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1997 Pontiac Firebird Owner's Manual - Page 200

1997 Pontiac Firebird Manual

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Total Weight on Your Vehicle's Tires Be sureyour vehicle's tires are inflated to the upper limit for cold tires. You'll find thesenumbers on the Certification label at the rear edge the driver's door or of see "Loading Your Vehicle'' in the Index. Then be sure you don't go over the GVW limit for yourvehicle; including the weight of the trailer tongue. Safety Chains You should always attach chains between your vehicle and your trailer. Cross the safety chains under the tongue of the trailer so that the tongue will not drop to road the if it becomes separated from the hitch. Instructions about safety chains may be provided by the hitch manufacturer or by the trailer manufacturer. Follow the manufacturer's recommendation for attaching safety chains and do not attach them to the bumper. Always leave just enough slack you can turn with your rig. so And, never allow safety chains to drag on the ground. Hitches It's important to have the correcthitch equipment. Crosswinds, large trucks going by and rough roads are a few reasons why you'll need theright hitch. Hereare some rules to follow: 0 Trailer Brakes If your trailer weighs morethan 1,000 lbs. (450 kg) loaded, then it needs its own brakes -- and they must be adequate. Be sureto read and followthe instructions 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 vehicle's brake system. If you do, both brake systems won't work well, or at all. The bumpers on your vehicle are not intended for hitches. Do not attach rental hitches or other bumper-type hitches to them. Use only a frame-mounted hitch that doesnot attach to the bumper. 0 Will you have to make any holes in the body of your vehicle when you install a trailer hitch? If you do, then be sure to seal holes later when you remove the the hitch. If you don't seal them, deadly carbon monofid.e (CO) from yourexhaust can get into your vehicle (see "Carbon Monoxide'' in the Index). Dirt and water can, too. 4-35

Section	Page
Table of Contents	2
Seats and Restraint Systems	8
Seats and Seat Controls	9
Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone	14
Here Are Questions Many People Ask	19
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly	20
Driver Position	20
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy	27
Right Front Passenger Position	28
Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)	28
Seat Passengers	34
Children	37
Child Restraints	39
Larger Children	45
Safety Belt Extender	48
Checking Your Restraint Systems	48
Replacing Restraint System Parts	48
Features and Controls	50
Keys	51
Door Locks	53
Remote Keyless Entry System	55
Hatch	59
Theft	61
Vehicle and Content Theft-Deterrent System	62
PASS-K 11	65
Feature Customization	66
New Vehicle “Break-In”	72
Ignition Switch	72
Starting Your Engine	74
Engine Coolant Heater	76
Automatic Transmission Operation	77
Manual Transmission	81
Parking Brake	86
Shifting Into PARK (P)	87
Parking Your Vehicle	89
Shifting Out of PARK (P)	89
Parking Over Things That Burn	90
Engine Exhaust	90
Windows	92
Horn	92
Tilt Steering Wheel	93
Turn SignaVMultifunction	93
Lamps	100
Interior Lamps	103
Mirrors	105
Storage Compartments	107
Ashtray and Lighter	108
Sun Visors	109
Floor Mats	110
Convertible Top	117
Instrument Panel	123
Warning Lights, Cages and Indicators	126
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems	140
Comfort Controls	141
Cooling	142
Heating	143
Bi-Level Heating	143
Ventilation	143
Defogging and Defrosting	143
Rear Window Defogger	144
Ventilation System	144
Audio Systems	145
Setting the Clock for All Systems	145
AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player	146
AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player	149
AM-FM Stereo with Compact Disc	153
Trunk Mounted CD Changer	155
Theft-Deterrent Feature	158
Steering Wheel Controls	160
Understanding Radio Reception	161
Tips About Your Audio System	161
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player	162
Care of Your Compact Discs	162
Power Antenna Mast Care	163
Your Driving and the Road	166
Defensive Driving	167
Drunken Driving	167
Control of a Vehicle	170
Braking	171
Steering	175
Off-Road Recovery	177
Passing	178
Loss of Control	179
Driving at Night	180
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads	182
City Driving	185
Freeway Driving	186
Before Leaving on a Long Trip	187
Hill and Mountain Roads	188
Winter Driving	190
Loading Your Vehicle	195
Towing a Trailer	197
Problems on the Road	206
Hazard Warning Flashers	207
Jump Starting	208
Towing Your Vehicle	213
Engine Overheating	219
If a Tire Goes Flat	231
Changing a Flat Tire	231
Compact Spare Tire	243
If You’re Stuck: In the Mud	244
Service and Appearance Care	246
Service	247
Fuel	248
Fuels in Foreign Countries	250
Filling Your Tank	251
Checking Things Under the Hood	253
Engine Oil	257
Air Cleaner	263
Automatic Transmission Fluid	267
Manual Transmission Fluid	272
Engine Coolant	274
Power Steering Fluid	278
Windshield Washer	280
Brakes	281
Battery	285
Bulb Replacement	286
Tires	294
Appearance Care	303
Cleaning the Inside of Your Pontiac	303
Care of Safety Belts	306
Cleaning the Outside of Your	308
Aluminum or Chrome	309
Tires	310
Underbody Maintenance	311
Appearance	312
Vehicle Identification	313
Service Parts Identification	313
Electrical System	313
Replacement Bulbs	318
Capacities and Specifications	318
Maintenance Schedule	322
Introduction	323
Your Vehicle and the Environment	323
How This Section is Organized	324
Part A: Scheduled Maintenance	325
Using Your Maintenance Schedule	325
Selecting the Right Schedule	325
Part B: Owner Checks and Services	365
Part C: Periodic Maintenance Inspections	369
Caliper/Knuckle Maintenance Inspection	370
Part D: Recommended Fluids and Lubricants	371
Part E: Maintenance	373
Customer Assistance Information	376
Pontiac Cares	377
What Makes up Pontiac Cares?	378
Customer Satisfaction Procedure	378
Customer Assist'ance for Text Telephone	380
Pontiac Roadside Assistance Program	381
Canadian Roadside Assistance	383
Pontiac Courtesy Transportation	383
GM Participation in an Alternative	384
Warranty Information	385
Reporting Safety Defects to the United	385
Reporting Safety Defects to the	386
Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors	386
Ordering Service and Owner Publications	386

Match case Limit results 1 per page

Total

Weight

Your

Vehicle’s

Tires

sure your vehicle’s tires are inflated to the upper

limit for cold tires. You’ll find

these numbers on the

Certification label

the

rear

edge

of the driver’s door or

see “Loading Your

Vehicle’’ in the Index. Then

sure

you

don’t go over the GVW limit for

your vehicle;

including the weight of the trailer tongue.

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:

The

bumpers

your

vehicle

are

not

intended

for

hitches.

not attach rental hitches or other

bumper-type hitches

them.

Use

only

frame-mounted hitch that

does not attach to

the bumper.

Will you have

make

any

holes in

the body of your

vehicle when you install a trailer hitch? If

you do,

then be

sure

seal

the holes later when you remove

the hitch. If you don’t seal them, deadly carbon

monofid.e

(CO)

from

your exhaust can get into your

vehicle (see “Carbon Monoxide’’ in the Index). Dirt

and water can, too.

Safety

Chains

You should always attach chains between your vehicle

and your trailer. Cross

the

safety

chains

under the

tongue

of the trailer

that the tongue will not

drop

the

road

if it becomes separated from the hitch. Instructions

about safety chains may be provided

the hitch

manufacturer or by the trailer manufacturer. Follow the

manufacturer’s recommendation for attaching safety

chains and do not attach them to the bumper. Always

leave

just

enough

slack

you can turn with your rig.

And, never allow safety chains to drag on the ground.

Trailer

Brakes

your trailer weighs

morethan

1,000

lbs.

(450

kg)

loaded, then it needs its own brakes

and

they

must

adequate. Be

sure

to read and

the

instructions for

the trailer brakes

you’ll be able

install,

adjust and

maintain them properly. Because you have anti-lock

brakes, do not

try

to tap into

your vehicle’s brake

system. If you do, both brake systems won’t work well,

or at all.

4-35