1996 PONTIAC FIREBIRD check engine

Turn on your hazard flashers.
Tie a red cloth to your vehicle to alert police that
I) Put on extra clothing or wrap a blanket around YQU.
-'-' ,Insulators from newspapers, burlap bags, rags, floor
you've
been stopped
by the snow.
If you have no blankets or extra clothing, make body . ., ..
1.;- ::. z;5 .,,.'mats -- anything you can wrap around yourself or
. .t '. - :.
._ ,.i: -5. !tuck ._.. -. under -. your clothing to keeD warm. . , . . .::,-. _I .-..
You can run the engine to keep warm, but be careful.
A CAUTION:
Snow can trap exhaust gases under your vehicle.
This can cause deadly
CO (carbon monoxide) gas
to get inside. CO could overcome you and kill
you. You can't,see it or smell it, so you might not
know it is in your vehicle. Clear away snow from
around the base
of your vehicle, especially any
that
is blocking your exhaust pipe. And check
around again from time
to time to be sure snow
doesn't collect there.
Open a window just a little on the side of the
vehicle that's away
from the wind. This will help
keep
CO out.
I
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Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle may need a
different ‘turn signal flasher and/or extra wiring. Check
with your Pontiac dealer.
The arrows
on your instrument panel will flash
whenever you signal a turn or lane change. Properly
hooked up, the trailer lamps will also flash, telling other
drivers you’re about to turn, change lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the arrows on your instrument
panel will flash for turns even if the bulbs on the trailer
are burned out. Thus, you may think drivers behind you
are seeing your signal when they are not. It’s important
to check occasionally to be sure the trailer bulbs are
still working.
1 ’ Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you start
down a long or steep downgrade.
If you don’t shift
down, you might have to use your brakes
so much that
they would get hot and no longer work well.
On
a long uphill grade, shift down and reduce your
speed to around
45 mph (70 km/h) to reduce the
possibility
of engine and transmission overheating.
If YOU are towing a trailer and you have an automatic
transmission with Overdrive, you may prefer to drive in
THIRD (D) instead of AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (0)
(or, as you need to, a lower gear). Or, if you have a
manual transmission with
FJFTH (5) (or SIXTH (6)) gear
and you are towing a trailer, it’s better not to use FIFTH
(5) (or SIXTH) (6) gear. Just drive in FOURTH (4) (drive
in
FIFTH (5) if you have a six-speed manual transmission)
or,
as you need to, a lower gear.
Parking on Hills
You really should not park your vehicle, with a trailer
attached, on a hill. If something goes wrong, your rig
could start to move. People can be injured, and both
your vehicle and the trailer can be damaged.
But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here’s
how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load..
’
4. Reapply the regular brakes, Then apply your parking
brake, and then shift to
PARK (P), or REVERSE (R)
for a manual transmission.
5. Release the regular brakes.
PARK (P) yet, or into gear for a manual transmission.
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.. ' When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a €Till
' ' 1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while
you:
Start your engine;
Shift into a gear; and
0 Release the parking brake.
2. Let .up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you're
pul1ing.a trailer. See
the Maintenance Schedule for more
on this. Things that are especially important in trailer
operation
are automatic: transmission fluid (don't
overfill), engine oil, axle lubricant, belts,
cooling system
and brake adjustment. Each
of these is covered in this
manual, and the Index will heip you find them quickly.
If you're trailering, it's a good idea to review these
sections befcn-e
you start yam trip.
Check;periodically
to see that all hitch nuts and bolts .
are tight.
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NOTICE:
Ignoring these steps could result in costly damage
to your vehicle that wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty.
Trying to start your Pontiac by pushing or
pulling
it could damage your vehicle, even if you
have a manual transmission.
And if you have an
automatic transmission, it won’t start that way.
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt
battery with a negative ground system.
NOTICE:
If the other system isn’t a 12-volt system with a
negative ground, both vehicles can be damaged.
2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables
can reach, but be sure the vehicles aren’t touching
each other. If they are, it could cause a ground
connection you don’t want.
You wouldn’t be able to start
your Pontiac, and the bad grounding could
damage the electrical systems.
unnecessary accessories plugged into the cigarette
lighter. Turn
off all lamps that aren’t needed as well
as radios. This will avoid sparks and help save both
batteries. In addition, it could save your radio!
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug
(CE:
r
If you leave your radio on, it could be badly
damaged. The repairs wouldn’t be covered by
your warranty.
4. Open the hoods and locate the batteries.
I==--
~
An electric fan can start up even when the engine
is not running and can injure you. Keep hands,
clothing and tools away from any underhood
electric fan.
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5. Find the positive (+) ad negative (-) terminals on
each battery.
Using a match near a battery can cause battery
gas to explode. People have
been hurt doing this,
and some have been blinded. Use a flashlight if
you need more light.
Be sure the battery has enough water. You don't
need to add water to the Delco Freedom@ battery
installed in every new GM vehicle. But if a
battery has filler caps, be sure the right amount
of fluid is there. If it is low, add water to take-
care
of that first. If you don't, explosive gas
could be present.
Battery
fluid contains acid that can burn you.
Dan't get it on you. If you accidentally get it in
your eyes or on your skin, flush the place with
water
and get medical help immediitely.
.- :A,
,. .- , .. . ..
6. Check that the jumper cables don't have loose or
missing insulation.
If they do, you could get a shock.
The vehicles could be damaged, too.
Before
you connect the cables, here are some basic
things
you should know. Positive (+) will go to
positive
(+) and negative (-) will go to negative (-)
or a metal engine part. Don't connect positive.(+) to
negative
(-) or you'll get a short that would damage
the battery
and maybe other parts, too.
Fans or other moving engine parts can injure you
badly. Keep your hands away
from moving parts
once the engines are running.
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Heater and radiator hoses, and other engine
parts, can be very hot. Don’t touch them.
If you
do, you can be burned.
Don’t run the engine if there is a leak.
If you run
the engine, it could lose all coolant. That could
cause
an engine fire, and you could be burned.
Get any leak fixed before you drive the vehicle.

NOTICE:
Engine damage from running your engine
without coolant isn’t covered by your warranty.
If there seems to be no leak, with the engine on, check to
see if the electric engine fan is running. If the engine
is
overheating, the fan should be running. If it isn’t, your
vehicle needs service.
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery Tank
If you haven’t found a problem yet, but the coolant level
isn’t at
FULL COLD, add a 50/50 mixture of clean
water
(preferably distilled) and DEX-COOL TM
(orange-colored, silicate-free) antifreeze at the coolant
recovery tank. (See “Engine Coolant” in the Index for
more information.)
I A CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water, or some other
liquid like alcohol, can boil before the proper
coolant mix
will. Your vehicle’s coolant warning
system is set for the proper coolant mix. With
plain water or the wrong mix, your engine could
get too hot but you wouldn’t get the overheat
warning. Your engine could catch fire and you or
others could be burned. Use a
50/50 mix of clean
water and
DEX-COOL TM antifreeze.
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Compact Spare Tire
Although the compact spare tire was fully inflated when
your
vehicle was new, it can lose air after a time. Check
the inflation pressure regularly. It should be 60 psi
(420 Wa).
After installing the compact spare on your vehicle, you
should stop as soon as possible and make sure your
spare tire is correctly inflated. The compact spare is
made
to perform well at posted speed limits for
distances up to 3,000 miles (5 000 km), so you can
finish your trip and have your full-size tire repaired or
replaced where you want. Of course, it’s best to replace
your spare with a full-size tire as soon as you can. Your
spare will last longer and be in good shape in case
you
need it again. When
the compact spare is
on the rear axle, the optional
traction control system will cycle and limit acceleration
for about the first
15 seconds of driving after each
engine start.
I NOTICE:
When the compact spare is installed, don’t take
your vehicle through
an automatic car wash with
guide rails. The compact spare can get caught on
the rails. That can damage the tire and wheel,
and maybe other parts
of your vehicle.
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If your vehicle is certified to meet California Emission
Standards (indicated on the underhood tune-up label), it
is designed to operate on fuels that meet California
specifications.
If such fuels are not available in states
adopting California emissions standards, your vehicle
will operate satisfactorily on fuels meeting federal
specifications, but emission control system performance
may be affected. The malfunction indicator lamp
on
your instrument panel may turn on and/or your vehicle
may fail a smog-check test. If this occurs, return to your
authorized Pontiac dealer for diagnosis to determine the
cause of failure. In the event it is determined that the
cause of the condition is the type
of fuels used, repairs
may not be covered by your warranty.
In Canada, some gasolines contain an octane-enhancing
additive called
MMT. If you use such fuels, your
emission control system performance may deteriorate and the malfunction indicator lamp on your instrument
panel may
turn on. If this happens, return to your
authorized Pontiac dealer for service.
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines are now required to
contain additives that will help prevent deposits from
forming in your engine and fuel system, allowing your
emission control system to function properly. Therefme,
you should not have to add anything to
the fuel. In
addition, gasolines containing oxygenates, such as ethers
and ethanol, and reformulated gasolines may
be
available in your area to help clean the air. General
Motors recommends that you use these gasolines
if they
comply with the specifications described earlier.
NOTICE: I
Your vehicle was not designed for fuel that
contains methanol. Don’t use it. It can corrode
metal parts in your fuel system and also damage
plastic and rubber parts. That damage wouldn’t
be covered under your warranty.
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