1996 PONTIAC FIREBIRD brake

1. Move the cruise control switch to ON.
2. Get up to the speed you want.
3. Push in the SET button at the end of the lever and
release it.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal. I
Resuming Set Speed
Suppose you set your crui,se control at a desired speed
and then apply
.the brake or clutch pedal. This, of course,
shuts off the cruise control. But you don’t need to reset
it. Once you’re going about 25 mph (40 km/h) or more,
you can move the cruise control switch from ON to
WA (ResumdAccelerate) for about half a second.
You’ll go right back up to your chosen speed and
stay there.
2-48
ProCarManuals.com

Increasing Speed While Using Cruise Control Passing Another Vehicle While Using Cruise Control
There are two ways to go to a higher speed. Use the accelerator pedal to increase your speed. When
. Use the accelerator pedal to get to the higher speed. you
take your foot off the pedal, your vehicle-will slow
Push the button at the end of the lever, then release down to the cruise control speed
you set earlier.
the button and the accelerator pedal. You’ll now
cruise at the higher speed.
0 Move the cruise switch from ON to R/A. Hold it
there until you get up to the speed you want, and
then release the switch.
(To increase your speed in
very small amounts, move the switch to R/A for
less than half a second and then releas; it. Each
time you do
this, your vehicle will go about
1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster.)
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise Control
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load and the steepness
of the hills.
When going up steep hills, you may have to step on the
accelerator pedal to maintain your speed. When going
downhill, you may have to brake or shift to a lower gear
to keep your speed down.
Of course, applying the brake
takes you out
of cruise control. Many drivers find this to
be too much trouble and don’t use cruise control on
steep hills.
There are two ways to reduce your speed while using Ending Out of Cruise Control
cruise control:
There are several ways to turn off the cruise control:
0 Push in the button at the end of the lever until you 0 Step lightly on the brake pedal or push the clutch
reach the lower speed you want, then release it. pedal, if you have a manual transmission
; OR
To slow down in very small amounts, push the 0 Move the cruise switch to OFF.
button for less than half a second. Each time you do
this, you’ll go 1 mph (1.6 km/h) slower. Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition,
your cruise control set speed memory
is erased.
2-49
ProCarManuals.com

Daytime Running Lamps (Option)
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others
tu see the front of your vehicle during the day.
DRL can be helpful in many different driving
conditions, but they can be especially helpful in.the
short periods after dawn and before sunset.
A light sensor on top of the instrument panel makes the
DRL work, so be sure it isn’t covered.
The
DRL system will make your front turn signal lamps
come on when:
The ignition is on,
The headlamp switch is OFF, and
The parking brake is released.
When
the DRL are on, only your front turn signal
lamps will be on. The taillamps, sidemarker and other
lamps won’t be on. Your instrument panel won’t be lit
up either.
When it’s dark enough outside, your front turn signal
lamps will
go out and your headlamps will come on.
The other lamps that come on with your headlamps will
also come on.
When it’s bright enough outside, the regular lamps will
go off, and your front turn signal lamps will come on.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
Fog Lamps (Option)
Use your fog lamps for better vision in foggy or misty
conditions. Your parking lamps must be on or your fog
lamps won’t work.
SO To turn the fog lamps on, push the top of the fog
lamp switch,
Push the bottom of the switch to turn the
fog lamps off. A light on the switch will come on when
the fog
lamps are on.
Fog lamps will go off whenever your high beams come
on. When the high beams
go off, the fog lamps will
come
on again.
If your vehicle is equipped with Vehicle and Content
Theft-Deterrent System and your
fog lamp switch is
on,
the fog lamps may flash to indicate operation of
the Vehicle
and Content Theft-Deterrent System.
See “Vehicle and Content Theft-Deterrent System” in
the
Index.
2-52
ProCarManuals.com

Floor Mats
Your Firebird’s floor mats are custom fitted to the
floor wells. Be sure the driver’s floor mat is in place.
If it isn’t, it could interfere with the accelerator or
brake pedal.
lhvin Lift-off Roof Panels (Option)
If you have this option, you can remove one or both
lift-off roof panels.
Don’- __ to remove the T-top panels while the
vehicle is moving. Trying to remotre T-top panel
while the vehicle is moving could cause an
accident. The panel could
fall into the vehicle and
cause you to lose control, or it could fly off and
strike another vehicle.
You or others could be
injured. Remove
T-top panel only when the
vehicle is parked.
The door key unlocks the panels. The lock is over the
front door window. Turn the key to the left to unlock
the panel.
ProCarManuals.com

You can store the sunshades two different ways:
0 When the T-tops are in use, store the sunshades in
their storage area in the rear of the vehicle, and
make
sure the close-out panel is in its closed,
upright position.
0 When you have the T-tops off and in their storage
slots, store the sunshades on the T-tops, in their
installed position.
Convertible Top
The following procedures explain the proper operation
of your convertible top.
Lowering Your Convertible Top
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
1. Park on a level surface. Set the parking brake firmly,
shift
an automatic transmission into PARK (PI or a
manual transmission into
REVERSE (R). The
ignition must be in the ACC or RUN position. Lower
both
sun visors.
2-66
ProCarManuals.com

3. Install the middle section of the cover by sliding
the tabs into the slots on right side cover. Lower
the cover and engage latch.
4. Close the trunk.
Raising Your Convertible Top
1. Park on a level surface. Set the parking brake fdy.
If you have an automatic transmission, shift into
PARK (I?). If you have a manual transmission, shift
into REVERSE (R). The ignition must be in the ACC
or RUN position or RAP must be on. Lower both sun
visors. Lower both windows at least 3 inches (8 cm).
If the boot cover is in place, it must be removed first.
2. Open the trunk. Remove the middle piece of the
cover by pushing in on the latch and lifting up on
the cover.
2-69
ProCarManuals.com

1. Fog Lamp Switch (if equipped)
2. Main Lamp Control
3. Side Upper Air Vent
4. Instrument Cluster
5. Horn
6. Center Upper Air Vent
7.
Audio System
8. Glove Box
9. Comfort Controls
10. Cigarette Lighter .
1 1. Parking Brake Lever
12. Cupholder
13. Storage Console
14. Shift Lever
15. Ashtray (Automatic Transmission)
16. Rear Window Defogger Switch
17. Steering Wheel Controls
18. Remote Hatch Release
19. Convertible Top Switch (Option)
20. Traction Control System Switch (Option)
21. Second Gear Start (V6 Automatic only)
2-73
ProCarManuals.com

Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows AIR
BAG. The system checks the
air bag’s electrical system for malfunctions. The light
tells you if there
is an electrical problem. The system
check includes
the air bag sensors, the air bag modules,
the wiring and the crash sensing and diagnostic module.
For more information on the air bag system, sed “Air
Bag” in the Index.
AIR
BAG
You will see this light flash
for a few seconds when you
turn your ignition to
RUN
or START. Then the light
should go out. This means
the system is ready.
If the air bag readiness light doesn’t come on when you
start your vehicle, or stays on, or comes on when you
are driving, your air bag system may not work properly.
Have your vehicle serviced right away.
Voltmeter
I p4
You can read battery
voltage on
your voltmeter.
If it reads less than 11 volts
or more than 16 volts while
your engine
is running,
and it stays there, you may
have
a problem with the
electrical charging system.
Have it checked right away. Driving with the voltmeter
reading in a warning zone could drain your battery.
If you idle your engine for a while, the voltmeter
reading might move into the yellow zone, If the reading
stays in the yellow zone while you are driving, you may
have a problem with the electrical charging system.
Have it checked. While the voltmeter reads in the
yellow
zone, your battery may not be able to power certain
electrical accessories,
like ABS. (If this happens, your
ABS INOP light will come on. See “Anti-Lock Brake
System Warning Light” in this
part.)
If you must drive a short distance with the voltmeter
reading in a warning zone,
turn off all your accessories,
including your comfort control and audio system.
ProCarManuals.com