1994 PONTIAC FIREBIRD check oil

Service and Appearance Care
To Check Engine Oil
(3.4L L32 (Code S) Engine)
Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a
paper towel or cloth, then push it back
in
all the way. Remove it again, keeping the
tip lower, and check the level.
To Check Engine Oil
(5.7L LT1 (Code P) Engine)
Pull out the dipstick slightly. Pinch the
end of the dipstick tube as you remove
the dipstick to wipe the oil from it. Then
push it all the way back in. Now remove
it without pinching the tube, keeping the
tip lower.
3.4L L32 (Code S)
When to Add Oil:
If the oil is at or below the “ADD’ line,
then you’ll need to add some oil. But
you must use the right kind. This section
explains what kind of oil to use. For
crankcase capacity, see “Capacities and Specifications” in the Index.
. . .I92
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Service and Appearance Care
Automatic Transmission Fluid
When to Check and Change:
A good time to check your automatic
transmission fluid level
is when the
engine oil is changed. Refer to the
Maintenance Schedule to determine when
to change your fluid. See “Scheduled
Maintenance Services” in the Index.
How to Check:
Because this operation can be a little
difficult, you may choose to have this
done at a Pontiac dealership Service
Department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow all
the instructions here, or
you could get a
false reading on the dipstick.
Too much or too little fluid can
damage your transmission. Too much
can mean that some of the fluid could
come out and fall on hot engine parts
or exhaust system, starting a fire. Be
sure to get an accurate reading
if you
check your transmission fluid. Wait
at least 30 minutes before checking
the transmission fluid level if you have
been driving:
When outside temperatures are above
At high speed for quite a while.
In heavy traffic - especially in hot
90°F (32°C).
weather.
While pulling a trailer.
To get the right reading, the fluid should
be at normal operating temperature,
which is 180°F to 200°F (82°C to 93°C).
To check transmission fluid hot: Get
the vehicle warmed up by driving
about
15 miles (24 km) when outside
temperatures
are above 50°F ( 10°C).
If it’s colder than 50°F ( lO”C), drive
the vehicle in
“D’ (Third Gear) until the
engine temperature gage moves and then
remains steady for
ten minutes. Then
follow the hot check procedures.
To check transmission fluid cold: A cold
check is made after the vehicle has been
sitting for eight hours or more with the
engine
off and is used only as a reference.
Let the engine run at idle for five minutes
if outside temperatures are 50°F
(10°C)
or more. If it’s colder than 50°F (lO°C),
you may have to idle the engine longer.
Should the fluid level be low during a
cold check, you must perform a hot check
before adding fluid. This will give you a
more accurate reading of the fluid level.
To check the fluid hot or cold:
0
Park your vehicle on a level place.
With the parking brake applied, place
the shift lever
in “P” (Park).
With your foot on the brake pedal,
move the shift lever through each gear
range, pausing for about three seconds
in each range. Then, position the shift
lever in “P” (Park).
Let the engine
run at idle for three
minutes or more.
. . .I98
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Service and Appearanc’e Care
The proper coolant for your Pontiac will:
0
Give freezing protection down to
-34°F (-37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 262°F
(128°C)
.
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine
temperature.
Let the warning lights work as
they
should.
What to Use:
Use a mixture of one-half clean water
(preferably distilled) and one-half
antifreeze that meets
“GM Specification
1825M,” which won’t damage aluminum
parts. You can also use a recycled coolant
conforming to GM Specification 1825M
with a complete coolant flush and refill. If
you use this mixture, you don’t need to
add anything else.
NOTICE:
If you use an improper coolant mix,
your engine could overheat and be
badly damaged. The repair cost wouldn’t be covered by your war-
ranty. Too much water in the mix can
freeze and crack the engine, radiator,
heater core and other parts.
Adding Coolant
To Check Coolant: When your engine is
cold, check the dipstick on the cap of the
coolant recovery tank. The coolant level should be “COLD,” or a little higher.
When your engine is warm, the level on
the dipstick should be up to
“HOT,” or a
little higher.
. . .202
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Service and Appearance Care
Crankcase
VIN Engine Code S .................................... 4.0 qt. (3.8 L)**
Without Filter Change
................................ 4.0 qt. (3.8 L)**
With Filter Change ................................... 5.0 qt. (4.7 L)**
Fuel Tank ........................................... 15.5 gal. (58.7 L)
Five-Speed
........................................... 5.9 pt. (2.8 L)*
Six-Speed
............................................ 8.0 pt. (3.8 L)*
Rear Axle Lubricant
...................................... 3.5 pt. (1.7L)
VIN Engine Code
P
Manual
Transmission
Vehicle Dimensions
Tread Wheelbase
........................................... 101.1 I‘ (2 566 mm)
Front
.............................................. .60.7“ ( 1 542 mm)
Rear
.............................................. .60.6” (1 540 mm)
Length
............................................... 193.2“ (4 908 mm)
Firebird and Formula
................................. 195.6” (4 968 mm)
Trans Am .......................................... 197.0” (5 005 mm)
Width
............................................... 74.5” (1 893 mm)
Coupe
........................................... 52.0” (1 322 mm)
Convertible ....................................... .52.7” ( 1 340 mm)
Coupe
........................................... .51.7” (1 312 mm)
Convertible
....................................... .52.4“ (1 331 mm)
Height
Firebird and Formula
Trans Am
*Recheck fluid level after filling. See “ManualTransmission Fluid” in the Index.
**Recheck oil level after filling. See “Engine Oil” in the Index.
. . -236
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I IMPORTANT
I
KEEP THE ENGINE OIL
AT THE PROPER
LEVEL AND CHANGE AS
RECOMMENDED
This part covers the
maintenance required for your
Pontiac. Your vehicle needs
these services
to retain its
safety, dependability and
emission control performance.
Part 7
Maintenance Schedule
Section
Introduction: A Word about Maintenance ... . . 240
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
..
Your Vehicle and the Environment ...... .......... 240
How This Part
Is Organized .......... ....... . . 240
Scheduled Maintenance Services .... ................. 242
Using
Your Maintenance Schedules ....................... 241
Selecting the Right Schedule
................ ..... 241
Schedule1
............................... . . 242
Schedule11
................................. . . 244
Explanation
of Scheduled Maintenance Services .......... 246
Owner Checksand Services ................................ 248
AtEachFuelFill
....................................... 248
At Least Once
a Month .................................. 248
At Least Twice a Year
................... ......... 248
At Least Once
a Year ............... .., . . 249
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants ... ................ 253
Maintenance Record ...................................... 255
Periodic Maintenance Inspections .... ... ..... 251
I-
I- -
Have you purchased the GM Protection Plan? The Plan
supplements
your new car warranties.
See
your GM dealer for details.
239. ..
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Maintenance Schedule
Section A: Scheduled Maintenance Services (Cont.)
Explanation of Scheduled
Maintenance Services
Following are explanations of the services
listed in Schedule I and Schedule
II.
The proper fluids and lubricants to use are
listed in Section
D. Make sure whoever
services your vehicle uses these. All parts
should be replaced and all necessary
repairs done before you or anyone else
drives the vehicle.
NOTE: To determine your engine’s
displacement and code, see
“Engine Identification” in the
Index.
ITEM
NO. SERVICE
1 Engine Oil and Filter Change* -
Always use SH or SG Energy
Conserving
I1 oils of proper
viscosity. The “SH” or “SG”
designation may be shown alone
or in combination with others,
such as “SH/CD,”
“SH, SG,
CD,” “SG/CD,” etc. To deter-
mine the preferred viscosity for
your vehicle’s engine (e.g., SAE
ITEM
NO.
2
3
4
SERVICE
5W-30 or SAE 10W-30), see
“Engine Oil” in the Index.
Chassis Lubrication
- Lubricate
the suspension and steering
linkage. Lubricate the
transmission
shift linkage.
Tire and Wheel Rotation and
InsDection
- For proper wear
and maximum tire life, rotate
your tires following the
instructions in this manual. See
“Tires, Inspection and Rotation”
in the Index. Check the tires for
uneven wear or damage. If you
see irregular or premature wear,
check the wheel alignment.
Check for damaged wheels also.
Engine Accessorv Drive Belt!s)
InsDection
- Inspect the belt(s)
for cracks, fraying, wear and
proper tension. Replace as
needed. (Belts can have many small cracks in individual ribs
without affecting performance.)
ITEM
NO. SERVICE
5 Cooling: System Service* -
Drain, flush and refill the system
with new or approved recycled
coolant conforming to GM
Specification 1825M. Keep
coolant at the proper mixture as specified. See “Coolant”
in the
Index. This provides proper
freeze and boil protection, corrosion inhibitor level and
maintains proper engine operating temperature.
Inspect hoses and replace if they
are cracked, swollen or deterior-
ated. Tighten screw-type hose
clamps. Clean the outside of the
radiator and air conditioning
condenser. Wash the pressure cap and neck.
To help ensure proper operation,
we recommend a pressure test of
both the cooling system and the
pressure cap.
* An Emission Control Service.
. . .246
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Maintenance Schedule
Section B: Owner Checks and Services
Listed below are owner checks and services which should be performed at the intervals specified to help ensure the saf\
ety,
dependability and emission control performance of your vehicle. Be sure any necessary repairs are completed at once.
Whenever any fluids or lubricants are added
to your vehicle, make sure they are the proper ones, as shown in Section D.
At Each Fuel Fill (It is important for you or a service station attendant to perform these underhood checks at each fuel fill.)
CHECK
OR SERVICE
Engine Oil Level
Engine Coolant Level
Windshield Washer
Fluid Level
At least Once a Month
WHAT TO DO
Check the engine oil level and add the proper oil if necessary. See “Engine Oil” in the Index for
further details.
Check the engine coolant level and add the proper coolant mix if necessary. See “Coolant” in
the Index for further details.
Check the windshield washer fluid level in the windshield washer tank and add the proper fluid if
necessary. See “Windshield Washer Fluid” in the Index for further details.
CHECK
OR SERVICE ~~
Tire Inflation
Cassette Deck
WHAT TO DO
Check tire inflation. Make sure they are inflated to the pressures specified on the Tire-Loading
Information label located on the rear edge of the driver’s door. See “Tires”
in the Index for
further details.
Clean cassette deck. Cleaning should be done every
15 hours of tape play. See “Audio Systems”
in the Index for further details.
I At Least Twice a Year ___ ~~~ ~ ~
CHECK
OR SERVICE WHAT TO DO
Hydraulic Clutch
loss in
this system could indicate a problem. Have the system inspected and repaired at once.
System Inspection Check
the fluid level
in the clutch reservoir. See “Hydraulic Clutch Fluid” in the Index. A fluid
. . .248
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Front Fuel
......................... 185
Towing Hook-ups
............. 158
Fuel Gage
..................... 90
Fuels
in Foreign Countries ........ 186
Fully Articulating Sport Seat
...... 9
Fuse Block. Main
............... 230
Fuse Block. Underhood
.......... 231
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
....... 229
Gages Engine Coolant Temperature
.... 93
Engine Oil Pressure ........... 95
Fuel
....................... 90
Warning Lights and Indicators
... 89
Gasolines for Cleaner
Air ........ 186
Glass
......................... 224
GloveBox
.................... 83
GM Participation in BBB Auto Line
-
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Program
.................. 261
Halogen Bulbs
............... 209
Hatch Release
.................. 47
Hatch Release. Remote
.......... 47
Hazard Warning Flashers
......... 152
Head Restraints
................ 12
Headlight Doors
................ 76
Headlight High/Low Beam
....... 70
Heater Controls
................ 104
... 272
Headlights .................... 209 Heater.
Engine Coolant (Block)
.... 56
Heating
....................... 104
Highway Hypnosis
.............. 140
Hill and Mountain Roads
......... 141
Hitches
....................... 147
Hood Release
.................. 188
Hood. Checking Things under the
. . 188
Kook.Ups. Front Towing
......... 158
Kook.Ups. Rear Towing
......... 160
Horn ......................... 68
How to Add Coolant to the
Coolant Recovery Tank
. . . . 164
How to Add Coolant to the
Radiator
................ .165. 167
Hydraulic Clutch
............... 201
Hydroplaning
.................. 138
Hypnosis. Highway
............. 140
Identification Number. Vehicle
.... 228
Identification. Engine
............ 228
If a Tire Goes Flat
.............. 170
If You’re Stuck: In Sand. Mud. Ice
or Snow
.................... 180
Ignition Switch
................. 51
Inflatable Restraint System.
Supplemental
................ 23
Inflation
- Tire Pressure .......... 216
Inside Daymight Rearview
Mirror
...................... 79
Instrument Cluster
.............. 88
Instrument Panel
............. 87 Instrument Panel. Cleaning the
Topof
..................... 223
[nterior Lights
................. 78
Jump Starting
............... 153
Key Release Button
. .
Keys .............
Label. Service Parts
Lane Change Indicator.
Lap-Shoulder Belt (Safety Belts)
. e . 19
Larger Children (Safety Belts)
. . . e 38
Leaving Your Vehicle with the
Identification
...........
Turn Signal and .............. 69
Leaving Your Vehicle
............ 44
Engine Running
.............. 64
Lighter. Ashtray and ............. 85
Lighter. Cigarette
............... 85
Lights Air Bag Readiness
.... ..... 24
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
.................. 91
Brake System Warning ......... 90
Bulb Replacement
.......... 232
Daytime Running
............. 77
Front Map
................... 79
Check Gages
........ 96
Courtesy
............ 78
Fog ........................ 78
... 51
42
... 228
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