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1997 Pontiac Firebird Owner's Manual - Page 201

1997 Pontiac Firebird Manual

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Driving with a Trailer Towing a trailer requires a certain amountof experience. Before setting out for open road, you'll want to get the 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 the vehicleyou are that not driving isnow a good deal longer and nearly as responsive as your vehicle by itself. is Before you start, check the trailer hitch and platform (and attachments), safety chains, electrical connector, lamps, tires and mirror adjustment.If the trailer has electric brakes, start your vehicle and trailer moving and by then apply the trailer brake controller hand to be sure the brakesare working. This lets you check your electrical connectionat the same time. During your trip, check occasionally to be sure the that load is secure, and that the lamps any trailer brakes and are still working. Following Distance Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead as you would when driving your vehicle withouta trailer. This can helpyou avoid situations that require heavy braking and sudden turns. Passing You'll need more passing distance up ahead when you're towinga trailer. And, because you're a good deal longer, you'llneed to go much farther beyond the passed vehicle before can return to your lane. you Backing Up Hold the bottom the steering wheel of with one hand. Then, to move the trailer to the left, just move that hand to the left. move the trailer to the right, move your To hand to the right. Always back slowly and,if up possible, have someone guide you. 4-36

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

Driving

with

Trailer

Towing

trailer

requires

certain

amount of experience.

Before

setting

out

for

the

open

road, you’ll want

get

know your

rig,

Acquaint yourself with the

feel.

handling and

braking

with

the

added weight

the

trailer.

And always

keep

mind

that the

vehicle

you

are

driving

is now

good

deal

longer

and

not nearly as

responsive

your

vehicle

by itself.

Before you start,

check

the

trailer

hitch

and

platform

(and attachments),

safety

chains,

electrical

connector,

lamps,

tires

and

mirror

adjustment.

the

trailer

has

electric

brakes,

start

your

vehicle

and

trailer

moving and

then apply the

trailer

brake

controller

hand to

sure

the

brakes

are

working.

This

lets

you check your

electrical

connection

at the

same

time.

During your trip,

check

occasionally

sure

that the

load

secure,

and

that

the

lamps

and

any trailer

brakes

are

still

working.

Following

Distance

Stay

least

twice

far

behind

the

vehicle

ahead

you

would when driving

your

vehicle

without

trailer.

This

can

help

you

avoid

situations

that

require

heavy

braking

and sudden turns.

Passing

You’ll

need more

passing

distance

ahead

when

you’re

towing

trailer. And, because

you’re

good deal

longer,

you’ll need to go much farther

beyond

the

passed

vehicle

before

you can

return

your

lane.

Backing

Hold

the

bottom

of the

steering

wheel with one hand.

Then,

move

the

trailer

the

left,

just

move

that

hand

the

left.

move

the

trailer

the

right,

move

your

hand

the

right.

Always

back

up slowly

and,if

possible,

have

someone

guide

you.

4-36