1994 PONTIAC FIREBIRD engine

Features and Controls
When starting your engine in very cold
weather (below 0°F or
- 18”C), do this:
1.
2.
With your foot off the accelerator
pedal, turn the ignition key to “Start”
and hold it there. When the engine
starts, let go of the key. Use the
accelerator pedal to maintain engine
speed, if you have to, until your
engine has
run for a while.
If your engine still won’t start (or
starts but then stops), it could be
flooded with too much gasoline.
Try
pushing your accelerator pedal all the
way to the floor and holding it there
as you hold the key
in “Start” for
about three seconds. If the vehicle
starts briefly but then stops again, do
the same thing, but this time keep the
pedal down for five or six seconds.
This clears
the extra gasoline from
the engine.
NOTICE:
Your engine is designed to work with
the electronics in your vehicle. If you
add electrical parts or accessories,
you could change the way
the fuel
injection system operates. Before
adding electrical equipment, check
with your dealer. If you don’t, your
engine might not perform properly.
If you
ever have to have your vehicle
towed, see the part of this manual
that tells how to do it without
damaging your vehicle. See “Towing
Your Vehicle” in the Index.
Driving through Deep
Standing Water
NOTICE:
If you drive too quickly through deep
puddles or standing water, water can
come in through your engine’s air
intake and badly damage your
engine. If you can’t avoid deep
puddles or standing water, drive
through them very slowly.
Performance Mode Switch
(Option)
This switch lets you change from a
normal driving mode to a performance
mode. When you start the engine, the switch will be in normal mode. For
general driving conditions, use the
normal mode. It will remain
in normal
unless you select the “PERFORM”
feature.
For a firmer shift and increased
performance, you may choose the
“PERFORM, mode. The light in the
center
of the switch will light up when
selected. The switch will then remain in
“PERFORMANCE’ mode until the
engine is shut off, when it will go back to
normal mode.
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TRANSMISSION
INDEEAR@ START
Fecond-Gear Start
‘our vehicle may be equipped with a
econd-Gear Start feature. Press
“2ND
;EAR START” to provide more traction
vhen you are starting on ice or other
lippery surfaces. The transmission will
le in second gear when the vehicle begin;
3 move. After starting in second gear, tht
rehicle will upshift normally.
’his feature
is only for improved traction
then the road surface is slippery and is
lot intended for continuous use. Always
.se “NORMAL” for normal road
onditions.
You may press “2ND GEAR
;TART’’ again to turn off this feature.
Yhenever you start your vehicle, the
ransmission is in the “NORMAL” mode.
Engine Coolant Heater (Engine
Block Heater)
(OPTION)
In very cold weather, 0°F (- 18 “C) or
colder,
the engine coolant heater can help.
You’ll get easier starting and better fuel
economy during engine warm-up.
Usually, the coolant heater should be
plugged in a minimum of four hours prior
to starting your vehicle.
To use the coolant heater:
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the
electrical cord.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt outlet.
NOTICE:
After you’ve used the coolant heater,
be sure to store the cord
as it was
before to keep it away from moving
engine parts. If
you don’t, it could be
damaged.
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Features and Controls
How long should you keep the coolant
heater plugged in? The answer depends
on the weather, the kind
of oil you have,
and some other things. Instead
of trying to
list everything here, we ask that you
contact a Pontiac dealer in the area where
you’ll be parking your vehicle. The dealer
can give you the best advice for that
particular area.
Autamatic Transmission
There are several different positions for
your shift lever.
P (Park)
This locks your rear wheels. It’s the best
position to use when you start your
engine because your vehicle can’t move
easily.
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Ensure the shift lever is fully in “P”
(Park) range before starting the engine.
Your Pontiac has a brake-transmission
shift interlock. You have to fully apply
your regular brakes before you can shift
from
“P” (Park) when the ignition key is
in the “Run” position. If you cannot shift
out of
“P’ (Park), ease pressure on the
shift lever
- push the shift lever all the
way into “P” (Park) and also release the
shift lever button on floor shift console
models as you maintain brake application.
Then move the shift lever into the gear
you wish. (Press the shift lever button
before moving the shift lever on floor
shift console models.) See “Shifting out
of
“P” (Park)” in this part.
R (Reverse)
Use this gear to back up.
NOTICE:
Shifting to “R” (Reverse) while your
vehicle is moving forward could
damage your transmission. Shift to
“R’ only after your vehicle is
stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to
get out of snow, ice or sand without
jamaging your transmission, see “Stuck:
[n Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow, If You’re”
In the Index.
@ N (Neutral)
[n this position, your engine doesn’t
:onnect with the wheels.
To restart when
You’re already moving, use
“N” (Neutral)
mly. Also, use
“N’ when your vehicle is
Jeing towed.
NOTICE:
Damage to your transmission caused
by shifting out of
“P” (Park) or “N”
(Neutral) with the engine racing isn’t
covered by your warranty.
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Features and Controls
@ Automatic Overdrive
This position is for normal driving. If you
need more power far passing, and you’re:
- Going less than about 35 mph
(56 kdh), push your accelerator
pedal about halfway down.
- Going about 35 mph (56 km/h) or
more, push the accelerator all
the way
down.
You’ll shift down to the
next gear and
have more power.
D (Third Gear)
This is like @ , but you never go into
Overdrive.
Here are some times you might choose
“D’ instead of @ :
- When driving on hilly, winding roads
- When towing a trailer, so there is less
shifting between gears
- When going down a steep hill
2 (Second Gear)
This position gives you more power but
lower fuel economy.
You can use “2” on
hills. It can help control your speed as
you go down steep mountain roads, but
then you would also want to use your
brakes off and on.
NOTICE:
Don’t drive in “2” (Second Gear)
for more than
5 miles (8 km), or at
speeds over
55 mph (88 kmh), or
you can damage your transmission.
Use
(EJ or “D” as much as possible.
Don’t shift into
“2” unless you
are going slower than
65 mph
( 105 km/h), or you can damage
your engine.
1 (First Gear)
This position gives you even more power
(but lower fuel economy) than
“2.” You
can use it on very steep hills, or in deep
snow or mud. If the selector lever is put
in
“I,” the transmission won’t shift into
first gear until fhe vehicle is going slowly
enough.
NOTICE:
If your rear wheels can’t rotate, don’t
try to drive. This might happen if you
were stuck in very deep sand or mud
or were up against a solid object.
You
could damage your transmission.
Also, if you stop when going uphill,
don’t hold your vehicle there with
only the accelerator pedal. This could overheat and damage the transmission. Use your brakes or
shift into
“P” (Park) to hold your
vehicle in position on a hill.
Maximum engine speed is limited
to
protect driveline components from improper operation.
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1 3 5
2
4 R
Manual Transmission
We-Speed
’his is your shift pattern. Here’s how to
perate your transmission:
1 1 (First Gear) - Press the clutch
pedal and shift into
“ 1 .” Then, slowly
let up on the clutch pedal as you
press the accelerator pedal.
You can shift into
“1” when you’re
going less than
20 mph (32 km/h). If
you’ve come to a complete stop and
it’s hard to shift into
“1,” put the shift
lever in “Neutral” and let up on the
clutch. Press the clutch pedal back
down. Then shift into
“1.”
2 (Second Gear) - Press the clutch
pedal as you let up on the accelerator
pedal and shift into
“2.” Then, slowly
let up
on the clutch pedal as you
press the accelerator pedal.
3,4 and 5 (Third, Fourth and Fifth
Gears)
- Shift into “3,” “4” and “5”
the same way you do for “2.” Slowly
let up on the clutch pedal as you press
the accelerator pedal.
To Stop - Let up on the accelerator
pedal and press the brake pedal. Just
before the vehicle stops, press the
clutch pedal and the brake pedal, and
shift to “Neutral.”
Neutral - Use this position when
you start or idle your engine.
R (Reverse) - To back up, press
down
the clutch pedal and shift into
“R.” Let up on the clutch pedal slowly
while pressing
the accelerator pedal.
I NOTICE:
Shift to “R” (Reverse) only after
your vehicle
is stopped. Shifting to
“R” (Reverse) while your vehicle
is moving could damage your
transmission.
Also, use Reverse, along with the parking
brake, for parking your vehicle.
11.. I. *i
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Features and Controls
Six-Speed ,-
This is your shift pattern. Here’s how to
operate your transmission:
0 1 (First Gear) - Press the clutch
pedal and shift into
“1.” Then, slowly
let up on the clutch pedal as you
press the accelerator pedal.
You can shift into “1” when you’re
going less than
20 mph (30 km/h). If
you’ve come to a complete stop and
it’s hard to shift into
“1,” put the shift
lever in “Neutral” and let up on
the
clutch. Press the clutch pedal back
down. Then shift into
“1.”
2 (Second Gear) - Press the clutch
pedal as you let up on the accelerator
pedal and shift into
“2.” Then, slowly
let up
on the clutch pedal as you
press the accelerator pedal.
3,4,5 and 6 (Third, Fourth, Fifth
and
Sixth Gears) - Shift into “3,”
“4,” “5” and “6” the same way you do
for
“2.” Slowly let up on the clutch
pedal as
you press the accelerator
pedal.
To Stop - Let up on the accelerator
pedal and press the brake pedal. Just
before the vehicle stops, press the
clutch pedal and the brake pedal,
and shift to “Neutral.”
Neutral - Use this position when
you start or idle your engine.
R (Reverse) - To back up, press
down the clutch pedal and shift into
“R.” Let up on the clutch pedal slowly
while pressing the accelerator pedal.
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Your six-speed manual transmission
has a feature that allows you to safely
shift into
“R’ (Reverse) while the vehicle
is rolling (at less than 3 mph). You will be
“locked-out” if you try to shift into “R”
(Reverse) while your vehicle is’ moving
faster than
3 mph.
If you have turned your ignition off and
wish to park your vehicle in Reverse, you
will have to move the shift lever quickly
to the right, “crashing” through the high
load spring and then into gear.
SKIP
SHIFT
;kip Shift Light (5.7L LT1 Engine)
Yhen this light comes on, you can only
hift from
“1” (First) to “4” (Fourth) gear
nstead of “1” (First) to “2” (Second)
gar. This helps you to get
the best
lossible fuel economy.
’his light will come on under these
onditions:
The engine coolant temperature is greater than 170°F (77”C),
You are going
15-20 mph
(24-32
km/h), and
You are
at 35% throttle or less. When this
light
is on, the gear shift lever
will let you shift from
“1” (First) gear to
“4”(Fourth) gears only. Once you are
in
“4” (Fourth) gear, you can press the
clutch again and shift into another gear.
Follow the shift speeds in this chart when
the
“SKIP SHIFT” light is on.
Computer Aided Manual Transmission
Shift Speeds:
1st to 4th. . , . , . . 15 mph (24 km/h)
4th to 5th ...... 25 mph (40 km/h)*
5th
to 6th ...... 40 mph (64 km/h)**
Each time you come to
a stop, the
engine’s Electronic Control Module
(EGM) determines when to activate the
“SKIP SHIFT” upshift system. Use
“2”
(Second) gear only when you accelerate
very quickly from’a stop.
You can then
follow the full gear shift pattern.
*30 mph (48 km/h) when accelerating
to highway speeds.
**45 mph (72 km/h) when accelerating
to highway
speeds.
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