1995 PONTIAC FIREBIRD steering

Your anti-lock brakes improve your ability to make a
hard stop on a slippery road. Even though you have the
anti-lock braking system, you’ll want to begin stopping
sooner than you would on dry pavement. See
“Anti-Lock” in the Index.
0 Allow greater following distance on any slippery
road.
Watch for slippery spots. The road might be fine
until you hit a spot that’s covered with ice. On an
otherwise clear road, ice patches may appear in shaded areas where the sun can’t reach: around
clumps of trees, behind buildings, or under bridges.
Sometimes the surface
of a curve or an overpass may
remain icy when the surrounding roads are
clear. If
you see a patch of ice ahead of you, brake before you
are on it. Try not to brake while you’re actually on
the ice, and avoid sudden steering maneuvers.
If You’re Caught in a Blizzard
i
If you are stopped by heavy snow, you could be in a
serious situation. You should probably stay with your
vehicle unless you know for sure that you are
near help
and you can hike through the snow. Here are some
things to do to summon help and keep yourself and
your
passengers safe: Turn on your hazard flashers. Tie a red
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Foliawing Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead as you
would when driving your vehicle without a trailer. This
can help you avoid situations that require heavy braking
and sudden
turns.
Passing
You’ll need more passing distance up ahead when
you’re towing a trailer. And, because you’re a good deal
longer,
you’ll need to go much farther beyond the
passed vehicle before you
can return to your lane.
Backing Up
Hoid the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand.
Then, to move the trailer to the left, just move that hand
to the lek To move the trailer to the right, move your
hand to the right. Always back up slowly and, if
possible, have someone guide you.
Making Turns
NOTICE:
Making very sharp turns while trailering could
cause the trailer to come in contact with the
vehicle. Your vehicle could be damaged. Avoid
making very sharp turns while trailering.
When you’re turning with a trailer, make wider turns than normal.
Do this so your trailer won’t strike soft
shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees,
or other objects.
Avoid jerky or sudden maneuvers. Signal well in
advance.
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When your vehicle is being towed, have the ignition key
off. The steering wheel should be clamped in a
straight-ahead position, with a clamping device
designed for towing service. Do not use the car’s
steering column lock for this. The transmission should
be in “Neutral” and the parking brake released.
Don’t have your vehicle towed on the rear wheels,
unless you must. If the vehicle must be towed on the
rear wheels, don’t go more than
35 mph (55 km/h) or
farther than
50 miles (80 km) or your transmission will
be damaged. If these limits must be exceeded, then the
rear wheels have to be supported on a dolly.
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If a Tire Goes Flat
It’s unusual for a tire to “blow out” while you’re driving,
especially
if you maintain your tires properly. If air goes
out of a tire, it’s much more likely to leak out slowly.
But if you should ever have a “blowout,” here are a few
tips about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create a drag that
pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your foot
off the
accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel firmly.
Steer to maintain lane position, then gently brake to a
stop well out of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a
skid and may require the same correction you’d use in a
skid. In any rear blowout, remove your foot from the
accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control by
steering the way you want the vehicle to go. It may be
very bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently
brake
to a stop, well off the road if possible.
If a tire goes flat, the next part shows how to use your
jacking equipment to change a flat tire safely.
Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel damage
by driving slowly to a level place. Turn on your hazard
warning flashers.
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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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3.4L L32 (Code S) When you open the hood you'll see:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
Battery
Engine Coolant Reservoir
Engine Oil Dipstick
Automatic Transmission Dipstick (if equipped)
Air Cleaner
Oil
Fill Cap
Brake Fluid Reservoir
Power Steering Reservoir
Windshield Washer Reservoir
Engine Fan Clutch Fluid Reservoir (if equipped)
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3.8L L36 (Code K) When you open the hood you'll see:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
Battery
Engine Coolant Reservoir Engine Oil Dipstick
Automatic Transmission Dipstick (if equipped)
Air Cleaner Oil
Fill Cap
Brake Fluid Reservoir
Power Steering Reservoir Windshield Washer Reservoir
Engine Fan Clutch Fluid Reservoir
(if equipped)
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5.7L LT1 (Code P) When you open the hood you'll see:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
Battery
Engine Coolant Reservoir
Engine Oil Dipstick
Automatic Transmission Dipstick (if equipped)
Air Cleaner
Oil Fill Cap
. ., ' I 7: . $: ,;
Brake Fluid Reservoir ,? : .'y-;
Power Steering Reservoir .X&:
Windshield Washer Reservoir $i.
Engine Fans
Clutch Fluid Reservoir (if equipped)
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