1994 PONTIAC FIREBIRD Owners Manual

Problems on the Road
1. You can remove the radiator
pressure cap when the cooling system
including the radiator pressure cap
and upper radiator hose, is
no longer
hot.
Turn the pressure cap slowly to
the left until it first stops. (Don? pres5
down while turning
the pressure cap.)
If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop
A hiss means there is still some
pressure left.
2. Then keeb turning the pressure cap,
but now push down
as you turn it.
Remove the pressure cap.
5. After the engine cools, open the air
bleed valves on the heater return hose
and water pump inlet.
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4. Fill with the proper mix. Add coolant
until you see a steady stream of
coolant coming from the bleed valves.
5. Close the bleed valves.
i. Continue to fill the radiator up to the *
base of the filler neck.
’. Rinse or wipe the spilled coolant from
the engine and compartment.
I. Start the engine and allow it to run in
idle
for approximately four minutes.
By this time, the coolant level inside
the radiator will be lower. Add more
of the proper mix through the filler
neck until the level reaches the bdse
of the filler neck.
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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.
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Changing a FIat Tire
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and
wheel damage by driving s’lowly to a level
place. Turn on your hazard warning
flashers. The
following steps will tell you how to
use the jack and change a tire.
The equipment you’ll need is
in the rear
area.
First you must remove the clcse-out
panel. See “Close-Out Panel” in the
Index.
On convertible models, you must also
remove the trunk access panel. It’s at the
upper back of the trunk. Turn the two
screw knobs under the trunk
edge a
quarter
turn counterclockwise to remove
lhe panel.
Find the plastic screw heads in
the trim
?anel over the spare tire. Use a coin or a
tey to turn the screw heads until the slots
mint front and back. Lift the
trim panel
md move it out
of the way.
I
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Problems on the Road
If you have speakers in the trim panel,
you will have to disconnect the speaker
wire before completely removing the
trim panel.
:o remove the jack and wheel wrench,
Dosen and remove the bolt and remove
he plastic cover. Remove the wing nut and adapter and
pull out the spare.
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Start with thejack (A) and wheel wrench
(B).
The jack has a bolt at the end. Attach the
wheel wrench to the jack bolt.
Turn the wheel wrench to the right to
raise the lift head
a little.
If your wheel has a bolt-on center cap,
loosen the plastic caps using the wheel
wrench.
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Problems on the Road
:hen pry off the center cap with the
vheel wrench. [f your vehicle has optional alloy wheels,
:ach wheel may have one locknut in place
If the standard wheel nut. A special
wheel lock key (removal tool)
and
.nstructions are located in the center
:onsole. Attach the wheel lock key to the
socket
of the wheel wrench. Remove the
locking wheel nut by turning
:ounterclockwise. Using the wheel wrench, loosen all the
wheel nuts. Don’t remove them yet.
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'osition the jack under the vehicle. There
; a notch in the vehicle's rocker flange
n the coupe model. Raise the jack head
ntil it fits firmly into the notch nearest
le flat tire.
In convertible models, place the jack in
similar location. Stay away
from the moldings or fender
flanges
to avoid damaging them. Raising
your vehicle with
the jack
improperly positioned will damage
the vehicle or may allow the-vehicle
to fall
off the jack. Be sure to:' fit
the jack lift head into
the proper
location before raising your vehicle.
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