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1996 Pontiac Firebird Owner's Manual - Page 193

1996 Pontiac Firebird Manual

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Your car can tow atrailer if it isequipped with proper trailer towing equipment. To identify what the vehicle trailering capacity is for your vehicle, you should read the infrwmakion in "Weight of the T r ~ l e r " appears that just later in this section. But trailering is different than* driving your vehicle by itself. Trailering 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 part. 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 carehlly before youpull 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 heat. What's more, the trailer adds,considerably to wind resistance, increasing the pulling requirements. _ , I If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer If you do, here,are some important points: 0 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 provincialpolice. 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 k ) m your new vehicle is driven. Your eng-k, axle or 0ther.part.s could be damaged. Then, during the first 500 miles (800 km) that you tow a trailer, don't drive ov'er50 mph (80 km/h) and don't make starts at full throttle. This helps your engine and other parts of your vehicle wear in at the heavier loads. 0 0 0 _ .. - i .. : , 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. 4-32

Section	Page
Table of Contents	2
Seats and Restraint Systems	8
Seats and Seat Controls	8
Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone	14
Here Are Questions Many People Ask About Safety Belts -- and the Answers	18
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly	19
Supplemental Restraint (SRS) System	26
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy	33
Right Front Passenger Position	33
Rear Seat Passengers	34
Children	37
Child Restraints	39
Larger Children	45
Safety Belt Extender	48
Checking Your Restraint Systems	48
Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash	48
Features and Controls	50
Keys	50
Door Locks	52
Remote Lock Control (Option)	54
Theft	60
Vehicle and Content Theft-Deterrent System (Option)	61
PASS-Key II	63
Feature Customization (Option)	65
New Vehicle “Break-In”	70
Ignition Switch	70
Starting Your Engine	72
Engine Coolant Heater (Option)	75
Automatic Transmission Operation	76
Manual Transmission	80
Limited-Slip Rear Axle	84
Parking Brake	85
Shifting Into PARK (P) (Automatic Transmission Models Only)	86
Parking Your Vehicle (Manual Transmission)	88
Shifting Out of PARK (P) (Automatic Transmission)	88
Parking Over Things That Burn	89
Engine Exhaust	89
Running Your Engine While You’re Parked (Automatic Transmission)	90
Windows	91
Horn	91
Tilt Steering Wheel	92
Turn Signa/Multifunction Lever	92
Lamps	99
Interior Lamps	102
Mirrors	104
Storage Compartments	105
Ashtray and Lighter	108
Sun Visors	109
Floor Mats	110
lhvin Lift-off Roof Panels (Option)	110
Convertible Top	115
Instrument Panel	121
Instrument Panel Cluster	123
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators	124
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems	138
Comfort Controls	138
Air Conditioning (Option)	139
Cooling	140
Heating	140
Bi-Level Heating	140
Rear Window Defogger (Option)	141
Ventilation System	142
Audio Systems	143
Setting the Clock for All Systems Except AM-FM Stereo	143
AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player	143
AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player and Equalizer	147
AM-FM Stereo with Compact Disc Player	150
AM-FM Stereo with Compact Disc Player and Equalizer	152
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player	159
Care of Your Compact Discs	159
Power Antenna Mast Care	160
Your Driving and the Road	162
Defensive Driving	162
Drunken Driving	163
Control of a Vehicle	166
Braking	166
Steering	171
Off-Road Recovery	173
Passing	174
Driving at Night	176
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads	178
City Driving	181
Freeway Driving	182
Before Leaving on a Long Trip	183
Highway Hypnosis	184
Hill and Mountain Roads	184
Winter Driving	186
Loading Your Vehicle	190
Towing a Trailer	192
Problems on the Road	200
Hazard Warning Flashers	200
Jump Starting	201
Towing Your Vehicle	206
Engine Overheating	212
If a Tire Goes Flat	226
Changing a Flat Tire	226
If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow	241
Service and Appearance Care	242
Service	242
Fuel	243
Checking Things Under the Hood	247
Engine Oil	251
Air Cleaner	257
Automatic Transmission Fluid	261
Manual Transmission Fluid	265
Hydraulic Clutch	266
Rear Axle	267
Engine Coolant	267
Power Steering Fluid	271
Windshield Washer Fluid	273
Brakes	274
Battery	278
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement	284
Tires	286
Appearance Care	294
Cleaning the Inside of Your Pontiac	294
Cleaning the Outside of Your Pontiac	299
Appearance Care Materials Chart	302
VehicleIdentification Number (VIN)	303
Electrical System	304
Replacement Bulbs	309
Capacities and Specifications	310
Maintenance Schedule	314
Introduction	314
Your Vehicie and the Environment	314
How This Section is Organized	315
Part A: Scheduled Maintenance Services	316
Using Your Maintenance Schedule	316
Selecting the Right Schedule	316
Maintenance Schedule	317
Part B: Owner Checks and Services	352
At Each Fuel Fill	352
At Least Once a Month	352
At Least Twice a Year	353
At Least Once a Year	353
Part C: Periodic Maintenance Inspections	356
Part D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants	357
Part E: Maintenance Record	359
Customer Assistance Information	362
Customer Satisfaction Procedure	363
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone (TTY) Users	365
Pontiac Roadside Assistance Program	366
Pontiac Courtesy Transportation	368
GM Participation in BBB AUTO LINE -- Alternative Dispute Resolution Program*	369
REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS TO THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT	370
REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS TO THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT	371
REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS TO GENERAL MOTORS	371

Match case Limit results 1 per page

Your car can

tow

trailer if it

is equipped with proper

trailer towing equipment.

identify what the vehicle

trailering capacity

for your vehicle,

you

should

read

the

infrwmakion

in “Weight

the

Tr~ler”

that appears

later in this section. But trailering

different than*

just

driving your vehicle by itself. Trailering means changes

in handling, durability, and fuel economy. Successful,

safe trailering takes correct equipment, and it has

used

properly.

That’s the reason for this part. In it are

many

time-tested, important trailering tips and safety rules.

Many of these are important for your

safety and that

your

passengers.

please

read

this

section carehlly

before

you pull

trailer.

Load-pulling components such as the engine,

transmission, rear axle, wheel assemblies and tires

are

forced

work harder against the drag

the

added

weight. The engine is required

operate at relatively

higher speeds and under greater loads, generating extra

heat. What’s more, the trailer adds,considerably to wind

resistance, increasing the pulling requirements.

_ .

You

Decide

Pull

Trailer

you

do,

here,are

some

important points:

There are many different laws, including

speed

limit

restrictions, having to

with trailering. Make sure

your rig will

legal,

not

only where you live but

also where you’ll be driving.

good source for this

information can be state or

provincial police.

Consider using

sway

control.

You can ask

hitch

dealer about sway

controls.

Don’t

tow

trailer at all during the

first 1,000 miles

600

km)

your new vehicle

driven.

Your

eng-k,

axle or 0ther.part.s could be damaged.

Then, during the first

500

miles

(800

km)

that

you

tow

trailer,

don’t drive ov’er

mph

(80

km/h)

and

don’t make starts

full throttle. This helps your

engine and other parts of your vehicle wear

in at 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

mph

(90

km/h))

save wear

your

vehicle’s parts.

4-32