1995 PONTIAC FIREBIRD clutch

Starting Your Engine
Engines start differently. The 8th digit of your Vehicle
Identification Number
(VIN) shows the code letter or
number for your engine. You will fiid the
VIN at the top
left of your instrument panel. (See “Vehicle
Identification Number”
in the Index.) Follow the proper
steps to start the engine.
Automatic transmission:
Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
Your engine won’t start in any other position -- that’s a
safety feature.
To restart when you’re already moving,
use NEUTRAL (N)
only.
NOTICE:
Don’t try to shift to PARK (P) if your Pontiac is
moving. If you do, you could damage the
transmission. Shift to
PARK (P) only when your
vehicle
is stopped.
Manual transmission:
The gear selector should be in neutral. Hold the clutch
pedal to the
floor and start the engine. Your vehicle
won’t
start if the clutch pedal is not all the way down --
that’s a safety feature.
To start your V6 engine:
1. Without pushing the accelerator pedal, turn your
ignition key to START. When the engine starts, let
go of the key. The idle speed
will go down as your‘
engine gets warm.
NOTICE:
Holding your key in START for longer thh
15 seconds at a time will cause your battery to
be drained much sooner. And the excessive. heat
can damage your starter motor.
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Manual Tradsmission
Five-Speed
1 3 5
2 4 R
This is your shift pattern. Here’s how to operate your
transmission:
0
0
0
FIRST (1): Press the clutch pedal and shi€t into
FIRST
(1). Then, slowly let up on the clutch pedal as
you press the accelerator pedal.
You can shift into FIRST (1) whed you’re going less
than
20 mph (32 M). If you’ve cowe to a
compiete stop and it’s hard to‘shift into FIRST
(1)
put the shift lever in NEUTkAL and let up on the
clutch. Press the clutch pedal back down. Then
shift
into FIRST (1).
SECOND (2): Press the clutch pedal 10 fhe floor as
you let up on the accelerator pedal and
s&ft into
SECOND
(2). Then, slowly let up on the clutch
pedal as you press the accelerator pedal.
THIRD, FOURTH, FIFTH (3,4,5, Gears): Shift
into THIRD
(3)’ FOURTH t4) and FIFTH (5) the
same way you do for SECOND
(2). Slowly let up on
the clutch pedal as you press the accelerator pedal.
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0 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 (N): Use this position when you start or
idle your engine.
REVERSE (R): To back up, press down the clutch
pedal
and shift ipto REVERSE (R). Let up on the
clutch pedal slowly while pressing the accelerator
pedal.
F
NOTICE:
Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is
stopped. Shifting to REVERSE
(R) while your
vehicle is moving could damage your
transmission.
Also, use Reverse, along with the parking brake, for
parking your vehicle.
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Six-Speed
3 5 R
2 4 6
This is your shift pattern. Here’s how to operate your
transmission:
FIRST (1): Press the clutch pedal and shift into
FIRST (1). Then, slowly let up on the clutch pedal as
you press the accelerator pedal.
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You can shift into FIRST (1) when you’re going less
than
20 mph (32 kmk). If you’ve come to a
complete stop and it’s hard to shift into FIRST
(1)
put the shift lever in NEUTRAL and let up on the
clutch. Press the clutch pedal back down. Then shift
into FIRST
(1).
0 SECOND (2): Press the clutch pedal as you let up
on the accelerator pedal and shift into SECOND (2).
Then, slowly let up on the clutch pedal as you press
the accelerator pedal.
THIRD, FOURTH, FIFTH, and SIXTH (3,4,5,
and 6 Gears): Shift into THIRD (3), FOURTH (4),
FIFTH (5) and SIXTH (6) the same way you do for
SECOND (2). Slowly let up on the clutch pedal as
you press the accelerator pedal.
0 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“Neutra1.”
0
0
NEUTRAL (N): Use this position when you start or
idle your engine.
REVERSE (R): To back up, press down the clutch
pedal and shift into REVERSE (R). Let up on the
clutch pedal slowly while pressing the accelerator
pedal. If you
shift from SIXTH (6) into REVERSE
(R) the shift lever must be first placed in the
NEUTRAL position centered between SECOND
(2)
and THIRD (3) prior to shfting into REVERSE (R).
Your six-speed manual transmission has a feature that
allows you to safely shift into REVERSE (R) while the
vehicle is rolling (at less than
5 mph). You will be
locked-out if you try to shift into REVERSE (FQ while
your vehicle is moving faster than
5 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.
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Skip Shift Light (5.7L LTl Engine)
When this light comes on, you can only shift from
FIRST (1) to FOURTH (4) gear instead
of FIRST (1) to
SECOND (2) gear. This helps you to get the best
possible fuel economy.
This light will come on under these conditions:
0 The engine coolant temperature is greater than
170°F (77"C),
0 You are going 15-20 mph (24-32.'km/h), and
0 You are at 35% throttle or less.
When this light is on, the gear shift lever will let you
shift from
FIRST (1) to FOURTH (4) gears only. Once
you are in FOURTH (4) 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 (ECM) determines when to activate the
SKIP SHIFT upshift system. Use SECOND (2) 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 krn/h) when accelerating to highway
speeds.
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Shift Speeds (Manual Transmission)
This chart shows when to shift to the next higher gear
.for best fuel economy.
I MANUAL TRANSMISSION RECOMMENDED SHIFT SPEEDS, IN MPH (kmh) I
Engine Acceleration Shifi Speed
1 to 2 2 to 3 3 to 4 4t0 5 5 to 6 r
(Code S) 3.4L L32 13-16 21-28 32-37 (21-25) (34-35) (51-59) (72-75) 45-47 NIA
If your speed drops below 20 mph (30 kmk), or if the
engine
is not running smoothly, you should downshift to
the next lower gear.
You may have to downshift two or
more gears to keep the engine running smoothly or for
good performance.
NOTICE: I
If you skip more than one gear when you)
downshift, or if you race the engine wheaiyou
downshift, you can
damage the clutch or"
transmission.
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Cruise Control (Option)
With cruise control, you can maintain a speed of about
25 rnph (40 km/h) or more without keeping your foot on the
accelerator.
This can really help on long trips. Cruise control
does not work at speeds below about
25 mph (40 km/h).
When you apply your brakes, or push the clutch pedal,
if you have a manual transmission, the cruise control
shuts
off.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the optional
traction control system begins to limit wheel spin,
the cruise control will automatically disengage. (See
“Traction Control” in the Index.) When road conditions
allow you to safely use it again, you may
turn the cruise
back on.
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To Resume a Set Speed
Suppose you set your cruise control at a desired speed
and then you apply the brake or clutch peddle. This,
of
course, shuts off the cruise control. But you don’t need
to reset it. Once you’re going about
25 mph (40 km/h)
or more, you can move the cruise control switch from
ON to R/A (Resume/Accelerate) for about half a second.
You’ll go right back up to your chosen speed and stay
there.
To Increase Speed While Using Cruise
Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed. Here’s the
first:
1. Use the accelerator pedal to get to the higher speed.
2. Push the button at the end of the lever, then release
the button and the accelerator pedal. You’ll now
cruise at the higher speed.
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Here’s the second way to go to a higher speed:
1. Move the Cruise switch from ON to WA. Hold it
there until you get up’to the speed
you want, and
then release the switch.
To increase your speed in very small amounts, move
the switch to
WA for less than half a second and then
release it. Each time you do this, your vehicle will
go
about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster.
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