more gears to keep the engine running smoothly or for good performance NOTICE If you skip more than one gear when you downshift or if you race the engine when you downshift you can damage the clutch or transmission 862 IF vou are towing a trailer and are parking on any hill See Towing a Trailer in the Index That section shows what to do first to keep the trailer from moving To release the parking brake Hold the a P arking brake pedal down Pull the parking brake Pa rking Brake lever up until you push in the release button Hold the release button in as you The parking brake uses the brakes onthe move the brake lever all the way down rear wheels To set the parking brake Hold the brake pedal down and pull up on the parking NOTICE brake lever If the ignition is on the brake system warning light will come on Driving with the parking brake on cause your rcar brakes to over heat You may have to replace them and you could also damage other parts of your vehicle 63 Features and Controls Shifting into P Park AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CAUTION It be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the shift lever is not fully im P Park with the parking brake firmly set Your vehicle can roll If you have left the engine running the vehicle can move suddenly You
268. your VIN is the engine code This code will help vou identify your engine specifications and replacement parts 228 m Add On Electrical Equipment NOTICE Don t add anything electrical to your Pontiac unless you check with your dealer first Some electrical equip ment can damage your vehicle and the damage wouldn t he covered by your warranty Some add on electrical equipment can keep other components from working as they should Your vehicle has an air bag system Before attempting to add anything electrical to your Pontiac see Servicing Your Air Bag Equipped Pontiac in the Index m Fuses and Circuit Breakers The wiring circuits in your vehicle are protected from short circuits hy combination of fuses circuit breakers and fusible thermal links in the wiring itself This greatly reduces the chance of fires caused by electrical problems There are two fuse centers on your vehicle One is in the left side of your instrument panel ZA 7 The other is in the engine compartment Open the cover on either of the boxes to expose the fuses Look at the silver colored band inside the fuse If the band is broken or melted replace the fuse Be sure you replace a bad fuse with a new one of the carrect size If you ever have a problem on the road and don t have a spare fuse you can borrow one Just pick some feature of your vehicle that vou can get along without like the radio or cigarette l

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