1994 PONTIAC FIREBIRD Owners Manual

Features and Controls
x1 000
GAUGES
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.
Speedometer 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 tLirn it back. The
numbers may not be 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.
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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
knob.
Tachometer
The tachometer displays the engine speed in thousands of revolutions per minute
(rpm).
I NOTICE:
I
Do not operate the engine with the
tachometer in the red area, or engine
damage may occur.
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 to cause
an expensive
repair or replacement. Paying attention to
your warning lights and gages could also
save you 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 you know when
there’s a problem with your vehcle. 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 to do about it. Please follow the
manual’s advice. Waiting to do repairs
can be costly
- and even dangerous. So
please get to know your warning lights
and gages. They’re a big help.
89. .
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Features and Controls
Fuel Gage
four fuel gage shows about how much
bel is in your tank. The fuel gage works
mly when the ignition switch is in the
‘Run” position. When the gage pointer
‘Irst indicates
“E,” you still have a little
uel left (about one to two gallons), but
IOU need to get more right away.
3ere are four concerns some owners
lave had about the fuel gage. All these
iituations are normal and do not indicate
:hat anything is wrong with the fuel gage.
,..go
At the gas station, the gas pump shuts
off before the gage reads “E”
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 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 pws working well.
If the warning light comes on, there could
be a 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.
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If the light comes on while you are driving, pull
off the road and stop
carefully.
You may notice that the pedal is
harder to push. Or, the pedal may
go
closer to the floor. It may take longer to
stop. If the light is still on,
or if the
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.) The brake
system warning light will also
come on when you set your parlung
brake, and it will stay on if your parking
brake doesn’t release fully. If
it stays on
after your parking brake
is fully released,
it means
you have a brake problem.
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
Light
With anti-lock, this light will come on
when you start your engine and it will
stay on for three seconds. That’s normal.
If the light doesn’t come on, have it fixed
so it will be ready to warn you if there is a
problem.
If the light flashes when you’re driving,
you don’t have anti-lock brakes and
there’s a problem with your regular
brakes. Pull
off the road and stop
carefully.
You may notice that the pedal is
harder to push. Or, the pedal may go
closer to the floor. It may take longer to
stop. Have the vehicle towed for service.
(See “Towing
Your Vehicle” in the
Index.)
91 ...
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Features and Controls
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ABS
INOP
f the anti-lock brake system warning
ight stays on longer than normal after
rou’ve started your engine, turn the
gnition
off. Or, if the light comes on and
tays on when you’re driving, stop as
oon as possible and turn the ignition
off.
rhen start the engine again to reset the
‘ystem. If the light still stays on, or
:omed on again while you’re driving,
rour Pontiac needs service. If the light is
In but not flashing and the regular brake
,ystem warning light isn’t on, you still
lave brakes, but you don’t have anti-lock
wakes.
TCS
OFF
kaction Control System Warning
,ight (Option)
men the traction control system is off,
he “TCS OFF” light will come on. This
ight will also come on for three seconds
:ach time you start your vehicle as a bulb
:heck and if there’s a system failure. See
‘Traction Control System” in the Index.
The traction control system will shut
lown partially due to brake overheating
)ut the “TCS OFF” light will not come
m. If there is throttle relaxer overheating,
he “TCS
OFF” light will illuminate
md the system will shut down. Once
werything cools
off, the system will
)perate normally again.
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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
or
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 is started.
Sngine Coolant Temperature Gage
’his gage shows the engine coolant
emperature.
If the gage pointer moves
nto the red area, your engine is too, hot!
t means that your engine coolant fias
werheated. If you have been operiting
‘our vehicle under normal driving-
onditions, you should pull off the road,
top your vehicle and turn
off the engine
s soon as possible.
IOT COOLANT CAN BURN
YOU
iADLY!
n “Problems on the Road,” this manual
hows what
to do. See “Engine
Iverheating” in the Index.
93 ...
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Features and Controls
I
Voltmeter
You can read battery voltage on your
voltmeter.
If it reads less than 11 volts or
more than
16 volts while your engine is
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 yellow zone,
your battery may not be able
to power
certain electrical accessories, like
ABS.
... 94
:If this happens, your “ABS INOP’ light
will come on. See “Anti-Lock Brake
System Warning Light” in this
part.)
[f you must drive a short distance with the
voltmeter reading in a warning zone, turn
~ff all your accessories, including your
:omfort control and audio systems.
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 is on, but the engine is not
running, as a check to show you it is
working.
If it doesnot come on at all,
have it fixed right away.
If it stays on, or
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.
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NOTICE:
If you keep driving your vehicle with
this light on, after a while the emis-
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 by your warranty.
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hgine Oil Pressure Gage
‘his gage tells you if there could be a
roblem with your engine oil pressure.
’he engine oil pressure gage shows the
ngine oil pressure in psi (pounds per
quare inch)
in the U.S., or kPa
cilopascals) in Canada, when the engine
; running. Oil pressure should be 20 to
0 psi (140 to 550 kPa). It may vary with
ngine speed, outside temperature and
il viscosity, but readings above the red
rea show the normal operating range.
leadings in the red area tell you that the
ngine is low on oil, or that you might
ave some other oil problem. See “Engint
Iil” in the Index.
NOTICE:
Damage to your engine from
neglected oil problems can be costly
and is not covered by your warqanty.
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