1995 PONTIAC FIREBIRD fuel

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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Instrument Panel and Cluster
CHECK LOW GAUGES OIL
Your instrument cluster is designed to let you know at a Speedometer and Odometer
glance how your car is running. You’ll know how fast
you’re going, about how much fuel you have left and
many other things you’ll need to know to drive safely
and economically. Your speedometer lets you see your speed in both miles
per hour (mph) and lulometers per hour
(km/h). Your
odometer shows how far your vehicle has been driven,
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Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Service Engine Soon Light)
I SERVICE ~
ENGINE
SOON
..
A computer
monitors operation of your fuel, ignition
and emission control systems. This light should come on
when the ignition is on, but the engine
is not running, as
a check to show you it is working. If it does not come on
at
all, have it fixed right away. If it stays on, or it comes
on while
you are driving, the computer is indicating that
you have a problem. You should take your vehicle in for
service soon.
NOTICE:
If you keep driving your vehicle with this light
on, after a while the emission controls won’t
work as well, your fuel economy won’t be as good
and your engine may not run as smoothly. This
could lead to costly repairs not covered by your
warranty.
OBD I1 3.8L Engine (Code K)
Certain vehicles are equipped with a new emission
diagnostic system. You can tell whether your vehicle has
this system by reading our tune-up label located under
the hood.
If the label says OBD 11 on it, the following
instructions apply.
Your Pontiac Firebird is equipped with an onboard
computer which monitors operation of the emission
control system. This system is called OBD
11 (On-
Board Diagnostics-Second Generation) and is intended
to assure that emissions
are at acceptable levels for the
life
of the vehicle, helping to produce a cleaner
environment. The SERVICE
ENGINE SOON light
comes on to indicate when service is required.
Malfunctions often will be indicated by the system
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before any problem is apparent, which may prevent more serious damage to your vehicle. The system is also
designed to assist your service technician in correctly
diagnosing any malfunction.
The SERVICE ENGINE SOON light should come on,
as
a check to show you it is working, when the ignition
is on and the engine is not running. This light will also
come on during a malfunction in one or two ways:
Light on steady - - indicates a system malfunction
has been detected. Drive the vehicle to the dealer for
service at your first opportunity.
Light Flashing - - indicates a misfire has been
detected which may damage the emission control
system. The damage may be reduced'by lowering the
vehicle speed, reducing the amount of cargo being
hauled or trailered, avoiding hard acceleration, or by
avoiding steep uphill grades.
If these actions are
effective, the light will stop flashing and remain on
steady. Drive the vehicle to a dealer for service.
If
the light continues to flash, stop the vehicle. Wait for
a steady light to come on, then drive the vehicle to
the nearest dealer for service.
These following conditions also may cause the
SERVICE ENGINE
SOON light to come on.
Low Fuel/Out of Fuel - - As the vehicle starts to run out
of fuel the SERVICE ENGINE SOON light may come
on as a result of
an engine misfire. Filling your gasoline
tank should correct this condition. Make sure to install
the gas cap fully. It will require a few driving trips to
turn the light
off.
Poor Quality Fuel - - Be sure to fuel your vehicle with
quality fuel. Your engine may not run efficiently on poor
fuel. Poor fuel may cause stalling, hesitation or misfire.
These conditions may go away when the engine is
warmed-up. However, poor quality fuel may cause the
SERVICE ENGINE SOON light to come
on.
Have a dealer check the vehicle. If no problems are
found, you may want to change to another brand of fuel.
Driving Through Standing Water -- Driving your
vehicle through puddles
of deep standing -w.a&r may
result in a temporary misfire condition. This condition
will usually correct itself- shortly after the electrical
system dries out.
It will require a few driving trips to
turn the light off.
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Check Gauges Light Fuel Gage
This red warning light will come on briefly when you
are starting the engine. If the light comes on and stays
on while you are driving, check your gages to see if they
are in the warning areas. Your
fuel gage shows about how much fuel is in your
tank. The gage works only when the ignition switch is in
the
RUN position. When the gage pointer first indicates
EMPTY
(E) you still have a little fuel left (about one to
two gallons), but you need to get more right away.
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Here are four concerns some owners have had about the
fuel gage. All these situations are normal and do not
indicate that anything is wrong with the
fuel gage.
0
0
0
0
At the gas station, the gas pump shuts off before the
gage reads
FULL (F).
It takes more (or less) gas to fill up than the gage
reads. For example, the
gage reads 1/2 full, but it
took more (or less) than half
of the tank’s capacity to
fill it.
The gage moves a little whefi you turn, stop or speed
UP.
When
you turn the engine off, the gage doesn’t go
back to EMPTY (E).
Convertible Top
The following procedures explain the proper operation
of your convertible top.
To Lower Your Convertible Top
NOTICE:
Don’t leave your convertible out with the top
down for any long periods of time. The sun and
the rain can damage your seat material and other
things inside your car.
1. Park on a level surface. Set the parking brake firmly,
shift an automatic transmission into
PARK (P) or a
manual transmission into
REVERSE (R). The
ignition must be in the ACC or
RUN position. Lower
both
sun visors.
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Defogging and Defrosting the Windshield
1. Turn the air control knob to DEFROST.
2. Turn the temperature control knob to the desired
setting.
3. Turn the fan control knob to the desired speed.
Air Conditioner Controls (Option)
The air conditioning system uses the same controls as the
heating system, except that the
slir control knob has two
extra settings, described below. For an explanation of all
the controls, see “Heater Controls” earlier in this part.
MAX: Provides maximum cooling or quick cool-down
on very hot days.
This setting recirculates most of the air
inside your vehicle. If it is used for long periods of time,
the
air may become dry. This setting directs air through
the upper air vents.
A/C: Use for normal cooling on hot days. This setting
cools outside
air and directs it through the upper air vents.
The air conditioner compressor operates in MAX, A/C,
BI-LEVEL, BLEND and DEFROST when the outside
temperature is above freezing. When the
air conditioner
is on, you may sometimes notice slight changes in your
vehicle’s engine speed and power.
This is normal because
the system is designed to cycle the compressor on and
off
to keep the desired cooling and help fuel economy.
Cooling
The air conditioner works best if you keep your
windows closed. On very hot days, open the windows
just long enough for the hot air to escape.
1. Turn the air control knob to A/C for normal cooling.
For faster cooling move the knob to MAX.
2. Turn the temperature control knob to a comfortable
3. Move the fan cdfitrol knob to the desired speed.
setting.
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The exit speed is usually posted.
Reduce your speed according to your speedometer, not
to your sense of motion. After driving for any distance
at higher speeds, you may tend to
think you are going
slower than you actually are.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well rested. If you
must
start when you’re not fresh -- such as after a day’s
work
-- don’t plan to make too many miles that First part
of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes you
can easily drive in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it
serviced and maintained, it’s ready to go.
If it needs
service, have it done before starting out. Of course,
you’ll find experienced and able service experts in
Pontiac dealerships all across North America. They’ll
be ready and willing to help if you need it.
Here are some things you can check before a trip:
a
e
a
a
a
e
e
Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the reservoir full? Are
all windows clean inside and outside?
Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked
all levels?
Lamps: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
Tires: They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free trip. Is the tread good enough for
long-distance driving? Are the tires all inflated to the
recommended pressure?
Weather Forecasts: What’s the weather outlook
along your route? Should you delay your trip a short
time to avoid a major storm system?
Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps?
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