1995 PONTIAC FIREBIRD traction control

Loss of Control
Let’s review what driving experts say about what
happens when the three control systems (brakes, steering and acceleration) don’t have enough friction where the
tires meet the road to do what the driver has asked.
In any emergency, don’t give up. Keep trying to steer and constantly seek an escape route or area of less
danger.
Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking reasonable
care suited to existing conditions, and by not
“overdriving” those conditions. But skids are always
possible.
The three types of skids correspond to your Pontiac’s
three control systems. In the braking skid your wheels
aren’t rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, too
much speed or steering
in a curve causes tires to slip and
lose cornering force. And in the acceleration skid too
much throttle causes the driving wheels to spin.
A cornering skid is best handled by easing your foot off
the accelerator pedal.
If you have the traction control system, remember: It
helps avoid only the acceleration skid.
If you do not have traction control, or if the system is
off, then an acceleration skid is also best handled by
easing your foot
off the accelerator pedal.
If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want the
vehicle to go.
If you start steering quickly enough, your
vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready for a
second skid if it occurs.
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice,
gravel, or other material is on the road.
For safety, you’ll
want to slow down and adjust your driving to these
conditions.
It is important to slow down on slippery
surfaces because stopping distance
will be longer and
vehicle control more limited.
While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try
your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration, or
braking (including engine braking by shifting to a lower
gear). Any sudden changes could cause the tires to slide.
You may not realize the surface is slippery until your
vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warning clues
--
such as enough water, ice or packed snow on the road to
make
a “mirrored surface” -- and slow down when you
have any doubt.
Remember: Any anti-lock brake system (ABS) helps
avoid only the braking skid.
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Driving on snow or Ice
Most of the time, those places where your tires meet the
road probably have good traction.
However, if there is snow or ice between your tires and the
road, you can have a very slippery situation. You’ll have a\
lot less traction or “grip” and will need to be very
careful.
What’s the worst time for this? “Wet ice.” Very cold
snow or ice can be slick and hard to drive on. But wet
ice can be even more trouble because it may offer the
least traction of all.
You can get “wet ice” when it’s
about freezing
(32 OF; 0 O C) and freezing rain begins to
fall. Try to avoid driving on wet ice until salt and sand
crews can get there.
Whatever the condition -- smooth ice, packed, blowing
or loose snow
-- drive with caution.
If you have traction control, keep the system on. It will
improve your ability to accelerate when driving on a
slippery road. Even though your vehicle has a traction
control system, you’ll want
to slow down and adjust
your driving to the road conditions. See “Traction Control System” in the Index.
If you don’t have the traction control system, accelerate
gently. Try not to break the fragile traction. If you
accelerate too fast, the drive wheels will spin and polish
the surface under the tires even more.
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NOTICE:
Spinning your wheels can destroy parts of your
vehicle as well
as the tires. If you spin the wheels
too fast while shifting your transmission back
and forth, you can destroy your transmission.
For information about using tire chains on your vehicle,
see “Tire Chains” in the Index.
Rocking your vehicle to get it out:
First, turn your steering wheel left and right. That will
clear the area around your front wheels. If your vehicle
has traction control, you should turn the system
off. (See
“Traction Control System” in the Index.) Then shift
back and forth between REVERSE (R) and
a forward
gear (or with a manual transmission, between FIRST
(1)
or SECOND (2) gear and REVERSE), spinning the
wheels as little as possible. Release the accelerator pedal
while you shift, and press lightly on the accelerator
pedal when the transmission is in gear.
If that doesn’t
get you out after a few tries, you may need to be towed
out. If you do need to be towed out, see “Towing Your
Car” in the Index.
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Uniform Tire Quality Grading
The following information relates to the system
developed by the United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration which grades tires by
treadwear, traction and temperature performance. (This applies only to vehicles sold in the United States.)
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on
the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified government test course. For
example, a tire graded
150 would wear one and a half
(1 1/2) times as well on the government course as a tire
graded
100. The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions
of their use, however, and
may depart significantly from the norm due to variations
in driving habits, service practices and differences in
road characteristics and climate.
Traction - A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest are: A, B,
and C. They represent the tire’s ability to stop on wet
pavement as measured under controlled conditions on specified government test surfaces of asphalt and
concrete.
A tire marked C may have poor traction
performance.
Warning: The traction grade assigned to this tire is based
on braking (straight-ahead) traction tests and does not
include cornering
(turning) traction.
Temperature - A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C,
representing the tire’s resistance to the generation of
heat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested under controlled conditions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate and reduce
tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire failure.
The grade
C corresponds to a level of performance
which
all passenger car tires must meet under the
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
No. 109. Grades
€3 and A represent higher levels of performance on the
laboratory test wheel than the minimum required by law.
Warning: The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly inflated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed, underinflation, or
excessive loading, either separately or in combination,
can cause heat buildup and possible
tire failure.
These grades are molded on the sidewalls of passenger
car tires.
While the tires available as standard or optional
equipment on General Motors vehicles may vary with
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Headlamps
The headlamp wiring is protected by a circuit breaker.
An electrical overload will cause the larnps to
go on and
off, or in some cases to remain off. If this happens, have
your headlamp wiring checked right away.
Windshield Wipers
The windshield wiper motor is protected by a circuit
breaker and
a fuse. If the motor overheats due to heavy
snow, etc., the wiper will stop until the motor cools.
If
the overload is caused by some electrical problem and
not snow, etc., be sure to get it fixed.
Power Windows and Other Power Options
Circuit breakers protect the power windows and other
power accessories. When the current load is
too heavy,
the circuit breaker opens and closes, protecting the
circuit until the problem is fixed or goes away.
Main Fuse Block
IC3 20 30 4EIl
FUSE USAGE CHART
AIR BAG TURN B - U HVAC RADIO ACCY
5m 60 70 80 PCM IGN STOP/HAZARD PWR ACCY COURTESY
GAGES TAIL LTS CIGAR/HORN DEFOG/SEATS
CRANK ACCY RADIO
SEE OWNER'S MANUAL FOR MORE INFORMATION PRINTED IN U.S.A 10264033 2
1.
2.
3.
4.
AIR BAG: SIR Components
TURN B-U: Backup Lamps; Daytime Running
Lamps Module (Canada);Turn Flasher; Transmission
Range Switch;Traction Control Switch
HVAC: Heat Control Selector Switch (Heatedfir
Conditioner); Rear Defogger
RADIO ACCY: Power Antenna; Disc Changer
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Underhood Electrical Center
LJ
INJECTOR
D7.52 I INJECTOR I
Relays
B: Air Conditioning Compressor
C: Anti-Lock Brake System
D: Coolant Fan Number 1
E: Air Pump
F: Coolant Fan Number 2
G: Traction Control System
H: Fog Lamps
J: Cooling Fan Number 3
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Lamps ...................................... 2-49
Lamps On Reminder
............................ 2-50
Lamps. Courtesy
............................... 2-52
Lamps. Daytime Running
........................ 2-50
Lmps. Front Map .............................. 2-52
Lamps. Interior
................................. 2-52
Lane Change Indicator
........................... 2-41
Larger Children. Safety Belt Use
................... 1-37
Latches. Front Seatback
........................... 1-6
Leaving Your Vehicle
............................. 2-4
Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine Running
....... 2-35
Lights
Air Bag Readiness ...................... 1-21. 2-68
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
........... 2-70. 4-6
Brake System Warning
........................ 2-69
Check Gauges
............................... 2-79
Coolant
(V8 Engine Only) ..................... 2-73
Low Traction
................................ 2-72
Safety Belt Reminder
..................... 1.8. 2.68
Service Engine Soon
.......................... 2-74
LowCoolant ................................ 2-73
LowOil
.................................... 2-77
Low Traction
................................ 2-72
Lighter ....................................... 2-63
Limited Slip Differential
......................... 6-29
Limited
Slip Axle .............................. 6-32
Loading Your Vehicle
........................... 4-29
Locks
Lamps. Fog ................................... 2-52
Traction Control System Warning ........... 2.72. 4-9
Door ....................................... 2-3
PowerDoor
.................................. 2-4
Steering Column
............................. 7-46
Lock. Torque .................................. 2-35
Loss of Control
................................ 4-14
Lubricants and Fluids
............................ 6-73
Lubrication. Body .............................. 7-46
Main Fuse Block ......................... 6-66. 6-67
Maintenance Record
............................ 7-52
Maintenance Schedule
Long Trip. Before Leaving on a .................... 4-22
Low Maintenance Battery
........................ 6-40
Owner Checks and Services .................... 7-45 .
Periodic Maintenance Inspections ............... 7-48
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
............ 7-50
Schedule1
................................... 7-6
Schedule
I Definition .......................... 7-4
ScheduleII
................................. 7-32
Schedule
11 Definition .......................... 7-5
Scheduled Maintenance Services
................. 7-3
Maintenance. Normal Replacement Parts ............ 6-74
Maintenance. Underbody
.... .- .. ................... 6-63
Maihtenance. When Trailer Towing
................. 4-38
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Service Engine Soon Light) 2-74
Manual Adjust Mirror
........................... 2-53
Manual Front Seat
............................... 1-1
Manual Remote Control Mirror .................... 2-53
Manual Transmission
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Traction Control System Warning Light ......... 2.72. 4.9
Trailer Tongue. Weight of
........................ 4-33
Trailer
............................................
Brakes ..................................... 4-35
Driving with a Trailer ......................... 4-35
Hitches
.................................... 4-34
Maintenance
................................ 4-38
ParkingonHills
............................. 4-38
Safety Chains
............................... 4-35
Total Weight on Your Vehicle's Tires
............. 4-34
Turn Signals ................................ 4-37
Weight of a Trailer
........................... 4-33
Transmission Fluid, Automatic
.................... 6-22
Transmission Fluid, Manual
....................... 6-27
Trip Odometer
................................. 2-67
Turn Signal
and Lane Change Indicator ............. 2-41
Turn Signal meadlamp Beam Lever
................ 2-41
Turn Signal When Towing a Trailer
................. 4-37
Twin Lift-off
Roof Panels ........................ 2-55
DrivingonGrades ............................ 4-37
TowingaTrailer ............................. 4-31
Underbody Maintenance ........................ 6-63
vehicle Damage Warnings ......................... iv
Vehicle Dimensions Chart
........................ 6-74
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
............... 6-65
Vehicle Loading
................................ 4-29
Vehicle Storage
................................ 6-40
Vehicle Symbols
................................... v
Vehicle. Control of a
............................. 4-5
Vehicle. Leaving Your
............................ 2-4
Ventilation System. Flow-Through
.................. 3-4
Ventilation Tips ................................. 3-4
Vision. Night
.................................. 4-16
Visor Vanity
Visors. Sun .................................... 2-62
Voltmeter
..................................... 2-79
Mirrors .................................... 2-62 .. Q
3. . ' ' y ' .. .. ji' .u . .11 !
... 9-13
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