1996 PONTIAC FIREBIRD Owners Manual

Remember: Anti-lock doesn’t change the time you need
to get your foot up to the brake pedal or always decrease
stopping distance.
If you get too close to the vehicle in
front
of you, you won’t have time to apply your brakes
if that vehicle sudd’enly slows or stops. Alwayssleave
enough room up ahead to stop, even
though you have
anti-lock brakes.
Using Anti-Lock
Don’t pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal
down and let anti-lock work for you.
You may feel
the system working,
or you may notice some noise,
but this is normal.
LOW
TRAC
When your anti-lock system
is adjusting brake pressure
to help avoid a braking skid,
this light will come
on.
See ‘‘L’ow Traction Light”
in the
Index
naction Control, System
(Option: LTl VS Engine) I
Your vehicle may have a traction control system that
limits wheel spin. This is especially usefulin slippery
road conditions.
The system operates only if it senses that
one or both of
the rear wheels are spinning or beginning
to lose traction. When
this happens, the system works the
rear brakes and reduces engine, power (by closing the
throttle and managing engine spark) to limit wheel spin.
LOW
TRAC
This light will come on
when YQLU traction control
system is limiting wheel
spin. See “Low Traction
Light”
in the Index. You
may feel or hear the system
working, but this is normal.
The traction control system may operate on dry roads
under some conditions, and you may notice a reduction in
acceleration when this happen,€, This is normal and doesn’t
mean there’s
a problem with your vehicle. Examples of
fhese conditions include a hard acceleration in a turn, or an
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abrupt upshift or downshft. Also, when the compact spare
tire is on the rear axle,
the traction control system will
cycle and limit acceleration for about
the first 15 seconds
of driving after each engine start.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the traction
control system begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise
control will automatically disengage. When road
conditions allow you to safely use it again, you may
re-engage the cruise control. (See “Cruise Control”
in the Index.)
TCS
OFF
When the system is on,
this warning light will
come on to let you know
if
there’s a problem with your
traction control system.
See “Traction Control
System Warning Light”
in the Index.
When this warning light is
on, the system will not limit
wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.
The traction control system automatically comes on
whenever you start your vehicle.
To limit wheel spin, especially in slippery road
conditions,
you should
always leave the system on. But you
can turn the
traction control system
off if you ever need to.
(You should turn the system off if your vehicle ever
gets stuck in sand, mud, ice
or snow. See “Rocking
Your Vehicle” in the Index.)
Automatic Transmission Manual Transmission
To turn the system off, press the button located on
the center
of the console behind the shift lever
(Automatic Transmission) or in front
of the shift
boot (Manual Transmission).
The light on the button will go off, and the traction
control system warning light will come on and stay on.
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. If the traction control system is limiting wheel spin
when you press the button, the light on the button will
.go off and the warning light will come on -- but the
_. ._ ,system won't turn off right away. It will wait until
gathere's
no longer a current need to limit wheel spin. I
You can turn the system back an at any time by pressing
the button
again. The light on the button should come
on, and the traction control system w'arning light should
go off.
If your car is equipped with P245/50zR16 tires, the
traction control system will automatically
turn off at
speeds above 108 mph (1 74 km/h). (The traction, control
system waning light will not corn on.) When the
vehicle
speed drops below 103 mph (1 66 km/h) the
system will automatically come on again.
- Braking in Emergencies
Use your anti-lock braking system when you need to.
With anti-lock, you can steer and brake at the same
time. In many emergencies, steering can help you more
than even
the very best braking.
Steering
Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist because the engine
stops or the system
is not functioning, you can steer but
it will take much
more effort.
Steering Tips
Driving on Curves
It's important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
A lot of the "driver lost control" accidents mentioned on
the news happen on curves. Here's why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each of us
is subject to
the same laws
of physics when driving on curves. The
traction
of the tires against the road surface makes it
possible for the vehicle to change its path when you turn
the front wheels. If there's no traction, inertia will keep
the vehicle going in the same direction. If you've ever
tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you'll understand
this.
i ., _. .I ..
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I
.-.
The traction you can get in a curve depends on the
condition
of your tires and the road surface, the angle at
which the curve is banked, and your speed.
While you’re
in a curve, speed is the one factor you can control.
Suppose’ you’re steering through a sharp curve. Then you
suddenly accelerate. Both control systems -- steering
and acceleration
-- have to do their work where the tires
meet the road. Unless you have traction control and the
system is on, adding the sudden acceleration can demand
too much of
those places. You can lose control.
What should you do if.this ever happens? Ease up
on the
accelerator pedal, steer the vehicle the way you want
it
to go, and slow down.
Speed limit signs near curves warn that you should
adjust your speed. Of courqe, the posted speeds are
based on good weather and road conditions. Under less
favorable conditions you’ll want
to go slower.
Try to adjust your speed so you can “drive” through the
curve. Maintain a reasonable, steady speed. Wait to
accelerate until
you are out of the curve, and then
accelerate gently into the straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
There are times when steering can be more effective
than braking. For example,
you come over a hill and
find a truck stopped in your lane, or a car suddenly pulls
out from nowhere, or a child darts out from between
parked cars and stops right in front of you. You can
avoid these problems by braking
-- if you can stop in
time. But sometimes you can’t; there isn’t room.
That’s the time for evasive action
-- steering around
the problem.
Your Pontiac can perform very well in emergencies like
these. First apply your brakes. (See “Braking in
Emergencies” earlier in
this section.) It is better to
remove as much speed as you can from a possible
collision. Then steer around the problem,
to the left or
right depending on the space available,
u ’ ..**vu-.. UY . .. . --
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An emergency like this requires close attention and a
quick decision. If you are holding
the steering wheel at
the recommended
9 and 3 o’clock positions, you can
turn it a full 180 degrees very quickly without removing
either hand. But you have to act fast, steer
quickly, and
just
as quickly straighten the wheel once you’have
’ avoided the object,
The fact
that such emergency situations are always
possible
is a good reason to practice defensive driving at
all times and wear safety belts properly.
Off-Road Recovery
YOU may find sometime that your right wheels have
dropped
off the edge of a road onto the shoulder while
you’re driving.
If the level of the shoulder is only slightly below the
pavement, recovery should be fairly easy. Ease
off the
accelerator and then, if there
is nothing in the way, steer so
that your vehicle straddles the edge of the pavement. You
can turn the steering wheel up to one-quarter turn until the
right front
tire contacts the pavement edge. Then tum your
steering wheel to
go straight down the roadway.
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Passing
The driver of a vehicle about to pass another on a
two-lane highway waits for just the right moment,
accelerates, moves around the vehicle ahead, then goes
back into the right lane again.
A simple maneuver?
Not necessarily! Passing another vehicle on
a two-lane
highway is a potentially dangerous move, since the
passing vehicle occupies the same lane
as oncoming
traffic for several seconds.
A miscalculation, ”an error in
judgment, or a brief surrender to frustration or anger can
suddenly put the passing driver face to face with the
worst of all traffic accidents
-- the head-on collision.
So here are some tips for passing:
0
0
Trive ahead.” Look down the road, to the sides and to
crossroads for situations that ‘might affect your passing
patterns. If you have any doubt whatsoever about.
making a successful pass, wait for a better time.
Watch for traffic signs, pavement markings
and lines.
If you can see a sign up ahead that might indicate a
turn or an intersection, delay your pass. A broken
center
line usually indicates it’s all right to pass
(providing the road ahead is clear). Never cross a solid
line on your side
of the lane or a double solid line,
even
if the road seems empty of approaching traffic.
0 Do not get too close to the vehicle you want to
pass while you’re awaiting an opportunity. For
one
thing, following too closely reduces your area of
vision, especially if you’re following a larger
vehicle. Also, you -won’t have adequate space if
the vehicle ahead suddenly slows or
stops. Keep
back a reasonable distance.
When it looks like a chance to pass is coming up,
start to accelerate but stay in the right lane and don’t
get too close. Time your move
so you will be
increasing speed as
the time comes to move into the
other lane. If the way is clear to pass, you will have
a
“running start” that more than makes up for the
distance you would lose by dropping back. And
if
something happens to cause you to cancel your pass,
you need only slow down and drop back again and
wait for another opportunity.
0 If other cars are lined up to pass a slow vehicle, wait
your turn. But take care that someone isn’t trying to
pass you as you pull out to pass the slow vehicle.
Remember to glance over your shoulder and.check
the blind spot.
. . .I . ,.
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0
0
0
0
Check your mirrors, glance over your shoulder, and
start your left lane change signal before moving out
of the right lane to pass. When you are far enough
ahead of the passed vehicle to see its front in your
inside mirror, activate your right
lane change signal
and move back into the right lane. (Remember that
your right outside mirror
is convex. The vehicle you
just passed may seem to be farther away from you
than
L it really is,)
Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a time
on two-lane roads. Reconsider before passing the
next vehicle.
Don’t
overtake a slowly moving vehicle too rapidly.
Even though the brake lamps
are not flashing,,it may
be slowing down or starting to turn.
If you’re being passed, make it easy for the
following driver to get ahead
of you. Perhaps you
can ease a little to the right.
Loss of Control
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.
Let’s
review what driving experts say about what E your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off the
happens when the
three control systems (brakes, steering accelerator
pedal and quickly steer the way you want the
and acceleration) don’t have enough friction where the vehicle to
go. If you start steering quickly enough, your
tires meet the road to do what the driver has asked. vehicle may straighten
out. Always be ready for a
constantly seek an escape route or area of less danger. second
skid if it occurs.
. .-
. -- . r- _.. In any emergency, don’t give up. Keep trying to steer and ..
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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 slud.
Driving at Night
Night driving is more dangerous than day driving. One
reason is that some drivers are likely to
be impaired -- by
alcohol or
drugs, with night vision problems, or by fatigue.
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