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1997 Pontiac Firebird Owner's Manual - Page 308

1997 Pontiac Firebird Manual

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Cleaning the Outsideof Your Pontiac The paint finish on your vehicle provides beauty, 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 it often with lukewarm or cold water. Your Pontiac has a "basecoat/clearcoat" paint finish. The clearcoat gives more depth and gloss to the colored basecoat. Always use waxes and polishes that are non-abrasive and made for a basecoat/clearcoat paint finish. NOTICE: Machine compounding or aggressive polishing on a basecoat/clearcoat paint finish may dull the finish or leave swirl marks. Foreign materials such as calcium chloride and other salts, ice melting agents, road oil and tar, tree sap, bird droppings, chemicals from industrial chimneys, etc., can damageyour vehicle's finish if they remain on painted surfaces. Wash the vehicle as soon as possible. If necessary, use non-abrasive cleanersthat are marked safe forpainted surfaces to remove foreignmatter. Exterior painted surfaces are subject to aging, weather and chemical fallout that can take their toll over a perioc1 of years. You can help to keep the paint finish looking new by keeping your Pontiac garaged or covered whenever possible. 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 carwashing (mild detergent) soaps. Don't use cleaning agents that are petroleum based, or that 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 an all-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 by hand may be necessary to remove residue fromthe paint finish. You can get GM-approved cleaning products from your dealer. (See "Appearance Care and Materials" in the Index.) 6-63

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

Cleaning

the

Outside

Your Pontiac

The paint finish on your vehicle provides beauty, depth

color,

gloss

retention and durability.

Washing

Your

Vehicle

The

best

way to preserve your

vehicle’s finish is to keep

it clean by washing

often

with lukewarm or cold water.

Don’t wash your vehicle in the direct rays of the sun.

Don’t use strong soaps

chemical detergents. Use

liquid hand, dish or

car washing (mild detergent) soaps.

Don’t use cleaning agents that are petroleum based, or

that contain acid

abrasives. All cleaning agents

should be flushed promptly and not allowed to dry on

the surface,

they

could

stain.

Dry the

finish

with

soft, clean chamois

or an all-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 by

hand may be necessary to remove residue

from

the paint

finish. You can get GM-approved cleaning products

from your dealer. (See “Appearance Care and Materials”

the Index.)

Your Pontiac has

a “basecoat/clearcoat” paint finish.

The clearcoat gives more depth and gloss to

the

colored basecoat. Always use waxes and polishes

that are non-abrasive and made for a basecoat/clearcoat

paint finish.

NOTICE:

Machine

compounding

aggressive

polishing

basecoat/clearcoat

paint

finish

may

dull

the

finish

leave

swirl

marks.

Foreign materials such as calcium chloride and other

salts,

ice

melting agents, road oil and tar, tree sap,

bird

droppings, chemicals from industrial chimneys,

etc.,

can

damage your vehicle’s finish if they remain on

painted surfaces. Wash the vehicle as soon as possible.

necessary,

use

non-abrasive

cleaners that are marked

safe

for painted surfaces to remove

foreign matter.

Exterior painted surfaces are subject

aging, weather

and chemical fallout

that

can

take

their

toll

over

perioc

of years. You can help to keep the paint finish looking

new by keeping your Pontiac

garaged

covered

whenever possible.

6-63