1996 PONTIAC FIREBIRD window

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
4-28
ProCarManuals.com

Run your engine only as long as you must. This saves
fuel. When you run the engine, make it go a little faster
than just idle. That
is, push the accelerator slightly. This
uses less fuel for the heat that you get and it keeps the
battery charged. You will need a well-charged battery to
restart the vehicle, and possibly for signaling later on with your headlamps. Let the heater
run for awhile.
Then, shut the engine
off and close the window almost
all the way to preserve the heat. Start the engine again
and repeat this only when you feel really uncomfortable
from the cold. But do it as little as possible. Preserve the
fuel as long as you can. To help keep warm, you can get
out of the vehicle and do some fairly vigorous exercises
every half hour or
so until help comes.
Loading Your Vehicle
'@I OCCUPANTS VEHICLE CAP. WT.
TIRE-LOADING INFORMATION
FRT. CTR.
RR. TOTAL LBS. KG
MAX. LOADING & GVWR SAME AS VEHICLE
CAPACITY
WEIGHT XXX COLD TIRE
TIRE SIZE SPEED PRESSURE
RTG PSI/KPa
FRT.
RR.
SPA.
IF TIRES ARE HOT, ADD 4PS1/28KPa
SEE OWNER'S MANUAL FOR ADDITIONAL
( INFORMATION
Two labels on your vehicle show how much weight it
may properly carry. The Tire-Loading Information label
found on the driver's door tells you the proper size,
speed rating and recommended inflation pressures for
the tires on your vehicle.
It also gives you important
information about the number of people that can be in
your vehicle and the total weight
that you can carry.
This weight is called the vehicle capacity weight and
includes
the weight of all occupants, cargo and aLI
nonfactory-installed options.
ProCarManuals.com

If No Ste~ n Is C Jminp From Your Engine
If you get the overheat warning but see or hear no
steam, the problem may not be too serious. Sometimes
the engine can get a little too hot when
you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
0 Stop after high-speed driving.
0 Idle for long periods in traffic.
0 Tow a trailer.
If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam,
try this for, a minute or so:
1. If you have an air conditioner, turn it off.
2. Turn on your heater to full hbt at the highest fan
speed and open the window as necessary.
3. If you’re in a traffic jam, shift to NEUTRAL (N);
otherwise, shift to the highest gear while
driving
-- AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (@) or
DRIVE
(D) for automatic transmissions.
If you no longer have the overheat warning, you can
drive.
Just to be safe, drive slower for about 10 minutes.
If the warning doesn’t come back on, you can
drive normally.
If the warning continues, pull over, stop, and park your
vehicle right away.
If there’s still no sign of steam, you can idle the engine
for two or three minutes while you’re parked, to see
if
the warning stops. But then, if you still have the
warning,
turn oflthe engine and get everyone out of the
vehicle
until it cools down.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get service
help right away.
5-14
ProCarManuals.com

Appearance Care
Remember, cleaning products can be hazardous. Some
are toxic. Others can burst into flame if you strike a
match or get them on a hot part of the vehicle. Some are
dangerous
if you breathe their fumes in a closed space.
When you use anything from a container to clean your
Pontiac, be sure
to follow the manufacturer’s warnings
and instructions. And always open your doors or
windows when you’re cleaning the inside.
Never use these to clean your vehicle:
. Gasoline
Benzene
Naphtha
0 Carbon Tetrachloride
Acetone
0 Paint Thinner
Turpentine
0 Lacquer Thinner
0 Nail Polish Remover
They can all be hazardous -- some more than
others
-- and they can all damage your vehicle, too. Don’t use any of these unless this manual says you can.
In many uses, these will damage your vehicle:
0 Alcohol
Laundry Soap
Bleach
0 Reducing Agents
Cleaning the Inside of Your Pontiac
Use a vacuum cleaner often to get rid
of dust and loose
dirt. Wipe vinyl or leather with a clean, damp cloth.
Your Pontiac dealer has two
GM cleaners, a
solvent-type spot lifter and
a foam-type powdered
cleaner. They will clean normal spots and stains very well.
Do not use them on vinyl or leather.
Here are some cleaning tips:
0 Always read the instructions on the cleaner label.
0 Clean up stains as soon as you can -- before they set.
0 Use a clean cloth or sponge, and change to a clean area
often. A
soft brush may be used if stains are stubborn.
Use solvent-type cleaners in a well-ventilated area
0 If a ring forms after spot cleaning, clean the entire
only.
If you use them, don’t
saturate the stained area.
area immediately or it will set.
6-53
ProCarManuals.com

Cleaning Leather
Use a soft cloth with lukewarm water and a mild soap or
saddle so,ap.
0 For stubborn stains, use a GM VinyVLeather Cleaner
0 Never use oils, varnishes, solvent-based or abrasive
or equivalent product.
cleaners, furniture polish or shoe polish on leather.
If dirt is allowed to work into the finish, it can harm
the leather.
Soiled leather should be cleaned immediately.
Cleaning the Top of the Instrument Panel
Use only mild soap and water to clean the top surfaces
of the instrument panel.
Sprays- containing silicones or
waxes may cause annoying reflections in the windshield
and even make it difficult to see through the windshield
under certain conditions.
Care of Safety Belts
Keep belts clean and dry.
~
~~~ ~
I -
Do not bleach or dye safety belts. If you do, it
may severely weaken them. In a crash, they
might
not be able to provide adequate protection.
Clean safety
belts only with mild soap and
lukewarm water.
Glass
Glass should be cleaned often. GM Glass Cleaner (GM
Part No. 1050427) or a liquid household glass cleaner
will remove normal tobacco
smoke and dust films.
Don't use abrasive cleaners
on glass, because they may
cause scratches. Avoid placing decals on the inside rear
window,
since they may have to be scraped off later.
If abrasive cleaners are used on 'the inside of the rear
window,
an^ electric defogger element may be damaged.
Any temporary license should not be attached across
the
defogger grid.
6-56
ProCarManuals.com

Electrical System Headlamps
Add-on Electrical Equipment
I NOTICE:
Don't add anything electrical to your
Pontiac unless you check
with your dealer first.
Some electrical equipment can damage your
vehicle and the damage wouldn't be covered by
your warranty. Some add-on electrical
equipment can keep other components from
working as they should.
Your vehicle has an air bag system. Before attempting to
add anything electrical to your Pontiac, see "Servicing
Your Air Bag-Equipped Pontiac" in the Index. The
headlamp
wiring is protected by a circuit breaker.
An electrical overload will cause the lamps 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 othei
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.
ProCarManuals.com

Main Fuse Block Fuse
PCM BATT
FUSE USAGE CHART
10 2D 30 40 STOPlHAZARD TURN B-U PCM BATT RADIO ACCY
TAIL LTS HVAC PWR
ACCY
COURTESY
GAGES AIR BAG CIGARIACCY DEFOGISEATS
IGN PCM IGN WIPERIWASH BATT WINDOWS
160 Q 17- . IP DIMMER ACCY RADIO
SEE OWNER'S MANUAL
FOR MORE INFORMATION PRINTED IN U.S.A 10281550
I
Fuse Usage
STOP/HAZARD Hazard Flasher,
Brake Switch Assembly
Switch, Transmission Range
Switch, Back-up Lamp Switch,
Turn Flasher, Daytime Running
Lamps
(DRL) Module
TURN'
B-U Performance/Traction
Control RADIO ACCY
TAIL,
LTS
HVAC
PWR ACCY
COURTESY
GAGES
AIR BAG
Usage
Powertrain Control Module '(PCM),
Fuel Pump Relay
Radio, Power Antenna,
Bose Relay, Remote Compact
Disc Changer
Daytime Running Lamps
(DRL) Module, Headlamp Switch
HVAC Selector Switch,
Rear Defogger TimerRelay,
Rear Defogger Switch, Rear
Defogger Switch/Timer
Park Lamp Relay,
Hatch Release Relay,
Power Mirror Switch,
Radio,
Shock Sensor, Instrument Cluster
Body Control Module (BCM)
Body Control Module (BCM),
Brake Switch Assembly (BTSI),
Instrument Cluster, Daytime
Running Lamps
(DIU) Module,
Auxiliary Accessory Wire
Air
Bag System,
Dual Pole Arming Sensor
6-65
ProCarManuals.com

Fuse Usage
CIGAWACCY Cigarette Lighter, Data Link
Connector (DLC), Auxiliary
Accessory Wire
DEFOG/SEATS Rear Defogger SwitchiTimer,
Rear Defogger Timermelay,
Power Seats
EVAP Canister Purge
Vacuum Switch, EVAP Canister
Purge Valve, Transmission
Wiperwasher Switch
Express-Down Module, Coolant
Level Latching Module,
Convertible Top Switch
PCM IGN Powertrain Control Module (PCM),
WIPEWASH Wiper Motor Assembly,
WINDOWS Power Windows
Switch (RH, LH),
Fuse
Usage
I/P DIMMER Door
Illumination Lamp (RH, LH),
Headlamp Switch,
Fog Lamp
Switch, Instrument Cluster,
HVAC Control Assembly,
PRNDL Illumination Lamp,
Ashtray Lamp, Radio, Steering
Wheel Controls-Radio,
Rear Window Defogger
Switch/Timer,
Performance/Traction
Control Switch
Body Control Module (BCM),
Radio, Amplifier, Steering Wheel
Controls-Radio
RADIO
6-66
ProCarManuals.com