1994 PONTIAC FIREBIRD Owners Manual

Features and Controls
Shifting into P (Park)
(AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION)
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your
right foot and set the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever into T“ (Park)
position like this:
Hold in the button on the lever,
and push the lever all the way
toward the front of your vehicle.
3. Move the ignition key to “LOCK.”
4. Remove the key and take it with you.
If you can walk away from your
vehicle with the ignition key in your
hand, your vehicle is in
“P’ (Park).
Leaving Your Vehicle with the
Engine Running
(AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION)
If you have to leave your vehicle with the
engine running, be sure your vehicle is
in
“P’ (Park) and your parking brake is
firmly set before you leave it. After
you’ve moved the shift lever into the
“P’
(Park) position, hold the regular brake
pedal down. Then, see if you can move
the shift lever away from
“P’ (Park)
without first pushing the button. If you
can, it means that the shift lever wasn’t
fully locked into
“P” (Park).
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Torque Lock
(AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION)
If you are parking on a hill and you don’t
shift your transmission into “P” (Park)
properly, the weight of the vehicle may
put too much force on the parking pawl in
the transmission. You may find it difficult
to pull the shift lever out of “P” (Park)
This is called “torque lock.” To prevent
torque lock, set the parking brake and
then shift into “P’7 (Park) properly before
you leave the driver’s Seat. To find out
how, see “Shifting Into “P” (Park)” in
the Index.
When you are ready to drive, move the
shift lever out of
“P” (Park) BEFORE you
release the parking brake.
If “torque lock” does occur, you may
need to have another vehicle push yours
a little uphill to take some of the pressure
from the transmission,
so you can pull the
shift lever out of “P” (Park).
Shifting out of P (Park)
(AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION)
Your Pontiac has a brake-transmission
shift interlock. You have to fully apply
your regular brake before you can shift
from “P” (Park) when the ignition is in
the “Run” position. See “Automatic
Transmission” in the Index.
If you cannot shift out of
“F”’ (Park), ease
pressure on the shift lever
- push the
shift lever all the way into
“P” (Park) and
release the shift lever button as you
maintain brake application. Then press
the shift lever button and move the shift
lever into the gear you wish.
If you ever hold the brake pedal down but
still can’t shift out of
“P” (Park), try this:
1. Turn the key to “Off.”
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end
3. Shift to “N’ (Neutral).
4. Start the vehicle and then shift to the
drive gear you want.
of
Step
4.
5. Have the vehicle fixed as soon as you
can.
Parking Your Vehicle
(MANUAL TRANSMISSION)
Before you get out of your vehicle, put
your manual transmission in
“R’
(Reverse) and firmly apply the parking
brake.
If your vehicle is equipped
to tow a
trailer, see “Towing a Trailer” in the
Index.
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Features and Controls
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Running Your Engine While
You’re
Parked (AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION)
It’s better not to park with the engine
running. But if you ever have to, here are
some things to know.
Follow the proper steps to be sure your
vehicle won’t move. See “Shifting Into
“P” (Park)” in the Index.
[f you are parlung on a hill and if you’re
pulling a trailer, also see “Towing a
Trailer’’ in the Index.
Windows
Manual Windows
Use the window crank to open and close
each door window.
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Features and Controls
The switch for the driver’s window has an
5xpress Down feature. Quickly press and
aelease the switch for the driver’s window
md the window will lower completely.
fou can also open the driver’s window
my amount by pressing the switch again
while the window is in the Express Down
node when it has lowered to the position
IOU want.
Power Windows (Option)
With power windows, switches on the
door control each window when the
ignition is on or when RAP is present.
(See “Retained Accessory Power” in
the Index.)
You can
also open the passenger window
any amount by pressing the switch and
releasing it when the window has
lowered to the position you want.
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Horn
ro sound the horn, press either horn
;ymbol on your steering wheel.
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I Tilt Wheel
1 tilt steering wheel allows you to adjust
he steering wheel before you drive.
r'ou can also raise it to the highest level tc
$ve your legs more room when you exit
md enter the vehicle.
?o tilt the wheel, hold the steering wheel
md pull the lever. Move the steering
vheel to a comfortable level, then release
he lever to lock the wheel in place.
I The Turn
Signal'Headlight Beam
Lever
'he lever on the left side of the steering
dumn includes your:
Turn Signal and Lane Change
Indicator
Headlight HigNLow Beam and
Passing Signal
Windshield Wipers
Windshield Washer
Cruise Control (Option)
rurn Signal and Lane Change
ndicator
'he turn signal has two upward '(for
Light) and two downward
(for Left)
lositions. These positions allow
'you to
ignal a turn or a lane change.
b signal a turn, move the lever dl the
day up or down. When the turn is
inished, the lever will return
utomatically.
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Features and Controls
A green arrow on the instrument panel
will flash in the direction of the turn or
lane change.
To signal a lane change, just raise or
lower the lever until the green arrow start
to flash. Hold it there until you complete
your lane change. The lever will return b!
itself when you release it.
As you signal a turn or a lane change, if
the arrows don’t flash but just stay on, a
signal bulb may be burned out and other
drivers won’t see your turn signal.
If a bulb is burned out, replace it to help
avoid an accident. If the green arrows
don’t go on at all when you signal a turn,
check the fuse (see “Fuses” in the Index)
and for burned-out bulbs.
feadlight High/Low Beam
’0 change the headlights from low beam
3 high or high to low, pull the turn signal
:ver all the way toward you. Then
:lease it. When the high beams are on,
lis blue light on the instrument panel
lso will be on.
Windshield Wipers
fou control the windshield wipers by
urning the band
with the wiper symbol
In it.
;or a single wiping cycle, turn the band to
‘MIST.” Hold it there until the wipers
;tart, then let go. The wipers will stop
ifter one cycle. If
you want more cycles,
lold the band on “MIST” longer.
You can set the wiper speed for a long or
;hort delay between wipes. This can be
iery useful in light rain or snow. Turn the
>and to choose the delay time. The closer
:o “LO,” the shorter the delay.
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For steady wiping at low speed, turn the
band away from you to the
“LO’ position.
For high speed wiping,
turn the band
further, to
“HI.” To stop the wipers, move
the band to
“OW.”
Heavy snow or ice can overload your
wipers.
A circuit breaker will stop them
until the motor cools. Clear away snow or
ice to prevent
an overload.
Windshielei Washer
At the top -of the turn signal lever there’s
a paddle with .the
word “PUSH’ on it. To
spray washer fluid on the windshield, just
push the paddle. The washer will continuc
to spray until you release the paddle. The
wipers will clear the window and wipe a
few more times before stopping or
returning to the previous setting.
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