1994 PONTIAC FIREBIRD tires

Whatever the condition - smooth ice,
packed, blowing or loose snow
- drive
with caution. If you have traction control,
keep the system on. It will improve your
ability to accelerate when driving on a
slippery road. Even though your vehicle
has a traction control system, you’ll want
to slow down and adjust your driving to
the road conditions. See “Traction
Control System’’ in the Index. If you
don’t have the traction control
system, accelerate gently. Try not to break
the fragile traction. If you accelerate too
fast, the drive wheels will spin and polish
the surface under the tires even more.
Your anti-lock brakes improve your
ability to make a hard stop on a slippery
road. Even though you have the anti-lock
braking system, you’ll want to begin
stopping sooner than you would
on dry
pavement. See “Anti-Lock” in the Index.
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0
Allow greater following distance on
any slippery road.
Watch for slippery spots. The road
might be fine until you hit a spot that’s
covered with ice. On an otherwise
clear road, ice patches may appear in
shaded areas where the sun can’t
reach: around clumps of trees, behind
buildings, or under bridges.
Sometimes the surface of a curve or
an overpass may remain icy when the
surrounding roads are clear. If
you
see a patch of ice ahead of you, brake
before you are on it. Try not to brake
while you’re actually on the ice, and
avoid sudden steering maneuvers.
If You’re Caught in a Blizzard
If you are stopped by heavy snow, you
could be
in a serious situation. You should
probably stay with your vehicle unless
you know for sure that
you are near help
and you can hike through the snow. Here
are some things to do
to summon help and
keep yourself and your passengers safe:
Turn on your hazard flashers. Tie a red
cloth to your vehicle to alert police that
you’ve been stopped by the snow. Put
on
extra clothing or wrap a blanket around
you. If
you have no blankets or extra
clothing, make body insulators from
newspapers, burlap bags, rags, floor mats
- anything you can wrap around yourself
or tuck under your clothing to keep warm.
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NOTICE:
Pulling a trailer improperly can
damage your vehicle and result in
costly repairs not covered by your
warranty.
To pull a trailer correctly,
follow the advice in this section, and
see your Pontiac dealer for important
information about towing a trailer
with your vehicle.
Your vehicle can tow a trailer if it is
equipped with the proper trailer towing
equipment. To identify what the vehicle
trailering capacity is for your vehicle, you
should read the information in “Weight
of the Trailer” that appears later in this
section. But trailering is different than just
driving your vehicle by itself. Trailering
means changes
in handling, durability,
and fuel economy. Successful, safe
trailering takes correct equipment, and
it has to be used properly.
That’s the reason for this section. In it are
many time-tested, important trailering
tips and safety rules. Many of these are
important for your safety and that of your
passengers.
So please read this section
carefully before you pull a trailer. Load-pulling components such
as the
engine, transmission, rear axle, wheel
assemblies, and tires are forced to work
harder against the drag of the added
weight, The engine is required to operate
at relatively higher speeds and under
greater loads, generating extra heat.
What’s more, the trailer adds considerably
to wind resistance, increasing the pulling
requirements.
If You Do Decide to Pull a Trailer
If you do, here are some important points.
0 There are many different laws,
including speed limit restrictions,
having to do with trailering. Make
sure your rig will be legal, not only
where you live but also where you’ll
be driving.
A good source for this
information can be state or provincial
police.
0 Consider using a sway control. You
can ask a hitch dealer about sway
controls.
0 Don’t tow a trailer at all during the
first 1,000 miles (1 600 km) your
new vehicle is driven. Your engine,
axle or other parts could be damaged.
(800 km) that you tow a trailer, don’t
drive over
50 mph (SO h/h) and don’t
make starts at full throttle. This heips
your engine and other parts of your
vehicle wear in at the heavier loads.
Obey speed limit restrictions when
towing a trailer. Don’t drive faster
than the maximum posted speed for
trailers (or no more than
55 mph
(90 km/h)) to save wear on your
vehicle’s parts.
Three important considerations have to do
with weight:
., )I
Weight of the .Trailer $:
How heavy can a trailer safelyabe?
It should never weigh more th&
1,500 pounds (680 kg) under nQrmal
driving conditions. It should n&er
weigh more than
1,000 pounds
(450 kg) when driven on long grades
at high ambient temperatures. But
even that can be too heavy.
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Your Driving and the
It depends on how you plan to use
your rig. For example, speed, altitude,
road grades, outside temperature and
how much your vehicle is used to pull
a trailer are all important. And, it can
also depend on any special equipment
that you have on your vehicle.
You can ask your dealer for our
trailering information or advice, or
you can write
us at:
Pontiac Division Customer Assistance Center
One Pontiac Plaza
Pontiac, MI 48340-2952
General Motors of Canada Limited
Customer Assistance Center
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario L1
H 8P7
In Canada, write to:
. . .I46
Road
A B
Weight of the Trailer Tongue
The tongue load (A) of any trailer is
an important weight to measure
because it affects the total capacity
weight of your vehicle. The capacity
weight includes the curb weight of the
vehicle, any cargo you may carry in it
and the people who will be riding in
the vehicle. And if you will tow a
trailer, you must subtract the tongue
load from your vehlcle’s capacity
weight because your vehicle will be
carrying that weight, too. See
“Loading Your Vehicle” in the Index
for more information about your
vehicle’s maximum load capacity.
If you’re using a “dead-weight”
hitch, the trailer tongue (A) should weight
10% of the total loaded
trailer weight (B). If you have a
“weight-distributing” hitch, the
trailer tongue (A) should weigh 12%
of the total loaded trailer weight (B).
After you’ve loaded your trailer, weigh
the trailer and then the tongue,
separately, to see if the weights are
proper. If they aren’t, you may be able
to get them right simply by moving
some items around in the trailer.
Total Weight on Your Vehicle’s Tires
Be sure your vehicle’s tires are
inflated to the limit for cold tires.
You’ll find these numbers
on the
Certification label at the rear edge of
the driver’s door or see “Loading
Your Vehicle
” in the Index. Then be
sure you don’t go over the
GVW limit
for your vehicle.
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Hitches
It’s important to have the correct hitch
equipment. Crosswinds, large trucks
going by, and rough roads are a few
reasons why you’ll need the right hitch.
Here are some rules to follow:
0
0
Will you have to make any holes in
the body of your vehicle when you
install a trailer hitch? If you do, then
be sure to seal the holes later when
you remove the hitch. If you don’t
seal them, deadly carbon monoxide
(CO) from your exhaust can get into
your vehicle (see “Carbon Monoxide”
in the Index). Dirt and water can,
too.
The bumpers on your vehicle are not
intended for hitches.
Do not attach
rental hitches or other bumper-type
hitches to them. Use only a
frame-mounted hitch that does not
attach to the bumper.
Safety Chains
You should always attach chains between
your vehicle and your trailer. Cross the
safety chains under the tongue of the
trailer
so that the tongue will not drop to
the road if it becomes separated from the
hitch. Instructions about safety chains
may be provided by the hitch manufacturer or
by the trailer
, 1.
manufacturer. Follow the manufacturer’s
recommendation for attaching safety
chains. Always leave just enough slack
so
you can turn with your rig. And, never
allow safety chains to drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
If your trailer weighs more than 1,000
pounds (450 kg) loaded, then it needs its
own brakes
- and they must be adequate.
Be sure to read and follow the instructions
for the trailer brakes
so you’ll be able to
install, adjust and maintain them properly.
Because you have anti-lock brakes, do not
try to tap into your vehicle’s brake
system. If
YOU do, both brake systems
won’t work well, or at all.
Driving with a Trailer
Towing a trailer requires a certain amount
of experience. Before setting out for the
open road, you’ll want to get 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 that ’the vehicle you are driving is
now a good deal longer and not nearly as
responsive
as your vehicle is by itself. Before you
start, check the trailer hitch
and platform, safety chains, electrical
connector, lights, tires and mirror
adjustment. If
the trailer has electric
brakes,
start your vehicle and trailer
moving and then apply the trailer brake
controller by hand to be sure the brakes
are working. This lets you check your
electrical connection at the same time.
During your trip, check occasionally to
be sure that the load is secure,. and that
the lights and any trailer brakes are still
working.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the
vehicle ahead as you would when driving
your vehicle without a trailer.,,This can
help
you avoid situations that’.require
heavy braking and sudden turns.
Passing
You’ll need more passing distance up
ahead when you’re towing a trailer. And,
because you’re a good deal longer, you’ll
need to go much farther beyond the
passed vehicle before you can return to
your lane.
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Problems on the Road
9.
IO.
Attach the cable at least 18 inches
(45 cm) away from the dead battery,
but not near engine parts that move.
The electrical connection is just as
good there, but the chance of sparks
getting back to the battery is much
less.
Now start the vehicle with the good
battery and run the engine for a
while.
11.
12.
Try to start the vehicle with the dead
battery.
If it won't start after a few tries, it
probably needs service.
Remove the cables in reverse order
to prevent electrical shorting. Take
care that they don't touch each other
or any other metal.
A. Heavy Metal Engine Part
B. Good Battery
C. Dead Battery
I I
T.
tc
U!
(1
tc
If
ac
ac
tl
nl
B
h,
n
1 Towing Your Vehicle
ry to have a GM dealer or a professional
,wing service tow your Pontiac. The
sua1 towing equipment is a sling-type
4) or a wheel-lift (B) or car carrier (C)
)w truck.
' your vehicle has been changed or
hodified since it was factory-new by
iding aftermarket items like fog lamps,
xo skirting, or special tires and wheels,
lese instructions and illustrations may
ot be correct.
'efore you do anything, turn on the
azard warning flashers.
. . .I56
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Problems on the Road
9. Shut the engine off and replace the
pressure cap. Be sure the arrows
on
the cap line up like this.
I
0. Then fill the coolant recovery tank to
;or a complete drain, flush and refill, see
‘our Pontiac dealer or a Pontiac Firebird
Iervice Manual. To purchase a service
nanual, see “Service Publications’’ in
he Index. the proper
level.
If a Tire Goes Flat
[t’s unusual for a tire to “blow out” while
you’re driving, especially
if you maintain
your tires properly. If air goes out of a
;ire, it’s much more likely to leak out
jlowly. But if you should ever have a
‘blowout,” here are a few tips about what
:o expect and what to do:
[fa front tire fails, the
flat tire will create
3 drag that pulls the vehicle toward that
side. Take your foot off the accelerator
pedal and grip the steering wheel firmly.
Steer to maintain lane position,
then
gently brake to a stop well out of the
traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve,
acts much like a
slud and may require the
same correction you’d use in a skid. In
any rear blowout, remove your foot from
the accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle
under control by steering the way you
want the vehicle to go.
It may be very
bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer.
Gently brake to a stop, well
off the road
if possible.
[f a tire goes flat, the next section shows
how to use your jacking equipment to
change a flat tire safely.
. . .I70
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Problems on the Road
Compact Spare Tire
Although the compact spare was fully
inflated when your vehicle was new, it
can lose air after a time. Check the
inflation pressure regularly. It should be
60 psi (420 kPa). After installing the
compact spare on your vehicle, you
should stop as soon as possible and make
sure your spare tire is correctly inflated.
The compact spare is made to perform
well at posted speed limits for distances
up to
3,000 miles (5 000 km), so you can
finish your trip and have your full-size
tire repaired or replaced where you want.
Of course, it’s best to replace your spare
with
a full-size tire as soon as you can.
Your spare will last longer and be in
good shape in case you need it again.
. . .I80
NOTICE:
If the compact spare is used as a rear
tire, do not drive faster than
50 mph
(80 km/h). Damage to the rear axle
may occur if the compact spare
is
driven faster than 50 mph (80 km/h).
This speed limitation does not apply
when the compact spare is used as a
front tire.
NOTICE:
Don’t take your compact spare
through an automatic car wash with
guide rails. The compact spare can
get caught on the rails. That can
damage the tire and wheel, and
maybe other parts of your vehicle.
Don’t use your compact spare on some
other vehicle.
And don’t mix your compact spare or
wheel with other wheels or tires. They
won’t fit. Keep your spare and its wheel
together.
NOTICE:
Tire chains won’t fit your compact
spare. Using them will damage your
vehicle and destroy the chains too.
Don’t use tire chains on your
compact spare.
H Zf You’re Stuck: Zn
Sand, Mud, Zce or
Snow
What you don’t want to do when your
vehicle is stuck is to spin your wheels.
The method known as “rocking” can hell
you get out when you’re stuck, but you
must use caution.
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NOTICE:
Spinning your wheels can destroy
parts of your vehicle as well as the
tires.
If you spin the wheels too fast
while shifting your transmission back
and forth, you can destroy your trans-
mission.
Rocking your vehicle to get it out:
First, turn your steering wheel left and
right. That will clear the area around your
front wheels. If your vehicle has traction
control, you should
turn the system off.
(See “Traction Control System” in the
Index.) Then shift back and forth’ between
“R’ (Reverse) and a forward gear (or with
a manual transmission, between First or
Second gear and Reverse), spinning the
wheels as little as possible. Release the
accelerator pedal while you shift, and
press lightly on the accelerator pedal
when the transmission is in gear.
If that
doesn’t get you out after a few tries,
you
may need to be towed out. If you:do need
to be towed out, see “Towing
Yow
Vehicle” in the Index. .’
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