1995 PONTIAC FIREBIRD engine

Second-Gear Start Engine Coolant Heater (Option)
TRANSMISSION
2NDGEAR@ START
Your vehicle may be equipped with a Second-Gear Start
feature. Press
2ND GEAR START to provide more
traction when you are starting on ice or other slippery
surfaces. The transmission will be in second gear when
the vehicle begins to move. After starting in second
gear, the vehicle will upshift normally.
This feature is only for improved traction when the road
surface
is slippery and is not intended for continuous
use. Always use NORMAL for normal road conditions.
You may press
2ND GEAR START again to turn off this
feature. Whenever you start your vehicle, the
transmission is
in the NORMAL mode.
In very cold weather, 0 "F (- 18 O 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.
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To use the coolant heater:
1. Turn off the engine. NOTICE:
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt outlet.
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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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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 your Pontiac
dealer in the area where you’ll be parking your vehicle.
The dealer can give
you the best advice for that
particular area.
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Automatic Transmission
There are several different positions for your shift lever.
PARK (P): 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 PARK (P) 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
PARK (P) when the ignition key is in the RUN position.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever
-- push the shift lever all the way into
PARK
(P) 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
PARK (P) in
this part.
REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back up.
NOTICE:
Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle is
moving forward could damage your transmission. Shift to REVERSE
(R) only after
your vehicle is stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow,
ice or sand without damaging your transmission, see
“Stuck:
In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow, If You’re” in the
Index.
NEUTRAL (N): In this position, your engine doesn’t
connect with the wheels.
To restart when you’re
already moving, use NEUTRAL
(N) only. Also, use
NEUTRAL,
(N) when your vehicle is being towed.
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NOTICE:
THIRD (3): This is like D, but you never go into
Overdrive.
Damage to your transmission caused by shifting Here are some times you might choose THIRD instead
out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL [N) with the of OVERDRIVE:
engine racing isn’t covered by your warranty. - When driving on hilly, winding roads.
- When towing a trailer, so there is less shifting
AUTOMATIC OVERDWE (D) between gears.
This position is for normal driving. If you need more
power for passing,
and you’re:
- Going less than about 35 mph (56 kmk), push
your accelerator pedal about halfway down.
- Going about 35 mph (56 kmk) or more, push the
accelerator all the way down.
You’ll shift down to the next gear and have more
power.
- When going down a steep hill.
SECOND (2): This position gives you more power but
lower fuel economy.
You can use SECOND (2) on hills.
It can help control your speed as you go dowri-:.steep
mountain roads, but then you would also want-to use
’,
your brakes off and on.
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NOTICE:
Don’t drive in SECOND for more than 5 miles
(8 km), or at speeds over 55 mph (88 km/h), or
you can damage your transmission. Use
OVERDRIVE or
THIRD as much as possible.
Don’t shift into SECOND unless you are going
slower than
65 mph (105 km/h), or you can
damage’your engine.
FIRST (1): This position gives you even more power
(but lower fuel economy) than
SECOND (2). You can
use it
on very steep hills, or in deep snow or. mud. If the
selector lever is put
in FIRST (l), the transmission
won’t shift into
first gear until the 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 acceleratw
pedal.
This could overheat and damage the
transmission.
Use your brakes or shift into
BARK (P) to hold your vehicle in position
on.‘
a hill.
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Maximum engine speed is limited to protect driveline
Lomponents from improper operation.
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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.”
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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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